Chapter 5

With a sudden gasp of air, Kiagi's body returned to life and convulsed violently before settling down peacefully. "Is he dead?" Bosu asked leaning over his master's face and listening to his breathing.

Opening his eyes, Kiagi's vision was blurred at first. But as the swirls and blurs came into focus the first clear image was of a small, bald, fat man with a crooked nose leaning into his face. Naturally, Kiagi's reaction was to punch him. As quick as lighting, the sorcerer's fist came into contact with Bosu's face and the short fat bald man flew across the fighting stage and crashed into a pit of sand next to where Ranma was still lying. "Please tell me he didn't try the kiss of life!" Kiagi said springing up to a seated position.

"Oh thank goodness, you're ok." Akane said, wrapping her arms around Kiagi as he sat up.

Whilst receiving his hug, the sorcerer still had a look of concern on his face. "Seriously though," He said fearfully "Bosu didn't try to kiss me, did he?"

"Oh good he's alright" Soun said looking down at the fighting stage. "I honestly thought that he had killed himself!"

Climbing back onto the stage, Bosu's face was a bloody mess. "Dammit Kiagi!" He shouted holding his face "You broke my nose again!"

Lifting himself up gingerly, Kiagi shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "Sorry old friend." He said snapping his fingers and repairing the short fat bald man's nose back to its former crooked self. "But don't lean over me like that. I have enough nightmares, they don't need company. By the way where's Ranma?"

"Oh!" Akane said spinning round to where her husband had fallen "I forgot about Ranma."

"You forgot?" Kiagi asked "You've been married to him for eight years, and you forgot about him? Quite the doting wife, aren't you?"

"Oh shut up, you were dying!" Akane said walking over to the steps of the fighting stage and moving across to where Ranma was laid out on the floor. Kneeling down by her husband's side, she stroked his thick black hair. "Ranma? You ok, honey?"

"Oh, now you care." Ranma groaned picking himself up. "I like how you went and helped Kiagi instead of me, Tomboy!"

Suddenly, Ranma was silenced by a large wooden mallet making contact with the back of his head. "I'll talk to you later, dear." Akane answered, flipping her husband off with her free hand as he was once again laid out on the sand.

"You can just feel the love between those two, can't you?" Nabiki said to which Tatewaki, Ryoga, Akari, Soun, Genma, Xian Pu and even Mu Tsu nodded in agreement. "Tis the truest of love which triumphs over even itself, Nabiki dear." Tatewaki answered.

"You've got to stop reading those novels, Tachi." Nabiki said kissing her husband's cheek "Anymore sweetness and I might end up with diabetes."

As Kiagi limped over to the edge of the fighting stage, looked to where Ranma and Akane where having yet another spat and couldn't help but smile. I have the most interesting friends he thought to himself as he carefully stepped down from the stage and hobbled over to the Saotomes.

"What'd you hit me for this time?" Ranma shouted from the floor angrily as he picked himself back up.

"I have my reasons!" Akane shouted back with equal anger.

"You two will never change, will you?" Kiagi interrupted, sitting down next to his employee and his opponent. "For some reason, I believe arguing is what brings you closer together." He then clapped his hands together and produced a faint golden glow. "Now then, who wants healing?"

"I could do with some." Ranma said raising his hand meakly.

Kiagi grinned as he placed his glowing hands on Ranma's head "I thought as such." he said. The glow began to ripple through the air and the bodies of both Ranma and Kiagi, healing their wounds and returning them to their full strengths.

"Thanks Kiagi." Ranma said jumping back up to his feet and springing about on his feet. "Man, I thought you were gonna kill me with that weird zombie thing you were doing. What the heck was that thing anyway?"

Kiagi's face sank as he heard Ranma's question. "A very dangerous and foolish thing for me to do." He answered "Many years ago, I came across a book of forbidden techniques much like the one your father found the Cat-Fist in." Ranma shuddered as he thought about the trials he faced learning the Cat-Fist. He may have mastered it, but he still hated what it had done to him.

"Inside that book," He continued "I learned of a technique which allowed its user to access Mu-Shen; an ability where body and mind disconnect, letting instinct take over in battle. The impossible technique many consider to be the holy grail of martial arts was in my grasp, but the only way to access it was to create a new body for myself. One that would be able to take the strain of ignoring pain and react entirely on instinct. What you faced was something I like to call 'the creature'. But of course, this comes with a heavy price. The Creature drains too much of my stamina too quickly and limits the amount of time I can spend using it. The worst part about it is that once I awaken it, this form can't be switched off until it has taken every last drop of my strength."

"So that's why you collapsed and almost died!" Akane said concerned for her friend's well-being.

"I didn't almost die!" Kiagi protested "I'm immortal! Whatever damage The Creature does to me, can be healed once I get enough stamina to cast a spell, so you really didn't need to act. But of course, thank you for your help. What was that you poured down my throat anyway?"

"This." Akane answered showing her employer the now-empty vial. "The tears of Lazarus."

"The tears of Lazarus?" Kiagi asked, his face turning a dark green as Akane nodded. "Oh dear "

"What's wrong?" Akane asked

Kiagi cupped his forehead as he sighed. "That's made with my own urine."