This story is probably the conclusion to this series.
There are MATURE themes in this story, you are advised.
You can get previous chapters and other stories at my site.
It's at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Ginza/4537

Disclaimer:  All characters portrayed in this story are the property of
Rumiko Takahashi and co.

This story takes place after volume 38 of the manga.  It draws ideas
from both the anime and the manga.

C & C welcomed.  Flames not.

What has gone on before:

	Yuka followed Ranma after school.  She had a hard time trying to catch
up to him.  He then when into an alleyway.  She followed him in, only to
stare at him face to face.

	"Oh, it's only you.  I thought that it was Ryoga or someone following
me."

	"That's right, it's only me."  Yuka nervously scratched the back of her
head.

	"Why were you following me?"

	Yuka looked at Ranma embarrassingly.  Better get this over with. 
"Iwantedtoaskyououtonadate."

	"What!?"

	"I wanted to ask..."

	"I heard you the first time."  It was Ranma's turn to look nervous. 
For all his bravado, Ranma was very insecure when it came to any type of
intimacy.  He groaned inwardly as he looked a Yuka.  Why hadn't he
noticed her infatuation before?  She looked at him with the same eyes
Shampoo and Ukyo looked at him with.  For the first time in his life,
Ranma decided to take a stand.  He couldn't afford to drag another girl
through his messed up life, especially someone that didn't know couldn't
defend herself against the others.  "No, Yuka.  I won't go out on a date
with you.  I think you should go ask someone else.  I don't have the
same feelings for you."

	Yuka stared blankly at Ranma as her world came crashing down.  "I... I
understand.  It was just a foolish crush.  That's all it was.  Can you
do me a favor Ranma?"

	Ranma nodded.  He would agree to anything.  He just couldn't hurt her
again.

	Yuka immediately latched on to Ranma with her lips.  She poured her
entire heart and soul in to the kiss.  All her dreams where she kissed
Ranma paled in comparison by far.  A tear fell down her eye as she
finally let go of Ranma.  Her soul felt cleansed at finally getting her
feelings out.  She could still feel her love for him in her heart.  It
would be a long time before she could ever forget him.  "I guess I was
right the first time.  You could never be my boyfriend."  Yuka turned
and left Ranma.  "I love you Ranma."  She whispered softly to herself.

	Ranma stared after her.  He put a hand to his lips.  "Maybe..."

			* * * * *

Ordinary: Part 3

By

Donny Cheng

	"Wait!"  Ranma ran and caught up the fleeing girl.

	Yuka hurriedly wiped away the tears from her eyes.  She would just die
if Ranma saw them after she humiliated herself in front of him.  "What,
Ranma?  I thought you made it quite clear you didn't feel that way about
me."

	Ranma winced at the sadness in the girl's voice.  "Hey, just because we
can't have that kind of relationship, it doesn't mean we can't be
friends.  I mean, you're friends with Akane and we see each other in
school all the time.  It'd be weird to start avoiding each other now."

	Yuka sighed.  She had wanted to make it a clean break after confessing
to Ranma and being rejected.  But now, looking at the sincerity of his
deep blue eyes.  Eyes that seemed to draw her into his very soul.

	"Um... Yuka.  You still there?  So, how about it."  Ranma twitched
nervously.  Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all.  For some
reason, his mind could only think of that silly kiss and how good it
felt.

	Yuka mentally kicked herself.  Denied less than a minute ago and here
she was mooning after the boy again.  "I guess that would be okay.  It
was silly of me.  Just a silly girl with a silly crush.  Hehehe."  Yuka
forced herself to chuckle as if the whole incident was some kind of
nonsensical joke.

	"Hehehe."  Ranma didn't really feel like laughing, but it seemed to
lighten Yuka's mood a bit.  "Friends?"

	Yuka cursed herself even as she began nodding her head.  Why couldn't
he be that jerk Akane always made him out to be?  Life would be so much
easier if he was.

			* * * * *

One year later...

	Ranma tried his best to not let the boredom show on his face.  This
sucked.  Akane and his other classmates wouldn't take no for an answer,
so he was dragged to Sayuri's graduation party.  It would have been much
better if Sayuri hadn't first warned him about ruining the party by
eating all the food she was serving.  So, he was forced to sit about
while everybody milled around gossiping.

	"Ranma, cheer up.  You're not still angry we asked you not to show off
your martial arts are you?  Look, the other guys have a hard enough time
trying to get dates without you attracting all the girls.  Besides,
you're making Daisuke and I look bad.  Girls won't come near us with you
having a face like that.  Have some punch, you'll feel better."  Hiroshi
gave Daisuke a sly wink as he handed Ranma a glass of their 'special'
punch.  Ranma would make a good test to see how strong the punch was now
after they had added liberal amounts of alcohol to it.

	Daisuke gave Hiroshi a thumbs up.  He poured all of the stuff they
smuggled in to the drink.  It was about time, Hiroshi decided to let
Ranma have the first taste of their concoction.  Ranma's glowering was
not good their image.  Why the heck Ranma was bored, Daisuke would never
understand.  They were graduating and would be seniors next year.  That
meant one very important thing.  Freshman girls.

			* * * * *

	"I'm going to kill them.  I know it has to be Hiroshi and Daisuke. 
They think just because their friends with Ranma, they can get away with
a lot more," Sayuri growled as she did her best to hold Yuka up.

	"They're not that stupid.  They know what a bad drinker Ranma is from
that play we had in grade 10.  Ranma would be angry if he drank any of
that stuff.  He humiliated himself pretty badly that day," Akane told
Sayuri.  She tried propping Yuka up to her feet, but the girl just
couldn't stand up.

	"Lucky, we dumped the rest of that punch after Yuka took a drink.  She
can't hold her liquor at all.  One glass and she was out as a light. 
Almost as bad as Ranma.  Where is he, by the way?  He didn't skip out on
us, did he?  He's the only reason some of the girls are here..."

	"WHAT!?"  Akane stared at Sayuri.

	"Oh, come on, Akane.  You know he wouldn't give them the time of day. 
I did it only to get more people to come.  With the girls here, the boys
naturally came too.  Now, the girls hardly even notice if Ranma is here
or not," Sayuri quickly mollified Akane.  Sheesh, her friend had such a
temper sometimes.

	Akane calmed down a bit at hearing that.  True, Ranma ignored everyone
at the party.  You'd think she had sentenced him to death.  Why couldn't
he have fun like a normal person.  You didn't have to fight or eat to
have fun.  "He probably left already.  I wouldn't put it past him to
sneak out after eating the food you allowed him to eat."

	"Yeah, probably.  But, what should we do about Yuka?"

	"Let her sleep it off.  Her parents will be angry if we bring her home
in this state.  Phone them and let them know she's staying the night."

	"Okay.  My bedroom is just down that hall.  She can sleep there while
we go back to the party."

			* * * * *

	"...Ranma would be angry if he drank any of that stuff.  He humiliated
himself pretty badly..."

	Hiroshi and Daisuke bigsweated at Akane's words as they helped Ranma
out of the washroom.  Hiroshi looked at Daisuke.  His friend was scared
too.  He turned his attention to the unconscious Ranma.  He hadn't
really thought about what Ranma would do.  They stepped back inside the
bath room and silently closed the door again.  Only when he was sure
Akane and Sayuri passed by did he open it again.

	"What are we going to do?  I remember that play.  Anytime I mention it
to Ranma he goes all moody on me.  Akane will be angry if she finds out
and that means Ranma will be too," Daisuke whispered nervously.

	"They don't have evidence that we did it.  Let's just go back to the
party and act like nothing happened.  We'll tell Ranma when he wakes up
that we don't know who did it.  For now let just put him in one of these
rooms to sleep it off."

	"Yeah, great idea.  Who knows, Ranma might even be grateful for keeping
him out of trouble."

			* * * * *

	"It's dark in here.  Flip open the light switch," Hiroshi instructed
Daisuke as he dragged Ranma inside.

	"Damn.  It looks like it's blown a fuse."

	"Don't worry.  I think I can make out where the bed is.  Let's just
drop him off and leave."

	"You sure it will be okay?"

	"Sure.  What trouble can he get to all by himself in this room.  We'll
pick him up when the party is over."

			* * * * *

	Yuka groaned.  Her head was on fire.  She couldn't really tell what her
surroundings were.  Everything was dark.  She fumbled around her and
felt the shape of a lamp to her side.  After a little searching she
found the switch.  A pale glow emitted into the room from the
translucent hood of the lamp.  What she saw made her groan again.  Not
this dream again!

	Ranma slept beside her.  His face seemed flush.  His hair was matted
with sweat.  A cute drop of drool slid down the side of his mouth.  All
in all, he was a beautiful sight to behold.

Yuka briefly fought with the idea of ignoring him and dreaming something
else.  She looked at him again and gave in promptly to the power of her
hormones.  Just one more of these dreams about Ranma wouldn't hurt. 
That was the last thing she thought as she bent down and kissed him.

			* * * * *

	Ranma was barely aware of the presence of another person's tongue in
his mouth.  He looked with half-lidded eyes at the girl above him.  It
was Yuka.  This dumb dream again.  Why couldn't he get over that little
kiss she gave him.  He would not be pulled in again.  He willed himself
to push the girl away.  Unfortunately this meant his hands came in
contact with said girls front.  Her very plushy front.  Ranma gave up
and went with the flow.  If Kasumi asks, he'll just say Nabiki poured
water over him again.

			* * * * *

	"Hiroshi, the party's over.  Everyone's left.  Don't you think you
should be going to?" Sayuri asked Hiroshi as she started to clean up the
house a bit.  Her parents were very strict on this.  They only let her
have a party while they were away if no liquor was involved and that she
cleaned up after her friends.

	"Um... Yeah, let me just grab something from one of the rooms.  I left
some things there."

	"Hey, wait!  You can't go in that one.  Yuka is sleeping in there."
Akane called.  She stayed with Sayuri to help clean up.

	"YUKA!  She... she's sleeping in there?  RANMA!"  Daisuke pointed
wildly at the door in front him, afraid to look inside.

	"WHAT!?  What is Ranma doing in there?"  Akane stopped what she was
doing at glared at Daisuke.

	"We didn't tell you, but Ranma drank some of the punch and was dead
drunk."

	Suddenly strangely afraid, Sayuri tried to find her voice.  "Yuka was
drunk also, when we put her in there.  You don't think that something
happened do you?"

	"What can two drunk people do?" Hiroshi wondered aloud.

	All four classmates raced to the door.

			* * * * *

	Yuka and Ranma each frantically held onto their portion of the
blanket.  Yuka couldn't look into her classmates shock filled eyes.  It
was a wonder at how fast the human body could sober up when given the
right incentive.  "What happened?  The last thing I remembered was the
party and now I'm in bed with Ranma?"

	Hiroshi and Daisuke looked at each other and nodded.  They weren't bad
boys despite how they acted sometimes and knew when to admit fault. 
Hiroshi sunk to his knees and Daisuke soon followed suit.  "We're so
sorry!  It's all our fault.  We spiked the drink and then gave Ranma the
first sip.  We didn't know that this would happen!  We're sorry!"

	"I knew it was you two."  The words escaped from Sayuri's mouth before
she even knew it.  Now was not the time to say 'I told you so'.

	Akane was not even listening to this exchange.  The only thing her mind
could think of was Ranma and Yuka sleeping in the same bed.  She could
not even summon the anger for the two, knowing that they were only
victims of circumstance.  This was how it would end between them?  It
seemed too unreal considering all she and he had been through.

	Ranma, having finally gotten dressed, just stood there with his back
turned as Yuka frantically changed into her clothes under the sheets. 
He felt helpless as he could not think of what he should do at the
moment.  He was ashamed as the thought of beating Hiroshi and Daisuke to
a pulp crossed his mind.  They wouldn't even be able to defend
themselves.  He risked a glance at Akane and saw her walk to the bed and
hold a crying Yuka to her.

	Yuka couldn't understand why the tears came.  She willed herself to
control the feelings, but they just overwhelmed her.  She found the
words easy to say as she Akane held her.  "I'm sorry, Akane.  I didn't
know.  I... I'm..."

	Akane rocked Yuka gently and crooned softly to calm the hysterical
girl.  Even at a time like this, her friend was only thinking of her. 
"Everything will be all right.  You'll see.  Don't worry."

	Sayuri caught Akane's glance and quickly understood.  She ushered
Ranma, Hiroshi, and Daisuke out of the room.  She whispered harshly to
them, "Don't any of you dare tell a soul what happened tonight,
understand?"

	The three boys nodded dumbly at each other and each later walked home
cursing all the way.

			* * * * *

	Akane didn't even have to see Ranma to know that he was tense with
worry.  She softly padded her way to his spot on the roof.  "She stopped
crying, Ranma."  She sadly smiled as Ranma let out a breath he probably
didn't even know he had been holding.  So like him to care so much about
hurting someone inadvertently.

	"She's okay then?  I... I will take full responsibility for what I did,
Akane."  Ranma cast a meaningful look at Akane.

	Even though, Akane knew what Ranma would say the moment she finally
talked with him, it still came as a shock to hear it.  Why was she so
sad at the thought of losing him?  She berated herself for feeling this
way and told him what Yuka had said to her.  "She doesn't want you to
take responsibility, Ranma.  She has always wanted to marry for love and
not even this will change her feelings on that."

	Love.  Once, he had thought Yuka felt that way to him.  Unlike his
other suitors, Yuka accepted his rejection from the beginning.  They met
each other every day, being in the same class.  Never did they do
anything other than occasionally talk and share projects when Akane got
mad at him.  Has it really been a year since Yuka kissed him?

	Akane didn't know how to take Ranma's silence.  Say something,
anything.  She couldn't stand the tension in the air.

	"I won't force her to do what she doesn't want too.  Strange, isn't
it?  Shampoo, Ukyo, and Kodachi have been trying to get me to marry them
forever and now there's a girl that I'm willing to marry and she doesn't
even want me."

	What about me?  Akane wanted ask him, but she didn't.  The look in his
eyes as he talked to her told her that her name was on his mind.  "I'm
sure everything will work out.  Let's just forget all about this and
think of it as a bad dream."

	"A bad dream," Ranma agreed.  He just wished that he could awaken from
it.

			* * * * *

Five weeks later...

	Yuka looked at the small little rod in her trembling hands.  It was
positive.  She turned to look at her two friends.  Her composure must of
told them of the result better than words could ever have.

	"You're pregnant."  It was a statement not a question.  The words
burned themselves into Akane's mind.  She already knew what Ranma's
response to this news would be.  Despite his oftentimes less than honest
ways of battle, Ranma did have honor.  Funny how she could know certain
facts about a person she claimed that she could care less of over the
last two years.  He was going to be a father and she didn't have
anything to do with it.

	Yuka could see the distress on her friend's face.  She immediately knew
what she had to do.  Truthfully she would not have minded if Ranma asked
for her hand in marriage, but she knew that Ranma did not feel the same
way about her.  She remembered how Akane was there for her after that
fateful night.  Walking over, she put a hand on Akane's shoulder and
looked at her in the eyes.  "Akane, I already told you.  I'm only going
to marry for love.  This baby won't change a thing."

	Akane felt her cheeks flush with shame as soon as the waves of relief
flooded through her.  How could she be thinking about herself, when her
friend was going through a forms of hell?  Ranma won't be happy about
that.  Akane sobered at that thought.  She could already feel the
torment he would feel at this new blow he had indirectly caused to Yuka.

	"The baby?  You're thinking of keeping it and not getting married with
the father?  What about your dad?"  Sayuri stared at Yuka in shock. 
Yuka's parents were very strict and traditional.  There was no telling
what was going to happen.

	"Can... can you come with me when I tell them.  I don't think I can
handle it."

	Akane and Sayuri both agreed earnestly.  They both noted the fear which
was very evident in Yuka's voice.

				* * * * *

	Akane stood protectively in front of Yuka while Sayuri held the poor
girl's hand.  "It's her choice!  If she doesn't want to marry the guy,
you have no right to push her."

	Yuka's father and mother matched the teenaged girl glare for glare.  He
clenched his hands into fists.  "What will my neighbors and family say? 
She has already brought much dishonor on our family with this baby. 
She's barely even of age!  The only way we can salvage what's left of
our honor is if she marries the damned boy.  You're telling me that the
boy will do it, but she won't?  Well, I won't accept it."

	Yuka's agreed with him.  "She is our daughter and she will do what we
tell her to.  She will marry the punk as soon as possible."

	Ranma is not a punk, Yuka thought to herself.  This thought gave her
the mettle she needed to find her courage.  "I said that I won't marry
him and I meant it."

	Yuka's father released the fist he had been holding.  He turned his
back on the girl and whispered through his clenched teeth, "Then, I have
no daughter.  Get out of this house."  His wife seemed to falter for a
moment before she too followed his example and turned her back.

	Akane staggered as she heard the words.  Suddenly, unsure of herself
she glanced at Yuka questioningly.

	Yuka didn't say anything.  Grabbing onto Sayuri's arm for support, she
turned and walked towards the door.  Akane ran and caught up and helped
support her other arm.  Together the three friends left her home for
sixteen years.

			* * * * *

	Nodoka sighed as she searched for another pillow and blanket for their
new guest.  At first she had been both shocked and pleased to find her
son had done his manly duty and provided an heir to the Saotome family. 
Then she learned that the girl was not Akane and that she did not want
to marry her son.  Ranma it seemed only just learned the news at the
same time as she did.  Of course, her manly son immediately accepted
full responsibility, but alas it was not to be.  She knew enough of her
son's thoughts to know that this did not sit well with him as any
honorable man would feel.  "I found them Akane.  You can tell Kasumi
that I'll put them in your room."

	Akane barely even noticed that Auntie had spoken, so engrossed was she
in her thoughts.  The guilty feeling she had before did not leave her. 
She was at the same time sad for all that happened to Yuka and happy
that her friend did not want Ranma.  Her mind refused to let go of the
hope that he was not lost to her.  "Okay, Auntie.  I'll go tell her."

	Nodoka felt sadness most of all for Akane.  She knew that the did truly
care for her son, but what would happened to their relationship with
this development?

			* * * * *

	Cologne took alternating glances between her great-granddaughter and
that fool of a man, Mousse.  Upon delivering ramen to the Tendos,
Shampoo learned the ugly truth of what happened between Ranma and a girl
that attended his school.  Cologne had thought she had all the time in
the world to win Ranma to their side.  She was wrong.

	Mousse could barely contain his glee as he happily went about doing his
chores.  There was no way, Ranma and Shampoo could marry now.  Oh, happy
day!

	Shampoo didn't even have the strength to smack Mousse for his
chortling.  She felt so very drained.  She desperately tried to hang on
to the hope that Ranma was not lost to her.  She found her grasp on it
slipping and surely but slowly she would fall.  The girl that had begot
Ranma's child was not some girl that she could just beat up and be done
with it.  Yuka did not even want her airen and did not have an ounce of
the art to retaliate.  She was no competition for Ranma's affections,
yet the look on her husband's face told her all she needed to know. 
Ranma felt himself obligated to the girl and she knew how stubborn he
could be.  Ranma was lost to her.

			* * * * *

	Konatsu shook his head and turned another customer away as he closed up
shop.  There would be no business today.  Probably not for awhile if
what he heard was true.  Poor Ukyo-sama.

	Ukyo just watched stonily as another person was turned away by
Konatsu.  She didn't not stop him as she knew that she was just not in
the mood to create one of her okonomiakis.  She was likely to cry if she
saw one.  They reminded her too much of Ranma.  Despite Yuka's
protestations of marriage to Ranma, she could not see it any future
Ranma marrying her now.

			* * * * *

	Yuka once longed seeing the kindness in Ranma's eyes.  Now, she hated
it.  Pity.  Ranma only wanted to marry her out of pity and because it
was the right thing to do.  She didn't want that.  "I said no, Ranma."

	Ranma was ready to tear his hair out with the frustration he was
feeling.  Yuka was clearly hurting.  She just lost her parents and her
reputation was doomed to fall into ruin.  Marrying her might soften the
blow and the girl wouldn't take it.  "Marrying me won't be that bad,
will it.  I thought you liked me before."

	"I may have once, Ranma, but, things change.  I still think of you as a
friend, but nothing more.  You and Akane belong with each other and I
hope to marry a guy that will love just as much one of these days." 
Yuka hoped that the lies were not apparent on her face.

	Ranma sagged with defeat.  As he had said, he could not force the girl
to do what she did not want.  Her very presence threatened his sanity. 
All through his life it had been a constant battle to follow path of the
Anything Goes art and his own personal beliefs in honor.  His honor had
been tried in every battle fought and every one he found new ways to
bend his honor further and further to win them.  But, this battle was
one that not only could not be won but also snapped his honor totally.

	Akane.  The thought of her brought a pain to him.  The guilt he felt
crushed any thought of marrying her.  He didn't know when he had made
his decision, but he would not marry anyone unless it was Yuka.  The
thought of being happy with another woman while she lived out her life
in misery did not sit well with him at all.  Resigned to his fate, he
went and looked for Nabiki.

			* * * * *

	Nabiki looked at her ledger.  Ranma now owed her in excess of a million
yen.  The loan was to be given to an account in Yuka's name.  In two
months, he agreed to pay it off.  He has made his bed and now he would
lie on it, she thought to herself.

	It came as little surprise to her that Ranma had decided to leave. 
There were few in this world that could live in the same house with
living embodiment of their failure.  Failure to live up to their own
standards.  Yuka and the baby was this to Ranma.  More mouths to feed
and bodies to clothe made it an easy decision for him.  Without him
there, even with addition of Yuka, would mean a slight decrease in the
strain to the Tendo's coffers.

	Nabiki was a little surprised at Shampoo and Ukyo staying on in
Nerima.  It seems love was a strong enough force to have them stay with
the hope that Ranma would be back to marry them.  She knew that both
girls would eventually wise up and leave when their senses cleared.  She
hoped that Akane would feel the same in time.

			* * * * *

Two years later...

	<Knock>  <Knock>

	"Coming!"  Yuka stood up and stretched a bit before going to answer the
door.  Sitting down all day working on the accounts made her butt feel
sore.  Probably a new student coming for registration, seeing as how
classes won't be starting for another two hours.  The two sensei's were
currently out with Auntie putting up ads for the Tendo dojo.  Opening
the door, Yuka nearly fainted.  It was Ranma.

	Ranma appeared to be also surprised at seeing Yuka.  "Um... Hi.  Can I
come in?"

	"Er... of course.  Please, come in."  Yuka had no idea in the world at
what to say to the wayward martial artist.

	"Hmm... Nobody seems to be home.  Where's the Uncle, my parents, and
the girls."  Ranma made sure not to mention Akane's name.  It was
strange how the only face he seemed to want to see was hers.

	Yuka ignored the feeling of jealousy that crept into her.  It's been a
year and she still couldn't get him out of her mind.  She knew the
person that Ranma really wanted to see.  "The parents are out putting
ads for martial arts registration.  Oh, you don't know about that. 
Yeah, Auntie finally got tired of having a dojo and nobody putting it to
good use.  She got Uncle Soun and Uncle Genma to teach again.  They
split the teaching duties and they're actually pretty good.  Nabiki and
Akane are at college registering for the next year.  Kasumi is with
them.  With Auntie here, she could afford to spend some time on
herself."

	"Oh."  Ranma was somewhat disappointed with the news, but even as he
stood here he still didn't know what he would say to his former
fianc�e.  "How about you?  Why aren't you off at college?"

	"I'm taking night classes so I can look after the baby during the day. 
Auntie was kind enough to hire me on as a secretary to Uncle and your
father.  I didn't want to live here as a burden to them."

	Ranma blanched at the mention of the baby.  He berated himself.  This
was one of the reasons he had visited in the first place.  "Has
everything quieted down since I left?"

	Yuka winced inwardly as she remembered the havoc created by Ranma's
departure.  There was no need to tell him about the near destruction of
Nerima.  "Pretty much.  Shampoo and Ukyo left a few months after you
did.  I heard that your friend Ryoga married a girl named Akari.  Kuno
and Kodachi are attending the same college as Akane, probably to annoy
her."

	"That's good."  Ranma meant it.  Everyone finally got back on track
with their lives before he came and messed them up.  His ego, however,
deflated somewhat at hearing everyone getting along without him.  "So,
is she here?  The baby, I mean.  Can, I see her?"

	Yuka smiled at the thought of little Sayuri-chan.  "I can't see why
not.  Her name is Sayuri.  We've turned Nabiki's room into a nursery
while she was away at college.  You know where that is.  Nabiki is
staying in Kasumi's room while she's home for end of the semester."

	Ranma nodded and started up the stairs.  "Thanks, I will only be a
moment."

	"By the way, thank-you for visiting Sayuri before."  Yuka giggled as
she saw Ranma stumble.  He gave himself away when he mentioned 'she'. 
However, she couldn't think of when Ranma could have visited
Sayuri-chan.

			* * * * *

	Ranma gently picked up the gurgling bundle.  She looked quite different
when he visited her in the hospital over a year ago.  A little more hair
grew on her head.  Her face lost some of that purplish color and now
settled into a blotchy red one.  "You're still ugly."

	Sayuri as if understanding made a face at him.

	"Why couldn't you have inherited some of your parents genes?  Instead,
I think you got most of them from pops."

There was no heat at all in his words.  They were just that.  Words. 
Sayuri only knew that a person that loved her was carrying her.  She
giggled and tried grasping at the wagging pigtail when Ranma held her
close to him.

	"Ow.  Tough grip for a little baby.  You're going to be a great martial
artist someday, just like your old man is."  After that, Ranma said no
more, content to just hold Sayuri.

			* * * * *

	Nodoka peeked into the bedroom.  Her son was still there holding
Sayuri-chan.  She thought of interrupting and telling him that it's been
three hours already, but decided against it.  She could always talk with
her son later.  She had noted that Ranma kept his pack near the door.  A
sign meaning that he would not be staying long.  It was tough for a man
like her son to assert his manliness at times.  If only Yuka would give
in to marriage already.

	The girl obviously did like her son.  This talk of marrying the man
that she chose was all for Akane's benefit.  Nodoka was not blind and
could see how Yuka reacted every time Ranma's name was mentioned.  She
had already give up on the idea of Ranma marrying one of the Tendo
daughters.  She just wish that Yuka would too.  That girl cared too much
about hurting Akane.

			* * * * *

	Ranma left the room finally and found Yuka downstairs.  "They're not
back yet, huh?  I guess, I can see Nabiki some other time."

	"Oh, okay."

	"I really should get going," Ranma said but didn't move.  Man, he was
homesick.  The prospect of leaving again so soon didn't appeal to him
very much.

	Yuka searched her mind for what to say.  He was leaving again so soon
after he came back.  "I just made some tea.  Did you want a drink before
you leave?"

	Ranma was relieved at having some excuse to stay a little while
longer.  "Okay, you can help me catch up on what's happened since I
left."

	"Sure.  Well first, Ryoga came looking for you after a little more
training in the mountains.  Then Akari..."  The two of them talked until
dinner had gone and went.

			* * * * *

	Nabiki plopped down on the futon, tired.  Kasumi and Akane were still
in the furo soaking.  She had forced herself to leave the comforts of
the bath early.  She did not want to get used to it, as pleasures like
that were few and far between at college.

	Something was stabbing into her back and making her very
uncomfortable.  She reached around her to see what was giving her the
problem and found an envelope.  In the envelope was money.  It had to
have been Ranma.  Also there was a letter.

	Scanning it, Nabiki let out a grimace.  Ranma was still not willing to
come back home.  He would be sending money frequently and asked for it
to be given to the baby.  He was committed to his choice and would stick
with it.  His honor demanded that he marry Yuka and if he could not, he
would not marry anyone.

			* * * * *

Five years later...

	"Daddy!"

	Ranma pretended to fall over as the little toddler crashed into him. 
"Oof!  Wow, you're getting heavy.  You're not getting fat are you?"

	Sayuri giggled and shook her head.  "No, daddy."

	"You're still ugly.  I can't understand why my good looks haven't
rubbed off on you yet."

	Sayuri giggled some more.  This was an old game between her and her
dad.  Mommy told her that he liked to insult the ones that he loved all
the time.  The meant that he must love her a lot.  She didn't understand
her mom's reasoning, but she understood the softness in her dad's voice
as he talked to her.  When he said ugly, he used the same tone Grandma
used when she said beautiful.

	"Happy birthday, Sayuri-chan!"

	"Silly.  Birthday, tomorrow."

	"Hehehe, I knew that.  Just testing you.  So, how are you're lessons
coming along?"  Ranma smiled as he knew that his daughter was doing very
well.  That tackle has some force underneath it.  He had to give credit
to his father.  Pops was a very good instructor.  Much better than
himself.  He tried teaching Sayuri before, but was never really good. 
He tended to coddle her too much and got impatient when she didn't do
everything correctly.  He can't understand why she took so long to learn
stuff.  He learned everything within an a few hours of seeing it.

	"Really, really good!  You promise to take me out for ice cream if I do
good."

	"Yeah, I did.  Let me talk with Mommy first, okay?"

	Sayuri nodded and went back to playing with her toys.

			* * * * *

	"It's nothing, Ranma."  Yuka meekly avoided Ranma's gaze.  "They were
only after money and I got only a scratch."

	"Only a scratch, she says.  If you were hurt, Sayuri-chan be without a
mother right now."  Ranma was livid.  He had heard about the thief that
had robbed Yuka from his mother.  "I don't understand why you don't go
back and live at the dojo?"

	"I told you already.  I've taken advantage of them for too long.  Now
that I've graduated and have a new job, I can afford to take care of
Sayuri, myself.  That doesn't mean that I won't let her see her
grandparents, though."

	Ranma knew that stubborn look on Yuka's face.  God knows how many times
he saw it himself when he looked in the mirror.  "Fine, have it your
way.  I'm going to take Sayuri out for ice cream after she's had
dinner.  You want to tag along?"

	Yuka was stunned.  Ranma usually liked to be alone when he worked on
his father, daughter relationship.  The attack on her must have scared
him more than he let on.  She was secretly pleased to know this.  "Sure,
just let me get changed."

	"Oh, and do you have an extra room, I can stay in.  I'll pay for room
and board.  It'll only be for a few days until I leave again.  It's just
that Pops is nagging to me about Akane again.  I can't see why, now that
she's seeing Shinnosuke."  Knowing that he had his chance and blew it
did nothing to ease the bitterness in his heart from feeling jilted.

	How sweet.  He must really be worried.  Yuka angrily pushed that
thought out of her mind.  The images that flooded her mind tended to
blind her.  There was nothing between her and Ranma and probably never
will be.

			* * * * *

	Ranma turned the cold water on full blast and let it wash over him, now
her.  She needed that.  Her mind flitted back to the day's events.

	It had all been going fine when they went out for ice cream.  Sayuri
walked between the both of them and held onto both their hands.  They
were almost like a family.  He shared his ice cream with Sayuri and she
shared hers with him.  Sayuri also shared with her mother.  Ranma had
been so happy he didn't even notice offering Yuka some of his and her
doing the same.  The next thing he knew he was staring into Yuka's eyes
and she into his as they both took a lick.

	Her hands reflexively twisted the cold water tap another turn. 
Definitely needed that.  Right after the birthday party, she would
leave.  She thought again of Yuka's robbery.  Two days after the party.

			* * * * *

Four years later...

	Ranma gave one final saddened look as he tucked Sayuri-chan into bed. 
The girl had taken to calling him father.  He missed the more informal
and intimate 'daddy'.  This was what he got for only visiting once a
year.

	Yuka put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder as they walked back to the
living room.  "She just hasn't seen you in awhile.  She's grown into a
fine young girl.  I think your mother has influenced her a lot on what
it takes to be lady like.  Sayuri looks up to Auntie very much."  Yuka
knew the reason for this was the fact that Auntie gave Sayuri the family
katana.  That single action meant more to Sayuri than anything else. 
She didn't want to spoil it by revealing that she knew about this
'secret' between grandparent and granddaughter.

	"Yeah, I guess."  Ranma took a seat on a sofa and motioned Yuka to do
the same.  His mind wasn't really on Sayuri at the moment.  Jeez, why
couldn't Yuka where something else.  The robe she was wearing was held
precariously from opening by the single thin belt.  This is her
apartment, she could where anything she liked.

	Yuka felt self conscious as a draft of air wafted into her robe as she
sat down much too quickly.  She thought she tied her robe a little
tighter than that.  She fought the urge to quickly cover her bosom.  She
wasn't a child anymore and she and Ranma were just platonic friends. 
Friends that just happened to have a child together.

	"So, what happened to you and that guy?" Ranma suddenly asked darkly. 
Where did that come from?  It wasn't his business on who she was seeing.

	"Who?"

	"That guy you were with the last time I came here."

	"Keiichi?  Oh, he and his girlfriend got married awhile back."

	"Oh."  Why did he feel happy all of a sudden?

	Yuka nearly couldn't believe her ears at the line of questioning.  Was
Ranma jealous?  It couldn't be.  But some part of her wished it were
so.  "No, I'm probably going to die an old maid."

	"Don't say that.  You're a wonderful woman.  Any man that doesn't see
that is blind.  I'm surprised your haven't found someone yet.  Why
haven't you married some person yet."

	"Because, I love someone already," Yuka muttered under her breath.

	"Who?"  Ranma managed to hear the soft words from Yuka's mouth.

	"If you don't know, I won't tell you."  Yuka felt the old wounds well
up in her again.  Unbiddingly, the tears came.

	Ranma didn't know how to answer that.  He could still see the flash of
feeling he saw all those years ago.  His heart ached to see her crying. 
"I... I told you that I would marry you."

	"After you knocked me up?  That was obligation, not love.  I don't want
your pity."

	"It may have been pity then, but now..."  Ranma didn't finish as the
full meaning of what his words were about struck him.

	Yuka stared.  He did have some feelings for her.  An idea came to her
just then.  "Do you remember that request I made of you?  I figured out
over the years that I was cheated."

	"What!?"  Ranma was indignant.  Shampoo didn't seem to mind kissing
him.

	"I should have asked for two kisses.  I want my other one now."  Yuka
was emboldened with idea that Ranma might have been jealous and actually
care for her in a least a small way.  With that as her shield she
lurched into his arms.  Her robe became undone in the process.

	Ranma froze as his arms became encircled around this wonderful naked
woman in his arms.  He felt her tongue slip into his mouth.  Her breath
was hot against his.  He cursed as he felt his body responding.  From
the way she was hanging on him, pushing her off might be dangerous. 
Unfortunately, He lost valuable time to recollect himself as Yuka hands
started roam about his body.  By that time, it was too late to do
anything.

	Yuka yelped with surprise as Ranma suddenly lifted her off her feet. 
She was half afraid of being rejected once again.  She was shocked to
discover that she was not being dumped on her butt.  Rather, Ranma was
carrying her and responding to her ministrations in kind.  So elated was
she, she didn't even notice herself on her bed until Ranma lied on top
of her.  She didn't bother thinking much after that.

			* * * * *

	Ranma eyed Yuka's form appreciatively as she slipped out of the covers
and into her robe.  His admiration lasted only a moment as he remembered
that he would be leaving tonight.  That cleared his head quite well.

	"I'll get breakfast.  You should have good meal before you leave," Yuka
said to Ranma.  She hoped the tears would hold back until she left the
room.

	"Yuka... I..."  Ranma struggled to find the appropriate words.

	"Don't.  You don't need to explain.  I knew what I was getting myself
into with falling in love with a man such as you.  I won't be the one
that ties you down.  I know that is what would hurt you very much. 
Let's just act as if nothing happened, okay?"

	Ranma could hear the pleading tone of Yuka's voice.  She was putting up
a brave front for him.  "I won't act as if nothing happened.  Something
did happen.  And it was special to me.  I'll be back again, you can
count on that."

	Yuka's emotions were like a roller coaster ride.  Ranma's words washed
away her tears of sorrow with tears of joy.  Feeling impish, she replied
in a way that showed traces of her youth.  "Maybe when you come back, I
can teach you a few tricks to do with your other form."

	Ranma smiled at Yuka's recovery.  Maybe he would visit after six months
this time.

			* * * * *

Eleven years later...

	Yuka smiled as she noticed Ranma standing outside her apartment. 
"Sayuri, can you put the groceries away.  That's a good girl"

	Ranma nodded to his daughter as she passed by him.  "Sorry, I couldn't
make it to your graduation."

	"I know you're busy, Father.  Just knowing that you were thinking of me
is enough."  Sayuri bowed to her father and proceeded to open the door
and bring the bags inside.

	"My, she's grown up into a fine young woman."

	"That she has, Ranma.  Your influence did help.  Don't look at me that
way.  You know as well as I do, she looks up to you.  It doesn't matter
if you were only there for only moments at a time."

	"If you say so."  Ranma shrugged his shoulders.

	"I say so.  Now, what brings you here so early?  Her birthday isn't
until next month," Yuka asked as she walked past Ranma into the
apartment.  However, she didn't get very far as Ranma hugged her from
behind.

	Ranma brought his lips close to her neck.  He kissed along it until he
reached her neck.  Then with all seriousness, he asked, "Will you run
away with me?"

	Yuka whirled around and faced Ranma.  Her eyes already filling with
tears.  "YES!"

	Ranma found himself searching for his breath as Yuka gave him a glomp
that was as strong as any that Shampoo ever gave him.  Just as quickly
she left his arms and ran to her room.

	Yuka opened her closed and grabbed the back pack she had bought a few
years earlier.  Just like Ranma to wait until their daughter actually
grew up into a fully mature woman before he asked her the question she
had been waiting for what seemed like all her life.  She grabbed a few
pairs of choice clothing and some money she kept in her pillow before
rushing out to Ranma.  The way she was moving, you'd think she feared he
would be gone.

	Sayuri stood in the middle of the room watching her parents, unsure of
what to say.  She had come from the kitchen to find her mom in a flurry
of action.

	Yuka stepped towards her daughter of twenty-one years.  "Sayuri, you
take care of yourself now.  I'm going to be going on a little trip with
your father."

	The full implication of her mom's statement hit Sayuri.  She pulled her
mom into a fierce hug.  "Mom, he asked you.  He finally asked you."

	Ranma was next to face his daughter as soon as she let go of Yuka.  She
didn't say it out loud, but he could see the words thank-you being
mouthed.  She knew that he waited until she was fully capable of taking
care of herself before he asked Yuka.  He felt embarrassed at the
admiration in his daughter's eyes.  He shuffled towards Sayuri and gave
her a gentle hug much like the one he gave her when she was a little
baby.  "Like your mom said.  Take care of yourself."

	Yuka gave Sayuri one last look before she took Ranma's arm and walked
with him out the door.  A whole new life lay before them.

			* * * * *

The End. (maybe)