Ranma: The Tenth Hakkeshu or Ranma's Cousin Iori
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Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½. That is property of Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own
The King of Fighters, that is property of SNK. I do however suggest you look up
information on these two properties. You won't be disappointed.
(------)
Note: This takes place well after the Ranma ½ manga and near the end of King of Fighters
'98.
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Ranma: The Tenth Hakkeshu Chapter 44: Orochi Space: Wind Palace
Ranma and crew run across the Thunder Realm to get away from Shermie. She didn't take
the fact they took her table of food she had at her 'party' and is throwing lightning bolts at
them to get them to drop the table.
Shermie: GIVE IT BACK NOW! THAT TABLE IS EXPENSIVE CHERRY OAK
WOOD!
Ranma (To Leona): Tell me this Leona… WHY are we stealing the food?
Leona (Shrugs her shoulders): I have no idea.
Kyo, Vice, Mature, and Billy (Carrying the table with food): WE'RE HUNGRY!
Shermie (Tosses another lightning bolt): FINE! BUT GIVE ME BACK MY TABLE!!!
As the lightning bolt hits, it causes a huge explosion that sends Kyo, Vice, Mature, Billy,
and the table with food flying. The fighters land in an unsightly heap around the place,
while the table falls towards Shermie.
Shermie: Oh f…
!
The others that are standing wince in sympathy, as the table comes crashing down on
Shermie. Ranma lifts the table off of Shermie and shakes her by the shoulders.
Ranma: Shermie… Are you all right?
Shermie (Dazed, huge lump on head): Oh, I'm fine Santa Claus… But you better watch
out for those UFOs… There are VERY hostile Martians out there…
Ranma (Sweat drops): Um…
Iori: She's fine.
Ranma (Looks at Iori): You sure?
Iori: Positive.
Terry (Looks around): Hey… What happened to all the food?
As if to answer him, it stars raining pretzels, chips, and a huge bowl of dip lands on
Chizuru's head.
Chizuru: ACK! MY ROBES! I'M A MESS!
Mature: Damn! And me without a camera…
Chizuru glares at the smirking Mature as Ranma shakes his head.
Ranma: Well… This is certainly a waste of time. We better get a move on after Chizuru
cleans herself off. We have only three more 'realms' to go through, and then we can move
on out of here.
(------)
After awhile of walking through the Thunder Realm, with Vice kicking up patches of dirt
at Kyo along the way, our group makes it to the bridge to crossover onto the next 'realm'.
Vice (Kicks some more dirt at Kyo): WHEE!
Kyo: … Could you stop that please?
Vice: Sure.
Vice then bends over, and picks up the dirt and throws it in Kyo's face.
Kyo (With dirt dripping off of his face): … That's NOT what I meant.
Vice: Oh, stop whining and let me enjoy myself while I can… I get the feeling that we
may not be able to get far in the next realm…
Ranma: It's Goenitz next, right?
Vice and Mature nod their heads solemnly. Leona tenses up upon hearing that name.
Ranma looks at the bridge. It is done as a polished steel-wire staircase, with little patches
of different colored stained glass put into the side railings. Ranma takes a deep breath and
takes a step on it. Seeing that it is sturdy, the others walk across the 'bridge' one at a time,
as to not make the pathway collapse from their combined weights. When they are all on
the other side, they do not like what they see.
Kima (Wide-eyed): What the hell is this place? It looks like a dump.
Indeed… The Wind Realm for the most part seems to be a barren, muddy wasteland, with
large mountains of rotten fruit, broken glass, pieces of wood, jagged metal pieces, and
overall trash. In the center, they can see a stone fortress.
Ranma: That's got to be where he is… That's got to be Goenitz's palace.
Mature: Indeed… Master, are you sure you want to do this? I mean…
Ranma (Interrupts Mature): Yes, I am quite sure. Let's get going.
Ranma looks around at the other fighters. All seem prepared for whatever may happen,
except for Leona. She can't help but shake slightly. After all, they are going up against the
only man Leona has ever been afraid of. Ranma walks up to Leona and takes her hand in
his own. He gives her one of his cocky smirks to help boost up her confidence. Leona
nods her head and the group walks towards the Wind Palace.
(------)
Goenitz sits on his throne, the room illuminated in a blinding violet light that originates
from the gemstones filled with power he had collected during the King of Fighters '98
Tournament. Goenitz has his hands clasped before him, his chin resting on them, and
smirks to himself. He moves his eyes left to right and back, looking around, seeing all the
amethyst gemstones filled with energy, on the verge of erupting… His smile changes so
that his teeth are now bared. Goenitz then mutters a single word.
Goenitz: Orochi…
Goenitz steps up from his throne, and the winds start to howl around him. He's going to
have a little fun with them before they make it to his palace…
(------)
As Ranma and crew walk across the wasteland, the winds begin to pick up, going from 5
miles/hour to 40 miles/hour. The pieces of trash begin to pick up from their spots and fly
through the air, making a hazard for the group. The group starts running as fast as they can
to the center of the area, where the palace is. The winds try to push them back, and make
the fighters lose their footing a couple of times as they run. A large piece of jagged metal
almost beheads Iori, but Kima deflects it with her sword. Iori smiles at her, apparently
grateful for the save.
Eventually, the fighters have to get on their stomachs and crawl. As they get closer to the
palace, the winds get even stronger. At least if they're close to the ground, the wind has
less of a chance to pick them up and throw them around. A broken mirror grazes Ranma's
back, making him wince in pain slightly. However, it's not too bad, and he continues on
with the rest.
Eventually they reach the castle. It seems to be done up as a 16th century Scottish castle,
with some heavy Roman influence, with large white marble columns sticking out at the
corners outside the palace. The large set of heavy Oak wood doors; with leaves carved into
the wood is the entrance. Ranma lifts himself up to it as the winds roar on. He little
pounds on the door with one of his hands. The door doesn't budge.
Ranma: DAMN! IT'S NOT OPENING!
Terry: Let me try! BUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRNNN KNUCKLE!!!
Terry lunges his right fist back, gathering his energy into it. It is a blue emotional ki of
confidence. He shoots his fist forward, seemingly flying. His ki is powerful enough, that it
fights against the winds, keeping him on course. His fist connects with the doors, breaking
the beam placed behind them, and blowing the doors off their hinges, making them land
inside the castle. The others rush inside to get out of the wind. They take a moment to
catch their breath.
Ranma: Thanks Terry.
Terry: Hey, don't mention it.
Iori: Okay… We made it… Now what?
As if to answer Iori, candle sticks that are strewn all over the place light up. They see that
they are in some sort of grand entrance room, with a ceiling that reaches 40 ft. up. There's
a larger set off doors, 10 ft. tall in front of them. Above the set of doors is a painting of
Goenitz himself, holding onto a glass of white wine in his left hand. His right hand
covered in blood, holding onto a decapitated head of a man with the Kusanagi eclipsed sun
tattooed onto his forehead. Kyo gulps audibly upon seeing it. Iori walks up to the set of
doors.
Iori: Let me guess… He's beyond these doors, right?
Vice: Most likely Iori-sama…
Iori: … Will you stop calling me that?
Vice: Okay Iori-sama.
Iori: …
Ranma walks past Iori and pushes his hand on the door. It opens easily. All he can see
however, is a tunnel of darkness, with a thin line of violet colored light. Suddenly, candles
that aligned the hallway light up with violet Orochi fire. Ranma turns to the others. His
puts his hand to his head as he hears a voice… Goenitz… Ranma wobbles for a bit. He
finally blocks out the voice and stands straight.
Leona: Ranchan? What's wrong?
Kima: Ranma?
Mature & Vice: Master Orochi?
Ranma turns to look at all of them.
Ranma: Wait here…
Leona, Iori, Kima, Chizuru, Kyo, Terry, Mature, Vice, & Billy: WHAT!? WHY!?
Ranma: Believe me when I say this… Wait here…
Ranma then walks down the hall alone. Leona tries to run after him, but Terry puts his
hand on her shoulder.
Leona: Terry! Let me go! I have to get to…
Terry (Interrupts her): Let him be Leona… Let him be…
Leona (Dumbfounded): … Why?
Terry: This is his fight, and his alone…
Iori: And WHAT does that mean?
Terry thinks for a moment before he answers.
Terry: It's simple really. As I said, this is his fight. I know what he was thinking. It's the
same when I went to fight Geese for the first time. The man had wronged me horribly,
same as Goenitz has horribly wronged Ranma. It's a thirst for vengeance. Revenge for
loved ones' sakes. He can only do this alone… We'll just get in the way…
The others stand there silently. They can't really do anything. They know Terry is right.
They just stand there with their own thoughts.
(------)
Ranma makes his way down the hallway. His mind is clear, his heart is pure, and his
soul… A tiny bit tainted by the fragment of Orochi's soul, but his soul is still strong… He
makes it down the hallway and kicks down the door… The place is another stairway, but
there is a VERY bright light coming from the entrance atop the staircase. Ranma makes
his way up the stairs. He'll finish this.
(------)
Ranma makes it to the entrance. The light is so bright, that he can't see it. Suddenly, the
light dims, and brightens into a pattern. Ranma realizes what pattern the light is
following… His own heartbeat. His eyes adjust to the lighting of the room. It is a large
room with stone walls, and tapestry. The tapestries' true colors are lost to him, as the light
being emitted from are what he sees are gems illuminates everything in the room in a violet
color. His eyes widen as he looks forward. He sees a man sitting on a throne that he
knows all too well…
Ranma: GOENITZ!!!
Goenitz gets up from his throne and does a slight bow to Ranma.
Goenitz: Ah… You finally made it here Master Yamatano Orochi…
Ranma: IT'S RANMA SAOTOME!!!
Goenitz (Smirks): Sure it is… Sure it is…
Ranma grinds his teeth. Goenitz's presence is making his blood boil with rage, on the
verge of going into the Blood Riot… Ranma asks Goenitz one thing…
Ranma: Why?
Goenitz (Eyeing Ranma): "Why" what Master Orochi?
Ranma (Clenching his fists): Why did you do all this? Why did you hurt Lechan? Why do
you try to destroy humanity? Why have you hurt my friends? Why are you trying to make
me into a demon!? WHY!?
Goenitz frowns. He then slumps back into his throne. He places his left hand across his
eyes and begins his tale…
Goenitz: It was years, and years ago… I was born on October 31, 1934 in France… I
basically lived the life of any 'normal' wretched human… I lived with my mother and my
father, who was the Heavenly King of the Wind before me. We lived in Paris, since it was
a great place for him to gather information on Humanity's workings. An excellent base of
operations so to speak… Until the German Occupation in 1943… We were rounded up
like cattle, beaten by the human soldiers… Those of us that refused to give into Nazi
pressures, were either shot in the streets or far, far worse…
Goenitz pauses a moment to look at Ranma. The boy looks at him with anger. Good…
Anger will lead him to his true path… Goenitz continues.
Goenitz: My family and I were sent far away from France… To one of Hitler's 'solutions'
to the question of those who were 'different'… His concentration camps…
Goenitz then fiddles with his sleeve. Taking off the belt on his wrist, and pulling the sleeve
up. He shows Ranma the tattoo on his right forearm.
Goenitz: "XED0017-338211". My 'number' the humans so 'graciously' gave me…
Ranma: You were…
Goenitz: Correct… I was a prisoner in that concentration camp… Auschwitz in Poland to
be precise… To continue, even though the war would be over in number of months, I still
got to see the 'true' evils of humanity… There was death every which way I looked. We
were forced to work for them while they starved us… When it was finally over… My
father was dead, executed for 'working too slowly'. I never knew what happened to my
mother or sister, but I can tell you they're dead. The winds have told me nothing about
their existence among the living… As for me… I lived… Starved to the point where I
looked like a skeleton with a bag of flesh over it…
Ranma: I'm sorry…
Goenitz: Don't be… The 'experience' had opened my eyes… I never believed what my
father had said about humanity before hand… But after that… I believed it thoroughly…
And what humanity did after that, just concreted my resolve in hate towards them. The
Atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima… The Cold War… The Vietnam
Conflict… Maoism comes to force in China… Operation Desert Storm… There have
been SO MANY conflicts within humanity… That's why I MUST destroy the disease
known as humanity… They not only destroy the Orochi by destroying our precious planet
with their pollutions, such as smoke from their cars and factories, toxic waste and radiation
from their Nuclear Power plants, poisons from their pesticides, their deforestation of all the
woodlands and forests in the world, and many, MANY other things… But they destroy
themselves with their MEANINGLESS STRUGLES! They fight one another for each
other's lands and material possessions. That is why I do what I do… Humanity is killing
itself ever so slowly, like a cancerous tumor… I'm am actually the good guy here… I will
kill them all off swiftly, painlessly… And with them gone… We that are of Orochi's
blood can bring the earth back to its former glory… WE WILL CREATE A UTOPIA!
One with plant-life and wildlife being allowed to grow and live freely, with the waters, o-
zone layer, and skies of the earth being allowed to heal themselves with time, becoming
crisp and clean again! That is why I do this Master Orochi. I am a savior, not a destroyer.
Ranma and Goenitz remain silent for a moment. Ranma speaks.
Ranma: You're nuts…
Goenitz: Am I now?
Ranma: Yes… You only look at one-side of it. True, there is al that bad stuff, but there is
a lot more than you allow yourself to see! There are those that TRY to protect this earth;
that work to keep it clean, and keep the wildlife alive! And there are human emotions.
Love, joy, and compassion. These feelings allow people to be kind to each other. My
views may be simple, but they are the simpler truth you refuse to see! If anything, YOU
Goenitz are what you should hate!
Goenitz (Eyes blazing with anger): WHAT!?
Ranma (Eyes him with determination): YOU HEARD ME! By taking away the part of
yourself that was good, you became what you hated. Look at the man that started you on
your path of anger. A madman started World War II by the name of Hitler. What did he
do? He tried to kill those different from himself and create a Utopia in HIS OWN IMAGE!
What do you think you're doing now Goenitz? You condemn those that aren't of Orochi
blood! You even say that YOUR new world, YOUR utopia! What you speak of to make a
world is your own vision! Have you ever talked with others on what would make a
'perfect' world? NO! You think on what YOU WANT, FOR A WORLD THAT CAN
NEVER EXIST! There's no such thing as a 'utopia'… With all of our different ways of
thinking, there can never be one way to make everyone happy. That is why you are wrong
Goenitz… That is why you have failed so far, and WILL continue to fail. You can't defeat
a whole world!
Goenitz (Angry): HOW DARE YOU!?!?
Ranma: I dare to say, because, for once, I can honestly say, I AM RIGHT!
Goenitz (Smiles): Ah… But you are wrong Master Orochi… Enough talk! I tried one
last time to reason with you… But apparently… It's just not to be… So I SHALL MAKE
YOU DO WHAT I WANT!
With that the gems around that room that are lightening it up explode!
(------)
Ranma opens his eyes. The room is gone… The WHOLE CASTLE IS GONE! Ranma
looks around and sees rubble everywhere, his friends and family's unconscious bodies
scattered around. Goenitz floats in the air, glowing a deep violet color, his energy at the
maximum. Goenitz then floats down slowly and he lands a few feet from Ranma. He
slowly walks up to Ranma, holding out his right hand, which glows with energy.
Goenitz: You see 'Master'? THIS! IS! POWER!!! THIS IS WHAT CAN CHANGE
THE WORLD!!!
Goenitz shoots the ball of energy at Ranma, making him crawl around the ground in pain.
Goenitz keeps shooting balls of energy at Ranma, trying to make him lose himself in the
pain.
Goenitz: SUBMIT MASTER! THEN WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD OUR OYSTER!
Ranma: Kiss… My… Ass… You… Asshole!
Goenitz: GRRRRR!!!
Goenitz then fuses the energy into his winds, sending the winds across Ranma, slicing up
his shirt, and then into his back.
Ranma: GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
Goenitz: SUBMIT!!!
Ranma: I'll… Never… Give in… NEVER!
Ranma suddenly springs himself back and backhands Goenitz across the face. Goenitz just
smirks…
Goenitz: That all you got?
Ranma: HUH!?
Goenitz then punches Ranma in the abdomen, his fist digging into Ranma stomach. Ranma
goes flying and slams into a wall of the castle that was still standing, making it crumble on
top of him, burying Ranma in the rubble.
Goenitz (Turns around): Heh… Pray to your God…
Suddenly Goenitz's eyes widen as he feels a sharp, stinging pain in his side. He looks and
sees Leona. She is dirty, and her hair a bit frazzled, but she has a look of pure rage on her
face, as he hand is digging into the side of his body…
Goenitz (Eyes twitching in pain): You… Half-breed BITCH!!!
Goenitz smashes Leona across the face with his fist. As Leona goes flying, her hand is
taken out of his side, allowing blood to spring forth from the puncture she made in him
with her hand. Goenitz eyes the wound in disbelief.
Goenitz: You… You did this? YOU WORTHLESS HALF-BREED TRASH! I'LL
SKIN YOU ALIVE!!!
Goenitz then commands his winds to tear into Leona. Her green army jacket gets torn to
pieces, as her arms get cut-up. Her face is somewhat okay as she used her hands to cover
it. Her rope in her hair got broken, and so her hair falls loosely… Goenitz then walks
towards her a bit. A malicious smile on his face.
Goenitz: Yes… Do you feel it? … The pain? Well, as I've said to you before… You
may be worthless to me as a warrior, but… As a plaything you are a first-rate choice…
Goenitz walks up to Leona slowly; his sinister smile now a lustful smirk. Leona begins to
shake with fear as a tear begins to form in her eyes. She doesn't want this to happen. Not
again! However… This time Leona has a 'guardian angel'…
Suddenly, there is an explosion in a pile of rubble… Ranma stands up in it. He is cut up
and dirty, but his face is a portrait of determination, warred with anger, which in turn is
warred with self-confidence.
Goenitz (Wide-eyed): HOW!?!?
Leona: RANCHAN!
Ranma then looks towards Goenitz and smirks cruelly.
Ranma: You… You're not going to get away this time Goenitz… This time, I'm NOT
going to hold back…
Goenitz: RAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!! GALE NIGHT WINDS!!!
A huge burst of winds goes forth at Ranma. He just holds his hands forward, gathering
energy into them. Preparing to perform a sealed technique from the Umi Seiken Scroll.
Ranma: KIJIN RAISHU DAN!!!
Ranma then gathers a vacuum blade of chi and ki in his hands. He tosses it at Goenitz's
Gale Night Winds attack. The vacuum the blade makes literally sucks in the winds.
Goenitz's eyes widen in surprise. Goenitz then teleports himself out of the way of the
attack with Leona. Ranma looks around frantically.
Ranma: LECHAN!
Goenitz: She's over here…
Ranma turns around and sees Goenitz. He has the struggling Leona close to him with one
arm, and a whole lot of energy in his free hand…
Goenitz: SUBMIT NOW! OR I WILL KILL HER!!!
Ranma (Narrows eyes at Goenitz): You cheap COWARD! You did this before… Well…
I'm not going to let you have your way this time…
Ranma then starts to concentrate all the energies around him into his aura… Normally you
need a large piece of cloth for this move, but Ranma knows how to use his aura instead of a
piece of cloth…
Ranma: GOSHIN DAI RYU SEI FU!!!
Ranma then releases the energy he was gathering internally into his aura, and he
'disappears'.
Goenitz: HUH!? Body Defense Shooting Star Cloth… What the hell!?
Leona: Ranchan…
Suddenly, Goenitz is thrown back by an unseen attack to his face. The energy he had in his
hand dissipates from it, and he goes flying backwards.
Goenitz: RARGH! TSUNAMI SPIRAL!!!
Goenitz causes a small spiraling wind in front of him, to throw whatever is attacking him
upwards… Ranma then takes form in the spiral… And comes crashing down to the
ground.
Ranma: Ow…
Goenitz: Impressive trick… An actual invisibility technique… Now it ends…
Goenitz then presses on his attack towards Ranma. His anger fueling his strength. Ranma
gets an idea. He focuses on Defense, and tries to form a spiral pattern…
Goenitz: THE HIRYUU SHOTEN HA!? HA HA HA HA HAAAAAA!!! Go right ahead
boy!
They complete the spiral and Ranma makes his attack… However Goenitz takes control of
the Hiryuu Shoten Ha, sending Ranma flying upwards into it.
Leona: RANCHAN!
Goenitz: HA! WHAT A FOOL! Now I'll… Huh… What's he doing?
Ranma smiles… Goenitz played right into his hands… Ranma begins taking in energy
like he did when Herb took control of his Hiryuu Shoten Ha one time. It ends now…
Ranma: HIRYUU KORIN DAN!!!
Goenitz: WHAT!?
Ranma then goes falling down through the spiral, covered in energy. He lands atop of
Goenitz, smashing the Heavenly King in the collarbone, making a VERY audible cracking
sound as he does.
Goenitz tumbles backwards, his head swimming with pain. Ranma had used his
confidence with winds against him. Ranma then speeds towards Goenitz, to finish this…
Ranma: THIS IS FOR IORI!
!
Goenitz takes a hit to the back of his left leg, so he can't run away…
Ranma: THIS IS FOR MY FRIENDS!
! !
Goenitz gets smashed across the back with a kick, and then punched in the gut, and Ranma
grabs his shoulders and smashes him into the ground.
Ranma: THIS IS FOR MY MOM!
!
Ranma kicks Goenitz in the back of the head, jerking his body upwards.
Ranma: THIS IS FOR LECHAN!
! !
Goenitz looses all his breath as Ranma knees him in the balls, and then punches him in the
chest, sending him flying into a piece of wall…
Ranma: AND THIS ONE'S FOR ME!!!
Ranma begins gathering his energy again… Ready to give Goenitz what he has so
thoroughly deserved…
Ranma: SAI DAI KYU KIJIN RAISHU DAN!!!
Goenitz's eyes open in pain as the First Rate Demon God Assault Bomb cuts off his right
arm at the elbow. Goenitz's slumps to the ground in pain…
Leona has watched all this. Enraptured by the sight of Ranma giving a horrible, horrible
man what he has rightly deserved. Leona Rushes up to Ranma and hugs him for dear life,
thankful that he is okay.
Leona: RANCHAN!
Ranma: LECHAN!
The two hug each other… Nothing else seems to matter at the moment… Their friends are
scattered around the place, but are all right. The man that would have broken them apart is
defeated… They can now live peacefully for a bit… Or so they think…
Goenitz gets to his feet. He is a broken bloody mess of his former self. His eyes glowing
with energy, and fifty years worth of bottled up anger and hate, no released.
Goenitz: YOU TRAITOR! YOU ARE NOT FIT TO BE THE OROCHI! DIE!!!!
Goenitz then charges at them. More specifically, Leona, since she is closer to him. Ranma
throws Leona to the side and prepares some energy in his hand for one last swift, fatal
attack. He won't allow Goenitz to try to boss him around and hurt Leona anymore…
Ranma: DOKU TANKETSU SHO!
Ranma's attack, "Poison Snake Strike at the Heart Deep Blow", hits its mark. With his
palm flat, fingers first at Goenitz's heart, he releases his ki into it, intent on stopping
Goenitz's black heart. And indeed it does… But, he puts so much energy into it that
Goenitz's heart literally shoots out from his body through the back of his body… His arms
slump lifelessly to the side… And he falls down face-first before Ranma. Blood pouring
out from the stump of his arm and mouth, staining the ground. The Winds finally die
down…
Leona: Ranma?
Ranma doesn't say anything. He gathers his Magatama no Orochi into his hand. He
launches it at Goenitz, setting Goenitz's corpse ablaze in violet fire.
Ranma (Turns to Leona): It's over Lechan… I ended it… You're finally free…
Tears form in Leona's eyes. She runs towards Ranma and hugs him fiercely. True, the
landscape is grim, and a reminder of a man driven mad by hate… But it's over for Leona
now… Her worst fear is gone… And she is in Ranma's arms… For the first time in her
life… She feels at peace…
For Ranma however… This is just one obstacle down… Ranma still has to find the
Orochi Body… As long as it exists, he'll never know his 'peace'…
(------)
End Chapter 44
Next Time: The Flame Palace… The Modern Pirate strikes again… And… Another
Ghost…
Send your questions and comments to either RedPriest17@aol.com or
Ryutsurugi@yahoo.com
Author's note: WOW! This one took awhile to get out! Sorry for the wait, but school was
cracking down on me again with all sorts of projects. Ah well… I finally got the free time
to write this!
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
Note: Flames will be read and than used to fuel the Orochi fire.
(------)
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½. That is property of Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own
The King of Fighters, that is property of SNK. I do however suggest you look up
information on these two properties. You won't be disappointed.
(------)
Note: This takes place well after the Ranma ½ manga and near the end of King of Fighters
'98.
(------)
Ranma: The Tenth Hakkeshu Chapter 44: Orochi Space: Wind Palace
Ranma and crew run across the Thunder Realm to get away from Shermie. She didn't take
the fact they took her table of food she had at her 'party' and is throwing lightning bolts at
them to get them to drop the table.
Shermie: GIVE IT BACK NOW! THAT TABLE IS EXPENSIVE CHERRY OAK
WOOD!
Ranma (To Leona): Tell me this Leona… WHY are we stealing the food?
Leona (Shrugs her shoulders): I have no idea.
Kyo, Vice, Mature, and Billy (Carrying the table with food): WE'RE HUNGRY!
Shermie (Tosses another lightning bolt): FINE! BUT GIVE ME BACK MY TABLE!!!
As the lightning bolt hits, it causes a huge explosion that sends Kyo, Vice, Mature, Billy,
and the table with food flying. The fighters land in an unsightly heap around the place,
while the table falls towards Shermie.
Shermie: Oh f…
!
The others that are standing wince in sympathy, as the table comes crashing down on
Shermie. Ranma lifts the table off of Shermie and shakes her by the shoulders.
Ranma: Shermie… Are you all right?
Shermie (Dazed, huge lump on head): Oh, I'm fine Santa Claus… But you better watch
out for those UFOs… There are VERY hostile Martians out there…
Ranma (Sweat drops): Um…
Iori: She's fine.
Ranma (Looks at Iori): You sure?
Iori: Positive.
Terry (Looks around): Hey… What happened to all the food?
As if to answer him, it stars raining pretzels, chips, and a huge bowl of dip lands on
Chizuru's head.
Chizuru: ACK! MY ROBES! I'M A MESS!
Mature: Damn! And me without a camera…
Chizuru glares at the smirking Mature as Ranma shakes his head.
Ranma: Well… This is certainly a waste of time. We better get a move on after Chizuru
cleans herself off. We have only three more 'realms' to go through, and then we can move
on out of here.
(------)
After awhile of walking through the Thunder Realm, with Vice kicking up patches of dirt
at Kyo along the way, our group makes it to the bridge to crossover onto the next 'realm'.
Vice (Kicks some more dirt at Kyo): WHEE!
Kyo: … Could you stop that please?
Vice: Sure.
Vice then bends over, and picks up the dirt and throws it in Kyo's face.
Kyo (With dirt dripping off of his face): … That's NOT what I meant.
Vice: Oh, stop whining and let me enjoy myself while I can… I get the feeling that we
may not be able to get far in the next realm…
Ranma: It's Goenitz next, right?
Vice and Mature nod their heads solemnly. Leona tenses up upon hearing that name.
Ranma looks at the bridge. It is done as a polished steel-wire staircase, with little patches
of different colored stained glass put into the side railings. Ranma takes a deep breath and
takes a step on it. Seeing that it is sturdy, the others walk across the 'bridge' one at a time,
as to not make the pathway collapse from their combined weights. When they are all on
the other side, they do not like what they see.
Kima (Wide-eyed): What the hell is this place? It looks like a dump.
Indeed… The Wind Realm for the most part seems to be a barren, muddy wasteland, with
large mountains of rotten fruit, broken glass, pieces of wood, jagged metal pieces, and
overall trash. In the center, they can see a stone fortress.
Ranma: That's got to be where he is… That's got to be Goenitz's palace.
Mature: Indeed… Master, are you sure you want to do this? I mean…
Ranma (Interrupts Mature): Yes, I am quite sure. Let's get going.
Ranma looks around at the other fighters. All seem prepared for whatever may happen,
except for Leona. She can't help but shake slightly. After all, they are going up against the
only man Leona has ever been afraid of. Ranma walks up to Leona and takes her hand in
his own. He gives her one of his cocky smirks to help boost up her confidence. Leona
nods her head and the group walks towards the Wind Palace.
(------)
Goenitz sits on his throne, the room illuminated in a blinding violet light that originates
from the gemstones filled with power he had collected during the King of Fighters '98
Tournament. Goenitz has his hands clasped before him, his chin resting on them, and
smirks to himself. He moves his eyes left to right and back, looking around, seeing all the
amethyst gemstones filled with energy, on the verge of erupting… His smile changes so
that his teeth are now bared. Goenitz then mutters a single word.
Goenitz: Orochi…
Goenitz steps up from his throne, and the winds start to howl around him. He's going to
have a little fun with them before they make it to his palace…
(------)
As Ranma and crew walk across the wasteland, the winds begin to pick up, going from 5
miles/hour to 40 miles/hour. The pieces of trash begin to pick up from their spots and fly
through the air, making a hazard for the group. The group starts running as fast as they can
to the center of the area, where the palace is. The winds try to push them back, and make
the fighters lose their footing a couple of times as they run. A large piece of jagged metal
almost beheads Iori, but Kima deflects it with her sword. Iori smiles at her, apparently
grateful for the save.
Eventually, the fighters have to get on their stomachs and crawl. As they get closer to the
palace, the winds get even stronger. At least if they're close to the ground, the wind has
less of a chance to pick them up and throw them around. A broken mirror grazes Ranma's
back, making him wince in pain slightly. However, it's not too bad, and he continues on
with the rest.
Eventually they reach the castle. It seems to be done up as a 16th century Scottish castle,
with some heavy Roman influence, with large white marble columns sticking out at the
corners outside the palace. The large set of heavy Oak wood doors; with leaves carved into
the wood is the entrance. Ranma lifts himself up to it as the winds roar on. He little
pounds on the door with one of his hands. The door doesn't budge.
Ranma: DAMN! IT'S NOT OPENING!
Terry: Let me try! BUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRNNN KNUCKLE!!!
Terry lunges his right fist back, gathering his energy into it. It is a blue emotional ki of
confidence. He shoots his fist forward, seemingly flying. His ki is powerful enough, that it
fights against the winds, keeping him on course. His fist connects with the doors, breaking
the beam placed behind them, and blowing the doors off their hinges, making them land
inside the castle. The others rush inside to get out of the wind. They take a moment to
catch their breath.
Ranma: Thanks Terry.
Terry: Hey, don't mention it.
Iori: Okay… We made it… Now what?
As if to answer Iori, candle sticks that are strewn all over the place light up. They see that
they are in some sort of grand entrance room, with a ceiling that reaches 40 ft. up. There's
a larger set off doors, 10 ft. tall in front of them. Above the set of doors is a painting of
Goenitz himself, holding onto a glass of white wine in his left hand. His right hand
covered in blood, holding onto a decapitated head of a man with the Kusanagi eclipsed sun
tattooed onto his forehead. Kyo gulps audibly upon seeing it. Iori walks up to the set of
doors.
Iori: Let me guess… He's beyond these doors, right?
Vice: Most likely Iori-sama…
Iori: … Will you stop calling me that?
Vice: Okay Iori-sama.
Iori: …
Ranma walks past Iori and pushes his hand on the door. It opens easily. All he can see
however, is a tunnel of darkness, with a thin line of violet colored light. Suddenly, candles
that aligned the hallway light up with violet Orochi fire. Ranma turns to the others. His
puts his hand to his head as he hears a voice… Goenitz… Ranma wobbles for a bit. He
finally blocks out the voice and stands straight.
Leona: Ranchan? What's wrong?
Kima: Ranma?
Mature & Vice: Master Orochi?
Ranma turns to look at all of them.
Ranma: Wait here…
Leona, Iori, Kima, Chizuru, Kyo, Terry, Mature, Vice, & Billy: WHAT!? WHY!?
Ranma: Believe me when I say this… Wait here…
Ranma then walks down the hall alone. Leona tries to run after him, but Terry puts his
hand on her shoulder.
Leona: Terry! Let me go! I have to get to…
Terry (Interrupts her): Let him be Leona… Let him be…
Leona (Dumbfounded): … Why?
Terry: This is his fight, and his alone…
Iori: And WHAT does that mean?
Terry thinks for a moment before he answers.
Terry: It's simple really. As I said, this is his fight. I know what he was thinking. It's the
same when I went to fight Geese for the first time. The man had wronged me horribly,
same as Goenitz has horribly wronged Ranma. It's a thirst for vengeance. Revenge for
loved ones' sakes. He can only do this alone… We'll just get in the way…
The others stand there silently. They can't really do anything. They know Terry is right.
They just stand there with their own thoughts.
(------)
Ranma makes his way down the hallway. His mind is clear, his heart is pure, and his
soul… A tiny bit tainted by the fragment of Orochi's soul, but his soul is still strong… He
makes it down the hallway and kicks down the door… The place is another stairway, but
there is a VERY bright light coming from the entrance atop the staircase. Ranma makes
his way up the stairs. He'll finish this.
(------)
Ranma makes it to the entrance. The light is so bright, that he can't see it. Suddenly, the
light dims, and brightens into a pattern. Ranma realizes what pattern the light is
following… His own heartbeat. His eyes adjust to the lighting of the room. It is a large
room with stone walls, and tapestry. The tapestries' true colors are lost to him, as the light
being emitted from are what he sees are gems illuminates everything in the room in a violet
color. His eyes widen as he looks forward. He sees a man sitting on a throne that he
knows all too well…
Ranma: GOENITZ!!!
Goenitz gets up from his throne and does a slight bow to Ranma.
Goenitz: Ah… You finally made it here Master Yamatano Orochi…
Ranma: IT'S RANMA SAOTOME!!!
Goenitz (Smirks): Sure it is… Sure it is…
Ranma grinds his teeth. Goenitz's presence is making his blood boil with rage, on the
verge of going into the Blood Riot… Ranma asks Goenitz one thing…
Ranma: Why?
Goenitz (Eyeing Ranma): "Why" what Master Orochi?
Ranma (Clenching his fists): Why did you do all this? Why did you hurt Lechan? Why do
you try to destroy humanity? Why have you hurt my friends? Why are you trying to make
me into a demon!? WHY!?
Goenitz frowns. He then slumps back into his throne. He places his left hand across his
eyes and begins his tale…
Goenitz: It was years, and years ago… I was born on October 31, 1934 in France… I
basically lived the life of any 'normal' wretched human… I lived with my mother and my
father, who was the Heavenly King of the Wind before me. We lived in Paris, since it was
a great place for him to gather information on Humanity's workings. An excellent base of
operations so to speak… Until the German Occupation in 1943… We were rounded up
like cattle, beaten by the human soldiers… Those of us that refused to give into Nazi
pressures, were either shot in the streets or far, far worse…
Goenitz pauses a moment to look at Ranma. The boy looks at him with anger. Good…
Anger will lead him to his true path… Goenitz continues.
Goenitz: My family and I were sent far away from France… To one of Hitler's 'solutions'
to the question of those who were 'different'… His concentration camps…
Goenitz then fiddles with his sleeve. Taking off the belt on his wrist, and pulling the sleeve
up. He shows Ranma the tattoo on his right forearm.
Goenitz: "XED0017-338211". My 'number' the humans so 'graciously' gave me…
Ranma: You were…
Goenitz: Correct… I was a prisoner in that concentration camp… Auschwitz in Poland to
be precise… To continue, even though the war would be over in number of months, I still
got to see the 'true' evils of humanity… There was death every which way I looked. We
were forced to work for them while they starved us… When it was finally over… My
father was dead, executed for 'working too slowly'. I never knew what happened to my
mother or sister, but I can tell you they're dead. The winds have told me nothing about
their existence among the living… As for me… I lived… Starved to the point where I
looked like a skeleton with a bag of flesh over it…
Ranma: I'm sorry…
Goenitz: Don't be… The 'experience' had opened my eyes… I never believed what my
father had said about humanity before hand… But after that… I believed it thoroughly…
And what humanity did after that, just concreted my resolve in hate towards them. The
Atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima… The Cold War… The Vietnam
Conflict… Maoism comes to force in China… Operation Desert Storm… There have
been SO MANY conflicts within humanity… That's why I MUST destroy the disease
known as humanity… They not only destroy the Orochi by destroying our precious planet
with their pollutions, such as smoke from their cars and factories, toxic waste and radiation
from their Nuclear Power plants, poisons from their pesticides, their deforestation of all the
woodlands and forests in the world, and many, MANY other things… But they destroy
themselves with their MEANINGLESS STRUGLES! They fight one another for each
other's lands and material possessions. That is why I do what I do… Humanity is killing
itself ever so slowly, like a cancerous tumor… I'm am actually the good guy here… I will
kill them all off swiftly, painlessly… And with them gone… We that are of Orochi's
blood can bring the earth back to its former glory… WE WILL CREATE A UTOPIA!
One with plant-life and wildlife being allowed to grow and live freely, with the waters, o-
zone layer, and skies of the earth being allowed to heal themselves with time, becoming
crisp and clean again! That is why I do this Master Orochi. I am a savior, not a destroyer.
Ranma and Goenitz remain silent for a moment. Ranma speaks.
Ranma: You're nuts…
Goenitz: Am I now?
Ranma: Yes… You only look at one-side of it. True, there is al that bad stuff, but there is
a lot more than you allow yourself to see! There are those that TRY to protect this earth;
that work to keep it clean, and keep the wildlife alive! And there are human emotions.
Love, joy, and compassion. These feelings allow people to be kind to each other. My
views may be simple, but they are the simpler truth you refuse to see! If anything, YOU
Goenitz are what you should hate!
Goenitz (Eyes blazing with anger): WHAT!?
Ranma (Eyes him with determination): YOU HEARD ME! By taking away the part of
yourself that was good, you became what you hated. Look at the man that started you on
your path of anger. A madman started World War II by the name of Hitler. What did he
do? He tried to kill those different from himself and create a Utopia in HIS OWN IMAGE!
What do you think you're doing now Goenitz? You condemn those that aren't of Orochi
blood! You even say that YOUR new world, YOUR utopia! What you speak of to make a
world is your own vision! Have you ever talked with others on what would make a
'perfect' world? NO! You think on what YOU WANT, FOR A WORLD THAT CAN
NEVER EXIST! There's no such thing as a 'utopia'… With all of our different ways of
thinking, there can never be one way to make everyone happy. That is why you are wrong
Goenitz… That is why you have failed so far, and WILL continue to fail. You can't defeat
a whole world!
Goenitz (Angry): HOW DARE YOU!?!?
Ranma: I dare to say, because, for once, I can honestly say, I AM RIGHT!
Goenitz (Smiles): Ah… But you are wrong Master Orochi… Enough talk! I tried one
last time to reason with you… But apparently… It's just not to be… So I SHALL MAKE
YOU DO WHAT I WANT!
With that the gems around that room that are lightening it up explode!
(------)
Ranma opens his eyes. The room is gone… The WHOLE CASTLE IS GONE! Ranma
looks around and sees rubble everywhere, his friends and family's unconscious bodies
scattered around. Goenitz floats in the air, glowing a deep violet color, his energy at the
maximum. Goenitz then floats down slowly and he lands a few feet from Ranma. He
slowly walks up to Ranma, holding out his right hand, which glows with energy.
Goenitz: You see 'Master'? THIS! IS! POWER!!! THIS IS WHAT CAN CHANGE
THE WORLD!!!
Goenitz shoots the ball of energy at Ranma, making him crawl around the ground in pain.
Goenitz keeps shooting balls of energy at Ranma, trying to make him lose himself in the
pain.
Goenitz: SUBMIT MASTER! THEN WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD OUR OYSTER!
Ranma: Kiss… My… Ass… You… Asshole!
Goenitz: GRRRRR!!!
Goenitz then fuses the energy into his winds, sending the winds across Ranma, slicing up
his shirt, and then into his back.
Ranma: GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
Goenitz: SUBMIT!!!
Ranma: I'll… Never… Give in… NEVER!
Ranma suddenly springs himself back and backhands Goenitz across the face. Goenitz just
smirks…
Goenitz: That all you got?
Ranma: HUH!?
Goenitz then punches Ranma in the abdomen, his fist digging into Ranma stomach. Ranma
goes flying and slams into a wall of the castle that was still standing, making it crumble on
top of him, burying Ranma in the rubble.
Goenitz (Turns around): Heh… Pray to your God…
Suddenly Goenitz's eyes widen as he feels a sharp, stinging pain in his side. He looks and
sees Leona. She is dirty, and her hair a bit frazzled, but she has a look of pure rage on her
face, as he hand is digging into the side of his body…
Goenitz (Eyes twitching in pain): You… Half-breed BITCH!!!
Goenitz smashes Leona across the face with his fist. As Leona goes flying, her hand is
taken out of his side, allowing blood to spring forth from the puncture she made in him
with her hand. Goenitz eyes the wound in disbelief.
Goenitz: You… You did this? YOU WORTHLESS HALF-BREED TRASH! I'LL
SKIN YOU ALIVE!!!
Goenitz then commands his winds to tear into Leona. Her green army jacket gets torn to
pieces, as her arms get cut-up. Her face is somewhat okay as she used her hands to cover
it. Her rope in her hair got broken, and so her hair falls loosely… Goenitz then walks
towards her a bit. A malicious smile on his face.
Goenitz: Yes… Do you feel it? … The pain? Well, as I've said to you before… You
may be worthless to me as a warrior, but… As a plaything you are a first-rate choice…
Goenitz walks up to Leona slowly; his sinister smile now a lustful smirk. Leona begins to
shake with fear as a tear begins to form in her eyes. She doesn't want this to happen. Not
again! However… This time Leona has a 'guardian angel'…
Suddenly, there is an explosion in a pile of rubble… Ranma stands up in it. He is cut up
and dirty, but his face is a portrait of determination, warred with anger, which in turn is
warred with self-confidence.
Goenitz (Wide-eyed): HOW!?!?
Leona: RANCHAN!
Ranma then looks towards Goenitz and smirks cruelly.
Ranma: You… You're not going to get away this time Goenitz… This time, I'm NOT
going to hold back…
Goenitz: RAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!! GALE NIGHT WINDS!!!
A huge burst of winds goes forth at Ranma. He just holds his hands forward, gathering
energy into them. Preparing to perform a sealed technique from the Umi Seiken Scroll.
Ranma: KIJIN RAISHU DAN!!!
Ranma then gathers a vacuum blade of chi and ki in his hands. He tosses it at Goenitz's
Gale Night Winds attack. The vacuum the blade makes literally sucks in the winds.
Goenitz's eyes widen in surprise. Goenitz then teleports himself out of the way of the
attack with Leona. Ranma looks around frantically.
Ranma: LECHAN!
Goenitz: She's over here…
Ranma turns around and sees Goenitz. He has the struggling Leona close to him with one
arm, and a whole lot of energy in his free hand…
Goenitz: SUBMIT NOW! OR I WILL KILL HER!!!
Ranma (Narrows eyes at Goenitz): You cheap COWARD! You did this before… Well…
I'm not going to let you have your way this time…
Ranma then starts to concentrate all the energies around him into his aura… Normally you
need a large piece of cloth for this move, but Ranma knows how to use his aura instead of a
piece of cloth…
Ranma: GOSHIN DAI RYU SEI FU!!!
Ranma then releases the energy he was gathering internally into his aura, and he
'disappears'.
Goenitz: HUH!? Body Defense Shooting Star Cloth… What the hell!?
Leona: Ranchan…
Suddenly, Goenitz is thrown back by an unseen attack to his face. The energy he had in his
hand dissipates from it, and he goes flying backwards.
Goenitz: RARGH! TSUNAMI SPIRAL!!!
Goenitz causes a small spiraling wind in front of him, to throw whatever is attacking him
upwards… Ranma then takes form in the spiral… And comes crashing down to the
ground.
Ranma: Ow…
Goenitz: Impressive trick… An actual invisibility technique… Now it ends…
Goenitz then presses on his attack towards Ranma. His anger fueling his strength. Ranma
gets an idea. He focuses on Defense, and tries to form a spiral pattern…
Goenitz: THE HIRYUU SHOTEN HA!? HA HA HA HA HAAAAAA!!! Go right ahead
boy!
They complete the spiral and Ranma makes his attack… However Goenitz takes control of
the Hiryuu Shoten Ha, sending Ranma flying upwards into it.
Leona: RANCHAN!
Goenitz: HA! WHAT A FOOL! Now I'll… Huh… What's he doing?
Ranma smiles… Goenitz played right into his hands… Ranma begins taking in energy
like he did when Herb took control of his Hiryuu Shoten Ha one time. It ends now…
Ranma: HIRYUU KORIN DAN!!!
Goenitz: WHAT!?
Ranma then goes falling down through the spiral, covered in energy. He lands atop of
Goenitz, smashing the Heavenly King in the collarbone, making a VERY audible cracking
sound as he does.
Goenitz tumbles backwards, his head swimming with pain. Ranma had used his
confidence with winds against him. Ranma then speeds towards Goenitz, to finish this…
Ranma: THIS IS FOR IORI!
!
Goenitz takes a hit to the back of his left leg, so he can't run away…
Ranma: THIS IS FOR MY FRIENDS!
! !
Goenitz gets smashed across the back with a kick, and then punched in the gut, and Ranma
grabs his shoulders and smashes him into the ground.
Ranma: THIS IS FOR MY MOM!
!
Ranma kicks Goenitz in the back of the head, jerking his body upwards.
Ranma: THIS IS FOR LECHAN!
! !
Goenitz looses all his breath as Ranma knees him in the balls, and then punches him in the
chest, sending him flying into a piece of wall…
Ranma: AND THIS ONE'S FOR ME!!!
Ranma begins gathering his energy again… Ready to give Goenitz what he has so
thoroughly deserved…
Ranma: SAI DAI KYU KIJIN RAISHU DAN!!!
Goenitz's eyes open in pain as the First Rate Demon God Assault Bomb cuts off his right
arm at the elbow. Goenitz's slumps to the ground in pain…
Leona has watched all this. Enraptured by the sight of Ranma giving a horrible, horrible
man what he has rightly deserved. Leona Rushes up to Ranma and hugs him for dear life,
thankful that he is okay.
Leona: RANCHAN!
Ranma: LECHAN!
The two hug each other… Nothing else seems to matter at the moment… Their friends are
scattered around the place, but are all right. The man that would have broken them apart is
defeated… They can now live peacefully for a bit… Or so they think…
Goenitz gets to his feet. He is a broken bloody mess of his former self. His eyes glowing
with energy, and fifty years worth of bottled up anger and hate, no released.
Goenitz: YOU TRAITOR! YOU ARE NOT FIT TO BE THE OROCHI! DIE!!!!
Goenitz then charges at them. More specifically, Leona, since she is closer to him. Ranma
throws Leona to the side and prepares some energy in his hand for one last swift, fatal
attack. He won't allow Goenitz to try to boss him around and hurt Leona anymore…
Ranma: DOKU TANKETSU SHO!
Ranma's attack, "Poison Snake Strike at the Heart Deep Blow", hits its mark. With his
palm flat, fingers first at Goenitz's heart, he releases his ki into it, intent on stopping
Goenitz's black heart. And indeed it does… But, he puts so much energy into it that
Goenitz's heart literally shoots out from his body through the back of his body… His arms
slump lifelessly to the side… And he falls down face-first before Ranma. Blood pouring
out from the stump of his arm and mouth, staining the ground. The Winds finally die
down…
Leona: Ranma?
Ranma doesn't say anything. He gathers his Magatama no Orochi into his hand. He
launches it at Goenitz, setting Goenitz's corpse ablaze in violet fire.
Ranma (Turns to Leona): It's over Lechan… I ended it… You're finally free…
Tears form in Leona's eyes. She runs towards Ranma and hugs him fiercely. True, the
landscape is grim, and a reminder of a man driven mad by hate… But it's over for Leona
now… Her worst fear is gone… And she is in Ranma's arms… For the first time in her
life… She feels at peace…
For Ranma however… This is just one obstacle down… Ranma still has to find the
Orochi Body… As long as it exists, he'll never know his 'peace'…
(------)
End Chapter 44
Next Time: The Flame Palace… The Modern Pirate strikes again… And… Another
Ghost…
Send your questions and comments to either RedPriest17@aol.com or
Ryutsurugi@yahoo.com
Author's note: WOW! This one took awhile to get out! Sorry for the wait, but school was
cracking down on me again with all sorts of projects. Ah well… I finally got the free time
to write this!
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
Note: Flames will be read and than used to fuel the Orochi fire.