Part 6: Author's Rant (condensed version)

  Warmage was given a redeeming trait in his character because I
felt he shouldn't be so irredeemable as I initially wrote him out to
be. As an extremely powerful bad guy (TM), I gave him the chance to
be human once again, and to return to the light (ala Darth Vader).
The catalyst, of course, was Ukyo, who stirred-up long-forgotten
memories of his beloved Kei.
  In addition, although it was not my original intention, I gave
new life to three other assassins: Shifter, Strand, and Clash. I
tried hard to keep the identity of Higure Furui's brother, Akutare,
a secret-- not until the critical moment, when it is revealed that he
is actually Strand, and he is quite dead indeed. This was an added
incentive for Shifter's eventual defection, since this is against
the laws of nature which he fervently serves. Also take note that
Strand is nothing like his brother, preferring worldly pleasures as
having fantasies of having his way with Kodachi's mom. Clash, on
the other hand, is pretty much your stereotypical fallen samurai.
His drive is honor-- which is what brought him to Orochi in the
first place, and his eventual death, the only release from his oaths.
Originally I was going to make Lash Clash's sister, but considering
the parallels it draws with Kodachi and Tatewaki, I opted to make
her his wife instead. Makes much more room for the vengeful heart.
  Daichi and Shoto. A pair of swords some call Daisho. Kuno tradition.
  Take a wild guess who saved Mousse from bleeding to death. In any
case, now Mousse is worse than dead-- he has no future to look
forward to, in addition to being rendered invalid though Shampoo's
handiwork.
  As noted in her first appearance, Seiryu is missing a few buttons.
The fact she was attempting to usurp control over Ukyo's body should
have been a flag that something was wrong.
  Tatewaki was just filled with references, wasn't he? King Lear,
Babylon 5, Lord of the Rings.... Yet, the Gandalf reference was simply
a happy accident; I didn't plan it that way, only knew that it was
going to happen somehow. It just happened like that.
  I called it 'Heart of Ice' for a REASON, you know ;) Did you catch
any of the other, less-obvious references back there? Consider it a
tribute.
  The Mousse/Nakamura scene was partially based on someone I know
who really hates getting bugged by evangelists every day. Note, also,
that the church building, instead of facing east, faces west. If east
is up, then west is downward... you get the picture.
  I've always intended for Ranma and Ukyo to turn out the way they
did, as this series was basically about them. Still, I thought Ranma
should get a taste of what he's missing; I personally think Ranma
DOES NOT DESERVE Ukyo. Ranma and Akane deserve each other (interpret
that as you will).



  I told you when I started that not everyone was coming home
alive. Raise your hands if you expected me to
kill off my favorite character. Raise your hands if you thought it
was going to be either Mousse or Kuno.
  The title of the final part is a parodic reference to the final
manga story, "Ranma and Akane."

-- Razorclaw X, signing off
http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html

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  The eyes of Ukyo's father watched Ranma depart from the weed-
stricken yard. He never left his position by the entrance to the
Kuonji home until the young man closed the gate behind him. Slowly,
Kuonji retreated back inside the ramshackle house, quietly sliding
the rotting door closed.
  "It's finally done," he whispered with a sigh. Mopping his forehead
with the back of his hand, the tired man focused his eyes to the dark
shadows of the hallway. "Are you sure this is how you want it?"
  "You know just as well as I this is how it must be," replied the
one standing in the shadows. "Insult has been repaid with death; why
drag it on any further?"
  "Still, this way leaves the Saotome kid a wreak," Kuonji pointed
out. "Is that what you want?"
  That question caught the shadow by surprise. "This has nothing to
do with what I want."
  Kuonji shrugged. "If you say so."
  "He'll get over it, in time," assured the shadowy figure. Changing
the subject, the shadow added, "We'll wait at least three days before
setting up shop; I don't intend to let Ranma know that you've been
taken care of, which will lead to suspicions, then prying eyes, then
exposure. That's something I really would like to avoid, you know,
after all this work."
  "I understand," replied Ukyo's father, nodding carefully. "Still,
are you sure about this?"
  Stepping out of the shadows, the figure held one arm outstretched,
a soft thumb rubbing over a green, stone object. Kuonji had no doubt
to what that object was; after all, it had been passed down through
the generations of his family.
  Of course, currently there was only one Jade Dragon earring; the
other was in the hands of Ranma, by the wishes of Ukyo.
  Ukyo Kuonji threw her arms around her father, embracing him
tightly. "This is the only way, Father, that I can make up for
everything-- for running out, for time lost, and to get my mind off
Ranma, and his mind off me. He's got a wife, and he ought to get on
with his life; he can't do that while I'm around, not after what
I've done to him." Or, more like what my other self did. Shaking her
head, the chef girl said, "He's strong; he can do it. That's why I'm
doing this; if anything, this even can only make him STRONGER."
  She added, "Konatsu should be coming around with the rest of my
stuff within a week or so as well. I'm glad he sold the shop so fast!"
  "I still don't understand why you trusted that kid and not your
friend here," said Kuonji, confused.
  "I've placed a great deal of trust in Konatsu," Ukyo said. "He will
never let me down; he'll never tell them the truth, not until I ask
him to. Sure, they'll all probably find out about me eventually, but
by then I hope everything'll have settled down."
  "Now it's just you, me, and Grandpa and Grandma; I'll make sure to
work hard!" Raising her voice in determination, Ukyo added, "This will
be the last generation of the Kuonji family that lives in poverty!"
  "Welcome home, Ukyo," Kuonji whispered, hugging his daughter with
tears rolling down his cheeks.


"There will come a time in your lives, a defining moment, that will
  change your lives forever. That may come sooner, or later; but
  you will know when it comes. That moment, a new door is opened for
  you-- your thoughts travel in ways you have never dreamed before;
  new options are available at your disposal."
"It seemed only yesterday I found mine. It took a friend... at the
  time, not a close one... to realize it. It took an even closer
  friend to come to terms with it. From that day forward, I knew
  what I wanted to do, knew what I had to do, knew what was right."
"I leave you with these parting thoughts: follow your heart. You will
  know when something is right, not because someone told you it was
  right, or a set of rules or laws tells you it is right, but you
  FEEL it is right. That is called your conscience; listen to your
  conscience. Seize the moment, but do not confine yourself to the
  moment, as you must also look to the future, as well as the past, to
  move on. Never dwell in any one moment for long-- be it mourning of
  a loved one, your favorite birthday, or a beloved pet... but never
  forget them, either. (long pause) Finally, make the most of yourself;
  never settle for enough, but excel! You are the bright minds of our
  future; make the most of it, and, most of all, make us proud."
				-- Dr. Kodachi Kuno, M.D., on her
					speech to the graduating
					class of '78, U. Tokyo

					*  *  *  *  *

-----------------------------------------------------
Miscellaneous

  Draw your own conclusions.
  In the end, the numbers don't matter; it is the people who matter.
If you are reading this, you either got tired of the fic and skipped
to the bottom, or you didn't believe me the first time when the EOF
tag was put in place as I usually do after my ranting.



"Now I enter these hallowed halls... a conqueror, yess. Autobots and
  Decepticons, still frozen in emergency stasis, awaiting the moment,
  four million years hence, when they will awaken to start the Great
  War. The Great War, where the Autobots defeated the Decepticons,
  and thus, their descendents, the Maximals, rule we Predacons.
  Archaic energon guzzlers, how dare they!"
"Unwilling though I was to follow my namesake's instructions, it has
  all come down to this... the ultimate risk, for the ultimate prize!
  A Day of Reckoning, with those who made us SLAVES!"
"So, we are now face-to-face, Optimus Prime. In one future you will
  awaken and become the great leader of the Autobots. But time shall
  take a different track now.... Computer! All available power to
  primary weapon!"
"And now, Optimus Prime, in MEMORY of the Decepticons, for the GLORY
  of the Predacons, for the Cybertron that is rightfully OURS-- and
  MINE to rule... I unleash the storm of vengeance! Farewell...!"
						--Megatron, Beast Wars

Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NOREPLYhotmail.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html

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