Ryoga's Girlfriend Chapter 15
By: DaisukiFox
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The morning sun's rays filtered through Ryoga's curtains, casting a warm glow over the two martial artists tangled between the sheets. As Ryoga stirred awake from his sleep, he gently fluttered his eyes open to see he was spooning his once rival-turned-girlfriend, her soft but also strong form pressed against his chest.
He smiled warmly as he watched her sleep, tilting his head to one side he saw that she had a peaceful expression on her face, 'Never seen Ranma sleep so soundly before, wonder if it's because she's got less to worry about?' Ryoga's thoughts mused this notion, causing a faint blush to appear on his face as he closed his eyes.
Once opened them again he saw a stray strand of hair, blinking about twice he tried to reach out for it but noticed he wasn't in a good position so he carefully maneuvered his body, lifting himself slightly just enough to create some space for him to reach for his pigtailed girlfriend's face. With an oh-so-tender touch, he brushed the loose bit of hair and tucked it behind her ear, he paused when doing this, his gaze fixed on just how stunning his martial arts goddess was.
That was until a sudden need arose within him, pursing his lips with a tense look he realized there was a certain morning ritual he needed attending to. "Should I wake Ranma or just go and come back?" Ryoga wondered softly.
Groaning in her sleep, the redhead began stirring as well. "Quiet down, man, I'm sleeping…" Ranma muttered softly as she got comfortable in her fang-toothed man's arms by snuggling closer.
"R-Ranma, sorry, but I need to head to the y'know…" Ryoga spoke much more quietly this time.
"Ugh, just when I was getting comfortable again…" Ranma muttered in a tired voice, clearly, in between awake and asleep.
"Sorry but nature's calling," Ryoga replied with flat eyes and pursed tense lips.
Ranma exhaled slowly, humming deeply as she gathered her wits as much as possible given her current state. Nodding once, she stirred in her sleep as she felt Ryoga's warmth leaving her back, "Now I think I gotta' go too." she mumbled.
With tired lumbering movements, the two slowly got out of bed, Ryoga went first before he leaned his head back and yawned. After he did so Ranma sat up, with her back slouched she yawned into her hand before sliding her legs so they could hang off to the side of Ryoga's bed before she stepped down and looked at Ryoga with her half-asleep eyes.
"Let's go…" Her voice trailed as she walked past Ryoga.
Perched on the backyard patio, the seasoned bald martial artist sat with his legs crossed, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The tranquility of the moment was lost on Genma, for as long as he was in this situation he couldn't help but remember what could become of him and Ranma should a certain someone show up.
A soft melody of nature played in his background, orchestrated by the tweets of a passing bird. His winged visitor alighted itself on the fence to his right, it gave him an inquisitive glance. For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked in a silent exchange.
"Don't suppose you know how to convince a woman who wanted a manly son to accept his boyfriend and not behead her husband and son, would ya?" The father of the Saotome's asked plainly, only for the bird to of course not understand him and fly away.
Honestly, what did he expect? He was now in a curious predicament, his son now had a boyfriend and from the sounds of it, Ranma seemed happier than ever. "It's only a matter of time till Nodoka finds us and starts asking questions, especially since Ranko and Mister Panda are no longer gonna' be hanging around the dojo…" Genma muttered to himself, his voice trailing in worry, he lowered his head with a deep contemplative look.
A visual of Soun suddenly appeared in his head, watching as he explained that Ranma and Genma were no longer residents of the house because his son had turned down Akane thus breaking their arranged marriage.
"I need to get to a phone!" Genma exclaimed as he shot up from his seated position turning around he went back inside to look for the phone.
"Now where was that…?" The middle-aged Saotome grumbled, eyes darting across the room until he looked at the kitchen then made his way over.
Cha-ka-Cha-ka!
The sound of the front door's knob was heard moving before it creaked open while Genma was in mid-step.
"Oh! Ryoga, sweetie! Please say you're-" A sweet-sounding sing-songy voice echoed out as the door swung open fully from the other side to reveal a woman with long wavy black hair, wearing a yellow housekeeping kimono with an apron, what stood out most about her had to be the speckled yellow and black headband she sported.
"H-hey! Before you go shouting just let me-" Genma began, warding evil and leaning back.
"Burglar!" The woman cried out with her eyes shut, and with little hesitation she rushed her surprised unwelcomed guest.
"No, wait!" Genma cried.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Ranma emerged from the bathroom, once she was out she saw that Ryoga had been standing with his arms crossed next to the bathroom door. The petite redhead yawned before stepping out and smacking her lips a little, her hair slightly disheveled.
"Okay, I'm all good," Ranma mumbled, rubbing one of her eyes when balled up fist before glancing at Ryoga.
They both locked eyes and shared a smile, "Ready to make some breakfast?" Ryoga inquired softly, uncrossing his arms as he held his hand out.
"More than ready, do you think you're ready?" Ranma inquired with a tired looking smile.
"I don't cook much but I should be able to help," Ryoga answered with a smirk, his cute fang poking out when doing so.
"You're about to get something way better than cups of ramen!" His girlfriend exclaimed with a smile as she took his hand into her own as they made their way to the top of the stairs.
"I already got something way better…" Ryoga replied during their trip.
"Am I really that tempting, big guy?" Ranma inquired with a cat-like smile at him, blushing lightly.
"Can you blame me when I've got all of this?" Ryoga inquired but also intentionally quoted Ranma from before as he turned to face her once they reached the top of the stairs, pulling his lovely slash fierce redhead in, his hands on her hips as they stopped.
"Alright, handsome, I'm game…" Ranma replied warmly, her cat-like smile changing into a coy one as she snaked her arms around his neck.
"Oh! Ryoga, sweetie! Please say you're-"
At that moment, right as Ryoga was leaning in, Ranma's sensual expression was briefly replaced by a furrowed brow, "Wait is-" Ranma tried to interrupt but was met with Ryoga's lips pressing firmly against her own.
"Mph!" Both moaned as they closed their eyes, inhaling through their noses as they got lost in the moment.
"Burglar!"
"No, wait!"
It was then that both Ranma and Ryoga opened their eyes and pulled away from each other, each for different but related reasons as they heard the small but intense conversation going down stairs.
"Get out of my house!" The motherly woman demanded, taking several swings of her fists at Genma who could only attempt to dodge her strikes.
"You've got it all wrong!" Genma replied, ducking a swing before jumping back as she immediately followed her punch with a sweeping kick.
"Stop talking! You broke into my house and are trying to reason with me!?" She asked, thinking he's got such nerve.
"Wait! Mom!" Ryoga's voice called from the top of the stairs.
"Yeah! Hold up!" Ranma's voice followed.
"Ya see! Even your boy-" Genma made the mistake of thinking he must have been in the clear as he looked in the direction of the stairs, pointing over there but when he glanced away from the female Hibiki, she reached for Genma's outstretched arm and spun him around until she flung him over her shoulder, slamming him into the ground in front of Ranma and Ryoga.
THUD!
"Mom! Stop! That's my girlfriend's Dad!" Ryoga exclaimed once they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Huh! Girlfriend!?" The raven-haired lady looked up from Genma while still holding his arm, then to her son's right where his girlfriend was.
"H-Hey there! Misses Hibiki!" Ranma greeted awkwardly, waving with one hand while the other held her boyfriend's hand.
"Oh my! My little boy's finally found himself a woman!" She exclaimed before running over to them, not caring that she stepped on Genma's stomach as she made her way over to him.
"Omph!"
"Oh! I'm so sorry…" Ryoga's Mom said when she heard him groan, turning around with an apologetic look.
"Nah. It's okay…" Ranma answered, smirking as Genma grumbled something about an ungrateful child.
"Mom! It's so good to see you!" Ryoga declared as took a step forward to her.
"It's so good to see you too!" The Mother of the Hibiki's returned the sentiment before she turned around and embraced both her son and his girlfriend.
"Mom! Not so hard!" Ryoga exclaimed, feeling fine but when he looked at Ranma he could see that she was gasping for air.
"S-Sorry!" Ryoga's mother apologized as she took a step back with her hands over her mouth, smiling shortly after.
"I really should've seen that coming," Ranma remarked, placing her one free hand over her heart before sighing and then looking up at her boyfriend's maker.
"It's so nice to meet you, I'm Yumi, Yumi Hibiki." Ryoga's Mom introduced herself with a bow, clasping her hands together before doing so.
Seeing this, Ranma took a step back and punched her fist into her open palm before bowing in return. "The name's Ranma, Ranma Saotome."
"Ranma Saotome…?" repeated, tilting her head to the side as one of her fangs poked out from the corner of her mouth.
"I hate that Ranma guy so much Mom! Before he came around I was respected and everything! Then he shows up out of nowhere and makes a fool out of me every day!"
"Yeah, something wrong with that?" Ranma inquired with a befuddled look.
"I'm sorry, it's just my son knew a boy with that same name and I found it strange since the Ranma I'm thinking about was a boy…" remarked, surprised that she found herself taking a trip down memory lane.
As if on queue, Ranma and Ryoga averted their eyes as she had hit the nail on the head but neither seemed to know how to bring the topic up.
"That's because it is Ranma…" Genma's voice trailed as he sat up, rubbing his sore arm before pulling up his sleeve to find that his arm had started bruising from the pressure the small woman exerted to throw him.
"H-how can that be?" She nervously inquired, confused as she shifted her gaze to Ranma and then to her well endowed chest then to her son.
"Uh, there's a lot I need to explain to you…" Ryoga's voice trailed as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I should get some tea ready then," Yumi replied as she made her way into the kitchen.
"Aren't you bothered by the fact that my boy's with your boy?" Genma inquired as he got back up.
"I'm not sure what to think right now, I just know this is probably going to be complicated…" The non-cursed woman said as she went ahead of them; Ranma and Ryoga followed.
Inside Ryoga's kitchen, the tension felt thick enough to gag on, though, that was mainly the case in point for the newly formed couple. Even though this woman was Ryoga's Mother, there was still no certainty in whether or not she'd be for this new arrangement. Still, they had to try, Ranma and Ryoga knew this as they took seats next to each other, taking a seat at the table.
Yumi grabbed a teapot from a kitchen cabinet while Ranma and Ryoga took a seat near a round kitchen table. Genma rested his back against the kitchen archway, arms crossed as he watched the Hibiki mother setting a teapot on the stove.
"So how do you look like a girl but are a boy?" Yumi decided to cut to the chase since that seemed the most confusing thing about this whole situation.
"Pops here had the brilliant idea of training at a cursed spring one day, a place called Jusenkyo, I ended up falling into the spring of drowned girl and I kicked my old man into the spring of drowned panda…" Ranma elaborated while letting go of Ryoga's hand and crossing her arms, giving Genma a bitter look.
"So you're saying that you two have curses and that's why that boy Ranma from middle school is you? H-how?" she inquired with a raised brow as she took a seat across from Ranma and Ryoga.
"They're not the only ones with curses…" Ryoga's voice trailed as he looked off to the side, placing his right arm on the table in front of his and reaching behind his head to scratch it awkwardly.
"You haven't told your Mom about your curse, huh?" Ranma asked with a confused look, blinking about twice at Ryoga.
"It just never came up," Ryoga remarked quietly, feeling a bit silly for not telling her all the other times they had coincidentally met up again.
"I hope it's nothing too bad…" Yumi commented with a nervous laugh, placing her hands on her lap.
"I turn into a small baby pig," Ryoga admitted, closing his eyes and lowering his head in defeat.
"That sounds adorable!" Yumi exclaimed as she clapped her hands together.
"Mom!" Ryoga lifted his head with a look of dismay.
Ranma snickered a little from that response, her one free hand over her mouth as she faced her boyfriend. "Real cute, ain't ya P-chan?" The snarky redhead chided.
Yumi leaned back in surprise, laughing awkwardly as she blushed in embarrassment."So, do you mind a demonstration?"
"Course! Mind getting a glass of cold water?" Ranma inquired with an ever-so-polite tone.
Yumi fulfilled her request, getting out of her seat and taking a glass out of a cabinet in the kitchen before pulling out a glass and then filling it in the sink.
"You should be filling a pot and heating it first," Genma remarked as if it had been the most obvious thing in the world, even going as far as sounding disappointed with a tsk sound.
"Thank you!" Ranma exclaimed, holding it close to her chest before quickly dousing her Father with the cup.
"It's just like you said…" Yumi's voice trailed in utter shock before she gawked at the disgruntled Panda.
Ryoga stifled some laughter with a hand over his mouth, he looked at Ranma as she smiled innocently, the annoyed black and white bear turned to glare and no doubt mumbled obscenities at his only child while speaking in Panda.
"Can I see what you become?" The motherly Hibiki asked with a hopeful look but a somewhat timid smile.
"Mom! I-I lose my clothes when I do and it's pretty awkward changing back…" Ryoga practically shouted before immediately calming down when he saw his Mom make puppy dog eyes, causing his voice to trail.
"Please? I need to know so that I never mistake you!" She pleaded, clasping her hands together.
"Fine," Ryoga said after a pause, he then turned to Ranma.
"Thank you!" Yumi bowed before quickly making her way back over to the cup in Ranma's hand, filling the glass of cold water before placing it on the table for Ranma to no doubt use.
"Alright then, stay still on your chair Ryoga," Ranma advised with a nervous chuckle, usually whenever she did this it was so she didn't have to deal with Ryoga and now that she had become his girlfriend, doing it now felt weird to her even if it was for a demonstration.
Ranma picked up the glass and waited for Ryoga to close his eyes, splashing him with the water inside to change him back into his cursed form.
"Bwee…" A soft but muffled oinking noise came from Ryoga's pajamas, following it came the ruffling of his clothes as P-chan shook his head out from beneath his sleepwear's collar.
The non-cursed Hibiki member moved so that she could look over the table and find her son's head popping out but in his hated form. The small piglet looked down in shame, even Ranma felt bad for him when putting her cup down on the table in front of her.
"You're so cute!" His mother squealed in delight, moving over so she could embrace P-chan in a tight hug.
Ranma couldn't help but laugh at Ryoga's surprised squeal while Genma tilted his panda head in confusion as Yumi spun her son around like a mother with a baby might.
"I haven't held you like this since you were litttttle!" The Mother of the Hibiki's declared as she held the embarrassed tiny swine at arm's length, a transparent image of a younger giggling baby Ryoga in a yellow onesie flashed in her mind.
Ranma in the interim stood up from her seat and walked so she was standing behind Yumi while she held her boyfriend out in front of her. "I know! Ain't my P-chan just the cutest?" Ranma remarked with a smirk, one hand behind her back while the other reached out for Ryoga as his Mother lowered him.
P-chan suddenly felt his girlfriend fake pinching his cheek, making Ryoga blush and look away embarrassed.
"She's a tease! No wonder you like Ranma!" Yumi exclaimed joyfully before turning to Ranma and handing him to his girlfriend, 'They remind me of when I used to tease Ryoga's father!' the fang-toothed woman thought.
"I know I am, though, I'm pretty sure he loves that about me," Ranma remarked as she then cradled Ryoga's pig form in her arms like a baby, undoubtedly pissing P-chan off as his face was furrowed while Ranma spoke but stopped being angry when Ranma gently reached her hand out to poke his snout.
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Ryoga squealed in annoyance before reaching his hooves out to try and grab his nose, unaware of Ranma's intent when she placed him back down on his chair before stretching out his clothes so they fit him when changed back.
"Even his little whine is cute…" Yumi commented before moving over to take the cup she had given Ranma, turning around and heading towards the sink with a skip in her step, feeling positively giddy from the fact she could hold her son like she used to so long ago.
Immediately calming down as he was placed on the chair P-chan leaped into the center of his clothes, the miniature oinker then looked up at his girlfriend and saw a soft and what he'd even call a loving expression. From behind Ranma he noticed a hand reaching out, holding a glass of water with steam coming from the top.
"Now hold still, handsome…" Ranma advised softly as she reached for the cup at her side and began to pour the water onto P-chan's head, reverting him to his birth form.
"Come here, beautiful…" Ryoga said the instant he could feel his clothes wrap around him, getting to a standing position in front of Ranma before embracing his redhead.
"Hold your–" Ranma's voice began in that lovely tone Ranma had grown accustomed to suddenly going back to the voice he had come to know as his former rival. "Horses?" Ranma continued, blinking as he noticed that he had gotten enough of the water
"So that's Ranma as a boy," Yumi commented as she witnessed Ranma change.
"Yeah, guess there was enough water on Ryoga here to change me back…" Ranma said, voice trailing a little as he smiled while blushing lightly.
"S-sorry, Ranma," Ryoga apologized, feeling like a goof before backing off with while laughing nervously.
"I can see it now, I remember when you would help lead Ryoga home by making him chase you…" commented, visions of the dating martial artists when they were in middle school replaying in her head, 'I remember thanking him once, I wonder if he still remembers?' she pondered to herself as she recalled how tired Ryoga looked when she had run out to get him just outside their house, smiling as Ranma gave her a two-fingered salute before jumping from one rooftop to another.
"I think I'm starting to remember you, didn't you thank me once when Ryoga got a little too determined?" Ranma smiled kindly.
"Wait? What time?" Ryoga blinked as he looked at his rival then at his Mother.
"You probably don't remember but once when you were chasing Ranma he kept leading you around until you tired yourself out when you were close to our home," Yumi Hibiki said, looking away.
"You keeled over from exhaustion but thankfully your Mom was at home when you did, almost thought I'd have to carry ya home," Ranma explained while placing a hand on his chin.
"You can remember that but not remember me when we first met?" Ryoga questioned with a dumbfounded look.
"Y-you forgot him?" The Mother of the Hibiki teen asked shortly after, her hair seemingly just as distraught by how a few strands had popped out.
"H-hey! I figured I'd never see the guy again and thought it was for the best! Besides, we weren't exactly the best of friends back then!" Ranma defended, holding his hands out at the two Hibiki family members.
"Well! At least Ranma remembers now! And if it weren't for everything you two would have never gotten together, r-right?" Yumi reminded Ryoga then asked them, seeing how bothered her son had been about that but hoping to lighten the mood now.
"Guess that's true, I mean we went from rivals to boyfriend and girlfriend…" Ryoga's voice trailed as he locked eyes with Ranma.
"Can I get a glass of cold water?" Ranma asked of Yumi while keeping her eyes glued to her lost lover, a genuine smile on her face.
"Of course!" Yumi replied warmly, clasping her hands together, glad that the tension in the room had fallen by several degrees, 'I figured they were rivals the day Ryoga told me he challenged Ranma, to think they'd end up dating though?' She thought then remembered a select set of words she had neglected to address this caused her eyes to widen in realization as she filled the cup.
"Hey Ryoga, I didn't mean to forget about you, I just really thought someone I ticked off as much as you was better off being forgotten and maybe I was hoping you would've done the same…" Ranma began, using the soft voice had had often reserved for when he was conflicted about Akane.
"I guess I understand, I did end up saying somethings I'm not too proud of either…" Ryoga replied with, scratching his cheek with his pointer finger; looking away bashfully.
"And to someone who ended up being your next girlfriend," Ranma added with a smirk before turning to where Ryoga's Mom was to see her holding the glass with shocked eyes.
"You two were rivals in love? Doesn't that mean you two were fighting over someone?" Yumi questioned her mind painting a mental picture of a silhouette of a girl with the back of her palm over her mischievous light pink crescent moon-shaped mouth.
"Uh, bout that, you see…" Ranma began suddenly dropping her smirk with a panicked look.
"Yeah, uh…" Ryoga continued in the same vein, touching the tips of his index fingers together at the center.
"How did you two end up getting together if I might ask?" Yumi asked, looking at one and then the other.
"Well, ya see, after I got cursed Pops tried to make good on an old deal with a guy called Soun Tendo, which happened to be an arranged marriage to one of his three daughters, and cause Akane happened to be the one closest to my age it was decided that she'd be my fiancé," Ranma outlined somewhat sheepishly.
"I imagine it might not have been ideal considering you turned into a girl," Yumi blinked with a slightly startled look.
Instances of when she and Akane met suddenly filled Ranma's head, allowing her to calm down since she remembered enjoying that before she got violent, "Believe it or not, she thought I was just a girl at first and she was nice then but after she found out what I was she became an ice queen then I got to know her and guess I started liking her just not as much as…" Ranma began casually until her mind reminded her who she was with and her voice trailed softly; something which Ryoga returned.
"So when did Ryoga show up again and how did he get his curse?" The Mother of the Hibiki's questioned further but encouragingly.
"Mind if I change back before we keep going?" Ranma asked nervously, feeling an anime sweat drop forming on the corner of his head.
"Oh! Sure!" Yume exclaimed, suddenly remembering she had the glass of water she was about to give to Ranma.
"Thanks! But I think I'm gonna need my feminine charm for this part…" Ranma replied, taking the glass and splashing his face quickly enough to induce her lovely redheaded girl side.
"Why do you say that?" Ryoga and Yume asked at the same time, blinking in unison.
"Just cause!" Ranma shook her head to clear off any access water before she went over to Ryoga to hug his arm.
"Ranma!?" Ryoga leaned back as he could not only see Ranma's cleavage but she had her breasts pressed up against his arm.
"Well, since Ryoga wanted a rematch with me but ended up missing it because of his bad sense of direction…" Ranma revealed as she gave Ryoga's arm an extra squeeze which caused him to freeze and make his nose bleed.
"That sounds about right, I remember that morning and how angry Ryoga had been," Yumi recalled and blushed when she saw how Ranma was using her girl side to tempt her son, 'I want to say Ranma's unladylike but he's not actually like a lady, I think?' she thought to herself as her eyes were moments from swirling in confusion.
"So your son here has been holding this grudge against me since middle school and came all the to China where well, after I got cursed into being a girl from Jusenkyo I got ticked off at my old man and ended up needing to jump off Ryoga face and…" Ranma told her tale, doing her best to get through it and swiftly and hopefully painlessly as possible but stopped near the end to look scared and nervous.
"...Into the cursed spring, he went?" Yumi completed with a dumbfounded look, unsure of how to feel about this then turned to look at her son who rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"It was complicated Mom, I still care about Ranma even if our past isn't the greatest!" Ryoga defended as he then brought Ranma in with a warm embrace, shutting his eyes as he swayed them from side to side a little.
"Aww…" The adult woman placed her hand over her heart as little tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Genma scoffed and mumbled something in Panda before leaving the room through the archway. "Let me know when there's food." said 's sign as he exited.
"So what led to you two getting together?" Yumi asked clasping her hands together.
The two younger martial artists pulled away from their embrace, the redhead planting a kiss on Ryoga's cheek before separating.
"I made a plan to get rid of this other guy called Kuno who even though I showed 'em I'm a guy still kept chasing after me! So I made a plan while running away to him I had a boyfriend and calling my bluff he said he wanted to meet my boyfriend who just so happened to be Ryoga here," Ranma outlined.
"So it ended up working and you two shortly after realized how much you two like each other?" Yumi made a guess.
"It was more like, the guy didn't learn his lesson so Ranma used the same threat he used to get me to play the part…" Ryoga explained.
"Y-you threatened my son, with what?" Yumi's mouth hung open in shock.
"Ranma threatened to tell Akane about my pig form…" Ryoga looked down when he answered this, hoping beyond hope she wouldn't inquire further.
"And that somehow led to you two dating while fighting over Akane?" questioned as she hummed with uncertainty, pursing her lips right after.
"It wasn't that easy, neither of us saw it coming," Ryoga said, pausing as he looked bashfully at his redhead.
"In fact, we both tried to run from it…" Ranma's voice trailed as she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, an anime sweat drop following her words.
"All your teasing didn't help either! You made me choke while eating twice!" Ryoga exclaimed in annoyance, holding up two fingers.
A devilish smile crept its way onto Ranma's face, "What if it was me slowly getting into the idea of you, huh?" she posed an interesting question.
Ryoga's cheeks flashed a bright red Christmas bulb suddenly lighting up, his embarrassment evident in the way he stammered his reply, "R-Really?"
Ranma, ever the teasing trickster, twirled her pigtail with her other hand behind her back, playing dumb with a sly grin plastered on her face. "Well, geez, Ryoga. Maybe I just enjoyed watchin' ya squirm." She playfully offered an alternative.
"You two are something else," Yumi said, chuckling softly to herself, loving the playful banter between them.
Ryoga's blush deepened, but he couldn't help but smile at Ranma's antics. "Y-yeah, I guess we are."
"Something's odd though," Yumi began as she cupped her chin, thinking about the specifics namely the part about Ryoga's secret. "Why would Akane knowing you change into a cute little pig be something you'd want to keep secret?" She asked, taking her hand off her chin and holding her pointer up in a matter-of-fact sort of way.
Ryoga's felt like a statue cracking, freezing in place with what he'd have to reveal, in his frightened state he turned to his girlfriend to see that she was almost frozen in the exact same way.
Ranma's eyes widened, remembering Ryoga's explanation for that and why it must've been extra hard for him to come clean about his curse. "Yeah, have fun explaining…" She knew that Ryoga couldn't rely on her at this moment but she genuinely had nothing to say.
Lowering his head in defeat Ryoga closed his eyes and moved so he could bow before his mother, "I-I got taken to Akane's room where she hugged me in her underwear before I could get the chance to ever tell her I change into P-chan! And then she started taking me to her bed where she kicked and punched me in her sleep!" Ryoga explained as quickly as he could, clearly having had more time to think out not only how it had happened but what he could also say in his defense.
Ryoga's Mom gawked, looking much like Ryoga had moments ago when first asked, closing her eyes. "Well, thank goodness you've already told her all this already by now, right…?" Yumi asked as she opened her eyes, expecting to see them agreeing.
"That's what he's got to do by the end of this week," Ranma put both hands behind her back, rolling her eyes away from Yumi's.
"So you ended up trying to win over Akane but ended up taking her fiancé as your girlfriend and now you have a week before you have to tell her something she can use against you in a court of law…?" Ryoga's Mother inquired her panic reminiscent of her son's.
"I didn't think about that part, could Akane get ya in that kind of trouble?" Ranma asked with her mouth agape.
"We've both caused so much property damage it's a miracle nothing has happened so far," Ryoga remarked as he got up from his bowing position.
"You two wouldn't be the only ones," Yumi remarked as she rubbed the back of her head, remembering all the things she had run through when trying to get back to her family, so she was no stranger to this.
"I'll talk to her too Ryoga, I may have picked you but I still wanna' see her as a friend at least…" Ranma threw in.
"Me too, maybe it wasn't meant for her or either of us but she was still nice to me when it mattered and I know Ranma you've had your moments with her too," Ryoga confessed, finding the thing that bound them together.
"I honestly think you two should become friends again with her before letting her know that," The Hibiki patriarch advised, which in a sense could mean buying more time.
"Your Mom might've just bought you some more time," Ranma said, rubbing the back of her head with a wary look.
"This only leaves me with one more question though, what did you get with the arranged marriage?" Yumi said with her lips pursed in contemplation.
"We'd get to live there rent-free practically and Akane and would inherit the dojo and the house that comes with it…" Ranma explained while averting her eyes now
"That's something else I've got to talk to you about Mom," Ryoga informed his mother as he placed his hands on Ranma's hip.
"Oh?" Yumi paused and tilted her head to one side.
"Ranma ended up breaking the marriage off for me and well she has nowhere to be safe to stay any more so I was hoping, wondering even!" Ryoga began starting strong but losing confidence the closer he drew to the end of his words.
"I think I know where you're going with this sweetie but I'm not comfortable making such a big decision without your Father here…" Yumi began with a saddened look in her eyes, looking at the floor.
"Please, Mom! I know it's a lot to ask for!" Ryoga respectfully demanded, clapping his hands together in front of his Mom.
"If she can't then that's fine, Pops will just hafta suck it up!" Ranma spoke suddenly and defensively in hopes of keeping her boyfriend's spirits up.
"Just because I don't have Ryoga's Father here doesn't mean I've fully made the decision! Honestly, I need to know one more thing before Ranma does something as drastic as becoming someone who lives with you before marriage…" Yumi made clear, hoping to put some of their worries at ease.
The instant the word marriage left Yumi's lips the two dating martial artists felt their blushes return and at full force, in Ryoga's mind a thought cloud with him married to Ranma in a traditional Japanese kekkonshiki no doresu and Ryoga in a takishiido whereas Ranma's was more westernized with the traditional tuxedo and wedding dress.
"M-marriage?" They both repeated in unison like two machines simultaneously malfunctioning.
"How long have you two even been dating?" The fang-toothed teen's Mother inquired with a baffled look.
"O-officially?" Ranma asked, looking off to the side.
"Well…" Ryoga's voice trailed, it hadn't been too long.
"About t-two days officially together," Ranma answered, lifting a hand with two fingers raised.
"Two days? Have you two even been on your first date together?" The Lost Mother questioned with a nervous chuckle but the faint gasps escaping their voices and sudden mechanical movements alerted to the fact that they hadn't, in fact, ever been on an official date together.
"I-I was just about to get to that! I wanted to ask today!" Ryoga exclaimed, lowering his head and raising his shoulders a little with his eyes closed.
"H-Huh? You mean that?" Ranma asked while blushing and turning to face her boyfriend.
"R-Ranma!" The youngest of the Hibiki's said.
"Y-yeah? Ryo?" Ranma already knew what Ryoga was going to say but found herself imagining Ryoga asking her out and immediately without thinking at all, the redhead felt butterflies in her stomach.
"W-will you go on a date with me?" Ryoga asked, taking Ranma's hand much like Kuno had done to her before but where that was a nuisance from an unwanted suitor this was her boyfriend.
"S-sure! W-when where ya thinking?" Ranma asked while gazing into the Lost Teen's face, instinctually tucking one of her bangs behind her ears with the hand Ryoga hadn't taken.
"T-today! At four pm!" Ryoga outlined, trying his best to keep his voice at a speaking level but finding it difficult.
"It's a date, Handsome," Ranma replied softly, her intense look replaced by a warm blushing smile as they both took a few steps closer so they were practically standing in front of the other.
"You're both so precious!" Yumi said delightfully before remembering the point and shaking her head before clearing her throat.
"No kidding…" Both responded at the same time before looking at one another and giving each other awkward smiles.
"I'm getting off track! What I was trying to say is that maybe you two should get to know each other well before making this leap. I mean, I know you two have history and no doubt had to get over a lot of differences…" She started, hoping she was bringing up a good point.
They both stopped admiring each other's eye pools before looking at Ryoga's Mom with slightly widened eyes and dumbfounded looks.
"Yuh-huh?" Ryoga uttered inquisitively.
"I'm only saying to give it some time, I'm also willing to let you stay here until Ryoga's Father shows up so we can both decide." The parental figure responded with a small smile.
"Who knows when that'll be," Ranma remarked suddenly looking a lot calmer, 'She brings up a good point though, we only just got together, ain't the hard part making this work?' the redhead thought.
"Mom there are few things in this world I've been certain about, Ranma isn't one of those uncertainties so even if it's hard I'll do my damnedest to make sure it works!" Ryoga announced, clenching one of his hands into a fist in front of him.
"Spoken like a true honeymooner…" Yumi's voice trailed softly as she closed her eyes and placed a hand over her heart.
"Yeah, but he's mine," Ranma stated kindly as she moved so she could embrace Ryoga from the side.
"Same. You're mine too." Ryoga responded, moving his arm to put his hand on Ranma's hip as he then leaned the side of his head atop of his girlfriend's.
Grumble…
"Sounds like someone's hungry," The fang-toothed Mother commented, chuckling a little.
"Yeah, haven't had breakfast yet!" Ranma explained admitted sheepishly.
"Me neither, I'm starting to feel it too…" Ryoga's voice trailed as the sound of Ranma's stomach practically alerted his own body of the need.
"How about I whip something up!" Yumi said while beaming, the chance at not only spending time with her making her happy but the fact she could also make something for her son's lover.
"Let me help! It'll be faster! And it'll let me show off!" Ranma offered before gently pulling away from Ryoga's embrace but still close enough so that Ryoga's hand was still firmly on her curvy hip.
"You already showed off how good you can cook yesterday," Ryoga commented, surprised a little.
"Yeah! But! Like, not for your Mom!" Ranma explained pulling away from Ryoga entirely before looking at the Lost Mother.
"I'll grab my spare apron," Yumi commented before turning around. "Though you two might want to change while I'm doing some prep work!"
"Oh yeah!" Ranma remarked as she looked down at her sleeping attire and then at her boyfriend's sleeping pajamas before running over to the stairs.
"Wait up for me!" Ryoga exclaimed with a chuckle and a beaming fang-toothed smile.
Inside Ryoga's room was the futon and unmade bed Ranma and Ryoga had left behind, that was until the door in the room opened, and in came the two lovers' slash rivals. Ranma immediately went for the futon she hadn't used last night, whereas her boyfriend opted to make the bed. After placing her futon in the closet she turned to her backpack next to it.
"I still gotta unpack…" Ranma muttered, binding her knees until she could access her travel gear, opening it she took out a pair pants out and proceeded to slip them on one leg at a time.
Behind her was the Lost Boy with his back turned to her while he took off his pajama shirt and let it fall down his shoulders.
Ranma couldn't help but glance at Ryoga out of the corner of her eye. She noticed the way his muscles flexed as he moved, the way his back muscles rippled beneath his skin as he discarded his pajama shirt.
A warmth spread through her chest, a fluttering of something unfamiliar. For a brief moment, Ranma found herself mesmerized by Ryoga's chiseled physique, admiring the way he moved with a natural grace and strength. It was a sensation she hadn't experienced since Kuno but whereas that was unwanted this was her boyfriend. She swallowed nervously, her cheeks flushing as she realized what she was feeling.
Slightly shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Ranma focused on the task at hand, determined to distract herself from the sudden surge of attraction she felt toward her boyfriend. With an annoyed look, Ranma's mind suddenly decided that it was time she played an old prank on Ryoga as she finished putting her pants up and fastening the knot to fit her figure. Then she instead of taking out her shirt left it there, 'Your turn, pig-boy…' she thought with a mischievous inner voice.
"Hey Ryoga, can I get a hand?" Ranma asked while smiling, lifting her muscle shirt over her head.
"Sure, what do you need help–" Ryoga began but the instant he turned around he was met with an amazing sight, his girlfriend's busty chest with nothing in the way, causing him to flinch like a frightened cat, turning around and holding in his nose bleed back as best as he could.
Ranma doubled over in laughter, placing her hands over her stomach as she struggled to catch her breath. "I still got it!" she managed to choke out between laughs.
"W-what was that for!?" Ryoga inquired with a disgruntled tone, looking as though he was going to look behind him but hadn't looked again.
The redhead's trickster kept laughing until she heard Ryoga ask why, immediately she blushed and froze in place, her eyes cartoonish large with beady dot eyes before turning around with her hands behind her back. "J-Just cause…" she muttered.
Ryoga raised a quizzical brow, deciding not to press his luck he sighed and took out his yellow shirt, the rustling of fabric hit his ears and he knew that Ranma was finishing getting dressed.
The panda inside wandered into the kitchen, his paw grabbing the door's archway as he poked his head out to see Ryoga's Mother prepping some vegetables. Grunting he stepped inside it and mumbled in Panda before holding up his sign.
"What are you making?" It read.
Immediately Yumi raised her head and looked in the wrong direction before correcting herself and looking at Genma. "How are you holding that?" she asked, tilting her head.
THUD!
Genma's sign as if suddenly being reminded that it was indeed not possible to be held that way, lost its ability to be held and dropped to the ground. Leaving a disgruntled Genma trying to pick it up.
"Yo! Where's that apron?" Ranma greeted before walking in with her hands in her pockets.
"You in an apron? It wouldn't be the strangest get-up I've ever seen you in." Ryoga joked, teasing his girlfriend with a grin as he walked behind.
"Oh! Shut it!" Ranma replied with a chuckle, finding the apron.
"Oh? What kind of outfits?" Yumi asked, smiling as she looked away from the cutting board and to her Son.
"Uh, I shouldn't say…" Ryoga responded while scratching one of his cheeks.
"S-some other time!" Ranma said, swiftly dawning the apron over her usual red silk shirt, fastening it behind her as she moved to stand next to her boyfriend's Mother.
Genma sighed and moved over to the sink so he could awkwardly fumble around with the sink faucet, letting it pour out until it was warm before he cupped as much as he could in his hands before splashing his face.
"I'm going to the Tendo's," Genma announced as then went over to pick up his sign and pushed up his glasses.
"Okay," Ranma said, completely unfazed by the lack of her Father's presence.
"Have fun," Ryoga added, equally as nonchalant as his redhead.
Genma looked at his son then his partner and shook his head, leaving quietly.
"I take it he's not a good Father?" Yumi inquired, though blinked as she realized something, 'How come when my son changes back he doesn't keep his clothes on but when Ranma's Father changes he gets his clothes back, glasses included?' she wondered to herself.
"Far from it." Ranma rolled her eyes in annoyance when replying.
Later…
Outside in Ryoga's backyard where Ranma and Ryoga as they rested on their backs, arms sprawled out to their sides as they looked up at the sky.
"What a workout! Now I'm glad I didn't use the Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken!" Ranma admitted, basking in the moment as she closed her eyes.
"Yeah, there's just something about a good fight, though, why'd you hold that back?" Ryoga commented.
"I wasn't holding back entirely, I was slowly getting a little faster so you'd get used to it." Ranma elaborated calmly.
"Why?" Ryoga raised a brow, one of his fangs poking out from the corner of his mouth.
"Because, if you're gonna' be my man, you got to be stronger, and just cuz we're dating doesn't mean we ain't martial artists," Ranma explained with a soft smile as she watched a cloud drifting by.
"Yeah, you're right, I don't want to stop being a martial artist just because I found you, hell, it's probably what helped us get closer…" Ryoga added, speculating with a soft blush dusting his cheeks.
"You two are fun to listen to," Yumi remarked with a hand on her cheek, sitting on her knees on the back porch, 'The way they were fighting, I couldn't help but remember when I first started training my little Ryoga…' her thoughts trailed as she used her mind's eye to envision herself when she was training her twelve year Ryoga; practicing katas.
"M-Mom!" Ryoga raised his head and then regretted it soon after as he was still a bit sore.
"Maybe Precious ought to be one of my new nicknames for P-chan, eh?" Ranma joked, making a cute snarky face.
"Hell no, sounds way too fat…" Ryoga remarked, closing his eyes and scoffing at the notion.
"But you can be a pig," Yumi said, blinking.
"Yeah! But not a fat one!" Ryoga defended as he finally sat up at the same time as his girlfriend.
That's when Ranma and Yumi started laughing although more like hardy chuckles than outright laughing at him.
"Oh! I just remembered something!" Yumi's eyes went wide as she reached into her pocket beneath her apron.
"Huh?" Both Ranma and Ryoga looked in her direction when they sat up crossed-legged.
"I found a note the last time I was here and it's from someone named…" Yumi said, pulling it out and showing it.
Ranma and Ryoga's eyes landed on the note and noticed that there had even been a little heart and a crude picture of P-chan drawn on it.
"Akari?"
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Please someone out there review or comment! Honestly I want to post more here but I feel like here I fall under the radar. Maybe I'm just not worth commenting on? I can't figure it out. I will see how this chapter does! I want to be hopeful for this site but so far it seems like you need a drawing advantage or something.
Foxes from the Foxxy~
DaisukiFox~