Chapter 15 The return of Ryoga
"We still were afraid to let any one know what had happened. The only person who ever knew was Ryoga," Akane said.
Kasumi said, "The only person who knew that you two were together was Ryoga? How did he find out?"
Akane replied, "He would just wander by periodically. I think he has some sort of directional radar that would home in on me. Probably because he thought he loved me, I suppose. We haven't seen him since we got married."
"Yeah, I kind of miss him. It was always fun to fight with him, and once he realized that Akane and I were happy together, he started being a friend again. I'm glad he came by the times he did. The first time got kind of tense, though, 'cause Akane figured out he was P-chan. It sure took her a long time to forgive him," Ranma said.
"It sure did. Plus it's taken me a while to forgive my family also. All of you must have known that he was P-chan. Ranma explained why he couldn't tell me, the baka, but I'm not sure why you guys didn't tell," said Akane with a glint in her eye.
"Let it go, tomboy, it's all in the past. You've forgiven me and Ryoga, you can certainly forgive them," Ranma said, as he held her hand.
Flashback
Ranma was walking across the baseball field, heading for his apartment.
"Ranma, prepare to die!!!!"
"Hi, Ryoga, nice to see you too," Ranma said as he dodged the umbrella. "Let me guess, because of me you've seen hell," he said with a grin.
Ryoga stopped. "I guess I am getting too predictable," he said, smiling back, "You want to fight or what?"
"How about after lunch, Akane's cooking, and she really doesn't like it when I am late," Ranma replied with a wry smile.
"Why are you and Akane in Kyoto?" Ryoga asked with a puzzled look.
"This isn't – Oh, never mind. Come with me and we can talk while we eat," Ranma said with a sigh.
Ryoga followed Ranma home. They entered the apartment, Ranma calling, "Akane, dear, I'm home. I've found Ryoga." Ryoga halted in shock, 'Akane, dear? Ranma eating her cooking?'
Akane came rushing out, "Ryoga it's so good to see you!" she said as she hugged him, rivaling one of Shampoo's glomps. She then kissed Ranma, saying, "Lunch is almost ready, would you give me a hand?" Ryoga just stared in shock, 'She kissed him!'
Ranma and Akane bought the meal to the table. "Hey, Ryoga, you going to join us or what?" Akane asked. Ryoga snapped out of his daze and sat down at the table.
They began to eat. Suddenly, Ryoga realized what he was doing – Eating Akane's cooking, it was – edible, maybe even good. He stopped, then asked, "Ok, who are you people and what have you done with the real Akane and Ranma?"
"It's a long, boring story, Ryoga, but basically we ran away from our parents. Once we got away, we were able to find out how much we loved each other. Ranma even got down on one knee and proposed, here's my engagement ring!" Akane exclaimed. Ryoga's face fell for a minute, but looking at how radiant her expression was, realizing how happy she was with Ranma, he just couldn't be unhappy about losing to his rival.
"You better make her happy," Ryoga growled, "Or I'll make you pay."
Ranma said, "I'm going to do my best, Ryoga, her happiness is important to me, too. Oh, that reminds me, if you're around, we want you to be my best man. In spite of everything, you're my best friend.
Ryoga thought about it for a while, 'Can I do that? Or will it hurt too much?' "I'd be honored, Ranma," he finally said.
Ranma said, "Good, that's great. It means a lot to both of us. Oh, and if you get back to Nerima, don't let anyone else know I'm here. We're still trying to keep it quiet. We don't want a repeat of what happened the last time we tried, you know." They ate in companionable silence for a while, and then Ranma said, "After lunch, Akane and I were going to workout, do you want to join us?"
After lunch, the three of them went outside to practice. Ryoga and Ranma were fighting, each giving about as much as they were getting. Akane was performing some katas, but she was also mostly watching them fight. She noticed that they didn't seem to be fighting as intense. Both of them were grinning, the insults almost sounding friendly. She still didn't understand why Ranma kept calling Ryoga 'Pig-Boy' and 'P-chan' though. Suddenly the sprinklers came on, drenching them both. Akane's eyes grew wide, and then she started screaming, "Ryoga, you pervert". She charged over to where the pig was struggling to get out of a pile of clothing, murder in her eyes, when suddenly Ranma jumped in front of her and held her.
"Akane, honey, calm down. Let's get Ryoga changed back, then you can beat on him if you need to, ok. Right now you'd really hurt him" Ranma said. Akane nodded, then sagged in her arms. "Ok, that's better, let's get his stuff and go in." Ranma picked up P-chan, "Hey Ryoga, calm down, I won't let Akane kill you. I don't know if you'll thank me once she's done beating on you though." After Ranma and Ryoga changed back and got dressed, they went back into the living room. Akane glared at both of them.
"Ok, I'm waiting, this better be good. You obviously knew about this all along, didn't you, Ranma? How could you let this go on?" she fumed.
"I promised him on my honor that I wouldn't tell you. That was before you met him as P-chan, and started treating him as your pet. Remember all of the hints, though. I mean, I called Ryoga 'P-chan' and 'Pig-Boy' all the time. Also how many times did I come into your room with a kettle of hot water? Come on, what did you think I was trying to do? I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. I was wrong, Acchan. Please forgive me," Ranma pleaded.
"Akane, don't blame Ranma. It was all my fault. I just couldn't tell you how I felt about you, but you seemed to care for me when I was your pet. I know I betrayed your trust; I don't deserve your forgiveness, I'm sorry," Ryoga said, "I thought I loved you, but I realize now all you felt for me was friendship. I hoped it was more. That doesn't excuse what I did, though. I'll leave you two now, I know you don't want to see me again. I'll try not to bother you anymore."
Akane said, "Ryoga, wait. You're still our friend. It will take me some time to forgive you. After all, I told you all my secrets, how I felt about Ranma, you watched me undress, slept in my bed."
Ryoga broke in, "Akane, I never watched you undress on purpose, I always closed my eyes or turned my head. I admit that I abused your trust, but I was jealous of Ranma. I'd better go."
He turned, got his stuff, and left the apartment. "I'm sure he will be back again," Ranma said, "He just wants to get over losing you."