Shy

By: Dreiser

	"Ryoga?"
	The lost boy turned his attention to the girl who had taken a 
seat at his side. He had come to the park hoping to clear his thoughts 
of all that gone on in the past few days. None-the-less he was glad to 
see her. She had always been kind to him. Almost as kind as Akane. 
Ryoga winced slightly as he thought of Akane. He had came here to 
forget her.
	A bitterness possessed him. Forget Akane? He might as well 
ask the gods to help him never get lost again. Both were an impossible 
task.
	"Hello."
	It was a lame greeting. He knew that but he really had nothing 
more to say. After all, Ryoga had come here to wallow in the misery 
that was his life. She was interrupting that. He soon felt guilty for his 
sharp delivery though. She didn't deserve that sort of treatment. Out of 
everyone in the entire world she was one of the kindest.
	"I'm sorry. It's just that--"
	"I understand."
	Blinking at this Ryoga turned to look her way and was stunned 
by the reflected wisdom he saw there. She gave him a gentle smile as if 
to reassure him everything would be all right. But it wouldn't be all 
right.
	It would never be right again. Ranma was married to Akane 
and they were off on their honeymoon while he sat here like the 
pathetic wretch that he was on a park bench as she gave him 
sympathy he didn't deserve.
	Then again, what did he deserve? Did he deserve Akane? 
Ranma loved her just as much as he did. Ryoga knew that. He loathed 
to admit it but he knew it to be true. Ranma did love Akane. They had 
that much in common.
	"Ryoga?"
	She repeated his name like from before and he turned his 
attention to her as she wore a hesitant expression. Seeing this reaction 
he decided to ease her worry.
	"Yes?"
	A simple word but an encouraging one. It gave her permission 
to ask whatever was on her mind. Once Ryoga would have been wary 
of any conversation that revealed bits of his soul but that was no longer 
the case. He had nothing to lose now because he had already lost 
what was most important to him.
	"Why didn't you ever tell her?"
	Ryoga sat in stunned silence as the question processed in his 
mind. Why didn't he ever tell her?
	The question ripped through his brain like a disease. It held 
him and wouldn't let go. Why didn't he ever tell her?
	He had countless opportunities to confess his love to Akane 
and there was no question in his heart or mind about the reality of his 
love for her. So why didn't he ever tell her?
	Why?
	Why?
	Why?
	A strangled sound ripped through his throat and meeting her 
gentle yet questioning gaze Ryoga gave the only answer he could give. 
The only answer he knew.
	"I'm shy."
	Silence enveloped them as she considered his words. Finally 
she turned back to him and smiled softly. She ducked her head as she 
gazed out at the moonlit lake.
	"So am I. Somehow I think everyone is. About certain things, 
you know?"
	A smile touched his lips at this. For a long while he had 
suspected just as much. Ryoga leaned back on the park bench and 
followed her gaze to the lake.
	"This is a nice night."
	It was a slow beginning he knew but he had to say this. For 
once Hibiki Ryoga was going to find the words.
	"I feel better now. Much less depressed. I know I have you to 
thank for that and I want you to know that I appreciate everything 
you've done for me. You're one of the few people who has actually 
stopped to help me in my life."
	The words came out in a rush. They flowed from his lips like 
water from a river and Ryoga couldn't have stopped their flow even if 
he had wanted to. She lifted her gaze to his and a light blush covered 
her features. She was always easily embarrassed. So humble about 
her many talents.
	"Thank you."
	"No."
	Ryoga said this with a smile much wider in proportion than his 
earlier one and it was all because of her. She was the one who truly 
cared for him. She fed him. She helped clothe him. She provided him 
with hot water. She kept the awful secret that was his Jusenkyo curse. 
It was always her.
	"It's me who should be thanking you."
	With a pause Ryoga memorized the way her features looked 
in the moonlight. She was an angel. His angel and everyone else's in 
Nerima. Smiling wider still his eyes crinkled around the edges as he 
said the angel's name.
	"Kasumi."
	She smiled at this then folded her hands in her lap as she 
returned her gaze back to the lake. Still smiling Ryoga did the same as 
they sat in peaceful silence. They had no need for chatty conversation 
like the others. It wasn't their way. So they sat in silence gazing at the 
lake.
	Companions in the late night of broken dreams they 
understood one another better than those who claimed to know them 
best. Love them best.
	Perhaps this was how it was meant to be
	Perhaps the maker had arranged it this way.
	For Ryoga to be Ryoga and Ranma to be Ranma and Akane 
to be Akane. For Ranma to love Akane and for Akane to love 
Ranma. And for Ryoga?
	Perhaps...
	Perhaps they meant for Ryoga to be shy.	

-End-

All characters in this fanfiction are from Ranma 1/2. This 
fanfiction was the result of a late night mental wandering 
and suddenly finding a song imprinted in my brain after hearing 
it once. I now realize in my late night ramblings I made some
grammatical errors which I've corrected. I hope you enjoy this
version much more. If you'd like to read the lyrics that inspired
this scroll down. I highly recommend Ani DiFranco for anyone who 
likes meanful, yet imprintable lyrics. The song that I heard by her 
is titled, what a surprise, Shy. 

Send comments to: Dreiser1@ix.netcom.com

Visit Altered Destinies at:
www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/attenborough/249/index.htm

"You'll stop me, won't you, if you've heard this one before?
The one where I surprise you by showing up at your front
door. I say lets not ask what makes it how or why. I'm 
leaving in the morning so lets not be shy."
-Ani DiFranco-