Meiyo Ai soshite Nikushimi
Chapter III
The Judgement of Boukyaku
Part VI: Sacrifice and Betrayal
Post B/B
A Ranma Nibunnoichi Fanfic
by Joseph Kohle
All characters of the Ranma series are the products of Rumiko
Takahashi's imagination and are used without the permission of her or
the innumerable companies that have rights to her products. This is not
intended for sale and all creative rights and copyright privileges belong
to Rumiko Takahashi and the author.
Ukyou's steps slowed as she approached the clinic and finally
stopped when she was a few buildings from her destination. It was late,
probably close to midnight, but it was hard to tell. The lights from
Tokyo were obscuring the sky, reflecting from the sparse clouds and
blocking out any hope of seeing the stars. Only the deserted state of the
street and the slowly gathering chill told her it was getting later.
Rubbing her arms for warmth, she took a step toward the clinic and
then stopped as she saw two figures approaching from the other direc-
tion. Instinctively she crouched against a nearby stone wall and
watched.
There was a small figure hopping on a stick and another with long
hair and a luxuriant figure. Ukyou was able to make a good guess as to
their identity. This guess was proven correct as the two entered the
cone of light thrown by a street lamp.
Shampoo, her head bowed in silence, was walking a step behind her
great-grandmother. Cologne seemed unaware of this and hopped
steadily along until she came to Toufu-sensei's front door. Without a
pause the withered goon proceeded up to the door and waited while
Shampoo caught up and opened the door for them both.
As the door closed, Ukyou found her feet and moved to the side of
the clinic where she down against the wall. She was not sure if she
wanted to go inside. Not with Cologne there. She did not want to make
any promise, but she needed to see Ranma.
"So I see almost every one has gathered," Cologne cooed, "But
where is the good doctor?" The voice reached Ukyou's ears, startling
her. Glancing upwards she saw an open window. Smiling since her
dilemma had been solved, Ukyou got on her knees and looked into the
clinic's waiting room. She could watch Ranma, be there for him, but
not be seen.
Her positioning was pure luck and very fortunate. The entire family
was circled around Ranma's bed, their backs facing toward her.
Cologne was watching Ranma, and Shampoo was beside her, both of
them sideways to her own position.
"I'm here, Cologne," Toufu-sensei replied. Ukyou flicked her eye to
see Toufu exit from the back hall, a calm expression on his face.
"Thank you, I need a witness for this. Are you willing?" Cologne
asked. Toufu nodded his head in acceptance. "Now there are only the
small matters of the conditions I made."
"I already promised," Akane explained in a small voice. Ukyou
couldn't see her face, but the pain in the answer was evident. Pity for
Akane welled up within Ukyou. Akane had not had a choice in this.
Everything had always rested on her decision.
Shame for the way she had treated Akane closely followed the pity.
The reality of the situation had never really asserted itself on her. Sure
Akane had told her Ranma had died. That had shook her confidence,
but it was hard to believe that anything could hurt Ranma. So she had
just accepted that they would find a cure. When Akane had returned
from finding Ouchi-sensei, the look on her face the set of her body had
rammed the entire situation home. Ranma was in serious trouble.
At that moment she had understood why Akane had been so close
to Ranma, why she was acting like she had been. She had only been
trying to fix him in her memory, trying to give herself something
lasting. If she had only known she would have done the same.
"Ah, but Saotome-san has not, and I want you to give son-in-law up
in front of everyone," Cologne explained, shocking Ukyou back into
reality. She saw the withered old ghoul turn and bore her eyes into
Akane and then Genma.
"Are you saying my daughter is not honorable?" Soun asked in a
threatening voice, "That she will not keep her word?"
"Did I say that?" Cologne asked avoiding the question, "But as I
think about it, I want your word that engagement between son-in-law
and your daughter is broken. Do I have it?"
"That wasn't part of the bargain," Nabiki challenged. The anger and
rage were pulsing in Nabiki's voice. Ukyou did not blame her. Cologne
was deliberately provoking them. "You've already got enough. Akane
has agreed. Saotome-san is going to agree, there is no need for this.
Besides, a deal cannot be changed once made unless both parties
accept."
"Do you have a choice, Nabiki?" Cologne snapped, "I hold the
cards. If I want Ranma to die he dies. I will save him only if I get
what I want! Do you understand that?" Nabiki could only nod in
acceptance, unable to argue with Cologne's unassailable position.
"You are pushing, Cologne," Toufu-sensei said, "Honor only goes
so far, and the insults you are throwing about so lightly could beget a
blood-feud you would not want."
"*Japanese honor is weak. You are nothing compared to the
Amazon tribe. I will show you,*" Cologne stated in Mandarin. Ukyou
tried to understand what she was saying, but her Chinese was minimal,
only reflecting enough to relate to customers.
"*Be careful what you say,*" Toufu-sensei answered in impeccable
Mandarin, surprising Ukyou greatly, but then Toufu-sensei was a
learned man, "*Your language is not hard to learn, and I will tolerate
only so much of your insolence. As a martial artist, Ranma would
rather die than see this travesty go through. You are traversing thin ice,
Matriarch of the Amazons. Ask for the promises, nothing else. No
more games. I will not allow this family to suffer any more.*"
Ukyou watched as a satisfied rumble ran though the assembled
family as Cologne glared at Toufu-sensei after he spoke to her. It
meant that Toufu had gotten under her skin, which please Ukyou as
well.
Cologne nodded at Toufu-sensei before turning back to the group,
smiling. For some reason that smiled reminded Ukyou of a cat she had
once seen stalking a wounded bird. The same malicious joy was in the
ghoul's eyes as had gleamed within the cat's. "Saotome Genma,"
Cologne intoned, turning to facing Ranma's father, "Do you annul the
engagement between your son Saotome Ranma and Tendou Akane?
Do you pledge that your son, Saotome Ranma, will marry my great-
great-great-granddaughter, Shampoo? Do you annul all other engage-
ments you have made for your son, Saotome Ranma? Do you swear
this by the honor of your family name?"
Ukyou gasped at the strength of the oath Cologne was asking. To
ask on personal honour was generally strong enough, but to bring
family honor into the picture. Not only was Cologne implying that she
did not trust the individual honor of each and every person present, she
was implying that Ranma was not honorable enough to hold up the
honor of his own father.
"I do," Genma said after a moment, "I swear by the honor of my
family that all that you ask shall be done." After he spoke his head sank
to his chest in defeat. For the first time, Ukyou felt sorry for the old
man who had caused her so much grief. She saw Saotome Genma's
age reflected in his face and body. He appeared as a withered old man,
who had just surrendered for the last time.
Cologne nodded as Shampoo eagerly clasped and unclasped her
hands. Cologne turned to Tendou Soun. "Tendou Soun. Do you annul
the engagement between Saotome Ranma and Tendou Akane? Do you
give up any claim to Saotome Ranma carrying on your dojo? Do you
swear this on your family honor?"
"I swear it," Tendou Soun answered in a tearful voice. Cologne
nodded in response as Soun began crying in earnest, grieving for the
loss of his dream.
"Tendou Akane," Cologne began, but she never finished as Akane
interrupted her.
"I swear anything you ask,. I give up Ranma. He is no longer mine.
Just stop wasting time, stop tormenting us. Save Ranma," Akane
demanded, her voice near to breaking from grief and anger, "And if you
don't," Akane whispered. Ukyou barely caught this, and Akane was
only sitting a few feet from her window. "If Ranma dies, I will
spend my life finding a way to destroy you. This I swear on my family
honor." Ukyou saw that Cologne did not hear this last part, for she only
nodded and began to pull objects from her robes and set them on the
floor in a pattern Ukyou could not discern.
"It will take time to prepare for the ceremony," Cologne explained
as Shampoo found a chair and sat down, "I will be finished when the
moon rises, and then we will begin."
Shaking with fear Ukyou slipped back down the wall and hugged
her knees to her chest. There was something wrong here, but she could
not figure it out. Ranchan was going to have the hardest night of his
life. Ukyou knew this as certainly as she knew the sun would rise in the
morning.
The image formed in her mind and was quickly merged with her ki.
A moment later an arc of shimmering energy swept outward from her
hands to slash through the ethereal form of Boukyaku, leaving a swath
of darkness missing. With a shriek of rage, Boukyaku formed a shield
around his form, retreating to heal once again.
Letting out a breath of air in relief, Xian Lin turned to help Ranma,
but decided against it as she watched him fight amongst Boukyaku's
creations. They had split up the fight early. She was concentrating on
Boukyaku's physical form, since she was more efficient with her ki
attacks.
Ranma had taken the burden of defending her from the minions
Boukyaku disgorged from the ground. His strength in this prison made
the job a simple one, only the number of demons hindering him.
Xian Lin watched in awe as he moved through the converging
beasts, his red shirt the only splash of colour among the seething mass
of black. He flowed through them like a stick into water, sliding past
demons in a fluid dance of death that left mangled and still forms in his
wake.
There was no pause in his form. One attack led to another and then
another. Styles changed in mid step. From power to precision and
grace. One moment he was a charging bull bringing down a massive
beast, only to switch in the next instant to a lithe reed that slipped
between the smaller opponents, lashing out quickly and efficiently to
remove the threat.
It was not fighting, it was an art form. The heightened connection
Ranma had gained with his spirit had created a masterful fighter in this
hellish prison. He used small amounts of ki to augment his attacks,
allowing him to remove opponents with one strike in most cases.
Enthralled, Xian Lin watched him slip beneath an outstretched arm,
striking upwards as he swept the feet of another beast on his side. The
first fell, it jaw smashed into it brainpan. The other died as Ranma's
foot crunched down on the exposed neck when he vaulted off the fallen
beast to leap toward a massive worm-like creature.
Xian Lin saw a brief flash of ki as Ranma descended. She recogniz-
ed it instantly. It was his failed attempt at diverting a ki attack. He had
changed it into an extension of his arm, his perfect reflexes allowing
him to strike and release the blast in perfect conjunction. The worm
split open, the black mist that composed its form dissipating into the
air.
As he landed, Ranma pivoted and lashed out with several kicks that
were a blur to even Xian Lin's trained eye. One, two, three creatures
fell, and then Ranma completed the circle, coming to rest on the balls of
his feet. So caught up in Ranma's movements, it took a moment for
Xian Lin to realize that the last of Boukyaku's latest wave had been
defeated.
Ranma relaxed slightly and turned toward her. He nodded his head
and made his way to her side, as the creatures he had defeated
dissolved back into the earth.
"That one was shorter than the others," Ranma observed as he
neared her, "I think we're starting to exhaust Boukyaku's strength."
"He was not ready to fight us," Xian Lin explained, as she watched
Boukyaku for signs of reentering the fight, "I told you that the four-
teenth night has not yet started. Once it does, Boukyaku will gain his
full strength, and then we will be in trouble."
"How's that?" Ranma asked, "We seem to be holding our own, if
not getting the better of the situation. Those creatures he's creating are
like fighting practice dummies."
"That's because they are extensions of his power. One on one they
are no match for you, and Boukyaku does not have the skill to counter
your martial arts and deal with me also. He might be powerful, but he is
still limited in how he thinks. That will end when the new moon rises.
The statue will start augmenting his power than. We will be in serious
trouble. I don't know if we'll be able to defeat him than."
"But you said we'd have a chance," Ranma exclaimed, "Now you're
saying we have no chance?"
"No, we can still win," Xian Lin shouted. She had to tell him the
truth, but she didn't know how to make it sound encouraging, "If
anyone breaks the curse, we'll be fine. We can hold out for the entire
night. If we do not find a way out by the time the new moon sets, then
we'll lose for sure. It just becomes harder at this point. We've just
gotta hope that someone will break the Judgement."
Ranma glanced at her uncertainly. Xian Lin could feel that he
thought she had betrayed him, and it hurt her. "Don't turn away from
me, Ranma," she pleaded, "We will lose if we don't work together. I
don't intend to let Boukyaku have you or me. Trust me."
Nodding Ranma turned to watch the encased form of Boukyaku. It
would only be a little while before he began to fight again. Boukyaku
healed faster than Happousai could steal panties. "I'm not giving up.
Not now, not ever. We'll finish this, Xian Lin. One way or another it
ends." He fell silent for a second before turning back to face her. "I
trust you. I have no reason not to."
Xian Lin smiled as she drank in his faith and acceptance of her.
Then the world around them began to tremble, the air shimmering.
"What's happening?" Ranma exclaimed in surprise.
"The moon must be rising," Xian Lin shouted back as the air filled
with a thunderous rumble, deafening to the two companions. Their ears
pulsed in pain as the noise became unbearable. Then everything went
silent, painful, eerily silent.
The air ceased shimmering and became a dull red color. Ranma and
Xian Lin found themselves standing on a flat, featureless plain of black
marble that extended as far as the eyes could see. In front of them
Boukyaku was a vaguely man-shaped form, the chaotically swirling
darkness of his previous form shaping the body. "Now you are mine!"
he proclaimed triumphantly.
The ground exploded around them, disgorging hundreds of his
demon minions. In an instant the tide of the battle had turned and Xian
Lin and Ranma were fighting for their lives as Boukyaku chuckled in
amusement.
Cologne finished her preparations. All of the ingredients and objects
needed for the breaking of the Judgement were spread out before her in
the correct design. Everything would go fine. That is it would go fine if
she hadn't switched one of the key ingredients, a herb that when
ingested opened the body and mind to the energy of the world, but
when mixed with the other objects blocked the power of Boukyaku,
preventing him from attacking the victim. Instead of the herb, a powder
of wolfsbane and ginger was held in the container that had once held
the herb. Toufu would never notice the difference since wolfsbane and
ginger had established niches in mythological medicine.
A triumphant surge of emotion blossomed from the statue as the
moon rose unseen in the sky. This signaled the start of her doctored
ceremony. Cologne began speaking in the ancient tongue of the
Amazon tribe. The words were the same as she had been taught to use
to break the Judgement. She reached for the first object and began the
purification ritual. That doctor would be sorry for insulting her, the
whole family would suffer, particularly Ranma.
Toufu watched as Cologne began her ceremony. More than
anything he was curious about how the Amazon Matriarch was going
to break the Judgement. He hoped to gain some knowledge from her
that might help him with many of his patients. Besides she wanted to
make sure that he was able to help anyone else who was Judged by the
Amazon tribe.
He could not understand the language. It was not exactly Chinese,
but it was close to it. The forms and inflections were different though,
so he could not follow it. He could follow the ritual though. Fascinated
he watched her prepare a mixture of water and mustard seed. He used
the same mixture hot to relieve congestion, but this was cold and she
added a powder that caused the mixture to foam. This she took to
Ranma's bedside. Dipping her fingers in the paste she drew a complex
series of patterns across Ranma's brow and right arm. Then she took a
piece of red ochre and spiraled the patterns together, connecting the
statue, third eyes and heart. The remainder of the mixture was poured
over the stature, hissing violently as it dissipated upon touching the
statue.
From this point she returned to her original position and replaced
the bowl and red ochre exactly in their original positions before she
started on the next step of the complex ritual.
"Hiryu Shoten Ha!" Ranma shouted. The whirlwind flew from his
hands to decimate the massed minions in front of him only to end
abruptly and satisfyingly by slamming into Boukyaku, disrupting the
swirling chaos of the demon's body.
The attack halted Boukyaku for a moment as he repaired the
damage Ranma had caused. On top of this the minions had been
thinned to the point where Ranma could actually rest for a moment.
Unfortunately, Ranma needed more than a moment of rest. His
resources had been drawn to the limit by this battle. There was no lull
in the combat, just a steady wavering of the intensity. The only reason
they were not being overwhelmed was the weakness of Boukyaku's
demonic creations and the fact that the spirit was unable to adapt to the
strategies Ranma and Xian Lin were inventing as they fought.
At this moment they had reverted to their original tactics. He was
holding the limitless minions as Xian Lin concentrated on Boukyaku.
The fact that his attack had struck the bastard was just an added bonus.
In most cases he was charged with keeping the demons from Xian Lin.
He glanced over at her. She was standing behind him like a burning
angel of vengeance. Her white aura gleamed in the reddish haze of the
world like a lighthouse on a stormy night. With an imperceptible mo-
tion, Xian Lin cast several arcs of ki that streaked toward Boukyaku,
crashing into his body with a crackle of power.
Screaming in rage, Boukyaku gestured toward Xian Lin. A black
cloud enveloped her, crushing downward oh her form. With a cry,
Ranma raced to her aid. His headlong run was halted as the black
sphere began to crack, white light leaking into the sky. The blackness
closed in once more and then exploded outward.
Xian Lin was kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily. Ranma
started to go to her when he saw the ground erupt behind her, dis-
gorging several massive demons. Shouting a warning, Ranma darted
forward, laughing himself into the air.
Descending quickly he rotated to aim himself directly at the fore-
most creature, a massive brute that shambled forward, its four arms
waving rapidly in front of it. The thing never had a chance. Ranma was
on top of it before it realized it was in danger. Striking out, Ranma
spoke at the last moment before he struck, "Touch of the Blade." A
blade of ki instantly appeared in his hand, slashing through the
creature's neck and shoulder before disappearing into nothingness.
Ranma could not hold the weapon in place and seriously doubted that it
could be done. Each brief attack was tiring enough.
The severed head fell with Ranma, landing next to him, and rolling
in front of him. It shimmered for a moment and then Ranma was
starring at Akane's severed head, her mouth agape in a silent scream,
her eyes starring horrified at him. Screaming he backed away from the
hideous sight.
There was an evil chuckle echoing in his mind. Glancing away from
the disgusting sight, Ranma found himself confronting Akane and
Ukyou. Each was approaching him, swinging either mallet or spatula.
Involuntarily he stepped backward. He could not fight them. His heart
would not let him.
"They're not real," he told himself, "You're not hurting them."
"Ranma no baka!" He barely dodged the mallet as it descended
toward his head. Leaping backward, he regained his position and warily
watched the two approach him. They're not real, not real.
With a cry they charged him. Ranma ducked the blows easily, slid-
ing in between the two. He could not keep this up forever though. He
leaped to avoid Ukyou's spatula and then twisted in midair to avoid the
descent of the mallet. His hand touched the ground and he cartwheeled
into a defensive stance.
Akane and Ukyou pressed in on him, forcing him to dodge more
blows. The more he dodged the faster they became, their attacks blurs
to any but his eye. After a few moments their offensive overwhelmed
him. He dodged Akane's mallet only to be swiped in the side by a
spatula. Stumbling from the blow, he tried to dodge Akane's back
swing but was clipped in the shoulder. He was sent flying by the blow
to land a dozen feet away.
Grunting in pain, he pushed himself off the ground as the two
rushed at him. He knew he could not win this unless he attacked, but
even if they were shades, they appeared to be his beloved and his best
friend. "They're only illusions. The are not real," he repeated to
himself." Closing his eyes, he met them head on his hand flashing
outward. He pulled the punch on instinct but still felt soft flesh and the
cracking of bones. Akane's scream of pain filled his ears.
It almost halted him, but he forced himself to continue. Tears sting-
ing his cheeks, he lashed out in the direction of the scream. His knife-
hand connected with a crunch, and Akane's voice was silenced by a
gurgling cry. Opening his eyes, he pivoted, lashing out backwards. His
foot connected with Ukyou's midsection. Behind him the gurgling cry
ended as Akane's body slumped to the ground with an audible thud.
No time for that now. Concentrate. Its just Boukyaku. Only
illusions. He spun, his leg whipping around to catch Ukyou on the side
of the head. There was a snap as her head was wrenched to the side,
her neck broken.
Ranma stood silently, his eyes riveted to the two creatures he had
just killed. They still looked like his friends. They had sounded like his
friends, and even felt like them to his extended senses. Boukyaku had
done this, perverted his own loved ones. Forced him to do the one
thing he never would.
Turning he looked past, Xian Lin's glowing form. If she had noticed
what he had done, she did not show it, but he knew she could hear his
thoughts. In a moment she would know what he was thinking.
Beyond her Boukyaku rose over the landscape, a black mass of
swirling clouds and vapor. Slits of red approximated eyes and a mouth.
As his eyes found Boukyaku, the demon turned to stare at him, a
gleeful gloating filling Ranma's mind.
Anger flared within Ranma. This was going too far. It was obvious
they were going to lose. Boukyaku was too powerful, and he had
noticed nothing while here that even approximated outside interference.
Well he would not go easily. He would take Boukyaku with him,
destroy that thing as his last breath left his body. That thing would not
enter his world, would not have Akane.
Glowing brightly with his power, Ranma launched himself forward,
his feet barely touching the ground as he raced towards Boukyaku. He
was past Xian Lin in an instant. He heard her cry out for him to stop as
she realized what he intended.
Nothing was going to stop him. Death was a small price for Ranma
to pay. He had been prepared before to pay it before. He would have
gone through with seppuku if his mother had ever found out about his
curse. Now in his death, he would assure the survival of his loved ones.
Screaming a battle cry, Ranma allowed his ki to surround him, lift
him up from the ground. In a blinding flash, he streaked downward into
the gloating form of Boukyaku. As he hit the world exploded, darkness
surrounding him as he lashed out, striving to take Boukyaku with him,
as he was dragged into oblivion.
Akane watched the ceremony with unfeigned interest. It seemed
Cologne was half done, at least she had gone through half of the items
she had placed in front of her. She was now reaching for three more.
She picked up two stones. One was a flat oval, the other a cracked
chunk of some black stone. The third was a white bone that appeared
to be from a human finger, although Akane was not sure.
Lifting Ranma's hand, Cologne placed the oval stone underneath it
and then placed the broken stone at the corner with the finger bone
bisecting the oval from the broken stone to the opposite edge. Having
done this she spoke a few words and inverted Ranma's hand, and
slammed the statue downward towards the oval. It hit the bone
squarely, pulverizing the fragment, swirling dust around the statue of
Boukyaku.
Suddenly Cologne cried out in pain as a blue pulse of energy burst
from the statue to fill the room, flowing over everything and everyone.
The blast rushed through Akane, filling her with an intoxicating taste of
pure power, but as the initial rush reached its plateau within her, she
felt a calm sense of purpose and surrender, a dread sense of purpose.
"Ranma," she whispered, trying to hold onto the feeling. It was like
trying to hold a breeze. It slipped through her fingers, rushing back out
of her, draining into the statue once again. An aching emptiness took
the place of the dizzying power that had just filled her. She saw her
disappointment mirrored on every other face in the room. Except
Cologne. Her face was confused, filled with fear and shock.
Her expression struck Akane. "What's wrong?" she shouted, "What
happened?" Don't let anything go wrong. Please don't.
"I-I don't know," Cologne answered, "This has never happened
before. The dust is supposed to be fused with the statue. What is
Ranma doing? What is going on?" She continued talking but slipped
into Chinese, making it impossible for Akane to understand. After a
moment, she stopped talking and watched the statue for a moment.
Curious, Akane followed Cologne's eyes. She briefly saw the blue
covering the entire statue, and then the black was there, slowly growing
more powerful, beating the blue back, beating Ranma back.
"Just don't stare at it!" Akane shouted, "Help him. Finish the cere-
mony. He's losing. Can't you see that? I made your stupid promise.
Save him, dammit. Save him!"
Ukyou jumped to her feet as a blue light flashed from the window.
Akane's cry forced her to look into the room, pressing her face against
the glass so she could see. She did not care if she was seen now.
Something was going wrong, but she could see nothing out of the
ordinary. Akane was yelling at Cologne and the old ghoul was shaking
her head watching the statue clutched in Ranma's hand.
Terrified, Ukyou forced her eyes to the statue. It was glowing with
a blue aura. It was obviously Ranma's. At first she did not see the
problem. It looked like Ranma had won, or was gaining back control of
his life, but then she saw the black aura spreading like a malignant
cancer across the pristine blue of Ranma's aura.
She shook her head and mouthed the word no over and over again.
He was dying, he was dying. She was about to shout at Cologne when
Akane voiced her opinion. "Save him dammit!" she shouted, as Ukyou
silently echoed her.
Cologne showed surprise and incredulity on her face, but on the
inside she was smiling in glee. The fool boy was attacking Boukyaku.
Not only was he attacking, but it was obvious he was going to lose.
This would make his death that much easier to explain until she told
them the truth and destroyed them utterly.
Now all she had to do was go through the ceremony and skip that
one crucial part. Besides, the doctor would never be able to figure out
that datura had an effect on demons. That was a secret kept by the
Amazon tribe. Tonight Ranma would die, and the Amazon's would be
reborn into glory and power she decided as she started on the next part
of the ceremony.
Akane did not watch her. She watched the statue. The black still
covered less than a quarter of the statue, Ranma seemed to have
slowed Boukyaku's progress, but he had not stopped it.
It was an agonizingly slow advance. Ranma fought each step of the
way, at some points even shoving the other thing backwards, regaining
the lost ground, but this was not very often. As inexorable as the tide,
the black spread over the statue like a fungus, until it covered nearly
half.
At this moment Cologne brought the next part of the ceremony
forward, she had a feather and a small bowl of glittering dust. Dipping
the feather in the dust, she brought it up with a quick jerk of her hand.
A glittering cloud surrounded the statue and Ranma's hand. With quick
and exact strokes, Cologne slashed a pattern in the dust, leaving
glittering marks on the black statue.
Akane leaned forward in hope as Ranma advanced against Bouk-
yaku, forcing the black to retreat until it held only a quarter of the
surface area. As soon as the dust had settled though, Ranma was
already losing ground, faster than before. Desperate, Akane glanced at
Cologne. She had picked up four of the last six items. That meant that
she was almost done, three more steps at most, most likely two. Akane
silently urged Cologne to hurry as she glanced back at the scene of the
battle and saw Ranma tenaciously holding onto his precarious position.
Just a little while longer, only a little while longer. Please, Ranma.
Don't give up. Don't give up. As if Ranma could hear her pleas, his aura
pushed into the darkness, parting it like a knife cutting silk. Then he
was falling back under Boukyaku's retaliation, the blackness penetrating
the blue.
Akane cried out, but then Cologne was laying the next part of the
ceremony on Ranma's breast which rose rhythmically despite the titanic
struggle Ranma was embroiled in. As the intricately marked wooden
bowl was placed on Ranma's breast, his aura increased in intensity,
pushing against, Boukyaku. A moment later though he was falling
back, losing ground quickly as Boukyaku pressed his attack
Crying out in horror, Akane, almost rushed to Ranma's side. His
blue covered only a quarter of the statue now, glowing faintly under the
oppressive weight of the dark aura pressing inward on it. Then every
thing changed and fell apart at once. A white light began to suffuse
Ranma's blue, turning Ranma's aura into a serene blue-white. For a
moment the black was pushed back, but it was not enough. Nothing
seemed to be enough.
Then Cologne was there again, lifting a bowl over the statue, she
poured it over Ranma's hand and the statue. There was a flicker in the
black, and it was pushed back, but then it stopped and surged forward
almost triumphantly. Something had gone wrong. Something was
wrong.
"Save him. Stop this. He's not winning. The curse isn't broken."
"I don't understand," Cologne stated, "It should've worked. I did
everything right. You have to hope now, there is nothing more I can
do. I've opened the way for Ranma. He must find his own way back."
Ranma was not finding his way back though. He was losing once
again, retreating slowly but surely. The additional power of the white
not able to save him. He was down to a small, wan point among the
black, when Ranma's body began to glow white. Light poured through
the room illuminating everyone's tense face. It increased in intensity
until rushing toward the statue. Ranma's position exploded outward as
the white flooded around and into the statue.
Boukyaku was shoved backwards in a rush, his position thrown
from the winning side to the losing in a matter of seconds. Then the
consequences of this action struck Akane as Kasumi gasped in shock,
and Toufu-sensei rushed to Ranma-onna's body. Turning her face
slightly, Akane saw that Ranma was no longer breathing. Just like
before. He was dead. Dead. It was impossible to suppress the wail of
grief that rose in her throat, to join Shampoo's own shrill scream.
Xian Lin sank back onto her haunches as Ranma disappeared into
Boukyaku, the blazing bolt of blue energy he had become, slamming
into Boukyaku's chaotic form, imposing order upon certain parts of it.
She knew what Ranma was doing. She had felt him building up to
this moment, and had hoped he would not do it, but he had. It was a
noble attempt and might work, but not with him alone. Unlike him, she
realized many of the truths of his situation. He was no longer a part of
his body. In actuality, she inhabited his body, keeping his body alive
and functioning. At this moment and since he had entered the statue,
Ranma had been spiritually dead. He had transcended the mortal plane
to the one she had been cursed to inhabit, while she was given a hold
on life.
It would be so easy for her to slip back into his body and take
control of it, but she would not do that. That action would open the
corridor for Boukyaku and give Ranma to oblivion. She cared for him
too much to even contemplate such a deplorable act. He deserved more
than that, but now he was doing it to himself.
Without her help he was doomed to failure, but she realized that it
was going to cost his life to defeat Boukyaku. She did not have the
strength to defeat the demon and sustain his body. At least for awhile,
she could let him take the burden. She needed to rest while she could.
Carefully she watched the battle that raged within Boukyaku, while
she replenished her strength, gaining back her center and balance.
Reckless and foolhardy that his move was, Ranma had the strength to
give Boukyaku a challenge. She saw this in the very first instant of the
attack.
As he struck, the creature of ki Ranma had transformed himself into
had dispersed Boukyaku's form, filling it with Ranma's own energy.
Instead of a body of swirling black, a glowing blue sphere had taken
Boukyaku's place.
This was not destined to last. Ranma had struck quickly and
powerfully, surprising Boukyaku. He had only unhinged the demon,
forcing the thing to recuperate and start from the beginning. Xian Lin
saw Boukyaku begin his counter. A small dot of black appeared on the
sphere Ranma was controlling.
Xian Lin heard Ranma's feelings and thoughts clearly. His anger had
not left him and he instantly pounced upon Boukyaku, forcing him into
a defensive position from which he would have to fight out of. Ranma
attacked mercilessly, forcing Boukyaku to gain every inch of ground
that he had lost,. The process was arduous and painful for Ranma. He
was fighting a new type of battle, and only his determination and sheer
force of will was keeping Boukyaku at bay.
Dreams and wishes don't build houses, so is it with determination
and will. Though they help, superior skill and strength will ultimately
win out. This was the reason Ranma was slowly beaten back. He was
too inexperienced and not as strong as Boukyaku. Then as the sphere
was almost half and half , the world around them shuddered.
Xian Lin felt the difference in Boukyaku instantly. He was distracted
by a new threat from the outside, that was trying to contain him. Split
by the second front, Ranma gained his opening. Xian Lin experienced
his dreadful glee, as he slammed into Boukyaku with a renewed
vengeance, pushing him back until he was in a less formidable position.
This trend was not a permanent one. Xian Lin realized this instantly.
Someone was trying to break the curse, but that meant that Boukyaku
was going to fight harder. It was imperative that Ranma survive this
fight. If they were breaking the Judgement, he would be pulled from the
fight and saved; however, if he lost before help could reach him, there
would be no saving him.
As if Ranma realized this, he punched an attack deep into Bouk-
yaku's position, driving a wedge of blue into the swirling chaos, Bouk-
yaku was a step behind him, pushing deeply into Ranma's defense,
swaying the balance once again.
Xian Lin could feel the desperation in Ranma, the exhaustion. He
was nearing his limit. Then a burst of strength flooded through him,
forcing him back to the edge of the balance for a moment. Xian Lin
knew that the strengthening of the spirit had been completed, there was
only one more step and Ranma would be free, it simply required Ranma
to hold out, but he would not be able to.
She could feel his attacks weakening, his defenses shattering under
Boukyaku's onslaught. He needed her help. Taking her feet, Xian Lin
decided it was time. Embracing her ki, she moved to the sphere and
touched the blue, joining her own mind with Ranma's becoming one
with him in the fight against Boukyaku.
The experience was a new one to both of them. There conscious
minds were still separate, but their ki had joined to form one being, a
being that could deal with Boukyaku on two levels. They fought as a
team, bolstering the other's attacks and defending each other.
Being of two minds, it was harder for Boukyaku to break though,
but blocking him was still difficult. His attacks were more powerful
then they could manage. They needed more strength, more power, but
to gain more power she would have to release the hold on Ranma's
body. He would die, but they would win.
Hold on. Hold on. There is only one more step, then we can return.
Then this will be over.
I know. I'll hold out. He will not win.
Slowly they retreated from Boukyaku, backing up until they thought
there was no where to go, and then Boukyaku became distracted,
screaming in rage.
The final part. It must be. Now Ranma.
They both surged forward, slamming into Boukyaku, pushing him
into a major retreat that almost turned into a rout, but then he stopped
and held his place, a sensation of glee filling the void they were within.
Boukyaku lashed out, throwing his entire might against them. Xian
Lin and Ranma were overwhelmed, tumbling backwards towards the
point they had just left as if an avalanche carried them.
What's wrong? I thought we had won.
I don't know. I don't know. Something is wrong. Just fight. We can't
let him have your body.
Is there anyway to defeat him?
Xian Lin could feel that he already knew the answer. I don't want
to. There is still hope.
No, there isn't Xian Lin. I can't let him win. Let me die. It will save
the ones I love. Join with me. We must stop this menace. Trust me.
Xian Lin knew Ranma was right. They had failed, the cure had
failed to work. There was no other way to keep Boukyaku from
winning. With both of them at full strength, Boukyaku would hold no
chance. They could easily contain him, it was obvious. Gently she
reached back to Ranma's body and freed her remaining ki from his
body, allowing it to die as she gathered all the energy she had used to
sustain him.
It rushed into them like a wave of water from a shattered dam. It
filled them, amplified their power to a height unknown to either of them
before. For an instant they discovered what it felt like to have the
power of the kami in their hands. What the held was beyond any words.
It was enough to hold Boukyaku.
With a combined cry, they used Ranma's death to the utmost and
attacked Boukyaku, forcing him away from the now empty husk that
had held Ranma. He would not get Ranma's body. No one would.
Ukyou watched as the white light suffused Ranma's body and then
rushed into the statue throwing the black aura into a disorderly retreat.
She watched in horror as Ranma's chest stopped rising and falling. "No,
no, no," she muttered over and over in her mind. He had to live. He had
to live.
Dimly she heard Akane's and Shampoo's cries of grief. She wanted
to join them, but her mind was still denying everything that she saw,
was still unable to comprehend that Ranma had died.
Like a statue she stood rooted in place, watching Ranma's body as
Toufu-sensei checked I and then ran from the room. He must live. He
must. But he's not breathing. "Oh god, not Ranchan, not Ranchan."
Toufu-sensei checked Ranma's vital signs. He was not dead yet, but
it would not be long. His breathing was very shallow, almost impercep-
tible, but his heart was still beating. It was amazing the body was still
living. It meant that Ranma had left some residual ki to keep him alive,
but not much. Toufu did not understand what had happened, but he
knew that if some ki was not placed into Ranma's body he would never
be able to return.
He stood back from his body, trying to think of something. It was
hard to think with Shampoo and Akane crying. The other's shout and
grief stricken voices were not helping maters much either.
"I told you," Cologne suddenly shouted, her voice carrying through
the din to reach Toufu's ears, "I can't do anything. I opened the path for
his ki to return, he just must use it. Obviously he knows it is there since
he drained his ki to attack Boukyaku. Is it my fault the boy is stupid?"
Draw ki back into the body. He had heard that before. Some herb.
He knew it was something he had heard of, that he must have in the
clinic somewhere. Suddenly he snapped is fingers. Datura. Datura was
the answer. It would make the body receptive, open it to ki.
Spinning he rushed from the room to his medicine room. Throwing
the door open he rushed in and began to dig through the many different
bottles and pouches of herbs. Finally he found what he was looking for
in a bag. It was the dried leaves of datura.
Grabbing the pouch he rushed to his clinic and turned on the hot
water as he looked for a mortar and pestle. He found one and took it
over next to the sink. Opening the bag he took out three leaves and
then after a moments consideration took out two more. It would be
very strong, almost lethal, but he needed that kind of strength to be
assured of the result.
Placing the five leaves in the small bowl he ground them to a fine
powder. He poured the powdered datura into a beaker and added
enough water to make it a syrupy mixture. Allowing it to steep for a
few moments, he went to find a hypodermic needle and syringe.
He found one on the opposite counter. Rushing back he filled the
syringe with the datura solution. Leaving the rest next to the sink, he
rushed back out into the waiting room. Everything was still in an
uproar. It was split down the middle of grief and anger. Akane was
slowly turning to anger, her grief burning away under her anger. Nabiki
was glaring at Cologne who stood calmly, watching the battle continue
around the statue. No one but Ukyou noticed him as he slipped next to
Ranma.
To his relief he found Ranma-onna was still living, although just
barely. Without a second thought, he plunged the needle into Ranma's
vein and injected most of the datura into his blood system.
Stepping back he placed the syringe on the bed next to Ranma's
right hand and watched Ranma closely. It should only take a few
seconds, just a few seconds. Ranma's body suddenly twitched, her left
hand clenching in pain, a soft moan escaping her lips. Even with the
commotion, the small noise and movement halted everything. Soon
everyone was watching Ranma, praying for him to make it.
They were holding Boukyaku, they could hold him for the entire
night. He would not win. It was obvious to them. It was obvious to
him. There was an unspoken agreement between them. They were
about to call the contest when the unexpected happened.
Xian Lin and Ranma felt it first. A connection with Ranma's body
opened and began to tug at them. Someone had found a way to get
them back, but then they saw the danger. Boukyaku could follow with
them, or simply push past them. There was no way to save themselves.
If they did Boukyaku would win, but it was hard to resist their ki's
natural tendency to return to its original shell.
We can't go back. We've got to stay.
I know. I'm sorry I can't save your life. I was hoping so much.
It is worth it, Xian Lin.
She couldn't do it. She could not let him throw away his life like
that. He deserved a chance. She did not want him to become cursed
like her. It wasn't fair to him. He had suffered so much in his life.
There was still things he had to finish. Besides she cared for his friends
as if they were her own. In a way they were. She had come to know
them with Ranma. She shared his perceptions and memories of them.
She loved them as much as he did. Therefore she did not want them to
suffer.
They all deserved more. She made her decision. It was a small
sacrifice.
Promise me you'll find a way to save me. Promise me.
What are you doing? You're blocking me.
Just promise. Please
I promise Xian Lin. I'll save you, but please don't do this. Let
me stay.
No, go. She pushed herself away from him, shoving Ranma back
into his body. Boukyaku screamed in rage as he realized what was
happening, but Xian Lin imposed herself between him and Ranma's
body. He would not get free. He would never get free.
I promise. I swear I'll find away. That was the last she heard as
Ranma left her life as quickly as he entered it. Then Boukyaku was
crashing into her, trying to crush her. She refused to give him that
satisfaction. She fought him, delaying him while Ranma regained his
body and his senses enough to be able to close the connection between
his body and the statue.
Hurry, Ranma. I can't hold out forever. Please hurry. She blocked a
vicious attack and slashed back with her own blast of energy. Hurry.
Please hurry.
Akane watched eagerly as Ranma's body struggled. Ranma's arms
and legs were flailing slightly, as if she were trying to claw her way
back into the real world. Then she was coughing, a weak sound almost
like crying. As her arms lifted from the bed, trying to move, Akane saw
Ranma's eyes flutter open for a second and then again a moment later.
He was going to live. Relief flooded through her body, sweeping aside
all of the difficulties, everything that had happened up to this point. Her
Ranma had returned.
She began to run to him. He was going to live. The nightmare was
over. Ranma was coming back to her. In her delirious state, she did not
see Shampoo until the Amazon knocked her aside in her own headlong
rush to reach Ranma's side. Akane fell heavily to the floor, her face
reflecting the shock she felt. Angrily, she prepared to rush the Amazon
girl.
"Stupid girl, remember promise," Shampoo shouted as she grabbed
Ranma's left hand, "Husband no longer yours."
Akane sank heavily to the floor as she heard this. It was true, she
had given up Ranma. Cologne had saved him, or at least opened the
way to save him. Rightfully she had no claim to him anymore. She
wanted to cry. She wanted to shout in grief, but she would not give
anyone that satisfaction. She had done what had been needed. She
would not regret it. She would accept it.
But it still hurt. The pain of not having him tore at her heart, ripping
her apart. Roughly she shoved the grief down. It did not matter any
more. She had lost him. Before he had come into her life, she had
gotten along fine, why not when he was gone?
Because he is part of you. Akane shook the thoughts away and
stood up, watching as Ranma came back to life, her eyes starring
around groggily.
Akane watched as Ranma pushed away Shampoo. Ranma's mouth
was moving soundlessly. It seemed like she was calling for her, but
Akane could not go. She put on a blank face. She would show no
weakness. She would not give Shampoo and Cologne the satisfaction.
Ranma's eyes meet her own. Though they were clouded and unfo-
cused, Akane saw the plea in them, the hurt and the confusion. He
needed her. Something horrible had happened to him, and now the one
person he did not want comforting him was and the person he needed
was watching impassively. Her heart was being ground into a fine
powder, her strength breaking under his demanding blue-grey eyes. It
was too much for her. The loss was too recent to face like this.
Then Ranma turned away, disappointment brimming in his eyes.
As soon as his eyes left her, Akane forced herself to turn away from
Ranma. She walked stiffly towards the front door, her body rigid as a
steel rod. She was not going to cry. Her grief would never be shown to
the world. "Akane," Ranma's soft, begging cry reached her as she
stepped through the door and into the street. It destroyed her.
As the door closed behind her she took a few steps and fell to
her knees. Sometimes the loss is too much, the pain so great that there
is no way to express it no release from the burning torment within body
and soul. This grief thrust itself upward grasping Akane's heart in a
vice grip, crushing the air from her lungs as if a steel beam had
slammed down on her body.. She wanted to cry out in anguish, retaliate
against the heavens. Everything pushed against the dam holding it in.
Akane opened her mouth in a silent scream, wanting the release,
needing it. Only a soft whimper escaped her though, as she collapsed
against the ground, her life shattered, her soul crying out in unending
torment.
From the shadows at the side of the building, Ukyou watched in
silent pity. No one deserved the pain Akane was going through. No
one.
It was like swimming through syrup. He struggled to reach the
surface and the fresh air. His mind was exploding form the effects of
the journey into his body. Something was trying to drag him back into
dreams and illusions. No he would not allow it. He would not. If he
gave into the blackness that was trying to drag him down, he might
never wake up. Xian Lin's sacrifice would be worth nothing than.
With renewed determination, Ranma struggled to the surface of
consciousness. Finally he broke free and became aware of his surroun-
dings, the air rasping in his lungs, the bed underneath him, the clothes
on his body. Like a drowning man gasped for air, he grabbed each of
these sensations and enjoyed them.
Slowly his other senses came back. Sight was the first. He was in
Toufu-sensei's clinic. The Tendou's and his father were gathered around
him, and.and...Cologne and Shampoo. He tried to push himself up,
wanting to wring the old woman's neck. Then Shampoo was in his
arms, hugging him.
Disgusted, Ranma tried to pushed her away from him, but his arms
felt like they had been weighted down with lead. Shampoo barely
moved under his onslaught. She asked him a question as she hugged
him, but he had not regained his hearing yet.
What is going on? Where is Akane? He tried to move Shampoo
aside and saw Akane starring at him, her face a stone statue. What is
going on? Why is Akane so sad? Why is Shampoo in my arms?
He glanced around. Everyone but Shampoo seemed to be miserable.
Kasumi had a pitying look in her eyes. Nabiki was glaring at the
Amazon in his arms. Soun was crying, as was his father. Toufu-sensei
only sadly returned his gaze.
He turned back around only to catch sight Akane disappearing out
the door. In a moment of desperation, he found his voice. "Akane!" he
called out, but she did not respond. He tried to push himself up to go
after her, but there was no way. He was too weak.
"Husband stay with Shampoo," Shampoo said. Ranma was over-
whelmed by the noise of the room as his hearing kicked in, pain flaring
in his eardrums as the noise assaulted him.
"I'm not your husband," he stated groggily, "Nor will I ever be."
"Violent girl give you up, Father promise husband to Shampoo,"
Shampoo explained, "It only way great-grandmother allow you to live."
Ranma sank back onto the bed, his mind reeling. He had to marry
Shampoo? Akane had given him up? No, it couldn't be true. What kind
of hell had he returned to. This was not worth Xian Lin's sacrifice.
Xian Lin! He glanced down at the statue. A black aura and white
fought across the surface, but it was obvious Xian Lin was losing. He
had to help her, but how. In desperation he lifted the statue and
smashed it on the bed. There was the crackling of glass and something
wet covered his hand and the statue.
Surprised Ranma watched as the black aura of Boukyaku halted its
attack and retreated from Xian Lin. Soon the white covered most of the
statue, the black only occupying a small corner.
Picking up his hand, Ranma saw a little blood from where the
broken syringe had punctured his skin, but there was a syrupy sub-
stance on his hand and the statue. Had that done it? He did not know
but for the moment Xian Lin was safe. At least that was one less thing
to worry about. Now to deal with Akane and Shampoo and a way to
free Xian Lin. Ranma suddenly wished he had never broken off any of
his engagements. His life had been so much simpler before.
I need some answers. What is going on? Why these promises? Is
Shampoo lying to me? Why is everyone so sad? Oh god, what has
happened? At this point his body and mind retaliated against the
narcotic in his body. Darkness and unconsciousness descended over
him like a comforting blanket. His head and body slipped backwards
onto the bed, as he instinctively curled into a fetal position, the statue
clutched tightly to his body like a favorite stuffed animal.
The room was in chaos. Everyone was still trying to figure out
what to do. First Ranma had died, or appeared to have died, and then
he had come alive and looked around before slipping into
unconsciousness.
Cologne was furious. She did not know how the doctor had done it,
but he had obviously found a way to bring Ranma back to his body. He
must have used some datura, that would be the only reason Boukyaku
lost to that white aura so easily.
Now was not the time to dwell on that she realized. It was time to
make with what she had been given. She had Ranma now. His death
would have been better, but the fact that he had survived this was
testament to his strength. He would make a priceless addition to the
Amazon tribe. Now she just had to get him away from these fools.
Really it was a simple task. Ranma had been promised to Shampoo,
so as Shampoo's guardian she could take Ranma with her. She stepped
up to the bed fully intending to do this. Shampoo was sitting beside the
boy when Cologne hopped up beside the bed.
"We take Husband home now?" Shampoo asked anxiously.
"Yes, great-granddaughter," Cologne answered, "It is time to
return to Joketsuzoku."
"Aieee! Shampoo so happy!" Shampoo began to gather Ranma in
her arms when Toufu-sensei intervened.
"He stays here," he said quietly, grabbing Shampoos forearm and
pulling it away from Ranma.
"I don't think so," Cologne stated.. This doctor was beginning to
annoy her, "Son-in-law is to be married to Shampoo, as such he will
come with us."
"You will leave him here, and let him recuperate and say his
farewells to his family and friends." The voice was quiet but it carried
the weight of an emperor. "Am I understood?"
"Hai, but that does not mean I must agree," Cologne shot back,.
"They promised." She pointed a wrinkled finger at the distraught Soun
and Genma. "Are you going to break their honor?"
"No, but you are going to make a mistake," Toufu said carefully,
"Ranma is not going to be please when he wakes up. He will not
believe you. He will refuse everything you say and return here t his
family. Only then will he realize the promise they made on the honor of
his family. What do you think he will do then? Commit seppuku? I
believe so. But will he leave it at that or seek revenge first?"
Cologne smiled inwardly at the thought of her son-in-law's suicide.
It might be worth it, but she realized it was a pointless battle. She was
not going to be able to walk out of here with Ranma. It did not matter.
He was the property of the Amazon tribe now, and nothing would
change that.
"Fine, you may keep the boy until he is healthy and has said his
farewells," Cologne agreed, "But I will take the statue of Boukyaku
back." She walked forward and grabbed the statue in Ranma's hands
and pulled. To her surprise it did not budge.
"*What is this? How can he hold this statue while asleep?*" she
muttered in Mandarin. There was no way she was going to be able to
force it from Ranma, he was stronger than her, but there were always
pressure points. She touched a few, but when she reached for the statue
this time, it flared white and threw her backwards. Ranma only
mumbled and pulled the statue closer to her body.
"I don't think he's going to release it," Nabiki commented condes-
cendingly. Cologne saw the amusement sparkle in the girl's eyes. Grum-
bling angrily, Cologne hopped to her feet. She would come back for the
statue later. She was not leaving it in the hands of these weaklings.
"Great-granddaughter, we are leaving," Cologne said and pulled the
bewildered Shampoo form the clinic.
"Why we leave, Great-Grandmother?" Shampoo asked.
"Don't worry, we'll be back later," Cologne assured the girl as she
began walking down the street.
Ukyou watched Cologne and Shampoo disappear into the early
morning darkness. Anger burned within her like the fire in a forge.
Ranchan did not deserve what he was being forced upon him. He had
been unconscious, he had not agreed to any of this, and now Cologne
seemed to be treating him like a piece of meat. It did not matter that
Shampoo loved Ranma. Ranma was being used and Ukyou hated that.
She hated it because Ranma was being used and it was hurting the
only people who had ever been her friends. Akane was suffering. Even
though she was not here, having finally regained her feet, running into
the night just before Cologne had exited the clinic, Ukyou knew she
would be grieving for a long time. She had seen how much Akane
cared for Ranma. The Tendou's were grieving the loss of Ranma, even
in their joy that he was safe. It was not fair, it was not fair to anyone.
She remembered Ranma's words when he had broken the engage-
ment. They burned in her mind as a testament to her, but also as a
reminder of who Ranma was.
They were sitting at the counter, Ranma watching her sadly. She
was still crying softly, the tears running down her cheeks. "Y-you
don't love me?" she asked fearfully.
"I never said that, Ucchan," he said his voice quiet in the empty
restaurant, "I care for you a lot. You're my best friend. How could I
throw that away?"
She sniffled in response, still trying to come to grips with what
Ranma had said. He was breaking their engagement. He was no longer
her fiancee. "But why?" she wailed, "I've done everything for you. I've
given my life for you. I'll do anything for you, Ranchan. Just give me
the chance. I'll make a perfect wife. Please, Ranchan," she begged
grabbing his hand. She saw the pain burning in is grey-blue eyes, those
eyes that had always captivated her and everyone else. She knew he
was breaking. He couldn't stand to make girls cry.
"I-I can't, Ucchan," Ranma said, pulling his hand from her's and
standing up, "I can't go on like this. I won't be forced by you or
anyone." he turned around to face her. "This is my life, Ucchan. I want
to choose who I marry, who I decide to spend my life with. I don't
wanna be told who I've gotta love or marry or be nice to. It just ain't
me."
"I'm sorry I hurt you, Ucchan, but I've gotta do this. I hurt Shampoo
when I told her. I hurt Akane when I told her, and Kodachi..." Ranma
paused and glanced around fearfully, "She doesn't even deserve me to
tell her. I'll send a note or something telling her to get help."
Sighing, Ranma returned to the counter and sat down. Ukyou
watched him for a second. She had never realized that Ranma hated
being forced so much. Generally he just took it in stride, trying to
juggle all of his fiancees. "D-do I have a chance, Ranchan?" she asked
fearfully, "Will you one day marry me?"
Ranma gazed into her eyes at that moment. She saw regret in them,
pain, sorrow and then finally acceptance. "I-I..yes. You still have a
chance, Ucchan." He said it silently and then slowly stood and left the
restaurant.
Ranma did not deserve what was going to happen to him. He was
being thrown around like a rag doll. She knew they had done it to save
his life. She knew they had had no choice, but it was still not fair.
Maybe there was one thing she could do to help him. If he disappeared,
if they couldn't find him...
She climbed to her feet and glanced into the window. The room was
dark. It was obvious everyone had left while she was thinking. Ranma
was sleeping quietly in the center of the room. She looked so peaceful
as a passing car illuminated the calm and relaxed face.
Ranchan does not even know what is happening. I've gotta help
him. He deserves better than this, and maybe, just maybe he'll come
back to me. She smiled at the though and stealthily opened the window
and slipped into the clinic's waiting room.
The room was silent and still. No one was about, but Ukyou knew
that Toufu-sensei was in the building somewhere. She silently he hoped
he was sleeping.
With soft steps, she approached Ranma-onna and gently lifted the
small, young lady into her arms and then slipped back out of the clinic
into the night. It was the only way. She would take Ranma to her place.
She would let him recover, and then she would help him do whatever
he wanted, and be damned with all of their honor. Ranma deserved
better. She deserved better.
Author's Notes:
Boy was that a long one. I never intended it to be that long, but
I guess I really needed to get to the point at a good rate rather that rush
it. Well I don't want to put to much in this Note, just a few comments.
First thing first, I'd like to give my sincerest gratitude and
thanks to James "Phoenix" Jones who was a great help in being a
sounding board for some of my plot ideas for this episode. I'd also like
to thank all those people wo told me my original ending sucked and
needed some help...hey, they were right, and this one I like a whole lot
more.
Ch 3 is finished and now I'm forging on to Ch 4 and the rest of
the series. This is where original story I had planned takes up. Well
actually just elements of that original story. Ch 2 and Ch3 changed the
plot around so much that I can't do everything I wanted to because it
just will not work, and some of it was pretty stupid.
For anyone who cares, or actually keeps track of time, CH 3
covered 14 days In the curse and 2 days before, so 16 days, ch 2 was 5
days, 2 in the hospital, 2 training that were not shown and the one of
the date. Ch 1 was a week, about seven days, actually eight because it
goes into the day he wakes up. So total time so far is 29 days, just a
little over four weeks. Just though some poeple might want to know. I
don't make a big deal of days of the week or actuall time, well I do for
my own sanity, but I never really care too much and it is not important
to the story accept in the fact that I have to make everything fit
together.. On account of this, it is easy to miss the time in my writing,
and I guess I dont want people confused.
Well I didn't really tie anything together, now did I? Ha, ha, ha,
And you thought I'd have a nifty clear everything up solution, well you
probably didn't but let me gloat. I've not had enough to gloat about
lately ^_^ The crux of the matter is that Ch 3 could only end in a few
ways, and most of them were either just silly and unfinished, like my
original ending, or they destroyed the story later on. Basically Ranma is
away from Boukyaku, he has gotten out of the statue and into his own
bady, I can't really do much more than that. Heck the resolution with
just the Amazons is going to take two Chapters at least..not long like
this one, but still two different Chapters.
That was one of the reasons I ended it with Ukyou "acquiring"
Ranma. It is a great continuation point into Ch 4 The Golden Apple
.....hmm I suddenly just got an idea for another fic...oh well I'll write it
later.... Besides I like leaving cliffhangers at the end of my Chapters.
What is going to happen? How will Ranma react? Will he even wake?
And just what about that mysterious guy taking all those pictures of
Akane? <WHAP> Sorry, wrong fic....that was the self-insertion fic I
burned and then feed to my dog....
Enough talking, er writing, I've gotta go to work or I don't get paid,
and then I can't pay for my online time and then I can't put out
anymore of MASN...someetoimes you just can't win..
Until next time
Ja ne
Joseph Kohle