The Legacy Part VII The Power of Hate All characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, and are used without her permission Akane sat next to Ranma's hospital bed, holding his hand. He had been unconscious since she had brought him in last night. Carrying him in her arms, she had thought he was going to die. There had been so much blood . His breathing had been shallow and sporadic, making him moan in pain with each breath. To complicate matters even further, Ranko had been crying and unable to walk, still dazed from the blow to her head. Akane knew she would not have made it, if she had not stumbled upon the couple sitting on a bench. It had been too much for her. The perfect night shattered by Ryoga's entrance. She had watched horrified by what Ryoga wa s doing. His strike at Ranko, Ranma throwing himself in the way, knocking his child into a tree and unconscious to save her life. She had heard the snap of Ranma's bones, as Ryoga's blow struck him. She had watched horrified, as Ryoga raised his fist to kill Ranma, but then Ranma had swept Ryoga's feet, and rolled to the side and leaped to his feet, striking at Ryoga, only to miss. As the fight she had become more and more hysterical, wanting to stop it, but unable to. What had happened to Ryoga? He had always been so kind to her. Could this be her fault? Did her rejection drive him to this? He had ranted about losing her to Ranma. He had raved about Ranma destroying his life. His words had simply deteriorated into insanity, as he talked about someone telling him to kill Ranko. Then he had said everything about how he had found out about Ranma's death, how he had used it to get to her. Her world had shattered around her. She could not take it. Sobbing hysterically she had turned away from the fight, struggling to the still form of Ranko, trying to find something that made sense, trying to help, the poor child. She had sobbed and sobbed, rocking Ranko gently in her arms. Then Ranma had appeared next to her. His face a twisted mask of pain. He had cried out softly every time he breathed, but he had still pulled himself next to Ranko and made sure she was alive. He had touched her face, and brought her back to consciousness. It was the streak of blood he had left on Ranko's face that had snapped her back into reality. She had cried out in grief, as Ranma had slumped to the ground in front of her. The only thought that had entered her mind was that she was going to lose Ranma, again. The thought had terrified her, it still did as she held his hand. Fear gripping her heart, she had stumbled to her feet and lifted Ranko and Ranma in her arms, nearly stumbling under their combined weight. Stumbling she had walked down the street, crying out for help as she went. Ranma's blood had slowly soaked into her clothes. He had lost o much by the time she collapsed from sheer exhaustion and emotional overload, that it was amazing he had survived. Akane had just been unable to go on. She had lain next to Ranma, weakly calling for help in between sobs. Then the couple had been at her side, offering help, calling an ambulance, getting the wound stanched. Akane had simply fainted at that point. When she had awoke, she had been in a bed next to Ranma's. He was covered in bandages, his chest protected and held immobile by a cast. She had stumbled out of bed, and over to him, grabbing onto his, and she had sat like that ever since. "Please, don't leave me again," she whispered fiercely, "I can't take this again. I cannot take it." The tears were running down her cheeks again, but she did not even notice. Behind her the door to the room opened, "Akane-chan?" Ukyou called gently, walking towards the bed. Once there she placed her hand on Akane's shuddering shoulder, trying to comfort her. "Oh ,Ucchan" she sobbed turning and burying her face in her friend's body, "Why does this always happen to us?" "Shh," Ukyou said smoothing out Akane's hair, "Ran-chan will be fine. The doctor said he just needed some rest right now, and a few days in bed to get him back on his feet." "I know," Akane sobbed, "It's just that..that I'm afraid. Afraid I am going to lose him again. Afraid of what Ryoga will do." "Ryoga is not here, and I am sure he did not mean to hurt Ranma." "Yes he did, I saw him. He only wanted to kill Ranma. He was possessed, shouting and raving. It wasn't like him, he was different. It terrified me," Akane finished barely above a whisper. "It's just that I cannot stop thinking that this is my fault," Akane explained, "He kept shouting that he would have my love, that Ranma would not stand in his way. H-he said that he told us Ranma was dead so he could have me love him>" She felt Ukyou stiffen as she sobbed that last part out. "I'm sure that Ryoga told us only what he really believed," Ukyou said comfortingly. Akane just could not be sure. Everything was changing. This was all so wrong. Why couldn't Ranma just have stayed at home? It would have been simpler for her, but now she was floating adrift, a small boat in a giant storm, unable to control her life. When she had given up on her life, she had created for herself a nigh impossible task. She was now being forced to pick up the pieces of her life and move on, but wherever she looked there was someone trying to rip it from her grasp. It was frustrating and terrifying, and the more that it happened the harder it became to pick up the pieces and start again Ranma had already become a great help in the struggle. Even though he created problems himself, he was there trying to help her, trying to give her her life back. She knew he was holding himself responsible for everything that had happened to her. It was impossible for Ranma not to try and solve all of her problems, and she had come to depend on that in these few short days. But now he had been taken from her. He needed her help, and she couldn't even help herself. What was she going to do? "Ranko?" Ranma muttered groggily. Akane turned back towards the bed worry being quickly replaced by relief, as she saw Ranma's eyes flutter open and then look around. "Ranko!" he suddenly shouted looking around in desperation, "Where is she? She isn't.." he could not even finish the thought, much less the sentence. Akane grabbed his hand, shaking her head, "No, Ranma. She's fine. Your parents took her back to the dojo a few hours ago. The doctor said she would be fine, just to keep her from taking any risks for a while." The fear and worry slid off Ranma's features like water leaving behind his own mask of pain as he tried to move. "Lie still," Akane scolded as Ranma tried to move, "You have six broken ribs, don't make things worse for yourself." "How are you feeling, Ran-chan?" Ukyou asked as she took a seat across from Akane. "Like a truck hit me," Ranma muttered, "When can I get out of this bed?" "The doctor said you could come home tonight, if you were feeling strong enough. You did lose a lot of blood." "I'll be fine," Ranma said, blowing it off wit a wave of his hand, "I felt weaker than this after giving birth to Ranko. I'll be back on my feet in no time." He looked at Akane and winced, "You've been crying." She nodded her head. "I'm sorry, Akane-chan. I did not want to fight him, but attacking Ranko like that, ad then saying all those things. I just lost my head," he said gently touching her cheek. Akane shook her head, "I think it was Ryoga who lost it. I just never thought he could do something like that." "He didn't," Ranma said quietly, several things beginning to make sense. He remembered Ranko yelling at Ryoga telling him not to hurt her father. Then those things Ryoga said about the voice telling him to. Ranma had a dark suspicion that things had barely even started.. "He was there Ranma," Akane scolded, "And unless he has an evil twin, that was Ryoga." "It as Ryoga all right," Ranma said, "I just don't think it was all of Ryoga's doing." "Huh?" Ukyou and Akane both said at once. "Give me some time," Ranma asked, "I need to think all of this through, but I am sure I know what is wrong with Ryoga." It was a problem. "Sure, Ran-chan," Ukyou said, Akane nodding in agreement. Both were curious, but knew better than to push an issue with Ranma. "Now, do you think you could go find a doctor? I would like to get out of here and get something to eat." "Hai," Ukyou said, disappearing out the door, leaving Ranma and Akane alone. "Do you think Ryoga will be back?" Akane asked. "I would bet on it," Ranma said, "This goes a deeper than a personal grudge against me." "But what is wrong with Ryo..?" Akane asked trying to get everything in order, but was cut off by Ranma's finger touching her lips. "Let me worry about that right now, Akane. You need some sleep. I am not up to carrying you home." A smile briefly touched his eyes, "I promise nothing bad will happen. I won't leave you." "Oh Ranma," Akane said, hugging him lightly. Ranma draped his arm over her shoulders as she started crying, comforting her. After a moment she fell asleep, her head cradled on his shoulder. Smiling Ranma slipped back into sleep, exhausted by the previous days ordeal. Ryoga sat in the park, his shattered jaw throbbing in pain. How had Ranma survived? Ryoga remembered the broken ribs and the blood soaking Ranma's clothes. Any normal man would have been dead after his first blow. "I know that!" Ryoga growled not even realizing he was talking out loud, "I know that better than anyone." "Sure I can," Ryoga drawled sarcastically, "He was fighting injured the whole time, was completely off balance and distracted, and he still managed to beat me. Ranma has no weakness. Even throwing a cat at him will just make him uncontrollable." The rage flared in Ryoga. "Shut up," he shouted, releasing a chi blast that demolished a grove of aspen. Stunned Ryoga looked at the destruction he had wrought. He had never loss control that quickly before, what was going on here? "What weakness?" Ryoga asked again. "I will not kill her!" Ryoga raged. "No, I didn't want to. You made me. I was just going to scare her, get her out of the way. I was going to miss her, dammit!" Ryoga fumed. He had become horrified by what he had done. Attacking an innocent child like that. He tried to blame it on the voice, but deep inside he knew that it had been him also. He remember the feeling of glee that had come over him as he had realized that his next blow would destroy Ranma's life forever. Akane would never forgive him if he did something like that, but it would have destroyed Ranma completely. Yes, the daughter was the greatest if only weakness in his opponent. Ryoga argued, Ryoga demanded silently. And Ryoga realized that he had without even debating it. Shaking his head, he stood up. The voice started laughing as Ryoga slowly walked out of the park, hoping he could find the Tendo Dojo soon. His jaw burned like fire, but paled next to the gleeful rage filling him as he walked. This time everything would work out perfectly. It had taken the rest of the day to convince the doctors that Ranma was fit to leave the hospital. After countless arguments with Ukyou and a obstinate Akane had failed to do anything, after Ranma's pleas to be allowed out to see his daughter had produced even less of a response, Ranma had been forced to jump out of bed and get himself dressed, while fending off the nurses and the doctors. The doctors had relented at this, warning Ranma to do nothing physical for a while. Finally they were sitting in a comfortable cab, on their way back home. At first Ranma had insisted that they walk, but Ukyou had pointed out that he was in no condition to walk, and Akane had convinced him a cab would be faster. Ranma had given in without much of a fight, not really feeling up to a walk in the first place. Now he was trying to relax in between Ukyou and Akane. Akane was snuggled into the crook of his arm, her fingers intertwined with his on his lap. Ukyou was leaning slightly against Ranma, her eyes closed, her face relaxed. Ranma was impatient. If he could of, he would have been pacing up and down within the cab. He needed to see Ranko, he had to be sure. Even though Akane and the doctors had assured him that she would be fine, Ranma would not, could not be satisfied until he held her in his arms and knew for sure that she was going to be fine. It had been his fault she had been hurt. He could not forgive himself. "Ranma, what's wrong? Your whole body is tense and shaking," Akane asked, looking up at him. "I'm worried about Ranko," Ranma answered his voice heavy with regret. "We already told you she is fine," Akane assured him, burrowing closer. Ranma shook his head, "You don't understand." "Yes I do, " Akane said, "Your a father very worried about you daughter. That is all." "Other parents aren't the reason their child was hurt," Ranma said, his voice filled with despair and grief, "How could I ever forgive myself if she was seriously hurt. I am supposed to protect her, and what do I do!? I nearly killed her!" Ranma sobbed. "Ranma, you did what you had to do," Akane insisted, forcing him to look at her, "If you had not done that, Ranko would dead right now." "She's right, Ran-chan. You did the right thing. It was an accident," Ukyou said, patting Ranma's knee. "Accidents like that don't happen. I am a martial artist. I know what each of movements will do. I should have known where she would have flown, but I didn't think. I saw Ryoga's fist raised, and my mind froze. I could only think that I was going to lose my Ranko. I just acted. I dove knocking her away. I could've sent her into the grass, I could've hit her with less force. I overreacted, and because of that she could've died." Ranma was crying uncontrollably now, "I heard her scream. I saw her fly through the air. I could feel her body striking the tree, and then there was nothing. She was gone from my mind. The scream had stopped, her limp body fell to the ground. I thought she was dead. I thought I had killed my little girl!" Ranma broke down crying on Akane's shoulder. Akane struggling to console him. "Can't you just check on her? Find out if she is okay," Akane asked, rocking Ranma gently so as not to hurt his broken ribs, "I mean you always seem to know what is happening with her." Ranma shook his head, against her shoulder. "She's sleeping, she's not thinking about herself, she's lost in dreams. I can't tell anything." Sighing Ranma sank back into the seat. "I don't deserve to be a parent." Akane was stunned. How could he say such a thing? He was a great parent, the best she had ever seen. The guilt must have been destroying him. She could not stand seeing him like this. "That's not true," she snapped, "I have never seen a parent more devoted to hi child, give so much love to his child, than you. If anyone deserves to be a parent, it is you Ranma. I haven't seen anyone give as much as you do to Ranko. You are patient. You never lose your temper. Every time she needs you, you are there. Does that sound like someone who is not a good parent? It was only an accident, Ranma. Stop this." She fell silent, and pulled Ranma back into her arms, holding tightly to him. Ranma held onto her. He knew she was right, but it did not help. He would not feel better until he saw Ranko, until he apologized to her. He let his mind wander to her. She was still sound asleep, dreaming peacefully. Her dreams were pleasant. He could not tell what they were, but they were relaxing her, making her happy. She had to be fine. She would be having nightmares if she wasn't. He still wanted to see her, he needed to assure himself. Suddenly, he realized Ranko was awake. Then the fear filled his head. She was terrified, something was with her, grabbing her. He could hear her screaming in his head, hands grabbing her dragging her. Pain slammed through his mind as a hand slapped his daughter. Then again, his mind went blank, as he lost her.. "Ranko!" he screamed bolting upright, "Someone is taking Ranko! Someone is stealing my child!" "Ranma! What is it?" Akane and Ukyou shouted at the same time, grabbing onto Ranma before he could get out of the moving cab. "Someone took Ranko, I couldn't stop it. I couldn't do anything. She was so terrified. Oh God, my Ranko!" Ranma had curled in on himself, tears streaming down his face, "I've failed her again. She's gone. Oh God, not my Ranko!" "Go faster!" Ukyou shouted at the driver, as Akane, tried to talk to Ranma, get him to explain. He could not, all he did was mumble over and over that someone had stolen Ranko. She knew something was horribly wrong. She didn';t know if Ranma was right, but if not, she did not want to find out what had happened. Holding Ranma they waited as the cab sped towards her home. Ryoga glanced at the windows in the Tendo home. He had actually found the place with little difficulty, and now that it was dark he could capture the girl and have his revenge. His jaw still ached, but he had found an old woman who had set the bone and put a poultice on it that had started knitting the bone. It was sore and stiff, but it would heal properly. the voice said. "Hai," Ryoga answered and slipped out of the tree he had been sitting in and into the backyard. The family was in the house, waiting for Ranma to return from the hospital. Ryoga had been pleased to learn that Ranma had almost died. It made him fell a little better about the loss, but it was time to lay the path that would lead to Ranma's true death. Quietly slipping through the yard, he leaped to the roof, and moved along the windows. he asked the voice. Ryoga looked at the window and realized it was Akane's room. The rage boiled in his blood. It was just one more thing that he would add to his list. Slowly he crept to the window and opened it. The room was dark inside, but Ryoga's eyes adjusted quickly. The door was closed, and tow beds were in the room. On the futon, a small bundle moved slightly, murmuring. It was the child. Moving quickly, Ryoga moved towards the bed. Unfortunately, a tray that had held the child's dinner was lying on the floor, Ryoga kicked the tray, sending it flying across the room. Ryoga froze, a curse leaping to his lips. He saw the girl stir and sit up, looking around the room. Cursing, Ryoga moved before she could see him. As he moved her eyes snapped to him and she began to scream. Lunging Ryoga made a grab for her. She tried to dodge, but terror, and the blankets kept her confined. "Shut up!" Ryoga shouted as he grabbed the girl and lifted her out of the bead. She continued screaming her hands grabbing Ryoga's face and hair. He felt one of his bandanas ripped off and flung to the floor. Ryoga could hear people moving downstairs, moving towards him. "Shut up!" he snapped slapping the child. She only screamed louder, tears filling her eyes. Enraged, and scared, Ryoga slapped her again, hard. The child's head snapped back, and the screaming ended abruptly, the body going limp in his arms. Horrified, Ryoga checked her, and was relieved to see she was still breathing. Composing himself, Ryoga dropped the rolled parchment he had brought, and flitted out the window, a few seconds ahead of the family. As they burst into the room, Ryoga was already a block away, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, laughing in glee. Before the cab had even come to a stop, Ranma was pushing past Akane and Ukyou, sprinting into the house. As he entered he was already shouting, "Where is she? What happened? Why the hell did you not stop it?" "How did you know?" was the common response. "I felt it, damn it. Now where is my daughter!" "We don't know, sir," a police officer said, stepping forward, Ranma had not even noticed him, "The perpetrator was already gone with your daughter by the time the family got there" "Who did this?" Ranma's voice was cold as death, his eyes blazing fires of rage. There was several sharp pops, as his knuckles cracked as he clenched his hands into tight fists. The police officer backed away, terrified by what he saw in Ranma's eyes. "Why don't you sit down, sir?" the officer suggested nervously. "Why don't you just tell me what I want to know?" Ranma snarled. "Ranma," Akane said, placing her hand on his shoulder, "Please sit down. This is not good for you. You need to take things easy for awhile." "I don't want to take things easy," Ranma said his voice losing its edge of anger with Akane but not its rage, "If I die and get my daughter back, I will be happy." "Ranma," his mother snapped, "Sit down and listen." Ranma looked at his mother, surprise in his eyes. "I know your angry, Ranma, but acting like that is not helping anything. Sit down and let the officer speak with you." Ranma, dropped his eyes, recognizing the logic in his mother's explanation. He picked his way to the living area, and sat down. "Now," the police officer said again, giving Nodoka a grateful smile, "We don't know who did this. No one saw anything, but there were a few things left in the room, which your family claims did not belong there." He held out a yellow and black bandana. "Ryoga," Ranma snarled and Akane and Ukyou gasped in unison. "You know him?" the officer asked. Ranma nodded, not trusting himself to speak, his mind an inferno of hate and rage at the moment. Akane said, "He did this to Ranma last night." She pointed at his cast. "Well then, there might be some reason behind this, and now we know there were two people." "Huh?" everyone asked. "There was a note left at the scene. Let me just read.." The note was ripped from his hands by Ranma. His aura burning brightly, Ranma opened the rolled parchment and slowly read the words out loud. "My revenge is almost complete, Hui-cheng. If Ranma wants to see his daughter again, come to the beginning, and we will create the ending. Kaidu khan." "Damn you!" Ranma screamed, everything clicking into place., "I'll kill you Ryoga. I'll destroy Kaidu. I'll destroy all of Jusenkyo, if I have to. No one uses my daughter like this." Completely enraged, Ranma moved towards the door. His rage was boiling in his head, thundering in his ears. He did not hear Akane cry out for him to stop. He did not see Dr. Tofu walk up behind him. He did not feel the fingers lightly touch specific points on his body. He simply collapsed unconscious. Akane, rushed forward to the collapsed form of Ranma. Kneeling beside him, she cradled his head gently in her lap. Looking up at Dr. Tofu she smiled, "Arigato, Tofu-sensei. He would've killed himself. I just know he would've." "Take him upstairs. He will wake in a few hours. Watch over him, he will probably be mad when he wakes up." "Hai," "I need to find some things out, before he runs off," Dr. Tofu said, as Akane picked up Ranma's inert form, and started walking with him upstairs.