Ranma ½ doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the great Rumiko Takahashi, if I did own do you think I'd be here right now?
-/-
Akane sat in the damp dungeon of Hikaru's palace; her hands were bound above her head and she sat on her hair. The shackles bit into her wrists with even the slightest movement, moisture seeped through her clothes, and the uneven stone floor bore into her tailbone; she was just generally uncomfortable.
She couldn't help the bitter laughs from escaping her lips. So it has come to this. Pathetically hung up like a rag doll and waiting for her demise. Without even putting up a damn fight. What happened to the girl who was determined to change her fate? What happened to the girl who promised herself she wouldn't let this effect her and she would simply keep living? She wished she could be naïve again; it was so much better than knowing things.
A dim light burned in the hall and gave her limited visibility. She looked up at the dark ceiling and let a drop of water fall on her face from a crack in the ceiling. Smoke sizzled from her skin and it stung for half a minute before the pain receded to a dull ache.
She had been staring at dark nothingness for an hour maybe. Or was it the whole night? Or maybe a few days? She really couldn't tell; there were no windows. Her eyes ached from the constant blinking and she couldn't even remember how many times she had replayed her 'capture' in her mind.
Hikaru and Akane stood in front of each other for what seemed like an eternity. Their eyes bore into each other and Hikaru's body tensed when he saw Akane move her arms but she did the unexpected. She held out her arms and let her hands dangle lifelessly at the end of her wrists. He took that as a sign of defeat and smiled smugly before tying her hands behind her back.
Akane laughed again. She couldn't believe she had done that, yet, she didn't regret it. After all the pain she had caused people, this was the suitable punishment.
Maybe if she closed her eyes, she wouldn't wake up. What bliss that would be. But, of course, the tranquility didn't last long.
The rattle of chains sounded to the side of her and a moan followed. Akane sighed and squinted her tired eyes to get a better view of what might be a person. She made out a figure with long hair tied up in a high ponytail, the bright red lip rouge caught the light, and she barely made out the patched up old ninja kimono.
The person felt Akane's eyes burn a hole through his clothes as she tried to figure out whom he was. He chuckled lightly and turned his hazelnut eyes to lock eyes with Akane.
Konatsu saw the twinkle of recognition spark to life in Akane's eyes by the dim lamplight. "Long time, no see, Akane-Sama."
Wind Clan
"She's gone?" Ranma exclaimed. He took Zen's collar and tried to no avail to shake the large man. "What do you mean she's gone?"
"Ranma, calm down." Ryouga said, prying Ranma's fingers from Zen's clothes.
"No! I will not calm down!" Ranma snapped.
"Will you relax already, she probably just went home." Ryouga reasoned.
"I highly doubt that." Zen spoke up. Three heads snapped in his direction in surprise. Zen turned to look at Ranma. "I was just as surprised as you are when I awoke and found that she was not here," Zen turned to Ryouga. "And I thought the same thing as you but then I came to my office and found that the Wind Clan's sacred item was gone, mostly likely stolen." As an after thought Zen said, "Again."
"Father?" Ukyou asked hesitantly. "What do you mean by, 'again'?"
Zen cleared his throat and locked eyes with Ranma. "Akane's mother, Kimiko, was a well known thief during my time. She was known as the Phoenix Thief. It was during the time of my ceremony when it all started happening. All the clans were in a panic because Kimiko stole each clan's sacred items. The clan leader would receive a warning that told you she was coming. Whether it be a note or a picture of the item she would steal." Zen took a moment to study each individual face, all remained neutral.
Ranma stood there anxiously; this is what he had been waiting for. Zen continued. "Kimiko kept those treasures and that left a burden over Akane's head. She believed it was her birth right to return all the items."
"Wait," Ryouga stopped Zen. "Is that why she has been going from clan to clan? To return all the items?"
Zen nodded his head. "That is correct."
Ryouga rested his chin in his hand as he thought. "I get the feeling of guilt but why did she wait this long to do this."
A look of uneasiness settled over the larger man's features. He went around behind his desk and sat down; he fidgeted in his seat.
"Father?" Ukyou asked again.
Ranma, who remained silent up until this point, spoke up. "It's because of Kasumi-Sama's kidnapping isn't it?" His eyebrows pinched together in concentration. "But how does that all connect?" he asked himself more that the other people in the room.
Zen cleared his throat. "May I finish?"
The three teens realized that he never finished his explanation and nodded encouragingly for him to continue.
"You are right about how this involves the kidnapping. But did you know that there is a story behind the story?" He received confused looks from the other three. "Kasumi was like a bargaining tool for the Shadow Lord to use. When Akane heard the news about her sister's abduction I am sure that she knew what she must do. The message was for her to return all the sacred items and then give them to him."
"Bu if the Shadow Lord was just going to take them back anyway, then why bother with the trouble for Akane to return them?" Ranma asked.
"He cannot touch them." Zen further explained. "There is an old human tale called King Midas and the Touch of Gold. Everything that this king touches turns to gold. The same applies to the Shadow Lord. As long as it is not touched by one of his shadows first he cannot touch it without turning it to ash." A look of sadness touched Zen's face. "The Shadow Lord was not always like this though, only after he touched the shadows for the first time. Shadows and darkness are things you can get obsessed with, he was just an unfortunate soul who fell into the same trap like his father."
A long silence fell upon the room.
"Well, you know what he have to do now, right?" Ranma asked. He received confused glances from the two other teens. Ranma rolled his eyes and sighed. "We have to do to the Shadow World, find Akane, and bring her back."
Ukyou chuckled bitterly. "You are either insane or suicidal. The Shadow World's aura is so strong and dense that it will crush you alive. I wouldn't be surprised if Akane was killed the same."
"That's why you need to come with us Ukyou." Ryouga stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
Ukyou cocked an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean, 'us'?"
Ryouga shrugged his shoulders and moved to stand beside Ranma. "I'm going with Ranma."
"Why?" Ukyou cried.
"Because he will need my help and we'll need your talent to ease the aura. Only Wind Clan members can do that." Ryouga said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well I'm not going." Ukyou said in defiance. She stomped her foot on the ground like a child and sat down on the floor.
"Why not?" Ranma asked in a tired tone.
"Because, you heard what my father said. Akane had a choice; she didn't have to return all the items because the Shadow Lord wouldn't have been able to touch them anyway. It was her decision to get herself into this mess. Why help her if she doesn't want any of it?" Ukyou reasoned.
"But – " Ryouga started but was cut off by a shake of Ranma's head. "Ranma."
"Ukyou you brought up a lot of good points but I still have to go for Akane's sake. She is so hung up in the past that still haunts her she believes she has ruined our lives." Ukyou opened her mouth to say something but Ranma shook his head again. "But she hasn't and she needs to know that before she does something drastic. So stay here if you want to Ukyou, but I'm going."
With that said Ranma walked out of the room and out of the palace. Ryouga looked at Ukyou helplessly and ran to catch up with Ranma.
Ukyou sat in the room with her father, the thick silence in the room covering them like a blanket. Suddenly Zen started to chuckle. "What?" Ukyou asked curiously.
"Nothing, I was just remembering the time you came home late at night and talked and talked about Akane and how she wasn't anything like the rumors said." Zen gave Ukyou a glance. "You have changed."
Ukyou sat frozen with her mouth agape as her father walked out of the room.
Dark Place ~
Hikaru's footsteps echoed down the empty stone halls to his two prisoners. Konatsu cringed and pressed his body against the wall, hoping to be ignored. Akane noticed this and scoffed. "Are you actually afraid of him." When she didn't receive an answer, she continued. "Idiot, you shouldn't be afraid of a pathetic coward like Gosunkugi."
Akane still received no answer; Konatsu's eyes were fixated on something else. Akane followed his line of vision and jumped in surprise and fright. Hikaru was grasping the bars of her cell door and his face was pressed up against them; he had this strange animal look in his eyes and that strange little smile on his face.
He chuckled deep in his throat and retrieved the keys from his belt. "I have a task for you Konatsu." Hikaru said while never taking his eyes off Akane. "And I need you to come along my Phoenix to watch, I just know that you will love it." Once her cell door was open Hikaru stepped in and reached for her, like reaching for a bird.
Akane couldn't fly away.
Ranma and Ryouga ~
Ryouga walked beside Ranma who stared straight ahead, unblinking. With each step Ryouga took he became unsure. He was part of the Earth Clan and was one with nature. It had a heartbeat and he could read it. It could tell him if something was wrong or if the way he was going was the right way. But the ground he stepped on was slowly dying and with the last of its strength warned him to turn back.
But his stubborn friend advanced on, oblivious to the danger ahead.
After a long period of silence between the two boys Ranma turned around to ask his friend what was wrong but found he was alone. "Ryouga? Where'd you go?" he asked the empty space. Ranma wondered around in the spot where Ryouga once was, calling his name. Ranma stopped in one spot and crossed his arms over his chest. "Stupid boy, he got lost again." Ranma decided to just sit and wait for Ryouga to wonder his way back; if Ranma moved it would only get Ryouga more lost.
After what felt like hours of waiting Ranma thought he must have been getting delusional. He smelt the light fragrance of lush, dewed grass and the mixed aroma of plum and cherry blossoms being carried by the wind. That was a familiar scent, the scent of home and peace; he had not smelt home in the longest time. Four years ago.
Mesmerized by the wonderful scent he got up and let his feet guide him, forgetting Ryouga.
He pushed back a wall of vines and stood there for the longest time, just staring at what was in front of him. It was a beautiful clearing and not just any clearing, it was their clearing. He couldn't possible be here, it must be a dream or an illusion. But he was holding back the vines, his feet felt the ground beneath him as he stepped into the heavenly place, he could see his reflection in the water, and he could hear someone rustling in the bushes.
Thinking it was Ryouga who was the source of the noise, Ranma expected this paradise to melt away. But it stayed solid and real and unmoving, the only thing that was moving was the bush. Annoyed, Ranma marched over there and as he got closer he heard the faint sound of giggling. Confused, Ranma pushed back the shrub to reveal the source of the noise.
He couldn't believe his eyes, this must be a trick, this must be a dream, anything so he wouldn't have to face the truth. He was staring down at Akane, her long hair tousled and her cheeks flushed from the light and happy giggles she gave off. There was no bitter look in her eye or depressing aura, she was like how she was before.
Could he have been given the chance to do this all over again, and do it right?
"You found me." Akane said.
Ryouga ~
Ryouga wondered around in the pine smelling forest. It was a mix of different greens and sunlight beamed through the cracks on the leaves, spotlighting burrows and nests. Birds flew from tree to tree, collecting food for their young and there was the distant sound of fish breaking the surface of a stream and then splashing back. Rabbits hopped about, crunching leaves and crisp grass on their way. Fox slept peacefully in patches of sunlight; their ears twitching at any sudden sound and lifting their head to scan the area for a few moments before resting their head on their front paws for a moment.
This scene seemed all too familiar to Ryouga.
Ryouga was sure that Ranma had let him wonder off and get lost just to mess with him. And the worst part was that he couldn't find his way back on his own because for once the life of the forest wasn't speaking to him.
Ryouga decided to stop so he wouldn't get more lost and knelt on the ground. His hand hovered just above the grass and slid it over certain areas. He still received no life that spoke to him.
What could be going on?
"Ryouga? What are you doing there?" A voice called from behind him. Ryouga knew that voice all too well. Ryouga tensed and didn't dare turn around, afraid that it would all be a dream. A bow and arrow fell beside him. "Come on boy, we're going out to hunt."
Ryouga slowly inclined his head and the glare of the sun cast a heavenly shadow on Ichii Hibiki. Fully alive and breathing and healthy, not dead and without a giant gash in his chest that ultimately killed him.
Ryouga's father was back.
Dark Place ~
"What are those things?" Akane asked in horror, her eyes fixated on the image the hourglass gave them. Ranma and Ryouga sat in tightly packed vine cocoons that were closing in on them slowly and would soon crush them. Akane tore her eyes from the image of the two slowly dieing boys and instead focused on Konatsu, who was the source of the attack. The cross dresser couldn't even look Akane in the eye, shamed of his actions; his face twisted in pain as he sent out another wave of power to the cocoon.
Akane gaped and her eyes widened as the cocoon pulsed with energy and tightened even more around the two boys. Akane growled deep in her throat and sent a death glare to Hikaru was enjoying every minute of the torture he inflicted on Ryouga and Ranma.
Ukyou ~
"I can't believe that I'm doing this." Ukyou muttered to herself as she dashed through the forest, her large spatula in hand ready to use and a mask over her nose and mouth. She had been taming storms before she could walk and some of those storms let off toxic gas and the mask she wore would prevent her from being poisoned or to fall under an illusion the gas may cause.
That's why she needed to help Ryouga and Ranma; she was the only one who could help them in this situation. After she thought long and hard on it she decided to follow the idiots, she had to move fast since they had covered a lot of ground before her. With each step Ukyou took she convinced herself she was helping Ryouga and Ranma, not Akane.
Ukyou stopped at the border between the two clans, a strange sensation prickling at her skin and trying to seep through her mask. She suddenly felt something curl around her ankles, she looked down and saw vines wrap around her and climb up her legs. She shrieked in fright and took her mini spatulas and started shredding away at the plants.
After she had killed all the vines she huffed for breath; she pushed her hair from her face. She knelt down and examined the plant, it twitched and she dropped it like it was a hot coal.
She pushed herself up to her feet and reached her hand over the other side of the border. The thick aura was tangible; she could sink her fingers into it and grab a handful. The strange mist swirled in her gloved palm; the different colors it created had her under its spell and she couldn't take her eyes off of it until it evaporated.
Ukyou shook her head to clear her foggy thoughts and realization hit her. The vines that moved and the fog was all part of a trap that Ranma and Ryouga must have walked into. Ukyou cursed and ran head on into the mist, praying that she would be able to get to the two in time.
Ryouga ~
"Father? Is that you?" Ryouga asked lamely.
Ichii looked at his son like he had just grown a second head. "Of course it is me, who else would it be? Come on Ryouga," Ichii gestured to the bow that still lay beside Ryouga. "It's time for me to take you out on your first hunt."
In the Earth Clan a man's first hunt would signify his manhood. Ryouga remembered this day. It was the day of his father's death and the day he was supposed to go on his first hunt. Before Ichii took his son out that day he went to hunt himself. But during his hunt he was chased into a cave by a beast that had plagued the Earth Clan for years. He died in a cave-in that day.
Ryouga licked his suddenly dried lips. He had been given the chance of a better future. He thanked every deity he could think of at that moment. He scooped up the bow and followed his father farther into the woods, ignoring how the path disappeared behind them and how he could still feel no life in the ground.
"So why did you ask me if it was really me?" Ichii asked curiously, breaking the peaceful silence.
Ryouga jolted. "Well, I had this strange dream that you were killed in a cave-in."
Ichii laughed whole-heartedly. "It will take more that a lousy cave-in to finish me off." He punched his son on the shoulder playfully.
Ichii suddenly stopped all movement and sound; he grabbed Ryouga and pulled him down behind a few bushes with him.
"Father, what's – " Ryouga was silenced when Ichii placed a finger on his lip.
'Whisper,' Ichii mouthed.
"What's wrong father?" Ryouga asked more quietly.
"We're walking toward the beast's dwellings." Ichii responded.
Ryouga felt his heart stop. All he could think about was that he was going to die just like his father did; but then he was resurrected. "Come," Ichii said, grasping his son's hand and taking off into a sprint in the other direction.
While they ran Ryouga noticed something strange, his father's feet made no sound as they ran across the forest floor and his shadow didn't follow him. Ryouga clicked the puzzle pieces together and came to the conclusion that this thing was not his father.
The imposter took Ryouga and himself into a cave where they finally stopped and rested. Ryouga needed to do this here and now. He took an arrow and fixed it on the bow, he pulled the string back and aimed it at the demon.
The imposter warily stepped back and brought his hands out in front of him in a defensive way. "Ryouga, what are you doing? It's me, your father."
Ryouga's hand tightened around the bow. "You are not father, demon! Show your true form to me. Now!" Ryouga commanded.
The imposter smirked and, like it was just a cloak, he shed the skin of Ichii Hibiki away and his form grew in size and shape before Ryouga. Towering over the fanged boy was the beast of the Earth Clan.
Ranma ~
The pigtailed boy continued to stare at the young girl before him. She looked confused and she pushed herself to her feet. She tapped his forehead lightly with her knuckles. "Hello, anyone in there?" she asked playfully.
Ranma couldn't avert his attention from her. She looked so young, her hair was only to her calf, her eyes sparkled with mischief and she looked at him with playfulness and giddiness, not with hatred and spite. He reached up a quivering hand to brush away a strand of hair in her face; the hand lingered on her cheek for a long time.
"Akane, is it really you?" Ranma asked in disbelief.
A blush painted Akane's pretty face; she took her own hand and covered it with her own. "Of course," Akane looked at the pigtailed boy in concern. "Ranma, are you okay? It looks like you have just seen a ghost."
Ranma closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to look in her eyes that held such care; since he was given another chance, he would use it right. Ranma remembered this day; it was the day he got into a fight with Akane. Ranma took a deep breath and opened his eyes to look at Akane. "Akane, tomorrow you are becoming the Fire Lord correct?"
Akane gasped in surprise and stepped back, releasing Ranma's hand. "How did you know that?"
"I heard a rumor and wanted to confirm it." Ranma said.
Akane blinked and then smiled; she took a step closer to him and leaned into Ranma. Her arm snaked up the back of his neck and pulled his head down to her. "I guess the rumors are right for once." Akane was so close her breath tickled Ranma's open lips that were inches from Akane's. "And that means I need someone to rule next to me and since your going to be Water Lord soon . . ." she let her sentence trail off as they leaned in closer and closer into one another until their lips met.
It was so sweet and so soft and so full of love. Ranma's arms snaked around Akane's waist and pulled her small, curvy body to his larger frame. This is where they belonged. Ranma absentmindedly thought that this was much better than Akane hating him.
He felt Akane's arms rest on his neck and knead his muscles. Then her fingers started to press harder and curl around his muscular neck and squeezed hard.
Ukyou ~
Ukyou pushed back shrub and branches and tripped over logs in her haste. She had to get to Ranma and Ryouga before it was too late, before they died. The mist around her would knock any traveler out and give the victim visions and while unconscious, vines would cocoon around you, slowly killing their victim using their loved ones against them.
She studied about it when she was young and she knew that the homes of these plants were in a swampy area and judging by the density of the air, she was getting closer.
'Please still be alive.' Ukyou silently prayed.
In the distant she saw a pulsing glow and she knew that was it. As she neared she made out two of these pulsing objects and she noticed two silhouettes in each of the cocoons.
"Ranma! Ryouga!" She shouted. She ran to the objects and raised her spatula and slashed it down on the cocoons, breaking them.
The two boys spilled out with a strange green liquid, hacking and clawing at the vines that circled around their throats. Ukyou took a mini spatula and sliced at the vines so they could breath again. The boys started to whisper frantically about the nightmares they experienced. Ukyou encircled the two boys in her arms and whispered comforting nothings to come them down.
When Ranma composed himself he asked, "What are you doing here Ukyou?"
"I'm helping you guys and I'm glad I came or you two would have been dead by now." Ukyou said through her mask, wiping the sweat on her brow.
Ryouga, who was still in a daze, whispered, "It was so real."
"What happened to you?" Ukyou asked in concern.
Ryouga opened his mouth to talk but then shook his head and clenched his eyes shut.
Around them the swamp dissolved and what was left behind was a barren rocky land. Everything was black and gray and dead. Lightning flashed in the thick gray clouds but even the spark of light seemed devoid of color.
In front of them was a man wearing a wispy black cloak. The three jumped back in surprise and became battle ready. "Impressive," he said in his hoarse voice. "You made it past my little trap."
"Who are you?" Ranma shouted.
A low throaty chuckle escaped his lips. "Wouldn't you rather ask your friend?" He reached behind him and pushed forward a battered and bloody Akane who collapsed as soon as she no longer had a solid object to support her weight.
"Akane!" Ryouga and Ranma cried at the same time.
Ranma growled and advanced toward the man wearing the cloak. "I'll kill you!" He aimed a punch to his gut but his fist went right through him, like Ranma just punched a cloud.
"Don't be so rash Ranma." The man in the cloak said. "I have not hurt her but this is what she will look like if you do not get to her soon. If you can make it past my stages I will free Akane."
The ghost like man bent down to retrieve the fake Akane and then disappeared into the air.
"What do you think he meant by that?" Ukyou asked, walking up to stand beside Ranma; Ryouga followed her.
"Well, only one way to find out." Ranma said, pointing out the trail the Shadow Lord left behind.
The three followed the trail until they saw two people ahead. "Who is that?" Ryouga asked, squinting his eyes.
As Ryouga and Ukyou moved on, Ranma stayed where he was at; he recognized those shapes. "Stop!" Ranma cried, but it was too late.
One of the figures brought his sword down to strike the earth and a loud blast of sound from the sky shot at Ryouga and Ukyou and sent the two flying backwards. It felt like someone had just punched them all over, all at once. Ranma ran over to them to help and the two figures talked, stepping forward.
"I am Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of the Lightning Clan." He announced.
"And I am Kodachi Kuno, the Black Rose of the Lightning Clan." She announced.
"If you wish to advance you must first defeat us!" the two proclaimed.