Chapter 7: Akane to the Rescue

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma

I'm back…

"HA HA HA HA HA!!!" Noboru laughed menacingly at the pain he had inflicted upon the humans. Torturing them had proven more amusement than he'd expected. Still, he'd wasted enough time. There was still Ranma to think about and the longer he took here, the longer it was until he'd have his revenge.

As Noboru raised his claws into the air to deliver the final blow to Mousse, Shampoo managed to propel herself forward, slamming her bonbori into the demon king. As he was knocked back, Shampoo fell to the ground, collapsing under her own weight. Mustering what little strength she had, she crawled over to Mousse's unconscious form. Gingerly, she rubbed his head, brushing some hair out of his face.

Barely whispering, she said in her native language, "Mousse. Ever since we were little, you've always looked out for me… It's time for me to look out for you…"

Despite the strain on her, more likely than not, broken limbs, Shampoo lifted herself and Mousse and began to hobble away as quickly as she could. Noboru, however, had other plans.

"You will not escape!" he shouted, running after him. Just as he was about to cut the two to pieces, the ground beneath him crumbled, trapping him in a newly formed crevice.

"Baku…sai…Ten…Ketsu…" Ryoga forced out, his finger implanted in the ground.

Growling, Noboru yelled, "That is the second time you've caught me with that technique… It's time for you to die!!! MAKA ZENAKU!"

"SHI SHI HOKODAN!!!"

The two chi blasts clashed in a furious blaze, tearing the ground asunder. As they exploded, both fighters were hit with the full force of the blast. Ryoga was smacked to the ground. As he looked up, he saw the shadow of Noboru descending upon him, ready to kill.

'So, this is how it ends, huh?' he thought grimly. 'Killed by a monster, trying to protect my greatest enemy, because he's too much of a coward to face it himself. I'll never see Akane or Akari again… In the end, I'll have been nothing more than a speck of dust in the wind…'

As Noboru's killing stroke descended upon him, Ryoga solemnly closed his eyes.

'Truly, truly, truly… The world is a dark and lonely place…'

"BAKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The war-cry brought Ryoga back to his senses, as a too too familiar mallet came crashing into Noboru's skull, propelling him through the sky.

"Akane?" Ryoga asked incredulously.

"I saw the fight on the news and came to help," she explained.

A few meters off, Dr. Tofu climbed out from under some rubble. "You shouldn't have come Akane… It's too dangerous…"

"I'll be fine sensei. Really."

"You should listen to the doctor…" a cold voice replied from behind her.

Akane turned around to find herself face to face with the king of demons. Gasping in shock, she backed up instinctively, only to trip and fall onto the ground.

"You hit me… with a mallet… That is… so… annoying… What the hell kind of person does something like that? I really hope you don't make a habit out of it…" he grunted.

"Umm…"

"You're dead…"

"Keep your hands off her!!!" Ryoga shouted, lunging at Noboru. In his weakened state, however, he was not much of a threat. Noboru quickly smacked him down to the ground.

"Ryoga!" Tofu shouted, running to help the lost boy. However, an energy blast quickly knocked him unconscious.

'That blast should've incinerated him. Fighting these humans has taken its toll. After I dispose of this girl, I'll have to rest before finally killing Saotome…'

"I hope you've lived a good life, little girl… Because it ends here…" Noboru growled, raising his claws above his head.

Akane was screaming in her head, paralyzed by fear. She knew that if she couldn't move, she would be sliced to bits. Or at least she would if Noboru's claws came down upon her. But instead, she was surprised that his attack had been stopped, his claws blocked by a katana.

"Foul demon! Thou shalt not touch the virtuous Akane Tendo!" Kuno shouted, his sword at the ready.

"Kuno…" Akane whispered, too shocked to speak at her normal volume, "You saved me…"

"Of course, Akane Tendo. Didst I not tell you every day of the love I feel for you? What kind of lowly commoner would not protect the woman he claimed to love? Only a vile, pathetic wretch, of course…"

For the first time in her life, Akane was able to see as more than just an annoying idiot intent on molesting her. She saw deep down… deep, deep, deep, deep, DEEP down, to a part of him no one ever bothered to notice: a kind, brave, honorable man.

"Thank you Kuno-sempai…" she whispered

"You again! Samurai, you test my patience!" Noboru screamed.

"The great and bold Tatewaki Kuno knows neither death nor fear. He confronts evil head on and, with great skill, destroys it! You've met your match beast!" the delusional swordsman proclaimed.

He slashed at Noboru with as much force as he could muster, but in the demon's new form, he was much faster than before and dodged quite easily. Kuno gave chase ready to strike down the foul beast, but the crafty demon suddenly appeared behind him and struck him in the back. Still, reeling from the blow, Kuno turned to slice Noboru open, but the demon disappeared and reappeared once again, striking Kuno from multiple directions.

'This demon has become more powerful since we last did battle. Truly, he is a foe worthy of the Great Tatewaki Kuno! But I must not let my finding of such an adversary shake me. A plan is required if I am to protect Akane Tendo… Within my body is enough power for one last "Aoi Kaminari Ouda". If I cannot fell the demon with this. All hope is lost. I must make this count…'

Having formulated his plan, Kuno leapt and flipped through the air, determined to put enough space between him and the demon. He pointed his sword at Noboru and cried, "FOUL DEMON! THOU ART VANQUISHED!!!" as a surge of blue energy collected around him.

'What… What power!!!' Noboru screamed within his head. 'I can't block that attack if he unleashes it! My only chance is the "Maka Zenaku"! But I can't build up enough power in time to kill him! Then again… I don't have to kill him, do I?'

An evil smirk crosses Noboru's face as he swelled with crimson energy, ready to fire his blast.

"You seek to clash your energies with mine own? Thou art a fool!" Kuno cried out triumphantly.

"YOU'RE THE FOOL!" Noboru shouted. "MAKA ZENAKU!!!"

Kuno prepared to deflect the blast and fire his own counter, knowing that the beast would be defenseless. And when the blast zoomed right past him, he knew that he had won. But curiously, Noboru was still smiling after he missed. This confused Kuno at first, until he realized something: the blast was not meant for him!

Did you know that when you're about to die, your life doesn't actually pass before your eyes? You don't have time. At that exact moment, only one thing goes through your mind. Your mind has time to process one last thought.

At that exact moment in time, one word flashed through Akane's mind…

'Baka…'

She died the way she lived…

At least that's what she believed was going to happen as she closed her eyes in fear.

But when she opened her eyes, she saw that the blast had not even singed her. And standing in front of her was a very bloody, very battle-weary Tatewaki Kuno.

"Clever plan… foul beast…" he grunted. And at that, he fell to the ground.

"KUNO!" Akane shouted, dropping to her knees.

She grabbed his body and flipped him over, holding him in her arms. "Kuno!" she shouted, shaking him violently. "Don't die you dummy! Don't die!"

The swordsman opened his eyes and found himself greeted with a vision of beauty. "Ah…" he said, as a sad smile crept across his face. "A beautiful angel has come to ferry me away to the next world. With this I can rest easy, as I know that the kami above would not have found me worthy enough had I failed something so simple as rescuing their most beloved Akane Tendo. Knowing this, I may only ask that she remember me in her heart with fondness, and only feel joy with she thinks of the day that a foolish samurai stepped between her and the wrath of a demon…"

And so, Kuno closed his eyes, allowing his body to go limp and the sweet embrace of death to relieve him of his pain. Tears fell on his face as Akane shouted his name, knowing that someone she'd absolutely hated had just given his life for her, wishing she could tell him how grateful she was and how sorry she was.

This was the death of one of the mightiest samurai ever known: A man whose very name struck fear within those of the kendo world. He was a modern day samurai, who became known as "The Blue Thunder of Furinkan High", because of his skill with the sword.

He was Tatewaki Kuno… aged 19…

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I bet you weren't expecting that, were you? Kuno stepping into the spotlight as more than just comic effect, as well as being downright heroic. Well, as you probably know if you read my other Ranma story "I love you Dad", I adore taking characters who are one-dimensional and making them at least slightly more complex, or portraying them in a new light. This was my way of doing it with Kuno. I've never really seen him as a villain. In my book, he's actually a nice, good person, but he's so extraordinarily delusional that he finds himself propelled to do evil things, because he thinks they're right.

NEXT TIME! Akane is left all alone to face the vicious Noboru! How will she survive? Plus, the true reason behind Noboru's hatred of Ranma is revealed! You don't wanna miss this!

Oh noes! North Korea and that crazy old lady in charge of it have decided to launch nuclear missiles at your house, rather than the usual ocean they fire them at. But hark! A button that says review! Click it and use the power of what you thought of this chapter to make a happy sunshine shield to protect you from the crazy old lady.