After far too long, I've finally completed another chapter of this story. For those who have understandably forgotten, this is an alternate universe fic focusing on Ukyou and told from her viewpoint. It began with Ukyou deciding to abandon her vendetta against Ranma and move on with her life. She meets some unusual people, but her move to Nerima goes well, at least until an unexpected face from her past arrives. Many thanks go to Tom Hackwood forprereading. Any and all comments are welcome. Disclaimer: Ranma1/2 is the product of Rumiko Takahashi. Viz Entertainment owns rights in North America. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter Four Ranma's fight with Ryouga was the last excitement for a while, as Ryouga had wandered off somewhere. I knew he'd be back eventually, but I was beginning to think my life would be a reasonable facsimile of normal for a while. I should have known better. It all started for me when Akane burst into the restaurant, her face flushed with excitement. "I need your help, Ukyou." "Maybe you'd better tell me what you need help with, Sugar," I suggested. Inwardly I prayed that this wasn't going to have anything to do with food. The best thing I could say about Akane's culinary skills was that she was creative. "I need to learn rhythmic gymnastics." "All right, now I know you should start from the beginning." As it turned out, there was a simple explanation. Furinkan had a rhythmic gymnastics wrestling match coming up with St. Heberke High School. Since Furinkan's entire gymnastics team had already been injured, they asked Akane to fill in. I think the problem should be obvious by this point. Akane didn't know anything about rhythmic gymnastics. ================= I was beginning to get a bad feeling about this. First, Akane had dropped the clubs, then she'd broken the hoop and finally tangled herself in the ribbon. The worst of it was that I was nursing a black eye from my effort with the ball. "Aren't you supposed to hit your opponent?" Ranma asked from where he was sprawled out on the dojo floor. "If you aren't going to help, just shut up," Akane snapped, glaring at Ranma. "I can help." Turning, I saw Ryouga casually leaning against the entrance to the dojo. Bending over, he picked up a ribbon that was lying on the ground and casually pulled a length of it taut. "You're saying you know martial arts rhythmic gymnastics?" Ranma scoffed. "I've gotta see this." "I manage." With a flick of his wrist, Ryouga sent the ribbon spinning in a spiral that split the air a hairsbreadth away from Ranma. My eyes widened slightly. "That's pretty good." It was surprising, but Ryouga seemed to know what he was talking about. ================= The rest of the evening went a lot better, with Ryouga proving to be a surprisingly able and patient teacher. I wound up staying to provide moral support and to provide a training partner for Akane when Ryouga wasn't around. Which was probably a good idea, because Ryouga vanished shortly after we'd finished for the evening. It's too bad, he seemed like a nice guy and Akane could use the help. I was walking through the gate when the sounds of combat and shouting reached my ears. I turned back immediately, my first thought being the Akane had been attacked the same way that Furinkan's gymnastics team had been. Instead, I saw two figures on the Tendous' roof leap towards each other, one of them bellowing in what I recognized as Ryouga's voice. The next instant, I saw a third person fall from the roof. Sprinting ahead, I jumped upward and caught the falling body, landing on the roof with a slender girl clutched safely in my arms. By this time, Ryouga and whoever he was fighting, presumably Ranma were nowhere in sight. "Ungh?" With an incoherent moan, the girl stirred slightly, her eyes beginning to flutter. "Are you all right?" "I-I-I was so frightened!" With no warning, the girl's arms tightened around me into an unbreakable embrace. "Hold on. I'm not..." The girl didn't wait to hear the rest of my protest. Fortunately for my stomach, she released me after a moment, but the sight of her eyes gazing passionately into mine was almost as nauseating. "Please sir ... may I ask your name?" "U-Ukyou Kuonji. But..." "For you." Once again the girl hadn't given me a chance to speak, this time thrusting a large bouquet of black roses into my hands. The color surprised me, but what happened next froze me in my tracks. A small cloud of gray smoke burst from the bouquet and taken by surprise, I inhaled some of it. "A bit of paralysis gas in the bouquet," the girl explained helpfully, as I collapsed onto the roof. "What? Stay away from me you lunatic." If she even heard my choked demand, the girl ignored it, pressing her body full on mine. My stomach was churning with a blend of nausea and anger, but I could barely twitch. "Now, my Ukyou, be brave and take these lips of mine." An instant before our lips made contact, Kodachi drew back and frowned slightly. "Are you feeling well? That shade of green doesn't look very healthy." "Hey, you're that Black Petunia girl." I might not be on the best terms with Ranma, but I was glad to hear his, or more accurately her voice, at that moment. I was even happier when Kodachi jumped off of me to avoid a snap kick from Ranma. It was too bad he telegraphed it so much, but I can understand him not wanting to hit a girl. I just don't agree. "I am Kodachi, the Black Rose of St. Hebereke High and I will not forget this. Farewell, my Ukyou. Let us meet again." Without a backwards glance, Kodachi leapt into the night and soon disappeared from view, her bone-chilling lingering for a long moment. "Feh." Ranma looked down on my prone body, a curious grin twisting his face. "You know, if you're going to two-time a violent girl like Akane, you shouldn't do it over her bedroom." Rolling my eyes, I could barely catch sight of Akane glaring down at me from further up the roof. Moments later, I was alone on the roof, where I would spend several cold and lonely hours until the paralysis wore off. ================= The following morning was bright and cheerful, so much so that I had nearly managed to put the events of the previous night out of my mind. Akane and I had walked to school together as usual, but she had paused to talk to some friends about the upcoming gymnastics match, so I was taking the opportunity to enjoy the falling leaves of autumn. "Akane Tendou, prepare yourself!" That cry, in a barely familiar and thoroughly detested voice, cut my attention and I whirled, ready to fight. "You again! Ambushing me first thing in the morning!" By the sound of anger in Akane's voice, I wasn't the only one ready to fight. The fact that she holding the shinai Kodachi had used to attack her confirmed it. Kodachi didn't seem reluctant either and hadn't relinquished the bamboo sword to Akane. "Ambushing? I was doing no such thing. I have merely come to visit with Ukyou," Kodachi stated in a reasonable tone. "Ukyou doesn't want anything to do with you." Akane's face reddened slightly with anger and the blade of the shinai creaked in her grip. "So, why don't you just leave?" With a surge of strength, Akane swung the shinai around, hurling Kodachi through the air. Unfortunately, she threw Kodachi towards me. Hoping to escape her, I ran like a craven coward. I didn't succeed, in part due to an unexpected obstacle. "Akane Tendou, I love you!" I easily leapt over Upperclassman Kunou's wild swing and landed lightly on my feet. Swiftly turning to attack, I saw Kodachi smash into her brother's body, causing him to crash into my own body, throwing all three of us to ground in a tangled heap. Looking at the boy, I didn't question the Kendo uniform, nor the bokken he still had in his hands, but I certainly wondered why he had a bouquet of red roses. I soon felt the lithe from of Kodachi molding herself to my back as I tried to stand up. "Oh, Ukyou darling." I was rapidly becoming ready to use physical force to free myself, while Kunou looked on. "Yes!" he finally declared, slapping Kodachi on the back and me on the ribcage. "Yes what?" "Yes, you have my permission to go steady." I was frozen in horror at Kunou's proclamation, but Kodachi had a different response. "I'm so happy." "Hold it! There's no way I'm going st-" My words were choked off as Kodachi sobbed in agony and her eyes brimmed with tears. "So! You hate me!" she shouted, storming forward as I retreated. "Maybe just a li-" Realizing that I was only digging myself in deeper, I looked around for another tactic and soon found it. "I mean ... I have girl friend." I took full advantage of Akane's arrival, interposing her between Kodachi and me. I felt Akane's body stiffen at my words, but I was too panicked to considered the implications. "Girlfriend? You?" "That's right," Akane agreed. "How interesting." Kodachi suddenly snapped a gymnastics ribbon forward like a whip, but both Akane and I avoided it. "What do you say then? Shall we wager for Ukyou in the upcoming match?" "What did you say? Are you insane?" Akane's outraged voice did a good job of capturing my feelings on the matter as well. "I think it's a fine idea, Akane. If you wish to leave Ukyou, you need only lose." I'd nearly forgotten that Kunou was there and he certainly wasn't helping. Kodachi cackled softly, the hideous sound nearly turning my spine to water. "She needn't worry about that. She'll be losing in any case. Ukyou, when this match is over, you shall be mine. Farewell." Spinning her ribbon rapidly, Kodachi stirred up a storm of black rose petals. My vision was momentarily obscured and by the time I recovered, Kodachi was leaping over the stone wall surrounding Furinkan. "Really that girl is such a deviant. But even so, Ukyou Kuonji, take care of my little sister," Kunou said, slapping me on the shoulder. "Huh? You didn't just say what I thought you did?" "I said take care of my little sister. Even though I am her brother, I have to admire her for being so wicked, so spiteful and so thoroughly twisted. Please, Akane, try not to let her injure you." A tear running from his eye, Kunou pressed the bouquet of roses he was carrying into Akane's arms. "When Kodachi wants a man, she doesn't let go," Kunou explained, beginning to walk away. "She'll surely try something evil in the match." "I don't believe it. Two of them," I grumbled. "Now that I think about it, they're identical." "Akane, promise me you'll win." ================= Ryouga hadn't show up again, but despite that, Akane's training went well until at last it was the night before the match. She'd improved a surprising amount for such a short period of time. There was a lot at stake and Kodachi had been practicing for far longer than a week, but I still thought that Akane had a good chance of winning. "Here I come!" Akane charged forward, snapping her ribbon in a spiral that I barely managed to deflect with my own ribbon. Instead of being discouraged, Akane pressed the attack with a series of rapid thrusts using a pair of clubs. "Now it's my turn." I'd let Akane push me back until I was within easy reach of a hoop. Hooking it with my foot, I spun it into the air and allowed it to drop into my free hand. A flick of my wrist sent the hoop hurtling at Akane, but she knocked it harmlessly away with a sweep of her batons. "Not bad." Akane and I both glanced in the direction of the unexpected voice, but in her case the distraction was disastrous. Stepping backwards to recover her balance, Akane's foot descended on a forgotten gymnastics ball. An instant later, she crashed heavily to the floor, her arms flailing wildly. "Oops." Standing in the doorway, a newly arrived Ryouga scratched the back of his head shamefacedly. ================= Akane's room had the same combination of feminine simplicity and tomboy clutter that she did. It was a fascinating illustration of her personality, but I had more urgent matters demanding my attention. "There you go Akane." Kasumi smiled gently as she put away the surgical tape she'd used to wrap Akane's ankle. "Man, my sister the klutz. Tripping yourself." Nabiki commented wryly, her reserved tone somehow implying amusement at the whole situation. "I guess you have no choice but to withdraw from the match." "I'll be there!" Akane retorted angrily, starting to struggle to her feet. "You think I'll let a girl like that beat me?" In the rational portion of my mind, I knew that Kasumi was right, but I still couldn't help hoping. I really wasn't looking forward to seeing the Black Rose again. "No, Akane, wait." Kasumi advised, trying to gently guide Akane back onto her bed, but her efforts were ignored. "Ow!" Akane knew as well. No sooner had she began to put pressure on her injured leg than she winced and raised it again. "See? You'll just have to find a replacement." "That's easy to say. What other girl is nimble, in such great shape and knows martial arts?" Akane questioned. "Ranma!" I exclaimed reaching desperately. "He could do it." Surprisingly, Nabiki came to the rescue of her absent fiancé. "You're forgetting something, Ukyou. Ranma hasn't been training or even watching you practice. Do you really think he can learn the techniques in one night?" "Sure. I mean probably..." My voice trailed off as I considered Nabiki's argument. Ranma was a superb martial artist, at least as good as me, but he specialized in unarmed combat and I had no idea how rapidly he could adapt to an unfamiliar style. "Well enough to beat Kodachi?" Nabiki pressed. "She is the regional champion." My heart sank. Even if Ranma could beat Kodachi, he wasn't likely to agree to participate, especially with Nabiki discouraging him. "I'll think of something." ================= "Forfeit the match?" Kodachi's voice clearly reached my ears as I pressed my back against the wall next to the door. It had been easy to make my choice, but putting it into action was proving far more difficult. I'd managed to follow Akane to St. Heberke High without being seen, but couldn't bring myself to walk into the room after her. Now it was Akane's voice drifting out of the room. "Yes, I injured myself and couldn't find anyone to substitute." "Such a sh-" At the last moment, I almost hurled my body through the door. "I'll take her place." Thanks to the panic I felt, my voice was almost a squeak, but since I usually try to pitch my voice deeper, this was probably a good thing. Akane gasped involuntarily and then began to speak. "Uky-" "I'm Ukyou's cousin, Yumiko Kuonji." I couldn't bring myself to look at Akane and I hoped I wasn't blushing too deeply. I knew what she had to be seeing. A blouse and knee length skirt, along with a slight change in hairstyle and a little bit of make up, wouldn't be enough to make me unrecognizable, although I hoped to get away with it as far as Kodachi was concerned. However, Akane knew me far to well to be fooled. "The cousin of my beloved? It shall be a worthy match." Smiling, Kodachi extended a hand towards me. "Hold it." Before I could reflexively reach out to grasp Kodachi's hand, Akane had grabbed hold of the taller girl's wrist. "My, my. How did these tacks get between my fingers?" ================= Akane helped me prepare for the match, fortunately leaving the room when the time came for me to change into a leotard. Despite a little present from Kodachi, we reached the ring without incident and without discussing what I was doing. Kodachi was already in the ring, along with another girl I assumed was a referee or announcer since she was holding a microphone. "And now, the champions of the schools! In this corner, from St. Heberke School, Kodachi Kunou! And in this corner..." The referee's voice trailed off in confusion. Apparently she hadn't been informed of the substitution, but she rallied quickly. "Excuse me. And you're name is..." "Yumiko Kuonji," I answered, doing my best to sound confident. "From Furinkan High School, Yumiko Kuonji." "Do you think she's related to Ukyou?" "Got to be. They sure look alike and they're both martial artists." "Yeah, besides they have the same family name, idiots." Despite the sudden buzz of conversation from the Furinkan students, no one had burst out laughing. It seemed that my secret was still safe, something I had trouble believing, although logically, I should have been more worried about dressing as a boy. As it was, all I had to worry about was Akane. "I don't believe it," Akane whispered, amazement plain on her face. "Why can't anyone tell you're really a guy?" "No idea. I guess some people just aren't very perceptive." "Champions to the center." The referee's call silenced the speculation, at least temporarily as Kodachi and I made our way to the center of the ring. "Now, shake hands." Reluctantly, I allowed the referee to take hold of my wrist and extended my hand towards Kodachi. "Look, over there!" Kodachi shouted, jerking her hand free and pointing at something behind me. I only looked away from Kodachi for an instant, but that was long enough. Before I could turn back towards her, I heard a distinct click as something cold and metallic encircled my wrist. "Carelessness is your enemy." Kodachi informed me, as I stared incredulously at the small black pig attached to me by a lengthy chain. "P-chan!" Akane was correct; the angrily squealing animal hanging from my wrist was her absent pet. I had to wonder just where it had been and why it had chosen this particular moment to reappear. Whatever the answer, I'd just have to fight Kodachi and hope P-chan wasn't too much of a problem. "Today, martial rhythmic gymnastics! The rules; no time limit, no barehanded blows, the match ends when one contestant is knocked completely out and if either contestant falls from the ring, she will be an immediate loser!" Kodachi and I both took the announcers words as our cue to begin. I hurled half a dozen clubs at her, taking advantage of my familiarity with throwing weapons, but Kodachi casually swatted them out of the air, swinging the rope almost as if it was a solid rod. Kodachi pressed the attack, bringing the rope down in an overhead attack, which I barely sidestepped. My eyes widened in surprise when the rope connected solidly with the mat. "Referee! That's against the rules," Akane protested from the side of the ring. As I dodged a series of thrusts from Kodachi, I caught the end the of the referee's explanation. "...as long as it's not a bare-handed blow." "Agh!" I jumped backwards as an array of sharp spikes shot extended from the end of the club Kodachi was wielding. "Akane! Spatula!" As long as there were no rules about what kind of weapons were used, I'd take advantage. "Here!" Responding quickly, Akane tossed my spatula into the ring. Catching it, I turned back to Kodachi in time to see her hurl a hoop at me. Swinging my spatula in a tight arc, I knocked the hoop back towards Kodachi, severing the top of one of the posts when she managed to dive out of the way. "It looks like you're serious about this," I observed, "that's fine, I am too." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw P-chan gather himself as if to pounce on Kodachi. I didn't know pigs did that, but maybe Kodachi is just one of those people animals don't like. It wouldn't surprise me. "You believe so? A true gymnast relies on style and grace, not the brute force of a barbarian," Kodachi replied, directing a disdainful glance at my spatula. With speed that would shame a cobra, her ribbon lashed out and ensnared my spatula. "Is that the best you can do?" Bracing myself, I let Kodachi take up the slack between us and then spun around, whipping my spatula through the air. I saw with satisfaction that Kodachi hadn't released her grip in time and that her trajectory would take her out of the ring. That satisfaction disappeared when Kodachi let out a shrill whistle and the ring lurched under my feet, moving so that she landed within its borders. "Did you truly expect such a childish ploy to work? I cannot leave the ring." "Maybe so, but I smell a rat." A downward sweep with my spatula opened a two-meter long gash in the center of the rings floor. Holding my weapon up to the light afterwards, I saw a few long, fine hairs caught on the edge of the blade. "Or maybe a whole pack." It was my turn to smirk as a group of leotard-clad girls emerged from underneath the ring. "I, the Black Rose, need no help to defeat you." Drawing herself up to her full height, Kodachi produced several clubs. "Lets find out." Charging forward, I launched a roundhouse blow at Kodachi's head. I was surprised when the blow connected; her attempt to dodge converted to a drunken lurch by P-chan's chain. Kodachi's body was propelled backwards, until she bounced off of the ropes surrounding the ring to land face first in the center of the ring. "You won, Ukyou." Akane's words were the first to break the silence following my surprisingly quick victory, with the referee's announcement coming several seconds later. "You don't need to sound so surprised. And don't call me that." Fortunately, I didn't think the referee heard and there was no one else close enough. Now what?" "Fear not, I shall honor my pledge. From this moment on, my love for Ukyou is ended." Kodachi climbed to her feet, looking a bit unsteady, but not seriously hurt. Beside me, P-chan glared at Kodachi and I resisted the urge to do the same. Just how long had she been awake? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I managed to get changed back into my usual clothes without trouble and was soon walking away from St. Heberke's with Ranma and Akane. There was only one minor problem. "I'm sorry P-chan disappeared again," I said to Akane. "That's not your fault. It's almost like he does that on purpose." "I've gotta admit you've got a lot of guts to do something like that, Ukyou," Ranma commented. "Do you really think so?" I asked. Sometimes Ranma wasn't nearly as bad as I'd expected. "Yes. Of course, you could have done with a little more padding. I mean, even Akane isn't that flat-chested. Now my cursed form..." I snorted in disgust. Maybe I was giving Ranma too much credit, or maybe that was his idea of a joke. "Never mind him, Ukyou. I'm just glad that this is over," Akane said, pushing Ranma into a convenient fountain. "Me too." I just hoped that it was over. End Chapter 4.