Trials and Tribulations III The sun beat down on Ranma's back as he stood on the edge of the woods, looking out into the distance. Everything was peaceful, except for the scowl that was beginning to form on his face. He scrapped his foot against the ground absently as he was wondering what was taking them so long. < They should be out here by now. What's taking them so long? > He sighed, < This is driving me crazy. > " Let's just go already!" " Alright!" Ryouga yelled back from behind a tree," You're not the one whose dignity is suffering!" Ryouga came from behind the tree, Cologne following with a weary grin on her face. Ranma couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. "Ryouga! What are you doing!" Ryouga was wrapped in in some sort of string, stretching from both wrists out to nowhere. " Ryouga, that's not going to help you not get lost unless you..." Ranma paused with a blank look on his face. Cologne nodded slowly, holded out the end to Ryouga's rope. "But.." " No buts, Ranma. If you want to find a cure you'll have to get along. That includes not "accidentally" losing him in the woods." " But..." " And you cannot take them off until I give you the key." Ranma opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He looked at Ryouga, who was glaring daggers into the ground.< Oh boy. > Ranma sighed," Okay, I'll do it...but I lead." Cologne smiled," Now then, I firmly believe some last minute training is in order to prepare you, as much is possible, for the dangers you will be facing." " Well, I'll leave you two alone. You'll certainly fight about something. Oh, by the way, you'll be spending the night in these woods to get you used to it." With that, Cologne made her way back to Nerima. Ryouga looked up from his wrist and along the string to where the end tied around Ranma's arm. < I'm tied to him now. > Ryouga thought, a shudder went through his body. Surprisingly it was a shudder of excitement and not disgust. < Maybe the adventure of this trip is getting to me. > He smiled absently. Ranma sighed and turned to Ryouga. He paused as he saw him smiling at him. < What is it > " What's so funny! " Ryouga's smile dropped away quickly and he replaced it with a frown. " What do you mean 'What?'. This is all your fault!" " Oh, not this again!" < He looked so much more peaceful...and ...and handsome when he smiles. > Ranma shook his head violently. " Look, P-chan. We both don't like each other, and we both don't want to be here, so let's just get it over with okay?" Ranma sighed and looked up at Ryouga. For a minute he saw hurt in Ryouga's eyes but the next minute it vanished and he wasn't sure he'd seen it there at all. A strange pang resounded in his chest as if he were the one that were hurt. " Well, I don't like being here either. Especially since I could be with Akane." Ranma winced 'ouch'. He could still remember the violent tomboy's face as he told her she couldn't come. She almost blew a fuse, literally. He still had the scars to prove it. "Whatever." Ryouga looked up, startled, as he felt Ranma digging in his backpack. "Hey! Quit that!" + " Hold still, I'm just trying to get...Here!" Ranma pulled out a large woolen blanket. Ryouga looked over his shoulder at him, puzzled. " Why are you taking that out now? In case you haven't noticed, it's broad daylight!" Ranma paused and looked up at Ryouga." This is the plan. We're going to unpack for camp, then go into the woods to spar, then when we come, back tired everything will already be ready for sleep. See?" " Why do you have to order me around all the time?" " Why do you have to be so stubborn!" The two boys glared at each other. Ryouga blinked as he saw a flush of color come over Ranma's face. < What's he got to be embarrassed about? > Ranma felt his face grow hot as he realized who he sounded like. < I sound like my mother when she argues with Pop! > He winced and gently set the blanket on the ground. " Hey where are you going! Ack!" Ryouga cried as he felt himself being pulled into the woods. " Wait up!" `````````````````````````````````````````````````` < What is he doing? > Ranma thought as he looked back at Ryouga. < Everytime I look back at him he gives me this guilty look. > He smiled. < He looks sorta cute. > Ranma groaned, < I am totally losing it. > Ryouga stiffened again as he saw Ranma look back at him again, he flushed. < Probably making sure I keep up. > He thought saddly. His eyes landed on Ranma's head as he walked on, thinking. Gradually his eyes traveled downward and his breathed quickened as he caught himself staring at Ranma. His eyes zipped down to the ground and his breath eventually slowed. < What's wrong with me? Maybe it's just stress. Good sparing should get rid of that. > He turned his mind to the fight before him, ignoring the aching urge in his heart to do.... to do something! He knew not what. " Hey Ryouga." Ryouga snapped out of his trance and looked up at Ranma in annoyance. < Why does his voice have to startle me so much? > " What?!" Ranma's smile vanished as he heard Ryouga snap at him in anger. < What the hell did I do now? > He swallowed a lump in his throat and took a deep breath. < Stop acting like a baby! > He told himself, < Why should you care what Ryouga says? He's always mad at you for something. > Ryouga was dumbstruck as he saw hurt fill Ranma's eyes. < How could what I say hurt him? He never... > Ryouga opened his mouth to apologize, but nothing came out. < He's my enemy! Why should I apologize to him! > He took in a shaky breath and looked up from the ground to meet Ranma's eyes. " I was going to say that this looks like the perfect spot to spar." He flexed his wrists for emphasis. " Fine. I couldn't agree more." With that said they jumped into battle positions, flying at each other with jab after jab at every angle imaginable. Ranma got in most of the hits, but Ryouga looked barely fazed. Ranma started to slow down though and Ryouga pressed the advantage. < It seems Akane's hits did slow Ranma down. > He thought. A flash of anger at her shot threw him and then vanished. He blinked in shock, < How could I feel that way about Akane? He's the one that's always mean to her! > He tightened his grip on his umbrella and jumped at the sight of an opening." Prepare yourself Ranma!" He yelled. Ranma looked up.< He's going to fast for me to deflect him. > His eyes narrowed and he braced himself. Ryouga looked down at his target as he began his attack, his elbow poised and ready. Suddenly he frowned, < What is Ranma not moving? > He looked up at the last second to see the huge tree right behind Ranma, it was covering the edge of the cliff. Ryouga's face paled as he frantically tried to stop his fall. < If I knock over Ranma he might go over the side! > Part of him reasoned this would be a good thing, but most of him screamed to save him, and an icy feeling gripped his heart as he realized it was probably too close. He closed his eyes and used his umbrella to swing in a different direction. " Aaaaah!" Ranma blinked as Ryouga, didn't land on him, but went sailing over him....over a cliff. " Ryouga!" Ranma raced to the edge of the cliff, his breath hitching with gasps as fear spread through him.< Ryouga-kun can't be dead, he just can't, he can't.... > He looked over the side of the cliff, his hands digging into the rock. "Ryouga-kun!" Ryouga groaned and looked up." Ranma? Ranma! I'm here!" He smiled as he saw Ranma's worried face break into a smile. < He's beatiful. > He thought, and this time he didn't dismiss it. < I'll think this through later. > " Ryouga! Can you climb back up?" Ryouga nodded and put his right foot on the rock before him." Aaah!" He cried out in pain, slipping a couple more feet down the cliff face. " Ryouga! What's wrong?" Ryouga grimaced," I think I twisted my ankle. Sorry." " Don't move, Ryouga! I'll be right there!" Ranma hurriedly climbed down the cliff face and put his arm around Ryouga's waist, hefting him on his shoulder." Come on, Ryouga! We have to climb! You use your hands and I'll use my feet!'Kay?" A muffled "kay." came from Ranma's shirt and he felt Ryouga's hot breath on the back of his neck. < Okay, Ranma. You need to concentrate. > Gradually the two made their way to the top of the cliff face, sweaty and tired. They collasped on each other in a dirty heap and rested. " Ryouga?" Ranma aked concerned," Are you sure you're alright?" Ryouga opened his eyes and stared up at Ranma." I'm cold." He said, shivering. Ranma stared at Ryouga for a minuter, and then smiled. "Come here. I know where we can get warmed up. " Ryouga blushed and heaved himself up into Ranma's arms, smiling. he couldn't help thinking that this was warm enough for him. ```````````````````````````````````````````````` Ryouga blinked his eyes open as he felt himself being set gently on the ground. He looked up to see Ranma's big blue eyes staring down at him with an intent look in his eyes. Suddenly Ranma blushed. " Hey,there. Are you feeling better?" Ryouga's mouth fell open. < Why did Ranma sound so...so...tender? > His face began to heat up and he felt a smile coming to his lips. " Yeah, I'm okay." He shivered. Ranma frowned," No you're not. Come on. I found some hotsprings in the back of this cave." Ryouga sighed as Ranma's arms went around him once more, then grunted as he was hoisted onto his back. " Are you sure you can carry me?" " Of course I can, P-chan. I'm a martial artist.Remember?" Ryouga snorted in disbelief. < Now this is the Ranma I remeber. > "Okay P-chan, We're here." Ranma said as he set Ryouga gently against the wall and turned him around. " What do you think?" " Don't call me P-chan." Ryouga said absently as his gaze fell around the room. They were in a huge cavern, made of little sections apart from each other by random walls of rock. In on of the little alcoves of the cavern lay a small hotspring. Mist rose from the pool to cover them both. Ryouga quickly looked back at Ranma, his mouth open to speak, when he stopped and stared. Ranma's hair was damp with the mist and crystal droplets hung from his bangs. He smiled and whipped his hand across his hair, causing droplets to fall in showers around him. Ryouga was mesmerized by a single droplet running down Ranma's neck, down to his... "Hey Ryouga, Earth to Ryouga!" Ranma smiled as he saw he had his attention again," So, what do you think?" " It's beautiful." Ryouga said, his voice cracking. He silently watched Ranma walk over to the pool and stick his hand in, testing it. " It's nice and warm. Ryouga, why don't you get in first? It'll help your ankle." Ranma asked. He watched as Ryouga hobbled to the edge of the pool and sat down gently, sticking his foot into it's warm depths. "Aaaah. Ranma this is wonderful. Thanks." Ranma laughed."You know, you can get all the way in you know.", He reached his arms above him and yawned," I'm going to take a little nap, 'kay?" Ryouga smiled as he saw Ranma's feline like stretch." Okay, Ran-chan." He turned around and sat, swishing the water with his feet, until he heard the sound of Ranma's feet fade into the distance. With a sigh, he shrugged off his clothes, dropping them in a heap, and sank into the pool. `````````````````````````````````````````````````` Ranma lazily opened his eyes, a shiver of cold penetrating his sleep. " Ryouga?" He sat up and looked around hurriedly," Hey, Ryouga! Man, where are you?" He stood up and walked out into the main part of the cavern. He stood uncertain for a second, and then turned toward the hotspring. "Ryouga? Ryouga, where..." Ranma stopped, his mouth hanging open. There Ryouga lay, steam infolding him and wetting his hair to hang in heavy black ringlets. His mouth hung slightly open and the shallow breaths he took stired his bangs. The water of the spring surrounded him calmly, coming up to his waist. One of his legs, though, peaked out of the water.Leaving only little for the imagination. Ranma gasped as he saw Ryouga begin to stir. Ryouga opened his eyes lazily to see Ranma staring down at him with a horrified expression on his face. He blushed hotly as he felt Ranma's eyes on him. Embarassed, he stood up, prepared to flee, but froze as he felt a huge draft and realized he was butt naked. Ranma almost fainted as he saw Ryouga suddenly rush up from the water then freeze as if he were a deer caught in headlights. Ranma swallowed slowly. " I'm.... sorry, Ryouga." He then turned to leave. " Wait!" , Ryouga cried," No, I'm sorry. I fell asleep. You can use the springs now." Ryouga looked down at himself and blushed. Ranma smiled, < He is so... >. He frowned, < What was I going to say? > He thought absently as he watched Ryouga try to manuver around him so that they wouldn't touch. Ranma struggled with himself not to look bcak as he felt Ryouga go around him, the mist that followed him smelling of him. As he heard Ryouga's footsteps fade into the distance he slowly sank down on the edge of the pool. His thoughts still full of Ryouga. " Hey, Ryouga." Ryouga opened his eyes lazily to see Ranma bending over him, his hair still wet from his bath. His skin was flushed and glowing and , to Ryouga's surprise, his hand was clasped tightly in his own. " Hmm?" Ryouga whispered. Shivers ran over Ranma's form as he heard Ryouga's throaty response. " We'll have to spend the night here." " Why?" "It's raining." Ryouga paused, taking a moment to let this sink in." Hn. Figures." " Yeah." Ranma replied. < Though I don't know if I mind it at all. > Ryouga let out a big yawn, his teeth gleaming and his tongue falling lazily in his mouth.< Yes, > Ranma thought, < This is definitely something I can live with. > " Achooo!" Ranma shook himself from his daydream and looked down to see Ryouga rubbing his watery eyes and sniffling silently." Sorry." " Hey, P-chan. Do you have a cold?" Ranma asked with a worried frown on his face. "No," I'm just...'achoo!'..cold." Ryouga answered, looking down at the ground and tracing patterns in the rock. " Well," Ranma said," How about we stay close and share body warmth, ya know?" Ryouga looked puzzled. " I...I...I...mean...well..." " Okay. Thanks Ranma. Thanks alot." Ryouga smiled and snuggled up next to Ranma, startling the pigtailed boy into falling over in shock. " Sorry." " No! Stay! I...I..mean...It's okay," Ranma smiled," Goodnight Ryouga." Ryouga laid his head against Ranma's shoulder, and smiled as he felt arms go around him."Hmmm. Night." `````````````````````````````````````````````````` The Morning After... Ryouga opened his eyes hesitantly. < Where's Ranma? > " Hey, Ran..." He paused, mouth open. There Ranma lay beside him, his mouth slightly open and his breath stiring Ryouga's bangs. His arms were tightly wound around Ryouga's waist and his head was buried in Ryouga's shirt, snoring gently. < He's so beautiful, > Ryouga thought, < No wonder all the girls want him. >. His mouth hardened, < But...he...he's mine! > His eyes opened in shock.< I..I'm in love with Ranma!? > Ranma stired in his sleep, shaken from his dream. < What?! > He tried to get up but stopped. He was in a tangle of limbs and arms. Half of them were his..... and asleep. "Ryouga." Ranma whispered hesitantly. To his surprise, Ryouga opened his eyes instantly. "Yeah?" "Um...could you...get off my arm?" " Oh, sorry! Right!" Ryouga stammered, a blush spreading across his face in a rush of crimson. Ranma smirked," Say, Ryouga. Did you sleep well?" Ryouga blinked at first, and then his eyes narrowed," What's that supposed to mean?" "Well," Ranma said mischievously," You were talking in your sleep." "Was not!" "Was too!" "Well...so were you!" Ryouga retorted. " Well..." Ranma paused." What are we talking about again?" " I have no idea." Ranma quickly looked down at the ground, trying to stifle his laughter. He failed and laughter came bubbling out. Ryouga blinked, confusion written on his face.< What is he laughing about? > He wondered. He kept looking on as Ranma began gasping for breath. Ranma looked up at him and grinned," Ryouga, man, you have got to see your face!" This started another peel of laughter. Slowly, the sides of Ryouga's mouth began to turn upwards and the sides of his eyes began to crinkle with returned mirth.< He is so cute. > When Ranma had finally calmed down, he looked apologetically at Ryouga. " I'm sorry Ryouga. I just couldn't help myself." Ryouga smiled back," That's okay.You're real cute when you laugh. " Ryouga's mouth fell open, < Why did I just say that? > . He hesitantly looked over at Ranma, his face blazing red. " Um." Ranma said awkwardly. Suddenly he smiled," Thanks. You do to. " He then blushed and looked down at the ground, hurriedly picking up the blanket they left their the night before. "Right!" Ryouga cried, snapping out of his trance," We need to go to the portal!" The two boys ran out of the cave at full speed, Ranma pulling Ryouga behind him. They finally stopped when they got to the clearing, heaving gasps of air as they surveyed their surroundings. " Wait a minute. Where is it? Didn't Cologne said it would be here?" Ranma asked quietly. " I don't know. She..." A blast of light from behind Ryouga snatched the words from his mouth and banished from his head anything he was going to say. " Wha.." " Ryouga, it's the portal!" Ranma yelled frantically," Let's go!" Ryouga grimaced as he tried to keep up with Ranma, his ankle hurting with every step. he grimaced in pain and stopped to rub it, the rope around his hand jerking taut. "Ryouga! Ryouga?" Ranma asked with a worried frown on his face, " Are you okay?" Ryouga looked up at Ranma. His hair was blowing fiercly in the wind made by the portal and in his eyes shown...concern for him. " I'm okay Ranma. As long as you're here," He looked past Ranma to the portal," Let's go." To Be Continued...