Author's Notes:Okay. I'm back again and this is going to be a sequel to my fanfic "Ryouga's First Kiss". Ryouga will be in it but it won't really focus on him per se. Actually this is going to be a two part fanfic and it'll focus more on Ryouga in the second part. This part will be focussing on Ukyou, Ranma and Akane, though mostly on Akane and her feelings. I will include a healthy part on Ukyou and Ranma and will be tossing in parts on Ryouga and his travelling. I will be making humor of Ryouga but it'll be in good taste. This takes place the day after the car crash and will move on from there. If you haven't read Ryouga's First Kiss I suggest you do for two reasons. One this is a sequel to that fic and there are parts you might not understand in this one if you haven't read the other and two, it's my fic and I like having people read my work! ^_^ I hope you enjoy it!
One Good Turn...
The universe is a system. A unbelievably complex and remarkable system, but a system nonetheless. In any system there are programs. In the universe there is a program for everything. There must be regulators for these programs and these regulators are known most commonly as forces. Forces are everything from gravity to love. These forces instruct the universes programs to activate depending upon the results of an event. The most fickle of these forces is known to the residents of the third planet of a solar system in the Milky Way as Luck. Luck is a force which doesn't follow the rules of the Great System. Most of the forces in the System move in circles, or straight lines or non-congruent pentagons. In other words most forces have set patterns they follow for just about everyone and everything. Luck doesn't work that way. Luck is a wild force which acts basically on it's own yet influences the System in crucial ways. The most accurate description of Luck comes in the form of comparing it to a pendulum.
Imagine if you will a giant pendulum swinging about an inch to either side and not slowing down or speeding up. This is Luck and for generally everyone Luck is moving gently back and forth. Luck moves from good luck to bad luck in relatively small even swings barely moving. Occasionally it will slow down on one side giving a person what is known as a streak of good luck or bad luck. Many believe Karma, another wild force, works with Luck so that for every bit of good luck you have you'll eventually have the same amount in bad luck before you die. This is true but not for everyone. Luck is a fickle force and likes to pick out certain people and....play with them. These people that Luck singles out lead interesting lives. Luck has several ways to single out a person. It might make that person's personal pendulum stop completely, giving that person no luck whatsoever, good or bad. It might set a person's pendulum swinging wildly back and forth, or in circles, giving a person steaks of extremely good and then extremely bad luck. Every once in a while Luck takes a single person at birth grabs it's pendulum and pulls it all the way to one side and then ties it there. This person will have a very lucky life, whether that is good luck or bad luck depends on the mood of Luck at the time.
In a small area of Tokyo called Nerima there lives a great deal of martial artists. Luck is currently having a ball with these people playing with their pendulums, and causing quite a bit of chaos in these young people's lives as well. Karma also is having fun in this area, but being Karma he always has fun bringing people what they deserve. Now there comes a point with Luck where it can only mess with a person so much before Karma steps in and says "That's enough!". This point has been reached in the life of a certain young martial artist. His pendulum was tied up on the bad luck side of things since his birth. A few days ago Karma decided it was enough for this poor boy and it was time to give him the happiness his life had since been sorely lacking in. This young boy was far too caught up in recent events to realize the cosmic turning point his life was taking. As a matter of fact if a divine being had taken and sat him down and explained the situation he wouldn't have even cared. His mind was more focussed than it had ever been and all his thoughts were of one girl and one instant.
Akane had kissed him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morning came and the sun was shining, the birds were singing, the kids were getting ready for school and life just seemed great. Ukyou was angry. Now she wasn't normally angry but she was getting a little desperate and had hoped against hope that her plan would work and Ryouga would finally tell Akane how he felt about her. The idiot had blew again! She should've known better than to leave him alone but he was adamant he could and would do it. She grumbled a little more to herself as she headed downstairs to open her restaurant. Being Sunday she opened a little earlier than normal for those who were up and about at this time. It only took her a few minutes to set up her tables and get the grill going. She began to make herself an okonomiyaki for breakfast, slowly and carefully instead of her normal fast paced style. She was thinking while making it so she didn't want to take a chance.
Her thought drifted back to last night when she had stopped Ryouga. She inhaled the delicate aroma from the sizzling batter and watched it cook while she remembered her conversation with Ryouga. Well....it was actually more like she had shouted and he had grinned then walked away.
"Wait a minute? What was that idiot grinning for.", Ukyou said outloud and then flipped the cooking batter over as she thought some more. She had seen him grinning like that before but where?! Then it hit her. The Cursed Tunnel of Lost Love! He was grinning just like that when he stopped for Akane and she said she wanted to go out with him. So why the hell was he grinning like that if he had failed. If he had failed shouldn't he have been depressed and angry at Ranma? He certainly wasn't depressed last night. In fact he looked so happy he would faint.
"Hmmmm. Maybe that idiot finally did tell her? I'll have to ask Ranchan when he stops by.", Ukyou said to herself and added the finishing touches to her okonomiyaki.
"Ask me what Ucchan?", Ranma said having just entered. Ukyou started and looked up to see Ranma, looking a little worse for the wear. Akane had probably been pounding on him again today, and so early too. It was only 9:30 in the morning.
"Oh hi Ranchan. Hungry?", Ukyou said smiling and flipped the okonomiyaki to him. Ranma caught it in his mouth as he jumped for it. He landed sitting on a stool and quickly devoured said foodstuff.
"Boy am I ever! Akane tried to make me eat what _she_ called breakfast. Then she knocks me halfway across Nerima just because I said I wanted to live to see tomorrow. Can you believe that?!", Ranma complained and took another okonomiyaki from Ukyou taking a few bites of it. "Oh what did you want to ask me anyways?", Ranma continued mouth full. Ukyou smiled a bit and began to make a couple more okonomiyakis for him.
"Oh. I was just...wondering if anything strange happened with Ryouga yesterday? I saw him pass by last night when I was closing up shop and went to see what he was doing. He didn't answer me at all. He just kept grinning like an idiot while I tried to get an answer out of him and then just walked around me without saying a thing still grinning.", Ukyou said and flipped the two new hot pancakes in front of Ranma. Ranma took a couple bites thinking a bit and got a weird annoyed look on his face.
"I saw him like that too when I went home. He was standing outside the Tendo's just grinning stupidly. I asked him what was wrong and all he said to me was, 'If you kill me now I will die a happy man.', whatever he meant by that.", Ranma said shrugging and doing a bad imitation of Ryouga during his lines. Ukyou blinked a bit. He said those same words in the tunnel. She grinned suddenly and had to keep herself from giggling. Maybe that idiot had done it.
"Really Ranchan? Maybe he finally got to tell Akane his feelings? What was he doing over there anyways?", Ukyou asked sounding as innocent as possible but not doing a very good job. Thankfully Ranma was too busy eating and thinking about those events to notice. Ukyou's words sunk in after a short time.
"Oh. He said he was going out for a walk and joined us going to get the groceries. I doubt he managed to tell her though. He couldn't say those words to Akane if his life depended on it. Wait a minute. That's it!! _That's_ why he was so happy!!", Ranma said standing up smacking his fist into his palm. Ukyou jumped back a bit and blinked and then leaned forwards a bit.
"What is it Ranchan? Why?!", Ukyou said curious to know why.
"He got to spend all that time alone with Akane shopping for groceries, protecting her from Shampoo and saving her life from that car too. No wonder he was so happy.", Ranma said sitting down again.
"Car? Shampoo? What happened yesterday Ranchan?", Ukyou questioned a little curious not having remembered anything in the plan about Shampoo or a car.
"Oh you didn't hear Ucchan? I had to pay Nabiki to find out the details cause Akane just stayed in her room all night. Ryouga and Akane went and got the groceries together and then had to fight Shampoo on their way home. The Nekohanten got trashed during the fight when a telephone poll fell right on it. Then there was a car accident just out front the Tendo house.", Ranma said animatedly a little glad that Akane was alright.
"WHAT?!!! A car accident oh my God is everyone alright?! Did anyone get hurt?!", Ukyou hurredly said. A car accident! Maybe Akane...NO! She squashed that thought immediately berating herself for even beginning. Even though she wanted Ranma to love her she wouldn't have wished Akane hurt.
"Ucchan calm down. Akane's fine. She didn't even get a scratch. Ryouga saved her.", Ranma said adding the last bit under his breath.
"R...Ryouga? Wow. He seemed okay when he passed by here.", Ukyou said still not quite believing it.
"Yeah I know. He probably just got knocked out for a bit you know how much Ryouga can take. Uh-oh. I gotta go now Ucchan. I gotta go down to the police station with Nabiki and Akane to help with that drunk guy that nearly hit Akane.", Ranma said getting up.
"You do? How come?", Ukyou wondered.
"Huh? Oh....uhhh....well I...sorta didn't have enough money....to pay Nabiki so I gotta act all angry and scare the guy into settling. Nabiki doesn't want to bother with court.", Ranma said not pleased with his upcoming task.
"Oh. I understand Ranchan. I'll see you later.", Ukyou said smiling a bit as Ranma exited. She then sat down and thought for a moment. "It seems like I'll have to speak with Akane about this. I'll wait until tomorrow.", Ukyou said to herself and turned cleaning her grill off expecting the normal morning crowd soon. She paused for a moment and said to herself, "I wonder where that idiot Ryouga is? Oh well he'll be back soon."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It had taken about two days before Ryouga had finally come out of his Akane-induced trance. After he did, however, all he did was smile as he walked. He wasn't sure why he kept walking or even where he was going but he wanted to get there soon. Forests, swamps, cities and beaches all passed by him, not that he really noticed. He was too busy playing that single moment when Akane's lips touched his over and over and over in his mind. He suddenly bumped into someone and stopped looking at the well dressed and obviously annoyed woman in front of him.
"Oh. Excuse me. I'm sorry I didn't see you there.", Ryouga said bowing lightly.
"How did you get in here? This is a locked room on a restricted level. Only contestants are allowed to be here.", the woman said giving him a once over. Ryouga blinked a bit. Contestants? What was she talking about?
"Uhhhh...", Ryouga began eloquently when a buzzer rang and a voice come from a P.A. system.
"Five minutes to air repeat five minutes to air. Will all contestants please take there places on the set.", the voice said. Ryouga looked around finally noticing. He was on a T.V. set of what looked like a game show. He blinked at this and noticed the woman he had bumped into shouting at some guy nearby. An audience was watching the stage and some were watching the arguement. He saw the set with three walls two of which with lots of T.V. screens on them. In front of one wall was a small neon podium. Opposite the first podium were three more similar but with a blue screen on the front. In between was a huge wall of rowed and columned screens all blue. Two people were standing behind a podium each on stage. Suddenly the woman turned to him.
"You there. Do you know how to play the game? We need another contestant and now!", the woman yelled at him.
"Game? What?", Ryouga asked confused.
"Oh nevermind.", the woman said grabbing him and pulled him over to stand behind one of the podiums. She quickly gave him a light pen and pointed to the screen."Write your name down.", she continued. He did and she nodded, "Okay Mr. Hibiki. Enjoy the show." With that she dashed off.
"What? What show?", Ryouga asked and blinked looking around seeing all the audience staring at him. He looked to the two other people standing with him on stage and nodded a bit smiling nervously. They eyed him strangely. Then the lights went out leaving the stage shadowed and strange music began playing. An announcer's voice suddenly called out startling Ryouga.
"THIS.....IS.....JEOPARDY!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nabiki hurried into the room and sat down quickly turning on the TV hoping she hadn't missed it. She sighed and smiled seeing she hadn't and relaxed waiting for show to start. Hopefully she could get through her show without any disturbances (i.e. Akane and Ranma fighting). A sudden crash from upstairs shattered her hopes and she sighed.
"Ranma you get back here you pervert!", Akane shouted as running sounds were heard from upstairs heading for downstairs.
"Akane! It's not what you think!", Ranma pleaded as he tore down the stairs dodging the practice sword Akane swung at him.
"Excuse me.", Nabiki interuptted. Normally the two would've kept on fighting but the tone of Nabiki's voice cut through them. She wasn't happy.
"Uhhh...what?", Ranma said paused in mid step.
"Ranma. If you don't sit down and shut up for the next half hour I'm going to tell Akane what you did last week.", Nabiki said smirking and turned back to her show as it was beginning. Ranma gulped and nodded and quietly moved over and sat down on a chair. Akane blinked and decided she'd beat up Ranma later for whatever he did last week.
"What are we watching?", Ranma asked bored already.
"Jeopardy. It's a game show Ranma. One that relies on using your head. You wouldn't like it.", Nabiki said smirking.
"Who says?! I use my head!", Ranma protested.
"Not to break bricks you idiot!", Akane growled back. Ranma was about to retort when some words from the TV silenced him along with Akane and Nabiki.
"...and our final contestant Ryouga Hibiki from...ummm....Mr. Hibiki where are you from?", the show's host, one Alex Trebek, asked. Suddenly everyone's eyes were glued to the screen as there, large as life, was Ryouga looking nervous. He was blushing heavily and looked very uncomfortable.
"Oh...ummm...I'm not sure really. I know you can see Mount Fuji out of one of our windows....and I remember heading up the road to Matsushima Bay in the summer.", Ryouga said and looked to Mr. Trebek who was blinking.
"Well...yes. Thank you then. Anyways on with the show. The rules are simple. You will choose a answer from our board here and then first one to buzz in with the correct question gets the points. You must remember to phrase your answer in the form of a question. Is everybody ready?", Mr. Trebek asked. Ryouga rang his buzzer.
"Yes.", Ryouga said and smiled a little.
"We haven't started yet Mr. Hibiki.", Mr. Trebek said resulting in a blush from Ryouga. Back at the Tendo's Ranma and Nabiki were both laughing. Akane frowned at them and shook her head.
"Quit laughing you two! Ryouga's just nervous. I wonder how he got on there anyways?", Akane said looking back to the TV.
"Idiot probably got lost or something and was picked by mistake.", Ranma said still laughing. Back on the TV screen the show continued.
"Alright contestants here are your categories. Ancient Chinese Legends, Martial Arts, Travel, Customs, Languages, and Famous Places in Japan. Let's begin.", Mr. Trebek said and the show went on. About a half hour later Nabiki and Ranma were watching the screen in shock. Akane was shocked as well but smiling. Ryouga was grinning on the screen as it showed the three contestants. Ryouga had a rather sizable lead over the other two. As luck would have it all the categories in both parts of the show he knew about. The was only two screens now on the big board lit up and both had the logo of the show on it. Mr. Trebek was standing beside them now finishing up his speech.
"....and Mr. Hibiki in the lead currently but remember anything can happen in Final Jeopardy. Before we go to break we'll reveal the final category to out contestants. The category in Final Jeopardy is....Ancient Chinese Training Grounds. We'll be right back with Final Jeopardy.", Mr. Trebek finished and the TV went to commercials.
"Wow.", Ranma said blinking.
"See Ranma?! Ryouga's doing great! He might even win!", Akane said smiling still finding it a bit weird to see Ryouga on television but glad he was okay.
"Yeah whatever. The day Ryouga wins anything is the day I willing eat your cooking!", Ranma said and began to laugh only to be stopped by Akane's fist.
"Hmph! Fine it's a bet then! If Ryouga wins you'll willingly eat my cooking for a week!", Akane said smirking. Ranma pulled himself off Akane's offending appendage and glared a bit at her.
"A week?! Fine then but if Ryouga loses....you can't cook anything for two weeks!", Ranma said back smirking.
"What?! Fine!", Akane growled back and turned to the TV as the show came back on.
"Welcome back to Jeopardy. Now to reveal the answer for our contestants.", Mr. Trebek said and the blue screen is zoomed in on as the logo disappears and words appear on it. Mr. Trebek reads it to the contestants.
"This valley in the Bayankala Mountain Range of the Qinghai Province contains over one hundred springs and it is rumored that immersion in any spring will cause a person to take on the form of whatever drowned in that spring when splashed with cold water and back to normal when splashed with hot water. Alright contestants you have thirty seconds to write the question along with how much you wish to wager. Begin.", Mr. Trebek said as the music began playing. The TV showed a slow pan across the faces of the contestans as they wrote. Ranma is watching the screen looking pale while Nabiki smirks and Akane is grinning widely. The music finishes and the screen shows a tall woman with short blonde hair who doesn't look too pleased with herself.
"Alright we'll start with you Miss Tenoh as you are in last place with 300,000 yen. Your answer is...nothing. You didn't know hmm? And how much did you wager. Nothing. A wise move. That leaves you in last place still. Now to you Mr. Mendo who is in second place with 500,000 yen.", Mr.Trebek continued on to a tallish young man looking of nobility. He doesn't look to pleased either.
"Your answer Mr. Mendo was 'What is Qinghai?'. I'm sorry that is not correct and how much did you wager. Nothing either. That still leaves you in second place. Now for you Mr. Hibiki. Let's see what your answer is. You wrote down 'What is Jusenkyou?'. That is correct Mr. Hibiki. And how much did you wager? All of your money. That doubles your original amount of 1,650,000 yen to 3,300,000 yen. Congratulations Mr. Hibiki you're today's winner.", Mr. Trebek said and walked over to shake his hand. Ryouga just blinked a bit and smiled more not really understanding any of this but knowing it was a good thing. On the TV the credits rolled up as Ryouga was talking to Mr. Trebek.
"I don't believe it.", Ranma said watching the screen.
"HA! Believe it Ranma! Ryouga won and that means you have to eat my cooking for a week!", Akane said and laughed at Ranma. She was finally going to have Ranma eat her cooking. She was determined to make something he'd like. She looked to the TV and smiled a bit at Ryouga's good fortune. She hoped he'd be able to find his way here soon so she could congratulate him. Nabiki leaned back from watching the TV and thought to herself of how cute Ryouga had just become.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day Ukyou just opened up shop after school was over and shook her head. She had heard from Ranma about Ryouga on the TV last night and still couldn't believe it.
"How did that idiot get on that game show?", Ukyou wondered out loud to herself.
"I don't know either and Ryouga's not an idiot! What did you want to see me about anyways Ukyou?", Akane asked as she closed the door behind her.
"Oh Akane. Come in sit down. I wanted to talk to you about, well...Ryouga of all things.", Ukyou said with a smile. Akane narrowed her eyes and sat down. It wasn't that she didn't like Ukyou in fact out of all of Ranma's other fiancee's Akane liked Ukyou the most. It was that she didn't _trust_ Ukyou.
"Ryouga? What about him?", Akane asked warily.
"Well it's like this. I heard what happened the other day with Ryouga and the car crash. I was just wondering if you two were alright? He was pretty dazed when he passed by my house that night.", Ukyou said trying to sound innocent.
"Oh. Well Ryouga did take the brunt of the blast and hit the ground pretty hard but he seemed okay when he left.", Akane said lowering her head and pausing remembering how she just went and kissed him. She began to blush and lowered her head further hoping Ukyou wouldn't see it. {Why did I kiss him like that? I mean he did save my life and he's always so nice to me. Unlike some perverts I could name, Ryouga's always standing up for me.}, Akane thought and sighed a bit wishing Ranma could be a little more like Ryouga.
"Ahem. Akane are you listening to me?", Ukyou said after getting no response from Akane.
"Huh? What? Oh I'm sorry Ukyou. What were you saying?", Akane said blushing again for having not been paying attention.
"I said did Ryouga say anything to you that night. He kinda told me he had something important to tell you and I was wondering if he managed to.", Ukyou said hoping against hope he did.
"No he didn't tell me anything important. I just helped him outside and then went back in after I ki....I mean said goodbye.", Akane said turning bright red hoping Ukyou didn't notice her slip up. She noticed.
"After you what? Come on Akane tell me. It's just us girls you can tell me! What'd you do kiss him?", Ukyou said laughing a bit. She stopped seeing Akane turn even redder. "You did? You kissed Ryouga?!!", Ukyou said nearly shouting. Akane's eyes widened and she shot to her feet clamping a hand over Ukyou's mouth.
"SHHHHH!!! Quiet! Y...y...yes I...I kissed him. It was only a little one. He did save my life you know? Keep your voice down and don't tell anyone okay?", Akane said taking her hand off Ukyou's mouth and sitting back down.
"Sure. I won't tell anyone else. Now spill. Tell me all about it!", Ukyou said grinning and moving out around the counter flipping the sign to closed and darting back to a stool beside Akane sitting down.
"Ummm...okay.", Akane said smiling glad to finally be able to tell someone. She would've told Kasumi but she would've probably reminded her she was engaged to Ranma. Nabiki was out of the question. Her father would've cried and Ranma...she didn't want to think of his reaction. She paused a bit thinking of how to begin.
"Well get on with it!", Ukyou prodded. This was even better than Ryouga admitting his feelings to her.
"Alright alright. Well it was after we got back from the store and Ryouga was going to leave. He kept trying to say something, that must be what he wanted to tell me. Oh well it was then we heard the screech of the car. I turned to see it barreling towards me and I just froze. I couldn't move. Then suddenly I was flying through the air and landed across the street. I sat up to see Ryouga strike at the car. Then the whole front of the car exploded. I had to shield my eyes and when I looked again the car was stopped and Ryouga wasn't around. I heard him hit the ground down the street and turned to see him just laying there. I screamed his name and ran down to him and that's when the rest of the family came out. I got Dad to help me carry him back into the house and Kasumi helped me to patch up the few cuts he had on him.", Akane said sort of looking down to her hands which she was wringing lightly.
"Well when did you kiss him?!", Ukyou said getting impatient.
"Hold on I'm getting to that! Well it took him three hours to wake up. I was really worried about him cause he wouldn't wake up. He did though and Dad rushed in and hugged him crying about saving my life. Kasumi managed to get Dad to leave and I offered to let him stay for a couple of days until he was healed up. He said thanks but decided to leave. He thought he would be a burden on us. Well I walked him out to the road to make sure he could find it and we stood there for a couple of moments. I thanked him for everything and saving my life and I kept thinking back on the moments just before the accident. I mean he could've been seriously hurt Ukyou and he never even gave a second thought to putting himself in harm's way. We were standing in silence and I was looking up at his smiling face. He looked a little confused, you know how he does when he's lost? Then I just, leaned forwards and kissed him.", Akane finished blushing and smiling a little.
"Just like that?!", Ukyou asked more than a little amazed. Akane was smiling all through that. She enjoyed kissing Ryouga that was obvious from the look on her face. This was great!
"Well don't make it sound so...stupid. It wasn't just like that! Well maybe it was but still...it was...kinda...romantic.", Akane said blushing a bit more.
"Sorry Akane. Yes of course it's romantic! What I wouldn't give to have Ranchan kiss me after saving my life. So I take it you like Ryouga then?", Ukyou said nearly going into a daydream at the thought of Ranma but forcing herself not to. She looked intently at Akane waiting for her answer.
"R...Ryouga? Well I mean...I don't know. He's always been a good friend to me and Dad & Mr. Saotome are hoping I'll marry Ranma and...", Akane began to babble.
"Akane. Just answer my question truthfully for once. Do you love Ranma enough to marry him and live with him for the rest of your life? The truth. I won't tell anyone what you tell me here.", Ukyou said adopting a serious face. Akane blinked a bit and shifted nervously for a few moments before looking to Ukyou and sighing lightly.
"Ukyou I...I do...love Ranma yes. I don't know if I'm willing to spend the rest of my life with him but he has always looked out for me and been there when I needed him. Also our parents did engage us and I guess I just got used to the idea that I was going to marry Ranma. Maybe that's why I began to fall in love with him. I just don't know with him because sometimes he aggrivates so much I just want to kill him. He also insults my looks and my cooking and my martial arts ability. But then there are times when he's actually nice. This thing with Ryouga is just making me more confused.", Akane said lowering her head into her hands and sighing sadly.
"Akane.", Ukyou said and moved a bit hugging Akane. "It's okay Akane. Love is very confusing. Look what it did to me. I lived as a boy for ten years because the man I loved was taken away from me. I'm biased because I want to marry Ranchan but I will tell you that above all I want Ranchan to be happy. So if that means he's going to be happy marrying you and living the rest of his life with you....no matter how much that will hurt me I'll accept it because Ranchan will be happy.", Ukyou continued pausing to wipe a tear or two away, her mind picturing Ranma not married to her. She takes a deep breath and continues. "What you have to do is something I did after Ranchan found out I was a girl. I sat up all night that night thinking hard about what he said and what I felt. I looked deep inside me to my heart and found that I really did love Ranchan with all my heart. That's what you need to do Akane. Look deep inside your heart to find out if you love Ranma. Once you do that you'll feel less confused. Okay?", Ukyou said with a smile looking at the confused girl she was holding at arms length now.
"O...Okay. Thanks Ukyou. Ranma's...lucky to have a friend like you.", Akane said and smiled a little getting up and hugging Ukyou. She let go and turned walking to the door and opening it looking back.
"I'll see you around Akane.", Ukyou said with a smile and a wave.
"You too Ukyou. I got a lot of thinking to do. See you later.", Akane said turning a leaving. Ukyou watched her go and sat back down a grin slowly spreading across her face. After the grin got wide enough that it threatened to split her face she jumped into the air.
"YES!!!!!", Ukyou shouted and began to exhult. She was finally going to show Ranma that she loved him and that she was the only one for him! For the next hour she leaped and bounded around her restaurant laughing enough like Kodachi to scare her regular customers away for the day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where on earth am I now?!!", a frustrated Ryouga said to himself as he looked at a map. He stood for a few moments looking at the map before he looked up and around. He paused as he spotted a hotel just a few feet away. He turned and headed for the hotel hoping to get directions to Nerima. Being on that game show was pretty interesting and rather fun too. Also winning that money was a real stroke of luck. It was a good thing he remembered his bank account number so they could just deposit it for him. Carrying all that money around with him he'd probably end up losing it when he next changed.
He paused a moment just before the door of the hotel and listened carefully. It sounded like a fight was going on inside. Just then a man was thrown out of a window off to Ryouga's left. Ryouga blinked a bit. A fight was going on inside. He sighed a bit and pulled his umbrella just in case and opened the door heading inside. He immediately took stock of his surroundings, which were in serious need of repair. He saw a group of five men all attacking a single man who was moving very fast and was obviously a skilled martial artist.
Ryouga was impressed as he saw the man use a chair, half broken, and defend himself with it. He sighed a bit knowing he wouldn't be getting directions just standing there and decided he had better help the man. It just wasn't fair to gang up on a guy like that. With a cry he leapt forwards into the fight and brought his umbrella to bear on one of the attackers slamming it into his stomach knocking the air from his lungs and following with a elbow up to the man's chin knocking him back against the wall and out cold. The attackers had all stopped as if shocked that someone else was attacking. The man they were ganging up on was shocked as well it seemed.
Ryouga took advantage of their shock and shot forth with a series of umbrella thrusts and swings along with kicks and punches which rendered all the attackers unconscious within a matter of seconds. He was a bit amazed actually that he could defeat them so easily when the man they were going up against was obviously a very skilled martial artist. He shrugged a bit and turned back to the man he had saved replacing his umbrella onto the top of his pack.
"Are you okay?", Ryouga asked the man before him. The man blinked a bit and then shook his head lightly and smiled just a bit.
"Yeah. Uhhh...thanks. Where'd you come from?", the man asked curiously.
"Uhhh....Tokyo I think. Listen I'm trying to get back there, to Nerima. Do you know how to get there from here?", Ryouga asked holding his map out a bit.
"Nerima? Uhhh.....yeah. You gotta go north about 10 miles. That way.", the man said pointing. Ryouga glanced and nodded.
"Thanks. Are you going to be okay? Why were those guys attacking you anyways?", Ryouga asked wondering.
"I'll be fine. They were after something I have. Thanks again.", the man said with a smile.
"Oh. No problem. It's the duty of a martial artist to help those in need. Be careful in the future. You're pretty good. I'd better get going. I have a lot of ground to cover. Thanks again.", Ryouga said and bowed lightly before he turned and headed across the room before he disappeared into the kitchen. The man stood there blinking a bit confused and then smiled a little.
"CUT! CUT! I don't believe this! Who let that idiot on the set! Jackie what were you doing?", the director suddenly shouted coming out of his shock. The camera men did as well and stopped rolling film. Jackie Chan turned to face the director and smiled a bit.
"I'm not sure who let him on here but he's good. One of the best I've ever seen.", Jackie said with a small laugh.
"Really? Well it doesn't matter cause he ruined the scene. It'll take another two days to set it up again! I hate my life! Bob! Take that film out and trash it!", the director whined.
"No! Don't do that! I don't think he ruined it! Let's keep it in the movie.", Jackie said getting a feeling.
"What?! Keep it in the movie?! But....but why Jackie?!", the director asked almost hysterical.
"I have a feeling he'll be back again. I got an idea. Listen I think you'll like this!", Jackie said walking over to the director and began to tell his plan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akane sighed to herself as she lay on her bed just thinking. She had been up here for about an hour now and was still no closer to figuring out what she truly felt for Ranma....or Ryouga. Things were just so confusing! Why did she kiss Ryouga? Why did Ranma have to be so aggrivating one moment and actually nice the next? Why did things have to be so confusing for her? She rolled over onto her stomach and sighed. She wished she had someone to talk to about all this. At least then she'd be talking about it and finding out what she thought instead of just laying her and running her thoughts around in circles. A sudden knock at her door got her attention.
"Yeah?", Akane asked looking towards the door. It opened and in stepped Kasumi, looking a little worried.
"Akane? I just came to see how you were doing. You looked a little confused when you came home and then came up here. Is everything alright?", Kasumi asked after shutting the door. Akane looked over at her older sister and smiled a bit shifting herself to sitting.
"I'm alright Kasumi. I just got a lot to think about is all.", Akane said with a smile. Kasumi nodded a bit and walked over sitting down beside her.
"Oh? Would you like to talk about it? I might be able to help.", Kasumi said with her usual smile and soft tone of voice. Akane paused for a moment about to say no but remembered she had been wishing for someone to talk to and Kasumi always knew what to do.
"Kasumi. I'm confused. Some things have happened and I don't know what to do about them.", Akane said to begin.
"Is this about Ranma and Ryouga?", Kasumi asked startling Akane a bit that she knew.
"Uhhh....yes it is. You see....back when Ranma first came here and I found out about the engagement I was really mad. I didn't want to get engaged! Just given to some stranger like a prize or something! I couldn't believe daddy did that. After I had some time to think I realized that taking it out on Ranma wasn't right because it wasn't his fault. I just couldn't help myself when he started insulting me and making fun of me! He just got me so mad! But....there were times he was actually nice to me....I kind of liked him when he was nice like that. Then Ryouga came along with his grudge against Ranma and everybody else that came along too. Ryouga, I think, was the first guy I ever knew that wasn't trying to 'win me' or wasn't associated with me like that. I liked him and he was a good friend to me. I got used to the idea that I was going to have to marry Ranma. I think that's when I....I started to like Ranma more I guess. I mean I'm supposed to marry him someday and I didn't want to be stuck in a loveless marriage! I...I like Ranma....but....I like Ryouga too! I mean he's always standing up for me when Ranma is insulting me and just the other day he threw himself in front of that car for me. He put himself in danger Kasumi! He could've been seriously hurt! He saved my life. I...when I was seeing him outside that night...I'm not sure what happened but I just....I kissed him Kasumi. Ryouga. It was just a small one but I kissed him.", Akane said and sighed lowering her head.
"Oh my.", Kasumi said blinking a bit in shock from the information that was just told to her. She paused for a few moments to think about it all and then looked to Akane. She placed a gently hand on Akane's shoulder and smiled softly as she spoke, "Akane. I understand what you're saying. You like both of them but you should find out who you love. If you don't things will only get worse. You say you like Ranma but he keeps getting you mad. You also say you like Ryouga but you don't say anything bad about him. Do you love Ryouga?" Akane paused for a few moments thinking, her brow creased.
"I don't know Kasumi. I mean Ryouga is the first boy I ever kissed, willingly. But I'm supposed to marry Ranma because of the promise father and Mr. Saotome made with each other. I never really thought about Ryouga in that way until the other night when I just kissed him. I've....somtimes....thought about Ranma in that way. I've thought about what it'd be like to kiss him. I don't know what I'm going to do.", Akane said and sighed.
"Akane. I can't help you sort out your feelings. You have to do that yourself but I can give you some advice that mother gave me when I was very young. I had a crush on another boy who lived in the neighborhood and I told mother about it. She said that love was something to be cherished and held close to your heart for all time. She also told me that the saying 'Love is blind' is very true. She never saw it coming with father until one day she looked at him and realized that she loved him. It snuck up on her she said. You have to think Akane and look deep in your heart. If you follow it you'll never be lead wrong.", Kasumi said and moved giving Akane a warm hug before she rose to her feet and headed for the door. Akane smiled warmly back feeling a lot better.
"Thanks Kasumi. Oh....could you keep this between us? If Dad found out you know what he'd do.", Akane said as she watched Kasumi open the door. Kasumi looked back and smiled nodding.
"I won't tell Father, Akane. Don't worry. Akane I think, no matter who you choose, Father will be very happy. Don't worry too much about the engagement. Dinner will be ready in an hour.", Kasumi said with a smile and headed outside shutting the door behind her. Akane blinked a bit and smiled to herself, turning and laying back down on her bed. She was feeling much better now, but she still hadn't made a decision. She sighed and frowned to herself and she went back to thinking of Ranma and Ryouga.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ryouga growled to himself as he dispatched yet another man throwing him across the gymnasium. He fell back a few steps coming up back to bacl with his partner in fighting. He was amazed that he kept running into him after that first time. He had gotten to know him somewhat and found out his name was Jackie and he was some sort of special agent from Tokyo. He was also a very good martial artist, extremely quick and agile. He almost reminded him of Ranma, but Ranma was his rival and Jackie was his friend.
"How are you doing?", Jackie asked him as he defended himself from a knife weilding brute, blocking the attacks with a broken piece of pipe.
"I'm okay but there are too many of these guys to fight one on one. We'll tire out by then.", Ryouga replied back thrusting at another one who was swinging a sword at him.
"You're right! What do you suggest?!", Jackie said back dropping the knife wielder with a well placed kick.
"We have to take them out all at once to get out of this. I got an idea but I can't do it with you in the damage area. You'll get hurt.", Ryouga said blocking the sword and pushing the guy back.
"I see. If I can get over to that window I can get out that way. Will that be far enough?", Jackie said as he began to parry blows from two thugs at once.
"What window? That one? Yeah that'll do. Tell me when your ready and I'll send you that way.", Ryouga shouted out knocking the sword out of the man's hand and knocking him back with his umbrella. The two fought for a few more moments Jackie quickly taking out the two he was fighting.
"Okay now!", Jackie shouted. Ryouga turned putting his umbrella on top of his backpack and grabbed Jackie hurling him through the air towards the window. He then turned as the group of over fifty thugs began to close in on him and started to focus his depression in on himself forming a chi sphere in between his hands. Jackie landed and turned glancing back and then slipped out the window rushing away and shouting to the director to start filming the gymnasium from outside. the men frantically got a camera up and rolling from a safe distance.
"SHI SHI HOUKOUDAN!!!!!", Ryouga's shouted echoed out from the gymnasium as a bright flash of light exploded from inside. The windows shattered outwards as the sonic boom slammed into them. At the same time a large sphere of chi exploded up through the roof of the gymnasium soaring high up into the sky and slowing down to stop for a brief moment before falling back down and slamming back into the gymnasium further decimating it and leaving it in ruins. Jackie rushed back inside after a few moments.
"Ryouga?! Ryouga where are you?!", Jackie called out. A low groan from the smoking crater in the center of the gymnasium got his attention. He rushed over through the smoking and scattered unconscious bodies of the thugs. Ryouga, only lightly singed, slowly climbed out of the crater and glanced around and then grinned.
"We got them.", Ryouga said.
"Yeah. We got them alright. Come on I'll buy you dinner.", Jackie said with a smile as the two slowly walked out of the gymnasium. Once they were left the director turned towards the cameraman as he stopped filming once the two were gone. The director suddenly burst into tears.
"Thank you Jackie!!! The hazard pay for the stunt man is all worth it just for that shot! You! Tell me you got the entire thing from inside!", the director shouted at the other cameraman from his hidden filming position.
"Yes sir! I just checked! We got it all!", the cameraman said with a smile watching the director fall to his knees crying more.
"I'm going to be famous!!!", the director shouted and continued to weep openly. This was going to be the best action movie they had ever seen! The public was going to eat this up!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma was having a bad day. No make that a bad week. At least his stomach was as he had to cruelly force Akane's cooking, or what she called cooking, on it since Ryouga won on that game show. He'd have to give Ryouga a good beating when he next saw him for this week's torture. Well at least this was the last day and he could enjoy some real food for a change. That's why he was on his way to Ucchan's, to get some of that real food which had not been seen around the Tendo's for the past week. He was slowly strolling down the street thinking to himself about Akane. If you asked him, however, he would just deny it but he was thinking of her. She had been acting strange ever since that car accident.
Something was up he could tell. He wasn't being told something he felt he should know about, and the fact that he wasn't being told was more irritating than the fact that he had no idea what it was that he wasn't being told about. He sighed to himself wishing he knew what was wrong. Akane had been more moody than lately. She wasn't hitting him as much when he said something stupid about her. Not that he minded not being hit, but it was just he was used to it and whenever she didn't it made him think there was something up. Stupid violent tomboy. Why did she have to hit him at all anyways. Ucchan never hit him...well...almost never but she did it for good reasons unlike Akane. He just didn't understand Akane. He stopped and shook his head clearing it of the confusing thoughts as he spotted Ucchan's.
He lightly jogged up to the doors and opened them heading inside. He glanced around quickly noting only a couple people at a far off table in a corner.
"Hey Ranchan! Here for some real food?!", Ukyou called out from behind the grill even as she began to make some okonomiyaki for him.
"Hey Ucchan! Yeah! Lucky for my stomach though after today I don't have to eat Akane's food if I can avoid it!", Ranma replied walking over and sitting on a stool at the counter nearly drooling at the sight of the sizzling food on the grill.
"One deluxe Ranchan special coming up!", Ukyou said quickly and experting fashioning the sauce into a intricate heart shape and depositing the okonomiyaki on a plate in front of him.
"Thanks Ucchan! You're a life saver!", Ranma said digging in.
"No problem Ranchan. So...how's Akane?", Ukyou said starting another one. Ranma blinked a bit and looked up a little confused.
"Akane's okay...I guess. Why do you ask?", Ranma asked.
"Oh...no reason really Ranchan. Just curious you know? Me and her had a little talk....about you a while back. I was just wondering how she was is all.", Ukyou said trying to not sound too anxious.
"What? About me?! What...what did you two...talk about?", Ranma said his nervousness evident.
"Oh just girl stuff! You know Ranchan. How cute you look and stuff like that!", Ukyou said with a slight giggle seeing him turn a bright red.
"WHAT?!", Ranma shouted in a strangled voice causing Ukyou to break out laughing.
"Relax Ranchan! I'm just kidding!", Ukyou said setting another two okonomiyaki on his plate. Ranma let out a big sigh and relaxed.
"Oh. Geez Ucchan! Don't scare me like that!", Ranma said still blushing a little.
"Sorry Ranchan. I couldn't resist. But we did talk about you and both our engagements to you.", Ukyou said getting serious and gathering her strength for what she was about to do.
"Huh? You...you did? Uhhh...what'd....Akane say?", Ranam asked swallowing some of his food.
"I can't tell you that Ranchan. That's Akane's business and I can't tell you what she said. I can tell you what I said though Ranchan.", Ukyou said and forced herself to stay calm. This was a big risk she was taking but if she could just get him to see....
"Uhhh...ummm...if you want to....I guess.", Ranma said and swallowed again even though he had no food in his mouth. Was it hot or was it just him? Ukyou paused a moment and set her spatula's aside. She walked around the counter and sat down beside him and then looked at his face and took a deep breath.
"Ranchan. I love you and I want with all my heart to marry you and live my life with you but above all I want you to be happy. I know you don't love Kodachi or Shampoo I can tell that but....with Akane I'm not so sure. I can't tell if you love her or not. I need to know, Ranchan, if you love Akane. If you're going to be happy marrying her and living the rest of your life with her....no matter how much that will hurt me I'll accept it because you'll will be happy, and that's what I want, deep in my heart. For you to be happy Ranchan. I would be the happiest woman in the world if I could be the one to make you happy....but if I'm not I'll....I'll let you go. Please Ranchan you have to tell me. Do you love Akane?", Ukyou asked her voice lightly trembling and her eyes filling with tears.
Ranma swallowed hard as he listened to Ukyou's words and watched her face filling with pain, her eyes filling with tears. He hated it when he made Ukyou cry, or any girl for that matter, but with Ukyou it hurt just a little more. Why did she have to ask him that question, of all the questions she could have asked? Why that one?! He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed before opening them to look at her again. She seemed even more distraught now than a moment ago. She looked on the edge of total breakdown, as if her entire life was balanced on how he answered her. He blinked in shock as he realized it was. Her life was in his hands now. Depending on how he answered her, she would then have to live her life. He lowered his head his shoulders slumping as he felt the weight of the world weighing him down.
"Ranchan?", Ukyou said with a light sniffle seeing him lower his head and not say anything.
"Ucchan. Why did you have to ask me that?", Ranma said in a quiet voice.
"Be...because Ranchan. I have to know.", Ukyou said struggling to remain calm. Ranma sighed tiredly and glanced over at his cooling food. He stared silently at the heart shapes drawn in sauce on each of them and very lightly smiled for a second before sighing again and thinking on the question. After a short while he lifted his head and looked to Ukyou.
"Ucchan. Do I....love Akane? I....I....I don't know. I don't know if I love her or not. I don't even know what love is. Pop may be a good teacher of martial arts but he sucks when it comes to love. I know I...I like Akane. When she isn't blaming me for everything, or hitting me or shouting at me. It's funny you know. To look at her you wouldn't think she looked so...cute when she smiles. I don't know if I love her. I mean...we get along okay I guess but I wouldn't call what we have a loving relationship. We're always fighting over the stupidest of things and it didn't help that we got off to a bad start either. I just don't know Ucchan. I seriously don't know.", Ranma said and looked up at her face. He was glad to see she wasn't as bad as she was a few moments ago. She seemed calmer now as she reached out and took one of his hands in hers.
"Ranchan. I understand. You never were very good at this sort of thing and neither was I, I guess. One more question Ranchan. Do you, could you, love me?", Ukyou asked and lightly bit her lower lip. Ranma blinked a bit and looked up from their hands to her face and swallowed.
"I...I....you're my best friend Ucchan. Of course I love you....just not like that. I mean I thought you were a guy until you came here! It wouldn't....feel right.", Ranma said and winced at his words. He didn't want to hurt Ukyou anymore than he already had. She winced as well and lowered her head a bit.
"I know I'm your best friend Ranchan. You're mine too....but I love you! Like that! I want to be with you forever! I want to marry you Ranchan! I want to! With all my heart. Do you know why my father agreed when I said I wanted to marry you all those years ago Ranchan? It's because he's always told me and believed that the greatest relationships come from the greatest friendships! We have a great friendship Ranchan you can't deny that! I think we could have a great relationship too....if you'll just give me chance!", Ukyou said shouting somewhat and looked at Ranma, half glaring as the tears slowly streamed down her cheeks.
"Uc...Ucchan. Please...I...I can't...Pop's engaged me to Akane and.....", Ranma began sounding a little weak.
"SO?! He engaged you to me too, before he engaged you to Akane! So what those two fools had decided about you and one of Tendo's daughters five years before you met me! Neither of them had made it offical! _I_ was your first fiancee Ranchan! ME! I love you! Is that why you haven't decided about your engagements!? Because of the mess your father made of them!?", Ukyou shouted at Ranma but soften her voice by the last statement. Ranma lowered his head and pulled his hand back away from Ukyou's getting up from the stool and then turned sharply and slammed it down on the grill denting it. He then pulled it back and growled as the grill began to burn his skin.
"OW! Stupid old man! Why did he have to be so stupid!? Why did he go and engage me to you and Akane and get me stuck with Shampoo and....ARGH!!", Ranma shouted out.
"Ranchan! Your hand!", Ukyou shouted and was over at his side holding his hand gently looking at the burn marks. Ranma lightly pulled it back.
"It's okay Ucchan. Sorry about your grill.", Ranma said glumly.
"Forget about the grill! I'm worried about you! Sit down I'll get some bandages and something for your hand.", Ukyou commanded and headed around into the back room.
"No no Ucchan. I'm okay really. I....I should go.", Ranma said turning for the door.
"NO! Don't you dare leave me now! We haven't finished talking yet! Please Ranchan. Sit down.", Ukyou said standing in the doorway of the back room. Ranma looked to her and sighed softly moving and sitting back down. Ukyou went back into the back room and a few moment later emerged with a first aid kit. She shut her grill off and walked around and over to the door switching the sign to closed seeing the only other customers that were there had left. She walked back over and sat down taking Ranma's hand in hers and began to apply a ointment to the burns and bandage it as Ranma just stared at the dent he had made.
The two sat in silence for a time while Ukyou applied the ointment to Ranma's hand and carefully bandaged it. When she finished, Ukyou set the first aid kit aside and then turned and looked to Ranma who still stared at the dent in the grill.
"Ranchan. I know this is difficult for you...", Ukyou began when Ranma interrupted her with a bitter laugh.
"No you don't Ucchan. You don't know at all. Stupid old man! He's got me engaged to both you and Akane and who knows how many more are out there! I just...can't make a decision without hurting someone Ucchan. I really hate him for doing this to me. He never thinks of the consequences, just what something would get him. How am I supposed to decide without hurting someone?! Without damaging someone's honor?! I can't! I hate him!", Ranma said half shouting and lowered his head clenching his hands into fists despite the pain.
"Ranchan. Is that why? Because of honor? What about love Ranchan?! I love you! Honor be damned! When your father ran out on me those years ago getting revenge against you and your father became an obsession for me! I was so obsessed with getting back our lost honor I let my entire childhood, and in part my womanhood, just slip right past me. Once I found you and you....you called me cute I...I nearly broke down right then. No one had ever called me cute before. I fell in love with you a second time right then and my love has only grown for you since then Ranchan. Worrying about honor cost me the most prescious years of my life and I won't let it do that to me again! I don't want it to do that to you either. Forget about honor Ranchan and tell me now. Truthfully, do you love me or Akane?", Ukyou said fixing him in a soft yet determined gaze.
"Ucchan I....I don't know....I just don't know. I...I'd better go now Ucchan. I got...homework to do. I'll see you later.", Ranma said rising and quickly heading for the door.
"Ranchan! Please! I need to know!", Ukyou said rising and holding a hand out to him. Ranma paused and looked back at Ukyou, not wanting to leave her like this but also needing to get away. The battle over what to do raged inside him for a few agonizing moments.
"Ucchan....I....I...have to go. I need to think about this. I need more time. I'll....I'll see you soon.", Ranma said and paused before turning and exiting. Ukyou dropped her hand and let out a pained sob before turning and dropping to her stool leaning on the counter crying softly.
"Ranchan. I love you. I hope...I'm doing the right thing.", Ukyou said softly to herself before she continued to cry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Wow.", is all Jackie could say after hearing Ryouga's words. He looked to the lost boy in a new light now and placed a hand on his shoulder giving it a squeeze.
"Good luck to you Ryouga. Thank you for all your help and I hope you get to where you're going.", Jackie said with a smile. Ryouga paused to smile as well and shook Jackie's hand firmly.
"Thanks Jackie. Good luck to you too. I'd better get going now. I really have to get back to Nerima. See you around Jackie.", Ryouga said and bowed to Jackie before turning and walking off out the doorway of the small cafe. A few moments of silence as Jackie just stood there.
"Cut! That was....beautiful! Jackie you're a genius! Funny though he never notices the cameras. Oh well. This movie is going to make us both ultra famous! We just have to film the final scene! Thank you so much for convincing me about this Jackie!", the director said and rushed over hugging Jackie.
"You're welcome. I just had a feeling about him. Well let's get ready for the final scene. I'm ready if you are.", Jackie said to the director who nodded and rushed off to get it ready.
"Wow. I wish I had a guy that devoted to me.", one of the stage hands said softly to herself more than anyone else. A bunch of other girls all nodded at the same time in agreement. Jackie just laughed lightly to himself.
{Ryouga Hibiki you're an interesting guy. I hope we meet again.}. Jackie thought to himself and then headed off to get ready.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma-chan sighed softly to herself as she stood in front of a door thinking to herself. She shouldn't even be here but...she needed to talk to someone. She needed help and advice and this was the only person she could think of who could give her that advice. She sighed once more and slowly raised her hand and balled it into a fist. Taking a deep breath she brought it down against the door and knocked three times. She nearly turned and ran when she heard noises inside and then footsteps heading towards the door. This was it, there was no turning back now. The door slid open and standing there dressed in her usual kimono was Nodoka.
"Ranko?! What are you doing here?", Nodoka asked glancing around for any of the other Tendo's or that pet panda Ranko kept.
"Hi Auntie Saotome. I'm here alone. I...I was hoping you could help me. I have a little problem and I don't know what to do.", Ranma-chan said nervously. Nodoka paused a moment to regard the red head a little surprised but smiled and stepped to the side to allow her to enter.
"Of course Ranko. Come in, sit down. I'll get us some tea.", Nodoka said and shut the door after Ranma-chan. She gestured to the couch and headed off into the kitchen. Ranma-chan paused and glanced around the room softly wishing she could just change back and and tell her mother everything. With a sigh she lowered her head and walked over sitting down on the couch and waiting. A few moments later Nodoka returned from the kitchen with a pot of tea and two cups on a platter. She poured a cup and handed one to Ranma-chan and then took one herself and then relaxed.
"There now. Now what did you want to talk about dear?", Nodoka asked softly. Ranma-chan paused for a moment and took a small drink of tea and then carefully set the cup back down.
"Ummm...Auntie Saotome. I...I got this problem you see. There's these two gir....uhhh...guys I know. You see...I'm engaged to one of them...and I like this one...but we always fight all the time. Then there's the other one who's my best friend....but....he loves me and I don't know know what to do. I mean I'm supposed to marry one but I don't think....he loves me and I don't know if I love....him. The other wants to marry me but...I...we're best friends and I...I don't want to hurt our friendship. What should I do?", Ranma-chan said and looking pleadingly to Nodoka. Nodoka blinked a bit and took a sip of her tea thinking about what she was just told.
"Ranko dear....you definitely do seem to have a problem dear. Let me ask you a few questions. This man you are engaged to. Was it your choice? Do you love him?", Nodoka asked.
"It wasn't my idea. It was was stupid father's idea and his father's idea to engage us. They didn't even ask us. I....I don't know if I love him! We always fight all the time and...he....he never believes a thing I say and always blames me for everything bad that happens. But...there are times when he's actually nice...and he smiles...he looks so....so cute.", Ranma-chan said and sighed lowering her head.
"I see. What of this other young man? Your best friend? How do you feel about him?", Nodoka asked.
"He...he's always been my best friend and...yesterday he...he asked me about this problem too. He said....if I loved the guy I'm engaged to and would be happy with him....then he would let me go because I'd be happy but he wants to be the one to marry me. I don't know what to do! No matter what I do I'm just sure somebody else is going to get hurt!", Ranma-chan said and lowered her head into her hands. Nodoka frowned softly and rose up walking over and sat down beside her, gently taking her into her arms and holding her gently.
"Shhhhh. There there Ranko dear. I understand. It's very complicated, what you describe dear. All I can say is that you need to think dear. You need to think long and hard and look inside yourself and find out who you really care for and then let both of these young men know. I know it won't be easy though. It'll be very hard to do, confronting your feelings but you have to do this or this situation will just grow until you can't stop it anymore and it will end in disaster. You have to be strong. Can you do that dear?", Nodoka asked pulling back a bit and looking down at the young girl she held. Ranma-chan trembled a bit and took a deep breath before looking up into her mother's face and swallowing. She blinked a bit and a small smile formed on her lips.
"Yeah. I can be strong Auntie Saotome. Thanks for your help. I think I...I think I can face this now. I can be strong!", Ranma-chan said and moved hugging Nodoka tightly. Nodoka smiled a bit a hugged Ranma-chan back and the two just sat there for a few moments in silence. Ranma-chan pulled back and sighed feeling better now. She rose to her feet and looked to Nodoka.
"Are you leaving so soon dear?", Nodoka asked a little disappointed.
"Ummm...yeah I better go. I have a lot of thinking to do.", Ranma-chan said and headed for the door.
"Oh. I understand dear. Oh. Would you do me a favor Ranko dear. If you see Ranma anytime soon....", Nodoka began when Ranma-chan turned and raised a hand stopping her.
"I'll get him to give you a call first thing tomorrow morning Auntie Saotome. Him and Uncle Genma are coming back from a training trip for just a little while. Okay?", Ranma-chan said with a small smile. Nodoka blinked a bit and then smiled warmly and nodded, her eyes lightly misting.
"Oh...yes. Thank you Ranko dear. I would appreciate that very much.", Nodoka said softly and nodded. Ranma-chan smiled a little more and bowed lightly before letting herself out the front door and walking down the walkway and then turning down the street. After a few steps she stopped and sighed to herself.
"I'd rather fight two dozen Happosai's than have to make a choice but...I have to. I have to be strong.", Ranma-chan muttered to herself and then set off walking again, beginning to think over the problem she was faced with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ryouga grumbled to himself as he trudged solemnly down the side of a road not really paying attention. He frowned to himself as he thought back on what had happened over the past month and a half. Akane had kissed him. Then he got lost and wound up on a game show of some sort. And won! Then he met Jackie and over a couple of weeks continued meeting up with him and found out he was an agent working for the government searching for a witness to a murder. He had helped him when he could and had fought off a good many thugs alongside him. But he had to get back to Nerima which was why he kept going. It had been two weeks since he last saw Jackie and he hoped he had found his witness and put the guy away. He continued on down the road, hoping he could find his way back to Akane soon. Had he been paying attention he would have noticed a sign to his left as he walked past it. On it read, "Nerima 5 miles".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma sat down in his seat at the theatre and got himself comfortable. Akane and Ukyou sat on either side of him both sort of looking forward to the movie. All three of them had been having a lot of serious thinking to do, each on their own problems, so it was nice to get out for a while and just have fun. Ranma was stuffing his face with popcorn waiting anxiously for the movie to start. He had heard this was Jackie Chan's best movie ever and he couldn't wait for it to start.
"What's this movie called again Ranchan?", Ukyou whispered.
"Uhhh...Blood Witness!", Ranma said.
"Ewww. That's so sick!", Akane said.
"Hey! It's not sick. The title just explains the plot. Jackie Chan has to find a witness to a brutal murder before the bad guys do.", Ranma explained.
"Oh. Well they could have picked a better title.", Akane said with a huff. The curtain started to rise as the lights dimmed just then.
"Shhh. The movie's starting!", Ranma whispered back and watched as the projector started up and the movie began to play.
About an hour later the movie was around half over and Akane had finished her soda. She frowned and bit and turned nudging Ranma.
"What?", Ranma asked annoyed. This was a really good movie and now Akane was bothering him.
"Ranma. I'm out of soda. Would you go get me some more?", Akane whispered.
"What?!", Ranma almost shouted back.
"Me too Ranchan. Please?", Ukyou asked from his other side. Ranma blinked and groaned lowering his head. He sighed knowing he wouldn't get any peace. He took their cups and rose from his seat as the sounds of a fight ending came from the movie. Ranma felt like crying cause he missed the fight.
"Are you okay?", a very familiar voice suddenly asked. Ranma blinked a bit and looked up and around.
"Huh? Ryouga?", Ranma asked not seeing him anywhere.
"Ranchan! Look!", Ukyou said pointing to the screen.
"I don't believe it! Ryouga?!", Akane said staring wide eyed at the screen as well. Ranma turned and looked up blinking as he saw, large as life, Ryouga. On the movie screen. That idiot was actually in the movie! He just numbly sat back down and stared.
"Oh. No problem. It's the duty of a martial artist to help those in need. Be careful in the future. You're pretty good. I'd better get going. I have a lot of ground to cover. Thanks again.", Ryouga said and smiled to Jackie turning and heading across the room into the kitchen. Jackie just watched him go and then shook his head a bit and turned heading out the back door and hopping on his motorcycle parke dout back and sped away.
"How did he get in the movie?", Ranma muttered to himself.
"I don't know but...isn't this exciting Ranma? We know a movie star now!", Akane said with a small laugh.
"I wouldn't call him a movie star Akane.", Ranma said and rolled his eyes.
"Well I would. I wonder if he's in the movie again?", Akane asked excited.
"Let's watch and see!", Ukyou suggested and the three glued their eyes to the screen and watched.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jackie lept over a set of crates and landed behind them just as the group of men opened fire on him spraying the area with bullets. A few moments later Minako, the government agent assigned to work with him, landed beside him after she had made her break for it. She scooted up behind him and cringed as more bullets shot up the area on the other side of the crates.
"Jackie what are we going to do?", Minako asked a little frantic.
"Hold on. Let me think.", Jackie said and looked around just as Ryouga rounded the corner looking lost. He spied Jackie and blinked a bit and waved lightly.
"Oh hello again.", Ryouga said with a friendly smile.
"Get down!", Jackie called out. Ryouga blinked and then jumped and began to dodge bullets that began to pepper the area. In a flash he had his umbrella out and opened blocking the bullets being shot at him. A few moments later he dived behind the crates as well and looked to Jackie.
"Those people are shooting at me!!", Ryouga shouted.
"Yes I know. They're shooting at us too. Sorry you got involved in this.", Jackie said and looked around still.
"Jackie hurry! They're loading a rocket launcher! We've got to get out of here!", Minako shouted.
"You guys need an escape?", Ryouga asked.
"Yeah. You got an idea?", Jackie said.
"Yeah! Follow me!", Ryouga said and turned crawling over behind the larger part of the pile of crates and fixed his umbrella to his backpack.
"What are you going to do?", Minako asked Ryouga looking over Jackie's shoulder. Ryouga paused to glance back at her and then looked to the ground in front of him and pulled his hand back extending one finger.
"I'm going to dig us a tunnel. BAKUSEI TENKETSU!!!", Ryouga shouted and thrust his finger into the ground kicking up a dust cloud and causing a small tremor. He then continued to attack the ground causing more and more dust. After a few moments of coughing and waving their arms the dust cleared and the two saw a largish hole in the ground. The two blinked in shock and then from in it they heard Ryouga's voice.
"Hurry up you two! Follow me! In the hole!", Ryouga shouted out. Jackie turned to Minako and shrugged and then helped her down into the hole and followed her into it as well. A few moments after they had gone a rocket slammed into the the crates and exploded.
Somewhere else, away from the bad guys, the ground exploded upwards and Ryouga climbed out and looked around a little dirty but not hurt. He helped Jackie and Minako out of the hole and the three looked around again.
"That was amazing! I've never seen anyone do that. How did you dig that tunnel so quickly?", Minako asked amazed.
"Oh. It's just a martial arts technique I know. The 'Bakusei Tenketsu'. It allows me to use the breaking points of rocks and buildings and other hard things to destroy them. I sometimes use it to tunnel if I absolutely have to go straight.", Ryouga explained blushing a little.
"Well thanks, whoever you are. You just saved our lives.", Jackie said.
"Oh. I'm sorry. My name is Hibiki. Ryouga Hibiki.", Ryouga said and bowed.
I'm Jackie and this is agent Minako.", Jackie explained.
