C&C craved! P~L~E~A~S~E~!!!!!!!!! ^_~

 Ranma lay in the tiny bed. His eyes traced the ceiling, counting tiles and cracks. He groaned out his boredom and bit his lip painfully. The physical injurries he could deal with. He would be the first to admit that he had deserved the beating. But Ryoga. His eyes closed to hold back the tears that he had sworn not to cry. His heart had been crushed with each blow the lost boy had landed.

 //Ryoga. What happened to us? We used to be best friends. I thought we could even become more. What happened?// He let out a quivering breath and opened his eyes to the same sight. The sterile walls and ceiling of the local hospital.

 Moving wasn't really an option at this point. All he could do was think. And all he could think of was the cocky, fanged smile of the boy he loved more than anyone and anything. The boy who had helped Kuno to put him in this bed in this hospital. The boy who hated him with every breath in his body.

 All of their battles were only a lame excuse to touch for Ranma. All he wanted was to hold the angry boy and teach him what it meant to be loved. None of them had hurt this bad though. Ryoga hadn't been fighting him for the pleasure of fighting. He was fighting for Akane. Always for Akane. Ranma stiffled another sob as the nurse walked in to check on him.

 "How are you doing Mr. Saotome?"

 He answered in the best monotone he could muster. "Fine."

 "Are those tears? Does it hurt?" She gushed over him and Ranma wanted to scream.

 "Doesn't hurt."

 "Oh come on. I know you're a big tough fighter but a little pain is nothing to be ashamed
of. You can tell me. I won't tell another living soul."

 "I'm fine."
 

 She frowned and shook her head as she changed the IV bag and walked out, "Not all pain is physical. Talking helps."

 Ranma felt his heart dissolving behind his bruised and broken ribs. His last words were
choked and rough. "I'm fine."

 The nurse smiled understandingly and walked out.

 And Ranma sobbed alone in the dark room. //Ryoga.//
 
 

 Ryoga sat alone in the ally behind the cat cafe. Somehow beating Ranma for misguiding
Akane hadn't felt as good as he had thought it would [1]. The martial artist was in the hospital
now, the ambulance had left hours ago, but Ryoga just sat in the shadows. //What is this? Do I
feel guilty?! But he was asking for it! I. . . but he was already down. I have never struck a man
who was already down.//

 Mind made up Ryoga stood. //I need to apologize for my dishonorable actions.//

 Cologne watched the lost boy with interest. //Akane has once again taken Ranma from
Shampoo. I must make sure it never happens again.// She held the reversal jewel in her hand
carefully, //He loves Akane but his pursuit is too shy. Right-side up the jewel might. . . yes.
Perfect.//

 "Ryoga."

 The lost boy jumped back. "C. . . cologne?"

 "I am going to the hospital to see future son-in-law, would you like a guide."

 "I. . . how did you. . ." He gave up, not wanting to lose the opportunity, "Alright."

 Cologne smiled and ruffled his hair, secretly slipping the reversal jewel tightly under his
bandana right side up.

 Amazingly, Ryoga didn't loose his way as the went, and the hospital was found easily.

 "Has your curse been lifted?"

 He shook his head, "I never have trouble when love is my guide."

 Cologne nodded. //Akane must be inside.// "Well I've changed my mind."

 Ryoga shook his head as if he was waking from a dream, "You aren't going to see
Ranma?"

 "I am tired." She explained, "I shall go home."

 The lost boy nodded and went inside. Ranma was in intensive care and not allowed any
visitors yet, so he crept along the halls and slipped in unseen.

 The site of Ranma in a full body cast hit Ryoga full in the heart. //I hurt him this badly?//

 Ranma stirred and Ryoga hurriedly sat beside the bed and held one bandaged hand.
"Unnn, R. . . ryoga?" He asked, his eyes open only slits.

 "I'm here Ranma. I am so sorry! I didn't want, I mean. . . I would never. . ." His eyes
danced with tears, "I would never hurt you."

 The boy's eyes shot completely open then, "Ok who are you and what have you done to
Ryoga?!"

 "Ranma I. . ."

 "What is it?"

 The Lost boy didn't answer.

 "Are you in trouble?"

 //Why does he always worry about me? What have I done to merit such care?//

 "What's wrong? Maybe I can help."

 Ryoga felt like two people in one body! The sane one was fighting against this wave of
emotion. He knew what he was feeling for Ranma. Something so strong it could only be love.
But something told him it wasn't right. Something was wrong with these feelings. He tried to
pull away from the insane thought of Ranma touching him, loving him. Ranma would never
speak to him again if. . . ! Better to be beaten than ignored! Still something was pushing him to
be open with what he felt. Something. . . if Ranma found out. . .! "NO!"

 "Ryoga?" All Ranma could do was watch his friend hurt. The lost boy suddenly darted to
the window and slipped into the night. "Ryoga." Ranma watched until he couldn't see any hint of
Ryoga any more then he closed his eyes and slipped into thought. //What did you need to tell me
Ryoga? Why couldn't you?//
 
 

 Ryoga looked out over the cliff he found himself on, down on Nerima and screamed out
over the land, "Damn it!" He turned back and his shoulders slumped, "I need to be lost for
awhile. I just need to be lost."

 He trudged in the direction of Nerima, knowing that his curse would lead him away.
Away from Ranma, away from the burning need scorching through him. It raged through his
veins until he felt dizzy, but he wouldn't let go and slip into unconsciousness. He couldn't.
Because if he did. . . He shook his head and kept walking.

 In a week the lost boy could barely fight the need. It had gone so far beyond the pleasant
ache Akane caused him. His heart was racing so fast he was sure it would explode! He had a
horrible fever spreding all over him and his arousal was so hard it was painful. Every time he
closed his eyes Ranma's face greeted him. Every time he lay down to sleep his dreams throbbed
with the memory of those compassionate eyes looking at his with the protective worry that
defined Ranma to him these days.

 He fought to keep his breathing under control but it just wouldn't work! He tried to
relieve himself but it only made him hotter. Finally his body began to sway, to shut down. He
fought against it as hard as he could but even as it began he knew he was fighting a losing battle.

 The greyness swept through his mind even as his body began to run. Even through the need drugged haze he knew where he was going. Nerima. Ranma. Home. And the lost boy ran faster. Pushed on by his heart's desire. //I'll worry about telling him when I get there, I just need to get back! I need to be near him. Just near him.//
 

 Ranma was out of the hospital and back to normal in next to no time. The days went by pretty normally, he was challenged by a couple goons, hit over the head with Akane's mallet, and forced to slip between girl and boy form because of some accidents regarding cold and hot water. But around lunch time it all got ‘weird' again.

 Ranma was sitting outside in a tree eating his lunch when Ryoga wandered by looking lost.   He slipped down in front of the lost boy and grinned, "Share a sandwich?"

 Ryoga looked as if he had been handed a priceless treasure. He took the offered food and ate it, sitting beside Ranma but carefully avoiding his gaze.

 "Haven't eaten in a while have you." Ranma guessed.

 "Mmm." Ryoga only mumbled between bites.

 "Ryoga, what were you going to tell me?"

 "When?"

 "In the hospital."

 "I. . ."

 "Are you afraid I'll use it against you? Or laugh at you?"

 "Sort of."

 "I won't. I promise."

 "‘s personal."

 "What isn't? Come on. Tell me."

 Ryoga polished off the sandwich and looked so longingly at Ranma's half that the other
boy chuckled and handed it over. "Here ya go, I'm not really hungry today."

 "‘rigato."

 Ranma didn't answer, he was too busy reveling in the closeness. He had missed this! The
companionship they had once shared. Ryoga was so close! The pigtailed martial artist smiled at
the sight his friend made, gulping down his lunch much like his animal counterpart. But even as
he did Ranma was taken aback by his beauty. Why couldn't anyone else see it? The lost boy was
the most beautiful person Ranma had ever seen. Inside and out. //Gods I love you.//

 "Ranma?"

 "Hm?"

 "You gonna finish your fries?"

 Ranma grinned and passed them over. "Now will you tell me?"

 Ryoga gulped down his food and took a small breath. "Well I. . . I have this. . friend."

 Ranma smiled at the lame attempt to put his worry on someone else. "Yeah?"

 "He likes this guy." Ryoga still wouldn't meet Ranma's gaze, "But he doesn't want to tell
him in case the other guy thinks he's a freak and stops being his. . . his friend."

 "Ryoga, are you gay?"
 
 

 The lost boy jumped, panic filled eyes turned to Ranma and became lost in his gaze. He
couldn't turn away. All he could do was stare as the words feel from his lips all tangled and
rushed. "ME?! NO! I mean. . . kind of. . . I. . . it depends on how you look at it really."

 "So you like someone but can't tell him."

 "Yeah," Ryoga relented, "But I need to, it's eating away at me and I have to get it out
before this drives me insane!"

 "Sounds serious."

 "You could say that."

 "Anyone I know?"

 Ryoga blushed and muttered something.

 "What?"

 "Nothin'."

 "Ryoga I can't help you unless you tell me."

 The lost boy looked up with hopeful eyes, "You want to help me?"

 "Sure, you're no fun when you're mopey."

 "Will you always be my friend?"

 "Sure."

 "No matter what?"

 "Scouts honor."

 "You were never a scout."

 "Martial artist's honor?"

 "I like you."
 
 

 Ranma didn't react for a moment then shook his head, "Say again?"

 "I like you. Ranma Saotome."

 "Anou. . . you mean -like- like?"

 Ryoga leaned forward, eyes open only slightly as he drank in the feel and sight of the boy
who was turning him inside out. "I need you. Please Ranma, I need you so bad."

 Ryoga's hands were clutching his and Ranma met his eyes for the first time. They were
full of emotion. Pure and untarnished. For him! "Ryoga." He whispered. //I know this look,
where have I seen this look before?//

 The lost boy looked like he was shattering right in front of him. He choked back a sob
and stood, "Sorry I bothered you, I won't bring it up again I. . ."

 Ranma jumped up and gathered the lost boy against him, "Wait!"

 "Huh?"

 His eyes sparkled as he crushed his lips against Ryoga's, searching the deep recessed of
his mouth with his tongue. When he pulled away he took a couple calming breaths and smiled,
"I never said no."

 "Ranma."

 "Why now Ryoga? Why now after all these years?"

 "I couldn't hold it in any more."

 "I've wanted you for so long. But you didn't even like me! And you were after Akane and
all of the stuff that happens around Nerima, it's like we never had a chance."

 "We do though."

 Ranma nodded, "Come to the roof tonight?"

 Ryoga kissed him once more, quickly then hurried off as people began to walk by, "Ja ne.
until then."
 
 

 Ranma walked through the rest of the day in a daze. His mind kept going back to the look
on Ryoga's face. //Gods it was so familiar! Where have I seen that expression before?!//

 When school ended he hurried back to the dojo and immidiately set to working off his
agressions in the training room. When someone caught his fist he turned sharply and found
himself chest to chest with Ryoga. "I thought. . . tonight. . ."

 "I couldn't wait." The lost boy crushed Ranma to him, devouring him with kiss after kiss.
"I love you."

 Ranma gasped in pleasure at the words he had waited so long to hear and smiled at his
beloved sexily, "I love you too. I love you so much! Have since we were just kids. I love you! I
love you more than anything Ryoga. Forever!"

 "Ranma."

 "Pop is gone for the week, we have the room to ourselves."

 "Uhnn." Ryoga picked Ranma up into his arms and carried him up the stairs and to the
guestroom quickly. Sliding the door deftly into place.

 "You didn't. . . ahh!" Ranma gasped as Ryoga's hands flew over his body. "You didn't
get lost!"

 "‘ Need you too bad to get lost." He gasped as Ranma took charge of their play.
"Ranma!"

 "Shh, someone will hear you." Ranma giggled.

 "Nhnnn!" Ryoga fought to keep silent.

 "Here, allow me." Ranma grinned and caught his mouth in a deep kiss, stealing the
moans from his throat.

 The pigtailed martial artist slowly peeled back Ryoga's shirt, trailing nipping kisses over
each bit of flesh as he exposed it. Lavishing attention on his hardening nipples.

 "Ranma! Oooh! God's Ranma!"

 "Shh." He smiled, "If Akane hears us we'll both be out of luck."

 "I can't help it! I want. . . uhn! I need. . ."

 "Hush." Ranma trailed his hands over Ryoga's sides and licked a circle around his navel,
"I'll give you what you need."

 Ryoga gasped as the pigtailed marshal artist blew across his damp skin. "I don't. . . I've
never. . . what do I need?"

 Ranma grinned and thrust his tongue into Ryoga's navel in and out, mimicking the act that the boy craved under he was squirming beneath him.

 "Ranmaaaaaaaa!" He whispered urgently.

 Glittering navy eyes sparkled as Ranma moved his lips down to yank Ryoga's pants free
with his teeth. He pulled them slowly, nicking that hardened organ that so craved his touch
before pulling them all the way off. Ryoga was mewing needily, the sound enflamed Ranma to
no end. "More?"

 "Yes! Hell yes! Mmm! Ranma please! I. . . Ooohhh!"

 Ranma grinned at him from his possition at the lost boy's feat. And sucked one of his toes
in his mouth.

 Ryoga jumped and laughter trickled from his mouth, "Ranma! I'm ticklish!"

 The dark haired boy grinned and ran his fingertips over his friends foot playfully, smiling
when he jumped again. The laughter slowly became a gasp as Ranma's hands left his foot and
danced up his leg to the soft skin of his inner thigh. "How about here?"

 "I. . . ahh! . . . Ohhh! Higher! Ranma please! More!"

 Ranma decided he had teased his love enough and he pulled himself over the lost boy,
taking the throbbing witness of his need into his hot mouth and lavishing it with hot, wet strokes
from his tongue. Ryoga shuddered as the other boy sucked him. Nothing could have prepaired
either of them for the lightning shocks that spiked through them, exciting them even more.
Finally giving in to his own needs, Ranma twisted himself around so that his throbbing cock was
right over the lost boy's lips.

 Ryoga greedily swallowed the man flesh offered him, taking Ranma deep into his throat
and drawing his further with a firm suction that almost made Ranma loose control. The boys both
gasped as they built toward their peek. Ranma dug his fingers into Ryoga's bare ass, slipped
them between his firm mounds and into his tight entrance. Pumping them there in time with his
lips motion. Harder, faster, deeper, more, more, more! The world shrank into a tiny pin head of
light for the boys and then burst free, scattering their souls and then snatching them up together
again. Both boy's cried out around their lover's member and shot their seed out as their anuses
spasmed with the thrill of the orgasm.

 Ranma licked the last bit of Ryoga from his lips and turned to face the lost boy who was doing the same. He caught his tongue in a deep kiss and reveled in the experience of himself combined with Ryoga's unique taste. "I love you." He panted softly, running his hands over the lost boy softly.

 "I love you too."

 Ranma could have died happily after hearing that statement from the lips of the fanged
boy beside him. "Say that again. Please say that again."

 "I love you. So much it hurts I love you."

 Tears of happiness fell from Ranma's eyes, the first tears he had shed since his father had
begun training him. "Ryoga."

 They made love five more times that night before finally falling asleep in each other's
arms. In the night, Ranma's arm rubbed against Ryoga's bandana. Dislodging the jewel there.
The hateful bauble rolled across the floor unnoticed by the sleeping boys.
 
 

 The next morning Ranma came back into the room from his shower and smiled lovingly
at Ryoga. He had never thought this possible! This perfect love. He had been content with being
Ryoga's rival. A sort of a human punching bag, but one Ryoga always knew would be there. The
lost boy always came back to him, he was the only constant in his crazy life and happy to be of
service.

 The martial artist had given up long ago on getting Ryoga's love, so he had settled for his
anger. At least it was a feeling. But now. . . he looked so peaceful sleeping like that. An angel.
His own personal angel.

 In sleep he looked so calm. All of the hate and anger and fear gone. So young, innocent.
//and he is mine. And I am his.//

 "Rise and shine Koi." He whispered softly.

 Ryoga's eyes shot open and he took in the room with a look almost like fear.

 "I have to go to school." Ranma pressed a kiss to his koibito's cheek and giggled when
Ryoga blushed furiously. He peeked back in the door one more time, the same stupid grin
plastered on his face, "I love you Ryo-koi." He smiled and winked.
 
 

 Akane frowned at Ranma's cheerful behavior. "What are you so happy about?"

 He smiled and floated along like he was walking on air, "Everything!"

 "Hn. Ranma no hentai what did you do last night?!" The silly smile that spread across the
martial artist's face only fueled her anger more. "Ranma!"

 "Huh?"

 "What?"

 Ranma turned and Akane tossed a bucket of cold water over him, "Ok, come on and
fight!"

 Ranma-chan just kept going with the same boneless walk Ranma had used, "I'm feeling to good to fight!"

 "What happened to you?" Akane studied him carefully, "Are you on drugs?"

 "No. I'm in love!"

 The mallet came down with more force than ever, "Ranma you cheating little pervert!
Who is it? Shampoo? Ukyo? Kodachi? Who?!"

 That snapped Ranma-chan out of it. She shivered and stared at Akane like the girl was
out of her mind! "Eeeeewww! Yuck! Are you nuts?!"

 "Then who?!"

 The far off look started to creep back and Akane barked, "Nabiki?"

 It vanished, "No! Gross! Hey! I'm a girl!"

 Akane gave up. She watched Ranma pull out the thermos of hot water he had begun
carrying and change back into a boy then continued walking. Every once in a while she would
glance over at him carefully. Watching for the punchline of this latest prank, but it didn't come!

 "Saotome prepare to die!" Kuno charged then stopped half way to him, "Saotome?"

 Akane rolled her eyes, "It's him."

 "What demon hath possessed the foul soul of Saotome Ranma?"

 "He thinks he's in love."

 "Vile beast!" Kuno shrieked, "Thou hast touched my fair Akane?!"

 "Not me you idiot." Akane glared.

 "The Pig Tailed Goddess?! Hast thou defiled her?!"

 Akane's face went red, "Definitely not her!"

 "Then who. . .?"

 Ranma just ignored them and went into the school.

 Akane watched her fiancé go through the day in a daze. //Damn you Ranma who is it
that's got you acting so. . . cheery?!//

 After school Ranma rushed down the street toward home. Toward Ryoga. Akane was
hard pressed to keep up. He suddenly skidded to a halt outside the cat cafe and smiled that same
kooky smile before walking inside. Akane followed out of sheer and morbid curiousity. When
she saw the lost boy she groaned, "I guess is isn't too in love to tease poor Ryoga."

 The pigtailed boy snuck up behind Ryoga and cupped his hands over his eyes. "Guess
who?"

 The lost boy shoved him away and Ranma was left to blink up at his from the floor in
confusion, "Ryoga, wha. . ."

 "This is my fault son in law." Cologne hoped forward on her cane to help him to his feet
and Ranma felt his heart constrict with fear. He looked pleadingly, desperately to Ryoga but the
lost boy wouldn't look at him. He just stared at his feat.

 "What is?"

 The old crone placed a jeweled bauble in Ranma's palm. "I wanted you to marry
Shampoo and so I placed this on Ryoga, to speed his courtship of Akane."

 "This is. . ."

 "Yes, the jewel that made Shampoo hate you. Worn upside down it has this effect but
worn right side up as I placed it in Ryoga's bandana, it promotes strong feelings of love."

 "Strong. . . love. . . ?" Akane watched Ranma's face pale with realization. He fell to one
knee and Shampoo and Akane both started forward only to be stopped by Mousse.

 "I never believed he would turn to you for his release."

 Akane'a eyes almost bugged out of her head! //Ranma!? Ryoga?! No way!//

 Shampoo put a hand on the girl's shoulder and nodded, "Airen love pig boy.//

 Mousse said nothing but watched with a pained look as his strong rival shrank before
him, crumbling with the realisation that his declarations of love had never really been returned.

 The crone slid to the floor and tried to take te jewel from Ranma.

 "NO!" He clenched his fist, ki skyrocketing. The charm was crushed to powder when he
let his fist open. "Ryoga! Tell me this isn't true!"

 The boy still wouldn't meet his gaze.

 "The charm wore off the moment it fell from his bandana. He saw it this morning and
brought it here."

 "This morning?" Ranma remembered Ryoga's silence when he had woken, the panic
filled eyes. //The eyes! That look he kept giving me was just like the one Akane had when she
was wearing the jewel! How could I have been so blind?!// A voice in his heart answered him.
//Because you wanted to believe.//

 Every one backed up a bit as Ranma's ki became suffocating. Cologne stared at the
furious power that was covering him. Black waves of fire rolled off of the martial artist. Burning
down the cafe without touching one hair of the people inside. His eyes were glowing white when
he looked up into the old Amazon's eyes. "You made a mockery of my feelings." He growled.

 "Ranma! Wait!" Mousse tried to force himself to the boy but the fire all through the room
held him back.

 "You used the boy I love!" He kicked her cane away from her and glared death into her
frightened eyes.

 "Wait! Airen!" Shampoo cried against the crackling of flame and ki.

 Ranma grabbed the woman up by her shirt and choked out the last bit of his accusations,
"You twisted my love for him into a punishment! No one hurts my loved ones! NO ONE!" With
a huge blast he threw all of his ki at the Amazon and cried out with the force of it as it tore
through her age withered body. Only when he was completely dry of ki did he stop. And even
then it was only because he was losing consciousness. The images around him blurred and split
as he fell face down on the charred earth. He hurt all over, but it didn't matter to him any more.
Nothing did. It had all been a lie. The soft touches, the laughter, the love, all a lie. His eyes slid
shut and he gave in to the darkness closing in on him. "Ryoga." //I don't take it back. I still love
you.//
 
 

 When Ranma regained consciousness he opened his eyes slowly only to by punched hard
by his father. "D. . . dad?"

 "How could you shame me so?!"

 "I. . ." the memories of the day before flooded through him suddenly and Ranma cried out
in emotional agony. Curling in on himself, his tears spilt in waves onto his futon.

 "Stop it! No son of mine will cry like a woman! You will stop! Now!"

 He tried to, he really did, but it hurt so much! I hurt so much! His heart had been laid bare
to the boy he had loved forever and a day and it had been shredded and crushed before the pile of
mush and blood was replaced in his chest. No longer a heart, but a throbbing glob of pain that he
couldn't extract. He wiped at the tear furitively but his father wasn't fooled. Another blow threw
him against the wall and a final one sent him through it.

 The pigtailed martial artist rolled limply over the ground and into the Tendo's fence.
Blood fell from his lips and he pulled himself up, not bothering to wipe it away as he looked up
at his father.

 He didn't fight back. Had no reason to. His father followed him into the yard, beating him
worst than he had in years. Ranma only stood there, taking it all. Every blow brought him closer
back to the harsh reality that he had lived with all of his life. Existence was a crewel joke. With
Ryoga, those few precious hours in the arms of the boy he loved, he had forgotten how painful
living really was.

 "You dishonored me! You dishonored the Tendos! You dishonored yourself! Damn you
boy what were you thinking?! You are my SON! You will behave as befitting, MY. SON!"

 Every word was accented by another blow. Blood pooled in his mouth and ran from his
nose and ears but he wouldn't fight back. What was the use? If his father killed him then maybe
the pain would leave with his breath.

 Akane ran from the dojo, "Mr. Saotome! Stop it! You'll kill him!"

 "Stay out of this." Genma glared down at Ranma, "This is between me and my son."

 Soun was close behind his daughter, "Genma you are irrational! Even if he dishonored
our family and my beautiful Akane, it is no reason to do this!"

 "He has to be taught a lesson!" Genma looked down at his bleeding son. Tear were
leaving tracks down his earth smudged cheeks, "Stop crying! You are not a woman you are a
martial artist! Behave like one!"

 Ranma took a hesitant breath and stood on shaking knees. "No."

 "What?!"

 "I said no." He swallowed and stood his ground. "I am not a meal ticket father. I am not a
guenue pig for your martial arts experements. I am not a slave or a pass to the free life. I am a
man. And as a man I have the right to cry if I damn well want to!"

 "I'll beat the sass out of you!"

 Ranma knocked him back with a harsh kick, "No. You won't. The only reason you got
this far was because I let you. I deserved to be beaten, but I don't deserve to die."

 Akane's eyes filled with tears as she listened to the hopelessness in his tone. "Ranma."
 "I'll only let one man kill me. And you aren't him."

 Genma snarled and stood again, "If you're talking about that little faggot, he'll never have
the balls to do it."

 Ranma's eyes didn't waver, "Then I'll just cheat the reaper until he finds them." He
walked passed the stunned Tendo's and into the house.

 "Where are you going?!"

 "To get my pack." Ranma met his father's gaze with eyes as cold as stone. All of the joy
was gone replaced by a hard understanding the life was only pain and then you die.

 "Get back here!"

 He shouldered his pack and walked out the gate, "Consider yourself childless. I consider
myself orphined."

 "RANMA! YOU COME BACK HERE! RANMA! RANMAAAAAAA!!!!!!"
 
 

 Mousse ran from the shell of the new cafe he was building and settled into a walk beside
Ranma. "Where are you going?"

 "Away."

 The boy adjusted his glasses and kept pace with Ranma's steps. "With the old crone gone
I can start my own cafe. Shampoo agreed to help. I think maybe she likes me."

 "Good for you."

 "Are you going far? Where will you stay? You're welcome to stay with us until you find
something."

 "No, I think I'll leave Nerima now."

 "You still have friends here."

 "You will be fine without me."

 "Maybe." He frowned, "I was never very nice to you."

 "It's ok. I understand."

 "Stay Ranma. Let me make it up to you."

 "Mousse," Ranma stopped and turned to him. "If Shampoo finally told you that she loved
you. Really loved you. And for one night your dreams all locked into place only to have them
crumble the morning after, would you stay?"

 The Amazon man bowed his head, "But I am not you."

 "What's so special about me?"

 "You're stronger than this."

 "Who says."

 "I know."

 Ranma shook his head, "No. You don't."

 Kuno walked up on his other side and Ranma spun to face him. "Saotome Ranma, I find
this disgraceful behavior."

 "Thanks for sharing that."

 "You can not run like a boy afraid to believe in the future."

 "I believe in the future Kuno. I know what it holds too. What my whole life ha held.
Pain."

 "This is not so."

 "No?"

 "No."

 "Kuno forgive me for saying this but you don't know what you're talking about."

 Kuno and Mousse both followed as Ranma began walking again. "Ranma, I know who
you are."

 "I don't even know that."

 "You are the pigtailed girl."

 Ranma froze and turned to face his nemisis, "But you. . . how long have you known?"

 "Since the first. Do you think I'm stupid?"

 "Well, yeah."

 Kuno smiled, "I knew. I just didn't want it to get around that I liked, you."

 "Me?"

 "You are an honorable man Saotome-san."

 Ranma lowered his eyes, "No I'm not."

 "Listen Ranma," Mousse shoved foreward, "Ryoga's an ass. You don't have to. . . eep!"

 Ranma grabbed him by the throat and growled, "Don't talk about him like that! Ever!
You hear me?!"

 "Ranma!" Kuno grabbed his arm and captured his eyes, "No matter how the lost boy feels
‘we' are still your friends and we're worried about you."

 "Don't be."

 "Damn it Ranma don't shut us out!" Mousse implored, "You got hurt, you don't want to
hurt again, but think about what you'll do if you leave. Ryoga broke your heart, made you feel
like shit. And right now that's exactly what you are causing all of your other friends to feel. You
are hurting us all just like Ryoga hurt you! Don't you see that?!"

 "I. . ."

 "You do see that. Don't you."

 Ranma bit his lip and turned to Mousse with a soft sparkle begining to start again in his
eyes. "You said I could stay with you?"

 The boys both grinned, "Now you make sense!" Kuno slapped him on the back as the
retraced their steps to the cat cafe.

 "Guys?"

 "Hm?"

 "Arigato." Ranma sighed. //I will never forget Ryoga, but maybe It's time to move on. I
can't run forever. And even if he still holes my heart, it can heal even if it's with him.//
"Arigato."

 "Hey who knows, maybe you'll find someone new."

 "Don't try to set me up ok? I don't want anyone if I don't have Ryoga."

 "That could become lonely."

 "Not with friends like I got." Ranma smiled but it was slightly pained.

 "Come on." Mousse sighed, "Manual labor takes the thoughts from the heart, and after
you crispified the place, the cafe needs a lot of labor."

 "Well give me a hammer and lets get down to it!"

 "I'm not letting you near any power tools."

 "Just a few?"

 "No."

 "One?"

 "No."

 "Just a saw!"

 "No."

 "Awwwwwwwe!"

 "NO!"

 Ryoga watched from a distance as Ranma and Mousse bantered and Kuno laughed along
side them. The pigtailed martial artist seemed happy enough. . . but those bruises and cuts were
fresh. //What happened to you Ranma? And what is happening to me?//
 
 

 Ranma got back to life as usual. He attended school, fought with Kuno and Mousse, more
for show than anything now, worked and played as always. But every step of the day Ryoga's
memory was with him and every night Mousse and Shampoo listened sadly to him cry himself to
sleep sobbing Ryoga's name. No words could heal a broken heart, and time hadn't helped either.
All they could do was make sure no one mentioned Ryoga around Ranma, and try to go on as
usual.

 Akane caught him in the hall a week later, "Ranma!"

 "Hey ‘Kane."

 "How are you?"

 "Fine."

 "I heard you're living with Mousse and Shampoo now. Helping them repair the
damages."

 "Yeah. Mousse is even paying me can you believe it? A couple more months and maybe
I'll get my own place. A dojo."

 "So you're staying."

 "Yeah. The guys can be pretty persuasive when they aren't trying to kill me."

 "I'm glad."

 Ranma sighed and faced his once fiancé. "Akane, listen, I can't marry you. You're a cool
friend and tell you the truth you're one of my best friends, but no more."

 "I understand."

 "Buddies?" He held up his hand.

 Akane grinned and locked hers with it. "Buddies."
 
 

 Ryoga looked up from the road and sighed. Another town. He flopped down under a tree
in the park and took out a bottle of amber fire that he had begun to carry, and gulped a swig
down, feeling it burn all the way to his belly.  He replaced it when he saw the sign for a bar
across the street. He needed something to take Ranma's tears from his mind.

 The bartender filled a glass for him but Ryoga shook his head, "Just give me the bottle."

 "Can you pay?"

 He slapped enough for five bottles onto the bar and the tender took it to make change.

 "Don't. Just keep them coming."

 Old eyes smiled in pity, "Son take it from an old pro, you won't find the answers at the
bottle of that bottle."

 Ryoga just swished the liqure around before drinking again, "That's why you need to
keep ‘em coming. It's bound to be in one of them."

 "Care to tell an old man your troubles?"

 "No."

 "You change your mind, you tell me ‘k?"

 "Hm."

 After three bottles Ryoga was ready to tell his life story. But he started with Ranma.

 "We were bes' frien's in jun'r high th'n ‘is da' mov' ‘im an' i though' I'd neve' see ‘im
‘gain. The' ‘e jus' re'ppears an' we fough' and ‘e was my enemy."

 "But not really."

 "No. ‘E lo. . . loved me. ‘E fough' ‘cause I wan'ed ta figh' bu' ‘e loved me."

 "And did he break your heart then?"

 Ryoga shook his head lopsidedly, "n', I go' bewi'ched an' tol' ‘im I lo'ed ‘im an' ‘e wa'
sooooo happy."

 "What happened?"

 "Th' spell wo'e off an' I ran ‘way."

 "And him?"

 "‘is da' beat ‘im fo' wha' we di' an' ‘e lef' ‘ome ta li' wi' a frein' o' ‘is."

 "Do you love him?"

 "I don' know! I don' know!" Ryoga lay his head on the bar and sniffled helplessly.

 "Hey, don't cry kid."

 "Thi' is all Ranma's faul'!"

 "Ranma? Saotome Ranma?"

 "Hn, hai. You know ‘im?"

 "Kid he lives jus' down the street with Mousse and Shampoo! You're in Nerima!"

 "Nerima!" Ryoga sobered up instantly, "I gotta, I gotta go!"

 "Wait!" The bartender called as Ranma opened a door, stepped through and closed it
behind him. He waited. 1. . . 2. . . 3. . .

 Ryoga opened the door and stepped from it. "That's a closet."

 The tender smiled and nodded, "Kid, don't run from this."

 "Why not?"

 "It'll ruin your life. Did you see what Genma did to that poor kid?"

 Ryoga shook his head.

 "Almost killed him. And he just took it. Rumors get around fast here. They say he told
someone later that he deserved it. Deserved it! Like he was something dirty."

 "He isn'"

 "Hell no he isn't! But since you left he ain't been whole."

 "I don. . . I. . ."

 The old barman got a crafty idea in his head and he waved Ryoga back to the bar, "Well
come on. I'll give you some on the house. ‘K?"

 "Hm?"

 "We can drink to broken hearts and fickle fates."

 Ryoga looked at the door then back at the bartander. "‘k."

 "That's a boy!" He poured his hardest stuff into a beer bong and offered it to the kid,
"Drink up!"

 After ten of the tall glasses, Ryoga stood unsteadily and teetered toward the door.
"G'bye."

 "See ya kid."

 "‘m." He glared crossed eyed t the road and growled, "s'op mo'ing!" His feat tripped him
up and he sprawled out on the road. "All Ranma's faul'." He closed his eyes and Ranma's
pleading tear stained face met him. He had hurt him so badly. His only real friend and he had torn
him apart for revealing his heart. "‘m a' a'hole."

 Ryoga dragged himself up and made it a few more steps before he had to stop to balance
again. "Hn! ‘F I have ta be misa. . miser. . . misa. . . sad, so doe' Ranma."

 He took on more step and ran into a window.

 "Ra'ma! Ra'maaaa!"

 The pigtailed boy opened his window and Ryoga fell in and landed on his head, "R. . .
Ryoga?!"

 "Hn. Ranma n. . . ne. . . n. . . you baka."

 "Ryoga what. . .?"

 "Though' y' coul' ge' ‘way tha' easy? Uhuh, ‘f I'm miserable," He paused there to
congradulate himself for getting the whole word out. "The' so ‘re you!"

 "Are you drunk?"

 "‘ell no!" He said right before he fell forward right into Ranma's chest. He looked up at
the shocked boy and smiled, "‘ou smell goo'."

 "Huh?"

 "Wha' ya doin' he'e."

 Ranma just stared.

 "‘ou're mine. ‘E can't ‘ave you."

 "Who?"

 Ryoga couldn't answer, he had passed out.

 Ranma looked down at the slumped for of the boy he loved and sighed. He unstrapped his
backpack and propped it in the corner then lifted Ryoga into bed. //Now where do -I- sleep?//
Ranma looked at the floor then back at his futon, "Hell, it's my bed." He decided and curled up
next to Ryoga, laying on top of the covers so that the boy would know nothing happened. With
Ryoga in his arms he slept peacefully for the first time in weeks. He felt like he was home.
 
 

 When Ryoga woke up he tried to sit and instantly regretted it. His hand flew to his head
and he winced with pain, "Itai!"

 "How many did you have?"

 Grey eyes shot toward the voice and winced again as the sun hit them full force. But in
front of the sun was Ranma. "How did I get here?"

 "You cracked your head against my window at three am, then literally fell through it
when I opened it. Don't you remember anything?"

 He shook his head and then grabbed it again.

 Ranma sighed and tossed him some tablets, "Their Kisumi's own recipe. You'll be good
as new in a sec."

 Ryoga nodded and gulped them down.

 "How many?"

 The lost boy grimaced, "I lost count after twelve."

 "Baka."

 "Wh. . . what did I say?"

 "Hm?"

 "When I fell inside, what did I say?"

 "You said if you had to be miserable so did I."

 "I actually said that!"

 Ranma smirked, "You seemed damn proud that you could pronounce it."

 "Ohhh God! What else?"

 "You said I. . . anou. . . smelled good."

 "Huh?!"

 "Don't worry, I know you were drunk."

 Ryoga studied Ranma's face carefully, "There's something else."

 The pigtailed martial artist frowned and nodded, "asked me what I was doing here."

 "And?"

 "And that he couldn't have me. When I asked who you meant you passed out."

 "Oh."

 "Who did you mean?"

 "I dunno. Mousse?"

 "Mousse and Shampoo are a couple now."

 "Kuno?"

 "Kuno and Nabiki."

 "What about you?"

 Ranma averted his eyes and breathed in a slow breath, "I haven't dated since you left."

 Slate grey eyes widened slightly, "Why not?"

 "Because."

 "Why?"

 Ranma lowered his eyes, "Because none of them are you Ryoga. And I don't want anyone
else, because they can't ever be you."

 "Me?"

 "You." Ranma shivered slightly in the morning air and wrapped his arms around himself.
"I wasn't under any kind of spell. Remember? I knew what I was doing. I wasn't lying when I
said aishiteru. I always have, always will. But I know you weren't yourself so it's ok. I just wish
you'd still be my friend."

 "Friend?" Ryoga asked in shock.

 "Yeah. Friend. You're the best friend I've got baka. I don't want to lose that."

 "Me neither." Ryoga said softly.

 Ranma perked up with hope. "Honto?!"

 "But I can't forget."

 He wilted where he stood. "Oh."

 Ryoga walked up to him and took his arms, looking into his deep blue eyes, "I can't
forget, because I want it again."

 That made Ranma's eyes jerk back up, "Wha. . .?"

 "One night wasn't enough. Watashi-wa ni horema'su anatta-wa [2]"

 "But you didn't. . ."

 "I do. Ranma. I think I really do love you. The jewel only made it strong enough to break
through my shields, but it's true."

 "Ryoga if this is a trick please don't do this to me." Ranma pleaded, searching his eyes, "I
couldn't stand to lose you all over again. I can't wonder every time you get lost if you did it to
lose me. It'll kill me."

 The lost boy drew Ranma into his arms and nuzzled his neck softly, "No trick."

 "Honto ni?"

 "Honto."

 "Then why did you run?"

 Ryoga closed his eyes and bit his lip, "I was afraid. You scared me with what I felt for
you."

 "And now?"

 "It scares me more to think of living without it."

 "If you stay now it'll be forever." Ranma warned him.

 "I think I could handle forever."

 "Honto?"

 "If you're there with me."

 Ranma's eyes welled with tears and he hugged the blushing boy so tight Ryoga could
barely breath. "Aishiteru Ryoga!"

 "Aishiteru Ranma." He promised, "And this time I know what I'm saying."
 

~phew! That was a long one! You like? ^_^ You hate? >.<  would rather go to the dentist than read
    it again? 0.0
Tell me. I can take it. (>.<;; I think) ~