An ancient immortal in charge of the Hibiki line paced from one spot to the next waiting for the man inspecting the official documents.
"Well Miss Hibiki, everything seems in order so you can take the Hibiki Residence situated in Nerima, Japan." The little girl jumped happy at the news. It took some time and resources to get the property on her name. The girl left the Department of housing in Tokyo hoping a certain someone dear in her life would have a place to go at her side.
The lawyer inspected carefully her signature even when she left and confided in her secretary about the extravagant buy. "Can you believe it Miss Ino-san, a young girl with that amount of money on her and buying an abandoned house triple its value . . .Sometimes this life is so unfair. . ."
What the unfortunate man never realized was all the history that tiny girl had with respect to that property. He could not accept nor understand the deep ramifications between this particular individual and the existence he shared in his small life. So, the man shrugged the case like another nut-job wasting precious money for nothing.
This little unknown girl had gone through several realities and worlds with one goal in mind. To protect her cousin who she swore to look out after her uncle died. Her voyage took her to strange places where Ryoga Hibiki demonstrated odd behaviors.
Sometimes he acted like the enraged teenager trying to destroy everything on his path and others, he acted all cute and dumb, but from all the lives she witnessed in her travels, the common denominator was a pigtailed boy.
Ranma Saotome became a thorn in this boy's back. Most of the time they fought to prove who was the strongest and others to prove their true love for the third actress in this play. Akane Tendo was the catalyst for this pair. She belonged to Ranma and that was a mistake on my cousin's mind.
After so many ways to try and keep them apart, I lost my place . . . And my life trying to save his. Well . . .I am learning my lesson, and I pretend to use this world as my own little piece of heaven.
As the reader compiling this story can see, I became part in his life a long time ago, but knowing the one I fell in love has a mate, I decided to find me another who shares the same qualities and who does not belong to "her".
If there's one thing I love from my journey is the capacity to remember certain spots existing in each of them. A mine here or a cave with buried natural diamonds are set in every world like if the creation had one design, so . . .Even if I loose this place, I know I can go to another dimension and start over . . .I hope that won't be the case.
Days later I arrive home. I have passed for these walls and slept on that bed for over three or four hundred years . . .Always the same. I have lived the year 1996 for so long, I got nightmares now, but this time everything changes.
I clean the place, bring in fresh food and linens made of bright colors. I know where "he" is, but I want to enjoy my time here first . . .There is no rush after all. I cook the way mom taught me and I'm very good at it. I usually set at least two plates on the table, thinking on my cousin . . .Damn! . . .I need to keep him out of my head.
Have I said I'm not really a girl? . . .Well. . . If no one knows my story, that is a blessing already, but bottom line is . . .I got burned down trying to save him . . .No male body to call my own and a female self as my immortal cage, what a bargain.
When I rant like this is because I'm tired, time after time, I try to give him a better life and in some of those tries I fail horribly, sending him into a worse chaos than the one he started from. There is one tiny difference now . . .I don't want to admit it but I have no choice. . .I have fought for him and protected him from anything bad and in the end . . .I think I'm falling for him.
So, this is a new "me" who will meet him in this new world, explain him the truth and see if I have any chance at all. It's easy to move on when you can fly away and not be seen anymore, but my heart stays in me . . .We'll see . . .
The book closed and the redhead hid it from any external observer. Akira Hibiki walked downstairs and into the big town of Nerima. A few miles away from the house, the setting for that old scene played all over again. "Ranma! . . .Stop bothering P-Chan! . . ."
"It ain't me Akane . . .Pig-boy likes to bite me every time we meet . . .Ouch!. . .Damn Ryoga! . . .Cut it out . . ." Sounds of argument and bwees told the girl she had arrived to the right place. "Ryoga? . . .Where is he! . . .?"
Akira shook her head at the distracted girl who could never guess his disguise or tried not to. How many times did Ranma insinuated Ryoga and P-Chan were the same being, I guess when we don't want to see things, they just don't make sense. The new girl walked and stopped on the corner.
Boy, girl and piglet fought either from something the boy said to the girl or the pigtailed teen did to her pet, the case was the same boring story. P-Chan stared angrily at the boy while Akane frowned and threatened to pull a mallet from no where.
The little piglet turned to see that new girl standing on the corner, who was calling him with her extended and retracting finger. Akane and Ranma continued in their heated discussion, giving the pet a chance to walk away and to see what the girl wanted.
Akira crouched and smiled at the little black pig. "Ryoga . . .Yes, I know it's you and I know that is your curse . . .Sorry buddy, but we need to talk . . ." The startled piglet could have run to his owner, but the fangs sticking from the girl's smile compelled him to follow her.
By the time Ranma and Akane finished their argument, P-Chan was gone and the girl began to search everywhere. "Ranma! . . .This is all your fault . . ." The girl left the place fuming while the boy went behind trying to understand why everything always fell on his head.
On his campsite, Ryoga Hibiki finished dressing inside his tent. The girl waited outside and when they met, the boy stared distrusting her intentions. "Ok, you know about my curse . . .Now tell me, Who are you?" The redhead limited her explanation to the basics.
Cousin from his mother's side and her pledge to protect him from his directionless defect. The boy followed every detail carefully and even when he never heard of another Hibiki, he never refused the existence of them.
"Than, dad asked you to follow me around?" The girl sighed. This would be the hundredth time repeating it to him . . .Yet, another Ryoga Hibiki. "Yes, I am your relative and I have admired you for some time. . .I know of China, and how Saotome cursed you into that piglet."
"I have learned a few things myself and I have amassed a small fortune which I'm willing to share with you . . .Plus something else. I am willing to help you, but I want one simple condition from you . . ." The boy knew of deals and consequences . . .Always paying for an easy way out of trouble and ending up badly.
"And that would be? . . ." The girl opened her backpack and offered him a medium size pot. It looked old and dusty. When the boy tried to touch it, the redhead pulled it away. "Ryoga-kun, this is the cure for your curse . . .It took me a lot of money and research to try and find it . . .I will add it to the deal, if you swear that condition as part of it . . ."
The boy's eyes sparkled at the long vase and the desire to get rid of the pig tempted him to accept her deal without thinking any further. "Fine . . .What is it . . .?" The girl gave him the pot and a piece of paper, asking him to sign it with his name and his opened hand pressed against it.
The fanged boy did as told and than pulled the old cork from the bottle. The smell reeked horribly, making him almost gag from the fumes. "Are you sure this is safe? . . ." The girl rolled her eyes, knowing what she was doing.
"It is safe. . . I tested a bit of it a few months back in Jusenkyo. You signed so we are good . . .Use it." Their eyes met for a longer moment this time, she frowned in that Hibiki resolve way only another family member would recognize, peaking his interest even more and reassuring her honest desire for his well being.
Ryoga poured every ounce of the smelly oil on top of him. It felt thick and sludgy, but the tingling in his body told him of some kind of effect. The incredulous boy grabbed his canteen and emptied it on him. There had been so many tries in the past, so his incredulous mind kept siding on the impossibility of it all. . .Increasing the suspense when he opened one eye.
There was no transformation. He felt the luckiest man alive and he danced at the beat in his mind. The dance stopped the moment he remembered the other part of the deal. "Sorry . . .Ok, what is it you need of me . . ."
This was it, the moment the girl with the crimson hair waited for so long. Her teeth clamped to each other from the pressure, hoping everything would be fixed the second she declared the deal, but chances were she could be wrong. There was only one way to know for sure. . .
"Ryoga . . .I want to make sure you'll live a good life, I swore to my uncle and I am an honorable person. From now on you have no excuse to date or to be friendlier with girls . . .You know, you are a full man now and all that."
"There is just one condition. I will help you get a good girl who will love you for who you are, but you are not allowed to try on Akane Tendo, Shampoo from the Amazons, Ukyo Kounji or . . .Ranma Saotome . . ." Ryoga felt numb and went pale when the girl mentioned Akane. The others, he could never try a thing, but his love for the raven haired girl was absolute.
He felt his heart ache in deep pain at the idea of no seeing her as a possible candidate for his love. His eyes displayed his fear and his clenched teeth, his ill judgment after swearing everything for the cure. Still. . .A deal was a deal and he is a man of honor after all.
"Ok . . .I will obey even when my feelings for Akane are what keep me alive, and if you know me well, you should know it's going to be hell to forget her . . .But a deal is a deal. Still, why would you add that idiot in the list . . .I am desperate but if you think I would fall for that bastard or his curse, you don't know Ryoga Hibiki . . ."
His cousin blushed and tried to hit him on the head from her own experiences, but she just shrugged her shoulders and went on with the arrangement. "Whatever . . .Humor me and for anything in this world . . .Do not try anything funny with Ranma's curse . . .Swear it . . ."
The boy bared his teeth at the thought, but he smiled, convinced of his hatred for the pigtailed boy. Both young people walked back home where Akira had everything prepared for him. His room was filled with clothes from various store departments and a brochure on the table.
Ryoga's mouth hanged in awe after seeing his old house all tidy and fixed from floor to roof. There were bright colored curtains on the windows and the front surely looked like someone painted it recently. The boy walked in, grasping his surroundings, until a strange glossy piece of paper called his attention.
"What's this?" The girl took the piece of advertisement and explained him the plan. "Sorry Ryoga, but you've lived in the outdoors for far too long. This school specializes in good manners and social etiquette. Now, the second part of the deal. . .I will be your girlfriend from now on . . ."
To blink in paused motion like the directional lights of a car was an understatement. A beautiful girl who he accepted as family and even saw the relationship on her face was declaring him her place as a woman. . .Not family. . .Forced the boy to re-evaluate his position but knowing the deal kept him sealed by his word.
The boy blushed nervously at her and she knew this would happen. "But . . .You said, Y-You were my cousin . . .I don't think . . ." She slapped him on the back of the head and set him back to reality. "We are not going to do any of that stuff. I will supervise your progress and make sure you won't stray from our deal."
Relief once again set in his mind. If there was one thing everyone proved on him, was his gullibility towards pretty girls, Akira knew this and she used it to her advantage in the deal. The fanged teen sighed comfortably at her and waited for the rest of the details which she relied more openly this time.
"I will see how your classes adapt to your life, I am going to keep you close to me at all times and most of all. . .I will guard you off any girl in this district. . .Specially, her." The moment the girl bit her lower lip made a big impression on the fanged boy, assessing the deal as a life-changing transition in him.
Ryoga accepted the terms and followed every step of the way to a new teenager version of himself. Several days later, a muddy boy followed his "girlfriend" from within the forest. Ryoga tried to learn how to dance and ended up outside town. Aki-san managed to find him and bring him back to the house predicting his well known demeanor and one of the qualities she loved from the start.
The ashamed boy felt the need to apologize for his stupid problem but the girl dismissed it carelessly. "Don't worry Ryo. I told you, I know you and I am family . . .Uncle Kenta gets lost all the time and guess who finds him every, single try? . . .Yes, me."
The boy chuckled at his dad's predicaments, assimilating them to his own. "Thanks . . .Akira-san . . ." The girl nodded and sent him to the bathroom. The next day, the teacher showed him how to welcome a girl and all the preparations before a date.
He learned to offer the chair first, and to always give his guest the reason, even if she was wrong. Many things felt wrong for the boy, but Akira and his teacher taught him about the place of a "man" in society and the role of a romantic "male" in a date.
Ryoga practiced with the little redhead and began to feel his progress within the few weeks of his training. The one constant the boy never realized until late, was the companionship from the girl though. They became close, giving him a chance to ease his nervousness with a real girl and to understand how a boy can interact romantically with a woman without being pushy.
They practiced manners and food rehearsals, dances and taking simple walks on the park. Akira enjoyed his company before he even knew her, but to act as his girlfriend gave her that sensation of belonging. . .Something she missed from all the others in her eternal life.
On one of those occasions, they managed to discover just how far the practice went after the boy finished the romantic dance topping her over and bringing her into his chest. The light was perfect, the setting mood in place and the boy could not resist kissing the girl, guided by the moment.
After the pose ended, he gasped at what he did, expecting a slap or a beating, but the girl smiled at him, giving him the biggest eyes she could muster. He had to make this right though, so he looked to the side ashamed when asking.
"I-I'm sorry. . .I think I got carried away. . .Are you Ok?" The girl giggled in pure bliss at her dream come true, embracing him desperately and opening even more with him. "Ryoga. . .I need to explain you something. . .But we have time. I don't mind what we did and I hoped, you would do it anyway. . .Let me tell you the story of my life. Is like this. . ."
There could have been evil monsters or kidnappings in Nerima but what never changed was the yelling from those two. Akane and Ranma argued for anything and everything giving the impression to not only other people but to Ryoga that Ranma wasn't the right boy for her.
Three months after the last fight and visit from the Hibiki boy as P-Chan, Ryoga arrived to the Tendo Dojo feeling a bit nauseous. His knocks felt shaky and insecure, and the smiling face from Kasumi made the boy even more tense.
"Ryoga-kun . . .So nice to see you, please go the living room, Ranma is at the table . . .Would you like to join us for dinner?" The boy thanked the older girl respectfully while his hand trembled with force. The boy struggled to smile and when he didn't move from the entrance, The older Tendo tilted her head disconcerted.
"Is everything all right Ryoga-kun? . . ." The boy remembered his words of trust in his mind and with fear and all, his hand moved forward . . .In front of the girl. "K-Kasumi . . .T-This are f-for you . . ." The white flowers were beautiful and they looked like just picked. The girl blushed and looked to the side embarrassed.
"Well . . .Thank you, Ryoga-kun . . .No one has given me flowers in, well ever . . ." The boy bowed down and his heartbeat slowed back to normal levels. They walked in and the second welcoming comment came from his annoying rival. The new guest saw angrily at the only flaw in his deal with Akira. Why would she add "him" to it was beyond logic.
He had chances to feel close to his curse when they would fight and even when "he" would use her assets in a prank, but he always held high and never questioned his manhood. . .Why would he start now when Akane had two beautiful sisters.
"Ryoga! . . .Haven't seen you in a long time . . .Were you lost in your house or somethin' . . .?" Ryoga scoffed him like he wasn't there and sat at the table, besides Soun and facing Akane and Ranma. "Ranma . . .Leave him alone, he must be tired from his journey . . .Isn't true Ryoga-kun?"
The boy smiled and nodded amicably at the girl. The rest of the meal went normal for the family. Ranma and his father fought their own plates while Akane would try to excuse the mess to the guest and fight for the civility of the house.
Ryoga finished his plate, offering his thanks to Kasumi for the food and aiming all his attention to the pretty cook. The pigtailed boy wondered about his rival's demeanor and the looks he gave everywhere except at his fiancé. "Ryoga, buddy . . .Are you Ok?"
The boy ignored his concern and his nerves began to show again. "M-Mr. Tendo . . .I . . .I, would like to . . ." His voice threatened to leave and when everyone stared back at him, making the boy the central point of attention, he felt like running away.
The youngest Tendo noted the same change Ranma did, but she never put one and one together when Ryoga tried to express his love for her. Nabiki stopped her boring stares at the table after her sixth sense told her something juicy was about to happen.
With all the family's attention centered on him, the one completely clueless was the eldest daughter, accepting her "prime" as desirable candidate for any type of amorous situations had passed. Still, the fanged boy resolved to rely on the only rule for this dire moment when he focused internally.
His mind kept repeating those words. "I am in control of my life . . .I am in control of . . ." The mantra forced him to "just do it" He would fight the consequences and the humiliation when they'd come, but until then . . .He had to try.
"I would like to ask your daughter on a date . . ." The boy sighed in relief. It was too early since he had no idea how Soun Tendo would get after asking, but the first step was done. Ryoga looked around. . . Everyone stared at him, showing different moods.
Nabiki mentioned something like "Finally . . .The boy decided to talk . . ." Genma frowned and closed his eyes, waiting for his son to intervene. . .Akane gasped and opened her eyes as big as she could and Ranma turned red, hoping to pull him out of the house and beat him up.
"Well young man . . .That is all good and all, but Akane-Chan is engaged and I don't think it would be appropriate . . ." The pigtailed boy tried to smile at his misfortune, but he always had a soft spot for his rival . . .You could even say, he saw him as a close friend.
Akane blushed ashamed at the awkward situation he ended up and got up from the table, trying to change the subject, but Ryoga tilted his head and frowned at the patriarch. That froze everyone in place since no one expected that face. . .More like a panic expression was in their mind.
"No Sir. . .I am not asking for a date with Ranma's fiancé . . .I'm asking for a friendly date with Kasumi-san . . ." Soun blinked quietly at the fanged guest, while the rest of the family stared dumbfounded at his request.
The first thing Ranma thought was "Nice save man" but when Ryoga stared at the brown haired girl with decisive attitude, he was forced to re-evaluate his friend's actions. "Ryoga, buddy. . .I don' think your askin' to the right girl. . .I think . . ." he was left alone with his remark when the fanged teenager ignored any other comment. . .Looking for the father's answer.
On the other hand, Akane felt a tingling sensation in her mind. This was a serious invitation towards her older sister. . .She should be thrilled for him after being alone on the road for so long. . .Yet, that nagging feeling kept pushing another thought in.
If there was some indication of his new treatment towards her, it was the title "Ranma's fiancé." The words began to slowly sink into the minds of the presents. Genma accepted the deal since his precious plan wasn't in danger while Nabiki kept staring at him, doubting the new boy.
Kasumi coughed some of the tea she was sipping in that exact moment and looked between her father and the boy. She looked down and a tiny smile tucked upwards on her lips. "I. . .I guess a friendly date could be Ok . . ." The boy's smile grew even bigger and he bowed at the girl.
Something hit Akane deep in her heart. His friend, Ryoga Hibiki directed all his attention to her oldest sister instead of her. When the boy began to loosen up, he unpacked his special bag while talking only to the eldest Tendo, forcing Akane's feeling sunk even deeper.
If there was one thing the youngest Tendo loved, were the knickknacks he brought from far and wide. This time, he gave several strange and rare spices to the browned haired girl. He talked about dishes made of exotic plants and even promised to take her on one of those fancy restaurants.
When the bag almost emptied, the boy pulled two small boxes. One, he gave to Nabiki and the other to her. Akane opened the box excitedly and deflated when seeing a shell from the ones sold on the beach, a few miles away from Nerima.
"Ranma told me once you like those shells Akane-san . . .I got it for you this morning when I ended up accidentally at the beach . . ." The comment felt uninteresting and bland, like he bought it out of compromise more than by feeling.
This was beyond any rational explanation for the pigtailed boy. The teenager. . .His rival. . .Was "dumping" his fiancee and moving on before his eyes?. . .He could live with that, but something hit him hard as well. . .Something he didn't realize until later.
Nabiki wondered about hers and the girl opened it. The emerald encrusted in a small sunflower reflected perfectly her face back at her, making the girl gasp at the gift. "How? . . ." The boy smiled and confessed his sin at the cold heartened Tendo. "It took me some time, but some of your friends tell me you are not the cold and cruel woman everyone makes you out to be. . .One of them even told me of your weakness for shiny emeralds and sunflowers. . ."
The detail wasn't the price or the expense on the gem . . .She noticed his eyes staring at her soul. There was something she guarded closely and that was to hide any weakness. This gift made her eyes soften. . . There were no tears, but the brimming dance of her irises told him of her true feelings.
Soun was completely lost and with no words to express his mind, but Kasumi amazed them once again when she offered the date for the next day. Ryoga agreed and stood up, bowing and leaving the house. Ranma walked from side to side of the guest room, trying to piece together the new and improved fanged fighter.
"I can go an' see what's he doin' . . .But why . . .He finally is off 'kane, I don' need to stir things up . . ." A surge of curiosity drove him to run at the bathroom, splash himself and dress in that old outfit he had for such occasions. "I . . .I need to know . . ."
Later that afternoon, a tiny girl dressed in a pink gown, brown hair and glasses walked cautiously in front of the Hibiki home. The girl peeked through the front window and saw how Ryoga walked from one side of the living room to the other while holding a stack of books on his head.
"What's he doin' . . .?" The voice alerted him of someone looking inside but he ignored the comment when his teacher called him back to his lessons. The petite intruder kept rubbing her face against the window trying to see who else was with him, and when the glass gave up, the girl flew inside, falling against the boy in a heap.
Akira chuckled at the tangled limbs and the compromising position she landed on. The new arrival had her hands on the boy's chest and one of her legs in between his opened ones. They touched at waist level and blushed by the contact, plus, when he saw the size of her chest, Ryoga threatened to bleed from his nose. Ranma felt the upper hand and smiled, faking interest in the boy while pushing herself closer to his face, making her cleavage more revealing. "Oh I'm sorry . . .I was just looking around for this boy who people say is so handsome and nice . . ."
Ryoga stuttered for a second and tried to move away from the girl, but Ranma kept pushing against him as a way to punish him for his earlier visit. Akira scoffed madly at the meddling girl who kept ruining her cousin and future love's life, walking at the couple and separating them from each other forcibly. "Ryoga . . .We got work to do . . .And you Ranma . . .Go back to your house and leave us alone . . ."
The girl gaped at the name and giggled nervously at the strange girl. "Ranma? . . .I don't know who this Ranma is . . .I was just . . ." She couldn't finish when the little auburn haired girl pulled her wig, forcing the pigtail in plain sight. The disguise surely was flawless but this new comer seemed to know him somehow, making Ranma argue with her until more pressing matters called her attention.
The fanged boy felt his blood boil and his compromising position stopped being that way. "Ranma! . . .You . .. I'm going to . . ." The pigtailed girl jumped and prepared for the fight, but it never came. Akira kept observing the bandanna boy, making sure of their deal.
"Forget him . . .We have better things to do and little time left for them . . ." Ryoga's face faded into a quiet murmur of confusing words. Ranma tried to buy more time to see what was going on, but this time there was someone else butting in their fight. "What are you sayin' . . .?" Akira-Chan refused to keep playing this game, so she pushed the girl out of the house.
"Leave Ranma . . .You are not welcome here . . ." The girl felt the same pang Akane did when the boy turned around and ignored her cries for a fight or the goading with her female body. She shouldn't feel like that, but something made her self-conscious.
That night, the two teens lain on their beds wondering about that hurting feeling. Akane thought about it from her perspective. "I know I'm Ranma's fiancé and I do like him a lot, but when Ryoga-kun comes and visits me, is just for me . . .My admirer and friend, that makes me feel so proud . . .Makes me feel like an attractive girl. . .Ranma could never show me that . . .I miss Ryoga's attentions . . ."
The pigtailed boy had his own meditative state while ignoring his father's snores. "I am a man! . . .I don' need to feel hurt or offended 'cuse he ignores me . . .I'm good looking and I'm beautiful when transformed. He dares to treat me like an useless rag with no self esteem, well he is goin' to pay . . .I'll make him call me pretty . . .I swear I'll do it."
His fist hit the bedroll rumbling the floor and waking an angry panda at his side. His father hit him with a sign so hard, the pigtailed teenager fell in a thud from the slap. The two Saotomes Snored comfortably after the incident. The next morning, the girl and the boy rushed as usual to school. When walking by the park, they noticed Ryoga walking checkers in a leash and they stopped to see him so calm.
At first, he bent down, petting his dog with care and than walked to the seat nearby. Akane and Ranma stared at the moves his friend was making with no idea of the reason. Suddenly, a girl in her running outfit stopped and cooed the funny looking dog.
"Aw. . .She is so cute! . . .What's her name?" The boy offered his side of the seat and they began to talk about dog breeds and exercises. "Well . . .Looks like Ryoga is getting out of his shell . . ." The comment was supposed to be sarcastic, but Ranma hated his witty responses sometimes.
"Yes . . .I think he outgrew us and is moving on with his life . . ." Akane's remark passed with fury through her mind which in turn made his fiance even more uncomfortable. In that moment, the pigtailed boy fumed, starting to walk towards his rival. "Hey you! . . .What's the big idea? . . .Are you tryin' to date my girlfriend's sister and this girl at the same time? . . ."
The girl stood up enraged, walking at the pigtailed, martial artist while readying an open palm. "How dare you! . . .We meet every other day and he offered me to walk my dog to the vet . . .He never mentioned anything about a date with me, only to show me his own pet . . ." The young woman raised her hand ready to slap him, but stopped and considered the action not worth it.
She turned away from the insolent boy, bowing before the fanged teen and waving away. The girl turned one last time before leaving, aiming her rant to her aggressor. "I wish I had the chance though. . ."
Ryoga stood from the seat, turned around and began to walk away with one hand in a pocket while guiding checkers with the other one. The youngest Tendo felt the need to fight for her friend to a point where her concern was clearly visible. "Ryoga-kun . . .Is everything Ok? . . ." The boy wanted to run at her side and assure the girl there was no one but her in his mind, but he was learning to respect himself and to gain his self-esteem back.
"Don't worry Akane-san . . .Everything is great . . ." Answered without looking at them . . .Walking into the distance. Akane trembled in ire, looking at her "boyfriend" with hurt eyes. "You and your big ideas . . .Whatever you did to him, now is too late . . .I . . .I really hate you Ranma . . ." She walked away to the school alone, leaving an even more distressed boy wondering what he did this time.
That afternoon, A very well dressed Ryoga Hibiki arrived to the Tendo House in a big, black car. Soun let him pass and an incredibly, beautiful girl walked stairs down. Her dress was one of those pieces you never use until the right time.
Ryoga bowed and asked for her hand, setting a band on one of the fingers. "Don't worry Kasumi-san . . .This is just a friendship ring . . .Nothing else . . ." The girl blushed and smiled at the gesture. They left while a jealous Akane and Ranma stared madly at the couple.
They had laughs and drove all over the expensive locales outside Nerima. The boy knew Kasumi liked older boys, but asked her to keep him as a friend and hoped for possible, future dates but nothing serious. The girl agreed and the tour through the famous Japanese cuisine finalized almost at midnight.
The car stopped at the entrance and the couple entered the house. An angry Akane and Ranma waited impatiently on the living room at the late teenagers. Kasumi wondered about their angry moods but believed they were the result of their fights so she went on with the main plan, taking the lead in the date. . .Something no one expected now.
The feeling was surreal. The pigtailed boy and the youngest Tendo guarded defiantly the house's honor, but when Ryoga smiled and bowed at the girl, Kasumi asked for the last part of the date. "If it's Ok with you . . .It would be my honor . . ."
Ryoga is a tall boy and they reached the same height without any problems. The boy nodded respectfully at their judges and went back to his mission. He put in practice the same move trained with Akira. The girl flew from one side to the other, dropping a few inches below the boy and staring at his sweet, brown eyes. Then, their lips moved closer and closer until they sealed the date with the tenderness of friendship. Their kiss was soft and their heads locked perfectly side by side. Akane blushed and tears began to fall while Ranma's eyes danced at the moist but refused to shed any.
Ryoga waited but Kasumi kept deepening the kiss until finally letting go. They both blushed and the boy kissed her again on her forehead. "Thank you Kasumi-Chan . . .That was amazing . . ." Ryoga bowed at the other two and left the place, ignoring their hurting hearts.
The oldest Tendo floated to her bedroom, closing it softly after the marvelous date. The pigtailed boy tried to think of a way to take his ex-rival down a few notches. The Hibiki place was well known and the boy had no restrictions to go in and out as he pleased.
"I swear . . .I do this for my honor . . .Even if I loose it all, he will call my name. . ." Later that night, the boy sneaked into the Hibiki residence and slowly entered his room. Ryoga lain asleep on his bed, happy with how great his life was turning out.
With a low whispering, Ranma forced him out of his slumber and into reality. He knew this could be dangerous but his pride never let him think ahead. "Ryoga . . .Wake up, you idiot . . ." The boy opened his eyes and stared at those blue orbs he fought for tireless days.
"Ranma? . . .What are you doing here?" The girl lifted his blanket and slid at his side. "Ok buddy, you win . . .I want to see what the others see in you . . .C'mon . . .I know you like me like "this" and I swear I won't tell a soul . . ."
In her mind, Ranma begged for a simple romantic word Ryoga would offer her. When he would say anything like it, she would jump away and humiliate him back to his depressive self. On the other hand, Ryoga learned from Akira about how Ranma operated and he knew from experience how dumb he gets when his pride and ego are hurt. . .But to think he would stoop this low it was beyond his belief.
"So, you're willing to loose your virginity as a girl with me? . . .Would you go that far to know me?" The question didn't sound romantic at all and he knew something had to be done. "Yes . . .Tell me what do you feel when seeing me like this and I will accept you in my life . . .I really like you . . ."
Ryoga felt attracted to the girl even when knowing she was a guy, but his honor to his cousin and the possible trap the pigtailed girl's twisted mind would always think, made him doubt her intentions. "Fine Ranma . . .I will get what you want but not now . . .I need to think it over . . ."
The girl refused to give this much control away, so she tried to push her dire situation into a more sensual and closer way. Slowly, button after button snapped opened from the red, Chinese blouse and the cleavage gave Ryoga a new test for survival. The boy stopped her before finishing the job and looked at her demanding eyes.
"Why are you doing this Ranma? . . .You are so manly and would never stoop this low . . .Why do you want to trick me?" The girl felt cornered at that point, but she had to prove his devotion to her greatness. "Cuse I want to feel what a girl feels . . .I want to experience this girl's sensations . . .C'mon Ryoga . . ."
The fanged boy knew this would break him, so he took the last line of defense. "Give me until the day after tomorrow . . .I swear, I'll make you feel like a woman before my time expires . . ." Ranma tried to push forward but the boy got up of bed and left the house from then on.
The pigtailed girl scoffed and her flushed face made her realize she needed relief. "Damn Idiot . . .To refuse this body is just not human . . ." The girl ran back to the Tendo house and into a cold shower trying to forget the "supposedly" aftertaste from her sensual talk. The next day, Akira found Ryoga asleep outside the house.
"What are you doing here? . . ." The boy stretched his arms and asked her to lead him to the bathroom while explaining Ranma's behavior during the night. "Wow . . .I am amazed at your will. Rama is very attractive and can seduce pretty much everyone. . ." He hated that but it was true after all.
Akira clenched her teeth at how everything was turning against her wishes when the Saotome boy wanted things his way. The girl envisioned a place where nothing would go wrong, but it looked like they really were destined to be a couple in most of the places she visited.
Still, she promised to try and gain what she forged from the beginning. . .His loyalty and love for her and if she needed to teach Ranma a lesson, she would do it happily. . .Hoping Ryoga with be aboard with it.
"Yes, but once I recovered my self-esteem, I felt in control of the situation . . .Barely." The girl wondered about his last response and wanted to know his thoughts. "What are you planning to do?" The boy sighed and squinted his eyes at the question.
"I think I'm going to teach him a lesson . . ."
In the morning, a sleepy Ranma and a rushing Akane flew through the streets trying to reach school in time. The Tendo girl saw how her fiancé kept yawning and closing his eyes, and tried to apologize for her angry retorts.
Ranma was mostly asleep and running in automatic when a bucket of water forced him to wake up. The boy searched for the person splashing indiscriminately at people, but her eyelids kept pushing down. At the school's entrance, the girl almost fell to the ground, but strong arms grabbed her and held tightly in place.
Ranma felt the warm embrace and immediately thought of Ryoga. Noises of cheering and laughs made the girl slowly comeback to reality, only to see Kuno hugging her and grasping her breasts indecently with his hands.
The girl screamed, setting herself free in an instant, she looked around and saw how the students were in the classrooms booing her through the windows, Akane yelling from inside the building and Kuno apologizing profusely. "Forgive me my pigtailed girl . . .I had to skid away to save you from falling . . .After that boy told me of your need for a knight . . .I, Tatewaki Kuno . . .Blue thunder from Furinkan high school appointed myself as your personal knight in shining armor . . ."
Ranma knew who told that creep of her "need for a knight" and, knowing the rest of the day would be standing outside holding buckets, the girl rushed out of the school grounds and to the Hibiki house. A few blocks away, she saw the lost boy training his speech before the other redheaded pest.
The redhead fumed, breathing through her nose and pushing everything and everyone aside. There was only one boy in her sights ignoring even the smaller redheaded girl with her impetus to stop her. As soon as Akira raised her hand, Ranma stared her down angrily.
The Hibiki girl could have fought her easy but she promised herself to keep away from Ranma's affairs in other worlds so, she let him do the talk hoping she would goad her into it. . .Then, it would be a fair beating she was in for. It didn't happen like that when the accusation came directly at the fanged boy.
"You! . . .You told that bastard about last night . . .How could you? . . ." Ryoga blinked and tried to piece his involvement in the case. "I'm sorry Ranma, but I don't know what are you talking about . . ." The pigtailed girl lunged at him, grabbing his shirt and pushing him against the wall fueled by her feelings of betrayal.
"Don't lie to my face . . .You told Kuno that I needed a knight to make me happy . . ." The girl growled and jumped at the boy even closer. Ryoga saw her coming and stared at Akira, waiting for her signal. Her cousin re-enforced the details of their deal, giving him a new lesson to be learned though. "Sorry Ryoga, remember what the teacher said . . .No hitting a girl." He gaped at the rule, after all, Ranma wasn't really a girl but he was missing the point.
"But . . .But she is not a . . ." Akira nodded and he understood the principal of the lesson. Ryoga never lifted his fists, accepting every hit with the fury of his opponent. The hurt and humiliation from the other students made her use the chestnut fist on him relentlessly, clearly seeing how every punch pressed the non-existent guard on the boy. When her defenseless opponent fell to a knee, her demands turned even angrier. "Ryoga! . . .Fight me back . . .Don't stand just there . . .I want my rival back . . .Now!" Akira just stared and crossed her arms around her chest.
Ryoga understood and his attitude didn't change, getting up and staring at the scorned female. A few minutes later, a beaten Ryoga lain bleeding on the ground while a tired Ranma stared hurt at the fighter. "No! . . .I want you back . . .I don' want someone who respects me as a girl . . .You never saw me as one . . ." That feeling crept from nowhere into her mind, forcing her to recoil back in a somewhat sense of fear by something strange in her. " . . .Don' . . .Please, don' change . . ."
Ryoga cleaned his bloodied face and stood up. "Sorry Miss . . .I don't know who told Kuno that about you, but it wasn't me . . .Please, I apologize for any inconvenience from my part." The common courtesy and the respectful manners made the girl tremble inside. He was the last hope, making her a guy without any matter on her gender . . .The pang took new heights and the girl just walked away as the defeated one.
At home, Akane questioned Ranma from where she had gone. The girl told her of what she did and the brunette bared her teeth angrily. "Damn it Ranma . . .Always lunging at the fight first. Diasuke and Hiroshi were talking about a new play for the school and they mentioned a new "knight" role for your female side when they saw you perform that last time . . ."
Ranma closed her eyes and damned her rushed judgment. The girl sighed and went to change into a boy. The rest of the afternoon passed uneventful, until when Nabiki-san ran stairs down and she looked radiant. "Nabiki-Chan, where are you going so pretty?"
"I couldn't believe Ryoga when he asked Kasumi out, so I confronted him about it and he told me it would be great if I could accept a friendly date like the one they had. Kasumi thinks is Ok and I'm intrigued on the boy . . .Let's see how can he show me a good time." Her smile implicated expensive dinners and extravagant tours . . .Something she always believed worth it.
The knock came and Nabiki stared at a bruised Ryoga waiting on the door. He was wearing a decent suit, but his face looked like hell. "What happened to you? . . .!" The boy smiled and shrugged his shoulders faking innocence. "I . . .I fell . . ." Both boys looked at each other and Akane snarled at Ranma.
Ryoga waved his hands negatively, dismissing the accident without importance. The pigtailed boy blushed, but he had nothing to say. Akane ignored him from that day, trying to avoid more fights and the couple left that afternoon.
A couple of miles from the city, a blanket extended on the grass in front of a field full of sunflowers gave them the spectacle he waited to share with the girl. The place was calm and only the noises from the crickets filled the air.
Nabiki couldn't believe how beautiful everything seemed and her question aimed at his feelings. "Tell me Ryoga-kun . . .The truth . . .A friend might have told you about the emerald, but no one knew of my fascination with simple things like sunflowers."
The boy laughed and answered her truly and nervously. "I . . .I get lost sometimes outside town. And most of those times I meet a lot of people . . .There is this man who works checking tickets on a train . . .He told me about you when I mentioned about the Tendo Dojo.
"He said . . .That girl like simple things in life, she stared at those sunflowers like reading the subtle details in their beauty. A boy ran at her and offered an orange if I recall correct, and the girl accepted that small glimpse of humanity . . .She must be a really good person . . ."
Nabiki giggled and found that hidden, warm spot on his chest. "Ryoga-Kun . . .Could this be something more than just a friendly date?" The boy never felt this confused about girls. There was only one in his life and now a few more found him worth to share a relationship.
This time he noticed the beauty in other girls and the amazing things they could offer besides manners or looks. Nabiki for instance. . .She is very beautiful but her demeanor as cold and calculate turned her into an evil being when in reality the lost boy found pieces of shining light displaying her true soul.
"It could be, but we are too young still . . .I want to enjoy my life and to have many friends I can rely on . . ." The girl agreed the answer was well thought and accepted his friendship with something probably more in the future.
Her face contemplated something you don't see in a busy town. The girl looked at the boy with quizzing wonder when the day began to die down and a flurry of meteorites began to rain down in the firmament. "How did you know?" The boy didn't even noticed the majesty from the light show.
Ryoga stared at the beautiful girl sitting besides him, and the astounded eyes she placed on the show . . .Like a child finding everything with a new light. "I didn't . . .But I guess the heavens wanted you to see them like this . . ."
The romantic comment made the girl confide in him. There was nothing any of the other boys could do to make her feel this in touch with her soul, and the Hibiki lost boy shared it all from the heart. The girl frowned and smiled at him, she felt that need to kiss him right there and then, but still, she wanted to know about certain small details in her family.
"Tell me Ryoga-kun . . .Are you going to date Akane next . . .?" The boy was eager to go for the "forbidden fruit" but he shook the idea away and stared back at the girl. "No . . .I am tired of trying my luck with her and she looks contempt with Ranma . . .I want to know other girls in a friendly way, then . . .I'll decide whom to court . . ."
The middle Tendo couldn't contain her smart judgement from their conversation, making it an interesting one. "Safe answer, I'll give you that, but . . .What about Ranma? . . .Are you planning to date "her" too?" The boy's face changed into a questionable manner now. "What is it with Ranma and me? . . .Is everyone thinking we have something in common or something?"
The girl smiled and began to make her case while pulling a stack of photos from her purse. "Well, besides the great business opportunity, I think there's something here. I am good at what I do and I have so many evidence of your "secret romance" . . ."
The boy found the choice in words funny and moved his arms back, to help him support the possible lengthy explanation. "Romance? . . .We are talking about a prideful, egotistical boy who thinks everyone "must" like him or her. . .I have seen him "let" others grab her from behind . . .Especially that Kuno guy. You think, a well versed master of the anything goes would be easily hugged the way that boy does?"
The girl chuckled and guided her first proof. "Oh . . .So you are jealous of others when they court Ranko?" The fanged boy frowned at the name, but shrugged it, knowing she referred at Ranma, somehow. "No . . .Is not jealousy . . .Is common sense, besides . . .What proof do you really have of any personal feelings from me to "her" . . .?"
The girl showed him the photos she took when the master calligraphist used his ink on the boy. "Like I said . . .I'm good at what I do and no one saw me sneaking around and taking the pictures. . .Look here . . .Ranma is on the roof and suffering when you asked for his help."
"And here, he's feeling the weight of your pain when you ran away from Akane saying only goodbye." The boy stared at his eyes and indeed, he looked worried and almost in pain like he was at the time.
"That doesn't prove . . ." His rebuttal stopped the moment Nabiki popped a recorder, playing its contents. "Poor Ryoga . . .The fool even cried . . .I was supposed to help him, he came for me and I let him down . . .I must think of a way to do it . . .There must be a way I can only . . .Yes! . . .There is a way only "I" can do it."
The click of the recorder made the boy snap at the conversation. "He went and changed into that volleyball player girl when something came to his mind . . .His girl type would always make you weak, and he knew that . . ." The photos kept coming with several times where either Ranma fought for his friendship or Ryoga showed his interest.
"Ranma even told me of a time when she almost gets it . . .In the cave made of ice. She closed her eyes and waited for the last attack, but it never came . . .When she opened them again, you were cradling her in your arms and she felt the warm, fuzzy feeling of a friend."
The boy stuttered and tried to think of ways to refuse the situations though. "Well . . .What was I suppose to do . . ."She" almost gets killed!, and for what? . . .To fight one on one with something freezing her to death?" The girl giggled, pointing out his desire to protect her.
"Have you noticed you are calling him as a "her" . . .?" The boy blushed and turned around, looking away. "I'm sorry . . .New habits and all. . .But even if there could be something. . .I could never disrespect "him" like that, and besides, I promised to my cousin never try anything romantic with Ranma. . ."
The shower began to subside and the lights of the city called them for the last part of the date. "Anyway . . .Why are we talking about him if I'm with you right now?" The bobbed hair girl smiled at the change of his words when finally defeated.
The girl closed the gap and pecked him on the lips quickly. "Hibiki . . .It's an honor having a date with you and yes . . .I would love to go out another time as well. . ." The boy bared his fangs happily and accepted her commanding request.
"Thank you Nabiki-Chan . . .I really appreciate this . . ." Both teenagers picked the blanket and walked holding hands back at the Tendo Dojo. The scene at the house was a bit different this time. Soun and Genma joined the two teenagers in wait for the dating couple.
When they arrived, Nabiki offered him to join her in the living room. Her father had always a soft spot for his girls and when someone he trusted was trying to play with their feelings, the big headed monster was bound to make an appearance.
"Where in the hell were you two! . . ." The patriarch blinked several times when not his, but Ranma's demanding tone called the shots in his house. "W-What he said . . .!" Nabiki walked at his side and let the boy surround her waist with his arm.
"Dad . . .Do you doubt me? . . .Has Ryoga-kun given you any indication of mistrust in the past. . ." The father wanted to point out his nefarious behavior for Akane and his pet pig, but he promised to Kasumi not to tell a thing until the boy would do so on his own.
"Well . . .Besides that other "thing" . . .No . . .There is nothing wrong with his behavior." Soun regarded the boy as trustworthy and accepted him in the house so his behavior diminished the anger fueled by the pigtailed guest. "Good . . .We we'll address that "thing" later on . . .In the meanwhile we have some more talking to do, if you'll excuse us."
The way they walked into the other room made Ranma fume even more and Akane blinked mostly at the last comment. "Thing? . . .What thing?" The pigtailed boy followed them, but a hand stopped him at the entrance. "Saotome . . .This is a personal meeting . . .You would be the third wheel you know?"
Blue eyes never left brown, Ranma felt hurt for some reason and he planned to make it clear. "Ryoga . . .I have your promise . .Remember . . ." The boy left and the girl questioned his conversation. "And what promise would that be?"
"Let's just say "she" tried to seduce me and was getting really good at it. . .I couldn't find a way to get her off, so I promised to court her like I did with you and Kasumi . . .But it was just an excuse, I swear . . ." Nabiki loved intricate situations in life so the girl made him follow the only rule he based his life on.
"But Ryoga-kun . . .You promised, and that is an honor bound deal . . .I thought you guys were good with loyalty to your code and honor. . ." Her smile told him clearly of her intentions. Ryoga gaped at the trap he set on himself by mistake. With a doubtful tone, the boy hated the next question, but the girl forced his hand, giving him no choice in the matter. "You really want me to try and ask "her" out . . .?"
The girl stood up from the couch, walking out of the room while answering his request. "No need to . . .I will do it for you." Before Ryoga could stop her, Nabiki walked outside the living room and stairs up, to the guest room. "Knock, knock . . .Ranma? . . .Are you busy?" Like a lighting, the boy opened the door an peeked his head out.
"What! . . .Is he bothering you? . . .let me handle him an' . . ." The girl shushed him and pulled him out of his room. "No, he's behaving respectfully, but we've been talking about your little promise and . . .Well, I think if he did that deal, than he should honor it. . .Than again, I'm sure you would never let him court you in the same way than us. . ."
The sentence wasn't over when a splash told her of the new girl in town. "Hell yeah! . . .He owes me big time . . ." The redheaded girl rushed stairs down and met the young man, gaping at her. "C'mon Ranma . . .You don't want to do this . . ."
The nervousness on the boy made her feel that rush, like a drug addict feels when basking in the effects. "Look at 'im so vulnerable and weak . . .Yes! That's what I needed. . .To see him worshiping me . . ." The girl entered the room while crossing her arms.
"Well Ryoga-kun . . .Where are you plannin' to take me out?" The smile made her feel empowered and in control of her prey. Ryoga's flushed face didn't help him one bit either so he rolled his eyes and nodded slowly. "Fine. . .I am taking you out on a date, but you will follow me, you hear?"
"An' how am I suppose to do that . . .In the first try you must likely will vanish from my sight. . ." Every bit of humiliation about his self-esteem and directionless problem gave her the power she needed to keep him at bay.
"Don't worry about that . . .Have I got lost all this time.?. . Remember, I'm the one leading them around and not the other way." Ranma blinked at the answer, she didn't expect that from the nervous boy but still, she felt in charge of his luck.
"Fine . . .I'll follow you wherever you want to take me, but it has to be fancy an' all that . . ." the boy agreed and bowed respectfully at them. Past midnight, Ryoga arrived to the Hibiki residence where his family awaited patiently.
The boy entered his home and sat besides Akira. "I don't get it . . .Why would you make me date Ranma if the condition for our pact was to never try anything romantic with "her" . . ." The girl sighed at the predictable redhead.
"Cuse if we don't, she'll keep pushing until something real could happen between you two. . .I know how she thinks Ryo, and Ranma does not fall in love right away. She gets very competitive and prideful to the point where she'll sacrifice the things she protects the most in the end."
"Tomorrow, we'll follow the plan and we'll get rid of her definitively . . .By the way, how's that GPS wristband coming along."
"Wow . . .I never knew these things existed. . . It's a life saver." The girl agreed and knew this would be the worst part of her idea. "That's right . . .They don't. It took me a lot of money to develop one prototype just for you. . .Now remember, this is your strongest test. . .I know you like her in that special way, but I know you can do better. . ."
The girl blushed and moved closer to her cousin. "Ryoga . . .I was wondering . . ." The way she looked at him made him feel more than just a relative watching another. Ryoga understood what she tried to accomplish but he had to act directly at the point.
"Aki-Chan . . .For some reason you are attracted to me . . .Aren't you?" The girl bit her lower lip and felt the immediate rejection coming straight at her. The girl lowered her eyes and moved away, overpowered by her loss.
Oddly enough, Ryoga moved at her side and brought her to his arms, embracing her closely. "Hey . . .Don't run away . . .Weren't you the one teaching me how to face my fears? . . .Now tell me everything . . .Please, I deserve to know."
The girl told him all she could before the pushing sensation of her tears. In the last part, she felt the need to let him know of "her" state. "Ryoga . . .I really promised to protect you and watch over you, but I have fought for so long that you are in my mind constantly. . ."
"The other reason is . . .Well . . .I-I'm not really a girl . . .You see. . .Is like this." The story made him gasp and blink. . .praise and gape at adventures he never expected to hear in this lifetime. He suddenly stopped her and brought her even closer.
"You're who you are and I don't care if you were a guy or not. Thanks for trusting me Aki-Chan. . .I would like to know you better . . .Would you like to date me after Ranma learns her lesson?" The girl giggled and accepted his offer.
The next day happened to be a Saturday. Akane demanded angrily at her fiancé for a reason for his date with her friend and his hurried demeanor to dress provocatively. "Ranma. . .Don't you think that's the reason he hates you so much?"
"I swear. . .Sometimes I don't know how can you validate your manhood when accepting this humiliation." The boy looked at several dresses on Akane's bed. Some were cut too high and others opened from the back. . .So many decisions to make at the moment.
"I'm tellin' you 'kane. . .This ain't a date, date. . .I am goin' to teach him a lesson an' than walk back here. . .This is a matter of honor an' I am manly enough . . This is just a tool, nothing else. . ." His tongue stuck out from the busy looks he gave on the attires.
"Well at least, if you are going to try clothes, change into your girl. . .You creep me out staring at women's clothes while in your boy form. . ." The girl walked out of her room and left him alone with his thoughts. The day passed uneventful for the family until a letter came addressed to Ranma.
Nabiki and Kasumi joined her sister and the three questioned the pigtailed boy diligently. "What does he want you to do?" The pigtailed boy read the letter several times until making sure of the instructions and went upstairs to change.
"He wants me to meet him outside, apparently he feels threatened by Pops and Soun and prefers me to go a block away from the house. . ." The well dressed girl paced carefully through the house and into the street. Her father tried to convince her to give up such unmanly behavior, but the girl insisted on her honor first and foremost.
"Pops! . . .I do this to teach him a lesson . . .It ain't like a real date or nothin' . . ." The pigtailed beauty didn't count on the day and it was too late when she realized a lot of young people walked at her side on the street towards a big festival opening in the district. The celebration clearly aimed at couples since red shaped hearts themed most of the signs to the place.
"What's goin' on? . . ." Ranma asked at no one in particular, but one of the boys walked close by and asked her to accept a date with him. Ranma kept giggling and walking away from the house, nervous by the looks in the boys. "No . . .Thank you, but I'm waitin' for someone else . . .That's too kind, but I can't . . .No, thanks . . ." The apologies kept dropping and the boys kept trying again and again.
At the end of her predicament, the redheaded girl realized how alone she was in the middle of the park. Most of the teenagers found a girl accepting their invitation and the only solitary teen was Ranma. The worse part happened when Diasuke and Hiroshi walked with their respective girls and blushed at the beautiful cross-dresser.
"R-Ranma? . . ." The girl turned around and saw how their companions recognized the redhead from school. "Hiro . . .Isn't "he" the guy from school . . .The one who transforms into that weird girl?" The boy tried to be helpful but the festival Ranma wasn't aware of, began to attract the young lovers.
"I . . .I . . ." The girls never let them talk and they giggled at the now trembling girl. "What a pervert! . . .Come girls, take a good look at him! . . ." Ranma felt the painful feeling when being ridiculed by teens her own age. The girl tried to walk away, but this wasn't the outcome she hoped for the night.
From a block away, Ryoga felt her pain and agony. The boy begged with his eyes and Akira felt terrible about how things turned out. History played an important role not only on the eternal fanged girl, but on Ryoga as well. This was the worst thing it could happen to his best friend. . .Whether he wanted to ridicule him or not. "Fine . . .Go . . .But don't be too friendly Ok?" The boy smiled and bowed at her cousin.
Ranma hugged herself from the pretty dress and the demeaning looks from those she knew at school. The girl walked slowly back until hitting the wall and than, felt like giving up . . .Maybe move on to another city. . ." Ryoga's rushing steps made him feel the heaviness on the pigtailed girl's humiliation to a point where he forgot what he intended in the first place.
"There you are . . .Sorry I'm late Ranma. . ." The girls saw a handsome boy dressed in a tux, directing his words at the perverted boy. "Excuse me . . .You know who "he" is right? . . ." The boy grabbed Ranma from the hand and bowed even more reverently before the rest of the onlookers.
"Well of course. . ."She" is my date. . ." All the girls felt bad for the poor boy and the lie the pigtailed girl tried to impugn on him. One walked to where they were standing and tried to clear the situation. "I don't think you understand . . .He is . . ."
"She is Ranma Saotome. . .My friend and rival, Yes . . .We know each other for a long time and I would love to move on with our date. . ." The redhead didn't say a thing, she kept walking away silently for some time. After the embarrassing moment. Ranma snapped into reality.
"Ryoga . . .You could have let me drown. . .Why . . .?" The boy stared at those beautiful blue eyes and chuckled at her blush. "Cuse we are friends Ranma. . .I do consider you a friend, and. . ." The boy moved near her ear and whispered those words she needed to hear.
"You look amazingly pretty. . ." Her fists closed from the sheer sensation rushing in her mind. Ranma threw caution to the wind and jumped at him, hugging him for dear life. "I swear Ryoga . . .If you tell this to anyone . . .I'll . . .I'll . . ."
There was no leverage this time. The girl closed her eyes and went with the feeling to share an intimate moment with her close friend. Ryoga blushed and touched her cheek with his lips. "I-I don't think I could kiss you, but a peck means nothing right?" The redhead didn't care for the implications. "I don' care Ryoga. . .I'm trusting you here buddy, so . . .Don't disappoint me." They stayed in that embrace for as long as they could remember. Teens and couples alike stared and giggled at the weird boys, but some agreed they looked cute together.
Akira felt depressed but knew they meant to be close like this in other planets. "Guess is time for me to look for another Ryoga . . ." The girl walked into the night . . .Alone and sad.
