Sorry about the long delay. Between classes and writer's block, it's taken me far longer than I thought to get this chapter out. I am already writing chapter 11 and it should be coming very soon.

Disclaimer: See first chapter.

Akane in Chains

Chapter Ten: Motherly Intervention

Ukyo sighed as she wiped down the restaurant counter. The crowd had waned between lunch and dinner and she was currently alone. Konatsu was out on an important errand. As she cleaned, her eyes drifted to the framed newspaper article hanging on the wall. "Young Okonomiyaki chef Wins Tokyo's Battle of the Restaurants" the headline read. She placed first in the annual Tokyo Restaurant Contest two weeks ago, receiving prize money, rave reviews from Tokyo's food critics, and even an interview with one of the major newspapers. And as a bonus, she beat out Shampoo. The glare from the Amazon when she was announced the first place winner had been worth price of admission all by itself.

Things were certainly looking up for her. News of her first place finish was drawing more customers to her restaurant. Even her father, who rarely kept in touch, called to congratulate her. She ought to be ecstatic at the recent turn in her life.

So, why wasn't she happy?

Even as she pondered the question, she already knew the answer. She wasn't happy because Ranma wasn't happy. No, it was more complicated than that.

Despite the two of them being rivals for Ran-chan's affection, she didn't particularly hate Akane. They actually talked on a regular basis, between class periods, during lunch, even out of school. When not competing against each other, they actually got along, certainly more than with Shampoo or Kodachi. They even helped each other out from time to time.

At the same time, Akane's incarceration meant opportunity for her. Akane had been, without question, the greatest obstacle between her and Ranma being together. Shampoo and Kodachi might be persistent, but anyone with half a brain could tell neither one had a chance in a million of marrying Ranma. He barely tolerated their antics and was always annoyed by their presence. Ukyo always knew it would come down to Akane and her and with Akane now out of the way, she was certain beyond a doubt Ranma would choose her.

She balled her hand into a fist, squeezing the cleaning cloth in her hand, as she ran through the reasons why her rival being imprisoned was a good thing. She shouldn't be happy about this. Even if they were rivals, she would never have wished something like this on Akane.

The door chime broke through her thoughts like a crack of thunder, pulling her back into reality. "Welcome to Ucchan's Okonomiyaki. Would you like to-" she paused, her eyes widening in surprise, "Oh, Mrs. Saotome! This is a pleasant surprise."

"Hello, Ukyo," Nodoka Saotome replied as she strode through the doorway.

The polite smile that normally graced the Saotome matriarch's face was absent, a somber expression in its place. Still, she carried herself with a regal bearing as she approached the counter, with the Saotome clan's katana cradled in her left arm.

"Can I get you something, Mrs. Saotome?" Ukyo offered, her demeanor having shifted from introspective to attentive.

"No thank you, Ukyo," she answered. "I've actually come here to talk with you, if you can spare a few minutes."

"I always have time for you, Mrs. Saotome," Ukyo was quick to reply. "What did you wish to talk about?"

"The engagement between my son and yourself."

Ukyo couldn't keep the joyful smile off her face as she jumped to what seemed to be the only possible conclusion. Ranma's mother was going to give her blessing to their engagement! After all, Akane was in prison. It wasn't like Ranma could marry her anytime soon. If Mrs. Saotome approved of their marriage, she had no reason to feel guilty, right?

"Of course, I've been hoping to have this conversation with you for awhile. Is Ranma feeling better?"

Nodoka seemed stunned by Ukyo's question. Her shocked expression slowly morphed into a harsh glare. "My son had to stand and watch as his fiancée was incarcerated. I doubt he'll feel better for quite some time."

The Saotome matriarch didn't raise her voice a single decibel, yet her tone conveyed enough anger and disapproval to actually make Ukyo step back. "I-I'm sorry," the Okonomiyaki chef stammered, "I-I didn't mean to sound insensitive. You're right, of course. I've just been so worried about him. He's been miserable ever since Akane's arrest."

Ukyo waited tensely for Nodoka to speak, for fear of saying anything else that might anger her. It was clear she'd assumed too much; it was still too soon for Ranma's mother to formalize their engagement. It wouldn't be proper so soon after Akane was sent to prison. It would look shameful and she should've known better. It was best she just listen to what Ranma's mother had to say before she made a bigger fool out of herself.

"I remember when I first meet you and the other girls who were interested in my son." Nodoka's expression softened, but her tone remaining firm. "Even though he was engaged to Akane, I thought it was wonderful that so many girls were attracted to him. It showed he'd grown into a fine man. Even when I'd heard my husband had engaged him to you, I still didn't intervene. I figured it could wait until Ranma and Akane were ready to marry. However, given what's happened and how much it's hurting my son, not to mention Akane's father and sisters, I've decided things cannot continue as they have before."

"What are you saying?" Ukyo nervously asked, not liking the direction the conversation was veering.

"I want you to stop," Nodoka answered bluntly. "I want you to stop chasing after my son."

Ukyo tried to speak several times, but no words came. "W-What?" she finally managed to stutter.

"I want you to stop chasing after my son and trying to force him to marry you," Nodoka reiterated.

The room was deathly silent as Ukyo's mind processed what had just been said. This wasn't right. This can't be right! She was Ran-chan's cute fiancée! She was his old childhood friend! She was the one he got along with most! "But, Mrs. Saotome, I-I'm the perfect wife for Ranma! I've known him since we were little kids! I'm an excellent cook! My okonomiyaki just won a reward for being the best cuisine in Tokyo! I would never hurt him and will always stand by him!"

"I'm sorry, Ukyo. I know my son considers you a friend, but it's clear you want something more, something neither my son wants to give nor will I permit."

"But I love him! I love him and I know he loves me! Give it a little time and I'm sure he'll tell you himself!"

Nodoka's eyes narrowed angrily. "I did not come here to debate this with you. I came here to tell you how things were going to be."

Ukyo's unease and panic was rapidly being replaced with anger at Nodoka's refusal to even consider changing her mind. She might be Ranma's mother, but Ukyo would not be denied what was rightfully hers. "Your husband promised my father that our two families would be joined! He engaged Ranma to me and swore that we would be married! You can't just pretend that never happened!"

"I understand what my husband did, but my family's arrangement with the Tendos was already made and takes precedence. My husband and I swore to the Tendos long ago that our children would unite our two families together."

"It doesn't change the fact he engaged Ranma to me! I have just as much a claim to marry him as Akane or any of the Tendos!"

"Regardless of my husband's past actions, my son's engagement to Akane is the one I intend to see fulfilled!"

"What about my family's honor? Your husband ran off with Ranma and stole my father's food cart! He dishonored my entire family! I've had to live with that for twelve years!"

"It's true my husband wronged your family and I am prepared to provide compensation for what he stole. But your engagement to my son is over as of today."

"You-You can't!" Ukyo stammered, trying to think of something else to say.

"I can and my decision is final!" Nodoka found herself struggling to control her temper as the exchange grew more heated. "I care about my son too much to stand by and let you or Shampoo or anyone else hurt him!"

"Hurt him!" Ukyo was completely livid. "Akane's in prison cause she tried to hurt Ranma! How can you throw away my engagement for someone whose repeatedly bickered and fought with him day in and day out? You say you care about Ranma, but you'd let him marry someone like Akane! You don't care at all, not about Ranma or making him happy! You just want to see him fulfill that damn promise you made with the Tendos and the rest of us could go to hell as far you care!"

The silence as Ukyo ended her tirade was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Nodoka had remained silent, the only change a tightening of her expression. As outraged as she felt, Ukyo still flinched under the intensity of that glare.

"It's true Akane and my son have argued and fought," Nodoka began slowly, her voice deathly calm, "but they still care deeply for each other. They don't fight cause they hate each other or want to hurt each other. They fight because they want each other to know they care and they don't know how to say it. They are still young and get frustrated and anger easily. I know you don't wish to see it, but my son loves Akane.

"That's…"

"Let me finish!" It was not a request and Ukyo found herself shut down under the command.

"Right now, my son is in pain," Nodoka continued, "and I know nothing I say to him will make him feel better. But, I am his mother and I am going to do whatever I can for him. Right now, that is to try and keep you from making him feel worse."

"I wouldn't do that," Ukyo slowly replied. "I'd never do anything to hurt Ran-chan!"

"Yes, you would. Unintentionally, perhaps, but you would. My son blames himself for what happened to Akane. He thinks if he'd been a better fiancé to her, this would never have happened. As I said, a young couple fights because it's easier than talking through their problems. Problems like what Shampoo, Kodachi, and you have all been at the center of."

"Are you saying it's my fault Akane's in jail!"

"No," Nodoka replied, "please don't mistake my intentions here. I'm not trying to pass blame onto you. Akane is responsible for her actions, for which she's willingly accepted punishment. I am saying my son believes he's at fault for not telling you sooner that he only thinks of you as his friend."

"W-What?" Ukyo was puzzled. Ignoring that Nodoka was telling her Ranma only thought of her as a friend, something she still was adamant could be changed with time, she had no idea what Ranma's mother was getting at.

"Do you know why Akane and my son were fighting on the day she was arrested?"

"No, I don't," Ukyo slowly answered.

"Akane was angry that you'd invited my son to your cooking contest. My son believes that if he'd been more open with you, and told you that he wasn't interested in marrying you, that there would never have been a fight and she would never have done anything to get arrested. That's why I don't want you pursuing my son any longer," Nodoka continued, "He doesn't need to have any of you trying to force yourselves on him and making him feel worse about not standing up and saying he loved Akane."

All the anger and frustration had faded from Ukyo's face, replaced with disbelief. Ranma blamed himself, because he didn't tell her that he didn't love her! Ranma felt guilty about Akane going to prison, because he loved her!

"I'm sorry to be blunt with you, but after what happened last night I've decided things can't continue as they have before," Nodoka paused for a moment before continuing. "Shampoo approached my son and tried to get him to go out with her."

This was news to Ukyo. "Shampoo did what!"

"She tried to get my son to go on a date only hours after he had to watch Akane hauled out of the courthouse by the police," Nodoka continued as if Ukyo hadn't said anything. "She only succeeded in reminding him that he hadn't done enough to dissuade any of you form trying to marry him and that Akane is spending the next year in prison because of it. I hope you can understand now why I don't want you accosting my son."

Ukyo tentatively waited a few seconds before speaking. "But, but-I… I love him. I can't give up on him just like that!" She raised her voice, but her words lacked the fire they had before.

"If you truly love my son, as you say, then please don't give him grief by trying to pursue him anymore."

Ukyo struggled to think of something more to say, but came short. All she could think about was Ranma blamed himself cause he didn't love her.

"That's all I wanted to say to you," Nodoka rose from her seat. She looked about to turn and walk away, but paused. "My son doesn't need fiancées, but he could use a friend. If you want to be there for my son as a friend, you are welcome at the Tendo Dojo. Just know that I refuse to tolerate things as they were before."

Ukyo remained silent, staring at the floor as her she struggled to deal with what she'd just learned. Seeing her words had made an impression on her, Nodoka turned and exited the restaurant without another word.

Ukyo didn't know what to do. Did Ranma truly love Akane? Did he really blame himself cause he hadn't told her he didn't love her? She cared for Ranma and wanted him to be happy, but was she willing to settle for being Ranma's friend? Her engagement to Ranma had been the driving force of her whole life till now. For many years, she chased Ranma out of a desire for revenge, believing he wronged her. Then she pursued him to settle the engagement as their fathers promised and, as she became reacquainted with him, found out she truly did love him. Was she willing to let it all go?

Next: Akane's first full day in prison comes to an end, but her troubles are only just beginning.

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