Note to readers:
My big continuation fanfic was actually started 2 1/2 years ago. Since then,
naturally, my writing skills and my understanding of the characters have
grown. As a result, I look back on this and feel that it could be done much
better. Hence, I am going to go back and rewrite at least the first couple
of volumes, and make some change to most of the rest. As I rewrite chapters,
I'll post them to the FFML.
So, if you see something that you think needs to be changed, by all means,
let me know and I'll probably change it. The major storyline will be mostly
left intact, and there will be less and less changes made to the last couple
of volumes. For those of you who want to see me complete the last volume and
it's epilouges, don't worry. I'm still working on that; it's just that I
have to write when I get ideas, and I want to get them down now.
Beginning Author's notes:
Transitions is sort of an epilogue to the manga (thought I will freely
add Anime ideas as well), and a prologue to a larger series. It's broken
up into three parts, the purpose being to explain how some of the
characters deal with the end of the manga and to set up character
changes for later.
For timeline purposes, these three parts overlap each other, and take
place in the 2-3 weeks after the manga ended.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Ranma 1/2 characters, and I can't even pretend
to write as good as Takahashi-megami-sama. Feel free to throw spitwads, just
don't sue me!
The fic begins:
----------------------------
For little over a year and a half, a mismatched group of young martial
artists have lived together in the small ward of Nerima. They played and
schemed and argued and fought both against each other, and side-by-side
on occasion.
For the most part, they acted like children, which was understandable
considering very few of them had any normal sort of childhood, and were
entrapped within the emotionally-turbulent time known as adolescence.
Many only had one parent, and in some cases none, to guide them in their
development.
Despite this, and the various rivalries that developed between them,
quite a few managed to become friends. They had many adventures
together, some serious, some not so serious, some good, and some bad;
but through it all, quite a few learned lessons that they were unable to
learn anywhere else.
However, all phases of life must come to an end sooner or later. While
the challenges of the past year were considerable, far more formidable
tasks are still on the horizon. In order to confront these new
challenges, it is time for this group of special young people to learn
what it means to be an adult, though it will not be easy.
Because growing up and maturing, is the biggest challenge of all...
----------------------------
Ranma1/2: New Challenges
Transitions Part 1
A Chef's Redemption
** The Present **
Ukyo Kounji collapsed in a chair and stared at the bottle of
sake in her hand, then let her gaze drift around at empty restaurant.
Konatsu was gone, out on some errand she had sent him on. Really, she
just wanted to get him out of her hair for a few hours. It wasn't that
she didn't like the transvestite ninja, but she just wanted to be alone.
The past couple of weeks had not exactly been real pleasurable.
She uncorked the bottle and took a swig. As the alcohol went
down, she felt that familiar burning sensation which soon turned to
pleasure. A sensation she had become very experienced with over the past
couple of weeks. Ever since...
Ever since...
THAT day...
** Two weeks ago **
Ukyo ran down the street with her cargo. <Hopefully, I'll get
there in time! I know this has to be a mistake, he would never go
through with it. Hold on Ranchan, I'll save you!>
She met up with Shampoo outside the door and the two girls
wordlessly acknowledged each other with a nod. Both knew they were
enemies, but also realized they had a truce for the moment. If they
fought each other now, the object of their mutual affection would become
unattainable.
With a deep breath, they opened the doors and stepped inside.
The scene that greeted their eyes was not quite what they
expected. There was a hole in one wall and Ryoga, Genma, and Mousse were
jockeying for a cask. Ranma was just entering the dojo and heading for
the barrel as well, and he was dressed in a white tuxedo.
A marriage tuxedo.
Then Akane came in right behind him, dressed in a wedding gown.
A thin film of red draped itself over Ukyo's vision. <No way!
There is no way that violent tomboy is going to shotgun my Ranchan into
marriage!> She opened the box she was carrying and reached a hand
inside. <He was my fiancee first and he loves me! You do nothing but hit
him and insult him. I'm the cute one, I'm the one that loves him.> She
pulled out and readied the heated food item. <YOU DON'T DESERVE HIM!>
Ukyo growled and launched her explosive okonomiyaki at Akane.
Apparently Shampoo had been having similar thoughts, since Ukyo
noticed some steaming meat-buns heading towards the same target.
By some odd chance, Ranma jumped by at that moment and the
explosive food hit him. <Was it chance, or on purpose?> some part of
Ukyo's mind asked, but she ignored it, however. When the smoke cleared,
his burnt tux was a tattered mess as he dropped to the floor,
unconscious and charred.
"Aiyah! Shampoo was aiming for Akane!" Shampoo exclaimed.
"Don't worry!" Ukyo added. "It's now or never for us. I made
plenty of my special celebratory gun-powder okonomiyaki!" Absently,
another part of her mind noted Konatsu clinging to the ceiling above.
She knew he was saying something, but Ukyo wasn't in the mood for
listening.
Before she could do anything else, Kodachi was suddenly bending
over her Ranchan in a black wedding dress.
"Oh my darling Ranma-sama!" the Black Rose declared. "I am here
to save you from that wicked Tendo person!"
"Aiyah, is psycho flower girl!" Shampoo exclaimed.
"Showing up here in a wedding dress?!" Ukyo snarled. "Have you
no shame?" A little quieter, she added, "Why didn't I think of that?"
As Ukyo made her way forward, Ranma suddenly came to life to
dodge a sword swing. The okonomiyaki chef froze and watched in disbelief
as Kuno attacked Ranma with a real katana! Just as she reached for
another `yaki bomb to defend her Ranchan, he tripped on a misplaced
water bucket and shifted forms. Kuno's attitude went from one of
righteous fury, to love struck as he pleaded with his pig-tailed goddess
to join Akane and wed him right there.
Ranma's temper quite visibly flared, and sent the deluded
swordsman to dreamland before going back after the cask.
But he was too late. Ukyo could only blink in confusion as
Happosai appeared from nowhere and downed the contents of the barrel. In
anger, the men who were fighting for it tried to get whatever Happosai
drank out of him, but the old lech became angry and unleashed a barrage
of his bombs, sending Ranma back into unconsciousness.
Ukyo unfroze and rushed to her Ranchan's side to comfort him,
realizing that Shampoo apparently had the same idea.
"AIREN!"
"Ranchan, snap out of it!"
"ENOUGH!" a female voice screeched.
Silence pervaded the dojo as all eyes turned to a fuming Akane.
She was glowing quite menacingly, with the largest flaming-red battle
aura Ukyo had ever seen the youngest Tendo produce. Kuno, if it still
could be called that, was laying at Akane's feet in far worse condition
than Ranma.
"GET OUT OF HERE, ALL OF YOU!" she yelled. She turned to the
three girls who were her rivals. "THIS ESPECIALLY MEANS YOU! I hope
you're happy, since you've RUINED MY WEDDING!"
"Ranma no marry pervert-girl; is Shampoo's airen."
"Ohohoho, my Ranma-sama shall never wed a low-class trollop such
as you!"
"No violent tomboy is going to take Ranchan away from me!"
Akane made a horizontal slicing motion with her hand to cut
them off. "SHUT UP! All you idiots ever do is fight over him like he's
some sort of prize to be won!" She pointed to the unconscious Ranma.
"Have you ever considered what he wants or what his feelings are!? That
maybe he may want to marry me? Of course not! You're too caught up in
your own little worlds." Exasperated, she waved her arms in the air. "In
that way, you're as bad as Kuno." She kicked the man at her feet for
emphasis and took a breath, seemingly not done. "Now get the hell out
and LEAVE US ALONE!"
"Violent-girl no order Shampoo..." the Amazon started.
Akane just glared at her Chinese rival, her battle aura flaring
brightly. Ukyo observed the Amazon flinch ever so slightly, that it was
barely noticeable.
<If looks could kill,> Ukyo realized, <Shampoo would now be
halfway across the world and they'd be cleaning her parts up for days.>
The Amazon warrior stood up and tried to martial her pride,
appearing to be successful. "As long as Ranma no marry today, then
Shampoo finished." The normally bubbly blue-haired girl turned and left
the dojo.
Akane turned her gaze on Kodachi next. Ukyo could have sworn
that her gaze pierced the veil of insanity that seemed to cloud the
Black Rose's mind.
"I too am done. I shall win Ranma-sama another day." Kodachi
Kuno strode from the room, without the black petals or the insane
laughter that normally accompanied her departure.
Finally, the gaze fell on Ukyo. She thought she could stand up
to it better, but one look in those rage-filled eyes sapped all her
confidence and most of her strength. Her legs felt weak, but somehow she
summoned enough strength to stand. She said nothing, only glared back
then walked to the door.
Once outside, she ran as fast as she could manage. So shaken
was she, that her tears began to flow before she was halfway home.
** The Present **
The bottle in Ukyo's hand was half empty. It could've been half
full, but that's not how she saw it at the moment. She wasn't quite
drunk yet, having built up a bit of a tolerance over the past couple of
weeks. Oh well. She had enough bottles to get drunk, and she would
definitely try.
Thinking back on that day, she realized for the first time how
much jealously and possessive feelings had clouded her judgment. She was
literally willing to kill to keep everyone away from HER Ranchan. She
was even willing to kill Akane. If she had succeeded...
The icing on her bitter cake, took place the next day.
** The Day After The Aborted Wedding **
After running home and crying herself to sleep, she awoke the
next morning full of hope. He hadn't married Akane, so Ranchan was still
game! She could have him yet! But if the events of yesterday had taught
her anything, it was that she was in danger of losing the game; Akane
had *almost* married Ranma. Ukyo knew she had to make stronger moves if
she was going to keep her Ranchan.
She just had to show how much she loved and cared for him, and
a quick look through the mail provided the idea of how.
Ukyo hurried to school, but stopped before she got there. She
knew the path that Ranma and Akane traveled to school, and she planned
to intercept them on the way, so she could talk to Ranma. Sure enough,
she spotted them a couple of minutes later, but felt a pang of fear.
Ranma was walking next to Akane instead of on the fence like he normally
did. She saw their mouths moving a little in conversation, but couldn't
really hear anything.
<It's now or never,> she told herself, taking a deep breath to
gather her courage. She casually walked around the corner to appear
before the startled couple.
"Hey Ranchan!" she greeted, smiling cutely. "That was a close
one yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't get there to help sooner!" She
attached herself to his arm in what she hoped was a comforting gesture.
"I didn't really mean to make such of a mess, though."
Ranma attempted to pull his arm away, clearly startled, but
Ukyo held firm.
"Come on, we have to get to school, Ranma," Akane reprimanded
him in a somewhat threatening tone. "You know Hinako-sensei would love
to drain you if you're late." Her features twisted into a scowl. "That
is, if you can pull yourself away."
"Um, sorry, Ukyo," Ranma told her. "I should get going."
Ukyo tightened her grip. "Wait! Can I talk to you for a few
moments? We have plenty of time before school starts! Whattya say? Just
for a moment?" She did her best to looking cute and pleading.
When Ranma sighed, Ukyo realized her plea had worked. "Okay,
but just for a minute."
Akane's scowled deepened. "Well, if you'd rather talk to her
then to me, I guess I'll be on my way without you. I wouldn't want to
interfere." She turned and started back towards school at a brisk walk.
"Akane!" Ranma's attempt to go after her was halted by Ukyo,
still clinging to his arm. "Stupid, uncute..." he mumbled under his
breath, then sighed and turned back to the okonomiyaki chef. "What do
you want, Ukyo? I got a lot on my mind right now."
She brightened. "Well, that's perfect for what I had in mind,
then!" She pulled out the magazine that had come in the morning's mail.
"There's this spot in Okinawa that looks great for a getaway! I was
thinking of doing some business down there, and it would be great if you
came along. Just the two of us. I think a little vacation would do you
good, right?" She gave him her cutest smile. <I just need to get him
away from here, and alone with me for a couple of weeks...>
"I don't know..." Ranma said, looking at the article in the
magazine Ukyo was showing him.
"Oh come on, you need to get away from your problems here," she
told him, feeling more cheerful by the minute. "Just leave them all
behind and..."
"No," Ranma told her, his voice firm.
The finality in his voice caught Ukyo off-guard. "Ranchan?"
Ranma shook his head. "I'm not runnin'. I'm not going to be
like my old man. I've been tryin' to ignore these problems for a long
time, but I can't anymore. Things... happened in China. Things have
changed." His voice sounded sad to her ears.
"What?" Ukyo asked in surprise. She knew Ranma, Akane, and
Shampoo had disappeared for a few weeks, but didn't know exactly what
had happened. "How? What has changed?" A twinge of fear crept into her
voice as she realized the possible implications. "Does this have
something to do with yesterday?"
Instead of answering, Ranma faced away from her and shrugged
helplessly. "It just seems nobody listens ta me or asks what I want." He
turned back to her. "As for yesterday, you really surprised me. I'm not
real upset since you're my friend, nobody really got hurt, and I wasn't
ready to get married yet, anyway ."
"Not yet?" Ukyo asked, hopeful. "You mean you'll want to marry
me soon?" Her voice took on a slightly darker tone as she realized what
he had called her. "Friend!? So you mean you're going to get married to
*her*?"
Ranma grimaced and backed off, his hands up in a warding
gesture. "Um, hey, I gotta get to school now, so I'll see ya later!" He
took several away, then stopped and spoke over his shoulder. "Listen, I
don't mind if you attack me, just try to leave everyone else out of it
next time, okay?"
Then he was gone, presumably headed toward school.
Ukyo just stood there, silent for a moment. Ranma had dodged
her question, leaving her more frustrated than ever. She wanted to go
after him and beat on him until he gave her a straight answer, but
realized that would do no good. And what if the answer wasn't something
she wanted to hear? What would she do then? Attack Akane again?
Ukyo shook her head. Ranma's last words to her about attacking
him but leaving everyone else out of it, had struck a chord within her.
She wanted to believe she wasn't like that, but the truth was that she
had assaulted numerous people on her quest to get Ranma, both on her 10-
year revenge quest, and later when she decided to renew the engagement.
She had attacked Shampoo, Hinako, Akane, and she even tried to assault
Nabiki, who was clearly not a fighter. Had she really sunk that far? Had
she become as bad as Shampoo and Kodachi?
The young okonomiyaki chef felt wetness in her eyes once more
and decided that school was somewhere she didn't want to be at the
moment. She turned and ran back to her restaurant.
** The Present **
She was on her second bottle now. Absently, she wondered how
much time had passed. Konatsu would be back soon.
Ukyo glanced around at the empty restaurant that had become her
home, and contemplated what she could get if she sold it and just left.
After all, what was keeping her here? She had lost the last thing in her
life that made it all worthwhile. Even if Ranma didn't choose Akane, he
was most likely lost to her now. She could try to fulfill her original
revenge quest, but she knew she didn't stand a chance against Ranma.
Why would he want someone who, in a jealous rage, attacked any
female that he spent time with?
She recalled what Ranma had called her: Friend. That's all she
really was to him, she realized that now. Besides the first time he
called her cute, he hadn't really made any possible romantic overtures
towards her. He had treated her as "one of the guys", as it were. Eleven
years of her life wasted on Ranma; ten spent on revenge, and one on
trying to get him as her husband.
All she had left was okonomiyaki, but no one to share it with.
Maybe she should just leave.
Ukyo shook her head. Was she really willing to go that far?
Akane seemed to want her to stick around. Looking back, she was amazed
that Akane had come to see her at all. Why did she come? Was it the fact
that Ukyo hadn't been in school all week? Did Konatsu say something?
** One Week Ago**
Ukyo had closed up shop a while ago and Konatsu had gone to
bed, at least, that's what he said he was going to do. Ukyo finished
cleaning and picked up another bottle of the stuff she had been using
for the past several days. It left her with a nasty hangover the next
morning, but it tasted great and it took her mind off her problems.
Besides, she wasn't going to school anyway, so what did it matter?
After pouring a little in a sake dish and downing it, she heard
a light knocking at her door.
"Go away!" she yelled. "We're closed!"
Absently she realized she hadn't locked the door and the person
was taking advantage of that fact. Ukyo fumbled for her battle spatula
as Akane stepped inside.
"What do *you* want?" Ukyo spat out. The grip of her combat
spatula felt nice and cool in her right hand, but she resisted the
immediate urge to try and remove this obstacle. She didn't really hate
Akane, and was afraid of what she might become and what Ranma would
think, if she did beat up Akane.
"To talk," the Tendo girl replied softly. "To apologize and
hopefully, to keep our friendship."
Ukyo raised an eyebrow. "Apologize? You mean, for trying to
force Ranchan into marriage." It was a statement, pure and simple.
Akane's gaze dropped to the floor, and Ukyo was surprised to
see the look of sadness on the other girl's face.
"The wedding wasn't entirely up to Ranma," Akane explained in a
soft voice. "It was organized by our parents. I only went along with it
because I thought he... I thought..." She shook her head, sighed and sat
down on a nearby stool.
"Daddy had received a cask of Nannichuan water and told me that
Ranma would only get it if I married him," Akane explained. "I...
agreed, even though I know it was wrong now. I shouldn't have tried to
force Ranma into marriage that way. And the wedding would have happened
too, if it hadn't been for everybody else's interference." Her hands
clenched into fists at the memory, then relaxed slowly.
"So I did you a favor," Ukyo said, triumphantly. "I stopped a
marriage neither one of you wanted!"
"That's right, you stopped it alright!" Akane shot back angrily.
"You stopped it by assaulting anyone and everyone in the dojo with
explosives! I suppose that makes it alright." She crossed her arms over
her chest. "For you information, I knew the wedding was going to be
stopped before you even showed up, because I would have stopped it! I
thought that Ranma loved me, but when we talked before coming into the
dojo, I realized it was a mistake."
"Of course it's a mistake, because if Ranma loves anyone, it's
me!" Ukyo retorted. "He's my fiance!"
Akane looked about ready to explode, but then suddenly turned
around. "You're right," she huffed.
The admission caught Ukyo by surprise. "Say what?" Both Ranma
and Akane were acting slightly different than usual, she realized. Now,
more than ever, she wanted to find out what happened in China. Nabiki
had promised Ukyo she would discover what had happened and sell her the
info, but there was no word yet.
"I said, you're right!" Akane repeated a little louder, clearly
upset. She turned back around to face her sometimes-rival. "After all,
he *is* your fiance, too, and it's quite possible he may love you more
than me. If he wants to marry you, I won't stop it, and I would hope you
would do the same."
Ukyo poured some more of the rice wine into her cup and took
another small drink in the silence that followed, surprised by Akane's
revelation. She decided to change the subject a bit. "But why did you
wanna marry him, other than the promised cure? You always said you
didn't care about him. Why the change?"
Akane sighed. "I did, at first. But mostly because I was forced
into being his fiancee, and I didn't have a high opinion of boys back
then." Somehow Ukyo got the impression there were a few other reasons,
but Akane didn't seem willing to share them. "Over time though, I guess
I-I just came to care about him." Her flushed face dropped down to study
the ground. "And then Jusendo happened."
"Jusendo?" Ukyo questioned. "Is that where you guys were? I
thought you were in China?"
Akane nodded, suddenly looking quite melancholy. "It was in
China. Jusendo was the source of the Jusenkyo springs. I... I nearly
died over there, and Ranma had to kill to save me. We almost didn't make
it." Her eyes closed and her voice took on pained undertones. "There
were several times I was tempted to let go and pass on, but Ranma's
voice kept calling me back." Her eyes opened again, as she fixed Ukyo
with a steely gaze. "You want to know what changed? Let's just say that
nearly dying, and watching one you care about forced to kill for your
sake, can have quite an effect on you."
Ukyo watched Akane inhale and exhale slowly. These seemed to be
painful memories the youngest Tendo was sharing with her, and Ukyo
suddenly wondered why that was. But she kept quiet.
"He finally splashed me with the cold Jusendo water and restored
me, but I was too weak to do anything. He really thought he had lost me,
that he was too late. That's when he said he loved me. He tried to deny
it later at the wedding, but I was convinced he did love me and wanted
to go through with it." She laughed bitterly.
Ukyo's eyes narrowed. "Liar."
Akane opened her eyes and shook her head. "It doesn't matter
anyway; it was obvious he didn't want to marry me, so it isn't going to
happen."
Ukyo remembered what Ranma said about not getting married yet,
and debated telling Akane. Then decided against it. "So, why'd you
really come here?"
"Like I said, I wanted to apologize and try to keep your
friendship," Akane told her in a quiet voice. A small smile appeared on
her face. "I have a few friends at school, but they don't know what it's
like to be a fiancee of Ranma's. You do, and I guess that gives us
something in common." The smile disappeared. "I don't want to be married
to a man who doesn't love me, or that is in love with another woman.
Maybe you can do that, but I can't." The youngest Tendo's expression
changed, becoming a bit more fierce. "I meant what I said at the
wedding, though. All three of you were more concerned with getting a
husband than trying to get to know him and be his friend first."
"I was his friend first!" Ukyo protested. "I knew him when we
were children!"
"And just how well can you know someone when you're six-years-
old?" Akane asked indignantly, then shook her head. "Look, Ukyo, we can
be either enemies or friends, but I really don't want to fight with you
over this, that's why I came here. The truth is, you *were* one of his
first friends, long before me, and I get the feeling he hasn't had very
many *real* friends." She half-smiled. "Though, with how he acts, it
isn't easy to be his friend. I think the idiot can only express how he
feels through fighting. Ryoga is his friend, and they fight a lot of the
time, and Ranma fights with his father a lot, as well. After all, that's
what the majority of his life consisted of."
Ukyo had to admit that was true. Whenever things got too
emotional to deal with for him, Ranma tended to resort to insults and
fighting. It seemed that Genma never taught him how to deal with affairs
of the heart during that long training trip, only affairs of the fist.
And what's more, Ukyo found she didn't really want to be alone.
Truth be told, she enjoyed the times that she and Akane got along, which
were actually quite frequent. Ukyo didn't want to give that up; she
wanted friends as well.
"So, what now?" Ukyo asked at last, suddenly feeling tired. "We
still have Ranma between us. He's still engaged to both of us, and
there's still Shampoo and Kodachi out there."
Akane shrugged. "Yeah, well, we can still be friends; there's
no reason we have to let Ranma stop that. But when it comes down to it,
we let him choose."
Ukyo's eyes widened in disbelief. "After all this, you'd be
willing to just let him go if I married him?"
"I didn't say I'd be happy with it," Akane confessed, "but this
thing has gone on far long as it is." She bit her lip. "Look, I'll be
honest with you. If Ranma doesn't marry me, I'd always hoped that he
would marry you. I don't think he'll be happy with either Shampoo or
Kodachi. But in the meantime, can't we just be friends? Do we really
need to be concerned with who marries who right now?"
Ukyo looked up, and for a second there was hope and longing in
her eyes, then it was gone. <What can it hurt? I don't want to be alone
and yet I want Ranma... I just don't know.> She shook her head. "Yeah,
whatever. Just leave me alone, right now."
Akane nodded and stood up, heading for the entrance, but she
stopped in the doorway. "If you want, I'll try to get him to come by so
you can talk to him. The idiot won't admit it, but he misses you, and
thinks it's his fault you aren't coming to school. Remember what I said,
though. I would like our friendship to continue, regardless of who Ranma
chooses. And the important thing is to let him choose. Because right
now, he needs friends more than fiancees."
And then Akane was gone, and Ukyo was again alone with her
thoughts.
** The Present **
<Friends? Can I be just a friend? For so long, I hated Ranma and
what he had did to me. Then I wanted to marry him and live peacefully
and happily ever after. After being rejected and ridiculed by my peers,
I wanted to show them all I was still attractive and could win back the
man I was engaged to. It never occurred to me to just be his friend; he
was either someone to hate or someone to love. Akane may have fought
with him, but that's what friends do. Mostly, she's been his friend, and
because of that, she most likely now has his love.>
Ukyo laid her head down on the cold grill and cried. "It was
all my fault. I screwed up my own life. I refused to consider anything
else besides marriage to Ranma." She realized that her tunnel vision
regarding the pig-tailed martial artist had been opened in the worst
way.
The tears flowed for a few minutes more, before a familiar
voice called out to her.
"Ucchan?"
She looked up to see him standing there, looking at her
uncertainly. "Ran...ma?" Somehow she didn't feel quite right about
calling him by the more familiar nickname.
He sat down beside her, but when she made no move to do
anything, he hesitantly patted her shoulder. As if a dam had burst, she
collapsed in his arms and sobbed into his chest, hoping he could make
all of her negative feelings go away.
"It's okay, Ukyo," Ranma said, somewhat uncomfortably. "I
forgive you, ya don't have ta do this."
She looked up at him. "You do?"
He nodded, smiling hesitantly. "Yeah. I'm your friend, right?
`Sides, I can't really hold a grudge. Life's too short to go through it
hatin' people."
Ukyo felt that disheartened feeling again. "Friend? Is that all
I am?"
He appeared to be debating with himself, but only for a moment.
"That's what I'd... like right now."
She pulled away and dried her eyes, smiling hesitantly. "Hey,
I'm your oldest childhood friend, right?" She built up her confidence.
<But I have to tell him; I have to know!> "You know I love you, though.
Can you at least tell me if you love me?"
Ranma grimaced and sat back, clearly looking uncomfortable.
"Ukyo... I-I... I can't answer that."
Ukyo winced, then sighed. <I've done it again. Maybe Akane was
right. Speaking of which...> She took a breath, then asked, "Do you love
Akane?"
He grew silent and stared at the ground for a few minutes. Even
if he didn't verbally answer the question, Ukyo could see it. "I-I just
need time to think. I need time to sort out all my problems."
"You mean your fiancees?" Ukyo quipped, her smile returning.
Ranma rolled his eyes. "You mean there's a difference?"
Ukyo began to laugh and Ranma joined her. With that, she felt a
great weight lifted off her shoulders. It felt so good to laugh; she
hadn't done it in so long, she almost forgot how. The two chuckling
teens gradually calmed down.
"Thanks, Ranma," Ukyo said, drying her eyes. "I haven't had a
good laugh in awhile."
He gave her the boyish grin she had fallen in love with. "Ya
can call me Ranchan again if you want. I'm used to you calling me that."
"Only if you call me Ucchan," she shot back, smiling.
"Deal." His grin widened.
Ukyo sighed. "So, what now?"
Ranma shrugged. "You cheer up and come back ta school." He
hopped to his feet, causing Ukyo to stand as well. "Ya know, Konatsu's
been real nice to ya. I think you owe him a good talk."
She nodded, sobering a little. "Yeah, I know. Both he and Akane
have been good friends." Unable to help herself, she wrapped her arms
around her fiance and gave a squeeze, smiling when she felt his arms
hesitantly pat her back. Reluctantly, she finally let him go. "See ya
later, Ranchan."
He grinned. "See ya around, Ucchan!" He waved, then left.
Ukyo looked down at the half full bottle in her hand and
studied it for several minutes. Then she stood up, walked to the
kitchen, and emptied it down the sink.
Tomorrow was a new day, and she intended to make the most of
it.
-------------------------------------------------
Author's notes:
Ukyo is one of my favorite characters (despite what some may think). Of
course, they're all my favorites, but Ukyo has some intriguing angles to
her (which is surprising, considering she gets less screen time than the
rest of the `regulars'). She's nice and kind most of the time, and tends
to get along fine with Akane, who also has a strong nice side. Both
girls tend to have problems, though, whenever the issue of Ranma's
marriage status(or related issue) is brought up; Ukyo moreso than Akane,
however. But I do think both are prime candidates for some good
character growth, following the events at the end of the manga.
Just call me an optimist! ^_^
Kaiphantom
"Why can't I be molested? Phooey..." - Hinako
End part 1
_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
.---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
| Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
| Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
| Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject |
`---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'