For What You Dream Of

				  By Kyle Emmerson

    Ranma 1/2 and all of its characters and situations are the
creation and property of Rumiko Takahashi. I use these
characters and situations without permission.

Part Six: For the Ones We've Lost

****

	Sunday morning at the Saotome home brought an unwelcome visitor
to Ranma's bedroom window. The small songbird sang happily in the
upper branches of a spruce outside of the home.

	While the bird would have had a willing audience had it chosen
the tree on the opposite side of the house, this audience was
anything but willing. In fact, it was downright nasty.

	The pillow struck the bird square in the face during his morning
serenade. While it was slightly stunned, injured it wasn't. However, the
bird flew off in a hurry nonetheless.

	Ranma let his groggy face appear before the window for a moment
before letting it fall back to his bed.

	He was tired. That much he was sure of.

	Something he wasn't sure of, however, was the time.

	"Hey, Saotome!" another voice called through his window. Ranma
opened one eye, assuming the songbird had returned.

	He stalked over to the window to get his bearings on the
creature. There. Down by the front entrance. She was wearing a
baseball cap with shoulder length brown hair, and looked remarkably
like Akane's sister.

	Time to wind up the pitch.

	"Saotome, if you throw that, you can consider your forgotten
IOU's, remembered."

	Ranma stopped in mid throw and narrowed his eyes.

	Oh. Right. Nabiki.

	"I'll be right down," he yawned.

	He got dressed quickly, donning his usual wardrobe. The same old
red Chinese style shirt with the wooden ties, and the black elastic
pants.

	Why mess with perfection?

	He made his way out the door and looked across the hallway.
Akane's door was closed, which meant she was probably still
sleeping.

	He couldn't blame her. He lightly held the carved wooden duck
with her name on it for a moment. He knew Kasumi had one, and he was
pretty sure Nabiki did too, although he hadn't seen it very often.
She didn't like to keep it on her door.

	Probably something someone made for them. It obviously meant a
lot to Akane, the way she obsessed about going up to get it when
they moved the furniture.

	Ranma turned towards the stairs and made his way down. His
parents weren't up yet either. Oh well, Akane would tell them where
he was. That would be fine.

	He slipped his shoes on and left the house, making his way to
the gate where Nabiki was.

	"Took you long enough, Saotome," Nabiki said. "If I weren't so
understanding, I'd be inclined to think that you were intentionally trying
to stall me."

	Ranma yawned and shook his head. He was too tired to make a
snappy comeback. Instead, he just asked, "Where to?"

	Nabiki looked at her watch. "Well, first we've got to head to
the train station. If we hurry we can make the 7:45 to Shinjuku. Our
destination is on the way."

	"7:45? What time is it now?"

	"7:34."

	Ranma put his hand to his forehead. "Jeez, Nabiki. You couldn't
wake me up any EARLIER?"

	"No, I slept in a bit."

	Ranma just shook his head and sighed. "I don't have enough for a
token, Nabiki."

	"Saotome, you wound me. Are you insinuating that I won't take
care of you while you're in my employ? Just do as I say and there won't
be any problem."

	Ranma raised one eyebrow. "Who are you and what have you done
with Nabiki?"

	Nabiki's reply was to pull something out of her backpack. It was
small, black and distinctly resembled a--

	Ranma's eyes widened as Nabiki pulled the gun on him.

	"Sorry about this, Saotome. Needs to be done."

	Ranma had no time to react. He was far too dumfounded. He
didn't doubt that Nabiki could get a gun through one of her countless
contacts, but to pull it on him?

	Ranma closed his eyes in expectance of the lead bullet as Nabiki
pulled the trigger. Had he been any more awake, he most likely would have
realized that this was Nabiki Tendo, the same Nabiki Tendo he'd lived with
for nearly a year.

	But then, he was still tired enough that he assumed he was dreaming.

	He felt a cold wetness spray his face and heard a soft chuckle from
Nabiki as the change washed over his body.

	Ranma opened her eyes. "Hey!" she exclaimed. "What was THAT
for?"

	Nabiki smiled. "You'll see."

	Much of the short walk to the train station was accompanied by
Ranma's incessant groaning, and Nabiki's occasional glare. Other
than that, it was mainly uneventful.

	Until they had gotten there.

	"Ahoy, Nabiki!" the man behind the Plexiglas booth smiled.

	Nabiki waved at the him enthusiastically. "Shinichi, how are
things?"

	Ranma eyed the man innocently from her viewpoint on the opposite
side of the Plexiglas booth. He was slightly older than Nabiki.
He guessed he was around Kasumi's age, but to be working in a ticket
booth? From his past experiences at the train stations, they were usually
occupied by older folks. Usually people in their late thirties.

	The man smiled back at Nabiki. "Great, great. Yumi's doing fine.
She got a part time job up at the temple, so she's paying for her
own way through school."

	"Oh yeah?" Nabiki asked. "You guys set a date yet?"

	Shinichi nodded. "Just before the start of the new school year.
March Twenty-Eighth."

	"Ooh, so not to far off, eh?" Nabiki winked. "Make sure I get an
invite."

	Shinichi nodded. "Sure thing. Yumi would love to see you there."

	"Anyway, Shinichi," Nabiki said. "My friend and I have pressing
business we've got to attend to. Could we get two?"

	The man smiled and pulled two train tickets from a machine at
his side. "Here ya go, Nabiki."

	Nabiki took the tickets and handed one to Ranma. "Thanks,
Shinichi. See you next time!"

	Shinichi smiled and waved as the two of them passed on by.

	Ranma examined his ticket for a moment. "Uh, Nabiki?"

	"I know what you're going to ask, Saotome. But don't worry.
Shinichi owes me more than you could imagine."

	Ranma whispered to himself, "Then how come he acts like you're
one of his best friends?"

	Surprisingly, Nabiki heard him. "It's not acting, Ranma. I met
him last year at a... social function for his college. If it wasn't
for me, he'd never have gotten the guts to ask Yumi out."

	"Yumi?"

	"His fiancee. I noticed him looking at her, and he seemed so
much the loner, so I had to do something. Luck turned out on my side
in the end, because he worked here part time, and I got free tickets
in return."

	"Wait," Ranma began. "You helped him out BEFORE you knew he
worked here?"

	Nabiki paused and looked toward Ranma. "Why, yes, Saotome. If
you've ever really tried to understand me, you'd realize that I'm
not ALWAYS the money-grubber you think I am."

	Ranma, wisely, decided to remain silent. The two of them entered
their tickets into the machine, and pushed the turnstiles to allow
them through.

	They quickly moved toward the train before the doors closed. It
was unfortunately standing room only, but they managed.

	And three stops later, they got off.

****

	"It went well last night, from the looks of things," Genma said,
shaving his face in the adjoining bathroom of the master bedroom. "That
was a good idea, dear."

	Nodoka, who sat on the edge of the bed, nodded. "Yes, but it still
could have gone better," she looked up and focused on a point in the
ceiling. "Much better."

	"I don't see how," Genma noted. "We were watching the whole time."

	Nodoka smirked. "Yes, that didn't even go as planned," she looked up
at her husband. "Oh, Genma... My son is so manly! Why does he not show his
manliness to Akane?"

	Genma flinched just enough to nick his face. With a quick curse, he
covered it up with a piece of tissue paper. "I... err... Well, perhaps
Ranma isn't ready for that yet." He winced just after saying that. He'd
spent the past several months hiding himself and Ranma from his wife just
because he was afraid she'd think him unmanly. Now that it was no longer
in question, he has to say something to lay doubt upon his manliness?

	"Did you not show him the merits of manliness, dear?" Nodoka asked,
looking up into her husbands eyes. "I'm sure many opportunities had shown
themselves during your training."

	Genma blinked. Exactly what was she--

	"I mean," she continued. "There should have been many brothels in
China. Even during your time in Japan there should have been
opportunities."

	Genma blanched. Something he had never expected his wife to ask of him
was to bring his son to a brothel. "Err," he began. "Well, Nodoka, dear...
I.... errr...... The opportunity never came about. We were too focused on
our training."

	"Still, he has been here in Nerima for less than a year, and already
has several suitors. I understand his decision not to lead them on, as
that would have been unmanly... But during the past ten years, can't he
have earned.... experience? His shyness isn't very manly, however... Oh
Genma, I just don't know..."

	Genma moved back into the bedroom. "Nodoka, dear," he began, placing a
hand on her shoulder. "Our son is very manly. But he is very tender in the
ways of love. I wish I could have taught him otherwise, but the
opportunity never came up."

	Genma , of course, was lying through his teeth. The opportunity had
come several times over the years. But whenever Genma was in a brothel, he
always had Ranma run an errand, or something else-- as long as he was
nowhere near the brothel.

	"I'm sure you did all you could, Genma. Even sacrificing your own form
for the curse to challenge his manliness was an act of greatness."

	Genma blinked in surprise. "Err... Yes... Of course! It was all a test
of manliness!"

	"Still," she continued. "I've yet to understand why you hid for me for
so long..."

	Genma had already tiptoed back to the bathroom.

****

	"All right," Ranma said after coming out from the station.
"Where to?"

	Nabiki pointed in a straight line down the block. "Four streets
up, one over."

	Ranma looked. "We expecting any trouble?"

	Nabiki shrugged. "Who can say? Besides, with you around, I'm not
worried."

	During the walk down the street, Ranma's thoughts wandered. He
knew Akane wouldn't approve of what he was doing for her, but it's
not like he was exacting his revenge directly from the gang.

	He was just gathering some information. With Nabiki. Yeah,
that's it.

	Definitely.

	It didn't take long for them to reach the place. It was still
quite early, and Ranma wasn't sure if the person they were looking
for would still be awake.

	Cautiously, Nabiki made her way to the front door, and rang the
doorbell.

	There were a few subtle thumps from inside the house, and
finally a tired looking girl answered the door. She seemed to be
around Ranma's age.

	"Yes?" she asked, yawning.

	"Madoka Ayukawa?" Nabiki asked.

	The girl nodded. "Yeah?"

	"My colleague and I were wondering if we could ask you a few
questions."

	Madoka looked at the two of them appraisingly for a moment.
"About what?"

	Nabiki sighed. "It would be better if we could talk inside," she
said.

	Again, Madoka looked at the two of them. Finally, she opened the
door a bit wider, and led the two of them to the living room. A soft
couch awaited them as they sat.

	Ranma looked around the room. Quite impressive, a large piano
stood next to the far wall, and several bits of furniture lay around
the house.

	"Tea?" Madoka asked.

	Nabiki shook her head. "We've come here regarding a rather...
personal matter. About six days ago, my sister was attacked and
nearly killed by a street gang."

	Madoka looked up. "A street gang?"

	Nabiki nodded. "More importantly, a girl gang."

	Madoka waved her hands in front of her face. "I don't deal with
gangs. I haven't for some time now."

	"I'm actually already aware of that," Nabiki said. "As I'm aware
that you are acquainted with a woman by the name of Oryuu?"

	Madoka's eyes sprung open for a moment.

	She leaned closer. "What's this about?"

	"We have no qualm with you," Nabiki said. "But apparently the
leader of the gang that hurt my sister was... Oryuu."

	Madoka shook her head. "Oryuu only would have hurt her if she
deserved it."

	Ranma stood up. "What? Are you saying--"

	"Ranma! Sit!" Nabiki snapped.

	Grudgingly, Ranma retook her seat.

	"This gang has been terrorizing students in our ward for quite a
few weeks now," Nabiki continued. "Most of it unprovoked. Theft,
muggings, all of that sort of thing. Tell me, what could my sister
have done to provoke one of the gang members pulling a gun on her?"

	Madoka levelled her gaze. "Guns are illegal. Oryuu knows that,
she doesn't even consider using guns."

	"Nonetheless, one was pulled on my sister."

	Madoka shook her head and stood up. "Listen, Oryuu makes her own
rules. I'm not going to tell you any more than that. Now if you'll
excuse me, I've got to practice." She walked over to the piano and took a
seat.

	As the notes started to fill the room, Nabiki sighed. "Well, I'm sorry
to see that this was a wasted trip. Come, Ranma."

	Ranma and Nabiki stood up and began to walk out the door. Madoka
just continued to play, not passing them a second glance.

	Before Ranma left the house, she looked over to Madoka.

	"Listen," she began. "Akane... I mean, the girl who was hurt...
She means a lot to me. It killed me when she was hurt, but... Look,
just think about it if it was someone you care about that was hurt."

	Ranma then turned and walked out the door.

	Madoka slowed her fingers to a crawl. The song she was playing
suffered the most when she looked towards the closed door. Quickly, she
got up and ran towards the door, swinging it open. "Wait," she said.

	Ranma and Nabiki turned around.

	"I... I understand what you're saying. It's just... Oryuu has
gotten me out of a lot of sticky situations. If I were to tell you
anything, it would feel like I was betraying her."

	Ranma looked up towards her. "If you're her friend," she said.
"You'd do something about this."

	Nabiki walked back up the steps. "Madoka, you seem like a
respectable person. I'd rather not part under less-than-friendly
circumstances. But if it means stopping the girls who did this, then
I'd have to risk it."

	Madoka sighed. "I'll... I'll see what I can do."

	Nabiki pulled out a small card from her pocket. "You can reach
me or Ranma at these numbers. The addresses are on the back. If you
can talk to us, about ANYTHING, just pick up the phone."

	Madoka took the card and looked at the two of them. "All right,"
she said, and went back inside of her house.

	And with that, Nabiki and Ranma left.

	"I knew you would get through to her," Nabiki smirked.

	Ranma blinked. "Huh?"

	"Call it a hunch, but I knew it. You just seemed to click with
her."

	"Hey, what's that--"

	"Not in that way, Saotome. A little touchy on that subject, are
we? I meant the wavelengths."

	"Is that why you gave her both our numbers?"

	"Another hunch. I figured she might like talking to you better."

	Ranma just shook her head. "So you think she'll call?"

	"Actually, I think she'll do us one better," Nabiki replied, a
sly smile on her face. "But let me know."

	Ranma just looked back at her, slightly confused.

****
	
	The morning dew did nothing to lubricate each well-placed step.
But then, for Konatsu Kenzan, it wouldn't have mattered if it was pure
petrol. He might as well have been walking on solid ice, or rough desert
ground.

	Quickly and silently he made his way to the outer wall, and then
to a fair sized spruce resting outside of one of the bedroom
windows.

	He peered in. Empty. From the looks of things, it was Ranma's
room. But he wasn't there.

	Then again, he could be downstairs. Or even out.

	Konatsu shuddered to think what would happen if he weren't
there.

	He swung down to the front door with surgical precision. He rang
the doorbell, hoping anyone who he had unintentionally woken up
would forgive him.

	Either way, he had no choice.

	There were a few moments of silence. His trained ears could
sense small auditory signals. The swing of a door. Another door. Two
sets of footsteps walking down the stairs.

	The footsteps were much too light to be Ranma, but he could be
in girl form.

	A moment later, the door swung open.

	"Yes?" the woman asked.

	Konatsu didn't recognize her at all. Most likely Ranma's mother.
Yes. He could see subtle similarities in her face and Ranma's.

	He was about to speak when a second voice spoke up from behind
her.

	"Konatsu?" Akane asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

	Konatsu had no time to waste. "Ranma? Is Sir Ranma here?"

	Akane blinked. "Ranma?" She could sense the urgency in his
voice. "Konatsu, what's wrong?"

	Konatsu shook his head. "No time to explain. Ranma, Mistress
Ukyou needs Sir Ranma!"

	Akane quickly turned towards Nodoka. "Auntie, could you get
Ranma?"

	Nodoka sensed the urgency as well, and hustled toward the
stairs.

	"Konatsu, what's wrong with Ukyou?"

	"Mistress Shampoo and Sir Mousse are there now, trying to help.
She needs Sir Ranma, though!"

	"Shampoo and Mousse?"

	Konatsu nodded. "Since the wedding, Mistress Shampoo and
Mistress Ukyou have been good friends."

	"Akane," Nodoka called from upstairs. "Ranma's not in his room!"

	Akane raised a confused eyebrow. Could he have left with Nabiki
already? This early? Damn!

	"Mistress Akane?"

	"Konatsu, Ranma's not here. He had to do something with my
sister this morning."

	The expression on Konatsu's face turned maniacal. "What? Where?
Where did he go?"

	Akane shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe he's at my house."

	Konatsu shook his head. "No, I stopped there first. Sir Tendo
told me to come here."

	Akane paused in thought. "Okay," she said. "Ranma's not here,
she'll have to settle for my help."

	Konatsu looked surprised for a moment. "Mistress Akane, I'm not
so sure--"

	"Look, you say Ukyou's in trouble, right?"

	Konatsu nodded. "She's been crying since this morning. She won't
tell me anything."

	"Well, Ranma's not here. I'll have to go."

	"But--"

	"Look, Konatsu. I appreciate your concern, but what else are we
going to do?"

	Konatsu sighed.

	"Let me get dressed, I'll be right down."

	With that, Akane made her way up the stairs.

****

	Madoka absently tapped the small card sitting on the time of the
piano. In fact, she was tapping the card more than she was playing
the piano.

	Which wasn't what she should have been doing.

	But still, there was something in that woman's voice. There was
something...

	Madoka thought hard for a few moments. What if... what if it had
been Hikaru that had been hurt like that? Or even one of Kyousuke's
sisters?

	She didn't know the extent of the injuries the girl had received,
other than what she was told. Close to death and...

	She shuddered. A gun.

	She picked up the card and walked over to the phone. They lived
in Nerima, so they wouldn't be home yet.

	But someone else would be.

	She lifted the receiver to her ear and began to dial. After a few
rings, a voice answered on the other end.

	"Hello, Oryuu?"

****

	Ranma and Nabiki, unfortunately, had to pay their way back to
Nerima. Still, it was half price, do to Nabiki's shrewd bargaining
skills.

	Still, how she had bargained a machine down to half price, Ranma
could only guess at.

	When asked, she merely shrugged and said 'primitive machinery.'

	It was then that Ranma realized he didn't WANT to know.

	As the train came to a stop, Ranma's first destination was to the
public washroom to get some hot water.

	"I'll be going home now, Saotome. I suggest you do the same, in
case Ayukawa calls," Nabiki said, waving.

	Ranma nodded and made his leave into the washroom. The hot water
was easily found, and Ranma soon made his way out of the washroom,
and the train station altogether.

****

	The trip there was nearly nonexistent. Konatsu had taken Akane
up in his arms and jumped, skipped and ran all the way to Ucchans.

	And then they were there.

	"Akane?" a voice asked. "What are you doing here?"

	Akane looked over to the source to see Mousse sitting outside of
the restaurant.

	"Mousse," Akane greeted. "Do you know what's wrong?"

	He shook his head. "I decided to wait out here. It's better to
let the girls talk amongst themselves. All I can discern is that
she's incredibly upset about a phone call she got this morning."

	Akane nodded.

	"Where's Ranma?" he asked Konatsu.

	"Sir Ranma wasn't there. Mistress Akane insisted on coming."

	Akane nodded. "Ranma is helping Nabiki out with something."

	"What? He's cavorting off with your sister while Ukyou is in
pain? What a self--"

	"That's something you shouldn't finish, Mousse. He left before
he even knew about Ukyou. I told him mother to send him right over
as soon as he gets back, though."

	Mousse clenched his fist. "Still, he's off with your sister!"

	"On a business trip. You know Nabiki, she probably wanted him
along because it would help her get more money, or something."

	Mousse unclenched his fist slightly. It was obvious he was
trying to gripe about something.

	As Akane moved towards the doorway, Mousse immediately picked up
on her intentions.

	"What are you doing?" he asked, getting between her and the
entrance.

	Akane sighed. "Mousse, I've helped Ukyou out before. I--"

	"Yes, but don't you remember the wedding? I'm not sure EITHER of
them want to see you right now."

	Akane looked towards Mousse. "Mousse, Ukyou is in pain. I don't
know why, but I'm not going to be intimidated from helping her just
because Shampoo doesn't want to see me."

	Mousse looked at her for a moment, and then relented. He moved
out of her way and let her pass.

	Akane could hear a silently uttered 'good luck' as she entered
the restaurant.

	As she entered, the entire atmosphere changed. It was dry and
musky. Ukyou was huddled up against one of her tables, her spatula
appeared as though it had been flung across the room, and imbedded
into her grill.

	A metal grill.

	Shampoo looked up from patting Ukyou's back and let her
expression change.

	"What you doing here?" she asked, her face cold and devoid of
any emotion.

	Ukyou looked up as well. If she was upset at Akane's presence,
it didn't show. He face was soaked with tears.

	Akane stepped forward with a concerned look on her face.
"Ukyou?" she asked. "Are you all right?"

	Ukyou wiped her face and sniffled. Without answering, she merely
stood up and walked back towards her grill.

	"Ukyou?" Akane asked.

	"She no want to see you right now, Akane," Shampoo told her.
"You go now. She want see Ranma."

	Akane shot a dirty look towards Shampoo. "I'm her friend too,
you know. Besides, Ranma isn't at home."

	Shampoo gave a dirty look in reply. "You lie. You no let Konatsu
tell Ranma."

	Akane furrowed her brow. "I'm not here to fight, Shampoo."

	"If you no leave, you get one."

	"I don't--"

	"SHUT UP!" Ukyou screeched. "The both of you. If you're going to
fight, do it somewhere else!"

	Akane dropped her scowl immediately, while Shampoo let it linger
for a moment, and then the both of them looked over at Ukyou.

	"Ukyou?" Akane moved towards the sobbing girl. "What's the
matter?"

	Ukyou tugged at her spatula a few times before letting out a
scoff.

	"It's stuck," she said.

	From the looks of the rest of the place, Akane assumed it wasn't
the only wound the restaurant had suffered at the hands of the
battle spatula.

	Akane made her way over to Ukyou slowly. "Please," she pleaded.
"Tell me what happened."

	Ukyou kept her gaze lowered to her grill. She made no effort to
reply, verbally or non-verbally.

	She moved closer, finding her way around the grill. She felt out
of place, like she was somewhere she didn't belong. She could
scarcely make out the light breathing from behind her.

	Finally, she placed her hands on Ukyou's back and shoulder.

	"Ukyou?" she asked. "I'm your friend. You can talk to me."

	Finally, she got a reaction from Ukyou. She shook Akane off of
her and moved back.

	"No!" she screamed. "NO!"

	"Ukyou, please--"

	"NO!" she screamed again. "It's because he liked you better! It's
because of the wedding! It threw him over the edge!"

	Akane was beginning to become confused. "Over the edge?" she
asked. "Ukyou, what--"

	"How would YOU understand?" Ukyou cried. "How would YOU know how
it feels?!"

	"Ukyou, I don't--"

	"He's dead," she said, calming her intense screams to a gentle
sob. "Oh my God he's dead."

	Akane sucked in her breath. "He's.. dead? Ukyou... Who?"

	Shampoo moved closer to Akane. "Is better to let her cry, Akane."

	Akane looked over to Shampoo. Her entire demeanor had changed.
"What's wrong with her?"

	"In village, warriors who lose someone go to greens to mourn for
three days. Is no greens in Japan. Is no escape from death."

	Akane looked back at Ukyou. She moved closer. "Ukyou... who--"

	Ukyou looked at Akane and erased all evidence of emotion from it.

	For a period of three seconds. She managed to quietly whimper one
word before falling to the floor.

	"Daddy."

****

	"Hey, mom!" Ranma called. "I'm home!"

	"Ranma?" a voice called from the kitchen. Nodoka came out with a
concerned look on her face. "Akane's left. There's something the matter
with young Ukyou."

	Ranma blinked. "What?"

	"Her... friend came by not too long ago. They both left for her
restaurant, I don't know what's wrong, but--"

	"Thanks, mom!" Ranma cried, and started to sprint towards the one and
only, Ucchan's Okonomiyaki.

	Nodoka was left standing at the door, and continued what she was about
to say... "But Akane didn't want you coming along... Ranma!"

	Nodoka quickly took chase.

****

	The past was a place of joys and pains for Ukyou Kuonji. This time, it
was nostalgia. Pure and simple memories.

	Ukyou's father was at heart a kind man. It was he who encouraged Ukyou
to do what she wanted to in life. The smile on his face when she told him
she wanted to continue the family tradition, and develop a martial arts
style based around the cooking of okonomiyaki.

	Well, actually, at first, he said it was rather obsessive, but then
once he saw the skill she's shown him. The skill in which she'd battled
against the raging waves of the ocean, and the unrelenting promise she'd
made to get her revenge...

	For him. All for him.

	Ukyou Kuonji had made a promise for revenge, not for herself or her
own honour, but... for him. For her father. For HIS honour, HIS
livelihood.

	Years ago, her father had made a deal with a wandering soul. A man
named Genma Saotome, to simply arrange a marriage between their children.
A marriage between young Ukyou Kuonji, and young Ranma Saotome.

	But when they had been betrayed, Ukyou's father went into a wide state
of depression. It was left to Ukyou to cheer him up. To exact revenge for
the stolen yatai, and her fathers lost honour.

	So when she got a lead from her friend, who had been in Nerima for
quite some time, about a young man who had created quite a local impact,
she saw the time of her revenge nearing.

	And so it had come about, that the first piece of revenge had been
taken out, on Genma Saotome. The very man who had betrayed her ten years
earlier. The very man who had sent her father into a state of depression,
for years.

	But when the last stage of her revenge was to come into being,
something unexpected had happened.

	He had called her cute. Her, Ukyou, who had dressed up as a boy for
the past ten years. Who had endured ridicule and ignorance for none other
than her father, in order to carry out her revenge, and maintain her
hatred for the Saotome name.

	He called her cute.

	Revenge was the last thing on her mind at the time. There was no way
she could go through with it. On the other hand, there was something else
she could go through with.

	Love. Marriage. Peace.

	Ukyou found herself dressing as a female more often. Her okonomiyaki
outfit did nothing to hide her true sex. While she still wore the boys
uniform to school, as she had enrolled as a boy, outside, there was no
reason to hide her sex.

	Especially to Ranma.

	So, to her, the former agreement went into play. She would marry Ranma
and fulfill her fathers wish.

	But now, things were different. The one source of motivation for her
had passed on. Died, and would never come back.

	And now, as much as she had wanted to blame him. To blame Ranma for
all her troubles-- she couldn't. As much as she wanted to hate Akane and
Shampoo for getting in the way of her honour... She didn't.

	"Ukyou," Akane placed her hand tenderly on Ukyou's shoulder. Ukyou's
sobbing had come to a lull as her memory went back, seeking more of the
kinder, gentler remembrances of her father. 

	"I got the call this morning," she said, trying to keep her emotions
in check. "It happened last night. In his sleep... They said it was his
heart... and I think they're right."

	"Ukyou," Shampoo said. "Even with warriors, is okay to cry."

	Ukyou closed her eyes as she felt the build up of tears coming back up
through her sinuses and out of her tear duct. "I was too late," she said,
shaking her head. "Too late."

	Akane looked down at Ukyou, sitting at her table with her elbows
propped up, and her hands at her forehead. "Ukyou, I know how it feels to
lose someone close to you. Believe me, it's better to cry."

	"I don't WANT to cry," Ukyou said, gritting her teeth together.

	Shampoo quickly pulled Akane away from Ukyou. "Is better leave her
alone, Akane. She cry when she ready."

	Akane blinked at Shampoo, and then looked down at Ukyou. "Well, what
should we do, then?"

	Shampoo closed her eyes. "Shampoo lose her mother and father. When
warrior in village lose family, they spend three days in Greens. Is no
greens in Japan, no place to be alone. But she need be alone, Akane."

	"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

	Shampoo sighed. "Ukyou strong warrior. She be okay. She need time."

	The both of them looks down at Ukyou, who was once again sobbing
uncontrollably. Akane thought about what Shampoo was saying, and then
sighed.

	"Shampoo... you were born and raised in China," she said. "In a tribe
in the middle of nowhere, where ideals are different, and the way you were
raised. Things work much differently here in Japan. I couldn't have made
it through the death of my mother without my sisters or my friends." She
pulled her arm out of Shampoo's grip. "I'm staying with her."

	Shampoo narrowed her eyes for a moment, and then thought about it.

	It was true, she realized. Japan was different from China. People here
worked in business, relied on technology and were an entirely social race.

	Her home, however, was entirely different. Technology meant nothing in
her village. The only place in the village that had electricity was the
healer, and only then used with a gasoline powered generator. Technology
meant nothing there.

	As well as social activities. The only social activities in her
village were the annual tournaments. The way they cared only for their
own, and shunned outsiders, unless they were able to defeat them in
combat.

	But here, people were encouraged to find and keep friends. Social
parties and holidays like Christmas, or New Years.

	Yes... For once, Shampoo could see Akane's point. She grabbed Akane's
shoulder, getting her attention and nodded. A moment later, she sat down
at the table with Ukyou and placed her hand gingerly on Ukyou's arm.

	Akane did quite the same, and sighed. "Ukyou... We'll be here for
you..."

	"Akane right. Shampoo be here for..." she swallowed before saying the
last word. "...friend."

****

	Authors Note:

	When you lose someone close to you, it creates an entire world of
hurt, but it also creates a new beginning, for the few who are able to
deal with it.

	When I was thirteen years old, I lost my best friend in a car
accident. His name was Brian, and I had been friends with him since we
were in kindergarten. The pain lasted for a long time, and I don't even
know if I ever truly got over it, but to this day, I look back on our time
together, and I remember the happy times.

	I would like to dedicate this chapter to Brian. My friend through good
times and bad, and to any family or friends that any of my readers may
have lost.

	For the One's We've Lost...

	Good day, friends.

	June 6, 2000.