Disclaimer: The story and characters of Ranma 1/2 do not belong to me. They are the children of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. Worship Takahashi. NOW.
Quick Note: Revisions have been made to this fic compared to the version I had posted on my site. Enjoy.
Part 3
"Hey! I think I found them!"
"Finally," Ryoga muttered, getting up from his spot where he had been searching and following Kuonji's voice as well as the light from her flashlight. He used his own to locate her visually, grateful they had found a spare light for him to use.
"Are these it?" she asked, holding up a box slightly covered in dust. Wiping away some of the film, he peered closer at the label before smiling.
"Yep, these are what we're looking for!"
"Alright! Let's go back and put them in. I want electricity already." Nodding in agreement, Ryoga lead the way back to the fuse box. At least he did until Ukyo pulled him back by the collar. "Turn left," she instructed and he obliged to do so.
It didn't take long to change the fuses, and soon the restaurant was humming with the sound of power again. Both flicked off their flashlights and returned to the front to find the radio had started up again and the weatherman was giving more reports on the storm situation.
".... Skies will be clearing up soon, folks so don't worry. There are a few areas that have been flooded and the proper authorities are on the job. A majority of the schools have been shut down due to flooding. These schools include Yoma Elementary, Kolkhoz High School, Furinkan High, Takashima Intermediate..."
"Alright! No school tomorrow!" Ukyo cheered at hearing the news. "That'll give me an extra day to finish up that report I haven't completed yet. Thank you rain!" A small roll of thunder gave a timely reply. "Power back on, no school... And hey! The weather is getting better!" She pointed out the window and it was clear to see the rain was letting up. She clapped her hands together happily and said, "This calls for a celebration! What'd ya say to another okonomiyaki? On the house!"
Ryoga grinned at her. "Sure, why not? I'll take chicken this time."
"I take it you don't like pork," Ukyo humored, remembering Ryoga's reaction to her small butcher shop. The lost boy scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously.
"Not really," he admitted.
The girl went right to work preparing the meals, mixing the batter and throwing together the necessary items. While she worked, a sudden thought popped into her mind. As she whipped the batter she turned towards Hibiki. "Sixteen," she said.
Ryoga looked at her and blinked. "What?" he said after a moment, clearly baffled by what she was talking about.
"I just remembered that you asked me how old I thought you were. I'm guessing you're about Ran-chan's age, so sixteen, right?"
After a moment, Ryoga slowly smiled. A weak smile. "Seventeen," he corrected.
Ukyo's eyes widened a fraction. "Really? Since when?"
"Since a quarter before 11 AM today."
"Huh?" the chef asked brilliantly, trying to put his sentence and her own logic together.
"That's when I was born," Hibiki reluctantly replied. Ukyo finally put two and two together and her face became an expression of complete shock.
"Ryoga, do mean to tell me that today is your birthday?!" He nodded. "Well why didn't you tell me?! Happy birthday!"
"Thanks, Ukyo," he said with a small smile that slowly grew bigger. "I... really needed to hear that today."
"Well why shouldn't you hear it?"
Ryoga looked down, slightly embarrassed as he stammered, "W-well... No one really knows... I guess.... I guess I'm just lucky to even be with somebody I actually know on my birthday. See, I'm usually lost most of the time so..."
"Oh, Ryoga." Ukyo suddenly realized how much of a curse Ryoga's terrible sense of direction must be. To be lost on your birthday, not having anyone to wish you a good one, or to have any party or presents. And if lost on his birthday, what about all the other holidays? Her heart went out to him and she vowed to not only make this a good day for him, but the best birthday she could.
"I guess I really wanted to spend my birthday with Akane," Ryoga continued on. "But you know, Ukyo... I...." He blushed for reasons even he couldn't quite name. "I'm glad I spent it with you instead."
Ukyo found herself lost for words for a few moments, a faint tint of red crossing her cheeks as well. Finally, she smiled hesitantly, but warmly at the lost boy. "Th-thank you Ryoga. I... I'm really glad you did too."
Reluctantly looking up, Ryoga found a beautiful pair of clear, evergreen eyes dancing before him, a bright smile spread below. It made him smile too. A real smile accompanied by a feeling of welcome and true companionship. Of belonging, of.... Content. It was something he hadn't had in a long while.
And it was the best birthday present he could ask for.
The hissing of the batter cooking on the grill broke the spell, and he watched as Ukyo skillfully yet casually flipped the order around on the hotplate. The chef was busy with her own thoughts, like how Ryoga's eyes suddenly seemed to have a new depth to them. When he looked up at her, he actually looked... Happy. An emotion she didn't remember seeing so intensely in him before. Sure he looked happy with Akane, but it was always exaggerated to the point of ecstatic joy. But this... This was calmer, controlled... Peaceful.
And it gave her a funny/queasy but welcomed feeling inside to know that she had been responsible for that peace.
"One okonomiyaki special, for a special occasion," she said warmly, placing the dish before the guest of honor. Looking down, Ryoga saw the message, "Happy Birthday," written in the sauce. He looked up and smiled even brighter.
Ukyo winked at him. "Happy Birthday, Ryo-chan."
Ryoga chuckled softly, his grin truly genuine. "Thanks... Ucchan."
The rains died, the storm fading away like a forgotten dream. The clouds, having spent all their tears, moved on and vanished, leaving the setting sun to tell its mesmerizing stories of yellows, crimson, and oranges to the weary district of Nerima.
And inside a certain little restaurant, two people found a new bond in another person as a majestic rainbow appeared overhead, because rainbows usually do after storms.
Owari.
NOTES FROM THE AUTHORESS:
Blah, I'm no good at sap. It was an attempt though. I had to try it sometime, after all. Hopefully I'll get better as I go.
I didn't really put much thought into the timeline I set this in, but if Ryoga's turning 17, it can't be that far into the storyline I guess. Well, the Ranma Universe can just about allow anything in its stream anyway, but I hope you all allow me to fudge with this one factor.
Sorry for the poor writing, but this was an old fic I just wanted to post. Actually, I'll probably post more old fics soon enough too. Don't know how much trouble I'll go to revising them like I did this one though. (And I didn't even put that much effort into this one.) ^^;
Oh well. It's over and done with and I don't have to worry about it anymore. You can flame me if you like. Anyone else is free to tell me otherwise though. ^^; Ja ne, minna!