Chapter 1: It began at sunset
Chapter Text
Crimson Red Lips
Chapter 1: It began at sunset
The day looked promising, the warm rays of the sun illuminating the beautiful face of a young woman with deep blue eyes who gazed at the sky with a smile. The brunette undoubtedly had big plans for that day. And she showed it with a change of outfit that was unusual for her. Her long, shiny, silky hair was loose and adorned with her characteristic white bow, so there was no change there. But as far as her usual masculine uniform was concerned, there was a big change, because she was not wearing that masculine uniform, she was wearing the feminine one and her ever-reliable spatula on her back. ¿What was the reason for such a drastic change?
She was undoubtedly up to something. Her encouraging smile, tinged with cunning and mischief, would make it obvious to anyone who knew her well. She was walking to school, this time with more enthusiasm and confidence than she usually had when wearing that uniform, as she was usually overcome with embarrassment and shame. But not this time. Today she had something planned for that martial artist who played with her heart so much.
Classes began, but he didn't show up, nor did his other fiancée. Ukyo thought that perhaps her plan had some flaws, but nothing serious. After all, if she couldn't carry it out today, she could do it tomorrow, or the day after, or even later. She had a good feeling about this plan, as it gave her plenty of time to carry it out, or so she thought. Unfortunately, time continued to pass, and her spirits began to decline as the days went by. After three weeks, she had stopped wearing the female uniform and even the red lipstick she had been wearing since the first day she set her plan in motion. Now she had been told that Ranma would not be returning soon. Apparently, someone had kidnapped Akane, and he, along with several of her so-called friends, had gone to rescue her, which was why the boy was absent. It was a pity that she had only found out now, by chance, when she ran into Kasumi on her way home, who told her the story.
She admitted it, she hated being left out of some of those adventures all the time. She began to imagine that she was the one who would have a chance to be rescued by Ranma, but her daydreams ended when she remembered that it was Ryoga who had rescued her last time. Her face showed how annoyed this made her feel. She was certainly flattered that a boy had saved her, not that she couldn't manage on her own, but at least the boy had made an effort. Sure, she may have manipulated him a little, but that was common for her. The boy was simple-minded, and she could easily take advantage of that fact. A slight smile appeared on her face as she remembered the times she had used the lost boy to her advantage in some of her plans. Luckily for her, she didn't need him this time, and that was a good thing because he always ended up ruining things. Well, there was also that time when Ranma went to rescue her from the whole thing with Konatsu's stepmother and stepsisters, but even Akane helped, and in the end she didn't exactly feel "rescued"; it was a... peculiar situation.
The next day, Ranma returned, and with Akane and the others, Ukyo immediately went back to her plan, wearing a female uniform, red lipstick, and a spatula on her back. She was ready to do what she had to do, or so she thought until she saw him in front of her. There he was, greeting her with his typical "Hey U-chan" and that sexy, warm smile she loved. ¿How could she not love this boy for whom she had spent years training against the raging sea? Yes, now that she thought about it, training against the sea certainly sounded silly. But the young man in front of her was worth every sea there was, she thought to herself. He was strong, charismatic, handsome, and then she began to get nervous thinking about how she could do what she had to do. She blushed instantly when Ranma greeted her and ran away. Yes, her plan might have had more than one flaw, and now she wondered how to fix it. She thought of alternatives, but each one made her feel more and more like Shampoo or even Kodachi. No, she couldn't be like that. She had to be direct and strong. After all, she was Ranma's cute fiancée.
Even so, the days passed, and opportunities were always interrupted or ruined by some crazy situation, from cats falling from the sky to violent mobs of boys or girls who, for some reason, were chasing the boy with the braid. This was starting to look very bad. She would have to plan better and be more direct. After all, the main item in her plan was running out, and it wouldn't be more than a week before it was useless.
He came close several times during those days, but Akane would appear and Ranma would instantly fly away, or else Shampoo would show up and she would get into a fight with the Amazon while Ranma left the scene unseen. The high hopes she had that morning several weeks ago now seemed like a tiny speck compared to her despair. She had only one use of her item left, it was her last chance, she would have to do it today or everything would be for nothing. It seemed she would have to be as direct as Shampoo, as crazy as Kodachi, and as violent as Akane if she wanted to get what she wanted.
She took a deep breath that morning with all the determination she could muster, she would not open her restaurant that day, she dressed in her typical cook's uniform and prepared for battle. Yes, this would be a battle for Ranma's love. She swallowed hard, took another deep breath, and ran out of Uchan's. It was the moment of truth. The pressure of failure was playing with her mind. She would never do something like this, she would never behave this way, but the pressure, her bad luck, and the latest rumors were messing with her head. Her current state, even her plan, was proof of that. She searched all of Nerima for Ranma, with only one detail highlighting her femininity, bright red lipstick on her lips.
"-You must be joking- Ukyo said to her waiter without stopping to prepare okonomiyakis.
-Of course not, Ukyo-sama, that item exists. Unfortunately, I had to pawn it. They gave me a lot of money for it, I think... this much- he explained with gestures, implying that they had given him several coins that were surely of very low denomination.
-Let's say I believe you. ¿Do you remember where you pawned it?-
-Of course I do. A ninja has an excellent memory. If you like, I can guide you there-"
And there she was now, remembering how this new madness began when she heard Konatsu's words. However, she knew it worked. She saw how It work on the owner of that pawn shop. But time was running out for the chestnut-haired girl. She had already spent half a day looking for the elusive Ranma. First she went to the dojo, but he had left early. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was a day off from school, so at least that was one less thing to worry about. But the day was running out and there was no sign of Saotome.
"-¡¿How much?!... You must be joking. That fool pawned it for only fifty yen, and here you are trying to sell it to me for much, much more-
-It's because it's valuable, young lady- explained a mature woman who was... not very attractive, to say the least, with a face resembling that of a walrus.
-Let's go, Konatsu, this woman wants to rip us off-
At that very moment, a blond, extremely attractive man with light eyes arrived at the store. Even the brunette watched him for a moment and noticed how that handsome man approached and embraced that horrible woman with a love that left both Ukyo and Konatsu in shock, even more so when the blond man truly looked at her with love and caressed her face as if she were the most beautiful flower.
-I'll buy it-”
This couldn't be happening. The afternoon was coming to an end, time was running out, and Ukyo was about to collapse from exhaustion. She began to resign himself to the fact that this would be yet another failure in her endless list of failures. With sadness welling up inside her, she sat down on the bench in that lonely park, watching the sun begin to set on the horizon. It would have been a pleasant sight to make her feel even sadder if it hadn't been for that group that seemed to be making a lot of noise near the fountain. She looked at them for a second because it seemed that two of them were really serious with their shouting, especially the one who shouted:
-¡Prepare to die, Ranma!-
That voice, what he said, the young woman turned around, it was Ranma and Ryoga fighting as usual. Ukyo regained his strength, she still had hope. She ran towards Ranma, not caring about getting involved in the fight. Perhaps she would have been able to see that they weren't the only ones there. Shampoo, with a couple of her chuis, was fighting the black rose with her characteristic laugh, while Akane yelled at both of them and protected herself from some attacks that seemed to be aimed at her, although surely without intention, ¿right?
Ukyo was determined. Time was running out, and she was too much anxious. Under more normal circumstances, she would have been rational enough to see that her plan was crazy. But not now, with time running out and the stress of not seeing her beloved Ranma see her differently, her mind was in one of its worst moments, and she was unable to realize it. Now she was chasing Ranma, who, upon seeing her in his fight with Ryoga, only greeted her, dodging the lost boy's blows nonstop. This obviously didn't give her any room to use what she needed to against the boy with the braid, since every time she was millimeters away from her target, he would jump to dodge one of Ryoga's blows. Shampoo noticed with surprise in the middle of her fight that the girl with the spatula was trying to approach Ranma in a suspicious manner, and she wasn't going to let anything happen between those two.
What happened next was shocking in more ways than one. Ukyo was already desperate when she saw that the sun was about to set completely, so she threw herself with all her strength at Ranma. The latter, sensing that Ryoga was coming up behind him, jumped high and, with one foot on the lost boy's head, pushed him head-on into Ukyo. The cook, for her part, would have stopped or reacted or at least put her spatula in between if it hadn't been for a treacherous chui from Shampoo hitting her on the back of the neck and throwing her head-on into Ryoga. To say head-on is not exactly correct, especially since it wasn't their foreheads that collided, not at all. There, in the middle of everyone and before the eyes of the entire group, the angle at which the cook and the pig boy were going caused their lips to meet in a rather uncomfortable kiss.
"-Let me see if I understand this. ¿All I have to do is kiss a boy on the lips with this ninja love lipstick, and he'll love me blindly forever?-"
To be continued...
Chapter 2: Getting lost
Chapter Text
Crimson Red Lips
Chapter 2: Getting Lost
The heat on her cheeks, the surprise, and Ryoga's face were the last things Ukyo felt before she fell semi-conscious from the blow of the chui. Ryoga, on the other hand, felt a sharp pain on his lips as the momentum of the blow did not stop, and rather than a kiss, it was more like a blow to the lips. Ranma immediately became concerned about the unconscious Ukyo, who had a bump on the back of her neck and red, swollen lips with smudged red lipstick. The boy with the braid, worried about his friend, approached her and took her hand, saying her name.
The surprise was enormous when Ryoga stood next to Ranma and, with a very unfriendly face, pushed him aside.
-Leave her alone Ranma, I'll take care of her- He immediately took off one of his many bandanas and, with remarkable care, began to clean the young woman's face, saying her name softly.
The jaws of those present dropped to the floor when they noticed the affection with which the lost boy cared for the cook. The scene seemed too bizarre to be real, but it was. Slowly, the astonishment turned to discomfort when they saw that the Ryoga they all knew was overflowing with affection in his gaze toward Ukyo. The way he gently took her hand between his fingers, the way he continued to clean her face while smiling, the desire with which Ryoga, closing his eyes again, was bringing his lips closer to those of an unconscious Ukyo...
-Enough of that, you sly pig- said Ranma, kicking Ryoga away from the girl.
-¡¿What the hell is wrong with you, Ranma?!- Ryoga cried, returning to his terrible attitude as he faced his rival.
-¿What's wrong with you? You were about to kiss poor U-chan, and she's unconscious. Doing that is wrong P-chan-
The boys' shouts brought Ukyo back to her senses. Without getting up, she heard her name and chose to keep her eyes closed.
-¿What do you care, Ranma?-
-¿What do you mean, what do I care? Well... U-chan is... Ukyo is...-
-¡Ukyo is the woman I love! ¿Is that so hard to say Ranma? That means you don't deserve her, stay away. Ukyo is intelligent, independent, brave, very beautiful, and much more than that. If you can't see that, then step aside, because I can see it- Ryoga exclaimed with unmatched conviction.
Ryoga's declaration inevitably made Ukyo blush. She opened her eyes wide and looked at the horizon. The sun had set several minutes ago, and she hoped that the details about the lipstick were true. She regretted losing her first kiss to that jerk Ryoga, but the worst thing would be if he were under the spell. She hoped that kiss had happened minutes after sunset, but from the way the lost boy was acting, it was obvious that hadn't been the case.
-Ukyo, forgive me, I feel like a fool for never having noticed your beauty. My heart has fallen prey to your being. Please be my girlfriend- said Ryoga, yes, the same shy, reserved Ryoga who had extreme difficulty expressing his feelings. There he was, taking the brown-haired cook's hand with a smile and a look that undoubtedly moved something in Ukyo.
But it wouldn't last long, because a kick from Ranma to Ryoga's face made her leave that moment of meaningless thoughts behind and refocus on the present. Ryoga had undoubtedly fallen victim to the love lipstick. That explained the sudden change in the lost boy, who had never expressed his love for Akane in such a direct and vehement way. This didn't look good. She would definitely have to find a way to break the spell. She would ask Konatsu as soon as possible, although...
-Leave U-chan alone, you damn pervert. If you're like this because of that accidental kiss, remember that it was just that, an accident- Ranma exclaimed, standing between them.
-Seriously, ¿what do you care, Ranma? I understand that you can't let Ukyo be by my side because she's the best. But you still have Shampoo, Akane, you even have Kodachi, ¿and you can't let her go? You're a hopeless womanizer, Saotome. I love Ukyo, and if I hadn't realized it before, it was because I was stupid-
At first, this statement greatly upset Akane, Shampoo, and Kodachi because of Ryoga's assertion that Ukyo was better than them. The cook was once again so flushed that she looked red-hot. However, the fact that Ranma was a womanizer was no surprise to those present, they knew him and dealt with it in their own way. But they were undoubtedly more upset by the fact that Ryoga had just pointed out. ¿Why not let Ukyo go? The brown-haired girl, for her part, began to feel that this was what she needed to do, make Ranma jealous so she could have him. Perhaps her lipstick plan hadn't worked, but she could still use what that plan had given her. To a certain extent, it seemed that Ryoga was her own Mousse.
Ranma just tried to stammer out something intelligible in response to Ryoga's words, but even more so in response to the murderous glares from the other girls, who seemed to be waiting for him to open his mouth further so they could make him pay for what the lost boy had said. Luckily for him, Ukyo approached Ryoga and simply said, "Let's get out of here." Ryoga picked her up in his arms and ran off. Ranma instantly wanted to chase after them, but the girls' anger stopped him... literally, because Kodachi had wrapped him up with her ribbon, and both Shampoo and Akane were demanding explanations with their fists.
Once they were far enough away, Ukyo demanded that the lost boy put her down, with considerable embarrassment, as she did not like being in the arms of any boy other than Ranma. The darkness of night was already upon them, and as she looked around, Ukyo recognized the place, it was the backyard of Furinkan High School. ¿How and when did they get there? Anyway, she had been to worse places with Ryoga. Now was the time to set the record straight and make it clear to that idiot Ryoga that she didn't...
-I love you Ukyo- Ryoga blurted out, taking the young woman's hand and giving her a warm smile.
-¡Stop saying that! You don't really love me... you...-
-Of course I love you Ukyo, I feel it here...- He pointed to his chest, right where his heart was. -But if you're bothered by public displays of affection or me saying I love you... I can say it less, I guess. I just want to make you happy and for you to accept me-
-Damn it- the young brunette blurted out.
She knew full well that it was all a reaction to the lipstick, but it really felt good to have someone tell her he loved her and wanted her to be happy. It was impossible not to blush at those words, especially when it was the silly Ryoga, with his honest smile and sincere eyes, who was saying them. More than once she thought about reacting and slapping him, beating him into silence and telling him to stop embarrassing her, but it was her fault that the boy was like this, so it would be pointless to punish him. And that was the problem, this situation made no sense. She had to understand that the boy was nothing more than a means to get what she really wanted, Ranma.
-Listen to me carefully Ryoga. Let's suppose I agreed to be your girlfriend, but under certain conditions, and you had to do everything I asked. ¿Would you agree?-
-Of course, if you want, you can even make me a list. I'll prove to you with every little detail how much I love you, and then you'll end up accepting me and loving me as I love you-
-Well, that list doesn't sound bad. I think I'd have to go home first, where I could calm down a bit and think this through better. I can't let this get out of hand too-
-¿Are you sure about that Ukyo? I think... I think that maybe at your house, under a roof and with privacy, I might not be able to control myself so well and I'd end up throwing myself at you and...- As Ryoga explained how he felt, his hand was already holding Ukyo's again, and he was blushing.
The young woman couldn't resist any longer, and she hit the boy on the head with her spatula. Of course, Ryoga just smiled with a slight bump on his head.
-I like that about you too Ukyo. You're impetuous and you know how to set your boundaries-
-Just... just come by my house when you can. I'll wait for you, and... and then I'll give you the list, and we'll talk more about... about the future of our relationship. ¿Understood?-
Ryoga stood firm and bowed excessively formally, thanked her for the opportunity, and walked away. It wasn't until seconds later that they both realized that it might be quite some time before the lost boy found the chestnut-haired restaurant. Well, at least all may not be lost, thought the young woman as she headed home. However, on the way, she noticed a serious problem, one that was not only annoying and obvious but, even worse, impossible. She couldn't get home. She turned a corner and again couldn't recognize the streets. It seemed that her sense of direction had atrophied. Something was very wrong with her. But after a few minutes, a face she thought she wouldn't see for at least a few days was there in front of her, smiling at her.
-¿What the hell did you do to me, Ryoga?- she cried, grabbing the disoriented boy by the neck.
-¿What do you mean? It's great to see you again, but I don't know what you're talking about-
-Your damn sense of direction, you gave it to me. ¿Is that even possible? ¿Why the hell can't I even get out of school?-
-¿Are we still at Furinkan? I thought I'd be in Hokkaido by now... Well, I don't know, this has never happened to anyone close to me before...-
-This is your fault. I don't know how, but this is your fault, so I hope you fix it as soon as possible, or else...-
-I don't know what to do, my love, but if that's the case, maybe... maybe my parents know something-
-All right, ¿where can we find your parents?-
-At my house... maybe, or maybe they're far away and I don't know when I'll see them again. The last time was almost two years ago-
-Let me guess, you have no idea how to get home... This sucks. ¿How will I get home? ¿How will I go to school? ¿How... how will I go on with my life?-
The young woman couldn't take it anymore. She was worried about her shop, her life. She wanted to slaughter the boy who was looking at her with concern and embarrassment. She undoubtedly felt guilty. It was obvious that Ukyo's lack of direction had something to do with the kiss, and she didn't know what to do. But she couldn't break down, not now. She had to stay strong and find a solution to everything as soon as possible, especially the problem of lack of direction. The lost boy suggested walking until they found someone they knew who could guide them. It was the only viable option to begin to untangle the mess they were in at that moment. During the walk, Ryoga apologized constantly, even though he had no idea what was happening to them either. He only suspected that it might have something to do with the kiss and perhaps the love he felt for the young woman. It was at that moment that a memory came to his mind, and without hesitation, he shared it.
-Ukyo, you know, I think I remember something my parents told me the last time I saw them-
-I'm listening-
-I was at a souvenir stand in Sapporo... I think, when they both came to buy something with me, they greeted me and looked happy as always. They asked me about my life while we ate something together. It was nice to see them again, and I told them about... Akane and how I thought I loved her-
-¿Are you going to tell me that you don't love her anymore? ¿Or have you become like Kuno and love us both?- The chestnut-haired girl's annoyance was almost uncontrollable at that moment.
-Of course not, what I feel for you is... overwhelming, very strong, intense, and different. I never felt anything so... incredible for Akane. I can't deny that I loved her, but now that doesn't compare to how I feel about you. Going back to the story, I remember that they both looked at each other with some concern. I could see it in their eyes. My father just told me to be careful with my feelings and not to express them until I was sure that the girl I loved also loved me, or it could be... painful-
-¿Huh?-
-At the time, I thought they were referring to rejection, but now I think maybe they were referring to this. For as long as I can remember, my parents have always had a problem with disorientation. I don't know if it's genetic or what the hell, I've just assumed that's the case because I remember them telling me that my grandparents had it too. But maybe it's something more now that I seem to have passed it on to you too.
The story shocked the young woman. Apparently, the Hibikis were more than just "special," and having anything to do with one would undoubtedly bring more problems than benefits. Without realizing it, they had walked until they were outside the Neko-Hanten. They didn't want to ask Shampoo for help, but it was either that or keep walking to who knows where. Besides, it was getting late, and the last thing the young woman wanted was to spend the night outdoors with Ryoga.
-Go ask Mousse for help, or Cologne. Don't even think about asking Shampoo for help- demanded Ukyo, crossing her arms.
She could see how difficult it was for Ryoga to ask for help with his problem. His gaze, in addition to embarrassment, showed the humiliation this represented, but with a fake smile, he accepted and entered the place. Minutes later, he came out with Mousse by his side.
-¿Huh? You didn't tell me you were coming with Ukyo. ¿Why didn't you ask her to guide you to the Tendo?-
-I think it's more complicated than that. We don't want to go with Ranma, we want to go to Ucchan's-
-¿You want to set me up in some kind of trap or something?- Mousse's distrust was reasonable. After all, no one in the Nerima group was in the habit of going around asking for help unless it was something very serious.
Ukyo remained serious, expectant, and even blushing. She didn't like having to ask for help. She was more than used to fending for herself, but now, because of that jackass Ryoga, she found herself in an extremely unpleasant situation. The lost boy, for his part, was not having a good time either. It was obvious that asking Mousse to guide them to the young woman's place would require some explanation that would not make them look suspicious. In the end, he convinced the Chinese boy by making up something about memory-erasing techniques. Nothing too far outside the logic that reigned in Nerima. It didn't take long before Ryoga and Ukyo, following the duck boy, were able to reach the chestnut-haired restaurant. A thank you from Ryoga was enough for Mousse, who wished them luck with fixing the cook's memory before leaving. The young woman entered her restaurant and Ryoga followed her closely, but she stopped him before he could set a foot inside.
-None of that, Hibiki. I still have to make that list we talked about, calm down, and figure out what we're going to do about this dilemma of disorientation. You... go and do whatever you do when no one is watching. I need to be alone- She immediately slammed the door in the boy's face.
A deep sigh was heard from the other side of the door before Ukyo heard Ryoga's footsteps walking away from the restautant. Minutes later, she turned on the lights and noticed that her ninja "waitress" had left the place clean and spotless. At least that was good, but then she realized the implications of Ryoga's lack of orientation. She couldn't find the bathroom, she couldn't get to her room, she opened her closet about ten times. Despair was taking hold of her when she gave up at the grill. ¿How does Ryoga live with this problem? she wondered, not understanding what the hell was wrong with him. At that moment, she couldn't help but remember how helpless she felt when she was on the street and didn't know where she was going. It was a feeling similar to when she was a child and her great future with a strong fiancé and a happy life was taken away from her. ¿Did Ryoga always carry that feeling with him? No... she shouldn't think about him. Every time she remembered him, she couldn't help but see his face telling her he loved her, hear his declaration of love, and without thinking, she was touching her lips with her fingertips, trying to remember the kiss. She shook her head vigorously to snap out of it. She shouldn't think about those things, she had no reason to. She had to regain her orientation, she had to make Ranma love her, and she had no idea how to achieve both of those things and then get rid of that crazy Ryoga. It would be a long night trying to get somewhere with all that, and even more so when "getting somewhere" could become quite literal.
To be continued...
Chapter 3: A painful breakup
Chapter Text
Crimson Red Lips
Chapter 3: A Painful Breakup
It wasn't until the midday sun streamed through the window that Ukyo woke up feeling exhausted. Her first thought was to hope that it had all been just a bad dream. She looked next to her bed and realized that it wasn't. There was the list that had taken her a couple of hours to prepare, and now it looked so pathetic with just a few lines on it. She rubbed her eyes and headed to the bathroom... arriving at the kitchen, then the attic, then back to her room, opening her closet, going down to the restaurant area, almost going out into the street, and after half an hour, she finally found the bathroom. This was ridiculous, exasperating, and would soon drive her crazy, she was sure of it. She remembered how hard it was to get to her room, try to do her bedtime routine, find a pen and paper, those simple things in her home had become a Herculean task. At least before going to sleep, she had thought about everything that had happened the day before. Her thoughts wandered to how she could use Ryoga, and she couldn't help but feel bad about it. She couldn't recognize herself when she analyzed her attitude. She knew she could be very determined when the situation demands it, but if she thought about it thoroughly, she was using a boy who had never done her any harm. Well, there was the time he mistook her for a boy, but that wasn't a big deal now. Surely that confusion didn't justify using him as a tool to win Ranma's love. She knew there had been other occasions when he had ended up in her plans in one way or another, but she wanted him to stay with Akane so that Ranma would be free. Besides, she liked both, the blue-haired girl and the boy with the fangs. She didn't want to make either of them suffer, she just wanted them to give each other a chance and give her a chance with Ranma.
A few minutes after wandering around her apartment again, she had her list and as many things as she could carry in her hands, along with a huge backpack. If her problem was like Ryoga's, things could get ugly as soon as she stepped outside her place. Now, reviewing that list with the clarity of the morning and a rested head after having slept, there were points that she really couldn't believe she had written. They were too... cruel to use the lost boy like that. She was still determined, but it seemed that her problems were bigger now. On the one hand, she had to use Ryoga to make Ranma jealous and thus convince him to be with her. On the other hand, she wasn't sure to what extent she would be able to use the lost boy like that, and last but not least, she had to do everything quickly because she had to get her orientation back in order to run her restaurant. She couldn't leave everything in Konatsu's hands because he would ruin them, that is, Konatsu. Ukyo waited patiently until her ninja waiter appeared at the restaurant. The boy with feminine features smiled at his boss when he saw her, and she began to explain everything that had happened. After all, it was partly his fault for telling her about that love lipstick. At the end of the story, the waiter had a very unfriendly look on his face. He immediately left the place, and Ukyo could hear some screams that made her run... unable to find a way out until, in desperation, she ended up jumping out of her bedroom window, which she had found earlier. Outside, she saw Ryoga evading the ninja boy's attacks with noticeable confusion. This didn't look good. Konatsu was upset. He loved Ukyo, and although he could silently adore his boss when it came to Ranma because he wanted her to be happy, he didn't have to be so nice to this new "intruder."
Ukyo stopped them both by shouting their names, and they looked at her with smiles, trying to appease her anger. However, Konatsu's faint murmurs telling Ryoga that he would kill him when he let his guard down made the lost boy worry. Then Konatsu agreed to be their guide and help them on their new journey. The first step was to go to the Tendo dojo, but to do so discreetly. The brown-haired girl's plan was to walk by the place several times with Ryoga on her arm to make Ranma jealous when he came out and declare that she was the one he loved. Konatsu led them both to the entrance of the dojo, where Ukyo explained to Ryoga what he needed to know, which was to just hold her hand and walk around. Ryoga was happy just to be in contact with Ukyo. Her hand was soft, fragile, and pleasant, and he smiled constantly because of it. Eventually, someone arrived at the dojo. Shampoo, seeing the couple walking hand in hand, approached them, puzzled.
-¿Spatula-girl fall in love with pig boy?-
-Just go away Shampoo- she replied, blushing noticeably at the Amazon's insinuation.
-Pig boy shout that he love you, ¿how do that if he love violent girl?-
Okay, Shampoo wasn't stupid despite her silly way of speaking, but there she was, questioning her about how Ryoga had fallen in love with her when he used to adore Akane.
-Because Ukyo is better, she's nice, kind, a good cook, attractive, and extremely...- Ryoga explained before his mouth was covered by Shampoo's hand, completely ignoring him.
-¿What to use to enchant pig boy like that? Answer, spatula girl-
Things started to go from bad to worse again when Ranma ran out of the dojo, pursued by Akane, who, upon seeing the group in front of the house, stopped dead in her tracks, causing the blue-haired girl to stop behind him. Ukyo couldn't help but blush. She was still holding Ryoga's hand and looked down, embarrassed by what Ranma might think of the situation. Although that was her intention, her real feelings overcame her plans once again. Akane looked at the couple and Shampoo, who was looking up and down at the lost boy with an inquisitive gaze, as if looking for something in him. Ranma, for his part, felt a little curious about the crowd and approached the cook with a smile.
-Hi, U-chan, I see you're still carrying bacon breath around with you. ¿Are you okay with that or is he bothering you?-
-¿Why? ¿Are you planning to do something about him, Ran-chan?- asked Ukyo, trying to hide her happiness at the boy's interest and protective attitude toward her.
-Of course, you're my friend, and if pork-chops is bothering you, I'll teach him a lesson, so I hope you're not trying to take advantage of her again, Ryoga-
The word "friend" froze the young woman. That meant he was just looking out for his friend, not jealous of his fiancée. This made her lose herself in her thoughts while the lost boy confronted Ranma about those nicknames and told him not to interfere, that he loved Ukyo. Those words brought her back to reality, turning to see Ryoga greet Akane with a certain coldness when she greeted him with her usual courtesy. She certainly hadn't expected this. She had undoubtedly replaced Akane, but it was only then that she realized how deeply she had touched the boy's heart.
-Ryoga, ¿how long have you been in love with Ukyo?- asked the blue-haired girl with sincere interest, seeing her friend so... different from the boy who could barely stammer a greeting.
-Since yesterday. It was like a bolt of lightning, a revelation. It was strange but fascinating, as if my eyes had opened for the first time to a blinding light that called to me and told me that Ukyo was the love of my life and the one I should spend the rest of my life with-
Yes, this was a very different Ryoga, so eloquent, such words with just a hint of blushing and a sincere look, so much love in saying them. If Akane hadn't been captivated by the beauty of the boy's words, she might have suspected something, just as Ranma now suspected.
-¿Are you sure about that, Ryoga? ¿What happened to your old, sincere love for a certain young lady I know, or rather, young ladies, if we also mention Akari? ¿And what about P-chan in all this?-
The question seemed honest. Ranma really seemed to sense something strange, and Ryoga looked down at the floor, at least a little confused, and then let out a long sigh. Ukyo watched him intrigued. ¿Who was that Akari that Ranma mentioned? ¿What did Akane's pet pig have to do with this, and why did Ryoga seem confused for a second? The lost boy took the young cook's hand a little more firmly and did the unthinkable.
-This will be resolved now, Akane. ¿Could you guide me to the pond in your backyard?-
The blue-haired girl, intrigued by the mention of P-chan, nodded and walked toward her backyard, followed by Ryoga, who did not let go of Ukyo's hand, whispering that she had to see this too. Ranma followed closely behind. Ryoga wouldn't do what he thought he would, ¿would he? Shampoo just went with the flow and followed them, as did Konatsu, who kept his eyes on them even while hidden with his ninja arts. Once in front of the pond, Ryoga let out another sigh and, staring intently at the water, ventured to say:
-I just hope you understand, Akane, that I never did anything inappropriate or took advantage of you. I always looked away when you were changing, and I'm so sorry. I was in desperate need of affection before I found my true love. I hope you Ukyo don't hate me after this, but even if you do, I won't back down. I'll do whatever it takes to win your heart-
And with that, he jumped into the water, closing his eyes... but the splash never came. Ranma was holding him back by his shirt.
-Okay, Ryoga would never do something like this on his own. He's too much of a coward, so ¿who did something to pork-ch...?- Ranma was interrupted by Ryoga, who pulled him down with him so they both fell into the pond.
At that moment, a young redhead came out of the water very upset, yelling at Ryoga's wet shirt, which she held with both hands as if he were still there. Then she reacted and noticed the stunned looks on both Akane and Ukyo's faces as they watched P-chan come out of the pond with an embarrassed expression. There was no turning back, it was impossible to undo what Ryoga had just done.
-Ranma, ¿did you... know about this?- Akane asked.
-I... well... I caused it, although it was an accident and it's because that idiot Ryoga...- The blue-haired girl's fist left the redhead floating unconscious in the pond.
Ukyo, for her part, picked up the black pig and tried to walk away... unsuccessfully, until Konatsu appeared and led her away from the scene. Apparently, the cook had to come to terms with the fact that this happened because of her, and she was not comfortable with it at all. She didn't know Ryoga's secret either, but now she understood all those nicknames Ranma had given him, those moments when the lost boy disappeared from her sight for no apparent reason but with water involved. But what he said, he was alone, lost, didn't know how to relate to anyone, had agreed to be the pet of the girl he loved just to feel her hugs and a little affection. Ukyo could understand the kind of loneliness the boy felt. She had faced loneliness more than once before, but never as fiercely as Ryoga, lost in a forest in the middle of the night, being just a little pig.
-Konatsu, ¿could you take us home? We need hot water-
-Actually, we're already there, Ukyo-sama-
The young woman looked up and saw that it was true. They were in front of Ucchan's. They went inside, and Konatsu put water on to boil in a kettle. The silence was uncomfortable. Konatsu thought about taking the opportunity to make Ryoga look like a pervert and a freeloader. But his boss's gaze, she look so lost in more ways than one, prevented him from doing so. He felt partly guilty for her situation and had to be strong and mature to help her with her dilemma. Ukyo remained lost in her thoughts, not loosening her grip on the black pig on her lap. And P-chan, for his part, couldn't take his eyes off the young woman, wondering if he had hurt her in some way by revealing such a horrible secret. The teapot began to emit some steam, and it was obvious that it was hot enough. Ukyo picked it up and, placing the piggy on the floor, began to pour the hot liquid over him without anticipating something crucial.
The boy's nakedness hit her like a tremendous punch, and she felt the redness return to her face as she turned away so as not to see more than she should, but what Ryoga did was even more unexpected. The boy was naked and hugging her from behind, and this was getting very bad. Her face was already burning with shame and was red hot when she felt his touch.
-Ukyo, my love, ¿have you forgiven me? I'm sorry, I should have told you my secret long before all this...- A blow with Ukyo's spatula, but not by Ukyo herself, but by Konatsu, left the boy naked and unconscious on the floor as he asked his boss to keep her eyes closed. The ninja took the opportunity to dress the lost boy with a second change of his own clothes. Once Ryoga regained consciousness, Ukyo and Konatsu were sitting in front of him at the bar in front of the grill. The chestnut-haired girl didn't even look at him, ashamed and remembering his naked body, while the waiter looked at him with rage and a lot, a lot of anger.
-More than forgiving you, I understand you, Ryoga, that and... forget about that list I was going to give you. Now I just want... my sense of direction back. We have to figure out how-
-Okay, although I'm not sure how to do that-
After chatting for a while, the three of them came to the conclusion that the only thing they could do was to find out more about Ryoga's strange orientation problem. The only way to do that would be to go to the source, find the boy's parents, and see if they could shed some light on the matter. The boy gave the address to Konatsu, who, at Ukyo's request, would look for the house, but he would do that the next day because now they had to sleep. It was already getting dark, so he guided his boss to her room where she got ready for bed. Before Ukyo entering her room, Konatsu took her by the shoulder and, with noticeable intrigue, asked her:
-Ukyo-sama, ¿shouldn't you try to break the lipstick spell first?-
-I don't know, I don't think I'm thinking very clearly right now. Every day with that... jackass of Ryoga becomes more chaotic and fills my head with different ideas. I need to think. Maybe tomorrow things will be clearer. Thank you for everything you're doing, Konatsu- The young woman gave him a smile that he could tell was empty of enthusiasm, then opened the door in front of her and let her enter her own room.
Ryoga, for his part, had recovered his things and was back in his clothes, writing a letter when Konatsu came down to watch him.
-¿What are you doing?- asked the ninja, hoping to annoy him.
-I'm explaining why I'm leaving. I can't be with Ukyo until I resolve a certain matter with Akari-
The ninja remembered that Ranma had mentioned that name among the things that had made Ryoga jump into the pond. Apparently, Ryoga had made a decision, and although he wasn't really interested in what that pig boy was doing, he might be able to take advantage of what he said later.
-¿Who is Akari?-
-I think... she's my girlfriend, but it's never... never been entirely clear-
Konatsu immediately jumped up and put a kunai to the boy's neck, threatening to kill him if, on top of everything else, he turned out to be unfaithful to Ukyo and a womanizer like Ranma. At that moment, Ryoga, showing no fear at the threat but annoyed with himself, began to tell her the story between him and Akari. As the ninja listened, her cold, murderous face fluctuated between compassion and embarrassment at the stupid things the boy in front of him was telling. When Ryoga finished, Konatsu sighed and decided to help him get to the girl, but not for Ryoga's reasons, but in the hope that the spell would weaken if he saw an old love, or changed his mind, or something happened. He agreed to take him at that moment because he knew that in the morning he would have to help Ukyo with her newly acquired terrible sense of direction. On the way, the ninja took the opportunity to think that Ukyo poor sense of direction was partly a good thing for him. She needed him, he could be very useful to her because he would be more than an employee, his right-hand man, his partner, his companion. His mind began to imagine situations where a grateful Ukyo hugged him, their eyes met, and they slowly got closer and closer until their lips... A premonition made him jump just in time to dodge a giant pig that lunged at him.
-Ryoga, that ninja isn't your friend, ¿is she?- cried a beautiful young woman with wavy, dark green hair and two pink strands who was coming after the huge pig.
-Akari, he's with me, his name is...- Ryoga explained, but it was too late. Konatsu had knocked out the sumo pig Katsunishiki with some ninja bombs.
-Oh, well, she's a girl, so it's okay- Akari said when she saw her pig defeated.
-Actually, he's a boy,- Ryoga explained to the young woman, scratching his head, while Konatsu looked at her and realized that she was truly beautiful, with her plaid school-style skirt, beige sweater, and innocent, fragile appearance. ¿How did someone like her notice Ryoga? It was a mystery.
-Well, but you defeated him first, Ryoga, and besides, you're my destined pig- said the young woman, then took the boy's arm with a huge smile.
-About that, Akari... I'm afraid I can't be your... boyfriend-
Konatsu watched intently. He knew it was a private moment, but he still had to find out if, in that moment of doubt and nervousness, the power of the lipstick was waning or at least giving him some clue to neutralize the spell.
-¿What are you talking about, Ryoga? ¿Don't you feel anything for me anymore? You must marry me. You're my ideal guy. I accept you as you are, and I love your cursed side too. You're perfect for me-
Then Konatsu could see it. He could sense that at times it seemed as if Ryoga wanted to back out. It seemed as if the power of the lipstick could be broken. ¿Was it doubt, nerves, or something else that was causing the lost boy to hesitate?
-I'm sorry, but I love someone else. I'm really sorry about us, and I can't go on like this. Even if you accept me, I don't want you to love that pig. I hate him, I want to get rid of him, and I hate that you constantly compliment me by comparing me to him. I couldn't bear to spend my life with you, hearing those kinds of words all the time. I can't imagine helping you raise sumo pigs for the rest of our lives. I'm sorry, but you're not the girl for me, and I'm sorry I thought you were and gave you hope- He immediately turned his back on her and walked away.
Konatsu was stunned. He had said all those horrible things without hesitation, without the slightest regard for her feelings. So ¿what was it that he thought he saw? He would have to think about it later because now the young Akari began to cry, standing there hugging herself, her heart aching like never before. Konatsu couldn't bear it and approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder and saying:
-They say it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all-
The young woman looked at him, and he could see anger in her eyes. Perhaps she was blaming him, but then her expression changed again to pain, suffering, and agony, which he understood very well. The young woman hugged him, and, feeling sorry for her, he hugged her back, understanding that the moment demanded some compassion. He would think about what to do later. It was the middle of the night. A young ninja with a feminine appearance embraced a desolate young woman with her unconscious sumo pig nearby. A spellbound and cursed lost boy walked aimlessly, although he believed he had a destination, and a young woman slept peacefully after thinking and thinking and thinking...
To be continued...
Chapter Text
Crimson Red Lips
Chapter 4: Simple Acceptance
This new day brought a little clarity to young Kuonji's mind. Sighing, she got up from her futon and looked around her. Everything looked the same. But she knew she had new ideas in her head. She was leading Ryoga down a terrible path that would leave him worse off than he already was. She knew he was quite... self-destructive, to say the least. Techniques based on depression, self-pity, a unique ability to end up in the worst possible situations. In short, the boy was not in an asylum because his mental state was strong and he was functional to a certain extent in society. But apparently, she didn't know him at all. She thought he was just an exaggerated fool and too stubborn for his own good, but it turned out he had layers and layers of personality and secrets she didn't know about.
-¿So, Akari, huh?-
She said aloud, remembering that Ranma had mentioned her. Apparently, she must be someone important to Ryoga if he mentioned her on the same level as Akane. ¿Maybe his girlfriend? Gosh, if even Ryoga could have a girlfriend, there was definitely more to that boy than she could see. She understood that Ryoga was, despite everything, a kind-hearted young man who worked hard for his friends and protected the defenseless. She witnessed it that time when Ranma lost his strength and he offered to help them. Things got a little out of hand, but in the end, they got what they wanted, ¿didn't they? Ranma had talked to her about him several times. His fiancé considered him something of a friend and had mentioned several times how Ryoga had helped him. She knew that Ryoga was too sensitive, which was probably why he could use the Shishi Hokodan without much difficulty, and that was the problem. Maybe she and he weren't the best of friends, but they were something like allies or partners in their quest to break up Nerima's main couple. She knew that when this was over, because she was sure that sooner or later she would break the lipstick spell, the boy would be devastated to see what had happened to his life. Correction, what she had done to his life by taking advantage of him. This wasn't right. No more using Ryoga like that. She wasn't Shampoo, and she didn't want to become like her.
She could still prevent further damage to the boy's life, and that's what she would do. She would prevent him from breaking up with his girlfriend, if that's what Akari was, and they would find a way for them to regain their sense of direction. She would break the spell later, she couldn't do it now... she was afraid that if he wasn't at her mercy like he was now, he would leave her as she was so that she would be lost like him for the rest of her life because of what she had done to him. A long sigh escaped her as she realized that Ryoga would never do that... he was too noble and honorable, yeah, that was also something the boy used to have in excess beyond for his own good. She was thinking too much about Ryoga, but without a doubt, the biggest problem was that this was not the Ryoga she knew.
This Ryoga was direct, passionate, and outgoing. He certainly retained the memory and certain aspects of the personality of the Ryoga she remembered, but his way of expressing his false love for her was too extreme. She knew the boy had trouble just asking Akane out on a date, so she didn't understand how he could now be so direct as to say over and over again that he loved her. Remembering his words, his expression, his intensity made her blush. Such words of love made her very uncomfortable. She recognized herself as somewhat shy in certain aspects, such as when she was made nervous by highlighting aspects that she did not believe she possessed. And he did it all the time, showering her with compliments left and right. Although she recognized that she was independent and strong-willed, she saw it more as stubbornness and self-sufficiency, something she saw in that same boy. She couldn't imagine such compliments and words of love coming from Ranma. Therein lay another dilemma, Ranma showed more interest in Ryoga's condition than in her. It was more of a protective attitude toward a friend than romantic jealousy. She could see that with painful clarity. It seemed that her plan to make him jealous would not go very far, as he only seemed to want to protect her from Ryoga. It was strange, after all, ¿how dangerous could the lost boy be when he was in love? Her thoughts would have to wait, as some screams reached her ears. The voices belonged to Ryoga, Konatsu, and... ¿a girl?
She immediately tried to leave her place, but the shouting grew louder and she couldn't find the exit. Fortunately, she had fixed her hair and dressed while thinking about Ryoga before managing to find her window and climb out again. No doubt this would become routine, it seemed. Outside, she found several craters, a giant pig, a young woman paralyzed on the ground, and Konatsu and Ryoga exchanging blows with obvious annoyance.
-¿What the hell is going on here?- she asked after hitting them both on the head with the spatula.
-This toy ninja insists that my love for you is fake and that I'm just under the spell of some silly lipstick. He even tricked Akari after I made her understand that I don't love her-
Too much information flowing at once... First things first, that girl on the floor who was now glaring at her with hatred was Akari. Second, it seemed that a mess had been created because Konatsu had told the young woman about the love lipstick, and not only her but also Ryoga. ¿Why had his faithful waiter done that? He would find out in a moment. And finally, that didn't explain what that giant pig was doing there.
-Konatsu, heal that girl. It seems we need to talk-
With considerable hesitation, the ninja did as he was asked, only for the young woman to jump onto the pig's back as soon as she noticed her condition had improved and shout, -¡Charge Katsunishiki- as she lunged at Ukyo. Only for Ryoga to stop the pig with his bare hands.
-I won't let you hurt Ukyo. Understand Akari, I love her-
-Only because she bewitched you. But if she disappears, you'll be mine again- cried the girl with a look that Ukyo recognized well.
-Oh no, it's not enough for me to be involved in a complicated love pentagon, now I'm in another one- said Ukyo dejectedly, letting her shoulders drop.
Minutes later, once everyone had calmed down and were inside Ukyo's place, everyone except the giant pig, Konatsu explained his reasons for causing such a mess outside Ucchan's. He said his intention was not to tell Ryoga, he only told Akari after the lost boy had left and broken her heart. He took pity on the young woman in distress and explained that Ryoga was not really in love with Ukyo. At that moment, she decided that she would join Konatsu in searching for a remedy for that love spell. What happened with Ryoga was that Akari herself told him that his love was not real, and Konatsu seconded her, trying to explain things to him. Needless to say, Ryoga did not take this well. After Ukyo prepared some okonomiyaki for everyone, although Akari refused to eat it at first, Ryoga asked her to behave and she ate it. It was interesting to see that while the young pig lover's face lit up at the pleasant taste of the okonomiyaki, she had to pretend when the cook looked at her and say, -It tastes awful- Apparently, Akari blamed Ukyo for the current situation, she didn't believe for a minute that it had been an accident. At the end of that impromptu breakfast courtesy of Ukyo, spirits calmed down a bit thanks to their stomachs being filled. Even so, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. The first thing on Ukyo's mind was once again to stop getting lost, and she had to focus on finding a solution to that.
-Konatsu, something that bothers me... is that instead of looking for Ryoga's parents, you took him to break up with his girlfriend, ¡you idiot!-
-I'm sorry, Ukyo-sama, but he was... very convincing-
-¿Do you want to find Ryoga's parents?- asked Akari, excited at the idea of meeting her "in-laws"
-Well, I'd be happy if we could just get to his house. Maybe we'd find clues about his terrible sense of direction and why he gave it to me- Ukyo said, noticing the green-haired girl's dreamy gaze.
-It's surely divine punishment for playing with Ryoga's noble feelings. That's something a good pig would never do- Akari complained, crossing her arms in obvious annoyance.
-Stop that pig talk, Akari. Besides, Ukyo doesn't play with my feelings, he tests them, ¿right, my beloved?-
Once again, the situation was getting out of hand, but if there was one thing Ukyo was good at, it was controlling things and even situations. She immediately asked Akari if she knew where Ryoga lived, and although Konatsu still had the address, she thought it would be easier for the young woman to guide them there. In no time, the group left the restaurant and headed for Ryoga's home. They were very surprised to find that it was not far from the restaurant, and in less than half an hour they had arrived. Ukyo looked at the boy's home with some amazement, it was perhaps too Western for a girl from Osaka like her. But it certainly looked good from the outside. Before entering, Ryoga shuddered a little, and the others noticed when he stopped them and looked around.
-My... ¡My parents are at home!- he exclaimed with a surprise and a smile that left the cook more than surprised. She knew the boy's mood well, and seeing that huge smile on his face left her feeling out of place.
As he opened the door and stepped inside, Ryoga was almost immediately tackled by a middle-aged couple who surrounded him with hugs. At the same time, a rather peculiar black and white dog wagged its tail incessantly, completely happy. His perplexed and even frightened companions watched the scene, fearing they would be the next to be knocked down if they stepped inside. They observed Ryoga's father's appearance. He was a man a few inches taller than his son, with a well-built body, a black sleeveless shirt, dark black hair shorter than his son's, a bandana identical to the lost boy's, and brown eyes. His mother had short, blonde hair, eyes much lighter in color than Ryoga's, a pair of protruding fangs, smooth white skin, and wore denim shorts with a light yellow short-sleeved blouse and, of course, the family scarf adorning her head in a kind of bow. When they stopped showering their son with affection, they noticed the stares of those present and stood up, somewhat embarrassed. By that time, the dog had approached Akari, whom she recognized, and was licking her hand, wagging her tail happily.
-Oh, Mom, Dad, these are my friends and the girl I love-
Ukyo immediately blushed, only for his blush to fade as soon as Ryoga's father hit the lost boy on the head, scolding him for his manners.
-I'm sorry, Dad. Um... Akari, Konatsu, Ukyo, these are Elisa Hibiki and Makoto Hibiki, my parents. Dad, Mom, this is Konatsu Kenzan, a ninja friend and rival, I guess. This is Akari Unryu, my ex-girlfriend, and this is Ukyo Kuonji, the girl I will love until I die- said Ryoga, bowing and introducing everyone.
Both parents were stunned for a moment, then looked at each other in disbelief. Then they sighed with what seemed like disappointment. They approached the young people and bowed several times. Elisa mentioned something about making tea while Makoto took them to the living room where they could be more comfortable and talk. Apparently, something was strange, and they could clearly see the atmosphere around their son. Ryoga immediately told Ukyo and Konatsu about Shirokuro, the family dog that Akari had met previously. However, being very sociable, the dog tried to play with the guests. The young people were nervous, except for Ryoga, who was obviously overflowing with happiness. When they sat down on the sofa in the living room, Ukyo chose to sit in the middle. Ryoga immediately sat next to her and took her hand. Ukyo blushed profusely at his touch, but what made her even more nervous was that she was in front of the boy's parents, which prevented her from giving him what he deserved with her spatula. She was grateful that Akari pushed the lost boy to one side, leaving Ukyo on the edge, Akari in the center, and Ryoga on the other edge. At least that caused Ryoga to let go of the young cook's hand. But none of this went unnoticed by Ryoga's parents, who looked quite curiously at the group of young people accompanying their son. Konatsu, for his part, sat on the floor even though Elisa kindly offered him a chair, but he refused, saying that the floor was his place. In the end, the ninja agreed to at least sit on a cushion given to him by Makoto. Once Ryoga's mother returned with a tray of cookies, cups, and tea, the conversation began.
-All right, first of all, I must say that I am very proud of you, son. The last time we spoke, you told us about your problems with Akane, and now I see you here surrounded by some very pretty young ladies. It seems that your socializing problems were not as serious as you said- Makoto concluded with a laugh.
-Actually, the ninja over there is a boy- said Ukyo, pointing to Konatsu, who raised his hand with a smile.
-Well, ¿who are we to judge people? Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Kenzan-san. Um, forgive me for being so direct, but I'm sure all of you're here because of a problem with orientation, ¿right?- Elisa asked, looking at Ukyo and Akari. -So, ¿which one of you gets lost?-
Ukyo, surprised, raised her hand with some embarrassment, while Akari looked at the brown-haired girl with what seemed like envy or jealousy. For their part, Makoto and Elisa's expressions became more serious as they sighed. It seemed that they would have to tell their son something not very pleasant.
-Well, son, I think the time has come. It seems you had the courage, you fell in love, you made a decision, or whatever, and young Kuonji-san was the one you chose, so it's time to explain something very important to you, but first... Kuonji-san, ¿do you love our Ryoga?- The seriousness in that man's eyes seemed to border on concern.
To say that Ukyo blushed was an understatement. If she had been someone else, she would have run away. The idea crossed her mind for a moment when all eyes were on her. But there was one that hurt her more than all the others, Ryoga's. It not only showed the boy's unconditional love, but it overflowed with longing for the young woman to give an affirmative answer. However, after a very long sigh that seemed short to her, she looked at the boy's parents and shook her head. Apparently, they did not expect that answer, as they stared at each other again with a certain disbelief and regret.
-Then you're not going to like this, Kuonji-san. I'll tell you a story- Elisa began, looking at her son and exchanging glances with Ukyo. -Some time ago, a young man met a wild juvenile delinquent of foreign descent. Their encounter was perhaps the work of fate, as they both ended up in certain entanglements because of the boy. The girl was also affected, as she was struck by the boy's strength and began to eagerly await him. In any case, there were certain problems, but thanks to those problems, the two got to know each other very well. They ended up falling in love and then realized that the problems were shared, and thanks to that, the burden was lighter. ¿Do you understand me?-
Something in Elisa's story made Ukyo shudder. She thought she understood what she meant or what she was getting at with that story, but she wasn't entirely sure. She hoped she was completely wrong, but she feared she wasn't.
-¿And what does that have to do with us Mom?- Ryoga asked, obviously unaware of everything.
-What we're trying to explain is that... our disorientation isn't genetic, at least not entirely. Haven't you ever wondered ¿why your mother also gets lost? even though it's obvious that we're not cousins or anything like that- Makoto took advantage of the question, which was only answered with a nod from her son, to take Elisa's hand and smile at her. -My parents had it, as did my grandparents. I don't know exactly how far back it goes or when it started, but we used to have a kind of story. But I can't remember it anymore. My grandmother told me about it when I was a child, and I only remember that it had something to do with oni, youkai, or something like that, and the Osaka region. Anyway, the point is that we Hibikis are born with this problem, but we can pass it on to one person, the one we love the most, either by declaration or by affection. We're still not sure how. I ended up passing this problem on to your mother when I kissed her one night.
Ukyo drew attention to himself by covering his mouth reflexively, knowing that his concerns were true. That damn kiss brought more problems than anything else she could have imagined.
-That explains why Ryoga didn't pass it on to me before- said Akari, disappointed, looking at the floor with regret.
-You're not missing anything, as far as I can see- Konatsu commented, trying to make her feel better.
-But it's not a problem. I've always seen it as a blessing, because from what I've seen with my own son and what my husband has told me, the problem is being alone. As a couple, it's much more bearable. Not to mention that it's an advantage that no matter how lost you are, you'll always find your loved one-
Elisa's comment made both Ryoga and Ukyo look at her with intrigue. They didn't understand what she meant. Maybe it was just another metaphor, ¿or was it?
-From the looks on your faces, I can tell you haven't figured it out yet. You see, no matter how lost you may be, even if you get separated, you will find each other again. I love that part of our problem. Unfortunately, that only applies to the couple, not their children, which is why we were always afraid of losing you Ryoga when you were very young, and we sent you to that boys' school because it offered boarding services. Before that, you can't imagine the trials and tribulations we went through carrying a baby around. I'm grateful that your mother was so patient with those difficulties- Makoto explained, scratching his head with a nervous smile.
-¿Does that mean Ukyo will always find me and I'll always find her? That sounds good, a big improvement on being alone- said Ryoga with a huge smile forming on his lips.
Ukyo smiled slightly but with great insincerity. It was obvious that she didn't like the idea in the least. Being as direct as she could, she looked at Makoto and Elisa and firmly asked if there was no way to get rid of the problem. The couple sighed in discouragement, and Makoto approached Ukyo with a smile.
-It's not so bad being a Hibiki, besides... my boy isn't so bad, ¿don't you think you could give him a chance?- asked the man, placing his strong, heavy hand on his son's back and patting him, trying to make him look better.
-¿What are you saying, Dad?! Leave her alone, I'll take care of winning her love no matter what- Ryoga exclaimed, standing up and sticking out his chest.
Seeing that Ukyo was obviously dying of embarrassment, Elisa approached her and, with a warmth that sent a shiver down the young woman's spine, stroked her back, trying to calm her down.
-Excuse them. You can't imagine how wild Makoto was when I met him. Unlike Ryoga, he was always very... direct, but I understand that you can't force feelings. The problem is... Kuonji-san, that the only way is the one that just happened to us. That they have a child and that he declares his love or gives his first kiss, that is, that he feels true love. And since it finally happened to us and we are now free of this evil impediment, well...- She looked her husband in the eyes with great seriousness and said, -Makoto, I demand a divorce-
The awkwardness was palpable as Ryoga's face turned to stone and Makoto's tears began to flow, throwing himself to the ground and begging Elisa for forgiveness.
-I'm just kidding, I could never leave you. These years with you have been the best of my life, but I love that you react like this every time I say it and you always believe me. Now, the rest of what I said, I'm afraid is very true-
Having a child with Ryoga and waiting for him to grow up so that the problem would go away when her son fell in love with someone else didn't sound like a solution to Ukyo at all. Now she was no longer blushing, she was pale at the thought of the implications. But no, she had to focus on a solution. Maybe if Ryoga stopped loving her, but then...
-But... This dilemma never affected Akane or Akari, who were, um... the ones he loved before. ¿Why only me?- the young woman asked the boy's parents with desperation in her eyes. There was even sadness in her eyes, and Ryoga noticed it clearly.
-I don't know, Kuonji-san. I've only ever loved Elisa and no one else. As far as I can remember, a cousin of mine had a similar problem, but he passed the problem on to every young woman he fell in love with, leaving the previous one without the dilemma. Oh, that's right, and when my cousin separated, she also left her ex-husband without the problem. I suppose that if you stop loving the person, there is a chance of freeing them from the problem. But it's not a guarantee, because my parents never loved each other as far as I know, and they always shared the problem. Well, I think so, they fought all the time and insulted each other, but maybe they were faking it. ¿Who knows? Maybe it has to do with the kind, intensity, or things like that about love- Makoto explained with difficulty, scratching his head.
Hope resurfaced in Ukyo. That was the answer, to make Ryoga stop loving her. Once again, a smile appeared on her face, only to see that Ryoga was doing the opposite, sinking back into his depression. A slap from the young woman brought him back to reality, and she pointed to his parents in front of him so that he would consider that at least his parents were there in front of him.
-Ukyo, ¿do you want us to leave now, or... can we stay a little longer?- Ryoga's voice trembled as he asked the question. Ukyo could see how the boy was torn between doing what the young woman he believed he loved wanted to do and what he wanted, which was to enjoy that moment with his parents.
-Don't worry, we can stay a few more hours, as long as it's not a bother for your parents to have such a large group in their house- she said, not knowing if she wanted to be kicked out or accepted.
-It's a pleasure to have our son's friends here, and this way we'll understand his situation better. I know, girls, help me prepare something for a proper dinner, not just that tasteless tea, and we'll send the boys out to do the shopping so we can talk- suggested the blonde woman with a smile that showed her prominent fangs.
-It would be my pleasure, Mrs. Hibiki- said Akari cheerfully, approaching Elisa with a big smile.
-Cooking sounds good. It will help me relax. Besides, I haven't eaten anything decent since this mess started- explained Ukyo, who was affectionately taken by the arm by Elisa. This caused a look of horror on the cook's face, who looked at the gesture with some discomfort.
-Don't worry, Kuonji-san, it's just because of your problem. We don't want you to get lost on the way to the kitchen-
Ukyo just nodded, feeling both embarrassed and relieved. She certainly didn't like this, but part of her was moved by the maternal gesture. She had lost her mother when she was little, and having a mother figure now was strange, a pleasant feeling but one she perhaps didn't feel worthy of. For his part, Makoto simply grabbed the boys by their shirts and lifted them up as if it were nothing, carrying them out of the house with a huge smile, mentioning how lucky they would be to have a home-cooked meal made with love. Shirokuro simply followed the group of girls, happy at the number of people around him.
Once the boys were on their way and Makoto kept telling Ryoga not to take his eyes off him, it wasn't long before they reached the shopping district in Nerima, with some fruit and vegetables, some fish and seafood. In short, ordinary shopping.
-So, son, tell me, ¿what happened with Akane? ¿Why do you now have an ex-girlfriend and love another girl? It sounds very complicated. I hope you weren't doing anything dishonorable, or else...- The threatening tone sent a slight shiver down Ryoga's spine.
-Of course not, Dad. I... I remember that I loved Akane, and I know I loved Akari too, but... what I feel for Ukyo is... it's overwhelming, too strong and intense. I've never felt anything like it... even though others say it's just a spell- The last comment was accompanied by a murderous glance at Konatsu, who just sighed listlessly.
-It seems there's something fishy going on here, ¿huh? ¿Would you mind explaining what you're hiding, young female-looking ninja?-
With resignation, Konatsu began to explain everything he knew about the story to Makoto, who continued shopping with a smile, unperturbed. The mature man began to laugh out loud from time to time at the details. At the same time, at the Hibiki home, a competition was taking place between Akari and Ukyo to see who could cut the most radishes, under Elisa's surprised gaze. But with a smile, Ukyo left Akari far behind, finishing her perfect cuts long before the young sumo pig farmer.
-What skill you ladies have, but now I would like to face the winner- said Mrs. Hibiki, arranging other long radishes for herself and Ukyo.
However, before starting, Elisa took her bow-shaped bandana and it was noticeable that she had more than one on her head, as she had one in her hands and another was still in her hair as if nothing had happened. She brought it close to the tap, washed it carefully, squeezed it, and then made it as firm as steel and held it as if it were a knife. With a smile, she looked at Ukyo, who knew that the competition had begun. In an instant, Ukyo cut the radish as quickly as she could, while Elisa threw it into the air and cut it at incredible speed with her bandana without it touching the table, placing a plate where the perfectly cut pieces fell in the blink of an eye.
-Well, I can still do it. Whenever you like, I can teach you, Kuonji-san- she said to a stunned Ukyo and Akari. Elisa, for her part, simply rearranged her bandana in her hair and put the cut radish aside. -So, Kuonji-san, Unryu-san, ¿could you tell me how you met my son?-
-Um... I... I confronted him to defend my fiancé- Ukyo said briefly.
-He defeated my most powerful sumo pig and became my destined man- Akari summarized.
-¿You have a fiancé, Kuonji-san? And Unryu-san, ¿sumo pigs? ¿Do you know about Ryoga's Jusenkyo curse?-
Apparently, there was a lot for the three of them to talk about. Mrs. Hibiki wanted to catch up on everything, and although Ukyo felt uncomfortable explaining things to someone who, despite being kind and sweet to her and apparently an incredible cook, was a stranger to her life. For Akari, it was obvious to do so. The young woman seemed happy to tell Elisa everything. For Ukyo, it was obvious that the pig farmer was doing so because she saw her as her mother-in-law. However, the okonomiyaki cook couldn't help but feel very out of place, even more so when Akari mentioned the lipstick and that that was the reason Ryoga had fallen in love with Ukyo.
-So that's what it was. It's a shame. I thought you were a wonderful young woman for our son, Kuonji-san, but I hope you can at least remain friends once you resolve this problem- These words made Ukyo feel even more guilty, now because of the idea of being so easily accepted by this woman while the parents of her true fiancé left much to be desired, at least one of them. Immediately, the idea of turning Mrs. Nodoka against Mrs. Elisa crossed her mind for just a second, dodging the reality of the moment.
-But Ukyo doesn't love him- Akari grumbled with a very unfriendly look directed at the cook.
-Unryu-san, I'm sorry, I also see that you are a very beautiful and lovely young woman, and I'm sure that my son was very happy with the love you felt for him when you accepted him as he was. But... I suspect that the part about him despising the pig he transforms into is very true. I don't know what kind of conflicts that fact could have caused in their future together if Kuonji hadn't done what he did. Something tells me it could have been worse-
Elisa's words struck a chord with the young woman. She had loved pigs her whole life, finding them to be unique animals with only virtues. She didn't care if no one else shared her view of them, but she hoped that at least the boy who was meant for her would. However, she was becoming increasingly certain that Ryoga would not be that boy, and the idea terrified her. Minutes later, once dinner was ready and dusk gave way to another night, the boys arrived, announced by Makoto shouting as he entered the house.
-Honey, ¿did you hear that our Ryoga doesn't really love Kuonji-san, but is the product of a magic lipstick? Crazy, ¿don't you think? Ha ha ha, it sounds like something that would definitely happen to any Hibiki-
Apparently, even the parents of the lost boy had had their own share of oddities and surreal moments to make that event it seem so funny and even typical to them. Once everyone was gathered around the table, they dined amid meaningless chatter and laughter. Ryoga kept asking where else they had been, listening eagerly to every word his parents said. Ukyo watched the boy who was now showing her another side of himself, a carefree, happy, and calm side. Very different from the grumpy, depressed, and worried Ryoga she used to know. Ryoga was clearly enjoying the family reunion very much. Apparently, he communicated everything he could in letters he left at home, and they only left him short notes about taking care of the house, money, and a few warnings. Apparently, it was because they knew he liked to hear everything in person. The food was excellent, and once they had finished, the young people were ready to leave, but it seemed that Ryoga had a few more questions.
-Dad, that story you told about Onis, Youkais, and Osaka, ¿do you think anyone else might know it?- Ryoga asked, looking intently at his father.
-Son, we Hibiki have had this problem for centuries. Surely we would have found a solution by now if there was one, ¿don't you think?- Makoto said seriously.
-Even so, it's better than giving up the love I feel for Ukyo-
-¡¿Could you stop saying you love me, you jackass?!- Ukyo cried out, letting herself go, then wanting to run away and being stopped by Elisa's embrace. Ukyo couldn't help it and began to cry. Mrs. Hibiki went upstairs and took her to the guest room, saying on the way that it would be better for them to spend the night with them, as they apparently had a lot to take in.
It was fortunate that Ryoga's parents had previously tidied up the guest room. They had moved most of the souvenirs and left enough space for someone to use it. Just when they felt they had regained their sense of direction, they returned home together and began to tidy up the place. They knew he had healed them and suspected various changes in their lives because of it.
Akari went out for a moment to see Katsunishiki, who remained stoic in the courtyard. When he saw his owner, he was happy and she hugged him. Moments later, young Unryu came in saying that she had sent her pig home and would go upstairs to sleep in the room with Ukyo. Konatsu and Ryoga would share the boy's room, and Elisa and Makoto had their own room, which they would use after a long time. Even if it was now even more filled with souvenirs than before.
To be continued...
Notes:
I just wanted to say that I'm not happy with how I left those drawings. I needed more time, but I wanted to upload the chapter already. That's all... I don't know, I'm mad at myself xD
Chapter Text
Crimson Red Lips
Chapter 5: An Important Change
When the boys were in their room, Ryoga couldn't help but ask something once the lights were turned off.
-Assuming I believed that nonsense about the lipstick, ¿how do you intend to cure me?- The question surprised Konatsu, who was enjoying the futon on the floor as if it were a luxury.
-Well, as far as I know, that ninja lipstick belonged to an ancient clan in Fukui, so I guess we'd start there, investigating with the ninjas who remain in that region to see if any of them know anything. I mean, it's not like the lipstick came with very clear instructions, you know-
-I think my fishing rod was better. Maybe I should go find one and use it on Ukyo... No, bad idea. It didn't work out very well last time, and it doesn't sound very honest, either, although at least it came with instructions-
-¿Love fishing rod? ¿Did you ever get that legendary item?-
-Yes, although I don't think it was very legendary, they sold dozens of them in that store, now that you mention it... they sold a lot of "love" stuff in that place, I think I even saw something like lipsticks... although if I had taken the scratcher, I wouldn't have had any problems-
-It sounds like you were in a place that wasn't very logical, forbidden, and strange, and one that you probably won't be able to get to again-
-It's possible... Konatsu, ¿how about we split up? I mean, Ukyo surely wants to get rid of his poor sense of direction, and I... I don't want her to suffer, so... ¿how about you and Akari go to Fukui to look for clues about that lipstick while I try to find out more about my family, and we'll go to Osaka?-
-Your plan sounds good, but there's a problem. ¿Who would guide you to Osaka without Akari and me? Besides, I'm not too sure about leaving Ukyo-sama alone with you-
-Maybe I could ask my parents-
-No offense, but I don't think your parents are the best option. It seems like they almost want to marry you to Ukyo-sama. Although I think I have some friends who could help. We'll discuss it in the morning-
Once Ukyo was calmer and lying down on a futon, she felt the weight of her actions sink in deeper and deeper. Elisa had left the young women alone as soon as Akari entered the room, and now she was lying down too. They turned off the lights and both tried to sleep, but sleep did not come easily to either of them.
-So ¿Ranma is your fiancé?- Akari asked, noticing that Ukyo was still awake and tossing and turning on her futon.
-Yes, ¿Why are you asking? ¿he defeated your pig too?-
-Of course not, but I was told that he was Akane's fiancé, so ¿can you have more than one fiancée... or fiancé?-
-I suppose so. Ranma has Akane, me, and... Shampoo and a few other suitors here and there-
-Hmm... Interesting, although I think Ryoga is better. Ranma seems like a good choice for you-
-¿What are you implying?-
-Well, Ryoga talks a lot about him, and from what I've seen and what I know, he's not exactly as noble as a pig... like Ryoga-
-I admit, nobility isn't one of his greatest virtues, but he has others, you know. He's very strong...-
-Ryoga too...-
-He cares about his friends...-
-Ryoga too...-
-He helps the helpless...-
-Ryoga too...-
-He eats pork...-
-Ryoga t... ¡Hey!-
-¿Hey what? ¿Are you trying to dissuade me or convince me to be with Ryoga?-
-I'm sorry, I think I was just responding automatically... It's just that I don't like to think that Ryoga loved you so much-
-I don't like being the object of his blind love either, if that's any consolation-
-I guess so... and no, it's strange, I always thought Ryoga was a great catch, not only because he was able to defeat Katsunishiki, but because he's really a good guy, and seeing how you express yourself about him and with him. I thought many girls would be honored to be courted by someone like him-
-You, more than anyone, should notice that the way he courts me is not... his own. It's as if he were someone else in Ryoga's body. That lipstick really changed a lot of his personality. So don't think it's Ryoga who loves me and pursues me, it's someone else, and that will help you... just like it helps me- She said that last part in such a low voice, as if she didn't want Akari to hear it.
-I think you're right... although if it really was an accident and you kissed him by mistake, as Konatsu told me, ¿would you be happy if Ranma acted like that?-
-Yes... no... I don't know. Probably not, after all, I wanted Ran-chan to love me, but not to stop being himself. I don't think I would like to have a boyfriend as submissive as Ryoga is right now. I think he used to be more stubborn than a mule, but now he doesn't show any of that character around me-
-Yes, tenacity is another of his virtues-
-There you go again. Better go to sleep and let me sleep too-
-All right, but one last thing, don't abuse Ryoga or you'll pay for it... and when I say abuse, I mean in any sense, ¿understood?-
The comment made the cook blush as she imagined herself with a whip, abusing a gagged Ryoga in his underwear. Ukyo shook her head, trying to get rid of the mental image, thinking about hitting the pig trainer for giving her that idea. She managed to restrain herself only because she was in someone else's home. However, the thought of Ryoga in his underwear would be difficult to shake when she remembered the quick glimpse she had had of the naked boy when she had doused him with hot water. A wet, naked Ryoga telling her he loved her would be an extremely difficult thought to get out of her head before going to sleep.
After midnight, the boys were sleeping peacefully when a storm began. Instinct made Ryoga jump up when he heard the raindrops hitting the window. Realizing that he was not in his camping tent but in his bed and under a roof, he calmed down a little and looked out the window as the lightning flashed and lit up his room. He felt a little thirsty and left his room, ending up walking around as quietly as he could while opening doors, hoping not to wake anyone up as he made his way to the kitchen. Luck smiled on him and he reached his destination after only opening the bathroom door, but he didn't expect to see Ukyo sleeping in the kitchen, sitting up and leaning on the table. Ryoga sighed when he saw her and poured himself some water. As he drank it without taking his eyes off the young woman, he noticed how she was shivering. No doubt the cold air from the storm had caused the temperature to drop. The lost boy looked around for something to cover the young woman with, realizing that he couldn't leave or he would get lost and probably wouldn't be so lucky on his way back. Discouraged but with an idea, he took off his typical long-sleeved yellow shirt, leaving only the yellow sleeveless one underneath. He gently placed his shirt on the young woman's back, noticing how she stopped shivering and smiled slightly in her sleep.
Ryoga sat down next to her, watching her silently with a smile. The young woman with her tangled hair, a little saliva on her lips, and terrible posture seemed incredibly beautiful to him. He lightly ran his right hand over Ukyo's soft hair, smoothing out some of the tangles. In as soft a voice as he could muster, he brought his face close to hers and whispered to himself:
-¿Would it be so bad if I kissed you again, my love?-
Slowly, he began to bring his face closer and closer to Ukyo's. He could feel her soft breath on his lips. He was only a few millimeters away from kissing her, and he could almost feel those soft lips again when she said in her sleep: -Ranma...-
Those words stopped the boy in his tracks. He sat up straight again and looked at her with a more serious expression.
-Ranma... ¿why can't you disappear? No, Ukyo wants to be happy with him, and I only want her happiness... maybe...- A strange twinge in the boy's skull made him grimace in pain. He held his head with both hands as the pain grew more intense, while lightning shook the ground in the neighborhood and rattled the windows of the house with its thunder. This woke Ukyo with a start, and she looked in front of her at the lost boy still holding his head.
-¿Ryoga? ¿What... what are you doing here?-
Out of nowhere, the pain vanished when he heard the young woman's voice, and with a slight smile, he looked at her somewhat nervously.
-H.. hi, Ukyo, I was just thirsty... and I came down for some water, I found you here and... um... I guess you couldn't get back to your room after... leaving it... I'm sorry-
Despite the darkness, the young woman first noticed Ryoga blushing slightly and showing his arms in that sleeveless shirt. At first, she wondered if he was trying something and caught him before he could, but then she realized that she was wearing the boy's shirt and felt embarrassed by the gesture, immediately taking it off to give it back to him.
-Thanks... and you're right, I just wanted to go to the bathroom, but after I found him, I didn't know how to get back... but we'd better try to get back to our rooms before Konatsu and your girlfriend come looking for us-
-I... yes, maybe that's best, but first I... wanted to ask you something, Ukyo, although if you don't want to answer, you don't have to... just... just. ¿What do you like so much about Ranma? And by the way, Akari is no longer my girlfriend- he asked without looking at her, putting his shirt back on.
This surprised the okonomiyaki cook, that hesitation, those nerves, that annoyance at the mention of something he didn't like. It was almost as if the Ryoga she knew was the one asking her that question. But of course, he was undoubtedly doing it because of that love spell, not because he was really interested, so... ¿What did it matter if she answered him?
-But she'll be back to be your girlfriend as soon as this mess is over. As for your question... he's very attractive, besides... Well, it's not easy to lose your attachment to a promise after years of seeking revenge that turns into love... and...- She seemed to be getting tangled up in her own words.
-Obsession, I would say... But you know him, you even knew him as a child, you've lived a lot with him and for him, do you think... that... ¿do you think you could be happy with him by your side? And I insist, whatever happens... Akari is not... not for me-
That question, and even more so the way he said it, was really making the girl wonder if she was looking at Ryoga or the boy spellbound by the lipstick. She stared at him strangely for a moment. The conversation was not far from the one she had had with Akari hours earlier, and this made her suspect that perhaps something was wrong.
-¿Do you love me, Ryoga? If you love me, tell me if Akari told you to ask me those questions. Be honest-
-¿What are you talking about? I'm asking you this because I... I'm interested in knowing. And I'll always be honest... and... I... yes... yes, what you say, but you asked me not to tell you, so I won't. I don't want you to get even more angry... with me. Now please answer my question- He managed to articulate, tapping his index fingers together without daring to look at her.
This made the young woman's blood run cold. She was almost certain that this was the Ryoga she knew. The boy was stammering, blushing, looking everywhere, and tapping his fingers together as if he didn't know where to put his hands. The boy who used to tell her he loved her every time he opened his mouth was no longer in front of her. The boy in front of her now was the lost boy who had that attitude toward the girl he loved. ¿What did this mean?
-Well... I don't know, to be honest, I feel confused right now. Maybe I can answer your question tomorrow. Now is not the best time, Ryoga-
-It's... okay, I... sorry for the trouble. We'd better... try to sleep, I mean in our... our rooms, not... not together. I wasn't trying to imply anything-
-Leave it at that, jackass. I just hope we get there before dawn-
They both began their journey in search of their rooms while Ryoga apologized to the young woman every time they opened the wrong door. This began to annoy her until, after almost an hour, they found the room where Akari was sleeping. Ukyo entered, and the lost boy gave her a shy smile followed by a good night. The young woman lay back down on her futon to try to go back to sleep, now with new problems on her mind. Of course, five minutes later, Ryoga opened the door where she was and closed it again, embarrassed. This was bad, very bad, Ukyo thought. She could yell at the confident, bold, and direct boy that Ryoga had been that he didn't love her. But this Ryoga, the one who was more like his true self, would be very difficult. She felt bad, she felt too much weight on her shoulders, she knew perfectly well how sensitive and fragile the normal Ryoga could be. And now she feared that she too had the power to hurt him badly. Not to mention that she knew this Ryoga could provoke something in her that the other one couldn't... that she would believe him when he talked about his feelings for her, and she saw that as the most dangerous thing of all. Now Ukyo knew less than before which path she should follow.
The birds singing were the first thing Ukyo and Akari heard when they woke up. The sun was already shining through the window. They both made their futons and headed to the bathroom. Well, Akari went to the bathroom, followed by Ukyo, who waited for her to come out looking radiant, her hair tied back as if nothing had happened. Ukyo entered and looked in the mirror at a young woman with messy hair, dark circles under her eyes, and a worried expression. She decided to take a bath and then go out to find Elisa waiting for her in the hallway, who kindly greeted her with a good morning and took her to the living room where the boys were serving breakfast. Akari was already seated at the table while Makoto set the table and Konatsu and Ryoga placed some stews and side dishes on it.
-Sit down, Kuonji-san. This is Ryoga's treat. He got up very early and insisted that Makoto help him prepare breakfast for you. The young ninja also wanted to participate, but I think Ryoga wanted to bring you breakfast in bed, so we thought this would be better- Elisa explained, smiling at the brown-haired girl.
-I... just wanted to apologize for all the trouble I'm causing you, Ukyo. I know this isn't enough, but I'm really sorry and... thank you too-
The young woman sat down and smiled sadly at the lost boy's attitude. It was obvious that this was the Ryoga she knew. ¿Why and how was this happening? ¿Who knows? She just hoped that the power of the lipstick was weakening, although it was possible that the opposite was true, and that terrified her. -But... ¿why are you thanking me, Ryoga?-
-For this- he said with a shy smile, pointing around him.
This made things even worse. He was happy because he was with his family, a family that would not have been possible to reunite if she hadn't taken away the burden of getting lost by turning the corner. Perhaps if she made Ryoga stop loving her, the boy would not only have the problem of having revealed his secret to Akane and broken up with his girlfriend, but he would also have the burden of separating that family. She knew what loneliness was like, having lived alone in her apartment for years, but she had her father just a phone call away, or she could even go visit him and he could visit her, as she did from time to time during the holidays. But not being able to do that for years was... something she could imagine quite well, she only needed to remember her late mother. The idea disgusted her greatly. If things worked out and she made Ryoga stop loving her, ¿what would make the lost boy hate her more? ¿Separating his family or the disaster she had caused in his love life? Thinking about it made the bite she was eating stick in her throat. Because without a doubt, after all this, Ryoga was going to hate her, and perhaps even more than he hated Ranma.
-Good morning, everything looks delicious, ¿can we eat something? We came without breakfast- said a voice that was more than familiar to several of those present.
The voice made Ukyo jump up from her seat. There, in front of everyone, was Ranma with a huge backpack that he set aside, and behind him was Akane. ¿What the hell was going on now?
-You should introduce yourself first, you are being rude- Akane scolded him, grabbing her fiancé by the braid to keep him from diving into the food. -Nice to meet you, I'm Akane Tendo, and this is my fiancé, Ranma Saotome-
-Oh, so this is the famous Saotome- said Makoto, rising from his seat to examine the boy and offer his hand. -Nice to meet you, kid. I'm Makoto Hibiki. This is my lovely wife, Elisa Hibiki, and, well, our son's friends-
The moment Ranma shook the man's hand, he felt him squeeze with tremendous force, causing a slight sound similar to something breaking, followed by thunderous laughter from the man, who immediately offered them a seat at the table. Ranma looked at his sore hand, but the food would make it go away.
-Ryoga, your father sure is strong- Ranma said, already with several bites in his mouth.
-And that's nothing, kid. Ryoga, as soon as you finish what you have planned, you and I are going to train properly. It's easy to see why this guy has beaten you so many times- said Makoto, who winked at Elisa.
-And this time I'll help you too, Ryoga- said his mother, serving food to Akane, who looked down at the floor in embarrassment.
-¿What are you doing here, Akane?- asked Ukyo.
-¿Didn't Konatsu tell you? We're going to accompany you to find the cure for Ryoga- explained the blue-haired girl.
-¿To China? ¿To Jusenkyo?- asked Ryoga, also surprised by the statement.
-The cure for your other problem, P-chan. Gosh, it's so liberating to be able to say that in front of Akane and Ukyo and have them understand the joke-
-¿What joke, damn you, Saotome?- said Ryoga without getting up from his seat, his fists clenched tightly around the table, red with embarrassment.
-We want to help you get your orientation back, or well, if we can't, at least help U-chan get hers back. ¿Is that clear enough, bacon breath?- Ranma said, glancing sideways as Elisa stopped smiling and stared at him. -I mean... ¿is that clear enough, Ryoga?- Something about the blonde lady made his blood run cold.
Ukyo glared at Konatsu, as did Ryoga. Ryoga somewhat nervous but trying to appear calm explained to Ukyo the details of the search they were about to embark on. Konatsu explained that these were the friends he had been referring to, and both Ranma and Akane were willing to help their friends, although there were details to be clarified among everyone present. But that would have to wait, because once the group had finished breakfast, Makoto gave Ryoga the address of some relatives in Osaka, where they could stay if they needed shelter. He wished them luck and gave his son his own backpack, ready for the trip. Elisa whispered to her son that they had given him her own camping tent, which meant it was a two-person tent and two sleeping bags. This made the boy blush, which caught the attention of Ukyo, who looked on in confusion at the whole situation. Akari hadn't taken it very well that she had to go with Konatsu to Fukui, but at least part of the trip would be together, and she was encouraged by the fact that she could free her ideal boy from the clutches of that evil cook. The young woman immediately mounted her pig, which had returned at dawn, and loaded it with the necessary items for the curious trip. Ryoga finally handed Konatsu his own backpack with the necessary items for the trip they were about to take. Needless to say, Konatsu shed a few tears in response to what he considered an unparalleled gesture of generosity, hugging the lost boy as if he had given her valuable jewels, while he simply said that it was just a camping tent, a sleeping bag, and some instant soups, and not to exaggerate.
As he left, Ryoga couldn't help but hug his parents as if it were the last time he would see them. They returned the hug, wishing him luck. Before he left, his mother gave him an extra bandana and winked at him. Ryoga just smiled sheepishly, understanding the meaning of the gesture. Then he ran off with the others, hoping that when he returned from his trip, his parents would still be there.
To be continued...
Notes:
It had been so long since I had drawn anything that... ugh, it was really difficult and took me a long time, and honestly, I don't know if I'll do it again for later chapters. It's faster to leave the line art with some details than to do all the coloring and everything else... I don't know, maybe if another scene inspires me to do something like this... Anyway, I hope someone likes the fan art. I even had to sign it on recommendation. At least I'm giving Ryoga x Ukyo fans some new fan art.
I hope it doesn't take so long for the next chapters, but if you see that it's taking a while, well... maybe you can assume it's because of the art coming up for those chapters. Thanks for the comments, and I hope to read you soon or something like that xD
Willow7010 on Chapter 1 Tue 29 Jul 2025 05:33AM UTC
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Stazark on Chapter 1 Tue 29 Jul 2025 11:09PM UTC
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Willow7010 on Chapter 3 Wed 06 Aug 2025 04:53PM UTC
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Stazark on Chapter 3 Fri 08 Aug 2025 01:37AM UTC
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VulcanRider on Chapter 3 Thu 07 Aug 2025 09:54AM UTC
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Stazark on Chapter 3 Fri 08 Aug 2025 01:46AM UTC
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VulcanRider on Chapter 4 Fri 15 Aug 2025 08:36AM UTC
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Stazark on Chapter 4 Mon 01 Sep 2025 04:46AM UTC
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Willow7010 on Chapter 4 Fri 15 Aug 2025 01:37PM UTC
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Stazark on Chapter 4 Mon 01 Sep 2025 04:51AM UTC
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VulcanRider on Chapter 5 Mon 01 Sep 2025 08:05AM UTC
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rotationplus on Chapter 5 Thu 04 Sep 2025 04:40AM UTC
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