Disclaimer; This fanfiction uses existing ideas, characters and or worlds, but is an independent work of art. I own nothing, hence the reason for publishing my writings here instead of in real books where I could make some money.
-Chapter Five-
Victories
When they arrived in the city; Target, Ranma realised that he had spent the last of the cash. He still had more gold, but Delia gave him a hint of underground Pokémon battles, and he wanted to see just how good the Pokémon that were supposedly his, were in battle against others.
That was what led him to his current location, a very large underground bunker where crowds and trainers were gathered haphazardly. He was facing his worst fears at this very moment while both hiding it and standing at the ready to get Zumi out of the battle if or when the need arose. Currently, Zumi was casually dodging the fury swipes of a very angered Persian, a feline Pokémon. The only reason why Ranma had yet to snap into the Neko-Ken, was his very strong use of the Soul of Ice, to calm his nerves. Actually, the natural panic was lessening, despite the feral display of feline power in front of him. Replacing the fear, was confidence, and dominance. He felt like he was a tiger, big, strong, and nearly unbeatable, but with the mind of a man.
"Zumi, stop toying with that cat, and get it over with, we have others waiting!" Ranma called into the field. This brought the attention of the trainer of the large cat, who thus far had seemed to be a sure winner. Within three seconds of Ranma's call, the Persian was on the ground, battered, bruised, smoking and unconscious, with the vest-wearing Pikachu perched on top flashing the victory sign with his paws.
"Next!"
This went on for a while … opponent after opponent.
Zumi was unbeaten, even against a giant boulder with four arms, a Graveller, if Ranma heard right. Despite the disability of electricity being ineffective against rock, Zumi managed to get in so many powerful punches that the Graveller had spider-web cracks nearly all over its body … and Zumi hardly even looked winded.
They were reluctantly declared the winners by the mostly female competitors, all of whom were nursing their Pokémon. The cash prize equalled that of a big gold nugget, and would supply food enough for a month on the road for the group of travellers. In addition, a tattoo parlour in Sowup was the sponsor, so that added two free tattoos to the list of prizes.
There were of course those who claimed he had cheated, and those who wanted a rematch, but the pigtailed martial artist would not give it to them.
With the battles done, Ranma went about getting supplies, and stowing away the remaining money where none but he could find them. The city was a fairly small one, but still large enough to be called a city. There were a few motorised vehicles, but they appeared not to run on anything but electricity, something Ranma could not help but approve after all the roof-hopping he did in Nerima during rush-hour.
Delia was very happy for him, and even more so when he made one of his finest meals for dinner.
As nature has it, when a man and a woman of no genetic relation are left alone with nothing but animals for a while, a romantic relationship will eventually grow. Whether it would last or blow over quickly was up to each situation.
This case was not much of an exception, but would probably not have happened if Delia's tent hadn't mysteriously disappeared, forcing Ranma to either relinquish his own, or share it. Delia didn't have the heart to kick him out of his own tent, and Ranma was, like it or not, too much of a gentleman to let her sleep outside, resulting in them staying in the same tent, rather close to each other.
Nothing happened the first week apart from sleeping, as they travelled west for one of the only two villages on the collection of islands, not inhabited mainly of Amazons; Sowup.
However, as they reached the foot of the mountain where Sowup was on, things heated up in the tent, initially sparked by Delia having a bad dream and needing to be consoled by Ranma.
Ranma sighed as he held Delia close. Why didn't it ever feel like this near that stupid tomboy? He asked himself. They had known each other for no more than a month, and already, Ranma was head over heals in love with her. Not to mention the earth shaking experience they had just shared. The drying sweat on their skin made them stick together, and Ranma wasn't sure he wanted to move as he felt the very comfortable weight on and around him. It was the most pleasure Ranma could ever remember having at once, even all those times he had mastered a technique couldn't compare. That realisation nearly made him laugh, but that would wake the woman he had grown to love over the past weeks. To think, Saotome Ranma, thinking that an activity would make him glow as much as this had done, and it wasn't a martial arts technique, either.
The sleeping bags had been discarded for now, and the large blanket was the only thing protecting their modesty as the five Pokémon peeked through the flap of the tent.
Zumi and the others were silently congratulating each other on their achievement.
"I think I love you, Ranma," Delia muttered, half asleep.
"I believe I love you too, Delia," Ranma murmured in return before kissing her brow. "I've felt this way before, but not even a fraction of this strength."
Delia turned her caring, if drowsy, face to his and gave his lips a relatively innocent kiss compared to what they had just done.
"It's hard to believe," she sighed and nuzzled her head under Ranma's chin. "Only a few weeks ago, I was waiting for my mother to find me a husband, then you burst into my life while I wore next to nothing, and I fell for you." She snapped a finger, "Just like that."
Ranma kissed the top of her head.
"Marry me?" he asked on a spur of the moment. This had the effect of waking his lover from her drowsiness.
"What-"
"Will you, Tekkomikon Delia , do me the tremendous honour of spending the rest of your life with me? Bicker with my every decision, give me an adorable pout or use sex to get your way, and bear my children?" Ranma elaborated dramatically. "I spent too much time in the past, fighting my emotions and instincts, and I don't want to, ever again."
Delia was gaping at him, a range of emotion running across her face.
"We don't have to do it right away," Ranma added to sweeten the offer. "I'll wait as long as you'd like, as long as you accept. Please-" any further speech was hindered by the sudden intrusion of a tongue in his mouth. Delia's mouth was definitely smiling where it rested on Ranma's.
"I accept to doubt any stupid decision you make, to use any feminine advantage I have to make you see that I'm right, bear your children, and love you for the rest of my life. Yes, I'll marry you, Ranma." She cooed.
This started another bout of love-making that far surpassed the previous in intensity.
The next morning, Ranma climbed out of the tent, wearing his usual outfit, and a wide grin he didn't seem able to shake off. He was soon joined by Delia, who immediately wrapped her arms around him with practiced familiarity.
Around a burning fire, where a pot of water was starting to boil, sat five exhausted Pokémon, looking nearly dead on their feet.
"Why do you all look so glum?" asked Ranma in a chipper tone, for once. It seemed that all who were happy could not possibly imagine why others weren't, and Ranma was unknowingly doing a great job of proving this.
"You make too too much noise, no get sleep!" said the sign that was thrown at Ranma's head.
Ranma and Delia blushed slightly at this, but maintained their body contact.
During breakfast, which was a form of canned stew, Ranma idly started knotting fresh twigs into a ring. Upon completion, Ranma pulled the only valuable piece of rock he had found during his time here, and knotted it into the ring so it would stay, but still be visible. The ring was put on Delia's unsuspecting hand when she reached for seconds.
When she realised just what she had on her hand, Ranma was awarded with a very grateful pair of lips on his own.
"Get a room!" said the sign that suddenly bopped the pair on the head.
Deciding that was a good idea, Ranma whispered the suggestion to his fiancée. The rusty-haired woman smirked mischievously and dragged him into the tent to thank him properly for the ring he gave her.
The group stayed at the foot of that mountain for nearly a week before the newly engaged couple managed to get themselves together, somewhat.
Delia was still planning their wedding, which in theory was a very modest one. Ranma couldn't help but agree and smile as they climbed the mountainside. As they walked, the various Pokémon sometimes stopped to pick up another rock or two to add to their backpacks or harness. This is why Ranma thought nothing of Zumi picking one up and stuff in the only pocket on the vest he had gotten.
The other Pokémon had gotten small decorations as well.
Robur got a pair of very baggy pants. Falx got a pair of elastic sunglasses – because she thought they looked cool – Columba got a bandana to tie around her neck. Aegu got a bandana around her neck as well, but much larger. They were all very happy with the arrangements, although Columba was complaining about having to circle them all day like a bird of prey.
Because of lost time to adjust to their romantic lives, Ranma and Delia agreed that they would keep going until they reached the village. Even if the Pokémon did not enjoy the trip, that didn't mean that the humans had to dislike it. Ranma and Delia held an arm around the other as they walked, and Ranma had foregone the normal boulder on his shoulder to allow it … he didn't want to risk crushing her arm under it.
"I love you," he whispered into the ear of his fiancée.
Delia returned the words that should never be thrown about carelessly, meaning them fully. To prove their point, the two halted their hiking for a few seconds so that the newly engaged lovers could osculate.
Author's Notes: I know the sex part emerged very quickly … I mean, the characters hadn't even been together as a couple for an entire chapter before it happened, but when I originally wrote this, I was strictly following a sketch of events that I didn't deviate from, meaning the chapter lengths were strictly divided into events, and I barely added anything to the rough description of those events. This led to short chapters, and now that I'm revising them, I can barely find anything that can be edited out or added to without ruining the rest of the story. This was the explanation for both the rapidly evolving relationship, and the shortness of the story, I hope it clears up a few questions … as previously stated in last chapter, I will gladly accept suggestions for events following this story for a sequel, and credits will be given to those who earn it.
