Notes: Disclaimer on the first chapter.
No, I have not stopped writing or dropped off the face of this fandom. And after more than a year without an update, I don't have much excuse. What I can offer is two things. I have opened a LiveJournal named AletaThuvis135. If a reader gets bored and wants to ask how the story is doing, I'll try to look out there. The second thing is much better than that journal. I do have up to chapter 16 written. So I'll be stopping by a little more often to add them in.
BTW: Readers will hate the length of my future chapters. They are going back to the same length they started at in the beginning. It is under the guidance of some advice of how to write a book.
Sorry, to keep you, on with the story!
Chapter 11 Konatsu!
By Aleta Thuvis
The restaurant closed and was cleaned. Ukyou let the others deal with anything that had involved large amounts of cold water, like mopping the floors. Ukyou carefully guided Ryoga to his room.
Ukyou walked into her room. Konatsu was sitting on her bed, leaning on the footrest. Ukyou took a seat, leaning against the headboard.
"What's going on?" Ukyou asked, not too concerned. They have had conversations between friends like this for a while. Ukyou was concerned about the uncertainty of Konatsu when she asked to talk to Ukyou.
"I got the opportunity to talk to Ryoga tonight. Is it true that he is P-chan?"
Ukyou nodded. The few times Akane came into the restaurant to eat, she brought P-chan with her. The girls of the staff doted on the pet pig. "He has the curse of drowned pig."
"Poor Guy. Talking to him, made me think of some things. Ukyou, you've changed. The whole restaurant has noticed."
Ukyou blushed and leaned forward. "Have they figured it out yet? I mean, very few of thing have even seen me, in... my cursed form. I thought that doggie door in the kitchen door, they would think was for Ryoga."
Konatsu's eyes widened. "No, they haven't noticed that. I mean you aren't talking about Ranma all the time."
Ukyou leaned back and looked at her bedspread. "No. I guess I haven't."
Konatsu didn't say anything. Ukyou went on, "I just have mixed feelings about the whole deal now. Ranma's a nice guy. But... the type of guy I want, is someone who will make up their mind about issues, instead of dragging them on. I don't think he sees me as a fiancée anyway."
Konatsu winced. "I'm sorry, Ukyou."
"Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?" Ukyou asked.
"There's more. I was thinking tonight, how important honesty was. That Ryoga was really brave to come clean with Akane. He did it because he knew they would have never moved on past the point they were at. Of course, I can't blame him for not wanting to do anything since it turned out the way it turned out."
"Yes, but now he doesn't have to worry about Akane finding out about his curse and being mad at him. He will not have to wonder if he told her, if she would have feelings for him instead of someone else." Ukyou pointed out.
"True." Konatsu sighed and took a breath. "Ukyou, when I applied for manager here, I told you about my family. I left home because my older sisters were jealous and envious of the attention I got from the boys."
Ukyou agreed, a bit confused at the changed of subject. "Right. You moved here to find some men to send to them, because it wouldn't be fair to marry before your older siblings."
Konatsu nodded, "Right. The truth is.... I was never interested in boys to begin with."
Ukyou's eyes widened in shock. Konatsu was Lesbian?
Konatsu spoke faster. "No, I mean... It's because I'm a guy, Ukyou."
"Nani?"
"The village knows that but my sisters were always scaring my friends away by trying to date them. My sisters accused me of being gay whenever I didn't bring my friends over often enough. So, that's why I left. The marriage thing is a lie because I'm the heir to the family. I thought coming to Tokyo as a female would attract some men, that I could send to my sisters. I didn't expect how hard that would be to pull off once I started working here."
"Why is that?" Ukyou asked.
"I... didn't expect to meet you, Ukyou. I Like you very much."
Ukyou fidgeted. "I don't know, what to say... Konatsu."
Konatsu nodded. "You don't have to." Konatsu stood. "I'll see you tomorrow, after school, here?"
"Ok. I'm going to be asking Ranma to stop by the restaurant around 5 to meet someone. I don't know the whole story, but there might be real damage control to do."
Konatsu stepped to the door. "Part of the job of a martial artist, eh? Good Night."
Ukyou faintly responded, "Good night" as Konatsu left.
Ukyou growled to herself, trotting down the street. Gym class was a disaster. The teacher was not thinking clearly, obviously. The janitors were out grounds keeping. One of the students grabbed their water hose and started a mud bath. Ukyou managed to duck into some bushes, but still got soaked with cold hose water. She dragged her clothes from the scene unnoticed but her uniform was going to need special care – if not replacing.
Maybe I should consider getting a girl's uniform. Grampa isn't here and there's little reason to hide my gender. No, I'll just stick with what's comfortable. After next year it won't matter.
ARG! Why today anyway!? I didn't have homework to do yesterday. It's too bad I can't just tell the teacher's the truth. No, my dog didn't eat my homework, I said, I changed into a dog. It's times like these I'm envious of Ranma. His cursed form is still human.
Ukyou slipped into the restaurant by the doggie door. She nudged the swinging kitchen door and emerged into the dining room.
Konatsu's eyes widened. "Ukyou?"
Ukyou nodded. She almost barked but decided she didn't want anyone else like Ryoga to investigate. There shouldn't be anyone else in the restaurant, until 4. They opened for dinner at 5.
"You never told me you were a cute dog!"
Ukyou wanted to shrug, but she couldn't. She started to go to the stairs for the second level.
"Wait... Ukyou. Ryoga's taking a shower. He should be done soon."
Ukyou whined. What now? I had things to do!
"Hot water changes you back, right?"
Ukyou nodded her head. Her ears bounced.
"I'll heat some up, then."
Ukyou shook her head no. She didn't want to streak to her room from the kitchen. Ryoga could walk in...and Konatsu would see her.
Konatsu asked puzzled. "Why?"
Ukyou walked over to Konatsu carefully and bit Konatsu's pant leg without getting his leg.
"What are you doing?" Konatsu asked, still puzzled as ever.
Ukyou let go. The water upstairs stopped running. Konatsu and Ukyou moved back to the dining room. To Ukyou's dismay, Ryoga came out of the bathroom and down the stairs. His hair was wet, and his clothes were clean.
"Hey Konatsu. Is Ukyou back yet?"
"Um.. No." Konatsu looked at Ukyou. She laid down at his feet, trying to look innocent.
Ryoga looked at the dog. "You!" He looked at Konatsu. "Is he your dog? Does Ukyou know you have it here?"
"I just recently found her. She was a stray. And yes, Ukyou knows." Konatsu emphasized the female pronoun.
"Well... be careful with that dog. When I was pig it led me back to the Tendo's, like she knew where I lived."
"Perhaps, she thought you were lost, and guided you to the place you smelled like the most to her." Konatsu offered.
Ryoga shrugged. "My sense of smell is better as... but it's not like that."
"Maybe there's a difference between dog and pig senses?"
Ryoga crouched down and offered his hand for Ukyou to sniff. "Don't know."
Ukyou moved backwards away from Ryoga. She really did not want to play the role of pet dog right now.
Konatsu observed, "Be careful, she still has a few trust issues."
Ryoga stood back up. "I have a weird scent anyway. What should we do while we wait for Ukyou to get back?"
"Work, of course!" Konatsu lead Ryoga into the kitchen.
Ukyou ran upstairs and into the bathroom. She jumped into the tub and turned the water on. Hot water changed her back into human. Ukyou sighed in relief. She turned the water off and got a towel.
After getting her work clothes on she went downstairs and into the kitchen.
Ryoga and Konatsu were talking rolling silverware. They looked up. Ryoga was glaring at her.
"When did you get in? I haven't heard the door open." Ryoga asked rudely.
Ukyou blushed. "A bit ago. Gym class was a mud bath, so I had to wash the mud off."
"How did you get in?"
"Through the front door, Ryoga. I went up to my room and took a shower once you got out." Ukyou replied, getting upset in response to Ryoga's tones.
Ryoga looked between Konatsu and Ukyou. He shook his head.
"Ryoga, let's give Ukyou some space...take this, ok?" Konatsu dropped the almost full container of rolled silverware into Ryoga's hands. Ryoga caught it, and followed Konatsu to the Dining area.