Bonbori and Spatulas: One

Bonbori and Spatulas

By: Dreiser

-One-

Ranma was married.

The impossible had happened. He and Akane had somehow
gotten past their pride to confess that they really
did love one another. And where did that leave me,
Kuonji Ukyo, the cute fiancée?

It left me as a guest at their second wedding.

Frankly I was surprised that they even invited me
considering what I did the last time. Letting loose a
barrage of okonomiyaki bombs usually doesn't tend to
make people want to invite you back a second time.
Later I found out from Nabiki that my invitation had
come at Ranma's insistence. He told them that despite
it all I was still his oldest friend and he wanted me
there. He trusted me that much.

His oldest friend.

Once those words would've brought an odd combination
of joy and pain in my heart. But now? There's nothing.
Just a sort of hollow ache.

What do you do when the love of your life has left you
for another? When all your dreams of the future are
crushed in a single ceremony?

I decided to get drunk.

The bar was fairly dark but was filled with a strange
neon glow. At least it was quieter than those damn
discos. I give a brief look around the surroundings
then saddle up on a stool and call out, "Barkeep. A
beer."

The bartender turns and gives me a close look. He
pauses at my battle spatula then his eyes widen and he
nods his head before retrieving my beer. I hate to say
it but sometimes being a martial artist comes in
handy. In Nerima soon as I was recognized as one of
the people who ran with Ranma they pretty much let me
do whatever I wanted. Even the police seemed to be in
this mentality.

I take the offered beer from the now meek bartender
and sip it slowly. It feels strange to be drinking
again. I had gotten drunk plenty of times at my old
school in Juuban when I was still pretending to be one
of the guys. Sometimes I miss those days. It was so
much simpler back then. I knew who I was and what I
felt. I was Kuonji Ukyo the heir to my family's school
of martial arts and I hated Saotome Ranma. I hated him
because he was the responsible for me having to
renounce my womanhood.

And now? I knew my name and that was it. I had my
womanhood back, I rediscovered it the second Ranma had
told me I was cute. In that moment I finally knew what
it felt like to be a woman and to feel desirable.

My beer is empty now and I set it down on the bar
before I gesture to the bartender to get me another.
To keep them coming. I think what hurts the most is
that he never quite seemed to know how much I love
him. I thought I had made it pretty clear but
apparently not because he chose Akane over me. Then
again, he always seemed to chose Akane over me. Akane
over anybody.

I wonder about that. What is so damn special about
Tendo Akane anyway? She's abrasive, loud, and
genuinely mean spirited at times. Why does he love
her? Was it because she was more feminine than me? Was
it because she wore dresses and despite her bouts of
uncontrolled anger she had the mannerisms you would
expect of a traditional girl? Was that it? Or was it
the family honor? That out of all your engagements
hers was the most valid in your eyes? What was it
Ranma? Why did you chose her?

I'm still on my second beer and my mind drifts towards
my father. The more I think about it he's the real
cause of all my troubles. It was him who decided to
pawn me off like some sort of worthless creature that
he no longer wanted onto Saotome Genma. And it was him
who demanded that I pose as a boy to regain the so
called family honor. I wonder what Dad will think
about Ranma's wedding? What he'll do? Most likely
he'll suggest that I return to posing as a boy. That
life will be easier for me that way.

The selfish jackass.

My second beer is nearly gone when I hear the sound of
another customer arguing with the bartender. There's a
loud crash and I carefully push myself to my feet then
head towards the disturbance. When I arrive at the
other end of the bar my eyes widen at what I see.

"Shampoo," I say with some surprise as my eyes
blearily focus on the Amazon's fierce figure. She
looks my way and continues to hold the bartender a few
feet off the ground. "What're you doing here?"

"Spatula girl," Shampoo says in a stiff and slightly
slurred greeting. She's obviously more far gone than
me. "I do same as you do, trying get drunk. Except,"
she growls menacingly as she focused back on the
quivering mass that was the bartender. "He no want
serve Shampoo."

"But Shampoo-san," the bartender stammers as he
clutches at her hands that hold him by his collar.
"It's just that I think you've had enough. If you have
anymore how are you going to get home?"

"Shampoo not home," snarls Shampoo as she gives him a
hard shake. "Shampoo home in China and Shampoo no go
back there anytime soon. You no have to worry about
that. Serve Shampoo her drink now, yes?"

The bartender turns his fearful gaze my way and I
sigh. "Better do it, sugar," I advise. "She doesn't
look like she wants any arguments."

After I say this, Shampoo releases her hold and the
bartender dropped to the ground in a heap then ran
behind the bar to get her next drink. I return my gaze
to her and she's looking at me without the disdain
that she usually has in those scarlet eyes of hers.

"Spatula girl," she begins. "Ranma leave us both."

"Yeah," I reply and take a seat at her table in the
isolated corner of the bar. "He did."

I watch as Shampoo collapses into her chair and leans
forward to rest her head in her hands. "Shampoo no
understand," she says tearfully before her scarlet
eyes lifted. "Why Ranma no want dutiful wife? Shampoo
try to be everything that Ranma would want but still
he chose the violent tomboy over her."

The bartender then returns with Shampoo's drink, which
is simply the biggest bottle of sake I've ever seen.
She grabs it and tears off the cap before downing
almost half the contents in one gulp.

Once she finished drinking the bottle, I say, "You
might want to slow it down a bit. You could get sick."

"Shampoo no care," Shampoo says morosely as she sets
the bottle of sake down. "Shampoo be dead soon enough
anyway. Why not die like life is? Without honor and in
collapsed in a big ditch."

"Well," I drawl as I sip on my beer. "That was
certainly cheery."

"What have be cheery about?" Shampoo asks sharply and
her gaze narrows. Her arm suddenly extends to grab my
collar and I find myself being pulled across the
table. Shampoo's face is inches from my own and I can
feel her hot breath that stinks of sake on my skin.
"Ranma leave us both. Shampoo no stupid. You love
Ranma just as much as Shampoo. Spatula girl in pain
too... lose honor just like Shampoo when Ranma chose
violent tomboy over her." She lets go of me suddenly
and I fall backwards. Her scarlet eyes then study me
carefully. "We having nothing left anymore. Shampoo no
has Airen and spatula girl has no fiancée."

I stop to consider this and not liking what I end up
finding, I take a long drink of my beer. "It's kind of
funny, don't you think? The two of us sitting here.
Talking like normal people do instead of trying to
beat the stuffing out of one another."

Shampoo lets loose a brittle laugh and downs more of
her sake. "We has nothing to fight about now," she
says wisely. "Ranma is gone, so we has no conflict. If
anything," she pauses to meet my gaze. "We in same
boat." She gives the same strained laugh then
corrects, "Same abandoned boat."

"I guess," I say with a sigh. I let my mind drift and
suddenly something she said earlier occurs to me.
"What did you mean when you said you'd be dead soon?"

Her jaw clenches and she finishes off her sake then
sets it down on the table with a loud thump. "Shampoo
no mean nothing," she replies tightly.

"Bullshit," I say strongly as I lean across the table.
"I don't buy that Shampoo. You had to have meant
something by saying that. What's going on?"

"Why stupid spatula girl care?" Shampoo asks rather
bitterly. "You no like Shampoo. You never talk to
Shampoo before Ranma marry violent tomboy. You think
Shampoo is bimbo. Shampoo hear you talk insults about
her many, many, times so no pretend to care about
Shampoo now."

"Maybe that was all true," I relent, keeping my gaze
steady. "But that was then and this is now. Things
aren't exactly the same are they sugar? Like you said,
there's no reason for us to be enemies anymore. And if
we're not enemies why can't we be friends?"

"You want be Shampoo's friend?" asks Shampoo in soft,
incredulous, tones.

"Sure," I say with a shrug. "Why not? We have plenty
in common and the Kami knows that there are very few
other people who could know what we're going through.
And frankly," I pronounce dryly, "I'd rather be
friends with you than that nutcase Kodachi."

Shampoo then gives me the smallest little smile and I
feel my chest lighten as if a weight had been removed
from it. "Okay," she says quietly. "Shampoo think it
nice... to have friend again. But what Shampoo tell
you is private. Spatula girl no can say nothing to
Ranma." She says the last portion so intensely that I
nod my head in a promise to do as she asks. Shampoo
studies me a moment then says, "There many laws in
Shampoo's tribe. When Ranma defeat Shampoo in battle
we is engaged but he no accept this. Shampoo and Great
Grandmother try to tell him about Amazon laws but he
no listen. He no give our ways any respect. This why
Shampoo think she lose him to violent tomboy."

"Makes sense," I murmur. "The stubborn fool was never
one to change his mind about things all that easily."

"Yes," says Shampoo in tense agreement. "Ranma not
think Amazon engagement valid and that why Shampoo say
she be dead soon. This is most likely true... laws of
tribe say that Amazon who no marry Airen over certain
time must face tribal Elders for punishment. Because
Shampoo no win Ranma and time is almost up she must go
back to tribe to take ultimate punishment from
Elders."

I sit in complete shock for several seconds before the
numb feeling that had taken over my mind finally
leaves. She stares at me with sad eyes. "When does
your time run out?"

"Little over a month," Shampoo replies quietly.

"Then what happens? You don't mean that they'll really
sentence you to death, do you?" I ask in disbelief.

Surely they wouldn't kill her. Shampoo was their
Champion for the Kami's sake! Her Great Grandmother
Cologne was the Matriarch of their tribe. They were
bound to show some mercy!

"Light sentence is Shampoo exiled from tribe," says
Shampoo in far off tones as she stares at the ceiling.
"That mean Shampoo no have name in tribe, her rank as
Champion be taken away, and great shame come upon her
family." She lifts her scarlet eyes and I can see how
they burn with anger. "Shampoo no let that happen to
her family. Shampoo never allow dishonor be brought to
those she love." Her gaze stays unrelenting as it
meets my own and she says, "That leave Shampoo one
choice. She carry out the worst of the punishment
herself, to claim back the honor she lost."

The meaning of her words strike me like a lightning
bolt. I leapt to my feet and grab her by her
shoulders. I give her a furious shake as I cry out
loudly, "Are you crazy?! You can't kill yourself!"

Shampoo narrows her gaze and pushes my hands from her
shoulders. She rises slowly to her feet and our eyes
meet at an equal level. At first I was that sure she
was going to hit me or something like that but instead
her hands shoot forward to grab me by the collar
again. Our faces are once again mere inches apart and
she hisses, "Spatula girl is not Amazon. To Amazon,
honor is everything. You no can know the pain caused
when bring dishonor on family. This way Shampoo can
keep her honor..." She trails off and closes her eyes
as she releases her grip on my collar. "Is Shampoo's
one choice."

"No Shampoo," I whisper shakily and suddenly I find
myself holding her. She's in my arms and sobbing
against my shoulder as I pull her closer. "I'll help
you," I say into her hair. "There has to be another
way out of this Shampoo. You can't kill yourself. Not
for him... not for anyone. You're worth more than
that. And besides," I say with a rising panic as I
sought for any way to change her mind, "I won't let
you. There's no way I'm going to lose my new friend."

She lifts her lavender head and her eyes are misty as
they look up into my own. "Spatula girl," she says in
quiet amazement.

Now I knew Shampoo was far gone but I didn't realize
just how gone she was until she suddenly passed out in
my arms. This unnerved me at first but I simply gave
another sigh and adjusted my stance until I could lift
her unconscious frame in my arms. The bartender
scurries over and nervously collects our tabs then
holds open the door for me as I make my way into the
cool night air.

By the time she finally stirs I've made my way back
home and was attempting to open the front door to my
restaurant without waking her. She looks up into my
face and says, "Spatula girl." For some reason I find
myself becoming increasingly fond of that nickname.
"What we do here?"

"It's time for bed," I reply easily as I unlock the
front door and go inside. "You're in no shape to face
your Granny so I figured you could crash here for the
night." I pause to look at Shampoo. "Is that okay with
you?"

Shampoo didn't reply and instead burrowed her face
against my chest as she fell asleep again. As I look
at her features I'm stunned by the beauty I see there.

"Well," I say with a sigh. "I guess that's a yes." I
stop to adjust my grip on Shampoo and slowly make my
way upstairs when suddenly the door to my guest room
opens to reveal Konatsu's sleepy figure.

"Ukyo-sama," he begins only to immediately cease
whatever came next as he took in the sight of Shampoo
being held in my arms.

Before he could say anything more I gave a small and
bemused smile. "Hey sugar," I greet him, "Shampoo's
staying here for the night."

Konatsu could only blink at this and then he snapped
out of this state to revert back to his usual helpful
self. "Do you need any help Ukyo-sama?" he asks as I
haul Shampoo upstairs.

"No," I grunt, pausing on the steps for a breather.
Shampoo is surprisingly heavy for someone who looks so
delicate. "I'm nearly there anyway. I'll explain
everything to you in the morning Konatsu. Maybe it'll
all make sense by then."

And as I reach the top of the stairs I could have
sworn that I heard him say, "Somehow I doubt that."

I wake with a horrendous throbbing in my head and an
overwhelming queasiness in my stomach.

Both were forgotten when with certain panic I realize
that I am being held by a very warm body. A very warm
body who has their hands possessively placed on my
hips as to hold me closer to them. For several seconds
I remain frozen as I try my best to recall what
happened the night before. But the memories refuse to
come so I slowly inch away from this unknown figure. I
move my head back to gain a good look at the person
that I had been nestled against.

I feel my eyes widen and my heart stops as I identify
the well known features of one my romantic rivals. I
leap out of the bed and retrieve my bonbori. "Pervert
spatula girl no get away with take advantage of
Shampoo!"

Immediately after I say this my head begins to pound
with increased vigor and I regret using such loud
volume. In the meantime Ukyo has been roused from
sleep and is rubbing her eyes. When she ceases this
motion she stares at me for a moment then asks with a
tired yawn, "What's with you, sugar?"

"What with Shampoo?" I ask incredulously as I thrust a
bonbori towards her while she gets out of bed.
"Shampoo wake up in spatula girl bed in embrace and
you ask what with Shampoo?!"

"Embrace?" repeats Ukyo blearily as she stretches her
back. "I dunno about that," she says with another yawn
as she ignores me and walks into her bathroom. I then
hear the sound of running water. "I guess you forgot
about us meeting up in that bar, huh? It figures. You
were drunk enough. I'm only a little better off
though."

"Bar?" I ask cautiously.

Sure enough, that one statement was enough to jog my
memory of yesterday's events. After I finished
watching the wedding ceremony from a safe distance I
had wandered around Nerima, pausing only to defeat
Mousse so he would stop following me, and ended up in
a small bar where I proceeded to drown my sorrows with
alcohol. I could vaguely recall meeting Ukyo there but
I was still at a loss as to how I got here. I'm
especially interested in how I wound up in her bed. We
didn't do anything did we? At this thought, the
elephants in my head pound harder and a large lump
forms in my throat.

"Spatula girl," I say carefully as I make my way
towards her bathroom. I peer into the doorway and see
that Ukyo is brushing her teeth. I pause to swallow
the lump in my throat then ask, "What we do last
night?"

"Do?" Ukyo asks blankly, her mouth full of toothpaste
foam. She spit out the contents then looks to me and
continues, "What do you mean?"

I clench my jaw as I fume inwardly. I can't believe
she was going to make me say this! I lift my gaze to
meet hers and innocent sandalwood eyes greet me. I
hear myself release a gasp of air and wince. I loathe
showing such weakness to her but I couldn't help it.

The look in her eyes... I hadn't seen that look
since...

My mind wanders to happier times. More peaceful times.
Less confusing times. Times where I was in love and
been loved in return. Ukyo sees this and waves a hand
in front of my face to gain my attention.

"You okay?" she asks with obvious concern.

I blink at this. She's worried about me? What had
happened last night to cause such a change in her?
Ukyo does not like me... she has never liked me. She
gets along better with that tomboy Akane than me. Why
was she being so nice now? What in the world happened
in our time together to change that?

"Shampoo fine," I assure as I pause to carefully
consider my next words. "No can remember what happen
last night... can you tell Shampoo?"

She scratches her head through mussed up bangs and
leans against the doorframe. "From what I remember we
met up in a bar and got pretty wasted. You told me
about your fool idea of killing yourself to sustain
your honor," Ukyo pauses to glare at me and I suddenly
feel like a small child. "Then you passed out so I
took you back here. I figured you wouldn't want
Cologne seeing you like this." She locks her steady
gaze on me and asks, "Was I wrong?"

"No..." I reply slowly. "Shampoo no want Great
Grandmother to see her drunk. Spatula girl is right
about that. Shampoo..." I trail off slowly and I feel
my cheeks flush. Why was this always so hard? "Shampoo
thank you. What you do was very kind."

"It's no problem sugar," she dismisses.

Ukyo walks past me and towards the window to pull back
the curtain. Sunlight streams into the room and for
the first time I notice she's fully clothed in the
suit she had worn for the wedding. I look down at
myself to see that I too am clothed and my cheeks grow
hot. I had been wrong about her. At this realization I
feel my heart grow light and I study my former rival
closer. Yes, former. There was no reason to feud with
Ukyo anymore. Not about Ranma. He was no longer ours
to claim. He was Akane's and it was she who would have
to battle for him from now on. Not us.

"Shampoo," I hear Ukyo call to me. I lift my gaze and
see that she's standing in the open door to her room.
She gives me a little smile then says, "You can use
the shower if you want. I don't plan on opening the
restaurant up today but I might as well clean things
up. Come downstairs when you're done and I'll cook you
something."

With that she walks out of her bedroom and leaves me
alone. It's only then that I dismiss the bonbori from
my hold and allow myself to think on the events of
last night. This contemplation lasts only a moment
before a sudden wave of queasiness besieges me and
with the room spinning, I dash into the bathroom to
pray to the porcelain god.

I was cleaning the grill when I heard soft and
familiar footsteps. Not looking up I say, "Morning
Konatsu."

"Ukyo-sama," he greets me as he always does. I lift my
gaze and give him a reassuring smile. He's nervous.
Just like I thought he would be. He doesn't understand
what happened last night between me and Shampoo. I
don't blame him. Hell, I was there and I don't
understand what happened last night. Konatsu hesitates
a moment before he asks, "Where's Shampoo?"

"Taking a shower," I inform him and chuckle a bit as
his face turns bright red. "You've got a dirty mind
sugar," I chide, enjoying his stupefied expression. "I
may be getting along better with Shampoo but I'm not
getting along with her that much better if you get my
drift."

"Of course Ukyo-sama!" Konatsu exclaims a little too
quickly as he rapidly nods his head. I laugh at this
and he sidles next to me to help clean the grill. "Can
I ask," he begins cautiously, "how did you and Shampoo
ended up drinking together? I thought you wanted to be
alone."

The hurt in his voice fills me with guilt. He wanted
to comfort me last night. I know that but I told him I
needed to be alone and that was true. I did. But
somehow the need to be solitary didn't arise when I
was with Shampoo. It was different being with her.
Perhaps because she placed no expectations on me while
I know that Konatsu does. Too many expectations. I
turn in his direction and give him what I hope is an
apologetic expression.

"I did want to," I say. "But when I ended up at the
bar Shampoo was there and we got to talking. She's
actually a nice person, Konatsu. Once you get past her
attitude that is."

"You feel better then? About everything?" Konatsu asks
gently. My eyes lidded, I look his way and I smile
again. He's being so sweet, so careful. If only...

"Yeah," I reply quietly. "I feel a lot better."

I heave a sigh and consider if I should talk to
Konatsu about what Shampoo told me last night. I have
to tell somebody... I have to do something. I can't
let her go through with this crazy plan of hers to
kill herself over her blasted family honor.

It's then that a melodic voice says, "Spatula girl."

Despite myself, I smile on hearing that. Without the
venom behind it the nickname wasn't really all that
bad. Besides, I hardly have anything against spatulas.
I do walk around with one strapped to my back you
know.

"Hey Shampoo," I answer as I turn my eyes her way. Her
lavender hair shines in the morning light and it adds
to her beauty. The expression she wears is guarded and
I know she wants to talk with me. I look to Konatsu
and say, "I've been meaning to clean out the storage
room. Would you mind...?"

"Of course not, Ukyo-sama," Konatsu replies quietly.

I watch him retreat from the front of the restaurant
before I look to Shampoo who was now sitting in front
of me at the counter.

"Well," I drawl slowly as I go back to cleaning the
grill, "I hope you've gotten that idea of offing
yourself out of your head, girl. Because it's plain
stupid."

"What else Shampoo to do?" she asks and I find myself
torn away from my work to study her features she
sounds so lost. She meets my gaze and continues, "I
must not lose honor... but how to keep it? Shampoo
lose Ranma. He no longer her Airen. That mean Shampoo
fail."

"That means you have to kill yourself?" I growl. "No
way! I'm not-"

I pause because Shampoo suddenly releases a loud groan
and buries her head in her folded arms on top my
counter. I watch this for a moment then suddenly a
small piece of paper appears in her grip.

"Take this, spatula girl," she murmurs. "If have any
mercy, you will make for Shampoo."

A frown forms upon reading the ingredients. I had all
of them but why did she want me to make it? "First," I
begin suspiciously, "tell me what's this for."

"It ancient tribal secret," Shampoo says as she lifted
her eyes only slightly so she could look at me. "Is
ultimate hangover cure." She studies me closely then
says in droll tones, "Shampoo promise she no try kill
self. At least not around you."

"Not funny, sugar," I mutter darkly as I watch her
with careful eyes.

She buries her head back in her arms and I swiftly
went about making her magical hangover cure. When
finished, I stare at the disgusting looking contents
then pour it into a cup. I continue staring at the
strange blue blob like mixture before taking a
tentative sip. I've always been too curious for my own
good. Just seconds later the taste of bile enters my
mouth and I involuntarily spew it out.

"What sorta hangover cure is this?! It's tastes
awful!"

"Shhhhhhh," hisses Shampoo from where she had her head
buried. A moment later she lifts her head and snatches
the cup away from me. "It not supposed to taste good.
It supposed to get rid of elephants stampeding in
Shampoo's head."

I watch incredulously as she downs the entire cup in
one gulp. It seems she has a talent for doing that.
Scarlet eyes look slightly glazed over as Shampoo
gives a tiny burp then hands the cup back.

"Shampoo feel much better," she says as she gave me a
bright smile to emphasize this. "Elephants starting to
leave."

"I'm glad sugar," I say wryly as I clean out the
gruesome contents of the cup. I glance over my
shoulder and see that she was studying me closely.
"You have any ideas about what you're going to do?"

"No," Shampoo says as a morose look forms on her
pretty features.

Instantly I feel a wave of guilt rise in me for having
caused that expression to appear on her face. It was
then that an idea struck. An idea so simplistic that
it surprised me that Shampoo hadn't thought of it
herself.

"Why don't we ask Cologne?" I say eagerly as I turn to
face her.

Shampoo grimaces then replies, "Shampoo no want ask
Great Grandmother for help. She help Shampoo too
much... she always try help Shampoo and still I fail.
I no deserve her help."

Huh. It looks like she did think of it before me but
was just being stubborn about it. I should have known.
For some reason being stubborn is some sort of
requirement to be a good martial artist around these
parts. Well, there's just one problem with being
stubborn around me. I hate it!

"Stop being a jackass," I say strongly as I walk
around the counter and push her off the stool.
"Cologne is your Granny... I'm sure she wants to help
you. I seriously doubt she'd want you to go through
with that stupid seppuku plan of yours. C'mon," I
drawl, propelling her out the door. "Lets go!"

I hear her sigh in front me then a second later all
resistance is gone and she's walking at an easy pace.
I pause to call my goodbyes to Konatsu then proceeded
on my way to the Nekohaten with Shampoo walking at my
side. We walk in a comfortable silence that is usually
reserved for close friends who don't feel the pressure
to fill the air with constant chatter. It was a nice
feeling.

When we enter the restaurant Great Grandmother did not
glare at me nor did she scold me. She simply clung to
her staff and moved her analytical gaze from me to
Ukyo then back again as she asked a silent question.

"Spatula girl know laws," I blurt abruptly. My cheeks
flush at this and I fume inwardly at my nervousness.
I've always been like this around Great Grandmother.
Her attitude is such that she can make the mightiest
warrior feel like the meekest mouse.

"Does she now?" I look up and see Great Grandmother
had turned her attention fully to Ukyo and a wave of
relief passed over me only to be wiped away by shame
at having felt such a thing. "I wasn't aware Amazon
law interested you Kuonji-san."

Ukyo's jaw clenches and she says, "It does when I find
out people are going to kill themselves over it. Or
didn't you know Shampoo was planning suicide all to
retain your asinine ideas about Amazon honor and
laws?"

I flinch when Great Grandmother subtly tightens her
hold on her staff. She's angry. Slowly, her pinprick
gaze turns my way and I meet it reluctantly. Her voice
is calm but laced with steel. "Shampoo," she
pronounces. "Does she speak the truth?"

"Yes," I answer timidly and I lower my eyes as a wave
of chi flows freely from her. She is very angry now.
Even more so then when I returned in defeat after my
first encounter with Ranma. And that's angry.

"Look," Ukyo says tightly. Her tone makes me curious
and I lift my gaze to look at her features. There's
determination in her eyes. I've seen it before,
whenever she was threatened by an enemy in battle or
whenever someone dare suggest that her claim on Ranma
wasn't valid. It makes her look quite beautiful. "I
didn't tell you this so you could pick on her. The
Kami knows she's had enough of that. We've all had
enough of that."

"Oh?" asks Great Grandmother curiously, an eyebrow
raised. "Why did you tell me this then? I was under
the impression that you and my Granddaughter were on
less than civil terms. Who are you to speak of her
feelings and rights? Or has something occurred to make
circumstances and your feelings change, Kuonji-san?"

I sigh as Ukyo gets that same blank look on her face
from before. It seems she's destined to never
understand the underlined meanings shown in many
serious discussions. That or despite spending years
pretending to be a boy, she really doesn't comprehend
of the concept of women loving women.

"Spatula girl and I make peace," I say quietly. "Is no
more reason be enemies since Ranma with violent
tomboy. We no want fight. We want..." I trail off
uncertainly and I lift my eyes to look into Ukyo's
reassuring sandalwood eyes. She was like a rock this
girl. Steady and resolved. It was nice in a way. "We
want be friends. Spatula girl want help Shampoo. There
must be some loophole in tribal law so Shampoo can
annul engagement to Ranma. Is only way Shampoo can
retain honor for family." I look at Great Grandmother
with soft pleading. "Help Shampoo. Please..."

Great Grandmother pauses to consider this with her
usual methodical process. She then looks at me with an
expression of relief then sighs and says, "As if you
even need ask child. You are my blood and my heir, of
course I'll help you." There was another pause as she
fixes her gaze onto Ukyo who cringes under it.
"Kuonji-san," she says gravely, "I thank you for your
actions. It seems they saved my Granddaughter's life
and for that I shall be eternally grateful."

I can't help but form an amused smirk at the color of
red Ukyo turns at this statement. Ukyo coughs as she
rubs the back of her head and says, "It was no
problem. Really... I wanted to help. I mean, I still
do. Want to help, that is."

"Is that so?" murmurs Great Grandmother and I feel my
stomach become queasy at this statement. The tone of
voice she used meant one thing. That she was
intrigued. And when my Great Grandmother gets
intrigued? You just better watch out. However, she
swiftly moves her attention back to me and says, "We
will leave immediately on a training expedition. There
we shall begin our work."

"Work?" I ask in puzzlement.

"Yes," says Great Grandmother. "You must work if you
wish to defeat Ranma in battle. If you are able to do
this you will successfully annul your engagement to
him by proving yourself the superior warrior in
battle. Your victory and his defeat would thereby make
him unworthy of you and the engagement, causing it to
be annulled."

"She has to beat Ranch..." I watch as Ukyo halts
herself, then squeezes her eyes tightly shut. After a
moment, she opens them and continues, "Ranma in battle
to get rid of the engagement? It's that simple?"

"It is not as simple as you'd think," Great
Grandmother replies. "We have spent nearly two years
here in pursuit of Ranma. To explain Shampoo's sudden
switch to the tribe will be a mammoth task but I am
equal to it. The reason I have never suggested this
tactic before was because I knew Shampoo would never
want to use it."

"Shampoo use it now," I say with cold affirmation. "I
will defeat Ranma in battle and retain my family
honor. That all Shampoo have left now. Her honor. I
not let Ranma take that as well. Shampoo will win in
battle."

Great Grandmother meets my gaze then nods in a slow
approval of my words. She then turns on her staff and
hops into kitchen as she says, "Kuonji-san. You are
welcome to join us if you wish. I think you would find
many of our Amazon training techniques beneficial in
your own style of martial arts."

There was a short silence after Great Grandmother
leaves us alone. I look to Ukyo and she meets my eyes,
giving a bemused smile. "Well," she drawls in her
Kansai accent, "I never was one to turn down a formal
invitation."

My bags are packed and I'm headed off to... hrm. I'm
not quite sure where I'm headed. Just that I'm going
there with Shampoo and Cologne. If someone would've
told me this would be happening a week ago I'd have
laughed my ass off then called them crazy.

Funny how a day can change things.

I arrange my battle spatula, putting it firmly into
the straps of my backpack before I head downstairs.
Soon as I reach the landing, I see Konatsu, sitting in
front of the counter, a sad expression on his
beautiful features. Sighing at this, I walk over to
him and sit next to him, matching his gaze and looking
forward, at the wall of okonomiyaki ingredients.

"I want to do this, Konatsu," I murmur, "Shampoo needs
help and... well, I want to help her. I don't know
why, to be honest, I just do. And it'll be good, to
get away from here for awhile. To get away from him...
from everything." I look at him slowly and he's still
looking ahead, there's a small tick in his jaw, the
only thing that tells me he's upset. I hate doing this
to him. He really is so sweet, so gentle, and
sometimes I truly do wish I loved him as much as he
appears to love me. I just... don't. "Can you
understand?"

He finally looks at me and I breath a sigh of relief
on seeing that charming smile of his form on his lips.
It makes me jealous sometimes. A man really shouldn't
be as beautiful as he is. Almost more beautiful than
even Shampoo. Wait... Shampoo? What made me think of
her? I shake my head and focus back on Konatsu and his
words.

"It's all right, Ukyo-sama," he assures tenderly,
hesitating a moment before taking my hand in his own
and squeezing it lightly. "You don't have to explain
anything. I'll be sure to take good care of everything
while you're gone."

"Thanks, sugar," I drawl softly, squeezing his hand in
return. I rise to my feet and look at him for a
moment, wanting for some reason to give him something,
to let him know that he really does matter to me, that
he's important to my life. "You know that I wouldn't
trust my restaurant with anybody. It's my baby, but,"
I pause and smile at him, pulling my hand gently away
from his and adjusting my backpack, "I trust you with
it."

"Ukyo-sama," Konatsu says breathlessly, his eyes
tearing up, "thank you."

"I'm just tellin' you the truth," I inform him
quietly. Giving his shoulder a pat as I walk past, I
smile encouragingly at him. "Take care while I'm gone,
huh? Stay out of trouble." I chuckle wryly as I head
out the door. "Even though that's sorta difficult in
these parts."

I'm gone before he has a chance to reply but if I know
Konatsu, and I think I know him pretty well, he was
probably too emotional to even give it a try. Most
likely he was staring at me as I left, looking at me
with teary eyes all gooey with love. I want to sigh,
thinking on it. I know that I do encourage him and his
crush on me in some ways but I feel bad even thinking
of treating him an inch of how his family once did.
The things they did to him were unspeakably cruel and
I'm not about to follow in their footsteps.

Even if it does keep the poor guy in love with me.

Kami, why does life have to be so complicated anyway?
Nice and simple, that's how I want things to be. I
just want to run my restaurant, have a regular
clientele, keep on improving in the art, and maybe, if
I'm lucky, find someone who'll recognize and love me
for the woman that I am. Not that I really think
that'll happen. The last part at least.

I'm just feet away from the Nekohaten when there's a
loud sound of a crash and Mousse comes flying out the
open door, slamming into the back wall on the street
and collapsing to the ground, unconscious. I blink at
his fallen form then look back at the door in time to
see Shampoo dusting off her hands. She notices me
standing there and immediately forms a bright smile
that makes my heart stop on seeing it. No one's ever
smiled like that for me... well, not no one. Konatsu
has and so has Tsubasa, plus a few girls at Furinkan
and then my old school, the ones who had crushes on
me. But none of them ever made me feel like this, made
my pulse race like this.

What in the hell is happening to me?

"Spatula girl," says Shampoo smoothly, walking past me
and pulling a pair handcuffs from out of nowhere and
kneeling down in front of Mousse. "You just in time.
We leave any minute now. Great Grandmother say we
going to mountains, very desolate, no one there to
interrupt training." She hauls Mousse up and onto her
back and pausing in front of me, arching an eyebrow as
she grins. "Is good, yes?"

"Yeah," I say dimly, nodding my head. Following her
into the Nekohaten I begin rather hesitantly,
"Shampoo?" When she looks back at me I gesture at
Mousse and give her a droll expression as I arch an
eyebrow. "Wanna explain to me about Mousse?"

"Oh, that," says Shampoo derisively, rolling her eyes
a bit. She dumps him down on the floor and proceeds to
chain him up to the nearest pillar. I smirk at this
and sit down in a nearby chair, watching her work.
"Stupid Mousse want come but that only because soon as
Shampoo defeat Ranma, he challenge Shampoo to become
new Airen."

"Ah," I pronounce wisely, chuckling softly. Leaning
forward, I put my elbows on the table and rested my
chin in the palm of my hand. Eyeing her carefully, I
smile slowly and drawl, "So this is your solution,
sugar? Tying him up while we're off training? If I
know Mousse, he'll probably be out of those chains
before we leave Nerima."

"Great Grandmother has potion," says Shampoo in
supremely sly tones, her expression altogether
kittenish and it made my mouth dry on seeing.

Coughing loudly, I look away from her and saw Cologne
observing us quietly from the door to the Nekohaten
kitchen. Her steely eyes are hard, looking at me with
an intense scrutiny that causes me to shift in my
seat. I know Shampoo and I were never friendly, hell,
technically we were enemies, but I don't think our
previous relationship ever caused her to look at me
like she is now. It's a little disturbing and scary
and I wonder why that is, but I can't wonder long
because Cologne's hopping into the room on her staff.

"Kuonji-san," Cologne says dryly, her eyes still sharp
on me, "a pleasure to see you. I had wondered if you
were truly sincere about accepting our offer of
friendship but here you are." She was quiet for a
moment then adds, "You surprise an old woman."

"I'm full of surprises," I say in what I hoped to be
my smoothest and most confident tones despite the case
of nerves Cologne is currently giving me.

Something about her gives me the willies. Maybe
because I know damn well she's got more tricks up her
sleeve than anyone else in Nerima except Happosai. I
watch her eyes narrow more and realize that maybe I
shouldn't have been such a smart ass just then. Well,
too late now. She's already ignoring me in favor of
dumping that potion of hers in Mousse's mouth. Poor
guy, I almost feel sorry for him he's so clueless.
Then again, is his behavior about Shampoo any
different than mine over Ranma? Probably not.

I sigh at this thought and direct my gaze out the
door. Seconds later I feel a soft touch on my shoulder
and I look up, my eyes locking with Shampoo's scarlet
gaze which reflect a quiet concern for my well being.
It takes my breath away and baffles me at the same
time. How can she be this way? Care so quick? Be this
trusting, this open? Doesn't she have any sort of
defense mechanism? How can she not be scared?

"Spatula girl," Shampoo says and her eyes twinkle
mischievously at me. I frown at this and suddenly she
leans forward then whispers in my ear, breath ruffling
my hair, warm on my skin, "No look so sad. Amazons
have many things to teach you." She pulls away,
looking steadily into my gaze as she smiles. "Many
interesting things."

"I bet," I say hoarsely, swallowing the lump in my
throat. I nervously direct my gaze over to Cologne and
instantly regret this decision when I see her looking
at me more closely, her gaze a sort of cold fire as it
burns into me. Jumping to my feet, I give a very
nervous laugh and back quickly out of the Nekohaten.
"Why don't we get goin' then, huh? That way you can
teach me all those interesting things. It'll be fun,
right?"

Then I dart out the door, only to return moments later
as Shampoo shouts after me, her voice infectious with
amusement and happiness as she asked where was I
going, I didn't even know the location of the training
camp. When I return, Cologne still looks at me with
that careful gaze of hers but I swear... she had a
smirk on her withered features.

Which I'm sure isn't good for me at all.

Our route into the mountains is filled quiet silence.
I think we've been walking for over two hours now and
barely a word has been spoken. This is caused by one
singular thing I believe. The fact that Great
Grandmother is suspicious of Ukyo.

It's something that I've noticed and I'm very sure
that she noticed it too from her little running act
from the Nekohaten. Thinking of it makes me chuckle,
just how she's so open with her reactions, with who
she is. What you see is what you get with Ukyo and I
enjoy that immensely. Being who I am, the heir to
Great Grandmother and the champion of Joketsuzoku,
I've lived my life with facades, imagery. Those who
would pretend to like me, to care, in order to simply
gain power. Part of me knows this is why I reject
Mousse. He doesn't truly know me, he knows the image
of me. People think me to be what I want them to and
mostly they think me to be open and carefree.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. I hide myself
away, my true thoughts, my desires, I think perhaps
this is why I lost Ranma to Akane. If I had let him
truly see me, if I hadn't underestimated him, think
him to be like all men, wanting that bouncy facade of
exuberance that most do, maybe I would've won his
heart. Then again, I look over at Ukyo, dressed in a
simple pair of slacks and a button up shirt, for all
purposes looking to the outside world like an
extremely beautiful boy, Ukyo did that. She was
nothing but herself, totally honest with him and
still... she lost him as well. What did we do wrong?

It's too late to wonder such things though. Ranma is
married to Akane and now I must defeat him in battle
in order to retain my honor. I clench my jaw tightly.
I will do this, I've lost far too much in my life
already, I'll not lose my honor as well.

"You're lookin' awfully serious," says Ukyo, finally
breaking the silence. I turn to her and I see her
sandalwood eyes gazing at me with a quiet concern and
solemnity. Once again I can't help but be struck with
how honest she is. It's a quality not many people
possess. "Wanna tell me about it, sugar?"

"Nothing to tell," I reply simply, shrugging and
trying to block out the face of disappointment and
slight hurt Ukyo wears. It gets to me though and I go
on, "Shampoo just thinking about everything what
happen."

"Yeah," Ukyo nods her head. "I've been doin' a lot of
that myself lately. Not like I wanna think about it,
y'know? It just happens on its own." She sighs deeply
then looks up at the sky as she walks on, ducking her
head absently under a tree branch. "Konatsu wants me
to talk to him about it all, I know that, but somehow
I just can't." Ukyo looks at me and smiles sadly,
looking regretful. "Makes me feel bad. I know he loves
me but..."

She sighs instead of replying and I watch her with
lidded eyes. Moving closer to her, I look up ahead at
Great Grandmother who's quite some distance ahead. If
she hears our words, she seems to be paying no
attention. Then again, I know far better than to trust
appearances when it comes to my Great Granny. But on
the other hand, I'm not quite sure I even care if
she's listening to what I'm about to say next. Perhaps
if she is then she'll know how much I've changed, how
resolved I really am.

"No can force love," I offer slowly, thinking
carefully on my words, "it not be fair to him to try
do such a thing. If he a friend then you right not to
try." I lock my gaze on her figure and see the
expression of surprise she wears. "It only hurt him
more in long run. You really care for him, you no want
that. You want him be happy." Looking at her closely,
at those sandalwood eyes, deep and endless, staring at
me with quiet wonder and soft admiration... something
I haven't seen in what seems like countless years, I
can feel my heart skip a beat. It's a feeling that
scares me to say the least. "Spatula girl," I
continue, smiling as I said this, simply because I
love to call her this, at first because of how angry
it made her, causing her eyes flash, and now because
of how it causes her to smile fondly at me. "You're a
good friend and Shampoo is glad you is now hers."

"Yours?" Ukyo echoes, her eyes widening.

On seeing her expression, I bite back an urge to
laugh. It seems that Ukyo is not as ignorant to the
concept of women loving women as I had thought. Then
again, she would have to be very dense indeed to be
completely ignorant of it, considering her past.
Shaking my head, I can't stop myself, and I bump my
hip lightly up against hers. "Silly, spatula girl," I
accuse with an impish grin, "Shampoo mean is happy
your her friend now. Why?" I arch an eyebrow and look
up and down her body with an interested and lingering
gaze. "You maybe want more?"

Ukyo turns an amazing shade of red, looking quite a
bit like a tomato at my comment while staring at me
with eyes as big as saucers. Laughing with delight, I
shake my head again. Her eyes then narrow at me and
she says darkly, "Not funny, sugar."

"Shampoo think it very funny," I reply mischievously.
"Never see you that nervous before." I form what I
hope to be a pouting expression as I continue, "Why
that so? You think Shampoo so undesirable? Many tell
her before she sexy."

"I bet," says Ukyo drolly. She sighs and adjusts her
backpack, absently holding onto the straps as she
walks on ahead. For some reason it concerns me, how
she looks. Perhaps my joke wasn't as funny as I
thought it to be, at least to her.

"Spatula girl?" I ask softly and she turns to look
back at me. "What the matter?"

"Nothin' really," Ukyo smiles softly at me, an
offering of peace, I would suppose. She directs her
gaze ahead and her expression is far off. "I had a
girlfriend once, y'know."

I'm not sure what I expected her to say, if I even
expected her to say anything. All I can say I is that
wasn't something I thought would be said to me, even
if I suspected it. With a tilt of my head, I observe
her closely, her jaw tense, looking anxious for my
reply. My hand is reaching out and taking hers into a
gentle hold before I know it. She looks at me with
surprise and I smile at her in reassurance.

"Sha..." I stop, reminding myself I'm trying to speak
proper Japanese, I want to now, I want to wipe away
the person that Ranma once knew, the one who lost him
to Akane, and learning proper Japanese is a small part
of that. "I understand such things. After all," I
watch Ukyo gaze at me with wide eyes, "I'm Amazon."

"Shampoo," Ukyo says quietly, her voice laced with
disbelief. "You mean you...?"

Darting my eyes up ahead, grateful to see Great
Grandmother is leagues ahead of us now, I look back to
Ukyo. "I have girlfriend once too," I say cautiously,
closing my eyes as I think of Lotion. "Love her very
much... was happy with her. Very happy."

"Then why... I don't get it," Ukyo frowns at me,
trying to resolve the idea that I had a girlfriend
that I loved and given up on her because of Ranma.

"She gone," I say shortly, looking away from her,
clenching my jaw, trying my very best to block the
memories from my mind. The look of horror in her eyes
as the water swept her up, my attempts to rescue her
from it, the searching for minutes that had seemed
like hours, and the cold feeling that settled in my
heart when I realized I would never see her again.
"Died in accident long ago. I... try to rescue, but
fail."

My hands are trembling as I move them into fists but I
don't notice until I feel Ukyo grasping them tenderly.
Looking up, I gaze into sandalwood eyes, full of
sympathy for me, for my failures. Why is it that I
can't succeed at anything I do? That I always fail and
others suffer because of it? First Lotion and now my
family if I can't defeat Ranma in the upcoming battle.
I don't deserve to call myself an Amazon, much less
their Champion.

"Hey," murmurs Ukyo and I feel her hands whispering
up, cupping my face, drawing me to look up at her.
Boyishly handsome features are soft with kindness and
she says, "I'm not stupid, sugar. I know what's goin'
on in that head our yours and even if I don't know
what went down, I'm pretty sure you did everything in
your power to rescue her. Because of that I'm also
pretty sure that it's not your fault and it never
was."

"I failed," I spit out bitterly, "and Lotion die.
Shampoo fail again and again and others pay for her
failures. How that not my fault? You try explain that
to me."

"Shit happens," says Ukyo dryly with a chuckle. I look
up at her with some surprise and she gives a lopsided
smile that's slightly apologetic. "Things don't always
have a reason behind why they happen, Shampoo. Crappy
stuff happens in life and there's nothing we can do
about it sometimes. We just gotta deal with it,
resolve it, and move on."

Rubbing at my eyes, I shake my head and stare at the
ground. "Shampoo never thought you would be making her
feel better," I finally say, focusing back on her.

"Yeah, well," Ukyo says wryly before she repeats,
"shit happens."

This time I chuckle along with her and I study the
smooth line of her jaw, the dark brown hair falling
into her eyes and I realize how beautiful she truly
is. Ranma was a fool to ignore her and her love for
him. My mind wanders back to what she said earlier and
I ask, "You tell Shampoo about your girlfriend? What
happen with her?"

Ukyo laughs nervously and rubs the back of her head.
"You know how I pretended to be a boy, right?" she
asks, looking over at me. I nod my head and she sighs
then shoves her hands into the pockets of her pants.
"We went out during that time, when I was at my first
high school. She's the reason that I ended up going to
that boys school and meeting Tsubasa." Ukyo forms a
grimace as she says his name and I can't help but
laugh at it, she looks so funny. "Not funny, sugar,"
she drawls, grinning at me, "he's a royal pain in my
ass. Just as bad as Mousse is for you."

"Sorry," I offer playfully and she rolls her eyes,
causing me to smile wider. "You tell Shampoo rest of
story? You went to school with her, then you leave
because of her, but you leave out best part..." I tilt
my head and study her. "Why you leave school?"

"She found out I was a girl," says Ukyo tightly. She
sighs again and focuses her eyes ahead and as she does
so, I can't help but notice a steady tick in her jaw.
Telling this story is upsetting her, I can tell, but
somehow I know she needs to tell it, to let it go. "I
never meant for us to get serious," she goes on, her
voice sounding lost. "Soon as I got at the school, the
girls started up like they always do," Ukyo says in
matter of fact tones that are surprisingly absent of
arrogance. She looks at me and wears a wry expression.
"I make a better boy than a girl, you know. I always
thought so." Ukyo looks away from me and continues on,
"So I figured I had better find one I liked and date
her on and off, to keep the others from obsessing on
me." Her is expression far off, deep in memories as
she murmurs, "Megumi was quiet, shy... not many folks
noticed her but I did. I would've never known she
liked me if I hadn't gotten hurt."

"Hurt?" I repeat, frowning at the idea of this, not
liking the idea of it in the least, and feeling rather
shocked my emotions concerning Ukyo have changed so
quickly. Just days ago my intentions were quite
different. I couldn't contemplate this though as Ukyo
was already speaking again, continuing her story.

"It was nothin' big, really," Ukyo says absently,
drifting back into the past as she spoke. "Just hurt
myself during a game of soccer in gym class. Got a cut
on my forehead and I went off to the sidelines to
clean it up. I'd just finished washing it off with
some water from the fountain when I saw her hand
holding a handkerchief." Ukyo smiles softly, in a fond
expression. "Her hands were so tiny and they were
shaking, she was that nervous. I looked up at her and
she turned bright red then said, 'You can use this,
Kuonji-san.' I was about to thank her when she went
and ran off on me."

"That when you decide ask her out?" I pursued
curiously, wondering at Ukyo's thoughts.

"Yep," Ukyo grins, looking my way. "I figured dating a
girl like that was better than one who was more
aggressive. I mean, Megumi was so shy and sweet that I
knew that she wouldn't be all over me."

I arch an eyebrow at her and say, "Of course you not
want that."

Ukyo has the good grace to blush at this and she
shakes her head, looking away from me as she says, "At
the time I didn't. Then things sorta changed... it's
just, I never did expect to end up liking her. She was
just so nice to me though. Ranch..." She scowls
deeply, at herself I suspect, then continues, "Ranma
was my first real friend and after his father took off
with our okonomiyaki cart, I got teased mercilessly
and it made me pretty defensive around people, so I
didn't really have any friends. Didn't trust people
anymore. Who's to say they wouldn't take off on me
like Ranma did or end up making fun of me once they
found out the truth?" Ukyo sighs deeply and shakes her
head a bit. "But it was different with Megumi somehow.
I found myself trusting her, tellin' her stuff I
hadn't told anyone. Even about Ranma, but leaving out
certain details, of course."

She's quiet for several moments and seems lost to the
past, trapped in memories as a veil of sadness passes
over her features. Before I know it, I find myself
reaching out to tug her left hand out of her pants
pocket and take it into my own. Ukyo looks up at me
with surprise and I smile at her. "I no go anywhere,"
I say solemnly, squeezing her hand. "Least," I grin
playfully at her, "as long as I beat Ranma in battle."

"That ain't funny, sugar," Ukyo scowls at me.

I roll my eyes and say, "You too sensitive. Is joke,
Shampoo mean what she say." I look at her seriously
and continue, "I staying put for long time so you get
used to me."

"I'm not sure anyone can get used to you, Shampoo,"
says Ukyo humorously and I look at her drolly, trying
to decide if I want to scold her for saying such a
thing. She turns her face away from me and says, "For
awhile I thought I was in love with Megumi. No," she
frowns deeply, pulling her free hand out of her
pocket, running it through her hair and leaving the
one I hold firmly in my grip, something that, for some
reason, makes me happy. "I did love her. That's why I
got the fool idea of telling her the truth about me
into my head. I figured if it was really love, if she
really cared about me, it wouldn't matter that I was a
girl dressing up like a boy." Facing me now, Ukyo
looks deep into my eyes and I can see pain in her
sandalwood gaze. "I hadn't gotten the grasp of how the
world works yet. Love doesn't make the world go
'round, Shampoo, it really doesn't," she finished in
empty tones. "I dunno what does, but I'm pretty sure
it's not that."

"You tell her you girl and she reject you?" I venture
slowly, pulling the last piece of the story out of
Ukyo, knowing for some reason she had to say it.

"Yeah," Ukyo nods her head and she tries to pull her
hand away from mine, to shove it in the pocket of her
hands I imagine but I simply hold it tighter, refusing
to go along, and I am soon met with her surprised
gaze. "I guess you could say she did. Mostly she
cried, I think that's what got to me the most. Her
crying..." She trailed off, looking away from me and
sighs deeply, with regret. "I didn't realize it would
hurt her... that it would make her hate me. I know
that she did hate me because of how her eyes went dead
and the slap," Ukyo shook her head, releasing a
shuddering breath. "I can still feel it sometimes. She
hit hard for such a tiny girl. I deserved it though. I
tricked her the entire time we were going out. Letting
her think what I was the guy of her dreams when really
I was nothing but some weird girl in a boys uniform on
a vengeance kick."

"She not have to hit you," I say softly and Ukyo looks
at me and smiles quietly.

"Thanks for saying that, sugar," she replies, giving
me what some would call a tender look. I'm not sure
what I would call it, all I know is that it makes my
heart beat faster. "I'm not positive though. But I
think about it now and I wonder..." She trails off and
frowns. "I wonder if I really did love her or I just
convinced myself I did. I mean, when I was datin'
Megumi it was so normal seeming. My life was like I'd
always wanted it to be. I had her, I had friends, I
had a cart to set up temporary shop with. At that
point I never even thought of myself as a girl. I'd
been a boy ever since Ranma left me. I only started
thinkin' of myself as a girl when he called me cute."
Ukyo reddens at this and closes her eyes then mutters
under her breath, "I was a jackass to do that too."

"To trust him?" I ask, tilting my head to one side,
studying her closely.

"No," Ukyo chuckles, directing her gaze ahead, at the
mountains in the distance, the ones that we'll be
spending our time training in. "To think it'd make a
difference that he thought I was a cute girl." She
looks back at me and says hoarsely, "Because it
didn't, did it? He said I was cute, he thought I was
cute, but he still went with her." She shrugged
carelessly and looked back ahead. "Didn't matter at
all."

I gaze at her for a long moment and time seems to stop
for me. Then, without really knowing why, I hold her
face in my hands and she looks at me, gaze full of
unshed tears. "I think you cute," I say quietly, with
resolve.

"Shampoo," she says my name breathlessly and I see a
glimmer of happiness in her eyes as she looks at me.

I'm not quite sure what happened next. It was like we
were drifting together, closer for something like a
kiss... like a kiss... all right, a kiss, then Great
Grandmother shouts for us loudly and we blinked
together then stared at each other. Ukyo turned red
like a tomato again and jumped away from me, looking
like she'd been scalded.

While I didn't react quite so obviously, my reaction
internally was much the same. What were we about to
do? What would we have done if Great Grandmother
hadn't interrupted? And most of all, why was I almost
disappointed we had been interrupted? All these
questions and more would have to wait though.

Because now it was time to start our training.

To be continued...