Chapter 12
"Ranma, help me! Please!" She cried. Tears were streaming down her face. DN got closer as Ranma struggled to be free. He looked at the empty eyes of his captors. He had no choice.
"Shampoo, I love you! Please help me beat him." Ranma said quietly, only loud enough for her to hear. She blinked a few times then looked at him. In her eyes, he thought he saw a twinkle of life. Then she shook her head and released him.
"Ranma? What happening here?" She asked. DN looked over at them.
"You've retrieved her? I'm impressed. But it comes much to late." He said as he buried the dagger into Akane's midsection. She gasped as she felt her soul being drawn out.
"Akane! NO!" Ranma cried shaking Ryoga off. His anger flared up, beyond his control. He had taken her from him. He wouldn't allow it.
"Bwa ha ha. You stupid boy. You're feeding me again! Come and meet your fate!" He said. They rushed at each other. Ranma ducked DN's first strike and buried his fist deep into DN's stomach. The ninja's eyes bulged and he gasped for air. He stumbled backwards.
"Y-you'll pay for that." He said. He struck out, but Ranma dodged to the left. Another attack, and Ranma dodged again.
"Quit moving and fight me you coward." He roared. Ranma ignored him, making a point of dodging to the left. Tears were flowing down his face, but still he kept his cool. DN scored a scathing hit, but Ranma ignored it. *Only a few more steps* he thought. Ranma took his final step, planted his foot, and called out,
"Hiryü Shöten Ha!!!!!!" There was an explosive force as the Dragon's Heaven Blast was unleashed. DN was flung through the roof and off into the distance.
"Day three waits for you Ranma Saotome. You can guarantee my return!" He roared as he disappeared into the distance. The shells remained motionless, with no commands, they were just shells. Everyone rushed into the dojo.
"Akane, answer me. It's your dad. Answer me please!" Soun cried, as tears formed a waterfall from his eyes. Ranma had been reduced to one knee, and no one approached him. While Soun cried for Akane, everyone watched Ranma, waiting for his move. When he didn't, Cologne spoke up.
"Son-in-law, what will…" Ranma cut her off.
"Silence you old mummy. Not another word from any of you." He said, not looking up. Shampoo walked over to him.
"Airen, Akane be okay." She said softly. Ranma whirled around, burying his fist into her stomach. She stumbled backwards and collapsed, gasping for breath.
"Son-in-law, stop this!" Cologne said, but she was sent flying backwards from another punch.
"I told you to shut up!" He said, his voice dark and threatening. He walked towards the hole in the dojo wall and everyone backed away from him. Even Soun had stopped crying and watched him leave.
"Even with all his preparation, there was nothing he could do to stop this from happening." Happosai finally said. Everyone looked at him.
"You mean he knew this would happen?" Nabiki asked. Happosai nodded.
"He trained so very hard, but even his power can't compete with that ninja." He added. Shampoo managed to stand, still holding her stomach.
"So what do we do with… them?" Cologne asked. They looked at the four shells.
"Best we keep them from the ninja." Genma said with a stern look. The others nodded and took the shells into the house.
* * *
There was a soft knock on Ranma's door.
"You got a death wish?" He growled from beyond the door. It slowly slid open to reveal Happosai. Ranma's aura flared up.
"Calm down Ranma, this won't help." He said calmly.
"Oh shut up! I don't care anymore. What's the point in it all?" He asked, his eyes red with hate and sorrow.
"The point is that you must get Akane back, as well as the others." He said, keeping his calm. Ranma drove his fist into the floor, splintering it. Slivers of wood embedded themselves into his hand. He picked them out, ignoring the blood that started to drip free.
"There's nothing I can do..." he said softly. "Our new technique only made him angrier. I gave it all I had, but it still wasn't enough." Tears started to roll down his cheeks once more. His aura started to shift. It lost his usual red aura, and started to darken.
"Dispair doesn't suit you Ranma. If I had known that such a weakling was going to take over the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, I would have never bothered waking up from that hole in the ground your father put me in." He said, slight rage in his voice.
"You're right. I am a weakling." Ranma said. This shocked Happosai. He had never heard Ranma admit to any form of weakness. His defeat had crushed his spirit worse than Happosai had thought.
"There may still be a way to defeat him Ranma." Happosai finally said. Ranma looked up.
"What way? Tell me you old freak or so help me I'll rip it from your lifeless body!" Ranma roared, his battle aura once again becoming a fiery red.
"Well at least you're back to your normal self. But ask yourself Ranma, do you really think a true martial artist wants to be told how to fight his battles? All I will tell you is to look to your past experiences." He said before leaving the room. Ranma stood there, watching him leave. His past experiences? What could they possibly teach him? He sat down to think.
* * *
"So how did it go?" Genma asked upon seeing Happosai return in one piece.
"It's bad, I won't lie to you. Twice now I've seen his aura darken. Once during the battle, and once just now." he replied.
"What will happen if his aura goes black?" Soun asked. Happosai sighed.
"You'd better look for a new heir, because that boy will become just like the ninja, only mortal." He finally said. The others gasped. Genma rose to his feet, intent on talking to his son. Happosai stopped him.
"Don't do it Genma, you'll only anger him. He needs to think right now. I've shown him the road to recovery, now only he can choose to walk down it." They all sat around the table, and Kasumi served up tea. No one was in the mood for a meal, so just tea was served. They heard footsteps and turned to see Ranma looking at them.
"Where are the shells?" He demanded.