I've recently been reading a bunch of Ryoga/Ukyou parings lately.
Personally I didn't really see the logic behind the phenomenon but I
guess anythings possible so I decided to try and explore it a bit. After
about an hour I came up with a brief scene. No heavy imagery as of yet
because quite frankly I don't have a working plot.

    So I'm left with the slimy task of posting only a fragment of a fic.

    Oh boy...If you post it...flames may come.

    But seriously, any opinions, ideas or comments would be greatly
appreciated. I hate starting something I don't finish.

-starfrog.


********************
 The zoo

 It was already well past midday. The sky, reflected a brilliant orange
which in a couple more hours would turn a dark red. Upon entering the
zoo itself the smell of cotton candy, popcorn, and animal �by-products�
was overwhelming. But one could already be prepared for that particular
experience since the smell was something palpable from at least a mile
away.

Exhibits were placed in separate dens and dense trees framed the
walkways between. Every effort was made to look as if you were viewing
the animals in their natural habitats and that included placing the
proper foliage in and around the exhibits.  A slight breeze and the
constant rustling of leaves gave the illusion that one was actually
traveling through a jungle or grassland, depending on the exhibit.

�Thalarctus Maritimus � Polar Bear� Ryoga read. �The worlds largest land
carnivore.�

 �He sure is big.� Ukyou said.

 �I wonder if he eats more than Genma� Ryoga said with a smirk.


 They walked on to the next booth.


 �Camelus Ferus � Two Humped Camel� read Ryoga.

 �Ooh! It�s actually cute!� Ukyou said excitedly.

 The camel seemed to take notice of her remark and stood tall, almost
posing.

 �Yeah, well you never had one spit at you.� Ryoga said somewhat
dejectedly.

 �You had a camel spit at you?� she said.

 �Yeah. It was in the Gobi desert I think. Filthy creatures really.� he
said with disgust. Ukyou wasn�t sure if he was joking or not so they
moved on. The camel which once stood tall and proud did not look very
happy.

 As they were walking away something whizzed by Ryoga�s head and
splattered the tree to the front right of him.

 �How dare you camel! You�ll pay for that!� Ryoga screamed.  Ukyou
couldn�t help but laugh. But she definitely did not want to be spit on
by a camel. She frantically pulled Ryoga away quickly �Come on, Sugar,
there�s other things to see!� she said. �I won�t forget this camel! I�ll
be back!� he shouted.

 A little while later�

 �Macaca Mulatta � Rhesus Monkey� Ryoga read from the little sign.

 �I wonder what the name means.�  said Ukyou.

 �I think the first part is Latin.�  said Ryoga.

 It had been like that for a while now, the two of them, travelling from
booth to booth. He would read the info plaques, they would stare for a
few minutes and then they would move on. She wished he could be a little
bit more talkative considering she needed the company. It was starting
to drive her crazy but at least she was at her favorite booth.
.
 The setup was not unlike a playground with �monkey bars� swinging
ropes, tires and little dens for the creatures to congregate and rest.
Dozens of small rhesus monkeys lived and played here. Dominant males
would stagger around the den trying to assert their authority while
other less dominant ones could be seen lounging. Females sat in groups
grooming each other or clutching small babies. The majority of the
monkeys however were engaged in play.

 She contemplated her companion for a moment.

 He seemed so quick with his emotions. His depression and rage could be
profound, yet he could seemingly change gears at the drop of a hat and
now looked fairly content, even happy.  She thought back to the camel
incident.

�Do you ever think about what you�re feeling?� she asked.

Ryoga was taken aback. He wasn�t very experienced when it came to
conversation. Even less so when it came to talking about his feelings.

He frowned for a few seconds, apparently deep in thought. �Why do you
have to think about your feelings? You feel different things at
different times right? Isn�t that it? Shouldn�t it just be like that?�
He was surprised at his own response. He wasn�t sure if meant what he
said or if he said what he meant.

Ukyou responded quickly, �I guess I used to think the same thing,
Sugar.  But lately I�ve been thinking a lot about why I feel the way
about certain things and whether or not I have a right to even feel
them�

 �How can you not have a right to feel happy or sad?� Ryoga said
confusedly.

 �No. It�s those other feelings. Not the ones that hit you right away
but the ones that kinda build up from other feelings like loneliness or
hate or feeling like you�re being left out. Or when you want to try hard
to do the right thing but every option open to you, even the ones that
are supposed to make everyone happy, just hurt too much. All of these
things somehow mix together like a bad okonomiyaki and build and build
until you�re not sure _what_ it is anymore. But you do know that it
hurts.�

 He wasn't quite sure what to say or even if he was supposed to say
anything. Oblivious to his dilemma Ukyou simply looked on at the
animals. "They seem so happy don't they? How could something so simple
as swinging off a tire mean so much?" She thought back to the times she
felt complete through her cooking

 He looked at her and thought about what she said. She seemed so lost in
her own way. Being lost was something he could relate to. And he did
_know_ what she meant. He was just surprised that Ukyou would share this
with him.  Finally, with a shrug and a slight frown Ryoga responded
"I..I guess I'm just not very good with the complicated stuff. Sometimes
I just don�t know how to describe things. But I do know the difference
between happy and sad." For some reason he felt somewhat inadequate
admitting that to her. *Why can�t I say what I mean!*

 With a sideways glance she considered him for a moment. "No. You might
not have the words Ryoga, but I think you know the feelings. Probably
better than most people." A chill wind breezed by and Ukyou wrapped her
arms around herself. "It's getting kinda cold. Is it ok if we go now?"
Ryoga was surprised. He was used to her just dictating where to go or
what to do but this time she was actually asking him if it was ok.
"Uh...yeah...ahem..." A breeze swept by and he saw her shiver. Some
protective instinct kicked in and he quickly put his arm around her
shoulders, "Sure, Ukyou - let's get you home."

 He had never thought of Ukyou as delicate before. That was a special
distinction he always reserved for Akane, but Ukyou? Even Shampoo seemed
much more fragile at times. Well, more feminine anyway. But looking down
at her he couldn�t help but notice how soft her eyes could be.
Especially in the reddish light of the late afternoo�

 �Ryoga?�

 �Yeah?�

 �You can let go of me now.�

 �Oh�Ahehehe�� With a slight blush he quickly put his hand behind his
head.

 She looked up at him, smiled and they started walking together. This
time side by side.

 "Uh...Ukyou?

 "Yeah?"

 "I think you better lead again"

  "Gotcha."

**************************

 They got off the bus in the Nerima District and started walking towards
the Ucchan.

 Still walking side by side Ryoga felt happy. Not ecstatic or giddy, the
way he felt when he was around Akane, but content and calm. He was
always so nervous around girls, but Ukyou was so different. He looked at
her secretly from the corner of his eyes. She was really pretty too. How
could he not notice before. No it wasn�t really a date but felt more at
ease than he had been in a long time. He had to thank her.

 �Ukyou?�

 �Yes?� she smiled at him while walking.

 �I... I just wanted to say. Well, I don�t go out a lot. I mean, well I
am out a lot you know, always lost and such ahehehe�� he stammered.

 �What is it?� she asked.

 He stopped walking and lost himself in her eyes. Her soft eyes.

 �Ukyou, I just wanted to thank you. I mean for letting me go with you
and I��

 �Uk-chan, is that Ryoga�s jacket you�re wearing?� a voice came from
behind them.

 That voice.

 They both jumped back. Behind them was Ranma and Akane. Ranma with the
ever present smirk on his face was carrying two large shopping bags.
Apparently they had just returned from a shopping expedition.

 �It�s not what you think!� they both shouted in stereo.

 Ryoga and Ukyo looked at each other for a moment and blushed and looked
away quickly. The moment was not lost on Ranma however.

 �Uh huh, yeah right.� Ranma said.

 �She was just cold and I�I�well, you know! I was being honorable!�
Ryoga protested.

 �You little pig! I didn�t know you had it in you!� Ranma said with a
smirk.

 �Who�re you calling pig you jerk!�

 �That�s so sweet Ryoga! Akane said with a smile. �You guys look so
right together!� She glared at Ranma �Why don�t you ever wear jackets?�

 �A-A-Akane.� Ryoga stammered. �I-I-It�s not what you�that is�I
still�you��

 �Here you go Ryoga.�  said Ukyou handing him his heavy yellow jacket.
�Thanks for letting me borrow it.�  she said in a rather businesslike
tone. He took back his jacket and for some reason he couldn�t place,
felt somewhat hurt. �Are you sure?� he said. �you don�t feel cold?�

 �I�ll be alright. The Ucchan is only a couple more blocks away. Don�t
worry, I�ll live.�

 �Akane, Ranma�� she said emphasizing the name Ranma rather than
�Ran-chan,� �it�s good to see you. I better get going, early day
tomorrow you know. Oh and thanks for everything Ryoga!� And with that
she quickly headed towards the Ucchan.