Hey all. Just been in a stump as to how to flesh this out, but it doesn't mean I've forgotten about this fic. Also, I've been thinking about a new fanfic I'm brewing up involving Capcom. Not going to say what exactly.
Anyway, here's an excerpt from the next chapter, which is about 70% done.

Ranma could only wince at the memory. He didn't want to believe the dark warlock, but what if what he said had merit? For most of his life, he had always been used for others' benefit usually at his expense, the Saotome-Tendo arranged marriage being the top of the list. It was one of the reasons why Ranma came to Magix to avoid those tough times and start anew. Now this bomb gets dropped on his lap.

Suddenly, the ground before him explodes as Ryoga pops out of the ground.

"I've finally found you, Ranma!" said Ryoga as he went into a battle stance.

Ranma could only growl in annoyance. "Ryoga, I'm REALLY not in the mood for your crap right now."

"Like I care!"

Ryoga charged at Ranma with a haymaker, who quickly dodges. After missing, Ryoga then summons a rock and sends it flying at Ranma, just tagging him. Wincing from the pain, Ranma charged forth with a fist to Ryoga's gut, only sending him back slightly. He smirked at the attack he took.

"Is that really all you've got?" said Ryoga as he countered with a haymaker of his own, sending Ranma flying into a tree trunk. Before he could fall forward, Ryoga made a rock pillar rise up below him knocking the pigtailed boy up into the air before jumping after to send him back down to the ground with a hammer punch.

"What's the matter, Ranma? You seem distracted!" taunted Ryoga.

Ranma slowly pushed himself back onto his feet as he bit down on the pain. "None of your damn business, jerk."

"Not so proud now, are you? You really are just a Casanova-wannabe! I always thought you deserve to be hated!"

Ranma shot Ryoga an angry glare. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Your girlfriends left you, didn't they? It was for the best anyway since they could do way better than a jerk like you!"

Ranma rushed at him with rage in his eyes. "SHUT UP, ASSPIG!"

Ryoga dodges and counters with a punch to Ranma's face, knocking him down. "Don't like what I said? And what are you going to do about it?"

He kicks Ranma away, his body rolling until he skidded to a stop. Ryoga pressed his attack and summons a huge boulder over his head. "You're finished now!"

Ryoga jumps towards Ranma with the boulder held high.

"JET GEYSER!"

Ryoga was taken by surprise when a geyser of water suddenly shot at him at an angle, triggering his curse and sending him flying off into the distance. Ranma looked up in time to have witnessed what had happened earlier.

"Ranma!"

Ranma turned to see Layla running up to him before turning to look at the ground.

"Ranma! Are you all right? What happened?" asked Layla as she extended her hand to help him up.

Ranma gave a silent glance at her before slowly standing up without acknowledging her hand. "I'm fine."

"But Ranma, you're hurt-"

"I said. I'm. Fine."

Layla was taken aback by Ranma's cold response to her as he turned his back. "Ranma… what's happened to you…? The others and I are really worried about you."

Ranma lets off a sad chuckle. "Sure you're worried about me? Or are you all really worried about someone else?"

"Huh?"

Before Layla could respond further, Ranma jumped onto a tree and headed back to Alfea through the treetops, leaving her standing alone.

"Ranma…?"