"Of Loss, Life, & Love"
A Ranma ½ Fanfic by Luna12
Chapter 34: "Healing"
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A quick trip to the lavatory and a splash of hot water restored Ranma's manhood. It helped clear his head, too. In all the commotion of finding Kuno attacking Akane and dealing with his subsequent beatdown, Ranma forgot his original purpose. Akane still didn't know his mother was cured!
That news seemed less pressing, in the light of the words he had blurted out to her. He'd finally said it to Akane, the three words that seemed to change his entire world. Aloud, to her face, and not in a deranged moment of tragedy. Wondrously, she said it back. With everything they had been through, and how close they had become, he wasn't too surprised she felt that way, but it was the first time he'd heard her say it to him.
Ranma walked back to Akane's room with a bounce to his step, feeling as if all the world was righting itself just for him. When he reached her door, however, it was cracked open and he could hear multiple, unfamiliar voices.
Protectively on edge, he immediately opened the door wider - only to come face to face with Nabiki.
Scowling, she took one look at Ranma, and with a sharp, manicured fingertip pushed him back out the door.
"Nuh uh. You're not going in there, Saotome."
Ranma was indignant. "And why not, Tendo?" he challenged, fully intending to push past her.
"The physical therapist is in there, discussing Akane's treatment for her knee."
Ranma deflated, brutally reminded of the painful cost it took Akane for his mother's rescue and unplanned cure. Still, there was no reason he had to let Nabiki kick him out. "Then I should be there, too. Make sure the tomboy doesn't overdo it."
Nabiki scowled. "That's exactly why I don't want you in there right now. Akane needs to answer the doctors truthfully about how much pain she's in. You know my little sister will lie her ass off and pretend she's perfectly alright if you're around."
Ranma frowned, but conceded the point. The reverse was also true, he knew he did the same thing around Akane.
At the hangdog expression on his face, Nabiki almost took pity on him. Almost.
"Go check on your crazy mother, Saotome." And with that, she closed the door in his face.
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Konatsu watched Ukyo dispassionately flip another okonomiyaki onto a customer's plate, her usual sunny smile gone. She hadn't even bothered to attend school today, and there was hardly more than a brief nod as she glumly went about her tasks.
Last night when Ukyo had returned to their little flat above the restaurant, he had rejoiced - only to panic at her sorry state. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying, and despite multiple pleas, he had failed to get the chef to open up to him about her distress.
The following morning proved no better, and Ukyo remained tight lipped. He would have remained lost if it hadn't been for the steady trickle of rumors coming in from their customers. A trio of high schoolers Ukyo vaguely recognized as underclassmen at Furinkan took seats and placed their orders. Soon as Konatsu walked away, the girls began gossiping in earnest.
"Did you hear? The Saotome apartment burned to the ground last night."
"I saw it on the news! Tendo Akane was up on the roof rescuing some lady."
The second one, not to be outdone with the gossip and news sharing, added. "I heard Akane's in the hospital and going to die!"
"No!" the first girl chimed in a mixture of surprise and minor disbelief.
"I thought Saotome rescued her after she rescued the lady?"
"It's all so tragically romantic!" sighed a third, knowing the seniors in question more as legend than actual real people.
Ukyo stiffened. She had mostly ignored the chatting customers today, in no mood for socializing, but her ears couldn't help but tune in at the mention of Ranma's name. The last she'd seen, Akane was well enough to argue with Ranma, but there was no mistaking she had been rushed to the hospital along with Nodoka.
Ukyo wandered over casually, a giant lump growing in her throat. "You heard Tendo Akane's still in the hospital?" she tried to ask casually, while refilling the table's water pitcher. Her heart was beating fast enough to rival a prized racehorse on the track.
"Uh, yes." The school girl with her hair tied back nodded, feeling a little nervous as she remembered that Ukyo was one of Ranma's infamous additional fiancées.
Ukyo remained at the table, the uncomfortable silence growing larger. "And?" Ukyo pressed. "Will she be alright?"
The three intimidated schoolgirls looked at each other. Each had heard a different rumor and could only shrug.
Ukyo returned to her counter, her emotions a roiling boil, snapping her out of her earlier depression. It was bad enough that Ranma was so upset with her, but hearing that rumor about Akane shook her.
Ukyo had purposely withheld vital information for Ranchan's own good, but reluctantly, she came to question herself on that. Who was she to take away his right to choose, to treat him like a child? At the same time, she wouldn't be in this mess if she could have trusted Ranma not to act like an impulsive, idiotic hero! Especially when Akane's life was possibly in danger.
Worse, she couldn't fully convince herself there wasn't at least some dark part of her that had ulterior motives; that having Ranma not charge into the rescue would just make all her problems disappear. Yet hearing that Akane could be dying stabbed at her conscience, even though it wasn't her fault the girl chose to run into a burning building to play hero.
So Ukyo cycled back and forth between shame and guilt, then anger at Ranma, and even at Akane and Nodoka, over the entire rotten situation.
Bitterly, she realized stewing in her own negative emotions at her shop wasn't going to resolve anything. Even if her friendship with Ranma was beyond repair, she at least had to try.
And in the end, she had to do enough so she could live with herself, too.
She took off her apron and called out to Konatsu.
"Mind the shop for me for a while, sugar."
Kontasu looked up, puzzled. "Where are you going, Ukyo-sama?"
"To get some answers..." and maybe some closure to this mess.
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Ranma shuffled his feet and begrudgingly took Nabiki's advice. At least now interactions with his mother would be back to normal.
Ranma entered Nodoka's room trying not to look like a kicked puppy, but failed miserably.
Assuming the worst, Nodoka shot upright from her reclined position. "How is Akane-chan?"
Ranma shrugged. "I don't know. Some doc is with her, and Nabiki kicked me out."
Nodoka made a 'hmm' sound, the corner of her eyes wrinkled in thought. As if some decision had been made, she quickly grabbed and pressed the nurses' call button.
It was Nurse Mori again, and she looked sternly at the troublemaking youth before focusing her attention on the patient.
Nodoka gave a small, polite, firm-as-steel smile before stating, "Thank you for coming so promptly. I need to take a walk. I have someone important to visit in the hospital."
The nurse frowned. "Ma'am, I can't let you out of bed yet. Not without a doctor's direct approval first."
Nodoka gave the woman a stern glare. "I wish to see my future daughter-in-law now, the same young woman who saved my life. Hospital policy be damned."
The nurse flushed, and Ranma's face reflected amused surprise and admiration. Before the nurse could finish uttering further protests, Nodoka was already on her feet and moving towards the door, doing her best to bring her wheeled IV stand and portable oxygen tank with her.
The nurse blanched. "Please, Saotome-san! Let me get you a wheelchair first!"
The nurse scrambled out the door and returned with the proper equipment. Nodoka's eyes were twinkling in the same way her son's often did.
Nodoka primly took a seat in the wheelchair and graciously allowed the nurse to drape a blanket over her lap and legs. Once she was situated, Nodoka somehow managed to look authoritative and strong, despite wearing a hospital gown while being attached to various medical devices.
Nodoka turned to her stunned son, a small satisfied smile gracing her lips. "Don't dawdle, Ranma."
Ranma's grin nearly broke his face, it couldn't stretch any wider. He cheerfully waved the nurse away and took the wheelchair under his own power.
Upon reaching Akane's room, the door was partially open again. There was yet another, different voice - this time sounding elderly and male - coming from the room.
Nodoka motioned for Ranma to pause and he stopped. Ranma wasn't sure if his mother had chickened out, if she was being polite waiting, or if she just wanted to eavesdrop. Maybe all three.
From the limited view they had, they could just make out Kasumi and Nabiki next to Akane's bedside. On the opposite side was a doctor in a lab coat and an assistant nurse.
They were in the midst of redoing Akane's bandages, and demonstrating to Kasumi how to do them. Akane had her eyes pinched tight in pain, her entire face a shade paler than usual, but was making no sound.
The doctor droned on about how frequently they needed changing, the importance of keeping them clean and dry, and how she was not to use her hands at all. The doctor finished writing off a script and handed it off to the waiting sisters before addressing his patient again.
"You need your antibiotic ointment to be applied three times a day. You can use the anti-inflammatory and pain reliever up to 5 times a day as needed. At the nearest sign of infection, fever, or increased coughing, you are to be brought back immediately."
Kasumi was taking notes with a small pad of paper, listening carefully.
"Any questions?" the doctor asked.
The nurse had finished her wrappings and Akane gave her bandaged limbs a disappointed frown. "How long before I can use my hands again?"
"Given the extent of your injuries, anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks."
"2 to 3 weeks?!" Akane squeaked. "I can't wait that long! I teach at a dojo. What kind of martial arts instructor can't use her hands?" She waved her arms ineffectively to make her point.
The doctor continued, firmly chastising. "Miss, you're lucky you only had second degree burns. I've had many patients who had permanent nerve damage instead, or lost their limbs entirely, if not their life."
At that rebuke, Akane stayed silent save for a small depressed sigh. He continued in a less stern tone. "They may heal up faster, depending on how well you let them recuperate and follow my instructions."
Akane nodded, disappointed, but knowing when to stop arguing. "Yes, doctor."
Without further questions, both medical professionals reached the door to leave. Realizing they were about to be caught eavesdropping, Ranma quickly wheeled his mother a few feet down the hall, nonchalantly pretending to be on an approved stroll.
Soon as the doctor turned the corner, Ranma wheeled his mother back to the door. Nodoka took a deep breath, a sudden nervousness threatening to take hold of her. What the Tendo girls must think of her, after her outrageous behavior! Still, she had to set things to right.
"Bring me inside, son." Ranma nodded and knocked on the door, bringing his mother and himself into the room beside Akane.
Three sets of brown eyes turned in startled surprise. Nabiki crossed her arms in a challenging posture, while Kasumi and Akane just shared expressions of concern.
"Auntie?" Akane's voice was full of trepidation, and she looked back and forth between Ranma and his mother.
Nodoka's eyes were brimming with tears that threatened to overflow. "Oh Akane..." her voice choked in her throat. Before anyone could react, Nodoka flung herself from the wheelchair and embraced the bedridden young woman in a fierce hug, tears of joy and deep remorse streaming down her face.
Even with bandaged hands, Akane returned the hug as best she could, her own cheeks streaked with tears. Beside her, Kasumi sniffled and dabbed delicately at her eyes with a kerchief.
Nabiki's face remained stoic, but her eyes seemed to smile. Her hostile posture was replaced with her usual indifferent cool.
Something stirred deep inside Ranma as he watched the two most important women in his life reconcile. He felt his own throat thicken with emotion, and he turned his face aside to cough. He was a man, dammit, and he wasn't going to let himself get weepy. Yet there was no denying that life as a 'man among men' felt very hard right now.
Eventually Nodoka composed herself and gently pulled away. "Can you ever forgive me, Akane-chan?"
Her tears spent, Akane sniffled. "It wasn't your fault, Auntie."
Nodoka closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. Even if Akane was ready to forgive her so readily, she wasn't sure she could forgive herself. Still, the knowledge that the damage she wrought didn't permanently sever their relationship gave her some peace.
Nodoka looked deeply into Akane's face, making sure the girl listened clearly to her next words. "All those cruel things I said…" Nodoka shook her head in bitter regret, gearing herself up to continue. "You need to know, I never meant ANY of them. I am as proud of you as I am of my son."
Akane thought her tears had been exhausted, but those words and the love behind them released a new torrent. More than anything, she had longed to hear that parental approval, to know that she was loved and valued. She had so few memories of her own mother, and no way to guess how the gentle woman of her past would judge this grown, tomboyish daughter. She didn't even have the comfort of her own father's voice anymore, to whisper the rare and cherished words of "good job, daughter". To hear Ranma's sweet mother, so staunch in her principles and integrity, praise her so left her speechless, her heart aching with the joy of it.
Akane tried to wipe her cheeks, and Kasumi gently intervened with her lace kerchief before Akane could soil her fresh bandages. Akane blushed at the gesture, reminded yet again of how she'd be dependent on everyone else for such simple tasks for a while.
"Mother…" Ranma began, unsure what to do with the rampant emotion flooding the room, but he needed it to stop its intensity before he lost control. "You're making Akane cry," he tried weakly.
Akane shook her head, trying to regain her composure. The cathartic release was like rain after an extended drought, the flood waters slowly being absorbed. "It's okay, Ranma. I...I really needed to hear that."
Still not fully satisfied, Nodoka rose from the bed to face all three Tendo girls and bowed deeply. "I will do anything possible for your family to atone and make amends, especially in light of Akane-chan saving my life."
Akane blushed, and when she tried to kindly dismiss the offer Nabiki interrupted. "Actually, we desperately need your help and Ranma-kun's right now."
Akane's eyebrows rose in puzzlement. Nabiki nudged Kasumi with her elbow and the elder sister nodded vigorously in agreement. "Oh my, yes."
Nabiki plowed ahead, ignoring the penetrating and questioning glare her baby sister was sending her from the bed.
"We need Ranma to run the dojo." She gestured helplessly at Akane's braced knee. "We're already down one instructor who's disabled."
Akane flushed, her pride badly bruised at the remark. "I'm not disabled!" She protested, but no one paid her any attention.
Nodoka nodded. "Say no more. I will make sure Ranma will be available at all times."
Understanding her middle sister's thinking, Kasumi chimed in. "Auntie, helping to treat Akane's injuries daily will take a lot of time and effort. We would greatly appreciate some additional help around our home. Once you recover, if you would be so kind, it would be best if both of you resided with us while Akane convoleces."
Akane huffed in reply, feeling miffed. It was bad enough being treated like an invalid, but her sisters were making her out to be a burden to boot! She started to feel her temper flare. Ranma noticed the precursors to an Akane-eruption as surely as a vulcanologist near Kīlauea. To Akane's credit, Ranma would have felt just as pissed to be talked over and treated like a nuisance, by family no less!
It was then that he noticed the covert wink Nabiki gave Akane. His mother, thankfully, seemed to have missed it. Akane's protest ended abruptly and her face went from indignant anger, to questioning surprise, to dawning understanding. Abruptly changing her attitude, Akane leaned back on her pillows, the image of a perfectly docile and recuperating patient.
At that same moment Ranma realized the greater scheme at play. Effortlessly, Nabiki had manipulated his mother to gladly move back into the Tendo residence. Pride wouldn't be an issue anymore. Instead, his mother would feel it was her honor-bound duty to do so, and would happily send Ranma to move back even sooner, too. Ranma was reminded yet again how glad he was to have the Tendo sisters as his allies.
He shot Akane a broad grin and thumbs up behind his mother's back, and she returned his signal with a breathtaking smile uniquely her own.
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Ukyo hovered in the hospital corridor, feeling out of place and nervous. She had asked for Akane and Nodoka's status, but as a non-family member, she was instructed she could only visit and directly ask herself.
Ukyo hadn't felt up to directly knocking on Akane's room. She was afraid of what she might walk into. What if she really was dying? She wouldn't be able to stand the sight of watching Ranma distressed at Akane's bedside. So she wandered to Nodoka's room, only to find it empty. Ukyo felt annoyed and relieved at the same time.
She turned from the door to leave, only to come face to face with Ranma, pushing his mother along in a wheelchair. Ukyo swallowed hard and did her best to put on a winning smile, but it was sheepish and wavered.
"Uh, hi Ranchan, Mother Saotome."
Ranma was surprised, but instantly irritation took over. "Whaddya doing here, Kuonji?"
Nodoka looked back and forth between the two. Her son's face was twisted in a severe scowl, his posture stiff and defensive. His blue eyes were hard, like chips of sapphire. Even before the girl's smile disappeared, Ukyo's body language clearly communicated shame and embarrassment. Even more telling was how Ranma addressed the girl. Just what had happened between them?
Ukyo felt stung by the distant address, and switched her attention to Nodoka. The woman looked in fairly good health, despite the use of a wheelchair. The only visible sign of distress was her use of support oxygen. "How are you doing, Mother Saotome?"
Ranma frowned, annoyed at how familiarly Ukyo was addressing his mother. The chef was brazenly behaving as if she still expected to be her daughter-in-law someday.
Nodoka gave the girl a small smile. "Much improved and on the mend, thank you. If it wasn't for dear Akane-chan, they say I wouldn't have made it out in time."
Ukyo's eyes widened, thrown off guard and astounded. Nodoka must no longer be under Shampoo's brainwashing, if she was back to calling the youngest Tendo "dear Akane-chan". The pride and gratitude in Nodoka's hoarse, breathy voice was unmistakably genuine. All of this combined like a blow to the chef's rapidly disintegrating world view.
Ukyo was glad to see Nodoka recovering, but it couldn't stop the tight, anxious feeling gathering in Ukyo's throat. The last fragments of hope she had clung to were crumbling into dust. With Nodoka back to her right mind and favoring Akane once more, she really had no chance to woo back Ranma. Reality was crashing in on her and it suddenly felt difficult for Ukyo to swallow. Still, she had chosen to come to the hospital, knowing whatever encounters she had would be unpleasant, but necessary to clear the air and gather the facts.
"I heard Akane was dying," Ukyo blurted out, her mind and mouth unable to form a proper filter to her muddled thoughts and questions.
"WHAT?" Ranma's voice reverberated in the hallway. His hands clenched the handles of his mother's wheelchair tighter. Was that why Ukyo was here? To find out if the fiancée to beat was finally out of the running? He never would have thought so poorly of her before, but he couldn't forgive or forget how Ukyo knew Akane was unaided in the burning apartment, and then refused to breathe a word about it to him when he could have helped.
Ukyo continued hurriedly. "There's all sorts of rumors going around. I just wanted to check things out...and apologize."
Ranma stood there, impassive. It was difficult to read him, and that in itself worried her. Usually he was so transparent.
"So how is she?" she pressed, her voice nearly a whisper. She felt her heart hammer in her chest.
Ranma sighed, the expression in his eyes a blend of relief and concern. "Akane's hurt bad, but she'll be okay. She's definitely not in danger of -" he stopped himself, not quite able to continue for a moment, his mind caught in a painful loop of remembering the ledge of stone on Mount Phoenix, cradling Akane's too still body. He shook his head to force away the memories. It didn't change the reality that Akane was injured and in pain. To Ranma, Ukyo was partly responsible for that. If his so-called friend had been honest and answered him when he directly asked her if everyone got out, Ranma felt he'd have rescued both his mother and Akane in time.
And under all that hurt, was the added betrayal that he couldn't trust his old pal Ucchan anymore.
Ukyo was left mute as she watched the play of troubled emotions across Ranma's face. Reluctantly, she realized that even though she regretted the divide in their relationship, she would commit the same lies over again, because there was no way to know Ranma wouldn't be hurt worse by charging in.
The tension was thick in the air, and Ukyo felt her torn heart ache more fiercely. She felt compelled to apologize, but it was also time for some brutal honesty. "I'm not sorry I lied to protect you, but I am very sorry Akane got hurt."
Ranma's eyes crinkled as if wounded yet again. He heard the genuine regret over Akane's injuries, and that helped to soothe his temper and restore a better opinion of Ukyo, but the trust was still gone. Ukyo didn't even regret that part of the betrayal, or even recognize it for what it was, and Ranma sighed bitterly.
There was another dimension Ukyo critically missed. Being a martial artist and following an honorable code meant everything to Ranma. It was exemplified in defending the weak, even at risk to his own life. He couldn't ever partner himself with someone who at the very least didn't support him doing so. As much as he hated the injuries Akane suffered, and as furious as he was at his tomboy for putting herself in harm's way, he deeply respected Akane's heroism. Just as importantly, Akane never stopped him from doing what he felt he had to do. No matter how much she worried about him, she never sabotaged him when it came down to his Art and everything that entailed. Hell, she stubbornly tried to tag along, even when she disagreed with his methods.
As for Ukyo...Ranma shook his head again. Despite the chef's claims to be a martial artist (and no one was denouncing her physical skills), she wasn't about to risk her own life to help merely anyone in need, and though she lied "to protect" Ranma, it was out of selfishness. The "love" she held for him was small and self-serving, a possessive, immature form of trapped affection not so different from Shampoo's.
Sadly, Ranma realized their friendship could never go back to what it once was. Any trust he had in her as either a comrade or martial artist was utterly shattered. "Then you really don't get it, Kuonji."
Ranma walked away from her and Ukyo stepped aside. The growing physical distance between them mirroring the chasm in their broken relationship.
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It was the next day and Akane was expected to be discharged. Not surprisingly, she was excited at the prospect of returning home and leaving the hospital. Kasumi was expected to bring Akane some of her clothing to change into, so when a soft knock on the door rang out, Akane eagerly chimed "come in" - and was left utterly surprised at her visitor.
Ukyo gave a small, tentative wave. She was back in her chef blouse, the blue and white one with the sleeves tied back, and black leggings. Notably absent was her bandolier of battle spatulas.
"Hi, uh, is it okay to visit?" Underneath Ukyo's friendly tone she was a quiver of nerves.
Akane blinked, but then quickly nodded. She hadn't seen Ukyo since the fire, and Ranma had refused to talk about it. Her sisters had filled her in on the gossip, but she was willing to hear from Ukyo first-hand before passing judgement.
"I, uh, brought you this." From her shoulder bag, Ukyo pulled out a glass jar containing some bluish-green, thick cream. "I made you some burn salve. My family has used it for generations. We chefs get plenty of experience handling grease fires and burns. It's an occupational hazard."
"Thanks," Akane smiled at the gesture. From her own disastrous cooking attempts, she knew how easy it was to start a kitchen fire. It actually made her feel a little better to know even professional chefs had their own hiccups.
Belatedly, Ukyo saw the extent of the gauze wrappings immobilizing Akane's hands. There was no way the girl could accept the gift in the regular fashion, so she settled for placing it on the side table.
Ukyo nervously shuffled her weight from foot to foot, before daring to ask. "So, uh… did Ranchan tell you why he's mad at me right now?"
Akane shrugged and shook her head. "Not in so many words. Is it true you didn't tell him we were inside?"
The accusation wasn't overly vehement, or defensive, but it struck Ukyo like a blow just the same. Put so bluntly, it made her seem quite the heartless bitch.
She tried to defend herself. "It wasn't like I wanted this to happen," she waved helplessly at the general surroundings of the hospital room before controlling herself. "I just...I just...couldn't let Ranma know. I couldn't stand back and watch him risk his life."
Akane paused, trying to understand the situation from Ukyo's point of view. "He is a reckless idiot, isn't he?" She gave a half smile, her tone of voice changing the insult into a sort of affectionate approval. "But I'm hardly one to talk," she joked darkly as she lifted her injured hands.
Ukyo shook her head ruefully, feeling part of the the tight coil around her heart loosen. Akane didn't seem bitter over Ukyo's actions, and in some ways seemed to understand.
Akane tilted her head in thought. It was so unlike Ranma to hold a grudge. Yes, he was certainly protective of her, but even he had forgiven Pantyhose Taro, Mousse, Shampoo, and others for kidnapping or otherwise attempting harm to her. Something must have been different about this falling out.
Slowly, Akane put together the facts. Ranma was easygoing and forgiving of his enemies and rivals because he never allowed himself to trust them. Just as it was pointless to get upset at a porcupine for pricking you. It was in their nature, and you'd be stupid not to guard yourself. Ranma never considered Ukyo to be in that category. Ranma knew to watch out for battle spatulas, but not life threatening deceptions.
Akane's voice was quiet, but firm. "I think you really hurt Ranma, Ukyo. You were one of the few people he's ever trusted."
Ukyo stiffened, finally understanding. She had thought Ranchan was mostly pissed at her for, theoretically, endangering Akane and his mother. Ranma had been lied to plenty of times by other people without taking it personally. She never realized the amount of special trust she had been granted, and in one misguided moment of good intention, destroyed.
"What's going on here?" Ranma's gruff voice came from behind the open door. Ukyo jumped in startlement. He was looking back and forth between the two girls. Akane was calmly resting, her face neither flushed nor irritable, so they probably hadn't been arguing. He allowed himself to relax further when he saw that Ukyo had left behind her bandolier and giant battle spatula.
"Ranchan...I…" unable to get her voice to work, Ukyo bowed low in apology. When she managed to speak again, her voice was muffled by her curtain of brown hair. "I'm giving up my claim as fiancée. But I'm not here just about that. I screwed up. I just want to be friends again."
Ranma felt at a loss of what to do. Part of him wanted to say "that's cool" and move on in happy relief, but another part of him didn't know if he could. He wanted to be friends, but he wasn't stupid enough to put himself in that position again.
Akane saw the conflicted look on Ranma's face and quickly spoke up. "Ukyo brought me a get-well present, Ranma. Wasn't that nice of her?"
Ukyo cautiously rose out of her bowed position while Ranma walked over to the side table Akane was gesturing towards.
Ranma opened the jar and gave it a whiff. He could detect aloe, lavender, witch hazel, and a floral scent he was unfamiliar with.
"It's a burn salve," Akane continued, filling the uncomfortable silence.
Ukyo nodded and cautiously offered to her, "Do you want to try it?"
At the thought of a faster recovery time, Akane was more than enthusiastic. "Yes!"
Ranma's mouth was tight, but he said nothing. There was a conflicted look in his eyes, torn between wary protectiveness and eager hope that this was going to give Akane some relief.
Akane held out a hand, but before Ukyo could come over to undo any of the wrappings, Ranma stepped in. He didn't actually suspect Ukyo of trying something underhanded, but the problem was he no longer knew what to expect from her. Since he had observed from the prior redressing how to go about it, he cautiously unwound the outer gauze of Akane's left hand.
Ukyo failed to suppress a gasp when she saw how bad Akane's hand looked. The skin was an unnaturally dark red color and inflamed. There were so many blisters that she could barely make out where Akane's fingers ended and the palm began.
Her respect for Akane went up several notches. She already knew what a small burn of that degree felt like, and even trying to imagine an entire hand that badly damaged made her wince in sympathy.
Ranma's jaw muscles twitched as he felt a renewed churning in his gut at the sight of Akane's injury. Akane herself had gone a shade paler during this procedure, as any contact against the burn intensified the throbbing pain. The atmosphere in the tiny room had grown so depressing it was palpable. Akane put on a brave face and gave a little shrug. "It looks worse than it feels," she reassured her stunned audience with a small voice.
While Ranma cautiously observed Ukyo's every move, the chef carefully applied some of the balm to Akane's exposed hand. Upon contact, Akane felt a pleasant cooling sensation, and for a moment the pain ebbed from an insistent throbbing to a dull ache. The swelling and redness of her skin seemed to lessen, too. It was not a miracle cure, but it obviously helped. Ranma saw the corners of Akane's eye go from tight and pinched to a relaxed relief. Gratefulness welled up in him at this genuinely apologetic and helpful boon.
Cautiously, Ranma rewrapped Akane's hand. She gave Ukyo a happy smile. "Thanks! That stuff really works."
Ukyo gave a quick nod in acknowledgment. Slowly, she regained her voice. "You're both welcome back at Ucchan's anytime."
Akane nodded, "I'd like that." She gave Ranma a pointed look to encourage him to speak up.
The martial artist had yet to make a comment, and before he could consider his words, there was a gentle rap at the open door. Kasumi entered, carrying a prettily folded bundle of clothing.
As if completely unaware of the awkward atmosphere in the room, she brightly commented, "Oh Ukyo. How nice of you to visit."
Ukyo wanted to shrink under Kasumi's kind, if somewhat penetrating, gaze. Even if Akane had been open enough to her visit, she was starting to feel that she was overstaying her welcome. Adding to this was her uncertainty if Ranma would ever accept her apology.
She gave the Tendo sister a small bow in greeting. "I should be going. Konatsu will need some help at the grill."
Silently, Ranma nodded and walked her to the door. There was a subtle change to his stance, a sort of calm relief that washed over him and he smiled as he said: "I'll see you around sometime, Ukyo."
It wasn't Kuonji, or Ucchan, but the meaning in the casual phrase was clear; it was forgiveness and a new beginning.
Ukyo gave a shaky smile back. "Anytime, friend."
Author's Notes:
Original Publication Date: February 5, 2015
Sorry for the long update delay. Real life gave me a real beating with work and this never ending cold/flu season.
Ukyo's redemption story is strongly reminiscent of another great fic called "Fallen" by Jadet. It's one of my favorites, so it's not surprising that there are a lot of parallels.
Many, many thanks to my amazing beta-reader and story-resuscitator Angela Jewell, along with Richard Ryley and PurseMonger. You all helped bring out the best in my writing.
I don't know how well I'm doing as a writer without your reviews! It's my writing report card. Please consider responding.
