Parental Problems

RNRPG: Parental Problems Started by: Ukyou Kuonji

The rain drizzled down onto the station where the large man stood as the doors closed on the train he had arrived with and it began pulling out of the station. It was evening, and the sky was dark with clouds. Osamu Kuonji, father of Ukyou Kuonji, was a large man. A large man with a full black beard, the tight leggings of a true okonomiyaki chef, a okonomiyaki chefs jacket and to top it off, a headband too keep his hair from falling into his eyes all the time. And of course, a large spatula strapped onto his back. Osamu stood there in the rain, wondering if this was the right thing to do. After all, he hadn't seen his daughter in ten years time. And then she wasn't even his daughter, but his son. All because of that cursed Genma Saotome and his son.

He didn't know what to do. On one hand, his rigid family honor demanded that the Kuonji family should get revenge or compensation of some sort, and before they did, he would not speak nor see his daughter again. But on the other hand, he hadn't seen his daughter for ten years. Ten long years, during which his only contact with Ukyou had been the letters she sent every month to him. None of them had he replied to. Not a single one, out of fear of breaking his honor. And the letters never stopped coming. Of course, he had read them all, hoping that one of them contained the happy news. But the news never came. Osamu looked at the sign that spelled out the name of the station he was standing at. Nerima Station. Perhaps it was time to put honor aside for once and see Ukyou again. Uncertain Osamu started walking out of the station, stopping only to ask directions to a restaurant called Ucchan's from a policeman who patrolled the wet streets.

* * * *

The sounds of the intensifying rain was heard from the roof. The restaurant closed for the day, Ukyou had retired to the upper floor while shooing Konatsu off over the street to chat with Perfume. The profits from Ucchan's was still not big enough to warrant the purchase of a television set (maybe Ukyou paid Konatsu too much in salary?), not that the owner needed one. There was never anything good on anyhow, and the radio and papers gave her all the information she needed to get by.

And the owner in question, Ukyou Kuonji, was currently upstairs snuggling close to certain Ryouga Hibiki, who was reading aloud from a book. It was an English textbook from school. She thought she might need to get some practice before the big tests, and who was a better person to study with than Ryouga? After all, he knew some English due to his travels. Plus, he was so darn cute.

The two was sitting on a couch close to each other. It had been three weeks since their first date and they had got over that phase where they froze up every time they touched each other and stuttered their sentences to each others. In private, that is. In public they still were the same bumbling couple as they had been in the beginning. Both of them was easily embarrassed it seemed. While Ryouga struggled with the word "Annunciation Day" Ukyou snuggled under his arm, it ending up wrapped around her shoulder while she encircled his torso with her own arms.

"Ryochan," she cooed as she looked up into this eyes. "I got the last sentence right, didn't I? So don't I deserve some kind of reward? I mean, how am I to learn anything without positive encouragement?"

Deep down she really wanted to kiss him right now, after sitting so close to him for two hours straight. She just hoped he was in the same mood as she was.

* * * *

Akiko Hibiki looked around. Nerima had changed much since she had last been here... Or maybe this _Wasn't_ Nerima. Growling to herself in an annoyed fashion she looked around again, brushing the long black hair out of her eyes she examined her surroundings. There was a large building, a school, a short distance away along with a series of other buildings. Not that this helped her much. Still walking she looked around again and almost did a double take. 'Does that man over there have a spatula on his back?!' she thought moments before walking into a large post of some sort. With another annoyed growl she cocked one fist back and punched, slamming her fist straight through the post in a display of Hibiki family strength. "Stupid post."

* * * *

Ryouga looked at Ukyou with a slight smirk. "Well, I guess you deserve something for doing so well." he said as he placed the book safely out of the way.

Ukyou smiled as she snuggled closer to Ryouga and moved her face closer to Ryouga.

Ryouga smiled as he felt Ukyou snuggle up to him. Since their first 'date' they had been seeing each other at more-or-less every possible opportunity. Strangely enough Ryouga's direction sense had seemingly gotten slightly better in that he hadn't been away for more that a few days at a time rather than a few weeks like normal.

'Well' stated his mind 'better not disappoint her should we?' In response Ryouga leaned towards Ukyou.

Ukyou drew herself closer until she was within kissing distance. And she closed the distance even more, kissing Ryouga full on the lips. Enjoying the sensation, like always, she moved her hands to the back of Ryouga's head, moving her finger gently through his hair.

Ryouga wrapped his arms protectively around Ukyou like he always did, still slightly afraid that something would try and take her away from him.

Ukyou kept kissing Ryouga, feeling at peace with the world. Breaking the kiss, she opened her eyes again to look at Ryouga again. "You know something Ryochan?" she asked softly. "I love you."

"I know, I love you too Ucchan"

Ukyou raised an eyebrow and smiled a little smile. "Then where's my kiss?"

"Right here Ucchan." Ryouga stated as he leaned in a for a second kiss.

Ukyou let herself be kissed, encircling Ryouga in her arms and deepening the kiss. She began leaning a little to the side for some reason.

Ryouga also leaned to the side, unconsciously following Ukyou's lead as he continued to kiss her.

Ukyou continued the kiss, leaning a little more to the side with the result that the two kissers fell down on the coach, still kissing Ryouga.

Still kissing Ryouga reflected that nothing on earth could ruin this moment now. Oblivious to the world around them the two never noticed the ominous crack of thunder outside...

* * * *

Akiko blushed in embarrassment as the man with the spatula and the policeman gave shocked looks at her feat of strength. "ahem... Do either of you know the way to... uhh..." She fumbled with a bit of paper for a few seconds. "... Ucchan's okonomiyaki? "

Osamu looked at the woman. "Uhh, yes, I am going there myself as a matter of fact. Are you going there? If so, would you mind if we go there together? After all, this is Tokyo, and I have heard that things get pretty violent around here."

"Well, my son's a brilliant martial artist so I guess he's okay. And if anything tries to attack me they'll regret it." Akiko pointed over to the post she had demolished. "by the way, My names Akiko Hibiki, may I ask yours?"

Osamu nodded approvingly at the post. "I am Osamu Kuonji, pleased to meet you." It was apparent to most people that he was from the Kyoto region.

"Kong... I'm sure I've heard that name somewhere... hmmm... nevermind, must have been my imagination." Akiko tried to remember where she had heard the name Kounji before... from her son maybe? A friend of his possibly? "Say, you wouldn't have a child living here would you?"

Osamu scratched his beard. "Uhh, well... I am not sure, to be honest. I hope so. Shall we go?"

"Aheh... well... I kinda get lost easily so could you lead? I haven't seen my son in a while and I don't want to miss this chance to see him. I was told I could meet him at 'Ucchans Okonomiyaki'"

"Ucchan's Okono... b-but that's my daughters restau- follow me!" And with those words Osamu set out to find his daughters restaurant, wondering who the heck this son was. "Just who is your son?"

"Wha?" Akiko dashed after the quickly moving Osamu. "My son? Ryouga, Ryouga Hibiki... Wait... You wouldn't happen to be the father of the Okonomiyaki chef I heard lives around here would you?!"

Osamu stared back at Akiko. "What? How did you know- Yes I am! If she's a girl now that is! Nevermind, just what is going on here?" he yelled as he kept running.

"I don't know, all I know is that my husband told me that my son was on a date with someone a few weeks ago, since then he's been writing a lot about this chef-girl! ... You don't think..." Akiko yelled back as Ucchans came into view. "There it is!"

His head filled with thoughts of his daughter in peril, Osamu slammed the door open and looked inside. Empty. Maybe upstairs?

Akiko quickly followed Osamu up a set of stairs complaining all the while of 'illegal entering of property'. After a few moments the two stood staring at the one door in the building that they hadn't checked yet. the fact that they could hear something on the other side clued them in o the fact that there must be someone on the other side.

****

Still kissing Ryouga, Ukyou thought she heard a noise from downstairs. Maybe a customer who hadn't read the sign? Ah, to heck with it, she was enjoying herself here with Ryouga right now.

Ryouga also heard something, he decided to ignore it, after all if it was a criminal or something they'd have to face two of the more powerful martial artists in Nerima.

******

Osamu pulled the door open in one swift motion and saw his daughter horizontal on a couch with some boy. And they was kissing. Intensively, might one add. His face the face of a man in total shock, his mouth forming an perfect O. He didn't know what to say.

Ukyou stopped kissing Ryouga as she heard someone gasping, and saw her father and some woman standing in the door.

Akiko couldn't see much until Osamu moved to the side slightly. Instantly her eyes widened as much as they could when she saw the two, or rather when she saw the male half of the two. "Ryouga!" She yelled, her voice giving away her shock at seeing her son 'making out' with a girl.

Ryouga snapped into an upright position like lightning, carefully moving to one side for a few brief moments to avoid accidentally knocking into Ukyou. "Mom!" He called out in a tight voice, his mind already providing him with images of various bad things that could come of this. Being separated from Ukyou was the biggest one.

"U-Ukyou?" Osamu said, still in obvious shock. His daughter. And a boy. doing... that. At least it meant that she wasn't a boy any more. But it also meant... He frowned at Ryouga, trying to think up punishments for touching his only daughter.

"Father!" Ukyou exclaimed, rising into an vertical position, moving her hands to her knees. This was probably not good.

Akiko looked at the girl her son had been 'making out' with and then at Osamu. "I presume that she is your daughter?" She then looked at Ryouga. "I also assume that she was the one you went on a date with a few weeks ago. Your father was quite shocked about that after Niki told him." Then she looked at Ukyou. Her gaze was of the calculating sort usually seen on Nabiki Tendo. "Hmmmm...."

Osamu nodded in reply while stared at Ryouga with that "ohhboyyerindeeptroublenowsonnyfordoingthattomyonlydaughter"-look commonly seen in fathers that encounter their scions in a compromising situation. Ukyou however stood up quickly, bowing to the visitor. Their parents might want to kill them both right now, but she was damned if she was going to be called a bad host. "I am Ukyou Kuonji," she said, bowing. "Pleased to meet you, ma'am. Can I get you some tea or something? Please, take a seat." Offering the couch to the parents, she motioned to Ryouga to stand up and let the old people sit down.

"Hmmm... Polite too eh?" just as Ryouga stood up Akiko's arm shot out and grabbed him by the collar. "You boy, have some explaining to do." Ryouga didn't really have much chance to say no, after all he was being held in the air by his mother. Seeing the panic-stricken look on her son's face Akiko gave a small smirk. "And after that you can explain why you didn't even tell me that you found a cute girl."

Ryouga just gave a strangled sounding 'yes' before being dropped back onto the floor. Of course, this then left him standing in front of Ukyou's father.

Ukyou saw the look in her father's eyes and decided that she needed to get a second or two to get her act together. "Well, I'll just go put the kettle on," she chirped and grabbed Ryouga by his collar (popular spot, it seemed). "Could you please help me in kitchen for a second, Ryocha- Ryouga?" And without waiting for a reply she dragged him out of the room, closed the door behind them and rushed down to the kitchen, Ryouga close after her.

"Wha- what just happened here?"

"On a gut feeling I'd say that your father decided to visit and my mother got informed of our trip to the cinema a few weeks ago." Stated Ryouga as he rubbed the back of his now sore neck. "All in all, this could be bad."

Ukyou sighed. "Probably. My father is very... let's just say he's very." She began pouring water into a kettle and put it on the stove. Waiting for the water to warm up, she looked into Ryouga's eyes. "Don't worry. We'll manage this. We have to."

"Yeah... It's just that I'm kinda afraid that they might try to separate us, I-I don't want that to happen."

Ukyou hugged Ryouga, listening to his heartbeat. "We can't let that happen," she said softly. "It's none of their business and I love you too much for some stuffy parent to screw this up."

Ryouga wrapped his arms around Ukyou. "I love you too Ucchan, and no matter what, I won't let them separate us. Even if it means having my mom beat the hell outta me."

"Worst case scenario, we could elope," she giggled a little at the idea. For some reason she didn't quite know, she looked up at his face and gave him a quick kiss in the lips.

Responding to the kiss Ryouga drew Ukyou closer to him, as if this was the last kiss they might have. Which, depending on their parents, it could very well be.

Ukyou, having similar thoughts, let her hands roam across Ryouga's back, sides and chest, all whilst kissing him passionately. After all, they might never see each other again, so what harm could a little feel do?

* * * *

Akiko looked at Osamu. "So, she's your daughter is she? Seems like a nice enough girl."

Osamu thought about it. "She is. She is," he said, scratching his beard. "Good restaurant as well. Clean. Good location." He nodded approvingly then remembered the question at hand.

"I assume that boy is your son? Who is he? And why didn't he say anything instead of just sitting there like a log or something?"

"Hm? Oh you must mean Ryouga! Yes he's my son all right. Not that I see him very often..." Akiko looked down at the floor for a few seconds. "As for why he didn't say anything, I imagine it was just his nerves. You see Ryouga tends to... well... get extremely nervous around girls, at least in public anyway. I imagine he's got past his troubles in private but our appearance must have shocked him a bit I guess."

As an afterthought she added something else. "I'd advise treading carefully right now. For all I know he could have gotten far enough to strike up a bond." Seeing Osamu's shocked glare she hastily amended her statement. "Aheh! not like that! It's something to do with the Hibiki bloodline okay? Anyway, I ought to be able to find out given some time because if they have struck up a bond then it could be quite dangerous to separate them."

Osamu struggled with this strange woman's words. Bond? Bloodline? What were they, werewolves or something? "Uhh, alright," he ventured, "but even if they so have a damned chain between them there is still the problem with the Saotomes."

"Saotomes? As in, Ranma Saotome? If so then I think my son was trying to kill him last I saw. Don't ask why though. So, what's the problem with them?"

"My daughter is engaged to Ranma Saotome," Osamu said. "His father and I engaged them when they were six years old, and then his father ran off with the dowry. And Ukyou... uhh... she took it rather hard."

"I think I know what you mean, there was a time several years back when Ryouga was in love with a girl at school. There was an accident and because Ryouga was late to school that day he arrived in time to have her die in his arms. He was only six at the time..." Akiko had decided to omit the fact that Ryouga had been late because he was lost for the previous three months...

"Strange? Wouldn't you say that they should have come back by now?"

Osamu thought about it. "Well... maybe. That depends if they are getting some biscuits as well. Otherwise they should be back by now."

Only the finely tuned ears of a ninja of some sort or a Hibiki could have picked up the incredibly quiet sounds from elsewhere in the building. Akiko was a Hibiki, as such she heard the noise, if Osamu was able to hear the noise and had heard it he didn't show the fact.

"Somehow I don't think that's why they're taking so long.

"You hear it as well?" Osamu said, raising his eyebrows. "Then it wasn't just in my head! Kamisama! What are they-?" Without finishing his sentence, he opened the door and began sneaking down the stairs towards the kitchen.

"Allow me, don't worry, I'll pay for damages." Suggested Akiko as they approached the door to the kitchen. Cracking her knuckles she literally tore the door off the wall. As soon as the door was open she saw the scene, strangely the two hadn't noticed the fact that there was now a large hole where the door used to be, wrapped up as they were in their little world.

"And what pray tell is going on here?!" She yelled, her voice easily cutting into the hearing of all present.

Ryouga almost jumped in shock, pulling away quickly he took a small step forwards, placing himself just between Ukyou and his mother.

Osamu could barely contain his rage. This- this lout was fondling his daughter! His own flesh and blood. His hand went to his spatula, his face growling. "Yes, that would be nice to find out..."

Ukyou realized that this was the second time this day Ryouga and she had been caught kissing by their respective parents. This could be bad. Really bad. That coupled with the fact that her father seemed to be bent on murder didn't make things better.

Ryouga moved forwards, his hand already glowing the faint red of his only defensive technique. He had pretty much guessed that it was highly likely that Ukyou's father would try and hit him with the spatula. If so he intended NOT to get hurt.

Akiko looked between the two men, each of whom was giving the other a death glare. "Ummmm... I really don't think that you should attack my son..."

Osamu was about to say something when his eyes glanced over and he slumped to the floor wordlessly, a large bump appearing on his head. Behind him Ukyou stood, holding her monster-spatula with both hands. "You will NOT hit Ryochan," she pointed out to her almost-awake father. "Understood?"

Remembering the situation, she quickly put the spatula on the kitchen bench next to her and bowed to Akiko.

"I am so sorry if I have offended you, your tea will be ready-" the kettle started whistling, "-now it seems. I beg your pardon."

Akiko bent down to look at the unconscious Osamu. "You know, you asked for that." Turning she looked at Ryouga. "Son we need to talk." She quickly glanced at Ukyou. "In private, I suggest that you should have a talk with you father too Miss Kounji."

Ukyou bowed again, then grabbed her father by his right arm and dragged him out of the kitchen. Looking at the door she decided closing it wouldn't do much good. Throwing a look in Ryouga's direction, she dragged him into the restaurant proper and propped him up into a chair. She took a glass of cold water and threw it in her fathers face, waking him. While he spluttered on dried his beard form any remaining water, she turned on the gas for the grill. Might as well, she thought.

* * * *

Ryouga's mother waited until Ukyou was out of hearing distance before sighing to herself. "Ryouga, start talking. Why were you making out with that girl and why didn't you tell anyone?"

Ryouga just glared at her.

Sighing to herself again Akiko continued. "You do realized the problems you're causing don't you, that girl is engaged to someone already."

Ryouga just grunted in response, his aura flaring up slightly, either Akiko didn't notice or dismissed it as too small a threat. "Ucchan is engaged all right... To someone who doesn't deserve her!"

"Really, and what makes you say that her fianc�e doesn't deserve her?" Akiko noted the use of the name 'Ucchan' a nickname of some sort maybe?

"How about the other fianc�e's he has? Or what about the fact that it was him who screwed up Ukyou's life to begin with!... as well as mine..."

Akiko stepped back in shock at the anger that Ryouga had just displayed. Personally she wasn't too sure that he could get any angrier without going berserk... or worse.

* * * * * * *

Osamu looked at his daughter as she silently began preparing the ingredients of an okonomiyaki. Finally breaking the silence, he cleared his throat. "So," he began, "How have you been?" Ukyou said nothing, just glared at her father. "Uhh, so," he tried, realizing that this might not be so easy like he wanted it to be, "who's that boy out there that was... uhh... with you."

"He's name is Ryouga Hibiki," Ukyou informed.

"Hibiki, eh?" Osamu mused. "Hmm. So, how's your fianc�e doing? I bet Ranma has grown up to a handsome yo-" He was interrupted by a spatula to the head.

"Ranchan? Ranchan? The Ranchan who didn't know I was a girl until he was sixteen years old? The Ranchan whose father made me go through ten years as a boy scarring me emotionally for life probably?"

"Now listen here," Osamu said, rubbing his sore head, "the Kuonji family honor demands that you-"

Ukyou grabbed her fathers collar and shook his head violently. "The same honor that forced me to live as a boy for ten years? And now you tell me that when I finally found someone that I like and who likes me back _you_ show up and say 'no'?"

Osamu looked into his daughters eyes and saw something he thought he'd never see again.

* * * *

To say that Akiko was annoyed would have been an understatement. She was originally born to a family line that was, according to legend, descended from an Oni, no-one really believed this but they did know one thing, everyone of her family line so far had a 'breaking point' to their anger, pass that point and they go berserk.

Unfortunately Ryouga hadn't been warned of any of this, nor had he been warned of the Hibiki family lines little 'secret' Akiki mentally panicked about how Ryouga might react to this information, or worse, how the girl might react, and how Ryouga would react to the girls reaction. All-in-all something was bound to go wrong.

* * * * *

Osamu stared at his daughter. Then he gulped. "Then again, since Ranma is engaged to someone else," he started, "We could re-assess the situation. Uhh... so... umm... just for discussions sake, just how long have you two known each others?"

"Uhh, since I came to Nerima."

"So he noticed you was a girl?" Osamu seemed surprised. Ukyou cast her eyes down a little.

"No. He thought I was a boy and wanted to beat me up." Osuma frowned a little at that.

"And how long have you two... uhh... been... uhh... like that?"

"For three weeks."

"Oh. And *cough* have the two of you... uhh... *cough, cough*... uhh..." Ukyou knew what her father was fishing at.

"No. What you saw is as far as we have gotten," she said, blushing slightly.

"Oh. Good," Osamu sighed in relief.

* * * *

"Ranma's a self-centered conceited jerk! because of him Ucchan went through ten years of torment!... She deserves better... she deserves to be happy..."

Akiko looked at the boy, no... man that was her son and smiled slightly. "Well Ryouga, I guess you've grown up haven't you? And well, I don't see any problem with the girl as a person. The only problems I see are you and the fact that she's a Kounji." She sighed to herself again. "I finally remembered where I had heard their family name, if I remember rightly the family was one of the best ninja clans ever to exist. If I'm right then I guess your girlfriend out there has been trained as a Ninja herself, or at least she's been partially trained. I've heard of the training methods the Kounji clan of Ninja's used, until the point when they get the final step of the training they don't actually remember any of the training they've been given previously." She laughed, a short laugh that held no mirth whatsoever.

"Just like you've still got to learn about you own family she's got to learn about her own."

"What are talking about mom?" Asked an incredulous Ryouga.

"Simple, the Hibiki curse is fourfold, firstly the sense of direction, secondly the unnatural ability to tap into huge inner reserves of chi. And finally, the bond and blood. The bond is a 'link' between a Hibiki and the person he or she wants to be with forever. Effectively you'll both be able to draw on greater reserves of power when near to each other but along with that is the blood of the Daemon."

Ryouga didn't like the way this was going but he continued to listen anyway.

"There are certain 'conditions' that can be filled to send you into the Hibiki family's most powerful technique, the 'Daemons blood frenzy'. One of these is the death of whomever you're bonded too. During the 'frenzy' you'll be little more than an animal. An animal capable of thinking like a human and destroying cities with ease. there are lesser frenzies, don't ask how they come about because I don't know, they just do. But the full 'frenzy' if you're bonded to her and she dies... well... there's very little chance of you coming out of the 'frenzy' until you die yourself."

Ryouga just stood, mouth open as he listened to the Hibiki families darkest secret. Now he knew why his mom had seemed worried. For all he knew Ukyou could reject him upon hearing this...

* * * *

"...So, how has training gone?" Osamu asked silently.

"Getting better. This neighborhood is so full of freaks and weirdo's that no-one notices me. Which I suppose is good," Ukyou replied, pouring some batter on the grill, starting to make some food for her guest.

"Right." Osamu eyed his daughters cooking without blinking, studying her techniques. "You're cooking ahs improved as well."

"You haven't seen me for ten years. Of course I got better," Ukyou replied as she added some toppings.

"Do you love him?" Ukyou blinked at her father's direct question. "Well, do you?"

"Uhh..." she managed to say, taken aback by the bluntness. "... Yes. Yes I do."

Osamu sighed as he stroked his beard with his right hand. "Well, not much I can do then. If I forbid you to see him again, you'd just elope with him my guess is. Your mother was like that, and there is much of her in you."

Ukyou looked at her father with amazement in her eyes. He let her- "Of course," he continued, "I have to test him first. To make sure he's a good boy."

Ukyou stared at her father. That was not good news.

* * * *

"Well then Ryouga. Answer me truthfully on this." There was a cold, hard fire in Akiko's eyes that explained better about what would happen if he lied then words ever could.

"Do you love this Ukyou girl?"

Ryouga's reaction was fairly fast. "When, when we first met, properly I mean, I guess I didn't know... now though, now I know that I do love her and... and there's nothing you can do that will stop me from loving her!"

Smirking Akiko looked at her son again. "Spoken like a true enough Hibiki I guess. That leaves only one thing to do..." She whirled and headed towards where Ukyou and her father went to talk. "we've got to make sure she'd be accepted into the family. You know your grandfather would never put up with a 'weak' girl now would he?"

His face paling Ryouga trailed after his mother. A woman who was probably capable of beating Taro's cursed form in a contest of strength... Things were not looking good.

Osamu was about to speak when Ryouga and mother Hibiki came into the restaurant proper, so he shut up and looked at Akiko for some clue to what they had decided.

Ukyou, on the other hand cast a worried glance at Ryouga. He didn't look healthy, a little pale. When their parents looked in another direction, she gave Ryouga a look that said "What happened?".

Osamu looked at Akiko. "Excuse me ma'am," he said, standing up, "I think we have to discuss a matter of... uhh..." at a loss of a good metaphor, he indicated Ryouga and Ukyou with one hand, "... these two. Perhaps over there?" he said, pointing at the table in a far away corner.

"Yes, that would be an excellent idea." The two wandered off to the table and were soon deep in discussion. Ryouga and Ukyou just glanced nervously at each other as phrases like 'test' 'combat' and finally the two that neither of them were prepared for... 'engagement' and 'marriage'.

Standing up Akiko beckoned the two over. "Well then you two, we've decided on something that should keep everyone happy. But first. Ryouga, Mr. Kounji here has offered an official test of combat skills to you and ... Umm... Ukyou isn't it? yes, thetas right... Ukyou, I myself am issuing a similar challenge to you. After discussion with your father we came up with one rule. ALL combat ability must be shown, this includes things you may have kept hidden from others. Once the challenges are sorted out we'll proceed with the next part of our discussion."

"All combat abilities...?" Ukyou swallowed nervously. Her father nodded whilst throwing glances at Ryouga. Lowering her head, she sighed in resignation. "Now or in the morning?"

"Why not now?" Osamu said. "After all, darkness is... uhh, nevermind."

Ryouga quit giving Ukyou's father a strange look and instead decided to pick his umbrella up from where it lay in the corner of the room. Glancing at Ukyou's father he motioned toward the door. "Well, are you gonna fight or what?" he stated as he flared up with a orange red glow, an orange red glow that Ukyou had seen him use before. The glow of Ryouga's Chi-shield, or as he liked to call it 'the fire barrier'.

Osamu raised his eyebrows at Ryouga's comment. "Respect your elders, boy," he drawled before walking outside to get ready for the match.

*****

Ukyou resigned to Fate or whatever twisted fortune that had decided to make her life as troublesome as possible. Grabbing her spatula she turned to Akiko. "Well, we might as well, no?" she said and then walked outside into the evening drizzle. Once outside she got into a ready stance, ready for any attack that the Hibiki might throw at her.

'throw' would definitely be the best way to describe Akiko's opening move as a large rock thrown by her exploded a short distance away from where Ukyou was standing. Akiko blinked. The rock had exploded in mid air, that... was not meant to happen.

Ukyou was actually a little surprised herself. Oh well. Taking a step backwards, she was totally engulfed in darkness. Then Akiko didn't see her any more. She was gone. Blinking and straining her eyes, she managed to hear a slight sound behind her. That was enough for her to jump forwards a mere second before a large spatula swooshed past where she had been standing. Turning, she saw Ukyou standing in the shadows. "You said all combat abilities," she said, taking yet another step backwards, disappearing from sight again.

"Well, so I did girl... but you haven't seen nothing yet!" Akiko's arm lashed out, a blazing green flame surrounding her hand and leaving a trail of flames as it passed through the air.

"Face the power of my ancestors! Emerald crescent!" Akiko swung her arm in a well practice move, a crescent-shaped blast of green flame launched itself towards Ukyou.

Ukyou dodged to the right, avoiding the blast that hit the wall behind her with full force. As she kept moving, she threw five chi-charged spatulas at Mrs. Hibiki then utilized the Kuonji special trick so to speak. With a small amount of chi, she disappeared in the shadows between two lampposts only to appear a second later behind Ryouga's mother, her spatula-Sama swooshing towards her head.

All in all she had moved about ten meters, from one shadow to another.

There was a loud clang as Ukyou's spatula impacted against Akiko's head. This was soon followed by a mocking laugh. Slowly Akiko turned to face Ukyou. "Heh heh heh... You'll have to do much better than that girl. And I think I'm wise to your little shadow-trick. I bet you don't even know why we Hibiki's have such a powerful chi? Well, let me show you." Akiko's hand rose to her hair, in a quick motion she had pulled back some of her black hair to reveal two tiny whitish horns that had been covered by her mess of hair. Almost as quick a green fire surrounded her, lighting the area somewhat.

Ukyou stared at the two horns. Two horns on a persons forehead meant oni. Ryouga's mother had horns on her forehead. Ergo, she is an oni. Ryouga's mother is the mother of Ryouga. Ergo, Ryouga is...

"No," Ukyou whispered. Why did this always happen to her? Ranchan deserted her. Ranchan chose Akane instead of her. Ryouga was a demon.

And if he was a demon, they would never be able to... She sighed as her shoulders slumped slightly. She had nothing that could hurt demons in her arsenal. Only one way out then. Determined, she began gathering all her chi, beginning to glow faintly dark blue. These attacks didn't sink many aircraft carriers during WWII, but at least they set an glorious example. Ukyou raised her spatula, a strange glow to her eyes and spoke on word before she launched her next attack. "Banzai."

Akiko's face paled. A suicide attack. A noble gesture but one that could potentially be fatal, not only for Ukyou but for practically everyone in Tokyo...

"Right young lady! This has gone far enough! You are not gonna kill yourself especially not before I let you get engaged to my son." Her comment finished Akiko began chanting in a strange language that Ukyou couldn't understand. So focused on her task was Ukyou that she didn't notice when she began to float upwards under the power of Oni magic, at least, she didn't notice until she realized that she wasn't moving forwards anymore. Akiko began chanting again, this time a bubble began to form around Ukyou, as the bubble grew to completion Ukyou began to feel weaker.

"You can just hang around up there until my bubble drains you of all that excess energy." She smiled softly as Ukyou began to weaken further. "Don't worry, you did well enough, I, Akiko Hibiki hereby give my blessings to your pursuit of my son."

Ukyou thought she heard the last words Akiko spoke, but wasn't sure. She was so tired... Darkness.

*****

Ryouga both smirked and glared at Osamu at the same time. With a slight grunt of concentration the red-orange aura expanded slightly before a small part of it gathered around his arm. "Shi Shi houkoudan!" he yelled as he fired a small burst of chi at his opponent.

The Kuonji jumped into the air, jumping over the blast. Hmm, he thought, this kid was playing for real. Good, he liked that. While he was up in the air, he threw a few spatulas towards Ryouga, hoping to startle him. He didn't want to use the really nasty stuff at first, trying to test how much this kid could take before he gave in.

The spatulas just glanced off of Ryouga's barrier, causing almost no damage whatsoever. After all, it needed a fairly big attack just to penetrate the barrier. Ryouga thought carefully about this fight, something he didn't usually do. Mr. Kounji was fast, he could probably dodge any projectiles... an idea occurred to Ryouga. "Hey! Mr. Kounji! I guess I should warn you! I am NOT gonna loose! Bakusai Tenket!" Ryouga's finger struck the ground, sending up a cloud of dust and rocks. when visibility returned Ryouga was nowhere in sight.

"An admirable mindset," Osamu yelled back, looking around, seeing no Ryouga. "Huh? Where did he go? Did Ukyou teach him... no she wouldn't have." Osamu looked around again. "Maybe he ran off?" he said out loud, sounding surprised.

"Oh, is that what you think? Well, I must say, you are mistaken." Ryouga stated from his perch atop Ucchans, he had jumped up there whilst the dust-cloud from the Bakusai Tenket was in place. leaping down he aimed himself for Mr. Kounji, his outstretched arm already glowing with chi energy.

Osamu flinched and jumped out of the way. While Ryouga destroyed the pavement he threw some gunpowder mixed with tempura flakes.

It hurt. A lot. His shield had been dropped from the moment he launched his attack, right now he was covered in burns and bruises and his clothes were pretty much shredded. And to top it all off he was going to lose. Lose the fight, Lose Ukyou, Lose everything.

He felt a strange burning in his chest, like some extra power he could draw on, and draw on it he did. Standing up slowly he used the power to dull the pain he felt. Finally standing upright he snarled at Mr. Kounji. "I will not lose her..." He snarled before he gave an animal-like bellow and charged, white flames dancing in his eyes...

Osamu widened his eyes in shock. He had heard of people who could do things like this. And he wasn't all too fond of this boy ripping his guts up and then eating them raw. But he had to admire the kids spirit, though. Dodging like a maniac, he avoided Ryouga's charges until he got into a favorable position before he hit Ryouga in the back of the scull, making the Lost Boy's eyes glaze over.

The last words Ryouga heard was "Yer not half-bad kiddo..."

* * * * * * * *

Ukyou came to again. Was she dead? Alive? In-between? Blinking to get her eyes accustomed to the light, she noticed that she was in her room. And someone snored. Shrugging off the snoring, she got up. She was still dressed as she had been earlier that night. She pinched her left elbow. It hurt. Alive thus. Alive also meant not being able to see Ryouga any more. That depressed her. She got up, smelling okonomiyaki. Someone was cooking. Probably dad, she reasoned. And am I still snoring? Not really annoying snoring, more like "I'm asleep" snoring, a kind of snoring only seen in movies and so to indicate that someone slept. But she wasn't snoring, she realized. So who...? She turned her head to look at the snorer.

"A- ano?"

"ZZZZZZ-Hwah?" Something had woken him up. Oog. He hurt all over! Mind you this wakeup didn't seem bad like most wakeups were. Instead it seemed, well, nice. Looking bleary eyed at the ceiling he came to a few conclusions. He wasn't outside and he wasn't at Doc Tofu's, he was, somewhere completely new to him. Looking around slightly something dark entered his still blurry vision. 'A clock? A watermelon maybe?' his vision cleared slightly giving him color. 'No, neither of those... A person? Yes, a person. Hmmm... Long hair it looked like. Wait. Something wrong here.'

The Senses of the Hibiki family had evolved over the past several years of wandering, this had mainly been to keep them alive when certain... dangers were around. The Hibiki senses were also highly evolved to begin with, on account of there being a solid Oni descent throughout the bloodline, occasionally a human or something would join the line but after a while their blood would thin. In fact the Hibiki bloodline mainly consisted of Oni blood and a small amount of dragon blood that was several thousand years old.

Right now Ryouga's senses were telling him three things.

He was in a bed.

With someone else.

That someone else was female.

Fortunately they also told him he was fully dressed. Blinking to clear his vision Ryouga looked at the grill next to him, recognition hit him like a ton of bricks.

"Ucchan?"

Ukyou blinked. Conflicting emotions stirred inside her. Confusion took the upper hand.

"Ryochan?" she said, wondering how he had ended up in her... "What are you doing in my bed?" She thought about it for a second. "No, wait, I think I know. We must have gotten very. Very drunk last night. I had this crazy dream where our parents caught us kissing and... wait a sec, who's cooking downstairs? Konatsu?" She looked down at herself. "At least we still have our clothes on," she mumbled.

"Yeah, your father is such a stick-in-the mud isn't he?" Came a voice from the door. Akiko laughed as both Ryouga and Ukyou turned a bright shade of red. "Now, if you two would get moving there are some announcements to make!"

Ryouga took a deep breath and slowly got out of bed, a few moments later Ukyou was beside him. "I-I guess this is it huh?" he said as he took Ukyou's hand and the two followed Akiko to the kitchen.

"Yeah," Ukyou replied, squeezing his hand as they saw Osamu flipping okonomiyaki's and Konatsu cleaning the street outside the restaurant. "It was great while it lasted, though."

Osamu finished his cooking and looked at the two. Then he turned to Akiko. "Well, you better tell them. I'm not too good at these things, you see." He scratched his beard a little. "I don't think I have the heart too."

Standing up Akiko glared at the two before she started speaking in a commanding tone. "Kounji Ukyou and Hibiki Ryouga. It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that you may not see each other anymore." she paused and looked at their shocked and almost-tearful looks.

She grinned at the two before continuing. "Like I said, you may not see each other any more as boyfriend and girlfriend. Instead you must see each other as fianc�es!" Nodding her head she continued to dictate the announcements.

"Along with this both myself and Mr. Kounji, as the current heads of our families fighting styles, have agreed to cross-train you as much as we can in our styles. Meaning, Ryouga, that you will lean some of the Kounji style whilst Ukyou will learn some of the Hibiki style... At least the parts that can be done by normal humans anyway."

Noticing Ukyou's slightly shocked expression at her literally saying that the Hibiki family wasn't entirely human Akiko explained. "Ukyou, your father already knows what we are and has done from the moment I bumped into him I imagine. And, don't worry about the horns... they won't show up on Ryouga until he's at least twenty or so."

Osamu coughed nervously from the grill as to indicate that Akiko was correct, he just didn't want to admit it.

Ukyou was shocked to say the least. She tried to say something, but really couldn't find the right words. She wasn't sure she heard Ryouga's mother correctly. They wasn't allowed to see... but now they was engag- Her eyes widened in realization. Ryouga and she... Oh. She looked up into Ryouga's face, trying to read any emotions.

Upon hearing his mothers proclamation Ryouga pinched himself. hard. 'Nope not dreaming' Their parents had just decided to engage them. Ok. Resisting the urge to either faint or hit terminal nirvana Ryouga turned to face Ukyou, after studying her emotions for a few seconds his face split into a happy smile. "Ucchan..."

Ukyou in turn had a grin on her face as she encircled Ryouga in her arms. "Yes Ryochan?" she smiled at her... fianc�e?

Ryouga' arms wrapped protectively around Ukyou as he smiled back at his new 'Fianc�e'. Ryouga had never really expected to become engaged to anyone in his life, most of it was just dreaming of what might be. And here he was engaged to a beautiful girl. And people say dreams don't come true.

Coughing politely Akiko interrupted the two with a final announcement. "One more thing, Ryouga, I've enrolled you at Furinkan high. You've got to have a reasonably good education behind you after all. Ukyou, try a see that he gets there okay?" She nodded towards the door and Osamu stood up and started to leave.

"I guess we'll just leave you two lovebirds alone now... C'mon, you, they're not gonna do anything drastic." She said as she half pushed half-dragged Osamu out of the door.

Osamu was about to say something but decided to shut up. Wisely, one might say.

Ukyou smiled happily and moved closer to Ryouga, gently planting a kiss on his lips. First time she kissed her fianc�e, she thought. Felt good. No, scratch good. Felt great.

Ryouga responded to the kiss, similar thoughts drifting though his head. 'Fianc�e...' At the thought his mind supplied him with a simple command:- 'kiss her more' there wasn't much Ryouga could do to ignore a command like that.

Ukyou enjoyed the attention she was receiving and showed it by returning the favor. When she finally broke the kiss, she smiled at Ryouga. "So," she asked, not certain what to do, "What happens now?"

A quiet scratching noise caught Ryouga's attention. "First we do this" He stated as he carefully moved away from Ukyou and opened the door, causing Akiko and Osamu to fall through the doorframe, surprised looks on their faces.

"And then, we head someplace more..." he groped for the correct word. "Romantic, I guess we could go to the roof and look at the stars if you want."

Ukyou looked at the two parents with a mildly amused look. Then she listened to Ryouga's words. "Sure thing, sugar," she replied, taking Ryouga's hand in hers.

The two calmly walked out in front of Ucchans. Smiling Ryouga gently picked Ukyou up and leapt onto the roof before gently putting her down again. For the next several hours Ryouga and Ukyou sat on the edge of the roof holding each others hands and kissing occasionally.

They were watching the now-nighttime sky and all the stars within it. But more specifically they were looking at their own lucky stars which now shone as bright, if not brighter than some of the most luminescent stars in the sky.

Anyone else would have only seen two stars. But Ukyou, with her senses sharpened by training in her families secret style and Ryouga, with the heightened senses of his Oni blood could see slightly more than anyone else. For joining the two bright stars, forming a rough diamond shape, were two fainter stars that only they could see.

A portent of the future? Maybe.
A symbol of what will come to pass? Who knows?
A sign that two broken hearts are finally mended? Possibly.

Whatever the four stars, two bright, two faint, symbolized didn't entirely matter to Ukyou and Ryouga.

They were happy.

They were in love.

And that's what mattered.

At least, to them anyway.

Finis