DaisukiFox: Sorry it's been a while since I've updated on RoyalRoad! I want to release my original series here but lately, I haven't been able to afford anything to pay for a cover nor am I in a position to do so right now. lolz Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter and consider donating to my Paypal at...
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Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2, Ranma 1/2 is owned by Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media! Please support the official release and hopefully the remake I've heard about! If it's supposed to be released in October like some have told me!
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Once the two had caught their breaths they pulled away from the other and stared into each other's eyes. All the thoughts and everything that had to happen for them to come together like this swarmed their minds like an angry bee nest.
"So now that your engagement with Akane is basically-"
"Dead?" Ranma questioned with a tilt of her head and a sassy smile.
"Yeah, guess so…" Ryoga's voice trailed as he blushed lightly, scratching his cheek with his index finger as he still held Ranma within arm's reach.
"Ain't it obvious?" Ranma pulled back and looked at her confused-looking boyfriend.
"That we should go on our first date?" Ryoga asked with a sheepish smile and a light blush.
"Well, duh, that too but that's not what needs our immediate attention, Romeo…" Ranma scoffed a little but blushed and gave a small smile softly after.
"Then what?" Ryoga inquired as he then put his remaining hand on Ranma's hip.
"We gotta' go talk to Soun and then figure out what we're going to do about a home…" Ranma explained, now looking thoroughly distraught at what was coming.
"I'll be there with you all the way Ranma…" Ryoga's voice trailed as he noticed her lower her head, which prompted him to reach one hand out to cup Ranma's chin and tilt her head to look into her eyes.
"Okay, you get one more…" Ranma muttered as her eyes locked with his.
"One more, what?" Ryoga inquired and before he got to look so cutely perturbed his answer came in the form of Ranma's lips pressed against his suddenly.
This second one wasn't as intense as the one that got them together but at this point, it was self-indulgence for them both. Reluctantly needing to pull back for air the two gazed into each other's eyes affectionately.
"Why does kissing you make me feel so…" Ranma found the proper word escaping her as she became lost in the eyes of the man who had won her over.
"Alive?" Ryoga answered with a slight blush and fang-toothed smirk.
"Yeah, let's go with that…" Ranma's voice trailed as she then looked away and placed a hand on Ryoga's lips to keep him from continuing.
Getting the message the Lost Teen chuckled softly, pulling back from his redhead he reached out his hand and took his woman's smaller hand in his. "So, are we heading to school or the Tendo dojo first?" he asked.
"We ought to head to the Tendo dojo first and Akane already knows what we're doing so announcing it at school of all places…" Ranma elaborated.
"Sounds like overkill, doesn't it?" Ryoga asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Plus, I got a sneaking suspicion the whole school is already gonna' know." Ranma commented, in the far background was the scurrying form of Gosunkugi as he turned a corner at the park's entrance.
"Nabiki?" Ryoga inquired with a brow raised.
"Nabiki." Ranma answered with a nodding of her head.
"Tendo Dojo it is then," Ryoga confirmed for them as he moved so that he could stand by Ranma's side.
Wordlessly Ranma knew she had to lead them and did so with a proud and dignified smile before taking her boyfriend's hand into hers.
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Inside the Tendo Dojo were Soun and Genma as they sat in the TV room inside, the door to the back wide open. Between them was their shogi board, though, instead of the proper pieces being on there they had instead used it as a makeshift table for their precious Pokemon cards and other such memorabilia related to the Pocket Monsters franchise.
However, where the air was usually tense and filled with a competitive drive to best one another in a children's card game, the two seasoned Poke'Masters appeared conflicted as they weren't doing anything but sitting Indian style with their arms crossed over their chests.
"Tendo…" Genma's voice trailed as he looked up from his slouched-over position.
"Saotome…" Soun's voice copied his dear friend's.
"I think we've let ourselves get a little carried away with this whole Poke'mon craze,'' the bald Saotome patriarch suggested.
"It seems that in our love for a new passion we've failed to notice the real threat Ryoga posed…" Soun said, his voice utterly dripping with despair.
"The boy was giving me some weird signals when I asked about Ryoga, had I only noticed sooner I might've been able to put a stop to it," Genma lamented, the depth of despair and the objects of their sorrow sitting between them in protective binders and video game handheld consoles.
"The fate of the two schools is in danger now Saotome, I think it's maybe time we consider retiring as Poke'mon Masters…" Soun commented as he took his deck in his hands lovingly and placed his hand affectionately over it as if he were holding a picture of a lost loved one.
"I swore I wouldn't cry when this moment came…" Genma wept openly at his deck and gazed at his precious first-edition Charizard.
"I'm sure they wouldn't even be worth anything in the future anyways," Soun cried with tears cascading down his face as he safely stored his deck and binders full of cards, his cosplay Brock outfit into a large box.
"Besides, from what I hear women find this shameful, never mind how fun it is…" Genma threw into the conversation, all the while tearfully storing his Poke'mon stuff.
"It's just for kids," Soun added, sounding as if he were trying to convince himself but failed.
"I guess now it's time we go back on the hunt for Ryoga…"
"Last I heard, he's gone and gotten himself lost again."
"So who knows when we'll be able to act on his punishment…"
"We could just force the marriage once more while Ryoga is gone,"
"Do we have the budget for that Saotome? We have been splurging quite a bit as of late…" The father of the Tendo abode revealed while trying to avoid Genma's gaze.
"We'll take a loan from Nabiki if we gotta! The sake of our schools and my son's manhood is at stake here!"
"Desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose old friend…" Soun remarked with a low rumbly voice.
Ring!Ring!Ring!
The sounds of footsteps followed, and then the sound of someone picking up the phone from the line was heard.
"Hello? Tendo Residence." Kasumi's voice answered the call. "Oh? Oh my. Well, I'm sure she has her reasons for skipping class but I will speak to her about this and bring it up to my father." Kasumi responded after a little while.
"Did my little girl skip class?" Soun muttered then his eyes widened.
"That only ever happens when somethings up, are you thinking what I'm thinking Tendo?" Genma inquired with a shocked look.
"The boy's in danger…" He said in a serious tone before tilting his head down to make his glasses gleam over.
"You mean your boy or that Ryoga is going to be in danger?" Soun asked, confused because they'd normally refer to one of them as 'The Boy' as either Ranma or Ryoga.
"Both!" Genma exclaimed.
"Father! Akane's in class and Ranma's skipping class because she says Ranma's with Ryoga and they have something they're probably coming over to tell you two about…" Kasumi explained with a serious look on her face, understanding the severity of the situation as that kiss from before replayed in her mind, 'That kiss between Ranma and Ryoga, the way Akane sounded, so dejected but it was like she'd made peace with it or something…' Kasumi's inner self-thought.
"I'm sorry if I'm crying, really I'm fine. Just let Father know that Ranma has something he needs to tell you two."
"Eh…?" Both Genma and Soun gawked, standing as still as statues.
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Serenity wasn't often a word attributed to the district of Nerima, it was more a legend, a folktale if anything but if there was one defiant couple to this idea it was Ryoga and Ranma. To think they went from beating the literal snot out of each other to romantic partners seemed beyond surreal to them but weirdly enough it came with the fact that this seemed to solve a large part of their problems.
Though they had not come to realize that yet, their intuitive natures seemed to resonate to this harmonious frequency.
Ryoga felt a familiar feeling of being giddy again, the feelings he had felt for others and even Akari and Akane seemed like a faint memory.
Ranma herself couldn't believe that she found someone that made her feel this way, to think she'd had sparks that never really went past their initial introductions but remained in her as a desire and want for this long, 'So this is what it's like to be with someone you love, huh?' the pigtailed redhead thought as she then spared a glance at the man she had chosen over all the other women after her male form.
In her romance-stricken brain she admired his soft features and strong noble nature, the way he had kept reaching out to her over and over again. Even the days when they had been in Middle School. Then his mind went to Akane and his pig form.
Recognizing this Ranma felt an immediate sense of jealousy overtake her in the form of her heart rate quickening. This thought alone was enough to put her in a chaotic state of mind, 'Is it maybe time I talk to him about P-chan, especially since we're dating now and all? He's my man so he'd better stop… but how do I tell him that without scaring him away? I may be the girl in this relationship but he's kind of a sap too.' The redhead pondered deeply to herself, the blush on her face fading as she tried to reason this out.
Crossing the entire length of the park together, thankfully with no one they knew around to judge them or realize who they were. Still, that was of little concern to them. They had found each other and although Ranma was as uncertain about somethings, she wanted to do what it took to fully earn her partner's loyalty even if she herself probably had somethings to go over with Ryoga.
Now out onto the sidewalk the redhead was now noticeably bothered and had even slowed down, he gazed tipped downward.
"Ranma? Are you okay?" Ryoga asked as he turned to look at her.
Ranma herself hadn't even noticed Ryoga's question until she had conveniently snapped back to reality, at least understanding the last part enough to guess what he was asking. "I don't think I am okay but it's not about us!" Ranma said but made sure to talk quickly, holding her free hand up to hopefully dismiss any doubts about her interest in him.
"Oh, what a relief." Ryoga sighed and smiled at her. "So, what is it about?"
"Well, you know, how we're gonna' be dating and all…" Ranma's voice trailed as her one available hand reached to the back of her neck to rub it, looking off to the side with a faint but cute blush.
At that moment Ryoga wanted to embrace Ranma and hold her close but knew that doing so would probably come off as very Kuno-like and that was the last thing he needed. "Yeah! Of course!"
"Well, I think maybe you oughta come clean about P-chan. I don't want you getting stuck in her room and sleeping in her bed anymore and I know you've bugged me about having honor so I think you should show some honor too…" The Saotome prodigy gripped Ryoga's hand as if she knew he might attempt to make a run for it.
"R-Ranma! Is that a good idea!?" Ryoga inquired as he leaned back and warded evil with his hand.
"Whatta' mean is that a good idea!?" Ranma glared at him as she yanked him closer so they were eye to eye.
"I-I mean! Akane's already going through your rejection so do you really think adding the loss of her pet pig is going to make her feel any better?" Ryoga asked with a shocked look but then relaxed his demeanor as he envisioned how much lower the blue-haired girl could go if they were to add the truth about his cursed form.
Ranma had once again failed to fully account for Akane's feelings, though, here Ryoga was doing it for her and though she wasn't a fan of stalling on this her boyfriend did make an excellent point.
"Fine. Still, it's gonna happen…" She scoffed and looked away from Ryoga but even though she was acting this way she was easing her gripe from an iron-clad one to a gentle affectionate one.
"Give me until we finish talking with your Dad, then we'll figure out when we should tell her the news…" Ryoga offered softly and then found himself doing the same when he also considered something.
"Also if I have to be honest about this, no more dressing up as other people's fiancé anymore, nor using your girl side to score free food," Ryoga outlined some of his own conditions, knowing Ranma really well.
Ranma wanted to protest but when she thought of it from the boyfriend's perspective she wouldn't want her girlfriend doing those things either, so why should Ryoga be okay with that? She flinched as she drew these together in her head. "That's fine by me! That just means I'll ask my darling boyfriend for snack money…" Ranma said with a smirk and then fluttered her lashes at said boyfriend.
"Fine! Before we get to the Tendo's I'll buy you something…" Ryoga averted his eyes and placed the hand that wasn't holding Ranma's over his chest.
"Great! I know this place close by!" Ranma advised before holding Ryoga's arm between both of her own, giving him a sly smile as she could feel him stiffen in fear.
"Why do you gotta keep teasing me like this!?" Ryoga exclaimed as he was led towards the nearest open road market; arm pressed against her ample bosom.
"Ya know you love it!" Ranma exclaimed with a girly giggle she knew she loved to mess with him.
After that Ryoga had calmed down and remained focused as Ranma all the while lived up Ryoga's embarrassment, clinging to his arm like that's where she belonged… by his side.
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Sizzle!
The large takoyaki pan sang its delicious symphony, a pair of chopsticks worked the tender puffs until golden brown before adding them to a paper basket. Adding all the fixings the man working the food appeared to be a bald man with glasses but a happy worker nonetheless.
"Have a lovely day," He said to a man in a green shirt and brown hair, waving him goodbye shortly after.
"You come here often, don't you, Ranma?"
"Why do ya ask that?"
"It feels like some guys are giving me weird looks…"
Unknowbest to Ranma and Ryoga they had an unintentional eavesdropper, the middle-aged takoyaki stand worker looked at Ryoga and then at the familiar redhead now visible in the distance. Images of her suckering other guys with a cutesy fluttering of her eyes flashing in his mind's eye, although, what shocked him it seems that the untamable redhead that clearly only wanted free stuff before was actually hanging by someone's arm and was fast approaching.
"So you've finally found yourself someone worth staying with?" He asked as they were now in front of him.
Ranma and Ryoga both had their own expressions, Ryoga feeling like he was being reminded that his girlfriend had used her girl side to con men out of their hard-earned money.
For Ranma, she needed to take a minute but it came to her in a sudden burst, "Y-yeah! Found me a keeper!" She said with a slight nervous chuckle and looked at Ryoga whose eye was twitching.
"And those days are behind her!" Ryoga scoffed but instead of lashing out like Akane might have done in this instance, he took the stoic route and simply placed his hand on her hip and brought her closer to his side.
"Oh! A real keeper indeed! Hell, I was about to go and warn him about you but it seems you already know…" The stand owner shook his head back and smiled regardless.
"Can we get two four-piece takoyaki?" Ryoga ordered, holding a hand up with two fingers.
"Coming right up!" The stand worker began his process but once he finished cooking the first set of octopus puffs he saw that he only had one paper basket left and paused.
"Something wrong?" Ranma inquired as she leaned her head on Ryoga, blinking a few times.
"We only have one paper basket left, maybe the lovebirds can share?" The owner of their fine roadside establishment suggested as he loaded the first set of four.
"That's fine," Ryoga mumbled and scratched his cheek with his index finger.
"Same." Ranma answered with a slight hitch in her voice, 'To think I used to joke about this before and now to be doing this and I'm okay with it? Hell, I'm having fun teasing and cuddling up to Ryoga! Is this what I've always been looking for? Am I overthinking this? Ugh! All I know is, it doesn't feel as complicated as it was with Kane and-and…' Ranma thought confusedly at first but grew in confidence as each word struck a chord with her that was until she didn't know how to put the next thoughts into mental words.
"Thank you very much!" their server showed his appreciation with a bow.
Neither had wanted to take their hand off the other as when the Takoyaki stand worker finished he handed them their food but also seemed to only give them a single pair of chopsticks.
A sudden but soft smirk appeared on his face as he was handed the money from Ryoga.
Ranma was delighted to get her favorite food that she hadn't noticed as they walked off. The kind favor lost on them for the moment.
"Never thought I'd have you pay for me, perks of being the girlfriend…" she muttered with a sly look on her face as she then looked down at the single paper basket and from what she was now noticing that they'd only been given a single pair of utensils.
Following where Ranma's eyes landed, Ryoga now noticed that they only had one pair of chopsticks, and from Ryoga's memory he specifically remembered seeing that there was more, 'He did this as a favor, heh, better not let this go to waste…' he thought briefly and blushed softly.
"He only had one paper thing and he then forgot to-" Ranma began but as she spoke in the background, Ryoga reached out for the chopsticks and gently plucked one and then proceeded to fan on it with his breath.
"Here…" Ryoga's voice cracked a little before looking away and blushing, glancing away then back at her.
Ranma's eyes widened, she had never known this sensation, 'Still can't believe this guy's my type, a real class act, my awkward Romeo, I'll let him have this.' She thought with a soft inner tone with a dreamy-eyed expression before leaning in to accept.
The way Ranma went about accepting this wasn't like anything Ryoga had expected, "You don't have to force yourself to act like a girl Ranma," Ryoga reminded his pigtailed rival slash lover.
"Yeah, I know." Ranma opened one eye when she finished chewing, grinning with a blush. "Figured I'd give ya something, I know you like that sorta' stuff," She added with a shrug following.
"You were really cute just then…" Ryoga's voice trailed with a soft chuckle, wanting to look away to focus on that memory but glanced back at his girlfriend until to decided what was better between recalling an excellent moment or living in the current moment.
"Now I gotta' reward ya for honesty Pig Boy…" Ranma's blush dimmed as her cocky attitude emerged, using her chestnut fist to switch the things between them as she even managed to somehow get Ryoga's hand moved so that it was held out and holding their food.
"Are you?" Ryoga leaned his head back in shock, remembering how not too long ago he would have dodged any attempts of Ranma feeding him.
Ranma began blowing on one of the tasty morsels by blowing on it, eyes shut as she focused on that act before holding it out for Ryoga to take. "Now close your eyes and open wide!" Ranma asked in a cheerful tone.
Closing his eyes and doing as she had instructed, the Lost Teen had barely started to part his lips before he suddenly felt Ranma's lips pounce on his own. The suddenness of it all scared the hell out of him, flinching with his eyes now wide and alert but relaxing right after she pulled back and shoved the piece she was going to give him in his mouth.
"You always have to find a new way to one-up yourself, don't you?" Ryoga questioned as he blushed so heavily that puffs of anime steam floated off his head.
"It turned out better if you ask me, you got to be fed by your loving redhead and a kiss!"
"As long as you get to have some fun at my expense…" Ryoga trailed but soon after he scoffed, his frown just couldn't last, this was so like Ranma but now that they were officially a 'thing' it was something he'd just have to come to accept.
"A win-win! Exactly!" Ranma elaborated as she plucked another and then began trying to cool it down like she had the one before.
After that, Ranma thankfully hadn't done any more of those kinds of surprises and simply continued to feed one another until they walked all the way till the end of the marketplace. Discarding their trash they both went back on their way to the Tendo dojo.
The area they were in was the familiar ditch walkway they had seen a million times. However, it was something to partially dread now as it meant they were almost ready to meet with Ranma's maker and former future Father-in-law.
Where there was once warmth and passion it began to grow into worry and tension, who knew what would happen or what would be said? There was only one thing that remained a constant for them, their affection for each other. Once they were standing at the front gate into the Tendo Dojo it almost looked as though Ranma wanted to back away but stopped when she felt Ryoga squeezing her hand reassuringly.
Meeting his gaze as if imploring him to reconsider doing this her fang-toothed lover remained steadfast.
"You can do this Ranma, we can do this…" Ryoga's voice trailed softly.
"You got my back?" Ranma asked as if they were going to go into a fight they might not come back from, blushing lightly but feeling courage swell within her from the support she was getting.
"You know it," Ryoga said as if daring her to ask him that again with how confidently straightforward he was being.
Opening the front gate they stepped in, their steps were cautious and their movements were as quiet as can be. Knocking on the front door they waited until they heard some hurried footsteps from within.
"Tendo Residence, how can-" Kasumi started speaking but had her eyes closed, that was until she opened them to see that what was in front of her wasn't some friendly faces looking to catch up but Ranma and Ryoga standing side-by-side with timid and frightened blushes on their faces, although eventually her eyes fell on their strongly interwoven hands.
"Oh, I take it you two are here to talk to Father and …" Kasumi mumbled softly in hopes of not drawing unwanted attention too early.
The inner fire within Ranma and Ryoga returned, neither had expected that this would be Kasumi's response but now that they remembered their mission they continued.
"Something like that," The determined redhead glanced at her hand and then back at Kasumi, tracing her line of sight.
"I'll go get them," Kasumi whispered and then backed away, though before moving in the direction of the living room she stopped with her back turned to them.
Ranma and Ryoga both stopped and stared with their brows raised.
"By the way, you're always welcome here Ranma, no matter what happens…" She muttered, clasping her hands together before continuing on ahead.
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After the news, the two fathers allowed the information to sink in, to pierce their very souls to even depths they hadn't ever expected to come across. The future of their styles hung in the balance, its sentiment was so mutual that it was as if their thoughts alone were having the conversation for them.
Kasumi happened across this unsightly moment, tightening her lips before lowering her gaze and putting her hands together, feeling the dramatic aura soaring within the two Fathers Kasumi left. She didn't need to be highly skilled in the arts to know what was probably coming.
"It seems this is the end old friend," Soun said deeply and mournfully.
"I can't believe my boy might be on his way too…" Genma found his mind stalling, then something of great importance, increasingly obvious…! What incentive did he have in letting his 'old friend' and his son stay there?
"Saotome if Ranma's on his way here to break the engagement off, then I'm afraid I can't allow you to stay here," Soun advised his old friend, lowering his head to the point his face isn't visible anymore.
"Hold on! M-maybe he's just on his way here to demand we let them be friends!" The Saotome Father defended, waving his hands in an attempt to defuse the tension and raise uncertainty.
"Why wouldn't he just let someone who gets lost all the time go? That doesn't make any sense! You heard Kasumi just as clearly as I did!" Soun began calmly but after his first question, the worry in his tone escalated and then settled on anger with his last words.
Genma leaned back while warding evil with one hand, understandably shocked by how many degrees Soun went up as he spoke.
"I guess we can just wait here then." He sighed in defeat then flopped so he was resting on his side cheek on his open palm, 'Still! Maybe he is coming here for something else? But that can't be! I raised him to be a man among men! Not to prefer their company! Where could have I gone wrong? It has to be because of that curse or something!?' He thought, unconsciously grinding his teeth together.
Every minute felt like an eternity to them, yet, they waited and hoped for the best. Though Soun had said what he did about their current predicament, some part of him remained hopeful.
"Even if the worst comes to pass Saotome, your presence is always welcomed here…" Soun muttered in a low and slightly hoarse tone.
"Thanks, Tendo…" Genma said after a good pause before uttering his friend's surname.
"Of course," He mumbled with a slight nod, unable to face in the same direction as his long-time friend.
Knock! Knock!
With the final hour upon them or what certainly felt like that to them, Soun and Genma froze, seemingly in time with how still they had become. Whoever was there was choosing to remain quiet when speaking to Kasumi.
The door which was a straight shot from the entrance, opened as in stepped Kasumi, and following closely behind her was Ranma in girl form and Ryoga. Neither could believe what they were seeing! The supposed heir to the Anything Goes style of martial arts was holding hands with Ryoga!
"Hey! Whatta' think you're doing holding his hand so-" Genma shot off as he pointed an accusing finger at the Lost Lover Boy.
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"Back off old man!" Ranma warned getting in between her Father's finger and Ryoga, giving him a look she'd reserved for any enemies.
"Please show some respect, please stop holding Ranma's hand," Soun suggested while staying strong, despite how abysmally he may have felt inwardly.
"With all due respect, I've earned my spot by Ranma's side…" Ryoga remarked, choosing to stay strong in this moment like Ranma but in his own way and to further cement his statement he tugged Ranma back to his side.
"I-I'll go make some tea!" Kasumi felt a nervous sweatdrop forming on her head, feeling like there was enough tension in the room to drown in.
Kasumi quickly sought a way out or at least something to buy her some time.
"I take it you've come here to explain what that means exactly," Soun continued as if meeting Ryoga's claim like a challenge.
"I would but I take it that Ranma has a lot more to say than I do," The focused yellow-clad teen responded, then looked at his girlfriend.
"First off, I wanna say that we ain't holding hands 'cause it's some new craze or nutin, we're going out now!" Ranma announced clearly and almost plainly before closing her eyes and hugging Ryoga's arm.
Ryoga needed to stay focused, although his face was several shades of red deeper than usual he would be Ranma's rock.
"Y-You can't be serious! H-How did this even happen!? Aren't you?" Soun demanded in an angry panic, darting his head between the two as if he couldn't decide who to settle his gaze on more.
"A boy?" Ranma inquired, raising a skeptical brow. "If I remember long ago you said that you'd try and marry me if I was a girl, you didn't seem to have a problem with that then…" she recalled the offer and the stomach-churning that happened after.
The anger and blood near his head shot through faster than a bullet, what had Soun attempted before Ranma and him had gotten together? 'Then he has the nerve to bring up Ranma being with me!?' Ryoga thinks to himself while giving Soun a look that could melt iron.
Soun had no ammunition against that, so he turned to his old friend.
"Have you gone and lost your mind boy? Have you already forgotten what'll happen to you if your mother finds out you can become a woman? Imagine adding a boyfriend to that list!?" Genma demanded to know with one arm clenched and the other used to make the slit-throat gesture.
"Wait! Your Mom doesn't know about your curse and why should me being your boyfriend make that worse!?" Ryoga asked with a shocked and worried expression, after they had just gotten together and now he had this to worry about?
"Yeah, I think you oughta know something about me Ryoga…" Ranma's voice trailed in uncertainty, her eyes drifting down to their hands.
"Being with Ryoga was never an option for you Ranma so do yourselves both a favor an-" Soun pestered, crossing his arms.
"What? Break up so Akane and I can go back to forcing our relationship some more?" Ranma inquired of Soun then looked back at her boyfriend.
"Soun's being honest at the same time too! You know what the contract says!" Genma warned further, hoping this would be the line to save his further tenancy at the Tendo abode.
"Contract?" Ryoga asked, tilting his head to one side as he held up her hand and held in both of hers.
"It ain't like I had much of a choice, Pops here had the brilliant idea of tricking me when I was little into signing a seppuku contract…" Ranma replied, pursing her lips and avoiding eye contact.
"When were you planning on telling me this?" Ryoga looked hurt, his eyes trembling.
"We just hooked up! It was gonna be soon I swear! And now since the c-cat's outta the bag I might as well!" Ranma reminded and then glared at her Father before returning her study to her worried boyfriend.
"Oh yeah…" Ryoga's voice trailed, it was something silly considering they hadn't even been a couple for a whole day yet.
"Lucky you're so good-looking," Ranma commented with a roll of her eyes and a smile.
"Keep the lovey-dovey stuff to a minimum you two!" Genma ordered with a narrowing of his eyes.
Ryoga had responded to Ranma's comment with a wide-eyed look of terror, then calmed down when he heard Genma speaking up. "I'll be as lovey-dovey as I want so go ahead and explain Ranma, I'll do whatever I can for you!" Ryoga although spoke firmly, a tightness in his chest spoke otherwise.
"This ain't gonna be easy but do you really mean that, Big Guy?" Ranma asked softly, feeling like the conditions didn't really favor her being a woman and especially not being a strong man's girlfriend.
"For a good part of my life, I've been alone, just trying to survive, hoping sometimes that someone would save me from it all and now I know that, you're that someone Ranma, that someone I didn't know I've been chasing for so-sooo long…" Ryoga answered as honestly as he could, they had just started dating and even he didn't know where these words were coming from since he was speaking from his soul; his inner deepest depths.
Soun stared in disbelief, he had certainly never seen Ranma get that way for Akane when it came to expressing himself, well, it certainly came as a surprise but without thinking his eyes wandered over to Ranma and of course Ranma's shocked expression but a light blush on her face coupled with a wide eyed look of admiration. Though, when he turned to Genma he noticed that even he had a slight blush on his face too.
"The seppuku contract says that it'd let Pops over here train me until I can be a man amongst men and if I can't live up to that ideal son…" Ranma began softly but then found herself losing confidence the longer she spoke.
Ryoga's eyes trembled when he looked at Ranma and then Genma, though he stopped at Genma and found his aura flaring to intense dark heights, it seeped through so deeply that it was being projected in the form of a shadow lion with red eyes as it glared down Genma. That was the most terrifying part, Ryoga's shadow lion came as a really good contender though but the look of utter hate the bandanna-wearing boy was giving him was worse.
"Chill! If he never got in the way or had that stupid contract we would've never met!" Ranma said, doing her best to quell his rage if only for now.
"I-I did what I had to!" Genma defends. "The arts sometimes require sacrifice!"
"Sacrifice that ignores Ranma's wants and needs you dirty piece–" Ryoga fired at Genma with such intense hate it pierced through the sometimes Panda into a fear-prone fool who fell back on his ass as he watched that shadow lion with murder-filled red eyes staring down at him.
"Hey! I said, "Chill", remember!?" Ranma then removed her hand from his and placed both of hers on the sides of his face, forcing his attention back into those alluring sapphire orbs she called eyes.
"But he deserves it!" Ryoga contested but hadn't made an effort to take her hands off his face.
"Hey! I never said he ain't gonna get what he deserves!" Ranma announced, making it clear that her Father wasn't in a safe position now even if he had made this contract years ago since in both their eyes it was a vile thing to force a child into a contract that forcibly denies them some routes towards fulfillment; specifically the one road to happiness they were on.
"You mean that?" Ryoga asked, thinking for the most part weren't girlfriends supposed to advertise against violence for past deeds and move on; not Ranma apparently.
"Yeah, just not right now, ya know?" Ranma asked with a soft smile, gazing into his eyes with such a blatant cute smile.
"Screw it…" Ryoga's voice trailed and quaked in want and need, suddenly grabbing Ranma by her hips and kissing her.
"Hey!" Genma once again tried to interrupt until he noticed Ryoga raising his hand up and flipping the bald fool the bird.
Genma was so shocked that he started casually sliding himself closer to Soun, more than likely plotting to hide behind his best friend as some sort of human shield.
"There's no denying it anymore, despite all the things in the way you're still willing to go so far, all I can say is that I wish you'd have done the same for Akane…" Soun commented after a while, then noticed from the corner of his eyes that his old friend Genma was inching closer to him.
The two shared a deep but somewhat short-lived spell as Ranma was the one to pull back, "Cool your jets man!" she ordered with an embarrassed blush, not expecting to have been kissed for what she had said.
"I couldn't help it…" Ryoga replied somewhat sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand while the other remained firmly on his girl's hip.
"It's okay." Ranma looked off to the side as she then tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Since you two came here to tell me this, you both must be aware of what'll happen if you choose to not marry my dear Akane?" Soun wanted to know.
"Yeah! We'll be out on our asses and onto the streets boy if you don't!" Genma roared, feeling his strength return to him as Soun's words brought some much-needed bravado back into the out-of-shape mentor.
Ranma, reminded of this fact, looked down onto the ground between her and her Ryoga.
"You don't have to be! You two can live at my house!" Ryoga exclaimed as he put the hand he had used to rub the back of his neck to caress his redhead's face.
"What! Do you really think your parents would approve of that!?" Genma shot back, his anger dwindling a little and although that sounded like a solution how could he back that up?
"I'd do whatever it takes! I'd beg, I'd demand that they let you two live there or live on the streets like before!" Ryoga declared without hesitation, although he was more worried about convincing Ranma of that.
"I-I wouldn't care if we ended up in the streets again, having a home is really more Pop's whole deal but if it'll keep him off your back and let us be together and junk…" Ranma answered, her voice trailing softly, looking in Ryoga's opinion so beautiful.
"I guess that means it's up to…" Ryoga muttered gently then looked at who could be his future Father-in-law.
"Soun, are you sure I can't stay here?" Genma asked in a dead-serious tone, trying to weigh all his options.
"I'm afraid not old friend but as I said to you earlier, know that my door is always open to you for visits…" Soun offered a soft but sad smile.
"Your home ain't too far from here is it?" Genma asked but then realized getting an answer like that from Ryoga probably wasn't a good idea so he then turned to his son.
"I ain't too far from here, so, I guess that means we ought to start packing our stuff?" Ranma questioned.
"It'd be for the best but I honestly don't know how Akane will feel about this sudden departure, are you sure you wouldn't rather wait till she's here for your final goodbye?" Soun implored with a calm frown.
"Kind of already did when I accepted Ryoga at the park…" Ranma revealed with a sigh but knew that she had to do what she did.
"Then I suppose you two might want to take all you can carry today with you, then come back for the rest later…"
"If it's alright, I don't mind paying for you to ship it to my house." Ryoga offered as he then turned to look at Soun.
"Thank you," Soun replied. "Are you sure I can't change your mind, Ranma?"
"Sorry. I like Akane and maybe we can still be friends and all but my heart's set on Ryoga…" Ranma explained while moving over to hug her man with the top of her head nuzzling against Ryoga's neck.
To this the two fathers averted their eyes, this had all turned out as bad as they thought it would, or at the very least from Soun's perspective.
From outside the room, the door closest to the kitchen slid open, and on the other side was the eldest Tendo sister with a tray full of cups of tea.
"Tea? Anyone?" She asked as a tear streaked down her face.
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Change is often said to be too much for some to take, even more so when it feels like a chance was cut tragically short. A lifetime of moments feeling like a distant whisper, a call to different times, it was all for the best though both Kasumi and Soun would face this new direction in their lives as best they could.
"You take care of Ranma and both of you feel free to visit whenever you like!" Kasumi wished them the best as she clasped her hands together and gave her best happy face.
"O-of course! By any chance do you know how far away from here it is?" Soun inquired as he met with a map Genma had taken out.
"I took the time to mark it on the map for you," Genma stated as he handed his friend the map in his Gi.
"Thank you," Soun thanked, taking the map and checking where they had marked it. "Well, that's not too far, might take twenty minutes or so on foot but I'd say it's still more than manageable!"
"So, shogi later tomorrow?" Genma asked with a grin.
"I'd enjoy that, old friend!" Soun replied as he returned the sentiment.
"We're sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear but Ranma and I found each other also because of Akane and your deal so, thank you for taking care of Ranma for me!" Ryoga showed his appreciation and even went as far as bowing, 'Even if you tried to marry a sixteen-year-old still straight Ranma…' his thoughts trailed in annoyance.
"Sorry for all the trouble too!" Ranma apologized, aware of how much damage he had either intentionally or unintentionally caused them.
"I'm sure Nabiki will find some way you can make up for those Ranma, I can almost assure you of that!" Soun chuckled and then looked at Genma. "Just Ranma!" He clarified which caused Genma to nod in appreciation.
"Whatever…" Ranma scoffed but shrugged right after and took Ryoga's hand in her own while her other hand grabbed her backpack strap.
Ryoga's eyes softened as he met Ranma's look of affection and warmth, his hand gently holding hers in his as his redheaded lover began their walk to their new home.
"Do you two really got to hold-" Genma started but screamed in pain as he was elbowed by his child.
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Clearing debris or any stray leaves from the front of his office was an activity the good doctor quite enjoyed because it meant that he didn't have to worry anyone about some sudden condition that could turn out only to be his patient's wild imagination. Only the gentle murmurs of the wind and birds tweeting softly in the distance for him.
"So where am I gonna' be sleeping?" Genma's irritable voice bellowed.
"We have a guest room," Ryoga calmly answered.
"What!? I lost a perfectly good room for a guest room. Shouldn't you have more respect for a man you got kicked out and whose son you're dating!?"
"Yeah! That's why my room is reserved for Ranma and me!" Ryoga responded with equal anger.
"Girlfriend privileges Pops! Course he's gonna save a bed for me!" Ranma added with a chuckle following.
At first Doctor Tofu stopped sweeping as he heard Genma, not sure what to make of the eldest Saotome's words but his eyes widened when he heard Ryoga as the one to answer. Then it became apparent when Ranma's girl form said that she had certain privileges.
"Ranma?" Dr. Tofu uttered as if he needed to confirm for himself.
"Doctor Tofu!" Ryoga said excitedly, being the first to notice him and break away from the argument between him and his girlfriend's Father.
"Yo! Tofu!" Ranma held up a hand salute while gently tightening her hold on Ryoga's hand.
"I see you've taken the time to figure out your feelings since last we talked," Dr. Tofu smiled after his initial shock had worn off.
"He did a lot more than that, took my nice warm bed away from me…" Genma muttered begrudgingly.
"You didn't even have a bed at the Tendos…" Ryoga's voice trailed in annoyance before he cleared his throat with his free hand.
To this, Genma stood still and his mouth fell agape as his ruse was easily seen through.
"I did by the way and I guess our talk helped me find out Ranma's my type," He answered and scratched his cheek with a blush, chuckling in a light-hearted way but almost as if he was still in disbelief as to why this felt so right.
"Guess it didn't go too well with Soun," Dr. Tofu commented as his eyes focused on the large travel gear all three had on their backs.
"So you went to Tofu about your feelings for me?" Ranma inquired at first looking as though she were offended but simmered down as she considered she might have done the same thing herself.
"Yeah, he was quite the mess but I didn't think to push on it too much just help him better understand and I guess this would explain much of what Ukyo's been through since she was sent here," Tofu remarked.
"Oh man, with all that's been happening, I can't believe…" Ranma commented then started to look down, she may not have been romantically involved with Ukyo but she had still been his childhood friend that she had even called her cute fiancé once upon a time.
"That's fine. though. Would you like to go see her? Maybe handle some unsettled business?" Doctor Tofu more suggested than asked as he ushered to his clinic with a gesture of his hand.
Ranma really wanted to indulge in her relationship with Ryoga, even if her Father had to be an annoying tag-along, 'Still, Ukyo deserves some kind of closure, especially cause I've called her my cute fiance before,' she thought then looked at Ryoga with eyes that she hoped would convey her message to her boyfriend.
Reading the message loud and clear, Ryoga nodded his head and gently let go of her hand. The Eternally Lost Boy watched her walk off and then drop her backpack off before continuing to go inside.
"Ryoga!" The redhead called out as she stopped right outside the door and turned her head around to smile at him.
"Y-yeah? Ranma?" Ryoga asked as his voice quaked.
"I'm all yours no matter what happens, so relax Handsome!" She called before winking at him and opening the door to walk inside, giggling a little as she could hear Ryoga gasping, no doubt flustered over her flirting, sadly though she'd have to miss that hilarious show.
"I'd honestly thought he'd be in his twenties by the time he'd figure all this out, have to admit I'm surprised…" Tofu commented before following after her.
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How long had it been since Ukyo had taken that blow from Ranma? Or how long had it been since Tofu had to sedate her again? All the okonomiyaki chef knew was that she felt heavy and still sore all over.
The events from the day replayed in her head, to think she had gone as low as working with Kodachi, 'Ryoga's too much of a threat and I'm here and can't stop him and-and…' she thought and groaned, trying to move but only managing to make her right leg twitch.
"She's in here, Ranma…" The good doctor mentioned.
Ukyo made her eyes shoot open, her vision blurred, and then she blinked, making her heavily smudged view lesson to a slightly clearer one.
"R-Ranma?" she muttered then blinked hard again, gritting her teeth to then open them and see the door to the slowly opening and revealing as closely behind him was her Ranma honey, albeit a girl, she didn't care! This was her chance! Had the Gods somehow heard her cries and granted her this beautiful opportunity?
"Ukyo! Ah, man! I didn't think it was this bad! I'm sorry I haven't visited sooner and junk but a lot happened and where the hell do I even start?" Ranma began in a panic and then sounded defeated as this was all so much even for her.
"You should be okay Ukyo, just try to stay calm…" The kind doctor allowed her to speak as he held a clipboard up against his chest.
"I take it you let Ryoga down easily?" Ukyo began, faintly remembering her final words to Ranma before she blacked out.
"Uh…" Ranma wanted to explain but stopped as she hadn't expected to so immediately dash Ukyo's hopes. "Well, not exactly…" Ranma awkwardly didn't know how to approach the subject, so she rubbed the back of her neck while her other hand twirled her wrist.
"We should wait a little–" Ryoga's voice echoed outside the room.
"Wait my foot! The boy's brash and probably just broke the news!" Genma's words followed the echoes of the Lost Boy's.
"News? What news?" Ukyo groaned as she sat up, flinching from the pain as she sat up, seeing that was already getting close in order to keep her probably seated upright.
"Well, I didn't 'exactly' let Ryoga down…" Ranma began with an uneasy demeanor.
"Don't go barging in like that! My Ranma is having a moment!" Ryoga demanded as he was heard making a grunting noise as a thud followed outside.
"Or at all," Ranma revealed with a wide-eyed look, blushing lightly since there was no more point in hiding it.
"Doctor Tofu am I hallucinating or hearing things? Both?" Ukyo questioned the doctor who merely met her eyes before looking away.
"No. A little groggy but overall you're hearing and seeing things very clearly…" Tofu answered in a low voice.
"Oh, that's what I thought you said…" Ukyo looked faint all over again before she saw Ranma reach out and shake her shoulder to keep her there with them.
"Ukyo! Focus! It's true! I'm with Ryoga and to prove it…" Ranma started off shouting but when the subject reached Ryoga her voice trailed and softened.
"You two can come in now." Tofu spoke loudly enough for the two outside to hear.
"Is everything okay, Ranma?" Ryoga inquired as he opened the door and moved over to the redhead.
"Guess I should have waited…" Genma commented as he awkwardly shuffled into the room.
"So guess I should just spill, Ryoga and I are…" Ranma started but buttoned her lips for a second as she retracted her hand from Ukyo's shoulder.
"I hope you're not about to say what I think you are." Ukyo didn't want to accept it but it was happening right in front of her.
To help her onward, Ranma's fang-toothed lover placed his hand on her shoulder, making her look into his eyes before finding the courage to meet her childhood friend's eyes.
"Dating!" They both announced and suddenly, dreamy looks in their eyes as they both stared into each other's eyes right after.
"She fainted…" Dr. Tofu said, sighing as he held the brown-haired girl's unconscious form.
"Poor girl, it was more than she could bear to take…" Genma remarked, sighing and crossing his arms.
Both Ranma and Ryoga lowered their heads in defeat, honestly, what had they expected? She was waking up from being sedated and everything. Though perhaps it was best to rip this off like a really old band-aid they figured.
"I'll talk to her some more when she wakes up but as for me, congratulations to you two!" Dr. Tofu said as he looked at the two love birds.
"Thanks, I hope she can understand next time we get to talking." Ranma smiled at her unconscious former cute fiancé.
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After they left, the three set back on their trip to Ryoga's house. Once again the two teenage martial artists held hands as they journeyed onwards. The walk was relatively silent as they neared their destination.
"How much further, boy?"
"How should I know?" Ryoga asked.
"Not you boy! My boy!"
"Huh? Sorry. I thought you meant Ryoga too, we're almost there." Ranma answered as she darted her head from right to left, making sure they were around familiar landmarks.
"Remember that you're still a man! Thinking I meant Ryoga is not becoming of a man amongst men!" The bald sensei remarked while pointing a finger at the redhead.
"Hard to do that when I'm also someone's girlfriend, Pops…" Ranma replied, blowing a strand of her hair away from her face.
"So wait, you still see yourself as my son but also as Ryoga's girlfriend?" Genma questioned as he pointed his finger at himself.
"Well duh! Just know that now when you're talking to us when I'm a girl, I'll get confused if you call me boy," Ranma elaborated with a shrug until they turned one more corner and saw Ryoga's house in the distance.
"So does that mean you're still trying to be a man among men!?" Genma questioned as he saw the two other members of their trio running over to the house the cursed panda man hadn't ever seen.
"Course it does! Ryoga ain't about changing me!" Ranma exclaimed as she ran while holding Ryoga's hand.
"Ranma's the best of both worlds to me, so she's whoever she wants to be!" Ryoga declared as they continued to run.
"That means then, not much has really changed…" Genma at first had tried to keep up but the longer they spoke the more the Father of the Saotome's realized he had no leg to stand on when it came to being against Ryoga; except the contract really.
"Here we are!" Ryoga took a step towards his home and presented like a showman while his other hand still held Ranma's.
All the while Genma had slowed down, clutching the straps to his backpack as he allowed the oddity of this relationship to settle within his psyche. Torn away from those thoughts, he looked up as he vaguely heard Ryoga saying something but failed to hear him as his mind settled on the lovely-looking home in front of him.
"Not bad…" The spectacled Saotome remarked as he made a soft whistling sound.
"I think I heard Checker's moving around," Ryoga added as he tilted his head back, blinking as he focused on his hearing, all the while his other hand dug around his pocket with his free hand to fish out his house keys.
Click!
The door opened with a slow creaking sound and on the other side was the sound of shuffling then the sound of a plastic doggy door slamming shut.
Woof! Woof!
"Hey, girl!" Ryoga exclaimed as he let go of Ranma's hand and dropped to his knees in order to pet his black and white furry friend.
Flipping the light switch on behind Ryoga the redhead looked around and noticed that the house looked cleaner than usual.
"Huh. I don't remember coming back to dust this place off…" Ranma remarked as she put her hands on her hips.
"Mom must've been here and if we're lucky she brought some food home too," Ryoga added, then closed one eye as Checker's licked his face which he could only chuckle and smile at.
"So, where's my room?" Genma asked as he gave Ryoga's home an appreciative once-over glance.
"Should be on the second floor, should we show him?" Ryoga asked, looking at Ranma.
"I'm hungry so let's make this quick," Ranma answered as she grabbed Ryoga's hand and ran up the stairs with him.
"I'm hungry too so don't forget to call me when it's time to eat!" Genma reminded them as he did his best to keep up.
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After everything Ranma and Ryoga had gone through, this was a welcomed moment of peace. Genma sat in the living room on the couch throughout most of it, while Ranma with the help of Ryoga ended up making dinner for the night and when finished they brought the food into the living room.
All the while Genma would give them disgruntled looks as they leaned on each other while they ate and enjoyed whatever show they were watching.
Eventually, day turned into night, steam rising from a pipe atop Ryoga's home.
Ranma in male form reached the last step before reaching the second floor, dressed in boxers and a white muscle shirt, one hand holding one end of the towel slung over his shoulder while his other carried a glass of cold water.
"Can't believe I'm doing this but the fact I'm dating the guy means I can't believe anything anymore," Ranma reasoned, or rather reasoned his lack thereof.
Putting the futon out and next to his bed the fang-toothed teen finished by placing his pillow down and pulling the cover back. "I still can't believe how natural this all feels like I was meant to find Ranma, Ranma of all people…" Ryoga's voice began softly and warmly, but then he scoffed and chuckled before his voice went trailing off, entering a very pleasant state of disbelief.
Creak…!
"Yo Ryoga! I got a deal I'd like to make!" Ranma announced as he marched in with his glass of water, stopping only to notice that Ryoga had set out a futon and looked as though he was about to go ahead and get in it.
"Oh? What kind of deal?" Ryoga wondered while blushing lightly, his eyes sparing a glance at the glass of water in Ranma's hand not sure if Ranma meant to do anything with it or if he was just thirsty.
"Do you want to sleep in separate beds as guys or do you want a pretty redhead for the night?" The pigtailed martial artist laid out his boyfriend's options before closing the door behind him with his bare foot.
The instant the second part of Ranma's offer was heard, Ryoga's nose almost fired like a cannon before he reached out for the tissues in his room and caught it. "I-I'd like my-my pretty redhead if that's fine," Ryoga answered.
"Ya, sure? That one has some conditions pig boy and there ain't no backing out if you do…" Ranma smirked mostly from how cute Ryoga's reaction was to him but also because he was so predictable and easily swayed when it came to time with his girl side.
"Is it about me telling Akane about P-chan?" Ryoga asked after a second, calming down and figuring there must have been some conditions and they had said they would.
"Yeah. I also got a few other things I wanna talk about…" Ranma added to hopefully make this lessen the tension.
"Alright, mind if I ask some questions too?" Ryoga asked before agreeing to the deal.
"If I can, I gotta admit sometimes I don't know what to think about somethings…" Ranma answered plainly.
"Fine. Now can I please get my gorgeous redhead?" Ryoga answered then smiled softly and a bit pleading by how he clasped his hands together.
"Sure thing-" Ranma started as he lifted the glass over his head before tipping it onto his head. "Handsome!" female Ranma finished, swaying her neck to one side alluringly, the water from the glass leaving her damp but beautiful.
Ryoga took some steps back and allowed himself to sit on the side of his bed, watching as his redhead dried off her head with the towel she had swung around her shoulders. Once done she discarded it and with a seductive smile, she sauntered over to her mesmerized boyfriend.
"So now that we've got some time, I got to say Ranma, I'm not sure how to approach the whole thing about Akane to be honest…" Ryoga admitted as he looked down at the floor and the futon next to the bed.
"How'd it even happen? Did she hug you naked or something?" Ranma jokingly scoffed but as she approached the bed and took a seat next to her man.
"Uh, not exactly," Ryoga answered with a nervous chuckle.
"You're kidding! That was just a joke! And how not exactly!?" Ranma demanded to know, leaning in with narrowed eyes.
"Calm down! This was before we were together, remember!?" Ryoga leaned back waving his hands in front of himself defensively.
"R-Right! S-still, h-how far?" Ranma asked awkwardly, easing away from being so close, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I-I tried to look away and I was P-chan…" Ryoga stammered as he began, holding a hand out while the other rubbed the back of his neck.
"How far…?" Ranma asked again, sounding irked the longer he stalled.
"I didn't mean to and it just sorta' got worse!"
"P-chan…" Ranma trailed, beginning to scowl.
"Her panties and bra, up to her chest," Ryoga admitted slouching forward with his arms down to his sides.
"And you said you weren't trying to look?" Ranma questioned with a softer tone now, making Ryoga do a second take as he gawked at her.
"Of course! Hell! That was one time and a kiss to the snout! Besides that, she'd pummel me in her sleep!" Ryoga exclaimed as he remembered all the painful beatings he'd get whenever the middle Tendo sister wanted a "Teddy" of sorts.
"Oh yeah! Hell, that means if either of us ever got with her we'd be sleeping in separate beds for sure…" Ranma took the time to think things through, raising a quizzical brow as she went through the facts.
In this moment of understanding, Ranma felt her heart swell, she was actually talking to someone about something and thinking it through rather than just getting hurt and or hurling insults. Now she felt rather silly and started to laugh quietly to herself.
"Alright, you got about a week and no more P-brain…" Ranma pouted as she then looked away.
"So, can I ask you something now too?" Ryoga asked suddenly, then looked to the side and tapped his two index fingers together.
"Oh yeah! I said I would, so what do you wanna know?" His redhead asked, kind of glad to change the subject now.
"How do you see yourself now that you're with me?" Ryoga asked, unsure if his question was specific enough.
"Are you asking if I feel like a girl now that we're dating?" The blue-eyed beauty tilted her head to one side.
"I guess so and I guess I've been curious because you just act like yourself but are willing to be my girlfriend and that makes it hard to tell," Ryoga voiced his thoughts on the touchy subject, hoping he had danced around that well enough to get an answer.
"I feel like it's because I can be myself with you but instead of just using my girl side to get free stuff or sumthin, I use it to figure out why I'm so into you…" Ranma answered as best she could.
"So I make you want to be a girl?" Ryoga looked at her with wide glimmering eyes.
"S-sometimes! Especially when you're being so damn charming and stuff," Ranma answered as she placed a hand on her cheek in an overly effeminate way.
"You mean like now?" Ryoga asked, choking up a little as his eyes focused on her hand cradling her cheek like a girl who had just been swooning.
"Huh?" Ranma asked, leaning back with a confused look and then noticed where and how her hand had been positioned on her face, blushing before putting her hand back down onto her side.
"N-no! That one was an accident!" Ranma admitted bashfully.
"So I know you were attracted to Akane but never any other guy," Ryoga speculated openly.
"This is gettin' real personal Ryoga but if it'll ease your mind about our relationship, I guess if I had to say I'm still into the idea of girls but there isn't a girl out there that I really like in the same way I-I like you…" Ranma said becoming more hesitant the longer she spoke.
"So I'm the only man you've ever loved?" Ryoga asked as the conclusion dawned on him like an explorer stumbling across a whole new world.
Ranma felt her heart stop for a moment but she recovered as quickly as she could, she wanted to say something but couldn't immediately.
"S-something like that." She managed to answer rather nervously.
Suddenly the redhead found herself getting held from the side, her face this time feeling like it was bound to explode or something with how much it was starting to match her hair.
"I'm fine with that and that's so like you too," Ryoga remarked with his eyes closed and a genuine smile, eyes widening when he felt Ranma's arms wrap around him in return albeit in a much more shy way.
"There you go again charming me and junk," Ranma sighed but despite sounding tired her embrace was just as strongly met as Ryoga's.
"So, do you have any questions for me?" Ryoga asked as he pulled back.
"If you can't tell Akane about P-chan, can you at least break it off with Akari? I know I helped set you two up but now that we're a thing then we gotta start being honest…" Ranma began, knowing that Ryoga had a hard time with this but she remembered that he had mentioned going to see her before.
"T-That's right! This is gonna be so awkward since she and I have been on a few dates and stuff…" Ryoga said as he thought about it but remembered that he was happily committed to Ranma now.
"So?" Ranma quietly goaded, looking hopeful.
"You got it, the next time we see her I'll let her know that we're a couple now," Ryoga answered sweetly and with a soft nod of his head. "In fact…" He realized then pulled away from Ranma and reached for his wallet on the nightstand and opened it to reveal the pictures of Akane and Akari.
"Wait, are you about to?" Ranma questioned.
"Yeah, getting rid of them so I can maybe make room for someone else?" Ryoga said, making it seem more like a request than just something he was going to do.
"I-I think we can work something out," Ranma answered suddenly and with a deep blush.
Ryoga took that as confirmation so he took the photos of his two former ideas of love and started tearing them apart, dropping the remains in the small trash can Ryoga kept in his room.
"I know you want me to talk to them but I hope that helped…" he remarked but when he turned to see Ranma he could see her hand on his cheek and her closing some of the distance.
"I know I said you'd have to earn these but you keep saying and doing stuff that just makes me to-to…" Ranma said with an intense hint of desire in her voice.
"You already broke that before too…" Ryoga remembered as his eyes wandered down to her lips, the energy she was giving off the Lost Boy met with equal passion, grabbing her by her hips and bringing her in closer to him.
"Still can't believe you flipped off my old man," Ranma said in a hoarse tone before capturing Ryoga's lips with her own.
"That a bad thing?" Ryoga asked after their first kiss.
"Pfft! No." Ranma answered suppressing a laugh before Ryoga leaned in to kiss her, closing her eyes as they lingered but then continued.
Exhaling through their noses they began to kiss each other longer, deeper now, both closing their eyes as they became possessed by the spirit of the moment. For in this instance neither wanted anything other than the other's passionate embrace and kisses. The weight of their repressed feelings now seemed to fade as Ranma joined Ryoga in becoming a lost person like her lover, all thought ceased to be, and in its place were the glowing embers of a burning passion.
They had done this before but now it was after hooking up and at Ryoga's house of all places, already moving in, seeing as the conditions for the two schools being united weren't met but neither felt the fear of obligation that a predetermined promise brought with it. Against all odds their rivalry and dislike couldn't outweigh their passions and interests, the things they had in common, and how those things brought them to each other.
Unable to control himself Ryoga continued to act without thinking, reaching for Ranma's hands he grabbed her by her wrists and pushed her back gently on his bed so she was on her back with her arms pinned to her sides but she moved as though his actions hadn't registered, the bed beneath creaking once before going silent.
"Mwaaah!" They both pulled back with the deepest shades of red they had up to date, however, now they were smiling like giddy lovestruck fools and though their mouths moved there weren't any actual words being said more just sounds of how much that they had enjoyed themselves that the words they had actual need of didn't exist to describe what they had just gone through.
Becoming so in tune with the other they felt a strange synchrony compel them to stop babbling for a moment, also maybe their thoughts had finally stopped swarming long enough for them to notice the non-words that seemed to be spewing from their mouths.
"You're getting better…" They both managed to say at the same time with honest expressions on their faces.
Both looked away while pursing their lips, then noticed from the corner of their eyes that they were basically doing the same thing which was much like when they said the same thing.
Unsure why this scared them they widened their eyes at each other, "Y-you can ease up now…" Ranma said, voice trailing as she flexed her wrists a little to let her raven-haired lover know they were done.
"O-oh! S-sorry that hadn't even occurred to me that-that…" Ryoga explained, voice trailing as he blushed and backed away, sitting cross-legged on his bed now.
"It's okay, I didn't know till just now either tiger," Ranma eased Ryoga's worry as she flicked her pigtail behind her.
"Really?" Ryoga gawked in amazement, surprised that Ranma of all people could be this good a girlfriend.
"Can't blame you if you get a little carried away with all of this?" She asked giving Ryoga an alluring smile and a fluttering of her lashes, to further sell this point she even stuck her chest outwardly.
"Cocky as ever I see," Ryoga half blurted out with a chuckle, closing his eyes while blushing before opening them, giving her a fanged smirk.
"You already know–" Ranma was going to gloat further but her mouth suddenly opened and a yawn escaped her throat.
"I guess–" Ryoga caught the contagious feeling, though, it was late in his opinion and it didn't come off as inconvenient but a reminder. "It's time for bed!" he forced past his yawn.
The redhead's yawn went on longer than her boyfriend's but that was of little corner to her as she eyed the spot on the bed and moved so she could pull back the sheets and crawl in.
Ryoga with a tired smile climbed under the sheets, resting on his back as he looked to his left and saw his redhead also on her back. "Good night, Ranma."
For a second he paused as if expecting Ranma to say good night back but instead found her remaining in silence.
"Actually before we call it a night, I wanted to let you know if you feel like holding me while we sleep, I-I wouldn't try to stop you or nutin…" Ranma's voice trailed as if even she couldn't believe she was letting this happen but the spell of love Ryoga cast on her was just strong enough to make Ranma a smidge more experimental.
"Are you sure? I mean we've done this before…" Ryoga began as he sat up a little.
"I didn't think I'd ever feed you willingly and look how that changed so are you really shocked this could change too?" Ranma asked as she lowered her head a little while blushing.
"You're the best!" Ryoga beamed as he wrapped his arms around her, spooning her closely and affectionately while doing his best to fight off his nosebleeds from how much of Ranma's girl form was pressed up against him.
"You're damn right," Ranma answered with a hoarse voice and a bold smile, doing her best to stay as calm as she could.
"Goodnight, Gorgeous…"
"Goodnight, Handsome…"
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This is the part I enjoy most of about Ranma and Ryoga, yeah, normally they'd fight but if they put their problems aside they make for some great character moments that can be really fun or kind of unexpected but in a good way. I know some wonder why I can't see that in Akane and it's because she just doesn't feel right for Ranma for me and I'm not saying I'm right I just prefer an alternative pairing more than the actual canon pairing. I tried to give Akane that chance but like an actor you just can't get too into I couldn't get too into Akane. Please be respectful of my view, canon although can make you right about the story and it's direction that doesn't automatically mean any pairing is without it flaws. We're all deserve respect. ^^
I hope whoever read this enjoyed the fluff and hints for the future!
Foxes from the Foxxy~
DaisukiFox~