Trials and Tribulations V The sun beat heavily upon their backs as Ranma and Ryouga wearily trudged on. Ranma stifled a yawn and lifted his gaze from the ground to focus on Ryouga in front of him. Ryouga’s hair was matted down with sweat and so was his shirt and pants. Ranma frowned as he saw Ryouga stumble and took in a shaky breath as Ryouga march in front of him, his now form fitting clothes leaving almost nothing to the imagination. He sighed, < Get over it. This is nothing but a phase. Right? > Ryouga walked on slowly, his eyes surveying the landscape intently. Well, as intent as he could be with the present distractions. He blushed, feeling the heat of Ranma’s stare focused on his back. Somehow that gaze made him shiver with pleasure.< A forbidden pleasure > He thought as a frown formed upon his face. < Ranma would kill me if he knew what was going through my head right now >. Ryouga turned around to see Ranma walking up behind him. To Ryouga’s surprise, when Ranma caught his gaze he smiled, brightening his whole face with that one gesture. Ryouga sighed, < How can this be? > Ranma’s eyes brightened as he caught Ryouga looking back at him. To his dismay, he couldn’t prevent the goofy grin that spread across his face. He inwardly groaned,< Okay. This must be bad if my body stops obeying my orders. > He blushed at the picture that came to his mind, < Akane’s right, I am a hentai. > Ryouga’s eyes widened as he stopped and stared at the view before him, < What... > .Suddenly he jumped as he felt Ranma collide with him, his head buried in Ryouga’s hair. Ryouga stifled a yelp as he felt that warm body come up from behind him, and he shivered with repressed emotion. He froze as he felt Ranma’s breath tickle his ear. “Why’d you stop Ryouga?” Ranma asked quietly as he leaned into Ryouga’s hair, smelling pine trees and shampoo.< Mmmm... he smells so good... > Ranma let out the breath he had been holding as he contemplated what he should do next. < Should I let Ryouga know that I..well..love him? > He leaned his chin on Ryouga’s shoulders and hesitantly let his arms wrap around Ryouga’s waist, pulling him toward him. Ranma frowned as he felt Ryouga stiffen under his touch and was about to let go when his gaze wandered beyond Ryouga to what was lying before them. “What?!” Ryouga winced as Ranma yelled in his ear, < Why does he have to be so loud? > Suddenly, he smiled at the feeling of Ranma’s arms tightening around him at that moment. “Why do you have to be so loud?” he asked absently. Ranma froze, then slowly drew his arms away from Ryouga. He suddenly felt embarrassed at his show of affection and Ryouga’s show of.... disinterest. He glared down at the lost boy, angrily. “Why do you have to be so stupid!” Ranma yelled as he marched down the hill. Ryouga’s mouth dropped open in shock as he saw Ranma’s angry gaze settle on him. His heart chilled,< What did I do now? > ```````````````````````````````` “ Hey, Ranma! Don’t go so fast!” Ranma ignored Ryouga’s plea as he ran down the valley and into civilization. A town spread before them in all directions. Small buildings littered the area, and in the background a tall castle loomed over everyone. Ranma shivered as he looked up at the castle and the town in its shadow. He turned back to look at Ryouga coming up behind him, breathing hard and still limping . < Is he okay? > “Ranma! I told you to slow down!’ “What,” Ranma replied, “ Wittle P-chan can’t keep up?” Ryouga turned away from him, and Ranma winced at the hurt expression that flashed on Ryouga’s face. He opened his mouth to apologize when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. “What?!” he said as he turned around angrily to see...to see... “AHHH!” “ Not so fast little one,” The youko said as he placed his hand upon Ranma’s chest, keeping him in place, “ What’s a cute little ningen like you doing way out here?” Ranma’s mouth opened and closed in shock as his eyes focused on the ears, the tail, then the beautiful face. “ I...I mean..I...” “Let go of him!” Ranma turned around to see Ryouga walking up to them, an angry expression on his face. The youko smirked,” Oh, so the boy’s taken, hmm?” Ryouga blushed as he felt Ranma look at him pleadingly.”Yes.” “A pity, really.” The youko whispered as he pulled Ranma close to him, ignore the smaller boys struggles. He lightly brushed his lips over Ranma’s and then dropped him to the ground. “ Don’t touch him!” Ryouga yelled out angrily. The youko laughed, brushing his black hair with a slender hand.” I’ll know you when we next meet, and then I won’t be so kind.” Ryouga knelt beside Ranma as they both watched the youko vanish into the underbrush. They sat there silently for a while and then Ryouga stood up. “Ranma, you okay?” “Yeah.”Ranma said silently as he stood up,” If you don’t count the fact that all my pride has now been squashed, then yeah I’m okay.” Ryouga looked down at Ranma’s helpless expression and crumbled.” Ranma, none of us could have done anything. We need to find help here so we can defend ourselves. Don’t feel bad.” Ranma started as he felt Ryouga’s hand land on his shoulder, the warmth spreading through his body. He smiled,”Okay, let’s go.” As they walked toward the town, Ryouga couldn’t help licking his lips as he pictured Ranma’s lips pressed gently to his own. To Be Continued....