Spatulas and Bandannas by Shikoku
Chapter Five: The Mysterious New Girl...
"I can't believe I have ANOTHER fiancee.." Ranma moaned to himself. It was later that night, after Ukyo and Ryoga had finally left. Ranma had woken up from his shocked state and was now really thinking about his predicament. "I'm engaged to two girls at the same time!" He turned and glared at Genma, who was wrapped in bandages. "AND IT's ALL YOUR FAULT!"
Genma scowled at his angry son. "Quit whining about it and take it like a man, Ranma. You sound like a girl!" He wasn't in the best of moods right now, what with having everyone beating him up and being mad at him and all... Was it his fault that he had been hungry and Kuanji-san had been gullible? Life just wasn't fair..
WHAP! Ranma's math book (A five inch thick book, that weighed ten pounds) flew across the room from where Ranma had been sitting and hit him in the face, effectively shutting him up. "Shut up! I wouldn't even be in this mess if it weren't for you!"
Genma fell backwards and went to la la land.
"Stupid jerk..." Ranma muttered under his breath. Now he had a choice to make. Should he marry the uncute tomboy or the crossdressing tomboy? Both hated his guts, but only Ukyo really wanted to kill him... Ranma sighed. He wished he could just choose option C: marry nobody. But he knew he couldn't be that lucky.
Meanwhile a mysterious package was waiting for Ukyo when
he... wait it's she now got home to the restaurant. She bent
down and picked it up, examining the return address. A wide
smile broke out on her face. "They finally came, P-chan,"
She exclaimed. "Ooh, I can't wait for tomorrow. It's been
so long!" Joyfully, she bounced around a bit, before
realizing that P-chan hadn't answered her.
"P-chan?" She looked around her, but the pig was out of
sight. She sighed. He must have gotten lost again.
In the middle of a flooded village on an island somewhere, a little black pig struggled to remain on one of the floating walls of a wrecked house. He sighed. Why me?
The next day at Furinkan High brought many turned heads for the boy population of the school. Just as the day before had brought rumors of new male students today people were talking about the new girl that had just stepped on to campus.
"Did you hear...?"
"She's a babe!"
"I heard she an exchange student from France or something?"
"Do you think shell go out with me?"
"In your dreams..."
Akane looked at Ranma as they walked through the whispering crowds. "Who do you think they're talking about?"
"Probably, someone way out of your league, Akane," Ranma said, without even looking at her or acting like he cared about a new girl being in his class. "You know one of those super model types..."
Akane started glowing a nasty blue color...
Fortunately for Nabiki, the screams didn't block out the sounds of yin being handed to her as she gave out information on the new girl. She of course, knew all about the mysterious girl already and was more than happy to share her information with her fellow students... for the right price, of course. A huge crowd of students, mostly boys with a curious girl or two thrown in surrounded her begging for information and an occasional picture but one mighty voice commanded them to move aside.
"Make way for the Blue Thunder!" Kuno bellowed as he shoved aside the boys who weren't moving fast enough for him.
Nabiki rolled her eyes. Oh, please... But she was happy to
see him. Kuno was one of her most valuable suckers... I mean
customers. That's it. "What can I do for you today, Kuno-
baby? Want information about the new girl?"
"Ah, Nabiki Tendo, I care not for a mere girl. Why should I when goddesses have caught my eyes. Pray, do you have some new pictures of your lovely sister and the Pigtailed Girl?"
"But of course, " Nabiki answered pulling out a batch of pictures. "All these for the usual price, Kuno baby." She handed him the pictures, and Kuno gazed at them lovingly, placing his yin into her hands. She quickly counted up the money and nodded satisfied. "Oh, are you sure you don't want information on the new girl?"
"Nabiki Tendo, I only have love for two women in this world and..."
"Woah!" A boy nearby drowned out Kuno's noble declaration. "Check out that babe"
Kuno turned and his mouth dropped open.
If you were to tell her that she had caught every single eye at Furinkan High School, she wouldn't believe it. She would have probably blushed and been dreadfully embarrassed. But Ukyo Kuanji didn't know that she was cute. Didn't even think for a second that she could have so many admirers. She was just happy to finally be herself, again.
She was dressed in the same uniform every girl at this school wore, a turquoise jumper over a white blouse, but unlike the other girls she wore it like it was for the first time. The feel of skirts swishing between her legs caused an unknown joy to show in her sparkling green eyes. Her long rich brown hair was finally loosed from the tight pony tail she had always kept it in, only being held away from her face by one single white ribbon. She was a woman, and for the first time ever she was completely experiencing it.
When Ranma and Akane finally saw her, they didn't even recognize her... again. When they did, Ranma nearly fainted and Akane's mouth dropped open. "You're the exchange student from France?"
Ukyo stared at her confused. "Huh?"
Ranma was trying to find his voice...
"What's with the sudden change..." Akane asked, carefully.
Ukyo smiled. "My school uniform finally arrived." She twirled around, joyfully feeling the skirts twirl around her body.
Ranma finally found it. "I thought you liked dressing like a boy..."
Ukyo scowled at him. "I only gave up my femininity because of what you did to me..."
A crowd of boys suddenly became interested in their conversation.
"What did you do to her, Ranma?"
"You didn't do ...THAT to her did you?"
"Enemy of women!"
By this time, Ranma was blushing furiously. "I didn't do
nothing to her"
"Just leave me behind after our father's engaged us..."
Ukyo grumbled.
"YOUR WHAT?" The crowd of boys shouted obviously disappointed.
"Ah, man, she belongs to Ranma!"
"Don't all girls do in this series...?"
"Yeah, but she promised she'd change that!"
"What do you need two fiancees for, Ranma?"
"Yeah, give Ukyo to me!"
"I want Akane..."
Ranma was even redder now. "Hey, it wasn't like I asked for this. This is our dumb parents idea!"
Ukyo nodded. "I agree."
Ranma looked at her, amazed, as did Akane. "You do?" They both asked at the same time. Ukyo looked at them, solemnly. "Ranma... I did love you once. There was a time I actually wanted to marry you, but I don't now. Too much has happened since I last saw you. I had given up my femininity and vowed never to love a man again."
The male population at Furinkan High gasped.
"But all of that has changed. A friend has helped me see that I don't need you as a husband or as an enemy to get on with my life. I'm starting over again, as a woman, but I'm not gonna marry you. I renounce any promises between my father and yours. We're not engaged anymore."
Genma popped in out of nowhere. "Did you hear that, Tendo?"
Soun also popped in crying tears of happiness. "The Anything-goes School has been saved!" The two old men began dancing around.
"Hey, but I still expect full payment back for that stolen okonomiyaki cart." Ukyo yelled at Genma, breaking his joyful spirit slightly.
"Did you hear that?" Hiroshi asked Daisuke.
"Ukyo's not engaged to Ranma anymore.." Daisuke answered Hiroshi.
"Which means..." Hiroshi began.
"That Ukyo's free to date one of us..." Daisuke finished.
"Hold," Kuno ordered appearing behind them. "The fair Ukyo Kuanji deserves only a man that is strong enough to defeat her..."
"Oh, no..." Hiroshi gasped.
"Not again..." Daisuke wailed.
"I, Tatewaki Kuno, often times called the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, declare that only he that can defeat Ukyo Kuanji in combat shall have the honor of dating with her."
"Ah, man... I thought we were over this!"
"My bones were just starting to heal from the LAST time he declared a girl only datable by combat..."
"Now where did I put those boxing gloves of mine...?"
As the boys departed for classes, Kuno still retained his noble figure of authority. "Ah, yes, fair maiden, only he that is strong enough to defeat you can have the honor of dating with thee. The Blue Thunder shall be that man!" Thunder cracked in the sky. As Kuno laughed mightily.
He then went to class after buying all of Ukyo's pictures from Nabiki.
Just like Nabiki knew he would.
Later that day Akane and Ukyo were walking home after school. Akane had talked to Ukyo during lunch, and the two found that they had a lot in common. Now it seemed like they had been friends forever. Akane had suggested that they walk home together. Now they were fully enjoying each others company as they gossiped about their shared teachers and playfully teased the other.
Walking silently behind them, Ranma followed on the fence. For some reason he looked annoyed at how well the girls were getting along... Or maybe it was because their conversation had moved on to him..
"Really? After all that you walked in on each other again?" Ukyo asked surprised, as she laughed at Akane's story about how she and Ranma had first met.
Akane nodded and rolled her eyes. "You'd think he'd learn to knock by then..."
Ukyo didn't answer. She was too busy laughing her head off.
Akane glanced at her new friend curiously, "Hey, Ucchan, how did you and Ryoga meet anyway?"
Curious about that too, Ranma hopped off the fence to hear Ukyo's story.
Ukyo blushed... "Well..."
Flashback: (Didn't see this coming, huh?)
The newly dubbed P-chan sat contented after eating all the okonomiyaki he could eat made by perhaps the greatest okonomiyaki chef in the world. Almost drowning had been the best thing that had ever happened to him. He had met Ukyo Kuanji. A great friend. He needed friends right now. Ukyo had been so kind to him, talked to him nicely, told stories about himself... P-chan just felt somehow connected to the young man. Like they were meant to be friends. P-chan had only known Ukyo for about a month, but he felt like he had known him all of his life. Being stuck in this body... Ugh, P-chan still loathed himself, but Ukyo had made him forget that he was a pig, made him forget completely about the curse... even forget about Ranma for awhile. Traveling with the young chef had been some of the happiest days of Ryoga's miserable life. The only problem was that Ukyo thought he was a pig.
How can P-chan tell him the truth? He had lied to him, made
Ukyo think that he was something else. Deceived him... P-
chan didn't want to lose his friend. At least not that way..
So he decided to leave.
That night as Ukyo slept under the stars, P-chan quietly crept out of his blanket and waddled over to the supplies. With great difficulty, P-chan got the tea kettle out of Ukyo's bag and set up water to boil. Well, he couldn't get anywhere in this body. Besides it would be easier to carry supplies this way.
Thoughts of Ukyo crossed his mind, as he stared at the boiling pot. He was really going to miss him. But it was better this way. He couldn't live as a pig, and Ukyo would never understand him. It was too bad. They could have been great friends.
The water finally ready. He nuzzled the kettle over, letting the warm liquid rinse away the hated body. He felt the dizziness and growth that always accompanied the change. He wondered if he would ever get used to this sensation. He hoped he wouldn't have to.
Finally back in his real body, Ryoga sighed in relief.
But a scream broke his peaceful mood.
He turned and gasped, seeing Ukyo had been watching him the whole time. "What...? Your the... " Shock crossed Ukyo's features, but it was slowly replaced by anger. "What the hell is going on?"
Ryoga turned pale and began to tell his tragic story...
"So let me get this straight," Ukyo began, as he poured cold water down Ryoga's back, turning the boy back into a pig. "So because of these weird Chinese springs you turn into a pig when you're splashed with cold water," He poured another kettle of hot water changing him back.
"Yes," Ryoga nodded, before she poured cold water onto him, again.
"And it was all because Ranma pushed you in? My Ranma. The Ranma that had left me?" He poured more hot water onto the pig.
"Yes, This is all Ranma's fault!" Ryoga shouted, truly enraged once again.
"Ah, you poor baby, you really had it rough, but you have to admit this is fun..." Ukyo grinned, as he once again splashed Ryoga with cold water.
For whom? P-chan squealed, slightly irritated. Ukyo splashed him again with hot water, and Ryoga was able to speak again. "Uh, so... do you hate me...?" He asked slightly, hesitantly.
Ukyo looked thoughtful, "No... I don't hate you, Ryoga. I know what it's like to feel you have to pretend to be something you're not. I've been through that, too."
Ryoga looked amazed. "You have?"
Ukyo sighed... "Oh, yeah... You see... I'm not really a boy..." He opened his shirt a little barely showing his hidden cleavage. "I'm a girl..."
Ryoga stared at hi- wait it's her now, dumfounded. He looked at her closer and saw her for what she was. Her slender frame, and soft curves, her soft hair, and sparkling green eyes. She had been so kind to me... "Uh, why would you hide a thing like this?"
"Because of Ranma," Ukyo's expression turned fierce as she once again thought of the one that had ruined her life. "When he abandoned me and stole my dowry he ruined me for marriage. I'm doomed to spend my life alone!"
Ryoga shook his head in amazement. "You'll never be alone, Ukyo... And any man would love to marry you... you're smart, kind, a great cook, funny, and..."He paused, but drew together all his courage. "You're really cute..." He finally whispered, blushing.
Ukyo stared at him in shock. "I'm not cute!"
"You are to me..."
Ukyo blushed harder. "Am not, am not, am not!" She retorted whapping him with each 'am not'.
Ryoga sighed. He'll never understand girls.
"So we decided that since the both of us wanted Ranma dead that it'd be easier to team up and do it together. We've been traveling together ever since." Ukyo finished her story.
Akane laughed, "I can't believe he actually pretended to be your pet for so long. I would have killed him if he did that to me."
'Ah, I would have, but he looked so cute..." Ukyo burst out laughing, soon joined in by Akane. Ranma just sighed and followed them into the dojo. He'd never understand girls...
Three lovely faces were displayed in Kuno's mind that night, as he stared up at the stars after a strenuous kendo work out. As usual was the fierce, yet cute picture of Akane Tendo. She was joined by the fiery, yet innocent picture of the mysterious Pigtailed girl. But another girl danced between his two loves. The sweet, beautiful picture of Furinkan High's newest beauty. "Ukyo Kuanji" He whispered her beautiful name. He must know more about this one...
"Sasuke!" He shouted to the faithful Kuno family ninja. Minutes passed, and Kuno grew more irritated. "Sasuke!" He tried again.
"Coming, Master Kuno," A small man dressed in black ran into the clearing from the Kuno Mansion. He knelt down before his master, respectfully. "Forgive me my lateness, master. I had been serving your sister."
Kuno sighed. "Just see that it doesn't happen again."
Sasuke bowed down lower. "Yes, Master."
"Sasuke, I want you to find out all you can about my new love, Ukyo Kuanji.."
"Yes, master," And Sasuke was off to do Kuno's bidding.
Kuno chuckled to himself, "Ah, sweet Ukyo Kuanji, soon you will be mine... along with Akane Tendo... and the Pigtailed Girl... Whomever shall I choose!"
Ah... Decisions decisions decisions... Poor Kuno. Kind of brings a tear to your eye, don't it?
Next time: Kuno tries to woo Ukyo, and Ukyo finds out that popularity ain't as great as she thought it would be..
All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi!