Chapter Nineteen: Count Down to Destiny
The Saotomes and the Tendos left the hospital not long after Ukyo. Stopping by Ryoga's room, Akane set a rose by the sleeping boy's bed and Ranma clasped his friends hand, promising to visit again as soon as he was able. It was hard to gaze on their stricken friend even if sleep had temporarily taken him away from the ocean of pain produced by his injury. Akane leaned heavily on Ranma for support as they left the room, and from the sound her heaving, he knew she was desperately trying not to cry. Ryoga had been through so much already in the past week and to have his life nearly taken from him in such a violent way weighed heavily on their hearts.
They all left for home in a sorrowful mood. Ranma kept to himself for the rest of the night, talking to none. Sitting out in the backyard under the stars, he blew out an annoyed breath, watching the heavenly lights twinkle above. The crickets were playing their natural music all around him, rejoicing as the fireflies danced above them. There were too many unanswered questions involving the incident today! Doctor Tofu had refused to tell him how Ryoga had gotten hurt. How could he avenge his friend if he didn't even know what happened?! Biting back a wave of frustration, he laid on his back and sighed heavily.
He was concerned for another reason as well. Ryoga would be in no condition to fight in the upcoming match and he wasn't sure if he could defeat the Shadow Warrior on his own, even with his new training program all set up. He wouldn't back down, no matter what, that much was certain. He had his honor to maintain. But was honor really worth throwing his life away for? Akane mattered so much to him, how could he just throw it away for honor's sake?
'It is far better to die honorably in battle than to be stabbed in the back while fleeing.' One of the only decent pieces of advice his father had taught him rang sound in his mind. Genma had never followed the advice, of course, but its words still stuck in Ranma's head. Plucking at a blade of grass, he submerged deeper into his thoughts, allowing all his fear and anger to boil to the surface.
I don't think I'll survive. His fist clenched tightly.
Death didn't really scare him. But the thought of not being there with Akane did. He cared her with all his heart and soul and he didn't want to die with her watching. She'd never recover from seeing something like that. It would be too much to bear. But the thought of skipping out on the fight was just as unbearable. Besides, the Shadow Warrior would just hunt him down if he failed to show. It seemed to be a lose-lose situation no matter how he looked at it. It went beyond honor, he realized. It was a matter of survival and the safety of his family and friends. He had to fight to his full potential. If he didn't his chances of winning would be nonexistent. At least in the environment of combat he had a chance.
Ranma looked up at the full moon as it bathed pale light down upon him. Ryoga loved to look up at the stars, he recalled. Often when he thought no one was looking, he would go out late at night and lie in the grass and watch the unending sea of stars twinkle across the night sky. Ranma had spied him doing this many times and he had realized that there was more to Ryoga than meets the eye. He wondered how many lonely nights Ryoga had spent lost in the wilds of Japan with only the sky above to serve as a companion. What a lonely existence the boy led.
He listened to the sound of a train roar by in the distance, its horn echoing off of the quiet buildings around it. Being a martial artist was a hard life, full of misfortune and danger. Ranma clearly knew how lonely Ryoga felt. He hardly ever saw his family due to the infamous 'Hibiki sense of direction.' Not only that, but he didn't really have any close friends except maybe Ukyo and the two had only really seen each other as a tool to break him and Akane up. Also, Ryoga absolutely hated his curse, clearly as much as Ranma hated his. The only thing Ryoga really had to depend on was his skill in martial arts and even then, he often got frustrated when he lost to Ranma time and time again. No matter how hard he trained, Ryoga couldn't completely close the skill gap between them.
And yet he never gave up. Ranma couldn't help but smile slightly. That was why he had so much respect for his newfound friend. Ryoga never quit. When he failed, he would just work that much harder for the next battle. His determination was uncanny. No matter how much Ranma beat Ryoga, it never kept the boy down.
Ranma shivered. It was getting colder and the moon rose higher still, above the clouds to gaze at the city below. Better get inside, he thought. Tomorrow I'll get the whole story from Ukyo.
He walked into the house and silently padded up the stairs. Akane had been real quiet on the way home. That a clear sign that she was worried but it didn't take a genius to notice that. He knocked softly on her door and when he got no reply, he opened it and quietly approached her bed. She was asleep and clad in her Yellow pajamas. She hugged her pillow to her tightly, mumbling something in her sleep.
"G'night, Akane," He whispered. Touching her head, he tiptoed out of her room after making sure no one had spotted him, and crept back into his own. Genma lay on his futon, snoring loudly, probably dreaming about food like he always did. Ranma looked over at Ryoga's empty futon as a lonely feeling settled into the pit of his stomach. He lay down and put his hands behind his head, thinking about his uncertain future until sleep came and carried him off to the world of dreams.
A snap-hiss of crackling energy gave birth to a small ball of energy that grew in the Warrior's hand. The bluish light swelled and grew, until it was roughly the size of a basketball. Light streaked from its frame, bathing his hotel room in an assortment of vibrant colors. Giving his eyes time to adjust, he blinked several times and sat on his bed, peering into the center of the ball.
"Let's see how my friends are faring." Flexing the hand that cupped the base of the orb ever so slightly, images came to him: Ranma training Akane, Ukyo, setting up her restaurant for business the following day, worthless images that he couldn't bear to gaze at any longer. Then, right before he was about to cancel out the seeing org, he saw Ryoga's battered body lying in the hospital bed, resting fitfully but very much incapacitated. His eye's widened slightly in surprise and he studied the image further.
"Oh, this is too much!" A light, feral smile touched his lips and he chuckled. "Only a few days left and Ranma's ally is half dead in the hospital. He doesn't have a chance now! I've won for sure! Oh, Ranma, the very gods forsake you!"
A splitting howl of a laugh echoed throughout the hotel as the Warrior crushed the orb into nothingness, and the black darkness once again bathed his body as his vile mind settled in to sleep. His twisted dreams were filled with Ranma's screams and he woke up the next morning feeling more refreshed then he had in a long, long time.
Ukyo sat in Math class listening to Mr. Wanabee drone on. She just couldn't force herself to concentrate. All day long she had thought about the tragedy that had occurred the day before, replaying the images over and over in her mind. Ranma had been giving her questioning looks all day and she knew what lay in store for her that afternoon. There was no avoiding him, when Ranma wanted something, nothing could stop his persistence.
She had arrived to school late due to her therapy session. She had elected to keep in touch with the doctor so he could monitor her progress. It had been a painless appointment, and he understood her situation, the stress she was under. Once he had verified that there would be no legal action undertaken, he had delved into her mind, helping her, if only slightly, to work out the pain and problems she was suffering from.
Ryoga...
She wondered how he was doing. Waiting here for the end of the day was almost unbearable. She looked at the clock impatiently. It was only 12:05; school wouldn't be over for another couple of hours. Thankfully the school bell rang at that moment, signaling that lunch had started. Pulling out an Okanomiyaki bento, she went outside to sit at the far end of the school grounds, taking a little comfort at the sun friendly rays warmed her frame.
She wanted to be alone with her thoughts today, away from the carefree gossip of her peers. She sat on the short grass and smoothed out the wrinkles of her boy's uniform, quietly eating her food and contemplating how to tackle her mixed feelings about Ryoga's situation. She enjoyed the relative silence around her, allowing herself to feel a little more at ease.
"So there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you."
She froze. Ranma was absolutely the last person she wanted to see right now! The dread and fear that had slowly been fading rushed back up inside of her again, fast as lightning. She swallowed visibly and put on a fake smile, turning her head to look at him. "Oh. Hi, Ran-chan! What brings you out here?"
Ranma knelt beside her. "I needed to talk to you, Ucchan. What exactly happened yesterday? How did Ryoga get hurt so bad? Nothing human could have done that!"
Ukyo gulped. This was the time, she had to tell him! There could be no backing down. She had started this whole matter and she had to live with its every consequence, no matter what. "Will you promise not to hate me if I tell you?"
Ranma looked at her questioningly. "I promise," he said guardedly.
Ukyo took a deep breath. "Yesterday, Ryoga came to my shop after he got lost. We talked, and he told me all about the fight you two lost and how you and Akane had finally fallen in… in..." She choked out the last few words and her heart squeezed painfully.
Ranma nodded. I knew Ryoga would slip up and open his big mouth! "Go on."
"I couldn't believe that you had chosen her over me and I felt so hurt and enraged. I don't remember everything, but I think I had been planning on confronting you about it and taking my anger out on Akane. When Ryoga tried to stop me, I cut his side open with my spatula. He finally got a hold of me and I... I guess I fainted. When I woke up, he was almost dead from blood loss. I called Doctor Tofu and we managed to get him to the hospital in time."
She turned away from him as his facial expression changed. "I understand if you hate me for what I did." She started to stand but Ranma grabbed her shoulder, stopping her. Her head shot up in shock as his fingers held on almost painfully to her shoulder.
"Ukyo, how could you do something like that!?" His voice was both menacingly cold and deeply horrified at the same time. "He was your friend damnit!"
"I never meant to hurt him!" She fought to keep her voice calm but even she detected the slight quiver in her tone. "It's just... I loved..." she trailed off. Even now, even after everything that had happened, she couldn't finish her sentence. She knew what she felt in her heart and yet the words would not come forth. She almost laughed as despair consumed her.
"That ain't no excuse! Not even close!" His anger bubbled to the surface, unrestrained. "There is no excuse for what you've done! You nearly murdered him!"
He grabbed her rougher than perhaps he realized. In the heat of the moment he pushed her hard against a tree. Ukyo had never seen him so angry. If not for his policy of no violence towards women, it was very likely he would have swung at her then and there.
"Than hate me!" She screamed, tearing away from his grasp and jumping up to face him. "I'm not your fiancée' anymore anyways, just a broken obstacle! Nothing matters anymore!" Her barked response was filled with an infinite amount of pain, enough so that it even pierced Ranma's intense anger, if only slightly.
"My relationship with Akane has nothing to do with you losing control of yourself!" he shouted, jabbing a finger at her. "You are responsible for your actions, you and you alone!"
Ukyo half laughed, draping her arms across herself, as if she were cold. "I won't deny that it was my fault for what happened. I'm not a fool. However, if you think all this has nothing to do with you, then you are blind, Ranma!"
Ranma squared his jaw. "What the hell does that mean?!"
Ukyo didn't hold back anymore and jabbed her finger at his chest. "I've come to understand that when you and your father dumped me off on the side of the road and left with my father's business cart all those years ago that it wasn't your fault. You were just a child, unable to tell right from wrong. I understand that. But you're a man now, Ranma. For two years you strung me along, letting me live on hopes and dreams that would never come to exist!"
She slammed her open hand over her chest for emphasis. "To a woman, the heart is everything and you've crushed me, little by little, each and every day that I've lived here! You couldn't be man enough to come out and admit you loved Akane, and that gave me a false hope. Not just me, but Shampoo and Kodachi too! What you've done is something I'd expect from your father, not you!
She met his hard gaze. "I am fully prepared to be woman enough to live with what I've done and pay for it however fate sees fit. I will not run or deny anything. Tell your family about what I did. Better yet, tell the whole school if that will make you feel like you're avenging him!" Against her will her bottom lip began to tremble.
"Don't you try to turn this around on me!" he said. "You're the one who-"
"I nearly killed him! Yes, I know that! If I could take it back, I would. Or better yet, if I could switch places I would. But you need to grow up and take responsibility too. Or perhaps…"
Something changed in the blink of an eye and suddenly the air around the two of them felt dark and heavy. A sick smile touched Ukyo's lips and her face twisted as she turned her head to the side. Startled, Ranma released his hold on her and backed up a few steps as she advanced on him, grabbing her top and pulling it open, displaying her breasts wrapped in tape. This display was disturbing, but it was the madness in her face and the look of self-disgust in her eyes that scared him the most.
"Or perhaps you want to kill me for what I did? Hmm? It would be so easy for you to do," she whispered, almost coo'ing. "Your fist could break my ribs and pierce my heart. Or perhaps you could snap my windpipe with one good blow. You could avenge Ryoga right here and now. Doesn't that sound like the right thing to do?"
She continued to advance towards him as he retreated, step-by-step. Alarmed, confused, and utterly horrified, Ranma almost didn't know what to do until he saw tears start to fall down her cheeks. Even as she smiled her eyes begged for death.
It was these two conflicting forms of expression that helped Ranma to get a grip on himself. Looking at her hard, he felt a dark aura surrounding her. Ukyo was insane, he realized, but it wasn't of her doing. Suddenly he reached out for her and took her in his arms as she began to struggle.
"Break me," she whispered hoarsely. "Break me. Break me. Break me. Break me. Break me…"
On and on she droned on, twisting in his grasp. Closing his eyes, Ranma focused his energy and began to bath Ukyo's body with his ki. The girl seemed to realize what he was doing and one hand rose shakingly, aiming to claw at the back of his neck. As his potent energy enveloped her however, that hand and her other one reflectively gripped his shoulders hard enough to pierce cloth and skin as she howled in anguish.
The dark aura, mysterious and vile, was pushed away by his power. Opening his eyes, a dark cloud of collective energy started to separate from Ukyo dissapearing as a brisk howling wind picked up around them, momentarily battering their bodies and forcing Ranma to pull them both back a few steps. Falling to his knees, he held Ukyo as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at him, first appearing surprised and then confused.
"Is everything going to be ok?" she whispered, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Ranma blinked once, opened his mouth to speak, and then sighed sadly. He nodded his head slowly. He wasn't entirely sure what had just happened but it was clear that Ukyo had either been controlled or at the very least influenced by someone else. The Shadow Warrior most likely. The very thought of committing such a dishonorable act caused his hand to tighten into a fist.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you, Ukyo. And yes, you're right. I should have told you everything myself a long time ago."
"So it really is the end?" she whispered horsly.
He sighed and put his hands on her shoulders. It was best to say everything and get it over with rather than drag it out any longer. "I've cared for Akane almost as long as I've been here. I'm sorry, but I would never have married you, even if the circumstances had been different. I just can't love you the way you love me. I should have told you before. If I had, none of this would have happened. In a way, Ryoga's injury was partially my fault too. If I had faced you like a man, then he wouldn't have had to suffer needlessly right now."
Ukyo averted her eyes. A stream of tears flowed down her pretty face from eyes that knew sadness and nothing else. She angrily wiped them away, clenching her hand into a fist. "I never had a chance for your heart..."
"There's only room for one," he said softly.
"Great, perfect… all's well that ends well, right? The hero gets the girl and they live happily ever after." She laughed between sobs and clutched at her heart, felt it break as she cried silver tears of sorrow.
Ranma looked deep into her eyes and saw her pain. "I'll always be your friend, Ukyo… but I know that doesn't mean much to you at this point. You'll always be a part of my family, never forget that. That's the important thing."
"I suppose that's better than being despised," she sighed, wiping her eyes again. "The giant circle we've all been running around in is falling apart isn't it? The same events, the same goals and dreams we've each held true for all these years, they can never be the same again. Figures it would take a few extreme events to change things around here."
She brushed her bangs from in front of her eyes. "A nightmare is coming on the wind," she said, her inner pain speak for her. "The zany and crazy days of our youth are fading."
Ranma closed his eyes, thinking of the Shadow Warrior. It might have been his imagination, but he thought he heard laughter on the breeze, and the hair's on the back of his neck prickled and stood on end. "The nightmare is already here, and he's out for blood."
Ukyo shook her head. "There's more than one kind of nightmare. Each has their own. Mine, it seems, is just beginning."
Ranma looked almost helpless. "I'm sure there are plenty of guys out there who would love to go out with you, Ukyo. Everything will work out in the end. You're sounding like a doomsday preacher or somethin'. That's not like you at all."
She looked at him and forced a small smile. "Who'd be willing to date a monster like me, Ranma? Anyways, I'm going to go see Ryoga today after school and atone for my crime. You want to come with me?"
"Yea, I wanna' check up on him too."
"Ok. I'll meet you out by the school gates after school." She cleared her throat and dried her eyes. "If you don't mind, I'd kinda' like to be by myself right now."
"Uh, ok, I'll see you later then." Thrusting his hands into the pockets of his pants, he walked back into Furinkan almost relieved to escape her zone of anguish and self-pity.
Ukyo sat down again and brought her legs up to her chest, resting her head on her knees. She felt a hole in her heart rip into existence and it hurt, far more than any physical wound.
Ranma's not even an option anymore, he has Akane. She beat me out for his love! Why her, Ranma? Was I so horrible in your eyes? What do I lack that she has? Did I not love you with all my heart and soul?
Ryoga had told her of Ranma's feelings for Akane, yes, but hearing it directly from the man she loved was too much to bear. She didn't want to exist anymore. The pain was simply too great. She felt herself falling, and an almost numbing sensation coated her mind. She wanted to scream and fade away all at the same time.
She fell backwards onto her back and gazed at the lazy clouds float above. Time disappeared from existence, leaving her to wallow in her thoughts. "I'm hopeless and lonely! How utterly pathetic. We're a lot alike, aren't we, Ryoga?"
She sat there a moment half crying half sobbing at how cruel fate could be. "Passed over again, huh?"
The school bell rang at last, signaling the end of lunch. Ukyo didn't return to class however, electing instead to stare up at the clouds that afternoon. It was a carefree sky of blue cheer, contrasting so greatly from the emptiness inside of her.
"Damn, I hate being depressed."
As the final bell of the day rang, Ranma walked over to Akane's desk and got her attention, smiling slightly.
"Hi." She smiled up at him, gently placing her books in her carrying bag.
"I'm goin' to see Ryoga today. You wanna' come?"
She sighed and shook her head. "I really wish I could, Ranma. Dad's finally getting a couple of new students in today and he needs me there to help out. I'll have to go see him tomorrow. Can you do me a favor and tell him I said hi?"
He nodded. "Sure thing. I've got to go meet Ucchan now. I'll see ya' at home later."
Akane stood up and smiled adoringly after she made sure no one was looking. "Don't be too long."
That was all the incentive he needed to put his ass in gear. He met Ukyo at the stone fence by the gate a few moments later. Stepping forward, she adjusted her boy's uniform and sighed visibly, swinging her spatula over her shoulder to rest against her back. "Ready, Ran-chan?"
"Always."
She had given herself many hours to think things through. While she didn't feel up to it, she decided she had to fake some short of cheer or her moody depression was going to get real old, real fast. There was no point in feeling sorry for her self.
"You didn't do it."
Ukyo turned her head to look at him. "What?"
Ranma looked at her seriously. "You aren't to blame for what happened to Ryoga."
Shock turned to anger and she stopped walking and whirled to face him. "If that is your idea of a joke then-"
He put his hands on her shoulders. "Listen to me. You snapped at me earlier remember? I've been thinking on it all afternoon and I'm absolutely positive it wasn't you. Well… it was you, but… not. I mean…"
Ukyo took a deep breath and looked at him evenly. "What are you trying to say?"
"Basically, you were being controlled. I banished whatever that cloud, spirit…" Ranma opened and closed his mouth a few times, gesturing with one hand "thing was. It had possessed you. Oh come on! Don't look at me like that. I'm not lying."
"You mean to tell me something used my body to hurt Ryoga?"
Ukyo brought her hand to her face as a wave of nausea overran her stomach. "The Shadow Warrior?"
"That's my guess."
"Oh gods. Oh gods…" Ukyo clutched her shoulders. She felt violated and angry all at the same time. If the Shadow Warrior had been standing there in front of her at that very moment there was no doubt in her mind she would have attacked him, no matter the cost.
"I… I should have been able to resist it. Fight it. Something! It was still my body that hurt him. I can't feel as though I'm completely free of blame!"
"I know how you feel," Ranma fibbed. "But what is most important right now is that you understand that you weren't at fault. When you go talk to Ryoga, have a clear conscience, ok?"
Ukyo reverted back to a thoughtful state and she nodded slowly, digesting his words. Taking her by the arm, they duo resumed their walk. For ten minutes there was silence.
I've got to snap myself out of this or I'll have gray hairs by the time I'm twenty. "Hey, Ranma, race ya there!"
She took off, willing her body to relax... if only slightly. Ranma followed, allowing her to stay slightly ahead of him at all times. It was a childish antic she had elected to do, but it made her feel slightly better and gave her a chance to bleed some negativity out of her head.
They ran down the streets, weaving through the light traffic of pedestrians, saying nothing, just enjoying the moment. A cool afternoon breeze ruffled Ukyo's bangs and she half smiled, feeling better than she had all day.
"You're getting soft, Ran-chan, Ukyo huffed, stopping suddenly at the central hospital's main gate. The brisk run had been just the thing she'd needed to vent some stress before seeing Ryoga. She felt more than a little certain that Ranma had lagged behind on purpose, for her benefit.
"Ranma poked her in the forehead."Hey, I was goin' easy on you!"
"Sure you were!" Her short laugh sounded genuinely amused and it set Ranma at ease.
Entering the facility, she showed her pass to the woman running the front desk who smiled warmly at her. "We're here to see Ryoga Hibiki, room 324."
She nodded and let them through, pressing the button that allowed the doors to swing open. Ukyo's mood plunged as they walked down the hall, drawing nearer to the room. Her eyes tightened and she gripped the doorknob to Ryoga's room tightly. "Ranma, please wait here for a few minutes. I need to talk to Ryoga alone."
"Ok, I'll just wait out here." He sounded slightly suspicious, but she couldn't blame him for that. He was just concerned about his former rival.
Ranma blinked as she stared at him. "You going in or what?"
She nodded, not really listening. Nervousness gripped her mind within its icy grasp yet again. Her upcoming conversation could prove to be a crucial one, maybe even a life changing one. She was as ready as she'd ever be and there might not be another time to discuss the matter. She had to go through with it! Gulping, she knocked on the door, cursing her sudden lack of courage.
"Come in."
Ukyo brushed a strand of hair from her face and opened the door. "Hi, there," she smiled, hiding her anxiety from her facial expressions. "I came to check up on you! How is your side?"
Ryoga pulled up his white hospital shirt, revealing a multitude of stitches over a long wound that appeared to be in the early stages of healing. She sat down on the bed next to him and gently touched his shoulder. Stirring slightly to face her, he winced in pain. Ukyo realized that if that blow had hit Akane like she had intended, the cut would have killed the girl instantly. The thought of doing that caused her to shudder visibly.
"I'm so sorry..." she whispered, looking at him. "Dear heaven, I'm so... so sorry..." Tears flushed from her eyes and she angrily raged over her own self-pity. "I'm such an idiot!
"It's not so bad. The doctors told me that I'll be able to hobble out of here in three days. Of course I'll have to be careful not to do anything that would break the stitches. It could still get infected."
"Three days... The day of your fight!" Ukyo's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh no… I've doomed Ranma…"
Ryoga put his hand on her arm and gave a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry about it. Ranma will be fine."
Her face went hard as determination set in. "Ryoga, I have to know! Did you mean what you said yesterday?"
"Yes."
"How!?" How could you like a monster like me?! I almost killed you!" She rose to her feet, shaking her head. "It just doesn't make sense! I'm a liability, an untrustworthy monster of a girl who doesn't deserve your feelings."
Ryoga sighed. "You aren't a monster, Ukyo. The person who hurt me wasn't you; it was your pain, specifically the pain that had been building up inside of you for years. The Ukyo I know is a beautiful, smart girl. She would never hurt me."
Tears trickled down her face as she slowly sat down as her outburst was soundly defeated by his soothing words. Ryoga reached up and wiped away her tears and sadness. "I do care for you, Ukyo."
She shook her head softly. "Oh, Ryoga! I've done nothing but use you since we first met! Stop making me into something I'm not! I'm not a good person! You're just substituting your love for Akane onto me."
"There's more to you than that. My heart tells me to care for you and I do. I don't care if people think I'm stupid or foolish. I always follow my heart. I like you…not as a replacement, but as an equal."
"Oh, Ryoga..." Exasperated, she just looked at him, unsure of what to say.
"Could you… like me too, Ukyo?"
Ukyo, still reeling from the events of the last twenty four hours, looked utterly anguished. Ryoga was a strong, indomitable, emotionally powerful martial artist who was just as determined to find love as she was. She had never tried to deny that he was handsome and kind. Until now, the thought of dating him had never crossed her mind. Looking at the situation now though, there was no person more loyal and caring in her life than he was. His affection caused something other than pain to stir through her heart for the first time in days.
It had been Ryoga who had saved her from Toma's guard, Ryoga who had defeated her in battle only to spare her when he discovered her identity. It had been been his help she'd counted during more than one scheme aimed at tearing Ranma and Akane apart. She hadn't always treated him well and yet he had put up with it all the same.
Something rose up inside of her that threatened to burst. There was no need to think, only to act. She couldn't describe the rapid change that took place in her right then and there, but it grabbed hold like wild fire. With trembling hands, she took his and clasped them tightly, leaning forward. Trembling, she leaned forward, closing the distance between the two.
"Yes." Her lips touched tenderly with his. Her heart pounded hard inside of her ribcage and she found herself shocked at how bold she was behaving. It was her first kiss, one she had always thought would go to Ranma. Pleasurable flutters panged in her stomach as Ryoga raised his head to kiss her back, pressing his lips tightly to her own.
Cheeks flushing, she began to tremble slightly, amazed at this sudden change of events. She had fallen in love all over again. A moment later, after a series of pleasurable sensations had flickered through her body and mind; she broke the kiss and looked down at him as a wave of dizziness overcame her.
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into," she warned, whimpering, nuzzling against him, wanting him, and needing him. "If you were smart you'd forget about me."
"I guess I'm an idiot then."
Ukyo half laughed, half sobbed. "Think you handle me?"
To be loved by someone who genuinely cared. That was her only wish in life. A working girl's life was her ideal lifestyle but without love and romance it wasn't a happy one. That had been the sole reason she had chased after Ranma as adamantly as she had. Living alone, scratching out a living alone was lonely and wore on her heart. To have a strong, wonderful man admit feelings for her was a first in her life. Being a woman, she decided then, might not be as bad as she had once thought.
Ryoga stroked her cheek. "I'll be prepared this time." He raised his head and kissed her again. The kiss deepened and Ukyo passionately placed her hands on each side of his face, holding him to her. For at time, nothing existed but bliss.
Ranma stood in the doorway, peeking in, shocked at the sight before him. Ukyo and Ryoga have found each other? It shocked him. Never in a million years had he seen that one coming. Whatever magic fate had bestowed upon this region of Tokyo was beyond his understand.
I'm glad for them. It was meant to be. He smiled happily, knocking on the door before entering. "Hey, Ryoga! How ya' feeling man?"
"I'm feeling ok, Ranma! Thank you for asking!" Ryoga frowned, slightly annoyed at the unwanted interruption. Right when he'd started to get close with Ukyo too…
Ranma eyed Ryoga's wound. "Man, that's gotta' hurt! You're stronger than I thought if you could take that kind of pain!"
A mask of guilt appeared on Ukyo's face. Ranma grimaced and decided to change the subject. Why the hell do I always say the wrong thing!? "So, uh', when you getting out?"
"Three days."
"That's great!" he nearly shouted. "You'll be back to normal in no time! Oh, Akane says hello. She couldn't come to see you today because she has to help Mr. Tendo with new students. She said that she's coming over tomorrow afternoon."
Ryoga nodded. "I appreciate you guys visiting. It really means a lot to me."
"Hey, what are pals for? Say, did you hear the latest? Mousse finally got smart and beat Shampoo in a formal match. They stopped by to thank me yesterday. She couldn't keep her hands off him!"
"It's about time she showed her true feelings for him," Ryoga said, making eye contact with Ukyo. "Everything happens for a reason."
She turned her head away, blushing. "I hope their happy together."
"They said they were going to stop by soon. Don't expect to see Cologne though. Apparently she's been sulking in her room and won't come out."
"No loss. She'll get over it eventually." A slight smiled crossed Ryoga's face. "It's their life to live as they please. She's lived three lifetimes and has had all the time in the world to do things her way."
Ranma looked up at the clock on the wall. Where had the time gone?! "Hey, Ryoga, I'm not trying to cut out quickly or nothin, but I'm way behind on my homework and I've got to catch or I might not pass!" Not that it matters if I don't win this fight...
Ryoga smiled wolfishly. "I understand. It's good to see you get your priorities straight for once!"
"Yeah. H-hey! What was that supposed to mean!?"
"I'll be right out, Ran-chan," Ukyo said, shoving him out the door. She turned to look at the lost boy. "I won't be able to see you again until you get out. If I don't open for the dinner crowd at night, I won't be able to make enough money to make ends meet this month."
"When I'm feeling better, would you let me help out? It must be hard running it by your self. I'd even work for free."
Ukyo smiled and kissed him once more. "I'd like that, but not if you're working for free. We'll talk about it after you get out." Fumbling for her school bag, she pulled out a round paper box holding a freshly made Japanese pizza. "Here, I made you a snack in case you got hungry."
"Thank you."
She zipped her bag up and headed for the door. "I'd better be going. I expect you to stop by as soon as you get out! I've still got a lot of apologizing to do."
He smiled, blushing slightly. "Count on it."
Ukyo winked. "See ya!"
Ryoga shook his head, laughing softly as the door shut behind her. Opening the box, the Japanese pizza emitted a delicious odor and he found his mouth watering. However, it was the words on the pizza, written in small characters, rather than the smell that caught his attention. It was Ukyo's way of expressing herself and this time was no exception.
The message read: I'm sorry for what I've done, Ryoga. You may sometimes get lost, but from today forward, you'll always be close to my heart.