Breaking Free - Ukyo's Story
Breaking Free/Ukyo’s 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.
Ukyo’s 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 she’d 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 Konatsu’s room, but she could hear him stirring before she got to the stairs. Her father had welcomed her home when she’d arrived, and had accepted Konatsu’s 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, Konatsu’s 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.
He’s 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 couldn’t even say the name in her mind.
“No!”, Ukyo said aloud. “If I’m going to face my problems, then Akane is part of them. I’m 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 he’d made a mistake?
Ukyo swept up the spilled rice, deep in thought.
************************
Ukyo’s 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 he’d have to speak to her two or three times before she would respond, and then she’d 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. She’d asked her friends to keep in touch, but hadn’t 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.
“I’m sorry you didn’t 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.”
Ukyo’s face broke into the first smile seen on it in weeks, and she laughed aloud and continued reading.
“There’s 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 haven’t seen Akane. I know she’s 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? He’s 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 friend’s 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 he’d asked to go with her. When he begged her to tell him why, she’d hesitated, then told him the truth.
“I have to go to Nerima. It’s about Ran-chan.”
“He’s married, Ukyo-sama. I thought you’d 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 didn’t look any different than it had when she left it, except for two changes: Ucchan’s and the Nekohanten were gone. Ukyo was staring at the Nekohanten’s 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! It’s 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 it’s about Ran-chan”, thought Ukyo, as she responded aloud: “It has been a long time, Toshi. What’s 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 Ukyo’s arm, and held onto it.
“Have you heard about Ranma and Akane? They broke up!”
Ukyo knew that Toshi didn’t like Akane and ordinarily would have taken this statement less than seriously, but the letter she’d 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 it’s not just a training trip, Toshi? Ranma and his father go on training trips all the time.”
“He’s a newlywed, Ukyo! If Ranma was going on a training trip, he’d take Akane along. Besides, she’s obviously hiding something, and she’s been looking really unhappy. Quite a few people have asked her where Ranma is, and she just says it’s a family obligation, and he’ll be home soon. When I asked her, she got really mad and said it was none of my business.”
Ukyo couldn’t 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 she’d 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.
*************************
Ukyo’s steps grew slower as she neared the dojo. She’d intended to ring the doorbell and ask for Akane, but if the other members of the family were there, they’d 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 Ranma’s voice? Ukyo tried the doors, but they were locked. She looked up toward Ranma’s window, and began to climb.
“I’m 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 Ranma’s 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 Ukyo’s shattered hopes was hearing Ranma’s words as he gathered Akane into his arms.
“I missed you so much, Akane. I won’t let Pop do that to us again, ever.”
Ukyo’s 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 didn’t.”
Ranma frowned. He’d had enough experience with intruders like Happosai to make him want to take every precaution as far as his privacy was concerned.
“I’d 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 I’m 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 shouldn’t have come”, he thought. “This is too much for her.”
Five minutes later, he carried her into Dr. Tofu’s clinic.
*************************
Ranma was getting up from the breakfast table the next day when the phone rang. Dr. Tofu was on the line.
“Ranma, I’m glad you’re 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?”
“Tofu’s office. I think he has some kind of emergency.”
“Wait, Ranma. Let me finish, and I’ll come with you.”
Kasumi interrupted them.
“Go, Akane. I’ll clean up.”
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 wouldn’t be so sick if it weren’t for you!”
“Ukyo? I haven’t seen her in weeks!”
Konatsu’s expression grew harder than it already was.
“She’s been sick since you got married. How could you reject her like that? She deserves better.”
Akane’s 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. He’d never seen Konatsu act this way before - assertive or angry - and he didn’t want to make the situation worse.
“I’m sorry, Konatsu. Ukyo does deserve better. She deserves a husband who loves her, and I don’t. I love my wife. I don’t know how to make her understand that.”
“Well I don’t know how to make her love me! I suppose you’re 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 Tofu’s clinic, and opened the door. The doctor was waiting for him just inside
“It’s the start of an ulcer, Ranma. Ukyo’s been allowing herself to be miserable for a long time. In fact, I think she’s been deliberately wallowing in that misery.”
Ranma’s face fell.
“Oh damn, Doc. I feel responsible.”
Tofu shook his head.
“It’s 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 wife’s face. Akane was enjoying his embarrassement a little too much.
“N-no.”
“So how could you have told Ukyo?”
“I don’t know.”
“Go in and talk to her, Ranma. She needs a friend right now.”
Ranma hesitated, looking at his wife. Akane’s 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, don’t say that!”
Ukyo’s response was almost a snarl.
“Don’t call me that.”
Ranma sat beside the bed, and held Ukyo’s hand. She started to withdraw it, and then changed her mind.
“Why not? We’re still friends, aren’t 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 Ukyo’s hand, recoiling as if she’d 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 couldn’t figure out how not to.”
Ukyo switched on the lamp, and looked hard at Ranma. He had tears in his eyes, something she’d never expected to see. The tears, more than anything he’d said, softened her heart. Ranma was astounded when she reached out and hugged him and involuntarily stiffened, grateful that Akane wasn’t 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 you’re here in Nerima, Ukyo. Did you come just to see me?”
Ukyo looked at the bed, the floor, the walls--anything but into Ranma’s 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 everyone’s 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.
“I’m sorry, Ukyo. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
Ukyo sobbed harder, and clutched Ranma.
“No, Ran-chan. I deserved it. That’s exactly what I wanted to do.”
Ukyo withdrew from Ranma’s arms, and wiped her eyes.
“I can’t blame you for marrying the girl you love, Ranma. Only, I wish it had been me.”
Ukyo turned away again.
“You’d better go, Ranma. I’ll be all right. Just do me a favor--tell your father if I ever see him again, I’m going to bend my spatula over his head.”
Ranma stood up and looked at Ukyo, unwilling to leave.
“I’ll go if you want me to, Ukyo, but I have something to say. There’s 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, I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I want you to be happy. Do whatever you want. I’ll 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. I’m 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, don’t you?”
“Yes”
“Don’t 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. Don’t give up on Ukyo. You’ve been a good friend to her, and maybe some day she’ll appreciate you more.”
The clinic door opened, and Ranma appeared. He looked at Akane’s blush, and the expression on Konatsu’s 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 weren’t 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 Ukyo’s room.
“Are you all right, Ukyo-sama?”
“I don’t know.”
Konatsu drooped, and started to turn away, but Ukyo’s 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. I’m tired, Konatsu. Dr. Tofu 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 couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
Ranma didn’t love her. He was happily married. She’d made a long trip for nothing.
Or was that true?
Ukyo had learned something. Ranma didn’t love her, but he still cared about her enough to come when she needed help, just as he had in the past. He’d frightened her when he yelled at her, but how could she blame him? He’d 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 Ukyo’s 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 don’t want to take revenge on Ranma or his father any more. There is no more need to fight for Ranma’s attention. He’s made his decision, and I’ve accepted it.
Now my life is my own, and I don’t 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 don’t try to find me. Instead, go back to my father. Then I can find you again.
Tell Ranma thank you for me. He’ll 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, you’ll 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.
“That’s my Ucchan. She’ll be fine.”