Ain't No Day At The Beach

by Zukone


Take a dip, Stick
Who cares, you already know.
Chapter 2

Sun Block


Sailing through the air he thinks it's not such a bad idea. He IS wearing women's clothing. Even still, his body flinches at the thought of cold water and another transformation. At least one thing could go his way today.

Ranma doesn't quite make it to the water, however. Instead, he bounces a couple of times on the sand and stops a few inches from where the waves of water end. "This ain't no day at the beach " he thinks to himself. He crawls forward, reaching towards the waves of water that beckon him.

Before anybody can get a good look at the flying person, he should at least be the right gender. He is determined that cold water will be his friend today. It will save him from embarrassment instead of causing it this time. No one should ever have to suffer seeing a man in a bikini bottom.

A shadow is cast on his face. He slowly lifts his head and then prays to God.

"Ranma Saotome..." he hears. Ranma prays harder. "Please God anyone but him."



~~~oooo(_)~~~(_)oooo~~~



"Where are we going?" Ryoga asks.

"Anywhere where we can be alone." Akane says.

Ryoga blushes deeply. "I.. uh. don't know where." Around them are crowds of people. The beach is a busy place. The sand is full of children at play, families gathered together for outings, and women laying out to get some color on their skin. Fathers watch their children enter the water and mothers diligently put sunscreen on their kids. Everyone looks so happy. Ryoga looks happy too.

"Why don't you try leading" Akane suggests.

"Me?" Ryoga asks, pointing to himself in disbelief.

"Yeah, you're good at finding hard to reach places."

"That's a nice way of saying that I get lost good." Ryoga smirks.

Akane nods and chuckles, "it comes in handy sometimes."

Ryoga looks at Akane, his eyes glazed over with gratitude. To think that his knack for getting lost would be an asset at such a time. "OK" Ryoga says. He grabs Akane by the hand and heads furiously to wherever his destination is.


~~~oooo(_)~~~(_)oooo~~~

"Your choice of attire is quite strange." the voice declares. "Probably the result of your foul sorcery. Where hast thou hidden the pig tailed goddess and the fair Akane!" Ranma's world shatters as everyone on the beach eyes' fix on the scene that's about to unfold.

"shhhhhhhhh! Just move." Ranma motions for Kuno to shut up. Kuno peers at him and then points at him sharply.

"What's your secret!"

"What secret!?!"

"You know what I mean. Akane, the pig tailed goddess."

"Oh that. It's what I wear. How should I know? I don't have time for this. Outta the way!" Ranma demands before frog leaping him, smushing his face into the sand and then splashing into the water. Ranma emerges female.

"Ah, that's much better." she says relieved.

Kuno's head pops up from the ground. "What's this I hear. Could it be that my beautiful nymph has returned to me."

"Just leave me alone already will ya." Ranma shouts out wondering where Kuno comes up with this stuff .

"Please." Kuno kneels on one knee in front of Ranma. "Grace me with your presence on a lovely afternoon stroll at the beach."

"NO." Ranma says definitively before storming off.





~~~oooo(_)~~~(_)oooo~~~

Ryoga slows down to take a breath. Akane does the same.

"OK, I think we ran far enough." Ryoga says catching his breath finally. "Now let's see where we are." he says lifting his head up.

Akane's face is fixed on her surroundings. They were at a crowded beach

Ryoga takes a look around and immediately turns to Akane. "Sorry Akane, We'll try again." He grabs her hand and sets off more furiously, leaving the crowded beach behind.

"Ok" She replies as he half drags her away. Akane just barely caught a glimpse at Ranma who was storming up the beach mumbling something to herself.

"Third time's a charm right, Akane?"

"Right" she says as they head off.





~~~oooo(_)~~~(_)oooo~~~

"Boy that stupid Kuno and His big FAT mouth. I woulda been all right if he hadna yelled so loud. Thank God I changed soon after. I just hope people didn't get a good look at me. " Ranma complains to himself.

"Hey it's the red head girl." a wiry boy comments. "Wasn't your hair black just a moment ago. You looked all boxy and weird for a second. Thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. But that couldn't be, right."

Ranma looks at him. "It's so hot out here: it must have been a mirage." she says. A weak smile is on her face as she explains.

"Yeah you're too pretty to look that ugly. Say. Why don't you take off that shirt. Must be bothering you. Besides, if you take it off, I wouldn''t get confused at all."

Ranma sends him flying. "Pervert"

Someone applauds. "Well done my beauty. Well done."

"You again." Ranma asks more annoyed than surprised. "I thought I lost you."

"I won't relent," Kuno states dramatically, "until you accept my offer."

"Che, whatever" Ranma says rolling her eyes.

"You won't regret it my lovely." Kuno says.

"I'm regretting it already" Ranma replies. "It's so hot out here" she says fanning her self. "I could really go for something cold to drink."

"Consider it done" Kuno says, cash in hand and ready to please. "Is there anything else that you will require?"

"Awe, well, why not. " Ranma thinks before spewing out her order, "I'll have ice cream... and a cheese burger. No pickles. Get me some french fries while you're at it."

"If I have to endure his presence, I might as well get something out of it." Ranma thought.

"Will mi lady like to accompany me" Kuno holds out his arm for her to get a hold of it.

"Well, we're walkin' that way aren't we?"

"Right right" Kuno says withdrawing his arm.





~~~oooo(_)~~~(_)oooo~~~

"OKay Okay. This is the eleventh time. It's gotta be right." Ryoga looks up and is devastated. They were in a crowded area, the commercial section of the beach.

"Well at least we can get something to eat." Akane smiles at Ryoga, somehow making everything right. She was that kind of person. She made everything all right.

Ryoga laughs. "It's appropriate isn't it. She made a joke so laugh idiot." he tells himself. It took him a while to respond to her so it seemed a little out of place.

Just then Ranma comes out of a store right in front of them. She seemed to be in a jolly mood sporting a new outfit and carrying a tower of ice cream scoops on a cone. She licks the ice cream shamelessly ignoring Kuno who is carrying a huge pile stuffed animals, toys, food and clothing that block his vision.

Ranma continues to walk on and passes right by them oblivious to their presence. Kuno follows and leaving a trail of boardwalk carnival crap behind him.

They both follow with their heads in disbelief as Ranma goes on and walks some distance away.

"Akane..." Ryoga asks.

"Let's just head back to the beach" Akane suggests trying to forget all about Ranma.

Ryoga nods and lays out his hand for her to grab and smiles warmly. She grabs hold and he determined as ever, declares, "If it's the last thing I do, Akane, I'll get you there!" he starts running .

After hearing that loud declaration, Ranma turns around. She sees Ryoga grabbing Akane's hand and dragging her off somewhere. She has a smile on her face. A spiral of thoughts take over as she watches them leave. Stupid. Why'd Akane have to be so stupid? Doesn't she know that Ryoga will get her lost for days, weeks, maybe months? What was she thinking? Ranma is almost ready to go after them but his thoughts press onwards bringing his feet to a halt. He remembers the deal. He remembers what Akane said. She came back because of Ryoga, not him. Maybe Akane wants to get lost. But that doesn't make sense. Unless...

Ranma is paralyzed. The ice cream starts to melt in the hot sun and some drops drip onto the ground.

Why was she letting it happen?

A scoop of ice cream falls on the floor.

Everything seems like it's slipping from her fingers. Uncontrollably.

Why?

More icecream dribbles down.

The spiral becomes a whirlwind. "Why?"

Another scoop falls.

Ranma's mind starts to scream, "Why?... Why?....Why?"

"What's the matter?" Kuno asks, setting the stuff aside and showing Ranma that she had dropped her ice cream on the floor.

"Huh.. oh... it's nothing." she says shoving the messy cone into Kuno's hand. She wipes her hand off.

Kuno looks at the direction that Ranma had been staring and sees Akane fleeing the scene. He looks back at Ranma. "It's Akane isn't it" Kuno drops the sticky cone and wipes his hands as well.

Ranma stares at Kuno nervously. "What do you mean?"

"So it is isn't it?" Kuno closes his eyes as an overwhelming sense of understanding flushes over his face. He puts a comforting hand on Ranma's shoulder. "You don't have to pretend anymore." Ranma looks up at Kuno, surprised to see him this way. He did help him regain his senses. Maybe Kuno knew a lot more than he let on.

"You're afraid that I love her more than you aren't you."

Ranma face faults.

"No I'm not afraid of that!" she bites back. "I'm not interested in you! When are you gonna get that through that thick skull of yours?"

Passionately Kuno presses on, "What has Ranma Saotome done to you that you would deny your inner most feelings for me, upper class man Kuno, the legendary blue thunder of Furinken High."

"How many times do I have to tell you? Ranma hasn't done any... thing... to ... me." Ranma grins.

"Oh Kuno!" Ranma says devastated. A floodgate of tears threaten to pour out from her eyes.

"Pig tailed goddess?" he asks concerned.

"I don't know if I should even say it."

"Speak. Speak. Pour out your heart to me." Kuno says. Emotionally charged, he grabs her hands and looks into her eyes intensely.

Ranma, jolts her head feigning it as shyness. Ranma almost vomits. She takes a deep breath and turns towards him dramatically saying, "You...You're right."

"I was?"

"Yes, yes you were."

"About what?"

"About the curse."

"Of course. That foul Saotome."

"But it's not what you think"

"It's not, but I thought it was."

"Well it is, but it isn't."

"How can that be?"

"Just let me finish!" she snaps.. "ehem.. I mean how will you know what I mean unless I tell you." She says more sweetly

"Forgive my trespass. Do continue."

Ranma reaches up reluctantly and begins telling the story to Kuno, whispering it in his ear.




~~~oooo(_)~~~(_)oooo~~~

Akane laughs hysterically.

"What's so funny"

"Look around." Akane says. "We're lost and there's no one in sight."

Ryoga looked around. She was right. They were on some abandoned part of the commercialized beach property. They're were leafy green plants all over the place and some palm trees. He fights the instinct to yell out , "where on earth am I now!" instead he laughs right on cue this time.

"It is kinda funny." Ryoga admits. "We spent all that time trying to find a nice quite place, didn't find it, and when we're ready to head back, we find it"

Ryoga sighs after giving it more thought. "That's the story of my life." That line had come out a little more depressed than he wanted.

Akane's smile turns into a slight frown. "Sorry."

Ryoga looks back at her. "For what?"

"I didn't really think of it that way..."

"Oh.. Oh .. don't worry about it Akane. We're here now aren't we. It's a nice place. We're near water so I am sure we are not too far off from everyone else," he said making light of the situation.

Akane smiled. Ryoga's heart almost melted. That was the "real" Akane. Through all his time as P-chan, he had gotten a chance to see how Akane was when she became herself. How she was when no one was around. He saw how kind hearted she was, how caring she was. True Akane could be tough at times but she was never mean to him. Sometimes Akane didn't look as pretty either, though he always thought she always looked great. He had gotten to know the real her and she was beautiful. Now he wanted to get to know the real her as Ryoga, not a P-chan, as Ryoga. He wanted to talk back to her and be kind to her the way she was to him, not just sit there gesticulating and at most giving some sort of pathetic squeal. And he wanted her to get to know the real him too.

It frustrated him to know that they weren't even real friends. Not by his standards anyway. If they were friends, he would have told Akane about his curse a long time ago. He kept it from her to be able to stay close to her, but now it was the biggest thing blocking them from becoming true friends...

Friends? he thought. He didn't want to just be friends.

"Akane" Ryoga says.

"Yes" Akane says. She had seemed to be be lost in thought too.

"Well I just wanted to say~"

"There you are!" A a hot tempered voice interrupts.

Both of them look up puzzled. A spatula wielding girl with furrowed eyebrows declares, "I've been looking all over for you Ryoga! Hi Akane."

"Ukyo, can't you see I'm busy." Ryoga says a bit miffed

"Hi Ukyo. Welcome back"

"Thanks." She says addressing Akane. "I'm busy too. Or do you think I have all the free time in the world to go and track you down? Boy and you guys didn't stop for rest either." she says.

"How was your trip" Akane asks

"How'd you find us?" Ryoga blurts out.

"The trip went great. Thanks. And once I figured out that lost boy over here was in charge it was easy. All I had to do was go the opposite direction of all my instincts."

"What's so important. What's the problem?" Akane asks.

"My problem is that this idiot wrecked my okinami shop while he was hunting down Ranma this morning."

"Oh" Akane says.

"Well why don't you get Ranma to fix it up. He's free right now." Akane suggests.

"Yeah he was there too." Ryoga quipped.

"You were the one who destroyed my shop not Ranma."

Ukyo explained. "Anyways, business was doing fine until the hut I was renting was destroyed. I would have gone on selling on the side, but I was told I couldn't in "unauthorized space". Turns out the only authorized spaces are the Tiki huts they rent out to merchants. Plus getting the hut destroyed by a bezerko wasn't in the insurance so I'm responsible for all the damages. "

"Is there anything I can do?" Akane asks.

"Are you offering help?"

"yeah."

"You don't really have to, but I'll take all the help I can get." Ukyo says. "This guy on the other hand... "

"Alright alright I get the point." He says.

"Well it's about time." Ukyo states.

"I'll go on one condition."

"Well what's that?," Ukyo asks curious..

"That Akane doesn't go."

"But we'll be done in less time if she helps."

"It's OK Ryoga. I'll be fine. I can handle myself. Besides I want to help."

"It's not that." Ryoga explains.

"Then what is it?" Akane asks.

"Yeah what is it?" Ukyo echoes.

"It was my mistake and my responsibility. I don't want you to have to pay for my actions."

"But that's what friends do."

Friends?... "I'm not like Ranma..."

Ukyo raises an eyebrow.

"...at least, I don't want to be like him." Ryoga states firmly. "Maybe next time." he says a little softer. "This is important to me."

Akane nods in agreement. "Since it's important to you."

"Thanks, Akane"

"All right lets go. The place isn't going to fix itself." Ukyo buts in.


~~~oooo(_)~~~(_)oooo~~~
"That couldn't be" Kuno says as he pulls away from Ranma.

"Oh but it is. And there's more" Ranma continues with the story.

"How shocking!" Kuno utters upon hearing more.

Finally after many interruptions and unnecessary commentary from Kuno, the story is complete.

"And that's why I and all the other girls are helplessly in love with Ranma Saotome."

Kuno stares blankly.

"Including Akane," Ranma adds.

"But there has to be a way to free you." Kuno says ready to spring into action.

"There is a way that I have heard of... If you are able to do this thing, all of the fiancees Ranma has acquired on his journeys will be yours..." Ranma says before turning away. He glances back and smirks when he sees Kuno's tongue dropped out of his mouth. "but..." Ranma warns.

"Tell me." Kuno says exasperated

" It's too dangerous Kuno." she says as her eyes dart about, "I don't want you to get hurt. It's better this way."

"How can you say that! You'll do much better being mine. Nothing is too dangerous if it is for your freedom." Kuno restates.

"Great" Ranma says losing all sense of concern, "This is what you'll have to do" Ranma whispers the rest in his ears.

"That's all? But... that hardly seems dangerous"

"Trust me, it is." Ranma starts to push Kuno away. "Well what are you waiting for. Get started. And remember if anyone finds out about me telling you this, you'll die."

"Huh?"

"It's a part of the curse. I'll die then so will you." Ranma says. " I gotta go. "

"but wait."

"er.. If we're seen together, people suspect something. I'll do my part, you do yours."

"But Goddess.."

"Bye!" Ranma states sending Kuno on his merry little way. " geeze he's hard to get rid of the nice way.... now to find some hot water. "



~~~oooo(_)~~~(_)oooo~~~
Ryoga, bare backed, works up a sweat rethatching the roof from the outside. His shirt lays next to him cradling a borrowed bottle of sunscreen. "I'm almost done up here Ukyo."

"You're doing a pretty good job considering."

Ryoga pokes his head down to look at Ukyo curiously.

"Considering that you don't know what you're doing"

Ryoga flips down glad to be out of the hot sun and under the shade. "Hey it's pretty cool down here." He says, "I know how to fix roofs." he informs Ukyo. Given that he was forced to repair many places that he damaged, Ryoga knew a thing or two about construction. Thatched roofs were the easiest of all to repair.

"Not about that. I'm talking about what you're doing with Akane."

"That's none of your business!" Ryoga blurts out

"You're right. None of my business." Ukyo says laying off the touchy subject. She already felt guilty for being so bossy earlier. Even though it didn't seem like it, she was glad he was helping out with the repairs. Even if he was the cause and she forced him to, he could have put up more of a fight.

Ryoga lets out an I-thought-so grunt and goes back to repairing the roof from the underside. They work in silence for a few seconds.

Ryoga glances at her sideways. "Um... Ukyo?"

"What?"

"What do you mean that I don't know what I'm doing... with Akane that is."

Ukyo shakes her head, "I didn't mean anything bad by it. I just didn't think anyone knew what they were doing when it came to ...stuff like that"

"That's it? No helpful advice? No pushing us together, or offering to distract Ranma? Nothing?"

Ukyo shook her head.

"I was surprised that you didn't let me stay with Akane earlier today. You do know that if I get Akane, Ranma becomes available." Ryoga joked.

"I already thought about that. I also thought about the fact that I'll be blamed if you fail. Ranma might hate me forever if he found out I was a part of some 'plot' to ex Akane out of the picture."

Ryoga nodded getting the point. "Smart Lady, but I don't think he really cares that much about her or about anybody for that matter. You'd do better to forget about him yourself."

Ukyo shrugged. "I guess I am not as smart as that."

"I just really hope this works out." He says.

"Do you think Ranma is just gonna let it happen?"

"I got him to agree to give me some time with Akane.

"Got him to agree through a pride thing right." Ukyo asked.

"You betcha."

"Well what's your plan."

Ryoga blushed furiously.

"Well what is it?" she started teasing him.

"I'm not saying."

"Yes you will" she said poking him in the side. He giggles then shakes his head.

Ukyo arches a brow as a wonderful idea pops into her head. "Oh I know how to get the information out of you." she says coyly. Suddenly she pounces him and starts tickling mercilessly. He busts out in thunderous laughter.

"I'm.. haha HA.. still... hehe ahahaha... not... hehe AH HAH... saying. Bua hahaha"

"Oh" She decides to rip off his shoe off and start tickling his foot.

"Stop. Stop" Ryoga yells as he pounded in a laughing fit. "This is torture." he declares.

"Well watcha expect honey. you're holding out on Ucchan here."

"Fine" he says a tear riding from the side of his eye "you win. I give up." She stops and looks at him cautiously. She motions a threat to tickle more. "I promise" he assures her before she could get back to his foot..

She finally releases him and he sprawls onto his back gasping for air.

"Well what's the plan?"

"You really wanna know huh?"

Ukyo nods.

"I guess it can't be helped" he says. He takes one final breath and shoots up. Sitting straight, he leans over quickly. He pecks Ukyo on the cheek startling her.

Ukyo slowly touches her cheek in disbelief. Ryoga settled back into a comfortable sitting position. He gives a bashful smile when he sees her get slightly rosy.

"Jerk!" she yells when she finally comes to. She angrily tosses a set of mini spatulas at Ryoga. Unprepared for the assault, Ryoga blocks them with his forearm.

"That hurts" he says nursing his wound.

"If you weren't going to tell me, you shoulda just made something up." she hollers. Ukyo pulls out the giant spatula furious.

"That IS my plan." he cowers, still hurting from the first assault.

"Wha..?" she says easing up her grip.

"I said that's my plan. I'm not always good with words, especially around Akane, so I figured this was a good solution. "

The bottom of Ukyo's spatula touched the ground. Her muscles eased up the rest of the way. "Oh," she breathes out.

"Thank God I didn't kiss you on the lips."

Ukyo's eyes widened as a thought came rushing to her head. "Eh. He plans on kissing her on the LIPS!!!"

"... but that.." she pauses briefly trying to figure a way to explain her thoughts, "that..." she pauses again.

"That'll let her know I feel about her."

She nods slowly before going into speech. "Ryoga..." She says, still deliberating how she would give him advice without telling him what to do. If Ryoga planned on kissing Akane, things might not go as he planned.

Suddenly it came to her. A story. She could come up with a story about her feelings. That way she wouldn't have to confront Ryoga directly.

He looked at her perplexed.

"There's a boy I like."

Ryoga figured that Ukyo wanted him to listen to her story so he did his best. She already knew about his feelings so it was natural for her to want to share. "Ranma right?"

Ukyo bobbed her head a little before continuing. "Like I said, there's a boy I like. I should say man because he's older now. I don't have to explain to you what it feels like to like someone. And I don't think I have to explain to you how happy it would make me if we could be together and he liked me the same way."

Ryoga shakes his head. His assumption is correct.

"But... If I could have him and he didn't like me.. if he can have a chance with someone he likes more than me... no, that's wrong. If he could have a chance with someone that he loves..." Ukyo breathed in and stared at Ryoga who was at her full attention. "I wouldn't want to be the worst friend in the world and stand in the way."

"That's why you're not getting involved..." Ryoga concludes for her.

"Well yes, but, what I'm trying to say is... I hope Akane likes you, I really do."

Ryoga's face changes suddenly. He doesn't like where this seemed to be going.

"And?" Ryoga asks wearily. Ukyo wants to say, "and if Akane doesn't like you, don't stand in the way." she wants to prepare him for heartbreak if it comes. For some oddball reason she wanted to protect him.

"AAaand... I'm here for you if you need anything." Ukyo says with a weak smile. She had decided to retreat and not dash his hopes to pieces.

Ryoga's face lightens up. "Thank you. Ukyo."

"No problem." Ukyo says weakly.

"Welp, I'm done here" Ryoga says. "Welcome back by the way. I should have said it earlier."

"Thank you."

Ryoga heads out to find Akane. He turns back briefly and tosses a bottle of sunscreen at Ukyo, "Thank you, too."
Author's Notes

Story Directions Editing stuff

I changed the font sizes and I need to do some editing. Editing means that some lines might change.

Seems that transitions are kind of hard for me. They are rather choppy. And has anyone noticed, but this chapter is larger than the last. The dialogue makes it space out longer, so it isn't as long as it seems. I'll make up for it by making a shorter third chapter... maybe.

I think I have a better idea of where the story wants to go. Aren't you happy for me?:)

I went through and tried to make pronouns for Ranma match the actual gender he is at the actual times .I always think of Ranma as a guy so when he was in female form I kept using masculine pronouns to describe female ranma. I guess calling him a her and he a she when Ranma is in female form will help people visualize what is going on. I may have missed some here and there.

Also I have decided to go with themes for my chapters
I decided to have open reviews. Please leave a way to contact you for the reviews (email). If you don't want your email address known to all, send me an email after your anon review. I generally like to thank people for reviewing. Note that if you do not sign I can delete. Take that power away from me and sign.