Well, here is another installment of the fic.  I'd like to note that I
neglected to put a "draft" tag on the previous one.  I apologize.  I'm
still new at this.

I've also had it noted that the allusion to the Monkey King may be
reminiscent of Dragonball(Z).  It isn't meant to be.  The story of the
Monkey King is a very well known Chinese myth.  I'm sure you're all aware
of that.  I wanted to make it clear that I wasn't referring to Toriyama's
manga/anime.  It was alos pointed out that the artifacts that was given up
by Brutus during his death thrall is close to the stuff in Mamano Hunter
Yohko.  It isn't meant to be that way either.  That's purely coincidental.
During the doodling and sketching used to drum up images for the fic, I
guess I must have come up with something fairly close.  I apologize if
it's created confusion.

So here's the next part.  If you're missing any parts, or if I've sent out
the wrong chapter, let me know.  Otherwise, you can find the rest of the
story or missing parts at:

http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/fanfix.html

Happy reading!

Ranma and all associated characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi.  This
is a work of fiction written by a fan for fans.  This isn't meant to
infringe on any copyrights or distribution rights.
The characters introduced in this fic are copyrighted by me.  Honest!
Hopefully they will appear later on in an original fic during the course
of the year.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 5

	Cologne looked at the circlet she had in her hands once again.
The traced the outline of the gold artifact and couldn't find any
imperfection in the design.  She placed it on the table before her and
picked up the accompanying artifact.  The thin gold wristband was attached
to a gold small ring, bearing a blood red ruby.  Thin lines of silver
connected the two pieces to make a delicate-looking piece of jewelry.
Cologne wasn't fooled, however.  Once again, she took the work of art and
placed it on the table, striking it once with a small hammer.  Nothing
happened.  No dents, no scratches, no sign of any wear.  She grimaced.  In
her entire lifetime, few items had captured her attention as this set did.
Something attracted it to her, beckoning her to use it.  Cologne could
sense great power coming from the pair, and yet it defied her knowledge
and bank of tomes and scrolls.  Only stories and legends accounted for its
existence.
	Cologne hopped over to the opposite side of the table.  Scrolls
and books littered it and there was the sense of frustration and stubborn
curiosity about it.  All the hints she had gleaned from the countless
tomes and scrolls she had used lead her to believe that there was a kind
of connection between the ki of the wearer of the articles.  One wore the
circlet, the other, the ring and wristband.  Both were joined mentally
somehow.  Commands from one were issued to the other.  Obeisance was
immediate, and unconditional.  Orders were carried out without question.
At least, that was the impression she had.
	She quietly made her way through the restaurant.  Mu-mu-chan was
in his cage sleeping.  It was too great a risk having Mousse free to
wander the restaurant.  The chance that he was researching the jewelry
himself was too great a risk.  She had discovered him poring over a large
tome, opened to the legend of the Monkey King once.  That time she had
chastised him severely.  The next time, she caught him poring over a tome
on mind control.  At that point she had changed him into his cursed for
and locked him up in the cage.  Even threats to turn him into a dinner
course seemed to be ineffective now.  The boy isn't as stupid as he acts,
she thought to herself bitterly. 
	She made her way to a door with a small wooden cat on it.  The
Chinese characters for Shampoo were scrawled on it.  Cologne quietly
opened the door and gazed at her great granddaughter as she slept soundly
in bed.  
	"Ranma will marry her, and the Amazon line will continue to be
strong" she said to herself under her breath.  Shampoo stirred ever so
slightly and called out Ranma's name quietly.  Cologne shook her head.
She has fallen in love with the outsider, and far more so than I had
imagined, she thought.  Yet, Ranma is worthy of joining the Amazon's.  He
will marry her, and the correct matriarchy will maintain the village.  My
honor will be maintained, and the Amazon's will be greater than before.
She closed the door slowly, and made her way back to the kitchen.
	Cologne grimaced and exhaled slowly.  There was no margin for
error in her plans.  No chance to experiment.  No chance at all.  Only one
attempt could be made.  If successful, insured the merger of the Saotome
line and the Amazons; and the added bonus of a nearly immortal powerslave.
Cologne pored over her plans again.  It was nearly infallible, based on
what she knew.  There was a chance she was wrong, but she had lived 300
years learning from mistakes.  Her last mistake was doubting herself.  All
she needed to do now, was wait for the opportunity to present itself.
	"In time, great granddaughter, all will be well." she said
quietly.

	Ken woke in the morning to the familiar sounds of the occasional
car driving by, and the rest of the Tendo household busying themselves
with preparing for school.  He sat up on the bedroll, stretching quietly.
He stood up and tidied up the bedroll, rolling it into a corner, and out
of the way.  Still in his boxers, Ken moved around the dojo with precise
even movements as he practiced a kata for control.  As he finished the
kata, he worked into other more elegant forms for practice.  I need a
proper wooden dummy, he thought to himself as he finished a kick in
midair, landed and swept a foot out to an imaginary opponent.  Ken
increased the speed and intensity of each movement, and gradually focused
spiritual energy to each of the punches and kicks he executed.  When he
finished a twisting double kick in midair, he paused and walked to a pile
of clothes by the bedroll and pulled out a towel.  After wiping his brow,
he moved to his sword.
	Again, Ken walked to the middle of the dojo, gave a small bow to
the shrine, and closed his eyes.  He began slowly twirling the katana in
its scabbard in slow deliberate movements.  As Ken sped up the tempo of
the motion of the spinning weapon, there was a low humming noise as the
small strap cut through the air in the dojo.  Keeping his eyes closed,
focusing on his breathing and the movement of the scabbard, he twirled it
around his arms, waist, shoulder.  It flowed fluidly around his body like
water, snapped into a stopped position and flowed in an opposite direction
in an instant.  As the tempo increased, Ken opened his eyes slowly,
staring at the shrine in front of him.  Suddenly, he drew the katana as
the scabbard spun from his left hip.  The scabbard twirled once to his
right hip where he stopped it and brought it to the floor with an easy
motion from his leg.  It ended up underneath his right foot.  
	Ken raised the sword to a ready position and made three fluid
strokes while backing from his original position.  After finishing the
three strokes, he twirled the sword to and improper grip, pointing the tip
downwards.  He paused, advanced and spun the sword fluidly as if blocking
repeated blows from an invisible counterpart.  Finally the sword stopped
in his right hand in a reversed grip.  He snapped it to attention behind
his arm pointing the live blade behind him.  He gave a stiff bow and
sighed.  As he lowered to a kneeling position, he gave a forceful flick of
the sword and held it out horizontal in front of him.  Ken took to
scabbard and fluidly sheathed the live blade.  He looked around the dojo,
noting wet spots on the floor and a lack of blood droplets.  A smile
worked its way across his face.  He hadn't seen blood from Long-tzu since
the incident with Shampoo.  
	"Nice moves.  Are you going to be coming to breakfast?"
	Ken spun around.  It was Nabiki, and she had her predatory grin on
her face again.  Ken swallowed and strode over to a pile of clothes.
	"Don't you ever knock?"
	"Whatever for?" Nabiki asked.
	"Don't you think I'd be a little apprehensive about having people
look at me when I'm half naked?" he shot at Nabiki as he forcefully yanked
on a pair of pants and a muscle shirt.
	"No.  I think you're proud of your body and you like showing it
off.  I know Ranma does."
	"Well, I'm not Ranma!"
	"I noticed.  Ranma's got bigger biceps." she said as she walked up
and tapped him on the chest.  "And Ranma's got a little less definition in
those pecs of his."
	"If you'll excuse me." he stammered.  Ken took to the house,
obviously flustered.
	Nabiki smiled broadly.
	"This guy's easier than Ranma." she said to herself with a
chuckle.
	By the time Ken had entered the house, Ranma and Akane were
leaving.  They waved good-byes and ran off to avoid being late.  Nabiki
followed behind after telling Ken that he should meet her in an hour or so
before lunch started.  Ken looked confused, but she passed him a note.  He
shrugged, took the note and ate breakfast.
	"Mr. Tendo, I have been meaning to ask about the dojo."
	Soun looked up from his paper with a wry smile.
	"It will be passed on to Ranma and Akane when they are married."
he replied.
	"Do you still take on students?"
	Sound looked surprised, then chuckled.
	"I'm afraid my days as a sensei are very few, if not gone
already."
	Genma shook his head.
	"Our days as instructors in the art are soon to be over.  That is,
of course, why Ranma and Akane are to be wed."
	Nodoka nodded silently in agreement.
	"Perhaps your days are not as numbered as they may seem.  I see
you train with Ranma every so often, and I'm sure that Mr. Tendo has
trained Akane to some degree." Ken said to Genma.  Nodoka looked
quizzically at Ken.
	"What are you implying?" she asked.
	"I would like to request the honor of learning some of the
Anything Goes style from either Soun or Genma, or both."
	Sound laughed.
	"I'm quite pleased to hear that you'd like to train, but as I said
before, my days as a sensei are now over.  It is now Ranma's turn to be a
sensei; as soon as he gets married, of course."
	Genma nodded in assent.
	"I'm afraid my son has gone beyond both myself and Tendo-kun.
Besides, I saw your skill at fighting already.  You are skilled enough to
beat Ranma already.  Why should you seek to learn more about the art?"
	Ken shook his head.
	"I don't know anything about the art.  I don't know self control
when I fight yet.  It comes with great difficulty, and I had hoped that
perhaps one of you could teach me self control, through the Anything Goes
style."
	Genma nodded his head as did Soun.  However, it was Nodoka that
spoke.
	"Perhaps all you need to learn is meditation.  I learned once, and
I'm sure I could show you if you'd like."
	Genma looked surprised.
	"No-chan, I thought your rock garden was only for relaxation."
	Nodoka shook her head.
	"Meditation and relaxation are ways to gain self control, dear
husband."
	Ken smiled.
	"I would like to take you up on that offer, Mrs. Saotome, but I
would like to check my new work schedule before I commit.  I wouldn't want
to cause any new inconveniences for you or the Tendos."
	Nodoka nodded.
	"I did not know you recently were hired." Soun stated.  "Where do
you work now?"
	"At Ucchan's.  She was kind enough to give me a job there.  It
pays well, and perhaps I can use the money to pay you back for your
troubles."
	Sound laughed again and waved his hand.
	"No need to do that.  It's fine that you stay with us.  We're
quite used to guests."
	Genma colored slightly, but Ken didn't notice.
	"Well then, I'll see if Kasumi needs help cleaning up.  Is there
anything I can do for you later this evening?"
	Sound shook his head, as did Genma.  Nodoka looked at Ken and
smiled.
	"No, we should be fine here.  Thank you for offering." she said
with a smile.
	Ken got up, waved and headed to the kitchen.

	"So what do you think?"
	"I can't believe it!  You have the greatest luck, Nabiki!"
	A young girl in a school uniform sat at her desk looking at a
snapshot with wide eyes and a smile.
	"Why do you always have the cute people staying with you.  First
that Ranma fellow, and now him." the girl said, pointing at the picture.
	"Well, if you buy a ticket for fifty yen, you can enter the raffle
for a date!" Nabiki replied with a smile.
	"What's he like?" the girl asked.
	"He's the sweetest guy, he's cute as you can see, he's strong, and
he's the very image of a gentleman." Nabiki counted on her fingers as she
spoke.  "He's a very clever boy, and he's easy to wrap around your finger
too.  Did I mention he beat Ranma in a fight?"
	Girls started crowding around Nabiki.
	"Who beat Ranma?"	
	"You're kidding!"
	"What beat Ranma in a fight?"
	"Was it fair?"
	Nabiki waved her hands.
	"Please!  Some space, please!  The teacher will be in here any
minute and I need some space to talk."  she said irritably.  People backed
away a step instantly.
	"Well, this fellow here is named Ken.  He beat Ranma, even though
he was seriously hurt and bleeding from every pore on his body." Nabiki
said with a smile.  A little white lie won't hurt anybody, she thought.
Many of the girls gasped.
	"I'd say this guy's one of the finest examples of the male
species, ladies.  He's absolutely beautiful.  I even got to run into him
in the bathroom." she said with a grin.  Several of the girls began waving
bills.
	"Do you have pictures?" one asked.
	"Moi?  Pictures?" Nabiki said in mock surprise.
	"A thousand yen for one!" someone cried.  Nabiki instantly pulled
out a photo.  It got snatched from her hands, but she didn't mind.  There
were copies of that to go around.  Some of the girls ooh'ed and aah'ed as
they passed the picture around.  Nabiki smiled.  People were tossing bills
at her for photos.  Nabiki supplied them with a big grin on her face.  
	"So who wants to buy raffle tickets for a date?" she asked.
	"Nabiki?  What's going on?"
	Nabiki whirled around.
	"Aren't you supposed to be in class Ukyou?"	 Nabiki asked.
	"I'm on my way there, but someone told me there's a raffle for a
date with a really cute guy."
	"What about Ranma?" Nabiki replied.
	"I thought it was Ranma." Ukyou said with a grin.
	"Too bad.  It's not." Nabiki said nonchalantly.
	"Oh well, then." Ukyou said over her shoulder.
	"It's not Ranma, but this guys looks just as good!" cried a girl
as she shoved a snapshot into Ukyou's hands.  Nabiki's eyes went wide and
she ducked into a seat.
	"It's Ken?" Ukyou asked incredulously.
	"Ukyou?  Class is starting!" Nabiki said urgently and pointed as a
bell rang.  Ukyou shot her a suspicious look and ran to her classroom.
Nabiki sighed.  Lunch wasn't going to turn out the way she planned.
	When the appointed time rolled around, Nabiki leaned out the
window looking out into the street.  Several girls were waiting and
watching with her.  All of them seemed intent on finding something.  All
of them seemed to ignore their own lunches in lieu of a bigger reward.
	"Is that him?" someone whispered to Nabiki.
	Nabiki turned her attention to the figure walking down the street.
Whoever it was, they were wearing the baggy Chinese style pants
characteristic of Ranma's wardrobe.  To compliment it, the person was
wearing a black muscle shirt to match the color of the pants.  A loose
white collared shirt was worn over it, and unbuttoned.  The open shirt
fluttered gently in the breeze behind the person.  She smiled.  Right on
time, and wearing the prescribed clothes no less.  Nabiki turned to the
girls gathered around her.  They looked at her with baited breath.  
	"That's him." She said with a grin and a wink.  "Perhaps he'll
come to meet us?"
	"Can you get him up here?" one asked.
	"Of course." Nabiki replied.  She turned to lean out the window
and waited for Ken to walk within earshot.  
	"Ken!  Up here!" she called out.
Ken stopped and looked up at Nabiki.  She was leaning out a window waving
her hands.  The trademark grin was on her face and a group of girls was
waiting around her.  He shook his head.  This wasn't what he was
expecting, but it was a lot better than what he thought would happen.
After all, she wasn't about to make him strip in front of her class, or
was she?
"Ken!  Come up here!" Nabiki shouted.
	Ken looked up.  Nabiki was motioning with her hands.  He looked at
where the class was, and tried to gauge where it would be with respect to
the entrance of the school.  As he made his way into the school, a small
crowd of girls ran into him.
	"Are you the new guy?" one asked.
	"Are you living with the Tendos?" asked another.
	"Are you single?" yet another asked.
	"Are you into fighting?" fired another.
	Ken frowned slightly and tried to make his way through the crowd
and up the stairs to where he thought Nabiki would be.  This was going to
be a completely new experience for him.  Ken shook his head.  It was going
to be a long day.

	Ranma looked up from his seat, where he was contentedly munching
his lunch.  Nabiki normally would be in his class right now, making
appointments for the next "photo session."  Since the arrival of Ken,
Nabiki seemed to be preoccupied with  making money from him.  Apparently
the novelty of his new friend had granted him a reprieve from Nabiki's
financial wrath.  Ranma smiled at the thought.  As he looked about the
classroom, he noticed some of the girls running out of the classroom and
down the hall.  He furrowed his brow.  
	"Ranma, what's going on?"
	Ranma turned to Akane, who had walked up to his desk.	
	"I dunno." he replied.  "Looks like just the girls are leaving."
Ranma looked over to his friend Hiroshi.
	"Hey, buddy.  What'd the fuss?"
	Hiroshi looked up from his lunch and then to the exiting crowd of
girls Ranma was waving at.
	"Didn't you know?  There's a new guy in town, and rumor has it
that Nabiki's selling tickets for a chance at a date with him.  I hear
he's a real stud.  I also heard that he beat you in a fight.  I'm guessing
it's just a rumor though." Hiroshi replied as he went back to his lunch.
	Ranma and Akane grimaced simultaneously.  Ranma noticed Ukyou
getting up to leave.
	"Hey, Ucchan!" he shouted.  Ukyou turned around with a questioning
look.
	"What are you rushing off to?" Ranma asked.
	"I have to get to work and rescue my new waiter!  Can you believe
Nabiki's selling him like a side of beef?" she said and dashed off after
the crowd of girls.
	"I knew I should have kept an eye out for Nabiki." Ranma said with
a sigh.
	Akane smiled and nodded her head.
	"I wonder how Ken's going to take this?" she said as she got up
from her seat.
	"We better go check on him to make sure he's okay.  Maybe Ukyou's
overreacting a little." Ranma said as he got up as well.

	Ken was confused.  First the photo session from Nabiki, and now a
crowd of girls waving pictures of him around.  Things were not developing
the way he would have liked them to.  Then there was Nabiki.  There she
stood in the middle of it all with a smile on her face and a big jar with
slips in it.  She was shaking it as a smaller group of girls doled out
blank slips in exchange for cash.  Ken felt like a piece of cheap
merchandise, as he sat dejectedly on a large table Nabiki had moved over.
	"Nabiki, why are you doing this?  If you want the money, I'll give
you the money tonight.  I really don't like going through this kind of-
of- treatment." he stammered.
	Nabiki looked at him with an incredulous look.
	"Didn't you read the contract you signed?"
	"No."
	"This was part of the contract.  Failure to cooperate will lead to
higher interest rates."
	"All I wanted were some clothes to wear.  Isn't there a charitable
bone in your body?"
	Nabiki paused and looked thoughtful.
	"Nope.  Would you rather I take all of your clothes back.  You can
go after that."
	Talk stopped and all eyes went from Ken to Nabiki rapidly.  Ken
felt his face color instantly.
	"No." he replied in a defeated voice.
	"All right girls, here's the guy I was talking about.  He's single
and ready for dating.  It'd be a shame if one of you decided to ignore
this very valuable opportunity." She shouted to the crowd in front of her.
	Ken noticed the scornful and spiteful looks he was getting from
the male population in the room.  He felt uncomfortable and very out of
place.  There definitely was a strong urge to make a dash for the window
and make a run for it, regardless of the fiscal repercussions.
	"Nabiki!  What do you think you're doing!"
	Ken turned at the familiar voice to see Ukyou storming the room
after a crowd of younger girls.
	"Ukyou!  Don't tell me you bought a ticket?!" Ken asked in a
shocked voice.  Ukyou shot him a fierce expression.
	"Nabiki, are you selling dates to my waiter?  As his employer, I'm
going to tell you that he won't have time for this moral outrage." She
said tightly.
	Nabiki smiled.
	"It's part of his contract."
	"How much does he owe you?" Ukyou asked.
	"Well, he borrowed ten thousand yen, but now he owes me close to
thirteen and a half."
	Ukyou reached into her pocket and slammed a wad of bills onto a
nearby desk.  Nabiki raised an eyebrow.
	"Here's fifteen." Ukyou said flatly.
	"I can't take it." Nabiki replied casually.  "I already sold
tickets to all of these nice young ladies here.  I can tell you they would
definitely like to play the lottery for a date with this guy."  Several
members of the crowd nodded their heads in assent.  Ken paled slightly.
	"Too bad.  Take the money and forget the raffle, or don't take the
money and forget the raffle.  Either way, he's coming with me."
	"A little protective of him, aren't we?" Nabiki asked with a
smirk.
	Ukyou blushed slightly.
	"He's my waiter.  I need him to work, or the restaurant gets
bogged down."
	"Are you dating him, Ukyou?" asked one of the girls.
	"No!  He's my waiter!  I need him to work!" Ukyou said
defensively.
	"I think you want him for yourself." replied another girl.
	"Isn't it enough that you chase after Ranma?" asked another.
	Ukyou looked flustered.  Ken could tell she didn't want to answer
the obviously baited question.  He looked around at the crowd of girls and
noticed that they had stopped filing into the room and that the door to
the classroom was wide open.  Conveniently, Ukyou was standing right
outside of the doorway.
	"Is that a fight outside?" he suddenly asked as he craned his neck
to look outside.  "Isn't that Ranma?" he continued.  The flock of girls
instantly ran to the window, as did Nabiki, still clutching the large jar.
Ukyou was about to run to the window when she saw Ken roll backwards, grab
the wad of yen notes and flip to the end of the table.  She let out a yelp
as he grabbed her and bolted out the door, kicking the doorstop as he
went.  The door slammed behind them.  Ken could hear a number of voices
running to the door shouting at them.  The one he could hear the most
distinctly was Nabiki's.  Fortunately, they were sprinting down the stairs
and out the door by the time he heard a door and a cascade of footsteps.
	"What do you think you're doing?!" Ukyou shouted as Ken dragged
her out the gates of the school and through alleys.  She could hear a
crowd of people behind them and they didn't sound very happy.
	"Are you as acrobatic as I think you are?"
	"What kind of question is that?" she demanded.
	"People as nicely built as you don't get that way by watching TV
all day."
	"What?!"
	"Are you acrobatic or not?" he asked over his shoulder again.
	"More than most." she shouted to him.
	"Then let's get to higher ground." he called over his shoulder.
	Ukyou was about to say something, but saw him jump onto a fence
and onto the nearby roof.  She followed as he jumped from rooftop to
rooftop.  Just like Ranma, she thought.  When she saw they were halfway
from the school to her restaurant, she stopped him.
	"Hey, they're gone.  They do have to get back to class you know."
She said.
	"Good.  I didn't know how far they'd chase us.  I just assumed
they would since they do have to get back to school.  Lucky you've got an
excuse." He said.
	They both paused as they waited for their breathing to calm down.
Ukyou shot him a grin.
	"Nice idea, but a little over the top, don't you think?"
	"You wanted to get out of there, didn't you?"
	"Well, yeah, but-"
	"Well, we're out." Ken said with a grin.  Ukyou smiled.  Ken had a
point.
	"Well, I think we can head over to the restaurant now."
	"I know, you don't pay me to dawdle." Ken said.
	"That's right, Sugar.  I don't." she said with a smirk.
	They both jumped down from the roof of the house they stood on.
Ken handed her the wad of cash, and they made their way to Ucchan's.
Ukyou looked over at Ken as they walked down the street.  He had a smile
as he looked around at the scene suburban scene around him.
	"What are you smiling about?" she asked.
	"I'm just thinking about what I just said to you.  From what Ranma
tells me, if I'd said something like that to Akane, I'd be pulverized
now."
	Ukyou's mind raced as she registered what Ken told her.  She
though back to the previous exchange.
	"People as nicely built as you", he'd said.  She didn't notice at
the time, but now that she thought about it, Ranma was right.  She
blushed.  Ken looked over to her and quickly apologized.
	"I'm really sorry if I've offended you.  It was completely
uncalled for."
	Ukyou smiled sheepishly.
	"It's alright, Ken.  I'm actually quite flattered."
	Ken looked relieved and went back to looking around at the scenery
again.  He let out a small laugh.
	"Something on your mind again?" Ukyou asked.  
	"I'm just imagining what Nabiki's going to say to me when I get
back." he said.  "I don't think it'll be safe for me to live with the
Tendos after the stunt I just pulled.  Nabiki's going to start charging me
a serious room and board fee, I'll bet."
	Ukyou laughed.
	"I don't think that'll be too big an issue, Ken.  Are you staying
as a guest now?"
	"Yeah.  I feel pretty guilty about staying there and not paying
them for all their trouble."
	"Where are you staying?"
	"In the dojo.  I think it's a notable inconvenience for them."
	Ukyou's mind raced.
	"I've got a spare room if you need one."
	Ken looked surprised.
	"It's the room Konatsu was using before he decided to leave." she
explained.
	"How much are you charging?"
	Ukyou colored slightly.
	"Well, since you're working for me, I can give you the same deal I
gave Konatsu.  Free room and board, but I don't pay you much as a salary
for work."
	Ken grinned.
	"That's a great deal.  I'd have to be fairly stupid to pass that
one up."
	"Really?" Ukyou asked.
	"Certainly.  Most guys I know would think I was an idiot if I
passed up the chance to live with a beautiful lady like yourself."
	Ukyou felt her face color and she looked away quickly to calm
herself down.
	"Well, hands off then, Sugar.  I'm already taken." She said with a
grin as she turned back to him.
	"I know.  You're engaged to Ranma." he replied.  Ukyou thought she
saw a sad expression in his eyes, but pushed it from her mind.
	When they reached the restaurant, a small line was forming at the
door.  Ukyou apologized and quickly opened the restaurant.  With Ken's
help, they quickly got things under way and helped serve the people
pouring in for lunch.  The entire time, Ukyou thought she noticed a
slightly sad expression on Ken's face as he waited on people and brought
supplies for her at the counter.  She ignored it.  Must have had a rough
night, she decided.
	When the lunch rush had finished, Ken went in back to start on the
dishes.  Ukyou followed behind him.
	"What's on your mind?" she asked.
	"Nothing.  Just thinking about finding a place to stay so I'm not
freeloading off the Tendos.  That and trying to figure out how to pay them
back."
	Liar, she said in her head.  "I see." came out of her mouth.
Years of talking to Ranma had given her a good feel for people's emotions.
"So what are you going to do about it?"
	"Well, you did offer the spare room you have.  It's the best, well
the only, offer I have so far.  Since I'm working here at the restaurant,
I guess it makes sense that I take it."
	Ukyou felt slightly giddy.  She couldn't quite place the feeling
or why.  As quickly as it came, Ukyou pushed it away.
	"So are you going to move everything out tonight?"
	"Well, I guess I should.  It's pretty abrupt, for you and the
Tendos; but I think it would be a better arrangement than being a
freeloader.  I think three days of being a guest there is enough."
	Ukyou nodded.
	"So what about Nabiki?" she asked with a grin.  She heard Ken give
a low chuckle.
	"If she gets the raw deal, then that's her problem, not mine.  At
least she won't have any direct way of squeezing money from me."
	"Are you going to pay back the loan then?"
	"Of course.  Just not immediately.  I don't have the money yet.
On the other hand, I will have a talk with her about this raffled date
thing."
	Ukyou smiled and walked back to clean the grill.
	"Good idea.  If you need help moving stuff tonight, just let me
know." She called over her shoulder.
	Ken sighed.  Out of the frying pan and into the fire, he thought.

	As dinner time rolled around, Ken thought he saw more and more
recognizable people coming in.  Most were girls from Furinkan High School.
The others were the boys that were giving him the evil eye.  He walked
around and took orders and waited on people as usual, trying to ignore
them as best he could.  It was fairly disturbing having a great deal of
the girls looking at him with starry eyes, and the male population staring
at him with fire in their eyes.  He looked around and walked over to the
grill with the stack of orders from the various tables.  Ukyou looked up
from the number of okonomiyaki she was cooking.
	"Lots more?"
	"No, not really.  Most were interested in a few glasses of
something to drink.  A few wanted the okonomiyaki."
	Ukyou laughed.
	"It's not really helping that you're dressed in that muscle shirt,
like Ranma."
	"Yeah, I guess so." Ken replied sheepishly.
	He set down the stack of orders, splaying out the okonomiyaki
orders and then walking around to pour drinks for people.  After filling a
tray with glasses water, juice and soda, Ken walked about the tables,
giving people their ordered drinks.  He gave an occasionally "you're
welcome" and a smile whenever anyone said thank you.  Not many of the men
in the room did.  Quite a few of the women there did.
	He walked up to the counter as Ukyou threw out more of the batter
and finished up the few okonomiyaki she had started earlier.  Ken took the
finished okonomiyaki and dished them to the people who had ordered them.
When he returned, he walked around behind the grill and leaned on the part
of the counter that wasn't part of the grill.
	"Ukyou, may I ask you a question?"
	"Sure thing." she replied as she threw toppings on some of the
okonomiyaki.
	"Well, you've told me your life's story more or less, but you
never really talked about Ranma."
	"What do you mean?" she said as she turned to look at him.
	"Well, you're engaged to him, right?"
	"Yes.  I've been engaged to him the longest of anyone that claims
to be his fiance."
	"What's it like?"
	Ukyou laughed.
	"What do you mean?" she asked.
	"You love him a lot, don't you?"
	"Of course."
	"Well, how did you know?"
	"I didn't have to know, it just something that was." she replied.
	"So why aren't you already married to him?"	
	"Because he's also engaged to Akane, and he beat Shampoo in a fair
fight.  Hey, now that you mentioned it, didn't you beat her in a fair
fight?"
	"Shampoo?  Yes, I beat her in a fair fight, but I don't think that
qualifies me as her future husband.  Didn't Ranma beat her first?"
	Ukyou nodded.
	"Yup.  Shampoo lost to Ranma first.  In both of his forms, too."
	"  I guess that makes him the one for Shampoo.  Besides, I've
never been engaged before.  I really don't think I ever will."
	"Well this is my first time." Ukyou said with a laugh.
	"I mean, voluntarily.  I've never asked anyone to marry me."
	Ukyou raised an eyebrow.
	"Where is this leading?" she asked with a chuckle.
	"Nowhere I guess.  I just think it's odd being engaged without it
being very voluntary.  You got engaged because your father said so.
Doesn't that make you feel odd?"
	"No.  I love Ranma.  That's all that really matters.  If you love
someone enough, then nothing should really matter too much.  Haven't you
ever felt that way?"
	Ken sighed and shook his head.
	"No."
	"Well, I'm sure you'll find someone, someday."
	Ken looked at her skeptically.
	"I'm not the type of guy people would fall in love with."
	Ukyou pointed to the young ladies in at the tables staring at him.
	"What about them?"
	"If they knew about me, do you think they'd feel the same way?
That I killed people with my bare hands?  That I used to like it?  That
I'm completely dishonored as a member of society?"
	Ukyou deftly flipped the okonomiyaki and bore a serious look at
Ken.
	"First, " she said, "you were trained to kill, and that was that.
It happened a long time ago and it's over now.  You're a very different
person now.  As for being a dishonored person of society, that doesn't
apply here.  Nobody knows, or really cares for that matter."
	"All that matters is love and friendship." Ken muttered blandly.
	"It's just like I told you before, Sugar."
	Ken sighed.
	"I wish it were that simple."
	Ukyou clucked her tongue.
	"C'mon.  You must have been in love with someone before.  Wasn't
there a special lady that you just felt comfortable around, that you felt
like everything was right when you were with her?"
	Ken gave Ukyou an arched look.
	"Was there a girl you could tell anything," she continued, "and it
didn't really matter to her?  There must have been one."
	Ken shook his head.
"Not one that you were absolutely attached to?  Nobody you were willing to
give your life for?"
"There was once, but I'd rather not talk about it.  It wasn't a very
pleasant experience." Ken said with a pained expression on his face.
	"Used you and left, Sugar?"
	Ken nodded sadly.
	"Did you love her?"
	"I don't know what love is." Ken said flatly.  "It's not like you
and Ranma.  I know you love him a great deal.  I'm sure he knows that too.
I'm even willing to bet that he loves you too.  I never had that kind of
feeling.  I thought I cared about someone, more than I cared about myself.
Then I find out I was just a toy she was playing with.  I was a fool." he
said quietly.
	"For love, at least." Ukyou corrected.
	"Was it truly loving someone?  I acted blindly and I will forever
live to regret it.  Sometimes I think it's something I never want again."
	"Love?  Then what about friends?"
	"That's different."
	"Really, how different?" she asked.
	"I don't know."
	"I think I know how it's different."
	"How?"
	Ukyou smiled.
	"You have to find that one out for yourself, Sugar."  She flipped
several okonomiyaki onto some plates and pushed them aside.  "Two specials
and three regulars.  Better serve them up before they get cold."
	Ken smiled appreciatively at Ukyou for the distraction.  She
smiled back.  There was definitely something sad in his eyes.  Ukyou
wished she could make it go away for him.  It hurt seeing him in pain.
She thought she could almost feel the hole in his heart.  But that's for
him to fix, she thought.  She didn't think she'd chide herself later for
thinking so.

	"Ken-chan!  You took off before I could sell those tickets."
	Ken turned around from wiping up a table.  Several of the male
customers had left, but many of the female patrons had remained.  All were
of the high school persuasion.  Ken didn't feel uncomfortable anymore.
Now he felt like a hunted animal; and now with Nabiki finding him, there
wasn't going to be an end to the feeling.
	"I had to go to work." he said quietly.
	"Remember the contract.  As long as you can't pay off the debt,
you have to go through with this." she said with a predatory smile.
	"Fine.  Get it over with.  Just remember that this is the last
time this sort of thing happens.  After this so-called date finishes, your
fun stops."
	"Is something wrong?"	
	"Yes.  This arrangement.  I wasn't aware of this part of the
contract."
	"You didn't read it that well, I guess."
	"I didn't think I was going to be exploited like this." he said
flatly.
	"It's part of the deal."
	"Yes, and I will honor it so far as to get it finished and over
with.  After that, it stops.  I will not be used like some cheap piece of
merchandise.  Don't you have any respect for the people that ask for
favors?"
	"If they have to ask, then I should get something out of it as
well."
	"What happened to charity?" Ken asked as he moved to a new table.
	"I don't give freebies." Nabiki replied flatly.
	"I see." Ken replied monotonously.  "Then get this over with.  I'm
getting tired of this farce."
	Nabiki smiled and shook the jar she brought in.  The crowd of
girls instantly gathered around her.  Ken shook his head and sighed.  He
looked over to Ukyou, but she only shrugged.  It was frustrating for him,
and he didn't know what to do.
	"Well, it looks like we have a winner!" Nabiki called as she
pulled a slip from the jar.  Ukyou looked up from the grill and Ken looked
up from wiping down a table.  All the girls looking up at Nabiki held
their collective breath.
	"The lucky girl is-" Nabiki paused for dramatic effect as she
surveyed the sea of eager eyes in front of her.  "Akane?!"
	Ken spun around to look at Nabiki.  Ukyou looked at Nabiki with a
shocked face.  Nabiki looked out towards the door at an extremely angry
Akane and Ranma in the doorway.
	"Nabiki!  How could you?" Akane asked sternly as she walked over
to her sister.  Nabiki noticed she had a photograph in her right hand.
Nabiki colored slightly and smiled nervously.  "I didn't think you could
stoop this low!  I can't believe you'd take this kind of photo."  Akane
turned to Ken with an apologetic look on her face.  "I'm really sorry,
Ken.  I didn't know she'd do something like this."
	Ken strode over to Akane, taking the photo from her hand.  He
looked at the photo, and the to Nabiki with a look of complete contempt.
One of the girls snatched the photo from Ken hands before he could
protest.  It got passed around, although each of the girls that had it was
reluctant to give it up.
	"N-N-Nabiki-" Ken stammered.  Ranma could tell Ken was fuming; so
angry that he was choking on his own rage.  Akane could see Ken's right
hand slowly curl into a ball as it twitched and convulsed.
	"How could you do this?" Ken hissed.  "Were you planning on adding
it you a personal collection, or were you going to sell copies of this to
more women?"
	Nabiki looked crestfallen.
	"I think this excuse for a dating service has just ended." Ken
whispered fiercely.  He turned to go back and wash the dishes when he felt
a hand settle on his right shoulder.  He quickly turned and swatted it
away with his right hand.  It was one of the girls that had bought a
raffle.  She looked rather shocked.  Ken could care less.
	"Don't touch me!" he snapped.  "I am not some cheap toy to be
played with!" he roared.  Ranma thought he saw a familiar violent glow
begin in Ken's eyes.  He quickly strode over to where Ken was and started
pushing him towards the back of the restaurant.  He needed to get Ken away
from Nabiki.  Akane and Ukyou simply glared at Nabiki who cast the evil
eye at Akane and slipped out the door.
	"I'll give everyone's money back tomorrow." she spat over her
shoulder.
	Ukyou looked about the restaurant.  People looked shocked.  The
girl who had reached out to Ken was quietly crying.  Ken may have
overreacted, but Ukyou felt it was somewhat justified.  Akane walked over
to Ukyou.
	"I'm sorry about this.  I guess I should have thought before I
stormed over, but it made me so angry that Nabiki would do this."
	"What was that a picture of?"
	"Well, it was a rather embarrassing picture of Ken in his, um,
birthday suit." Akane said quietly.
	Ukyou colored slightly and laughed nervously.
	"You have to be kidding."
	Akane looked over to the group of girls, walked over and snatched
the picture away from a starry eyed girl she recognized from another
class.  She walked back to Ukyou and tossed the picture on the counter.
Ukyou looked at it and blushed.
	"Guess that gives a new meaning to candid camera."

	Ranma was looking at Ken with complete sympathy.  It was as if he
was looking at how he felt the first time this had happened.  Granted, it
wasn't pictures of him nude, but it was still degrading.  He wondered how
he had become so accustomed to the treatment.
	"I can't believe it!  What kind of twisted sick mind would do
that?!" Ken spat.
	"Well, I'd say it's just Nabiki, but I'm even surprised by it."
	"I need to kill something.  I need to get this out of my system."
	"Whoa, hey!  Take it easy!"
	"Take it easy!  How can I take it easy after that?!" Ken yelled.
	"Look, it ain't something new to me, ya know!  I've had to go
through that for a long time now!  Longer than I want to remember.  You
aren't the only one she's used like that."
	"Pictures of you naked?"
	"Well, nothing that bad, but I've had a lot of pictures of me,
both ways.  Don't tell me you're the one suffering from all of this."
	Ken exhaled slowly and closed his eyes.  He could feel the rage
building up and hitting a critical level.  If he lost it, there was the
risk of the Ethereals taking over.  He needed control.
	"Ken?  Are you going to be okay?" he heard Akane ask.
	Ken opened his eyes to see Ukyou and Akane entering the back room.
	"If you need to take the rest of the day off, that's fine.  I can
take of the rest of the day." Ukyou offered.
	Ken rubbed his temples and tried to clear his mind.
	"I think I'll be fine.  I just want to get away from Nabiki right
now.  Maybe I'll take an hour to move my stuff from the dojo.  Ranma and
Akane looked shocked.
	"You're leaving?" Ranma asked.
	"I gave him Konatsu's old room." Ukyou replied.
	"Aren't you working a little fast?" Akane asked Ken jokingly.  He
appreciated the chance to lighten the mood.
	"Hey!  I'm still Ran-chan's cute fiance, if you haven't
forgotten!" Ukyou shot at Akane.
	"Wait a minute you two.  I've had enough for one day.  Let's just
get my things and forget about why who's going where.  I just want to feel
as distanced from Nabiki as possible." Ken said.  Akane glared at Ukyou,
then grabbed Ranma's hand and dragged him out the door.
	"You really didn't need to say that, Ukyou." Ken noted.
	Ukyou raised an eyebrow.
	"You jealous?" she teased.
	"No.  Of course not." he stammered.  Ukyou laughed as she went
back out to the grill.  Maybe I am, he thought to himself as he watched
her go.  He couldn't explain the sudden loss he felt any other way.
	When the three of them reached the dojo, there wasn't any sign of
Nabiki; but the instant Ranma and Ken disappeared into the dojo, Akane
felt a hand roughly drag her through the house and into the kitchen.
	"How could you do that?!" Nabiki hissed.
	Akane glared at her sister.
	"I didn't want to see you use Ken like you've been using Ranma.  I
also want you to know that I don't like the way you're using Ranma,
either." Akane shot back.
	"And just where did you get that picture?" Nabiki asked
suspiciously.
	"I got it from your room."
	"And who said you could go in there?  How would you like it if I
went through your things?" Nabiki asked icily.
	"I went in your room because Ranma went in there.  He was really
upset that you'd treat Ken like some piece of meat, according to him.
When he found the picture he got really upset.  I got really upset when I
saw the picture.  How could you do something like that?" Akane asked
incredulously.
	Nabiki looked to the ground, at a loss for words.
	"You were going to sell them, weren't you?"
	"No." Nabiki replied sullenly.
	Akane was surprised.
	"No?  Why not?"
	Nabiki blushed fiercely, and mumbled a reply.
	"I can't hear you Nabiki." Akane said.
	"I said I was going to keep it."
	Akane looked at her sister in disbelief.
	"You were going to keep it?  For what?  Wait, I don't want to
know." Akane said as she started to walk away.
	"Akane, you've always got boys chasing after you.  You don't know
what it's like." Nabiki whispered.
	"You like him, don't you?" Akane asked.
	Nabiki nodded her head.
	"You're not getting anywhere by doing this.  I don't think using
him to make money is going to get you on his good side either, Nabiki."
	"It's what I do best." Nabiki replied coldly.
	"Yes, it is." Akane said as she walked away.  
Nabiki watched her go and thought she felt a tear run down her cheek.  She
absentmindedly wiped her cheek and walked over to the doors to the yard.
Nabiki cautiously peeked outside to see Ken and Ranma talking in good
humor and laughing as they walked out of the dojo.  Ken had two bags in
his hands.  It looked like he was moving some things from the dojo.
Suddenly Ken turned to look straight at her.  Nabiki stood frozen as his
eyes went from warm and cheerful to completely cold.
	"Let's get the hell out of here, Ranma." He spat, and turned to
take a running jump over the wall around the yard.  Ranma looked over to
Nabiki with a frown before following. 



*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

Member of SAUCE (it's what should* go on the okonomiyaki)
Civilian Advisor to the Warehouse, Chemical Superfreak
	Free Consultation on a Referral Basis
Member of USSRTFW:SR

TSAIE@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html