Rumiko Takahashi reserves all rights to Ranma 1/2, I'm just using the characters for fun!
The Broken Engagement
Chapter 2
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK The sound of the door alerted everybody to Ukyo's arrival. The air became more tense as everyone looked at each other. Ranma eyed the door without moving.
"I'll get it" Kasumi said.
"Hello there Ukyo" Kasumi said with a pleasant smile.
"Good afternoon Kasumi" The younger women greeted respectfully. Then more firmly said "I'm here to see Ranma"
"Yes yes of course come right on in."
"Oh and Ryoga you are here too, what a pleasant surprised. It' s been a while since we last saw you."
"Yeah"
"Had a hard time finding your way back?" She giggled and Ryoga turned red with embarrassment.
But Ukyo had not laughed and was looking down the hallway towards the dojo area. Kasumi picked up on this instantly and made a mental note. She means business.
"Please follow me this way, everyone is already waiting" and led the way towards the dojo.
Kasumi stopped at the entrance to the sliding door where everyone stood at the other side. But before going in. Kasumi grabbed Ukyo by the arm delicately and stared Ukyo down.
"Ukyo, while I know I can't stop you. (pause)I ask that you go easy on Ranma please don't hurt him…. "
Ukyo looked at Kasumi and gave her a nod. And without saying another word walked in.
"Ukyo" said Ranma.
Everyone stared at Ukyo for what seemed forever. They were first suprised by her choice in outfit. Instead of donning her usual tomboyish attire with her bindings she opted for a more feminine look and no longer where her breasts bind. She stood there in all her feminine glory. Second,confidence was radiating out of her aura like an oven on steady heat. It was enough to disrupt the flow the ki of the others around her. It made theirs anxious because they still did not know why she was challenging him.
Having enough tense silence. Ukyo decided to take the initiative
"Ranma Saotome I hereby challenge you to a duel. Where in-" Ukyo was cut off for the second time that day by someone.
"Ukyo why are you doing this?" Akane asked brashly as ever.
"Bec-" Ukyo began but was cut off yet again.
"Hohohoho" Kodachi started laughing
"Don't you see little girl. Ukyo has realized she doesn't stand a chance for Ranma's love therefore she is executing her revenge on him"
"How do you know that stupid girl. What if she no love him no more and is planning on killing airen. That way if she can't have him no one can" said Shampoo
"Oh common Shampoo" Akane said "that is something you will do not Ukyo"
"You not know, people change especially when suffering from a broken heart." Shampoo continued.
"Well what better way than to execute revenge while wearing a killer outfit. Make the person see what he's loosing". Interjected Nabiki.
"I approve Ukyo" she winked at the the brunette.
"Oh my I don't think that's why she's dressed like that" said Kasumi.
"Huh" the other girls said and continued to squabble amongst themselves.
Ukyo sweat dropped at the conversation the girls were having with her just standing there.
"Enough!" Ranma yelled "I have heard from all of y'all but Ukyo let her speak" he turned to Ukyo.
"Ukyo, I thought we were good friends, why'd you want to challenge me all of a sudden? I even thought, you know, you liked me…. Do you want to hurt me?" Ranma asked. Unbelieving he was even having this conversation with his childhood friend. He could feel himself getting more anxious.
"Did I hurt you?" he aksed voice laced worry. Everyone waited on her response.
Ryoga gulped even he wanted to know. He often thought about Ukyo being in the same boat as him with his similar love for Akane. But somehow she was able to let go of Ranma and he was still chasing Akane like a lost puppy.
"No. At least not on purpose. Ranma."
"I'm not challenging you because I hate you, or because I realized I'm not to good for you." She said while shooting daggers at Kodachi through her eyes.
"I'm doing this because I realized I am too good for you."
"Huh?" Ranma's eyebrows furrowed in the middle"
"Ranma I'm always there for you, cheering you on. I hear you out on your problems and help you fight your foes. I know all your likes and dislikes. I'm down to hang out with you always. I am a great cook and I always feed you. But what about me?" Ukyo could feel herself getting hot under the pressure. Ranma too.
"Ranchan you don't know my likes or dislikes and certainly don't know anything about my aspirations. When you look at me you only see your young childhood friend but you don't really see me. You ignore my advances and more often than not leave me hanging when it comes time to do something I want but I'm always there for what you want to do. I understand... actually I have known for sometime you don't see me as more than a friend and I was ok with that….but Ranma you're not even a good friend.
Ranma eyes were opened wide in shock as she continued.
"And what really gets me is that I am expected to follow your lead because of some stupid promise our dad's made together years ago? I have lived my life as a boy because of you. My dad only gave me two choices either kill you or marry you and until then, live my life as a boy until my honor has been restored. Do you know what damaged that has caused me and my self esteem as a women. I didn't feel comfortable wearing women's clothing until just recently." By this point Ukyo was worked up and on a roll.
"Ranma I get that you're handsome and a good martial artists but is that all I'm supposed to expect from you as a fiance or even as a friend? There will always be someone who is good looking. There are other martial artist out there who are also great. But your personality Ranma, frankly sucks."
Ranma was taken aback
"Ranma you're arrogant, selfish and somewhat spoiled. And somewhere along the way I realized I didn't have those fuzzy feelings for you anymore... and that there are other things I want to do with my life other than chase you." Ranma stood stunned.
No one could believe what they were hearing, so she did not have feelings for him anymore. They were all in as much shock as Ranma.
"Ukyo I never knew" Ranma said looking straight into her eyes with remorse.
"Because you never bothered" she looked right back at him eyes misted up.
"Ranma I'm challenging you for me not you. To end this engagement and to prove to everyone that I don't need a man to decide my worth or how I should dress. That I am just as a good martial artists as you and once its over to be free to live my life as I please."
Ranma looked at Ukyo and he really saw her. She was not just another fiancee, she was her own person and a good friend. He lumped her in with the others and now he understood why she was doing all of this and dressed like that. She was embracing her femininity something she struggled with for all those years, not for him. And she was right he had been thinking a lot about himself. He was only really there when a foe challenged her, to help her but he really didn't know much about her. He thought about the concert she went with him since no one else liked the music and then how he bailed on her at the book signing of one of her favorite authors and didn't say anything. She really is a good friend and I have been a crappy friend but I didn't mean to hurt her on purpose. I just get stuck on myself sometimes. Ukyo I promise to be a better friend from now on.
He took a step closer to her and reached out an arm to her "Ukyo-"
"He-emph"
"papa?" Ukyo said turning behind her.
"My dear"
"Mr. Kuonji" Ranma bowed respectfully.
"Ukyo...I came in just in time to hear you speak. And I'm sorry. For forcing you to live like a boy all those years….. that was stupid of me. And I shouldn't have made you carry the consequences of a grown man's decisions" Mr. Kuonji turned to look at Genma while he said that and the latter turned to escape before Mr. Tendo stepped in and stopped him.
"Oh no you don't Genma. You're sitting this one through. It's time you took some responsibilities for your actions" said Mr. Tendo
"Genma looked up to his long time friend and sighed with resignation.
"Papa" Ukyo's eyes watered
"I'm sorry"
"Oh no Ukyo's crying. How could you. You guys are just awful making a fair maiden cry like that." Said Happosai while fake crying "I'll show you all!" and he proceeded to wack all of the men in the room.
"Ow Ranma yelled"
"Hey why did you hit me too?" said Ryoga "Because you men are pigs" said Happosai
"We're sorry master" said Saotome and Tendo. "Yeah please don't hit us." they said
"Now Ukyo why don't you come over here Happy will make it all better. Wippeeee!"
Happosai landed right in the middle of Ukyo's bossom.
"Eeek" Ukyo screamed. Hair going up on end.
"Why you" Mr. Kuonji flared up in anger sent Happosai flying into the air with his own spatula.
"Serves him right that pervert" said Akane
"So Ukyo how come your dad is here…?" said Ranma nervous that Mr. Kuonji would do something to him.
"Don't worry Ranma. My dad wont do anything to you. I invited him so that he can be witnessed to our duel." relief washed over Ranma.
"Genma"
Oh boy thought Genma here we go.
Genma stood before . He was a full man much like Genma but Mr. Kuonji was definitely taller and burlier with a scowl on his face that he always wore.
"Papa don't hit him" warned Ukyo.
"I don't make promises I can't keep Ukyo" she sweat dropped.
"Mr. Kuonji I'm deeply sorry but what was I supposed to do? I had already promised Ranma to -"
"SHUT UP" yelled Mr. Kuonji
"I don't care for your apologizes you shouldn't have made a promise you couldn't keep. All I care about are the words you spoke to me years ago and the pain it caused my daughter. Now you will sit down here and I will tell you how this is going to go."
"Our children will battle each other. If Ukyo wins she will be free of her engagement because she has shown herself more than worthy. And you will work at her shop to pay back the price of the okonomiyaki cart you stole unless you have money." Mr. Kuonji said smugly. Genma grimaced his worst nightmare had come true. His past was starting to catch up to him.
"If Ukyo loses….. Even though she would technically still be engaged to Ranma, I grant her her freedom from her engagement to Ranma and you don't have to pay back the Okonomiyaki cart "
"Sounds fair Kuonji" Perfect there is no way Ranma will lose. His heart skipped a beat with giddy.
I can't believe he is willing to let the grudge about the okonomiyaki cart go even if I lose. He really wants me to be happy. Oh Dad. I promise I won't let you down. Thought Ukyo.
"Then we better get started" said Ukyo
Ukyo and Ranma now stood at opposite sides of the Dojo.
"Ukyo before we begin, I just want to say I'm a jerk and I hope we can still be good friends even after this"
"Always." She smiled amicably " just don't think I'll go easy on you." Her face scrunched up into a smirk.
Ranma smiled for the first time that day and nodded at Ukyo.
"I don't count on it"
.
.
.
.
.
"Begin" said Mr. Kuonji.
And the two friends lunged at each other.
Whew Finally I completed Chapter 2. And I want to say thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review the story! The constructive criticism is much appreciated. :)To put it into perspective this story takes place before the failed wedding and I'm choosing to ignore Akari and Ranma's Mom all together because frankly it has nothing to do with them. This story was also meant to be a short story no longer than 2 chapters where not everyone can make an appearance and relationships are not fully developed between characters (ie Ryoga and Ukyo) instead it just hints at them. The only relationship development we see here is the one between Ukyo and Ranma and a little of her dad. But do I ship Ryoga and Ukyo? heck yeah but this story is too short for that. And no Ukyo did not dress for Ranma she's too good for that lol. Surprisingly I think I am going going to have to add a third chapter on here. So until then,
Happy reading!