CHAPTER 28

-"SHOWDOWN! THE RIVALS' FINAL CLASH! RANMA VS. RYOGA!"-

(PART II – ENEMIES NO MORE!)

Last time, Ryoga gets up, and Ranma and his friends see that Ryoga is acting as if he's possessed by a demon…then when he talks, it was as if two people were talking at the same time…for the other person is…Erick. Now Ranma is about to witness the power of the DVL Cells.


Ranma hears that Ryoga's talking strange, like if there's another voice talking at the same time! What the heck is wrong with Ryoga? Why is he talking like that?"

Akane, a little fearful, wonders, "What's with Ryoga, Ran? He's talking weird?"

Ran, taking note of Ryoga's odd behavior, confirms, "You're right Akane, he looks like he's been possessed or something. It's creepy."

In the battlefield, Ryoga looks directly at Ranma, with a deadly look in his eyes.

Erick-Ryoga declares, "Ranma, now you will witness true power, so be prepared! Hahahaha!"

Ranma's ready for another round. "Bring it on Ryoga! I'm ready!"

"So be it…now behold this…GRYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

Then Ryoga begins to change. His muscles grow bigger, more than his average size; his clothes are almost ripped off. He grows a little taller than Ranma. His eyes are glowing red, and his teeth are like a wolf's!

Ranma's shocked at his transformation, as well as Akane and Ran. He gasps, "What the…how did he do that?"

Erick-Ryoga roars, "Ranma, now you will feel my wrath! In his mind, Erick speaks to Ryoga, *("Ryoga, it's time to eliminate Ranma Saotome! GO!")*

Ranma immediately goes on the offensive, punching Ryoga in the gut. But, Ranma's shocked to see that Ryoga didn't feel it! Then Ryoga hits Ranma back, and the blow is so powerful that Ranma goes flying, crashes through a wall, and still going and lands 4 meters away. Akane and Ran are shocked at the violent scene.

Akane gasps, "Did you…did you see that Ran? Ryoga struck Ranma, and sent him flying away!"

Ran nods, though she afraid for Ranma's safety. "Wow! How did he do it? I didn't know that he was THIS strong!"


AT THE BATTLEFIELD…

Ranma's getting up, slowly, still shocked. Hurt he thinks, Man…ugn…just how did Ryoga get to be this strong…? Ugn…could it be that he's using that –"Mark of the Battle God"- tattoo on himself again?"

Ryoga lands before him, mocking, "What's the problem Ranma? Feeling a little down? Well… ALLOW ME TO SINK YOU EVEN MORE!! KYAAAA!!"

Ryoga launches a fist at Ranma only to have Ranma jump away, and Ryoga punches the ground, creating an explosion. Ranma then kicks Ryoga in his face, but again Ryoga doesn't feel it, and grabs Ranma's leg and slams him hard to the ground and launch him away. Ranma hits the floor hard, and begins to feel tiredness creeping in. What's going on…Ryoga's never this strong…and I don't see any tattoo on him…so, how is it that he's so strong…? How?"


RED CAT GANG'S HIDEOUT – INSIDE ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER…

With his trademark evil smile, Erick laughs, "It's all because of my lovely DVL Cells Ranma hahaha…and you haven't yet seen what those Cells will do with Ryoga!"


BACK AT THE BATTLE…

Ryoga takes out some of his yellow bandanas and tosses them at Ranma. Ranma jumps up and evades them. But, in the middle of the air Ryoga appears in front of him, Ranma gasps. Ryoga hits Ranma with a two-fisted hammer blow over his head, and Ranma falls to the ground fast and crashes hard, like a falling meteor. When the smoke clears, Ranma is deep down in the crater.

Akane, horrified, cries out, "RANMAAAAAA!!" She starts to run to him, but Ran stops her. "…RAN, LET ME GOOO! I HAVE TO CHECK ON RANMA…!!" She whispers sadly, "I…I hope he's not dead…"

Ran reassures her, "Wait Akane, I'm sure Ranma's okay…but you have to wait."

Akane's crying, "Ranma…!"

Ryoga looks at Ranma, who's getting up, he was hurt:

Erick-Ryoga laughs, "How does it feel Ranma? To be on the ground, like the worm you are? Now I'll make you feel like I felt! I'll make you suffer, you hear me…? I'LL MAKE YOU SUFFER!"

Ranma, weak from the vicious beating he's taken, coughs a little blood. "Ryoga…cough cough…how can you say that I…cough…made you suffer?"

"Cause it was you who took away my happiness, took away my honor, -(eyes starting to glow red)- TOOK AWAY MY LOVE! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING AWAY FROM MEEEE!!"

NOW, Ranma's mad. "Ryoga…how dare you say that? I didn't do such a thing, the problem with you…cough…is that, you do not want to admit your problems."

"WHAT!?"

"You call me dishonorable, but answer me this Ryoga…Did I ever tell anyone about your curse? Did anyone know about your curse…especially Akane…?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Remember the promise that I made you…the promise that I would not tell anyone about your curse…well, I kept it, I kept it from anyone, especially from Akane…and you used that same promise against me…by sleeping with Akane!"

Inside Ryoga's mind, his consciousness begins to wake up, and begins to remember it all:

Ryoga's thinking, I…I…the promise…Ranma kept his promise.


RED CAT GANG'S HIDEOUT – INSIDE ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER…

Erick then notices something that catches his eye…He sees that his Cells are beginning to grow weak:

HmmmWhat's this? The DVL Cells are starting to lose their powers? It means that boy Ryoga is rejecting them…I can't let that happen…! Erick then, concentrates and mentally persuades Ryoga, *("…Ryoga, don't listen to Ranma, he's trying to fool you with his lies! Remember my words…Focus on who your enemy is… Ranma!")*


ON THE BATTLEFIELD:

Ryoga hears Erick's voice in his mind. That's right…Ranma is my enemy, and I will kill him!

Ranma weakly coughs, "Ryoga, please…cough cough…let's end this rivalry, there is no point in fighting!"

And that's when Erick-Ryoga wakes up. "That's where you're wrong Ranma…it will end…BY KILLING YOU!!"

Ryoga then tries to kick Ranma on the ground, Ranma barely evades it, then Ranma manage to strike Ryoga with a sweep kick, Ryoga falls down, but gets up fast. –"Hey Ranma, get a load of this move I've made just for you! Gryaaaaaaaa! RESSHIN HA!! (Disastrous Earthquake Wave)"- Ryoga screams and slams his fist into the ground, releasing a wave of green energy at Ranma. It's fast; when it hits Ranma, it explodes like a big grenade and Ranma goes flying, landing hard on the ground.

Ranma's getting annoyed at this… Man…cough cough…I better think of something fast on how to beat Ryoga…cough cough…but, it seems that he grew strong after our last encounter, but how…?

Ryoga advances on Ranma, ready for the kill. "Ranma…this is it…time to end your pathetic life by my hands…and after I kill you, I'll kill that stupid clone of yours…then I'll kill Akane!"

"Ryoga…why…why would you kill Akane? Have you gone INSANE!? Why her? What has she ever done to you?"

"Why…WHY? SHE REJECTED ME, THAT'S WHY! AKANE REJECTED ME, SHE CHOSE YOU OVER ME! SHE WILL PAY FOR THAT!"

Akane couldn't believe what she just heard from Ryoga. She then goes there and stands in front of Ryoga. "RYOGA, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US? WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO KILL ME…BECAUSE I CHOSE RANMA OVER YOU?"

Erick-Ryoga replies, "THAT'S RIGHT…I GAVE ALL MY LOVE TO YOU, EVEN MY LIFE, AND YOU TOSSED IT AWAY, AND CHOSE THAT WORTHLESS JERK RANMA OVER ME!"

"Ryoga…are you still mad over that? Don't you get it Ryoga…? My heart belongs to Ranma, why can't you accept it?"

"AND YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO TELL ME THAT!? YOU COULD'VE HAD ME, BUT YOU DECIDED TO CHOOSE THAT MISERABLE LIAR RANMA…WHO HURTS AND MAKES EVERYONE'S LIVES MISERABLE!"

"A LIAR you call him, Ryoga? And what about you Ryoga? Are YOU an honorable man? HEH!? TELL ME THAT!"

"OF COURSE I AM…UNLIKE THAT SCUM THAT I'M GONNA KILL!"

"If so Ryoga…then why didn't you tell me about your curse…WHY DID YOU KEEP IT A SECRET FROM ME IF YOU LOVED ME…YOU SLEPT WITH ME, AND WORST…EVEN SAW ME NAKED WHEN I WAS CHANGING…SO TELL ME AGAIN, RYOGA…IF YOU ARE AN HONORABLE MAN…WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CURSE?"

Erick-Ryoga sweats. "I…I…BECAUSE…CAUSE…"

In his mind, Ryoga's beginning to ask himself about that…the truth which he was too scared to face…-"Why didn't I tell her…why…?-()- Because I was scared of losing her…but," Ryoga sadly thinks, when Erick calls him…-"Ryoga, don't let her fool you! Remember, 'she' is also your enemy! You must get rid of her!"-…

Receiving Erick's command, Ryoga immediately obeys. "I don't have to explain anything to you Akane…!" He charges toward her. "PREPARE TO DIEEE!"

A scared Akane shouts, "RYOGA! NOOOOOO!"

Ryoga was close enough to strike Akane, when Ranma pushes her away and takes the heavy impact of Ryoga's fist. This move hurts Ranma a lot, but he manages to stand up to Ryoga…with a serious face. "Ryoga…how dare you! How can you raise your fist at Akane? She's done nothing to you! Have you lost your mind? Even after all the things she's done for you!"

Ryoga angrily retorts, "SHUT UP…SHE'S DONE NOTHING MORE THAN HURT ME! SHE'S DONE NOTHING MORE!"

"That's where you're wrong Ryoga…have you forgotten all the times she helped you? She even defended you when we were always fighting…remember what she used to tell me when I was fighting you, eh…-"Stop picking on Ryoga!"-…you heard that phrase from her, and she hits me and helps you…do you remember that?"

Ryoga blinks – for a moment, he seems to return to his senses. "She helped me? Akane…"

Akane cries, "Ryoga please stop this…this fight will solve nothing, why can't you understand it?"

Erick speaks to Ryoga's mind, Ryoga…don't let her stop you. Remember your mission; they are all your enemies…Enemies which must be destroyed…NOW!"

Ryoga, fully under Erick's sinister influence, thinks, He's right…they are my enemies…AND I WILL DESTROY THEM ALL… Out loud, he roars, "…I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU OR ANYBODY, I WILL KILL YOU ALL!!"

Akane cries, not understating what – or who – has changed Ryoga so much. "Ryoga…why?"

"DIE AKANEEEE!"

Ryoga's ready to launch his attack at Akane and Ran, but Ranma tackles Ryoga and sends him to the floor. Ryoga gets up and glares at Ranma with a deadly look…Ranma's clothes are almost gone.

Ryoga's voice is ice-cold. "YOU!"

Ranma:" Ryoga…cough cough… I don't know what has happened to you…but I WON'T let you hurt Akane, even if I have to give my life for her…I"LL DO IT!"

Akane's touched. "Ranma…"

With an evil laugh Ryoga promises, "Don't worry, Ranma…soon, you, Akane and all that you care for will perish with you…SO BE PREPARED TO DIE KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

Ryoga launches a barrage of punches and kicks at Ranma. Ranma's trying to block them, but Ryoga –(thanks to a combination of Erick's DVL Cells and Psycho Power)- is much faster and stronger. Then, Ryoga hits Ranma with a couple of hard punches and kicks. Ranma's losing blood from the violent assault. Then Ryoga hits Ranma with a hard kick and Ranma hits the ground, not moving at all. Ryoga's pleased; he then charges his heavy green ki, ready to finish Ranma off.

Ryoga laughs, "HAHAHAHA…THIS IS IT RANMA! FINALLY, I'LL FINISH YOU OFF FOR GOOD… GO TO HELL! PSYCHO HOKODAN!!"

Akane and Ran are desperate at the situation. Ryoga, now using the Psycho Power boost Bison gave him, releases his attack, launching a projectile that closely resembles M. Bison's own Psycho Shot, well… except for the green color. When it's about to reach Ranma, a shadow jumps in and picks Ranma up and jumps away, and the ball explodes…Ryoga's furious at this… "WHAT? WHO DARES SAVE HIM? SHOW YOURSELF NOW!"

When the smoke clears, Ryoga, Akane and Ran see someone carrying Ranma on his shoulder…it was a guy dressed in a blue kendo garb…for it's…

Ryoga's confused. "KU…KUNO?"

Akane, surprised, blinks in amazement. "Ku…Kuno? Ran, it's Kuno!"

"Yeah…look, he saved Ranma."

Ryoga's mad now. "KUNO…JUST WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

Kuno puts down Ranma gently, and addresses Ryoga. "I could ask you the same thing, Ryoga Hibiki."

Ryoga blinks. "Huh! What do you mean…? AND WHY DID YOU HELP THAT CURSED RANMA, KUNO? ISN'T HE YOUR ENEMY TOO? SO WHY DO YOU HELP HIM?"

"I did it because he is now my friend."

"SAY WHAT? FRIEND? HAVE YOU LOST IT KUNO?"

"No…Ryoga, what are you hoping to gain from this?

"WHAT?"

"Do you honestly believe that slaying Ranma Saotome will heal your thirst for vengeance? Give you peace?"

"YES…FOR HE'S THE REASON FOR MY HELL, HE MUST DIE CAUSE OF THAT!"

Kuno shakes his head. "Ryoga…even if you kill Ranma…if you don't admit your problems, your quest for vengeance will never stop."

"SAY WHAT? LISTEN KUNO, STEP ASIDE SO THAT I CAN FINISH OFF RANMA!"

"I can't let you do that Hibiki…it is a duty of a Samurai to aid his fellow warriors."

Ryoga growls, threatening, "LISTEN UP KUNO! EITHER YOU STEP ASIDE AND LET ME FINISH RANMA…OR YOU'LL BE CONSIDERED MY ENEMY TOO!"

Kuno hmph's, disgusted. "I don't think so…and do you intend to attack Ranma while he's down? That's low! Have you no honor?"

"I DON'T CARE…MOVE OR I'LL MAKE YOU MOVE…IN PIECES!"

Kuno draws his bokken, assuming a battle stance. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that."

"THEN YOU TOO ARE MY ENEMY…DIEEEE!"

Ryoga then proceeds to attack Kuno with all his might. Kuno's blocking some of his strikes, but with little luck. Ryoga nails Kuno in his gut, and he falls

"KUNO!" Akane exclaims.

"Now stay there Kuno, once I finish them all…you'll be next!" Ryoga begins to walk away…when…

"Wait!"

Ryoga then turns and sees that Kuno is up - hurt, but up. "What now, Kuno?"

Kuno uses his bokken as a crutch. He weakly questions, "Ryoga…what has happened to you? You used to be a good fighter, with honor…now you're filled with hate…this is not the Ryoga Hibiki I used to know."

"WHAT?"

Akane adds, "Kuno's right Ryoga…you used to be a good friend, why did you change?"

Ryoga stops her, yelling, "SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU…WHY DO YOU CARE?"

"We do because you are our friend Ryoga…"

Ryoga's beyond mad. "LIES! YOU'RE NOT MY FRIENDS…BUT MY ENEMIES!"

Kuno objects, "That's a lie Hibiki… Open your eyes and see that you're blinded by your hatred! Don't let it control you!"

"SHUT UP, AND BESIDES…YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND MY PAIN!"

Kuno corrects, "Oh but I do Hibiki, more then you could imagine…I used to hate Ranma, because I thought that he was keeping me from my Pig Tailed Girl…I always fought him, every day…but then, he made me realize the error of my ways…I too, was like you Hibiki! Don't waste your life in this pointless vendetta!"

Ryoga refuses to be convinced, shaking his head angrily. "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP…!! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE AGAINST RANMA…!" He charges his Ki. "I WONT LET ANYTHING STOP ME FROM GETTING MY VENGANCE!!"

Ryoga is about to use another Psycho Hokodan on Ranma…then Akane goes to Ranma's side and stands in Ryoga's way as a shield for Ranma:

Kuno weakly gasps, "Akane Tendo…what are you doing?"

Ran gasps, "Akane!"

Ryoga sneers, "SO…YOU'RE GONNA PROTECT THAT WEAKLING RANMA…? THEN YOU TOO WILL DIE!"

Akane defiantly says, "Ryoga…I will protect Ranma, because I love him, and I will stand by his side no matter what!"

Ryoga screams at her, "YOU BITCH! THEN THE TWO OF YOU WILL DIE TOGETHER!"

Akane, now crying, maintains her brave front. "Go ahead Ryoga, kill us…but answer me this…By killing us, will this make you happy? Will it bring you peace?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

"Ryoga…sniff…if you kill us, your hatred won't stop, it will never stop…. You'll be condemning yourself to a life full of hate! Is that what you want Ryoga…to be a murderer? To be alone and hated by everyone?"

"…........." Inside Ryoga's mind, Ryoga was beginning to realize what he was about to do… He thinks, Can…can she be right…? Do I want to do this…I…I've never killed anyone…!


RED CAT GANG'S HIDEOUT – INSIDE ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER…

Erick is watching as the hold on Ryoga's mind is beginning to weaken…meaning that Ryoga was breaking free of his DVL cells… This will not do…I'd better 'step' into the situation, before things get loose…Erick's eyes shine in white, as he uses his mental powers to go…


INSIDE RYOGA'S MIND…

Ryoga is in a foggy place, meditating on what he is doing…Ryoga begins to remember bits and pieces of his good times with Ranma, but most of all…Akane…-"Akane was the first girl who was nice to me and helped me and…"- Then, Erick appears before him. "Ryoga…just what are you doing? Finish them off now!"

Ryoga is unsure. " I'm…I'm not so sure if I want to do it."

Erick glares at him. "What do you mean…? Ryoga…have you forgotten who your enemies are?"

"I…I know…but…Akane…"

"Ryoga…you will kill them all…That's an order! You will obey."

"But…they're my friends and…"

"NO, Ryoga…! They are NOT your friends…never have been, never will be…I am your friend…for I gave you the power to beat Ranma, right? Do not be fooled by their lies…!" Erick proceeds to hypnotize him. "You will destroy them, Ryoga…destroy them you will."

Then Erick began to fuel Ryoga's depression and anger by showing him all his dark memories, dark pains…some of them in which Erick "modified"… The DVL Cells begin to take hold of Ryoga once again…

Hurt, Ryoga thinks, He's right…they hurt me bad…they ARE' my enemies!

Erick thinks, satisfied that he's back under his control, Good, he's started to fall under the command of my DVL cells. Aloud he commands, "Now, Ryoga…KILL THEM ALL!!"


BACK AT THE BATTLE:

Ranma was waking up and sees Akane, Kuno and Ran with him…Then he sees Ryoga, just standing there, without moving:

Akane brightens up on seeing Ranma. "Ranma…you're awake!"

Ran asks him, "How you're holding?"

Ranma weakly replies, "I'm fine…weak, but okay…" He then spots Kuno. "Hey, Kuno, what are you doing here?"

Kuno honors his new comrade with a smile. "Why, to help you Saotome."

"Really?"

Akane recalls, "Yeah, he saved you when Ryoga released his attack at you."

"He did?" Ranma looks at Kuno. "Thanks Kuno."

Ran gets the others attention, "Hey guys, what's up with Ryoga…why hasn't he moved?"

Ranma manages to get up and sees Ryoga, who's still as a zombie… "Ryoga, you must stop this fight, it's pointless if we continue to fight…… ! You listening to me Ryoga?"

Then, they hear Ryoga chuckling evilly; when he sees them, Ranma and friends see Ryoga's face is full of hate. His eyes were like glowing yellow, his voice is now hollower, and, instead of his green ki, Ryoga is now covered in a dark blue-green ki:

"You must be confusing me with someone who gives a damn…" Ryoga's dark ki flares up. "RANMA, I SAID THAT I WAS GONNA KILL YOU…AND KILL YOU I WILL! KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Ryoga's very angry, then, driven by his hate for Ranma he dashes forward for the kill. Ranma's still weak, so he couldn't move fast enough to evade the incoming attack. When Ryoga was close to Ranma, Ran jumps in and strikes Ryoga with her –"Heat Trigger"- fire-blast technique. It hits him, but only makes him angrier:

Ryoga glares at Ran. "YOU…YOU MISERABLE RANMA-CLONE! ONCE I FINISH RANMA, I'LL TEAR YOU APART!"

Ran seriously says, "Ryoga, I won't let you kill Ranma! I love him like a brother, so like Akane, I too will stand by his side!"

"HA! THEN YOU THREE WILL DIE!"

Akane's pleading, "Ryoga, please, I'm begging you, stop this fight! It's pointless!"

"SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!"

Then Ryoga does the un-expected…He shoots his Psycho Hokodan at Akane and hits her. Ranma watches, horrified, as his fiancée was struck by Ryoga's attack, she flies away and lands painfully on the ground… From Ranma's perspective, everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

Ranma's screaming, "AKANEEEE…NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

Kuno gaspes loudly, "Akaneeeeeeeee"

Ran cries, "NOOOOOO!"

In his mind, Ryoga sees it and gasps…but the DVL Cells controlling him block that out, making him forget that part…

Ryoga then sees Ranma. Ranma was now up, he was mad, no, FURIOUS with Ryoga! His eyes are on fire:

Ranma, with righteous fury burning in his eyes, says, "Ryoga, what you did was unforgivable…you hurt Akane! You just made the ultimate mistake…YOU HEAR ME, A BIG MISTAKE!"

Ryoga laughs, "HA, DON'T WORRY, I'LL STILL KILL YOU! THEN I'LL KILL EVERYONE YOU LOVE AND CARE ABOUT…YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, EVERYONE!!"

"Ryoga…I don't know what the hell's got into you, or why you're doing this…BUT NO ONE MESSES WITH MY LOVED ONES, RYOGA!! I'LL TEACH YOU THE PRICE FOR MESSING WITH THE PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT!"

"SHUT UP AND DIEEE!"

Ranma turns Ran and Kuno. "Guys, go and help Akane…leave us!"

Then Ran and Kuno went to see how Akane's doing…Meanwhile, Ryoga and Ranma are ready for the battle… which might be their last.

Ryoga then launches himself fast at Ranma, with his fist covered in dark green fire…-"THIS IS IT RANMA…DIEEEEE…"

What happened next, however, shocks Ryoga big-time…

Ranma grabs his fist with his hand and stop it. Ryoga can't believe it. A while ago Ranma was very weak, barely standing up, but now… his strength's increasing, almost crushing his fist, Ryoga's in intense pain…

"WHATS GOING ON HERE?" Ryoga then howls in pain, "GRAAAA…I DON'T BELIEVE IT! GRYAAA…HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?"

Ranma in an icy voice says, "Ryoga, never have I said this to you…BUT YOU JUST PISSED ME OFF…BIG TIME, AND NOW YOU'LL PAY!"

Ryoga sees that Ranma's telling the truth, for Ranma's battle aura is immense, like he'd just gone Super-Saiyan. Then Ranma unleashes a devastating combo attack on Ryoga. Punches and kicks were striking him hard like lightning …Ryoga then releases another Psycho Houkodan at Ranma…Ranma only swings his arm and deflects the green spark-ball, tossing it another way…Ryoga's beginning to get scared off by this, but it doesn't stop him.


RED CAT GANG'S HIDEOUT – INSIDE ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER…

Erick coldly comments, "Hmmm…just as I thought would happen…that Ranma boy is really an interesting mortal…I guess Ryoga's vengeance will come to an end."

Delia agrees, "Yes…Ryoga's fame has come to an end."


BACK AT THE BATTLEFIELD:

Ranma shouts, "Ryoga…YOU'RE DONE FOR…KYAAAAAA!"-

In awe of Ranma'a reawakened power, Ryoga whimpers, "…………"

Ranma then powers up his Ki and yells…-"SHIN-MOUKO TAKABISHAAAAA"-…release his True Pride of the Fierce Tiger…only this one is very powerful…it's like a small energy wave – can we say Kamehameha here? It strikes Ryoga hard and explodes big time.

When the smoke clears, Ryoga's in the center of a deep crater, unable to move…Ranma then rushes to see about Akane. He's relieved that Akane's OK, only a little weak, but OK otherwise…

Happy, Ranma's by her side. "Akane…thank God you're all right!" He grabs her arm. "You're not too hurt aren't you?"

Akane weakly smiles. "Don't worry, Ranma, I'm fine. Just a little dirty, but fine."

Ran clasps Ranma's shoulder. "Hey Ranma, that was a great fight you had"

Kuno nods his approval. "Indeed Saotome, you beat him good."

Ranma sighs, "Yeah…now I just hope that it's finally over."

Then they hear a loud groan of pain and turn around to see the origin of the sound…they see Ryoga crawling on the ground, weak and beaten… and, thankfully, not talking like this anymore, using that "Possessed-by-Evil-Power Voice" (trademark-patent pending)!

Ranma's annoyed. "Oh man… Don't tell me that he wants to go at it again!?"

Ran shakes her head, pitying him. "Man…he sure is a stubborn pig."

What they hear is a weakened Ryoga cursing, "Damn you…cough,cough…Ranma…you…cheater!"

Ranma puts his foot down; he's had enough of this. He firmly says, "Ryoga…you lost, okay? Now why don't you leave?"

"How could I lose? Cough cough…I couldn't…"

Then someone appears in the air, floating above…it's Erick!

Looking down on Ryoga, he says, "Well, well, what have we here? It appears that you look quite a mess Hibiki."

Ranma wonders, "Hey, who is that guy?"

Akane replies, "Beats me."

Ryoga crawls up to Erick, pleading with him, "Erick…thank God you're here…please…help me defeat Ranma, would you?"

Erick laughs coldly, "HA! And why would I do that?"

"Because…because we're friends, right? Come on man…lend me a hand here!"

Erick laughs, "Ha ha ha ha haaaa…please, ME, friends with a pathetic being like you? I think you hit your head a little bit harder than usual, boy."

Ryoga's confused. But…I thought that you…wanted to help me…and…"

Erick decides to enlighten him. "Hibiki, here's the truth…I wanted someone to test my creation…someone who could be a fool, someone who would do anything for anything, with nothing to lose…someone who could carry out a mission without losing anything."

Ryoga now has a hurt look in his eyes. "You mean…you were just…using me?"

Erick grins. "That's right, Hibiki boy…just like everyone you know does…or haven't you figured it out yet?"

Ryoga's too stunned to say anything. "……….…"

Something about Erick rubs Ranma the wrong way. "This guy is getting really annoying!"

Erick continues, "Ryoga…you know why you lost, even with the upgrades Bison and I gave you? It's because you are a LOSER. Always have been, always will be …No wonder you always lose against Ranma."

Ryoga stretches his arm out to the man who helped him before – and who's just now turned his back on him. "You can't…you can't mean that…! Come on…you said you'd help me!"

Erick's still laughing. "And you believed that? Then you're more of a fool than I thought."

Kuno grimly remarks, "I don't know who that fellow is…but he's not very friendly."

"Ryoga…why don't you do us a big favor…AND DIE ALREADY WOULD YOU!? Because, it is YOU who makes everyone's lives a living hell, YOU who destroys everyone's happiness! I wouldn't be surprised if your own parents abandoned you… Well, I've got to go." Erick turns to Ranma, offering his personal congratulations. "You fought well, Ranma."

Ranma's never met Erick before. But based on what's he seen, how Erick's treated Ryoga, already he decides he does NOT like him. "Just who the hell are you anyway!?"

Erick smiles, "Don't worry, Ranma…we will meet again soon, good day…" He turns back to Ryoga, finally saying, "…Goodbye Ryoga. I sincerely hope your death isn't as painful as how you lived."

Then Erick vanishes…

Ranma sees Ryoga. Ryoga is crying. "Hey Ryoga, you okay?"

Ryoga sobs miserably, "So…sniff, sniff…I was just used, like always…Used!"

"Hey, Ryoga?"

"I guess he's right…sniff sniff, I am a loser…!" Ryoga then yells, "A LOSER!!"

Ranma tries to cheer his rival up. "Come on Ryoga, cut that out, you're not a loser!"

Ryoga cries, "GGGRAAAAAAAAAAA…WHY…WHY DOES EVERYONE USE MEEEEE…WHY AM I ALWAYS ALONEEEE? GRYAAAAAAA!!"

Then suddenly, Ryoga's depression explodes. Ryoga is covered in a massive pillar of green energy…his depression reached its maximum point…

Akane gasps, "What's happening to Ryoga?"

Ran panics, "I don't know!"

Kuno's the first to realize how bad things have just gotten (for once!). "Oh no…Ryoga's depression has reached the lowest point!"

"What do you mean Kuno?" Akane asks, trying to understand.

Kuno, though worried (he's doing a pretty good job of not showing it!), explains, "It means Akane…that we're all in grave danger."


RED CAT GANG'S HIDEOUT – INSIDE ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER…

Erick arrives there, Delia watches him. "Why, Erick, I though that you were going to eliminate that Ryoga boy for his failure?"

"Don't worry De-Chan…Ryoga will eliminate himself…along with Ranma and his friends."

"What do you mean? How?"

"Just watch."


BACK AT THE BATTLEFIELD:

Ranma sees that Ryoga's getting more and more depressed. The pillar of green energy surrounding him is getting bigger and bigger; he's crying piteously all the while…

Ranma's worried. "Oh man…if I don't stop Ryoga right now…this could get ugly."

Akane's confused. "Why Ranma?"
"Cause Ryoga needs to release all that depression outta him…or else."

"Or 'else' what Ranma?" Ran asks, having a feeling she's NOT gonna like what she hears next.

Ranma explains, "If Ryoga doesn't release all that dark depression…the energy in him will expand like a balloon…until…"

Akane hesitates to ask, "What Ranma?"

"Until Ryoga explodes like a small atomic blast."

Needless to say, Akane and Ran are both horrified! "WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!?"


Ranma's getting nervous at the scene before him…Ryoga's about to kill himself with his strongest depression-Ki-based attack, the Perfect Shishi Hokodan, along with possibly everyone within a 5-mile radius… he needed to act fast.

Desperate Akane asks, "Ranma, what are we gonna do?"

Ranma decides, "We've gotta talk to Ryoga. We must talk him out of doing that."

Ran, unlike Ranma, has no idea how to counter Ryoga's depression-fueled (and now Psycho Power-ed) death-blow. She wonders, "But how?"

Kuno urges, "We must talk to him NOW, like Saotome requests…Let us go at once!"

Ranma and his friends go to Ryoga, who's crying pathetically inside the pillar of green energy… "WHYYY…? WHY DOES EVERYONE USE MEEE…!? IT'S NOT FAIR!!"

Ranma's all business now – it's no laughing matter. Getting serious, he is the first to intervene. "Ryoga, stop this. You're not alone man."

Akane's next to try. "Ryoga…don't believe what that weird guy told you."

Ran adds, "Akane's right man, don't do this."

Kuno, too, lends his efforts to talk Ryoga out of taking his own life. "Listen to US, Ryoga…don't be fooled by his lies."

But unfortunately for them…Ryoga wasn't listening to them, he's too depressed to hear anything at the moment…

Sadly, he thinks, Maybe Erick's right, and maybe I've caused nothing but trouble… Out loud, he whispers, "Maybe I should kill myself."

Ranma screams, "DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT IT RYOGA!"

Akane further objects, "THAT'S RIGHT…DON'T DO IT!"

Ran shouts, "ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR MIND…!? THAT'S CRAZY!"

Kuno implores, "RYOGA…DON'T BE A FOOL, DON'T BE A COWARD…DEATH IS NOT THE ANSWER!"

Ryoga fires back, "WHY SHOULD ANY OF YOU CARE…HE WAS RIGHT…WHAT DO I HAVE TO LIVE FOR? WHAT?"

Ranma can't believe this! "RYOGA, YOU STUPID…HOW ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS? HOW ABOUT YOUR LIFE?"

"WHAT LIFE? I HAVE NO LIFE! I'M ALONE, YOU HEAR ME? ALOOONE…!WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, RANMA!? YOU HAVE IT ALL, A FAMILY, FRIENDS, LOVE! WHAT DO I HAVE…? NOTHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!"

Ryoga's depression is getting stronger. He's charging up the heavy Ki like a bomb. A small earthquake's being produced around him. Meaning that time's getting short. Before he self-destructs, Ranma and friends must work fast.

Ranma gives it his all, trying to convince the Suicidal Lost Boy. "Ryoga, you're wrong! You have us, you have a family, and you have...ME!"

Akane urgently pleads, "He's right, and you have me Ryoga…please don't kill yourself!"

Ran persuades, "Ryoga…don't be weak, you're strong! Don't be like that!"

Kuno seriously urges him not to do it. "Ryoga…only cowards choose that way, and you are NO coward…or are you?"

Ryoga, not wanting the much-needed intervention from his enemies (or so Erick's led him to believe – that creep!), cries angrily, "SHUT UP! WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT MY PAIN, ABOUT MY SUFFERING? YOU ALL HAVE SOMEONE YOU LOVE, SOMEONE TO SHARE YOUR LIFE WITH…ME? I HAVE NO ONE, NOBODY LOVES ME AS YOU GUYS HAVE…!" His anger spent, he asks the question, "…so…so what should I live for?"

Ryoga then closes his eyes and concentrates… The energies of depression inside of him, warped and twisted by the combination of DVL Cells and Psycho Power, are ready to explode…he's ready to explode. This is it…I guess this is it…, Ryoga thinks, sobbing. When I die, I'll be at peace! Ryoga prepares to unleash his ultimate move…Ranma and friends are horrified at the scene before them, they couldn't do anything to stop it, and now… now it's too late.

Ranma makes one last plea. "WAIT RYOGA, DON'T DO IT!"

Akane screams, "RYOGA, NOOOOOO!!"

Alas, Ryoga didn't hear them…

Ryoga, with the heaviest of hearts, thinks, Goodbye cruel world, may I find peace in heaven… Aloud, he begins to call out, "PERFECT…SHI-SHIIIII…!"

Just then (right in the nick of time, one would say!), a girl's voice pleads, "Ryoga, please don't die!"

Ranma and friends turn around to see who that voice belongs to…they see a girl riding atop a large pig, a girl who both Ranma and Ryoga know… especially Ryoga…for the girl is… Akari Unryu! Oh, and the pig is Akari's pet, the champion sumo-wrestling pig Katsunishiki.

Ranma gasps, "Hey, its Akari!"

Akane can't believe it! "Akari? What's she's doing here?"

Akari dismounts from Katsunishiki, and walks toward Ryoga. Ryoga himself is surprised to see her. "Aka…Akari, what are you doing here?"

"Ryoga…please don't die."

Ryoga scolds her, "Why do you care? What do I have to live for…? Nobody loves me! I am alone."

Akari pleads, "That's not true Ryoga! There IS someone who loves you!"

Ryoga laughs as he's about to end his life. "LIES! WHO COULD EVER LOVE ME? HUH? WHO?"

Akari whispers, "……Me."

Ryoga gasps, "WHAT…YOU?"

Ranma and friends shout, "HER!"


RED CAT GANG'S HIDEOUT – INSIDE ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER…

Erick blinks. "Hmm… Well I'll be damned…so there IS someone who loves that boy …Who wouldn't have thought?"

Delia comments, "I guess that everyone can find love."

"So it seems," Erick says, frowning.


THE BATTLEFIELD:

Ryoga is taken by surprise at Akari's confession…she ACTUALLY told him that she loves him…!

Confused, startled even, by this, he asks, "W-what did you say, Akari?"

"That I love you, Ryoga."

Ryoga denies that notion, "No…that's a lie! You don't love me Akari, you only love me because I turn into a little pig…and because I beat that Sumo Pig of yours!"

Akari's shaking her head. "No Ryoga, that's not true…at first it was…but as time went by, I began to feel more and more attracted to you…to the point that…I fell in love with you."

"YOU LIE! IF THAT'S TRUE, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME ABOUT IT, AKARI? EH? WHY?"

"I… I was afraid."

"Afraid…afraid of what?"

Akari sobs, "Afraid of being rejected by you!"

"By me?"

"Yes…every time you were with me at my home, you always talked about Akane…," Akari sadly admits. "About how great Akane was, how sweet Akane was, 'Akane this, Akane that', I mean, I just thought that I couldn't compete with her, since you always talked about her…"

Akane and Ranma are stunned by Akari's confession. "Geez…I never knew she felt that way about Ryoga."

Ranma nods, "Tell me about it, Akane."

Ryoga himself can't believe it. Akari loved him. Someone loved him. Akari loves me! Could it be…? No, no it couldn't be! Out loud, he vehemently denies it. "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU…I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY, ANYBODY'S PITY!!"

Akari gasps, "BUT IT'S THE TRUTH, RYOGA… ! I DO LOVE YOU!!"

"NOOOOOOO…LIES…ALL LIES…WHY DON'T YOU ALL LEAVE ME ALONE, SO THAT I CAN DIE ALONE!?"

Ryoga is now ready to release all his accumulated power and die…then suddenly something happens… Akari runs up to him, jumping INTO (!) the growing column of heavy Ki, and hugs him tight…

Ranma gasps, "WHAT IS SHE DOING?"

"IS SHE CRAZY?" Akane yells.

"I DON'T KNOW…BUT THAT'S SUICIDE!" Kuno shouts, stating the obvious.

Ryoga's power creates a little hurricane…time's almost up…hurry!

Ryoga gasps at Akari's presence INSIDE the swirling vortex of destruction. "AKARI…!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Akari yells, "WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE…I'M STAYING WITH YOU, RYOGA!"

"ARE YOU CRAZY? GET OUT OF HERE!"

Akari tightens her embrace. "NOOO!"

"GET OUT OF HERE, NOW…IF YOU STAY WITH ME…YOU'LL DIE!"

"I DON'T CARE!"

"WHAT?"

"RYOGA, I LOVE YOU, AND I'D RATHER DIE WITH YOU IF IT MEANS THAT I'LL STAY WITH YOU!"

"AKARI…WHY?…I DON'T UNDERSTAND!"

"I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART, RYOGA…SO IF YOU GO, I'LL GO WITH YOU!"

"Do…do you really love me? You're not…joking with me, are you?"

Then Akari kisses Ryoga full on the lips…Ryoga's mind is accelerating…then, Ryoga accepts the kiss too, and he hugs her back…then a miracle occurs …Ryoga's powers of depression begin to cool down; even more, somehow Erick's DVL Cells are disintegrated by the Ki along with the Psycho Power boost… Then, when they separate from their kiss…

Ryoga finally says to Akari, "You…you do love me!"

Akari happily says, tears in her eyes, "Yes, Ryoga, I love you."

A small smile on his face, Ryoga whispers, "She loves me! Someone loves me!"

Then Ryoga faints into Akari's chest. The hurricane dissipates and the small earthquake dies down. Ranma and his friends are greatly relieved. Then they go to Akari and Ryoga…

Ranma's relieved. "Phew…glad that NOW it's over…I thought we were goners!"

Akane agrees, "Tell me about it…say, is Ryoga okay?"

Ran replies, "Looks fine…" She looks at Akari. "Say, who's the girl?"

Ranma smiles, and tells Ran, "Oh, that's Akari…she's a VERY special friend of Ryoga's."

Kuno questions Akari, "How is Ryoga…is he alright?"

Akari, still holding the unconscious Ryoga to her bosom, looks up and around at everyone. "Yes, he's okay…he's just fainted. He will be alright."

Ranma says, "In that case, let's take him to our house."

Akane nods, "Right."


RED CAT GANG'S HIDEOUT – INSIDE ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER…

Erick is very intrigued regarding what happened to the Cells. Rubbing his chin, he comments, "Well, well, this is very peculiar, yet fascinating."

Delia asks, "Aren't you mad Erick-san?"

Erick smiles. "Nope, De-chan…not at all."

"That's good. I'd thought that you'd be either angry or sad over the failure of your Cells."

"Not quite, De-chan…as I told you before, it was just a 'Test"…a test to see how my Cells would work…even though it failed, it showed me in what parts I need to on work to make them better."

Delia understands. "I see…very clever, Erick my love."

"I know…well, I'd better get to work, for later…I'll show everyone my hard, long work."

"Very well."


NERIMA, JAPAN – TENDO DOJO:

Four hours later, Ryoga wakes up slowly, and sees that he's in a bed, inside a room. He weakly asks, "Man! Where am I?"

"Finally awake, eh Ryoga?" When Ryoga looks around, he sees Ranma right beside his bed.

Ryoga's surprised. "Wha…Ranma, what are you doing here?"

Ranma blinks. "Here? I live here, Ryoga…you're in the Tendo Dojo."

"I am?" Ryoga looks around. "I am, am I?"

"So, how are you Ryoga?"

"Um…fine…but, why am I here?"

"Why! Don't you remember Ryoga…a while ago we were fighting outside Furinkan High, and, you went overboard with your attacks and…"

Ryoga whispers, "So, it wasn't a dream…"

Then, the door opens up, and Akane, Ran and Akari step in. Akari's the first to speak. "Ryoga…you're alright."

"Akari…Akane, you're all here."

"How are you feeling Ryoga?" Akane asks.

"Um…I'm fine, thanks…so it wasn't a dream, it really did happen?"

And, after Ryoga gathers his strength, and will, he decides to talk to Ranma. "Ranma…why didn't you kill me back there?"

"I couldn't, man…no matter how bad you were, I could never kill you."

"Even after all the things I did to you?" Ranma nods in reply to Ryoga's question. "You really ARE an honorable man."

Akane admits, "Yeah, that's Ranma for you."

"But tell me Ryoga…" Ranma really wanted to know, "Why do you fight me all the time…why do you always blame me for all your troubles?"

Ryoga sadly confesses, "The truth Ranma…was that…I was jealous of you."

"Jealous of me…? I don't understand."

"I envy you Ranma…you have it all…friends, family, a girl that loves you…I kinda got jealous, for I didn't have all those things you have…I guess that, I was filled with jealousy."

"Is THAT all, Ryoga…?" Ranma actually allows himself a small laugh. "Ryoga, you didn't have to get jealous; if anything, I 'was' the one who was really in 'hell'. At least you didn't get sold by your own father when you were a child, you didn't get engaged to many girls by your father, you didn't have to fight all your life against many enemies who wanted to kill you, among them YOU, AND you didn't get blamed for all the troubles that happened around here, even if it wasn't your fault."

Ryoga's actually shocked! "I…I didn't know, Ranma." Man, and I thought MY life was hell…compared to Ranma's, I had it easy! Aloud, he says, "I never thought that you had that kind of life."

"How could you? You were always fighting with me all the time."

Ryoga's ashamed. He now turns to face Akane. "Akane…I know that you'll never forgive me by never telling you that I was P-chan, but, I want to say how sorry I am, and, that you were right, I was taking advantage of that…but, you don't know how sorry I am."

Akane thinks about it for a moment before she says anything. "Well…I guess I could…even though I was mad at you that time, I can't hold a grudge against you forever…" She smiles. "But, okay Ryoga, if you really mean it, I forgive you."

Ryoga brightens up when he hears that. You can just imagine the joy, the look of relief in his eyes. "Really, Akane? Thanks a lot, I mean it…" To Ranma, he apologizes, "And you too Ranma, I hope that you can also forgive me for using our promise to hurt you."

Ranma grins. "Hey, like Akane says, Ryoga…I won't hold it against you either…And, you're not alone Ryoga, you have us, AND you got her now," he says, pointing to Akari.

Akari smiles, embracing him. "Yes dear Ryoga, you also have me."

Ryoga's amazed at – and silently grateful to! - Akari. "I still can't believe that you love me Akari…I thought that I was just dreaming!"

Akari giggles, "No you silly!"

Then they have a good meal. Over the course of the day, Ryoga manages to release all his hidden emotions, secrets, all to Ranma and friends. They were able to talk it over, and Ryoga begins to feel good about himself, for the first time in a LONG time. He even laughs when he was telling about his journeys…

Later, the group is outside the Tendo Dojo. Ryoga's all packed, and Akari is beside him:

"So where are you going now Ryoga?" Ranma asks.

Ryoga tells him, "I'm going with Akari to her home to spend some time with her. Getting to know each other if you know what I mean…" he winks.

Akane's happy for him – and for Akari, too. "That's good Ryoga, and you too Akari."

Akari blushes. "It is."

Ran good-naturedly eggs him on, "Well, you take good care of her, Ryoga."

Ryoga blushes. "I will, you can count on that! Heh heh heh heh!"

Then, Ryoga and Ranma shake hands…

"You take care of yourself, Ryoga."

"You too, Ranma…and, I want you to know that, from this point on, my revenge against you is over. I hope that we could be friends?"

"Friends…yeah, of course, Ryoga! I wouldn't want it any other way."

Akane's happy for both of them. "That's good, Ryoga. I'm so happy for you guys!"

Ran smirks, "Glad that he changed…right Akari?"

Akari nods, "Yes…shall we go, Ryoga?"

"Yes, let's…" Ryoga waves at Ranma and Akane. "See you later Ranma. Take good care of Akane, she's a nice girl, and you Akane, take care of Ranma, he is indeed a very special guy."

"Sure, Ryoga," Ranma says, smiling

"You bet." Akane says.

Then, they watch as Ryoga goes with Akari, riding on Katsunishiki. They've only traveled a short distance from the Tendo house, when Ryoga turns around and yells back at Ranma…

"Hey Ranma…maybe next time, we'll have a battle between you and me, not as enemies…but a friendly battle…whaddya say?"

"You bet Ryoga!"

And so, Ryoga heads off with Akari by his side, to a new life, and a new love. Ryoga is, for the first time in his life, truly happy. Ranma is too, for he's gained a new friend.

TO BE CONTINUED…