I am trying my hand at a first person fic here, so be wary.

Disclaimer:  You know the drill

Lost

A Ryoga fanfic



*-*-*-*

	I am Ryoga Hibiki, and now is one of the few times that I know 
where I am.  I stand at the gate of the Tendo Dojo.  I hold in my hand 
an invitation, delivered by personal messenger, notifying me of the 
wedding of Akane Tendo, my first love, and Ranma Saotome, my first 
enemy.  They are bitter opposites in all ways.  Yet they are to wed.  I 
do not know my own feelings.  Is she being pushed into this?  Does she 
want this to happen?  Is it merely a matter of honor?  Will Ranma treat 
her as she deserves?  Or will he treat her as he always has... insulting 
her... cheating on her... making her cry.
	I knock on the gates of the dojo.  Kasumi opens it with the smile 
that is always on her face.  Looking at her I can tell instantly that 
the wedding is today.  She takes in my worn travel pack, my dusty 
exterior, and the general appearance with which I present myself, and 
she knows that it has been long since I visited civilization.  She 
questions my presence, was I here for the wedding?  I nod an 
affirmative.  She tells me how happy Akane will be that I came to see 
her.  I ask Kasumi to lead me to Akane, so that I may speak with her.  
She agrees.

*-*-*-*

	I enter Akane's room, as I have done so often in my porcine form, 
and I see her for the first time as she truly is.  In a flowing white 
gown, in the traditional cut of a western bride.  She almost glows with 
the anticipation of the coming event.  A small trickle of blood nearly 
escapes my nose, but I stop such thoughts.  She is Akane; I cannot 
permit myself to think those things.
	She rushes to me as I enter the room and envelops me in a tight 
hug.  She smiles at me as she realizes that I have come for the wedding.  
Her smile sets my heart aflame, and I find myself wishing I were Ranma.  
I ask her if she truly wishes to go through with this.  I notice Mrs. 
Saotome in the room waiting to add adjustments to Akane's wedding dress.  
She glances up at my question, but does nothing more.  Akane stares at 
me in abject shock, this was not what she was expecting.  Even when she 
is confused I find her face to be one of the most beautiful that I have 
ever seen.
	Her cheeks began to flush and she started ranting.  I note such 
words as 'baka' and 'hentai', but this is not what I asked.  I cover her 
hand with both of mine, a shock of electricity rushes through me at the 
contact, and ask her for the simple truth.  A quiet, almost whispered, 
yes escapes her lips.  I feel the tears threaten to emerge, but I gain 
control.  I wish Akane the best in her marriage and ask Mrs. Saotome to 
lead me to her son.  She grasps my hand and guides me out the door and 
down the hall without so much as a word.

*-*-*-*

	I open the door and see Ranma in a formal tuxedo.  I briefly 
wonder why they are having a western ceremony, but I dismiss such 
frivolous thoughts.  Ranma glances up as I enter the room, and I detect 
his Ki as he prepares for a battle that he knows is coming.  I raise my 
hand slightly in a gesture of peace, and I feel the tension leave his 
body from across the room.  I do not confront him with my feelings for 
Akane as I have done so often in the past, I ask only that he tell me 
his.
	As with Akane before him, a rant begins, this one not as loud.  
Words such as 'tomboy' and 'uncute' emerge.  I tell him that if he truly 
does not wish to marry Akane that I would be glad to.  His ranting 
stops, his eyes narrow and he reaches out to encircle my throat with a 
single hand.  That is all the response that I need.
	As I leave I tell him the thought that has occupied my mind since 
I first met Akane.  If he ever does her harm, I will not rest until he 
is dead.  These are my last words as I leave the room.

*-*-*-*

	I walk down the stairs; I am too confused to lose my way.  I 
somehow find myself in the living room.  Both Genma and Soun stare at me 
through eyes of anger.  They remember the last wedding, and want no 
interference from me.  I inform them that I have not come to stop Ranma 
and Akane from being wed, only to witness it.  I see Ukyo on the other 
side of the room, she is in a tuxedo similar to Ranma's and her emotions 
seem as fragile as mine do.  I learn that she has been selected to be 
Ranma's best man.  I can see that she wishes to cry, but she will not 
darken this day for Ranma.  She knows his feelings now, just as I know 
Akane's.  There is nothing we can do, and there is nothing we will do, 
to interfere.

*-*-*-*

	The announcement is made that the ceremony will begin and I am led 
into the dojo. I take a seat near the back; Genma and Soun sit on either 
side of me to prevent my interference.  They know of my feelings for 
Akane, I believe now that she is the only one who does not.  I see Ukyo 
standing next to Ranma near the altar.  She gives him an encouraging 
smile.  It is forced, but Ranma is as oblivious as he has ever been.  I 
remark to Genma that Cologne and Shampoo have yet to interfere, as do 
the Kuno's.  All he will say is that such obstacles have been 'taken 
care of'.  I get the feeling I do not want to know what he means by 
that.
	The procession goes smoothly, Ms. Hinako was chosen to be the 
flower girl.  After she has completed her task she walks back towards us 
and sits next to Mr. Tendo, enfolding her arm in his.  It would not look 
ridiculous if she were not in her child form.
	The wedding march begins; I turn to see Akane in her gown.  I must 
force myself to refrain from jumping to my feet and threatening Ranma's 
life.  He has taken without trying one of the few things that I ever 
wanted.  I know that this is what Akane wants.  That thought keeps me 
from interfering, I know that if I were to try that Mr. Tendo and Mr. 
Saotome would not be able to stop me.  Ranma would, but that is a matter 
which will be resolved later.
	The minister goes through the ceremony quickly, recollection of 
the previous attempt fresh in his mind.  They come to the vows, and 
Ranma and Akane have selected to write their own.  I close my eyes and 
attempt to shut out the words, I see Ukyo do the same.
	I open my eyes again just as the minister say that Ranma may kiss 
the bride.  I feel my heart shatter as Akane kisses back.  I look 
towards the doorway of the dojo, I see Akari standing alongside 
Katsunishiki.  She was apparently there for the entire ceremony.  I gaze 
into her eyes and she knows what I have gone through to withstand this.  
I know that she will help me recover.  I feel for her almost as strongly 
as I do for Akane.  Perhaps someday my feelings for Akari will bypass 
those that I have for the short-haired angry girl... no, woman.  That 
was just wed to my worst enemy.
	I think about that for a moment as I stare down the aisle at them.  
He is my worst enemy; he has stolen my first love.  And yet, I cannot 
bring myself to hate Ranma Saotome at this time.  He is arrogant, 
greedy, unthinking and insensitive to the feelings of those around him.  
Yet, Akane loves him, Ukyo loves him, Shampoo loves him.  I no longer 
hate Ranma Saotome.  For the first time, I wonder if I ever did.
	I grasp Akari's hand and we exit the dojo, the giant sumo pig 
trailing close behind.  We begin heading towards the direction in which 
her farm lies.  Now I am lost... not physically, as was so often the 
case in the past.  But mentally.  I know not what to do.  I know only 
where to go.  Where as the reverse was so often true in the past.
	I am lost, yet I am happy.
	I have lost my first love, yet I am happy.
	I am Ryoga Hibiki, I am engaged to Akari Unryuu, and for the first 
time in my life, I am truly happy.  God help me.


The End.




Author stuff: Don't ask where this came from, I don't know.

    Source: geocities.com/brian_kun