(Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or any of the characters and stories associated with it.)

Demon Battle

From the last chapter: The demon sneered as a fluorescent green coil of energy snaked out from behind it. Less than three meters long, the glowing cable ended in a sickly green ball of pulsing energy. Within the suspended globe, Akane Tendo could clearly be seen.

Nabiki stared, "There's something you don't see every day."

Cologne turned towards the group, "The demon's strength comes from the Tendo girl. It's drawing that strength through that energy umbilical. As long as it can tap into that power, it's nearly invincible. Sever that link, and the demon can be destroyed."

Ranma looked to the demon for a second, "How do we do that?"

"Ranma, you have the most power. You hit the demon hard and keep it occupied. Use your ki attacks and any other thing you can think of. Nodoka, if what I suspect is true, only you have the ability to sever that link. Attack the demon the same as Ranma, but concentrate on that link when you see the opportunity."

Nodoka raised an eyebrow and questioned, "Elder?"

The old woman cackled, "I've suspected something about you for some time now, child, and that little display down below clinched it. Just do what you know you must."

Ukyo pointed at Kodachi, "What of the rest of us, I don't have my battle spatula and I'm not that good at hand to hand."

Kodachi turned and opened a small cabinet, "As it so happens, my brother and I did some of our training within these gardens. I don't have any large cooking utensils, but I do have some simple martial arts tools."

Ukyo reached in the cabinet and grabbed a staff, "This might do. I learned with this before I switched to the battle spatula."

Kodachi grabbed a ribbon and some clubs, "This will do nicely. Alright Elder, we're ready as well."

Cologne gave them a quick look, "You two are going to be very vulnerable out there. Attack quick and move back out of range. Remember you won't be able to stand a full powered hit from that thing."

She then turned to Genma, "Mr. Saotome, I know of your abilities and I want to keep you in reserve. If one of those fighters goes down, bring them back here and behind me."

The elder Saotome nodded and Nabiki spoke up, "What of me?"

The old woman smirked, "Stay behind me and stay out of sight, girl."

Ranma turned towards the demon, "Alright. Let's do this!"

As the four began to approach the demon, he laughed, "Well now, it took you long enough, boy!"

Ranma pointed towards the demon, "What's the matter, chuckles? Getting impatient for your ass kicking?"

The demon's eyes glowed for a bit as it growled, "I'm going to enjoy crushing you!"

The demon roared and charged with the axe raised over its head. Ranma jumped up and fired a ki blast directly towards the demon's face. The creature shook its head and swung the axe towards Ranma, only to have it deflected as the boy kicked himself away from the weapon and landed lightly on the ground. Nodoka was already airborne in a high leap with both katanas drawn. The beast saw her approaching and attempted to swat her away with its fist. Suddenly the swords were moving in a blur that nearly obscuring her from view. The demon swung to strike the woman but yelled in pain as the fast moving katanas sliced into its hand. She landed on the ground and smirked at the demon's discomfort.

The demon glared at the pair, "Cute, but playtime's over!"

It spun the axe for a moment then aimed it at the pair, releasing a huge energy blast. Ranma and Nodoka just missed the green flash as they leaped away. As the demon began to recharge the weapon, Ranma jumped up and hit it with several ki blasts to the face and eyes. Nodoka saw the opportunity to hit the energy umbilical and leaped up into the air. As she came down she raised both katanas over her head and stuck. Lightning flashed brightly as she was blown back several yards.

Nabiki gasped, "It did nothing! Other than that discharge, the umbilical is still intact."

Genma smiled, "They're both searching for weaknesses. We now know the creature can feel pain, we just need to exploit it."

As the attack continued, Cologne shook her head, "Those two are a lot alike. Both of them have so much more power, and yet they escalate the attacks a bit at a time.

* * *

Within the ball of energy, Akane was content and happy. She saw nothing of the conflict nearby, but was completely immersed within her own dream world. She smiled as she sat with her mother and chatted aimlessly about the events of her life. As Akane described the problems at school, she noticed her mother was not responding any more. Fearful for her safety, she reached out and touched the woman's arm. As had happened once before, her mother began to sparkle with a golden light. The sparkling flashed briefly for a moment, revealing not the image of her mother, but someone else.

Akane jumped up from the bed, "Who are you? What have you done to my mother?"

The image seemed to take a few seconds to sharpen into focus. After a moment the woman smiled as she sat down on the edge of the bed, "It is good to see you again, Akane-chan."

Akane's eyes widened at the familiar voice, "Kasumi? Is that you?"

She chuckled softly, "No, my dear. Although Kasumi-chan has grown to look a lot like me, your older sister is still safely at home."

Akane shook her head, "I don't understand."

The woman smiled as she folded her hands together, "When you were only three years old, you were separated from your family while they went to view the blooming cherry trees in the park. Your mother found you sitting on the edge of the pond, watching the blossoms land in the water."

"Huh?"

"When you were four years old, you skinned your knee in the back yard playing. You came into the house crying to your mother and she placed your special Hello Kitty bandages on the wound while she comforted you and said you were her brave little girl."

"How could you know that?"

"And when you were five, your father made three little duck shapes out of wood. Before they were placed on your bedroom doors, your mother hand painted on each of them in English, the names of Kasumi, Nabiki, and you."

Akane's voice was shaking, "O-only my mother would know that. Who are you?"

The woman chuckled for a moment, "That should be obvious, Akane-chan. I am Kimiko Tendo, your true mother."

* * *

Back outside, the battle continued to rage. Although Ranma's ki blasts and hits to the face were doing little damage to the demon, they were certainly angering it. As the boy prepared another attack, the demon saw an opening and swung the axe. The face of the weapon caught Ranma square across the side and threw him to the other end of the garden. He shook his head before heading back into the fight while Cologne yelled out, "Quit playing around, Ranma. It's time to get serious!"

Cologne glared at Genma, "I don't know where the boy gets that, but if he doesn't start using his full potential soon, he's going to get killed. It's only by fool luck the demon hit him with the face of that axe and not the blade."

Genma crossed his arms, "It's part of Anything Goes Martial Arts. The boy's learning the demon's weaknesses before committing to a particular attack."

The old woman turned her gaze back to the fight, "Well he better hurry. Another hit like that and he'll be out of the fight for good.

When Ranma was knocked back, Ukyo and Kodachi used the opportunity to launch their own attacks. Kodachi threw a pair of clubs towards the demon's face while Ukyo spun the staff and aimed for the demon's shins. When the clubs struck the demon, they exploded in a orange tinted gas. At that moment, Ukyo struck the beast's shins. With a roar it took a step back and waved the axe at the two. Glaring down at the two girls, it raised the axe over its head, "Insignificant insects!"

The demon brought the axe down hard, but before it was half way in down, the weapon was deflected by a white ki blast. The motion of the axe forced the demon to take a step to the side to steady itself while Ranma taunted, "You need to go on a diet, fat-boy! You nearly fell on your face that time!"

* * *

Akane shook her head, "You can't be my mother. I know what my mother looked like. She was beautiful and kind and loving…"

The woman clasped her hands together, "It is true that a mother is part of those things, daughter. But a mother is also there to help and stop her children from making a terrible mistake."

"What do you mean, mistake?"

She looked at Akane for a moment, "The person you know of as Logan is not what you think he is. He has allowed you to create this fantasy world and has now imprisoned you here. While you are trapped here, he steals your very life force from you, and uses it to destroy the ones you love and care for."

Akane turned her back to the woman, "Lies!"

Kimiko stood up and moved in front of Akane, "If you think that is so, prove it to yourself, child. This is the world inside your mind. Wish it to clear and open your eyes. You will then see if I am lying to you or not."

Akane glared at the woman for a moment before closing her eyes. A few seconds passed before she opened them again. She fully expected to still be in her room, but instead found herself suspended in a garden in the middle of a great battle. Ranma, Nodoka, Ukyo, and even Kodachi were fighting a great beast. She gasped at the monstrous creature, "What the hell is that?"

The woman's voice was firm in the girl's ear. "That is a demon of great power. It is Logan's true form."

* * *

Nodoka noticed a change in the sphere holding Akane and called out, "Ranma, I think the link is weakening. Distract it from me!"

Ranma nodded and leaped up, at the monster's head. Firing off one after another ki blasts, the demon roared as it fought back. When she was satisfied the demon was no longer interested in her, Nodoka stood up straight with her arms extended downwards at an angle and the tips of the blades just above the soil. Slowly at first, yellow energy began to collect at the tips of the swords. Snaking along the length of the blades, the energy force climbed up until both katanas were completely engulfed. Nodoka raised the blades until they were parallel with the ground then slammed them together. A bright flash engulfed her for a moment as the two blades made contact. As electric arcs of violet energy pulsed along its length, She raised the blade over her head. No longer a pair of ordinary katanas, the once sleek blades had been transformed into a single sword of electric energy.

The demon glared at the woman for a moment but was forced to turn away as Ranma continued to pound at it. Nodoka leaped into the air and somersaulted. After the second time over, she extended herself and struck the umbilical with all her strength. The blade roared with energy and thick bolts of violet electric current raged along the length of the cable. Nodoka's hair blew back from her head as the powerful ki forces within her and the blade fought against the demonic power keeping the umbilical intact. A sudden green flash enveloped the woman and she was thrown free, across the gardens and towards Cologne. She landed on her feet and smirked at the old woman before leaping back into the battle.

The Amazon smiled, "I've suspected that for some time now…."

* * *

Akane flinched and tried to duck as the energy from Nodoka's attack exploded around her, "I can hardly move! It feels like my arms are tied to my sides!"

The woman stepped in front of her, "This is a prison, Akane. As long as that cable exists, you are trapped here and that demon is invincible. Nodoka is a powerful master of the sword, but will not be able to sever that cable alone. Only you have the power to help her."

Akane turned sharply, "Me? What can I do? I'm trapped here."

Kimiko smiled, "That is true, but your mind is always free, Akane. You've already seen what you can create with your mind in this world. Do you remember the place Logan took you to remove the chains? The ones he said were placed by the Amazon and Doctor Tofu?"

Akane nodded, "Yes."

"Good. Close your eyes and concentrate on that place within yourself, daughter. Imagine it in your mind and will yourself there."

Akane closed her eyes and thought of the grey foggy place Logan had taken her to. When she opened her eyes, she was once again standing where the circle of chains had been. The old chains had been replaced by a pulsating beam of greenish energy so bright, even in her mind she was forced to squint. Kimiko yelled over the roar of surging energy, "This is how the demon drains your soul, daughter. Sever this link, and Logan can be killed."

Akane shook her head, "How in the world can I do that?"

"This is your world, your mind. Do exactly as you did before."

Akane turned towards the storm of energy. Her hair stood on end from the electricity as she closed her eyes and concentrated. She smiled to herself as a familiar feeling came over her.

* * *

Outside, Ranma continued to fight. He had noticed the globe change from clear to a foggy grey but paid it little attention. Twice the demon had attempted to strike him with the axe and both times, the boy had escaped by thin margins. Relieved to find his mother unharmed from the electrical surge, he continued his barrage of ki and fist attacks at the demon's arms, chest and face. Nodoka charged the demon with the lightening blade, and swung across the demon's midsection. Before the blade made contact, the demon blocked the attack with the axe. Nodoka brought the sword around and struck hard at the demon's wrist, cutting it clean through.

Genma cheered as the axe fell to the ground, "Yes! We'll beat this thing yet!"

The demon bellowed and glared at stump of its wrist. Turning towards Nodoka it smirked, "It won't do you any good, woman."

Slimy tendrils of flesh began to ooze out of the wound. Joining together, they twisted and combined with each other until, much to Nodoka's amazement, a new hand appeared. The demon flexed the new appendage and picked up the axe, "You see, it's no use fighting me. Nothing you do can cause me harm."

It aimed the axe at Ranma and quickly fired a barrage of ki attacks of its own. One of the greenish balls of energy caught the boy and threw him across the garden.

Nabiki completely forgot about her safety as she ran out into the open, "Ranma!"

Cologne yelled out, "Girl! I can't protect you out there!"

Nabiki wasn't listening as she knelt by the boy, "Ranma? Are you okay?"

Ranma shook his head for a second, "I'm okay. He just got in a lucky shot."

Nabiki breathed a sigh of relief as the boy stood up and pointed over to where Cologne was, "It's too dangerous out here in the open, Nabiki. Go back over by Cologne."

She reached over and grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze before running back to the others. Ranma suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and rolled over to the side as three green balls of energy flew past him. Realizing who they were intended for, he yelled Nabiki's name just as one struck her in the shoulder. The force of the blast spun her around and she fell to the ground in a boneless heap. Ranma was at her side in an instant.

"Nabiki? Can you hear me?"

He picked up her hand as Cologne and Genma reached their side. Cologne pressed her fingers up to her neck and nodded, "She's alive, Ranma. Most likely just got the wind knocked of her. It's a good thing it only hit her shoulder."

Genma gently picked up the girl, "We'll take care of her, boy. You take care of that demon."

Ranma reached over and brushed a few hairs away from Nabiki's forehead before glaring at the demon. Turning he walked towards it and yelled, "You know, up until now, I was kind of enjoying this. You were giving me a fairly good workout. But now you went and hurt my fiancé, and for that you're gonna pay!"

The demon sneered, "What's the matter, boy? Did I hurt your little slut?"

Ranma's hands glowed as a bright orange ball of energy formed between them. He slammed the heels of his hands together and the ball streaked forward, striking the demon in the stomach. A huge blast erupted from where the demon stood and dissipated outward in dome of expanding energy as Ranma prepared another strike.

Ukyo and Kodachi ducked under a bush, "Sugar, we are way out of our league here!"

* * *

Akane concentrated as the energy flow continued to shrink.

* * *

As Ranma hammered the demon, Nodoka raised the sword above her head and leaped up into the air into another summersault. When she was at just the right position, she extended and slammed the blade into the umbilical. Violet and green ropes of electricity mixed and intertwined up the umbilical and danced across the demon, blistering its skin and causing it to bellow in pain. Nodoka was once again buffeted by the raging energy force as the blade began to work its way through. While the demon roared within a dome of intense electric arcs, Ranma built up another sphere of high powered ki. The ball was almost too large to contain when he released it, squinting his eyes as the energy struck the demon directly in the chest and exploded in a massive fireball of expanding energy. The demon roared as it stepped out of the dissipating fireball and fell to its knees. It shook a fist at Ranma and glared, "You've won this round, boy. But there will be another day, and I will have my…revenge…."

Green and blue arcs of electricity rose up around the demon, completely enveloping the beast. As quickly as it had appeared, the energy faded to nothing taking the demon with it.

Checking on his mother, Ranma saw her standing over by Akane.

Nodoka brushed herself off and smiled as she knelt down, "Hello Akane, dear. Welcome back to the living."

Akane propped herself up and attempted to sit, "What happened? Is it gone?"

Ranma appeared behind Nodoka, "Mom! Are you okay? Is Akane okay?"

Nodoka nodded as she checked the girl, "That blast singed my clothing a bit, but I'm okay, son. Akane looks a bit shaken up and might need some medical attention. We should get her to a hospital and have her checked."

Ranma nodded, "Okay. First I gotta take care of Nabiki. The bastard hit her pretty hard."

He ran over to where Cologne was and knelt by Nabiki. She was stirring but not awake and he gently picked her up in his arms. He turned and smiled at Cologne, "Thanks for taking care of her. I'm going to take her to the hospital. Akane looks alright but she's pretty drained. She might need to see a doc as well."

Cologne turned towards Genma, "It looks like you volunteered, Saotome."

She turned to comment to Ranma but the boy was already gone.