Chapter Text
This whole situation was like something straight out of one of Ryouga’s nightmares. Ranma was barely treading water next to him but still insistent on keeping a hold of him as she struggled onto a nearby floating tree trunk. Ryouga knew his rival(friend?) must have been seriously injured in their fall. The redhead managed to drape herself across the trunk in a way that it wouldn’t tip them into the raging river, Ryouga himself tucked underneath one arm. The small piglet made an indignant and worried whine, which Ranma ignored.
A pained blue eye drifted over to him,
“Gotta keep ya from drowning, dumbass.” she huffed.
Then she was silent. Ryouga felt his heart stutter painfully in his chest. He watched Ranma intently and couldn’t help the sigh of relief that escaped when he noticed she was still breathing. The small piglet wriggled out of Ranma’s hold; the task concerningly easy now that the redhead was limp. Carefully he crawled up onto her back where he could possibly signal for help. Akane was a smart and strong woman. Since the monster that kidnapped her was busy with them he was sure she had figured out a way to escape.
And right he was. He was just beginning to get desperate when they rounded a bend in the river. (Ranma had been unconscious for several minutes now and Ryouga had never known the martial artist to be down for more than a few seconds.) Akane was on the rocky shore just opposite of them. Ryouga started squealing as loudly as he could. Jumping up and down to get the young woman’s attention. Sure it wouldn’t make sense for “P-chan” to be here but that didn’t matter. Not when their lives were at stake. Akane seemed shocked to see them before calling out to them, fear and concern in her voice.
“P-chan! Ranma!”
Ryouga did an internal fist pump. She saw them. He tried tapping Ranma’s face with his tiny hooves, hoping to finally wake her. It did nothing. Icy fear clutched at his spine…Ranma had also never been this unresponsive. Before he could dwell on it anymore a giant shadow loomed over them and he recognized with dread the monster was back. In his desperation he began to bounce on Ranma’s face; squealing as loudly as he did when he was calling for Akane. He’s not sure what did it. If it was him or if Ranma sensed the murderous presence above them. But her eyes flew open and she flipped onto her feet; being sure to nab Ryouga as the beast struck downward where they just were.
“You dirty-“ she snarled, “Take this!”
The redhead landed with all her weight on the far end of the trunk, driving its opposite end up under the chin of the monster. It shrieked in pain. It was then that a cry from Akane came from the rocky beach; a cry far too late,
“The falls! Ranma, look out-!”
Ranma made a questioning noise as the weight suddenly dropped out from under her. Ryouga’s eyes widened in realization a point of a fraction before Ranma. Then she was screaming as they fell down the falls and landed with a hard splash at the bottom. Ryouga has a hard time parcing what happens next. Everything happened so quickly. He tumbled under the water for a time before a hand tossed him away and then he was floating downstream. His eyes pop open under the water and he sees Ranma drifting down; as limp as she was on that trunk.
Fear and fire burned in Ryouga’s heart. He dove towards Ranma’s sinking body and snatched her pigtail between his teeth. Later he’ll account it to his incredible strength that he was able to pull Ranma to the surface so quickly but when recounting the rescue to the others, they likened it to when the rush of adrenaline one gets when someone they love is trapped under a car. This observation will make Ryouga reflect deeply on his relationship with his rival but that’s a story for another time. Now he focuses on pulling Ranma to safety.
To his relief he can feel her breathing, if somewhat laboriously, against his side. He’s sure to keep her face above the water as he paddles aggressively through the current. The flow is against his back fortunately so it helps push him and Ranma forward but has the unfortunate side effect of washing over their heads occasionally. But every time the small piglet is able to shake it off and keep going. He doesn’t know how long he’s been swimming until he realizes the river has dumped them out into a calm, still lake. Strength renewed, Ryouga swims for the nearest shore. His bleary eyes focused ahead of him. Not once this entire time had Ranma stirred against him. And while she is still breathing; he fears some terrible wound has befell her but one he can’t see.
Remarkably he’s able to pull them both to the shoreline. Even able to pull Ranma’s limp body out of the water completely. But as soon as he does, Ranma's head falls to the side. As if nothing is supporting it anymore. Her cheek squished uncomfortably against her high collar and the rocky terrain. Ryouga whined, fear and concern bleeding through his tone. Instinctively he crawled up onto Ranma’s chest and curled onto it. He took comfort in how it rose and fell, even though it shuddered occasionally. He’s not sure how long the two of them stayed like that but he’s suddenly startled awake by a heavy hand on his head. (When had he fallen asleep?) He glances upward and notices Ranma watching him with tired, pain filled eyes. Alarmingly he also notices some blood dribbling from her mouth. It fell in a line down her cheek and pooled on the rocks below.
Ryouga’s ears shot up between her hand and he made a distressed noise, one hoof coming up to touch Ranma’s cheek. She gave a weak chuckle, it popped and bubbled with blood. Ryouga hated that. The redhead gave him a soft scratch behind his ear,
“I dunno if I’m going to make it, bud.”
She said these words slowly and haltingly. As if talking caused her great pain. Hell, it might have for all he knew. Ryouga whined again. Ranma shook her head slightly,
“Promise me something…t-take care of Akane for me.”
Ryouga’s eyes widened. His heart was torn. Wasn’t this what he wanted all along? But not like this! His mind hissed, Not as a blessing as if Ranma is…as if he’s-no he couldn’t even finish the thought. Ranma wasn’t dying! He would make sure of it! He relayed his thoughts in angry squeals which, as she always seemed to do, Ranma understood perfectly. She gave him a wobbly smile.
“Thanks for the confidence, Ryouga…” she exhaled, blood staining her lips, “Just…know you’re the only one I trust to care for her if I-“
She can’t finish as a bout of hacking coughs cuts her off. Ryouga leaps off her as she rolls over and spits up more congealed blood onto the stone. Her arms tremble as she all but collapses back down. Ryouga can feel tears gathering behind his eyes. He presses his head against hers’ in an attempt to comfort her. Perhaps himself too. His heart thunders with the idea, the possibility of losing Ranma. He can’t think of living in a world without his rival in it. He closes his eyes and allows the tears to fall.