Ranma May Cry
Okay to make something clear to all of the lawyers outside, I do not own any of the characters/series used in this fan fic. So don't try and sue me because I DON'T own them and there's nothing to get. So now to all of you readers enjoy my story and let me know what you think.
Chapter Twenty eight
'': Chinese
: Telepathy
' ': English
: Phone call
Ranma's senses screamed for him to move and he quickly rolled to his left as a katana slammed down into the ground. Following the blade up he saw his sneaky attacker and he sighed. "Kuno, how stupid can you get? What the fuck where you thinking, using a real sword against me? Is what I've done against you a while ago not enough? You can only push me so far and you are really pissing me off." Getting up Ranma faced Kuno who now had a look of fear and anger in his eyes. "Now I suggest you put that toy away and walk away peacefully."
Kuno started to shake, he had hoped to catch Ranma of guard, he could not let a foul demon sorceror like Ranma near Akane. He raised his sword and with a primal scream charged Ranma.
Shaking his head Ranma simply waited for to Kuno to attack and when he did he simply caught the sword with his barehands, stopping the downward strike.
Everyone gasped when they saw Kuno wielding steel and striking at Ranma. They gasped again when they saw Ranma stop the strike by catching the blade with his bare hands.
Ranma glared at Kuno, his eyes pitch black, fire burning within. "Kuno you truly are an idiot aren't you?"
Kuno tried to pull his sword free but it wouldn't budge. "What kind of sorcerry is this?"
"No sorcery." His face now close to Kuno's, "only some demonic influence." With a flick of the wrist the blade snapped and steel slpinters flew everwhere. Some hitting Ranma while others hit Kuno in the face. "I do have to say that you surprise me, I didn't think you'd be up and running after that beating I gave you. Oh well it seems I can give you that beating again." Ranma tossed the piece of blade in his hands away and showed his hands to Kuno, there was no sign of any cut whatsoever. "So you ready for that beating?" Ranma stepped forward Kuno and Kuno seemingly scrambled away.
Kuno trying to back away fell down and litterally tried to crawl away. His anger was gone, there was only fear now. Then as he crawled back he bumped into something, looking he saw he had hit a crutch and following the crutch up he saw a young boy with black hair and a yellow spotted bandana.
Ryoga had decided to go to school again so he had asked if Kasumi could walk him and she had. He was just in time to see Ranma finish of the group and Kuno attacking him. He was about to scream when he saw Kuno attack but Ranma reacted in time. "I heard your name was Kuno, I don't know what Ranma did to you but I don't think he earned you trying to kill him with a sword. You attacked first and you should try and finish what you started." Ryoga reached down with one hand and grabbed Kuno by the hair and lifted him up. "I tried to kill Ranma several days ago but he didn't get angry with me. Heck he even took me to a doctor, in my youth we had been rivals yet also friends. I am glad he still sees me like a friend and what friend would I be if I let someone like you attack him like that?" Ryoga then looked past Kuno and met Ranma's neutral expression. "Hey Ranma, hope you don't mind me butting in like this but I just couldn't let this go by."
Ranma walked towards Ryoga, which made Kuno start to squirm trying to get away but Ryoga's grip was to strong. "I don't mind my friend, I am glad to see you're out of the house. Still as tough as back then eh?"
"Yeah but nowhere near you're level it seems. Even with that pressure point I was nowhere to your level. I don't know what you did all those years but I have some serious catching up to do. Now what should I do with this idiot?" Ryoga lifted Kuno higher and shook him a few times.
"Hmm" Ranma got his face so close to Kuno that he could count the wrinckles if he had them. "What should I do with you?" Ranma's voice was cold as an artic night while the fires in his eyes rekindled.
Kuno felt something warm run down his legs as blatter control was not within his power anymore. He was beginning to feel desperate looking down he saw the broken sword in his hands and got an idea. He used the sword to cut off his own hair and as soon as his feet hit the ground he started running.
Ranma saw Kuno move the broken blade. First was afraid he would use it on Ryoga but his moves told him otherwise and he smiled when he saw Kuno give himself a bad haircut. He grinned when Kuno broke off in a run but he wasn't done yet. He picked up two stones and threw them at Kuno. Both hist their mark, his hands. The force behind the stones was so great that it shattered both of Kuno's hands. "Now you won't be holding a sword for a very long time."
Kuno tried to ignore the pain and kept running, he decided never to come close to Ranma ever again.
Ranma and Ryoga watched as Kuno ran while Akane joined them. "You never have a boring day do you Ranma?"
"Yeah you're right Akane but I wouldn't mind a calm day though. Anyways what you guys say we go inside. I've got a feeling we're late for class. "Looking around. "And so is every other student and teacher."
Ryoga and Akane agreed and together they went inside. Ranma started to talk with Ryoga about the things they had seen and experienced. Ranma didn't tel him everything though. The teacher decided not to make anyone stand out in the hallway because then he would have to send everyone outside, even he would have to stand there. The rest of the day went by uneventfull, Ryoga, Ranma and Akane chatting whenever they found the opportunity. After school Ranma and Akane went over to meet with Dante, Trish and the rest to plan their attack on Lothar.
Herb, Trish, Dante and Cologne had made a map of Herb's castle and that night everyone who didn't know it started to memmorise it. Just like last night Akane fell asleep and Ranma put her to bed.
As Ranma lay in his bed he remembered that he had wanted to tell everyone about Samantha but he had forgotten. He decided to do it the next monring during breakfast.
After watching the sunrise again Ranma did some morning excersises and after a bath everyone was gathered at the dinner tabel for breakfast. "Mr Tendo do you remembered the first day I was here that I told that something had happened to me in Amerika?"
Soun looked up and put his bowl down. "Yes you said that you woul tell us about whne you felt ready."
"Yep, well I think I'm ready for that." Ranma put down his bowl and chopsticks.
Nodoka looked at her son, she had heard the true story about what had happened as well as the public version. "Are you sure my son?"
"Yeah I'm sure mom. As you all know before coming here I stayed in the States with my cousin there. There I met went to school and met a girl named Samantha. Some of you know this but she was my fiancee. I loved her with all my heart and if things had gone differently I would not have been here. I would have been in Amerika with her. Heck we already lived together even though both of us where underage." Ranma swallowed and took a sip of tea. This part was always the hardest part. "One day when I was out with my cousin an accident happened, there had been a gasleak in our building and Samantha was at home when there was an explosion. The explosion was strong enough to completely destroy the building. The entire building was empty for Samantha. She was caught in the explosion and was killed. Like I said I loved her greatly and now you know what happened to me in Amerika." When he was finished he looked at the time and saw it was time to leave for school. He got up and waitedd for Akane to join him and together they headed for school. Everyone at the table was silent as Ranma and Akane left for school.
Especially Ryoga felt for Ranma. I never thought this possible but Ranma's been through a lot. Compared to his, my problem of bad direction and not being home most of the times is nothing. Ryoga waited for Nabiki to leave for school so he could walk with her. He decided to leave Ranma and Akane together.
The way to school Ranma was quiet and Akane respected this and did not disturb him. When they came to school they found the courtyard empty. No troup of boys ready to attack Akane. The day past without any troubles, during lunch Ranma started to loosen up a lot more. By the end of the day he was acting as if nothing was wrong.
After school Akane and Ranma left Ryoga at home and went to meet Dante and the others. Over the course of eight days they contacted people and gathered more information. They also started planning an appropriate attack plan, as more people agreed to help them the plan became more and more plausible. Every day Akane would go with him and everytime she would fall asleep and Ranma would put her to bed.
The ninth day Ranma was sitting at the table with the others when he got a call. Looking at the display of his cellphone he saw it was Jack.
'Yo Jack!'
Hey Ranma, sorry it took so long but the nr appeared ot be jammed but I managed ot find it's location. Jack proceeded to give Ranma directions to where he needed to go.
'Hey thanks man, this will help out a lot. Again thanks.'
No prob but be sure to get that bastard Lothar, okay?
'Got it!' Ranma hung up and put his phone away.
"That was a friend of mine, he managed to trace a couplpe of people I need to find. I think they could help us out greatly with our oncoming fights against Lothar. I'm gonna go and see if I can find em and I hope they are willing to help us out." Ranma got up and proceeded to take of his shirt and tucked the guns in his pants. Opening the door Ranma stepped outside and the rest followed him.
"Excuse me Ranma, why did you take of your shirt. If you are going to meet someone isn't it best to keep it on?" Cologne couldn't help but notice Ranma's physique and she could tell by the blush on Akane's and Shampoo's face that they agreed.
"I took my shirt of because u hate to ruin it when I do this!" Two wings of fire shot from Ranma's back.
Everyone for Akane gasped at the sight of two wings of fire coming from Ranma's back. Cologne nearly fell of of her cane and as the rest just stood there staring.
Ranma turned around and couldn't help but smile when he saw the look on their faces. "Hey what can I say there's more to me then meets the eyes, anyway gotta go now. I'll be back as soon as I can and when everyone is gathered we will make finall preps for our attack." Spreading his wings Ranma took to the skyu and set of in the direction Jack gave him. Within moments he was gone from their sights, flying at incredible speeds a sort of barrier formed around his body protecting him from the wind.
The others just stood there for several moments before picking up their jaws and going back insde. They noticed that Akane wasn't all that surprised and staretd to ask her if she had know of this? Akane in her turn said that she would not tell them, they'd have to ask Ranma for an explanation.
It didn't take Ranma to long to reach his destination, he came to a large forest area and in the forest there was what looked like a black lake and large tower structure. Ranma sat down on the top of the tower and closed his eyes, the area was completely silent but it did smell of blood, lots of it. He payed no heed to it now, he had to find Recca and his friends. If they where here it could very well mean that they where in trouble. He let his senses spread out over the area, he was trying to pick up any signal from Recca or the others. After a few minutes he felt what could be Recca's powers being used. He had noticed that Recca's powers gave off a very specific kind of energy. "Looks like your in trouble Recca, well let's see if I can help out." Ranma took to the skies again and went higher and higher. Is his guess was right Recca was right beneath the tower and the rest of the tower was empty. "He I always like to wreck other peoples stuff, especially buildings." His aura flared, his wings dissapeared and he dove down straight through the roof of the building and continued down.
Recca was not having a good time, Tendou Jigoku (controleren) was giving him a hard time. After absorbing Renge he was immune to fire it seemed and now Yanagi was in touble he had to get her back. He was about to attack again when the cave they where in started to shake. "What the?"
All of a sudden something crashed through the roof. Dust and debris flew everywhere and everyone was temporary blinded by the dust. As the dust settled everyone looked up and saw what, or better yet, who came through the ceiling. Recca and his friends couldn't believe their eyes. In unnison. "RANMA!!??"
Ranma took in his surroundings, there where a lot of people there he didn't know. He did reccognise Recca and his friends and they looked like they where in trouble. "Yo Recca, looks like ya got yourself in a jam eh?" He then noticed something. "Hey where's Yanagi-chan?"
Ranma's words brought Recca nback to reality and he looked over at the huge worm like creature that held Yanagi in it's mouth.
Ranma followed Recca's gaze and what he saw shocked him. A huge worm like crearure held Yanagi in it's mouth. She wasn't moving or anything howveer it did seem that she was awake as she was looking right and him and then back at Recca. "What's going on here?" Where Ranma's voice was warm and kind when he first spoke to Recca he was now dead serious.
"The monster you see there and that guy over there." Recca pointed to a guy with spikey hair, goat legs and a wicked body. "Are part human and part Madougu, they want to abrosb Yanagi to make themselves immortall."
This was all Ranma needed to hear as he took of towards the worm and with one powerfull leap he was next to Yanagi. He punched his hand into the worms head to hold on. He then grabbed knocked the worms teeth out so it let Yanagi go. He was about to jump afte her when he saw Recca catch her. He let go and landed and immediately jumped away. He walked over to Recca and Yanagi and kneeled next to them. "How is she?"
"She looks like she's okay." Recca held Yanagi carefull in his arms as she was smiling and crying at the same time. "We got her, she'll be okay now, won't you?"
Yanagi looked up at Recca's face and gently caressed it. "No Recca it's to late. With those words she lost consciousness and her body started to turn to stone. Behind them a loud laugh could be heard.
Tendou Jigoku had let Ranma and Recca grab Yanagi for he had already absorbed her spirit. He felt the energy cource through his body as his dark energy merged with Yanagi's healing energy. "WHAHAHAHAHAHA, you are to late to save the healer girl, she will now become one with me and there's nothing you can do."
Getting up Ranma turned and faced Tendou Jigoku, he could feel the energy within Tendou increase but he didn't care. All he wanted was to rip thgis guy to shreds but if he did what would become of Yanagi's spirit. He could sense it within Tendou's body but it was weakening.
"WHY!!!!" Recca held on to Yanag and let out a roar of disspair. His friends gathered around hiim all of them on the brink of tears.
Ranma payed no attention to anything but Tendou Jigoku, he had only known Yanagi, recca and his friends for a short time but he could feel the kindness within them. No one disserved something like this, Yanagi was a kind and gentle person. No one disserved this. Without looking back he walked towards Tendou. "You!"Tndou turned his attention from Recca and Yanagi to the youngman calling to him. "Ah if it isn't the young Ranma Saotome. Im surprised you show up and your entry was impressive but useless. I am now one with the healer girls energies and immortall. Soon her soul will be one with me as well, HAHAHAHAHA!!"
The two seperated forms of Mori Koran and Kaima came forth both with hidious bodies. "At last."
"what I have longed for the most is now in my hands. I am now know as an immortall." Flames engulfed Tendou's body.
From the shadows came another form, Ranma couldn't help but look and when he saw who it was he felt his anger rise even further. "KUREI!!"
Kurei turned his attention to Ranma and couldn't help but feel a bit scared."I have no tie for you Ranma, Recca must see the meaning of true suffering and I will make him see that. I have but one request, keep those monsters out of our hair." He then turned his attention to Recca.
Ranma didn't know what Kurei was talking about but he would do this one thing, not because Kurei asked but because of what they had done to Yanagi-chan. Without any warning Ranma shot out a huge ki-blast towards Kaima and Mori, the power of the blast was enough to obliteratye them completely. "You, I don not know what you are but I know that you will pay for what you've done to Yanagi-chan."
Tendou looked at Ranma and laughed. "Do you truly belive that you can harm me, me an immortall?"
"You might be a bastard but I don't think you are immortall."
Tendou snorted, who did this brat think he was. "I have had enough of you, you will now die." Tendou gathered a huge amount of power in his right hand and fired a huge fireball at Ranma, hitting him head on.
Ranma was completely engulfed with flames, a roaring inferno to any watching. Then from within the inferno came a calm and cold voice. "Like I thought, you are pathetic, your flame is nothing, compared to Recca you are a candle where he is a forest fire."
Tendou's face wrinkled witrh anger, the boys nerve. "Well then if I can't get you wi will get someone else." Again Tendou shot a huge fireball but this time aimed at Recca and his friends.
Just before the fireball connected a blurr came from the inferno Ranma was in and jumped in front of the fireball. The balkl hit it but didn't explode, one would say it was absorbed. When the fireball was gone Ranma stood there, his eyes black and filled with fire. "Attacking me wasn't wise but now you attacked my friends and that is something I will never allow. Bare witness to something you will only see once," Glaring at Kurei, "or is your lucky two times in your life."
Ranma's aura flared as his hair came undone.
"You call yourself allpowerfull but you are nothing, you ahd to use a young innocent girl to gain that power, pathetic."
A tail sprung from that back of his pants as his muscles grew and his height increased.
"I will show you what you truly are."
Scars formed on his chest and face as twin fireblades came from his elbows.
"You will se how truly pathetic you are!"
A loud flash and Ranma once again donned Ifrit.
"Now prepare yourself Tendou, I will show you your place." Ranma launched himself at Tendou with such power that the ground where he stood completely caved in and every step he took created another small crater. Within moment he was upon Tendou and with one powerfull kick he send him flying through the air and into the wall. Ranma did not let Tendou react as he immediately shot a meteor after him. "METEOR!!"
Tendou only smiled when he was kicked but when Ranma's other attack hit the smile dissapeared, that attack really hurt. What the how is this possible? Tendou dragged himself from the wall and stepped forward, an annoyed look on his face.
Ranma saw Tendou step toward him and was a but surprised to see the wounds he had made heal before his eyes. "Looks like I will have to cut lose a bit more." Ranma took of in another dash.
Tendou decided it would be wise to try and take Ranma out from a distance. That kick was really powerfull and if Ranma chanelled the same energy as that blast in his physical attacks he would be in for some serious hurt. Raising both his hands he shot out a huge wave of fire while also calling upon the absorbtion body to attack Ranma.
Ranma saw the incoming wave and kept on running, ignoring it. As he came out the other side he speeded up but then his senses screamed out to react. Then a huge worm like creature burt form the ground, it's maw filled with sharp teeth. Ranma recognised it as the same thing that had held Yanagi when he dropped in. He quickly jumped up, spreading his wings and flying up. He skillfully dodged the worms maw and countered with some ki-blasts. The ki-blasts blew some nice holes in it's body but they healed quickly. "Damn he heals just like that Tendou prick."
Glancing over his shoulder Ranma saw Kurei talking to Recca while Recca cradeled Yanagi's body in his arms. What is that Kureisaying to him? Normally Ranma would be able to hear their conversation but the noise of a huge worm thrashing through the room was kind off interfeering.
He was about to turn his attention back to Tendou and his pet but then he did hear Recca.
"COME ON OUT OYAJI!!!" From Recca's hands came a whirl of fire and then a flame dragon appeared, it was Homura only this time he had a human form. Ranma looked back at Tendou but saw him standing there looking at Recca. He saw an old man, talking to Fuko, leaping up he landed next to them. "Yo, what's Recca doing, and why is he asking his old man to come out?" He then looked at the old man and grinned. "And why aren't you, a flame dragon not with him?"
Koku gulped and looked back at Ranma. "I don't know how you knew I was a flame dragon but Recca is calling the last flame dragon, his real father. But in order got him to call him out he needs to call upon all other dragons in the order he received them, that is if it's even possible for hiom to do so."
"Uhm you say he needs to call em out in the order he received them eh? Then why did he call out Homura first, wasn't Saiha ot Nadare on of the first?" Ranma spoke to Koku but his attention was fixed on Recca as well as Tendou.
"You are right, I guess it has to do with Recca's stubborn nature. All we can do is hope that he will succeed."
Then the a second dragon came out, Madoka. Domon was looking at the scene before him with his jaw on the ground. "What is Recca planning to do, calling out the last dragon?"
"In order to prevent Yanagi's soul from being absorbed by Tendou Jigoku Recca will use the power of Resshin's flame, the phoenix and use it to transform Yanagi in his flame." Koku's face was serious.
By now the others where also gathering around them and Koganie was miling and crying. "Wait, that's the same as Kurie's, then no matter what Yanagi will always be......."
From Recca came a third dragon, Rui. Ranma saw Tendou move out of the corner of his eyes and saw Kurei attack him with his flames. "You ain't gonna have all of the fun." Taking of from his possition Ranma flew towards Tendou and came down on him hard. He slammed into him with full speed knocking him into the ground.
When Kurei saw Ranma slam down on Tendou he stopped as well as his flames. He stood there as Ranma jumped back up, soon followed by a huge explosion when Tendou came from the ground.
"Filthy flame spirits, they are nothing, but you?" Tendou pointed at Ranam who stood there ready to pummelTendou some more. "I don't know who or what you are but you are annoying me greatly."
"Good!" Ranma's voice was a low growl and not waiting he attacked again. He came in fast and just before hitting Tendou he kneeled and came up with a wicked uppercut. "TORNADO FLAME!!!" Tendou was knocked high into the air, Ranma's fist blowing a hole through his chest. With Tendou still stuck on his arm Ranma gathered his energies in his hands for a second attack. "He pulled out his arm and his arms blurred. "CHOU HAIPAWAA TATAKIKAWASU!!!" Normally Ranma used this attack only for a short time but now he just kept on hitting Tendou over and over, every punch stronger then the other.
Meanwhile the other flame dragons wher summoned by Recca, Rui was next, followed by Setsuna. Setsuna stared ranting as soon as he was out but stopped the moment he saw Ranma. Saiha followed next and Recca's body jolted as blood flew form many wounds on his body, he staggered but remained standing. He coughed up some blood as a row of small fireballs formed in the sky and Nadare came out. Her face was stern but soon a sad smile formed on her face.
Then Koku walked over to recca and stopped in front of him. "To rip yourself apart in order to call out the flame dragons in the wrong order. You're a stuborn master untill the very end. Lend me your right hand Recca." Koku took Recca's hand and smiled. "This right arm, this arm gives power, gives courage and it gives hope, don't ever give up. Hope surely remains AND WITH THAT!!!" Kuko's human form dissapeared as he took on his flame form.
An eight tatoo appeared on Recca's arm and his hand moved drawing a sign in the air. The seven gathered dragons wrapped around eachother and rose high up in the sky. The ground shook as the dragons continued up through the ceiling. Rocks reigned down, Domon threw his body over Yanagi to protect her but felt nothing hit him. Looking up he saw fire surrounding him and looking further he saw Ranma stand in front of them. Everyone gathered underneath his wings the rocks fell on his back and wings yet he payed no heed to them, his eyes where locked on Yanagi's face.
A voice, not like his own came from Recca's mouth. "The eighth form of the Dragon's Flame. RESSHIN!"
Hovering in the air in fornt of Recca was a man who resembled Recca but who had a scar run across his face.
Kagerou started to shake and cry as she saw the man in front of Recca. "Ou....ka? OUKA-SAMA it's me Kagerou. It's Kagerou."
Resshin only glanced at her but turned his attention on Recca. "Recca...... A short while I told you an old story. The story of my failed protection. The story of Yanagi-Dono's previous excistence, Sakura-Hime. Fate is crule crossing the generations and still reaching the same end! However..... At that time I was unable to save Sakura-Hime's heart. We have to see the final conclusion here.!!! Yanagi-Dono's heart must be saved!!!!"
Recca met Resshin's gaze, not relenting. "Let's go..... RECCA!!!!" Resshin toook on his flame form and rose high into the sky.
Tendou saw Resshin and reacted he dashed towards Recca but was stopped as Kurei stepped in front of him. "Recca has given his answer and knows true suffering. YOU WILL NOT INTERFERE!!" Kurei raised his hand and a huge wave of fire came out hitting Tendou.
Recca stood there, his face blank and not moving, he looked like a zombie. Ranma walked over to Recca and concentrated, his senses detected he was still alove but his soul was not in his body. For a moment he panicked but then smiled as he flet what was going on.
Recca's friends started to panic when they saw him like this but Ranma stopped them. "Recca is heading towards Yanagi, he is going to get her back."
All of a sudden a bright flash came from Recca's body, blinding everyone. When the light subsided a from could be seen. In the air behind Recca hovered Yanagi, like an angel with wings of fire. Opening her eyes a smile came appeared on her lips.
Ranma stood there and looked upon the scene before him, part of him was jaleous for Recca, he was able to get the girl he loved back to him. Another part of him rejoiced and cusred at the same time. Yanagi's physical form was dead but her soul was now with Recca forever.
"Let's go."
"Let's go Recca."
"Let's go together." Yanagi held out her hand and Recca took it a smile also present on his lips. "Let's go defeat the Tendou Jigoku together."
All of a sudden a huge wave of energy came from Tendou Jigoku. "EAT!!! EAT ME TENDOU JIGOKU ABSORBTION BODY."
The worm like monster opened it's mouth and shot towards Tendou and swallowed him whole. The energy coming from the worm increased as it started to change, an arm burst through the head soon followed by a head as Tendou Jigoku appeared from the huge worm. "DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!!!!!!!! Humanity, Hokage flame, everything!"
Then a voice came to everyones mind, it was Yanagi. "Listen Recca-kun, I'm very happy you have always proteced me but now it is different. NOW WE FIGHT TOGETHER!!" Yanagi spread her arms and wings, fire raining down on everything.
At first everyone thought they where going to burn alove but then they noticed all the pain and wounds where gone. Yanagi's flame was a flame of healing.
Where everyone there had their wounds healed something else happened to Ranma. At first pain coursed through his body but soon it was replaced by a familiar warmth. As he opened his eyes he saw someone stand before him. She was human but her body was made from fire. "Samantha?"
Standing before Ranma was Samantha, her body of fire like that of Yanagi. "Yes it's me Ranma, Yanagi's flame of healing healed your body but more importantly its' trying to heal your soul. When I died your soul was hurt and it did not heal for the wound my death cuased would not heal. No I am here to tell you this, release me. Even though you say otherwise I know that you still blaim yourself for my death. DON'T!" She stepped forward and placed her hand on his chest. "You are not to blame, Lothar is. Let me go, allow me to live on in your memories and heart but not within your body. You have kept a small part of me with you all this time. Release this part, I know that you like Akane, let me go and make a place within you for her."
Ranma stared at Samantha, completely oblivious of his surroundings. He wasn't even awar that Yanagi's flame of healing broke down Tendou's body. His eyes where locked with those of Samantha. Her words registering he agreed, a part fo him never let Samantha go. She was right he had promised to move on and in order to do so he had ot let her go. "You are right Sam, you where always the smarter one."
Mikagami watched as Ensui started to crack and soon fell apart in his hands. Soon the other Madougu's followed. Each one turned to dust.
"IT HAS ENDED." Resshin hung high in the air and looked down on everyone. "The time when Tendou Jigoku, the embodiment of greed and evi lambition is destroyed with our final task complete the Hokage will dissapear from this world. Now the history of the Hokage come to an end."
Yanagi came down and as her wings started to fall apart Recca felt a sharp pain on his arms as the flame dragon tatoos began to dissapear. She smiled, a sad smile telling him goodbye.
Recca started to shake all over. "No.....Don't mess around like that." He leaped forward and took Yanagi in a powerfull hug. DON'T DISSAPEAR, DON'T DO IT HIME. YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, RIGHT?"
Yanagi cried tears of fire, tears of happiness as she held onto Recca. "Don't cry, don't cry Recca."
"KUREI!" Resshin roared as he turned to Kurei. "I could never ask forgiveness after living as a leader rather then a father. However from the depths of my heart, I love you!!!"
Kurei was silent when he heard his father's words, he then did something that surprised many. He kneeled for his father.
Resshin then looked down on Kagerou and smiled. "Kagerou, for 400 years you have lived for the Hokage, lived without forgetting me. You've done enough, from now one live for yourself. Farewell."
"Farewell Ouka-sama."
As the tatoo's on Recca's arm continued to dissapear Yanagi winced as pain coursed through her.
"Recca... well done, the Hokage have been destroyed. And now, with our hearts cleansed we, the eight flame dragons, can journey on to the after life. If there was regret.... or grudged remaining in a flame masters heart he or she would be reborn as a flame. The only thing that could remove the curse of the eight dragons would be for their master to complete his duties. And you have done that!! The flame dragons will vanish, the hokage will vanish and all the power of the Hokage as well."
Resshin's tattoo the last one on Recca's arm started to fade. "And with that, now libirated Yanagi's soul will........" With those words the last tatto dissapeared.
Expecting Yanagi to dissapear as well Recca found himself still looking at Yanagi. All of a sudden Yanagio sneezed and Recca bopped her on the head and pulled her lips. "Not a flame?"
"Hime?! IT'S HIME, SHE'S BACK!!" Recca together wiith all his friends started to cheer.
The last words of Resshin came from a dissapearing flame. "You've done splendidly Hanabishi Recca!! Farewell!!!"
Recca picked Yanagi up and swung her in the air. "Welcome home."
"I'm back." As soon as she was let down Yanagi was bumrushed by Fuko who checked her out.
"Warm smooth, not a flame. You here right? You're back right?"
Yanagi stepped back and taking a deep breath, bowed and saluted. "I'm sorry for worrying you all."
Everyone laughed and saluted as well. Recca looked around and saw Kurei standing in front of his flames.
"Kurenai, Jisho, untill today you've been my friends throughout my journeys. I will never forget you, I promise. We WILL meet again." With those words the two flames waved and started to dissapear.
Ranma was completely oblivious to his surroundings, all of his attentin was turned towards Samantha who stood before him. "Always remember Samantha I will love you forever. Never will there not be a place in my heart for you."
"I know that Ranma, and I will never forget you." Samantha stepped even closer and Ranma could swar that he could smell her, just like she smelled when she was still alive.
Ranma and Samantha looked at eachother silently time passing by unnoticed.
By now everyone saw Ranma and Samantha, no one knew had any idea who she was, no one but Yanagi. Pushing back their happieness as well as the sadness that6 came when Koganei left with Kurei they got closer to the two. Recca looked at the others and could tell that they where surprised to see another flame there. When his eyes fell upon Yanagi he saw that she was smiling at the two. "Uhm Hime, do you know what's going on here?"
Yanagi looked at Recca and her smile grew. "Yes I do. When I used my flame to heal all your wounds i found that Ranma's body was perfectly okay but his soul had been damaged. Within his soul he had kept a part of this girl. As far as I can tell she was very important to him and somethin happened that damaged his very being. When I tried to heal that would i found her, she asked me to let her out and I did. I am surprised however that she's still here. I would think that after everything concerning the Hokage flame Dragons dissapeared that she would also."
"Ranma please do me one favor before you let me go. Let me see you like you really are one more time."
Ranma nodded and taking a deep breath his wings dissapeared as he changed back to his normal self.
Samantha smiled and stepped forward embracing him while Ranma did the same. As the two held together Samantha's form started to fade and after a few moments she was gone. Ranma let his arms fall to his side and looked up a smile of happieness on his face. "Goodbye Sam." He then looked around and saw that everyone was looking at him. "Hey, what's goin on?"
Recca and his friends decided to not prod Ranma for answers concerning what had just happened. Recca then came to the question he had wanted to ask Ranma when he first arrived. "Ranma I am curious what brought you here?"
"I came here to ask for your help, remember when I told you that I am part demon? Well there is a problem concerning another demon. You see he is in this dimension and is after a very powerfull artifact, if he manages to get his hands on it everyone on this planet is doomed. I came here to ask for your help, we've found out where he is hiding and plan to attack him and stop him. We need all the help we can get because he will most likely have an army of demons protecting him and I thought of you and your friends, I've seen you fight and know you can help us out a lot. Are you willing to help me? I can't stay here much longer."
Recca looked at his friends and sighed. "I think I speak for everyone if I tell you that we would really like to help but now that the Hokage are gone we no longer have any Madougus and I odn't have my powers any more."
Ranma smiled, he was glad that Cologne had told him about the artifacts she had in her village, there could very well be something they could use. "I think that even without your powers or gimmicks you are very capable of heloping me out. When I fought you, you used your flame but you also used martial arts and I can tell that you are very good. From the fights I saw in that tournament I know that your friends are also very capable. I truly belive that you can help us out, I can understand if you don't want to help concidering what you've been through and all. Also, the fight against this demon will be very hard and dangerous."
Recca motioned his friends to follow him and the huddled together discussing what they should do. It did not take long for them to reach an agreement. The walked back to Ranma and Recca gave him their answer. "Ranma, we will help you out, if what you say is true then you will need all the help you can get and this concerns us as well. We will all go with you, even Yanagi, no matter what I said she wanted to come but I will not let her join in the real battle."
Ranma smiled and bowed. "I thank you all, I really apreciate this." He reached in his pocket and handed Recca a piece of paper with an adres on it. "When your ready come to this adres, this is where we are planning our assault. We will leave form there to China, because that is where Lothar is hiding. I really must go now, if possible get there as soon as possible. Again thank you everyone." Ranma stepped back and his wings came forth, with a powerfull leap he flew up through the same hole he entered.
To be continued.
