Chapter 4
Morning light awakened my mind to the new day as I dressed for school. I briefly thought of what I'd told Nabiki the night before. I hoped she'd complied to my request and kept what I'd told her secret. I decided to skip training with Shampoo that morning and sleep in since I didn't really feel up to too much exertion before school.
I casually walked to school on top of the fence, making sure that no-one could see under my dress as I walked. I really hated the Furinkan uniform... I was almost tempted to make like Ranma and wear my choice clothing to school. As I walked I felt a bit more free than I had the day before... The cool morning breeze caressed my body, making me shiver and the sun beat down in stark contrast. Racon came swooping down and landed on my shoulder with a soft squawk. I smiled and petted him lightly. I was almost tempted to skip school and spend the day outside. It was starting out to be a great day, of course that could only mean trouble.
"Ukyou!", came a call from behind me. Startled I turned to face the brightly smiling Ranma. I almost lost my balance in swooning but I quickly righted myself. "I've been wantin ta talk to ya for a while now!", he cried as he finally caught up. For a second memories surfaced in my head and my expression twitched for a moment. The day just got worse.
"And what did you want to talk about Ranma?", I asked politly, reigning in my wild heart. "Well for one I wanted to know why your avoiding me. Don't you recognize me? It's me, Ran-chan...", he said shyly. He looked so adorab- cough "Oh, no Ranma, I do recognize you.", I said with a strained smile. I wasn't about to say anything to him about what he and his father had done to me… It was something he needed to find out on his own. "Well, there's one other thing. I was wondering if you'd like to be friends again... You see, I've only been in Nerima for a little while now and I haven't really made any real friends yet... So? Um?", he asked uncertainly. I hesitated for a moment, finally relaxing a bit, "Sure Ranchan, I'd like that. Come on, lets get going." "Yeah!", he cried as he fell in step behind me in the fence. I looked at him strangely for a second but he just shrugged it off. "Is he yours?", he asked, indicating Racon who was still perched on my shoulder. I nodded, "Yeah, his name's Racon, don't you remember him?" He frowned and shook his head as he reached out to pet Racon. I smirked as the little falcon only snapped at Ranma's fingers, making him jump back. "Yeowch! Now I remember you!", He cried while pointing at Racon, "You're that parrot that Ukyou always had around!" "And you wonder why he keeps trying to bite you…", I mumbled to myself. As we walked he recounted his first meeting with the Tendo family. "So? Where's Akane today?", I asked. "I ditched her today. I mean, I know where the school is now, so why should I still walk with her? 'Sides, I don't think she wants me around." "You do realize you're gonna get hell when she sees you again and when you get home, right?"
"Like I care. 'Sides. Her brute strength makes good endurance training." I shook my head, "Masochist." We continued to school, starting to feel the old stirrings of a long forgotten friendship returning to our hearts.
As we walked into school we took the long way around to avoid Kuno and headed to class.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was during break that the trouble came. Kuno came walking up to Ranma and me, holding the disgusting blond doll in his hand. "Tell me why should give this to you?", stated Kuno menacingly. Ranma looked at the doll, "Uhh... Thanks Kuno but I don't swing that way.", said Ranma nervously. "It's not for you cur! This is for the beautiful pigtailed goddess. Qouth Tendo Nabiki. 'The fastest way to deliver your present to the pigtailed girl is to give it to Ranma.' So? What is your relationship with the pigtailed girl." Ranma frowned in understanding. "Forget about her, Kuno. She has no interest in you and if I have any say in it you'll never see her again.", he turned to me. "Come on Ucchan."
Frowning a bit I followed after Ranma. "Ranchan.", I said as we rounded the corner. "I don't think that's gonna work." "Ahh. Who ca-Splash! "Hey!", I shouted upwards. The brown haired girl that leaned out of the window just shrugged and said, "Sorry!" I looked grumbled for a second. "Saotome Ranma!", came Kuno's cry as he came running round the corner.
"Pigtailed girl!", he cried gleefully as he spotted Ranma-chan and grabbed her in an embrace. I just sighed, shaking my head. "Kuno, her name is Ranko and she's Ranma's little sister and I don't think he appreciates you hitting on her." Nabiki, who'd come up holding a kettle, paused and pulled back what she was about to pour and gave me a questioning gaze. "Neigh shall I believe such lies from a harridan such as thee. She doth be much too pure to be of the blood of that cur!" I growled. 'That asshole! How dare he call me that!' Ranma took that opportunity to knee Kuno in the groin. I winched at that. 'That had to hurt.' Kuno was clutching his privates as he slowly slipped to the ground. "Just give me that.", she cried as she grabbed the kettle from Nabiki's hands and poured the water over herself, winching a bit at the heat. "I'll just put it on your tab Ranma." Ranma turned to me with a nervous look. "Um, sorry about that Ukyou. I guess now you know my secret... heh..." "Ranma...", I said, tapping my foot. "I've known it was you since the day you came into the Amazon village, baka." "Really?", asked Ranma surprised. "How-" He was suddenly cut off with a cry from Kuno. "Where hath thou hidden the pigtailed goddess, cur! It must be some evil sorcery that has stolen her from my loving embrace for I know she'd not leave me! I challenge you Saotome! If I win the pigtailed girl will date with me!"
Ranma just sighed, looking bored. "Fine, fine. Let's get started." He took a ready stance and Kuno growled. Kuno charged, swiping his bokken left and right while Ranma dodged casually around the blows, looking like he was dancing. "So if I win that means you leave the pigtailed girl alone, right?" "Never!", cried Kuno as he tried to impale Ranma with his bokken. Ranma just dodged and grabbed the bokken, pulling Kuno off balance he gave Kuno a kick that struck him square in the chest, causing Kuno to release the sword and stumble backwards. Some pieces of paper, I soon recognized as photos, flew from Kuno's robes. "Now you're defenseless.", smirked Ranma. "I fight on!", cried Kuno as he pulled out another bokken. "Where does he keep those things? Up his ass?", I questioned rhetorically. Nabiki smirked a bit at my crude remark. It was then that I noticed Akane standing behind the school statue on the opposite side of the fight. "Um Biki, isn't that your sister?", I asked with a frown.
Nabiki looked to where I was pointing. "When did she get here?", frowned Nabiki. We walked around the fight, heading towards Akane. In the fight a single picture came floating down in front of Ranma's face. He snatched it out of the air, only to see his female side, half dressed in the picture. "Wha?", he questioned, startled. Kuno came running in with an overhead strike. Ranma managed to doge just in time as the bokken shredded the picture. He looked around to see the photos lying all over the ground. He did a few acrobatic leaps and cartwheels, all the while dodging Kuno's strikes as he collected the pictures and studied them. Flipping a few feet away from Kuno he paused to study the pictures. Akane caught a glimpse from where she was behind the statue, only to see a photo of herself. "Where did you get that!", she cried as she rushed forward, unheeding of the battle. "Get out of the way!", cried Ranma as he shoved her. "It ends!", cried Kuno as he attacked with his best move, the 'thousand strikes'. Ranma deftly dodged out of the way, analyzing the attack pattern and moving accordingly. I would've laughed at the stupid poses he took if it wasn't for the battle. The school statue behind him started cracking from the air pressure of the attack and Akane and Nabiki looked on, surprised. Suddenly Ranma disappeared and reappeared behind Kuno, kicking out between the shoulder blades, sending Kuno flying forward, into the statue, shattering it. "That was my move!", I cried in shock. I pouted and walked over to Kuno where he lay in the pile of rubble. I turned him over only to find a stupid look on his unconscious face with a few teeth missing from his open mouth.
Ranma was studying the photos in his hand as Akane fumed and got up. "What did you do that for." "You were in the way! You could've gotten hurt!" "I can take care of myself, and what are you doing with photos of me!" "It's not mine, dummy! Kuno had them!" Akane backed off pausing for a second before turning to her sister. "So it was you!" "Hey, I'm just making a little pocket money, sides even Ukyou brought some." "She brought pictures of me!" "No baka, of Ranma, of course.", sighed Nabiki. From where I was standing I sweated a little. "Um, I'm just gonna leave quietly now.", I stated softly as I started backing away from the group. "Ucchan?", asked Ranma, confused. "Why would she want photos of me. Of course I am the most handsome guy around and my girl side is way cuter than Akane. Plus my chest is-" Akane fumed and suddenly cut him off, "BAKA!", she cried as she started chasing him, shaking her fist in the air. Ranma playfully dodged her swipes, laughing all the way. Nobody noticed me as I slinked away from the scene, glaring at Nabiki. "What happened to customer privacy?", I grumbled.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Later that evening Ranma was in Nabiki's room talking with her. "I'm also putting this on your tab Ranma and you'd better pay up eventually." "Yea, yea. Just tell me about this 'thing I should know 'bout'." "Well you know your little friend Ukyou... It seems she's engaged to you." "HUH!" "According to what I've heard your father engaged the two of you when you were kids and was then proclaimed her legal guardian. Your father left her behind and ran off with her drowry though." Images flash through Ranma's head. 'I trusted you!', cries a teary eyed chibi Ukyou. "She was supposed to come with us?", asked Ranma, dumbfounded.
Ranma ran from the room to find his father. Inside he was boiling over. "Oyagi!", he cried as he grabbed the man by the scruff of his gi, slamming him into the wall. "WHAT'S This I hear about me being engaged to Ucchan!" "I-I don't know what your talking about.", said a vary nervous Genma. "I don't have time for your games.", growled Ranma as he pulled his fist back. "...heh... I was just so hungry...", whined Genma. Ranma dropped Genma and took a step back to glare at his old man. "SAOTOME! YOU ENAGED YOUR SON TO ANOTHER GIRL!", cried a blue in the face Soun. Before he burst into tears, "Now our schools will never be united! Waaaaah!" Genma sweat-dropped. "Oh no, Tendo, ol' buddy. Of course Ranma will marry a Tendo! The Tendo has more claim than some backwater girl like her...", cried Genma nervously. Soun paid him no heed and just kept on crying rivers.
Ranma frowned at his father's remark but let it pass for now. He was fuming as he turned away from his father and started for the stairs, only to stare into Akane's angry face. "You've got another fiancé?", she asked with a glare. "Blame my Oyagi, not me. I'm going ta bed.", said Ranma as he let out a frustrated sigh.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning came with new worries... why did Nabiki have to go and tell Ranma about the photos? Now he'll think I'm a pervert or maybe he'll assume I'm like Kuno... some kind of obsessed stalker... I opened the window and let out a shrill whistle for Racon. He came flying in through the window and landed on my arm. I petted his head and he squawked happily. I placed him on my shoulder as I headed downstairs for breakfast.
As I was walking to school Shampoo came running up behind me. "Ukyou!... Grandmother getting upset with you. You already skip two training sessions.", she said as she fell in step next to me. Racon squawked a hello and Shampoo absently petted him, giving him a piece of dried meat. "I know, it's just that the last two days have been hectic and I really needed the extra rest, I'm still training on my own in the afternoons through so don't worry about me slacking off." "Is okay. Shampoo no mind. Just miss friend, since she no see you at school." "Yeah, being in different classes suck. Maybe we could spend this break together... I could join your little group of friends for a while...", 'I was a little nervous about what was going on in Ranma's head right now anyway.' "Shampoo like that. Shampoo could introduce you to friends.", she said, smiling happily. I had to swallow, to keep myself from throwing up. Some people's lives are so uncomplicated that makes me sick.
As we approached school I saw a crowd gathered at the entrance the boys were crying pathetic tears. Kuno suddenly came out of the crowd. "What is this I hear of a pathetic rumor that Saotome has bested the great 'Blue Thunder'? I shall never admit defeat!" Kuno stumbled and fell to his knees, using his bokken for support. "Kuno was the greatest fighter in Furinkan." "And the greatest pervert!", came a comment from somewhere in the crowd. "Who said that! Show yourself!", cried Kuno. "Too bad they don't know a real pervert when they see one.", commented Akane towards Ranma. "Urusai!", cried Ranma-chan indignantly. "We've decided that we have to get over you.", cried one of the boys. "I shall never accept defeat!", cried Kuno once more. "Even if that cretin strikes me a hundred or two hundred times more. I shall not give up!" Ranchan rushed forward. "Hey! Who're you callin a 'cretin'! I beat you fair and square! Admit it!" Kuno looked up and stood, walking over to Ranchan. "Pigtailed girl? It is no other!" "Oh great.", sighed Ranma. "Honestly.", fumed Akane.
"How I've longed to see you.", said Kuno. "Aren't you forgetting something? You're supposed to be in love with Akane!", asked Ranma. "Of course I love her." "Well she's watchin us, you know.", said Ranma dejectedly as she glanced back at Akane. "I had no idea.", commented Akane in a sad voice. "If upperclassman Kuno really is in love with the pigtailed girl. I... I won't get in the way.", she said, with tears in her eyes and the most innocent look you could think of. "A-Akane! Have you gone nuts!" I growled, "Akane! Ranma doesn't even know how to act around girls, how do you expect her to handle an overzealous boy! You selfish little-" Kuno swaggered forward, and I stopped in mid sentence to look at him. For the life of me I so wanted to punch something right then and Kuno was right there. "You are too noble for-", he was cut off when my ki powered fist struck him in the face and sent him flying. I could feel Akane's glare at the back of my head as I decided to ignore them and headed off. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to class."
Racon's squawk was the only warning I needed as I turned and faced Akane who came charging straight at me. Racon flapped his wings and lifted into the air. Akane came in with a kick which I deftly dodged. She followed up with a two punch combination. I have to admit she's pretty good but not nearly on Ranma's or my level. As Akane kept attacking I spoke. "You know that move that Ranma used to take out Kuno?... It's the same move I used to beat Ranma back in China and here's another." As I started the move Ranma suddenly broke in between us. "Hey! Don't fight!" "She treats you badly and I want to teach her a lesson!", I cried. "Look Ucchan, you may be my 'other' fiancé but that doesn't mean you can just beat up on Akane just because you feel like it." "H-how'd?... NABIKI! I swear, I'll never tell her anything again.", I cried, blushing beet red. I stomped my foot and stalked away. The smug look on Akane's face was enough to make me fume even more, of course when she realized Ranma had implied that Ukyou could beat her… it didn't go down quite well with her, nor did it with Ranma's skull.
As I walked to class, conflicting emotions ran through me. I felt hurt that Nabiki would just tell Ranma, just like that, when I'd asked her not to. 'I mean I could understand if she needed the money but she could at least have asked my consent... Ahh. Who am I kidding, this is Nabiki we're talking about. Of course she'd sell the information. I guess I'd just have to stop myself next time I feel the urge to confide in someone.', I growled. I also felt anger at Ranma for standing up to me and telling me off for trying to beat some sense into Akane. I was also fuming at Akane... she always got what she wanted and Ranma gave it to her again.
Throughout class I ignored them in favor of the teacher. I refused to even glance at Ranma. During break I avoided Ranma and Akane like the plague, it hurt me even more that they didn't even seem to notice. 'The two of them are actually getting along...', I thought as I watched them from the school roof with Shampoo's friends. I watched as Ranma suddenly got a balled up fist in the face. '...somewhat.'
In my depressed stat of mind I started thinking. I remembered that when I'd been hurt in my past life, instead of wanting other people to feel my pain, I rather wanted to comfort those who'd been hurt. Maybe I was selfish… maybe I wanted to be the only one who was allowed to feel that kind of rejection. That horrifying pain that drove me to the edges of my sanity… If I wasn't alone in what I'd felt then it meant nothing. Nothing at all…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kuno was fuming. The students had abandoned their honorable pursuit on the fiery tigress, Akane Tendo, just because they believed some cretin bested him in battle... "I will never admit defeat.", he mumbled to himself. Then an image suddenly came to mind... a sword. "Sasuke!", he called. Two seconds later his trusty ninja was before him. "You called master Kuno." "What kept you.", asked Kuno frowning. "Never mind. That photo you showed me, of the sword." "Yes master Kuno." "I want you to find that sword and bring it to me." The small ninja bowed and he was gone. Kuno smirked evilly. "I will destroy you Satome.", he mumbled to himself. Of course his manic laughter did freak a few of the nearby students.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The day had worn me down. Did Ranma really just want to be friends, or something more? Or did he want nothing to do with me... I just didn't care anymore... I felt so hollow and empty that I could barely get to my bed before I slumped down. I just lay there in a never-ending daze. Outside the light passed and darkness erupted across the sky. Twinkling sparks of destruction lit up the black veil. I lost myself in my wandering mind, trying to be anywhere but here. I was billions of light years away with no fear or pain. I was startled awake when I heard a sudden crash... I darted up, still feeling like I was dreaming. I quickly ran down the stairs, taking out my shuriken. As I cautiously walked into the room I looked around for any sign of an intruder. No-one was to be found, all that I could find was some footprints and a almost destroyed kitchen. I entertained the idea that it might have been Akane, you know 'sneaks into people's homes by cover of darkness to destroy their kitchens'. I almost laughed out loud at the thought, picturing Akane in an embarrassing super-villain outfit, but when I looked to the wall where my sword used to be my heart stopped and my face paled... it was gone. I ran from the room, looking for signs of entry and escape but I could find none. Whoever it was had been adept in covering their tracks.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX