`

    Based off of characters by the ever-lovable Rumiko Takahshi, which
are her's, no copyright infringement is meant, and they are used
without permission.
    This story can be spread around, as long as the author is
acknowledged, and it is not sold for profit, either in part or in
whole, and all disclaimers are left intact.

     Thank's to Ray "The Texas Ryouga" for Hidden Talents, and 
Ridgewolfe for Mousse's Song for insperation.

    Again, let me say;  I AM NOT RIDGEWOLFE!  I am only using his
account for this, Thank you, and on with the story


THE DANCE
-----------------
by Superdude



     Ryouga watched the happy newlyweds, Ranma and Akane, as they 
sat in the middle of the hall, opening wedding presents, laughing
and smiling at each other.  These two people who had been the
defining forces in his life, one through love, and one through 
hate.  And now those two had joined their lives together forever
in marriage.

     Ryouga sighed, a black cloud of depression threatening to 
swallow him.  Besides him, Mousse and Kuno, the other two members
of the Groom's party, looked to him.

     "Alas, Hibiki, the very weight of heaven seems to oppress 
thee." Kuno told him calmly, setting down his drink. "Can thou 
find no happiness in the joining of two hearts that have proven 
true to each other?"

     "Indeed," Mousse added. "You're the Best Man. Ranma and 
Akane could have never been able to have come this far without 
your help. I thought you sworn to let the past stay in the past."

     "Easy for you to say, Duck-boy." Ryouga muttered. "You still 
have Shampoo to chase after." The Groomsmen looked to the Brides
party at the other table,  where Ukyo, Shampoo and Kasumi sat, 
smiling and laughing. Even Ukyo had been able to set aside her 
feelings of rejection to feel happiness on this, her Ran-chan's 
wedding day. 

     Ryouga stood, Straightened his Tuxedo vest, and began to walk
away. At the center of attention, Akane stopped opening presents
long enough to watch Ryouga walk across the Dance floor. She 
began to stand when Ranma put a hand on her arm.

     "Akane, He probably has something he needs to work out by 
himself. The best way we can help is to be here for him when he's 
ready for us." Ranma told her in a startling flash of insight.

     Akane looked into her new husband's eyes and saw the 
sincerity in them. 
     "I hope he'll be Okay."
     "I hope he doesn't get lost."

     Ryouga walked across the dance floor, Crestfallen. He had 
honestly tried to be happy, for his beloved Akane's sake. Deep in 
his heart, where he could never admit it, he knew that Ranma and
Akane were right for each other. Their fighting was only their 
high spirits trying to deny what everyone else could see as true. 
Ryouga had given up his vendetta against Ranma, for in hurting
Satome he would only hurt Akane. But now, the emptiness in him 
was that much more bitter to bear, for there was no light left in 
his life.

     "The world... is a cold and bitter place."

     Ryouga bumped into something. He saw that it was a speaker. 
Looking up, Ryouga saw that he had walked onto the stage, where 
the band had set up. Ryouga had walked... To the band. 
Realization struck the eternal lost boy. The gods themselves must 
have guided him here! He had fully expected to walk about for a
few minutes and find himself in Hawaii or someplace, but his 
destination had been here. Ryouga screwwed his eyes close and 
clenched his fists. This was his chance to let go of the dispare 
inside him! Though he knew Akane had given herself to Ranma, 
maybe now he could express some of what he was feeling now and 
reclaim a part of his soul.

     The band sat and looked as the best man of the wedding stood 
and shook in place. The band knew he was a Martial artist (In
THIS town, who wasn't?), they hoped he wasn't going to explode or 
something equally destructive.

     "Are... you O.K., dude?"

     Ryouga's eyes snapped open at the voice. 

     "I'd like to sing something, if you don't mind. It's a 
Western piece, something I heard in America."

     After a few minutes, Dancing was about to begin again. The 
hall grew quiet as Ryouga stood on stage and picked up the 
microphone.

     "Now what's the Idiot got planned?" Mumbled Ranma as he led 
his new wife onto the dance floor. Ranma knew Ryouga must be 
hurting, but he hoped he wasn't going to do something stupid, 
like announce the true identity of P-chan or something.  

     Ryouga cleared his throat.

     "Akane, This is for you." Ryouga's soul began to turn to Ice 
as he saw her with Ranma, but he pushed aside such feelings as he
filled with resolution. "May you always know happiness."

     Ryouga signaled the band.

     The Piano player started, slowly striking a chord and 
setting the mood. As the Guitar joined in Ryouga gathered his 
courage. With his words the entire hall began to sway.

     "Looking back / on the memory of / The dance we shared / 
'Neath the stars above.
     For a Moment / all the world was right / How could I have 
known / That you'd ever say Goodbye."

     As Ryouga led to the first chorus, the Violin and Drummer 
melded to the slow tempo. Ryouga began to feel warm inside as he 
watched the people slowly dance, enraptured by the gift of his 
singing. He felt warm, the song a cathardic release for the dark 
storm inside him.

     "And Now / I'm glad I don't know / The way it all would end/ 
the way it all would go / Our lives / are better left to chance /
I could have missed the pain/ But I'd of had to miss...
the Dance."

     The hall lights were fixed on the newlyweds. But beyond 
them, Ryouga could see the other couples. Kasumi dancing with Dr. 
Tofu. Kuno looking regal as he led Nabiki on the floor. Mousse
was in a state of happy bliss as Shampoo held him close to slow 
dance. Ukyo was dancing with Mr. Tendo. Even Happosi was behaving 
as he and Cologne danced. And they were all enjoying his singing.

     "Holding you/ I held everything/ For a moment/ Wasn't I a 
king./ But if I'd only known / How the king would fall / Hey 
who's to say / you know I might have changed it all.
     And now / I'm glad I didn't Know / The way it all would end
/ The way it all would go / Our lives / are better left to chance 

/ I could have missed the pain /  But I'd of had to miss...      
The Dance.

     Yes my life / Is better left to chance / I could have missed 
the Pain / But I'd of had to miss... The  Dance.

     As the last strains of the song drifted by, Ryouga looked 
into the brightness that were Ranma and Akane, and was blessed by 
it.


END

     Author's note; O.k., why did I write this (You're asking 
me?! It's 10:00 in the morning! I've had three hours sleep! 
Gessh!)? Mostly it's just to write something. Ever since Red Shoe
Kasumi I've tried writing three or four other projects that have 
all crashed. But I hope I've sent the feeling I was trying to 
capture here. But then, even I'm not exactly sure what I was 
trying to say. 'The Dance' is a song by one of my favorite 
country singers, Garth Brooks. I was listening to it this morning 
when the idea for this hit me and I typed it out before it left.
     The purpose for having Ryouga sing this song is to express 
his feelings to the newly married, and now untouchable, Akane in 
a manner that will allow him to actually get the words out 
without causing a fight or a nosebleed. the Dance, in the story, 
in a large way symbolizes life and his feelings towards Akane. 
Certainly, he could have been spared the pain of seeing Akane 
married to another, but it would have meant never knowing Akane 
in the first place.
     I also like the Idea of the Ranma 1/2 characters singing as 
well. Mousse's song, for instance, I thought was hilarious. 
Incidentally, I picture Mousse singing the end theme to Big 
trouble in Nekonron, China , It's Love (don't you know). 
     I honestly hope that somebody enjoys this. I realise that 
it's a little light on details such as how they got married, 
where the wedding is taking place and who is there. I can only 
say that this wasn't supposed to be a huge plot driven story in 
the first place. It's purpose is to show Ryouga lose some of the 
blackness in his life by accepting his lose, and to show that he 
has some singing talent. 

     Grace is when God gives us what we don't deserve and Mercy 
is when God Doesn't give us what we do deserve - Garth Brooks.


    "The greater the artist, the greater the doubt; perfect confidence
is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize." Robert Hughes

For those of you interested, you can send your caustic comments,
racious remarks, noxious notes, and original observations to:

    Ridgewolf1@aol.com  or to:
    Jallen9@idt.net	

    Any and all fanmail and C&C will be read and appreciated, and I 
do ask that you send it, C&C is one of the best tools for improving
one's writing skills.  

Sayonara!