Yearning

AN: Here we go! I want to apologize in advance for the slightly short chapter, but I hope you enjoy it all the same.

Without further ado, enjoy!


"Geez, that was terrible," Ranma said, tossing her empty popcorn bucket in the trash as she left the movie theatre.

"Sorry," Ryoga said, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "I really thought it would be better."

"Me too, but real martial artists don't move anything like that!" Ranma complained, as she glared at the poster that had drawn their attention. "Aw, well, at least the popcorn was good."

When Ryoga had first suggested that they go watch a movie, Ranma was afraid the magic affecting him might make him try to drag her to some sappy romance. However, she had been pleasantly surprised when he had suggested a Chinese action movie, instead, and offered to pay for her snacks. After suffering through two hours of bad special effects and actors that obviously knew nothing about martial arts, though, Ranma was beginning to wonder if a romantic movie would have really been that bad.

"At least I wouldn't have gotten my hopes up for that," Ranma grumbled to herself. Glancing at Ryoga, she asked, "So, ya said ya were fine with some sparring, right? I'm in the mood for some real martial arts after sitting through that!"

"Same here," Ryoga said with a grin. "I think I saw an empty lot we could use back that way! ...Or was it over there?"

Instinctively grabbing his arm before he could get lost, Ranma started to drag him along, saying, "It's over here, ya idiot." When he failed to respond to her taunt, the redhead looked back to see him staring at her hand on his arm, silently blushing. Grinning, Ranma decided to have some fun. Hooking her arm around his, Ranma slid up next to him, his arm now sandwiched between her own and the side of her chest. In a teasing tone, she asked, "Ya sure you'll be able ta fight me seriously, Lover Boy?"

Ryoga's response caught her off-guard, as he looked at Ranma with a serious expression. "Of course! I'd never insult you by holding back! Besides, we both know you've trained just as hard as I have."

"Uh, y-yeah, of course!" Ranma replied, trying to hide her own embarrassment as her teasing backfired. Quickly separating herself from him, Ranma was relieved to see the empty lot in view. "Looks like we're here! Let's get started already!"

Getting into their usual stances, Ranma was glad for the return to normality, for however long it lasted. Seeing Ryoga charge forward for the first blow, Ranma smirked as she prepared to dodge. Just as-


-Ranma entered the room to see Ryoga and Akane sharing a laugh over something she had missed. Approaching the pair, she said wryly, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say ya were trying ta make me jealous."

Akane rolled her eyes as she said, "Come on, Ranma. You know Ryoga and I are just friends. That hasn't changed since high school. I swear, even as a woman, you are more competitive than most guys I know."

"Of course I am, but..." Ranma trailed off as she approached Ryoga. Leaning over where he sat, the redhead jabbed a fingertip against his muscular chest and continued, "Keep this up and I might have to 'remind' you why I was picked."

Ryoga leaned back with a smirk and asked, "Is that a threat or a promise?"

"Wouldn't you like to know!" Ranma said with a smirk of her own as she-


-woke up with a headache for the second time in as many days. Attempting to ignore the pain, she tried to focus on her surroundings to get her bearings. She was in a tent, laying in a sleeping bag that smelled oddly familiar. Thinking about what had put her in this situation, Ranma scowled and muttered, "That damn vision interrupted our fight! Maybe that's why it's called a curse..."

Laying back for a moment, Ranma considered this newest vision, in contrast to the one that she had the night before. 'What did I mean about me being picked?' Ranma thought. 'Does this mean I was able ta change things enough for Akane ta pick me? Or are both visions just possibilities? Gah, how the Hell am I supposed ta figure out how this works!?'

Heaving a sigh, Ranma was once more hit by the smell of the sleeping bag. The pungent odor was hardly pleasant, but the smell of old sweat and unwashed cloth reminded her of the training trip with Genma. Maybe not a better time, necessarily, but certainly a simpler one. However, there was another smell mixed in, a more animalistic smell.

"Like a pig," Ranma muttered, as she realized that the sleeping bag and tent must belong to Ryoga. "In fact, now that I think about it, I'm sure that I've seen his tent from this angle before, but when?"

"Goodness, dear. I didn't know that we were this far in our relationship yet!"

In an instant, Ranma's face was the same color as her hair. Most of the events that occurred while she was under the effects of the Koi Rod were fuzzy in her memories, but others were far clearer that Ranma would have liked. Sitting up, Ranma let out a sigh of relief to find all her clothes still in place. Burying her embarrassment under anger, the redhead scowled and muttered, "At least the pig didn't try anything this time..."

Immediately, Ranma felt a twinge of guilt. As much as Ranma teased Ryoga, she knew that if someone like Kuno had been in his position, then she would have woken up in a situation that was much, much worse. The fact that he had enough time to set up his tent and sleeping bag while she was unconscious, and that he knew he was under the effects of a magic pill that he could blame any inappropriate behavior on, and yet he still had not tried anything untoward, was proof that he was a gentleman when it really mattered.

"I suppose if I had ta have some guy pining after me, there are worse options than that big lug..." Ranma whispered to herself with a slight smile. Realizing she could hear voices outside the tent, Ranma poked her head out.

"I'm sure she'll be fine, Hibiki. Ranma's been through much worse than that and shrugged it off. Hell, you've been responsible for a lot of it," Nabiki said in what passed for reassurance from the mercenary minded girl. She stood nearby with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Normally, sure, but there's something wrong with Ranma," Ryoga said. He sat on his travelling pack with his head in his hands. "She should have been able to dodge, or at least block, but it was like she spaced out for a second. Gah! Why didn't I notice something was wrong in time!? How could I hurt her like that!?"

"If ya had held back, then I'd have had ta beat your ass unconscious, instead, so we'd still be in the same place," Ranma told him as she stepped out of the tent.

Ryoga surged to his feet and rushed up to the redhead. A moment later, Ranma found herself wrapped in an almost painfully tight embrace, as she heard her rival's voice whispering in her ear. "Thank goodness you're alright." Ranma stiffened, but before she could try anything, Ryoga's grip lessened, his hands resting on her shoulders as he stepped back. "Sorry, I'm just so glad to see you up so soon. I know I always say I want to kill you, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I ever actually did!" Ryoga said, tears in the corners of his eyes.

Seeing the look of genuine relief and concern in Ryoga's eyes, Ranma felt her irritation at the hug disappear. "Geez, ya know I'm tough enough that ya would never manage that unless ya meant ta, so dry up the waterworks, would ya? 'Sides, if Akane saw this, she blame me for making ya cry," Ranma said as she crossed her arms and looked away, unable to bring herself to look him in the eye at the moment. To herself, Ranma thought, 'I knew the Pill would make him love me, but I wasn't expecting him ta act so... so... Gah! Why's this day got ta be so weird?'

A slight clicking sound drew Ranma's attention, and reminded the redhead of the girl standing nearby. Any blush brought on by her rival's actions vanished as she went pale at the sight of Nabiki watching the pair with a camera and a smirk.

"You know, when I went to sell Mousse some pictures this morning, I only expected to make some pocket change today, but let it never be said Nabiki Tendo passed up an opportunity that fell in her lap," Nabiki said happily.

"Look, Nabiki, this ain't-" Ranma started to protest.

"Don't worry, Saotome, I heard everything, so I know about the Love Pill," Nabiki interrupted. Just as Ranma let out a sigh of relief, Nabiki help up a photo and added, "Of course, I may forget to mention that part to people who see this..."

Ranma gaped as she saw a picture of herself clinging to Ryoga's arm, a smile on her face as the Lost Boy blushed. Most that knew Ranma would figure she was just teasing Ryoga or trying to get something from him, but the lack of any disguise could still be enough to cause Ranma trouble. 'After all, if that were any other pair, they'd look like a real couple...' Ranma thought, trying to ignore how strange that comparison made her feel.

"I'm sure you'll have a generous offer to make this picture go away, Saotome, but we can talk numbers later," Nabiki said as she turned to walk away. "I'm sure you'll want to 'enjoy' your last few hours with Ryoga not trying to kill you."

Scowling at the retreating girl, Ranma turned toward her rival. Ryoga was still nearby, wringing his hands nervously as he looked in her direction. Realizing that she was looking at him, he stuttered out, "W-Well, Nabiki's right about sunset being only a few hours away. S-So, would you like to have d-d-dinner with me?"

Rolling her eyes at his nervousness, Ranma said, "Yeah, sure, I've come this far, haven't I? As long as you're paying for it, at least."

As the pair packed up and left the empty lot, Nabiki kept an eye on them from where she had hidden nearby. 'Now that they think I've gotten what I want and left, perhaps Ranma will let her guard down or Ryoga will try something. Either way, tonight could make me a fortune if I use the pictures correctly,' Nabiki thought, as she began to trail the pair.

Of course, what would happen would be beyond anything she ever would have expected.


AN: There we go! Again, slightly shorter than usual, but the next chapter should more than make up for it, as the duration of the Love Pill comes to a close.

What will happen to Ranma and Ryoga before nightfall? Will Nabiki get the opportunity she predicts? Find out in future chapters of 'Yearning'!