I didn't write this; I'm sending it to the list on behalf of a friend. Comments
are welcome and will be forwarded to the author.  -- GK



Ukyou's Secret
by Anonymous

        It all started ten years ago.  Ten long years ago, when he first
came into my life.  His smile, his laugh, his strength and unfailing
affection... how could I help but love him?  Through all those daily fights
with Ranma, my love never wavered.  Each defeat brought laughter to my
love's bright eyes, so how could I resent it?  A little humiliation was
worth it to see that smile and know I was responsible for it.

        Then came the most wonderful day of my life.  I overheard my father
promising the yattai as dowry.  Even at that tender age, I knew that a
dowry meant marriage.  I ran, giggling, to tell all my friends about it.
Soon I would be Saotome Ukyou!  What a wonderful day!

        If only I had been able to go to sleep on time that night, things
never would have turned out the way they did.  But I tossed restlessly all
night long, too excited to sleep as the future unfolded bright before my
dazzled eyes.  The life of a Saotome, travelling carefree across the vast
lands, laughing and learning!

        I drifted off to sleep sometime before dawn, but woke to soft,
stealthy noises as my family's guests - my new family - finished loading up
the yattai.  I jumped up, all aflutter, and dressed with trembling fingers
before running out to greet them - and that was when I saw it.  The yattai
disappearing down the road, far too fast for me to catch them.

        They were leaving me.  That worthless jackass was taking the love
of my life away from me?  It had to be all his idea!  I ran to catch them,
a futile effort which ended with me face-down in the dusty road, sobbing in
defeat.  So he thought he could just walk away, did he?  Well, Kuonji Ukyou
had something to say about that!  This was the last time I'd ever suffer
humiliation for his sake!  Both of them would pay!

        I spent ten years training for my revenge, obsessed with the
Saotomes.  First I'd defeat them, then I'd humiliate them.  I'd see to it
that they suffered for every minute of shame I'd endured, every heated
blush and embarrassed cringe when one of my schoolmates mentioned the
Incident.  Oh, they'd pay, all right.

        Then came the day I finally caught up to them.  I faced Genma
first, taking out all the years of anguish out on him.  I gloated to see
puzzlement give way to stunned recognition just before I landed the first
blow with my battle spatula.  I had him begging for mercy in no time.
Ranma interrupted too soon, and I leapt away a little irritated at the
disruption.  I'd face Ranma soon enough.

        As it turned out, Ranma had trained a great deal over the years,
too.  I still think I would've won if he hadn't torn my shirt open, but I
do have to admit he was good.  Maybe even a match for me, if he were only a
little more mature.  He couldn't hold a candle to the shining prince of my
childhood, though, that was for certain.

        After making it suitably challenging for him, I did eventually
allow my beloved to win back my affection.  I forgave him for leaving me
behind, and I even forgave him for having another woman in his life.  The
only topic on which I would not bend was that I would no longer endure
humiliation of any kind for him, no matter how much he begged.  If anyone
was going to grin and "bear it," it was going to be him.

        I even forgave his little jackass of a son.