THAT DAY IN SEPTEMBER PART SEVEN:
HOMECOMING
A Ranma/Ryoga Love Story
By: Chaos Angel
chaosangel99@hotmail.com

Ranma and Akane zipped out the door of the Tendo residence. Akane noted the funny way Ranma was walking and hoped that no one else in the house had noticed.

~They probably refuse to, considering that they think I was the one he was grinding against last night. That is such a joke!~ she thought. Ranma gave his friend a questioning look at the sudden smile that came to her face.

“What’s so funny Akane?” Ranma asked.

“I was just thinking about the discussion this morning at breakfast!”

“There was discussion at breakfast this morning?”

“Well there was to everyone who wasn’t giving goo-goo eyes to the piglet he gave his virginity to last night,” Akane said with a giggle. Ranma blushed furiously.

“H-how did you know that I…”

“Was a virgin? I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but you’re walking funny. Plus I happened to walk in this morning. You lucky dog, Ryoga’s none too shabby with the erectile tissue.” Upon hearing his human name, P-chan emerged from the darkness of Akane’s book bag. He snorted in annoyance at Akane’s apparent lack of tact, but managed to shoot Ranma a loving glance before hiding again.

“Back at’cha Ryo-kun!” Ranma said with a wink. Akane rolled her eyes as she turned the corner to enter Dr. Tofu’s clinic. Stepping into the doorway, the two teenagers respectfully removed their shoes before entering the office.

“Hello, Tofu-sensei?” Akane called out. The voice of the young doctor could be heard from the interior of the office.

“Ohayo gozaimasu! Akane-chan? Is that you? Have a seat and I’ll be right with you.”

“Oh that’s quite all right. I just wanted to know if we could borrow some hot water?” Akane asked politely. This time it was Ranma’s turn to roll his eyes.

~I thought she was over him?~ he asked himself, but did not dare to ask her here of all places.

“Oh sure, go ahead. Use the stove in my kitchen. You have a good day at school!” they heard Dr. Tofu say from the other room.

“Thank you we will,” Akane bowed to no one in particular. Ranma only gave her a puzzled look as she led him to the kitchen. In no time, Ranma had a kettle of water heating on the stove. While they waited, he and Akane talked.

“So where exactly did you go last night?” Ranma asked, extricating P-chan from Akane’s book bag.

“Well, I went out and… Well, I sorta met someone!”

“Hmmm? Why are we playing the pronoun game?” Ranma asked suspiciously. “Was it a girl?” Akane did not answer, but only grew a bright red. Ranma took it in stride. “Hmph, she must have been some pretty hot stuff to make you overlook my girl half,” the pig-tailed martial artist joked. P-chan glared up at his lover evilly. Oh you know you’re the only one for me koi. Don’t get your boxers in a bunch!” Ranma said as he stroked the piglet’s back and kissed his snout. Setting P-chan down, Ranma picked up the kettle of hot water and doused his boyfriend. In an instant a very naked Ryoga sat on the floor, trying, in vain, to cover himself from the female’s view.

“Don’t worry Ryo-chan, I’ve seen it before. You were asleep in my room. Naked, might I add?” Ryoga said nothing, but he looked about to faint. Ranma knelt down and planting a gentle kiss on Ryoga’s lips.

“That was nice, but speaking of boxers are you gonna give me mine back?” Ryoga asked after his tongue withdrew from Ranma’s lips.

“Not anytime soon. I’m wearing them right now!” Ranma said with a wide grin. Akane made a grimace, but said nothing. Ryoga sat back with some unreadable emotion scrawled on his face. Sensing his job was done, Ranma dug into his own backpack and pulled out a pair of his own boxers, a pair of black Chinese pants and one of his spare shirts, the white sleeveless one with the red lacing. These he handed to Ryoga, though for his muscular build, he was about Ranma’s size. Ryoga accepted the clothing and began to tug the it on. Akane noted Ranma’s choice of under garments.

“You have an underwear fetish don’t you,” she asked Ranma jokingly. Ranma decided to ignore her and she laughed when she didn’t receive an answer. Ryoga stood as he tucked his shirt into the pants. It was a little of a tight fit, but it would do until his own clothes dried. He remembered that he still had to thank Ranma for rescuing his clothing and backpack when he transformed the night before; even if he had hijacked his underwear. Akane had graciously allowed the two to dry his clothes in her room to avoid questions; though he figured his methods of thanking her would vary considerably from the way he would thank Ranma.

“We ready to go now koi?” Ranma asked when he assumed Ryoga was finished. “We have to hurry if we want to get to school on time. Remember we have to take you to where you see about taking the entrance exam.

“I’m still not all that sure about this school thing Ranma,” Ryoga began, but the small pout that formed on Ranma’s lips killed his argument. He’d do anything for his Ranma, even go back to school.

“With all the melodrama out of the way, can we get a move on people?” Akane asked impatiently.

“Why are you in such a hurry,” Ranma asked, joking with her. “Are we late for a date?”

“Yes, in fact we are! She’s already taken her entrance exams and is supposed to be meeting us at the gates to the school,” Akane answered smugly. Ranma and Ryoga face-faulted. Ryoga was the first to recover.

“Then I suppose we had better be getting over to Furinkan then.” Ranma nodded in silent agreement, taking Ryoga’s hand as he led his directionally challenged lover to school; Akane following close behind.

***

Ukyo was leaning against the wall surrounding her new school. Akane was late, but she figured she might be. Ukyo looked down at herself. She wore the navy blue boys school uniform and a pair of white tennis shoes; her battle spatula weighed heavily on her right shoulder. Her battle spatula… she would find Ranma Saotome and make him pay for ruining her family.

“That pig-tail is mine,” she said as she clenched her fist.

“Ucchan!” Ukyo heard Akane’s voice call from down the street.

“Akane-chan over here!” Ukyo called back, waving Akane and her two friends over. Akane ran and hugged Ukyo briefly before introducing her friends.

“Ukyo-chan I’d like you to meet my friends. Hibiki Ryoga.” Ryoga bowed politely and Akane continued. “ And Saotome Ranma, my ‘fiancé’.”

“Saotome?” Ukyo questioned angrily, “Saotome Ranma? Ranma Saotome! DIE!” Ranma barely had time for his pigtail to become erect in surprise before the large battle spatula swung at his head. Ryoga tackled his lover to the ground, rolling them both out of harm’s way.

“Ukyo! What’s gotten into you?” Akane screamed, running to the boy’s side.

“Ranma Saotome ruined my life, and it’s payback time!” Ukyo screamed at the three teens. Akane stood her ground in front of her friends protectively, but Ryoga slowly turned his head at Ranma, his eyes half-slitted in a mixture of anger and the I-want-an-explanation emotion.

“Ranma… is there something you want to tell me?” Ryoga half growled. Ranma put his face in his hands and tried to think.

“Ukyo… Ukyo… where have I heard that name before…”

“Y-you mean you don’t even remember me?” Ukyo said in surprise. Akane turned her head to look at Ranma who was still trying to remember. “It’s me… Ukyo, your ‘fiancé’!”

“F-fiancé!?” Ranma, Ryoga, and Akane all stammered at once.

“Yes, fiancé! I’m the one you left behind! Flour Bomb!” Ukyo said angrily as she tossed a bag of flour and gunpowder at Ranma, and consequently everyone else. Ranma back-flipped to avoid the blast, while Ryoga grabbed the less agile Akane and carried her to safety.

~Flour bombs?~ Ranma asked himself. ~And a battle spatula… she cooks. But what? Maybe that’s the clue I need.~ “Yakisoba Noodle Grab!” Ukyo said as she used her rubber noodles to entangle Ranma, who just stood there, still unable to bring himself to seriously fight a girl.

~Yakisoba noodles, flour, and spatulas… that’s it!~ Easily freeing himself from the noodles, Ranma turned the tables on Ukyo by ensnaring her in her own snare. Ukyo, now wrapped in her own rubber noodles only snarled in Ranma’s direction.

“Ukyo, you’re the son of that Okonomiyaki chef in Kyoto right?” Ranma inquired. Ryoga looked to Akane.

“I thought she was a girl?” he asked the girl with the long raven hair.

“That’s what I assumed she was after a look at her plumbing…” Akane said quietly in a little disbelief.

“What do you mean son? I’m a girl!” Ukyo seethed at Ranma. Ranma was quite taken aback, he couldn’t think of what he could have possibly done to tick her off like this.

“Well then you are the child of that okonomiyaki chef, right?”

“Yeah I am. You mean you really don’t remember what you did? You ruined my life!”

“There’s that line again,” Akane commented, “ Why is it that everyone from your past tells you that Ranma?” Ryoga shifted uncomfortably.

“Well tell me Ranma, what do you remember,” Ukyo said. She was going to try to be reasonably civil about this seeing that she could tell she still could not beat Ranma in a fight.

“Hmm, I remember I was still in training with Pop. I was about six years old. So this was before junior high,” He paused to watch Ryoga’s expression soften. Ranma could see that he had been tensely jealous and/or angry and/or feeling miffed that Ranma may have found someone else; all of them moot points now. “Anyways Pop and I used to camp out in the park because he was too cheap to spring for a hotel’r something. He used to spout some bullshit about it being training or something. I try to forget…”

“Get to the point you jackass!” Ukyo growled. She could see that her words had some effect on Ranma.

“Yeah, that’s right! You always used to call me a jackass!” Ranma exclaimed. Ryoga and Akane sweatdropped. “Anyway, after we trained in the morning I would always go visit my friend Ukyo. His dad owned an okonomiyaki cart in the middle of the park. Me and Ukyo would spar everyday, he used to pretend that he was guarding cart from invaders’r something. Of course I would always win, but Ucchan as I called him, always had a okonomiyaki hot’n ready for me. He even used to make little faces in the sauce. We were best friends, yeah he even made a name for me too… what was it again?”

“Ran-chan, you moron it isn’t that hard to remember!” Ukyo said with just a little malice in her voice.

“Then you are Ucchan! Nobody else would know that name!” Ranma exclaimed. Again, Akane and Ryoga sweatdropped. Wouldn’t anybody close to him call him that? “So when did you become a girl? Don’t tell me you were training in Jusenkyo and fell into a spring!” Ukyo looked at him like he was crazy.

“I am one hundred *per*cent woman. Always have been, always will be.” Then it slowly dawned on her. “You mean you always thought I was a boy?” Ranma nodded his head vigorously. “Then what about our engagement?”

“What engagement. I don’t remember any engagement?” Ranma sweatdropped. “But I think I do know who would know. Oyaji is so dead…”

“What old man?” Ukyo asked.

“My Pop is probably the one who got us engaged. I remember him askin’ me if I liked you or Okonomiyaki better. I was six years old, hungry, and you were a boy. So I said okonomiyaki. Soon afterwards we were leaving…I remember a rumbling sound when we left. You chased us for about a mile. All I could do was keep waving good-bye!” Ranma said sadly.

“Just what was that rumbling sound?” Ryoga asked his lover.

“I’ll tell you what it was. You and that jackass father of yours took the dowry and left me behind. You took the okonomiyaki cart and split. It was my father’s business, so basically it ruined us and my life as a woman was over!”

“So is that why you…” Akane started to ask but she couldn’t finish, it all of a sudden hurt to talk.

“Huh? Oh, no, I discovered later that an actual marriage with Ran-chan would have been a disaster. But I still have to pay him back for ruining our business.”

“Hmmm,” Ranma said as he began to untie Ukyo from her elastic bonds. “If you really wanna get the man responsible, then maybe you should talk to us at lunch. We’ve got a lot for you to hear. Akane the bell is about to ring, could you take Ryoga to see about his placement test? I think Ucchan and I have a bit to talk about on our way to class. Akane nodded and took Ryoga by the hand. The lost boy looked pleadingly at Ranma, wanting to at least get one last bit of affection before they were separated. Ranma sensed this but could do nothing but wink at Ryoga, not wanting to raise suspicions around the school; at least not yet. Ryoga smiled at the wink and let Akane lead him to his destination while Ranma watched him go.

“Come on Ukyo, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” Ranma said as he walked ahead of the okonomiyaki chef. The girl said nothing as she followed him to class.

***

Ukyo was the last to sit at the table in the cafeteria. It wasn’t easy to throw away the anger and hatred that had raised you for ten years but in light of this new information, she had no choice but to try.

“So basically what you’re saying is that all of this is your father’s fault?” Ukyo asked her three companions. Akane and Ranma both nodded.

“Yes,” Ryoga growled. His hatred of the man would probably never be assuaged, Ranma assumed; but then again, neither would his. Ukyo looked from Ryoga to Ranma then back again.

“You two really are together huh? I guess our marriage would have been an even bigger disaster than I originally thought… or the perfect cover!” All four of them broke into a giggle fit at Ukyo sense of humor. “It seems that for all this time I’ve been barking up the wrong tree. I think I’ll help you get the old jackass. I’ll finally be able to avenge my father’s honor.”

“What about your own honor?” Ryoga asked.

“What about it? It’s not as if I really want to marry Ranma now. Wasn’t sure I wanted to then,” Ukyo looked into Akane’s eyes as she spoke. “Now I’m sure Ranma-honey or any man is the furthest thing from my mind.” Akane blushed a bright red; suddenly her shoes became very interesting to look at. Ranma smiled at the couple the two of them had become before changing the subject.

“So Ryoga-kun, how did your interview go?” He asked, using his own eyes to capture his koi’s attention. Ryoga looked back at Ranma and lost his ability to speak coherently as he became lost in Ranma’s sapphire depths. “Ryoga?”

“Huh? Did you say something?”

“He asked how the interview went, yeesh. You two are so lovey-dovey it’s embarrassing!” Ukyo said jokingly.

“Oh is that so?” Akane said leaning forward on the table as she moved he leg under the table so that it brushed against Ukyo’s inner thigh, her toe rubbing insistently against the okonomiyaki chef’s crotch. Not once did the raven-haired girl break eye contact with her girlfriend. Ukyo froze as she got lost herself in Akane’s brown eyes.

“Uh… um…hee hee,” Ukyo stuttered, then finally began to giggle.

“I thought so,” Akane said, establishing who was running the show at the moment. In the bedroom was another matter. Ranma watched the PDA disinterestedly before asking Ryoga his question for the third time in five minutes.

“Oh, well, basically I’m accepted, but in a month I have to take the placement test to see what grade I’m supposed to be in. I think I’m going to need a little help studying for it if I want to be in the same grade as you all. I haven’t set foot in a school for a year and a half. Hell, I really wasn’t in regular attendance when I was enrolled.”

“It’s okay Ryoga-kun, I’ll help you,” Akane said before Ranma could open his mouth. “At least with me you’ll number one, not be distracted,” she eyes Ranma for a second but the pigtailed boy averted his eyes and whistled, feigning innocence. “Number two, I’m a better student than Ranma will ever be. If anything he could use some tutoring himself.”

“Now that was a low blow Akane,” Ranma said indignantly. Akane and Ukyo laughed out loud at the look in his face. A bit more tactful, Ryoga snickered in his hand, but quickly stopped at the glare Ranma sent at him.

“Uh-oh Ryoga-honey,” Ukyo giggled, “Looks like you’re not getting any ass for a loooooong time!” Everyone laughed at that, even Ryoga, he knew that Ranma wasn’t going to cut back on that for a while yet, if ever. As the last giggles died down, Akane decided that it was time for them to get down to business.

“So, does anybody know what we’re going to do about Saotome-san?” Akane could hear the crickets chirp as no one had even a clue as to what they could do.

“Maybe we could sell him to a zoo,” Akane tried to alleviate the tension. Ranma gave her a look that said ‘shut up if you ain’t got nothing good to add’, so she did. Everyone was silent for a full minute.

“Well the first thing we should do is move back into my house,” Ryoga said to Ranma. That way you won’t have to deal with him all the time.”

“Yeah, but then…” Ranma stopped mid-protest. A wicked smile crept across his face. It reminded Ryoga of an American cartoon he’d seen once while traveling. It was about how some green monster had tried to steal Santa’s Day. “I think I have the perfect plan to get Oyaji outta our hair for good,” Ranma finally admitted. He motioned for the four of them to huddle and began to lay out his plan in a whisper. (::to the readers:: Get back… you only have to keep reading to find out what they’re saying… trust me you’ll approve ^_^)

“That’s a perfect plan Ranma,” Akane said upon its completion.

“Ain’t it though. Just like me to think of it!” Ranma said with an over confident smirk. Akane and Ryoga groaned.

“Men…” Ukyo mused, while Ranma laughed at himself.

***

After school the plan was put into motion. But first they had to make Ryoga a bit more manageable. Akane was the first to enter Dr. Tofu’s office.

“Tofu-sensei,” Akane called as she removed her shoes.

“Akane-chan is that you? Hold on, I’ll be there in a second” Dr. Tofu called from his office again.

“Oh, don’t trouble yourself we were just wondering if we could use your bathroom?” Akane answered back.

“Oh of course go ahead, I’ll make some tea.”

“Thank you so much.” Ranma and Ukyo rolled their eyes at Akane’s slightly overdone politeness.

“Okay, so what do we have to stop here for again Akane-honey,” Ukyo asked Ranma impatiently.

“Well,” Ranma looked to Ryoga for permission. The lost boy shrugged, the curse didn’t seem to matter all that much to him anymore. Not when he knew Ranma would love with or without it. “Well,” Ranma began again, “The thing is that Ryoga and I are under this curse… oh it would be easier to just show you.” Ranma walked into the bathroom and reappeared with a glass of cold water. He fixed Ukyo with a stare that secured her full attention as he poured the glass of water over his head. Ukyo gasped as Ranma’s tall muscular form melted away, leaving a busty flame haired girl in his place.

“Wow,” Ukyo said breathlessly. “She’s cute!”

“Yes imagine my disappointment when I found out my fiancé was really a boy,” Akane said teasingly. Ranma and Ryoga sweatdropped yet again.

“So, can you change back? Is there a time limit or something?” Ukyo asked, all the while thinking that a marriage between Ranma and herself wouldn’t be all THAT bad after all. As if sensing her girlfriends thoughts Akane pinched Ukyo’s butt, a scowl firmly planted on her face.

“Yes I can change back. Akane could you go get the hot water?” Ranma asked. Akane looked as if she was loathe to leave Ukyo alone in onna-Ranma’s company, but a reassuring nod from Ryoga spurred her to the kitchen.

In the kitchen Akane met up with Dr. Tofu.

“Oh, hello Tofu-sensei. We actually needed to borrow some hot water,” Akane said politely.

“Oh really? What was wrong with the water in the bathroom?”

“Oh yeah,” Akane said feeling really stupid. “I must have forgotten about it.”

“So what is you all need with the water?” Dr. Tofu asked.

“Oh, you know, Ranma and his curse… the washer lady got him again.” Dr, Tofu gave her a look that said ‘oh I see, that again’ and he allowed her to make a tactful retreat into the other room, but not before inviting her and her friends to have tea with him.

Akane stalked back into the room to see Ranma, male again, laughing into Ryoga’s shoulder. Ryoga was stifling some giggles as well. Ukyo was trying her best not to laugh. But was fighting a losing battle.

“Somebody was too jealous to think straight,” Ranma said in between giggles.

“I don’t get jealous of you!” Akane denied, but the blush on her face told a different story.

“Do too, or you would have been able to think about the hot water faucet in the bathroom!” Ranma continued to egg her on.

“Grrr, shut up Ranma,” Akane growled as threw a punch at her best friend. Ranma, agile as ever, despite the soreness in his thighs, avoided the punch by jumping and balancing his body on one hand, on top of Akane’s head. Akane froze; both amazed at Ranma’s talent when it came to fighting, and agitated at her lack thereof. Ranma at length stopped balancing and ended his flip behind Akane. Ukyo and Ryoga clapped, while Ranma and Akane both took a bow. “You’ve gotta teach me to do that one day, Ranma,” Akane said breathlessly.

“One day, but for now, we gotta be getting home,” Ranma gestured to Ryoga. Akane nodded and took Ukyo’s hand and lead her into the other room.

“Oh yeah, what does Ryoga-kun turn into Ran-chan?” Ukyo asked, wanting to really know why Ranma HAD to go into the bathroom with Ryoga.

“You’ll see in a few,” Ranma answered as he followed Ryoga into the bathroom. Ukyo shrugged as she let Akane lead her into the waiting room.

***

The moment the door was closed Ryoga circled his arms around Ranma’s waist, kissing his way up his lovers neck to lightly nibble his ear. Ranma sighed contentedly, this was what he’d wanted all day, but was unfortunately unable to have. Turning in Ryoga’s arms, Ranma leaned into the warm body that held him, lifting his face to place a desperate kiss upon the lips of his love. Ryoga used his tongue to open Ranma’s mouth and began a small war for dominance with Ranma’s own tongue, his hand running up Ranma’s back to lightly brush the back of his hand against the side of the pigtailed boys cheek. Breaking the kiss Ranma looked into Ryoga’s eyes and saw the look of loving lust that just could not wait. Against his better judgment Ranma lowered his hand and groped between Ryoga’s legs, smiling at the hardened member he found there.

“This for me?” Ranma asked upon a heavy breath into Ryoga’s ear, already a little heady. The blush and slightly nervous expression that crossed Ryoga’s face served to amuse Ranma as he began to stroke his lover through the material of his pants. Ryoga’s facial expression of nervousness quickly melted away as he closed his eyes in the welcome bliss of arousal.

“Yes, of course it’s for you,” Ryoga managed to breathe out before Ranma claimed his mouth again, while still rubbing his manhood inside of his pants. Ranma broke the kiss, gasping for air and again leaned forward to whisper in Ryoga’s ear.

“Can I ask you a personal question Ryoga?” Ranma let his words float upon warm breath and swirl around his boyfriend’s ear. Ryoga froze, Ranma’s aggressive mannerisms turning him on like a flashlight. He could only look ahead past Ranma’s head next to his cheek when he stammered an answer.

“Um… y-yes, sure Ranma go ahead.”

~I still can’t believe I’m lucky enough to have him love me, Kami I’m not worthy,~ Ryoga thought at the same time. He tensed when he felt Ranma’s breath in his ear again; the pigtailed kempoist still kneaded his steadily hardening member.

“Have you ever had an orgasm standing up?” Ranma breathed into his lover ear. He could feel Ryoga’s body temperature jump and watched as the young man began to sweat from his advances.

“Um, no… not that I can recall…” Ryoga answered the question, leery to Ranma’s intentions.

“Then this will be your first time won’t it?” Ranma whispered as he let his body slide down Ryoga’s chest. Ryoga stood in shock. There was an unspoken and deeper meaning in going down on a person. It was one thing to suck a man off, but to let him stand while you knelt to do it was another story all together.

~Oh Kami-sama, he’s… he’s really… Oh thank you Ranma,~ Ryoga thought silently, enjoying the feel of Ranma rubbing against him. Ranma fell to his knees as he began to untie the white sash that held up Ryoga’s pants. He watched as they fell from the nomad’s waist, exposing his own yellow and blue-stripped boxers. Ranma’s fingers found their way into the elastic waistband of the underwear as he pulled them down to join the pool of silk pants at Ryoga’s feet. Ryoga’s cock sprang free from its bonds and pointed itself at Ranma’s face. The blued eyed boy said nothing as he tentatively reached out with his tongue to lick the pearly drop of pre-cum that threatened to spill from the tip of Ryoga’s manhood. Ryoga shivered with delight at the feel of the wiggly moist tongue sliding along the head of his manhood. Ranma began to make long passes with his tongue, going from the tip to the hilt, kissing the head each time he passed it. Ryoga closed his eyes as he surrendered to the feelings of pleasure Ranma awakened within him. Ryoga’s eyes snapped back open however when he felt something almost unbearably hot on his cock. Ranma had the tip in his mouth, but his mouth was not closed as he breathed hot air over the now hypersensitive skin. Ryoga felt himself lose control. He could feel the warmth, the wetness but was being denied full entry. It was almost painful to be so close yet so far. Right when he felt he could take no more, Ranma blew his mind away as he swiftly engulfed all of Ryoga and began to suck. The sudden wet warmth of Ranma’s mouth covering all of his cock felt so good to the wandering martial artist. Closing his eyes he gripped the sides of Ranma’s head and reflexively began to thrust his hips. Ranma let Ryoga have free reign as his hands felt their way up and under the shirt he had lent his lover that morning. Under the now sweat laden silk Ranma found Ryoga’s hard erect nipples which he immediately began to tweak and tease. Ryoga barely managed to suppress the loud moan this caused. The girls were, after all, still outside the room plus they were in another person’s bathroom; but it all felt so good. Inside of his mouth, Ranma worked the length of Ryoga’s shaft with his tongue; swirling his tongue around the head. He smiled mentally every time he felt Ryoga shiver, or he tasted the starch sweet taste of his lover’s pre-cum.

In and out of Ranma’s mouth Ryoga thrusted in abandonment, willing himself to be quiet to keep from alerting others of their quite scandalous activity. He was almost there; Ranma could sense it and Ryoga knew it. Soon, the bandanna’d bishounen could no longer contain himself as he unleashed his seed into Ranma’s waiting mouth. Making sure that Ryoga could see, Ranma swallowed his gift before standing to look into Ryoga’s eternally grateful brown eyes. Ryoga smiled before leaning in to share a kiss with his lover. Tasting himself, Ryoga wrapped his arms around Ranma and whispered his thanks. Before Ryoga could open his mouth to give air to the question of whether Ranma wanted him to reciprocate he felt the chill of cold water as it spilled over his arousal-heated skin. Now transformed, P-chan looked up at Ranma, a strange questioning look in his eyes.

“I know love, but we’re in a pinch for time,” Ranma explained as he lifted the slightly damp piglet and hugged him to his chest. “Besides, giving you pleasure is just as good as being on the receiving end.” P-chan bweed, apparently still somewhat confused and probably disoriented, but Ranma only smiled and kissed his snout before flushing the toilet, opening the door and walking out.

***

When Ranma finally emerged, he looked through the clinic and found Akane and Ukyo sharing tea with Dr. Tofu. Akane sat next to Ukyo of course while the good doctor served green tea from the other side of the table.

“Oh hello Ranma, what took you so long?” Dr. Tofu asked an all of a sudden blushing Ranma. Hiding P-chan behind his back, Ranma decided to use his fallback excuse.

“I uh… actually ended up having to use the facility.” It was exactly a total lie. Ukyo stared at Ranma with a looked that seemed a mixture between disgust at the libidos of men and disbelief at the lengths they’d go for sexual gratification. Akane only winked at Ranma and mouthed the words ‘You go boy!”

“Oh, well that’s all right Ranma,” Dr. Tofu said in his unbelievably understanding tone. “Come and sit down, we were just about to have tea.” Ranma nodded as he walked behind Akane and covertly dropped P-chan next to her bookbag before he took his seat across from her on the other side of the table next to the good doctor. P-chan looked around for two seconds before scrambling into the girls bookbag; Dr. Tofu none the wiser.

***

“That was pretty smooth,” Akane chirped as the three teens and their secret pet walked back to the Tendo dojo. Ranma blushed brightly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lied and both Akane and Ukyo bust into giggles.

“Of course you don’t sugar,” Ukyo said still beset with giggles. “But I bet your cute little piggy does.” Ukyo grabbed P-chan by the bandanna and brought him to her chest, hugging him tightly. “Oooh he’s just too cute for words!”

(Authors note: I wanna plush P-chan! Okay I really want a Ryoga of my very own… ::sigh:: J)

“Yeah,” said Ranma, “I feel that way too, but I don’t feel like sharing, Ucchan. Put my man down.”

“Man? Where do you se a man? Do you see a man anywhere Akane-chan?” Ukyo said laughing out loud, oblivious to the growls P-chan was making. Ranma opened his mouth to warn her, but he was too late. “OW, you little beast you ruined my perfect complexion!” Ukyo said as she extracted the piglet’s teeth from her hand. She chased P-chan in a circle around the laughing forms of Akane and Ranma, the black piglet finally taking refuge at Ranma’s feet. He picked up his cursed koi and hugged him protectively.

“That’s what you get for running your mouth Ucchan,” Akane laughed as she wiped tears of mirth from her eyes. Ukyo mock scowled, not really angry at or blaming Ryoga. It was funny after all, and he didn’t really hurt her.

(Author’s note: I bite my friends all the time… yeah we’re weird but a friendly bite now and then is acceptable to us)

Ranma walked over to Akane and placed P-chan back in her bag carefully as the three teens stopped just outside of the Tendo dojo.

“Okay people, we’re almost here,” he said. “Akane do you have the equipment?”

“Yup! It’s right here,” The raven-haired tomboy said as she patted her bookbag. Faint squeals were heard from within.

“Hey watch how ya hit that thing Akane!” Ranma exclaimed.

“Whatever Ran-chan, so what are we gonna do,” Ukyo said as she whipped her battle spatula off her back and brandished it like a sword. “I’m still in favor of the direct approach. I say we go in and lop his bald head!” Ranma and Akane sweatdropped.

“Ucchan we go through with the plan. Come on my ‘cute fiancé’,” Ranma said as he hooked his arm in hers and walked into the gates. Akane counted to twenty before plastering her most gorilla-angry face possible before stalking into her home, stomping up the stairs and slamming the door to her room; announcing to all that lived there that Akane was now on the warpath and it probably had something to do with the cute girl Ranma had attached to his arm.

***

Ukyo sat next to Ranma on the floor of the Tendo’s guest room. Genma sat in front of the two young martial artists, his serious bullshit spewing mask plastered on his face. Ukyo had actually come back into his life and he had to find some way to get the heat off of himself and onto a handy scapegoat, Ranma being his first choice.

“Well boy, what do you have to say for yourself? Shamelessly duping women into marrying you.” Ranma sweatdropped, and Ukyo barely contained her growl. Genma was outdoing himself this time.

“What do you mean it’s my fault Pop?” Ranma argued with his father. “I ain’t the one who pimped me out for food!”

“Oh what a foolish son I have. Have you forgotten that I couldn’t have gone through with the engagement without your consent? Remember I asked you?”

“You asked me a question that didn’t have nothing to do with marriage old man!”

“You chose to ditch Ukyo. So I, being the accommodating father that I am, went along with your wicked scheme against women… OUCH!” Ranma’s elbow had somehow found its way into Genma’s skull again. “What did you do that for?”

“Pop, do you want to try this again?” Ranma said in a whisper that promised a painful death.

“Okay, okay! One day while you and Ukyo-chan were playing, I had a discussion with Kuounji-san…”

***

*Five minutes earlier*

Akane quietly crept out of her room. She wanted to have her family think she was still brooding in her room. P-chan oinked quietly in her arms as she sneaked into the bathroom with a set of Ryoga’s newly dried clothes. She walked to the furo and set P-chan down. The piglet stared at her as if begging her to leave the room.

“Sheesh, it’s not as if I haven’t seen/played with anything you’ve got before. Whatever, I’ll be outside the bathroom.” Akane closed the door behind her as she left. Shortly after she heard the small plop splash of P-chan jumping into the furo’s warm water. Within two minutes Ryoga emerged from the door, dressed in his normal yellow and black attire.

“Now that that’s over, let’s get down to business,” Akane said with a dangerous glint to her eyes as she whipped out a small hand recorder. Ryoga smiled devilishly as he let Akane lead him down the hall.

Pausing just outside door of the guestroom, Akane turned on the recorder just in time to capture the following on tape.

***

“‘I’m sorry, but the boy already has a fiancé’, I told him,” Genma said with as much self-righteous theatrics as he could muster. He knew he was busted, and if he didn’t play this right his ass would be more than busted. “Then he tells me that he’ll give me the cart to take Ukyo off his hands, what else could I do but ask Ranma what he wanted? I took him aside and asked him and he chose to take the cart.”

“You asked me what I like more Ukyo, who I thought was a boy, or okonomiyaki! That question has absolutely nothin’ ta do with marriage!” Ranma shouted at his father.

“So you’ve finally learned that you’re supposed to like girls!” Genma roared back hoping to confuse the issue. Ranma elbow drived the older man.

“I ain’t learned shit! I know what I want and I’ll do what I want! YOU’RE the one causin’ me grief alla time!” Ranma stood, challenging his father to a contest of wills.

“To think I raised such an unmanly son!” Genma retorted, rising to the challenge.

“I can’t believe I came from such an unmanly father! Are you sure Ma wasn’t the one with the balls?” Ranma said, his words cutting deeply into the chauvinistic walls his father built around himself.

“Ungrateful pup!”

“Stupid old man!”

“Children stop this at once,” Ukyo admonished the two men. Ranma sat back down with a huff. Genma continued to stand.

“So now you’re even listening to what your woman says… some real man you are.” This time it was Ukyo who lost her temper and rocketed her spatula against the aging man’s head.

“Misogynist PIG,” she said as the now unconscious man slumped to the floor.

“Nice control Ucchan,” Akane said as she walked into the room, turning off the recorder as she did; Ryoga walking readily behind her.

“Did’ja get it all on tape,” Ranma said visibly still irritated. Ryoga walked over and gave him a supportive hug. It was that kind of love and support that turned Ranma on the most, his anger forgotten his concentration was now on keeping himself from taking Ryoga right then and there.

“You betcha,” Akane said as she poked at Genma with her foot. “Humph, panda-boy here won’t know what hit’em.”

“I will,” said Ukyo with a grin as she fingered the Genma sized dent in her spatula. “Well anyway, let’s tie him up and bring him to justice shall we?” Ryoga nodded as he struggled to maintain himself from Ranma’s near frantic yet concealed advances. Ukyo looked the two boys over and rolled her eyes as she sighed. “Men… yare yare…”

***

“Well, what is the meaning of this,” said Soun Tendo as he sat at the head of the dinner table. Nabiki and Kasumi sat quietly on either side of their father, curiously watching Ranma, Ryoga, Akane, and Ukyo as they stood in front of an tied up and unconscious panda. (Ranma had insisted they get Genma wet)

“Well Dad, it’s like this,” Akane said as she set the recorder on the table in front of her father. Soun reached out his hand and carefully pressed the play button. The four avenging teenagers waited and listened with bated breath as the patriarch of the Tendo household listened to the tape. The recording ended with Akane’s remark on the magnificent hit Ukyo had given the aging martial artist. Soun managed to press the stop button on the recorder before fainting.

He awoke in the dining room on a futon. Kasumi placed a damp cloth on his head motherly while Nabiki supervised, shaking her head in apathy.

“So you mean to say that that girl is Ranma’s fiancé as well?” He said. Akane and Ukyo nodded. “And what was all that about you liking boys Ranma-kun?” Ryoga shifted in his seat beside Ranma and blushed.

“Well, the handsome young man beside me is my lover, Ryoga. That’s why I feel that it would be best if we cancelled my engagement to Akane. She can run the dojo herself, or even with me, but we don’t have to be married. This ain’t the stone ages no more!” Soun looked from Ranma to Ryoga and back again and began to bawl like a newborn baby. At the noise, Genma woke up to see his old friend crying, himself as a panda and tied and his son walking towards him solemnly. He quickly held up a sign with his mouth asking what’s going on. “The marriage is off Pop,” Ranma said with a happy and relieved sigh, “So we’re leavin’” The next sign was a question of where they were going. “We’re goin’ home Pop, we’re goin’ home.” Genma-panda’s eyes opened wide at the frightening prospect of what he had to face when he got home to his wife. His terror was increased one hundred fold when he saw Ryoga walk up behind his son and kiss his cheek. The scare was too much and the large panda fainted once again into unconsciousness. In the meantime Soun was still crying as his daughters tried their best to console him.

“Akane, how can you run the dojo yourself, you’ll need to get a man to help you. Who can we get now? Oh I don’t think I can take anymore surprises like this.” Akane now fully irked at her father’s total lack of confidence in her skills stood up to follow her friends but decided to follow through with the evil thought that passed through her mind.

“As for surprises Dad, I’m a lesbian… a BIG one,” Akane said as she hooked her arm in Ukyo’s and walked out of the door. Ukyo for her part tried to act as butch as she possibly could on her exit. Soun’s cries could be heard all the way out of the gate until the audible ‘thunk’ of his head hitting the floor as he fainted again.

***

“Man the look on your Dad’s face was killer,” Ukyo said laughing until she could feel her sides splitting. Akane wasn’t in any better shape.

“Man Ucchan, I though he was gonna die when you swelled up your chest and stalked out of the room with me. And here I thought Kasumi would be the one to faint…” The two girls walked behind Ryoga, who in turn was walking behind Ranma, who was dragging a protesting panda.

“Boy, do you know what’s gonna happen to us when your mother finds out about you?” Genma-panda’s sign read.

“Yes Pop I do.”

“Forget the fact that you turn into a girl, but to be a faggot as well?” Genma was then brutally assaulted by both Ranma and Ryoga at his usage of the ‘f’ word. Once he had recovered enough Genma reached into sign-space once more. “Well if you know she’ll make us commit seppuku, then why are you walking so fast to get home?” Ranma read the sign and then looked over to Ryoga.

“Well that’s the difference between you and me Pop,” Ranma said, “We both call ourselves men, but I’m the only one who tries to live up to the title. I love Ryoga and if to do that I have to face death from my own hand then so be it. It’s the only honorable way!”

“… … …” said Genma’s sign.

“And the fact that I get to take you down with me is just gravy” Ranma said with an evil grin which only widened when he heard his panda father gulp.

“Ranma, is it true what he says about the promise to your mom?” Ryoga asked quietly. Ranma waited a few steps before answering an affirmative.

“I know what you’re probably thinking Ryoga-ko, but you’ll have to trust me,” Ranma said, “I was raised to be a man and that is all I know how to do. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t face what’s ahead of me like a man.” Here Ranma looked dead into the panda eyes of his father. “I’ll prove to you that my love of another man does NOT make me any less of a man!” Genma-panda gulped at the stern and deathly serious look in his son’s eyes as they stared into his own. Ryoga stared at them both, torn at how important this was for Ranma (and in some small way for himself), and the deepening suspicion in his gut that he could lose his love.

~Whatever happens Ranma, I’ll follow you,~ Ryoga thought as he walked in silence behind Ranma and his father. ~And that is MY word as a man.~

Akane held onto Ukyo’s arm tightly. She hadn’t know of Genma’s promise at all and she worried about what she had helped set in motion. Ranma was her friend, she loved him like a brother, losing him to another of his father’s stupid promises was not what she had bargained for. The fact that if Ranma was held honor bound to commit ritual suicide, she would be part in the blame scared her, plus what losing Ranma now could possibly do to Ryoga worried her. Akane’s thoughts were interrupted by Ukyo’s hand, brushing her cheek and lifting her chin. As if reading Akane’s mind, Ukyo combed her fingers through Akane’s long raven tresses and placed a quick and chaste kiss on her lips.

“Just like Ranma, I know what YOU’RE thinking Akane-chan. We have to believe in Ranma as well. I’m not sure I understand men’s need to prove their gender but if it’s what Ranma-honey needs to do then it’s what he needs to do. All we can do is be supportive.

“But, this is his LIFE at stake Ukyo. How can we sit back and support him in killing himself? I don’t think we should let him do this, he may not have thought this through!”

“Like we’re any judges of compulsive behavior,” Ukyo challenged and Akane bowed her head, a bit embarrassed. “What I’m saying is that if we don’t let him do this we’re in just as much danger of losing him as now. He may well feel obligated to go and if he doesn’t he could pass judgment on himself and we’d lose him for sure. At least this way there is a chance. It’s all up to Saotome-san now.” Akane looked at her feet as she walked next to Ukyo. It all seemed to make sense, but it didn’t make it hurt less.

~Please don’t leave us Ranma,~ she prayed as they walked onward towards the Saotome residence.

***

After a brief pit stop at one of the neighbor’s garden hoses, Onna-Ranma and his friends stopped at the door of the house that had been Ranma’s home for the brief first six years of his life and three more in junior high. [1] The boy turned girl looked behind him as he watched the sun set behind Ryoga. The eternal lost boy was beautiful with the blood red clouds and fading yellows in his background. Knowing that that beautiful vision may be his last sunset, Ranma knocked on the door, beckoning his judge and jury to answer the door. Genma-panda shivered and Ryoga visibly flinched when they heard the slow steps of Nodoka Saotome as she came to answer the door.

“Ah Ranko dear, what a pleasant surprise,” Nodoka exclaimed as she opened the door. [2] ‘Mr. Panda nearly fainted again when he saw the ceremonial katana strapped to ‘the strange lady’s’ back. “Akane dear how are you, oh how nice you brought Mr. Panda with you. Oh, who are your little friends?” ‘Ranko’ sighed as he plastered a fake smile on his face and walked into the house, dragging a struggling ‘Mr. Panda’ behind him. Akane introduced Ukyo and Ryoga as friends from school (which again wasn’t a total lie) as she and Ukyo removed their shoes and followed ‘Ranko’ into the living room. Once seated on the divan, ‘Ranko’ looked at his feet unsure as to how to go about doing this. Ryoga sat next to his Ranma and looked deep into the lighter blue of his female eyes, silently giving him all the support he needed, telling him to do what he needed to do. Akane sat in a chair next to the sofa ‘Ranko’ and Ryoga occupied. Ukyo sat next to Ryoga on the divan. ‘Mr. Panda sat on the floor at the feet of ‘Ranko’ breathing heavily. “So what brings you all here for a visit? Would any of you like some tea?” Nodoka asked politely upon having all of her guest satisfactorily seated and comfortable.

“Umm, no thanks Nodoka Oba-chan,” ‘Ranko’ started, then faltered. It took most of his nerve to walk into the house, let alone do the deed. Ryoga saw Ranma stall and moved his arm around “Ranko’s” slender shoulders. He felt Ranma shiver and he could tell that Ranma was really frightened of what may come next.

“It’s okay Ran-ko [3], wherever you go I’ll follow you. I always have,” Ryoga whispered under his breath. Ranma paused for a mere second to take in the deep meaning of this statement. He was filled with a sad happiness at the grim commitment Ryoga was willing to take and it forced his hand.

“Actually Oba-chan, I came here because I have something I want to show you…” said ‘Ranko’ as he got up to make his way to the kitchen. ‘Mr. Panda’ decided that he would try one last time to persuade his son to not go through with this and began to struggle and mumble his argument. Ranma brained ‘Mr. Panda’ with his slender fist. “Sit’own an’ shut up Pop,” Ranma said as he went through the kitchen door. As Mr. Panda slumped against the divan, unconscious, Nodoka put a hand to her chest as she sat down in the chair opposite that of Ryoga and Ukyo, setting her katana up against the chair beside her.

“Oh my, what’s gotten into Ranko? She hit poor Mr. Panda like she was a man!”

“You’ll know soon enough,” Akane sighed unhappily. Sounds emerged from the kitchen as Ranma searched for a kettle to warm some water in. In the meantime Nodoka passed the time shooting the breeze with Akane and her friends. Not that any of them were feeling very social at that particular point in time, but they had to humor her to keep Ranma’s cover for the time being; just until he could blow it himself. Finally Ranma emerged from the kitchen with a kettle of hot water. Water hot enough to change not only his body, but also his fate.

“’Kaa-chan, there’s somethin’ you oughta know,” Ranma started.

“Excuse me?” Nodoka asked, “ Did you just call me your…” Ranma nodded silently as he unceremoniously poured half of the kettle of water over the head of his dazed father. As his panda form melted away, Genma began to awake.

“Boy, what have you done?” Genma choked out before meeting the gaze of his estranged wife.

“GENMA!” Nodoka shrieked, “Just what is the meaning of all this?” She paused and looked at the short, busty, flame-haired girl beside her husband and replaced her hand at her heart. She began to put two and two together. “So if that’s Genma, then who are you? Where is my son? Why did you call me ‘mother’,” she asked, determined to test her hypothesis. Ranma took a deep breath.

“Your son is here,” he sighed and took one last glance at Ryoga before he continued. The lost boy was sitting silently, a look of grim determination on his countenance. “My real name is not Ranko Tendo, but…” Ranma said as he tipped the remaining hot water over his head to trigger his transformation. He heard his mother gasp as he felt his body grow taller, his breasts shrink back into his chest, and his nether regions return to their proper proportions. “…Ranma Saotome,” he finished. Ranma simply stood and awaited judgment. There was simply no turning back now. Nodoka stood from her seat, grabbing the ancient sword from its resting place beside her chair. With a practiced style and grace, she removed the katana from its bindings as she slowly approached. Genma gulped and began to whimper unintelligibly. Ranma stood silently with his head held high, emulating Ryoga’s look of determination.

~I am not afraid, I’m not,~ Ranma told himself. He believed that if he kept telling himself that, maybe the cold shivers that ran up and down his spine would go away. The pigtailed boy nearly lost his nerve again when Nodoka finally stood before him.

“Ranma…” she started. Ranma’s heart sank when he deciphered her tone.

“There’s more that you have to know said Ranma as he turned and straddled Ryoga’s lap, kneeling into the divan. Ukyo sweatdropped when Ranma kissed Ryoga’s lips for what could well have been the last time. It began as a chaste kiss at first but as Ranma started to pull back he felt Ryoga’s strong arms capture his back and draw him into a deeper kiss. He could hear no reaction from his mother or his father for his mind was solely for and on his Ryoga. He felt more tight pressure on his back and sensed that Ryoga did not want to let go any time soon either. He could feel the fear Ryoga had for him, but within it he could also feel Ryoga’s grim promise to follow him wherever he went. Reluctantly the pigtailed boy broke the kiss and the spell for as their lips stopped touching Ranma could hear his father rant again.

“… so ashamed! What’s worse! He’s corrupted poor Akane and Ukyo! I did not raise my boy to be some faggot!” Genma hollered at Nodoka in his own defense. Ranma reflexively clenched his fist as he watched Ryoga’s eyebrows knit in a scowl at the offensive word. However before either angry teenager could raise a hand against the bigot, Genma fell back against a chair, Nodoka’s sword next to his neck. Nodoka looked at her husband with cold angry eyes as she watched her blade knick his neck and a small amount of blood drip on the shiny steel.

“You WILL NOT speak of my son in such a manner!” Nodoka screeched at her husband. Genma looked wide-eyed at his wife and at the blade with his blood on it and fainted again.

“Sheesh,” said Ukyo as she shook her head, “You get the same amount of blood when you cut yourself shaving…”

“Well he hasn’t had to do that in a long while… I assume he’s not used to it anymore,” Akane said with the same air of apathy. Ranma looked at his father faint and sighed.

~I wonder if she’ll take this as an example of how he raised me to be?~ he thought before reaching for her katana. ~I guess this is it then. I love you Ryoga.~ Nodoka moved the katana from his reach.

“No my son, I release you from your father’s vow” she said before bowing to her son. Ranma simply stared at her in shock. “You’ve proven to me that you’ve grown to be a man among men.”

“But… how? I’m not sure I understand. I haven’t shown you anything but my crimes against manhood” Ranma said quietly.

“Don’t ever say that again Ranma!” Nodoka admonished. She walked over to her son and placed her hands on his shoulders. Ranma looked up into his mother dark brown eyes and saw that she loved him still. “Those of the words of… lesser men,” Nodoka said with a quick and harsh glare at Genma’s unconscious form. “Do not believe what they say for you are a man. It takes a man to come and admit to what you have confessed to just now even at the potential cost of your life. And it takes a true man to go against the world to reach for what he truly wants.” Here she looked from Ranma to Ryoga, who upon meeting her gaze blushed and coughed, looking down at his feet. Ranma watched his mother smile and began to smile himself; his mother supported him after all! “Not to mention, from what I’ve heard of how you um… share the bed… I would assume it would take a man to go through that as well.” [4] Both Ranma and Ryoga turned beet red. Akane and Ukyo laughed into their hands, and Nodoka chuckled. “Besides what mother would force her son to end his life when he has obviously just found the love and happiness she couldn’t,” Nodoka said sadly, again glaring harshly at her husband. “You were able to do what neither I nor you father could. I pray that you two will find a long lasting happiness together.” The aging woman raised her hand towards Ryoga. The bandanna’d boy looked at her hand for a long moment, and joy washed over his body when he realized what it meant. Swiftly composing himself, Ryoga accepted Nodoka’s blessing and her hand as he stood from the couch. Kissing Ranma’s hand then Ryoga’s, Nodoka placed her son’s hand in that of his lover.

“I now pronounce you man and uh… man!” Ukyo said with a grin. Both Ranma and Ryoga turned and glared cold death on her. “What?” she said in her defense. Akane sunk lower in her chair and placed her hand to her head.

“I can’t take you anywhere… Learn some discretion…” Nodoka laughed at her antics.

“Yeah,” Ranma said. “We ain’t married yet!” He looked to Ryoga and smiled. “But someday I’d like to be.” Ryoga barely contained his happiness, but settled for a polite blush and smile combination.

“My what… colorful friends you have, Ranma”

“Every color of the rainbow,” he groaned, still reeling from Ukyo’s bad joke. This of course elicited more groans from the room.

“Ranma…” Ryoga shook his head.

“What?” said the pigtailed boy, imitating Ukyo.

“Oh what am I going to do with you all,” Nodoka said before taking her seat again. Ranma and Ryoga followed suit and sat back on the divan, their hands never leaving their together position. “Now Ranma, you simply have to tell me about everything that’s happened since you left the second time two years ago. Especially about… Ranko…”

“Well Ma…” Ranma said with a smile, “It’s like this…”

***

Genma awoke once again on the floor of his living room. He looked around the room to find it empty except for a lone figure seated in a chair. Nodoka rose from her seat and again slowly approached her husband. Genma gulped.

“W-where’s the boy?” He stammered.

“Gone, to do what he was honor-bound to do,” she replied softly.

“You mean he…” Genma couldn’t finish, suddenly very afraid. Nodoka did not answer, but only lifted up a length of red cloth. Upon closer inspection Genma saw that it was the red Chinese silk that composed Ranma’s shirt.

“Now, my husband, it’s your turn,” Nodoka said calmly as she handed Genma the katana. Genma screamed and began to back-pedal away from her.

“But I tried my best,” he pleaded. “It’s not my fault the boy turned out the way he did!”

“Not according to the story I heard,” Nodoka said sternly, thrusting the sword out to him once again. “Selling our son for food? Thieving? Cursed training grounds? Freeloading? I’m not surprised he turned out less than a man, look at the example you set for him. Damn you, and damn me for being fool enough to leave him to you! Now it’s over, complete your honor bound mission.” Genma made no movement towards the sword, but only began to sit where he had lay, trembling and fighting to maintain bladder control. “Do you know why you can’t reach for the sword?” Nodoka asked.

“Because you’re only half a man,” Ranma said as he stood from behind the sofa, his bare chest adorned only by Ryoga’s forearm that hung from around Ranma’s neck. Akane and Ukyo also sprang from the behind the furniture, laughing at the foolish old man.

“What? What is the meaning of this?” Genma sputtered out.

“Ranma has told me all that’s happened since the day you made your vow to me, and I’m fit to be tied with you!” Nodoka said irately to her husband. “How could you barter your own son for food? Some man you are. I wonder if my dear departed father would pair me with you if he could see you now? You shame your wife.” Genma had the good grace to look shamefaced, he knew that any amount of talking he tried with Nodoka would only make his current situation worse. “Well, what’s in the past is either here nor there. What matters now is what are we going to do now? I have already accepted Ranma and his lover, now it’s up to you.” Nodoka put emphasis on her last words by flashing her katana at Genma’s neck a final time. It was here that Genma decided to grow a backbone.

“Not in my house,” he whimpered. [5]

“Huh?” everybody said in unison.

“Not in my house. Let him do whatever he wants, but he will not stay in my house!” Ryoga looked at Ranma’s face; the pigtailed martial artist’s façade was a stony mask of indifference, but Ryoga knew better.

~He’s hiding his disappointment. But he had to know that there really was little chance of him accepting us. Still, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed as well.~

“Hmmm, well, I’m afraid I can’t go against your father’s wishes on this matter my son,” Nodoka apologized, “But I’m sure you’ll think of a much better idea of a place to stay, right?” She winked at her son as Akane and Ukyo moved to stand behind Ranma, Akane and Ryoga placing their arms around their friend’s shoulder.

“Fine!” Ranma finally spoke, “I don’t wanna stay with you anyway you stupid old man! But know this, ya lost me. I ain’t around to be your bartering tool no more, and you can forget about scamming and stealin’ from me. I’m gonna stay with Ryoga from now on so I ain’t inheritin’ no dojo, so you and Tendo-san can kiss my gender bending butt. Plus if I ever catch you botherin’ me, Ryoga or any of my friends I’ll beat you like a red headed stepchild! Ya’ got that?” Genma turned his back on his son, and Ranma stormed out of the room.

“Ranma!” Akane cried.

“Ran-chan,” Ukyo called out before taking Akane’s hand and going after him. Ryoga was quick to follow, but the sound of Nodoka calling his name stopped him.

“Ryoga, please, take care of my son. Even just watching you two for this long I can see there is a bond between you. You both need each other. Please, be there for him, especially now.” she said. Ryoga nodded and made another step for the door. “Oh yes and Ryoga? Please tell OUR son that you both are welcome to visit anytime. I will not have my son disappearing from me years at a time again. Especially when he lives right down the street. RIGHT?” Nodoka pointed her katana at Genma’s neck one last time to emphasize that there would be no argument with her decision. Genma looked at the blade unhappily, but silently nodded. “Good. Now if there won’t be anything else Genma I’ll draw your bath. Excuse me Ryoga,” she said as she made her way to the bathroom. Ryoga took this opportunity to bow to Genma politely and make a hasty exit. Ranma was fast when he was upset; there was no telling where he could be by now.

Minutes after Ryoga’s departure Genma stood in the living room alone, defeated. He had lost a lot that day he knew, but would never admit. His only hope was to stubbornly cling to the truths of his youth and upbringing and hopefully one day bring his son back home. But today he knew would not be that day, and before himself and the gods, Genma Saotome fell to his knees and wept. Wept for himself, for his wife, and for the son he may well have lost forever.

***

Outside of the Saotome residence, Akane, Ukyo, and Ryoga found Ranma on the roof of the neighboring house. The pigtailed man sat with his knees drawn to his chest and his face buried in his knees. Ryoga turned to Akane and Ukyo.

“Well ladies, I thank you for your help, but I think I should handle Ranma alone.” He said.

“Man, don’t you ever stop? I’ll bet one of you won’t be able to walk when this is all said and done…” Ukyo stated.

“Ukyo! It isn’t about that! Get your mind out of the gutter. Look, I just promised his mother that I would take care of him. Just… let me go to him.” Akane wrapped her are around Ukyo’s.

“Look, I think Ryoga has a point. Ranma needs Ryoga right now, we’d only get in the way,” she said looking at her girlfriend.

“But…” Ukyo protested.

“What if it was me?” Akane defended. “Wouldn’t you want to go it alone?” Ukyo stood for a second and then turned to leave with Akane.

“Tell Ran-chan we’ll see him in school tomorrow Ryoga-honey,” she said.

“Will do,” The bandanna’s martial artist promised.

“You take care of him Ryoga,” Akane warned, “Or then we’ll have to come after you next! Take care and study hard for your exams!” Ryoga nodded and watched them go before turning and leaping to the roof. He landed a foot from where Ranma was sitting.

“Ma made you promise to take care of me huh?” Ranma said, his face never leaving his knees. The choked sound of his voice alerted Ryoga that Ranma had been crying.

“Uh huh,” Ryoga said quietly as he sat down next to Ranma and placed his arm around his shoulders. “But how did you know that?”

“I was just on the roof Ryoga, not in outer space, I could hear you guys talking down there,” Ranma replied before sniffing. “Those two really are good friends aren’t they Ryoga?” Ryoga wanted to remind Ranma that he liked Akane and Ukyo, but he really wouldn’t know if they were good friends from lack of comparison, but he just went ahead and answered in the affirmative.

“Yes I believe so. Remember we’re always gonna be here for you my love. Especially me. I’ll never leave you.” Ranma looked up from his knees to Ryoga’s face. Ryoga could now see that Ranma was crying still and it hurt him to see tears brimming from Ranma’s beautiful blue eyes.

“Promise?” Ranma said.

“Yes, I promise,” Ryoga said, but then stopped to think. He began to laugh and scratch the back of his head. “Though I may get lost a couple of times, I do promise to always come back to you. And you’ll never leave my heart.” Ranma forgot himself and laughed.

“I guess that’s the best I can get huh?” he said, still laughing. Ryoga pulled Ranma into a tight embrace and Ranma allowed it. “Some man I turned out to be huh? Crying over that old fool.”

“No Ranma,” Ryoga whispered in his lover’s ear. “It’s okay for men to cry. In some cases it’s the only way to see if you’re alive. Despite how you two fight, I believe you love your father. And I know he loves you too.”

“Yeah right,” Ranma said.

“Well you never know,” Ryoga said, “They can surprise you.” The bandanna’d martial artist lifted Ranma’s face and kissed away the tears as they escaped his eyes before finally claiming his lips. Ranma leaned into the kiss, opening his mouth to exploration by Ryoga’s tongue. They lingered that way until Ranma broke the kiss. By that time the moon was high in the sky and the two lovers listened to the sounds of the night. “Well Ranma,” Ryoga said at length, “Are you ready to go home?”

“Hmmm, “ Ranma said. “Hearing you say home and having it mean living with you has a nice ring to it… Of course I’m ready.” At this Ranma stood from his seat and leapt to the ground.

“That’s good Ranma… But, do you think you could show me the way home?” Ryoga said sheepishly as he followed Ranma to the pavement. Ranma laughed before taking his lover’s hand and began leading him home like he had that day in September more than a year before.

“Of course I can, it’s this way,” he said.

********************************************************************************

1. By having to write around the Ranma ½ timeline, I’ve notice how royally screwed it is. In the cannon story, Ranma was taken from home at the age of six for training. We know this because that is the age he was engaged to Ukyo. Now this is where it gets confusing. The story confirms that Ranma does live near Ryoga and Ryoga does live in the Nerima district. However this does not explain how Ranma went to the same junior high school as Ryoga without ever seeing his mother. Was he not living at home or what? When Ranma finally does meet his mother, he mentions not seeing her for ten years. But if he hasn’t seen her for that long, where was he living when he went to junior high. Not to mention where he was living when Genma ‘taught’ him the Neko-ken. They had to be living somewhere for that neighbor lady to be conveniently around… Anyways it made my head hurt. So I adjusted the story so that Ranma went away, came back for junior high, Genma made the promise and took him away to China. So instead of ten years straight, Nodoka is just missing huge chunks of her son’s life. Still enough to be pissed I think ^_^

2. For the sake of argument, let’s just imagine Nodoka has already met ‘Ranko’ and ‘Mr. Panda’ …

3. Not a misspelling. Adding the suffix -ko is a way of affectionately shortening a name. The -ko coming from koi and koibito. A loose translation being “Ran-love”

4. Amen to that Okaa-sama!

5. An itty-bitty backbone, but it is there…

That Day in September: Epilogue- Twenty Foreplay
A Ranma/Ryoga Love Story
By: Chaos Angel
Chaosangel99@hotmail.com

Ranma was the first to awake this particular morning, yawning and stretching in a manner much like his arch nemesis, the cat. Beside him, still asleep, Ryoga turned to pull Ranma’s legs close to his naked chest in a possessive but endearing manner. Unable to move without waking his lover, Ranma used this seldom opportunity to watch Ryoga sleep. He gently stroked the back of his hand over the lost boy’s face and hair; his hand brushed against the ever-present bandanna(s) that was wrapped around his love’s head. The sun shone through the curtains of Ryoga’s room, bringing in the new day; he could hear the early birds chirping as they found the unlucky early worm. It was always such a rare occurrence that Ranma would wake up first; it was one of his secret pleasures to watch Ryoga sleep; to watch as the sunlight filtered down upon them both. He thought his eternally lost boy was at his most beautiful when asleep. That, and when he was fully aroused and in the throes of orgasm.

// Sleep my love
Don’t you worry
You just sleep my love
And I’ll stroke your hair
Oh the sunlight on your face
As the day begins to break//

Lost in his thoughts Ranma was startled when the white sheets were disturbed by the awakening of Ryoga. Ranma smiled at the simple kawaiiness of a sleepy Ryoga. The nomadic martial artist yawned and stretched, the simple mechanics of his body’s movements easily detectable by the ripple of his muscles under his skin. Ranma had to suppress a giggle as Ryoga yawned a final time, giving the pigtailed boy a view of his fangs, yet another of his attractive features, just the plain sight of them made Ranma giddy at how cute they were.

“Mornin’ gorgeous,” Ranma said as he scooted under the sheets to snuggle into the warmth of his boyfriend’s body. Ryoga wrapped his arm around Ranma’s shoulder, drawing his lover close enough that he could nibble and kiss his neck.

“Good Morning to you too, my love, Ryoga answered between kisses. Ranma could feel his body losing control. But it was a Friday morning and the had to get through training before school started. It was a shame, but they had to stop.

“As much as I would love to stay in bed with you all day Ryo-kun, we’ve got a lot to do. Come on, we’ve got to go train.” Ryoga’s disappointed exhalation of breath did not go unnoticed as Ranma withdrew his naked body from the sheets.

~I’ll have to make it up to him later,~ Thought Ranma with a suggestive tone that only he could hear.

//When you wake
And your smile meets mine ah
My day begins
You’re my inspiration
Seeing your face glow
Is the nicest of hellos//

Ranma walked over to the closet and retrieved both his and Ryoga’s training gi. Tossing Ryoga’s his he set about putting it on. He watched as Ryoga sighed and stood from the bed. Ranma watched as the bandanna’d martial artist turned to hide his morning erection while he pulled up the pants to his gi. Ranma blushed and averted his eyes in favor of tying the belt on his own clothing. They had a whole weekend for such things later. Just twelve more hours… they could make it… he supposed.

***

Outside in the vacant lot behind the Hibiki residence, Ranma and Ryoga faced off.

“See Ryoga-ko this is where we were supposed to fight,” Ranma said nonchalantly, though he instantly wished he hadn’t. The sudden wash of emotions that spilled across his lover’s face signaled that he still wasn’t quite wild about this place, or mentions of it; though he tried to hide it. He was not completely over the year of loneliness and angst Genma had subjected him to, and it was now apparent that he wouldn’t be over it anytime in the near future. “Ryoga, I’m sorry, my mouth you know how it always gets outta…” Ranma started to apologize, but Ryoga waved him off.

“It’s okay, it’s nothing” he said putting on a brave face. Ranma stayed silent as Ryoga took up an offensive position. Ranma knew he had hurt him with his careless jibe. Ryoga was just being his polite self by ignoring it.

~That makes two things I have to make up to him,~ Ranma sighed to himself as he took up his own fighting stance and the two began to spar.

***

It was seven o’clock when Ranma turned on the water in the shower. He gathered his clothes. The yellow Chinese shirt with the red tie on the neck today. Ranma knew Ryoga liked that one, maybe it was the color. It was close to one of Ryoga’s own favorite colors; that was probably why the lost boy liked it so much. Checking the water temperature by moving his hand as close to the water as he could without touching it Ranma climbed into the shower and began to wash. A minute later Ranma was startled when the shower curtain was drawn back and Ryoga casually stepped into the shower behind him.

“Wha…?” The question died on Ranma’s lips when Ryoga silenced him with a finger on his lips.

“Shhh, I’ve been trying to do this for a week. I could just never find the bathroom,” Ryoga explained sheepishly. Ranma smiled at his lover’s determination, odd as it was, it was sweet. Ryoga leaned close and kissed Ranma’s lips, his tongue forcing it’s way to it’s own morning spar with Ranma’s own. The pigtailed kempoist closed his eyes when he felt Ryoga’s strong arms encircle his waist, and the warm feel of his lover’s lips, tongue and gently nipping fangs on his neck. The warm water of the shower beat down on the two boys. Ranma could feel Ryoga’s urgent erection against his stomach and pulled back to look in to the velvety brown depths of his lover’s eyes. He was surprised to see he would have some trouble finding those eyes as Ryoga’s long hair was plastered in his eyes. Ryoga’s hair usually didn’t fall into his eyes that much because of… of course.

“I didn’t know you took your bandannas off to shower Ryoga” Ranma said.

“Of course,” Ryoga said as he parted the wet strands from his eyes. “Unlike a certain someone who never takes his pigtail out.” Ranma gulped at the mention of his pigtail. Maybe one day he would tell Ryoga about his hair. He wasn’t too proud of what he’d done to get that particular curse, and he was sure Ryoga would frown on that sort of behavior.

“Oh man Ryo-kun look at the time. I’m gonna be late for school!” Ranma said. It wasn’t really a lie, but he still felt guilty for evading Ryoga like that.

***

Within minutes Ranma and Ryoga were dressed and downstairs in the kitchen. Ranma had only enough time to grab some toast before he had to run out the door.

“Now you study hard okay my love,” Ranma said to Ryoga as he gave him one last kiss. “I’ll have Akane look over the assignments she gave you today. Try not to leave the house. I’ll be back for lunch!” And Ranma was gone. Ryoga sat at the kitchen table next to the ominous stack of books, determination etched on his face. He’d pass the entrance exams no matter what!

Hopping up on the green chain fence, Ranma quickly caught up to Akane and Ukyo as they ran on the pavement, (like normal people) in a hurry to get to school themselves.

“Hiya girls, what’s up?” Ranma said as he ran upon the fence beside them.

“Nothing much, we’re just gonna be late for school again because Tendo-san here just had to have a kiss before we left,” Ukyo said, but it was obvious she was smiling about it.

“Humph,” said Akane as she panted for the air to run and converse at the same time. “It wasn’t me who degenerated the kiss into a quickie Ukyo!” Ranma and Akane laughed out loud as Ukyo blushed heavily.

“Well I ain’t carrying any buckets of water today ladies,” Ranma said as the trio entered the campus. “I already had enough strength training for one day!” Akane and Ukyo looked on as Ranma used the superior power in his legs to leap to the third floor window of his homeroom before the bell rang. The first clangs of the bell signaled the first two steps the two girl made into the building that day.

“Ranma no baka!” Akane said under her breath, all the while smiling; impressed at the young man’s skill.

***

Lunchtime, Ranma’s favorite class. He, Ukyo and Akane walked leisurely down the street towards the restaurant district.

“So what are we going to do today?” Akane asked.

“Well I promised Ryoga I’d go home and eat lunch with him today girls,” Ranma said grinning. Ukyo nudged Akane in the ribs and they both giggled. “Hey what’s so funny,” Ranma inquired, not at all happy to be the target of an inside joke.

“Oh nothing,” Akane answered, “Ukyo and I were just settling a bet on whether or not you’ll be walking funny when you get back to school. I decided that since it’s Friday I shouldn’t bet anything; I hate to lose money.” Ranma scowled, and the two girls broke into peals of laughter again.

“Well the jokes on you two. I have Phys. Ed. next period so I can’t.” Ranma smiled as he blew the razz at the two girls and leapt off the fence to the rooftops, on his way to Ryoga’s house. Akane and her girlfriend continued to laugh as they walked to Ucchan’s Okonomiyaki where they would serve the lunch crowd, enjoy lunch themselves and go back to school. Of course there would probably be another quickie involved, but that’s another story.

Ranma walked into the door of the Hibiki residence and politely removed his shoes at the door.

“Ryoga,” he called into the house and received no answer.

~No he did not leave the house. Now I have to go look for him. I’d better check the house first.~ Ranma walked up the stairs to Ryoga’s room, no the room the two of them shared. He walked into the room and saw various books strewn all over the bed. ~Good, at least he’s been studying,~ thought Ranma as he walked into the room. As he stood by the bed, his danger sense went off as two strong arms wrapped around his torso. He began to struggle, but the arms were too tight, but he relaxed when he felt Ryoga’s lips upon his cheek; only to tense up again when his lover’s hand strayed to his crotch.

“Surprise,” Ryoga breathed into Ranma’s ear, setting the pigtailed boy’s body on fire.

“It was a good one Ryoga,” Ranma said laughing to himself. He loved all the little things Ryoga did that made him feel special. He wondered if he did the same sorts of things himself. He wanted to make Ryoga feel special, because to him, the lost boy was special, He turned around and planted a chaste kiss upon his love’s lips as he led him downstairs to the kitchen for lunch.

//Five till noon
You sneak up from behind
Kiss and caress me
Make love to my mind
A whisper and a kiss from you
Warms my heart
Means so much
Making love our
Starts early in the day//

*** Ranma could not wipe the smile off his face as he made his way to Ukyo’s restaurant. The pigtailed boy had enjoyed his lunch with Ryoga. The quiet conversation, and of course the deep loving kisses had made his day. Quiet time like that with Ryoga always made him feel so much closer to his lover. Their relationship was still young yet, things like that could only help it grow Ranma thought. He saw the last of the noonday rush leave the establishment in the distance and watched as Ukyo closed the shop until after school. Slowing his steps Ranma timed his entrance carefully. Silently he walked up to the door of the shop and peered into the glass window. As expected, he saw Akane leaning with her back to the counter, Ukyo’s hand firmly grasping onto and fondling her left breast as they shared a passionate kiss. Stifling a giggle, Ranma took this opportunity to knock on the door. Ukyo seemed about to drop out of her skin, while he could make out the curse Akane let slip from her lips, both of them irritated to be interrupted during their fun. Ukyo walked over to the door and unlocked it.

“Sorry, but we’re closed,” Ukyo says as she struggles to button up the jacket of her blue boys school uniform. Ranma noticed her usually bound breast were all of a sudden in a much looser binding.

“Umm, that’s nice,” Ranma said as he got his foot in the door. “What’cha doin’?” he asked playfully, enjoying the uncomfortable blushes of his two friends.

“None of your business what we were doing. We have to be getting back to school or we’ll be late…” Akane started.

“Again,” Ranma added with a laugh. Akane and Ukyo sweatdropped as they sent Death Glares ™ at Ranma for reminding them about that morning.

“Anyways,” Ukyo tried to change the subject before Akane blew a fuse and sent Ranma back to school by Mallet-sama express. “Come on and help me close everything up before we leave.” Ranma and Akane nodded as they began to help the okonomiyaki chef clean her shop.

***

School had been long and hard to concentrate in for Ranma, especially when he knew who was waiting for him at the end of the day. However he had survived, making it to the last bell without bolting for the door and going home early. Walking home with Ukyo and Akane, the female couple could tell that Ranma was a little antsy. They weren’t sure if it was his exaggerated use of sexual innuendos, the far away look in his eyes when Ryoga came into the conversation, or the way he drooled after staring into space. Whatever their reasons they were relieved when the blue eyed boy took his leave of their company to head to his new home. First because they sensed that he was finally going to get some deserved time alone with his beloved, and second because he would leave them to have the same.

“Ranma don’t forget that I’ll be over tomorrow to help Ryoga study,” Akane warned Ranma. “Now you know I’m coming, please you two, be dressed this time!” Ranma muttered some noncommittal response as he again leapt from the fence to the nearby rooftops.

Ranma walked through the door the second time of the day, again removing his shoes; he called to Ryoga. This time he received an answer.

“I’m in the kitchen… at least I think that’s where I am… There’s a stove in here!” Ryoga said trying his best to help Ranma locate him in his own house. Ranma easily navigated the expanse of the living room to the kitchen in two seconds and found his lost boy where he said he was, over the stove. Ryoga was busy cooking dinner, at least it was what it looked like he was doing, though Ranma never took the man for the one to be in a domestic role.

~Though I suppose *one* of us would have to cook around here…~ Ranma thought as he slowly stole behind Ryoga and gave him a backwards hug.

“Welcome home my love,” Ryoga purred. “Dinner will be ready soon, could you set the table for me? I’m having trouble cooking and locating the dining room at the same time. I always end up burning something before I can get back…” Ranma gave his boyfriend an extra squeeze as he nodded by nuzzling his face in Ryoga’s neck.

~Ah, I love weekends,~ Ranma thought as he took out the dishes. Setting the table for two, Ranma wondered when, if ever, Ryoga’s parents would ever show up. What would happen then? They would have to cross that bridge when they came to it, no sense worrying about it now. Ranma set two candles on the table and dimmed the lights. He didn’t know why but all of a sudden he liked the atmosphere it created, perfect to make love by. Ryoga called that the meal was ready from the kitchen. Walking back into the kitchen Ranma stole a kiss from his lover’s lips as he accepted his plate of food.

“Ah, what’s got you all happy,” Ryoga said knowingly as he prepared his own plate. Ranma only smiled a wide smile in response. Now ready, Ryoga followed Ranma to the dining room. He smiled at the romantic mood of the room. Sitting down at the seat Ranma specified, the lost boy began to eat. “So how did your day go Ranma?”

“Long and excruciatingly boring,” Ranma replied between bites of seafood stir-fry. “Ooh, squid! My favorite!”

“Thought you liked it. I wasn’t quite sure if I remembered correctly. How are the girls?” Ranma sweatdropped as he remembered exactly how good the girls were that afternoon.

“Oh I believe they’re fine. Adjusting well to their new relationship,” the pigtailed boy surmised. “Oh yeah,” said Ranma as he threw the last of his meal into his mouth. “Akane said she’d be over tomorrow to help you study, so could we please be dressed?” Ranma threw in the last part with a falsetto imitation of his best friend. Ryoga laughed at his antics as he finished his own meal. He looked at Ranma over the two burning candles. Ranma could see both the love and the lust in his lover’s eyes.

“Then we’ll just have to get undressed early to give us enough time,” Ryoga said as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Ranma’s smile broadened as his nomad walked over from his side of the table to pick him up and carry him, heading in the general direction of the stairs.

“Your room is that way my love,” Ranma guided Ryoga.

“Oh, well between the two of us we’ll eventually get there. But it’s okay, it all boils down to more time with you,” Ryoga said sheepishly. Ranma said nothing as he felt his body respond to the loving words.

//You walk in the room
In a sunset sort of mood
My emotions light up
‘Cause of you
Now that evening’s come
We’re dressed for us my love
Wine and candles puts us in a sexy mood…//

After only two incorrect tries, Ryoga made it to his room. Ranma noted that the books from before had been cleared and the bed had been remade. Ryoga set his precious burden down lightly upon the bed and instantly covered Ranma with his own body, pelting his lover’s face with kisses. Ranma began to emit low uncontrolled moans when Ryoga’s mouth began to move from his lips to his neck, one of his more sensitive areas. Ryoga was a quick learner and has easily deducted Ranma’s hot spots. The bandanna’d boy began a light suction on his lover’s neck, nibbling softly with his teeth. Ranma’s eyes rolled back into his head and he closed his eyes as he again felt his body lose its control as Ryoga took his arousal to the next level.

//That’s when we get to it
Close our eyes
Feel our way through it
I can’t wait to groove ya
‘Cause you sure know how to move it
You’ve made love to my mind
Now you gotta take me from behind
Just like in the movies
When the action begins//

Ranma’s legs jerked into life as they gripped onto Ryoga’s lower body. Ryoga let out a feral cross between a purr and a growl when he felt his hardening member rub against Ranma’s own with maddening friction and urgency. The lost boy claimed Ranma’s mouth with his own once more as he skillfully undid the ties on the pigtailed martial artists shirt. Tongue lashing for dominance, Ranma slid his hands down the expanse of Ryoga’s flat, hard chest, into his pants, and grabbing the tucked in shirt; tugging it upwards and ultimately having to momentarily break their kiss to remove the cloth barrier. Electric shocks of warmth traveled through both boy’s bodies at the contact of flesh against flesh as they resumed their heated kiss. Ranma’s hands roamed over Ryoga’s back and finally into the fabric of the lost boy’s pants firmly grasping his lover’s rear, pulling him down to apply more pressure and friction to their rubbing manhoods. Ryoga gasped in need to be even closer to Ranma. Breaking their kiss again, Ryoga trailed his hands down Ranma’s chest, careful to tweak at Ranma’s sensitive nipples on the way down, until he reached one of the remaining barriers called Ranma’s pants. Ranma lifted his hips to assist in his disrobing and Ryoga carefully slid the kempoist’s pants and boxers off in one slow, fluid motion. Quietly Ryoga swooped down to kiss Ranma again, his hand in between his lover’s legs gently kneading the fleshy eggs hanging there as he attacked Ranma’s lips.

Moaning even louder, Ranma opened Ryoga’s pants and began to slide them off, careful to ease the fabric off of the lost boys throbbing erection easily. Ryoga began to kiss his way down Ranma’s neck, eliciting another throaty purr from the pigtailed boy. Then the bandanna-clad martial artist began a nomadic trail of kisses from Ranma’s neck to his chest. Ryoga began to suckle on his boyfriend’s right nipple as his right hand tweaked and played with the left. His right hand still between Ranma’s legs. Ranma felt the multiple stimuli fiercely as Ryoga played his body like a harp, carefully strumming at all of the right strings. He gasped when he felt his nipple between the two precise points of Ryoga’s fangs.

~By Kami-sama is Ryoga talented with those things,~ Ranma thought, barely able to think that much but now able to feel like never before, his body reduced to one large white hot nerve.
//Let’s put on a show
And we’ll take it nice and slow
Oh here we go
Tell me do you want the blindfold
Tell me what you like
Baby should I do it once or twice
I know that we get naughty
But I know you like it like that//

Ranma gasped out loud when he felt Ryoga swallow him whole and to the hilt, the warm moist tunnel of Ryoga’s throat melting to his own body. Then Ryoga began to suck, gently at first, lovingly coaxing Ranma’s body for his reward. Ranma’s hands drifted to Ryoga’s head, entangling his fingers in his lost boy’s hair, making his urgency known before he unconsciously began to thrust into Ryoga’s invitingly warm mouth. Ryoga began to relax and let Ranma continue his journey to release, it still amazed him how much of the good feeling of making love came from making the other person feel good. Using his tongue, Ryoga began long slow sweeps of the underside of Ranma’s cock, then using his feral tools he began a nip and lick rhythm on top of his steadily growing suction. Ranma could not get enough as he pressed himself further into the pleasure of Ryoga’s mouth, content to stay still and let his lover bring him even closer to his impending orgasm. Using the muscles in his throat, Ryoga began to suck in earnest making Ranma cry out his name as he came, hard, in his mouth.

Ranma’s orgasm was as intense as the world’s largest roller coaster; bright swirls of flashing colored lights whizzing past his eyesight faster than he could comprehend, all the while Ryoga continued to suck and gulp down his reward. Shuddering, Ranma slowly withdrew his hypersensitive organ from Ryoga’s lips, drawing his lover to face level so he could share a kiss. Ranma’s head buzzed and throbbed, he wondered if it was possible to get a hangover from an orgasm, but really did it matter? Ranma tasted himself in Ryoga’s kiss but that didn’t matter either. However when he looked into Ryoga’s eyes at the end of their kiss he saw what did. At this point nothing mattered but Ryoga, himself and the loving feelings that they could produce in one another.

//Now that we’ve felt this warm explosion
I know that you’re satisfied
I can see it in your eyes
Relax
Be still my love
Let your heart slow down
‘Cause I’m not through my dear
So you can’t stop
Remember twenty foreplay//

“Thank you,” Ranma whispered into Ryoga’s ear as he drew him close.

“It was my pleasure,” Ryoga whispered back as he changed his positioning so that he was spooning Ranma on his side. He began nuzzling and kissing Ranma’s neck again. Ranma couldn’t believe it, but Ryoga had once again turned him on, his cock revived and throbbed with renewed need. Ranma’s body rekindled itself as Ryoga kneaded his nipples again between his fingers, this fangs nibbling at the flesh of Ranma’s neck. It was as if the feelings were a drug and Ranma was forever addicted. Ryoga continued his ministrations until he assumed Ranma to be suitably aroused once more. He sat up and looked at Ranma’s face. The pigtailed boy was definitely wound up again, his arousal and need looked to be almost painful. Ryoga could see his love was in hell, but he had the key to heaven if only Ranma could wait a few moments.

Ryoga laid back beside his love as he stretched out his arm to the nightstand to retrieve the lube. He continued to feel around Ranma’s chest as he deftly applied a dollop lubricant to his fingers with one hand. Sliding his hand down, Ryoga gently pressed one finger into Ranma’s nether passage, searching insistently for the spot that would ensure Ranma’s pleasure. Ranma’s eyes shot open when Ryoga’s finger brushed against the *spot* and the pigtailed boy’s body jerked in response, belying his belief and the post orgasmic lax his body was steadily shaking off. (Ranma’s good recovery time pays off now, huh? ^_^) In moments Ryoga has another finger inside of Ranma, widening them inside in order to stretch the tight pucker for easy accommodation. In the meantime the bandanna’d bishounen continued to lick and suck at Ranma’s neck and tweak the smaller boy’s nipples, sending Ranma’s arousal higher than at the apex of his first orgasm.
//Can you feel it twenty foreplay
You know I need it
Yes I need it
24 hours a day
Can you feel it
24 hours a day
Can you feel it
Twenty foreplay
Let me feel your twenty foreplay//

Ryoga’s finger made one more swipe at Ranma’s pleasure button before withdrawing his fingers. Ranma made a whimpering noise at the bereavement but was soon replaced with a warm smile from the inside out when Ryoga lifted his leg. Still lying on his side Ryoga smeared a layer of lubricant on his aching member, and while holding Ranma’s leg up enough to exposed the sufficiently stretched opening, the bandanna clad lover pressed his erection against Ranma’s puckered opening. Ranma relaxed and closed his eyes as Ryoga entered him slowly. His body needed this as much as he could feel Ryoga’s own need. Ryoga hooked Ranma’s leg in the joint of his arm and extended his hand to begin stroking Ranma’s own aching manhood while his other hand played with his boyfriend’s erect nipples; then he began to slowly thrust forward.

Ranma cried out in unadulterated pleasure as Ryoga’s smaller bamboo umbrella poked against his prostrate. Ryoga whimpered at the wonderful velvety feel of Ranma’s warm, moist walls melding to him, the inner muscles milking him before he even truly began to thrust.

~Oh Kami nothing feels as good as being inside him,~ Ryoga thought as he began to push into his lover faster. Ryoga groaned at the electric pulse that went through him as the walls of Ranma’s body seemed to draw him in deeper. Ranma’s body shook involuntarily every time Ryoga managed to find his inner pleasure center. Back and forth, in and out Ryoga continued to pleasure the love of his life; the two of them rocking together, gyrating on the bed. Ranma could feel every curve, contour and the heat of Ryoga’s cock buried deep inside him. Before either of them knew it they were both sharing an intense orgasm. The feeling was completely indescribable as each felt the other come, images of themselves, the other, both of them fluttered through their minds. It was as if all of a sudden they were of one body and mind. Their mutual cries mingling and winding down as Ryoga continued to thrust into his lover, both of their breathing ragged and belabored. Ryoga crushed Ranma to his chest as he continued to empty his seed with him, thanking whatever gods would listen for the wonderful gift he had found in Ranma. Ranma rubbed his head against Ryoga’s chest, wanting to be even closer still, fighting to keep their connection alive.

~This is what making love should be,~ Ranma mused as his body fell lax, completely drained. The hangover feeling was back, but this time with a vengeance. It wasn’t a bad feeling though, in fact it was one of the better feelings he’d ever had. He sighed contentedly as he felt Ryoga gingerly withdraw himself. Turning to face Ryoga, Ranma placed a long lingering kiss on the lost boy’s lips.

//It’s not what you say
Before we start to play
It’s what you say after
That makes me want to stay//

Breaking the kiss, Ryoga was the first to speak.

“I love you Ranma.”

“I love you too Ryoga,” Ranma said as he let the sweet fatigue take over his body. Ryoga pulled his lover onto his chest, snuggling together, the two boys drifted off to sleep; secure in their love for each other until morning, where they were sure to affirm it again.

OWARI

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