After far too long, I've finally completed another chapter of this
story.  For those who have understandably forgotten, this is an
alternate universe fic focusing on Ukyou and told from her viewpoint. 
It began with Ukyou deciding to abandon her vendetta against Ranma and
move on with her life.  She meets some unusual people, but her move to
Nerima goes well, at least until an unexpected face from her past
arrives.  Earlier chapters can be found at
http://www.geocities.com/fenwulf16/.  Many thanks go to Tom Hackwood
for prereading.  Any and all comments are welcome.  

Disclaimer: Ranma1/2 is the product of Rumiko Takahashi.  Viz
Entertainment owns rights in North America.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Four

     Ranma's fight with Ryouga was the last excitement for a while, as
Ryouga had wandered off somewhere.  I knew he'd be back eventually, but
I was beginning to think my life would be a reasonable facsimile of
normal for a while.  I should have known better.  

     It all started for me when Akane burst into the restaurant, her
face flushed with excitement.  "I need your help, Ukyou."

     "Maybe you'd better tell me what you need help with, Sugar," I
suggested.  Inwardly I prayed that this wasn't going to have anything
to do with food.  The best thing I could say about Akane's culinary
skills was that she was creative.

     "I need to learn rhythmic gymnastics."

     "All right, now I know you should start from the beginning."   As
it turned out, there was a simple explanation.  Furinkan had a rhythmic
gymnastics wrestling match coming up with St. Heberke High School. 
Since Furinkan's entire gymnastics team had already been injured, they
asked Akane to fill in.  I think the problem should be obvious by this
point.  Akane didn't know anything about rhythmic gymnastics.

=================

     I was beginning to get a bad feeling about this.  First, Akane had
dropped the clubs, then she'd broken the hoop and finally tangled
herself in the ribbon.  The worst of it was that I was nursing a black
eye from my effort with the ball.  

     "Aren't you supposed to hit your opponent?" Ranma asked from where
he was sprawled out on the dojo floor.  

     "If you aren't going to help, just shut up," Akane snapped,
glaring at Ranma.  

     "I can help."

     Turning, I saw Ryouga casually leaning against the entrance to the
dojo.  Bending over, he picked up a ribbon that was lying on the ground
and casually pulled a length of it taut.

     "You're saying you know martial arts rhythmic gymnastics?" Ranma
scoffed. "I've gotta see this."

     "I manage."  With a flick of his wrist, Ryouga sent the ribbon
spinning in a spiral that split the air a hairsbreadth away from Ranma.

     My eyes widened slightly.  "That's pretty good."  It was
surprising, but Ryouga seemed to know what he was talking about.  

=================

     The rest of the evening went a lot better, with Ryouga proving to
be a surprisingly able and patient teacher.  I wound up staying to
provide moral support and to provide a training partner for Akane when
Ryouga wasn't around.  Which was probably a good idea, because Ryouga
vanished shortly after we'd finished for the evening.  It's too bad, he
seemed like a nice guy and Akane could use the help.  

     I was walking through the gate when the sounds of combat and
shouting reached my ears.  I turned back immediately, my first thought
being the Akane had been attacked the same way that Furinkan's
gymnastics team had been.  Instead, I saw two figures on the Tendous'
roof leap towards each other, one of them bellowing in what I
recognized as Ryouga's voice.  The next instant, I saw a third person
fall from the roof.  Sprinting ahead, I jumped upward and caught the
falling body, landing on the roof with a slender girl clutched safely
in my arms.  By this time, Ryouga and whoever he was fighting,
presumably Ranma were nowhere in sight.

     "Ungh?"  With an incoherent moan, the girl stirred slightly, her
eyes beginning to flutter.

     "Are you all right?"

     "I-I-I was so frightened!"  With no warning, the girl's arms
tightened around me into an unbreakable embrace.  

     "Hold on.  I'm not..."  The girl didn't wait to hear the rest of
my protest.  Fortunately for my stomach, she released me after a
moment, but the sight of her eyes gazing passionately into mine was
almost as nauseating.

     "Please sir ... may I ask your name?"

     "U-Ukyou Kuonji.  But..."  

     "For you."  Once again the girl hadn't given me a chance to speak,
this time thrusting a large bouquet of black roses into my hands.  The
color surprised me, but what happened next froze me in my tracks.   A
small cloud of gray smoke burst from the bouquet and taken by surprise,
I inhaled some of it.  

     "A bit of paralysis gas in the bouquet," the girl explained
helpfully, as I collapsed onto the roof.

     "What?  Stay away from me you lunatic."  If she even heard my
choked demand, the girl ignored it, pressing her body full on mind.  My
stomach was churning with a blend of nausea and anger, but I could
barely twitch. 

     "Now, my Ukyou, be brave and take these lips of mine."  An instant
before our lips made contact, Kodachi drew back and frowned slightly. 
"Are you feeling well?  That shade of green doesn't look very healthy."

     "Hey, you're that Black Petunia girl."  I might not be on the best
terms with Ranma, but I was glad to hear his, or more accurately her
voice, at that moment.  I was even happier when Kodachi jumped off of
me to avoid a snap kick from Ranma.  It was too bad he telegraphed it
so much, but I can understand him not wanting to hit a girl.  I just
don't agree. 

     "I am Kodachi, the Black Rose of St. Heberke High and I will not
forget this.  Farewell, my Ukyou.  Let us meet again."  Without a
backwards glance, Kodachi leapt into the night and soon disappeared
from view, her bone-chilling lingering for a long moment.

     "Feh."  Ranma looked down on my prone body, a curious grin
twisting his face.  "You know, if you're going to two-time a violent
girl like Akane, you shouldn't do it over her bedroom."  

     Rolling my eyes, I could barely catch sight of Akane glaring down
at me from further up the roof.  Moments later, I was alone on the
roof, where I would spend several cold and lonely hours until the
paralysis wore off.

=================

     The following morning was bright and cheerful, so much so that I
had nearly managed to put the events of the previous night out of my
mind.  Akane and I had walked to school together as usual, but she had
paused to talk to some friends about the upcoming gymnastics match, so
I was taking the opportunity to enjoy the falling leaves of autumn.

     "Akane Tendou, prepare yourself!"  That cry, in a barely familiar
and thoroughly detested voice, cut my attention and I whirled, ready to
fight.

     "You again!  Ambushing me first thing in the morning!"  By the
sound of anger in Akane's voice, I wasn't the only one ready to fight. 
The fact that she holding the shinai Kodachi had used to attack her
confirmed it.  Kodachi didn't seem reluctant either and hadn't
relinquished the bamboo sword to Akane.

     "Ambushing?  I was doing no such thing.  I have merely come to
visit with Ukyou," Kodachi stated in a reasonable tone.

      "Ukyou doesn't want anything to do with you."  Akane's face
reddened slightly with anger and the blade of the shinai creaked in her
grip.  "So, why don't you just leave?"  With a surge of strength, Akane
swung the shinai around, hurling Kodachi through the air. 
Unfortunately, she threw Kodachi towards me.  Hoping to escape her, I
ran like a craven coward.  

     I didn't succeed, in part due to an unexpected obstacle.

     "Akane Tendou, I love you!"

     I easily leapt over Upperclassman Kunou's wild swing and landed
lightly on my feet.  Swiftly turning to attack, I saw Kodachi smashing
into her brother's body, causing him to crash into my own body,
throwing all three of us to ground in a tangled heap.  Looking at the
boy, I didn't question the Kendo uniform, nor the bokken he still had
in his hands, but I certainly wondered why he had a bouquet of red
roses.  I soon felt the lithe from of Kodachi molding herself to my
back as I tried to stand up.

     "Oh, Ranma darling."  I was rapidly becoming ready to use physical
force to free myself, while Kunou looked on.  

     "Yes!" he finally declared, slapping Kodachi on the back and me on
the ribcage.

     "Yes what?"

     "Yes, you have my permission to go steady."  I was frozen in
horror at Kunou's proclamation, but Kodachi had a different response.

     "I'm so happy."

     "Hold it!  There's no way I'm going st-" My words were choked off
as Kodachi sobbed in agony and her eyes brimmed with tears.

     "So!  You hate me!" she shouted, storming forward as I retreated.

     "Maybe just a li-" Realizing that I was only digging myself in
deeper, I looked around for another tactic and soon found it.  "I mean
... I have girl friend."  I took full advantage of Akane's arrival,
interposing her between Kodachi and me.  I felt Akane's body stiffen at
my words, but I was too panicked to considered the implications.

     "Girlfriend?  You?"

     "That's right," Akane agreed.

     "How interesting."  Kodachi suddenly snapped a gymnastics ribbon
forward like a whip, but both Akane and I avoided it.  "What do you say
then?  Shall we wager for Ukyou in the upcoming match?"

     "What did you say?  Are you insane?"  Akane's outraged voice did a
good job of capturing my feelings on the matter as well.

     "I think it's a fine idea, Akane.  If you wish to leave Ukyou, you
need only lose."  I'd nearly forgotten that Kunou was there and he
certainly wasn't helping.

     Kodachi cackled softly, the hideous sound nearly turning my spine
to water.  "She needn't worry about that.  She'll be losing in any
case. Ukyou, when this match is over, you shall be mine.  Farewell." 
Spinning her ribbon rapidly, Kodachi stirred up a storm of black rose
petals.  My vision was momentarily obscured and by the time I
recovered, Kodachi was leaping over the stone wall surrounding
Furinkan.

     "Really that girl is such a deviant.  But even so, Ranma Saotome,
take care of my little sister," Kunou said, slapping me on the
shoulder.  

     "Huh?  You didn't just say what I thought you did?"

     "I said take care of my little sister.  Even though I am her
brother, I have to admire her for being so wicked, so spiteful and so
thoroughly twisted.  Please, Akane, try not to let her injure you."  A
tear running from his eye, Kunou pressed the bouquet of roses he was
carrying into Akane's arms.  "When Kodachi wants a man, she doesn't let
go," Kunou explained, beginning to walk away.  "She'll surely try
something evil in the match."

     "I don't believe it.  Two of them," I grumbled.

     "Now that I think about it, they're identical."

     "Akane, promise me you'll win."

=================

     Ryouga hadn't show up again, but despite that, Akane's training
went well until at last it was the night before the match.  She'd
improved a surprising amount for such a short period of time.  There
was a lot at stake and Kodachi had been practicing for far longer than
a week, but I still thought that Akane had a good chance of winning.

     "Here I come!"  Akane charged forward, snapping her ribbon in a
spiral that I barely managed to deflect with my own ribbon.  Instead of
being discouraged, Akane pressed the attack with a series of rapid
thrusts using a pair of clubs.

     "Now it's my turn."  I'd let Akane push me back until I was within
easy reach of a hoop.  Hooking it with my foot, I spun it into the air
and allowed it to drop into my free hand.  A flick of my wrist sent the
hoop hurtling at Akane, but she knocked it harmlessly away with a sweep
of her batons.  

     "Not bad."  Akane and I both glanced in the direction of the
unexpected voice, but in her case the distraction was disastrous. 
Stepping backwards to recover her balance, Akane's foot descended on a
forgotten gymnastics ball.  An instant later, she crashed heavily to
the floor, her arms flailing wildly.  

     "Oops."  Standing in the doorway, a newly arrived Ryouga scratched
the back of his head shamefacedly.  

=================

     Akane's room had the same combination of feminine simplicity and
tomboy clutter that she did.  It was a fascinating illustration of her
personality, but I had more urgent matters demanding my attention.  
     
     "There you go Akane."  Kasumi smiled gently as she put the
surgical tape she'd used to wrap Akane's ankle. 

     "Man, my sister the klutz.  Tripping yourself." Nabiki commented  
wryly, her reserved tone somehow implying amusement at the whole
situation.

     "I guess you have no choice but to withdraw from the match." 

     "I'll be there!" Akane retorted angrily, starting to struggle to
her feet.  "You think I'll let a girl like that beat me?"

     In the rational portion of my mind, I knew that Kasumi was right,
but I still couldn't help hoping.  I really wasn't looking forward to
seeing the Black Rose again.  

     "No, Akane, wait."  Kasumi advised, trying to gently guide Akane
back onto her bed, but her efforts were ignored.  

     "Ow!"  Akane knew as well.  No sooner had she began to put
pressure on her injured leg than she winced and raised it again.  

     "See?  You'll just have to find a replacement."

     "That's easy to say.  What other girl is nimble, in such great
shape and knows martial arts?" Akane questioned

     "Ranma!" I exclaimed reaching desperately.  "He could do it." 

     Surprisingly, Nabiki came to the rescue of her absent fianc�.  
"You're forgetting something, Ukyou.  Ranma hasn't been training or
even watching you practice.  Do you really think he can learn the
techniques in one night?"

     "Sure.  I mean probably..."  My voice trailed off as I considered
Nabiki's argument.  Ranma was a superb martial artist, at least as good
as me, but he specialized in unarmed combat and I had no idea how
rapidly he could adapt to an unfamiliar style.  

     "Well enough to beat Kodachi?" Nabiki pressed.   "She is the
regional champion."

      My heart sank.  Even if Ranma could beat Kodachi, he wasn't
likely to agree to participate, especially with Nabiki discouraging
him.  "I'll think of something."

=================

     "Forfeit the match?"  Kodachi's voice clearly reached my ears as I
pressed my back against the wall next to the door.  It had been easy to
make my choice, but putting it into action was proving far more
difficult.  I'd managed to follow Akane to St. Heberke High without
being seen, but couldn't bring myself to walk into the room after her.

     Now it was Akane's voice drifting out of the room.  "Yes, I
injured myself and couldn't find anyone to substitute."
  
     "Such a sh-"

     At the last moment, I almost hurled my body through the door. 
"I'll take her place."  Thanks to the panic I felt, my voice was almost
a squeak, but since I usually try to pitch my voice deeper, this was
probably a good thing.

     Akane gasped involuntarily and then began to speak.  "Uky-"

     "I'm Ukyou's cousin, Yumiko Kuonji."  I couldn't bring myself to
look at Akane and I hoped I wasn't blushing too deeply.  I knew what
she had to be seeing.  A blouse and knee length skirt, along with a
slight change in hairstyle and a little bit of make up, wouldn't be
enough to make me unrecognizable, although I hoped to get away with it
as far as Kodachi was concerned.  However, Akane knew me far to well to
be fooled.

     "The cousin of my beloved?  It shall be a worthy match."  Smiling,
Kodachi extended a hand towards me.  

     "Hold it."  Before I could reflexively reach out to grasp
Kodachi's hand, Akane had grabbed hold of the taller girl's wrist.

     "My, my.  How did these tacks get between my fingers?"

=================

     Akane helped me prepare for the match, fortunately leaving the
room when the time came for me to change into a leotard.  Despite a
little present from Kodachi, we reached the ring without incident and
without discussing what I was doing.  Kodachi was already in the ring,
along with another girl I assumed was a referee or announcer since she
was holding a microphone.

     "And now, the champions of the schools!  In this corner, from St.
Heberke School, Kodachi Kunou!  And in this corner..."  The referee's
voice trailed off in confusion.  Apparently she hadn't been informed of
the substitution, but she rallied quickly.  "Excuse me.  And you're
name is..."

     "Yumiko Kuonji," I answered, doing my best to sound confident.  

     "From Furinkan High School, Yumiko Kuonji."
 
     "Do you think she's related to Ukyou?"
 
     "Got to be.  They sure look alike and they're both martial
artists."
 
     "Yeah, besides they have the same family name, idiots."

     Despite the sudden buzz of conversation from the Furinkan
students, no one had burst out laughing.  It seemed that my secret was
still safe, something I had trouble believing, although logically, I
should have been more worried about dressing as a boy.  As it was, all
I had to worry about was Akane.  

     "I don't believe it," Akane whispered, amazement plain on her
face.  "Why can't anyone tell you're really a guy?"

"No idea.  I guess some people just aren't very perceptive."

     "Champions to the center."  The referee's call silenced the
speculation, at least temporarily as Kodachi and I made our way to the
center of the ring.  "Now, shake hands."

     Reluctantly, I allowed the referee to take hold of my wrist and
extended my hand towards Kodachi.  

     "Look, over there!" Kodachi shouted, jerking her hand free and
pointing at something behind me.  

     I only looked away from Kodachi for an instant, but that was long
enough.  Before I could turn back towards her, I heard a distinct click
as something cold and metallic encircled my wrist.

     "Carelessness is your enemy." Kodachi informed me, as I stared
incredulously at the small black pig attached to me by a lengthy chain.

     "P-chan!"  

     Akane was correct; the angrily squealing animal hanging from my
wrist was her absent pet.  I had to wonder just where it had been and
why it had chosen this particular moment to reappear.  Whatever the
answer, I'd just have to fight Kodachi and hope P-chan wasn't too much
of a problem.

     "Today, martial rhythmic gymnastics!  The rules; no time limit, no
barehanded blows, the match ends when one contestant is knocked
completely out and if either contestant falls from the ring, she will
be an immediate loser!"
     
     Kodachi and I both took the announcers words as our cue to begin. 
I hurled half a dozen clubs at her, taking advantage of my familiarity
with throwing weapons, but Kodachi casually swatted them out of the
air, swinging the rope almost as if it was a solid rod.  Kodachi
pressed the attack, bringing the rope down in an overhead attack, which
I barely sidestepped.  My eyes widened in surprise when the rope
connected solidly with the mat.

     "Referee!  That's against the rules," Akane protested from the
side of the ring.  

     As I dodged a series of thrusts from Kodachi, I caught the end the
of the referee's explanation.  "...as long as it's not a bare-handed
blow."

     "Agh!"  I jumped backwards as an array of sharp spikes shot
extended from the end of the club Kodachi was wielding.  "Akane! 
Spatula!"  As long as there were no rules about what kind of weapons
were used, I'd take advantage.  

     "Here!"

     Responding quickly, Akane tossed my spatula into the ring. 
Catching it, I turned back to Kodachi in time to see her hurl a hoop at
me.  Swinging my spatula in a tight arc, I knocked the hoop back
towards Kodachi, severing the top of one of the posts when she managed
to dive out of the way. 

     "It looks like you're serious about this," I observed, "that's
fine, I am too."  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw P-chan gather
himself as if to pounce on Kodachi.  I didn't know pigs did that, but
maybe Kodachi is just one of those people animals don't like.  It
wouldn't surprise me.

     "You believe so?  A true gymnast relies on style and grace, not
the brute force of a barbarian," Kodachi replied, directing a
disdainful glance at my spatula.  With speed that would shame a cobra,
her ribbon lashed out and ensnared my spatula.

     "Is that the best you can do?"  Bracing myself, I let Kodachi take
up the slack between us and then spun around, whipping my spatula
through the air.  I saw with satisfaction that Kodachi hadn't released
her grip in time and that her trajectory would take her out of the
ring.  

     That satisfaction disappeared when Kodachi let out a shrill
whistle and the ring lurched under my feet, moving so that she landed
within its borders. 

     "Did you truly expect such a childish ploy to work?  I cannot
leave the ring."

     "Maybe so, but I smell a rat."  A downward sweep with my spatula
opened a two-meter long gash in the center of the rings floor.  Holding
my weapon up to the light afterwards, I saw a few long, fine hairs
caught on the edge of the blade.  "Or maybe a whole pack."  It was my
turn to smirk as a group of leotard-clad girls emerged from underneath
the ring.

     "I, the Black Rose, need no help to defeat you."  Drawing herself
up to her full height, Kodachi produced several clubs.

     "Lets find out."  Charging forward, I launched a roundhouse blow
at Kodachi's head.  I was surprised when the blow connected; her
attempt to dodge converted to a drunken lurch by P-chan's chain. 
Kodachi's body was propelled backwards, until she bounced off of the
ropes surrounding the ring to land face first in the center of the
ring.

     "You won, Ukyou."  Akane's words were the first to break the
silence following my surprisingly quick victory, with the referee's
announcement coming several seconds later.  

     "You don't need to sound so surprised.  And don't call me that." 
Fortunately, I didn't think the referee heard and there was no one else
close enough.

     Now what?"

     "Fear not, I shall honor my pledge.  From this moment on, my love
for Ukyou is ended."  Kodachi climbed to her feet, looking a bit
unsteady, but not seriously hurt.  Beside me, P-chan glared at Kodachi
and I resisted the urge to do the same.  Just how long had she been
awake?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     I managed to get changed back into my usual clothes without
trouble and was soon walking away from St. Heberke's with Ranma and
Akane.  There was only one minor problem.

     "I'm sorry P-chan disappeared again," I said to Akane.

     "That's not your fault.  It's almost like he does that on
purpose."

     "I've gotta admit you've got a lot of guts to do something like
that, Ukyou," Ranma commented.  

     "Do you really think so?" I asked.  Sometimes Ranma wasn't nearly
as bad as I'd expected.

     "Yes.  Of course, you could have done with a little more padding. 
I mean, even Akane isn't that flat-chested.  Now my cursed form..."  I
snorted in disgust.  Maybe I was giving Ranma too much credit, or maybe
that was his idea of a joke.

     "Never mind him, Ukyou.  I'm just glad that this is over," Akane
said, pushing Ranma into a convenient fountain.

     "Me too."  I just hoped that it was over.

End Chapter 4.




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