Shampoo was sure taking her sweet time coming back from her delivery. That girl; she must've taken a detour to see Ranma while she was out. That girl just lost all sense of duty when it came to him. Cologne couldn't fault her for that, though. As she said herself a few times, if she were a little younger, she'd snatch up Ranma for herself. Ranma was a remarkable young man, after all. Sure he was rough around the edges, but he was strong. With a little molding, he could've been a fine addition to their Amazon tribe.

Of course, he wasn't just strong physically. He had a very strong will too. While admirable on the field of battle, that particular trait would prove bothersome when it came time to do the molding. The boy was quite stubborn and wouldn't come to them willingly. Truth be told, Mousse was plenty strong and would've made a fine husband for Shampoo as well. It would've made things a lot easier also, as he was already an Amazon; already assimilated into their matriarchal society. Mousse was so devoted to her, Cologne couldn't fathom why Shampoo didn't choose him.

In the end, Shampoo made her choice and all Cologne could do was assist Shampoo in her goals and enforce Amazon law.

Of course, Shampoo being out with son-in-law meant that Cologne had to manage the restaurant herself. She was more than capable of doing so but the help did make things easier. Not only that, but Shampoo's presence always drew in customers. Without her, business was always slow, as it was at the moment. After putting the garnish on a dish as a finishing touch, she hopped on her staff out to the main dining room to deliver the order. Inexplicably, Cologne fell off her staff, dropping the order. The customers all rushed over to see how she was doing. She had to admit, the people of that town were all very helpful and friendly.

She lay there on the ground, trembling. For the first time since she moved to Nerima, she was afraid. How she envied the helpful and friendly citizens that hovered around her. They had no idea of the danger that threatened their lives. Regaining her composure, she let everyone know she was all right and she cleaned up the mess she made.

With all that Cologne had faced in her life, with all she had seen, she didn't think there was anything in this world that could make her afraid like that anymore. Being there, she was amazed and a little concerned at how quickly the kids had advanced in the art. Still, she always figured it would take a few decades before they learned anything of any real consequence. She should've known by now that she should never underestimate any one of them.

Ryouga...the shi shi hakouden attack was particularly dangerous. But he only had a surface knowledge of how to use it. He did have the means to make it very powerful with how depressed he was most of the time, but Cologne didn't think even he could transcend its limits and push himself to the next level. He must've gone through something extremely traumatic recently. Whatever the case, he had to be stopped.

"Mousse!" she called. She sighed, forgetting that quickly that Mousse was no longer with her. She'd never tell anyone, but she missed having him around. How could Shampoo allow him to get away like that?

She couldn't afford another series of introspections. Danger was afoot and she had to do what she could to avert a major catastrophe. "Okay everyone! I'm sorry to have to do this, but the Nekohaten is closed. Please come back later."

With groans of disappointments, the crowd began to file out of the restaurant. Cologne only hoped there would be a later so they could come back.

-

Dreamweaver Studios Presents

Ranma½

And the Beat Goes On

"Lost" –Part one

-

Autumn stood with her back to the wall, clutching her ribs. As much as she hated to admit it, Shampoo was a lot stronger than she gave her credit for. Shampoo was fighting angry. Usually, anger would cloud the mind and make one's moves sloppier than usual, but as far as she could tell, the purple haired Amazon's techniques were nearly flawless. Shampoo had received remarkable training.

Standing beside Autumn was Akane, who was panting heavily. It seemed she was having no luck with Kodachi either. For one with her strength, it should be nothing to take care of the gymnast, but Autumn had been studying Kodachi's techniques as well. Though unorthodox, they were quite sound. Even with Akane's enhanced form, there was no way she would be able to counter the poisons that Kodachi was launching at her. And that ribbon...Autumn didn't know if she saw correctly, but she could've sworn she saw Kodachi slice a car in half with it.

All in all, it was quite the laughable situation she put herself in. That being the case, she laughed. Akane looked at her like she had lost her mind. "And what in the world is so funny?" Akane asked.

"You don't think this is funny?" returned Autumn. "First of all, a half-demon and a demon slayer fighting on the same side...AGAIN? And not long after a fierce battle where we beat a powerful demon and her minions, we're being beaten by a pair of normal humans?"

Akane shook her head, "Shampoo and Kodachi may be many things, but trust me, normal ISN'T one of them. Besides, I know for a fact that you're capable of a lot more than what you've been doing. If you're going to beat Shampoo, you're going to have to stop holding back."

"I can't use my more powerful moves on other humans. It's forbidden. Heh, that was how Mousse was able to beat me..."

"Like I said, if you don't do something, she's going to beat you too."

Autumn thought about it for a moment. The sight of Shampoo closing in on her with murder in her eyes worked wonders in helping to change her mind. "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt in this case. After all, I doubt my teachers would want me to lose in a duel to someone from an enemy tribe." She smiled.

Akane smiled as well, "I don't think they would either. Now, if only I can do something about Kodachi's attacks..."

Autumn reached into her robe and pulled out a mask. "Here. Long ago, slayers wore masks like this whenever they went to hunt demons. Some used poison gasses to prey on humans, or to escape from danger. This will protect you, no matter how potent the toxins are...I think."

"You think?"

"Never tried them before," Autumn said with a shrug. Flaring her ki to life, she charged Shampoo again, leaving Akane to Kodachi.

Seeing her opponent charge, Shampoo dropped into her fighting stance again, "You come to Shampoo now, hmm? Good. That make Shampoo job easier." Autumn threw a chain at her to ensnare her arms. However, Shampoo caught the chain in mid air and yanked it, causing Autumn to fly forward faster than she wanted to. Once in range, Shampoo attempted a backhanded fist to put her down for the count. Autumn was able to get back in control of herself just in time to duck the punch and counter with a ki charged open palm strike on Shampoo's stomach, propelling the purple haired Amazon back into a parked pick up truck.

That would've been the perfect time for one of her special attacks, but even though she said she wasn't going to hold back anymore, there was still apart of her that felt it would've been a rather cheep victory to have to use such techniques. It would be much more satisfying if she were to defeat Shampoo with her skills alone. She went up to the fallen Amazon and grabbed a handful of her plentiful hair. One more blow was all it would take and it would've been over.

Unfortunately, the time it took for her to make her way over to Shampoo was enough time for her to reorient herself. When Autumn grabbed her hair, Shampoo elbowed Autumn hard in her bruised ribs. Autumn stumbled back, allowing Shampoo to get to her feet, and they stared each other down, trying hard to get the wind back into themselves.

Meanwhile, Kodachi was throwing more of her poisoned tipped spiked pins at Akane. Akane did her best to dodge the seemingly endless barrage of pins, but soon found herself backed against the wall again. With that trademark maniacal laugh of hers, Kodachi threw another exploding ball. It landed at Akane's feet and blew up in a plume of noxious gas. Kodachi's grin grew wider, knowing there was no escape for the wretched Tendo girl this time. With her down for the count, all she had to do was defeat the purple haired harlot and Ranma was as good as hers.

Sure victory was with her, Kodachi let her guard down, which allowed Akane to shoot out of the smoke and land a kick on the crazed gymnast's jaw, knocking her down to the ground. Kodachi looked up, rubbing her sore jaw, and saw Akane wearing the mask Autumn gave to her. "You wench! No fair using masks like that!"

"No fair?" went Akane. "You're one to talk with all those stupid weapons you use."

"Do not insult me! I have never once cheated in a duel! I, as a noble member of the Kuno family, am far above using such petty, dishonest tactics. Everything I've done is within the rules of good conduct."

"In whatever fantasy world you live in, maybe!" Akane shot back. "It doesn't matter now, though. This fight's over!" Akane moved in for the final strike. As she did, there was a thunderous explosion and a bright flash of light. Akane halted her attack, concerned as to what the ominous signs may have pertained.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" -CRASH!-

A very battered Kuno had flown over the building they were fighting in front of and crashed on the sidewalk between his love and his sister. He stood up and laughed in defiance, "You shant dispose of Tatewaki Kuno so easily! MUAHAHAHAHAA! ...ha..." He fell to the ground again.

"Well, it seems my darling Ranma has bested my brother in battle," said Kodachi. "And once I defeat you, Ranma shall be all mine!"

"Dream on!" spat Akane. There was another explosion and flash of light.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" -CRASH!-

Ranma, who was in the same condition as Kuno, landed behind Akane, being delivered there in much the same way. Immediately, Akane, Kodachi and Shampoo broke off their engagements to check on their fiancée in common. Akane, being the closest, knelt down next to him and helped him sit up. "Ranma! Are you okay?"

"Darling!"

"Aiya! What happen?"

Ranma struggled to his feet on his own accord. "We got trouble, Akane...big trouble!" Right on cue, Ryouga slowly drug himself from around one of the adjoining buildings.

Akane's eyes widened, "Ryouga?" The lost boy was an absolute mess. His hair was wildly unkempt and the bags under his eyes were so big, he looked as though he could pack the entire town in them. With his drooping head and shoulders and the way he swayed when he walked, he looked every bit the drunkard he was at the moment. The really scary part, though, were the tendrils of energy angrily whipping about his form. Without even thinking, Akane grabbed onto Ranma's arm and pulled him close.

Ryouga took a good look at everyone gathered. Almost all of the clowns of the Nerima circus was gathered. There was even a newcomer that was a part of the fray...probably another fiancée of Ranma's come out of the woodwork. And of course, right in the middle of it all was the man himself, along with Akane. Akane...the love of Ryouga's life; the woman he devoted so much of his energy on to win over. The woman who, at the moment, was holding close his greatest rival, reminding him how much it was all for naught. He closed his eyes and the reddish tinted aura that blazed around him grew larger. The sight of the two of them together like that sunk the dagger he already felt in his heart even deeper.

He laughed bitterly, "Why? All the times I've wanted to find you, I've never been able to. I've always gotten myself lost instead. So why is it that now, when I do want to get lost, I run into you? WHYYYYYY?" He lifted his head and yelled with all of his might, as if venting his rage towards the heavens. If the heavens paid any mind to him or not wasn't clear. The earth, however was paying close attention, as it began to shake from the furious energy he was putting out.

"By the gods," said Kuno, who, even in the bad shape he was in, couldn't stay unconscious through what was happening. "What manner of creature is this you summoned, Saotome?"

"Not now," said Ranma. "This ain't the time."

Autumn trembled at the sight of him. Arame, as powerful as she was, even she didn't emit that much dark power. There was no way he could be anything but a demon. The danger he posed was too great for her to sit by and do nothing. She pulled out a spirit ward from her sleeve and threw it at him. Once it was stuck on his head, he would be unable to move...unable to defend himself. With someone that powerful, it wouldn't make sense to hit him with anything other than her strongest move. "LUNAR RAVE!" Her ki, which quickly resembled the head of a wolf, enveloped her as she charged in, striking Ryouga dead center in his chest. The two energies clashing violently caused a powerful explosion, completely demolishing the buildings that immediately surrounded them and threw the onlookers back with its incredible concussive force.

When the smoke and light cleared, Autumn stood with a huge smile on her face. She was sure that she had finally done away with a powerful demon. She didn't have a direct hand in Arame's defeat, so this would finally count as her first. The smile faded when she saw Ryouga standing before her, unfazed. He took the ward off of his forehead and studied it for a second. Finally he balled the piece of paper in his fist and used it to backhand Autumn across her face. She crashed through one of the wall of one of the surviving buildings, went through its first level and crashed out the other side of it, coming to a rest in the middle of the street on a different block.

Ranma's jaw dropped. There was no way this was the Ryouga he knew. Ryouga was softer when it came to girls than even he was. If this was how low he had sunk, he had to be stopped, no matter what. Ranma still couldn't get passed his rival's eyes. It was as if he had completely given up on life and was dead on the inside already. Ranma figured Ryouga would be upset over finding out about he and Akane, but he didn't think the lost boy would get messed up THIS bad. And with his power fueled by his unhappiness...it was all the more reason for Ranma to stop him. The pigtailed martial artist charged, using his chestnut fist attack.

Ryouga didn't know what was happening to him. Perhaps it was the excess of alcohol in his system, but his vision was crystal clear, as if a veil he had been wearing all of his life was suddenly removed. He could see every one of Ranma's punches coming and he was able to avoid most of them. The fang-toothed martial artist thought some did manage to tag him, but the feel of them felt so faint, he couldn't be sure. If he was getting through and the hits stung so little, then he must be holding back. That Ranma...so sure of his superiority over everyone else, he could never bring himself to fight full strength. If this was going to be his final battle, Ryouga had to make sure Ranma gave it his all. If nothing else, Ryouga respected him as a martial artist and wanted to afford him that dignity at least.

Ryouga allowed himself to be punched in the gut. He grabbed Ranma's wrist and drew his pigtailed rival in, grabbing a fist full of his hair and slamming him face first into the already cracked pavement beneath them. He, then, hoisted Ranma up by the back of his shirt, slapped him across his face and threw him out into the middle of the street. "That should wake him up," Ryouga said to himself. "He should take this fight more seriously now."

"NO! RANMA, DARLING!"

"RANMA!"

The girls, the girls, the stupid girls; Shampoo and Kodachi, part of Ranma's little harem. They always stood behind him, always jumped when he wanted them too, always doing this and that, always for him. But not one of them could do the one thing Ryouga wanted them to. They couldn't win Ranma's heart, leaving Akane free for him to tell her how he felt without Ranma's interference. The stupid girls, what good were they?

Shampoo and Kodachi didn't even see when Ryouga moved. One moment he was at the other end of the block staring at them, the next moment, he stood in between them. With only a slight snarling curl of his lips, Ryouga elbowed Kodachi in the stomach and struck Shampoo in the same area with a front kick. That should shut them up for a little while.

"Damnable creature! You dare to attack one of the noble Kuno lineage? Have at thee!" With his bokken extended in front of him, Kuno attacked. Ryouga merely took a step back, leaving his foot in front of him, tripping Kuno up during his approach. With Kuno still in mid air, Ryouga punted him back into space. The moron was never really a threat in a fight or to win over Akane, so he didn't get much effort put into him.

Apparently, though, Kuno did serve as a decent distraction. Kodachi threw one of her exploding balls at him, enveloping him in the venomous fumes. With Ryouga staggered by the poison, Kodachi followed up by wrapping him up in her ribbon and yanking him into the air and slamming him head first into the pavement. She yanked him into the air again and with his arms bound by the ribbon, he couldn't defend as struck with a jump kick. Ryouga landed face down in a pile of rubble that at one time was a flower shop. As he tried to stand upright again, the two girls stood over him.

"This should teach you a valuable lesson, you Neanderthal," went Kodachi.

Shampoo nodded. "Man what treat woman badly go very bad place."

Ryouga laughed. "Oh, I have no doubt in my mind that I'll be going to that 'very bad place'. I'm just making sure you'll all be making the trip with me." With a swipe of his hand, one of the tendrils of energy that surrounded him lashed out like a whip, striking both girls in their chests in one shot, knocking them out into the street as well, unconscious.

He rose to his feet and gazed at his handiwork; not just at the gathering of martial artists prone at his feet, but at the surrounding populace, some staring at the battle in horror, others trying to help some of the unlucky ones who suffered injuries from the explosions and debris. Did those people out there with the little cuts and bruises really think they were suffering? What they were going through paled in comparison to what he had to endure. Ryouga could teach them a thing or two about real suffering.

Speaking of which, his gaze landed on one of the major causes. The one person in the whole town he thought could bring him true happiness...the person that could hurt him...DID hurt him more than any of the others could..."Akane..."

Instinctively, Akane took a step back. And she thought she had become a monster. What in the world could've happened to have Ryouga snap like this? Could even a demon survive such raw, untamed power and fury? "R-Ryouga! Why are you doing this? What's happened to you?"

Slowly, Ryouga stalked up to her, piercing her to the core with those soulless eyes of his. "I'm simply tired, Akane. Tired of being everyone's tool to use and throw away. Tired of always being second best. Tired of being alone."

"But you're not alone! You've been surrounded by friends this whole time!"

Ryouga laughed again. "Friends? I have no friends. That was made perfectly clear to me earlier today. I'm just ready for everything to be over and done with now. But not before I return a few favors. It's been said that a candle flickers brightest and most violently just before it goes out. I guess I'm flickering pretty brightly." He raised his fist, "Now, for the violent part..."

Akane closed her eyes and prepared herself for the worst, but it never came. When she opened her eyes again, she found Ranma standing in between them, his own ki ablaze and Ryouga's fist caught in his grip. With his free hand, Ranma got Ryouga in the jaw with an uppercut, which laid the bandanna clad martial artist out. "Ranma!" Without taking his eyes off his rival, Ranma gave her shoulder a push, hoping she'd get the message he wanted her to move out of the way.

"You weren't REALLY gonna hit Akane just now, were you?" Ranma growled.

Ryouga sat up and rubbed his chin. He felt the hit that time. He stood up and favored the pigtailed martial artist with an empty smile. "Looks like you're finally ready to take this seriously, Saotome. Come on. Let's make this a fight no one will ever forget!"

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