{insert all standard disclaimers, t'ain't worth teh trouble}

                          Oil and Water
     
     "Come on, Ucchan.  He's all wrong.  He's too short and his arms are 
too thin."

     "He's got nice hair.  And kind eyes."

     "How can you see his eyes from here?  Besides, those arms are a 
dead giveaway.  No good."

     "I'm only looking for someone to meet, not marry.  Don't be such a 
harsh judge."  I looked at him sternly.  "You know, I bet a few people 
could say some not so nice things about you before they actually met 
you."

     He looked at me, that familiar smirk taking its place.  "Yeah, I 
guess I could give some people the wrong idea."  He looked at the young 
man walk down the street.  "I still think those arms are too skinny..."

     I swatted him lightly on the arm and laughed.  "Ranchan, you'll 
never change."
     
*******

     "Ucchan, you know Ryoga."  He shoved Ryoga forward.  Yeah, I knew 
him.  Barely.

     "Hel.. hello."  Ryoga smiled, his little fangs peeking out.  "Oof!"  
He turned and glared at Ranma for elbowing him in the back before 
holding out a fistful of flowers.  "These are for you."

     Why, oh why, did I let Ranchan talk me into this?  I smiled at 
Ryoga.  He was a little cute, I suppose.  I took the bouquet, a 
collection of brightly colored wildflowers, and spared a quick glance to 
Ranma.  He winked at me.  "Thank you, Ryoga," I said.  Why did I feel so 
nervous?  This was definitely the last time I let myself be set up on a 
date.

     "Um, why don't we go get something to eat," Ryoga suggested.  There 
was a tremor in his voice.  Apparently he was as nervous as me, the 
silly smile he couldn't get rid of was all the proof I needed.

     "Sure.  Where did you have in mind?"  Might as well try to make the 
best of it.

     "Well, I thought, maybe we could..."

     Ranma backed away slowly, leaving us to our date.

*************
     
     "So how was it?"  Ranma's eyes were glittering like he had just 
discovered a cure for his curse.

     I shrugged.  "All right."

     "All right?  That's it?"  He better not be taking this as some 
knock to his honor.  He was taking this whole thing far too seriously.

     "Yeah.  It was fine.  We had a good time and that's it."  I felt 
like some sort of new ki technique under heavy study.  His eyes were 
wide and focused right on me.

     "So you had a good time then?"

     "That's what I said.  We had a good time.  Dinner was fine and the 
movie was fine."  Fine, good, but not great.  I leaned forward a bit in 
my seat.  "You know Ryoga's a nice guy and all but..."

     "Nice guy... I suppose.  But what?"

     I reduced my voice to a whisper.  "He is _really_ hung up on 
Akane."

     Ranma laughed, nodding his head.  "Yes he is.  He just can't give 
her up.  There was Akari, but he was too stuck on Akane to keep with 
her.  I think Akari was too nice for him anyway."

     I gave him a sour look.  "Too nice for him?  Then what are you 
saying about me?"  What nerve, it seemed like Akane was going soft on 
the tough love for him to say something like that.

     His laughter died.  "No, nothing like that.  I just think he could 
do with someone who wouldn't treat him like the sun, moon and stars all 
the time.  I've been on the receiving end of your spatula enough to 
know..."

     Eh, I suppose it was true.  But still...
     
     

                        Nice Guys DO Finish Last
     
     "Ryoga, you know you're a nice guy and all... But you're just not 
my type."  He was looking at me strangely, almost like he was mentally 
lost.  "I enjoyed when we went out, but that's all."  He was missing 
something, something that I had seen in Ranchan.  Maybe it was that 
carefree spirit; I don't think Ryoga could _ever_ be carefree.

     "Of course."  His voice was flat and emotionless.  I hoped he 
wouldn't fire off one of his blasts, those can get ugly.  I really hoped 
I didn't hurt his feelings, that wasn't what I wanted.  I didn't want to 
hurt anybody.

     I suppose if we had started out as friends, maybe I could have 
gotten to know him a bit better.  But a half blind date is not the way 
to get to know someone.  "I'm sorry, Ryoga.  It was a mistake to let 
Ranchan push me into this."  The tough part.  "Maybe we can be friends?  
You know, and just hang out sometimes."  The thing everyone knows is the 
kiss of death: let's be friends.

     He looked at me, his eyes bleary like he'd been crying.  But he'd 
been here since the morning.  I guess Ranchan's stories about Ryoga's 
depression weren't exaggerated.  "Friends?" He asked.  He sounded 
pitiful too.  He really needed to get off the downers.

     "Yeah.  Maybe Ranchan has a problem with you, but I don't.  I had 
fun the other night.  I know I didn't say anything, but I haven't 
enjoyed myself that much in quite a while."

     "Even though I got us lost?"  His eyes cleared up almost 
immediately.  Sometimes I get so tired of the macho ego of martial 
artists.  Did Ryoga think I was counting on him to be my future husband 
or something?  He apparently thought I would hate him for not being a 
good match.  Heck, I didn't even know if he wanted to go out with me, 
why would he be so upset?

     So I couldn't help but laugh a little.  "Yeah.  Even though you got 
us lost.  We found our way back didn't we?  Though we didn't see the 
movie I wanted to, I still had fun."

     His eyes got that little shine to them, like he was seeing a light 
at the end of a dark tunnel.  Just how desperate was Ryoga?  The answer 
to myself would have to be very.  I don't think he'll ever get what he 
wants, Ranchan and Akane are too lost in each other when they're not 
arguing.  Well, I can be a friend.  I always liked to think I was easy 
to get along with, easy to talk to.  And that's what it seemed like 
Ryoga needed.

     As for any more 'dates', no way.  Sure it's nice to go out and do 
the things that friends do, but he could never be my boyfriend or 
anything.  At first it was because I didn't know him; now it's that I 
know him too well.  He's perpetually depressed and thinks the whole 
world is out to get him.  He keeps grudges longer than I do (or at least 
did) and he refuses to think anyone would be his friend.  But he needs a 
friend. He needs a friend a lot more than a girlfriend.

     Me?  I'm still young, I don't need to grab on to the first guy I go 
on a date with.  And I don't need anyone to set me up.  I know I can 
find someone on my own.  Gods know I've got the time to find someone 
just right for me, whoever and wherever he might be.  Possibly, in a few 
years, if he ever manages to grow up, Ryoga wouldn't be too bad...  

     I turn my attention back to the okonomiyaki cooking in front of me.  
It's a little overdone, but Ryoga eats it like there's no tomorrow.  He 
really is a good guy and I can't keep myself from smiling at him.
     
END

NOTES** Sorry to all who thought they would end up a pair.  My take is
from the manga where they have very little interaction.  Without any
development, the two wouldn't get together.  But I didn't want to make
it so closed ended, so I put that little hopeful bit at the end.  I
don't see why, in time, they might not hit it off..  (And you can prob'ly
tell, I think Ryoga's a real whiner and can't see why anyone would want
to go out with him anyway  =))  As before, C&C read and answered with
as much swiftness as I can muster.  I'll be getting to the touch ups on
1&2 if you wanted to know (I know someone is) and will be sending it
out then by request.  blah blah blah I guess I'm done.

-- 
Lara

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|  Attend Eastern Michigan University  |
|            Less Effective            |
|           More Destructive           |
|           You'll get yours           |
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         lara@emunix.emich.edu