The Legacy
A Ranma � fanfic
by Joseph "Ashira" Kohle
All characters are the products of the imagination of the esteemable
Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video and several Japanese companies.
They are used without her permission. Hey I would ask if I knew her
e-mail address.
Part IX
For the Sake of a Child
Nabiki returned in the early evening, a large smile on her face. "I
love having people owe me favors," she said walking into the house.
"What do you mean?" Genma asked looking up from his game of
go. Soun removed three of Genma's pieces and replaced them with his own
stones.
Nabiki waved a large legal envelope at him, "This is what I mean,"
and she threw the envelope onto the table. "Where's Ranma? Tell him you
guys have to be ready to leave in a few hours."
Genma pointed towards the backyard and walked over to the
envelope. Opening it he dumped the contents on the table. There were five
small black books and five plane tickets lying on the table. He picked up
one of the tickets and looked at it. His eyes bulged out as he saw what was
written on it.
Nabiki was walking back into the house with Ranma and Akane
next to her, talking to them quietly. "Nabiki, how did you afford these?"
Genma asked in a strangled voice, holding the tickets up. Ranma stepped
forward and took one.
"First class?" Ranma said stunned, "We can't afford these, Nabiki."
"Don't worry, Ranma," Nabiki laughed, patting Ranma's cheek,
"Someone at the airline owed me a big favor. I won't even charge you,
accept for the service fee of course."
Ranma glared at her, and then laughed, "I guess changing you
would be impossible."
"No, just a very big challenge. You up to it?" Nabiki said.
"Uh, no. I kinda like you this way," Ranma said, and then hugged
her, "Arigato. You don't know how much this means to me."
Blushing Nabiki, pushed herself away from Ranma, and dropped
her eyes, "No problem, Ran-chan. What's a big sister for anyway?" she
said, obviously unsettled. Akane glared at Ranma, but stopped when he
smiled back at her, winking. Akane smiled and shook her head. Ranma had
a lot of surprises in him yet, and she was glad he had found some hope in
this.
She looked back at the table and picked up one of the black books.
She examine dit for a second and then turned to Nabiki, "What are these?"
"Emergency passports and VISAS, to get you into China," she
explained like it was nothing.
"How the heck did you get these?" Akane asked stunned.
Nabiki giggled, "I caught the Chinese Ambassador in a rather,
ahem, uncompromising position. He owes me big time for covering that
one
up. This pays back part of the debt. Hey you needed to be able to enter
legally. I don't think Ranma's approach would work that well."
Ranma glared at her and picked up one of the passports. "I think ti
is time to get going." He said and went to round up everyone who was
going. Akane just starred at her sister. <She must attract scandal. That is
the only explanation.> she did not even want to think about what she had
seen, or why she had been there in the first place.
"Arigato, oneechan," Akane said, hugging her, "We owe you."
"Just bring back Ranko and Ranma in one piece, and I'll call it
even, Akane-chan. There has been enough grief in this family." Nabiki
kissed Akane's forehead and went upstairs. Akane followed Nabiki with her
eyes, love for her sister filling her heart. As her sister disappeared upstairs,
Akane put down the passport and hurried upstairs to get packed.
"Ranma will you sit down," Akane said for the fourth time,
"Pacing will not get the plane into the air or there any faster.".
Glancing at her Ranma threw up his hands and sank into the seat
next to her, the plush cushions conforming to his body. "It works of my
impatience," Ranma said, "I can't stand this waiting. I want to be in
Jusenkyo, now. I want Ranko back."
Leaning towards him, Akane kissed his cheek, "Don't worry, Ran-chan,
we will get her back. Try and get some sleep, you need it." Pulling up
the arm rest between their two seats, she leaned her head on his shoulder,
and wrapped her arms around his waist. Soon she was sleeping.
Ranma held her gently, his ribs were bothering him again, throbbing
every time he moved, but it was something he could ignore. He was still
impatient. He wanted to pace up and down, maybe threaten the pilot to
make sure he got them there as fast as possible, but he knew Akane was
right. Worrying and fretting would not help anything.
Sighing he watched her sleep. Since Ryoga had attacked them,
something had happened to her. She was regaining her confidence as he
lost his. She was there to support him when he needed it. Ever since Ranko
had been kidnaped, she had been by his side, comforting him, giving him
someone to talk to, work out his problems with.
He hoped this would change everything between them. They had
been growing closer during the crisis that had been dropped on them. But
would it last afterwards? He did not even know if he would live through
this. It was becoming difficult to think of a life without Ranko, but could he
hurt Akane again? He did not want to...but he could not be sure what he
would do if Kaidu won. The possibility frightened him.
He sought comfort in Ranko's presence in his mind. She was
awake, but Ryoga was leaving her alone. She was hungry and scared, but
otherwise fine as far as he could tell. Ryoga had slapped Ranko several
times in the past few hours. Every time he felt one, Ranma's rage boiled
over. He could barely contain himself.
It angered him that someone was hitting his child. He had never
struck Ranko, even in punishment. He could not bring himself to do it. He
knew when she was sorry. He could feel her pain and shame of her actions.
Besides hitting her was like hitting himself. He could not do it, nut Ryoga
could, and that was unbearable for Ranma.
<Stop it. You can't do anything until you get there, and worrying
about it won't help.> Sighing Ranma actually listened to himself. Pulling
Akane closer, he breathed in the herbal-scent of her hair, feeling the warm
resistance of her body. He was soon slipping into sleep, still holding Akane
to him.
Ranma was standing on barren and rocky ground surrounded by
still pools with bamboo shafts rising out of them. He did not recognize this
part of Jusenkyo, but he knew it had to be Jusenkyo, no other place looked
like this.
A calm breeze blew around him, caressing his bare cheek and
tugging at his clothes. The blue sky above was dotted with white clouds.
Birds cartwheeling through the air trilled their lonely songs. It was
beautiful, but around him there was only the bleak suffering of Jusenkyo. It
was a depressing feeling that weighed down on Ranma's soul. The
suffering of this place as distinctive and odious as the reek of a
decaying carcass.
Beneath it all he heard the fearful cries of a child being carried to
him by the wind. "Ranko," he breathed, taking a few steps towards the
sound, and then a few more. He was soon walking fast towards the source,
his feet drawn to the child's cries like a sailor to his rocky death at the feet
of the Sirens.
He was running now searching through the hundreds of pools
hidden in the rocky valley. Ranko's cries were becoming louder with each
passing second, at times they were filled with fear, at others pain, but
always the desperate longing in the voice for himself.
He searched and searched through the pools, the source of the
voice always eluding him. It always seemed to be coming from over the
next clump of boulders, but when he jumped them he found only lifeless
pools, the cry now coming from a different direction. Frustration and fury
were taking hold in Ranma. His side was aching from running, trying to
find his daughter, his ribs throbbing in pain.
"Where is she? Stop playing games with me. I want me daughter
back!" Ranma screamed as he cleared another boulder only to find the area
barren and lifeless.
"You can't have her," a dark voice rumbled from behind Ranma.
Spinning Ranma turned to faced his opponent, and stopped at what
he saw. The figure of a powerful man stood between two pools. His form
obscured by the dark malevolence of his soul as it swirled around him. But
the man held only a passing interest for Ranma, it was the pools and what
hey contained.
On the man's right was the waters of nyaniichuan, its surface
glowing with a white light. Tendo's of white mist rose from its surface and
spread out around the pool. One brushed Ranma and he felt the deep
sorrow and tragedy that infected the landscape around Jusenkyo, but
beneath it was hope and love, soothing his soul.
The scene to the man's left horrified Ranma. On the left stood the
swirling dark waters of nannichuan, tendrils of black vapor rose from its
surface to twine around the body of his daughter, who was tied to the
bamboo shaft in the pool's center. Several of the tendrils were latched onto
Ranko, resembling demonic leeches. Others continually brushed her,
causing her to weakly cry out in pain. Some of the white tendrils tried to
reach her, but they could not pass the evil of the pool, breaking up as they
touched a black tendril.
"Ranko!" Ranma cried in grief and rage as he saw this. Heedless of
the consequences he launched himself towards Ranko, intending to take her
away from this. The man only laughed. Ranma understood why when his
body slammed into a wall that formed out of the black vapors directly in
front of him. Pain flared in his chest as he struck with full fore and was
thrown back to the ground, jarring his broken ribs.
Leaping to his feet, Ranma spun to face Kaidu. "Release her," he
growled his voice filled with death, "Release her now!"
"I said you can't have her," Kaidu laughed, "She is mine now, and
nothing can change that." He lifted his hand, a black vapor forming out of
it and streaking towards Ranko. Gently it brushed her face. She screamed.
Ranma's mind went blank.
Howling in rage he attacked Kaidu. The man did not even move as
Ranma flew through the air, and completely passed through the man.
"Fool," Kaidu said, "You can't attack someone who has no body. Ranko is
now..auughh." Kaidu grunted as Ranma's chi blast ripped through him,
tearing away the dark vapor surrounding, exposing his formless soul.
"I said give me my daughter back," another chi blast ripped from
Ranma and streaked towards Kaidu. This time Kaidu dodged it, rolling into
the pool. A second later he emerged once again surrounded by the black
vapors..
"I've had enough of this," he growled. The dark energy began to
swirl around him, faster and faster until a black ball had coalesced in his
hands. "You will not stop me. I will have my revenge." With that he threw
the ball at Ranma.
Ranma leaped to the side to avoid it, but the sphere changed course
and slammed into Ranma's chest sending him flying backwards into the
nyaniichuan. Pain flared in his chest and his soul cried out as the dark
energy ate its way toward his being, but then the waters of nyaniichuan
surrounded him. The pain disappeared, the hungry blackness rushed away
from his soul and smothered. He felt himself changing, turning into his
cursed form. <Ranko> he called out reaching for her, a shining tendril of
vapor stretching from his hand to her body. His soul touched hers, he could
feel all the pain and suffering in her body, the agony of being drained of her
life. Crying Ranma did all he could do, he sent his love, his compassion for
his child to her. He enfolded her in his love, trying to protect her. He felt
her suffering lessen, her pain disappear. He could feel the strength
returning to her. Desperately he gave her everything he had, pouring his
whole soul into her, willing her to be better.
He could only do so much. Exhausted the connection slowly broke
as the dark vapors coalesced around Ranko. "Don't' leave me Otoosan,"
Ranko called.
"I won't," he shouted back, "I'll always be with you, even if you
can't see me. I love you, himechan." The connection broke. Ranma sobbed
as he lost his daughter. The waters of the nyaniichuan surrounded him,
took him deeper. <Ranko, I will save you. I promise.> He was descending
towards a bright light. Slowly it enveloped him, easing his mind and
worries,
pushing him into sleep.
Ranma's eyes opened in the darkened first class section. The dream
had been so real, so vivid. Gently he reached out towards Ranko with his
mind. Peace, comfort and strength radiated back from her. Maybe it had
been more than a dream. <Soon, Ranko. I will be there soon.>
<You did well, Ranma> Hui-cheng said.
<Then it wasn't a dream?>
<No it was a dream.>
<Then I didn't do anything.>
<Ranma just because it was a dream does not mean what you did
had no effect.> Hui-cheng explained.
<What do you mean?>
<Your connection to Ranko is spiritual more than physical, so it is
stronger in your dreams.>
<So I did help he? It's not just false hope.>
<If you had not done what you did, we would have been to late to
help her. Kaidu is very impatient.>
<What is he doing to her?> Ranma asked worried and scarred.
<He is destroying Ranko's life force and soul. He is getting his
revenge against me by destroying my chance at a fresh start.>
Ranma shuddered, he did not like hearing about Ranko dying.
<Why can't you just stop him?><
<Because we cannot interact anymore with out a medium. Wee are
both tied to the pools. You are my medium and Ryoga is his. We use you
for our own ends you to protect Ranko, Ryoga to hurt her.>
<But he was the one hurting Ranko in the dream.>
<He has her next to or in the nanniichuan. That gives him direct
control over her, the power to hurt her.>
<How the heck do I defeat someone who has no body? If I defeat
Ryoga, it doesn't stop Kaidu. I can't stop him!>
<You just did. Somehow you and Ranko together have a power
that can counter Kaidu's rage and hate. Just look what you did for Ranko
in that short contact you had with her. You reversed everything Kaidu had
done up to that point. You gave us the chance we need. Trust in yourself.>
<I hope I can save her. I hope I can.>
<Get some sleep, Ranma. You are probably weak from what you
did.>
<Huh?>
<Try standing up, you'll see.> and then she was gone
Shrugging Ranma tried to stand up and found that his arms simply
refused to take his weight. All of his strength was gone. Trying again he
only exhausted himself trying to get the same result.. He sank back into his
seat. As he did Akane reached out to him murmuring in her sleep.
Ranma draped his arm around her shoulder. Sighing she rolled into
him, burrowing into his body. Ranma hugged her. He was worried and her
presence helped to comfort him. Stroking her hair he gently drifted into a
deep untroubled sleep,, Ranko peaceful in his mind.
<Leave her alone> Ryoga demanded as he watched the girl's eyes
snap open, her head thrown back in pain. <You said you would not hurt
her.>
<I said I would not kill her. I said nothing about hurting her. This is
personal. It is none of your business fool>
Ryoga snarled in frustration. He could not reason with Kaidu. He
did not need Ryoga once he was back at the pool. He cringed as the child
screamed.
This was not the way to do this. It was not honorable. He wanted
to defeat Ranma, but torturing his daughter did nothing towards that end.
It only gratified Kaidu.
Another scream echoed through the valley. Ryoga found his eyes
drawn to the girl. He did not love the girl, or even care about her, but her
appearance saddened him. Pity for the child welled up as he watched her.
She hung from a crosspiece on the bamboo shaft in the middle of
the nannichuan, her legs dangling int he water. Her head hung limp against
her small chest, her read hair matted and disheveled around her pale face.
He did not know how Kaidu was hurting her, there were no marks on her
body, but her scream were so filled with pain and horror her eyes filled
haunted when she looked up at him pleading him to free her.
Ryoga wanted to, but he could not get close enough to her. He was
useless. Was this worth Ranma's defeat? Could he allow this to continue?
No he could not, but what could he do. He had tried at first to save the girl
and had been nearly killed when Kaidu and countered his attempt with a
massive globe of darkness forming around him and crushing him until he
relented.
<I cant do it by myself.> He knew that he would stand no chance,
but if he had help? Yes, maybe then. If the girl could hold on just a little
longer.
A plan was forming in his head. He just hoped he it would work.
<hurry Ranma. I need you I promise I will make amends, just get here.>
"It hurts," Ranko sobbed, "Please make it stop. Please." The only
answer was more of the black smoke coming towards her. Shuddering in
fear, she tried to pull herself away from them, but she could not. They
touched her skin, sending chills through her body. They passed through her
skin turning into icy stabs of pain as the y made their way to the center of
her being. Pain shot through her. She started screaming as the pain washed
over her It seemed to last an eternity, but then they were gone, and she was
weaker, crying in pain and misery.
She wanted her father. He would make everything better. She knew
he could. He had tried to last night. She remembered him leaping towards
her, trying to get to her. The n he had disappeared into the other pool.
Then he had suddenly been with her, taking away all the pain, making her
happy, safe, and strong, but then he had been gone leaving her lonely. She
missed her father.
She was so lonely, "Otoosan, please come for me. I miss you. He
keeps hurting me. Please Otoosan. Please,". She sobbed, her voice
breaking on most of the words. She was so tired. It was so hard to stay
awake, she wanted to sleep. She did not hurt when she slept.
<Stay awake Ranko. Otoosan is coming for you.>
<It hurts> Ranko told the lady's voice.
<I know but he will make it better.>
Ranko nodded, trusting the lady. It was going to be hard, but she
promised to stay awake for Otoosan. She shuddered as more of the black
smoke came towards her.
Ranma clenched his fist as the pain hit Ranko again, crushing the
can of soda soaking the cars carpet between his feet. His teeth were
grinding together, causing everyone in the car to wince.
"What's wrong, son?" Genma asked from passenger seat.
"He's hurting her again, " Ranma seethed through clenched teeth.
Her agony was building to a crescendo in his head, before suddenly letting
go, leaving her lost sobbing echoing in his mind.
"How much longer?" Ranma demanded, his anger had been rising
steadily since they had landed. Ranko's pain and suffering were unbearable
for him.
"Thirty minute," the driver said.
Ranma grunted in response, his eyes scanning the landscape outside
of the sport vehicle. It was flat enough, not too rocky, "Go faster," he
commanded.
The driver looked back at his passenger and swallowed once at the
look of rage on Ranma's face and increased his speed.
"Ranma, hurrying won't make anything better," Nodoka said, Soun
and Akane nodding agreement.
"Yes it will," Ranma responded, watching the land roll past them,
"She's dying. I don't have much more time before I lose her. I can't let that
happen." Ranko was exhausted, her spirit weak and downtrodden. She
wanted to sleep, escape the pain, he could feel that in his mind. Somehow
he knew she would not last much longer. He had to stop this. He had to
stop Kaidu before he could kill Ranko.
The car was going as fast as it could over this terrain. Ranko was
suffering. Kaidu was ahead. Twenty more minutes at most. All Ranma
could do was sit quietly and endure as the time slowly ticked away, his
impatience and anger making each minute an hour of grief.
Ignoring everyone, he concentrated on Ranko, trying to encourage
her, trying to make her understand she only had to wait a little longer. He
poured his soul into it, but he could not feel any change in his daughter. It
seemed to be useless, but he refused to give up. He would not let Ranko
die.
Slowly the time passed, and Ranma became more agitated, more
angry, as Ranko suffered in his mind. Finally the car was slowing down,
coming to a stop in front of a small cottage. Ranma recognized it. It was
the guide's home. The fact was unimportant though. He was at Jusenkyo.
Ranko was here.
Quickly he shoved the door open and leaped out of the car onto the
ground, starting to run the moment his feet hit the ground. "Ranma, wait!"
Akane called as he took off, "You can't just run in there, you'll get killed."
Ranma stopped in his tracks and glanced back at the car. Everyone
was piling out of it, moving quickly towards Ranma, Akane running to him,
and grabbing his arm. "You're in no condition for this Ranma. Physically or
mentally. I don't want you dying because you make a mistake."
Nodding Ranma waited for the rest. He could be patient when he
wanted to. He understood the logic behind what Akane said. He would not
throw away Ranko's only chance because of his anger. He had to figure
things out first, make sure he did the right thing, but he had to hurry,
Ranko did not have much time, he could feel it.
"Fine, but let's get moving, I have a few scores to settle," he
responded, a dangerous gleam in his eye.
They moved away from the hut and into Jusenkyo valley. Ranma
knew his way around the place. He knew where the pools he wanted were
to be found. He knew exactly how long it would take to get there. As he
walked his pace increased with each step, until he was jogging past the
pools. Ranko's cries were getting weaker in his head, she was dying. He
needed to get to her.
The other's were close on his heels, keeping his pace. They were
not trying to slow him down, for which he was grateful. He needed to
hurry. Time was slipping away like grains of sand through his fingers.
<Please let me be in time.>
He sprinted up a hill, realizing that his goal was just over the lip.
Just before the crest, he forced himself to slow and move the rest of the
way to the top stealthily. Breaching the crest, he looked down on the small
valley that held several dozen pools, he saw his objective. His heart leaped
into his throat, his rage building.
Beside him he heard Akane gasp, "Oh God, Why Ryoga?"
His mother was speechless just starring at the sight before her.
Genma was crushing a rock in his fist. Even Soun was muttering evilly
under his breath.
Before him Ranko was tied to a bamboo shaft in the middle of the
nannichuan. Her small body hung limp from the crosspiece, her head lolling
against her chest as she breathed in short gasps. Conflicting emotions raged
within Ranma. Fear, grief, guilt, and anger rushed into his mind, blanking
his thoughts. There was only Ranko's suffering. But then his gaze fell on
Ryoga. His mind went instantly calm. There was nothing in it accept cold
rage. Standing up, he began walking down the hill. He heard the others
calling him back, but he ignored it. Ryoga was starring at his daughter,
watching her suffer. He would die for this, but Ranma would do it proper.
"Ryoga." he snarled, "Kaidu khan. Prepare yourselves., for I will
destroy you this day." his voice was calm, but it echoed across the valley as
his solemn proclamation.
Ryoga spun around and looked at Ranma. Ranma saw hope and
relief flood Ryoga's face. He did not even seem to notice the cold blue aura
surrounding Ranma. "Ranma, I'm so glad you're here," Ryoga shouted
taking a step towards Ranma, "We have to help.." Suddenly he clutched his
head, dropping to his knees. He screamed once for a second and then went
silent.
He then stood up. His face was no longer filled with relief or hope,
it was filled with pure hatred. "Die Saotome!" he shouted, charging
Ranma.
Ryoga was pacing nervously. <Where is he?> he asked himself
again. He glanced over at the girl. She was barely moving, her breath
coming in short gasps. Kaidu was killing her, he could tell, there was no
mistaking it. No matter what Kaidu promised him, he was killing her. He
wondered how many other things he had told him were lies. How much
had he controlled him. <I'll make things better. Just let Ranma get here.
"Ryoga, Kaidu khan. Prepare yourselves, for I will destroy you this
day." Ryoga spun around at the sound of Ranma's voice. <Finally.>
He ignored what Ranma had said. He was here, they could save his
daughter. They could still have a chance. Forgetting himself he called out,
"Ranma, I am so glad your here," he took a steps toward him, rasing his
hand and continued, "We have to help.." <Noooo! You will kill him. He is
your enemy.>
Ryoga stopped for an instant, he suddenly wanted to kill Ranma.
<The girl he shouted at himself, rescue the girl.> The moment passed.
<You will obey me!> the voice thundered in his head. Then the
black coalesced around his mind. He screamed in pain as he was wrenched
away from his thoughts. The darkness battered at his soul, breaking into his
rage, focusing on his hate of Ranma. Ryoga tried to fight it, but Kaidu's
control was to great. He dredged up everything and flung it at Ryoga. His
mind went blank as he saw every injustice Ranma had ever done to him.
His rage building up.
Somewhere from the side, Ryoga cried out, trying to gain control
back. He had to help the girl. Dimly he was aware that he was rising to his
feet, "Die Saotome!" echoed dully in his head, then he attacked.
Ryoga desperately fought the demon Kaidu had unleashed within
him. He could not let the girl die. He had to help Ranma, not attack him.
He watched dimly as his body moved, controlled by his demon's rage. He
fought it every step of the way. Every attack the demon wanted, Ryoga
fought against. Every defense he tried to stop or push in the wrong
direction.
He felt Ranma's attacks getting through. By fighting his own self he
was slowing down his attacks. He was leaving openings. He could see a
way to do this, if only Ranma would knock him out for a second. Any head
blow, he could take control again.
Throwing himself against his rage, Ryoga struggled, using his anger
at Kaidu's betrayal against his own anger at Ranma. He used his guilt to
combat his rage. He fought every step through the battle. Disrupting more
and more attacks, making the demon frustrated. The more frustrated the
demon became the easier it was for Ryoga to gain more control. Finally he
wrenched complete control away for a second. That was all he needed. He
stopped his body in mid -attack. He spoke to Ranma who was flying at
him, "Go for the head."
Ranma's attack struck. Darkness descended on Ryoga, he struggled
against it briefly, before he realized the demon was dying, his rage
disappearing. He hope he wa snot out long. Darkness quickly swallowed
him.
Ranma meet Ryoga's attack head on, blocking his blows and
returning the attack. Ryoga blocked him, and leaped backwards. Ranma
refused to follow, and circled left. Becoming impatient, Ryoga once again
attacked him. Dodging the punch, Ranma saw Ryoga overextend. Taking
the advantage, he slammed several punches home, in quick succession.
Before Ryoga recovered, he leaped away settling into a ready stance.
He was already starting to regret his decision to attack. His ribs
were throbbing from the exertion. He knew he could not let Ryoga connect
with any of his punches. A single punch could shatter more of his ribs or
pulverize the still healing ones.
His thoughts were interrupted as Ryoga attacked again. Blocking
the e blow, Ranma fired back. Ryoga seemed to hesitate for a second,
allowing Ranma to slip his kick through before Ryoga could move
completely out of the way. The kick sent Ryoga flying backwards to crash
into the rocky ground. Slowly he got to his feet.
Ranma was wondering what was going on. He could see the rage
that was driving Ryoga. His face was pulled into a snarl, his eyes burning.
That always made him a better fighter, but he was making basic mistakes,
hesitating in his moves. Something was wrong. What had he tried to say
before the fight?
Ducking under a series of punches, Ranma sent two quick jabs into
Ryoga's stomach. Ryoga snarled back at him and reacted quickly forcing
Ranma back, as he started a massive combination. Halfway through it
though, his rythm broke and Ranma was able to escape and set up his won
attack, coming in high. Ryoga started to dodge, stopped, and then quickly
recovered, but it was too late already. Ranma's speed once again allowed
him to connect through Ryoga's mistake.
Back and forth they fought, Ranma blocking Ryoga's attacks, and
responding with his own, many getting through. Ranma did not understand
what was going on. Usually he had some trouble defeating Ryoga, and with
his ribs throbbing with every movement, Ryoga should have been doing
better. But he was making too many mistakes, hesitating. Something was
not right with him, it was almost as if he was trying to lose. And Ranma
was eager to oblige that, Ranko needed him.
He dodged as Ryoga misjudged another attack. Quickly recovering
he grabbed Ryoga and flipped him away from him. Ryoga landed heavily,
skidding across the ground. Jumping to his feet he turned on Ranma and
leaped into the air for an attack. Ranma leaped to meet him. As they came
together, Ryoga suddenly dropped his guard and said, "Go for the head."
Stunned Ranma could only do just that. His hand struck out and
struck Ryoga's temple. Ryoga's body went instantly limp as he fell from
the sky and to the ground.
Ranma landed lightly and spun to face Ryoga's still form, but he
only got to Ranko's hanging form. Grief and rage welling up within him, he
ran towards the pool. Behind him he heard Akane shout for him to stop,
but he did not care. His Ranko was hanging Christ-like on the bamboo
shaft, her life slowly draining from her young body. He would save her if it
killed him
At the edge of the pool he leaped for her. He was knocked
backwards though as he entered the air, a blast of dark chi sending him
flying into the ground next to Ryoga. He gasped in pain as he hit, his chest
exploding in fire and agony. He felt the crunch of bone. His sight wavered
in front of him, things going blurry.
Akane was there then, calling to him. He heard her voice through
the fog of pain and tried to reach it. Slowly he was able to clear his head as
the pain settled down to a fiery throbbing. Akane was asking him if he was
alright, gently pulling him to his feet.
He shook his head, "I have to get to Ranko," he muttered insistent,
pushing himself to his feet. "I need a way to get to her. I have to reach her
Akane. Look at her! She's dying!" He shouted motioning towards the limp
form of his daughter.
"I don't know how to help you Ranma," Akane said, supporting his
weight as he swayed slightly, "I don't even know what happened. On e
moment you were leaping the next the pool was surrounded by a black
sphere and you were flying away from it"
"I do," Ryoga gasped from next to them. They both starred at him,
hatred in their eyes, softening a bit as they heard him continue, "I can get
you to her, Ranma."
Ryoga slowly crawled out of the blackness, coming to on the
ground. His body was sore but he would survive. Dimly he became aware
of voices speaking next to him. "I need a way to get to her. I have to reach
her Akane. Look at her! She's dying!" <Ranma's daughter is dying. It's
your fault. Help them.>
"I don't know how to help you, Ranma," <Dammit get up, they
need you.> "I don't even know what happened. One moment you were
leaping, the nest, the pool was surrounded by a black sphere and you were
flying away from it."
"I do," he finally gasped. He did not see them turn to him and
probably would not have care if he had, "I can get you to her, Ranma."
"Why should we trust you?" Ranma snapped.
"Your the cause of this all," Akane followed
"I know," Ryoga answered sitting up, rubbing his head, "I only
wanted to have my revenge on you. I listened to Kaidu, let hm lead me
along. He said that your daughter was your weakness. So I took her from
you, hoping to beat you. Kaidu promised he wouldn't hurt her, but he did.
He is killing her. I tried to stop him, but he has too much power here. I
cannot defeat him alone, but I can get you to Ranko, Ranma."
"Why should I trust you?" Ranma asked again, not satisfied.
"By causing this suffering for your daughter, I have incurred a great
debt to you. I owe you Ranma. I was blind. I want to make reparations.
Let me help," Ryoga begged, his eyes pleading.
Ranma did not want to trust Ryoga. There were a hundred reasons
not to, but the single reason to outweighed them all. He had to get to
Ranko, and Ryoga was probably his only chance. Slowly he nodded his
head, "What can we do?"
Sighing in relief, Ryoga started explaining his plan. Ranma listened
patiently as he spoke, his gaze constantly wandering to Ranko's body.
The idea was a simple one. Ryoga asserted that it would work.
Stating that Kaidu was overconfident and was placing most of his attention
on Ranko, he thought he could distract Kaidu enough that Ranma could at
least reach Ranko. From there he said it would be up to Ranma and Ranma
alone.
Slowly Ranma nodded his head, "I will take the chance. She can't
hold on very longer. She is almost beyond my ability to save right now. We
have got to do this now."
Standing up, Ryoga took a deep breath. This was it. He had to
make his amends now, or it would never work. "Remember when I yell,
than die, go for your daughter.." Ranma nodded.
Ryoga walked to the edge of the pool. <You lied Kaidu khan. You
said she would not die.>
<She won't> The voice responded, distracted and not all there.
<Look at her, she is dying. Now stop it. Release her. No revenge is
worth this.>
<Mine is fool. I have waited fifteen hundred years for this. I will do
what I want with the girl. She is mine now.>
<I won't let you,> Ryoga snarled at the voice.
<What can you do against me? You hold no power over me. You
never could hold any power over me.>
<I won't allow you to do this. The child is innocent..What could
she have done to you? You are completely mad and deranged. You have
no honor. You have no right to do this.>
<GO away fool. There is nothing you can do. I will kill this girl if I
want.>
<If that is what you want Kaidu,> Ryoga threw back at the voice,
"Then die!" he shouted out loud, walking into the pool. Ryoga heard
Kaidu's laughter in his head, as he gathered his strength to strike at him.
Ryoga acted first, sending a blast of chi into the pool, spraying water
everywhere.
Kaidu howled in rage and threw his might against Ryoga. Ryoga
prepared himself and meet the blast head on, absorbing as much as he
could. The pain was incredible. It felt like his body was being torn to pieces
from the inside out. Unable to stop himself, he began screaming. It burned.
His body was a raging torrent of agony, but he endured it. Ranma had to
get to his daughter.
Through a haze of pain Ryoga saw Ranma moving, leaping across
the water, to grab onto the bamboo pole where his daughter was. He saw
him rip her bonds from her limbs. Suddenly he was blasted off of his feet as
Kaidu screamed in rage as he realized what was happening. The last thing
Ryoga saw as he slipped into blackness was the water rising around Ranma
and Ranko, and disappearing with them no longer there
