Chapter VI: No more course no more soul

Two days had gone by and there was no sign of Ryoga or even of Agares. I can tell you that Nabiki had been thinking, and lot. About what Cologe told Ranma, About Ryoga; but mostly about the fact that it seemed they had been walking in circles all day.

The weirdest thing was that it wasn't cold. They were only a few days from Christmas and there was no snow, not even rain or cold air. It even felt like summer; the grass was green and the sun bright.

"I'm so sure we already pas this tree." Nabiki murmured to the Amazon walking besides her. She was wearing a white summer dress, which reveled most of her perfect legs.

Ranma was about to say something when Akane spoke up. "No, we hadn't, now will you shut up."

"Akane baby, there's no need to be rude." Nabiki said with a large smile on her face.

"You two shut up!" Ranma told the beautiful sisters. "I think we are finally here."

The martial artist was right; passing a few pine trees there it was Agares. There was no sign of life in the whole town, just a dim light coming out of one of the houses. But no one saw it.

"Great Ranma you found a ghost town. There is no one here!" Akane complained to her fiancé. She kept complaining; I could say she was still angry at Ranma for spending so much time with Shampoo. But that's not necessary.

"I'm not sure about that." The pigtail man made a pause and looked around, hoping to find so much more than what he actually found. "Something is not right in this place."

"Shampoo thinks us should split. Shampoo goes with Ranma." The blue haired Amazon jumped in excitement as she spoke.

Angrily Akane took Shampoo from the shoulder. "There is no way you are going alone with him"

"Akane not go with Ranma"

Somehow Ranma ended up with Nabiki and the two other girls ended up going together. Just so you know, the truth was that at the time Ranma couldn't stand Shampoo, and do not make me get started with Akane.

The young Saotome and Nabiki headed directly to one of the houses. Ranma wanted to see if there was anyone home or at least any sign that could guide them in the right direction. But you and I know exactly what they were about to find.

"So, why are you really here Nabiki?" The sexy girl turned to face Ranma. "It is not like you to go in this kind of trips."

She laughed and with a naughty smile on her face said. "Ranma baby, does it matter?" Then turned around and opened the door of the old house before them.

Inside they found corpses. Besides the door there was a housewife with the throat cut open and both eyes out of their sockets. Both, the husband and the child were lying dead on the ground with worms living in their stomachs.

Nabiki began feeling sick, and more. The temperature dropped extremely fast. Ice covered the floor and fog covered the air. Next a small noise was heard behind Ranma. Scared to dead, the girl and the martial artist turned around and there it was; standing in front of them, an albino old man with a sinister smile drawn on his face.

--

Both, Ryoga and Ukyo hadn't felt that sick in their whole lives. The small village Ukyo had found that morning was filled with corpses. Flies covered the sky and worms covered the rotten floor.

They didn't stay there long. Just the necessary; Ryoga searched for some survivors for a few minutes but he only found the dirtiest pictures and sickest images.

I know that Ryoga wanted to stay and investigate more, but Ukyo had already thrown up a few times and wanted to leave. Inside him, Ryoga knew it had been the work of a demon, one way more powerful than the ones he had faced. Pleasing Ukyo they left the nasty town behind and once more entered the cold and dark forest.

The couple made their way through the heavy snow and after a couple hours they got to another town; or at least what seemed to be a town. No one was out at the moment, not even the slightest noise could be heard. Maybe it was because of the snow storm, or because of the cold weather, or maybe this town had suffered the same fate than the last one they had visited; they weren't sure. Ukyo and Ryoga kept walking feeling something awkward in the atmosphere.

"This is really odd" The female commented almost shaking from the cold.

Hibiki only gave her a warm glare. "Yeah." Then he made a pause and asked the beautiful chef. "Are you sure you are fine? You seem cold."

The girl was already wearing a cotton shirt and one of Ryoga's long sleeve shirts on top. "Even if I told you I was cold there isn't much you can do. It's freezing out here."

He could only smile while the pretty girl giggled. Ukyo was right the storm was getting worst each step of the way.

"Look! Over there." The young warrior said and then pointed a small house with a dim light coming out of its window.

She smiled and hugged him in excitement. Then a little embarrassed let him go and gave the warrior a comforting smile.

Ryoga put away his heavy umbrella with which he had been protecting Ukyo and himself for the whole snow storm; then he knocked on the rusty door. They didn't have any response for a while; honestly Ukyo began to have her doubts when an old man opened the door.

"What are you two doing in the middle of the storm?! Come inside."

The first thing Hibiki noticed was that the old man as an albino. The young girl vowed, thanking the white skinned man. While Ryoga kept doubting of the man´s generosity. The couple step inside; it was warm, comfortable. I could even say it felt like home for Ryoga; even though he had never had a real one.

The albino closed the door behind him before speaking. "It's been pretty lonely in here lately. I'm glad someone still visits Agares."

"We are not here to stay" Ryoga spoke up his mind.

Ukyo gave Hibiki a little hit with her elbow; then angrily murmured something on his ear.

"It doesn't matter how long you are staying for. The important thing is that you are here" Next he extended his hand willing to shake it with Ryoga. "Call me Ibilis" A small sinister smile cracked on his face. No one else saw it but I could clearly see how the warm house began looking pretty much like Hell.

No more than two hours had passed, and the pathetic fire in the chimney still kept them all warm. The storm hadn't gone away; if something the wind had increased its intensity.

"Here, I brought you tea. You seemed cold" Ibilis said as he came out of the kitchen with two cups on his hand.

He placed them on top of the small table in the living room. Ukyo would have thanked him but she had gone to the bathroom. He sat besides Ryoga and after a short silence he spoke to Ryoga's ear.

"I know about your curse. I can make it go away."

The warrior stood up and unfolded his umbrella. "I know what you are. I'm not falling into your tricks."

"If you know what I am why haven't you destroy me?" It seemed that the old man was about to break in laughter.

"I wanted answers. I want to--"

"You wanted to know what the fuck is going on here. Didn't you?" The old man dropped his walking stick and in a matter of seconds rejuvenated himself. Now Ibilis was a man at his late twenties, still albino, still soulless. "I'll tell you what is going on. We are taking this world over for ourselves."

Ryoga stood there, numb. He couldn't move; he could hear voices in his head seducing him. Darkness covered the living room. Now he was standing in the middle of nowhere in front of Ibilis.

"So what is it going to be my fiend" The demon extended his hand ready to close the deal. "Do you want to free yourself from that curse once and for all?"

The voices eat him from inside. They didn't stop, they wouldn't stop. I could tell you it was a moment of weakness, but it wouldn't make any difference. Ryoga took Ibilis hand. A second latter he could feel it, he felt powerful, he felt… free. But the voices were stronger than ever. He could feel the lust on his veins, the envy, the pride.

"I know what you desire." As Ibilis talked Akane and Ukyo appeared naked kneeling besides him. "You could have her. You could have them all."

The lost boy had tried to forget about Akane in the last months. And he had always felt something for Ukyo. Now he could have them he could have anything he desired. Next to those two all the girls he had always dreamed of came to sight. He couldn't stand it anymore, he wanted them, he needed them.

But one of the many voices caught his attention. He had heard it before somewhere. As he dug into his thoughts the images dissolved in the air.

Please Ryoga Please.

It was Ukyo's voice, followed by many others. Akane's voice came next, then Shampoo's, then Ranma's.

Ryoga! You can do it. Snap out of it.

Then it came. A voice he wasn't use to hearing. It was filled with affection, with concern, with love. It was Nabiki's voice.

The young warrior opened his eyes and found the four girls and Ranma chained to the wall. He only felt how Ibili's hand opened his old wound and passed from his back to his chest. In pain he felt to the ground while the house, and the entire town with it, turned in to dust. The demon took Akana by the hair and distanced himself from the martial artists.

"You did great Ryoga." It was Ranma speaking to him. "Now it's our turn." After that Ranma, Shampoo and Ukyo went to attack Ibilis, the almighty.

The snow surrounding him was tainted red. Kneeling besides him he found the perfect sculpture of Nabiki's body.

Obviously she was cold. It was snowing and she was only wearing a short summer dress. The white cloth almost seemed transparent. She knew it and I can only tell you she felt pretty embarrassed when Ryoga saw her yellow underwear. Nabiki tried to cover her ridicule bra and panties, but she didn't go away.

She stayed there by Ryoga's side providing him with strength and hope for a brighter tomorrow. A tomorrow we know was never going to come.