I don't know what authors are supposed to say in their prefaces, so I'll just say I spent considerable time on this. Comments are welcome, of course. Ranma 1/2 = (C) of Shogakukan "A Short Visit" by WebDragon A Short Visit Heat rose from the ground in shimmering waves in a certain backstreet of Nerima Ward, the sound of cicadas and other insects lending a background noise that fleshed out the scene into clarity. A sky of startling blue stretched from horizon to horizon to frame the almost picturesque scene that stretched out before her; streetlamps, post boxes, a scattering of fallen leaves under the dappled shade of a nearby tree. , she thought as she removed her dark glasses and pressed a button to roll her window down. Her other hand held a glass of iced tea, the translucent cubes swirling around and clinking on the sides of her cup with each turn her driver made. The wind rushing into her face from the open window of her Mercedes blew her shoulder-length hair back. Unconsciously she reached back and felt the tips of her hair. How she missed having long hair...why, it only seemed just yesterday....she shook her head to clear it. That was more than twelve years ago. "Boss, we are approaching the residence now." Her driver nodded at her through the rearview mirror. He was a handsome fellow with a short ponytail, charming in his own way, but Ukyo hadn't hired him just for his looks. He was also a trained martial artist, expert in many different ways of disabling an opponent under street conditions. He was very skilled and very good. Ukyo sighed and rubbed her forehead. Why in the world did her thoughts keep straying back to.... "Miss Kuonji?" "Thank you, Higawa. Just park outside and wait for me, alright?" Ukyo disliked having her thoughts intruded upon and she frowned at Ryosuke Higawa, to let him know she was displeased. "Just for your information, I won't be long." Ryosuke Higawa smiled apologetically and tipped his head. "You're the boss, boss." She put her iced tea back in its holder and unlocked the Mercedes door. Then she pushed it open and stepped out into the hot day. It was a stark contrast to the air-conditioned interior of her car. The heat immediately made her light T-shirt damp with perspiration and she moved her legs uncomfortably in her shorts. She felt naked while wearing her current ensemble, for she had not worn shorts for a long time. But she had forgone her usual knee-length dress and blouse outfit in favor of something more...reminiscent of the `good old days'. If there were any good old days left for her to return to, that was. She got out, shut the door and watched as the dark blue car drove off to a nearby parking spot. She turned around, her heart beating rapidly, and she checked herself. Her body was still trim as ever, thanks to regular exercise in between her busy schedule, but her legs weren't tanned enough. She would have to remedy that with a trip to the tanning salon in her Tokyo head office. With a final glance around her, she looked up. "Tendo Dojo," she said out loud, reading the sign beside the weather-beaten gates that lead inside. There was nothing else. , she thought. She mentally slapped herself. This had nothing to do with her business, and she would do well not to bring any element of it with her. She wondered how Ranma and Akane were doing as she idly pushed on one gate and stepped inside. She let the gate swing shut behind her as she stood uncertainly inside the Tendo residence's perimeters. , she thought, beginning to take a few tentative steps up the cobble-stone path to the house proper, but she stopped short as she recognized a familiar figure by the side of the house. Ukyo Kuonji watched in wonder as Ranma Saotome, bare-chested and very well muscled, went through the motions of a kata before a group of gi-clad teenagers. He was bigger than she last remembered, but otherwise everything else was the same. His pigtail was still the same length, and his hair still jet black. He still favored his black pants and kung fu shoes. Ukyo looked closer. Everything else...but the look in his eyes. It was the look of somebody who had mastered himself, a gaze of serene determination that allowed for no error, no mistake as his hands transcribed graceful arcs in the air in harmony to his foot and torso movements. This had been lacking from him...twelve years ago. Patience and self-control had never been his strong points, but apparently he had learned better. The kata ended and the teenagers, presumably students, picked up backpacks and bowed to Ranma before they began to leave. Ukyo watched them stream past her and out the gate, their eyes full of dreams and their intent almost palpable. Their parents were going to have a hard time convincing them to stop their martial arts practice for breaks of any sort. Apparently Ranma had that motivational effect on them. Too bad her human resource directors didn't possess that same knack. Ukyo turned to look back at Ranma, who was standing with his back to her. Even as she watched, he began to do another kata. "Hello there...may I help you with something, miss?" Ukyo turned at the sound of that voice, startled out of her contemplation of Ranma. A woman of about her age with shoulder-length black hair stood before her, a smile on her face. She was wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a T-shirt. She clutched a garden shears in one hand, and a plastic shopping bag full of weeds in the other. Ukyo was about to exchange pleasantries when it suddenly struck her. "A...Akane?" she whispered softly in disbelief. She looked so different now! "Do I know you....wait a minute. Wait a minute....Ukyo!?" Akane broke into a big grin and she threw her gardening stuff behind her as she ran forward and gave her friend a big hug. Ukyo, a little unsure of herself, responded by hugging back. "I haven't seen you in years, Ukyo! Where have you *been*?!" cried Akane joyfully. Ukyo's brain suddenly registered *just* how long it had been since she had seen Akane and Ranma. She realized that nothing was the same, despite appearances. It scared her, alot. "I've...been around. So...how are you and Ranma doing?" replied Ukyo. She was careful not to mention the two words `married life'. It still stung her to do so. "Married life is hectic you know. Staying on top of what's happening, Ranma's job as a martial arts instructor, my ongoing search for a stable job....you know, normal things." Normal things. Those words rang through Ukyo's head and highlighted the fact that `normal things' no longer applied to her. Other things did, and they were a *heck* of a lot more complicated than `normal things', that was for sure! Ukyo didn't speak her thoughts out loud, but inside she burned with the desire to do so. "How are you doing, Ukyo? Ever since you closed the Ucchan down and moved away we hardly heard anything from you other than that postcard you sent two years after." "I'm....doing fine. So, where's everybody else?" said Ukyo as she glanced over at the house. "Kasumi and Dr. Tofu got married....big surprise, right? She's living at his place now. Nabiki's in Tokyo working for some company called Mitsutomo Enterprises. She's just starting out there, but we expect her to rise quickly. At least, that's what she said after quitting her last job over in America. Dad's on a golfing trip with Mr. Saotome and Ranma's mother is on a vacation with her friend," said Akane excitedly, apparently eager to catch up on so many things with her friend. "I see." "Ucchan!!" Ukyo turned, just in time to be swept up in an embrace with Ranma. His strong arms crushed her to his hard body and she wriggled a bit in an effort to get some air. Ranma spoke some more but Ukyo wasn't listening. All of her regrets and sadness had come to the forefront of her being and right now she did not want Ranma to let her go....for he made her feel good with his boyish exuberance; yet, that very same vitality reminded her of times past and opportunities lost. She didn't want to prolong something that was perpetuating her innermost fantasy - her secret dream and fondest wish...that..... ".......cchan?" said Ranma as Ukyo focused her attention back to him, escaping from her thoughts for the time being. "Wha...what was it, Ranma....I mean...Ranchan?" "I said, how are you doing?" Ranma let Ukyo go and stood back beside Akane. "I'm fine, Ranma. And you?" Ukyo began to walk towards the house. Ranma and Akane followed. "I just finished today's class with my students. Apparently word had gotten around town about my dojo and now I have a small group of eager would-be martial artists. They're all impatient, but if they don't learn patience they will not reach their full potential." "Much like you, right?" said Ukyo offhand, not paying attention to her words. "Was I impatient before, Ucchan?" asked Ranma, a playfully hurt look on his face. "Yes, you were. But things are different now, aren't they." It was a statement, not a question. "They sure are. Look, you must be tired by walking from the train station...so why don't you come into the shade?" offered Ranma, gesturing towards the house. Ukyo nodded and let herself be led inside. The same old table still sat in the living room, before the TV and in front of a couch. Ukyo looked at the couch and saw that it looked like it had been bought at a garage sale, or from a friend. It looked used for it was in decent shape. She glanced around as she lowered herself to the table, tucking her legs under the tablecloth . The floor looked to have been redone in the past year or so, and the lamps above looked new. Still...despite the apparent similarities of the living room in her mind and the one currently before her, there was something out of place. She could not put her finger on it, but she was sure it was there. "Here, Ukyo. It's not much but we hope it's enough," said Akane as she put a glass of iced tea before Ukyo. Ranma opened a new bag of crackers and poured it into the empty plate on the table, and he pushed it towards Ukyo. "Thanks," managed Ukyo as she gingerly picked up a cracker and munched on it slowly, her eyes darting here and there as she examined the sparse furnishings of the living room. She felt that there could be nobody feeling more guilt just by eating a single cracker than her. "So...what's up with you and all that? What did you do after you closed the Ucchan and moved away?" asked Ranma, his head supported by his hands as his elbows rested on the table. Ukyo tried her hardest not to look at him, but she couldn't help herself - he was handsome. Very much so. She felt a twinge in her heart but she squelched it with all her years of business experience. "And why did you cut your hair short, Ukyo?" added Akane. Ukyo reached back and touched her short hair, then she replied, "I felt like I needed a change. A better image for my customers, I guess." Her eyes stole fearfully over her gift on the table as she wondered if she had said too much. So far she had avoided mentioning that she was now the head of a highly successful restaurant chain spanning five different countries, including Japan. "Suki and Sushi" had been an instant hit wherever it had set up shop. "So you set up an okonomiyaki shop? That sounds just like you, you know that? I'm so glad that you haven't changed too much, Ucchan," said Ranma. "Why do you say that?" she asked. Her palms were sweaty for some reason and she wiped them on her legs. "Well....Mousse started up his own travelling magic act. You can see him on TV every now and then. Shampoo went back to China with the old crone. Ryoga....well....he's married to Akari now and he's as happy as a clam. We won't even go into people like Kuno, Kodachi or the old pervert. But you....out of our old friends....you haven't changed much." Ranma had this innocent smile on his face, free of pretence and full of friendship remembered and cherished. "Right. Ryoga's married now?" Ukyo took a sip from her iced tea. "Yes. He even has a ten year old son named Genbei, and an eight year old girl named Mariko," replied Akane. Her hand stole over to Ranma's, and their fingers entwined. She glanced at Ranma, who was no longer smiling. Ukyo suddenly realized what had been bothering her and she turned to Akane. "Akane...I don't mean to intrude on your private life or anything like that...but do you...have a child? A son or a daughter?" Ukyo held her nerves with a fist of steel. "Ucchan....we don't have any children," said Ranma at last. Akane was leaning into Ranma, holding onto him as if she were liable to float away and disappear. Ranma slowly drew her into a hug and spoke encouraging words to her...and Ukyo could see that Akane had tears in her eyes. She was crying openly, unashamedly, for her lack of children. Ukyo put her trembling glass down on the table and folded her hands on her lap. , thought Ukyo, wanting to say her thoughts out loud. Why? "I'm sorry to hear that," whispered Ukyo after a while. "No, it's nothing like that! I mean..." cried Akane, a forced smile on her lips, "We have decided not to have children....not until..." "...we finally pay off all our financial debts," finished Ranma. "Financial debts?" That concept was nearly foreign to Ukyo, but she wrenched herself back to the present situation. They were talking about themselves, not her! "Yes," said Ranma as he looked away from Ukyo uncertainly, as if he were unwilling to say anything further. But as Akane nodded her head, Ranma took a deep breath and let it out. Then he said, "I'm the only wage earner in the family. With cost of living rising, and because of some...bad financial moves we made...we had to mortgage the house to help us pay our bills." "But the money from the mortgage is running out, and the deadline is approaching when we must go to the bank and tell Mr. Nakamura that we....we don't have the money to pay off the mortgage," said Akane, tracing a circle on the table with a finger. So that was how it stood now. If they couldn't support themselves, how could they be expected to support a child as well? Until now Ukyo hadn't considered money as a deciding factor in her life, for she had lots of it - almost thirty billion yen, in cash and not including her twenty five restaurants around the world. She had a nice house overlooking Tokyo, three expensive cars, an extensive wardrobe and the prestige that was part of being the sole owner of Suki & Sushi. Material possessions were no longer important. The only things that were important was her love of cooking okonomiyaki...and her love for Ranma. she admitted to herself, After Ranma and Akane's second marriage Ukyo had made her business into something that was different from what she had originally foreseen it would become. Her restaurant, in its new location away from Nerima, still sold okonomiyaki to hungry customers but she had taken a lesser role in the cooking in order to concentrate on the issues that had mattered the most at that time - making money. Her dream of marrying Ranma had been shattered and the only thing she could turn to for solace was the Ucchan's. Every minute of her waking hours had been spent towards her restaurant. She changed the name to Suki & Sushi and began to offer more items on her menu. Then her business grew too big to manage from one store and she had opened a second restaurant. One thing had led to another and before she knew it, she was rich. And very busy. She had relinquished her cooking role in her first restaurant in Tokyo, hiring a chef to take her place, and she had begun to manage her business from her office. Strange how after all these years the only things important to her hadn't changed a whit, and she felt sure they wouldn't no matter how rich she became. She still had an urge now and then to cook okonomiyaki, but she did so only for herself and nobody else. And more than anything in the world she wanted to hold Ranma, to tell him that she still loved him in spite of his marriage to.... "Akane...don't worry. We can still make it. We must believe in ourselves, alright?" whispered Ranma, his eyes full of pain but with a spark of hope dancing in his pupils. Ukyo could practically feel his sadness. Akane nodded in reply and Ranma looked up at Ukyo and said, "I'm sorry we dumped this on you, Ucchan." she thought to herself. But Ranma did not cry, a result of his self-control. "Oh no, that's alright, Ran..chan. I've...got problems of my own," she said. She did not elaborate and Ranma did not ask. He only nodded in sympathy, as if all three of them shared a common dilemma. Ukyo wished she could tell him, but.... "How we wish we were rich, right Ucchan? Money solves everything, doesn't it?" said Ranma jokingly. Ukyo was silent and did not reply. Ranma did not know what he was talking about. Ukyo had money...but she had nothing left to her. Nothing of her old life, that was. She looked up at Akane, who was smiling at Ranma in a brave attempt to dispel her worries, as if love could conquer everything and pave a better path for tomorrow. Idealism never got anyone anywhere in business, a voice told her in the back of her mind. Wishful thinking and golden dreams were the stuff of imagination, hopeless fantasies flitting around in the forefront of the mind like beautiful, but fragile butterflies. Until reality decided to take a bite, that was. Then where would you be? What would you do then? Akane stood up, disengaging herself from Ranma and she began to walk towards the kitchen. "Where're you going?" called Ukyo. "To prepare some lunch. Stay a bit, okay?" said Akane over her shoulder. Ranma nodded at Ukyo. Ukyo gave him a wan smile in return. "Alright. I'll stick around for lunch." Ukyo briefly considered pulling her cellular out to tell Higawa she was going to be a little bit over schedule...but she decided against it. , she thought. "I must warn you, Ukyo. Akane can get pretty dangerous when she sets foot within..." began Ranma with a serious look on his face. "Idiot!!" yelled Akane from the kitchen and a wooden ladle zipped out of the doorway, to stop just inches from Ranma's head by virtue of his upraised left hand. Ranma put the ladle on the table and winked conspiratorially at Ukyo. Then he relaxed and leaned back. "Don't worry about being poisoned, as I had many years ago. She actually does okay in cooking...thanks to me." "That puts my heart at ease," observed Ukyo wryly. If there was one thing constant about Ranma, he was always verbally sparring with Akane. It was reassuring in a way, although he seemed to have lost his slang somewhere along the path to adulthood. Also, he wasn't calling her by her nickname nearly as often as he had. Ukyo suddenly wished that somehow she could...travel back in time, live her life out with Ranma to keep her company. Take back all the power, prestige and wealth and give her back twelve years of her life, right here in Nerima. No matter if Ranma was still going to be married to Akane, just so long as she could have been with him all those years rather than being cooped up in an office working over financial statements and the like. Twelve years...gone by as in a flash, brought sudden understanding, blossoming like an explosion and searing the mind with its intensity, mocking her with the fact that not a single minute of those years lost can ever be recovered. Hindsight was indeed the weapon of regret. A few minutes passed before Ranma turned to her, a question on his lips. "Ukyo...where are your weapons?" Ranma asked. "Oh...they're at home because I...no longer have the time to practice martial arts. I'm afraid I'm rather out of form. But I still run to keep in shape...." she replied as her hand stole briefly to her hair and smoothed it out. Yes, she was in shape. But was she trim and beautiful enough to catch his eye....? That little thought ran through her head, making her blush a bit. "No time anymore? Sure must be busy at the Ucchan's," joked Ranma, "Akane and I spar nearly every day, to keep in shape mostly and to have fun." "Remember all those twenty foot leaps we used to make back then?" said Ukyo as she glanced at the kitchen. If only Akane would move further into the kitchen...just a few more meters.... "I still do them every once in a while...it's a heck of a lot faster than using the car because the streets are always filled with people and cars." Ranma paused for a moment, then he cleared his throat and asked, "Ukyo...I don't mean to seem rude or prying...but I'm curious about something." "What is it?" Ukyo's heart was pounding and she unconsciously adjusted her hair again. "It's really important." "Spit it out already Ranchan." "Alright." Ranma took a deep breath to steady himself. "Are...are you married?" There was silence for a few stunned moments, then Ukyo laughed bitterly. Of *all* the questions to ask her, he had to pick that one! Oh, it was too priceless! She shook her head. "Nice to know you can still disappoint a woman with your answers, Ranma," she said as she leaned her head on her hands and placed her elbows on the table. Akane had the electric stove on and she was noisily frying something in her pan. "Ukyo...I'm sorry. I mean...I would have thought, with you being so..." "I love *you*, you know." "...cute and....love? You....love me?" Ranma seemed confused and that brought a laugh to Ukyo's lips. Yes, it was nice to know she still had that touch. "Yes. I love you. I've never stopped loving you for the past twelve years, Ranchan. That's why I decided to stop by, to see how you...and Akane were making out." She smiled at her choice of words, but it was a smile without mirth. "Ukyo...I know you love me. But...." "You don't? I understand, Ranma." Ukyo leaned back and folded her arms. "You do?" Ranma glanced over to the kitchen. Akane was still cooking and humming a tune to herself. "I did...after your second marriage. I knew the reason for all that fighting between you and Akane...but I didn't admit it to myself until after the two of you got married." "Why are you telling me all this, Ukyo?" asked Ranma after a while. Ukyo got up and walked up to Ranma, who rose up as well. "I'll tell you why. Because...." Ukyo let out a sigh, "...because I have nothing left to hang on to. I have nothing and nobody left from my old life...except you." Ukyo slowly put a hand on Ranma's own and lifted it up. "Nobody...but you. Do you know I don't even cook okonomiyaki in my business? I've traded my spatula for a pen," she said softly. "You don't? But I thought..." "I don't have much time, Ranma, so just listen to me. All my life, only two things have mattered to me...and still do. Cooking okonomiyaki...and being in love with you. In time I had hoped to bring the two together...you know, marry you...and...and..." Ukyo paused for a moment and wiped her eyes, "...but I guess not. The two were probably incompatible anyways. I didn't realize it then and even today I have a hard time trying to convince myself of its truth.." "That's not true, Ukyo. I..." Ranma trailed off, seemingly unwilling to speak his mind. "Ranchan...I don't have anything left to me but my business. And yet I still have nothing while you have everything I don't have." Ukyo let her tears flow down her cheek for the first time in many years as she stared down at the floor. "Ukyo, I don't understand..." "Oh...you will. I imagine you will." After a moment's hesitation Ukyo stepped close to Ranma and lifted her face up to his. Then she put one hand behind his head and slowly drew him close to her, but Ranma resisted. He shook his head slightly. "Ukyo...I can't. I love Akane and if I...kiss you, I'd be betraying her. I'm sorry," he said softly. Ukyo nodded slightly and she let him go, but she still stood close. "No, I'm sorry, Ranma. I shouldn't have tried to do that." Her right hand crept down from the back of his head and lightly touched his temple and travelled down to his cheek. "I...love you like....no other, Ranchan. I only wish...that it could have been different." With a final look into his face, locking that image forever in her memory, Ukyo slowly moved her hand away from his cheek. She took a step back, as if reluctant to leave, but she turned around and walked away quickly. She did not look back, not even once. * * * Ryosuke Higawa heard the car door open and he watched Ukyo Kuonji step inside. "Drive. To the shareholders' meeting, quick," she ordered him in a curt voice. He started the car and began to drive quickly down the street. He glanced at her from his rearview mirror and he saw that she was speaking on her cellular phone. "Yes, I want to talk to him. Now." she said, then her voice dropped lower and he couldn't make it out without being too obvious about it. , he thought as he resigned himself to driving. "Thanks. Yes...the full amount, and a substantial buffer sum. How much? Considerable. Make it quite considerable. Thanks. No...make up some story, or something. Bank promotion or other. Yes. Thank you. Dinner on Thursday, seven p.m.? Sure. See you there." Ukyo shut her cellular phone off and tossed it on the seat next to her. "Lecherous bastard. Never stops trying," she said to nobody in particular. "Want me to teach him some manners?" said Ryosuke in an imitation gangster-type voice, his eyes screwed up into a bulldog appearance. Ukyo grinned tightly at him. "No. I'd have to pay his hospital bills," she joked lightly, brushing her hair back from her face. "That was a pretty short visit, boss." "You sure don't mince words, do you? Yes, it was...short." "Business?" he asked as he turned a corner. He overtook a slow car. "No." Ukyo's voice had a warning tone to it but Ryosuke ignored the bells going off in his head. His curiosity was piqued now. "A friend of yours? I'll add him...or her to the list of people to stop by while in Nerima." "No. We're not coming back." "Pardon me?" said Ryosuke, startled now. Now it was not at all like his boss to leave a friend or contact. If anything, he expected her to keep in touch with her friend because - as she had once told him - the `more friends you have, the better off you are'. "I didn't realize you were growing deaf in your old age, Higawa." "I'm NOT old. I'm only twenty three, boss," he said, bristling slightly. Ukyo grinned. Ryosuke knew she liked to poke fun about his appearance versus actual age. "Then you heard what I said. We're not coming back." His boss was suddenly sombre again, and she looked behind her as if she were looking back and wondering if she had left something behind on her visit. Then she turned around and fixed her eyes resolutely forward. Ryosuke shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever you say. You're the boss, boss." -------- Well. Comments are welcome, of course. -WD