Series: Ranma ½
Category: General/Romance
Rating: PG
Pairing: Kuno/Ryoga
Warning: Shounen ai, bad humor
Author's Note: No, I don't believe in this pairing, and I still don't like Ranma ½-yaoi. Unless the pairing has Mousse in it. But, this story has it's bad points, but I don't think it turned out too bad. Italics imply thoughts.
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Otherwise Ranma would be begging for Akane's attention.
Archive: Abstract Reasoning.
Summary: Ryoga's and Kuno's worst nightmare has become true. Will there be life after Akane?

Leftovers

Akane was a really, really beautiful bride. And so was Saotome.

I guess that was their way to show their fathers that they didn't get married for their sake, but for their own.. even though that kind of defiance wasn't even needed. Anyone could see that they were living up the happiest moments of their lives.. My wonderful Akane's eyes shone like brightest stars, with none of her usual anger and frustration present upon her white features, and Saotome.. I was surprised that he - well, she - wasn't giggling aloud in his happiness, that he could actually tear his blue gaze away from Akane's face for a moment to accept congratulations from all the present friends and foes who were there to witness their ultimate commitment.

I think Saotome saw me lurking in the shadows, trying to be unnoticable, but didn't try to approach me nor did he tell Akane about my presence. I don't know what was he thinking.. maybe he hoped that I would approach them myself, accept the fact that they were together and wish them happiness for the rest of their lives. I wouldn't be surprised if he really thought something like that.. it's not that he's the brightest person in the world. He probably didn't realize that there's no way I could ever go up to them and silently submit to my fate, accept that my sweetest Akane can never be mine. That Saotome was more of a man after all, even with his damned curse, better than me.

Because he isn't. He can't be! I was his equal, his superior! He couldn't have won.. he couldn't have! Why did she choose him?

Could it really have been because she loved him more? That Saotome meant more to her than I ever did, despite all the shouting, beating, loathing.. That they both were just skilled in hiding their feelings completely from those who didn't want to acknowledge them?

Ridicilous! Absolutely, thoroughly ridiclous!

But from what I've seen today, all too true.

* * *

"Another drink?" Ukyou asked him compassionately, snapping him awake for his liquor-dimmed musings.

Ryoga stared at the dark-haired girl blankly, then shrugged carelessly. His eyes were still on the all-too-happy married couple.

"Just what was wrong with me?" he wondered aloud, partly to himself and partly to Ukyou. "I thought she liked me, somewhere deep inside. Why did she choose him?"

"He was there first", Ukyou replied simply, her blue eyes too set on her childhood friend and her spouse. Ryoga sneered unhappily beside her, emptying his glass with one sip.

Needless to say that his self-pitying was slowly getting on Ukyou's nerves. "Well, if it comforts you at all, there's someone here who is even more miserable than you", she informed the sulking youth, standing up to search for someone who was more fun to chat with.

Ryoga glanced up at her, disbelief in his dark eyes. "Who?"

Without any doubt, Ukyou pointed at Tatewaki Kuno's direction.

* * *

I wish my twisted sister would shut up.. how can she be so joyous about having that bastard Saotome all for herself when my heart is bleeding to death? Doesn't she realize the pain I'm in?

I lost them both! Both Akane Tendo and the pigtailed goddess! To each other!

It hurts to see them together, gazing each other like that. How could I've been so blind, not seeing the romance blossoming between them? Fate is so cruel, binding those two heavenly creatures together before my eyes like that.. What does my life matter, now when it has lost it's only lights?

Of course, there are still Aya, Erika, Hanako, Kumiko, Noriko.. and Sakura did ask me out that one time, didn't she..?

* * *

Ryoga sneered, feeling no need to walk up to the staff-wielding idiot and share his pain with him. "Gimme a break", he hissed, glancing up at Ukyou..

..only to find her gone.

So, my company isn't good enough for her? he thought bitterly, watching the remnants of his drink ripple as he waved the glass before slamming it down onto the table. Then, he tried to think of himself from Ukyou's point of view. Well, I've been whining endlessly during last five hours.. no wonder she got bored. He sneered at himself, disgusted of his own pitifulness.

Maybe chatting with Kuno wouldn't be that bad after all..

If there was anyone who hated Saotome as much, or even more, as he did, it had to be Kuno. He had never thought too highly of the other boy, and all their previous encounters hadn't helped him to change his opinion, but the intense anger that filled Kuno's eyes whenever he saw a glimpse of their common enemy couldn't be mistaken to anything else than to pure hatred.

And no one, no one who hated Saotome couldn't be completely hopeless case.

Maybe it was better that he was with someone he could share his sorrow with the next time Saotome and Akane waltzed by..

* * *

I wonder why Saotome's name was in the invitation if he wasn't going to marry Akane after all?

Where is the bastard, anyway? Of course, it must have been a huge disappointment for him if he didn't get either of them after all, but I showed up, too! Why that..

"So, Akane and Saotome are married now."

* * *

Ryoga had never been good at making smalltalk, and Kuno seemed to think so too since his eyes went completely wide, and he turned around to stare the younger boy straight in his eyes. The lost boy noticed for the first time that when there was this slight hint of grey in Ranma's eyes, Kuno's eyes were of pure blue shade Ryoga had never seen before. Nothing like the brightest skies, nothing like the sparkling sapphires, nothing like the deepest oceans.. just blue.

"What do you mean by Akane and SAOTOME?!" exclaimed Kuno, cutting off his thoughts before they got too deep.

Ryoga had to blink twice before he understood that he had heard right. Kuno still hadn't understood.. anger flared up within him. Oh please, that kind of dullness has to illegal. It has to be!

"Well, they just got married, didn't they?" he hissed, blissfully forgetting all about being a nice guy. "Come on, Kuno, just how could you miss Ranma turning into a girl before your very eyes?!"

When Kuno got even more shocked, Ryoga was first shocked by the mere stupidity of this being, when it suddenly dawned to him.. Kuno hadn't seen it.. "What, you weren't there?"

Kuno was too shocked to reply.

* * *

Ranma.. the pig-tailed girl..

No, they can't be! She.. she is the most heavenly being to ever walk upon Earth, she can't be same as that.. that.. demon!
But.. wait a minute..? Didn't she once say that they are one and the same person.. that they belong together, body and mind.. oh goodness she couldn't mean..?

* * *

No, Kuno, don't faint there! Don't..!

I guess he didn't listen. Fuck.

The hell should I do? Maybe going to the fresh air will help.. goodness he's heavy! It must be his muscles.. yes, if there's anything good in him, it's that he makes up everything he lacks in brainpower in physical strength. Here we go..

I don't anyone will notice, either.. not with Shampoo and Kodachi fighting. They seem to have brought all their weapons, too. Maybe it's only good if we go outside..

* * *

When Kuno found himself waking up, he dared to hope for a moment that it had been only a dream, that the horrible Saotome and the pig-tailed Goddess actually weren't the one and the same, but when as he saw Ryoga Hibiki looking down at him with his angry dark eyes, he knew he had wished in vain.

So my heart really IS aching this bad.

"About time you woke up", Hibiki snapped at him. "I thought you'd never open your eyes."

Kuno sat up, wrapping his arms around himself to bring warmth to his cool limbs.. wait a minute.. "Where am I?"
Hibiki crossed his arms, his expression still unhappy. "Your sister and Shampoo started fighting, so I took you outside. To make sure that neither of us will get hurt too soon, I went to the park."

Kuno considered this for a moment. "A wise choice." He didn't know much about Shampoo, except for the fact that she, for some godawful reason, loved Saotome as well, but he knew how bad his sister could be when she got mad. And if she had discovered the same thing he had.. "I hope Akane won't get hurt."

Hibiki's eyes softened a bit. "Yeah, me too."

Kuno turned to look at him.

* * *

Ryoga Hibiki.. so you loved Akane, too.

I guess you got much closer to her than I ever did, too, you lucky bastard. But even you weren't lucky enough to catch her heart. Hmph. I think I could have beared loosing to you, but to Saotome..

Saotome.. the pig-tailed girl..

Funny, I don't feel anything anymore. I guess it wasn't so surprising, after all.. she was always there when he was around.. they both had mean temper.. they lived in a same house, they had same enemies, same taste in clothing.. same taste in women..

And now, they'll both be forever out of my reach.

I never thought I'd be sitting in the park with Ryoga Hibiki, my heart shattered in pieces, grieving the loss of Akane Tendo, the pig-tailed goddess.. and Ranma Saotome.

I could have loved him.

I love him.

Oh Ranma, why didn't you ever tell me? Or, why didn't you make me listen? It wouldn't have changed a thing.. true love doesn't look at the gender. I loved your female side, I could love you, too. You were the only one I ever wanted to be with.. well.. along with Akane Tendo.. oh, if I could have had you both, I would have been the happiest man in the world!

"I miss him so much."

* * *

Him?

Ryoga turned to look at the older boy, astoundment written everywhere on his features. He couldn't have heard right.. oh, but he had, for why else would Kuno have looked that wistful, with such sadnes in his beautiful blue eyes?

The realization hit him harder than any Saotome's blow.

Kuno's love for his "pig-tailed Goddess" was real.

Just like Shampoo had loved Saotome, even when having discovered that he was also the girl she was supposed to kill. Neither Shampoo or Kuno were the most likable people Ryoga had come across - and Kuno's intelligence could be questioned any time - but when it came to their emotions, they were nothing but genuine.

His heart has been broken not only once, but twice.

Ryoga wasn't the most compassionate person in the world, but at that moment, he felt extremely sorry for Kuno. He still didn't like the other boy, and he still thought that he was an idiot, but at that moment..

He wrapped his arm around Kuno's broad shoulders.

* * *

He feels warm as I lean against him, tensing a bit under my touch, but not pushing me away.

"How can I ever more on?" I ask him. Please answer me, Ryoga. I have no idea what I should do.

* * *

It felt actually nice to have Kuno lean against him.

If only the blue-eyed boy hadn't uttered out the words he had, Ryoga would have let him be there. But since that didn't happen, he shoved the other boy away. "Life doesn't end here, Kuno!" he shouted, grabbing Kuno's shoulders. They were a bit more delicate than he had expected, but that didn't stop him from digging his fingertips into their hard flesh. "Look, I don't like this, either! I would give everything I could if I could stop it from happening, but face it, it's not going to happen! Akane will always have her place with my heart, but I'd be damned if I allowed myself to give up just because I didn't get the girl of my dreams!"

He leaned a little closer to another boy's face, so that they could feel each other's breaths on their faces.

"And you're not gonna give up, either. We're gonna go back there, wish them a happy future, and then move on. Get it? There will be life after them, Kuno. Even if it will be a lot emptier without them."

Their eyes locked together.

* * *

Ryoga Hibiki..

I never thought there would be this much passion in you.

* * *

Ryoga was about to continue when he felt a hand cupping his cheek.

* * *

Kuno..

* * *

Was that Kuno's arm around his waist, pulling him closer? Were his eyes really that blue?

* * *

I've always had fondness for passionate people.

* * *

No Kuno. You're not doing this to me. Stay back, Kuno, Kuno..!

* * *

At the Tendo Dojo, a lone panda tried to clean the mess two bad-tempered guests had left behind them.

* * *

Akane Tendo shouted "Ranma, you idiot!", throwing the red-haired girl out of the window.

"Is this your idea of a honeymoon?" Ranma screamed before dropping into the pond.

* * *

"Shampoo, I made you some cocoa", said Mousse mildly.

"Go to hell!" shrieked Shampoo.

* * *

Ryoga Hibiki and Tatewaki Kuno shared their first kiss.

* * *

"No.. no, no, Kuno, please, you got it all wrong! This wasn't what I meant!"

Oh Ryoga, anger suits you so well!

I can't believe I've known you this long, and never realized how beautiful you actually are. Your gorgeous coffee brown eyes, your fresh, peach-coloured skin, your fanged smile.. if you weren't such a fiery devil, I would call you an angel!

But don't worry, love, I don't mind dealing with such lovely demons like you!

* * *

Kodachi stared.

Sasuke stared.

Ryoga Hibiki was flung over Kuno's shoulder, beating at the other boy's back fiercely, shouting all curses he was familiar with. Kuno, on the other hand, looked as if he had never been this happy in his entire life. As if he hadn't had his heart broken, crushed, shattered and stepped on few hours earlier.

"How about", Kodachi and Sasuke started at the same time.

"Forget Akane Tendo and Ranma Saotome: May they be happy together!" Kuno looked tenderly at the boy he had flung over his shoulder, patting the firm little bottom tenderly. "I just realized who I really love."

"No, Kuno, you don't love me, Kuno..!" screamed Ryoga desperately as he got carried away, gazing pleadingly at Kodachi's direction. "Don't just stand there, help me! Don't let him..!"

The door closed, cutting off his sentence.

Kodachi and Sasuke turned to stare at each other.

"Well, what do you think?" asked the dark-haired girl.

Sasuke, still completely confused, could only shrug first. "Well.. Ryoga Hibiki is a fighter, just like he, so they won't get bored around each other.. and they both hate Saotome, so they can hate him together.. and I guess he's rather cute, too."

Kodachi was silent for a moment, a thoughtful pout upon her face. Then she smiled slowly, nodding to herself. "Well, if he makes my brother happy, then I guess all I can do is to wish them good luck."

She let out one of her trademark laughters, motioning Sasuke to follow. "Come, Sasuke! I think we have to check out the boy's background. And who knows", she giggled for a while. "Maybe there will be someone in his family for The Black Rose, too!"

26. March 2003