[FFML] [fic] U-Jin\'s Ranma Diaries

W*ING Higley Presents:

U-Jin's Ranma Diaries

Chapter 5: Side Story: Pig Dreams and Stranger Things....

*****

Ryoga Hibiki sat at the edge of the reservoir deep in thought. He really wasn�t paying much attention to his make-shift fishing pole. Nor was he paying much attention to fishing partner as she balanced at the edge of the dam, doing katas.

�Hey, Ryoga,� Akane said.

�Hmm?�

�How long have we been friends?� Ryoga watched as Akane went through a rather complex kata, the one done to earn a 2nd-degree black belt in Jeet Kune Do. Akane did it effortlessly.

Ryoga flinched inwardly at the mention of them being �friends.� �Um, gee, about two years now, Akane.�

Akane paused in the middle of a cart-wheel to think. �Yeah, that�s about right.�

�Why do you ask, Akane?�

�I don�t know. It just occurred to me how funny all this would have been two years ago.�

�What do you mean, funny?�

Akane finished her kata and sat down next to Ryoga. �Well, I just mean, how much we�ve changed in the last two years. I mean, think about it. Back when we first met, you were chasing after that guy. What was his name?�

�Saotome.� Ryoga felt his blood heat.

�Yeah, that�s him. And of course, I was supposed to be engaged to the guy, before his father canceled it for whatever reason.�

�And stained your honor.� Ryoga was starting to get angry.

�Oh calm down, Ryoga. He didn�t do any permanent damage. Besides, it�s not like I wanted to get engaged anyways. Heck, I wasn�t even ready to start dating back then.�

�Yeah, that was kinda funny, all those guys attacking you everyday.�

�It wasn�t funny back then. But, yeah, in retrospect it�s kinda funny. Of course, you were in pretty much the same boat. You couldn�t even talk to girls without getting a nosebleed.�

�Well, that, and my curse.� Ryoga sounded indignant.

�So you turn into a pig. Big deal. It didn�t stop me from becoming your friend. And it didn�t stop you from hooking up with Akari.�

�Well, yeah. But Akari was already obsessed with pigs when I met her, so it�s not like that was a problem for her. And it�s not like the curse kept us together....�

�Why did the two of you break up last month, anyways?�

Ryoga�s voice barely a whisper. �I...there...there was just something there, something that stood between us I guess. I�m not sure what, exactly. But it made it impossible for us to continue seeing each other.� There were tears in his eyes now. �God, I hated to hurt her like that.�

�Oh god, Ryoga. I�m sorry, I shouldn�t have said anything.� Akane reached out to him, but he waved her off.

�It�s okay. I..I�m fine, really.�

Akane�s beeper went off, she reached down and looked at the LCD.

�Let me guess, Bart,� Ryoga said. Bart Savagewood was Akane�s gaijin boyfriend. A tall, muscular dude that was stationed at the U.S. Air Force Base on Okinawa. At 21, he was one of the youngest test pilots in American military history. They�d been dating for about six months, but Ryoga had somehow managed to avoid meeting him up to this point.

�You guessed correctly. I�m gonna meet him for lunch. Are you sure you�re going to be okay?�

�Yeah, go on.�

�You�re still coming for dinner, right?�

�Yeah, I�ll see you then.�

Akane got up and collected her fishing gear. Then she reached down and patted Ryoga on the shoulder.

�Cheer up. I�m sure you�ll meet somebody, or maybe you and Akari can figure out what was between the two of you and work it out.�

Ryoga nodded and watched as Akane ran off to meet her boyfriend, shuttering as the word crossed his mind. In truth, Ryoga knew exactly what had split him and Akari up. It�s name was Akane Tendo, and despite almost two years of telling himself that they were just friends, he was hopelessly in love with her.

*****

Ryoga trudged slowly to the Tendo Dojo, reluctant to arrive there anytime soon. Whether this had anything to do with Akane�s cooking or the possibility he might run into Bart, he couldn�t tell. As he walked, he fingered the bottle that held the medication he took to dampen his �lost gene.�

�Why don�t you just tell her,� asked a voice inside his head. The rational part of his mind that was never shy around girls and didn�t blame Ranma Saotome for all his problems. The part that Ryoga hardly ever let out to control the rest of him.

�I can�t.�

�Why not?�

�I...I just can�t.�

�Why?�

�Because, she thinks I�m just her friend. And she�s already got a boyfriend. If I tell her how I feel, it�ll just ruin our friendship and scare her away.

�Oh, so Ryoga Hibiki is scared that telling Akane he loves her will ruin their friendship.�

�Well......yeah.�

�Did it ever occur to you that maybe she might feel the same way about you?�

Ryoga gave a mental snort. �Don�t be ridiculous. Just this afternoon she called us �friends.��

�You�re pathetic.�

�Just...just shut up.�

*****

The Tendo Dojo looked pretty much the same as it always had, with the exception that the koi pond had been filled in so that a garage could be built over it. The current occupants included Akane, her sister Kasumi and their father Soun. The guest bedroom was currently being rented out by some half-Japanese/half-German girl named Asuka that Ryoga had briefly met.

Putting aside his depression, Ryoga managed his best smile as he entered the compound. Kasumi let him in.

�Welcome Ryoga.�

�Thanks, Kasumi. How are you?�

�I�m fine. Thank you.�

Akane entered. �Ryoga, I�m glad you came.�

Ryoga stared. Akane was dressed in an elegant formal kimono with a floral pattern on it. Her long blue-black hair was pulled back into a traditional ponytail.

�A-Akane...�

�How do I look, Ryoga?�

Ryoga snapped out of his reverie. �Uh...beautiful.�

Akane colored slightly.

�Hey, babe. Who�s this?�

Akane turned and grinned. Emerging from the kitchen was a tall, blond American. He stood about 6�2� and had to weigh at least 230 lbs., all muscle. But perhaps his most prominent feature was his long, protruding chin.

�Ryoga,� Akane said, �this is Bart Savagewood. Bart, this is Ryoga, my best friend.�

Ryoga again cringed inwardly at the mention of the �F� word.

�Hey dude, nice to meet ya.� Bart grabbed Ryoga�s hand to shake it, practically breaking every bone in the lost boy�s hand with his strength.

Akane broke the ice. �Ryoga, Bart is a test fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force, wrestles alligators for fun in his spare time, and he speaks five different languages. Ryoga here is a wandering martial artist and a high school drop out.�

Bart stared at him with the same goofy grin he had worn since Ryoga first met him. �Wow,� he finally said.

*****

Ryoga sat on the Tendo couch, listening to Bart drone on about his career and hobbies.

�Yeah, so there I am, about to get crushed in the jaws of this giant alligator, when my buddy Jake tosses me a T.O.W. Rocket Launcher. I point that thing at the alligator�s mouth, and blow him to kingdom come.�

Ryoga sounded bored. �Fascinating. It�s nice to know you hold endangered species in such high regard.�

�Well, hey dude. It was either him or me.�

�Yes, never mind the fact that you were in a petting zoo at the time, and the alligator was completely docile.�

�Oh, that Bart, always a kidder.� Akane walked in carrying a plate of hors d�ouveres. Ryoga�s eye began to twitch.

�Um, did you cook that, Akane?�

�Why of course, Ryoga.� Akane looked at him in wonderment. Bart interrupted.

�Hey, always great to taste Akane�s cooking.� With that, Bart Savagewood reached over and grabbed one of the greenish food stuffs that passed for Akane�s cooking. Ryoga watched in amazement as Bart ate in and then sat back, demonstrating no ill side-effects.

�Great cookin�, babe.�

Groaning inwardly, Ryoga excused himself and headed for the kitchen.

Kasumi looked up from the stove. �So how�s everything going in there, Ryoga?�

�Just fine,� Ryoga said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. �The human chin out there actually seems to enjoy Akane�s cooking.�

�Why Ryoga, do I sense some jealousy?�

Ryoga stared at her. It was a cliche, but you really couldn�t hide anything from Kasumi.

�I...I...�

Kasumi smiled. �Ryoga, it�s been obvious for quite some time now that you have feelings for my little sister. Why haven�t you ever mentioned anything to her?�

�Why do you think,� Ryoga asked as he gestured towards the living room and the Chin.

Kasumi nodded. �Akane does seem to care about Bart a lot. Though if Nabiki weren�t in prison right now, I�m sure she�d offer to break them up, for a price.�

Ryoga shook his head. �Even if she was, I�d refuse. Akane�s happiness means more to me than that. Regardless of my own feelings, I would never-�

Ryoga�s ranting was cut short as Kasumi put a hand on his mouth. Ryoga stared incredulously as Kasumi spoke.

�Ryoga, do yourself a favor and take some advice for once.� She removed her hand.

�What�s that?�

�Get off the cross.�

Ryoga was confused. �What?�

Kasumi smiled. �Ryoga, it�s nice that you play the martyr so often. But you can�t play it all the time. It�s obvious that you�re love for my sister is genuine, but you refuse to do anything about it.�

�But she�s in love with Bart.�

�Is she? Ryoga, you haven�t been here before when Bart is here. He pushes her around and manipulates her. He�s just a macho gaijin. Personally, I think their relationship is a dead end.�

�But...but what if she doesn�t feel anything towards me?�

�Then at least you�ve tried, which is more than you can currently say for yourself. A lot of times my little sister doesn�t know what�s best for her, and someone has to tell her. Look at Tofu and me. We would have never gotten together if I hadn�t finally confronted him and forced the truth about his feelings out. In the two years I�ve known you, Ryoga, you�ve always taken the cautious path when it comes to Akane. You�ve always done what she�s wanted, and never gave any noticeable hint about your feelings towards her.�

�That�s not true. I�ve asked her to come on picnics, we�ve gone to the movies, we�ve gone rowing....�

�And each time she�s thought it was because you were her friend, not a potential suitor. And when you go on these �dates,� you always stiffen up and become jittery as a clam. Ryoga, for once in your life, take a risk. You might just find you like the results.�

*****

The rest of the evening went uneventfully. Kasumi served dinner and acted as an intermediary for Ryoga, keeping the dinner conversation away from topics that could cause Ryoga to lose his temper and attack Bart.

Ryoga, meanwhile, observed that Kasumi was telling the truth. Bart was somewhat pushy towards Akane, never really treating her like an equal.

*****

Ryoga�s apartment was what was called a �studio apartment.� Though in truth it was more like a walk-in closet. There was room for a couch, bed roll, dresser, portable TV, hotplate and a cheap card table, but that was about it. The bathroom was communal and down the hall.

Ryoga had just finished dressing for the day when there was a knock at the door. Much to his surprise, who should walk in but Akane Tendo.

�A-Akane...this is a surprise.�

�Hello, Ryoga.�

�To...to what do I owe your visit this morning, Akane.�

Akane huffed and slumped/collapsed into Ryoga�s worn and beaten couch. �I need your help, Ryoga.�

�My help.� Ryoga sat next to Akane. �My help with what?�

�Bart.�

�Savagewood! What did he do to you?!!?�

Akane was looking at the floor, so she failed to notice Ryoga�s battle aura flare up, brighter than it had ever flared before.

�It�s what he tried to do. After you left and Kasumi and Father went to bed,� she blushed, �we began making out.�

Ryoga�s battle aura flared so brightly that a peeping tom in the building across the street went blind.

�After a while, he began, well, he tried to take it beyond making out.�

�You mean...�

Akane nodded. �Yes. Actually, this isn�t the first time. Our last few dates he�s been getting pretty aggressive. I�ve been able to hold him off so far. I�m not ready to do all that, you know.�

�How...how did he react last night?�

�He didn�t take it very well. He left the house in a huff. That�s why I came over here. Ryoga, you�re my best friend. I was hoping maybe you could help me figure out some way to get Bart to realize I�m not ready for sex yet.�

Ryoga clenched his eyes shut. Great, she had come to him for help on how to cool off Bart. God, could this get any more screwed up?

Hesitantly, Akane asked, �Um, Ryoga. I hate to ask...but, how did it happen the first time between you and Akari?�

Ryoga blushed deeply. �Actually, Akane, we never got that far in our relationship.�

�Oh. I�m sorry for asking.�

�No, it�s alright.�

Akane chuckled slightly.

�What�s so funny,� Ryoga asked.

�Nothing. Just thinking of Akari, that�s all.� She turned to look at him, smiling shyly. �You know Ryoga, after we�d been friends a few months, I realized....I realized that I was sort of attracted to you.�

�WHAT?�

�Well, just a little. But I never pursued it because you were already with Akari.�

The voice in the back of his head returned. �For the love of Buddha, capitalize on this! Put your arm around her or something!�

Slowly, hesitantly, Ryoga placed his arm on her shoulder. Akane didn�t seem to pay any attention to this.

�Well, DUH! She does consider you her best friend,� the voice said.

Ryoga mentally told the voice to shut up while he contemplated his next move. �Akane....� His voice cracked.

Akane stared at Ryoga as he took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself and regain his inner balance. Finally...

�Akane...I..I am sorry. But I cannot help you find a way to appease Bart.�

�Why not?�

�Because....because in truth, I�m jealous of him.� Ryoga was on the verge of having a heart attack.

�WHAT??!!!!� Akane�s eyes bugged out and she stared at Ryoga as if he had just told her that she was pregnant with quadruplets. Then she noticed that his arm was around her.

Quickly, Ryoga took his arm off her shoulders and placed it on the couch padding behind her. He continued, however, to stare directly at her.

�Akane. Akane, the reason things didn�t work out between Akari and me was because I was....and still am....deeply in love with you.�

Akane stared wide-eyed at him, deep in shock. Finally, �Ryoga....�

Ryoga took her hand. �Akane...�

Akane finally regained her senses. �Uh..Ryoga. I...I don�t know what to say. I...I thought we were just friends.�

�I�m sorry Akane. I tried to keep telling myself that, but I can�t any longer.�

�But I�m with Bart now.�

�I..I know that. I admit, my timing was horrible. But I couldn�t keep lying to myself, Akane. I had to tell you. I had to take that chance.�

Akane shook her head, trying to make sense of it all. �Ryoga, I�m sorry. I don�t know what to say.�

Ryoga Hibiki swallowed hard. He had fantasized often about the day he would finally confess his love to Akane. Each one ended the same, with Akane declaring she shared the same love, and agreeing to marry Ryoga. But now that the fantasy had become real, he knew how it would end, and not how he wanted it to.

�Akane....� He let go of her hand. �Akane, I�m sorry if this ruins our friendship. But I had to tell you. Otherwise I couldn�t live with myself. I�m not asking anything of you, not to date you or anything. I just had to tell you.�

�Ryoga...I...I think I understand. And this won�t ruin our friendship, we�ll always be friends. But I don�t know what else to tell you. I mean, Bart�s a great guy. I can�t throw away the last six months, our current problems aside.�

�I....I see.� The disappointment was plain in his voice.

Akane grabbed her purse. �I think I�d better go, Ryoga.�

Ryoga merely nodded, maintaining his place on the couch. �Take care.�

�Will I see you at Kayo?� Ryoga was taking equivalency classes at Kayo University, in an attempt to finally get his high school degree.

Ryoga nodded. Without another word, Akane got up and left Ryoga�s apartment. As she entered the elevator, she sighed and leaned against the wall. She had a lot of thinking to do.

*****

Shampoo stared in horror at the red-headed girl who had taken the place of Ranma Saotome in her bed.

�Who are you?�

�Whatcha� talkin� bout, Shampoo? It�s me, Ranma.�

Shampoo shook her head. �You�re not Ranma. Ranma�s a guy.�

Ranma finally looked down at herself. �Oh crap.� Ranma finally realized that she and Shampoo were laying in a half-deflated waterbed with water leaking everywhere.

Sighing, Ranma began to explain the history of Jusenkyo curses.

*****

Ranma emerged from the bathroom dressed and toweling off his hair. He smiled at how accepting Shampoo had been of his curse. In an odd coincidence, Shampoo�s home village had been located very near the cursed springs.

Ranma finally took the opportunity to look around the rest of Shampoo�s apartment. It was fairly large for a student. He wondered how she was able to pay for it all. Wandering around, he finally realized that there was a second bedroom in the place.

Walking in, he stared at all the toys in the room. He was about to call to Shampoo and ask her about this, when he heard a knock at the door.

Ranma walked into the foyer and stared dumbstruck as youth with long, black-hair and thick glasses walked in.

�Hello, Mousse.� Shampoo�s voice was neutral as she greeted him.

�Hello, Shampoo.� The man�s voice was also neutral.

Ranma was about to interrupt the proceedings when he heard a young voice shout out �Mommy!�

Ranma watched as a young girl, no more than two-years old, bounded in and hugged Shampoo for all she was worth. Shampoo hugged her back like there was no tomorrow.

Finally, Shampoo took the young girl�s hand and turned to face Ranma. She smiled wanly as she said:

�Ranma, this is my daughter, Chengmy.�

To be continued.....

*****

Author�s Notes: Okay, okay. I know I said I would keep the focus on Ranma, but everyone e-mailed me wanting to know what Akane was up to in this series, so here you go. Bart Savagewood is a minor character who appeared in the Bloom County comic strip in 1987. Apologies to Berke Breathed. The name of Shampoo�s daughter may raise some eyebrows, but I�m tired of fics where all the Amazons have beauty-care related names (Conditioner, Lotion, etc.). Chengmy, btw, is named after Hong Kong action star Chengmy Yau. C&C can be sent to skywarp@cephiro.com

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