I don't own Ranma 1/2.
Two days later at the Tendo Dojo, Shampoo came storming in, screaming, "Nihao, Ranma!" She then started hugging him, much to Akane's anger.
Behind Shampoo, her Great-grandmother came into view saying, "Well, Son-in-law. Have you decided to marry Shampoo?"
Finally getting a breath of air, Ranma was in girl-form, by the way, she said, "Old ghoul. What are you doing here?"
At that moment, the door opened once again and Kayley stumbled through. She hasn't slept in two days. She was exhausted from her travel, but somehow she found the strength to make it here.
Akane asked, "Kayley, what's wrong?"
Kayley's knees buckled as she said, "R...Ryoga's been kidnapped...by Saffron." She reached out for Ranma-chan, her plea was desperate, "Please...help him." Kayley calapsed at Ranma's feet.
They examined Kayley until they realized that she wasn't injured, only fatigued. Akane said, "We have to help Ryoga."
Ranma-chan said, "For once you're right, Akane. Saffron can kill, even someone like Ryoga."
Cologne spoke up, "It is foolish to face Saffron. His power is much too strong."
Akane said, "But he's our friend. We have to help him."
Ranma-chan added, "Besides, it would be dishonorable to abandon a fellow warrior." It was true that Ranma and Ryoga held true to Bushido. (way of the warrior) That means that honor demands that warriors take care of each other in times like this.
Akane pointed out, "We can't forget Kayley. Ranma, you probably know where Saffron would be keeping Ryoga, but I don't think it would be right to leave her behind."
Cologne added, "Besides, if Saffron saw that that girl wasn't with you, he'd kill Ryoga for sure."Ranma-chan nodded in agreeance, "Well, then. We'll leave after she wakes up."
An entire day later...
Cologne was there to see Ranma, Akane and Kayley off, "Now you be careful, Son-in-law. Saffron is an opponent in which skill alone cannot combat."
Kaqyley had her hiking suit on. A button-down, sleaveless shirt and hiking pants. She asked Cologne, "Is there any way to beat him?"
The old woman responded, "Well, only someone who can truly fight with their heart, has a chance of winning."
Kayley didn't really know what she meant so she turned to Ranma and Akane and told them, "We better take a plane. I think I have enough money for us, but one of you will have to lead the way."
6 hours later, the three were walking up a cliff overlooking the cursed springs of Jusenkyo. Ranma kept looking down and accidentaly let slip, "I wonder which one is Nannichuan?"
Akane griped, "Why don't I push you over the edge and we can find out!"
Kayley's Acrophobia was starting to kick in again so she begged, "Please, don't fight. I don't think I can take it."
They both aid, "Sorry."
When they arrived at the cave, the one where Saffron usually holds his ceremonies. They entered and after a little way, they started hearing voices. As they got closer, they saw that Ryoga was tied in chains and was sitting on the ground. Saffron seemed to be answering something Ryoga had said, "Oh, she'll come alright. She would follow you to the earth and you know it."
Akane must have bumped something, because there was a clanging sound next to her. Saffron raised his head in their direction and asked, "Who's there? Is that you,girl?"
Ranma whispered, "You stay here." He boldly strode out into the open and asked, "And what if she is?"
Ranma and Saffron attacked each other. However, Ranma's speed wasn't any help as Saffron knocked him into a wall with incredible force. Akane impulsively ran to Ranma. But she, herself, was knocked to the side. Saffron started to attack her with an energy blast, but Ranma intervened. He jumped in front of her and used his body to shield her. This, in turn, cause him to take the full force of the attack. Akane cried out, "Ranma, no!" Even Ryoga shouted out his concern.
Ranma's knees buckled as he weakly asked, "Akane, are you okay?"
Saffron prepared to blast them again, but Kayley had had enough. One way, or another, she was going to get her friends out of danger. She ran in front of the two and exclaimed, "Stop, Saffron!"
Saffron did, indeed stop. He said calmly, almost casually, "Well, you've finally came out into the open."
kayley offered, "Saffron, if you let Ryoga, Ranma and Akane go, I'll never try to runaway again."
Ryoga squirmed, trying to free himself, but it was useless. He yelled, "No Kayley! Don't do it!"
What Ryoga said seemed to surprise Saffron a little, "Wha... Is that what you call yourself? HaHaHa!"
Ryoga looked at him coldly as he asked, "What do you mean?"
Saffron answered, "I mean, she doesn't have a legal name. She was born and raised to provide me with energy since my sword can be very inexcessable."
Ryoga shouted angrily, "You're lying! She wasn't born to serve your purposes?"
Saffron smiled and said, "Show them the symbol."
Kayley closed her eyes, as if ashamed about what she was about to do. She unbottoned her shirt just enough to show a low neck line. A burned outline of a phoenix was visable. Still embarrassed, she explained, "Whenever I'm this close to Saffron, his mark appears on me. It doesn't hurt, but still, I've been branded by this mark so I am his property. Please forgive me.
Saffron boasted, "So you see, Ryoga, even if she runsaway, she can't deny her fate forever."
Ryoga snarled, "You can't treat her like that! You're nothing but an animal!"
Kayley turned to Saffron and asked, "So, do we have a deal?"
Saffron stated, "Agreed."Kayley told Ranma and Akane, "Get those chains off him and don't let him come after me." She turned to Saffron, "I want to give him just one last goodbye."
Kayley walked over to Ryoga, who was now unchained, and for a second, she paused. At that moment, Ryoga begged, "Kayley, don't do this. Escape with Ranma and Akane."
She stroked his cheek and said, as bravely as she could, "Don't make this any harder than it already is. There's no other way. If I did run, he would kill you and then kill Ranma and Akane to get to me. This is all I can do for you."
Kayley kissed him. It was passionate enough, yet Ryoga could sense other things about it. At first, he could feel her sadness. He knew that she didn't want it this way. Then it changed. His body slowly grew warmer and at the smae time, he felt Kayley's skin grow cold. Then Ryoga realized what she was doing. She was transfering her ki into his body. The Ryoga struggled, the more she would hold him. Soon the heat was so intense that his blood burned with her ki. When the kiss ended, Kayley looked the same, except for her eyes. Her eyes were very dull, they almost had a dead look to them.
Ryoga once again pleaded with her, "Kayley, you can't do this. Please?"
Kayley asked, "Ranma, Akane. Please?"
They both ran to Ryoga. Ranma tried to hold him back, whil Akane was trying to calm him down. Kayley had to turn away. His face was so full of dispair and she couldn't bare to see him like that.
Kayley walked over to Saffron, fully prepared for what was coming. Without so much as a word, Saffron placed his hands on her shoulders and closed his eyes. An ugly, red aura formed around him. Then it spread around Kayley, slowly taking the shape of flames. In very little time, Saffron realized that she didn't have the sufficient amount of energy he needed and she was almost dead. He threw her down in disgust.
Ryoga watched her hit the ground and he just went berserk. He pulled away from Ranma and plunged headlong into Saffron, knocking him away from Kayley. Ryoga's raged blinded him from the fact that brute strength was no good against Saffron. Ryoga suddenly felt a jolt of electricity surge through his body that sent him flying against the wall. Saffron grabbed Ryoga's throat with the intent of choking him.
By this time, Akane had reached Kayley and was checking her pulse. Despite his own situation, Ryoga turned his eye, looking at Kayley.
Akane said sorrowfully, "Ryoga, I'm sorry. It's not good."
As Saffron squeezed tighter, Ryoga closed his eyes. He knew that Kayley might be dying and for a brief moment, Ryoga thought about giving in to Saffron. Then he remembered how she helped him. Through every trial together, even now she had tried to save him. He knew that if he loved her, he couldn't give up.
Ryoga grabbed Saffron's wrists and used his emense strength to pry Saffron's fingers from around his neck. Saffron seemed suprised at Ryoga's renewed strength, but he wasn't worried. Heh, he should be.
You see, Ryoga is a man who had lead a very lonely life. As you know, his whole family has severe ditrectional problems. So that time a few days ago was the first time in three years he had seen his parents. There was emptiness in his life until Kayley came along.
Ryoga started saying, "You monster! You had put her through sheer hell for years. Now I may lose my reason to live because of you! Saffron, for once you will feel my pain!"
Ryoga outstretched his hands and a ball of blue energy started to form. Even when he closed his eyes, Ryoga could still see Kayley lying on the ground, so vey weak. Tears streamed as he screamed, "Shishi Hokodam! Ahhhh!"
A massive burst of energy surged through Ryoga's body, gathered itself into the already powerful energy ball, then he released it. Saffron tried to defend himself but he just wasn't powerful enough. The blast connected, using up all of Saffron's energy. With all his energy gone, Saffron turned into a baby.
The attack left Ryoga a liitle weak, but still he went to Kayley. He kneel to hold her in his arms. Kayley's breathing was ragged and getting weaker. Ryoga started repeating, "It'll be all right, Kayley."
Behind Akane, Ranma stood watching Ryoga, trying to console the one he love, even though he knew she couldn't hear him. Ranma's eyes showed an unspoken sympathy for Ryoga. He walked over to Ryoga and put his hand on his shoulder. Ryoga looked solemly at Ranma and Ranma told him, "If there's a way to help, the Guide will know."
Ryoga picked up Kayley and walked off. Ranma and Akane followed.
Strangely enough, Ryoga was just too upset to even get lost. When they arrived, the guide immediately made Ryoga lay her on a cot and he said, "Aiyaa, she lucky you bring here. I know special remedy for her." He went to the fridge and pulled out a can.
Ranma blurted out, "What's with the can? Don't tell me that's your miracle cure?"
The Jusenkyo Guide acted a bit annoyed, then said, "This no ordinalry can." He showed it to them and it turned out to be a can of chocolate flavored Boost.
Ranma, Ryoga and Akane's eyes went wide. Ryoga gacked in astonishment. He was trusting Kayley's survival in a diet drink?
Ten minutes after she took it, Kayley's breathing returned to normal and Ryoga was holding her hand. Thirty minutes later, Kayley was much better and Ryoga was still by her side. Sometime later, Kayley finally woke up. She was still too weak to lift her head, but she turned her head to the right and saw Ryoga holding her had even in his sleep. She smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. He woke and was so excited to see that she was all right.
He got on his knees and told her, "I was so worried that I would lose you. Why did you take such an awfull risk?"
She said, "I knew that Saffron wouldn't keep his promise and he just wasn't as powerfull as he could be. I had to use that as an advantage, even at my own exspense."
Ryoga got a little closer and whispered to her, "Don't do that again, okay?"
Kayley smiled and said teasingly, "I'll try, but I can't make any promises." Ryoga, himself, smiled and kissed her.
Meanwhile, Akane had been watching. She sighed and said, "How romantic."
Ranma heard her and said, "At last, you are starting to act like a girl."
Akane snapped back, "Well, maybe if you'd treat me like Ryoga treats her, I might act like one!"
Ranma was flabbergasted, "W...W...What do you mean?"
Akane seemed embarrassed as she said, "I, um, never mind."
End of part one.
Coming soon, Ranma discovers that he's not an only child and this man wants revenge. Also, we all knew that Ryoga's sense of direction was horrible, but wait till you see some of the places he ends up THIS TIME. All this and more on Part 2 of Ranma's Alternative Saga.
