Proven Love by MaryMQC Disclaimer: These characters are not owned nor created by me. Warning: WAFFy alert - Read at own risk. Basically a PWP with no lemon or any other kind of citrus...Can that even be considered a PWP? And even though this may seem awfully familiar *sweatdrops*, this IS a new story. No, really. Continuation of my Ranma/Ryouga stories, found at http://members.tripod.com/~marymqc/fanfic.html ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Do you love me?" Ryouga blinked at the question. "Yeah, of course I do. You know I do." A serious expression kept Ranma's eyes locked on the Lost Boy. "But I need to hear you say it." The barely controlled emotions in Ranma's voice felt like a slap to a face, snapping Ryouga into realization. Concern suddenly clenching his stomach, Ryouga searched Ranma's face and eyes, looking for signs of the extent of the other boy's emotions. He could guess - actually, it was more certain than a guess - at what he was feeling at the moment. After all, the reactions Ranma got after he had confessed his feelings to his friends, families, and fiancees were far from pleasant. Ryouga believed that being trampled by a herd of elephants on a bed of nails would have been closer to pleasant than the backlash Ranma got from his parents. But from the lost look in Ranma's eyes, Ryouga knew that it was much worse than that. Ryouga stepped closer to Ranma, bringing him a few inches in front of the smaller boy. "Ranma, I love you. With my whole being, my whole existence, I love you." He could only hope that would be enough for Ranma. Tugging at his brain was an uncertain feeling that he in no way could be worth the pain Ranma was going through with his family, but he resolved to make sure Ranma didn't regret his decision. Ranma quickly granted him with a small smile before he wandered over to the couch. "Thank you." With a barely audible sigh, he sat down and leaned back against the cushions, closing his eyes. Ryouga watched him for a few silent moments, his face set with concern. The flipping of his stomach wasn't needed to tell him how much he hated the quiet depression Ranma had sunk into. He had his own share of depression to know how horrible it felt. But unlike Ryouga had always been, Ranma wasn't alone. And Ryouga planned on using that advantage to its fullest. Ryouga carefully made his way to the couch, keeping his eyes on Ranma so he couldn't get turned around. He gingerly took a seat next to the other boy, frowning slightly at the obvious despondent aura that surrounded Ranma. Ryouga felt lost, not sure where to begin. Never having been close to anyone else his whole life, he had no experience in cheering people up, especially a depressed lover. Ranma made no sign that he was aware of Ryouga beside him, although Ryouga knew Ranma had to be conscious of his presence. While trying to decide what his first move should be, Ryouga watched him closely. Ranma's head was tilted slightly back as he leant against the couch. His eyes were closed and his forehead was free of any creases formed from troubled feelings. By almost all appearances, he seemed to be relaxing peacefully. But, although it was barely perceptible, the corners of his mouth were turned down, the only outward sign of Ranma's emotions. Ryouga sighed and also leaned back against the couch, keeping his eyes on him. Suddenly without any warning, Ranma's face crumpled up. Alarmed, Ryouga tensed, not sure how to react. Ranma's face twitched a few times in its scrunched up state as he struggled to control his emotions. After a few long seconds of fighting to compose himself, Ranma gradually relaxed his face as he shoved his feelings back deep inside once more. Ryouga bit his lip and finally came to a decision. Without a word, he scooted closer to Ranma and wrapped an arm around him. The moment he felt Ryouga's touch, Ranma tensed and his breathing grew heavy from the sobs that threatened to escape. Ryouga sensed the emotions bubbling underneath the surface and he pulled Ranma close to him, offering him support, an anchor he could hang on to. Ranma immediately lost hold of his composure as he buried his face into Ryouga's chest, a single choked sob bursting from his throat. This position caused images from their time in the woods to pop in Ryouga's head. However, this time their positions were reversed. And although he was upset over Ranma's distress, there were none of those uncomfortable feelings present the first time. And unlike the first time, there were no tears. Ranma's years of training to "being a man among men" prevented Ranma from fully letting go of his emotions. His eyes were squeezed shut, but no water leaked from their lids. Instead, Ranma hung on tightly to Ryouga, clenching the material of Ryouga's shirt in his fists. Ryouga rubbed Ranma's back soothingly, murmuring to him. Seeing Ranma ache like this continued to cause his chest and stomach to clench, and he wanted to do everything in his power to see Ranma happy again. Miserable, emotionally distraught, on-the-verge-of-tears Ranma was something he never wanted to see again. he thought to himself as he placed soft kisses on the top of Ranma's head. Ryouga's arms gently but firmly squeezed Ranma, as if trying to give Ranma support and comfort through their force around him. Ryouga wanted to assure the boy in his arms that he was there, make him aware of his presence. One large hand continued to stroke Ranma's back lightly while the other firmly grasped the opposite side of Ranma's waist. It wasn't long - much sooner than Ryouga had expected - before Ranma's grip on Ryouga's shirt loosened. As emotions drained away and exhaustion seeped in, Ryouga felt Ranma's body gradually relax until he was completely limp. A soft smile played on Ryouga's lips as he kissed Ranma through his bangs; Ranma was asleep. As gently and smoothly as he could, Ryouga eased Ranma's body down and away. Soon, he situated Ranma so that his head rested in Ryouga's lap with his lean body stretched out away from him. Ryouga ran his fingers over and through Ranma's silky hair absently, worry for the other boy still gnawing at his mind. However, he had to smile and sigh with relief at the sight of Ranma's peaceful, almost vulnerable facial expression. All signs of stress were gone in his sleep. As always, Ranma's hair was soft under his fingers. As he continued to play with his hair, Ryouga leaned his head back lazily against the back of the couch, stifling a yawn. By trying to soothe Ranma, he had managed to make himself sleepy as well. Ryouga sighed as his eyes slipped shut, gently resting his hand on Ranma's head. A few moments later, he felt a light pressure against his leg. The feeling disappeared as quickly as it came, but it was soon followed by another. Ryouga opened his eyes curiously and looked down. Even though his eyes were still closed, Ranma apparently wasn't asleep. Instead, he had his face turned inward against Ryouga's leg and was placing very light kisses through the material of his pants. It was a lazy gesture, but one that caused a very slight shiver to race though Ryouga nevertheless. In return, he resumed his stroking of Ranma's hair. They spent the next few moments like this; Ranma randomly kissing Ryouga's thigh and Ryouga caressing his hair. Then, to Ryouga's surprise, Ranma began running a hand up and down the lower half of Ryouga's leg. Sighing contentedly, Ryouga enjoyed the feel as the warm hand rubbed up and down in a slow, idle manner. Soon Ranma's light kissing progressed. He slowly made his way along Ryouga's thigh, leaving soft kisses in his trail. His eyes opened by now, he inched his way up, sprinkling warm pecks with his lips over his hip and waist. Ryouga forced himself to remain calm at Ranma's slow, maddening pace. Bypassing Ryouga's torso, Ranma went straight to Ryouga's neck and shoulders. First he kissed Ryouga's shoulder firmly through Ryouga's shirt and then he pulled the material down over his shoulder so he could kiss bare skin. Then he trailed warm, wet kisses towards Ryouga's neck. As he nibbled the juncture between the neck and shoulder, Ranma slipped a hand down into Ryouga's shirt and stretched the collar down to bare the top edge of his chest. Leaving his neck, Ranma began sliding his mouth down, kissing his collar bone and running a tongue along it before moving as far down as the shirt would let him. He dragged his lips across his smooth chest, climbing on top of Ryouga to reach his desired targets. Ryouga squirmed as Ranma's wet mouth followed the edge of his shirt's stretched collar all the way to his other shoulder. Then Ranma's kisses made their way back until he was at the center. There Ranma changed directions and begin to move up. These kisses were nowhere near as light as the ones Ranma placed on his leg. He kissed and nibbled and licked all over Ryouga's neck. Whenever he found a particularly sensitive spot, he would spend extra time to suck and nip at it. Ryouga found his arms clenching tightly around Ranma with the feelings that were shooting through him. After much struggling, Ryouga finally found his voice. "Ranma? Are you okay?" "Mmmm," Ranma murmured against Ryouga's skin, placing an extra firm, wet kiss against the crook of his neck. "I'm getting there." He lifted his head and attacked Ryouga's mouth. Ryouga began to respond immediately as Ranma's mouth covered his own. His lips began to knead Ranma's as he slipped his tongue out and forced it into Ranma's mouth. Ranma accepted it at once, his own tongue playing with the intruder. Opening his lips wider to gain better access, Ryouga fervently explored Ranma's mouth with his tongue. Warm, tingling wetness caressed warm, tingling wetness as their mouths mashed together. After a few moments, Ryouga leaned backwards until he was laying prone on the couch, pulling Ranma with him. Ranma eagerly re-situated himself so the he was resting comfortably on top of the larger boy. Arms wrapped possessively around each other's body. Ryouga captured Ranma's mouth again, but this kiss was more gentle and slow. Ryouga felt as if he needed to express to Ranma his deep love and devotion through the tender touch, and he wanted to make sure his feelings were felt by Ranma. The kiss was very slow. It lasted until it gradually became no longer a kiss anymore, but rather just a resting of lips against lips. Eventually, Ranma's lips slid past Ryouga's mouth, gently breaking the contact. Ranma snuggled and hugged tightly against Ryouga's chest, burying his face in the warm crook of Ryouga's neck. Ryouga closed his eyes, a slight, contented smile on his face. He couldn't help but relish the warmth from Ranma's body pressed against his. It felt so wonderful and peaceful, relaxing quietly with his love in his arms. Ranma's head nuzzled his neck and he felt more than he heard Ranma's lips as they softly spoke against his skin. "I love you too, Ryouga."