Die of Change: A lost boy's luck changes…but for better or worse?

Unending BE - episode 844413

"Where the hell am I now?" Hibiki Ryoga asked for the umpteenth time that day. He was struggling to make his way back to Nerima before the day was over. He couldn't afford to be late, couldn't afford to let his…friend down. Especially not after he'd found such a great gift for her! He was sure she would love the gold bracelet with its six gems of various colors. And it was so cheap, too. Even if it was only costume jewelry—though the wrinkled old man at the antiques shop assured him it was all real gold and precious stones—Ryoga was confident that it was pretty enough to make the dear Akane smile.

But it would all be for naught if he couldn't even make it to her house in time! Umbrella in his left hand, Ryoga clutched his other recent acquisition in his right. The small, sparkling ice-blue die, which the shopowner claimed to have simply found in an abandoned lot just a day earlier, had called to him. Its delicate, gold-inlaid numbers spanning twenty sides glimmered in the afternoon sun. Ryoga had never been one for games, but he was certain he needed the multifaceted gem for himself. And ever since purchasing it (for even more of a steal than the bracelet), he'd felt the growing urge to roll it and see what number came up. His frustration over his current predicament mounting, he grumbled, "What the heck? Might as well give it a shot. It can't hurt, right?

"Can I get to the Tendo Dojo before I miss Akane's birthday?" Ryoga asked himself as he bent down and rolled the die on the sidewalk. It soon tumbled to a stop on 15. "Well, that's pretty good. So, I'll get there soon, huh?" he said with a chuckle, retrieving the die and standing to resume his journey.

"Alright! Gotta keep going. Wait for me, Akane!" the Hibiki boy shouted, rushing off in a random direction.

An hour later, after only a few more wrong turns and false starts, Ryoga was shocked to find himself staring at the name plaque for the Tendo estate. "Yes! I did it! My luck is finally improving!" he declared joyously.

Welcomed into the house by the eldest daughter, Kasumi, Ryoga soon found himself face to face with the girl of the hour and the object of his affection, Tendo Akane.

"Ryoga! It's wonderful to see you. I'm so glad you could make it!" she exclaimed, pulling the boy into a warm (but platonic) embrace. Nearby, Ryoga's archnemesis and Akane's fiancé, Saotome Ranma, scowled.

"Surprised ya got here, porkbutt," Ranma growled. "Did ya convince some nice old lady to lead ya here by the hand or somethin'?"

"Ranma! Stop picking on Ryoga. This is my birthday and I won't let you ruin it!" Akane chided.

"Me? Ya gotta know he's gonna cause trouble!"

"For your information, Ranma, I found my way here on my own. Like I'd miss Akane's birthday!" Ryoga replied.

"Awww, thanks, Ryoga. You're a great friend," the Tendo girl said with a smile.

"Don't say I didn't warn ya," Ranma mumbled.

After dinner and dessert (Kasumi had baked a lovely cake for her younger sister), it was time to pass out presents. Kasumi's gift was a new yellow dress, Akane's favorite color. The middle daughter, Nabiki, gave a gift card to Akane's favorite restaurant, along with forgiving 507f Akane's debt to her. Their father, Soun, gave his daughter an overnight trip for two to a hot spring, causing Akane to blush. Ranma's parents, Genma and Nodoka (though it was really only Nodoka's idea, as Genma couldn't be bothered with such things) gave Akane certificate good for six weeks of "bridal lessons" with a renowned instructor in "womanly arts," for which Akane could only weakly offer thanks. Ranma then declared that he would give his gift when there weren't so many people around, earning a variety of innuendo-laced comments from the family and leaving both Ranma and Akane red-faced despite his protests that "It ain't like that!"

Finally, it was time for Ryoga's gift. Pulling the carefully wrapped box from his massive traveling pack, he handed it to its recipient. "Happy birthday, Akane," the Hibiki boy said simply, unconsciously pulling the sparkling die from his pocket as he sat back down.

Akane gave a gentle smile as she began unwrapping the small box. As she did so, Ryoga turned the die over and over in his palm. Just as she opened the box and pulled out its contents, he dropped the die to the floor in front of him.

"Please let her like it," he whispered.

The die landed on 19.

Akane gasped. It was so…so beautiful. The way the gems seemed almost to glow was practically entrancing. It had to be, without a doubt, the most amazing gift anyone had ever given her. Eyes shining, she turned to Ryoga. In an instant, she knew how she had to repay him.

Leaping across the table, she landed squarely in the stunned boy's lap. Paying no mind to the shocked looks of her family and fiancé, Akane took Ryoga's face in her hands. "Thank you…so much, Ryoga. I hope this shows you how much I appreciate it," she whispered, bringing her lips to his.

He couldn't believe it. The girl he'd desired for so long was kissing him. And not just any kiss! She was positively plastered against him, allowing him to feel her every curve in detail. Being so close must have also given her a clear indication of his growing response to her affections, but that seemed only to encourage her efforts. Indeed, their tongues were soon wrestling for dominance as Ryoga fully lost himself to the intensity of the moment. Finally, after several long minutes, a panting Akane pulled away to gaze lovingly into the Hbiki boy's eyes.

"AKANE! What has gotten into you!? How could you do such a thing in front of your fiancé!?" Soun bellowed, jolting Akane out of her lust-filled haze.

"Eep!" she shrieked, jumping away from Ryoga. "I…what…how…I didn't mean to! I don't know what happened!" she babbled, blushing more furiously than she ever had before. Looking around the room (but studiously avoiding Ryoga's gaze), she took in the expressions of her loved ones. Soun was furious, while Kasumi regarded her with a worried look. Nabiki was busy taking pictures of the scene, sure that they would fetch a high price. Ranma's parents looked on with flat glares. Finally turning to Ranma, she saw the look of heartbreak and betrayal etched into his features. Akane felt tears spill down her cheeks. "Ranma…I didn't…I'm…I'm sorry," she whispered, fleeing to her bedroom.

"Oh my," Kasumi said sadly.

Standing, Ranma turned his gaze to Ryoga as the temperature in the room dropped precipitously. "You," he said icily, his eyes practically glowing, "What did you do?"

Shaking off his stupor, Ryoga raised his hands in protest. "I didn't do anything!" he shouted, jumping to his feet.

"You think I believe that, bacon breath?" the Saotome boy snapped, his aura springing up around him. "You think I forgot about that koi rod stunt? Hardly. I know you did somethin'. You'd best get ready, P-chan, 'cause you're so dead."