DISCLAIMER: Now for the mind blowing and earth shaking LEGAL CRAP. Look I'll level with ya. All of the wonderfully well-rounded characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to the all powerful, wise and talented Rumiko Takahashi, not me. (No matter how much I wouldn't mind having both Ranma and Ryoga both added to my own private island complete with an all male harem but thems the breaks) Also the song excerp in the beginning isn't mine either.
WARNING: Well this fic could get to be a bit citrusy. Although since I haven't done anything like this before I don't know if my style would be considered Lemon or Lime either way YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
THE EYE CATCHING BLURB: Well we all (supposedly) know the story of how Ranma and Ryoga met and became...rivals (for lack of a better term) but what if what we know isn't what really happened. And what would happen later if the beginning changed...
THAT DAY IN SEPTEMBER PART ONE
A Ranma/Ryoga Love Story
By: Chaos Angel
chaosangel99@hotmail.com
I remember that day in september
when we fell in love.
His hands, his gentle touch
I remember that day in September
When we fell in love. Couldn't believe it was love
his so tender touch. T'was a night to remember
on the day we fell in love in September.
- Taken from: That Day in September
By: Deborah Cox
The sunlight poured itself upon the earth, warming all and heralding peace and happiness to the world. A small white bird flutters through the air and lands on the roof of a large brick building. The bird is disturbed by loud and racious shouting and flies away, passing by the sign inlaid in the stone wall that said "Nerima District Boys Junior High School". Inside the school itself was a war zone for it was the most dangerous hour of it's day...lunch time.
" Here ya' go boys, the last chow mein bread of the day," the cafeteria lady yelled in a husky voice as she threw the solitary roll into the fray. There was a sea of blue uniformed hands that lifted to the sky in order to catch the flying culinary treat, yet one boy in the crowd was more determined than every hungry lad in the room.
" I got it, I got it," said Ryoga Hibiki as he jumped into the air above the ocean of struggling boys in order to catch the the loaf of bread. His black, unruly hair blowing over his smiling brown eyes. The object of his quest almost in reach he let out a satisfied whoop. Though at the last second his countenance turned sour as a blur of black and sapphire whizzed past his nose catching his prize literally from under his nose. Ryoga landed, wanting revenge for his bruised pride at the loss of his lunch no less. " You stole my bread! Who are you, you lousy thief," said Ryoga, fangs bared and flashing. The ebony haired youth flashed his sapphire blue eyes and brushed back his hair nonchalantly as he removed the bread from his mouth, chewing the mouthful.
" I'm Ranma Soatome," he said smugly, smiling to himself.
" Ranma Soatome, you stole my bread, I'll never forgive you," said Ryoga as he pointed an accusing finger at the pony tailed youth. Ranma stared back in disbelief, his mouth almost dropping to the floor.
" You are not getting this upset over a piece of bread are you," he asked as he heard the lunch lady announce the last melon bread of the day. Ryoga did have the good grace to look ashamed at his behavior. It was a piece of bread after all. Ryoga watched as Ranma leapt into the air again, resurfacing from the fray with the last melon bread of the day. " There, are we even now?," asked Ranma as he deftly chucked the loaf of bread at Ryoga who fumbled a bit but managed to catch it, nodding to Ranma as he bit into it. " Good, said Ranma," I wouldn't want you to challenge me to a duel over something as stupid as a loaf of bread. By the way, I'm sorry I took that from you, I'm new here...wanna eat lunch together?,"
" Sure," said Ryoga," but don't ask me to show you around the school...we may take the scenic route." A question mark appeared over Ranma's head.
" What's that supposed ta' mean?," asked bewildered at the statement. Ryoga just chuckled to himself at his own family curse of directional retardation.
" Let me answer that with a question, have you ever been to Hokaido?," Ryoga asked as he walked out the door to the lunch room.
" Hey," yelled Ranma, " I thought we were gonna eat together!"
" We are," stated Ryoga.
" Then why are you heading back to class, isn't the eating area is this way?," said Ranma pointing in the opposite direction that Ryoga was walking in.
" Oh, sorry," said Ryoga sheepishly, turning a little red in the face as he turned around to walk with Ranma. For some reason he was abnormally self-conscious around this boy. But for the life of him he couldn't figure out why.
***
Ryoga bit into his bread tentatively, being careful of his fangs as he chewed. One wrong move and he would cut his mouth to shreds. Ryoga could feel Ranma's eyes watching him and it made him even more self-conscious, even to the point of blushing.
" By the way you haven't told me your name yet," Ranma interjected. Ryoga snapped to attention, accidentally making eye contact. Ranma's eyes seemed grow larger, to draw him in, until they were his whole existence. Ryoga hoped, no, could almost sense that Ranma was seeing him that way too.
~Stupid, stupid, stupid, perverted thoughts,~ Ryoga thought to himself. ~I shouldn't be thinking about him like that...but, he's so...~ Ryoga's thoughts were interrupted by Ranma's hand as it (wait for it...) waved in front of his eyes (thought it was about to get citrusy didn't you, ne? ne?)
" Are you okay in there?," Ranma asked, concern washing over his features. Ryoga's eyes focused on his face.
" Huh, gomenasai, did you say something?" he asked trying to clear his mind of any taboo thoughts.
" Yeah, I asked what your name was, I told ya' mine, and I can't keep calling you, 'hey you'," said Ranma chuckling at his own statement.
" Okay, that seems fair enough," said Ryoga, his fair voice, cracking from the pressure. But what pressure was he feeling. He cleared his throat. " My name is Ryoga Hibiki...um...," his mind then failed him, as yet again he was at a loss for words.
" Ryoga-kun," said Ranma to himself rolling the word around in his mouth. "I think it suits you," he said taking another bite of his own chow mein loaf. The bell rang for lunch to end and afternoon classes to begin. Ryoga let out an anguished groan. Now was the part of the day he hated most.
~Dammit, I never get to afternoon classes. Why should I even bother. Last time I tried I was absent from all my classes for a week because I was traveling all over Japan.~
" Hey, Ryoga-kun," said Ranma derailing his train of thought once again. " What class do you have next?"
" Well..." said Ryoga trying to remember, it had been so long. " I'm supposed to have Biology, Algebra, and then English." He noticed Ranma's wince at the mention of his foreign language, and he didn't blame him, he'd made it to one class and was confused to no end by the word "phone" if it had a "p" and a "h" in the beginning why in the world did it sound like an "f".
" Why do you say 'supposed'?," asked Ranma as he threw away his trash. " I have those classes too, is there something I need to know?"
~ Ranma-kun is in my afternoon classes,~ thought Ryoga. This thought made him ecstatic for a reason he either didn't know or refused to subscribe to. "Well," he began sheepishly as he thrust his hands into his lap, looking down at his feet," you see, I get lost kinda easily...and I've...uh..never found my afternoon classes, but I do know the shortest way to Okinawa," he said to cheer himself up as much as he did to make a joke. Ranma laughed, at the least he had made a joke.
" That's okay Ryoga-kun I'll take you to class," said Ranma helpfully. He grabbed Ryoga by the hand an led him to the Biology labs.
***
The wind rustled through the trees, blowing both the leaves of autumn, and the hair of the two young martial artists as they walked home from school.
" You didn't have to walk me back home you know," said Ryoga apologetically.
" Nonsense my house is just across the street, Ryoga-kun, it's no trouble at all. I mean I'd hate for you to get lost 'r whatever, and I'd kinda like to see ya' again sometime." Ryoga tripped over his own feet, landing on his face. Ranma laughed, but regretted it when he saw the look on Ryoga's face. His pride was hurt, but Ranma could sense something else laying heavy on the lost boy.
" I just feel so stupid. Why can't I ever get where I'm going by myself. I don't want to be dependent on people my whole life," said Ryoga as he pounded his fists into the sidewalk leaving two sizeable cracks in the concrete. Ranma's eyes grew as large as saucers at the display of strength. Ryoga made the mistake of looking into the pony-tailed boy's blue eyes and he felt even worse. " The only reason I'm so strong is because I have to carry buckets in the halls everyday because I'm always so late, and now I...I...," Ryoga never finished his sentence, he just broke off into a run, not knowing where he was going. Ranma didn't know what to say as he saw Ryoga's retreating form run into the sunset.
***
Ryoga found himself surrounded by trees, and staring at a beautiful pristine lake. The last of the summer swans floated peacefully, blissfully unaware of the inner turmoil the young boy was feeling. "Stupid, stupid, dummy," Ryoga berated himself, " tripping over your own feet, and making yourself seem more incompetent than ever. He's never going to like me now..." This last voiced thought disturbed him...greatly. Why was he concerned if some guy liked him or not. He didn't care about any of his schoolmates in this way, not any of the girls he new, and certainly none of the boys. Why is Ranma having this affect on him. Ryoga put his back to a nearby tree and sat down, facing the lake; put his face in his hands and cried tears of confusion and frustration.
~ I shouldn't be thinking about him like that,~ He thought for the second time that day. "...But, he's so...beautiful," he finally said aloud completing his thought and speaking his mind. Hopelessness filled his mind, making his heart grow dark. Even if he had admitted it to himself he could never tell Ranma, never hold him as he wanted. " He would never go for such a pathetic person such as me even if he were g...g...," he couldn't finish the word, the completed sentence from his lips would give him too much hope, and it would only hurt more if his hope was ripped from him by cruel reality.
Ranma walked through the deserted park looking for Ryoga."I could have sworn I saw him run in here somewhere," he said to himself. " I hope he doesn't think I was teasing him, I didn't mean to hurt his feelings." Then Ranma spotted his friends crying form huddled against a tree, face in his hands. He walked over, knelt down, and put his arm around his friends shoulder. " I'm sorry I laughed, I didn't mean to hurt you," he said. Ryoga's head snapped up to Ranma's smiling eyes. His face stained with the evidence that he had been crying.
" It's not your fault that I'm so pathetic, I don't blame you for laughing," said Ryoga wallowing in self-pity. *SMACK* was the only sound Ryoga could hear as Ranma struck his face. Ryoga was to surprised to say anything, his mouth moving, forming gibberish, with no sound coming forth.
" Don't you ever let me hear you say anything like that about yourself again," said Ranma. " Ryoga-kun, you are a beautiful person, and don't let anything that may happen to you prove to you otherwise."
" Ranma-kun...," was all that Ryogay could manage to say. Ryoga's mind froze and his body shut down as he watched Ranma lean over and kiss him in the cheek. Ryoga could sese the love and caring that kiss represented, and he felt the empty void in his life being filled. " R-R-Ranma-kun, I...," said Ryoga stifling a nosebleed, his hushpuppy brown eyes widening in surprise.
" Shitsuree shimasu, I didn't mean to do that, I mean I don't know why I...," began Ranma, a thousand apologies falling from his lips in an incoherent stream expecting Ryoga to pull a mallet from hammerspace and flatten him as he had heard guys like him often did. Ryoga said nothing, as he drew Ranma into an embrace, and kissed him back, this time on the lips. Ranma's own sapphire blue eyes were an exact imitation of Ryoga's as he opened his mouth to accept Ryoga's insistant tounge. The swans on the lake flew away in unison, heading to a warmer climate for the winter, as the two boy's declared their love for each other, without saying a word.
THAT DAY IN SEPTEMBER PART TWO:
WITHOUT WORDS YOUR HAND IN MINE US ENOUGH
A Ranma/Ryoga Love Story
By: Chaos Angel
chaosangel99@hotmail.com
I remember
that day in September,
when we fell in love,
couldn't believe it was love,
the passion we felt between us
at your tender touch.
T'was a night to remember,
on the day we fell in love in September.
- Taken from: That Day in September
By: Deborah Cox
Ryoga blinked his eyes in disbelief; Ranma-kun was still there, kissing him. Him, of all people Ranma was kissing him. This time the nose bleed would not be sated, and the world went dark as Ryoga's mind shut down.
" Ryoga-kun," Ranma said in surprise when he noticed his lips were no longer touching anything. He saw Ryoga sprawled on the ground with a euphoric grin on his face. The tell-tale marks of a massive nose bleed and as Ranma took a closer look at Ryoga's body he noticed other signs of life. Ranma blushed insanely and looked away. He crawled over to Ryoga's head and lifted it to his lap, where he shook him in an attempt to wake him.
"Uhhh...what happened," asked Ryoga as he began to sit up groggily, wiping his nose with his handkerchief. (All Japanese students are required to have one so I'm told) The wind began to blow his unruly black hair over his eyes, as he tured around to see Ranma, staring at him nervously. ~Why would he be nervous,~ Ryoga asked himself silently. ~Well, this has been kind of sudden, we've only known each other for less than a day, and I kissed him, Oh Kami-Sama he's probably going to hate me now, or he thinks I hate him. But that he doesn't need to worry about because I...,~
"...love you," said Ranma interrupting Ryoga's thoughts for about the third time that day. Ryoga's eyes grew wide with shock.
" What did you say," asked Ryoga in a tone of disbelief.
" I said," said Ranma quietly to the ground,as he turned and slumped against the tree facing the lake," I think I love you." Ryoga didn't know what to do, didn't know what to say, and couldn't believe any of it. Guys like him didn't get this lucky, or this happy, especially with anyone as handsome and beautiful as Ranma. His mind screamed that this was wrong, that this emotion for Ranma was twisted, but his heart spoke kinder words that stoked the flame of love for the pony-tailed youth.
" Oh," said Ryoga searching frantically for a better response," anno, I don't really know what to say."
" Then don't say anything," said Ranma quietly. Ryoga turned to look at Ranma afraid he had said the wrong thing and upset him, the last thing he ever wanted to do. But Ranma eased his fears, " don't say anything...can you just, you know, without sayin' nothin' just," he gulped," hold my hand." Ranma almost timidly put his hand between them on the ground. Ryoga sat down on Ranma's right and looked at his right hand. He was so ecstatic that the world was beginning to spin, and the voice in his mind telling him this was wrong was forever queted as he silently reached over with his left hand and took Ranma's in his. And as Ryoga's hand closed over Ranma's he felt the joining of their lives, no, their very souls, forever.
***
The two young men walked back home in silence. Yet, Ryoga didn't feel the silence to be uncomfortable, more of a lack of need to say anything. Like all feelings and emotions were automatically transmitted to the other. They stopped on walkway to Ryoga's house.
" Uhhh...thank you for walking me home," said Ryoga as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
" S-Sure Ryoga-kun, ahh... anytime. I'll s-see ya' in school tomorrow. I'll be by at gozen shichi-ji (7:00 AM) to walk you there."
" Why so early," asked Ryoga, " school doesn't start until gozen haichi-ji (8:00 AM), what do we heed the extra hour for?"
" Because we'll take the scenic route through the park, boku no kare," said Ranma knowingly. Ryoga felt another nose bleed coming on.
~ Did he just call me his boyfriend,~ Ryoga thought excitedly. He restrained himself from hugging Ranma right then for they were right outside his house. " K-K-Kare?," Ryoga stammered, lips stumbling over themselves.
" Of course, koibito. What else can we be, I love you." said Ranma matter-of-factly, " but we can't let my oyaji know or..., well let's just say it wouldn't be a pleasant ordeal." Of course, Ryoga wasn't paying attention anymore, he was still trying to fully grasp the fact that Ranma loved him back.
~ He loves me too, this is too good to be true. Ha haa, and it's only been seven hours since we met. This is betten than what happens in the movies, or in books or," he paused his thought and interrupted Ranma. " All of those other things don't matter Ran-chan, it is all right if I call you that, right?," Upon Ranma's acquiesence Ryoga continued, recovering from the fear he had somehow insulted him," Anyway, just don't worry about anything that he may do, you're mine right. I'll always love you, too."
" Ryo-chan," said Ranma, his features making his desire for a kiss blatantly obvious. Ryoga was about to comply when Ranma stopped him. " Wait, my Pop may be watchin', I'll see you tomorrow," he said with a look over his shoulder and a flirtacious wink. Then he was gone, across the street. Ryoga managed to somehow walk the straight line to his house, and miraculously up the stairs and to his room. He crashed on his bed his face the picture of euphoria. He decided that he would continue on with this happiness at any cost, he would always be with Ranma. He sat up and took of his school uniform in front of the mirror, his reflection displaying his developing muscles and somewhat chiseled torso. Ryoga changed into his training outfit, an earth-tone yellow shirt, and black chinese-style pants, and went downstairs to eat dinner and train, thoughts of Ranma occupying his mind.
***
The next morning, Ryoga was awakened by the annoyingsound of his clock raidio alarm. Apathetically swinging his arm at the clock, his fist smashed the poor electronic time piece into bits. Ryoga sat up and saw his accidental handiwork. With a sigh he picked it up and threw it into the corner of his room with the other ten alarm clocks he had destroyed this school year. " Another one bites the dust," he said sleepily," I guess I'll have to buy another one with this months allowance, but that wasn't until next week how was he going to wake up on time. Then he remembered the beautiful alarm clock he had kissed only yesterday, which of course reminded him he had zero time before Ranma came to pick him up. Ryoga jumped out of bed and did Flight of the Bumble Bee shit, shower, and shave routine. He was in his room just putting on his uniform when he heard Ranma call his name, from downstairs.
" Hurry up Ryoga-kun!, Or we'll be late for school," said Ranma taking off his shoes in the doorway. Ryoga's parents were happy there son had finally made a friend who would take him to school and told Ranma as such. Ranma just smiled back at them thinking,~ If only they knew.~ Ryoga bounded down the stairs a smile on his face when he saw Ranma had waited for him. " Well, Hibiki-san, we must be going, ja mata," said Ranma to Ryoga's parents as he lead Ryoga out the door.
They walked at a steady clip, not once looking at each other, until Ranma had led Ryoga to their secluded spot in the park. Ranma turned around and looked ito Ryoga's hushpuppy eyes, and without a word instigated the kiss of all kisses. Ryoga embrace Ranma as he leaned against the tree, his tounge intertwining with Ranma's, as he concentrated on staying cool and conscious. Ranma's hands slid from the small of Ryoga's back until it cupped the bandannaed boys ass, (for lack of a better word to use)massaging the two globes of flesh. Ryoga however was going for the prize as he lowered his own hand and gently stroked Ranma's hardening penis. Ranma moaned in Ryoga's mouth from the ministrations, and his kiss intensified. Ryoga lifted Ranma into his arms as he slid down into a sitting position against the tree, placing Ranma in his lap. Ryoga, impatiently fumbled with the brass buttons on Ranma's uniform and slid his hand into the shirt feeling Ranma's muscular chest. He tweaked each of Ranma's nipples, before his hand made it's way to Ranma's belt buckle. Ranma's eyes widened in surprise, he hadn't counted on going this far today, not that he minded, he just wasn't sure an hour was enough time. After all he was new to this. Ranma sat up as he move Ryoga's hand. Ryoga stiffened, afaid he had gone too far. As apologies spilled from his lips, Ranma kissed him gently, reassuring him everything was fine.
" I just want to save that for later, maybe after school today, when we have more time, okay?" said Ranma, as he brushed a strand of Ryoga's hair from his eyes. He watched as the startled expression faded from Ryoga's face, and the fear left his eyes before he stood, and re-buttoned his uniform. Ryoga stood as well.
" Okay, that sounds good to me, whatever is comfortable for you. By the way I learned a new technique last night, watch," said Ryoga as he striped a bandanna from his brow.
" How many of those things to you have on anyway?" asked Ranma, jokingly. Ryoga didn't answer as he began to twirl the bandanna in his fist. It moved faster and faster, until Ryoga threw it at some nearby bushes. The bandanna blade missle sliced through the foliage like a hor knife through butter, losing speed and hitting the tree behind the two boys, fluttering to the ground. Ryoga went over to pick it up.
" Here," he said entrusting the cloth into Ranma's hands," I want you to have the first one I threw correctly, you know to remind you of me, when we're not together." Both young men blushed fiercely.
" Arigato gozaimasu, Ryo-chan," said Ranma as he gave Ryoga one more kiss. Right afterward Ranma looked at his watch. " Oh great, it's time to go," he said grabbing Ryoga's arm," hurry up or we'll be late!" Both boys ran as fast as they could towards the school, to get there on time.
THAT DAY IN SEPTEMBER PART THREE:
EPITAPH OF LOVE
A Ranma/Ryoga Love Story
By: Chaos Angel
chaosangel99@hotmail.com
I remember
that day in September,
when we fell in love,
couldn't believe it was love,
the passion we felt between us
at your tender touch.
T'was a night to remember,
on the day we fell in love in September.
- Taken from: That Day in September
By: Deborah Cox
Ryoga walked from the school building, exhausted from his second full day of school. He sat on the steps as he waited for his beloved Ranma who had after school detention. Ryoga put his head on his fist, and a smile on his face as he recalled the days events.
Insert Flashback Blur Effect
After their wonderful start to the day, Ryoga and Ranma were racing towards the school. Ryoga was still blushing about the play he had just gotten. He briefly wondered how anyone could consider anything that felt so good and so right, as wrong. At this thought Ryoga looked at Ranma who, although running, was fiddling with his pony-tail. A smile of happiness and contentment crossed his face, when he saw that Ranma was now using the bandanna he had given him to tie his hair back. He said nothing until they had reached the school yard.
" Y-Y-You're wearing my bandanna," Ryoga stammered obviously still nervous around his kare. Ranma chuckled, something about Ryoga's apparent comfort level was endearing.
" Of course I am," Ranma whispered in his ear," it'll let e'rybody know who I'm spoken for."
" Umm...," said Ryoga thinking of Ranma," isn't that a little risky, I mean you don't want anybody to know right?" Ryoga was still a little upset about that fact, he wanted to shout it out from the roof of his house, if he could ever find it, but he knew that all this secrecy was for the best.
" If anybody asks, I'll just tell them it was a present from my best friend. It won't be so far from the truth, right?" Ryoga couldn't have been more happy if he had one the lottery. Not only was Ranma his lover but his best friend too, pleasure overload, and Ryoga fainted again.
Ryoga came to with his head in Ranma's lap, with Ranma gently slapping his face to bring him around. By then a crowd of boys had formed around the two martial artists. Ryoga sat up, cradeling his head. Ranma, before thinking of their auduence draped his arms around his love. "Thank Kami-sama, you're okay," he said," don't do that so often, or I'll start to worry..." Then Ranma began to notice the crowd of close-minded, teenaged boys that had surrounded them, and he froze, his eyes growing large. The two boy's fears were realized when one from the crowd spoke.
" So, am I right in assuming that you two are...how do you say...involved," he said with a sneer," look the new guy even wears his hair long, you can't get much gayer than that." Ranma winced at the words, and Ryoga began to lose control.
" How dare you say such things to Ranma, I'll never forgive you," he said as he grabbed the boy by the collar of his shirt. Ryoga then recognized the boy as Osamu Daito, the star quaterback of the schools American style football team. He was rumored to have been caught in the locker room by the coach, forcing an underclassman to give him a blowjob. (don't forget it's an all boys school) He wasn't thrown off the team but he suffered much embarrasment. He's been a gat basher ever since. Ryoga almost could not contain his anger.
"You're too much of a coward to admit yourself, so you pick on others to hide your insecurities, I oughta..." Ranma stopped him.
" No Ryoga, drop him, he's mine," he said silently picking himself up from his croutching position. Ryoga could sense Ranma's intense battle aura as it slowly burned a dull crimson. The lost boy summoned his strength and hurled the boy into the air. As Osamu came down, Ranma leapt into a one-armed handstand, pistoning his right foot into the bigot's chin, the Anything-goes attack: the Shish-kabab. The crowd winced as they heard Osamu's jaw crack, and backed away from the two martial artists, when the boy did not arise. Ranma grabbed Ryoga's hand in silence and delivered him to his first class.
End of Flashback
It had come to no surprise when at lunch Ranma had said the principal had summoned him. The principal had been royally pissed at the injury of one of his prized atheletes.(sadly they usually are) Ranma had been given after school detention, cleaning classrooms, with luckily no questions asked as to what started the fight. Ryoga had wished he had been penalized too, for he felt he was at least partly to blame for the boy's injury. " But man what a combination, me and Ranma make a great team."
I was almost time for the sun to set when a tired Ranma Soatome, walked from the school building to find that his love had waited for him. " You waited for me?" he asked tentatively.
" Of course," Ryoga replied.
" Look, I'm sorry if I kinda blew your cover around the school, and I can understand if ya' don't wanna be seen hangin' aroun' wit me, 'cause..." Ryoga had interrupted him with a finger over his mouth.
THAT DAY IN SEPTEMBER PART FOUR:
BITTER BATTLE
A Ranma/Ryoga Love Story
By: Chaos Angel
chaosangel99@hotmail.com
I’ve decided to get off my ass and write the whole song for you:
I can’t believe that a year has passed
Seem like yesterday was that day
In September…
We started out
As the best of friends
No intentions of falling in love again
He helped me
There in my time of need
My heart was set free
What a sweet memory
Chorus:
The day I fell in love
It was so beautiful
His hands, his gentle touch
I remember,
That day in September,
When we fell in love
It was an
Unexpected night
The sun was
Somewhere but out of sight
So familiar,
Yet unexplored anew
We surrendered to our love in bloom
Chorus 2:
The day I fell in love
It was so beautiful
His hands, his gentle touch
I remember,
That day in September,
When we fell in love
Couldn’t believe it was love
The passion we felt between us
The warmth of your touch
T’was a night to remember
On the day we fell in love
In September
Repeat Chorus 2
Repeat Chorus 2
-That day in September
Sung By: Deborah Cox
“Were going on a little training trip to Jusenkyo, China,” Genma Saotome said to his son. Ranma could only stand and stare at the man who he was told was his father, however the description of the figure of father he had in his mind was nothing like the man who had just doomed his love to wander aimlessly around the world. Ranma could no longer contain the venom from shooting from his eyes. “What’s that boy? You got something to say?” asked Genma a somewhat smug expression settling on his face, knowing full well this would enrage his offspring even further. But for Ranma the time for words was over. He launched himself at his father throwing a barrage of punches, determined to kill him for his treachery. Had he been less angry he probably would have done a better job, but the situation being what it was, it couldn’t be helped, Genma sidestepped his son’s desperate attack, pivoting on his left heel, and landing a backhanded punch on the back of Ranma’s head.
Ranma began to lose consciousness, the last thought on his mind was, ~Ryoga, I’m sorry…,~ then the world went black.
”I finally woke up on the old man’s back in the middle of the sea, swimming to Jusenkyo ‘cause the bastard’s too cheap to spring for plane tickets. He tried to pass it off as another of his “training” spiels, but I knew that was a lot of bullshit,” said Ranma to the girl with the long raven hair who walked him to school. Akane looked at him in disbelief. No wonder he was in such a hurry to not like her, his heart already belonged to another. She silently wished she could find some one as devoted to her as this man Ryoga had in Ranma. “ But ya’ gotta promise not ta’ tell anybody, okay?
“ Alright, but why are you telling me this? I’m supposed to be your iinuzuke, traditionally you never tell her that you’re not interested in… ‘hers’, but go out and have your little flings on the side.”
“ Well…yeah,” said Ranma sheepishly,” but would that be fair to you?”
(Authors Note: In being, gay Ranma has developed a stronger conscience and sensitivity to others feeling…what’s up with that?)
“ I suppose not,” she stared at the ground as she walked. It was too bad Ranma was beyond her reach; he could very well have been the man who could help her get over Dr. Tofu. Not that she had anything against gays, she even had a few homoerotic tendencies herself, which she figured she’d share with Ranma another day. She looked at her watch, and in a few minutes they would be late. Good thing they didn’t have to fight the male population of the school anymore. “ Ranma, we should hurry, the bells going to ring any minute now. I don’t know about you, but I’m not interested in carrying buckets in the hallway today. But knowing you, you could chalk it up to more training.” Akane giggled at their now inside joke. She figured that with this new insight into her future husband, Akane could at least be better friends with him.
“ That ain’t funny Akane,” said Ranma with a friendly smile, telling Akane, that he really thought it was.
A lone figure walked across the desert, his sand goggles cracked in front of his left eye. He was tired and hot, yet revenge could not feel these things. It knew neither night nor day, hunger or pain, only need. A need to be stronger, better, and most importantly, most drivingly, the need of fulfillment and of course revenge.
Ryoga Hibiki had at last returned Japan.
“First things first,” he said to himself, “ I have to find Ranma and settle the score. No one can toy with me like that…and live.” Ryoga looked off the cliff into the town below. “ Maybe I ought to ask for directions.” Ryoga jumped from the cliff opening his umbrella at the last second to avoid becoming a grease spot, and floated to the rural town below.
Meanwhile in Nerima…
“ No way, not no way, not no how,” Ranma protested as the Tendo sisters advanced. He slowly inched away trying to keep them from accomplishing their evil deed.” Kasumi, always the voice of reason accosted him first.
“ Ranma dear all of your clothes are in the wash so…”
“ No you’re not dressin’ me like a girl, forget it,” said Ranma his deep breathing causing his breasts to come from under the towel he thought would have been enough to keep him decent, especially in a house full of women, his own father, and the ever oblivious Mr. Tendo. Next it was Nabiki’s turn. Nabiki never being one to beat around the bush, decided to come correct. She walked to his face and delivered her order.
“ Look Saotome, you’re a guest in this house,” a satisfied smirk crossed her lips as she heard Ranma gulp his uncomfortable acquiescence, “ Your hot baths are heating us out of house and home,” another wince from Ranma,” we can’t afford to pay the gas bills, so do you thing you want to wear this now?” Ranma slumped in defeat.
“ Okay,” he said.
Ryoga walked through the town looking as lost as he ever has. He was aware of the sounds of the towns people first, then the crashing of the fragile houses around him. He heard the voice of a town citizen warn him, but that was after the sound of the hooves, by then Ryoga had already decided the outcome of the battle with the boar. The wild beast struggled and pushed against Ryoga’s umbrella with all its might, but to no avail. The lost youth had stopped the charge with what appeared to be a simple bamboo umbrella. Shifting his weight Ryoga hoisted the boar on his own back, and launched it into the air like so many feathers.
The townsfolk were amazed at the feat. One man, probably the one who had warned him before, spoke up.
“ Do ya’ll practice them martial arts?” he said sounding as simple as anything Ryoga had ever heard. He wanted to give them his life story, but he didn’t have time to waste on unimportant matters. He had to find Ranma and destroy him.
~Why do you want to destroy him,~ a voice in his head taunted. ~You still love him right?~ Ryoga wanted to bitch slap that voice in his head. How could he love someone who had betrayed him like that, not only betrayed him, but used his most sensitive weak spot to do it.
“…and shattered my heart of glass into a billion pieces,” he said aloud.
“ Excuse me,” asked the villager.
“ Nothing. Where is Furinkan High School?” Ryoga asked and answered, holding up a map. The townsfolk eyed the map suspiciously.
“ That there is a map of Tokyo, boy,” said the man.
“ Yes, I know, could you tell me where Furinkan High School is?” Ryoga reiterated, slightly agitated.
“ This here ain’t Tokyo, this is…Shikoku,”
“ Shi-Shikoku,” Ryoga stammered, cursing his disability like it was a fourth head. Shikoku was half way across the continent from Tokyo. “ Thank you very much,” he said, turning on his heel and walked out of town.
“ Maybe somebody should tell him he’d get to Tokyo a lot faster if he left town the other way” said the man as the village watch Ryoga leave astounded that anyone could be so lost.
Ranma sat on the floor in Akane’s room absent-mindedly circling his finger on the pink carpet. He lifted his head as he begrudgingly watched the three sisters as they bustled about trying to find “ the perfect outfit”.
“ I ain’t wearin’ no skirt and that’s final,” he said to reassure himself more than to make his wished heard.
“ I understand the situation,” said Akane, in a bit of a huff herself,” but why does he have to wear my clothes?”
“ Ahh here’s the perfect outfit,” said Nabiki triumphantly. A short while later Ranma was dressed in a yellow shirt, with a pair of pink overalls, with the word “China” printed on the bib. “ So, how does it fit,” asked Nabiki.
~ Why’d it hafta be pink,~ Ranma asked himself and Kami-sama above. “ It’s too tight,” he said,” it pinches my chest.”
“ What about the waist,” Nabiki asked, deciding to have a little fun seeing as she was apparently the only one who noticed the effect his words were having on Akane and her own inflated ego. Ranma fell into the trap.
“ It’s too baggy,” he said, and instantly regretted it.
“ Enough!,” said Akane grabbing the kendo practice blade from beside her bed.
“ Uh, uh-oh,” said Ranma in his small feminine voice,” I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“ Then what DID you mean?” asked Akane preparing to do some damage to the young female who had bruised her ego by pointing out once again that the aquatranssexual had a better body than her, an original female.
“ I just meant that the clothes don’t fit because, my female body just has opposite proportions than you,” said Ranma hoping to talk his way out of a serious beating. Akane began to put the sword away.
“ Oh…,” she said, then like a cat brandished the sword once again,” THAT’S EVEN WORSE! RANMA PREPARE TO DIE!” Ranma had 1.2 seconds to move before the bokken would have crashed into his head.
“ Now were all ladies, don’t fight,” said Nabiki as she ran after the retreating Ranma and the sword swinging Akane, brandishing yet another outfit she thought would look cute on Ranma.
“ I tol’ja I’m a guy!” Ranma argued as he dodged another pass of Akane’s vengeful sword.
Soun and Genma were on the back porch sipping cold beer, and playing Go as usual, when Genma suddenly spit his current mouthful in a spray all over Soun.
“ Saotome-kun, what’s the matter with you?,” the mustached martial artist asked his bald counterpart.
“ I thought I just saw my son in a dress, being chased by your daughters. Nabiki was trying to pull another dress over his head, and Akane was trying to kill him with a wooden sword… But that’s just funny my son wouldn’t wear one dress let alone two,” Genma chuckled both out loud, to reassure Soun he was joking, and to himself. ~ That Hibiki kid is probably out somewhere in Russia right now selling himself to any degenerate man he can find.~ Genma smiled evilly to himself.
Ranma sat on the steps to the dojo. He had finally settled on a reasonable ensemble. A yellow American style tee shirt, and a pair of American black jeans. Ranma sighed as he fingered the accessory he debated to put on.
~ Suppose that this outfit is like him. Yellow and black and traveled across the world. Black and yellow were his favorite colors when he wasn’t in his school uniform,~ he thought mournfully to himself. He could feel the tears welling up as he fingered the black and yellow bandanna he still kept with him. Despite his father’s efforts to get rid of it. ~ No, no tears, tears will mean that Pop has won. He will come back to Japan, and he will find me. Just you wait Pop, he is going to find me.~
“WHERE THE HELL IS FURINKEN HIGH SCHOOL!,” Ryoga yelled at the top of his lungs, oblivious to the startled cows that mooed in his direction. He had just left a farmer who had told him that all he had to do was go straight down a road and he would be in Tokyo. He had gone straight, straight off the road, over the river, through the woods, and past grandmother’s house. (I couldn’t resist, sorry I’m so weak) He sat down at the foot of a walnut tree to rest. This whole getting lost thing was yet another serious blow to his self-esteem. “ I’m going to kill him when I find him,” Ryoga said to himself bitterly.
~ No you won’t,~ said that irritating voice again.
“ Shut up, what would you know,” Ryoga fought back against his heart.
~ I was there and I know he still loves you, and you still love him…~
“…(You) I always will,” they both concluded at the same time. “ But that doesn’t excuse him for tricking me like that. If he didn’t want me anymore all he had to do was say it,” Ryoga argued with himself, feeling the hot tears of rejection and shame threatening to spill from his eyes. “ Why couldn’t he be man enough to tell me, instead of sending me on a world wide treasure hunt with no treasure at the end.
~ You mean no one to treasure, at the end,~ said the voice determined to be heard.
“ Shut up! Not only that, but when I made back home, his mother told me he had gone on a training trip to China. Could he have hated me so much that he would leave the country? I don’t have to remind you what happened there?” Ryoga asked himself, but he did not answer, he’d heard it all before. Ryoga felt the warmth of the tear as the fell on his lap. He grabbed a couple of walnuts from the ground beside him. “ I promise you Ranma,” he said as he crushed the walnuts one-handed,” I will crush your windpipe, just like these walnuts.” The lost boy stood and resumed his journey.
It had been another day like always when Ranma left his final class. He was putting his last books in his book bag, when he felt a presence.
“Hello, Akane,” he said never having turned his back.
“ How did you know it was me?” the raven-haired girl said as she moved her ponytail from her shoulder to her back.
“ From your general presence, the way you feel about me, and yourself, and the world in general. All of that is in your chi and Pop trained me to feel and sense it. I live with you so it’s no surprise I can pick you out of a crowd,” Ranma said nonchalantly. Akane blushed when he mentioned her feelings for him, but quickly remembered she wasn’t his type. Akane decided to strike up a conversation.
“ So… would you be able to sense that Ryoga…what’s-his-name is he tried to sneak up on you?,” she asked as they walked down the hall.
“ It’s Hibiki! And yes I would, the warmth and love he generates around me I could never forget. The way he looks at me with those beautiful brown eyes of his… I could sense him from a hundred kilometers away. (Japan: they use kilometers) Anyway, I’ve already sensed how you feel about me so you can stop trying to conceal it from me.”
Akane blanched as she instantly tried to deny it. “ It’s alright, it’s just a crush, just like with Dr. Tofu…” At the mention of her not-so-secret admiration of the good doctor, Akane once again lost it and began chasing Ranma through the halls and out the doors to the school.
Ryoga was tired and frustrated, and the noise those teenagers were making wasn’t helping. “Teenagers?,” he asked himself as he grabbed one to pump for information. “ Where is Furinkan High School?” he all but shouted in the boy’s face. The youth was too stupefied to do more than point to the sign on the school wall. Ryoga walked to the sign like a man in a dream world, running his hands over the characters slowly, as much as to help him read them as to assure him that they were real. “ Fu-ri-ka-n High School,” he pronounced quietly. (He’s a junior high drop out. Honestly, what did you expect? Literacy, Ha!) Ryoga spun around on the man he still held by the collar. “ Where is Ranma Saotome?” Again the boy just pointed to the school. This time to a youth in red and black Chinese clothes, running from an angry girl who was brandishing a book bag like a mallet. The boy had beautiful blue eyes and striking black hair, tied back in a pig-tail. Ryoga threw the boy to the pavement as he collected his thoughts. “ The pig-tail is a nice touch, he probably picked up the idea in China. Although I did prefer to run my hands through it.”
~Oh, so you admit you miss him?~
“ Shut up I say. I never said I didn’t I just said I was going to kill him.”
~ Oh… whatever you say, I’m just your stupid heart, what do I know about how you feel?,~
“ I suppose you’re right, but he’s still going to die,” said Ryoga striving to win this crucial mental struggle.
~ We’ll see,~ his heart said smugly.
“ Ranma, come back here!,” shouted Akane at the lithe, pig-tailed martial artist as le deftly leapt into the air. Ranma chucked at his escape from the near death experience Akane had planned for him. Then he sensed it, an enemy chi, coming from above. He couldn’t rightly identify who it was, and that is what worried him the most. The youth came from above umbrella drawn. Ranma dodged it barely as they landed in the same spot on the concrete pavement, the impact from the umbrella causing an indenture in the sidewalk. Ranma managed to flip before the cement exploded, and landed on his feet, waiting for his opponent to make the next move.
As the dust settled a youth appeared. In his hand the red bamboo umbrella. He was dressed in a yellow Chinese style shirt and black Chinese pants. In his hair was a yellow and black bandanna. ~It couldn’t be,~ thought Ranma to himself. ~He looks like him but…he’s so cold. I don’t sense any love from him at all. He is not Ryoga.~ Ranma resolved to kick this imposter’s ass for impersonating his love.
“ It’s been a long time Ranma,” said Ryoga coming to a standing position.
“ Do I…know you?,” asked Ranma astonished that his attacker knew his name and would address him so informally. For Ryoga however that was the final insult.
~ How dare he forget about me. The least he could do was remember my name and what I look like. I’m really gonna kill him now.~ “ It’s Ryoga Hibiki,” Ryoga said failing in his attempt to hide his outrage at Ranma forgetting him. He noticed when Ranma and the girl with him blanched when he spoke his name. ~ Suffer Ranma, I want you to suffer just like I did,~ thought Ryoga, happy that for once his heart had decided to stay out of it.
~ That cannot be Ryoga,~ Ranma thought fighting against his emotions. He couldn’t talk as he wanted to Ryoga, not now anyway in the front of the school, that’s what had started the whole mess in the first place. That was almost a year ago. ~ He finally finds me and he hates me. The world is a dark and lonely place after all.~ “ What do you want Ryoga.”
“ I’m here to destroy your happiness,” said Ryoga voice dripping with acid. Ranma turned to Akane.
“ Tell me Akane, am I happy?,” he asked. Akane did not want to be drawn into this.
“ What are you asking me for?,” she said detaching herself from the situation.
“ Enough talk, because of you I’ve seen hell,” Ryoga yelled in Ranma’s direction, as he threw his umbrella open and in a spin. It whirled around Ranma and Akane as they easily dodged it. It then returned like a boomerang.
“ What did I do that was so bad,” asked Ranma daring Ryoga to say what really happened,” why would you hate me so much.”
“ You left me to wander around the entire country,” Ryoga dodged the ruse. “ You tricked me. But like I said the time for words is over, Ranma prepare to die.” Ranma had enough time to ask himself how many times a week he hears that line before Ryoga began fencing with that umbrella. Dodging by doing a mechanical back roll. (if you’ve seen him do it, you can’t help but wonder if his flexibility is a plus in the sack. With so much of it you can only hope) finally on his feet again Ranma leapt into an aerial back flip behind the crowd of people that had gathered to watch the fight. Blindly Ryoga charged the crowd determined to kill Ranma once and for all. The crowd parted and Ryoga continued to run. Through bricks, cement, desks, and wood he went, all the way through the school. Everyone watched as he continued to run until he was out of sight.
“ Ranma waited until it got dark until he decided to head back to the Tendo dojo. Everyone had gone home and he hoped that Ryoga would come back so he could set things right. He shuddered as he remembered the cold hatred he had felt when Ryoga had first attacked. It crushed his resolve, and in front of Akane he sat against a nearby tree and cried; letting the tears and emotions free from the small cage in which he held them.
Ryoga had at last had a chance to avenge himself, and he blew it. How stupid could he be to actually get lost in the middle of a fight.
“Very stupid,” he answered himself.
~ I told you, you wouldn’t kill him~
“ You said I couldn’t kill him there is a difference,” Ryoga argued with himself again.
~ Now you’re grabbing at straws~
“ You were wrong about one more thing,”
~What?~ Ryoga lifted his head as he watched the sun set, and the sky fade to black. He had no way of knowing that Ranma was still in front of the school, an emotional wreck, being comforted by Akane and coming to the same false conclusion.
“ He doesn’t love me anymore.
THAT DAY IN SEPTEMBER PART FIVE:
LOVERS DUEL
A Ranma/Ryoga Love Story
By: Chaos Angel
chaosangel99@hotmail.com
When Ranma got back to the dojo he had erased all traces of emotional breakdown. Well, almost all, it was still evident that he was furious. He calmly walked into to the family room where Soun and Genma-panda were, as usual playing Go, and slowly closed the door behind him. Akane, worried for her friend waited outside the door, until she heard a terrible crash and a roar. She opened the door to find Soun huddling in the corner. She looked to her right and saw the origin of all the commotion. Genma-panda sat in a hunched position with Ranma’s elbow buried in his head.
“ Whatd’ya do THAT for,” the panda’s sign said using Ranma’s own favorite exclamation.
“ It’s for a favor rendered, you old fool!,” said Ranma. Before Genma could scribble down the word “huh?” Ranma sent him flying through the roof via Anything Goes Kick Express Airlines. Before Soun could compose himself enough to demand an explanation Ranma had stalked down the hall towards the guest room. Akane excused herself and followed him. She found him in the guest room sitting on the futon brooding.
“Ranma don’t you think you were a little…uh,” she started.
“…Lenient?” he finished for her,” Yeah I guess you’re right maybe I should go turn the old fool into a grease spot, thanks for the advice I’ll go do that right now…” He stopped as Akane smacked him across the face.
“ Ranma calm down,” she said, a worried expression etched on her face. “ I know you’re angry at him, but…”
“And the understatement of the year award goes to Akane Tendo,” said Ranma sarcastically; Akane ignored him.
“ BUT,” she said as if underlining her point,” don’t you think you should be concentrating more on trying to get him to understand…to get him…back.” She slowed her speech when Ranma began to stare at her like she had a horn coming out of her head. “ What?” she asked.
“ You really want to help me don’t you?” Ranma asked quietly.
“ Well…” Akane thought, “ Of course I do, you’re my friend, right?”
“ I just thought that maybe you’d be a little hesitant to help me, seeing as we’re traditionally engaged and all…”
“ Ranma, sometimes you really can be silly,” I don’t care about that engagement, I never have. Frankly I think I should be able to carry on the dojo on my own. But dad is so… He doesn’t think I can do it because I’m a woman. Grrr I’d like to ring his neck sometimes. He’s such a sexist pig.” Ranma blinked, and Akane realized that she wasn’t helping by getting angry with her own father as well. “ What I’m trying to say is we can still be friends,” she extended her hand. Ranma looked at it for a second then put his hand in hers.
“ I guess all I have to do now is find Ryoga and make him understand what really happened. I just wish Pop would understand how we felt…how I felt.” Ranma sighed.
“ Why don’t you just stay a girl, it’s cheaper than a sex change,” Akane joked, and instantly wished she hadn’t.
“ How many times to I hafta tell ya’ I’m a guy; G-U-Y, GUY. Always have been, always will be,” Ranma retorted reacting to the jab at his weak spot. “ Just ‘cause I love a man don’t make me a girl.
“ Oh, sorry, I was only joking Ranma. Didn’t know you’d take it that way.”
“ It’s okay,” Ranma sighed,” just know from now on not to joke about stuff like that. Now, what to do about Ryoga. There’s no point in going to look for him. He’s probably long gone by now. And he gets lost at the drop of a hat there’s no way to figure where he’s gone to.”
“ It seems that the only thing you can do is wait until he comes back,” said Akane wincing at the pain she saw reflected in Ranma’s eyes.
***
The five boys gathered in their cramped school chemistry laboratory. One of them, obviously the leader spoke.
“ Finished at last,” he said prompting maniacal laughter from his associates. “ this is a masterpiece, this is a work of modern art.” After taking more time for his friends and himself to giggle as if they were mad, the young Chem. Clubber pushed a button on the small circular machine. It began to emit an array of lights.
“ We did it,” said one club member.
“ It’s working,” said another.
“ It’s perfect,” said the youngest.
It exploded.
The aftermath was not pretty. Papers, desks, lab tables, chairs and the five chemistry club member were scattered helter-scelter over the room. The leader was the only one standing, though that didn’t last long. He puffed up a cloud of soot, made out a few maniacal giggles, and promptly passed out.
***
Ryoga had been traveling for a week, but he’d finally made it.
“ Ahhh, Ranma Saotome, today is the day I send you to hell. A hell so deep it swallows the light…a hell so lonely you’ll become a tortured soul for all eternity,” said Ryoga as he developed some slight twitches at the corner of his mouth and at his right eyebrow.
He would’ve shouted to the world how happy he was to finally make it back to Furinkan High School and deliver the punishment to the man Ranma Saotome, but there was an impact and the world went dark…
Members of the Furinkan High football (soccer) team crowded around Ryoga. They all made worried glances around to each other.
“ What’s his problem wandering into the middle of a game like that,” said one.
“ Hey he’s not moving…” said another.
“ Maybe we should get the school nurse. Remember what the coach says about head injuries.”
***
Akane sat at her desk in study hall, deep in thought. Her girlfriends surrounded her yakking about something or the other. She thought she heard a compliment about her hair. She grinned and nodded at each of her cues yet her mind was elsewhere. ~ Ranma has been getting more and more depressed each day that Ryoga doesn’t show up. If what he says about Ryoga’s sense of direction is true, then he has to accept the fact that Ryoga may never make it back here.~ She heard the words “cute boy” to her left and it penetrated the barrier she had put up to protect her thoughts. She went over to the window to see who this cute boy could be.
“It’s that guy from before, Akane,” Yuka said behind her. “ Oooh he looks so handsome and strong. Maybe if I play my cards right…” Akane tuned her out at that point, she’d heard it all before and nothing ever came of it. She turned to find Ranma somewhere in the crowd of students. He wasn’t hard to find in a room full of uniforms as the only one without one. (why is that?)
“ Ranma!” she called and he lifted his head from the book he was reading.
“ What?” he asked, irritated for being interrupted. His eyes grew wide as he watched Akane mouth the word “Ryoga”. Ranma was on his feet in a second and at the window with Akane in two.
“ He got hit with a football, “ Akane and they’re carrying him to the nurses office…what are you doing?” Ranma had began to open the window and climb on the sill. “ Are you nuts, this is the fifth floor, higher than last time you did this.” Ranma ignored her and jumped. Akane watched with bated breath as Ranma plummeted to the second floor, only to clamp his feet to the wall beside him, using the slanted recoil to relaunch himself into a more controlled aerial descent . “ Wow,” was all Akane could say.
***
Ranma found Ryoga in the nurse’s office; he was lying on a cot with his back facing Ranma with an icepack on his head. The pig-tailed boy walked on eggshells to the unconscious wanderer on the bed.
“Rats,” said Ranma cursing his luck,” he’s asleep. I had so much to tell him. This is all that old man’s fault. I swear I’m gonna kill him if I catch’em again. That coward’s probably arranging an extended “training trip” and’ll be gone by the time I’m home from school.” Ranma brushed an unruly lock of hair from Ryoga’s eyes. “ You know you really are cute when you’re asleep,” said Ranma quietly as he walked back to class. He’d have to check on Ryoga after classes.
Had Ranma stayed a few seconds longer he would have seen the silent tears that slid down Ryoga’s cheek. Ryoga sat up slowly.
~ Ranma thinks I’m cute, huh?~, thought Ryoga,~ I wish I had woken up sooner. I wonder what he was saying? Probably trying to beg for his life. I’ll challenge him after his classes. That’ll give me time to rest up.~
***
The end of the day came, and the inevitable challenge ensued. Furinkan High, true to form turned it into a spectator’s event. The entire student body turned up for the event. Akane of course got a front row seat, her being Ranma’s fiancé and all. She listened to the conversations behind her.
“ Hmm, looks like Ranma’s gonna take that guy on…” said a male voice.
“ Ooooh a duel,” said a female one directly behind her. It sounded like Yuka again. “ How romantic,” the voice finished.
~ It’s Yuka…~ Akane concluded with a sigh. She somehow managed to keep her face stony and emotionless, though her heart was going out to Ranma, and his situation. He was honor bound to fight Ryoga because he was challenged, but she wondered if he could really bring himself to do it. The loud voice of her sister broke into her silent reverie.
“ COME ON EVERYBODY, PLACE YOUR BETS, PLACE YOUR BETS. RYOGA OR RANMA, PLACE YOUR BET S AND WIN A BUNDLE!” said Nabiki with a megaphone as she and her associates handed out tickets as if they were at the horse track. Akane sighed as a crowd gathered around her sister. She’d expected as much out of Nabiki and wondered what had took her so long to make an appearance. The crowd instantly began to shout out and place their bets, hundreds of yen shining in their hands. “ OKAY, gotcha covered, okay wait your turn, get in line,” Nabiki said as she collected money in an orderly fashion and with a smile in her eyes.
***
“ Welcome Ranma,” said Ryoga evilly,” what cunning you showed in escaping last time…”
~ So now he wants to insult me,~ thought Ranma, hurt. ~ Two can play at that game.~ “ Hey, I’m not the one who wandered off and got lost Ryoga,” said Ranma as he pointed his finger at Ryoga while watching the effects his words had on the bandanna’d martial artist.
“ Hey, shut up!” said Ryoga what would you know about it anyway?” Ranma looked hurt. He obviously knew more than Ryoga seemed to think he did. He listened to Ryoga’s tale of woe with one ear as he processed his feelings for the coming fight.
~ It’s not fair…stupid honor. I don’t want to hurt him. But I can’t let him kill me either. And what about Akane, I’m affiliated with her school. If I lose, it could look bad on her…~
“ …Now we’re going to settle this.” Said Ryoga in conclusion and catching Ranma off guard.
“ I don’t know what to tell you Ryoga…” Ranma began.
“ You’re damn right! You don’t have the right to say anything to me, not after what you’ve done.” Accused Ryoga.
“ That’s NOT what I mean…” Ranma began again.
“ I’ve had enough of your excuses…FIGHT!” said Ryoga as he drew his bamboo umbrella. Ryoga began with one handed fencing swipes and thrusts (WITH THE UMBRELLA! No lemon yet!) Which Ranma easily dodged and blocked. Ranma finally escaped the barrage by jumping into the air, using his uncanny hang time to ask a question.
“ Won’t you at least let me tell you my side of the story?” he asked. By then Ryoga had launched himself into the air as well.
“ SHUT UP!,” he answered, delivering another swipe of the umbrella. Ranma nimbly turned his vertical jump into an aerial flip over Ryoga’s head, dodging the strike and landing on his feet.”
“ Have it your way,” he said sadly. Ryoga landed as well. With a fearful battle cry he launched himself at Ranma.
***
Akane watched the fight carefully. She was worried of course, but she had become enthralled by the spectacular skill shown by both Ranma and Ryoga. It was obvious Ranma wasn’t using his full potential, but his display of kempo acrobatics and flexibility was most impressive.
***
Nabiki and her associates were of course counting their money.
“ Okay, the take is 11,473 Yen,” said Miko as she looked at Nabiki with a smile. “It seems they all put their money on Ranma…”
“ Are you sure about this Nabiki?” asked Noriko. “ If Ranma wins it’s gonna bankrupt us for sure!”
“Trust me ladies,” said Nabiki, “ I’m a professional!” She turned to pay closer attention to the fight.
At this time the chemistry club decided to show up. They watched the fight with almost psychotic and definitely hormonal glee.
“ If that guy kills Saotome, then Akane isn’t…you know,” said the leader as he directed the other four to gaze a Akane together.
“ She’s not engaged anymore,” said they youngest.”
“ And if she’s not engaged anymore, she’s free to become the Chemistry Clubs’…well…you’ know,” said another evoking mad giggles from them all.
***
Ryoga opened his umbrella and threw it in a spin at Ranma.
“ Take this you coward!” he said. Ranma easily dodged it. He was too busy trying to think of a way to get out of seriously having to fight him. It wasn’t working too well, so all he could do was dodge half-heartedly. Ryoga saw his opening as he took out a corded pair of handcuffs from his shirt. He threw one end at Ranma and smiled to himself as he saw it latch around Ranma’s forearm. The other end he latched to his own wrist.
“ What the…?” asked Ranma when he felt the steel click around his wrist. The steel cuff was attached to a length of cord, which extended to Ryoga. Ranma smiled and blushed a little.
“ I had no idea you were this kinky Ryoga-kun,” he joked.
“ SHUT UP!,” yelled Ryoga, willing himself not to blush as well. “It’s not like that! This’ll keep you from running away.”
“ Don’t you mean it’ll keep you from losing me?” asked Ranma, striking Ryoga’s weak spot again. Ryoga didn’t fall for the bait, but charged Ranma with a kick. Ranma blocked with his arm, and cross counter kicked. Ryoga mimicked Ranma’s move and blocked the kick with his arm. Withdrawing from the stalemate, Ryoga began to repeatedly throw strong punches at Ranma, who could only block them due to their new close quarters.
“ Wow,” said a male voice behind Akane, “ He fights as good as Saotome.
~ No he doesn’t,~ thought Akane, ~ He’s just throwing basic punches at Ranma, who keeps using elaborate blocks. Ranma isn’t fighting back at all, so they just look evenly matched.~ A disturbance to her left made Akane turn her attention from the fight. A boy was having a bit of trouble with Ryoga’s umbrella. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“ That thing weighs a ton!,” said the boy as he struggled to lift it. He wasn’t having much success. Akane walked over to the weapon, knelt and tried to lift it up. The boy was right, it was heavy, but a boy SHOULD have been able to lift it. Akane groaned inwardly at the weakness of men, before a memory of Ryoga wielding the umbrella came to her mind.
~ And he carries this thing around one-handed?~ She thought with shock and worry.
“ RANMA!”, she shouted, “ DON’T GET TOO CLOSE TO HIM, STAY AWAY FROM HIM!”
Ranma heard her, but it was a little too late to worry about that now, seeing as the two of them were handcuffed together. Ranma had his hands full, trying to get away from all of Ryoga’s punches and kicks without instinctively counter-attacking. He had to explain everything to Ryoga. Sometimes he swore he could never catch a break.
Ryoga lashed out, with one of what he called, his “rough-living techniques”. He threw an open-handed punch, which as he anticipated, Ranma dodged, by moving his head. The angle was right, and one of Ryoga’s jagged fingernails sliced through Ranma’s left cheek. Ranma winced at the pain, and Ryoga felt a pang of guilt for marring his face. Ranma wiped the blood from his cheek and did that cool anime stopping-the-blood-in- one-swipe thing. By then he had then reached his limit.
“ That’s it,” he said as he pulled the cord taught. “ No more Mr. Nice Guy.”
***
A member of the Kendo Club raced to Kuno’s place of meditation.
“ Um excuse me captain Kuno!” he shouted excitedly,” But Saotome is fighting this really strong guy…don’t you wanna come watch?”
“ Silence wretch, do not disturb my, meditating,” said Kuno quietly. His right eye snapped open and beheld a picture of Akane Tendo in pajamas, holding a teddy bear. His left eye did the same and beheld a picture of Onna-Ranma, in a scanty summer outfit, no doubt supplied by Nabiki. “ Akane Tendo…Pig-tailed Girl…whichever shall I choose. I love you BOTH, AAHHHHRRRRGGG,” he shouted as he ran towards the posters, slamming into the wall between them. The Kendo club member outside walked away puzzled as the sign to the Kendo Club dojo, jarred from Kuno’s smoocie-smooch with the wall, fell slightly.
***
“ Ahh, so NOW you get serious,” said Ryoga mockingly,” don’t make me laugh. Ryoga threw a punch at Ranma who expertly dodged it, fast enough to leave a cool after-image of himself as he slid between Ryoga’s open legs. One half of his mind criticizing Ryoga’s awful stance, the other half was wondering exactly what that thing was, that was snaking down Ryoga’s pant leg. Once realization his he blushed furiously. Pulling the cord sharply, the slightly flustered Ranma managed yank Ryoga’s arm between his own legs, while Ranma flipped onto his back, forcing Ryoga to his knees.
“ So, Ryoga, what should I do with you now,” said Ranma, trying to put as much double meaning into those words as possible. (now knowing what he had to gain, who wouldn’t)
“ Curse you, Saotome,” said Ryoga, straining, “ I’m not beaten yet!”
***
Miko looked at Nabiki for guidance.
“ Oh-no, Ranma’s gonna win for sure. Nabiki, what are we going to do?”
Nabiki did not answer, but merely growled her dissatisfaction. Across the field from the entrepreneurs, the Chemistry club, were praying their mantra,” Lose, Ranma Lose, Ranma Lose, Ranma…”
***
Ryoga growled, at the strain, but he began to lift his legs into the air with Ranma on his back. That began to evolve into a one-handed handstand, with Ranma still, on his back of course. The crowd of teenagers began to whisper amongst themselves in awe. Ryoga gave one final grunt as he pushed with his free arm, sending both teenage martial artists into the air.
Ranma had the good sense to launch his own jump from Ryoga’s body, just in time to dodge the desperate kicks Ryoga sent to his mid-section. Landing a good kick into Ryoga’s back, Ranma began his decent. The score on that one Ranma 1: Ryoga Zippo.
Landing on his hands, Ranma threw a two-legged kick at Ryoga, who blocked it with both of his forearms. The recoil however sent him flying backwards. The cord on the handcuff drew taught, yanking Ranma towards Ryoga. Using the momentum Ranma turned his flight into a flying kick. Again Ryoga blocked with his forearms. The force from this kick sent him slamming into the ground, a few feet from his umbrella. Ryoga, made a mad dash for his weapon of choice, grabbed it and kept on running towards the tall green chain-link fence. Ranma had no choice, but to follow. At the fence, their strength and speed allowed them both to run right up the side and over. The student body close behind. Ryoga landed with a feral grunt, and kept on running.
“ Ryoga, wait up,” said Ranma, wondering how he was going to get out of this one.
***
“ Everything is going according to plan,” said the leader of the Chem. Club.
“ Chief, the mine’s buried,” said the youngest member.
“ Very well then, positions everyone,” said the leader as he and the others concealed themselves in some nearby bushes. “ Ranma, this is the best mine the Chem. Club can build, feel free to enjoy it to the fullest. They waited patiently for Ranma and Ryoga to make their final appearance.
They didn’t have to wait long however. Ryoga landed on the minefield first, followed swiftly by Ranma. Ryoga challenged Ranma to continue their fight.
“ Come on,” said Ryoga sounding a little winded but otherwise okay, he made his gesture. Ranma’s answer came in the form of a sidewinder kick.
“ Hi-ya!” he said as Ryoga blocked with his forearm. He wondered briefly why the ground was so uneven in this spot, but it was a fleeting thought. Meanwhile he and Ryoga were continuing to exchange blows, the Chem. Club was dumbfounded as to why their mines weren’t working.
“ T-t-the mines are duds? How could this happen?” stuttered the chief, “ Now what are we going to do?”
“ Captain,” said the youngest as he held two Erlenmeyer flasks with clear liquid contents, “ If we force Saotome to breathe in the gasses created at the introduction of calcium carbonate, to hydrochloric acid, he’s sure to experience fatigue and headaches I guarantee it.” The young member inhaled the fumes of his concoction deeply. “ Whoa! I feel go~od!” The leader punched him in the head.
“ Stop that you idiot, you’re sucking up our secret weapon!” he screamed, while wondering how he was going unheard by the two combatnants outside the bushes.
“ At this point, only the combined might of the entire Chem. Club can hope to bring down the evil Ranma!” The Furinkan High School Chemistry Club all drew mallets from hammer-space…
Ranma and Ryoga were locked in a power struggle as the rustling in the bushes snagged their attention.
“ W-w-what?” was all Ryoga could manage before the Chem. Club leapt from the bushes, mallets drawn behind their heads.
“ We’re here…” said the first.
“ …To make sure Akane Tendo…” said the second
“ …Is made happy…” said the third.
“ …So you just…” said the youngest.
“ ...REST IN PEACE SAOTOME!” said the leader.
The two martial artists instinctively jumped out of the way as the five scientists landed, each slamming the ground (and the hidden mine underneath) with their weapon. Ranma went right, and Ryoga jumped left. The cord of the handcuffs was drawn tight as the subsequent explosions went off, snapping it, and blowing up the Chem. Club in a flash of pyrotechnics.
***
“ Over there,” said Nabiki to her associates as she observed the explosions. “ Okay, ladies now it’s our turn. They’ve left the school grounds. Try not to lose them ladies!”
“ Right behind you boss!” said Miko and Noriko in unison as they casually stepped over the slightly charred bodies of the school Chemistry Club.
***
Ranma kicked Ryoga into a wall. Ryoga winced and made a pained grunt at the impact. It broke Ranma’s heart to have to fight Ryoga this way but, the bandanna’d boy had left him with few options and less time to go over them.
“ Howz’about it Ryoga? Had enough, or did you want more?” asked Ranma, hoping that now at least Ryoga would want to talk, seeing as they were away from the school grounds. At this time Nabiki, Miko, and Noriko found it an opportune time to intrude.
“ There they are,” said Nabiki as she and her associates ran to Ryoga’s side. Ranma sweatdropped as she began to whisper in Ryoga’s ear. “ Don’t worry Ryoga, were on your side. Have you ever heard of steroids? Take these tablets and your strength will increase tenfold!” Ryoga looked at the tablets Nabiki held under his nose. Did he dare? Nabiki looked at him with her calculating brown eyes, and he decided to go for it. He would do anything to avenge his honor against Ranma. (Don’t ask me about the logic in this. I still haven’t figured out what he was thinking) Nabiki handed Ryoga the tablets while Noriko handed him a glass of water. Nabiki decided now was the time throw in a few choice words that would ensure her financial gains. “ You are about to become a tiger. Nobody can stop you. Unconquerably strong…you’ll have no rival…Hercules was a wimp compared to you. You are a tiger…a tiger! YOU ARE A TIGER!” Ranma flinched as he felt the surge of strength in Ryoga’s battle aura. He could see the violent red hue around the wandering martial artist.
Ryoga dropped the water glass as he fell completely for Nabiki’s ruse. Nabiki smiled to herself as she watched the glass shatter on the pavement.
“ I can feel the power!,” said Ryoga. “ I can feel it burning inside me! I CAN WIN, I CAN WIN!” Ryoga walked over to a nearby cement telephone pole, wrapped his arms around it, and simply uprooted it. Nabiki and her business associates saw it was now a good time to vacate the premises. “ How about it Saotome, fight me fair and square!” Ranma was slightly taken aback by the stupidity of his statement.
“ You call that fair and square?” he asked.
“ Enough talking!” said Ryoga as he thrust the telephone pole at Ranma. (hmm sounds lemony but it isn’t. Take everything literally) Ranma in turn dodged it by moving his head. The pole went through the wall behind him, only to be withdrawn and thrust at him again. (God, this sounds bad, but only a taste of my real perverted prowess…) Ranma dodged again, this time by moving to the left. The cement pole came at him one more time. He moved to the right, and seeing now as a good time to make a break for it, flipped over the pole and ran to find a better fighting position.
“ Oh? Running away again?” asked Ryoga as he pursued his former lover, wreaking havoc on Nerima and causing the inevitable, enormous property damage by swinging the telephone pole back and forth after Ranma. “ Come back here! Come back here I said! Damn you!”
***
Noriko watched the two martial artists tear up the city.
“ Um…Nabiki, those were just vitamin tables we gave him right?” she asked.
“ Uh-huh!” Nabiki nodded her affirmative.
“ The power of suggestion is truly a thing of wonder,” said Miko in awe. Nabiki’s smile just widened as she chuckled to herself.
***
Ranma’s flight finally brought him to the Nerima district Zoo. He heard Ryoga screaming at him to come back.
~Yeah, right~ he thought, ~ I’m over here in freedom and he expects me to come back and be turned into a pig-tailed blood smear by that telephone pole? I guess it’s true what they say about steroids affecting the brain. I hope they’re lying about the other stuff…No time to think about that now, I hafta get him to understand that this is just a HUGE misunderstanding. But he’s so pig-headed he won’t listen to me. What happened while he was gone?~
Ryoga was hot on Ranma’s trail. Destroying much of the zoo as he had the city. He heard a woman scream something about zebra’s escaping but he ignored it. That wasn’t his problem.
~ I’ll kill him for what he did to me! Leaving me to wander the world alone. Playing with my heart like it was just some toy. Running away to China and making me follow… I’ll never forgive him for that. Ranma Saotome…Prepare to DIE!!!~ “Ranma, come back here,” he challenged. Ryoga finally cornered Ranma next to the lion pit. “ Your running away days are over Ranma!” he said as he swung the telephone pole like a sword. Ranma dodged by flipping backwards, but he wasn’t fast enough to keep Ryoga from making a clean cut through his silken red shirt. He was at first relieved that he wasn’t hurt, then his relief turned to anger.
“ Hey, you just wrecked my favorite shirt Ryoga!” he whined.
“ This is a duel,” said Ryoga coldly, “ don’t start sounding like a girl!” (sorry ladies he said it not me) That did it. He struck the wrong nerve that time. Ranma’s eyes narrowed.
“ Who’re you callin’ a girl?,” said Ranma as he leapt into the air. His vertical jump evolved into a double-legged flying kick that, on impact, crushed Ryoga’s cement weapon. “ I’M A GUY! RYOGA YOU TAKE THAT BACK!” Ryoga made a tactical retreat to a higher position on a cement wall, though it wasn’t as safe as he originally thought. “ TAKE IT BACK I SAID!” yelled Ranma as he fell from the sky once again, landing a kick that would have severely damaged Ryoga if he hadn’t have jumped out of the way. As it went Ranma just crushed the portion of the cement wall Ryoga had been standing on. ~ How dare that jerk say something like that! I’m gonna get him for that!~ thought Ranma, hurt and enraged.
***
Akane, along with the rest of the student body, had followed Ranma and Ryoga to the zoo in hopes of seeing the end of the fight. Just as much as to see that Nabiki didn’t stiff anybody on his or her winnings as to see the rest of the fight.
“ Ranma? Where are you?” Akane called out, afraid for her friend’s emotional state more than his physical safety. She was answered as a waterspout appeared in the distance. ~ Ranma or Ryoga must have burst a water vein. He had better be careful or he’ll… this could get ugly…~ thought Akane as she raced towards the water.
***
Ryoga used his umbrella to shield himself from the offensive water. It wouldn’t do to get wet now, of all times, would it? He watched as a small woman with red hair emerged from the waterspout, sporting Ranma’s hairstyle, and torn Chinese clothing.
“ Com’mon and fight Ryoga!” she stated upon landing and taking her stance.
~ She has his bad grammar and everything! Who is she?~ thought Ryoga. He pointed at her and stammered. “ W-w-who t-th-the heck are you?”
“ SHUT UP!” she screamed at him as she jumped at him, landing a kick in his face.
~ I recognize that technique! That’s one of Ranma’s favorite kicks…uh? Ranma…~ Ryoga slowly put two and two together. “ Ranma…is that you?”
“ Just who did you think it was you stupid jerk!” said Onna-Ranma angrily. Just then Akane showed up and, tried to warn Ranma about his gender.
“Ranma…your blouse!” she pointed out. Ranma looked down to see his very female breasts protruding from the jagged gash at the chest of the now oversized shirt. He blushed and tried to cover himself. “ Didn’t you notice that you’d gone female again?” Akane asked wondering how one could not notice.
“ Ranma you’re a…” Ryoga started to ask, but couldn’t finish. Ranma paused, then began to explain, but was startled by the appearance of yet another thorn in his side.
“ Pig-tailed girl! I LOVE YOU!,” yelled Kuno at the top of his lungs as he ran towards Ranma with open arms.
“ Hiiii-ya,” said Ranma as he kicked Kuno into the lion’s pit. He heard Kuno scream as the hungry lions began to pounce, but he paid no heed.
“ Glad to see you aren’t lonely or anything,” Ryoga taunted, hurt to see Ranma with so many admirers. A lot in comparison to him. He thought.
“ Go ahead, Ryoga, I don’t understand why you won’t just listen to me. But if you’re so hell bent on killin’ me then follow me then,” said Ranma. The pig-tailed girl leapt on the far wall and over. Ryoga paused for a second, then followed suit. No one decided to go after them.
***
Ranma raced through the city, Ryoga on his heels. He was tired, tired of everything. He didn’t want to die, but if Ryoga didn’t even want to hear him out, he might as well. He was willing to risk his life for the love he felt. He just hoped his gamble would pay off. After jumping over one last fence Ranma had at last made it to his destination: the public park.
“ Wait here a sec, Ryoga,” he said as he went into the recreation center bathroom. Ryoga waited until Ranma reemerged as a male again. “ Glad the hot water worked in there, I’d rather you did this while I was really me… now follow me.” Ranma led Ryoga to a large tree, next to the lake and sat down.
“ What is this?” asked Ryoga, “ why would you bring me here of all places. This is where…we…ahh” Ryoga groaned at the painful memories.
“ This is where I was happiest,” said Ranma calmly. “ If you’re really sure about this killin’ me stuff, I’d rather you did it here. But first I have to at least explain something to you. Let me ask you a question.” Ranma waited for permission to continue. At Ryoga’s continued silence he did. “ How many signs did you follow that day?” asked Ranma quietly. Ryoga growled at the reminder.
“ Oh I don’t know, about twenty or so, leading me all over Japan, and ultimately the world.” Ranma snapped up in conviction.
“ I only made five! I only needed to get you from your front porch to that vacant lot across behind your house. Didn’t it strike you as a little odd that you would need some twenty odd signs to make what should be a two minute trip.”
“ That’s because I trusted you whole-heartedly. I figured you would lead me astray…you said you loved me. I can’t forgive you for such a betrayal.”
“ Or can you not forgive my Pop,” said Ranma, venom in his voice at the mention of the man he hated. Ryoga gave him a questioning look. “ You heard me right. That day I had after school detention. The principal called my Pop. He spied on us. This is all his fault. He switched around all my signs and sent you on that wild goose chase, while he forced me to go to China with him. He thought what we had was ‘improper’” Ranma used the quotation gesture to emphasize how he found it to be bullshit. Ryoga only looked at him silently. Ranma continued. “I waited for you at that lot for three days. He finally had to knock me out and drag me into the sea. He made me swim to China, I didn’t want to go but I had to swim or die…” Ranma stopped as he heard Ryoga chuckle. The chuckle grew to laughter, and the laughter to a maniacal cackle.
“ Wow that was a good one Ranma, you almost had me going for a while there. It’s time for you to stop begging for you miserable life with lies. Now accept your punishment.” Ranma slumped where he sat. Defeated.
~ I’ve come this far and he doesn’t believe me…~ Ranma thought. He closed his eyes and waited for the final blow. Ryoga watched him prepare himself for the great beyond with relish. He steeled himself as he drew back his arm, his index and middle fingers extended to pierce Ranma’s skull. He began to throw his punch when two things stopped him. The first was the fact that he noticed a piece of yellow and black material protruding from Ranma’s pocket. It looked like one of his bandannas. The second was the quiet tears that spilled from Ranma’s closed eyes. Ryoga’s resolve shattered and he began to run. He ran to the stone wall of the park and jumped over. Then he was gone.
Ranma opened one eye, then the other. Ryoga was nowhere to be found. Ranma didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He was sad that Ryoga had fled, and wondered if he would come back. On the other hand, he was relieved to still be alive. The only thing to do now was to wait, kill his father, then wait some more. He stood up and made his way to the stone wall, and jumped over; on his way to see Akane and tell her of his progress.
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