A/N: Just a quick note this time

Chapter 36 will be uploaded in a couple of days, Thursday or Friday and the Epilogue will be uploaded Sunday if all goes to plan :)

~oOoOoOoOoOo~

Chapter 35

The Beginning of the End Pt5

Sacrifice!

The bar was a cozy little place, barely enough walking room between the bar itself and the small number of tables and booths that lined the wall. The sun was only just starting its descent towards the horizon and it was already starting to fill with people, mostly workers that had just clocked off. It was filled with a steady ruckus of men enjoying a good drink, joking, laughing and generally having a good time with friends. Most were construction workers, some were business men loosening their ties and getting back to their roots. There was already a growing aroma of thick smoke hanging in the air.

It was the little known watering hole for Genma and Soun.

The two martial artists had been coming to the bar on and off since Genma and Ranma had arrived in Nerima; whenever they could get away with it at least. They had hatched many a plan to get their children to marry over a number of pints, plans that had ultimately been for nothing. But that was another time; now they just came here to enjoy a good beer like a regular pair of middle aged men…... of course now Genma had to worry about Nodoka's disapproving glare if he came home drunk and singing….

'Ah, this is great!' Genma grinned as he downed a couple of mouthfuls, and slammed it back down on the counter top. 'Drink up!'

Soun was more reserved, but the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes spoke volumes. 'It has been far too long since we last did this, Saotome,' his eyes lost some of the gleam to them though as he frowned slightly. 'Though, it is a little hard to enjoy it with everything hanging over our heads at the moment. We haven't even heard from Chingensai in a while.'

'Enjoy the peace while you can Tendo,' Genma said, before sighing dramatically. 'The, kami know I've haven't known any since that Hibiki boy returned without Ranma. Nodoka has not stop harping about how much time Ranma's had off school and how things are going to be a hell of a lot different when this whole mess has been dealt with…..' he paused as he raised the glass mug to his lips, and smirked. 'I don't envy the hell Ranma will be walking back into when she returns.'

Soun chuckled at that.

'If I were you, I'd be more worried about myself.'

Both men froze in horror; the looks on their face would have been comical under other circumstances. That voice sent a sliver of ice shooting down their spines as it always had, eliciting memories of brutal, sadistic punishments. They glanced back over their shoulders, to find Happosai standing there, his eyes dark and frosty.

'You'd best finish your drinks boys,' he hopped up on a stool next to them and signaled the bartender for his own drink; in seconds he had a large frosty mug of beer in front of him as well, foam bubbling over the side. 'You two made a very foolish mistake trying to use Chingensai against me. A mistake, my old friend is paying for….'

Genma and Soun gaped in alarm, causing him to laugh.

'Oh, he's still alive,' he dismissed them casually. 'I would seriously stop worrying about what I did to Chingensai, and start worrying about what I'm going to do to you for going behind my back…'

They could only stare him, trembling as he chugged back the contents of the glass, draining it all faster than was humanly possible; his stomach seemed to inflate as he guzzled it all down. He slammed the mug down, rattling the bar and gasping in satisfaction, licking away the foam clinging to the corners of his mouth and upper lip. This wasn't an unfamiliar sight to the pair of them.

'I have no idea what it is you and the rest of the ingrates are planning with Cologne, but I promise you it's not going to work,' he warned them. 'I have waited far too long to obtain this Jewel and I am not about to let it slip through my fingers now. Nor am I going to let a couple of former upstart students beat me...' he gave them a cold, ominous look. 'Now... finish your drinks...'

Genma exchanged a worried look with Soun; with trembling hands they lifted their mugs and drained the rest of their drinks. They paused as they set the glasses down, taking a deep breath to steel their nerves... then they made a run for it! They had barely gotten two feet when Happosai suddenly appeared out of nowhere and back handed Genma into a wall, and in the same motion landed a kick to the back of Soun's head, sending him flying into a corner booth. Chaos erupted in the small bar as patrons jumped from their seats in alarm, shouting and trying to save their drinks, not knowing what the hell was going on. Happosai landed and bounded towards the father of three, going in for another strike when out of nowhere Genma nailed him mid air with a table, sending it and the old man crashing into the far wall.

'Come on Tendo!' Genma hurled his old friend up by the scruff of his neck.

At the same time the table on top of the old man exploded into a million pieces and Happosai leapt into the air. 'You're going to pay for your disrespect!'

Both men whirled around in alarm as their former master sailed towards them. Then Genma was reaching into his gi, and produced a ball of wadded up material and hurled it at the old man. Happosai's hand whipped out and snatched it out of mid air, landing on a table and staring at the material suspiciously. Carefully he pulled the material open, and his eyes widened with delight to find himself staring at pair of woman's panties! And then he was rolling around on the table like a cat high on catnip, rubbing the undergarment over his face... much to the disgust of everyone else.

He failed to notice that Genma and Soun had made a run for it.

'How did you know that would work Saotome!?' Soun demanded as they ran as hard and as far as they could.

'I didn't. I just figured old habits die hard!' he admitted, before nervously adding. 'Just… just don't mention this to Nodoka alright?'

Tendo blinked in confusion before his face faulted in disbelief. 'You didn't!?'

Genma simply kept running without a word.

Soun laughed, nearly tripping over his own feet. 'If Happosai doesn't kill you my friend, Nodoka just might!'

~oOo~

The sky was crowded with gliding clouds speeding along at an incredible pace. Shafts of sunlight pierced the thicker masses in the distance, creating surrealistic contrasts of lights and darks across the city and its surrounding wards. Ryoga barely noticed any of it as he moved about the campsite – slash empty housing lot – deep in concentration. He was taking a page out of Ranma's eccentric handbook to martial arts training and probably for the first time in his life, practicing kata. Of course he had never had a specific style of his own or even one he had learnt from someone else being that he'd never had a "master" like Ranma or Akane had had; but, he had been paying close attention to Ranma recently when she had been practicing it.

…Not necessarily because he was trying to learn it though, but because he simply couldn't take his eyes off her…. or the way she could move that nimble little body of hers that, more often than not just seemed completely inhuman.

In either case he had been paying attention, and to the results it produced for her. Afterward, Ranma was always so much clearer and energized, like she'd been zapped by a lightning strike. Above all else though, she was always seemed centered and focused on the goal. It was like active meditation for her and he hoped it would do the same for him now.

He moved in slow, focused circles, trying to concentrate on his breathing. It was not nearly as easy as Ranma made it seem when he watched her; though, he had to remind himself that she had been at it for a lot longer than he had been. It wasn't that hard on his body, but he felt like a clumsy doofus by comparison. Feet stumbled over each other and he often forgot what way he was turning if he didn't take it slowly enough and even then it was iffy at best. Perhaps he was simply trying too hard, too focused on what he was doing instead of letting his body flow through the sets like Ranma did.

Whatever it was, after an hour of stumbling about – and he assumed providing plenty of good laughs for anyone walking past – he threw in the towel and collapsed in front of the small camp fire, grumbling irritably.

It had been two weeks since had left the forest and nearly a week since he had returned to Nerima; a personal best for him he was proud to admit. Mrs. Saotome had been all over him for information as soon as she had found out he was back. She had not been happy to find out Ranma hadn't returned with him though. He didn't envy the red head when she did finally return… Now though, he was starting to worry about her too…. Hell, he had expected her and Cologne to beat him back just so she could rub his face in it; as if her ability to get somewhere faster than someone with no sense of direction meant anything!

More importantly he was worried about what the training was doing to her.

He had almost spilt the beans to Mrs. Saotome about the dangers of what Cologne was teaching her stubborn daughter, and then had almost done the same thing when the girls had come to find out what was happening. He wanted to tell them everything so they could try and talk Ranma out of using the stupid technique… but Ranma would have his hide five seconds later for going behind her back. He had to respect her decisions… even if he did think she was being an idiot!

Ryoga glowered at the fire, his eyes troubled.

The look on her face when he left was still fresh in her mind. Everything was out in the open between them now and he hoped it didn't weigh on her too heavily. Though he couldn't help but wonder if it had done more harm than good and that was why she had yet to return…. Maybe she was too distracted by the choices she was facing…. He had almost spilt the beans about that too, but he had no trouble reining himself back in where that was concerned. At the end of the day, that was Ranma's choice; it wasn't his place to tell anyone about it. She needed to make her choice on the matter without anyone telling her how she should feel or think or what she should do…..

Even though a selfish part of him wanted to take that Jewel and smash it into a billion pieces….. and he hated himself for it.

Sighing heavily, he wondered how much longer she would be gone for? How much longer would it take for her to learn Cologne's secret, special technique? He couldn't stop thinking about her, about the attack or what was waiting at the end of all this and how everything would change again for them.

The anticipation was killing him.

'Hey Ryoga…'

Blinking, his head snapped up in surprise to find Akane standing there; he saw the worry in her eyes almost immediately. Fresh worry.

'What's wrong?' he climbed to his feet in a hurry, dousing the fire as he did even as anxiety flared at the pit of his stomach. 'Has something happened? Is Ranma back?'

Akane shook her head. 'No, but we might have a problem….'

Ryoga sighed.

Was nothing ever simple in this place?

~oOo~

The Tendo dojo was silent with a heavy tension. Troubled looks were plastered across the various faces all around. Ryoga glanced surreptitiously at them. Shampoo was there with Mousse, along with Ukyo and Akane, while Mrs. Saotome sat beside her husband on one side with Mr. Tendo on the other. And of course, there was Tetsuya, having only returned a few days ago as well; he'd come looking for answers too, but Ryoga had no problem whatsoever keeping him in the dark and he didn't care how petty that made him.

'So Happosai knows we're trying to get the Jewel back,' Tetsuya sighed at the news, his sigh reflected in the troubled expressions of everyone around him.

Part of him – the irrationally jealous part of him – was annoyed that Ranma could open up to the man that had imprisoned her in her female form in the first place but she couldn't come to him, the person she'd thrown years of her father's mental programming aside for to confess that she had feelings for him? Something he knew hadn't been easy for her, which made her confession all the more precious to him. It wasn't annoyance at her though. It was at Tetsuya for being able to coax it out of her when he couldn't, which annoyed him even more.

Ryoga frowned irritably. 'He always knew, but now he has a reason to retaliate and make a point while he does it.'

There was no denying it; Happosai may have been a perverted little freak, but he wasn't an idiot. They were never going to take him by surprise and the rest were fooling themselves if they had really thought otherwise. Even if Ranma made it back soon, Happosai would be ready for her. He'll know Cologne taught her something, something she would be convinced would beat him and he won't know what, but it wouldn't matter in the long run against someone like Happosai if he didn't give Ranma a chance to use it.

'How did you two get away anyhow?' Nodoka asked curiously.

Genma coughed uncomfortably as Soun looked away; both of them were trying very hard not to look her in the eye.

'We, uh… We still have a few tricks left up our sleeves,' Genma replied finally.

Nodoka frowned suspiciously, her hand tightening on reflex around the hilt of her blade, even if she didn't know why.

'Regardless,' Ukyo interrupted calmly. 'We need to figure out what our next move is going to be. Any thoughts?'

'Shampoo pound old pervert into ground,' the purpled haired Chinese girl replied energetically, smashing the palm of her hand with her fist for emphasis with a determined glint of steel in her eyes. 'Make old freak sorry he ever lived.'

There was a certain simplistic eloquence to her plan Ryoga thought; if only it was that easy though.

'How about we call that plan B?' Ukyo suggested, causing the other girl to pout.

Tetsuya shook his head. 'I'm afraid there isn't much we can do with Cologne and Saotome still away training. We're not even sure we can take him, even with their help, but it would still be better if we waited till they return and fight him at full strength. Maybe even find some others willing to help us.'

'Pantyhose Taro would help if we could find him,' Akane said excitedly at the idea, before frowning. 'Though he'd probably steal the Jewel for himself the first moment he got….'

Ryoga screwed his face up at that idea; he'd had his fill of the freak the last time they'd tangled. The guy was too irrational to work with, not to mention they couldn't trust him as far as they could throw him and for many of them, that was pretty damn far! Akane was right, Taro would steal the Jewel the moment he found out what it was and the last thing they needed as an asshole with delusions of world domination getting his grubby little fingers on something that could supercharge him. They'd had enough trouble stopping him normally without adding that headache into the mix.

'Happosai isn't going to wait anyway,' Genma added seriously. 'He knows we're conspiring against him and he isn't going to stand for it. He won't wait for Ranma or Cologne to return. It's up to us to figure out a way to stop him.'

'We could always try begging for forgiveness?' Soun suggested nervously, wincing immediately at the dark looks leveled at him; Genma's most of all. 'I'm kidding…. Sort of…..'

'I will never beg that man for anything ever again,' Mr. Saotome growled, leaving no room for interpretation. He missed the pleased smile that tugged at Nodoka's lips. 'Somehow, we will find a way to end this with him.'

'Maybe if we attacked him all at once it might put him off?' Ukyo offered after a while. 'Maybe if we show him we're not scared of him even with the Jewel, it might just be enough to make him back off for a little while. At least until Ranma and Cologne get back maybe.'

As far as plans went, it wasn't the worse idea in the world. It wasn't a great plan either, but it wasn't terrible. If they were really lucky, maybe combined they could over power the old goat long enough to get the Jewel away from him… and then Ranma wouldn't need to use the attack that might end up killing her in the process. Either way they were going to have to fight him now thanks to Mr. Saotome and Mr. Tendo's failed attempt at stopping him, so where was the harm in trying? It was certainly better than sitting around on their hands waiting for Ranma to get back and letting her risk her life needlessly…

'That sounds like a good plan!'

Ryoga froze, eyes widening dramatically along with everyone else. The door slid open with a great crash, almost splitting in two as Happosai made himself known. Everyone that wasn't standing already shot to their feet, ready for a fight. The little old man chuckled as he strolled in as best he could on his stubby little legs. Ryoga couldn't believe the sight of him. Genma and Soun hadn't been exaggerating about how bad he looked. It did nothing to make him look any less threatening though. If anything it made him seem even more ominous.

'You know,' Happosai drawled as he glanced around at each of them. 'It's not polite to talk about someone behind their backs,' his eyes settled on Tetsuya and his tone dropped several degrees. 'And you….. I'll be having a word with when I'm done with these two over there.'

Happosai hunched forward with his hands clasped behind his back; the Jewel hung in plain view from his neck, glowing a brilliant, if not eerie blue. He wasn't even trying to hide it anymore. It was almost like he was daring them to try and take it from him. The presence around him was dark and oppressive, like a living entity almost trying to suck all the air out of the room, emanating from him with a powerful bloodlust. It made Ryoga shiver uneasily; he remembered what it had been like the last time Ranma had faced the little demon and it was obvious the old man had been holding back on purpose.

The grin on his face though was more infuriating than anything else. So damn arrogant and cocky; it took every ounce of will power he had not to rise to the old freak's bait. He wanted one of them to do something idiotic… like making the first move. It was only the knowledge that it was exactly what Happosai wanted that stopped him from doing something stupid.

'You're not welcome here!' Akane snapped.

'Why Akane my dear,' he turned to her with a wide deviant smile, that lacked any warmth or humor. 'Aren't you looking beautiful….. You really should learn to respect your elders though. A lesson I'm about to teach your ungrateful lout of a father.'

Ryoga growled. 'Get the hell out of here old man. We're not scared of you!'

Happosai blinked at him blankly, and then doubled over laughing. It was a disturbing laugh full of contempt that echoed through the hall, sending shivering chills down their spines. He finally stared Ryoga in the eyes, still chuckling.

'You're not scared?' he grinned ominously. 'Don't lie to me boy. I can smell the fear on you, on all of you! You all reek of it! That's why you hide. That's why these two fools thought they could turn my friends against me. That's why Cologne and Ranma are off somewhere hiding while the rest of you make your silly little plans. The sad part though, is that you actually think you stand a chance of beating me. You never have before, not really, so why do you think now will be any different?'

Ryoga gritted his teeth as a dribble of sweat trickled down the side of his face. The old man was right. He was scared. For himself, for everyone around him; they had no idea how far this Happosai would go while he was under the mind altering influence of this damn Jewel. How the in the hell were they suppose do anything to him?

Happosai's eyes gleamed with dark amusement. 'You children should run along now. The adults have business to discuss.'

'We're not going anywhere,' Ryoga spat.

'Oh?' there was a laugh in the little toad's voice. 'Ah I get it. You're trying to impress that pretty little Ranma. I was wondering how long it would take before she embrace what was inside her all along.'

Ryoga froze, gaping stupidly in confusion; along with many of the others.

'Oh don't look so shocked,' Happosai snapped, actually sounding disgusted at them. 'I knew it from the first time we met. Oh sure she fought her curse every day, very loudly and obnoxiously. Fighting a little too hard sometimes I think, but it was obvious to anyone that actually cared to see that part of her, whether she wanted to admit it or not, enjoy being able to turn into a girl. Maybe she didn't even realize it herself... I spent so much time trying to get her to admit and accept it….. and I was successful too. Or, has everyone conveniently forgotten the time I split her female side from her? That was only possible because she had finally accepted it, even if she never admitted it to herself. She probably still hasn't knowing that stubborn little ingrate. I didn't think she'd run into the arms of a man so quickly though, let alone this,' he pointed at Ryoga with a laugh. 'pathetic, bumbling piglet. Maybe she might finally be willing to model for me…. Perhaps something lacey…..'

Ryoga leapt at him with a roar.

…and, was sent smashing through the side of the training hall with a flick of the little man's wrist. The teenager sailed through the air and slammed into the wall surrounding the Tendo property, and crashed through it. He leapt to his feet, turning in time to duck sideways as Mousse flew past him, trailing chains from his sleeves. Ryoga bounded across the yard and into the dojo, rage and disgust pumping through his veins, turning his blood into fire. He wanted to rip the little man's head off!

It was chaos.

Shampoo was swinging her chuii like a wild woman, snarling as she went after the little troll, but he was always too many steps ahead of her as she twirled this way and that with lightning fast strikes, bouncing off her weapons and sending her stumbling back with the flick to the head from his stubby little fingers. He kicked one of her hammers into the air, before sending it smashing into Tetsuya's stomach, forcing the air from his lungs in a single great whoosh as the bear sized man came charging forward. Ukyo flung an object from her hand and Happosai spun in time to strike the object shooting for his head, only for it to burst open into a cloud of white.

'Down!' Ukyo shouted as she threw a shurikan at edge of her outstretched spatula staff, sparks flying off the end.

The cloud exploded with thunderous force, knocking Ryoga on his ass. His ears rang with a high pitch whistle as he grimaced and pushed himself on his elbow, coughing as smoke quickly flooded the room.

Ukyo grinned triumphantly. 'How do you like my Gun Powder Flower Bomb! So much better than my old Gun powder tempura flakes, don't yah think?'

Happosai shot out of the black cloud of smoke and kicked her square in the chest. The chef screamed as the kick carried her off her feet and sent her flying through the wall behind her, hitting the ground hard and rolling several feet into the side of the koi pond with a heavy thump.

'Ukyo!' Akane cried after her in horror.

'You little bastard!' Ryoga snarled, leaping after the little troll.

Happosai laughed unstably, landing on the teenager's arm, the tips of his hair tuffs singed and smoking, clothes ripped in places from the explosion. 'You're out of your depth boy! There's nothing you can do to me!'

All of a sudden the world turned upside down and Ryoga slammed into the ground, smashing through the floor. Happosai slammed into his stomach with incredible force, driving the air out of his lungs. He gasped in shock at the pain that shot through him, stars exploding in his eyes with dark spot as he struggled to catch his breath. Happosai loomed over him with an ominous grin, pressing down on a pressure point in his chest. Ryoga screamed as excruciating pain blasted through him.

'Like I said,' Happosai added darkly. 'Out of your depth!'

'You toad!' Akane screamed as she came at him in a rage, throwing a punch at him with everything she had. 'Get off him!'

And Happosai stopped it with a single finger.

He cocked an eye brow at her in disbelief. 'You didn't really think that would work did you?'

With blinding speed the old man struck her above the hip and bounded away. Akane blinked in surprise, before her legs suddenly gave out from under her and she collapsed in a heap with a startled shriek next to Ryoga's panting form embedded in the cracked floor. She tried to push herself up, but her legs refused to listen. Ryoga grimaced as he forced aside the pain and pried himself out of the hole. His body ached, groaning in protest at the lingering agony inflicted by the little old troll.

Mousse came flying back in the dojo, whipping chained weapons in the air over head with a furious cry, claws extending from his slippers as he fell upon Happosai, lashing out with the chains. Happosai easily and smoothly stepped aside the weapons as the smashed into the ground, wasting as little movement as possible, like a true master. When Mousse crashed into the ground, Happosai easily skirted back a couple of feet, producing a Happo Fire Bomb and hurled it at the Chinese boy. A second later it exploded, blasting the hidden weapons master through the wall and into the yard where he hit the ground hard, and flopped limply to a stop.

Shampoo leapt over the fallen teenager with a furious screech. 'You pay for hurting Mousse!"

'Such fire!' Happosai chuckled. 'Come my dear, you remind me so much of Cologne when she was young.'

The Chinese girl smashed her hammers into the ground as Happosai danced around her, playing with the girl as she chased after him, growing angrier and angrier with every miss. Her attacks got sloppier and sloppier and Happosai laughed at her lack of control, delighting in her rage and frustration. Then without warning he swept her legs out from under her, sending her crashing to the ground with a heavy oomph! He was on her in seconds, striking a pressure point and darting away just as quickly, laughing harder as Shampoo screeched and raged when she realized she couldn't move her legs either.

Ryoga surged to his feet, arms dangling limp in front of him as he hunched forward. Despair clawed at him; there was nothing they could do to stop him. He was playing with them!

Happosai smiled evilly. 'Come on boy, don't disappoint me now.'

Ryoga gritted his teeth and lunged with a snarl.

Happosai moved with blinding speed, slamming a tiny fist into the teenager's stomach, before kicking him aside like a ragdoll. He crashed into the wall and slid to the ground in a heap. It hadn't even been five minutes and six of them were already down for the count, that only left Genma, Soun and Mrs. Saotome left to fight him… this wasn't going to end well.

'You shouldn't feel bad,' the old man told them casually. 'It was always going to come to this. You are all so full of spirit, but you're way too early to stand a chance against someone like me. I could easily have drawn this out, but my gripe is not with any of you. You are only children and children will always make foolish decisions and it's your duty to learn from the consequences of those decisions. I won't be nearly forgiving next time though…. you two however,' he turned slowly to glare at his former students. 'You two know better than to anger me.'

He approached them with a menacing calm, hands clasped firmly behind his back. His battle aura unfolded, expanding to fill most of the dojo with its pulsing power. It was suffocating and heavy. Ryoga gasped, struggling catch his breath as the battle aura pressed down on him like a thousand tons of rubble; it was crushing, like it was trying to drive him deep into the ground. Genma and Soun were on their knees, Nodoka behind Genma, on her own and grasping her husband's shoulders for support.

'You were both warned to stay out of my affairs,' he growled darkly. 'You should have been thankful that I only disowned you from my school, but you had to keep sticking your noses where they don't belong and now it's time you pay for the consequences of your actions.'

'Get, the hell away from them, you little old freak!'

Ryoga's eyes widened with a sharp gasp; his lips slowly spread into a grin as he turned to find her standing there, red hair seeming to flame with the sun behind her. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with a fierce frown. A strange sense of relief powered through the teenager, filling him with a renewed strength as he heaved himself on to his elbows. He shook his head, fearing his mind was playing tricks on him, or that Happosai had knocked him out and he was merely dreaming. It was only when he glanced around to see the others staring with the same excitement at the red head, at the relief that filled her parent's faces. Even Mousse and Ukyo, found the strength to look up at her in surprise.

Maybe there was still hope.

'Ranma…..' he whispered. 'You have no idea how good it is to see you.'

~oOo~

Ranma glanced around the Tendo dojo, cringing inwardly at the damage it had taken. It had been a really long time since it had seen this kind of action and she wasn't sure it had ever looked this bad before. Her heart almost leapt into her throat when she saw her friends scattered across the ground outside and the floor inside….. when she saw Ryoga slumped against the wall looking like one of her punching bags. Then her eyes settled on Happosai, twisting into a furious glare as her hands balled into painfully tight fists, her nails almost cutting through skin, as he stood before her parents with his back to her and his battle aura withering about like a living mass. If she had been a few minutes later, what would she have returned to then?

'I said,' she repeated coldly. 'Get. The. Hell. Away from them!'

'Ranma my dear,' Happosai replied without turning around with his fake friendly tone. 'I'll deal with you in a minute, I just need to sort these two out first.'

'Enough Happy!'

Cologne appeared beside the red head, frowning darkly at the old man.

'I knew you had to be close by,' Happosai chuckled, finally turning around to face them.

Both Ranma and the Amazon leader flinched slightly in surprised at the state of him. This was definitely not the Happosai she knew. He looked more like a zombie than anything else, and the mad glee in his eyes made her shiver through to her spine. Tetsuya had warned them that the Jewel's power would take its toll, but she never thought it would be to this extreme. This certainly made what she had to do, all that much easier….

'This has gone on quite far enough,' the Amazon Matriarch hissed. 'You're like a child smashing bugs with a rock and it is disgraceful, even for you! This has to end here and now!'

Happosai snorted sarcastically. 'So, is the part where you two try to beat me? Perhaps with this fancy new technique you've been teaching Ranma here, while you were off hiding like the little cowards you are? I know this useless lot were really looking forward to your return. They were convinced there was no possible way they could beat me without Ranma and her powerful new attack. Well come on now, don't keep them waiting, show me what you learned from the great and powerful Cologne, sweetie.'

Ranma's teeth clenched tight at his obvious attempt to bait her; she could almost feel them creaking under the pressure. Happosai met her gaze with amusement, daring her to attack him. She glanced around at the others as they looked at her expectantly, urging her with their eyes to let loose and attack the little toad. They had been looking forward to this, waiting patiently for her to return so they could finally take Happosai down and teach him a lesson. She had been looking forward to it too…

Her shoulders sagged and she sighed heavily. 'No…'

Everyone jolted with surprise. Even Happosai frowned.

'No?' he echoed in confusion. 'What do you mean no?'

Ranma huffed in frustration. 'I wasn't able to learn the technique ok!? It was too hard damn it!'

She looked away as everyone stared at her in disbelief and alarm. They all looked to Cologne, expecting her to tell them it wasn't true, but the little old woman merely sighed and nodded slowly. She didn't want to see them looking at her like that; it cut right through the soul. The despair and disappointment that filled the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and it slashed right through her. Happosai blinked at her in shock, rendered speechless as her cheeks flushed with shame and anger.

Then he fell over, laughing hysterically and pointing at her. 'The Great Ranma Saotome couldn't master a technique? Oh my this is too good! And here all your foolish little friends were looking so forward to you beating me. How does it feel to let them all down?'

Ranma hung her head in shame at the little trolls stinging words.

'Being stuck as a girl really has made you pathetic!' Happosai snickered, before straightening himself up and grinning at her. 'If you really want to push your luck though, by all means attack me. I'll even go easy on you this time. I wouldn't want to hurt that delicate little body of yours. I certainly wouldn't want you covered in bruises if you're going to model some sexy under garments for me.'

Ranma sighed. 'I'm not going to fight you Happosai.'

'What!?' the others shouted as they picked themselves off the ground.

Happosai paused, caught off guard as he narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. 'What are you playing at?'

'I'm not playing at anything,' she shook her head. 'I'm not going to fight you. I know I can't beat you. Sure I could attack you and you'd probably play around with me for a little while, but we both know there's nothing I can do to beat you. You know all my tricks and training with Cologne for this fight, trying to learn the technique made it all very clear, there's no point in fighting you anymore Happosai. I'm not anywhere near hers or your level and honestly, I'm sick of it.'

'You can't be serious?' Tetsuya demanded incredulously. 'After everything we went through out there, you're just going to turn your back on this now!? You gave me your word Saotome!'

'I'm sorry, but I can't help you,' Ranma shrugged slightly, before looking at the others. 'This is over, we're done.'

She started to walk over to others to help them up, only for Happosai to dash in front of her with an irate glare.

'I don't believe you!' he snapped. 'You've never walked away from a fight before. Especially against me! You're always too happy to meddle in my business and try to prove your worth against me! I won't be made a fool of!'

'Well I'm not the same person I was a few months ago,' she growled as she planted her fists on her hips in exasperation at the little old freak. 'I've grown. So, congratulations, you win Happosai. You can keep your school's name and the Jewel. I don't care anymore. I'm sick of playing your pathetic little games. Now, would you do me a favor and bug off! Go find someone else to annoy will yah.'

The others had pulled themselves up from the floor and started to cluster together, with Mousse and Ukyo standing outside, all of them looking like they didn't know what to do. Even Happosai blinked in utter bewilderment at her; clearly none of them were expecting this. Happosai didn't know what to say; for the first time since she had known him, the Grand Master was left completely speechless.

'Besides,' she added calmly. 'I don't need to fight you anyway. The Jewel will kill you before long and then we won't need to worry about you anymore at all.'

Happosai snapped his head up at her, frowning. 'What are you talking about?'

'Look at you,' she said in disbelief. 'You look dead already. I'll be surprised if you last the month with the Jewel messing with your head the way it is. Even if I did fight you, I wouldn't be fighting you, would I? I'd be fighting this pathetic shadow of you. Sure you'd still beat me with your magic rock, but it wouldn't really be you now would it? It would be this thing you've become. Man, I barely even recognize you. The Happosai I knew, no matter how much he pissed me off was never this hell bent on hurting people. Humiliating them yes, but he never took delight in causing them pain. At least before you had your honor as a martial artist, but now you really are just a bully with too much power for his own good.'

Happosai stared at her quietly, frowning in thought; he looked down at the Jewel, like he was seeing it for the first time. He stared at it for the longest time without saying a single word, before he suddenly snapped out of it and shook his head, glaring furiously at the red head.

'Oh, I see what your game is now!' he sneered harshly. 'I knew you were trying to trick me. You think you're smart enough to get inside my head? I'm not so easily manipulated by a silly little, arrogant girl. I'm not an idiot! I supposed you think because you have that chump over there,' he pointed at Ryoga. 'Wrapped around your little finger you think you can do the same to me. Well I'm not falling for your games either missy.'

'Whatever,' she waved him off dismissively. 'I don't have time to deal with your stupid paranoia old man. It's sad enough that you don't even see what it's doing to you. Though, it's not nearly as sad as seeing how far you've really fallen. I hope stealing the Jewel was worth it. Now leave us alone. Go enjoy your power while you're still alive. I'm going to find something so eat, I'm starving.'

Happosai blinked silently as she walked past him to check on her friends.

'What are you talking about?' he asked, sounding lost. 'I didn't have to steal it."

Ranma jolted to a stop, staring at him in confusion.

He pointed behind her. 'He gave it to me.'

Ranma's eyes widened and she whirled around; without warning Tetsuya shoved Nodoka backwards across the hall with one hand and drew her katana with the other in the same motion, the air ringing with the music of steel. Everything slowed, just for a second as their eyes met across the shoulder of her father, and her face paled at the vicious grin that lit up the Guardian's face. Then, Genma was already turning when he jerked suddenly, eyes wide with surprise as he looked down as the side of his tattered old gi turned dark red around the sword sticking through him.

It was like all sound had been sucked out of the room in a great whoosh; everyone, even Happosai froze in shock. Ranma felt her entire body seize together, her eyes wide as saucers as she stared into the confused expression on her father's face, her mind going blank. Every thought just vanished in an instant.

With a violent kick he shoved Genma off the sword, sending the middle aged martial artist crashing to the ground in a heap, a small pool of blood starting to seep around him.

'Genma!'

Nodoka screamed, rushing past Tetsuya and dropped to her husband's side in a panic, rolling him on to his side as the Guardian threw the weapon aside. He sighed dramatically and shrugged, his entire demeanor changing in an instant, staring with cold, dark eyes at the lot of them and grinning malevolently.

'I guess the cat's out of the bag…'

To Be Continued…..