Close Combat

Chapter 5

Leaving Home…Again

2132 Hours, 26 September 2010

Tokyo, Japan

A somber mood had descended upon the Saotome Dojo ever since Ranma and Ryoga had returned from Washington. Akane and Akari had not been pleased when their respective husbands informed them that they would be leaving the country again. That displeasure grew immensely when they learned their destination was North Korea. Tonight was their last night at home before they would be shipped off to Taiwan, where they would be outfitted and debriefed at a U.S. Naval base before finally being inserted in western China. From there they would sneak across the border and infiltrate North Korea.

Ranma and Ryoga were both 30 years old, and if one were to look at the many times each of them had survived an otherwise potentially life-ending situation, you would be inclined to believe they were immortal. Unfortunately, their wives did not share this opinion. They had been there over the years, patching them up after each battle sometimes participating alongside their spouses. There was only so many times someone could slip through deaths' grasp before they were finally caught.

"C'mon Akane," Ranma protested as he followed his wife out of the kitchen and down the hallway leading to the staircase. "You're blowing this way out of proportion. This won't be the first time Ryoga and I have done something like this."

"And every time you have I've sat at home worrying myself sick, waiting for the moment Kimura would pull up to the house with Ishii and come deliver the bad news," Akane retorted angrily as she climbed the stairs. Ranma followed close behind.

"There's no need for you to worry this time, were not going to be doing any fighting at all. Kimura even specifically told us, no fighting. He knows what would happen if we did, he's as concerned about this whole thing as much as you two are."

Akane whirled around so quickly Ranma didn't realize what she was doing until her fist was planted firmly in his face, sending him crashing back down the stairs.

"If he's so concerned then why is he sending you two in the first place?" Akane fairly screeched. Her voice was beginning to go hoarse, a sure-fire sign that this was not the first time they'd had this conversation.

"Damn," Ranma cursed as he righted himself. Akane had always had a good right hook. "Look tomboy, this isn't some meaningless task were getting sent out on. If the North Koreans go through with whatever fucked up plan their coming up with, then the whole world is pretty much screwed. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather prefer not having a nuke come crashing down on our heads."

The fire died in Akane's eyes for a moment before suddenly returning.

"If it's so damn important than why just send you two? What about all the fancy stupid soldiers America has. They train specifically for this kind of bullshit, why aren't they going?"

Ranma bit down on his inner cheek to keep from smirking. Akane may not be the young schoolgirl she used to be, but that spitfire attitude of hers was as strong as ever. Moving swiftly he jumped up the stairs to land softly in front of Akane. Using her surprise, he brought his hand up and cupper her cheek softly.

"If they send a team of Special Forces in, the North Koreans are going to hear about it and they'll have the entire army scouring the country for them. It'll be hard enough as it is with just Ryoga and I, even with everything we know about not being seen."

Against her will, Akane melted against Ranma's palm. She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. When she felt Ranma return the embrace and rest his head gently upon hers, the tears sprang forth unbidden. Sobbing loudly, Akane barely noticed Ranma slide his arm down to hook underneath her thighs and lift her into his arms. With a flash of movement, they were inside their bedroom.

"Don't cry Akane," Ranma urged, his voice only hinting at the depth of emotions swimming across his eyes. "Damnit, if there was some way I could stay I would, you know that. It hurts me to leave you and the girls as much as I know it hurts them. Ryoga's the same way. None of us has had easy lives; we've fought tooth and nail to earn what we have today. It's been so long since we've been able to lie back and just enjoy our lives, I'm beginning to think that maybe I'll never be able to experience it again."

Akane felt her tears subside and she lifted her head from against Ranma's chest and looked him in the face. Ranma couldn't stop the smile that spread when he looked down at her.

"Ryoga and I were given a gift early on in our lives. We have the strength to protect countless number of people, and with that power, we've been given a burden as well. Simply possessing that strength is not enough, we have to use it. I can't explain it any better than that."

Ranma's eyes widened slightly when Akane lifted herself up and kissed Ranma deeply. The surprise lasted only a moment before he returned the kiss and slowly fell back, letting Akane lay on top of him.

"You don't have to explain it dummy," Akane said with a short laugh. "I'm a martial artist too."

"So you're feeling better about this?" Ranma asked pensively.

"No," Akane said, her features falling shortly into a scowl. "But you've got a duty to fulfill."

"Even if it costs me my life," Ranma added. Akane's face nearly crumbled one again but she held her emotions in check for a moment. Her head came down to rest lightly on his shoulder.

"Just promise me you'll do your best to come home."

Ranma felt his heart lurch in his chest. He had everything he ever wanted out of life. The woman he loved two children, and friends that he cared deeply for.

However, for all his strengths, Ranma Saotome had always been held back from truly enjoying life because of his only weakness. His sense of duty, and responsibility made him take unbelievable risks with his life. It was only a matter of time before he didn't come home from one of his missions. That was an understanding he shared with Akane but neither cared to dwell on it for long.

"If it means going through the entire Korean Army to get back here, you better believe I'll take them on," Ranma whispered with feeling as he gripped Akane tighter to his chest. His words were not senseless bravado. Both Ranma and Ryoga had shown amazing capacity to fight against impossible odds when victory meant returning home, and failure meant death.

Despite his words, Ranma had the feeling that this would be the very last time he held Akane in his arms. The feeling had been lingering about ever since Kimura had called Ryoga and himself into his office.

'If this is going to be the last time I can be with her, than I'm going to enjoy every last moment.'

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Ryoga felt a weight settle beside him and opened his eyes to see his son gazing down at his face from where he lay sprawled on the couch situated in living room. He had been attempting to catch a little shuteye for the past few hours to no avail. Though he would have been much more content to spend this time with Akari, she had locked herself in their bedroom, and was refusing to open it to him.

He had heard Ranma and Akane fighting earlier, something Akari and he had been at for most of the day as well. If it was possible, she had been more upset over the whole situation than Akane. Granted she didn't respond as physically as Akane tended to, Ryoga had seen the look in her eyes when him and Ranma had sat their wives down and explained what they were about to do.

Ryo, whose full name was Ryoga Jr, had been sent off with Kagome and Natalie earlier to Ranma's parents place while their parents fought. They were all 12 years old, but they certainly were becoming quite perceptive of when their folks had a fight looming.

"Are you going somewhere?" Ryo asked, his eyes hinting at the true depth of meaning behind the question. Ryoga sighed as he scooped his son up and sat him down beside him.

"Yes, your Uncle Ranma and I are going to be going away for awhile."

"Why are you leaving?"

"There's something that we have to take care of in another country," Ryoga explained. It was the sugar-coated version to be sure, but no self-respecting parent was going to admit to their child of 10 years that their father was about to sneak into a foreign country and most likely not return home alive.

"Is that why Mom's so upset?" Ryo questioned.

"That's part of it," Ryoga answered uneasily. "Your mother and I are sort of on different sides over a certain issue and it looks like were not going to be able to resolve it before I leave."

Those different sides being of course, Akari thinking Ryoga had done enough for the country, and Ryoga believing he had a duty to fulfill.

"How long will you be gone?" Ryo asked, his voice betraying his desire to appear strong.

Ryoga felt a pang of guilt. For the first 4 years of his son's life he had been absent, letting the boy grow up thinking his father had died before his birth. Now, after almost a decade of being a father, he was getting ready to leave it all behind. The boy had only told his mother this before, and Akari had informed Ryoga later, that he never let himself believe that he really had a father. He did this because he knew, eventually Ryoga would leave, and there was a good chance he would never come back. It had broken Ryoga's heart when Akari had told him, and now it was breaking all over again.

"I'm not sure, but it is going to be for a long time. Six months at least."

Ryoga saw the flinch that crossed Ryo's face. He gave into emotion and quickly enveloped his son in a hug.

"I want you to know, no matter what happens, that I'll always love you," he said softly.

Ryoga Hibiki had grown up for the first half of his life never having a family. Loneliness and solitude followed him wherever he went. If there was one feeling he knew inside out, it was the feeling of being alone in the world. Not seeing his parents for years at a time had changed him. If he had not run into Ranma during High School and followed him to China then his life could very well still be one filled with depression.

His son had already known what it was like to grow up without a father, and to put him through it all again, made Ryoga crumble inside.

He had no idea how long he held Ryo in his arms, but it felt as if an eternity had passed when he felt another presence in the room. Glancing up, he saw Akari standing in the doorway, staring at the two of them with tears in her eyes.

"C'mon Ryo," Ryoga said softly as he slowly released his son. "Its about time you headed up for bed, I'll see you tomorrow morning so we can say our goodbyes then."

Ryo nodded, wiping his eyes, and turned to leave, pausing at the door to hug Akari before leaving.

Once Ryo had left, Ryoga felt the full weight of Akari's gaze. He sighed deeply as he got to his feet.

"I know what you're going to say Akari, but please…" he paused as his throat constricted painfully. "Please, I have to do this."

"I know," Akari whispered. Her voice was a little hoarse, something Ryoga attributed to the shouting matches that had erupted over the past two days.

"I've never wanted to leave you and Ryo alone, but this is something I have to do."

He heard Akari sigh before her hand reached out and grasped his own.

"I won't be able to understand why you decide to do the things you do Ryoga," Akari started. "And I may even get upset over your decisions, but no matter what you do I will always support you. I love you, nothing is ever going to change that."

Ryoga's hand tightened over Akari's and he brought it up to his chest and laid it flat.

"I know you do, and I feel the same way about you."

Akari leaned into Ryoga and rested her chest where her hand had previously lain.

"This is going to be the last night we'll be able to be together," Akari began, "So let's enjoy what we have while we still have it."

Ryoga inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of her hair before raising her head to look up at his and planting a kiss on his mouth.

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A/N: Ack! What's this? Another short chapter? Inconceivable!

I know, I know, I'm so terribly sorry everyone. Nearing the completion of this chapter I had a little disaster occur. My laptop died. Not just a simple battery depletion, but an all-out death. It flat-lined.

So, having lost my beloved laptop of many years, I also lost the file for this chapter and the next, forcing me to rewrite the both of them. If the conversation seems somewhat stinted between the characters know its because writing it twice made me somewhat lazy. Same with the length.

Ugh….anyways, thank you all so much for your reviews last chapter. Out of all the Ranma ½ fanfic authors I easily have the best reviewers. You guys are awesome. I'm taking a slight tiny little break for the rest of today then tomorrow I'll finish up chapter 6 and get it posted, so look for it then.