Ranma: The Tenth Hakkeshu or Ranma's Cousin Iori
(------)
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 49: The Anything Goes Team Vs. Omega
Rugal
Ranma slowly awakens to the sunlight that peeks through the shades of the window to his
room. He smiles. It's HIS room. The Saotome Compound is quite a nice place. And the
fact Genma isn't around to bother him is even nicer.
Ranma (Thinks): Sigh… Nothing could be better.
Ranma then blinks his eyes open. It is better. He looks at Leona, who is sleeping next to
him peacefully in bed. Leona is everything to him.
Ranma: Sigh… Lechan…
The smile on Ranma's face widens a bit. His mother, Nodoka was really pleased with the
idea of him being with Leona, that she literally redecorated Ranma's room for two adults.
After all, last time he slept in his own room was when he was 5-years-old!
Ranma: Heh… It was hell trying to get Lechan here… But it was worth it…
----
We see Ranma and Leona at the entrance of the hospital, talking to Heidern. The vain on
his head seems to appear and pulse rather erratically as his men Ralph Jones and Clark
Steele back away from him.
Heidern (Eye twitches): Leona, let me get this straight… You want to stay here in Japan
with Ranma?
Leona (Nods her head): Of course father.
Heidern grimaces slightly. She called him "father" instead of "sir", meaning her mind isn't
in a military-set.
Heidern: And, if I may ask… Why is that?
Leona: Father, Ranma has done so much for me. He is the kindest, sweetest, most caring
person I have met. He saved my life, and fought many times to protect me.
Heidern: Well that's… Er… Um… Nice…
Leona (Smiles): It is.
Heidern's eye widens in shock. He's NEVER seen Leona smile so genuinely before.
Heidern: Hmm… Leona, it's good to have you back, and it's good to know that you like
Ranma, but…
Female voice: But what?
Heidern and his men hear the female voice behind them. They then pale and shake with
fear at the sight before them as they turn to look at it… Nodoka Saotome, katana drawn,
and the look on her face is one that seems to be bordering on going into the Riot of Blood.
Heidern, Ralph, & Clark:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Ranma: Mom, stop trying to scare them!
Nodoka then sheathes her katana and goes back to looking normal.
Nodoka: Sorry dear, it's just that fear is a great tool to make narrow-minded people more
open-minded.
Ranma: Uh… Great mom…
Nodoka: Now… (Glares at Heidern). Commander Heidern…
Heidern: Uh… Yes?
Nodoka: Why are you so upset about my manly son seeing your daughter? My son is very
manly, he would never do anything to a woman that she wouldn't like, and he would never,
EVER intentionally hurt them, ESPECIALLY Leona.
Heidern: Er… That's all well and good Nodoka, but we all know how kids are…
Ranma & Leona: WE ARE NOT KIDS!
Nodoka: Indeed. They do have a point Heidern. They are 18 and 20-years-old. They are
old enough to be considered adults, and can make important decisions for themselves.
Heidern: I know they can but Leona is still my daughter and under the command of the
Ikari Mercenaries, so…
Heidern's eye widens and he sweats as he sees Nodoka frown and begin to slowly
unsheathe her katana from its scabbard.
Heidern (Thinks): CRAP! Why do I always have to deal with these bloodthirsty,
psychotic, Orochi-blooded people?
Heidern sighs. If he's going to get out of this, he might as well give them what they
want… But, he can still have a little control. Heidern turns to Leona.
Heidern: Leona!
Leona: Yes father?
Heidern: I am putting you on your new mission!
Leona (Wide-eyed): New mission!?
Ranma and Nodoka glare at Heidern, their battle auras flaring to life. Heidern, deciding to
cut this quick before they cut him apart, talks quickly.
Heidern: Leonayournewmissionistowatchoverranma!!!
Leona (Blinks): … Huh?
Heidern: I mean… Leona, your new mission is to watch over Ranma. He is too
unpredictable, and it would be good too have him constantly monitored. And I'm sure that
you will keep a close eye on him.
Leona's eyes brighten with joy. She jumps at Heidern and hugs him with al her might.
Leona (Hugs Heidern): Oh daddy, THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUSOMUCH!!!
Heidern (Blinks): Um… You're welcome honey…
Ralph: But sir, you CAN'T LEAVE HER IN THE HANDS OF THAT MONSTER!
Clark: Right! As a senior member of the Ikari Warriors, I must say that it would be
unwise to leave him in the hands of THAT… That… Orochi-man!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): That idiot Clark doesn't realize how close to the
mark he is with that last statement.
Ranma (Thinks): Shut up!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Sigh… You've been REALLY bitchy lately, you
know that Ranma?
Heidern: Boys, my mind is made up. I do have one request though…
Heidern then grabs Ranma's shoulders and looks Ranma directly in the eyes.
Heidern (Shakes Ranma): If you do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to take advantage
of my daughter, I will hunt you down, skin you alive, and grind your bones to make my
bread, DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?
Ranma (Shaking): Y, y, y, y, YES SIR!!!
Heidern (Drops Ranma): GOOD!
Leona (Helps Ranma to his feet): Actually, we've already done it.
Heidern, Nodoka, Ralph, & Clark: WHAT!?!?!?
Ranma (Blushes): L, LECHAN!?
Leona: What? I'm not embarrassed. I love you Ranma, as you love me.
Ranma and Leona look at each other. They then hug each other and kiss passionately. The
reactions they received are varied. Ralph and Clark pass out on the spot. Nodoka starts
dancing and chanting about how manly her son is, and Heidern…
Heidern (Demon Head attack):
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Ranma, seeing Heidern going into a "Riot of Brain Hemorrhage", decides to pick up Leona
in his arms and runs like the wind. Heidern then starts chasing after them.
Heidern: RANMA! COME BACK HERE AND DIE LIKE A MAN YOU DEFILER OF
INNOCENT WOMEN!!!
Ranma (Runs): Damn! Leona is your father always like this!?
Leona (Shakes her head): Yes. Why do you think the first time we went out was also the
first time I actually went on a date?
Ranma (Runs faster): Good point.
Leona: Ranma, why are you running?
Ranma points behind him. Leona sees her father riding atop of a large T-147 tank, yelling
about how pig-tailed Orochi gigolos must suffer horrible, fiery deaths.
----
Ranma hugs onto Leona tightly.
Ranma: Yes… It was hell… But it was so worth it.
Ranma blinks as he feels Leona hug him back. He looks at her to see her smiling at him.
Leona (Smiles): Good morning Ranchan.
Ranma (Smiles): Good morning Lechan! Did you sleep well?
Leona (Nods): Yes. I had quite a nice nap. But I think the dream I wake up to is much
more pleasant…
Leona moves her head up and the two begin to kiss again. Ranma and Leona move their
arms around one another to embrace. The feeling of being close to one another the greatest
joy that they can go through, nothing can make them stop…
That is, nothing out of the ordinary…
A huge explosion suddenly rocks the house. Ranma and Leona blink for a couple of
seconds, until they hear some voices.
Mature (Voice): VICE! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO THE
MICROWAVE!?!?!?
Vice (Voice): What? I was just trying to make Iori-sama some bacon for breakfast, after
all, you know how he loves his meats. So I tried to cook it in the microwave…
Mature (Voice): BUT I TOLD YOU TO PUT THE FRYING PAN ON TOP OF THE
OVEN, NOT IN THE MICROWAVE! DON'T YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO PUT METALS IN A MICROWAVE!?
Silence follows for a couple of seconds…
Vice (Voice): Oops… Silly me…
Mature (Voice): DAMN IT VICE!!!
Leona (Looks at Ranma): Are you SURE that them staying with us was the best idea?
Ranma: Well, mom wanted it that way…
----
We see Nodoka standing outside of her home. Vice and Mature are standing in front of
her.
Nodoka: Hello ladies. It's been awhile. How're you doing?
Mature: Hello Mrs. Saotome… We were wondering if you needed any maids or
something…
Nodoka (Blinks): Maids?
Vice: Yeah…
Mature: You know, servants.
Nodoka: Servants?
Vice: Yeah… You see… We're kind of out of a job…
Nodoka: Oh?
Mature: Yeah… Once Rugal disappeared, we were out of jobs. So…
Mature & Vice: PLEASE LET US WORK FOR YOU! WE HAVE NOWHERE ELSE
TO GO!!!
Mature and Vice then do the "Crouch of the Wild Tiger", bowing up and down repeatedly
before the Saotome Matriarch. Nodoka blinks a few times, but then her look of confusion
breaks way to a warm-hearted smile.
Nodoka: Of course you two can stay and work here.
Mature & Vice (Eyes sparkle): REALLY!?
Nodoka: Of course! You are both well-educated and competent people. I'm sure your
services would be very useful… And…
Mature & Vice: And?
Nodoka: And… (Smile widens). You can BOTH try to go after my nephew Iori. He's so
manly, but he hasn't tried to find a wife yet, and I think you two would make perfect
candidates.
At this point, Mature pales and looks like she's going to throw up. Vice on the other hand,
widens her eyes and smiles.
Vice: YES!!! I'M GONNA GET IORI-SAMA!!!
Mature (Pale): … I'll work… But there is NO WAY IN HELL I'm sleeping with that
asshole Iori!
Iori (Voice): Who's an asshole?
Mature, Vice, and Nodoka look up to see Iori sticking his head out of a window from the
top floor. Nodoka smiles at him.
Nodoka: Guess what Iori. Vice and Mature are now working for us.
Vice (Waves): HI IORI-SAMA!
Iori (Sweat-drops): … If it's not having to deal with Kusanagi scum, it's those Orochi
whores… Kami-sama hates me… I just know it…
----
Ranma: Yup… Mom was very thrilled to have them working for us.
(------)
Rugal finishes typing into a computer console of the ship. The boot up screen for Windows
'98 appears on the computer.
Rugal: FINALLY! It took me a good week, but I finally got the ship running completely
again…
Suddenly, the words, "Syntax Error, Shutting Down" appear on the screen, and all of the
Black Noah loses power.
Rugal: SONUVABITCH!!! THAT DOES IT!!!
Rugal reaches under his console and pulls out a little stick with a button on it. It is a
portable detonation-device.
Rugal: I'll see you in hell Gates…
Rugal presses the button. All of a sudden, in corporate America, Microsoft's home office
blows up and catches fire. Bill Gates falls from a window on fire, his cheap clothes
burning quite easily.
Rugal (Smiles): Much better. Now to fix this…
Rugal smashes his fist on top of the console and kicks the base of it. The machine whirrs
and clicks a few times, and then power is restored to the Black Noah.
Rugal: Ah… That should do it… Now… To get my opponents here…
Rugal presses a few buttons on the console to activate the satellite dish. He takes control of
all the airwaves. People all over the world are forced to look at Rugal through his one
video camera.
(------)
Pao Pao Café…
All the fighters stare at the TV Richard Meyer has hanging in the corner of the Ceiling
behind the bar. Rugal's smiling face appears
Joe: WHAT THE HELL HAPPED TO "I LOVE LUCY"!?!?!?
Terry: It's Rugal!
Mai: Damn it! Now Andy will want to fight him and get hurt again…
Mary: Um… Andy is in a wheelchair and a body-cast. I don't think he'll be going
anywhere.
Andy: Mai! To Geese Tower! Quickly!
Mai: Quiet! We're listening Andy!
Mai tips over Andy's wheelchair.
(------)
Kim Kaphwan's Dojo…
We see Kim, his two sons: Jae Hoon and Dong Hwan, and Chang and Choi gathered
around a small television set.
Chang: Hey! What happened to "Who Wants to be an Evil Overlord with Geese
Howard?"
Choi: Yeah! They were showing the one with Mr. Big, Eiji Kisaragi, and that weird
Gymnast lady…
Chang: Kodachi Kuno…
Choi: Whatever… What kind of FREAK attacks with a ribbon?
Chang (Nods his head): I know what you mean…
Kim sweats as he eyes Choi's claws and Chang's iron ball and chain.
Kim (Thinks): And those two have the GALL to say she has a weird weapon?
(------)
Geese Tower…
Geese spits out his Samuel Adams beer from the mug he was drinking. He stares at the
Modern Pirate who is on the television set.
Geese: Damn it! What happened to my reruns of "Who Want to be an Evil Overlord with
Geese Howard"!?!?!?
Ripper and Hopper look at each other, then back at Geese.
Ripper: Maybe this is the rerun of the one you had earlier this year with the Rugal Team?
Geese: No, it can't be. Rugal didn't throw his face into the camera.
An 11-year-old Rock's head peeks under from Geese's desk.
Rock: Why are you yelling daddy?
Geese: It's nothing Rock.
Rock: Okay… I'll go downstairs and see how Terry is doing.
Geese: Now Rock… What have I told you about those 'evil' Bogards before?
Rock (Scrunches his face): Um… That they're bad…
Geese: Yes… And?
Rock: Um… They're mean… They try to send you flying like a real goose off of your
big tower… And that they can't let the past go?
Geese: Correct Rock. Now, what are you going to do?
Rock (Smiles): I'm going to go downstairs to the café and say hi to Terry!
Geese face-faults onto his desk. Rock smiles innocently and walks to the staircase and
downstairs.
Ripper & Hopper (shake Geese's shoulders): Boss?
Geese: That Terry is a BAD influence on my boy. He must be stopped!
Ripper: What are you going to do though boss? It's not like Rock will just drop Terry to
hero-worship another person.
Hopper: Yeah… You aren't exactly father off the year boss.
Geese (Glares): If you two don't shut up, I'm going to Double Reppuken both your asses
off this tower!
Ripper & Hopper: YES SIR, SORRY SIR!
Geese: Never mind… But don't worry… It may take my boy awhile to realize that I'm
the best thing for him… But… In the meantime, I have another fighter I can use to wean
Rock off of Terry… Someone closer to Rock in age…
Geese then opens his desk and takes out his file on Ranma Saotome. He looks at the folder
and starts laughing. However, that laughs attracts all of the fighters downstairs like a moth
to a flame. Soon the door to Geese's office bursts open with…
Terry: GEESE! YOU KILLED MY FATHER!!!
Andy (In arm and leg casts): GEESE! YOU KILLED MY FATHER AND THREW ME
OUT YOUR WINDOW!!!
Mary: GEESE! YOU KILLED MY FATHER AND MY FIANCEE!!!
Joe: GEESE! YOUR HALF-BROTHER KICKED MY ASS!!!
Mai: GEESE! YOU MADE MY ANDY OBSESSIVE WITH KILLING YOU!!!
Geese begins to bang his head on his desk out of frustration repeatedly.
(------)
Saotome Residence…
Ranma and Leona sit together on the couch. Their eyes bulge wide open when they see
Rugal's ugly mug on the television set.
Ranma (Calls out): Mom! Iori! Kima! Vice! Mature! COME QUICK!
Nodoka, Iori, Kima, Vice, and Mature come running to the living room to see what Ranma
is screaming about. Ranma points to the television set.
Iori: Rugal? He's still alive?
Vice: DAMN IT! WHAT'S HE DOING ALIVE AND NOT A BLOODY, BRUISED
SMEAR OF PULP!?
Mature: Sigh… Monsieur Rugal still lives… Damn it… I thought we beat him to a
bloody pulp in Orochi Space.
Nodoka: Hmm… He seems… Unmanly…
Orochi (In the back of Ranma's mind): Wow… If there's one thing Rugal is, it's
persistent… Actually, persistent and has an explosive fetish…
Suddenly, Rugal begins speaking into a little microphone he's holding.
Rugal (On TV): Hello? Is this thing on? (Loud screech from microphone). Okay…
Hello out there! This is King of Fighters 1998 Tournament Host: The Modern Pirate Rugal
Bernstein! Now, I'm sure you're all wondering why I used my satellite to take over the
television airwaves AND cast this talk to everyone, yes? Well, put simply, KING OF
FIGHTERS '98 ISN'T DONE YET! I invite the Anything Goes Team to a final 3-on-1
battle! This will determine whom the REAL King of Fighters IS!!! And, should they
refuse, they will not only lose the right to be the King of Fighters, but… (Smiles evilly). I
shall detonate the explosives I set at different locations while traveling around the world for
the tournament. What do you think of that!? Huh? HUH!? (Calms down). Anyway…
Anything Goes Team… Come to the Black Noah for the final fight, which will be
broadcasted live, and on my private station, which shall be every television station for the
next couple of days or so, PAY-PER-VIEWGAL!!! Tootles.
With that Rugal leaves the screen. For the next couple of minutes, it continues to show the
deck of the Black Noah. Everyone one around the world is blinking and wondering what
the hell that crazy bastard Rugal is up to now…
Nodoka: My… What he did was certainly unmanly…
Kima: Did he snap?
Vice: Nah… Snapped long ago…
Mature: Indeed. He was nuts before, but now he's nuttier than a bag of trail mix.
Ranma: We have to stop him!
Suddenly, there is a rather loud knocking at the door.
Iori: Mature, go and get that.
Mature: What do I look like, your servant?
Iori (Smirks): Why, yes!
Mature (Mutters): Asshole…
Mature goes to get the door. When she opens it, she sees all of the Ikari Mercenaries and
their equipment out front. She quickly slams the door and has her back against it.
Mature: Ranma, it's for you!
Ranma walks over to the door and opens it. He is greeted to the same sight that Mature had
been greeted by.
Ranma (Looks at all the soldiers and equipment): … Woah…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Wow… Like little ants scurrying about…
Suddenly, Heidern appears in front of Ranma and starts shaking him by the shoulders.
Heidern (Shaking Ranma): RANMA! DID YOU SEE THE TELEVISION!?!?!?
Ranma (Being shook): Y, yes sir!
Heidern (Shaking Ranma even harder): AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!?
Ranma (Being shook violently): That I have to fight Rugal?
Heidern (Shaking Ranma quite violently): AND DO YOU POSSIBLE COMPREHEND
WHAT THAT MEANS!?!?!?
Ranma (Limbs flailing wildly): That if I don't go, the bombs will blow up… And that
you're tearing me apart like a rag-doll sir?
Heidern: NO!!! (Drops Ranma). That Rugal has control of the airwaves. Until he's gone,
there will be no television!!!
Ranma (Blinks): So?
Kima: Yeah, what's so great about television?
Iori: Yeah. It is WAY over-rated. Like, take that stupid show, "Psycho Soldiers GO" for
example.
Heidern (Wide-eyed): I CAN'T WATCH MY SOAPS!!!
Everyone inside the house face-faults.
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): You know Ranma; the human race seems even
more pathetic than it was almost two thousand years ago… Are you sure it's worth saving?
Ranma (Thinks): Yes.
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Are you absolutely sure?
Ranma (Thinks): Yes!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Are you most certainly absolutely, positively,
incredibly, no-room-for-doubt…
Ranma (Thinks): I SAID YES! NOW SHUT THE HELL UP!!!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): … Geez… And here I thought you'd be "Mr.
Cool". After all, sex is a great stress reliever and considering how many times you've done
it with Leona in the past twenty-four hours alone, I thought that…
Ranma (Thinks): Orochi…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Yes?
Ranma (Thinks): DROP IT!!!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): … Party-pooper…
(------)
And so, we see Ranma, Leona, and Iori sitting in the back of a helicopter, while Vice and
Mature sit in the front piloting it.
Mature (Pilot's seat): Tell me again, WHY are Vice and I taking you to the Black Noah?
Iori: Well, considering you ARE MY servants, I would like to be chauffeured…
Vice (Navigator's seat): And we'd be happy to take you there, right Mature?
Mature (Sarcastic): Oh yes… So much fun to serve under the man… Oooh… Aaah…
The glamorous life for us, eh Vice?
Leona: Well, it was nice enough of dad to lend us this helicopter to use…
Ranma: Mature, are you sure you can land this ting on the Black Noah's deck?
Mature: No problem.
The helicopter does a nosedive onto the deck of the Black Noah. Amazingly, all the people
aboard the helicopter are unhurt. Yes, Orochi blood is a really, really good thing to have at
times…
Iori (To Mature): You crazy bitch! Are you TRYING TI KILL US!
Mature: Just you!
Iori (Clenches and unclenches his fists): Why I ought to…
Mature: You go Riot of Blood again, and I will so kick your ass instead of waiting for you
to tear me apart like a paper doll this time!
Leona: What ever happened to professional hired help?
Vice: Hey! We're professional!
Ranma: Professional, I am sure of… But professional 'what'?
Vice: Well, Mature and I are professional assassins, spies, computer hackers, strippers,
lesbian porn actresses, singing strip-o-gram singers, and other things…
Ranma: Sorry I asked…
Vice, Ranma, and Leona ignore Mature and Iori, who are fighting in the back round.
Mature (With Iori in a headlock): How's that, oh high-and-mighty 'King' of Fighters?
Iori (Struggling): MATURE, IF YOU DO NOT LET GO RIGHT NOW, I WILL
PERSONALLY TEAR YOU A NEW BELLY BUTTON!
Mature (Tightens grip): Been there, done that, really not afraid anymore…
Iori begins to pale in color as Mature cuts off his passage of air.
Iori: Gah… C, can't breeeeeeeeathe…
(------)
After spending a few minutes to let Iori breathe, the Anything Goes team, Vice, and Mature
go over their next stage of plan…
Ranma: Okay Vice, Mature, I want you two to see if you can at least hotwire another mode
of transportation, so we can get off of this ship.
Vice: No problem. Rugal has all sorts of crap lying around.
Mature: We'll get one going, no worries.
Ranma: Good. Iori, Leona, follow me! We're going to find Rugal and beat his ass
down… Again…
Leona: Sigh… You think Rugal would have learned by now…
Iori: What can I say? Rugal is an idiot…
Ranma: True… But an idiot with a lot of power…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Ranma… I think he's in the hull of the ship…
Ranma (Thinks): Why?
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): I feel a lot of MY energy beginning to converge
down there… So, it's safe to say he's doing something below deck.
Ranma (Nods his head): Iori, Leona, I think we should go down to the hull.
Iori: Okay… But why?
Ranma: Let's just say, I have a hunch we'll find Rugal down there…
And so Ranma, Iori, and Leona start walking down the stairwell, and into the lower levels
of the Black Noah.
(------)
When the Anything Goes Team makes it to the lowest room of the Black Noah, they are
slightly shocked. The place is an absolute mess. There are meshes of wire hanging down
from open panels on the ceiling of the room, and all sorts of exposed wiring hanging across
from a weird looking pod device in the corner of the room. The center of a room has a
weird raised pit or tub, which seems to be made from human skeletons cast in lead. All the
skulls have the symbol of the 'Omega' carve into the center of their foreheads.
Ranma: Okay… Now that is NOT healthy…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): This is not good…
Iori: What the hell is all this?
Leona: I think those might have been the states Rugal kept of his defeated opponents…
Iori: Damn… That guy is SICK!
Suddenly, the ship begins to stumble slightly, and three amethyst gems begin to glow
brightly, illuminating the room.
Iori: What the hell is going on?
Ranma (Puts his arm around Leona): Stay close Lechan.
Leona: Right.
Suddenly, the three gems explode, and all goes silent… After a few moments, there is a
weak tremble that runs through the ship, and two machines on the ceiling start pumping, to
the rhythm of a human heart. Suddenly, through the 'bowl' made from the lead covered
skeletons, blood begins to flow…
Ranma: Blood?
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Not just any blood… This is our blood… This is
Orochi blood!
The blood overflows the bowl and spreads throughout fissures in the floor. The blood,
defying gravity, flows in through fissures in the walls, leading into a smaller pool in the
wall, which radiates with red energy. The whole place is filled with an aura of evil.
Ranma (Looks around): This is NOT good!
Iori: No shit Sherlock!
Suddenly, the light on the wall dims to nothing the pod falls into the floor, and all goes as
still as death…
Leona (Blinks): … What happened?
Ranma: I have no idea…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Ranma, below you is an incredible source of
energy! RUN!!!
Suddenly, Ranma, Leona, and Iori are blown backwards as an arm, covered in wires, bursts
through the floor of the room. The fingers on the hand clench and more body begins to
surface from the floor, breaking through tile, and causing pipes, wire, and blood to spray all
over. Steam that erupts from the broken pipes begins to fill the room, causing zero-
visibility in the room for the fighters.
Ranma (Calls out): Leona, Iori!
Iori (Calls out): Get ready!
Leona (Calls out): Ranma, where are you!?
Finally, the steam dissipates. Standing in the center of the room is Rugal… But he is
changed… His skin is now a slate gray, his hair a chalky white, and his clothing is now in
the color scheme of the Heavenly king, his pants now a dark, violet red, and his green
muscle shirt, fingerless gloves, and shoes are black. He continues to stand there.
Iori (Blinks): … Is he dead?
To answer Iori, Rugal slowly opens his eyes. The pupils in his left eye is gone, making it a
sickly white in color. His right eye glows brighter than the sun with a light that screams of
madness and bloodlust. Rugal then smiles.
Rugal: Welcome my esteemed 'guests'… It is time to finish this. Are you ready?
Ranma (Gets into fighting stance): Ready as I'll ever be!
Leona (Gets into fighting stance): I will begin the mission!
Iori (Gets into fighting stance): I'll be 'gentle' with you…
Rugal: Heh… Always like the heroes… Feel proud… Your deaths will be cast LIVE on
television, where people at home are now watching. For I am… OMEGA RUGAL!!!
Ranma (Blinks): Is he tripping?
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): No… He is in a Pseudo-Riot of Blood state of
being. The only difference is, unlike the actual Riot of Blood he actually has his mind… If
one could say he HAS a mind in the first place…
Omega Rugal: Now let's get started! GOD CRUSHER!!!
Omega Rugal then turns towards Iori. Iori expects Rugal to dash towards him. Instead,
Rugal just stands up straight with his arms folded. He smirks and then disappears. Iori
blinks in shock.
Iori: What the…
Iori doesn't get to finish his sentence, as he is then bounced around in the same spot, hit
eight times by a powerful force, then being sent into the air, and falling to the ground.
Rugal then reappears a bit away from Iori, as the Insane Orochi Warrior glares at him.
Iori (On floor): What the f*ck was that?
Omega Rugal (Smiles): Revised God Crusher. Right now, I am even more powerful than
when I fought Kusanagi back in '95. Now, I shall destroy all of you!!!
Ranma: Leona, let's double-team him!
Leona (Nods her head): Right!
With that, both Ranma and Leona are covered in their auras. Ranma's fiery purple gathers
in his palms as a shimmering blue aura moves around Leona. Then both warriors release
their attacks.
Ranma: MOUKO TAKABISHA NO OROCHI!
Leona: MIZU KEN!
And so, the Rolling Tiger Ball of Orochi and Water Fist attacks head towards Omega
Rugal, whose smile widens.
Omega Rugal: KAISER WAVE!
Omega Rugal first puts his hands to his chest, gathering his dark energy from within. He
spreads his arms out, and the dark energy glows around his entire body in a sickening
black, silver, and pale blue colored electricity. Ranma and Leona's attacks hit the ball of
electricity and dissipate.
Ranma (Wide-eyed): WHAT THE HELL!?
Omega Rugal then releases the Kaiser Wave. It smashes Iori who is still on the ground,
sending damage through his body with the power of seven ki attacks. Iori gets blown back
into a wall, and slides down to the floor.
Iori (Sitting on floor, with back against wall): F*ck that hurts…
Ranma: Iori, are you all right?
Iori (Snaps): DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M ALL RIGHT!?
While Ranma and Leona's attentions are on Iori, Rugal then powers up for a Desperation
Move. His hand glows with a sickening-green colored Magatama…
Rugal: RUGAL EXECUTION!!!
Rugal then charges at Leona, his hand stabbing into her shoulder as she turns around to
face him… His Rugal Execution is now incredibly powerful, Now his whole arm is ablaze
in green Magatama, as he leeches the green fire into Leona. However, now Leona's body
glows with the violet of the Orochi power, and she screams. Rugal then tosses Leona into
the wall, and shakes his hand towards the floor, making excess blood fly off of his hand.
Omega Rugal: Too easy…
Ranma (Wide-eyed): LECHAN!!!
Ranma then moves over to Leona. She is unconscious and her breathing is shallow.
Ranma feels for a pulse. It is there, but now incredible weak. He lays Leona down near
Iori and he stands defiantly before Omega Rugal, openly glaring at him.
Ranma: WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!?
Omega Rugal: Just infused her with more Orochi Power… But, since she is already
Orochi-blooded… Well… (Smiles cruelly). I guess it was too much of a good thing for
her…
Ranma: BASTARD!!!
Ranma then charges at Omega Rugal. Omega Rugal smiles as Ranma is literally in front of
him.
Omega Rugal: GENOCIDE CUTTER!!!
Omega Rugal does the Genocide Cutter. His leg mercilessly connects with Ranma's body,
sending the pig-tailed fighter flying into the air as Rugal jumps up. However, that is not
the end of it. Omega Rugal them pushes his leg down and raises his other leg up. His
other leg connects with Ranma's jaw for another hit, sending Ranma crashing into the
ceiling, and crashing back down to the floor.
Omega Rugal (Lands): And so it ends…
Ranma lies on the ground, his head swimming in pain.
Ranma (Thinks): No… It can't end like this… I can't let Lechan and Iori die her with
me… I have to stop him!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): I know how you can stop him…
Ranma (Thinks): HOW!?
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Let me loose… We'll merge and then we'll show
him what REAL Orochi Power is all about.
Ranma (Thinks, smirks): Sure… At this point, I'm willing to take a gamble.
With that, Ranma clenches his eyes shut, he now feels a new pain altogether. He screams
out in agony as his body changes. He becomes taller, gaining a full foot in height, his
muscle frame becomes much larger, making his shirt rip open. His hair turns white, with
violet at the trim. On his chest appears the symbol of Orochi. He suddenly levitates to his
feet and levitates in mid-air. His eyes then snap open; they are now red colored and
reptilian in nature. His fiery violet aura then flares to life, taking the form of seven Orochi
heads. Omega Rugal stares at him in shock.
Omega Rugal: WHAT THE HELL!?
Ranma then talks, but his voice echoes, as if it is two voices speaking at once.
Ranma (Smirks): I am… Orochi Ranma! And Rugal, you make me sick! You abuse the
Orochi Power, giving it a bad name… I'll show you what Orochi Power truly means.
Orochi Ranma then levitates over to Omega Rugal, who charges at him. Orochi Ranma
does something Omega Rugal doesn't expect…
Orochi Ranma: GENOCIDE CUTTER!
Orochi Ranma then performs Rugal's Genocide Cutter. It is like Rugal's original version,
but it packs a lot more force behind it. Rugal goes flying into a wall, causing pieces to
break off, and blood to spray around.
Omega Rugal: H, HOW!?!?
Orochi Ranma smiles and disappears. He then Reappears in front of Omega Rugal. Orochi
Ranma shoots his hand out, stabbing into Omega Rugal's chest, He then lifts the Modern
Pirate high into the air above him.
Orochi Ranma: ARMAGEDDON REVELATION!
With that, Orochi Ranma and Omega Rugal are engulfed in a pillar of dark energy. A swirl
of black, silver, and violet colored energies shoot up into the air, making the form of a skull
above them. The move continues on for thirteen blasts. Orochi Ranma then flings Rugal to
a wall. As Omega Rugal lies on the ground, his power drains. His right eye bursts and
blood flows freely from his eye, releasing his Orochi Power and changing him back to
plain old Rugal.
Orochi Rugal (Smirks): Like a battery run dry…
Following that line of thought, Orochi Rugal separates 'his' minds. Orochi retreats back
into the recesses of Ranma's mind, making Ranma's body form back to what it was
originally. Ranma then walks over to Leona and Iori.
Ranma: How is she Iori.
Iori: Still unconscious… Damn Ranma… That was incredible… What the hell was that?
Ranma (Smiles): A little something special…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): "Special"? THAT'S ALL!?
Ranma (Thinks): Quiet you…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Sigh… I save my fragment's sorry ass, and all he
can do is call me "special"… Bleah…
Ranma ignores Orochi, and picks up Leona in his arms.
Ranma: Don't worry Lechan… I'll get you someplace safe. (Turns to Iori). Come on
Iori… Let's get out of here…
As soon as Ranma and Iori take a few steps, Rugal calls out to them.
Rugal: HOLD IT YOU TWO!!!
Ranma and Iori turn around and glare at Rugal.
Ranma: Give it up Rugal… You're beaten… The Orochi Power within you is gone and
it's not coming back… So just leave us alone, and crawl into a hole or something.
Rugal: I WON'T LET IT END LIKE THIS!!!
Iori (Raises eyebrow): That's my line… And I AM ending it like this. Let's go Ranma…
Rugal (Snarls): If I'm going down, THEN I'M TAKING YOU ALL WITH ME!!!
Rugal holds up a device in his left hand. He presses a button. Sirens and flashing red
lights go off all around the Black Noah.
Iori: SHIT! HE HIT SELF-DESTRUCT ON THE SHIP!!! RUN!!!!!!
Ranma and Iori start running. Rugal laughs maniacally as heavy, think steel doors rise up
from the floor and ceiling. Ranma and Iori continue running, as Rugal's laughter is
drowned out. The two make it to the deck. They see Vice and Mature in a helicopter on
deck, the two are waving at them.
Vice: GET OVER HERE, NOW!!!
Ranma and Iori continue running, literally jumping into the helicopter. Mature rises the
helicopter into the air as the Black Noah explodes. Ranma looks out a window and sees the
Black Noah ablaze. It begins to sink into the sea.
Ranma (Holds Leona closer to him): Lechan…
Vice: Damn… I KNEW he planted explosives on it again, I just knew it!
Mature: Whatever… I just hope he's finally gone…
Iori: I think he is… Those doors were thick and there were so many of them.
Vice: Great… So, where to now?
Ranma: Home… Leona needs help…
Mature (Nods her head): Sure… No problem… (Smiles). Mr. King of Fighters…
Ranma doesn't react. He just looks at Leona.
Ranma (Mutters): Lechan…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Ranma, she will be okay… Just let her rest…
Ranma (Thinks): Yeah… Rest…
Ranma closes his eyes and lies his head back against his seat. He is so tired, that he falls
asleep for the rest of the flight.
(------)
End Chapter 49
Next Time: Every story has an 'ending'… But remember… Every ending is just a new
beginning. But for now, we have an 'epilogue'.
Send your questions and comments to Ryutsurugi@yahoo.com
Author's note: Sorry if the chapter isn't much. Just setting things up for what to do in
book 2 of Ranma: The Tenth Hakkeshu for the most part.
Well, sorry the chapter took so long to get out. I was on vacation for a week, (visiting
family). And when I got back and started working on the chapter, I accidentally erased it
and had to rewrite it. But I promise I am finally going to finish off this story!!! And when
I do, I will start writing more BHC again!
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
Note: Flames will be read and then 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 49: The Anything Goes Team Vs. Omega
Rugal
Ranma slowly awakens to the sunlight that peeks through the shades of the window to his
room. He smiles. It's HIS room. The Saotome Compound is quite a nice place. And the
fact Genma isn't around to bother him is even nicer.
Ranma (Thinks): Sigh… Nothing could be better.
Ranma then blinks his eyes open. It is better. He looks at Leona, who is sleeping next to
him peacefully in bed. Leona is everything to him.
Ranma: Sigh… Lechan…
The smile on Ranma's face widens a bit. His mother, Nodoka was really pleased with the
idea of him being with Leona, that she literally redecorated Ranma's room for two adults.
After all, last time he slept in his own room was when he was 5-years-old!
Ranma: Heh… It was hell trying to get Lechan here… But it was worth it…
----
We see Ranma and Leona at the entrance of the hospital, talking to Heidern. The vain on
his head seems to appear and pulse rather erratically as his men Ralph Jones and Clark
Steele back away from him.
Heidern (Eye twitches): Leona, let me get this straight… You want to stay here in Japan
with Ranma?
Leona (Nods her head): Of course father.
Heidern grimaces slightly. She called him "father" instead of "sir", meaning her mind isn't
in a military-set.
Heidern: And, if I may ask… Why is that?
Leona: Father, Ranma has done so much for me. He is the kindest, sweetest, most caring
person I have met. He saved my life, and fought many times to protect me.
Heidern: Well that's… Er… Um… Nice…
Leona (Smiles): It is.
Heidern's eye widens in shock. He's NEVER seen Leona smile so genuinely before.
Heidern: Hmm… Leona, it's good to have you back, and it's good to know that you like
Ranma, but…
Female voice: But what?
Heidern and his men hear the female voice behind them. They then pale and shake with
fear at the sight before them as they turn to look at it… Nodoka Saotome, katana drawn,
and the look on her face is one that seems to be bordering on going into the Riot of Blood.
Heidern, Ralph, & Clark:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Ranma: Mom, stop trying to scare them!
Nodoka then sheathes her katana and goes back to looking normal.
Nodoka: Sorry dear, it's just that fear is a great tool to make narrow-minded people more
open-minded.
Ranma: Uh… Great mom…
Nodoka: Now… (Glares at Heidern). Commander Heidern…
Heidern: Uh… Yes?
Nodoka: Why are you so upset about my manly son seeing your daughter? My son is very
manly, he would never do anything to a woman that she wouldn't like, and he would never,
EVER intentionally hurt them, ESPECIALLY Leona.
Heidern: Er… That's all well and good Nodoka, but we all know how kids are…
Ranma & Leona: WE ARE NOT KIDS!
Nodoka: Indeed. They do have a point Heidern. They are 18 and 20-years-old. They are
old enough to be considered adults, and can make important decisions for themselves.
Heidern: I know they can but Leona is still my daughter and under the command of the
Ikari Mercenaries, so…
Heidern's eye widens and he sweats as he sees Nodoka frown and begin to slowly
unsheathe her katana from its scabbard.
Heidern (Thinks): CRAP! Why do I always have to deal with these bloodthirsty,
psychotic, Orochi-blooded people?
Heidern sighs. If he's going to get out of this, he might as well give them what they
want… But, he can still have a little control. Heidern turns to Leona.
Heidern: Leona!
Leona: Yes father?
Heidern: I am putting you on your new mission!
Leona (Wide-eyed): New mission!?
Ranma and Nodoka glare at Heidern, their battle auras flaring to life. Heidern, deciding to
cut this quick before they cut him apart, talks quickly.
Heidern: Leonayournewmissionistowatchoverranma!!!
Leona (Blinks): … Huh?
Heidern: I mean… Leona, your new mission is to watch over Ranma. He is too
unpredictable, and it would be good too have him constantly monitored. And I'm sure that
you will keep a close eye on him.
Leona's eyes brighten with joy. She jumps at Heidern and hugs him with al her might.
Leona (Hugs Heidern): Oh daddy, THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUSOMUCH!!!
Heidern (Blinks): Um… You're welcome honey…
Ralph: But sir, you CAN'T LEAVE HER IN THE HANDS OF THAT MONSTER!
Clark: Right! As a senior member of the Ikari Warriors, I must say that it would be
unwise to leave him in the hands of THAT… That… Orochi-man!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): That idiot Clark doesn't realize how close to the
mark he is with that last statement.
Ranma (Thinks): Shut up!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Sigh… You've been REALLY bitchy lately, you
know that Ranma?
Heidern: Boys, my mind is made up. I do have one request though…
Heidern then grabs Ranma's shoulders and looks Ranma directly in the eyes.
Heidern (Shakes Ranma): If you do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to take advantage
of my daughter, I will hunt you down, skin you alive, and grind your bones to make my
bread, DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?
Ranma (Shaking): Y, y, y, y, YES SIR!!!
Heidern (Drops Ranma): GOOD!
Leona (Helps Ranma to his feet): Actually, we've already done it.
Heidern, Nodoka, Ralph, & Clark: WHAT!?!?!?
Ranma (Blushes): L, LECHAN!?
Leona: What? I'm not embarrassed. I love you Ranma, as you love me.
Ranma and Leona look at each other. They then hug each other and kiss passionately. The
reactions they received are varied. Ralph and Clark pass out on the spot. Nodoka starts
dancing and chanting about how manly her son is, and Heidern…
Heidern (Demon Head attack):
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Ranma, seeing Heidern going into a "Riot of Brain Hemorrhage", decides to pick up Leona
in his arms and runs like the wind. Heidern then starts chasing after them.
Heidern: RANMA! COME BACK HERE AND DIE LIKE A MAN YOU DEFILER OF
INNOCENT WOMEN!!!
Ranma (Runs): Damn! Leona is your father always like this!?
Leona (Shakes her head): Yes. Why do you think the first time we went out was also the
first time I actually went on a date?
Ranma (Runs faster): Good point.
Leona: Ranma, why are you running?
Ranma points behind him. Leona sees her father riding atop of a large T-147 tank, yelling
about how pig-tailed Orochi gigolos must suffer horrible, fiery deaths.
----
Ranma hugs onto Leona tightly.
Ranma: Yes… It was hell… But it was so worth it.
Ranma blinks as he feels Leona hug him back. He looks at her to see her smiling at him.
Leona (Smiles): Good morning Ranchan.
Ranma (Smiles): Good morning Lechan! Did you sleep well?
Leona (Nods): Yes. I had quite a nice nap. But I think the dream I wake up to is much
more pleasant…
Leona moves her head up and the two begin to kiss again. Ranma and Leona move their
arms around one another to embrace. The feeling of being close to one another the greatest
joy that they can go through, nothing can make them stop…
That is, nothing out of the ordinary…
A huge explosion suddenly rocks the house. Ranma and Leona blink for a couple of
seconds, until they hear some voices.
Mature (Voice): VICE! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO THE
MICROWAVE!?!?!?
Vice (Voice): What? I was just trying to make Iori-sama some bacon for breakfast, after
all, you know how he loves his meats. So I tried to cook it in the microwave…
Mature (Voice): BUT I TOLD YOU TO PUT THE FRYING PAN ON TOP OF THE
OVEN, NOT IN THE MICROWAVE! DON'T YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO PUT METALS IN A MICROWAVE!?
Silence follows for a couple of seconds…
Vice (Voice): Oops… Silly me…
Mature (Voice): DAMN IT VICE!!!
Leona (Looks at Ranma): Are you SURE that them staying with us was the best idea?
Ranma: Well, mom wanted it that way…
----
We see Nodoka standing outside of her home. Vice and Mature are standing in front of
her.
Nodoka: Hello ladies. It's been awhile. How're you doing?
Mature: Hello Mrs. Saotome… We were wondering if you needed any maids or
something…
Nodoka (Blinks): Maids?
Vice: Yeah…
Mature: You know, servants.
Nodoka: Servants?
Vice: Yeah… You see… We're kind of out of a job…
Nodoka: Oh?
Mature: Yeah… Once Rugal disappeared, we were out of jobs. So…
Mature & Vice: PLEASE LET US WORK FOR YOU! WE HAVE NOWHERE ELSE
TO GO!!!
Mature and Vice then do the "Crouch of the Wild Tiger", bowing up and down repeatedly
before the Saotome Matriarch. Nodoka blinks a few times, but then her look of confusion
breaks way to a warm-hearted smile.
Nodoka: Of course you two can stay and work here.
Mature & Vice (Eyes sparkle): REALLY!?
Nodoka: Of course! You are both well-educated and competent people. I'm sure your
services would be very useful… And…
Mature & Vice: And?
Nodoka: And… (Smile widens). You can BOTH try to go after my nephew Iori. He's so
manly, but he hasn't tried to find a wife yet, and I think you two would make perfect
candidates.
At this point, Mature pales and looks like she's going to throw up. Vice on the other hand,
widens her eyes and smiles.
Vice: YES!!! I'M GONNA GET IORI-SAMA!!!
Mature (Pale): … I'll work… But there is NO WAY IN HELL I'm sleeping with that
asshole Iori!
Iori (Voice): Who's an asshole?
Mature, Vice, and Nodoka look up to see Iori sticking his head out of a window from the
top floor. Nodoka smiles at him.
Nodoka: Guess what Iori. Vice and Mature are now working for us.
Vice (Waves): HI IORI-SAMA!
Iori (Sweat-drops): … If it's not having to deal with Kusanagi scum, it's those Orochi
whores… Kami-sama hates me… I just know it…
----
Ranma: Yup… Mom was very thrilled to have them working for us.
(------)
Rugal finishes typing into a computer console of the ship. The boot up screen for Windows
'98 appears on the computer.
Rugal: FINALLY! It took me a good week, but I finally got the ship running completely
again…
Suddenly, the words, "Syntax Error, Shutting Down" appear on the screen, and all of the
Black Noah loses power.
Rugal: SONUVABITCH!!! THAT DOES IT!!!
Rugal reaches under his console and pulls out a little stick with a button on it. It is a
portable detonation-device.
Rugal: I'll see you in hell Gates…
Rugal presses the button. All of a sudden, in corporate America, Microsoft's home office
blows up and catches fire. Bill Gates falls from a window on fire, his cheap clothes
burning quite easily.
Rugal (Smiles): Much better. Now to fix this…
Rugal smashes his fist on top of the console and kicks the base of it. The machine whirrs
and clicks a few times, and then power is restored to the Black Noah.
Rugal: Ah… That should do it… Now… To get my opponents here…
Rugal presses a few buttons on the console to activate the satellite dish. He takes control of
all the airwaves. People all over the world are forced to look at Rugal through his one
video camera.
(------)
Pao Pao Café…
All the fighters stare at the TV Richard Meyer has hanging in the corner of the Ceiling
behind the bar. Rugal's smiling face appears
Joe: WHAT THE HELL HAPPED TO "I LOVE LUCY"!?!?!?
Terry: It's Rugal!
Mai: Damn it! Now Andy will want to fight him and get hurt again…
Mary: Um… Andy is in a wheelchair and a body-cast. I don't think he'll be going
anywhere.
Andy: Mai! To Geese Tower! Quickly!
Mai: Quiet! We're listening Andy!
Mai tips over Andy's wheelchair.
(------)
Kim Kaphwan's Dojo…
We see Kim, his two sons: Jae Hoon and Dong Hwan, and Chang and Choi gathered
around a small television set.
Chang: Hey! What happened to "Who Wants to be an Evil Overlord with Geese
Howard?"
Choi: Yeah! They were showing the one with Mr. Big, Eiji Kisaragi, and that weird
Gymnast lady…
Chang: Kodachi Kuno…
Choi: Whatever… What kind of FREAK attacks with a ribbon?
Chang (Nods his head): I know what you mean…
Kim sweats as he eyes Choi's claws and Chang's iron ball and chain.
Kim (Thinks): And those two have the GALL to say she has a weird weapon?
(------)
Geese Tower…
Geese spits out his Samuel Adams beer from the mug he was drinking. He stares at the
Modern Pirate who is on the television set.
Geese: Damn it! What happened to my reruns of "Who Want to be an Evil Overlord with
Geese Howard"!?!?!?
Ripper and Hopper look at each other, then back at Geese.
Ripper: Maybe this is the rerun of the one you had earlier this year with the Rugal Team?
Geese: No, it can't be. Rugal didn't throw his face into the camera.
An 11-year-old Rock's head peeks under from Geese's desk.
Rock: Why are you yelling daddy?
Geese: It's nothing Rock.
Rock: Okay… I'll go downstairs and see how Terry is doing.
Geese: Now Rock… What have I told you about those 'evil' Bogards before?
Rock (Scrunches his face): Um… That they're bad…
Geese: Yes… And?
Rock: Um… They're mean… They try to send you flying like a real goose off of your
big tower… And that they can't let the past go?
Geese: Correct Rock. Now, what are you going to do?
Rock (Smiles): I'm going to go downstairs to the café and say hi to Terry!
Geese face-faults onto his desk. Rock smiles innocently and walks to the staircase and
downstairs.
Ripper & Hopper (shake Geese's shoulders): Boss?
Geese: That Terry is a BAD influence on my boy. He must be stopped!
Ripper: What are you going to do though boss? It's not like Rock will just drop Terry to
hero-worship another person.
Hopper: Yeah… You aren't exactly father off the year boss.
Geese (Glares): If you two don't shut up, I'm going to Double Reppuken both your asses
off this tower!
Ripper & Hopper: YES SIR, SORRY SIR!
Geese: Never mind… But don't worry… It may take my boy awhile to realize that I'm
the best thing for him… But… In the meantime, I have another fighter I can use to wean
Rock off of Terry… Someone closer to Rock in age…
Geese then opens his desk and takes out his file on Ranma Saotome. He looks at the folder
and starts laughing. However, that laughs attracts all of the fighters downstairs like a moth
to a flame. Soon the door to Geese's office bursts open with…
Terry: GEESE! YOU KILLED MY FATHER!!!
Andy (In arm and leg casts): GEESE! YOU KILLED MY FATHER AND THREW ME
OUT YOUR WINDOW!!!
Mary: GEESE! YOU KILLED MY FATHER AND MY FIANCEE!!!
Joe: GEESE! YOUR HALF-BROTHER KICKED MY ASS!!!
Mai: GEESE! YOU MADE MY ANDY OBSESSIVE WITH KILLING YOU!!!
Geese begins to bang his head on his desk out of frustration repeatedly.
(------)
Saotome Residence…
Ranma and Leona sit together on the couch. Their eyes bulge wide open when they see
Rugal's ugly mug on the television set.
Ranma (Calls out): Mom! Iori! Kima! Vice! Mature! COME QUICK!
Nodoka, Iori, Kima, Vice, and Mature come running to the living room to see what Ranma
is screaming about. Ranma points to the television set.
Iori: Rugal? He's still alive?
Vice: DAMN IT! WHAT'S HE DOING ALIVE AND NOT A BLOODY, BRUISED
SMEAR OF PULP!?
Mature: Sigh… Monsieur Rugal still lives… Damn it… I thought we beat him to a
bloody pulp in Orochi Space.
Nodoka: Hmm… He seems… Unmanly…
Orochi (In the back of Ranma's mind): Wow… If there's one thing Rugal is, it's
persistent… Actually, persistent and has an explosive fetish…
Suddenly, Rugal begins speaking into a little microphone he's holding.
Rugal (On TV): Hello? Is this thing on? (Loud screech from microphone). Okay…
Hello out there! This is King of Fighters 1998 Tournament Host: The Modern Pirate Rugal
Bernstein! Now, I'm sure you're all wondering why I used my satellite to take over the
television airwaves AND cast this talk to everyone, yes? Well, put simply, KING OF
FIGHTERS '98 ISN'T DONE YET! I invite the Anything Goes Team to a final 3-on-1
battle! This will determine whom the REAL King of Fighters IS!!! And, should they
refuse, they will not only lose the right to be the King of Fighters, but… (Smiles evilly). I
shall detonate the explosives I set at different locations while traveling around the world for
the tournament. What do you think of that!? Huh? HUH!? (Calms down). Anyway…
Anything Goes Team… Come to the Black Noah for the final fight, which will be
broadcasted live, and on my private station, which shall be every television station for the
next couple of days or so, PAY-PER-VIEWGAL!!! Tootles.
With that Rugal leaves the screen. For the next couple of minutes, it continues to show the
deck of the Black Noah. Everyone one around the world is blinking and wondering what
the hell that crazy bastard Rugal is up to now…
Nodoka: My… What he did was certainly unmanly…
Kima: Did he snap?
Vice: Nah… Snapped long ago…
Mature: Indeed. He was nuts before, but now he's nuttier than a bag of trail mix.
Ranma: We have to stop him!
Suddenly, there is a rather loud knocking at the door.
Iori: Mature, go and get that.
Mature: What do I look like, your servant?
Iori (Smirks): Why, yes!
Mature (Mutters): Asshole…
Mature goes to get the door. When she opens it, she sees all of the Ikari Mercenaries and
their equipment out front. She quickly slams the door and has her back against it.
Mature: Ranma, it's for you!
Ranma walks over to the door and opens it. He is greeted to the same sight that Mature had
been greeted by.
Ranma (Looks at all the soldiers and equipment): … Woah…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Wow… Like little ants scurrying about…
Suddenly, Heidern appears in front of Ranma and starts shaking him by the shoulders.
Heidern (Shaking Ranma): RANMA! DID YOU SEE THE TELEVISION!?!?!?
Ranma (Being shook): Y, yes sir!
Heidern (Shaking Ranma even harder): AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!?
Ranma (Being shook violently): That I have to fight Rugal?
Heidern (Shaking Ranma quite violently): AND DO YOU POSSIBLE COMPREHEND
WHAT THAT MEANS!?!?!?
Ranma (Limbs flailing wildly): That if I don't go, the bombs will blow up… And that
you're tearing me apart like a rag-doll sir?
Heidern: NO!!! (Drops Ranma). That Rugal has control of the airwaves. Until he's gone,
there will be no television!!!
Ranma (Blinks): So?
Kima: Yeah, what's so great about television?
Iori: Yeah. It is WAY over-rated. Like, take that stupid show, "Psycho Soldiers GO" for
example.
Heidern (Wide-eyed): I CAN'T WATCH MY SOAPS!!!
Everyone inside the house face-faults.
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): You know Ranma; the human race seems even
more pathetic than it was almost two thousand years ago… Are you sure it's worth saving?
Ranma (Thinks): Yes.
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Are you absolutely sure?
Ranma (Thinks): Yes!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Are you most certainly absolutely, positively,
incredibly, no-room-for-doubt…
Ranma (Thinks): I SAID YES! NOW SHUT THE HELL UP!!!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): … Geez… And here I thought you'd be "Mr.
Cool". After all, sex is a great stress reliever and considering how many times you've done
it with Leona in the past twenty-four hours alone, I thought that…
Ranma (Thinks): Orochi…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Yes?
Ranma (Thinks): DROP IT!!!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): … Party-pooper…
(------)
And so, we see Ranma, Leona, and Iori sitting in the back of a helicopter, while Vice and
Mature sit in the front piloting it.
Mature (Pilot's seat): Tell me again, WHY are Vice and I taking you to the Black Noah?
Iori: Well, considering you ARE MY servants, I would like to be chauffeured…
Vice (Navigator's seat): And we'd be happy to take you there, right Mature?
Mature (Sarcastic): Oh yes… So much fun to serve under the man… Oooh… Aaah…
The glamorous life for us, eh Vice?
Leona: Well, it was nice enough of dad to lend us this helicopter to use…
Ranma: Mature, are you sure you can land this ting on the Black Noah's deck?
Mature: No problem.
The helicopter does a nosedive onto the deck of the Black Noah. Amazingly, all the people
aboard the helicopter are unhurt. Yes, Orochi blood is a really, really good thing to have at
times…
Iori (To Mature): You crazy bitch! Are you TRYING TI KILL US!
Mature: Just you!
Iori (Clenches and unclenches his fists): Why I ought to…
Mature: You go Riot of Blood again, and I will so kick your ass instead of waiting for you
to tear me apart like a paper doll this time!
Leona: What ever happened to professional hired help?
Vice: Hey! We're professional!
Ranma: Professional, I am sure of… But professional 'what'?
Vice: Well, Mature and I are professional assassins, spies, computer hackers, strippers,
lesbian porn actresses, singing strip-o-gram singers, and other things…
Ranma: Sorry I asked…
Vice, Ranma, and Leona ignore Mature and Iori, who are fighting in the back round.
Mature (With Iori in a headlock): How's that, oh high-and-mighty 'King' of Fighters?
Iori (Struggling): MATURE, IF YOU DO NOT LET GO RIGHT NOW, I WILL
PERSONALLY TEAR YOU A NEW BELLY BUTTON!
Mature (Tightens grip): Been there, done that, really not afraid anymore…
Iori begins to pale in color as Mature cuts off his passage of air.
Iori: Gah… C, can't breeeeeeeeathe…
(------)
After spending a few minutes to let Iori breathe, the Anything Goes team, Vice, and Mature
go over their next stage of plan…
Ranma: Okay Vice, Mature, I want you two to see if you can at least hotwire another mode
of transportation, so we can get off of this ship.
Vice: No problem. Rugal has all sorts of crap lying around.
Mature: We'll get one going, no worries.
Ranma: Good. Iori, Leona, follow me! We're going to find Rugal and beat his ass
down… Again…
Leona: Sigh… You think Rugal would have learned by now…
Iori: What can I say? Rugal is an idiot…
Ranma: True… But an idiot with a lot of power…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Ranma… I think he's in the hull of the ship…
Ranma (Thinks): Why?
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): I feel a lot of MY energy beginning to converge
down there… So, it's safe to say he's doing something below deck.
Ranma (Nods his head): Iori, Leona, I think we should go down to the hull.
Iori: Okay… But why?
Ranma: Let's just say, I have a hunch we'll find Rugal down there…
And so Ranma, Iori, and Leona start walking down the stairwell, and into the lower levels
of the Black Noah.
(------)
When the Anything Goes Team makes it to the lowest room of the Black Noah, they are
slightly shocked. The place is an absolute mess. There are meshes of wire hanging down
from open panels on the ceiling of the room, and all sorts of exposed wiring hanging across
from a weird looking pod device in the corner of the room. The center of a room has a
weird raised pit or tub, which seems to be made from human skeletons cast in lead. All the
skulls have the symbol of the 'Omega' carve into the center of their foreheads.
Ranma: Okay… Now that is NOT healthy…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): This is not good…
Iori: What the hell is all this?
Leona: I think those might have been the states Rugal kept of his defeated opponents…
Iori: Damn… That guy is SICK!
Suddenly, the ship begins to stumble slightly, and three amethyst gems begin to glow
brightly, illuminating the room.
Iori: What the hell is going on?
Ranma (Puts his arm around Leona): Stay close Lechan.
Leona: Right.
Suddenly, the three gems explode, and all goes silent… After a few moments, there is a
weak tremble that runs through the ship, and two machines on the ceiling start pumping, to
the rhythm of a human heart. Suddenly, through the 'bowl' made from the lead covered
skeletons, blood begins to flow…
Ranma: Blood?
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Not just any blood… This is our blood… This is
Orochi blood!
The blood overflows the bowl and spreads throughout fissures in the floor. The blood,
defying gravity, flows in through fissures in the walls, leading into a smaller pool in the
wall, which radiates with red energy. The whole place is filled with an aura of evil.
Ranma (Looks around): This is NOT good!
Iori: No shit Sherlock!
Suddenly, the light on the wall dims to nothing the pod falls into the floor, and all goes as
still as death…
Leona (Blinks): … What happened?
Ranma: I have no idea…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Ranma, below you is an incredible source of
energy! RUN!!!
Suddenly, Ranma, Leona, and Iori are blown backwards as an arm, covered in wires, bursts
through the floor of the room. The fingers on the hand clench and more body begins to
surface from the floor, breaking through tile, and causing pipes, wire, and blood to spray all
over. Steam that erupts from the broken pipes begins to fill the room, causing zero-
visibility in the room for the fighters.
Ranma (Calls out): Leona, Iori!
Iori (Calls out): Get ready!
Leona (Calls out): Ranma, where are you!?
Finally, the steam dissipates. Standing in the center of the room is Rugal… But he is
changed… His skin is now a slate gray, his hair a chalky white, and his clothing is now in
the color scheme of the Heavenly king, his pants now a dark, violet red, and his green
muscle shirt, fingerless gloves, and shoes are black. He continues to stand there.
Iori (Blinks): … Is he dead?
To answer Iori, Rugal slowly opens his eyes. The pupils in his left eye is gone, making it a
sickly white in color. His right eye glows brighter than the sun with a light that screams of
madness and bloodlust. Rugal then smiles.
Rugal: Welcome my esteemed 'guests'… It is time to finish this. Are you ready?
Ranma (Gets into fighting stance): Ready as I'll ever be!
Leona (Gets into fighting stance): I will begin the mission!
Iori (Gets into fighting stance): I'll be 'gentle' with you…
Rugal: Heh… Always like the heroes… Feel proud… Your deaths will be cast LIVE on
television, where people at home are now watching. For I am… OMEGA RUGAL!!!
Ranma (Blinks): Is he tripping?
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): No… He is in a Pseudo-Riot of Blood state of
being. The only difference is, unlike the actual Riot of Blood he actually has his mind… If
one could say he HAS a mind in the first place…
Omega Rugal: Now let's get started! GOD CRUSHER!!!
Omega Rugal then turns towards Iori. Iori expects Rugal to dash towards him. Instead,
Rugal just stands up straight with his arms folded. He smirks and then disappears. Iori
blinks in shock.
Iori: What the…
Iori doesn't get to finish his sentence, as he is then bounced around in the same spot, hit
eight times by a powerful force, then being sent into the air, and falling to the ground.
Rugal then reappears a bit away from Iori, as the Insane Orochi Warrior glares at him.
Iori (On floor): What the f*ck was that?
Omega Rugal (Smiles): Revised God Crusher. Right now, I am even more powerful than
when I fought Kusanagi back in '95. Now, I shall destroy all of you!!!
Ranma: Leona, let's double-team him!
Leona (Nods her head): Right!
With that, both Ranma and Leona are covered in their auras. Ranma's fiery purple gathers
in his palms as a shimmering blue aura moves around Leona. Then both warriors release
their attacks.
Ranma: MOUKO TAKABISHA NO OROCHI!
Leona: MIZU KEN!
And so, the Rolling Tiger Ball of Orochi and Water Fist attacks head towards Omega
Rugal, whose smile widens.
Omega Rugal: KAISER WAVE!
Omega Rugal first puts his hands to his chest, gathering his dark energy from within. He
spreads his arms out, and the dark energy glows around his entire body in a sickening
black, silver, and pale blue colored electricity. Ranma and Leona's attacks hit the ball of
electricity and dissipate.
Ranma (Wide-eyed): WHAT THE HELL!?
Omega Rugal then releases the Kaiser Wave. It smashes Iori who is still on the ground,
sending damage through his body with the power of seven ki attacks. Iori gets blown back
into a wall, and slides down to the floor.
Iori (Sitting on floor, with back against wall): F*ck that hurts…
Ranma: Iori, are you all right?
Iori (Snaps): DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M ALL RIGHT!?
While Ranma and Leona's attentions are on Iori, Rugal then powers up for a Desperation
Move. His hand glows with a sickening-green colored Magatama…
Rugal: RUGAL EXECUTION!!!
Rugal then charges at Leona, his hand stabbing into her shoulder as she turns around to
face him… His Rugal Execution is now incredibly powerful, Now his whole arm is ablaze
in green Magatama, as he leeches the green fire into Leona. However, now Leona's body
glows with the violet of the Orochi power, and she screams. Rugal then tosses Leona into
the wall, and shakes his hand towards the floor, making excess blood fly off of his hand.
Omega Rugal: Too easy…
Ranma (Wide-eyed): LECHAN!!!
Ranma then moves over to Leona. She is unconscious and her breathing is shallow.
Ranma feels for a pulse. It is there, but now incredible weak. He lays Leona down near
Iori and he stands defiantly before Omega Rugal, openly glaring at him.
Ranma: WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!?
Omega Rugal: Just infused her with more Orochi Power… But, since she is already
Orochi-blooded… Well… (Smiles cruelly). I guess it was too much of a good thing for
her…
Ranma: BASTARD!!!
Ranma then charges at Omega Rugal. Omega Rugal smiles as Ranma is literally in front of
him.
Omega Rugal: GENOCIDE CUTTER!!!
Omega Rugal does the Genocide Cutter. His leg mercilessly connects with Ranma's body,
sending the pig-tailed fighter flying into the air as Rugal jumps up. However, that is not
the end of it. Omega Rugal them pushes his leg down and raises his other leg up. His
other leg connects with Ranma's jaw for another hit, sending Ranma crashing into the
ceiling, and crashing back down to the floor.
Omega Rugal (Lands): And so it ends…
Ranma lies on the ground, his head swimming in pain.
Ranma (Thinks): No… It can't end like this… I can't let Lechan and Iori die her with
me… I have to stop him!
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): I know how you can stop him…
Ranma (Thinks): HOW!?
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Let me loose… We'll merge and then we'll show
him what REAL Orochi Power is all about.
Ranma (Thinks, smirks): Sure… At this point, I'm willing to take a gamble.
With that, Ranma clenches his eyes shut, he now feels a new pain altogether. He screams
out in agony as his body changes. He becomes taller, gaining a full foot in height, his
muscle frame becomes much larger, making his shirt rip open. His hair turns white, with
violet at the trim. On his chest appears the symbol of Orochi. He suddenly levitates to his
feet and levitates in mid-air. His eyes then snap open; they are now red colored and
reptilian in nature. His fiery violet aura then flares to life, taking the form of seven Orochi
heads. Omega Rugal stares at him in shock.
Omega Rugal: WHAT THE HELL!?
Ranma then talks, but his voice echoes, as if it is two voices speaking at once.
Ranma (Smirks): I am… Orochi Ranma! And Rugal, you make me sick! You abuse the
Orochi Power, giving it a bad name… I'll show you what Orochi Power truly means.
Orochi Ranma then levitates over to Omega Rugal, who charges at him. Orochi Ranma
does something Omega Rugal doesn't expect…
Orochi Ranma: GENOCIDE CUTTER!
Orochi Ranma then performs Rugal's Genocide Cutter. It is like Rugal's original version,
but it packs a lot more force behind it. Rugal goes flying into a wall, causing pieces to
break off, and blood to spray around.
Omega Rugal: H, HOW!?!?
Orochi Ranma smiles and disappears. He then Reappears in front of Omega Rugal. Orochi
Ranma shoots his hand out, stabbing into Omega Rugal's chest, He then lifts the Modern
Pirate high into the air above him.
Orochi Ranma: ARMAGEDDON REVELATION!
With that, Orochi Ranma and Omega Rugal are engulfed in a pillar of dark energy. A swirl
of black, silver, and violet colored energies shoot up into the air, making the form of a skull
above them. The move continues on for thirteen blasts. Orochi Ranma then flings Rugal to
a wall. As Omega Rugal lies on the ground, his power drains. His right eye bursts and
blood flows freely from his eye, releasing his Orochi Power and changing him back to
plain old Rugal.
Orochi Rugal (Smirks): Like a battery run dry…
Following that line of thought, Orochi Rugal separates 'his' minds. Orochi retreats back
into the recesses of Ranma's mind, making Ranma's body form back to what it was
originally. Ranma then walks over to Leona and Iori.
Ranma: How is she Iori.
Iori: Still unconscious… Damn Ranma… That was incredible… What the hell was that?
Ranma (Smiles): A little something special…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): "Special"? THAT'S ALL!?
Ranma (Thinks): Quiet you…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Sigh… I save my fragment's sorry ass, and all he
can do is call me "special"… Bleah…
Ranma ignores Orochi, and picks up Leona in his arms.
Ranma: Don't worry Lechan… I'll get you someplace safe. (Turns to Iori). Come on
Iori… Let's get out of here…
As soon as Ranma and Iori take a few steps, Rugal calls out to them.
Rugal: HOLD IT YOU TWO!!!
Ranma and Iori turn around and glare at Rugal.
Ranma: Give it up Rugal… You're beaten… The Orochi Power within you is gone and
it's not coming back… So just leave us alone, and crawl into a hole or something.
Rugal: I WON'T LET IT END LIKE THIS!!!
Iori (Raises eyebrow): That's my line… And I AM ending it like this. Let's go Ranma…
Rugal (Snarls): If I'm going down, THEN I'M TAKING YOU ALL WITH ME!!!
Rugal holds up a device in his left hand. He presses a button. Sirens and flashing red
lights go off all around the Black Noah.
Iori: SHIT! HE HIT SELF-DESTRUCT ON THE SHIP!!! RUN!!!!!!
Ranma and Iori start running. Rugal laughs maniacally as heavy, think steel doors rise up
from the floor and ceiling. Ranma and Iori continue running, as Rugal's laughter is
drowned out. The two make it to the deck. They see Vice and Mature in a helicopter on
deck, the two are waving at them.
Vice: GET OVER HERE, NOW!!!
Ranma and Iori continue running, literally jumping into the helicopter. Mature rises the
helicopter into the air as the Black Noah explodes. Ranma looks out a window and sees the
Black Noah ablaze. It begins to sink into the sea.
Ranma (Holds Leona closer to him): Lechan…
Vice: Damn… I KNEW he planted explosives on it again, I just knew it!
Mature: Whatever… I just hope he's finally gone…
Iori: I think he is… Those doors were thick and there were so many of them.
Vice: Great… So, where to now?
Ranma: Home… Leona needs help…
Mature (Nods her head): Sure… No problem… (Smiles). Mr. King of Fighters…
Ranma doesn't react. He just looks at Leona.
Ranma (Mutters): Lechan…
Orochi (In the back or Ranma's mind): Ranma, she will be okay… Just let her rest…
Ranma (Thinks): Yeah… Rest…
Ranma closes his eyes and lies his head back against his seat. He is so tired, that he falls
asleep for the rest of the flight.
(------)
End Chapter 49
Next Time: Every story has an 'ending'… But remember… Every ending is just a new
beginning. But for now, we have an 'epilogue'.
Send your questions and comments to Ryutsurugi@yahoo.com
Author's note: Sorry if the chapter isn't much. Just setting things up for what to do in
book 2 of Ranma: The Tenth Hakkeshu for the most part.
Well, sorry the chapter took so long to get out. I was on vacation for a week, (visiting
family). And when I got back and started working on the chapter, I accidentally erased it
and had to rewrite it. But I promise I am finally going to finish off this story!!! And when
I do, I will start writing more BHC again!
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
Note: Flames will be read and then used to fuel the Orochi fire.