Trial and Tribulations IX



Ranma’s breath condensed in the air as he felt the cold seep into his 
bones. 

< Sharper then it ought it be. > He thought to himself sadly. Shivering, 
a slip of hair fell into his eyes, he brushed it away annoyingly. 
Glancing at the ground, he counted his toes, noting that there were 
still ten. < Ten stupid toes > 

“ God I’m bored.” 

Ryouga glanced up in concern as he saw Ranma shiver with the cold, a 
long tear in his shirt preventing any heat from entering his body. It
 had been only a couple hours since the incident in the cafeteria. 
< I think > He noted,< It could have been a couple of days for all 
that goes on around here. > 

A feeling of guilt pierced him as he heard Ranma cough with the cold. 
< If it wasn’t for me, Ranma wouldn’t have gotten hurt > Lowering his 
eyes with shame, he heard as Ranma gasped with pain as his injured arm 
rubbed against the wall behind him. < All my fault… > 

“Ryouga?” 

Startled, the lost boy glanced up quickly, seeing Ranm’s questioning 
glance pinned on him with worry. “ Y…yes?” 

Ranma cleared his throat nervously,” Why…why did you, um, “ He trailed 
off, not knowing what to say. 

“ Why did I agree to..to..” 

“Yeah.” 

Ryouga clenched his eyes shut. Not being able to see Ranma’s expression 
when he confessed, finally. His number one curse. 

“ ‘Cause , Ranma…I…you were hurt, and …” He clenched his fist,” I 
couldn’t let them hurt you, I…” 

The door to the jail cell swung open, causing both boys to jump in 
surprise. 

“ DINNER!” 

Ranma looked back at Ryouga, noting his flustered state, and then the 
quick palor that enveloped his features at the mention of “dinner”. 

< I won’t let them hurt you Ryouga. I’ll do all in my power to keep you 
safe. They’ll have to kill me first. > 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ryouga rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he walked down the long 
corridor leading to the cafeteria. His eyes were trained on Ranma’s 
stiff back in front of him, the sound of his soft footsteps comforting 
him. < I can’t let anything touch you Ranma. None of this mess is gonna 
touch you. > 

“ Get ta stepping!” 

Ryouga jumped as he felt a sharp nudge at his back, almost making him 
fall over in fright. A burst of staccato laughter followed his stumble, 
making him turn bright cherry red. Still slightly shaking, he hurried up 
to Ranma who was looking back at him with a frown on his face. 

“ Ryouga, what’s going on?” 

Ryouga leaned over by Ranma, trying to whisper in his ear without 
breathing in his scent. It was intoxicating and at once addictive. 
And having Ranma was not a privilege he could allow himself. < Not 
while I have to protect him. > 

“ Those demons back there where just trying to give me a rough time, 
that’s all.” 

Ranma frowned again, little lines forming on the corners of his mouth. 
Ryouga licked his lips nervously, his fingertips itching to smooth them 
away. 

“ I want you to stay with me at all times Ryouga,” Ranma said between 
clenched teeth,” I think these bastards are gunning for ya.” 

Ryouga sighed,” Ranma I think I’m capable of…” 

“ Not against them you ain’t! “ 

Ryouga stumbled as they rounded the corner to step into the cafeteria. 
The heated emotion behind Ranma’s words and the barely constrained worry 
excited and depressed him at the same time. < Is he worried about me? > 

“I..” Here Ranma stumbled, licked his lips and tried again,” Neither am 
I Ryouga,” He said in a whisper,” We need to stick together for this one,
we need to get out…” 

Ranma words were cut off abruptly as he long cold shadow hovered above 
them. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ranma’s eyes widened then narrowed in a heartbeat as he saw who graced 
them with their presence. Ryouga’s frantic squeak brought him out of his 
reverie and startled, he gasped as he felt Ryouga wrenched away from him. 

“ I believe we had a deal?” A smug eyebrow went up a few inches to 
immerse itself in the silken hair, “ Your freedom, for your little 
boyrfriend’s life if my memory serves correctly.” 

Ranma’s mouth dropped open to form a little ‘o’ as he glanced at 
Ryouga in horror. 

“ Oh, you didn’t know? Well, in any case, it’s been nice doing business 
with you.” He glanced down at Ryouga appreciatively,” But it’ll 
definitely get nicer.” 

“ Wha…” Ranma froze up in horror, his brain screaming at him in horror 
as he saw Ryouga dragged away through the crowd of youkai. Ryouga gazed 
back at him solemnly as he drifted away. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ranma slowly felt the blood rush back into his body and slowly began to 
hear the din of noise that now surrounded him. Blinking twice, he backed 
up slowly, looking around him at all the youkai that sat around laughing 
and eating. He kept up his silent vigil until his gaze stopped on one 
young looking youkai in the corner who was staring at him with the most 
understanding purple eyes. Heaving a sob of despair Ranma ran from the 
room, still feeling that gaze on his back all the way out the door. 

Ranma collapsed on the cold floor and huddled into a tight ball as he 
tried to stifle the feelings rushing through him. He snarled in anger. 
< He saw that look that youkai gave Ryouga! The possesive gleam in his 
eye! And he could do nothing! >His fist banged against the cold stone 
floor , leaving a fist sized hole in its wake. < What’s happening to 
you Ryouga? My Ryouga… > Ranma shut his eyes tight as he did what he 
hadn’t done in years. He cried. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sleep had all but deserted him as he ran the cotton ball feeling from 
his eyes. They were red and puffy by now, he surmised and Ryouga had 
probably seen him crying like a baby when he got back. 

“Ryouga!” 

Ranma hurriedly opened his eyes and glanced around the room, eager to 
see Ryouga, to hug him, to say it’ll be okay…. 

He wasn’t there. Ryouga was gone. 

To be Continued …