Breaking Free/Ukyos Story by June "KaraOhki" Geraci
   
   September 1998
   
   The Ranma 1/2 universe belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. This story was
   written for entertainment only, and not for commercial purposes.
   
   *********************************************
   
   Another tale from my "Breaking Free" story arc.
   Ukyos Story answers this question: "What happened to Ukyo after she
   said goodbye to Ranma & Akane in Breaking Free, and went home?"
   Written for those of you who mailed me, asking just that.
   
   **********************************************
   
   
   
   Ukyo opened her eyes to the same thought shed had yesterday, the day
   before that, and the day before that.
   
   "I gave up too easily."
   
   Ukyo was making her bed when she doubled up, clutching her stomach.
   The doctor had told her to find the source of her stress and deal with
   it, or she would not get any better.
   
   "Right", she muttered. "As if I could stop loving Ran-chan just like
   that."
   
   Ukyo tiptoed past Konatsus room, but she could hear him stirring
   before she got to the stairs. Her father had welcomed her home when
   shed arrived, and had accepted Konatsus arrival a few days later, but
   Ukyo knew that the presence in his home of a man who dressed like a
   woman made him uncomfortable. Also, Konatsus constant hovering over
   her was irritating Ukyo almost more than she could bear.
   
   Ukyo walked into the kitchen, but her thoughts came along with her,
   and would not leave her alone.
   
   Why had she given up her business and run away like that?
   
   The answer was easy.
   
   Because Ranma was married.
   
   Ukyo got out what she needed to prepare breakfast. She was measuring
   out the rice when the bag dropped from her hands.
   
   Hes married, but is he happy?
   
   Breakfast forgotten, Ukyo sat down to think about that concept.
   
   How could Ranma possibly be happy, married to, to that girl? Ukyo
   chuckled. Funny, she couldnt even say the name in her mind.
   
   "No!", Ukyo said aloud. "If Im going to face my problems, then Akane
   is part of them. Im not going to run away again."
   
   Akane was short-tempered, less than pretty, treated her Ran-chan
   terribly, and was probably poisoning him. She and Ranma had been
   married several weeks. Perhaps by this time Ranma knew hed made a
   mistake?
   
   Ukyo swept up the spilled rice, deep in thought.
   
   ************************
   
   Ukyos father watched her very closely over the next two days. His
   daughter had come home looking defeated and miserable, and her illness
   worried him, but this was different. Ukyo continued to work alongside
   him, cooking and serving okonomiyaki, but her mind was obviously
   elsewhere. Sometimes hed have to speak to her two or three times
   before she would respond, and then shed slip back into her own world
   again. Konatsu also kept watch over her, more than a little concerned
   that she was too distracted to be annoyed by his attention.
   
   ************************
   
   "Ukyo-sama?"
   
   "Ukyo-sama?"
   
   Ukyo finally picked up her head, and noticed that Konatsu was holding
   out her mail.
   
   "Oh. Thank you."
   
   Ukyo flipped through the envelopes without much interest, until she
   saw that one was postmarked Nerima. Shed asked her friends to keep in
   touch, but hadnt had more than a few short notes from any of them.
   Ukyo left the rest of her mail behind, and took the letter upstairs to
   read in privacy.
   
   "Im sorry you didnt get to finish the school year with us, Ukyo. We
   all missed you, and you missed a lot of fun. I think you would have
   loved it when the Chem Club blew up the lab, with Principal Kuno in
   it. He spent the rest of the term completely covered in bandages, if
   you can imagine a mummy in a Hawaiian shirt."
   
   Ukyos face broke into the first smile seen on it in weeks, and she
   laughed aloud, and continued reading.
   
   "Theres something you should know, Ukyo. Ranma is gone. He was seen
   with his father a few days ago, heading for the train station, and
   from what I hear neither of them looked very happy."
   
   "I havent seen Akane. I know shes been teaching in the dojo, and that
   everyone who asks her gets the same answer - Ranma is away on
   business, and will be back. What kind of business? Hes supposed to be
   teaching with her. Ukyo, I think he left her."
   
   Ukyo hands closed around the letter, crumpling it. Her poor Ran-chan!
   What had his wife done to drive him away like that? She flattened the
   sheet out again and began reading, but the remainder of the letter was
   on other subjects.
   
   Ukyo re-read the letter, and wrinkled her brow. There were not enough
   details for her to know for sure what was happening--just rumors and a
   lot of guessing on her friends part. The only person who would know
   the whole truth would be Akane, and Ukyo was going to find out the
   truth. If Akane had hurt Ranma, she would regret it.
   
   ************************
   
   A young man boarded the train, and sat in the back of the car.
   
   Ukyo had ordered Konatsu to remain behind, although hed asked to go
   with her. When he begged her to tell him why, shed hesitated, then
   told him the truth.
   
   "I have to go to Nerima. Its about Ran-chan."
   
   "Hes married, Ukyo-sama. I thought youd given him up."
   
   Ukyo flushed.
   
   "So had I."
   
   Konatsu had retreated to his bedroom. There was no way he was going to
   stay home and let Ukyo go to Nerima by herself, especially not when
   she was so ill. He looked at himself in the mirror, pulled out a
   knife, and began hacking at his hair. Soon a young man in ordinary
   clothes, who wore his hair neatly pulled back into a short pony tail,
   climbed out the window.
   
   Ukyo looked up and down the platform. There were a couple of
   salarymen, three young girls giggling among themselves, and a slender
   young man. She smiled, and boarded the train.
   
   *************************
   
   Nerima didnt look any different than it had when she left it, except
   for two changes: Ucchans and the Nekohanten were gone. Ukyo was
   staring at the Nekohantens empty storefront, wondering if Shampoo was
   as unhappy as she was, when she heard her name being called. Toshi was
   waving at her from across the street, and Ukyo joined her.
   
   "Ukyo! Its been ages. How are you?"
   
   Toshi had a look on her face that was very familiar to Ukyo. It meant
   she had a piece of juicy gossip, and was itching to share it.
   
   "Maybe its about Ran-chan", thought Ukyo, as she responded aloud:
   
   "It has been a long time, Toshi. Whats new?"
   
   *************************
   
   After Toshi left her, Ukyo intended to go straight to Akane to see if
   the story was true, but she forced herself to stop, and find a place
   to eat lunch. She needed time to calm herself, and think of what she
   was going to say.
   
   Toshi had grabbed Ukyos arm, and held onto it.
   
   "Have you heard about Ranma and Akane? They broke up!"
   
   Ukyo knew that Toshi didnt like Akane and ordinarily would have taken
   this statement less than seriously, but the letter shed received made
   her wonder.
   
   "What do you mean, Toshi?"
   
   "He took off with his father, and no one has seen them since."
   
   "Are you sure its not just a training trip, Toshi? Ranma and his
   father go on training trips all the time."
   
   "Hes a newlywed, Ukyo! If Ranma was going on a training trip, hed take
   Akane along. Besides, shes obviously hiding something, and shes been
   looking really unhappy. Quite a few people have asked her where Ranma
   is, and she just says its a family obligation, and hell be home soon.
   When I asked her, she got really mad and said it was none of my
   business."
   
   Ukyo couldnt help but smile.
   
   "Did you expect any other answer, Toshi? The two of you never did get
   along. When did Ranma leave?"
   
   "Nearly two weeks ago."
   
   Ukyo sipped her tea, deep in thought. Ranma was gone, and it appeared
   that only Akane might know where. If only shed arrived two weeks ago!
   Then she could have gone with Ranma when he left. Her stomach began to
   hurt again, and she pushed the remains of her lunch aside.
   
   Ukyo stared into space, thinking, totally oblivious to the sight of a
   sunburned and tired-looking Ranma running past the restaurant window.
   When Ukyo left the restaurant and walked toward the Tendo home Konatsu
   followed at a discreet distance, keeping an eye on his love.
   
   *************************
   
   Ukyos steps grew slower as she neared the dojo. Shed intended to ring
   the doorbell and ask for Akane, but if the other members of the family
   were there, theyd be a nuisance. Perhaps she should see who was home.
   
   
   
   Ukyo climbed the fence, walked around the side of the house, and
   peeked through the doors into the dining area. No one was there,
   although the remains of a meal sat on the table.
   
   "Kasumi must be out", she concluded. "She would never leave dishes
   lying around."
   
   Then Ukyo stopped and listened. Had she just heard Ranmas voice? Ukyo
   tried the doors, but they were locked. She looked up toward Ranmas
   window, and began to climb.
   
   "Im out of shape", Ukyo thought. "This would have been easier a few
   weeks ago." Ignoring the pain in her stomach, Ukyo pulled herself up
   to Ranmas window, and peeked through the curtains. What she saw made
   her regret her actions.
   
   Ranma was carrying his wife into the bedroom. Ukyo watched as he
   tossed Akane onto the bed, quickly discarded his clothing, and joined
   her. The final blow to Ukyos shattered hopes was hearing Ranmas words
   as he gathered Akane into his arms.
   
   "I missed you so much, Akane. I wont let Pop do that to us again,
   ever."
   
   Ukyos eyes filled, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the
   window frame. She began the climb back down but her vision blurred
   with tears, making it hard to see where she was going. When she lost
   her grip, a small cry escaped her as she fell.
   
   Ranma lifted his head, and looked toward the window.
   
   "Did you hear something, Akane?"
   
   "No, I didnt."
   
   Ranma frowned. Hed had enough experience with intruders like Happosai
   to make him want to take every precaution as far as his privacy was
   concerned.
   
   "Id better make sure."
   
   Akane reached for Ranma as he was getting up, but he was too fast for
   her, and she pouted at him as he walked to the window. He laughed, and
   looked outside. The yard appeared empty, and then he caught movement
   out of the corner of his eye. When he looked again, there was nothing
   there.
   
   Ranma closed the window and curtains, and returned to Akane.
   
   "Did you see anything, Ranma?"
   
   "I thought I saw something move, but Im not sure."
   
   "It was probably just a bird."
   
   Konatsu leaped over the wall, Ukyo in his arms. She was weeping, and
   clutching her stomach. "She shouldnt have come", he thought. "This is
   too much for her."
   
   Five minutes later, he carried her into Dr. Tofus clinic.
   
   *************************
   
   Ranma was getting up from the breakfast table the next day when the
   phone rang. Dr. Tofu was on the line.
   
   "Ranma, Im glad youre home. Please come as quickly as you can."
   
   "Is something wrong?"
   
   "Just come over."
   
   Akane was clearing the table, and Ranma leaned down to kiss her cheek.
   
   "Gotta run an errand. Be right back."
   
   "Where are you going, Ranma?"
   
   "Tofus office. I think he has some kind of emergency."
   
   "Wait, Ranma. Let me finish, and Ill come with you."
   
   Kasumi interrupted them.
   
   "Go, Akane. Ill clean u p."
   
   The Saotomes took their usual route along the canal, and found someone
   standing on the fence, blocking the way. It took a moment for Ranma to
   realize that it was Konatsu.
   
   "Konatsu?"
   
   "This is your fault,. Ukyo-sama wouldnt be so sick if it werent for
   you!"
   
   "Ukyo? I havent seen her in weeks!"
   
   Konatsus expression grew harder than it already was.
   
   "Shes been sick since you got married. How could you reject her like
   that? She deserves better."
   
   Akanes face got red, and she was about to shout at Konatsu, but Ranma
   put his arm around her waist and jumped them down to the sidewalk. He
   gestured at Konatsu to wait, and took his wife aside.
   
   "Take it easy, Akane. Let me talk to him."
   
   Ranma leaned against the fence for a moment, trying to find the right
   words. Hed never seen Konatsu act this way before - assertive or angry
   - and he didnt want to make the situation worse.
   
   "Im sorry, Konatsu. Ukyo does deserve better. She deserves a husband
   who loves her, and I dont. I love my wife. I dont know how to make her
   understand that."
   
   "Well I dont know how to make her love me! I suppose youre on her way
   to the clinic?"
   
   "Yes."
   
   Konatsu turned away for a few seconds, clenching his fists.
   
   "Be kind to her, Saotome."
   
   *************************
   
   Ranma was very apprehensive when he approached Tofus clinic, and
   opened the door. The doctor was waiting for him just inside
   
   "Its the start of an ulcer, Ranma. Ukyos been allowing herself to be
   miserable for a long time. In fact, I think shes been deliberately
   wallowing in that misery."
   
   Ranmas face fell.
   
   "Oh damn, Doc. I feel responsible."
   
   Tofu shook his head.
   
   "Its not your responsibility, Ranma. As far as I can see, your father
   started the problem when he engaged you to Ukyo when you were already
   promised to a Tendo daughter."
   
   "Yeah, but I should have told her right away when she came here that I
   loved Akane!"
   
   "Had you told Akane yet?"
   
   Ranma felt himself flushing, and became redder when he saw the grin on
   his wifes face. Akane was enjoying his embarrassement a little too
   much.
   
   "N-no."
   
   "So how could you have told Ukyo?"
   
   "I dont know."
   
   "Go in and talk to her, Ranma. She needs a friend right now."
   
   Ranma hesitated, looking at his wife. Akanes grin faded, and she
   nodded solemnly.
   
   "Go ahead, Ranma. Maybe you can help."
   
   *************************
   
   The room was in semi-darkness, and Ukyo sat up when she saw Ranma
   enter.
   
   "Go away!"
   
   "Ucchan, dont say that!"
   
   Ukyos response was almost a snarl.
   
   "Dont call me that."
   
   Ranma sat beside the bed, and held Ukyos hand. She started to withdraw
   it, and then changed her mind.
   
   "Why not? Were still friends, arent we?"
   
   That question made Ukyo try to pull her hand away, but Ranma held onto
   it firmly. Ukyo glared at Ranma, and started to shout at him.
   
   "Friends? If you were my friend you would have told me that you were
   planning to get married. You would have warned me that my heart was
   about to get broken! Some friends we are!"
   
   Akane heard Ukyo yelling, and left the clinic. This was something for
   Ranma to handle without her.
   
   Ranma released Ukyos hand, recoiling as if shed slapped him. He wanted
   to yell back at her, but something told him it would just make the
   situation worse.
   
   "Ukyo, I had my reasons to keep things quiet. You should know why. But
   I never wanted to hurt you, either. I just couldnt figure out how not
   to."
   
   Ukyo switched on the lamp, and looked hard at Ranma. He had tears in
   his eyes, something shed never expected to see. The tears, more than
   anything hed said, softened her heart. Ranma was astounded when she
   reached out and hugged him and involuntarily stiffened, grateful that
   Akane wasnt in the room. Ukyo felt his reaction, and let go. Then she
   turned to the wall, and began to sniffle.
   
   Ukyo felt a hand on her shoulder, turning her back. Ranma was looking
   at her with a very serious expression.
   
   "I want to know why youre here in Nerima, Ukyo. Did you come just to
   see me?"
   
   Ukyo looked at the bed, the floor, the walls--anything but into Ranmas
   eyes.
   
   "I heard . . . I heard that you and Akane broke up."
   
   This time, Ranma did lose his temper.
   
   "So you were just going to move in on me, right? How long do I have to
   be everyones property? I am so sick and tired of . ."
   
   Ranma stopped short when Ukyo collapsed into tears. Guilt-ridden, he
   pulled her into his arms, and let her cry on his shoulder.
   
   "Im sorry, Ukyo. I shouldnt have yelled at you."
   
   Ukyo sobbed harder, and clutched Ranma.
   
   "No, Ran-chan. I deserved it. Thats exactly what I wanted to do."
   
   Ukyo withdrew from Ranmas arms, and wiped her eyes.
   
   "I cant blame you for marrying the girl you love, Ranma. Only, I wish
   it had been me."
   
   Ukyo turned away again.
   
   "Youd better go, Ranma. Ill be all right. Just do me a favor--tell
   your father if I ever see him again, Im going to bend my spatula over
   his head."
   
   Ranma stood up and looked at Ukyo, unwilling to leave.
   
   "Ill go if you want me to, Ukyo, but I have something to say. Theres
   somebody waiting for you outside who loves you as much as I love
   Akane. Maybe you should give him a chance."
   
   Ukyo was silent, and Ranma could see her back stiffen, and her hands
   become fists.
   
   "Ukyo, Im not trying to tell you what to do. I want you to be happy.
   Do whatever you want. Ill check on you tomorrow."
   
   Ukyo waited until she heard the door close before she turned around.
   
   "Tomorrow, Ran-chan."
   
   ************************
   
   Akane looked at Konatsu for some time. He just stood there, leaning on
   the clinic wall, looking miserable.
   
   "Konatsu, are you all right?"
   
   "No. Im too worried about Ukyo-sama!"
   
   Akane felt a little bit awkward about what she was going to say, but
   decided to try anyway.
   
   "You really love her, dont you?"
   
   "Yes"
   
   "Dont give up, then."
   
   Akane hesitated, feeling her face get red, and then gathered her
   courage.
   
   "Sometimes things take a long time. It was that way with me and Ranma.
   Dont give up on Ukyo. Youve been a good friend to her, and maybe some
   day shell appreciate you more."
   
   The clinic door opened, and Ranma appeared. He looked at Akanes blush,
   and the expression on Konatsus face, and wondered what they had been
   talking about.
   
   "I think you should go see Ukyo, Konatsu. Maybe you can cheer her up."
   
   "I will, Ranma-sama. Thank you."
   
   The Saotomes began to walk away, and Konatsu listened to them talking.
   
   "What were you doing out here, flirting with him?"
   
   "Baka! And I suppose you werent doing the same with Ukyo?"
   
   Konatsu was about to defend Akane to Ranma when he saw him laugh, and
   lean down to kiss her. They had a strange way of expressing their
   affection to one another.
   
   He opened the clinic door, and glanced back at the couple, who were
   now holding hands.
   
   "Tell me what happened, Ranma. Is Ukyo all right?"
   
   *************************
   
   The door opened slowly, and Konatsu entered Ukyos room.
   
   "Are you all right, Ukyo-sama?"
   
   "I dont know."
   
   Konatsu drooped, and started to turn away, but Ukyos voice stopped
   him.
   
   "Konatsu?"
   
   "Yes, Ukyo-sama?"
   
   "Thank you for being my friend."
   
   "I want more than that from you."
   
   Ukyo nodded, still looking at the wall.
   
   "I know that. Ranma told me . . ."
   
   "He told you what?"
   
   "Nothing. Im tired, Konatsu. Dr. Tofe gave me a pill. Maybe I should
   take a nap."
   
   "All right, Ukyo-sama."
   
   Konatsu left the room, and peeked back in a few minutes later. Ukyo
   was sleeping, her face showing a little less tension than it had
   before. What had Ranma told her?
   
   *************************
   
   Ukyo slept most of the day, and woke feeling disoriented. Where was
   she? It took a minute for her to recognize her surroundings, and then
   she remembered the events of the morning. At first Ukyo cringed, but
   then she forced herself to face what had happened, and to try to think
   about it calmly. She had a strange feeling, and couldnt quite put her
   finger on what it was.
   
   Ranma didnt love her. He was happily married. Shed made a long trip
   for nothing.
   
   Or was that true?
   
   Ukyo had learned something. Ranma didnt love her, but he still cared
   about her enough to come when she needed help, just as he had in the
   past. Hed frightened her when he yelled at her, but how could she
   blame him? Hed put up with too much pursuit for too long.
   
   Dr. Tofu had left a dinner tray in the room, and Ukyo picked at it,
   still trying to understand the feeling she was experiencing. Then she
   suddenly understood.
   
   It was freedom. She was free to choose where to go next, but that
   meant she needed time to decide where that direction would be.
   
   Ukyo grabbed her knapsack, and pulled out a pen.
   
   *************************
   
   The next morning, Konatsu knocked on Ukyos door, carrying her
   breakfast tray. When he got no reply, he opened it and looked inside.
   The bed was made, and there was an envelope lying on it.
   
   "My dear friend,
   
   I must go away for a while, to think.
   
   I am finally free. I dont want to take revenge on Ranma or his father
   any more. There is no more need to fight for Ranmas attention. Hes
   made his decision, and Ive accepted it.
   
   Now my life is my own, and I dont know what I want to do with it -
   yet. In order to make that decision, I need to be by myself for a
   while. Please dont try to find me. Instead, go back to my father. Then
   I can find you again.
   
   Tell Ranma thank you for me. Hell know why.
   
   Lastly, I want to thank you. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you
   for following me here, and taking care of me.
   
   You will hear from me again, I promise. Ranma told me to give you a
   chance, and I believe that you deserve one.
   
   Ukyo
   
   P.S. If you try to follow me, youll be on the receiving end of my
   spatulas!"
   
   *************************
   
   Konatsu read the letter several times, wondering where Ukyo was going,
   and what she was looking for. When Ranma arrived later that morning he
   was insistent on going after her until Konatsu made him read the
   letter. Then his expression cleared, and he smiled.
   
   "Thats my Ucchan. Shell be fine."