/Tendo Dojo/
Akane was sitting in her room reading a makeup magazine. After a while she put the magazine down and began to think. She thought about Ranma and all the good times they had. Sure there weren't many of them, but still the ones they did have were magical, at least that's how she saw them. This was why Akane was determined now more than ever to get Ranma back. Unfortunately she hadn't seen or heard from Ranma since she saw him looking at her when she was in the car. It was this very thought that bugged her. She wanted to keep track of Ranma twenty four seven so she would know when to strike and force the stubborn fool back home. But Nabiki kept insisting they lay low until the heat was off them. Even though the cops concluded that Nabiki and her weren't at fault,
Nabiki didn't want to take any chances. Akane finally got up and made her way to Nabiki's room. She knocked on the door.
"Come in." She heard Nabiki say. Akane opened the door and walked in. She saw Nabiki lying on her bed reading a fashion magazine herself.
"Nabiki, when are we going to find and bring Ranma back home?" Akane asked getting to the point.
"All in due time sister." Nabiki answered still reading her magazine.
"But we're wasting time. What if Ranma and Ukyo leave Nerima? How are we going to find him?" Akane asked pressing on.
"Don't worry my information network is all over Japan. No matter where Ranma goes, we'll find him."
"But…"
Nabiki cuts her off. "Akane you need to calm down. The best way to go about this is to have patients. Once the heat dies down we'll make our move." Nabiki concluded now looking at her.
"Well I guess you're right." Akane said giving into Nabiki's logic. "I just want him Nabiki. Now that he's gone I see how lucky I was."
"We'll get him. Ranma can't escape his family duties."
"Yeah, I will make Ranma love me again. I just have to wait." Akane said as she turned to leave. "Just keep me up to date on what's happening."
"Don't worry, when it's time to get back to business, you'll be the first to know." Nabiki said, as she once again began reading her magazine while Akane left the room.
/Neko Hanten/
Ukyo was resting on her bed in the guess room. After yesterday's heartbreaking news she heard from officer Monday, Ukyo no longer knew what to do. On top of that she was now living with one of her enemies. A woman she knew was trying to take Ranma away from her. And just like with Akane, she wasn't going to let sneaky Shampoo succeed in taking her man. She planned to get Nabiki and Akane back for what they did, but now she had more pressing things to deal with. She wondered how she was going to do what she loved the most in this world, making okonomiyaki.
Then an idea hit her. She was now living in a restaurant. Sure it was a Chinese place, but Ukyo was sure once costumers had a taste of her okonomiyaki's she would be back in business. She would use the money and save up to build a bigger and better Ucchan's, just like she promised.
She got up off the bed and left her guest room. She went down stairs looking for Shampoo. She saw Shampoo tending to the needs of a costumer and decided to wait.
"Are you okay?"
Ukyo heard a voice say. She turned and saw Mousse looking at her complete with thick glasses. "I'm fine thank you," Ukyo answered smiling.
"What was all that about? Why did Officer Monday want to see you and Ranma?"
"He was just updating us on the culprits who started the fire."
"Did they catch them?"
"Yeah, though all five members were dead when they found them."
"Then why did you yell and run to your room. Wouldn't finding out the people responsible are now dead make you happy?"
"No, because they didn't get the main ones behind the fire." Ukyo said in an angry voice.
"Who are they?"
Ukyo looked at Mousse for a second then replied. "Look, I don't want to talk about this right now, okay?"
"Well… Okay, but if you need to talk to anyone about this. I'll be willing to listen." Mousse said in a friendly voice.
"Thanks Mousse. I'll think about it." Ukyo said, smiling again. She then saw Shampoo go inside the kitchen. Ukyo followed her. When she entered the kitchen saw Shampoo take out a chicken from the fridge and began chopping and cleaning it.
"Hey Shampoo - how's business?" Ukyo asked as she walked up to her.
"Business fine. Why?" Shampoo wondered still chopping and cleaning her chicken.
"Well, I was wondering if I could make okonomiyaki's in your restaurant?"
"This Chinese restaurant Ukyo, not Japanese pizza place." Shampoo answered in a mean tone.
"That's my point Shampoo. If you widen the menu to serve both Chinese and Japanese dishes, your place will become mighty popular."
Shampoo rolled her eyes. "Place already popular. Why Shampoo let spatula girl cook?" Shampoo asked, finally looking at Ukyo.
"Please Shampoo! My place is gone. Now I can't do the one thing I love to do the most." Ukyo responded in a sad voice. "Look it's my blood sweat and tears on the line. You don't have to pay me anything. The only money I'll make will be if I sell my okonomiyaki's or not."
Shampoo looked at Ukyo for a second. "Fine Ukyo. Being cook, Shampoo know how spatula girl feel. Can use that part of kitchen." Shampoo pointed to the stove and sink way down in the corner of the kitchen.
"Really! Thanks Shampoo, you're a life saver." Ukyo cheerfully thanked the Amazon.
"It okay. Good luck."
Shampoo continued to work on the meal she was preparing for her costumer.
She began thinking to herself. 'That's right Ukyo make your junk food. Once Ranma see costumer prefer Shampoo's cooking over yours, he will fall for Shampoo and leave you.'
Ukyo walked to the corner where the second part of the kitchen was. For once, out the whole terrible week, Ukyo gave a genuine smile. She thought to herself. 'Yes I just killed two birds with one stone. Not only can I make my okonomiyaki's, I can also keep my eyes on Shampoo, just encase she tries to poison me, or put something in Ranma's food.'
Ranma was in his separate room doing some katas. Whenever Ranma started to worry, he would ease his mind by doing different relaxing martial arts movements. When Ukyo ran up stairs the other day crying, Ranma ran after her, but when he reached her room, she wouldn't open the door no matter how much he begged her to. Ranma couldn't help but feel in a small way that he let her down. He finished his katas and left the room. He headed down stairs and spotted Mousse mopping the floor.
"Hey Mousse, how's the day treating you?" Ranma asked with a cocky smirk.
Mousse showed him an average look and answered. "Fine Ranma. How about you? You both seemed really upset when that cop left."
"Yeah he didn't give us any good news."
"You mean about the fire at Ucchan's?"
"Yeah." Ranma said, looking down. "Anyways, have you seen Ukyo? I went to her room, but she wasn't there."
"She's in the kitchen with Shampoo." Mousse said while continuing to mop the floor.
"Okay thanks." Ranma said as he made his way to the kitchen. When he got there, he spotted Ukyo at the far end starting to cook. Shampoo, who was also in the kitchen, turned and noticed him.
"Ranma!" Shampoo said in a high-pitched voice. She was about to run and grope him, but stop when she noticed Ukyo giving her a stone cold look.
"That's right. He's Ukyo airen at the moment." Shampoo said to herself.
"Hi, Shampoo." Ranma said, waving at her as he walked pass her and headed for Ukyo.
As Ranma was walking towards her, Ukyo stopped what she was doing and ran into Ranma's arms. They started to kiss each other much to Shampoo's displeasure.
"Are you okay honey?" Ranma asked after they finished kissing.
"Yeah, I'm much better now. Shampoo's going to let me make okonomiyaki and sell it in her restaurant," a smiling Ukyo said.
"Wow! Really! Thanks Shampoo that's very kind of you." Ranma said as he turned to look at her.
"No trouble Ranma, anything to help friend." Shampoo responded trying her best not to show her anger.
"Well, good luck. I'm going to do some training in my room. Call me if you need anything."
"Okay, sugar. Have a good workout."
Ranma turned and left the kitchen. Ukyo went back to mixing her batter for her okonomiyaki. She then put different seasoning in the bowl to give it extra flavor. She looked so focused and professional about it,
Shampoo couldn't help but stop what she was doing and watch her.
Ukyo then took the batter and beat it a couple of times in a rapid motion to make the batter thicken. Then she added her ingredients.
"What kind you make?" Shampoo asked, interrupting her.
"Some basic kinds - nothing too special. Just samples for the costumers."
Ukyo answered still focused on her task.
Shampoo turned and finished her order for the waiting customer.
After a few minutes she turned again and looked at Ukyo. Shampoo's face made a surprise expression when she noticed Ukyo already starting on her twentieth okonomiyaki. Shampoo then put her dish into the oven then walked over to Ukyo.
"How many spatula girl make?" Shampoo asked.
"As much as I can from this batter." Ukyo answered. "I plan to put them on display in the restaurant as free samples."
"Oh!" Shampoo said, looking on.
Ukyo took a row of five okonomiyaki and put them on a big skillet.
Then she put the skillet on the front burner on top of the stove. She then stood back and waited.
"So how long have you been in business Shampoo?" Ukyo asked looking at her.
"Since Shampoo and Great Grandmother moved here." Shampoo said smiling.
"Where is Cologne?" Ukyo asked, just realizing Cologne wasn't around.
"She at Amazon summit. Not back until next week."
"Don't you think she'll get mad if she sees Ranma and me living here?"
"At first, yes. But after problem explained, Cologne will calm down a little."
"Well, if you say so."
The oven bell rang.
"All done." Shampoo said as she opened the oven and took out the baked chicken. The chicken was very well done. With oriental rice in the middle and soy sauce toped all over it. Ukyo's mouth couldn't help but water a little. Shampoo put the chicken meal on a fancy plate. Then she took it out to her costumer.
A few minutes later Ukyo finished her okonomiyaki. Ukyo picked up a spatula and removed each sample for the skillet. She's happy with how well the okonomiyaki's turned out. "The Neko Hanten has some good stoves",
she said out loud to herself. Ukyo then took out the five okonomiyaki's and put them in a fancy basket. She took five more of the twenty she made, put then in the skillet and repeated the process. After about twenty-five minutes Ukyo was done making all of her samples. She took them out of the kitchen and into the table area. She noticed a lot of costumers sitting and enjoying their food, or waiting for their orders to come in. Ukyo decided to approach the costumers who haven't eaten yet, because she was sure they were very hungry.
Ukyo saw a man in a business suit tapping his finger in boredom.
"Hi, kind sir. While you wait for your meal, how about one of my okonomiyaki's to tide you over?"
The man looked at her and saw the young chef smiling. She was very cute in his eyes, earning her points already. He then looked at the okonomiyaki's. They looked very good. "Sure why not." The guy said smiling up at her.
"Thank you, sir. You won't regret it. Here try this one." Ukyo said,
putting one of the samples on his plate.
The man took a bite out of the okonomiyaki. "Oh man this is some good stuff!" The man said excited, then he quickly gabled the rest of it up.
"I'm glad you like it sir." A thrilled Ukyo responded.
"Can I have another one?" The man asked.
"Well, these are only samples." Ukyo explained.
"Then I'll buy some off of you. How much?"
"Well I… Do you really want another one that badly?"
"Yes, these are the best okonomiyaki's I ever tasted. Who are you anyway?" The guy asked.
"I'm Ukyo I use-"
"Thee Ukyo?" The guy asked cutting her off.
"Well, yes." Ukyo eyes widened - shocked the guy knew her name.
"I heard about you." The guy shook his head knowingly "I wanted to taste one of your famous okonomiyaki's when I came into town. But I heard that your shop was burnt down to the ground."
"It was. That's why I'm here." Ukyo said happy that her food was well known in Japan.
"I changed my mind." The guy said looking at her food basket. "I will buy the rest of those okonomiyaki you have there. I will pay you 50,000 yen for them."
Ukyo was shocked. This guy was serious. He really wanted all of the okonomiyaki she made. Who was she to say no. "Sure, here you go." Ukyo said as she put the whole basket on the table. The guy then took out his wallet and gives her five 10,000 yen bills.
"Thanks." He then took a bite of another one. "Man these are great.
I'll tell all my friends that Ukyo and her famous okonomiyaki are now at the Neko Hanten."
"Thank you sir, that means a lot to me." Ukyo bowed humbly.
"No. thank you." The guy said smiling; He noticed shampoo coming from the kitchen with his meal.
"Here you go - mountainside ramen noodles." Shampoo said smiling.
"Oh! That's okay I decided to go back to the office and eat some more of Ukyo's okonomiyaki. Can you put the noodles into a container?"
"Okay. Be right back." A slightly angry Shampoo said. When Shampoo came back the guy was already up and ready to leave. She gave the man a takeout container with the noodles in it.
"Thanks, have a good day." The man said to Shampoo before he turned to Ukyo. "And thank you most of all Chef Ukyo. I thought I would never get to taste one of your okonomiyaki's. It's a good thing I came in here."
"Please! You're too kind. I'm not that special." Ukyo said blushing,
before bowing again.
"I think you are. And rest a sure I will tell everybody I know that you're back in business." The man said waving as he walked out the door.
A happy Ukyo turned around and walked toward the kitchen, but she noticed Shampoo looking at her in an odd way.
"What?" Ukyo asked.
"Nothing. Shampoo just wanna say good job."
"Thank you, Shampoo. I'm glad people still remember me. Restarting might not be as bad as I thought." Ukyo said as she passed Shampoo and went into the kitchen.
And Ukyo was right. As days passed, the Neko Hanten was getting a lot of new costumers. The problem was, well it was a problem for Shampoo anyway, was the fact that more than half of the costumers were buying off of Ukyo. It was almost like she took over the restaurant. Sure people were still showing up for the delightful Chinese dinners, but most were getting Ukyo's okonomiyaki's - rather it was for eating inside or for takeout.
Another thing that made Shampoo angry, was the fact that because Ukyo was making her own money, and not working for a salary, she was getting most of the profits. In short, Shampoo's plan to show Ukyo up was back firing and she had to do something fast.
She suddenly got an idea. She would poison one of Ukyo costumer's. Then when the word got out, not only will she be out of business. She would go to jail. She was not worried about the reputation of the Neko Hanten.
Because all the costumers knew by now the Chinese's department and the okonomiyaki department were separate.
Shampoo went into the kitchen and saw Ukyo. She walked up to her. "Ukyo?
Ranma said he wanted see you." Shampoo said, in her trademark cute voice.
Ukyo, never wanting to be away from her love too long looked up. "Okay."
As she left the kitchen, Shampoo, now with a sneaky look on her face took a bottle of liquid and poured it into Ukyo latest okonomiyaki order.
Shampoo, however, didn't realize Ukyo was peeking into the kitchen watching her. Ukyo shook her head then went upstairs to the guest room.
She knocked on his door. After knocking twice Ranma opened up.
"Hi honey what's up?" Ranma said smiling at her.
"I think our welcome in this place is about to run out." Ukyo said looking at Ranma in the eyes.
"Why do you say that?" Ranma asked looking at her.
"Because I just saw Shampoo putting poison on one of my okonomiyaki's."
"What! I'm not going to let her get away with that." Ranma boasted while getting mad.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it.' Ukyo said, putting her hands on Ranma,
holding him back.
"Ukyo we can leave. We don't have to stay here."
"No. Shampoo promised she would let us stay. Until we got back on our feet, and I'm going to make sure she keeps her word." Ukyo explained in a cocky voice. She then turned and headed back down stairs.
"Ukyo!" Ranma screamed.
"Don't worry sugar." Ukyo said, as she left Ranma's site.
Ukyo found Shampoo talking to a costumer. She didn't hesitate to walked up to her.
"Shampoo can I speak to you for a minute?"
"Okay." Shampoo answered looking annoyed.
Both Shampoo and Ukyo walk into the kitchen. Ukyo closed the door behind them. Shampoo noticed, but doesn't say anything.
"What's your problem?" Ukyo asked Shampoo with an angry face.
"What you mean?" Shampoo asked faking innocence.
"I MEAN THIS!" Ukyo screamed as she quickly reacheed into Shampoo's pocket,
pulling out a bottle. The same bottle Shampoo used to pore that stuff on her okonomyaki.
Shampoo was a little surprised by this, but kept her cool. "Why attack Shampoo? Shampoo do nothing."
"Don't play dumb. I saw you put that stuff in my food."
Shampoo realizing she got caught, decides to come clean. "So what if Shampoo did? What spatula girl do about it?"
"WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?" Ukyo asked repeating what Shampoo said. "This!" Ukyo lifted up her giant spatula getting ready to swing it.
Shampoo quickly responded by getting into an Amazon fighting stance. "Bring on spatula girl." Shampoo said with a cocky smirk. "Shampoo been waiting long time for this."
Before anything could happen however, Ranma and Mousse suddenly rushed into the kitchen. They get in between Ukyo and Shampoo holding them back.
"Okay! Just calm down you two." Ranma said holding Ukyo.
"Yeah, we still go a place of business to run." Mousse said holding Shampoo.
"No, Ranma - she'll pay for trying to poison one of my costumers." An angry Ukyo said.
"Anytime, spatula girl." Shampoo responded back.
"Shampoo did you really poison Ukyo's food?" Mousse asked hearing what Ukyo said.
"Shut up Mousse. Let Shampoo go, before Shampoo poison you." Shampoo was trying to get free, but Mousse had her locked.
"Why did you do that Shampoo?" Ranma asked looking sad at her.
Shampoo seeing Ranma's sad eyes calms down. "I hate Ukyo! She take everything from Shampoo. Not only did she take you. Now try to take over Great Grandmother restaurant." Shampoo said looking down in shame.
"Shampoo. Ukyo and I love each other. I thought you accepted that."
Ranma said shaking his head.
"NO! Shampoo never accept." She then points her finger at Ukyo. "Ukyo Shampoo challenge you. If win, Ranma yours, If Shampoo win, Ranma mine.'
"Now wait-"
Before Ranma could finish, Ukyo interrupted him. "You're on you Chinese bimbo." Ukyo said with an angry look.
"But Honey?"
"No Ranma! I'm sick of running from my problems. This time I'm going to fight for your honor."
Ranma seeing the determination in her eyes, decided to step back.
"When will it be?" Ukyo asked getting to the point.
"As soon as restaurant close." Shampoo said smirking.
"Fine."
"Fine."
Seeing that both girls calmed down. Ranma and Mousse let them go.
Ukyo went back to her end of the kitchen. She threw away the poison okonomiyaki and washed her hands. She then started on another one.
Shampoo looked at Ukyo for a second then she walked past the boys out the kitchen to take a new costumers order.
Both girls were going about business as usual acting like nothing happened for the rest of the working hours.
Ranma and Mousse while looking at each other, shook their heads.
"Women"
Return to Top #top