In was night when Ranma woke once again… still in Ryoga's lap. She gasped and leapt backward when she looked up into his sleeping face. Then it all came back to her. The weird dreams, the fever, and she'd hugged, or tackled, hi.
Everyone around her was sleeping peacefully. Guilt overcame Ranma when she noticed Kagome out cold near the red-head's sick-bed, with a wet rag in her hand and her large yellow bag under her head. Another glance confirmed it; the miko had given up her sleeping bag and probably stayed up during the night to care for Ranma. She'd seemed like the type.
"So, you're finally up."
Ranma stiffened and turned to see Inuyasha watching her.
"Yeah," Ranma took the thick sleeping bag from the floor and put it over the schoolgirl, before turning to him. "How long have I been out?"
"You lost us a whole day." He didn't sound particularly angry, but maybe that was just her imagination.
"Well I wasn't exactly planning on dropping cold on the road." Inuyasha gave her a look that said that that was exactly what he'd expected of her.
"Kagome had to stay up again too, she only just went to sleep." He informed her. Ranma mentally flinched, she didn't like it when people fussed over her.
The red-head shook her head of these thoughts and turned back to the hanyou still watching her.
"Will you spar with me?" Inuyasha made a surprised face, like this was the last thing he'd expected to hear.
"You'll open your wounds." He was already gettin to his feet and sliding his sword into his sash as he spoke.
"I can handle it." Ranma led the way out of the wooden hut and was met with a large courtyard in the center of a village. Nobody was out yet, the sun just above the horizon enough to give thin light. Yesterday's rain clouds had disappeared completely and only the mud on the ground was left behind.
Ranma took a position well across from the hanyou in the space they had.
"You won't be needing that, we'll go hand-to-hand." She stated and pointed at Tessaiga. Inuyasha looked disgruntled but slid out the sword in its sheath and placed it on the ground without missing a beat.
They both got into ready positions, largely different ones. Ranma shifted one foot forward and put her weight on the back to ready herself to jump or dodge at any moment; while also placing both hands in front to block or attack as necessary. This position came as naturally to her as breathing and she didn't question it, just went along.
Inuyasha, on the other hand, also set on leg back with his feet spread for balance and hand both hands out with fingers splayed. Some part of Ranma's brain examined this and saw flaws.
He's leaving his middle unprotected and his back is wide open, anyone who could avoid the claws could defeat him with one hit.Ranma triednot to start, this voice was not her own, it was more masculine and... confident. Inuyasha across from her showed no sign of anything amiss; he was apparently waiting for her first move.
Jump into the air, twist, now land behind and you've got 'im. Ranma followed these instructions and landed lightly behind the hanyou before he had time to see where she went. One poke to the back of the head and it was over.
Inuyasha turned to her and was obviously trying to turn his awed expression into a scowl.
"Where'd you learn to do that?" He growled out while sulkiness pulled him under.
"I… don't know…" Ranma put one hand on her head to try and fend off the growing headache, the voice from behind had gone now and left raging pain in its wake.
Inuyasha seemed to notice her distant state and walked over to retrieve Tessaiga. "This ain't over." He warned her and brushed past to enter the hut.
Ranma pinched the bridge of her nose and mused over the large turns her life was taking.
Who was I to deserve this? Apparently fate wanted to answer in its own way, as Ranma looked up and spotted the last person she needed right now.
"Hi, Ryoga." He didn't answer and looked past her into the waking village. Ranma sighed and sat down one the damp grass beside him, Ryoga stayed standing and still wouldn't look at her.
"You're not Ranma, or at least, not the one I know. But you are him, somehow." He finally looked down at her and fell into a crouch to see better. This time it was the red-head who couldn't look him in the face.
"I just wonder who you really are." Abruptly he patted her on the back roughly. "This might be a good thing!" With a last fanged grin, he left her more confused than ever.
It wasn't long before they were all packed and ready to leave. The villagers waved cheerfully as they left and Kagome enthusiastically returned the favor, then they were once again on the road.
The difference this time is that everyone kept looking behind them as if the red-head was going to drop at any moment, annoying her to no end. An hour into the walk they even forced her to ride on top of the fire-cat that travelled with them.
Ryoga gave her another one of his funny looks when she gave in and clambered onto the beast without a problem. Ranma returned the favor and slumped dejectedly on Kilala's back, more than a little part of her was complaining highly at the babying treatment she was receiving.
It didn't help that she now took the time to notice, on Kilala she was now just tall enough the look the others in the eye. Ranma groaned and glared at the scenery, she most definitely wouldn't be accepting anymore of this.
So, after only a half-hour, the red-headed amnesiac slid off of the fire-cat and stubbornly walked along with the others. Nobody commented, the look on her face was answer enough for anything they had to say.
Half way through the day, without any excitement happening, they stopped for lunch. Kagome had some futuristic food that consisted of flavored noodles and vegetables in boiled water that came in cups.
Nobody seemed to enjoy it as much as Inuyasha, though it was by far Ranma's favorite food yet.
"How'd you get dried ramen into this world?" Ryoga asked at one point to no one in particular.
"Duh, she brought it with her through the well thing they told us 'bout." Ranma answered before anyone else and took another bite. Kagome got a strained look as, at the same time, Ryoga and Ranma entered into a glaring match and Inuyasha stole Shippo's ramen. The uproar the latter caused was enormous for such a little fox.
Before the situation could progress further, Inuyasha suddenly halted from hitting Shippo and growled toward a section of the forest with both hands now on his sword. Everybody was instantly on alert, Ranma and Ryoga looked confused as what to do, as everybody else quickly got into fighting positions.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked, looking out at the forest wearily.
"Just that Jackass." The half-demon growled in reply, before drawing his sword, which transformed into a giant fang-like shape. Ranma was distracted from gaping at this when everyone around them sighed and settled back down.
Only Inuyasha, and Ranma plus Ryoga, who didn't really understand what was going on, stayed standing to face the supposed threat from the woods.
Ahhhh, first I'd like to apologize for the long delay. My account thing was broke, so I wasn't getting reviews and I had no inspiration to write. T.T thank you everyone for reading and reviewing. Your to good for meeeeeee… ^.^'