I really like how this is turning out and I'd like to give Emotionally Crippled Reader a big giant thanks for helping me think of pairings and names for future chapters to come! All my chapters are relatively short, so you have been warned.
-DJPandaGirl
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Ranma 1/2, blah blah, and neither do you, so ya.
Btw- these next few chapters are going to be in the perspective of the other families, like the Amazons, Hibikis, Onos,and maybe even other couples that you would never guess would get together. (Emotionally Crippled Reader came up with them and they are great ideas for an interesting plot line. But I don't dare to spill the beans:) Or maybe I will. Who knows? ;)
And a guest asked about the Kunos, and I will explain what happened to them later. (Emotionally Crippled Reader's got some good ideas) :)
Chapter 3- A Day at Ucchan's Okonomiyaki
Ukyo's POV
As the sunlight crept into the window above our bed, Ryo-honey and I yawned and stretched a little. He gave me his fanged smile, and I gave him a quick kiss. We both sat upright, him in his black undershirt and yellow underwear, and me in my blue v-neck and blue and black plaid pj pants.
I went to the bathroom to start getting ready when a little voice called, "Mommy?" I turned to see little Hikaru peering in through the bathroom door.
"Good morning, honey! Is your shister up yet?" I asked, hugging him, still with toothpaste in my mouth.
"No, Aiko is still sleeping. I heard the faucet on and I was curious." Of course he was. Just like his father, he has a terrible sense of direction and is always curious.
Ryo-honey walked in and hugged Hikaru and ruffled his hair and finger-combed the longer strands of hair on the back of his head. For some reason, Hikaru wants to grow a pigtail like Ran-chan, but likes to wear a bandanna around his head. I guess he looks up to Ranchan. Ryoga didn't approve at first, but I convinced him to let Hikaru do what he wants to with his hair. Hikaru and Tatsuo are best buds and are always having competitions like how Ran-chan and Ryoga-honey always do. Even for little things like who's pigtail is longer, or who is stronger. I guess they learn from their fathers.
As I started to create a fresh batch of pancake-okonomiyaki batter for breakfast, Aiko walked down from the apartment on top of the restaurant.
"Morning, baby." I called to the tiny 3 year old waddling down the stairs.
"Mommy!" She cried as she ran as fast as her stubby legs could carry her to give me a hug.
I picked her up and kissed her on the forehead. I handed her her tiny spatula and she immediately started flipping over the four pancake-okonomiyaki on the grill. She was born with the talent of cooking okonomiyaki, I guess.
As we all finished eating/playing with our food, I tossed the dirty dishes into the sink. It's time to get serious and train. Ryoga and I started teaching Hikaru and Aiko last year, ever since we discovered Aiko's cooking skills and Hikaru's strength.
After and hour of forms and drills, the timer went off. We have an hour until Ucchan's is open for business. I dashed up the stairs and into the shower, I rinsed off the sweat and used a secret technique to dry my hair. I pulled on my black leggings, white blouse, blue chef's jacket, and bandolier of spatulas. I slid my giant spatula onto my back and clipped on the bow in my hair. Aiko looked up at me and I read her face. I quickly helped her into an outfit that mimics mine, except for the bow, which is attached to a head band. I used to wear a bow similar to that when I was training with my father. I carried her down the stairs and plopped her into her special "Chef in Training" chair, next to the grill.
At exactly 8:00, I flipped the "Open" sign. I pulled some favorite breakfast toppings onto the counter and waited. That's when I noticed Ryoga-honey and Hikaru hadn't come downstairs yet. I put Aiko on the floor to play with her toys while I hurried upstairs. I heard screaming and wailing. Oh. It's probably just Hikaru refusing to let Ryoga-honey dress him. As I pushed on the door I discovered my theory was correct. Ryo was trying to force a yellow shirt on Hikaru. I pulled out Hikaru's favorite shirt, a red one with a dragon on the back and slid it over his head in one swift movement. I looked at Ryoga and he nodded in defeat. Ryoga hates the fact that Hikaru likes to dress like Ranma. He gently tied Hikaru's red and black speckled bandana around his head. Hikaru gave him a fanged smile. Sometimes, he reminds me of Ryoga-honey so much, I accidentally mix them up. I held Hikaru's hand as I led him down the stairs. Even though he and Ryoga-kun have terrible senses of direction, the only places they know are their own home, the Tendo home, the Saotome home, and the Cat Cafe.
A couple of customers walked in and Aiko ran up to the entrance, looked up and said in the cutest voice possible, "Welcome to Ucchan's Okonomiyaki!"
The customers complimented her manners and cuteness. As they sat down at the bar, Hikaru handed them menus. I started pouring batter on the grill, and one of them asked me where the old waitress went. I looked down and simply said, "He, I mean she, doesn't work here anymore. Konatsu is temporarily working at the Unryu Pig Farm for his, erm, her friend, Akari, whose family owns the farm. Akari was actually engaged to my husband, but he married me instead." I blushed. I know Konatsu had a crush on me ever since I promised I would take care of her. Konatsu-kun was definitely heartbroken when Ryoga-kun pronounced his real feelings for me because he left. I glanced at Ryoga, and resumed cooking the eggs benedict-style okonomiyaki. Eggs benedict is some American breakfast food that customers suggested I put a twist on.
Ryoga's POV
I wish I could run wherever I want like I used to, but Ukyo insists I only go if with someone other than Hikaru. After I took him to the park and got us both lost, she never let me take him or myself out of the house. Instead of getting to roam, I am stuck washing dishes and taking delivery orders. Ukyo doesn't let me deliver them, but makes sure that our new waiter, Akio, a junior at Furinkan does. Humph. Ryoga Hibiki, the man who can't even beat a 16 year old in delivering okonomiyaki. At least I get to teach martial arts with Ranma on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. That's something I can do well. Especially when we demonstrate techniques on each other. Lucky for me though, it is Tuesday. Sigh. I wish we had a dojo to ourselves. The Hibiki Anything Goes School of Excessive Strength. Sounds cool. I made sure to take a mental note to save enough money to build and sustain our own dojo in the future.
At almost exactly 1:00, Ranma bounded in with Tatsuo in his arms, clutching to his neck. Akane and Keiko followed after.
¨Hey there, Pig Boy!¨ he said, smiling.
¨Watch it!¨ I replied with a glare.
¨Ranchan!" Ukyo greeted, hugging him and ruffling Tatsu´s hair.
¨Hi, Akane!¨ I said, waving. I still think she is beautiful, but Ukyo´s cuter.
"Uncle Ramma!" Hikaru called with a grin across his face and ran into Ranma's legs.
They sat down at their normal spots at the bar, and Ukyo started frying some American-Pizza style okonomiyaki. In America, pizza is like okonomiyaki but with tomato sauce. Ukyo's really in to inventing new styles and adopting Western styles of dishes and okonomiyaki and putting a twist on them. I gathered some more ingredients and started frying some sides and minor dishes. Ukyo taught me how to cook after her father, a grizzled man, insisted I learn to cook before we got married. "To help carry the legacy of the family," he said.
Tatsuo and Hikaru started arm wrestling, but after neither budged for 3 minutes, they ran upstairs to regular-wrestle. Aiko and Keiko went to play with Aiko's dolls, and Ranma and I just chatted. Akane and Ukyo did the same.
After prying the kids off of their best friends, the Saotomes bounded off into the distance. Or at least Ranma and Tatsu did. Akane and Keiko just strolled down the streets after them.
Dinner dragged on for hours because of our special Tuesday night deals, and I could tell that by the time she served the last customer of the day, Ukyo was exhausted. After flipping the sign and locking the doors, she went upstairs to take a long soak.
Ukyo's POV
After lowering my sore body into the hot water collecting in the bathtub, I closed my eyes and gave a big sigh. Another successful day. Time to relax and just let my thoughts wander in my head. I am so glad Ran-chan helped Ryoga get rid of his curse. I guess it was kind of a peace treaty. Sometimes I wish I fell into the Nannichuan. It would have made hiding my femininity so much easier at the all-boy school I attended before Furinkan. I had to wrap up my chest and hide when I changed for gym class. If I had been cursed, Tsubasa, a cross-dresser who was obsessed over dating me, probably wouldn't have stalked me all the way to Nerima. Life would've been easier as a teen if I had been cursed. I let the thought travel to the back of my mind. Stay there. I thought. I am perfectly happy as a woman.
I climbed out of the tub and put my pj's back on. Ryo took his shower, and together, we gave Hikaru and Aiko their baths. These moments beat out all of the ones I spent in triumph after beating up Ran-chan's father, or completing my training. I will cherish these moments the most. After dressing the kids in their pj's, brushing their teeth, and reading them a bedtime story, I kissed both of them on the forehead, tucked their blankets up to their chins, and said goodnight. Ryoga did the same, but ruffled Hikaru's hair and tapped Aiko's nose. I swung the door shut and kissed Ryo-Kuno on the cheek.
"Your turn for kisses, sugar." I said with a smile, gesturing to the couch in the living room.
We plopped down and started to kiss lightly at first, but it slowly built up to a more intense level. A soft moan slipped through my lips, and we kept at it. After a couple of minutes, I sat there next to him, our foreheads touching, eyes closed, gasping for the air we forgot we needed. I gazed into his eyes and he stared back. I could not believe 11 years ago I called him baka in the Tunnel of Lost Love. Neither of us knew what was to come in the future. At that point, we were trying to break up Ran-chan and Akane-san so we could have them to ourselves. Now look at us. Happily married with two kids. And we aren't even 30 yet. I resumed kissing him, and he returned.
When we finally decided to call it a night, I snuggled up against his powerful arms and nuzzled his neck. I placed my hand on his chest, and dozed off, knowing that I am safe, and that this is how I want to spend the rest of my life.
Ya, ya. Cliche at the end. I'm sorry. I'm kind of getting hung up on schoolwork, so it may be a while before I start writing again, just so you know. Although, I do spend at least a half an hour before bed writing or reading fanfics so maybe I can start tomorrow. I always write these endnotes the day before i post. Hang in there! I'll try my hardest to post ASAP! (And don't forget to vote on Kasumi's baby's name! They are Koji, Sachihiro, Akio, and Daisuke, I think.) Also, comment your birthday or another day to be a character's birthday. I won't use your info, only for the sake of a fanfic. You may also request which character you want your birthday to be! Love you guys! Don't forget to review!
-DJPandaGirl
