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Fuming, Kuno practically ripped open the door of his room and then slammed it shut as much as you can a sliding shoji door, which was just enough to alert the staff that the heir to the Kuno family fortune was ‘in a mood’ and to tread lightly around him.

Practically tearing his kendo uniform from himself, he cursed that vile woman who had publically snubbed him. Still muttering oaths, he took a shower as hot as he could stand it in an attempt to wash any trace of her from his skin; he scrubbed himself until he was as red as a boiled lobster. Yet this did nothing to calm his agitation.

He pulled on some ‘normal clothes’ as she had termed anything other then his kendo uniform. They were rather worn and he would never dare wear them outside of his house; they were just for comfort and warmth, not style. Then he thought about his situation and wondered why he’d been so hurt when she’d refused to talk to him. She was nothing to him, less then nothing, merely a person foisted on him by a stupid challenge.

Ukyou Kuonji, he’d really taken any particular notice of her. He’d hated her at first when he was forced to live in that tiny box she called an apartment. He’d thought her clothes distasteful and her rude and arrogant. First there was her male uniform and bound breasts, rendering practically her asexual and then the rather revealing outfit that she donned to work in; both distasteful to him in different ways.

Then he got to know her and learned things about her outside of school. He’d known that she worked out in the gym almost everyday after school and set a punishing regime for herself that almost rivaled his own. What he hadn’t known was that after that she went home, ate a quick dinner and opened her restaurant. She would cook at a breakneck pace for the rest of the evening until she closed the restaurant at ten pm on the nose, at which point she would clean up and ready the restaurant for the next day. Finally she would crack the books and do her homework to maintain an almost perfect grade point average and finally slip into bed at midnight, only to repeat it all the next day. It was awe inspiring and slightly surreal at the same time.

Kuno was surprised when she’d unintentionally revealed a softer side to him. He noticed that she refused payment from her poorer customers and that she always put down bowls of catfood at her backdoor to feed the neighbour strays who ended up there, attracted by the smell of food. He noticed that when she saw a young couple obviously in love or a young family, she got a wistful smile on her face. Finally he noticed that she was really cute, she wasn’t a devastating beauty, but she also wasn’t the somewhat plain boy-girl he’d thought her to be. His resistance to her charms had melted entirely when she was unwell, reminding him of Kodachi needing him when she was younger. He remembered waking up in the mornings to find a smaller her cuddled against him like a monkey, her dark hair sprawled across his pillow and her sweet child's breath on his cheek. He hadn’t hesitated acting like, he imagined now, a real husband would. He was surprised how tiny Ukyou was under her gruff exterior, her petit too-warm body curled against his wearing just that white-stuff nightgown. He started to care for her. Was it possible she liked him too?

Then there was the fatal night that had divided them; to him it had seemed.....magical. He tried to remember the last time a girl had willingly given him a hug; he couldn’t. Just stroked his hand? No again. Yet she had offered him all of those things and much more that night. Was it simply pity as he thought or did she care about him? If that was the case, than of course she was mad about how he bolted.

Frustrated, he threw a pillow towards the door wanting to break the screen, only to have Kodachi catch it.

“What are you doing in my room?” he demanded.

She calmly sat down beside him and munched an apple “you seem upset and I want to know why Tatewaki” she said.

He was almost shocked to hear her call him by his first name “What, no facetious sounding ‘brother dear’?” he asked.

She turned her eyes towards him “I wish to have a serious discussion; mocking you would achieve nothing but hostility” she explained “Now I would like to know the cause of your argument with Ms. Kuonji back there” she stated.

Kuno blushed “I’m not at liberty to discuss that with anyone, let alone my younger sister” he replied.

Kodachi noticed the blush and put two and two together “I take it that perhaps the sleeping arrangement that Ranma forbade occurred? Did you take advantage of a sweet, naïve young girl and then spurn her?” she asked cruelly.

“What! I would never do that to a woman; it was hardly her first time” he said indignantly and then clapped his hand over his mouth, having imparted too much information

“But it was yours?” she observed. Kodachi was using all her discipline as a martial artist to appear as cool as possible; underneath it all, the untouched girl was blushing and was just as uncomfortable as her bother.

“I can’t discuss this with my little sister!” he snapped.

“How so? I’m waiting for marriage myself as I don’t believe in causal love. But if you do, I’m not judging” she said with a nonchalant shrug.

Kuno closed his eyes and pretended not to hear her; this was a nightmare! “This-is-not-something-I-want-to-talk-about” he said, emphasizing each word.

“It is that I’m your sister or that I’m a woman? So was it the other way around, did she say that you were no good, inadequate or something like that? Did she kick you out of bed? What happened?” she asked.

“Kodachi!” Kuno said in a strangled voice “It’s none of your business!” he cried, wanting to tear his hair out.

“Look I know that we haven’t been close for years, but I do care about you and what to know why you’re hurting. A woman’s perspective might help” she said incitingly.

He looked at her warily “you won’t tell anyone?”

She crossed her heart “I wouldn’t gossip about my brother’s love life, that’s too revolting. Would you gossip about mine?” she asked.

“Gods no” he said sharply. Then his shoulders sagged “we kind of connected. Then I received some...disturbing new that depressed me” he explained.

“Then you went into that weird state where you think you’re the scum of the earth?” Kodachi said, remembering those ones well.

He nodded in confirmation “she tried to console me and then ended up offering me an......alternative healing method, which worked” he explained.

“Tatewaki, you don’t have to sugar coat it for me, just say that you #%#ed” she said impatiently.

He glared at her for the harshness of her language “it was more then that, we made love, I felt a deeper connection with her then anyone else in my entire life. It was beyond the physical, it was more emotional; I felt safe I guess” he said. “Then the next day I got scared of my feelings for her and ran like a chicken”

Kodachi regarded him “so after all those years of chasing girls that don’t want you, you ran away from the one who does?” she said, summing it up for him.

“Yes” he replied, lost in thought.

“Do you not like her, is she a not good enough for you, not pretty enough?” she asked.

“I do like her” he replied.

“But you don’t love her?” Kodachi asked.

“No, but I probably would given time” he said, seeing it clearly for the first time.

“And that is why you ran. You like controlling every element of your life and that includes who you falls in love with. You chose two candidates who both fit your ideal and didn’t even consider other girls. Then a woman that you never figured on, slipped under your radar and you panicked” she explained.

“Am I really so much of a control freak?” he asked.

“Yes you are. But you can change, god knows I did. However, there’s a girl who you should go apologize to. I would kill a man who bolted like you did”

“So you’re positive that you’re going to marry Ryoga? He’s your first boyfriend after all” he pointed out.

“Who knows? Either one day I’ll tell my children “I had a few boyfriends and then I met your father” or I’ll say “I met your father when I was sixteen” Either way, I’m not going to try to rush into marriage anymore, Akane’s right about waiting” she said with a shrug.

“I think so too” he agreed.

Kodachi and Ryoga

“Well, what’s going on?” Ryoga asked with concern.

“They just have some things to work out” she said, unwilling to divulge so private a conversation even to her beloved.

“Have you thought some more about my offer?” Ryoga asked.

“Yes, I’m not saying no, but I think that we should wait a bit. It’s only been two weeks after all” she said.

“So you don’t want to marry me?” he asked, his face falling.

“Yes I do, after we graduate college” she explained.

“We? But I’m not even in school!” Ryoga protested

“I’ll agree to date you exclusively if you go back to school” she said persuasively. “You can live in our guesthouse; I’ve already cleared it with my brother. He’d let you live the house, but he was worried about my reputation if he did and we’ll visit your family a lot” she said.

“So you’re going to arrange the rest of my life for me?” he asked with a fond smile.

“Someone has to help you find your way” she demurred.

Ukyou and Kuno

He decided to waste no time and went to Ukyou's restaurant. Ukyou was surprised to see Kuno show up wearing worn jean with holes in the knees and a shabby black t-shirt. “We don’t serve your sort here!” she snapped.

He raised an eyebrow at her “schoolmates?” he asked her.

“No jackasses” she replied.

“Well I’m not leaving until you talk to me” he snarled.

“Don’t make me call the police!” she threatened.

“And what you’re going to tell them, that I’m attempting to be a patron of your establishment?” he asked.

“Just leave, I don’t want you here!” she ordered.

“Why?” he asked, crossing his arms and refusing to move.

Something inside Ukyou snapped “Why? You #%#ing ask why? You #%#ed me and then you #%#ing ran away like the #%#ing miserable coward you are! Go #%# yourself!” she screamed and then blushed when her restaurant went dead silent except for some gossipy sounding whispers. Ukyou turned first flame red and then dead white, facing the crowd she said “I’m terribly sorry, my friend and I were rehearsing lines for a play that he wrote” she lied.

“Sounds like an off, off, off Broadway production” hissed a young mother at a nearby table, her hands were clamped over her child’s ears.

Cool as a cucumber, Kuno gallantly said “I’m terribly sorry about our display, please allow me to cover your meals this evening”

“Guess that one’s playing a Rockefeller?” piped in another voice.

“Those peasants, I’m a Kuno” he declared “Now, I need to talk to your lovely chef. If you can complete your orders and add whatever else you want to them, I would appreciate if you would get your meals to go”

“Why you jackass! How can you order my customers to leave!” she snarled, and then blushed bright red when he kissed her in front of everyone, which had the desired effect of shutting her up.

“Its okay miss, we understand about young love” assured the young mother with a twinkle in her eye. Ukyou’s jaw dropped and she struggled to think of something clean to say. One by one, her customer’s orders were dropped off at their table and they filed out with a polite nod to Kuno. When the last one was gone, she seized her spatula and charged at him.

“You think that you have a say in how I run my business? Prepare to die you vile worm!” she cried as she leapt at him. He parried with his bokken, which appeared out of nowhere as usual.

“Worm? Now that’s insulting” he said.

“Pig” she spat.

“No that’s Ryoga, I don’t have a water curse” he remarked and parried again.

“I’m going to tear you limb from limb” she cried.

“That’s not what you wanted to do with them the last time” he replied. Blocking her spatula again and knocking it back.

She sprang back “I hate you!” she cried and then realized that her arms were shaking.

She gasped in outrage when he plucked it from her and calmly said “no you don’t hate me anymore than I hate you”

“You ran” she said miserably. “I didn’t even merit a proper goodbye kiss”

“I left for two reasons, the first being that I was embarrassed for being so pathetic that you made love to me out of pity and that you weren’t the girl I pictured it being with. I know that that’s not an excuse, but it’s the best that I can offer” he said.

She exploded “you come in with this ‘I’m just like you’ crap and spouting nonsense about us being family and then you bolt the second we make love! You are pathetic. No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend. You walk around like you’re all high and mighty when you’re a.....” the rest was silenced by his kiss.

“Yes I am all of that, but you adore me” he said with a cocksure grin.

“Adore you? Are you insane? How could you possibly think that!” she exploded.

“I know so because you only ever got this passionate about Ranma, other then that you’re as cool as a cucumber” he said logically. “Can you deny it?”

“I-I” she said with her face flaming, unable to say no. She gasped when he picked her up and swung her around.

“See you do adore me and you’re going to be my girlfriend!” he declared.

“Hey I never agreed to that!” she protested. “You haven’t even asked me!” she said laughing.

“Sorry, would you be my girlfriend?” Kuno asked, the warm light in brown his eyes made her happy.

“I don’t love you” she admitted.

“Hey adoring me is a good start, I feel the same way. Please say yes” he almost pleaded.

“Yes, but won’t your friends bug you about my cross dressing?” she asked.

“If they try, I’ll announce that the new kendo uniform is a flowery dress and high heels. That’ll shut them up” Kuno replied.

“You’re bad” she said affectionately.

“I’ll get better with age, you’ll see. Now how about I take my boyfriend out to see a movie?” he teased.

“You’re on, let me go put on my jockstrap and get your bill ready” she teased back.

Mousse and Shampoo

She was massaging his shoulders “now remember whatever she say, you chosen Airen. Show no weakness, must be strong”

“Shampoo I know how to talk to Cologne” Mousse protested.

“No you know how smart mouth her and get hit in head. You must talk like tough fiancé, no take no for answer” she insisted.

“It doesn’t matter whether she gives us her blessing or not” Mousse pointed out.

“I future leader, you want deny our daughter same?” Shampoo said, causing Mousse to think about their wedding night and nosebleed.

“No think dirty thoughts now” she cautioned and managed to slip him some napkins just in time to save his white robe.

“Shampoo you wished to see me?” asked Cologne.

Mousse pushed up his glasses “yes, I defeated Ranma and Shampoo has agreed to marry me. We would like your blessing”

“Yes I had those other oafs drop in to tell me about this supposed fight that you had with Ranma. I’m sorry, but I can’t give you my blessing, you are simply not good enough for my great-granddaughter” she said and prepared to pogo away.

“Why you old bat!” he cried and went to grab her. She swung her club and was surprised when Shampoo stopped it.

“You say he not good enough? Why, his family in good standing and he known as good strong warrior for male? Why you no approve?” she challenged her. “You tell me thirteen years no good, is weak. Why?” she yelled at her.

“Shampoo, you would dare raise your voice to your elder! You will marry Ranma, not the duck boy!” she ordered

“No Ranma marry Akane Tendo. I marry man I love and you not stop us” Shampoo shouted.

“You want to know why I don’t like him? He’s as blind as a bat, he charges around here like a bull in a china shop, running into everything and talking to inanimate objects. He’s an embarrassment and you expect me to call him son-in-law!” she shouted back.

“Yes I do, his eyes not his fault. He get them fixed before wedding, tall kendo weirdo pay. You either accept that we get married and give blessing, or we just elope” she threatened. “Then you never meet great-great-grandchildren and we never tell them about you or about tribe. They grow up Japanese” Shampoo declared.

Cologne’s own eyes goggled now, she turned to Mousse “you’re getting your eyes fixed?” she asked.

“Yes” he said, a challenge in his voice.

“Welcome to the family son-in-law” she said shaking his hand.

“You’ve got to be kidding me; I changed myself in everyway I could think of to make myself worthy of her in your eyes. I learned martial arts. I trained hard and worked out everyday. I crammed myself with food to try and bulk up my muscles and even drank special powders. I attacked my domestic duties just as hard and I worked in this rattrap for free for a year, and none of that mattered! All I had to do was get my eyes fixed!” he raved at her.

Shampoo giggled “Amazons Warriors funny creatures no. Wo ai ni Mu Tzu, we get married yes?” she said, hugging him from behind.

He gave her a sheepish smile and said “Yes, Wo ai ni Xian Pu”

Ranma and Akane

“Will you marry me Red?” Ranma asked from his bended knee position on the floor in front of her.

Akane giggled and rinsed another dish that she was washing. She looked at the now very familiar ring and said “Not yet; that makes it six times today. Is that ring superglued to your hand? When are you going to give up?” she asked.

“When you say yes” he said, kissing her and then laughed himself when she flicked dishwater at him.