Dear Tass Org Archive,

I am submitting a fanfic to your list.  It's title is "Ryouga's First Kiss".
My name is Johnny James O'Brien.  I have what I want posted in bettwen the
two lines of ~'s.  Thank you.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        Hello and welcome to my fanfic!*L*To get right down to business
these characters are not mine they belong to the one and only Takahashi-sama
and I do not claim them in anyway...except I worship Akane!*Giggles.*Anyways
enjoy my fanfic.  Any comments or suggestions can be mailed to
"jjobrn@Atcon.com" and I do like praise more than flames!*L*On with the show!

                        ***Ryouga's First Kiss***



	It was a quiet day in Nermia.  The sun was up, shining in the blue sky,
barely a cloud in sight.  To many of the people who walked the streets of
Nermia that Saturday, it was a beautiful start to the weekend.  To one boy,
however, the weather didn't really matter, as long it wasn't raining; and
today wasn't for enjoying anyway.  This boy was Ryouga Hibiki, and he was on
a mission.  He ran quickly down the streets of Nermia trying to find the
Tendo Dojo.  He had less than five minutes now to reach the Tendo's.  He had
gotten lost again and hadn't been back in Nermia for about a month now.  The
last time he was here Ukyou had convinced him to help her with a plan to
break up Ranma and Akane.  He'd of course gone along with it and everything
was going perfectly, until Ranma made an offhand remark about Akane being a
tomboy.  During the fight that somehow ensued, Ranma had lead him away from
Nermia and gotten him lost.  But now wasn't the time to be thinking of the
past, he had to find the Tendo's.  Ukyou had found him wandering just past
her shop as she opened it about 3 hours ago and drug him inside.  He rubbed
his head lightly still sore from her 'little chat' about last month and the
plan.  After she had finished she made him some okonomiyaki and explained
she had another plan.  The hardest thing he had to do was to make it to the
Tendo's before Ranma and Akane left to do the shopping for Kasumi. Then he
just had to tag along and help Ukyou cause a few incidents.  He knew what he
had to do.  He just had to find the Tendo's and SOON!  A familiar voice then
called out from inside the yard he was passing.
	"Ranma!  Hurry up!  We have to be back in two hours remember."  It was
Akane.  Ryouga skidded to a halt and turned around.  He looked back and saw
where he was.  The Tendo's.  He almost had ran right past it.  It would seem
luck was with him today.  He walked back towards the entrance to the
Tendo's, remembering what it was he was supposed to say.  He had his lines
down. Just as he was reaching the entrance he was greeted by Ranma, who
leaped up and onto his head and then pushing off drove him face first into
the ground.  Ranma landed, turned and looked down at the fallen Ryouga and
grinned.
	"Hey welcome back Mr. P.  Nice to see ya again after all these weeks.",
Ranma said smirking.
	"Hey shut up Ranma!!"  Ryouga noticed Ranma in his usual attire.  Red
shirt, black pants.  Not that he himself wore much different clothes as he
was in his usual yellow shirt, black pants outfit complete with backpack and
umbrella.  He was about to get up and pound Ranma into the ground when Akane
stepped out into full view, smiling lightly.  Akane looked radiant in a
plain blue sundress holding a purse.  He glanced for a moment at her short
hair and a small part of him sank a little. He still regretted it getting
cut off that time, even if it was all Ranma's fault.  She seemed happy
though and smiled at him.
	"Hi Ryouga.  Sorry about Ranma.  Nice to see you again.  What are you doing
here?", Akane said and reached a hand down, crouching lightly and taking his
hand, helping him to his feet.  Ryouga swallowed lightly momentarily lost in
bliss.  She had....touched him.  She was....concerned about him.
	"Yeah P-chan!  What are you doing here anyways?", Ranma said lightly
frowning at Akane and Ryouga's closeness.
	Ryouga whirled glaring at Ranma and walked right up growling in Ranma's
face.  "Who are you calling P-chan?", he ground out at Ranma through
clenched teeth.
	"Wouldn't we all like to know?", Ranma said back with a definite smirk to
his face.  "Last I saw of you was last month during that fight you...."  He
didn't get to finish as Ryouga interrupted with a low growl.
	"Figures a coward like you would run from me again.  Very cunning how you
managed to escape my once again Ranma.", Ryouga said tensing  his muscles
ready to strike at a moment's notice.
	"Hey!  I didn't run!!!  It's not _my_ fault you went and got lost in that
dust cloud and ended up who knows where!!", Ranma retorted.  Ryouga didn't
believe a word of it though.  So what he had a _slightly_ bad sense of
direction.  Ranma was a coward and he knew it.  He'd been running from him
since Ryouga made the challenge back during the now infamous Bread Fued.
Ryouga's mind raced with images of Ranma always running.  Now was time for
payback.  Now!  Ryouga was about to leap at Ranma and give him the beating
he thought Ranma deserved when suddenly Ranma was knocked to the ground.  By
Akane.
	"Ranma what do you think your doing?!  We don't have time for this!!  We
only have two hours remember?!", Akane shouted after whacking Ranma with her
purse.  Ranma grumbled and was getting up when Akane then turned to Ryouga
and smiled lightly, "Don't listen to him Ryouga he's just trying to get to
you.  So....what are you doing here?"
	"Oh.  That's okay...Akane-san.  I.....", Ryouga said suddenly stopping.  He
blinked.  His lines!  What were they?  He was supposed to say?  Curse that
Ranma making him forget his lines by making him angry.  He'd pay later right
now he had to think of something.  And fast!
	"Well!?", Ranma said after a few moments watching Ryouga think.
	"Uhhh, well I was just...uhhhh, out enjoying the day.  Yeah!  I was just
out for a walk....enjoying the day", Ryouga managed to stammer out.
	"A walk?", Ranma said, not believing a word of it. Ryouga was up to something.
	"A walk?  How nice.  It is the perfect day for it.  Ranma and I were just
going to pick up the groceries.  Would you like to come along, since you're
just out walking?"  Akane said offering a small smile.  Ranma groaned.  This
was definitely _NOT_ how he wanted to spend the next two hours.
	"Uhh sure.  Why not?  It's not like I had anything planned for today."
Ryouga said and almost immediately he felt like hitting himself at those
words.  He growled inwardly at himself.  Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid
stupid!!  Why not just tell them the plan!?  He was sure had just given
himself away.  Akane only smiled a bit wider and nodded.
	"All right then.  Lets go.  We have to back home in two hours, and Ranma!
Don't pick any fights Ryouga either.", Akane said and then began down the
street.  Ranma's face registered his surprise at that comment.
	"Me?!  Huh?  What?!  Hey I don't.....", he started to say but Akane had
already past him and was walking down the street.  Ryouga, grinning widely,
walked past him and jogged to catch up with Akane.  Ranma's sighed and
lowered his head briefly.  He grumbled and turned jogging after Ryouga and
Akane.  He quickly caught up and the three headed down the street, Akane
leading and Ranma and Ryouga on either side of her.  Ranma grumbled to
himself wondering what Ryouga was up to.  He didn't want to fight him so
something must be up.  Ryouga walked along beside Akane, paying no attention
to Ranma at all.  He didn't have to until later.  Right now his mind was
focussed on only two things.  The first was keeping Akane in his sight at
all times and the second was the next part of Ukyou's plan: Get Kuno's
attention as they passed the park where he was known to go every week to
meditate about his two loves.  After about ten minutes of walking they were
passing the small park Nermia had.
	Tatewaki Kuno sat on the grass meditating on his dilemma of Akane and his
Pigtailed Goddess just as Ukyou had said he would be.  Ranma and Akane were
talking about what they were supposed to buy at the store, which was
developing into one of their arguments.  Neither of them noticed Ryouga
stopping for a moment.
	"Get Kuno's attention.", Ryouga whispered to himself.  Well the direct way
always seemed best to him so he picked up a rock and hurled it at Kuno
quickly moving to catch up before it hit.
	Kuno was stuck.  How on earth was he supposed to prove himself worthy of
two such beautiful women as Akane Tendo and the mysterious Pigtailed Goddess
if he could not even decide on which he would persue.  He was in a quandry.
He had to choose one...but in choosing one he would surely break the heart
of the other to such depths that she would all but scorn the race of man
entirely from the utter despair of not having the greatest gift it had to
offer.  He could just simply see no way of choosing!!!  He had to have them
both!!!  Just then the rock struck him square in the back of his head.  He
immediately shot to his feet and looked around for the culprit.  He caught
sight of Ranma and Ryouga just passing out of view behind a building.  He
narrowed his eyes and grabbed his bokken from the ground nearby.
	"So.  The foul Saotome now taunts me from afar and has resulted to such
childish action as throwing rocks.  Has he no pride?  No dignity?  I, the
Blue Thunder of Furinkin High School, Takewaki Kuno shall finally teach him
his lesson and free my loves from his twisted grasp.  Today Saotome, is the
day you die!", Kuno exclaimed holding his bokken up to the sky.  The few
nearby children that were playing giggled and laughed at the funny man as he
talked to the sky and then ran off.


	Ryouga glanced back to see the rock connect with the back of Kuno's head
and Kuno leap to his feet and see them, or more importantly see Ranma.  Okay
that was good, he had gotten part two done, now for part three.  What was
part three again?  Oh yeah, dodge the water.  Water?!!  He panicked.  He
immediately went on alert for anything and everything around him looking
around frantically for the water.  This caused him to trip himself, stumble
forward lose his balance and crash into the ground.  Ranma cracked up
laughing and was about to say something when ~SPLASH~.  Ranma-chan looked
up, extremely annoyed.  She saw nothing but an open window and growled.
Ryouga was sitting on the ground, a small cut on his forehead.  Akane was
kneeling beside him looking at it.  Ryouga had a goofy grin on his face and
Ranma-chan was about to say something about the situation when something
stopped her.  That something was Kuno wrapping his arms arms around her.
	"Ah my Pigtailed Goddess.  My heart soars just gazing upon your infinite
beauty my one true love.  Where did that evil Saotome go?  Today shall be
his downfall!", Kuno said hugging Ranma-chan tightly to him.  Ranma-chan
squirmed trying to get out of his arms.  Ryouga and Akane just stared.
Ryouga breathed an inner sigh of relief.  Part three, done.  Now for part
four: Ask Ranma if he needs help and make sure Akane leaves Ranma alone to
deal with Kuno while taking him to the store.  Ryouga got to his feet, along
with Akane while Ranma-chan was still struggling with Kuno who seemed a
little more stobborn than usual today and wasn't getting knocked out as easily.
	"Uhhh, you need any help?", Ryouga said barely keeping himself from
laughing at Ranma and sort of sounding concerned.
	"No!  I can handle this myself!", Ranma-chan said slamming an elbow into
Kuno's chest.  Ranma-chan glared at Ryouga, convinced he was up to
something.  Akane was obviously annoyed at the delay but wasn't complaining
as Kuno hadn't noticed her yet.
	 "Fine then!  You deal with him and meet us at the store.  Come
on Ryouga.", Akane said as she turned, grabbed Ryouga by the shoulder and
pulled him along with her around the corner grumbling to herself about a
certain martial artist and his stupid pride.  Ranma and Ryouga both looked
at each other in surprise, until they couldn't see each other.  Ryouga was
dumbfounded.  Okay, part four was complete and he didn't even have to do
much at all.  The rest of plan he didn't have to worry about.  He'd done
what he was supposed to do.  He was walking along with Akane to the store.
No Ranma.  No anyone.  Just him and her.  He smiled lightly and followed her
to the store.  After about a few minutes of walking they entered the store
and began to shop.  They still had an hour and a half before they were due
back at the Tendo's and Ryouga had that time in which to finally tell Akane
how he felt about her.  He was definitely going to do it this time.


	Meanwhile, back with Ranma-chan and Kuno, Ranma-chan had managed to get out
of Kuno's hold and was proceeding the throw him around the street.  Usually
into various large, hard, immovable objects such as houses, walls and
telephone poles.  Kuno was looking a little worse for the wear but was still
coming.  Ranma-chan was about hit Kuno again when suddenly the gleam of
something big and metal appeared near Kuno.  It lifted him up and threw him
through the air.  A thud in the distance signaled that he'd landed.
Standing before Ranma-chan was Ukyou, putting her spatula back.
	"Hi Ran-chan!  Kuno bothering you again?", Ukyou asked smiling.
	"Yeah.  Thanks Ucchan.  I'd better get going.", Ranma-chan said back
turning to go.
	"Oh?  Where to?", Ukyou asked.
	"Oh, Akane and I went out to get groceries.  She's probably at the store
now with Ryouga shopping.", Ranma-chan said growling lightly at the mention
of Ryouga.
	"Okay, but why don't you come back to my restaurant for some hot water so
you can change back.", Ukyou suggested stepping a little closer.
	"Uhh, I don't think...", Ranma-chan started to say but Ukyou took ahold of
her arm and gently pulled her along towards Ucchan's.
	"Oh come on Ran-chan.  It'll only take a minute.  She won't miss you.",
Ukyou said.  Ranma thought about that and Ucchan's wasn't far.  It'd only be
a couple minutes.  She smiled and walked alongside Ukyou as they headed to
Ucchan's.


	Meanwhile, back at the store, Ryouga was helping Akane shop for the Tendo
household.  Akane had the list of what she was supposed to get and was
walking around, getting what they needed and putting it in the cart.  Ryouga
was pushing the cart, happy to be just spending time with Akane.  He
occasionally ran into a shelf or another cart, apologizing to the person
when it was a cart.  He frowned inwardly as he ran into a shelf again and
paused to look at the cart wheels.  Something had to be wrong with them but
he couldn't see anything.  Akane came back and set a couple boxes of rice
into the cart noticing Ryouga looking at the wheels.
	"Something wrong Ryouga?", Akane said a curious expression on her face.
	"Huh?  Oh...no.  Just the cart keeps....bumping into things.  I think
there's something wrong with the wheels...but I can't see anything.  Not
that I'd know...anything about these things.  I mean I'm
not...ahhh..eheheheheheh.", Ryouga said eloquently ending it with lightly
nervous laughter as he scratched the back of his head lightly.  Akane just
smiled a bit and went over look at the cans of soup and began checking her
list.  She knew what was wrong with the cart.  It was him.  She noticed he
kept veering off in the wrong direction and bumped into things.  She was
thankful for the aisles of shelves in the store otherwise she'd be worried
about him getting lost.  She began picking the cans of soup they needed
setting them in the cart.  After a few moment Ryouga mentally scowled at
himself.  He had a chance for a conversation and let it go.  They were
beginning to lapse into silence again.  He had to say something.
	"Uhhh, that's a...nice dress Akane.", Ryouga said and frowned inwardly
right after saying the words.  That was the dumbest thing to say.  Akane
turned back and blinked.
	"Oh.  Thank you Ryouga.", Akane said with a smile and wondered why Ranma
never said anything about the dresses she wears.  She frowned lightly and
tossed a can into the cart lightly mashing the bread.  Ryouga noticed this
and sighed lightly.  He tried to think of something else to say as that line
had gotten him nowhere.
	"Did you get my letters Akane?  I wrote three to you while I was
away....uhhh...training.", Ryouga said lightly gripping the handle of the cart.
	"Hmmm?  Oh.  Your letters, yes I did.  I read each one too, thank you.",
Akane smiled slightly causing him to smile as well.
	"Your welcome, Akane.  It gets pretty lonely sometimes....when you're
travelling alone so I write letters to you.  That always makes me feel
better and...less lonely.", Ryouga said looking down the groceries lightly
blushing from his words.  He was closer than he had gotten so far at telling
her what she meant to him and was worried he'd embarrass himself.  Akane was
looking over the list wondering if she forgot anything while Ryouga was
speaking.
	"Oh?  That's nice Ryouga.  I think we've got everything.  Let's go pay for
them.", Akane said as she turned and headed for the cashier.  Ryouga sighed
lightly and followed, wondering if she heard him.  How was he supposed to
tell her how he felt about her if she wasn't listening?  He still had a
chance though, before Ranma got back.


	At Utchan's Ranma had just changed back to his male form and was exiting
the kitchen ready to head back when he saw Ukyou just finish setting a table
for two with lit candles and two plates of okonomiyaki.
	"Have a seat Ran-chan.  You must be hungry after beating up on Kuno like
that.", Ukyou said with a wide smile.  Ranma wasn't sure if he should.
Akane would be expecting him back soon, but that okonomiyaki looked pretty good.
	"I really should go Ucchan.  Akane is probably gonna kill me if I'm any
later.", Ranma said half-heartedly glancing from the door to the table.
	"Please Ran-chan.  Besides, the way you eat, you'll be done in no time.
Didn't you say you and her were supposed to be getting groceries?  Is she
going to be cooking tonight?", Ukyou said with an almost Kasumi-like
innocent look to her face.  Inside she grinned.  That should get him.  Ranma
blinked at that.  Akane _was_ fairly anxious to get to the store and back.
What if she was planning on cooking something.  He looked at the okonomiyaki
and swallows lightly.  This might be his only chance at real food.
	"Sure why not Ucchan?  I can stay for a little while I suppose.", Ranma
said and sat down at the table immediately beginning to eat.  Ukyou smiled
to herself and sat down for a, somewhat, romantic candlelit dinner for two
alone with her Ran-chan.


	Ryouga and Akane walked down the streets, Ryouga's arms filled with the
bags of groceries they had just bought.  They were looking for Ranma.  He
seemed to have just disappeared.  Akane was a little worried, but more
angry.  If he was off with that bimbo Shampoo again or off with Ukyou
goofing off instead of helping her, he'd be getting a piece of her mind
later.  She was looking around the street, glancing back every now and then
to make sure Ryouga was still with her.  "I wonder where he's gotten off to
now.  He was supposed to help me shop for the groceries.  That baka.  He's
never around when you need him.  I guess it's a good thing you came along
Ryouga.  I would've had a hard time carrying all those home by myself.
Thanks.", Akane said having stopped and turned facing Ryouga.  Ryouga
stopped for a moment and craned his neck around the bags that partially
obscured his vision.
	"Oh.  No...no problem Akane.  I'd do anything...to help you.  It's no...no
trouble.", Ryouga said and smiled a little.  Should he tell her now.  This
wasn't exactly the best time to, but they could run into Ranma any moment
now and then he wouldn't get the chance to.  Yes.  Now!  He looked at Akane,
standing watching him a slightly amused smile on her face.
	"Ummm.....Akane-san?", Ryouga began.


	Across the street from Ryouga and Akane a pair of eyes watched them behind
thick glasses.  Mousse had been wiping down a table at the Nekohaten when he
glanced up and saw them standing across the street talking.  He had been
watching them talk for the past few moments and wondered why Ranma and Akane
weren't fighting as usual.  Maybe he was beginning to like her and would
finally leave his Shampoo alone.
	"Mousse!  What you do?!  Why you no work?!", Shampoo shouted at him, seeing
him just standing there.  Mousse turned around to face her.
	"Oh.  Sorry my love.  I was just looking at Ranma and Akane.  They're
across the street talking and acting rather friendly.", Mousse said.
	"Uhh yeah.  Whatever.", the man who had entered a few moments ago said
looking at Mousse like he was an idiot.  Mousse pushed his glasses down over
his eyes and blinked.
        "Oh sorry sir.  Please have a seat I'll be right with you.", Mousse
apologized and then turned and looked around for Shampoo but she had
disappeared.  She probably went to tell the old ghoul they had a customer.
	Shampoo had run back and grabbed her bonbori and raced back outside in
record time muttering, "Violent girl no keep Ranma from Shampoo.  Shampoo
kill violent girl then take Ranma on date with Shampoo."


	At the same time Shampoo was heading out to kill Akane, not too far away a
man was escorted from a bar rather harshly.  A large man, much bigger than
the one he just tossed onto the sidewalk, looked down at the gaijin man in
rather dirty looking clothes.  He knew he was obviously a drunk because he
reeked of alcohol.  The drunk man grumbled and was getting up, or trying to
not quite able to balance yet.
	"Listen buddy I don't care how much money you've got you aren't getting
anymore to drink here.  Go home and lay down.", the large man said turning
and shutting the door behind him.  The drunk man final managed to get to his
feet and mumbled out something making a few obscene gestures at the bar's
door before shuffling off down the street.  How dare they treat him like
that.  Didn't they know he had money.  He reached his car and leaned on it
taking a few minutes to get his keys out and open the door.  He got in and
started the car nearly backing into another car he started off down the
street.  Who needed that bar.  He'd just go to that restaurant with the cute
purple haired waitress.  They'd serve him no problem.


	"Yes Ryouga?  What is it?  Is something wrong?", Akane asked getting
concerned.  Ryouga'd been stammering and grasping for words for about a
minute now.  Something was wrong.  She was about to say something else when
she felt she was in danger.  She saw movement out of the corner of one eye
and turned her head seeing Shampoo advancing quickly towards her bonbori
raised to attack.
	"Violent girl!!  DIE!!!!", Shampoo shouted as she neared Akane and thrust
her bonbori at Akane's midsection.  Akane leaped back dodging the blow and
glared.  Ryouga had dropped the bags at Shampoo's shout and pulled his
umbrella ready to defend Akane.  Shampoo leaped again at Akane swinging her
bonbori.  The two leaped one attacking, the other dodging, and a section of
wall of a house getting crushed.  Ryouga leaped into the fray at the right
moment and blocked Shampoo's bonbori with his umbrella.  He pushed her back
growling and moving to the left to stand between Shampoo and Akane.
	"Leave her alone!!", Ryouga shouted at Shampoo who remained unfazed.
	"No.  Shampoo kill violent girl and then date Ranma.  Where Ranma at?",
Shampoo said looking around.  Mousse had said Ranma was here.  She realized
Mousse had saw Ryouga and Akane and made a note to beat him up later.
	"He's not here!  Why don't you just go away?!", Akane shouted at Shampoo
angry that she was attacked for just being there.
	"It no matter.  I kill violent girl and date Ranma anyway.", Shampoo said
and leaped again only to be blocked by Ryouga once more.  Shampoo became
angry and began attacking Ryouga to get to Akane.  The two fought around a
telephone pole, each attacking while the other dodged.  Their hits connected
upon the telephone which was showing signs of splintering.  Shampoo swung
again and hit the pole as Ryouga dodged, "Why stupid pig-boy here?  Why you
no lost?"
	"Shut up!", Ryouga growled and lashed out with his umbrella again slamming
it against the side of the pole.  An audible crack sounded but none of the
three paid any attention to it.
	"You leave now pig-boy and Shampoo no cook pork dinner tonight.", Shampoo
taunted and swung a bonbori at him.  He ducked and her slammed into the side
of the pole.  Another loud crack and several more loud splintering noises
sounded out.  The three noticed this and all three moved away from the pole.
They stood and watched as it began to tip and fall.  Right at the Nekohanten.
	"AIYAH!!!  Great-Grandmother look out!!!!!", Shampoo shouted at the
restaurant as the pole quickened it's fall and slammed down into it crashing
through the roof  and caving in the ceiling.  Shampoo screamed and forgot
all about Akane rushing over to the restaurant hoping her Great-Grandmother
was alright.  Akane and Ryouga looked at the destruction and both decided it
was best to leave before Cologne decided to put some of the blame on them.
	"We'd better get the groceries and hurry home Ryouga.  We'll be late.",
Akane said.  Ryouga nodded and went, getting the groceries.  He carefully
picked them up one by one and noticed some of the items were damaged.
	"Uh-oh.  I think I broke something when I dropped them.  Sorry Akane-san.",
Ryouga said lowering his head a bit.
	"That's okay Ryouga.  They'll understand.", Akane said smiling and they
quickly headed for the Tendo's.  After a brief ten minute jog they arrived
at the entrance to the Tendo's.  Kasumi had just finished hanging out the
clothes and saw them.  Nabiki had been resting on the porch and noticed them
as well a little curious.  Both of them headed over and began taking the
groceries from Ryouga.
	"Oh hello Ryouga.  How nice of you to help Akane with the shopping.  Oh
Akane where's Ranma I thought he went with you?", Kasumi said sweetly
smiling getting the last bag from Ryouga.
	"Ranma?!  That idiot went off who knows where!!  We haven't seen him since
before we even got to the store.", Akane said still angry at Ranma.
	"What happened to these?  Some are damaged?", questioned Nabiki.
	"Oh...uhh....I sort of dropped them when Shampoo attacked Akane.  Sorry.",
Ryouga said lowering his head lightly.
	"No problem Ryouga.  You'll be getting a bill for what's damaged.", Nabiki
said turning to follow Kasumi who had already turned to go start dinner.
	"Nabiki!!!  You are NOT charging Ryouga for those!  It's Shampoo's fault
not his!!  Don't listen to her Ryouga.", Akane said.  Ryouga merely nodded
and sort of walked out on the sidewalk outside the Tendo's yard.  Akane
followed noticing the pensive look on Ryouga's face.  "Ryouga?  Is something
wrong?  You've been acting a little weird since we left?", Akane said
concerned for him.
	"What?  Oh no.  I'm fine Akane-san.  It's just.....", Ryouga said pausing.
It was now or never!  Just tell her!  Just say it!  He bolstered his courage
and looked up at Akane.  "Akane. I.....I....I lo....Akane I.....I.....",
Ryouga stammered trying to get words out.  Off in the distance a sound like
squealing tires is heard barely.
	"Ryouga?  What...what is it?", Akane said getting really concerned now.
	"Akane I...I lo.....I.....", Ryouga tried with all his might, fists
clenched fighting for the words. "Akane I.....I.....ever since I first met
you Akane I....I knew you....Akane I loooov....", he had nearly gotten the
words out when about thirty feet from behind Akane a car drunkenly swirved
out from a street and  turning sharply, nearly flipping over, and kept
speeding down the street right at them.  Both of them were startled by the
sudden loud noise.  Akane turned to see the car barreling down the road
right at them and froze.  She managed to scream, which shook Ryouga out of
his shock.  He grabbed Akane and tossed her effortlessly to the side out of
the path of the car across the street and then faced the car.  Akane was
safe but he had no time to dodge.  He pulled back, extended his index finger
and thrust it at the hood of the car just as it neared him.
	"BAKUSEI TENKETSU!!!!!!", Ryouga bellowed as he struck the speeding car.
	~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!~  The entire front of the car, engine and all,
exploded.  The force of the explosion stopped the car instantly, but also
sent Ryouga flying back through the air a good hundred feet coming to a
crash against the hard ground.  He tumbled and rolled another thirty feet
before coming to a stop laying motionless on the ground.  He lay there in
pain unconsciousness slowly taking him.  Just before he lost consciousness
he saw Akane's face appear before him and her concerned voice call out to him.
	"RYOUGA!?!?!?!  Ryouga are you alright?!?! Say something!!!", Akane shouted
at him and watched him pass out.  She looked back to see her father, Kasumi,
Nabiki and Mr. Saotome emerge onto the street, looking at the car in shock.
She shouted out to them, "DAD!!  KASUMI!!!  Over here!!  We've got to help
Ryouga!!!"


Three hours later.


	Ryouga slowly came to, his eyes opening to see the most beautiful thing he
had ever seen.  Akane.  She was sitting right beside him as he lay on the
floor on the Tendo's living room.  She smiled down at him, relieved his was
awake.  Nabiki had called the police as they brought Ryouga in and that
drunk man had been taken away, his car towed.  The police said they'd be in
touch when the man became sober enough to ask for a lawyer.  Kasumi had
almost cried hearing what nearly happened.  Her father had cried and it took
him an hour to just calm down.  Nabiki was relieved as well but didn't show
it.  Akane was more worried about Ryouga right now.  He'd just saved her
life and may have been seriously hurt in doing so.  She swallowed lightly
and felt her eyes getting slightly wet.  Ryouga lay and watched her smile at
him and then noticed her eyes.  She was...crying?  For him?  He blinked a
few times and moved a bit groaning lightly as he began to sit up.  He
reached a hand up and took one of his bandanas off and handed it to her, his
expression saddened seeing her crying.
	"Akane-san...please....don't cry.  I'm..ah....alright.", Ryouga said
wincing lightly from a pain in his side.  He guessed his ribs were bruised
but he was more worried about Akane.  She took his bandana and smiled
lightly, wiping her eyes before anyone else saw her.
	"Thank you Ryouga.  Are you sure you are alright?  You did get thrown
pretty far.", Akane said still unsure if he really _was_ alright.  Just then
Soun rushed in and grabbed Ryouga in a tight hug once again crying
uncontrollably.
	"Oh thank you son thank you so very much for saving the life of my little
girl!!!!  You are welcome in this house anytime!!!", Soun said bawling,
happy his daughter was saved.  Ryouga, meanwhile, was twitching in pain just
on the border of screaming.  Soun was squeezing him right over where his
ribs were bruised.
	"DAD!!  Let Ryouga go you're going hurt him worse than he already is!!!!",
Akane shouted.  Soun let go and bowed several times before Ryouga still crying.
	"Oh forgive me son.  I am just so happy my little girl is still alive, all
thanks to you.  I can not thank you enough!!",  Soun said as Kasumi entered
and took him by the arm and began to lead him out.
	"No...no problem...Mr.....Tendo.", Ryouga got out his ribs hurting more now
but not saying anything.
	"Come along father.  Let's let Akane take care of Ryouga.", Kasumi said as
she lead Soun out smiling as she always did.  Akane sighed lightly and
turned to Ryouga who was getting to his feet slowly.  She moved to his side
and helped him up.  He smiled a bit nervously and nodded his thanks.  After
a moment of silence.
	"I'd...uhh...better get going now Akane-san.  I've...been a burden on your
family long enough.  Sorry for all the trouble.", Ryouga said moving and
lifting his backpack around putting it on.  He got his umbrella and placed
it on the top of the backpack lightly wincing from the pressure it put on
his ribs, but again not saying anything.
	"Ryouga?  Your not a burden!  But...if you have to go at least let me walk
you out.  Alright?", Akane asked smiling lightly still holding on to the
bandana Ryouga gave her.  She still wasn't convinced he was in as good a
shape as he was saying but she knew he was tough.  She convinced herself he
would be alright...she hoped.  A few moments later they were both just
outside the Tendo's yard.  Ryouga glanced to the ground and saw a few pieces
of the car.  He looked to Akane and sighed.  So much for the plan.  He had
all this time and he still hadn't managed to tell Akane how he felt.  Wait a
minute.  He still had now right?  He hadn't seen Ranma around.  It was just
him and Akane now.  Alone on the street, under the stars and moonlight.
What could be more romantic?  He nodded lightly and looked up at Akane.  He
_WAS_ going to tell he now!
	"Akane I...", Ryouga began to say softly but Akane interrupted him not
having heard him begin to speak.
	"Ryouga I just wanted to say...thank you.  For everything.  For helping me
with the shopping today....and with Shampoo."  She paused for a moment and
glanced back down at the bandana Ryouga had given her and smiled lightly.
She then looked back up and smiled a bit seeing his lightly confused face.
Was he blushing?  No.  She continued, "Also....for saving my life.  If you
hadn't pushed me out of the way I.....I could've been killed.  I just froze
up there and...well...I just can't thank you enough Ryouga."  Akane paused a
moment at his lightly spaced out expression as he smiled at her.  She
glanced at the bandana in her hand once again...then to him.  She remembered
how she froze up seeing the car and then Ryouga throwing her out of the way.
Then watching him use the Bakusei tenketsu on the car and how far threw the
air he flew.  She also remembered how she sat worried out of her mind for
him while he was unconscious.  He had saved her life.  Put himself in danger
for her without a second thought.
	Then, on a sudden impulse she moved forwards and leaned up and gently
kissed him on the lips for only a brief moment.  She pulled back and blinked
in almost as much shock as he was.  They both blushed bright red.  Ryouga
just blinked in utter shock.  Akane was shocked herself but managed to smile
very lightly and shyly.  Ryouga just blinked.  After a moment of silence she
took a couple more steps back.
	"Good night Ryouga....and thanks again.", Akane said before turning, still
blushing madly from what she just did, and entering the Tendo's yard.  A few
moments later she was inside the house.  Ryouga just stood there and blinked
more.  He stood there for a full five more minutes just blinking.
Slowly...very slowly a wide goofy smile formed on his face.  She had kissed
him.  Akane.  Had.  Kissed.  Him.
	

	Ranma walked towards the Tendo's taking his usual fencetop route.  As her
turned a corner he saw Ryouga just standing there in front of the house.
Ranma groaned to himself.  He's probably going to want to fight.  After an
hour long dinner at Ucchan's and being chased all over Nerima by Shampoo and
Mousse while looking for Akane and Ryouga, he wasn't in the mood to fight.
He just wanted to go home and relax for a while.  He hopped down off the
fence and walked along until he got closer.  Ryouga was facing him but
apparently hadn't noticed him yet.  As he got closer he noticed Ryouga was
grinning like an idiot and just standing there.  He came to a stop right in
front of Ryouga.
	"Hey P-chan what do you want now?  A fight?", Ranma said ready for an
attack.  None came.  Ryouga just stood there staring right through him.
Ranma waved a hand in front of his face.  "Yo Ryouga!  What's wrong?!",
Ranma asked a bit concerned.
	"If you kill me now I will die a happy man.", Ryouga said in an extremely
happy voice.  Ranma blinked.  What was that about.
	"Yeah whatever.  See you in a few days if your lucky to find your way back
here.", Ranma said and turned heading towards the house.  He glances back
once at the door to see Ryouga hadn't moved.  He shruged and went inside the
house.


	About thirty minutes later Ryouga was just heading down the road away from
the Tendo's.  He walked slowly along the same blissful expression on his
face.  Akane had kissed him.  The world was a GREAT place to be in!!  It was
a beautiful night out!  The stars were shining, the full moon was out, it
wasn't raining, Akane had kissed him.  He walked along and after a short
while he passed Ucchan's.  Moment's later Ukyou was out  and in front of him
frowning and holding him back.
	"Ryouga you jackass where are you going?!  I've been waiting for you here
for hours where were you?!", Ukyou said annoyed.
	Ryouga sighed happily.  Akane had kissed him.
	"What's with that stupid grin on your face?  What happened?  Did you tell
Akane you loved her?", Ukyou questioned hoping against hope that idiot
managed to get it out.  That was the whole purpose of the plan.
	Ryouga sighed again and lightly brought a hand up and touched his lips.
Akane had kissed him.
	"Ryouga if you don't start talking right now I'm going to start hitting!!
Got it?!!", Ukyou threatened and pulled her spatula holding it ready.
	Ryouga closed his eyes lightly and began daydreaming of the future.  Akane
had kissed him.
	"I warned you!!", Ukyou shouted and brought the spatula down on Ryouga's
head with a resounding clang.  He didn't budge an inch.  She blinked and
stared.  Her spatula was dented on Ryouga's head and he was still smiling.
What was going on.  She pulled her spatula off his head and stepped back a
bit knowing something was up.
	Ryouga sighed again and opened his eyes.  He began walking again and went
around Ukyou walking off slowly.  Akane had kissed him.
	"What the...?!  Hey Ryouga where do you think you're going?!  Get back
here!!!", Ukyou shouted watching Ryouga just walk off still smiling.  She
sighed exasperated and concluded he failed.  Again!  She shook her head and
muttered to herself, "Ryouga you stupid jackass!  Another good plan and you
ruin it."  Ukyou just sighed and let him go off.  She turned and headed back
into her restaurant.
	Ryouga kept on walking slowly, smiling to himself.  He exited Nerima and
kept on going walking along down the road and off into the forest.  He
walked and walked and walked.  He walked all night and into the next day the
same thought repeating itself in his head over and over.


Akane had kissed him.


THE END



((Author's Notes:They may be a sequel in the works for this  if I get enough
good response on this fic.  The sequel will more than likely involve Ryouga
and Akane getting together and Ranma's jealousy going overboard!*L*Hope to
hear from you soon!))
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


                                        Johnny O'Brien
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ryouga: What?
Mousse(over com-link): It's me.
Ryouga: What do you want?
Mousse: You know how I told you earlier how there's something out there?
Ryouga: Hai.
Mousse: Well, it can be confirmed that there _is_ something out here.
Ryouga: How can you be sure?
Mousse: Because it's chewing on my arm.
Ryouga: (long pause) We'll be right out.
Mousse: No hurry.  I'm just trying to be helpful.

 - Ran Wars, The Empire Strikes Out (Fanfic)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There exists, in the universe, an incredibly powerful force.  It does
not move mountains.  It does not raze the earth.  It does not spawn the
seeds of creation on barren rocks.  It does nudge people down certain
paths without them even aware of it's influence.  There are a select few
that take this force seriously but even they just shrug their shoulders
and stand aside as it twists the universe in strange ways.  (Well, some of
them, anyways.  The cult of the Oddsmakers, the most well-known group,
live in Las Vegas, running incredibly tacky looking temples.  They seem to
take a great interest in professional sports, scantily clad dancers, neon,
and Elvis.)  It's that kind of a force.
   It is called Normality.
   The most commonly known effect is the fact that there will always be
death and taxes in this world.  Always.  It's not very complicated,
really. Normality is aided by human nature, and is in fact, shaped by it.
If something persists long enough, like plants dying in a certain
geographical area, mysterious disappearances in a certain region, or the
Chicago Cubs never winning a baseball championship, it begins to move
forward through time much like a boulder moves downhill.  Pretty soon,
that boulder gets plenty of momentum and it becomes the natural state of
that boulder.  It's already rolling around nicely, so why stop it?
   The force of Normality isn't unshakable. There always exists the
possibility that the Cubs might win a championship one of these years, but
the force makes it very bloody unlikely that they'll win it too many
times, if at all.
   In Tokyo, Japan, there has been a template of Normality installed and
enforced after many years of human nature carving it out.  Basically, it's
like this:  There's going to be a boy, a girl, and an absurd number of
other girls.  All the girls will pursue the boy, except one which will be
fairly reluctant to even acknowledge that she cares about him.  The boy
will be attracted to this one girl that happens to chase him the least.
This sort of thing has happened consistently in the history of Tokyo. From
the dawn of civilization, a primitive man ran hectically across the plains
as a small army of women stormed after him.  A samurai met a humble farmer
and his seven daughters.  A prince ran for cover as he discovers that his
twelve mistresses arrived in the same room waiting to surprise him for his
birthday but instead were surprised when they found out that they were all
promised marriage to the prince. The list goes on.
   Have you ever heard of the saying "The more things change, the more
they stay the same"?  That is very much correct.
   However, lately, Normality has been suppressed.  The boulder has met
some rather flat geography.  For the longest time Tokyo has lacked such a
fiery romance as the ones of its past.  Things were calm in the city.  Too
calm.
   When Normality gets suppressed, it builds up like water in a dam.  Or
in this case, maybe a flow of boulders in a dam.  Whatever. The point is
that when it finally gets released, it flows steadily and rather
viciously, with alot of destruction, mayhem, and loud noise.  Recently,
the Normality had been restored thanks to a foolish martial arts master
and his son.  However, the hold that Normality had on this situation was
weakening and it needed somebody else to get shoved into the situation.

   Normality isn't picky.  It doesn't care WHO is stuck with the job as
long as SOMEBODY is stuck with the job.

 - The More Things Change (Fanfic)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diana: You mean, you can find a boyfriend if you bake cookies well?
Minako: Of course!  That's why we're here working so hard to master the art
of homemade cookie.
Usagi:Makoto's a genius at cooking you know?
Makoto:Oh, no..., I'm not that...
Diana:So, Makoto-san must have many boyfriends.
(Group facefault)
Makoto:The real happiness is actually the time you spend looking for that
special person...
Minako:Makoto, that's a rather bad excuse--you don't have to cover for it.
Makoto:Was it that bad...?

 - Sailor Moon SuperS, The Movie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~