Hello all! I am usually a comedy girl, but decided to try my hand at some romantic/adventurish stuff for a change. So I hope you all enjoy, don't worry the first chapter is just setting the stage, there will be adventure and fun down the road. So read on, and yes those things that seem kinda funny are meant to be...so laugh on!

I'm not an angsty person, so I apologize to all you realists as I simply ignored it :) I have tried to keep characters mostly true. This story takes place about two years after the show ended.

Okay so admittedly the battle in the mountain is later...but the title seemed so fitting!

That being said I do not own Ranma 1/2.

Battle of the mountain! Let's save the girls!

Chapter 1

Ukyo took a big gulp of the horrible brown liquid, and coughed as it burned all the way down. "Ugh!" She looked at the label in disgust, remembering the upbeat foreigners who had given it to her that day in the restaurant.

"Whiskey" she mused, "awful stuff" before taking another gulp. She stood and stumbled her way down the stairs, already less stable then she ought to have been. It had been a long day after all. She winced as her eyes burned threateningly. "Don't be such a wuss Ukyo!" She chided as she made her way to the door. A blast of cool spring air greeted her and she shivered, dress flowing around her. "Why did I do it?" She wondered out loud, just as another sound interupted her thoughts.

"Where the hell am I now!"

She smiled a little at the familiar voice, and stepped out into the street just as the lost boy appeared around a corner.

"Hey! Ryoga!" She waved to him and he walked over confusion written on his face. All at once understanding dawned.

"Ukyo, I almost didn't recognize you. Why are you dressed like a g...like that?" He quickly corrected earning a glare, but avoiding a giant spatula to the head.

"Had a thing." She mumbled vaguely.

"Come in, looks like rain." She offered with a wave of her hand.

He looked warily at the sky, then at her weighing his options. "Well...if its not too much trouble..."

"I wouldn't have offered if it was a problem sugar." She laughed, suddenly finding the whole situation hilarious. "Come on, you don't wanna spend the night as a pig!" She chuckled and then clapped a hand over her mouth as his eyes widened.

"What!...You knew!" He spluttered, face turning a brilliant red.

"Of course I knew! I'm not stupid!" She ushered him in waving her arm so enthusiastically she lost her balance and fell. She started laughing so hard she could feel tears running down her face, which reminded her of why she had been drinking in the first place, and to her great horror the laughter turned to sobs.

"Ukyo, whats wrong?!" He helped her stand, and there was such an honest look of worry on his face she sobered instantly.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a little tipsy."

He looked at her searchingly. "Why?"

The question was so abrupt and serious it caught her completely off guard, and for some reason she found herself answering. "Well because I...I uh did something really stupid...and I feel horrible." She looked at the floor wringing her hands.

"Well, I guess you better tell me about it." He said finally in an ironic kind of voice.

She looked up then in surprise. "What...really?"

"Hnn." He nodded, face solemn.

"Ok." She said quietly, and led the way up the stairs.

"You're right, I hate being a pig." He grumbled taking off his back pack and sitting down beside her. His eyes lighted on the partially empty bottle.

She snickered, "you are pretty cute that way!"

He glared at her, then his expression softened "So, what did you do?"

She looked at him then grabbed the bottle taking another generous swig for courage, before offering it to him. He took a drink and grinned appreciatively, then motioned for her to begin.

"Well, Ranma and Akane were supposed to get married today...and I had a brilliant idea." She stopped.

"I can't say I'm surprised." He said wrily after a long pause.

"Well..." She paused again, then it all came tumbling out. "I thought inviting Shampoo and then picking a fight with her would be enough to stop it, but I didn't think that she would think to bring Kuno, and Kodachi, and Mousse, and Cologne, and every other freakin crazy person in Nerima, and it got out of hand. And then Shampoo and me got in a real fight and broke down two walls and the second floor of the house caved in, and...and some people got hurt." She paused not daring to look up, "and the worst part is...well...I think I did it out of habit! I mean, I've known for a long time who he would pick, and she would be the right choice, but twelve years of practice makes habits hard to break." She took a long moment of silence as fat tears began to roll down her cheeks again. " They were my friends, and I let them down. They'll never forgive me." She whispered the last part accidentally.

"I bet they will." Ryoga said finally.

She started, "No they won't, and I'll deserve it."

"Why don't you try apologizing and find out."

She jumped, "apologize?"

His eye twitched, "its not that bad! And whats more you owe it to them."

"You're right." She answered in a quiet voice.

"What about you, how come you didn't try anything." She accused.

He laughed taking another healthy drink, and she realized that his smile was genuine for once. He pulled a crumbled card from his pocket, "I got lost." He shrugged, "I'm done with that anyway, what kind of love would I have if I hurt someone I care for simply because they didn't pick me. Anyway, I've been wondering for a while if I was really in love with Akane, or if I just glommed onto her because she was kind to me. I haven't experienced a lot of kindness in my life, it was a nice change."

Ukyo stared at him open mouthed for a minute and then the tears began to fall again. "Damn whiskey." She muttered through them.

"What, what did I say, don't cry Ukyo!" He begged in obvious distress.

She waved him off, "It's not you sugar." She blurted out, alchohol making the words fly out. "Its me! I was thinking about how I haven't been a very good friend. Of all people, I should have been, because I know what its like to be alone!"

"But Ukyo, you are a good friend." He said a little slowly.

"No I'm not, I always use you for my idiotic plans."

"Thats alright, I was always happy to oblige in case you didn't notice. And anyway, no one else ever even noticed me."

"That hardly makes it right!"

"Its still nice not to be forgotten. How about all the times you've fed me, or fixed me up? No one else ever did."

She smiled at that. "You know Ryoga, maybe its just the whiskey...it makes everything seem so clear..."

"Yeah, it does." He said smiling with one fang poking out, while shaking the nearly empty bottle.

She giggled, "You," she pointed, "You're always the one saving my sorry ass. Everyone else always left me behind, saying 'aww its just Ucchan, she'll be fine.' But when I really need help, you always show up. Have I ever said thankyou?"

"Huh?" He answered in a daze.

She giggled again, and had a sudden idea. "What are you thinking Ucchan." She thought.

"What are you thinking." He said after a moment.

"Damn, I said that out loud."

He snickered.

Then she smiled dangerously, making him inch toward the far end of the couch.

She scooted closer.

"W..what..." He stammered, as she moved closer still.

Then, aided by the liquor, she jumped forward and kissed him soundly.

"Thanks." She slurred, then suddenly found herself enveloped by his impossibly strong arms. He kissed her back passionately catching her completely off guard. She quickly lost track of everything else as she desperately returned the kiss, hands tangling in his thick hair of their own volition.

Suddenly he stopped and stood dropping her on the couch. "I..I think...m..maybe we...I mean, I don't want you...to do something you'll regret..."

Her upset at the interuption was quickly replaced with a powerful fondness for the sweet stuttering boy trying so hard to be honorable. Maybe it was the whiskey...

"Maybe I better go." He said quickly while trying to stand and shoulder his pack.

"No, don't go. I'm sorry, it was my fault...and, for the record, I've never regreted anything I've done with you." She turned bright red, clamping a hand over her mouth.

He smiled shyly as he lost his balance and had to catch himself on a wall, leaving a handprint and spiderweb cracks. "Oh...sorry Ukyo." He said sadly looking at the damage.

She began to laugh, feeling suddenly like everything was as it should be. "It's alright sugar... I was just trying to say thankyou by the way." She said quietly after another minute.

"Oh, well...I guess... I'll have to help you out more often then." He mumbled going red in the face.

She blushed with a smile thinking that maybe she really had been a fool all along. "Come on back, you don't have to leave." She said shyly glancing outside in time to see a flash of lightning against the sheeting rain.

He wavered.

"Come on already, if you think I'm gonna let you go out in that you're mistaken!" She commanded marching, or rather zigzagging over to grab his arm and lead him back to his seat. But when she touched him, instead of innocently leading him to the couch as intended, she just stood there frozen with desire. She looked in his deep eyes lost for a moment, wondering if he was man enough to see what she was certain was written across her face. Before she could shake herself from the trance he suddenly grabbed her with his powerful arms crushing her against himself as he kissed her again. She was only too happy to oblige, eagerly wrapping herself around him.

His strong hands travelled down her back, and once or twice she gasped in pain as he accidently squeezed or touched her too roughly. He was so strong after all, but she knew he would never purposely hurt her. She hugged him tighter, trying to match his strength and moaning with delight as he ran his hand along her waist and over the curve of her hip.

She glanced around, and wondered vaguely when she had lost her dress even as she found herself tossing aside his well worn yellow shirt. The feeling of his warm powerful body against her skin made her ache in ways she never imagined. He stopped again for a moment, hands lingering on her waist unwilling to let her go.

"Ukyo, I think...I mean are you sure we..."

She kissed him again "Of course I'm sure you jackass, how else do you think you got this far."

His eyes smoldered and he smiled showing in no uncertain terms that he understood.

Ukyo woke with a strange mix of contentment, hangover, and dread. Feeling herself caught in the vicelike grip of Ryoga, strangely enough did not bother her a bit. She wondered how she ought to react. After all, normally she would have spatulated him, but she felt a strange tangle of fondness, friendship, and now desire, where before had been mainly annoyance and commaradery. The other issue filled her with dread, apologies were not her forte and she feared the scorn that she so well deserved. She pretended to be strong and unaffected by what others thought of her, but in truth a lifetime as a loner and misfit had made her all the more susceptible to being deeply hurt, and made her few friends all the more precious.

He stirred tightening his crushing grip for a moment and squeezing the air out of her, before suddenly releasing her with a quick intake of breath.

She gasped catching her breath, then chuckled. "It's alright sugar, I don't have my spatula." She sat up blushing a little at her nakedness, made the more obvious by the sunlight streaming through the window. She turned to look at him putting on her most mischievous smile, "and just for the record, you can do that to me anytime."

She turned quickly so he wouldn't see her cheeks blazing at her own audacity. 'whats the matter with you kounjii!' She thought glad to be sober enough this time not to voice it out loud. She flung a leg over the side to stand up, and was promptly pulled back into the bed to be nearly smothered by the eternally lost boys passionate affections.

Ukyo took a deep breath and lifted her arm, she hesitated hand raised until Ryoga cleared his throat beside her. She steeled herself and knocked loudly three times. Staring straight ahead she mentally prepared herself to be turned away. After a moment Kasumi opened the door, gracious as ever. "Why Ukyo and Ryoga," she said without hesitation, "what can I do for you?"

Ukyo looked up at the lost boy for a moment, he simply nodded to her in affirmation.

"Can I come in and say something, to everyone?" She finally asked quietly with her eyes cast down.

Kasumi broke into an even larger smile as if she understood exactly what was happening. "Well of course you can. Everyone has just sat down for breakfast, what perfect timing." She ushered them in.

"Look who has come over everyone." Kasumi beamed sweetly, "Ukyo would like to say something."

Ranma grunted as he continued to eat like there was no tomorrow, Akane raised a curious eyebrow, Nabiki muttered "well she's got a lotta nerve." not very quietly, and Soun Tendo politely set aside his utensils looking up expectantly.

Ukyo waited a little too long, and recieved a nudge in the ribs from her moral support. She sighed deeply, then stood up straight. "I am sorry!" She said a little too loudly, causing Ranma to choke and Nabiki to drop her cup. "Well that was unexpected."

"Really," Ukyo continued, "it was wrong what I did, and I want to make it right." After a long silence she dared to look around, and was taken aback by the smiles on everyones faces...well except the Panda who held up a sign saying "good girl."

Akane stood up then and walked over to Ukyo and utterly surprised her by giving her a big hug. "Thanks Ukyo, it means a lot to hear you say that. I forgive you."

Ranma jumped up and nearly bowled them over joining in. "Thats right Ucchan forgiven!"

Kasumi clapped in delight, "Oh they're such good friends."

Ukyo hastily wiped away a tear in the midst of the hugging. "Thanks guys."

The rest of the morning was spent in picking up rubble and cleaning the grounds, but to everyone it felt less like a punishment, and more like a happy gathering. Every few minutes Ranma would say something stupid, and Akane would pull out her mallet and destroy something that had just been set right in her quest to make her fiance pay. Then Kasumi would show up with food or drink and lean her head to the side and say "Oh how sweet." Once Ryoga smiled shyly at Ukyo, as he easily lifted a broken section of wall and her insides twisted in the most confusing and wonderful way.

Ukyo found herself working alongside Akane more often then not, and was surprised just how much she enjoyed the short haired girls company when she let herself. Sometime after lunch she noticed the lost boy had gone missing, and smiled shaking her head. She went home that night exhausted, and slept soundly feeling strangely peaceful and happy, as she prepared for the busy morning and hungry customers ahead.