Chapter Two
Reminisce
Ukyo looked up at the soft tinkle of a bell. She smoothly slid her spatula beneath the sizzling batter, and flipped it with a practiced flick of her wrist. The perfectly round cake flipped twice in mid-air before it fell back on the grill with an extra loud sizzle.
"Welcome to Uuchan's!" she called. Then she noticed who had entered; it was Ranma and Ryoga. "Oh, hey there, boys! It does a girl's heart good to see a man of his word. Come take a seat."
Ranma grinned, quickly taking his seat in his favourite stool; the one placed right in the middle of the grill. Ryoga took the seat next to him.
"The usual seafood special for you, sugar?" Ukyo asked, smiling at Ranma's eager nod. She looked at Ryoga and raised her brows.
"Um...I'll have the squid one." Ryoga said.
"With extra of my special sauce and shrimp?" Ukyo said, smirking.
Ryoga nodded. "That's the one," he smiled. "thanks, Ukyo."
Ukyo winked. "Anytime, hun." she poured the batter on the grill, creating two round circles. They sizzled and crackled instantly. On one, Ukyo scattered her ingridients for the seafood special; squid, eel, octopus, shrimp, red snapper. All of Ranma's favourites.
"Say, Uuchan, you gonna be busy next week?" Ranma asked.
Ukyo didn't look up as she focused on putting the ingridients in Ryoga's okonomiyaki. "It depends, Ranma-honey. You know this place gets busy."
"The Tendo sisters and Ryoga decided to throw me a party for my birthday," Ranma explained. "I had no choice in the matter. Anyways, we're going to that new club downtown, and I was wondering if you were able to join us."
Ukyo's head shot up. "Are you talking about the club Cornucopia?" she gasped.
"Yeah, I think that's what Nabs called it." Ranma shrugged.
"I've been wanting to check out that place ever since it opened up!" Ukyo cried. "I've been so busy with the shop that I haven't had any time for myself."
"If you're going to be busy..." Ryoga began.
"Are you nuts? Pass up this chance to slave behind a grill? No way, sugar. I'm in." Ukyo said, pumping her fist.
"What about the restaurant?" Ranma asked.
Ukyo tossed Ranma and Ryoga's orders onto plates and handed them over. Then, she clapped her hands twice loudly.
"Yes, Mistress Ukyo?" Konatsu hurried into the room and fell to his knees, and bowed.
"Konatsu, I already told ya that you don't need to bow every time I call for you." Ukyo said, rolling her eyes. "Drop the whole 'Mistress' thing, too. Just call me Ukyo."
"Y-yes...um, Ukyo." Konatsu mumbled, awkwardly rising to his feet.
Ranma blinked. Three whole years working in this store with Uuchan, and he still couldn't drop his old ways, when he had to tend to his cruel step-family's every whim. Sure, Uuchan was almost as bad a slave-driver as they had been, but anything would be better than the idiot crones that ran the Red-Hot Teahouse.
"Konatsu, you're going to be in charge of the restaurant next week for the evening." Ukyo explained, hands on her hips. "I'm going out to celebrate Ranma's birthday with a few friends, and I probably won't be back till late. Can you handle the shop on your own?"
"Oh, certainly, Ukyo!" Konatsu clapped his hands together happily. "I'm very confident in my abilities now, Ukyo, and I am positive that I shall-"
"Alright, already!" Ukyo cried, cutting him off. "Just-just make some money, okay? Now, I want those dishes spotless, so hop to it. Then could you take out the trash and sleep the floors?"
"Yes, Ukyo!" Konatsu said cheerfully, then hurried off to finish the dishes.
Ukyo let out a sigh. "See what I have to deal with?" she muttered, jabbing her thumb in the direction Konatsu had left in. Ranma watched her curiously while he finished his bite, then swallowed.
"You two'd make a cute twosome." Ranma said with a cheeky grin.
Ukyo stumbled, then recovered and slammed her hands down on the counter. "Sh-shut up, Ranchan!" she blurted.
Ranma laughed. "Ah, com'on, Uuchan. Why don'tcha give the nice guys a chance?" he said. Then he bumped Ryoga lightly in the arm with his fist. "I did. I mean, before him I may as well have been datin' some hotheaded, muscle-bound jerk, when it comes to Aka-OW!"
"Who's muscle-bound?" Akane snapped, dropping her fist.
"Oh, hello, Akane." Ryoga said, flushing in embarrassment for Ranma's behavior. He shot him a look while Ranma irritably rubbed his head. "I apologize for Ranma. If he wanted a hotheaded, muscle-bound jerk he could have easily looked in the mirror."
Ranma scoffed. "If you wanted a nice guy, you could've slept wi-"
"So! What'll ya have, Akane?" Ukyo said loudly, looking at Akane.
Akane took a seat on Ranma's other side. "I'll have what Ryoga's having." she replied.
"Coming right up." Ukyo said.
"Hey Akane, don't you agree that Uuchan and Konatsu would make a good couple?" Ranma asked with a sneer in Ukyo's direction.
"You mean they aren't dating yet?" Akane said innocently.
"Nope. You know Konatsu would never ask her out, even though Uuchan already knows his feelings. Instead she uses his love to make him do all the chores, when she should stop being such a tight-ass and ask him out."
"I told you, it would jeapordize the restaurant if Konatsu and I started dating." Ukyo explained, gritting her teeth. "I agree that he's a sweet guy, but...hell, he doesn't look like one, or act like one at all! Some days I forget he's even a guy. I don't know what brought on his confusion about his gender...be it those days at the Teahouse, his step-family...I don't know. I'm not judging him for it. I'd be the last person on Earth to do that when I dealt with the same problem. All I'm trying to say is..."
"You want Konatsu to try being more like a guy?" Akane finished. "Even if it's just dressing like one?"
"Yes, that's all I want." Ukyo nodded, flipping the pancake. "Take it in baby steps. Make him dress like one, then try and get him to act more manly. I don't want to completely warp his personality, because as much as he can drive me nuts sometimes I do like him the way he is...but if he could, I dunno, tone it down a bit, then..."
"You'd date him?" Ranma asked.
Ukyo blushed, and frowned. "I...I guess I'd have to see the outcome." she mumbled.
Ranma sniggered, then finished off the last bite of his okonomiyaki. "Awesome as always, Uuchan. Thanks again."
"No problem, Ranma-honey." Ukyo flashed him a smile. "Drop in anytime, ya hear?"
Ranma nodded. "You bet," he said. Then he pointed at Ukyo's smile. "Show one of those to Konatsu every now and then. I'm sure it'd make his day."
Ukyo went pink, then put on a business-like face Nabiki would be proud of. "That'll be 1,400 yen for the two okonomiyaki."
"It's on me," Ryoga said, pulling out a weathered leather wallet and taking out the money.
"Stupid, you're supposed to save your money for if you get lost." Ranma chided him.
"When was the last time I got lost, Ranma? You practically have me under house-arrest to keep me from wandering off. I'll pay, it's fine." he placed the money on the counter. "Happy birthday."
"My birthday isn't for a week." Ranma said quietly.
"Consider this my early present." Ryoga retorted.
Ranma frowned at him, then his shoulders drooped and he sighed. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll see you later, Uuchan."
"Bye, Ranchan. Thanks for the invite." Ukyo said with a wave.
"No problem," Ranma raised his hand and flicked his wrist, as he followed Ryoga out of the shop.
Ukyo watched them leave, then flipped Akane's okonomiyaki and slid it onto a plate and handed it to her. Akane snapped her chopsticks apart and dug in.
"Aren't they the cutest thing?" Ukyo said with a small giggle in her voice, pointing at the door where the couple had left for emphasis.
Akane nodded, chewing. "Adorable." she muttered.
"I don't need anything fancy for my birthday," Ranma said. "I've told you a dozen times."
Ryoga chuckled, watching Ranma unlock the front door. "I've never gotten you anything fancy." he said.
"Ryoga, you took me out to dinner on my eighteenth birthday." Ranma muttered.
"So?"
"So," Ranma ground out. "You spent all your emegency travel money on me, then not even two weeks later you got lost and were gone for nearly a month because you had no money for a train, or anything. Then when you got home you were so hungry you had eight bowls of rice and ate all the instant ramen!"
"Well, um..." Ryoga started weakly, laughing nervously.
"Don't get me anything." Ranma snapped.
He opened the door and they entered the house. He kicked off his shoes and walked into the kitchen and hung up his keys, heading for the fridge.
"Man, I'm thirsty." he said to himself, opening the refridgerator. He grabbed the jug of orange juice and set in on the counter. He caught sight of the wall clock in his peripheral vision.
"Oh shit, is that the time?" Ranma quickly unscrewed the cap on the jug, took a swig, and screwed the cap back on in seemingly one motion. He shoved the juice back in the fridge and wiped his mouth with his arm. "I gotta go."
Ryoga looked at the clock. It was almost four. "Oh, right. You have a class at the community centre." he said, remembering.
Ranma grabbed his keys again and stuffed them in his pocket, swearing under his breath.
"Your work bag is by the door." Ryoga called as Ranma bolted up the stairs.
"I know!" Ranma shouted back.
Ryoga busied himself with filling the kettle and placing it on the stove. He listened to the sink running upstairs for a while, then the sound of footsteps. Ranma came back down the stairs again, straightening out the shirt he'd changed into, now dressed in his work clothes. Ryoga came out into the front hall where Ranma was shoving his sneakers back on. He grabbed his work bag and slipped it onto one shoulder.
"I'll be back around eight," Ranma told him.
"Your hair is a mess," Ryoga said.
He walked over and brushed Ranma's untamed ebony hair out of his eyes. Ranma looked up at him, frowning. He tried to flatten down his messy fringe with his hand impatiently. Ryoga chuckled at him lightly.
"You got taller again," Ranma muttered quietly. His frown deepened; he only came up to Ryoga's shoulders now. When they were sixteen, they had been practically the same height, Ryoga beating him by only about half an inch. "Stop growing."
"Don't take your anger out on me. It's not my fault you haven't grown a bit since we were in middle school." Ryoga smirked.
Ranma smacked him in the chest. "Have to!" he cried.
"We can have this discussion after you get back. You'll be late." Ryoga said calmly.
"Yeah, yeah." Ranma huffed, shifting his bag on his shoulder and turning towards the door.
"Ranma,"
Ranma looked over his shoulder. "What?"
Ryoga caught his free wrist and bent down, pressing his lips breifly on his. A chaste goodbye kiss. Ryoga pulled away and smiled. "I'll see you."
Ranma's cheeks burned. "Yeah," he mumbled. "see you."
Ryoga let go of his wrist and Ranma hurried out the door. Ranma jumped in the car, throwing his bag onto the passenger seat, dug out his keys and started the engine. He hesitated a moment, realizing he was suddenly breathless and, looking in the rear view mirror, saw his cheeks were dark pink. His hair was still a disaster, too. Disgruntled, Ranma hit his forehead off the steering wheel and groaned.
How many times is that moron going to make my heart stop?
Ryoga sat in the dining room, watching the TV while he drank a cup of tea. He flicked through the channels, seeing nothing of interest. He would do housework or something, but Ranma always stayed on top of the chores. Ryoga sighed; he wished just once Ranma would put off housework. At least then he'd have something to do. Letting his mind wander, Ryoga thought back to the quick goodbye kiss they'd shared earlier, his mind's eye conjuring up Ranma's face. Ryoga laughed quietly. Ranma always went so red whenever he kissed him, no matter what kind of kiss it was.
Ryoga shook his head, smiling. Three years together, and he still made Ranma flustered at the tiniest amount of affection. He would probably never change. Ryoga could still remember their very first kiss. Now, he could laugh at it, but back then he'd thought he'd completely messed everything up.
"Hope yer ready to get yer butt handed to you. Again." Ranma jeered, watching Ryoga cross the dojo, and face him from several paces away. Ryoga slipped into a battle stance, keeping his composure, much to Ranma's irritation. It seemed like nowadays Ryoga had no more buttons for Ranma to push. No matter what Ranma said to him, Ryoga didn't get angry and lash out at him like he used to. Now whenever he teased him, Ryoga would just shake his head, Ranma sometimes catching a glimpse of a smile. Like he was making fun of him.
Ranma struck his pose, alert yet relaxed. "I'll be hospitable," he muttered. "you're the guest, you get the first move."
"How generous of you." Ryoga said with a smirk. He charged.
He flung up his leg. The kick would have struck an amateur right in the jaw, maybe enough to break the bone. Ranma bent his torso backward, then ducked under Ryoga's leg and dropped to the floor, sweeping his leg out. Ryoga sensed the attack and jumped; Ranma jumped up and flew a fist at Ryoga. Ryoga narrowly dodged the fist, then a second. A high-kick. Ryoga jumped backward; Ranma blew the hair out of his eyes and lunged. Ryoga side-stepped and brought out his foot, with a sneer.
Ranma would probably scold him for it later, saying something like 'a martial artist doesn't use dirty tricks in an honorable man-to-man fight. You should know better, pork-butt.' Knowing Ranma, he'd make him pay for it later. Just then, his thoughts were interrupted by Ranma's yelp of surprise.
Ryoga watched him fall forward, as he tripped over Ryoga's leg. Ryoga knew Ranma had taken harder falls and come out without a scratch on him. That didn't matter; Ryoga's sense of honor-and, perhaps something else buried a little deeper-compelled him in that moment, and he dove. Grabbing Ranma by the shoulders, Ryoga twisted his body so that he took the brunt of the fall. He landed on his back, grunting as the hard dojo floor bruised his spine and Ranma's weight landed on his chest and stomach. He groaned, grimacing, shutting his eyes against the bright flouresent lights.
"Ouch," he grumbled, feeling the bruise on his spine forming.
"Are you okay, Ryoga?"
Ryoga's eyes blinked open, steeling himself to be blinded by the bright lights, but his view was blocked. Ranma hovered above him, his hands placed on either side of Ryoga's shoulders, holding him upright. His body blocked out the lights safe for a bright golden outlining around his whole frame, leaving the rest of him in a dark shadow. His steel blue eyes still shone brightly even cast in shadow, and Ryoga couldn't keep from staring. The eyes grew worried in concern as his black brows furrowed. His mouth pulled into a tight line, then opened.
"Ryoga?"
Ryoga cupped the back of his neck and head, and pulled him down. Ranma, surprised, didn't have time to fight. Their lips collided with inexperience; mashing together messily. Ranma made a small noise in his throat, and Ryoga found himself liking the sound, wanting to hear it again. Ryoga pulled him closer, holding Ranma's shoulders in a tight grip that he knew would hurt anyone else other than him. Ranma made a strange sound, and clenched the material of Ryoga's shirt in his fists. Ryoga released his lips, and both boys gasped.
Ranma sat upright and sat on his heels. Ryoga slowly pushed himself up, his back tender. The room went so quiet they could hear the stray dogs barking as they rifled through garbage outside. Ranma licked his lips, opened his mouth, closed it again. It started to dawn on him what had just happened, and the realization fell over his face like a shutter. Red blotched all over his face, spreading like a bleeding marker.
"I..." Ranma blurted. "I gotta go!"
"Ranma?" Ryoga sat up straight. "Hey-"
Ranma, with his inhuman speed, was already out of the dojo. Ryoga slumped. Great. He was probably going to get himself lost and miss Kasumi's dinner. Ryoga sighed, and rested his head on his knees.
"You've really done it now, Hibiki." he muttered.
Ranma said his goodbyes to his students as they walked out of the room and off to the change rooms. He quickly picked up the room, then went over to the wall and sat down, grabbing his water bottle from his duffel bag. He took a long swing, then pulled his lips away with a sigh.
He'd been distracted all class, and it was all Ryoga's fault. Over a silly little goodbye kiss, he thought with a grimace. It seemed like that happened a lot lately. The smallest of touches seemed to drive him crazy; it was a feeling that had just come out of the blue one day. Even now, simply thinking about Ryoga made his face hot and his insides jitter. Ranma quickly packed his things away in his duffel bag, and left the room.
He felt sixteen again, with all this unsatisfied desire pent up inside him. Back then, when the initial self-loathing and confusion had worn off and Ranma finally admitted to himself that he loved Ryoga, and they had started their relationship, things were a little...well, steamy. Thinking about those days when he and Ryoga could barely keep their hands off each other still made Ranma blush. Of course, as their relationship had progressed the steam had passed and things went along peacefully. Life got in the way of any kind of romance, once Ranma started his jobs at the community centre and Tendo Dojo. Then just in the past year, the Azaela Cafe opened and Ranma got even busier.
When was the last time we had sex, anyways? Ranma thought as he pulled his keys out and unlocked the car door. Several weeks, maybe? A month?
Ranma plopped down in the car seat, and his eyes widened when he concluded it had to have been at least two months. Ranma shook his head, laughing to himself as he started the car. No wonder he was so hot and bothered. Coming to a decision, Ranma made his way out of the parking lot, suddenly very eager to get home.
Ryoga had just finished doing the dishes when he heard the door open and close, the clatter of a bag dropping to the floor and shoes coming off.
"Ryoga?" Ranma's voice called from the front hall.
"Kitchen," Ryoga called back, turning around just as Ranma entered the kitchen. He gave him a small smile and a wave as Ranma walked up to him.
"How was..." Ryoga trailed off as Ranma grabbed him by the collar with both hands. He looked down at Ranma's hands clutching his shirt, then looked up to give Ranma a confused expression. Ranma returned the look with a stern expression, and he jerked him a little closer.
"Kiss me." Ranma demanded.
Ryoga's eyes bugged out a little at the blunt command, but he recovered quickly and was more than happy to oblige. He cupped Ranma's face in his hands and brought his lips down on his. Ranma instantly groaned, tightening his grip and pulling Ryoga closer. Their mouths moved together as one; slowly, with a strange sweetness that also held all of their combined, sweltering desire. Ryoga picked Ranma up, as Ranma kissed down his neck in desperation.
"We should...find the bedroom," Ryoga said breathily, hardly able to speak as Ranma repeatedly attacked his mouth. Ranma moaned, shaking his head.
"No, I don't care where we are," he said, his voice practically a whimper with his need. "Just do it already, dammit."
Ryoga couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face. He nibbled on Ranma's ear gently as he lowered the pigtailed boy to the kitchen floor. He looked down at Ranma, taking in the sight of his lover lying underneath him, face flushed with passion and panting with need. Ryoga stroked the side of his face, ran his fingers through his ebony hair. Ranma closed his eyes at the caress, and sighed.
"Tell me what you want," Ryoga said softly. "and you can have it any way you want."
Ranma opened his eyes and stared at Ryoga for a long time. He reached up and took Ryoga's face in his hands.
"I want you, you idiot." Ranma whispered.
Ryoga smirked. "Oh? So how do you want me?" he asked, teasingly.
"Right this second," Ranma said through his teeth. "before I change my mind and punch you for being such a dork."
Ryoga laughed balefully. "That's not a very nice way of asking for something." he jeered.
"Ryoga..." Ranma said dangerously.
"Yes, Ranma?" Ryoga said calmly.
"Shut the hell up and sleep with me...please."
Ryoga sat up, raising his eyebrows in approval. Then, he whisked off his shirt. "That's better."
Ranma's whole stomach was in pure agony, but he couldn't stop laughing. Beside him, Ryoga's own mirth had started to wear off; he was starting to squirm in pain, holding his aching sides and groaning through halfhearted chuckles. Ranma rolled his head to the side, and started giggling at Ryoga's anguish. Then his sides felt too tender and he had to stop. Finally, Ryoga sighed as the pain wore off and the two lay together and stared at the ceiling.
As the two had laid on the floor, enjoying the afterglow of their lovemaking, it suddenly started to dawn on them just what they had done. They'd looked around, taking in the scene around them, and noticed just how they must look. Two men, having sex, completely naked, on the kitchen floor. That exact thought had run through their heads at the same moment, and they both began to snicker, then promptly burst into hysterics.
The mirth finally wore off, but Ranma and Ryoga still had silly, lazy smiles on their faces. Ranma rolled over and draped his arm over Ryoga's bare chest. Ryoga reached over and ruffled Ranma's hair, as the pigtailed boy drew nameless shapes on Ryoga's pectoral.
"I'm probably going to have a sore back." Ranma said tiredly.
"Sorry in advance." Ryoga told him.
Ranma snorted. "Don't sweat it; it was damn worth it." he replied. "Besides, I can always stretch out the kink with a spar."
Ryoga looked down at him and grinned. "If you're up to it, we can get dressed and go out for a spar right now?" he suggested.
Ranma smiled, reaching up and pecking Ryoga's lips. "Get ready to lose." he said.
Ranma's eyes opened, but only one could see. It took him a moment to realize that this was because one half of his face was squished against a pillow. Ranma sighed, rolling onto his back. He was totally exhausted; his whole body felt heavy and his eyes were sore. He ran his fingers through his hair; he needed a shower. He hadn't washed the sweat off him from last night's class, so he was pretty sure he smelled bad, too. Ranma sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Hey, you're finally up."
Ranma groggily looked at the door to the bedroom, where Ryoga stood with a glass of orange juice. Just seeing him made the resting butterflies in Ranma's stomach start a riot all over again as last night came back to him. He gave Ryoga a sleepy smile as he entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Ryoga held the juice out to him, which he accepted with a thank you under his breath.
"How long have I been asleep?" Ranma asked.
Ryoga chuckled. "It's almost noon. Luckily you don't have your shift at the Azalea until 3:30. You were sleeping so soundly I figured I'd let you catch up on your sleep." he explained.
Ranma took a sip of his juice. The tart taste ignited his tastebuds like a firecracker, and it took him a moment before he could speak. He put on a coy smile and look up at Ryoga over the rim of his glass. "I must've been pretty, uh...worn out, huh?"
Ryoga raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you were completely wiped out." he said. "When you came home from work I sent you up to bed. You were so exhausted you couldn't think straight. You tried to stay up but I wasn't having it. You slept like a baby through the whole night."
Ranma blinked. "What?" he blurted. "But-I mean...didn't we...?"
Ryoga looked at him curiously. "Didn't we, what?" he asked.
Ranma stared down at his cup and tried furiously to remember the night before. The more he thought about, the more he recalled. True, he had been thinking that it had been a long time since he and Ryoga had last slept together, and he did have a certain intention in his mind while driving home. After that, his memory was fuzzy from exhaustion. Vaguely he could remember Ryoga ushering him up to bed, laughing good-naturedly at his sleepy protests.
Dammit, Ranma thought. Don't tell all of that...was just a really vivid dream?
Then again, he had to admit it made sense. He'd been so tired lately, he was bound to have weird, realistic (and erotic) dreams. Ranma's shoulders slumped, incredibly crestfallen that the amazing evening he thought he and Ryoga had shared wasn't even real.
"Ranma?" Ryoga asked, breaking Ranma out of his disapointing thoughts.
"Uh, forget about it. I guess I'm just disoriented." Ranma said. To hide his embarrassed blush he knocked back the rest of his glass or orange juice. Wiping his mouth, he kicked off the sheets, placing the glass on the bedside table.
"Well, I better start making myself presentable to society. This," Ranma gestured to his face, "needs to be to top working order, or Azalea might just fire me."
The side of Ryoga's mouth quirked up, and Ranma could see the glimpse of one of his fangs. Ryoga reached over and stroked Ranma's cheek with his knuckles; Ranma closed his eyes breifly at the touch, taking in the feeling of Ryoga's rough knuckles running down his face. Before he could fully enjoy the sensation, it was gone. Ranma's eyes fluttered open.
"It makes me a little jealous, you know," Ryoga said with a sheepish smile. "thinking about all those girls making googly-eyes at you. Probably a few dudes, too."
Ranma rolled his eyes. "You dummy," he muttered. "don't you dare go to the Cafe again to 'claim your property'. You only make things worse. All the yaoi fangirls went nuts and told their friends, who told their friends. In the next month we got so many customers Azalea gave me a raise!"
Ryoga sniggered. "That's a bad thing?"
Ranma sighed. "Well, no, but it's different when I know I didn't really earn it."
"Ranma, don't be an idiot. You've worked your ass off in that place in this past year alone just as hard as you have at the community centre and the Tendo Dojo combined for the last two. Look at you, Ranma, you're exhausted! You've got dark circles under your eyes, your skin looks paler. You're running yourself ragged!" Ryoga shook his head, exasperated. "Thank Kami that you've got the day off tomorrow. Dammit, Ranma, you need this party."
Ranma got out of bed and headed for the door. "What I need is to make money, Ryoga. I planned to prove it to Pops that you and I could make it on our own, and I'm damn well gonna do it!" Ranma paused by the doorway, gripping the doorknob tightly in his hand. Ryoga watched his shoulders tense up and his body tremble with concealed anger. Ryoga got up and walked up behind Ranma. He placed his hands on Ranma's tight shoulders, and placed a light kiss on the back of his head. Ranma instantly calmed down.
"I know better than anyone that when you make a promise to yourself, you stand by it until your last breath," Ryoga told him gently, kissing behind his ear. "just don't work yourself too hard, okay?"
Ranma's lips pulled into a thin line. He could still recall the day he had confronted his father about his relationship with Ryoga. It definetly had not gone over well. In the first year of he and Ryoga's relationship, Ranma and his father had barely spoken to each other. It was a long time before Ryoga begged Ranma to try and make ammends with his father. He'd tried for Ryoga's sake, but things were still stiff between Ranma and Genma. His father would never fail to make a crack, subtle or not, about Ranma's decision. It happened every time he visited the Tendos or his mother's house. That's why Ranma made sure to bring some distraction, like Asahi beer, so he wouldn't have to sit there and listen to his father's garbage.
Ranma knew, as he and Ryoga stood in the doorway, that they were both recalling the same memory from the first hurtle of their relationship.
Ryoga couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Ranma, finally back from the Tendos. He'd been waiting in nail-biting anticipation for nearly two hours, watching the door for his pigtailed boyfriend to walk in and tell him the news; good, bad, or ugly. He had his fingers crossed for the former. However, like a thousand times before, the Gods decided to spit on him. He would have asked to repeat all of his endeavours in his life a million times over if it meant he would never have to see the sight that lay before him now.
Ranma tried to hide it, out of shame. Ryoga wasn't very good at finding his way, but he could be pretty perceptive when he wanted to be. Plus, he knew Ranma better than Ranma knew himself; he was his best friend, after all. That, and Ranma was a pretty easy guy to read. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and wore all his expressions ungaurded. That's why when he walked through the door, trying to nonchalantly keep his head down, Ryoga instantly knew something was wrong. If there was one thing Ranma never, ever did, it was walk with his head down.
Ryoga jumped up off the stairs and came up to Ranma. "How'd it go?" he tried to say it casually, but there was a slight tremor in his voice he couldn't quite shake off. Ranma wouldn't meet his gaze, and his long black bangs weren't helping much. "Ranma?"
"He, uh...he said it would take him some gettin' used to." Ranma mumbled. "He needs some time to think."
"Oh, well..." Ryoga began, but the optimistic tone trailed away when he noticed the red mark on Ranma's face. His face fell. "What's...this?"
Ranma tensed up when Ryoga tenderly touched what he could see of the red mark with his finger tips. Ryoga forced Ranma's chin up, brushing his bangs out of the way for a better look.
Ranma's cheekbone was bright red and swelling, his left eye going purplish blue around the bottom lid. Strangely enough, the black eye didn't trouble Ryoga as much as the tears he saw in Ranma's eyes.
"Ranma..." Ryoga began, horrified.
Ranma's face screwed up in agony as he tried to hold back his tears. It was probably more of the self-hatred he felt for himself for starting to cry in the first place that had brought so many tears to his eyes. He wiped his good eye quickly, but his swollen eye finally filled to the brim and a thin line of wetness escaped and rolled down his bruised cheek.
"Ranma, what happened?" Ryoga whispered.
Ranma sniffled loudly, shaking his head. "Th-there's nothing to talk about." he muttered.
"Ranma." Ryoga said, more firmly. "Please. Tell me."
Ranma finally met Ryoga's eyes, looking so broken and confused Ryoga felt like crying himself. "He hates me," Ranma whispered. "I couldn't fight him back...I told myself I wouldn't. Not this time. So I just had to stand there while he screamed, and when I finally got a word in I said the worst thing and he lashed out. Mr. Tendo finally stepped in at that point, holding him back. He probably would've done more."
"What did you say that made him do this to you?" Ryoga asked in horror, touching the damaged skin as lightly as he could.
Ranma's looked down, his face reddening and his eyes becoming distant as he seemed to recall the very moment in his mind. Ryoga watched him, waiting.
"I said, 'Pop, I'm in love with him'." Ranma murmered.
Ryoga's eyes softened in sympathy for Ranma, swimming with pain. "Ranma..." he began, but he stopped abruptly as suddenly Ranma let out a tortured sound Ryoga had never heard from him before, and it shocked Ryoga into silence.
Ranma let out another rough sob, and finally let the tears fall freely, knowing it was pointless to stop them. He threw himself at Ryoga, burying his face in the other boy's chest. For the first time in his life, he cried. And Ryoga, stunned and speechless, could do nothing but stare down at his first real friend and love cry uncontrollably in his arms.
Ryoga pulled him close, holding on tight as he lowered them both to the floor. Ranma wasn't calming down, and Ryoga knew it was because nearly a decade of held-back emotions and tears were finally being released. Ryoga surmised that what Ranma needed right now was a really good cry. He took a strange kind of pride in being the one Ranma chose to cling to as he poured his heart out. He actually felt kind of honoured that Ranma trusted him so much that he could openly cry in front of him.
"We're going to be okay," Ryoga told him softly, stroking his hair and back. "I promise you that, Ranma. We'll show them all that we can make it together."
Ranma finally started to settle down, his racking sobs slowing down until they were merely sniffles, and the occasional tremor. He sighed shakily, clutching Ryoga's shirt tightly in his hands.
"How could he be so heartless?" he whispered.
Ryoga closed his eyes as a pained expression rolled across his features at Ranma's raw words. He held him tighter, occasionally running his fingers comfortingly through his hair. They sat there on the floor in the front hallway for a long time, clutched in the other's embrace. Ranma closed his eyes, enjoying the peaceful security of Ryoga's embrace and gentle touch. His tears had finally stopped, and the trembling had faded. Ryoga didn't notice when Ranma opened his eyes again, his eyes burned with purpose.
We're going to be okay.
"I need a shower."
Ryoga managed a small smile, then kissed Ranma's neck. "Me, too. Mind if I join you?"
Oh, Kami, you need to ask? Of course I don't mind, you fool!
...was what he wanted to say, at least.
"No way, pork-butt. If you do that I'm going to be late for work, and it'll be all your fault." Ranma said firmly, but it came out halfhearted. After his erotic dream the other night, all he wanted to do now was take the day off work and waste the whole day in bed with Ryoga. He couldn't do that, though. That would be breaking his promise; and as a martial artist he couldn't do such a thing.
"Oh, c'mon. Fifteen minutes. I'll make it worth your while." Ryoga begged, kissing down Ranma's neck.
I've got no damn doubt you could.
"I've got to hurry up and shower so I can make us lunch and do the laundry." Ranma said weakly, closing his eyes tightly and trying to suppress a moan as Ryoga's canines dragged across his sensitive neck.
"Forget the laundry, I can easily do that while you're at work. For Kami sake, leave me something to do while you're away at work for a change." Ryoga laughed.
"Well, there's still lunch to make..." Ranma cursed himself when he noticed he'd practically whimpered.
Ryoga bit his ear, and Ranma let out a small yelp. "I already ate hours ago. There's some cutlet sandwiches in the fridge. You can have those. It'll take you no time at all. You'll be in work early."
Damn, can he ever persuade.
Ryoga turned Ranma around and gave him a sweet kiss that made Ranma melt. He was pretty sure he was a puddle on the floor when Ryoga pulled away and gave him his best pleading, yet sexy smile. Ranma groaned.
"Ryoga..." Thisistoomuch. Thisistoomuch. I'mburningup. I'mburningup.
Ryoga kissed him once, twice. Both his cheeks, his forehead, down over his eyelid, to his nose. His lips again. Ranma's whole body felt like gelatin, trembling at the tiniest touch.
"Think of it as an early birthday present," Ryoga smiled, "when was the last time we made love, Ranma? It has to have been months."
What are you, a mind reader?
"I-it's been a while," Ranma forced out. "I've been pretty b-busy lately."
"Exactly. C'mon, this is exactly what you need. You'll loosen right up, and be all bright and bushy-tailed for your fanbase at the Azalea." Ryoga was practically bouncing now. "Please? Sex in the furo is so much fun!"
Ranma couldn't help but grin. Ryoga could be so cute sometimes. When he wanted something. "Yeah, it is pretty fun." Ranma chuckled.
"So?" Ryoga asked, leaning forward intently.
Ranma sighed. "You win, Hibiki. But fifteen minutes only! Not a minute more!"
Ryoga grinned. Suddenly he hoisted Ranma up bridal-style, making him shriek.
"H-hey! How 'bout a warning next time, stupid!" Ranma cried.
"Oh, hush. You're fine." Ryoga rolled his eyes, smiling ear-to-ear. He walked out into the hall, holding Ranma up with one arm as he shut the door behind him. He stood in the hall, looking both ways down the hall, then looked down at Ranma.
"Which way to the bathroom?" he asked.
Ranma pointed to the left.
Author's Notes:
At long last, I'm able to start working on Emotion, now that I've finished my main project, Decode (it only took two years...). Before I start on the sequel to that story, I figured I better make this a top priority and start updating some chapters.
Well, some of you may have been a bit confused with what was going on in the first chapter...but fret not, Jadells shall explain it all. As you saw here, there were two flashbacks in this chapter; the whole story will be like this, with flashbacks scattered where and whenever I think they fit in to the present story. Technically, it's a 2-in-1 deal. Two stories for the price of one, I suppose. You get the pre-Emotion 'Love Story of Ranma and Ryoga', which you piece together bit by bit as the story goes along and more flashbacks show up, then you get the present, main story, which has more impact and makes more sense when you see the flashbacks. :) So, hopefully this should make things more enjoyable for y'all, and easier to understand. If not, well, I must suck.
Hee hee, I must say I had an evil giggle while writing that erotic dream of Ranma's. :) The boy works too hard! At least in the end he ended up getting some hot Ryoga action after all. Happy birthday to him...
By the way, Genma is a real ass in this story. Like, more than usual. Justsaying.
Well, next chapter is Ranma's birthday party, where everyone goes clubbin'. :D
A cornucopia of plot is about to come forth here, folks. I'm keeping my lips sealed, though... (huhuhuhuuu~)
Review, review, review. And stay tuned for Chapter Three!
- Jadells