All Over
A Ranma 1/2 Shortfic
by Lawrence Chu
A Product of My Imagination

Based on characters created by Takahashi Rumiko
All rights reserved.  Used without permission.  Don't sue, I have no money.

***

Open up my head and let me out.
               --David Matthews

***

The wedding, take two, went well, and Akane and I got along that much better
after our first night alone.  That was two weeks ago.

Akane-chan was feeling better than ever.  Her cooking is improving rapidly,
too, and at this time she had stepped out the door fifteen minutes ago to
pick up some new groceries.  She told me not to expect her to be back for
another two hours or so.

I didn't expect anybody to come around our apartment while I was studying.

There was a knock at the door, though.

I opened the door to find Ukyou, a tissue in her hand, eyes red, from crying,
I suppose.  She didn't go to the wedding; I guess she felt guilty about what
happened at the first one.

"I...just wanted to give you...my best wishes," she stammered, before blowing
her nose into the tissue.

"You don't look like it," I commented, handing her another one.  "I think I
know how hard this is on you, but it had to be done.  I'm sorry."

"No.  I'm sorry," she replied.  "I'm the one who got in the way of everything,
Ranchan.  I'm the one who stopped your first wedding.  I'm the one who tried
to keep you apart.  It's me who's at fault.  I came over to...to...
                                                                   apologize."

This caught me off guard.  "Why?"

"I told you, I'm sorry.  Please accept this..." Ukyou handed me one last
okonomiyaki, with an apology written on it, "...as my request for forgivance."

I rested my hand on her shoulder.  "You're forgiven."

She looked into my eyes.  I looked into hers.  "I would've made a great wife
for you, Ranchan."

"I know."

"We could've had children together.  Helped each other with business.  I'd
have made okonomiyaki for you every day, and love with you every night.  We
could've been so happy!...

                          ...but that's all over now."  Her face showed
something, an old age quality to it, reminiscing of old times past, times
which didn't happen, times which she wished did.  "Everything's over."

The last words came out as a whimper.

I held her in my arms.  She softly cried into my chest.  "I'm sorry it had to
be this way, Ucchan."

She stayed like that for another minute.  Then she looked up at me.  I was
afraid she was going to lose herself in me, her eyes were so searching.  "I...
I have two more things to ask you, Ranchan.  Then I'll go."

I nodded, ever so faintly.

"The first thing...please...kiss me.  Just once."

I looked at her, startled.  Then I settled down a bit, thinking a bit about
it myself.  One kiss wouldn't hurt, would it?  She looked so desparate, so
compassionate.  So...unlike Ucchan.

It was then, at that moment, that I realized how much Ukyou meant to me. Not
a lover, but a friend.  More than a friend.  A soul mate, maybe, or a deep
companion.

One kiss would definitely not hurt.

I nodded, ever so faintly.

Then she and I looked at each other.  This time I was worried that I'd lose
myself in her, her eyes were so deep.  And then I closed mine and leaned in.

It was a warm sensation.  Gentle, not like Akane's kisses, but equally as
passionate.  Maybe even more so.  It could have gone on forever.

After fifteen seconds, she pulled out.  I looked at her, and I thought I saw
the faintest trace of a smile on her face.  "That's one, Ranchan," Ucchan
whispered.

I forced myself away from her eyes.  It was too unbearable.

"The second thing...please..."  She paused, and then closed her eyes.

"                            ...tell me it's over...


                                                    tell me it's all over.

                     Please, Ranchan, I need you to say it...
                                                             say it's over..."

I held her, perhaps for the last time, and tears formed in my eyes.  "It's
over, Ucchan.  You and me, it's over."

I stood there, holding her.  For the first time in my life, I realized what
I must have meant to her.  I knew she loved me...

                                                 ...but to hear her ask me to
say that it's over was the only thing that told me how much she loved me.  I
never knew before.  Kami-sama, was I that dense?  Only two years ago?

We stood there for about five minutes, bodies in arms, gentle embrace.  For
Ukyou, there wasn't anything else in the world.  For me, she was...she was...
she...

No words in any language I knew could describe Ukyou-chan at that moment.

We finally let go of each other, and Ucchan was smiling.  "Thanks, Ranchan.
I needed that."

"Anytime, Ucchan."

"Friends?"

I nodded, ever so faintly.

"Friends."

Ukyou smiled, then looked at her watch and gasped. "Oh!  I have to go meet
someone in a few minutes."

"Who?"  I hated admitting it, but I felt a little jealous.

"Just a friend, silly."  Ucchan patted my cheek a couple of times.  "From
back in my middle school days.  Imagine the surprise he's going to get from
his best bud Ukyou, ne?"  She grinned like a cat ready to devour a mouse.

"Yeah..."

"Well, I'd best be off now," Ukyou said in a light voice.  "Thank you for
everything you've done for me."

"Anytime, Ucchan."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

And the door closed.

***

Endnotes:

Mike Loader's right.  Writing does help lay a lot of demons to rest.

This has been a Product of My Imagination
chu_bear@hotmail.com