Mid July

Things had grown less awkward in the Tendou home nearly a month since Ranma had returned. During that time, Ranma had assisted Soun in some of his classes and was preparing to teach a few of his own come fall. His parents were ecstatic over this, it meant he wasn't going to be going anywhere, at least for a little bit.

Akane kept up her work at Tofu's and took up training more with Genma and increasingly with Ranma. He was proud of where she was now, she had improved since her teen years which at the time she had already been pretty good. Weekly Nodoka would try and teach her a dish or two, have her help in the kitchen which would still cause a shiver up Ranma's spine that he couldn't quite shake. But when she served her slightly wet rice or somewhat over salted mackerel, he was gracious that she had made strides in cooking, maybe even more than in the arts.

And they got on fine, friendly even. They'd train together in the afternoons and evenings, shower and dinner after, TV or movies to follow and then bed. Very routine and easy going. They would tease one another, all in good spirits, nothing cut too deep. Though occasionally she'd get annoyed and memories of those old moments of anger would reemerge and he would realize how much he had liked to rile her up. He was grateful for the fact she never actually hit him now, but he also found how he missed the "physicalness" of their relationship, accepting that maybe over time he'd developed some kind of complex when they had lived together. But a teasing punch or push, that was okay. That scratched the itch.

And on the outside and in his head, it was fine.

But in his heart, it was hard.

But it was getting easier.

He hadn't been around her for so long, nearly 4 years and in that time, he'd created an idea of her, through memories and wishes he'd carried of her. Images of their relationship, how she'd welcome him with open arms and ever available lips. And he had fully expected by this time last year he'd be moving into her room, sharing the space, the both of them kicking their parents out to have alone time until they decided where they wanted to go or what they wanted to do.

Now he would be spending most nights with her, teaching her, talking to her, watching TV together, occasionally arguing over something stupid that she'd let go typically before him. They were the best of buddies, weren't they?

The thought made him sick. But then again, she'd said it herself that she couldn't be in a relationship until she repaired them. And even then, who was to say she'd even look at him as a potential partner?

Maybe she'd start thinking of him like he had thought of Ukyou, a best friend. Loved as a sister. Would she love him like that?

It struck him to his core.

But there were occasional moments, few and far between, where he felt like there could be something.

Something more. Something there.

The first time was a rainy day in the afternoon, they had just finished in the dojo in a mock spar and she was cooling off. He was showing her a strike that required an open palm that she mimicked several times alongside him. She had moved from standing parallel to in front of him to show what she was doing and he nodded in approval when she did it correctly.

He didn't notice when she pressed her hand to his, palm to palm and the contact caused him to pause where he stood. She had inquired how much bigger his hands were than hers now, splaying her fingers as his followed. He didn't know why that one movement had caused such a stop in him but he watched as she mentioned them not being this large when he was a teen. He had made a smartass remark and she smacked his hand away, a smile on her face.

The second time was while they were watching a movie in the dark along with their parents. She had been exhausted from work that day but tried to put on a tough face so she could enjoy watching along with everyone. They'd sat next to each other on the couch and about halfway through the film he'd caught her nodding off, occasionally nudging her to shoot her back awake, only to have it pass and she was back trying to keep her head up.

Finally, the day had caught up with her and she leaned to her side and had quietly fallen on his arm. He went rigid and looked to the others in the room, trying to play it off if they noticed. They were too involved in the movie to care, their backs to the two of them. Slowly he peered down, her face against his bicep, breathing lightly. He was terrified, unsure of what to do. So, he let her stay there for a few minutes, the warm of her breath running over his arm and chest as he got lost in exactly what was going on in the film. But when the scenery on the screen changed and lit up the room, he moved his arm a bit to wake her. Her eyelashes fluttered and she came back to reality, her sleepy eyes staring up at him.

His looked down at her and for a moment, the warmth they shared in that look filled his chest with such comfort that he was convinced she must've felt something too.

She sat back up and mumbled an apology that he shrugged off, no big deal.

He was holding on to that, maybe a little too much.

But what was wrong with optimism?

In this case, everything.

XXxXXxXXXXXXX

On a weekday night Akane returned home from work and he was waiting for her to change so they could spar. She had shaken her head, apologizing that some plans had come up.

"What kinda plans you got?" He asked, trying not to pry too much.

"Yuka invited me out to dinner with her and Sayuri and some other girls. I'll be heading out that way in a bit." She was smiling brightly and getting ready to use the bath. "I'll have to just make up the training tomorrow, if that's okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine, just don't overeat or whatever. Don't want you gettin' sick in the morning."

She rolled her eyes, stupid comment.

"Yeah sure. Whatever you say, coach." She was headed to the bathroom when she took a moment and paused, running the problem in her head. "You know, Ukyou is around tonight and she usually closes early on Wednesdays." She smiled a little bit trying to push him in a direction. She'd talked to her earlier in the week and she'd mentioned that she was ready for his appearance. "Wouldn't be the worst thing to see her and talk. You know, like we did?"

He stared at her, unsure of where to go with this information but he could tell she was trying to be a good friend. He thought back about how she'd mentioned losing so many friends over time, maybe this was just her trying to keep things copasetic.

"Yeah, guess that wouldn't be the worst thing, hm?" He offered up, not as enthused as Akane at the suggestion.

"She's ready to talk Ranma." She took a second and considered. "If you are that is."

"You think I'm scared of Ukyou?" He joked. She rolled her eyes for the second time in the conversation.

"Of course not. Just thought you'd want to know since you're not up to anything tonight." She turned not waiting for an answer as he prepared himself for one more hurdle now that he was home.

Around 7, he headed out of the dojo and towards Ucchan's, Akane told him she would be closing down near that time. It was a particularly sticky night and he was spending most of the walk trying to cool himself down from the mix of humidity and his nerves. He had honestly never expected to have this conversation in person with Ukyou, at least not for some time. Her feelings for him were never totally lost on him but he never felt comfortable about confronting it. He had considered her his best friend as a child but when they were reunited and she began getting these feelings, it had confused him. She wasn't as clingy as Shampoo had been but certainly was much more expressive of her feelings than Akane, and like the latter also had an occasional ugly streak of anger and more importantly jealously.

For a while he thought she only acted this way because of the arrangement kind of like Shampoo but unlike her, he felt he could trust her. Until of course when her streak would show up and then she would revert to actions like Shampoo or even worse Kodachi.

He shook his head; he was going over there to have a civil conversation. Hear her out as he hoped she'd hear his side as well.

This is gonna be a goddamn mess.

Standing outside the restaurant, he could see they were finishing up the cleaning for the night. He took a breath.

"I'm sorry we're closed for the ni- Sa-Saotome-san?" Flushed and staring, Konastu gasped and tried to find words.

"Yo Konastu, Ukyou around? I wanted to talk to her for a bit." He tried to keep his voice steady.

"Uh...I'll see, you -"

"Hi Ranma." Both young men turned towards the grill and found her standing there, expressionless face, arms crossed.

"Hi Ukyou." The names sounded foreign to his ears and tongue; it was being like reintroduced to a stranger. She shifted and turned away to grab some tools.

"Are you hungry, do you want something?" She spoke to the instruments.

"No, I uh I actually came to talk to you. If you've got the time." She turned back around.

"Sure, don't feel much like cooking for you anyways." His chest panged a bit at that. "Konastu, don't wait up for me but please go enjoy the rest of your night." The kimonoed ninja nodded and left the room, heading for his own room upstairs. The two old friends stood in silence.

"Would you like a beer? I'm having one for this." She offered up, still avoiding his face.

"Sure, I'll take one." He was definitely not excited for this chat. They made their way to a table facing the streets, she had grabbed two beers and opened them for the two of them. He took a seat into the booth and she sat in the other on the opposite. She took a long drink staring at him. He followed suit.

"Akane said you're cured, no more girl side." He nodded. "That must be nice."

"Yeah, I don't exactly miss it." She hmphed and took another drink. He swirled the bottle, trying to find the words.

"Ukyou, I... I'm sorry for leaving like I did. I know that messed shit up for a lot of people but I had to leave. I had to figure things out and that included...what I wanted." Her eyes finally met his, lightly shimmering. Ukyou had grown into a beautiful woman.

"You needed to leave to figure out that you wanted none of us?" She asked quietly. He turned away.

"I needed...to take control of my life. I had been under my dad's thumb my whole life, engaged to a bunch of girls, I was cursed into turning into a chick, I was...I was only 16 when I got to Nerima, I was just 18 when I left, I didn't know what I wanted but I wasn't gonna be able to figure it out here. I had to leave."

"You left without any word."

"I didn't want to make it harder for anyone." He peered back to her and went back to his drink and took another sip.

"Harder for us or harder for you?"

"Both." He answered firmly. She sighed and shook her head, laughing sadly.

"I was so in love with you, you know that?" Her voice was rising, growing emotional. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm still in love with you, in this idea I had of you, of my memories of you. My fiancée." She took a large swig. "You know I was your first fiancée, your real fiancée." She jeered at him. Her old jealousy.

"You might of have been my first fiancée Ukyou, but I did not consider you my real fiancée. But I'm so sorry you were stuck to me, you should've been free to have your own life, not tied to me."

"Yeah, like when you and your old man hit the road without me, that kind of tied to you? You're a real bastard you know that?" Her eyes were tearing up. Hadn't Akane said she was ready to talk? What would she have been like if she hadn't been up to this? "Why couldn't you just have made the decision then, before you left? Just say who you wanted."

"I... I didn't know, I didn't know what I wanted, who-"

"Shut up, we all knew it was Akane." His eyes grew dark and he looked away, his jaw tightening. "It was always Akane, wasn't it? We never stood a chance." He looked out into the neon street, his head falling lightly in a noncommittal nod. "Can I ask you something?" His eye peaked back to her and he nodded more pronounced. "If you had asked her to marry you and she said no, would you have picked another one of us? Would you...have ever picked me? Even as a consolation prize?"

He looked back and smiled lightly, his face softening. He shook his head softly.

"It wouldn't have been right. I didn't love you like that Ukyou, I don't think I ever could've learned to."

"You're unbelievable. God, I want to be so mad at you, but then I think here's my friend from so long ago back and I... I care about you deep down. At the surface I feel like I hate you but I just can't bring myself to actually do it. After finding you I made it here, I made my restaurant, made a name for myself. When you left, I threw myself into my job, into my work and made all of this. All on my own."

"You should be proud of yourself Ukyou, I knew you could do this. I always believed in you."

"Just not in my love for you?"

"No, I knew. And I struggled with it. I struggled all the fucking time with it." He sighed and didn't want to make things worse but talking was talking. "I cared about you so much that I thought if I gave enough hints, you'd figure it out that I didn't feel that way for you. I loved you but wasn't in love with you."

"So, you did that by coming to me anytime that you and Akane fought? Or if Ryoga was getting a little too close to her and you wanted her to make her jealous? Or anytime you wanted food? Or needed someone to scheme with?"

"No, I went to you for those things when I needed a friend. I didn't exactly have a lot of people I really trusted. And yeah... it was shitty to go to you when I had problems with Akane but I didn't have anyone else."

"And you didn't think that bothered me?" He looked away, feeling some shame. She had a point there. "Ranma, I... cared more about you than anyone else, I never thought I'd love someone like I loved you and it would make me so angry."

"Angry enough that you couldn't talk to me about it? That instead you'd tear up my mother's home, my home with those other two looking for a fucking ring?" He sneered. "My mother wanted me to end everything with the three of you that night." He was getting mad; he knew he hadn't been a great fiancée but she hadn't been a saint either. "My mom was devastated over the loss and livid with me that I let things get to the point I did with all these fiancées. We had just left the Tendous, who had already been takin' care of me an' my ol' man for all that time and then my mom comes back and we can leave finally. And those were the same Tendous who my mom had to ask to take us back, which they just brushed off like no big deal. My mother was furious with me and the three of you. But then she swallowed her feelings and said I'd figure out in time who to be with. Like what happened didn't amount to anything. Because of her bullshit beliefs in me being some big macho asshole." He took another sip as she silently looked away, ashamed of those actions so many years ago. "And then, the real icin' on the cake was the day I was supposed to be gettin' married and you and Shampoo and Kodachi decide to destroy the second home I was living in. You brought fucking bombs to my wedding."

"I thought you were being forced into a marriage Ranma!" She was tearing up.

"That wasn't your call though Ukyou! Did you ever think maybe I wanted to get married that day? Or that destroying another home was going to be another shitty thing to do?" He was pissed off, he wanted to slam this drink and leave, frustrated and without a resolution with Ukyou. He saw her chewing her lip, unable to look at him. If he'd learned anything in the last few weeks, it was forgiveness from both sides.

"Ukyou...I'm sorry." She blinked up. "I'm sorry I never was honest with you in the way I should've been. I'm sorry I left and left you hanging on for answers, I swear though, it was so I could figure things out for myself. Figure out the man I wanted to be, not just a man for the woman I cared for. I should've been a better friend to you." He ran his hand through his hair, choking on the words a bit. "I should've been a much better friend, you deserved that." He looked up at her. "You deserve it now."

She stared at him, the man her heart still would flutter over but seeing his face, so desperately wishing to make things right she knew she'd never have him, never had him. Not in the way she had wished and it was in that moment she remembered her conversation with Akane long after when she'd gotten her letter, how she said she'd just let him go. And in the dark of her shop, the neon flashing on his face she knew it was her time.

She let him go releasing the chokehold he had still had on her heart. She would've cried about it if she wasn't already crying over their conversation.

"Ranma, it's okay. I'm...sorry. I wasn't a good friend either. I wanted you for selfish reasons and I thought I could make you love me. That overtime I could wear you down but I couldn't. And I hate losing you know?" She laughed and sniffed her nose. "I couldn't lose to a flat chested tomboy." She smiled big through her tears. He returned it softly.

It dawned on her.

"You came back for her, didn't you?" He looked back outside, how many people were gonna figure this out? Ukyou eyes grew larger. "Does she know?" He glared out at the neon lights, exhausted and uninterested in talking about this again. More opinions from people, more people who didn't understand what this was like.

"Ranma..." She wore a face of pity, like Tofu's but worse.

"I don't wanna talk about this, maybe another time Ukyou."

"Ucchan." His head shot up. "You can call me Ucchan." He smiled a bit while she got up to get them another drink.

After a few hours they were back to joking and speaking freely. She caught him up on her life, the work she had put into the place, the places she had traveled, the recipes she worked on. He caught her up on his adventures, his visits, things he'd accomplished over time. They were teasing and talking like kids again, like long before the curse, the other fiancées, when things weren't so complicated.

She was wrapping up a story about returning to Nerima after her own travels and how Akane had welcomed her home with open arms and an open mind. From there the two had bonded and grew close.

"I always kinda figured the two of ya would get along. You have so much in common, buncha hardheaded women." He broke out into a laugh, turning slightly red from his drinks. She laughed as well.

"Shuddup what would you know anyways? Besides she may be hardheaded but she's a real softie, she just doesn't admit it." She finished her beer. "You want another one?" He shook his head.

"It's getting' late and I've already had plenty." He smiled a bit lopsided. "Thanks, Ucchan." She turned around from her fridge, grabbing her last drink of the night.

"What for?"

"Talkin' to me, you coulda told me to fuck off the second I walked in but you didn't. This really made me feel better, I missed havin' you around to talk to." He stood up and opened his arms to her, a small smile on his face. She moved closer to him, feeling drawn to this hug even if it wasn't the romantic embrace she had dreamed of for years. She wrapped her arms around him and he gave her a small squeeze. "I hope I can come by more and talk, I wanna catch up with ya." He let her go and gave her a smile as he walked to the door to leave.

"Ranma!" She called from the table. He peaked up. "Are you..." going to tell her "Okay to walk home? I can order you a cab." She wasn't ready to hear what she really wanted to know.

He smiled from the doorway. "Such a mother hen Ucchan, I'm fine."

"Go to hell, Ranma Saotome!" She laughed and his laugh joined. He left the restaurant and she sat in the quiet darkness of the home she had built and felt what she had been waiting for.

Peace.

Ranma stumbled in the Tendou home, feeling not so unlike his father from past years. Rubbing his head, he took his shoes off and removed his shirt, leaving it on the banister. Wandering into the kitchen he looked into the fridge, trying to scavenge any leftovers, especially some of the teriyaki his mom had made earlier that week.

Finding the leftover tray, he took out a cold stick of chicken and started eating as he turned the stove on to warm the others up. He had a bright smile on, happy to be cooling off in a tank top as he made himself some food to satiate himself. He should've asked Ukyou for some okonomiyaki while they hung out but he had gotten so caught up in conversation that he ignored his stomach. But now, in the dark of the kitchen, a few late nights snacks seemed to be just what he needed.

He felt more at peace in that moment than he had in weeks, he had made up with Ukyou, was back in Nerima and starting to enjoy it and him and Akane were...doing okay.

Doing okay was better than nothing right?

He knew he was struggling with this but it would pass, everything passes.

Besides he was still feeling good from his conversation with Ukyou, getting back on track with a longtime friend always felt good. He smiled as he blew on some overheated chicken, before taking some small bites from it not to burn his lips. He was going to walk out into the family room when he heard the front door open and Akane slipped in laughing, melodic and bright and the sound shot right through his chest. He peaked out from the kitchen and saw her stumbling taking her shoes off. She'd probably had had a few drinks as well and trying to get her footing while she laughed at herself.

He felt like an immense creep but he continued to watch her, her hair falling lightly over her face while she laughed at herself, the way she pulled her heeled sandals off one by one, hand holding herself up. She smiled wide, thinking she had the room to herself as she pushed her bangs back, her purse rolling up her arm. Finally free from her shoes she moved into the kitchen, likely after what he had taken. Unsure of what to do, not wanting to give away his presence but not wanting to scare her, he stood in the dark of the kitchen.

Like an idiot.

She came in and went directly to the fridge mumbling about teriyaki, the same he had in his hands and mouth. She pulled out trays and groaned, lithe but thick.

The noise stirred something in him. And then he felt it

Danger

Not quite the same danger when a new enemy would arrive and threaten him or the dojo

No, it was the feeling when he'd wait for her responses to a stupid comment he'd made

All riled up

Excited

Dangerously eager for what came next

She bent over more, he tore his eyes from her. She was in pants and a top but it still felt like he was doing something wrong.

Am I doin' anything wrong though?

The thought crossed his mind. Sure, they weren't engaged anymore but he was a man now, he had masculine needs, didn't he? And she was a woman.

Who could satisfy them.

She grabbed something else from the fridge and turned around, looking for the microwave or light whichever was closer. He didn't realize he was standing in front of the light switch.

A nail ran down his chest looking for a switch.

She gasped, scared for who was there. Throwing her arm back for a punch.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close so she didn't fall.

"Akane" He rumbled, her wrist was thin in his hands. He was nervous and warm, sweat between his fingers. She couldn't find her voice, a pitchy sound coming out instead.

"Ranma." Breathy and surprised. Not scared, excited like him?

He felt himself get hard immediately.

"You okay? Sorry I was...makin' food." He held her in place, terrified to bring her any closer. She stepped slightly closer anyway.

"I... was just hungry. Coming back from seeing...my friends." He was still holding her wrist, she could feel the moisture from his hand. He was just in a tank top and she suddenly wished she could see better in the dark.

The stood like that for a moment, in the safety of night, looking into the eyes of each other through foggy lenses and eyes adjusting to darkness and tried to figure out just what the hell they were doing. She saw the color change in his eyes, something she was unfamiliar with, even in the darkness of the kitchen she could see how the blue blew out, the cheerful cerulean deepening into a resinous navy. It terrified her.

It thrilled the hell out of her.

His breath washed over her, suddenly they were closer than she remembered.

She pulled away first.

"I just wanted to warm up some food, let me get the light." She forced her sobriety. She turned on the light behind him and saw his face.

And body.

She turned away from him and whatever was happening between them. Put her food in. She asked about Ukyou without looking.

They were good he let her know. Resolved he said.

She was glad. And she focused on the food.

She wasn't even hungry anymore.

She pulled it out before it dinged and she faced him. He was back to happy, smiley Ranma.

Ranma who kept a safe distance between them.

She smiled and said she was heading to bed. She wished him good night. She moved quickly.

He wondered how he was going to be able to keep this up.