"What a great idea, coming to the seaside at Atami! The tourist business is great here."

Ryoga turned to Ukyo glumly. "Well, I'm glad one of us is having fun..."
"Aww, don't be so pessimistic, sugar! It's beautiful here! I mean, just because you didn't get to go to, um-- where was it you wanted to go again?"

Ryoga contemplated throwing her a bitterly ironic "So nice it is that people always pay attention to what I say", but soon thought better of it. She was in too good a mood to get phased by it, and either way, she wasn't the one who had caused him this misery. He had done it all by himself. "Jusenkyo," he mumbled, "you know, the legendary hot spri--"
Ukyo cut him off with a "Umhmm," that could only mean "Be right witcha, honey," before expertly slapping two piping hot okonomiyakies on two napkins and handing them to the sweet couple before her. She wiped her hands on a cloth, looked around for other potential customers, saw none, and then finally went over and sat down in the sand next to him.

"You can't live in Nerima and not know about Jusenkyo, ne?" She quirked a smile at him.
He was silent, glowering at the sand, as if he blaimed it for everything bad that'd ever happened in his life. Oh no, wait-- that would be Saotome Ranma's fault.
"So," Ukyo said, after mere seconds, "why did you want to go there? You don't turn into a girl too, do you?"
Ryoga looked sharply up at her, and she was puzzled, yet not intimidated by the anger in his eyes. Then the glow in them burned out, leaving two sad, brown pools. He said something she didn't catch. "Hmm? What's that, sugar?" This was going to be interesting. She was unaware that Ryoga had a curse as well. He whispered something, only barely more audible than the last time. "Honey, you're gonna have to speak up, okay?" Said Ukyo with a hint of annoyance.

"I t-turn into a...um..."
"Yeah?"
"When I was at Jusenkyo, I, um..."
Ukyo heard a noise and looked over her shoulder. "Listen, Ryoga...I seem to be getting some new customers, so if you have something to say, you better get it off yer chest n--"
"I AM A PIG!!!" Ryoga bellowed.  Ukyo froze, as did the approaching handful of okonomiyaki customers. They all stared at the bright red boy in the black and yellow bandanna. If she had thought more closely about it, Ukyo would've found it to be an amusing color combination. She quickly glanced at the small, wide-eyed crowd.
"Aheheh... um, that's good, Ryoga. Now, why don't you go for a nice swim or something while I attend to--" Ukyo quickly realized the error of this statement, but Ryoga had already ran off at the word "swim" , throwing his fists over his head and screaming in rage.  "Hmm." So Ryoga turns into a pig when he touches cold water, huh? Ukyo frowned, then shrugged, and started to do what she did best, and what customers everywhere paid willingly for. The best okonomiyaki in the world.Then the sky opened, deciding it was due to take a leak. Kuonji Ukyo, okonomiyaki chef extraordinaire, sighed heavily. It was time to pack up and go after the jackass.

P-chan trotted waist deep in the wet sand, huffing. Somebody up there didn't like him, that much was sure.

And now he probably wouldn't find his backpack again. He sure didn't feel like sitting there guarding it until someone who understood "pig latin" walked by. Despite his headless rage, he was having one of his smarter moments, and actually thought to bring an item of clothing for when he would eventually change back. He carried a pair of boxers in his mouth.
Okay, so wearing only underwear in public wasn't exactly accepted as decent, either, but at least it was better than running around buck naked like he had done so many times on his past travels. His tiny pig feet struggled in the uncomfortably wet sand, eventually frustrating him. In the end, he gritted his teeth, crumpled his boxers into a ball and snuggled on top of them under a palm tree. He buried himself slightly down into the sand to lessen his chances of being discovered by some nutty cook and being boiled alive or baked into pork dumplings.
He laid his short little piggy snout down on his front hooves and whimpered a little, which made him feel ashamed. He never knew where those pathetic sounds came from. Had to be his piglet side messing up his mind. He was Hibiki Ryoga! Not a weak little piece of pork. With this reassertion, he drifted into slumber.

"RYOGA!" P-chan was yanked from his dreams by a set of hands slipping around his waist, lifting him up. His eyes bugged out, and then drifted up to meet the eyes of Kuonji Ukyo. She was grinning, and holding his umbrella over her, opened.
"Aww, poor Ryoga..." There was mockery in that voice, but also concern. Ukyo was, after all, a nice and caring person. "Bwee!" He was angry, and started to wriggle from her grasp, but she held him firmly. "Look, sugar...I brought your backpack and your clothes for you. Heh, you've been running all over the place, haven't you? You should just see your tracks in the sand! Heheheh!"

"Bukee! Bweee!" He grunted, stating that he wanted hot water now. She seemed to take the hint. She was smart, and after all, what else could a guy in his position be wanting right now? She carried the piglet back to her hotel room above the beach and turned on the hot shower for him, pouring bubble bath into the bathtub.
She giggled naughtily. "Too bad to be wasting this. You're kinda funny as a pig...plus, let's not forget it makes it easier for me to keep you from getting lost!" She patted his head, smirking, and lowered him into the bath. She yelped when her grip slipped on the wet pig hide and the tiny black bundle disappeared between the suds and under water, spluttering helplessly. Can pigs swim? She thought for an instant, before plunging her hands into the water to save the little one. What if his transformation is slower? He could be drowned by the time it's through!

But the naked skin her hands connected with told her that it wasn't. Her face turned beet red and her hands shot up again as fast as they had arrived. Ryoga emerged to the surface, gasping for air. Ukyo blinked. His transformation was stranger than Ranma's, for while Ranma only changed sex, Ryoga actually changed species, just like Shampoo, Genma and Mousse. How weird it had to be! Ryoga breathed heavily and leaned over the tub edge. He looked up at her through his dripping wet bangs. "Ah...um, domo arigato, Ukyo. Perhaps I should retire to my room now. I'm kinda...well, uh..." He sighed. Ukyo patted his back. "Okay. But if you're not too tired to eat first, then I'll order up some food, 'cause I don't think the hotel management would be all too happy it if I fired up my grill in here. Just finish your bath, huh? There's a bathrobe on the chair there." Ryoga nodded appreciatively.

When she left to call room service, Ryoga hastily examined himself. No, the suds covered about everything. She hadn't seen any embarassing bits of his body. He did have a vague remembrance of something grabbing a good hold of his butt as he struggled in the water, though. Naw, couldn't have been...
He lay back in the water, closing his eyes as he soaked. However, he didn't manage to stay there for long. Even as tired as he was, he was uneasy. He was a little uncomfortable being naked here when there was a girl in the next room, even if it was just Ukyo.  Besides, he was getting hungry. He had been so busy sulking about not finding Jusenkyo that he hadn't remembered to eat, and wouldn't have had any particular appetite even if he did. This embarassing incident with Ukyo didn't exactly make him put his mind off that blasted hot spring, but some time had passed since breakfast, and Ukyo talking about ordering food had reminded him that there actually was such a thing as nutrition even though one was miffed.

If he didn't eat properly, he couldn't beat Ranma, after all. Not that Ukyo cared about that. But he did. Oh, how he cared! Akane... He sighed before pulling the plug on the tub, showering off the suds and drying himself off. Ryoga removed his cold and wet bandanna and wrung it out, hanging it over the shower curtain to dry. Ukyo had considerately enough left his backpack by the door. He put on the bathrobe while he rummaged around in the backpack, looking for a clean change of clothes. Digging out several weeks worth of dirty laundry, he managed to find some decent stuff at last, and of course-- a fresh bandanna. Luckily there was only one door in the bathroom, and the window was...well, a window, generally not used for exits, so even Ryoga didn't have that much chance of getting lost in there.

Ukyo had been lying down on the couch while waiting for the food and Ryoga, but got up into a sitting position as he entered the room. She yawned, then smiled. "Guess we're both tired." "What did you order, Ukyo?" Ryoga queried.
"Well...not okonomiyaki." She chuckled.  "Mmm," he nodded, leaning back in the easy chair beside the couch. Ukyo's speciality was great, but even she got a little tired of it once in a while.
"So, um...still hooked on Akane, huh?" Asked Ukyo, when the silence grew too long. It's not that they were nervous, it's just that they still didn't know each other that well, and didn't quite know what to talk about.
"Yeah, nothing's changed. And it's still 'Ranchan' for you?" Ryoga retorted. This was about the only thing they could think to speak about that they knew they had in common right now; they both shared this problem, almost constantly nagging their minds. The wish to break up the shaky relationship of Ranma and Akane. The hope that it really was that shaky.

Ukyo giggled a little at how Ryoga wrinkled nose as he pronounced her nickname on Ranma. He wasn't his rival for nothing, after all, and Ryoga couldn't quite image how someone could call Ranma -- of all people-- a cutesy name like that and not be sick about it. "Yep...and as soon as I get home..." Her voice drifted off. Ryoga frowned, a strange feeling piercing his gut. When she was all dreamy like that, she reminded her of someone, and the fact that he didn't know who, bothered him. It was like someone was trying to throw him a harsh and nasty clue, and he was unable to read between the lines.
He blinked and shook his head. The moment of foggy insight was gone, leaving nothing behind. Then he noticed that Ukyo was looking at him. He gave her a quizzical look. "Um..." She began, looking down.  He continued to look at her. "About Akane..."
Ryoga pushed himself up on his elbows. "Yeah? What about her?"

Ukyo frowned; she didn't know if she should be saying this. Well, it looks like he's not gonna figure it out for himself, the poor guy. "Ah...you know how it would profit me if you started dating Akane, right?" Ryoga looked blank. "Yeah...?"
Ukyo pursed her lips. The truth was that during this first week at Atami, he had turned out to be a nice guy; he helped her with the okonomiyaki shop, he was polite, carried some of her things, and actually didn't get lost that often, because he mostly just sat in the same spot, sulking and sometimes simply crying,  and even though they still didn't really know each other, they were almost...no, they were friends, and as a friend, she felt bad for him. Because she knew something he didn't.

Akane loved Ranma. That much was evident; she'd even nearly admitted it to Ukyo once. If Ranma loved her back...well, that was another story, and Ukyo was going to find out. But for now...she just wasn't sure if she could manage to put Ryoga through the pain of knowing Akane's true feelings. She'd have one annoying guilt trip about it, anyway, that was very certain. If only he wasn't so damn tragic! You just couldn't avoid his melodrama getting to you...and the strong, passionate and devoted feelings underneath. But it'd certainly be easier to hear it from her first than to find it out for himself the hard way.
Ukyo regarded him closely. "Well...it's like this, Ryoga...I'm kinda concerned about wh--" There was a knock on the door. Ryoga glanced at her, got up from the chair and opened. It was just a delivery boy with the food; curry beef, rice and some soft drinks. Ryoga eyed the boy suspiciously to check if he was some enemy in disguise, but after a while, he patted his pockets for money. "Um, I must have left my money in my other pants," Ryoga grinned sheepishly.
Ukyo smiled, got up as well and payed the boy, who walked off quickly, giving Ryoga an odd look. Ryoga grunted and closed the door, mumbling something about how one could never be too careful with delivery persons.

They started opening the containers, and Ukyo broke out some plates for them. The food smelled great, and they digged in at once.  "Whf wsh if yuh wasfheb doo ghedd ee?" Ryoga asked. "Whf?" Ukyo replied, lifting a soft drink to her mouth, taking a big gulp of it. She swallowed, "What?" Ryoga followed the gesture suite. "What was it you wanted to tell me?" He repeated.
"Oh, err...nothing, I..." Ukyo again had second thoughts, especially the thought of how destructive and unthinking Ryoga could get sometimes when really depressed, and he might begin trashing the hotel room-- not to mention this half of the hotel-- when he got the bad news. Maybe it wasn't such a hot idea to tell him...and after all, was it really her business? Then she got an impulse. "I was just wondering how it was like to be a piglet? I mean, what does the transformation feel like and everything? I've asked Ranchan and all, but he's not...well, not too good with words. Heh, we should get Kuno cursed too-- that way I'd really get a detailed description about it!" She grinned. Nice save, Ucchan, heehee...

Ryoga didn't give her an inch. "What does this have to do with Akane?" Ukyo shrugged. "Weeell..." Quick thinking, now! "I'm kinda concerned about what she'll say when she finds out about P-Chan, that's all. Might kinda ruin my chances if you're not there to divert her...I mean, I don't wanna give her the chance to seduce my poor Ranchan..." Ryoga clenched his teeth. "And why would she wanna do that?" Ukyo's eyes widened. Oops...at this rate he's gonna find out about her feelings...hey, I know what to do! "Why not?" She shot him an irritated look. "He's certainly worth it!"
"Gaahk...I can't bear to talk to girls about him...they start drooling and, and-- ack..." Ryoga put out his tongue in disgust. "Well, I can't blaim 'em!" Ukyo smirked, satisfied. Ryoga said nothing, just scowled. He wondered what it had to be like to be...that accursed Saotome Ranma. He had wondered many times. But he had always come up with the same conclusion; it wasn't for him. Honestly, he didn't know how Ranma handled all those crazy girls and mental enemies-- heh, maybe he wasn't coping at all, who knew?-- but-- but oh, to be able to be near Akane like that! Living in the same house! His annoyed expression shifted over to a blissed-out smile, and he sagged.

Ukyo rolled her eyes. "Ryoga!" She blurted, poking him in the shoulder with her chopsticks, "Your chin is in the curry sauce, for goodness sake!" "Hmm?" Ryoga's neck snapped up from his plate, bringing its face with it. "Oh. Aheheh." He blushed faintly, then sighed. Ukyo cocked her head to one side. "But seriously..." She started again, "What's it like? The transformation and everything? It must be-- I don't what it must be like!"
Ryoga shrugged and took a sip from his drink. "Huh. The transformation itself's not that big a deal anymore, really. One moment I'm Ryoga, the other one I'm a helpless, good-fer-nuthin' little-- arrgh!" He glanced up at her. Her face was emotionless; she was waiting. She was used to his outbursts by now. He put the can down, empty. "Okay...I don't really, um...I guess you can say that I'm kinda accustomed to it now. I mean, I'll never, never be comfortable with losing most of my abilities, including speech, in only a matter of seconds simply upon touching cold water, of all things, but-- yeah, the transformation, well...I sorta don't take much notice of that anymore. The first few times it was weird.

Now I've grown used to it, and it's like a natural event, kind if like a common body function, like, uh-- okay, I won't give any examples, you know your anatomy-- and...hmm, back then, and several of the next times, it was horrible. More horrible than now, I mean. First you get ice cold water splashed in your face, and then it's as if you're getting pulled at from several directions, and then sucked downwards, your every molecule crying out, your DNA structure almost screaming that this is physically impossible! But there you are. A little black piglet. You know what's the worst part?" He didn't wait for her to answer, just as she had expected. He was too caught up in his tale.

"Sometimes I actually almost forget about the curse. Almost. Days, weeks-- perhaps even months can go by, and somehow I've avoided it. But the moment I return to Nerima, some crazy old wench attacks me with a water ladle. Or, like just now, someone gets a bright idea like holding a three-legged race in a maze of hot and cold springs! Oh, gods..." Ukyo's mouth hung somewhat open, and she stared. Sure, he'd yelled before, but.... she'd never heard Ryoga babble on for so long about his feelings, at least not to someone but himself, not intentionally. She cleared her throat. "Heh. I'll never go to Jusenkyo, that's for sure," she said, laughing tensely. Ryoga forced his mouth to perform a tiny smile.

"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOW?!"

It had been months. Many, many months. Ukyo was long gone from Atami. Ryoga had decided to stay there for another day or two, although Ukyo pointed out quite reasonably enough that those two days would quickly double, then most likely turn into months. Perhaps even years, she had said snydely, and Ryoga had stomped off in fury. She waved at him and yelled a goodbye in a sweet voice-- of which the higher percentage actually was sincere. She couldn't help to be worried. Ukyo brushed it off, though. He always seemed to cope by himself, always returned in one piece...

He was in one piece, and he was back, too-- not that Hibiki Ryoga realized the latter. You should think he oughta have a ton of easily recognisable landmarks in Nerima; he went there all the time! Well, he didn't have. The only four he had was The Tendo Dojo, Ucchan's Okonomiyaki-ya, The Nekohanten and Furinkan High School. So far he hadn't seen any of them.  The reason probably being that he had been wandering around in the same two alleys only a block from Ucchan's for ten hours straight now. Then he heard whistling. Happosai leaped past the alley, followed by the obligatory crowd of berserker females with mallets, brooms and various eating-and gardening utensils.

"Hmm," mused Ryoga, "I must be on the right path to at least one of my familiar locations..." He wasn't, but fortunately someone grabbed his shirt just as he was about to walk on with renewed hope-- in the completely wrong direction. He was in fact headed for Alaska. "Ryoga-honey, hello! So nice to see you! This means I win the bet I made with Nabiki on guessing how long you would take to get your butt back here. Ka-ching!" It was Ukyo, and she patted his back laborously. Ryoga glared at her, his mouth a tight, straight line of irritation due to her rude comments. "I'm pleased to see you too, Kuonji," he mumbled. She only smiled and dragged him with her out of the alley. "Perhaps you would like something to eat and a sit-down? You don't look too hot. Been wandering a lot lately? Wahaha, what am I saying-- of course you have!" She grinned with vigour. His eye twitched a little at her strange behaviour. She looked like Nabiki did when she had cooked up a real killer plan.

"Yeah, um...s'not duty-free by any chance, is it? I'm kinda short on fundings right now..." Ryogas said weakly. Ukyo generously unlocked and opened the door to the okonomiyaki-ya for them. "Hey, relax! You're my friend, ne?" Ryoga relaxed. "You can do the dishes for me and we'll call it even!"  Ryoga groaned.
Just when Ryoga had sat down and Ukyo was starting up the massive griddle, there was a chime alerting a new costumer entering Ucchan's. Ukyo muttered under her breath. "Damn, I forgot to turn the sign...COME BACK TOMORROW, WE'RE CLOSED!" The startled costumer stared at her. "But, but..."
"NO BUTS! Ahem. Please return tomorrow. Ucchan's is presently closed." The sugary smile looked very much plastered on there by mistake. "Like heck I'll return..." The costumer was already heading for the exit.

"WHAT did you say?" Ukyo blurted. "Um, eheh. IsaidIlookforwardtohavingokonomiyakiforlunchtomorrowMissUcchan!" Ukyo nodded strictly, and with that, he was gone. Ryoga's eyes were threatening to pop out and do a jitterbug on the table. What's up now? "Ehm...Ukyo?" She looked abruptly up from her grill, as if she had only just noticed he was there.
"Oh, sorry 'bout that, honey. I'm just very overworked, that's all." And I'm still getting nowhere with Ranchan... "A lot's happened when you were gone..." Ryoga gasped inwardly. Ukyo looks tired and sort of unhappy...and several months have gone by, almost a year...uh oh-- not that! He lifted a inquiring finger, starting to open his mouth.
Ukyo nearly smiled. "No, Ryoga. Not the big one.You can relax, they ain't married." He leaned back in his seat, finally breathing again. He even grinned when Ukyo strolled over to his table, carrying a hot plate. "Mmm...haven't tasted one of these for sooo long," he murmured as he sunk his teeth into a freshly made okonomiyaki with beef, mushroom, onion, cabbage, red ginger, dried bonito flakes and green seaweed.

She had dribbled "STILL ALIVE, P-CHAN?" on it with the sauce, followed by a  ^_~. He was too thankful for the food to be really mad at her, though he couldn't help sending her a dirty look upon the discovery of it. "Just don't pull that stuff around Akane, okay?" Ryoga growled. "You haven't eaten okonomiyaki for all that time?" Her look was incredilous. That's almost like...sacrilege!
"Naw, it's just...I haven't eaten your okonomiyaki." He said inbetween mouthfuls, "Yours have a special taste to it, I dunno...maybe because it's prepared faster or because you put so much of yourself into it...hmm...maybe you just have a better knack for inventing good toppings?" He shrugged, finishing off his meal, licking his fingers. She raised her eyebrows.

She knew her okonomiyaki was fabulous, but this was still unexpected. "You really missed my okonomiyaki? Aww, that's sweet. I'm flattered that you respect me as a chef." She clapped her hands together and made a small bow with her head. He returned the gesture. Reflecting for a moment, he drew his breath. "You know, Ukyo..." Ukyo turned from the stove where she was preparing the tea kettle. "What is it, sugar?" She paused, kettle in hand. Ryoga sighed. "I'm not sure if you want to hear it. It's about Akane..." Ukyo came over to him and gave him a sympathetic pat on his arm. "You can tell me while you wash the dishes," she said sweetly. "Erk," Ryoga complained, yet got up immediately.

When he had dumped the plates and cutlery into the sink and left the glasses standing next to it, he opened his mouth. "Ukyo--" She cut him off. "Ryoga, don't you know the glasses go first? They have to get the cleanest water, because we don't want people complaining over spots. They have to sparkle." Ryoga shot her a slightly weird look, not fully into the restaurant business spirit, but did as she said. He started scrubbing, treating the glasses as carefully as...well, glass. Presently, he didn't have the money to replace any property of Ukyo's, so he had to be cautious. He coughed lightly. "Akane...um, lately, I kind of haven't been able to, ah...find her." Ukyo had to sink her nails deep into her arm to prevent herself from plunging into a laughing fit.

Meanwhile, Ryoga, who wasn't as dense as people generally thought, didn't take more than a second to sense the suppressed laughter dominating the kitchen. He simmered. "I know I have a sense of direction only beaten in lousiness by my own parents, but what I mean is--" He deflated. "Ukyo, I'm not sure if you noticed, but this time I was gone about three times as long as usual, and--" Ukyo adjusted her ribbon, "I noticed, Ryoga." His eyes flashed up to hers for an instant, but the tea kettle made a high whistle; the signal it was ready, and Ukyo busied herself with that. He pursed his lips and continued.

"In the past, I somehow always made it back to her and Nerima eventually, but this time, even when I finally reach this damn town, I can't seem to meet her no matter how hard I try. What's so agonizing is that I know she's right at home...!" He sighed, "I don't know, Ukyo...I just thought it was a little strange, cause...hmm, I have this weird feeling that something is keeping me from her, like fate or whatever. Probably sounds pretty crazy to you."
Ukyo rubbed her chin. "Yeah, I must admit I don't know what to make of it, if there is anything to be made at all. Perhaps it's just one of those things."
Ryoga nodded reluctantly, then suddenly brightened. "But now you're here, and you can guide me to her!" Ukyo smiled. "Sure, as soon as we finish up here, we could treat ourselves to a visit at the Tendo's."

Ryoga agreed enthusiastically, forgetting to whine about the dishes. "Hey, Ukyo?" He asked after a while. She turned to him. "Mmm?" He picked up a kitchen towel. "Do you think you could kinda update me a little on resent events? You know-- you told me that alot's been going on...?" Ukyo rolled her eyes and threw her head back in exasperation. "Man, I'm not sure I know where to begin! But okay...you see, ah, by the time I got back to Nerima..."

Ryoga was dazzled. A lot really had been going on since last time.
First there was the weird events with Cologne and Shampoo...evidently, Shampoo had talked Happosai into coaxing Cologne to let Shampoo off the hook about the whole Amazon wedding situation, and lo and behold...it had worked! No one had believed it would, not even for a second. Not that there wasn't an Amazon wedding. Cologne and Happosai were now wife and husband, although the love of Cologne could still not surpass Happy's love of panties. But he tried. They were even attending a group together to solve the problem.

Nabiki had pored over the Amazon laws, and found that if the engaged Amazon in question could find a husband for one of her fellow Amazons, she was free. Surprisingly enough. Next, since it was obvious Shampoo had never loved Ranma—why else would she want to get out of the engagement, right?—  everyone expected her to go running off to Mousse. This, however, failed to happen. Tired of the entire boyfriend/fiancée thing, and not intent on marrying anyone, Shampoo went into business with Gosunkugi, setting up an occult shop-- mystical herbs and potions, ouiija boards, voodoo dolls and stuff-- with him, and he had been teaching her to speak Japanese properly for about three or four months now. She was doing incredibly well.

So Saotome Ranma had gotten rid of five of his pests-- Shampoo, Mousse, Gosunkugi, Cologne and Happosai-- in one blow, so to speak, without actually lifting a finger himself to do anything about it. But there were always the Kunos...Principal Kuno, and his two children, Tatewaki and Kodachi. They had cooked up a real mess for Ranma. Ukyo wasn't sure on the details, but she knew it involved a water park, where Kuno was romancing-- in other words, chasing-- The Pig-tailed Girl and trying to fight The Evil Sorcerer Saotome, while Kodachi was attacking Ranma's girl side and trying to get into his male side's pants. The principal had no sympathy for either of Ranma's sides-- to him they were both just another student to flunk.

After this stressful ordeal, Ranma had developed a phobia for cold water-- which soon passed when he heard about a female swimsuit model contest where the main prize was 500 000 yen. Which, on top of it all, he managed to lose to Kasumi, who only left for dowtown Tokyo with the model agency after getting her father's blessing. Kasumi had been home for too long, taking care of the family, when she should have been forming a life and a career, and now she finally went. Ukyo became overworked because the Tendo family hired her as a part-time cook now that Kasumi was gone. She had been blissed out to be able to have an excuse to come to the Tendo's every day, and of course she had accepted. Kasumi had left most of her prize money with her family, so they could dig into that to be able to afford Ukyo. Naturally, Akane didn't like it, but Ukyo watched herself, and only made discrete passes at Ranchan when she was around.

Nabiki scarsely had time for household choirs as she was the biggest source of financial income and too busy with her investments and bets beside her schoolwork; and while Akane could do a good share, no one dared to eat her cooking. So the boys had to make breakfast and supper, while Ukyo made dinner and often helped Akane clean the house. It was tearing on her, though, she had to admit.
Ryoga had asked Ukyo where Mousse had went, but she said no one seemed to know.  Not even Shampoo or Cologne. Strange... thought Ryoga, ...perhaps we should all be a little watchful...I know Gosunkugi should be, anyway.

Now, Ukyo and Ryoga were approaching the dojo and the Tendo house. Ryoga sighed at the sight of the familiar form. Gods, when I think of all the bizarre stuff that's been going on in there...
Ukyo patted down her clothing and adjusted her ribbon as they walked down the garden path. When they'd nearly passed the koi pond, they heard the sound of running feet, and the sliding doors were flung open.

"RANMAAA!"

Saotome Ranma lept out in the garden, followed by a very angry individual. It was Akane, of course. Ranma saw Ukyo and Ryoga, and slid into a halt, Akane crashing violently into him from behind, making them both fall over. She growled, rubbing her forehead. "Ranma no baka! That hurt! What was that fo--"
She looked up, also noticing their newly arrived guests, and just who it was. Her eyes grew wide. "R-Ryoga? You're back?"
Ryoga's heart slowly began to thud. She noticed I was gone...she noticed! "Ah, I...yeah. Looks like it. Aheheh..." He smiled. Ukyo bit her lip, amused by his awkwardness, and tried not to laugh. Akane stood up, walking deliberately over Ranma's body. He flinched, groaning. "Why don't you and Ukyo join us for dinner today?" Akane was all smiles. She was so happy her friend Ryoga was back! He was always so nice to her, and now perhaps someone could try to make Ranma act a little more polite. He just hadn't had any worthy oponents lately to put him in his place.

Ryoga opened his mouth, but Ukyo beat him to it. "Sure, that'd be great!" She beamed, dragging Ranma up from the ground. "Hey, Ryoga," Ranma greeted informally as he dusted himself off. "Long time no see." He grinned a little. Ryoga nodded in response. "Sure. Konnichi wa to you too, Saotome."
Just as they entered, Ranma grabbed Ryoga's sleeve. "Um, mind if I talk to you for a while?" He thumbed at the garden. "Alone?" He added. Ryoga frowned, and glanced over his shoulder at Akane and Ukyo, who hadn't noticed that the boys had stopped. "Don't worry, Ukyo," Akane said, smiling, "we've ordered some food, so the dinner's all taken care of."

He looked at Ranma again. "Okay. I'll give you one minute." Ranma raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything. Fine. I'm not going to be mad...after all, besides the fact that I've kept P-chan a secret, what reason does he feel he really has to trust me? He sat down crosslegged on the stone circle around the koi pond, and Ryoga sat on his backpack. "Uh...Ryoga, I just wondered why you were gone for so long this time?" He asked somberly. Ryoga looked at him, surprised. No jokes about his sense of direction? "Well, I guess you know the obvious reason why--" he began, but Ranma interrupted him. "Yeah, yeah, you couldn't find your way out of a paper bag, I know that, but this time it was just...different. You're never gone this long. I just, um, wanted to know if anything's happened. Or if there's a particular reason here you didn't come back."  Ryoga's fingers twitched angrily at Ranma's comment about his navigational sense, or lack thereof. He'd known it had to come sooner or later. But he exhaled and relaxed. Ranma was acting strange. Almost like he was actually...worried. "I...I truly don't know, Saotome." He sighed. "I discussed the same thing with, ah, Ukyo, but I didn't find an answer. What's it to you, anyway?"

Ranma put his head on one side, squinting one eye. He hated saying these mushy things. "Ahem. Well, I wondered if maybe you didn't want to come back because...uh, because I was so, um...mean to you." Ryoga blinked, his expression a confused grimace. What was he saying? He felt guilty about being a jerk? He felt it was his fault that Ryoga had stayed away for so long? How was he supposed to handle this? Insult the guy or try to be nice back? "No, it's not about that. I seriously don't know what it was." He said, then added, grumbling, "The world doesn't revolve around you, you know."

Ranma grinned, then sighed. "Sure feels like it sometimes..." Ryoga was about to make a rude comment when Ranma looked up. "You know, I'm gonna try to be nicer to you even if that wasn't the problem, cause I can't say I haven't missed ya, and I can't say I couldn't use to act like less of a..." A smile went over his lips as if he thought of something. "...like less of a baka."  He put his chin in his palm, gazing at the pond. Ryoga stared at him. Did Ranma want to make peace with him? "Missed me?" He asked uncertainly. Ranma looked up, smiling. "Yah. I'd never thought the day would come when I said it, but I sorta did. Cause, you know...you're kinda my only...y'know, friend. In a way, that's even sorta sad...that one of my rivals is the closest thing I have to a buddy. I mean, there's Hiroshi and Daisuke, but they're always tryinta to make money offa me...well, that, and they seem to have a thing for the Pig-tailed Girl. Not exactly a very healthy combination for friend material, I'd say. But you...well, at least you're honorable, even if yer tryinta to kill me half of the time, and what's more, you understand how it's like to be cursed, too." Ranma was silent, then looked up at Ryoga. "Speaking of curses... I still haven't spilled the beans about P-chan, either."

"Good. I'm glad to hear you at least still have some of your honor."  Ryoga said quietly. Ranma nodded. "But I can't say I haven't been tempted to." Ryoga grinned slightly. "I expected as much."  Ranma stood up, as did Ryoga. "Ryoga...there's another reason why I don't want to fight you anymore." Ryoga glanced at him, expectantly. Ranma sat down again, but Ryoga remained standing. "If there's anything I've learned from having to deal with all these fiancées, it's that you can't think that someone's gonna love you just because you won some fight about them." Ryoga frowned. "What are you saying?"  Ranma started rubbing his nose bridge. "I...well, I know you love Akane. But what you don't know is that...that I kinda got some feelings for the girl as well, though I don't like admitting them. My point is that if it ever comes to it again, I don't want to physically fight you over her, if you know what I mean. I know it doesn't sound like a martial artist talking here, but I feel that it's just so stupid...y'know, fighting over Akane like a piece of meat? Then we're no better than the mob of boys at school. We should just let her decide. Plus, as I've been saying, I do consider you something of a friend, and...Ryoga?"

Ryoga couldn't believe his ears. Was this the same Saotome Ranma? Yes, something told him it was. He'd been in there all along, and now that he'd been cut a little slack, he had begun to venture out. This scared Hibiki Ryoga. Even if it was apparent from Akane and Ranma's brawl today that Ranma still had a lot of growing to do, it was possible that if Ranma let this side more into the open, then...oh my gods. He truly had an worthy oponent in Ranma. Now the tables had been turned, and Ranma had much more chance with Akane than he. He had suspected before that Ranma loved Akane, but there were always so many signs to judge against it. He couldn't even hate Ranma properly anymore if what he said to him was true. Ranma? His friend? "Ranma, I..." Ryoga began, but was interrupted.

"Having a little boy talk, are we?" It was Nabiki, the number one person in Nerima whom it was unsafe to talk about sensitive stuff in front of. Or behind, for that matter. The boys laughed nervously. "We're coming, Nabiki." Ranma smiled tensely and dragged Ryoga after him. "So," Ranma said, grinning widely as they'd almost reached the dining room, "what's up with you and Ukyo?" He nudged Ryoga, winking. Ryoga growled, seeing right through his antics. "You little-- and here I thought you'd become honorable, Saotome..." Ranma shrugged. "Hey, s'just an innocent little question." Ryoga snorted. "Yeah, right..."

Ryoga was unusually quiet at the dinner table. Sure, he didn't have a habit of being the most eager chatter, but he really didn't say a word today. Ukyo and Ranma looked at each other, then at Ryoga. Ukyo sent Ranma a quizzical look, but he just shrugged and made an effort of looking the other way as he continued eating. It had been a real treat when the food arrived. Cologne had made Happosai the delivery boy, and he only ate his delivery about twenty percent of the time, which she was proud of him for. Hey, it was a really high point average for Happosai! Ryoga was surprised to see him deliver soba and ramen to his former students!  He seemed really...Happy, too. Heh.

"So, where have you been all this time, Ryoga-san?" Akane asked, smiling. Ryoga didn't answer. He was mumbling unaudibly to himself, and hadn't touched his food yet. "Um...Ryoga?" She tried again. Ukyo pinched Ryoga under the table, and he gasped a little, gritting his teeth. He was about to glare at her when he noticed Akane looking at him. "Huh?" He managed to keep from fidgeting somehow. "I was wondering where you'd been all this while?" Akane repeated, uncharacteristically patient. "Ah...oh. Here and there. Well, we..." He glanced at Ukyo, "...we started at Atami, then Ukyo left for home and I, uh...I travelled alone to Hong Kong, then I wandered around for a good while in all those little countries in Europe...you know, Belgia and Luxembourg and all that...then there was Spain, then Italy, then I ended up on a boat to Sydney, Australia. I even visited Tazmania and New Zealand while I was down there. Yeah...I don't remember how I got back here, though." He blushed a little. Akane chuckled briefly. "Sounds really nice. What did you in all those countries?"

She seemed so genuinely interested that Ryoga couldn't quite bring himself to say that he'd been lonely and that we was just trying to get back to Nerima. Still, his travels had been kind of interesting. "Well...just, um...wander around, mostly. I camped outside when I couldn't find somewhere to spend the night and when, ah, I didn't have much money left. I did see some of the sights, though..." Ryoga eventually slowed his babbling, and talked and talked, answering Akane's questions. It was obvious she herself would like to travel the world someday.

It all began with Ranma knocking over the salt shaker. To Ryoga, it simply became a blur of rightful and mostly wrongful accusations and throwing of objects from there. It was a bizarre effect when you thought about it; the tiniest little thing could send Ranma and Akane biting each other's heads off. He watched Ukyo sighing, then her watching the two in bemused fascination as she finished her meal, he watched Mr. Saotome and Mr. Tendo sidle off to the livingroom; they were apparently fed up with the whole thing. Nabiki remained, discreetly snapping interesting shots of them. Suddenly he felt sorry for Saotome Ranma and the violent flurry which constantly surrounded him. His friend? Was Ranma his friend? He watched silently as Akane hit Ranma square in the head with her mallet, and as anguish spread itself rapidly across Ranma's face, Ryoga's mind felt like it was running on autopilot when he next opened his mouth.

"Akane-san, why do you always hit Ranma so much?"  Sure, Ranma was rude, but what kind of girl was this anyway, who carried around blunt objects to hit her fiancée with? His mind would've screamed at him to shut up, but it was too busy falling numbly over in shock at itself. Where did that come from? Akane froze, and gazed over at Ryoga, who had finally picked up his chopsticks and had begun eating. Ukyo made a concerned grimace, looking at the bewildered Akane. No one had ever asked her this before. "R-Ryoga?" She let go of Ranma's shirt, suddenly realizing that she was behaving very rudely in front of her dinner guests. And that she might've hit Ranma a little harder than he may have deserved. She looked at Ranma, scowling at her, then at Ryoga, blinking, slowly chewing his soba...then at Ukyo, her lips stiff...then finally back at Ranma again. She couldn't keep his gaze. His expression had softened now; and when it did that, her whole face usually went red, and her legs felt like cooked noodles. "Yes, Akane," said Nabiki smugly, "why do you indeed?" Akane tried hard to overlook her sister.

"I don't mean to intrude, Akane," Ryoga's auto pilot went on recklessly, even if Ukyo was pinching his shin forcefully under the low table, "but I've just been wondering why you always seem to get so angry with him. You two should try to get along. After all, you live in the same house." There was a tiny sound, like someone's tooth cracking slightly. Ukyo was barely containing her anger. As Ukyo turned redder and redder, Ryoga's shin went bluer and bluer with the bruises she inflicted. Couldn't he just shut up? It was hazardous to end the infinitely on-going quarrel between Ranma and Akane! Didn't he realize? How thick was he?! Honestly!

"Um, gomen nasai, Ryoga. Ukyo. Nabiki. " Said Akane, adding reluctantly, "Gomen nasai, Ranma. This is no behaviour for dinner." She bowed a little, then sat down. Ranma looked at her, then at the rest of the people. He bowed back to Akane. "I was out of line, too. Gomen nasai, Akane...san." After looking at him shortly, she looked down at the table for quite some time. Ukyo emptied her bowl, mumbling to herself. Ranma was gazing continuously at Akane, who touched her neck selfconsciously. Nabiki dabbed at her mouth with her napkin, smiling contendedly. This would be a cakewalk...she didn't even have to do anything. Ryoga seemed to be done with his meal as well. Ukyo stood up carefully. "I...thanks for dinner, but I think I have to be going now. It was nice seeing you. Will you join me, Ryoga?" Her voice was strained. Before you say more stupid things?  

Nabiki slipped unnoticed off to her own room as Ranma and Akane followed Ryoga and Ukyo outside. When they were walking down the garden path, Ukyo glanced behind her to see Ranma and Akane silhouetted in the door frame, murmuring something unheard to each other...by the looks of it, they were apologizing. She halted in her steps as Ranma gently laid his hand on Akane's upper arm. They were looking into one another's eyes. Their bangs were almost touching. She wasn't sure if they were going to kiss, but it certainly wasn't good anyway.

Oh no... "Akane?" She said in an unecessarily loud voice. "Ryoga loves you, by the way." 'By the way'? Oh my goodness, what am I saying? There was a sharp intake of air behind her. She knew that if had she been a boy, Ryoga would've probably clobbered her by now. She could almost feel the tension buzzing in the air. Akane looked at Ryoga and Ukyo. "Ryoga?" She sought his eyes uncertainly. His face was wide open in fear. "What did she mean by that? Is that true?" Akane had stepped away from Ranma, who's face was hidden halfly under his hair and in the shadows. Ryoga couldn't reply. What was he supposed to say?

Akane didn't know how to react either. All her other suitors had been jerks she could just boot away, like Kuno... but Ryoga, he was different. He had been one of the few people to treat her nice and respect her. How was she supposed to act now if he loved her? She searched Ryoga's face. The fear was settling down a little, and his expression was somber. He hadn't confirmed it, Akane noted, but he hadn't denied it either. Ukyo wet her lips. "We'll be back at tea-time tomorrow." With that, she grabbed Ryoga's hand and escorted him away from the Tendo dojo.

When they had arrived at Ucchan's, Ryoga had finally got over his initial shock. "Ukyo, just what in the world was that? I'd never think you'd do that!" Kuonji Ukyo wore a pained expression as she sat down on the chair behind her grill. "I...I'm sorry. Ryoga, I panicked! But I might ask you the same. What were you trying to do? Play matchmaker? Didn't you notice they were almost becoming friends again there? Something could've happened!" She eyed him with a mixture of anger and guilt. "Ukyo...I don't know...I just felt sorry for the guy. The way they always argue and she hits him all the time, and--"

Ukyo simmered. "She's been doing that all along! Why react only now? And it's not like he can't handle it!"  Ryoga was quiet. Of course it wasn't really about the hitting! He didn't want to tell her about his talk with Ranma. Despite Ranma's pathetic attempt at teasing him about Ukyo, he'd gained some compassion for the guy, and now felt kind of obligated to shut up about his confession about Akane. He might blurt out something vital that could hurt Ukyo, and besides, it was private anyway. So he just shrugged. Let her think he was just dumb as usual. She sighed, exhausted, and looked down. "Okay. That's okay. We'll straighten it out tomorrow. You wanna know how she took the news, right?" Ryoga's eyes snapped up to hers. "You're not seriously suggesting I should go back there, are you?" Ukyo looked at him, bemused. "You're not planning on staying away forever?" Ryoga looked away, defeated. "No. I guess not."

Ukyo smiled slightly at him. "Listen. I'm sorry, you're sorry...we both screwed up, so let's leave it at that." Ryoga had his own thoughts on that subject, but didn't say anything. "Where are you going to spend the night, by the way?" Ukyo suddenly asked. Ryoga refocused on her, "I dunno...I think I'll camp outside somewhere...the usual." Ukyo shook her head incredilously. "And end up in New Zealand again? Look, Ryoga...if you don't have another place to stay tonight, you could crash here if you like. You know, it'd just somewhere to put your backpack and keep you from getting lost. Just for tonight."
Ryoga considered this. "Arigato, but I don't have anything to pay you back with. I'd have to owe you one." Ukyo laughed. "Hey, relax! Like I said, it'd be just for tonight, or a couple of nights, until you find something else. It's no trouble, really." Ryoga peered at her. "And naturally you'd want me to help you in the restaurant tomorrow, ne?" He said dryly. She grinned heartily. "I'm so glad you volunteered!"

Lying in Ukyo's guest room that night, Ryoga couldn't sleep. It wasn't that he had trouble sleeping in foreign rooms-- if he had, he would've had some major problems on his wanderings-- but he was thinking of Ukyo. She was a really sweet person, but he just didn't like this. Even though she didn't go to half as extreme measures as them to get things her way, it was just--when he looked at her now, he saw Mr. Saotome, Mr. Tendo, and perhaps even Kodachi and Cologne. Ukyo shouldn't be like them. Ryoga loved Akane dearly, yet... was it right to be doing all this meddling? Sure, his spine had turned to ice and fire as he caught that glimpse of Ranma and Akane in the doorway, but still...it felt wrong. 

If they really wanted himself and Ukyo, wouldn't they venture on them of their own free will? But he knew what Ukyo would say, and at the same time he felt she had a point. Sometimes people need a little conviction. They needed to open their eyes to the magic of Ukyo and Ryoga.

Gosunkugi Hikaru was happy, hence he smiled as he picked up the two boxes. It was not one of his usual variations of a smile; demented, scary or fake-- or all three-- but a genuine one; some might've even described it as warm. During these past eight months, he had gotten more hugs than he had gotten in his entire life. Not to mention more sleep. The trademark circles under his eyes were very near vanished, and he had even gained some weight.

It was all due to Shampoo, his best friend in the entire world. Or, he should rather say, Xian Pu. She had began to use her original name, and everyone agreed it sounded much better. Xian Pu had taken care of him like no one before her, and really made him feel loved. There had been some awkwardness at first, but Hikaru got over his light crush on her, realizing it was just due to the fact that she was practically the first girl to ever pay attention to him. He also realized that would both benefit more from a friendship than a sexual relationship.

That friendship had started after she managed to escape from her engagement with Ranma, and had bumped into Hikaru in a bookstore. It was all too cute; they had picked up the same kind of book, a book on the differences between Magic and Magick. Hikaru laughed when he remembered the first line she ever spoke to him. "You crazy voodoo-boy, is right? Shampoo not know you like these books! Is Shampoo favorite!"

After that, they had started talking. Eventually, she was the one who convinced him to stop wasting time on Tendo Akane, something he was ever grateful for. Realizing his microscopic chances on her didn't even hurt him as much as he thought it would. Xian Pu was a great support. Only two months went by before they invested in a shop and an apartment together, leaving Cologne and Happosai to deal with the Nekohanten. Everyone was surprised, and as nature goes, rumours immediately started to run about Hikaru and Xian Pu. They died down when nothing seemed to happen between the two, who took it all pretty calmly, but not before they reached Mousse, who'd known that something funny was going on, but who had been away to China and didn't know about them living together until after they had done so for four months. When he ha arrived at the Hoshi Chïsai, their shop, he was hurt. He was angry. He was homocidal. Perhaps even suicidal.

But Hikaru had also been mad, and the battle aura Xian Pu had helped him develop further in return of the Japanese lessons he gave her, was glowing fiercely. Mousse was taken aback for a minute. Was this the pale, thin boy who used to slink around in the shadows, waiting to get a strike in on Ranma?
Hikaru had just needed some energy and will power, which Xian Pu had plenty of to go around.

Once he got over the initial surprise, Mousse attacked with a vengeance. All his hidden weapons were revealed as he mercilessly jumped at Gosunkugi, who was unarmed outside the broom he had been sweeping the ground with. In the end, he could do little but try as best as he could to dodge Mousse's forcefull and angry blows, having none to deal out himself in fear of having his bare hands chopped off. Even if he had had any weapons, Hikaru would still have gotten the short end of the stick since Mousse had a much, much longer experience with martial arts than himself. Mousse clearly had the upper hand, terrorizing the injured Hikaru, when Xian Pu stepped into the scene.

Mousse expected to be clobbered, but even though there was anger in her voice and eyes as she picked him roughly up by the collar and away from Hikaru, she was relatively calm, and didn't hit him. "Shampoo..." He whispered, tears in his eyes. "Call me Xian Pu now, Mu Su," she said quietly.
He had nodded. "O-of course. Xian Pu, I...I was so happy when I heard you had broken off your engagement with Ranma, but now..." His voice drifted off. She put him down again. "Mu Su," she said, her eyes determidly focused on his, "all those times I said I hated you, I didn't mean it. I was keeping up appearances around the Amazon Law, because it was important to me, and still is. What's more, I figured that maybe if I--" Mu Su cut her off. "Xian Pu, you...your Japanese is excellent! How did you...?"

Xian Pu glanced backwards at Hikaru, who was now dusting himself off. She pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and handed it to him so he could wipe his bloody mouth and nose. He nodded thankfully, eyeing Mousse closely. "Hikaru has been teaching me." Said Xian Pu, smiling at Hikaru. Mu Su swallowed. "Are you two really...?" His voice betrayed him, unabling him to go on. Xian Pu refastened her gaze at her admirerer. "No, Mu Su. Hikaru is my friend. My very best friend. We run the Hoshi Chïsai together as equal partners." Mu Su's eyes began to well up once more. "Xian Pu! You're not involved with Hikaru? You've never hated me? Oh, Xian Pu...does that really mean...?"

She sighed, having already anticipated what he would think next. "Mu Su...I don't, I...this doesn't..." Her eyes darted up at his face. "I really do care about you, but...but..." At this hanging sentence, Mu Su's face went somewhat greyer. He slowly lifted his glasses off his nose and folded them up, dismantling his beautiful brown eyes, the usual spark gone completely from them. Xian Pu was silent, and Hikaru, who had been hovering nervosuly in the background, finally slipped back into the shop, respectively leaving the two alone. Xian Pu had told him all about Mousse and what she felt about him, and he felt he shouldn't be around to see this.

"You don't love me." Stated Mu Su flatly. She cleared her throat. "Not like that." Mu Su looked away. "A-are you sure you don't...ah, hate me? I mean, when we were children, you, ah..." Xian Pu almost laughed in relief. "Oh, Mu Su! That was nothing! I was just irritated that you always mistook animals and pieces of furniture for being me, and peeved that all you did was go around declaring your love for me when all I wanted to do was play and have fun. You were...heh, to put it a little childishly...you were no fun. I've never known what else to do than to hit you to make you stop, and I thought that maybe if I said I hated you, you'd stop pursuing me. Never worked, though. We really should have had this talk long ago."

Mu Su's lips formed into a sad smile, and he fixed his stare on the ground, his bangs obscuring his face. Xian Pu frowned, worried. A tear rolled down his cheek, and more followed. His shoulders shook lightly. He turned away from her, putting his glasses on. Xian Pu's gut felt like ice. This was horrible! "No! No, Mu Su! Don't you dare get depressed! Not over me. Please don't let me break your heart!" She put her hand on his shoulder. Mu Su sniffled, turning, putting his hands over hers. She took a step back, suspicious, yet didn't yank her hand away from his. "There's only one way you can prevent my heartache..." He said, suddenly staring her in the eyes. "Mu Su, you know I can't be your girlfriend. It would never work. You need to get over me." Xian Pu scowled.

"I can't." He murmured, pulling her quickly into his arms, pressing his lips tenderly, then hungrily against hers. When he slipped his tongue into her mouth, running it over hers, her eyes widened, she balled her fist and hit him square in the jaw, effectfully parting their interlocked lips and tongues. He fell over, hitting the ground violently a few feet away from her. He had an expression of absolute hurt as he looked up at her, nursing his jaw. Xian Pu felt a tinge of guilt. "Mu Su, I didn't mean, uh, I... but you really shouldn't have kissed me." He leapt to his feet, still staring wide-eyed at his love. Then he gave a bitter chuckle. "Heh. Xian Pu," His voice was thick, "I will return. I promise." With this, he cleared the fence across the street and was gone. "Mu Su!" She yelled, futively. She waited for a moment before walking back inside, rubbing her arms as from a chill. Hikaru was waiting for her inside with a cup of hot tea. "Hikaru, look at you..." She whispered, and he stood up, touching his bleeding lip self-consciously. "It's nothing, don't worry. What happened, Xian-chan?" He asked, concerned.

Her eyes were moist. "Oh, Karu-kun...I really hurt him. And he's planning on coming back. I guess I shouldn't have thought I could simply make him stop loving me like that." Hikaru shook his head solemnly. "Nope. Love is never that easy." She went over to him, and they embraced tightly. "Karu-kun?" He stroked her long hair and her back in a comforting manner. "Yes? What is it?" She squeezed his arms. "I want you to be very careful from now on. Mu Su is very determined, and he might get an idea into his head about hurting you even though we made it clear we're just friends."     

He sighed. "I understand, Xian-chan."

"Look, Ryoga, we're nearly there now, and-- eeek!" Ukyo jumped into Ryoga's arms in a reflex movement as someone came rushing by, knocking down objects in his path, his kimono flapping wildly everywhere. He was crying. There was the sound of metal against wood before the lightpole next to them collapsed only inches beside them. Ukyo squeaked again, gasping as Ryoga jerked them both away, his eyes large as tennis balls. They both blinked. "Wasn't that...wasn't that Mousse?" Ryoga asked eventually.   "Yup. Seems like it." Ukyo nodded, pointing to a porcelain object on the ground. Mousse's duck potty trainer. "Geez, I wonder what's going on now..."  Ryoga shook his head. "Tch, tch..."
        

"Um, Ryoga?"  "Yeah?"  "The danger is gone. Perhaps you wanna let me down now?"  "Oh. Right."

Someone knocked on the door of the Chisai Hoshi, and the two friends broke the hug. Xian Pu smiled faintly. "It must be the kids coming for their lessons." Hikaru smiled back and went to the back to pick up the gear. He continued smiling as he picked up the two boxes containting the equipment they needed. This was the most fun part of the week. They teached some neighbour kids how to do magic tricks. The only trick that remained a mystery to them was how Xian Pu could turn into a cat. They never revealed the secret. The kids needed some real magic, too.

Xian Pu walked over to the door and opened. "Konnichi wa, kids--" she began, but quickly noticed it wasn't them. She raised her eyebrows. "Hibiki Ryoga? Been a while, ne? And hello Ukyo! How may I help you two?"  Ukyo smiled politely. "I was taking Ryoga to see your shop, cause I'm kinda bringing him up to date and all, and uh...we bumped into Mousse..." The Amazon's eyes became serious. "What did he say?" Ukyo shrugged. "Not much. He was mostly crying. We almost didn't recognize him. I saw he was sporting some juicy bruises, though. Has there been a fight?" She wondered. Xian Pu looked down. "Yes. He fought with Hikaru. And I had to hit him myself to fend him off." Ryoga was baffled. "Hikaru? Wow, things really have changed around here. You speak really well Japanese too now, by the way!" She smiled. "Domo arigato, Ryoga. The credits all go to Hikaru." He frowned mildly. "So, you're really living with him, huh? I woulda never thought."

"Me neither." Hikaru appeared in the doorway. Ryoga flushed slightly over Hikaru overhearing his comment. "Oh, Gosunkugi, hi! Man, you really look..." He sought for the appropriate words. "...less creepy." Hikaru grinned. "Arigato. Maybe I'll look even better once these wounds heal. And I must say that you two make a really cute couple." Ukyo cleared her throat. "We're also just friends." Ryoga nodded eagerly. Hikaru's expression didn't change. "Oh, I apologize. Still, strictly photogenically, you look really great together. In fact, let me get my camera right now!" Hikaru put down the boxes he was carrying and picked up his camera from a nearby dresser drawer, ignoring the flustered two.

"Gosunkugi...!" Xian Pu said, a small catch in her voice indicating warning. That, and the fact that she was using his last name, which she as good as never did. As he idly clicked the camera, she sent him a glare which clearly said "Karu-kun, you're being rude!". But he knew that she found this amusing as well. "H-hey!" Ryoga protested, trying to snatch the camera from him, but he was blinded by the light and Hikaru was surprisingly fast. "No need to pose, now!" Hikaru grinned vigourously as Ryoga stood unanimated in a crimsom blush, and Ukyo was constantly trying to turn away from the flashes of light as Hikaru encircled them, darting to and fro, snapping away. Her face was almost equally red.

In the end, when he had run out of film and ruthlessly began to find another one, Xian Pu stomped forwards and teared the camera away from him. He blinked, but didn't argue. When Ryoga and Ukyo, still in aftershock from the continued flash of the camera, wobbled off after getting a hazy tour of the shop and buying some stuff they had no idea what was, Xian Pu tapped her foot impatiently. "What was that all about, Hikaru?" Hikaru shrugged, smiling mildly.
"I don't know, Xian-chan. Guess something just bit me. These'll be real fun for our photo wall, though, ya gotta admit!"
She slapped his arm good-naturedly, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, Karu-kun! Tch, tch...!"

Ukyo and Ryoga sat on a park bench, twitching a little from their brief career as photo models. "Man, I wonder what bit Hikaru?" Ukyo looked at Ryoga, her eyebrows raised. "Isn't there some kind of sickness having to with photographing? Some kind of  fetish or whatever, like a peeping Tom?" Ryoga asked hazily. Ukyo chuckled mildly.  "I wouldn't be surprised...now c'mon, Ryoga. Let's head over to the Tendo's!"
Ryoga swallowed. "I...should we really...?" Ukyo looked at him with friendly compassion. "Look, Ryoga...you have to face it sooner or later. And besides, we said we'd come by for tea, right? It'd be rude not to show up!" Ryoga smiled less than half-heartedly and tagged along after Ukyo.