[FFML] [Fanfic][Ranma][Ratatouille] The Secret of Ukyo: Food & Love - Chapter 2

[Wanderer D]

Hello everyone.
This chapter does not have so much action, but I want to give the feeling of things moving (at
their own pace, maybe, but still moving) and that although the center of attention of the story
will be Rémy and Ukyo, several things outside their control are happening. So, if you feel like
C&C-ing this, I would very much appreciate your thoughts on this and whether this chapter achieves
it.

-WD 


The Secret of Ukyo: Food and Love
Chapter 2
By Wanderer D

“So
 where did you go last night?” Nabiki asked as her friend zombied her way through the streets.
“Needed walk
 took a long air.” Ukyo mumbled.
“Right
 incoherence aside
” Nabiki sighed and walked inside a building, followed blindly by Ukyo.
“This is our first stop.” Nabiki motioned around. “It has a nice view of the Seine, and space for
tables outside.”
Ukyo groaned and shook her head, awakening a bit as she took stock. “Well
 we have enough space
for around twenty tables in here
 plus around five or so comfortably outside.” She walked out into
the street and looked across the Seine. “Hey, is that La Ratatouille over there?”
Nabiki looked across the river. “Yep, that’s it.” She looked at Ukyo, noticing the small smile and
faraway look. “U-chan
”
“Uh? Oh, yeah
 it looks good. What about the second floor?” Ukyo made her way inside the building.
“I thought you’d never ask.” Nabiki said, guiding her to the stairs. “This is office space,
mostly. The previous owners used to live here, much like you live over the Uchan’s back in Japan.”
“Hmm, it does have enough space to live while we set up the restaurant.”
Nabiki nodded. “Yup, but don’t get too excited yet, we need to go see the other two places
”

-o-

“Damn that Linguini and his stupid rats!” A short, balding man with a goatee watched through the
windows the lanky waiter as he and Colette arranged tables and joked together. “How can they open
a restaurant with rats in the kitchen without the Health Inspector saying something?”
He started walking away from La Ratatouille, muttering to himself, when he stopped in front of a
news stand. Amongst several newspapers one caught his attention. Chuckling to himself, he pointed
at it and gave the vendor some money.
“Now, Linguini, we will see how you can keep your restaurant
” Skinner laughed as he walked
earning a few amused glances from the people he crossed paths with.

-o-

“Hey, Little Chef!” Linguini started piling dishes in the heater. “You didn’t come to the flat
last night. I was kind of worried!”
Colette smiled from the door. “Alfredo, he probably spent the night out with that cute little
mouse of his.”
Linguini turned to look at Rémy, a slightly surprised look on his face. “Getting serious, Little
Chef?”
Rémy smiled and shrugged.
“Hmm, just let him be, Alfredo, remember how you were when we started going out.”
“That was different!”
A tap on the counter made them look back at the rat. Rémy motioned for the oven, the plates and
the freezer.
“See? Everything is under control Alfredo.” Colette said, smiling as she went to the freezer to
take out food. “Little Chef’s head is on the job, and nothing else.”
Linguini had already bent down to check the oven, but he didn’t miss the faraway look and smile
Rémy allowed himself for a moment.

-o-

“How was it Émile?” Django asked as his son skittered into the nest.
“Well, they want to talk.” Émile said, sitting down and reaching for the first available piece of
trash to eat. “They want to know how we’re getting food from La Ratatouille, and why they
shouldn’t sack the place. They say that as far as Rat rules say, it’s open for the take.”
“That conniving little cretin.” Django sighed, disgusted. “Didn’t you tell him that it was out of
boundaries?”
Émile nodded, chewing on the remains of an apple. “Yeah! But he said that we had been seen leaving
the place with food and if we can get it, so can they.”
Django pierced his son’s eyes with his, stopping him in mid-bite, a look of slight panic in his
face. “That idiot Joan has to understand
” he stopped. “I’ll talk to him personally, I can’t have
him jeopardizing Rémy’s dream.”
“Are you sure that is a good idea?” Émile looked at his father a little worried.
“I’ll be fine. You and Git come with me. We’ll sort it out.”

-o-

“Well, that was the last place I had considered.” Nabiki said as she and Ukyo left a larger former
restaurant. “This place is by far the more expensive. It used to be Gusteau’s
 but it was
cancelled because of
”
“A rat infestation, I heard.” Ukyo said.
Nabiki arched an eyebrow. “Well, how did you know that?”
Ukyo smiled sheepishly. “I met a guy last night, Rémy, and he told me about it.”
Nabiki shook her head. “If I didn’t know for a fact that you can smash through solid stone walls I
would tell you to be a bit more careful
 what am I saying? Be careful! This is only a short stop!”
Ukyo smiled at her friend. “Okay, okay, I get it. I just happened to connect with him, okay? Now,
how about we get some food?”
Nabiki looked at her askance. “I gather you want to go to La Ratatouille?”
“As a matter of fact
”
“I have another suggestion.” Nabiki said. “We can have dinner there, but, as it is, we need to get
to know our opponents better
”
Ukyo sighed. “Where do you have in mind?”

-o-

As Skinner walked down the streets of Paris contemplating his plan, he saw two girls walk past him
talking about getting to know their business opponents better and then walk up to a restaurant.
Not believing his luck he looked down at the newspaper, then, making up his mind, he followed them
inside.

-o-

“Nabs, I think that short man in the corner table has been staring at us ever since he walked in.”
Ukyo whispered as she took a sip of her wine.
Nabiki didn’t turn. “Well
 two attractive Japanese young women, obviously tourists in Paris
”
“I thought so at first, but he keeps looking at us, then at the newspaper.”
This gave Nabiki pause. “Well, we’ll see what he wants when we finish dinner. How’s your boeuf
bourguignon?”
Ukyo nodded. “It’s good, but I think they could have used a different red wine for the sauce.”
Nabiki smiled. “Do you feel like finishing off with a tarte tatin?”
“Sure.”

>From his table, Skinner compared the picture in the newspaper for the umpteenth time. One of the
many food critics to go eat at La Ratatouille had recognized the Japanese-born chef, Ukyo Kounji
and her business partner, Nabiki Tendo as two guests at the restaurant the last evening. 
Skinner fumed, skipping her glowing review of the food, then, the critic had mentioned that the
Japanese chef had even stayed behind to talk to the chefs in the restaurant. The critic finished
her piece by adding a speculation on whether this was simply a social visit or a calculated stop
to scout for possible problems in a future Paris installment of the “Uchan’s”. 
Skinner considered the critical look that Ukyo had taken the moment of her first bite, before
collecting herself and eating further. He was sure that she had noticed the low quality of the
wine used for the sauce. Her partner, Nabiki, was easier to understand. She had taken a critical
and calculating look at everything, from the uniforms, to the decorations, to the costs of each
item in the menu.
He had seen her calculate everything. And with a cook of real skill, like Ukyo with her
 they were
a force to be reckoned. But, if they had been impressed favorably by Linguini and that traitor,
Colette, how would they react when they found out that the real chef was a rat?
He doubted that Linguini or Colette were stupid enough to risk antagonizing an internationally
acclaimed chef like Ukyo by pretending that a rat of all things was an appropriate cook to feed
humans.
Seeing that they had ordered desserts, he motioned for the waiter.

“Waiter, check please!” Nabiki said as the waiter approached her.
“Ladies, the gentleman in the corner table has asked to be allowed to pay for your meal and asks
if you would permit him a few minutes of your time.” The waiter said.
The two women looked at each other, then over at Skinner, who smiled at them.
“What do you think, Nabs?” Ukyo asked, turning slightly away so that the short man wouldn’t see
her grimace.
Nabiki shrugged. “Well, we were wondering what he had in mind, right? Let’s find out. A free meal
is a free meal after all.”
Ukyo smiled and shook her head. “Fine. Lead the way.”

Nabiki was the first to talk to the man, who had stood up next to the table. “Thank you for paying
for the meal, Mr. ...”
“Skinner, Mrs. Tendo.” He motioned for the seats as Ukyo also approached. “I’m also a Chef, and
when I recognized you, Mrs. Kounji, I just had to talk to you.”
Ukyo frowned, remembering the name from somewhere, then it clicked on her. “Weren’t you the Chef
at Gusteau’s?”
Skinner’s smile almost slipped. “Why, indeed, I am honored that you should know me by reputation.
It was indeed a sad day when such a famous and respected restaurant fell into disarray.” He pulled
back the chair for Ukyo to sit down. “Would you ladies care to share a drink with me? They don’t
have much, but for a casual conversation we could always have a Magnum Château Ausone, 1985,
perhaps accompanied by some Roquefort cheese.”
“That
 sounds good.” Ukyo said after a slight nod from Nabiki.
“I must say, both of you ladies speak excellent French!” Skinner said, helping Nabiki to her seat
and motioning for the waiter. He had noticed Ukyo’s eyes when he had mentioned the Roquefort
cheese. “Add to the cheese plate a cut from your finest Bleu d'Auvergne.” He told the waiter, who
nodded and skipped off to the kitchen.
Ukyo smiled despite herself. Maybe this man wasn’t as bad as Rémy made him sound.

After a long talk about the cooking business, promoting, innovating and handling staff, Skinner
felt much more at ease. At first, being foreigners, he had feared they would be too aloof and ill
prepared for such a deep conversation in French; but both women had an amazing ability for
languages, barely even stopping to translate the odd recipe or word, and unlike that cretin
Linguini, they both knew how to properly appreciate wine, from nursing to sipping. 
Their delight in French cheese, or rather Chef Kounji’s, was almost endearing. Almost. But he had
a plan to put into action.
“
 and that is when Horst said, ‘Wait, did you just say kidney?’ and almost knocked down Mustafa
as he went out into the dining room.”
Both girls laughed, earning a smile from Skinner. With a deep sigh he took a sip from his wine.
“And that brings me to today’s problem. I have been trying to talk to Linguini and Mrs. Tatou,
about setting a bigger business than La Ratatouille.”
Ukyo nodded, although a silent alarm in the back of her head reminded her of how ruthless this man
could be according to Rémy. “Yes
 we were there last night, and the dishes are amazing. I am also
surprised they haven’t attempted to claim back Gusteau’s.”
Skinner spread his hands. “I know! But, as long as they keep pet rats in the kitchen, I am afraid
that it would be impossible, but they refuse to listen to me!”
Nabiki’s eyes widened and Ukyo’s became weary. Skinner could have almost shouted in glee.
“Rats?” Nabiki asked. “In the kitchen?” she slowly looked at Ukyo, a calculating look on her face.
Ukyo turned the slightest shade of pink and took a quick sip of her wine. “T-that’s, um. Not good
at all.”
Skinner, who was busy pretending to be sorrowful, did not notice the exchange, further than the
gentle stammer of the obviously struck chef. “Indeed, it is, hardly appropriate of chefs of Mrs.
Tatou’s level to risk the quality of food by letting rats wonder about the kitchen.”
Nabiki nodded, and kicked Ukyo in the shin, from under the table. Ukyo winced, and glared at her,
before adding, “You’re quite right, Chef Skinner.”
“It is a saddening thought.” Skinner said. “If the Health Inspectors or media got a whiff of this,
La Ratatouille would be destroyed. I would hate it for an opponent of Linguini’s to hear of this
disturbing revelation, so I must ask you to keep this between us.”
The girls nodded and Skinner mentally patted himself on the back. Secure in the knowledge that
Nabiki and Ukyo would take advantage of this piece of information, he could now wait and see.
Nabiki Tendo seemed to be the type who knew how to repay a favor, and Ukyo had seemed to like him
well enough. Perhaps after all was said and done they might need a Chef of considerable experience
to take good care of their restaurant.
“Well, ladies, I have taken enough time from you both, please, enjoy the rest of the wine and
cheese, and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.” He slipped a card to Nabiki, who took it
with professional stoicism and, after paying for the bill, he went out of the restaurant.

“That little guy is good.” Nabiki said with a shake of her head. “He rushed the plant in the end,
but it was very effective.”
Ukyo sighed. “It’s too bad, I almost liked him by the end of it. He’s a little too ambitious for
his own good
 and he knows how to carry a grudge.”
Nabiki smirked. “Like someone I know
”
Ukyo took a bite of cheese and a sip of wine, pretending not to have heard her.
“So, Ukyo
” Nabiki slowly traced the edge of her wineglass with her finger as she gazed into the
ruby-like drink inside. “This Rémy you were talking about
 he wouldn’t be a certain rodent Skinner
was referring to, would he?” 
Ukyo took another sip.
“Because if he was, then that means that you knew all about this already
 and you didn’t tell me.”
Nabiki deadpanned.
“Um
 didn’t you already know about Ré- I mean, the rat in the kitchen?” Ukyo asked a bit too
hopefully. It was unlikely, since her partner didn’t have the same resources here as she had in
Japan.
“Of course I did.” Nabiki shook her head. “But you shouldn’t keep secrets from me. I am your
business partner after all.”
Ukyo was nodding and feeling guilty when she suddenly looked up, eyelids lowering dangerously.
“What do you mean you knew? Who told you?”
Nabiki smiled and stood up, having finished her wine. “A little black bird, now, let’s get going.”
Ukyo almost jumped after her. “Wait! What bird?! Nabiki!”

-o-

Ukyo walked back to the hotel by herself. Nabiki had eventually led her to Notre Dame, where she
had met with some contacts of hers, a German man with an eye patch and two dark haired twins at
his side. They had stared at her for a moment before Nabiki had introduced the twins as Hudin and
Munin. After the quick introduction, Nabiki had asked Ukyo to meet her later that night at La
Ratatouille, which left her with a lot of free time. Or not.
As soon as she was out of sight, Ukyo quickly ducked to a deserted side street and made her way
back to Notre Dame.
Seeing her friend still talking with the German man, she stepped back into the shadows, when
suddenly, she was splashed from above with soapy water.
Glaring at the old woman that had thrown out the water, Ukyo sighed and pulled her clothes into
subspace.
She slowly circled around the area where Nabiki was, and got past the watchful yes of the twins,
skittering next to the table where her friend was seated.
“I do not know if this is such a great idea
 opening something like that in Paris?” Nabiki asked a
little doubtful.
“I do not pretend that it is absolutely safe Badb, but
” the man stopped. “I think we should carry
on our conversation somewhere else.”
Nabiki’s body stiffened. Then she stood up. “Right. Let’s get on the bus. I have to see my friend
Ukyo in the hotel soon, anyway.”
“What about
” the man started, as he also stood up. Ukyo pressed herself against the legs of the
table, trying to avoid being seen.
“It’s okay
”
“Badb
”
“Nabiki. And it is okay, I swear.”
The man sighed, then laughed, motioning to his twin bodyguards to lead the way. “Fine, Nabiki. I
knew I liked you when we first talked. I like the way you talk. We’ll leave it at that if that is
what you wish.”
As the two moved away, Ukyo was struck with a feeling of shame as Nabiki smiled and looked over
her shoulder down to where she was hiding, before carrying on her way.

-o-

After a few minutes debate, Ukyo decided to head back to the hotel. Still filling a little bit
guilty, she started walking away from Notre Dame. As she walked past one of the sewer entrances,
she stopped. She had seen some movement.
Curious, she made her way into the sewer, looking about for what had caught her attention. When
she saw nothing, her thoughts slipped back to the bits of the conversation she had heard between
the strange man and Nabiki. Something was going on, and Nabiki was hell bent on keeping her out of
it for some reason.
“Still, it was not a good reason to spy on her, I guess
” Ukyo muttered. A sudden sound stopped
her.
She followed what she now could make as agitated voices to the edge of a waterfall in the sewage.
Looking down, she could see a gathering of rats around four of them. She recognized Django, Rémy’s
dad and the really big and muscular rat. Next to them was a rather fat rat with brown fur, whom
she didn’t recognize.
They were facing off against a slim rat with a bitten tail. It was lanky and his fur was patchy as
if he had been sick and lost fur at some point. 

“Django, Django
 how many times do I have to tell you? We Paris rats have rules. Rules that you
and your peasant clan have to adhere to.” The slim rat said. “Didn’t we talk about this when you
first arrived?”
Django looked straight at Joan. “I know the rules! But it is not about that. The rules don’t say
anything about setting a place out of boundaries for looting.”
“No.” Joan said, glaring at Rémy’s father. “But then, if a place is out of boundaries, it is out
of boundaries for everyone!” he pointed at Django, Émile and Git. “Your clan declared that place
out of boundaries, and we all respected it! But what have you done? You have taken it for
yourself!”
The surrounding rats started shouting and pointing. Above the roar Django’s voice made it through.
“We are not stealing or looting, I swear!” behind him, Git was getting ready to fight, as Émile
looked around fearfully.
“You lie! We have seen you get out from the back of La Ratatouille carrying all sorts of goods!”
Joan shouted back. “We demand to know what you are doing, and how you are getting the food!”
“We
” Django closed his eyes, the effort of confessing evident on his face helped calm down the
crowd as he finally said
 “We
 worked for it.”
There was silence amongst the rats present. Finally, after almost a full minute of silence, Joan
glared at Django, almost shaking with fury. “Are you trying to make fools of us?! Your clan is
banned from Paris! You will reveal the entrance to La Ratatouille before we expel you from this
city!”
“But I’m telling the truth!” Django said, looking around as the rats surrounded all three of them,
making threatening gestures and preparing to attack.
“Get behind me, Django
” Git said, his massive frame intimidating a lot of the angry rats.
A whooshing sound made everyone stop, and suddenly, with a clang, a spatula embedded itself by one
of the corners between the three rats and their aggressors.
“What
” Joan started to say when a small brown figure landed in front of the trio.
With a casual flick of her hand Ukyo pulled the spatula out, holding it in front of her.
“What do you want, mouse?” Joan said, his eyes narrowing. “This is amongst us rats.”
“When you threaten friends of mine, it becomes my problem.” Ukyo said, twirling the spatula
expertly. “If you intend to fight them just because they said the truth, you’ll have to fight me.”
Joan looked around as some of the rats smirked and other looked slightly confused. The threatening
air had disappeared. “Fine. So be it. They are still exiled until they tell us what is really
happening.”
The rats started to disperse, some shooting dirty glares at the mouse and trio of rats.

-o-

“I don’t know what you’re playing at, but that was a bad move.” Django said as he, Émil and Git
walked alongside Ukyo towards the rats’ nest. “But I guess I have to thank you.”
Ukyo shook her head. “You don’t
 I made friends with Rémy last night, and you are his family. It’s
the least I could do.”
That brought a smile to Django. “Well
 how about we celebrate your friendship? We still have some
wine and food from yesterday.”
“Um
 I don’t know if I should
 I mean, I’m supposed to meet Nabiki and
”
“Aw nonsense!” Git exclaimed, his massive frame bending over her. “How long do you have?”
“Um
 I should be at the Hotel de Siene, in about two hours.”
“I’m sure we can have a really quick party then
” Django said.
“But what about La Ratatouille?” Ukyo persisted. “Don’t you have to find a way to resolve this
situation?”
“Don’t worry about that, girl.” Django said to Ukyo, patting her on the back as they reached the
nest. “We’ll protect Rémy’s dream and sort this out.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this
” Émile muttered as Django proceeded to introduce Ukyo to the
clan. He looked over his shoulders, where imaginary shadows moved in the sewers.

-o-

Nabiki lied on the bed, head propped on the pillow, reading a book. She heard the door rattle and
looked up from her novel to gaze placidly at Ukyo, who was just making her way in.
“Had fun?”
Ukyo nodded as she made her way to the bathroom. “I just need a shower. I got dragged into an
impromptu party just as I made my way into St Germain de Pres
”
Nabiki shrugged, but just as Ukyo was about to close the door, she heard her again. “Nabs?”
The middle Tendo daughter paused her reading but didn’t look up. “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry about earlier.”
Nabiki smiled, still hidden by her book. “It’s okay Ukyo. I’ll tell you about it later.”
Ukyo closed the door behind her and Nabiki could hear her turning on the shower. Still smiling,
she settled down to read her book again.

End Chapter 2



       
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