Loss at Jusendo
Disclaimer: All hail Takahashi-sama, for creating the fine works she
has. In that vein of thought, I am using her creations without
permission from her, Viz, or anyone else who actually _does_ own Ranma.
This is a twist on a common variant. It's something that's been bugging
me for a while, and wanted to be written. I just hope that the title
hasn't been used before... I couldn't find any other instances, so I
hope not. :p
The battle with Saffron was intense, but with Akane's life on the line,
there was only one possible outcome, as far as Ranma was concerned.
Saotome Ranma did not lose; not when it really counted. If he did, he
clawed his way back and fought again, refusing to give in, until victory
was his. This time was no exception, and when Akane had used her
doll-like body to intercept a blast of fire, Ranma took advantage of the
opening and slashed the ruler of the phoenix people with the Gekkaja.
Stunned, the winged god fell to the ground, and bled his life away.
Ranma was already on his way to the dragon tap, to restore Akane.
Saffron was reborn in a blast of fire, a ball that consumed his physical
remains and coalesced into an egg.
Kima had taken him away, fearing Ranma's wrath, but... with the dragon
tap restored, Ranma had to face the inevitable. There was no way to
avoid it. She was gone. He had lost her, and he couldn't restore her;
not after this. Her sacrifice was made.
The party returned to Jusenkyou, quieted by Ranma's demeanor. Perhaps it
was because he had killed Saffron, and they thought he would go again,
to kill him more efficiently, but they were frightened of him.
Ryouga and Mousse wordlessly leapt into the spring that would cure them,
followed by Genma. Shampoo found her own, and Ranma found himself
staring at his reflection in that pool for a long moment.
He closed his eyes, holding back the tears that he couldn't show, but
wished he could. He burnt her image in his memory, knowing he would
never see her again, hear her laugh, or watch her smile. It was a loss
no one but Ranma could understand. No one had come to understand her
like he had.
He heaved one last shuddering sigh, remembering how much he resented her
when they first met, and how over time, they had grown close. Certainly,
events beyond their control forced them together, but Ranma knew that if
he had it to do over again, he'd accept her whole-heartedly. She made
him feel complete, and now that he had lost her, he wasn't sure what to
do.
A hand touched his shoulder gently, "It... wasn't a total waste,
Ranma... your cure is right there."
He sighed, and stepped into the pool, "I know, Akane. I know." <No more
running from the truth, now.> And then he did shed a tear, because he
knew he could never have her back. A last image of her passed through
his mind, her rounded face, pouting lips, and red hair... and then was
gone.
Notes: This was brought on by the fact that Ranma says "I'm not sure
when, but I guess somewhere along the line I stopped caring about the
curse," when Jusendo is flooded. I know that manga onna-Ranma did not
have red hair, but I thought it was more poignant than a pigtail. I
guess the idea of Ranma learning to accept his curse just appeals to
me...
--
Forgive my spelling,
my U.S. education,
is the thing to blame.