(Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or any of the characters and stories associated with it.)

A Chat with Ukyo

As Nabiki and Nodoka made their way towards Ukyo's, Ranma and Genma continued searching for Akane. Genma, being the overly lazy person he was, had begun to get tired of looking for the girl and wanted to take a break.

"Come on, boy! We've been searching for hours now. Let's take a break and catch our breath."

"What do you mean, Pops? We've just started looking and now you're wanting to sit on your panda-butt again?"

The elder Saotome glared at Ranma, "Show some respect for your elders, boy. I'm not as young as I used to be."

Ranma laughed, "Hah! You sure don't show that when dinner's on the table, old man."

Genma sat down on one of the benches by the sidewalk, "Why don't you take a look in those alleys over there, boy. I'll keep watch in case she shows up here in the plaza."

"You wouldn't be so quick to sit on your big butt if Mom was around."

"Well, boy. She isn't here now, is she?"

Ranma grinned wickedly, "Don't be so sure."

He waved his hands over his head, "Hi Mom!"

In an instant, Genma shot off of the bench and was looking from one shop to another calling out Akane's name. Ranma laughed and shook his head, "This is going to be fun!"

* * *

A few blocks away, Nabiki and Nodoka were making their way across town towards Ukyo's place. As they walked, Nodoka began to discuss the young chef, "This young woman isn't quite like the others, is she?"

"No she isn't. Unlike Shampoo, Kodachi, and even me, she was friends with Ranma when they were kids. If it weren't for the Tendo/Saotome agreement, Ranma would probably marry her and she knows it."

Nodoka thought for a moment, "I see, she feels her prize has been snatched from her grasp. Do you think she will help us?"

"That's hard to say. Although Ukyo and Akane have been rivals since the beginning, Ukyo has been fair about it. Sure, when she saw a chance to break them up, she was right there doing what she thought she had to do, but when it came to competing for Ranma's affection, she was a better sport than the others about it. I think if it weren't for the presence of Ranma, those two might have become friends."

Nodoka was about to comment when a voice yelled out behind them, "Where the hell am I now?"

Nabiki turned around and quickly recognized the traveler wearing worn clothes, a large backpack, and a yellow and black spotted bandana, "Well, well. If it isn't Ryoga Hibiki."

The young man turned with start, "Nabiki Tendo? What are you doing in Beijing?"

Nabiki smirked, "I've never been to Beijing, Hibiki. This is Nerima."

Ryoga's eyes had that far-away look, "Then I'm back…I can see Akane again!"

Nabiki shook her head, "Not so fast, Hibiki. If you want to see Akane, you're going to have to help us find her."

Ryoga's eyes blazed, "What did that no-good Ranma do to her now?"

Nodoka reached for the hilt of her katana, but Nabiki already had a hand over the end. She looked quickly up at the older woman and shook her head. When Nodoka reluctantly nodded, Nabiki continued, "Unlike the rest of your fantasies, Ranma had nothing to do with this."

Ryoga wasn't listening, "What do you mean? It's always Ranma's fault."

As Nodoka began to tense up, Nabiki moved to within inches of the lost boy's face, "Listen P-chan, if I were you, I would quit insulting my fiancé in front of me and his mother!"

Ryoga froze as three pieces of information suddenly burned into his head, but only one truly registered, "Y-you know?"

Nabiki drawled, "You should know by now there is nothing going on around me I don't know about, Hibiki. Did you really think you could just hop in the koi pond and then go straight to my little sister's bed without me knowing it?"

Ryoga's eyes widened, "Akane…?"

Nabiki's eyes were as cold as ice, "Don't worry, P-chan. I'm not going to tell her, at least not yet. When Akane was Ranma's fiancé, I didn't think it was in my best interest to let her know the truth. She might have knocked Ranma silly over it, but she would have had Kasumi make what was left of you into sweet and sour pork."

While Ryoga sweated, Nabiki continued with cold precision, "So here's the way it's going to be, Hibiki. I need you to help us find Akane. You start looking for her right now and when you find her, bring her safely back to the dojo. You do that and I might…just might allow you to keep P-chan a secret. I've let you keep that secret from my sister from the day you arrived and now you owe me big-time"

There weren't many things in the world that frightened Ryoga Hibiki, but at that moment he realized the most horrifying thing he had ever faced was standing right in front of him and he was completely terrified, "Y-yes Nabiki. I'll go look for her. Right away!"

Ryoga took off in a random direction while Nabiki fumed. Nodoka placed her hand gently on her future daughter-in-law's shoulder, "Do we really need his help? I don't care for that boy's attitude at all"

Nabiki took a deep breath and sat down on a nearby bench, "His family has a curse that gives them a horrible sense of direction. Ryoga is no exception and will get lost in a locked cell if you let him. When he was younger, he and Ranma were in an all-boy's school together. Like a lot of boys they got into a few fights with each other. Ranma was always the victor and this made Ryoga very angry. One day he challenged Ranma to a fighting duel in the lot behind the boy's house. Ranma showed up and waited, but the lost boy didn't show up until four days later. By that time, Genma had taken Ranma off to train in China. Ryoga followed them, somehow keeping up as they made their way through the countryside. When they came to the cursed pools, Ranma, in his cursed form accidently knocked Ryoga into one of the pools."

"What does he change into?"

"A little black pig. He followed Ranma back here to Nerima and started issuing challenges. Ryoga is intensely strong and fights with no care of who he hurts in the process. Akane wears her hair short now because one of his flying weapons cut most of it off."

Nodoka gasped.

"Yeah, he's a real pig in more ways than one. Later when Ranma found out that the boy also had a curse, he promised to keep it a secret. Ryoga used that promise to get back at Ranma by becoming Akane's pet pig, P-chan. Unlike the rest of us, my little sister thinks the pig is just a cute little black pig. When the little porker shows up, she mothers it and takes it in her room and even sleeps with it."

"She sleeps with a pig?"

Nabiki nodded, "Even though Ranma was bound by his honor about the promise, he dropped no end of hints for her. But in the eyes of my clueless sister, Ranma was just picking on her pet."

Nodoka frowned, "Why has no one else told her of this?"

Nabiki shook her head and stared at her hands, "When I first saw it developing, I figured that she would find out and give the pig a good pounding. But it went on and on and she never did figure it out. I considered telling her myself, but I also realized she would hurt Ranma in a big way for keeping the secret from her. I had no doubt that somehow she would have considered the whole thing Ranma's fault. I am certain Kasumi also knew of it, but I have no way of proving it. I do know for certain that not only my Dad, but Genma also knew of it."

"Surely your father would have stopped it."

"You would think so, but no, he didn't do a thing about it. From what I have been able to find out, they let it happen because they wanted Ranma to get jealous and put a stop to it himself."

Nabiki stood up from the bench, "Well Auntie, I'm not standing in the way of it any more. If a little accident happens and the little porker gets discovered, that's just too bad."

Nodoka walked alongside Nabiki as they continued towards Ukyo's, "I hope something is done soon, it's not healthy for a young woman to be sleeping with a pig like that."

Nabiki smirked, "Yeah, well here's the final clincher. He has another girlfriend, a really cute and understanding one. She lives on a farm and loves him to death. She even knows about his curse and it doesn't bother her at all. Yet even with this wonderful girl waiting for him, he keeps coming back to Akane."

Nodoka shook her head and they made the rest of their trip in silence. Ukyo's restraint was relatively empty and they both took a seat off to one side. Ukyo looked up for a moment and walked over to the front door and put out the closed sign. When the last customer had left, she walked over to the pair and folded her arms across her chest.

"Alright you two. I know you aren't here for any okonomiyaki. What's up?"

"Nabiki smirked, "Darn, and here I was hoping to buy one of the specials."

She threw up her arms and turned around, "Fine. Have a seat up here by the grill while I fix up something. You can tell me what's going on while I cook."

They took a seat at the grill while Ukyo started cooking. Nabiki watched for a moment before beginning, "You and Akane were never real enemies, were you?"

The chef looked up for a moment, "Nah, of all the people that were competing for Ranma, I felt she and I were about equal. She's a fairly good martial artist, but her temper and cooking needed a lot of work. Why do you ask?"

"Akane is in bad trouble, Ukyo. She got hold of a dangerous technique thinking it would increase her martial arts ability. Instead it's released a demon inside her. One that will soon kill her if we don't stop it."

Ukyo nearly dropped her spatula, "A demon? How the heck did she get into that mess?"

Nabiki sighed, "Long story short, she came across a long lost technique that she thought enhances one's strength. In reality, it allows a demon to enter your body. The demon gives great power but also can control the body and mind. Akane was near the end of the process when we found out, and the items for the technique were given to cologne for safe keeping."

"So it should be safe with the Amazons."

"We thought so too, but Akane went over to the cat café and beat them up pretty bad. Cologne has a nasty limp and Shampoo was taken unconscious to the hospital."

"Akane did that to the Amazons?"

"She also tore the place apart looking for the box. Now that she has it, we have to find her before tomorrow night."

"Why's that?"

"Because then she will finish the spell for the technique and the demon will be in full control of her and with all the power it possesses. The only way to stop her at that point will be to kill her."

Ukyo stared in disbelief, "Damn! Yeah sugar, you can count me in. I'll help ya look for her. We may have been rivals, but I kinda liked her all the same."

Up until now, Nodoka was quiet through the conversation. She picked this time to speak up, "That you are willing to assist a former rival speaks volumes of your true honor Miss Kuonji. Both of our families can't thank you enough for your assistance."

The young chef blushed a bit, "Yeah, well your welcome. Like I said, I like to help my friends, even if we were rivals."

The older woman smiled and reached into her kimono, "I see then I have not made a mistake in my efforts."

"Huh?"

"As I understand, your father originally promised your dowry to my husband in exchange for allowing you to marry my son. Later, instead of taking you along, he abandoned you and took the dowry along with him and Ranma."

Ukyo clenched her fist as she placed the plates in front of her guests, "Yeah, that's pretty much it in a nutshell. The fat slob took off with the cart and abandoned me on the road."

Nodoka nodded, "Of all the crimes my husband has committed, this is one of the vilest and he will someday have to make amends to you for it. When I found about this desecration of our family honor, I paid a visit to your father, Miss Kuonji."

Ukyo's eyes widened, "My…father?"

The older woman smiled, "Yes. He was a rather nice man and showed concern for your well being. Apparently he misses you a lot, Ukyo."

The young woman shook her head, "I can't go back. Not until I have the dowry or revenge."

Nodoka pulled an envelope out of her kimono and handed it to her, "This is an official letter from the head of the Saotome clan addressed personally to you, Miss Kuonji. I would like you to read it please and once you are finished, read the paper attached to the back as well."

Ukyo hesitantly took the letter from Nodoka's hands. The envelope was of a very high quality and perfectly lettered by hand. She swallowed a bit as she ran her finger along the flap and opened it. Reaching inside, she pulled an intricately adorned pair of letters and began reading the top page. After a minute, her hand began to shake and she looked up at the older woman.

"Is this for real? Is this what I think it is?"

Nodoka nodded and pointed to the second letter, "Now read the second."

With her hands shaking the chef placed the top page behind the next one. Moments later her eyes closed tightly as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Nodoka's voice was soft and gentle, "This does not pay for the damage caused to you by my husband. What this does is pay your father back for the loss of his property. He has agreed that after accounting for inflation, this more than covers the loss of your dowry."

Nodoka smiled warmly as she continued, "He has also insisted that the check be given to you to help with your business expenses. As of today, the Saotome clan is no longer in debt with the Kuonji family."

Ukyo sat down heavily on the stool she kept by the stove and dropped the papers on the counter. Nabiki's eyes were wide as saucers as she looked down at the check for two million yen…