In the background of the
Metro,
Unfortunately for
“So you’re from
“Yes,” Ranma
replied. “From
“Nerayma?”
Martin asked coyly with his Illocano accent. “That’s
a pretty name.”
“No,” Ranma
replied inquisitively. “You have to roll the tongue.” He instinctively drew his
hands onto Martin’s face, feeling his smooth coconut skin. “Neh-ree-mah.” Martin repeated it back like a
lovesick puppy.
“Wow,
Ranma shrugged the sight of a soaking wet Kerry Kwok
successfully seducing another gullible gay chickenhead
a few tables away. “Really?” he tried to focus on Martin.
“Oh yes,” Martin replied quickly.
“He’s pretty cute, not as cute as you though. And my friend is totally crushin’ on him, but he’s kinda
scared because the guy is young and new to bein’ gay,
of course.”
“Hey,” Martin said, quickly
to Ranma, “I think you should meet him.” Martin, stupefied
by the sight of the handsome and mysterious international visitor had no idea
what can of worms he had opened.
The crowd applauded wildly
at the Sundance Saloon. Ryan and the guys humbly bowed and jumped off the bar
stool. Ryan strolled his way back to the bar where Ryoga
and his beer were waiting.
“You were pretty good,” Ryoga said bashfully, not noticing that his groin was now
giving Ryan a standing ovation.
Ryan grabbed the beer bottle
from Ryoga with one quick smile and then chugged down
half of it. “That routine is the scariest,” Ryan replied. “Did you know that I
fell off the bar several times?”
“Alright, here’s something
for the couples,” the deejay said over the intercom.
“Finally!” Barry roared. “A slow song!”
He grabbed his partner Stephen and they headed onto the dance floor. Other
cowboys and their partners followed.
Shania crooned through
synthesizers. In your arms, I can still
feel the one who really wants me.
Ryan waited for a few beats
to pass.
“Well, I made a fool of
myself,” Ryan chuckled to Ryoga. “It’s your turn.”
Ryoga was still daze by the cowboy waltz unfolding before
him.
“You want to dance?” Ryan
felt himself boldly saying.
Ryoga heard that one and he was taken back by it. “I…I
don’t know how,” he stammered. His palms were getting sweaty.
“It’s easy,” Ryan replied,
with a tinge of nervousness. He stretched out his hand. “I’ll show you. We can
dance on the side if you don’t want to be in the crowd.”
Ryoga nodded. Ryan drew closer to Ryoga,
almost whispering. The music was too loud.
“Take my hand.” Ryoga nervously took Ryan’s hand. And Ryan moved it towards
his beating chest. Ryan felt a tingle of excitement as he put his hand onto Ryoga’s waist. His fingers were so tempted to almost lift
the shirt and feel the smooth skin underneath. He grabbed hold of the light
threads of his white cotton shirt. His mind wandered to other thoughts.
“Just follow me,” Ryan
whispered. Ryoga could smell Ryans cologne. It smelled like hickory and cinnamon.
“Slow…slow…quick…quick..slow.”
He gently pushed Ryoga’s hands and Ryoga felt his legs move rhythmically, Ryan’s drawing
closer to his. He hadn’t danced since the shenanigans at Club Earth.
Ryan was positively glowing.
He also smiled coyly and looked down and then back up at Ryoga
again. And now they were moving rhythmically together. Ryoga
could not believe it. He was actually dancing to country music! If only Ranma
could see me now.
Ranma did. He entered the Sundance Saloon with Tyler and
Martin shortly before Shania started. Martin had enough of Kerry’s drama
(actually, they got kicked out) so he wanted to introduce Ranma
to Ryan since they were both Japanese and all.
And there was Ryan dancing
with his guy.
Ryoga looked unbelievably happy. His eyes looked longingly
toward the “Ryan” character, and he brought out his mischievous fanged smile.
The guy smiled back and briefly put his black cowboy hat on Ryoga’s
head, which made Ryoga smile even more.
Ranma felt the weight of an entire bullet train run right
through him.
“I want to go home,” Ranma whimpered to Martin.
“But we just got here,”
Martin replied. “And I haven’t introduced you to—“
“Take me home now!” Ranma shouted back like an impatient date.
Ryan wanted Ryoga. Ryoga, vice-versa. Ranma wanted Martin.
And no one wanted
As drawn as he was to the
beautiful forms before him,
Open your eyes, Barry whispered in the back of
And with that, Tyler Stonebrook finally let Ryan Hitomi
go.
Ranma was mostly quiet for the rest of the car ride back
to Ranko’s house. They dropped
“Nice place,” Martin said.
Ranma was silent.
“Are you going to be
alright?” Martin asked.
Ranma paused. Then, he kissed Martin. Martin smelled like
mangoes and spicy cinnamon bark. Martin kissed back, fiercely. His soft wet
lips soaked Ranma’s in no way that a woman could.
Ranma stumbled as he got out of Martin’s car. The harsh
wind jabbed at his cheek. He turned around to see his chauffeur grinning back
like an idiot.
“Call me,” Martin smiled. He
peeked out the window in a daze and he drove off.
As soon as Martin left, Ranma’s smile turned to a frown. He had to go back to his
world. And Akane was waiting for him. She was wearing
a fuzzy pink bathrobe and fuzzy pink slippers. Some English late show was
blaring in the background.
“Where have you been?” Akane grumbled angrily. “Ranko
and Bret gave up waiting on you.” Akane sniffed. “Is
that alcohol I smell?”
“I don’t want to deal with
this right now,” Ranma shrugged. He wanted to go to
bed. He wanted to sleep the hangover away and the unwelcome memories gained
tonight.
“By the way,” Ranma told Akane. “We’re even.”
NOTES:
PHEW. This is my
favorite scene of the novel. I’ve mentally debated to myself if the chapter
should start with Ryan or with