Chapter 25 Ukyo's Father
Sunday afternoon rolled around, and Ukyo was in her restaurant, cooking on her grill. Shampoo was in the kitchen in the back, cooking some ramen noodles and Ryoga was in the front, waiting on tables. Ukyo kept half an eye on Ryoga, in case he got lost, but it seemed that as long as he could see the table numbers, he could get to where he needed to go. The door opened and a tall man walked in. Ukyo said, without taking her eyes off of the grill, "Hello, welcome to Ucchan's. Go ahead and seat yourself, and someone will be right with you."
The man walked over and seated himself on one of the stools in front of the grill. Ukyo looked up then and recognized her father. "Hello, Father. I'll be right with you once I get this order up," she said with a brilliant smile.
"Business first, pleasure second. I see I taught you well," her father said with a chuckle as he watched her work.
Ukyo called, "Ryoga-chan, this is ready for table three." Shampoo came out from the back with a plate of shrimp ramen and gave it to Ryoga. He picked up the plate with the seafood okonomiyaki and carried them both over to the customers seated at table three.
"How's business, Ukyo?" her father asked.
"Pretty good. My business partner picked a good location, and the delivery service we just started is profitable as well," Ukyo replied. She came around the grill and bowed to her father. As she straightened up, Ryoga came over to stand next to her. Ukyo put her arm around his waist, and said, "Father, I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Ryoga Hibiki."
"Ukyo, daughter, what happened to Saotome?" he asked in response.
"That's a very long story. I did find them both, but I already had feelings for Ryoga-chan by then. I had met Ryoga on my travels. And there was a bit of a complication," Ukyo said.
"What kind of complication?" her father asked.
"Well, it's hard to explain, but Ranma usually comes by in the afternoon and I think you'll figure it out then," Ryoga replied.
Kuonji asked, "Forgive my bad manners, Ryoga. How long have you known my daughter?"
"Uh, as Ucchan said, we met as she was traveling. We're both martial artists, so we joined up to keep each other company. Once we reached here, and she started the restaurant, I stayed to help. Things kinda progressed from there, until a few weeks ago, I asked her to marry me," Ryoga replied, as if he was reciting the lines. Fortunately, Kuonji missed the intonation and just heard the words.
At that moment, two girls entered the restaurant. "Hey Ucchan," the cuter of the two, a red-haired girl, said, "Can we get a couple of specials?"
"Sure, Ranchan. First though, do you remember my father?" Ukyo said.
Ranma's eyes grew wide as if in thought, and then she bowed. "Hello again, Mr. Kuonji. Remember me, I'm Ranma Saotome, and this is my friend Akane Tendo," she said with a brilliant smile.
Mr. Kuonji frowned, and then said, "Ukyo, who is this person? This can't be Ranma, she's a girl."
Ukyo replied, "That's the complication I was telling you about. Imagine my surprise when I found out."
Ranma said frostily, "Mr. Kuonji, I assure you that I am the child that you met when I was six. The one that played with Ucchan and you fed okonomiyaki. I am the daughter and only child of Gemna and Nodoka Saotome."
"Then what happened to your hair? The Ranma I recall did not have red hair," Kuonji responded.
Ukyo looked worried. She thought, 'How did we miss something so obvious. I didn't think he would remember that clearly, I guess.'
Ranma was trying to think up something to say, when Shampoo said from the kitchen door, "That's my fault, I guess. Ranma's mother has pretty auburn hair. Ranma looks a lot like her, so I talked my stepdaughter into trying that color. I did a dye job and this bright red color was the result."
"I don't really mind anymore, stepmother. The red hair is kinda striking, and I really don't mind being noticed," Ranma said with a laugh. 'Good save, Shampoo,' she thought.
"Here's your specials, Ranchan," Ukyo said as she slid the plates over to Ranma and Akane.
"Thanks, Ukyo," Akane said. She and Ranma began eating their food.
"Mom wanted ta know if you were gonna be home for dinner, Shampoo?" Ranma called, "If ya are, could ya give her a call. Mom wanted ta know if you and Ryoga were gonna join us after dinner tonight as well, Ucchan."
Ukyo frowned, unsure of where Ranma was going. "We ought to visit with Father and let him get to know my Ryoga-chan," Ukyo said finally.
"Okay, I'll tell her that when we get home. I'll let Pop know that you're in town as well, Mr. Kuonji. If I remember correctly, you two were friends," Ranma said.
Kuonji asked, "How much do you remember of our meeting?"
"Well, it's been a long time, but Ucchan and I have done some reminiscing about the past. I remember playing with this boy I called Ucchan. We would spar, and he would try ta defend your yatai, and if I beat him, you would feed me. I think I won most of the time. I don't remember much else, myself, other than waving goodbye to him as Pop pulled your yatai away. I was really sorry to see us leave; he was a real good friend. It was a real surprise ta me when Ucchan showed up and turned out to be a girl. Pop was so surprised he fainted. The first time Pop saw Ucchan, we had ta take him ta the doctor. Then when Ukyo told me that you and Pop had engaged us to be married, I nearly broke a rib laughing so hard. I guess you thought I was a boy, and Pop thought Ukyo was one. Of course, Pop is kinda stupid, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that he didn't know. He doesn't have a real high opinion of girls," Ranma said with a cute smile, "Pop must not have kept the yatai very long. At least I don't remember it much beyond that."
"Where are your parents, Ranma?" Kuonji said.
Akane replied, "Ranma and his family live with us. Our family and hers both study two branches of the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Ranma and I are both teaching in my family dojo. It's a way of joining the two families, I guess."
"Yeah, Pop and Mr. Tendo both trained under the same master. They specialized in different styles, though, but they pledged before they got married, that one day they would get back together and merge the two styles. I've taught Acchan what I know and she has taught me what she knows. Together, we are combining the two styles into one style," Ranma continued
"Airen does want ta meet ya, Mr. Kuonji. He feels badly about the whole situation that Ukyo and Ranma are in. His wife Nodoka has a strong sense of honor, and she made it clear to Airen that he needed to make amends," Shampoo said.
"Perhaps we should visit with them, tonight, Ukyo. I would like to meet my 'good friend' again, and talk about old times," Mr. Kuonji said, "I can visit with Ukyo and Ryoga this afternoon, and then for the remainder of my time here. It would be good to get this issue resolved."
"Ya wanna come by after the dinner rush is over. Mom can hold the dessert, though I might have ta tie Pop up," Ranma said with a smirk.
Ukyo thought for a while, and then replied, "Yeah, sugar. We can close a little early. I'll call when we start over there."
Ranma and Akane had finished their snack. "I'll tell Mom you're coming, then." Ranma steeled herself for what she was about to do next. Akane had insisted that she had to pretend to be friends with Ryoga for this to work. Ranma and Akane kissed Ryoga's cheek and hugged Ukyo. Ryoga's eyes bugged out slightly. Bye, Xian Pu, I'll tell Mom you'll be home as well, Ranma said in Chinese.
That would be fine, Step-daughter, Shampoo teased. They waved bye and walked out the door.
"I see what you mean about a complication. She seems like a nice enough girl. Is she dating someone?" Kuonji asked.
Ukyo choked, and then answered, "Uh, yes as a matter of fact, she is going steady with someone. I really like Ranchan and her mother. Her father, now he's a different story."
Kuonji asked, "Are you happy, daughter?"
"Mostly, Father. The restaurant and school kept me really busy. Then being with Ryoga has been wonderful," Ukyo said, "I guess the only thing that kept me from being completely happy was missing you."
"Why didn't you come home when you found out about Ranma?" he asked.
Ukyo replied sadly, "You had made such a fuss about our honor and coming back with either Ranma as my husband, or with her dead, that I wasn't sure how you would react. I'm glad you're here. I needed to introduce you to Ryoga soon anyway. We're not in big hurry to marry. I still want to finish high school first."
Ryoga added, "We both need to save up enough money so she can go to college. I know she plans on being a restaurant owner, but if we are to expand to more than one site, she needs some business classes."
"You don't plan on going to college, Ryoga?" Kuonji asked, with surprise.
Ryoga hung his head, and replied, "My education has been a bit spotty. I spent most of my life wandering from place to place, so I didn't make it to class very often. My sense of direction isn't the best so I sometimes get a little lost. I can't rely on Ukyo getting me to class."
Ukyo kissed Ryoga, and then said, "Sugar, I don't mind doing that. I think it's kind of cute actually." Ryoga blushed in surprise.
Several more customers came in then. Ryoga seated the two parties. Ukyo said, "Sorry, Father. Looks like our rush is starting. Do you want to stay and talk some more, between customers, or just meet us back here around eight?"
He stood there in thought and then said, "If you want, I can help cook. That way we can talk while we work."
Ukyo smiled, and said, "Okay, there's a spare apron in the back. You can grab that. Shampoo takes care of everything but the okonomiyaki." Her father went into the kitchen, put the apron on, and came back out. Ukyo showed him where the various toppings were, and made up some fresh batter.
"Table four wants two pork and one squid. Table one wants seafood, and a pork ramen," Ryoga said, "I'll tell Shampoo about the ramen." Ryoga walked to the back, and passed on the order to Shampoo.
Ukyo and her father poured out the batter for four okonomiyakis. As they cooked, the two kept a companionable silence. Soon the meals were ready. "Ryoga-chan," Ukyo called, "These are ready." They dished them out on four plates. Ryoga went back into the kitchen, and brought out the ramen. He came over and picked up the other plates. Ryoga carefully walked over and delivered the meals.
Kuonji asked, "Ukyo, how well do you know the Tendos? Akane seems to be very close to Ranma."
"Well, Nabiki Tendo, the middle daughter is my partner, she brings in the money. Akane and I are in the same classes at school. Ranma is her best friend. Kasumi is the oldest daughter; she basically runs the household. They are my friends. Their father is on the town council," Ukyo said.
Ryoga came over and added, "Kasumi is a decent martial artist now. She just got married to the local doctor, Tofu Ono, but he moved into the Tendo home as well. It's a pretty nice house, with its own detached dojo where they teach. Ranma and Akane do most of the training, though Mr. Saotome and Mr. Tendo help out occasionally."
Shampoo walked out of the kitchen. "Airen mostly just sits around the house when he's not working, though. He and Soun spend a lot of their spare time playing shogi and drinking sake," she said.
"You've called Mr. Saotome as Airen several times. What does that mean?" Kuonji says.
Shampoo said, "I'm a Chinese Amazon. He beat me in a challenge, so now by our traditions, he's supposed to be my husband. We're still trying to work out what that means. Of course, it helps that Nodoka and I like and respect each other."
"Oh, so that's why you called Ranma step-daughter, and she calls you step-mom," Kuonji said.
"Yes, we like ta tease each other that way," Shampoo replied, laughing, "Of course, my great-grandmother started it by calling her granddaughter."
+++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile at the Tendo home, Ranma and Akane were in Akane's room doing their schoolwork. Akane had brought Ranma's work home with her. "All of the senseis asked about you at school yesterday," Akane said, "The note from your mother apparently got them worried about how sick you are."
"Thanks for covering for me Acchan. I really couldn't go ta class like this. So far, we've managed ta keep my curse a secret. I still can't believe no one has figured it out. I guess we've just been lucky," Ranma said. They sat there in silence for a while working on one of the problems. "Ya know, the hardest part about all of this is not being able ta show how we feel about each other," Ranma said.
"Ranchan, you know I don't mind this body," Akane said, hugging her friend.
Ranma smiled, and said, "I know that, Acchan. I just like kissing ya better when I'm a guy." She leaned over and kissed Akane on the cheek. Then she started giggling.
Akane looked quizzically at Ranma.
"I was just remembering the look on Ryoga's face when I kissed him on the cheek. I thought his eyes were gonna fall out," Ranma said, still giggling. Akane joined her.
"I thought it was because I kissed him," Akane said with a mock pout.
Ranma said teasingly, "Why'd ya think that? I'm cuter than ya are, remember?"
Akane punched her lightly on the shoulder, knocking Ranma on the floor. "Ouch, that hurt, tomboy," Ranma said laughing from the floor.
Akane collapsed in laughter, and said, "Oh the poor martial artist. Did I hurt you poor baby?"
Ranma pouted up at her girlfriend from her position on the floor and batted her eyes playfully. "No, us martial artists can withstand any pain," she said in her most pompous tone.
Akane stood up from her chair and helped Ranma up. She hugged Ranma and then lightly kissed her. They turned when they heard a slight gagging sound from behind them. Nabiki said, acidly, "If this gets any more sugary, I think I'm going to get sick. Anyway, they're here, so you two need to stop necking and come downstairs." The two of them followed her downstairs and on into the living room. There they saw Nodoka and Gemna sitting together talking to Mr. Kuonji, Ukyo and Ryoga. Shampoo was coming in from the kitchen carrying a tray with a pot of tea and some cups. Ranma hesitated in the doorway until Shampoo had set the tray down. Shampoo then went to sit next to Gemna.
"Welcome to our home, Mr. Kuonji," Akane said as she sat down with Ranma, "I'm sorry Father isn't here to greet you properly, but my sister and her new husband took him on a visit to see Tofu's mother. He's only been gone a short while, but already Mr. Saotome is missing his shogi partner."
"Thank you for your welcome in his stead, Akane. This is excellent tea, by the way. It's from China, is it not?" Kuonji replied.
Shampoo answered, "Yeah, it is. Nodoka and I like the more robust teas from there. I'm glad ya like it."
"Ranma, your father has been telling me some about what you have been doing since we last met. He tells me that you've learned from a lot of different senseis and that you've traveled around a lot," Kuonji said.
Ranma replied, "Yeah. I'm glad we finally settled down, though. Life on the road got kinda old there at the end. And a girl really needs to be with her mother some, ya know. I'm a bit of a tomboy, normally. Mom's trying ta teach me better, but I'm sure I drive her crazy." She giggled at the expression on her father's face.
Nodoka chuckled. "Yes, you do dear. You're getting better though. I can actually get you to wear a dress occasionally, after all," she said. Gemna eyed his wife nervously and saw that her hand was resting on the hilt of her katana. He wisely said nothing.
Kuonji asked, "During your travels, did you ever go to China, or did you just stay in Japan?"
Ranma laughed and replied, "Of course we went to China. That's where we met Shampoo after all. We stayed in her village for about a month while I trained with one of the elders, Shampoo's great-grandmother as a matter of fact. She taught me several different techniques, some of which she gave me permission ta teach ta others. We also traveled around the countryside training at some of the training grounds and every dojo we could find."
Mr. Kuonji stood up with his teacup to get some more tea and tripped, pouring the contents onto Ranma. Everyone gasped. "Are you okay, Mr. Kuonji?" said Ranma in her soprano voice. The rest of the groups eyes widened in surprise.
Kuonji said, "I'm fine. I apologize for spilling my tea, Ranma."
"That's okay, I'll just go change into something else. While I'm gone, why don't you serve dessert, Mom?" Ranma said as she stood up. "Akane, I'm gonna need some clean clothes, could you bring me some down from my room?" Ranma and Akane got up; Ranma went into the bathroom, while Akane went upstairs.
Nodoka said, "I'd like to serve the dessert in the dining area. If everyone could go in there and find a place, I'll bring it in there. Ukyo, dear, could you help me, please?" Akane came back downstairs, and entered the bathroom, Nodoka and Ukyo went on into the kitchen, while everyone else went into the dining area and sat down. Shortly, Nodoka and Ukyo came back out carrying some green tea ice cream. Ranma and Akane joined them, Ranma now wearing one of her red Chinese shirts, and her black slacks, with her breasts bound up she looked very boyish.
"Pop, ya better have saved us some of the ice cream," Ranma warned as they sat down. Nodoka smiled and handed the two girls their bowls. Ranma smiled at Kuonji, and said, "I did warn ya, I'm a bit of a tomboy as ya can see."
"So I see. It's hard to believe that you're the same girl that was here a few moments ago." Kuonji said in surprise.
Ranma giggled, looking quite pretty and said, "Poor Pop, he always wanted a boy, so he did his best to turn me into a man among men. I never wore a dress until I came to live with the girls. He still hates it when I act too much like a girl. Anyway, now you see why Ukyo thought I was a boy when we met again here in Nerima. Of course, she was dressed as a guy as well. We both fought each other, thinking the other one was a guy. Like I told ya this afternoon, it sure was a surprise ta me ta find out different. Then when I showed Ucchan that I was one as well, she darn near fainted. We had a pretty good laugh at each other that day, didn't we Ucchan?"
"We sure did, Ranchan. Then the girls here sort of adopted me, and the five of us became pretty good friends. Ranma and I slowly regained the friendship that we had had when we were kids," Ukyo replied.
Kuonji smiled thinly, and said, "Ukyo, dear, I think it's time for us to leave. I've enjoyed the conversation, but I had a long day of travel, and I find that I am a bit tired."
"Certainly, Father," Ukyo said.
"I want to thank you for your hospitality, Akane and Nabiki. Saotome, we will talk again about our arrangement. It seems that we do have a complication in completing it. Perhaps, sometime later this week we can talk. I do need to get more familiar with my potential son-in-law, Ryoga, after all," Kuonji said. They all stood up and headed for the front door.
Nodoka said, "I've enjoyed this as well, Mr. Kuonji. Please call on us soon." As they watched the Kuonji party leave through the front gate, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They headed back towards the living room, where several people tried to talk at once and ask a question of Ranma.
She shook her head in disgust, and said, "Please, just one of ya."
Gemna asked, "How come ya didn't change, boy?"
"Mom suggested that this might happen. We talked to a person we know who had something called waterproof soap. It wears off after a few wettings, but it works for a while," Ranma said, with a smirk.
"We have a limited supply, Gemna, so don't get any ideas," Nodoka warned. Gemna growled at his wife.
Akane and Ranma gathered up the dishes and carried them into the kitchen. Nodoka followed them as they washed them. "That went reasonably well, I suppose. One more bit of good news is that Ukyo told me that she was taking the week off from school to visit with her father, and show him around Tokyo. It seems that he's never been here. That way we can keep him from running into anyone who knows you."
"That will help, I suppose," Akane said, "Come on Ranma, it's time for bed."
Ranma told his mother, "Goodnight, Mom." She kissed her mother on the cheek and followed Akane upstairs. She then went on up to her room in the attic. She undressed and put on a pair of pajamas. As she got in her bed, she heard a knock on her door. Ranma called, "Come in."
Akane opened the door, and walked in. "Before you ask, Ranchan, I missed waking up with you. I told Auntie Nodoka that I was going to be in here. Now move over and give me some room," she said, with a pleading look in her eyes.
Ranma shook her head in surprise at how bold Akane was, and then smiled. "Okay, Acchan, I missed that too, ya know," she said as she scooted over. Akane climbed into the futon and kissed Ranma. Ranma rolled over onto her side to give Akane a bit more space. She melted inside as she felt Akane's arms wrap around her. "Goodnight, love," Ranma whispered as she closed her eyes. Her only response was the even sound of Akane breathing.
Author's Note: Thanks for all of the reviews. Hopefully, you the readers are enjoying this story.