Chapter 8: An Unexpected Visit! Okonomiyaki is Life!
The evening after her first date, Kodachi was laying on the bed's black silken sheets in her room with a phone to her ear. The animated conversation was another first for her, sort of a phone date with Mikado. Having prepared ahead of time, Kodachi had used Satsuki to find articles and books on Martial Arts figure skaters around Japan. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there weren't more than a dozen or so. She'd been forced to read up on Olympic figure skaters instead.
That carried on the first half of the conversation with no trouble. Mikado was more than happy to discuss his sport ad nauseum. She only hoped he appreciated her taking time from her busy schedule to indulge his little hobby so they had something to talk about.
Rolling over onto her stomach, Kodachi bent her legs at the knee and kicked the back of her feet idly as they talked. The black sleep gown she wore fell, bunched up, between her knees and thighs. At least his voice was easy on the ears. Neither too deep nor too high in pitch. He pronounced his words properly and showed proper breeding.
Things were going so well that she was taken by surprise when his tone shifted to a slightly deeper tone. "So… when can I see you again?"
Kodachi froze, unsure of what to say. Part of her wanted to say "tomorrow", but she didn't want to seem too eager. "Well, I have a pretty full schedule. It's such a bother." She looked to her student planner calendar that was pointedly empty of writing for the rest of the month.
"I'm sure you can make time for me, right? I simply must see you. You haunt my thoughts. I close my eyes and see only you. I fear I'm quite afflicted, Kodachi. Only you have the cure."
She only barely managed to put the phone on mute before squealing, holding the phone to her chest, and rolling back and forth on her bed. That quote from the bible she remembered from some place seemed quite apt. "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. Mikado, you scamp! Oh, but it is so nice to hear! I can't deny that. What do I do? What do I do?"
She rolled around a few more times before she realized she was cradling the phone between her bosom.
"Kodachi? Are you still there?"
"Yes! Yes, I'm here!" She paused, realizing she still had him on mute. Clearing her throat, she hit the button again to restore two-way communication. "Yes, yes, I'm here. I was just seeing what I could move around on my schedule to accommodate some time with you."
"I knew I was right about you. You're all heart."
She let his comment pass, unsure if it was flattery or subtle sarcasm. "I can work you this Sunday, a week before Christmas. Will that work for you?"
"That suits me just fine. If I can survive being apart from you for such a spell."
"Naturally, you'll be a dear and come up with a source of entertainment, won't you?" She brushed a strand of errant dark hair behind her ear returning to laying on her stomach.
"I already have an idea," he assured her. "I'll keep it a surprise for now. Expect me to call you again in another day or two."
"I look forward to it," she said in a measured tone. "Goodnight."
Making damn sure the call ended, Kodachi tossed the phone aside and grabbed at her pillow, rolling over and bringing it in for a tight hug. "'You haunt my thoughts.'" She repeated his line, lowering her voice in an attempt to reach his same pitch. The flash of excitement consumed her. The raven haired girl hugged the pillow ever closer, poor imitation it was for young man though it was. She squealed a little again, riding the excitement that came over her each time she interacted with the young man.
A knock came at the door and, when admitted, Sasuki came in and bowed with reverence. "Off the phone, Mistress Kuno? I just came to see if you needed something before bed. A glass of water, perhaps? Oh, I trust you had a wonderful conversation with the young man from the other day?"
Kodachi rolled to a sitting position, draping her long, toned legs over the side of the bed, and smoothing the fabric of her gown down until they rested at her ankles. "Oh. It was… adequate," she said with a dismissive gesture of her hand. "I was generous enough to afford him some of my time this coming Sunday, in fact."
Satsuki nodded. "Very good, Mistress. Oh… but what about Christmas shopping? Sunday is only a week from the holiday. Will you not be getting Ranma Saotome a gift this year?"
Kodachi's eyes widened, and her mouth fell slack. "R-ranma?"
"Mistress?" Before his very eyes, the ninja watched her go through what he could only describe as an existential crisis or melt down.
Kodachi jumped to her feet and sunk her fingers into the hair on both sides of her head. To her absolute horror, she realized that thoughts of Ranma hadn't come in at least two days. It was a betrayal most fowl of her supposed undying affections. It was utterly unforgivable! She tugged at her hair and tossed her head back, weaving her hips right and left with erratic movements.
"What do I do?! What do I do?! Can I not have them both?"
On the one hand, she had feelings for Ranma. On the other, rising feelings for Mikado. If not for his overt desire to kiss her, she might well have stolen a kiss from him already, just as she'd tried to do with Ranma. Emotions for both strapping young men tugged at her. Then, as if the situation couldn't get any louder or explosive, Kodachi made a very startling realization that made her eyes grow even wider.
"I want them both! Ahhhhh! I've become my brother! A two-timer!"
Her posture sagged forward suddenly until she was bent over at the middle. Her arms hung like limp vines towards the floor. Her hair shrouded her face as she gave a tortured-sounding intake of breath. All was silent for a moment. Then the laughter started.
"Oh, ho ho ho…"
It started off somewhat quietly at first, little more than a chuckle that came after sharing an inside joke with a close friend. Satsuki took a hesitant step back, only just realizing what he had stirred up with the innocent question.
"Ho ho ho… ha, ha ha haaaa! AHAHAHAHAH!"
The pitch of her laugher rose, the horrid laughter dripping out past her lips. She tilted her head up a little and the manservant saw the broad smile split across her face.
"Mistress? Perhaps-"he started to say, bringing both hands up as if to try to reason with her from afar.
Kodachi righted her posture in a series of jerking motions that carried her from bent over to standing straight then arching backwards. Her arms clenched down and out from her sides at thirty-degree angles, clutching at the air. It looked to him as if she were being controlled by strings, a laughing puppet with no punchline.
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha!" Her flexible body contorted further back as her wide-open eyes stared up at the ceiling. "It releases… hahaaha ha! I heard its call! Let the madness release you, it says! Let-"
Satsuki dashed behind Kodachi and jumped up, pressing into the back of her neck. The girl instantly went limp and would have crumbled to the ground if not for his timely catch. The crazed eyes were gone, the lids now closed as he gently laid her in bed and drew up the covers.
"First Master Kuno, and now Mistress Kodachi. This is getting out of hand."
Kuno had spent much of the last week in bed or in private, reading and doing some sort of research. On the rare occasion he did venture beyond the grounds, Satsuki was his shadow, following in absolute secrecy even from the master. Kodachi had spent a considerable amount of time tending to her brother, going to school, and attending her first date. Needed distractions certainly, but not enough to stave of the family curse.
Something had to be done.
Ryoga had just finished up with the lunch crowd and was eagerly looking forward to the lull in activity. The grill needed to be scraped and cleaned. A few of the tables needed to be wiped off and some dishes washed. The influx of customers had helped the Lost Boy focus his attention away from the morning's mishaps. Also, there was the thread technique in place to help keep him from getting lost.
Given his sense of direction, going from the grill to the back kitchen area where the piled-up dishes bore a real possibility for disaster. Since moving in at Ukyo's place, he'd already gotten lost twice. The second time he'd ended up somewhere in Yokohama. Since then, Ukyo had come up with a method for combatting this. Each morning, Ryoga tied a hanging thread from the grill around his belt. It was long enough to give him full range of motion to get to the kitchen, but if he detoured outside or upstairs, it would pull taunt and help reign him in.
He had just turned his back on the grill to find his way to the kitchen when the restaurant's screen door opened. Ryoga turned to the noise and smiled. "Welcome to Ucchan's Okonomiyaki!"
A tall, burly man stepped through the doorway. His shoulders were so broad it almost brushed against the wooden border as he passed through. He was middle aged by the looks of it, with thick black eyebrows, a full beard and moustache that were showing flecks of white. He grunted in retort and stood there, looking around as if searching for something.
"Can I help you with something?" Ryoga asked, turning back to the grill.
The man took a seat on one of the stools by the grill. He wore a fine two-piece suit with a dark striped tie. He might have come across as a salaryman of sorts if not for his wild facial hair. "The owner in?"
"She's currently at school, sir."
The man grunted again and sat down on one of the bar stools, setting down a fine leather suitcase at his feet. He briefly glanced over a plastic-covered menu. "The number 3. With squid. Heavy on the sauce."
Ryoga got to work at the grill. "More into the plain kind, huh?"
The man didn't say anything in reply. His eyes were glued to the grill, watching almost without blinking as Ryoga shaped, molded, and cooked the order. He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but it felt like he was being tested or observed. It almost made him feel a little nervous.
Five minutes later he had a piping hot Okonomiyaki on the man's plate, drenched in sauce. The bearded man looked at it a moment then up at Ryoga. "You used too many wasted movements with your hands. You could have had it ready to serve a full minute earlier, but you're scared to deliver under-cooked food. That tells me you lack total confidence."
He pointed down at his food. "The sauce looks like a lake. Okonomiyaki isn't just food, boy. It's art. Art! You understand me? You should present it as such. A design or the restaurant's name or something made in sauce would draw in the wow factor."
He sniffed it experimentally, using a hand to draw up the food's warm scent to his nose. Then he pulled apart a pair of chopsticks and pulled off a piece, chewing thoughtfully. His eyes flicked back up to stare at Ryoga. Methodically chewing thirty times, he visibly swallowed.
"Decent taste and smell. You clearly care about the job, so it's not like you're just at it to make a quick buck. Three out of five stars. Not a bad foundation, but you've much room to improve."
"Who are you? Is there some sort of Okonomiyaki inspection group Ukyo didn't mention? A militant wing of the health inspector's organization?"
"Remember this, young chef: Okonomiyaki is the pinnacle of food and art. A perfect blend of excellence. Every one of these you make should be with the intention of building up the name of this adorably named business. You have a responsibility to do so. No! A sacred duty! Do you understand me?!" He tapped the plate at the edge, causing it to clank softly from the weight on one side. "Okonomiyaki is life!"
Ryoga found himself standing at attention. "I- sir! Yes sir!"
"Say it, boy!"
"O-okonomiyaki is life!"
The man's blazed with a fire greater than the one stoking and heating the cooking surface in front of Ryoga. "You don't believe it! You must inhale that conviction. Breath it! Be the flour! Be the ingredients steaming on the grill! Say it again! Convince me, boy!"
"Okonomiyaki is life!"
_
Humming to herself, Ukyo waved goodbye to Ranma and Akane and headed down the street that led to her restaurant and home. Talking to Akane had been just what she'd needed to snap out of the little funk from the morning. The flash of inspiration had birthed the plan, now it was time to carry it out. She felt a little like a spy who had just been given secret orders in an envelope.
Operation: Seduction is a go! The mission: Seduce boyfriend by Christmas. Difficult? Yes. Embarrassing? Most likely. But I will succeed!
Making a fist, she pumped her arm once, causing the white bow on her head to bob from the exaggerated motion. There would be no more coasting in the comfortable gray area between lovers and roommates anymore! Ukyo was about to craft her love life into the most exquisite Okonomiyaki of all time! Buoyed by this, she headed quickly for home, trying to think of the right steps to seduce the lost boy attending her business.
Maybe I'll start out slow and subtle. See what he responds to and- Her hand reached for the handle of the door and slid it open.
"Okonomiyaki is life!"
She blinked, standing in the doorway as Ryoga stood there, dual spatulas in both hands with his arms raised to the sky. His shout blew past her and down the street, causing a few pedestrians to turn and look in confusion.
"Ryoga…" Ukyo was beside herself and frozen in place. Such devotion to the art of being an Okonomiyaki chef! She must have been a better influence than she even realized. A single, proud tear trailed down her cheeks as she gave a small smile. That was her man, giving the battle cry of cooking! Oh, by the gods she wanted him now more than ever.
Ryoga was frozen in place, just as surprised to see Ukyo's appearance. "Welcome home, Ukyo," he managed to say, feeling utterly ridiculous for some reason.
"The boy gets three stars for delivery and another for enthusiasm. Not too shabby. You've picked one with potential. Good girl." The man turned to the side and gave Ukyo a broad, toothy grin.
Ukyo's eyes widened further. "Papa?"
"In the flesh, my little dough-tosser!"
"Papa!" Squealing in a very un-Ukyo fashion, she dropped her school bag and dove at the man. He caught her with a hearty laugh and the pair hugged, the man still on the stool, and Ukyo hunched forward against his chest.
"Ucchan's Okonomiyaki, huh? It's cute. I like it. You've done pretty well for yourself here in Tokyo, huh?" He gently pet her head, disturbing the bow and causing it to slide off kilter to the side. Almost as an after statement, he turned to look over his shoulder at the standing statue that was Ryoga. "At ease, boy."
"What are you doing here, Papa?" Ukyo drew back and sat on the stool next to him. "What about the restaurant back in Osaka?"
The man pushed out his chest and gave her a thumbs up and a wink. "You mean, what about the restaurants in Osaka, Okinawa, Sapporo, and Yokohama, right? Ha! I've expanded into a chain, Ukyo! It's more corporate work now than cooking, but that nest egg is starting to look mighty ripe, if you catch my drift!"
"That's amazing! Ukyo gushed, clasping both hands in front of her chest. "And you're here looking to expand into Tokyo?"
"And bring competition to my little girl's territory? Never! I was in Yokohama and decided to take a train up here and visit with you." He gestured towards Ryoga. "Found yourself a local employee, eh?"
Ukyo glanced at Ryoga, then back to her old man, fidgeting slightly. "He's my… boyfriend."
"Lives around here? Commuting to a restaurant is no good. Takes energy and concentration away from making sizzling art on the grill."
"Actually… he lives… close." Ukyo chewed her lip for a moment, wondering how much to tell him. She decided to go with the band aid ripping approach instead of tapdancing around the issue. "I put him up in my spare room."
For a moment no one moved. The only sound came from the grill still sizzling on low heat. The man suddenly turned and stared at Ryoga. "Living with my little girl? Mere feet from her bed? You better not have any lewd ideas, boy!"
Ryoga was sweating bullets as he waved both hands out in front of himself. "My intentions are pure, sir!"
Ukyo slid off the stool and went around the grill to pour herself a glass of water. "That's half the problem," she muttered under her breath, pouring a glass of water and bringing it up to her lips. "His name is Ryoga, Papa. He's a good guy. I would love it if you'd take some time to get to know him before trying to fry him over the grill."
"Oh, I intend to, my little spatula queen. We're going to spend some quality time together while I'm here for the next five days. Man-to-man."
Ukyo spit out the water she'd just slid into her mouth, drenching Ryoga. He disappeared down into the bundle of clothes now lying on the floor in front of the grill.
"F-five days?!"
The secret agent dossier she'd been fantasizing about in her mind suddenly tore haphazardly into two.
_
The wrench in her plans that was the unexpected parental visit left Ukyo feeling highly conflicted. On the one hand, she hadn't seen her father in well over a year and the chance to bond and catch up on things was nice. On the other hand, the visit couldn't have come at a worse time for her love life. There was no way in hell she'd be able to make any kind of overt move with her dad lurking about.
The evening was spent introducing Ryoga, and his curse, the seasoned chef. Ryoga had been caught flat-footed with no time to prepare for a proper first impression. When her father had gone to the bathroom, she'd whispered the only words of encouragement that came to mind.
"Just think of this as training," she suggested. "He's a bit rough around the edges at first, but I know he's going to love you."
Dinner that evening was Okonomiyaki served up by her father while they all talked. Ryoga had to admit after the first bite that the man was a master at his craft. The consistency and flavor were just as good as Ukyo's, if not ever so slightly better.
Ukyo cleared her throat after clearing her plate. "Papa, my place is a bit small for three people. Maybe you'd rather stay at a hotel nearby?"
"And lose valuable time being with my little girl? I'll take your spare bed. I'm sure the boy won't mind slumming it on the floor for a few days."
"No trouble at all," Ryoga said. "I'm used to it!"
"See sweetie? No big deal!"
Ukyo groaned inwardly and resisted hanging her head. Mission failure. Abort.
_
The cold December days blew on, each bringing the Christmas deadline a little closer. By the third day of her dad's visit, Ukyo knew she couldn't waste any more time. If she was going to snap some real assertiveness out of her boyfriend, the same he showed when training her, then time was most certainly not on her side.
The third day of the visit was both amusing and productive. Her father awoke at dawn each morning and hauled Ryoga out of his futon to train in the art of cooking. Considering it was the same early start time the Lost Boy had started her off with before the whole Wraith incident, she couldn't help but be slightly amused. She woke up her boyfriend every morning chanting the newly instilled mantra about Okonomiyaki being life. That certainly brought back memories of her childhood.
In addition, her father had gone over the figures and helped her set some new financial goals. In a few years' time, she'd not only have this place paid off but would have the funds to open another branch in Tokyo if she so wanted. The corporate-minded change in her father was more than a little breathtaking considering his humble beginnings as a food cart chef.
The pros of the visit, while nice, still held a downside or two. Her father hovered around too much. She could hardly go to the bathroom without him calling out throughout the house to find out where she was. The man had the discipline to let Ukyo find her own way in life but that didn't mean he wasn't concerned for her well being or absolutely starved for dad-daughter time. It was sweet in a way, but that made stirring Ryoga's passions even harder to do.
The biggest problem was that Ukyo wasn't terribly less shy than Ryoga in certain ways. Confessing her love to Ranma during the Contrary Jewel incident, when no one else had been around to boot, had led her to plant her spatula upside his head in embarrassment before running away. She was better at little gestures like hearts of love notes in sauce. With that in mind, she decided to start the mission with that in mind.
That night while eating dinner after closing up shop, she'd "accidently" let some sauce paste onto her cheek and lips. Her eyes met Ryoga's as her father droned on about the importance of the right toppings in Okonomiyaki and she took hold of her courage. Slowly, she extended her tongue and lapped the sauce sensually off her lips, all the while keeping her green gaze firmly on the boy sitting next to her. The flick of her tongue around her soft, kissable lips was, she hoped, enough to entice him to want another kiss.
He stared at her and the chopsticks in his hands slipped and clattered into the table. "Ukyo," he whispered, slowly leaning towards her.
A thrill welled up in her heart! It was working! And even better, her father was none the wiser. It was a fool-proof start to build the fires of desires and draw out Ryoga's manly side. She felt a thrill course through her. Oh gods, is he going to lick the sauce on my cheek off with his tongue?! Ryoga, my dad's right there! It's too bold! We shouldn't. We mustn't! But... I want it!
Ryoga leaned in closer still. His hand came up, holding a napkin and he wiped at her cheek before sitting back again. "Someone's a messy eater today!" he said a good-natured smile.
The potent thrill within her popped and the adorable chef wilted on the stool.
_
The next evening, Ukyo began phase two of her plan. After taking a shower, she wrapped a towel around herself and went to the bathroom door, calling out to Ryoga. Wiping a hand on the mirror over the sink, she made sure the towel covered her breasts, but left an ample display of cleavage and thigh to taunt the boy's appetite. Gathering her courage, she called down to him. "Ryoga, come up here a moment please."
"Something wrong?" Ryoga asked, coming up the stairs as Ukyo slid half out of the bathroom, holding onto the door.
This was it, the moment to plant the seeds of desire. Her face fully flushed, it was all Ukyo could do to hold fast to her resolve and not to dash back inside, shut the door, and abort her own plan. She fought against her own insecurities, gripping the frame of the door as Ryoga's head came into view as he climbed the stairs. "I forgot to get a towel for my hair. Can you be a dear and get me one from the linen closet?"
Don't back down now, girl! This can't fail! Get a good look, Ryoga. I don't care if you have a nosebleed all over the floor. You won't be able to look away! Feast your eyes on the display of feminine charms, teasingly concealed behind the most innocent of cloth! Look at me!
"Hey boy! Hurry back down here. I'm going to show you another sauce-making technique before bed! You'll really wow the customers with this one."
Ryoga turned his head back towards the stairs. "Be right there, sir! Okonomiyaki is life!"
"Ha! That's the spirit. We'll make a chef out of you yet!"
Ryoga started to go back downstairs when he stopped suddenly in his tracks. "Oh right, the towel! Here you go, Ukyo! Come now, sir!" Opening the closet, he pulled out a towel and dashed for the stairs, tossing it as he passed without so much as glancing her way.
Ukyo stood there in the half open doorway looking positively dumbstruck as the towel fell against her chest then to the floor at her feet. She blinked once before her mouth fell open. Feeling equal parts mortified, embarrassed, seething, she glared towards the stairs as her perfectly white teeth clenched as she seethed. "For the first time in my life… I really, really hate Okonomiyaki!"
