Merger
Thom Keehn
zinyadel@hotmail.com


Exclusive rights to all Ranma1/2 characters and places belong to
Rumiko Takahashi and are used herein without permission.  This
material is not to be used for commercial gain or in any other way
that is profitable.

This fic is to take place around a month after Locket.  This is one
of those that worked it's way out of my boredom.  I hope it's as
good as my others.

The stories of both the Cas series and Wedding Aftermaths are on my
homepage in formatted text files.

http://ravenhale.anifics.com/fiction.html

-----

For a Friday night, the turnout was pathetic.  Ukyou let her gaze
wander about the room, noting only one couple chatting away by the
window that she had yet to serve.  Everyone else was eating or in
the process of paying and leaving.

Leaning forward on the grille, Ukyou sighed.  She couldn't afford
lulls like this on what was supposed to be a profit night.  Even
the number of regulars that had returned upon her reopening two
months ago had slowly begun to dwindle.

"Hey, Hiroshi," she drawled, straightening up.  Her fellow
schoolmate, seated upon one of the stools at the counter, looked up
at the sound of his name.  "Do you think I've lost my touch?"

Though Hiroshi's contemplative look on his face was promising, his
companion, Daisuke, did the answering.  "The atmosphere is too
somber."  Daisuke groaned as an elbow was shot in his side.

"Your cooking skills are as excellent as ever," Hiroshi declared,
casting a sidelong glance of warning at his friend.

It was heartening to know her skills had not suffered in her
respite.  "Somber, you say," she repeated, turning her head to
Daisuke.  "How so?"

Hiroshi glanced away, his fingers fidgeting nervously with his
empty plate.  "You've changed," he started.  "Some ways good and in
others sad."

Daisuke leaned forward on the countertop, noisily scooting his
stool forward.  "It was no secret about your feelings for Ranma,"
he whispered conspiratorially.  "It was pretty much accepted
throughout the school that when you left without much warning he
had broken your heart."  Daisuke shrugged.  "But when you came
back..."

"Yea, when you came back and reopened shop," Hiroshi cut in,
glancing about the room as if worried someone would hear him, "I
thought you were either back for Ranma or over him."

"You don't think I'm over him?" Ukyou asked, arching an eyebrow.

Hiroshi gulped nervously, looking down to the floor.  "I will if
you want me to," he quickly amended.

"Regardless, I'm sure you are on the right track," Daisuke
continued.  "You go to school dressed as a girl now, you don't
carry around that big spatula wherever you go....  If you're
intending to join the rest of us normal students, you're doing a
good job.  All you need is a group of gossipy friends and you'd
blend right in."

"And that's the real problem," Hiroshi added.  "You're still
reclusive, perhaps even more so than before.  You don't even greet
customers the same way you did."

Ukyou glanced between the two and shrugged.  "If all I need is a
couple of girls to tell me what color of highlights would look best
in my hair, I'll pass," she said dismissively.  "I've already been
there and done that."

Konatsu came over, whispering in his soft voice the orders of some
new customers she had missed entering her restaurant.  Promptly she
went about making the meals, favoring the pair a quick glance and
noting they were both confused by the looks on their faces.
"What?"

"Ranma said something about you going to an all girl's school in
Osaka..." Hiroshi began, but let his sentence hang as he fumbled
with his hands nervously.

"And I am never doing that again," Ukyou replied, quickly turning
over her browning circles on the grill.  "Though, most of my
problems were due to an over-exertive redhead that just wouldn't
leave me alone."  After quickly dabbing on the sauces and ladling
toppings out of her jars onto the okonomiyaki, she turned back to
her audience.  "You two wouldn't be opposed to hanging out with me
if you feel I'm in need of social participation?"

"Us?" Daisuke asked.

"You are Ranma's friends, and as a former friend and fianc�e I see
no reason why we shouldn't get along," Ukyou remarked with a shrug.
"Maybe I do need some cheering up."

"We would be honored," Hiroshi said, hanging his head.

"But she's half your problem," Daisuke commented, thumbing towards
her waitress.  "Your waitress is even more depressed than you are.
She never smiles anymore."

Daisuke winced as another elbow found his gut.  "She's a he!"
Hiroshi hissed.

Ukyou ignored the two as they continued to squabble over Konatsu,
regarding the object of their discussion with sadness.  She knew
they were right about Konatsu's behavior.  The only times he
resembled having a feeling of happiness was when they went out
occasionally to the dance club with Shampoo.  Shampoo.

She knew she had hurt a lot of people in her blind attempt to catch
herself as she fell.  Like a person drowning, she had reached out
to her saviors and pulled them down to the same watery fate.  All
because she could not be alone and cope with the horrible thing she
had done to Ranma.

But things were better now.  She could look at Ranma for a full
five seconds so long as he wasn't looking back.  She could even
manage a greeting to Akane in the morning if for some reason she
could not avoid their paths from crossing.  Perhaps it was time to
let Konatsu go if he truly wished to be elsewhere, but that
depressing thought was nearly unbearable.  She'd rather throw him
out.

"Ukyou... you're grill..." Daisuke warbled, rapping his knuckles
loudly on the countertop.

Ukyou looked down, barely comprehending at first but cursing soon
afterwards.  Grimacing, she chucked the two toasted discs into the
trash and angrily went about remaking the orders.  "I should talk
with Ranma about Konatsu," she muttered.

"Ranma?" Hiroshi repeated.  "Why?"

"Because I'll need his help cheering Konatsu up," Ukyou explained.

"Nonsense," Hiroshi remarked.  "I'm sure you could do just about
anything to cheer him up."

Ukyou sighed as she kept her attention on her work.  "Not anymore,"
she said softly.  "Not anymore."

*****

"Could you get that, Ranma?" Kasumi called over the sound of the
water running from the sink in the kitchen.

Groaning, Ranma turned off the TV and got to his feet.  The trill
of the phone sounded throughout the household again, demanding his
attention.  Grumbling, he made his way down the hall to answer it.

Usually he would be spared this chore, but since Akane and their
parents had left to visit Nabiki for the weekend, it was just
Kasumi and him at home.  He had also been invited, but he had his
reasons to decline, while Kasumi had declined solely on the basis
of being so far behind chores that she'd need the extra time to
catch up.

He picked up the phone on the sixth ring.  "Tendou residence," he
spoke solemnly into the receiver.

"Ranma, I need you to come over right away!"

He knew the voice but could hardly believe she was talking to him.
Ever since Kodachi's stupid perfume incident he was lucky to get
within five feet of the okonomiyaki chef.

"Ukyou!  How are you doing?" he asked excitedly.

"Are you coming over or not?"

Ranma bobbed his head.  Remembering to speak, he added, "Of course,
give me ten minutes."

Before he could think to ask why she was suddenly calling him the
line went dead.  He shrugged, setting down the phone quickly and
rushing up the stairs to his room.  Though he wasn't certain what
this was all about, he felt he had to dress nicer if he was going
to win her back as a friend.

Throwing open his closet doors, he seized upon the black, silk
shirt his mother had bought for him last birthday.

*****

Noting with an overhead glance that the sign had been taken down
for the evening, Ranma slid open the door.  This had to be very
important for Ukyou to close down her restaurant so early.  He
closed the door behind him, paying little attention to the lobby of
empty chairs as he crossed over to the counter behind which Ukyou
stood.

"Hey, Ranma," she said without looking up from the batter she was
mixing.  "I figure for your trouble I should at least give you a
little something in return."  She finished whisking the contents of
her jar before spilling a small circle upon the barren grill.

Ranma slipped up to sit upon a stool across from his former
fianc�e.  He glanced down at the sizzling circle, hoping he had
room for more after the big dinner Kasumi had made.  It had been a
long time since Ukyou had made him a meal.

"Free food and a counter spot," Ranma said, staring at the dough as
a spatula slipped beneath it and flipped it over, revealing a
golden underside.  "That's more than what I've gotten from you in
well over a year."

"You haven't come here for the past couple months," she replied
simply, pulling out another jar of sauce and a brush.

"You haven't exactly extended an invitation," Ranma countered
sullenly.  "The last time we talked I was fairly certain you didn't
want me around anymore."

"And which time would that be?" she asked, scooping the meal up
with a spatula and dishing it onto a plate.  "Here ya go."

Ranma took the offered plate, setting it down in front of him.
There was no cutsie designs or love letters written in sauce.  It
simply declared, 'To my friend'.

He looked up, worried if he could smile or not.  "I thought you
said we couldn't be friends," he stated.

"I'm not right about everything, Ranma," Ukyou said with a shrug,
turning away to put away her jars of ingredients.  Calling from
beneath the counter, she continued, "Turns out, I'm not right about
much."

"Hey, that's great, Uuchan!" Ranma cheered, digging into his food.
"You wouldn't believe how weird my life has gotten over the past
years!"  The poor okonomiyaki stood no chance and vanished down his
gullet before he got to his next sentence.  "Akane got this locket
now and she's been using it to supposedly better our relationship.
I'm sure she has her reasons but I thought it was doing fine
without it."

Ukyou straightened up and favored him with a smile.  "That's great
to hear that you're finally admitting you have a relationship," she
said.

Ranma would have gagged on his food if it wasn't already gone.
"No, I mean, we're not really..."

Ukyou rolled her eyes, smacking him in the temple with a greasy
spatula.  The strike stung a little but the grease was a real pain.
Ranma grimaced trying to rub the scalding liquid away from his eye.

"You really need to get over that, Ranma," Ukyou remarked, taking
her spatula along with some other dirty dishes she gathered from
the counter to a countertop sink she had in the back.  "Who cares
if Akane has a locket.  If it's making progress, that's better than
you two always fighting over how much you don't love each other."

Before he could even think of it, he shot out his customary denial.
"I do not love Akane!"

"Sure you don't," Ukyou called back from the sink as she turned on
the faucet.  "If we're going to be friends, Ranma, the least you
could do is be honest with me."

Ranma sat on the stool, feeling ashamed and thankful Akane had not
been in earshot.

"Bring that plate over here," Ukyou ordered from the sink.  "That
should be the last of my dishes."

Ranma frowned, staying seated and clutching the plate tightly as
his stomach growled.  "You're not making any more?"

"You didn't ask for any more."

Feeling he was being mistreated, Ranma tried to reason why she
would be doing this to him.  Many reasons came to mind so he
decided to try a vague approach.  "You're holding it against me,
aren't you?"

"Holding what?" Ukyou asked, turning off the faucet and drying her
hands on her outfit before turning around to face him.

Ranma cursed as he tried to think of how he could continue this
without being nabbed for not knowing what was wrong.  "You're mad
at me."

Ukyou steadily approached him from behind the counter.  "If I was
mad at you, I wouldn't have bothered inviting you over tonight,"
she explained.

"Well... if you're not mad then why didn't you offer me more to
eat?"

Ukyou shrugged.  "You gave me no indication that you wanted more,"
she stated, rolling her eyes.  "I suppose I can get my stuff back
out.  I thought I was being rather deliberate about putting them up
earlier."

"I'm sorry," he murmured sheepishly as she ducked down beneath the
counter to get out her things.

"If you want things, Ranma," Ukyou started, the sound of cabinets
shutting below following her voice, "you need to learn to ask for
them."  Ukyou stood up bearing three jars.  "How is anybody going
to know what you want if you don't tell them?"

Ranma could only nod in response, certain that if he said anything
else he'd only make more of a fool of himself.  Ukyou shook her
head and sighed.  "What?" he asked, curious as to why she had
responded as such.

"Nothing," Ukyou remarked dismissively as she fished a new whisk
out of a nearby drawer.  "Just realizing how hypocritical I am.  I
want you to do me a favor."

Nodding, Ranma remained silent.  Although he wanted to agree to
anything Ukyou might ask of him, he knew he should hear the favor
first.

"It's about Konatsu," she continued, unscrewing the jar top.  "I
need you to take him back to the Cat Cafe, forcefully if needs be."

Ranma blinked.  "Why?" he asked simply, allowing his mind to wander
over reasons why a girl would wish a guy to leave her alone.  "Has
he lied to you about something, or maybe got engaged to another
girl."  Ranma paused, cupping his chin.  "Well... that other one
would be kind of difficult considering how much Konatsu looks like
a girl."

Ukyou smacked him in the top of the head with a dough covered
whisk, sending fragments of the mixture in every direction.  "No,
you idiot, it's nothing like that," she assured him.  She calmed
herself with a heavy sigh.  "He's just not happy here."

Ranma shook his head emphatically.  "That's not true," he said.
"Everyone knows that Konatsu..."  Ranma felt he couldn't say it as
he looked into Ukyou's eyes.  He wondered if it was possible if
Ukyou didn't know.  "I mean... you know, don't you?"

"I can't be selfish," Ukyou said with a sigh.  "He's miserable
here.  He'd be better off with friends that can treat him better."

Ranma snorted at the thought.  "Oh, come on, Uuchan," he said,
pounding his fist resolutely on the countertop.  "You are no more
selfish than anybody I know.  I can think of several times where
you helped me out from the good of your heart."

Ukyou glared at him in challenge.  "Like when?"

"Well... I, uh..."

"Don't strain yourself, Ranma," Ukyou remarked with a sigh, setting
down her jars to lean against the countertop and stare morosely at
her hands.  "Even if you could think of a time, I know my motives
better than you do.  Like helping you train for your match with the
Gambling King.  I didn't care if you won.  I just wanted to be with
you."

Frowning, Ranma placed his elbows on the countertop and leaned
forwards, cupping his head in his hands.  "I noticed that..."

"And before that was the moxibustion," she continued.  "All I could
think about was how you couldn't possibly carry on your school of
martial arts in your condition and what that meant for me."

Ranma stood up, slamming both fists on the countertop.  "Enough!"
he shouted at her, further startling the chef.  "You can badmouth
yourself all you like but it doesn't change the fact that everyone
has their own motives for what they do."  He turned his head aside,
clenching his fists tightly upon the countertop.  "I can't even
count the number of times I've fought for my pride, putting things
on the line that shouldn't be gambled.  I risked your business to
the Gambling King for myself!"  He gazed fully on her, holding her
eyes.  "Sure, I'd get the dojo back as an added bonus but I had to
beat him, even if there was nothing at stake."

"But I don't want to be like that," Ukyou said meekly, hanging her
head.

Sighing, Ranma sat back down trying to think of anything else that
would cheer her up.  "I forgive you," he said firmly.  "I hold none
of what you said against you."

"That doesn't matter if I can't forgive myself," she muttered.
Placing her hands on the countertop, she lifted herself into a
seated position on the counter.  "In my heart, I'll never be able
to make up for the things I did to you.  But I feel I can still
make things right with Konatsu by giving him back to Shampoo."  She
crossed her legs, bound in black leggings, at the shins, bobbing
them gently against the cabinet faces below.  "Please, help me be a
better person."

"You don't need to do this to prove you are a better person," Ranma
reasoned.  "We can talk to Konatsu and ask him what he wants to
do."

"I would rather die a thousand deaths," Ukyou drawled out softly.
"If he wants to come back, I'll take him back.  But I can't bear
the thought of him wanting to go.  I'd rather force him out than
let him go because he wants to."

Ranma frowned.  "What's the difference?"

"The difference between you leaving Akane or her throwing you out."

Ranma didn't have to contemplate that for long.  "As a friend, I
must be honest and tell you that still is a selfish way of doing
this," he said, trying to smile to make light of his statement.

Ukyou only hung her head lower, drawing her knees up to her chin to
tuck the balls of her feet against the edge of the countertop.  "As
a friend, I must be honest and tell you that if we both went out
one night in an attempt to just be friends and happened to get
drunk and you came on to me or I you and you did not resist..."

"We don't need to go there, Uuc... Ukyou," Ranma said softly.  "I
swear with all my heart that I will never let something like that
happen again... even if it means I have to take a third wheel
along."

"I'd like that, Ranma," she replied, lowering her feet back down.
He could see her eyes were a little red, as if she were about to
cry.  She turned her head away, hopping down from the counter.
"I've found it's more fun with friends along."

Ranma finally allowed the smile he wore to reach his heart.
Finally he had won her back and he hoped he would never screw this
friendship up.

*****

"Shan Pu, dear, it seems we have more guests," Kuh Lon called over
the kitchen bay.

Shan Pu nodded, already turning to greet the sound of the sliding
door.  However, the words died on her lips at the sight of the
couple that stepped across the threshold.  Taking a hesitant step
forward, she held a hand up, fingers curled in the direction of the
pair.

"Unusual seeing Ranma with Ukyou," Mu Si commented, appearing at
her side.  He adjusted his glasses as he peered at the pair taking
a seat in a window booth.  "You think he might have made up with
her and is taking her on a date?"

Shan Pu scowled at her coworker, stomping on his foot.  "No,
stupid!" she growled, stalking off in the direction of the couple
and ignoring the hopping boy behind her.

But her bluster did not carry with her all the way to the booth.
By the time she arrived, she could tell this was not a date planned
by Ukyou to unsettle her.  Rather, by Ukyou's expectant look she
suspected her position of Ranma's friend was going to be used
again.

Shan Pu crossed her arms and peered down at the pair.  "Okay, what
do you want?" she demanded.

Ranma grinned nervously, rubbing the back of his head.  "Shampoo!"
Ranma started.  "We're not exactly here for food but..."

"I know that," she huffed.  "You think I would greet customers like
that if they wanted food?  What kind of waitress you think I am?"

"A good one?" Ranma ventured, befuddled.

Ukyou patted the empty space beside her, eyes pleading.  "Please,
Shampoo, just sit with us," she begged.  "We need to talk with
you."

Setting the tray she had been holding on a nearby table, Shan Pu
slipped into the booth next to Ukyou, folding her hands in her lap
after absently smoothing some wrinkles out of the tight-fitting
dress.  Comfortable, Shan Pu leaned back in the booth and sighed.
"What is it?"

Ukyou turned slightly in the booth to face her, one hand on the
table while the other pressed on the cushion of the seat.  "I need
you to take back Konatsu," the chef stated.

She suddenly felt uncomfortable sitting in such an aloof manner.
She crossed her legs at the thigh, leaving one hand in her lap
while the other found its way to cup her chin.  "Why?" she asked
simply.  "Did he do something?"

"Because he loves you."

Shan Pu snorted in disbelief.  She was about to comment when Ranma
seized control of the conversation.

"Ukyou, everybody knows Konatsu's in love with you!"

Ukyou's head drooped.  "That may have been true, but if he was he
wouldn't be so miserable all the time with me..."

"I'm sure it's just a mood he will get over in time," Ranma
countered, leaning over the table towards them.

Slipping her free hand down to cover Ukyou's, Shan Pu squeezed
softly.  "You are being silly," she remarked lightly.  "What makes
you think waitress boy loves me any more than you?"

"He was happier here," Ukyou replied softly.  "I just want him to
be happy."

"Happiness isn't the same as love," Shan Pu stated evenly.  "Have
you known anyone that loves that is happy because of it?"

"I suppose not," Ukyou admitted.

"Konatsu had his moments here, but I doubt he'd admit they were all
happy," Shan Pu countered.

Ukyou shook her head.  "No, he's much worse now than he was when I
first worked with him," the chef declared.  "He belongs here.  He's
only happy when we go out together."

Ranma blinked.  "You guys go out?"

Shan Pu shrugged, lifting the hand in her lap to dismiss Ranma's
question.  "I need something to do with my spare time," she
explained.  "Lot more time now that I am not chasing you about, so
might as well have some fun."

"Yea, Ranma," Ukyou agreed.  "I have a lot more time to my shop as
well.  It gets boring at times, especially on slow nights."

"But you would be much more lonely if you give up Konatsu," Shan Pu
stated.

Ukyou shrugged, staring down at her ensnared hand but making no
move to free it.  "I'm not lonely," she denied.  "I'm used to being
alone but that doesn't make me lonely."

She could sense the girl was lying, though she felt certain anybody
could tell that by Ukyou's incapability to look her in the eye.
She reached down with her other hand, turning Ukyou's over and
caressing the girl's wrist in a hopefully soothing manner.

"You can be honest," Shan Pu assured Ukyou.  "I know you are lonely
but you do not need to do this.  If you are convinced Konatsu is
happier here, then you should both come."

"Both?" Ranma repeated in a confused tone.  "You want Ukyou to come
work at the cafe?  What do you plan on having her do?"

Ukyou pulled her hand away, holding it against her chest.  "Yea,
it's not like I'm going to be a waitress," the chef agreed.  "I
spent over a decade learning the art of making okonomiyaki and I'm
not about to throw that away.  It was hard enough stopping for a
year."

Shaking her head, Shan Pu smiled.  "It is nothing like that," she
assured Ukyou.  "Great-Grandmother thinks we need more business and
there's only so much waitresses and waiters can do to draw a crowd.
We need more variety."

"You want me to make okonomiyaki for the Cat Cafe?" Ukyou ventured.

"That's perfect, Uuchan!" Ranma spouted.  "I mean, think of all the
advantages."  Ranma grinned proudly as he tucked both hands behind
his head as he reclined in his seat.  "The Cat Cafe couldn't find a
better chef for the job if they want okonomiyaki on their menus."

Ukyou flushed crimson at the compliment, too shocked for words.

"You'd be helping them a lot, Uuchan, I'm sure of it!" Ranma
continued.  "Guys like me would not have to wander from restaurant
to restaurant just to find what we want.  We'd be able to come to
one place and get whatever we wanted."

Shan Pu frowned, crossing her arms and accidentally kicking the
bottom of the table as she uncrossed her legs.  "There's more to
this than ramen and okonomiyaki," she said.

She sighed, realizing Ranma was not paying attention.  Turning to
Ukyou, she offered a faint smile.  "It would be fun," she added.

Ukyou had a disconcerted look in her eyes.  "I don't know," the
chef said softly.  "I suppose I wouldn't mind if you really needed
the help..."

"Help is always welcome," Shan Pu declared, slipping out of the
booth.  "I shall go tell Great-Grandmother the news."  She left the
couple, the feeling of butterflies drifting through her stomach.
It meant she was doing something good today.

*****

"Owwww!!!" Ranma barked as his shin was struck.  He sat up
straight, lifting up his injured leg for inspection.

"What did you do that for?!" Ukyou growled.

"I was about to ask you the same thing!" Ranma shot back, rubbing
at his throbbing leg.

"My family business is my business," Ukyou said slowly.  "The
Kuonji family has ran an okonomiyaki shop each generation.  I'm the
only one to carry on this tradition."

"So you'll be running an okonomiyaki and ramen shop instead," Ranma
replied with a shrug.  "I see that as an improvement, a sign of
expanding your horizons."

"My horizons are well enough," Ukyou countered sharply.  "I don't
need them getting any bigger!"

"Aw, man, you have to admit this has some advantages for you,"
Ranma declared.  "If you guys go out all the time, it would make it
easier to coordinate."

Ukyou glowered at him, leaning back in her seat.  Crossing her
arms, her gaze penetrated through his cheerful disposition.  "There
may be some advantages such as rent but that comes with the
disadvantage of space," she remarked.  "Where am I going to put all
my equipment?  And if I'm supposed to be drawing in more customers,
we are going to need a bigger lobby."

Ranma nodded, dismissing her concerns with a wave of his hand.
"I'm sure if you bring enough business to the restaurant, the Cat
Cafe will be able to afford a bigger place," he said.  "You
shouldn't worry over it."

Ukyou bit her lower lip, clutching her hand more tightly to her
chest.  "Even so, I'm not sure if I should stay here," his friend
murmured.  "Last time I was here I had to share a room with
Shampoo."

"I don't see the problem with that," Ranma remarked offhandedly.
"You must be friends, if you've been going out on outings with
her."

"That's not the problem," Ukyou said softly.

Frowning, Ranma wasn't sure what Ukyou meant by that.  "You two
aren't still fighting over me, are you?" he asked.

"No."

"Konatsu?"

"No."

"Mousse?"

"NO!"

Ranma held both his hands up, unable to think of anybody else
they'd fight over.  "I can't know the problem if you don't tell me
what you two are fighting over," he explained honestly.

Ukyou got up from the booth, wandering off towards the kitchen.
"Who says it has anything to do with fighting?" she demanded,
without looking back.

Ranma sighed.  He was certain he had missed something that happened
between Shampoo and Ukyou.  He only wished he knew what it was and
that he could do something about it to make things better.

*****

Ukyou walked up the stairs behind the small form of the wizened
matriarch, her slippers barely making a sound and her baby blue
nightgown wafting about her ankles as she walked.  The elderly
woman's staff rapped sharply against the floorboards as they
started down the hall towards the living quarters.

"I apologize for the inconvenience this must be," Ukyou spoke,
still not convinced this was a good idea.  Though she did admit
having company was a good, she was not too thrilled about sharing a
bedroom.  She had just been getting used to having a room to
herself again.

"Nonsense, child," the Amazon leader dismissed.  "It will be good
to have more help around the household and more business for the
cafe."

Ukyou frowned at the woman's words, certain there was something
missing.  "What about Ranma?" she asked bluntly.

"What about him?" the woman said, turning about.

Ukyou peered down at the diminutive woman inquisitively.  "I
thought you were intent on making Ranma Shampoo's husband," she
admitted.  "I know Shampoo is rumored to have given up on him, but
I don't see why you'd let her."

"If she's lost interest in him, I see no reason to force her to the
marriage," Cologne declared.

Even more confused, Ukyou rubbed her brow slightly agitated.  "But
I thought your laws demand that she marry him," she stated, hoping
she was remembering it right.

"She must marry him in order to return home, unless he's dead," the
matriarch said in agreement.  "This is why she has stayed here even
after giving up on Ranma."

Ukyou suddenly felt very sorry for Shampoo.  She briefly wondered
who between them had it worse, her never having a life as a woman
because of a poor decision on her father's part or Shampoo having
her life taken away from her because she could not win the heart of
the man that bested her in combat.

"Does Ranma know?"

"He finally understands the situation, and he has even tried
negotiating with me to change the laws of our society so my Shampoo
can go back," Cologne admitted with a faint smile.

Ukyou didn't have to guess what that smile meant.  "You won't
reconsider your laws even for your granddaughter," she surmised.

"It is not that I won't, but that I can't," Kuh Lon declared
solemnly, rapping the end of her staff on the floor.  "Shampoo is
my only heir and it pains me to see a champion like her forced into
exile.  But our laws have proven to be true for centuries."  The
old woman peered into her eyes intently, her gaze unrelenting.  "No
matter how dear we make think of Shampoo, she is but a single girl.
We have to believe that what we hold is true for all of our kind.
There can be no exceptions."

"It's heartless," Ukyou said firmly.

"Heartless would have been to abandon her," Cologne remarked,
turning away and continuing down the hall.  "I chose to remain with
her because I am neither heartless nor fully in agreement with the
law in this case.  But as it is my heir in consideration, I am not
allowed to make this judgment to change the law."  The matriarch
pushed a door open with her staff and waved her on.  "Come now.
Shampoo is waiting."

Moving down the hall, Ukyou hugged her elbows as a sudden chill
swept down her spine.  She stopped at the door and peered inside,
noting that her cot had been pulled up next to Shampoo's to make
more room for the other items that would soon be moved in.

"Child, put some pants on," Kuh Lon said reproachfully.  "Mousse is
still bringing in Ukyou's things."

Ukyou glanced over to Shampoo, who was lying on her cot reading a
comic.  The Amazon was wearing only a long-sleeved shirt, her legs
crossed and bent up with her creamy cheeks peeking out from the
bottom of her shirt.  Shampoo's legs bobbed slowly as she turned
another page.

"So?"

"I swear I'll never understand your generation," Cologne said,
shaking her head.  The old woman departed, leaving Ukyou standing
in the doorway.

Ukyou stepped into the room, noting her dresser had been brought up
and placed against the far wall.  Her eyes flickered back to
Shampoo, causing a warm fluttery feeling to rise in her stomach.
"Um... Shampoo," she started.  "Mousse will be bringing in my trunk
of clothes and miscellaneous things sooner or later.  Are you sure
you want to be seen without... you know."

"Nothing he has not seen before," Shampoo remarked, turning another
page.  "Sit with me or lie on your bed."

Ukyou made her way around Shampoo's raised legs and settled down on
her back next to Shampoo.  "I'm sorry," she said, fidgeting her
fingers together above her chest.  "I wasn't aware you two were..."

"He has pictures," Shampoo reminded her, rolling over and shifting
down so she was next to Ukyou.  "You know it is not like that.
This is funny."  Shampoo moved the comic in front of Ukyou's face,
still holding it at the edges.

"What is it?" Ukyou asked, glancing at the pictures with mild
interest.

"Tenchi Universe," Shampoo answered.  "It basically about a guy
with a lot of girls that like him and the things they do.  I think
I can relate to this."

Ukyou winced.  "A little too close to the truth for my tastes," she
admitted.

There was a grunt from the door and Shampoo lowered her comic.
Mousse stumbled into the room with her chest, his face red with
exertion.  "This is..." he wheezed, staggering further into the
room, "... heavy!"  He crossed the room in a wavering gait,
eventually reaching the far side and slamming down the chest next
to her dresser, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Careful with that!" Ukyou shouted, rolling onto her knees to
reprimand the young man with her eyes.

He wiped his brow with his sleeve, moving his glasses up to better
succeed in his task.  "Did you... have lead weights in that?" he
panted.

Shampoo remained on the bed, turning another page.  "Thank you,
Mousse."

Ukyou gasped as she was grabbed tightly.  "Oh, my Shampoo!" her
offender cried out.  "You know I would do anything for you!"

Ukyou felt flush as his head started to rub against the top of her
right breast.  She attempted to move her hands but realized
Mousse's hold had pinned them to her sides.  And on her knees she
could make very little use of her legs.

"Help!"

The comic smacked Mousse in the back of the head.  "Why you coming
on to Ukyou?" Shampoo asked lightly.  "You no like me anymore?"

Mousse slipped his glasses back down and flushed at Ukyou.  He held
her away, hanging his head.  "I'm so sorry," he apologized.
"Shampoo, I..."  His words died as he gaped, his mouth working but
no sounds coming forth.

Shampoo smoothed out her comic and went back to reading in the
silence that ensued.

Narrowing her eyes, Ukyou glanced in the direction the stupefied
Mousse was facing and blushed at the sight.  Shampoo's shirt had
slipped up to her belly, revealing a trimmed swath of hair below
her navel that disappeared downwards in a thinning line.

"I... I... may I be excused!" Mousse cried out suddenly, gathering
his feet beneath him and vaulting over Ukyou towards the door.  His
footsteps bounded down the hall, ending with a door slam and
excited whisperings from the room next to theirs.

"Shampoo!" Ukyou hissed, grabbing a pillow and stuffing it between
her companion's legs.  "What do you think you are doing?"

"Reading a comic," Shampoo answered, reaching down to adjust the
pillow before wrapping her legs about it.

"You're only encouraging him!" the chef hissed, taking the comic
away from the Amazon.  She blinked, surprised that she had pulled
it away so easily, but quickly put the thought and comic aside.
"He's going to think you want him if you do things like that!"

"Mousse would think I want him no matter what I do," Shampoo said
with a scowl.  "I no like sleeping with pants or panties and I am
not about to change just because I live with someone that has an
obsession over me."

"You don't always do this, do you?" Ukyou asked.

"He is not in my room often," Shampoo commented.  "You should not
worry.  Mousse is harmless.  He will masturbate and go sleep well
tonight."

Ukyou flushed at the bluntness of her companion's statement.  "I
don't expose myself to my would-be lovers just so they can sleep
well!" she hissed.

Sighing, Shampoo grabbed at Ukyou's hand and pulled down.  Ukyou
was alarmed at how strong the girl was.  She tried resisting but
Shampoo merely shot her other hand up to grab Ukyou's other hand
and soon Ukyou was pulled down beside her.

"Just lie still," Shampoo ordered before letting go.  "I'm not
doing anything so grotesque as wantonly exposing myself.  I'm just
lying in my bed in my bedclothes," Shampoo reasoned.  "Eventually
Mousse is going to tire of watching."

"You want him to..."

Shampoo shook her head violently.  "No!" she hissed.  "I do not
mean me.  I mean in general."  She sighed, crossing her arms
beneath her breasts.  "I'm hoping he will tire of watching and let
some other girl sweep him away.  He has no shortage of dance
partners."

Nodding, Ukyou could see some logic, but not much.  Sure, Mousse
was an attractive guy that could probably take a girl home and do
whatever he wished.  But Mousse was also extremely devoted to
Shampoo, a fact that prevented him from doing that.

"Your actions will not waver his loyalty to you," Ukyou said
softly.  "If he wanted another woman, I'm sure he could have had
one by now."

"I am counting on my inaction to," Shampoo countered.  "I was loyal
to Ranma and anything he would do would inspire me to love him
more.  But it was his inaction that finally made the decision for
me."  Shampoo sighed heavily.  "Mousse may think he loves me, but
he loves my body first and foremost.  He will find another to sate
his desires eventually and then he can be happy."

"So that's why you keep inviting him along," Ukyou guessed, lying
her head down beside Shampoo's shoulder.  "I was beginning to think
you like him."

"I do," Shampoo admitted, "but I do not love him.  He does not
respect me."  Shampoo rolled onto her side, supporting herself on
an elbow as she faced Ukyou.  "He treats me like a flower, when I
am a warrior.  He deserves a flower."

Ukyou frowned, lifting her head up with her palm pressed against
her cheek.  "Are you saying you don't feel worthy of him?" she
queried.

Shampoo's eyes widened in disbelief.  "No, no," she denied hastily.
"You are not thinking about my society.  If a man wishes to marry
a woman of his choosing, he must best her in combat to prove he is
capable of taking care of her.  It may sound stupid, but it's very
romantic to me."

"What's so romantic about it?" Ukyou asked, perplexed.

"Well..." Shampoo started, her eyes rolling.  They then focused
with a warm glow, a smile upon her face.  "He has to realize he is
going to hurt me.  Not always intentionally but that is the way
life is.  If Mousse cannot bring himself to believe that he will
hurt me, our relationship will never work.  He can live in his
fantasy and I am sure he will find a girl that will want to be
there with him, but I want to live realistically with my eyes wide
open.  I need a man who is willing to do the same."

"That sounds kinda morbid," Ukyou remarked.

Shrugging, Shampoo sat up and swiveled her head about, looking for
her comic.  "Where is my Tenchi?" she asked.  "Ah!"  Shampoo leaned
over Ukyou, grabbing at the comic that was behind the chef.
"Whatever you say about it, the fact remains that Mousse will never
have me."

Shampoo moved back, thumbing through the pages for her spot.  "I
know a rematch between us would be interesting," she remarked
offhandedly.  "That first fight was hardly a fair measure of his
talent.  He could probably win if he gave up his silly notion of
never hurting me."

"Then why doesn't he challenge you?" Ukyou asked.  This was all
feeling strange.  Here she was, lying in the same bed of a former
rival, playing thirty questions.  She flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry.  I shouldn't be asking you these things."

Shrugging, Shampoo set her comic down, open.  "Disregarding his
inability to hurt me, Mousse has very little options," Shampoo
stated.  "Defeating me does not negate Ranma's claim and defeating
Ranma does not give me him either.  Killing Ranma would of course
negate Ranma's claim, but then he would also have to defeat me.
That is a bit much to ask of him, especially when he knows I would
never forgive him for killing Ranma."

"You guys have some really terrible laws..."

Shampoo sniggered, rolling back.  "I know," she giggled.  "But what
can I do?  I'm in a foreign land, finally learning to speak the
language, but can not hope to pass an entrance exam for a school
for people my age.  I think I will stick around Ranma and maybe a
guy with less restraint in hitting girls will come along.  We all
now how Ranma attracts rival martial artists."

Ukyou smiled, pressing against Shampoo's side and shaking her head.
"You claim hopelessness, but at least you have only one suitor,"
Ukyou remarked.  "And he's not even that bad.  I have three.
Konatsu, who's terribly kind to me but lacks the backbone to make a
move; Tsubasa, who thinks he can win me over by smothering me with
affection dressed as a girl; and Kiten, this redhead back at home
that thought I was a boy but even after she found out the truth
continues to pursue me."

Giggling some more, Shampoo reached up to brush some bangs out of
Ukyou's face and tuck them behind her ear.  "Poor thing, having a
girl and boys that dress as girls as suitors," Shampoo cooed.

Ukyou nodded, rolling her eyes.  "And don't forget my former
fianc�e turned into a girl half the time," she added.  "It's like
the world is against me."

Shrugging, Shampoo slipped her hand down Ukyou's face before
resting it on her stomach.  "You should be more like me," Shampoo
declared.  "Accept.  Move on.  Relax."

Ukyou shook her head, smiling.  "I suppose I could, but I don't
want your help in relaxing," she said firmly.  "That was a bit
odd."

Shampoo blinked, confused.  Her eyes widened, as she quickly sat
up, bowing politely to Ukyou.  "I am so sorry about that," the
Amazon apologized.  "That was not the wisest of things I have done.
I had assumed that since it helped me sleep, it would help you."

"Well... sleep certainly wasn't the easiest accomplishment after
that," Ukyou admitted.  'I wanted more,' she added silently,
knowing it was wrong, but unable to withhold the thought or deny
the truth in it.  She eased her troubled conscious by admitting
that while it had felt good, it had also sent her emotions into a
turmoil she would willingly do without.

"Next time, we should spar," Shampoo suggested, looking up.  "I
know that will work."

Ukyou scratched the back of her ear, turning that idea over.  She
had never fought Shampoo without her spatula before.  She wondered
what it would be look.  "Sure."

"Thanks!" Shampoo cried with glee, enfolding her in a crushing hug.
Oddly the hold was quite similar to Mousse's earlier, Shampoo's
cheek nuzzling against the top of her right breast.  Not similar.
Identical.

Sleep didn't come easy that night either.

*****

Hey, Kiten

I know it's almost been three months since I didn't come back to
you and Osaka.  I'm really sorry if I let you down.  All your
efforts to make a girl out of me, though not wasted, simply didn't
make me a better person.

I'm not with him but we're friends again.  Perhaps even better than
we ever were.  Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I find myself
still fantasizing about him.  I suppose recovery can only go so far
to erase someone from your heart.

I've merged my business a month ago with the Amazons I told you
about.  I run a little side of the Cat Cafe though we share the
same kitchen.  Seating is a pain.  I know we're losing customers
because of the cramped space.  Great-Grandmother is looking into
possibly renovating an abandoned bathhouse nearby that went out of
business a couple months ago after somebody made too many
appearances there.  I refrain from pointing fingers.

Along with the cramped space comes cramped quarters.  I get to
share a room again.  Her name is Shan Pu and I know you'd like her.
We get along probably better than expected of two former rivals of
a man's love.  She's changed.  For that matter, I've changed.
We're still both stubborn as hell though, which leads to arguments
from time to time over many different things.

What used to be a weekly adventure is now twice a week.  I'm
talking about going out, you know, the thing you could never
convince me to do.  I did it once with Konatsu, Shan Pu and Mousse
and had a lot of fun.  Now that we all live together, there seems
to be more time to go out so we do.

I learned how to dance.  It's not that different from the katas I
used to practice along the seashore.  Speaking of that, I would
really appreciate it if you sent me another battle spatula.  I hate
to admit it, but Shan Pu is kicking my ass in sparring matches.
You won't stand a chance against me, when next we meet in unarmed
combat.  I'm learning things that I didn't think were possible for
me to do.

I'm making more friends.  Konatsu is happier than I've ever seen
him (the waitress I told you about) and I think I'm happier too.
Please note the address if you want to send me a reply as it's
different from the one I used to have.

Thinking of correspondence, I haven't heard anything from Tsubasa.
I know we scared him off living together for almost a year, but I
figured the moment he discovered I left Osaka, he'd resume his
annoying love letters.  Could you check up on him?

I know, you're wondering why am I worried about that weirdo.  I'm
not so much worried as concerned for his welfare.  I never thought
of Tsubasa as the stable type.  Just make sure he's okay for me and
not hiding away in misery.  And don't tell him I'm worried or
anything.  He'll read into it and show up on my doorstep the next
day if you do.

I guess that does sum everything up.  You should come visit if you
can.  You're small enough that we can probably squeeze you into our
room without much discomfort for a night or two.  If not, I'll see
you after graduation.  I'll be sure to show you this hug I've
learned that will turn your ears bright red.

Ukyou

----

This fic came to mind when I thought about the relationship between
Ukyou and Konatsu and how it was left in Locket.  For the most
part, I was worried that Ukyou was becoming overly needy and that
could end up with some rather nasty results.  Seeing how Shampoo
and Mousse were already sort of attempting to pull her out of her
shell, I took things an extra step.  I think I covered most of the
disadvantages of such a 'merger' and justified why it was done
regardless of them.  The only exception would be the matter of
whether or not Ukyou would truly dare to move in with a girl that
she probably doesn't think too highly of, especially after the
incidents of Oh Waiter!

With this in mind, I'm considering going back to write a couple
shortfics about Ukyou's time spent with Kiten.  It's something I
sort of overlook and use as justification of why she wouldn't be
too opposed of sharing a bedroom having done it before.

I'm hoping people have noted the better usage of words upon
Shampoo's part.  This is a year later so I figure she's bound to be
learning the language better with only the occasional slip.  If
Shampoo comes across as more intellectual I think I should point
out that the matters that she's speaking about concern her directly
and she's had much time to contemplate them.  If Ukyou was asking
for advice about her life, Shampoo would not have been so eloquent.

Lastly, this is not meant to be a pairing of any kind.  I am simply
fascinated with how all of Ukyou's suitors have been girls in some
manner or fashion (albeit I created one of them) and I'm curious as
to what exactly she'd be feeling about that.  I am not trying to
imply that there will ever be a relationship beyond a budding
friendship between the two girls.

Comments and criticism are always welcome.

zinyadel@hotmail.com

Ciaow






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