The Leper: Biopsy
by Nikholas "NomaD" F. Toledo
Ranma 1/2 is the property of Kitty, VIZ and the omnipotent Rumiko
Takahashi. I am a property of Switch (so you know who to sue).
I am NomaD... I am coming... I am near.
By the way, this is a self-insertion. My character had a past with
Ukyou, but not the kind you're thinking of. And, because this is my
first Ranma fic, I'm gonna do some weird stuff like use Ryouga and Ukyou
but still keep Kuno, Tendo and Tofu. But I'm not really sure.
Part 20
"The Morning After"
Ukyou slid the shutters up, declaring her store open (in fifteen
minutes, that is). She grabbed the broom, which was leaning on the wall,
and she began to sweep the front of the restaurant.
The morning rays, coupled with the light breeze, were just perfect
and she couldn't help but smile, even if it was for no reason at all.
The weekend had begun and a busy day was up ahead.
Instinctively, she looked up and was surprised to see a bedraggled
Ryouga making his way towards her, using his umbrella to support himself.
"R-Ryouga?!?"
Ryouga looked up and blinked a couple of times just to make sure it
wasn't a dream. "Ukyou?"
Ukyou ran up to him and slung his arm over her shoulders. "H-hey,
sugar. Where've you been? It's almost a month now!"
"I-I was looking for you... and then there were these guys, on
horseback... with bows...."
"Nomads?"
"Wha-?"
"Nomads... in Mongolia...."
"Oh... okay...."
They reached the front of the store. Ukyou guided him in and sat
him down on a stool by the counter. She automatically went behind the
grill and started preparing ingredients, which was okay for Ryouga since
running away from archers on horses can make one pretty tired and hungry.
Ryouga slumped on the counter and watched Ukyou as she gracefully
did her magic on the grill. Ryouga could sit there all day watching her,
if not for the licking on his big toe.
He was so tired that he didn't even have the strength to be
surprised by it. He just looked down and met eye to almond eye with the
gray lump of fur.
"Since when did you get a cat?"
"Hmm? Oh, you've met Ishi. I think she's a stray, I found her in
here about a month ago."
"Ishi? Why 'Ishi'?"
"I'm not sure, it just felt right."
The cat hopped over a stool and onto the counter. It walked lazily
towards Ukyou.
Ryouga almost swiped the cat in alarm but Ishi just stopped inches
away from the grill. She made herself comfortable and lay down, warming
herself by the grill.
"She seems to know her way around the place."
"I know! And she's just so adorable that I couldn't dream of
letting her go."
Ryouga absentmindedly offered his finger to the feline. Ishi
clawed at it playfully.
"You said you were looking for me?"
"What? Oh yeah, I was. I kept running and running...."
"Why?"
"Why? Because... because... hm, you know what? I think I forgot."
"Now that's just silly!" Ukyou beamed at him, causing him to blush
without her noticing.
Ukyou grabbed a plate and served Ryouga an okonomiyaki. Ishi moved
aside and eyed the okonomiyaki intently. Ryouga took a piece of fish and
gave it to Ishi then started to nibble on his share.
"Sho... whash beeng..." *gulp* "... happening lately?"
"I thought you'd never ask!" Ukyou leapt over the counter and onto
the seat beside Ryouga. It was apparent from her current disposition
that she could no longer contain the news.
"Well, first of all, Kasumi just announced to her family that she
wanted to pursue a college degree."
"Wow. That's good to hear. Good for her."
"I know. And the Tendos and Saotomes have given her their full
support! But that's just the tip of the iceberg, sugar. Here's the news
that'll blow your mind away... ...Ranma and Akane got engaged!"
Ukyou waited for a reaction but Ryouga just blinked at her.
"Um, aren't they already engaged?"
Ukyou blinked at herself. "Oh, yeah. Well, that's not what I
meant! I mean they're voluntarily engaged! They've even stopped
bickering and getting on each other's nerves. Sometimes, they even show
affection for each other... in public!"
Ryouga was listening but everything that Ukyou was saying seemed so
distant. What surprised him was that he was taking all this calmly.
"Amazing... what about the Amazons? How are they taking it?"
"They're not. They left for China three weeks ago!"
"Run that by me again...."
"It seems that Shampoo confessed her love to Mousse...."
"No, no. I think you got that wrong, it's Mousse who...."
"That's just the thing, sugar! She DID! And since the only reason
why the Amazons were here was to bag Shampoo a future husband, it seems
that their work here is done. Ryouga, you alright?"
Ryouga was just too stunned to even react. "What is the world
coming to?"
"I don't know, maybe it's for the best. I just wish..." Ukyou
leaned back and entered a dreamlike state.
"Hmm?"
"... I wish... that it could happen to me, too. It's probably
nice... to have someone...."
Ryouga looked at her. Her eyes shined with hope and longing. Her
face...
"... beautiful...."
"What?"
"Hmm?!? Oh!" *blush* "N-nothin'? It's just that-"
*knockknock* "Kuonji? Ukyou Kuonji?"
"Oh, hello... can I...?"
The postal carrier dug into his bag expertly, not even bothering to
look inside. When he got what he was looking for, he drew a brown
envelope and handed it to Ukyou. "Sign here, and here...."
"Thank you."
The postal carrier left them with the package. Both of them stared
at the envelope for a while, taking their guesses at what the package
contained.
"Who's it from?"
"I don't know, but the writing looks familiar...."
Ukyou opened the envelope. "It's...," she grabbed inside and drew
the contents, "... a bunch of pictures." She looked at the first one
then handed it to Ryouga.
"I think she's a model or something. I've seen her somewhere
before. I wonder why would anybody give me these kinds of pictures."
Ryouga examined the image. There was something...
"Um, Ukyou? I think you should look closer...."
"Why?" She did instinctively, trying to place the face with a
name.
Ryouga produced a sweat drop. "Ukyou, I think that's...."
And then it dawned on her.
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Residents up to two blocks radius stopped what they were doing when
then heard the scream... and continued what they were doing when it
stopped.
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"WHO THE HELL...?!? HOW THE HELL...?!? I DON'T REMEMBER THIS?!?
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO...!"
"I think you look cute."
Ukyou suddenly found it hard to speak.
"Actually, you look beautiful... especially on this one."
Ukyou suddenly found it hard to breathe.
"Here take a look."
Ukyou suddenly found it hard to not turn red.
The picture showed her under a tree wearing a white, wide-brimmed
hat and a pink sweater that was slung around her shoulders. A PINK
SWEATER, FOR GOODNESS' SAKE!
"This one's nice, too." Ryouga flashed her a photo of her in an
ice skating rink wearing the same pink sweater. A PINK SWEATER!!!
Ukyou fumed and was about ready to scream her lungs off once more.
"Hey, look a full body shot. You're wearing a skirt here."
And then she gave up. "I give up. Whoever did this...."
"I don't know, Ukyou. They seem to be pretty authentic."
Ukyou flipped through the pictures. It was all her. Some normal,
some innocent, others seductive.
"Hey, Ukyou. Look at this one. You seem to be trembling here."
"I should. I don't know how to skate."
She watched him... admiring her. She felt mad, embarrassed,
adored, and confused...
"Ryouga?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you really think...?" A pause.
"Do I think what?"
"Do you really think... I'm beautiful?"
Ryouga answered without skipping a beat. "No, I don't think you're
beautiful."
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
"I know you are."
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The story ends here. But to others, it has only begun.
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END
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