Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½

Honor or Love?

Ukyo smiled to herself as the Tendo Dojo came into view. She paused at the gateway entrance and felt her pulse quicken a bit. It wasn't like she was new here, no, she was actually expected to be here every morning. It was just that she was always nervous when she was around Ranma. He was her fiancée, after all. She always came bright and early to wake him up for school now that Akane didn't do it anymore. If anything, Akane leaving was the best thing that ever happened to her. She was now fully betrothed to Ranma and they would be marrying soon. She took hold of her bangs and placed them to the side. She hoped she looked fine, she had spent an extra hour neatly ironing her school uniform and wearing some beauty accessories. Now that she was suppose to become a wife, she had to look the part. She made sure not to make herself too girly, just in case Ranma became uncomfortable. But she wore the girl uniform to school every day. She tightened her grasp on the Okonomiyaki order she had brought for Ranma's breakfast. Taking a deep breath, she rung the doorbell and put on the brightest smile for her sister-in-law, Kasumi.

"Hello, Ukyo," Kasumi told her opening the door, returning her smile sweetly. "Nice to see you again. Is that for Ranma?"

"Hi, sugar," Ukyo bowed respectively. "Oh, and yes, it is. Is he awake yet?"

"No, I'm afraid not," she opened the door and stepped aside for Ukyo to enter. "Please, come in."

"Thanks Kasumi," Ukyo placed her shoes in the corner and put on her rehearsed 'concern' face. "Any news on Akane?"

Kasumi shook her head slowly, not able to muster up enough bravery to say the word 'no'. Ukyo smiled warmly at Kasumi and rubbed her back, offering some comfort.

"Don't give up hope, Kasumi. I'm sure Akane will come home soon." She smiled one last time before escaping down the hall to Ranma's room. She let out a sigh when the coast was clear. Sometimes keeping up that act was tiresome, and other times it made her feel guilty. Although Akane was her rival for Ranma's heart, they were still sort of friends. But she had fought for Ranma for far too long to give him up to a mere acquaintance.

She opened Soun's door slightly before whispering some 'Good mornings' to him and Genma. Genma now slept in the same room with Soun to comfort him on his loss of a daughter. That just made things all the better; now she could be alone with Ranma. The two were up early playing a shogi match. They waved to her and she shut their door just as quietly as she opened it. The best thing she loved about this house was the fact that they didn't pour their emotions out to her. They had tried to resume their normal routines before Akane had up and left them. One month, that's how long she had been gone. Shampoo and Mousse were still not back from their vacation with Cologne and Ryoga was somewhere across the world right now. So far she had Ranma all to herself.

She slid Ranma's door open before slipping in as quietly as possible. Ranma just stirred in his sleep and she placed the okonomiyaki next to his futon. Glancing at the clock, she had twenty good minutes, she could spend it feeling as happy as she could watching Ranma. The room was relatively clean, just a few dumbbells and weight equipment spread out on the floor. All his school supplies were organized neatly on his desk and everything looked put away, swept, and cleaned. Kasumi has been doing her job terrifically as usual. Ranma himself looked the same, he didn't look deprived from sleep or had baggy eyes from crying in the night. He still worked out and acted sarcastically. If she had visited randomly, she never would have guessed Akane had left. Maybe it was because of her. She spent a lot of her time here tutoring Ranma, cleaning and cooking for him, taking him to her restaurant so he could help her serve some okonomiyaki. He never showed any lover affection, like holding her hand or hugging her every time he saw her, but still, she was special to him. She could feel it sometimes. Now she had to wake him up or else they would be late.

"Ran-chan," she tapped him lightly. "Time for school, we're going to be late."

"Its useless, Ukyo," a voice came from behind her. "But if you pay a slight fee of 2,000 yen, I know a slight trick that can wake him up in a jiffy."

Ukyo sighed. "Oh, Nabiki, some things just never change, do they?" She turned around and lowered her face down to his ear. She felt her face grow hot as her face was inches away from her fiancée. She tried to brush those thoughts away and attempted to wake Ranma from his slumber. "Ranma? We're going to be late!"

"No way, Akane," Ranma said twisting his sleeping position so that his back was towards his guests. "We're not going to be late, stupid tomboy." He muttered a few more inaudible things before silencing completely, save his snoring.

"Oh, Ukyo," Nabiki said, sympathizing. "Did he just say Akane's name in his sleep?"

"No, sugar," Ukyo said, laughing. "I didn't know you of all people missed Akane that much. Ranma is just murmuring in his sleep."

"Whatever," Nabiki replied, getting bored. "I'm going to head off first to school, make sure you guys aren't late."

"Okay," Ukyo yelled from behind her shoulder. It wasn't until Nabiki had shut the door completely that she had to hold back tears. Sometimes when she came early, Ranma muttered things in his sleep similar like the one today. He'd say Akane's name, and she would feel a tight knot in her stomach. But she just had to be patient. Once Ranma realized that she was here to stay, inevitable feelings will start to emerge. She kept repeating this until she made her insecurities fade. Tugging on his pigtail, she tried to wake him up one more time. "Ranma, wake up! We're going to be late!"

Finally, she began to see Ranma's eyelids flutter open. She smiled at him as he propped himself up and sat crisscrossed. "Hey, Ucchan," he let out a yawn. "What time is it?"

"7:30," she told him, frowning. "We're late." He obviously didn't care and nodded his head.

"It's alright, we'll just sneak in class. Is that Okonomiyaki for me?" He said pointing at her take-out carton, half begging. When she nodded, he smiled at her. "Oh, Ucchan, you're the best! I'm gonna go get ready. Wait here." He jumped out of bed and dashed out the door, closing it behind.

"I'll be waiting Ran-chan," she whispered. "I always will."'

Ranma laid his back on the door after he was sure Ukyo wasn't paying any attention to him. He had another dream about Akane. He heaved a sigh and hoped Ukyo didn't realize that when she visited his room. He headed off to the bathroom and stripped his pajamas, and sat in warm water. Without Akane here, he never had to rush to get to school, Ukyo was laid back and let him take his time. Nor did he ever have to worry that seeing Ukyo in his room would earn him a mallet. Heck, it was better without Akane. He closed his eyelids as he remembered his dream. Akane woke Ranma up from bed, and even though he got out of bed, he could never get near her. He would step forward, and she would step back. She began to mouth things to him, she didn't have a voice in his dream. He shook that thought away and began applying soap on to his body, until he was completely covered. He even tried to have a little fun and make a soapy mustache. It occupied him for a bit, until he had to get out of the tub.

He flexed to himself to the steam-filled mirror as he realized his muscles had gotten smaller. He had to make sure he worked out with Ryoga or his pop when he got home. He dried himself with the towel and combed his pigtail, re-braiding it. He thought back to when he had the Dragon Whiskers. His hair was overflowing and Akane had tried to braid it but ended up putting it up like an Alfalfa. It was like he had said before, Akane was all thumbs. He smiled at that memory and for a brief moment, he laughed at it. But he quickly forced that memory away because he couldn't think about someone who left him. He put on his red Chinese shirt and blue pants. He bent down to tie the laces on his pants, and slip on his black wrist bands he wore every now and then. Opening the door, he went down to go eat some of Ukyo's okonomiyaki.

When he entered the kitchen, his okonomiyaki was already heated, ready, and set down on the table. He thanked Ukyo before sitting down and stuffing his face with the three octopus flavored okonomiyaki. Ukyo grabbed Ranma by the hand and said her good byes to the family before running off to school.

When they were safely out of the Tendo household, Ukyo tried not to bring up Ranma's dream. She never did, unless he wanted to find Akane for his own conscience. She glance at Ranma through the corner of her eye and watched him walk like he did every morning- on the fence. He let out a brief yawn and she decided it was better to start a conversation to see where his mind was. "Ran-chan?"

"Yeah?"

"We're getting married soon," she looked at him and smile as he started to blush. "Sooner than soon, in fact." She laughed, losing her train of thought.

"A month." He whispered. He saw her nod and left the conversation at that. He didn't want to get married so soon. He wasn't ready. If Akane was here, she would kill Ukyo. Then him. He smiled slyly.

Ukyo, getting the wrong idea from that smile, returned his smile. "I'll be a good wife, Ran-chan."

"Alright, Ucchan." he replied hastily.

Ukyo frowned at his reply. She just told him that she would be a good wife to him! Can't he say that he would be a good husband? Protect her? Love her? "Akane's gone." She snapped. "Gone. Gone. Gone!" She quickened her pace so that he was a few strides behind her. She suddenly stopped, turning to him, waiting for an answer.

"And what's that suppose to mean?"

"It meant just that, Ranma," she showed him how upset she was by using his legit name. "Akane left you and we're getting married. Husband and wife. Couple. Get it?"

He flinched at those words. "Whatever, Ukyo." He replied, using her name as well. The rest of the walk was in silence. Sometimes, when him and Ukyo walked to school together, she would start and argument about Akane's absence like he didn't know. He was the one that made her leave. Clenching his fist, he jumped off the fence and began walking in the other direction.

"Where are you going?" She yelled after him.

"I'm going to go find Akane," He knew that it was of no use, he had flipped Nerima upside down in search for her. But he was Ranma Saotome and he did not give up. Ever. "There's a place I forgot to search."

"Fine, go." was her last response before she walked away toward Furinkan.

He sighed, was this how it was going to be once they were married? Constant arguments? Jealousy? Hate? He waited for her to be completely out of sight before heading off to find Akane.

He hopped back on the fence and tried to remember anywhere in Nerima where he hadn't checked. He looked around in the crowd of unfamiliar faces, rushing around, mothers, kids, fathers. His eyes watched as they flooded the area, and he knew the tomboy he was looking for wasn't here. He tucked his hands in his pockets as he ambled among the streets.

"Ranma!"

His head shot up and looked around the premises. He suddenly caught the short blue hair and girl uniform he was looking for. "Akane!" He yelled, as he chased the figure. She was just planted in the middle of streets, smiling at him. He finally let out his hand and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around and forcing her to look at him.

"Excuse me?" The girl snapped, pushing him off of her. "You're such a pervert!" She grabbed her fruit basket, and stomped off.

He let his hands dangle at his sides as the girl disappeared out of sight. That wasn't Akane, not even remotely close. He felt like he was being sucked into this new world like quicksand. He watched as the people began watching him curiously. He muttered an apology and walked away silently. Maybe he should just go back to school? No, he couldn't go to Furinkan. All the boys would just question him some more about where Akane was when he himself didn't even know where she was. He snapped out of his thoughts to find he had stumbled into a dark alley. Great, he thought, beginning to walk out before he heard a whisper.

"Hey, kid," he looked around to a woman with a crystal ball gesturing to him. "Yes you, now come over here. Would you like to have your future read?"

"Sorry, lady," he told her cockily. "I make my own future."

"Well, I see something about a girl. But since you make your own future, I am sure you aren't interested." She tightened the cloak around her even though it was 75 degrees outside. She had long purple hair that was tied into a weak bun. Her bangs covered her eyes and she had a crystal ball on her lap.

"Girl?" He jumped down in front of her and showed her his palm. "No! Read my palm!"

"I don't need your palm, kid. I have here a crystal ball."

Ranma nodded reluctantly and watched the girl work her magic. The ball lightened up to a misty-foggy gray and he watched her move her hands around it in a ridiculous motion. The crystal ball suddenly began to rumble ferociously and Ranma raised his eyebrow. The lady closed her eyes and tried to calm it down. Unexpectedly, the crystal ball shattered to a million pieces.

"Was that suppose to happen?" He asked her, lamely.

"Interesting future you have, kid," she smiled creepily up at him. "This girl, Akane. She isn't gone."

Ranma let out a bitter laugh. "Yes, she is. She left a month ago. Told you that your little magic ball thing is out of service. You should go check with your landlord." He stood up and almost left the alley before hearing the woman's voice.

"Akane isn't gone," she repeated. "You are hurt that she left after that incident in Jussenkyo."

Ranma paused. "Yes," he whispered. "How do you know all of this?"

"I don't, I just say whatever the ball tells me to do," she got up and touched Ranma's forehead. "See?"

Ranma's eyes began to flicker as he caught glimpses of Akane at different places. Series of pictures showed him Akane cooking, cleaning, practicing Martial Artists, and studying school.

"Where is she?" He asked, breathless. The images took up some of his energy.

"Three weeks, she will return home," she bent down and began to pick up the shards of the broken glass. "This Ukyo girl, be very careful of her." She gathered the pieces and held them in her hand.

"Ukyo? What's wrong with her?' He questioned.

"Be very careful of her," She repeated. "Jealousy can make the most sane people go mad." She closed her fists and the scraps of the crystal ball disappeared into midair, and she along with it.

"Three weeks?" Ranma stated aloud. "That's one week from my wedding." He grinned to himself, Ranma Saotome had done it! He had found Akane and he was going to bring her back home. Suddenly he felt butterflies in his stomach, Akane was coming in three weeks. What was he suppose to tell her? Sorry? No, she just overreacted again. He would yell at her for being so darn stupid and leaving. Yeah, that was what he would tell her.

Ranma stepped out of the dark alley and back into the broad daylight. He followed the concrete pavement until it lead him back on the path to the Tendo's. he wondered the that fortune teller was trying to tell him. If anything, he was stronger than Ukyo, why would he need to fear her? Well sure, Ukyo could give Akane a run for her money. Was that it? Was she trying to tell him to make sure Ukyo doesn't hurt Akane specifically? He itched his head in frustration, that was the problem with people like her, they never told you exactly what they meant. They leave it up for you to decide. Ranma began to play miniature soccer with a rock as he tried not to drown in his thoughts. He wouldn't tell anyone about this encounter, three weeks from now everyone would know anyway. Wait, what if Akane was married? What if she left them to elope with someone? His curiosity quickly evaporated into anger. He would kill him! Then yell at her some more for going to go marry some guy. Not that he cared, but her father would have a heart attack! Didn't she care for anyone but herself?

Ranma wondered if Ukyo was still mad at him, she was always so weird when it came to talking about Akane. He decided it would be best if he apologized to her.

"Ranma?"

Ranma felt chills tingle down his spine at the sound of that voice. He slowly turned his head to see a smirking Nabiki eating some ice cream. "Nabiki, how good to see you." He lied. Nabiki pasted her business smile on her face 'cause she knew he was lying.

"Same with you, Ranma," she cocked a brow as she noticed Ranma was alone. "Where's Ukyo?"

"We kind of gotten into an argument," he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Again."

"No wonder she's been telling me all about-," she paused halfway. "Never mind, make sure you come home in time for dinner."

"Wait!-"

"-Yes?" She smiled to herself as Ranma fell into her trap again. He was just getting so easy to trick nowadays. If anything, she could say she could trick Ranma in her sleep. And get him to pay interest. She snickered to herself.

"What did she say?"

"3,000 yen," she plated her hand out as Ranma sighed but gave her the payment. "The poor girl is crying her eyes out, Ranma. Better go now.

Ranma was already gone.

Ukyo lay in bed, distressed at the fact that Akane didn't even have to be present to steal her fiancée. She could do it a million miles away. She sighed and inserted the pain medication into her mouth. Ever since her argument with Ranma, she had a migraine and the pain was excruciating. She sighed and drew the blankets over her head and held her breath. This was an exercise she use to do when she was a kid to make the nightmares go away. She paused when she heard a knock on he door. She inhaled deeply before answering: "who is it?"

"Ranma."

She perked up and sat up. "Come in!"

Ranma opened the door and walked over to sit at the end of her bed. "Ucchan? Are you okay?" He felt his stomach turn at the sight of her puffy eyes and medication next to her bed.

"Yes, but I don't know if you want to see me out of guilt or… love." She blushed at the word, hoping he would say love. Fortunately, her headache covered up for her crimson red face.

"Sorry about what I said earlier." He ignored her last statement.

"See, this is what I'm talking about! What's so bad about saying you love me?" She snapped, pressing more against the bed so that she could give 100% to this argument.

"Sorry," he repeated. "I'm not good at saying what I mean." He paused, oh jinkies, she was get the wrong idea. He mentally punched himself for the last comment.

"Prove it then," she whispered. "Prove that you don't miss Akane."

"I don't miss Akane!" He yelled. "I'm just trying to get her back for Mr. Tendo. That's all."

"Prove it," she repeated. "Marry me in two weeks."

Ranma gulped.

A/N: Yes, I live! Anyway, I am going to continue to write for Kanji, but since I have no inspiration atm I'm going to write this new story I had in my mind. Ukyo is such a bitch in my story. D; Also, don't forget to click that button down there and review! Reviews make me write a whole lot faster!

The reason why Akane left is going to come up, don't worry about it. Be patient and stay tuned!