Okay, a few words of warning. Originally this was going to be a short scene in which Ryoga, Ukyo, and Ranma discuss old times. It was an interesting scene in my head. Then I tried to write it, and I realized it didn't have a focus. It kind of drifted and wandered around without really going anywhere. Even after I figured out why they were together, it refused to coalesce into a tight story.
Well, I liked some of the ideas enough that I wrote it anyway. It's a bit of a mess, somewhat pointless, but I've given up trying to fix it. For whatever it's worth, here it is.
If you would like to see me expand this into a longer series, write me. Several people have already mentioned that, and I just might do it, when I have the time.
Decisions
M A Davis / Miko
It was lunch hour, and the restaurant was busy. The clink of dishes from the kitchen mixed with the constant murmur of conversation. At the front of the restaurant, with a good fifth-story view of downtown Tokyo, sat the woman Ranma Saotome had come to meet. Ranma slid into the chair opposite her and smiled.
"How's it going, Ukyo?" he asked.
Ukyo, dressed in a dark business suit and looking as sharp as Nabiki Tendo herself, winced. "Is that how you greet an old friend, whom you haven't seen in six months?" she asked.
"Sorry," Ranma said. "I've never been as good with words as I am with my hands, you know that. So? How are you doing?"
"Fine, thanks," Ukyo said in a weary voice. "Is Akane going to be here? This concerns her too, doesn't it?"
"Absolutely," Ranma said, "but something came up -- Keiko again. She'll be along as soon as she can."
"Trouble at school again?" Ukyo asked.
"Yeah. You know how she is, always beating up on the boys, just like Akane used to. I'm sure your son Masaaki tells you all about it."
Ukyo giggled. "Oh, every detail. He's quite impressed with her skills, you know."
The conversation paused as a waiter delivered two lattes to the table. Ranma eyed his, then shrugged.
"So," he asked, "how's the franchise?"
Ukyo's smile turned into a grimace. "Better than I'd really like," she said. "I just got back from our grand opening in Sydney, and I'm supposed to fly to Seattle and San Francisco next week. Your sister is fulfilling her promise to make U-Chan's a global enterprise. Her new goal is 10,000 stores in the next ten years."
Ranma whistled. "That's quite a goal. But better than you'd like? Is doing well a bad thing?"
Ukyo sighed, and smiled weakly. "Not really, no, but I just don't know if I'm cut out to be the President of a global conglomerate. When I formed the partnership with Nabiki, I really didn't anticipate it being like this. I don't see my son as often as I should, and it's been ages since I was actually behind a grill. When I'm not in a meeting or on the phone, I'm flying to Kami-knows-where. Nabiki is hounding me to improve my English skills, but I honestly don't know when I'll find the time.
"I have to say, though, it's great to see you, Ranma. I hardly ever get to just talk to people these days. Nabiki's the only one of the old gang that I talk to anymore, and every conversation with her a business call. You know how it is."
"Hey," Ranma said, "At least you get to talk to her...."
"I know. U-Chan's might occupy all of my time, but it's just a small part of her growing business empire. She's got no time for anything but business."
Ukyo glanced away, suddenly embarassed. "I'm sorry, I didn't come here to complain. Really, the business is doing great. At least it takes my mind away from... well, things..."
Ranma frowned. "No, Ukyo, I'm sorry. I didn't come here to bring up bad memories."
"No, it's fine," Ukyo said. "Really, it's been six months. I can talk about it now." She straightened up, smoothing out her suit. "Actually, that's one of the reasons for this meeting with you. With Konatsu gone, and me so busy, I really don't have time to look after Masaaki."
Ranma nodded, then glanced around. "It would be better to wait until Ryoga and Akane are here," he said.
"Where is the lost boy, anyway? I haven't seen him in so long..." her voice trailed off, and she stood up to look out the window. There was a clear view of the busy street below.
"Well, there he is! He's standing right out front!"
"Right where the taxi dropped him off, I'll bet," Ranma said.
"What's that idiot doing? "
"We'd better send someone out to get him quick, before he walks off."
Minutes later, one of the waiters led a bewildered Ryoga to their table. He was dressed nicely, but in the way of a farmer visiting the city, rather than someone who lived there. His eyes lit up as he saw them.
"I guess it's been a long time since I've been in Tokyo," he said scratching the back of his head in that old, familiar manner of his. "I forgot how confusing it is." He smiled as he sat down. "Hello, Ranma, how's it going? Hello Ukyo. I... I heard about Konatsu. I'm really sorry."
"It's okay," Ukyo said. "It's been six months, you know."
Ryoga nodded. "I would have come to the funeral, but we were in the middle of the yearly tournament...."
"I understand. Nothing drags Akari away from her sumo tournaments."
"Saneaki took first place," Ryoga said. "He's our new champ."
"Well, it's certainly good to see you two. I have to admit, it took moving away from Tokyo for me to finally realized how you two were really my friends."
"I always considered you two my friends," Ranma said. "I was just never very good at friendship."
Ryoga sat back, still not looking very comfortable. He looked around, noting the intricate decorations in the room, the sharp dress of the customers, and the relative quiet of the restaurant. "This is quite a place," he said. "Do you eat out like this often?"
"Once in a while," Ranma said.
"All the time," Ukyo said. "Who has time to cook?"
"They opened an U-Chan's in Asahikawa, you know," Ryoga said. "We don't get into town that much, but we've been there twice. Not as good as the original, but not bad. Where's Akane, by the way?"
"She'll be late," Ranma said. "Something came up."
A waiter interrupted the three to take their orders. "This one's on me," Ukyo said. "Order whatever you like." Ranma ordered for Akane as well, then the waiter was gone, leaving them once again staring at each other.
"So, Ranma," Ryoga said, after a moment. "Isn't it about time you started the big training trip?"
"Training trip? Are you crazy? If I so much as say the word, Akane'll kill me!"
"Then how about another movie?" Ryoga asked. "Shuichiro's a big fan you know."
"Well," Ranma said, "that's entirely up to Nabiki, since she'd be financing it. It's not like the first two set the world on fire or anything. She still dreams of landing a deal with Hollywood, of making me into some kind of international film star, a modern-day Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan. But I told her, my family and the dojo come first. I can afford to make one movie a year, if she wants, and if I like the script, but I don't have time for acting classes or English lessons. I'm too busy as it is."
"Two films?" Ryoga said. "You're forgetting a third... the one you made first, with your father..."
Ranma nearly choked on his latte. "'A Fistful Of Bamboo'? That piece of junk? I usually don't even admit to it's existence!"
"I know it's garbage," Ryoga said, "but it's Ryo's favorite film. Jason Li and his faithful companion, Panda-San, are his two favorite characters."
"Shimatta! Don't let my father find out! He still wants to make the sequel, 'For A Few Bamboo More'!"
Ukyo said, "Did you know that at one point Gosunkuji had that script all written out? I'm sure he's since tossed it, or would deny any knowledge of it. He's a respected director now; he doesn't need reminders of how bad he was at the start."
Ryoga laughed. "None of us knew what we were doing then, did we? I still regret that I didn't help out, but I was pretty angry that you got the starring role, while I was being offered a five-line part... well, maybe I don't regret it so much. They still show that once in a while on late-night tv, and I want to cringe. My son had it on disc and watches it every other week."
"Everyone you ever knew has probably seen it at some point," Ukyo said.
Ranma shuddered. "Tell me about it. I still get people walking into my dojo because they saw that film...."
"That scene where you face the rubber Oyagushi..." Ryoga said.
"Please. Don't remind me."
"I can't help it, Ranma! I've had to watch that film so many times, you ought to suffer at least as much for your part in it!"
"Well... I guess having a kung fu panda in it made for a rather unique film... if it hadn't been so bad... I just never knew my father was such a ham actor until we did that."
"You people aren't talking about that piece of garbage again, are you?" a voice said. Akane Tendo smiled as she slid in beside her husband. "Hello, Ukyo, Ryoga! How nice to see you two again!"
Their food arrived moments later. "Perfect timing, as usual," Ukyo said.
As the foursome ate, Ryoga continued to ask questions. He'd moved to Hokkaido with Akari nearly ten years ago, and had rarely been back since. He seemed peaceful and content, thought Ranma, but was curious about how the rest of the gang were doing.
"How are Mousse and Shampoo?" he asked.
"Still together," Ranma said. "Nothing's changed."
"Really? Shampoo still insists she'll never marry anyone but you?"
Ranma nodded. "She knows that's impossible, now, but it's a matter of honor for her. Mousse has resigned himself to their current arrangement, and seems happy. I guess that's all that matters. It's a strange relationship those two have."
"No children, still?" Ryoga asked.
"No. Maybe someday. The Nekohanten continues to do well, and they still refuse to enter any sort of business relationship with Nabiki."
"Do you see either of the Kunos these days?" Ryoga asked.
"Nabiki sees them occasionally," Ukyo said. "You know, after we graduated, their father sold everything and moved them to Hawaii."
"Principal Kuno was disappointed," Akane said. "There weren't any real martial artists in the classes after us. There was nobody to challenge him."
"He only had to wait a few years," Ukyo said with a smirk. "I've heard stories about some of your students...."
Ranma barked a sudden, sharp laugh. "That's right! And now our children are starting to attend...."
"Anyway," Ukyo said, "they haven't moved back. I hear they're both doing pretty well in America."
"Kuno-kun was in a film too, you know," Ranma said. "A samurai drama, of course. It was pretty bad."
"Well," Ryoga said, "I guess that's par for the course."
Ukyo cleared her throat, then looked at Akane.
"As I was saying to Ranma earlier, I no longer have the time to look after Masaaki. That's why I was wondering if you could take him in. I know you've got room to house students, ever since Nabiki had the house expanded, and I would like to see him train under a master like Ranma."
Akane and Ranma nodded. "It shouldn't be a problem," Akane said. "Kasumi's daughter Mitsuko is going to be helping out, and father needs something to keep himself busy. We're expecting to take in several students, in fact."
"My son as well?" Ryoga asked.
"That's right," Akane said. "Shuichiro, is it? We're ready to take them both in now if you like. That gives them five weeks to get settled before school starts."
"Anyway, it's not that he needs the training," Ryoga said. "I'm perfectly capable of training my own sons, and I think you'll find that they're all powerful martial artists already, considering their age. But Shuichiro insists on coming to Tokyo to train with his favorite martial arts star."
Ranma put his head in his hands. "Not your son too!"
"Hey, I warned you, didn't I?"
"Man, three low-budget grade B action flics do not make me a star," Ranma said.
"Anyway," Ukyo said, "I really thought this conversation was about more than just having our sons live and train at the dojo. There's the matter of the dojo itself...."
Akane and Ranma glanced at each other, a little guiltily.
"I mean, you two have five daughters," Ukyo said, "and no sons. Nabiki has no children, and the Ono's only son has decided not to pursue martial arts, am I right?"
"That's all true, yes," Akane said.
"So?" Ryoga asked. "Have you given more thought to an arrangement? You're going to need someone to carry on the dojo, and any of my sons could do a fine job of it."
"My son, Masaaki, for that matter," Ukyo said. "He'd make an excellent heir."
A dark look passed over Ranma's face. "Believe me, we've talked about it. Yelled about it, actually. We never wanted to put our daughters through this sort of thing... in fact, we promised ourselves that we'd never do it. Still, Father Tendo is right. We don't have a male heir, and with Shin Ono insisting on pursuing a career as a vetrinarian, we need to plan on at least one of our daughters, or one of the two Ono daughters, marrying someone who can carry on the school. That might be one of my students, but it would please me more if it were also one of my friend's sons."
"However, let me say right now," Akane added, "we're completely against arranging a marriage. None of our daughters are going to go through what I went through!"
Ryoga frowned. "What's wrong with an arranged marriage? Isn't it the only way to be certain?"
"You obviously don't remember what it was like," Akane said. "It was a living hell for us."
"Now you're exaggerating," Ryoga said. "There's nothing wrong with having your future planned out for you. I think it would be quite helpful."
"That's easy for you to say," Ranma said. "You've never had to deal with it!"
"Damn right I didn't! I only wish my father had done something like that... I wouldn't have spent so many years drifting!"
"Knowing what your future is, and what's expected of you, is a good thing, Ranma!" Ukyo insisted. "The only problem I ever had with it was that your father couldn't stop at ONE arranged marriage!"
"Ukyo's right," Ryoga continued. "It can't be that bad. It worked perfectly for you and Akane, didn't it? If my parents had made that arrangement, then I'd have won Akane's hand, rather than you!"
Akane frowned. "You sound like you still have regrets, Ryoga."
Ryoga laughed. "Regrets? No, Akari and I are very happy. But you see what I mean... Ukyo might have won Ranma's hand, if not for that agreement. Because of the deal between your two families, the rest of us never had a chance. In what way did it not work out for you two?"
Akane threw up her hands. "I can't believe that you two were right there, and you don't remember how much trouble we went through! Trouble that you two were partly responsible for!"
Ranma got up to stare out the glass window.
"We spoke to Nabiki, Kasumi, and Tofu about this," he said. "They have some say in this too, you know. It's true that Shin will not inherit the dojo, and that Nabiki may never have children, but that still leaves us with five Saotome daughters and two Ono daughters. Any one of them can inherit the dojo, if they marry a student of the school of Anything-Goes Martial Arts."
"That would be my son," Ukyo said, "or Ryoga's Shuichiro, once you've trained them."
"Perhaps," Ranma said. "Natsumi and Kurumi, the adopted Tendo sisters, each have a son as well, who are being trained in the school. Hinako-sensei has a son who she's been training in the school. I have other students, of course, but I'd prefer it be the son of someone I know, the son of a great martial artist."
"That's the deal," Akane said. "We have seven girls, and, counting Ryoga's other two sons, seven boys. The first marriage between any two will inherit the dojo, with our blessing. We want there to be as little pressure as possible, but the offer is there for any of them."
"But..." Ryoga leapt to his feet. "Doesn't that leave it up to them? I thought we were going to make a decision here!"
"That's what I thought!" Ukyo added, also jumping up. "I thought this was between Shuichiro and my Masaaki!"
Akane and Ranma also stood. They clasped hands, and looked at their two long-time friends.
"We have made a decision," Akane said. "Ranma and I have decided against an arranged marriage. That decision is final."
"This way," Ranma said, "we all get what we want. We'll eventually get an heir, but hopefully the pressure on our children will not be too great...."
***
Ranma hung up the phone.
"That was Kuno," he said. "You're not going to believe this...."
"He's sending his son here to study under you?" Akane asked. Ranma nodded his head.
"Word travels fast. First it was Cologne, sending Lin-Lin's son all the way from China, then Natsumi and Karumi say they're moving to Nerima, and now Kuno's son is coming from America. What's the big deal, anyway? It's only one stupid dojo!"
Akane giggled. "Well, you know, Natsumi and Karumi have always wanted the dojo. With Cologne, I think it has something to do with Shampoo's failure to marry you. With Kuno, who knows? Maybe he sees it as a second opportunity, after failing to wed me. Or maybe he just wants his son out of his hair."
Ranma wrapped his arms about his wife. "Things are bound to get a lot more interesting from here on out," he said.
"Are we making a mistake?" Akane asked. "Are we repeating what our fathers did?"
"I don't know," Ranma said. "I'm sure that, even now, Ukyo and Ryoga are scheming to make sure their son is the first to propose. In a way, it's going to be just like with you and me, only with more people involved."
"That's what I was afraid of," Akane said.
"Well, I don't think it can be helped. Are the girls ready?"
Akane nodded. "I never thought I'd be doing this," she said, as she led her husband into the family room. Their five daughters were huddled around the television.
"Girls," Akane said, "we have something to tell you...."
FINI
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