Hi.

This is the second chapter of a fanfic writen by Sigel Phoniex.
The address for the first chapter is 
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/8097/love1.html

Note single quotation marks are used to indicate a person's thoughts.
Also thanks to Ace Conners for some proof reading.  Any errors that 
remain are my fault.

Comments are welcome. 

Second Chance at Love 
Chapter 2 Regrets

    Ukyou felt odd as she walked to her car.  In some ways it had 
been good to see Ryoga again, but it had also been pure hell.   She 
liked seeing him again because it had reminded her of times both good 
and bad.   
    It was nice to see that in some ways he remained shy.  It was his 
shyness that had attracted her to him.  At first it had been 
annoying.   Actually, at first, she had found that really annoying.
He was the man that she loved.  Even though he was lost to her, she 
still loved him.  She would probably always love him.
    She never wanted any of her old friends from Nerima to know about 
her "profession".  She didn�t want them to pity her. She didn�t want 
to explain how she got into the profession.  She thought that Ryoga 
did not pity her but she was not sure.
    Ukyou felt sad that Ryoga was seeing prostitutes She felt that he 
had done it more than just once or twice, telling her that something 
was wrong with his marriage to Akari.  'Why did that fool marry her?  
He barely even noticed her before I left Nerima.' Ukyou shook her 
head not wanting to think about it further.
    Ukyou knew she had to leave Ryoga.  She felt bad for leaving 
Ryoga without saying goodbye.  'If I had stayed, that would have made 
leaving harder. Ryoga might realize how wrong our actions last night 
were and I don't want that.'
     Even though Ukyou knew what they did last night was wrong, she 
wasn�t sorry they made love.  Her life had been so hard since she 
left Nerima.  She needed to be with the man she cared for, even if it 
was only for a little while.    
     She couldn�t believe that it had been eight years since she last 
saw him and couldn't believe what had happened to her in those eight 
years. 
<Flashback Nerima>
      Ukyou was sitting in her restaurant. When it was closed, it was 
a great place to be alone with her thoughts.  'I love him'.  But it 
as the wrong him.  It was Ryoga that she loved, not Ranma. She hadn�t 
expected to fall in love with Ryoga.  She hadn�t even expected to 
like him.
    When she met Ryoga, She had thought herself in love with Ranma.  
Ranma was engaged to Akane and they hadn�t seemed to be getting along 
well.  It looked like they hated each other. Ranma was sort engaged 
to Ukyou and she was so sure that Ranma would choose her over Akane.  
Ranma also had two other women, Kodachi and Shampoo, who considered 
themselves, engaged to him.
     Furious about Ranma�s engagement to Akane, Ryoga had attacked 
Ranma.  So, Ukyou figured that Ryoga was in love with Akane and that 
he could be useful in breaking up Ranma and Akane.  Ukyou set Akane 
and Ryoga up on a date.   It didn�t go well.  Ryoga didn�t know what 
to do and he had begged Ukyou not to leave him alone with Akane.  It 
was annoying at the time but kind of cute later on.)
     Ranma interfered with the date and it ended badly for Ryoga.  
Akane had thought that Ukyou had somehow tricked Ryoga into the 
date.  She had no idea that Ryoga was interested in her.  He had 
never told her.   Ukyou knew she couldn�t complain too much either 
because she had never confessed herself to Ranma.
     Despite the fact that plan failed Ukyou continued to scheme.  
Most of these schemes involved Ryoga.  However, he wasn�t helpful in 
creating the schemes.    This made his later success as a businessman 
a big surprise.   
    The next scheme was a cooking scheme.  Ranma loved food and Ukyou 
had thought that she could have shown Ranma that she was a much 
better cook than Akane. (Which of course she was.)  Ryoga was on hand 
because he was the only one who seemed to like Akane's cooking.  
Actually, he probably liked being with her more than the actual 
food.  The idea was that Ranma would then pair off with Ukyou as 
Ryoga and Akane were supposed to pair off also.  
    The scheme failed and there was a small explosion in the 
kitchen.  With Akane's cooking skills it could have been an atomic 
blast.  Ranma rushed into the kitchen to save Akane and he didn't 
even seem to think about Ukyou.
    Instead, it was Ryoga who rushed to save Ukyou.  He had put 
himself between Ukyou and the explosion.  Luckily, it was a small 
explosion and he wasn't hurt.  Later, he wasn't sure why he had 
rushed to save her instead of Akane.
   'Ryoga is brave.'  That was the first time she realized it.
   Ryoga and Ukyou's first date, like a lot of first dates, was at 
the movies.   However, this date was another scheme to split up Ranma 
and Akane.   The idea was for Ukyou and Ryoga to get between Ranma 
and Akane so Ranma would end up with Ukyou and Akane would end with 
Ryoga.  Then the date would continue and Ranma would decide that he 
was happier with Ukyou.  Akane would decide that she was happier with 
Ryoga.
   "This will never work."  Ryoga said outside the movie theatre.  
   "Of course it will work.  Besides, do you have a better idea?"
    He admitted that he didn�t, so they went into the theatre to 
watch Dragons Forever.
    Ranma was sitting by Akane.  When Akane went for popcorn, Ranma 
was too engrossed in the movie to notice.  Ukyou then took Akane's 
chair. Ranma didn�t notice.  
    Ukyou was plotting to tell Ranma that she was next to him, but 
she hadn�t expected the switch to be so easy, so she was a bit 
surprised.  She turned to look for Ryoga to see where he was but she 
couldn't find him.  There's no way he could have gotten lost in a 
movie theatre!  That's impossible!'  
   Ryoga was a few rows over and sitting down.  He had gotten lost 
and he decided not to move again.  Suddenly Akane was sitting next to 
him.  
     She said something to Ryoga, thinking he was Ranma and Ryoga 
stuttered something in reply.  He couldn�t help it.  Akane made him 
incredibly nervous.
    Akane looked at him "Ryoga what are you doing here?"	
    "W..watching the movie" He said innocently.  He looked too 
innocent with those fangs.
   When Akane left to find Ranma, Ryoga wished that she wouldn't 
leave but made no move to stop her.   He went back to watching the 
movie.  'Why am I so afraid to tell her how I feel?'
    When Akane found Ranma and Ukyou sitting together,  "What do you 
think you are doing?"  She asked Ukyou loudly.   'She's trying to use 
poor Ryoga again somehow' Akane thought remembering the last times 
she saw Ryoga and Ukyou together.  'I have no idea why Ranma likes 
this girl at all!  We should keep her away from Ryoga for his own 
good.'
    Ukyou thought of the best lie that she could said "I'm here with 
Ryoga."  She turned to her left and saw Ranma.  Pretending to be 
surprised, she asked, "Ranma, honey, have you seen Ryoga?  He went 
for popcorn and probably got lost."
    "Hi Uchan.  No I haven't seen him.  Are you two dating?"
    That might not have been such a good lie.  "No� we met outside 
the theatre and came into together. " She replied slowly
     Akane looked as though she bought it.  She wasn't happy with 
Ukyou saying "Ranma honey.� but answered pointing Ryoga�s direction, 
"Ryoga is over there, why don't you go join him?"  
    Ukyou left, knowing the scheme was over, �Thanks Akane.  Enjoy 
the movie.� She said over her shoulder as she walked over to Ryoga.
    Ryoga looked up and saw her.  He looked happy to see her and 
smiled showing the fangs that she found incredibly adorable later 
on.   Almost everyone else in the movie was on a date and that made 
Ryoga depressed.  She sat down next to him.
     Akane saw this and totally misunderstood it.  'Ryoga and Ukyou 
are on a date.  That's great, she's finally giving up on Ranma.  I 
hope Ryoga will be happy.  So much for her thoughts about keeping 
Ryoga away from Ukyou for his own good.  I wonder why she denied 
being on a date with him?  Oh well, she's shy. She�s so weird.'
    'I have never seen Ryoga look so relaxed.  I haven't seen him 
look this relaxed at all.  He hasn't attacked me yet.  Does he even 
know I'm here?  Hmm�Uchan is a cute girl; maybe Ryoga will fall for 
her.  That�ll be one less enemy if he does.'  Ranma thought. 
   As they watched the movie, Ryoga and Ukyou had no idea that Ranma 
and Akane were spying on them.  Ukyou knew the scheme was over and 
thought 'I paid for my ticket, I might as well watch the movie.'  
   "I can do that." Ryoga said after a really nifty move by Yuen Biao.
   "In your dreams, Ryoga.� Ukyou said teasing.   But, he probably 
could.
   "I can too." Ryoga insisted.  
   Not wanting to argue about it, she said sarcastically "I am sure 
you can sugar." 
     Ryoga missed the sarcasm in her voice and blushed slightly, 
hoping   Ukyou didn't notice.  Later, during a brief romantic moment 
in the movie, he blushed again.  Ukyou laughed a bit but stopped when 
he noticed.  I�m having a good time.  
   They went for popcorn together.  "I�m not going to get lost in a 
movie theatre.  That's impossible."
   "You already did, sugar." Ukyou teased.
   He had to laugh about that.They looked like a couple, even though 
they weren�t holding hands. Anyone who saw them would have thought 
they were on a date and it looked to be a good date.   Feeling like 
he was with a good friend, Ryoga was relaxed.
   After the movie, Ryoga walked Ukyou home.  It was a nice gesture 
and Akane noticed it.  They look like such a cute couple.  Later, 
Akane would tell her friends about this, and it was a sure bet that 
it would spread all over town.
    Ryoga was a bit confused.  It seemed like a date, and he had had 
a good time.  His dates with Akane had always been disasters.   "I 
had a good time at the movie."
	"I did too, sugar." Ukyou replied.  
	"Night, Ukyou."
	"Goodnight Ryoga."
<END Flashback>
     'I can't believe I thought that scheme would work.  What was I 
thinking?  I have to admit though, that it was a good first date.'  
     'I haven't thought of Ranma and Akane in years.  I hope they're 
still married.  I hope that they�re happy, unlike Ryoga and I.' 
Blinking off a tear, Ukyou slammed shut the car door drove off


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