Most of the ppl that have said anything on the latest chapters
have told me it's way too depressing. I don't this chapter is depressing,
but it's not 'cause of the compliants, it's because I meant it to
be like that.
	Anobody that cares, next episode will be mainly (if not all)
P-Ran-chan telling Ranma-chan about Akane's funeral. Definite
depressing material, is it not? :)


Chapter 16
 
[Ucchan's, Afternoon]
 
P-Ran: (Eating an okonomiyaki) Those two sure are idiots,
 aren't they?
 
Ukyou: (Nodding in agreement) If I was Shampoo, I'd take
 advantage of this situation. But I'm not. (Sighs) And somehow,
 I wish I was.
 
P-Ran: (Thoughtfully) What are you going to do now, Ucchan?
 
Ukyou: Me? (Looks out the window longingly) Maybe I'll leave
 Nerima and go to Tomobiki. Maybe it's be more peaceful there.
 
P-Ran: (Surprised) Ucchan, you can't!
 
Ukyou: (Coldly) Why can't I? There's only one person I came
 here for; and now I'm helping him marry someone else. Whee.
 Whoopee.
 
Customer: (Waving from a booth) Can I have another shrimp
 okonomiyaki?
 
Ukyou: (Pasting on a fake smile) Sure thing!
 (Starts making another one) 
 
P-Ran: Uc- (Ranma walks in. He's still holding the bouquet of
 roses in his right hand, and is as depressed as ever. He takes
 at the counter, next to P-Ran)
 
Ukyou: What happened Ran-chan? (Almost hopefully) It didn't go
 well with Akane, did it?
 
Ranma: (Dropping his head onto the counter) ....
 
P-Ran: (Looking at the bouquet) *Looks as if it's in one peice*
 Did you even go see her?
 
Ranma: (Head remaining on the counter) ....
 
Ukyou: (She distractedly throws the okonomiyaki to the customer,
 which nearly misses the plate) C'mon, Ran-chan, tell us what happened.
 If we don't know, we can't help.
 
Ranma: ....
 
P-Ran: (Picking Ranma's head up by his hair) C'mon, speak
 all ready.
 
 (Ranma's eyes suddenly becomes large as saucers, and pours
 water over himself and P-Ran)
 
Ukyou: Er, Ran-chan?...
 
P-Ran-chan: What was that for?!
 
Voice: Hello. (P-Ran-chan recognizes the voice, and turns around;
 at the doorway, is Nodoka. Her eyes are closed, apparently she
 didn't see her sons changing)
 
Ukyou: (With fake warmth) Good afternoon, ma'am. Please just
 take a seat and I'll be right with y-
 
Nodoka: (Opening her eyes, and gasping. She runs to the
 two Ranma-chans) Ranko, you have a twin sister?
 
Ukyou: (Confused) Who's Ranko?
 
Ranma-chan: (Acting as girlishly as possible) Who, this? No, this is
 one of my *cough* best friends (Tries to come up with a name)
 Purnko! Kuinji Purnko!
 
Ukyou: (Hissing in Ranma-chan's ear) What are you doing with
 this poor lady?
 
Ranma-chan: (To Ukyou) Just go with it, Ucchan. I'll explain later.
 
P-Ran-chan: Actually, I'm Ra-
 (Ranma-chan clamps her hand over P-Ran-chan's mouth)
 
Nodoka: (Bowing) Pleased to meet you. (To Ranma-chan) Ranko,
 what were you just saying to (Looks at Ukyou)...
 
Ukyou: Kuinji Ukyou.
 
Ranma-chan: (Putting her hand on the back of her head, and laughs)
 Oh, she was just asking me who you were.
 
Nodoka: Oh, ok. (To Ukyou) I'm Saotome Nodoka.
 
Ukyou: (Eyes bulging) You're-
 
Ranma-chan: (Quickly) Ranma's mother!
 
Ukyou: Oh! (Looks at Ranma-chan strangely, but decides to go
 with her act) I never knew Ran-chan had a mom! (Blushes)
 Well, I did, just that, he, er...
 
Nodoka: (Nodding) That's al right, we haven't seen each other
 for 10 years after all. (Smiles at her) I take that you know my
 son?
 
Ukyou: Yeah, he's my fia- my best friend, I mean.
 
Nodoka: (Takes a seat) Would you say he's manly?
 
Ukyou: Manly? *What type of question is THAT?!*
 (Looks at Ranma-chan) Well, (Ranma-chan nods frantically) 
Very manly. Manliest man I've ever met.
 (Is trying not to burst out laughing, despite her sadness. Nodoka
 doesn't notice, she's so excited)
 
Nodoka: (Clapping her hands) Oh, really! That's so good to
 know! (Pulls out her katakana, and everyone in the restaurant is
 watching her carefully now) I'm sure now I won't have to use this.
 
(Ranma-chan sighs a breath of relief, Ukyou has a bead of sweat
 going down the side of her head, and P-Ran-chan is simply
 disgusted)
 
Ukyou: (Leaning closer) Mrs. Saotome, I'm a *very* good friend of
 Ran-chan's, and I would like to know why'd you'd use that on your
 son.
 
Nodoka: Oh, that? (Puts the katakana down, and gives Ukyou a short
 explanation)
 
Ukyou: (With a straight face) I see.
 
Nodoka: (Nodding) Yes, my son has a strong determination.
 (Sighs) I'm sure he's manly, but I would like to see him again...
 
P-Ran-chan: Um, excuse me?
 
Nodoka: Yes... (Tries to remember) Purnko, isn't it?
 
P-Ran-chan: No- (Ranma-chan grabs P-Ran-chan, and shuts
 her up)
 
Ranma-chan: Auntie, I'd love to stay here, but me and Purnko-
 
Nodoka: (Correcting her) Purnko and I.
 
Ranma-chan: Huh? Oh, whatever. Anyway, we've got to go
 somewhere. Bye bye! (Rushes out of the restaurant)
 
Nodoka: (To Ukyou) What was that all about?
 
Ukyou: (Shrugging) Who knows?
 
[The scene fades]
 
 
 

	Isabel Arantes