By: Aleta Thuvis and Blue Imp
Disclaimer with first chapter.
Notes: Blue Imp helped with one part of this chapter. We'll see if he'll help later or not. Depends on if I need it and if he wants to do so.
I'm beginning to think that a monthly chapter give or take a week or two may be the norm for posting updates. Status on the next chapter is no where started, and Kontasu is getting mad at me.
As always, thank you reviewers for your support.
Chapter 10 Honesty and Introductions
Ukyou brought out two breakfast plates. She gave Ryoga her special okonomiyaki instead of a normal one. Ukyou yawned as she sat down to eat. It was an hour earlier than normal for her. She hoped an hour would be enough time to get Ryoga taken care of before school started.
"Have you decided...?" Ukyou questioned, trailing of not wanting to influence his answer by completing the question. She looked at him curiously.
"I need... I want to talk to Ranma first." Ryoga said oddly pensive.
"Ok. We'll go after breakfast."
They ate quickly and headed to the Tendo home. They arrived much quicker then Ukyou imagined. Ryoga only tried once to make a wrong turn that headed into downtown Tokyo. Ryoga froze at the door, so Ukyou knocked for him.
Sunny Kasmui answered the door. "Ryoga, Ukyou... how nice of you to drop by. It's early yet, you want some breakfast?" Kasumi offered.
"No, thanks. We ate before coming out here." Ukyou looked at Ryoga to see if he was willing or able to take over. Ryoga was staring at the door. "Um, can we talk to Ranma?"
"Sure, come on in. I'll get him. Luckily his workout ended early." Kasumi bustled off. On the way to the living room, Ukyou saw a glance of a panda toweling himself off. *Good Job, Ranma,* Ukyou thought. Ryoga cleared his throat.
"Ukyou. could you. like go to the next room or something? I would like to talk to Ranma alone." Ryoga requested. *Actually* he thought. *I want to make sure this isn't a plot between you and Ranma.*
"Honey, this is Nabiki's home. There is nothing private here and I'll just join the family in eavesdropping. I would rather stay in the room and listen honestly. You might need moral support." Ukyou pointed out and offered.
Ranma's footsteps thundered towards the stairs and started down them.
"Fine, stay where I can see you, then." Ryoga ordered quietly.
"Hey Ucchan! Ryoga?" Ranma stopped puzzled. "I thought you were going to bring P-chan back." Ranma looked at Ukyou.
Ukyou started to answer, but Ryoga stepped between them. "I asked her to bring me here. Tell me, Ranma why did you take me to Ucchan's last night?"
Ranma glanced over Ryoga's shoulder to Ukyou puzzled. Ukyou slipped around Ryoga, to go back into his eyesight and did her best not to look at Ranma.
Ryoga clenched his fists, "Answer me, Baka!"
Ranma threw his hands up. "Ucchan said she wanted to talk to you. I didn't ask about what."
"If she wanted to talk to me, why did you. carry me?" Ryoga hesitated and choose his words carefully. He didn't want to announce his cursed form on the chance of Akane overhearing or Nabiki's bribes.
"Easier to handle. She said she knew, I didn't see the harm. Why are you here, Ryoga?" Ranma narrowed his eyes, glaring. This was their longest conversation they ever had. Ryoga usually opened with an I-Will-Kill-You cliché, then they would fight. In fact, Ranma was pretty sure their fight would be nearly done.
"So you didn't put Ukyou up to talk to me about being totally honest to Akane?" Ryoga asked, ignoring Ranma's question.
"What? No! My advice is to stay away from her." Ranma said, almost threatening. His aura began to glow.
"Stop protecting me, Ranma!" Akane shouted, strolling into the living room.
"Well, if you weren't so uncute-" Ranam started. Akane interrupted with a sound hit to his head with her mallet.
"Harsh." Uykou commented, as she slipped over to Ranma's side. She wasn't too worried. Ranma had been hit harder by Akane and other things before and recovered in a minute or two.
Akane shrugged. "We'll have some moments of peace. Ryoga..."
Ryoga rubbed his head. "Akane. well. that is."
Akane sighed, "Ryoga, no rush but I do have to get to school today."
Ryoga nodded and blurted, "I love you, Akane. I promise, I can treat you better than-"
Akane was shaking her head. "I know Ryoga. But I don't love you."
Ryoga slumped. "I know. You talk about him every day. Akane, I need to confess to you."
Akane nodded. Ranma moaned and Ukyou put a hand over his mouth.
"I'm P-Chan. I am your pet pig." Ryoga announced and looked at Akane for her reaction. On the floor, Ranma and Ukyou stared at Akane. Outside the living room entrance, the rest of the family peeked in to see Akane's reaction.
"I know," Akane answered. The family fell to the ground. Luckily for most of them, a huge white and black panda cushioned them. (Poor Panda.) Three sets of jaws dropped in the living room.
"What?!" Akane shouted at all of them. "You think I was as clueless as Kuno?"
Akane lowered her voice and looked at Ryoga, "I knew, Ryoga."
Ryoga's mind spun trying to fathom this. "You knew? You used me? My-"
Akane's aura burst to light, "You should talk about using. You knew from the start who I was and what you were doing. I didn't figure it out until Mr. Pervert made it a point to call you. those names. Then it was all the other hints that made it make sense. Cat, goose, girl, panda, why not my pet pig too?!"
Ryoga slumped again. "You're right, Akane. I will leave you alone. I acted most dishonorably." Ryoga said quickly undercutting Akane's rant.
Akane blinked and her aura faded away. She wasn't used to someone admitting she was right so fast. Ranma always fought back no matter how wrong he was. "So did I by letting it continue." Akane offered.
"No, the fault is mine, entirely. I should go." Ryoga turned and took a few steps to a door.
"Wait! That's the broom closet." Akane guided Ryoga to the front door. Ukyou, Ranma and family trailed quietly behind. "You're still a good friend, stop by here ok? Free hot water."
Nabiki sputtered and Kasumi put her hand over her sister's mouth.
"I'll try." Ryoga said, half convinced he wouldn't.
"Akane, we're late for school and we didn't eat!" Ranma complained breaking into Akane's and Ryoga's moment.
"Itai! Excuse us, Ryoga. We have to run. One missed meal won't hurt you, Ranma." Akane grabbed her purse and bookbag. Ranma and Akane sprinted out the door.
Ukyou looked at Ranma's and Akane's backs and then at Ryoga. "I'll miss my first class, but I can get you back to the restaurant."
Ryoga shook his head. "I rather be alone right now. I'll find your restaurant somehow. I promise."
Ukyou looked doubtful. "If you're sure?"
Ryoga nodded. "I'm sure."
Ukyou ran off to school.
*****
Two men paused in front of Ucchan's restaurant. "So, Is this the place?"
Ryoga checked the hanging restaurant sign. "Yes. Thank you!" Ryoga was relieved. The promise he made to Ukyou was weighing on him heavily ever since he started trying to find the restaurant a little pass noon. He opened the door and stepped in.
Ukyou greeted Ryoga as he came in from the grill window, "Hey Ryoga!" She missed his companion, as she turned away and started out towards the dining area. Just as she cleared the swinging kitchen doors, she noticed both of them. Ryoga was fine, still wearing those green baggy pants she had. borrowed from his companion. The china boy was wearing his green fish-like scale shirt and a different pair of green pants. She stared at them both.
"Hey Ukyou. Um, Taro, this is Ukyou. She's the owner of this restaurant. Ukyou, this is Taro. I got. a bit lost." Ryoga explained quietly. Luckily since it wasn't quite dinnertime, there were few people around to hear Ryoga's admission.
Taro looked at the ceiling. He had followed Ryoga, ever since he noticed his pants in the park. The guy had no clue where he was going, and Taro followed him to one end of town to the other. It wasn't until Ryoga yelled out his frustration that Taro decided to help. As tempted as Taro was to ask about his pants, he decided not too. His Japanese wasn't good enough to figure out a way of asking without it sounding too accusatory or embarrassing. Did this girl know anything, or did Ryoga get the pants from somewhere else?
Taro looked back at Ukyou, "Nice to meet you. Ukyou."
Ukyou nodded slowly, guessing Taro's look at the ceiling meet he met Ryoga a long way from here. *Get a hold of yourself, Ukyou! There's no way he could recognize you!*
Ukyou swallowed, "Go ahead, take a seat. Taro. I'll be with you in a second. You deserve something on the house for helping my friend out."
Taro explained, "I saw he was having a bit of trouble, we happen to be going the same direction." Taro looked meaningfully at Ryoga's pants. Taro moved off, and sat down at a booth with a slightly skewed view of the grill window.
Ukyou practically dragged Ryoga upstairs. "I stopped by the Tendo's on the way home, today. Ranma gave me a couple sets of your clothes you had stashed in places of their house."
They walked into her room. The clothes sat neatly folded on her bed. "Thanks. Sorry about the bother." Ryoga said.
"It's no bother, Ryoga. Can you help out tonight? Some of the help called out sick."
"Sure." Ryoga said, grateful to start paying Ukyou back.
"I'll send someone up for you in a couple of minutes, ok?"
Ryoga nodded.
Ukyou took a breath and went back down stairs to the dining area. Taro was sitting with a menu is his hands and his water was on the other end of the table. Ukyou shrugged to herself. Maybe he doesn't like water. She walked up to his table.
"What can I get you? It's on the house." Ukyou asked.
Taro laid the menu down. "What's the specialty here?"
"Everything here is Okonomiyaki. Tonight's special is chicken and cheese okonomiyaki."
"That will be fine."
Ukyou nodded and took the menu. "Alright." Ukyou dropped the menu by the hostess station and headed into the kitchen. Hana followed her into the kitchen.
"Hey, Ukyou. That guy is CUTE. Can I take his meal out to him?" Hana offered.
Ukyou blushed. Hana always flirted with the guys that she waited on. "No, can you go upstairs and bring Ryoga down? He's going to help us tonight."
"You hired someone else? Cool! And I get to train him! Wow, Uykou thanks!" Hana glomped Ukyou and skipped out of the kitchen. A plate crashed to the ground a moment later. Uykou sighed. Hana got a bit too excited sometimes, but she was one of the best waitresses Ukyou had.
Ukyou quickly whipped up the okonomiyaki. She looked up and saw Taro watching her. Keeping in mind her audience, she did her best not to show off. She still could feel the bruise her grandfather gave her for doing exactly that. Showing off and ruining the okonomiyaki.
"Okonomiyaki is not about the audience entertainment, but their satisfaction. Good food will keep them coming back." Ukyou muttered to herself, mimicking the words her grandfather said over and over to her.
Hana came back down with Ryoga. She immediately started showing Ryoga where stuff was. Ukyou shrugged. Ukyou was going to tell Kontasu to handle training, but Hana seemed more than willing. Maybe when things got busy, she'd be able to pull Ryoga into the capable hands of Kontasu.
Taro's food was done. Ukyou grabbed the plate and reassured Hana she would handle it.
Taro watched her come out of the kitchen headed to his table. Ukyou sat his wonderful smelling food in front of him.
"Here you go. Anything else?" Ukyou offered.
"Thank you. Where did you learn to cook like that?" Taro asked.
Ukyou blushed. "It's my family's business. My grandfather is the Master of Okonomiyaki-nitjsu."
"Oh, so you're a martial artist?" Taro said, disappointed.
Ukyou blinked. "Yes, I am. Give me a second, ok hon?"
Taro nodded a bit confused about what the second was for.
Ukyou took a few steps towards the kitchen area. "Kontasu, have Hoshi take my position, ok?"
A voice from the back of the kitchen replied, "Hai!"
While she did this, Taro sneaked a bite of the okonomiyaki to taste it. It tasted really good.
Ukyou returned to the table and took a seat. "Are you new around here? If you have questions, I could try to answer them. I have a few minutes before I have to go back to work." Ukyou fiddled with the bottom hem of her shirt. *What am I doing? Sigh. Just act normal Ukyou. normal.*
"I am just visiting, actually. If you are a martial artist, do you know the dojo's around here?" Taro asked.
"Yes, there's quite a few in Tokyo."
Taro nodded, "You know anything about an Anything Goes Dojo?"
Ukyou frowned, "Yes. I know of that art. They don't have their dojo running right now. And they aren't taking students."
"I'm trying to find a family friend." Taro explained.
Ukyou thought, *Yah, I bet. I just hope you aren't after Ranma.*
"I have a friend that is. learning that art. I can have him meet you, here. Like, tomorrow?"
"Actually, I'm looking for the Master of the Anything Goes Art. Can you tell me where he is?"
Ukyou's eyes widen. "My friend is quite talented in the art, but I don't know who the master is."
Taro looked surprised, "Don't know? Who does he train under?"
Ukyou frowned, "He trains under his father. But I *doubt* he's the master. His father is the type to announce such things, due to pride."
Taro was perplexed. He didn't consider that maybe the master was lying to his mother about being the master of the art. What did that mean to his search?
Ukyou reassured, "No, the father isn't the master. I know that much."
Taro went silent.
Ukyou took a look at the room, seeing more customers. She glanced at the grill window. Hoshi was doing good, but soon would be overwhelmed with orders. Ukyou stood up.
"Come by tomorrow to meet my friend. If he doesn't know, I bet he could contact the master, if you had a good case to see him. Which I am sure you do."
Taro nodded, "I can wait until then."
Disclaimer with first chapter.
Notes: Blue Imp helped with one part of this chapter. We'll see if he'll help later or not. Depends on if I need it and if he wants to do so.
I'm beginning to think that a monthly chapter give or take a week or two may be the norm for posting updates. Status on the next chapter is no where started, and Kontasu is getting mad at me.
As always, thank you reviewers for your support.
Chapter 10 Honesty and Introductions
Ukyou brought out two breakfast plates. She gave Ryoga her special okonomiyaki instead of a normal one. Ukyou yawned as she sat down to eat. It was an hour earlier than normal for her. She hoped an hour would be enough time to get Ryoga taken care of before school started.
"Have you decided...?" Ukyou questioned, trailing of not wanting to influence his answer by completing the question. She looked at him curiously.
"I need... I want to talk to Ranma first." Ryoga said oddly pensive.
"Ok. We'll go after breakfast."
They ate quickly and headed to the Tendo home. They arrived much quicker then Ukyou imagined. Ryoga only tried once to make a wrong turn that headed into downtown Tokyo. Ryoga froze at the door, so Ukyou knocked for him.
Sunny Kasmui answered the door. "Ryoga, Ukyou... how nice of you to drop by. It's early yet, you want some breakfast?" Kasumi offered.
"No, thanks. We ate before coming out here." Ukyou looked at Ryoga to see if he was willing or able to take over. Ryoga was staring at the door. "Um, can we talk to Ranma?"
"Sure, come on in. I'll get him. Luckily his workout ended early." Kasumi bustled off. On the way to the living room, Ukyou saw a glance of a panda toweling himself off. *Good Job, Ranma,* Ukyou thought. Ryoga cleared his throat.
"Ukyou. could you. like go to the next room or something? I would like to talk to Ranma alone." Ryoga requested. *Actually* he thought. *I want to make sure this isn't a plot between you and Ranma.*
"Honey, this is Nabiki's home. There is nothing private here and I'll just join the family in eavesdropping. I would rather stay in the room and listen honestly. You might need moral support." Ukyou pointed out and offered.
Ranma's footsteps thundered towards the stairs and started down them.
"Fine, stay where I can see you, then." Ryoga ordered quietly.
"Hey Ucchan! Ryoga?" Ranma stopped puzzled. "I thought you were going to bring P-chan back." Ranma looked at Ukyou.
Ukyou started to answer, but Ryoga stepped between them. "I asked her to bring me here. Tell me, Ranma why did you take me to Ucchan's last night?"
Ranma glanced over Ryoga's shoulder to Ukyou puzzled. Ukyou slipped around Ryoga, to go back into his eyesight and did her best not to look at Ranma.
Ryoga clenched his fists, "Answer me, Baka!"
Ranma threw his hands up. "Ucchan said she wanted to talk to you. I didn't ask about what."
"If she wanted to talk to me, why did you. carry me?" Ryoga hesitated and choose his words carefully. He didn't want to announce his cursed form on the chance of Akane overhearing or Nabiki's bribes.
"Easier to handle. She said she knew, I didn't see the harm. Why are you here, Ryoga?" Ranma narrowed his eyes, glaring. This was their longest conversation they ever had. Ryoga usually opened with an I-Will-Kill-You cliché, then they would fight. In fact, Ranma was pretty sure their fight would be nearly done.
"So you didn't put Ukyou up to talk to me about being totally honest to Akane?" Ryoga asked, ignoring Ranma's question.
"What? No! My advice is to stay away from her." Ranma said, almost threatening. His aura began to glow.
"Stop protecting me, Ranma!" Akane shouted, strolling into the living room.
"Well, if you weren't so uncute-" Ranam started. Akane interrupted with a sound hit to his head with her mallet.
"Harsh." Uykou commented, as she slipped over to Ranma's side. She wasn't too worried. Ranma had been hit harder by Akane and other things before and recovered in a minute or two.
Akane shrugged. "We'll have some moments of peace. Ryoga..."
Ryoga rubbed his head. "Akane. well. that is."
Akane sighed, "Ryoga, no rush but I do have to get to school today."
Ryoga nodded and blurted, "I love you, Akane. I promise, I can treat you better than-"
Akane was shaking her head. "I know Ryoga. But I don't love you."
Ryoga slumped. "I know. You talk about him every day. Akane, I need to confess to you."
Akane nodded. Ranma moaned and Ukyou put a hand over his mouth.
"I'm P-Chan. I am your pet pig." Ryoga announced and looked at Akane for her reaction. On the floor, Ranma and Ukyou stared at Akane. Outside the living room entrance, the rest of the family peeked in to see Akane's reaction.
"I know," Akane answered. The family fell to the ground. Luckily for most of them, a huge white and black panda cushioned them. (Poor Panda.) Three sets of jaws dropped in the living room.
"What?!" Akane shouted at all of them. "You think I was as clueless as Kuno?"
Akane lowered her voice and looked at Ryoga, "I knew, Ryoga."
Ryoga's mind spun trying to fathom this. "You knew? You used me? My-"
Akane's aura burst to light, "You should talk about using. You knew from the start who I was and what you were doing. I didn't figure it out until Mr. Pervert made it a point to call you. those names. Then it was all the other hints that made it make sense. Cat, goose, girl, panda, why not my pet pig too?!"
Ryoga slumped again. "You're right, Akane. I will leave you alone. I acted most dishonorably." Ryoga said quickly undercutting Akane's rant.
Akane blinked and her aura faded away. She wasn't used to someone admitting she was right so fast. Ranma always fought back no matter how wrong he was. "So did I by letting it continue." Akane offered.
"No, the fault is mine, entirely. I should go." Ryoga turned and took a few steps to a door.
"Wait! That's the broom closet." Akane guided Ryoga to the front door. Ukyou, Ranma and family trailed quietly behind. "You're still a good friend, stop by here ok? Free hot water."
Nabiki sputtered and Kasumi put her hand over her sister's mouth.
"I'll try." Ryoga said, half convinced he wouldn't.
"Akane, we're late for school and we didn't eat!" Ranma complained breaking into Akane's and Ryoga's moment.
"Itai! Excuse us, Ryoga. We have to run. One missed meal won't hurt you, Ranma." Akane grabbed her purse and bookbag. Ranma and Akane sprinted out the door.
Ukyou looked at Ranma's and Akane's backs and then at Ryoga. "I'll miss my first class, but I can get you back to the restaurant."
Ryoga shook his head. "I rather be alone right now. I'll find your restaurant somehow. I promise."
Ukyou looked doubtful. "If you're sure?"
Ryoga nodded. "I'm sure."
Ukyou ran off to school.
*****
Two men paused in front of Ucchan's restaurant. "So, Is this the place?"
Ryoga checked the hanging restaurant sign. "Yes. Thank you!" Ryoga was relieved. The promise he made to Ukyou was weighing on him heavily ever since he started trying to find the restaurant a little pass noon. He opened the door and stepped in.
Ukyou greeted Ryoga as he came in from the grill window, "Hey Ryoga!" She missed his companion, as she turned away and started out towards the dining area. Just as she cleared the swinging kitchen doors, she noticed both of them. Ryoga was fine, still wearing those green baggy pants she had. borrowed from his companion. The china boy was wearing his green fish-like scale shirt and a different pair of green pants. She stared at them both.
"Hey Ukyou. Um, Taro, this is Ukyou. She's the owner of this restaurant. Ukyou, this is Taro. I got. a bit lost." Ryoga explained quietly. Luckily since it wasn't quite dinnertime, there were few people around to hear Ryoga's admission.
Taro looked at the ceiling. He had followed Ryoga, ever since he noticed his pants in the park. The guy had no clue where he was going, and Taro followed him to one end of town to the other. It wasn't until Ryoga yelled out his frustration that Taro decided to help. As tempted as Taro was to ask about his pants, he decided not too. His Japanese wasn't good enough to figure out a way of asking without it sounding too accusatory or embarrassing. Did this girl know anything, or did Ryoga get the pants from somewhere else?
Taro looked back at Ukyou, "Nice to meet you. Ukyou."
Ukyou nodded slowly, guessing Taro's look at the ceiling meet he met Ryoga a long way from here. *Get a hold of yourself, Ukyou! There's no way he could recognize you!*
Ukyou swallowed, "Go ahead, take a seat. Taro. I'll be with you in a second. You deserve something on the house for helping my friend out."
Taro explained, "I saw he was having a bit of trouble, we happen to be going the same direction." Taro looked meaningfully at Ryoga's pants. Taro moved off, and sat down at a booth with a slightly skewed view of the grill window.
Ukyou practically dragged Ryoga upstairs. "I stopped by the Tendo's on the way home, today. Ranma gave me a couple sets of your clothes you had stashed in places of their house."
They walked into her room. The clothes sat neatly folded on her bed. "Thanks. Sorry about the bother." Ryoga said.
"It's no bother, Ryoga. Can you help out tonight? Some of the help called out sick."
"Sure." Ryoga said, grateful to start paying Ukyou back.
"I'll send someone up for you in a couple of minutes, ok?"
Ryoga nodded.
Ukyou took a breath and went back down stairs to the dining area. Taro was sitting with a menu is his hands and his water was on the other end of the table. Ukyou shrugged to herself. Maybe he doesn't like water. She walked up to his table.
"What can I get you? It's on the house." Ukyou asked.
Taro laid the menu down. "What's the specialty here?"
"Everything here is Okonomiyaki. Tonight's special is chicken and cheese okonomiyaki."
"That will be fine."
Ukyou nodded and took the menu. "Alright." Ukyou dropped the menu by the hostess station and headed into the kitchen. Hana followed her into the kitchen.
"Hey, Ukyou. That guy is CUTE. Can I take his meal out to him?" Hana offered.
Ukyou blushed. Hana always flirted with the guys that she waited on. "No, can you go upstairs and bring Ryoga down? He's going to help us tonight."
"You hired someone else? Cool! And I get to train him! Wow, Uykou thanks!" Hana glomped Ukyou and skipped out of the kitchen. A plate crashed to the ground a moment later. Uykou sighed. Hana got a bit too excited sometimes, but she was one of the best waitresses Ukyou had.
Ukyou quickly whipped up the okonomiyaki. She looked up and saw Taro watching her. Keeping in mind her audience, she did her best not to show off. She still could feel the bruise her grandfather gave her for doing exactly that. Showing off and ruining the okonomiyaki.
"Okonomiyaki is not about the audience entertainment, but their satisfaction. Good food will keep them coming back." Ukyou muttered to herself, mimicking the words her grandfather said over and over to her.
Hana came back down with Ryoga. She immediately started showing Ryoga where stuff was. Ukyou shrugged. Ukyou was going to tell Kontasu to handle training, but Hana seemed more than willing. Maybe when things got busy, she'd be able to pull Ryoga into the capable hands of Kontasu.
Taro's food was done. Ukyou grabbed the plate and reassured Hana she would handle it.
Taro watched her come out of the kitchen headed to his table. Ukyou sat his wonderful smelling food in front of him.
"Here you go. Anything else?" Ukyou offered.
"Thank you. Where did you learn to cook like that?" Taro asked.
Ukyou blushed. "It's my family's business. My grandfather is the Master of Okonomiyaki-nitjsu."
"Oh, so you're a martial artist?" Taro said, disappointed.
Ukyou blinked. "Yes, I am. Give me a second, ok hon?"
Taro nodded a bit confused about what the second was for.
Ukyou took a few steps towards the kitchen area. "Kontasu, have Hoshi take my position, ok?"
A voice from the back of the kitchen replied, "Hai!"
While she did this, Taro sneaked a bite of the okonomiyaki to taste it. It tasted really good.
Ukyou returned to the table and took a seat. "Are you new around here? If you have questions, I could try to answer them. I have a few minutes before I have to go back to work." Ukyou fiddled with the bottom hem of her shirt. *What am I doing? Sigh. Just act normal Ukyou. normal.*
"I am just visiting, actually. If you are a martial artist, do you know the dojo's around here?" Taro asked.
"Yes, there's quite a few in Tokyo."
Taro nodded, "You know anything about an Anything Goes Dojo?"
Ukyou frowned, "Yes. I know of that art. They don't have their dojo running right now. And they aren't taking students."
"I'm trying to find a family friend." Taro explained.
Ukyou thought, *Yah, I bet. I just hope you aren't after Ranma.*
"I have a friend that is. learning that art. I can have him meet you, here. Like, tomorrow?"
"Actually, I'm looking for the Master of the Anything Goes Art. Can you tell me where he is?"
Ukyou's eyes widen. "My friend is quite talented in the art, but I don't know who the master is."
Taro looked surprised, "Don't know? Who does he train under?"
Ukyou frowned, "He trains under his father. But I *doubt* he's the master. His father is the type to announce such things, due to pride."
Taro was perplexed. He didn't consider that maybe the master was lying to his mother about being the master of the art. What did that mean to his search?
Ukyou reassured, "No, the father isn't the master. I know that much."
Taro went silent.
Ukyou took a look at the room, seeing more customers. She glanced at the grill window. Hoshi was doing good, but soon would be overwhelmed with orders. Ukyou stood up.
"Come by tomorrow to meet my friend. If he doesn't know, I bet he could contact the master, if you had a good case to see him. Which I am sure you do."
Taro nodded, "I can wait until then."