Alright! Here's Chapter Four! Finally getting into the swing of being back into school, and so far I don't get too much time to type or write. Updates will take a little longer so please be patient.
A thank you to all who have reviewed this story! It's a big encouragement to keep writing! Checking my inbox to see so many review at once almost brought me to tears! I almost cried in school it touched me that much!
Also, this chapter gets more action. Sorry for leaving people hanging on some Ryoga/Ukyo time.
Enjoy!
Chapter IV
Taking the next street on his left, Ryoga hoped this way would take him to the high school. The street light above his him flicked on, the setting sun now resting under the horizon. Nighttime had come, and the lost boy was, well lost.
"Great! Where the hell am I now?" Ryoga made a sharp turn down the street and quickly entered a grocery store.
"Ack! Grrr... Where am I now?" Ryoga looked quickly for the exit, making another wrong turn. Lost boy made his way to the back of the store, past the back door and up the stairs to the roof.
"Great..." Ryoga sighed, past frustrated with himself and now ready to turn in for the night. He would deal with Ranma tomorrow. Besides, he could perfect his new move he learned up in the mountains before coming back to Nerima before facing Ranma. Already full from the doctor's dinner, Ryoga set his tent up, and rolled out his sleeping bag. Before preparing some hot tea to sip on, a loud and obnoxious laugh was heard outside.
A very familiar obnoxious laugh. That laugh sent a horrible chill down his spine, remembering the gymnast competition where his pig form was chained to Ranma as a handicap. That crazy woman!
"Kodachi! What do you possibly want at this time of night?" another female voice hissed out in the night.
Ryoga quickly rushed out of his tent and looked out from the roof to see Ukyo standing off from a black cloaked figure, now revealing themselves as the Black Rose Kodachi. The cape tossed aside, the gymnast attacked the chef head on with her ribbon. Ryoga watched silently, as Ukyo easily dodged the ribbon and pitched two small spatulas at the gymnast. Successfully wrapping up the crazy gymnast, Ukyo gave a good pull and brandished her battle spatula to finish the job.
"This seems too easy..." Ryoga thought out loud, now sensing others watching in the shadows now emerged to protect Kodachi from the finishing blow.
"Sasuke?! What the hell are you doing in this fight?" Ryoga heard Ukyo growl at the rabbit ninja, who was now flatten to the ground. The black Rose laughed and escaped the ropes that imprisoned her. She gathered gymnast weapons in her hand then yelled at Sasuke. The ninja was fast, now in mid air blowing a whistle. Four more ninjas, masked with animal faces, appeared before Kodachi, then surrounded the chef.
"Well that's not fair, that crazy gymnast..." Ryoga growled, his hand twitched to reach for his umbrella and jump in.
"Hey that's not fair! This fight is between you and me Kodachi!" Ukyo pointed at the laughing gymnast.
"OOHOHOHO! What's the matter you lousy cook, afraid you will lose?" Kodachi stared down at Ukyo, who looked... rather excited. Ryoga watched to see what the chef would do, and what surprised him was she grabbed her school bag and strapped on another yellow belt that matched her first one. The second belt was well equipped, with twice the number of throwing spatulas she had before, also strapped with two bags of flour, a water bottle and two small closed pockets around her hips. Ukyo looked ready for battle, and Ryoga was actually excited to see what she could do, now with more enemies than before instead of a one-on-one fight. Ryoga set his umbrella beside him and got comfortable, ready to watch the fight between chef and ninjas, with the crazy gymnast as their commander.
"ATTACK!" Kodachi commanded, Sasuke and the four masked ninjas running head first toward the okonomiyaki chef.
Ukyo unleashed a battle cry and smashed the closet ninja, the tiger masked one, into the ground. Ukyo propelled herself into the air and blocked an upcoming attack to her head. She knee-kicked the raccoon masked ninja in the gut and elbowed him behind the neck, knocking out of the fight. With her second ninja down, she quickly threw two spatulas at the crane masked ninja coming her way stopping his attempt to attack. Kodachi saw her moment, and threw a hoop at Ukyo's head. Ukyo was prepared, having pulled the crane wrapped ninja to take the hit to the chest. The last lanky ninja trembled at Ukyo, afraid to move any closer, seeing what she did to the tiger ninja now crushed to the ground. The baboon masked ninja decided to be quick and threw a few star to distract Ukyo before attacking, but Ukyo had another thing coming! Spinning her battle spatula to deflect the stars, she quickly scrapped up the already beaten ninjas and chugged them into the air in front of baboon ninja.
"Rubber reinforced 'yaki' noodle restraint!" the chef shouted, wrapping the surprised ninja along with the defeated ones into a noodle mess then slamming them into the ground with her battle spatula. Landing on the ninja pile safety, Ukyo saw her last two opponents.
While watching Ukyo take down the animal pack, Ryoga was impressed at Ukyo's speed when dealing with the ninjas, to quickly counter attack and giving her full strength the strike down her opponent. Ryoga was wondering what Ukyo would do to Kodachi as he saw the two square off along with Sasuke at his mistress' side.
Kodachi's mug smile melted off her face, before she grabbed her battle pins. "Hmm, now it's now turn! HIYAAH!" the gymnast announced before taking to the air and launching her pins at Ukyo. Quickly deflecting them with her throwing spatulas, Ukyo rolled out of the way when Kodachi surprised her with her wooden hammer. Tossing the weapon aside, Kodachi began her onslaught of pins, her signature move, and danced her way to the chef. Ukyo danced back, ducking and blocking the rapid pins that came to close to her face and chest.
Ryoga had to admit, Ukyo could definitely hold her own against the crazy gymnast. Thanks to his trained eyes, Kodachi's pins match each block from the metal spatula. It looked like they would dance a little longer, but Ukyo was quick to grab something from her utility pocket.
"Are those, eggs?" Ryoga questioned in disbelief. He watched as Sasuke appeared behind Ukyo with a wooden sword as the eggs exploded from the impact of the rapid fire of pins. Ukyo must have sensed his attack, for she ducked from the swing, made a U-turn and slapped Sasuke to his now egg-yoked mistress.
"And I'm just getting started!" Ukyo exclaimed, grabbing two of her flour bags, and sliced them above the enemies' head. The flour quickly stuck on Kodachi and the animal ninjas, now coughing wheezing from the flour cloud.
"Let's not forget the water!" Taking the water bottle, Ukyo somersaulted over their heads and poured the whole bottle. Now with the water splashed into the glob mixture, the flour and egg quickly melted.
"The dough needs MIXING!" Ukyo snatched her battle spatula and smacked the sticky Black Rose and Sasuke to the animal herd, sticking them all together in a mess of flour, eggs and noodles.
"Here it goes! It's time for the TOSS!" Ukyo took a breath, and taking two giant steps, she leaped into the air and slammed the sticky group flat like a pancake!
Ryoga cringed, it looked painful. He knew the sting of her spatula. Ryoga watched closely as Ukyo stood still, holding her spatula with both hands forward. She appeared calm, in her zone like when she's making her okonomiyaki. her aura was blue, almost ice cold.
Then, he felt it, the flare of power. She was ready.
Ukyo unleashed another battle cry, scrapping underneath the oblong pancake. With strength Ryoga didn't know she had, she roared again, pitching the human pancake, towards the grocery store! Right at him! Ryoga quickly ducked down as the human pancake sailed past his head.
"This is not over. Kuonji Ukyo!" the Black Rose bellowed, sailing off into the night.
Ryoga peered down at the okonomiyaki chef, who finally caught a break. Ukyo panted, trying to steady her heart again while she wiped some sweat off her brow. Reattaching her battle spatula back to her belt behind her, Ukyo dusted herself off and, smiled. In fact, her body shook, trembled like she would explode.
"Yatta! I did it!" Ukyo exclaimed, jumping into the air and feeling great after her victory. Ryoga saw her face lit up with joy at defeating Kodachi. The lost boy couldn't help but smile for her, knowing that feeling of accomplishment.
RIIIP!
It looked like her heart jumped out of her jacket, revealing her wrappings from inside.
"Ahhh!" Ukyo gasped, covering herself before anyone saw her wrapped chest.
Too late.
Ryoga got a good look of bouncy wrapped breasts before his nose popped.
"Oh crap, she just had to jump!" Ryoga complained to himself, not liking that he ruined his only clean shirt.
"Oh, Momo-chan!" Ryoga froze in place. Momo? Ukyo has a pet? Ryoga slowly sat up and looked out from the roof again to see a round blob jump into the chef's arms. Pressed into Ukyo's chest was a red bow-tied piglet. A pink one to be exact.
Ack! No way! Buta-chan! Ryoga had not seen the pink piglet in months! The pink piglet now named Momo, snuggled into Ukyo's ... bosoms! Ryoga felt another rush, and looked away to prevent it from coming. He focused on Ukyo's calm face, smiling while petting her pet. There hasn't been a day that Ukyo looked so, peaceful unless she was making her okonomiyaki, or with Ranma.
Ryoga shook his head. Ukyo needed to get on with her life and stop obsessing over a boy who couldn't even express his own feelings to the girl he killed and risked his life to save, and would do again in a heartbeat. Maybe when Ranma and Akane have a successful wedding, the other fiancées will calm down and get on with life themselves; Shampoo could move back to China with Mousse (if she would give him a fighting chance), Kodachi could- Ryoga sighed. No use in wishing. Kodachi will keep trying. Those Kuno's were crazy. Maybe Ukyo could even try dating other guys.
CRASH! BONK! GONG! BANG!
Ryoga jumped out of his musing and turned to see Ukyo bash four high school males to the ground, looking very angry.
Well, if things like this kept going in her life, Ryoga would never see Ukyo date boys, like ever and only hate them more.
"Hmmph! Stupid boys!" Ukyo glared down at the laid-out bunch, and Momo snorted at them daring them to try anything to her new friend. "Let's go home. I could use a good soak." Ukyo patted Momo's head, grabbed her schoolbag and headed home. Ryoga stretched and yawned, ready to sleep for the night. Knowing that Ukyo would be okay, he turned back to his tent and preparing for the night. Ryoga checked over his supplies in his backpack and notice he was running out of writing paper, which reminded him to write back to Akari in the morning.
"AAAAAAAAAGH!" a feminine scream wailed out, scaring Ryoga out of his skin. Turning back to the roof ledge, he saw Ukyo fall to her knees, clutching her head in pain. What was wrong? Her calm aura was pulsing from blue to red. Ukyo's forehead was covered in sweat, already dripping off her like a leaky faucet. Ryoga watched as Ukyo tried to get to her feet, but she quickly rolled away from a blade aimed for her head. The school boys tried to corner Ukyo, but she defended herself, deflecting them back even under her uncertain condition. Her panting was getting louder, and ryoga couldn't stand and watch Ukyo take anymore harassment!
With great speed, the lost boy packed up his tent supplies, slinging his pack over his shoulders, and prepared to jump off the roof and into the fight.
"UUKY-EEEH!" Ryoga looked down, just in time to see Ukyo's jacket sliced open, again. Ryoga wasn't prepared this time and his nose spouted like a shower head.
"GGYYAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ukyo shrieked, slapping each boy hard across the face. Ryoga had fallen backwards onto his head, twitching from his sudden outburst.
"Her, her wrappings were a ... a little ripped open hahaha..." Ryoga quietly giggled. She had a nice pair...
POW! OIIINK! Ryoga blinked, coming back from his high.
"MOMO!" Ryoga quickly rubbed his nose clean of blood, rising back to his feet to see Ukyo scoop up the fallen piglet. Ukyo's whole body trembled, now holding the piglet close to her not seeing the school boys surrounding her. Ryoga could see the lust in their eyes, ready to tear off the remains of her jacket.
Like hell! Nothing else would happen to Ukyo tonight, not on Ryoga's watch!
Launching himself into the air, Ryoga slammed the tip of his umbrella into the ground before the perverts could come any closer. Creating a small crater underneath the umbrella, the shockwave pushed the school boys away, their bodies skidding across the ground like paper. When the dust cleared away, Ryoga stood to his feet and guarded Ukyo's body, blocking her from view.
"Oww, man, what was that?" one of them groaned, picking himself back up. The rest followed suit, all now noticing Ryoga and his hard leer. Ryoga glared at the perverts that wanted to do harm to his friend, no, violate his friend in ways that he would never forgive them for. Now seeing Ryoga's glare harden, the school boys gulped and shivered, truly terrified of being looked at with such hate, and anger.
"If I see anyone of you try to hurt my friend again, your heads will be put underneath this umbrella, and you all saw what it's capable of." Ryoga warned them unpleasantly, his tone ice cold. "Am I clear on that?" the four nodded quickly, wanting so badly to blitz out of there. "Good, now get LOST!" Ryoga's voice still held it's frosty chill, before he roared like a furious lion. The four males were gone with a trail of dust behind them and their tails in between their legs.
Smiling, now knowing no further threats were around, Ryoga placed his umbrella back on top of his backpack, and turned to see if the girls were alright.
POW! AH!
Well, one of them was alright. Momo, still bruised and sporting a swelled goose-egg on her forehead, embraced Ryoga with happy squeals! Oh how she missed her boy/pig friend!
"Momo-chan, calm down girl, you still have a bump on your head." Ryoga pleaded, now getting attacked by her loving head rubs to his cheek. A moan turned both pairs of eyes over to the awakening chef. Ukyo rose up to a sitting position, rubbing her aching head.
"Ouch, my head still hurts, what was that-Momo-chan?" Ukyo, now remembering her pink piglet, looked around to see where she could be.
BWEEEEP! Momo dove into Ukyo's chest, almost knocking her back to the ground.
"Oh Momo! Thank goodness you are okay!" Ukyo snuggled the piglet, relived Momo was alive and well. The chef checked her bruises and goose-egg, turning her little body once over. The goose-egg stilled looked nice and swollen, but nothing some ice and some ointment shouldn't take care of.
"U-Ukyo chan, are you okay?" Ukyo jumped, realizing she was not alone. Ryoga was standing in front of her, with his backpack greeting her instead of his face. Eh?
"Ryoga! how did you get here? Wait-did you get lost again?" Ukyo asked, raising on eyebrow at the lost boy. He couldn't see her face, but Ryoga could just tell a smirk was forming on her lips. Ryoga huffed, "More or less..." he straightened his back with a shake of his bangs. Ukyo giggled to herself. Same ol' Ryoga, but she was happy he was here. Being with a friend right now made her feel safe, and after a night like this, she could use an ear to listen to her day.
He wasn't Ranma, but she knew he would listen.
When Ukyo looked up at the back of Ryoga's head is when she noticed his ears, a hot pink was their color. "Ryoga, what's wrong?" she asked, hoping to solve the mystery to Ryoga's embarrassment. To her surprise, the hot pink changed to a beet red!
"U-Ukyo-chan! I'm sorry, but you... you... You are not decent to look at!" Ryoga shouted, now looking down at his feet.
Not decent?
Ukyo just look a moment to look at Momo, still resting against her, ... opened jacket and ripped bindings. EEP! At least Ryoga wasn't gawking at her. Quickly tying back her bindings and adding strings to her jacket, she rose up from the ground wit Momo in hand.
"Ryoga, it's okay now. I'm decent now." Ukyo blushed, not believing the situation the two were in right now. Ryoga slowly turned to the chef, relived she was on her own two feet.
"You feeling alright? You can walk home right?" Ryoga asked, still keeping his eyes averted from her chest. Ukyo shook her head, at Ryoga's embarrassment. It should be her whose utterly speechless and embarrassed by the situation, but seeing the lost boy in a hot mess made her smile.
"Hey Ryoga, you can look at me now." Ukyo spoke softly to the fang boy. Finding some courage, he glanced pitifully up at the smiling chef. Even in her damaged jacket, she looked so happy to see him. he blue eyes gave a twinkle of happiness that he's never seen before.
It was, kind of cute...
Eh? Ukyo, cute? "Well, it wasn't like she wasn't cute to begin with, but-"
Ryoga squatted down, turning himself away from Ukyo and messed his head his hair in a full panic.
"Hiii-HAAIIII! Why did I just think that? What's wrong with me?" Ryoga fussed loudly in his head, now shaking his head in denial.
PONG!
Metal clanged against hard skull, bringing Ryoga back to reality.
"Ryoga, calm your brain before you overwork yourself..." Ukyo calmly told the over-heated martial artist. Pulling himself back to standing in front of Ukyo, the chef reached her school bag while Ryoga straightened himself up. Ukyo mounted her battle spatula back onto her back belt. "Now that I've got you back to the land of the living, where are those punks from earlier? I still owe them a good ass kickin!" Ukyo looked up and down the street but a stores were still open. The street was basically deserted saved for her, Ryoga ...and a hobo in a box. Weird...
Ryoga remembered those goons, still a little upset about the whole thing. What if Ryoga had not been watching before- Ryoga didn't want to think about it.
"You have nothing to worry about. They won't bother you again." Ryoga told Ukyo strongly, a promise to see it through. Ukyo stared at Ryoga after his declaration. She could say she was surprised by his strong words, and the fire in his eyes when he looked straight into her own. His deep gold eyes burned ablaze-
What the-Ukyo shook her own head, clearing her thoughts. Since when did she stare into the lost boys eyes? Ryoga was her friend, and he was looking out for her! Ukyo smiled quickly, not wanting to look confused.
"Thanks Ryoga. You are a good pal." Ryoga smiled back, happy that she approved. Checking on her now snoozing pet, she saw her watch. "Oh no, it's late. I got to get home. Thanks again Ryoga, I owe you one!" Ukyo nodded her head to the lost boy and went left, ready to head home, but then suddenly her knees gave out. Keeping a tighter hold on Momo, she gasped in pain as her knees hit the ground. her legs felt like jello again and the hot fever feeling was returning. "What's ... what's happening to me? i feel so hot!" Ukyo panicked, not knowing what to do.
Two strong arms pulled Ukyo off the ground and back on her feet. "Ukyo, what's wrong? You okay?" Ryoga asked, sounded worried, almost freaked out. Ukyo wanted to answer back, but felt another wave of pain hit her brain.
"Ryoga, my restaurant... this way!" Ukyo instructed, pointing down the street to her left. Thinking the lost boy would help her walk, she didn't suspect to be swept off her feet and carried princes-style. "EEep! R-Ryoga!"
"You look like you will faint any moment. I'll carry you home." Ryoga answered softly to her silent question. Ukyo felt her face heat up, being treated so gently. Holding Momo to her chest with her outer arm, she wrapped her other arm around Ryoga's neck. Ryoga stayed focused on the road ahead of him hoping to reach Ukyo's restaurant before it was too dark out.
BANG!
Not five minutes have past, and Ryoga was going in the wrong direction.
"Ryoga, I said to the left not behind us!" Ukyo pointed back towards the streets, now that the two were in the middle of a dark alleyway.
~XXX~
"I'll be in the next room if you need me okay?" Ukyo shut the bathroom door closed, leaving Ryoga to clean himself and prepare to bed. Ukyo walked to her bedroom, grabbed the ice pack from the table and flopped onto her plush couch. "Ooh, what a day! At least this headache is going down." the chef gently rub the ice pack to her forehead, already feeling the cold working it's magic to bring down the temperature. Ukyo looked down at the sleeping piglet on top of one of her throw pillows. Momo made herself comfortable as soon as Ukyo finished dressing her goose-egg with ointment. Ukyo left with Ryoga to give him a brief tour of where restroom and bedroom would be. After cooking up a small snack for her guest, the chef prepared her spare room for her guest for the night, moving boxes against the walls and dusting the room out. After laying out the spare futon out, Ukyo lastly showed Ryoga to the bathroom so he could get clean for the night.
Ukyo really needed a good soak in hot water, but she first must attend her guest so he was comfortable for the night. Her small tea kettle rested on her table with two cups ready to be fill with hot water for tea. Ukyo rally had to thank Ryoga after tonight. Usually she would have finished those punks easily if she hadn't just finished a fight with Kodachi and her ninja goons. On top of that, she wasn't feeling well to fight another round with anyone. Ukyo reminded herself to stretch all over before bed.
"Ukyo!"
Ukyo walked to her bathroom door and tapped once. "You alright in there?" she called out for Ryoga, not wanting to walk in on him. The door slid open, a burst of steam escaping the hot room, and wet-head Ryoga was staring back at her looking refreshed. Ukyo took a good whiff of the air before she smiled back. "You fresh now?" Ryoga frowned, making Ukyo's smirk bigger. "I'm glad you enjoy your bath, now then, follow me to your room." she lead the way to the spare room where the futon was rolled out for him and his backpack rested off to the side as well. "Sorry for all the boxes."
"It's no problem. Thank you." Ryoga walked in and placed his toiletries back into his pack. "You didn't have to roll out the futon Ukyo. I have a sleeping bag."
Ukyo shook her head. "Ryoga, sleeping bags were made for the outdoors, and I had a spare so it's no trouble. I have tea ready if you would like some." Ukyo smiled back, leaning against the doorway. Ryoga pulled out a sleep shirt and nodded at Ukyo, liking the sound a hot tea before bed.
"Oh wait! Hold just a sec!" Ukyo rushed out, and quickly came back with a dry towel. Ukyo sat on her knees in front of Ryoga. "Your hair is still wet." And with that, she ruffled his hair to get it nice and dry.
"Uwaaah! Chotto matte-" Ryoga tried to get out of her hold, but Ukyo didn't budge.
"Baka, you can't go to sleep with a wet head. You can easily get sick. Hold still, I'm almost done." Ukyo rubbed the back of his head for a few seconds before folding the damp towel over her shoulder. Ryoga's hair now was fluffed in different directions. Ukyo couldn't help but chuckle at the new look, along with his frown. "Ryoga, why do you wear your bandana in the tub? It's in the way of getting your hair washed." the chef poked at the yellow bandana.
Ryoga shrugged, "Never was a problem with me." he puled the knot that held the bandana to his head, and his bushy bangs seemed more longer than before. Ukyo was surprised Ryoga had such thick locks. They almost covered his eyes.
"Need a brush?" Ukyo asked, taking the brush from her side pocket to hand to Ryoga. While Ryoga tiding himself up, Ukyo scooted back to give Ryoga some space to get dressed. "Ryoga," Ryoga pushed up his fluffy bangs to look at Ukyo.
"Thank you. Honestly, I thank you for tonight. Even if you were lost. I'm glad you showed when you did."
Ryoga's eyebrows shot up to hide under his bangs. Ukyo was thanking him? He didn't even frown at her when she teased him about being lost, because he was. "Ukyo..."
"It's just, after school today I had a crazy evening. First with finding Momo, then Shampoo showing up, and of all people to come fight me, more like ambush me, Kodachi and her flukes that she calls ninjas- I mean seriously! I mopped the floor with that obnoxious gymnast and her weak posse-" Ryoga coughed up a smile on that.
He had to agree on that! Watching Ukyo toss and flip Kodachi like a pancake with ease, it look like a cake-walk.
"and then those jerks come out of nowhere! I mean really? If I wasn't feeling tired and half sick, I could have easily bashed those punks and made them eat concrete for dessert!" Ukyo huffed, her pent-up anger after today's events now unleashed. "It was obvious I wasn't at my full strength, seeing as they wanted a second whopping!"
Ryoga shook his head at Ukyo's venting, watching her pour out her feelings over the eventful night. He smiled softly at the okonomiyaki chef. She was very animated when she wanted to be heard. Whether angry, happy or excited about a new idea, she lit up, almost brighter than a light bulb. He was surprised she didn't explode once she let out all her energy that was somehow compress inside her body. At the thought of an Ukyo shaped light bulb popping, his throat burst with laughter.
Ukyo suddenly stopped her speech when she heard Ryoga's laughter, now the lost boy clutching his stomach before he rolled onto his side. Ukyo stared at the Ryoga in his self merriment. Ukyo frowned. Whatever he was laughing about, she wanted a good laugh too!
"Hey! I want a laugh too! Care to share with the class?" Ukyo crossed her arms with a huff. Ryoga calmed just a little to look at Ukyo's pout. It only made him double his laughter. Ukyo couldn't help but smile at Ryoga's laughter. She chuckled herself, but not wanted to be left out of the fun, she grabbed the pillow beside Ryoga's feet and smacked him in the face.
"OOf!" Ryoga choked, the pillow muffled the cry. Ryoga pushed the pillow out of the way only for object to smack his face again.
"Want to share with me now?" she asked slowly, letting Ryoga collect himself. Ryoga coughed out the laughter still left in him, his body shaking from the buzz.
"I was *cough**cough*imagining you as*wheeze* a light bulb, ready to *chuckle*pop from so much *snicker*energy built up inside you. POP went Ukyo!" Ryoga chuckled some more, remembering her pout from earlier.
Ryoga felt the pillow being shoved into his face again, this time more rougher hits to the head.
"You know what's funny? Your face!" Ukyo said down at the lost boy at her side, enjoying Ryoga's smile and laughter even more.
Ukyo sighed, letting Ryoga collect himself again and happy with the lighter mood between the two. It was nice to have someone to talk about her day, and have a good laugh with. Even if it was the lost boy, it was still nice to have company. One thing did puzzle her though...
"By the way, where did you come from? Where were you before you saw me?" Ukyo tilted her head up at the lost boy, the spotlight directly on him. Ryoga scratched his head sheepishly, but then winced. His left arm was still bruised from Dr. Tofu., and he promised not to strain his arm too. Ukyo noticed his slower movements to his left arm and gently touched his shoulder. "Did you hurt yourself beating up those punks Ryoga?" Ukyo asked with disbelief, raising an eyebrow up at him. She didn't believe for a second if those pushovers had made a dent on Ryoga. Ryoga huffed, shaking his head.
"I was coming from Dr. Tofu's office. The doctor was nice in giving me a check up, but then, Kasumi-san showed up..." Ryoga left it there, not needing to elaborate. Ukyo tilted her head at him.
"Kasumi-san? Akane's older sister? What about her?"
Ryoga looked at Ukyo in disbelief. "You know the good doctor Tofu? He has like, a major crush on Kasumi-san. He gets crazy when she around. If my dislocated elbow has anything to say about that..." Ryoga grimaced at the feeling on his arm being pulled forcefully out of socket by the doctor's strength. Who would have thought such a quiet and polite man could possess such strength.
"Wait a minute" Now that Ryoga mentioned , she remember visiting Akane at the doctor's clinic and making a mess when the eldest sister showed up. Akane did look priceless, her face half wrapped with gauze. "Would you like it to be wrapped for now?"
Ryoga gently moved his arm to test how sore it would be, but only a slight pain throbbed at the elbow joint. "I should be fine. A good night's sleep should do me some good." Ryoga pulled his sleep shirt for the night as Ukyo straightened up his futon.
"You still up for tea?" Ukyo rose to her feet to walk back to her room. Ryoga looked up at Ukyo and smiled, getting up as well to join her. While heading back to her room, Ryoga noticed her sleep attire, a too big to fit her T-shirt that barely draped her knees. If Ryoga really tried to see to be positive, the edges of her boxer shorts poked out from underneath with each step and each swing of her hips... Ukyo really had some thick legs.
Ryoga blushed at the thought, and shook his head to clear his mind before Ukyo caught him staring.
The two shared luke-warm tea and cookies in silence, with an occasional chuckle at Momo entertaining herself and the two teens with a stress ball Ukyo found in her closet. Having to open shop for breakfast, Ukyo decided to call it a night. The poor chef was exhausted after her eventful day, and after showing the lost boy where his room was again, Ukyo was ready to soak her worries away.
"Ahh~! This feels good!"
Sitting back against the cold salmon colored tiles, Ukyo relaxed in the shoulder deep water, letting the heat work it's magic on her tense muscles. She rolled her shoulders to stretch any small knots and kinks she could fell and slinked lower into the water, submerging her mouth into the water.
"What a day! School was the same, nothing different there. I did make a killing selling my okonomiyaki today, made more than last week! Even Ran-chan came over! I still need to work out a plan to hang out with Ran-chan this weekend. Maybe we can hang up in my room after dinner!" Ukyo giggled to herself, getting excited about what tomorrow would hold for her. Oh wait-
"Great! I totally forgot about Ryoga for a second! First Shampoo, then Kodachi and her fake ninjas, and now I'm baby-sitting Ryoga! Great-" she stopped her mind-rambling and suddenly felt terribly guilty. "What's wrong with me? I may had my evening starting off with two fights, but if Ryoga hadn't shown up when he did, well," Ukyo banged her head back against the tile wall, scolding herself. This was not the way she should be thinking of Ryoga. The lost boy did get her out of a jam today, and she still couldn't understand why she was having the random pains to her head...
Ukyo stopped her musing to the sound of scratching at the door, and urgent squeals from the other side of the bathroom door. Ukyo rose up from her tub, wrapped herself with a towel and pulled open her bathroom door letting in her tiny guest.
"Momo, would you like a bath?" She smiled sweetly at the piglet, who trotted her way in between Ukyo's legs. Ukyo sat down on her stool, swiped up the now squirming piglet and grabbed a bucket and a bar of soap. "Hold still now, we'll be done before you kno- Calm down girl, hahaha!" Ukyo giggled, half-struggling with Momo to stay still while lathering the pink piglet with soap. Gently rubbing the piglet with her hands, Ukyo was careful with Momo's bruises, and finally deeming the piglet to be clean, she sprayed the soap and bubbles off Momo with her shower head with warm water. Dry patting the piglet clean, both girls left the bathroom ready to sleep for the night. Just as Ukyo walked into her room, there was scratching at a different door. Ukyo looked down to see Momo scratching at the guest room door, hoping to walk in.
"Nope, sorry Momo, let's let Ryoga sleep. I'm sure he's tired." Ukyo scooped up the piglet and walked into her room.
~XXX~
In the middle of the night at Ucchan's, one little piglet shot up wide awake, seeing that the chef was fast asleep. Momo leaped out of the bed and walked out of Ukyo's room to the guest room, the door was creaked open. Wiggling her way inside, she saw Ryoga snoring underneath the futon, the thick blanket covering most of him. Bouncing her way to his side, Momo decided the best place to sleep for the night was on top of his chest. Resting her head on her front hooves, she retired for the night, happy to be next to her boy/pig friend!
~XXX~
The next morning, came with the sun poking out of far east, greeting Nerima with it's bright rays and warm colors. That was how Ukyo's woke up, with her curtains softly blowing in the breeze. She blinked a few times before sitting up and turned over to turn off her alarm before it announced itself with it's annoying bells.
When she reached for the alarm clock, Ukyo got a good look at her hand... which was now pink hooves
"What the-"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! the yell ranged though out the whole restaurant/apartment, making Ukyo jump, and squeal in surprise. She tumbled out of her, and noticed that her room looked a whole lot bigger? She crawled over to her mirror-...
Staring back at her was a bow tie pink piglet.
"Why- wha- Is-isss that ME?"
"UKYOOOO!" a familiar male voice bellowed, footsteps running to her door before barreling right with-
Ukyo felt her heart jump, staring at the extra cargo around Ryoga's shoulders. Why was her naked self clinging to a nose bleeding, deep beet faced Ryoga, who was shaking from head to toe.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" Ukyo and Ryoga shouted, well Ukyo squealed and oinked loudly instead of words.
~XXxxxXX~
It was a beautiful Saturday morning, bright and peaceful even...
"Stop, you panty thief!"
"Give us back our panties!"
"Get back here!" Well it started out peaceful...
"GYAHAHAHAAAA! What a haul!" a tiny man was leaping down the streets with a giant sack tied behind his back. A sack full of stolen bras and panties.
"Come catch me ladies!" Happosai taunted the angry mob of females, only making them run faster. Happosai continued laughing, enjoying the energy these ladies were giving him. The grand master approached a fork in the road, and he smiled. "OOh, I can loose these ladies here with my Happosai Bomb, but I'm having so much fun-OOOOO!" his thoughts were cut short when a young lady walked from the left fork of the road, wearing a green kimono, designed with pink sakura petals, and her long brown hair tied up in a high ponytail. What a beauty!
"OOOH! Sweeto!~" Happosai launched himself to the unexpected lady, momentarily forgetting the angry mob of ladies behind him.
BANG! SMACK!
Happosai was flatten into the concrete by a giant hammer. A second later was enough for the female herd to the pervert and take back their underwear.
"Die pervert!"
"Stupid pervert! Take that!" Multiple feet, baseball bats, brooms and any other house weaponry were beating down the perverted master deeper into his crater in the concrete. they hoped the old goat had an inch of his life left.
Task done and underwear retrieved, the group of females left him there.
"Thank you miss!" one lady thanked the kimono wearing girl. She bowed politely, and walked on without saying a word.
Leaving the site of the beaten pervert, the kimono wearing girl reached a park, and decided to have a seat. With grocery bags placed in front of her feet, the young girl sat back against metal painted bench and sighed with sadness.
"Oh what to do? my poor sweet Ukyo." Konatsu spoke sadly, thinking over what happened minutes after stopping the panty thief. the horrible deed that happened last night to his boss and crush.
(( Early Saturday morning, and Konatsu was returning from seeing his family and heading to Ucchan's with groceries in hand.
"Miss Ukyo would appreciate some extra supplies for today's rush. Maybe she can see how cool I can be with the outfit I have planned for today. This might help win favor over Miss Ukyo!" Konatsu thought happily, wearing a bright on his pretty face. He couldn't help but put a skip in his step, hoping today would be a turning point in his and Ukyo's relationship.
"Blast that pauper KUONJI UKYO!" Konatsu jolted from his happy musing, hearing his boss' name with such hate. Konatsu notice he was standing next to a giant wall that surrounded a grand mansion.
"Kuno?" he read off the board up top the gate entrance. Who lived here that hated his Ukyo? Curious, the kunoichi poked his head in the entrance to see who the angry voice belong to. Keeping his presence hidden, he snuck in towards the gardens where a lake and a bridge rested. Standing on the little bridge was a young lady clad in a black kimono and a pink sash tied in a big bow, and off to her left, kneeling in green ninja garbs was what looked like a rabbit faced man. His head was almost touching the ground, and was sweating profusely.
Uh oh! Looks like someone was in for punishment for failing a mission.
"Sasuke." the voice from earlier came in quick like a whip, making the ninja next to her flinch in fear. "Last night was a disaster, the horrid cook had beaten us and embarrassed me, making me look like a walking pancake!" her voice started calm, but then escalated with agitation. "A pauper like her, beating the Black Rose in such a humiliating way! no thanks to you and your so called friends you call ninjas!" she snapped her face to the terrified rabbit faced ninja who now was almost shaking. The girl now known as the Black Rose gritted her teeth at her trembling servant, past frustrated at how things turned out last night. Coming home, glued together with her servants and looking like an overgrown piece of bread!
The Black Rose's aura pulsed red with fury! Taking pins from her kimono sleeves, she threw off her kimono, revealing her battle leotard, and a dozen black rose petals showered over their heads.
"Take your punishment for last night failure: The blow of a thousand hands," she raised her arms slowly until they were over her head, and as quick as a snake, she struck the ninja with great speed. "at FULL THROTTLE!" the Black Rose's speed was astounding to Konatsu eyes, but with his good sight he saw that she held more than one pin in each hand! She covered more ground with that many, and with her speed she could inflict more damage to vital areas more than once!
This Black Rose was not someone to mess with! Sasuke fell back to the ground with multiple bruises to the face, and even his grabs were torn from the attack. Seeing Sasuke laid out, beaten and bruised, brought a smile to Kodachi's face. She looked satisfied with the results of her punishment. "There won't be a repeat of last night's failure, is that understood?" the Black Rose looked down her nose at the beaten ninja watching him struggle to raise his hand to his head.
"Hai, Kodachi'-sama." Sasuke wheezed, saluting his mistress. Kodachi nodded once, and turned her back to Sasuke to grab her discarded kimono.
"Now that's settled, it's time to prepare for my next phase of my plan to finally rid my competition for my darling Ranma-sama! OOHOHOHOHOOO!" Kodachi leaped back towards the mansion with a storm of black rose petals behind her trail.))
Konatsu smiled at the thought that Ukyo sent the Black Rose as a pancake! he knew his boss was a strong, stubborn and a worthy opponent to face, but Konatsu knew that she didn't like others to fight her battles. Ukyo was an independent woman after all.
Expect when it came to Ranma.
Konatsu sighed again sadly, hating having to compete a man who was much more manlier than he was, and Ranma wasn't even trying! Ranma could wear his kimono and still Ukyo wouldn't look at Konatsu's way romantically as he wished. Konatsu was happy for the job and friendship, but he wanted more! Was that so much to ask for? It wasn't fair!
Trying not to cry, he remembered the groceries still resting at his feet. Konatsu stood up from his seat, dusted his kimono and readied himself for the journey to Ucchan's. Konatsu still had the outfit he found shopping on his way to Nerima. He hoped the attire would bring in customers today. Maybe that might make Ukyo happy after last night's fiasco with the Black Rose.
While walking to his destination, he noticed the park started to get crowded with children running to the play set and swings, young mothers with babies taking over the benches and talking, even a young couple walked into the park hand in hand. Konatsu watched and couldn't help but help but feel jealous of the two, looking so happy to be with the other's company. The young man was being a gentleman, holding the big basket for his lady. He even snuck a quick kiss onto her cheek, making her giggle and stare back into his eyes lovingly.
Not wanting to be caught staring, Konatsu quickly jump onto the roof closes to him and roof jumped his way to Ucchan's, but his mind went back onto the couple at the park. Maybe he could get Ukyo flowers. Maybe she would like that! Smiling to himself feeling better about his plan, he bounded his way quicker, not wanting to miss his shift.
Although, now that he thought about it, the young man with the pony-tail looked very familiar...
Tee-hee-hee! Ain't I a stinker?
Sorry I took longer than the last chapter, been having some trouble with how long the chapters were turning out, and not only that but what would be in the chapter or in the next. Didn't want to give away so much in this chapter, so this chapter was cut but for good reason! +850 more than the last chapter! I wanted to get this chapter out for you all on this good Friday! Hope you all liked!
School is kicking my butt, and keeping me busy along with work too! Today I finally decided to leave you here, and for the next chapter, I hope I can type faster than this chapter. School comes first so please be patient with me. I try to type on breaks or when I'm doing math at the same time so it's not I'm not typing everyday. A little bit here and there...
Anyway, thank for the reviews, please keep them coming! Great encouragements! I know a few didn't want extra characters, but I have a plan that requires them, and it adds more drama to the story. Who doesn't like drama?
So sit back and relax, 'cause plenty more is coming on Pigs and Blankets!
Until next time!
~Shiza!