There's hope for you
by Rhodes
Ranma 1/2 is not mine.
Chapter 3: Closest thing to a friend
Ucchan's Okonomiyaki restaurant, morning
Since Konatsu decided he had enough of Nerima and went back home (not without crying for
leaving his Ukyo-sama), Ukyo was working alone in the restaurant. She thought of getting
another waiter, but when it didn't work (she employed Mikado Sanzenin and... you can
imagine), she decided to do everything herself.
Ryouga woke up early, he knew Ukyo had to open the restaurant and began to put the tables
and chairs in order. Ukyo seemed to be sleeping upstairs, he didn't hear nothing from
there. 'Just make sure you'll not get lost, Ryouga. Just until she gets better', he thought
and continued his work.
Ukyo came downstairs to look Ryouga and gasped. Everything was in order, the tables, chairs,
the windows and the floor were clean. She looked for Ryouga and saw he was on the backyard
looking like he was lost.
"Ry... Ryouga?", Ukyo said still sleepy, "What are you doing here?"
Ryouga looked at her confused, "I... er... wanted... some air, this, some air, you know, I
love to breath the fresh air of the morning it makes me strong and all..."
'Oh, he was lost', Ukyo thought, "Okay, Ryouga, now come in. If you want to go to the
bathroom I'll guide you"
"I don't need you to guide me!", he said.
"Sure you don't. Now be a good boy and follow me", she said and Ryouga... well, he followed.
***
Nerima, lunch time
Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo were walking near each other. They still feel uncomfortable to
walk hand in hand, but time will take care of it.
Both were walking toward Ucchan's to have lunch. Kasumi travelled in the morning to make a
course, 'New ways to use your kitchen'. Nobody understood why she decided to do this course,
but in her own words, 'I have to know about the new instruments and new ways to cook. It'll
be nice'. She would be away for two weeks, time enough to the Tendo dojo disappear without
her presence. All her peace was sufficient to keep the place safe, but without her... who
knows?
"Do you think it's a good idea?", Akane broke the silence between them.
"What? Go to Ucchan's?", Ranma thought for a moment, "Do you want to lunch hearing 'Airen,
Airen'?"
"It's not that, you jerk", she replied, "It's that Ukyo... she didn't seem to be dealing
well with..."
"Yeah, I know, but I have to see her", feeling the glare Akane shot him, he concluded,
"She's my friend. My best friend and this situation sucks. I understand if you wanna go
to other place"
"No, Ucchan's will be fine. Just checking if you don't feel nothing for her anymore"
"You know I never felt", Ranma said in a small voice.
"What did you say?", Akane asked.
"Nothing, nothing", he replied just when they got in the street of Ucchan's.
***
"It's always crowded like this?", Ryouga got another okonomiyaki to serve.
"Yeah, sugar. Better don't talk too much", Ukyo said looking the grill.
"Which way is this one, Ukyo?", Ryouga asked. Even waitering he could get lost.
"It's right in front of you, table nine", Ukyo said and took a glance to be sure Ryouga
was going the right way, "More to left, sugar", she oriented the lost boy.
Ukyo sighed. Ryouga voluntereed to help her when she said Konatsu was not waitering
anymore. And when she told him about 'some weird guy in skates that couldn't shut his
mouth up, called Mikado Sanzenin', Ryouga said, 'Were you so desperate?'. 'Funny. Later
I'll ask Ryouga what he knows about Sanzenin'
"Sorry, wrong table, I need to find table twelve, where is it, please?", she heard Ryouga
asking a couple. Everybody in the restaurant started laughing and even Ukyo smiled.
"It's behind you, sugar", she said and came back to her job.
Suddenly the door opened. Ryouga turned to greet the customers and saw Akane and... Ranma.
Silence filled the place. Everybody knew that Ryouga and Ranma were rivals. The only
sound was of Ukyo cooking okonomiyakis. She looked around to see what was happening and
saw Ryouga and Ranma glaring at each other, Ryouga had his fists clenched. 'No, please,
not here', Ukyo prayed.
"So, look who is here. Long time no see, P-chan", Ranma teased.
All the heads turned to see Ryouga's action. He was glowing a green energy, but for some
reason disappeared. "Hi, Ranma, Akane-san, how are you? Welcome to Ucchan's okonomiyaki.
I'll guide you to a table, please follow me", everyone was amazed. Ryouga controled himself,
even when Ranma called him P-chan. Ukyo was thanking the gods, when Ranma spoke again.
"Just don't guide us to Siberia, P-chan"
"Stop picking on Ryouga!", Akane shouted and malleted him.
'It's because of people like Ranma that so many wars started', someone in the restaurant
thought.
"Hahahah, very funny, Ranma. Now, please", Ryouga said with a stupid smile in his face.
Everyone looked surprised. Ranma ran to Ryouga and got him by the arm, "Ok, now who are you
and what did you do with Ryouga?"
Ryouga was trying to control himself again. He looked hard at Ranma, hold his arm and said,
"Come here one second, Ranma. I need to talk to you", turned to Ukyo, "Just a second, we'll be
right back".
Ukyo did nothing except nod. Then shouted, "No fighting, you two!"
***
Outside
Ryouga pressed Ranma against a wall. "Hey, that hurts, P-chan"
"Look, Ranma, I'll say it once: while I'm helping Ukyo in the restaurant, please, I said,
please, keep your mouth closed! I'm trying to help her, damn it, and if you tease me all the
time, it will be impossible. Please", he said and looked in Ranma's eyes.
"O... okay, man", Ranma looked away, "I'm sorry, I'll not tease you when you are working,
man, now let me go", Ranma looked at his rival, "Why this change of mind?"
"Just want to help Ukyo, ok"
"Oh... so, you know me and Akane..."
"Yes, don't need to know the rest. I'm sad too, but Ukyo need someone around for sometime.
Then, when she gets better, I'll leave"
"Leave? Where are you going?", Ranma asked, curious.
"Don't know yet", he said dryly. Ranma was looking uncomfortable, "What is it, Ranma?"
"Ah... just want to say... thanks... I can imagine what Ucchan is feeling now and I can't
help her... thanks"
Ryouga didn't say a word, but felt Ranma was still uncomfortable, "What now?"
Ranma breathed and said, "Ryouga, could you be my... best man? I was thinking of it since
the day I proposed Akane, but couldn't find you. You are the closest thing to a friend that
I have. Akane like the idea, she would be happy if you accept"
It was Ryouga's turn to breath, 'Closest thing to a friend, huh? Right', he thought, but
somehow felt the same way, "Sure, Ranma, I'll be your best man. Now, do me a favor"
"What?"
"Guide me to the restaurant. I'm lost"
Ranma rolled eyes, "You are hopeless"
***
End of chapter 3
by Rhodes
Ranma 1/2 is not mine.
Chapter 3: Closest thing to a friend
Ucchan's Okonomiyaki restaurant, morning
Since Konatsu decided he had enough of Nerima and went back home (not without crying for
leaving his Ukyo-sama), Ukyo was working alone in the restaurant. She thought of getting
another waiter, but when it didn't work (she employed Mikado Sanzenin and... you can
imagine), she decided to do everything herself.
Ryouga woke up early, he knew Ukyo had to open the restaurant and began to put the tables
and chairs in order. Ukyo seemed to be sleeping upstairs, he didn't hear nothing from
there. 'Just make sure you'll not get lost, Ryouga. Just until she gets better', he thought
and continued his work.
Ukyo came downstairs to look Ryouga and gasped. Everything was in order, the tables, chairs,
the windows and the floor were clean. She looked for Ryouga and saw he was on the backyard
looking like he was lost.
"Ry... Ryouga?", Ukyo said still sleepy, "What are you doing here?"
Ryouga looked at her confused, "I... er... wanted... some air, this, some air, you know, I
love to breath the fresh air of the morning it makes me strong and all..."
'Oh, he was lost', Ukyo thought, "Okay, Ryouga, now come in. If you want to go to the
bathroom I'll guide you"
"I don't need you to guide me!", he said.
"Sure you don't. Now be a good boy and follow me", she said and Ryouga... well, he followed.
***
Nerima, lunch time
Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo were walking near each other. They still feel uncomfortable to
walk hand in hand, but time will take care of it.
Both were walking toward Ucchan's to have lunch. Kasumi travelled in the morning to make a
course, 'New ways to use your kitchen'. Nobody understood why she decided to do this course,
but in her own words, 'I have to know about the new instruments and new ways to cook. It'll
be nice'. She would be away for two weeks, time enough to the Tendo dojo disappear without
her presence. All her peace was sufficient to keep the place safe, but without her... who
knows?
"Do you think it's a good idea?", Akane broke the silence between them.
"What? Go to Ucchan's?", Ranma thought for a moment, "Do you want to lunch hearing 'Airen,
Airen'?"
"It's not that, you jerk", she replied, "It's that Ukyo... she didn't seem to be dealing
well with..."
"Yeah, I know, but I have to see her", feeling the glare Akane shot him, he concluded,
"She's my friend. My best friend and this situation sucks. I understand if you wanna go
to other place"
"No, Ucchan's will be fine. Just checking if you don't feel nothing for her anymore"
"You know I never felt", Ranma said in a small voice.
"What did you say?", Akane asked.
"Nothing, nothing", he replied just when they got in the street of Ucchan's.
***
"It's always crowded like this?", Ryouga got another okonomiyaki to serve.
"Yeah, sugar. Better don't talk too much", Ukyo said looking the grill.
"Which way is this one, Ukyo?", Ryouga asked. Even waitering he could get lost.
"It's right in front of you, table nine", Ukyo said and took a glance to be sure Ryouga
was going the right way, "More to left, sugar", she oriented the lost boy.
Ukyo sighed. Ryouga voluntereed to help her when she said Konatsu was not waitering
anymore. And when she told him about 'some weird guy in skates that couldn't shut his
mouth up, called Mikado Sanzenin', Ryouga said, 'Were you so desperate?'. 'Funny. Later
I'll ask Ryouga what he knows about Sanzenin'
"Sorry, wrong table, I need to find table twelve, where is it, please?", she heard Ryouga
asking a couple. Everybody in the restaurant started laughing and even Ukyo smiled.
"It's behind you, sugar", she said and came back to her job.
Suddenly the door opened. Ryouga turned to greet the customers and saw Akane and... Ranma.
Silence filled the place. Everybody knew that Ryouga and Ranma were rivals. The only
sound was of Ukyo cooking okonomiyakis. She looked around to see what was happening and
saw Ryouga and Ranma glaring at each other, Ryouga had his fists clenched. 'No, please,
not here', Ukyo prayed.
"So, look who is here. Long time no see, P-chan", Ranma teased.
All the heads turned to see Ryouga's action. He was glowing a green energy, but for some
reason disappeared. "Hi, Ranma, Akane-san, how are you? Welcome to Ucchan's okonomiyaki.
I'll guide you to a table, please follow me", everyone was amazed. Ryouga controled himself,
even when Ranma called him P-chan. Ukyo was thanking the gods, when Ranma spoke again.
"Just don't guide us to Siberia, P-chan"
"Stop picking on Ryouga!", Akane shouted and malleted him.
'It's because of people like Ranma that so many wars started', someone in the restaurant
thought.
"Hahahah, very funny, Ranma. Now, please", Ryouga said with a stupid smile in his face.
Everyone looked surprised. Ranma ran to Ryouga and got him by the arm, "Ok, now who are you
and what did you do with Ryouga?"
Ryouga was trying to control himself again. He looked hard at Ranma, hold his arm and said,
"Come here one second, Ranma. I need to talk to you", turned to Ukyo, "Just a second, we'll be
right back".
Ukyo did nothing except nod. Then shouted, "No fighting, you two!"
***
Outside
Ryouga pressed Ranma against a wall. "Hey, that hurts, P-chan"
"Look, Ranma, I'll say it once: while I'm helping Ukyo in the restaurant, please, I said,
please, keep your mouth closed! I'm trying to help her, damn it, and if you tease me all the
time, it will be impossible. Please", he said and looked in Ranma's eyes.
"O... okay, man", Ranma looked away, "I'm sorry, I'll not tease you when you are working,
man, now let me go", Ranma looked at his rival, "Why this change of mind?"
"Just want to help Ukyo, ok"
"Oh... so, you know me and Akane..."
"Yes, don't need to know the rest. I'm sad too, but Ukyo need someone around for sometime.
Then, when she gets better, I'll leave"
"Leave? Where are you going?", Ranma asked, curious.
"Don't know yet", he said dryly. Ranma was looking uncomfortable, "What is it, Ranma?"
"Ah... just want to say... thanks... I can imagine what Ucchan is feeling now and I can't
help her... thanks"
Ryouga didn't say a word, but felt Ranma was still uncomfortable, "What now?"
Ranma breathed and said, "Ryouga, could you be my... best man? I was thinking of it since
the day I proposed Akane, but couldn't find you. You are the closest thing to a friend that
I have. Akane like the idea, she would be happy if you accept"
It was Ryouga's turn to breath, 'Closest thing to a friend, huh? Right', he thought, but
somehow felt the same way, "Sure, Ranma, I'll be your best man. Now, do me a favor"
"What?"
"Guide me to the restaurant. I'm lost"
Ranma rolled eyes, "You are hopeless"
***
End of chapter 3