Chapter Four:
...Where the Heart Is
DISCLAIMER:
Ryouga Hibiki, Ukyou, Kuonji, and Ranma 1/2 are NOT my creations and are all copyright of Rumiko Takahashi, bless her.I claim no credit whatsoever and use them here. So, please don't sue me. I'm broke anyways. All you'd probably get is an I.O.U. hastily scrawled on a cocktail napkin with lipstick. Well, that is, if I could afford to buy a cocktail...Sigh...
The climb was definantly not getting easier, but he didn’t care. Grasping each handhold of rock as if his every breath depended on it, the mysterious figure continued his slow ascent to the peak of the shadowy mountain. It cut an imposing figure indeed as he had watched it in the distance, its blackened crags highlighted only by the silver light of a full moon. On his back hung all that he had in the world; a daisho to mark his station as a true samurai, a bag of food, and a map. It would be all he would need.
Sweating from every pore of his body, the lone man finally pulled himself up to a suficient height on the mountainside. Turning, he witnessed the majestic beauty that was Japan at night. Sighing to himself, he took one last look at the tiny campfire that burned in the distance, on a small mountain not far from him. The last remnants of his only real friends. With closed eyes, he turned away and tried to put them behind him, begining the descent down the opposite side of the mountain.
A part of him screamed for him to turn back. It said he wasn’t a failure as a samurai or as a friend. It said everyone made mistakes. It reminded him that one should always listen to their inner self for the truth, and that those who ignored it often paid the largest price of all.
He ignored it.
“I sorry, Ukyou-sama...Ryouga-san...” he said softly to no one. “I will return someday, when I better able to help you.”
Then, he was gone.
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The pale eye of the moon shone its light upon Ryouga’s face, offering him a little slice of comfort in the silence of the night air. He sat on a small rock outcropping overlooking the pristine landscape of Japan, watching the lazy drifting of uncut grasslands as the night breeze wafted through them. It was mid-summer, and the air around him was crisp and slightly cool, tussling his shaggy black hair as he faced into it. Nearby, he had left the rest of the group to themselves, sleeping soundly. Sighing, he closed his eyes and hung his head slightly.
I wonder if we’ll ever get home, he thought vaguely, not really sure where he meant exactly when he said “home”. For practically all of his life, Ryouga Hibiki had never known a place to long enough to call it home. Nerima came close enough, but there was an emptiness about it. A feeling of something incomplete, a sense that his home was not meant to be there. Still, he would call it home, if for no other reason than so he could make the comparison.
He hadn’t been able to take Ukyou back to her place of birth yet, and that fact still weighed heavily on him somewhat. Even though she had agreed to come with him to take Kuno, Nabiki, and Sasuke back to Nerima, he couldn’t help but feel that he let her down a little.
Besides, there was nothing left for him in Nerima anymore. Nothing but bad memories....broken promises and the remnants of what he once believed he thought real love was, before Ukyou. It was an altogether unpleasant sinking feeling that resided deep inside his chest. On nights like this, when he was able to be alone with his thoughts, he could feel it. On nights like this, he desperately wished he could make it go away.
And still...still he thought about her. About Akane, and about Akari. He couldn’t help it. He really did love them, in his own way, and he doubted if that would ever change. He was a little foolish to believe that he could just walk away like that, and assume that he’d just forget about them, in time. But, still, he didn’t regret leaving; He never would have “found” Ukyou if he hadn’t. Sometimes he wondered about them, and what they were doing...if they were happy...
“Ryochan?”
It was Ukyou’s voice. He looked over his shoulder to see her standing behind him, eyeing him suspiciously. She wore a long white t-shirt with the cryptic words “Piyo Piyo!” written across it, and a picture of a small yellow chicken on it. He had never understood what “Piyo Piyo!” had meant, but it was always a little...wierd to him. Her sheer, smooth legs caught the glow of the moonlight, and it highlighted her whole body, making her apear almost angelic, in a strange sort of a way. Ryouga noted how beautiful she really was. He smiled at her softly.
“What in the hell are you doing up so late?” she said in a low voice.
“I couldn’t sleep, is all.” Ryouga said, looking back at the moon. “So I thought I’d meditate.”
Ukyou furrowed her brow, an obvious sign she knew something was up. Stretching slightly, she walked over beside him and sat down, leaning against his shoulder with her head.
“Sorry if I disturbed you.” She cooed sweetly. Ryouga reflexively drew back, shaking his head feverently.
“N-n-n-n-n-No! Of c-course you didn’t, Ucchan! I was thinking about you, really!” he stammered, blushing heavily. Ukyou couldn’t help but giggle as Ryouga stumbled blindly through another one of their intimate moments. It was annoying, but cute. Still...
“Oh really?” she said, feigning surprise. “And WHAT were you thinking about me, exactly?” She said the last part suggestively, delighting in how Ryouga’s face burned a bright crimson as he began to twiddle his fingers incessantly.
“Oh, nothing, really.” He said passely. “You know, about how I love you.”
“That’s sweet, sugar.” She said, nuzzing up to him. “What else were you thinking about?”
Ryouga shrugged. “The usual stuff, I guess.”
“Like?” She prodded. Apparently what she had heard was true. The hardest question to ask a guy is about what they’re thinking about. Not because they don’t know, but because apparently they didn’t think about much.
Ryouga sighed and rubbed the back of his head. “Geeez, Ucchan...you know...stuff.”
She furrowed her brow, then sighed, almost with a distant sadness.
“You were thinking about Akane, weren’t you?” she said softly. Ryouga looked at her with mild bewilderment.
“H-h-h-h-how did you...?” he began to say, but she smiled and put her hand on his face gently.
“I can tell, by the look in your eyes. You don’t think I know you think about her sometimes? And that Akari girl too?” she said, but with no hint of spite. “It’s impossible for you not to have. No one can just walk away from such a big part of their life like that.”
“U-Ukyou...I’m sorry...I shouldn’t...” he protested, but she just smiled and shook her head.
“I don’t mind, Ryochan. I really don’t. I know you love me more than them.” She said, smiling. Ryouga could only nod. She continued. “Sometimes I think about Ranch-I mean, Ranma. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you, Ryochan. Because I do, very much.”
“I love you, too.” Ryouga said stupidly, cursing himself for his lack of eloquence. Smiling, Ukyo drew close to him and they kissed. Nothing hot or passionate, but a kiss full of love, simple and pure.
“Aww, Ryochan, that’s very sweet of you.” Ukyou said as she broke off. She turned his head from side to side, examining his nose. “And no bleeding this time, either.”
Ryouga smiled proudly. “I think I’m starting to get over that.” He said triumphantly. Ukyou returned his smile, then bit her lower lip, as if wanting to say something. Of course, Ryouga noticed it.
“What’s wrong?” he said with genuine concern. Ukyou put her hand onto his arm gently. Eyes widening slightly, Ryouga glanced from it, to her, then to it again.
“Uhhhh...wait a minute...” he said cautiously. “What’s going on?”
“Ryouga.” She said plainly, lookin into his eyes with her own. Her expression was stern, but also, beneath the surface, slightly afraid. This bothered him to no end.
“Um....yes ?” he said, looking around. “That’s me.”
“I know.” She said patiently. “Ryochan, don’t you think it’s time we...moved up in our relationship?” Ryouga furrowed his brow in a vain attempt to understand. It didn’t work.
“What do you mean?” he said, bewildered. “Like, go live on a mountain or something? Up like that?”
Ukyou rolled her eyes and leaned a little closer to him. “No, that’s not what I mean. I mean that we should move onto the next step in our relationship.”
Ryouga was at a complete loss. “I...don’t get it. Do you feel sick, Ucchan?” he said, concerned. He placed his hand on her forehead, looking for any signs of a fever. Ukyou shook her head, sighing. She reached up and took Ryouga’s hand from her forehead.
“No, Ryochan, I feel fine.” She said slowly. “You really don’t get what I’m trying to ask you, do you?”
“Not at all.” He said truthfully. He smiled at her with the smile of the absolutely innocent. Ukyou thought for a minute, then she looked at Ryouga’s hand, held in her own. Slowly she placed it over her left breast.
“Do you understand now?” she said softly. Ryouga didn’t respond. His eyes were dull and distant, with a disturbingly hazy look to them. His jaw hung open slightly. Concerned, Ukyou waved her free hand over his eyes.
“Ryochan? Are you awake?” she said. As if to answer, Ryouga’s eyes rolled back into his head, and a gout of blood burst forth from his nostrils. He collapsed onto the outcropping, deeply unconcious. He probably wouldn’t wake up for several hours.
Ukyou just sat there, his limp hand still pressed against her chest for nearly three minutes, completely taken aback by what had happened. Sighing, she stood and dragged the unconcious boy to her sleeping bag, tucking him in slowly.
“Damn.” She said under her breath. “That didn’t go well at all.”
Sighing resolutely, she crawled in with him and snuggled up against his sleeping form. Perhaps she’d been too forceful. Perhaps the time wasn’t right. Perhaps.....
She looked at the unconcious man beside her.
...Perhaps this was going to take a LONG time.
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“What’s wrong with Ryouga this morning?” Daisuke said as he stuffed some more breakfast okonomiyaki into his face. Nearby, the unconcious boy was still deeply out of it. He twitched from time to time, although Ukyou wasn’t necessarily sure if that was a good thing or not.
“He...um...he hurt himself last night.” She said quickly, preparing to cook another batch of breakfast. Hiroshi and Daisuke exchanged confused glances. Nabiki raised her eyebrow in quizzical amusement.
“Oh, did he?” she said suggestively. “And what were you two off doing that would cause someone as dense as he is to be injured?”
“Well....um...I...” Ukyou stuttered, blushing slightly. She knew she was definantly NOT going to tell anyone else here about the two’s fumbled attempt at intimacy the previous night.
“Uh OHHH!!!” Daisuke chided loudly, smiling like a grade “A” letch. “What happened last night, Ukyou, hmmm? A little bit of-”
That was as far as he got. Ukyou picked up the red hot frying plate and bashed it over Daisuke’s jeering face. Were he still concious, he probably would have screamed in pain. Nabiki glanced over at Hiroshi, then at the unconcious teen between them.
“My.” Nabiki chuckled, more to herself than anyone else. “Someone must have touched a nerve.”
“NO ONE TOUCHED ANYTHING!” Ukyou suddenly screamed reflexively. Suddenly, Kuno shot up from his tent flap, fully dressed. In his hand he brandished a bokken.
“What ho!” he said dramatically. “A new day has come, and with it brings a new opportunity to free my beloved from the clutches of the vile sorceror Saotome! Sasuke, come to my side!” A few moments later, a half-awake Sasuke stumbled out of the tent, rubbing his sleep-filled eyes.
“Yes...(yawn)....Master Kuno....Here I (yawn) am...” he managed to spit out. Kuno, seemingly filled with even more moxy by this, pointed towards the road to Nerima.
“We are away, Saskue! To free my beloved pig-tailed goddess! Love waits for no man!” Kuno declared empathically, drawing a rose from the sleeve of his kimono and brandishing it in some dramatic fashion.
“Neither does hunger, Kuno-baby.” Nabiki said ruefully. “Sit down and eat."
Kuno feigned thinking deeply for a moment. Then, sighing, he rested the bokken against his shoulder. “Alas, Sasuke,” he said sorrowfully, “Nabiki Tendo is right. We are but poor mortal fools, and even the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High has his weaknesses....”
“Oh, no, sir,” Sasuke said, yawning. “You...(yawn) are without weakness...(yawn) Master Kuno!” Nabiki smiled at Kuno and patted the seat Daisuke had been sitting at.
“You can sit here, Kuno-baby.” She said, shooting a glance at Hiroshi. He scowled at her, and it only seemed to make her smirk more. Completely oblivious to all of this (of course), Kuno sat cross-legged in the spot.
“I accept your offer to dine, Nabiki Tendo, as I have dined with you many times before and you have always been excellent company.” Kuno proclaimed dramatically. Nabiki just smiled.
“Er, thanks, Kuno-baby. You too.” She said. Kuno opened one of his eyes and glared at her, frowning slightly.
“I will once again kindly ask you to refrain from calling me “Kuno-Baby”, Nabiki Tendo.” He said gruffly. “Many a time I have told you this. Perhaps you are afflicted with some disorder of the mind, for you seem to forget each time I tell you.”
Nabiki shrugged, eating another breakfast okonomiyaki, as Ukyou had quickly and conveniantly set up another tray. “Could be, Kuno-baby.” She said. “Could be.”
Kuno simply ‘Hmph’ed and looked away, closing his eyes once more. Nabiki smirked fiendishly. Now next to Kuno, Hiroshi turned away from the two and grumbled. He looked around for a moment or two, then his face filled with confusion.
“Hey...” he said catiously. “Where is Ryu?”
Everyone kind of stopped whatever they were doing and took notice of the hairdresser’s absence. If nothing else, everyone came to the same silent conclusion. Only Daisuke voiced it, however.
“So that’s why it’s been so quiet around here lately...” he said suspiciously. “I thought something seemed...different.”
Nabiki glanced at Ukyou, raising an eyebrow in her typical fashion. “You and Ryouga were up last night. Did you see him leave?”
Ukyou flushed slightly and looked away. “N-n-not really....” she said in a low voice. Daisuke nudged her in the ribs suggestively. Apparently he had fully recovered from his earlier “close encounter” with the breakfast grill.
“Oh REALLY?” he said, barely containing a snicker. “Is that so?”
Ukyou responded by quietly backhanding him. Daisuke went down easily, dazed, his tongue hanging out of his face in an idiotic expression.
“Jackass.” She mumbled, then went back to eating breakfast. Everyone else pretty much did the same.
“Anyway...” Nabiki said after an akward silence. “That still doesn’t solve the problem of where he disappeared to.”
“For all I care, honestly,” Hiroshi said thoughtfully, “I hope he stays there. The guy’s nuts.”
“Hiroshi!” Ukyou scolded. “That’s a pretty crappy thing to say, considering he’s supposed to be our FRIEND!”
Hiroshi shrugged. “Your friend, maybe. But the guy’s a psycho, Ukyou. I’m glad he’s gone and I hope he never comes back.”
Ukyou stood up, anger apparent on her otherwise pretty face, and pointed an accusatory finger at Hiroshi.
“I can’t believe you just said that!” she shouted. “How can you be so heartless?”
“Practice.” Hiroshi answered nonchalantly. By the demeanor of his voice, he seemed rather proud of it. Nabiki watched the unfolding scene in amusement. “Hey, I did MY good deed for the year, remember? What has six-brain-celled samurai ever done?”
“Face it, Ukyou,” Hiroshi continued, “The guy has never EVER helped any of us. I say good riddance.” Ukyou ‘hmphed’ and turned away from him, walking over to Ryouga’s still asleep form.
Hiroshi continued, undaunted. “Oh yeah, well, what about all those times he tried to behead your boyfriend there in the middle of the night? I don’t really consider that being helpful to anyone.”
Ukyou bit her lower lip. He did have a point, albeit a totally heartless one. She scowled and looked over her shoulder to face him.
“Look, Ryu is our friend...if not yours, then mine and Ryochan’s, at least. So you know where you can stick it, jackass.” She snapped, a little taken aback at the strength of her rebuke. Flushing, Hiroshi sat back down. Nabiki chuckled. Ignoring them both, Ukyou turned back to her love’s still form.
“Ryochan...” she said softly. No response. Frowning, she shook him. Still nothing. Drawing her hand back, she smacked him across the face sharply. He awoke, sitting straight up, shaking his head.
“Who...wha...” he said, somewhat dazed, as the world came into focus. Then, he saw her sweet, smiling face. Images of last night flashed in his head, reporting in his concious like gunshots. Immediately, his hand went to his nose.
“U-u-u-u-ukyou!” He stammered. “W-w-w-what’s g-g-going on?”
The sentence was barely coherent, but she managed to catch the drift of it. Smiling slightly, she offered him her hand.
“C’mon, sugar...” she said pertly. “I’ll tell you on the way.”
“Huh?” everyone said. Well, everyone but Kuno. Of course.
“What do you mean on the way?” Daisuke said, sitting up. “Where the hell do you two think you’re going?”
Ukyou went over to her gear and began arranging it. “We, that is Ryochan and I, are going to go find Ryu. I don’t honestly care what happens to any of you. Not now that I realize the kind of people you are.” She glanced over at Nabiki. “No offense.” She added.
“None taken.” Nabiki said, crossing her arms. “But, I believe we had a deal. You agreed to escort me back home to Nerima.” She looked around in an obviously mocking gesture. “I don’t see it anywhere around here.”
This time it was Ukyou’s turn to smirk. “Actually,” she said, putting away her portable grill, “I believe your deal was with Hiroshi. He suggested it, and the agreement was the cancellation of his debt. I don’t really see how this involves Ryouga or myself in any binding way.”
Nabiki smirked slightly, but whether it was in annoyance or humor was indiscernable. Hiroshi stood and waved his hand at the two dismissingly. Ukyou scowled. Ryouga, still groggy, didn’t really grasp what the heck was going on.
“Fine,” Hiroshi said. “Go on. Go. Get out of here if you want to. We don’t need you. We can’t be that far from Nerima by now. It should be any day now. Who needs you?”
Daisuke looked at him like his head was made of cabbage. Leaping to his feet, he thrust an accusatory finger at his buddy.
“Hey, have you lost your freaking mind!?” he shouted. “That chick is making you nuts or something! We need Ryouga and Ukyou! No one else is nearly as macho as either of them!”
Behind him, Ukyou lunged at the dark haired boy, but Ryouga, head clear, managed to grasp her and hold her back. Hiroshi merely chuckled at his friend and waved his hand again.
“Bah.” He said smugly. “We’re in modern Japan, moron. Not even a week from Nerima. We haven’t even encountered anything remotely mystical since that whole valley thing, and from my perspective, that wasn’t such a big deal.”
This time it was Ukyou’s turn to hold back an infuriated Ryouga. Daisuke shook his head and threw his hands up.
“Whatever, man. I’m sticking with them.” He said, walking over and standing next to them. Unknown to him, Ryouga and Ukyou exchanged worried glances as he said that. Hiroshi “hmphed” and turned away from them.
“Go on then.” He said angrily. “Beat it. We don’t need you.”
“Fine then!” Ukyou shouted.
“Fine!” Hiroshi retorted.
Ukyou turned and grabbed Daisuke’s arm with one hand and Ryouga’s with the other, and dragged them both off, fuming with righteous anger only a woman could posess. Hiroshi turned back to Kuno and Nabiki.
“Well,” he said, sitting down next to Kuno. “That went well, I think.”
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The two figures trudged along the mountain trail, the setting sun on their backs. Ryouga looked briefly from Ukyou’s silouetted form to the distant landscape, then back. He couldn’t help but notice how her impressive body cut a striking figure in the sunlight.
“Do you see any trace of him?” Ukyou said impatiently, resting her hands on her shapely hips, as was her habit. Ryouga shrugged and shook his head, shoulders sagging. From around the trail, Daisuke poked his head out.
“Nothing over here.” He said. “I’ll take a look up a little further ahead.” Sucking in a lungfull of mountain air, he felt invigorated by the cold. “Man, this is just like being in one of those nature shows...or and anime or something.” He said to no one in particular as he trudged ahead.
Ukyou turned to Ryouga, who was scanning the horizon, his deep eyes narrowed ands steeled against the mountain air. “What about you, Ryochan? Anything?”
“Nope. Nothing at all.” He said, defeated. They’d left Hiroshi and the others to fend for themselves two days ago. In that time, they’d found only scant trails to indicated where Ryu might have gone. Now, it appeared, they were at a dead end. Sitting crosslegged on the rock, Ryouga sighed heavily.
“Ukyou,” he said, “Do you think we really should have left the others like that?”
Ukyou shrugged. “There’s not much way to go to get to Nerima from here. Besides, they’ve got Kuno to protect them.” The last part was added with notable sarcasm. Ryouga raised his eyebrow, all the same.
“Relax, Ryochan,” Ukyou said, sitting down behind him and wrapping her arms around his neck. “They’ll be fine. You worry way too much. Honestly, what kind of man are you anyway?”
“Hey!” Ryouga said defensively, squirming out of her grasp and turning to face her. “I’m a man!”
“Sure you are.” She said sarcastically. “I believe you, sugar.”
“Hey!” Ryouga repeated. “I am! What’s you’re problem?”
“Relax, jackass!” she retorted. “I was just kidding! Geez, can’t you take a joke?”
“Oh.” Ryouga replied. It was a simple answer , but a clear one. “Sorry, Ucchan.”
“S’Okay.” She said, hugging him. Ryouga flushed uncontrollably. His hand reflexively went to his nose, but Ukyou stopped it in mid-flight. Ryouga looked down at her, momentarily confused. She returned his stare with the look she was wearing the other night....when she....
“Uh....Ukyou....” he said catiously. “W-w-what are you d-d-doing?”
Ukyou glanced around innocently. “Nothing...” she cooed, leaning closer to him. He scuttered away a few feet. His face was an expression of confusion and slight fear, hers was slight hurt. Which hurt him too. Deeply.
“What’s wrong with me?” she asked him, her eyes welling slightly. Ryouga just sat there, kind of stuttering, not really sure what to say.
“Why do you find me so unattractive, Ryochan?” she said, her voice quivering. Ashamed, Ryouga hestiantly reached out and put his arms around her.
“I-I...I’m sorry, Ucchan.” He said softly. “I didn’t mean....it’s just that, well, you know...I’m not r-really good at this.”
“Tell me about it.” She sniffed. “It’s just that, everytime I try to get close to you, you either pull away or bleed everywhere and zonk out for a few hours. It’s more than a little disheartening to a girl’s self-esteem, you know.”
Ryouga flushed. “I-I don’t mean to, you know!” he retorted. “It’s just...you’re so pretty...”
Ukyou smiled. That was an answer so rediculous only her man could have given it. “So you’re saying I’m too cute for you to get close to, is that it? I’m not sure whether to take that as an insult or a compliment.”
“That’s not what I meant!” Ryouga said quickly. “I meant that you’re just so p-pretty and all. I’m afraid I’d do something wrong. Then you’d hate me.”
Ukyou smiled and kissed his cheek. “Oh, Ryochan, you do tons of things wrong all the time, and I don’t hate you.”
“Gee...thanks, Ucchan.” He said slightly annoyed. “Now I feel MUCH better.” Ukyou smirked, rustling his hair.
“I’m just playing with you, jackass.” She said smartly. Ryouga smiled in response, baring his tiny fangs.
“Yeah...I thought so.” He said, with a small sound of relief. There was a moment of mutual silence both were afraid to break.
“Ryochan?” Ukyou said, ending the uncomfortable air. He looked over at her, cradled against him in the slowly fading sunlight.
“Yeah?”
“Remember the other night?” she said apprehensively. Ryouga’s eyes widened slightly.
“Y-yeah.” He said, his mouth drying slightly. “W-what about it?”
“I....I’d like to try again sometime...” she said slowly, looking up to she the response on his face. She was prepared to slap him, in case he ‘zonked out’ again. It usually worked.
“No.” He said sternly. “Not until after we’re married.”
He was being unusually authoritative. Ukyou bit her lower lip apprehensively.
“Was that a proposal?” she said hopefully. Ryouga looked down, playing with his fingers. He did it whenever he was particularly nervous.
“Maybe.” He said silently. “Depends, I guess.”
“Depends on what?” she said, her chest filling with a warmth of hope. Could this be for real?
“On whether you want to or not, I guess.” He said. Ukyou smiled. It wasn’t her ideal idea of a marriage proposal, but in his own Ryouga way, it was very special.
“I do.” She said, smiling. “If you want it to be a proposal, that is.”
“Y-y-y-you d-d-do?” he stuttered, choking the words out with difficulty. His deep eyes shone in the last eyes of the setting sun. What this for real? Did she just say what her thought she did?
Ukyou nodded, sending Ryouga into a fit of glee, as he picked her up and swung her around joyfully, holding her close to him. Ukyou put her arms out, enjoying the feeling of the air soaring around her, through her hair and tickling her skin. After a few moments, he put her down, the two of them grinning at each other like idiots. Ryouga’s smile waned, somewhat thought.
“I...er...I don’t have really much to offer you.” He said solemnly. “I don’t have a home or a job or a lot of money or anything.”
“So?” Ukyou said, smiling. “You should know that doesn’t matter.”
“But I don’t even have a house for us to live in. To raise a family and stuff.” He protested.
Ukyou smiled. Family? He was planning ahead pretty far. “Ryouga. We have our love. That’s all we really need. Everything else is secondary. Our home is whereever our hearts are, and our hearts are with each other.” She paused for a moment. “As for a family, don’t you think you should get to second base before you start to plan for the rest of the season?”
“Huh?” Ryouga responded.
“Second base. You know, baseball?” she said. Ryouga was obviously baffled.
“Nevermind.” She said, and kissed him softly. He returned it, and the last light of the sun slipped below the horizon. Breaking it off, Ukyo took a step back, and moved her hand up, as if to undo her shirt. Ryouga felt his heart skip a beat...almost feeling as thought it would burst in any moment from sheer...
Sheer...excitment.
Anticipation.
He tried to protest weakly. “B-b-b-but what ab-b-bout D-D-D-Daisuke?”
Ukyou shrugged. “What about him?” she said softly, her eyes transfixed with his. Ryouga tried to say something else, but he couldn’t fight that feeling. That magic feeling that he..he wanted her.
Yes, that was the feeling, he was sure of it now. He wanted her. He wanted her to see how he loved her, to feel how much he did, to know...His whole life began to flash before his eyes. He saw his first meeting with Akane, the first time she had taken him into her arms, let him into her bed. Even as nothing more than her pet, he had felt something pure and true about it. He thought about Akari, and her sweet, trusting smile that he had let go. The smell of her hair, the shine of her eyes, the feel of her touch. And he realized something as he watched Ukyou unbutton the top button of that ratty chinese travelling shirt of hers...
This feeling he was having now was stronger than that. So strong it threatened to tear him asunder with the sheer volume of it. He stepped up to her, looking deep into her beautiful clear eyes, and their faces drew closer together...
A sound. A shuffling on the rocks. Someone approaching. These sounds distracted both of them, and in that second, the magic of the moment slipped away. They looked into each others’ faces, their lips a hair apart, the feel of their breath mixing in the air. Just then, a figure hobbled from the distance, towards them. Ryouga groaned and the two teens smiled at each other, they turned in unison, expecting Daisuke to be walking towards them, waving. But it wasn’t. The posture was all wrong...it may be...
“Ryu?” Ukyou said, quickly rebuttoning the top button of her shirt. Silently, sher began to curse. So close... “Is that you?”
It was Ryu, or, what was left of him, that is. The badly beaten samurai collapsed to the ground in front of the two, panting. Ukyou knelt at his side, Ryouga standing vigilantly over her.
“Ryu...what happened to you?” she asked. Burns, bruises, and cuts marked his body, turning his skin into a pattern of purplish red blotches. His kimono was badly torn, and his daisho was gone. Ryu managed a groan, then passed out. Ryouga was suddenly there to catch him, and the two laid him on the rocky mountainside.
“Is he okay?” Ryouga asked. Ukyo shook her head.
“I-I-I’m not sure.” She said nervously, pretending to know what she was doing as she checked him over. “We have to get him to a doctor. Quickly, I think.” She looked up at Ryouga, reading the worry in his face. “We’d better get Daisuke and go.”
Ryouga nodded, and he started to help lift his wounded comrade when a cloaked figure dropped from the upper mountain directly in front of him. Startled, Ukyou leapt back defensively to Ryouga’s side. Ryu’s head hit the ground with a loud thud. Both Ryouga and Ukyou winced.
“Whoops.” She said. The figure, unamused, reached into the cloak it wore and drew out Ryu’s daisho, dropping it to the ground with a clatter. There was the sound of metal being drawn, and in his other hand the figure withdrew a Chinese broadsword.
“Move aside, woman.” The figure said, taking a step towards Ryouga. “I have pressing matters with this...man...”
“You’re the one that did this to him?” Ryouga barked. “I’m gonna make you pay for that one, pal.”
“He was in my path, Hibiki.” The voice said. “My path of VENGEANCE!!” The figure stepped towards Ryouga. Without hesitation, the Lost boy stepped in his way.
“Who are you?” Ryouga demanded. “How do you know my name? What’s with the corny lines?”
“Corny lines!?” The figure shouted. “I’ll curb that blasphemous tongue of yours, Hibiki, if it’s the last thing I ever do!” With that, he threw his cloak off, the reflection of the moonlight shining off his face. Ryouga’s eyes widened...
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End of Chapter Four...