Combining several replies into one, to save WW on postage.... I'm amazed
at the amount of response on this one. I should turn Ukyo into a dog
more often! ^_^

"KaraOhki" <karaohki@snet.net> wrote:

The way you picture Ukyo is the way I do - someone who's gone
overboard with her sense of what is right.  She was given more than
once chance to back away from the fate you gave her, but she
stubbornly went ahead, insisting on "justice".

I feel sorry for the girl.

I agree. You have to admire her tenacity, if nothing else....

By the way, you'll need this (hands you a suit of armor) to protect
yourself from the rocks all the Ukyo fanboys will be throwing at you.

Heh. Let 'em try! The pen (not to mention the pun) is mightier than the
sword! :-)

Thanks for the comments!


"Ranma Al'Thor" <ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu> says:

While I agree Ukyou is perfectly in character, I don't think what happened
could be called Justice in any meaningful sense of the word.  Being
stripped of one's humanity because someone else broke a promise.  Yes,
Ukyou brought it on herself, but the fact that 'Justice' failed to tell
her the way in which it would be fulfilled was itself unjust.  Especially
as there are other ways that promise could be fulfilled without making
Ukyou lose her humanity..."take care of me forever" is not equivalent to
"marry me".  

Whether it's actually justice is really a matter of story
interpretation, when it all comes down to it. Does Ukyo deserve what
happened to her? Well, she *was* trying to enforce a promise that wasn't
freely given without duress. (Whether this is a correct interpretation
of Secret Sauce is debatable, but for purposes of this story it's true.)
She was, in effect, bringing a frivolous suit before the court... and
using it to claim something (or rather someone) to which she had no
right.

Or maybe it's not justice at all. Maybe Ukyo was actually at the wrong
temple, or this deity was not as advertised. Not the way I would
interpret this story, but it's certainly a valid way of looking at it.

Now, if Ukyou had died and been reborn as Akane and Ranma's new baby
girl...

Would've been an interesting ending if I'd thought of it. Maybe our
deity doesn't have the power to pull this off, or didn't think of it
either, or maybe doing so would've infringed on the child that Ranma and
Akane were destined to have.


Jason Liao <jasonl@hun.k12.nj.us> scribed:

Okay, seriously, I found it pretty good.  However, I don't quite agree
with the ending as justice.  Perhaps a God of Honor, or Obligations would
do this, but to punish Ukyou to a life like that is justice?  In regard to
what?

See above.

 Also, the wording wasn't "I want Ranma to care for me." She said
she wanted Ranma to carry out his promise.  The promise was to marry, not
to care.

No, the promise was the one in "Secret Sauce" -- to look after her
forever.

Still, assuming that the actual God in question isn't integral to the fic,
that's just semantics.  Still pretty good for under two hours.

Thanks!


arromdee@inetnow.net sez:

She demanded that Ranma be made to fulfill his promise. This was the
only way that could be done without violating other promises (e.g.
Ranma's wedding vows).

Actually, there were several ways (Akane dying is the most obvious).

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Oh, wait, you're *ahem* serious here, aren't
you. Let's just say that harming an innocent person goes beyond the
allowable parameters of a judgement here. (And let's not have a debate
over whether Akane is really good for Ranma or not. I mean that as far
as *this particular promise* goes, she's innocent.)


"Anand Rao" <deranged_otaku@HOTMAIL.COM> writes:

Besides, a dog is supposed to be Man's 'Best Friend', right?  Isn't 
showing Ukyo in that light a bit OOC, Gary?  :)

@bap @bap @bap

(Anand sent me another comment which was far too inflamatory for the
list... he did let me add it to the version of this story on my web
site, though.)


allyn yonge <ayonge@yahoo.com>

Very nice. I think it calls for a few sequels. (Ryouga,
Kodachi, Genma, etc.

Dunno... I wouldn't want to beat the idea to death. I also think Genma
has sense enough to stay well away from a place like this. :)

(and maybe we could turn Ukyou
back??? Or at least make her an Irish Wolfhound ^_^))

Och, I doon't think so, laddie.

I think Kuan Ti is your best bet for God of Justice.
I'm not sure of the Japanese equivalent.

I'm sending three URL's that may help.

Thanks for the info, and the comments!


AlphSailor@aol.com stated:

You know, that was pretty chilling. I mean, Ukyo getting Ranma's fullest
attention (and keeping his promise to take care of her forever) as a dog, but
at the same time  never be able to regain her humanity again. Never to cook
okoyomaki or communicate with her friends. She's already lost her identity as
Ukyo. In time, she will lose any capability of emotion, since dog's nervous
system are not advanced enough to support them. She's just an adorable animal
who acts purely on her instincts.

Well, that may or may not be true. The effect seems to resemble the
Jusenkyo curses, so it may be that her mind will remain unaffected.

Like I said, chilling. i can't help but sympathize Ukyo's plight at the end...

I tried to write her somewhat sympathetically, even though this is
(obviously) not a pro-Ukyo story.... Nice to know that worked. Thanks
for your comments!


"Morpheus the Shaper" <milamber@mindspring.com> shaped:

Now, I'm not saying Ranma is blameless here, but Ukyo is the one that went
seeking Justice. I seem to recall a saying/proverb that went something like
"Seek ye not Justice, lest ye too be judged," and that seems awfully
appropriate here.

Thanks, that puts it better than I could.


"Kiwi Noriega" <krmn@HOTMAIL.COM>

Well, as always, it was an excellent fic. Though I'm not too sure of how 
I should react/feel to what you did to Ukyou. Part of me thinks its a 
bit harsh of the deity, and yet if that's what Ukyou wanted...well, she 
might not have gotten what she really wanted, but it's close enough I 
think.

I agree that it was harsh, and meaner than I would ordinarily have been;
blame a certain incident that I probably shouldn't talk about on the
list lest it erupt into a giant spam thread.

Anyway, hope to read from you soon.

The feedback and encouragement is much appreciated!


Gary Kleppe
http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe/comics