[FFML] [Fanfic][R1/2] Family Secrets - Chapter 4 (Revised)

[Ignacio Moreno]

I finished the revised version of Family Secrets Chapter 4. Mainly, I
followed Gary Kleppe's advices. I want to thank him for his help.

Disclaimers:

- Ranma belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

- This story is made for fun and is meant for the enjoyment of the fans.

- I have to thank Ranma-sama for proofreading this chapter and Gary Kleppe
for his advices and corrections. Thank you very much.

- Please Read & Review.

- I'm searching for an artist that could draw illustrations of my fics. If
anybody is interested, please send me an email. Thanks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chapter 04: Ukyo's Decision.

After a long day of class, the gates of the institute became a hive of
activity. The students who went to their homes mingled with those who were
going to their clubs, other extracurricular activities, or those who simply
stopped to talk to their schoolmates and friends.

Ukyo made her way through this human tide and, pausing only to return the
greetings that she received, left the institute going directly to her
restaurant.

The young chef's haste wasn't normal. Between the time she spent in the
institute and the time she spent in her restaurant, Ukyo appreciated every
moment she had free.

However, this hadn't been a good day and she wanted to leave it behind as
soon as possible.

Everything had gone wrong less than half an hour ago when, after
accumulating enough courage, she had asked Ranma the reason for his icy
behavior towards her in recent times. Her question had led to a completely
unexpected reaction from her fiancé, and had sown her mind with doubts.

Could it all have been Nodoka's plan to cause a rift between Ranma and his
other fiancées? Could it be that he really wanted to marry? That they l...?
No, it couldn't be possible. She had heard rumors of what happened at Mount
Phoenix, but that doesn't mean anything. She would have done the same if
she had had the chance... But it hadn't been her, but Akane, who had saved
Ranma. Of course she would have done the same if she had been in that
situation! But she hadn't been... However, she had been one of those who
had sabotaged the wedding. What should she do? What could she do?

Her doubts accompanied her all the way back, hovering around her mind like
vultures around a dying animal, similarly denying her peace and tranquility.

"Miss Ukyo!"

The call from a familiar voice brought her out of her reverie. Ukyo raised
her head and looked around.

While her mind traversed her uncertainties, her feet had led her to her
restaurant and home. And now, from its door, a female figure called her
urgently.

The young man had a beautiful face, dark eyes and long black hair tied back
in a ponytail. He wore a  beautiful traditional female kimono slightly
worn, with a matching obi tied in a big bow at his back, and straw sandals.
Over the kimono he wore an apron identifying him as the waitress of
Okonomiyaki Ucchan's.

Sighing, Ukyo moved her personal problems aside and got ready to cope with
the new problems that her waiter presaged.

"Yes, Konatsu? What's happened?" Ukyo asked wearily.
"There's a man waiting for you inside."
"Haven't you told him that we haven't opened yet?"
"He isn't a costumer," and lowering his voice he added: "He appears to be a
lawyer. He has been very insistent in his request to see you, so I decided
to invite him to sit down inside while he waited."

A lawyer? What would he want? Would it be about the documents of the
restaurant? It couldn't be. Everything was in order. Her father had
guaranteed it. Perhaps, they weren't so in order as they must be?

Slightly nervous and without knowing what to expect of such an unexpected
visit, Ukyo came into her restaurant, followed by Konatsu.

The man, whom her assistant had alluded to, was seated on a stool placed at
the side of the counter.

Ukyo, whose only knowledge about lawyers so far came from movies and TV
series, expected someone much older and fatter. Her visitor, however, must
be around thirty years old, was thin and not much taller than herself. Like
most Japanese, he had black hair, which was as short as to not need to be
combed and had dark eyes. The modest grey suit that he was wearing, and
dark glossy briefcase beside him, corresponded more with her the mental
image.

As soon as Ukyo crossed the entrance, the man stood up and approached her.

"Are you Miss Kuonji?" he asked politely.
"That's me. And you are...?"

The man pulled out a card that had prepared in the pocket of his jacket
and, holding it with both hands, he offered it to Ukyo while making a
respectful bow.

"My name is Tadashi Mizushima, lawyer, pleased to meet you."

Ukyo, surprised by such formality, tried to remember what was supposed to
be done in these cases. Insecure, she responded to the reverence almost
automatically and took the card offered to her, with both hands. After
reading it carefully, she put it in her pocket and pointing to the row of
stools, invited the young lawyer to sit down. Tadashi returned to the place
he had occupied previously, followed by Ukyo who sat beside him.
Understanding that his presence would not be required, Konatsu went to the
storeroom to continue with his chores.

Once settled down in his seat, the lawyer grabbed his briefcase, rested it
on the cold griddles and under Ukyo's watchful eye, pulled out a sheaf of
papers. After briefly reviewing them, Tadashi turned his attention toward
the young woman.

"With your permission I would like to confirm some information before
proceeding with the issue that has brought me here."
"Okay."

Returning his gaze to his documents, the young lawyer began to enumerate
Ukyo's personal information. After requesting her to confirm the name of
her parents and her birthplace, her patience ran out.

"Yes, everything is correct. And now," she continued slightly irate, "I
hope that you can give me a good reason for this grilling."

Tadashi left his documents over the counter, interlaced the hands upon his
knees and directed his gaze in Ukyo's general direction.

"I sincerely regret any inconvenience that my questions could have caused,"
he started apologetically, "but it was necessary that I ensured that you
are the right person."
"And, am I?"
"Yes, it seems so," Tadashi replied, seemingly immune to the sarcasm of the
teenager.
"Then, tell me what all of this owes to."
"The purpose of my visit is to negotiate an issue related to the verbal
agreement between your father and Mr. Saotome, whereby you should marry his
son. An agreement that the aforementioned Mr. Saotome breached when he ran
away with the okonomiyaki cart that was your dowry."
"Did Genma send you?" Ukyo interrupted.

The iciness of her tone of voice caused the room temperature to drop
several degrees.

"Genma?" Tadashi asked before turning towards his documents in search of
information. "Ah! Mr. Saotome!" The young lawyer turned again towards the
chef, before adding: "I could guarantee you that my client doesn't belong
to the Saotome family."

In spite of her efforts, Ukyo didn't manage to distinguish anything that
wasn't complete sincerity, in Tadashi's dark eyes.

"Who is your client then? And what is his interest in all of this?" she
asked suspicious.
"Unfortunately, our client has expressed a considerable interest in his
name remaining anonymous."

The words of the lawyer, very Japanese, were received by Ukyo with a
disdainful scorn, because it meant an emphatic negative to answer her
question.

"With respect to this matter," Tadashi continued unshaken, "I could
guarantee you that his interest is purely philanthropic. On finding out
your history, he felt so moved for all the distress that the actions of Mr.
Saotome had caused, that he decided to help you."
"Help me? How?"

The teenager's voice was composed of equal parts of surprise and curiosity.
However, the young lawyer seemed to notice a hint, perhaps only a shadow,
of hope.

"After stealing my dowry, the only honorable way out that remains for me is
to marry Ranma; but if you know his story as well as mine, you may have
noticed that it's impossible to reach a satisfactory solution for everyone."
"We are aware of the problems that Mr. Saotome has caused to his son, as
well as the ones that he has caused to himself. Though I must add that the
other parties involved have managed to entangle the issue even more."
"So what does you client suggest?" And as a humorous afterthought, she
added: "To my knowledge, cloning people isn't possible yet."
"I am afraid that the solution suggested by my client is more prosaic.
Certainly, after Mr. Saotome stole your dowry, your only honorable way out
is to marry his son. Nevertheless, if the okonomiyaki cart would be
returned to you, the agreement could be nullified without any loss of
honor."
"I doubt Genma knows what that is," Ukyo muttered under her breath. "Is
that your idea?" She asked skeptically. "Do you think it hasn't occurred to
me? But all of this happened more than ten years ago. Who knows where the
damn cart is now! I don't think Genma even remembers what he did with it."
"As you say, it can be very difficult to know the whereabouts of the dowry."
"Ha!"
"However," the lawyer continued in the same neutral professional, tone.
"For the present case, the exact return of the dowry would not be
absolutely necessary. The payment of its current value would be enough to
nullify the contract."
"Do you mean, if Genma pays me the value of my dowry, he could get rid of
me?"
"The contract would be void, yes. Logically, your father, as guardian,
should give his approval. I have to inform you that, according to our
calculations, a handcrafted okonomiyaki cart with all its papers in order
for the distribution of food is worth about ten million yen. Anyway..."
"Ten million?" She cut him off, raising her voice.
"Approximately. If you want, I can give you the exact..."

But Ukyo didn't listen him any longer.

Surprising herself, she jumped down from the stool and confronted the
lawyer.

"And do you think that it solves everything? Take ten million and problem
solved? And what happens with my feelings? With the suffering of being
abandoned? With the ten years of shame and dishonor? Do you really think
that the money will help me to forget?"

Her shouts echoed all over the place, being able to be heard clearly from
the street.

Noticing that Konatsu looked at her in surprise from the storage door, she
forced herself to calm down. The lawyer, for his part, didn't flinch at
such a fit of rage and holding her gaze, answered peacefully:

"I really couldn't say. While it is true that you are clearly deserving of
compensation for the suffering that Genma's acts have caused to you.
Therefore, in case of accepting, my client has decided to pay you ten times
the value of your dowry. Consider it a moral reparation for all the damage
caused by... ah, the breach of contract."
"Ten times," the young woman asked dubiously, before averting her eyes
momentarily to focus on the simple operation. "Ten ...A hundred million!?"

Overwhelmed by the offer, she stepped back until she hit the stool where
she had been seated. Tadashi's words crossed her mind like a tsunami,
sweeping away all her thoughts and leaving behind complete and total
incredulity.

After regaining control of her mouth, Ukyo only managed to mumble a word:

"What!?"
"If you agree," the lawyer continued, "we will take care of all the
necessary formalities. You only have to indicate the day and the hour
whenever it suits you, to go to the notary and sign the contract. To
respect the anonymity of our client, one of the lawyers of our firm will
act on his behalf. "
"Bu... Bu ... But this can't be legal!"
"On the contrary. Anyone can act on behalf of another person as long as
this person has given his consent and has identified himself properly."
"No! Not that! I mean... A contract with lawyers, notaries, signings...
Only to give up a verbal promise made more than ten years ago? It can't be
legal!"
"You have my word that is not only legal, but it is the only correct way to
do it."
"And Genma?"
"If you accept our proposal, we will get in touch with him. From what I've
heard of Mr. Saotome, I do not think that he will put forth any objection."

Ukyo was sure of it. The panda would dance with joy to be rid of her and,
in turn, she wouldn't care if she never saw him again. And Ranma? Would he
be pleased too? Some time ago he had told her that they were friends. And
now? Did he still consider her a friend or simply an obstacle to his
wedding with Akane?

"Do you have any other questions you want me to clarify?" Tadashi asked
gently.
"No. Now I can't think of any more," Ukyo replied weakly.
"All right."

The lawyer pulled out a plastic folder from his briefcase and handed it to
Ukyo. She opened it hesitantly and began to leaf through it.

The first page served as cover and had a title in large letters: Contract
Proposal for the resolution of the legal dispute Saotome-Kuonji.

As she turned the pages, she heard the voice of the lawyer saying:

"It's a copy of the contract so you can read it. It is quite large, as our
client wishes to avoid any possibility of misunderstanding or withdrawal."
"Withdr... what?" The girl asked without looking up from the sheets.
"I refer to the possibility that one of the parties back out once they have
signed the agreement."
"Ah!"

Tadashi placed his briefcase on his lap and began to put his documents away.

"If you don't need anything else, I will leave so you can ponder our
proposal."

The lawyer closed his briefcase, grabbed it with his left hand and stood up
from his seat.

"Is it all right if I come back next week or do you wish more time to
think?"

Ukyo closed the folder and looked into the lawyer's eyes.

"Tomorrow."
"Excuse me, I don't understand."
"Tomorrow you'll have your answer."

For the first time since he had come, a shadow of emotion crossed the
lawyer's face. Ukyo could see the surprise reflected in his face before the
serene professional calm re-imposed itself.

"All right. In this case, I'll return tomorrow at the same time, if this is
convenient for you."
"Perfect," she answered.
"It has been a pleasure working with you."

This time the young lawyer's reverence was matched by Ukyo with more
confidence.

"Likewise. Have a good afternoon."
"Good bye."

Ukyo's gaze followed the lawyer while he left the restaurant.

Once sure that he wasn't about to come back, she relaxed and began to think
about what happened.

Why had she said that would answer him tomorrow? What was the point of so
much rush? It was clear, wasn't it? Throughout the conversation she had
felt like a castaway washed away by the current. That had been her attempt
to control the situation or at least make her voice heard.

A peek at the door allowed her to see that her regulars were already
arriving.

She couldn't think about it now, she had to open the restaurant.

"Konatsu!" she called.
"Yes, Miss Ukyo?" he answered swiftly appearing at her side.
"Put this in my room, please," she asked at the same time that entrusted
the folder with the contract to him.
"Right away."
"And return quickly, we have to open."
"Ok, Miss."

Once her waiter left, she got ready to open the restaurant and face the
daily routine.

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

It was after eleven when Ukyo finally went to her room. Tired after a long
day, she just wanted to turn off the light and rest.

She started to unfold her futon when she noticed the plastic folder
carefully placed above it.

She groaned on seeing it.

The frenetic activity of the restaurant had allowed her to forget the
conversation with the lawyer for a few hours. Unfortunately the folder
reminded her that everything had been real and not part of a nightmare.

Ukyo pushed it aside, and didn't pick it up again until  she was in bed and
tucked in under the sheets.

She read the entire document carefully, read it again, and then passed half
of the night trying to work out who had could set this trap.

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

The only colors present in the perfect blue sky were the dawn's hazy dyes
that colored the vicinity of a lazy sun.

All promised a perfect day, but Ukyo had no time to contemplate the
scenery. Running at the full speed her legs allowed, her only thought was
that she was late.

Her haste was due to having disregarded her alarm (as demonstrated by the
wreckage of her clock, brutally beaten while trying to do its job). If not
for Konatsu's perseverance to get her out of the bed, she would most likely
have missed the morning entirely.

She went puffing into the classroom just as the bell began to ring. She
barely had time to reach her desk before the teacher came in and the whole
class had to get up to greet him.

Having completed the ritual, the teacher started to take attendance and
only then did the young woman notice the absence of Akane and Ranma.

Her mind tried to imagine what could have happened so that both were
missing a class. Considering Ranma's background, the possible scenarios
ranged from having fallen ill, to having been abducted, to having eloped.
Most of the options that passed through her mind, only managed to increase
her anxiety. Worst of all was the uncertainty of not knowing. She had no
choice but to ask Nabiki...

The mere mention of that name derailed her thoughts, like a train ripped
from its tracks.

Nabiki! Yes! She was the one who had sent the lawyer. Ukyo had no doubt!
What did she think? That she wasn't going to realize it? As soon as class
was over, she'd go find her and ask her for an explanation. She would have
enough time later to ask about Ranma and Akane.

The rest of the hour passed with exasperating slowness for the girl, who
would not stop looking at the clock hanging above the blackboard, while her
anger continued building up.

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

As soon as the teacher left the class, Ukyo leapt out of her chair and,
ignoring the prohibition of running in the halls, went at full speed to
Nabiki's classroom, where she almost collided with a classmate coming out
the door. Mumbling an apology, she dodged him and after taking a moment to
locate her target headed straight for it.

When she arrived, Akane's sister was seated sideways, resting on the back
of the chair, while talking relaxed with two friends.

Ukyo slipped between them and stood in front of the young woman.

"I need to talk to you, come."
"Now I'm ..." Nabiki started, but Ukyo didn't listen to her.

Taking her arm, the young chef pulled her out of her seat and dragged her
out of the class.

Such was Ukyo's wrath, that she didn't noticed as the gaze of all her
classmates were fixed on her and the scene she was making.

Meanwhile, Nabiki had passed from the initial shock, through the briefest
anger, to a state of calm indifference. This didn't prevent that mentally
she wrote down Ukyo's humiliation, with the intent to make up for it with
interest.

Ukyo brought her downstairs and, upon reaching the first landing, sent her
unceremoniously into a corner.

When her back hit the wall, Nabiki's expression didn't change, but Ukyo's
debt increased by a significant amount.

The young chef rested her arm on the wall, cutting off any chance of escape
with her body, and looked at Nabiki's eyes. She stared back with an
irreverent smile that didn't achieve anything but stoked Ukyo's anger.

"I have no idea where you got the money," Ukyo snapped at Nabiki. "But you
are very mistaken if you think you can buy me!"

Before Nabiki could answer, a new voice joined their little scene.

"What're you talking about?"

Ukyo knew that voice and Nabiki's reaction, who raised her head and greeted
nonchalantly with a wave of her hand, confirmed it.

She turned towards her rival and snorted in a very unfeminine way.

"Ah, don't you know that your sister has offered me one hundred million to
give up Ranma?"
"What!?" Akane cried out in surprise.

The young woman looked at her sister, but Nabiki's enigmatic smile did not
disclose any response.

"When have you told her that?" Akane asked.
"Do you really think I go around doing those kind of deals?" Nabiki replied
amused.
"Of course not!" Ukyo stopped, and turning towards Nabiki said, "You're too
smart for that. You hired a lawyer to take charge of everything."
"Do you think so? Why, thank you."

Her tone left no doubt that she considered the accusation of the young chef
as a great compliment. This did not sit well with Ukyo, but before the
situation could get worse, Akane, who had been thoughtful, expressed her
conclusion.

"I don't think that it was Nabiki."

Diverting her furious gaze from one to another, Ukyo replied sarcastically:

"Sure, what else could her sister say?"

Akane shook her head, moving it slightly from side to side.

"That we're sisters has nothing to do with it. Nabiki would never do
something like that and I can prove it with three simple reasons."
"Let's see," the young chef challenged.
"First," she said while lifting the thumb of her right hand. "It's
impossible that she has that kind of money."

When Ukyo started to protest, Akane shut her off.

"Of course, I've heard the stories that our father doesn't work and Nabiki
takes care of all expenses." A contemptuous snort made clear her opinion
about it. "Actually I don't understand how people can believe it."
"Thanks to a great publicity team," Nabiki contributed mockingly.

Ignoring her sister, Akane lifted the index finger.

"Second. Though she had it, she wouldn't go giving it away. She has always
preferred to be the others who spend it."
"So? She's not giving it to me! She is using it to get rid of me! Surely
she considered it an investment."
"No, because she wouldn't win anything. Besides," she continued as she
raised her middle finger, "It seems to her that the current situation is
very entertaining and there is no reason for her to help to change it."

Ukyo diverted for a moment her gaze towards Nabiki, who listened smiling
while enjoying the show.

"Suppose you're right," Ukyo replied unconvinced as she turned towards
Akane again. "Then who sent me the lawyer? Kuno?"
"He has money, that's sure," Akane admitted hesitantly. "But I can't think
of any reason for him to help Ranma, quite the opposite."
"Then who? Anyone in his family perhaps? Kodachi? The principal?"
"No way! If it's Kodachi she would try to poison you, not buy you off. And
the principal only cares about the hair."
"Ah! So it has not been anyone!"

The insistence of Ukyo, pushed Akane to rack her brains in search of
someone suspicious.

"It couldn't have been anyone from my family, that's sure. Happosai... No.
Only the amazons would remain."

The uncertainty in the youngest Tendo's voice didn't be unnoticed to her
rival, who asked mockingly:

"Do you really think it was them?"
"No, not really." Akane had to acknowledge after a moment of hesitation. "I
can't imagine Cologne hiring a lawyer. It isn't her style."
"Ha!" Ukyo uttered victorious. "See! I spent all night mulling over it, and
your sister is the only one that can have the money and a reason."
"And I'm telling you no!"
"It can also be a rich new fiancée, who seeing the situation, is trying to
get rid of her rivals before make herself known." Nabiki said intruding on
the conversation.
"Don't joke about that!" her sister reproached her.
"Who says I'm joking?"

Nabiki advanced until she stood beside both young women.

It was then Akane realized her change of expression. Not that she had
stopped smiling, but small, imperceptible details had changed, making it
sharper, slier.

Akane had very bad memories of that smile. A smile that, in her opinion,
should compulsorily carry a big warning sign: Treat with caution!
Preferably with a very long stick!

While her sister continued with her musings, Nabiki turned towards Ukyo.

"I'll tell you what to do," she suggested authoritatively. "Lend me the
contract. I'll take a look at it, check if it's the real thing, and I'll
advise you what to do during lunchtime." And in a normal tone she added:
"Because you brought it, didn't you?"
"And why would I lend it to you?" Ukyo asked, surprised by so much nerve.

Nabiki smiled innocently.

"You're right, it has been a silly request. But what else could I do?" she
asked with a shrug. "Even if I wanted, I could not drag you out of your
classroom in front of your class mates, take you downstairs and throw you
against the wall to force you to give it to me, could I?"

Ukyo gaped at Nabiki.

The anger that she had accumulated during the night, had been consumed in
the initial outburst of rage. However, she had not been fully aware of that
she had done until the very moment she heard it through Nabiki's mouth.

"Ah, well..." she started fearful. "I guess there isn't any problem to lend
it to you, is there? I mean... It isn't a secret or anything like that..."

Ukyo's words were accompanied by muffled noises coming from Akane, who
suddenly fascinated by the tiled floor, seemed to be having some kind of
problem."

"Wonderful!" Nabiki proclaimed. "Then, I'll wait for you in the next break."

And as if her words had invoked it, the bells chimed signaling the
continuation of the classes.

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

The sunny day and the nice midmorning temperature persuaded the majority of
the students to go out to the courtyard for lunch. Ukyo found a lone tree
without people around and, sitting on the grass with her back against the
trunk, began to devour the contents of her bento. She had hopes of having
enough time to take a nap but when a shadow fell over her, she realized
that this would not be possible. Looking up, she found the Tendo sisters'
figures silhouetted against the light.

"Hey, Nabiki," Ukyo greeted unenthusiastically while ignoring Akane
completely.
"A very interesting reading," she replied, holding out the plastic folder.

Ukyo took it and placed it under her bento, before asking:

"Well?"

Nabiki extended her right hand, palm upward, and lowering her voice so that
it only could be heard by her sister and Ukyo, requested payment for her
services.

"Forty million."

The other two girls stared at her, but neither of them seemed overly
surprised.

"So your suggestion is that I take the deal? What a surprise! "

Nabiki endured Ukyo's sarcasm without flinching while keeping her hand
extended.

"I guess not, but I think you will be interested in hearing the reasons why
you should accept. Thirty-five. "

"What if after listening to you, I don't accept the offer?"

"Well, in that case you wouldn't need to pay me. It wouldn't be good for my
reputation to abuse in such a way a poor idiot. Thirty-three, my last
offer."

Akane, who watched the scene silently, wondered if Ukyo had not realized
the insult or, more likely, she had let it pass as partial payment for what
happened on the stairs.

"All right."

Nabiki pulled her hand back and both sisters sat on the grass; Nabiki in
front of Ukyo and Akane on the side. The young chef didn't want the younger
Tendo to hear the conversation but was unable to throw her out without
creating a scandal, and so resigned to herself to her presence.

"First," Nabiki started while lifting the thumb of her right hand.

She stopped and only when she was sure she had their full attention,
continued:

"Ranma considers you his best friend and we all know that friendship is the
great killer of love."
"Maybe you're right," Ukyo agreed. "But do you really think I'm going to
give up because of that nonsense?"
"Of course not," Nabiki confirmed with a mischievous smile. "But I needed
another reason to make three."

Akane groaned embarrassed and face-palmed. Ukyo, surprised that someone
could joke about something so important for her, stared with wide eyes.

"Are you saying it seriously?" she asked incredulously.

The only response she received was the enigmatic smile of Akane's sister
while she raised her index finger.

"Second. You'll agree that, whatever your chances might be, these were
greatly reduced after your behavior at last week's ceremony. "
"His mother set me up!" she protested bitterly.

Nabiki raised an eyebrow, but before she could ask any questions, Akane
stepped in to re-redirect the conversation.

"That doesn't matter now. Which is the third reason?"

Nabiki filed away her memory Ukyo's strange reply and prepared to drop the
bomb that she had discovered.

"Third," she said while she lifted her middle finger and allowed her gaze
to wander among the teenagers. They were completely attentive to her words.
Ukyo had even slightly leaned forward to listen better.

But the seconds were passing without the revelation coming.

Attentive to subtle signals, Nabiki played with their patience as a
juggler, and just before they ran out, dropped the bomb.

"Nowhere in the contract does it ban you from marrying Ranma!"
"What!?"

Akane and Ukyo's screams echoed around the whole school, attracting the
attention of their schoolmates. However, the majority lost interest after
checking who had screamed and the rest after a few minutes without any
other interesting things happening.

Oblivious to what was happening, the two teenagers fixed their gazes on
Nabiki silently demanding answers. To their exasperation, the older of the
two Tendo carefully opened her bento, grabbed the chopsticks in its
interior and started to investigate its contents before going on.

"If you think about it, it makes sense," the young woman explained while
she put aside the pieces she wasn't going to eat with her chopsticks. "It
may not be legal to pay someone not to marry. But a contract that overrides
the previous one, even if it was verbal as in this case? Absolutely!"

Nabiki took a piece of sausage, put it in her mouth and began to chew it.

"So, the contract is valid?" Akane wanted to know, while Ukyo looked the
grass thoughtfully.

Her sister waited to have her mouth empty before answering.

"As far as I know, yes. The language and expressions used are typical of
legal documents. Even I had to look up a couple of kanji that I didn't
understand!"

As she spoke her chopsticks strolled over the food undecided.

“Moreover, I have checked the name of the firm. Although it isn't one of
the biggest, it was opened more than fifty years ago, after the end of the
Pacific War. If it isn't genuine, it's a very slick forgery.”
“And does the lawyer really work for this firm?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?” her sister asked astonished.
“I said that I would check the contract and that's what I have done. At no
time we talked about the lawyer. However, for a small extra, I can
investigate him. "
“It doesn't matter,” was Ukyo's weak response.
“So that's it.”

After giving her final verdict, she started eating the rice of her bento.

"What will you do?" Akane asked her rival.

The latter, deep in thought, did not seem to hear her.

Who would have thought? In the end it had been a good idea to talk to
Nabiki. This conversation had clarified a lot of things and now she knew
perfectly what to do. Akane's sister probably would have been surprised to
learn that her elaborate arguments had not helped to tip the balance.
Anyway Ukyo decided to recognize her assistance, but she was sure Nabiki
would misinterpret the reason behind her words.

"You're welcome," she answered without looking up from her food. "A signed
and dated check made out to me will be best and don't even think about
bringing it to school."

For a moment, it seemed that Akane was about to say something, but finally
she also considered the conversation finished and the three girls focused
on their lunches. Ukyo even had time to rest a little before the end of
lunchtime.

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

For the second consecutive day, Ukyo was one of the first to leave the
school, but for a completely different reason than the previous day. This
time she wanted to arrive at the restaurant before the return of the
lawyer, giving herself plenty of time to get ready.

That didn't mean she needed more time to think, because she had already
made her decision and she didn't think to change it. Nabiki's words had
clarified her doubts and have shown that, in reality, the way ahead was
clear.

When she walked into her restaurant, Konatsu was sweeping the floor, alone.
He stopped and looked up from his work on hearing the door open.

"Good afternoon, Miss Ukyo," he greeted her obligingly.
"Good afternoon, Konatsu," she said, while crossed the room without
stopping. "It seems the lawyer hasn't arrived yet."
"Yes," replied the young transvestite while his gaze turned to follow her.
"Good. I'm going to change. Attend to him if he arrives before I come down."
"Okay ma'am."

His answer arrived when Ukyo crossed the door leading to the small
apartment located above. Konatsu stared a moment to the door, before
returning patiently to his task.

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

When the lawyer entered into the restaurant with his spotless suit and
mandatory briefcase, Ukyo was already behind the counter wearing her chef
uniform preparing the griddles, while Konatsu made sure everything was
perfect to receive the first customers of the day.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Mizushima" the teenager greeted at the same time she
raised her gaze.
"Good afternoon, Miss Kuonji," the lawyer replied. "I'm glad you remember
my name."
"Sure," Ukyo replied while she surreptitiously hid his business card under
the counter. "Please, sit down."

With a broad gesture, her hand pointed the stools that were beside the
counter. Compelled, Tadashi sat in the one right in front of the girl, and
found no space to leave his briefcase.

A ridiculous strip of counter, insufficient to leave anything bulkier than
a plate was all that separated him from the incandescent plates where the
young chef had started to prepare a okonomiyaki. While the lawyer sought a
solution around, Ukyo smiled mentally.

That was precisely the reason why she had waited for him behind the
counter. She was paying him with discomfort, all the anxiety that this
matter had brought upon her. Later surely, she would recognize that this
behavior was childish, but for now she enjoyed the predicament of the young
lawyer.

Finally, after considering several options, Tadashi decided to put the
briefcase on his knees, but when he was about to open it, Ukyo stopped him.

"That is not going to be necessary."

Without taking his hands off the latches, the lawyer raised his eyes and
looked at her.

"So, you have already made a decision."
"Yes. I'm very sorry, but I'm not going to sign."

Undaunted, Tadashi placed both hands over the briefcase.

"I understand. May I ask if you have read it entirely?"
"Yes."
"Then you must have noticed that at no time you are banned from marrying
the young Saotome in the future."

Ukyo had begun to wonder when this subject would be brought up.

"Yes."
"And even so you chose not to sign it?"

The young chef had no experience dealing with lawyers but usually, when the
anger didn't blind her, she knew how to deal with Nabiki. The best way was
to say little, because you never knew when an innocent phrase could be used
against you.

"Yes."
"Okay. If that's your decision, and you are sure that there is nothing that
can change your mind..."

The sentence hung in the air like a hook in the sea waiting for its prey.
In turn, the dark eyes of the lawyer warned her very clearly that this was
her last chance to accept. This didn't change Ukyo's mind.

"Pretty sure."
"All right," Tadashi agreed, without losing an iota of his professional
calm for her refusal. "Then I will not waste your time."

The young man placed the briefcase under his arm and stood up. Seeing him
getting up, Ukyo felt a pang of remorse.

"Mr. Tadashi, would you fancy an okonomiyaki? On the house," she offered as
a sign of contrition.
"Thank you, I'm sure they are delicious, but I don't usually eat during
working hours," was the lawyer's diplomatic answer. "I appreciate the
offer."

Surprised and slightly annoyed by the unexpected rejection, the young chef
could only return awkwardly Tadashi's nod and gracious parting words,
before he went out by the door of the restaurant and left her life.

Ukyo finished cooking the okonomiyaki and absentmindedly began to eat
before it cooled.

Immersed in thought, she did not seem to realize that Konatsu passed in
front of her, to turn the plate that officially announced that the
restaurant was open. Finished with all the preparations, the young man went
to stand in his usual place, between the door and the counter, waiting for
the first customers.

"Konatsu, if you were offered a hundred million yen in exchange for no
longer working here, would you accept?"

The suddenness of the question surprised him, whose first reaction was to
give a quick glance at his boss, who continued thoughtfully chewing the
last bite of her snack, staring at the infinity.

"What would I do with all that money?" Konatsu asked, genuinely surprised.
"All I want is to be with you and help in what is needed."

The innocent answer of the teenager made Ukyo smile. However, in the
privacy of her mind, she recognized that this was what she should have
answered, but had been so obsessed with discovering who had sent the
attorney, she had forgotten the most important thing. A brief review of
this last thought was enough so that Ukyo realized the weakness of such
excuse. Worst of all is that she could imagine herself saying it to Ranma
with her sweetest voice: Sorry! I was so focused looking for a culprit, I
didn't realize I was selling my feelings for you. Oops!

And that was the truth.

She could rationalize it: She could say that she didn't sell her love, that
she only sold a stupid agreement between her father and the panda; but she
couldn't lie to herself. She could try it, true, but in the depths of her
heart she would always know the truth. Fortunately Nabiki's words had
opened her eyes. If it hadn't been for Nabiki, she would surely... Proba...
Maybe... Well, it certainly helped her to make the right decision. The
right decision... Saying it that way, it almost seemed that the real reason
of the mysterious client was to test her; which was stupid. Such things
only happened in movies, not in real life.

The sound of the door being opened and Konatsu's greeting announced the
arrival of the first customer of the evening. Ukyo quickly cleaned up the
remnants of her snack and, looking up, received him with a frank smile.

"Good afternoon. How can I help you?"

Grateful that the strange affair with the lawyer was over, she immersed
herself in her daily routine.

Life returned to its normal course.

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

A short walk through the residential area, led the lawyer to one of the
main streets of Nerima. As he approached, the tranquility of the pedestrian
zone was replaced by the bustle of people and cars, bustle that was
increasing until it became the typical acoustic chaos of a big city.

After leading into a broad avenue, it didn't take long until the lawyer
blended into the crowd thronging the sidewalks. One more drop in the ocean.
A little further on, properly parked next to the sidewalk, was a dark blue
high-end car with tinted rear windows.

On arriving at its side, the young lawyer opened the back door and went in.

Sitting away from the door on a black leather seat waited a man of about
sixty-five years and typical Japanese complexion. He wore an elegant dark
suit of excellent quality. Both of his hands rested on the carved ivory
handle of a cane that rested between his feet. The man didn't make a single
gesture while the lawyer settled back into the seat. Only when the door was
closed, did he lean forward and tapped gently the separation glass with his
cane.

"Let's go," he ordered the driver with a clear voice.

The car rejoined the road and soon disappeared in the evening traffic. Only
then, did the man turn to his young companion.

"Well?"
"She has not accepted."

A genuine smile appeared on the man's wrinkled features, before adding with
undisguised glee,

"Well, well. And people say that young people today only care about the
money." Leaning back again he added, "Keep up the good work and your future
will be secured in our firm."
"Thank you, sir."

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

Yuka & Sayuri made no comment when Akane declined their invitation and said
goodbye hastily. Both knew that Ranma had not come to class that day, so it
seemed logical that their friend, concerned about the state of her fiancé,
wanted to return home earlier.

Despite how well they knew her, they were wrong.

Akane was not worried about Ranma's health. Not much, at least. And for a
very simple reason: It had been Nodoka who told her that Ranma was
indisposed. How could Akane believe her after everything she had said
yesterday? Also, the last time she had seen her fiancé he was alright. No,
what pushed her to quickly return home was the desire to tell Ranma of her
conversation with Dr. Tofu.

The thought of being able to reject Nodoka's fantasies, lit up her face
with a smile.
Soon, the doctor would find a laboratory that could make the tests and in a
few weeks, one month at the most, they would have irrefutable proof that
they were not siblings. Thereafter they would only need to fix a few loose
ends and ...

"...we can get married."

Surprised by her own voice, she stopped and looked around to check if
anyone had heard it.

Fortunately the street was deserted.

Akane relaxed and continued on her way.

It was better that nobody knew of her true feelings, it was best not to
repeat the stupidity of last week.

"If only he had recognized that he said he loved me!" She muttered.

Could she blame him? How many times had she denied the same thing? Hiding
behind a curtain of rage and, being honest, jealousy, for fear of being
ridiculed or rejected. She was well aware of her limitations though, like
everyone else, it was difficult to recognize them in public, and much more
so in front of Ranma. And yet, during the Mount Phoenix incident she had
clearly heard his voice saying he loved her.

Her thoughts were lost in a pink cloud, until her treacherous memory
reminded her of the conversation with Ukyo.

The fresh memory did not dampen her mood. It was curious, yes, but compared
to some of the events of the last year, it was hardly an anecdote. Does
anyone want to pay for the stolen cart? Good for Ukyo, but it had nothing
to do with her, nor with Ranma, and wouldn't change the current state of
their relationship.

Entertained with those thoughts, Akane walked down the walkway of her home,
when a familiar kiai* reached her ears.

'Oh, so he is already well enough to train. Another lie, but what does it
matter after everything Nodoka has told us?'

A few steps through the garden allowed her to pass the corner of the house
and have sight of the southern part of the garden. Between the house and
the koi pond there was a wooden stake stuck in the grass. Ranma, at its
side, was engaged hitting the padded top of the post. Drops of sweat ran
down his forehead and made his shirt cling to his body.

The young man noted his fiancée approaching and interrupted his training to
greet her.

"Good afternoon, Akane."
"Glad to see you're feeling better," she said stopping a few feet away.
"What do you mean?" The young man asked confused.
"Your mother told me this morning that you were not feeling well and that's
why you were not going to school."
"Ah, well, no, it isn't that I didn't feel well, I mean, I guess that since
I spent nearly all the night awake, my mother decided to let me rest," was
Ranma's confused explanation, while he ran his right hand behind his head.
"What were you doing to stay awake so long?"
"Nothing, I just couldn't sleep, so I went to the dojo to practice. I
thought that the more tired I was, the easier it would be to fall asleep."
"You? With trouble falling asleep?" The girl asked mockingly. "You were
seriously ill indeed."
"Haha, very funny Akane," and he continued in a more serious tone, "The
truth is I couldn't get out of my head what my mother had told me."

Which wasn't the whole truth, but it was the only part that Ranma was able
to express in words. The memory of his doubts was kept in his heart and he
would never share it with anyone again.

"And how did she know you'd been awake all night?"
"Because she was with me."
"The whole time?"

Subtly, as the conversation progressed, Akane's tone was becoming more and
more sour.

"No, of course not. I guess she woke up and, not seeing me, she went to
look for me. We talked a while, and then ... "
"You were talking?" She asked with great distrust.
"Yes," he replied without thinking.
"May I know about what?"

Distracted by the warm feeling spreading through his body, a cold and
uncomfortable warmth, Ranma did not react to the rude and authoritative
tone of Akane.

Could she understand it? Not that he didn't trust her, but... it was so
personal, so intimate that he didn't know how to express it. Would she
understand it? Would she understand what Nodoka's words had meant in a time
when he had felt completely lost, full of doubts? No, he never again would
talk about those dark hours, but Akane was entitled to know the
conversation with his mother. He didn't know why, but his instincts told
him it was the right thing. Besides, he didn't need to tell her everything,
did he?

"She told me what happened the night when..." he began slowly.

Akane didn't need anymore to know what Nodoka had told him, and it was a
lie. Only one thing mattered.

"Did you believe her?" She shut him off, her tone a mixture of disbelief
and indignation that carried an implicit answer.

Does he believe her? Until then, Ranma had not asked it himself so
directly. He recalled the night before, his mother's words, the expression
on his face, his gestures ... trying to find an answer, but it wasn't
necessary because his heart knew it.

"Yes, I do." the young man said sheepishly.

Akane's eyes opened wide, not so much in surprise as in disbelief.

"Do you believe her? Do you really believe her? How can you be so, so...
stupid to believe that lie, that idiocy, that crap, that, that ...?"

Losing the control of her temper by the candor of her fiancé, her words
ended coming out choked with emotion.

"Hey! What is this all about?" Ranma tried to mediate, stunned by Akane's
sudden rage. "Why are you so angry? If you don't even know what she told
me!"
"Of course I know! Stupid!" the girl corrected him, shouting at the top of
her lungs. "She herself told it to me yesterday."

The words of his betrothed stabbed him in the heart, chilling his whole
being.

Ranma looked away towards the ground and remained motionless with his arms
hanging limply his sides and his fists clenched tightly.

Why? Why Nodoka had told her? Why his mother had told Akane about his
adoption? Didn't Nodoka understand what it meant for him after having to
hide from her? Wasn't it supposed to be difficult for his mother to tell
anyone, even him, her son, the most interested? And it turned out that
Nodoka had told it to his fiancée. His fiancée! Without even consulting
him! It didn't matter that it had been Akane or any other, well, more or
less. The important thing is that his mother had told it. How could his
mother betray him in that way? She had no right to tell it! She didn't have
to tell it!

Overcoming the rage gnawing at him from inside, he managed to say a few
words that tumbled from his mouth in an unintelligible murmur.

"What did you say?" Akane asked without lowering an iota her voice.
Ranma looked into her eyes and repeated his words in a slightly higher tone.
"She didn't have to tell it to you."

She could not believe her ears.

"How is that she didn't have to tell me?"
"She had no right to tell you!" her fiancé said matching her shouts. "It's
a personal issue that does not concern you."

Akane felt her blood boiling.

It didn't concern her? It didn't concern her!? To supposedly be siblings
didn't concern her? But what was he thinking? That he could leave her out?
Was she supposed to accept all Nodoka's lies meekly? Nodoka! It had been
her idea! Of course! Excluding her, Nodoka only needed to convince her
gullible son. And she had done it! But if they thought they were going to
get rid of her so easily, she was going to prove them wrong, very wrong!

"Well, I think whether we could be siblings or not does concern me."

The slightly more measured tones of the young woman only served to further
enhance the deliberate emphasis on the 'does'. Nevertheless, it was another
word that erased Ranma's answer from his mouth and locked his thoughts.

"Siblings? What are you talking about?" He asked confused.

"Oh, sure! Now play dumb! You know very well what we are talking about! But
it doesn't matter! I know how to prove that we are not siblings and I'm
going to do it!" She threatened him pointing at his face with her finger.
"So you can continue acting stupid for as long as you like."

Turning away, she went home with big angry strides.

Ranma's eyes followed the young woman's retreating figure, while his mind
was a maelstrom of thoughts that interrupted and overlapped each other.
From this chaos emerged clearly only one thought: It had been a
misunderstanding.

As so often their fight was due to mere confusion; to simple and stupid
confusion.

He had no idea about Akane's thoughts, only that they were related to the
things his mother had told them and that it had gotten her furious. That
meant she didn't know about his adoption! His mother hadn't told her
anything! They had been screaming each other for no reason!

With a pleasant feeling of relief, the young man got ready to call his
fiancée... and hesitated.

It was easy to say that it had been a misunderstanding, but he needed
evidence to convince her. He would need to tell her about everything they
had talked about: his adoption...

The wound from believing that he had been abandoned by his mother for the
second time was still too fresh. Could he...?

The memory of a smile lit up his thoughts.

Yes, he would do anything to get back that smile.

He still had time, Akane hasn't finished crossing the living-room.

Ranma raised his arm, opened his mouth and...

"Are you already arguing again?"
"And they seemed to be getting along better lately, right Saotome?"

The familiar voices of their fathers or, more precisely, the promise he had
made to Nodoka not to tell anything about this matter to Genma, stopped him.

Helpless, he watched as Akane left the room and closed the door behind her,
showing her anger with a strong slam.

Ranma lowered his arm while all of them continued observing the empty room.

"I hope you apologize for what you've done, boy," his father said.
"Don't worry," Soun said, "You know how the couples' fights are."
"You're right. Fancy a cold beer? "
"Good idea. Come on!"

Both men went to the kitchen, leaving the boy completely alone.

Ranma turned his attention to the post stuck beside him. Still looking at
it intently, he clenched his fist with all his strength until he felt his
nails sinking into skin, lifted his arm above his head putting it back as
far as possible and, concentrating all his anger and frustration in the
punch, released it with a powerful cry against the defenseless post. The
sturdy wood split with a sharp crack and the upper part was thrown spinning
until driven deeply into the opposite end of the garden.

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

It was already dark when a shadow went silently down the curtain of Akane's
room. Ranma, hanging upside down from the roof like a bat scanned the room
looking for her.

The visit was so surreptitious because after the discussion in the
afternoon Akane had not come out of her room, not even for dinner. A quick
look through the translucent curtain allowed him to discover her figure
lying on the bed.

Unable to discern the state of of Akane through the barrier of fabric
(Weeping? Sleeping?) and feeling a little guilty for watching her
furtively, he got ready to call her.

His knuckles already brushed the glass, when his mind rescued from its'
depths the painful memories of similar previous occasions.

While caressing his neck in memory of a particularly strong blow, the youth
admitted that perhaps it would be better to wait some time before trying to
talk to her again.

Having made the decision, Ranma turned to climb up to the roof and
disappeared into the shadows.

To Be Continued...

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

* Kiai: In martial arts, short cry uttered before, during or after
performing a technique.
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