Ukyou walked downstairs carefully. The kimono fit almost perfectly. The hem would need adjusting. But it was beautiful. She had put her hair up, tying a white ribbon around it. Her spatula and bandolier still adorned her.

"Are you sure you won't come to the Dojo?" Ukyou asked Mrs. Hibiki, "Ryouga would love to have you meet his friend Akane. And wouldn't you like to speak with Ranma?"

"Thank you no. If Mr. Hibiki comes home, I want someone to be here to greet him. You two go ahead. I'll stay here."

"Alright," Ukyou drew on the coat she had been using. Ryouga slapped his thigh. "Come Checkers!"

Checkers ran happily to his side. Ryouga hugged his mother. "I love you son," Mrs. Hibiki smiled up at her handsome, young son. He was going to be a fine young man.

"I love you too Mom," he said, "Your present from me is on the table."

They left the house then the dog, the lost boy, and the okinomiyaki chef, heading towards the Tendo Dojo.

Ukyou stared in amazement at the winter wonderland that had sprung up overnight. Checkers loped through the snow happily, her white fur blending in so she looked like ½ a dog running around.

"It's beautiful!" The snow was high and it sparkled in the sun from overhead.

"Yeah it is pretty," Ryouga agreed. Ukyou leaned down and scooped up a handful. She began eating the snow. All around Nerima, signs of life were stirring. They passed several snowball forts, fights and snow plows on the way to the dojo.

"Here we are," Ukyou stopped at the front of the gate. Checkers stopped next to her.

"Akane. I'm here," Ryouga sounded forlorn, speaking his thoughts aloud as always.

'Ranchan.' Ukyou thought to herself.

Ryouga knocked on the door. Kasumi was the one who opened it. "Hello! Ryouga Hibiki!! Merry Christmas!!" she greeted enthusiastically.

"Merry Christmas Kasumi. Is Akane home?"

"Hai!" Kasumi nodded, "Please you and your friend come in. I was preparing Christmas dinner. Ranma and Akane are sparring in the training room."

Ukyou led Ryouga to the training area. Sounds of a fight could be heard from several rooms away. When they opened the door to the room, Ranma was dodging all of Akane's punches and kicks.

"Tag! You're it!" he flipped over her and touched her head.

"ARGH!!! You do that every time!" Akane turned around and malleted him well.

"Feh! You deserved that one Ranma!" Ryouga laughed. Akane turned to the doorway.

"Oh hello Ryouga!" she smiled, turning Ryouga into a dithering idiot right on the spot. He always lost his train of thought around her. "Who is your friend?"

Akane looked at Ukyou curiously. Ryouga had never traveled with a girl before. If he had gotten involved with anyone, she would have thought it would be Akari.

"Huh?" Ryouga stared at Akane. Her question brought him back to reality. Akane had no look of recognition. She usually stared at Ukyou with jealousy and anger written all over her face. Now she just looked mildly curious.

Ranma, who had recovered, was also looking at Ukyou, not friendly, but with a wary look in his eyes. There was also curiosity, but different from Akane's.

Ranma looked the girl over. She was vaguely familiar. He was trying to place where he had seen her before. He didn't like her, whoever she was. He frowned.

"This is Ukyou," Ryouga said in disbelief. Surely they knew her. She was Ranma's best friend and Akane's biggest rival. It didn't make sense.

"Ukyou," Ranma frowned harder, looking Ukyou over again. Ryouga almost objected to the way Ranma's eyes lingered a little too long.

Ukyou knew Ranma was trying to place her from last night. She waited. As usual, Ranma's pointer finger came up. "You're.you're.." He stuttered. "You're.."

"Do you know her Ranma?" Akane asked.

"You're that guy from last night!" Ranma declared.

"But she's a girl!" Akane stated, staring at Ukyou's chest.

Ukyou crossed her arms in front of her defensively. "I tried to tell you that last night," she said annoyed.

"So it is true Ranma. You have no honor treating Akane and Ukyou the way you do," Ryouga flew towards him, fist clenched in a punch. "I won't forgive you!"

What followed was typical of all Ranma vs. Ryouga fights. Ryouga was slower, but had more stamina and endurance. Ranma was faster, but his lightning quick punches were useless against someone who could take them. It was an even battle.

"They always do this," Akane told Ukyou. 'I know' Ukyou thought. But of course, Akane didn't know that.

"Let's go help Kasumi in the kitchen!" Akane said cheerfully.

"Okay," Ukyou tried not to grimace in front of the tomboy. Akane's "Help" came at the expense of a hospital stomach pump.

"I'm sorry about last night," Akane said walking, "We did think you were a boy."

Ukyou felt really weird. Akane? Apologizing? Since when? Akane reached up to brush a stray strand of short hair from her face.

Ukyou froze at the sight of a small diamond ring perched on the left ring finger. Her heart stopped in her chest.

"You did get engaged!" she blurted out without meaning to.

"Oh.." Akane laughed nervously, "Well it was our parents idea really. Ranma gave me this as a Christmas gift."

She held out her hand, as all fiancées do, to show off the ring. Ukyou didn't look at it. She didn't want to see it. It was supposed to be her ring!!

"It's been hard," Akane said turning back around. "This Chinese girl Shampoo and this girl Kodachi tried to interfere and made it hard. But Ranma and I got to spend a lot of time together at school, which helped us form a relationship."

She walked through the kitchen door. Kasumi beamed at her younger sister. "Hello Akane!" Kasumi was stirring a pot. The kitchen smelled wonderful.

"This is my sister Kasumi. Kasumi, this is Ukyou." Akane made the introductions.

"Hello, Welcome! Please sit down." Kasumi indicated.

"Can I help you?" Ukyou asked.

"If you'd check those fried noodles for me that would be wonderful," Kasumi smiled. Ukyou eagerly checked them. She didn't want to hear any more of Akane's stories.

The noodles were simmering fine. "Akane will you knead that bread for me? Don't forget to do it gently." Kasumi instructed. Akane complied. She washed her hands and then worked on the dough.

She chatted, unfortunately, while she kneaded, telling Ukyou all about how she and Ranma fell in love over lunch one day.

'I wasn't there to stop you,' Ukyou thought despairingly. So far, her not being born was a good thing. Her mother was still alive, Akane and Ranma were engaged, what else? She flipped the fried noodles, getting more depressed with each funny story Akane told.

"So how did you meet Ryouga?" Akane finally asked.

Ukyou told her the same edited version she told Mrs. Hibiki.

Akane laughed, "Your friend sounds like a typical fight with Ranma."

Ukyou laughed too but hers was not real humor. It was ironic that it was Ranma.

"Ryouga is a good friend," Kasumi said taking over Akane's dough. She began forming it into a shape. "He's going to make some girl very happy one day."

"I've always said it would have to be a strong woman who took on Ryouga," Akane washed the dough off in the sink. She remembered the time, Ranma had to masquerade as her under the waterfall. Akane had been afraid of Ryouga who wanted to hug her at all costs, in his crushing embrace.

Kasumi was thinking of Dr. Tofu. Did he get her invitation to dinner? She popped the bread into the oven and wiped her hands on a dishtowel. He was such a strong, patient, and kind man. He was also so silly, entertaining everyone by talking to his skeleton, Betty.

Ukyou turned the burner off and poured the oil from the fried noodles, into a bowl to cool. She was severely trying not to be depressed by all the news she received today. And it wasn't working.

"Ukyou would you season the noodles?" Kasumi pointed to the spice rack.

Ukyou sprinkled spices, as she set about preparing the noodles as she did at her restaurant. The three girls, worked together for half an hour, before Kasumi finally pulled the hot bread out of the oven. They waited for it to cool a bit, before calling the men to dinner. During that time, they set the table.

"Father! Mr. Saotome! Ranma! Ryouga! Nabiki! Dinner!!" Kasumi called sweetly.

"Boys!!! Dinner TIME!" Akane bellowed when the boys didn't show promptly.

A very beat up and bruised, duo, emerged from the dojo.

"Yeah well I won," Ranma was saying.

"You did not! I got in the last punch!" Ryouga protested.

Akane put her hands on her hips and glared at them. "No more arguing or I will make you both eat those cookies I made last week!" she yelled.

Ranma grew very quiet. Ryouga, however, said, "Ooh. Can I take some with me when I go?" Ranma turned green at the thought.

Ukyou couldn't help it. She started to laugh. "You should have thought of that earlier when they first started Akane." She giggled.

They all sat down to enjoy the Christmas feast.