So I finally gave you an update, just when you thought I had abandoned this fic
Ukyo pays a visit and rescues Ryoga from being smothered by Akane nearly revealing his secret. Akane gets jealous and Ranma turns big brother mode
Akane sighed, kneeling down to collect her beloved pet in her hands thoughtfully. She had noticed that he looked rather filthy, usually, he was a very clean little pig but he seemed to have gotten into trouble when her back was turned. However, he was only small and probably still a baby, he didn't know any better. He just wanted to have some fun is all. How could she mad at him over such a trivial thing.
He couldn't exactly take care of himself, she wondered how he even survived when he wandered off. He could have been hit by a car, he could have been killed by a predator or been kidnapped by another obsessive human being. The idea of him being harmed or losing him in some traumatic way scared her, I mean she had taken him in and raised him by herself. She was very protective over him. She could tell P-chan all her secrets, she could share all her problems with him and all he needed to do was listen to her. She loved her little pet and how happy he made her. Waking up to him on her pillow and cuddling up with him as she slept, carrying him everywhere with her and keeping him safe from harm.
She gave him a fond smile, her heart swelling with love as she gazed upon his little face "Aww p-chan, looks like you need a bath" she cooed. She would be able to clean him all up and make him look all cute again. She would be a bad owner if she neglected him like that. It was her job to take care of him after all. She had been so busy lately she had forgotten all about him but now she could make it up to him. She wondered what he had been up to before he made his way back home again.
However, little did she realize the bomb she had created would have severe effects and cause her fiance to become rather upset. Despite the fact that she had seen her fiance, Shampoo and Mousee all transform into their respective cursed forms, she still had an issue understanding that Ryoga's curse was in fact the little piglet she had adopted into her life. Feeding, bathing and giving unknown favours to a very sneaky and perverted little piglet who was in fact a grown teenager.
Ranma nearby overheard this, stiffening in response. If she threw him in the tub then he would revert back to being Ryoga. God knows he hated Ryoga for the shit he pulled as P-chan. But they had a code as martial artists and since he was semi-responsible for the curse. He swore to never tell anyone about Ryoga's curse to save him from embarrassment. If Akane saw that Ryoga was P-chan his life was over, but then again she had gotten glimpses but was still dense to the fact that they were both one and the same. That her beloved pet pig was the cursed form of Ryoga and used it to spite him on more than one occasion.
He hated the little runt as much as anyone could, he was staying here free of board in disguise, he slept in his fiance's room, he ate with her, she carried him everywhere close to her breasts. She babied him constantly and never scolded him when he was hurt or attacked him because somehow he always started the fight even when he didn't. In her eyes he could do no wrong which was never fair whatsoever, he always got the blame and it really annoyed him. When would she ever take his side?
Before he could intervene, someone else already did so for them. Bringing a breath of fresh air to the already tense situation. "Sup everyone, special delivery as ordered" a familiar voice called. Ranma had ordered take out since Kasumi was out of town on a trip with the rest of their family. She had left enough money for food and such to last them until she got back. Saving Ranma from Akane's cooking until then. He had tried telling her again and again that he didn't mind a wife that couldn't cook, but she wouldn't hear of it.
She often got a little spiteful of the fact he could cook while she had no luck. Constantly pushing herself to be able to make something edible for her family and her fiance. But every single time was met with rejection, unless he obeyed just to make her happy. However, despite his mother wanting him to become a man among men and his father verbally abusing him for doing anything feminine. He actually got some joy out of cooking, it was a nice stress relief.
A warm smile came to the blue eyed boys face as his childhood friend entered the room. She was always a welcomed guest t the dojo and he never felt fear around her. He knew Ukyo would never hurt him in any way, she was too kind of a girl. Sure she could be hot tempered and sometimes acted a little odd, but they had a close bond and told each other everything. She was his confidant, "Hey Ucchan, good to see ya" Ranma called back. It had been a while, given he had training and she had to work at her restaurant. Things had been hectic for a while but it was always good to see a familiar face that wasn't a stalker or a rival. In fact, she was one of the few women outside the tendou house that he could stand to be around.
Whenever Kodachi came around he hid for weeks trying to get away from her, knowing the tricks she pulled to get his attention and twisting them to her benefit. Shampoo was a good cook and a useful ally in battle, but she always manipulated him into dating her or doing what she said. Hell, he was often uncomfortable about how forceful with her sexuality she was, though Ranma was used to walking about as a woman. When it came to physical contact with the opposite gender, he was rather naive. So if anything, the two combined only made him more uncomfortable.
She then spotted a familiar black piglet in Akane's arms, struggling with every amount of strength he could muster to get away. She wondered what could be upsetting the little guy so much. "Woah. Somebody's energetic today, were you teasing him again Ran-chan?" she teased. He really ought to be nicer to the little guy. She knew they didn't always get on, his closeness to Akane making Ranma jealous. But then again P-chan knew how to wind him up too. However, they both needed to learn to get along a little better.
She knew that Ranma was just being protective of Akane, given how often she got kidnapped or how his other psycho admirers tended to attack the people he loved. Kodachi stalked the poor guy and tried to use drugs to make him obedient or kidnap him. Shampoo used violence, manipulation and spells, while she simply treated him the same way she always had. As her childhood best friend whom meant the world to her, welcoming him with open arms and a hot meal. But it was rather amusing to see him act so childishly over a small pig. The only time he was honest about how much he loved her was in his neko form. He really did love Akane more than he liked to admit.
Akane nodded in acknowledgement to her friend, ashamed that P-chan was making such a fuss and looked so filthy in front of a guest. Why couldn't he just obey for once? She wasn't going to hurt him, it was just a little hot water and soap. "Hey Ukyo, I'm trying to give him a bath. But P-chan keeps having a tantrum and trying to run away from me" she complained bitterly. She was just trying to take care of him, why was he being so difficult? He would make the house dirty if he didn't take a bath. Kasumi had trusted them to take care of the house, what would she say if dirty hoof marks were found everywhere?
Ukyo hummed thoughtfully, placing down the order on the table for Ranma to serve out. She may as well stay a while given she had nothing else to do today. "Huh? You mean you have no idea?" she replied. Seems Akane didn't pay much attention to her pet as she thought she did. She had picked up immediately when she found him of how freaked out he appeared at the idea of a running bath. So she found other ways to take care of him, making sure to avoid all his phobias so he felt comfortable.
There were many things Akane was ignorant of, her inability to cook, the fact that Ranma was in love with her, her own feelings for Ranma, the fact that his admirers love was one sided. But more so above all else, the fact that her pig was freaking out because he was about to be taken to be bathed. The creature was using every amount of strength he could muster to get free and escape his owners grasp. Probably wanting to run away and hide where he would be safe.
Akane gave Ukyo a look of confusion, trying to soothe her pets panicked state to no avail. "About what?" she asked. Was there something she should know about P-chan? Was there something wrong with him? Had he gotten sick or something? Ukyo seemed to know something she didn't which was concerning to her? Had Ranma been telling lies about him again? Honestly, why couldn't he just leave P-chan alone, what had he ever done to annoy him?
Ukyo approached Akane, affectionately petting P-chans' head. Hopefully Akane would learn from this and find a new way to keep him clean, baths weren't the only way after all. "He suffers from Aquaphobia. When I bumped into him on the street one night, I mentioned cleaning him and he freaked out. The poor little guy hates the stuff" she explained. Akane could be a very naïve girl, she always had her best interest at heart but sometimes she never really considered all of her actions. Not really seeing how sometimes they could cause issues for someone else. She had no idea up until now that the poor little guy was terrified of taking a bath.
A look of shock came upon her face, P-chan was afraid of water? How long had he had this phobia? She felt so awful, she had unintentionally been scaring the poor baby. No wonder he had been acting out so much, trying to get away. But how could she have known, I mean he couldn't speak? She had no idea his thrashing about was because he was so scared. For all she knew he could have just been having a temper tantrum, usually he was always so well behaved. How could she make this up to him?
From the background Ranma scoffed, he never thought Ukyo was capable of being naïve to Ryoga's tricks too. He really had a way of twisting the truth into what he wanted didn't he? Fooling everyone into believing he was innocent and incapable of doing anything indecent, they couldn't be any more wrong. It was bad enough Akane hadn't figured it out yet. "Yeah Aquaphobia" he mocked under his breath. The little rat didn't want to get caught transforming or he would be revealed as a manipulative little pervert. Wanting to get his sugar from Ranma's fiance for as long as possible in hopes of getting close to her.
Ukyo smiled fondly at P-chan, her blue eyes kind and gentle. She knew he wasn't a bad little pig, he was jealous is all. He didn't want attention diverted from him because he liked to feel wanted. "You want me to bathe you again little guy?" she offered. She knew what he liked. She knew how to keep him clean without going anywhere near water. Making sure he felt safe and comfortable, all while making sure he kept clean and didn't make a mess. You had to take his feelings into consideration after all.
P-chan perked up eagerly upon hearing these words. Oinking delighted sounds and leapt immediately from Akane's tight grasp into Ukyo's welcoming arms. He knew that Ukyo immediately understood his fears and discomfort. Akane had taken him in, she gave him a home and treated him well, she protected him and gave him love. But she had no idea that he was the same Ryoga that Ranma hated. He loved Akane so much but she had no idea that he had feelings for her, let alone any of his darkest secrets. She only saw him as her cute little pet and a bashful awkward guy. But Ukyo understood, their meeting had been by chance and she dried him off from the rain and made him dinner. But she understood him, they were one and the same. She was not cursed like himself but she had the same painful longing for someone who would never notice her feelings.
Akane stared in awe as her pet forced himself from her arms and leapt into Ukyo's arms. Burying himself in her arms and nuzzling against her, Ukyo seemingly familiar with this gesture as well. She was surprised by the closeness between the two, given how little they had seen each other before. She had never seen P-chan ever act so eager towards another girl, usually he was so bashful and tended to sniff and lick at first before he allowed anyone but her to touch him. She didn't understand his sudden change in attitude.
Ukyo gave Akane a reassuring look, sensing her jealousy but she couldn't help herself. P-chan had just grown on her and it was nice to have some company in her small little house. He had yet to come and visit her but he was always welcome in her home, though she hoped to bump into him again soon. "I'll deal with the little piggy, you guys set up for lunch" she replied casually. She then paced off down the hall humming to herself, affectionately stroking the small animal in her arms to which he oinked in response.
Akane picked up the Okonomiyaki delivery box and headed to the kitchen to serve up the food. But she silently watched Ukyo leave down the hall carrying her beloved pet in her arms. She knew it sounded stupid, given that P-chan tended to roam off by himself all the time. But she was a little pissed to see P-chan being so close to another woman. Relying on someone that wasn't her to take care of him.
Everyone was sat around the table in silence, enjoying their meal cooked homemade and hand delivered by Ukyo. Fresh cups of tea to accompany their lunch, a cool spring breeze and cherry blossoms slowly falling onto the ground. A small group gathering surrounded by comfort, conversation and sometimes laughter. A lovely spring day as the seasons passed and the weather became warmer. Discussing future plans for the upcoming summer season.
There was a light tension in the air, directed at both Ukyo and the small creature resting on her lap. Akane trying hard but failing miserably at how jealous she was, how much this situation hurt her. Wondering how long this had been going on and at what point without her knowing that P-chan had distanced himself from her and attached himself to Ukyo. As a kid she had always wanted a pet but she was never allowed, forced to focus her time and energy into becoming the air to the tendou dojo. Now the only pet she had ever owned was now leaving her for another person.
P-chan was sat on Ukyo's lap in content, Ukyo giving him small bites of her food every now and again. He had been sitting with her ever since his bath and refused to move even when Akane had beckoned him affectionately. He gave her the odd stare and occasionally watched her, but he never once shifted from where he was sat. They even had their own conversations ignoring Ranma and Akane briefly, lost in their own little bubble. The usually tough and playful Ukyo showing such a sweet girly side around him.
Akane was utterly baffled and rather hurt by his distant nature, she had no idea why her pet was being so cold all of a sudden. What had she done wrong to make him hate her so much? Had she not been affectionate enough? Had he grown bored of her? She didn't understand why he was acting this way. Was she jealous? Yes of course she was, but it wasn't uncommon to fight for the affections of a family pet, everyone wanted to share the love or have said pets attention solely directed at them. Knowing their pet appreciated them just as much.
Ukyo looked up curiously, sensing the strong tension in the air. She had come all this way with their meal but they weren't really eating much which was a little annoying. Well, Ranma was he never wasted a bite of her cooking but she could tell that Akane wasn't and Ranma was simply distracted is all "What? You guys not hungry or something? Why all the sour faces huh?" she asked curiously. What had made them so unhappy? They had been so pleased when she showed up, she rarely got to see them nowadays. So why were they giving her weird looks all of a sudden?
Akane forced herself to smile, she couldn't be petty. She had no right to take this out on Ukyo, this was by no means her fault. But she couldn't help it, she already knew Ukyo had a one sided crush on her fiance as well as a bond with him she would never understand. But now that she was taking P-chan from her, she couldn't help but sulk about it. Jealous that his love was being directed at someone that wasn't her. "I had no idea you liked animals Ukyo" she replied stiffly. She could have just gotten her own pet instead of stealing hers.
Ukyo blinked, humming thoughtfully to herself "Never had any t' be honest" she explained petting P-chan's head affectionately. She then laughed bashfully "But this little guy just rubbed off on me y' know" she joked. She had always spent her time working for her dad's cart, training in martial arts or running the family business. Relationships and having an animal companion was something that never seemed to come into her life. So she couldn't help but indulge a little.
Ranma peered at Ukyo in silence, chewing his food with a menacing look directed at his rival in his cursed form. This guy really had no limits to how far he would go. First his fiancé and now his best friend. But at least Ukyo could handle herself and was self-aware when it came to his condition with water. She wouldn't make any mistakes like Akane would, allowing him to relax about her safety. But if he tried anything funny, he wouldn't hesitate to teach him in a painful lesson.