Ranma 1/2: The Magical Mystery Hibiki Tour

by Jaelle and Orla

***

The characters in this story are the property of Rumiko
Takahashi-sama. We prostrate ourselves at her feet and beg her
forgiveness for our temerity in using these characters. We're
not worthy! We're not worthy!

The other characters are copyright to Yukie Nasu and Pioneer
LDC.

C & C is welcome (although we don't like flames!). You can
contact us at either: ladyorla@yahoo.com or jaelle@ihug.co.nz

For more of our fanfiction visit our site 'Insane Musings'at:
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~jaelle/Jaelle_Orla.htm

***

This story occurs four years after Ranma 1/2 volume 38.

***

Part 14

***
China: Zhangzhou.

"<They were _here_?>" Shampoo clasped her hands together
hardly daring to believe what she was hearing was true.

The camp owner nodded. "<Just as you described, Miss. A
large tour bus driven by a young man wearing a yellow and
black bandanna stayed here about...> " he frowned, then
shrugged. "<Well, a few nights ago.>"

"<You don't remember when?>"

"<Sorry, no. I get so many people here. Although they
were the first ones to knock down four trees.>"

Shampoo beamed. Finally! She was on the right track. After
days and days of hopeless searching and waiting she had
picked up a clue to the Tour's whereabouts - and it wasn't
in somewhere like Arabia! She thanked the camp owner and
left the grounds.

"<They must be in Hong Kong by now.>" she said to herself.
"<I will find them there and claim my airen!>"

Full of hope and smiles Shampoo bounced happily down the
road. Until... a passing car zoomed past her and splashed
her with some muddy water.

"Mirrrrroooowwww!!!!!"

***
Hong Kong

Mousse put down the phone and sighed. He wandered over to
his apartment window and stared moodily out at the view.
*That was the last idea I had for their whereabouts.* he
thought. *No one's seen any sign of the bus in Hong Kong
or the surrounding area.*

"Mu Shu?" a pretty young woman popped her head around the
door. "<I've finished. Do you want to have a look?>"

He turned and smiled at her. "<Sure, Michelle, I'll be
right there.>"

"<Is there anything else I can do?>" Michelle smiled
hopefully, her dark eyes bright.

"<Uh... no, thanks. Just leave the speech on my desk and
take the rest of the afternoon off.>"

Michelle looked a bit disappointed but she departed. Mousse
wandered into his study and picked up the speech. However,
his press conference was not on his mind at the moment.

*Where did you guys go? Are you somewhere in Australia by
now?*

***
Japan: Narita International Airport

"This is the last of the luggage, Tamura. Get in in ASAP!"
Kobayashi made a check on his pad. "Otherwise this baby
won't reach Hong Kong on schedule."

Tamura made a slight face as he looked at the mountain
before him. "Great." he picked up the first suitcase. With
a smooth gesture Tamura put the suitcase onto the plane
with all the delicacy and finesse of airport luggage crew
around the world.

As the suitcase tumbled into the depths of the cargo hold
a sharp sound came from it:

"OWWWW!!!"

***
Malaysia

Ukyou stared idly out of the window as the bus sped through
Butterworth. After some coaching from Ryoga, Mikado's driving
had rapidly improved. His ribs would heal eventually. *This
is SOOOOO much better,* thought Ukyou. *AND I don't have to
smack him over the head when I want him to go the right way.
Yup, this is the best. Definitely. I don't miss Ryoga's
driving at all.* Lost in her thoughts, she didn't even
notice as she began to sing.

"Tell me that you love me, tell me that I am pretty
I can become much more gentle with a single word
In my loving spirit, in my deep feeling spirit
I want you to believe honestly, no matter when."

Down the back of the bus, Ryoga felt like he was about to
have a heart attack, there simply didn't seem to be
enough room in his chest for the emotions that broke upon
him as he listened to Ukyou's song.

*Why, damn it?* he thought. *Why do I always have to fall
in love like this? Why can't I love someone who loves me
back? Why... WHY????!!!!*

"Er... Ryoga, you're glowing again." Kiyone told him. "Don't
make me use this." she brandished her glass of water.

*Kiyone!!!!!* "Kiyone!" Ryoga sat down opposite her. "I need
your advice."

"ME?!!! Why ME??!!!"

"It's about this girl I like, no, this girl my FRIEND
likes..."

Kiyone groaned mentally. *It's going to be one of THOSE. Not
again! Still, at least there's only ONE suitor this time.*

"You see," said Ryoga, pressing his index fingers together,
"For years he thought he was in love with this girl, but he
had this deep dark secret that he could never tell her
because she'd hate him for it, and so he suffered in silence,
plagued by many MANY demons, but especially by her awful
HORRIBLE hentai fiance..."

*Let's make it really hard to guess, shall we?* Kiyone
thought wryly.

"Anyway... so he's been trying to tell her how he feels,
so he went off with a... friend, of his to try and get
her love, but now he realises..."

"That you're in love with Ukyou and not Akane, yes Ryoga,
I got it." said Kiyone.

Ryoga stared at her. "How did you know??!!" *Wow, she's
so intelligent!*

Kiyone tried not to wince, *Wow, he's almost as stupid
as Ryoko and Ayeka*. "Ryoga..." she sighed and rubbed
her forehead. *Why do they always come to ME for love
advice? I don't have a love life! I have ENOUGH problems*.

"Ryoga," she said calmly. "I think it's fairly obvious
that you love Ukyou. The question is, what are you going
to do about it?"

"That's it, I don't know!!!" wailed Ryoga.

"Shhhh, keep your voice down." Kiyone said.

"But... Ukyou's still in love with Ranma." said Ryoga.

"No, Ukyou _thinks_ she's still in love with Ranma,"
said Kiyone. "Did you see her face when she came down the
stairs at the nightclub?"

"Yeah..." said Ryoga dreamily.

"Pay attention Ryoga!" Kiyone snapped. "My point is,
she likes you back."

Ryoga was surprised. "She does?"

Kiyone nodded. "I'm positive of it." *And I should know*.

"B-but..." Ryoga flushed. "That can't be right. Why would
Ukyou like _me_? I'm not very bright, I keep breaking
things, I have NO sense of direction, and..." his voice
lowered even further. "I turn into a _pig_."

"Those are pretty shallow reasons not to like anyone,"
said Kiyone. "And besides, Ukyou knows all of these
things and she still likes you."

"Really? No way," Ryoga shook his head. "She thinks Ranma's
WAY cooler than me..."

"Ryoga! Stop that!" Kiyone snapped. "You've got to stop
letting her walk all over you! Be a man! Stop moping! And
SMILE more often!!!!!"

"Smile?"

"You have such a cute smile Ryoga-chan," said Kiyone.
"But you're always so gloomy that noone ever notices it.
Now, try looking at your problems in a positive light:
You're sensitive, you're strong, you... see interesting
places... and, uh... you're a very... pretty... pig."

Ryoga looked unconvinced. "But she's always yelling!"

"Oh for goodness sake. You're a man aren't you? Now
ACT like one."

Ryoga looked amazed. "Ukyou said that to me once."

Kiyone looked exasperated. "Well then, why don't you
do what she WANTS?" *Dimwit*.

"I will, thanks Kiyone-chan." Ryoga gave her a fangy
smile.

"You're most welcome Ryoga-chan." Kiyone replied. *I
really am kinda good at this, maybe I should get a job
as a lonely-hearts columnist. I wonder what that pays...*

***

Kuala Lumpur

"Wow." said Suka gazing out of the window. "Kuala Lumpur
is so much easier to get around compared to Bangkok."

"Mmmm." Miya looked up from Nabiki's book which she has
grabbed from Ukyou. "It says here that Bangkok has the
worst traffic problem in South East Asia."

"I can believe it." said Godai. "Four hours we were stuck!
And Ukyou spent the whole time acting like a explosive on a
very short fuse!"

"Very scary." murmered Suka.

Miya put the book down and sighed. "I hope she forgives Ryoga
soon. He looks so sad and she, well, I saw her looking very
unhappy the other evening."

"Yeah." Suka looked glum. "I just don't get them at all."

"Call it a Nerima affliction." said Nabiki sitting down
beside Godai. "Most of the gang from that area are always
in foolish love quadrangles."

Godai made a face. "Believe me, Nabiki, love quadrangles
are not restricted to Nerima!"

***

"Was the YMCA the only place you could get?" Akane asked
Ukyou as she regarded the Hostel.

Ukyou looked uncomfortable. "Well... they were the only
people who spoke a language I understood well."

"Why didn't you ask Ryoga, Ucchan?" Ranma asked.

Ukyou flushed. "I can managed just _fine_ without that
directionless baka!" she growled.

"I thought this was a partnership." murmered Nabiki behind
her.

Ukyou fixed Nabiki with a firey glare. "You just love to
meddle don't you!"

Nabiki laughed. Ukyou clenched her fists, but before
anything could happen a man came out and bowed to the
group.

"Selamat petang." he said.

"Huh?" Ukyou blinked.

"Selamat petang." said a voice beside her, it was Ryoga.

"Sila masuk." the man indicated the entrance.

Ryoga smiled. "Terima leasih." he said. Then he looked
down hesitantly at Ukyou. "He... uh... wants us to come
in."

Ukyou drew herself up and answered Ryoga cooly. "I realise
that Hibiki." She turned to the group. "Everyone inside."

Ryoga watched her march off and sighed in despair. *I have
no hope... * Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, it was
Suka.

"Hang in there." Suka winked. "Sometimes you just have to
persist."

***

Inside the hostel dining room Konatsu emptied the contents
of his cosmetic bag on the table and shifted through the
contents. *Damn, not here, and I've looked everywhere!* He
sniffed. "My _expensive_ mascara."

"Try this one." offered Nabiki handing him a pale
peach-coloured, bulging, cosmetics bag.

Konatsu was touched. "Nabiki-san, arigato!"

"Whatever." Nabiki shrugged. "It's not mine."

Konatsu paused for a moment. "Maybe I shouldn't... " he
unzipped the bag and his eyes lit upon some mascara. "But
this is the same brand!" he picked it up. "I will beg pardon
later, I'm sure whoever owns this won't mind me using a
little." Skillfully he applied the black mascara, then he
carefully wiped and replaced the wand. "I wonder who..."
Konatsu exaimined the bag. "ah... a name."

Konatsu read the name and frowned. "Mi-ka-do Sa-n-ze-ni-n... ?
MIKADO?!!" he shrieked. "Yuck! _Yuck_!"

Nabiki chuckled. At least some people were still providing
entertainment. She looked over at Ranma and Akane who were
sitting with Ukyou. *Hmmm... looks like Ukyou's still in
Ice Queen mode.* Nabiki scanned the room. *And no sign of
Ryoga, those two are such fools.* She smiled. *I'll have
to start planning what I want to do with the restaurant at
this rate.*

***

Ryoga thought frantically. *Okay... act like a man, act
like a man... think manly! Do something manly.* His mind
raced. *Hmmm... throw her over my shoulder and carry her
off? No, already did that and she hated it. Umm... beat
up someone who insulted her... no, did THAT already and
I never want her to know what that guy was saying, or
what _I_ was saying... Umm... Insult her? No no no. Sing?
Did that. Dress sexy and impress her with my dancing
abilities? Did THAT. Oh no... here she comes...*

"Ryoga, get the luggage out of the bus!" Ukyou ordered.

*Uhhh....*

"Say please."

Silence descended on the group.

"WHAT did you say?" Ukyou couldn't believe her ears.

"Say 'please'," Ryoga repeated. "I'm not your personal
slave, I'm your business partner, so you have to say
'please' when you ask me to do something."

Ukyou fumed. *How DARE he??? And on top of everything
else!!!!* "Do as I say!!!"

"Do it yourself." Ryoga started to walk away.

The group stared at him in fascinated horror.

Ukyou stared after him. He WOULDN'T!!! He COULDN'T!!!
He WAS!!!

"Ryoga!" her voice cracked like a whip. He stopped and
turned back casually. "Yes, Kuonji-san?"

Ukyou flinched. "Ryoga...kun... _please_ unload the bus."

"Why _certainly_ Ukyou-san, I'd be delighted to." Ryoga
brushed past her on the way to the bus and she turned to
stare after him.

Kiyone secretly grinned, "That's one for his side."

"No fair screwing with the odds Kiyone," Nabiki murmured.
Kiyone winked at her.

***

Ukyou flicked through Nabiki's travel book and tried to
concentrate on finding 'fun' things for everything to
do the next day. But Ryoga's actions earlier that evening
kept intruding on her thoughts. Finally she slammed down
and glared into space.

*Damn him!* she thought. *What does he think he's doing?
Acting like that.*

*But doesn't he deserve some respect?* A little voice
whispered in her mind. *Aren't you overreacting just a
little too much?*

Ukyou licked her lips. *But... but...*

*But what? I think you've been angry enough, its time to
forgive him.*

Ukyou sighed. *I guess so.* she thought crossly. She picked
up the book again. *Right, lets see...*

***

"This is KL Tower." annouced Ukyou. "Its the third highest
telecommunications tower in the world and we are very lucky
that it's such a nice day because the view at the top will be
incredible!"

Suka blanched. "Its high..." he murmered.

Miya squeezed his arm. "Are you scared?" she teased.

"Uh... no, not at all."

Ukyou turned to Ryoga, her attitude was one of calm,
collected professionalism. "Ryoga-kun, could you help me
get the tickets? I don't think they speak Japanese and my
English isn't that great."

Ryoga nodded. "Certainly, Ukyou-san." he replied. *Well, at
least she is being polite to me, thats a start right?*

They set off towards the ticket booth.

Konatsu sighed. Kiyone shot him a worried look, "Are you
okay?" she asked.

Konatsu sniffed. "I'm feeling very confused, Kiyone-san.
Part of me is happy that Ukyou-sama is being so cold to
Ryoga-san, but another part of me is unhappy." he said.

Kiyone patted his shoulder. "This must be rough on you."

"I really want her to be happy." said Konatsu. "But I'd
rather she was happy with _me_."

"I know _exactly_ how you feel." said Godai who had
overheard the conversation.

Konatsu sighed again. Kiyone nudged him. "Come on, lets
go. Unless you want to go with Mikado!"

Konatsu groaned. "Nooooo!!!" He grabbed both Kiyone and
Godai and dragged them off at top speed.

***

"No. No. Nonononononno and no times one thousand!"

"Stop being such a baby, Ranma!" Akane pulled her fiance's
arm. "I want to go."

"_You_ go. I'll admire the orchids." Ranma clung to the
tree with his arms and legs.

"You don't _like_ flowers! Do you know what an orchid is?"

"A flower?"

"ARRRRGGHHH!!!" Akane took a mallet out of nowhere and pounded
Ranma until he dropped off the tree, then she grabbed his
pigtail and dragged him. "We are going roller skating!"

At the rink Mikado spun in front of Konatsu and then posed.
"I am undefeated in this arena fair Konatsu. Will you join
me?"

Konatsu smiled sweetly. "Sure." he said. "But please don't
laugh. I am so bad." he pushed himself off the railing and
sped towards the centre of the rink.

"Careful!" Mikado skated after him.

Konatsu halted and turned. "Mikado-chan... " he smiled even
more sweetly. "Was the move you just did something like this?"
he executed a perfect spin and then started skating rings
around Mikado.

"Huh?"

Ukyou laughed as she watched her faithful employee totally
confusing Mikado. "Little does Mikado know that I taught
Konatsu how to skate and he's a natural." she said to Miya.

"Well, he's very good." Miya glanced over her shoulder. "Come
_on_ Suka! How long does it take you and Godai to put on
skates?"

Suka sweatdropped. "Uhhh... well... you see."

The two women looked at each other and sighed. "They can't
skate." they said in unison.

Ukyou looked around the rink and saw Akane pushing a wildly
protesting Ranma onto the rink. *Poor Ranchan, I guess he'll
never learn!* Kiyone and Nabiki were drinking coffee at a
cafe by the rink, and Ryoga...

"Ittaiiiii!!!!" yelped Ryoga for the umpteenth time as he
landed on his face. *This is soooo embarrassing. Why did I
let Kiyone talk me into this?* he cast a resentful look at
her. *She's not out here! Is this supposed to make me look
manly? I feel like a fool. Please kami, don't let Ukyou see
me, I'd just... *

"Ryoga?"

*My life is over.* Ryoga looked up into Ukyou's face. Her
expression was neutral. "H-hi... having fun?" he asked
weakly.

Ukyou tilted her head. "Yes, I am. But you look like you
could use a hand." she held hers out. "Come on."

*Huh?* Ryoga stared dumbly at her.

Ukyou smiled. "Hey, lets say truce, ne?" she giggled. "I
need you to make this tour a success."

Ryoga smiled back at her. Okay, so it wasn't _exactly_
what he wanted, but it was a start. He took her hands and
she helped him to his feet.

"Ukyou, about... about Bangkok..." he began.

She shook her head. "Don't say anything, it was a crazy
night." she shrugged. "I wasn't... myself."

*Oh.* Ryoga felt slightly deflated, but his spirits picked
up at her next words.

"What some help in learning to skate, sugar?"

"H-hai..."

***

"<It's a bargain, Miss. You won't find anything cheaper
here.>" the vendor at Petaling Street said firmly.

Kiyone's eyes narrowed, she reached out and snagged Ryoga.
"Hey, Ryoga-kun. I think this guy is charging me too much,
can you help me out?"

"Sure." Ryoga said. He turned to the vendor and fired off
a rapid speech in Malay.

Ukyou stood and watched the exchange, the vendor was nearly
jumping up and down in outrage, but Ryoga remained firm. She
smiled faintly. Who would have guessed back in Nerima that
Ryoga Hibiki was a hard bargainer? Then again, who would've
thought that Mousse could be a Hong Kong movie star and an
idol singer? Life was full of little twists and turns.

"Ucchan!" Ranma tapped her on the shoulder.

She turned and smiled at him. "Wow. You've got alot of
stuff there, Ranchan."

"Too much." growled Akane appearing next to them. "He just
kept buying."

"Hey, they just kept shoving things at me." said Ranma.
"And they all looked so cool."

Ukyou peered at the junk Ranma was carrying. "What are you
going to do with a gilt-plated birdcage?"

Ranma stared at the birdcage. "How did _that_ get there?"

Ryoga, having successfully bargained down Kiyone's scarf,
strolled over to them. "What's that pile of junk?"

Ranma looked offended. "There's some good stuff here!" he
protested. "Look." he pulled out a smart silk jacket.

Ryoga looked at it. "How much did you pay for it?"

Ranma named a sum and Ryoga promptly laughed. "Oh man!
You've been had! It's worth only a third of that!"

Akane fumed. "I told you!" she yelled at Ranma. "You are
such a moron!"

Ranma who had been looking glum, glared at her. "I didn't
see you complaining when I got you those earrings!"

Ukyou rolled her eyes. *Oh boy, here we go again.* she saw
Ryoga looking at the bickering couple with a resigned
expression, then he felt her eyes on him and looked at her.
Ukyou gave him a welcoming smile, the last vestiges of her
anger draining away. "Shall we leave them to it?"

Ryoga heard the welcome in her voice and his heart lept.
"S-sure." he said. "I could... um... help you get a real
bargain on some jewellery."

Ukyou nodded. "I'd like that, Ryoga. Ooki ni!"

***
Singapore

"<Please disembark from your vehicle and present your
passports.>" said the Customs Official at Singapore
Customs to Ryoga.

"<Certainly.>" Ryoga turned to everyone else. "Okay,
give me your passports and then we'll be on our way."

"Don't we have to have visas?" asked Akane.

"Not here, as long as we're only staying for a short
while, all we need are stamps on the passports."

"I'll get them." offered Ukyou, she got up and collected
the passports and brought them to Ryoga. "Do you want me
to come with you?" she asked Ryoga.

"Might be an idea." Ryoga laughed. "I'd hate to get shot
for going the wrong way!"

Ukyou grinned. *Why doesn't he laugh more often? He's so...*
she blinked and pulled her thoughts to order. "Okay then,
everyone sit tight, this won't take long."

She and Ryoga got out of the bus.

"At least they're getting along." said Miya.

Ranma nodded. "Yup and with my new plan..." he began.

*CRUNCH!!!*

Everyone applauded as Akane malleted Ranma. "Baka!" she
said. "Are you taking tips from your Dad? Stop meddling!
That's what messed them up in the first place."

Ranma slid off the seat with a groan. "Kawaiikune..."

Ukyou and Ryoga re-entered.

"Everythings in in order." Ukyou annouced. "Uh... what
happened to Ranma?"

Ryoga couldn't help grinning maliciously. "I'll bet he
got struck by his usual affliction."

"The foot in mouth disease." stated Akane. "He's doomed to
suffer it all his life I believe."

Ukyou nodded. "Poor Ranchan... forever cursed, in two ways."

"I'm still here you know." said Ranma.

Ukyou looked down at him and realised something. Her heart
wasn't doing flip-flops... strange. Something to be analysed
later, she turned away and sat by Ryoga.

"Take us into Singapore, Ryoga-honey."

"At your command!" he smiled at her, mock-saluted and
started the engine.

As the bus drove away, Ukyou put one hand to her chest. Her
heart was doing flip-flops.

***
To be contined

***
Selamat petang = Good evening
Sila masuk = Please come in
Terima leasih = Thank you

Song Credits:

Suki to Itte (Say You Love Me) - Sailor Moon. 

 

Chapter 15

Index