[Ranma][Fanfic][Dark] Love & War: Love - Chapters 7 - 15 (End)

[Shuma Gorath]

Chapter Seven

Ken sat on the roof of Ukyou's restaurant, looking out across the
faint skyline of Nerima. He could barely make out the outline of the city
as lights winked out across the city. People were heading to sleep and
the city would come to a slow halt for the night. The air was fresh and
the sky clear around Ukyou's restaurant, and Ken enjoyed it. The stars
were coming out, winking at him from the sky, and a slight breeze could be
felt. The silence of the city was a perfect complement to the stillness
around him. As he smiled and stood up to go in, Ken heard noises breaking
the silence. They were heading towards him on the street.
"What's this?" he mumbled to himself.
A small figure was bouncing from rooftop to rooftop laughing
merrily. Ken could make out a crowd of people swinging rakes, shovels and
assorted tools as they followed after it. As he turned back to look at
the bouncing figure, he suddenly realized the person hopping across the
rooftops was about to run into him. He gave a small grunt as the person
abruptly ran into his chest, bowling both of them over.
"Watch where you're going sonny!" the little man shouted at him.
"You ran into me!" Ken protested.
"Don't argue with your elders, boy! You'll come to regret it."
Ken was about to say something, but was cut off by the shouting
crowd.
"Stop him!" a female voice shouted.
"Thief!"
"Lecher!"
"Pervert!"
Ken could hear them clearly now, and all were female. All were
very angry. Ken noticed that the old man had a sack tied to his back and
wore a mask fashioned from the loose ends of the sack's lip. The old man
waved his pipe around in the air and laughed at the crowd.
"Don't worry ladies! Grandpa Happosai will be back in a few
moments to collect your gifts! Ta-Ta-Owf!"
Ken reached over and picked up the old man by the bag. He was
surprisingly nimble despite his old age. The old man slipped to the
ground and waved his pipe menacingly.
"Give that back! Those belong to me!" he shouted.
Ken furrowed his brow. He decided being polite to a thief wasn't
a big deal and opened the bag despite Happosai's protests. Women's
underwear was packed inside.
"Close that up you pervert!" Happosai yelled at Ken as he quickly
snatched the sack back.
"You're the one with the sack," Ken said angrily.
Happosai growled an unintelligible response and made his way over
to the edge of the roof.
"I'm gonna jump down ladies! Catch me!" he cried. All of them
responded with insults.
In one fluid motion Ken drew his sword and sliced open the bag
with the tip of his sword as Happosai jumped. The contents of the bag
were dumped unceremoniously on the crowd. The women scrambled to regain
their property and beat Happosai as he landed. Ken watched the droplets
of water fall to the ground gracefully after Happosai.
"What's going on here?!"
Ken hopped down from the roof to see Ukyou storming out of the
restaurant wearing a set of blue pajamas. She was obviously upset about
being woken up from her sleep. She had the look to prove it. Happosai
was busily fighting with the women for their underwear when he spotted
Ukyou.
"Sweeto!" he cried as he attempted the leap from the ground to
Ukyou's cleavage.
The flat of a sword stopped him and pinned him to the ground in
swift arc. The blade pinned him to the ground at the neck. The women in
the crowd gave a triumphant cry. Ukyou smirked at Happosai.
"Like my new waiter?" she asked.
"Who are you, boy! It would do you good to put away that toy of
yours. Little kids shouldn't play with grown-up toys."
Ken growled.
"I'll move my blade when I'm good and ready to. I don't think
you're in any position to make demands," he said flatly. "Especially for
a perverted panty-thief. I can't believe you just tried to openly grope
Ukyou's chest. You disgust me."
"Water?" Ukyou asked Ken, while pointing at the sword.
"A veritable flood," he said derisively at Happosai.
Happosai looked slightly deflated, but then became angry again.
His pipe flew out suddenly striking Ken in the wrist. Ken recoiled out of
instinct and Happosai scrambled to his feet, a battle aura blazing.
"Now you're going to have a good lesson in fighting beat into you,
you disrespectful whelp!"
Ken grit his teeth as his world slowly went red. He took an
instant disliking to Happosai and felt that he definitely would have
everyone's permission to beat him senseless.
"Hey, Happosai! Look at these!" Ukyou called suddenly.
Happosai turned to see Ukyou holding up a bra, pretending to see
if they fit her. Happosai's face broke into a stupid grin and his battle
aura drained. Ken's aura suddenly flared at the same time and he plunged
his sword into the ground. Ukyou saw the same bright light engulf
Happosai that she'd seen engulf Shampoo before. This time, Happosai
wasn't rendered unconscious. Instead, he staggered about as if drunk and
dazed. Ken pulled out his sword, calmly sheathed it and walked over to
Happosai. He took the metal pole Ukyou used to adjust the sign on her
restaurant and closed his eyes. When he opened them, Ukyou noticed that
they glowed ever so slightly. Ken proceeded to wrap the pole around
Happosai in a tight coil. Ukyou took the bra, tied it around Happosai's
face, and then gagged him with some panties she found on the ground.
"So who does he belong to?" Ken asked.
Ukyou laughed.
"He doesn't belong to anyone, although I sometimes think he
belongs to the Tendos. Happosai's supposedly the master of the Anything
Goes dojo. Guess we should deliver him to their doorstep."
Ken grinned.
"No problem," he said as he picked up the still dazed Happosai.
"I'll pay you back for the pole. I couldn't think of any other way to
properly restrain the old guy. Oh yeah, nice trick with the bra," Ken
said with a grin and a wink. "Good thing I wasn't really looking or I'd
have passed out."
Ukyou blushed as Ken took off into the night following the same
path Happosai had taken over the rooftops.

When Ranma and Akane woke the next morning, it was quiet. It was
as if there were a deathly calm that had enshrouded the Tendo dojo. They
cautiously got up from their beds, and ran into each other as they left
their rooms. Ranma gave Akane a questioning look, to which Akane simply
shrugged. Neither had any idea of what was going on. Akane stole a peek
into Nabiki's room, only to see nobody there. They both went downstairs
cautiously, only to see Kasumi quietly humming to herself and Nabiki
quietly sipping her tea. What struck Ranma as odd was that Soun was
sitting contentedly in his seat with a very large grin that stretched from
ear to ear.
"What's going on?" Akane asked.
Nabiki smiled and pointed next to her, moving out of the way.
Happosai sat in his seat, bound, gagged, and blindfolded with a
small note pinned to the bra that blinded him. Happosai appeared rather
sullen, despite the bent bar and women's underwear that obscured him from
view.
Ranma and Akane began laughing uproariously. Neither could
contain their laughter. Ranma fell to the ground, and Akane almost on top
of him. Nabiki gestured wildly and pointed at Happosai again making
throat cutting motions with her hands. Ranma and Akane calmed themselves
as quickly as possible when they saw Happosai shaking in fury.
"Aw, c'mon old man. It's not like you've been never beaten
before. You must have been distracted. It's happened to the best of us,"
Ranma said.
Happosai gave a muffled response. Ranma and Akane walked over to
Happosai and took the note off from Happosai's head.
"It's addressed to the both of you," Nabiki drawled.
"What is it?" Akane asked.
"It's a note from Ken. It's about the old lech."
"What did he say?"
Ranma broke into a giant grin. He looked over at Soun Tendo and
raised an eyebrow questioningly. Soun simply smiled and nodded his head.
Ranma passed the note to Akane with a snicker.
"I guess he's getting along with Ukyou even better than I
thought."
"Or I thought," Akane said with a smile after reading the note.
Happosai simply shook and tried to scream through the gag.
"Take it easy old lech, we'll get you out of there," Ranma said in
an exasperated voice. "We'll just have to stop by Ucchan's and have Ken
do it. I don't have the time right now."
After wolfing down breakfast, Ranma and Akane bolted to Ucchan's
to see Ken sweeping the storefront. Ranma held out the impromptu package.
"We kinda need to get him out of there," he said with a sheepish
grin.
"Even if he is a pervert, he is the master of the Anything Goes
style," Akane said ruefully.
"Did you make him promise?" Ken asked.
Ranma held up the wrapped Happosai.
"I swear not to grope Ukyou," Happosai said in a resigned voice.
"And you won't steal any underwear from her."
Ukyou walked out and looked at Ken with a wry smile after seeing
Happosai.
"Yes, I swear not to steal any underwear from Ukyou or grope her,"
Happosai said annoyed. Ukyou shot Ken a look of mock surprise and an
impish grin.
Ken blushed furiously.
"And what about other women?" he quickly added.
"Look, I agree already! Let me go!" Happosai yelled.
"You know, why don't you just free yourself. I know you can," Ken
said flatly.
"I'm too weak right now. I've got a headache and I don't feel
well," Happosai whined. "I haven't been with my collection in a long
time, no thanks to you, boy!" he spat at Ken.
"The old man's an addict. If keep him away from them too long, he
gets kinda off balance or somethin'," Ranma replied.
Ken hunched over to look at Happosai.
"Come near Ukyou again and I'll cut your hands off," Ken hissed
under his breath. "I swear to it by my brother, Ida-ten."
Happosai sighed.
"Fine, but you can't catch me all the time."
"I can if it's Ukyou," Ken hissed again.
Ken took his sword and noted that water dripped from its tip.
I wonder if freeing Happosai is a good thing? he thought. Would
Ranma's mother think it an act of compassion or mercy? he asked himself.
Clearing his mind, he looked at the coils around Happosai's body, focused,
and then made a clean slice through Happosai's bonds. They fell away
easily after being severed into smaller pieces.
Happosai stretched and glared at Ken.
"You've interefered with an important man's work. You'll suffer
for that."
"But isn't it the responsibility of a martial artist to help those
who can't help themselves?"
"What does that have to do with it?" Happosai asked.
"Those women chasing you seemed to have a tough time getting their
things back."
"But what about me? You served me a great injury by doing those
things. You will regret it."
"If you had the opportunity to gain the trust and friendship, as
well as the appreciation, of a great many beautiful women by apprehending
a thief, would you?"
"What do you mean?" Happosai asked, suddenly interested.
"If a hundred beautiful women would shower you with kisses if you
were to do them, what you would think a small favor, would you?" Ken asked
with a smile.
"Of course! What kind of Neanderthal do you think I am?" he
replied incredulously. "You insult me! Every true martial artist would
help those beautiful women. Think of the rewards!" Happosai said with a
faraway look in his eyes.
"What if it meant taking care of a certain pilferer of small
trifles?"
"Forget about the pilferer! There are women in need! Beautiful
ladies that will love you forever!"
Ken stood up with a smile. Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou shared a
laugh. Happosai looked about with confusion.
"What's so funny?" he asked angrily.
"Nothing, old lech. Absolutely nothing," Ranma said as he turned
to run to school. Akane and Ukyou followed behind laughing.
"What did you say to them?!" Happosai demanded.
"Promise you'll be civil and forget about this entire incident and
I'll tell you," Ken said with a smile.
"Give me some sake, and you have a deal, boy," Happosai said with
a smile.
Ken laughed and brought Happosai into the restaurant.

"Just what was Ken saying to Happosai?" Ukyou asked Ranma.
"Nothing, really," Ranma replied with a smile.
Ukyou turned to look at Akane questioningly as she ran next to
her. Akane simply gestured to Ranma as he ran on the fence beside them.
"Ask Ranma," she said.
"C'mon you guys. You have to tell me! It's about Ken liking me,
isn't it?"
"You could say that," Ranma replied with a grin.
Ukyou snorted derisively.
"I already told him I'm engaged."
"So you really don't like him?" Akane asked skeptically.
"I like him as a friend. I've said that already," Ukyou said.
Ranma jumped down from the fence to run through the gates with
Akane and Ukyou.
"That's what you say, Ucchan; but as your best friend, I'd like to
point out that you two get along very well together."
"It's very cute," Akane replied with a grin.
"Will you two stop it!" Ukyou said and she blushed slightly.
"Well, Ukyou and I will see you in class," Akane called over her
shoulder as they ran past a sonnet-spouting Tatewaki Kuno.

"Well, it sounds like you've got quite a problem on your hands."
"I guess so."
"And you're trying to take lessons from Ranma's mother?"
"Yup."
Happosai looked wistfully into the sake he was drinking. Things
had become much more friendly once Ken had given him the sake and
explained the joke. Even he had to admit that the boy was smart enough to
sucker him into an easy paradox. Now he was inquiring into seeing the
Anything Goes style?
"You're a strange one. First you threaten me and try to bully me,
and now you're being complacent and friendly."
"I told you before, I try to protect those that I consider
friends."
"Or loved ones," Happosai said with a chuckle.
"What do you mean by that?"
Happosai laughed.
"Don't tell me that you're being so protective of Ukyou because
you respect her. I've lived long enough to know that a young man like
yourself is looking for a little action," he said with a wink.
"It's not like that at all!" Ken protested.
Happosai laughed again.
"Fine, fine. I was once your age and acted similarly. It is a
noble thing indeed to care for someone and try to protect them with your
life." Happosai's eyes glazed over. "I can remember a time when I was so
noble and virtuous. I walked the land helping those who couldn't help
themselves. Why, I even fell in love with a beautiful woman and would
have married her if it hadn't been for turbulent times. I would have
moved the world for her."
"So what happened?" Ken asked.
Happosai thought back to the numerous times he bounced from the
chest of one woman to another.
"I, uh, got distracted. We grew apart," he replied.
Ken sighed.
"Must have been nice knowing someone cared about you like that."
"I know plenty of beautiful women care about me like that!"
Happosai protested.
"If you call the split second between grabbing her chest and being
swatted away love," Ken replied with a laugh.
"Insulting your elders will get you nowhere," Happosai said
sternly.
"But sake will?"
Happosai snorted.
"Only so far."
"Then have another drink," Ken said as he poured.
Happosai downed the sake and hopped off the counter.
"Thank you for the drink, m'boy. I'll be off now."
"Don't forget about what I said," Ken said sternly and flipped his
sword in his hands. "I'm very serious about you hurting Ukyou in any way.
Or any of the women I've met."
Happosai frowned.
"I thought we were getting along so well. Well, since you've
shown me enough repentance and respect for your actions. I will agree to
cease grabbing Ukyou and your female friends when you're around."
Ken started unsheathing the sword. Happosai laughed.
"Fine. I'll stop with the grabbing; but if you can't catch me
doing it to other women, that's your problem."
"If that's as far as you'll go-"
"That's it."
"I guess that'll have to do. You realize I spend a lot of time
with my female friends. There's the Tendo sisters, Ukyou, Shampoo, and
even Ranma; if you count his female form as a female entirely."
"You can't spend all your time with them. And I know for a fact
you haven't spent any time with Shampoo-chan."
Ken was about to say something, but Happosai bounded out the door
and out of sight before he could say anything. Ken chuckled. Happosai
was an amazing old pervert, but a pervert nonetheless. Old habits die
hard, I guess, he thought as he gathered the sake and started to wipe down
the restaurant.

"So Ken said he'd cut off Happosai's hands if he caught the old
man in the act?"
"Actually, I think he specified you," Akane said with a smile.
"You're really trying your hardest to pair me up with him, aren't
you?"
"I'm just trying to make a happy couple happier," Akane replied.
"I'm already engaged to Ranma!" Ukyou protested. It didn't work.
Akane had the 'I told you so' look and it wouldn't go away. Ukyou looked
over to Ranma for support, but he simply protected himself in these
situations by burying his face in food. Ukyou could tell that Ranma's
lunch was going down faster than normal. She sighed.
"Aren't you attracted to him at all? You must be," Akane said.
"You bet she is. Just look at the clothes she got him."
Ukyou turned to see Nabiki walk in and sit next to them.
"I think I've heard this before," Ukyou said flatly.
"What do you want, Nabiki?" Akane asked.
"I want to talk to Ken, if that's okay with his girlfriend," she
said jokingly.
"I am not his girlfriend!" Ukyou protested.
"Then you'll make a lot of single ladies here very happy," Nabiki
replied with a smile. "So do I get a shot at talking to him?"
"It's not my place to say," Ukyou replied. "But I think he's
still pretty mad at you Nabiki. I don't think he wants to talk to you at
all."
Nabiki sighed, looking rather crestfallen.
"And he was such a cute one."
"You like him, don't you?" Ukyou asked Nabiki.
Nabiki glared at Akane. Akane raised her hands defensively.
"It's not like that at all. I simply have business to talk to him
about."
"He gave you the money for the loan, Nabiki," Ukyou replied.
"You mean you gave me the money for the loan, Ukyou."
"He works for me. He doesn't come here since he doesn't really
need to go to school. I volunteered to do it for him."
"There's still the matter of his contract."
"I don't think he'd be very receptive to that particular word,
Nabiki."
Nabiki sighed.
"If you like him, Nabiki, then why don't you just say so. It's
not like you're stepping down from some throne," Akane said quietly. "You
are among friends here."
"Look at the time," Nabiki said brightly. "I have to get back to
class!" She got up and waved before leaving the classroom.
"She really does like him, doesn't she?" Ukyou asked after Nabiki
had left.
"I think so," Akane said simply.
Ranma looked up from his lunch.
"Did I miss something? What were you talking to Nabiki about?" he
asked.
"Nothing, Ran-chan. Nothing you need to concern yourself with.
Mostly girl talk," Ukyou replied. She waved and made her way out the
door. It was time to open the restaurant.
When she arrived, she noticed the tables were clean and in order.
The grill was spotless and the counter as well. The batter was on ice and
by the grill. The toppings were all at hand and stocked. Everything was
ready for business. Ukyou frowned. Ken wasn't around. She could hear a
slight bump-bump noise from overhead, and decided Ken was on the roof
again. When she opened the door, she found what she was looking for. Ken
was on the roof practicing with his back to her. She noticed that a
wooden dummy with multiple arms was standing in the middle of the roof.
Ken must have put that in, she mused.
Ken was completely focused. Ukyou could tell. The look of
complete determination and intent was there. Must have been here since
this morning, Ukyou thought as she watched his sweat drenched body fluidly
work around the wooden arms of the dummy. His shirt was drenched and it
clung to his body like a bodysuit. Ukyou could clearly see definition and
tone that years of work and training would produce. She blushed at the
thought and pushed it out of her mind. It didn't help that Ken had
stopped to catch his breath. He stretched and pulled off his shirt and
tossed it to the side. Ukyou's eyes locked in place and she held her
breath. He's absolutely gorgeous, she thought to herself, just like
Ran-chan.
Ken wiped his hands on the pair of sweatpants he was wearing and picked up
where he left off. Ukyou was mesmerized by the way Ken rhythmically
worked his arms around the wooden arms of dummy. He quickly and
methodically wove his arms around the wooden arms of the dummy to hit the
body. It was like a fluid dance. A beautiful dance with no partner.
Does it need one? Ukyou asked herself. Her face flushed at the thought.
"You move so gracefully. I wish I could carry myself like that," he had
said to her, and her heart had gone out to him. She had tried to comfort
him then.
"You can move like that - you do move like that. It's beautiful,"
she said under her breath. She instantly wish she hadn't.
Ken stopped when he thought he heard someone. He stopped and
turned . It was Ukyou. She was standing in the doorway to the stairs
leading to the restaurant. She had a blush that highlighted her face.
Her eyes had a wishful, almost dream-like look to them. Ken thought she
looked like and angel. A beautiful angel that's engaged to someone else,
he thought. He quickly turned to pick up his shirt. When he turned back
to look at Ukyou, she was clearing her throat and straightening her
clothes. He walked up to her and smiled.
"I guess I took a little too long practicing. I apologize," he
said quietly.
Ukyou coughed and looked away. She felt flushed and the air
seemed a little warm. She bit her lip.
"It's okay. It's fine," she said hastily. She felt Ken start to
walk by her, and she surprised herself by reaching out to touch him. He
turned around at the contact. She put her hand on his chest. His chest
muscles were rock solid, hot and slick with perspiration; and she could
feel his heart racing under her touch. Her heart was racing in response.
"Yes?" he asked quietly.
"I think it'd be best if you got cleaned up before you get to
work," Ukyou stammered hastily. I'm an idiot, she yelled at herself
mentally. What am I doing?!
Ken chuckled.
"I had that one covered. I wouldn't want to drive away business,"
he said with a smile.
You'd get a lot of female business, she thought to herself as she
watched him walk down the stairs and out of sight.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Chapter Eight

Ken leaned back behind the counter and grill, gazing at the sparse
dinner crowd gathered there. It was a slow evening, and he was grateful
for it. Not many people around, and the atmosphere was laid back and
relaxed. Things were going by at a leisurely pace and it gave him time to
sit back and think about the day's events. Ken chuckled at the thought of
it.
There was the old man, Happosai. The master of the Anything Goes
dojo was a pervert; but a pervert that was very accomplished in his
proficiency in the martial arts. Ken found it amusing that he could be
easily distracted by some women's underwear. The image of Happosai's
intense battle aura being extinguished by Ukyou's faked interest in
wearing one of his "collectibles" was very ironic. Weren't all martial
artists supposedly completely focused during battle? Ken found it just as
amusing that Happosai would then quickly make amends if offered a bottle
of sake. A truly strange man indeed, Ken thought.
Then, to top things off, Ukyou had interrupted him after a few
good hours of practice. Ken had decided to apologize for setting the
wooden practice dummy he had purchased on the roof of Ucchan's. However,
it still distracted him whenever he thought back to the incident. Ukyou
had interrupted him with an odd look on her face. She was blushing and
was obviously feeling hot. At first, he thought that she was feeling ill,
but she also had a silly smile on her face. Ken couldn't quite understand
what was going on, but felt a little flattered that she was staring at
him. People usually stare at me like that when they want something from
me, he thought. Ken looked over to Ukyou, diligently working at some
okonomiyaki, and chuckled. He wondered why she didn't simply ask for what
she wanted. If it was to borrow the sword, it wasn't a big problem. If
it was for help on the homework he had seen her musing, she could
certainly ask. Ken simply couldn't understand. Perhaps I should ask
Ranma's mother, Ken mused. His train of thought was breached by some
shouting.
"Hey, Sugar! Back to work!" Ukyou shouted while waving a small
spatula in front of his face.
"Hunh? Oh, sorry Ukyou. I guess I got kinda distracted," Ken
replied with a sheepish expression. He hurried away to ferry the finished
okonomiyaki to people waiting at tables.
Ukyou sighed. He must have seen me staring at him, she thought.
This is so embarrassing! Ukyou turned back to the okonomiyaki.
"I love Ran-chan! Why is this so hard?" she muttered to herself.
"It's a good thing Ken's pretty oblivious, or I'd be in big trouble."
"In big trouble over what?"
Ukyou snapped to attention to see Ken sitting at the counter
resting his chin in one hand and playing with a napkin.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," She stammered.
"Look, I'm your waiter. As your waiter, it's my job to sit here
and listen to you complain and whine and moan about all of your personal
problems and make objective comments on them. It's in the job
description," he said with a smile.
"And you get paid for being lazy?" Ukyou asked with a grin.
"Of course. Speak, or forever hold your peace."
"No offense, but I don't think you're really the one I should be
talking to about it," Ukyou said apologetically.
"Does it involve me?"
"No."
"Then what's the problem?"
Ukyou's eyes began to wander as she tried thinking up reasons why
she couldn't say. Ken could tell she was stalling.
"Hey, I understand. I shouldn't pry. I apologize," Ken said as
he turned to leave.
"Wait. I guess it's okay to tell you a little bit," Ukyou said
nervously.
"Shoot," Ken said as he sat back down.
"Well, it's pretty complicated. You know that I'm engaged to
Ranma," Ukyou started. Ken nodded as she continued. "Well, I love
Ran-chan a lot. Sometimes I think I love him more than should be right
for a person our age." Ukyou noticed Ken shift slightly. She forged
ahead regardless. "So let's say there's someone at school that I've
noticed. I like him in a different way than I like Ran-chan."
"You don't love him, for one," Ken offered.
"Right. I don't love this guy, and I don't think he's an
absolutely perfect person. In fact, I don't think he's perfect. I'd go
so far to say that he's got a few pretty serious flaws; but I like being
with him all the same. It's the same feeling I get when I'm with
Ran-chan, I think. Well, I don't know about that, I guess. I've never
really been with him for very long."
"So you like him, but you can't explain why."
"Yeah."
"And you're worried that since you're engaged to Ranma, that
you're being dishonest with yourself."
"You've got it."
"But you're not in love with this other guy and you've never
really done anything with him."
"Exactly."
"Then what's the problem?"
"What?" Ukyou asked, surprised by Ken's response.
"I don't see what the problem is. You're just being friendly with
someone other than Ranma. Just because you're engaged to Ranma doesn't
mean you can't have other male friends. If Ranma's engaged to you, does
that mean he can only spend time with one particular woman, namely you?"
"Well, I'd like it that way, but I really can't do anything about
it."
"Right. So you've just found a nice guy for a friend. So what's
the big deal?"
The big deal is that I think I'm attracted to him, Ukyou thought.
"Just for argument's sake, let's say he's a lot like Ran-chan.
He's a great fighter, he's got huge muscles, piercing eyes, washboard
stomach, he's polite, he's considerate-"
"I get the idea, Ukyou," Ken interrupted with a laugh. "Someone
exactly like Ranma."
Ukyou nodded.
"Then I still think you don't have a problem. If the person's
exactly like Ranma, so shouldn't you be glad that someone else will be
just as happy as you will be when you're married?"
"What?!" Ukyou yelled. "This isn't a joke!" she spat as she
watched Ken trying desperately to contain himself. To her own chagrin,
she found herself starting to laugh at the comment.
"Hey, it's what you taught me to think! Can I help it if you've
been successful at brainwashing me with you own propaganda?" he said with
mock seriousness.
She reached over the grill to playfully swat his head in response.
Ken caught her hand when it was inches from his face with a roguish grin.
Ukyou could feel his breath on the inside of her wrists. She thought she
felt electricity running up her spine. She quickly swatted Ken with her
other hand, making him drop the other. She felt a slight loss as he let
go of her hand.
"Please be serious about it, okay?" she asked.
"Okay, then in seriousness, you should forget about the
hypothetical and get back to work. You don't really pay yourself to
dawdle, do you?"
"You're just like Ran-chan! Don't you see what I'm trying to get
at?" Ukyou pleaded.
"What?" Ken asked laughingly.
"What if I'm in love with someone other than Ranma!" Ukyou nearly
screamed.
The restaurant was suddenly silent.
"Not saying that I am" Ukyou trailed, twiddling her thumbs. Ken
calmed himself.
"Then you've got a problem," Ken said simply. "I think it's
probably one that you would have to talk to Ranma about."
Ukyou sighed as Ken got up chuckling quietly to himself. As he
went into the back room, Ukyou watched him go sadly.
"What am I going to do with you?" she said quietly.
"The okonomiyaki's burning."
Ukyou spun around to face Nabiki leaning on the counter.
"Thanks for the warning," Ukyou said uneasily as she went back to
the okonomiyaki. It was browned and close to approaching burning, but it
could be rescued.
"So is he here?" Nabiki asked.
"He's in the back room, probably washing dishes. I don't think
he'd appreciate a visit from you."
"I really feel like I should say something."
"Trying to save your hide?"
"Is there something wrong with that? I'm simply trying to recoup
my losses."
"I don't think Ken would take too kindly to that. Why not just
say you're sorry?"
Nabiki fidgeted. Ukyou was surprised.
"I was hoping to work that in," Nabiki said quietly.
"Your first?"
"Look, it's not like I've never apologized before!" Nabiki shot
out angrily.
"Hey, calm down. I'm not trying to start anything," Ukyou said
defensively. She worked on the okonomiyaki more before turning back to
Nabiki. "You know, I get the impression that you like the new waiter."
"Did Akane tell you?"
"Akane didn't say anything. I just figured, after the picture and
all. Well, actually I decided that you were either very sick and would
sell that picture; or you were a little new to things and wanted to keep
it for a private collection."
Nabiki blushed and looked away.
"I wonder if you've got pictures of Ran-chan" Ukyou mumbled
"I don't," Nabiki replied, "and I won't be getting any either; but
that's the last thing on my mind right now."
"Then off you go then," Ukyou said.
Nabiki looked at Ukyou, trying to gauge whether she was trying to
help, or bring a nuisance; but the okonomiyaki chef was good at hiding
things from her. Nabiki sighed.
"Here goes nothing," she mumbled as she headed to the back of the
restaurant.

Ken scrubbed the last of the dishes and dumped it into an adjacent
sink full of hot water. He reached backwards to grab a small towel. As
he was wiping his face, he heard a rapping on the doorframe behind him.
"Knock, knock."
Ken face darkened.
"The counter is up front. They take orders there. Deals are made
there," he said flatly.
Nabiki winced inwardly.
"Can we talk?"
"No."
"Look, just listen to me then."
"I very much regret listening to you before."
"It'll pay off if you listen to me now."
"You're forking over negatives? How nice. It's too bad I don't
want them."
"Won't you listen?"
"No," Ken said.
Nabiki walked up to him and stared at him intently.
"What is wrong with you?"
"What do you think is wrong with me!" Ken shouted. "I thought I
could trust someone to simply lend me money. I even thought signing some
contract would show that I would honor a bargain. Then I find out that
the bargain involved selling myself like some stud bull so someone else
can milk me for cash! On top of that, I find out the person I borrowed
money from is taking pictures of me half naked! What do you think my
problem is?!"
"I-I- came to apologize. Won't you listen? I'll do all the
talking," she said. On the inside, she was on the verge of tears, but she
kept a stoic mask for Ken to see.
"I've had enough of your talking. I don't want to listen to you
try to make some new deal. Ranma was right about you. I should have
listened to him."
"What did he say about me?" Nabiki whispered.
Ken leveled a cold stare at her.
"He said you were a con artist. You made money, and that's all
your black heart cared about. You might make it to support your family,
but it's no excuse for exploiting people past their personal limit. Ranma
told me you'd try to milk me for all I was worth to you; and judging from
the picture, I guess I'm not much more than some piece of meat to you.
You and your kind disgust me, Nabiki," he said evenly.
Ken's comment burned. It hit a very sore spot somewhere, and
Nabiki's mask of neutrality broke. Nabiki could feel tears streaming down
her face. Every word Ken said pierced her and twisted inside.
"I thought I liked you. Now I can see why my sister hates boys.
If they're all like you and Ranma, I hope I never see a boy as long as I
live," she hissed.
"If you keep hiding yourself in a sea of green like a
snake-in-the-grass you won't need to. Just keep yourself from looking up
to people."
Nabiki's hand flew threw the air towards Ken's face, but it never
made contact. He caught it a foot from his head. She threw her weight
into the second one, but it never made it either. Nabiki simply shook in
anger and shame.
"I hate you!" she hissed repeatedly.
Ken simply stared at her evenly until the tears dried and she was
staring at him with contempt. He hated what he had done, but it was done.
He'd vented his anger, and gotten what he wanted; but he hated himself for
doing it. Ken stared at Nabiki as she stood there, held up by his grip,
shaking.
"I was only trying to apologize," Nabiki worked through her teeth.
She broke out of Ken's grasp and turned to leave. A hand grasped her arm
and she turned around. Ken put his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, Nabiki. My outburst was uncalled for. I hate seeing
women cry. I apologize," he said quietly.
She smiled hesitantly.
"Apology accepted," she said with a quiet laugh. "You're supposed
to say that, you know."
"You haven't apologized yet," Ken replied.
Nabiki pushed herself away from Ken and brought a fist down on him
in fury.
"How dare you-"
Ken caught her wrist as she brought it down for another blow.
"Hey! Take it easy. I understand. Ukyou's trying to teach me to
not hold a grudge, and you're making it pretty tough for me," he chided.
Nabiki stopped and wiped her eyes. She took the offered tissue
and blew her nose and straightened herself.
"Get going. I have some work to do. Ukyou doesn't pay me to
dawdle," Ken said with a laugh as he turned back to the dishes.
"I can try to get her to," Nabiki said with a mischievous grin.
Ken rolled his eyes and groaned. Nabiki laughed.
"Fine. No more deals with you around."
"It's a deal," Ken said with a grin and offered a soaked hand.
Nabiki smiled and grabbed it with a squelch. They shook firmly.
"Friends?" she whispered.
"What do you think?" Ken said with a smile and a laugh. He shook
his head and turned back to the dishes. "You really have to hear
everything said, or see it in writing, don't you?"
Nabiki smiled broadly and gave Ken a playful punch in the arm.
"That hurt you know," he said jokingly.
Nabiki harrumphed and walked back to the restaurant. As she
walked out the door to the dishroom, she saw Ukyou leaning against the
wall nearby.
"Eavesdropping?" she asked.
Ukyou snorted derisively.
"Making sure you weren't making any new deals," Ukyou replied.
"Just making a new friend," Nabiki replied. She looked at Ukyou
thoughtfully. "I might have wished for more, but I wouldn't want to move
in on taken territory," she said with a wink.
Ukyou blushed as Nabiki left with a laugh. When the sound of the
door closing reached Ukyou's ears, heralding Nabiki's departure, she
leaned in the doorframe to the back room.
"So what did she want?" she asked.
"Not much. She apologized, and I yelled at her some," Ken said as
he turned around from washing dishes. He grinned sheepishly. "Well, not
actually in that order. I actually yelled at her first, and then she said
she was sorry; but I said I was sorry for yelling at her," Ken finished.
Ukyou laughed.
"Sounds like you two worked out some agreement regardless.
Whatever you said really must have hit her pretty hard. I could tell she
was crying."
Ken sighed.
"Well, I was pretty mad, and while it wasn't the right thing to
do, I think it was justified. Bad form though, I'll admit."
Ukyou chuckled.
"Do you know how many fights with Akane Ranma would avoid if he
said that?"
"Bad form?"
"Yeah," Ukyou agreed with a smile.
"They do get into fights pretty easily from what Ranma says."
"He usually comes here afterwards. It really helps him to talk
afterwards."
"So you play the role of the bartender?" Ken asked.
"More like the dutiful, loving fiance," Ukyou corrected with a
grin.
"Sorry, should've guessed that," Ken admitted with a sheepish
grin. The smile hid his sudden feeling of loss from Ukyou fairly well.
She thought she saw something dim in his eyes, but he turned to wash the
dishes, and she ignored it.
"So what do you do in the mornings?" Ukyou asked.
"Well, I practice mostly. Sometimes I visit a few of the shops
around for equipment. Speaking of which, I hope you don't mind my putting
the practice dummy up on the roof. I can move it somewhere else."
"It's not a big deal, but won't it get a little worn from the
rain?"
Ken stopped in thought for a moment.
"You're right. I should ask the Tendos if I can put it in their
dojo. Thanks for pointing that out."
"No problem, Sugar. When you're done, don't forget to bring out
some more batter and toppings."
Ken nodded and went back to washing dishes. He stopped for a
moment and thought back to what Ukyou had asked previously. He never had
anything to do in the morning, and while it was easily filled with
practice, it seemed repetitious. Ken knew that it would be infinitely
more fulfilling to have a more spontaneous day; but he had no idea where
he could find it. I wonder why Ukyou asked, he pondered.
When Ken left the back room, he found Ukyou talking with Ranma.
He looked a bit sullen and depressed, but he obviously was cheering up in
the presence of good food. And a loving dutiful fiance, he said mentally.
He noticed Ranma make eye contact. They held it for a moment, until Ukyou
noticed, and Ken broke contact. He placed the batter and toppings close
to Ukyou. She motioned to the new customers, and Ken picked up a pad and
pencil and went to take orders.
"What was that about?" Ukyou asked when Ken had gotten out of
earshot.
"Nothin'," Ranma responded quietly.
"Then why did you look guilty?" Ukyou asked.
"Just this thing with Akane," he responded with a sigh.
"You really shouldn't insult her cooking. She does try, even
though she really is horrid at it," Ukyou chided.
"Can I help it if her cooking could pass for something alive?" he
protested.
Ukyou laughed.
"You really should stick to fiances that can cook," Ukyou said
with a smile.
Ranma quickly buried his face in the okonomiyaki Ukyou passed to
him. She watched wistfully as Ranma nearly inhaled her cooking.
"Three specials when you have the time."
Ukyou quickly snapped out of her reverie to see Ken looking at her
and slipping forward a slip of paper with a new order. He sat down
silently as she went to work. Ranma tapped him on the shoulder and
motioned to sit at a table. The two of them wordlessly sat down at a far
table despite the inquisitive look from Ukyou.
"So what's wrong?" Ranma asked.
"Nothing. Why do you ask?" Ken responded.
"You had that look. The same kind Akane gets when I'm talking to
any of the other people that are engaged to me. You know, she looks at
them with that look when I'm talking to them."
"The look? I don't understand."
"I'm not making you jealous when I talk to Ukyou, am I?"
"No. Why should it? You are engaged to her after all."
"Yeah, but you get that look. Well, it's a little different, but
it's still the same. You look like some kind of puppy that got kicked in
the side."
Ken winced at the image.
"No, nothing's wrong. I appreciate the sentiment though."
"Something's wrong. I didn't grow up being a martial artist so I
could walk around and beat people up blindly," Ranma replied.
"I don't understand what you're getting at."
"I can see people's expressions and tell what they're thinking.
I'm getting good at it."
"So what was I thinking."
"You wished Ukyou was engaged to you."
"Isn't that a big leap?" Ken asked defensively.
"Well, I guess so," Ranma said with a laugh, "but it doesn't hide
the fact that you get all gooey-eyed when you look at her. I'll bet she
can tell too."
"So what am I supposed to do about it? She's engaged."
"Yeah, I know. I have no idea what to do."
"Then that's that."
"Ukyou act strange lately?"
"No, other than asking what I do with my time. She's never shown
any interest in it before. It was a little sudden, but I think she just
wants me to do something extra while I'm waiting for her to come during
lunch to set up shop."
"Oh. I heard you talked to Nabiki too."
"Yeah. I did. She apologized. I decided it was better to just
forget about the whole thing."
"You know, she actually said she was feeling guilty about the
pictures and all. She told me she'd give me more money for taking them."
"I still think it's sick."
"I still owe her money," Ranma said ruefully.
Ken just shook his head.
"You know, Mom said she was hoping you'd stop by tonight."
"I already told her I would."
"What do you do there?"
"Just learn how to meditate. I've only done it once, but I think
it'll be good for me. I think I scared her the last time though."
"Did you freak out?"
"Yeah. In a big way, you could say. Your mother was really nice
about it. I really wish I had a mother right now. I miss my mother a
lot," Ken said as he looked out the door with a distant look on his face.
"I think my Mom's got something in store for you."
"Speaking of which," Ken interrupted suddenly, "how would you like
a practice dummy? I just got a used one, and I need a place to put it. I
thought I could keep it on the roof, but Ukyou's afraid it'll get rain
damage."
"Sure! The dojo could use a dummy. Akane broke the last one.
Thanks!"
"No problem."
"Say, you wouldn't want to spar in the mornings, would you? I
practice with my Pop when he's around, but I don't really have anyone that
I can work out with anymore."
"If it's in the mornings, sure."
"It's before school starts."
"I guess I can make it."
"Great! So we can start tomorrow?"
Ken laughed.
"Sure."
"So what are you two boys talking about?"
Ken turned around to see Ukyou looking over his shoulder.
"Nothing much. Guy talk," Ranma responded.
Ukyou snorted derisively.
"In case you forgot, I used to be one of the boys, remember?
C'mon Ken, back to work," Ukyou chided.
"I know, you don't pay me to dawdle," Ken replied with a laugh.
He got up and went to the back room.
"So what were you talking about?" Ukyou asked as she sat down in
the vacated seat.
"Nothin'."
"Oh really?"
"Really. So why did you ask Ken what he was doing in the
mornings?" Ranma countered.
"I just thought it might be nice if he went to school with us. I
figured he might get lonely sitting around for the first half of the day."
"That's not a bad idea, but I don't think he'd go for it. He said
he's pretty advanced for a student. I don't think he at our level."
"So he gets stuck in Nabiki's class."
"Why don't we just ask him?" Ranma said.
"I will, when he gets back," Ukyou said dismissively.
They both sat in silence for a moment while they watch Ken walk
about the restaurant refilling glasses and clearing tables as people left.
"Say, Ucchan," Ranma started, "you wouldn't happen to be doing
anything tomorrow night, would you?"
"Are you asking me out on a date! I can free it up easy!" Ukyou
beamed.
"Well, I was kinda thinking we could get a few friends and watch
some movies." Ranma stammered out.
"Oh," Ukyou said crestfallen. "Well, I guess that'd work," she
said with a quick smile.
"Great," Ranma replied as he got up from his seat. "I should get
going before Akane gets any more mad than she is now," he sighed. "See
ya!" he called over his shoulder as he left.
Ukyou felt a loss when he left. She looked over to Ken who
quickly turned away nervously. There was a sudden feeling of guilt, but
she couldn't tell if it was because of Ranma or Ken. What am I going to
do with him, she thought.

"Uh, Akane?"
"I don't want to talk to you, Ranma," she said coldly through the
closed door.
Images of Akane pounding him danced through his head.
"Look, I know you don't want to talk right now, but- I- well."
"What is it, Ranma?" Akane demanded.
"I wanted to say that I'm sorry," Ranma shot out nervously. He
pivoted on his feet and strode into his room, closing the door after
himself. Even after the constant chiding from his mother and the images
of Akane happy, apologizing was still difficult. There simply was
something that was painful about admitting guilt. At least he was getting
used to it.
"Stupid tomboy," he muttered to himself. He quickly hit his
forehead with the butt of his hand. He mentally castigated himself over
the insult. Insulting Akane was the last thing he needed to do now.
Ranma flopped onto the floor and stared at the ceiling. He was starting
to really feel something after fighting with Akane. It was an
overwhelming sense of guilt and shame. It made him feel better when Akane
smiled and laughed, but she never did that sort of thing after a fight,
naturally. He sighed loudly and closed his eyes.
A knock on his door stirred him.
"Ranma?"
The door opened when he didn't respond. He heard the sound of
feet and then he saw her looking down at him.
"Ranma?"
"Hey, Akane," Ranma said nonchalantly.
Akane kneeled next to him. It looked like she'd been crying.
Ranma winced visibly.
"Ranma, why do you say such mean things when you eat stuff I
make?" she asked sadly.
"You're not going to pound me?" he asked in a surprised voice.
Akane's eyes went from sad to angry in a heartbeat. Then it
simply extinguished itself.
"Forget it," she whispered and moved to leave. A hand on her own
stopped her. She turned to look at Ranma. He had moved to sitting across
from her.
"Before you go, I just wanted to say that I like not getting
pounded on; and I say mean things about your cooking because I just act
that way. I know it's not nice, and my Mom tried to get me to stop, but
it's kinda hard not to. I'm workin' on it," he said guiltily.
Akane sighed and looked at him sadly.
"Ranma, why is it that whenever I think you're finally coming
around, you make me so sick of you. Kasumi said that you told her that
you loved me, but I don't know anymore." She was on the verge of tears.
Ranma recoiled.
"K-Kasumi told you that?!" he asked incredulously.
Akane nodded silently.
"Then you don't really care, do you?" she asked quietly. Ranma
simply looked at her in shock. Akane shook her head as anger slowly
worked it's way through her. "And to think I let you kiss me. And then I
kissed you back! Ranma you stupid, jerk! I-"
Ranma clamped a hand over her mouth. Akane shot a fist to his
face. It connected solidly and Ranma fell over backwards.
"Hate me," Ranma finished through his hand, as it covered his
mouth. "You really hate me don't you?"
Akane's eyes went wide when she saw the same expression she saw
when Ranma had beaten Saffron in the end, at the moment he thought she was
dead. Here it was amplified a hundred-fold. It was fear. It completely
drained all the anger she felt and sobered her.
"N-No, Ranma. I don't hate you," she said quietly.
"I don't hate you either," Ranma said simply.
"Then was Kasumi right?" she asked hopefully.
Ranma didn't respond. He looked at the mat with an intense gaze.
"Ranma?"
Akane reached out to shake him. He recoiled, as if burnt, when he
hand touched him. Ranma looked at her and slowly nodded his head.
Akane's feelings turned one hundred eighty degrees.
"Why didn't you ever say anything?" she asked quietly, a smile
slowly working its way to her face.
Ranma went back to looking at the mats in his room. Akane
shuffled over to sit next to him. She could see a single tear run down
his face. He still kept a hand clamped over his mouth. Akane slowly took
it in her hand and pulled it away. There was a small trickle of blood
from the corner of his mouth.
"Ranma, what's wrong?"
"I feel sick," he said quietly.
"Why?"
"I never said anything before. I guess I should have. I feel so
ashamed," he said quietly. "I guess I deserved to get hit."
Akane looked at Ranma intently. After all this time, when he'd
shown that he wasn't afraid of staring down someone that could potentially
kill him, he was afraid to say he loved someone.
"It takes a lot of courage to say that you care about someone,"
Akane smiled ruefully. "I guess I should have said something too."
"I don't want to fight anymore, Akane. I'm just sick of arguing
and yelling. It really hurts now. It really does," Ranma said in a voice
barely above a whisper.
"Why didn't you say any of this before?"
"I didn't know how to say it. It wasn't something I wanted to do,
but hearing that you knew forced me into it. It's hard for a guy to say
that kind of thing."
"That you care?"
"Yeah."
"So you do care?"
Ranma grinned sheepishly.
"Jeez, Akane. Isn't once good enough?"
"No, it isn't. I want to hear you say it Ranma. For once, I want
to hear it from your own mouth."
"Hear what? Every time I say something, you get all fired up."
Akane looked at him evenly. She could feel butterflies dancing in
her stomach and pounding in her throat, begging for some kind of release.
"Ranma, do you love me?"
Akane could feel her heart pounding. It was loud and it drowned
out everything. Then she could see him close his eyes tightly, and his
mouth started to move. An instant silence enveloped the room. Time
seemed to grind to a halt.
"Yes. I l-l-lo-love you, A-Ak-Akane," Ranma whispered, as he
cautiously opened one eye. He braced himself for some kind of impact.
Akane felt like everything fell out from under her, and suddenly
came back up again. It felt like a rollercoaster, the feeling of dropping
and rising and being completely disoriented; but when she closed her eyes
and everything stood still again she could hear his voice clearly in her
mind. He'd said it; and Kasumi was right.
Ranma stared at Akane. She had a look of complete shock one
instant, and then a look of complete concentration the next. Her eyes
were closed tightly, and her hands covered her mouth. It looked like
she'd taken a bite out of a lemon. Then she opened her eyes again, and
Ranma instinctively backed his head. A tear worked its way from the
corner of her eye to her cheek.
"Akane?" he asked cautiously.
Her answer caught him by surprise. As he landed on his back from
the sudden weight of Akane's body on him, a single thought passed through
his mind before his body kicked in.
No, I guess it wasn't a lemon, he decided. Can't taste a lemon
here.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Chapter Nine

"The movies?" Akane asked quietly. She snuggled closer to Ranma.
He shifted so that she was sitting sideways in her arms, her shoulder
touching his. His arms were wrapped around her, and they leaned into each
other in support. Akane reveled in the moment. Life was suddenly very
good for her. Ranma simply enjoyed the result of finally unloading a
great weight from his shoulders. Unfortunately, he realized complications
would come about like rabbits breeding. Gotta take the good with the bad,
he thought.
"Yeah. I think it'd be nice to got to the movies."
"By ourselves?" Akane giggled.
"Well, I was hoping to bring Ucchan and Ken along."
"What?!"
Ranma quickly tightened his grip and to keep Akane from worming
out of his grasp.
"Hey, it's just a friendly thing," he protested. "Don't get
worked up over it. Things are starting to clear up now."
"What do you mean?"
"I guess I understand what Kasumi was trying to tell me," Ranma
chuckled.
"So what happens now?" she asked.
"Nothing. I kinda like sitting here like this."
Akane smiled and tried to bury herself in Ranma's arms.
"I like it too," she agreed. "I could sit like this for a long
time."
They didn't get much time. A knock on the door interrupted them.
Before they could disentangle themselves, the door opened and Ranma's
mother looked in. She had a surprised look at first, but it quickly
changed to a more pleased look.
"I see things are going well. It is convenient that the two of
you are here together, since I have something I would like to discuss,"
she said as she kneeled down in front of the two.
Akane and Ranma quickly sat next to each other in the middle of
the room. Both were very embarrassed and the crimson color of their faces
only affirmed it.
"I would like you to know that I recently began showing your
friend Ken techniques regarding meditation. It was during the first
session, if you will, that he had a rather serious outburst."
Ranma winced slightly.
"Ken told me about it," he said sullenly. "He didn't mean
anything, Mom."
"It's wasn't like that, Ranma. I was rather disturbed by it,
naturally, but I think I can understand a little bit of his nature. I
haven't been a mother, albeit in absence, without learning how to read
people's feelings.
"The greatest problem I see with Ken is that he needs a family. I
believe that his current position in life has estranged him from what is
left of his family and his friends. I fear that it may be too easily
exploited by other people."
"So why do you want to talk to us about it?" Akane asked.
"I feel that between the two of you, and Ukyou, you know him best.
I know that he works for Ukyou on a daily basis now, and I will speak to
her later on this issue; however, I would like the both of you to keep a
close eye on him. I am afraid someone may try to take advantage of him.
He appeared under very suspicious circumstances; and I am afraid that
those circumstances may provide a situation where Ken may become confused.
"I have also spoken to your father, Ranma, and I feel that it
would be a good idea to take Ken into our family. It is difficult to
explain, and if you object to it, we may discuss it further."
Ranma shook his head.
"No problem. I think it's a good idea. Besides, it'd be fun to
see what having a brother's like," he said with a grin.
"Very well. I will speak to you later on this issue, when the
time is right. In the meantime," Nodoka said with a broad smile, "I would
like you two to think about your wedding. It means a great deal to me,
and I would like to see you two married soon."
Ranma and Akane fidgeted under Nodoka's gaze.
"I also think it is high time you took care of your fiance issues.
I think you may have made up your mind, and it is time to sort things out
now, son," Nodoka finished. She got up from her seat and headed to the
door.
"I'm very happy for the two of you," she said with a wink, and
left.

Ken finished wiping the last of the tables and stood up to
stretch. Ukyou was cleaning the grill and the food had been put away for
the rest of the night. She was hard at work scrubbing away at the grill,
trying to take out a spot that Ken couldn't see from his vantage point.
He walked over behind the grill.
"Need any help?"
"No, I'll be fine. I'm just trying to get this last bit off the
grill. It's pretty stubborn," she smiled.
Ken pulled out a glass and poured himself some water. He took a
long drink and leaned back to look around. As usual, his eyes came to
rest on Ukyou. She was sweating and looked fairly tired. Strands of hair
were plastered to her face as she methodically scraped away at the grill
with a small spatula. She let out a small grunt in frustration and stood
up, exhaling loudly. Ken chuckled and poured her a glass of water. He
set it down on the counter in front of her. Ukyou set down the spatula
and took it with a nod of thanks. She finished the glass and reached back
for the spatula. Ken's hand settled on hers.
An electric tingle went up her spine and she looked over at Ken
nervously.
"I'll take care of this," he said. "You need to get to bed. Go
on, shoo," he chided. Ukyou smiled thankfully and went to lock the doors.
She was about to turn the key in the lock, when she saw Nodoka walk to the
door. Ukyou immediately opened the door.
"May I come in?" Nodoka asked.
Ukyou nodded and gestured inside.
Nodoka walked into the restaurant and smiled as Ken saw her and
waved.
"I've just got some dishes left in the back. I'll be done in a
few minutes. He called over to her as he walked to the back room.
Nodoka turned and motioned for Ukyou to take a seat at a table
next to her.
"It's a good thing Ken has a few chores left to finish. I wished
to speak to you privately," she said.
Ukyou nodded attentively.
"It has come to my attention that Ken has some personal issues
that need to be resolved. It is difficult for me to describe, but please
take my word that there are some things that Ken has experienced in his
past that are extremely painful for him; and he has yet to fully heal from
those experiences."
Ukyou nodded.
"I've gotten the same impression from him," Ukyou replied.
"I believe that the loss of his parents may be the foremost issue
he must resolve," Nodoka continued. "It seems to me the death of his
parents, in his mind, links every bad experience together.
"As his employer, and friend, I would like you to try to take some
time to help him feel more comfortable, and perhaps more accepted here.
I'm sure Ranma and Akane will help in any way possible. As far as family
is concerned, both Genma and I are thinking of taking Ken in, and acting
as surrogate parents for him. I think it would be beneficial for Ken, and
perhaps Genma," Nodoka finished with a smile.
"I'll see what I can do," Ukyou replied.
"I also would like to speak to you about the engagement issue."
Ukyou winced.
"I am sure you are aware of the necessity for my son to make his
decision," Nodoka continued. "As his mother, I believe it is necessary
for him to make a decision as soon as possible to prevent any further harm
he may do to yourself and Shampoo. As the only other person who has a
claim based on my husband's word, I think it would be wise for you to
speak to Ranma and Akane. If you three do not sort things out soon,
things may become far too unbearable."
"Why should I speak to Akane?" Ukyou asked in surprise.
"Perhaps it would be good for the two of you to speak and become
more familiar with each other on terms other than as Ranma's fiances. I
think it would help assuage any bad feelings that may develop should Ranma
decide between the two of you."
Ukyou winced visibly. Nodoka reached out to cover Ukyou's hand
with hers. Ukyou took it instinctively.
"I know it's very sudden and awkward for you, but I think it is
best that this happens now before things become long and drawn out.
Everybody will suffer if things become too drawn out," Nodoka said
quietly. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't think Ranma will be
able to decide very easily. I believe that both you and Akane are both
wonderful people; and it would make me very happy to be able to call one
of you my daughter."
Ukyou smiled and nodded. Nodoka stood up and looked about.
"Is Ken finished?"
Ukyou shrugged and walked to the back room. Ken was piling the
rest of the washed dishes on the counter and draining the sinks. He
looked up from his chore when Ukyou walked in.
"Ranma's mother's here to see you," she said, pointing a thumb out
the door. "I can take care of the rest of the things here."
"Thanks," Ken replied with a smile. He walked out to meet Nodoka,
brushing past Ukyou as he left. Ukyou watched him leave. There was a
strange feeling of sadness that Ranma would decide soon, but another
feeling of assurance with Ken around. It was odd, and Ukyo wasn't sure
what to make of it.
"So what did she tell you?"
Ken looked up from the book he was reading.
"Not much," he said as he went back to his book. "Just that she
wasn't able to see me for meditating lessons this evening. She had some
rather pressing matters with Ranma."
Ukyou sighed and looked aside.
"Something wrong?"
Ukyou turned back. Ken had put the book down and was sitting
outstretched on his futon, his back against a wall and a pillow.
"No. Nothing's wrong." A blatant lie, Ukyou thought.
Ken looked at Ukyou for a moment and motioned for her to sit down
next to him. Ukyou hesitated before slowly walking in. She cast a glance
around the room before sitting. She had come into this room many times
before, while Tsubasa and Konatsu lived in it, but it seemed so very
different, now that Ken lived there. No pictures, no posters, no pictures
of Ranma with messages of hate or revenge scrawled on them. Just a small
chest of drawers, and a futon propped in a corner of the room. A pack
leaning against a wall next to his sword were the only indications that
someone lived in there. Ukyou took her seat at the end of the futon,
furthest from Ken.
"There's something that's bothering you, isn't there?" he asked.
Ukyou sighed and looked out the door.
"Not really, just a little tired, maybe."
"You know, you always pried whenever I said that," Ken admonished.
Ukyou looked at him with a sad smile.
"But you've got far more problems than me. Besides, the only
problem I have is nothing compared to the problems you've got, Sugar."
"Nobody's problems are small. They're all relative, and compared
to the things you put up with, I'm guessing it's a pretty big problem if
it's got you bothered. Want to talk about it?"
Ukyou looked at him for a moment. She couldn't tell if he would
understand; but it was Ken, after all. He was a person who had taken most
of his problems and lived with them without complaint. Ukyou had never
seen him openly complain about his problems to her before. But will he
understand, she asked herself.
"I guess so. I don't know if you'll understand, but I guess I can
tell you."
Ken's heart dropped a notch.
"So what's the problem?" he asked.
"It's Ran-chan, I guess."
Ken chuckled.
"Somehow, I'm not surprised."
Ukyou shot him a withering look. Ken raised his hands
defensively.
"Hey! Just being brutally honest. I'll shut my yap now."
"Well, when you went to do the dishes, I had a little chat with
Ran-chan's mother. It seems Ran-chan may be making his choice soon, and
I'm really scared that he won't choose me."
"What makes you so sure he won't choose you?"
Ukyou looked at him skeptically.
"Well, Akane's pretty cute, and I'm sure he notices despite the
number of times he says otherwise. She's not a great fighter, but she
plays the role of the helpless maiden pretty well. A lot better than any
of us. She's really a nice person if you get to know her pretty well.
She really is a friendly person when you don't mention Ran-chan and she's
completely forgotten about him," she said bitterly.
"That's it?" Ken asked.
"It's more than that. When they're together, they just act a
certain way. It's like they really want to be together even though they
act like they don't," she said quietly.
"How do you know?"
"I just do!" she shouted.
Ken sat stoically as Ukyou glared at him, and then calmed herself.
"I guess since Ran-chan and Akane live together, I feel like she's
got some kind of unfair advantage. She sees him every day, and she gets
to talk and do things with him while I don't. I always have to try that
much harder to make him notice me." Ukyou felt tears starting to well up.
"So you think you never really had a chance?" Ken asked quietly.
Ukyou nodded her head somberly.
"I think you're wrong," Ken said simply, and picked up his book.
Ukyou shuffled over quickly and batted down his book.
"What the hell do you mean 'you're wrong?' What kind of jackass
thing to say is that?" she asked angrily.
Ken chuckled and smiled, throwing her for a loop.
"I think you're wrong. Just as simple as that.
"You think that Akane's cute. So she's cute. Does that mean that
you're any less cute than Akane? I don't think so. I'd go so far as to
say, you're one of the most beautiful women I've met," Ken said
cheerfully. You actually are the most beautiful woman I've met, he
thought to himself.
Ukyou blushed and hid a small smile at the compliment.
"I don't think Ranma's that dense," Ken continued. "Ranma would
have to be dead not to notice you. I'd say the only reason you think
you're not cute enough is because you go through the entire ritual of
binding your chest; if I may be so bold to say so."
Ukyou looked at him incredulously.
"How did you-"
"You have difficulty breathing sometimes, when you get pretty
excited or worked up about stuff. At first I thought you were asthmatic,
but then I noticed how you always scratched your back in the same spot
whenever you had trouble breathing. I figured you were trying to loosen
something. Ranma told me how you used to masquerade as a boy, and how you
dress in men's clothes a lot of the time. Then you told me that you acted
like a guy for a pretty long period of time. I just figured that you must
be binding your chest."
"You're not bothered by it?" Ukyou asked quietly.
"No. It's your business; and I still think you're cute," Ken
quickly clamped a hand over his mouth and put the book up to hide his
face.
Ukyou giggled.
"Go on," she said encouragingly.
"Well, you said that Akane plays the helpless maiden pretty well.
How do you know Ranma likes that? For all you know, he might be doing it
out of obligation. Isn't a true martial artist supposed to help people
weaker than themselves?"
Ukyou laughed.
"Touch," Ukyou said with a grin.
"Then you always say that you have to try hard to make Ranma
notice you. I think he already notices you when you want him to. You
don't need to do anything for people to notice you. As for the way they
act together, that's something that's easy to see when you're not part of
it, and a lot harder to notice when you are. How do you know the two of
you don't act that way already?"
Ukyou looked at Ken with a wry grin.
"So do we act that way?" she asked expectantly.
Ken frowned inwardly.
"It's not really my place to say, Ukyou. It's a private affair
between you and Ranma," he said quietly.
Ukyou looked at him quizzically. Is he jealous, she asked
herself.
"So I guess that's why I think you're wrong," Ken said,
interrupting Ukyou's train of thought.
Ukyou sighed, and a certain sadness entered her eyes again.
"But what if you're wrong? What if I'm right? What if Akane and
Ranma get married? It almost happened already. I spent years of my life
tracking him down, trying to find out if he loved me. When I found him
everything seemed to be perfect, except for Akane, Shampoo, and the others
being around. I thought that when I found him, we'd get married, or I'd
kick his sorry behind for leaving me. If he marries Akane, then
everything will have been a waste."
Ken looked at Ukyou pensively.
"Really? Will it all have been a waste?"
Ukyou nodded her head sadly.
"You never made any friends while you were here?"
Ukyou shook her head.
"Not really. I spent all my time trying to be with Ran-chan," she
said.
"What about family?"
"They're back where they belong, at home."
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you at home?"
"Here? I don't know. I always thought that I'd be at home
wherever Ran-chan was."
"So you think you'll have wasted a great deal of time if Ranma
doesn't choose you as a wife?"
Ukyou nodded silently. Thoughts of her past and her uncertain
future assailed her. Ukyou felt tears welling up again as a feeling of
futility hit her.
"If you decided to forget everything and not spend the time to
track Ranma down to the ends of the Earth, would you have gotten a new
waiter?"
Ukyou turned to stare at him angrily, until the full meaning of
what he meant hit her.
"I wouldn't have met you if you weren't here," Ken said plainly.
Ukyou felt a tear trickle down her cheek and she turned to wipe it
away from sight. She felt a hand grasp her shoulder warmly. She turned
to face Ken.
"Ukyou, I want you to know that no matter how things turn out for
you, I'll be here for you. You've done a great deal to help me since I've
come here and I'm grateful to have met someone as generous and caring as
you. I owe you a great deal. I hope that one day I might be able to give
you what you've given me."
"And what's that?" she asked softly.
Ken smiled warmly.
"Unconditional friendship." Hopefully more, Ken thought.
Ukyou felt a wall break in her heart, and she broke down. She
grabbed Ken and let him reach around to take her into a gentle embrace.
She cried into his chest as a hundred different emotions assaulted her.
In the end when she calmed herself, she knew that while Ranma may not
choose her, perhaps someone just as important to her already had.

"So what happens now?"
"Don't look at me," Ranma said defensively, "I have absolutely no
idea. I'm as bad off as you."
Akane frowned. The two of them sat together in his room, and had
been since Nodoka had left them well over an hour or so ago. Her
conversation had struck some alarm bells in both of them.
"So does that mean we have to get married?" Ranma asked.
"You don't want to marry me?" Akane asked quietly.
"Well, not really," Ranma said sheepishly. Before Akane could
bring out her mysterious mallet from nowhere, he tackled her in a warm
embrace and laughed. "I'm not saying I don't want to marry you ever."
Akane giggled as Ranma tickled her, using his own body to pin her
down.
"I just don't think getting married now is a good idea," he
finished.
Akane reached her arms around and hugged Ranma fiercely.
"Not that marrying you would be that bad," he whispered to her.
"I think we should wait too, Ranma," she whispered back.
"So what happens now? What do we tell everyone?" he asked as he
sat back on his haunches.
Akane sat up and frowned.
"I guess we can't really say anything yet," she replied. "There'd
be chaos if we did. I think we should make everyone here at home promise
not to tell either. We need to figure out how to tell everyone, without
making a huge mess like the wedding fiasco."
Ranma nodded.
"Well, I guess you should go to bed. We have to go to school
tomorrow, you know."
Akane got up to leave, but paused at the door and giggled.
"What's so funny?" Ranma asked.
"You know, I never asked if you'd choose me to be your real
fiance, but you did anyway."
Ranma grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, I kinda assumed we were going to get married," he said.
"It worked out pretty well, didn't it?"
Ranma chuckled and flopped back onto the mats.
"You don't hear me complaining, do you?"
Akane laughed and closed the door after her.

"So you're supposed to meet them for a movie later?"
Ukyou looked up from the miniature okonomiyaki she was making on
the grill.
"No, tomorrow night. Ran-chan and Akane wanted us to join them
for a movie," she replied casually.
"No big deal then, I suppose. You want me to close up shop for
you?"
Ukyou reached out across the counter to lightly slap Ken's hand.
"Look, silly, I told you it's not a date. Ran-chan's taking
Akane, and he wanted both of us to come along," she admonished gently,
while flipping the okonomiyaki.
"Is he going to get into trouble?"
"What?"
"Well, he's going to a movie with Akane. If he wants us along,
does that mean he wants us to try to keep him out of trouble?"
Ukyou smiled.
"I don't think so. It's not a date. I think this is just a few
friends getting together."
"Oh," Ken replied nonchalantly. He folded his arms on the counter
and rested his chin.
"Say, why don't you go to school?" Ukyou asked after a few moments
of silence.
"I didn't think I needed to. I've finished my schooling, and I've gone as
far as I think I need to go."
Ukyou looked at him skeptically.
"I hear that from a lot of people," she said with a smile. "Are
you that sure of yourself?"
"It's hard to explain. I've already had the entire 'life's a
learning experience' lecture. Let's just say I was really advanced for a
kid, where I came from, and I finished all the classes I needed, et
cetera."
Ukyou laughed.
"I still think it's a good idea for you to go to school."
"Why?"
"Well, I think you'd get pretty bored sitting around for half the
day."
"I don't. I work out while you're gone."
"Then at school, you'll have the chance to socialize and make new
friends."
"I've got all the friends I need here."
Ukyou blushed.
"I didn't mean it that way. You could make some new
acquaintances. Things like that. I didn't mean to say that you needed
more friends."
Ken smiled.
"I know what you mean. I appreciate it."
"So you'll go to school?"
"Maybe. It depends. I'd rather not to tell you the truth."
Ukyou raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" she asked.
"I'd sit there and be bored the entire time-"
"But we'll be there! Ranma, Akane, and I can keep you company!"
Ukyou said with a laugh.
"But-"
"It'll be great!
"Don't I have to get the restaurant ready before you get back?"
"It's not that hard! C'mon, it'll be fun at school!"
Ken saw the twinkle in her eyes and the smile on her face, and it
made him slightly lightheaded.
"You're not going to let me say no are you?" he asked lamely.
"Nope!"
"Well, if I have to make the supreme sacrifice," Ken trailed.
Ukyou rolled her eyes.
"Great," she replied.
"Hey! Don't take it the wrong way! I was just joking," Ken said
defensively.
Ukyou snickered.
"I know. I'm just making fun of you."
"You like to do that a lot."
"Just because it's so fun. You want me to stop?"
"No, it's actually not bad. I think I kind of like it," Ken said
sheepishly. "It makes me feel like I've got family." Or someone that
cares, he thought.
Ukyou chuckled as she took the okonomiyaki off the grill.
"I can take care of the grill. You go eat," Ken said as he got up
from his seat.
Ukyou sat down with a nod. She watched as Ken left the room. As
she slowly munched on the okonomiyaki, she wondered what Ranma wanted to
do at the movies.

Things passed quickly for Akane, Ranma, and Ukyou. The
anticipation of getting out of the house and away from their scheming
parents helped move things along for Ranma and Akane. The want of being
close to Ranma again made things fly by for Ukyou. Ken simply thought the
day was going along at its usual pace.
"Aren't you taking this a little bit seriously? I thought you
were the one saying that this wasn't a date," Ken said as he leaned in the
doorway of Ukyou's room. He casually wiped his hands on a dry hand towel.
"Just help me out here. I don't have that many clothes that
actually look like a girl's. I never thought I'd need them," Ukyou
complained.
Ken laughed.
"Just wear what you feel is comfortable. You're not competing
with anyone."
Ukyou glared at him.
"Akane's going to the movies too, right?"
"She is, but I don't see why you have to make this into a
competition. If Ranma notices you, then he does. If he doesn't, then
he's blind," Ken said with a grin.
Ukyou grinned.
"Thanks for the pep talk, coach."
Ken laughed and turned to go back down tot he restaurant.
"No problem, sport," he called over his shoulder.
Ukyou looked back at the sky blue dress she held in her hands. It
was a plain, rather conservative dress. Nothing as inviting as the
clothes Shampoo chose to wear when meeting Ranma, but it was nice. Ukyou
frowned. She wondered if this was how she wanted to go to the movies,
trying to impress Ranma at every moment.
If I don't, he'll never notice me, a voice screamed in her head.
Does it matter, asked another voice. If he was going to notice
me, wouldn't he have noticed earlier?
Ukyou wanted to scream. It was impossible for her. The want to
impress Ranma was overwhelming, yet there was a small voice of reason that
said otherwise. A voice broke her out of her pensive train of thought.
"The restaurant's clean. Anything else you need me to do?"
"Nope, just get ready for the movie, I guess," she called back in
a strained voice.
Ukyou turned back to the dress on her bed. She made up her mind.
It was with a slightly frantic pace that she tore off her shirt and began
unwrapping the cloth that bound her chest. She was almost done when she
was startled by Ken's voice.
"Whoa! Sorry, really sorry! Excuse me!" he said embarrassed.
Ukyou whirled around to see Ken bolting from her room, his face
looking like it was going to explode from all the blood rushing there.
She smiled and chuckled. Just like Ran-chan, she thought. When she
finished she whirled around in front of the mirror, watching the hem of
the dress swirl around her. Very feminine, compared to her usual clothes.
Ukyou decided it was a good job. As she walked to the bathroom to put on
the finishing touches, she ran into something that thoroughly shocked her.
Upon opening the door to the bathroom, she was greeted by the
sight of Ken naked, save for a towel wrapped around his waist. Her
entrance immediately shocked him into near unconsciousness. As Ken stood
rooted to his spot like a deer in headlights, Ukyou couldn't help but
stare. Definitely less muscle to see than Ran-chan, but a lot more tone,
she thought to herself. She immediately mentally slapped herself into
lucidity and closed the door, muttering an embarrassed apology.
"Why didn't the jackass lock the door?!" she muttered to herself.
Ken watched in horror as the door first opened, allowing Ukyou to
walk in before he could even squeeze the recommended inch of toothpaste
onto his brush. He stood shocked as she seemingly appreciatively sized
him up and then politely excused herself. Ken couldn't tell who was the
more embarrassed party, Ukyou or himself. When she left, the sudden
immobility drained from his body and he quickly reached over and locked
the door.
"Could have sworn the door was locked," he muttered to himself.
Ken chuckled. "Guess I switched from waiter to male dancer," he said to
nobody in particular. After brushing his teeth rapidly, Ken peeked
outside the bathroom door. Seeing nobody around, he quickly sped to his
room and dressed himself hurriedly. When he walked down the stairs to the
restaurant, he saw Ukyou leaning against the counter, sipping a cup of
tea.
Upon seeing him enter the room, Ukyou blushed and muttered an
apology.
"Sorry about walking in on you," she mumbled.
"I should have locked the door. That was my fault," Ken replied.
"Besides, I should be apologizing for walking in on you. I was going to
ask about moving some things in the back room, and walked in without
knocking. I'm really sorry about that."
Ukyou laughed.
"I guess we're even then?" she said laughingly.
Ken laughed at the joke.
"I guess so. Let's go. Ranma and Akane are probably waiting for
us."
"You're not going to compliment me on my dress? I thought you of
all people, you would."
Ken raised his hands defensively.
"Your beauty shorted my brain. I apologize for my rudeness. You
look absolutely stunning," he said with a short bow
Ukyou blushed.
"You think so?"
"I know so," Ken replied with a grin.
"You think Ran-chan will notice?"
Inwardly, Ken wilted; but keeping with appearances, he gave a good natured
laugh.
"I'm sure he'll notice. He'd have to be blind not to."
"I wish Ranma acted more like you. He never seems to notice,"
Ukyou said with a sigh. "Shall we?"
Ken smiled.
"Let's go."

"Hurry up Ranma! They'll be here any minute now! Why did you
tell them to meet us here?"
"I didn't! That was Mom's idea!" he shouted through his door.
Akane sighed. Nodoka was becoming less and less subtle with the
hints that Ranma would need to decide soon. It felt like Nodoka knew how
the two of them felt and want them to act on it immediately.
"Can't you hurry?!" she asked in an exasperated voice.
She saw the door open, and Ranma's head peeked out. After looking
about furtively, he grabbed Akane and dragged her into the bathroom.
Ranma was in his boxer shorts again, and was brushing his teeth. Akane
recoiled slightly at the sight of him foaming at the mouth. He quickly
spat, rinsed and dried off his face and grinned.
"Keep that up and Mom will definitely start thinking we need to
spend more time together," he said with a laugh.
Akane frowned.
"I thought you cared. Don't you want to spend more time with me?"
Ranma couldn't stand seeing Akane pout, an act she apparently
drummed up as an effective way of making him do things. I guess I don't
really mind if she gets pretty comfy in the end, he mused.
"Of course I do. What's the big deal?"
Akane inwardly shouted in triumph. The pouting act was working
flawlessly. It tugged at just the right strings.
"I thought you cared," she said.
Ranma's mind raced. The new act was definitely throwing him for a
loop. He acted the way he thought would be appropriate.
"I thought you liked-" Akane was cut off suddenly, but didn't
really mind. She returned the unexpected kiss from Ranma eagerly.
When Ranma walked out the bathroom, he had a big grin on his face.
The look on Akane's face when he had done it was well worth it. It wasn't
that he didn't like kissing her. In fact, it was rapidly becoming an
enjoyable pastime; but the look of complete surprise was too good to
forget.
Turnabout's fair play, he thought with a smile.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Chapter Ten

"So which one do you want to watch?" Ranma asked.
"I have no idea," Akane replied. She looked to Ken and Ukyou
expectantly.
"Don't look at me," Ukyou said.
Ken shrugged and looked to Ranma. Ranma grinned.
"How about that one?" he asked.
Akane looked at the film and frowned. Ukyou stared at it and
laughed. Ken gazed at the poster and shrugged again.
"You always watch those martial arts action films," Akane said
shaking her head. "Why not try something different?"
"Maybe you should try something other than action movies,
Ran-chan," Ukyou agreed.
Ranma looked over to Ken pleadingly.
"C'mon, man. You know you want to watch an action flick. How
about it?"
Ukyou looked over at him expectantly.
"I don't know. I'll watch anything."
Ukyou smiled triumphantly.
"Ken, Ukyou's got you led by a ring through your nose, you know
that?" Ranma said with a laugh.
Ken blushed furiously and cleared his throat.
"A dramatic movie it is!" Akane said.
Ranma groaned. Ken shrugged. Ukyou laughed.

"I don't see why she was 'lovely.' I don't get it."
Akane sighed.
"You never understand these things, Ranma."
Ukyou sighed and snuggled up against Ranma's left arm. She spent
the entire movie leaning up against Ranma's left, while Akane spent the
movie leaned up on his right. Ranma, being his usual self, couldn't
figure out what to do and simply put an arm around Akane instead of Ukyou.
Ken spent the entire time staring at the screen blankly.
Now he was trailing slightly and looking around thoughtfully,
casting an occasional glance at Ukyou and Ranma, before quickly turning to
the skyline again.
"Guys, I think I forgot something in the theater. I'll see you
all tomorrow," he said suddenly.
"Okay," Ukyou called dreamily over her shoulder.
Ranma looked at Akane with a helpless look on his face. Akane
frowned in disapproval.
"Hey, I'll go with you," Ranma offered.
Ukyou sighed in discontent. Akane smiled.
"No, it's okay. I can handle it. You three head on back," Ken
called over his shoulder before turning into an alleyway.
Ranma looked slightly defeated. He looked over to Ukyou, who
still gripped his arm tightly with a blissful expression. A look over to
Akane told him she didn't feel the same way. Akane pivoted on her heel
and stomped into the opposite direction.
"I'll see if Ken needs some help finding his way back. I think
that's what your mother meant by keeping an eye out for him," she said
angrily.
Ranma sighed and shook his head.
"Look, Ukyou, I should help Ken out here. He's not too familiar
with Nerima and he might end up as lost as Ryouga. I'll see you tomorrow,
okay?"
Ukyou looked up at him disappointingly.
"But it was turning out to be such a beautiful evening," she
pouted.
Ranma blanched. Ukyou was starting to do it too. He was positive
using the same tactic to stop her would earn more than disapproval from
Akane. He quickly employed the Saotome Secret Technique.
"Well, maybe we can do it again another time. Gotta go! See ya!"
he called as he bolted down the street and into an alleyway.
Ukyou sighed dejectedly and walked home.

Akane looked about the theater in frustration. Ken wasn't there.
He apparently didn't show up for the mystery things he forgot. That was
twenty minutes ago. Ranma showed up five minutes after she had arrived at
the theater and she sent him back to the dojo in a fit of anger. It
probably wasn't a good idea, but she was hoping that Ken would show up.
She sighed.
"Where are you?" she muttered to herself in frustration. She
decided it wasn't going to be at the theater by a long shot.
As she walked down the street looking about for him, she wondered
what could have spurred him to leave suddenly. Nothing came to mind. As
she wandered about the streets looking for him, she gazed at the blinking
stars and wondered why thing had seemed to be going so well, only to have
them turned around just as easily. First the hugging and the kissing
between her and Ranma before the movie. Then the complete turnabout with
Ukyou snuggling up to him with little protest. It made her frustrated and
sad thinking about it. Akane started walking home, following a path her
feet put forth for her, and ran into someone.
"Excuse me," she said quietly.
"Akane?"
She looked up to see Ken leaning against a fence around the park
near the dojo.
"So what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Just looking. It's pretty nice out."
"It is. Did you get what you were looking for?"
"Yeah."
Akane looked at him intently as he gazed out at the sky. Ken was
lying and she knew it.
"Well, I'll see you later," she said as she turned to head home
"Akane, may I ask a personal question?"
Akane stopped.
"Sure. What's on your mind?"
"You care about Ranma a great deal, don't you?"
Akane blushed.
"Yes, I do," she said, barely above a whisper.
"Does it hurt as much as it makes you feel good?"
Akane blinked.
"I guess so. Ranma and I get into fights a lot, but it's just the
way we are. We don't mean to hurt each other, but we say thing or do
things before thinking," she replied as she walked over to lean on the
fence next to Ken.
"Does he love you as much as you love him?"
Akane laughed quietly.
"I guess I'm not sure why, but I'm sure he does," she said with a
laugh.
[I'm]
"It's a great feeling, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"Being loved in return by the people you love," Ken replied.
"Yes. It is," Akane replied with a soft sigh and a smile. "It's
the greatest thing in the world."
["Yes, it is," (At least, I think it's better that way. You might
disagree, though. Depends on the way you want it to read.)]
A moment of silence passed before either spoke.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later," Ken said as he slowly moved
from the fence back towards Ucchan's.
"You too," Akane replied.
She watched as Ken's figure slowly melted into the darkness and
disappeared. She turned to look back at the stars as they twinkled and
winked at her. Being in love was a good feeling. The best, she decided.

"C'mon lazy! Rise n' shine!"
Ken groaned and turned away from the sudden intrusion of sunlight.
He pulled the sheets over his head.
"Get up! You're going to be late if you don't!" Ukyou exclaimed.
"Late for what?" Ken mumbled through the sheets.
"School, of course! We're enrolling you today!"
"We are?"
"Didn't you say you'd start classes?"
Ken mumbled an incoherent reply from under the sheets. Ukyou
reached a toe out and flipped the sheets back to reveal a very groggy
waiter. Ken waved an arm, searching for the sheets. Ken mumbled
something about wearing only a pair of boxers before pulling the sheets
back up to cover himself again. Ukyou sighed and pulled the sheets back
again, tossing them completely off the futon. Ken covered his face with
is pillow and groped for the sheets again. Ukyou shook her head and sat
on Ken's stomach, earning a loud exhale from Ken. She started poking his
bare chest as she sat on his stomach.
"Wake up! You're going to be late! You don't want to be late!
You want me to tickle you until you're awake?" she said impishly.
Ken was groggily waving his left hand around in defense as his
right held his pillow over his head.
"C'mon! Wake up! You sleep like a brick!" she shouted.
Ukyou grabbed the pillow and tossed it away. After seeing him
simply respond by covering his face with his arms, she started beating his
chest with both fists.
"Wake up! Wake-oof!"
Ken's hands quickly batted her arms away, but made her fall
forwards. She landed, sprawled out face to face with him. Ken blinked,
before blushing.
"If this is how you wake people up, I'm surprised you're not
married yet," he said with a silly grin.
Ukyou quickly sat up, realized where she was sitting and quickly
stood up and to the side brushing her hair from her face and straightening
her clothes.
"Get up you jackass. We have to get you to the principal's office
before the bell if you're going to enroll," she said in a flustered voice.
Ken sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Sure thing," he said with a quiet chuckle.
Ukyou grit her teeth and shook her head before going back to the
restaurant in a huff. When Ken got to the bathroom, he saw a uniform on
the floor by the door.
"This uniform for me?" he called out.
"Yes," came the shouted reply.
Ken wondered where she had gotten the uniform. It was odd. When
he held out the uniform it fit perfectly, yet he couldn't remember trying
one on. The only time he'd gone out shopping with anyone was once with
Ranma's mother, and another with Ukyou and Nabiki. Ken frowned. It was
odd, but he shrugged it off. He wasn't one to question gifts that came
from people he knew.
After a quick shower he threw on the uniform and walked down to
the restaurant. Ukyou gave a quick look and smiled in approval.
"It fits really well," she said in surprise.
Ken raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't think it would?" he asked.
"Well, I wasn't sure if it would when I got it."
"You bought this for me? You weren't planning on me coming to
school were you?"
Ukyou blushed, and quickly turned around.
"Nope. I just thought that you were going to enroll, that's all.
I took the liberty of buying one in anticipation. I didn't plan anything.
I just assumed. Is that bad?"
Ken laughed.
"No, it's not. I appreciate the thought. It's quite nice. Is
this some kind of universal uniform?"
Ukyou looked at him questioningly as she started for the door.
Ken followed.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, you seem to be wearing the same uniform."
"And?"
"I just wondered if women wear the same uniform."
"Did you see women wearing the same uniform when you visited the
school?"
"No."
"There you go."
"But then why are you wearing one?"
Ukyou stopped and blinked.
"Habit, I guess."
"Oh."
Ken followed Ukyou to Furinkan in silence the rest of the way.
When they both arrived, students were just starting to enter the building.
Ukyou quickly dragged Ken past the incoming crowd of people and into the
building to the principal's office. If people had paid attention, they
would have noticed a rather worried look on Ken's face. However, life in
Nerima had accustomed them to the oddities of life around them. They paid
no mind to those events simply labeled odd.
[to the events]
When Ken left the principal's office with Ukyou, he had a
perplexed look on his face.
"You weren't kidding when you said the principal was a little off
the wall," Ken remarked.
Ukyou snickered.
"Off the wall is an understatement," she replied.
"Why was he growing a palm tree on his head?"
"Just one of his quirks."
"And the banana print suit? Same thing?"
Ukyou nodded as they walked to class.
"What about the hair cutting?" Ken asked.
"That too."
"I guess off the wall is a little understated," he said with a
chuckle.
By the time both got to class, the students had taken their seats.
Ken looked about the room as Ukyou walked over to the short, rather
underaged teacher. As Ken gazed about the room, nodding to the wave from
Ranma, Ukyou explained things to the teacher. After a short exchange,
Ukyou took her seat as the teacher walked to meet Ken. Unfortunately for
Ken, he failed to realize the short girl was the teacher.
"Hiya! So what's your name?"
"Excuse me, but where's the teacher?"
The teacher pouted like a small child. Ken frowned as a thought
passed through his mind. The teacher was apparently just a little girl in
a loose fitting yellow dress.
"I'm perfectly old enough to be a teacher!"
"I didn't mean to say that you were too young," Ken quickly
replied apologetically. "I just didn't understand that you were the
teacher."
"You aren't going to cause trouble are you?"
"I'll try not to."
"Try?" the teacher asked with a frown.
"Well, what do you want me to do?"
"Put away the sword!"
Ken fidgeted uncomfortably. His sword was his security blanket.
It made him comfortable and he hated forgetting it. The times he did, and
realized it, made him fairly nervous.
"Is it okay if I just wear it on my back? I promise not to take
it out."
"Give me the sword."
"I'm afraid I can't," Ken replied apologetically.
"Why not?!"
"Well, it's extremely valuable to me. It's like a family heirloom
of sorts. I'm the only one who can take out the blade without hurting
myself, and I don't want anyone to get hurt by it."
"Are you saying I'm not strong enough?"
Ken winced. That wasn't what he meant.
"You-you delinquent!" the teacher yelled.
Ken backed up. So much for my first day, he thought morosely.
"Happo go-en satsu!"
Ken blanched as he saw a swirl of energy form around her as she
waved a five yen piece in a slow arc. Ken grit his teeth as he felt his
life energy draining from him. It wasn't painful, just tiring. Ken
closed his eyes and started tapping into energy reserves.
"What is he trying to do?" Ranma whispered quickly to Ukyou.
"I have no idea! Is he trying to get us all in trouble?!" Ukyou
shot back at Ranma.
"He's lasting a lot longer than I expected," Akane said as she
leaned over to talk to Ranma and Ukyou.
Ken fell to one knee. This wasn't what he expected. Ukyou had
warned him that school was going to be interesting, but this was beyond
interesting in his opinion. Ken grit his teeth as he sat crouched on one
knee. The teacher was probably still standing there with a smug smile on
her face. Ken decided to try to finish it.
"An ki draining technique? Interesting," he said through clenched
teeth. "How do you do against ki channelers? Especially when they're set
to drain?"
[A ki]
Ken was now on all fours. It was tiring, and starting to become
painful now. He sat back and concentrated. To Hinako Ninomiya, it
appeared as though he'd given up.
"Still feel like fighting, delinquent?" she asked smugly in a now
husky voice. She sauntered a little closer to Ken's hunched form as her
body grew to adult proportions.
Ken struggled to all fours and began reciting something
Hinako-sensei couldn't understand. As he held his hands open, palms out
and opposing one another, a faint black aura tingled with electric blue
began swelling between them. The aura expanded, making a kind of visible
swirling shield emanating from Ken's hands. As he moved his hands apart,
the shield opened wider. With a loud 'kiyai,' Ken shut his eyes and grit
his teeth. People around them saw the swirling lines of energy leaving
Ken focus on the vertex of the energetic shield he had created. There was
a tense moment, then a loud sucking noise as air tried to fill a vacuum.
The force from the energetic void pulled desks, papers, and people towards
the point between Ken and Hinako-sensei. Hinako-sensei stumbled forward,
caught off guard by the sudden implosion. Ken, expecting the inward
force, restrained himself against the teacher's desk. Everything came to
a sudden and screeching halt.
"That was rather unexpected," Hinako-sensei said. As she
straightened her now tight fitting dress, the boys in the first few rows
ogled. The girls behind them reached out to backhand them or shook their
heads in disappointment.
"So when's detention?" Ken asked.
Hinako-sensei glared at him.
"We will discuss that later. For now, please introduce yourself.
I have a class to run and wasting time is not a part of the curriculum."
Several students choked back giggles and only muffled sniggering
could be heard.
"Well," Ken started sheepishly, "My name is Chai Tse-Khan. I
guess you could say I from America. I'm Taiwanese, but I was born in the
United States," Ken finished with a nervous laugh and scratched the back
of his head. Blank stares and raised eyebrows met his gaze. This is
worse than being interrogated, Ken mused.
"So you know how to fight?" a lone voice called out.
Ken turned slightly to address the voice.
"I think you already know the answer to that one, Ranma," he said
with a laugh.
Ranma gave a friendly laugh.
"You really want me to answer that one?" he asked.
Hinako-sensei cut them off.
"Very well, now that you've been introduced, please take a vacant
seat," she said dismissively.
Ken scanned around to see Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou quickly clear a
spot between the three of them, despite the protests of the students
around them. Ken smiled and seated himself next to his friends.
This is definitely going to be interesting, he decided.

"Man, what did you do?"
Ken looked up from his lunch.
"Just some of the hocus pocus I picked up from wandering. I take
it you want me to teach it to you?"
Ranma nodded his head enthusiastically.
"If I knew that one, Hinako-sensei wouldn't be able to get me with
the drain!"
Ken laughed.
"It takes a lot of practice and repeated beatings to do it. You
have to be willing to lose a lot to gain a little, so to speak."
Ranma frowned.
"Well, since you put it that way..." he trailed off.
Ken laughed.
"Well, I'm sure with your skill you'll be able to pick it up in no
time."
"Hey, aren't you supposed to go help open Ucchan's no?" Ranma
asked.
[Dunno what to make of that "no" - now, perhaps?]
"Yeah. I have to meet Ukyou out here. She's inside talking to
the principal. Beats me why."
Ranma and Ken stood up from their seat under a large tree near the
gate. Akane ran up to the both of them with a grin.
"So what did you do to Hinako-sensei?" she asked eagerly.
"I told you that my 'talent' is taking energy and moving it
around," Ken replied.
"Right. You said you take things that are ki manifests like
emotions and direct them at people. I don't see how that helps. Did you
flood her with emotions?"
Ken smiled.
"Close. Since I can channel energy, I act as an outlet or an
inlet for it. I simply used a ki maneuver that absorbs energy instead of
outputting it."
"So you both were draining ki from each other?"
"More or less. Since we were trying to drain the same energy from
the same place, we just make a kind of vacuum. It got to big to manage so
it imploded."
[we just made a]
"So I take it you're fine now?" she asked skeptically.
"Well, I'm still a little tired."
"I noticed you starting to doze off during the lectures."
Ken grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah. That ki attack really put me under. She do that to you
before I came in? I saw you falling asleep too."
Ranma colored slightly. Akane simply laughed at him.
"Ranma just likes to sleep," Akane said with a grin.
"Speaking of which," Ranma started, "when are you coming by to
start sparring?"
"Tomorrow sound good for you?" Ken asked.
Ranma was about to reply, but was cut off by a rather energetic
okonomiyaki chef. Akane glared at him, but his apologetic look, combined
with a look of terror and helplessness, was enough to convince her it
wasn't his doing.
"So you're coming to help open Ucchan's, Ran-chan?"
"I think Ran-chan's a little busy," Akane said flatly. "We've got
some classes to finish," she finished, as she took Ranma by the ear and
yanked him away from Ukyou.
"Hey! What's the big deal?" Ukyou protested. She yanked Ranma
back. Unfortunately, Akane still had a fairly good hold of Ranma's ear.
Ranma yelped in pain.
Ukyou quickly took him aside to nurse his sore ear and coo sweet
nothings to make sure it was working properly. Akane groaned as Ranma,
being Ranma, melted under the feminine affection. Akane shook her head in
frustration and glared at Ranma before pivoting on her foot to walk away
in disgust. It was then that she noticed Ken. He was looking rather
dejected and leaned against the tree he had been standing next to with
Ranma before Ukyou whirled Ranma away. There was a sad wistful look on
his face. At first she thought he might be bored, but there was a strong
underlying feeling of sadness. She walked over to him. The minute she
came into sight, Ken quickly turned away and shuffled a toe through the
dirt.
"You okay?" Akane asked.
"Yeah," Ken replied quietly. "I'll be fine. Just a little tired
from Hinako-sensei's little trick."
"It's more than that isn't it?"
"What makes you think that?" Ken asked defensively.
"You've got that look."
"I'm just a little drained from that thing Hinako-sensei does.
That's all."
"I know it's got nothing to do with that."
"How would you know?"
"I get that look a lot, too. My sisters tell me all the time.
Nabiki likes to make fun of me about it."
"What look?"
"The one that says you're really hurt. You're jealous, and sad
because you care about someone and you think they don't think anything of
you."
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you so defensive about it? Methinks you protest too
much," she said with a knowing smile.
Ken snorted derisively.
"You must be out of your mind."
"Then why is it whenever Ranma's with Ukyou, you always move away.
You always end up off to the side, just out of view. You always look so
sad when it happens."
"You look like that most of the time I see you with Ranma, you
know."
"I know. It's hard not to, especially since Ranma and I really
started thinking seriously about each other."
Ken raised an eyebrow.
"And this is supposed to help me how?"
"Ranma and I took so long to finally tell each other how we felt.
I think we always knew, deep down somewhere. If you care about Ukyou the
same way she cares about Ranma, then tell her. Try to get close to her.
Ranma and I care about each other a lot. I think Ukyou might not like
what becomes of it. Please be there for her. She'll need someone like
you to be there for her when Ranma makes his decision."
Ken looked away, staring at the ground in thought. He turned to
look back at Ukyou fawning over Ranma. A sad look passed through his eyes
again. A frown set in on his face. Akane found it an uncomfortable
sight.
"Tell Ukyou I'll meet her at the restaurant. I'll open up
regardless of whether she's there or not. I have some things to take care
of before things open."
Akane sighed. Ken was trying to block things out, the same way
she had when she felt the same way. It wasn't going to help him, and it
was only going to hurt. It was something she was all too familiar with.
Akane turned away as Ken leaped over the wall outside Furinkan. She
returned her gaze to where Ranma was standing, with a dejected look on his
face. Akane laughed. Apparently, Ranma had his fill of Ukyou's feminine
charms.
"Ukyou, what will Akane think?" Ranma protested.
"She'll get mad, dump you, and then we can get married," Ukyou
replied sweetly. Ranma looked over to Akane who stood glaring at him.
"You're acting like Shampoo!" Ranma quickly admonished.
Ukyou sobered slightly.
"What?"
"And don't you have a restaurant to open?" Akane added.
Ukyou blanched.
"You're right. Where's Ken?" she said quickly as she straightened
her clothes.
Ukyou quickly glanced around. Akane calmly walked over to where
Ukyou was glancing around angrily.
"Where did that jackass run off to? I told him to meet me here."
"He left to open the restaurant," Akane replied nonchalantly.
"He did? That's great! It's nice to know I found such good
help."
Akane smirked.
"Are you sure he isn't better than just good help?"
Ukyou glared at Akane.
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing," Akane said casually and walked away.
Ukyou looked over to Ranma who simply shrugged.
"Are you going to ask me out or something?" she asked expectantly.
"What?"
"A real man would ask his woman out on a date. Women love it when
people they care about ask them out."
Ranma smacked his fist into his open palm.
"Ucchan, you're a genius! I should have thought of that sooner!"
Ukyou blushed.
"You're too kind, Ranma. Will you be coming after the restaurant
closes? Ranma?"
Ukyou looked over to see Ranma deep in thought. He suddenly
straightened up.
"That's it! Sorry, Ucchan, but as much as I appreciate the offer,
I don't think I should head out there. It's a great idea though. I never
would have figured it out on my own. You're a pal!" Ranma called over his
shoulder as he bolted after Akane.
Ukyou stood aghast as Ranma left. Everything fell out from her
world all at once.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Chapter Eleven

"I can't believe that jerk! That jackass! I was dripping all
over him and he didn't notice!"
Kan watched as Ukyou savagely beat the okonomiyaki she was
grilling. She obviously was throwing herself into her work. It was
rather painful to watch. Ukyou kept grumbling as she prepared several
okonomiyaki.
"Trouble with Ranma again?"
Ukyou glared at him.
"It's none of your business."
"You don't want to talk about it?"
"No," she shot out.
"It'll make you feel better."
"I don't want to talk about it," she spat.
Ukyou glared at him, but continued talking regardless.
"Well, I was hoping Ran-chan would take me out on a date today. I
was practically begging. I was even stooping as low as using Shampoo's
tactics!"
"And it didn't work."
"No! Nothing works."
"Don't you think that Ranma would ask you out on a date when he's
ready?"
Ukyou glared at Ken again and shook a spatula at him furiously.
"Don't give me that kind of crap! You don't know Ran-chan like I
do! He's never ready to say anything. He's never ready to do anything
except fight or run. It makes me so furious!"
"But you like him anyway."
"He's my fianc. I'll always love him," Ukyou replied sullenly.
"I just wish he loved me back, that's all. I know he does, but why
doesn't he ever say it?"
"Does he have to?"
"Have to what?"
Ken chuckled.
"Say that he loves you. If you know he does, then why does he
have to say it?"
"You don't know how different it is to know it and not hear it,
than to know it and hear it. I don't think you'll understand."
Ken winced. I know a lot more than you might think, he thought.
"Haven't we gone over this already?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you stop trying to get him to marry you, maybe he'll feel more
comfortable about talking about those things with you. It seems to me
like you're forcing yourself on him." Smart move big guy, he thought to
himself sarcastically.
Ukyou clenched a fist. She grit her teeth.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she said venomously.
Ken raised his hands defensively.
"Take it easy, I'm just trying to be honest! If you don't want to
talk about it-"
"I don't want to talk about it! I'm sick of your dumb advice. I
listen to you because you act like a dog someone just kicked. You mope
around all the time and complain about how marked you are as a person.
Other people have problems that are a lot worse than yours, so suck it up
a deal with it! It's not like you're the only one who's lost some family.
Everyone does eventually. Ran-chan didn't have the luxury of seeing his
mother for ten years! At least you got to speak to yours while you were a
kid.
"I'm sick of you and your stupid advice. The only thing your dumb advice
has gotten me is a lot of dead ends with Ran-chan; so butt out. It's none
of your business. It never was to begin with. When you get a fiance or a
love life, then you can talk!"
Ken stood coldly as Ukyou finished yelling. An impassive stoic
mask passed over his visage. Ukyou finished glaring and yelling at him,
heaving from the exertion. Her fists were balled up and the spatula she
was gripping was distorted at the base from her grip. Ken simply took the
pad he had in his hand and slid it quietly on the countertop. He cast a
glance over his shoulder, lined out the orders from emptying tables and
calmly flipped the pencil onto the countertop.
"One special. No beef," he said flatly, and calmly walked to the
back room.
Ukyou closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. She heard
the faucet in the back flip on. The running water filling the sink was
the only noise other than the occasional crackle from the grill. She
slowly opened her eyes, dutifully flipped the okonomiyaki over to keep it
from burning and turned around. Tears were starting to fall and Ukyou
quickly wiped them away before people could see them.
Several women in the restaurant sat staring. Most of the men in
the restaurant simply ignored it. Those that hadn't ordered simply left
their tables. People who did quickly ate their meal, left their money and
exited quietly. Silence pervaded the restaurant. Order slowly restored
itself as new customers entered, oblivious to what had happened. Things
worked their way back to normal, and Ukyou tried to ignore what had
happened as best she could. She had a restaurant to manage after all.
Ken didn't bother leaving the back room all day, save for the
occasional exit to supply the grill with toppings and batter; but those
things he simply carried out, calmly placed by the grill and left without
making eye contact. Ukyou knew what she had said had struck a nerve. It
didn't make her feel any better knowing that she felt that Ken had started
the ordeal. It left a fairly unpleasant taste in her mouth and an
irritated sensation in her stomach. It simply didn't feel right. I guess
it's time I worked things out, she mused.
When she walked into the back room, Ken was filling a small pail
with water and pulling two small dishrags from the rack they were sitting
on. He poured a small amount of soap into the filling pail and shut off
the water. Ukyou looked about and saw the entire place was spotless, and
all the dishes washed. Ken cast a glance over his shoulder and simply
turned back to what he was doing. He simply picked up the pail, slung
both rags over his shoulder and walked out of the room, past Ukyou. Ukyou
stood there for a moment, sighed and walked to the tables where he was
starting to wipe down the tables. She watched as he methodically cleaned
each of the tables in turn, wiping in slow circular motions from the
inside out. The entire time she watched, Ken kept his back to her and
completely ignored her presence. It was unnerving.
"Ken?" she asked quietly.
No response. Ukyou walked closer.
"Ken? Can I talk to you?"
Still no response. It was starting to become annoying.
"Look, Ken, I just want to talk to you."
"You are," was the flat response. It was cold and monotone.
Ukyou winced. Maybe I deserve that, she thought.
"Look, can we talk?"
"There's nothing to talk about, and I'm not paid to dawdle. If
you'll excuse me, I have responsibilities to take care of before I finish
my job for the evening."
Ukyou bit her lower lip. This wasn't what she expected, and it
wasn't what Nodoka probably meant by being there for him.
"Fine. Just hear me out. I just want to apologize for yelling at
you today during lunch. It was uncalled for." There. She'd done it.
Now it was up to Ken to do his part. Ukyou sighed, and waited for him to
respond.
Nothing happened. Ken simply kept washing the last of the tables
and tossed the wet rag into the pail before looking at the tables and
wiping them up with the dry rag. He took the pail and the rag back.
Ukyou simply watched him go. When he came out he turned off the light in
the back room and walked over to the grill.
"I took care of that already," Ukyou said as she walked over to
him.
Ken simply looked at her with an expressionless face. He stood
looking at her for a moment. Ukyou met his gaze with hers. After a
moment he simply turned and walked up the stairs. Ukyou grit her teeth
and followed. He wasn't making it easy.
"You're not making this easy," she called to him as he walked up
the stairs. He passed the second level and made his way towards the door
to the roof. Ukyou simply followed.
"You could say something at least. Let me know you're alive,
something like that."
"I'm going to be taking the practice dummy to the Tendo dojo."
It wasn't what Ukyou expected. It was something, but not what she
wanted. Ukyou simply walked after him and watched as he walked to the
dummy, lifted the trunk from the wooden pedestal and took the wooden arms
off of it. Ken put the trunk on the ground next to the pedestal and
arranged the wooden arms in a neat pile next to everything else. She
followed him again when he walked back down to his room to get a cloth
sack.
"Can't you at least acknowledge the fact that I apologized? I had
to choke down some pride to apologize."
Ken simply turned to her slowly. A blank expression was on his
face again.
"You needn't choke down any pride on my account. If you want me
to tell you that I heard you apologize, then I heard you apologize. If
you're looking to make things better, then I suggest you do something
else."
Ukyou frowned.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she shot out.
Ken frowned. The first expression since she yelled at him. It
wasn't a good sign.
"It means that apologizing for yelling at me is one thing. Trying
to amend things between us is a different thing."
"Between us? What kind of statement is that? We're not engaged,
the last time I checked."
Ken grit his teeth and closed his eyes.
"No we're not engaged," he forced through is teeth, "but I thought
we were friends. I thought we were good friends." Ken opened his eyes.
It looked like he was close to tears. "I put a lot of trust in you to
look at my situation objectively; to look at it with a measure of
compassion rather than judgement. I put a lot of trust and faith into
you, Ukyou. After what I heard go through your lips, I feel like I lost
something I really valued."
Ukyou felt a hole suddenly appear in her chest. She looked down
and away. No hole there, but she felt it all the same.
"Look, I'm really sorry," she said quietly.
"Sorry for what? For yelling at me? For making a fool out of me
in the restaurant? Those things are completely irrelevant. I thought I
had something that came from here," he said as he put a gentle finger on
Ukyou's chest. "I'm not the smartest guy in the world. I'm a pretty
dense guy, and I'll admit it. There are times when I think I'm pretty
smart. Times like when I thought I made a friend in this really nice
woman I met. She was absolutely beautiful. I thought that I must have
been a pretty smart guy to do that." Ken laughed bitterly. "I was just
fooling myself. I'm still the idiot I was when I first picked up my
sword. It's what I get for thinking I was smart to begin with. You
shouldn't feel sorry at all, Ukyou. I'm the jackass that feels sorry."
Ukyou didn't follow him as he walked around her and back up the
stairs to the roof. She listened as he put things into the sack, hefted
the dummy on his back and leaped off into the night.

Ranma watched as Ken walked up to the dojo. The wooden dummy was
on his back and he had a bag tied around his waist. He ran out to greet
his friend and help with the load.
"So this is the dummy?" he called out to Ken eagerly.
Ranma saw a sad look pass through Ken's eyes briefly. Ken gave a
bitter laugh.
"I'd say I'm the dummy," he said quietly.
"Hunh?"
"Nothing," Ken quickly amended with a forced smile. "Just talking
to myself. I'll just set this up in the dojo in one of the corners. You
sure this is okay?"
Ranma nodded.
"Sure thing. I checked it out with Akane's dad. He said it's
fine. He's not one to pass up free gifts," Ranma said with a laugh.
Ken simply walked into the dojo and put his things down. Ranma
followed and helped to set the dummy back up.
"So what's wrong?"
Ken looked at Ranma incredulously.
"What's wrong? Nothing's wrong. Whatever gave you that idea?"
Ranma smiled.
"Don't tell me that. Akane gives me that routine all the time.
Trust me, after living with a person who's as mute about her feelings as a
rock you pick up things."
"Nothing's wrong."
"Sure, Ken. I believe you."
The two of them put the arms into the trunk of the dummy and stood
back. A moment of silence passed between the two of them.
"You know, my mom's here," Ranma finally said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. She wants to talk to you. Why don't you head in? I want
to try this sucker out."
Ken laughed.
"Blow yourself away," Ken said as he walked towards the house.
When he walked indoors, both families were sitting at the table.
Nodoka smiled as she saw him enter.
"We were just talking about you, Ken. Why don't you pull up a
seat?"
Ken smiled and bowed slightly. Nabiki patted a seat next to her
and smiled. Ken rolled his eyes and walked over to sit next to her.
"As you know, I had some business to attend to and was unable to
help you with your meditating lessons yesterday evening," Nodoka said.
Ken nodded.
"That particular business," Nodoka continued, "concerned you in
particular, Ken. I spoke to my husband as well as the Tendo household. I
feel that your lack of a supporting family has caused you enough stress
and pain. I believe that it will help you during your stay here to
consider myself and Ranma's father your surrogate parents." Nodoka
finished with a motherly smile.
Ken blinked.
"You mean, you want to adopt me?" he asked quietly.
"Yes. Well, an adoption of sorts. It really isn't legally
binding, but it's as formal as you could possibly want," Nodoka said with
a smile.
"So I get a new mother and father?" Ken asked with a smile.
"We realize it isn't exactly the same, but I felt it would be best
if you had parental guidance and a mother you could turn to in times of
need."
Ken simply looked into space. He laughed quietly and smiled.
Kasumi looked at him with her usual happy look. Akane and Nabiki smiled
at him. Nodoka, Genma, and Sound simply looked on approvingly.
"I have no idea what to say. This is simply overwhelming."
"Take your time if you need it. We can wait for your decision."
Ken laughed as he rose from his seat. He looked about the table
before settling his gaze at Nodoka and Genma sitting next to each other.
Genma simply looked satisfied and Nodoka had a motherly smile. As he
walked around the shogi board towards the door to the yard, he paused and
leaned against the doorframe.
"Sometimes, I think about how I've led my life and I can think of
a few things I regret. I really do miss my family. I don't think
anything can replace that. I've always wanted my parents back," he said
quietly.
Nodoka frowned slightly but nodded.
"I understand," she said regretfully. She had looked forward to
having another son of sorts.
"Thanks, Mom," Ken said with a smile.
It took a while for the words to register in Nodoka's mind, but
when they did she smiled broadly.
"But I don't do arranged marriages," Ken continued with an impish
grin. "So please don't engage me to one of the Tendo sisters. I like
them all a lot, but I don't think it'd be appropriate."
Genma's eyes opened wide as he heard Ken speak. Kasumi looked
like she'd been scandalized and Nabiki blushed. Soun glared at Genma, and
Nodoka simply laughed aloud with Akane. Ken simply walked back to the
dojo with a broad smile.
When Ken walked into the dojo, he saw Ranma sitting in the middle
of the dojo leaning on his hands across from Ukyou. She had her back to
the door, and it sounded like she was crying. Ranma looked up to see him
walk in and raised an eyebrow. Ken simply drew a finger across his neck.
Ranma simply turned back to Ukyou. Ken quietly walked up behind Ukyou.
"And then he just left," she said quietly. "That's all. I
thought I'd come here to see if there was a chance I could talk to him."
"About what?" Ken asked as he sat down behind her.
Ukyou whirled about to face him. It looked like she'd been
crying. Ken couldn't tell if it had been before or after he'd left. He
really didn't care.
"You were listening," she said, a hint of accusation in her voice.
"I just walked in. I had a rather interesting conversation with
Ranma's mother, or should I say, 'Mom.'"
Ranma fell over in surprise. He slowly got to his feet and walked
around to stand next to Ken.
"So you took Mom up on the offer?"
Ken smiled.
"Yeah. It's nice to have a family, even if it is adopted."
Ranma laughed.
"I've never had a brother before. This should be interesting," he
said as he walked to the door. "I guess I should leave you two alone, or
Akane'll get mad. You know how she is when she sees me with other girls,"
he called over his shoulder.
Ken laughed and watched him leave. When Ranma exited the dojo he
simply sprawled out onto the hardwood floor.
"So you've got a family now?" Ukyou asked quietly.
"Yup. It feels really good. It really does. I'm sure you know
the feeling."
Ukyou laughed nervously.
"I guess so," she replied.
A moment of silence seemed to stretch into an eternity.
"It still doesn't feel right, you know," Ken finally said as he
sat up.
Ukyou sniffed and looked over to him curiously.
"I thought you said you got a family. That isn't good enough for
you?" Ukyou said.
Ken could tell she was bitter about the apology.
"No. It's not. I'm still missing something, he said as he looked
out the door.
"If it's your sword, it's still in your room."
Ken laughed.
"That wasn't what I was talking about."
"So what are you talking about?" Ukyou asked quietly.
"I'm missing a friend. The really good sort of friend," Ken
replied with a smile as he turned to look at her evenly.
Ukyou's heart soared.
"I really shouldn't have lashed out at you like that. I guess
it's my turn to apologize. I still didn't like the way you decided to
vent by chewing me out, but that's a different issue. I can't really be
there to help you if I'm not there to begin with," he said sheepishly.
Ken blushed slightly.
"I really like you, Ukyou," he mumbled. "I don't like being angry
with anyone I like, especially you. It's gotten me into a lot of trouble.
I'm willing to forget about it all if you are."
Ukyou had a familiar feeling start from her stomach again. It
didn't feel bad at all. In fact, it felt rather pleasant. It made her
feel slightly giddy. She smiled and laughed, and almost started crying
again. She felt a hundred different impulses to say or do things. She
settled on following one. Ken was surprised when Ukyou scooted over to
give him a big hug, but it wasn't an unpleasant one at all. It made
things come to an appropriate end for his day.

"You know, it's really weird that Ukyou came to talk about Ken.
She's never done it before. Usually, I'm the one coming to her to talk
about you."
Akane growled and swung a fist out at Ranma. He laughed and moved
out of the way, taking her fist and fluidly using her momentum to guide
her into an outstretched position on the floor. He pinned her there,
despite her very vocal protests. Ranma laughed and started tickling her.
At first Akane simply growled and objected, but soon gave way to the
laughing fit Ranma had started. In the end they both sat there, Akane
leaning against Ranma s they looked out the door of the dojo towards the
koi pond.
"Why is that so strange?" she asked after a few moments of
silence.
"Well, like I said, I'm the one that usually does the talking. I
always go there when I've got a problem."
"You mean problems with me," Akane corrected accusingly.
"Hey! It's not like that!" Ranma said defensively. He
instinctively drew his arms around Akane tightly.
"So what's it like?"
"Well," Ranma replied, "Ukyou just listens to me when I say that
things don't feel right, or when I feel like an idiot about something I've
said or done."
"So why don't you tell me that?"
"Because you're to busy pounding my head in," Ranma replied with a
chuckle.
Akane colored and deflated at the truth of the statement.
"So what do you make of it?" she asked.
"I have no idea."
"You think she likes him?"
Ranma nodded.
"Pretty sure," he replied. "I'm pretty sure that they both like
each other a lot."
"But she is engaged to you. Ken always looks that way when he
sees you with her and she gets friendly with you."
"I guess I should finally get around to doing something."
"You're going to have to eventually. If you don't, everyone else
will try to."
"You know how much I hate it when that happens," Ranma replied
bitterly.
Akane snuggled closer to comfort him.
"I know."
They sat in silence listening to the sounds of the crickets
chirping and the quiet buzzing from the lights.

Life was going well for a change, at least in Ken's opinion. The
past two weeks or so had been pleasant and fulfilling. Things were going
so well that he had lost track of his time in Nerima since his arrival.
The meditating lessons he'd been taking with his new surrogate mother were
going well. He was finally learning more control over his emotions and
over parts of his life he didn't feel comfortable talking about. Only
Nodoka had a true understanding of the situation and what he wanted to
control after his explanation. It was just like having a mother again.
Sparring every morning with Ranma helped keep his skills up, even though
he beat Ranma a fair number of times.
Even school was turning out well. His initial blunder with
Hinako-sensei was quickly forgotten, and he excelled in his classes.
Granted, he'd already passed classes in math and science, but it didn't
hurt to review. History wasn't a class he was fond of, but he studied
hard with Ukyou, Ranma, and Akane and all of them did well. Of course,
doing well being a relative term. Ken wondered just how Ranma could study
with them and then simply pass by the skin of his teeth.
Ken laughed at the thought. Hours spent studying after closing
hours and during weekends seemed to disappear for Ranma, based on his
tests. Of course, Akane assured him that his marks were well above
average in that particular subject. Even Nodoka had been pleased at the
progress, although she was still disappointed at the marks.
Yes, life is going well again, Ken decided. Even feelings between
him and Ukyou seemed to begin developing. Ken smiled at the recollection
of the time they spent together talking, walking about, or even shopping
for things. Those times had increased, and they both enjoyed the presence
of one another immensely. Ukyou still felt strongly about Ranma, that Ken
would not deny, but there was an increasing sense of intimacy with Ukyou
that he could detect.
Ukyou's voice broke him out of his reverie.
"Hurry up. We have to get to the restaurant on time if we want to
get those seats we reserved."
Ken turned from his seat at the restaurant counter to see Ukyou
walking down the stairs in a dress.
"So I merit a dress now?"
Ukyou blushed.
"Look, silly, we made reservations at a nice restaurant. I've
always wanted to go there and the people I've seen walk in there aren't
wearing jeans and a shirt. It's a fairly formal place."
"That's an awfully expensive looking dress. Did you buy it for
the occasion?" Ken asked with a grin.
Ukyou playfully punched his arm.
"It's not like were going on a date." She'd used that excuse a
hundred times before. "I just wanted to see the place. I didn't want to
buy a new dress, so I decided to borrow one from Nabiki."
"I see."
"What? No compliment?" Ukyou asked expectantly. She smiled
broadly.
Ken laughed.
"Ukyou, you look absolutely radiant. I'm blinded, just looking at
you."
"Gee, thanks," Ukyou said sarcastically.
"You'd have to be blind and a complete idiot not to notice you
wearing that dress."
Ukyou blushed.
"I guess that means I'm a lucky guy," he added.
"Why's that?"
"I get to look at the all single sods out there and smile that
smile that says, 'I've got this beautiful woman here for company, who've
you got?'"
Ukyou laughed.
"How do you know I'm not just showing off my waiter?" she asked.
Ukyou looked over Ken in his silk shirt and pants. The vertical stripes
on the shirt seemed to make him appear leaner, and more chiseled in
appearance. The black slacks he wore went well with the tan shirt. The
black vest he wore added style to the whole ensemble. Ukyou was pleased
with the clothes Nabiki had chosen for Ken. She would be flaunting him to
all the women she'd see at the restaurant. Ukyou decided that Ken looked
nice in his clothes - very nice indeed.
"Let's go," Ken said simply, and offered his arm. Ukyou laughed
and took him up on his offer. It was going to be a fun night out.

"You know, I can't believe you did that."
Ukyou laughed as she shook out her hand.
"He made a pretty blatant pass at me when we were leaving. I
wasn't about to let him to that and get away with it."
"I was hoping to knock his lights out," Ken said with a smile.
"Beat you to it, Sugar."
They both laughed out loud. As their mirth died down, they
continued walking back to the restaurant in silence, gazing about, but
mostly at the stars above. She held her hand in the crook of his elbow.
It felt fitting and comforting there as if it were completely natural,
just like the dinner. Dinner at the posh restaurant had gone along fairly
smoothly save for two occasions. Ukyou had protested a little too loudly
when the host at the door asked Ken if "he and his lovely wife would like
a more private booth." Women began casting sidelong glances at Ken while
men were openly ogling at her. It was very uncomfortable for a while.
Things seemed to go smoothly until a waiter passing them on their way out
had made a blatant pass at Ukyou, and even goosed her. She was furious,
to say the least. Ken was about the blast the waiter, but Ukyou beat him
to it. When they left, the waiter had a broken nose.
Ukyou looked over to her companion as they walked down the quiet
street towards home. Ken looked at ease and happy, an increasing
occurrence, and she had to admit that it made her feel good knowing that
he was feeling that way. The past few weeks had seen them spending more
and more time together in light of Ranma and Akane beginning to spend more
time together as well. It seemed to be a natural response for Ukyou. She
couldn't spend more time with Ranma, so she spent time with the person
that was as close to Ranma as she could find. Then again, she mused,
maybe Ken's more than just a substitute Ranma for me. Could Akane be
right after all? she asked herself.
She thought back to the conversation she had with Akane when Ken
had just arrived.
"It's just like I'm seeing you and Ranma together," Akane had
remarked.
It rang in her mind as they walked together. It seemed so odd to
hear someone say that, to even think it to herself; but the more she
thought about it, the more comfortable it became. They had spent so much
time together as friends that a sort of attraction between them developed
naturally. Ukyou found it very flattering, but also realized that it was
also going to make things complicated. She spent a lot of time repressing
it; but after the dinner and the peaceful walk back, the thought returned;
and it seemed to fit so well as they made their way back under the stars.
"Ukyou?"
Ken's voice suddenly brought her back to Earth, and her foot hit a
curb. Strong arms reached out instantly to catch her as she tried to
right herself. She found herself being supported around the waist and a
hand holding hers. She looked up and saw genuine concern in Ken's face.
She smiled to set him at ease.
"I was just thinking," she replied quietly.
Ken returned the warm smile. It seemed to lift Ukyou's heart and
it beat faster.
"You seemed a little lost. I hope you're okay. Did you twist
your ankle?"
Ukyou looked down at the high heels she was wearing. She smiled
slightly as a mischievous thought crossed her mind.
"I don't know. It feels a little odd," she said plaintively.
Suddenly she found herself lifted off her feet.
"It's a good thing we're right at the door. I'll carry you in."
Ukyou smiled. It worked exactly the way she thought it would.
Ken acted the same way Ranma would have. She closed her eyes and reveled
in the secure feeling of being in his arms. She thoroughly enjoyed the
ride to her room.

"Ranma, I think it is time you made your decision."
Ranma looked up from the manga he was reading. His mother had
opened the door and was standing in the doorway. She walked into the
center of the room and kneeled in front of her son.
"Ranma, it is very important to me that you marry as soon as
possible. I have stood by idly and watched as all of your fiances have
grown closer and closer to you. I believe that continuing to do so will
only aggravate the problem."
Ranma groaned and rolled his eyes.
"I'll make my decision when I'm good and ready, Mom. I've gone
over this a hundred times with you before. What's wrong with waiting?
You know I hate breaking this kind of news to them."
Nodoka smiled knowingly.
"But you've already chosen," she replied.
Ranma blanched.
"How would you know if I've chosen or not? As far as I know, I
haven't yet."
Nodoka continued to smile.
"I spoke to Nabiki," she said, "and she had some very interesting
news to report concerning your whereabouts last night. In fact, it was
rather coincidental that you both were gone at the same time last night."
The blood drained from Ranma's face.
"You told me you were going out to study with some friends last
night. I was very impressed by it. Akane left shortly afterwards saying
that she was going to be heading to the mall to meet some friends. I
asked why she wasn't going to go study with you since you'd left already.
She was rather nervous at the question. She told me that she was going to
be heading there later. I was a little curious and asked Nabiki what she
knew."
Ranma studied the floor intensely.
"It seems she heard about a certain pair of people going to an ice
cream shop downtown after having dinner. They seemed to look a great deal
like you and Akane from what she told me.
Since my interest had been peaked, I called your friends. You
weren't there. I spoke to Akane's friends. They weren't sure what I was
talking about. After I was told that calls came from both you and Akane
from your respective places, I decided to find out what was going on. I
simply waited at great length for you to come home in a suitable place.
Very late last night the two of you came home. I found the entire
exchange at the door very interesting."
Ranma broke and simply let his head fall to the floor with a loud
thud.
"So you're going to make me choose now?"
"Yes. I think it is time you did so."
"So you were spying on me."
"I was only showing my concern for your well being."
"You realize things are going to become very confusing."
"Perhaps, but better now than later. What were you planning on
doing? Simply waiting it all out?" Nodoka admonished.
"We thought we could just ease into things. Let Shampoo know
about it, then let some rumors go around, wait for them to disappear and
then tell someone else. Let it all out slow so people think they know,
but won't until we tell them."
"I think we should start with Ukyou Kounji. She seems to be the
most reasonable of your fiances, and I think she would be the best to
speak to first."
"Yes, mother."
Ranma waited for his mother to leave. She didn't. He looked at
her for a moment before she cleared her throat. Ranma sighed and got up
to go to the phone. Nodoka simply followed him the entire time.

"So then he carried you to your room?"
Ukyou smiled and slowly nodded.
"Yup. Ken-chan fell for it completely."
Akane raised and eyebrow.
"Since when did you start calling him Ken-chan?"
Ukyou blushed.
"It's not like it means anything," she quickly said defensively.
Akane laughed.
"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."
"What are you talking about?" Ukyou demanded.
Akane simply laughed harder, and wiped away tears.
"Forget it, Ukyou," Akane finally managed to say.
Both girls fell silent as they continued eating. As they sat
quietly working away at their lunch, Ukyou couldn't help but wonder why
she was at the Tendo's residence. Ranma had called her over to talk. It
wasn't very like him to do so, but she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to
see him again. Even though she was spending a increasing amount of time
with Ken, it didn't mean she didn't love Ranma any less. In fact, it
seemed to her that the more time she spent with Ken, the more she ended up
wanting to see Ranma.
"Yo! Ucchan!"
Ukyou looked up from her meal at the familiar voice. She saw
Ranma walking over to the table overlooking the yard. Nodoka was
accompanying her son, and she looked slightly ill at ease. Ukyou looked
back to Ranma. He looked cheerful, but it seemed forced. She quickly
turned back to Akane.
"Are you sure you don't know what they want to talk to me about."
"Ukyou, I swear I have no idea. Ranma told me he and his mother
wanted to talk to me today as well."
Ukyou shrugged and looked over to the Saotomes. Nodoka kneeled at
the table and Ranma next to her. Both were opposite Ukyou.
"Akane, will you please excuse us?" Nodoka asked.
Akane looked inquisitively at Ranma who simply ignored her. She
shrugged and left the table. Nodoka waited for her to leave before
addressing Ukyou.
"I believe it is time for my son to make his intentions clear. He
has dragged out this issue of marriage for long enough. I have spoken to
him and it is time he made his decision."
Ukyou felt a sense of imminent doom start from the pit of her
stomach. A sour taste filled her mouth.
"Ucchan, I think it's time we got things cleared up," Ranma
started.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Ukyou stammered.
"Perhaps we should start with the dowry," Nodoka interjected.
Ukyou nodded nervously.
"I think we all know the situation regarding the dowry and
engagement," Nodoka continued. "My husband was irresponsible and
dishonorable in engaging you to Ranma, taking the dowry and then leaving.
I see that while it would be easy to replace such a dowry, even given
adjustments for value and inflation, the damage in addition to the dowry
is inconceivable."
Ukyou nodded enthusiastically.
"But all that could be easily forgotten if I get married to
Ranma," she added hopefully. Ukyou cast an imploring look to Ranma, who
quickly looked away nervously.
"I do not think that will be possible," Nodoka replied quietly.
"My husband and I will try to recompense you for the lost dowry. If it
requires my husband working for you, then that is what will be done, but
this is an issue that will be resolved outside of the issue of
engagements."
"You've picked, haven't you, Ranma?" Ukyou asked quietly.
"Yeah. I guess I did end up picking," he replied quietly.
A long silence passed between them. Ranma nervously looked up from his
study of the table to see Ukyou on the verge of tears. He could see the
liquid sadness welling up and about to burst the self-control she had
left. Ukyou quickly turned her head away, and tried to mute a sob.
Nodoka rose from her seat and put a gentle hand on Ranma's shoulder.
Ranma looked at his mother and then back to Ukyou. It was all up to him.
His mother could only take care of the dowry issue. Breaking Ukyou's
heart was his matter. He didn't like it at all.
"Ukyou, I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she whispered hoarsely.
"Ukyou-"
She cut him off with a raised hand.
"I think I knew who you'd chosen already. I knew when the wedding
leaked out. I knew when you rescued Akane and came back from the springs.
I knew from the beginning. I was an idiot to think I had a chance."
Ranma reached out to comfort her. Ukyou recoiled.
"No, don't. Please don't. This is hard enough as it is. I
should have forgotten everything, but you were everything I had left.
After you left with the cart, father lost everything. I lost everything.
I followed you thinking I could get it all back again." Ukyou turned to
look Ranma straight in the eyes. There was an almost incoherent look to
them.
"For a while I thought I did have everything again. At least,
almost," she continued quietly. "I guess I have to-" A choked sob cut
her off. "I have to lose everything again," she finished before breaking
down completely.
"Ukyou, I wish there was another way. I'm really sorry. I wish
you knew how sorry I am."
Ukyou simply stood up, forced herself to stop crying and
straightened herself up. She calmly walked towards the doors to let
herself out. On her way to the front door, she passed Akane in the living
room. Ukyou looked at her evenly.
"You won. I won't get in your way anymore," she said quietly,
almost apologetically.
Akane simply stared as Ukyou walked out the door. She heard
Ukyou's choked sobs die in the distance. A hand was gently placed on her
shoulder. Akane turned to look up at Ranma's mother who smiled the same
regretful smile Akane felt inside. Nodoka could feel the loss, as well as
the satisfaction of finally gaining a daughter. Nodoka looked at Akane
before walking back to the room where Ranma sat staring into space
vacantly.
A kind of bittersweet joy filled Akane's heart. Ukyou was no longer one
of Ranma's fiances. That left Shampoo and herself, if Ranma ever counted
Kodachi. Akane knew what the outcome would be. There was a kind of
joyous triumph in the matter, but after watching Ukyou leave, it was as if
there was a grand loss that went with it. She gathered her wits and her
courage and simply walked into the room where Ranma was waiting with his
mother.

Ken watched as Ukyou made her way into the restaurant. Three
customers were seated and finishing their meal when Ukyou walked in. She
looked like a mess. Her eyes were puffy, her hair seemed to hang limply
from her skull, and she was pale. As Ukyou opened the door, she faltered
slightly before simply entering and walking to the stairs to her room.
Ken could hear the telltale sniffling that told him what must have
transpired at the dojo. The customers respectfully paid their bills and
left quickly. Ken simply turned off the grill, cleared the counter and
locked the door, flipping the 'open' sign over as he went in.
As he walked up the stairs he could hear Ukyou crying anew and it
struck a despondent chord deep inside of him. It was a painful sound to
hear.
"Ukyou?" he asked quietly at the door as he knocked.
The crying stopped and he could hear her shuffle over to the door.
As she opened it, Ken could see her eyes were swollen and red. Her hair
was a complete mess, and tears streaked her face. Ukyou simply stared at
him and it dawned on her that Ken's face mirrored the pain she felt. It
was comforting in a way.
"Ukyou, if you want to be left alone, I understand."
Ukyou shook her head slowly and opened the door. Ken walked with
her to her bed and simply sat down next to her. Both sat in silence as
Ukyou gazed out the door to opposite wall in the hall. She jumped when
Ken placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. Ukyou's body shook
before she broke down again. Ken brought both arms around to hold her
reassuringly. Ukyou simply clutched at him like a lifeline and cried. As
he looked down on her shaking form, Ken's heart went out to her. He could
feel the pain she was in. It seemed to mirror the same feeling of
betrayal that he had experienced, only he hoped it wasn't as bad for
Ukyou. Ken leaned back slightly to cradle Ukyou's sobbing figure in his
own and waited for her to calm down. Ucchan's remained closed for the
rest of the day.

"So you told her, didn't you?"
"I had to," Ranma said sullenly.
"At least you got it over with," Akane replied quietly.
"If I knew it was going to be this bad, I would have waited it out
a few more years and have everyone except you give up on me."
"You know your mother would never have gone for that."
"Yeah. I know," Ranma leaned against the wall of his room and
sighed. "If your sister hadn't been snooping around and selling
information to my mom, this never would have happened."
"You can't blame Nabiki," Akane replied.
Ranma sighed.
"I can't, but it feels better blaming someone other than me."
"You can't blame yourself, Ranma. It wasn't your fault that Ukyou
reacted the way she did."
"You think she's going to do anything drastic?"
"Ranma, this is Ukyou we're talking about, not Kodachi."
"Still though, I feel really concerned for her. Do you think we
should check up on her?"
"You think that's a good idea?"
"I'd make me feel better, at least."
"Alright Ranma, let's go," Akane said with a sigh.
When they got to Ucchan's, a locked door and a sign saying
'closed' greeted them. Ranma fidgeted nervously.
"Maybe we should get going. I don't think this was such a hot
idea anymore."
Akane simply rapped on the door.
"This was your idea Ranma, so be a man and take it," she replied.
Ranma winced.
"This isn't about being a man," he said irritably in his defense,
"it's about trying to stay friends with her without acting like an idiot."
Akane grabbed Ranma and simply pushed him to the door when she
heard footsteps. Ranma shuddered as a shadow fell down the stairs. He
was enormously relieved that it was Ken that opened the door.
Ranma sighed heavily and smiled warily.
"It's a good thing you answered the door. Is Ukyou okay?"
Ken simply looked Ranma evenly before simply shutting the door in
his face.
"What'd you do that for?!" Ranma yelled as he pounded on the door.
Ken opened the door, glaring at Ranma.
"You really had to tear her heart out like that didn't you?" he
said flatly.
"Do you think he had any say in how she'd take it?" Akane replied
hotly.
"I think Ranma could have done a better job in the diplomatic area
if you ask me. Ukyou came back a wreck. You really must have said
something fierce to break her down like that."
"You think she was going to take the line 'I'm not in love with
you' lightly? How about 'I'm not going to marry you?' You think she'd
take that well?"
"She'd take it a lot better if you put it more diplomatically!"
Ken nearly shouted.
"Why should you care? Isn't this what you wanted? Now you got a
chance at Ukyou," Akane replied coolly.
"Of course I care!" Ken hissed. "Ukyou just fell asleep, so don't
wake her. I suggest you leave."
"I'm not the one screaming." Ranma replied bluntly.
"You really had to drive the stake in, didn't you? Do you have
any idea just how bad she had it for you, Ranma? You could have told her
to die and she would have," Ken replied hotly.
"Look, it's none of your business," Ranma replied defensively.
Ken moved his face in front of Ranma's suddenly. Ranma
instinctively took a step back.
"I care a lot about what happens to Ukyou. I am her friend, and
as her friend it concerns me when she comes back from the dojo bawling her
eyes out."
Akane smirked.
"You're in love with her, aren't you?"
"I don't know what the word means. I've had it used in so many
dirty tricks I have no idea what you could possibly mean by that."
"You really do love her, don't you? I mean, all those times you
just stared at her when she was around me and those times that you forgot
things when we went out," Ranma said as it slowly dawned on him. "Akane
was right. You're completely nuts over her."
Ranma smiled.
"Shut up, Ranma. The issue at hand is that you ripped her heart
out and you apparently feel no remorse over it other than to simply poke
fun at what you think it a trivial relationship between Ukyou and myself,"
Ken sighed.
"Just go away. The last thing she needs is to see you. There's
no telling what you might trigger if she sees you. Just leave and don't
show up around here for a while. Let Ukyou take care of things on her own
without you interfering. I think you've done enough, don't you?" he
finished.
Ranma looked at Ken evenly. Truth rang in his words and they
echoed in his mind. Akane seemed to feel the same as she looked over to
him and nodded.
"Look, I'm sorry about acting like a jerk. It just came out
suddenly. I don't know what came over me," Ken said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it," Ranma replied. "I think you knew what
came over you."
At that Akane and Ranma left. Ken watched them walk down the
street and around a corner. He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his
hair. Things were so hectic now. It was as if a bomb was dropped and the
pieces of what blew up were starting to fall down.
"So what came over you?"
Ken whirled around to see Ukyou sitting on the stairs in the
shadows.
"Nothing," he replied quietly as he walked to the grill.
"I heard everything," Ukyou said quietly as she rose from her
seat.
Ukyou simply walked over to sit next to where he leaned against
the bar.
"Was everything that Ran-chan said true? Is that how you feel
about me?"
Ken looked away quickly.
"I don't know what to say. I never knew what love was supposed to
mean, you know that. I've spent a good part of my life living under the
pretense of love, only to find out it was a sham."
"Don't lie, Ken. Please don't lie. I couldn't take it if you
lied to me."
Ken turned around to see Ukyou standing in front of him on the
verge of tears again. Her hair was a mess and it looked like she hadn't
slept a wink despite the fact that he left her asleep in her room a few
minutes ago. Yet despite all that, Ken thought she still looked radiant.
A kind of vulnerable innocence glowed from her and his heart skipped a
beat.
"I've had enough for one day. Just tell me the truth. Are you a
friend, or is it something more?" she asked quietly.
Ken stared at her as she started to tremble slightly. He closed
his eyes tightly.
"I always thought we were friends, Ukyou," he replied quietly.
Ukyou could feel the tears beginning to fall. A huge vacuum
suddenly opened up where her heart was and an empty void seemed to sit
there painfully. She closed her eyes and started to turn away.
"But you know I always wanted it to be something more than that,"
Ken finished in a whisper.
The void she felt in her chest suddenly, and violently, filled
itself when the words registered in her mind. She could feel her knees
shaking as she turned to look at Ken standing before her, a look of
complete humility and sincerity in his eyes. Ukyou searched his face for
some sign that he was lying, but couldn't find any. The tension that she
felt in her body wound itself tighter and tighter until it snapped, and so
did she. Ukyou let the tears fall again, and she didn't try stopping it
this time. She wrapped her arms around Ken and gripped him with all her
might. It felt right, and it was something she knew she'd wanted from the
start but never acknowledged. When she felt Ken's arms wrap around her
for the second time that day, she wept openly; but the tears of sadness
were gone, she was happy again.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Chapter Twelve

"So you just hugged him? That's it?"
Ukyou nodded.
"I don't think either of us were going to make things better by
doing anything rash."
Nabiki smirked.
"I would have."
Ukyou rolled her eyes.
"I know you would have, Nabiki, but we didn't. Look, I just want
to know about Ranma and Akane."
"It'll cost you."
"I'm giving you a free lunch."
Nabiki pondered the plate of okonomiyaki in front of her.
"Do I get a date with Ken-chan?"
Ukyou glared at her. Nabiki out up her hands defensively and
laughed.
"Hey, it was just a joke! Calm down. It's no big deal. My silly
high school crush on your waiter is over. I'm above those things now."
Ukyou snickered.
"Sure you are. So spill the beans. What's with Ranma and Akane."
"Well, what I can tell you in exchange for the lunch is that
they're definitely going to get married. Mrs. Saotome knows it, I know
it, even Kasumi knows it; but Ranma's mother made us promise not to tell
my dad or Ranma's father. Ranma wanted to keep it hush-hush until they
felt both of them were ready for it."
"And?" Ukyou asked expectantly.
"And what?"
"Did Ranma break the news to Shampoo?"
"Yup. She left without saying a word. Cologne was there too,
actually. She popped up from nowhere as usual and said Ranma was going to
marry Shampoo. The usual routine."
"You seem worried."
"Moi?" Nabiki asked incredulously.
"Who else am I talking to? You're not the only one who can tell
if people are nervous about something." Ukyou shoved another plate of
okonomiyaki forward. "So talk."
Nabiki worked on another okonomiyaki as she spoke.
"Well, when Cologne said that Ranma would marry Shampoo, she
didn't really mention anything about Amazon laws like she usually does,"
Nabiki managed through bites of her food. "This time it was more like she
was stating an ultimatum, without really saying the 'or else' part of it.
It just felt really strange. Real unsettling, if you know what I mean."
"What do you think it means?"
"I have no idea, but I'm sure it's nothing good. You know Cologne
will do almost anything to get Shampoo and Ranma hitched."
"Yeah. Tell me about it."
"So let me ask you a few questions," Nabiki said after finishing
her food.
Ukyou looked at Nabiki quizzically.
"I thought you'd still be bawling your eyes out. Ucchan's was
closed all of yesterday, but today at school, you're as chipper as usual.
You even said hello to Ranma. I was expecting you to rip his head off or
something."
"What's the big deal? I'm over him now."
"Oh really?"
Ukyou looked away
"Well, not exactly, but I'm having a much easier time than I
expected."
"Two specials and one pork, no onions."
Ukyou looked over to Ken placing two slips of paper on the counter
in front of her. He gave her a wink and a smile; and when she reached out
for the slips, he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Ukyou blushed and
smiled. Nabiki looked on with a very interested air.
"I see," she said after Ken left. "A regular culinary Casanova,
is he?"
Ukyou blushed furiously.
"Would you pipe down?"
"This is very interesting, if I might say so myself."
Ukyou glared at her.
"You are not going to sell this information to anyone, you hear
me? This is strictly between Ken-chan and myself. Nobody else. Got it?"
"That'll cost you."
"How about I don't tell Ran-chan about those extra pictures you
sold behind his back. Or better yet, how about I tell Ken-chan you're
welching on your promises?"
"That's blackmail," Nabiki shot at her.
Ukyou grinned.
"Touch," she said to Nabiki.
Nabiki groaned.
"Fine. It's a deal."
Ukyou grinned, and pushed another plate of food across the
counter. Nabiki simply accepted it in resigned fashion and kept to
herself.

"I finished cleaning the back room up. Everything's more or less
in order."
Ukyou watched Ken make his way to the counter where she was
cleaning the grill again. As he pulled up a seat, Ukyou smiled and
returned to scraping off the stuck bits of food from the grill.
"Anything else you need me to do?"
"No, I just need to clean up here and then it's all finished."
"Want to do anything afterwards?"
Ukyou looked up surprised.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" she asked with a grin.
Ken colored quickly.
"Well, not if you don't want it. I mean, it doesn't have to be a
date if you don't want it to be one, but it could if you wanted, but if
you don't then you don't have to," he stumbled.
Ukyou laughed.
"I know you're just getting over Ranma, but I hate seeing you so
sad. It really hurts to see you like that. I just want you to be happy,
that's all," Ken said quietly.
Ukyou's eyes darkened briefly at the mention of Ranma's name, but
lit up again at Ken's intentions.
"That's very sweet of you, but I think I'll get over Ranma sooner
than people expect." Ukyou winked and smiled. "It looks like I have my
own Ran-chan anyway."
Ken looked puzzled. The expression on his face set Ukyou into
another fit of laughter.
"Don't look so depressed all the time," Ukyou admonished. She
covered his hand with hers and look at him evenly. "I appreciate
everything you're doing to help me. It means a lot to me."
Ken smiled sheepishly as Ukyou finished scraping off the grill.
She watched him move from his seat and walk up the stairs. After wiping
everything down a final time, Ukyou straightened herself up and walked up
to Ken's room. She leaned in the doorframe and simply looked at him as he
sat on his bed, back against the wall, reading a book. Ken looked up from
his reading and raised an eyebrow.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"In that case, I'd be rich," Ukyou said with a smile. She
casually walked into the room and sat on the edge of his futon. Ken
creased the corner of the page he was on, and put his book down.
"So what do you need?"
"I just wanted to know if you wanted to go for a little walk or
something. It gets a little stuffy in here. What do you say, Ken-chan?"
Ken smiled.
"Sure. I can go for some fresh air."
When the two of them left the restaurant, the sun was on its last
leg, and the rose of the sunset was only a bare sliver against the
skyline. Stars could be seen as the rose from the setting sun graded to a
deep purple and blue. Ukyou felt it seemed to mirror the way she was
feeling. First her rather abrupt end with Ranma, followed by a
realization that the clean break from Ranma would allow her to explore how
she felt about Ken. A feeling which, she had decided, was as genuine as
anything she every felt for Ranma. Yet, when she thought of it, there was
a sense of guilt. Ukyou wondered whether she was simply using Ken as a
substitute Ranma for her own purposes, or truly felt attracted to him. It
was obvious that she found him attractive in the same sense as Ranma, but
a deeper more melancholy side of him attracted her as well. She felt
unbelievably wonderful whenever he smiled at her and changed from a sad
wistful demeanor to that of complete joy and happiness. Ken always made
her feel important and it was something that Ranma seemed to forget.
Ukyou couldn't explain it, but she cared about Ken in all the same ways
she cared about Ranma; yet at the same time, she felt differently about
the whole thing. Ukyou looked at the hand that gently held hers, and then
to the face as it looked forward. It was serene and content, a feeling
she shared when he was around and opening himself to her.
"Something on your mind?"
Ukyou blinked and found Ken looking at her with a bemused
expression.
"Sorry, I was just thinking."
"I could tell. We stopped here a minute or two ago, and you
almost kept on walking," Ken said with a wry grin.
As she looked about, Ukyou noticed that they were at a small park;
one that Ranma visited frequently during his absences after fights with
Akane. It brought back memories of how he would come to the restaurant to
talk and unburden himself of a feeling of guilt. It made her feel
important, but important as a friend, not as a fiance.
"Ken-chan, when you say that you want to be more than friends, why
do you say that?" she asked seriously.
Ken sat down on one of the swings they stood by. Ukyou took a
seat in an adjoining one.
"To be serious, I don't know why. I just know that it's something
I want. I really can't explain it. I know you think we're just friends,
but I feel like it isn't enough. I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted
to hear."
"You know," Ukyou began, "I can tell you all about Ran-chan. I
can tell you the exact moment I fell in love with him. I can tell you the
exact moment I knew I wanted to marry him. I can tell you a lot about how
I feel about Ran-chan."
Ken looked away and sighed.
"You really were certain that he was the one, weren't you?"
Ukyou nodded solemnly.
"If anyone ever asked why I loved him, there was a whole list of
reasons why. I could list them for hours if I had to. Everything from
the cute way he ties his hair to the way he shows that he cares about your
safety and well-being," she replied.
"You don't feel the same way about me, do you?" Ken asked
bitterly.
"Please don't say that," Ukyou admonished. "It's so different
with you. You came from nowhere, with no history and a past that seems
like a grim fairy tale. When I first met you, it was like I met someone
that hated who they were. I really could sympathize with that. You know
how it was for me when Ran-chan ran off with the cart.
"But it was different too. I felt something different with you.
You were just like Ran-chan when we met." Ukyou chuckled at the thought.
"You were a little bashful when we talked and I know that you're pretty
shy when you want to say something to women; but when it comes down to it,
you speak your mind and you're completely honest. It's something I wished
Ran-chan would do, but he doesn't. He really can't help it I guess."
"So what are you trying to tell me?"
Ukyou swallowed.
"I think that when you came here and made a little commotion by
worming your way into our lives, it really set off a few things. It made
me realize that Ran-chan wasn't perfect. I always thought that there
couldn't be anyone like Ran-chan because he was so wonderfully perfect.
Even when he acted silly, he did it perfectly. But then you came along
and you were just like Ran-chan. It really shook me up, to tell you the
truth. It was like having two of him around. One for Akane and one for
me," she said with a smile.
Ken looked at Ukyou evenly. He couldn't believe what he was
hearing.
"I didn't know how to feel when you came along. I-I think I
started liking you when we started talking in the restaurant. There was
something about you that I really wanted to know better. I guess this is
coming out all messed up," she said lamely.
Ken got up from his seat and walked away from the swings and
stared into the sky. The moon was coming out, and the sky was dimming
into a deep blue-black. Stars were beginning to twinkle and it seemed
like the peace and silence of the surroundings was setting him up for
something that would make or break him. He could hear Ukyou get up from
her seat and walk up behind him. Ken turned slowly to face her in the dim
light. The light from the moon reflected off her face, and he thought it
made her look like an angel.
"Ken-chan, I can't explain why I feel the way I do. I can't give
you a great big list of reasons why I like you. I suppose if you gave me
a while, I could tell you," Ukyou said with a soft chuckle, "but it
wouldn't be the same. Whenever I'm with you like this, it just feels so
awkward and perfect at the same time. I care about Ran-chan a lot, but
it's times like this that make me forget all about it."
Ken steeled himself.
"I hope you feel the same way about me," Ukyou said quietly. She
closed her eyes, moved her face forward and raised herself on her toes to
kiss him. She felt his lips remain unresponsive. When she broke the kiss
and looked up at him, Ken was simply looking at her stoically, as if he
were trying to look through her. She quickly turned her head away, but
was stopped short when his hands came to cup her face. She looked into
his face again to see him smiling at her warmly and there was a
mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Ukyou was about to smile, but was cut
off when Ken bent forward and kissed her. It was a gentle, featherlight
kiss that surprised Ukyou, but she found herself wanting more. Ken was
pleasantly surprised when she hungrily returned the kiss and deepened it
enormously.
Ukyou reveled in the feeling. It was something she'd wanted from
Ranma, but never received. Now she was experiencing everything she'd
dreamed Ranma would do for her. The kiss was long and sweet, and Ukyou
drowned herself in the feeling. She wrapped her arms around his neck and
felt him move his hands to wrap his arms around her waist. They kissed
there in the park for what seemed like hours to Ukyou. When they broke
apart, Ukyou buried herself in his chest and shed light tears of
happiness. She closed her eyes and rejoiced that she finally received
what she always dreamed of getting. It was a dream come true, and just as
she did in her previous dreams, she sighed his name quietly in bliss.
"Oh, Ranma," she breathed quietly.
Ukyou suddenly felt the warm body she nestled against freeze. Warmth,
love and protection melted away in a sudden chill. Arms slowly disengaged
themselves from around her and slowly removed her arms from their grip.
Ukyou remained where she was, frozen by the sudden turn of events. She
felt the man of her dreams slowly move away from her until she felt the
cool breeze from the night blow between them. As she looked up from where
she stood, Ukyou felt her dreams shatter into a million pieces. Ukyou
could see the pain in his eyes, the feeling of betrayal that stabbed deep
in his heart. The damage was done and Ukyou could only stand helplessly
frozen as she watched Ken slowly turn away and melt into the darkness that
slowly enveloped her.
Ukyou called his name softly as she tried desperately to grasp at
the shattered pieces of her dream come true, only to find herself
clutching splinters and staring into a nightmare.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Chapter Thirteen

Ken walked down the street in a daze. His head was filled with a
hundred thousand things, but the most prominent thought was Ukyou. He
wanted to be more to her than just a waiter, than just a friend. It was a
thought that possessed him whenever he looked at her and felt the warmth
she spread when she laughed with him, walked and talked with him. Now
things were abruptly different. First there was an understanding of how
they felt, that they wanted to share something more than just being
friends. At least, that's what he thought she meant before the
rollercoaster of emotions started.
"Why does it always have to be me?" he said to himself quietly.
As he walked the streets sadly, he found himself in approaching
the small street that the Nekohanten was situated by. He could see
Shampoo sweeping the street and sidewalk in front of the quaint
restaurant. As he approached, Ken ran over the few times that he'd
visited to eat and talk to Shampoo. They'd spoken Chinese just as he
would have if he were at home. It was a comfortable atmosphere that made
him feel at home in the same way he'd feel at home with another Chinese
family. It was nice to speak to someone in a language he was natively
fluent in. Shampoo could understand the slight feeling of displacement
from his own home, since she herself experienced the same thing. Times
were changing, however, and he found himself frequenting the Nekohanten
less and less after becoming more and more friendly with Ukyou. Ken
wondered if it was a good idea being caught here after the incident with
Ukyou. He'd seen how jealous she could be with Ranma.
The thought pierced his mind. Ukyou said she was getting over
Ranma and ready to forget him. Yet she said his name after he kissed her,
and the way she said it was what hurt the most. Ukyou had said Ranma's
name in an almost reverent way, as if it wasn't Ken she'd wanted there,
but Ranma; and that Ken's place there was only to provide some kind of
substitute for him. Ken pondered the thought of being Ukyou's substitute
Ranma, a thought that cut away at his heart violently.
"Might as well head over. It's not like she really cares," he
muttered to himself.
Shampoo waved when she saw Ken pass under the lights close to the
restaurant.
"Ken! It's such a pleasnat surprise to see you!" she said
brightly in Mandarin. "You haven't visited in so long, we thought that
you might have found a better restaurant."
Ken smiled.
"No place serves Chinese like this place, Shampoo."
"You sure?"
Ken laughed.
"Of course."
Shampoo giggled, and her lavender tresses swayed gently as she
laughed.
"Why don't you come in? We just closed, but I can serve you
something to eat. You must be tired of okonomiyaki by now!"
Ken's eyes blurred for a moment at the mention of okonomiyaki.
Shampoo was quick to catch on.
"Something wrong?"
"Not really, it's nothing at all. I just remembered something."
"Well, why don't you take a load off inside and we'll find
something to pick up your spirits. How about it?"
Ken smiled appreciatively.
"Thanks, Shampoo."
She ushered him inside and sat him down at a table close to the
kitchen, the only source of light in the restaurant. She brought out a
pot of tea and two small cups.
"So where's Mousse?"
Shampoo rolled her eyes.
"Mu-mu-chan is in his cage right now. He's being punished for
making another pass at me."
Ken laughed.
"I don't know whether to call him an idiot or a man of great taste
in women," Ken said with a mischievous grin.
Shampoo blushed and playfully slapped Ken's hand.
"Stop that! You're such a tease! You should know that I'm
engaged to Ranma."
Ken's smile abruptly faded.
"What's wrong?" Shampoo asked quickly.
"It's about Ranma."
"Yes? What is it?" Shampoo asked urgently.
"I'm afraid he's chosen a fiance, for keeps this time."
Shampoo's eyes darkened.
"He chose Akane, didn't he?"
"I'm sorry, Shampoo. It hurt a lot of people."
Shampoo gazed sadly into her tea.
"You know, I came to expect it. Even though I knew I was prettier
and a better cook than Akane, she had something I didn't. Even Ukyou
didn't have what it took to win him."
Ken sighed.
"I apologize. I should have kept my mouth shut. It was none of
my business."
Shampoo smiled weakly.
"Better now than later, I guess."
Ken could tell she was on the verge of tears. Suddenly she smiled
impishly.
"You know that you did beat me in combat," She said softly as she
moved her seat closer.
"Whoa, hey! Shampoo, I knew we were getting along as friends
pretty well, but isn't this sudden?"
Shampoo laughed.
"I'm just kidding you oaf!" she admonished with a grin.
Ken smiled thankfully at the chance to lift the mood of the room.
"I was just making a present for Ranma, but since he's out of the
picture, I might as well forget it."
"A present?"
"I wanted to give him a dowry to show I was serious."
Ken nodded appreciatively.
"You never gave him one?" he asked.
"I didn't know about it. We came from a remote village in China
where rules were different."
"You mentioned it before," Ken replied.
"I just thought if I followed the customs here, it might show that
I was more serious on a romantic level rather than something purely
legal," Shampoo finished in Mandarin.
Ken nodded assent.
"Can I ask you a favor?" Shampoo asked suddenly. "It's a small
one. If you don't want to, it's no big deal."
"What is it?" Ken asked.
"I didn't exactly check to see if my present would work for Ranma
and since he's really out of the question now, it's a moot point. Still,
I'm curious to see how well I did with it? Would you mind wearing it?"
"You made him some clothes?"
"No, silly. You'll see. Will you try it?"
Ken smiled. He didn't see the harm in it.
"Sure."
Shampoo left, running into her great grandmother as she went
through the kitchen. Cologne nodded to Ken as she exited the kitchen.
"Shampoo mentioned we had a visitor. It's good to see you again,
Ken. What brings you here tonight?"
"I was just passing through."
Cologne nodded again and sat at the table.
"I could not help but hear you tell Shampoo that Ranma had chosen
a bride. Are you positive it was Akane?"
"Well," Ken began, "Ukyou came back with the news that he'd chosen
Akane; and since she'd been at the dojo that day to speak to Ranma and his
mother, I don't see any reason to doubt her."
Cologne nodded sadly.
"I was afraid something like this would happen. Did Shampoo take
it well?"
Ken nodded.
"Much better than Ukyou. I was afraid she would break down, but
she took it very well. I found it a little odd."
"Shampoo is a strong warrior. She has trained herself to accept
the worst news."
Shampoo interrupted the conversation with her entrance. She held
out a simply gold circlet to Ken.
"I found this in a jewelry store and thought I'd change it to fit
Ranma."
Ken picked up the circlet and his eyes widened at the sudden surge
in ki he felt.
"Will you try it on?" Shampoo asked sweetly.
Ken looked up and stared at Shampoo.
"Where did you get this?" he asked quietly.
"It won't fit?" Shampoo asked sadly.
Ken grit his teeth.
"Why don't you try it yourself?" he hissed. "You plan on forcing
Ranma to marry you, don't you?"
Shampoo looked surprised.
"What are you talking about?" she asked incredulously.
"My great granddaughter has no intention on using this on Ranma,
Ken," Cologne interjected.
Ken turned to face the old woman.
"You know what this is, don't you?" he hissed.
Cologne simply smiled. Ken was about to get up from his seat, but
chains appeared from nowhere to bind him. Cologne deftly flipped her cane
around and tagge him at the base of his neck. Ken thrashed in his seat.
Cologne raised an eyebrow.
"The pressure point didn't work. Perhaps I applied it
incorrectly."
Ken struggled, and successfully broke the chain binding him to his
seat. He rose in fury.
"What's the meaning of this?" he shouted.
Four more chains appeared from the shadows of the restaurant
lashing themselves around him, restraining him. Ken stepped forward, and
pulled on the chains violently. He was rewarded with Mousse's form
stumbling and falling out of the shadows. Shampoo quickly grasped the
circlet and approached him.
"Are you crazy?! Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Ken
shouted as he backed away from her.
"Shampoo knows exactly what she's doing," Cologne said calmly.
"You don't live three hundred years and live to talk about it by making
mistakes. I know what I'm doing."
Ken looked at Cologne in shock. He backed away faster. Chains
shot out from Mousse's robes in an attempt to entangle him. Ken could
only dodge helplessly until his luck ran out and he was tripped before he
could throw himself outside. He watched in horror as Shampoo bent over
him to put the circlet on his head.
"You don't know what you're doing!" he screamed. "You don't know what
horrors you've unleashed! Don't do this, Shampoo! It's wrong! It's all
wrong!"
Cologne simply stared at him impassively.
"Ranma will marry Shampoo. That is the way it will be," she said
plainly as Shampoo secured the circlet around Ken head.
People in the surrounding area were awakened in terror by a
horrendous scream of agony and pain that echoed through the night.

A flash of pain and a primordial cry for help ripped through his
consciousness. The figure silently stood from a quiet vigil next to a
small jade pendant on a raised dais. The figure ran a hand through a
tousled mane of black hair. He straightened the white gi he was wearing
and also the white hakama. A slender woman with flowing gold hair in
white robes ran through the door behind him, stopping by his side.
"Was that it? I felt him crying for help? Was it him?"
The man by the dais stared at the small jade pendant as it flashed
once, twice, and then remained still.
"I heard him crying out for help. It was raw and unfocused.
Something's very wrong."
The lady backed away to arm's length and stared at the man across
from her worriedly.
"You're going after him, aren't you?" she asked quietly.
"Faith, you know that I have to. He's my brother, and the last of
my family left."
"He was shamed by Fate! You know Angela disavowed him publicly.
Would you follow someone so utterly dishonorable into an unknown world
where you might find yourself in danger as well? Ken was a trained Avatar
and he was one of the best men to fight with the sword. You trained with
him, you know his abilities; yet he cries out like an animal wounded and
destined to die. Anything that could have done that could do the same to
you."
"I understand your trepidation," the figure said with a loving
smile, "but he is my brother. You know that your sister would have
disavowed my brother regardless of whether he was dishonorable or not. If
anyone, it was your sister that was acting so low." he said bitterly. The
woman winced.
"Faith," he continued, "I'll be safe. I haven't lived as long as
I have to simply run off and kill myself; and especially after being wed
to the incarnation of Life and Love herself," he finished with a smile.
The gold haired woman's blue eyes twinkled and she laughed a soft
laugh that rang like soft chimes in the air.
"Then go, and find him if you must," she said reluctantly. "But
return home, love. I'm afraid of what might happen to you."
She raised herself on her toes to kiss him softly.
"I'll be back before you know it," he replied softly.
"Andrew," she said as she looked at him with worry again. "You
know that Brutus went after your brother last. What if he was successful
in taking his soul and the combination of Fenrir and Janus? You know that
to have a man as utterly devoid of conscience as Brutus to possess half of
the Four Horsemen will bring nothing but ill will to all he meets."
Andrew turned to look at the pendant again, the sign of good luck
his mother wore before her death.
"Khan isn't dead yet. I just feel it. The cry for help means he
must be alive. There's still that feeling, something pulling at me to go.
If he were dead, I'd just feel some void there." He turned away to look
at his wife again. "Faith, keep an eye out for your sisters. I don't
worry about Haruko. The incarnation of Death is the least of my worries.
I can bargain with your younger sister; but your older sister I'm worried
about."
"I'll keep an eye out for Angela, then. I'll keep her occupied if
anything happens."
Andrew nodded gravely.
"You know what happened the last time she got her mitts into my
older brother. I don't want it to happen again. He's a good man, but too
easily led by his heart."
Faith nodded. Andrew walked out of the room, a wooden staff
materializing in his hand as he walked out the door. She looked above the
door and eyed the symbol of Janus above the frame. It seemed to haze in
her view and switch to that of Doom, and then Ragnarok. A cold feeling
settled in the pit of her stomach, disturbing her violently. She quickly
fled the room, shivering despite the numerous candles and torches that
heated and illuminated the room.

An insistent knock on the door was what jostled Kasumi from her
usual chore of cooking lunch for her father and guests. She turned to
look at Nodoka standing next to her cutting vegetables. The elder Saotome
looked at Kasumi quizzically.
"I don't believe we had guests coming today," Kasumi said plainly.
"Perhaps it's just a salesperson," Nodoka suggested.
Kasumi wiped her hands dry on a towel that hung in her apron
pocket and untied the apron strings behind her back. She tossed the apron
on the counter and made her way to the door. Another knock sounded as she
rounded the bend to the door.
"Please wait a moment," she called out as she undid the latch on
the front door. She heard some shuffling of feet as she opened the door.
"Oh my."
A figure in a white gi and white hakama stood silently with a jo
in his hand, regarding the yard when she opened the door. His black hair
waved slightly as a breeze ruffled it. He turned to look at Kasumi evenly
and smiled a curt smile before bowing stiffly.
"Good afternoon. May I please speak with the head of the
household?" he said in impeccable Japanese. There was a hint of an
American accent.
Kasumi turned from the door and called out to her father.
"Father, a man is here to speak with you."
She turned and ushered him inside.
"Please follow me," she said to the strange gentleman. He bowed
stiffly again and quietly expressed his thanks.
When the two of them reached the low set table overlooking the
yard, Nodoka, Genma, and Soun were sitting enjoying tea. Kasumi motioned
for the stranger to sit and brought him a cup of tea. He nodded his
thanks with a polite smile and set it on the table before him.
"What may I assist you with?" Soun asked with a pleasant smile.
"I see from your clothes that you are a practitioner of the martial arts.
Are you interested in the use of our dojo?"
The stranger shook his head.
"I am not here seeking a hall to train in. Rather, I am here
seeking a particular person."
Soun and Nodoka turned and glared at Genma. He simply raised his
hands defensively and shook his head violently. The stranger continued as
Kasumi joined them with tea of her own.
"I am here in an attempt to find my brother, Chai Tse-Khan. The
energy signature from the Ethereals he possesses ran strongly to this
point here. There was another trail, but that is beside the point. I am
fairly certain he frequented this place. I hope you may know who I am
talking about and can point me in his general direction." As he finished,
the stranger looked evenly at the quartet of people across from him.
"How do we know you aren't someone looking to kill him in a duel
of honor?" Nodoka said suspiciously. The stranger smiled.
"I see my brother has explained his situation. I find it odd that
you listened and accepted his word. While I am intrigued, it is an
irrelevent issue. I apologize for not introducing myself. I am Chai
Tse-Khan's younger brother, Chai Tse-An."
Genma and Soun simply stared at the stranger. Kasumi put a hand
over her mouth, and Nodoka looked evenly at the stranger across from her.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" she asked.
"You can not. You must take my word in this matter and either
assist me in my search or deny me your help. I feel my older brother is
in grave danger and I am here to assist him in any way possible."
Nodoka gazed at the newcomer across from her intently. He looked
a great deal like a younger version of Ken. The hard edge and etched
lines that defined Ken in her mind was absent in the stranger. Yet, she
could feel that this was Ken's brother. They shared the same hair color,
eye color, walking demeanor and manners.
"I feel that we have no choice but to assist you, then. If you
are telling the truth that Ken is indeed in danger, then it would only be
appropriate that we help you," Nodoka replied evenly.
The stranger smiled.
"Thank you. I truly appreciate the gesture. I must ask that we
begin immediately. Please tell me everything you know about his habits
here as well as the way he acted upon his arrival. It would also be
beneficial for you to tell me about your relation with my older brother so
that I may judge how deeply you and your associates may be affected by our
eventual encounter."
Ganma and Soun looked surprised. Kasumi rose and excused herself
to get more tea. Nodoka looked evenly at the person across from her and
nodded solemnly.
"Before we begin, may I ask your name?" the stranger asked.
"My name is Saotome Nodoka. This is Tendo Soun, "she said
indicating to Soun, "and this is my husband Genma," she said pointing at
the nervous figure of her husband.
The stranger bowed to each of them.
"As I said before, my name is Chai Tse-An. My peers and family
call me Andrew. It is a name I find more convenient than my Chinese
name."
Nodoka nodded and began her explanation of everything that had
occurred upon Ken's arrival as far as she knew. Andrew simply listened
intently, nodding assent or smiling in the meantime. Nodoka was about to
explain how she had adopted Ken into the Saotome family when she was
interrupted by two voices rushing in from the front door.
"We're home!" Akane called out.
Ranma barreled into the room and stopped cold when he saw Andrew.
>From his point of view, another Chinese character was emblazoned on the
back of the gi. Akane barreled into him.
"What's the big idea?" she said irritably.
Ranma pointed. Akane looked at him questioningly as Andrew turned
to look at them.
"Who's the new guy?" Ranma asked his mother.
"This is Ken's younger brother, Andrew," she said gesturing.
Ranma both nodded and bowed curtly before sitting by the table.
"Are you here because of Ken?" Akane asked.
Andrew nodded.
"Do you know of what has happened to my brother?" Andrew asked.
Ranma shook his head.
"Absolutely nothing. Something happened between him and Ukyou and
now she can't find him. Sounds pretty serious since we didn't see him at
school and she hasn't seen him since last night," Ranma explained.
"So he's disappeared. Rather typical of my brother," Andrew said
with slight distaste.
Ranma looked at him quizzically.
"He does this a lot?"
"My brother is a rather emotional fellow. Where I am from, it's
frequently joked that he got all the fighting and brute strength of the
family, while I was left with the intellect and resource of the family.
In truth, my brother is actually more emotional than most. It is
something that has been both his salvation and undoing."
Ranma and Akane looked at each other worriedly.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Akane asked tentatively.
"My brother's fighting abilities all stem from his ability to
channel energy by means of emotions. If he feels neutral about a
particular person or does not feel sufficient emotion towards a person,
then he isn't effective in a fight. His natural fighting abilities aren't
enhanced enough for him to fight effectively. Give him something to work
with, such as hate or anger, or even love, and he will surely defeat his
opponent; whatever the cost is to himself. It has proven to be a great
asset in battle, but a great impediment on his personal life. I'm sure he
has expressed such things to you. He has a tendency to do so with people
he finds trustworthy."
Ranma and Akane nodded in assent.
"He pretty much told us everything," Ranma said with a grin.
"Everything? Has he mentioned my existence or the prophecy?"
Ranma and Akane were taken aback. Nodoka looked intently at
Andrew.
"What prophecy? What is going to happen to him?" she asked
intently.
Andrew sighed.
"I doubt Ken would have explained it, but I will do so for your
own safety. Both he and I possess two Ethereals each. Did he explain the
concept?" Andrew asked. Everyone nodded.
"These Ethereals we possess," Andrew continued, "are judged to be
the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This is vastly different from the
Judeo-Christian idea of the Horsemen.
"Ken's part of the four is that of Doom; to be specific, Fenrir
and Janus. Fenrir was the Norse creature that was regarded as the
harbinger of apocalypse. Janus was the Roman deity of doorways, and by
extension, beginnings and endings of journeys. These two incorporate to
form a rather nasty, two-faced, vindictive creation. Luckily this
particular creation is held back easily, if not precariously, by a twisted
sense of honor. To that end, Ken was able to make a pact to ensure his
sanity. If he is in control of himself mentally, then physically he is in
command. If he should become weak mentally, then Doom will take control.
It is a loose pact and one that is questionable in value; but it is the
best we can hope for."
Ranma shook his head.
"So what about you?" he asked impatiently.
Andrew sighed and took a sip of his tea.
"As for me," he continued, "I possess figures you should be aware
of. The two Ethereals that I have achieved equilibrium with are Ida-ten
and Kuan Khong. While Ken manifests Doom, I manifest Salvation. I am by
far the most stable of the both of us, and there is no possibility of
imbalance or inauspicious behavior with me."
"So you two are complete opposites?" Akane asked.
"Precisely," Andrew replied. "We are two sides of one coin, so to
speak. Therein lies the prophecy.
"Ages ago when one person was able to unite the four Ethereals
both my brother and I possess, there was a great cataclysm. He could not
control the united creation of the four, and as a result, he couldn't
control himself. Bringing together the four Etherals caused him to choose
poorly. Before being able to explore each of his options he combined in
favor of Doom, resulting in Ragnarok, or the complete apocalypse. If he
had known that there was a choice perhaps he would not have chosen so
poorly.
"Which leads me to my next point. Ragnarok is the fruition of
Doom's dominance over the four. He represents a righteous anger, ready to
purge all that he sees evil and unfit to exist in one massive cataclysm.
While it is an actual means to an end, destruction of an entire existence
is not an option that most would want to see. On the other hand, should
the four unite in favor of Salvation, then Illumination would result.
Justice and reason prevail in this case. It still embodies a righteous
anger of sorts, but is less destructive in nature. Both achieve the same
ends, but in two vastly different ways."
"So what's the prophecy?" Akane asked.
"The separation of the four was inevitable. All things in
existence reside in balance. Your concept of yin and yang explains it
well. Doom and Salvation are the natural components of the four that
maintain such a balance. However, just as all things existence in
balance, so do the actions that move time forward or backward. To sit in
homeostasis without action means there can be no reaction and all things
would cease to be. Just as Doom and Salvation exist together in balance,
so must they exist in imbalance. Goodness and peace cannot exist without
evil and pain. So it is destined that all four must be combined once
again."
Everyone at the table sat slack-jawed.
"So how do you know if things are going to be good or bad?" Ranma
finally asked.
"Only the Ethereals and Fate know what is in store for us; but
even they see futures that may be and not those that will be. For them,
it is enough to give us indications of what they see. Both Ida-ten and
Kuan Khong have expressed this. Upon receiving the Ethereals, they
recited to me:
For Dark and Light to live apart,
You must take apart the mind and heart.
To fuse them both and thus make one,
Hell's horns must blast and evil won.
But Heaven's bells must also chime!
Love must last the test of time!
One cannot live if the other's gone.
Make whole the four to right what's wrong.
"It is a riddle that I have yet been unable to decipher, as my
brother holds another fragment of the prophecy that is supposed to clarify
our destiny. Has he spoken of it?" Andrew asked.
Ranma shook his head. Akane slowly shook her head as well.
Nobody had heard it.
"I'm sorry, but Ken never expressed such things to us."
"It is a rather dark and shameful part of his life, in his own
opinion. I myself dare not judge for fear of misunderstanding the
message," Andrew replied solemnly.
The opening of the front doors interrupted them. Hurried
footsteps made their way to the room, a voice shouting along the way.
"Ranma! Akane! Everyone! There's fight at Furinkan, and it's
got Ken and Ryouga in the middle of it!" Nabiki cried as she burst into
the room.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Chapter Fourteen

Ken woke up with a headache that was indescribable. He felt the
top of his head. His fingers brushed against the two knobbed ends of the
circlet. It was still there, and it apparently wasn't a dream. He tried
to look about, but noticed that he was in another room; most likely in the
Nekohanten as far as he could tell. It was pitch black, save for a sliver
of dim light that passed under a door. Ken tried to stand up, but a
metallic collar choked him as he attempted to straighten up from his
knees. A sudden chaotic rumbling shot through his mind.
Gleipnir! I won't be fettered like a common dog!
Voices assaulted him from every direction. He fought to reign
them in and bring himself back to a state of control. Weights on his
neck, wrists, waist and ankles brought him back to reality and the
realization that he was completely shackled. He called out to the spirits
in his mind.
Fenrir?
Nothing responded as he probed the recesses of his mind for the
Ethereals that he knew resided there.
Janus?
Once again nothing responded. He supposed the shock of being
shackled brought back too many livid memories of being fettered by
Gleipnir. Just as he thought of the silken thread that bound Fenrir in
legend, he could feel the wolf god murmuring in the back of his mind.
Freedom. Freedom will be mine again, and I will show them all
what revenge means. To be shackled like a common cur! They will see in
time. I will work this fetter as I did Gleipnir, one thread at a time
until I am free. Then... Then I will have my revenge a hundred thousand
times over...
The malevolent voice echoing through his mind sent shivers down
his spine. As the events of the past replayed in his mind, feelings of
despair flooded him. Things were so right with Ukyou. He felt it
reaching a new level when he felt her lips on his. The warmth of her body
pressed up against his, the feeling of want and desire as she wrapped her
arms around him. All the things he desired were brought to him for the
briefest of moments before being rudely taken away again. He felt tears
starting to well up under his eyes. He couldn't tell if it was from
thinking of Ukyou, or if it was the sudden recollection of being chained
again.
Flashes of his memory replayed in his mind as he moved fingers
along the length of chain. Feelings of helplessness filled him. Feelings
of despair encroached upon his conscious mind. He could vividly recall
the feelings of hate and loathing mixed with the taste of his own blood
and bile. His eyes snapped open and glazed over as images of his parents
played before him. Images of his tormentor, the self-proclaimed master of
fate and destiny, taunting him, mocking him, daring him to help his
parents. Then the feeling chains again, those damned chains that bound
him, drained him of his power, drained him of his abilities. The weakness
spreading from his heart to his limbs. Then the sword flashing in view.
Ken could see it again, the black sword that trailed the stench of death
as it arced in the air. His parents staring dumbly at the sword. Ken
struggled against the chains again.
No! Not Again! Not again! Never again, his mind shouted repeatedly.
He kneeled there frozen and transfixed as his mind played the events again
in slow motion. The arc of the sword from ground to sky, and then the
sick sound of fleshing being torn filling his ears. The sick smell of
guts and blood filling his nostrils. The low gagging noise of his father
as he watched his own entrails being thrust in his face. The screams of
terror and pain from his mother as a blade was thrust in her neck and
entering her chest. Then the glint of two blades in the sunlight,
dripping scarlet fluid. The lifeblood of his parents dripping to the
ground made him quake in fear of what would happen inevitably. The
approach of the woman to whom he had pledged his first immortal years.
The sick yellow light of the torches played off the blood and steel,
trailing an arc that met his parents' neck with a sick crunch as bone was
cleaved. Two heads rolled before him, eye's open and afraid, mouths agape
and filled with screams that never sounded. Ken could feel his own throat
lock up, but a sound left his mouth regardless.
A primal scream of denial and terror left him for the second time.
It was raw and hellish in its nature. Denial of a memory. Denial of a
loss. Denial of what he knew he would ultimately become. It resounded in
his own ears for what seemed to be an eternity. He could feel the tears
flowing down his face and he couldn't stop them. He crumpled into a small
ball and rocked himself gently, trying desperately to keep the images from
replaying in his mind; but they did regardless, and they played again and
again. Ken pleaded for the cold comfort of unconsciousness but it never
came.

Shampoo was rudely interrupted from her duties serving people at
the restaurant by a horrendous scream. It sounded animal, and reminded
her of when she had forced the circlet on Ken's head, but it was amplified
a hundred-fold. She dropped the two bowls of ramen she had in her hands
at the sound of it. Customers stared for the briefest of moments before
making for the door, either dropping bills or simply bolting for the door.
"This is truly a development I had not foreseen."
Shampoo turned to look at her great grandmother perched on her
staff at the door to the kitchen.
"I thought I had ordered him to keep his mouth shut," Cologne
continued. "Perhaps my hold on his mind is weaker than I imagine. I
guess I will have to break his will. Perhaps we should check his
performance?"
Shampoo raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" she asked Cologne in Mandarin.
"After a few attempts at controlling his mind last night, I
thought I had a fair idea of its use. I think it would be best to try
this once again with a target."
"I don't understand great grandmother."
"If my plan in to work out the way I want, I must test him against
an actual person. After all, if I am to control Ken in his defeat of
Ranma for the hand of Akane and Ukyou, then I must test this theory to its
fullest."
Shampoo nodded. Her great grandmother's plan had been
straightforward and simple. Defeat the younger Saotome for the right to
take on the dojo. Ken's adoption into the Saotome family made this first
facet possible. Defeat Ranma a second time for the hand of Ukyou, and
defeat Ukyou if necessary. Once both suitors for Ranma's hand were
eliminated, he would have no other choice but to marry her and leave for
China. Ken would remain their servant in the village and the Amazons
would prosper.
Yet, something nagged at the back of Shampoo's mind. It felt
wrong using Ken like a slave. She had kept a safe distance from him by
her great grandmother's wishes, yet found an element of sympathy for the
coerced warrior. Then there was the issue of getting Ranma to marry her.
Cologne had rationalized it as a narrowing of choices. Ranma was such a
gentleman that he refused to break the hearts of the women he knew.
Cologne would simply use Ken to alleviate Ranma of those problems,
allowing him to express his true feelings for Shampoo. Yet, it still
seemed wrong.
Shampoo shook her head and pushed those thoughts aside.
"What are you going to do?" she asked Cologne.
"We will seek out the boy named Ryouga. Word has it that he has
recently stopped at Furinkan in hopes of meeting Ranma. He will be a
formidable opponent for our new friend."
"And what about Mousse? He voiced a great deal of protest when he
saw what you could do with the circlet."
"Mu-mu-chan will remain locked in his cage until I devise a means
of eliminating the problem completely."
Shampoo winced as she heard the last of the statement, but luckily
for her, Cologne had entered the kitchen.
"Fetch our friend from downstairs, Shampoo."
When she opened the door to the impromptu cell, she was met with a
disturbing sight. Ken was curled in the fetal position, his eyes open and
completely unfocused. He had a look of complete fear and agony on his
face. It struck a nerve in her somewhere, but Shampoo quickly shrugged it
away for fear of being seen weak by Cologne.
"Get up," she commanded.
Ken lay still on the ground. Shampoo kneeled to shake him, but at
the contact between them, Ken shot back violently. He cried an inhuman
noise and his chains shook violently as he threw himself away from her.
Just as suddenly, he locked up and his eyes glazed over again.
"Unlock the chains on his ankles and neck"
Shampoo looked over her shoulder to see Cologne on her staff, the
blood red jewel on her middle finger glowing ominously.
"He should pose no problem now," she said bluntly.
Shampoo nodded dumbly and undid the cuffs. Ken simply stood to
his feet like an automon. There was an occasional twitch of his face, but
he otherwise remained standing. A single tear trailed down his left cheek
and splashed to the floor. Shampoo turned back to her great grandmother,
but Cologne was already hopping out the door, with Ken in tow.

Ryouga wondered why he couldn't find Ranma. Crowds or people were
walking about him, causing him to lose his bearings amidst the gathering
of students. He grabbed a nearby student.
"Is this Furinkan High School?" he demanded.
The student, shocked beyond words, could only nod dumbly. Ryouga
pushed him away and tried to make his way to the front doors of the
school. It didn't help him much when he found himself at the front gates.
He grabbed another student anxiously.
"Show me where the front doors to the school are!" he shouted in
frustration.
The student quickly led Ryouga to his desired destination before
running away as fast as he could. Ryouga simply sat on the steps. He
knew Ranma would show up sooner or later, and rather than risk getting
lost again, he would wait. He didn't have to wait long for the fight he
wanted. Unfortunately, it wasn't the right opponent.
"Ryouga," a recognizable voice called to him, "defeat this warrior
and Akane will be yours forever."
Ryouga whirled around.
"Cologne? What do you want?"
Ryouga regarded the old Amazon carefully, as well as the person
standing next to her with a vacant stare. The person's face twitched
once, bringing Ryouga's attention to his face clearly. It looked as
though he was had been crying. Streaks from tears were apparent on his
cheeks and he trembled as if attempting to keep some kind of force bottled
within him. Cologne's voice brought him back to matters at hand.
"This warrior has bested Ranma Saotome in combat and holds Akane
prisoner."
"What?!" Ryouga screamed as he jumped to his feet.
"Yes," Cologne said with a nod, "this person has done that. Ranma
can not defeat him and the person who does will be able to marry Akane.
Rescue Akane and she will be in your debt forever."
A hundred thoughts raced through Ryouga's mind. At first
apprehension and suspicion at Cologne's exposition surfaced, but were
quickly drowned out by thoughts of Akane. He would rescue Akane and she
would love him for it. Ranma had lost and had lost claim to the woman
that he loved. Ryouga would prove himself to Akane and the rest of the
world. Images of Akane smiling and kissing him as a reward for her rescue
flooded his mind.
"I'll do it!" Ryouga shouted. He threw his pack aside and drew
his umbrella. When he looked about, Cologne had disappeared, but that was
the least of his problems. Unknown to him, she had found a suitable
hiding place where she could observe the match.
"Prepare to die, fiend!" Ryouga proclaimed, and began running full
tilt at Ken. People around them scattered.
From her hiding place, Cologne concentrated and flooded Ken's mind
with her will. From anyone else's view, Ken suddenly doubled over,
screaming in pain, clutching at the circlet in a mad attempt to pry it
off. Ryouga stopped, completely thrown off by Ken's behavior. Cologne
grimaced and concentrated harder, imposing her will on Ken's. She could
feel his mind retaliating, desperately trying to fight the pain; but in
the end, the flood of images of shackles and the paranoid sensation of
imprisonment gave Cologne the edge she needed to force Ken to do her
bidding.
Ryouga stood dumbly as Ken simply writhed in pain and screamed in
fear of some unknown enemy. Ken's body shook violently, and Ryouga
kneeled down to look closer at Ken, leaning on his umbrella. Ken's
convulsions slowed to a halt and he brought himself to a crawling
position. His head snapped up, and he made eye contact with Ryouga.
Ryouga yelped and doubled back in surprise at the feral, uncontrolled look
in Ken's eyes. They were raw and unfocused. Ryouga knew he wasn't
dealing with anything human.
Ken snarled and lunged forward, swinging hands curled like claws.
Ryouga brought his umbrella up to block. Ken grabbed the umbrella and
both fought to a standing position, each gasping on end of the umbrella.
He's strong, Ryouga thought to himself. Stronger than Ranma!
Ken simply snarled and screamed something incoherently. Ryouga
saw an electric charge arc through Ken's hands and through the umbrella.
He didn't have time to release the umbrella and he was caught by the
shockwave of energy. Ryouga screamed in pain as he felt the power course
through his body and into the ground. It blew him back a number of steps,
causing him to lose balance.
What the hell was that, he screamed in his mind amidst the
flashing lights he saw. Ryouga didn't have time to regain his balance as
Ken's fist shot out connecting with Ryouga's face. Another fist met
Ryouga's stomach. As he went down, Ryouga could make out a knee heading
for his gut. He braced himself as best he could, but the impact was too
strong. A rabbit punch to his back brought him to his knees and coughing
blood. A kick to his ribs sent him sprawling.
Ryouga's mind was swimming and he could see multiple images of Ken
as he walked to where Ryouga stood. As he staggered to his feet, Ryouga
quickly went on the defensive.
"Bakusai Tenketsu!"
Ryouga could feel the shockwave from the ki maneuver. Gravel and
rocks were thrown into the air and a dustcloud was raised from the ground.
Ryouga shook his head to clear the dizziness only to see Ken barreling
through the cloud of dust, his clothes shredded. Ryouga never had time to
block the fist that impacted his face. He heard a sick popping noise and
his jaw exploded in pain. Ryouga fell to the ground clutching his jaw and
spitting blood. Ken stood above him, the vacant look still in his eyes.
His clothes were torn and shredded from the breaking point technique.
There were cuts that bled, but Ken still looked unfazed. There was a
malevolent grimace on his face. Ryouga backed away stumbling as he did.
Ken simply looked him impassively.
Ryouga pushed his jaw back into place painfully. The loud pop and
bright stars Ryouga saw dancing in front of his eyes told him his jaw was
back in place. Feelings of despair and futility welled up in Ryouga.
This enemy was inhuman. Ryouga hadn't even gotten in a single punch
during the match. It thoroughly disgusted him and depressed him. As the
feelings of depression and helplessness filled him, he gathered his ki in
one massive outburst. Ryouga could feel the power building from his anger
and pain. It was the worst he'd ever felt, and it was going to be the
largest explosive outburst he had ever managed. Ken jumped back a number
of steps as he saw the massive buildup of energy swirling around Ryouga's
body and focusing in his hands.
"Shishi Houkoudan!" Ryouga screamed. A huge shockwave ripped out
from his hands and Ryouga felt his own body being pushed back.
Ken shouted something Ryouga could barely make out, making an
impressive swirling vortex between his own hands. Ryouga could barely
believe his eyes as he saw the wave of energy from the ki blast being
sucked into the vortex in Ken's hands. From her hiding place, Cologne
smiled broadly. Her plan was working for better than she imagined.
Ken lowered his arms as blue lightning arced around him, from his
body to the ground. Sparks jumped between his arms and his body. An
occasional arc jumped between his eyes. Black tendrils seemed to wind
around his body between the arcing electricity and swirl in hypnotic
patterns around Ken's body. Ryouga could see Ken's body shaking as the
energy from the Shishi Houkoudan coursed through his veins.
"Ryouga!"
Ryouga instinctively whirled around at the sound of Akane's
voices. Through the red haze that covered his eyes, he could make out
Akane and Ranma running into the front gates. The entire Tendo and
Saotome families followed close behind. Even Tofu-sensei was there, but
an unfamiliar figure accompanied them. Ryouga didn't have time to ponder
the situation when Ken's voice ripped through the silent void.
A hoarse cry erupted from Ken's lip and a column of lightning
seemed to erupt into the air. An enormous wave of hot air radiated from
Ken's position forcing everyone around him to brace themselves. As the
bolts of electricity played off his body, Ken's clothes seemed to burn
away leaving new clothes behind. A loose black jumpsuit and dark bodysuit
covered him. A black chestplate seemed to materialize with the clothes on
his torso. A dark green circle with unfamiliar calligraphy flared
prominently on the center of the armor with the column of lightning. As
soon as the column of energy dissipated, Ken held his hands forward as if
grasping something.
"Long-Tzu!" Ryouga heard him shout.
Everyone watching as a sword in it's scabbard materialized in the
same fashion the armor and clothes had, but another wave of wave of hot
air erupted outwards. When Ryouga was able to take his arms away from
shielding his face, he could see Ken holding the sword horizontally before
him, blue lightning arcing off the sword and onto his outstretched arms.
The expression on his face was far from friendly, and the vacant look in
his eyes remained.
Ryouga fell to his knees, dumbstruck by the turn of events. He
watched in horror as Ken took the sword in his right hand, flicking his
wrist and imbedding the scabbard into the ground with a coarse 'thunk.'
Ken gripped the hilt with both hands, pointing the blade downwards. Ken's
face contorted in rage and with a cry, he plunged the sword into the
ground. Ryouga made out the words "rolling thunder" before Ken and the
sword flashed again. Lightning seemed to defy nature by spewing forth
from Ken's body and the blade, snaking across the ground towards him at a
dizzying speed. The ground in its path churned and flew about in bits as
it was ripped apart. Ryouga could feel the wall of air blowing him back
as the lightning made its way to him at an alarming rate. He closed his
eyes and threw his arms up in a desperate attempt to block. The lightning
hit his body blowing him off his feet and throwing him into the wall of
the school. Before he could even open his eyes, he could feel Ken's foot
plant itself in his gut. Ryouga doubled over only to have his head
snapped back by a knee to his jaw. Another kick to the side of his head
dropped him to the ground.
"Ken! No!"
Ukyou's voice cutting through the loud buzzing noise in his head
brought Ryouga back to the brink of consciousness. Ryouga painfully
opened his eyes to see Ken poised above him with his sword drawn and ready
to strike. The blow would have taken his head without a doubt, but Ken
had paused with a terrified look on his face. Ukyou quickly ran between
Ryouga and his assailant.
"What are you doing?!" she screamed. "Why are you attacking
Ryouga? What has he done to you? Can't you see this is wrong?!"
Ken stood impassively, slowly lowering his sword. The vacant,
glazed look in his eyes slowly dissipating.
"Ukyou?" he finally managed in a hoarse whisper.
"It's me, Ken-chan. Please stop this. It isn't right. Come back
to the restaurant. Just do it for me. Please?" Ukyou could feel tears
streaming down her face. She could feel something painful coming from Ken
and it hurt her seeing him so agonized.
Ken's sword fell to the ground, imbedding itself in the concrete
in front of the school with a coarse, grating sound. His hands trembled
as he saw the blood on them, blood he'd beaten out of Ryouga.
"Why did I do this? Why can't I control myself?" he whispered
painfully. Ken's face turned into a mask of pain. His eyes locked with
Ukyou's as trembling hands reached out to grab her shoulders.
"Ukyou," he managed through clenched teeth, "I can't stop this.
Someone-"
Ukyou grabbed Ken as he crumpled to his knees, interrupted in
mid-sentence by a cry of pain. Ken's eyes shut tightly as he began
clawing at the circlet, screaming in pain and agony the entire time.
Ukyou's heart broke. She cradled his rocking body as he kept screaming
until his voice was reduced to a hoarse whisper. A gentle hand on her
shoulder surprised Ukyou.
"Please let me handle this," a soothing voice told her. She
looked up to see someone easily confused with Ken standing next to her.
His white gi and white hakama rustled as he kneeled next to her.
"I think you're needed with the young man behind us," he finished.
Ukyou turned to see Ranma and Akane tending to Ryouga, and trying
to find a way to safely move him away from Ken. She looked at the
stranger and nodded.
"Please help him, whoever you are," she whispered. The figure she
couldn't recognize nodded.
"My brother will soon be in capable hands," he said.
Cologne cursed silently to herself. Ken was supposed to finish
the job. The okonomiyaki girl had ruined things. She couldn't understand
how she had done it, but Ukyou had broken the link. Cologne could feel a
sudden surge from Ken's mind when he saw and heard Ukyou. It completely
severed the link to him for a split second, allowing him to regain control
of himself for a fleeting moment. Cologne concentrated and flooded Ken's
mind with her will once again to reassert the link. Her attempts were
immediately rewarded with Ken reacting violently. Unfortunately, a
stranger had entered and Cologne had a bad feeling about it. She couldn't
tell whether he was going to impede her plans or expedite them.
Andrew crouched over his older brother looking at the circlet
curiously. He'd seen it somewhere before, but couldn't place a finger on
it. It was an upsetting feeling. Andrew knew that he could remember it,
but it still escaped him. He stood up frustrated. Whatever it was, it
emanated an extremely strong energetic signature as well as a single line
of energy. Andrew concentrated to see the trail from the circlet clearly.
His gaze slowly followed it as it led directly into a tree. He was about
to move there, but was interrupted by people behind him.
"Do you think you could give us a hand?" Akane asked impatiently.
Andrew turned around to see Ranma and Ukyou supporting a makeshift
stretcher with Ryouga on it.
"It's not like he's the lightest person in the world," Akane said
irritably.
Andrew frowned. This wasn't what he expected.
"I have more pressing matters at hand," he replied tersely.
Akane was about to fire a remark back at him, but saw Ken rise to
his feet behind Andrew.
"Ken?" she asked hesitantly. She looked to Ranma and Ukyou and
knew that they felt as apprehensive as she was.
Ken simply stood up, all the while staring at his feet. His hand
reached out to grasp his sword's handle and pulled it from the ground in
one fluid motion. His head snapped to attention and everyone
instinctively backed up a step. The vacant look was in his eyes again and
he snarled. The sword snapped to attention. Andrew instinctively brought
his jo to attention as well.
"Ken, listen to me if you're still in there. This is completely
wrong and you know it. Fight whoever or whatever is controlling you!
Fight whatever it is and try to free yourself!"
Ken's eyes shifted in and out of focus. Andrew took the
opportunity to strike Ken's wrist, forcing him to drop the blade. Ken was
about to strike again when a flurry of shells and explosions rocked around
them. Smoke filled his eyes and acrid gas filed his nose. He heard
Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou gasping for breath behind him. Andrew backed a
step before striking his jo to the ground. A whirlwind shot out from his
position blowing away the smoke and obnoxious fumes. When it all cleared,
Ken was gone. Only the craters, torn concrete, and burn marks along the
ground showed he was there moments ago.

Shampoo watched emotionlessly as Cologne dispassionately led Ken
back into his makeshift cell. Cologne simply locked him in place and
stared at him for a great length of time.
"Do you believe that this will work?" Cologne asked the young
Amazon in their native tongue.
Shampoo nodded.
"Do you believe that this will work because I say it will be?"
Cologne asked.
"I believe it will work because I know that Ranma loves me,"
Shampoo replied.
"Do you truly believe that?"
"Yes, of course I do. What else would I have to hold on to, if
not Ranma's love?"
"Do you know why I chose to use this artifact on our young friend
here?" Cologne asked as she turned and pointed at Ken's chained and locked
form in the corner.
Shampoo shook her head.
"If I ued this device on the younger Saotome, do you think his
love would be genuine? If I made him say that he loved you, would that be
true love?"
Shampoo winced and shook her head slowly.
"It wouldn't be true love then," she said softly.
"But what if Ranma admitted to it as a choice. Suppose Ranma
chose to say that he loved you. Would that be true love?"
"If it isn't forced. Shouldn't it be true love?" Shampoo asked in
return.
Cologne nodded her head.
"But why are you using it on Ken?"
"I don't know how it would work on someone like Ranma. You have
seen for yourself how powerful Ken's abilities are. I would imagine he is
more powerful than Ranma currently is; yet in spite of this, Ken has one
of the most delicate minds I have ever come up against. He is neither
extremely cunning nor is he devious. Ken acts directly and does so
because he feels it is right. He is easily manipulated into doing things
and is easily befuddled by those of us with a higher intellect."
"What is your point?" Shampoo asked.
"Would you allow such a person to wander in society? What if he
should fall in with the wrong kind of people? People that would use him
and manipulate him into doing things that would threaten the safety of
innocent people?"
Shampoo was taken aback.
"Of course not! Someone could get hurt."
"But what if you could use your own knowledge of what is right and
what is just to guide him in his behavior to act productively?"
"Then I would do so," Shampoo replied matter-of-factly.
"Precisely. I use this device on Ken because it would be wrong to
use it on Ranma. I am also helping to guide Ken's behavior so that it is
productive to the Amazon society, and ultimately for him."
Shampoo nodded in assent with a smile.
"You are very wise great grandmother."
"Thank you, child. Please go upstairs and finish cleaning the
kitchen with Mousse."
"Why are you allowing Mousse to work again?"
"Because it would be unwise to allow him to sit as a duck
unproductively."
"You know that he acts strangely around you and the artifacts."
"He is merely jealous that he did not think of this as quickly as
I did. I sometimes worry about Mousse's motives. However, he is a useful
tool in the restaurant. I have made sure that he will not bother us."
Shampoo smiled and bounced up the stairs. Cologne turned back to
her guest and held out the bracelet and ring. The ruby flared briefly as
she uttered a single word in Chinese.
"Xin!"
Ken's eyes snapped open and he grit his teeth in pain. As he
gripped at the circlet, clawing like a madman, he unleashed a primal
scream of terror. Shampoo stopped in mid-step up the stairs, glanced once
over her shoulder and quickly made her way back up the stairs. When she
reached the top of the stairs, Shampoo quickly shut the door behind her.
Her eyes met with Mousse's and he looked beyond her at the door.
"You heard it as well?" he asked in Mandarin.
"It is of no importance to you," Shampoo replied haughtily.
"Is it? What do you think the old woman is doing down there? It
couldn't possibly be exchanging pleasantries with Ken."
"Why should you care? Are you jealous you didn't have the chance
to use the circlet when you could?"
Mousse frowned.
"You think I would stoop to mind control to gain what I want?"
"You would stoop to many things," Shampoo replied tersely.
"You realize the old witch is torturing the poor man."
"How would you know what great grandmother is doing down there?"
"Why else would Ken scream in such agony?"
Shampoo was at a momentary loss for words.
"It is Ken's own nightmares that agonize him. The circlet allows
great grandmother to unlock the demons from his mind so that she can guide
him to a more productive manner."
Mousse laughed sardonically.
"Do you truly believe that?"
"It is the truth!" Shampoo retorted.
"Do you know what that device is?"
Shampoo was once again at a loss for words.
"It's a magical artifact that controls the person who wears it by
inflicting pain when they resist and possessing their minds when they
don't! How else do you think a simple scholar could control someone as
powerful as the Monkey King!"
"That's just a story," Shampoo said curtly.
"Is it? Then tell me what that thing down there is. Is that just
as much a story as the Monkey King?"
Shampoo clenched her fists.
"Why are you saying such things?!" Shampoo demanded furiously.
She wanted to belt him across the room, but something else in the recesses
of her mind held her back.
"Because Cologne is manipulating you, just like she will
manipulate Ranma into marrying you."
"That's a lie!"
"Is it? Then why else would Cologne have Ken thrash Ryouga within
an inch of his life?"
Shampoo's eyes widened in shock.
"That's not true!"
"Then why were people saying that Ryouga was nearly killed today
by some unknown martial artist? Why would they say he was wearing black
armor and wielded a katana that shot lightning? Do you think that comes
around every day?"
"Why would great grandmother do such a thing?"
"She's using Ken to bait Ranma and everyone else. So long as
there are people that oppose her idea of a perfect union between you and
Ranma, she will use Ken to kill them. That in itself is wrong!"
"Ryouga never stood between me and Ranma."
"But he posed a potential health hazard to Ranma. Do you think
Ranma can win every fight he has?"
"Ranma is the best fighter there is! And why should you care?
You profess your desire to kill my fiance as much as Ryouga! Do you think
your threats aren't heard as often as Ryouga's?"
Mousse blushed.
"My abilities are far below that of Saotome. I must resort to
subterfuge and concealed weapons to deal with him at an appropriate level.
Add to that my problems with my eyesight, and I come up very short
compared to your Ranma. I pose no threat to Ranma at all."
Shampoo stared at how low Mousse had humbled himself.
"What do you think great grandmother will do with Ken?"
"I think Cologne will use Ken to kill all of Ranma's other
fiances. That would leave Ranma with no fiances. Ken will fight Ranma
and Ranma will choose between living and marrying you. If Ranma doesn't
choose to marry you, then Ken will marry you under the pretense of besting
you in combat as well as Ranma. Cologne will continue to control him
until she dies, at which point she will probably program Ken to do what
she wants even after she's dead."
Shampoo was shocked.
"How can you say such things?"
"Are you blind? Are you so blinded by your adoration of your
great grandmother that you can't see how simple this is? I can say such
things because it is true. Years of being forced to rely on my wits to
survive have taught me to see things with my mind and not my eyes. This I
can see all too clearly!"
"You must be lying," Shampoo stammered in response. She wanted to
believe her great grandmother, but Mousse seemed so sure of himself; and
it explained everything so clearly to her.
"You're lying," Shampoo whispered. There was little conviction in
her voice.
As if in response, another agonized scream ripped through the
Nekohanten.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Chapter Fifteen

"Is he going to make it?" Akane asked anxiously.
Dr. Tofu pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose and wiped
his brow. He looked evenly at the people gathered around him. Ranma and
Akane stood holding hands in either a show of affection or support. Soun,
Nodoka, and Genma stood behind them stoically. Nabiki was talking on the
phone while Kasumi tended to an extremely shocked Ukyou. Ken's brother
simply stood gazing out a window in deep thought.
"Ryouga will make it, but he's been hurt very badly. I've never
seen techniques using ki to damage a person so specifically," Dr. Tofu
replied.
Ranma and Akane sighed in relief. Though the adults never made a
sound, Ranma and Akane knew their parents were relieved as well.
"Thank you so much, Tofu-sensei," Akane said with a grateful
smile.
"Save your thanks for your friend there. Whatever he gave Ryouga
slowed down the damage caused by Ken's ki attacks."
Ranma and Akane turned to look at Andrew pensively. He turned to
meet their gaze. Andrew nodded once before turning to look out the window
again.
"Do you know what's wrong with Ken?"
Andrew turned to look evenly at Akane as she walked up to him,
followed by Ranma. Ukyou turned to gaze at him as well. All eyes turned to
regard him.
"I only have the faintest of ideas," he said heavily. Andrew
sighed deeply.
"Before Ken disappeared from our home, he had been disavowed. I'm
sure you all know that," he said quietly.
Ranma and Akane nodded.
"Immediately after being disavowed, a longtime rival of his
challenged him to a duel of honor," Andrew continued. "Brutus was a savage
fool that cared nothing about honor. It was merely a means for him to try
to obtain the power that my brother had harnessed from the Ethereals that
he possessed, as well as the sword, Long-Tzu.
"Before Brutus disappeared into a void of his own creation, he
mentioned during one of his usual rants of bravado that he was going to
kill Ken without having to use his own sword. Apparently, Brutus boasted
that he had a device that was only the stuff of myth and folklore. Such a
device was described in the chronicles of The Monkey King, a story
frequently told to children."
Dr. Tofu nodded.
"I believe I've heard the story once or twice before," he replied.
Andrew nodded.
"Do you remember how the Monkey King was reigned in from his
wanton behavior?" he asked the doctor.
"If I recall, a pilgrim was given a helmet that could control the
Monkey King."
Andrew nodded again.
"As the story goes, an iron helmet was used to control the
disruptive behavior of the Monkey King by inflicting pain whenever the
Monkey King did anything wrong. The control of this helmet was passed to
the religious scholar making a pilgrimage to India; but it was never
mentioned in his recollection of the journey, and the Monkey King was
simply relegated to a story with the factual figure included in it.
"Brutus professed to having discovered the device after butchering
a small religious enclave in Tibet. My guess is that Brutus was planning
on forcing Ken to commit seppuku using the artifact. Fortunately, my
brother was able to beat Brutus first."
"So what does that have to do with Ken?" Ukyou asked quietly.
"Whoever has the artifact now has employed it. I believe Ken's
behavior was caused by the device."
Andrew turned to Ukyou.
"You said he was wearing a gold circlet," he said.
Ukyou nodded.
"I also saw the gold circlet around his head," Andrew affirmed. "I
believe this is the device that Brutus was speaking of. Somehow someone
else was able to procure the circlet and use it on my brother. My guess is
that Ken had no idea the device actually existed for him to be fooled into
putting it on so easily. On the other hand, my brother is usually a
paranoid sort. Something must have affected him in such a way as to act
recklessly."
Ukyou bit her lip and looked at the ground.
"Moreover," Andrew continued, "I noticed that when he saw you,
Ukyou, he was able to temporarily break the line of force that controlled
him. I need to know what you did to him."
All eyes turned to Ukyou.
"I don't know. I just stood there, trying to get him to stop
acting so insane," she said quietly.
"What is your relation to my brother?" Andrew asked quietly.
"I gave him a job at my restaurant and a place to stay," Ukyou
replied.
"I see. Is there anything else?"
Ukyou shook her head.
"Ken's fighting ability stems from his ability to find strong
emotions and use them against his opponent. If he feels nothing, he can do
nothing," Andrew said frankly.
"What does that have to do with me?" Ukyou asked indignantly.
"Surely my brother feels differently about you than others if you
were able to help him break the mind control."
"I don't understand."
"Ken is my brother, and I was only able to hold off the effects of
mind control on him long enough for me to disarm him and allow him to
fight whoever or whatever was possessing him."
"So?"
"I'm the only family he has left. Both he and I care very deeply
for the safety of our family. He would lay down his life to save mine if
necessary. Would he do the same for you?"
Ukyou flushed.
"He's a martial artist. Isn't that in some book of honor?"
"No, it isn't. Ken acts the way he does because he feels it is
right. Would it have been right for him to hand you his life on a silver
platter?"
"What are you getting at?"
"I think you know," Andrew replied quietly. "He must think very
highly of you to place you at a level near that of his own family. He
cares a great deal about you, doesn't he?"
Ukyou broke down.
"Yes, he does," she said quietly. "I knew he loved me after he
started working in the restaurant, and acting so nice to me. He was always
there when I needed him. I guess I fell in love with him," Ukyou replied
with a small smile. Andrew nodded.
"But I don't know if he cares anymore. I've hurt him so badly."
"Can you tell me what happened?" Andrew asked. "Perhaps I can
help."
"We were taking a walk together and it was so perfect," Ukyou said
with a wry smile. Tears trickled down her cheeks and she took a second to
sniff away other tears and wipe the salty trails on her face away.
"I don't even know why I'm telling you this," she continued,
shaking her head sadly.
"You're telling me this because it could help change things,"
Andrew said firmly.
Ukyou looked at him and nodded.
"I guess we both knew how we felt about each other, and one thing
led to another and we started kissing," Ukyou said with a blush. "It felt
so perfect, just like a dream."
Ranma fidgeted nervously when Ukyou's eyes met his. She turned
back to look evenly at Andrew.
"I guess I ruined it when I said Ran-chan's name. I couldn't help
it. It was something I always wanted from him, but then I couldn't stop
thinking about Ran-chan. He took it so badly."
"How can you blame the guy?" Nabiki said flatly.
"Nabiki!" admonished Akane.
"She's right," Ukyou said lamely. "It's all my fault." She hung
her head in shame.
"Ukyou, do you truly care about Ken? Deep in your heart do you
find love for my brother or some substitute for someone or something you
always wanted?"
Ukyou looked at Andrew questioningly.
"What do you mean? Why?"
"If you truly love my brother, then there will be a way to help
him."
Ukyou bit her lower lip as Andrew looked at her intently. She
gazed about the room, only to find everyone looking at her.
"What if I don't know?" she asked timidly.
"Search your heart. Love isn't something you don't know about.
When I married my wife, there wasn't a gray area involved. We knew we
loved each other. That was all that needed to be said about it.
"Ukyou, you either love my brother, or you don't."
Andrew raised a hand before Ukyou could protest.
"Go home and sleep on it. I must return to the dojo to prepare for
another encounter with my brother. We will call you when we need you; but
if you should find an answer, then come find me."
Ukyou nodded sadly.
Andrew turned to the door.
"I apologize for the disturbance this has caused. There are some
things that should never have come to pass with regards to my brother. If
you see him or meet him again, do not interfere with his behavior. It may
only incite further harm upon him or you. I must meditate on this issue."
As he left the clinic, all eyes turned to Ukyou. She simply stood
up and cast a final glance at Ranma and Akane before leaving.

Ukyou sat alone in her restaurant, gazing at the grill. The
darkness of the night was encroaching upon the dining area. Only the pale
light from the streetlights and the moon cascading into the restaurant
provided any light. The pale halos played off the tables as the occasional
car passed through sending small beacons through the restaurant. She gazed
at the grill with a faraway look with a cup of tea, long since cold, in
her hands. As she gazed at the grill thoughtfully, images of playful
conversations and jest played before her. Images of Ranma talking and
laughing with her as she cooked him special okonomiyaki, with small hearts
on them, flew by; closely followed by images of her providing much needed
consolation after those intense fights he had with Akane during their
rough relationship. Each scene played out in turn, the words barely
audible, but the laughter and joy and the feeling of love and acceptance
were there.
As Ukyou watched the scenes unfold, Ranma seemed to disappear.
Instead a friendly, thoughtful waiter took his place. She watched herself
share jokes and stories about themselves, as well as laughter and pain.
Ukyou blinked as she watched the two dream people stand by each other
closely, enjoying the simple company of the other. As if on cue, her dream
self and the imaginary Ken gazed at each other before embracing the other,
both saying words that she couldn't hear, but could plainly make out.
"I love you," she watched them say to each other. It felt strange
watching them share those feelings, but she knew it had to happen. She
blinked once and found the images gone. She stood from her seat and placed
the cup of tea on the counter and sighed as she gazed out the windows. As
she walked towards the stairs she thought to how Akane had told her how
well Ken matched her. She had denied it at the time, but as she thought
about it, the more comfortable it felt.
Ukyou walked towards her room, her mind still cluttered by her
thoughts of both Ranma and Ken. She opened the door to her room and a
stiff breeze rustled her hair. As she gazed into the darkness of her room,
she could see Ranma walking towards her. He had a smile on his face and he
reached out to her. Ukyou instinctively reached out to him. His hand took
hers and she felt an electrifying tingle shoot up her spine as his hand
caressed hers.
"I love you," she heard him say. Ukyou smiled. It was just like a
dream. Nobody was going to interrupt them. This was time they would share
together, alone and completely open with one another. No family members to
interrupt them, no perverts, no impromptu splashes of cold water, and most
of all, no Akane. Ukyou's eyes focused on Ranma as he stood there smiling
to her. Akane wasn't there. No matter how much she wanted Ranma and cared
for him, she didn't love him like she used to. The reality of Ranma and
Akane loving each other was too much. Ranma never loved her the way she
wanted him to; and she couldn't love Ranma that way anymore. She watched
Ranma blur, but couldn't tell if it was from her own tears welling up from
inside. Ukyou hastily blinked and things had changed.
It was Ken that stood before her, holding her hand. Everything
suddenly changed. The warmth of his hand made her feel secure and wanted.
She stepped to him and felt strong arms wrap around her lovingly. It felt
real to her and it felt like it was destined to be that way. For Ukyou, it
was beyond a dream come true. Here was a man that loved no other and would
love no other woman as long as he lived. Ken comforted her when she needed
comfort, rather than trying to lighten the mood with a silly joke. The
warmth from his heart was the kind that came from love rather than
friendship. A fire burning deep in his heart had spread to hers and it
burned fiercely. Ukyou stared up into Ken's eyes and she saw him look at
her with only love, unconditional love. It brought tears to her eyes. She
hastily blinked them away and found herself alone in her room again, her
arms wrapped around herself for warmth. The window was open, allowing a
stiff breeze indoors, but she didn't feel the least bit cold.
A smile worked its way to Ukyou's face, as things became clear.
Ken loved her and she loved him in return. She may have loved Ranma, but
it was over. There was only one man in her life again; someone who would
gladly lay his own life down for her. As Ukyou left hurriedly for the
Tendo dojo, she prayed that it would not come to that.

Ranma was preparing to go to bed in the dojo as usual when he felt
the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He turned and looked about
the dojo, then walked to the doorway. As Ranma peered out into the
darkness outside, he felt a chill wind blow past him. He looked into the
sky and noticed the stars blinking amidst a sea of black clouds. They
swirled in the sky slowly blacking it out. Ranma couldn't make out the
moon, but remembered that it was time again for a new moon. There would be
no moon tonight. As he reached a tentative hand out, he felt the first
few drops of rain. A low rumbling noise filled his ears as it made its
way softly through the atmosphere. He cursed his ill luck and quickly ran
into the house. Something was about to happen.

Ken sat in his cell, chained and tired. Mental exhaustion was
quickly becoming physical exhaustion. The mental torture Cologne was
putting him through to break his will was becoming increasingly more
violent. She would come every hour for a few minutes, trying to probe his
mind for traumatic events and then replayed them repeatedly, each time
adding to the violence and bloodshed that disgusted him. The images
replayed themselves many times after she left. She always accompanied it
with the taunting and the provoking that pushed the right buttons. It made
him more and more angry, but she always made sure the chains were felt. It
drained him of the ability to do anything. The chains were always there.
The more he thought about the more the chains and cuffs around his body
seemed to choke him, to restrain him.
Like a common dog.
The voice resonated in his mind again. The voices were becoming
more and more frequent, and more and more intense. Ken knew what it was
and for the first time, simultaneously welcomed it and feared it. He
hadn't eaten since he'd been imprisoned. Bread and water was offered, but
he refused, choosing to starve rather than accept any quarter from his
captors.
I will be free. We will be free. We will show them the true nature
of apocalypse. Chaos and destruction will reward those who seek to bend us
to their will.
The voice maintained the repetitive tone. It was flat and
monotonous, but in a psychotic way. It was almost hypnotizing in its
monotony. Ken closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind of the cobwebs
that exhaustion produced. He could feel his hands pulling on the chains,
testing them for any weakness; a habit he developed within the first few
hours of being a conscious captive. It replaced the vivid flashbacks of
his parents being murdered. It replaced the memories of being disavowed
from his clan. It replaced a great many thing. His hands finished
searching the chains and repeated themselves instinctively. There was a
weakness in the chains and he would find it.
The sudden flood of light from the doorway interrupted his habit.
Ken shielded his eyes and backed into a corner.
"Stay still! I am here to help you," a voice commanded in a
whisper.
Ken saw the light dim as the door was quietly shut. There was the
sound of hands searching the floor before meeting the chains that bound
Ken. Suddenly he found a hand grasping his shoulder.
"I hope you remember me."
"You're Mousse," Ken replied weakly.
"Good. I'm here to help. I think I've got the key that will unlock
the chains. I can't remove the circlet I'm afraid; but I will do as much
as I can to help you otherwise."
Ken could hear Mousse fumbled with a key, searching for the locks
that kept Ken chained. Mousse cursed quietly.
"Damn these glasses! If only my eyesight were better."
"I've got plenty of time," Ken replied with a weak laugh.
"I think I've got it!" Mousse said triumphantly.
Light flooded the room as the door was thrown open. Mousse
recoiled in surprise.
"Water?!" Mousse exclaimed in surprise.
Ken felt himself doused with water as Mousse tried to duck behind
him.
"You missed old crone!" Mousse crowed.
As Ken's eyes adjusted to the light, he saw Cologne perched atop
her staff with Shampoo standing next to her. There was an empty pail in
Shampoo's hand. Both looked very displeased.
"Mousse! What do you think you're doing?!" Shampoo shouted.
"I'm doing what's right! I'm not going to let you use Ken like a
puppet for your own ends, Cologne. I know what you're planning!"
"Do you?" Cologne replied casually. "Could you have planned this?"
Cologne raised the gem and her eyes narrowed. Ken recoiled in pain
and agony. Shampoo took a step forward. Mousse took a step back and found
himself in a corner.
"You're trapped Mousse. Give up now and we might not punish you
for this infringement."
"And then what?" Mousse shot back. "You go on to destroy
everyone's lives with your new toy? What you plan on doing will only ruin
everything!"
"On the contrary, the Amazons can only benefit from this."
"You mean you will benefit from this. You know Ken will be forced
to kill Ranma. You know that you're using Shampoo for breeding fodder, and
you know that your honor and everything you hold dear with the Amazons
will be taken away if Shampoo comes back empty handed!"
Cologne shook in fury.
"Insolent wretch! You think this is purely for my own gain? You're
as misguided as you are blind! Ken, kill him!"
Mousse shot a glance at Ken nervously. Ken stood shakily on his
feet. His eyes were focused with complete hatred.
"No," he growled.
"Your tenacity is admirable, but utterly futile," Cologne replied
casually. She focused again causing Ken to go down on one knee. Mousse
watched in horror as Ken's clenched fists started glowing and emanated
light like bright spheres. Ken rose to his feet and violently turned
lashing out with both fists. Mousse steeled himself for the end. He felt
the hands whiz by him and his eyes flew open. There was a loud explosion
and he felt debris and a cloud of dust blow into the room from behind him.
A foot planted itself firmly in his gut, throwing him off balance and
outside.
"Mousse! Seek out my brother! He was with the Tendos when I fought
the boy at Furinkan. Seek him out and tell him everything you know! He
will help you!" Ken shouted out before doubling over in pain with a coarse
cry.
Mousse scrambled to his feet. He could feel the first few drops of
rain coming from the blackening sky.
"Mousse! If you remain, you will marry Shampoo. If you leave, you
will be cast out from the Amazons!" Cologne shouted. Shampoo turned in
surprise.
Mousse froze in place, a hundred thousand 'what if' questions
racing through his mind. He steeled himself and made his decision.
"I can't let you destroy everyone's lives like this, especially
not Shampoo's!" Mousse shouted. "Shampoo, I do this because I love you too
much!" he finished, and ran off into the night.
"Shampoo! Follow the outcast and kill him at the first
opportunity!" Cologne commanded. Shampoo stared at her great grandmother
in wonder.
"Go!" Cologne shouted in command.
Shampoo bolted after Mousse, a heavy feeling in her heart.
"We must prepare for the inevitable now. You have caused me a
great deal of trouble and you will pay for it dearly no," Cologne said as
she gazed at Ken's shaking form on the ground.

"Please! You have to let me in!"
A door opened and Ukyou burst into the Tendo household.
"Where's Ken's brother! I need to speak to him right now!"
Kasumi, in a nightgown, led Ukyou to the dining room where Andrew
sat in meditation. The Tendos and Saotomes began filing into the room.
Ranma hopped into the room, evidently running in from the dojo.
"Looks like it's gonna to rain soon," Ranma said curtly. "So what
are you here for, Ucchan?"
Ukyou turned to look at Andrew as he gazed at her questioningly.
"I have your answer. I know how I feel about Ken."
"Yes?" Andrew replied casually.
Ukyou took a deep breath before breaking into a sheepish grin.
"I love him. I really love him. I don't care if you think I'm
strange, or if anyone thinks I'm nuts. I fell in love with your brother.
Please tell me what I can do for him. I want to help him so much," she
implored.
Andrew smiled.
"Then there is a way to help him. I could tell that you were the
key to this. As I said before, Ken's ability to fight stems from his own
feelings. I think we may be able to break the control over him if you can
find a way to be with him. He must be able to focus on his feelings for
you. It may buy me enough time to do what I have to do."
"What's that?" Akane asked.
"Kill whoever is using the circlet."
All fell silent as Andrew finished his statement.
"The only way I can be certain of freeing my brother is to kill
whoever or whatever is controlling him. Short of destroying the artifact,
I see no other alternative. The circlet is on his person and I do not
trust myself in this situation with the ability to destroy so powerful a
magical item without harming him."
"So what do we do in the meantime?" Ukyou asked impatiently.
"We wait for something to happen," Andrew replied solemnly.
They didn't have to wait long. There was a loud crack of thunder
and rain began pouring from the sky in a deluge. Akane and Ukyou jumped in
surprise.
"It's coming down pretty hard," Akane noted after recovering from
the shock.
Ranma nodded in assent. As he gazed out, he couldn't help feeling
a sense of dja vu.
A loud thud interrupted the profound silence that had settled in
the room. Ranma quickly opened the door to the yard to find a very dazed
and very wet duck wearing a pair of spectacles lopsidedly.
"Mousse! What are you doing here?" Ranma asked.
The Mandarin duck started quacking incessantly. Akane reached out
to clamp his bill shut.
"Can it wait until I get some hot water?" she asked.
The duck violently shook his head no.
"Get some water. Quickly!" Nodoka urged.
Nabiki quickly grabbed the tea Andrew had left idle on the table
and tossed it on the duck. A very naked Mousse stood heaving, trying to
catch his breath. Kasumi quickly covered her eyes, and turned away to get
a towel.
"Ranma! I have urgent news to bring you about your friend!" he
said to Andrew.
"What do you know about my brother?" Andrew replied quickly.
"Mousse, please try these on," Kasumi said as she walked to
Mousse. A hand covered her eyes and her other was outstretched with a
robe. Ranma quickly passed the clothes to the visually challenged guest.
Mousse quickly donned the clothes and adjusted his glasses.
"Who are you, and where is Ranma?" he asked as he discovered that
he was talking to Andrew. Ranma grabbed Mousse by the front of his robe.
"I'm over here. That's Ken's brother. Talk to him."
Mousse turned back to Andrew.
"I have urgent news regarding your brother!"
"So you have said before. Speak quickly if it is that urgent."
"Your brother is being held in the basement of the Nekohanten.
Cologne's used a magic circlet and ring to control his mind. He isn't well
at all, and I'm afraid that she will use him to assassinate Ukyou and
Akane."
"Since when did you care about any of us?" Ukyou asked
suspiciously.
"I may not have cared before, but since this directly affects my
beloved Shampoo, I have no choice but to act this way," Mousse replied.
"So what's going on?" Ranma asked.
"Cologne was able to convince Shampoo that possessing Ken's mind
would be beneficial for everyone. I don't know how she did it, but she
did. In the meantime, Cologne's been doing something to Ken to weaken him.
It isn't pretty, I can assure you of that." Mousse turned to face Andrew.
"Your brother is in a great deal of pain. When I came to free him, he
looked like a wild animal."
"Like fettered wolf?" Andrew asked.
"I couldn't tell you, but he did act like a chained animal,"
Mousse replied.
"Then that's all I need to hear," Andrew said gravely.
"What's going on? I want to know what's happened!" Ukyou
protested.
"All you need to know is that Ken is rapidly losing control of
himself. His deal with Fenrir and Janus is now about to change things very
drastically. I had hoped that it wouldn't come to this."
"What's going on?!" Ukyou demanded.
Andrew sighed heavily. All eyes turned to him.
"This fellow here has rather conveniently described a situation
where my brother is being mentally tortured in order to break his
resistance to mental control. It's very simple. Torture a man enough and
he will break, no matter how strong his will is. This Cologne character is
trying to weaken Ken mentally to make controlling him easier.
Unfortunately, now that Ken is sufficiently weak, Fenrir and Janus will
take over, and all of us will be witnesses to the true destructive force
that Doom stands for."
"Won't the circlet do anything to him?" Akane asked pensively.
"Perhaps," Andrew replied, "or perhaps not. It is hard to say. I
am sure it will affect him, but to a much lesser degree than if it were
Ken in control. I can only guess what Doom will do while wearing the
circlet."
"So what do we do now?" Ukyou asked. "I can't help if he isn't
himself."
"We stick to the original plan. I have to kill Cologne," Andrew
replied frankly.
"What?! I can't let you do that, even if I hate the woman. She's
the matriarch of the Amazons!" Mousse screamed.
Andrew grabbed Mousse with an iron grip.
"Listen to me, and listen well. This Cologne person obvious had no
idea what was involved in using the circlet. Do you remember the stories?
Do you know where it's been referred to?"
Mousse nodded dumbly.
"When did the circlet disappear from the head of the Monkey King?"
Andrew asked.
"At the very end, when he was being allowed into Heaven," Mousse
replied.
"What does that imply, considering the person wearing it was never
supposed to be in Heaven in the first place?"
Mousse's face drained.
"Are you saying you can't get rid of it?
"I can't take the damn thing off my brother's head, but I can get
rid of the person controlling him. That is the only solution to this
problem and I intend on pursuing it. As far as I can remember, no good has
ever come from someone enslaving another more powerful than themselves."
"You have to be joking," Mousse said lamely.
"I am not joking. I am dead serious about this. Unless you can
persuade this Cologne to rescind the use of the circlet, then perhaps
things will work out differently; but considering the fact that she
ordered my brother to kill someone, I highly doubt that will be the case."
Andrew let go of Mousse who stepped back defeated.
"She's coming here, you know," Mousse said quietly.
"Why's that?" Ranma asked.
"I was cast out from the Amazons for trying to help Ken escape;
just a few minutes ago in fact. She sent Shampoo out to kill me, but it
started raining. I flew out of the way before she could do anything. I'm
sure she will be coming here to finish what she started."
"And what's that?" Ukyou asked.
"Eliminating all obstacles between Ranma and Shampoo, and the
greater glory of the Amazons," Mousse said sardonically. "Even if it means
eliminating Ranma."
"You're lying," Akane whispered.
"I've thought it over too many times already. Why else would
Cologne possess Ken rather than Ranma? She'll use him to kill all the
other fiances and then force Ranma to marry Shampoo. If Ranma doesn't,
then she'll kill Ranma and force Shampoo to marry Ken," Mousse said
bluntly. "Either way, Cologne wins in the end."
Silence ensued as the Mousse's words settled in everyone's minds.
The truth in his words was difficult to swallow. Thunder sounded in the
background like a trumpet call. It was promptly followed by a knock on the
front door.
"I'll get it," Kasumi said quietly as she turned for the door.
"No. If anyone should answer the door, I should. It could be a
trap," Andrew replied gravely.
Everyone followed him as he made his way to the door. As he opened
it a flash of lightning cast light into the room, surprising them. Cologne
merely gazed at them from her perch on her staff. A small umbrella was
attached to the top of it making it look like a small mushroom.
"I would like to speak with Ranma," she said simply.
"Forget it you old hag! You can't force Ranma to marry Shampoo!"
Akane hissed venomously.
Cologne simply raised an eyebrow in with an amused look.
"Who said I would force Ranma into marriage. The decision is his,
and his alone, foolish child."
"Then why do you want him to come out?" Akane asked as she moved
in front of Ranma to block off Cologne.
"I never said I wanted him to come outside. I merely wished to
speak to him."
"What do you want, you old ghoul?" Ranma replied coldly.
"Is that any way to speak to your elders? You should respect
people older than you."
"If you have something important to say, then say it, otherwise
take a hike."
"Do you care about the people you are engaged to?" Cologne asked
bluntly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Do you or don't you?"
"Of course I do, but differently. I'm marrying Akane and that's
final," Ranma shot out. The conviction in his voice surprised Cologne, as
well as everyone else around them.
"Then would you protect her with your life?"
"Of course!"
"Ukyou Kuonji, would you rescind your engagement to Ranma if it
meant saving his life?"
"What do you mean?" Ukyou asked nervously.
"If Ranma's life were in danger and absolving your relationship
with him would save, would you do so?"
"I-It's pointless. I'm not engaged to Ranma anymore." She turned
to look at Ranma evenly before turning back to stare at Cologne coldly.
"I don't love Ranma that way anymore. You can't use him like a bargaining
chip."
Cologne simply chuckled.
"Then the responsibility for everyone's safety lies with you,
son-in-law."
Ranma winced at the words.
"What are you talking about?"
Cologne turned to face a stranger in a hakama and gi.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you."
"Dispose of the formalities. You must be Cologne. Am I correct in
assuming you are the one responsible for imprisoning my brother?"
"Your brother?" Cologne asked intrigued.
"Perhaps you are deaf, old woman. If you did not hear me the first
time, I trust you have less than enough brain power to continue this."
Cologne reddened slightly.
"Your brother is in very capable hands."
"Capable is a relative term. I would prefer to use the word
culpable in this case."
"What have you done to Ken?" Ukyou blurted anxiously.
"Nothing he could have done to himself."
"You're lying!" Mousse shouted.
Cologne turned an evil glare to him.
"You're an outcast from the Amazons. You have no credibility,
Mousse."
Andrew stepped forward, staff in hand.
"On the contrary, I find that he has more than enough credibility.
I'm sure you have Ken nearby. Bring him out."
Cologne raised an eyebrow. Andrew lifted the jo in both hands.
"Very well, if you would simply cast your eyes towards, the gate,
I'm sure you will be able to see him."
Everyone's eyes froze when they saw Cologne bring a hand from
behind her back. A chain was in her fist. As their eyes traveled down its
length towards the front gate, a bolt of lightning struck, lighting the
area. Andrew frowned as Ukyou and Akane recoiled in surprise. Ken was in a
kneeling position cuffed and chained like a prisoner of war. He looked
barely conscious, and his body was shaking.
"Oh my," Kasumi said softly.
"The decision is yours, son-in-law. Marry Shampoo, or suffer the
consequences. She will be arriving shortly. I suggest you make up your
mind soon."
"You call that a decision?" Akane spat.
"It is as much a decision as it was to fight against Shampoo all
those years ago."
"And what consequences will I suffer if I don't?" Ranma asked.
Cologne simply tugged on the chain. Ken lurched forward, planting
his hands on the ground for support. A choked cry of pain came from his
lips.
"Ken, what have they done to you?" Ukyou whispered.
"If you do not marry Shampoo, I will ask Ken to fight you for
Akane's hand in marriage and to carry on the Saotome school of martial
arts. He will take the dojo from you."
"And if I lose on purpose?" Ranma asked. Akane held her breath as
the Tendos and Saotomes looked at him in shock.
"Then I will not be responsible for Ken's actions."
"That's a crock!" Ukyou shouted.
"Is it? I can not control how savagely Ken fights. I find it
harder and harder to persuade him otherwise."
"Only because you've brought him to that level," Ukyou said
coldly.
Cologne simply tugged at the chain. Ken barely moved.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Andrew asked quietly.
"Do you know what kind of destructive force you will unleash if you drive
him over the edge?"
"Of course I do. One doesn't live three hundred years and not
learn anything from it," Cologne replied.
Andrew stepped forward.
"You know nothing of what you're getting into. I think you're a
desperate old woman. I've heard everything from the Saotomes and the
Tendos. This ploy of yours is pathetic. It will get you nowhere and it
will only give you grief. I suggest you rescind the artifacts now."
"And if I don't?" Cologne asked in an amused voice.
"Then I will be forced to destroy you for the sake of my brother."
"Would you fight your brother to get to me?"
"I won't need to. You will be the one doing the fighting."
"Is that so?" Cologne asked.
Andrew didn't reply. Cologne simply tugged on the chain harder.
Ken's head slowly rose to regard Cologne. The blank stare in his
eyes was still there. Lightning flashed once again, and as the thunder
rolled past them, they could see his eyes take on a new look. It was feral
and violent, and it pierced everyone to the bone.
In his mind, Ken could hear the voices coming again, louder and
more forceful than before. He could see everyone that cared for him at the
door, facing Cologne with as much force as they could; but they knew that
he was still under her influence. The voices urged him to give up control
of his body.
Give in to your anger, Avatar! The power you want is within you!
Release it, Avatar! Merge with it! Gain your freedom and have your
revenge!
Ken slowly closed his eyes. He didn't want to give in. He couldn't
give in, not with Ukyou watching. What would she think? She'd hate me, Ken
thought. She'd turn her back if she saw what I am.
It is your nature! It is your destiny!
No! Ken railed against the voices in his head.
I am in control, he screamed against the voices. I am more
powerful than you!
The voices were silent for a moment.
Then why can't you move? Why can't you help those that you love?
Why can't you bring yourself to act? Do you love Ukyou? Would you let her
befall the same fate that your parents did?
Ken's eyes opened wide. His hands gripped the pavement. The cuffs
bit into his wrist and the collar around his neck choked him. The feelings
of despair filled him again. Images of his parents dying played in front
of his eyes again. He sat paralyzed as they played repeatedly. Suddenly a
single thought pierced the haze, and it gripped him in fear.
Kill Akane.
It wasn't the voices of the Ethereals. It was clear and it
frightened him. It was Cologne's voice. It spoke again, uttering the same
command. Ken could feel his hands pushing him off the ground to his feet.
He felt himself moving like a zombie towards his friends. His mind
screamed for his body to turn around, but it didn't. Ken found himself
standing before his brother, and he heard a voice that was his, but wasn't
at the same time.
"Stand aside."
Ken saw his brother stare at him intently, almost in fear. Andrew
stepped aside, leaving Ranma and Akane. Ranma stepped in front of Akane,
barring Ken from moving forward.
"Ken, you have to stop this! Fight it! You can beat the old
ghoul!" Ranma shouted.
"Can he?" Cologne asked with a laugh.
Ken saw his arm move like lightning striking out towards Ranma. He
mentally sighed in relief as Ranma easily blocked the blow.
"Is that the best you can do?" Ranma shot at Cologne. A bonbori
striking his head was his answer. There was a flash of lightning, and
Akane made out Shampoo's form, standing on the wall surrounding the house,
rain running off the poncho she wore. Ken found himself grabbing Akane
roughly and throwing her to the sidewalk. Akane had no time to resist. She
stared up at Ken in fear. Cologne's voice rang out again. It commanded him
to kill her, and true to form, Ken found himself drawing his sword. Blood
dripped off the sword as the rain washed it clean. Akane looked at it in
horror before returning her gaze to Ken.
"Blood," Ukyou whispered.
Ken simply raised the sword silently, like an executioner. Ranma
struggled to his feet, but could only watch in horror as the sword tip
swung down in a deadly arc, it's tip aimed for Akane's throat. A hoarse
cry ripped from his throat and Ranma fell to his knees. Akane simply shut
her eyes tightly and prayed that she wouldn't feel anything.
After feeling the rain for a few more moments, she opened her eyes
in surprise. Ken stood with the sword tip millimeters from her throat, the
tip shaking as violently as his body was. She could see the supreme effort
on Ken's part. It was eating him alive. Akane quickly shuffled out of the
way, but Ken appeared not to notice.
Andrew smiled. The Tendos and the Saotomes breathed a collective
sigh of relief.
"Give up Cologne. It's over," Ranma said coldly as he quickly took
Akane in his arms. When she felt his arms wrap around her, Akane broke
down.
Ukyou took a hesitant step towards Ken. Ranma reached out to her,
but she brushed his hand away. As she walked up to him, she saw his hands
trembling violently.
"Ken?" she called softly to him. He didn't respond. She turned to
look at Cologne who simply had an arm outstretched, a ruby red glow coming
from the middle finger. Ukyou could almost hear Cologne's teeth grinding
in frustration. Cologne finally screamed in frustration.
"You will submit, you wretch! The Amazons are more powerful than
you can possibly imagine!"
Ken shakily turned to face her. His face muscles twitched.
"Give in, damn you!" Cologne screamed in fury. Her eyes burned in
intense hatred. "Submit!" she shouted. An intense red glow shot out from
her curled fist.
Ukyou watched in fear as Ken seemed to lock up. He turned a vacant
stare to her, his blade rising. Ukyou mustered as much courage as she
could and took another step forward. She ignored the cries from Ranma and
Akane and fearfully reached out to the person she'd come to love. She
started to speak as Ken slowly brought the sword back for a killing lunge.
"Ken, if you're going to kill me, then do it now; but before you
do, know that I loved you from the beginning. I'm so sorry it took so long
to say it. I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you and all the trouble
I've been. You were more than a friend to me. I'm the one who should have
been there for you all the time." Ken sword began its deadly arc, but
slowed to a halt as it neared Ukyou's heart. The tip touched her chest,
and Ukyou instinctively stepped back. She could see tears coming from
Ken's eyes. As she reached out to take his hands, the sword fell with a
clatter to the ground. Ken sank to his knees and he began trembling again.
Ukyou started sobbing and feel to her knees with him.
"Ukyou?" he whispered hoarsely.
"I'm here," she whispered back. Ukyou brought her face to his.
"Help me." It was barely a whisper.
"Tell me what to do."
"It's so painful. It hurts so much."
Ukyou couldn't stop crying.
"Make it stop. Please make it stop," Ken whispered in a small
voice.
Ukyou turned to Cologne, the rain mixing with her own tears.
"Haven't you done enough? I don't care about marrying Ranma
anymore! I don't want to marry Ranma anymore! Just leave Ken alone. Leave
us alone!" she cried. It fell on deaf ears.
"Shampoo, get rid of this obstacle."
Shampoo seemed to hesitate.
"Are you an Amazon or aren't you?" Cologne shouted.
Shampoo hopped off the wall and strode over to Ken and Ukyou. A
small sword flashed from a sheath on her hip. Ukyou hugged Ken tightly.
"Shampoo, stop!" Mousse cried out. "Ukyou isn't an obstacle! Ken
isn't an obstacle! Are you an Amazon or aren't you?! Is this the way of an
Amazon? To kill people who can't fend for themselves?"
Shampoo hesitated.
"You know it's wrong Shampoo! You know the truth! You know it!"
Mousse shouted.
"Don't listen to him, Shampoo! He's an outcast!" Cologne shouted
in return. Ukyou could see Shampoo hesitate. Strong arms suddenly lifted
Ukyou from her kneeling position. It was Ken, and there was a strange look
in his eyes.
"Ukyou, get as far away from this as you can," Ken managed to say
in a broken voice. His body began shaking violently. Shampoo backed away a
step. Ukyou ran back to Andrew with a frightened look.
"What's going on? He told us to get away from here."
"It's exactly as I feared it would be," Andrew replied grimly.
"What?! Is Shampoo in danger?!" Mousse asked hysterically.
There wasn't time for an answer. Cologne took a fateful step
forwards and Ken saw her out of the corner of his eyes. He clenched both
fists and a feral animal cry erupted from his throat as blue electricity
exploded from his body. Andrew quickly stepped forward, slamming his jo on
the ground, and throwing a pouch out towards Ken. He uttered unfamiliar
words and a shimmering white field exploded from the tip of the jo. Ukyou
shielded her eyes, and watched in horror as a crater spread at an
incredible rate towards them from Ken's feet. The pouch exploded as the
shockwave of ki hit it and a blinding flare of light filled everyone's
eyes. Before she was blinded, Ukyou could make out the blue lightning
arced along the shimmering wall Andrew had erected. The ground shook
violently as if an earthquake had hit them. Ukyou fell to her knees and
everyone stumbled or fell over. The rumbling and explosions continued to
ring in her ears for what seemed to be an eternity before quieting to a
low rumble. When she opened her eyes, a scene of carnage was laid before
her.
Trenches blasted out by the lightning marked the entire front of
the Tendo yard. They continued towards the houses across the street, and
far down the street. Blackened streaks marked their surroundings. Walls
surrounding houses were blasted down. Electric posts for hundreds of yards
were blown back, blacking out the surrounding houses, if not the city. The
shockwave had even cleared the sky of clouds, but the fires that burned on
trees and shrubs in yards surrounding the destruction drowned the stars
out. The fires even dimly lit their surroundings. Ukyou could only gaze at
the destruction in awe. Ken stood in the middle of a depression that sank
at least five feet into the ground and stretched out three or four feet in
a circle around him. Ken's body still arced electricity into his immediate
surroundings, and a wild feral look possessed him. Remnants of the chains
were still on him, and his clothes were mostly torn and burnt. The circlet
still remained, as did the collar. A low moaning noise came from his
throat and softly died out. Ukyou wondered where Cologne and Shampoo had
gone, but soon saw them crawling out from behind a broken down wall.
Shampoo looked hurt badly. When she turned to look behind her, Ukyou was
amazed to see the rest of the Tendo residence untouched. Everything that
lay behind Andrew during the explosion was untouched. Even the grass
continued to grow as if nothing happened.
Ranma and Akane pulled themselves to their feet and the others
slowly rose from where they had fallen.
"I don't believe it," Akane whispered.
"What happened?" Ranma quietly asked Andrew.
"Doom is awake," Andrew replied grimly.
Ranma didn't have time to speak before Ken turned to look at the
destruction around him, all the while arcing electricity around him.
Andrew took a step forward.
"We meet again," Andrew said calmly as he approached Ken's form.
Ken seemed to ignore him as he felt the collar around his neck.
With an angry cry he ripped it asunder.
"Freedom!" Ken shouted in triumph.
Andrew stood across from Ken.
"It's begun, hasn't it?"
"All good things must come to an end."
"Perhaps. Perhaps greater good may come from ending lesser joys."
"Perhaps not."
"Is Ken gone?"
Andrew whirled about to see Ukyou standing timidly behind him,
peering around his shoulder. Ken approached her, the wild savage look on
his face softening.
"You are Ukyou," he said plainly.
"Is Ken dead?" she asked softly.
"Ken isn't gone. He isn't dead. He's here," Ken said as he pointed
to Ukyou's chest, "and here," he finished, pointing at his own head.
"Only when the soul is destroyed, will I cease to be."
"Then who are you?"
"I am Doom. A creation borne from pain and strife. Ken would have
died if I hadn't intervened."
"Did you do this?" she asked, looking about her.
"Yes. I can do a great many things if I am so inclined."
Ken pointed to a house offhandedly. It exploded into flames. Ken
flicked his wrist in a dismissive manner, sending rubble flying away from
them down the street. Ken, or whoever he was now, looked about with a
bemused look on his face. It looked like he was merely toying with his
surroundings.
"Is it true that you only destroy things, not create them?"
Ken laughed. The voice wasn't his.
"My opposite has said a great deal about me, hasn't he?"
Ukyou only nodded.
"If you are wondering, then the answer is yes. I am a creation
devoted solely to the destruction of all things. I purge those things
which cause imbalance to maintain harmony."
"Then why haven't you killed me?"
Ken looked at her quizzically.
"Because Salvation saved you," he said plainly.
"Andrew told me you destroy things to purge evil. I caused Ken so
much pain and anguish," Ukyou confessed tearfully, "so why is he gone and
I'm still alive?"
"Because he loves you, and therefore, I love you."
Ukyou blinked back tears.
"What?"
"Ken and I must share one mind and one body. I must feel the same
emotions that he feels. It is the nature of our binding."
"Ken doesn't hate me? After what I did?"
Ken laughed. Or was it Fenrir?
"He could never bring himself to do that, silly child. If
anything, he is afraid that you despise him for who he is, and what he has
become because of it."
"Can you bring him back?" Ukyou asked. "We have so much to do for
each other."
"Have you forgotten your other?"
Ukyou smiled as tears began falling down her cheeks again.
"Yes. I have. I can for him."
Andrew turned to look at his brother, as possessed as he was.
"Know that your love makes him strong, Ukyou. With it, he can do a
great many things."
"Will you bring him back?" she asked again.
"I can not. It isn't his destiny to return now."
Ukyou's eyes widened.
"Why? Why won't you bring him back?"
"It isn't his time anymore."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Ukyou waited with baited breath for Ken, or whoever he had become
to answer. It never came. He simply screamed in supreme agony and crumpled
over. Bolts of lightning erupted from his body, striking around him
randomly. The force from an explosion threw her to the ground. She saw
Andrew take a blast to his chest and fall to his knees in pain.
"I will win this battle, foolish girl! Ranma will marry Shampoo.
That is final! You're interference in my plans comes to an end now!"
Cologne shouted. The red glow from her hand had transformed itself into a
blood red bolt of lightning, emulating the energy coming from Ken's body.
Cologne turned to Ken's writhing form and lashed out, sending a bolt of
red energy at him. It connected with a sick frying sound, forcing more
cries of agony from Ken's possessed form. Whoever Ken had become, he was
resisting Cologne's control, but barely so. He clutched at the circlet
like a madman in a futile attempt to remove it.
Suddenly, he staggered to his feet, his eyes going in and out of
focus. The sword leapt to his hand. As he advanced on Ukyou, she backed
away in horror.
"Ken, don't do this! This is wrong! Fight the control!" Andrew
shouted. It fell on deaf ears. He turned and shouted arcane words, sending
a bolt of white light at Cologne. It hit her full blast, sending her
flying. Andrew advanced on her, his face a mask of rage. Ken's form
suddenly leapt down before him, sword drawn.
"Kill him!" Cologne shouted through clenched teeth.
Ken's sword lashed out in fury. Andrew blocked with the jo as fast
as he could. The two mystic weapons clashed, sending sparks flying. Andrew
parried every thrust. Ken blocked every strike. Ukyou could barely see the
sword and jo as they whirled around, striking, weaving and blocking. Only
the flying sparks and sound of clashing weapons showed they made contact.
Andrew blocked a strike downwards and twisted the staff forcefully. The
tip of the jo struck Ken's wrist with a snap. The sword dropped to the
ground as Ken roared in pain. Andrew gave no quarter and whirled the staff
around to strike Ken's temple. Ken blocked with his forearm, but was
knocked to the ground. Andrew brought the staff up to strike down upon
him.
"No!" Ukyou shouted as she threw herself on his body.
Andrew stopped the staff inches from the base of her neck.
"What are you doing?!" he shouted.
"Don't kill him! You can't kill him! I love him, can't you accept
that?!"
"It's not a matter of accepting it or not! There's no other way!
He's under her control!"
Ukyou found strong arms pushing her off Ken's body. It was Ken
himself. There was a sudden clarity in his eyes.
"He's right, Ukyou," he whispered shakily.
"Ken?" she asked in surprise.
"Kill them both!" Cologne screamed.
Ken turned to glare at Cologne coldly.
"No. Make me. I dare you to make me," he said flatly.
Ken rose to his feet, grunting in pain with every movement. Ukyou
could see the circlet tightening around his head, bruising it.
Ken staggered forwards towards his brother.
"Do it!" he shouted.
"What?" Andrew asked in shock.
"Finish it! You have to kill me!"
"Are you insane!"
"You were ready to do it before!"
"I thought Doom was under her control. This changes everything!"
"This changes nothing. I can't last much longer against Cologne.
I'm too weak. I was always too weak! I couldn't save mother or father when
it counted. I failed them! I failed our family!"
"Where did that come from?! What's done is done - either way, I
can't kill you!"
"You have to! Give me back my honor! You're family. This is what
family is about!"
Andrew recoiled in surprise.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
"I failed to protect our parents! I failed them! My life means
nothing now! I killed them!"
"No, you didn't! You couldn't save them! Nobody could!"
"I should have. It was my sworn duty to protect them."
"It was our sworn duty to protect them - our duty. It was both of
our responsibilities. I failed in that respect as well. I am just as
guilty!"
"You weren't there! You weren't the one bound and helpless on the
floor, choked back like some dog. I was the one there. I was the one
that had to watch! I was the one!"
"That doesn't make you less of a man than anyone else."
"It makes me worse. I lost everything because I couldn't fulfill
my duty as our father's son!"
"That doesn't mean you have to die!"
"My death solves everything! Don't you understand? I can't last
much longer," Ken forced through clenched teeth. "And this is the only
way. It's the way of the prophecy!"
"Dammit, I can't do that!" Andrew shouted.
"Remember the prophecy! Dark and Light must unite one day; and one
of them must shirk away. Force two to one to Ragnarok, if pure evil run
amok. To make Doom more, to his will bend, Salvation must have seen his
end. For Illumination, Doom must die, sprout forth bat wings and to Hell's
gates fly. The death of one brings forth the next; lost spirits win, and
Death regrets."
"I can't! This isn't the way!"
"It's the way that was set for me, for Doom! Illumination must
return! Doom must die!"
"Then what about Ukyou? What about your love for her? Would you
give up that much for your petty want of honor?"
Ken averted his gaze. A hundred thousand thoughts raced through
his mind, and in the end, Andrew was right. He loved Ukyou far too much
to care anymore. Ukyou was all that mattered. She'd said that all that
mattered was love. Now all that mattered to Ken was Ukyou and her love
for him. He looked to her and finally understood how much they had come
to share.
"Enough of this nonsense!" Cologne shouted. The gem glowed again
and another bolt struck him in the back. Ken crumpled screaming in pain.
Bolts of energy shot out again, and Ukyou jumped clear of its path. Andrew
tried rushing to his brother's aid, but a bolt struck him in the chest. He
fell to the ground roaring in pain. Cologne pushed Shampoo forward.
"Finish them, Shampoo!"
Shampoo's eyes darted from her great grandmother to Ken's writhing
form. Her eyes momentarily locked with Ukyou's. There was immeasurable
pain there. Fear of loving and fear of losing were all wrapped up in a
small bundle that flashed when Shampoo looked into Ukyou's eyes. She
looked back to Ken again.
"What are you waiting for?" Cologne demanded.
Shampoo suddenly lunged for the bracelet and ring Cologne wore.
She wrestled with her great grandmother before being thrown back.
"Have you gone mad?" Cologne shouted in Chinese.
"No! You are the one that is mad. You would kill everyone to
satisfy your own ends?"
"This is for you, Shampoo! What are you talking about?!" Cologne
said in surprise.
"This isn't for me! You want to make Ranma say he loves me! You
want to force this marriage. You want me to give up having Ranma truly
love me! I don't want anything to do with it!" she screamed as tears
flowed freely down her face.
"You and Mousse are the same!" Cologne shouted in Japanese so all
would hear her. "You are no Amazon! You are a traitor to the village!"
"Shampoo no want to be Amazon if being Amazon mean being like
great grandmother! Shampoo no want to be like evil Cologne!" she shouted
at the top of her lungs.
"All of you will pay for this!" Cologne shouted. She pointed the
gem at Ken and liquid fire erupted from it bathing Ken in a bright blood
red glow. Ken screamed in pain again.
"I won't hurt them! I won't kill any of them!" Ken shouted
repeatedly. Ukyou's mind froze as she watched in horror as Ken's clothes
caught fire and red lightning arced across his body, burning it.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Ranma leap out at
Cologne, in an attempt to kick her while her concentration was focused on
Ken. Cologne jumped out of the way, breaking contact with Ken as she
quickly moved in and out of Ranma's attacks.
"You'll pay for this Cologne!" he shouted in anger. His fists
became a blur as he began using every technique had had ever learned.
Cologne quickly blocked and jumped out of the way. She found herself face
to face with Andrew. He was heaving in pain, but his staff flew out at her
quickly. Cologne whirled her own staff to block the strikes and blows.
Andrew kept up his attack relentlessly and Cologne felt fear creeping
through her veins. A myriad of chains shot out from behind her, entangling
her and bring her to the ground. Andrew's staff struck her in the chest
as she fell, throwing her several yards back and into a wall. The chains
went limp as Mousse quickly discarded them and ran to Shampoo's side. She
clutched at him as she cried.
Ukyou swiftly made her way to Ken's side. His clothes had
smoldered and he seemed barely conscious. Blood was trickling from a host
of places around the circlet. Ukyou cradled his body in her arms.
"Ken, don't die. You can't die now. Please don't die," she
stammered hysterically.
"Ukyou," he whispered hoarsely. His eyelids fluttered.
"I'm here for you, Ken-chan. I'll always be here for you." She
gripped his body in her arms and nestled her face against his.
"I'm so sorry, Ukyou."
"Shut up. Don't be sorry for anything. It's not your fault."
"I'm so tired."
"Don't close your eyes. Don't you dare close your eyes!"
"I won't," Ken managed a weak smile.
"I love you. I don't love Ranma. I'm over him, but I won't get
over you if you die," Ukyou finally managed as tears fell from her face to
wet Ken's cheeks.
"I love you too. I should have said so before."
"I'm sorry I never told you before," Ukyou said apologetically.
"It's nothing to be ashamed about. People have trouble saying
things sometimes." Ken grit his teeth and choked back the pain.
"You have to hang on. Bear with the pain for just a minute longer.
Tofu-sensei will be here any minute, and then we can go on living our
lives together."
Ken forced a weak laugh.
"It's okay. I can't feel anything. Now that you're here, the
pain's gone."
"I'm glad. Just hang on, Ken-chan. Hang on for me."
"For you, anything," he whispered.
Ukyou bent her face forward and they kissed again. It was a deep
kiss that reached from the bottom of her soul. She poured everything she
knew about love into it. She gave herself to it.
"Ken-chan," she whispered as she broke the kiss. "Don't leave me.
Please don't leave me."
Ken closed his eyes and breathed slowly. Ukyou looked about her.
Ranma was hugging Akane, calming her. Mousse was doing the same with a
hysterical Shampoo. Andrew had made his way to the Saotome family, trying
to usher them inside despite Nodoka's protests. The Tendos weren't
anywhere to be seen. Peace seemed to settle in amidst the flames and
destruction. Ukyou noticed the rain had stopped long ago. The silence of
fighting brought calm to the area; but it didn't last long.
Mousse was the first to notice the chains stirring. He scooped up
Shampoo with little protest from her and leaped out of the way. Ranma
pushed Akane back behind her and stood ready for another fight. Cologne
crawled out of the heap of chains and rubble. She muttered something
unintelligible before raising the hand that held the bracelet and ring
again. The red light flickered to life, but didn't flare.
Ken stiffened in Ukyou's grasp. She quickly turned a concerned eye
to him.
"Ken-chan, I know you can fight it. Please fight it. Fight it so
we can be together again."
"I don't know if I can without bringing them out again," he said.
"Then do what you have to do."
"But what about you?"
"What about me?"
"Aren't you afraid of what they could do to you?"
"No. I know our love is stronger than anything they can manage.
You and Doom are the same person, the same being. You don't give anything
up by changing, not even our love."
Ken's eyes flared momentarily. As Ukyou's words echoed through his
mind, everything became clear. He had ignored everything regarding the
prophecy for too long. For too long, he'd misunderstood it, even though
he'd been given the clues all along. He knew the time of opportunity had
come and passed. It was no longer a time of opportunity, but of
retribution. Ken mustered his strength and slowly, painfully, got to his
feet. He held out a shaky hand and called for his sword. It materialized
in his hands in a flare of electric sparks.
"Ukyou, I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I never
knew what love was until I met you. I'm sorry that it's come to this. I
wish there were another way," he said as he turned to face Cologne.
"Ken, what are you doing?"
"Please remember that I love you, and that I'll always love you."
Andrew looked at Ken, and met his gaze. An unspoken understanding
was met. Andrew took Ukyou by the arm and tried to move her away.
"What are you doing?!" Ukyou said as she yanked her arm away from
Andrew's grasp.
"You have to get away from him. There's something he has to do,
and you shouldn't be near if you want to live."
"Then let me stay with him, I couldn't bear to go on if he left
me," Ukyou said pleadingly.
"Ukyou, please go with my brother. It's best that you go with
him."
"Why? What are you doing?"
"I'm going to do what I should have done before. If you love me,
then you'll go with my brother."
"I won't leave you!" Ukyou said firmly.
Ken pulled on the bottom of the sword handle. There was a small
popping noise and Ken turned to face Ukyou again. He took her hand in his,
and she felt him press a small bead into her hand.
"Take this, and I'll always be with you, Ukyou."
"What is it?"
"It's a dragon pearl. It's a sign of my undying love for you. I'll
always be with you if you keep it close to your heart. Hold it near and
wait for me."
Ukyou took the opalescent sphere. It had the diameter of a dime
and shone brightly of swirling colors. She gripped it tightly and slowly
backed away from Ken under Andrew's guidance.
Cologne regarded Ken warily. She had sent command after command to
his mind, and despite the obvious pain that the constricting circlet was
producing, he calmly continued acting independently of her. She summoned
her strength and sent a final mental command. She could see Ken begin
wavering.
"This ends now, Cologne. It all ends now!"
Ken felt the circlet crushing his skull. He thought back to how
much Ukyou loved him, and how much he loved her. Their love was all that
mattered now, and it steeled his resolve. Ken gripped the sword by the
blade. He ran his right wrist down the blade, and then his left. Blood
began pouring from the open wounds. Ken calmly took the blade again and
slashed once on the inside of his left elbow and then again on his right.
With a slight flourish he stabbed the sword into the ground before him. A
hoarse cry erupted from his throat as the blood began flowing from the
open wounds. Ken clenched his fists as he felt the blood leaving his body.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind and body for one final blow.
Ukyou saw the blood begin to boil around him and rise in hypnotic
swaying tendrils. Lightning arced from his body to the tips of the scarlet
tendrils. Heat and light began emanating from Ken's body as he continued
to roar. The lightning strikes seemed to multiply exponentially around
him, and Andrew moved her further away. The tendrils continued to sway and
swirl around Ken's body like dancing snakes. The lightning continued to
arc and blackened the ground where they struck. As Ukyou backed away, she
could begin to see a pattern being traced out by the arcing lightning.
Andrew stared in awe at his brother.
"What's going on? What's he doing?" Ukyou asked worriedly. She was
becoming extremely anxious as blood continued to flow from the slashes on
Ken's arms.
"He commencing a final attack. Ken's going to use a soul boosted
final attack. I've never seen such power from him before," Andrew
whispered.
"Will he die?" Ukyou asked on the verge of hysteria.
Andrew remained impassive and continued to stare. Ukyou turned her
gaze to Ken and was shocked by what she saw. The lightning now maintained
an arc between Ken and the ground and several bolts were tracing out a six
pointed star. The tendrils were entwined around each bolt of blue energy
and seemed to sway and guide each arc of electricity. Light was erupting
in a large column from his position. Ken had stopped his battle cry and
seemed to stand immobile, quivering from the raw power coursing through
him. There was loud snapping noise and Ken's head fell back momentarily,
before righting again. Ken staggered slightly before throwing both hands
outstretched before him.
Tendrils of blood seemed to fly in a swirling jerking mass of
scarlet threads. Cologne couldn't dodge the onslaught and desperately
tried to minimize the damage. Ukyou saw tendril after tendril pierce
Cologne's body, the impact bringing out a cry of pain from Cologne's lips.
They stabbed like knives and showed no mercy before falling to the ground
to leave red trail from Ken to her body. Six pillars of lightning arced
from six corners and converged on Ken as if he were a focusing point. The
giant bolt of energy crackled around him like a giant blue dragon from
Chinese lore. It seemed to arc into the sky, pause for a split second and
the shoot out towards Cologne. Smaller arcs of electricity ran through the
trails of blood electrocuting Cologne and immobilizing her before the
giant electric dragon struck her in the chest. Ukyou Saw Cologne
convulsing and screaming in agony. Ken continued to channel energy at his
opponent as he ran forward, grabbing his sword from its place in the
ground in a smooth motion. Ken roared another battle cry while he ran at
Cologne, bringing up the sword for a killing stroke. Cologne seemed to
reign in her pain momentarily and shot an arm out Ken as he rushed.
"Bakusai Tenketsu!" Cologne screamed as she struck Ken in the
middle of his chestplate.
Ukyou could see Ken's body jerk back as shards of his armor ripped
through body from the impact. A loud explosion rung in Ukyou's ears. Both
of Ken's arms shot forward, grabbing Cologne's outstretched arm. Ukyou
quickly shielded her eyes with her arms as a flash of white light exploded
from Ken's body, all the while channeling electricity through Cologne's
body.
When the silence of death dawned upon Ukyou, she slowly opened her
eyes. And looked around. Where Ken and Cologne had stood, there was a
large crater. She rushed there, picking her way through the fragments of
rubble. She frantically dug away at the rocks covering Ken's body. The
sight of his battered, bloody body appalled her, yet she kneeled down
beside him gently turning his body over. His chestplate had exploded
burying shards of his armor in his chest like daggers. Blood still coursed
out of his body in small rivulets. Ken's face was spattered in blood and
his eyes were completely vacant. She cradled his body as her own was
wracked by sobs. Ukyou's head fell forward limply as she felt her world
slipping away from under her. She felt a hand slowly raise and touch her
forehead.
"Ukyou."
She could barely hear his voice. He wasn't looking at her, but
rather past her as if blind.
"Ken-chan, why did you do this? Tell me why!"
"It was the only way," he whispered painfully. He struggled to
speak again. "Can you take off the circlet?"
Ukyou looked at the stained gold band around his head. A crack
stretched its length and she pulled it apart. She could see the
indentation it had made in his skull, the skin broken and bleeding. Ukyou
suppressed the urge to vomit.
"Where's my brother?" Ken whispered.
Ukyou looked up as a shadow fell across her.
"He's here," she whispered softly.
Ken tried to swallow, but red foam trickled from the corner of his
mouth instead. Ukyou could see the blood slowly stop flowing from the
wounds on his body. She looked up at Andrew with tears coursing down her
cheeks, falling on Ken's body.
"Can't you do anything? Can't you save him?!" she whispered.
Andrew looked down at his brother, the vacant look in his eyes.
The light must have blinded him, he thought. The explosion mostly likely
had liquefied his entrails. His brother was dying and in extreme pain, so
much that his body refuse to respond; yet there was one message he was
able to convey with his body. Ken was pleading with his second, with his
kaishaku, to do his honor-bound duty.
"There's one last thing I must do for him," Andrew said quietly.
Ukyou gingerly passed Ken's body to Andrew as he knelt down next to his
brother's broken body. She stepped away, the scene before her blurring
away as tears flooded her eyes. A hand gripped her shoulder. She turned to
see Nodoka standing behind her, at tears as well. Soun and Genma stood,
paled by Ken's condition. Ranma and Akane stood side by side, both silent
from shock. Even Mousse and Shampoo stood silently wearing masks of
neutrality. Ukyou buried herself in Nodoka's arms like a child.
Andrew slowly helped his brother into as close to a kneeling
position as possible before retrieving Ken's sword. It lay intact, and
untouched amidst the rubble. With tears forming in his eyes, he regarded
his brother as he knelt there. Ken's dying breath played past his lips.
Andrew gripped the sword firmly and steeled himself for the final strike.
Everyone save for Ukyou stared at him in awe and sadness. Ukyou refused
to watch. As he brought the sword up, he could hear Ken's thoughts
traversing through his own mind, speaking to all that could hear.
Forgive me Father. Forgive me Mother. I have sinned and brought
dishonor to our family. With this act, I absolve myself of the blood that
has stained my hands for so long. Forgive me Father. Forgive me Mother. I
have failed you...
As he felt tears fall from his eyes, Andrew spoke one word firmly
and it resounded across the crater.
"Family."

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html

Epilogue

All good things must come to an end, Doom had said.
Andrew wasn't sure if he really believed it. All good things
would come to an end, but ends were only beginnings for something new -
and perhaps something even more wonderful. The end of the old was always
a beginning for the new. This was the philosophy that Andrew steadfastly
believed in.
As he gazed at the beaten form of his brother, barely maintaining
a precarious balance on his knees, he thought back to his philosophy. Was
he right? Was this end the mark of something new and better? Andrew
couldn't tell. For too long he had lived in the shroud of his own
ignorance, believing in something he knew Ken felt was outdated. Yet he
clung to those beliefs like a lifeline. It never failed him before. The
end to his wandering days marked the beginning of his life with his wife,
Faith. A life filled with bliss and love. He never regretted giving up
his wandering adventurous days to settle with the incarnation of life and
love, yet this situation made him pause and think.
Andrew's eyes peered at the people surrounding him. Ukyou's sobs
were muffled by Nodoka's kimono. Genma and Soun looked at the ground in
front of them, not wanting to hear the sound of Ken's head rolling on the
ground, but present nonetheless. Shampoo was buried in Mousse's arms,
while Mousse himself looked on impassively. Ranma gazed at Andrew with
respect, and yet a tinge of disappointment at the same time while Akane
was buried in his arms.
Andrew turned back to matters at hand. It was his duty to
decapitate his brother's body. It was his responsibility to give his
brother the honor he had lost. It was his job to take his brother's head.
It was necessary for him to play the role of the kaishakku. Or was it?
Andrew had lived a life Ken only dreamed of. He had a loving
wife. He lived in security and with the knowledge that things for him
would turn out for the best. Andrew had honor and the respect of his
clan. Ken had none of these things. Ken had to witness the murder of
their parents. Ken had to live a life of shame and ridicule. Ken had to
run from people he could have beaten in a fair fight. Ken had to give up
his life to protect those he cared about, and he had no choice in doing
so.
Andrew closed his eyes and grit his teeth. There was no choice in
the matter. He had to take his brother's head. He had to fulfill his
duty as family. He had to maintain his family honor.
"Why?"
Andrew turned to the soft voice that interrupted him.
Ukyou was still buried in Nodoka's kimono, but her muffled sobs
had stopped.
"Just do it. Just do it and get it over with," she muttered
between the gasps for air.
Andrew turned back to his brother's body.
Why did he kill himself? To protect the people he loved? He
could have continued fighting with all of his might; and he would have
won. Yet he chose to sacrifice himself to save everyone. It was
needless, or was it?
To live without honor was to live an empty life. It was a
challenge to live when it was time to live and to die when it was time to
die. Was this his time? Was this the time for Ken to die?
For Andrew, voices of family screamed about the injustice Ken's
life had been filled with. The voices of reason and of honor would only
support Ken's decision.
"My love, you hesitate. Why?"
Andrew turned to his wife. He never heard her walk up behind him.
The soft, rounded English accent she had was warm and comforting in the
bleak surroundings. As he gazed from person to person, nobody seemed
surprised that she had walked out of the darkness to stand by her husband.
Andrew gazed into his wife's eyes with pain and remorse. This was the
woman he had dedicated his life to. She stood behind him with sympathy
and love. He could only feel pain and suffering, and she knew it.
"I came when I felt Ken's lifelines unwind. I saw his spirit
discorporate. I knew that something happened, and that you would be near.
I was afraid you were hurt. I see my fears have been affirmed.
"You must do what honor dictates, dear husband. To fail to do so
would be a disgrace," she said softly to her husband in English.
"But is it the right thing to do? The girl, Ukyou loved him with
all her heart. You of all people should understand the pain I will bring
by finishing this."
"Does that matter? It is your duty."
"It has to matter. It's love."
Faith smiled at her husband.
"Then decide what you have to do. Love and honor are not always
compatible, but there are just as many times when they are as when they
are not. You must decide if this is one of those times. Do what you
must. You know in your heart that I will support you in whatever decision
you make."
Andrew turned to look about him once again. All eyes were on him.
The cries had stopped. The storm had passed. The silence of the night
air filled his ears.
"And if I make the wrong decision?"
Faith smiled once again.
"Is there a wrong decision to make? Listen to your heart. You
live to fulfill the prophecy that Salvation put forth for you. It is your
destiny to make the right decision."
Andrew turned to look at his body, before turning to look at
Ukyou. There was only sadness. He took a deep breath before addressing
her in Japanese.
"Ukyou, please believe me when I say that this is the most painful
decision I will have ever made in my life. I have lived with many
burdens, including the death of my parents. I was never there for my
parents, or my brother when it happened. I was never there for my brother
after it happened."
Ukyou trembled as she stared emotionlessly at Andrew.
"I know how much he meant to you," he continued. "You have my
condolences. There is nothing I can do."
"You're going to finish it."
It was a statement said in a small voice, yet it filled Andrew's
ears like a roar. It seemed to pierce his heart with the very accusation
of treachery. Andrew gazed at Ukyou as the pain in him built up to
intolerable levels.
"Can you possibly understand how much this will hurt me, as it
will you? I have to destroy the last of my family!"
"Then why didn't you help him?! Why didn't you stop him?!" Ukyou
shouted.
Andrew looked at his wife. She carefully enveloped him in a
gentle embrace. He turned to look back at Ukyou.
"Can't you understand? This is what he wanted."
Ukyou's entire body shook.
"He wanted to live a life in happiness. Ken wanted to love
someone. He loved me! We could have been happy together! You have a
wife, a home, and a family that loves you. That's all Ken ever wanted."
Andrew slowly disengaged himself from his wife. The conflict tore
away at him violently. He stared at Ken, trying to fathom why he would
kill himself. Was the stain of his banishment so great that he could not
live in spite of it? Everyone here told him how close he was to a real
life. Was that why he killed himself? To preserve in one moment all that
he desired? The only one that could provide those answers now teetered
precariously staring a dead vacant gaze outward, at Ukyou - at the woman
he loved so much; and then it dawned upon him.
To live when it is time to live was the challenge. So was dying
when it was time to die. Ken loved Ukyou fiercely, and rather than let
any harm come to her, he was willing to kill himself to keep from hurting
her himself. It was bitterly ironic that he had hurt her just as much in
death as he would have in life, and enslaved by Cologne. Now both were
dead, Cologne incinerated by the soul blast Ken created, and Ken from
creating it. It was a double coincidence of wants. Honor demanded death.
Love demanded he protect Ukyou. Ken killed both birds with one stone.
"Husband?"
Andrew sadly turned back to his wife. He loved his wife. There
was nothing he wouldn't do for her. He knew Ken felt the same way about
Ukyou. He could see it in his brother's eyes whenever he saw her clearly,
and now Ken had done it. Andrew stared at the sword. A single drop of
water dropped from the tip. Where had it come from? It looked like a
tear, as if the sword crying for its master, just as Ukyou cried for him.
He would have cried, but his own wouldn't come. It was not becoming of a
warrior. It was unbecoming of the warrior Ken had become.
It was too much for Andrew. The ritual was pointless. It was
humiliating. Ken was dead and his death didn't need to be cheapened by a
routine ceremony.
With a hoarse cry, he stabbed the sword into the ground.
"I won't do it! Forgive me, please," he said as the tears finally
came.
Faith quickly went to her husband's side and embraced him.
Ukyou stepped slowly to Ken's body. She hesitantly reached out a hand to
touch his lifeless face. Her hand traced the outline of his cheek and
chin. She would have cried again, but the tears wouldn't come anymore.
"Ken," she murmured softly.
"You loved him very much."
Ukyou turned to the strange woman that held Andrew in her arms.
"You speak Japanese?" she asked in a surprised voice. The sudden
remark in Japanese from the woman in white took Ukyou's mind off present
matters.
"I can speak a hundred thousand languages if I need to. It comes
naturally to me, just as it comes naturally to my sisters."
Ukyou wasn't surprised. Hardly anything surprised her anymore,
mostly because of the emptiness she was feeling.
"I can tell that you loved my husband's brother a great deal. I
can't tell you how sorry I am."
Ukyou nodded solemnly.
"But now he's dead," she replied in a small voice.
Ukyou turned back to the body, cradling Ken's head in her lap. It
was warm. It felt like it was alive; but Ukyou knew better. She closed
his eyes carefully.
"He lived to fulfill demands honor made of him. He lived to
fulfill demands love made of him. I wish it hadn't come to this."
Ukyou turned again to Andrew's wife. Faith smiled gently.
"He's dead," Ukyou said bluntly.
"Yes, he is. Well, to you he is," came an unfamiliar voice. It
was gentle, and musical.
Ukyou turned to look over her shoulder. A pretty Japanese woman
dressed completely in black stood behind her. She wore a plain black
kimono, and a loose black hood. The obi she wore seemed to have silver
threads woven in with the black.
"Who are you?" Ukyou asked softly.
"I am Death. I've come to collect that which is rightfully mine."
Ukyou turned to Faith with a pleading look on her face.
"Haruko, why have come?" Faith asked.
"I'm sure you know what I'm here for. Surely my older sister
knows the routine already," Haruko replied with a smile.
A look of complete fear passed Ukyou's face.
"Please don't do this now, Haruko. This isn't the time," Faith
admonished.
Haruko sighed as she looked at Ukyou. Ukyou saw sympathy and
sadness in Haruko's eyes.
"You loved him very much, didn't you?" Haruko asked softly.
Ukyou could only nod.
"This will hurt me as much as it will hurt you. I cared for Ken a
great deal as well. He was the brother I never had. I do not relish
carrying out my responsibilities."
"Then why are you here?"
"It's Ken's time. It's time for me to take him to his new home,"
Haruko replied as she took a small sword from behind her back.
"Why do you need that? He's dead," Ukyou said fearfully. In her
heart, she thought the blade was for her.
"Ken's body is dead, but his spirit still lives. It is in great
turmoil. I must release it for him so that he can find the peace that I
bring."
Ukyou shook her head.
"His spirit?"
"Yes. Please, I must do my sworn duty. I don't want this to be
any harder than it already is."
When she looked at Haruko intently, Ukyou could see the pain
masked behind the forced smile and the air of calm Haruko radiated. Ukyou
gently passed Ken's body to Haruko when she kneeled beside the okonomiyaki
chef. Ukyou watched sadly as Haruko slowly brought the gleaming blade to
Ken's neck. Remembrances of the days she had spent with Ken passed
through Ukyou's mind, and she wished she could bring them back.
Haruko cradled Ken's body for a second before looking at Ukyou
curiously.
"What is it?" Faith asked.
Haruko looked evenly at Ukyou.
"I can sense your thoughts as easily as my own," she said.
Ukyou looked at the ground.
"What do you mean?" she asked quietly.
"You can't do that."
"What?"
"You can't make a deal with me. Unless"
"Unless what?" Ukyou quickly asked.
"All things in life maintain balance in life and in death. If you
want to take something away from that balance - "
"I have to give something in return?" Ukyou interrupted.
Haruko nodded.
"What do you want? I'll give you anything!"
"You must give me a soul as powerful as Ken's," Haruko said
quietly.
The hope that momentarily flared in Ukyou's heart was extinguished
as quickly as it came. There wasn't much time for her to express her
remorse.
"And that is precisely what I intend to do, dear sister."
Ukyou turned to see a woman in a full bodysuit. It looked like it
was made of silk by the way it shimmered in the firelight. Fitting pants
and a short sleeved tunic completed the ensemble. Everything she wore was
in dark green - the same color Ken's armor and clothes were. Red hair
flowed in sensuous waves to the middle of her back. Piercing green eyes
turned to look at Ukyou. The woman was horribly attractive, and Ukyou
felt a sudden pang of envy pass through her heart as she realized who the
woman was.
Faith and Haruko turned to look at the woman in surprise, and then
in disdain.
"What is it you want, Angela? What would the aspect of Fate
desire in these bleak parts?" Haruko asked tightly.
Angela smiled a predatory smile.
"Don't you remember? Ken's mine," she said matter of factly.

* * * * * * * * * *
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TS...@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html