"Ya know, its funny how when ya start ta really look around ya, everythin' just seem ta jumble up and get all confusing ya know?"

"You're not making sense Ranma."

"Then tell me why Ryouga, why did she die to save me instead? I'm supposed to save her."

"She did what she had to."

"No she didn't, I gave her all the reasons ta hate me. Ya saw me gave those reasons ta her when we were in junior high. That's why ya chased me all the way ta China in the first place, that and the bread feud."

"She just wants you to live."

"How am I supposed to do that now?"

"Akane is still here."

"She's the only reason I stayed with the Tendo Family."

"Did you know, if you stand in the rain and hold your breath and close your eyes, it feels like your underwater."

"Whatever Ranma, whatever..."

Another pointless Ranma ½ fic by me:

Into the Lion's den

Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this fic is the original character I put in and the plot, probably, but theres probably another one out there that's like this already so I can't really place my bet on it

Confused yet? Believe it or not, this isn't the first time me and Ryouga actually sat down and had a nice a civilized talk like any other person. Imagine that, it takes us three years to manage to sit down and talk like friends again. It shows you how badly I screwed up. I still remember the last time we were talking like this.

"HELP ME RYOUGA!"

"Calm down Ranma, if you keep yelling like that, I'm going to the other café!"

Yep, that's me sitting across the table from Ryouga screaming for him to help me. It was one of those times when I manage to steal a couple thousand yen from my father so I can actually buy a good lunch and eat it with a friend.

"But what am I suppose to do! How do you ask!"

"Just ask! Are you a man or not!"

"SHUT UP! I don't see YOU asking a girl out on a date!"

Who's the girl you ask? The most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life, the only girl to have ever made me feel like I'll never be alone again, the first girl that I'll ever remember protecting from the world.

"Oh come on, it's just Kyoko, it's not like she'll say no or bite your head off." Ryouga replied calmly.

"But... a DATE! It's not like we're going to the park or pool for fun!"

"Just ask..."

Heh, imagine that, I actually went to mister nosebleed for women advice. I was young and foolish I guess, but I never thought Ryouga would ever become like that. But then again, he did know Kyoko ever since elementary school and she's been his best friend since... well since ever.

"Hey Ryouga, Hi Ranma."

I remember turning and seeing her beautiful chestnut eyes, and short dark black hair that framed her face so elegantly. Her voice is so sweet, even sweeter than Kasumi's in my ears. Her smile is like a goddess descending towards me...

Ok, I'm exaggerating about her looks so sue me. I guess in a way, even Akane, as uncute as that tomboy is, has a better figure than she does (But I don't take back the flat chested part! Kyoko was still thirteen back then!) All in all, she's just your average school girl. Then again, I never did take looks into account do I? If I did, I'd be married to Shampoo or Ukyou already. Back to the point, Kyoko, she is... special. One of the reason why she is friends with Ryouga, not that I'm saying he is hopeless in making friends, it's just that with his direction sense, not many kids want to be friends with him. But also because of that, he didn't hear about all the rumors about Kyoko so he befriends her. Kyoko at that time, or so I was told by Ryouga, is pretty desperate for a friend of her own so she stuck with Ryouga and lead him to school and everything for most of their elementary school life.

"Hey Ranma, I want to talk to you." Kyoko said looking really cute with a blushed face.

"I-I- umm... sure... I mean... err... I want to... umm..."

"Look Kyoko, Ranma wants to take you out on a date ok? Just nod and say yes." Ryouga blurted out.

I remember blushing and looking out the window. I think Kyoko was doing the same because when I turned to glance at her, her face was all red and she was glancing everywhere but me. After a few minutes of hearing Ryouga laugh at us and us trying not to look at each other, we decided to talk about it later.

How I wish I took her on a date before we talked.

"Ranma, I saw monsters in your mind. I think I can help."

Those words echoed in my mind and struck something in me. She saw monsters in me, the Cat Fist, something even I can't stand up to. I know if I let her, my own demons will get her killed.

I think I'm getting ahead of myself. Remember when I said Kyoko is special? Well she can seep into a person's mind and wander in it. She tells me it's like watching a movie fast forwarded, but the scenes are all mixed up and some of them are more blurry than others. When she first told me, and seeped into my mind, I loved every moment of it. I would let her wander in my mind for hours, forgetting about training with pops. Those are moments in my life which I cherish the most. No one knows about it except me, Kyoko and maybe her parents. I would share my thoughts with her and we would just sit there leaning on each other with our foreheads touching and our eyes closed. Everything I would experience, she would experience as well. All the happiness I felt when I learn a new martial arts move, all the determination I have to become the best. All the pain I felt during training. All the feelings I have for her that overwhelms everything I ever dreamed of attaining...

I never thought she would see the most guarded demon in me. I never thought of the saying "Practice makes Perfect", maybe all the times I let her in my mind, she was getting better at diving into it?

"No, it's my problem, I need to deal with it myself."

"But Ranma!"

"No, and that's final!"

By that time, I've forgotten that we're supposed to talk about our up coming date. Ryouga got mad at me for making her sad. I suppose that's how it all started between me and Ryouga, the infamous bread feud, our daily fights. Of course the way I started to act towards Kyoko only fueled his anger. Every day I would see her standing in front of the metal gate of our school waiting for my answer, and everyday I would ignore her by giving her a cold shoulder.

She just kept insisting, and I made myself my eternal rival that chased me all the way to China because I betrayed his best friend, oh yeah, and taking all his bread.

When I finally left for China, I didn't even say goodbye to her. One of the three regrets I have in my live that I would pay for, for the rest of my life.

"Ranma it's going to rain soon! COME ON!" Akane yelled at me as we ran towards her home.

Yep, just a usual day for me, of course, I never thought that this day would be the day I would lose everything I have lived for ever since...

"Ranma?"

Her voice made my whole body shiver as the same warm feeling once again wash over me. I saw her again. After three years of running, she somehow stumbled onto me again.

"Kyoko..."

Sixteen now, a hell of a lot sexier! I couldn't help but compare Kyoko to Akane, while my fiancé has a very fit and athletic body and lots of muscles, Kyoko has a simple willowy figure. She still keeps her hair short, a bit longer than Akane's hair. Her skin seems to have become paler than the last time I've seen her. I won't look at her face though, because if I do, I know I would not have the will to push her away again.

"Who is she Ranma?" Akane said in her usual pervert bashing voice.

"Get lost, I don't want to see you again, freak." my whole body winced visibly as I said that. Of course, she knows me too well.

"You don't mean that." Kyoko replied and walked towards me. I involuntarily took a step back, trying to fight off the urge to just run up to her and wrap my arms around her, to feel her warmth against me again. I turned my back towards her.

"Just go away."

"I don't think that's the way to talk to your girlfriend is it?"

And there it is! Somehow, after all these years, Kyoko can still say the phrase I want her to say even without me giving her a hint.

"RANMA YOU PERVERT!" That's Akane's 'angry angry hippo' voice, or so I've dubbed it. So for once, that mallet of hers really helped me in a tight situation.

By now, you should realize that my luck is never good, and all good things is just a short delay to the eventual 'shit hitting the fan' situation.

And like he has swore time and time again, Ryouga managed to really make my life hell.

"RANMA! Come out and apologize to her NOW!"

"What is it this time Ryouga, I didn't do anything to Akane."

"How DARE you call Kyoko a FREAK!"

I froze and looked behind my self proclaimed eternal rival. Kyoko. She's here and I can't hide from her anymore.

"Come in you two, I'll ask Kasumi to bring us some snacks and tea or something."

"Oh my, I didn't know we have guests today."

"It's just Ryouga and his friend, can we have some cookies and tea please?"

"Of course Ranma. Why don't you three go wait in the living room and I'll bring them out for you?"

"Thanks a lot Kasumi"

"Thanks"

"Thank you."

The three of us sat at the table looking at each other. Well it's more like Ryouga looking at the two of us, Kyoko staring at me, while I try my best to avoid her gaze, which I am very successful at I might add.

"Here's your tea and cookies."

"Thanks Kasumi, ya wanna join us?"

"That's ok Ranma, I don't want to intrude."

We ate our cookies in silence. I don't know what happened exactly, but soon, the three of us were chatting like we used to again. I guess it just felt like we were thirteen again. We would do this every weekend when I manage to escape from pop's training. We would go to Kyoko's house and eat cookies and drink some tea or juice and talk about everything.

I don't know how long we talked, but soon, Akane came home from the movie she and some of her friends went to. I'm sure the only thing keeping her from hitting me was the fact that Ryouga was actually sitting there with me and not actively trying to kill me, or as she puts it, I am not torturing poor Ryouga until she feels the need to punish me.

The next few minutes turned out to be the most confusing. Pops and Mr.Tendo just pop out of nowhere suddenly, demanding who Kyoko is and why am I associating with her of course, being the person she is, Akane joined in too. Kyoko got this really cute blank look on her face as Ryouga tried to convince her that they are not crazy, or at least not crazy enough to put in an asylum.

"Ranma, what IS she doing here." Akane said glaring at me.

"She a person I know few years ago... just talking with her." I replied coldly, suddenly remembering why she was here.

Kyoko seemed to have remembered why she was here too, she suddenly stands up and looks at me, "Ranma, let me cure your cat fist."

Everyone in the room gasped while I just stared at the ground beside me, "No, you don't have to do this, it's non of your business."

"BOY! This is the best chance of curing your one weakness! Take it!"

"Yes son! For the good of the school!"

"So that's why..." Ryouga whispered beside me, "That's why you were like that."

"No, why are you doing this Kyoko, is it because I'm your boyfriend? Well, I'm engaged to be married to her" I said pointing to Akane, "or are you doing it because you think your helping me? Well I don't need your help! Just go back home, your parents will be worried about you."

"Why are you refusing!" Akane suddenly yelled, "It's because she's a girl isn't it! Your afraid to get help from a girl!"

I clentched my fist so tight I felt like my hand is going to shatter. It was Ryouga who saved me, "Don't do it Kyoko, I'm telling you, as your friend, don't do it."

Akane stared at Ryouga with wide eyes like the first sign of apocalypse was there. I would have laughed if Kyoko wasn't standing in front of me. I can still feel her stare burning right into me.

"You can't tell me what to do Ryouga, I'm going to help Ranma and you can't change my mind."

"I won't let you do it Kyoko." I heard myself said.

"BOY! Accept her help!"

"I won't let you do it Kyoko, because I won't let you die." I said. For the second time in my life, I felt for sure what I want, "I won't let you die to help me Kyoko because if you die, then all that I've done would've been for nothing. All the time I trained, I bled, all for nothing."

"Stop acting so macho and just accept her help! Your being too melodramatic, she's just going to get rid of it. I bet your lieing about her going to die just to scare her off!" Akane fumed as if she knew everything in the world.

"Please Ranma, let me help you."

Both the parents were silent, both in silent contemplation. Ryouga stood by my side, unwavering helping me make my stand, "No Kyoko, I won't let you help me and die because if I let you die because of me, all my training to protect you will be for nothing, and everything I've endured under my father would have been for nothing! Everything in which I believe in will be burnt to ashes!"

Ryouga put his hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw him shook his head, "Don't say it Ranma."

I hardened myself, "I love you Kyoko, I won't let you die because I love you."

I saw my father nodded as if confirming his suspicion. Mr.Tendo stared at me in wonder as if finally understanding who I really am. Ryouga sighed and turned his head away, but still keeping his hand on my shoulder. I didn't want to look at Akane's face but I know she is shocked, "I love you, I always had, that's why I can't let you die helping me."

"Ranma... look at me."

And that's that... the end of this story, my story. I turned to look at her face, the face I dreamed of every night, dreaming of her beside me, dreaming of me protecting her. The face I saw wasn't that face, nor was it a face of sadness. It was Kyoko when she is determined. All of a sudden, I felt her dive into my mind. I cursed myself for forgetting how her skills will grow and quickly pulled out every trick I know of to block her from getting into my mind.

I don't know when I was knocked out, but when I woke up I found everyone staring at me. I tried to lift myself from the ground to find Kyoko on top of me hindering my movement. I looked at her face, still a mask of grim determination with a hint of fear, only a trail of blood from her nose marred her face. She was dead, I knew it from the time she dived into my mind. The girl I love is dead. Robotically, I walked out of the house carrying her body with me, everyone followed me to a empty field. I placed to body beside the field and walked to the centre.

I screamed in anguish as a pillar of green erupted from me.

"Hey look, a cat." Ranma said staring at the black stray.

"Yeah so?"

"I hate them."

"Me too." Ryouga sighed, trying desperately to find something to say before Ranma says something depressing again.

"You remember the last time we actually sat down and talked without beating the crap out of each other?"

"Yeah, when you were about to ask Kyoko on that date, it never happened did it?"

"It never did."

"Right..."

"Hey Ryouga, your going to be traveling again right?"

"Probably, I still need to find a technique to beat you."

"Can I come along?"

"You should stay here."

"I can't."

"Don't let this stop you from living Ranma."

And odd silence hanged around the two.

"Did you know, that when you laugh, your expression is almost exactly like the one you have when you cry?"

"Talk some sense Ranma."

"Maybe I would if she was still alive, maybe I would if she never found me."

"I'm the depressing one Ranma, let me do the angst, it doesn't suit you. She did it so that you can live, she did it because... because she loves you. Don't do this to her."

"She took away something from me that's even more important than the Art, Ryouga."

"Don't die Ranma."

"That's like telling me to walk into a lion's den, I just won't do it." Ranma punched to roof softly, leaving four narrow slits on the tiles, "Maybe if I did, this would have never happened. I don't think I can ever do martial arts anymore. Look at me, I don't even want to fight and I have the most powerful arts. Ironic isn't it?"

"Don't do this to yourself."

"The art killed her. I won't let something that killed her be a part of my life." Ranma said solemnly, "Maybe I'll find something else to do..."

"Well I'm going now, maybe I still need to find my parents." Ryouga muttered before standing up and hefting his backpack, "don't follow me."

Ranma pulled out his own back pack as Ryouga jumped away, "You followed me to China, it's time I do the following."

As if he was a spirit, Ranma just disappeared into thin air. The only only sign of his existence was the rapid tapping on the roofs as he followed Ryouga.

After massive re-writes, I got an ok version of this story. It's been with me since five months ago and I never did got it to read smoothly. That or it just seemed weird. But I think I finally got a passable version of this story and a go ahead from my pre-reader (Thanks Garah ;) so here it is.

I was experimenting with changing perspectives and some new styles of writing so it was actually much worst than this when I first wrote it. Suggestions are always accepted, flames and others are also accepted. Cash donations are highly recommended and maybe a new video card for my computer .

Neways, if you want to suggest anything, use the nifty button down there