Marching camp
The chatting from the warriors joining the camp made the blonde realize this would be the last defense this world would attempt against a massive army not seen in ages. Thoughts of defeat, torture and the annihilation of all human beings shook her, she still could not believe this was happening.
Her posture called for the rushed teachings given by the goddesses and the old Amazon master. Ryoga-chan demonstrated something she lacked even while in male form, and what she believed was the reason of all her defeats against the pigtailed martial artist . . . .discipline.
Ranma had the advantage his father taught him not only the art, but the method and rigorous training a master would apply on a loved student. Genma might have been reckless and uncaring, but in the end he gave Ranma the tools to acquire the title "greatest martial artist of this generation."
At first Ryoga lived with the indignation of falling behind his friend. When Ranma locked himself trying to get the phoenix pill, he endured a giant level of power Ryoga had to reach. And after that special training, Ryoga remembers being humiliated by Ranma since his power was beyond his.
Jealousy led to depression and sadness, and those feelings to try to become as strong as the Saotome heir, but at a great price. His sanity.
Time passed and the lost boy learned to grasp Ranma's increasing power level, but he had no teacher or sensei, just any way to help him train and his lost sense of direction. Being lost gave him the endurance and diligence to keep up his physical strength up to his training on the Bakusai tenketsu ordeal of big rocks thrown at your body. He became stronger and more powerful.
But there was a moment when nothing satiated him. He passed every single test Ranma would endure, to the point of that fight. The phoenix king was the biggest challenge, and honestly did Ranma actually defeated him on his own? . . .no.
Ranma was the last man standing, but Ryoga saved him in more than one occasion. Even when everything seemed lost. In that moment when everyone was swallowed by the mountain, that was the end of it all, but Ryoga managed to save the day thanks to his earth shattering training.
At the wedding he understood his role on the pigtailed boy's life was over. He ceded Akane, leaving Ranma a warning to take care of her, and left Akari knowing she wanted a "pet husband". He embarked on a journey of his own. to find what he was missing on his life, besides the normal things a boy had.
With time he lived for the sheer joy of contemplate simple things like the sunrise and the sunset. That's when the sadness overtook him, there was a piece missing. Someone he could share this with.
That train of thinking took him to the person he had the most contact. And down the line the only girl who always gave a damn for his well being. At first his sight showed Akane, but as he approached her, she moved and some shadow popped in his mind.
She was a beautiful redheaded girl, always teasing and joking. Willing to fight and to exchange insults with him. Loneliness helped him make sense on what he was missing. Finally he considered that girl as his best friend and possible love. . . . .but.
That thought took him to the real owner of that captivating vision. Saotome Ranma was his hated enemy at least that's what he believed, but time changed that. At the wedding he simply gave up, stood and left. No farewell words or good-byes. His grudge was over and the only thing left was a half worn friendship.
Once again time made him reflect on all the stupid choices he took thanks to his depression and madness. He wanted friends if by force if possible, but this time he found himself alone. with nothing on his name, but a backpack and an umbrella.
Six months after the wedding the bandanna boy found solace on a hidden temple. How he got there he had no idea, but the masters looked nice, and they had a female idol on the center of their main hall. He wondered what kind of monks would serve a goddess, but he just shrug and stayed.
In the next six months he learned about a different kind of training that would make him more powerful, and he went for it. There was nothing left in his life but his art after all. He understood about Lady Gaia and her place as guardian of this planet.
With every passing day only one thing grew on the boy's mind. His feelings for the female side of Ranma. That is until one night the feelings became something else.
In a dark space filled with nothing but 2 persons, one of them moved to the front as to start a conversation. "What is this place? . . .am I dreaming?"
The other person moved closer to the boy, and smiled when "she" was in visible distance. Her face looked sad and her eyes like she was crying for most of the time, she looked nervous moving in place as if she wanted to jump and hug the guy, but regaining her composure and staying in the same spot.
"Ranma? . . .what are you doing here? . . ."The boy felt a pang by seeing her in that state. He wanted to run and reach for her, hugging and kissing her for all he was worth, but he knew better. Even in a dream this was Ranma, and most likely he would be punted out of this place in a jiffy.
Ryoga, I know how you feel, but . . . .Ranma refuses and is part of stupid Pops teachings. .but I identify myself to you. . . .I know we belong together. . ." The boy smiled. He knew all along Ranma, while in male, was a manly personification of the highest caliber, but in female he needed to understand the needs of a repressed teenager.
"Ranma? . . . can I call you Ranma? . . .anyway, I know. . .I felt you before and I . . .love you. . .I always have, but how can I make him understand?. . . ." The girl giggled at the blushing boy trying not to confuse her with the male counterpart. She walked and held her hands in an accepting way. Ryoga ran and accepted those welcoming hands in a hug. He needed that , if not a real human contact, but this was better. This was what he wanted. They stood there for what felt like ages, and Ryoga did something he would never do in real life. He stared at her while closing to her lips and kissed her with passion only reserved for a romantic movie scene. The feeling was there, it felt so real Ryoga began to cry while holding the girl.
When he woke up, he felt his lips with the tips of his fingers and tasted the essence of someone else's lips. . . .he knew it wasn't a dream, and he was happy for it. He ran like a child and began his daily routine, he didn't care for pain and enduring the punishing tests. . . .he was happy.
In the Dark space, still two shadows were standing, discussing recent events. The redhead turned to see the next person and confronted her with doubts about her feelings. "Lady Gaia, is it ok to talk this way to him? . . .his been alone all this time with no other contact. . .he might go insane."
The dark was erased by the light emanating from the goddess. A beautiful middle-aged woman porting green hair and green eyes walked near the redhead and put a hand on her shoulder. "Dear Ranko. . .he needs this. . .he was about to explode from his loneliness and he finally accepted you as his mate. . .the time is now. but . . ." The girl didn't like the next explanation but did as told and waited for it anyway. "HE will be transformed into my disciple and will endure more grueling torment by destiny's hand . . . . he has another mission before he can be happy . .truly happy."
The pair dissolved from the dark space and Ranko became Ryoga's companion even when he was awake. He didn't mind and didn't even questioned why was he the only one seeing her, but he was happy never the less. Time kept its course. At one and a half years after the wedding, Ryoga had his own world with his own girlfriend. Ranko was more than an illusion, he knew that and accepted it. He believed Lady Gaia was rewarding him for his service, and life went on.
One day a very concerned monk came to Ryoga letting him know about a claim a close nation was doing against another member from Nerima. The old man knew Ryoga was from there and relented the message, thus initiating his defense for his now loved one . . .Saotome Ranma.
He laid there being jerked everywhere by a concerned Ukyo and Shampoo, while Akane cried from a ruined wedding. The old master stole her happiness once again by taking and drinking what he thought was the sacred wine. The celebration became chaos, just the kind of chaos existing on the boy's life.
Ranma seemed lost, but while in that trance, he perked his senses to another person. Someone was just sitting on the floor, not thinking on Akane or him, or even the reason for this day. He saw Ryoga with a bemused look and a sigh escaping his lips, and wondered what was the lost boy thinking at the moment, then it happened.
Ryoga turned and looked at the boy, he knew Ranma was faking it, and they kept staring at each other. Funny thing is Ranma was in female form and that made the boy smile in a way that Ranma felt uncomfortable. It wasn't a demeaning or ridicule smile telling the redheaded girl this was his mess, but more like . . . . .teasing? The boy was smiling in a comforting way.
Ranma Immediately flushed and looked down, she felt her cheeks burn and her face redden by the second. She tried to deny it, but when she turned again to look at the boy, he wasnn't on the room . . . .he was gone.
The next day passed like no wedding was programmed. Everyone went on their own business, Akane and Ranma ran to school just as late as they always did, and Akane somehow seemed more relieved about this outcome. In the end she thought they weren't ready for a decision taken by their parents and not them.
Time settle them and made them live in the same state, like no change was needed. Ryoga was never seen after that time and that worried the couple. Maybe in the end they would've been friends.
Akane always took the lost boy as his confidant and Ranma believed him the only competent martial artist. A month had passed and they still waited for the boy, and after a few days they met him close to Ukyo's shop.
He was coming out of the shop when the teenager couple walked to school. When Ranma saw him, his face beamed. There was no teasing this time, or making fun or call him names. HE simply stood and shouted. "Ryoga! . . . ."
Immediately Akane turned and beamed a face of her own. She needed him badly, the only one who understood her and the fights she had with her still fiancée. But something happened, the lost boy saw them and turned to the opposite direction running as fast as he could, leaving the couple in the dust.
Ranma could have follow, but he had to attend school so he forced himself to follow Akane instead. After the classes were over the pigtailed boy ran to Ukyo's. He needed to know the reason for Ryoga's actions. When he arrived, he found Ukyo getting dressed for the job and trying to clear tears from her face.
"Ucchan . . . .why didn't you go to school today? are you sick?" The boy caught the sad expression on the girl trying to act like everything was all right. "Nothing is wrong Ran-chan, say , would you like the special while there are no customers at the moment?"
Ranma didn't believed in tact, so he went for it without a care in the world. "Ucchan what's goin' on? You're cryin' and the other day Ryoga tailed away when he saw me . . .am I missin' something?"
Ukyo looked to the side and then raised her eyes to meet his. "Ran-chan. . .Ryoga is passing for a bad time. . .I think he's loosing it. He came a few days back. actually has come a few times and every time he looks gone." The girl began to shake and hugged herself while sitting behind her stove. "This last time he didn't remember me. He asked me for food and paid. When I told him he didn't need to, he looked at me, and told me this was his first time in this town."
"He looked down and set the money on the counter. When I thought he was joking I yelled at him and told him that you would kick him for doing those stupid jokes, but when he heard your name, he went crazy and tried to hide. When I asked him he only said. "I can't let him see me, he'll be furious for what I'm thinking." and left."
The confusing looks on the girl betrayed her secret, this was beyond her ability to treat with friendly advice. "Ran-chan, he called me a while ago, and made me promise that as soon as I would see him around Nerima, that I should tell him. He cannot return to this place and doesn't feel ready to meet you. . . .he sounded scared of you."
Ranma felt the discouraging attitude on Ukyo's words, and remembered that last and painful teasing look he gave him when he was a she, before vanishing from his life.
Something gave way to the couple during the time Ryoga absented himself from the Tendous. Their fights increased, there was no righteous friend fighting for her wrong doings by her fiancée, while being a friendly protector the bandanna boy could tease and make the fights challenging.
Akane grew to hate Ranma in female form. When Ryoga was around, Ranma's curse had female modesty and always tried to act as reserved as the pigtailed boy could, but with no Ryoga, a topless Ranko was seen almost everyday. When the redhead teased the brunette about her cooking there was no one to defend her. When she needed her confidant to cry for her misfortunes there was none. Not even her P-chan was around anymore, she was on her own.
Ranma needed a friendly and powerful rival that could keep him up on his training. Mousse and Kunou were of no help and stronger opponents like Tarou didn't visit the place as often. Every time an argument arose, he ended up on the pond, but he could see his fiancee stewing on her juices and there was no chance he could go back until later, when the feelings were down again.
He took minutes to try to come up with an explanation of his on when that question was finally answered. "Ranma, I haven't seen P-chan all this time. Not since . . . ." The c-c-cat was out of the bag. There was nothing he could do to cover Ryoga this one last time.
"Ranma? why is P-chan always lost when Ryoga is as well? and . . . .don't tell me . . .they are? . ."
Ranma looked down ashamed at this development. he kept nodding letting Akane know she finally hit the jackpot. "Why didn't you tell me? I mean, you tried I know that much but why not directly?" Ranma felt lost, but had to tell the truth, it was now or never. "Akane . . .I was the one who cursed him, it was my fault and I promised him I wouldn't tell." The boy closed his eyes and waited for the beating of his life. . .but it never came.
"Ranma, did you know that when I would changed my clothes or tried something intimate he would turn away? and that when I tried to hold him to my chest, he would fight me until I forced him in place?" She chuckled at the pet's behavior. She always wondered how could an animal be so courteous. "I think he only wanted you to feel jealous, and he was doing a great job wasn't he?"
Ranma blushed at the comment and did the only "non-smart" thing he always does. "Why would I be jealous of a flat-chested, tomboy like you?" Obviously the comeback hit home, but with different results. The girl began to cry, while shouting. "I don't care what I am, at least "he" understood which is more of what you're willing to do." And ran to her room locking it in her way in.
The boy felt the guilt crawl back at him. He went upstairs and tried to apologize, only to make things a lot worse for himself. "Listen Akane I didn' mean what I said. . .I only thought being jealous of you was an exaggeration, I mean you're not exactly a prize yourself. . ." At that moment he stopped talking knowing he was making the problem bigger. "Where are you Pal . . .i need you. . . ."
Decided to let her be, Ranma went for a walk so he could clear his head. "I always thought we would get along with time, but she seems more on edge than before. Even in school she looks different, like away from at all."
The train of thought took him to Ryoga for some unfathomable reason. Ranma began to try to explain the last pose the lost boy offered him at the wedding. He felt pain, and sadness, but there was something else. . . . .relief? Relief from what. Was Ryoga happy by seeing his love married at last? was Akane his goal and when she became his, it shattered and released him from the hell he called Nerima?. But if all that were true, why smile at him while in female form, like he was "appreciating" a new conquest. . . . .wait a minute.
Ranma always wondered how was possible for the lost boy not to notice his disguises. He knew they were good, but a redhead with glasses from a city where no other redheaded girls lived was a stretch. Than, he began to think about the teasing and the brief moments the boy would stop in mid battle when he was a she. He never believed the reason, but now that he thought about it, Ryoga would always let him start the fight and kept in defense mode most of the time. Was he trying to show manners on a girl?
The thought made him boil in ire. But than he stopped. Ryoga was very chivalrous with the girls, and in the end he was a girl on those moments. Ranma began to feel a hidden sensation for the boy, a sensation of acceptance. Like hell if he would tell anyone, not even the lost boy, but the feeling was there. . . .growing by the day.
The strained relationship between the couple became more and more clear with time, Akane grew to hate Ranma every time he would use his female form to accept treats from men or to use it on his advantage in fights. While Ranma teased Kunou on one of their fights, Akane felt the indignation from the boy turned girl. The teasing and feminine contortions he was showing made her hide behind her books, and there was nothing she could do about it.
"Don't worry Akane-san, Ranma is a clown and he likes to play that way." When the girl turned, she saw Ranma's friend Daisuke defending him from his own ridicule. " Don't protect him Daisuke-san, he deserves every bit of embarrassing remarks people throw at him. He's so immature." After that opening the new couple walked away from Ranma's fight while talking about school and homework. "Akane-san, I know you suffer from what Ranma goes through. I've seen you less cheerful as you used to. I respect him, but you are withering away and he doesn't even see that."
The concern gave Akane a new substitute for the lost boy's confidant place, and while they walked away, a very sad feeling was swallowed by the jumpy redhead. Tears threatening to fall, while avoiding being groped by a lecherous kendoist.
On the next months, Ranma accepted Daisuke's intervention as a cure from Ryoga's existence in Akane's life as a friend and a pet. But he never saw that the feelings between them were growing. Even if Ryoga tried to court Akane, he was too shy to do anything directly, but this wasn't the case. Daisuke was a normal boy, who saw Akane's problems and since he was close to the family by Ranma's side, he was always on the girl's interests.
The realization came as hard as he would expect it. Though Nabiki was the eyes opener this time."Saotome, do you have any idea what you are loosing by acting your way?" The boy just turned deaf ears with no much of an earful, while eating his watermelon. "What's that Nabiki? tell me what am I missin' Akane and I are getting along better, and there's not many conflicts between the two of us, I'd say we're doin' better."
Nabiki just shook her head while knocking the top of Ranma's head with her knuckles. "Bakka. . .you're loosing her. That boy is not Ryoga. He will sweep her off her feet before you can do anything, and since he is your friend, you can't do anything about it." Realization dawned on the boy and he prepared to charge at the new challenger, but was stopped by Nabiki in the last moment.
"Tell me Ranma, what are you planning to do? take him apart? . .beat him? You'll only end up making yourself look bad, and you'll be the bad guy. you need to find a better way to face this situation, my guess . . .talk to Akane. Is the safest bet."
Finally the boy calmed and decided to follow the Queen's advice. In time, he managed to meet Akane and the discussion began.
" What do you want Ranma? I've got homework to do." The boy tried his best to act cool and recollected, while making sure he was being clear. "Akane, we need to talk about Daisuke. You been around him too much don' you think? even our fathers noticed your absence, and well . .I . . ."
Akane felt the anger flare inside her, all this time she's being ignored and when she finally finds comfort he jumps like the jealous moron he's always been. She would've smiled and tease him about feeling that way, but she was tired. The love who would fight demons and gods was diminishing by the lack of attention and unfinished fights the old couple seemed to leave in their wake.
"Ranma, There's nothing between us, we are just friends, and I really need a friend now. I understand how you feel so let's try this again, and we'll see from there. . ." The boy was at peace. He felt once again in control, and convinced himself nothing would go wrong, but deep down he kept thinking on someone else. Some one that was part of his life and he missed more than a dying love sharing his existence.
While denial was the path both boys chose, one opted for the love for one and erasing everything else in his life. Not knowing anyone else but the pigtailed boy meant happiness and no pain.
The other kept on living ignoring his surroundings. His fiancée drowning on someone else's arms and letting other fiancées lost on their own lives, his only memory of a shy boy looking at him while in female form filling his existence.
Indeed denial was what they lived for.
