The Characters of Ranma 1/2 are Rumiko Takahashi's. Hopefully, she'll
forgive us for what we're doing.

Brace yourselves, we're going in!

Ranma vs. Ranma! 
The Battle For Akane's Soul!
By She-Hulk and Kahm (brobinso@neocomm.net)
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Part 13



	He stood before her triumphantly, sure of his victory.  When she began to
advance on him though, he hesitated. The demon felt the incredible energy
surrounding his victim at the same time she launched her self at him. He
fell back, but it was too late. 

	Akane's blow broke most of the bones in his face. He screamed in pain, but
that was cut off as her hand crushed his throat. Ranma felt her fingers
pierce his flesh and realized she was trying to rip his throat out. Barely
managing to force her hand away, he lashed out. His punch landed solidly in
her solar plexus, but Akane's only reaction was to grab his arm and twist
it. The bones snapped, but she continued to tear at the limb.

	The demon jerked free, his arm hanging useless by his side. Akane slashed
her hand across his chest. The gash was deep and blood splattered both of
them.

	The sweet tang of blood filled her senses until there was nothing else and
she slipped further into the storm. Blood trickled warmly down her face and
the tempest reveled in the return of this lost child to the fold.

	The demon began to back away as she raised a blood stained hand and
daintly tasted his blood with her tongue. She was in front of him an
instant later. He was flying through the air, landing with stunning force
against the safe Mousse had dropped on him. Both of his shoulders had
dislocated and he stumbled awkwardly to his feet. Akane was reaching for
him again. His kick struck Akane across the face, but she didn't fall. Or
even react. Her kick broke his back. 

	Dr. Tofu gasped as he realized what he was seeing. Berserker. Cologne
spoke softly, as Akane began to unleash a storm of strikes upon the
monster. "Never have I seen such a thing. Her rage guides her. It is the
very opposite of everything martial arts teaches. Absence of control." 

	"It is the dark secret of my family." Soun was quiet. "It goes back to a
time of terrible battles and horrible slaughter. The dark time is past us,
but every few generations one is born with the...gift."

	The monster lay gasping for air, waiting for his broken limbs to heal. It
gradually dawned on him that it was taking longer than it should. This
began to concern him the closer Akane got. He watched his 'victim' approach
him, her eyes glowing and her teeth bared in a growl. The bones finally
popped back and he tried to move out of the way. But she merely dragged him
back.

	Akane grabbed the fallen demon by the leg and began to spin him in a great
circle. He was slammed up against the safe, then on to the ground, then
against the Dojo. She finally let loose and he crashed into the pond. The
demon tried to crawl out and Akane shoved him back under, holding him down.
An idea occurred to Dr. Tofu. 

	He cautiously made his way over to Ranma and knelt beside him. He was
still alive. The demon hadn't killed him, he just wanted him out of the
way. Tofu pressed a few pressure points and Ranma regained consciousness.
"Wha-?" 

	Tofu silenced him and in a low voice, told him what was happening. "The
demon knocked you out. Akane thinks that you're dead and that sent her into
a blind rage. She'll attack anyone who comes near. The demon's taking a
beating, but it heals too quickly for even her to kill. The berserker rage
won't last much longer, it takes too much energy. But, I have an idea."

	 Ranma listened as he watched Akane repeatedly smash the demon's head into
one of the rocks around the pond. It's face was an unrecognizable pulp.

	Akane was beginning to tire. The rage was fading and the despair of losing
Ranma was creeping in.  She picked up the safe and brought it down on top
of the creature. Bones cracked like dry twigs and the demon screamed in
agony. The effort of the move drained the last of her rage and her
strength. She felt herself falling.

	Ranma was at her side instantly. He carried her back to her family and
placed her in her father's arms. "Tofu's got an idea. It sounds totally
crazy, but it just might work." He looked at his father, then at Soun. "If
it doesn't...get Akane out of here. I don't want her to see..." He leaned
down and kissed her blood smeared cheek, praying that the doctor was right.
He didn't want to leave her now that they'd found each other.

	The demon was loose. It dragged itself to it's feet and screamed out in
challenge. Ranma went to face it.

	"Man, you look like you've been put through a blender. Somebody try and
make stir fry with you?" Ranma's tone was snide, his stance was firm. He
focused on a point just behind the demon. 

	The demon's cry was strangled, as he charged blindly. Ranma leapt over him
and landed in his target: the pond.

	Ranma-chan surfaced and looked around. No sign of the demon. Dr. Tofu
reach out a hand and pulled her out of the pond. "Did it work?"

	Tofu laughed and clapped her on the back. "Of course!"

	The others joined them, questions flying.

	"What happened?"

	"Where'd it go?"

	"It just disappeared! What did you do?"

	"The demon has been vanquished?" Kuno was staring at Ranma-chan. Was this
sorcery?

	Kasumi laughed and hugged Dr. Tofu, who's glasses fogged over. "Oh! That
was brilliant, Tofu! We should have thought of it sooner."
 
	Everyone just stared at Kasumi. "Well it's obvious now, isn't it? The
demon was a reflection of Ranma. Male Ranma. A reflection must have
something to reflect, right?" Tofu grinned and took over the explanation.

	"Yes. The demon could only reflect the Ranma that stepped in front of the
mirror. When Ranma changed forms it had nothing to reflect so it was
banished back from where it came."

	"Good grief!! If Ranma had just been splashed with cold water at any point
during this mess, it would have been over!" Nabiki was exasperated. "From
now on, your changing at least once a day, got it?"

	"The demon didn't kill Ranma because it needed him alive. But why try to
destroy his heart?" Mousse asked.

	"I can only theorize at this point, but I'd say that if Ranma's heart were
destroyed it would probably leave Ranma dead inside."

	"Allowing the demon to take over a tangible form and in that way, freeing
himself." Cologne sighed, "I really am getting too old for this stuff."

	Ranma-chan had left the group and went inside, but she returned now. She
carried a tea kettle and a tantoo. Ranma-chan handed the tantoo to Dr.
Tofu. "If the demon appear when I change back...you know what to do." She
poured the hot water over her and felt the shifting of muscles. Kuno gasped
at this and staggered back. 

	Ranma looked around. No demon. His relief was short-lived as Kuno
confronted him. 

	"What fowl sorcery is this Saotome?! What have you done to my pig-tailed
goddess?" 

	Ranma was tired. Anything remotely resembling  tact deserted him and Kuno
got more of an answer than he'd bargained for. "I'm the pig-tailed goddess,
you idiot! I fell into a cursed spring and now I change into a girl
whenever I get splashed with cold water, okay? I have been trying to tell
you ever since you started chasing her-I mean me! Your barking up the wrong
tree! Now leave me alone!" Ranma stalked off into the house, stopping only
long enough to pick up Akane from where she lay sleeping on the porch.

	Kuno was devastated. He fell back against the boulder and fought to deal
with this new and unexpected blow. There was no pig-tailed goddess? She was
not real? One word flashed through his mind: Switzerland.

	Nabiki was furious. Not only had Ranma just killed a very profitable
business avenue, but he'd done it in the most brutal way possible. She was
beside him before the wisdom of such a move occurred to her. Kuno saw her
and cried out, "O beautiful Lady! I am laid low by such heart-rending news,
but my spirits are borne aloft once more at your tender concern. Let me
grace you with the gift of my heart! You have touched Kuno! I will reward
your attention: I will date with you!"

	He picked her up and turned to her father. "Honored Father, I would date
with your most beautiful daughter. At which strike of the chime would you
have her torn from me?" Soun stared at him blankly. Kasumi spoke up, "Oh, I
think midnight will be fine, don't you Father?" Soun continued to stare.

	"Then the midnight hour is now my foe! Come my love, for time is fleeting
and the hour wanes." Nabiki struggled to get free, but Kuno held her
firmly. "Farewell all!" He raced off, Nabiki still struggling wildly.

	There was several moments of silence in the wake of this development.
Mousse turned to Cologne, "I must return to Shampoo and tell her what's
been happening." Cologne nodded. She had a shopkeeper to punish. "I'll
leave it to you then. Well Doctor, It's been a pleasure to work with you,
but I'm very glad it's over now." Tofu nodded and tried not to
hyperventilate as Kasumi still had her arm around his waist.

	Ryoga was staring at the door Ranma had taken Akane through. A crushing
weight settled over him as he faced the truth. It was over all right. Akane
was in love with Ranma. He briefly considered jumping into the pond and
going to her as her beloved P-chan. No. That was not the way. Besides, he
doubted very seriously that Ranma would ever stand for that again. He
sighed deeply. Cologne thumped him on the shoulder with her staff. 

	"Come on boy. I'll walk with you to the hospital. I'm sure your young lady
would also like to know what's been happening." Ryoga blushed and
stammered, "S-s-she's just a friend! It's nothing like that!"

	Cologne laughed and turned to leave. "That's a good start!" Ryoga frowned,
then caught up with her. "What do you mean?" They left, discussing a few of
the more puzzling mysteries of the universe.

	Genma slapped Soun on the back. "Ah, Tendo. Today has been a red-letter
day!" He led a weeping Soun into the house.
	
	Kasumi and Dr. Tofu stood surveying the destruction around them. She
sighed and smiled up at him. "Oh, well. I always thought the Dojo would
look nice with a bay window." Dr. Tofu nodded and then froze as he realized
that he was alone with Kasumi. Alone...with....Kasumi. His glasses fogged
over and he opened his mouth to burble, but Kasumi was fast becoming an
expert at reading him. She took his hand and pulled him toward the ruined
building. "Let's see how much damage was done inside, shall we?"

	They stepped into the darkened hall and Kasumi stood in front of him.
"Tofu." The word was the faintest breathe against his face. She slowly
touched his cheek. Tofu felt the unmistakable trickle of blood from his
nose just before he fainted.



	Akane woke slowly. She felt the blankets over her and stared at the small
crack on her bedroom ceiling. As levels of consciousness returned, so did
memory. The events of the past few days replayed in an unstoppable
kaleidoscope. Tears gathered and she let them fall.

	Ranma was dead. 

	Loss wracked her as she wept. He was gone. Part of her wondered if she had
killed the demon, but it didn't really matter now. In killing Ranma the
demon had won. The heart he had destroyed had been hers.

	Gentle fingers brushed away her tears. "Shhh, it's all right now. You're
safe."

	Akane recognized the voice and froze, afraid to look. The weight of the
body next to hers finally penetrated the cloud of grief surrounding her.
She slowly turned her head. Ranma was smiling down at her. 

	"Kawaii-" Akane grabbed him and he braced himself for her throw. 

	She didn't throw him. Akane held him tightly and promised herself that
she'd send him through the roof tomorrow.


	
	Breakfast was strange, even by usual standards. Akane had managed to hold
on to her temper, even when Ranma had refused to eat the breakfast she had
made for him. She frowned at his refusal even as an idea occurred to her.
"All right Ranma. Since you claim to be the better cook, I guess you'll
just have to teach me." She had the satisfaction of seeing his jaw hit the
table. 

	Ranma regained his composure and considered the idea. Maybe. But he knew
that he would have to be more patient than he'd ever been in his entire
life. Akane was smirking at him, waiting for his refusal. He agreed, trying
not to laugh at her shocked dismay. "I'd be happy to, Akane. We'll get
started right after breakfast."

	Kasumi smiled at the two and poured more tea for Dr. Tofu. No one had
questioned his presence this morning and Kasumi met his shy gaze with a
special smile just for him. Things had gotten very interesting last night,
after he had regained consciousness. Tofu blushed furiously, but managed
not to eat his tea cup.

	Nabiki stormed in and glared at everyone. "Not. One. Word." She sat down
and served herself, vowing to herself that Kuno would pay. Big time. She
had spent the evening at his mansion, trying to get out. Kuno had followed
her from room to room, professing his undying admiration for her and
listing her many virtues. After an hour of this she had turned on him and
demanded to know where the exit was. Kuno had cheerfully informed her that
he wasn't sure himself, as the walls and rooms were designed to actually
move. The house remade itself continually. Nabiki had given up then and
demanded that he at least feed her. After a quick search revealed the
dining room, they ate.

	 As the evening had worn on, she realized that Kuno was winding down. His
flowery speech calmed down to an acceptable, even charming level. His
manners were impeccable and she was stunned to find out that he knew a
great deal about business. The wealth he enjoyed was thanks only in part to
a sizable inheritance, but also due to some shrewd investments he had made.
Their conversation had turned to stocks and long-term bonds, then shifted
to more personal subjects. He had delivered her back at her door, promptly
at midnight. Much to her disappointment.

	Genma was busily stealing food from Soun's plate, as his friend was too
busy crying to eat.

	They all looked up as Happosai staggered in and collapsed. No one moved to
help him. "I-it's terrible! There's an evil man! H-he's...."Happosai burst
into tears." He's stealing my panties!"

	Ranma frowned, a horrible suspicion occurring to him.

	"He's giving them back to the girlies!!" The wail was loud and indignant.
"You got to stop him! Without my pretties, I'll die!"
	
	No one paid any attention to the little old man, rocketing through the air
over the city.
 
	It was just another day in Nerima.



	Author's notes: Yes, the destruction of the demon was a little weird, but
then this IS Ranma. Truth be told, the demon was a little TOO good, we
couldn't figure out how to kill it ourselves. The damn thing became
unstoppable!

	 It is true that the story 'paired' the couples together, but let's face
it....a person can only take two steps forward and three steps back for so
long, without having to do something! We hope that the story showed how
Ranma and Co. would deal with something so alien to them: malevolent evil.
Not just bad guys, but something so evil that it defied description (And
did on several occasions) Anyway, drop us a line and let's us hear from
you. If you want to yatz at us for what we did, fine. But be warned: we're
just going to laugh, trash it and continue doing what we do.