"Of Loss, Life, & Love"
A Ranma ½ Fanfic by Luna12
Chapter 21: "Ryoga"
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Suddenly, there was a deafening crash of a heavy object hitting the cement sidewalk.
They broke contact, instantly alert. Ranma and Akane's eyes took in the fallen umbrella on the ground. They responded in surprised unison at the intruder.
"Ryoga?!"
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Ranma inwardly groaned. Why the hell did bacon breath have to find his way here? And of all times, now?
Ryoga's mouth was open in mute shock. Akane-san, his dear, wonderful, reserved Akane-san had been entwined in the arms of his greatest rival. Infinitely worse than any hug or embrace, they were kissing. In public! Mutually kissing.
Ryoga desperately wanted to place the blame on Ranma for being too forward - the fantasy of saving Akane-san from Ranma's unwanted advances was a frequent daydream - but the reality had been all too clear. Akane had passionately returned Ranma's affections. It was no stolen kiss he'd witnessed; it was very mutual passion.
Ryoga felt his heart sink into his stomach, his normal propensity towards depression rearing to the forefront. All thoughts of his devoted girlfriend, Akari, temporary left him in the face of what he had witnessed. Ryoga felt like clenching his head and screaming into the night. Even though he had tried again and again to move on, he still had lingering love for Akane. The final knowledge that Akane was completely lost to him, even though it was a fact he had always known deep down, sent a streak of pain through his chest. By sheer will, Ryoga managed to regain enough motor control to shut his jaw and swallow. Still, speech of any kind evaded him.
Akane had the grace to blush at being caught kissing in public. Ranma's face was slightly red, too, but the fierce glare he was giving Ryoga made it clear it was not from embarrassment.
Akane was the fastest to regain her composure as she nervously smoothed an imaginary wrinkle on her dress. "Hello, Ryoga-kun. Back from another trip?"
With Akane's sweet eyes on him, Ryoga found his voice. He laughed nervously. "Uh, yeah...I was fetching groceries for Akari...but got a bit turned around."
Akane gave a warm, if slightly pitying smile. Ryoga was helpless at finding the correct way out of his house, let alone a city, unaided. Akane took in Ranma's stiff posture and hard set eyes. She never fully understood their odd blend of friendship and rivalry. Ryoga had put his life on the line to aid Ranma, but he was just as likely to announce "prepare to die!". Most often they bickered like childish brothers, but they could also spiral their petty arguments into out of control destruction.
Trying to avoid any explosive battles, Akane laid her hand gently on Ranma's arm, slowly moving down to embrace his hand again. "Ranma, lets walk Ryoga to the bus station so he'll make it back to Akari's..." Before next year, she wryly added to herself.
Ranma felt his heart speed up again at Akane's renewed touch. Even in front of Ryoga, she didn't hold back from that small, yet mighty, physical admission of their new closeness.
Ryoga felt his stomach clench at the sight of their entwined hands, and Ranma could sense Ryoga's mood plummet. Even though the lost boy had claimed to stop pursuing Akane, his depressed aura told a very different story.
Ranma's mouth tightened in concern. This was no place for a shishi hokodan, and Akane wanting to walk hand in hand with him would unknowingly rub salt into Ryoga's pathetic emotional wounds. It could be even worse than when Akane gave Ryoga the "just friends speech".
Ranma shook his head fiercely and tried to think fast. "It's getting late. You should stay in; I'll escort Porky back."
Akane looked carefully between the two of them, feeling as if she was missing some vital piece of information. "You're not going to start a fight or anything, right?" The last word carried a warning tone.
Ranma rubbed the back of his head ruefully. "Nah. We don't always get into trouble, Akane."
She gave a quick glance towards Ryoga, who nodded mutely in agreement.
Akane gave a mental shrug. Maybe Ranma needed some brotherly time with Ryoga, as he was the closest thing to a best friend. She gave Ranma a last squeeze of her hand before departing. "I'll see you at school tomorrow, Ranma. It was nice seeing you again, Ryoga-kun."
The moment Ranma heard the Tendo door shut close, he turned on Ryoga.
"Ow! Ow. Hey!"
Ranma held Ryoga in a headlock as he roughly dragged him down the street. Ryoga tried feebly to retaliate, and eventually Ranma let go.
"What was that for?!" Ryoga bellowed.
Ranma ignored the question. "What the hell are you doing showin' up at Akane's at that hour?" he demanded.
Ryoga held up his hands placatingly. "I was lost, honest!"
Ranma sighed. It probably was just dumb bad luck that led Ryoga there to interrupt. Still...
"I ain't letting P-chan come back, got it? You show up in her bed, I'll have you splashed and hold ya down while Akane pulverizes you. Screw the promise I made." Ranma hoped Ryoga accepted this bluff. After Akane's lingering hurt and bruised trust from his last broken promise, he couldn't afford to be caught keeping this secret from her.
Ryoga nodded without argument. "I really didn't mean to come back here, you know." Ryoga took a deep breath. With Akane out of sight, his mind seemed to finally kick back into gear. Akane would always hold a special place for him, but rationally he understood that the kind of love he held for her was an unhealthy obsession akin to worship, rather than the genuine soft affection he held for Akari.
"Anyway, I'm dating Akari. I even wear a GPS beacon for her to find me...eventually." Ryoga held up his wrist.
Ranma poked at the watch-like device. "Then what happened this time?"
Ryoga sighed. "The battery on my nav unit died."
Ranma snickered.
Ryoga growled, his abnormally sharp canines exposed. "Hey, its not funny! Akari shouldn't have to put up with that."
Ranma nodded, but he still didn't look entirely convinced. "But just so we're clear: Akane's my fiancée."
"You still don't deserve her," Ryoga, grumbled automatically.
"I know," Ranma's response was immediate, his voice quiet, but firm.
Ryoga stopped dead in his tracks, utterly stunned. He expected the usual insults, or a ridiculous change of subject. Although it had been a long time since Ranma outright denied any feelings for Akane, Ryoga didn't expect that frank of an admission. For a moment, he wondered if his bad sense of direction landed him in an alternate universe. Ranma's next words proved otherwise.
"Don't get me wrong, Akane's still a stubborn tomboy with toxic cooking...but…"
Nope. Still the same Ranma. Ryoga gave him a bitter smile. "So you finally manned up, huh? Just remember, if I find out you mistreated her, I'll beat you to a pulp!
Ranma scoffed. "As if you could."
They continued walking, the fluorescent street lights illuminated the sidewalk, casting eerie shadows into the evening.
Ryoga's thoughts wandered back to the last time he was in Nerima, accidentally arriving for what would be the failed wedding of Ranma and Akane….
The dojo was a macabre collage of smoldering split wood, crumbled walls, tattered decorations, spilled food, and bomb stains. At some point during the mass confusion, Ryoga had been doused with a bucket of water someone tossed to douse out another bomb. Thankfully, it had been while Akane was busy fighting off Kuno's lecherous advances, so all he had to do was avoid getting in the crosshairs of Shampoo and Ukyo fighting over a semi-conscious Ranma.
Suddenly he had felt familiar, gentle hands scoop him up from the ground. He looked up to see white lace, satin, and the most welcome face of an angel: Akane. She tucked him safely under her arm and turned to escape from the ruins of the dojo. She proceeded to her room and slammed the door. The quiet stillness of her bedroom was a drastic contrast to the scene they had just left.
"Honestly!" Akane plopped down on her bed, more mentally exhausted than physically spent. The one word seemed to encapsulate mild disbelief and frustration all at once. She gently stroked the little pig's head. P-chan "bweed" supportively and nudged his nose into her arm.
He heard Akane let out a long sigh, the frustration from before transforming into something else, something that made his ears droop and his insides quake. Akane took off the burnt remains of her veil and tossed them into the small waste bin under her desk.
"It's not like I wanted to be married this young…it was a bit soon...but…" Akane paused, and lifted P-chan to face her. She often talked to the little piggie when she was alone, and he usually enjoyed being her confidant. "...but I would have done it. And not just so he could get his cure."
Akane's eyes got a faraway look, and the little piglet did his best to comfort in the confines of his awkward form. Akane began again, the same distant look in her eye as if recalling a dream. "I could have sworn Ranma said he loved me. He was crying over me, holding me, and I know he called out my name."
Akane scratched the top of P-chan's head affectionately. "But the baka denied it. Maybe I really did imagine it. Maybe it was just...wishful thinking while I was so dehydrated, and I hallucinated it?"
P-chan didn't know how to respond, so he simply nestled in closer. That bastard, Ranma. He denied it? After all they had just went through?!
P-chan felt two tiny, warm splashes of water fall on his head. "The problem is, I think...I think I love that big, fickle jerk, P-chan."
Ryoga felt his heart sink. Akane quickly wiped away at the tears that had escaped. She roughly yanked the remaining flowers out of her hair, tossing each ornament into the trash. She seemed to regain her composure, her fingers delicately rubbing behind his ears. "Good thing you can't squeal on me, huh?"
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Ryoga had nearly gotten as lost in his memories as he did with directions. He brought his mind back into focus and realized they were nearly at the bus station. Ryoga turned towards Ranma, his demeanor growing serious. Ryoga knew that Ranma, in his own way, was just as insecure as he was about romance and love. Ranma had finally shown signs of maturity, and if his rival was ever to fully grow up and treat Akane-san the way she deserved, there was something he needed to know. "I think you're finally ready to hear that...Akane-san loves you. She told P-chan after the failed wedding."
"She did?" Ranma swallowed hard, surprised to hear Ryoga confess such intimate knowledge to him. Ranma recently suspected as much, given the True Love Mirror incident and Akane's partial confession on the rooftop. Still, neither he nor Akane had managed to say it directly. Hearing it from "P-chan", who only had motivation to drive them apart, drove the truth further in.
Ryoga watched Ranma's reaction carefully. "But have you told her? I mean, from what I saw…"
Ranma turned his face aside and squirmed. "Uh, not exactly..."
Ryoga sighed and shook his head in disgust. In his mind, Akane deserved so much better than wishy washy Ranma to ensure her happiness. He wanted to shake sense into his rival. Had that lucky bastard forgotten the hell that was Jusendo?
Ranma spoke up again. "It has been kinda crazy lately, even for us. Uncle Tendo died a little over a month ago."
Ryoga's mouth dropped. "What?!"
Ranma nodded solemnly. "Heart attack."
"Akane-san...oh poor Akane-san..." Ryoga felt tears well in his eyes. As P-chan, he had been able to live in the Tendo home and bask in the warm glow that was a family, even if it was as a pet. There was no mistaking that Soun treasured his daughters, especially his youngest who most took after him and loved the Art. Irrationally, Ryoga mentally berated himself for not being there. If there was any time Akane needed her pet pig to cry on, it was then.
Suddenly, Ranma felt himself hoisted up by the collar of his shirt. Ryoga was shaking him. "You better have been there for her. You better still be there for her, and not taking advantage of her grief or -"
Ranma swatted Ryoga's hands away, his brows furrowed. "P-chan, you know I wouldn't do that to Akane, so shut the hell up before I shut your mouth for you."
Ryoga slowly composed himself. From what he had seen, Akane-san seemed remarkably composed and happy given the drastic turn life had thrown at her. Begrudgingly, he realized Ranma was likely a large reason behind that. With mixed feelings, Ryoga was grateful his rival had managed to do what he had not, and could not provide for Akane. Yet even though he was giving up on Akane-san, Ryoga would never give up on wishing her the best. He looked at Ranma pointedly. "Have you at least dumped your other fiancées?"
Ranma frowned at the reminder of the dangerous situation he had allowed to brew over into a bombed dojo, and later, broken ribs for Akane. "I'm working on it. Kodachi's gone to France, and I got the Amazons off our backs, at least,"
Ryoga's eyebrows shot up, impressed. Shampoo and Cologne's machinations were always the biggest threat to Akane's well being. With only Ukyo to contend with, Ryoga relaxed. From what he could discern from teaming up with the chef in the past, Ukyo was honorable. She wouldn't do anything outright crazy or harmful.
They arrived at the bus station, and Ranma carefully checked the printed maps so Ryoga would take the correct route. Instead of leaving, Ranma waited with him on the bench. Despite all their rivalry, and partly perhaps because of it, too, he would make sure Ryoga actually boarded the correct bus.
When his transportation finally arrived, Ranma stuck out his hand. Ryoga accepted it in a firm handshake. It was an odd parting: they were part bitter rivals, but also part friends.
"Good luck, Ryoga. Feel free to come spar again sometime."
Ryoga felt his earlier bout of depression disappear. He understood the meaning behind the offer, too. With the romantic entanglements with Akane fairly resolved, a healthier - though still competitive - friendship was more than welcome.
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Ranma walked back home in good spirits, the events of the evening slowly playing back in his mind. He just had a date, a real romantic date with Akane, and it had been better than he ever imagined. His face warmed as he recalled the feel of her lips against his, the passion she shared for him and the reciprocation of his own flood of desire.
Ryoga's additional revelation reverberated in his mind:
She loved him. Akane loved him.
The concept was too huge to absorb at first, but now it penetrated. His brain flooded with endorphins and he felt ready to burst. His body couldn't contain himself and he left the pavement, leaping lightly from rooftop to rooftop in a burst of unbridled exuberance.
Once his excess energy had been expended, he dropped back down to the sidewalk. The buildings in this part of town were much taller and less suburban, making rooftop hopping a far less practical means of transit. He was only a few meters away from his apartment when he saw his old man leave the building. He had his camping gear on his back and looked ready for another long trip.
Surprisingly, Ranma's spirits sank at the idea of a training trip. After all that had just happened, he was not in the mood to spend an extended period of time away from Akane. He casually wondered what his father's reaction would be if he suggested bringing Akane along. He'd have to play it cool, maybe convince Pop that it was his idea or something to help train up the Tendo heir. He didn't want to clue his old man into how far along his relationship had gone with Akane. Things were finally going right without all the extra pressure.
"Yo, Pop!"
Genma faced his son, and for a moment Ranma thought he saw a brief cringe of guilt flash over his features. Was his old man trying to sneak out?
"Son, I'll be leaving for a while."
Ranma's eyebrows scrunched. "Training trip?"
Genma coughed into his hand, looking slightly ashamed. "Not exactly. Your mother is a bit...upset with me. I promised to help keep my oath to make you a man among men. As such, I'm taking a journey back to Jusenkyo for the nanniichuan water."
Ranma's eyes grew wide. Now that was a trip worth leaving for...wasn't it? Ranma marveled at his own hesitation. He wanted to be cured, maybe not as desperately as when it first happened, but the desire was certainly there. Yet the idea of packing up and leaving without Akane did not settle well with him. Neither did bringing her along to a risky journey to cursed pools, and yet last time he left her behind disaster had struck. "Need me to grab my pack?" he hedged, still wrestling with his options.
Genma put his arm on Ranma's shoulder, and shook his head sadly. "This is a journey only for me, son. I'll bring enough back for you, too. You see, your mother… well, she insisted you stay here. She'll explain more inside."
Ranma watched his father leave and turned back to face the apartment building. He had a very bad feeling only trouble waited for him inside.
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Author's Note:
Warm hugs to my beta-reader, Angela Jewell.
I couldn't resist writing a "right after the failed wedding" drabble. I know it's been done to death, but I hope you all liked mine. I'm aiming for maturing the characters at a realistic pace. Let me know if I've succeeded or failed.
Special thanks to all my awesome reviewers, and to those guests who don't sign in, I appreciate you, too! I just can't respond directly to let you know.
The review challenge and incentive remains. This chapter was a shorty, so less than 50 new reviews = early chapter release! Reviews of previous chapters count, too. Together let's get to 375!
Original Publication Date: Sept. 19, 2014