Chapter Four: Ryoga's Chaotic Fury.

It had been a long, long day. Ranma had made it through the rest of his classes peacefully but his heart still ached painfully when Akane continued to ignore him even after he approached her again directly. No, it was even worse; she hadn't even acknowledged his existence. She'd stared past him as if he wasn't there. The final bell of the day had helped him save face in front of his peers.

Akane had disappeared without a word after class. Jamming his hands into his pockets, Ranma struggled to appear nonchalant as he walked home from school by himself. He didn't dare show how much she had hurt him. Even Ranma knew that he didn't have the right because no matter how much he hurt inside, her pain was at least a million times greater.

Grudgingly, he realized that while she didn't help matters, oftentimes their fights were because of his doing. As such, he had no one to blame but himself. His pride was too great to admit this openly, but it certainly was a step in the right direction. Of course, that didn't dismiss the fact that her reaction to what he had said this morning was making him angry as well, half at himself and half at her. It took a lot to make him sincerely want to apologize and when he finally worked up the will to do so only to have her ignore him completely it pissed him off to no end. Frustration boiled up inside of him until he wanted to scream.

"Stupid Akane…" Kicking at a stone, he thought back to the events that had transpired later that day.

At lunch time, Akane had gone off to eat with her friends. Hiroshi and Daisuke were both absent so Ranma was left with no other choice but to find someone else to eat with. Finding Ukyo also alone and wishing for some company in the main courtyard, he decided to hang out with her. His other fiancée had was simply overjoyed and had cooked him a special Okinomiyaki pizza with a heart made of sauce on her portable grill to mark the occasion. Her company was far more preferable to eating alone. He had always been friendly towards her, considering the successful business girl to be one of his closest friends.

For him to actually initiate a chance for them to spend some time together shocked and thrilled the cross-dressing chef considerably. They had often played together as small children but since they had reunited in high school Ranma hadn't made his move to claim her as she thought he should. Perhaps today, she thought, would see Ranma taking the first of many small steps in the right direction.

Ukyo tried to make small talk, but Ranma was clearly in a bad mood and didn't give anything beyond one word answers to anything she said or asked. He didn't even eat all of his lunch and that was particularly unusual considering his bottomless pit he had for a stomach. She had been a little mad but couldn't find it in her heart to truly blame him. She knew how hard his life was. Akane didn't contribute a single positive aspect to his life and that made Ukyo quite cross indeed.

If I was forced to be engaged to someone I didn't like and got attacked everyday by headstrong jackasses, I'd be cranky too. Smiling slightly at her depressed fiancé, Ukyo had then taken a nibble of her food, keeping her thoughts to herself. She understood the situation all too well. What Ranma needed for the moment was a friend, and that was how she would make herself indispensable to him. When the time was right she'd make her move and replace Akane, completely bringing Ranma the happiness he had previously gone without.

When the final bell rang signaled the end of lunch she had given Ranma a small peck on the cheek and winked cheerfully. "I'll see you later, Ran-chan." She had taken off for the school door, her white hair bow bobbing like a graceful butterfly in the wind.

Bringing his mind back to the present, Ranma heaved a massive sigh. Stopping to look at the water canal, he wrapped his fingers around the chain-linked fence that blocked it off from public access and sighed again, watching the water flow beneath him. Inside, he felt close to snapping and that wasn't a good sign. A year and a half of this constant fighting was starting to seriously wear him down. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he desperately wanted a change of pace, a little bit of peace and quiet.

He needed to work off some steam.

Reaching the house, he grabbed a bag of potato chips from the kitchen, stuffed it down, and then went out into the backyard to work off his frustrations for a bit. Taking off his shirt and folding it up neatly, he placed it on one of the larger rocks bordering the pond. Clad in his white tank top and elastic pants he stretched out his muscles in a series of exercise. A Koi fish jumped gracefully into the air then dove back into the watery depths, catching Ranma's attention. He watched the fish swim around in the pond for a moment, allowing his mind to clear and relax before he continued.

Must be easy being a fish… Warming up his muscles, he began his relished daily workout with basic kicks and punches, going through different forms and stances. Gradually, he increased the complexity, strength, and speed of his attacks, adding a strong mixture of Kempo to his training for flavor. Soon, his moves were cutting through the air with grace and his body glistened with sweat. The minutes passed by peacefully.

This is the way it should be. Smiling for the first time that day, Ranma felt his stress bleed away. Life, he concluded, should be this simple all of the time.

Suddenly, a blur jumped in front of him, and he recoiled, crying out in surprise. He jumped back instinctively and fell into a firm defensive posture. Things just never stopped happening in the Nerima district, and whenever he let his guard down, things came back to haunt him every time. His face hardened as more bad news reentered his life and stood tall, demanding attention. A part of Ranma was completely shocked, and it fought against a feeling of annoyance for supremacy in his brain. He had thought his last solution would have kept the boy away for a great deal of time longer than it had. There was no feasible way he could have returned from another continent so damn quickly.

And yet he had. For someone with such bad luck, circumstances sometimes ended up working in his favor that left Ranma dumbstruck. I don't believe it…

He gazed at this new threat with distain. I wonder why in the world my enemies can't give me a friggin' break once in a while?! I thought for sure it would have taken him years to get back! How is it possible, even with a sense of direction as bad as his, that he always manages to find his way back here every time?

His sour mood returned and he made no attempt to hide it. "Ryoga, what in the hell are you doing back so soon? Of all the days to make your reappearance, you pick the one that has given me the biggest headache."

Ryoga Hibiki just glared with naked hatred, his teeth clenched tightly together in a fierce snarl. His fangs glistened in the late afternoon sun, helping his face to look even more sinister. The clothes on his back were filthy and torn and his face was smudged brown with dirt and grime. Both of these were signs that he had traveled a long way for a very long time. He dropped his enormous, grass-stained backpack to the ground with an audible thud then took up battle stance with umbrella in hand. Rage induced energy flowed off him like water over a cliff.

Ryoga was definitely not a happy camper.

"Rrrrrrraaaaaaannnnnnmmmmmmmm aaaaaaa," He growled in barely controlled fury. His voice held a firm note of venom that was outdone only by the fiery hatred that shone in his dark eyes. "How dare you turn me into a pig and mail me to a research station in the South Pole! Do you have any idea how cold it was!? That box was stuffy and I didn't have any food either! I thought I was gonna' die!"

Ranma crossed his arms and gave Ryoga a bored expression knowing full well that it was a sure fire way to really piss him off. "It's your own fault, P-chan. I warned you not to sleep in Akane's room anymore, didn't I?"

Ryoga took a menacing step forward. "Don't call me that! What I do is none of your business, Ranma! Besides, whose fault was it that I got my pig curse in the first place? I didn't fall in that spring, I was kicked in! Remember?! And it was you who launched that kick! You're to blame for my curse and you have the gall to mock me? Besides, compared to the perverted things you do on a daily basis, you have no right to lecture me!"

Ranma slapped his hand to his face and grimaced. "Are you still going on about your curse?! Jeeze…. Ryoga, that was over two years ago! At least you stay male when you change! At least you don't have guys chasing you around and beggin' for dates. At least you don't have perverts and school boys fondling your chest! You're the lucky one!"

Ryoga's dark eyes widened in disbelief. He absolutely couldn't believe what he was hearing. Ranma had more nerve than he thought! "Lucky? Lucky!? Everywhere I go, people try to catch and eat me for dinner or sell me to the meat merchants and you dare to call me lucky to my face?! At least you stay human when you change! At least your life is never in danger when you travel abroad! My trip home was pure hell! I almost didn't make it!"

"I kinda' wish you hadn-"

Ryoga cut him off with an upraised hand. When the rugged boy spoke again, his voice was softer than before and full of confidence. There was something to his voice, a tone that promised Ranma a painful defeat. As he looked Ryoga over again, Ranma was startled to realize that the boy seemed a bit different than he had before. Something had happened to Ryoga on his long trek home and it certainly wouldn't bode well.

"At least your life is never in danger, Ranma... when I'm not around that is. I've been training while I was gone. I used the harsh climate you provided me to my advantage. I'm not the same pushover you knew and taunted a few months ago. I've come back to beat the ever-living hell out of you once and for all. Then, and only then, will I take Akane from you. Maybe then you'll feel a small sample of the pain and misery you've caused me to feel for over two years! Two years of hell! Ranma, you're going to experience it firsthand! Come on, let's fight!"

"Training, eh?" Ranma grinned with confidence and cracked his knuckles. "Ok, Ryoga, let's see what you got! That last time you left on a training trip, you got lost and came back with the Shishi Hoko-Dan technique and you must remember how that little event turned out for you! You aint' never gonna win! You'll only succeed in embarrassin' yourself over and over again!"

Ryoga's face turned to anger again and his body tensed up. Ranma felt a second burst of power radiate from his enemy and he almost recoiled in self-defense. Where the hell did this power come from!? There's no end to it! It's like looking into a dark well or and not seeing the bottom!

"I trained harder than ever, Ranma. My only goal is to destroy you once and for all! That is the only purpose left in my existence." Ryoga charged forward, swinging his umbrella skillfully with one hand. Ranma casually flipped over the Lost Boy's body, using his head as a springboard. More insulted than injured, Ryoga spun around and thrust his weapon forward in an attack that could shatter a man's ribs with ease. Ranma sidestepped swiftly and easily kicked the umbrella out of his hands.

"Actually, as far as I know, that's the only goal you ever had to begin with," Ranma retorted.

Before Ranma could summon a cocky grin to match his comment, Ryoga moved forward with lightning speed and buried his fist deep into his stomach. The blow sent a massive shockwave screaming out in all directions, rattling the windows on houses several blocks away. Ranma stumbled backwards, clutching his sides. His eye's widened in surprise as pain rushed out across his torso. Lucky punch or no, he hadn't been hit by something that hard since his battle against Saffron.

He's gotten faster! Ranma blocked two more punches with his forearms. And stronger too! I guess I have to get a bit more serious.

He shot his foot out and swept Ryoga's legs out from under him. The Lost Boy performed a graceful midair flip, landed on his hands in a modified headstand, then flipped again to his feet. A torrent of punches failed to connect and only barely managed to slow Ryoga down.

It suddenly dawned on Ranma that this wasn't just another grudge match. Ryoga would try to grapple at close range and wear him down until he beat, or preferably, killed his opponent. He was too determined and stubborn to do anything else. His poor brain must have really been put over the edge with the arctic incident.

Still, it was these life and death incidents that made being a martial artist a pleasure and a challenge. Ranma allowed himself a slight smile despite the circumstance, and completely submerged himself within the threshold of battle. Heh, my heart's racing.

He back-flipped halfway across the yard to give himself more room to plan out a strategy. Ryoga was out for keeps and if he got his hands around his neck, Ranma knew he wouldn't hesitate to crush it. His rival was a like a time bomb, wound up and set to explode with deadly results. He had to keep his rival off balance and confused if he was to win. As long as he kept moving, he could bring his incredible speed to play and pummel the poor sap into submission.

"Die!" Ryoga rushed forward, fist cocked back to strike.

Ranma's foot caught Ryoga in the chest and staggered him backwards, deleting his offensive movement. However, Ryoga managed to remain standing by throwing his body weight forward at the last second. He skillfully faked to the left then slipped inside Ranma's defenses and delivered a nasty head-butt that also sent Ranma skidding backwards across the grass. Growling, Ryoga raised his fist and charged forward again.

Ranma's baby blue eyes glazed over in pain and annoyance, but only for an instant. "You've gotten better P-chan, but you're still no match for me! Kashuu Tenshin Amaguriken!"

Amazingly, Ryoga blocked or avoided most of the rapid fire punches that Ranma threw his way, probably because he was a step or two outside of the attack's optimum strike radius. Enough got through however, and massive damage started to take a toll on his body. Ranma's fists connected successfully on Ryoga's chest and stomach over and over again, forming bruises instantly and knocking the wind from his lungs.

"Argh!" Ryoga hunched over in pain, trying unsuccessfully to breathe as pain squeezed his lungs with a fist of molten fire. For a moment, pain was all that his world was made of. It was this sensation that gave him further strength, for from pain he found rage, and rage was his greatest ally at this moment in time. He stood up straight after a moment and squared his shoulders, even though doing so took all the willpower he had.

"Had enough yet, porker?" Ranma shifted to a different position.

Ryoga's face twisted savagely. "You... haven't... beaten... me... yet! Bakusai Tenketsu!" He dove forward and thrust his index finger into the soft earth, triggering an explosion that blew Ranma clear off his feet as the ground under him erupted violently upwards. He jumped to his feet seconds later, rubbing his sore rear.

"Looks like you finally found a practical use for that stupid attack. Remind me to go on a trainin' trip to the South Pole sometime soon."

He slid in close to Ryoga and kicked the unprepared boy square in the jaw with a horizontal attack that bore the strength that came with years of training. The impact threw Ryoga into the large stone wall at the opposite end of the yard. It took him several long seconds to pull his head free from the structure. As he broke free, rock rubble sprayed the ground around him but he waded through, still very ready to fight.

"Give up, P-chan!" Ranma yelled out the insult more from exasperation than from actual cockiness. He slipped around to Ryoga's left side and pummeled his face and neck with punches. A particularly hard blow knocked Ryoga to the ground and he tasted dirt as his forehead cracked against the soil.

"Give up," Ranma said again.

Ryoga stood up, slower this time, rubbing a trickle of saliva from his chin. It dawned on Ranma that perhaps Ryoga truly did possessed the strength and determination to keep fighting through blows that had ended past fights much sooner.

Ranma laid Ryoga out again with a punch to the jaw. Once again Ryoga started to pick himself up off of the ground. This is impossible! Ryoga may be strong, but getting knocked head first at full power into a stone wall should have been more than enough to faze even him!

"Damn it, Ranma, don't call me P-chan! I'm a human! I am Ryoga not a damn pig!" He bared his fangs savagely and lunged at Ranma again with an outstretched hand, aiming for his throat. Unfortunately, this was exactly what Ranma had hoped he would do. The odds remained his favor since Ryoga's own momentum could easily be predicted and used against him.

"Gotcha!" Ranma tapped into his strongly confident spirit and summoned forth a great reserve of energy. Bright power began to swirl in his hands, swirling around his fingertips like a brilliant nova. With one move he would end the fight and prove to Ryoga yet again that he was still a second rate martial artist! "Moko Takabisha!"

Ryoga miraculously dove to the side at the last second as the energy beam crackled and flew through the area he had just been standing in. If that had managed to hit him, he would have been in serious trouble. The yellow blast flew past him and hit a section of the wall, cutting through it with ease. It exploded right after that, scattering shards of stone throughout the yard. He gave a horrified shudder as his shoulder hit the hard ground and he rolled with the impact.

Ryoga performed a side roll and ended up in a crouch, setting his teeth. That had been too close for comfort. He saw Ranma weakly try and catch his breath after expending so much potent energy and with a burst of determination, took advantage of his hated rival's open defenses by running forward and delivering a strong uppercut to his jaw. The next thing Ranma saw was the ground as it rushed to meet him.

"You are really starting to make me mad, Ryoga!" Ranma spit grass and dirt from his mouth, glaring upwards.

"I've never been scared of you, Ranma!"

"Feh. Another mistake. We'll just add that to your rather impressive tab."

Ryoga pounded on his chest with a fist. "You won't bully me around or manipulate my feelings against me ever again! This dark energy in my soul was the salvation I sought! This is the result of the anger you've caused me to feel for so very long!"

"Whatever." Ranma climbed to his feet and rushed at Ryoga. The two clashed again. Both scored hits when the other left himself open. The intensity of the punches shook the dojo's very walls. Strikes and kicks met fierce resistance as the fury of the battle consumed them both. When they finally broke apart from one another and gazed at each other's bleeding, bruised bodies, both realized that neither of them was gaining a true advantage in the fight. Things were getting far too serious. If the matter wasn't resolved quickly, one of them was going to end up seriously hurt... or worse.

Ranma nodded his head decisively. He knew full well what he had to do. I think it's time to change up the tactics a bit.

He jumped over Ryoga and landed feet first into the Koi pond, allowing the cold water to activate the curse he normally hated so much. Climbing out, she smirked with an air of confidence even greater than before as she pulled her pants up and cinching her belt tighter. Behind her, the braided pigtail danced back and forth like a snake as if sharing her feelings. "Come on and fight, Ryoga! This is round two!"

Ryoga hissed. "The final round you mean! Today is the day my thirst for vengeance is quenched! Die!" He charged forward, screaming like a banshee. Ranma couldn't have asked for more from her overeager opponent. He was nothing if not predictable.

Poor sucker! He won't know what was happening until it's too late! Ranma stood perfectly still, grinning widely with outstretched arms as if inviting destruction. She gave thanks to his gullible, overexcited nature. Without it, she wouldn't have had a chance in hell of pulling this stunt off.

Further infuriated by Ranma's self-satisfied grin, Ryoga continued charging with the power of a rhino.

Almost... Ranma's face turned to a look of determination. It took a lot of guts to stand in the path of a charging muscle house, expert fighter or no. She had to time it just right or the move would fail utterly. If she didn't catch Ryoga in time, or if she did it too soon, she would surely lose.

Ryoga kept coming.

Almost there...

Lost in his rage, the Lost Boy quickly closed up the distance. If he held even the smallest inkling as too what his fate would be, he showed no fear. His narrowed eyes bore into hers, promising vengeance.

Almost there...

He jumped in front of her, roaring loudly, his fist rose high over his head, knuckles pointing downward. He was prepared to cleave her skull in without the slightest bit of remorse, or so it seemed. It was nearly enough to make Ranma shutter. None of their other fights had ever held so much ferocity and raw anger. It was a situation he had hoped to never get caught up in because it was battles like these where someone usually lost their life. She had defeated many opponents and never taken a life in the process. She didn't intend to start now. With luck this move would properly defuse the situation.

Now! She pulled open her shirt, pulling the wooden clasps open with one good yank. This gave Ryoga a good view of her breasts which bounced teasingly from the motion due to the lack of a bra. She had no shame or feminine modesty and this move had always worked before. It was a sure fire way to turn the fight back towards the direction she wanted it to go. Ryoga was always weakest when he was flustered and embarrassed.

Ryoga's eyes popped out of their sockets and he jumped backwards at an impossibly fast rate, turning around and covering his nose as if to ward off a nose bleed. "Iyeeeeeeeee! Damn it, Ranma, that's not fair! You do this every time! What kind of a martial artist pulls such a cheap trick?!" He spun away from her, blushing furiously and losing his focus. It took all his willpower to keep from passing out there on the spot.

That would end the fight real quick wouldn't it? Ryoga you fool… He fought to keep his emotions under control and struggled to hold fast to his anger and depression. It was difficult, especially because he was an incredibly shy person when it came to things like female nudity. Holding tightly to his resolve, Ryoga somehow got himself back under control and grasped onto his fleeting anger. He would need it to win the match.

Ranma snickered sinisterly as she buttoned up her shirt. "Time to end this!"

Ryoga's back made for a great target. She kicked him square in the spine, sending him skidding forward several feet, throwing up dirt and grass as he slid. To her disappointment, he didn't fall. Instead, he spun around again and glared with naked hatred. "Ranma!"

Her grin stretched from ear to ear. "What's that about manipulating emotions, Ryog-"

He slammed his balled fist into her chin, jarring teeth and snapping her head back at a painful angle. She lost her footing and stumbled backwards across the soft grass as stars flashed in front of her eyes. How had he moved so fast? Not only had he not stayed flustered for long, but he had redoubled his efforts faster than she had ever seen him do so before.

I gotta' finish this now! I can't keep holding him at bay! There aint' no time to goof off anymore! Side-stepping rapidly, she danced around Ryoga's punches, setting up for her next attack. She gently released cool energy into the air around her, drawing the unsuspecting Ryoga into a spiral pattern, step by unsuspecting step. Before long her graceful combative dance was mixing with Ryoga's radiating dark energy, distorting the air around them. It wasn't until Ranma raised her fist that Ryoga knew what he had allowed himself to be caught up in.

Throwing his hands in front of his face, he screamed in frustration. "No!"

Her eye's blazed. "Final Attack! Hiryu Shoten Ha!"

A blue dragon shaped blast lanced out from her upraised fist and struck Ryoga's body dead on, forming a giant hurricane. With tremendous power, it sucked the Lost Boy's still screaming body up into its center like dust into a vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, Ranma didn't use her max power for fear of further damaging the house and earning a serious reprimand from Soun. It proved to be enough though. Ryoga's agonized cries sounded loudly in her ears and she allowed herself a weak smile. There was no way he would be able to keep fighting, not after taking a direct shot in his weakened state.

Ryoga found the existence of a new level of pain as his body greedily sucked up smashing blows from the intense winds. It felt like his very mind was dimming as the hurricane sapped up more and more of his strength, numbing his body as Ranma's energy charged across his body, weakening him further. He knew he had to do something quick, before he was utterly defeated again.

"Not again, I won't lose to you again Ranma! Never again!" Depression and frustration burned through him like fire across wood. His eye's glazed over in silent fury as a dark blue ball of energy took shape in his hands. Inside his soul, he focused all of his sadness, all of his depression, but most of all, his hate for the damn boy far below. Energy began coursing through his body and into his hands where it fed into the mass increasing energy ball.

"I won't let you win! I can't lose again! Shishi Hoko-Dan!"

With a tremendous howl that drowned out even the piercing winds themselves, he pointed his spread hands straight at Ranma's chest and fired a huge blue beam of hellish might. It launched towards Ranma with the full energized force of his dark, nightmarish power. It made the one he had used against the monkey/man on Toma's island look like a firecracker in comparison.

The coursing column of dark energy even cut through the intense power of the Hiryu Shoten Ha, forcing itself through the nearly impenetrable wall of wind and energy. Facing no further obstacles, it struck Ranma dead on before she could even think to block, blasting her body backwards. The sheer momentum of the energy used crushed her painfully into the ground, forming an impact crater. The current of power forced itself into her body, setting off every nerve ending with unbearable pain. Blue lightning waves played across her form, heating her skin and paralyzing her nervous system.

"Damn…it…" Struggling to her feet, a second round of pain faltered her resolve and, grunting pitifully, she pitched forward face first into the ground hard enough to make it splinter around her. Her features expressed the sheer agony she felt as her body twitched uncontrollably.

Above, the powerful twister died down as its energy reserves depleted. No longer being held up, Ryoga fell to earth, hitting the ground on his back with such force that it sucked the breath painfully from his lungs for the second time that day. After releasing so much raw power, he hadn't the strength needed to land gently on his feet. Ranma took grim satisfaction in seeing that he was as badly beaten up from the fall as she was from his attack. Even after that, they had both come out nearly even. It was quite remarkable and she couldn't help but be impressed, though she hardly dared to admit it, even to herself.

The two rose almost at the same time, both wincing from various wounds and bruises. Neither had finished off the other and while both combatants were surprised that the fight had lasted this long, neither was ready to quit. If there was one thing the two truly had in common it was an unshakable sense of pride brought on by years of practicing martial arts.

"Man, you're stubborn," Ranma spat, clutching her ribs.

"Look who's talking!" Ryoga shot back through clenched teeth. One of his eyes refused to open. Looking at him, Ranma deducted that it was because of a large bruise that was quickly swelling to life over the eye socket. It throbbed painfully throughout Ryoga's skull, sending jolts of pain slamming through his brain. His one good eye gazed at her, scanning for a weakness he could exploit. They stared at one another as if for the first time, both breathing heavily and evaluating their many wounds.

The teenagers wearily resumed combat positions almost at the same time. Ryoga charged again, striking repeatedly at Ranma as she dashed away, dodging and blocking the fastest moves he had like a nimble rabbit.

She gave him a disgusted look, turning to look at him as her body danced gracefully, ignoring the pain he had inflicted upon her. "Ryoga, don't you ever get tired of doing this all the time? You can't beat me; you should know that well enough after losing so many times. No matter what, you will always fail!"

Ryoga's mood darkened even further and his lips pulled up into a feral snarl. He lunged at her with murder written in his eye. "Just shut up and fight me!"

Ranma grinned and twisted off to one side to let Ryoga fly past her. His trajectory took him straight into the embrace of the Koi pond and he could do nothing but curse his ill fortune and flail his arms in a futile effort to keep from falling in. As his body submerged, water erupted in every direction, showering the grass in the yard with water. A moment later, P-chan flew from the water's depths at Ranma, squealing angrily.

Laughing, Ranma knocked the flying pig to the ground and put her foot on top of the little pig to hold him in place. "Enjoy the bath, bacon breath?"

A frying pan seemed to fly from out of nowhere, hitting Ranma squarely in the head and knocking her senseless. "Ranma, how many times do I have to tell you not to pick on my poor little P-chan!" Akane screamed from within the house.

Oh, Akane's home. Ranma numbly pitched forward.

The fight was over, far more anticlimactically than either of them had expected.

It was funny, Ranma recalled as her head hit the ground none too softly. No matter how things changed, no matter how strong either of them got, or what new attacks they developed, her fights with Ryoga always seemed to end the same way every time.

Some things, it seemed, would never change.

Akane sat outside by the screen door while holding a very content black piglet to her chest, applying medicine that would bring down the swelling in her pet's eye. Taking in P-chan's battered form, the anger she still contained from this morning flared up to atomic magnitude. The nerve of that jerk!

She had just come home from shopping and in very fine spirits for the first time all day. Of course seeing Ranma attack her pet was more than enough to reduce her to a screaming riot all over again. This time however she actually listened to half of Ranma's account of the fight with Ryoga before she blew up in her face. That was something at least…

"How many times do I have to tell you not fight with good-hearted Ryoga?!" She looked at the little red headed girl with irritation. "First you fight with my friend and drive him out of town and then you start bullying my little P-chan. When Ryoga comes back from his trip I want you to apologize! This little vendetta you have with each other has gone on for long enough!"

Ranma rubbed her side and winced in silent pain. A particularly large bruise had appeared as a memento of one of Ryoga's powerful punches and announced its existence via each painful throb. She made a mental note to pay her rival back in kind. "I've already told you, it was Ryoga who started this whole mess! Blame him not me!"

Ryoga glared at Ranma from the safety of Akane's lap and retorted with an angry squeal. Ranma returned the glare and suddenly felt the overwhelming craving for bacon. "Stay out of this you little runt! You'll keep quiet unless you want me to give you a hot bath right here and now!"

"Why should I blame Ryoga when it's your fault?" Akane interjected. "It's always your fault! Honestly, you act like such a kid sometimes! You can't even express yourself in a positive way at all! Can you, Ranma?! I'm so sick of it!" She shouted a little louder then she meant to as the heat of the moment caught hold of her emotions. An apologetic look spread across her face but the damage had already been done.

Ranma simmered. "Fine, don't believe me! I guess in your mind being my fiancée means turning against me and blaming me for other people's actions just because you're jealous, doesn't it?! If you hate me that much then cut this relationship off! It's not like I'd care anyways! It certainly wouldn't be the first time you've done that either! Don't act like you haven't played games with my heart too!" She started up toward the stairs towards her room grabbing a simmering kettle off of the stove and overturning it upon her head.

Ranma stopped for a second and turned to face her, flashing a hard, neutral expression. "So, I'm not a man because I can't express myself, huh?! Well guess what, I kinda' like you!"

Akane's shocked expression further vindicated Ranma and he allowed the anger to give him the courage to say things he'd never thought to say before. His eyes shone a hard blue that Akane couldn't help but stare into. "Wha-?"

"Yeah that's right Akane! You and only you, since the first day I came to this stupid place! But what would a perverted jerk like me know about that stuff anyways, right!?" He turned and ran up to his room and slammed his door shut with exaggerated force.

Akane sighed as regret filtered into her body and tightened like a noose around her heart. She had gotten him really upset this time. It was the reverse situation to what had happened at breakfast. She had noticed the marks on his body and the pain in his eyes but had verbally attacked him anyways. She didn't mean to say the things she said. Actually, she absolutely hated hurting him. The words just came out before she could think about what she was saying.

Always speaking before you think, huh? I guess you're not so different from Ranma after all. You're so stupid Akane. She sighed mournfully. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Carrying a rather startled P-chan up to her room, Akane lay down on her bed and started to cry. Silver tears dripped down her cheeks and loud sobs escaped from her mouth and into her pillow. Things had gone too far to be repaired this time. Her worst fears had been realized. Ranma hated her and it was all her fault.

Ranma... Oh, Ranma, why do we always fight? Don't you know how much I... A new set of sobs took her by storm, shaking her frame. P-chan rubbed up against her hand, squealing in concern and doing his best to comfort her as an endless set of tears gave physical form to her grief.

Akane eventually fell asleep on her bed, giving Ryoga a chance to slip away undetected. He wandered around on his little trotters for over an hour looking for the bathroom. After taking a dozen wrong turns, he stumbled on it by accident, squealing triumphantly. He walked to the tub, hopped in, then turned on the hot water nozzle with his snout. The water played over his body, instantly reversing the effects of his hated curse in the blink of an eye. He would have sighed with contentment if his heart hadn't felt so very heavy.

He stretched out in the tub, gathering his thoughts as the water soothed the muscles in his limbs. Damn it! Even after all I did, all I suffered through, I still couldn't beat him! Why? Why!? He sat dejectedly in the water, grimacing in shame and silent anguish.

He slapped his palms against his face. "But that's not all I messed up on today. Because of me, Akane is sad. I've no doubt ruined her entire day! Damn it! Ranma, someday I'll pay you back for everything you've done! I must train even harder. I can see that now. I swear to heaven and hell, I will surpass you even if it kills me! I will break you, even if I have to spend a life time trying! Then I'll take Akane away and make her happy forever."

He lay sprawled out for several more minutes and allowed the water to further ease his aching body. Reluctantly, he pulled the plug with his toes as the water started to cool, allowing the huge tub to drain itself dry. He quickly dried himself off with a spare towel then wrapped it around his waist, shivering as the cool air touched his skin. With the stealth of a ninja, he tip-toed out into the hall after checking to make sure the coast was clear to retrieve his gear.

Luckily, Akane had lugged his bag up the stairs near her bedroom. He dashed to it, grabbed a spare of change clothes and dashed back into his zone of privacy. He changed quickly then walked out towards the stairs, lugging the pack over his shoulder. He only got lost once on the way there.

He tightened his hand on the straps of his pack. I've got to go away for a while until things settle down. I'll go back into the mountains and train so that next time I'll really beat Ranma and finally win Akane's affections!

He smiled at that thought. Soon. Please be patient my love.

He walked past Nabiki who eyed him curiously. He handed her a small wad of bills. "You never saw me here and you never saw me leave."

Nabiki took the cash and stuffed it into her back pocket. "Saw who?" she asked, flashing a wolfish grin. Ryoga knew he was safe. With money as his weapon, Nabiki would be as docile and harmless as a baby pup. He opened the back screen door and turned back to look in the direction of the stairs.

Goodbye for now, my sweet Akane. I'll make this all up to you, someday. He shut the door and walked down Nerima's unending streets.