Chapter 29: Ranma the Neko-Demon, Pt 2
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Ranma ½.
Sorry about not updating faster than I usually would! I was hung up on writer's block for the third time this story (Or probably just because I am very lazy) and I tried to get past this by writing the second chapter for Crossover High, which is on my bio.
This is also the last major fight scene in this story (THANK GOD).
ENJOY!
When Ranma stood up, he was still full demon. Nothing about his outside appearance had changed, but Ranma was standing more stiffly now, as if preparing to move on cue.
Ranma the neko-demon had been born.
He stood there, looking at everyone and hissing at everything he saw, except Akane. Ranma then looked up at the mass called Naraku, sleeping halfway in the air with the arrow stuck in him.
Akane looked at the abomination she knew to be her love and ran towards him with the sword. Ranma looked at this and he nearly swiped at her with his ki-enhanced claws, but the small rational part of his brain which acted with logic, fought down the instinct and pulsed one word.
'Mate,' it said, and the instinctual (or most of it, at any rate) brain stopped attacking, millimetres from doing Akane any harm. She faltered and stepped back. Apparently, Ranma nearly did not recognize her in demon form.
"Ranma…" she said, looking into his red eyes with her fearful, brown ones.
"Well, Akane? Do you like what you see?" he said in his cockily evil voice.
"No, Ranma," she whispered. "You're not like this. You're not a killer. Don't turn into one. Remember your martial arts: you're supposed to protect the weak."
"WEAK? HAH! I never knew you cared so deeply for these weaklings! I am the true Ranma and I will not fight for control of this body any longer. Oh, how I've been waiting to taste the first blood! You will be my first target, Akane."
She screamed and turned to run, but Ranma, with his improved cat reflexes, stopped and picked her up before she took three steps. With one arm, he faced her towards him and he smiled.
"I'm pretty sure you are gong to taste delicious," he said in an evilly seducing voice.
Everyone looked at the situation with horror, no one being able to stop Ranma as he lifted his claws above her head. Kagome did one last desperate thing.
She notched an arrow and she fired it at Ranma.
It pierced him in the chest. Ranma flew backwards and he hit a tree, unable to move, and he slowly dropped into a slow sleep. Inuyasha had sickening flash back to when Kikyo had done that to him.
Unlike the last time, though, Kagome ran past Akane, pausing only to pick up the Kaze no Ryu. She ran to Ranma and pulled the arrow out and thrust the sword into his hands quickly. Ranma woke up and found himself holding his sword and Kagome in front of him. She looked into her face, one look showing all.
"Herb," Ranma said, "could you go behind Naraku and fire a ball of ki?"
Herb nodded. "Sure thing, Ranma."
He flew up and fired one from behind him, charging it up to his most powerful.
"NOW, INUYASHA!"
Ranma and Inuyasha leapt up as Herb released the ball of ki.
"I'll go first! MUKAINO GOGYO SHUUKU!"
"BAKURYUUHA!"
"GO!"
The twin purifying waves attack was recreated and flew towards the ball of ki at a rate much faster than the original. The Hellfire Wave attack hit the ball of ki, mixing ki with demonic aura and the Purifying Backlash Wave hit the furious attack. Herb moved out of the way before he was incinerated by the oncoming attack. Hybrid-Naraku was hit by the attack and like last time, not one ember from the flaming attack remained.
"It's over," Ranma said, dropping to his knees. Everyone followed suit, except Akane.
'Ranma, were you really going to kill me?' she thought. It continued running through her head.
Kagome walked to Ranma. "Where is that bloody bastard?"
Ranma snapped to his feet and searched through the rubble. He did not believe it.
"HE'S BLOODY FUCKING GONE!" he roared in extreme anger.
Inuyasha got to his feet and helped Ranma sift through the rubble, but he, like Ranma, did not find a trace of the psychotically insane man around. Instead, he found the marriage document which declared his marriage to Kagome Higurashi and he tore into a million pieces and threw them into the wind, keeping one piece to himself in case it was recreated. It was also the part which held Genma's signature.
"That's over and done with," Ranma said. "Let's go home, guys."
He staggered along, still feeling the effects of Kagome's arrow and did it hurt like a bitch. Ranma had never felt more intense pain in his life, Neko-ken training included. Akane and Ukyo followed, helping him up, but both did so reluctantly. They saw him in a new light after the attack.
The Kuno siblings followed after seeing the spectacular feats of magic given today and they walked back to their ancestral home, not saying a word.
The Amazons followed Ranma on his plight back to the Tendo Dojo. They had to talk with Ranma.
Genma and Soun helped each other, also following Ranma.
The Inu gang, unsure of what to do now, also followed Ranma back to the Tendo Dojo.
They all left the Higurashi compound in its ruined state, never looking back on the place which had brought them so much pain.
The Tendo Dojo was a welcoming place for everyone. Nabiki stood outside the doorway and she yelled, "HEY! DR. TOFU! YOU'VE GOT MORE PATIENTS!"
Dr. Tofu burst from the door and found everyone in their tired state. He looked at Ranma, Ryoga, Inuyasha and Kagome the longest, each looking like they had been through the spin cycle 4 times non-stop.
"We're here?" Ranma said. Kagome nodded. "Good." And he fell onto the ground, passing out from exhaustion of the battle he had participated in. Ryoga and Inuyasha followed suit.
Dr. Tofu looked very worried. "Get them into the house, quickly."
Genma, Soun and Happosai picked the three up, not even saying a word because of the valiant efforts that the three displayed in battle. Herb walked forward, pulling out a bag of tea.
"Is there a place where I can make some tea?" he asked the group. Nabiki gestured for him to follow her into the kitchen.
Meanwhile, the Inu gang were entering the house and going to living room. Shippo and Kirara were sleeping after watching the extreme amount of violence portrayed. Miroku and Sango were in a corner, Sango's head on Miroku's shoulder and Kagome was on the ground, lying on her back, eyes open. Inuyasha was upstairs receiving medical treatment with Ranma and Ryoga.
"Do you think it's over?" asked Sango.
"No way. Never, not when he's still alive," replied Kagome. She got up to go check on Ranma, Ryoga and Inuyasha.
Ranma, Ryoga and Inuyasha were lying next to each other in the Saotome's temporary room in the Tendo household. Dr. Tofu was standing above them, making notes about their condition and Cologne was there, trying to assist in anyway possible with her vast knowledge about the supernatural. Kagome walked through the door, looking at how her friends were faring.
She walked through and found Inuyasha sleeping soundly, looking like nothing serious had happened to him. His demon blood helped him clear away most of the major wounds. Ryoga was also the same, receiving nothing but major bruising and broken bones.
Ranma, however, was another matter.
He clearly had broken bones and though he had the five minutes on the battlefield to heal, it was not enough to stop all the major wounds from reopening. He had bandages across his whole body and his arm was in a splinter. Ranma also had a pained expression on his face, like he was having a bad dream.
"How are they, Doctor?" she asked. Tofu looked up.
"Well, Ryoga and Inuyasha are fine. The only problem is Ranma."
"How so?"
Tofu consulted his notes. "Physically, he'll be alive and kicking by tomorrow. His demon blood does wonders. It's his mental state at which I'm worried about. He attacked Akane and he was pierced with an arrow by you. A sealing one, no less. According to Cologne, Ranma's very demon blood has turned on him and is starting a war with Ranma's mind. Add in the fact that he kissed you," he said, noticing Kagome's wince, "and that he nearly hurt Akane, he might actually give in. We need his sword to seal his demon blood at all times. Mind you, I've only learnt this just now. Thanks again, to Cologne."
She stepped. "What we must do now, is keep him under strict surveillance and have our most qualified fighters keep an eye on him, just in case he wakes up, succumbing to the blood. The only way for Ranma to win this fight is with the support of the ones he loves around him."
Kagome nodded. "I'll ask Akane to come in here."
"NO!" screeched Cologne.
"What?" she asked confusedly.
"Do you think she is ready to face son-in-law after what she saw at the battle? Also, is my son-in-law ready to face Akane after what he has done?"
Kagome thought very carefully at this. "You're right, Granny Cologne. Who should I call?"
"His mother and father would be a good choice."
Kagome nodded. "I'll do that then."
She went down stairs and a few moments later, she returned with Genma and Nodoka in her wake.
"How is he, doctor?" asked Nodoka worriedly.
"He'll be fine. But, his mind is currently in a war with itself. He will need everyone's support, but he first needs you three to stay here. As the people closest to him in his life, it is necessary for you to stay here and give him your support," the doctor continued worriedly. "Whist I am gone, Cologne will keep an eye on him. She is undoubtedly more skilled in this area than I am."
"Okay then. But why not Akane? Shouldn't she be here?" Nodoka asked. Genma and Kagome tensed very visibly at this.
"Wife, I don't think now would be a good time for Akane to see Ranma. I'll explain later," Genma said. His son fought for others for far too long and now, he needed to fight for himself.
Kagome said, "Ranma, we'll be here, every step of the way."
Ranma woke up, though when he opened his eyes, all he could find was complete darkness.
"HELLO?" he shouted. "HELLO?"
He received no response. Then, from under him, he felt the ground dissolve. He sank faster through the darkness than what he would've done with quicksand and he couldn't escape in time. He was plunged through the floor before he could even breathe.
Ranma woke up again, this time, in an arena (Think to the Cell Games from DBZ, except the background should be completely black).
Ranma stood up and shook the weariness from his eyes. They focused and he found a figure opposite him. Once he could see properly, he looked at the figure more closely.
It was a mirror image of himself, with more pronounced muscles on his whole body, three purple stripes streaked across each cheek in a jagged like fashion and ki produced claws on his fingers. His hair was the same, yet some how, it seemed more wild than usual. Then he realized.
This was himself in neko-demon form.
"Well now, it seems you've finally figured out I am," said the demon.
"Who are you?" Ranma asked.
"You," he said. "Or rather, to be more specific, the spirit of yourself. I know you, inside and out. And I like what I see."
Ranma faltered at that. "What do you know?"
Demon-Ranma smiled evilly at that. "Everything. From the time you were born, to now, and everything in between. I know who you love. And it isn't the girl out there."
Ranma froze. "You mean Akane?"
"You might love her now, but you won't love her this time in a week. Already I can see the seeds of doubt being planted in your heart. You're scared of losing her to someone. What if that was true? What if you really did lose her? What would you do?" said the demon.
Ranma racked his mind. "You're lying," he said, but there was the tiniest bit of doubt in his voice.
Demon-Ranma smiled even wider. "See? You're already trying to deceive yourself. You cannot lie to me."
"You're wrong."
"Oh, am I really?"
The black disappeared, to be replace with the Tendo Dojo. Ranma and Demon-Ranma stood there, watching the occupants. The house seemed to be shaking.
"YOU LOVE HER DON'T YOU?" rang out from the dojo and both Ranma's went to the dojo by floating there, going through walls.
There, in a full blown row, was Ranma and Akane, the former, clenching his fists tightly, the latter, red in the face and pointing an accusing finger at Ranma.
"I DON'T! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS? I LOVE YOU!" Ranma roared at her, moving towards her.
Akane immediately stepped towards him and slapped him. "DON'T LIE TO ME! I SAW YOU KISS HER!" (That should shed some light about who they are fighting about)
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT? THAT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE COERCED INTO IT!"
"NO!" she screamed. "NO MORE! THIS ENGAGEMENT IS OVER! AND THIS TIME, IT'S GONE FOR GOOD! GET OUT OF HERE; I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU EVER AGAIN!"
"AKANE, PLEASE-" Both the real Ranma and the Ranma from that illusion said this.
"GET OUT!" she screamed at him, tears falling freely from both of their faces. "WHY DON'T YOU RUN OFF TO ONE OF YOUR WHORES? THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SHOW-"
SLAP!'
"NEVER," he said slowly and murderously, "CALL KAGOME A WHORE!"
Akane stepped back. Ranma never hit her. "SEE! YOU DO LOVE HER!" she yelled accusingly.
"SHE IS MY FRIEND! OF COURSE I LOVE HER! BUT NOT LIKE THAT!"
"NO! NO MORE EXCUSES! GET OUT!" she screamed with a finality.
"BUT-"
"GET OUT!"
She whipped out her mallet from hammer space and smashed him as far away as she could. Upon doing do, she dropped to her knees and cried her heart out.
The background turned back to darkness and Demon-Ranma looked very pleased at the fact that the real Ranma was clutching his face and crying.
"What's the matter, huh? I though your father said crying for little girls."
Something in Ranma snapped at that. He rose slowly and put his hand forward. He waited and Kaze no Ryu appeared. Then, using his anger to fuel his attacks, he leapt at Demon Ranma.
What happened next, however, was unexpected. Demon-Ranma also pulled out the sword and used to block his sword.
"What the hell?" said Ranma, enraged.
Demon-Ranma smiled. "We're the same person. Therefore, we use the same attacks. But I have few more up my sleeve."
He slashed at Ranma with the ki-enhanced claws. Ranma managed to leap out of the way before he could get seriously hurt and Ranma was left with only a few superficial scratches.
"Well Ranma? Who will submit first? Will I gain control of this body and leave you as a secondary person? Or will you gain the power to call upon my strength and control me?"
Ranma smiled at that. "If this is a battle and the prize is to control your strength, then I am in." 'I'll put aside my worries about Akane later.'
Demon-Ranma smiled. "Don't forget, the ante is the ability to control your body."
Ranma and Demon-Ranma stood there, facing off with each other. Then, at some kind of unknown signal, both Ranma's leapt at each other.
Little did Ranma know that ignoring what he had seen would become his downfall in this battle.
Herb came back into the room with some glasses he'd found and a teapot on a tray. He poured some for everyone and gave it to everyone.
"This is a drink which will calm your nerves and help with healing. I've already given some to everyone downstairs and now I want you guys to drink this," Herb said.
By this time, Inuyasha had woken up and he knew what was going on. Inuyasha refused the tea, but Kagome him drink it. Ryoga had some poured down his throat by Tofu and he took some to give to Kasumi, who was still resting from the trauma that Shiro did to her. Tofu had optimistic hopes for her and he was feeling a little bubbly since Kasumi could wake any second.
'Come on, Ranma,' thought Kagome. 'You can do this.'
The sounds of sword hitting sword was heard ringing throughout the battlefield. Ranma and Demon-Ranma were fighting with their very hardest. If an outsider were to see the battle, most of the NWC would have a lot of trouble keeping up with the battle itself. Only the masters would have the least bit of trouble keeping up with the fight: Ranma and the demon were moving so fast, the blurs they left behind gave the impression that an army was fighting at a very high speed.
It was by now means, an even battle. Ranma was struggling to keep up with his demon counterpart and he was probably having a fun time with the fight.
Then both broke apart and Ranma landed, panting. Demon-Ranma just smiled.
'Damn it, I can't push it out of my mind,' he thought. 'I never thought I would have to say this, but I think I'm gonna lose.'
"Had enough, Ranma?" said Demon-Ranma. Ranma didn't know what to do: he couldn't let out any of his special attacks.
"I'll die before I lose to you," Ranma said. "I've still got some loose ends to tie up."
Demon-Ranma smiled. "I know. You still don't know who you love."
"WHY YOU-"
Ranma leapt at him and roared, "MUKAINO GOGYO SHUUKU!"
The flaming lava rose from the sword and impacted against the demon head-on.
The dust settled and Ranma saw that his demon counterpart was hurt and panting.
Ranma smirked. "That should even the odds out a bit."
"Damn you cocky bastard," he said, and leapt at him, fully intending to kill him. Ranma obliged happily, more than wanting to tear the bastard apart who had instilled these doubts in him. Figuratively, of course. Ranma had no desire to kill him, no matter how evil.
They met in a clash at which Ranma had never fought before. Not even the Naraku reincarnate fought at this level of power. Both auras permeating from each person showed a red hot fury no person had ever seen before. Ranma and Demon-Ranma met in mid-air, pushed away and repeated, each time, landing in different directions.
They kept this up for about 5 minutes before breaking away. Both Ranma and Demon-Ranma were panting very hard and was very tired.
"Well then? Have you decided?" asked Demon-Ranma.
"Huh?" asked Ranma in return.
"Who do you love?"
Ranma got what he finally said and thought to all the girls in his life. "Yes."
Then he heard a voice ring out.
"Come on, Ranma. You can do it!"
'Kagome? Where's Akane? What the heck is happening out there? What happened to her?'
A feeling of wanting to escape rose in him. He had to end it now.
"As I was saying, yes. I have decided to who I love. Now let's end this."
Demon-Ranma looked at him. "You're not lying. Congratulations. Now defeat me and learn my powers."
They both knew that despite the friendly terms, they had to finish this battle.
They rushed together and Ranma, very subtly, initiated the spiral. But he had to fight back because he needed to keep his opponent on his feet long enough so he didn't discover his ulterior motive.
Demon-Ranma fell for the attack, hook, line and sinker.
"HIRYU SHOTEN HA REVISED: KYOKUJITSU!"
The 'rising sun' rose again and Ranma had finally defeated Demon-Ranma.
"By the way."
The rough voice of the demon rang out.
"I knew it was coming. But, I suppose, for now, you win."
Then the ball of light evaporated and Ranma won the battle. He looked around again before passing out.
READ!!
Seems like I rushed this? Yes, I know. I just want to wrap up this story as soon as I can. I will be ending this story in about 2-3 chapters time.
REVIEW!
