Chapter 7: Ukyo

Ukyo watched the last of the midday crowd leave and sighed. Things would be slower now until about 4PM when the dinner crowd would start. Not too bad – the register was full. She sorted out the large bills and setup the register for the next rush. Konatsu would be back from his half-hour break shortly, and then she could take hers. Ukyo decided that she would grab a quick nap during her break; she was tired for some reason. It might be from the busy afternoon, or it could be that she was stressing about Ranma again.

"Damn it!" she thought. "Why can't he stay out of trouble?"

She sighed then. She thought things would settle for Ranma now; things finally looked like they were coming up in Ranma's favor for once. Genma was out of Ranma's life and Nodoka was no longer crazy. Soun had stopped pushing Ranma into marrying Akane and Akane was acting like a proper girlfriend/fiancée. Ranma now had a real parent (or rather parents) in his life. The Kunos were gone and the Amazons apparently decided that Ranma was beyond them. Things should have been easier for him.

But they were not. Shampoo apparently lost her mind, taking out Cologne ("How was that possible?") and Mousse. Then she actually threw a knife at Ranma, and was now apparently hunting for Ranma and Akane to kill them. "Really?" she thought, holding her head. "Is this ever going to stop?" Ukyo moaned to herself. "I gave up just so the two of them could have peace – and so I could have peace. It was starting to work!"

She dumped more ice into the pitcher of cold water and sighed again. The police had been by and filled her in on what was happening. They wanted her to stay put and not go hunting for Shampoo, but they wanted her to arm herself. "This is not a Martial Artist fight!" Sergeant Imia warned her. "Shampoo is acting as an assassin. We don't know why, but things have changed. The police are locking down everyone connected to the Tendo Dojo and that includes you and Konatsu. Judge Sanu doesn't want this to turn into a Wild West shootout!"

"Good luck with that," Ukyo snorted to herself at the memory. Ever since the judge came to town, he had been trying to impose some sort of order on the Nerima Martial Artists. He seemed to understand that the fights were necessary, much like a relief valve on the city of Nerima, so he didn't ban them and the Book still ruled over the Martial Artists (1). But he was trying to limit the size of the disturbances and reduce the chances that a normal person (as if that really existed in Nerima) would be caught up in things. He had established some rules and rituals to the fights and setup a ranking system that the Artists (and the dojos) could use – Ukyo was proud of her ranking. As a result, the number of fights had actually increased as the Martial Artists knew who they had to target to move up the ranking system, but the extraneous damage had gone way down. The "average" citizen was much happier with their Martial Artist neighbors and many Nerimans cheered on their favorite Artist in the rankings.

Still, it also meant that the police were more likely to get involved now if a Martial Artist broke the rules, which Shampoo had. Inspector Ojima had quickly locked down the Tendo Dojo and all of Ranma and Akane's friends and allies were notified. The police were not in Ukyo's way, but she had been greeted by a lot of officers this morning when she went shopping for supplies and Konatsu noted that there was always a ninja or police officer watching – or rather "guarding" – the shop. (2)

Ukyo's musings where interrupted by a loud "boom" from her upstairs living quarters which shook the building. She heard a window upstairs blow out and there was a sound of a body hitting the ground outside. "Konatsu!" Ukyo yelled and dashed outside with her battle spatula. As she flew out the door, she saw Konatsu stagger to his feet, looking angry – a rare sight.

"Where is he?" a voice demanded from above and behind Ukyo. The chef turned to see Shampoo standing where her living room window once was.

"Shampoo, freeze!" an officer ordered pulling out his gun. Moving faster than the eye could follow, Shampoo threw a futon at the man. The man fired several times, but the futon blocked any clean shots, and Shampoo changed positions. The futon then knocked the officer back against a wall hard. The man slid down the wall.

"How dare you attack a police officer!" Ukyo shouted at the Amazon.

"Shampoo only knock him out," the Amazon answered. "No matter. Where is Ranma?" she demanded.

"Stuff it, Amazon!" Konatsu answered. Ukyo went into shock at the harsh tones and words from her waiter/waitress. "The Kami have taken him away to deal with the spirit you forced upon him. Once he banishes it, he'll be back."

"NO!" Shampoo shouted in horror. She and Konatsu both moved at the same time. Konatsu threw several knives at her, but Shampoo threw something at her feet and there was a flash of light, blinding everyone. Ukyo felt Konatsu pull her back against him and then step in front of her. But when the flash cleared, Shampoo was gone.

"Mistress, are you all right?" Konatsu demanded facing Ukyo. Ukyo nodded her head, a little surprised by what just had happened. She was also surprised by Konatsu's demeanor. "Forgive me, Mistress, but I must see to the Officer!" Konatsu ran over to the fallen man. Ukyo came back to herself and ran after him. She was there just as Konatsu pulled the futon off the man and Ukyo bent to check the officer. The policeman moaned as Ukyo checked his pulse and breathing, and then checked his head.

"Stay still!" she insisted. "You've got a nasty goose egg."

The policeman stopped trying to get up and looked at Ukyo. "Are you two OK?" he asked.

"Yes, we are fine," Konatsu told him. "Shampoo is gone, and there are other officers running toward us. Do as Mistress Ukyo asks, please."


Ukyo secured the plywood to block the hole where the window had been. There was a scorch mark on the floor were Shampoo had thrown the bomb that sent Konatsu out the window. Apparently, the ninja had surprised the Amazon and she had reacted immediately. There was little damage elsewhere in the upstairs apartment, although Shampoo had thrown a few things about in her haste to check all the rooms.

Ukyo sat down hard on her couch while looking at the boarded up window. "Well, that will hold until tomorrow when Konastu can go and get more supplies," she thought. "I just want to sit a minute before I go back downstairs and help out." The local citizens were stopping by to check out the damage. Ukyo knew from past experience that they would also buy food and drink while they were looking. "I think that's why the local merchants tolerate the Martial Artists," she thought. "There's no such thing as bad publicity. Foot traffic always increases after one of these fights."

"Shampoo just screwed up badly though," Ukyo's thoughts continued. "She just broke the one of the key unspoken rules – You never attack a cop. You either listen to them or you run from them, but you never attack. Anyone who was ignoring the situation with Ranma just stopped doing that. She's finished in Nerima. She has one big well known weakness, and everyone will have pitchers of cold water ready for her."

Ukyo laid her head back against the couch and closed her eyes for a minute. "That's odd," she thought. "I smell cherry blossoms. Where did that come from? Winter's coming…" That was her last thought as sleep took her.


Ukyo woke up on a tall grassy field. "Where am I?" she thought as she got up. She could only see grass nearby, although in the distance there were mountains off to one side and what looked like a forest in another. Ukyo shrugged her shoulders and started to walk toward the forest.

"You don't have to go anywhere," a child's voice said behind her. Ukyo turned to see a ten-year old boy. The boy continued: "He will be here shortly." The child looked a lot like Ranma, but not exactly. Still they could easily pass for brothers.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Kodachi never asked that. I have many names, but, at this time, I am Rera. I am Ranma's brother," the lad answered.

"Umm…Ranma doesn't have any brothers," Ukyo replied carefully.

The boy laughed. "Yes, he does. Ryoga is his brother, but not mine." (3)

"Well, Ryoga is his foster brother. They are not biological brothers," Ukyo answered.

"Feh. There are many biological siblings who are never truly brother or sister. Ryoga and Ranma are much more related than they are," the child laughed. He went on: "Ranma and I were born from the same 'spirit', if you will. That's why I can live comfortably in his Dream Realm."

"I'm dreaming?" Ukyo asked.

Rera nodded. "Yes, you are dreaming, and I brought you to Ranma's Realm."

Ukyo looked confused. "Why?" she asked.

The boy laughed and walked over to Ukyo. Then he lifted his hands to her face. Ukyo was surprised, but found herself mesmerized by the boy's laughter. "Because you are healing, but not yet healed. Ranma – and Akane – love you very much. They want you healed, but you have to be free in order to heal. You've already figured out a lot of things about Ranma – and yourself, but you need to hear it from him to be truly free. In the World, Ranma will hem and haw, but here, in his Dream Realm, he cannot do that. But be forewarned, you cannot lie or dodge either." Rera took his hands away from Ukyo's face and watched as the implications sank into Ukyo.

Rera continued: "I brought Kodachi here as well. She can heal now and will finally hear the Truth she needs to hear. But, I will give you an option I never gave her: you can go home right now. You will heal, but it will take a few years and you will not be able to attend Ranma and Akane's wedding. However, if you stay here and confront Ranma, you will heal much faster, and you will find your life mate much sooner. You will also be able to go to your friends' wedding with your head held high. It's your choice, Ukyo."

Ukyo looked at the young boy. She knew what he was not saying – that it would hurt. Still, sometimes it was better to rip the bandage off rather than try and nudge it off. Besides, she was stronger and better than that. She never hid from pain. And she had chosen her path when she decided to stop pursuing Ranma. Ukyo slowly nodded her head.

Rera smiled at her. "Ranma comes," he said while nodding toward the distant forest. Then he vanished.

Ukyo turned to face the forest. Off in the distance, she could see someone now. Obviously, it was Ranma. Ranma seemed to see her too, and altered course slightly to meet her. He slowed as he approached; confusion was apparent on his face. He held up a hand without a word and Ukyo was blinded momentarily by a golden light. When she could see again, Ranma was standing in front of her, holding his head and shaking it side-to-side a little. "Now he wants me to do this?" he asked.

"Seems so…" Ukyo replied. "You know about Rera then?"

"Yeah…he brought Kodachi in earlier," Ranma sighed while dropping his hand.

"Ranma? Did you ever love me?" Ukyo blurted out.

Ranma turned beet red. "I thought we were all right now?" he dodged.

"Ranma, I need to know…did you ever love me?" she pressed. "Rera said you couldn't lie here."

"Son of a …" Ranma muttered.

"Please Ranma – just tell me the truth!" Ukyo pleaded.

Ranma groaned, but Ukyo just stared at him until he finally relented and sighed out: "Never the way you wanted us to."

Ukyo sat down heavily on the ground and began weeping.

Ranma panicked and said: "We care for you, Ukyo. You're one of our oldest friends! …" Something seemed to block his words after that.

"But I'm not the closest, am I, Ranma?" she said while weeping.

Ranma moaned again. "Please don't force us to rank you!" he begged. He sat down heavily as well.

"I don't understand Ranma!" Ukyo huffed out. "I've known you the longest! I've…" She tried to say that she knew him the best, but that wouldn't come out.

Ranma sighed and said: "Only the Truth can be spoken here, Ukyo."

Her unexpected muteness caught Ukyo off-guard and she stopped weeping. After a minute, she tried again but nothing came out. Finally she said: "I thought I knew you the best…"

"Afraid not, Ukyo," Ranma said quietly. "You do care for us, and you have often tried to be there for us, but you don't know us as well as you think. We have always been going in different directions."

Ukyo's first response was blocked, and so was her second. "I hate this!" she finally said. "This place is making me feel like I don't know you!"

Ranma sighed again and then seemed to remember something. "Ukyo, please answer three questions and we'll answer the same questions for you."

Ukyo finally noticed Ranma's altered speech. "Why do you keep referring to yourself in the plural?" she asked him.

"It's a long story," he answered with a sigh. "Bottom line is that it's part of a trap and it's only temporary – even now, it's starting to become undone." Ukyo thought there was something in that statement that seemed to please Ranma. "We need to track down the invader before it tries anything. Will you answer our questions?" Ukyo nodded her head, so Ranma asked: "Ukyo, what do you think is our favorite food?"

"Why it's the meat special okonomiyaki," she stated.

"No, okonomiyaki is your favorite food, but we couldn't tell you what type of okonomiyaki is your favorite," Ranma returned patiently. "You could eat okonomiyaki everyday of your life, but we couldn't."

Ukyo looked like she had been struck for a second and then became angry. "You jackass!" she shouted and sprang at him. However, Ranma was no longer there, so she hit the ground instead. As she tried to get up, the grass wrapped around her and literally held her down.

"Calm down, Ukyo!" Ranma called out from where she had been. "Please!"

"Let me up so I can kill you!" she demanded.

"Is it any wonder why we could never talk to you honestly about us in the World?" he replied.

That took the fight out of her. "Damn it!" she thought. "I'm just proving his point." After a few moments she tried to say "I'm good", but that wouldn't come out. Finally she said: "I'm in control again." The plants let go of her.

"Do you want to hear the second question?" Ranma asked. Ukyo nodded her head fiercely as she stood up, so Ranma asked: "What do you think is our favorite reading material?"

Ukyo tried to say "That's easy" but immediately hit a mute spot. She shouldered on anyway: "Cookbooks. That's why I think you'd make a fine chef!"

Ranma looked stunned. "How the hell could you think cookbooks?" he said with a half-strangled voice.

Ukyo misinterpreted his look and said smugly: "First book I ever saw you with was a cookbook – you took it out of Dad's backpack to look at it. Any time you could, you took out that book!"

Ranma smacked his forehead. "That was the first book we remember seeing all right, but we didn't know what it was. We had never seen a book before and didn't recognize the text. We didn't know how to read and Genma always used scrolls! It had lots of pictures of food though, and Genma kept us perpetually starved. That's why we wanted to look at the book! We were always hungry!" Ukyo looked stricken as Ranma finished: "No, cookbooks are not our favorite reading material."

"Oh gods!" Ukyo thought. "My father thought Ranma had an interest in cooking because of that book. That's one of the reasons he asked for the betrothal! Crap!"

Ranma looked at the ground with frustration. "By the way, Chef – cookbooks are not your favorite either. Akane told us you like racy romance stories; the racier, the better. If she hadn't told us, we'd never have known." Ukyo broke out in a deep blush at that. She remembered the day Akane, Sayuri, and Yuka saw a book spill out of Ukyo's bag. The trio had tried to tease her by reading from the book out loud until they found a juicy part (in more ways than one). Ukyo had been able to snatch the book back as the three girls stood stunned and bright red. Apparently, Ukyo had corrupted Sayuri permanently though – her friend was also addicted to romance novels.

Ranma took a deep breath and asked his last question: "Besides the dojo roof, where do we like to go and think?"

Ukyo thought about that and sighed. "You like to go under the canal bridge in the park. I know that one because Akane told me."

Ranma nodded his head and said: "Your restaurant is the only place you like to go to think. If you're really pissed, you go to your room and lock the door. That's how Konatsu knows he really screwed up." Ukyo nodded her head in return. Ranma went on: "One for three, Ukyo, and you had Akane's help. We did a little better, but we had Akane and Konatsu to help us."

Ukyo sank to the ground in frustration. "So, where does that leave us?" she asked.

Ranma also sat down. "It leaves us as friends who have a lot to learn about the other. That's pretty common really. But we are just friends. You and we want different things in life. If we actually loved you beyond friendship, we'd have to let you go. You're a chef first. We are not a chef and never will be. One of us would be terribly unhappy if we ever got married. Our kids would know that too."

"Yeah," Ukyo agreed. She knew this already. The truth hurt when she first realized it, and it hurt now, but she was beyond tears anymore. "Do you really love Akane?" she asked.

Ranma nodded his head. "And Akane and us want the same things from life," he shrugged.

Ukyo sighed and stood up. "All right, I understand finally. Come here, please." She half held out her arms.

Ranma sighed and stood. Then he went to accept Ukyo's hug – or rather he thought she was going to give him a hug. Instead she punched him hard in the stomach, half knocking the wind out of him. "There," she said. "That's much better."

"Geez, Ukyo! What the hell was that for?" Ranma said while bent over and trying to gather his breath again.

"That's because you didn't pay me the 100 yen yet as my Honor due. (4) Next time you come to the restaurant, make sure you have it," she told him. Then she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I'll see you in the Real World soon." With that, Ukyo turned smartly and walked away from him.


Yang-Ranma allowed himself to fall back on his rump. He watched Ukyo stride proudly for about ten steps and then she faded slowly from his Realm. A smile formed on his face as he watched her go home. There was a clapping off to one side. Yang-Ranma turned where he sat and saw Rera standing just out of reach. "Nicely done," the boy told him smugly.

"As soon as I can get up, I'm going to beat you," Yang-Ranma told him. Rera just laughed. "Do you want to explain what you are up to?" Yang-Ranma pressed.

"I am enacting Plan B," Rera told him. "You may not have time to do a complete search, so we may need to speed things up. I'm going to try and force the spirit to show itself by dragging the Fiancée Brigade here. Shampoo is next – be ready. You need to ask the same three questions to Shampoo. In the meantime, keep searching. You might find the thing before I get a chance to snatch the Amazon. If you do, so much the better. I'll be looking as well."

Yang took a deep breath and nodded as he stood up. "Is Ukyo going to be OK?"

"Oh yeah," Rera said with a smile. "Your friend finally understands now. I think you'll find things much easier with her."

"Good," Yang said. Suddenly, Yang-Ranma leaped at Rera, concentrating to force the boy to stay corporeal. He caught the lad about the waist and knocked him to the ground. Then Yang rolled Rera unto his stomach and caught the boy's arm behind his back, holding him in place. Yang proceeded to rub his knuckles hard against Rera's head, giving the boy several nuggies.

"Ow! Uncle, Uncle!" the boy cried out, half laughing.

"Next time warn me when you are pulling this crap!" Yang shouted before relenting.

"You would have said 'No', and I didn't really have time to explain!"

"Make time! All right?" Yang demanded as he left go.

"Yes, sir!" the child laughed.

"Fine," Yang grumbled, not quite hiding his own smile. "Go on. Do what you have to." Rera bounced up and threw a mock salute at Yang, than vanished. Yang got up and started his own search again.


A/N: Footnotes:

(1) The Book is a ledger tracking all the damage a Martial Artist does and when he/she made amends. It was first mentioned in "To Serve and Protect in Nerima."

(2) As mentioned in "To Serve and Protect in Nerima," Toshio Kuno's ninjas help the police maintain order in the town. Many of the Nerima Martial Artists will also assist when asked, including Ranma and company.

(3) As described in the story "Brothers".

(4) In "The Destruction of Ranma Saotome – Combustion," Ukyo declared legally that she would release Ranma from all obligations if he also released her, but he must pay 100 yen (approximately $1) to acknowledge the wrong done to her by Genma Saotome. However, as a result of events in "Combustion" and "Detonation", Ranma does not legally owe Ukyo the 100 yen. But, Ukyo could still insist on the payment based on Honor instead of Law since Ranma knows that Genma really is his sire. Since the 100 yen is to acknowledge the wrongs that Genma did (not Ranma), Ranma can give her the 100 yen without feeling that his own honor is taking the hit and just wipe the slate clean – which he should if he has a brain cell in his head. Let's see if he does that…


A/N: As Rera said, next up is Shampoo.