CHAPTER 36
-"CRAZY DREAMS, ECHOES OF THE PAST… ERICK'S DAY OFF"-
Last time:
With the help of Protoman, Soun, and Genma, Ranma finally prevailed against Grenademan, the self-proclaimed "Blast King". Dr. Wily, of course, is VERY upset with Grenademan because he had a perfect opportunity to kill Ranma and he failed. But the RED CATS' ever-scheming High Priest Erick Genryusai intervenes on Grenademan's behalf and persuades Wily to give the loony explosives expert another chance. With only one week to prepare, Grenademan plots his revenge against Ranma, and it seems he may already have a plan…
After Grenademan was given an explosive send-off by Ranma's Hiryu Shoten Ha (complete with a fireworks display, no less!), our heroes…
[AUTHOR'S NOTE: Or our hero Ranma and two zeros, i.e. Genma and Soun, if you prefer]
Anyway… our heroes are about to return home. Ranma is kinda disappointed, because after the fireworks Protoman disappeared. She wants to thank Protoman, 'cause it if weren't for his help, Grenademan would have won, and everyone would have died. She looks around one more time…
Ranma-chan says quietly, "Protoman. Wherever you are, thanks."
… and then keeps on walking. Watching them go, Protoman stands on a nearby rooftop.
"You're welcome, Ranma. Hmm…. I knew if I did some investigating on my own, I'd eventually find one of Wily's robots causing trouble. But something still bugs me. I overheard Grenademan say if he could kill Ranma, then he'd score big points with Dr. Wily. Which begs the question: Why does Wily want Ranma dead? Well, I'd better go back and tell Megaman and the others who I ran into. They'll surely want to know about this."
With that, Protoman teleports out.
NERIMA WARD OF TOKYO, JAPAN – TENDO DOJO:
Upon arriving at the Tendo residence, Ranma and Genma can't wait to take a nice hot bath (to change back into their true forms, 'cause it's still raining outside!) and relax.
When they enter the house, they find Akane and Dr. Tofu waiting inside.
Soun cheerfully greets, "Ah, Dr. Tofu, what brings you here today?"
Ranma notices the serious look on Tofu's face. Furthermore, Kasumi's here (!) and the good doctor hasn't started acting, well, like he usually does whenever she's around. Something's wrong. "Doc, what happened?"
But before he can say anything, Akane speaks up. "Ranma…something happened to Ran today."
Ranma-chan's now worried. "What? Whaddya mean, Akane? What happened to Ran?"
Akane almost looks like she's going to cry. "I….I saw her looking so afraid. She was going on and on about something happening to you, calling your name... I've never seen her like that. It really scared me. Ran was practically trembling in fear."
Ranma-chan admits, "Actually, something DID happen to me today, but I'm OK, really. Pops and Mr. Tendo were there with me. Right, guys?"
Soun nods, assuring his daughter, "Yes, yes, of course. There's nothing to worry about, Akane. We're all safe and sound, isn't that right, Saotome?"
Genma-panda puts up a sign, [Well, actually….]
Soun shakes his head no to Genma; he doesn't want his little girl any more worried than she already is.
Akane sounds relieved and sad at the same time. "I'm… I'm so glad. And I'm sure Ran'll be happy to know that too."
Ranma-chan wanted to know, "Where is she? Is she all right?"
Dr. Tofu says, "Ran is fine, Ranma, and she's upstairs in her room resting. Kasumi and I put her there just a little while ago. Besides, there's something I need to discuss with everyone."
After Ranma and Genma have had the opportunity to change back to their normal forms, everyone (except Kasumi, who's in the kitchen preparing dinner) is gathered in the living room. Dr. Tofu then proceeds to explain what happened.
Dr. Tofu's finishing up, "…By the time I got there, Ran was nearly hysterical, so I had to tap a pressure point to calm her down. Then Akane and I took her to my clinic, and did an examination; I found nothing wrong with her at all. Which means one of two things."
Ranma's like, "What, Doc? Tell us already!"
"One, that this episode Ran had today could have been triggered by a sensory overload. Ranma, you mentioned earlier that something had happened to you today as well. I won't press you for details, but I gathered that you were involved in some life-threatening situation."
That's putting it rather mildly, Doc, Ranma thinks.
"Ran somehow sensed you were in danger, and not knowing how or what to do since she wasn't there with you, she panicked. Or, something that happened in her past, something deep in her subconscious mind set it off. In that case, despite how badly Ran reacted to it, it's actually a good thing."
Nabiki wonders, "And just HOW could that be a "good thing"?"
Dr. Tofu then says, "It means that Ran might be getting her memory back."
This gets everyone's attention, Ranma's especially. Tofu notices this. "But I wouldn't get too hopeful. Most amnesia patients get their memory back in small bits. I'd have to run some more tests to be sure."
Ranma thinks about what Tofu had just said, and then remembers the dreams that Ran had, especially the ones where she'd been ordered to kill Ranma. He remembers the night she came to his room and confessed her fears about what would happen if she begins to remember her past. Of course, he'd assured her that wouldn't happen, and that she would still be Ran Hayami.
But now, in light of current events, even he begins to wonder. Could his new friend be yet another enemy he'd have to fight?
Ranma thinks, reassuring himself, No way. Not a chance. Ran'll get through this. I just know it. It doesn't matter if she's an enemy or not. No matter what happens, we are and will still be friends.
"What do we do with her in the meantime?" Akane says.
"For now, I think all Ran needs is a good night's sleep." Dr. Tofu gets up to leave. "Please don't hesitate to call me if anything changes."
Ranma says, "Sure thing, Doc."
Just as he was about to leave, Kasumi walks in! "Oh my, leaving so soon, Dr. Tofu? We were just about to have dinner."
Dr. Tofu's glasses fog-up, and he starts acting goofy. "Ka-Ka-Kasumi! What a coincidence to meet you here of all places!"
Kasumi giggles, "I live here, Doctor."
Ranma groans, "Oh, brother."
Genma: There he goes again…
Soun knows where this is going. "Ahem…ah, Akane, why don't you help Kasumi serve dinner?"
Akane catches on. "Yeah, Dad."
Akane takes a glance at Tofu, who's pacing back and forth frantically. He looks as if he's about to climb the walls – literally! With Kasumi around, anything's possible with Tofu. Who does he think he is, Peter Parker?
Akane sighs, thinking, Oh, Doctor…
Akane gently escorts her older sister out of the living room. As they step out, Kasumi could be heard giggling and saying, "Dr. Tofu is so silly!"
Ranma shakes his head, and then shakes Tofu back to his senses. A little while later, Kasumi and Akane return to the living room to serve tonight's dinner, and everyone sits down to eat.
(DREAM SEQUENCE)
Ran is asleep in her bed. Then someone speaks!
Ran. Ran! Wake up, Ran!
Startled by the voice, Ran quickly wakes up and looks around her room. No one's there, but who just spoke? "W-who's there?"
Lying down on the job again, aren't you? Stop wasting time! Go kill Ranma Saotome!
When she heard that, Ran immediately recognized the voice. "Not you again!"
Yes, ME again! And again, and again, and again until you do as I say!
Ran has had enough of this person. "Just who are you anyway!?"
?????? is angry! You know who I am! I am your creator! I'm the one who gave you your purpose in life, your very destiny! And your destiny is to fight Ranma and kill him!
"NO! I said if before, and I'll say it again! Ranma and I are friends! Best friends! I won't do it! No matter what you say, I will NOT kill him!"
How sad. After all you've been through, all my efforts to persuade you otherwise, you still believe that Ranma is your friend. Heh heh heh…go right on ahead. Keep on denying what you truly feel towards him! Rebel against your destiny! Why should you care? After all, you're only delaying the inevitable. The more you fight against it, the stronger your desire to kill him will be! And when that happens, well…
Needless to say, Ran is terrified of what might happen if what this fiend says is true. Satisfied with her reaction, the mystery man continues his evil speech.
Don't you see? I'm trying to offer you the easy way out! Why make it harder on yourself? Now yield to me, surrender your free will, and obey me! Embrace your destiny!
Dark red clouds begin to swirl around Ran.
Fearful, angry, Ran shouts, "No…NO! Stop it! Keep away from me! LEAVE ME ALONE!!"
In a more sinister tone, ?????? says, Heh heh heh… Ran! You can't possibly fight me AND your destiny!
"Oh yeah? Just watch me, jerk!"
Try all you want and whatever you want. You may be able to ignore my persuasion for a small amount of time, but you cannot deny me. You won't be able to ride on those petty feelings of yours forever. You'll slip one day, and when you do, your fists will be stained with the blood of your destined foe!
"NEVER! THAT'LL NEVER HAPPEN! I won't yield to your persuasion! I won't kill Ranma Saotome, and that's FINAL! So suck on that! HA!"
Oh ho, you sound pretty confident all of a sudden! And what makes you think you can ultimately prevail against me?
Now was her chance to stand up to this disgusting creep and stick to it him! Ran searches deep inside her heart and finds the answer, something she never even realized until just now. And that something ignites her flaming battle aura at maximum power! But she hesitates! "Because….because…!!"
Yeah? Because…what?
"Because… I…." Hesitating no longer, Ran lets him have it. "I LOVE HIM!! SO TAKE THIS! HEAT TRIGGER MAXIMUM!! HYAHHH!!"
Ran fires off a HUGE burst of flame at the shadowy presence. It goes through the swirling red clouds and strikes him dead on!
As he's hit, ?????? screams, GWAAAAHHHHHHHhhhh….!!!
As his death wail fades away, everything goes out in a flash of white…
Ran wakes again up in her room, lying in bed. But something's different. Lying right beside her is Ranma! Ran's heart pounds rapidly in her chest as warmth floods into her body, as she experiences pure passion for the first time in her life. She moaned, pleasure running through her as she lay in the embrace of the one she deeply loved with all her heart, ever since the first day they met. She could feel Ranma kiss her stomach lightly, rubbing his hands along her hips and thighs before moving up to face her. Softly, he placed a hand on her cheek, pressing his lips against Ran's lips. She nibbled on his bottom lip, begging Ranma to allow her to take the kiss further. As Ran's lips parted slightly, Ranma listened intently to her muffled moans when her tongue entered his mouth, rubbing against his own. The kiss felt like it lasted an eternity; an eternity that Ran cherished with all her heart. Breaking the kiss, he whispered, "Ran…Ran, I love you…" She opened her eyes to peer into a pair of loving blue eyes, pleading him to continue onward, pleading him to do something that Ran didn't quite know how to explain… But it wasn't there. The eyes were empty, void of all emotion, and as Ran stared into them, trying to understand what he was seeing, a loud laughter erupted from behind her.
Excellent work, Ran! You've finally done it! You've finally rid me of that cursed Ranma Saotome!
Ran blinked, pulling away from Ranma's grip. Two loud thumps were heard as lifeless arms hit the ground, soon followed by a loud, pain-filled scream. Ranma lay on the ground, fully clothed in his red Chinese shirt and black pants, but his eyes were no longer that azure color Ran loved so much. Instead…they were ghastly pale. Ranma's eyes stared lifelessly into the sky, blood dripping from his mouth and every gash in his body. There were severe burns all over his body, while numerous cuts bled his life fluids out onto the floor.
"O-oh no… No! Ranma, NO!" Ran stared at her love, his lifeless body lying before her. Her eyes widened suddenly. But how…? Memories of her past suddenly came to mind. She slowly remembered what the mysterious shadowy figure in her dreams told her long before she realized her feelings for the pig-tailed boy.
You can't run away from your destiny, from your mission!… It is what you were made for!… It is your destiny!… Once he finds out all about you, he'll reject you, and despise you… but in the end, you will kill him… One day you and Ranma will be at each other's throats. I guarantee it!
"But how is that possible?! I love him! I LOVE HIM!"
Ran collapsed to her knees in a fit of tears, burying her face in her hands.
"No…no…Ranma…!"
She peered at him through her fingers, sobs shaking her body as she refused to believe the sight before her. Pulling her hands away, she slams them to the floor, an ear-piecing scream of anger and sadness escaping her mouth as tears slid down her cheeks. But just as quickly as the tears had started flowing from her eyes, her screams were drowned out by insane laughter. Glancing at the body, she quickly closed her eyes and tossed her head back, all the while the evil laughter echoing into the darkness that surrounded her.
?????? shouts with evil glee, He's dead! He's finally DEAD! You finally killed him! You've defeated Ranma Saotome once and for all! HA HA HA HA HA!
Still in a state of shock, all Ran could do was hold the body in her arms, as the hot tears continued to flow from her eyes and onto the face of the cold, lifeless Ranma…
Ran sobs, "No…No…NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
The next thing Ran knew she was in a cemetery, and she was holding nothing but air in her arms. Ranma's body had disappeared. She had no idea how she got from the Tendo Dojo to there. ('Cause this IS a dream, after all – a pretty weird dream!). Looking up, she sees that the skies are gray and cloudy, adding to the rather somber atmosphere. Ran feels a few drops of rainfall on her; it's raining too, she had just noticed that just now.
Then, something gets Ran's attention. She notices two figures standing in front of one of the graves. That's funny… there's something about those two that's familiar to me.
Being careful not to disturb them, she goes over to take a closer look. She sees…
Just a couple of kids. They must have lost their parents. Oh… Out loud, sighs sadly, then realizes… Huh? But they're….!
What surprises Ran is WHO the two children are. One of them, a boy about ten years old with white hair, is holding the hand of a little girl who looks about nine wearing a little pigtail in her purple hair. Both are wearing black; the boy wearing a black suit with a white shirt and black tie, the girl wearing a short-sleeved black dress.
That boy… he looks just like R! And that girl…that's me! I don't understand! What's going on here? Am I… am I seeing something from my past? Ran thinks. She watches as the two kids talk with each other.
Ran's younger self asks, "R, what are we doing here? Where's Mama?"
The younger version of R begins to say, "They're not here, Ran…"
"Can't I talk to her at least? Can't you call her?"
"Look, Ran…" Young R takes her firmly by the shoulders. "Mom…and Dad...they're with God now."
"Well, when are they coming back?"
Ran notices that the little R's lower lip was quivering, like he was about to cry. She'd never seen R cry, not even when they'd visited R's parents' grave (See Chapter 25). But seeing this scene unfold before her very eyes, Ran was seeing a side of R that she would never have seen before. Young R took a deep breath, and said plainly, in his usual idiom, "They're not coming back, Ran."
"I want to talk to them. I want mommy and daddy.
"You can't. They... they went away..."
"I want to talk to them. Make them come back."
"Ran…"
"Make them come back! PLEASE!" And the sound and agony that ripped from her throat terrified both little Ran and the real Ran, because she couldn't believe that it was her own voice sounding like that. Ran could only watch as the little girl's eyes went wide, pupils tiny and swimming in a sea of white, and without another word she burst into tears crying pitifully. All the younger R could do was hold her in his arms and try to console her.
Watching them, Ran feels her own heart breaking, and she stars crying too. Then, she hears another voice! She knows that voice all too well, but she notices that it doesn't have that menacing tone to it. It sounds almost…sad.
Sad, ?????? weeps, "I'm sorry. As a personal friend of your parents, I feel terrible about this tragic loss as deeply as you do. It's…it's just too cruel."
Ran looks up to see the same shadowy figure that haunts her dreams, and he's walking towards the kids! Ran's sadness quickly turns to anger as she ignites a flame in her hand. If that creep laid one finger on them… well, Ran was definitely going to kill SOMEBODY and it sure wasn't going to be Ranma! But what happens next makes her stop in her tracks. The mystery man steps out of the darkness, and at long last we can see his face! It's none other than Dr. Wily!
Ran gasps! "That old man…! I think I know him, but from where?" She shivers, "Brrr…! And why does his presence give me the willies?"
Dr. Wily stands a little ways away from the kids. He sees little Ran crying, but he takes a look at R and notices he's not even crying at all. R just stands there with that calm, expressionless look on his young face. Wily marvels at R's behavior, how mature the boy is for his age.
I guess we all grieve in our own way. Deeply moved, Wily speaks softly to R, "You are so brave, my boy. You may cry if you wish."
Then, young R finally speaks. "We didn't lose them, Dr. Wily. They were taken from us."
Dr. Wily nods. "I know, my boy, I know."
"A bad person killed them. Wanna know how I know that?"
Dr. Wily regards this precocious boy. "Oh? How?"
"Because they were special, Doctor. Too special to end up like this." Young R points to his parents' graves. "And one day, I'm gonna find who did this and make them pay."
Dr. Wily is surprised. "R…? But you're only a boy. Children shouldn't be weighted down by grown-up matters like the need for revenge. Leave finding out who did this to your mom and dad to me, my boy."
"But what about Ran and me? I mean, we got no other family. We're all alone."
Young Ran's teary-eyed response is, "Alone? That's scary! I don't want to be alone, R! Please! Don't leave me alone!" She cries some more.
Dr. Wily assures her, "But you won't be alone, Ran. Your parents arranged for me to be your guardian in case anything ever happened to them. You and R can come and stay with me. The three of us will be like a little family." Then, to R, he says, "And R, I promise you. When you are old enough, I will help you avenge your parents' deaths."
Young R just looks at Dr. Wily, saying nothing. "……………………."
"Your father and mother were very dear friends of mine, R. I feel the same way about them as you do! Please believe me when I say that nothing would make me happier than to make the person who killed them pay. I promise, R."
With that, the two kids run up to Wily and hug him tightly. Wily hugs them back.
This is all so new to me. I… I've never had children of my own. But I am up to the challenge. Wily comforts the kids, "It's going to be all right. You'll see. I promise to take good care of you, as if you were my own. I shall be a father to you."
Wily gave a slight nod telling them that it was time to go. The three of them then left the cemetery together.
Ran watches as they leave.
In the cemetery, all was still. She was the only living soul in that place now. Everybody else, well…you get the idea. Dream or no, Ran was getting some answers about her past. She didn't know who that old man was, but somehow she recognized him immediately. Now, she could associate a face with the voice that haunted her dreams. She wonders about this old man, this Dr. Wily.
"That old man… what does he have to do with me and R? Is he the one who wants Ranma dead? If that's so, then why? And why were we all together at R's parents' grave?"
Urged on by a desperate need to know, she walks over to the gravesite and crouches down looking at the inscription carved upon it:
"In memory of the parents who we never had the honor and privilege to know."
Ran is surprised by this, because it's similar to the one engraved on the headstone of R's parents' grave. But what she's about to see next will rip apart everything she ever thought she knew about R and about herself. Above the epitaph is a name written in Japanese kanji:
HAYAMI
Needless to say, Ran is in shock! But this can't be…! That would mean that R is… she thinks, then looks at the grave. And they… R's parents are my…
She reached gingerly toward the gravestone and ran her fingers over the name engraved on it. As she did, a wave of deep sadness washed over her.
"Oh….oh, Mama…. Daddy….!!" Ran is sobbing bitterly. Then she hears someone calling her.
"Ran…Ran…!"
Ran recognizes this voice, too. It's the boy she heard calling for her in that dream she had back in Chapter 15. "Huh? I…I know that voice…"
She turns around, expecting to see the boy who called her… and comes face to face with someone she DIDN'T expect to see. The person standing before her is wearing black ninja pants, red armor, and a red goblin mask with "eyes" that shine in the dark. A long mane of white hair sticks out from behind the grotesque mask. In his hand was his sword, concealed in its sheath until it was time to draw it forth. He is the warrior from chapter 19, one of the RED CATS' best fighters, and apparently he is Ran's "brother".
A flash of lightning chose that moment to strike.
"It's you! You're the one who called me?"
"Ran, please help me." THIS, Ran's brother says, as he draws his sword. YIKES!
"No, wait… I… I know you. You're…!"
"Ran, I need your help. Save me."
Ran is afraid now. "Wh-what are you going to do?"
"Please, Ran! Save me! Save me before I…!"
He raises his sword, its green blade glowing in the darkness with evil power.
Ran cries out, "BROTHER, NO!!"
As her brother is about to strike Ran down with his sword, something barges in front of him and lands on the ground. It's a single white rose.
Ran's brother loudly demands, "HEY! Who threw that!"
Before he got an answer, someone leaps out and strikes him with a flying kick. The powerful kick sends Ran's brother crashing into a tombstone a few feet away. Ran looks up to see her rescuer. "R…?"
R asks, "Ran! Are you all right?"
Ran nods, "Yes, I am… now that you're here."
"That's good. Wait here, while I take care of this creep."
"But, R…!"
"Yeah, what?"
"Just…Just be careful, OK?"
R winks at her. "Sure thing, kid." He then strides over to where Ran's brother is.
Ran's brother gets up dizzily. "Uuugh…I never realized I could hit that hard." He sees R before him. "Hey! How DARE you interfere with me? What the hell do you think you're doing?"
R hmph's, "I could ask you the same question, pal. And what's up with that freakish outfit? Aren't you a little bit early for Halloween?" He notices the guy's mask. "Or are you trying to be Japan's answer to the Green Goblin, perhaps? Looks like somebody's been watching too much Spider-Man for "Bad-Guy-Wardrobe-Ideas"."
"Mock ME, will you? And where do you get off poking fun at my armor? This costume is designed to strike fear into the hearts of my enemies!
"Feh. Please. Do I LOOK like I'm scared of you? You just made a BIG mistake, and that was trying to kill my friend Ran, an innocent girl…
Ran thinks, Wait a minute! Did R just call me his friend? Am I dreaming?
Yes, Ran, you ARE dreaming.
Ran's brother asks R point-blank, "You're ACTUALLY fighting for a girl's honor? This isn't like you at all. Do you intend to fight me for her, to… protect her?"
R, itching for battle, eagerly replies, "Oh, you bet I do! But not here." He looks over in the direction of his parents' grave. "Not in front of them. And… if you're who I THINK you are, then you'll have no problem with this."
Ran's brother nods respectfully. " …..I see. Where shall we fight?"
"Let's take this somewhere else." R points to the other side of the graveyard. "We'll finish it there. Loser goes "home", if you know what I mean."
"You speak as if you've already won. I wonder if you'll be as confident afterwards."
"Enough talk! Let's use our fists to settle this NOW!"
"Agreed. Let's do it!"
With that, the two fighters leap into the air, hopping from tombstone to tombstone until they're a safe distance from R's parents. They each land on tall tombstones and assume fighting stances.
"Here I come, R! DAAAAAAA..!!" Ran's brother jumps toward R.
"Prepare yourself, jerk! HYAAAAAH!!" R does likewise, jumping toward his opponent.
And so, in a city of the dead, two warriors fight in a life-or-death battle. Ran's brother swings his sword trying to chop R in half. He misses, R barely dodging the fatal slash.
R taunts, "Is that all you've got?"
Ran's brother coldly replies, "In the end, I think it's all I need."
And he comes in with another sword slash. R dodges the attack and then trips his opponent with a low kick, sending him to the floor, flat on his back. R seizes the opportunity to attack and leaps up hoping to take him out with an aerial strike.
"Oh no, you don't. Escape Technique! Choutou Chihai Ken! (Leap Blade Ground Back Fist)!"
Using a technique of leaping in the air from flat off his back, Ran's brother escapes R's incoming attack! While in mid-air, he reaches into his armor and pulls out three white roses, which he uses like darts and throws them at R!
R's insulted by his opponent's counterattack. "Get real! The "White Rose Throwing Darts" is MY attack! You lazy bum! GLACIER WHITE PEARL!"
R fires his ice blast, freezing the rose darts. When they land, they smash into little pieces. Ran's brother is about to use his sword again, but R tosses one of his own "White Rose Throwing Darts", which stabs him right in his hand. The masked warrior cries out in pain as he drops his sword.
"Now, enough games! Fight me for real, or don't fight at all!"
"Fine! I won't need my sword to defeat you. Let's finish this!" Ran's Brother leaps at R.
"Yeah! Let's!" R Leaps at Ran's brother.
Ran, who had followed R and her "brother", was watching them fight. She thinks, Watching them fight in a duel where only one of them will survive…and I can't do a thing about it! I just can't stand here while R risks his life for me!
R and the masked fiend fight hand-to-hand, throwing and blocking punches and kicks. Each fighter is giving his all into this battle; neither opponent is letting up or holding back. Then they both leap back and yell – at the same time…
"ACTIVE RED PEARL!!"
They throw purple-and-red-tinted Ki blasts at each other. Both attacks collide against each other and explode into a big blast.
Ran thinks, They appear to be evenly matched. Oh, R, please be careful!
"Heh heh heh… R, there's a saying that each man is his own worst enemy. And I am you, except I'm stronger, faster, and out for YOUR blood." Ran's Brother dashes and strikes R with a hard punch across the face! OUCH!
THWACK!
Ran gasps, "R!"
As he wipes off some blood from his lip, R snorts, "Yeah, right! You think you're ME? If that's so, then you're doing a lousy job! I'M the genuine article, and you're just some nutcase in a whacked-out costume!" I didn't want to use this, but I got no choice. The Saotome Secret Technique! "HEY! LOOK OVER THERE!"
"Huh!?" Ran's Brother then notices R's gone! "HEY! I see you've still got the strength to run away! But not from me, R! Not from yourself! WHERE ARE YOU!? COME OUT AND FACE ME!"
He hears something moving, then…
"Ah ha! THERE!" He strikes, but only ends up smashing a tombstone – with his bare hands!
Somewhere in the graveyard, R is taunting him, "Aw, too bad. You thought that's where I was hiding? C'mon! You can do better than that! Maybe I'm over here? Or here? Or maybe I'm over here? Or perhaps I'm over there? Or maybe I'm not even here at all!"
Ran's Brother searches all around him, frustrated and angry. "Why you…! Resorting to such a cheap tactic! What do you think I am? Only a total IDIOT would fall for that technique!"
"You're right! And guess who the idiot is? I'll give you a hint: it ain't ME! Look out!"
"Huh!?"
"SUPER SONIC BLUE PEARL!!"
Out of nowhere, a huge sphere of energy crashes into the masked man full force! As he's reeling from the attack, R leaps in to finish him off! "It's the end for you! Say goodnight! KAISER SILVER METALLIC!!"
R lands and kicks the ground creating spiraling blades of air in front of him. The razor sharp air blasts slice through Ran's brother and blow him away!
"ARRRRRGGHHHHH!!!"
The strength of R's "Kaiser Silver Metallic" super attack was horrifying in its casualness, and devastating in the damage it caused with such minimal effort. His opponent sailed across the graveyard, and through it. The tombstones exploded from the impact, debris flying everywhere. He kept going, flying through the air as if some great invisible fisherman had tied a line to him and was reeling him in. He eventually smashed into a tombstone on the far side, some fifty feet away. He sagged to the ground, defeated.
R goes over to where his defeated foe is. Deep cuts and slash marks are all over the masked warrior's body, and he's bleeding from his injuries.
"You can see that the outcome has been determined. Are you satisfied now, jerk?"
"You did it, R!" Ran runs up to R and hugs him, then, surprised, she asks, "But how did you know I was here?"
R shrugs, "Don't ask me; it's YOUR dream." Then, to the masked guy, he says, "All right jerk-o! This is the part where I unmask you and you get to blame everything on those meddling kids!"
Grabbing the mask, R rips it off the guy's face… and both Ran and R are in shock when they see who's behind the mask.
"Whoa. This is WAY too weird."
No! It can't be…That's not possible! Without taking her eyes off the masked man, Ran glances at R, then looks back down at the face of the slain warrior. Who is this guy anyway?
Ran sinks to her knees, shaking her head in disbelief. "No…no…no…!"
Ranma's voice calls out to her. "Ran! Wake up, Ran!"
(END DREAM SEQUENCE)
Ran was in her bed, in her room, tossing and turning in her sleep. Ranma is by her bedside, trying to wake her up. He whispers in her ear, "Hey, Ran, it's me."
Instead of her waking up right away, he received a sleepy hug from the shorter pig-tailed girl.
In a sleepy voice, Ran says, "Mmm….? Ranma?"
Ranma chuckles, returning her embrace. "Glad to see you too. I'm… I'm sorry if I made you worry."
Ran opened her eyes and when she saw the sight that greeted her she hugged him even tighter. Smiling, Ranma returned the embrace. Ranma realized that Ran was crying as he felt the warm tears soak through his shirt. Slowly he parted the hair that covered her eyes, looking into their redness. The girl was staring at him as if she did not dare to believe he was really there.
Upset, Ran says, " Why you…! I thought something awful had happened to you today. How could you make me worry like that?"
Ranma smiles. It was hard to believe just how innocent this girl really was. He re-assures her, "Me, Pops, and Mr. Tendo got into a fight with another one of those whacked-out robots we seem to be running into lately."
Ran's relieved, though she's still in tears. "Well, do me a favor and please don't do that again, will ya?" She buries her face in his chest. "I… I don't know if I could take losing you, Ranma."
Ranma is surprised. "Huh?"
Ever since she came to the Tendo Dojo, Ranma had come to admire Ran as a fighter. But over time, as they got to know each other, it had grown into a friendship. Come to think of it, Ran was the first real friend that Ranma ever had. Well, sure there was Ukyo, but anyway… And then to top it off, he'd felt… well… a strong connection to her, a sort of tender bond of affection, if you will. He couldn't explain it even if he tried, and he had often rebelled against that feeling.
Ran and I are just friends, nothing more, he would tell himself.
After all, Akane was his fiancée now. He dared not mention it to her, or she'd probably mallet him like the old days. In any case, he certainly didn't want things to go back to the way they used to be before Ran came into his life, with all the random fights and multiple fiancées and stuff.
Looking at Ran, Ranma thinks, And yet… "Guess we've both had a rough day, huh? Look…, he says as he laid her back down on the futon, "…why don't you get some rest. I'll fill you in on what happened tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay."
"You gonna be all right? I can stay if…"
"No, no, I think I'll sleep okay tonight."
"Yeah, well, I brought you some dinner in case you're hungry." Ranma sets a tray beside her. "Good night, Ran. Get better, OK?"
"I will. Thanks, Ranma."
After he leaves, Ran sits up in her bed. She's thinking about that totally weird dream she just had. For a moment there, she'd thought she heard insane laughter coming from out of nowhere.
"Oh man, that was one weird dream I had. But what could it mean? Who is that old guy? And why does my brother look like…like…R?"
But even as she thought about the weirdness of that dream, Ran feels a sense of peace. For in that dream, Ran realized her true feelings for her friend Ranma Saotome. And that makes her smile. It made everything else that went on in the dream seem so small and insignificant compared to the love she felt for Ranma deep in her heart.
Feeling much better, she picks up the tray and proceeds to chow down on her dinner.
RED CATS' HIDEOUT – ERICK'S DARK CHAMBER:
Erick was studying some plans for the next phase of his plan…when Delia enters his room from the shadows. "Still working on those plans Erick-san?"
"Yep…I need to figure it out how to make my Cells more effective…that's all."
"Erick, why don't you take a small break? Even YOU can't work all the time."
"Hmmm…I suppose you're right Delia…we've being working too long with these morons…so I guess we could…take a day off."
Delia's delighted. "Wonderful, Erick. You really should."
Erick chuckles, " I could, could I? So De-Chan, would you like to accompany me on a tour of this city to have some fun?"
Delia smiles. "I would love to, Erick darling."
"Then it's settled. We'll go on a date this afternoon."
Five hours later…Erick is ready to go on his date with Delia…he'd taken a shower and got dressed. His wardrobe of choice is…some black jeans, a black shirt, black trench coat, and dark glasses, -(He dresses very similar to Neo from Matrix Reloaded)- and a purple scarf around his neck –(all his clothes are from expensive designers, like Giovanni, Calvin Klein, Versace, etc)-. Delia's clothes of choice were…a black skirt, black high heel boots, brown pantyhose, a white jacket, dark sweater, and a little skull bow in her head. They were ready.
In the shrine, Dr. Wily was having a discussion with the statue of the Cat Ghost King. When they see Erick and Delia, all dressed up and heading out…
Dr. Wily looks at Erick at says, "Hey, why are you dressed like that?"
Erick replies, "Oh, this? Delia and I are going out on a date in town, to have some fun."
Wide-eyed, Wily reacts, "WHAT…!? Going out? Why?"
"Why not? De-Chan and I could have some fun and all."
"YOU…YOU CANT! YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE NOW! WE'RE ON A VERY IMPORTANT MISSION HERE! I DON'T THINK ITS WISE TO DO THAT!"
Erick chuckles, "Hm hm hm hm."
Dr. Wily blinks, "…"
"Funny, I don't recall 'asking' for your permission Wily."
"WHAT!?"
Erick reminds the old fool, "As I've said to you before…I'm only here as an advisor, nothing more. I only give advice and help, but I am under NO obligation to take orders from you…and quite frankly, you're beginning to be quite a bossy man to me. If you're not pleased with my services here, then Delia and I will simply walk away, so…I bid you "adieu" guys. Come Delia, we're leaving."
"Right behind you, Erick," Delia says.
Erick then begins to walk away from that place. The Cat Ghost King is very worried at Erick's departure. Ever since he arrived, their plans were moving fast, and working great because of him, and, because of him, they had 'new' allies. In other words, without Erick's help and wise advice, their plans would fall apart…
Desperate, the Cat Statue says, "WAIT ERICK! MEOW!"
Erick:" Yes?"
Cat Statue begs, "Lo…look Erick, let…let's not be hasty okay meow? Don't go, okay? Don't go meow! You may have your date and all…and…and have fun…but not too long, because we're so close to getting the Stone."
Erick assures his boss, "Don't worry, it will only be for a day. I'll be back, okay? So don't go over dramatic, I'm sure that you guys can manage for a day right? Hahaha!"
The Cat Statue is relieved. "That's good Erick meow."
"Well, see you all tomorrow."
Then Erick leaves…
Mad over what just happened, Wily says to the Cat Statue, "I don't see why you have to be so nice to him. The nerve of him…! Why don't you just get rid of him!"
The Cat Statue's reply is clear and to the point. "Between him and you, I'd rather choose to get rid of you Wily meow."
Dr. Wily gasps! "WHAT!? ME?"
"Yes, YOU! If it weren't for him, Wily meow, we couldn't have advanced so far in our plans…so we have to keep him by all means…you understand meow?"
Dr. Wily grumpily says, "Yes, oh mighty Cat Ghost King."
And so it begins…Erick's day off with Delia…and to have some fun…
Erick is behind the wheel of a black Jaguar XJR convertible, with Delia beside him in the passenger seat…
Delia asks, "So Erick…where are we going?"
"Oh, I was thinking about taking you to see some of the wonders this world has."
Delia smiles. "I'd love to see them."
That's all Erick needs to hear. "What you want…is what you'll get."
Erick takes Delia to a carnival that was being held near there…Delia tastes some Cotton Candy, and finds it very interesting, then some hot dogs…
Later they went to Domino City and went to the swimming pools…Erick is wearing some black swim trunks…Delia had on a 2-piece black bikini –(a short one. This narrator might add! YOWZA!)-. Erick's body is well built; his muscular frame makes him look like a body builder. All the girls there are drooling and swooning over him. The boys are drooling like mad and whistling at Delia; she had a body that would make any super model jealous. Erick and Delia play in the water like they're little children.
After swimming, Erick and Delia are now walking in a local park; Delia is eating a bag of Corn Nuts. She absently wonders aloud, "Hey Erick, I wonder…"
"About what, De-Chan?"
"About this bag of Corn-Nuts."
"What is it?"
"I mean, what's the deal with these corn nuts?…is it a corn, or is it a nut?"
Erick considers her question. As for his answer? Well… "Hmmm…you know De-Chan, I've being wondering about that myself."
Later, they are sitting on a bench…looking at the afternoon sun. Delia's having a good time. She had never truly seen the mortal world's wonders and fun. She was delighted. Hugging his arm, she says, "Erick, I'm having such a wonderful time here. It's beautiful."
Erick smiles, "I'm glad that you're enjoying it De-Chan."
Delia nods, "I am…" Then, she spotted a card in Erick's hand. "Erick, what's that card you're holding there?"
Erick holds it up for her to see. "This De-Chan…is called a Duel Monsters Card, from a very popular game here in Domino…this one's called –"The Dark Magician Girl"-."
Delia remarks, "My…such a cute wizard girl."
"She was…she was very cute, and she was very skilled."
Delia giggles, "Oh Erick, you're talking like if she was a real person."
Erick's tone becomes serious. "That's because 'she' WAS a real person."
"Oh! You mean…that girl in the card…was alive?"
Erick confirms, "That's right…she was alive, but that was long ago in the past. I met her once."
"You did? How so?"
"It was like this…"
-(BEGIN FLASHBACK)-
ANCIENT EGYPT - 5,000 years ago B.C.
–(When Pharaoh Yami rules)-
Erick narrates: After that tragic incident long ago (See Chapter 14), I visited Egypt once. I had come from England, after easily defeating a rebel King who…, hechuckles, "… 'tried' to kill me along with his so called –"Knights of the Round Table"- and his sword Excalibur, or something. His name was…Arthur or something. Anyway…
I visited a town, looking for more scrolls, and to find some entertainment. Then, I began to feel kinda tired and thirsty, I don't know why. I sat down to rest…then, someone handed me a glass of water, When I looked up, I saw her…
Erick is looking at a blonde Egyptian Girl; she is dressed in peculiar Egyptian Clothes…
"Here sir…have some water" she says.
Erick blinks. "Um…thanks…" He drinks it. "…thank you, kind girl."
The girl smiles, "No problem."
"You are so kind…what's your name?"
She introduces herself to Erick, "My name is Mana, sir."
"Mana…? Well, thank you for the water Mana-chan, it was very nice of you."
"Oh, no problem…happy to do it."
Erick notices the garments she's wearing. "Your clothes Mana, are very different from the rest that I have seen…how come?"
"Oh! That's because I am an apprentice of my master Mahao."
Erick blinks. "Mahao?"
Mana explains, "Yes, he is one of the seven Priests of the Pharaoh, and owner of the Millennium Ring."
"I see…"
"I gotta go Erick-san, before my master starts looking for me. I'll see you later."
Erick's waving at her. "All right, I'll see you later Mana-chan."
-(END FLASHBACK)-
Erick finishes telling Delia the story. " fter that, I began to see her more and more. She was very fond, very friendly, and very cute. I was beginning to admire her, I even began to felt…good. She began to remind me about the good of humanity…of friendship."
"How interesting. She sounds as if she was a very special girl, wasn't she Erick?" Delia thoughtfully asks.
Erick's smile gives Delia's answer. He fondly remembers, "She was, she was one of the few. She had the soul and the heart of a child; she would come out and talk to me, even play with me. I loved it…" He then frowns. "But…alas, the good times with her didn't last long…"
-(BEGIN FLASHBACK)-
Erick's with Mana. Mana comes to talk to him… Sadly, she says, "Erick, I'm…I'm afraid that I won't be able to talk to you anymore."
Erick gasps. "WHAT…? What do you mean Mana-chan? Why?"
"It's because…I just can't."
Erick, now desperate, asks, "But why, Mana-chan…? Is something wrong with me? Did I treat you awfully?"
"No, it's not that. It's just that…I have to fulfill my destiny in service to my Pharaoh."
"Mana…"
Mana sobs, "I'm so sorry Erick…I wish there was another way, but there isn't and…"
"MANA!" a man's voice angrily calls her.
Erick looks behind him and sees a man, dressed like Mana, but with more jewels, and wearing a Millennium Ring on his neck…
Mana gasps, "Mahao!"
Mahao is serious. "Mana, get moving now."
Mana hesitates to comply, but resigns herself, sighing sadly, "Right away, my master." She turns to Erick with a sad look on her face. "Good bye Erick, I'll always remember you."
Mana walks away. Mahao stays and has a serious 'talk' with Erick. "As for you, leave her alone, and leave from here."
Erick raises an eyebrow in disbelief. "Come again?"
"You've already distracted her from her duties and wasting her time in silly stuff."
"I was just giving her a good time. Is there something wrong with that?"
This seems to upset Mahao for some reason; he reveals, "She's starting to rebel, something she never did before!"
Erick observes, "Just because she's starting to enjoy more of life, she's "rebelling" in your opinion. I think that you're out of your mind."
Mahao glares at him. "I suggest that you watch that filthy mouth of yours!"
Erick laughs, "Do tell…" Then, HE gets serious in Mana's defense. "I don't see why she can't have some fun for herself."
Mahao explains, "It's because she doesn't have time for that…for she's destined to serve her Pharaoh. Her life belongs to him."
"WHAT? No one has the right to own anybody! Who the hell does this 'Pharaoh' think he is, a god?"
"Close…he is the closest to being a God…and you'll watch your mouth when you talk about him…I must be going now. Leave Egypt at once, and never come back…understand?"
-(END FLASHBACK)-
Erick fumes, "The nerve of him, ha…! I WAS going to kill him where he stood, but instead…I decided to talk to that Pharaoh about Mana."
"Really…what happened?" Delia asks, wanting to hear more.
Erick flashes his trademark evil smile. "Let's just say that…they weren't prepared for THAT meeting."
-(RESUME FLASHBACK)-
INSIDE THE PHARAOH'S CHAMBER:
The Pharaoh Yami is sitting on his throne. Below him are his six Priests, with their Millennium Items…When the doors open…Everyone turns around and saw someone in the entrance to the Chamber…It is Erick.
Erick greets everyone there with a smile on his face, a smile that conceals his TRUE intent. "Hello you all!"
Priest Seto (who's the spitting image of Seto Kaiba) demands, "Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Erick Genryusai." He bows dramatically. "…and I'm here to talk to the Pharaoh."
Priest Mahao, angry, recognizes Erick from before. "YOU…how dare you enter here without permission…GUARDS…GUARDS!"
"If you're calling for those dogs…then I'm afraid that they won't come."
" What!"
Erick graces his foe with a wicked smile. Saying, "Let's just say that the guards are on a small break…permanently."
Priestess Isis asks this intruder, "What do you want?"
Erick politely repeats himself, his intentions clear. "Like I said before…I've come here to talk to HIM", he says, pointing to the Pharaoh.
Priest Mahao is furious! "INSOLENT WORM… YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN COME IN HERE AND DEMAND FOR THAT…I'LL PUNISH YOU!"
Mahao, by tapping into the powers of his Millennium Ring, launches an energy ball at Erick. Erick just smirks, waves two of his fingers, and the ball stops in its tracks. Then Erick waves his fingers again and returns the ball back at Mahao, who gets struck by his own attack, with double the strength! He flies back and crashes hard through the wall, leaving a mark in it. The other Priests as well the Pharaoh are shocked at the scene before them…
Priest Seto rallies the other Priests, commanding, "STOP HIM!"
Priestess Isis, though nervous, carries out her duty. "WE MUST PROTECT THE PHARAOH! USE ALL YOUR POWERS!"
All 6 Priests use their Powers from their Millennium Items against Erick. But like Mahao, Erick blocks their attacks and returns their own powers against them; all of them were struck by their own attacks and are flung into the walls of the chamber, falling down to the ground. Their Millennium Powers were no match against Erick's Dark Powers. Then Erick turns to face the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh is very nervous –(almost scared)-…
Erick smiles again – not a pleasant smile, or even a friendly one. NOW, it's more like a smile that says, "When this is over, I am SO going to kill you!" "Now that that's settled", he says, regarding the defeated Priests; his full attention's on Yami. "I think we need to have a little chit-chat, oh mighty Pharaoh."
The Pharaoh, nervous, gulps. "Wha…what do you want? If it's jewels you want, I have lots and lots of them in my vault and…"
Erick stops him. "I didn't come here for jewels…I have no need for money."
"Then…what do you want?"
"A person told me that you're a great, mighty Pharaoh…almost close to a God…is that right?"
"Yes."
Erick chuckles at this, confirming what he's heard so far, "Well…so is it true that some people are destined to serve you, for the rest of their lives? That you, so to speak, own them?"
"Yes…why do you ask those questions?"
Erick frowns, saying, " Because I find it rather…stupid."
The Pharaoh is irritated. "Say what?"
"You heard me…a human who believes that he's close to a god…" Erick begins to laugh. "Oh, the vanity this human has…I find it kinda interesting."
The Pharaoh doesn't like where this "chit-chat" is going: Though he's getting mad, he calmly says, "Listen here…I will not allow a mere person to talk to me like that!"
Erick's tone is serious here. "Buddy, I am not a simple 'person'… nor am I one of your slaves that you can do whatever you please with."
"ENOUGH! I'll show you the price of disrespecting me!" The Pharaoh taps the power of his Millennium Puzzle. "I'll send you to the Shadow Realm, so be prepared!"
"Oh really? This ought to be amusing…go ahead then."
Then, the Pharaoh launches a black energy wave at Erick. It strikes him, but it didn't do anything to him…
Shocked, the Pharaoh can't beilve it! "WHAT…HOW…WHAT HAPPENED…WHY DIDN'T MY MAGIC WORK ON YOU?"
Erick chuckles, "Silly boy…now it's MY turn to show you 'real' power…like THIS!"
Then Erick waves his hand, and the Pharaoh is covered in a field of blue energy surrounding him like rings and levitating him into the air. Trapped within that, he was in pain, for he felt like he was burning…
The Pharaoh is screaming in pain, "GRYAAAAAAAAA!!"
Erick's smile brightens, especially when he's inflicting pain! "Now THAT's real power…foolish boy! So, you say that you were going to send me to the 'Shadow Realm'. Feh. Been there, done that…and now, I'm about to send you to a place in which you have never been to. Oh yes… I think I'll send you to…" he laughs evilly, "…HELL ITSELF!"
Then, a hole opens up below the Pharaoh. When the Pharaoh looks down, he sees fire coming out from it and some fiery hands trying to reach him to pull him down. He began to panic. "WHAT THE…WHAT SORCERY IS THIS…?"
Erick with his evil laugh echoing throughout the Pharaoh's chamber, says, "Now, Pharaoh…you're on a one-way ticket to Hell! Hahahaha… in which you'll be there forever. Let's see if what you say about being close to a God is true."
Then, before Erick sends him down the hole…
A girl's voice pleads, "Wait Erick! Don't do it! Please!"
Then, Erick sees Mana coming to the throne…
"Mana."
"Please Erick…don't do it, I beg of you!"
Erick is confused. "But why, Mana…? I'm just trying to help you, to free you."
"But not this way Erick! Please, spare him…!" she's sobbing. "If my friendship meant something to you, then I beg you to release him."
Erick then begins to think about it…even though he REALLY hates the idea, he responds to Mana's plea. He closes the hole below the Pharaoh, then releases him…the Pharaoh lets out a big sigh of relief… But, Erick turns to the Pharaoh, and serious, tells him, "Consider yourself fortunate, Pharaoh. Were it not for Mana's good heart, you would be in Hell right now, condemned to the lake of fire." Then softly, to Mana, he says, "I will be going now Mana…but I will return. I promise you this."
Mana asks, "You will?"
"Yes…to free you from this… and from him" Erick says, pointing to the Pharaoh. "…and to give you a life."
Mana whispers happily, "Thank you Erick."
Erick smiles, "No problem…" to the Pharaoh he gives him a serious look. " I will leave now…but I will return Pharaoh, and next time, Mana may not be around to save you." With a wicked smile, he says, "Until next time."
Then Erick walks away and vanishes from sight.
-( END FLASHBACK)-
Erick finishes telling his story. "And I walked away from that place." Now when thinks about it, he laughs! "You should have seen it De-chan, that Pharaoh almost wet his royal garments when he saw that hole to hell! Hahaha!"
Delia giggles, "I'll bet…so what happened next?"
"After that…I left Egypt and headed to Japan to acquire some 'things' that I left. I returned to Egypt to free Mana-chan from that life that she was living." Now sad, he continues, "But, when I arrived there, I found out that she had died." A single tear runs down his cheek.
Delia gasps, "Oh! How horrible…how?"
Erick looks as if he's about to cry, but maintains his composure. "I tried to find out what happen to her, but, what I found out was very shocking. I found out that she died by sacrificing herself for the Pharaoh…"
"She did?"
"Yes…" The anger Erick felt over the girl's death is rekindled, his voice rising to match his mood. "She died to save that miserable Pharaoh…and what's worse…he didn't give her anything…not an altar, a shrine, something to remember her noble sacrifice."
"Erick…"
Angry, Erick continues, "It's like…she was only a thing to him, something that he can just use and throw away…he didn't honor her giving her life to him…I was very angry and sad. Sad for her death, and furious for the way that Pharaoh thanked her for it, by forgetting about her. I was so angry…" -Erick ignites a dark flame in his right hand, Kyo-Kusanagi-style, declaring, "I WAS GOING TO COVER ALL OF EGYPT IN AN INMENSE SEA OF FIRE AND BURN THEM ALL IN THE DEEPEST OF THE FLAMES…AND DRAG THAT STUPID PHARAOH AND ALL HIS MORONIC PRIESTS INTO THE DEEPEST PARTS OF HELL AND MAKE THEM SUFFER FOR ALL ETERNITY!!"
Delia, sorry for Erick's friend, offers her sympathy. "Geez Erick, I'm so sorry…but what happened next?"
Erick extinguishes his flame, his rage cooling down. "…But, I didn't."
Delia blinks. "Oh! How come?"
Erick admits, "Well…it's because I remember that Mana used to live there…She told me that she loved her place, she had friends there and family. I guess that…She wouldn't want me to destroy her home…" He chuckles, remembering one of the FEW times in his immortal existence that he's ever shown mercy. "Funny, if it weren't for Mana's good memories, and the love she gave me, Egypt wouldn't exist right now."
"She sure was a loving girl to you Erick…wasn't she?"
"Yes, she was…which is why I must ask you for a favor Delia."
"Oh! What favor Erick?"
"Delia, later on…I want to bring back Mana from beyond…to give her the life that I promised her, for her death was not meant to be, and not fair to her in that moment…would you help me Delia, help me to revive Mana?"
Delia smiles, she'll do anything for her master. "But of course Erick my love…you can count on me…if she was very special to you, then I'll help you."
This makes Erick happy. "Thank you Delia…thank you."
Delia kisses him on the lips. "No problem."
Then, later on, they went to see a movie…
It was night, and they were now walking near Domino Cemetery, when they heard some evil laughs and some cries…
The noise having gotten her attention, Delia wonders aloud, "What's that sound? Sounds like it's coming from the graveyard."
Erick hears it too. "You're right…let's check it out, okay?"
Then they enter the graveyard, when Erick and Delia notice a Purple Fog covering the place…when they enter, they saw a white spike-haired boy –(Yami-Bakura)- finishing off some people –(Bones and his friends)- and sending them to the Shadow Realm…
Yami-Bakura laughs, "Hahahaha…what a bunch of weaklings…now that I have all six Locator Cards, I'll enter the Battle City Finals and…" He's detected a presence. "Huh! Who's there? Show yourself!"
"What have we here?"
Yami-Bakura turns around and sees Erick and Delia. "Who are you…what are you doing here?"
Erick says, "MY name's not important right now…who are you?"
"I am Bakura."
Erick then sees the Millennium Ring on Bakura. "That ring! Where did you get it…? How did you get the Millennium Ring?"
Yami-Bakura is surprised that he knows. "What! How do you know of this Ring?"
"That Ring, buddy, does not belong to you, it belonged to Mahao…I'll ask you again, how did you get it?"
Yami-Bakura chuckles, "Why…I stole it, for I am a grave robber."
Erick hmph's, disgusted. "Typical…grave robbers, like thieves, are cowards."
"WHAT?"
"You heard right…only they would steal from people who cannot defend themselves, cause they're dead; otherwise, it would make their task so difficult."
Yami-Bakura is mad. "Who the hell do you think you are by talking that way to me? If I were you, I'd watch my mouth."
Erick's chuckling, "If I were YOU…I'd wash my mouth…because yours stinks."
Delia giggles at Yami-Bakura's reaction to Erick's witty comeback.
Yami-Bakura is angry. "Insolent mortal…you dare to insult me? You just made your final mistake…for I am a being with powers that you have never seen."
Erick raises an eyebrow. "Oh really…?" He sarcastically comments, "Wow…another jerk who thinks he's all powerful."
"I am." Yami-Bakura taps into the powers of the Ring. "For that insult, you and your girlfriend will spend the rest of your pathetic life in the Shadow Realm…so get ready!"
Erick is un-impressed. "Wow…you will? Now that would be funny."
"BE GONE…HYRAAAAAAAAA!!" Yami-Bakura launches a purple energy wave at Erick and Delia…but…nothing happens to them…
Yami-Bakura is shocked, to say the least. "WHAT…WHAT HAPPENED…WHY DIDN'T YOU GO TO THE SHADOW REALM!?"
Erick, with an evil chuckle, says, "You stupid boy…you think you're all-powerful? Then I'm afraid that you don't know anything."
Yami-Bakura angrily objects, "WHY YOU…YOU CANT COMPARE TO ME!"
Delia confirms, mocking him at the same time, "You're right…he can't compare to you…his powers are way beyond your incompetent mind!"
"I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT REAL POWERS ARE GIRL! I'LL KILL YOU…" Yami-Bakura is about to launch his attack at Delia –(stupid from his part)-…when Erick raises his palm and Yami-Bakura is covered in dark energy that burns him and slams him hard into a pillar… he gets up slowly and in a lot of pain…
Hurt and weakened from his opponent's attack Yami-Bakura asks, "How…how can it be…who are you?"
Erick seriously tells him, "I am someone that you should never face…I am someone who you've never seen…" He laughs his evil laugh.
Yami-Bakura looks into Erick's eyes and sees something that literally strikes fear into him. Scared beyond belief, he trembles! "JUST WHO ARE YOU? WHO ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU?"
Erick laughs, "Ha ha ha haaa…wouldn't you like to know, buddy? But I won't…cause you'd NEVER believe it…you should be lucky that I don't have time to deal with you, cause I'm on a date with Delia here, or else you would be in SERIOUS trouble right now…well…I bid you farewell. For your sake, we'd better NOT meet again."
The Erick takes Delia and they head out from the cemetery…leaving a scared and confused Yami-Bakura…
What was he? I don't know who he is…but those eyes…they show a great evil…an evil greater then mine…greater then anything I have ever seen in all my life! Yami-Bakura thinks.
Erick continues to enjoy his night out with Delia… he takes Delia to Domino Park. While there, he goes to get ice cream for them. Deila waits patently for him, taking a seat at one of the park benches. Only a few minutes have passed, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a certain "someone" tries to get Delia's attention!
"Hello, pretty lady."
Momentarily startled, she turns around and comes face-to-face with a strange man whose long brown hair is tied in a pony-tail and who wears a pink karate gi. Yes folks, it's none other than that peanut-brained, perverted practitioner of Saikyo-Ryu…
"HEY!" Dan objects.
Sorry, this narrator calls 'em like he sees them. Anyway, it's Dan Hibiki.
Delia blinks, "Huh! Excuse me?"
Dan starts flirting with her, "What's a pretty lady like yourself doing all alone here?"
"I'm not alone…I'm waiting for my fiancée."
"Your fiancée? That means you're taken?"
"Yes."
Unfazed, Dan turns up the charm a notch. "But tell me miss. Wouldn't you like to leave him, to be with me…? You know, I'm a Martial Artist, and one of the best."
Delia quickly shoots him down. "I don't think so."
Dan gasps, "WHAT! Oh, come on! After all…I am a hunk and a great fighter. I bet that I could mop the floor with that boyfriend of yours."
How dare he! Delia thinks angrily. Aloud, she calmly says, "That…would be impossible."
Dan laughs, "Impossible…you mean for him. I bet he's a wimp…and can't compare to my supreme skills! HAHAHAHAHA!"
The nerve of this stupid mortal. Delia warns, "I suggest that you use your head more then your mouth mister. It's not wise to make such foolish declarations."
It was then that Erick returned with two ice cream cones…
"Delia, I'm back with the ice cream…"
….and sees a man flirting with his fiancée! "Who's this?"
Delia, relieved at Erick's presence, says, "Erick darling, thank goodness you're back. This simpleton is annoying me."
Erick addresses Dan. "Who are you mister? And why are you bothering my fiancée?"
Dan strikes a heroic pose. "The name's Dan Hibiki."
"Dan Hibiki? Hmmm…Where have I heard that name before…?" Erick then remembers, "Ah, I know you. Dan Hibiki, a so called Street Fighter."
Happy that someone has recognized him without calling him a pervert, a creep, or a loser, Dan says, "So you've heard of me! Dan Hibiki, one of the greatest Street Fighters in the world."
Erick laughs, "Not quite…Dan Hibiki; A miserable, worthless, weak man. A man who's never won anything in his life, and a con artist. A man who takes someone else's glory, and claims it for himself. And also a pervert."
On hearing this, Dan's face quickly changes from happy to hurt to sad. Offended, he objects, "HEY! THAT'S A BIG LIE! I'VE FOUGHT AGAISNT POWERFUL FIGHTERS….TAKE BISON FOR EXAMPLE! I TOOK HIM DOWN, AS WELL AS HIS SHADOWLOO!"
"Really? Is that so?"
Full of pride, Dan replies, "That's right!"
"Just like you took down the "Emperor of Muay Thai" Sagat…right?"
Dan gets nervous for some reason from Erick's questioning him. "Um…well…the thing is…that…"
Erick chuckles, "Truth is Dan…you didn't. And that book of yours called…- "From Zero to Hero" - , I read it and I found it kinda, how should I say it…so fake. It tells tales of your fights against many powerful warriors. But, all those fighters that you claim you fought…were defeated by someone else. You only wrote that you did it…how pathetic of you Dan."
Dan decides to stand up to this guy. "THAT'S IT! I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO INSULT ME OR MY MIGHTY SAIKYO-RYU!"
"Mighty Saikyo-ryu?" Erick then laughs, ridiculing the idea. "Please, your so called "mighty Saikyo-ryu", is nothing more then a cheap, unfinished, and ridiculous imitation of Gouken-ryuu Shotokan Karate, just like you. Why…Ryu's student Sakura is more of a warrior than you'll ever be, and she's only 16 years old."
Delia giggles, "Tee hee hee heee!!"
Dan roars with pure rage, "STOP THAT! MISTER, YOU'VE JUST EARNED YOURSELF A KICK IN THE BUTT!" He assumes a battle pose, ready to deliver some punishment… er, yeah. "PREPARE TO BE BEATEN BY THE GREAT DAN HIBI…"
But Dan couldn't finish his sentence as Erick raises his arm, and a big explosion of dark Ki from under Dan feet, like a geyser, blows him up into the sky:
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
" …KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!" Dan cries as he's sent flying away.
Delia watches Dan soar off into who knows where. She thanks Erick. "Thank goodness you got rid of that stupid mortal, he was really a pain in the…butt."
Erick smiles at his beloved. "Quite right you are De-Chan. Now, how's about if we sit down and enjoy our date."
And for closing the date… later that night, they sit together and watch the stars…
Delia turns to her master and says, "Those stars are very beautiful Erick."
Erick says to her, "I know…they show a great life in them, some people say that the stars also represent the souls of ancient kings."
Delia giggles, playfully elbowing him, "Erick…you took that phrase from The Lion King."
Erick blushes. "Whoops…guess you got me Delia…but it sounded cool."
"You're right."
"I trust that you enjoyed our date Delia?"
"Oh Erick…it was the most awesome date I have ever been on."
Then their lips begin to come close…and they have a passionate kiss…it lasts for a couple of minutes…then they break apart:
Delia blushes, "Wow…that…was…warm and…cool."
Erick smiles at her. "I know what you mean…it was…very joyful."
Delia sighs, "My very first kiss…I'll worship it forever."
"Me too Delia…well…we must return to the base, for tomorrow we must finish our project…and before those morons start to get desperate."
"Yes, let's head back."
"And…also to make the plans to bring back Mana from the world of spirits."
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RED CATS' HIDEOUT:
Grenademan is in his "room", if you could call it that. His room looks more like an ammunition bunker, with all sorts of guns, weapons, and explosives hanging on the walls. Large crates marked "DANGER! EXPLOSIVE!" were sitting in the far corner of the room. There was enough firepower stashed in that room to start a war, and knowing Grenademan, that maniac would do it too!
But he was busy with other matters. In particular, getting his revenge on Ranma Saotome. We can see the "Blast King" working at a large table, mixing some chemicals in a beaker, and there's a book laying on the table titled "Weapons of Mass Destruction for Dummies".
Hmmm…. This CAN'T be good.
"Okay! It's ready! OH YEAH!"
Having finished mixing the chemicals, Grenademan walks over to a large object covered by a sheet with a funnel sticking out of it. He takes the whole contents of the beaker and pours it into the funnel. A loud noise can be heard afterwards.
POOMF!
"All right! It's finished! It took me all day to put it together, but it'll be worth it! OH YEAH!" Grenademan grabs the sheet and pulls it off to reveal… a HUGE Flash Bomb!! It's three feet tall and three feet wide; obviously he's not going to stick THIS in his weapon arm. But what's that loony going to do with it?
"Ranma Saotome! You're gonna get it now! With this bomb, I'll not only destroy you but I'll get to wipe out half the city too! Oh, my heart pounds with anticipation! How I hunger for your destruction! MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA! OH YEAH! Now, all I need is the bait for my trap…
Then Grenademan thinks of Ran Hayami, that girl Erick wanted him to capture before!
"And I know just "who" to get too. This time, I'll finish you off Ranma! MWA HA HA HA HA HA! OH YEAH!"
TO BE CONTINUED…