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| Part Eight: Akane's Revenge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In his temple - a remarkably calm looking Talon blinked as he looked at the battle-ready maiden. He closed his eyes and raised his hands as if to show he didn't want to fight. She scowled at him and pondered what his game was. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "At ease - my lady. I merely wished to talk with you," he reassured. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And those hunting parties I ran into?" she pointed out. A crystal ball appeared in his hand. She watched as images of her fighting the various foes she encountered appeared above them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I assure you - they were merely sent - to test you. And - you passed," he said with a smile. Akane scowled as she clenched her hands into fists. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I didn't come here to play your games or amuse you. I came here because of what you did to Kasumi!" she retorted. He blinked as he looked over at her. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Kasumi? I don't recall knowing any Kasumi. Was she by chance an ancestor of yours?" he seriously asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She was my sister," she corrected. He blinked - it was as though he was having trouble understanding why she was so angry with him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So - you charged here - on your own - because I did something to your sister?" he asked in modest disbelief. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You killed her!" she retorted pointing a finger at him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "People die - it is the natural order of mortals. When exactly did I kill this woman you speak of?" he asked - losing his patience. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When you destroyed our home?" she reminded. He smiled and quietly laughed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh dear. Is that what this is about? Child - she - like hundreds of others - were trespassing. This - domain is mine. It has been for thousands of years. The only reason I hadn't claimed it sooner was because I couldn't remember the exact location," he pointed out. Akane could feel her hands beginning to twitch. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will see you burn in hell for this!" she shouted as she charged at him. he smiled as he effortlessly leaped out of harm's way. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One of two things will happen here my dear. One - you will fight me - lose - and end up a sacrifice on my Altar of Pain - or two - you will become my willing bride and rule by my side. If you opt for the second - you will reap the rewards of being a queen of an empire that touches every corner of the world - and knowing all that I know. What say you?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You think I would marry the bastard that murdered my sister?" she rebutted in disbelief. Talon sighed and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I feared that would be your answer," he began as he smiled. "Then if it be a fight you desire maiden - a fight - you shall have," he replied as he hopped over and plucked a staff from the wall. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * * * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In amidst the devastation and ruin, Ryoga, Ukyo, Shampoo, Mousse, Cologne, Happy, Genma, Soun, Kuno and Ranma had lost the trail. Ranma shook her head and began to fear that they got there too late. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We lost her," Ranma muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fear not son-in-law. If she was after the source of what caused all this," Cologne began as she pointed to the sinister temple that was visible amidst the carnage and destruction. "She would go to where he would be waiting," she concluded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then what are we waiting for?" Ranma asked. She was about to run off when dozens of unnatural beings - the same kind that confronted Akane - appeared and surrounded them. "What are these things?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "His soldiers - spirits given human form - armed with his knowledge," Happosai replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Can such things be stopped?" Genma asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Beat them enough and they stay down. Just be wary of them - they are masters of various techniques," the old pervert warned. Ranma cracked her knuckles. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That was all I needed to hear," she said as she leaped at one cluster of fighters. The others watched as the cocky Ranma took many hits and was sent back in an arching motion. "Man - these things are tough," she muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We must get through them if we are to save my baby girl!" Soun pointed out. Ranma turned pale as he returned his attention to the fighters that stood between her and the distant temple. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have no doubt that I could deal with all of these pests - but I don't have that kind of time!" Ranma shouted as she leaped at the cluster of fighters again. This time she dodged and evaded their attacks. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is that boy doing?" Genma asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hiryu Shoten Ha!" Ranma called out as her enemies were blasted away. "You people keep these clowns busy! I have to get to Akane before she gets herself seriously hurt or," she called but couldn't bring herself to finish saying. She merely shook her head and raced away. Cologne sighed and shook her head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I hope that son-in-law knows what he is getting himself into," Cologne remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I wonder why he hasn't changed yet," Ukyo remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He probably hasn't realized it yet. His mind is elsewhere. Hopefully - he will realize it before he gets himself in too deep," Genma stated as the rescue party formed a circle and got ready to fight off the horde of fighters that were closing in. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * * * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back in the temple - Akane had tried just about everything to take down the villain responsible for her sister's death - but nothing worked. Every time she came remotely close to hitting him - she herself would get knocked away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am not the most benevolent of beings my dear. I am taking no pleasure in hurting you like this. It is not too late to recant. Give up this foolish crusade of vengeance. Do you honestly believe that your sister would wish you to throw away your life in such a futile fashion?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How dare you speak of her!" she shouted emotionally as she charged at him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Pity that reason could not resolve this," he remarked. Just as she was about to strike - Talon seemingly vanished. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where did?" she began as a powerful punch to the back of her head sent her face first into the floor knocking her out. She twitched a bit as she tried to fight the darkness that was looming in around her - but it was all too much. Talon sighed as he picked up his unconscious foe. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You really should have listened," he remarked - sounding almost disappointed as he carried her over to a special sacrificial altar. He was about to perform a ceremony on the unconscious teen when a guard hurried over to where he was. "Problem?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Intruders. A small party has been detained where the woman had once been," the guard stated. Talon blinked and looked at the girl. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then kill them. Why waste my time bringing this matter to me?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They are trying - but - these people are not normal. Some are very potent," the guard replied. Talon sighed as he waved his hand. A crystal ball appeared in it. He then waved a hand over it and looked up at the almost holographic images that were projected above them. Talon watched and pointed fingers at Genma and Soun. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They are using attributes of my school - but how?" he began as Happosai hopped over flipping a few fighters away. Talon quietly laughed. "My wayward student. How things come full circle. Send more fighters. Deal with them in the appropriate way. I have more important matters to attend to," he ordered. The guard bowed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It shall be done master," the guard concluded as he hurried away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Mmm - Ranma - help," Akane muttered deliriously. Talon returned his attention to his helpless foe. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I wonder who this Ranma fellow is," Talon remarked as a long claw extended from his fingertip. "I suppose the issue is moot," he rationalized as he began to chant. As he did - an aura began to pulse around Akane. Slowly - he moved his finger towards his victim. So enthralled with what he was doing was he - that he failed to notice Ranma screaming at him as she charged. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Get your filthy hands away from her!" Ranma shouted. Talon blinked and looked over his shoulder just in time to get whacked across the face with a staff. He staggered back a bit from the blow. Ranma then hit him across the back of the head knocking him forward a bit. Then leaped up and kicked Talon back in an arching motion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ah," Talon muttered as he shook off the effect of the attacks. He looked over and saw a redheaded girl standing between him and his intended sacrifice. "You caught me off guard. Credit given when due," he remarked as he effortlessly flipped himself back up to his feet. "You should have seized the advantage when it was yours - opportunity with me - knocks only - once," he pointed out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Akane? Wake up!" Ranma muttered. But she wouldn't stir. "What did you do to her?" she demanded. Talon quietly laughed - wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She was," he began but blinked as he studied the redhead. "It wasn't her - it was you," he began as he shook his head. "You were the one I felt. I thought something was off about her. Strong though she was - I knew what I felt before was more potent," he added. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you babbling about?" Ranma demanded - staying between him and his unmoving former fiancee. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shortly after I - cleansed this place - I felt a hate - a power - coming from someone nearby. When I saw her - naturally I thought she was the one - but now - I see it was you," he explained politely. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh I hate you alright. You are going to pay for what you have done to Kasumi and all the others," Ranma stated. Talon groaned as he shook his head. Again with this Kasumi person? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "All of this aggravation over a trespassing woman? And who was she to you? A sister as well?" Talon asked curiously. Ranma was going to comment when he finally realized something. He looked down at her chest and groaned. Normally he could tell when it happened - why - now of all times - did it go unnoticed? "Admire yourself later. I'm over here," he reminded. Ranma returned his attention to his enemy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She was a friend of mine. Now tell me what you did to Akane!" she ordered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The girl you are protecting? She was to be sacrificed. I believed her to be you - the one whose hate I tasted. She chose to refuse my offer as such - she was to die - her soul - her power would be added to mine," he stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are seriously sick," Ranma muttered - shivering at the thought of that happening to Akane - or anyone else for that matter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have been told that more than once. When you set a mandate for an Anything Goes school of martial arts - one cannot be squeamish," Talon remarked calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Anything - goes?" Ranma repeated. His mind flashed back to when he was first at odds with Happosai - and how much trouble he had been to deal with. Now before her - was the man who taught Happosai. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You must be one of the people that studied under my only student's students," Talon remarked as he calmly walked over to the wall and slowly removed an intricately carved halberd. "You know of Happosai?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have had the misfortune," Ranma admitted. Talon quietly chuckled. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A woman such as yourself - no doubt. Rest assured - the mandate that I set for my school - my style - had nothing to do with - his - kind of perversion. It was about - developing a mastery - of all styles and forging it into one. Any style - any weapon - any thing - a tool that serves its master," he stated seriously as he did a series of graceful motions with his weapon. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What has all that got to do with this?' Ranma hesitantly asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Everything and nothing my dear. But - I will make you - the same offer I made her. And truth be told - I apologize for the error and confusion in that matter. Set aside your futile hate for me for but one instant," Talon began as he leaned on his weapon. "If I speak - will you listen?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What do you want?" Ranma asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I see in you - a hunger. You desire to know all - have power - you - wish to become a martial arts master - the likes of which - no one - has ever seen," Talon began as he pointed a finger at Ranma. "If I was a wagering man - I would bet that - already you have taken the teachings of the pervert and his students to a level they could never imagine," he added. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Get to the point," Ranma retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Very well. I - can give you what you want. Power - mastery - knowledge of techniques and schools long forgotten. By my side - I can forge you into a living weapon - unparalleled to anything you could have dreamed of. Plus - when I take back what is mine - as my queen you would rule the world," he added. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your - queen?" Ranma muttered - trying to control the rage that was building in her. This was not the first time a man had wanted to marry her - but every time it happened it nauseated him. "What kind of guy do you take me for?" she shouted as she leaped at Talon. The statement confused him more than upset him. He spun around and brought the blade end of his weapon up at his foe. The two rolled away from each other. Talon was holding his weapon in one hand. Ranma was about to speak when her staff came apart and her top ripped exposing her chest. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know I have been out of the loop for a little while - but where I come from - men do not have breasts," Talon pointed out. Ranma held her shirt together. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are as sick as that old pervert!" she shouted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh dear - I fear you are going to oppose me as she did. I beseech you to reconsider. I do not take in students often. And after my last encounter - you are most fortunate to be given such a chance. In ten years - I can teach you what you could not hope to learn in ten times that," he stated seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would rather forget what I know that learn anything from you," Ranma retorted. Talon covered his eyes with his hand and shook his head. It was clear that he was disappointed with the answer. He then sighed and returned his attention to the girl. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "As you wish. Come at me any way you like - and - by all means - do not hold back," he stated as he tossed his weapon aside. Ranma blinked and expected some sort of sneak attack. "I will wait - just tell me when you are ready," he reassured. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You arrogant," Ranma began as she raced at him. "Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken!" she shouted as she attacked Talon with everything she had. Much to her shock - Talon managed to stay one step ahead of every strike. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are not an Amazon yet know of that technique," Talon remarked as an open handed punch knocked Ranma flat on her back. "You are a true student to my work. Impressive," he added. Ranma flipped herself back up to her feet - but before she could do anything - a punch to her stomach with the force of a cannonball knocked the wind from her. "Good effort," he continued as a strong hit to the back of her head sent her face first into the stony floor. "But you lose," he remarked smugly. He was about to finish her off when the doors were busted off the hinges. He looked over and saw his guards doing their best to keep the intruders out - but were being overpowered. "Enough!" he shouted. All fighting ceased. Talon stepped away from his second unconscious foe and looked to Ranma's friends and family. "You people have come all this way - come and taste the fruits of your labors," he goaded as he motioned for them to try to take him on! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||