Final Duty


         Part 7 'Final Stand'

    After watching his son do the near impossible , beat the master at his own 
tricks , he could not help but swell with pride . He had taught his son 
everything he knows . Of course he didn't teach Ranma everything that HE knew , 
and now it was time to finally end this game .
    Without warning his companions he leapt high and ahead of the group . High 
enough to take him ahead of his son . He landed and spun to face Ranma .
" This game ends now , boy ." He began . " No more running , we're taking you 
back ."
    Ranma stopped in his tracks , and looked at him with a blank expression for 
a moment . Before his son's face twisted into one of almost animalistic rage . 
To his horror Ranma did not fall into a normal stance . He bent one knee , stood 
his other foot on toe in the cat stance . Ranma's hands bend to mimic claws .
" You can't use the Neko-ken while sane , boy ." He snorted to hide his fear .
" Musubetsu Kakuto Ryuu , imitating the techniques of Neko-ken ." Ranma said 
slowly and clearly . " Move now or I might have to kill you ." 
    Something deep in his instincts told him that none of what Ranma said was a 
bluff . Perhaps during his mediations he had contacted the power of the Neko-ken 
sleeping in his mind ? Maybe he had just been caught in the state enough times 
that the move were in his reflexes ? Whatever the reason , his son was not 
bluffing .
" Very well ." He took a stance . " I know many things I did not impart to you , 
my son . Musubetsu Kakuto Ryuu , imitating the technique of the Fuwei-noh-kami 
and style of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu ." 
    Ranma did not react .
" Very well then ," He let time dilate in preparation to use the god-speed to 
counter Neko-ken's speed . " I'll have to remind you of your place as my son and 
my student ." 
    He charged . He had never mastered god-speed , barely even learned the basic 
principals of it . So even using it for a short period of time was a strain . 
But all he needed was to get in under Ranma's guard once . The effect of slowing 
the tempo of time so far down still had him a bit awed . However , Ranma 
sidestepping his initial charge and swiping him on the back was a bit more 
surprising . 
    He whirled about to see his own blood still in the air . The burning pain of 
the gouges along his back brought back memories of Ranma's first success with 
the Neko-ken . He still had scars from that day .
    Ranma circled around him much slower than he should have been with the Neko-
ken's unearthly speed . He predicted Ranma's position and charged again . The 
effect was the same , Ranma dodged and caught him as he passed . 
    This time something clicked in his mind . Ranma was not actually dodging , 
he was predicting the charges and reacting . Another point stuck home . If Ranma 
had actually been under the real Neko-ken then he would have been shredded on 
the first pass . Even as a child Ranma's claws had cut much deeper and easier 
than he did now . Ranma was only going through the motions of the techniques , 
he did not have the control of them that he needed , yet .
    That meant that Ranma was probably moving faster than he should in order to 
keep up with his god-speed . On the next pass he should have his chance .
    This time he charge erratically , never fixing a path until the last instant 
. The strain of changing directions at such a speed caused his vision to tunnel 
and the world to go gray . 
    But he got under Ranma's guard , his Fuwei-noh-kami stuck home . But he felt 
a ki oppose his blow . 
    Shocked he slowed to a halt after passing and turned . To find Ranma facing 
him , unaffected by the technique .
" Impossible !" He shouted in disbelief . " You're not fast enough to have 
redirected your defenses in time ."
" You're right , I'm not ." Ranma began , slowly advancing . " In my self 
training I thought up a technique . Just as your blood flows away from a blow to 
cushion the impact , why not link that reflex to stone-skin ki defense ?" Ranma 
advance with each sentence . " I tried it . It works very well . I don't have to 
even think about redirecting my ki to defense an attack unless it's something 
like that barrage of bombs ."
" I'll still take you down , boy !" He vowed .
" No , Genma , not now , not ever again ." Ranma's right hand flickered , and a 
short sword was suddenly in his grasp .
" Genma ?" He mumbled to himself . " Not , Pop ?" 
    No longer imitating the Neko-ken Ranma charged him . His body was not longer 
up to the strain that his half-learned god-speed placed on it . Instead he 
ducked the swing he thought was coming .
    Only out of the corner of his eye did he see his mistake . Ranma was 
spinning , but in the wrong direction . The blunt edge of the blade slammed into 
the base of his skull before he could react .



    About now the situation seemed hopeless . Ranma is invincible it seems . She 
shook her head from side to side in dismay . She had just watched Genma go all 
out on his son , and lose horribly .
    Now the burly man lay on the ground in blissful unconsciousness . Ranma had 
already made his sword disappear . Now the weary marital artist looked to them 
for another opponent . His face was now set in grim determination . She looked 
to her Father .
" I guess you're up Daddy ." 
    He nodded and took one step forward . " Ranma ! We have something to tell 
you , please listen !"
    Ranma did not budge .
" Ranma , about your engagement to Akane , after this last incident I have 
finally decided that-"
" One moment Tendo-san !" Cologne interrupted , appearing several yards behind 
Ranma .
    Ranma did not appear to be surprised in any way . His expression did nothing 
more than harden as he slowly turned to face the elder .
" Come now , you're exhausted , wounded , you're approaching your limits ." The 
elder waved her staff before her like a warning finger . " As on your best day 
you cannot defeat me , how do you expect to do so in your current condition ?"
    Ranma reached behind him onto his backpack slowly and obviously .
" Don't be hasty ," The elder warned ." I won't be gentle on you just for your 
condition , future-son-in-law ."
" Don't ever call me that again ." Ranma said before pulling out a book . 
    He held it aloft for all to see before opening it . It was the book of 
Amazon law that Shampoo had given them upon her arrival .
" Since Mousse beat me at a formal challenge I am no longer apart of Amazon 
affairs ." Now Ranma stabbed a finger at the page and began reading . " Members 
of the council of elders are prohibited to interfere with affairs not concerning 
the Amazons unless under orders of the council . Independent actions serving 
only personal interests are strictly forbidden unless there is a imminent threat 
to the well being of the Amazons ." Ranma looked up and jabbed his finger at the 
elder now . " You can't do a thing to me ! Mousse is now Shampoo's suitor , not 
me !" 
    The elder deflated at the proclamation . Still her eyes burned into Ranma's 
with a cold indignation .
" The name of Saotome Ranma will become an Amazon affair soon for this insult , 
boy ." 
    Ranma responded with a short , bitter , and ironic laugh . " Insult ! insult 
! INSULT !" Ranma shouted the word to the sky and laughed again . " Arrogant 
bitch ! You have no idea what's going to happen do you ?!" He trailed off into 
almost maniacal laughter .
    Now the elder was perched on her staff , her posture suggested that her 
patience was running thin .
    The laughter cut off sharply as Ranma snapped his head down to give the 
elder a look that would split a stone in two . " Before the sun sets the name 
Saotome Ranma will mean nothing but bitter memories !" He spat the words like a 
enraged mountain lion .
    The elder considered his words . Her eyes narrowed before her expression 
relaxed . " So eager are you ? Then come at me boy and I'll honor you with the 
end you disserve , young warrior ."
" And have you soil your hands with me ?" Ranma shook his head , now his 
expression was hard once more . " No , this will end a different way . Self-
murder was denied to me by my mother ."
" Very well ." The elder nodded to him and hopped to one side .
   Ranma nodded to her before racing off once more .
" What the hell was that about ?!" Akane looked at everyone in turn . 
" Shouldn't we be running after him ?" She asked rhetorically .
" No need ." The elder hopped up to the group . " I was in the area locating 
Hibiki Ryouga when I spotted Ranma defeating his Father ."
" So ?" Akane asked needlessly .
" So , wait one moment , child ."
    The shout of triumph was audible even from the far distance .
" NOW I'VE FOUND YOU RANMA ! PREPARE TO DIE !" 
    The shout was followed by a softer boom and Ranma flying through the air to 
land only a few meters from the site of his battle with Genma . Ryouga ran up 
after his opponent , umbrella drawn and murder in his eyes . 
" What happened to Ryouga ?" She directed the question to the Amazon Matriarch 
alone .
" During his training he discovered how to channel his other emotions into a 
focused anger to generate more chi ." Cologne explained without looking away 
from the imminent battle .
" Sounds like the Shishi Hokoudan ." Soun responded .
" Similar only in that both derive their chi from emotion ." The elder shook her 
head . " This is much more focused and cannot be extended outside the body . 
It's much like an addition to an adrenaline rush ."
" Great ." She sighed . " So now he's better , faster , tougher-"
" And stronger ." Cologne nodded . " At his normal level Ranma would still be 
able to overcome or at least survive Ryouga , but in his current state ... 
especially with the lack of any will to live ."
    Further conversation was halted as the fight began . Ranma had long since 
gotten to his feet and awaited his opponent's arrival . Ryouga did not 
disappoint him and arrived at a full run .
    There was no circling , Ryouga never slowed down . The two met with a flurry 
of attacks and counters that bore a uncanny similarity to the earlier exchanges 
between Ranma and Happosai . However , this time the shock waves from their 
impacts drove the spectators back . The scene was unreal .
    Both combatants moved with speed and precision that spat in the face of any 
and all physical limitations placed on the human race . Ranma , even in his 
wounded state , flowed about Ryouga's attacks like mist . Ryouga , invulnerable 
to attack as Achilles , did not even react to blows that would have crushed 
ferroconcrete . 
    It only became apparent that Ryouga had not landed a solid blow the whole 
beginning after he finally did . Ranma took a downward swinging hammer fist to 
the shoulder . The young martial artist slammed into the ground faster than she 
could see . One moment the two were blurs of movement the next Ranma was digging 
a crater into the ground with his torso . Ryouga kicked his leg up for a axe 
kick to finish his opponent . 
    But Ranma was not there to take it . Like magic he was on his feet and 
behind Ryouga . Abandoning his kick Ryouga spun on his opponent , his umbrella 
preceding him . After Ranma caught the umbrella and delivered a countless volley 
of punches to Ryouga's face the action once again became too fast for her brain 
to keep up with .



    In her three centuries of life she had seen many fighters . While the two 
battling before her were far from the best . They were far better than any she 
had met at such a young age . Often she had taunted Ranma with 'You're one 
hundred years too young to take me on !' she had meant it . Even among the 
Amazon's it took a lifetime of experience and training to become warriors of 
such caliber .
    The two young men before her had preceded their age in power and skill by 
more than a lifetime . The simple fact that Ranma was keeping up with Ryouga in 
his injured state impressed her . It took a lot to impress one who had dragons 
lying prostrate in fear at her feet before . 
    Ranma was hurting , that was apparent in his movements . But more 
importantly in his tactics . It made her proud in a way to see him adjusting to 
his condition by controlling the fight passively . Ryouga was raw talent in the 
physical department , and perhaps also in certain mental faculties of war , but 
he let his rage work to Ranma's advantage . If he would exert more control and 
stop playing into Ranma's hands the fight would end quickly . However , as it 
was Ranma was playing a losing game . 
    She had not been bluffing about his deteriorating state . He was rapidly 
tiring , his reserves were running low . Each dodge was a bit slower than the 
last , he kept taking glancing blows and hits that could have been avoided .
    Unless some new element could be introduced in Ranma's favor the boy had no 
way of winning and therefore little hope for survival .
    Finally Ranma gambled and lost . The young martial artist feinted too slow , 
Ryouga caught him below the hip with a stabbing strike of his umbrella . Ranma 
only stared back at his opponent , knowing what was coming next . Ryouga spun 
with the follow-through to turn about in a baseball like swing with his 
apparently indestructible umbrella . Though he brought both arms up to block 
Ranma still sailed through the air , a group of trees , and into a massive 
boulder . The impact sent the innocent chunk of granite rolling down the gentle 
slope . Ranma lay in a heap where the boulder had once sat .
    Sensing an easy kill , the lost boy took his time savoring the moment as he 
stalked up to his fallen nemesis .
" Not so mighty now ?" Ryouga chuckled . " Feeling like I did so many times at 
your feet ?!" He spat at Ranma's motionless form .
" Ryouga ! Stop !" Akane screamed at him . " Please ! You'll kill him !" 
" Child ," She hopped over and placed a small gnarled hand on the young girl's 
shoulder . " I'm afraid he can't hear you . Neither of them can I believe . This 
is between them , the rest of the world is background ."
" But ," Panic showed in her tearing eyes . " He'll kill Ranma if he keeps this 
up !" 
" Saotome Ranma will not die so easily ." She wished to truly feel the 
confidence she placed in her voice . " Watch ." 
    Perhaps in her long life she had done more good than harm . For just as if 
cued by her words Ranma suddenly animated once more . 
    The young marital artist sat up abruptly and stared at his approaching 
executioner . Ryouga only smiled and raised his umbrella to beat his foe into 
submission once more . The blow fell .
    The action , having been planned ahead of time and fueled by perhaps a 
lingering instinct for survival , was so fast that even she only saw a blur of 
motion . 
    In one movement Ranma caught the umbrella with one hand and lashed out at it 
with the sword suddenly in the other . It seemed to take a full second before 
the severed umbrella admitted its destruction and let more than one half of it's 
length fall to the earth . 
    Only by mirrored desperation for survival did Ryouga duck the following 
attack . Ranma attacked his foe with a calculated ferocity that she had rarely 
seen displayed outside of the most intelligent of bestial predators . The 
planning and timing was obviously directed by intelligence but the actual 
attacks and movements were preformed with savage fury . Ranma was now far beyond 
caring , for his physical pain , his own death , or if he killed his opponent . 
    Ryouga howled in surprise as blood flew in the wake of Ranma's flashing 
blade . The pitch of his cry changed as the wound was aggravated by a following 
roundhouse to the still gaping slash . The pain drove the lost boy finally to a 
proper retaliation . A quick leap back to gain time , enough to draw out his 
belt and stiffen it into a cutting weapon with a flick of his wrist . 
    Next time the two met it was blade to blade , with limbs flailing about in 
supporting attack . 
    Cutting edge clashed with edge and limbs grappled in a final free for all , 
the prize death or survival depending on your viewpoint . Survival , and a life 
free of his tormentor for Ryouga . Death , either his own or Ryouga's , perhaps 
both , for Ranma . 
    To her surprise Ranma seemed to still being working his opponent into some 
sort of final plan even during this savage battle . His plan only became clear 
to her just a fraction of a second before it's completion . 
    She smiled . If he survived then she would know that there was one that 
would one day surpass her . Such a pity that he would not be Amazon .
    Ranma leapt into the air in an apparent attempt to gain time . Ryouga 
pounced on his apparently retreating opponent . Just as Ranma had wanted . With 
one final supreme effort of physical strength Ranma dug both feet into Ryouga's 
stomach as he stuck down on Ryouga's parry . But he had struck down with the 
blade turned over . The curve was enough to carry over Ryouga's own belt-blade 
and strike the base of his skull . Then Ranma kicked off of his stunned opponent 
with both legs . Ryouga spiraled into the ground , Ranma launched himself away 
from the still watching group . 
    She doubted that any of them had yet processed enough to realize that Ranma 
had escaped once again . And in the same fashion as last time to boot . She 
chuckled . What a mind on that man , such a pity he wishes to die once it 
actually starts working .



    It took her a few moments to snap out of the trance she had fallen into 
watching the most astounding battle she had ever witnessed . Never in her dreams 
had she ever thought that anyone aside from perhaps Cologne could be so strong 
and swift . After Ranma had cut Ryouga's umbrella in two it seemed that , true 
to form , Ranma would come out on top again . 
    In a way he did . But , he had come out on top of them too . Once more 
everyone was running after the young man . Ryouga was still dazed so they had 
left him behind . But Genma had recovered consciousness during Ranma's latest 
brawl .
    This final race was painfully slow . All involved were exhausted , the 
pursuers could barely keep a decent jog , the quarry was barely walking . Still 
in the distance she could see that Ranma was stumbling about like a drunkard .
    However , once they loped closer they found sporadic drops of blood in 
Ranma's wake .
" RANMAA !" She called . Oddly , in unison with her older sister .



   " RANMAA !" I hear both Nabiki and Akane call to me . Funny , I never have 
figured out why she came along . I guess I'll never know .
    I'm so tired I can barely think . Thank all the kami I planned this last 
part out ahead of time before I ran into Ryouga . Although after that stab I 
took from that belt of his I don't know if I'll be able to finish this right .
    I can see the river only a few hundred meters away . The terraced banks look 
like rice patties . This has to be the place .
    I glance back , the movement makes the edges of my vision waver . The whole 
gang , minus Ryouga , is still after me . By the looks of it they'll have me in 
a few minuets at this pace . Colors are beginning to dull . Shit . Not much time 
if I keep pushing it . I guess I have to end this now . I close my eyes and draw 
on my last reserves . Damn that Ryouga , I was saving my energy but that last 
finish took what I had saved up for the trip back . Now I just have scraps to 
work with .
" NOT so FAST RANMA !" The sound of Ryouga bellowing snaps my eyes open and I 
stop in my dragging tracks .
    Slowly , not wanting to have my fears confirmed I turn . There the wretched 
bastard is . He's behind the group , but he's barreling down on me . No time for 
many last words . Oh well , I screw up words anyhow .
    Taking my hand off of my side I stand to my full height and raise both of 
them above my head . 
    Everyone's shouting at me now , I can't make out anything in the jumble . 
    I should be able to physically take the strain . That news show was real 
specific about this being the area too . I just hope I don't bleed to death 
afterwards .
    Closing my eyes I bid them all a silent farewell . I guess I can't blame 
them for chasing me so hard . No one wants a cancerous limb amputated , but it 
has to be done to save the body .
    I do not have to draw anything , all of the emotion is there . I just let 
loose the floodgates . All of the pain I've been holding for my life , all the 
unmanly tears my Father forced me to hold . All of the loneliness I felt living 
without a mother . Then with her right there , but still a stranger . All the 
pain from every heart wrenching tear I caused those I love to shed . I just let 
it flow through me .
" SHISHI HOKOUDAN !" 

         End Part 7 'Final Stand'