Chapter 6

            "Ranma, wait up!" Akane cried, trying to catch up to him. As soon as the video had finished, Ranma was out the door, swearing his vengence for Mousse.

            "I can't Akane. I have to help Mousse. Sure he's tried to kill me a thousand times, but even he doesn't deserve this." He replied, slowing his pace only a little.

            "But you don't even know where to start looking!" she said, catching up to him. Ranma slowed to a stop, both of them catching their breath. Akane moved to his side and looked at him.

            "I have to find him though. You know he'll be after you Akane. He's already tried to kill you twice. I guarantee he'll try his new trick next time." Ranma said sternly. Akane lowered her gaze.

            "Yes, but you're always there to protect me." She said. Then she stiffened and started to blush. Did she just say that out loud?

            "I thought you didn't need my protection." Ranma asked cooly, not thinking into it. Akane blushed harder.

            "I don't!" She said coldly, trying to hide her emberassment. Ranma stood up and grinned.

            "You're such a tomboy." He said. But the usual harshness was missing from his tone. Akane looked up into his smiling face and had to stiffle a giggle.

            "Hey, are you hungry?" He asked. She blinked at him. "That fight earlier has stirred my appetite and you're right. I don't even know where to start looking." He started to walk forward. "Besides, I kinda owe you from watching over me last night."

            "You're taking me out to lunch?" She asked, dumbfounded.

            "Yeah is there a problem with that? Don't get me wrong. This ain't no date or nothin. I'm just repaying you for protecting me." He said flashing his trademark smile. She returned the smile, and started walking beside him, her head down. Was Ranma's pride keeping him from admitting he had just asked her on a date? Or was she reading too much into it? Did he feel about her the same way she had felt about him last night?

            "Hey you okay?" He asked, breaking her train of thought.

            "I'm fine. It's just that... oh nothing." She said, blushing. Ranma was about to press on when they rounded the street. He was heading for Ukyo's place since she had promised him a good meal the day before. But he quickly broke into a run, his battle aura flaring up.

            "Ranma, what's the hurry. The food will..." She started, but then she too felt it. One of the most evil aura's she had ever felt. She picked up her pace and caught up to Ranma. He flung open the door to Ukyo's restaurant and cried out. There, positioned over the now prone body of Ukyo, knelt DN with a dagger being drawn from her stomach.

            "You bastard! What do you think you're doing?" Ranma demanded. DN turned and laughed at the new visitor.

            "You didn't believe me when I said 'everyone you've cared about'? She is mearly the first." He said.

            "Give her BACK!" Ranma cried, cracking his knuckles. "Or I'll make you regret the day you were born."

            "You are not ready to fight me, nor am I to fight you. But if you'd like, I can give you a preview of your defeat. You may even have the first strike." DN said, jumping from behind the counter.

            "I'm only gonna need one. Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken!" He said, his fists becoming a blur. Each attack landed square, and after a moment, Ranma let up. DN stood laughing, not even bruised.

            "You call that an attack? I've fought the elderly with more fight in them then that!" He said. Ranma's aura flared up even more. He got ready to try again.

            "Ah yes. You're battle aura is strong. You're hatred even more so. I love it." DN said, glowing in a black aura.

            "Ranma, stop. He's feeding off your anger. You're only making him stronger." Akane cried. She went to aid him, but Ukyo jumped in front of her.

            "Restrain her my slave." DN muttered. Ukyo brought out her spatula and with blinding speed slipped behind Akane. She placed the spatula around Akane's neck, restraining her without choking her.

            "Now as for you..." DN said, refocusing on Ranma. "Taste the power of a true technique!" His aura seemed to vanish, but quickly grew around his hands.

            "BURNING FIST OF THE DEMON!" He called. The aura turned fire red, and even began to look like the head of a demon. Ranma couldn't move fast enough as DN's fist slammed into his chest. It felt like the heat of a volcano had just exploded in his lungs as he flew backwards into the wall.

            "Ranma!" Akane cried, trying to reach him. She elbowed Ukyo in the ribs, but the soulless shell didn't even wince. Only after DN nodded to her did Ukyo allow Akane to go to Ranma's side. He lay still, his face wracked with pain.

            "Pathetic. I hope you've better prepared yourself for our final battle. For now, I bid you adue." The ninja said, disappearing out the door. His slave followed, also becoming cloaked by his invisibility. Akane looked down at her fiance.

            "Ranma you dummy. Open your eyes. Tell me you're okay." She said, tears swelling in her eyes. He still would not respond. She bent her head and started to softly cry on his stomach.

*                      *                      *

            The intense heat and the force of that punch. Ranma had never felt such power. He thought he heard Akane's voice calling to him, he even thought he heard her crying, but he had no power over his body. He felt such a great pain that he had never felt before. In his mind, he could see someone mocking him, laughing at him. It closely resembled the demon he thought he had seen in DN's attack.

            "Do you really think you can stop him? He has beaten the greatest warriors this planet has ever seen. From every country they have come, and all fallen before him. How do you plan to stand against him when even this attack cripples you?" It asked him. Ranma tried to speak, but could only think the words.

            "You need not speak, for I am only in your mind. I can hear your thoughts as if they were words." It replied.

            "Then tell me how I can defeat him. I can't let him hurt Akane. Already I've lost two of my friends. I'd rather die then let him take Akane." he thought.

            "Would you? Why would you want to protect someone who hurts you so much?" It asked.

            "Just because she's a stupid uncute tomboy doesn't mean I don't care about her." Ranma retorted.

            "I can also see into your heart foolish one. You say words that you don't really mean. Why will you not admit your true feelings to her?" It asked.

            "Shut up. My feelings are perfectly fine. You don't know what you're talking about." Ranma said.

            "Don't I? Once again your pride has risen up and swallowed your heart. You're really not that much different from the ninja you know. He too has killed off his emotions. He will never be able to hate or love again. All he knows is his hunger for destruction. Do you wish to become like him?"

            "I am NOTHING like him." Ranma cried, growing angry. "He is an evil that needs to be killed!"

            "You still do not understand do you? You can not kill what is already dead." It said. "That ninja has been dead for over 4000 years. His soul is trapped in this world since his body had died. Only one thing could send him to the afterlife, and no mortal has such a power."

            "What power is that?" Ranma pondered.

            "The power of life. He has become so intune with the power of the undead he is now also cursed by their weaknesses. If someone could restore an essence of life to him, he would be able to finally rest. But such a power no longer exists." It replied sadly. Ranma now understood. This demon he was 'talking' to had been taken by DN. It longed for rest, but with the ninja still existing, he was also trapped to this fate.

            "Then help me beat him. What can I do to defeat him?" Ranma asked.

            "Swallow your pride. Allow your emotions to surface. You saw what anger has done to him. That is all I can tell you." It said as it faded from Ranma's mind.

            "Wait. Don't leave yet. I'm not done with you." Ranma said as he opened his eyes. He was met with a blinding light.

            "I think he's awake." Came a male voice. Ranma felt so confused. Where was he? Why was he in such pain? Who was that demon? Where was that light coming from? So many questions he needed answered.

            "Thank god, now I can kill him." Came an irritated female voice.

            "Take it easy Akane, he's had it pretty rough." Came a different male voice. Akane? Who was that? Slowly his mind pieced together the battle and who he was.

            "Agreed Saotome. Kasumi fetch some cold water." Even another male was there. He finally recognized the voice to be Soun Tendo's. The one previous to be his pop, Genma Saotome. Even Akane's and Dr. Tofu's voices were now clear. He tried to move, but his body was on fire. He heard footsteps returning and the splash of water from a bowl.

            "Allow me Kasumi dear." Genma said, grabbing the water. He splashed it down onto Ranma, instantly changing him to his girl form. Ranma sat bolt upright.

            "What'd you do that for?" She cried. Then the pain registered, and she had to lay back down.

            "Well at least he's not dead." Nabiki said. "You owe me 400 yen Mr. Saotome."

            "You bet agains't me pop? Gee thanks." Ranma growled.

            "How are you feeling Ranma?" Tofu asked.

            "Like I was hit by a truck. My chestnuts technique didn't even phase him." Ranma said, defeated.

            "Don't give up so easily boy." Genma said. "A true martial artists will always find ways to overcome. By the way, do you have 400 yen I can borrow?"

            "I'm gonna kill you as soon as I can move." Ranma said through gritted teeth.