The snow started again after they'd begun their trip. After traveling for a time, they've made camp for the first time together. Cologne has reassured them that while the journey may seem long, they are making good timing. There's little argument, they really have no way to disagree with the woman who knows these lands better than any of them ever could.

Dinner is easy, it's simple, they hang around the fire at camp and try to stay warm, keeping their spirits up while facing the unknown. They part to their individual tents that evening.

Akane is sleeping quietly, albeit cold, when she hears the first rustling outside, the sounds of footsteps outside her tent. Her eyes open wide, blinking to come back to the waking world. A dark figure stands at the entrance then bends down to open the tent, she wants to scream but no words arrive, caught in a trap in her throat. The zipper starts to pull open and the figure seems to grow larger.

She braces herself, looking around for something to fight with, she remembers a small pocketknife she packed and while the size isn't threatening, it's better than nothing. She grips it, sits up and readies herself for the assault, wrapping her fist around the tool. She breathes in deep, prepared. Ready to fight.

The flap opens slowly, and she draws her arm back to stab towards the invader, they poke their head in first, a weak spot. She prepares to lunge but sees their face finally.

"Ry-Ryoga?!"

He looks just as shocked as she is when his eyes go wide to her, then the knife in her hand, he slinks back on his hunches.

"Akane!" He tries to keep his voice low, so no one hears them even though he's startled as well. He puts his hands up as she drops hers in a confused state.

"Ryoga, what the hell are you doing here?" Akane is short with him, more so than she probably ever has been and he feels ashamed. He groans and rubs his head, his head tilting in embarrassment.

"I couldn't sleep, I was just up looking at the stars and just...I'm sorry I wanted to..." he's going a bit red in the face and finds a deep interest in his fingers, looking at them instead of her. "I just wanted...to make sure you were okay. You know, sleeping okay. It's pretty cold out."

"So, you snuck into my tent to make sure I was sleeping, even though it's cold and dark and we have people trying to kill us?" Her face scrunches up. "Not the smartest move you know, I could've hurt you."

"Yeah, you're right. I don't know what I was thinking." He hangs his head and sighs. "I'm sorry Akane, I'll let you get some sleep." He's about to turn away but she sighs, letting off some steam.

"No, you're okay Ryoga. Besides, now my adrenaline is spiked, and I don't know if I'll be able to get some sleep right away. Why don't you come in and stay for a minute, we can try to tire ourselves out a bit." She relaxes and he takes the offer to take a seat in the tent. "Would you mind zipping back up? It's cold out there and I don't want to freeze too much." She offers a smile, and he returns it softly, doing just as she asked. They sit in silence for a moment, he sits crossed legged looking around the inside of her tent. It's a bit more modern than his own, makes his look more like a barely held together cover if he's honest. It's not large, could sleep two well but no more than that. He looks at her and she shivers a bit under her blanket, even in her outdoor pajamas.

"Are you still cold Akane-san?" She smiles and nods a bit.

"Just not used to being outside in the winter, I'm sure being on the road so much you get used to it." He nods slowly.

"Yes, you don't really think about it much when you're just focusing on your next destination. Whether it's a training ground, a city, or a... dojo of a friend." He gives her a shy smile and now she blushes a light hue. "You just get used to the elements, heat, snow, rain. Whatever it may be."

"I really can't believe you spend so much time on the road, doesn't that get lonely?" Akane shakes her head. "I can't imagine not having my sisters around, I've been gone almost a week, and I can't wait to see them. Don't you miss your family?"

"Oh yeah, of course. But you make friends along the way, and it helps make things easier. It isn't lonely all the time, in fact you start to look forward to seeing them even more." He gives her a genuine smile, his small fang visible. She returns the smile. A silence hovers over them, a tinge of static laced within it. She breaks it.

"What was keeping you up?" He considered it, taking a moment.

"A few things, the trip ahead, how far we'll go, trying to stay ahead of danger out here." He looks at her for a moment and opens his mouth but shuts it almost immediately, his eyes turning away. Her chest tightens a bit and takes a breath.

"Was that all you were worried about Ryoga?" He squeezes his eyes, the way she says his name is so soft, so achingly perfect. He can't stop himself.

"I... I wanted to make sure you were alright. I... worry about you." He opens his eyes and looks her way, his face slightly fallen, embarrassed even. Her lips parted a bit, in a small, shocked pout. She gets red and looks down, he joins her.

"You don't have to worry about me Ryoga, I'm fine. I'll be fine, when all of this is over." He nods. She breathes in deeply. "Was that really all you worry about?"

He looks away, his strong jaw and dark features proud in the dim light of a lantern. In the dark he can feel braver, in this form he can do or say what he wants.

"I... worry about what happens later." His voice drops. "After we save Ranma." Her heartbeat picks up.

"What do you mean?" She whispers, she wants to hold her heart in her hands if that means it calms down.

"I worry you will go back to him." He says it so matter of factly.

"I don't understand..." Her voice trails, the cold is leaving her body as she feels herself tense up in growing warmth.

"Ranma is a good warrior. No, he is an excellent fighter, but he is not an honorable man. It hurts to see the way he treats you, when he doesn't realize how lucky of a man he is. To have a woman like you Akane, brave, kind, beautiful. How he doesn't see that frustrates me because you deserve so much more, someone who will love you unconditionally. Who sees you for everything you are and will be, whose love and loyalty you'll never doubt or question. A real love, not something thrust upon you."

The heaviness around them grows, he looks at her directly, his features shadowed but visible, stern and sure. Her breath hitches.

"What are you saying, Ryoga?" Her voice breathy, beneath he hears it, the need to know, the want to hear it.

He moves closer to her, kneeling beside her, the darkness around them giving him the cloak of courage he desperately needs in this moment.

"I'm saying Akane," his baritone voice is so close, it stirs a shiver that crawls all over her, her eyelashes fluttering even without realizing, she leans towards the sound of her name on his tongue. "I have cared for you since the day I met you. I cannot give you or your family much, but I can promise my heart to you always." Her eyes widen at his words as he finally gets feeling back into his fingers, how they pain to feel her. "I love you Akane, I would give my life to protect you, I would give you the stars and moon if you wanted them, I would cross the oceans and mountains for a single grain of sand if you willed it to me, for just a smile, for just a laugh." He leans in closer. "Just to hear my name cross your perfect lips, I would do it all gladly."

His fingers trace her cheek, and he finds them warm, he drags them across to the back of her head and he finally presses his lips against hers. He feels her tense completely, a shocked gasp escapes.

But she doesn't pull away.

They remain that way for several moments before she does lean away, her fingertips against her lips. Her bright beautiful eyes are wide, he can see that even in the limited light.

"Ryoga, I..."

"No, no. I shouldn't have." He moves away from her. "It's not right, I came in here to just check on you and here I am being some kind of heathen, I'm no better than some leech." He gets up to move out.

Her hand goes on his and he freezes. His head slowly turns towards her, her face scanning his in the darkness.

"Did you mean all of that Ryoga?"

He swallows.

"Yes." His voice cracks as he swallows the ball of nerves. Her hand squeezes his. He watches as her breathing picks up and her mouth parts, her body relaxes and leans back towards his, her eyes heavy.

"Oh Akane." His voice is deep and rough as he reaches his large hand to her head and roughly presses her mouth to his. She grips his shirt with both hands as his tongue slips into her mouth, gasping and he swallows it. His other arm goes around her back and pulls her to him harshly, but not enough to cause pain, a territorial move, presentation of possession to her. Her breasts crushed against his large chest, he moans deeply, and the sound drives a deep ache into her, one that she's never felt, causing her hair to stand up against her neck.

His mouth covers hers completely, sliding against her lips easily, the rough assuredness of them leaves her breathless and holding onto him to keep herself up. His fingers dig into her lower back as he presses her further to him, opening his crossed legs to put her into his lap. She moans quietly, as the pressure from his hands behind her causes her to arch herself against him, dipping her head back for him to press his mouth and tongue against. She reaches out and runs her fingers through his thick brown hair, pressing herself back against him as well. His arms are large, strong, so much stronger than Ranma's. The thighs beneath her are like tree trunks, so incredibly hard. His chest is huge and seems to dwarf her, she feels so delicate and feminine in his arms.

She moans again as his mouth runs down her throat to her collarbone, she can feel the sharpness of his fang pressed into her delicate skin and she moves against him. Quiet Ryoga, always so forlorn and sweet, with his handsome features and sad eyes, his funny smile. How did she not see how much he cared for her, loved her more than Ranma ever could? That he possessed this dark eroticism that gave her real gasps and excitement, that made it all feel dangerous and passionate. His groans of satisfaction against her gave her pitchy sighs and made her cling to him more.

She pressed her mouth against his and he let out a half moan, half laugh at her enthusiasm. She moaned out his name from blistered lips and he thrust into her as her body became boneless against him, his strength overwhelming her and her senses. She readjusted herself in his lap and pressed herself onto him, his self-control gone, looking at her face he gripped her pajama top and tore it from her, eliciting a throaty sound of surprise and arousal from her. He pulled her bare chest against his own suddenly topless torso, his large hand traveling down her back as he stared back to the man who seemed to voyeur at the two of them from within the tent. He presses his mouth to her, dragging that obnoxious fang along her bare neck and down to her shoulder, pulling a loud excited gasp from her. He's going to pull that fucking tooth out of his mouth with his bare hands. Ryoga laughs cruel, his hand on Akane's ass, pushing her further on his dick like he would even know what to do with her if he got the chance.

"You want it so bad Akane, I can feel it." He sneers and she moans. "You've always wanted me to fuck you, haven't you?"

"Yes, Ryoga! So much more than Ranma!" She's so loud and her voice is so sweet.

"You'd never want a freak like him, who can't make you feel like I could, take you like a real man?" She's rocking herself on him, her back covered with the marks of his nails.

"Never, oh God Ryoga! I love you!"

He laughs once more.

Ranma wakes up, completely covered in sweat, his bangs sticking to his forehead as he tries to catch his breath. He keeps his eyes open, terrified to close his eyes and see those images once more. He struggles to sit up, his hands still tied, this time in front of his body. He clutches at the blankets covering him to find a center and focus himself. He squeezes his eyes shut finally; the images are lost now. He recollects his thoughts and remembers where he is, back in the large tent, still on the move. Dariole was kind enough to move him to where he was no longer tied to a pole in the center, tremendously helpful to his back, which could only handle so much of that. They provided him with a makeshift bed, mostly made from an overworn tatami mat, it wasn't much better than the ground, but at least he could properly lay down now.

"Fuck." He whispered, rough. That dream was so real, it was like he could see it. Like he was there. Was it just a dream? He hoped it was just a terrible nightmare, but in the back of his head it felt so real. He could feel the nylon of the tent, the cloth of her blankets, could smell the warmth coming off Akane's skin.

Like he had just days ago, though it felt like a lifetime now.

He swallowed his breath in the darkness that surrounded him as he listened to the rustling outside his own tent. A small hand reached out and opened the flap.

"Bad dreams, Ranma?"

Dariole entered and took a few steps toward him. He stared her down, his black eye finally looking like it was healing, a sickly violet instead of the intense black that had been there. He sat up, in just a tank top and his linen pants, his hair disheveled and going loose in his braid.

He gives her no answer as she steps forward again.

"I could hear you from my own tent, getting louder and louder." Her eyes ticked up to his. "Something to do with Akane? I heard you yell out to her."

He holds his position, doesn't show any emotion.

"We're getting close to Jusenkyo, dreams can take on a reality unlike most places. Some say it is because of the magic of the area and the springs, that they dissolve the lines between the seen and unseen. Sometimes nightmares, sometimes the foreseeable. I'm sure the last time you were here you experienced them."

He looked away from her.

"Did you dream she died? That you couldn't save her, whether by my hand or by the environment around us?"

He continued to look away from her.

"Perhaps that she never came at all, that she's back at home and couldn't care less about you?" She walked towards him again. "No, you would have a sense of relief to know she was safe in Nerima, away from this place."

His chest steadied and he felt he could breathe normally again. He remained calm and ignored her further.

"No, you dreamt of something worse. You saw her with another man, didn't you?"

His jaw clenched slightly and gave him entirely away. She laughed, pleasant and girlish to the ear.

"Who was it? One of those fools back home? Perhaps someone new? You can't blame her really, she's got no fiancée after all, and it's not as though she knows your feelings for her. Why would she remain faithful to you? Do you expect a woman like her to wait? Spend every day waiting on you, each year growing older with nothing but the hope that this man she poured so much into would come and take her in his arms and finally make her his wife? Relying on a hope and dream as she watches those around her find love and devotion, damned to the constraints of her own heart?"

She walked closer to him, kneeling towards him to be eye level.

"What I have done is set Akane Tendou free. I respect her as a fighter, as a challenger would. She takes everything so to heart, with blind devotion and singular focus. It is admirable if I were able to do so." She grabs his tied wrists and yanks him towards her. "I have given Akane her freedom, allowed her to find a love on her own terms, without the ties of familial expectation, she should thank me."

He stared down at her, holding his mouth closed, a look of disgust played across his face. She smiled.

"She's already fallen for someone new. I can feel it. Without you around as a distraction and a responsibility, she's free to look for someone she wants. Even if she hasn't gone to bed with them, I can feel that the idea of a new love has crossed her mind. I can feel it in my bones, in my soul." She smiles wide, shark-like. "And more so, so can you."

She lets his ties go and stands up. She faces away and prepares to leave.

"As we cross closer to Jusenkyo, the visions will get worse. Prepare yourself for them as needed. And do not forget, that if these so called "dreams" are bad enough for you, consider what Akane may see."

She looks over her shoulder and holds his gaze.

"Rest up, we leave in the morning."

XxX

The morning takes on a different feeling than the last few days, the group packs up their bags, prepares a wagon and horse to assist in catching up with their enemy. There is a heaviness around them for what's to come, the party has been a welcome distraction but looking at it now, was it too much? Would they be even less prepared for what was to come? Quiet and focused, they headed together for breakfast before heading off on their trip.

With their minds considerably elsewhere, the conversations were limited and short. Mentioning the party the night before, how good it was to see everyone celebrating and easygoing. Mousse recalled to himself about his time with Shampoo and let the memories pass over again and again, knowing he would never forget that night, the feeling of her in his arms, her small shy smiles, the way that she looked to him with adoration, even if it was fleeting and momentarily. Ryoga toyed with the back of his neck, feeling a strange pressure and sensation there, he thought he had slept fine but perhaps that hadn't really been the case after all. He looked up at Akane, her injuries seemed to be healing quite quickly, a feeling of gratitude in him that she wouldn't be in pain. The slash across her nose was nearly gone and the scratches and bruises along her face and neck had left. She looked calm and peaceful, truly feeling grateful he could be here with her.

As they finished eating, Cologne said they would be leaving to give goodbyes to the village and family, leaving Ukyou, Ryoga and Akane to watch the gear. Ryoga excused himself to do katas in the back of the inn, leaving the two girls together to chat and quietly read some books and magazines they'd brought from home. Akane and Ukyou simultaneously turned a page of their own material when a small knock came to the door. They looked at each other and both got up to answer, Ukyou pulled the door open first.

"Oh, Curl good morning. Come to say goodbye? Cologne and Shampoo left a bit ago and I'm sure you can catch them."

"Good morning Ukyou, I came to wish you well on your travels before you leave the village. I pray for safe travels and that you are able to save Ranma and return to your own families." He gave her a serene smile that she returned, there was a beat before he turned to her side. "Akane, I was hoping i could speak with you privately before you left, if you have the time."

Akane felt her stomach physically drop and her face pale, Ukyou's eyes quickly shifted back and forth between the both of them, waiting for a reply. Akane coughed and stood from her chair.

"Of course I have some time Curl." Akane walked over to him, the burn of Ukyou's eyes searing the back of her head.

He invited her to talk in the garden near the inn, beautifully designed for walking and meditation, she could imagine in the spring and summer it was an oasis of beautiful florals and plant life, even in the winter one could see the dormant beauty that laid there. They walked slowly next to one another, the silence drawing out a tense feeling in Akane, something that sat on her lower back, sinking down into her spine. The kind of nerves that make you sick.

He slows his already glacial pace and takes a seat at a bench, directly beneath a currently bare blossom tree. She picks up the cue and takes a seat next to him, she tries to relax her body, but her leg begins an obnoxious bounce that she has to hold for a moment to stop.

"I have enjoyed your time in our village very much Akane Tendo." He begins, staring at the ground. He looks so serious, so focused. As if he's about to go into a fight. She holds her breath a touch too long.

"It's been great to see your village." Beat. "I'll miss it."

"It will miss you equally."

A breeze rolls over them, she stops looking at him and stares at the sleeping vegetation around them, she grips the edge of the bench and steadies herself. She thinks to last night, would he have tried to kiss her if she wasn't so guarded, was she so guarded now?

He pulled himself up and looked at her, her eyes ticked up towards him and tried to relax, tried willing it and yet she felt the anxiety swirl within her.

"Akane Tendo, I see the strength you possess, the intelligence and beauty that you carry, the potential that lies within you and I see that you deserve so much more than what waits for you in your home."

She's taken aback a moment, is this an insult or something else?

"A place like here would give you the respect you are deserving of, you would be recognized as a leader, admired and imitated."

"I'm...not sure about that. I mean I'm nothing special honestly." She tries to laugh it off.

"That is a mistake, and it is wrong of you to believe that Akane." He cuts her off and his eyes are so fierce and sharp, it gives him a look of ferociousness while amplifying his already cutting, good looks. She blushes.

"I believe you have learned to settle for things in your home. An everyday life, a father who will not give you your school, a fiancée who does not choose you and adorn you with love. You deserve more than that life is offering you and... I think you should consider something else."

She stares at him and with wide eyes pulls away, to look anywhere else. Her heartbeat races and she collects her thoughts for a moment before turning back to him.

"What are you saying Curl?"

He has a concentrated look on his face and as she studies it, she looks down at him and sees his attire. For as long as she's known him, he's worn traditional garb similar to Mousse, light and easy on his body. But now, his high collared top, his heavier pants, all closer to the body, it reminds her of Ranma so much it makes her brain fuzzy a moment.

And in the next moment, she realizes these aren't casual clothes.

These are clothes to fight in.

She feels the onset of vertigo and tries to collect her thoughts, panic overtaking her. She knows what this is.

"Akane Tendo, I wish to challenge you."

It is a nightmarish proposal.

If she accepts and loses to him, she's his betrothed. And being that Shampoo is his cousin, it doesn't take much to imagine he will be just as devoted to the tradition, if not more. And even as talented as she believes herself to be, there is a snowball's chance in hell she can beat him, even she has to admit this.

But if she doesn't accept the challenge, it discolors her as a fighter, that she would turn down a fight, regardless of reasons, paints her badly.

Her breathing picks up as she watches the face of this man who only hours ago, she had admired, had thought maybe in another time could've been what she was looking for, dreamt of.

And now he was trying to box her into another engagement, another engagement that she didn't agree to, thrown upon her.

She saw red, here was again a situation thrown upon her that she didn't ask for, didn't expect. A man entering her life and changing it for his benefit, of course he was selling as a way for her to be elevated to others, but that was bullshit, wasn't it?

It was all bullshit.

"Curl." She took a large breath, closed her eyes. He waited patiently, watching her closely. "I do not accept the challenge."

He was taken aback, for a fighter and especially as one set to inherit a school, to turn down a challenge was a tremendous step back. He was shocked at her quick decision.

"Akane-"

"No, I won't accept this. I had an engagement thrust upon me without my decision weighing into it, I will not have another. Curl, you are a battle-tested, talented fighter, what chance would I have against you to defend my ability to choose my husband? This isn't the way I want to find my partner; the way I find the man I love. Can you understand that?" The edge left her voice as she finished her statement of fact and turned to look at him. His face seemed to be aghast at her actions.

"Akane... but you would..."

"Would what? Would be respected because of who my husband is? Would be reduced to a wife? Rarely see my family or my friends? I'm sorry Curl, I can't do that, I won't."

"Is it Ranma? Is that what stops you?" He asks softly but pointedly.

"It isn't Ranma, you know our engagement is over. And now that it is, I'm free to...to date someone else!" She gets flustered for a moment but takes a breath. "I can choose, not because someone else wants it, not my dad, or a... a prince, someone with money or power, or even...someone who follows traditions." She tries to be nice about the whole thing but it's frustrating and she wants to keep the anger down but it's bubbling to the surface.

He considers her words for a moment, scrunches his hands into fists and releases them.

"I can always challenge you; it is our law. I have that right."

"And I have that right to say no to you, regardless." She stomps him down. His eyes narrow, annoyed with this volley they've found themselves in. If she could just see how much better her life would be here, everything she could want is here, she could teach, be among the elders, be a powerful woman, maybe even more powerful than Shampoo! And all she has to do is put up one fist, one arm to defend herself and it would be considered enough, he could show her he is exactly what she would want in a good husband.

His fist itches, it travels up his arm, the consideration of lifting to try and strike grows greater. He doesn't want to accept her answer, if this was centuries ago it wouldn't matter, he could just make her his wife based on village rules as they stood then.

Her face is stoic and strong, annoyed and proud, calm but there's something clawing underneath that he can't quite figure out. It's anger maybe, but something else is there...

He lets his hand relax; his eyes give away the feelings he holds. Her body relaxes and she sighs.

"Maybe in another life...maybe this is what I would've liked or wanted. But... I haven't been able to make decisions in a long time for myself and my freedom and my choice...they're just too important to me now. I hope you understand."

He takes a breath.

He sighs.

"I understand Akane Tendo. I can see how important your independence is to you, it is something I have grown to admire." He looks down at his hands, it's been a very long time since he's known defeat of any kind. And he doesn't even know the man he's lost to.

She gives him a sad smile, one of understanding but apologizes, there's nothing she can do about this besides let him off easy. She scoots over close to him, he lifts his head and watches her intently as she presses her lips to his cheek, giving him a soft but friendly kiss. It's fleeting and holds none of the passion he wishes it would.

They share a small, friendly smile. She says something that can't be heard from behind the trees, but it seems as though this nonsense is done.

Ryoga clenches his fist one last time before he lets it go, of course this guy was a scumbag the whole time, working right beneath him, trying to take his girl from him.

Well, she's technically not his girl, but he loves her more than this guy could, he's loved her more than her own fiancée ever did.

These past few days something has been sitting heavy on his head and heart, maybe it's the closeness he's had with her, different than what he's used to. He doesn't get to spend time with her as himself, it's always as her pet, always his cursed form. But thanks to the waterproof soap, he's been able to prevent the mask from slipping, has bought himself time to show her the real him.

The time she's spent with this new guy has been too close, too comfortable, he could see she was taken with him as well and if he wasn't there, if saving Ranma wasn't on the table, what could've happened. It was too close for comfort.

Soon they'd be on the road, only hours from now away from this place. Where she's away from him, alone with their party.

Alone with him instead.

A good fighter knows patience, knows when to strike, a man knows the importance of his words and the weight they carry.

He turns away, a small knowing smirk on his face.