Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½™ or Sacrifice™ or any related characters, terms or concepts.
Author's Notes: Okay now, a considerable proportion of you voted that I have Ranma kill Happosai. Now, while I don't exactly like the little freak, I'm not exactly fond of character death either. This, coupled with the fact that several reviewers pointed out good reasons why Ranma wouldn't kill, means I stuck with the current ending. I hope it isn't too big of a disappointment. Now taking requests/suggestions for all subsequent chapters! By the way, just something I think I should have mentioned earlier: Ranma could have gotten cured by following any of the Gods, Stratos was just the only one to mention that he could lead him to a cure when they were trying to sway him to their side.
Part 12: The Final Battle! Ranma vs. Happosai!
The air in the Tendo Dojo was thick with tension the morning after Ranma had challenged Happosai for his title of Grandmaster of Anything-Goes Martial Arts.
At least, it would have been, had not virtually everyone present at the household drunk themselves into a stupor following Ranma's issuing of the challenge. Ranma was the only one up and about right now. Why was Ranma not stuck with a hangover?
A: Ranma knew his limits for drinking, and stuck to them.
B: Ranma had a far greater tolerance for Otherworld alcohols, due to having drunk them for around six months.
C: As the best martial artist present, Ranma had endurance and a constitution beyond mere human comprehension. The various "training methods" he'd undergone in Empyrea had only increased that factor.
D: The Heal spell can do more than regenerate mangled flesh and bone.
Because of those factors, Ranma was the only person in the Tendo Dojo who was awake. The Tendos were in their rooms; his mother and father were in the Dojo, Herb and Lime were camping in the garden (Ranma had to blink at the sight of Lime cuddling up the Yeti like it was a teddy-bear). He was pretty sure Ryoga-chan had wandered into a cupboard and spent the night there, that Mousse was sleeping at the dining table and that Ukyo and Shampoo were sprawled out on the floor in the living room.
But anyway, he was up and getting himself breakfast from the leftovers from last night's feast. There hadn't been enough room for them all in the fridge, true, but Elementalists could wield frost for purposes other than freezing the blood in an opponent's veins solid, or flash-freezing their brains, or rendering them into ice-sculptures or… ah hell, you get the drift. With the ease of long practise, he smashed the ice-shell off of a drumstick and then took a bite of the frozen flesh; heedless of the way it crunched between his teeth. Unable to thaw out a barrel of Elysium Ale, he settled for simply breaking off a sizable chunk of frozen booze and sucking on it.
As he dined on a repast only an Elementalist could have enjoyed, he was joined by the first of the other inhabitants to awaken. He raised an eyebrow when he saw it was Nabiki; the middle Tendo was notorious for not being a morning person. Not only was she up earlier than was normal from her, she was also clearly suffering the effects of a mild hangover, again totally unlike her.
"Got a bit carried away last night?"
"Not so loud… My head feels like it's going to split."
"Yeah, Otherworld alcohols do have rather nasty side-effects… I could make the pain go away… for a price…"
"If it'll make my head stop hurting, I'll pay any price!"
Nabiki was a bit too enthusiastic in her reaction to Ranma's offer of a hangover cure, as evidenced by the way she winced in pain and clutched her aching head. Ranma sighed, shook his head and quickly whispered the incantation to the Heal spell. His right hand glowing with gentle blue-green light, he reached out and touched Nabiki softly on the forehead, the energy surging from his hand to spiral around her body before dissipating. Once it was gone, Nabiki's expression changed from one of agony to one of relief.
"Thanks Saotome, I guess you have some uses after all."
"Save the thanks until after you see my bill."
Nabiki blinked at that comeback, while Ranma returned to eating his frozen food. Having finished, he walked out into the garden and approached the Altar.
"Saotome? What are you doing?"
"I can beat the old lech no problems, but an opportunity not seized is an opportunity wasted. I'm going to Dalara Peaks to train the next three days."
"That's not much of a time period for training."
"Not here, no, but remember that time passes three times faster in Otherworld. Three days here is nine days there. That old freak won't know what hit him! Tell the others where I went when they're sober enough, alright?"
He never gave her a chance to refuse, simply walking into the gateway the moment it opened.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in Nerima, Happosai was doing what he does best: plotting evil (and perverted) schemes for revenge on Ranma. This was his secondary objective; his first was finding some clean clothing to replace the heavily stained outfit he was currently wearing.
"Just you wait Ranma, I'll get you for this!"
It was three days later, and the fight to determine who would be the Grandmaster of Anything-Goes Martial Arts would be held in about an hour. Ryoga-chan, the Tendos, the Saotomes, Herb and Lime were gathered around the Altar, waiting for Ranma to rematerialise. When he did come through though, he didn't come alone.
Two of the people accompanying him with thin and slender, either bishonen boys or masculine girls, with pointy ears, grey eyes and platinum-blond hair. They were impossible to tell apart, especially with the twin mischievous grins they wore.
The third figure resembled a twelve-year old boy, at least superficially. The filthy, clawed fingers, the stained, chipped fangs, the dirty, vermin-infested hair, open sores and crazed eyes detracted from the appearance of innocence and purity.
The fourth figure looked vaguely like someone in European full-plate armour, sealed shut so that not an inch of bare flesh showed. A crown-like cluster of spikes protruded from the top of its helmet, emitting gouts of smoke/steam. It was massive in stature; Soun's head would have just been level with its chest, while its upper arms were as thick around as Nabiki's waist.
The final figure wore a dirty, tattered cloak, an old shirt and worn pants. He had a great, tangled, white-haired beard that dangled to his knees. He wore a large, floppy-brimmed version of the stereotypical Western wizard. Despite the fact he carried a heavy wooden staff, he definitely didn't seem to lack vigour or energy, moving with ease and a strong sense of purpose. What little of his skin they could see was heavily tanned, and reminiscent of ancient wood in texture.
Soun swallowed his unease at this sudden invasion and plucked up courage to ask.
"Ranma? Who are these people?"
"Just some friends of mine I invited to see the fight. This is Yuki and Yiku."
The twins grinned and curtsied simultaneously.
"Morgall."
The child-creature grinned wickedly then voiced a demented, Kodachi-esque laugh.
"Ferrous."
The armour-clad figure nodded, then placed its hand on the hilt of the greataxe hanging at its side and emitted a sound like a steam whistle, great plumes of smoke and steam billowing from its helmet-spikes.
"And Duncan."
The old man grinned, revealing a full set of white teeth and glittering blue eyes before he approached Soun and delivered a friendly slap on the back. Soun staggered like someone had just broken a chair across his back; Duncan was evidentially one of those old men who turn into teak with age. Nodoka spoke up next, carefully eyeing the strangers.
"So how do you know them son?"
"Yuki and Yiku were my classmates when I was attending Castle de'Cuckoo. I met Morgall when I went to Desecration for the first time. Ferrous is the Flame-Moulder who rules neighbouring Petroglodyte and Duncan is an old Earth-Wielder who kind of wandered into Sliverspine a few weeks ago. But anyway, let's get to the vacant lot; it's time that old lech realised who he's dealing with."
"Before we go, there's something I want to ask you."
"What's that Herb?"
"What did you do to Mint? He still hasn't returned yet."
"He hasn't? Wow, Kodachi must have really scared him. Or else… no, it's too hideous to think about!"
Kuno EstateTatewaki Kuno, age 18, the self-proclaimed Rising Star of the School Fencing World and the self-titled Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, was not having a good day. In fact, he hadn't been having a good week. True, his quality of life had degenerated since Ranma Saotome moved back to Nerima, but today was especially bad. Never before had he been hung upside down, stark naked and drenched in soy sauce, over the pool of his sister's beloved pet crocodile, Mr. Scaly Green. He pulled himself upwards as aforementioned reptile lunged from the pool and tried to bite his head off before directing his gaze to the one responsible for his predicament.
"Twisted sister, I demand that you release me at once!"
"Whahahahaha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Not until you agree to the marriage, brother dear!"
"Never! I refuse to allow you to besmirch the name of the House of Kuno by marrying that creature! Now come to your senses and cut me down!"
Kuno is not known for his intellect, or his common sense, but even he could see he had made a grievous error. If looks could kill, his sister would have reduced him to ashes. And the cause of their argument, the feral Chinese boy who called himself Mint- what kind of idiot named themselves after a spice anyway, looked almost as furious as Kodachi. Kuno's mind couldn't help but flash-back to about five days ago, when he'd first entered his sister's room to discover –to his shock and horror- her and this Mint boy in her bed, totally naked. Quite naturally, Kuno had gone ballistic.
Distracting him, the two youths had fled the chamber, leaving Kuno alone and spitting with rage. Kodachi had added an extra dosage of drugs to his dinner that night, causing him to forget precisely how he had initially found the two. She hypnotised him into believing that Mint was a new personal servant of hers; a fellow martial artist he had hired to help her train. That deception had worked, for a couple of days. Unfortunately, it had been shattered when he had the misfortune to walk in on the two in the Kuno Estate's personal hot springs. Now, Kodachi wanted to wed the boy, but she needed Kuno's approval to do so. Approval he refused to give.
That was why he was now dangling above the pool where his sister's carnivorous pet lurked. But the threat posed by the hungry reptile below dwindled in comparison to the more immediate threats posed by his irate sister and her paramour. There was a metallic scraping noise and Mint's hands were suddenly filled with throwing knives- which Kuno knew him to be an expert with, having had personal (and painful) experience.
"Perhaps I was being… a bit hasty. Very well. If you truly wish to marry him, then I shall not stop you."
The smile of joy upon Kodachi's face was a sight to behold. She burst out laughing in joy, hugging the confused Chinese boy standing beside her.
"Master Kuno! Mistress Kodachi!"
The Kuno clan's incompetent manservant, Sasuke, flipped down from the branch where Kuno was hanging from and landed on his feet in front of Kodachi and Mint. At least, that had obviously been his intention. As it was, he slipped off the branch, smashed his face into a lower branch and landed face-first before them. Mint blinked in confusion, while the Kunos, having had long experience with this, paid it no attention. In an instant, Sasuke had scrambled back to his feet. Kuno snorted from his upside-down position.
"What is it, Sasuke? Why do you intrude into our private affairs?"
"Forgive me master, but I have discovered something I thought you would want to hear. It seems that Ranma Saotome has challenged the ancient and perverted Grandmaster of his school of martial arts to a trial by mortal combat. The two of them will be battling soon."
"What's this you say? The foul sorcerer Saotome and his even fouler master have revealed the depths of their evil and come to blows? This I must witness! It is surely the will of the gods that I attend, so that I may strike when the two have weakened each other and crush them both in one mighty blow!"
None of the others bothered to waste their breath trying to contradict him, even though they all knew that, should Kuno interfere in a battle between Ranma and Happosai, he would have not only signed his own death warrant, but written it, sealed it and delivered it too.
"Let us be off then brother dear. My darling Mint, would you be a dear and cut him down?"
When Ranma had lured Mint to the Kuno Estate and sicced Kodachi on him, he had just intended to scare him away. He would never have dreamed that she would actually catch him. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it) the drug-induced stupor, coupled with her own… unique… mindset, meant that Kodachi had pretty much forgotten all about his "dying declaration". All that he had achieved was to direct her attention and desires from him to Mint. Of course, that suited him perfectly well; as long as she wasn't after him, he didn't care.
Unaware of this, Mint had come to return Kodachi's affection. He didn't truly understand it, but, in his own way, he was falling in love with her. With a nod of his head, he flicked out a throwing dagger at lightning speed, cutting the rope and dropping Kuno into Mr. Scaly Green's pond. The water instantly erupted in a flurry as Kodachi burst out laughing.
"I meant for you to release him, not feed him to Mr. Scaly Green."
"Sorry."
With that, Mint dove into the pond to help his new "brother-in-law" in his life-or-death struggle.
The Vacant LotGiven that the battle between Ranma and Happosai was to occur on a school day, it should have been a private affair. However, the news had somehow (coughNabikicoughcough) leaked out and, rather than fighting the inevitable, the teachers had given the students the day off. In fact, many of them were actually in attendance themselves. The group from the Tendo Dojo hurried towards the spot, only to discover that, somehow, they'd lost Ranma. Happosai noticed them and sneered derisively.
"So, the boy lost his nerve, huh? I knew he wouldn't show up! I win by default!"
The temperature dropped slowly as cold mist seemed to trickle slowly out of thin air, about 6 meters away from where Happosai stood. The trickling mist fell to the ground from 6 feet in the air, the top and sides slowly solidifying into ice. Then, through the mist, Ranma appeared, face emotionless, eyes betraying nothing. If he had some sort of secret plan, Happosai couldn't sense it. This was a cause of slight worry for the old pervert; normally he could always read Ranma, even with some difficulty when he was really focussing on something.
In fact, this was just the first part of Ranma's strategy; the "emotionless act" was a traditional bit of Elementalist psych-out, a way of hitting your enemy's mind far worse than any of the taunts Ranma used to use to distract and unnerve his opponents.
What's more, this was one battle where Ranma was going to go all out; not only to put an end to Happosai, but to also drive the point home to the rest of the Nerima Wrecking Crew that he would not be pushed around any longer. His focus on the battle was so intense, his mental shell so thick, that not even Akane and Shampoo announcing that they'd fallen in love and were eloping could have shaken him. He stared silently at Happosai for several minutes before speaking in an icy whisper that somehow still managed to reach even those in the back of the impromptu theatre that had been assembled.
"Well, you shrivelled mushroom of a man…you showed up. I trust you got all the stains out of your suit?"
The way he appeared arrogant while having no arrogance or emotion of any kind angered the so-called "Shrivelled Mushroom," but he had no response.
"Shall we start now? Yes? Good."
Ranma held his arms out and slightly up, muttering something along the lines of "Ice Armour" under his breath, and hung his head. Then, as the air was filled with the slow, cracking noise of water-vapour freezing, intertwining wreathes, vines and shards of ice slithered up the martial artist's body, forming perfectly fitting armour round him as they entangled themselves with his form.
From his knees extended two short spikes. As ice formed around his arms, large blades shot back from the sides of his forearms, coming back past his elbow. A small, round helm of ice slid up from his back and around his head, curving over the top of his skull and wrapping around to join across his forehead. Then, as he straightened his head, and fell into a fighting stance, a single plate of ice shot up and wrapped itself around his face, up to the bridge of his nose, leaving only his eyes clear.
As he balled his hands into fists, small, sharp shards of ice extended from his knuckles, about half an inch long. Happosai stared at him calmly, apparently unaffected. In reality, he had to steel himself to keep from flinching; it looked like Ranma was actually going to get serious in this battle.
"Uh…can't we discuss this, Ranma m'boy…?"
Ranma stepped forward, single step after single step, and spoke, his voice sharp and cold and dark as the icy waters of the abyss, yet still surprisingly clear.
"The time for discussion is over…You have caused naught but pain, humiliation, and strife since the day you scratched and crawled your way back to the land we now stand on from within the mountain you were buried in. Your reckoning has come. I am here to put you back under the earth."
"So, you're gonna try and kill me, eh?"
Ranma stopped advancing.
"There are worse things than death, 'Master' Happosai."
He sneered out the word master, making it sound filthier than a thousand decayed bodies rotting in a cesspool of their own putrescent blood. He stopped advancing and wrapped his arms around himself, visibly glowing with electricity before he flung his arms outwards. As he did so, several metallic orbs, about the size of a baseball, shot outwards from his body. Happosai ducked, but they weren't even trying to hit him.
Instead, they shot towards the boundaries of the arena, where they floated and began to multiply, forming a circle around the combatants. They then began to multiply upwards, until they formed a dome completely enclosing the arena. As electricity began to arc between the orbs, it was obvious that there was no escape.
Herb had to admit; that was an impressive opening. He made a mental note to think carefully before antagonizing Ranma. He and Lime were sitting with the Tendos, Saotomes and Ryoga-chan. Ranma's Mage friends had formed their own separate little grouping close by. Ukyo and the Amazons where both present, but had chosen to realise the profit potential of this grouping and were selling food to the hungry attendees.
"Prince Herb! Prince Herb!"
Herb's head shot towards the sound; there was Mint! But who was that girl with him? As the two got near, the girl burst out into a shrill, screaming laugh that made Herb want to clutch his ears.
"Whahahahaha-ha-ha-ha-ha! So, you are my beloved's Prince Herb?"
"That I am, but who are you?"
The woman blinked, and then laughed again. Herb squelched the urge to stick his fingers in his ears; that laugh could cut through glass.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Kodachi 'The Black Rose' Kuno, Mint's betrothed."
"Excuse me, you're what?"
That outburst came from Akane, prompting a confused look from the Musk and another laugh from Kodachi. This time Herb damned protocol to hell and covered his ears; he was really getting sick of that sound!
"Whahahahaha-ha-ha-ha-ha! My poor Akane, you may keep that Ranma Saotome. Though he is a noble man, he cannot match the primitive beauty, the feral elegance of my beloved Mint. Besides, how can I not marry a man who has come to know my body as well as I myself know it?"
Akane and the non-Musk looked puzzled for a second at Kodachi's statement, then looked sick. Several seconds later, Herb joined them in their repulsion, having finally understood what Kodachi was saying. Mint and Lime just looked puzzled. Herb swallowed his nausea and spoke to Kodachi again.
"You do know that, as my retainer, Mint will have to return with me to China?"
"Whahahahaha-ha-ha-ha-ha! It doesn't matter where my love goes, for I will follow him to the ends of the earth!"
"I see. In that case, Mint; as long as you and Kodachi are betrothed, consider yourself exiled from the Musk Dynasty!"
Kodachi laughed, Mint shrugged, and the pair of them headed back to where Kuno was sitting. Akane turned to Herb.
"Don't you think that was unnecessarily cruel?"
"I'd call it necessary cruelty- if that woman was around, I'd go insane!"
Having said that, Herb returned his attention to the arena, where Ranma and Happosai were still sizing each other up, yet to make the first blow.
Suddenly, Happosai leapt, aiming a flying punch straight towards Ranma's face. Ranma just stood there and took the blow, which didn't even crack the ice-shell covering his face. Ranma glared at Happosai and, with a single backhand swipe, sent the old master flying. He rolled as he hit the ground, and then had to stop himself and stand before he hit the orbs, glowing with electric light.
As he dragged himself up, he took out a firebomb. Lighting it up, he called out, "Happo Fire-Burst!" and threw it at Ranma, as hard as possible. Ranma extended his hand, shooting a burst of cold energy towards the firework. It froze solid, but maintained its momentum towards Ranma. He caught it and then threw it back towards the evil gnome-like creature he was fighting. It struck Happosai on the head, flooring him momentarily. A second or so later, it exploded.
"GACK!" was the only word Happosai was able to get out before being sent flying, straight into part of the electric wall, though Ranma caught him before he hit the ground. After striking him repeatedly across the face, Ranma threw him against the far wall of the electric cage.
The shrunken master was ready this time, and flipped his weight, stopping dead and avoiding hitting the lightning bolts streaming between the glowing orbs. He turned back towards Ranma, taking a large swig of Sake from a bottle he pulled out of a sub-space pocket and spewing fire from his mouth. Ranma simply held out his hand into the flame, a strange mist wreathing his fingers. Before the stunned eyes of those watching, the fire froze solid and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
"Bah! See how the worm Saotome cannot fight truly, but instead uses foul, demonic magics studied in the depths of hell to achieve his false victories?"
As one, the students unfortunate enough to be sitting near Kuno retreated away from him. You didn't need to be psychic to forsee what was coming next, and they had no desire to be caught at ground zero. Twin Lightning Bolts, a Fireball, an Insect Swarm and a Rock spell later, they closed ranks back around the boulder that marked where the Dull Blunder of Furinkan High had been sitting.
Not that either Ranma or Happosai noticed (nor would they have cared). Quickly recovering from his shock at seeing Ranma freeze his fire solid, Happosai leapt towards Ranma at full speed, unleashing a barrage of hits that normally would have overwhelmed Ranma. Normally. Ranma effortlessly blocked almost every hit, and those few that made it through failed to penetrate his mystical armour. Of course, he launched his own volley of attacks as well, but Happosai also managed to block them.
The two separated from each other, leaping backwards and stopping near their respective sides of the dome. Neither of them was even breathing hard; this battle had only just begun. Happosai actually tilted his head in a minor acknowledgement of Ranma's newfound skill. As the two made slight movements the crowd began to grow more excited; a year spent watching these battles had given most of them a sort of sixth-sense, and they knew that it was time for special attacks.
"Founding School of Anything-Goes Martial Arts Special Attack! Beanjam Blowout!"
A whirling vortex of ki formed above his hands and he threw it across the ground towards Ranma. Ranma didn't even try to move; he simply waited until the whirlwind reached him and then spun around in the opposite direction to the way the vortex spun, his arms out. Doing so caused the whirlwind to dissipate, whereupon Ranma voiced a mocking laugh.
"A wind attack against an Elementalist? That is a fool's mistake. Ah well, my turn now! Crashing Shock Bolt!"
Ranma thrust his hands towards Happosai, in the time-honoured manner of ki-blasting martial artists. Happosai flinched back and blocked, only to relax when nothing happened. He puffed out his chest and mocked Ranma.
"Ha! Some attack!"
Those who had ears keen enough to hear the whistling sound that started the moment Ranma launched his attack were not so surprised when a spiralling bolt of electricity corkscrewed out of the sky and landed a direct hit on Happosai's bald head. Though it was still a shock to everyone. Ranma began to exit his fighting stance before a (slightly smoking) Happosai bounced out of the crater. Ranma simply extended his right arm out the side and hissed. Before Happosai's eyes, a thick black storm cloud formed in the sky above Ranma and an icy wind blew up from out of nowhere.
Ranma swept his arm in Happosai's direction, at which the cloud expanded and then contracted, spewing a barrage of massive, jagged chunks of ice directly at Happosai. Happosai dodged most of the deluge and broke some of the larger ice boulders, but still received a severe battering. He glared at Ranma and wiped the blood from a bruised cheek. Ranma simply glowed with blue-silver energy and pointed at Happosai.
"Avalanche!"
"Don't be stupid! It's the middle of summer, there's no snow here! Besides which, we don't get avalanches in Nerima!"
Now, normally the Avalanche spell does indeed trigger an avalanche, but a spell that can only be used under certain conditions is worse than useless. Three hundred year old perverted Grandmaster or not, Happosai had to admit that being crushed beneath an ice boulder about twice the size of Kuno's ego hurts!
Ranma said nothing, but simply leapt upwards, effortlessly soaring up to within an inch of the dome's top as the ground where he had been standing exploded. Happosai surfaced, blinking away the dust, only to discover Ranma descending upon him. His injuries, coupled with the speed of Ranma's surprise attack, rendered him unable to block or dodge Ranma's Caress of the Jellyfish attack. Mercilessly beating and shocking the old pervert, Ranma finished with an electrified spin-kick that hurled him into the dome.
Charred and bleeding, Happosai slumped to the ground, incapable of continuing the battle. He looked up at Ranma, whether to beg or to plead or to spit a curse, no one knew, as he didn't speak. Ranma's icy skin melted away into a pool of water at his feet, though his demeanour remained as icy as ever. Crossing his arms over his chest, he began to glow with an ethereal blue-silver light.
Those outside the dome gasped as a sudden bitterly cold wind began to surge from the arena. As they watched, frost began to coat the surfaces within the dome and Happosai's breath began to steam, although Ranma's did not. Kasumi shivered with the cold, only to blink in confusion as Herb wrapped an arm of his cloak around her. She looked at him, but his attention was directed into the arena, where Ranma was beginning to speak in the same icy whisper as when he had begun the fight.
"You could have been great once, you know that? You had the skill, the talent, the potential. You could have been a hero, adored, respected and eagerly sought-after by students of the Art; the Anything-Goes school could have become one of the greatest in the world. Instead you chose to squander your potential, to use your gifts solely to sate your own vulgar appetites and indulge your perverse lusts. You are a villain, and all the worse for that you could have been so much more. Well, it is time to pay for your sins."
Closing his eyes, he uncrossed his arms, the glow beginning to intensify as he continued speaking.
"I hereby strip you of your title as 'Grandmaster of Anything-Goes', and furthermore, I sentence you to the punishment you so richly deserve. DEEP… FREEZE!"
He opened his eyes and gestured towards Happosai, hurling a brilliant beam of mystical energy at the prone pervert. It struck him with tremendous force, emitting a blinding light that forced all of the observers to look away. When they could see again, where Happosai had been was a massive block of ice, Happosai's prone form still faintly visible within its depths. Ranma heaved an exhausted sigh, and waved his hand, dispelling the electrified dome. The Amazons, the fiancées, Ryoga-chan, Herb, Lime, the Saotomes, Soun and the Mages all hurried into the arena.
Ranma didn't say a word, but somehow reached into the ice-block and drew forth the Locking Ladle from one of Happosai's sub-space pockets. He turned and handed it to the silent Herb.
"Here. In return for its return, I ask that you take Ryoga with you, so that he may unlock his curse and be restored to normal. Before you ask, this is the secret to breaking the curse of Jusenkyo…"
Ranma leaned close to Herb's ear and began to whisper. Genma tried to overhear but was distracted by Soun tapping on the ice-block and calling to Ranma.
"Is he dead?"
"No. He is dimly aware of his surroundings, and fully aware of the passage of time, but he is otherwise in a state of cryogenic stasis; he will remain trapped within that ice, unable to move or die, until someone is foolish enough to release him. I intend to take him down to the very roots of Dalara and bury him there forever. I will return in… say a week?"
Not waiting for a reply, Ranma bent down and grasped the bottom of the ice-block, his fellow Mages helping him, and lifted it off the ground before walking back towards the Tendo Dojo.
1 Week LaterKasumi hummed pleasantly to herself as she finished cleaning the dining room. On the porch, her father and the Yeti were playing Shogi, Genma having gone home with Nodoka. This scene of normal (by Nerima standards anyway) life was disrupted as the Altar's portal suddenly flared into life and Ranma stumbled through. Literally stumbled through; Ranma looked exhausted, his clothing torn and filthy and dark circles under his eyes.
"Ranma? Are you all right?"
"Let me tell you something; even with a Geomancer, digging through six godsdamned miles of solid bedrock is no picnic. I want food, a bath and some sleep, not necessarily in that order."
"So why didn't you get all of that back in Sliverspine?"
"Because it didn't occur to me Ryoga- Ryoga? So you actually managed to get yourself cured?"
The Eternally Lost Boy –now a boy once again- grinned at Ranma.
"Yeah, we found it after about two days, up in the mountains. Of course, it took me about five days to get back here. I'm not P-Chan or a girl anymore, but this direction curse still sucks."
"Well, I can't do much about that, but I do have a gift that might help."
"Oh?"
Ryoga was instantly suspicious. Ranma pulled out an ornate ring and handed it to Ryoga, who took it with visible reluctance.
"It's a teleportation ring, basically. It'll let you get from point A to point B without having to take route A and risking getting lost. All you have to do is put it on and say 'I wish I was'- wherever you want to be, and it'll take you there."
Ryoga looked uncertain, but put it on anyway.
"If it actually works, then it might come in handy. Pity you didn't give it to me before I left- there were times on that journey when I almost wished I had my Jusenkyo pig-curse again."
There was sudden blinding flash of light and Ryoga, disappeared, leaving behind only the ring, which dropped to the ground, and a very stunned group of Nerimites.
"That wasn't supposed to happen! Wait a sec… oh great! That wretched merchant swindled me! This ring is faulty- cursed! Which means Ryoga… oh boy, he is gonna be so mad when he gets back."
Jusenkyo, ChinaThe cursed springs of Jusenkyo were quite, as they normally are, when suddenly a brilliant flash of light and the sound of someone screaming broke the silence, right before a loud "splash".
"BWEEEEEEBWEEEBWE!"
This author refuses to translate the above statement because it is undoubtedly offensive, most likely illegal and probably physically impossible.
Well, that's the end of that old pervert. This is the longest chapter in this story to date and, I feel, the worst written. Ah well, review and let me know what you think please- I literally live for your reviews. Some credit for the actual fight scene goes to my brother, with whom I discussed events and style.