Akane's wound healed fine with stitches that left a scar for a reminder. Shampoo had a minor concussion and left the hospital happy as ever. Ukyo was another story. She was in intensive care for a week but was released when she stabilized. She broke her arm and leg in the fall and had a serious head injury. From her beatings, she had a two broken ribs and a bruised rib. The doctors kept a good eye on her and she left the hospital in a wheelchair but with nowhere to go. She had to sell Ucchan to pay for the bills so she stayed iwith the Tendos. Kasumi took care of her while she recovered from her injuries which forced Ukyo to watch in silent sorrow as Akane and Ramna's love grew daily.
Ryoga was walking to the Tendo Dojo holding a small package. He stopped and saw Shampoo flip the closed sign on the ramen shop.
"Why are you closing so early?" Ryoga asked.
"Mousse and I are going on a date." Shampoo replied, her grammar getting better daily.
"A date?"
"Yes, I tell Mousse: 'Be true self and I will date you'." Shampoo replied. "Where have you been?"
"Traveling." Ryoga replied with a sheepish grin.
"Akane and Ranma set date for marriage. Ukyo nearly healed. Nabiki and Kuno dating. Seem like Kuno normal. Elder Kuno said the curse on his family is gone and all Kunos normal. Kodachi has boyfriend, his name is Konatsu, he's a ninja, I think."
"Wow, Nabiki and Kuno dating." Ryoga sighed. "And Kasumi? Cologne?"
"She married Doctor Tofu." Shampoo replied. "Cologne left to China."
"Gee, I missed a lot." Ryoga scratched his head. "I've got to go to the Tendo Dojo. See you around Shampoo." He waved and Shampoo waved back. He walked down a few streets and sighed when he realized he was lost.
He didn't too lost and found the Tendo Dojo around 11 p.m. He saw that all the lights were out but in the moonlight he saw someone on the roof. He took off his pack and held up his package tightly, hoping it was Ranma so he could relay it on. He was surprised to find Ukyo sitting on the roof, arms wrapped around her legs.
"Shampoo told me you were nearly healed." He said softly sitting next to her.
"She hasn't visited me in weeks." Ukyo frowned.
"Oh, you look good." Ryoga gave her a small smile.
"Thanks." Ukyo looked up in the sky.
"Why aren't you asleep?"
"I can't."
"Why?"
"He said that after he was through with me, I would wish I was dead. I did wish I was dead." Ukyo's voice cracked. "I killed him. Now look at what I am. I have nothing now, I know I didn't start out with much but I've ended up with nothing." Ryoga frowned and slid the package over to her.
"Here. Take this."
"I don't want Akane's present." Ukyo cried pushing it back.
"You're right, I bought it with the intention of giving it to Akane." Ryoga admitted. "But I want you to have it." Ukyo frowned.
"I don't want a pity present Ryoga."
"Just open it Ukyo." Ukyo sighed and opened the package. It was a stunning silver necklace with a deep blue stone in it's center.
"Ryoga, I can't except this." Ukyo handed it back to him.
"Yes, you can." Ryoga spoke in a firm voice. Ukyo shot him a cold look.
"Since when did you grow a backbone?" Ryoga knew she didn't mean those words.
"Ukyo, just because you are going through a hard time in life doesn't mean that people can't still care about you?"
"Since when did people care about me?!" Ukyo jumped to her feet. "Who left poor Ukyo to fight for herself?" Her voice was flat and cold.
"No one did." Ryoga replied, standing up. "We all tried."
"I had to kill someone!"
"So did Akane!"
"I had to fight to live!"
"So did the others!"
"I had to live for a man who cares nothing about me!"
"But I do!"
"No you don't! You'll leave me like you left me before!" Ukyo sat down and tried to stop the tears.
"I didn't leave you Ukyo, if that's what you think." Ryoga sat beside her.
"No, you're right. You had to be with me before you could leave me."
"I was with you and I am with you now."
"But what about your Akane? She means so much to you, how can I compare with that?"
"That night you were taken, I told Ranma that I gave up on her." Ryoga played with the paper from the package. "I followed you but it was too fast...I didn't want Ranma to tell you before I could, but I was worried so much about you, the negative emotions caused a huge clearing in the forest."
"And?"
"I care about you a lot, Ukyo. You're one of my few friends." Ryoga sighed. "I think a huge part of me bought that necklace for you. I couldn't bring myself to write Akane on it." He held up the paper from the package to show her it was blank.
"I care about you too Ryoga." She picked up the necklace and placed it around her neck.
"See, you didn't end up with nothing. You've got me and a necklace." Ryoga pointed to it. "And I've always had a backbone."
"Thank you." Ryoga put his arm around her.
"No problem."