In which our heroine converses with her oldest friend and a bargain is struck.
The two Saotome women, plus one lost boy and one amazon, make their way down the street. Ranma's stomach churns unhappily with the stress of the moment and having to swallow her guilt.
She knows she's hurting Shampoo by being herself. She knows she's about to hurt Ukyou, and the guilt settles into the ice inside her, layering more to it. It clenches painfully in her chest again and she twitches. What right does she have to make people unhappy? She's just a thing. A walking body.
Jibakurei.
Changeling.
Murderer.
Ranma rubs her arms inside their sleeves and shivers as she tries to not let the ice take over.
The three of them follow Nodoka as she walks along in a stately manner, until Nodoka calls her daughter to walk beside her gently and Shampoo finds herself alone with Ryouga. The lost boy looks after the pair ahead of them with determination and Shampoo sighs as she looks at him.
"Did not expect this ending." She says wistfully and Ryouga nods, but he stays silent. "What Ryouga's thoughts on this?"
The taller boy shrugs. "I… don't really know. She's so different in so many ways, but then she's still got that playful streak Ranma had." Shampoo nods. "But… when she says she isn't the old Ranma, I believe her."
Shampoo smiles, "I do too. But not happy Ranma."
Ryouga frowns. "You noticed too?"
"Is maybe soul of ice? Great-Grandmother know something wrong. Will talk to her later."
Ryouga nods. "It could be, but until we know, there's nothing we can do. Are you okay?"
Shampoo bites her lip. "Shampoo hurting but will be okay. Ranma still alive after all. So, could be worse. Could be completely dead and Shampoo have to kill Akane."
Ryouga nods and Shampoo sighs. "What about you?"
"I'm just… I'm glad I caught her. I think we need to talk to Akane-san though." He frowns. "She keeps saying she killed her old self. I know enough about intrusive thoughts and depression chi to see it's affected her. I just… don't know what to do to help her."
Shampoo nods unhappily. "We be there for Ranma." She says quietly. "Is all can do for now."
"Already on it." Ryouga says, looking to the redheaded girl walking next to her mother and smiling softly.
Oh, he has it bad. Shampoo almost giggles at the absurdity of the situation. She'd never have predicted that of all of them it was Ryouga that had Ranma's eye. Or even vice versa.
It still hurts to think about, but you deal with hurt and you moved on. That was something Cologne had told her recently, when it had seemed that Ranma would choose Akane after all.
She sighs. How horrible. Ranma gives up on Akane, but only because she's given up on everyone.
Except for a boy with a fang.
"Lost Boy really alright with new Ranma's feelings?" She asks, deciding to probe the question. "Has only been short time knowing new Ranma."
"She knows what she wants." Ryouga says, "It's a shame she won't spar with me anymore, but she said she doesn't want to fight, and I'll honour that."
The amazon rolls her eyes. Boys! "That not what Shampoo mean. I see how she looks at you."
Ryouga stares at her. "What?"
"Pretty girl look at friend she wants to be more than friend with in certain ways even she not know." Shampoo says, a satisfied smile on her face. "Ranma give those looks to Lost Boy."
Ryouga blushes. "I… don't want to think about that right now."
"Cuz is Ranma?" He nods. She shakes her head. "Is different Ranma and will come up eventually. Should talk with her. Shampoo always think you two were too too close for rivals." She smirks teasingly, "Maybe would have been lovers even without new Ranma."
Ryouga stammers out a denial but she shakes her head again. "No need deny, just if not feel same way please let her down gently. She deserve happiness, but she deserve respect for her feelings more."
Ryouga nods and looks at the pair in front of them. "It's not… that I want to let her down, but I don't want to push her too fast." He moves a little closer and talks a little quieter. "I'm really confused." He confesses. "I mean, it's Ranma, but she's… Nice, I guess. She cares. And she does a lot of weird little things which make me feel… I don't know. Warm."
Shampoo nods. "So you feel for her?"
Ryouga shakes his head. "I… don't know. Maybe." He admits, "But as you say, it has been only a couple of days. Surely it's too fast."
"Not if feelings there before. Strong emotion bring passion whether love or hate. If already saw Ranma as friend, rival, already know Ranma well, then met with new Ranma who does not have old Ranma's hangups then maybe act on feelings that there already, buried under denial and maybe-love for Akane."
Ryouga looks at her, astonished. "I… see."
"The real question – what Ryouga want from this? Because if want Ranma, is going to be difficult time. Lots of support needed, I think."
Ryouga shrugs. "Right now, I just want her to have what she wants from her life and not have to fight for everything. She's treated me with so much kindness since she changed and I want to make sure she can do that for everyone."
Shampoo pats his arm. "Shampoo thinking Lost Boy not so stupid around girls as she thought before." She says. "Ah, nearly there."
They hurry to catch up after they spot the sign for Ucchan's ahead.
Shampoo quietly hopes Ukyou will join her own family in realising that Ranma as they knew him was gone, and in its place was an insecure girl who needed support. And, looking at the fanged boy next to her, Shampoo hopes that he won't let her new friend down.
Shampoo finds it easier to think of the new Ranma as a new person, even though she knows it's still the same person. It's confusing, but the girl needs her and if Shampoo has a sister, it's still Ranma in her family. So she resolves to treat Ranma as just that.
Ranma and Nodoka, in front of them, open the door to Ucchan's.
Kuonji Ukyou stands at her grill with a bored expression on her face. It's the slow part of the morning shift and not many people are coming in for okonomiyaki. Konatsu, nearby, is cleaning a table for the fifth time.
"Ugh. Anything to make today more interesting." She mutters to herself. "Anything. I'd take fiancée drama over this."
She's about to get her wish, though probably nothing in the way that she really wants to have it be more interesting.
The door opens and a group of people walk in. Shampoo and Ryouga are there and two unfamiliar women. One an older lady with auburn hair and pretty brown eyes, the other with bright red hair and sparkling blue eyes.
Blue eyes she recognises, despite the formal, feminine kimono, makeup and hair braided and pinned with ornaments.
"Ranchan?" She asks, looking confused.
"H-hi Ucchan." Ranma says nervously, hands wringing. She's not seen Ukyou since she'd changed and she's worried. Ukyou could be very unpredictable and while she's had good luck so far with people today there's no telling. Ukyou could be a great ally or a horrible hindrance depending on the situation.
"You alright, sugar?" Ukyou says. "You're all dolled up and lookin' like you mean business. But, yanno, girls' business." She pauses. "This ain't one of your weird plans is it?"
Nodoka clears her throat and Ukyou's eyes flick to the wrapped katana she holds. Her eyes widen a moment as she spots Shampoo and Ryouga staying quiet and sitting nearby. Ryouga's knee is bouncing nervously and he's clearly ready for a fight.
Ranma shakes her head motions to her mother. "Um, this is my… This is my mother, Ucchan." She smiles at Ukyou, who looks between them. "I-I finally found her. She's alive!"
"Saotome Nodoka." The older lady says to Ukyou and smiles gently at her with a shallow bow. "My daughter has told me a lot about you while describing her adventures. Thank you for being her friend, Kuonji-san. I feel like I already know you!" She titters.
Ukyou nods. Smiles. "Ranchan that's… that's wonderful! I bet you missed her…" And then the smile is frozen on her face. "…Daughter?" She asks, with absurd levels of sweetness. "There something you ain't tellin' me, sugar?" She asks Ranma, who looks uncomfortable as she stands.
"Um… Yes…" The story's easier to tell with every retelling and part of her wonders if she's going to have to tell the same story over and over again for the rest of her life. She doesn't want to have to – why should she constantly have to justify herself?
Because you murdered him.
Ranma tries to ignore as the ice clenches in her chest and grows that much thicker.
As she finishes her story, she bows to Ukyou. "I am very sorry, Ucchan, but I cannot marry you. I love you, but it is the love of a friend, of a sister. Not a lover." Her tone is sincerem and when she's done, Ranma looks away, biting her lip as she sees Ukyou's mouth drop open and the hurt there. The ice in her heart clenches painfully, and the cold spreads a bit further inside of her.
Changeling.
Murderer. What right have you to destroy all the happiness of others?
The ice creeps along her veins, choking the warmth in her. She hears the hiccupping voice of Ukyou and she sits down, looking anywhere but at her best friend, trying to beat back the ice sending tendrils through her.
Nodoka clears her throat and enquires about the engagement and dowry incidents from Ukyou, and in a halting, defeated voice the chef tells Nodoka of the loss of her honour, of being forced to dress as a boy, of her father and his dismissal.
Nodoka purses her lips. How dare someone treat a child so? She casts an eye to her daughter, curled on herself like a wilting flower, shame writ large on her face and pain in her eyes. Her gaze softens. She is guilty of just as much.
"Firstly, Ukyou-chan, I am deeply sorry for my husband's actions. But I will make this clear; they are my husband's actions, not my daughter's. Ranma as she is now has expressed no interest in any of the engagements that my foolhardy husband has forced her into for his own honour's sake. I'm sure you, as a lady, can understand how men cheapen a woman's honour."
Ukyou nods reluctantly. Nodoka considers the problem at hand. "Honour, though, must be satisfied. Ranma dear," The redhead looks up at her mother, "Are you certain you aren't interested in Ukyou-chan as a lover?"
"…No." Ranma says, shaking her head. "Ucchan is my best friend. I love her, but I'm not in love with her."
Nodoka nods and turns back to Ukyou. "I will not force my daughter to marry. I want her to marry someone she loves and cherishes in that special way, whether a boy or a girl." Ukyou looks down and nods morosely. "What were the terms of the agreement, if I may ask?"
Ukyou thinks a moment. "I must return with the name 'Saotome' or I have failed and will never regain my honour. I will be ronin and cast out, with no name to me."
Nodoka wonders a moment. "What if we were to adopt you and register you in the clan as Ranma's sister? You would be Saotome Ukyou then."
Ukyou wondered a moment and then sighed. "I'll… think about it." She says. "I've spent so long seeking revenge, and then marriage… I'm not so sure I can let it go so easily."
Nodoka nods and then looks serious. "Kuonji-san. Please know this. I bear you no ire, no ill will. I in fact hold you in the highest esteem for how you have been my daughter's friend." Ukyou nods and then notes how Nodoka holds the wrapped katana. Her eyes widen a fraction. "Please do not mistake me wanting to try to salvage your honour by making my family's honour worth less in my own eyes, or me tarnishing my daughter's inner honour. My offer comes from that place of respect, but please know this…"
Nodoka's spine straightens and she looks down at Ukyou, and for the first time she realises. She realises she's not talking to Ranchan's mother, or another one of the crazies that inhabit Nerima. She's talking to the matriarch of a clan, a woman for whom honour is living and breathing, and who holds her family in highest regard, willing to do anything for their honour. A woman, who, judging by the fact that a thumb is loosening the katana from its scabbard, would kill for her clan without second thought.
"Ukyou Kuonji-san. My terms are more than generous. I offer you the opportunity to join my clan as a full member and be a sister to my daughter. I will treat you as my daughter as it is clear your own clan has treated you poorly. But." And her tone turns cold, sharp. "Do not mistake this for clemency. If you pursue my daughter in the way that you have before, for honour that you will never get back in that way, then I will take it as an assault on the Saotome clan. And I defend my clan to the last." Her voice stays cold, but she does give a marginally softer look. "If you renounce the engagement claim and still wish to pursue my daughter, you may do so in the manner befitting a young lady pursuing her love. However I do not think she will reciprocate if she has not already. As such I would urge you to take my offer."
The click of the katana returning fully to its scabbard jolts Ukyou out of the trance she had been in. "I… see."
Nodoka looks at her with a softer smile and the matriarch disappears, to be replaced by the ladylike mother of her best friend. Ukyou thinks hard.
"Saotome-sama." She says. "I will need some time to think on your offer. It may take some days. Will that be sufficient?"
Nodoka smiles. "Of course, Kuonji-san. I do not expect someone to let go of something so quickly. But please do be timely, if nothing else for your own and my daughter's sake."
Ukyou looks to Ranma, who shivers where she sits, tears tracking down her face. "You alright there, sugar?"
Ranma shakes her head and Ukyou takes her hand, jerking hers back immediately. "Honey, you're freezing!" She exclaims and takes Ranma's hands in hers, trying to warm them up. Ranma looks up at her as she does and Ukyou tuts. "Man," She says, trying to lighten the mood. "You don't half cause some trouble, don'tcha sugar?"
"…I'm sorry." Ranma whispers. "I'm not worth all the effort and I wasn't before I was me. But all I'm good for now is hurting my friends…" She extracts her hands from the warmth of Ukyou's and wraps her arms about herself, head down.
Shampoo gets up from her chair at the same time as Ryouga does, the pair moving towards Ranma's seat.
Shampoo smiles at Ukyou. "Shampoo talk to Ukyou in private?" She asks. Ukyou shrugs, pain still on her face as the two move to the stairs. Ranma sniffles a couple of times and wipes at her face to remove the tears. Ryouga stands nearby like a sentinel.
Konatsu moves over, a small compact in his hands. "Hey, Ranma-san, you've smudged your makeup." He says, smiling at her. She looks at him and he opens up the compact, the kunoichi quickly and efficiently touching her makeup back and bringing it back to perfect. "There we go!"
Ranma looks into the mirror he's holding up to her and nods in thanks. He takes one of her hands, noting the coldness and then sighs. "I know we have not gotten on before, Ranma-san, and for that I'm sorry." He says, a delicate laugh following, "But if you require assistance with anything a lady does. Makeup, formal kimono, tea ceremonies, you have but to ask. I am, as you know, extremely versed in the feminine arts, and it's good to seek training outside of one place."
Nodoka smiles. "Oh, that's a lovely idea, Ranma dear. This young lady must be very talented, just look at her!"
Ranma nods and a small smile escapes onto her face, though part of it would be how surprised Nodoka would be on finding out Konatsu is a boy. Konatsu beams at her. "There we go. A lady should have a smile when she can. The world's bad enough without us making ourselves miserable." He looks directly in her eyes a moment. "While I know it seems selfish to be glad, and part of my reason is selfish – that I have greater chance with Ukyou-sama – I am still glad you found yourself. Congratulations"
He squeezes her hand once, and then returns to the grill. "Now, I am not Ukyou-sama but she has taught me to make okonomiyaki to a… relatively good level. Who is hungry?"
The growl of Ranma's stomach sounds loudly and everyone stares at her a moment before bursting into laughter as the girl goes as red as her hair.
Shampoo follows Ukyou up the stairs and the two sit in Ukyou's room a moment, before Shampoo speaks up.
"Spat- Ukyou should know. All Amazon claims to Ranma are finished." The purple-haired girl says. "Old Ranma dead. Great-grandmother nullified all Kisses."
Ukyou looks to her. "That's… good news I guess, sugar."
Shampoo shakes her head and draws her knees up to her face. "Shampoo really wish was not happen."
Ukyou nods. "I… it must have taken a great deal to change both you and Cologne's mind." She speaks softly.
Shampoo nods, breath hitching slightly. "Shampoo want Ukyou to understand. Ranma is girl. Not boy we know. Not boy we love." She sniffles. "Chi is girl's, aura is girl's. Shampoo see with own eyes is changed. Was flux before, a little both, but now entirely female."
Ukyou frowns but shrugs. "That… doesn't bother me." She says, shrugging. "Ranchan's gorgeous no matter her form."
"There more. Ranma different. Some old Ranma still in heart, but Shampoo just… knew when saw into eyes. Ranma not love her. And Ukyou need know properly too. Shampoo knows she sees truth, even if denies it."
Ukyou feels like Shampoo has splashed ice water on her.
"Shamp- I am sorry for being blunt, but is best way." The amazon mumbles.
Ukyou closes her eyes, trying not to let it pierce her. It didn't work, and she felt her breath hitching. It didn't help she knew Shampoo was right. She'd looked into Ranma's eyes there and there was love, so much love, but it wasn't the love of a fiancé, it wasn't the love of someone looking at their special someone. It was the love of a best friend, the love of a sister, and the guilt that Ranma had known how much she was hurting Ukyou, and was so torn up about it that she was in agony.
But as always with Ranma there was also the resolve in those startling blue eyes to not be bound by what she didn't want. And that cut as deep as the love she saw because she knew then that Ranma wouldn't love her like a lover. Not ever. Girl or boy, the best she could hope for was friendship or siblinghood.
Ukyou's eyes fill with tears and she starts to sob as her own world comes apart around her and she's left crying in her own room above the restaurant she wanted to run while Ranma raised their children, Ranma kissing her in the mornings, taking walks with her.
Dreams shattered that wouldn't ever come back. But had they ever been anything more than dreams? How much of a lie had she lived?
Shampoo moves quickly, the Chinese amazon putting her arms about Ukyou as she herself was crying. "Cry out, Ukyou, Shampoo will do same. For our Ranma, who gone." The purple-haired girl soothes into her ear. "We grieve now, in private. Because cannot grieve with new Ranma. Would hurt her and we should not. Violent girl has done that enough."
They spend a long time there, sobbing, both soothing their pain with tears, shoving all of that grief, that loss out through their cries, trying to reconcile the holes in their hearts from what they didn't have to the thing they did have.
No one can cry forever, though, and surprisingly to herself it's Ukyou who manages to calm down first. She holds Shampoo as the amazon holds her and eventually Shampoo calms down as well, both of them only occasionally hitching their breath as they speak quietly of times spent past with the old Ranma.
Eventually they break apart, sitting and facing one another. Ukyou sighs, deep pain in her eyes. Then she takes in a deep breath, wiping her face. "I'm… going to take Saotome-sama's offer. I think."
Shampoo nods. "Sister is better than nobody." She says. "And still gets a piece of Ranma to self. Shampoo trying to see as victory in some way – if old Ranma had chosen Akane," She looks down at her hands, "Which likely no matter how Shampoo wishes it was not, then would have been great fight and would lose Ranma for good." She smiles a watery smile, fresh tears in her eyes that she wipes away. "This way, Shampoo get good friend and Ukyou get sister and both have their own part in new Ranma life."
"Still gonna miss the old Ranchan though." Ukyou says, face falling.
Shampoo nods. "So will I. But new Ranma seem nice girl. Very shy. Very ladylike."
Ukyou manages to make a hearty laugh. "Ain't she just? Didja see her movin'? She's been studyin' her mom."
Shampoo laughs too. "Oh, she getting better. Is good, was acting like stereotype until met mother, Shampoo was told."
Ukyou shivers. "Man, I'd never thought about it, but it makes sense her mom's about as intense as you get. I thought she was going to slice me up when she partly drew that katana." She blanches. "I'd hate to get on her bad side. I'm just glad she seems to want what's best for Ranchan."
Shampoo smiles. "Would make good amazon. She look like can be ruthless and dangerous. Give Great-Grandmother the run around, Shampoo think."
Ukyou stares. "What, really?"
"Not beat her, but definitely give as much trouble as Ranma could."
Ukyou scratches the back of her head. "If you say so, sugar." She lets out a long sigh. "What a shitty turn of events." She mutters. Shampoo nods.
"Is indeed. But Ukyou needs to remember – is not new Ranma's fault. She as much victim in this as us. We know who to blame."
"Tendou Akane." Ukyou says angrily. "Oh, I'm gonna have words with that girl-"
Shampoo puts a hand on her arm. "She may have caused but was not intentional. But we do need talk to her. What angers Shampoo is abuse after new Ranma show up."
"Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about." Ukyou says angrily. "I can read between the lines. I dunno why, but Ranma's protectin' that violent girl from her mother, and I dunno why. She clearly knows somethin's up between them and there's a few mentions, but you know as well as I that them gaps in her story were definitely moments where Akane hurt her. Like, really hurt her."
Shampoo sighs forlornly. "Is grief." She says. "As we have grief earlier, but she not have healthy way to express, so she lash out."
"…Shampoo, are you feelin' alright? You're being very mature and people-clever. I'm sorry, sugar, but you've never been this insightful before."
Shampoo shrugs. "Obsession make Shampoo blind. Once obsession gone, like blowing out candle, Shampoo can think clearly." Her breath hitches a moment. "Trying to see as blessing. Elders must be wise, and all experience is learning experience. Or so Great-Grandmother say. Still hurts."
"…Yeah." Ukyou says unhappily. "Still hurts. Awright. What're we gonna do with the new Ranma then?"
"Shampoo want to be her friend. Thinks… if can have that little part of her then will be better than no Ranma at all."
"…Yeah, I guess so, sugar." Ukyou mutters. "I… guess I could do with a sister if I can't have a fiancé." She admits.
Shampoo pats her arm. "Good, would hate to have to beat Ukyou up for insulting friend."
Ukyou rolls her eyes. "In your dreams, amazon lady." She says, then smiles. Shampoo leans in.
"Shampoo do have secret to share." She whispers conspiratorially. "but Ukyou need to see for herself. Watch Ranma and Lost Boy talking and see what thinks."
Ukyou rolls her eyes. "Those two? Really? Alright, but I don't think you're on the money with her, sugar."
Shampoo laughs and stands, offering a hand to help the chef up which Ukyou accepts. "Oh, you'll see." She says. She motions to the door after wiping her face of the worst of the effects of crying. "Shall we meet our friend?"
"Right behind you, sugar." Ukyou says, following the purple-haired amazon down the stairs.
Ukyou and Shampoo come out from the back of the restaurant to find the group eating okonomiyaki prepared by Konatsu, whom Ukyou quickly replaces. She spots Ranma daintily eating and her mouth drops open. So does Shampoo's and then they both look at each other and laugh quietly.
Ranma eyes them as she eats, finishing a third okonomiyaki. She can tell they've been crying, but she doesn't want to question them. It's not her place to; they'll tell her if they want to. They look at her as if she is someone they've never met and while it's better than the funereal grief she's suffered she still knows they think she killed her old self.
Murderer. The sibilant whisper in her mind, the voice that's her own, mutters, flicking at the ice inside of her.
An okonomiyaki makes its way to her plate and she looks at the characters on it. And then she bursts into tears as a warmth travels into her heart from the plate.
The character for 'orchid' and 'child'. Ran-ko. Orchid child, a child of flowers and a name that resonates inside of her, like it was singing to some deep part of her. Some of the ice inside retreats a little and she starts as a warmth slips into the seat besides her, arm across her shoulders.
"Easy there, Ranchan." Ukyou's voice is soft, gentle and warm in her ear. More of the ice retreats and Ranma sucks in a breath and shivers. "Easy. Eat up while it's hot, maybe it'll warm you up. You're still freezing."
How can she refuse her best friend? Ranma picks her chopsticks back up and with dainty bites manages to eat it in record time, tears still streaming down her face but the ice inside of her retreating with every bite. A cup of tea lands in front of her and she spies Shampoo standing there smiling at her.
"Ranma should drink, no?" The purple-haired amazon says and Ranma nods, taking the tea and knowing what the pancake and tea mean, what they have to mean. She's got friends, friends other than Ryouga and her mother, people who will care for her no matter how much a murderer she is, no matter how she killed her old self and took his place.
Changeling.
The whisper is quieter now, the ice retreating back into that hollow ball as she drinks and eats, though tears still tracking and ruining her makeup.
Ryouga stands, hands flexing as he watches and Ukyou can see what Shampoo meant earlier. When he moves, Ranma's eyes flick to him a moment and the tiniest of gazes is there. It breaks her heart all over again, but she keeps the feelings hidden. The girl under her arm can't help how she feels, the same as Ukyou can't help how she feels or Shampoo can help it.
She sees Ryouga standing, clearly wanting to do something but she gives him a look. He'd done his thing to help Ranma, the biggest thing, really. A pancake can't compare to bringing a girl back to her mother.
Nodoka watches silently, eating her own okonomiyaki with slowness, savouring the one that Ukyou had made for her and nodding in approval. The ladylike woman obviously knows to let the girls manage this relationship and what it will become, but her eyes alight on Ukyou's and there's still that promise of violence from earlier, though it's muted in a friendly and inviting smile.
That strength, that dedication to her clan, her family, her daughter is incredible. Ukyou thinks to herself that her own father probably wouldn't piss on her if she was on fire, but here is Saotome Nodoka, ready to kill for the daughter she only just met, who hadn't been her daughter before, which didn't seem to matter because she was her blood. And given the look that she'd had, beyond the cold promise of the violence against her clan, she somehow knew that Nodoka would treat her the same, even though she'd been born into a different family. Nodoka took her family that seriously.
Ukyou finally comes to her decision proper. She'd still been vacillating, even with what she'd said to Shampoo, still not quite ready to give up on Ranma, but it's obvious Ranma just loves her like a sister, a friend, and the object of her affections is probably a hulking brute with a fang and a seriously bad sense of direction and really, who is she to argue with that?
She'd been pursuing Ranma and had seen everyone else involved in the race and while she still felt she'd treated him more as his own person all this time, she still knew she'd treated him like the prize for a tournament.
It's with shame she realises that none of them had ever seriously asked Ranma what he'd wanted when he'd still been himself. She resolves to be better than that for this Ranma.
Ukyou squeezes Ranma closer to her a moment under her arm and grins as she whispers into the redhead's ear. "I'll get back to grilling, imouto-chan."
Ranma's eyes find hers and she can see the warmth and the joy there. Relief flashes across her visage but is swallowed by happiness as Ranma grabs her and wraps her small arms about the chef. Ukyou looks at a loss for a moment, then she smiles and puts her arms about Ranma. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a sister instead of a fiancé.
She looks to Nodoka. "Saotome-sama, I accept your proposal." She says, simply. Nodoka nods and smiles.
"Good. That gladdens me, Ukyou-chan. As much as I am willing to fight for my clan's honour, I'm trying to show Ranma-chan there is a better way than war, but that a lady wages war when she needs to."
Ukyou shivers a moment, but nods and smiles. "Tell me when to come along and get the formal parts all sorted and I'll close for the day so we can get it done."
"Thank you, Ukyou-chan."
"Pleasure, ma'am." Ukyou says, gently pushing Ranma away and standing up. "I'd better get back to work, though." She walks back to the grill.
The atmosphere is nice after that, even if Ranma keeps getting tears in her eyes as the ice in her contracts back into a ball at the centre of her heart and she can feel again without creeping tendrils of ice running through her. Ryouga takes Ukyou's place and sits there, a solid and comforting warmth next to her.
Shampoo and Nodoka look at each other, knowing expressions flitting across their faces. Konatsu cleans up as they move and Ranma eats far more than her fair share.
Once she's done and full, Ranma stands, walking over to Ukyou and pulls open the purse her mother had given her, putting down enough money to cover her okonomiyaki for the visit. Ukyou shakes her head and pushes the money back to her. "Sugar, family eats free." She says warmly. Ranma blushes and then points to Ryouga and Shampoo.
"Then I'll pay for theirs, Ucchan." She says simply. "I have eaten too many free ones over time and your business must have suffered."
Ukyou laughs and rubs the back of her head awkwardly, but she still takes enough to cover the lost boy and the amazon's food, pushing the rest back. "It's alright, Ranma. I actually factored in your appetite into a 'Ranma budget' a long time ago."
Ranma goes bright red. "W-well, I'd like not to be a burden…"
Ukyou looks into the petite redhead's blue eyes. "Sugar, you're never a burden. Don't ever think you are. I love you. Shampoo loves you. Everyone here loves you."
Ranma looks down, not understanding why anyone can love her or find value in her being, bu shet nods as if she understands and sits back down next to Ryouga and tries to take in the warmth of those around her. She still feels the ice inside, contracted into that tiny ball in her chest but the warmth of her mother, of her soon-to-be sister, her friends and Ryouga is – she wonders a moment why Ryouga is separate from her friends. Shaking her head she thinks it isn't the time.
Maybe it's because he's stuck with her the longest since she became herself. She returns to the warmth and sighs softly in relief that Ukyou saw sense as the amazons did.
Just the Tendou family and… the Kunous.
Ranma frowns. The Kunou idiots won't stop. Tatewaki and Kodachi are both about as dense as you can get and the redhead realises they will likely be the most dangerous and stubborn of those who want to claim her.
The Tendou family… She doesn't want to see them except maybe Kasumi. Nabiki she remembers being very bad and while she hasn't told her mother about the photographs they remain a shameful thing in her mind. Akane she wishes to see least of all.
And she definitely wishes to avoid her father and Soun.
Her musing is interrupted by the door opening and the figure she wants to see least appearing there.
"Hey, Ukyou-san, have you seen-" Akane walks into Ucchan's and stops as six pairs of eyes flick to look at her. Two are looking with coldness she's not used to, two with surprise, one with rage and the last pair….
Ranma just looks afraid and miserable, standing and hiding behind an older lady that looks a lot like her.
"Um…"
"Tendou Akane-san I suspect." The lady says, voice like a glacier as she turns and stands, katana in her arms again.
Ryouga nods in greeting, his eyes still strangely cold. Shampoo's eyes are near-incandescent.
Akane nods, confused. "H-hello? Do I know you, ma'am?"
Nodoka looks to her. "It's been some time since last I saw you." She says. Ryouga clears his throat and while he still looks coldly at her, he speaks as usual.
"That is indeed Akane-san, Auntie."
Nodoka tenses and then stops as a small hand tugs on the sleeve of her kimono.
"Please don't hurt her Mother." Ranma says quietly.
Akane stares at the woman and notices the wrapped katana.
"'Mother'?" She asks, looking faint. Ranma nods, peeking from behind Nodoka, that fear in her eyes again.
"This is my mother, Tendou-san." Ranma says simply. The name pierces through her. She sounds so formal, and the two of them are dressed in furisode with hair pinned and makeup done, though Ranma's has run from obvious crying. She wonders what it's about – Shampoo and Ukyou both appear to have been crying at some point and Ryouga…
The lost boy is looking between Ranma and Akane with lips pursed, his leg jiggling nervously. He looks ready to butt into a fight. But the posture of defensiveness is clear as to who he's going to protect if there is a fight and it isn't Akane.
Nodoka stares at Akane a while longer, the anger in her eyes blazing the whole time until she looks away. "Tendou-san, we will be coming to the Tendou household at some point to discuss your engagement to my daughter. I will speak with you properly then. In the meantime I have business with Kuonji-san, so must advise you to stay out of our way. Please head to your home and we will be along today or tomorrow."
Ranma stares at Akane and a chill goes through the short-haired girl. Though Ranma looks scared of her, there's something steely in the redheaded girl's eyes, an anger and pain that's simmering away. Akane feels ashamed, not for the first time.
"Um." She says, looking from unfriendly face to unfriendly face and the shame grows.
"Akane." Ukyou's tone is light. "I think you're best going home, sugar. Give me a call when you get there and we'll talk about what you wanted to talk about, OK?"
Ranma keeps looking at her and Akane shivers again at the cold anger bubbling there. There's more, there's pain and fear and a raw hurt she knows she's responsible for.
"Y-yeah. I'll um. I'll see you all soon." She exits Ucchan's with almost indecent haste and hurries back home. She can't even feel angry at the pervert for fooling people as she's not as much of a delusional idiot as the Kunous. That many people wouldn't be fooled, and she's had Kasumi practically yell at her in private about Ranma's new self and how she deserves respect.
Ranma watches after her and almost seems like she's going to follow, when she seems to cave in on herself and she sits back down, eyes downcast and arms wrapped about her body.
"I want to go home." She says in a small voice.