The soft whistle of wind mingled with the deep breathing of exhaustion.
"Ranma! Ryouga! Would you two please stop this stupid fighting!? One of you is going to get seriously hurt."
"Can't do that Akane. This has been a long time coming and one of us is going to walk away from this the winner."
"That's right Akane. I'm sorry but we have to do this."
"You....you stupid IDIOTS!!! Both of you are so stupid! You don't have to fight! Stop it right now!"
The crackle of released energy.
"SHI SHI HOUKOUDAN!!!!"
And again.
"MOUKO TAKABISHA!!!!"
An explosion.
"RANMAAAAA!!!! RYOOOOOUGAAAAA!!!!"
Silence. Forever.
Pains of the Past
By Johnny O'Brien
Part Six
Nodoka was frantic as she paced back and forth in the Tendo's living room, wringing her hands and worrying about her boys. How could they just run off like that after what had happened so far? She paused for a moment and shivered as thoughts of many horrible things leapt unbidden to her mind's eye, of possible fates that could occur to her boys. She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to calm herself down, that Ranma and Ryouga could easily take care of each other. She paused as she realized she was trembling and clenched hers hands into the fabric of her kimono squeezing it tightly. She forced the tears back, forbidding herself from crying now. Suddenly a pair of big, strong arms wrapped around her from behind. She tensed quickly then relaxed as she heard her husband's voice softly in her ear.
"Dear. Please sit down. Ranma and Ryouga are grown men now and well able to take care of themselves. They'll be fine. You're going to worry yourself sick if you don't stop. As well as wear a groove in the floor." Genma said softly to his wife hoping to get her to stop her pacing. Nodoka turned around in Genma's arms and looked lightly up to her husband and sighed.
"I'm sorry husband but....they should have been back by now." Nodoka said and lowered her head.
"With all due respect Mrs. Saotome, it's only been fifty minutes since we found them gone. If I know Ranma and Ryouga, and I make it point to know everything about everyone, they'll be back and be just fine." Nabiki said from where she lounged on the couch. She offered a small smile to Nodoka who smiled a little back and nodded.
"Nabiki's right! Ranchan and Ryochan are the best martial artists I know. There's nothing those two can't handle!", Ukyou said with a wide assuring grin, even though inside she wasn't as sure as she let on.
"I wish I could share your enthusiasm Miss Kuonji but they are dealing with Shodoro Kaseru, a man of whom even I have reason to fear.", Cologne announced from the doorway to the kitchen startling everyone. Behind her stood Shampoo and Mousse, both of whom looked stern and ready for a fight.
"What…what are you doing here? What do you mean? What do you know about this Kaseru guy?!" Ukyou asked overcoming the slight shock.
"Please....are my boys in danger?" Nodoka asked and swallowed softly, gripping the fabric of her kimono a little tighter.
"Mrs. Saotome. Miss Kuonji. I do not know. All I know is that Kaseru is evil, powerful and manipulative. No disrespect but Miss Tendo looks like a girl scout compared to Kaseru. He is a Master's Master when it comes to the Art. He is older than I. Far, far older. All I know is that he never does anything without reason or benefit to himself. He is here for a reason and we must find out what it is and stop him. Where did Ranma and Ryouga go?" Cologne said in an even voice.
"Ranchan left us a note. It said that Kaseru told them Akane's spirit was in unrest and they were going to help her rest. It didn't say where they were going though." Ukyou said getting worried.
"Akane's spirit?! I never felt any unrest at her grave. Her grave! That's where they must be going. Come on we have to hurry!" Cologne said almost shouting and turned hopping off followed by Shampoo and Mousse. Almost immediately Ukyou, Genma, and Nodoka took off after them as well out into the night.
Kaseru and Akane stood quietly just behind Akane's tombstone in the cemetery. Akane was in Mimoko's form now and looked around nervously. She glanced at the stone once again in almost disbelief and then quickly looked to Kaseru, who merely stood looking about slowly and waiting patiently.
"Kaseru-san? Why do I have to pretend to be your daughter, Mimoko? Wouldn't it be easier if I told them I was back for good?" Akane asked not liking the idea of lying to Ranma and Ryouga about this. Kaseru sighed softly and turned placing his hands on her shoulder and offering a warm, kind smile.
"Akane-san. I'll explain once again. Even though I know Ranma and Ryouga have been through many strange situations they still saw you die. They were no doubt traumatized by this and I think having you suddenly alive would traumatize them further. I am not saying it will, but there is a good chance that will happen. This way, by pretending you are a vessel for your own spirit, it will make the transition easier, should they need you and you choose to stay. Please, however, remember your promise to me. I have searched very long for a student and I will allow you to go, but only if they truly need you. If they do not I will hope you will honor the promise you made me and come train with me at my home." Kaseru said and glanced away slowly. Akane paused and in thought and swallowed.
"I....I will honor my promise. If Ranma and Ryouga do not need me then I will go with you. Ummm...what happens again if they do need me to be here?" Akane paused to ask, just to be sure.
"That is simple. If they do need you I will simply pretend to revive you from the other side as I did earlier, an easy enough ruse to pull off. I will be....very sad and disappointed, but I will do this for you." Kaseru said softly and glanced back to Akane and smiled softly. Akane smiled a little and nodded. She turned and glanced around the graveyard. The grass was wet from the recently stopped rain, a soft wispy fog lightly covering the ground but leaving some spot bare. She looked up at the full moon as it peeked out from behind some clouds and closed her eyes to remember happier times. When she and Ranma argued nonstop or when Ryouga would always leap to defend her. These were the times which came to the forefront of her mind from her murky memories. She wanted those times back again so badly it almost hurt.
"They're here." Kaseru whispered to her softly snapping her out of her dreams. She opened her eyes and lowered her head immediately seeing them. The two stood a couple hundred feet away on the top of a small hill. In the light of the moon she could just make out the colors of their clothes. It was all she could do to keep from crying out their names and running to them, but somehow she managed to. She let out a soft strangled sound and bit her lower lip while clenching her hands tightly. They still wore the same clothes they did back then. They moved, beginning to descend the hill and approach. She felt Kaseru lean close to her and just barely heard his words.
"They are coming Akane-san. Now just let me do the talking. Everything will be just fine." Kaseru said softly and leaned back. Akane couldn't answer, too caught up in seeing Ranma and Ryouga again, so she only nodded mutely and watched as they slowly got closer and closer.
The rain had stopped just a little while ago and Ranma and Ryouga were standing at the entrance to the cemetery. Ryouga stood; umbrella shouldered, and looked straight ahead, nervous and afraid. Ranma stood by his side holding a small bouquet of the same flowers they had purchased earlier. Ranma glanced to Ryouga and nodded. The two looked ahead and began to walk slowly forward, entering the cemetery. They glanced around at the dimly lit area, a wispy fog lightly covering the ground making it look more eerie than usual. The two moves in between gravestones, and around statues and the odd tree. They slowly began to climb the hill they had only hours earlier. The same feeling of nervousness settled over them as they climbed.
They soon reached the summit of the hill and stopped as they looked down toward Akane's grave. There stood Kaseru and a girl both wearing similar blue kimonos. Ryouga swallowed seeing them standing there and looked to Ranma.
"This is it." Ryouga whispered to Ranma.
"Yup. This is it. Let's go." Ranma whispered back. Ryouga nodded and the two quickly descended the hill and approached the grave. They slowed down as they got closer and stopped about five feet away. Ranma and Ryouga looked from the girl to Kaseru and back. The girl just seemed to stare, almost longingly at Ranma and Ryouga, but they didn't notice.
"We're here." Ranma said quietly to Kaseru.
"Yes. I can see that. Mimoko?" Kaseru said to Ranma before turning to the girl.
"Hmmm?" the girl said seeming to snap out of a trance almost and looked to Kaseru.
"Mimoko. We are ready. Close your eyes dear and concentrate hard on Akane Tendo. Call her to you." Kaseru said softly and moved over to stand lightly behind and to one side of her. The girl nodded and glanced to Ranma and Ryouga once more before closing her eyes and lowering her head. Ranma and Ryouga glanced to each other and then back and blinked in surprise as a bluish aura quickly formed into existence around the girl and flowed around her. Her hair and clothes began to tousle and blow around in a wind that wasn't there.
"Akane Tendo I call upon you. Enter this vessel before you. There are those that must speak with you." Kaseru said not shouting, but almost, his voice holding a near echo to it. The aura around the girl flared up brightly all of a sudden, forcing Ranma and Ryouga to cover their eyes. When they looked back a small cloud of smoke, or steam, was covering the girl and Kaseru. It slowly began to dissipate and standing there, her head bowed, was Akane. The two boys' eyes widened as they both gasped in unison.
"A....Akane? Is...is it you?" Ranma managed to get out while Ryouga only stared. This managed to get Akane's attention as she opened her eyes and blinked a few times. She lifted her head and looked at Ranma and Ryouga. A smile slowly worked its way on her face.
"Ranma. Ryouga. Yes. It's me." Akane said softly.
"Akane…" Ryouga said in a strangled voice, his knees failing him as he dropped to them.
"Ryouga?! Are you alright?" Akane said, concern in her voice as she took a step forwards. Ranma crouched down by Ryouga side and put an arm around him helping him to stand. Ryouga nodded softly to Ranma and looked back to Akane, a small smile forming on his lips.
"Akane....you....you look....beautiful." Ryouga slowly said his eyes glinting as moisture formed upon them. Akane blinked and blushed somewhat smiling.
"Ryouga's fine Akane. Just the shock of seeing you I guess. Listen Akane. We....we have some things to say to you." Ranma said and carefully let go of Ryouga, to have him stand on his own. Akane paused a bit but nodded and looked at the two.
"You two....aren't fighting." Akane said softly with a smile.
"No we...we haven't fought...ever since...that day Akane. We made a promise to you." Ryouga said softly as Ranma stepped forward gently holding out the bouquet of flowers. Ryouga reached out and stopped Ranma for a moment, just long enough to remove one of his bandanas and hand it to him. Ranma nodded and quickly tied it around the flowers and then turned back to Akane and held them out to her. Akane looked at the flowers and smiled a little reaching out and taking them. She raised them to her face and inhaled their fragrance with a wider smile.
"Akane. Me and Ryouga....we're sorry. We're so very sorry that our stupid fighting....got you killed. I know it was an accident....but we still feel guilty. We're also sorry this is the first time we've come to see you. We never meant to hurt you. I....I love you Akane. Ryouga loves you too. Just as much. We're sorry we hurt you and we're here now....to ask for your forgiveness." Ranma said quietly and then stepped back beside Ryouga.
Akane blinked a bit at the admissions and swallowed softly. Ranma loved her. Ryouga....loved her. She lowered her head and bit her lip, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting feelings and images. They both loved her but did they need her. She was back for good now so she could stay with them both. They both looked so hopeless and desperate. She didn't want to leave them. Never again.
Kaseru stood watching this through narrowed eyes. Damn those two. They were getting through to her. He could tell just by how she was standing. She was going to stay anyways. He knew it was a risk that they could reach her soul by seeing her, yet he had hoped they would be too concerned about Akane's unrest. Damn those two. They made him lose her once but he was going to be damned if he would let them do it again. He didn't want to erase her memories but he would have to. One quick poke in the back of her neck should put her out of commission for a while. Dispatch of those two idiots and be off with his prize.
"Ranma. Ryouga I...." Akane began lifting her head to look at them. Kaseru moved almost to fast for the eye to see, his finger cleaving through the air swiftly aimed for the back of Akane's neck. A suddenly glint of light and a blade passed completely through his finger shearing it off, embedding itself in a gravestone just behind him.
"ARGH!!!!" Kaseru howled in pain and pulled the hand back to him. He immediately looked around and saw a group of people on the hill, headed swiftly towards them. His eyes narrowed seeing the lead person.
"Cologne." Kaseru growled out lowly to himself.
"Kaseru-san what's wrong?!" Akane asked looking to the blood coming from his hand, which he had held around his bleeding one.
"The old ghoul?! What's going on here?!" Ranma asked tensing.
"I don't like the look of this Ranma." Ryouga said also tensing and hefting his umbrella. Cologne then landed at the bottom of the hill, about ten feet from Kaseru and Akane, the other just behind her.
"KASERU! Do I have to help kill you a fourth time for you to stay dead!? Shampoo! Mousse! Get behind him!" Cologne growled out at Kaseru before barking orders to the two Amazons. Shampoo and Mousse reacted instantly and leapt into the air landing about five feet behind Kaseru, weapons at the ready. Kaseru smirked and chuckled darkly as he looked to Cologne.
"Why no Cologne, I thought you would have learned by now. You can't kill me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have business with young Akane." Kaseru said calmly and turned to face Akane.
"Akane?! GET AWAY FROM HIM GIRL!" Cologne suddenly shouted spying Akane who blinked in confusion and looked where she always looked for help in the past. To Ranma. Kaseru moved like greased lightning, his finger striking her at the back of her neck. Akane's body jerked lightly and her eyes stared right at Ranma's, her face taking on a look of fear.
"Ran....ma." Akane whispered softly and weakly before she slumped down into Kaseru's arms.
Ranma's expression went to one of rage, along with Ryouga's. Both the boys' battle auras flared up, bright red.
"Attack!" Cologne suddenly barked at Shampoo and Mousse who both leapt into the air. Shampoo hurled several throwing blades at Kaseru while Mousse let loose with several length of chain, various bladed instruments at their ends. Kaseru threw Akane off to one side harshly and proceeded to easily weave and dodge through the rain of weapons. Shampoo and Mousse landed and then leapt again. Kaseru leapt as well flying at where the two would cross paths, grinning darkly as he rose. From in the sleeves of Mousse's robes came a tri-bladed claw, one attached to each hand. Shampoo held her bonbori at the ready. The three passed each other in mid air, Kaseru flying between Shampoo and Mousse, each lashing out with an attack.
Shampoo and Mousse landed a few feet from each other their backs to Kaseru, who landed a little ways from them his back to them as well. Several slashes went through Kaseru's clothing and skin and a large bruise was forming on the side of his face but he was smirking. He suddenly raised one hand and snapped his fingers. Mousse and Shampoo both collapsed to the ground an instant later, Mousse's glasses tumbling off his face and landing softly on the ground.
"Next.", Kaseru said with a chuckle and glanced towards the others. Ukyou was staring in silent horror at the scene. Cologne was glaring with utter hatred at Kaseru, as was Ranma and Ryouga, who were standing protectively by Akane. Genma and Nodoka were close by the two boys looking stern and quite angry in their own right. Ranma took a step forward and set into a battle stance, a barely contained fury in his eyes.
Kaseru raised a brow and set himself into a battle stance as well. The two slowly began circling each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. Ryouga silently pulled several bandanas from his head while watching and began to spin them. He hefted his umbrella from the ground and waited until Kaseru's back was to him, then he let the bandanas fly at him and hurled his umbrella like a lance at Kaseru's head. Kaseru reacted instantly ducking the bandanas and turning kicking the umbrella into a spin and grabbing it.
"KATSU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!!!!" Ranma shouted as he leapt forward at the distracted Kaseru his hands blurring as he sent hundreds of punches towards Kaseru in the space of seconds. Instead of his fists impacting Kaseru's body he found himself hitting Ryouga's umbrella, which was put up as a shield by Kaseru. Ranma blinked and stopped. The umbrella shattered into pieces and Kaseru dropped what was left of it smirking.
"Heh heh heh heh heh. And here I thought you would actually be a challenge to me. GAAAAH!!!!" Kaseru said before crying out as a small pouch slammed into the side of his head and exploded in a cloud of colored dust. Ranma leapt back and watched Kaseru drop to his knees coughing and hacking from the powder. A quick gesture of his hand and the cloud dissipated from around Kaseru. He turned and glared at Cologne as he rose to his feet.
"You miserable witch! I should have killed you a hundred years ago when I had the chance! Well I have another now. Ta ta." Kaseru said as a glowing ball of white chi formed in each of his hands. He whirled to face her completely slamming his hands together. A four foot in diameter sphere of chi exploded around his hands and then shot out from them in a horizontal column of energy that ripped through the ground and slammed into the old matriarch as she tried to dodge out of the way but failed. Kaseru smirked as she hit the ground with a soft thud and lay still, only breathing lightly.
"BAKUSEI TENKETSU!!!!" Ryouga shouted lunging at Kaseru and striking the ground near him. It exploded in a flurry of rocks and dust as Kaseru leapt high into the air avoiding it completely, a sphere of chi forming in his hand. At the peak of his jump he hurled the sphere down into the dust cloud, an explosion of light and more dust following. Kaseru landed softly.
"That takes care of him." Kaseru said looking at the dust cloud.
"NO! My son!" Nodoka cried out and charged Kaseru her katana out. Kaseru turned and leapt just as Nodoka slashed at him. He landed just behind her with a soft thud. She turned ready to slash again only to have her katana knocked from her hand. She saw his hand drawn back and thrust at her face in a palm strike. She winced and closed her eyes waiting for the pain, but none came. She blinked open her eyes to see his hand right in front of her face and she swallowed in shock.
"Remember that I could have killed you." Kaseru said calmly and then struck at her neck three times. She gasped once for breath before she blacked out.
"DIE!" was Genma's shout as he descended upon Kaseru in a flurry of blows. The two men commenced their dance, each moving fluidly, Genma attacking with punches and kicks while Kaseru blocked or dodged most with ease. A few of Genma's hits got in and Kaseru realized his vision was getting blurry; no doubt from Cologne's little surprise.
"I'm sorry I can't play with you any longer. I'm a busy man." Kaseru said deciding to end this fight quickly and ducked under one of Genma's punches. He hopped up and slammed his hand around Genma's throat grabbing it tightly and swinging Genma around slamming him into a tree with a loud crack from the tree. He grinned at Genma's dazed look.
"Sleep well." Kaseru said and slammed his other hand into Genma's head, slamming it back into the tree hard. He chuckled and released Genma to drop to the ground.
"Now to get Akane." Kaseru said softly and smirked turning back to where he left Akane only to find her gone. He narrowed his eyes and glanced around seeing Ukyou pulling Akane off to where she had pulled Shampoo, Mousse and Cologne. He smirked and pulled a small metal ball from inside his kimono. He wouldn't even need a chi attack for this one.
"Oh Miss Kuonji?" He said in a casual tone and then hurled the ball at her. Ukyou looked up at the voice only to catch a glimpse of the small ball before it impacted right between her eyes knocking her out. With a sigh Kaseru began to casually walk towards the still unconscious Akane and reached about halfway when a voice shouted from behind him.
"KASERU! You're not taking Akane!" Ryouga shouted enraged. Kaseru turned around and raised a brow. He was about to respond when he heard a soft thud of someone landing behind him.
"That's right. We won't let you, you lying bastard!" Ranma said cracking his knuckles.
"Well now. I guess you two might be a challenge after all." Kaseru said and tensed his body for an attack.
"Ready Ryouga?" Ranma shouted.
"You bet. Just say when." Ryouga shouted back. All three stood tensed, poised ready to attack or defend. The silence was deafening.
"NOW!" Ranma shouted and both Ranma and Ryouga lurched forwards at Kaseru who got ready to block. He was surprised when the two attacked the ground.
"KACHUU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN REVISED: BAKUSEI TENKETSU!!!!!", Ranma and Ryouga shouted in unison and proceeded to strike at the ground hundreds of times as they ran along an arc in opposite direction all in the space of a few seconds. The two then leaped as high into the air as they could. A loud crack resounded through the area before the ground around the feet of Kaseru literally shredded itself in an upwards explosion. Ranma caught his mother who was thrown upwards from the blast. Ryouga caught Genma and then two landed over by Akane and the rest. They quickly set the two down and faced the enormous dust could that was kicked up. It slowly cleared away and the two stared in horror as they saw a large portion of the cemetery totally destroyed, uprooted. Among the pile of jagged rocks lay broken coffins and long dead bodies.
"Oh my God. What have we done Ranma?" Ryouga said quietly. It was true they had been fighting for their friends' lives and for Akane but this…they truly had defiled a holy place of rest for the dead. A sudden movement of rubble caught their attention and they faced it ready for a battle; they could grieve later, the fight wasn't over yet. The rubble lifted and fell away leaving a badly injured Kaseru, his clothing torn and bloodied. A bright red battle aura was flaring around him as he growled at the two.
"What you've done....is made me seriously....unhappy." Kaseru growled at the two as he reached up and took the glasses off his face and tossed them away.
"This guy's a monster." Ranma said amazed he was still alive with all the damage he took.
"We've fought monsters before and won. This is no different. We'll win again. For Akane." Ryouga said calmly and set his battle stance. Ranma smiled a little and nodded getting into his own stance.
"For Akane." Ranma said and then glared towards Kaseru.
"My, my. How noble. Unfortunately you denied me Akane five years ago when you killed her. I will not be denied again. I've waited too long and Akane....IS MINE!!!" Kaseru shouted out and charged the two boys. Ranma and Ryouga reacted and charged as well and the three combatants met at the center of the debris field in a flurry of motion. Kaseru was enraged and not bothering with his defenses much at all and concentrating on attacking one or the other. As a result the one he was attacking would only block or dodge while the other would full out attack. Kaseru's aura was bright enough to light up the battlefield entirely and pulsed angrily, the blood red color only accentuating the horror of the scene.
Ryouga slammed several punches into Kaseru's side while Ranma was dodging. Ryouga then had to dodge as Kaseru turned his attention to him. Ryouga then realized his hands were sore and glanced at them as he noticed Kaseru turning back to face Ranma with a feral growl. His hands were burned.
"Ranma. His aura. It's burning my hands!" Ryouga said as he slammed a couple more punches into Kaseru.
"I know. He's hot. Wait a minute. Hot. That's it!" Ranma said attacking with a quick Amaguriken attack to Kaseru's back.
"What's it?!" Ryouga called out dodging Kaseru's attacks.
"Ryouga! Get calm! As calm as you can. Our final attack! We'll have to use it!" Ranma shouted back dodging once more as Kaseru turned to face him.
"Right! Got you! Let's go!" Ryouga shouted slamming one punch into Kaseru's side and then moved away and began to actually dance away from Kaseru. Kaseru turned and lashed out to find empty air. His rage took over totally and he charged blindly after Ryouga who continued to dance in a spiral fashion away, dodging all his attacks. A sudden evade to the left Kaseru charging Ranma, who was also dancing the same as Ryouga. Kaseru only saw an opponent and attacked, all his strikes meeting thin air. Soon Ranma evaded and came up back to back with Ryouga and the two began to dance in sync with each other continuing the spiral dance only quicker. Kaseru leapt at them swinging his arms and kicking his legs ineffectually at them as the two simply weren't there. He was so caught up in his rage that he didn't notice the spiral the two had been moving through was reaching the center.
"Saotome....." Ranma began.
".....and Hibiki....." Ryouga continued.
".....Final Attack: HIRYUU SHOTEN HA Ultimate!!!!" both Ranma and Ryouga finished in unison and both sent an uppercut into thin air at the same time. Kaseru suddenly felt an incredible drain on his as his aura almost instantly bled off into the large vortex of air and hot chi that quickly formed around the three. He then realized he was in trouble as he was ripped from the ground and flew up into the vortex, higher and higher.
"SHI SHI HOUKOUDAN!!!!!" Ryouga shouted out and focused all his depression and anger and releasing it in a massive blast upwards. The huge sphere of heavy chi shot up through the vortex of air and passed through Kaseru searing him as it went. It quickly passed out through the top of the vortex and kept rising. The vortex suddenly died down leaving an extremely torn up Kaseru hovering for a moment in thin air. As he stopped rising so did the sphere of heavy chi released by Ryouga. Kaseru began to fall. As did the sphere of heavy chi only it began to fall much faster than Kaseru.
"MOUKO TAKABISHA!!!!!" Ranma shouted as he saw Kaseru began to fall mustering all his confidence and releasing a sphere the same size as Ryouga's up at the falling Kaseru. Kaseru fell and saw one sphere gaining on him from above and another approaching fast from below. He knew he couldn't escape this so he merely closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable.
Ranma and Ryouga quickly hopped away over to where their friends lay out cold and turned to look up as the night sky over Nerima exploded in a blinding flash of white light. The boom from the explosion rippled outwards and shattered the windows of houses up to a mile away. The two had to shield their eyes from the blast. They turned to look when they knew it was safe and saw the blackened and smoking form of Kaseru fall from the sky and land hard into the jagged pile of rocks that was left of part of the burial ground. Both of them sighed slowly and turned to look at each other. They moved and took each other into a tight brotherly hug.
"It's over. We won." Ryouga said out of breath and felt like passing out himself.
"Yeah. We won. Come on. Let see if everyone's okay." Ranma said and Ryouga nodded. The two moved over to their group of friends and relatives and quickly checked them all over noting they were all okay. After that though they moved and kneeled down by Akane's side and just looked down at her.
"She's....just like I remember her. Beautiful." Ryouga said with a small smile.
"Yeah. I know. And she's back now. Alive. With us." Ranma said placing a hand on Ryouga's shoulder.
"That's right! She's back with us and we won't let anybody hurt her ever again." Ryouga said and reached out to brush a few strands of hair from her face. He stopped as a couple of drops of blood splattered silently onto the back of his hand. He blinked a bit.
"Blood?" Ryouga questioned and began to turn to look to Ranma. Suddenly both boys felt something hit the backs of their necks and all the muscles in their body seize up at once. A dark chuckle came from behind the two of them.
"Sleep well gentlemen and don't worry. I'll take good care of Akane for you." Kaseru's cold and dark voice came from just behind them as their vision began to go black; it was rough and full of breaks as if his throat had nearly been broken. Ryouga passed out first slumping over Akane. Ranma fought against the blackness but it overcame him quickly.
"No...." Ranma managed to weakly mutter.
Blackness.
Epilogue
In a small cabin, in a dense forest somewhere in the wilds of China, a young girl lay sleeping in bed, bandages around her head. The sun shined in through an open window and the soft songs of birds drifted in on the warm breeze. The young girl stirred slowly and her eyes opened blinking, confused pools of deep brown. She sat up slowly and looked around the small bedroom and winced as a sharp pain shot through her head. She reached a hand up and lightly held her head, her fingers lightly twining around her short black hair. She turned suddenly, shrinking away from the only door into the room as a sound from the other side startled her.
The door opened and in stepped a rather portly gentleman with kind eyes and soft brown hair. He sees the girl is awake and smiles warmly walking over and sitting on the side of the bed. The girl shies away from him, tightening her hold on the blankets.
"Shhhh. It's alright daughter. I'm here. I was afraid you'd never wake up. Are you alright?" the man asks softly.
"F....Father? You're my....father? I...I don't....remember you." the young girl says still afraid. A pained look crosses the man's face and he lowers his head and sighs. The girl draws a little closer seeing this and tentatively places a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Why can't I....remember anything? What happened?" the young girl asks softly.
"My little one, I am sorry. It is my fault. I took you to Japan for a vacation and you were attacked by a couple of thugs. You suffered a head injury. It appears you have amnesia. I'm so terribly sorry my little one." the man says moving slowly and taking the young girl into a hug.
"I was attacked? I...can't remember that....or anything. All I can remember are....two faces. It's a boy wearing red...with black hair in a pigtail; and another boy wearing yellow...and a bandana. Who are they....Father?" the young girl asks.
"They are the two who attacked you. Their names are Ranma Saotome and Ryouga Hibiki. They are a pair of thugs with skill in the Art. They caused your...amnesia." the men says, the hurt evident in his voice. The young girl gasps and involuntarily clutches to the man tighter, pulling herself closer to him. The man responds holding her tighter.
"Fat...father. Are...are those men...still around?" the young girl asks, afraid.
"No my little one, they are not. We are home now, in China. You're safe now." the man says and smiles softly as the young girl calms down some. She moves closer to the man and relaxes, lying against him, feeling safer being close to him.
"Father what's...my name? I can't...remember it either." the young girl says with a hint of shame in her voice. The man softly laughs a bit and places a kiss on top of her head.
"It's alright my little one. I am Sho Kaseru and you are my daughter. Akane." the man says softly.
"Akane. Father I...I don't want to go to Japan ever again. I don't...I don't want to meet those two that hurt me again." Akane says softly. Kaseru calmly pats her back holding her as a dark grin slowly forms on his face.
"Do not worry little one. I took care of those two back in Japan. You have nothing to fear from them anymore. You'll never meet Ranma Saotome and Ryouga Hibiki...ever again."
The End