Aaaahhh… It continues!! I can't believe I'm actually writing a second chapter, but I'm having too much fun to stop. So… beware!! Hahaha nah just kidding.
Well, first of all, the annoying part: I don't own Ranma or any of its original characters. Ukyou's grandparents, as well as her father's name and personality (after all, he does exist in the anime) and the Hibiki family are my creation; I have absolutely no gain in this, 'cept for the fun.
Secondly, the reviews!! People actually reviewed to this??!! I'm so happy!
Ok, about 'Ucchancita': (Since I've had a lot of critics about it, but I don't mind, thanks for reviewing.) Yeah, it's Spanish. I know it, you know it, we all know it. They're Japanese, it's highly impossible that they'd use a Spanish nickname… In real life. We're talking about anime here, in which the main character TURNS INTO A GIRL WHEN SPLASHED WITH COLD WATER! So it could be possible in fanfiction. You'll just have to live with it, sorry. Personally, I think it's cute.
RedJaguar: I'm from Argentina, Spanish is my native language, but thanks for offering anyway! Though I could use a little help with English ()'.
So 'Ucchancita' stays. It kinda goes with Akeru's character, after all.
Thank you all for the reviews!!
CHAPTER 2: "I KNOW MY WAY AROUND (YOU)."
Ryouga woke up in a bed, gazing around confusedly. He'd hoped it had been all a dream, but he deflated when he recognized his own room.
Just my luck.
He thought bitterly.
It had started like an unusually good day, one of which he rarely had. He'd woken up that morning in his tent, an immense sense of relief washing all over him. Then he discovered the reason: he knew exactly where he was. Places and directions crossed his mind, and after a moment of utter shock, he traced the path to his house on his mind and began to follow it.
Surprisingly enough, after a few turns here and there, he was standing in front of his home.
But what threw him even more off balance was the fact that his parents were there, too.
After a quick shower and a healthy breakfast, the three of them had moved to the living-room to catch up on whatever happened since they last saw each other.
It had all been so perfect. He'd found that his parents had a sense of direction too! And they'd said it was permanent! They could live together again, not worrying about getting lost going to the market or things like that! He'd never been so happy.
Of course, knowing Hibiki Ryouga, that couldn't last too long…
Flashback
"I'm so happy it finally happened!" Hibiki Aiko chirped, clasping her hands in front of her.
"I know, I know! Ryouga, we have a little birthday present for you!" Hibiki Kida announced.
"You do?"
"Of course son! You've turned eighteen last week! You'd thought we forgot about it?"
"No dad, 's just I wasn't expecting to meet you at all…" Ryouga explained, a little disappointed that he couldn't spend his birthday with them. He'd been lost in Canada, apparently. And they… Who knows? "You didn't have to buy me anything."
"Oh, but we didn't bought it, dear. I believe it's something that is in the garage right now…" His mother grinned.
"No way." He said unbelieving.
"I think you deserve it, son." Kida said, holding up a car key.
"You're giving me the Vento?" He asked, his mouth hanging open.
His father only nodded.
"Since we're not getting lost anymore, honey, we don't need it that much."
Ryouga loved that car. They had acquired it a few years ago, when their older car got crashed. The Hibiki couple loved to travel by car, one of the reasons why they always stuck together.
"I can't believe it, dad, thanks!!" He said standing up, getting ready to go for a ride.
"Actually, it is kind of a bribe."
"Bribe?"
"Sit down, son. We need to talk." His mother stated.
"What about? If it is about driving safely and all that, mom, you're already told me all I need to know… Like a thousand times." He added the last under his breath.
"No, Ryouga. It's about another matter. It's about our sudden sense of direction. We need to make it last, and we need you for that."
"Uh, but you said it was permanent." He was confused.
"You know the true origin of our curse, right?"
"You said it was a spell cast upon the family."
"We've never told you the whole story, dear." Mother Hibiki stated.
"No, actually."
"Well, I think it's time you learn the truth."
After a long story of honor and promises (and vengeful old men…), Ryouga was dumbfounded.
"Are you really saying that I'm engaged?"
"Yes sweetie."
"But…But… Shouldn't have been you, dad, the one to join the schools?"
"Well, they also had a son, Ryouga. I can't marry another man." Kida said, disgusted at the thought.
"Ever heard of 'business associations'?" Ryouga spat. Kida seemed thoughtful for a moment.
"It wouldn't work, son. It has to be a bond of honorable marriage."
"But, I don't want to get married! Specially to someone I've never met!"
"But you have met her, sweetie. It's old Akeru's granddaughter."
"Grampa Akeru's granddaughter? I was two years old last time I saw her, I don't even remember her name!"
"Ryouga…"
"Why did you never tell me? I could've gotten married to another girl!"
"Sweetheart, I thought things with Akane weren't so good after she found out about Jusenkyou?" Aiko asked.
"Well, no. She hasn't forgiven me yet and it's been almost eight months, but…"
"And that Akari girl you mentioned once? You can't marry a girl just because you beat a pig!"
"Oh, but I have to marry a girl that doesn't even know me because her grandfather is crazy?" He said ironically.
"Ryouga, don't talk like that about Grampa Akeru!" His father chided. "Even if it's true!"
"Gomen, dad. It's just it's so unfair!"
"I know son. But it's the family's honor we're talking about here. You're going to marry this girl and that's the end of the matter." Kida said solemnly, giving his son a hard stare. He grabbed his coat, "I'm going to make some errands, I'll be back soon." He kissed his wife on the cheek and left.
Ryouga looked down, troubled. He grabbed his head, his frame shaking with anger.
"So unfair…" He repeated, his fist clenching around his hair.
"Oh honey, don't be so sad. You're gonna like her so much!" His mother started, sitting next to him in the couch. "Let me tell you about her… Let's see… She's a few months younger than you; she's almost finished high school; she follows her family's traditions and school of martial arts, so she'll be able to help you with your own Dojo…"
He couldn't remember what kind of style Grampa Akeru mastered, it had been a while since he last saw him. He'd always called him grampa, even if he wasn't his real grandfather.
"And, despite her tender age, she runs her own restaurant!"
Ryouga blinked at the last thing his mother said.
"Her own restaurant?"
"Yes, and it's here, in Nerima!"
"Here in… Nerima?" He parroted incredulously, his eyes widening. Suddenly he remembered Grampa Akeru all too well.
No way!... No way!... It's not what I'm thinking!!
"Yes, dear. I believe it's called 'Ucchan's'?"
THUMP
"Oh goodness…" Aiko whispered, clasping her hands, "how sweet! He just fainted from happiness!"
End of flashback
A knock on the door broke him out of his thoughts.
"Come in." He said toneless.
"It's me, dear." His mother announced herself, stepping into the room. "I wanted to see how you were feeling."
"Honestly, mother, I have no idea." He sighed, sitting up on his bed.
His mother took a place beside him, pulling him into her arms.
"Why are you so upset, Ryouga? You seemed like you were going to accept at last." Aiko asked worriedly, brushing his hair with her fingers.
"Mother, I… I know this girl."
"You do?"
"Yeah, she's engaged to Saotome."
"She was engaged to Saotome. Now she's engaged to you."
"I know, mom; but that's not the point."
"And what is?"
Ryouga searched for a way to explain his mother about his 'relationship' with the okonomiyaki chef.
"We don't get along, ma. She's… She's a tomboy!"
His mother let out a surprised laugh.
"Oh honey! That's not so bad! And I'm aware of her situation, so we can't blame her too much about it."
"Yeah, but… I mean… Why her, mom?" He whined.
Aiko just chuckled.
"Since when do you know her?"
"I've met her about two years ago, why?"
"Just asking." She giggled, "it's a nice twist."
He just looked at her.
"Aw, come on, honey. Cheer up! Thanks to that marriage, we can have a normal life. Aren't you glad about that?"
Ryouga flinched, she had a point there.
"And she can't be that bad!"
"Are you kidding? She drags me into those stupid plans of hers, and when everything goes wrong, she blames it all on me;" he was counting with his fingers, "she makes fun of me all the time; she calls me a jackass; she's always beating me with that stupid spatula of hers; after she found out about Jusenkyou, she keeps splashing me with cold water just to annoy me; she makes me look bad in front of Akane; she's a tomboy, mom!"
Ryouga looked indignantly at her, finishing his ranting. He goggled. The Hibiki matriarch was tomato red, one hand covering her mouth; she was shaking furiously, obviously trying to hold her laughter.
"I'm glad I amuse you, mom."
She chuckled, trying to calm down.
"I think she likes you."
Ryouga stared.
"Ok, I'll make sure she changes all that."
"No, mom, you don't understand. I don't wanna marry her!"
"Sweetheart," she started, taking his hand in hers, "sometimes we must do small sacrifices to gain big fortunes."
"Marrying that tomboy is definitely a sacrifice, and not a small one."
"Maybe, but sometimes they turn out to be just what you were looking for."
He sighed.
"Whatever, mom. She wont want to marry me either, so there's no point."
"Oh honey, she'll want, don't worry about it. You'll both do." She retorted with a mischievous grin.
Ryouga hated that look, it meant his mother was up to something. He decided to change the subject.
"Where's dad?"
"He went to buy you some clothes. You can't wear that tonight," she pointed at Ryouga's usual attire, "and nearly anything in your wardrobe fits you anymore."
"Tonight?"
"Yes, the Kuonji family is coming for dinner." She chirped.
"Tonight?!"
"Now," she grabbed a lock of Ryouga's bangs, "let's do something about this."
Ryouga just groaned.
That noon, Hana had decided to take her granddaughter shopping. They were supposed to meet the Hibikis that morning, but they had decided that it was better to have a big, nice dinner instead.
Knowing her grandchild, Hana had said to Ukyou that she needed something to wear that night; but the real reason for shopping was to turn Ucchancita into a lady.
She knew she couldn't make that happen in just one day, but she definitely had to start right away.
"So, granny; what do you wanna wear tonight? A dress? A blouse, maybe? We could buy something in that store." She pointed to the lady's store at her right.
"Actually, I've packed this beautiful kimono, and it will do for this wonderful occasion."
"Then why…?" Ukyou paled, realizing her grandmother's intentions. "Oh no, granny… Please…?"
Hana smiled. "Now, how about a skirt?"
"Ok kid, try this on."
"C'mon dad, can't you help me out? I really don't want to do this."
"Your mother already started cooking for tonight." His father replied.
"I'm not talking about dinner." Ryouga sighed unhappily.
Kida looked at his boy sympathetically.
"Ryouga, haven't I taught you nothing about honor?"
"You've taught me everything about honor, father!" He replied, scandalized. "Why do you ask me that?"
"Because this is a matter of honor, and you're not being responsible about it as you should be…"
Kida knew it was a hit below the belt, Ryouga had always been strict to his convictions and values, honor being the strongest of them.It was the only way he came up with at that moment to convince his son,
"…as I taught you to be."
Ryouga looked down, hurt. Kida kept a solemn face, but internally was thrilled to see that his little boy had grown up into such a good man.
"You're right, father. It is a matter of honor and I shouldn't cause you and our family such a shame. I'm sorry."
"It is for the family that you're doing this, Ryouga. I know your grandparents shouldn't have made that promise, all it caused was shame and misfortune. But, what is past, is past. Now it's up to you to bring our family together again, as it should always have been."
He kept looking down, listening to his father's words.
"I wish I could have raised you by my side, I wish you could have been into your mother's arms when you were just a child. It wasn't fair for us, and it shouldn't continue to the next generations. I'm sure you don't want your children to go through what you've been through."
"No father," his voice was heavy with emotion, "I don't."
"Ryouga, I want you to be able to raise your kids; I want you to be able to establish in one place instead of doing odd jobs in every town you stumble upon; I want your mother and I to be able to visit our grandchildren whenever we want, without traveling across the whole world first; I want you to be able to enjoy a life in a home, with your wife at your side, not worrying about going to the bathroom and ending up in Korea. I want a normal life, Ryouga; for your mother and I, for our grandchildren, and for you."
The lost boy looked at his father then, and saw the hope in his eyes.
"What do you say, boy? Would you give your old man what he wants?"
Ryouga frowned, resolution plastering across his face.
"Yes father," he gulped, "I accept the engagement."
Damn! I'm gonna be spatulated for the rest of my life, starting tonight… I can't believe I'm doing this.
Kida engulfed his son into a bear hug.
"I'm so proud of you, my child." He said tearfully.
"It doesn't mean that I like it, dad." He replied in a muffled voice. "I will never like that tomboy!"
His father chuckled.
"We'll see about that…"
They sat in a little café, enjoying a snack. Ukyou touched her hair for the hundredth time.
"Would you leave it alone, dear? It looks beautiful."
"I still don't know why I needed a haircut. It's as long as it was before."
"Yes, but now it looks better."
They had gotten rid of the white ribbon; now her hair fell freely, framing her face. She was strictly forbidden to put it into a low ponytail.
"I still think it's stupid."
Hana sighed. Her granddaughter was a beautiful girl, it was a shame that she spent so much time dressing as a boy.
"I think Ryouga will like it."
"I don't care what that jackass thinks."
"Well, you should. He's your fiancée after all."
"Not because I want to, grandma." She reminded her, still unaccustomed to call Ryouga her fiancée.
"Ok dear," she said, "why don't you tell me what you dislike about Ryouga so much?" She gave Ukyou a worried look.
"Now that's easy."
"And then I'm going to tell you about Ryouga's good qualities."
"But grandma, how can you do that if you don't even know him?"
"Sugar," Hana smiled, "I have known Ryouga since he was just a small bundle in his mother's belly!"
"What?"
"Honey, his family and ours have been friends since I was a teenager. Of course I would know him. He even managed to stumble upon my house every now and then. I think he was fifteen when he last visited." Hana grew pensive.
"Oh…" Who would've thought?
"So?"
"Ok grandma. Not that it'll help, though." She added. "He gets lost even going to the bathroom."
Hana looked at her grandchild.
"He does!" She protested.
"He used to," eldest Kuonji corrected, "so that is not a problem anymore."
"Fine; he's too gullible, too shy, a stubborn mule, can't talk to the girl he likes without stuttering like an idiot and dashing off;" Hana smiled, slightly amused; "he's always falling for Ranchan's pranks and he's always making himself look like a fool in front of Akane."
"Well, darling; if you spend your whole life living in the road with almost no human contact whatsoever, it is highly impossible to develop a strong sense of… what?"
Ukyou was looking at her as if she'd just sucked a lemon.
"I've lived in the road for ten years, grandma; and I think I'm smart enough to know if someone is trying to fool me."
"Yet," her grandmother interrupted, "you have turned ten years of pure hate into devoted love in a nanosecond just because the Saotome boy said you were cute." She looked at her with an air of finality.
Ukyou gasped in surprised.
"That's not- How?- What?"
She smiled.
Ukyou sighed deflated, and continued.
"He screws up every plan I have to break up Ranchan and Akane."
Mother Kuonji raised both eyebrows.
"Break up plans, dear?"
"Uh…" Ukyou sweatdropped, "the point is, he's always screwing up. If he'd love Akane like he said he did, he'd done things right."
"And you think that tricking the poor girl is right?"
Ukyou flinched, "well…"
"And, if Ranma would really have had feelings for you, you shouldn't have needed a plan to be with him, you know?"
I know that now, granny. He doesn't love me like that, I'm just his old buddy Ucchan… She thought bitterly.
"He turns into a pig."
"Oh darling, you have been in love with a man that turns into a girl. I don't see the difference."
"But, he turns into a pig!" She yelled, trying to put him down.
"They both have Jusenkyou curses, dear. If you could accept one, you can accept the other."
"He's kinda slow… you know?" She spat desperately.
"What do you mean by that, honey?"
"Well, you know. He wouldn't realize something unless you'd put it right on his face. I always have to explain things to him as if he were just a little child."
"I must disagree with you, Ukyou. Again."
"Aw, grandma! You can't deny me that he's slow!"
"Actually, I think he just analyzes things before he reacts. Except when he is fighting Ranma." Hana chuckled. "Besides, as I said before, due to his unusual condition, he pretty much lacks of social skills, being unfamiliar with normal teenager's behavior. Although, I must say that he is the politest young man I have ever met."
"Yeah, but still-"
"Perhaps he doesn't know how to react around people about his age. After all, the only human contact he had ever had constantly in his life are his parents and us; and that's so random, too."
Ukyou frowned, considering all her grandmother had said.
"Is there anything else?"
"No grandma, that's all." She answered, a little annoyed that she couldn't think of anything else for some reason.
"Ok, what do you think about what we have discussed?"
"Well," she started, "you might have a point or two there… I've never considered those things before."
Hana seemed pleased.
"There is something I have ever admired of him; even after spending his whole life living in the forests, or traveling across the world, Ryouga developed a nice, goodheartedly personality; when he could have grown into a bitter, heartless young man, hating everything."
"Uh… He is a little bitter about it; I mean, he's always so depressed or angry… He's always glooming."
"But, when he doesn't find himself 'glooming' about his misfortune, he is a very polite, honest, nice, selfless, caring young man, who likes to help others, isn't he?"
"I don't know about 'honest'," Ukyou retorted, "there was this little P-chan thing with Akane…"
"Which he did confess, probably costing a good friendship and surely the love of the woman he cared about. Even if his motives were to seek shelter in his cursed form, he was torn inside for lying to her. And he risked everything when he couldn't take it anymore."
"Feh, he was masquerading as her pet pig and still had the nerve to claim that he 'would defend her honor'."
"He comes from a very honorable family; honor is one of his strongest convictions. And he would do anything for the ones he loves, even if it costs him his own life."
"How do you know all that stuff about him, anyway?"
"He likes to talk with me, dear."
Ukyou sat speechless across the little table, a little taken aback about having his good qualities thrown at her face. Hana looked expectantly at her.
"You might be right…" A little smile started tugging at her grandmother's lips. "But I'm still not marrying that jackass!"
Hana pinched the bridge of her nose; "oh dear," she said to herself, "and she calls him a stubborn mule…"
Ryouga wandered into the kitchen, where his mother was happily humming a tune while she stirred the pots.
"Someone's still sad…" She stated.
He leaned on the doorframe, petting Shirokuro's head, (who was sternly looking at the food, praying for something to drop off the table).
"I just still can't believe it, mom. It's so out of the blue…" He shook his head sadly. "This should happen to Ranma, not me."
"Maybe we should have told you earlier, son;" she added some cinnamon, "but with Ukyou's situation, we thought that it was better to let you know when you'd be able to do something about it."
"Like getting married," he supplied.
"Yes."
"Maybe if you'd told me, things would have been so different…"
I wouldn't had fallen in love with Akane, what would've saved me a lot of suffering. Maybe I even wouldn't had followed Ranma to China…
"But dear, what were we supposed to say? 'Ryouga, you're engaged, but your father-in-law engaged your fiancée to another man'?"
"Well, Ranma does have three fiancées. I think Ukyou could have handled two…"
"Ryouga…"
"And then she probably wouldn't have had to dress as a boy and then she wouldn't be such a big tomboy!"
Aiko couldn't hold her laughter, and it got worse when her son goggled at her, stupefied.
"What's so funny, mom?"
"Oh honey," she sobered up a little bit, "it's different to be friends than fiancées. You'll see that she'll treat you better from now on."
"Yeah, right. She'll be furious when she finds out that she has to marry someone else that's not her precious Ranchan. Specially if that someone's me."
Aiko started to chop vegetables.
"How bad does she treat you?"
"Well, she keeps calling me a 'jackass'."
"That's a Kuonji thing, dear;" she giggled, "don't take it personally."
"Yeah, well, she made it my official nickname, apparently. She hits me with that goddamn spatula, a lot; she drags me everywhere; she tugs at my ears; she insults me; she always gets mad at me for something, which most of the cases I didn't do; she uses me to get what she wants, and then blames me for everything when it goes wrong; she tricks me, punches me, kicks me, slaps me, mocks me, she's such a tomboy, mom!"
Aiko just had to laugh. She hadn't seen Ukyou since she was six, but she could easily see what was going on there. It was simple teenager behavior. Ukyou liked her little boy, but probably she didn't even knew it… yet.
Why does this reminds me of old times? She thought tenderly.
"Does it seem like you're always making her mad at you for whatever reason?"
"How did you know?"
"Oh, just a hunch." She dismissed, hiding a grin.
Yup, she definitely knew what was going on there.
"And how do you feel about her, son?"
"F-feel?" Ryouga blushed, which she didn't fail to notice. "I-I don't… Mom, she's a tomboy!"
"Ok, then what do you think about her?"
"That she's a tomboy." He stated as if it was the most obvious fact in the world.
"What else beside that?" The lady patiently asked.
"That she's a violent, aggressive tomboy?"
His mother sighed.
"Let's forget about the tomboyness for a minute…"
"Ok…" He thought for a moment. "She can be very nice, when I don't piss her off… She gives me free food when she's in a good mood; she's very smart, you know? She's a good listener, when she doesn't have a plan going on in her head… She's a great martial artist, probably even better than Akane; I've always thought that if she trains a little more she could pass Shampoo's level, too."
"Shampoo?"
"The Amazon from China, another of Ranma's fiancées."
"Oh, right."
"She's kind, I guess." He shrugged.
"Go change your clothes for dinner, dear;" she commanded softly. She'd heard everything she needed to hear.
Ryouga nodded with resignation and turned to leave.
"And make sure you wear what your father picked for you!" She called after him, hearing an 'ok' coming from the stairs. Aiko trusted her husband's taste. She turned off the stove and went to dress for dinner.
"No woman can resist the Hibiki charm…" She giggled knowingly.
A/N: Here it is... Tell me what you think!