Into the Flame
The stone wall of the castle was well hidden by the trees of the dense forest. Gasps could be heard from the watch post on either side of the large wooden doors.
"Quick! Open the gates!" A feminine voice yelled from the inside. The massive wooden doors swung open slowly, creaking loudly. Ranma sighed looking wearily into the fortress 'I don't like having to do this.' He shifted the load in his arms, Akane's head falling to this chest. His arms ached, her limp body never left his arms the entire trip back from the Gold Dragon's lair.
"Let's go Ranma." Ryoga walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. The others had already made their way into the castle. Ranma nodded and took a last look down at Akane's face as he followed Ryoga in.
Amazon women rushed around worriedly starring at Akane's motionless figure. The expression on Ranma's face told them to keep their distance. He followed the others into the great hall. Ranma walked toward the platform with the Gold chair, the others followed him closely. The room filled with Amazons, all staying behind the group.
He stopped and held Akane closer to him using all his strength to keep his iron expression. From the left Amethyst and Garnet entered the room moving quickly to Ranma's position. "What has happened to her?" Garnet shouted staring at Akane not meeting Ranma's glare. "What have you done?"
"If you hadn't stolen her from me, she'd be fine. She'd be home happily getting ready for school tomorrow. So don't ask me what I have done to her!" Painfully Ranma closed his eyes and saw her telling him to run. "Now are you going to help her or not?"
Garnet turned and nodded to Amethyst, who stood close by watching their discourse. She cautiously walked up to Ranma and placed a hand on Akane's head and examined the gemstone on her arm. "It's almost black, there is barely any energy from the eye left. She'll have to regain consciousness before we can perform the ritual."
"Good, ready the preparations." Garnet began to turn away.
"But even if she does wake up I'm not sure . . . I mean there was always a chance and now . . ." Amethyst couldn't continue, Garnet turned his head looking toward the floor and nodded. Amethyst waved her hand and Opal walked over.
"Opal see that she is well rested and the moment she wakes prepare her. Oh and see that our guests have quarters for their stay." Opal bowed and Amethyst walked off in the same direction Garnet had left the room. Opal motioned for Ranma and the others to follow as she walked out of the hall.
"What was that all about?" Ranma looked down at the young woman's face. She looked worried when she looked at Akane. Opal again motioned for them to follow as she walked into Akane's room. Ranma reluctantly put her on the bed and pulled the covers over her cool body. He quickly turned his attention to Opal as the others gathered around him.
"Well will you tell me now? What were they talking about?"
"She is so weak, she must have used up more energy than she really had."
"She blew up about fifty of those guys we met earlier today." Ryoga chimed in over Ranma's shoulder.
"Yeah with this incredible chi attack." Ranma said. "So explain what is going on and how she was able to do all that."
"Akane violent girl but she never that strong" Shampoo added
"Well I don't know everything about the legend,"
"No one does." Ranma interrupted. 'Except Garnet' he thought to himself bitterly. Opal walked over to Akane and looked at the gem, which had a tinge of green shinning in the artificial light.
"This gem is a shard from our tribes greatest treasure, the dragon's eye. The tribe of the Gold Dragon has an identical yellow gemstone. When the tribes were one, both the green and gold eyes were set in a great stone dragon. The tribe used the eyes' mystical healing powers and their ability to increase battle auras for many centuries, until there was chaos and the tribe split, separating the gems. Now only a selective few individuals who are pure enough and can focus the gem's powers can use the gems powers. The warrior that wears this needs perfect clarity to enhance their skills. Jade wears the shard to keep her connected to the gem's power. But to do battle with the Gold Dragon she must become one with the flame of the true dragon's eye."
"This sounds like quite an ordeal to go through." Mousse stood talking to the bedpost next to Opal.
"Yeah can Akane survive something like that?" Ukyo said while she and Shampoo fained worried expressions. Opal returned their look to Ranma who was intent on listening to all the details.
"Well actually there was always a chance she did not have enough focus to control the power, but now in her current state I'm not sure she can bear to be put through the ceremony."
"Well fine then we take her home now and she doesn't go through any ceremony." Ryoga started toward Akane but was stopped by Ranma's outstretched arm.
"If she doesn't she might die." Ranma said calmly.
"What!" Ryoga stood stunned looking at Ranma.
"They said it, she used energy she didn't have. If we take her away now and sever her connection to this power she might never wake up again. She has to go through with this or she will definitely never be normal again." Ranma looked down at Akane 'You better wake up stupid.' An image of Akane looking down at him franticly flashed before his eyes "Run while you have a chance." 'I can't let it end this way.' Ranma thought to himself.
"Let me show you to your rooms, it will be awhile before she has rested enough to regain consciousness." Opal led the others out, but Ranma made it clear that the chair by Akane's side was where he was going to reside for the duration. The room became quiet, only the sound of Akane breathing could be heard. Ranma sat in the chair and began his vigil.
The world had become a white blur with a dark haze around the edges. Slowly colors started to mingle in the light creating a familiar picture. A bedroom, Akane's bedroom.
"Urg." Akane began to raise her head, her eyes fluttering to maintain a grip on her surroundings. She felt as if a tremendous weight lay on her forehead pinning her to the pillow. Instinctively she said her first words "R . . . Ranma?"
Ranma sprung from his curled up position on the nearby chair and rushed to the bed where Akane lie moaning quietly.
"Ranma are you alright, did the others make it out safe? Ranma are you here?" Her eyes began to focus on the new figure in front of her.
"It's me. How do you feel?" Ranma sat on the edge of the bed and laid his hand on her forehead expecting her to have fever, but her skin was cool to his touch.
"You don't have to hold me down, I'm fine." Ranma cocked his head, his eyebrows furrowed, and looked at his hand. "I can get up now." She started to stir and then immediately sank back down "if I really wanted to."
"Sure you macho chick." Ranma smiled down at her frowning face.
"Oh flattering will get you nowhere mister." Her voice was husky and a bit groggy. The others suddenly burst into the room.
"Akane are you ok?"
"How you feel?"
"Did Ranma do anything to you?"
"Are you going to make it sugar?"
Ranma straightened as they surrounded the bed. Akane just waved her hand drunkenly at them a sheepish smile on her face. "Nothing to worry about, I'm fine."
"Here, let me help you up." Ranma went toward her but Ukyo and Shampoo were already there.
"No need to trouble yourself."
"Yah we help." They both put their arms under Akane with a swift heft she was in a sitting in position.
"Huh, I'm not already up?" Akane didn't struggle at all with the two girls. She looked quite intoxicated.
"Are you sure you are alright Akane?" Ryoga watched her carefully.
"Just peachy, getting my strength back already." She limply raised her arm to make a fist but it just sort of fell to the bed with a thud. The group looked from one to the other worriedly.
"Akane act stranger than usual." Shampoo said thinking 'She'd be easy to take in this condition.'
"You said it sister." Ukyo said thinking 'If she is nuts I get Ranma honey.' Both girls beamed and Ranma rolled his eyes.
"You guys stay here with Akane, I'm going to get Opal."
When Ranma returned with the Amazon mother-to-be Akane was slightly more coherent. It was obvious Akane would stay this way for a while if she didn't go through with the ritual. Ranma sighed as he weighed the choices 'Akane would want to go for it. If she had a clue.'
Akane smiled sappily at Opal, as the smaller girl looked her over clinically.
"Well this is as good a time as any. We'll start getting her ready the boys will have to leave. You girls can stay if you want to help us prepare." Three amazons entered and started to usher out the boys.
"But what are you going to do to her!" Ryoga shouted reluctantly walking out backwards.
"Come on Ryoga." Ranma put his hand on his shoulder and whispered "they are all going to get naked and wash each other." Ryoga's nose started to bleed just from the visions in his head. Shampoo boomed up behind Ranma and hugged him.
"Ranma you stay and wash Shampoo's back." She squeezed him tightly as he struggled to get away.
"Huh? Let me go!"
"They let you stay as a girl." She beamed and Mousse pulled Ranma from her arms and held him in a chokehold.
"He has to come with us!"
"Yah Ranma is not staying while Akane takes a bath." Ryoga grabbed Ranma's arm and the two boys dragged him out as he made choking noises. Shampoo shrugged and bounced back to the other women undressing Akane.
Ukyo, Shampoo and Akane each got into the bath filled with bubbles.
"Ah it's been a while. Bathing in cold streams just isn't what it's cracked up to be." Ukyo leaned back letting her headrest against the porcelain. Akane strained to keep the pounding in her head to a minimum. Shampoo watched Akane warily from the other side of Ukyo.
"So Akane,"
"Jade," Akane moaned, her face wincing in pain as she held her head in her hand, not looking at Shampoo "my name is Jade."
"Yah ok, what Ranma tell you about us."
"Nothing actually. I don't know anything about you people. Only that he thinks I am his missing fiancée. Him and that other boy seem like brothers or something. As for the rest of you I have no idea."
"Ranchan a brother of that lost fool, no way."
"So he no tell you I his fiancée too?" Akane's eyes widen a bit in shock.
"WE, we are Ranma's fiancées." Akane's eyes widen ever more.
"Are we part of some kind of harem?" Akane whispered
"Sure." Shampoo said winking at Ukyo.
"I don't think so honey I've known Ranma the longest!" Shampoo and Ukyo stood up in the bath.
"Look stupid girl, don't you get it." Shampoo tilted her head toward Akane who still sat in the tub confused.
"Oh right, yes we are one happy herum of Ranchan's"
"Yah but Ak . . . you never seem happy not having Ranma to yourself."
"Yes so we thought you ran away to find a man who only needs one woman." Ukyo said excitedly understanding Shampoo's plan. They both sat back down Akane stared at them overwhelmed
"That Ranma, he need more than one woman."
"Really!" Akane was shocked. "He didn't seem like much of a sex fiend the other day. Although he did grope me in the tunnel and he does change into a woman."
"He did what?" Ukyo and Shampoo shouted in unison, looking at each other they remembered their roles.
"Well then you see he is a pervert." Ukyo nodded.
"Yeah Ranma never get enough." Shampoo nodded.
"I can't believe that I would be part of something like that."
"Well you were given to Ranma at birth, but you always said you never wanted any part of him." Akane's head began to pound even further her sight beginning to blur. Just then a basin of ice-cold water was dumped on her.
"AHHHH!" All three stood up alert Akane staggering.
"What was that for." Ukyo shouted having received some of the water intended for Akane.
"We have to perform a purification ritual."
"Well then we're outta here." Ukyo and Shampoo were already out of the tub and drying off. Akane stood shivering continuing to be dosed with cold water.
"Ugh. Sssso mmmucch furr fffemallle bbbondding. Eeeeee!"
Ranma and the others were advised to wait in the great hall for the ceremony to begin. Shampoo and Ukyo joined them after dressing. A large green gem like the one Akane wore was placed on a newly erected platform in the middle of the room. The stone was engulfed in a brilliant green flame. Ranma leaned toward Opal as she entered the room and stood by him "So what happens at this ceremony thing?"
"She walks into the flame. If she is focused she will become one with it's power."
"And if she isn't?" He whispered
"Then she is scorched by the flame." She said without flinching.
"So is somebody going to be standing around with a fire extinguisher or what!" Ranma bowed down to her height clenching his fists she maintained her forward stare and shrugged her shoulders.
The doors to the great hall opened quickly, taking Ranma's attention from his discussion with Opal. Garnet and Amethyst entered followed by six guards and a hooded figure dressed in a white robe. Garnet walked past Ranma not acknowledging his glare. The others stopped next to Ranma as Garnet walked on to his thrown and Amethyst stood by the gem. Ranma looked curiously at the hooded figure, head lowered in what appeared to be prayer. Head raised, the figure uncovered part of her face to look at him. Akane smiled weakly and winked at Ranma. Ranma looked around and found Amethyst and Garnet were busy ordering people around preparing for the ceremony. He cautiously approached her.
"You really gonna go through with this?" He whispered looking into her eyes searching for a hint of doubt. Her eyes showed only the pain she felt.
"Sure. Anything to get rid of this headache." She moved her hand to her temple and looked down at herself. "Hey Ranma I have to tell you something." She grabbed him by the collar making them nose to nose. "If I hear one word from you about this outfit, I'll make you pay."
"So then you do remember me." He grinned and she released her hold on him rolling her eyes. "It's a good to see you haven't lost all your brute strength."
She stuck her tongue out at him. The guards around them motioned for Ranma to back away and led Akane to the platform displaying the Dragon's eye. Akane climbed the platform and sat cross-legged in front of the stone. Even the joking around didn't lift the heaviness in Ranma's heart.
Akane sat in front of the flame, eyes closed listening to the sound of her body breathing in and out. 'Focus.' Pictures from the last twenty-four hours floated through her mind. 'Focus' The group chi blast; 'Focus' Fighting Ranma as a girl; 'Focus' Fighting Ranma as a boy; 'Focus' Ranma getting run through.
'FOCUS' She exhaled drowning out the pounding in her head. Her mind's eye began to see only a pure white.
"Focus." Akane rose to her feet the familiar cold expression hung on her face as her eyes looked into nothing. Her fingers slowly released each of the ties on her robe she let it slide off her shoulders onto the floor. She stood in a white Chinese dress with small green flowers made of ribbons sewn all over. The dress was form fitting but hung loosely around her legs stopping at her thighs.
Ranma leaned back down to Opal "Hey is she wearing what I think she is wearing?"
"Yup."
Ryoga was curious "What? What is she wearing?"
"A Chinese wedding dress." Shampoo beamed. Ranma placed a hand over Ryoga's mouth stifling his cries and held his head in his arm.
"Ssh, you don't want to break her concentration stupid. Besides you and I aren't going to let anything happen. Right?" Ryoga nodded and Ranma released him.
Akane was at full concentration she looked down at the flame her eyes matching the green glow. She seemed to will the flame to flicker and roar upward. The flame began to wrap around her bare legs drawing her in. She immediately cringed from the heat, holding her arms to her side and clenching her fists. She flung her head back taking in all the oxygen her lungs could hold.
Ranma started for her but was restrained lightly by Mousse. The flame danced along her body but didn't scorch her clothes. It began to raise high above her and then began to lift her with it. The glowing green flame swirled around unnaturally. She extended her arms and made a wild yell. The entire room filled with a white light, everyone was momentarily blinded, her scream echoing through their ears.
When the light faded Ranma lowered his arm from his face to see Akane on her knees slumped over. He ran up the platform behind her as the others were regaining their baring. She radiated a green glow and the flame from the stone was extinguished. Ranma outstretched his hand but thought better of touching her. She sensed his presence and sprung to her feet twirling around to face him. Her swift movement startled him but not nearly as much as the green flame that flickered behind her eyes. She smiled wildly up at him inching closer to him. She hugged him tightly, squeezing the life out of him.
"Oh Ranma, I feel great." She started to yank him all over the platform like a rag doll. Just as suddenly she dropped him with a thud and sighed loudly to herself.
"Jeez, that was a quick recovery." Ranma rose to his feet stretching his back. The glow around Akane had disappeared and she was busy trying to sort out the new strength running through her. She turned quickly and stared him straight in the eye. He backed away warily.
"What?"
"I almost forgot." She cocked her head and looked him over. She grabbed at his shirt pulling it out from his pants.
"Hey!" He started to pull away but she moved with an unnatural speed. She lifted his shirt and examined his wound.
"Does it still hurt?" He winced as she poked him "Oh sorry, I'd hate to see you in pain."
She smirked up at him and stroked his skin gently making him giggle. She pulled away and examined her work smugly.
"Hey it's gone." Ranma looked down and saw that the wound was gone leaving only a dull ache. He smiled down at her and backed away viewing her from head to toe. He choked down a laugh bringing his hand to his mouth. She frowned at him and looked down at her fidgeting bare feet.
"What?"
"You getting married or something?"
"Hey I told you not to make fun of the outfit!" She said twisting one of the sappy little flowers on her dress. "I know its sort of silly but"
He started to laugh wholeheartedly and her blood began to boil. "I don't know who you thinks going to marry you."
Ranma suddenly jumped off the platform laughing. Akane's green aura flared around her and started to follow him screaming "Ranma get back here!" Garnet stopped her pursuit as she jumped from the platform.
"Jade are you ready?" Ranma spun around to look back at the two. Garnet held her hand and she resumed her distant posture nodding her head. Ranma folded his arms on his chest started toward them. Garnet bent over and kissed her hand she looked up at him like a five-year-old caught stealing. He looked at Ranma from the corner of his eye and smirked.
"When this is over, I will have some words for you." Ranma cracked his knuckles in his fist.
"I will be waiting for you my love." Garnet placed his hand on her cheek and walked over to Amethyst.
"So what did HE want."
"The Gold Dragon has come for me."
"Well then we'll fight them all."
"No Ranma, I have to fight." She started to walk away from him hanging her head. He grabbed her wrist, her pulse was racing but she showed no sign of excitement. "Now you are just being stupid again!"
He sighed seeing the determination in her eyes "Are you sure you want to do this?" Akane's face wavered for a moment, and then she was smiling and nodding again.
"Positively."
"So um. After the fight what are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure. My options have always been rather set, but now . . ." She blushed a little. A commotion from outside the hall interrupted their conversation.
"I guess it's time to finish this. Please stay clear of the fighting I need to be as focused as possible." The sounds of the fighting were right outside the doors and Ranma was looking down at her face bewildered. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Well you um distract me . . ."
She became frustrated and flushed "Oh just stand up there in the balcony" She pointed up to a small balcony that ran around the room above them. She ushered him through a door on the left past the thrown.
"Good luck, we'll be on our way home in no time." He smiled down at her before he bound up the stairs 'I'd like that.'
The doors to the hall flew open. The amazons were trying to keep the swordsmen at bay with the help of Ryoga, Ukyo, Shampoo, and Mousse.
"Enough!" Akane yelled and the fighting paused "The battle between the Green and Gold Dragon must begin!"
A robed figure emerged from the crowd. All the swordsmen began to bow and the amazons backed away. The figure was as tall as Akane and dressed in a shimmering gold robe.
"I am glad I will be marring such an attractive girl." The low and quiet voice floated out from under the robe. Ranma had reached the edge of the balcony and was watching the two from above. He held the railing tightly turning his knuckles white. Ranma felt the urge to just jump the balcony and finish the fight for himself.
"Perhaps. IF you beat me." Akane stood with her arms folded across her chest.
"Are you saying you don't agree with the arrangement."
"Well I don't know." She moved her hand to her cheek and look away mockingly.
"Before we begin I think we should be clear on the details." The mysterious stranger's face still covered by the robe his voice never wavering.
"Sounds fair." She moved her arm down and looked at the hooded figure.
"If I win you will be my bride and if you win I will leave you alone."
"And either way our tribes will be one again no more fighting." Both nodded and bowed. Akane took her fighting stance waiting for the shrouded figure to attack. He stood silent, without appearing to move a whirlwind of gold few through the air. Suddenly a young boy stood in front of Akane. He was a year or two younger than her, with charcoal hair. He wore an elaborate gold shirt and black pants.
"As the legend says the two WILL become one, so I don't intend to loose." He smiled at her his gold eyes glaring out from his dark complexion. He wore a similar yellow gem to Akane's on his chest.
"Right, HAAA!" Akane charged at him with a fury of punches, and he blocked everyone with ease. Her speed was remarkable, but he matched hers with every stride.
"Damn it Akane he is playing with you." Ranma looked down on them quite agitated.
The Gold Dragon smiled as he blocked moving too quickly for Akane to see he landed a punch to her stomach. She vaulted back putting some distance between them. He began to laugh, she held her stomach then regained her composure.
"Now it is my turn." He came at her with a similar folly of punches but with twice the speed. She blocked most of the attack but a few punches connected.
"You aren't going to beat him with speed stupid!" Ranma shouted from above distracting Akane into being struck hard with a kick to the upper leg.
"Oof. You are supposed to stay out of this!" She yelled up at him holding her leg.
"I can't stay out of it, if you are going to just let him win!" Akane became visibly frustrated and began a series of flips to avoid the Gold Dragon's attacks. Using the force of her forward roll she recoiled and launched her feet into his chest knocking him over. Her strength obviously out weighed his with the gem's help.
"That's it use that brute strength of yours!" Ranma waved his arm in the air excitedly.
"I told you to stay out of this!" She picked up a nearby staff and threw it at him. He ducked out of the way as the staff stuck into the wall behind him vibrating. Ranma stood up unaffected and resumed watching the fight.
The Gold Dragon rose to his feet and dusted his clothes off. He smiled gleefully at Akane. "I like you already. You'll make an excellent wife!" His voice was still calm and even toned.
"You are going to have to beat me first." She ran at him stopping short to lung at him with a high kick that he dodged leaning backwards.
"Of course." He laughed as he side stepped her punch and swirled around her faster than her eyes could see. Behind her he locked her arms at her side with a bear hug taking Akane completely by surprise.
"Hey jerk what do you think you're doing? What kind of martial arts is that!" Ranma yelled down at him.
"Urg, watch your hands runt!" Akane squirmed in the boy's arms, his arms holding her tightly accentuating her breasts.
"I just thought we should get to know each other better."
"Hey fight with some honor you jerk." Ryoga yelled from the sidelines waving his fists in the air.
"Ok then get to know this!" Akane flung her head back smashing into his. His grip on her loosened. Not wasting time Akane grabbed his arm and flung him over her shoulder slamming him into the ground.
"There you go Akane, use that thick head of yours." Ranma was leaning over the railing a grin from ear to ear.
Akane stood furious her green battle aura flaring. "Shut up you jerk!" She picked up the thrown behind her and threw it at him. Ranma was completely clobbered. The Gold Dragon was on his feet again marveling at her incredible strength.
"That a woman of your beauty has such strength. I truly am a lucky man." He ran at her punching and kicking. The only defense she found successful was flipping through the air wildly, it made her more difficult to predict. As she tried to flip backwards he tripped her legs making her crash to the floor. He stumped his leg down attempting to crush her, but she rolled out from under him putting a minute distance between them. Akane rolled back into a handstand vaulting to her feet.
"OK I'm done playing." She cupped her hands together and began to concentrate.
"Alright here we go!" Ranma was back on his feet cheering from the balcony.
"DRAGON BULLET - EXTENDED ATTACK!" Akane opened her hands releasing a condensed chi blast into the Gold Dragon's stomach. And then another and another, she let off about a dozen blasts into him until he fell to the ground.
Akane stood slumped over out of breath holding herself up with her arms on her thighs. Ryoga and the others cheered from the crowd. Ukyo and Shampoo clapped halfheartedly with frowns on their respective faces. Akane, chest heaving, looked up at them and smiled up at the balcony. Ranma was howling down at her. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face as their eyes met. He smiled down at her nodding his head.
A stirring started from the figure in front of her. Akane turned in amazement as she saw the boy slowly rise to his feet emanating a yellow aura. His eyes closed in concentration his aura became a flame surrounding him. Now in a standing position he held his hands in front of him.
"Don't just stand there stupid!" Ranma yelled down to her while the others just watched in horror. Akane held her arms crossed in front of her. The golden flames rose up from the boy in the shape of a great serpent. The ghost like serpent loomed in the air above him and then came crashing down on Akane revealing the green aura she used as a shield. Akane began to weaken, the serpent like chi blasted through her defense and slammed into her body as she screamed.
Akane was reduced to her knees the remnants of the boy's chi ran along her arms and legs dissipating into the floor. Her entire body ached and her strength was greatly weakened. Laughing and holding his stomach the Gold Dragon approached her.
"That was a good move, but it doesn't look like you have had much time to practice any really skillful attacks."
"We'll just see." Akane wearily began to rise to her feet. He ran at her attack. "DRAGON FIRE!"
A corridor of flames shot forward engulfing the boy, smoke filled the room. Akane stood coughing holding her aching chest. Slowly the dust began to settle and the Gold Dragon's aura shone from the cloud.
"Not again." Akane was severely weakened, the boy stood staring at her, his clothes tattered, wavering slightly.
"GOLD DRAGON BULLET!" A sudden barrage of condensed chi blasts struck Akane sending her flying backwards. The boy fell to his knees out of breath. Akane struggled to raise her head from the ground as the boy was on his feet staggering toward her. Her body racked with pain, Akane sat up and dragged her legs up underneath her.
"You leave me no choice, Green Dragon final attack." Akane said weakly closed her eyes, bowed her head and began to concentrate deeply. In Ranma's opinion things were not going well. 'If she uses that final attack of hers, she's not going to be able to get a recharge like last time.' Ranma decided what he needed to do and vaulted over the balcony landing gracefully to the ground and raced toward her.
Akane, eyes closed, the familiar headache rising to an unbearable pain. Her concentration broke when a pair of hands lifted her off the ground to her feet.
"Ranma?" He stood close behind her holding her hands. "What are you doing, I don't have time to worry about you."
"That's my line. I'm giving you back what you gave me." He held her arms out by her wrists and began to build up his chi.
"I don't care how many of you I have to defeat I will be victorious!" The Gold Dragon was still sluggishly approaching the two. Akane closed her eyes and felt her own battle aura mixing with Ranma's. His strength and confidence followed through her and Ranma felt the familiar tingling sensation as when she healed him mingling with the heat of her battle aura. He moved his hands from her wrists and they both held their hands palms out cupped slightly. The crowd behind the Gold Dragon began to stir realizing they were in the line of fire.
"Shampoo think it good time to go." Her and Mousse ran out of the hall followed by the amazons and swordsmen.
"Well I'm not going to leave Akane." Ryoga folded his arms across his chest.
"Come on you Jackass!" Ukyo put him in a headlock and dragged him struggling from the hall.
"Get Ready Akane!" She silently prepared herself bringing every ounce of energy left in her to intermingle with Ranma's. A ball of green fire like chi began to form in their hands.
"AKANE! MOKO TAKABISHA REVISED!" Ranma yelled.
"GREEN DRAGON ATTACK!" They both yelled together.
The Gold Dragon looked up at them as the huge green fireball slammed into him sending him soaring through the air and landing unconscious. Ranma fell back on his legs and Akane came down with him onto his lap. His arms loosely wrapped around her, they both breathed heavily. Ranma dropped his head to her shoulder waking her from her stupor. They sat there breathing in unison for what seemed to be an eternity. Akane shivered remembering the feeling of his essence flowing through her in the attack. 'I've never felt anything like it.'
"Do you have any energy left." She asked him. He shifted his arms around her but didn't remove them. Ranma paused for a moment soaking up the smell of her hair 'It has been a long time since we . . .'
"Why is he getting up AGAIN!" He raised his head to see the figure in the middle of the room remained spread-eagle and motionless. A smiled fluttered across his face. His hands slipped from around her waist to her legs and then let go completely. Akane suddenly felt alone in her own skin. They both began to rise to their feet, Akane getting off of Ranma's lap a little flushed. She turned and looked into his eyes. He sheepishly smiled down at her.
"So I guess you did need me after all." Ranma grinned arrogantly down at her.
"Excuse me? I could have taken him by myself if you hadn't kept distracting me."
"What, you were practically playing into his hand. If it weren't for me you'd still be going back and forth with him until you finally lost. Then you'd end up marry the jerk, course I don't know why he'd want an uncute macho girl like you anyway." With that Akane hit him with an uppercut that sent him flying backwards.
The doors to the hall flew open and the room flooded with amazons and swordsmen. Ukyo and Shampoo ran to Ranma checking him for injuries. Ryoga ran up to Akane and Mousse was talking to a blushing amazon calling her Shampoo. Garnet and Amethyst ran up to the unconscious Gold Dragon with worried expressions on their faces.
"Topaz are you alright? Speak to me." Amethyst held the younger boy's head on her lap her hand on his cheek.
"Ugh. Amethyst, my sister, what happened?"
"Sister!" Ranma and Company said together.
"Don't worry little brother you will be just fine." Garnet spoke down to the boy.
"BROTHER!"
Garnet looked up at Akane noticing the shocked expression on her face. "Looks like my brother lost this battle and now you can become my bride and queen of our tribe."
Garnet stood up leaving his younger brother in his sister's capable hands. He walked straight passed an annoyed looking Ranma and took Akane's hands in her own.
"Jade are you ready to rule by my side?" For once Akane didn't slink back to her cold unfeeling expression. Instead she let go of his hands and looked him straight in the eye.
"Garnet I really appreciate all that you've done for me, but my place isn't here."
"But what about the legend, it's your destiny to become my bride."
"I don't think so buddy." Ranma interrupted suddenly standing beside Akane. "It's just as that stupid legend of yours says, the two became one. HER and ME! Now you can bring your stupid tribes together and Akane don't have to marry nobody." Ranma looked very smug at all the onlookers whose faces seemed shocked that HE could possibly conceive such a plot. Garnet began to take a step closer to Akane opening his mouth to say something when Ranma grabbed him by the collar.
"Oh by the way this is for trying to steal my fiancée." Ranma sent him staggering backwards with a punch dead in the face.
"Are you alright Akane?" Ryoga placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine. A bit drained but I'll be fine." She smiled up at him her hand behind her head. Ryoga seemed to notice something.
"Akane your gem, it's shattered." Surprised Akane looked and indeed it was cracked in several places slivers falling to the ground. She looked to the semiconscious boy a few yards away and noticed his was in the same condition.
"It must have happened when Ranma and my battle auras combined. Well now the two dragon's eyes can be brought together and no one will need these any more." Ryoga and Akane looked happily at each other, behind them Ranma was beating Garnet into the ground.
"And that's for taking her away from me."
"This is for glomping onto her."
"And that's for making me worry so much."
"This is for making her more macho then she already was."
"And that's . . ." A giant sweat drop appeared on Akane's brow as she nervously laughed up at Ryoga.
"Enough already!" She grabbed the nearest object that just happened to be a huge wooden table and flung it into Ranma, flattening him up against the wall.
The group assembled outside the gates for their good byes. Akane was dressed in her usual green shorts and matching sleeveless shirt. She had a backpack slung over one shoulder and stood close to Ranma.
"You're sure you can't stay with us?" Opal held Akane's hand she stood next to a tall slender warrior who Ranma presumed to be her husband. Akane leaned over and hugged the smaller girl avoiding her enlarged tummy.
"I have to go where I belong, send me pictures of the little one." Akane finished her good byes, Garnet staying clear of her and Ranma, and waved as the group walked into the forest on their way home, Akane and Ranma side by side.
"So you finally remember, must have been all those hits you took that knocked some sense into you."
"Nope, I still don't remember a thing." She sighed, a slight grin on her face, never turning to see Ranma's face falter. He just mumbled incoherently. "Hey what do you mean all those hits I took. I certainly dished out enough in that fight, you know."
"Yeah sure, you hit him SO much he just couldn't stay down." Akane frowned and grumbled. "Why anybody would ever fight to marry you I have no idea."
"Jerk!" Akane swung and Ranma ducked
"Uncute!" Ranma dodged another blow.
"Are you sure you don't remember him?" Mousse asked from behind them. The rest of the party wore pained expressions on their faces. 'This is going to be a long trip home.'
As always none of these ideas our mine, they are owned by other people that I
can't remember the names of right now, excepting of course Rumiko Takahashi-who
could forget. Any C&C, "you suck" email to JLee011@sprintmail.com
Lin Lee