Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all rights to Ranma and Co. I am just borrowing them for this story.

Notes: Okay... I know that this has taken awhile and I figure you guys deserve an explination. Truth is I lost my three year old dog in March. Her name was Susie and she was my little baby. She had a brain aneurism and it was a sudden and tremendous loss. I was devastated and I couldn't think much about writing this story. It took me awhile to get back on track. I still miss her very much. I am grateful to my pre-reader Angela Jewell for not only editing this epic for me, but for also giving me comfort when I needed it most. If anyone is interested she made a Ranma 1/2 amv and dedicated it to me in memory of Susie. You can find it on youtube. Just type in a search for the title: Ranma's Memory For Lichan11. I do it this way because won't let me give you direct access. Besides that it's a real kick ass vid! :)

Thanks again Angela. You don't know how much it meant to me.

Now, for all of you who stuck with this story, and for all you new readers this one is for you.

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It was Ryoga's turn to brood.

"Hiiiiya!!"

There was a loud crack as he drove his fist through the bricks that were stacked before him. They shattered beneath his blow, the sound reverberating off the walls of the dojo from the sheer force of his anger filled strike.

It's just not fair!

The thought echoed through his mind in his heated frustration. He had believed with the fiasco of their failed wedding that things between Ranma and Akane had been put on permanent hold. He could see now that this was definitely not the case. If only he hadn't gotten lost so soon after, he could have made sure…

His mind immediately scoffed at the suggestion. Even if he didn't want to fully admit it to himself, it was obvious that nothing he could have done would have made a difference. Akane was in love with Ranma. All he had to do was watch the way she looked at him and it became perfectly clear. She'd never once looked at him that way. And as much as it pained him, he knew deep down that he'd never really stood a chance with her.

Still, it didn't ease the contempt he felt toward Ranma. In Ryoga's mind his rival would never be good enough for Akane.

I'd be so much better for her, he thought miserably. Why can't she see that? Feeling his frustration mount once more, he began to carefully restack several more bricks in front of him.

"Hiiiiya!!"

The sound of shattering stone once again reverberated off the walls of the dojo, the pile of newly reduced rubble a mirror image of his shattered heart.

"He doesn't deserve her," Ryoga muttered, losing himself in his own self pity. He sighed deeply, feeling the despair wash over him once again.

"Are you done?"

The sudden voice from behind him made Ryoga give a startled jump, as he whirled around to face the intruder. What he found was a serious looking Ranma leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed lazily over his broad chest.

Ryoga glared at his rival. "How dare you sneak up on me like that!"

Ranma merely shrugged, much to the lost boy's annoyance. "I take it that means no?"

Ryoga scowled. "What's it to you Ranma?"

The martial artist's eyes narrowed at the question, as he fought to hold his irritation back. He had waited until everyone else had gone to bed before he'd come searching for Ryoga. He knew it was time they had their little "talk", and he wanted to be sure they wouldn't be disturbed. He just hoped Ryoga would be receptive to what he had to say.

"It means everything to me if it concerns Akane," he said, his voice stern, as he pushed himself abruptly away from the doorframe. He strode over to where Ryoga stood in a few quick and easy steps, planting himself firmly in the lost boy's path.

There was a moment of infinite silence that seemed to stretch out for an eternity before Ranma finally spoke again.

"It don't matter if you think I'm not good enough for her," he said firmly, leaning forward, causing Ryoga to take a small step back. "Akane loves me and I love her." He watched as Ryoga winced slightly at the reference, his eyes narrowing upon his rival.

"Having faced our feelings for each other," he continued, watching the lost boy's response carefully. "…it leaves only one secret left."

Ryoga stood motionless at the statement, his eyes going wide. What was Ranma saying? Was he actually threatening to reveal his secret to Akane? No, he won't, he can't, Ryoga's mind replied instantly. His honor demands it.

"You promised you wouldn't tell Ranma," Ryoga reminded him, his eyes narrowing. "You promised on your honor."

Ranma grimaced at this last. Leave it to Ryoga to throw his honor up at him. Though he had made the promise, it had been done before Akane had gone and made Ryoga's cursed form her pet. Had he known Ryoga would use it to his advantage, playing on Akane's love of P-chan to worm his way into her bed, he never would have made it.

"You want to talk honor Ryoga?" Ranma growled in his frustration. "Do you think it's honorable the way you've deceived Akane all this time? Is it honorable that you toy with her affections? Or that you abuse her trust?"

He watched the lost boy lower his gaze as if ashamed. At least he feels guilty about it, Ranma thought. That's something. Still, he remained silent, prompting Ranma to continue.

"It can't go on Ryoga," he told him. "You have to know that. I won't let it."

Ryoga felt his anger rise at Ranma's words.

"So you're going to tell her, is that it?" he snapped. "You're going to go back on your word?"

Ranma felt his temper rise.

"Let's get one thing straight," Ranma said, anger lighting his words. "Akane is my girl. If anyone is sleeping in her bed it's going to be me. Got it? I have no intention of sharing her with you!"

Ryoga felt himself go red with fury. Anger mixed with jealousy surging through him, finally reaching a fever pitch.

"You can't even give her enough respect to marry her first, before you corrupt her with your own selfish needs!"

Ranma merely stared at his rival in utter disbelief. If that wasn't calling the kettle black he didn't know what was.

"You are unbelievable!" Ranma fumed, the disgust evident in his voice. "You're saying I'm selfish? Me? I have never, and would never betray Akane's trust the way you have! What we did together was out of mutual love and respect! You're the one who is selfish Ryoga! Hiding behind P-chan so you can have her affection! Only caring about your need for it, not how it would make her feel if she knew the truth. You're pathetic!"

The surging anger and jealousy suddenly burst forth as Ryoga let out a furious cry and took a bold swing at Ranma.

The martial artist's superb reflexes kicked in instantly and he dodged the blow almost effortlessly.

"And you think you haven't betrayed her by keeping my secret!" Ryoga leveled the accusation at his rival, causing Ranma to grit his teeth as his own anger kicked up another notch.

"You're a fool if you think otherwise!" he went on, advancing forward as he spoke, fists lashing out as he kept trying to land a blow on Ranma. "You're just as guilty as I am!"

With this last implication Ranma saw red. It wasn't as if he hadn't tried to warn Akane. He had, several times in fact, only to end up suffering at the hands of her mallet for his efforts. Not to mention his honor bound him to silence.

Suddenly Ranma, fueled by his anger, switched to the offensive, striking solidly out at Ryoga, even managing to land a few blows on the lost boy.

Ryoga winced as Ranma's fist connected with his ribs and he narrowly avoided the next blow aimed at his face. He forced himself to concentrate as he blocked several more strikes in rapid succession.

Ranma was furious. It was bad enough being put in the middle of this whole mess, being torn between his desire to just tell Akane everything, and the oath he had sworn on his honor.

To some it would seem that if he loved Akane he would choose her over some stupid promise, but to Ranma his honor was very dear to him. It was something his father didn't have. It separated them, gave Ranma a sense of becoming a person he could be proud of, one worthy of Akane's love, and he was reluctant to let it go.

"You know I had no choice Ryoga!" Ranma yelled, lashing out with his right foot, causing Ryoga to leap in the air to avoid the blow. "You saw to that! It doesn't change the fact that you used her to satisfy your own lonely existence. You're sick!"

Ryoga gave a small growl at the insult, once more going on the offensive, striking out at Ranma and managing a few good hits himself.

"Me?" he retorted. "What about you? The way you treat her makes me sick! All you do is insult her and call her names!"

Ranma quickly blocked a jab aimed at his face, while counterstriking his own blow to Ryoga's upper body.

"That's in the past Ryoga!"

"Oh?" The lost boy commented, "And you think that makes it alright?"

He narrowed accusing eyes upon his quarry. "What about letting her go on this mission with us? You're putting her in direct danger, what about that, huh!? If something happens to her it'll be all your fault!"

Ranma let out a growl of frustrated rage. He was already feeling wary over the decision, knowing it was the right one, but unable to stop the worry that burned just beneath the surface. Having Ryoga point out what he'd already been contemplating himself only added fuel to the fire, and it really irked him that Ryoga knew just which of his buttons to push to make it hurt the most.

Letting his anger fuel him, he stopped holding back and instead lashed out, unleashing his amiguriken technique upon Ryoga's midsection, sending the lost boy flying into the dojo's far wall.

Ryoga winced at the impact, scrambling quickly to his feet. He could see the fury in Ranma's eyes and was glad for it. If Ranma wasn't going to hold back, that meant neither was he—and right now he needed nothing more than to unload some of this pent up frustration.

"Like I said before," Ranma stated, focusing on the task at hand and ignoring his rival's last dig. "I'm not sharing her with you. It ends here, Ryoga. I want you to let her go."

Ryoga responded by leaping at his opponent and catching him with a square kick to the chest. This time it was Ranma who went flying. He hit the opposite wall of the dojo hard enough to sufficiently crack the fine wood.

"I don't care what you want!" Ryoga declared as Ranma slowly got to his feet, the small grimace on his face the only indication that the blow had done any sort of damage.

Ranma gave an inward sigh. He had known talking to Ryoga about this wouldn't be easy. Still, he'd hoped against hope that the lost boy would come to see reason. Sadly, it was becoming apparent that this was not to be.

He stopped for a moment and tried to put himself in Ryoga's shoes. It couldn't be easy for him he realized. For even though what he had done to Akane had been inexcusable, deep down Ranma knew that he'd done it out of desperation, driven by the loneliness that always surrounded him. He'd latched onto the first person to show him any kind of love, even if that love extended only from a girl to her pet.

Ryoga had accepted the deal, hoping that one day he would find a cure for his curse, thus giving him the confidence to share what he felt for Akane. That when he finally did she would find it in her heart to love him, the real him, and now here he was taking that hope away from him.

Ranma wondered absently if after all this they could somehow remain friends. A fact that was looking less and less likely, but one he wished diligently for. Because despite everything, through all their arguing and fighting, he still considered Ryoga to be like a brother. He was one of the few things from his past that he wanted to hold onto.

He knew he could always count on the lost boy when it mattered most. He'd proven that on several occasions. Like when they'd fought Kuno's ill fated phoenix, and more recently in his all out war with Saffron.

Deep down Ranma had grown to appreciate, and even like his rival, and he hated having to hurt him this way. The thought that they couldn't overcome this evoking a regret in him that he knew would stay with him for a long time.

Still, Akane meant more to him than anything else. Not even losing Ryoga's friendship would stop him from seeing this through. He couldn't allow things to go on the way they were. It wasn't right. Deep down Ranma suspected even Ryoga knew this. It was just a matter of getting him to admit it, to put Akane before his own loneliness.

Of course that was easier said than done.

Ranma was thoughtful for a moment. Realizing that making demands was getting him nowhere, he decided to take a different tact.

He stared at his rival for a long moment. His eyes now alight with determination.

"What about Akari?"

The question caught the lost boy completely off guard. He frowned suspiciously, wondering where Ranma was going with this.

"What about her?" he asked, his eyes narrowing warily.

"Doesn't she matter to you at all?"

Ryoga merely stared at his rival, taken slightly aback by the question. Hadn't he himself been thinking how he might find solace in Akari's arms? How she might help him to forget his love for Akane and move on?

It wasn't as if he wasn't drawn to her. The fact that she knew of his curse and showed him love anyway was something he treasured greatly. In fact, before he'd gotten lost he'd really been enjoying his time with her. Still, his affection for Akane had remained, and even now, in the face of her obvious love for Ranma, that affection wouldn't leave him.

Ranma watched his rival carefully, noting the obvious war going on behind his eyes. He knew Ryoga had feelings for Akari, and he was pretty certain that she also had feelings for him, yet despite her evident affection he continued to hang onto Akane.

Ranma knew the only way Ryoga would let go is if Akane realized the feelings he harbored for her and she set him straight. As painful as that might be it had to be done. A clean break for all of them.

Of course Ranma wasn't totally unsympathetic to his rival's plight. This was why he was trying to focus Ryoga's attention on Akari. To show him that letting Akane go didn't mean it left him all alone.

"She seems to be very fond of you Ryoga," Ranma stated, waiting for a sign that his rival had heard him. When he remained silent Ranma went on. "Am I right in thinking you have feelings for her too?"

"So what if I do!" Ryoga finally snapped, his frustration finally getting the better of him.

Ranma frowned slightly at his rival's stubbornness. "If you do, then don't you think you should hold onto that?"

At his rival's continued silence Ranma let out an exasperated sigh, trying to think of some way to make him understand. His mind once again fell upon Mount Phoenix, and Akane's totally lifeless body lying so quiet in his arms. Suddenly everything he had ever wanted to tell her had come rushing through his head. All the things he had wanted to say but had never found the courage to. The shock and pain when he thought he'd lost her, only multiplied tenfold by the fact that it was too late to let her know how much she'd meant to him. How much he truly loved her. He didn't want to see Ryoga go through that, to live his life full of regrets. He had a second chance with Akane, and he was taking it. It was high time Ryoga took that chance with Akari.

"Look man," Ranma started. "Don't blow this. I almost lost Akane without telling her how I really felt. Regret is a tough thing to live with Ryoga. If you care for Akari then hang on to her. Don't throw it all away on a love that can never be."

At Ranma's words Ryoga finally raised his head to stare fixedly at his rival.

"I know what you're trying to do and you don't have to," he said. "I promise I won't interfere."

Ranma shook his head. "That's not good enough Ryoga."

At his words Ryoga grit his teeth in barely concealed anger. "What do you mean it's not good enough? I told you I won't interfere. After our showdown with Cologne I'm gone. I'll be out of your life for good!"

Ranma let out another deep seeded sigh. He knew with Ryoga's sense of direction that it was more than likely he would somehow find his way back to Nerima, even if it wasn't his intention. That of course would inevitably lead to his curse being activated, as water seemed to be a magnet for anyone lucky enough to have taken the Jusenkyo plunge.

In Ryoga's case that meant becoming P-chan, and that was something that Ranma could not allow. He couldn't tolerate watching Akane unknowingly cradle Ryoga against her chest, as she cuddled what she thought was her pet. No, as long as the secret remained he knew Ryoga wouldn't have the resolve to resist her.

"How many times have you said that?" Ranma asked his rival, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes penetrating trying to make the lost boy understand. "How many times have you walked away from her only to end up back in her arms? You say you won't interfere, but as soon as she picks you up, gives you that first small cuddle, you won't be able to resist her and you know it. The temptation is just too great for you."

Ryoga closed his eyes against Ranma's words. Knowing they were true, but not wanting to hear them, for the alternative was too much to bear. He didn't think he could stand it if she were to hate him. And after what he'd done to her he wouldn't blame her if she did.

"You can't remain her pet Ryoga," Ranma insisted, much to the lost boy's annoyance. "The only way to end it is to tell her."

Once again Ryoga felt his anger spike, driving away the despair that had been slowly washing over him. He glared as his rival then, nailing him under a hardened stare. "You'd like that wouldn't you?" he accused hotly. "You want her to hate me!"

Ranma's eyes narrowed in response to the accusation. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"You know that's not true!"

"Do I?" Ryoga growled, suspicion lacing his tone. "Funny, it sure seems that way to me!"

Now it was Ranma's turn to get angry. "If you think that, you're an idiot Ryoga!" he spat, unable to help himself. The statement only succeeded in spurring his rival on.

"The truth hurts doesn't it Ranma!" Ryoga huffed, giving the martial artist a sly smile.

Ranma could tell by the expression on the lost boy's face that he was pleased with the thought that he might have hit a nerve. This realization caused Ranma to adopt his own devious grin.

"Ha!" he retorted instantly. "What would you know about telling the truth you coward!"

The look of complete rage was the only warning Ranma got before Ryoga was once again charging him.

And then it was on.

At first they matched each other, hit for hit, block for block, dodge for dodge. Then slowly it seemed as if the momentum gave a sudden shift in Ryoga's favor, as his rage began to settle and firmly drive him forward.

Ranma found himself once again on the defensive as he blocked several strikes in rapid succession, grunting when a few of them managed to find their way through.

"I'm going to beat you senseless!" Ryoga shouted, feeling his energy rise with his conviction, as he delivered several more blows upon his rival.

"In your dreams, pigboy!" Ranma retorted, noticing the lost boy's anger spike once more, leaving him open. It was all Ranma needed. With a speed that was barely human he launched his amiguriken technique, driving Ryoga back until the final blow sent him once again careening into the far wall of the dojo.

Ranma didn't wait for his rival to get back on his feet before he was launching himself in the air, foot extended and aimed at the center of Ryoga's chest.

Working on complete reflex, Ryoga managed to roll himself sideways mere moments before Ranma's foot came down, connecting instead with the dojo's floorboards. The force of his blow cracked the solid wood, sending it splintering in all directions.

The lost boy tried to get quickly to his feet, but it wasn't quite quick enough, as Ranma once again launched himself at Ryoga's midsection.

The blow knocked the wind out of him as they crashed into the floor, both of them grunting upon impact. The momentum caused them to roll several times, until finally they came to a stop, Ranma with the advantage as he now leaned over his rival.

Grabbing him by his mustard colored shirt, Ranma hauled him up until their faces were mere inches apart. Anger lit his handsome face, his eyes now alight with his conviction.

"You listen to me Ryoga," Ranma said, giving him a firm shake for emphasis. "I'm tired of keeping your damn secret! You are gonna tell Akane everything. Understand? You are gonna tell her how you followed me to Jusenkyo, how you fell into one of the springs, and that you now turn into her little pet P-chan! Got it?!"

In the silence that followed Ranma's final outburst there came a sudden and very audible gasp. Startled, both boys turned anxiously toward the sound.

There, standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with disbelief stood Akane, a shocked and bewildered expression etched upon her pretty face.

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Well, there you have it. Hope that you enjoyed and that I pulled off the fight scenes okay, it's not my forte! I'll try and get the next chapter out sooner than this one!