Disclaimer- Takahashi Rumiko owns them, I'm simply tying them to each others' bed and having my wicked way with them.
 

Warnings- PWP, Lemon, Angst, Fluff
 

Now, you're all more than welcome (in fact, encouraged) to read all four endings, but I just wanted to warn you to not just read one after the other and wonder at the lack of continuity. Each ending picks up where the first chapter left off. However, each ending has a different pairing, Kuno, Ranma, Ryoga, and Dr. Tofu.

A super-big thank you and hugs to everyone who kindly reviewed! ^_^ Voila!
 
 

This is the RYOGA ending.
Ending number 3 of 4.
 
 

A Choice of Love
 

"Will you take me with you?"

Ryoga, caught off guard, did a double take before confusion even crossed his features. Mousse sighed with impatience. "Look, I need to get away, to go with you! You always manage to find something magic on your trips, and I'm in need  of some magic!" Mousse looked desperate, but Ryoga was too bewildered to agree yet.

"What do you need magic for?"

Suddenly looking very shy, Mousse fidgeted and studied the dirt. "I... I lost my love for Shampoo."

A knowing look crossed Ryoga's face. "Ohhh." Leaning close to Mousse's ear, he whispered conspiratorially. "You know, it happens to the best of us. Whenever it happens to me- not that is does often- I usually think of something-"

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT YOU BOOB!!"

Ryoga fell on his rear, rubbing his ringing ears. Jumping to his feet, he seethed in Mousse's face. "What the hell was that for!? I was only trying to help!!"

"You can 'help' me by taking me with you! It's not like that, you perv, it's a spell! It's erased any memory of love I've ever felt for Shampoo!"

Mousse and Ryoga stood toe to toe, breathing heavy and hot with ire.

"Oh." Ryoga backed down. "Fine."

"Really!?" Mousse hopped from one foot to the other, clasping and unclasping his hands.

'Dear God, those are going to wind up around my throat, I know it...' "Yes, but on a few conditions." Ryoga shouldered his pack and looked over his shoulder at Mousse's emphatic nod. 'His head's going to fly off if I don't calm him down.'

"First off, I  choose where we go. Second, you will not make fun of my sense of direction!!" Mousse nodded, more slowly, but still seemed to be bubbling over. "Thirdly, no talking. I can't concentrate on where I'm going if you talk."

"Well... Who talks to you when you normally get lost?"

"Huh?" Ryoga deadpanned, a nerve above his eye twitching.

"Something sure breaks your concentration if you always get so lost-"

"That's it, you're not going." Huffing, Ryoga turned his back and started to walk away. Mousse's arm on his pack pulled him back, and he landed in the dirt, surrounded by a could of dirt. Coughing, he glared up.
 

"I'm sorry. I promise, I won't make fun of you. Anymore." Mousse crossed his heart, looking very earnest.

Ryoga hesitated for a moment before getting to his feet. "Alright. But you also have to do the cooking."

Mousse smiled and grabbed Ryoga's elbow, tugging him along at a gait that his shorter legs couldn't handle. "Great! Then let's get going!"

Ryoga stumbled along, trying to slow down. "Hey! Wait! Remember, I say where we go!"

Mousse stopped and released his arm. Crossing his arms and hiding his hands in his billowing sleeves, he bowed. "Sorry. Which way shall we go?"

"Uh..." Ryoga looked nervously from one direction to the other. 'Oh... Gr, it's a lot harder when someone's expecting an answer from me!' "That way!" Ryoga pointed and began walking. Mousse clearing his throat behind him stalled him, and he looked angrily over his shoulder. "What now?"

"Uh, nothing. It's just... well, that's the way we just came." Mousse meekly shut his mouth and bowed again, falling in behind Ryoga as he pulled his smoldering glare off the Amazon and continued in the opposite direction.

'I've really messed this up so far...' Mousse worried. 'But I promise, Ryoga, if you take to to someone who can help me, I'll be the best traveling companion you've ever had!'

Standing up straight with hope and determination, Mousse proudly followed Ryoga, seeing his not-quite-friend in a whole new, more appreciative light.

Three hours later, his opinion of the Lost Boy dropped considerably.

"Hmm... Maybe it's this way... No! No, it's that way, I'm sure!"

True to his word, Mousse said nothing, until a pretty blonde walked up to him, smiling. "May I help you sir?"

"Oh!" Ryoga noticed her presence and walked over. "Excuse us, miss, but could you tell us where we are?"

The sweet smile slipped off the woman's face, replaced by a wary one. "Uh, well, sir, you're in the men's department of Macey's... Can I help you with something?"

Ryoga ducked his head while Mousse tried extra hard not to say something. "The exit, please." Ryoga mumbled.

Smiling again, the woman pointed to her left. "Straight ahead, sirs, you can't miss it!"

Grumbling his thanks, Ryoga stalked away, Mousse walking dejectedly behind.

'This is the biggest mistake of my life... I'm never even going to find my way home again!'

"Uh, is this the exit?"

"No." Mousse drolled. "That's the ladies' dressing room."

"AIEEEE! PERVERT!!"

"SECURITY!!"

"HELP!!"

"Oh boy..."

'They'll never see me again...'
 

**********
 

"Well, we finally got out of there... Now to the real heart of the voyage." Ryoga took a deep breath before heading off in a random direction in the forest. Mousse, giving silent thanks that they were heading away from the town this time, walked tiredly behind.

They had been walking in a huge circle for hours, and while Ryoga was no doubt used to traveling for extended periods of time without resting, Mousse was beat. He was really beginning to doubt his decision. He couldn't even talk! This was going to be the longest, most tiring, and most boring trip of his life. Scrubbing dishes at the Nekohanten would be more fun...

Ryoga glanced over his shoulder. His rule of no talking was a good one for any trip, but the fact that someone else was with him to not talk to made it uncomfortable. That and the fact that Mousse looked worn out and miserable made him feel a little depressed himself. He hadn't had a traveling companion, ever, and the experience was wholly new to him. He didn't dislike it, per se, but the silence was getting to him.

"So..." Ryoga murmured quietly, looking ahead and now sure he wanted the silence to end, but not knowing the best way to breach it. "How's life?" 'Oi, good question, Ryoga! He's only tagging along because he's completely desperate to get his life back to the way he wants it!'

Behind him, Mousse shrugged. Ryoga, blushing and damning himself didn't notice.

'I guess he's more upset than I thought...'

"The woods are nice at this time of day, aren't they?"

Again, Mousse shrugged, not really caring about the scenery as he was so absorbed in internally moaning over his sore feet and the fact that he was about to drop off the face of the earth, following Ryoga.

Ryoga sighed. 'Poor guy... I know how he feels. Well, sort of. It wouldn't kill me to be a little bit nicer to him...'

"You know, I've never traveled with anyone before... It's kind of nice. The fact that it's you doesn't take anything away from it at all." 'Did that come out as a compliment? It was supposed to...'

"Can we take a break?"

"Huh?" Ryoga turned his head to see Mousse leaning against a tree, trying to pop his back.

"I don't mean to break your 'rules,' but I haven't walked this much in a long time. I need to warm up to it before walking for three days straight."

"Oh. Well, we aren't very far yet..."

"Fine." Mousse began walking, passing Ryoga who stood frozen to the spot with mixed emotions.

'He's more than capable of handling this himself. He's a big boy, he doesn't need me to worry over him. Besides, it's not like we're friends- he isn't even doing this because he likes me, or anything.'

"Fine then." Feeling a little grumpy, Ryoga jogged ahead, taking the lead. 'With a guy this morose, I'd be better off not starting a conversation.' But Ryoga did feel a little better that two people he really didn't like didn't even come up in the brief talk.

Brief one-sided talk.

Just thinking about Ranma made his blood boil, and he picked up the pace without realizing it. That jerk, always thinking he's sooo great and so much better than everyone else! Well, he'd show him! He would get some good training in while away this time, and when he got back, so help Ranma Saotome!

'Maybe I can get Mousse to spar with me. It'd be good exercise and it would get Mousse back the way he was, maybe.'

He realized that Mousse wasn't acting quite himself, and that's what set his mood off so. If he had to spend time with the guy, he could at least act normal. This brought to mind what 'normal' generally consisted of, and the other person he was glad not to mention.

That purple haired bimbo... Did she even care what Mousse was going through right now? Did she even care? Most likely not- the only thing she cared about was Ranma. He felt angry again and picked up pace yet again.

He remembered the time the three of them- Ranma, Mousse and himself- had each bought a packet of Jusenkyo spring water and only one was nanichuan. They had hiked up the mountain together, acting as close to friends as he had ever been treated before. It made him feel good, remembering the feeling of having someone care about him, and he wished that this trip could be the same, only without Ranma.

He'd fight Ranma till the day he died, but Mousse was on a more equal level, and even though the two didn't make a good fighting team, it would be nice to get closer to the martial artist. And maybe if they worked together enough, grew to know each other enough, they could become an effective fighting force against their shared foe.

'But he's not here to fight, he's here to find a way to go running back to Shampoo.'

The thought depressed him- he would be so much better off without her, both as a martial artist and as a young man. Being a teen was hard enough without having your heart repeatedly ground into the dirt by pretty silk slippers.

'It's not so different than me and Akane. She doesn't mean it, but I know she'd never really like me as a man... There's got to be some way that two eligible, good looking, talented men can find happiness in this world! If only we stick together!'

Feeling a source of hope grow in his chest, Ryoga stopped and spun around. "What do ya say, Mousse? Shall we find happ- Uh, Mousse?"

Darkness and crickets met his words, no Mousse in sight.

"Oh boy..."
 

**********
 

'I'm never going to find a cure, I'm never going to find another cure for my other curse, and I'm never going to see Shampoo again!' Mousse sighed and watched the tree root and rock studded ground carefully. 'But maybe it's better this way... I mean, I've said it before but now I'm starting to believe it, and that's a scary thing... I've only known my love for Shampoo for so many years, can I really just walk away? I shouldn't give up, but- oh, who am I kidding... This was a bad idea in my sad, long history of bad ideas. If I can't find a cure on my own, then I don't deserve her! Dragging Ryoga into this, being a burden to him, well, it's not fair. He doesn't like me much- and I can't blame him. Looking back objectively, I've been so absorbed in finding ways to get Shampoo's love that I haven't gone any out of my way to make friends.

'But maybe I can change that? I won't give up on Shampoo- not yet. But while I'm out here, lost, I can work on befriending Ryoga! For real, not just personal gain! I don't know much about him, and it'd be nice to let someone get to know me- the real me, the new me, not just the me that uses and abuses people to suit myself. I've been far too selfish. Ryoga's a good guy, he deserves to get something out of this favor for me. Perhaps we can train together while we're here? That's surely why he travels so much- maybe we can learn a few things from each other...'

Mousse tripped on a rut, despite his close watching of the forest floor, and barely caught himself before landing face first in the dirt. He flailed his arm out to grab something, and struck on something in front of him.

"Whew! Close one... Sorry about that, Ryoga." Mousse righted himself and kept walking until he bumped into Ryoga. "Why did you stop?" Feeling more closely, Mousse realized it was a tree, not his guide. Suddenly, the sound of the evening forest around him became amplified, as a small pit of worry that he might have lost the Lost Boy settled in his gut. "Ryoga? Ryoga!" Mousse spun around, getting dizzy and bumping into another tree.

'How could we have gotten separated?' His knee hit something as he began to walk, sending him on his face, but not in the dirt. His glasses slid off the top of his head, landing on his nose. Now with better vision, that pit of worry became a reality. 'Uh oh! I forgot to put my glasses on!!'

Looking around in the dark frantically, Mousse realized he had not only lost his guide, but he had gotten himself lost- the trail was nowhere to be seen.

"RYOGA!!"
 

**********
 

'I guess he went back. Can't say I blame him- being in unfriendly company in the middle of nowhere, looking for something that probably won't be found- it's a wonder he stuck around as long as he did.'

Ryoga refused to admit that he was rather disappointed that Mousse had gone, without even so much as a 'screw you, I'm going home.' He had gotten his hopes up on making a friend. 'That's what hopes will get ya. Nothing but a stomach ache.'

Walking a little further, Ryoga stopped. It didn't feel right. 'What if he fell down and I didn't hear him? What if he's bleeding on the ground, calling out for help? Or worse, knocked unconscious!'

'Calm down! You were probably right the first time! Besides, like you said, he's a big boy- he can take care of himself.'

'I don't know... his eyesight is pretty bad... Maybe he just fell behind? Should I wait?'

'He's still an enemy, why should I care?'

'I do. I don't know why- maybe because we're so much alike- but I do care.'

'It's getting late anyway. I'll just break camp and see if he comes along.'

'But come morning, I'm gone, and he's on his own.'

'And he's not so much an enemy, as a rival, or a very violent stranger that I occasionally encounter.'

'You still on that!? Let it drop and set up camp!'

Ryoga walked a little ways off the trail- close enough to know if someone passed by- and took off his pack to begin setting up camp. After he had a good fire going, he got out his travel pack of food. He told himself he wasn't being silly when he prepared two meals.
 

**********
 

'Well, I'm hopelessly lost with no way of finding my way, at least until morning.'

'Why hasn't Ryoga noticed I'm gone yet?'

'I don't know it's been that long...'

'I don't know he knows...'

'But I do know he really wouldn't care, either way. Now he's free to go on his journey, without me to slow him down.'

'I'd like to think he's a little less heartless than that.'

'But everyone I encounter is heartless- why should he be any different? The old ghoul could care less if I got run over by a herd of buffalo, Shampoo doesn't even notice me, Ranma doesn't care about what I go through- but I thought Ryoga did. Just when I begin to trust somebody...'

'Just because you both have curses, both suck at getting girls, and both get ground into the cement by Ranma doesn't make you kindred spirits. Like personalities clash anyway. I'm better off.'

'But we're not 'like personalities,' we just have a lot in common. I thought that's what friends had.'

'I'm too stuck on that word. That stupid, useless word!'

'And I'm still no closer to finding a cure!'

'Forget the cure! I'll find it someplace else- why I ever dreamed I'd find it in the middle of a damned forest I'll never know! Right now, I just want to go home! To sleep in my hot, cramped attic, to stare indifferently at Shampoo while Cologne beats me with her stupid pogo stick, get my ass creamed by Ranma and call it a freakin' day!'

'Sheesh! Do something about it! I complain too much- the world isn't going to bend itself to suit me, I've got to start counting on myself- and only myself- to make me happy!'

'...does this mean I've given up on Shampoo after all?'

'Shut up and make camp.'
 

**********
 

Ryoga ate slowly and stared at the road. As time went by, he was less and less sure that Mousse was okay. He wouldn't just leave without saying anything- Ranma was a much bigger jerk, and he wouldn't even do that. So Mousse had to be catching up, he just had to be. The only other answer was too terrifying to imagine.

Mousse had put his faith in him, to lead him on a safe and successful journey, only to be abandoned in the middle of the wilderness, blind, unprepared, and possibly hurt.

'I hope he's all right. Despite my best efforts, I'm really starting to worry about him...'

'Of course, if I make it back home and it turns out he's been there the whole time, he's a dead man.'

'Of course.'

Sighing, Ryoga put his empty noodle cup down and laid down on his bedroll, facing away from the trail. He was about to drift off to sleep when a rustling of branched behind him caught his attention. Sitting upright fast enough to set his equilibrium off- more than it naturally was- Ryoga swung to face the path.

"Mousse?" The rustling continued, louder and closer this time. "Mousse, is that you?" Still no answer, but the rustling seemed to stop, just outside his view. "Are you injured?" Jumping up, Ryoga ran over, and encountered Mousse on the road.

'Wait, is Mousse hairy and smelly with long tusks?'

A snort and a rough butt that sent Ryoga onto his back answered his question. Into the flickering light from his campfire walked a large wild boar, rutting his hooves and snorting great clouds of dirt. Shock worn off, Ryoga snarled and dodged another head butt, wrapping his hand around the handle of his umbrella.

"GRR, Mousse, you jerk! How dare you make me worry!" Holding his umbrella like a sword, Ryoga was ready for the next attack.
 

**********
 

'I knew I should have brought more than spare clothes along for the trip.' Mousse lamented his loss as the usefulness of some matches made itself known. No food, no bed and no fire- Mousse believed in 'roughing it' but this was a little ridiculous. Laying out a spare robe, Mousse settled himself back, glaring at the canopy of leaves over his head.

'Ridiculous that out of all the crap I constantly carry around with me, a survival kit and camping gear aren't among them... I'm hungry, tired, cold, lost, I hurt, and all these bugs are really getting on my nerves!' * He sighed and rubbed his tired eyes, trying to shut out the world and get some sleep. A sound slowly invaded his senses and caught his attention. He may be experiencing all those horrible feelings, but a bath would sure make him feel better.

Getting up slowly and groaning with the strain of it, Mousse lumbered off towards the sound of water, after safely tucking his robe back into his sleeve. Gods only knew if he'd find this spot again- he wasn't going to lose the only thing he had that was a functioning cushion from rocks and sticks!

'Hey! Maybe I can fly home! I bet I could see a way out of this forest if I flew!' Mousse ran to the water, now excited and hopeful. Slipping on a rock, he fell head-first into the water which was obviously a lot closer than he had thought.

'For someone who's practically blind, my hearing bites.'

He broke the surface of the water and bobbed along rivulets of rising steam. Spitting out his mouthful of water, he sighed. 'The one time my curse might be useful, and I find a hot spring. Only me!'

Deciding not to look a gift horse in the mouth- though it may be moth-eaten and swaybacked, Mousse peeled his clothes off and threw them to the shore, along with his glasses. Finding a nice, rounded rock, Mousse sat down and sank up to his chin in the steamy water.

'I suppose this is better than cold water... I can always find some later.'

He sighed contentedly as his tired muscles and joints slowly relaxed, and began to drift to sleep.
 

**********
 

Ryoga huffed and puffed and dragged himself back to his fire. That pig was one tough porker to beat! He got a few good licks in before he was catapulted into another forest, and Ryoga felt bruised and sweaty. Dragging himself over to his pack, he got out a tea kettle.

'There's bound to be some water around here somewhere. I'll just heat some up and scrub off.' Liking the sound of that and really wishing there was a hot bath waiting for him when he came back, Ryoga headed off to find water.

He didn't walk very far before hearing the sound of bubbling water. Following his hearing, he came upon a sandy beach running alongside a hot spring. He almost cried with joy. 'Haha! What luck! Just when I thought nothing was going to go my way!' Quickly disrobing, Ryoga ran full tilt into the water and dove beneath the surface, feeling the soothing heat cover and wash his entire body.

He stayed under for as long as he could, until the need of air drove him to the surface. The heat made him feel energized, so he swam in little circles. A brief thought of 'Do carnivorous fish live in hot springs?' crossed his mind, but he passed it off. This felt too good for him to get cheated out of it by scheming little bags of scales with teeth.

He rolled onto his back and floated along, watching the stars through the treetops. His eyes drifted shut as he floated along, and he listened to the soothing sound of the water rushing beneath him.

He idly moved himself along until his head hit a rock. Biting his tongue, he righted himself and rubbed his head, stopping cold when he saw a vision of beauty sprawled before him. Their hair looked like a pool of ink, swallowing pale, smooth curves of flesh beneath the moonlight. The delicate features lead down to a long, slender neck before disappearing beneath the water, resurfacing only in time to see long, willowy legs, slender and soft and pale. This nymph glowed blue in the moonlight, and Ryoga's breath was taken away as he quietly watched the enchanting creature sleep.

Finally daring to move closer for a better look- though knowing modesty forbade it- Ryoga climbed up the rock next to the heavenly body and examined the face more closely.

Long, dark lashes rested against smooth, rounded cheeks with high bones. The mouth was generous and slightly parted, gently puffs of air drawn and exhaled. The nose was perky and pointed, and a nice small size. Tearing his gaze from the face, Ryoga hesitantly slid his fingers through the inky strands of hair, marveling at the silky feel.

'Oh, if only I weren't so devoted to Akane, I would follow you to the ends of the earth!'

Slowly, the breath hitched and the eyelashes fluttered. Ryoga, frozen, watched as the eyes slowly opened, revealing two dark pools of color, reflecting each and every star. So caught up in his attentions, Ryoga didn't noticed he had leaned forward until his lips pressed softly against the smooth flesh of a cheek. The eyes turned to him slowly- his own so wide he was sure he must look something like a frog- until they rested fully upon him. A moment of stillness went by, and all that Ryoga knew was the feel of soft flesh and the color of deep, gray eyes.

A loud scream and a hard right to his jaw snapped him out of his reverie, as he was knocked from the rock into the water, a good twenty feet away.

Mousse held his fist in mid-air, where it had struck his attacker. Keeping his body absolutely still, Mousse moved only his eyes as he looked first one way then the other, still very confused. The sound of air bubbles breaking the surface of the water caught Mousse's attention, and he quickly swam over to it.

Reaching down and finding a handful of hair, Mousse wrenched his assailant out of the water and cocked his fist back, ready to let another blow fly. The person he held sputtered and splashed.

"M-MOUSSE!?!?"

"Huh?" Pulling the head closer, Mousse saw that it was indeed Ryoga he held. Their noses touched before Mousse realized Ryoga had a bloody nose and was an interesting shade of purple. 'Nose? I thought I got him in the chin...'

"Ryoga? What are-" Finally realizing who he had in his sights, Mousse hugged Ryoga tight, oblivious to the squawk it elicited. "Ryoga! I found you! I thought I was going to be stuck out here forever! Where have you been!?... Ryoga? You okay? You look a little pale..."

'I kissed Mousse it was Mousse I kissed Mousse I looked at him with lust I-I-I... I think he's beautiful!'

Mousse roughly shook Ryoga by the shoulders, but couldn't wake him from his stupor. Trying to figure out what was wrong, Mousse replayed recent events. Once his mind settled on waking up to Ryoga kissing him, he dropped Ryoga with a gasp and backed up a few steps.

Ryoga resurfaced and each stared at the other for a long time, not saying anything. Finally, Ryoga couldn't take it any more.

"Ahem. Uh, Mousse... look, about what just happened-"

"You kissed me." Mousse's voice was quiet and hollow, and it sent a shiver down Ryoga's spine. He blushed as he realized it was not wholly unpleasant.

"Yes... yes, I did. But-"

"Why?" That hopeless, awed voice again, and again it affected Ryoga.

'He has such a soft voice anyway. Now, it sounds so... so...'

"I, uh..."

'Think about the question, stupid! How am I going to explain this to him!? Oh, gee, sorry, I thought you were a girl, and I kinda lost control of myself. Psha! He'd kill me just for thinking he looks like a girl alone!'

Ryoga stalled on the answer, berating himself and trying to come up with a good excuse other than 'I wanted you and find that I still do.' Mousse, meanwhile, didn't really notice that Ryoga wasn't talking, so lost in his own thoughts as he was.

'That... that was my first kiss. And I... I liked it- I mean, I think I did, I really wasn't there for the whole thing... But- Ryoga?! Why would he kiss me? Why? Why does that not make the fact that I was just kissed for the first time in my life any less meaningful? So it wasn't Shampoo- but it seemed like it was meant. Could he have meant it? Does he... like me?'

"Uh, uh, uh..."

"Ryoga, do you like me?" A direct approach was not always the best, and by Ryoga's squeal and flush, Mousse figured this was one of those times. "Because, I mean, if you were just playing a joke on me-"

"NO! I mean, no, it-it wasn't a joke." 'At least not on you... the universe has been playing one big joke on me my whole life!'

"Then you meant it?" Ryoga squealed and blushed again, and Mousse found himself getting irritated. He was confused- in his head and in his heart- and Ryoga suddenly holding his tongue wasn't helping any. "Look, I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but I just want to know what's going on! You say it's not a joke, so that means you either meant it or this is all a misunderstanding." Mousse moved a little bit closer to see Ryoga better. "So which is it?" He asked quietly, oddly afraid of what the answer might be.

'Did I mean it? I... think so. The fact that I now know it was Mousse the whole time doesn't change what I saw, what I felt. But what will that mean for me? For Akane? For Mousse? What will he do? Probably pummel me...' Ryoga saw Mousse moving closer and froze again, thinking fast. 'I-I guess I thought he was someone else when I kissed him, so...'

Mousse watched Ryoga carefully, masking his expression. 'I think he meant it... I hope-'

"It was a mistake! I swear, I didn't mean it!!"

Mousse stopped moving closer, his breath catching and eyes widening slightly before they slid half closed, drooping with sadness and hurt. 'He- he doesn't care, then, after all...' Mousse turned his back on Ryoga and began to head for his clothes. "Then I'll leave now."

Ryoga watched him go, his insides screaming at him to change his answer. Finally, when Mousse was halfway to his clothes, he relented. "And if I meant it? What would you have done if I had meant it?"

Mousse stopped walking, but did not turn. "What does it matter... Is it so important?"

Ryoga nodded, though the motion was lost on Mousse. "It matters. It's important."

After a few silent moments, Mousse headed for shore more quickly. "I would have told you the same thing!" His voice was heavy with emotion as he reached his clothes and pulled his wet robe roughly down over his head. He started to lift himself out of the water when Ryoga's hand caught his shoulder, keeping him down. "Just leave me alone..." Mousse whispered, but Ryoga paid no attention.

"It meant something to you Mousse?" Ryoga's voice was laced with awe.

Mousse's body stiffened and he turned around, piercing Ryoga with a harsh, tear-filled glare. "What, are you going to make fun of me now!? Call me stupid? Call me blind!? Well, screw you, Ryoga, and I hope you-"

Mousse was cut off as Ryoga firmly clamped his mouth over his. Shocked and confused, Mousse stood still as Ryoga softened the kiss.

'I can't believe I just did that...'

'I can't believe it took me so long to do it...'

Ryoga closed his eyes and buried his hands in Mousse's hair, angling his head for a deeper kiss. Mousse's heated emotions left him drained and he slumped against Ryoga, melting into the intimate kiss. They rarely broke apart, and never completely, and continued to kiss for a very long time.

By the time they finally pulled apart to stare into each other's faces to read emotions- hurt, awe, passion, lust, love- both their bodies hummed with energy. Pressing their bodies more firmly together, each felt the other's physical reaction to the other.

"You- you really mean it? You meant it?" Mousse asked, still not fully believing.

Ryoga nodded slowly, running a finger along Mousse's bottom lip. " Yes, I meant it. I meant the one after it too. And this one." He leaned forward, kissing Mousse more gently, then pulling back to look into his face. The moonlight still painted his body, and he looked like porcelain, only soft and hot, and full of heat and emotion.

Mousse closed his eyes and leaned forward, trailing light kisses all over Ryoga's face. Ryoga moaned lightly and shifted his weight and maneuvering Mousse's body until his long legs wrapped around his hips, and Ryoga supported both their weight. Sliding his hands under the heavy robe, Ryoga pulled it off and threw it onto shore before attacking Mousse's neck with his tongue and teeth, earning a sharp gasp and a squeeze of slender thighs.

Their bodies rubbed together deliciously as they kissed and tasted each other, Mousse moving on to Ryoga's ear as Ryoga moved on to Mousse's shoulder. Their breathing became harsher, their movements more frantic before Ryoga stilled Mousse's mouth, claiming it in his own before speaking.

"I've never done this before, but... I-I want more than this and I think I know how it goes..." 'Please say yes, please say yes! I can't stop now!'

Mousse hesitated for only a second before sighing a 'Yes' and nibbling on Ryoga's ear again. Ryoga squinted his eyes tight, trying to control his body that wanted to do it all, right now. In his trips he'd learned some really unusual things- this particular one was one he never thought he'd need and often wished he hadn't known- until now. Keeping the movements of his hands soft and slow, Ryoga ran them reverently down Mousse's flanks down to his thighs, then curving under and cupping his rear before sliding between his legs.

Mousse gasped and jerked against him as his first finger slipped inside. Ryoga really wanted to ask Mousse if he was okay, or if he wanted him to stop, but need and a fear of the answer kept his mouth shut as he wiggled his finger around inside, finding a spot deep inside that made Mousse mewl with pleasure and buck against him. While Mousse arched back, mouth open and gasping, Ryoga took advantage of his revealed throat and collar bones as he slipped a second finger past the tight ring of muscle. The legs around his waist tightened even more, crushing Ryoga's aching cock between their bodies. Unable to take it anymore, Ryoga removed his fingers and slipped the tip of his shaft inside before Mousse even had a chance to groan at the initial loss.

Mousse froze, and Ryoga sucked hard on a collar bone as he slowly inched his way inside Mousse's hot, tight body, until he couldn't get any deeper. The two stayed still while they adjusted, until Mousse dropped his head forward and sucked Ryoga's tongue into his mouth, meshing their lips together hard. Taking that as consent, Ryoga lifted Mousse by his ass and thrust up as he pulled him back down, creating the first stroke in a rhythm that quickly had both moaning into each other's mouths.

Ryoga relished the smooth, slow speed as his thick cock slowly slid out of the clutching heat up to the head, then squeezing him hard as his length was slowly swallowed again. Each languid thrust inside was punctuated by an extra burst of speed from Ryoga's hips, as the head of his cock jabbed hard into Mousse's prostate, tearing a wet groan from him each time as he swallowed Ryoga's tongue, his fingers buried deep in Ryoga's hair.

Ryoga pulled Mousse's ass apart and thrust more swiftly, groaning loudly himself when Mousse's thighs shuddered against his waist, his unattended cock ground between their bellies. Quickly losing himself, Ryoga began bouncing Mousse more firmly and faster, water splashing as their bodies collided with sparks of pleasure. Mousse ran his nails down Ryoga's back until they rested just above his hooked ankles. With the better angle, Ryoga continuously pounded into Mousse's tight, willing body as Mousse gasped against his chest. Ryoga threw his head back, and it rolled from side to side as his balls pulled up tight against his body.

His fast movements became brutal as he snapped his hips forward several times until his cock twitched. Mousse cried out softly against his chest and his muscles clamped down firmly on Ryoga's pistoning organ, stilling him and tearing an orgasm from him, milking his seed from him for long moments, while Mousse's cock twitched and shot seed into the water. Mousse's legs clamped and shuddered as he rode out the waves of orgasm, Ryoga still grinding their bodies together, grinding the head of his cock into Mousse's prostate as it shot seed against it and deep into his softening body.

They stayed joined long after Ryoga's hips stopped moving, breathing heavy and listening to their heartbeats roaring in their ears. Mousse turned his head slightly and slipped a pert nipple into his mouth, sucking languidly. Ryoga groaned at the contact and began walking towards the sand beach. Once the water was down to his knees, Ryoga slid down and lay Mousse on his back in the sand, his head resting out of the water's reach.

Laying down on top, Ryoga rested on his elbows as he ducked his head and suckled and nipped at Mousse's lips. The two traded teasing kisses as their bodies relaxed, and Ryoga's spent shaft slipped free of Mousse's body. They intertwined their legs and let their hands roam as they lay in the dark.

After a while, Ryoga noticed Mousse shivering. The air outside the water was quite chilly, so gathering up his lover with more slow kisses and gentle touches, Ryoga stood and held Mousse's lean body against him.

They parted as Mousse walked to retrieve his clothes on rubbery legs. Ryoga admired the view as he gathered up his own. When Mousse returned, they walked close together, trading sly smiles at one another as they headed back to camp.

Fifteen minutes later...

"Dammit, Ryoga, I'm cold!"

"You got your clothes on!"

"They're. Wet." Mousse glared, standing in a very put-out posture. "You had a fire going- why are you having such a hard time finding your camp?!"

"I don't know!" Ryoga threw his hands in the air. He was cold too, and if things kept up the way they were going, he wasn't going to get to sleep in a warm bedroll next to a warm body, and waking up to a warm bout of sex. "It should be around here somewhere..."

The two walked around in a broad circle, before finally finding Mousse's camp by accident. Mousse then lead the way upstream to Ryoga's camp, just as the sun rose in the east. To exhausted to cuddle romantically, each plopped down on the bedroll, stealing the cover from each other over the course of the next three hours, which was all the sleep they were afforded before a farmer and his oxen stomped by on the trail.

Mousse sat up, wearily rubbing sleep from his eyes, his hair a huge wiry mess around his head. Ryoga sat up, seeming dazed, before turning to look at Mousse, who returned the bleary look.

"You look awful in the morning..." Ryoga drawled.

Mousse just looked at him before turning away and stealing the cover back and trying to get back to sleep.
 

**********
 

"Nerima? Son, you're about 700 miles east!"

Ryoga cried out and hung his head, while Mousse, standing nearby, watched the scene with a well hidden chuckle. They'd been lost for weeks, but he didn't mind, and in truth- Ryoga didn't either. Ryoga had tried to get them intentionally lost so they could spend more time together, but accidentally ended up in a town. After that backfire, Ryoga was playing it straight and trusting his natural instincts to screw up their directions enough to keep them in the same bed, away from prying eyes and pretty girls (and all the subsequent problems) for as long as possible.

The two trained together and were getting better, as well as learning more and more about each other, becoming fast friends and sliding more easily into the role of lovers.

'Just you keep getting us lost, Ryoga-kun, and I'll keep you glad that you are!'

The two walked off into the sunset, hand in hand, eager to spend another night together, and awaken to another day in each other's loving presence.
 
 

~owari~
 
 

**********
 

* I added this after chasing down and killing a 1' mole cricket that bounced off my leg. -_-
 

Ping- Mush mush mush!!
Ryoga- 0_0 OMG! I LOVE YOU!!!!
::Kuno levels his bokken::- Why was mine shorter, pray tell??
Ping- Ehh...
::Ranma cracks his knuckles::- Yes. Do tell...
Ping- O~O Ryoga, save meeee!
::Ping runs from the room as a Shishihokudan is released::