*    *    *


                        Ranma Ichibunnoni
                         Episode Fifteen


                           *    *    *

     An evil woke.  
     The storm that raged continuously around the place where it
slept was loud this year.  Lightning crashed down, thunder boomed,
rain pelted the stone that imprisoned it beneath the earth.  
     But then, something extraordinary happened.  A bolt of
lightning smashed down onto the boulder sealing the cave where the
evil was at last awakened again, after so long.  The great stone
guardian cracked and split in two, the protective charms along its
sides no longer potent.  
     And the evil smiled.  
     It emerged into the chaos around it, the wrath of nature on a
desolate mountainside.  It reared its head proudly into the storm.
     "PANTIES!!" it cried, before falling asleep for a quick
snooze.

                           *    *    *

     Ranko woke up early.  That by itself meant today was different
from other days.  She stretched, catlike and graceful.  Her eyes
did not flutter open, but lazily opened to greet the new day.  
     "Good morning, Ryo-chan," she said, smiling.  She turned to
the only friend she could count on.  He was gone.  Ranko resisted
the desperate urge to fall to pieces that consumed her for a
moment.  He'd probably just woken up earlier than her and
gone...through the door.  Well, maybe not.  Okay, into the closet. 
Ranko looked for the closet for all of a second before remembering
they didn't have one.  She started to worry.  She looked at the
door, just in case--and found it unlocked, and slightly ajar.  
     Ranko stared at it in disbelief, as if staring at it long
enough would change that impossibility.  She was *sure* she'd
locked it last night.  But if someone had come in, why hadn't they
woken her?  Then she smiled.  The only person she knew of that
could pick a lock was Ranma.  Unless Nabiki could; Ranko wasn't
sure the conniving girl wasn't already a master at that particular
skill.  But Nabiki would have woken her.  It must have been Ranma,
wanting to talk to her, but letting her sleep.  She felt warm as
she wrapped her arms around herself, imagining him creeping out so
as to leave her in peace.  
     Of course, that still didn't explain Ryo-chan.  She frowned. 
Well, maybe Ranma had taken him.  She paused.  But that didn't make
any sense.  Why would Ranma take him?  He must have wandered out
after Ranma opened the door, she decided.  
     The light streaming through the outside window suddenly
shouted at her.  Light?  It was past dawn!  Ranko didn't have much
time to waste.  Even if it *was* a Saturday, Kasumi at least would
be up soon.  And Ranko didn't want any witnesses.  
     She went over to the window and opened it, closing her eyes
and breathing in the fresh air.  Then she smiled and opened her
eyes again.  They immediately widened.  Staring right back at her
was a panda, apparently half frozen and upside-down. 
     "Pop," commented Ranko, "what the heck are you doing!?"  She
punched him ineffectually.  He gestured at the roof, which he was
hanging from by his feet, and started making gestures and growling. 
     Ranko shook her head.  "Write it down, Pop."  The panda
scribbled a sign quickly and held it up.  Of course, that meant it
was upside-down for Ranko.   She snatched it from his grasp and
turned it right-side up.  It said, 'The window is too small'.  
     Ranko punched him again.  "And just *what* were you doing
there anyway?"  The panda pointed at the sign.  She sighed and
flipped it around.  It was annoying how he did that.  The back of
the sign said 'I was trying to get inside.'  
     Ranko looked puzzled.  "But then why..."  Her expression
turned to mirth.  "Don't tell me," she said, barely holding in her
laughter, "that you tried to sneak in the window, couldn't fit
through, and then you couldn't get back up again?  How long were
you hanging out there, anyway?"  She started laughing.  Genma made
frantic gestures, most of which seemed to be communicating a desire
to be helped down (1).  Ranko cheerfully ignored him, closing the
window and turning back to the room.


(1)  Either that, or a frantic desire to wrap spinach around his 
head and dance naked over a yak.  Panda paws aren't very good at
sign language.

                           *    *    *

     Ryoga stood on the sidewalk, trying to make out the street
sign in the wan light of dawn.  He was not in a good mood.  Why
were pigs so useless at unlocking doors?  He'd wasted several hours
leaving the room.  And several hours finding the bathroom.  He
hoped the Tendos didn't mind his using their bath.  He didn't think
they would; Kasumi was such a sweet girl, and Akane was always nice
to him, too.  
     His head still ached; he'd had to push the chair over to the
door and jump off it repeatedly in an effort to turn the lock,
bashing his head against it again and again.  He was lucky he had
such a hard head.  
     He'd been afraid Ranko would wake up from all the commotion,
but she had somehow slept right through the entire thing.  She must
be a deep sleeper, he decided.  He smiled as he pictured her
sleeping form.  She was so cute when she was asleep.  For that
matter, she was rather pretty when awake.  And she was simply
beautiful the rest of the time (1).  
     Ryoga finished checking the map for the street name.  It
didn't seem to be on the map...which covered all of greater Tokyo,
including Nerima.  He sighed and grabbed his umbrella again.  He
knew what he had to do.  He would make his Ranko-chan happy like
she deserved to be.  All he had to do was find Furinkan High
School.  Again.  
     It was a good thing he'd given himself twelve hours to do it
in.


(1)  Typical Ryoga logic.

                           *    *    *

     Ranko put her hands on her hips and surveyed the room.  There
wasn't much she had to pack.  Actually, most of it was still packed
from when they first arrived.  The Saotome family had a habit of
staying ready to run at a moment's notice, perhaps because they
usually had to.  She grabbed her pack and stuffed a few more things
in it.  Just a few, not much of anything.  Ranko didn't really
*have* much of anything.  No jewelry, nothing especially valuable. 
That made it easier to leave things behind, a fact she was grateful
for right now.  A few more clothes, her bedroll, her toiletries. 
Then she hefted her pack onto her shoulder and turned towards the
door.
     She paused.  She set down the pack and opened it again.  She
sighed as she held up a shirt.  It was red satin and Ranma's
favourite.  She and Ranma shared their things, of course--they
couldn't afford not to--but sometimes he would take a fancy to some
pants, and it would become his alone, or she would find a shirt
absolutely irresistable and it became hers.  It wasn't a bone of
contention for either of them, but it *was* something they shared. 
She decided to put the shirt aside...and stole one of his other
shirts instead.  Fair was fair, after all.  She repacked everything
carefully and set out.
     Ranko was careful not to disturb any of the other sleepers. 
She relied on certain skills that helped her in times like these. 
Ranko had a light touch, in both meanings of the phrase.  She
walked swiftly yet silently across the old wooden floors, down the
stairs, and opened the doors without anybody noticing.  Which was
good, because it would be hard enough to explain leaving, let alone
the way she was doing it.  She smiled crookedly at the thought. 
Most people would believe these skills came from intense martial
arts training.  It was amazing what people would believe you could
do with a black belt.  You could get away with just about anything
by saying 'special manuever'.  But in this house...Ranko was pretty
sure that explanation would go about as far as Kuno's yacht in
stormy weather.  
     She paused by the front door, suddenly unsure.  It had seemed
like such a good idea last night.  But now that the decision was
suddenly upon her, it was the hardest thing to do.  But Ranma would
be better off for it, right?  Right?  
     Ranko shivered.  The idea of living without her brother was
like living without...air.  It wouldn't be life.  It just wasn't
possible.  But if they stayed together they would both be hurt. 
She had to do it.  Ranko cursed herself silently.  Saying that was
all well and good, but it wasn't getting her any further out the
door.  
     She took one long, lingering look back at the morning sky
before going back inside.  She *had* to find her brother.  If only
to say goodbye.  
     She silently crept along the hallway.  Where could he be?  If
he was awake, Ranko was sure she would have heard him by now. 
Besides, he never woke up early on weekends.  He wasn't downstairs
on the couch.  Ukyou was sleeping in Kasumi's room.  If Ranma was
there, she didn't want to know about it.  That left Mr. Tendo,
Nabiki, and Akane.  
     She sneaked along until she got to Mr. Tendo's room.  She
carefully peeked through the keyhole.  Hm.  Mr. Tendo ought to get
his room redecorated, she thought critically.  But he was alone,
and that was the important part.  She blinked as Mr. Tendo rolled
over in his sleep.  Oh, my--someone really ought to tell him that
pink thermal underwear was out of fashion.  She stifled a giggle
and moved on to Nabiki.
     Nabiki's room was bigger and nicer than the others, possibly
because Nabiki seemed to have the most money to decorate, and the
most income to afford it in the entire dojo.  Ranko remembered from
the last time she'd been there--she couldn't see inside from the
door.  Nabiki had carefully taped over the keyhole from her side,
and it was impossible to spy into the room.  Ranko grinned at the
girl's foresight and wondered just what Nabiki had to hide.  She
carefully picked the lock and slid the door open just a fraction. 
Nabiki was definitely alone.  Ranko sighed and closed the door, all
without so much as a whisper of noise.
     That only left Akane.  But Ranko refused to believe that Ranma
was sleeping with Akane.  The idea boggled the mind.  Still, if it
was the only option left...
     A sound came, and Ranko froze in place.  It was a murmur,
perhaps, or a moan.  She couldn't tell.  It sounded like it was
from Akane's room, or perhaps Kasumi's.  She stood patiently,
waiting ten seconds after it ceased before walking again as she had
learned to do.  
     Except that it didn't stop.  It just got louder.  It was still
quite soft--although that could have been the effect of hearing it
through a wall--and she could almost make out words.  
     "No...no...not a girl..."  It was Ranma.  Was he awake?  Ranko
crept along the wall.  She stopped.  It was coming from Akane's
room.  But that meant--Ranko smiled.  Well, well.  She didn't think
he had it in him.  
     Then another voice came, louder and more feminine.  Akane,
guessed Ranko.  "Ranma...wake up.  Ranma, wake up!  You're having
a nightmare.  Ranma!"  
     "No...no...!"
     "Ranma!"  The sound of flesh slapping flesh carried through
the wall.
     "Wha...Akane?"
     "You were having a nightmare, Ranma.  Was it about Ranko
again?"  
     Ranko felt ice stab her heart, and she swooned.  He was having
nightmares about her?  
     "No...not this time.  At least, I don't think so..."
     Ranko grabbed at the railing.  Well, that wasn't so bad, was
it?  She'd had nightmares about him, too.  Well, not that she could
think of any in the last month or three.  And they usually involved
him chasing her and trying to splash her with cold water.  But
still...
     "Jhusenkyou again?"
     "Yeah...the same dream again."
     Ranko bit her lip.  A reoccurring nightmare?  And he'd told
*Akane* about it?  He hadn't even told her!  About Jhusenkyou?  SHE
was the cursed one, not him!  
     "You poor thing...can I help?"
     "Uh...not really, Akane."
     "Not at all?"
     "Um...well...you're sorta helping, I mean, in a way, by, uh,
being here."
     Ranko stared at the door in disbelief.  *Ranma* said that? 
Her brother, being nice?  To AKANE?!?
     "Oh...th-thanks...I mean..."  Ranko could almost *hear* her
brother's fiancee blush.  She turned away from the door.
      She felt ill.  So much for good-byes--he obviously didn't
need or want her around anymore.  She stumbled down the stairs
blindly, hoping she wouldn't attract their attention with the
slight noise she made that way.  She was downstairs when Ranma
finally lost patience with Akane.
     "You mean *what*?"
     "...You *know* what I mean, Ranma!"
     "No, I don't!  I don't know what you're talking about at all!"
     "What!?  Well, fine, be that way.  Hmph.  Baka!"
     "Hey!  All I said was--oh, forget it.  Man, what a kawaiikune
tomboy!"
     "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!? <WHAM> <SMASH> <CRUNCH>"
     Ranko walked outside without so much as a second glance this
time.  She didn't cry, but inside her an empty space grew, until
she felt it would consume her if she let it.  

                           *    *    *

     Ranko idly turned the combination on her locker and swung the
door open.  She grabbed her school bag out of it.  You never knew
when something would come in handy, and it wasn't like she was
exactly bogged down with baggage.
     "Where...is...Furinkan...High School?" came a tired voice. 
Ranko spun around, surprised anybody would be in school on a
weekend.  It was Ryoga.  A very tired Ryoga, who looked like he had
been walking for hours (1).
     "Ryoga-san?" asked Ranko, still gaping.  
     Ryoga looked at her closer.  "Ranko-san?" he asked,
disbelievingly.  Could it be?  Had the fates finally decided to be
merciful on him?  Or was it the strength of his love?  "What are
you doing in Kyoto?"  
     Ranko froze, then looked down at her feet.  She didn't like
lying to anybody--especially not a friend like Ryoga.  But the last
thing she needed now was someone wondering what she was doing with
her pack and...wait.  Kyoto?  
     Ranko looked up.  "Ryoga-san, wh--"  She was cut off as Ryoga
enfolded her in a giant hug.  He had finally gained the courage to
show her how much he had missed her, in a way.  His embrace was
gentle but firm, careful not to crush her with his great strength.
     "Oh, Ranko-san!" he wept.  Ranko debated kicking him, but
decided against it.  She'd seen what he'd done in the fight against
Ranma.  She suffered him to hug her.  Finally, he let go, still
crying tears of joy.  
     Ranko smiled.  "Nice to see you, too," she said dryly.
     Ryoga beamed.  "Really?  Hahaha!"  He put his hand behind his
head and laughed again nervously.  
     Ranko smiled back at him a bit sadly.  He was a really nice
person.  She hated to leave him without a good-bye.  "Um, Ryoga-
san..."  She stopped, and changed what she had been about to say. 
"What did you mean, Kyoto?"
     Ryoga blinked.  "Er, well, I didn't think you could get there
so fast.  I was looking for the school."
     Ranko raised an eyebrow.  "Ryoga-san, have you taken a look
around lately?"  
     Ryoga dutifully took a look around.  "Oh," he said.  "I
thought those streets were a bit narrow."  
     Warning bells went off in Ranko's head suddenly.  She played
back what he had said.  He didn't think she'd get there so fast? 
He was looking for the school?  "Ryoga," she asked, forgetting to
be polite as her eyes widened, "you were looking for ME??"  
     Ryoga put his hand behind his head again.  "For you?  Uh,
hahaha!  Of course!  I mean, no!  I mean, maybe!  Hahaha!"  
     Ranko blurred into motion, and suddenly she grabbed his shirt
and pulled him close to her face.  The intimidating effect was lost
on Ryoga, but luckily for Ranko the sudden closeness had the effect
of making him very nervous anyway, though for reasons of an
entirely different nature.  "I don't want to ask twice, Ryoga," she
said darkly.  
     Ryoga sweated.  "Uh...well...yeah, sort of..."
     Ranko frowned.  "Did Ranma get you to follow me?"  
     Ryoga blinked.  "Huh?  Ranma?  Of course not."
     Ranko's frown became deeper.  "Then *why* were you looking for
me?  And how did you know I would be at the school?"  
     Ryoga sweated.  "Uh...lucky guess?"  
     Ranko shrugged.  "Good enough for me."  She let go of him and
smiled.  "So what's up?"  
     Ryoga looked at the ceiling for a moment before realization
set in.  "Oh!  Right.  I was, uh, looking for you."  
     Ranko smiled and nodded.  "I think we've got that part down
pat now."  
     Ryoga smiled and nodded back.  He couldn't help himself.  She
was contagious.  But she still stood, waiting for an answer.  He
had to tell her he wanted to run away with her.  He had to tell her
he loved her.  He had to tell her she wasn't alone.  "I, uh...oh,
no reason," he said lamely, cursing himself.  Why was he so strong
in body and so weak in spirit?  Why couldn't he tell her how he
felt?  
     Ranko grinned.  "At six o'clock in the morning?  Man, you
really have to do something about that sense of direction you got,
Ryoga-kun."  
     Ryoga nearly swooned.  Had she called him Ryoga-kun?  He was
in Heaven.  Yes, Heaven, with sunlight and music and beautiful
angels, one of which was waving a hand in front of his face...
     "Hello?  Ryoga?  Earth to Ryoga, come in, please...are you
okay?"  
     Ryoga snapped out of it.  "Of-of course, Ranko-ch-ch-chan," he
responded.  There!  He'd said it!  He was flushed with excitement
and embarrassment.
     Ranko cocked her head.  She hadn't noticed.  "Are you sure? 
You're turning awfully red.  Maybe a nice, cool, glass of water?" 
     Ryoga's hair stood on end.  "No!" he shouted.  "I'm fine!"  
     Ranko nodded.  "Good."  She smiled at him, and he smiled back
in a lovestruck fashion.  "I'd hate to have you get sick on me,
Ryoga.  You're such a nice person."
     Ryoga felt his heart swelling, felt warm and full of energy
and happy all at once.  It was the most beautiful, indescribable
feeling imaginable.  
     Ranko continued on.  "...And one of the only friends I've got
left."  
     Ryoga's heart cracked slightly and his smile fell.  "F-
friend?" he asked her, broken.
     Ranko blinked.  Now why *had* she said that?  Sure, Ryoga was
a friend--but why tell him all that?  Was it that some part of her
didn't want to leave?  Was she trying to sabotage herself?  No! 
She *had* to leave!  She wouldn't weaken.  
     "Yeah, friends," she said with a grin.  Then it fell.  "Uh,
but I hate to say this, but I hafta go now.  Sorry."  Ranko turned
away from him and started walking.
     Ryoga felt tears brimming.  But he wouldn't cry.  Not in front
of her!  Well, technically, he was behind her.  But he wouldn't
cry!  
     Ranko paused.  She *did* have to go.  She wouldn't weaken. 
But...maybe she didn't have to.  She turned back for a second and
shyly asked, "um...would you like to come with me, Ryoga-kun?"  
     Ryoga beamed.  


(1)  He had.  

                           *    *    *

     Ranma woke up yet again.  He just couldn't get any sleep. 
Lying there awake was useless.  It was worse than useless, in fact;
it was frustrating.  He couldn't keep this up.  He felt terrible. 
There was nothing else to do, no other course he could take.  Ranma
had to go to his sister.  
     He got up and stalked out of Akane's room.  She didn't notice,
being fast asleep.  He envied her that.  He paused for a moment to
watch her breathing softly in and out, before remembering, with a
guilty start, that he didn't like her.  
     He slipped out and closed the door behind him.  Sighing, he
walked up to the Saotome's room and knocked.  "Sis?" he asked. 
There was no answer.  Ranma sighed.  Sure, she was a heavy sleeper,
but he'd been hoping she'd feel the same way he did about being
separated.  He *had* to be with her.  Nobody else really came close
to comparing with her in his life, in too many ways.  He knocked
again, louder.  "Futago-chan!  C'mon!"  
     Ranma sighed.  "I want to talk.  Please?"  There was no
answer.  Ranma felt quiet tears of desperation flow down his
cheeks.  "Ranko, talk to me, dammit!!"  He slammed his fists
against the door.  It shivered with the impact.  Ranma stared at it
in mute surprise.  He pushed against it, and it slid open without
resistance.  It wasn't even locked!  He walked in.  
     "Sis?"  He looked around.  There was nobody there.  He looked
down at where her sleeping roll was located, only to find it gone. 
With a sinking feeling, he looked around for her pack.  Gone.  He
searched for something of hers, anything of hers.  Nothing.  Not
even a trace remained.  He smiled humourlessly.  He sat down on his
own bedroll, frustrated and empty.  
     His gaze fell upon a small square of white on it.  He picked
it up.  'For Futago-kun,' it read simply, in Ranko's stylistic
script.  He turned it around.  It was a photo of the two of them,
in an earlier, happier time.  His arm was around her, hers was
around him, and they were both grinning happily as they tried to
make the other look stupid in front of the camera.  
     The door opened behind him.  "Ranma?"  It was Akane, wrapping
a blanket around herself in the chill of the dawn.  "What's wrong?" 
     Ranma folded the photo lengthwise, then again the other way,
hiding it in his sleeve.  He turned to her, tears streaming down
his face.  There was silence for a long moment, and then he spoke. 
"Nothing," he said.  "Nothing at all."

                           *    *    *

     "...and so, I picked up the boar with my umbrella and tossed
him into the woods!" said Ryoga, wrapping up his story.  
     Ranko laughed.  To Ryoga, it was the sweet pealing of bells. 
"That's so funny, Ryoga!  What happened next?"  
     Ryoga floundered.  "Er...nothing, really.  I had lunch, and
moved on."  
     The two were seated around a small fire, in a clearing in the
woods.  They had made steady progress, talking as they walked
westwards for the day.  Ranko had seemed especially bright and
talkative as the day progressed. 
     Ranko grinned.  "Well, at least you're honest.  Not like other
boys."  
     Ryoga tried to smile.  "Um...other boys?"  He was pretty sure
that was good.  Well, almost sure.  
     Ranko sighed.  "Boys are full of hot air.  They try to impress
you by bragging and telling lies a three-year old could see
through.  I can't stand them."  
     Ryoga's face must have shown his shock, for she quickly put on
a smile and said, "Oh, not *you*, Ryoga!  You're so sweet, and nice
--one of the nicest people I know!  You're not at all like other
boys!" 
     Ryoga grinned inanely.  Wait.  He'd been complimented, so now
he had to say something witty and complimentary in return.  "Well,
neither are you!"
     Ranko raised an eyebrow. "I'm not like other boys?  Well, gee,
thanks."  She grinned to show she was kidding.  Ryoga missed it
entirely.  
     "Wait!  I meant you're not like other *girls*!"  He turned
deep crimson.  "Wait, I meant--"
     Ranko fell backwards, laughing.  Ryoga shut up.  Eventually,
she sat back up, still giggling.  "Oh, Ryoga-kun, you're so funny."
     Ryoga shifted uncomfortably.  He didn't want to be funny. 
Well, he wanted to make her laugh, but not *at* him.  Why didn't he
tell her how he felt for her?  He'd had so many moments!  So many
times he could have just said 'Ranko-chan, I love you'!  
     Ranko looked at him, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. 
"Oh, don't worry so much, Ryoga.  I don't mind you saying I'm not
like all those weak little gossips."  
     "What?" Ryoga asked, taken aback.  
     Ranko made a face.  "Girls are kinda dumb, too.  I mean, half
the time they gossip about you behind your back, the other half
they're trying to steal your best friend away from you."  
     Ryoga blinked.  Mostly, girls just confused him and made him
feel uncomfortable.  Especially Ranko.  He tried to think of
something to say.  Then he stopped.  "Ranko-chan?" he asked her. 
She looked up questioningly.  "You're crying..." 
     She smiled at him.  "I was laughing too much," she said
weakly.  "But...the tears...they won't stop..."  Her face collapsed
into tears, and she hugged Ryoga.  He didn't stop her, wouldn't
have anyway.  He put his arms around her and tried to exude
sympathy.  Much to his chagrin, he found he wasn't any better at
comforting her in his human form, than he had been as a pig.
     She looked up and sidled away, her tears dried up as suddenly
as they had come.  "Ryo-Ryoga-kun," she stammered.  "I forgot it
was you."  Ryoga blinked.  She blushed.  "I thought you were Ranma. 
I don't know why.  That's so stupid.  I'm *so* sorry," she said,
hanging her head.  "I shouldn't have done that."
     Ryoga summoned his courage.  Now!  "Ranko-chan," he said,
gulping, "I...I...um...didn't mind."  His smile froze in place.  He
successfully resisted the impulse to destroy a large object.  He
was getting better at it; he'd had a lot of practice resisting--and
failing, sometimes, today.  
     Ranko looked shocked for half an instant, then she beamed and
hugged him happily.  "Oh, Ryoga-kun!" she said, "You're *such* a
great friend!  I don't deserve you!"  
     Ryoga sighed.  He was just her friend.  He paused.  A new
thought struck him.  If he was her friend, why wasn't he helping
her with her problems?  Love could grow from a friendship, and her
happiness came before his.  
     "Ranko," he started, "do you want to tell me why you're
running away from home?"  

                           *    *    *

     Ranko looked up, fear on her face.  "H-how did you k-know
that?" she stammered. 
     Ryoga blinked.  How could he tell her he'd listened to her
tell him that as a pig?  He hesitated.  He didn't want to lie to
her.  
     Luckily, he didn't have to.  "Oh.  Right.  Of course," Ranko
said dryly.  "Most people don't go on long walks outside of city
limits with two weeks' provisions on their backs."  She put her
hand behind her head.  "I guess it must have been pretty obvious,
huh."
     Ryoga sighed in relief.  "No, of course not," he lied.  "Not
at all."  
     Ranko smiled at him.  "Thanks, but you don't need to spare my
feelings.  I feel like a complete idiot."  She sighed.  "Well, I
guess you deserve an answer..."  She hesitated.  "Uh...if you knew
I was running away, why did you come along?" she asked, hoping to
change the subject.  
     Ryoga paused.  There it was, a chance to tell her how he
really felt about her.  He took a deep breath.  "Well...I...you..." 
He stopped.  "I wander a lot, myself.  A few days, or a few weeks,
is no big deal."  Especially with you, he said silently, willing
his heart to somehow communicate with hers.
     Ranko hit her head with one hand.  "Oh, that's right," she
grinned.  "I forgot--you don't have a home, either, do you?  One
place is as good as any other, is that it?"
     Ryoga put his willpower to the test.  "Yes...n-no."   
     Ranko looked at him curiously.  "No?" she asked, confused.  
     Ryoga licked his lips nervously.  "Home is where your heart
is," he said simply.  Surely she would understand now.  Where she
went, he would follow.  
     Ranko blinked.  "Oh," she said.  "You mean, it's nice to have
company?"  
     Ryoga facefaulted.  "Uh...sure," he mumbled.  Curse his weak
will!  
     Ranko sighed.  "Oh.  Now I get it.  You're trying to hint that
my home is where my heart is, too, right?  With Ranma, and Akane?" 
Ryoga looked stupefied.  Ranko took that as agreement.  "Well..."
she said, "I guess it all comes down to that question again.  Why
I'm running away."  She sighed heavily, poking her finger into the
earth around the fire and drawing a circle with it.  Her finger
came away sooty.  She rubbed her cheek absently, leaving a black
smear under her eye where it was still wet with her tears.
     Ryoga was back on familiar ground.  "You're running away
because you feel everybody's betrayed you," he agreed, remembering
her confession the night before.  "Ranma, your father, your mother,
Ukyou, Akane and, um, myself."  He sighed at that last.
     Ranko looked up at him, amazed.  "Ryoga, that's incredible!"
she said.  "How did you know?  I mean, you weren't even awake for
most of it!"
     Ryoga blinked.  "Oh, I, uh..."  He had to think of something
witty to say quickly.  "I dunno."  He nearly hit himself.  
     Ranko grinned mischievously.  "You're too modest for your own
good, Ryoga.  One of these days, you're gonna find the girl of your
dreams, and she's gonna totally ignore you 'cause you won't draw
any attention to yourself."  
     Ryoga froze.  Did she know?  But then, why didn't she say
anything?  Was she waiting for him to say something first?  What
could he do?  He thought about that.  He had to draw attention to
himself and avoid being modest.  
     "I'm a *really* good martial artist," he said, blushing. 
     Ranko looked at him oddly.  "Where did *that* come from?"
     Ryoga cursed himself.  "Uh...nevermind," he said.  "Why don't
we talk about you some more?"  
     Ranko was taken aback.  "Er...yeah.  Sure," she agreed,
smiling nervously.  Then her expression turned into shock.  "Wait. 
How did you know I thought you betrayed me?"  
     Ryoga froze.  "Uh...well...it was obvious, of course." 
Actually, he didn't have a clue.  But admitting that would be
modest.  Cutting off her hair, maybe?  Sure, that made sense.
     "You knew, and you still came and tried to be my friend, and
even ran away with me?"
     Ryoga wasn't sure what to answer.  But when in doubt, the
truth was always the best choice.  "Yes," he said, after a moment's
hesitation. 
     Ranko's eyes watered.  "How could you do that?  I'd have
killed you, if you'd done the same to me..."
     Ryoga made a mental note never to do that to her.  Once he
found out what 'that' was, of course.  "Um..."
     Ranko smiled.  "You're a good person, Ryoga.  Never lose that
part of yourself."  
     Ryoga grinned foolishly.  "Okay, I won't," he agreed.  
     Ranko laughed.  But she quickly sobered up.  She shivered,
though the night was not yet cold.  "I just keep hoping that this
is all one big..."
     "Nightmare?" supplied Ryoga helpfully.  
     Ranko blinked.  "Yeah--hey!  That's right!"  
     There was an awkward silence.  Ryoga thought about it.  "It's
not," he said.  Ranko's expression showed confusion.  "It's not a
dream," he clarified.  Her face fell.  He quickly took back his
words.  "Wait, wait, maybe it *is* a dream.  You can never tell,
you know!  Haha!  Hey, it even *feels* like a dream!  Hahaha!"  
     Ranko sighed.  "It's okay, Ryoga.  You're right.  It's *not*
a dream.  I wish it was, but I have to face reality.  And I guess,
it helps having you here to talk to."  She smiled sadly.  "I can't
help feeling..." she broke off.  
     Ryoga nodded in sympathy.  "You feel you don't make a
difference anymore.  Like you could just disappear, and nobody
would notice."  
     Ranko stared in shock.  "Wha--ho-how did you know?"  
     Ryoga became nervous again.  "I, uh..."  He quickly changed
the subject.  "*I* would notice if you left, Ranko."  
     Ranko laughed.  "And you *did*, too!"  
     Ryoga smiled.  This was getting easier.  He thought.  What
else could he say?  His thoughts flew back to her words to Ryo-
chan.  "You're not alone, Ranko," he said softly, meaning it with
every fibre of his being.  "I'll be there for you."  
     Ranko smiled again.  "That's sweet of you to say it, Ryoga. 
Even if you don't mean it."  
     Ryoga's gave her a pained smile.  "Um..."
     Ranko sighed, not looking at him.  "It's nice to have hope,
you're right, but I know better."  She sighed.  "Eventually, you'll
just find some girl and fall in love with her, and then I'll be all
alone again.  Or your family would come up.  You *do* have family,
right?"
     Ryoga shook his head at the first, then nodded at the second. 
Ranko looked at him, confused.  "I'll never leave you," he
promised.  "And I haven't seen my parents for two years."  
     Ranko took a second to separate those two statements.  Then
she sighed, giving him a slight smile.  "Gee, you really want me to
cheer up, don'cha?"  Her smile broadened.  "Consider it done.  You
can stop being so NICE!!  It's starting to scare me!"  Ryoga
grimaced.  Ranko flashed him a quick grin to show she was kidding,
but it faded as quickly as it had come.  "Oh, who'm I kidding? 
Life is stacked against love.  It's impossible to get--and even if
you *do* find it by some miracle, you'll just lose it to somebody
else." 
     Ryoga almost burst into tears.  "No..." he murmured.  
     Ranko looked up.  "No?  No what?"  
     Ryoga tried to enunciate clearer, but the words seemed to
stick in his throat.  "I...l-l..."
     "I like ice cream?" suggested Ranko.
     "No...I...l-l..." said Ryoga through gritted teeth.
     "I lose my way often?" she tried.  "I louse up dinner?"
     "I...I...l-l-l...l-love y-you."  Ryoga couldn't believe it. 
He'd said it!  He'd actually said it!  Finally, at long last, he'd
said it to her!  The initial euphoria lasted half a second before
the terror hit.  How would she respond?  
     As it turned out, Ranko responded by hitting him on the side
of the head.  "Yeah, yeah," joked Ranko.  "And I'm the Empress of
Japan."  
     Ryoga tried to clear his head.  That was a strong punch!  She
hadn't held back anything--he hoped.  If she was any stronger, he
wasn't sure he wanted to make her angry.  He cleared his throat. 
"But I...I mean it," he managed weakly.
     Ranko stared at him, hard.  Then she sighed.  "Thanks," she
said at last.  "That's flattering, that you feel that strongly
about me, I mean, and that our friendship means that much to you. 
But I can't let myself love anybody right now--not even as a
friend.  You're a good person, but you'll leave me someday, and I
couldn't take that kind of thing right now.  Maybe in a few
years..."  
     Ryoga felt tears slipping down his face.  He didn't care
anymore if she saw him cry; his life was over.  Ranko looked at him
in shock.  "Oh, Ryoga!" she exclaimed.  "Please don't cry!  It's
not that bad."  She hugged him.  "Really.  I'll find somebody,
someday.  It's just for now.  You'll see.  It's not that bad. 
Really.  Please don't cry."  
     Suddenly, Ranko started laughing hysterically.  Ryoga stared
at her in morbid fascination.  She bit her tongue to stop.  "I'm
sorry," she said, barely holding in laughter.  "It's just...you're
trying to help *me*...and I made you cry and now I'm trying to help
*you*..."  She sobbed, laughter changing into tears.  "I hurt
everybody who loves me.  I HATE--"
     Ryoga grabbed her shoulders angrily.  More than anything else
she had said to him the night before, this had disturbed him the
most.  "DON'T say that!" he snarled.  
     Ranko blinked repeatedly.  "What?" she asked feebly in the
face of his rage.  
     Ryoga growled.  "Don't say you hate your life, or that you
wish you'd never been born.  I've said that myself too many times. 
And...and I never thought about what other people would lose, if I
hadn't been there.  Never, until I thought about--"  He cut himself
off.  How could he tell her what his life would have been like had
she not entered it?  
     Ranko collected herself.  "I didn't realize you felt so
strongly," she said.  "Or, er, had such a strong *grip*."  She
winced in pain.  "Could you, ah, maybe let go a little?"  
     Ryoga looked down and realized he was gripping her shoulders
with his full strength.  He let go, mortified.  Ranko anxiously
rubbed her shoulders.  Then she looked up at him.  "Ryoga," she
said softly, "I'm being an idiot, aren't I?"  He didn't say
anything, unsure how to respond.  "Leaving isn't going to help
Ranma and Akane.  It's going to hurt them, and even if they do get
together, I'm always going to be a spectre haunting their
relationship."  
     Ranko shook her head, as if trying to clear it.  "Damn it!  If
I stay I hurt them and if I leave, I hurt them!  I can't win!"  She
punched the ground with both fists in a burst of anger.  
     Ryoga felt drained.  She saw him as a friend and he couldn't
make her happy.  In some way, that made it easier to deal with the
situation.  "What about what *you* want?" he asked her.  
     Ranko blinked.  "Me?  I...I don't know," she admitted.  "Up
until yesterday, I wanted to marry my fiance.  Now...I just feel
hollow.  Empty."  
     Ryoga nodded.  "But which do you prefer?  Sticking around or
running away?"  
     Ranko hesitated.  "I...don't know."  
     "Maybe you should talk about it to Ranma...and Ukyou.  She
*is* your fiance, right?  I mean, was?"
     Ranko was startled.  "Talk?  I...um...I hadn't thought of
that."  
     Ryoga shrugged modestly.  Then he remembered what she'd said
about being modest.  "I think about a lot of things," he said.  
     Ranko grinned.  "Yeah, I can tell."  She sighed.  "I dunno. 
Going back now...it would be so hard.  But leaving, too, that's
hard."  
     Ryoga paused.  "If it helps...I'll be there for you."  
     Ranko started crying.  Ryoga stared, horrified.  "Wait, I
didn't mean it," he said.  Ranko started crying even more.  "No, I
take that back, I did mean it!" he tried.  She started shaking with
laughter even as she cried.  "Wait, I mean--I mean--I don't know
what I mean!!"  
     Ranko looked up at him, her laughter dissipating.  "Ryoga-
kun," she said softly.  "You really *do* care, don't you?  In your
own way."  She smiled through her tears.  "I guess I can bend a
little.  Risk a little..."  She looked into his eyes.  "I could
love you..."  
     And then she was in his arms.  Ryoga almost fainted.  It must
be a dream.  But it was real.  She was hugging him, her face
resting on his, crying softly down his cheek.  Her lips so close... 
He lifted her chin with one hand, until her surprised face met his
in a kiss.  
     Her eyes widened, as his closed.  His arms tightened around
her, as hers pushed away, struggling.  She began to cry out,
yanking her head away and punching him in the gut.  Ryoga being
Ryoga, he didn't even feel the blow.  Ranko sprang to her feet,
shock written all over her face.  Then she turned and ran blindly
into the forest.  
 
                     End of Episode Fifteen