C&C is not only wanted, it is craved! Like a man lost in a desert craves water!

<Past 1>
 

    Ryoga folded his wings and looked around the landscape which still bore no resemblance to his heavenly home. //I'm lost again! Damn me!//

    A rumbling came from the sky and Ryoga flinch, instintvly shelding himself with his feathery appendages. "Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean it!"

    He almost fainted from relief when the clouds went normal again. "Man! I know he does
everything for a reason but why should I have no scense of direction? Who does that aid?!"

    A whole opening in the sky and another angel came tumbling through it. He collided with Ryoga
and sent them both to the forest floor. "Itai!"

    "Oops. hehheh, sorry Ryo."

    "What are you doing here?" He glarred at the glowing being.

    "I can to give you your new assignment. Congradualtions you're a guardian."

    "Your joking."

    "God never jokes, although looking at some of his creations you can tell he has a great sence of
humor."

    The wandering angel rolled his eyes and growled, "How am I supposed to be a guardian?! I'll be
lost half the time!"

    "Well this guy can take care of himself, he just needs a little back up now and again."

    "And how do I do that?" The other angel grinned and Ryoga felt a sinking in his stomach.

    "Ryo-chan, you are now officially on the human beat."

    "human."

    "human."

    "human?"

    "Is there an echo around here?"

    "You want me to pretend to be human, to watch over a kid who needs back up from time to
time?!"

    "ah. . . yeah."

    "Human back up?"

    "uhuh."

    "Where is he?"

    "A sweet little town called Nerima in an all boys junior high school."

    "Now I know why he needs Heavenly help."

    "Oh he holds his own."

    "Oh really?"

    "Come on, the big man's anxious about this one, we gotta get you in."

    "Why me?"

    "Why not?"

    "Good point."

<Part 2>
 

    It was lunch time. At this junior high though, lunch was more of a battle field. Ranma leapt into the air and snatched the last of the meat bread from under the new kid's nose. He knew it was a mean thing to do, but it was his favorite, so he figured they could share.

    The boy was glaring at him when he stepped onto the ground again. "What is your name?!" He growled.

    Ranma felt butterflies in his chest. The new kid was -CUTE-. "Saotome Ranma."
 
 

    Ryoga really wanted to hit someone, preferably the fool grinning in front of him. "What is your
name?!" He asked, promising to make this boy's life Hell when he found his way home again.

    "Saotome Ranma."

    //Ranma?! My human? Oh Hell no!// He grimaced, this was who he had to protect and play
guardian angel for?!

    "Hey. Hello in there, anyone home?" Ranma asked walking up to the boy. He split the bread in
two and gave one half to Ryoga.

    He just stared. //He's sharing?//

    "What's your name?"

    "Hibiki, Hibiki Ryoga."

    Ranma smiled and the angel starred at the ningen. //What a smile! Whoa Ryoga, your his guardian
remember.//

    "Wanna walk home together?" Ranma asked.

    "H. . . hai. I . . . anou, I get lost easily."

    "Well what are your next classes?"

    Ryoga handed Ranma his schedual.

    "Awesome, I have all of them with you! I'll walk you to class ok? We can be locker partners too.
It'll be fun."

    "Does that. . . does that mean we're friends?"

    Ranma smiled again and nodded.

    "I've never really had a friend before."

    "Why not?"

    "I get lost before I can make any."

    "Must be tough."

    "Hai."

    "Well I'll make sure you don't get lost from now on ne?"

    "Honto?"

    "Hai. Promise." He grinned and held out his pinky, "Pinky promise."

    Ryoga locked his pinky finger with his new friend's and they smiled at each other.

    "Come on, we'll be late."

    "Ok." Ryoga started to walk to a door.

    "Whoa, this way." Ranma smiled and took his hand, "Here, now you wont get lost."

    Ryoga looked at their joined hands and then at Ranma's smiling face. //Maybe there -is- a good
reason for my horrible sense of direction.//

    Ranma walked him back to the home he had adopted as his own. The family had directional sense
as horrible as he did and they had lost their son recently who looked remarkably like Ryoga, so he
had taken over his place. A slight mind touch and rewriting and they never knew the difference and
had none of the pain their son's loss had caused before. At the door, the other boy smiled and
pointed across the street, "I live there, see how close?! You can see my house from your door!"

    Ryoga nodded.

    "I'll come by tomorrow and walk you to school ok?"

    "Hai."

    "bai bai."

    "bai." He went up and after some trouble, found his bedroom. There he lay on his bed staring at
the ceiling. Ranma. The boy was watching over Ryoga more than Ryoga was him. But the lost angel
didn't mind at all. That should have worried him, but all he could think of at the moment was Ranma,
and thinking of Ranma could only make him smile. "Ranma."
 
 

    Ranma sparred with his father as he did every night. But unlike usual, his mind was not on the fight.
It was on the boy he had just met. His new friend.

    "Ranma!"

    "Hai Pop!"

    "Pay attention boy! Focus! That's the key!"

    "Yeah sure Pop."

    "Boys!" His mother called, "Dinner!"

    "I promise dear, I will make our Ranma a man among men!"

    "Well first you will eat."

    "O. . . of course."

    That night, Ranma knelt by his window, looking over at the Hibiki house, and the bright window
he knew was Ryoga's.

    //I know boys are supposed to like girls, but there's something. . . I don't know, something special
about you Ryoga. You make my chest feel full, like I'm finally a whole person. I. . . wow. I've only
known you one day but. . . but it feels like I've been looking for you forever.// Ranma shook his head
and smiled as he closed the window and turned down his bed. //Either way, I'm glad you are my
friend now. Maybe. . . maybe we'll become something more.//
 
 

    "Ryoga!"

    The lost angel jumped and stood at attention. "Michael!"

    The arch angel looked at him carefully, "You can not think these things you are thinking Ryoga. He
is your human, not your friend. Definitely not your boyfriend."

    "But he's my friend! God can't object to me being friends with my human! He's the one who told
me to take human form!"

    "You can not get too attatched. You might be called back at any time and if you form a significant
attatchment it will hurt you both."

    "I. . ."

    "Just keep distant Ryoga. Don't do somthing you will regret latter."

    "H. . hai sir." Ryoga fell like he had something caught inside of him, pushing on his throat and chest.
His eyes were filling with tears.

    "I'm sorry."

    He nodded and watched the other angel dissapear before collapsing to the bed in tears.

    "Ryoga?" Mrs. Hibiki called up.

    "I. . . I'm ok mom."

    "You're sure?"

    "Hai."

    "Ok then, get some rest sweety, school tomorrow."

    //School. And Ranma. Man I really messed up this time.// Then he covered up and took one last
look across the street at Ranma's window. //But how can messing up feel so good?//

<Part 3>
 

Ranma was at Ryoga's door at seven thirty the next morning. He knew school didn't start for over an hour, but he wanted to just walk with his friend. When Ryoga's mother answered she had a worried look on her face. "Oh, Hello."

 "Hi." Ranma smiled, "I'm Saotome Ranma, a friend of Ryoga's, we were going to walk to school together."

 "He. . . he isn't going to school today Ranma-kun. He was very upset last night over something and he, he doesn't feel very well today."

 His heart sunk, "He's sick? Can I come in and see him? I promise I won't be long."

 "Of course Ranma-kun." Ryoga's mother smiled and wiped away her tears. Maybe a friend is all he
needs."

 "Hai." Ranma ran upstairs to the room who's window faced his own. "Ryoga?" He knocked softly.

 "I'm not going to school today Ranma."

 "Why not?"

 "I. . ."

 "Can I come in? I don't like talking to a door."

 There was no answer for a while, then Ranma heard a soft sigh. "Hai. Come in."

 The pigtailed boy opened the door slowly and went to sit on the foot of Ryoga's bed. "Why aren't
you coming to school? Are you sick? Can I do anything to help?"

 Ryoga moved to sit up in bed and look at Ranma. He was going to yell, to tell him to go away
before he made more trouble for him. But when he looked at the boy, he couldn't say the words that
he knew would hurt him. "I. . . I. . ." //oh to Hell with Arch Angel Michael I can't bring him pain and I
can give him up. I think I love him.//

 "Your mom said you were upset last night." Ranma scooted closer, now sitting beside him. "What
happened?"

 Ryoga lowered his eyes from the concern Ranma was emitting. "B. . . bad dream."

 Ranma licked his lip carefully, then pulled his book bag up onto the bed and started to dig through
it.  He found a tiny yellow box with an antenna. A two way radio. "Here." He gave it to his friend. "I
have one too, see?" Ranma smiled, "All we have to do is keep them on at all times and whenever you
need to talk to someone, if you have a bad dream or get lonely or anything, just talk to me, and I'll
talk to you."

 "You. . . you got this for me?"

 The other boy shrugged, "I had them for a while. They have a twenty mile radius. Really good stuff,
but I never really had a friend I wanted to give one to.

 "thank you." he smiled shyly. "I don't have anything for you though. . . wait. . ." Ryoga dug through
his dresser and found what he had been looking for. "Here."

 "Black string?" Ranma looked at it carefully.

 "It's a dragon whisker, to tie your ponytail with." Ryoga smiled as Ranma tied it into his hair.

 "That hair musk be a nuisance when you spar."

 "A little."

 "Here." Ryoga turned Ranma so his back was facing him and with loving care, wove the pigtail into a
tight braid and secured it with the dragon whisker. "Done. How's that?"

 The pigtailed boy felt the braid and smiled, turning back to face Ryoga. "Where'd you learn that?"

 He just shrugged, "Around I guess."

 "Teach me how?"

 Ryoga smiled and nodded, "Hai, but if you come a little early every morning I can do it for you. It'll
be my favor to you since you help me get to school and back."

 "Ok." Ranma smiled with him. "I'd like that."

 "So would I." Ryoga admitted.

 Ranma took his hands shyly. "Ryoga. . . I know I haven't known you for very long but I. . . I really
like you."

 "I like you too Ranma."

 "Just friends like, or -like- like?"

 "I think I -like- like you."

 "Does that make you feel bad?"

 "Why should it?"

 "‘cause we're both boys."

 "It doesn't bother me."

 "Me neither."

 "So are we going out then?"

 Ranma kissed his lips, a closed mouthed and chaste kiss, but full of meaning. "If you want to."

 In that small room that day, two boys exchanged vows to always be there for one another.

 Ryoga and Ranma were both much happier when they went to school that day. People almost didn't
recognize the stoic new kid or their loudmouthed classmate.

 When lunch came once again Ranma stole Ryoga's bread right out from under his nose. The lost boy
chased his friend out into the school yard and Ranma hid up in a tree. Munching on the stolen food
and waiting. He didn't wait long. Ryoga flipped down from a higher branch, catching him by surprise
and pressed his lips to Ranma's, stealing the bread right out from his mouth. They both laughed and
Ranma did the same thing back to Ryoga.

 They started a habit then. Ranma would steel the bread as an excuse for Ryoga to chase him
somewhere private, then they would feed each other with kisses, taking their food from the other's
lips.

 It was a silly and pointless game, but made special because they were together.
 
 

 It had been a year since Ryoga had come to Ranma and he hadn't gotten lost once! Whenever he
started entering unfamiliar territory, he would take out Ranma's radio and call for help. His friend
always came running.

 That night, after both boys were in their respective rooms, behind locked doors, Ryoga picked up
his radio. "Ranma. Come in Ranma."

 "Hear ya loud and clear Ryo-kun." Ranma's voice came over the radio. "What's up? You have
another nightmare?"

 "No, I just wanted to hear your voice."

 "Honto?"

 "Hai. I love your voice."

 "Well I love your strength."

 "I love your kindness."

 "I love your heart."

 "It loves you too, I love your soul."

 "It loves you too." Ryoga laughed and Ranma sighed, "I love your laughter."

 "Is that why you always make me laugh?"

 "Hn, Hai." The pigtailed martial artist's smile was clear in his voice.

 "Ranma?"

 "Hm?"

 "What are you thinking about?"

 "You."

 "What about me?"

 "How much I want to. . . na, nothing."

 "Tell me!"

 "It's embarrassing!"

 "So?!" Ryoga was grinning from ear to ear. He already knew what Ranma had been thinking about,
he'd been thinking it too. Michael had been giving him a lot of grief for thinking of his human that way
but he couldn't help it! Not when his human was Ranma!

 "I was thinking about how much I want to touch you."

 "In the bad way?" Ryoga grinned.

 "Hai." Ranma was grinning too, "A very -Good- bad way."

 "Tell me about it?"

 "You wanna have phone s. . ."

 "Well. . ."

 "Ok." Ryoga could here Ranma shifting on his bed and he smiled. This would be another first for
both of them, bringing them that much closer.

 Ryoga started, "What are you wearing?"

 "My undershirt, and my boxer shorts."

 "Take them off." Ryoga smiled and listened to the sound of Ranma's clothes rustling to the floor.

 "Your turn. What are you wearing?"

 "That white undershirt you gave me."

 "Boxers or briefs?"

 "I'm not wearing any. I usually sleep nude."

 "Then why the shirt?"

 "I wanted your smell around me."

 "Well take it off. Slowly." Ranma fought down a giggle, //I sound like an actor in a bad porno flick.//

 Ryoga -felt- like and actor in a bad porno flick, but it was exciting. Being an angel this wasn't
something he was allowed to do in Heaven. //And I'm doing it with my human! Ranma! My Ranma!
Mmm.//

 "Are you hard yet?"

 "Yes." Ryoga moaned.

 "I'm leaning over you. Rubbing my hands over your skin. Your chest, your abs, your hips. I'm kissing
your inner thighs, licking the salty sweat from your skin. Moving up. . ."

 Ryoga followed Ranma's words with his own hands. Moaning and panting as he fondled his sensitive
nipples into tight little peaks and then fondled the soft flesh . Just a touch away from his manroot.

 "I'm taking you into my mouth." Ranma said in a soft, hoarse tone that told Ryoga he was touching
himself as well. "I'm sucking hard, pulling you all the way inside. My mouth is warm and wet and I'm
thrusting you between my lips, over and over, harder and faster, deeper and harder and. . ."

 "Aaahhhhh!" Ryoga cried out as he came, spirting his milky seed all over his pumping hands.

 "Mmm." Ranma moaned, "I'm swallowing your cum. You taste good Ryo-koi."

 "Uhnnnnn." Ryoga sighed, a pleasant pulse was still throbbing in his lower regions, softly moving him
toward sleep. "Ranma, did you come?"

 Laughter came over the radio and Ryoga smiled when his koi answered, "Oh yeah, just thinking
about you makes me come. I shot so high I need to clean the ceiling before my dad sees."

 Ryoga chuckled throatily, "He'd say you were being a ‘man among men'."

 Ranma joined in, "He'd have no idea how right he was."

 "I'll talk next time ne?"

 "Hai koibito."

 "G'night Ran-kun."

 "G'night Ryo-kun."

 Each boy placed their Radio back into their backpacks and slipped into a sated sleep. The after
glow of their love and their game folding over them.
 
 

 "Ryoga!"

 The boy jumped and the blushed, realizing he was still naked and covered in his own semen. "Ah. .
." He snatched the sheet from the bed and quickly wrapped it around himself. "Arch angel Michael,
what. . . what are you doing here?"

 "Ryoga you can't do this." His boss warned him, "You and Ranma cannot do what you've been
doing. You can't fall in love with a human! Especially ‘your' human! You're supposed to be their to
light and guard, rule and guide. No where in our prayer does it say fuck like rabbits!"

 "We weren't. . ."

 "What are you covered in then?"

 "It wasn't just sex."

 "Oh no, you didn't actually touch each other did you."

 "That isn't what I mean! What we have is more whole and pure than just sex. We have a soul
bond."

 "Oh do you. Ryoga listen to me. I know the human world can seem very inviting at times and I know
that it's hard to keep out of it but you have to."

 "I've found my soulmate! Ranma is my soulmate! How can you . . ."

 "Maybe if you are reborn. Maybe if he dies. But not now! Not between an angel and a human! It
isn't done!"

 "Then I'll cut off my wings!"  Ryoga searched his bag for a knife. "I'd do anything for Ranma."

 "Wait!" Michael snatched the knife away. "If you do that who will protect him?"

 "I will."

 "You'll be human."

 "I. . ."

 "Just think on what I said Ryoga. I don't want to see you thrown from Heaven. You've come to be
like a little brother to me and many of the others high angels too. We aren't trying to punish you, we
just don't want to see you hurt."

 "I. . ."

 "Ryoga, please, just think about our warning."

 "H. . . hai." He lowered his eyes and nodded.

 Michael smiled and kissed his forehead. "Thank you."

 After Michael had disappeared, Ryoga dove for his bag and snatched up his radio. "Ranma?
Ranma!"

 "R. . Ryoga? Holy! It's two am!"

 "I. . . I had a bad dream." He sobbed.

 Ranma was quiet for a moment, then he sighed. "I'll be right over."

 Not a minuet later Ranma slid into Ryoga's window and the lost boy threw himself into his koi's
arms.

 "Shh. Ryoga, shh, it's ok. What happened."

 "The. . . the angel, Michael. He came back, he said God would throw me from heaven because I
love you."

 "Shh, it's only a dream Ryo-kun." Ranma soothed. "Only a dream."

 "I. . ."

 "I'll stay with you ok? It wont come back. I promise."

 Ryoga sniffled and curled closer to Ranma, "I love you."

 "I love you too Ryo-kun. Zutto."

 "Honto?"

 "I promise."

 "Pinky promise?"

 Ranma smiled and linked his pinky finger with Ryoga's, "Pinky promise."

<Part 4>
 

  In public, Ranma and Ryoga pretended to fight. They sparred together everyday in the guise of an ongoing war between the two of them. Ryoga even set up a picture of Ranma on his dart board, but he couldn't bring himself to ruin it so Ranma stuck the darts in for him.

 Ranma's father was constantly pushing him to become a ‘man among men'. Sometimes the pigtailed boy would climb into Ryoga's window and just sleep holding his koi tight, trying to chase away his father's harsh voice and angry face.

 In private the two of them were a loving and happy couple. Their moments were short and stolen, but it was enough for the moment. And as they got more learned, their nighttime talks got hotter and hotter.

 It was only a matter of time before something happened. Neither of them had expected it to be as bad as it was though. Ranma's father heard his son through the bedroom door. Boys always jack off, true.  It's just a fact of life. But they don't always cry out their sworn nemesis' name when the come. The next day, Genma informed Ranma that they were going to China.

 "But dad! I'm a freshman in highschool! Just three more years and. . ."

 "You can't learn to be a man in that school. Full of pansy boy loving boy's."

 Ranma blanched, so that was what this was about. "You know."

 "I know that no son of mine is going to be ass fucking the neighbor boy!"

 "I've never. . ."

 "Enough! I don't want to hear it! We leave for China in three days."
 
 

 Ryoga cried when Ranma told him the news. They both held each other tight, trying to make the
truth go away. "I'll follow you Ranma." Ryoga swore. "I'd follow you anywhere."

 "But your family. . ."

 "We always get lost, they know I'll come back eventually."

 "Do they know? About me I mean. . .  and us."

 "I think my mom suspects it, but she's just glad it's you. She loves you like a son already."

 "Honto? Really?"

 "Hai."

 "My mom would have me commit honorable suicide if she found out." Ranma frowned.

 "Your mom is a little tightly strung Ranma. Promise me you will never listen to her and actually -do-
that!"

 "Never!" Ranma swore, "It would mean leaving you! Never ever!"

 Ryoga smiled and snuggled into his love's strong chest.

 "What about your dad?"

 "He would take some convincing, but I'm sure he'd learn to be happy for us. For what we found."

 "I wish my family was as understanding as yours."

 "Well, you're mine now, so my family -is- yours."

 "I'll miss you Ryoga."

 "Not for long you wont. I'll be two steps behind you the whole journey, waiting for a chance to
come back to you."

 Ranma kissed his love softly and snuggled closer to him in the corner of his room.

 When the door opened, both boys looked up to see Ryoga's mother standing over them.

 "Ranma honey? Ryoga? Why are you crying?"

 "Ranma's dad is taking him away." Ryoga frowned and hid his face in Ranma's shirt.

 "He found out about you two didn't he." She knelt down beside them and smoothed their hair from
their eyes, smiling when it fell right back into them. "Don't worry my joys. You two wont ever really
be apart."

 Ranma's eyes must have shown his hopeful surprise because Mrs. Hibiki smiled and drew them both
into a hug. "You have been Ryoga's best friend ever since junior highschool. I think I saw your love
before you two did. It's ok. For most it might not be, but for you, it's right."

 "Mrs. Hibiki?" Ranma asked.

 "Shh. Come on Ryoga, lets get your pack ready, you'll need it on the trail."

 "Trail?"

 "Well you're going to follow him aren't you?"

 The boys smiled at each other and nodded. "Hai."

 Ranma's father wouldn't let him near his friend after that day, but Ranma radioed Ryoga to meet him
in the vacant lot behind his house to say goodbye. Without Ranma to guide him though, Ryoga got
lost. He hadn't taken his radio, and couldn't call for help. So the lost boy wandered all over Japan,
running fast as he could, praying he would get there.

 When he finally got home. Ranma was gone. All that remained was the pigtailed boy's class ring,
wrapped lovingly in a yellow and black bandana. "Ranma-kun." Ryoga cried. His tears wetting the
soil of the lot as he slipped the ring onto his finger and stood. "I'll find you Ranma. I'll find you! I'm
your guardian angel after all. I have to be with you."

 "Angel Ryoga."

 Since his name wasn't screeched he knew it wasn't Michael this time. It was Gabriel. The herald.
"Hai?"

 "I bring you tidings Ryoga, though I fear they are unwelcome."

 "What is it?"

 "Saotome Ranma is meant to fall into the spring of the drowned piglet in China. He will be cursed,
but it is his fate. Please don't stop this. It is higher than your duty as guardian."

 "A piglet?! Ranma?! Please Gabriel! Please don't do that to him!"

 "It has been chosen."

 "Well chose something else please! It would kill his pride! It would put him in danger! Please don't
let that happen to him!"

 "Well I suppose if someone took the curse for him. . ."

 "Yes! I'll do it!" Ryoga said so fast it startled God's herald.

 "You?"

 "Please Gabriel, let me take his curse!"

 "He is destined to be cursed."

 "Well give him another one. Please! A human form so he can survive. He's a martial artist. If he can't
transform into something human, he could be killed. I will accept the curse of the drowned pig, just
please don't curse him as an animal."

 "There is nanichuan, spring of the drowned girl."

 "Yes! He can still defend himself in a girl's form."

 Gabriel's gaze softened. "You really love him don't you."

 "With all of my strength."

 The angel smiled, "Yes, and that is considerable."

 "Then you'll change his fate?"

 The angel nodded, "I will change his fate. Just don't expect me to do this very often."

 "I would never!"

 "Alright. Come, open your wings, I will take you to the cursed springs."

 "Yes sir."
 
 

 Ranma sat on a ledge overlooking the cursed springs. His father had knocked him into the spring of
the drowned girl and now. . . he looked down at his hands, once more the large and rough hands of
his boy form. Quietly, as to not awaken his father, his took out his radio and pressed the button
down. "Ryoga, are you in range. I tried to wait for you, but my dad. . . I miss you. Ryoga? Are you
in range?" When there was no answer he sighed and slid the radio back into his pack.

 //Ryoga. What will you think of this curse? Will I lose you because of it? Why haven't you found
me?//

 Down by the spring of the drowned piglet, Gabriel was pulling his fellow angel from the spring. "Well
I guess pigs do have wings." The herald smiled.

 Ryoga spread his wings and bwee'd, Growing back into a boy when the other angel doused him
with hot water. "At least it's me and not Ranma."

 "I think Ranma is having his own troubles adjusting to his change."

 "What do you mean?"

 "He has been calling on the box he gave you."

 "Why didn't you tell me?!"

 "You were a bit busy."

 Ryoga dove for his pack and pulled out the little radio. Gabriel just shook his head and faded into
the light. "Ranma? Ranma are you in range?"

 A hesitant voice answered him, "R. . . Ryoga?"

 "Ranma!"

 "Ryoga! You're here! Where are you?! I'll come to you!"

 "I'm by the springs."

 "Ryoga, you didn't touch the water did you?!"

 "I. . ."

 "Never mind, just wait there."

 "Ranma!"

 "Pop!"
 

 "Ranma, give me the radio."

 "No!"

 "NOW!"

 "Ranma? Ranma what's going on?!"

 Ryoga fought his way toward higher ground, hoping to find Ranma. Only to be thrown back into the
same spring by a girl and a giant panda. And that wasn't the end of his trouble. The same panda tried
to cook him! When he was finally out of danger, Ranma and his father had gone again. "NO!
Ranma!"
 
 

 "You did what?!" Ranma almost choked.

 "I engaged you to one of the Tendo daughters."

 "Pop you know I. . ."

 "What? You gave your sanity to that pathetic boy back in junior high? Forget him! You are my son
and you will carry on the Tendo Dojo!"

 Ranma glared at his father, but that was all he could do. He had to keep up hope that Ryoga would
find him.

 Meeting the Tendos was a mess, made worst by the fact the Ranma was being forced into this mess.
The violent girl they had chosen for him made his life Hell. So did half of the inhabitants of Nerima.
The place he used to call home.  After school one day he walked to Ryoga's home and knocked. No
one answered. //They're all lost again.// He cleaned up the house and restocked the fridge and
cupboards just in case they came back. Then he curled up in Ryoga's bed and fell asleep.

 He woke to a mocking face, "You know, this is called breaking and entering."

 "Just leave me alone Akane."

 "Hm, let me think about that. . . no." She grinned at him. "So who lives here?"

 "The Hibikis."

 "Where are they?"

 "Out."

 She noticed that he wasn't insulting her like usual so she sat down carefully beside him. "Ranma?
What's wrong."

 "You know I'll never go through with this engagement don't you?"

 She frowned, "Why? Because I'm an uncute, violent tomboy?"

 Ranma sighed and shook his head, "Because I already gave my heart to someone."

 "Who is she?"

 "This is his room. His name is Ryoga."

 "His? A guy? Ranma you're. . ."

 "Only where Ryoga is concerned." He shook his head and looked at Akane almost pleadingly.
"Listen, I like you, I do! But only for a friend and I had to make you understand that, that's the only
reason I told you. Please don't tell anyone."

 Akane was silent for a moment and Ranma readied himself to lead her away from Ryoga's room
before she and mallet-sama destroyed it. "Ok."

 "What?" He couldn't believe his ears!

 "I said ok." She shrugged. "I never wanted to marry you anyway. But I guess I could always use
another friend."

 "Will you keep up the illusion, for pop? Last time he found out I loved Ryoga he dragged me all the
way to China to get me away from him."

 "When is he coming home?"

 "Soon." Ranma assured Akane and himself. "Soon."
 
 

 At that moment a very tired and grumpy angel was walking into the radio's range. His face was covered in dirt and tear stains slid over his cheeks, but he was still so beautiful as to be untouchable.  Very few people tried to become his friend because of fear of rejection. But Ryoga didn't care. He was going home to his heart, and nothing was going to stop him.
 

 In Heaven Michael shook his head. "Persistent little baka."
 
 

~tbc~