D: I don't own Ranma ½…
Chapter 3: "When I open my eyes"
(Two months later)
Ukyo closed the restaurant and headed to the clinic. She had done that since a few weeks, she would close the restaurant at five, go to the clinic until seven, and return to the restaurant for dinner crowd. She had read two books already, and was about to finish the third. But she had to admit that she missed the lost boy. Sure, he could be a jackass sometimes, and he was always weeping about his curse and sense of direction, and he could be a real moron in front of Akane. But she had found out that he was also a good boy, always caring and trying to help, he was very honorable, sweet, naïve, he even could be funny sometimes. He was her friend, she realized, and she missed him…
She opened the curtains as she always did, sat on the chair, grabbed Ryoga's hand and started to read. She finished the last nine pages at five thirty, closed the book on her lap and sighed.
"Well hon, I finished, but I didn't brought another book with me. I still have an hour and a half, so I guess I could talk to you about something, ne?" She mused, looking at the window, "it's a really nice day…" She sighed again, lamenting that the poor boy laying on that clinic bed couldn't see it. She was still holding Ryoga's hand when she started to talk about a movie she saw.
"And the girl was wearing a really nice dress, it was pink with--" She froze in the middle of the sentence when she felt Ryoga's fingers close around hers. She looked at their hands thinking it wasn't happening, but Ryoga had clasped her hand. She felt tears starting to pour down her face. She looked at him and gasped. He was looking right at her, with a ghost of a smile hidden behind the breathing mask. She stood up and wiped her eyes, and stroked his hair
"Ryouga?…" She said, almost fearful of her speaking would wake her up of a dream, "oh my God… can you hear me?" He gave her hand a weak squeeze.
"I'll go get Dr. Tofu ok? Blink once for a yes…" She said and he did. She smiled back at him and rushed outside the room. Minutes later she came back with the dr in tow. The dr checked the machines and checked up on him, he was speechless…
"How did it happen?"
"I don't know, I was talking and he just clasped my hand!" she was crying out of joy- "Is he gonna be alright?"
"I think he will Ukyou… Just let me disconnect all the machines"- he made a gesture for her to wait a step aside, and started to take off the needles on Ryouga's arms. He then shot down the respirator and took the mask off of Ryouga's face. The lost boy coughed a little and started to breath on his own. Ukyou couldn't hold on herself, she was so excited, she wanted to hug her friend very tight and ask him a lot of things. Tofu checked his breathing with a stethoscope and give him a thumbs up.
- "Ok Ryouga, I think you're doing very good. You'll be out of here very soon."- he patted Ryouga's head. The boy looked at him puzzled and asked him…
- "Why are you calling me that?"
- "What? Isn't that your name?"- the dr said and looked at Ukyou
- "It is"- she answered him
- "No it's not, my name's…"- the boy trailed off, looking troubled- "I… I don't remember"- he said scratching the back of his head
- "What? You jackass!, stop fooling around"
- "Wait Ukyou, this might not be a joke. It is a possibility that he has amnesia. After all he had a big hit on his head"
- "You mean he doesn't remember us? Not even himself?"
- "Ryouga do you remember anything of your life?"- the lost boy thought about it for a moment, and then shook his head no with a sad look.
- "I don't even know who I am, but I think I recognize her voice"- he said pointing to Ukyou
- "Really sugar?"- she asked, hope in her eyes
- "Yeah"- he said, blushing
- "Well, Ryouga, that is your name. You're Hibiki Ryouga. I'm Dr Tofu, you've been in a coma for two months"
- "What?? A…. a coma?"
- "Yes… Ukyou and I've been looking out for you, I'm sure you want to know what happened but you have to rest now"- Tofu said, whispered something Ukyou couldn't catch and started to walk out of the room
- "Can I stay?"- Ukyou asked him pleadingly - "I can help him remember"
- "Well, that would be nice of you, but don't stay too long, he has to rest"- with that said he left the two teens alone. She walked to Ryouga's bed an sat on it, in front of him.
- "So sugar, how you're feeling?"
- "Kinda dizzy…"- he said, settling himself in a half sitting position
- "Want something to eat? Are you hungry?"
- "A little…"
- "Ok wait a sec, I'll get you something"- Ukyou exited the room and returned minutes later with hospital food.
- "Here you go sugar"- she put the tray on a sliding table and slid it above his legs - "It's the best I can get"
He looked at the food and grimaced. He only ate the chicken.
- "That was awful" - he said with the grimace still on his face
- "It can't be that bad…"- she giggled a little
- "So, Ukyou right?"- she nodded, sliding the table aside- "Tell me about me…"
- "What do you wanna know?"
- "I don't know… stuff… where do I live or what school do I go to…?"
- "Well…umm… You haven't been home for a while and you don't… go to school"
- "Really? How old am I?"
- "Seventeen" I think... He must be my age...
- "Then why don't I go to school? Did I run away from home or something?"
- "No… see.. You …umm…travel a lot…yeah that's it"
- "Oh… where do I travel?"
- "All over the world. I believe there's no country where you haven't been"- she said with a smile
- "Really? Wow"
- "Yeah, you sent me a lot of postcards, you've been in beautiful places…"
- "And… you know"- he said gesturing at her
- "I think I'm not catching ya"- he slightly blushed
- "Aren't you… gonna kiss me or something?"- she stared at him, jaw hitting the ground
- "Excuse me??"
- "Well I've kinda been absent for two months, don't cha miss me?"- she kept staring at him, puzzled and blushing. He fiddled with his fingers - "Well?"
After a long pause, she said
- "D' you want me… to kiss you??"- she stood up, blood boiling, getting angry at him for being so… jackass. She grabbed her spatula and threatened him with it- "I know you've been hit really hard on your head, so I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that, ok?!"
- "Why are you so angry, aren't you my girlfriend??? What the hell is that thing???!!!"
- "Wha? Your…?"- she laughed and sat on the bed again
- "What's so funny?"
- "Where did you get that?"
- "The dr said so…"- he scratched the back of his head, blushing further
- "Oh hon… maybe he meant I'm your best friend? I'm sorry for getting angry, I thought you were being a jerk"
- "So we're not…"- she shook her head - "Too bad, you're really cute"- he complimented her with the most genuine smile the lost boy ever had on his face. (Of course he didn't know that). She just stared at him, jaw hitting the ground once again, memorizing that smile. In that exact moment the doctor came in and started to talk to Ryouga, but Ukyou couldn't really catch the words. She was focused on Ryouga's lips, still grinning as he talked to the doctor. It was the first time she saw him smile like that, not with malice, nor sarcasm, nor sadness as the lost boy was used to. It was a real smile, fangs poking out a little, without any hints at all. And he had said she was cute. She wondered why the dr had said that to him, though. Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Tofu
- "Don't you agree Ukyou?"
- "Hmm? Wha?"
- "I was telling Ryouga he should stay with someone until he gains his memory back, and I know his parents aren't home"
- "Well of course I agree, he should…"- she suddenly realized where this talk was heading to- "You want him to stay with me don't cha?"
- "Why that's an excellent idea Ukyou!"- Tofu said with mocked cheer
- "But I can't impose on her like that!"- Ryouga complained
- "It's no problem sugar, I'll pick you up tomorrow"
- "But--"
- "But nothing, you're staying with me and that's the end of this talk"- she grabbed her spatula and Ryouga gulped
- "Ok"- he said
- "I'll come back tomorrow morning ok? Now rest, see ya!"- she left the room and Tofu followed her, grinning. Ryouga just sighed. At least she's cute… He thought and turned the tv on…
That morning the sun seemed to shine brighter. He got up around seven and opened the curtains to let the light enter. He walked to the bathroom and looked himself on the mirror. This is how I look? Let's see… dark hair…green eyes… I look a little pale…fangs?? he opened the hot water of the shower and got undressed. He examined his body in front of the mirror. I look good naked too, heheh. Wow check out this muscles! He smiled proud of his reflection and got into the shower. When he finished his bath, he pressed his forehead on the cool wall and let the water fall on him. I wonder what I am like. Am I a good person? I should be, otherwise Ukyou wouldn't take me to her home… Suddenly, the water went cold and he found himself kneeling and everything around him a lot bigger than before. He tried to stand up but he couldn't , then he looked at his hands and gasped. HOOVES???!!! He panicked, he tried to scream and call the doctor but a high squeal came out of his mouth instead of his voice. With all his might he jumped out of the shower and hid behind the sink. What the hell is happening??? He stood there shaking and (if pigs can do it) crying. He was desperate, confused, he couldn't even talk, he had hoofs for God's sake! He heard the door of his room being opened and curled into a ball. He tried to hide the best he could, he didn't know why, but he felt extremely scared, as if something was going to hurt him. After what it seemed like an eternity, he heard a nock on the bathroom door and heard her voice. The voice that he had heard so many times before, giving him hope when he was surrounded by darkness and didn't even know who he was. The voice that led him to reality the day before, was out there calling his name. He didn't move, but started to squeal like his life depended on it.
Ukyou heard the squealing coming from the bathroom and slowly opened the door. She should had told Ryouga about the curse, but she was so happy that he was awake that she just forgot about it. She searched the room for the little pig and kept calling him
- "Ryouga… where are you? It's me, Ukyou"
- "Bweeeeeeee, bweee bweeee bukiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!"- she looked behind the sink and frowned. He was shaking badly and had the most fearful eyes she ever saw. She reached a hand to him, the piglet backed away a little and looked at her.
- "It's ok hon, I wont hurt you. I'll help you out"- she told him with a smoothing voice. Ryouga looked at her with doubtful eyes and then he jumped into her arms squealing desperately. She hugged him tight and tried to soothe him.
- "It's ok hon, you're alright now… sorry I didn't tell you yesterday, I forgot"- She closed the shower and caressed the pig's head- "We'll have to wait until the water heats up again, ok? Don't worry, I'll explain later"- She wrapped a towel around his body, drying his fur. He seemed a little calmer now, but he was still really nervous. She opened the shower a little later and tested the water
- "Warm enough… I'll put you in the shower and I'll close my eyes ok?"
- "Bwee…"- she put him gently on the shower floor, her eyes closed. The water hit Ryouga and he returned to his human form.
- "Uk--kyou?"- he said with tremor in his voice. Suddenly he hugged Ukyou really tight and buried his face in her shoulder. She was so taken by surprise that she just stood there goggled eye.
- "W-what the h-hell happened? I-I w-was…s-so…"- he was still shaking, Ukyou reacted and hugged him back. She stroked his hair soothingly.
- "Shh… It's ok… You're fine now…"- she reached another towel and offered to him, looking away- "Put this on sugar… you're naked"
He wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out of the shower. Ukyou handed him some clothes she'd found on his pack and glanced at him. She wished she hadn't. He was just standing there, shaking badly, water dripping off his hair and body, and with a look on his face that made Ukyou's heart stop.
- "Oh honey, please relax, put some clothes on or you'll get a cold."- she said in the most soothingly way she could. She reached a hand to his face and caressed his cheek - "I'll explain what happened, but get dressed first"- She gasped when he pulled her closer and hugged her again. After a while he released her and looked down
- "I'm s-sorry Ukyou, I w-was--"
- "It's ok hon, I understand. I'll wait outside, don't get wet ok?"
- "Kay…"- she got out of the bathroom and sat on the bed. Poor thing, he doesn't even know what happened to him. This isn't going to be easy
He got out of the bathroom and sat next to her on the bed, he was wearing jeans and a black long sleeved shirt. It looked good on him, Ukyou noticed. She grabbed his hand and made him look at her
- "You have a curse sugar. When you get splashed with cold water, you turn into a piglet"
- "Wha?"- he looked at her, puzzled
- "Well, it happened when…"
After all explanations were done, they headed towards the restaurant. Ryouga seemed to barely recognize the city, but no memory came to mind. They entered Ukyou's house and she showed him around. Then she led him to his room.
- "Well, now you lay down and rest ok?"
- "Thank you Ukyou, for everything"
- "No problem hon, now get into the bed, and call me if you need anything"-
He nodded and she left the room. She went downstairs to the restaurant where she left Konatsu cooking for her clients. She'll have to make some phone calls later. Now she needed to attend to her business. She patted Konatsu on her…err his shoulder and asked him to wait the tables, and she continued cooking. She made a special okonomiyaki for a certain fanged boy…
After lunch hour was over, Konatsu approached Ukyou
- "All settled Ukyou-sama, we can close for the afternoon if you want"- but the pretty chef seemed to be elsewhere - "Ukyou-sama…?"
- "Mm?"- she said looking vaguely at him -"I'm sorry 'Natsu did you say something?"
- "I said we're ready to close for the afternoon, is there something bothering you Ukyou-sama?"
- "I was thinking 'bout Ranchan…"
- "Oh"- said the ninja with mocked jealously, he still cared for her, but he had fell in love with someone else, and Ukyou was no longer the queen of his heart- "Should I be jealous, Ukyou-sama?"- he snickered
- "Actually no Natsu, I was thinking 'bout something that happened the first time I visited Ryouga, Ranchan had seemed like… guilty or ashamed about something"
- "Really? Whatcha think it is?"
- "I don't know, but I bet it has something to do with Ryouga… That jackass. I still don't know how someone that walks through buildings can hit himself on a wall…"
- "You have a point there Ukyou-sama, it would take a hard blow to take down Ryouga-kun"
- "Wait…he didn't slipped…. if he would had, he would had tried to protect himself. After all he's a martial artist, and martial artist know how to fall or land. There's something going on here and I don't like it."
- "I'm starting to think it wasn't an accident. I think someone hit him against the wall, on purpose."
- "That's why Ranma was so nervous around us. He knows something!"
- "We have to find out who was with him when it happened…"
- "This is serious, he could have died"
- "You think somebody tried to kill me?"- They swirled around to see Ryouga standing on the backdoor of Ucchan's, that led to Ukyou's house
- "Ryouga…what are you doing out of bed?"
- "You didn't answer my question"- he said as politely as he could
- "We don't think that Ryouga-kun"- Konatsu answered him, in a soothing voice- "We think that maybe they didn't tell us everything, that's all"
- "Oh"- Ryouga said, not buying anything I'll find out later
- "Well Ukyou-sama, I'm going home, I'll be back for the night shift, ok?"
- "Kay Natsu, see ya"- she waved to the ninja and walked towards Ryouga- "What are you doing here sugar, did you get lost?"
- "Lost? Why would I get lost?"
- "You mean you know where you are?"
- "Isn't this the kitchen?"- he asked
- "Yeah… oh forget it. Come, let's go to your room"
- "I was looking for you, I got bored…"
- "Well, I can give you something to read if you want"
They entered Ryouga's room and he got into the bed. Ukyou had a hard time trying to ignore the fact that he wasn't wearing anything but black boxers, and the fact that the memory of that summer morning was still plastered on her mind wasn't helping either. Before, she didn't even glanced at him when he was naked in the clinic's bathroom, but he surprised her with how good looking he was with the jeans and the black shirt, and this was way more better than that. Of course, she would never admit it.
- "I was thinking that you could tell me about me again… anything"
- "Well…"- she said sitting on the bed- "For a start, if I ever saw you almost naked like now, you'd have a nosebleed and pass out, heh"
- "Really? I guess I'm a little shy… how else am I like?"
- "That's a tough one… lets see… you're shy, you care about people, you're always trying to help, you're a baka…"- he flinched slightly at that one- "And you'rea really nice boy, yeah" She finished with a smile that kept a little secret
- "Guess that's not bad… we're friends right?"- Ukyou nodded- "d'you like me?"
She was surprised by the question
- "I…guess so…"- she answered him, blushing
- "Good then!"- he smiled at her, she liked when he did that. The same genuine smile she saw in the clinic. He tucked in under the covers and she got up.
- "You shouldn't go around like that, it's a very cold day…"
- "You're right… what month are we?"
- "December…"
- "Oh…Christmas…D'ya know where I'm supposed to be at Christmas?"- he asked her with a sad voice
- "Well, last year we spent it at the Dojo, and I'm pretty sure you would have done that this year too…"
- "Oh… Ok… we're going together right?"
- "Yeah… after all how else would you get Akane without me?"- she giggled and Ryouga looked at her perplexed
- "Who?"
- "Uh… sorry hon, I forgot… she's… a friend. She lives in the Tendo Dojo, with Ranma, another friend"
- "Oh. And they're friends of mine too?"- Ukyou nodded again, she didn't want to tell him about his relationship with Ranma yet.
- "Listen to me, you're going to sleep now and rest. I have things to do, but I'll be back pretty soon. Promise me you wont get out of the house"
- "Ok…"- Ryouga agreed, not knowing why that was such a great deal, but not wanting to upset Ukyou either. She waved at him and left the room. Ryouga sighed and put his hands behind his head
She's so cute …
End chapter Three…
A/N: C3 done… I wonder if I should go on with this story… tell me what you think…
