(“So that boy has the Armor of the Wildfire,”) Sarenbou muses.  He rubs his sore ribs.  (“It is unthinkable that he could injure me without summoning his armor, let alone summoning the White Armor.”)  The demon looks around him at the numerous Soldiers of Doom he has summoned.  (“Perhaps I can lure him out.  After all, he appeared when I was fighting the others.”)

 

            “Ranma!”  Akane calls upstairs.  It is morning and her fiancé had not come downstairs yet.  Usually he was awake before her.  But that was only because his father forced him.  But Soun and Genma had gone on a drinking binge last night and were passed out in the living room.  So Ranma was able to sleep in.  “Come on it’s almost time for school!”  But she receives no answer.  Finally, annoyed and angry, she decides to go upstairs and drag him out of the guest room.  “Wake up Ran…” Her cry dies in her throat.  There is no one in the guest room, and Ranma’s things are gone.  All that is left is a small note sitting where his futon usually sits.  She picks it up and reads.

 

            “Dear Akane,

            I kind of figure you’re mad right now.  I’m sorry.  I had to leave.  I’ve got some dangerous people after me, and I can’t stay here.  Don’t worry I’m coming back.  I’m coming back for you.  I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, and I’m scared.  I’m not scared of the bastards after me, I’m not even scared of cats anymore.  I’m scared I’m going loose you.  I’m not going to put you in danger like at Jusenkyo.

 

Until then,        

Saotome Ranma          

 

P.S.  I love you            

 

P.S.S.  Don’t tell our dads.  I don’t want to get married.  I mean I want to marry you, just not right now.  I hope you know what I mean.”

 

            Akane read the note, then she read it again, then she read the closing again and again and again.  “Baka.”  He had finally admitted it.  He had finally told her he loved her.  Even if it was just a letter, it meant the world to her.  “Baka, I wanted to tell you…I love you too.”  The tears came all too easy from that point.  It was a good five minutes before she even noticed the second letter.  On the front of it was a small note that read, “Basically the same letter.  Don’t want oyagi to know how I feel.”  Akane couldn’t help but laugh.  “Baka actually thought ahead.”

 

            “Akane, are you all right?”  Kasumi asked as Akane returned to the dining room.  The older men, who were up and sitting at the table waiting to eat, noted Akane’s teary-eyed expression.  Akane shook her head and handed the second letter to Kasumi.  She read it then, “Oh My!”

            “What is it?”  Soun asked.

            “And where is my lazy son?”  Genma asked.  “We need to spar before he goes to school.”

            “Ranma’s not here,” Akane whispered.

            “What do you mean?”  Nabiki asked.

            “He left.”

            Nabiki quickly snatched the letter from Kasumi.  Soon after Soun and Genma read it.  Nabiki looked at Akane.  It was obvious that she was taking this hard.  (“Damn you Saotome!  Leaving and hurting my sister like this!”)  She read the note again and decided that Ranma had run out on them.  “Don’t worry Akane!  I’ll find him and bring him back.”

            Akane nodded absentmindedly.  Then Ranma’s words returned to her.  “Honestly Akane, you’re goin’ have to learn to trust me.”  Akane thought for a second then smiled.  “No, Nabiki, you don’t have to do that.  He said he was coming back.  I trust Ranma.”  Nabiki cocked an eyebrow.  “He killed a god for me.  I think I can trust him to come back.”

            Nabiki nodded.  “All right.”  Outside she agreed with her sister, but inside she was already making a list of places where Ranma would go.  (“I’ll find you Saotome.  Akane might believe you’re coming back, but I’m not her.”)

 

            Somewhere in-between Nerima and Shinjuku, a young man sneezed.  “Can’t be a cold, so somebody must be talking about me.”

            “Happens allot doesn’t it?”

            (“Yeah, I guess it does.”)  Ranma looked around.  He was in the middle of a forest being guide by a spirit that was in his head.  He didn’t know where he was, and he was wondering if this was how Ryoga felt when he got lost.  (“So which way?”)

            “We’re almost there.  Another mile or two to the north,” Ryo instructed the martial artist.  “I know you can feel them.”

            (“I’m relaxing my senses.  I never have any time to relax so I’m enjoying it.”)

            Ryo mentally nodded.  “And what would you do if we were attacked?”

            (“You would sense anyone before they got within 100 feet of me.”)

            “Good point.  O.K. you relax, and I’ll keep my senses on the alert.”  Ranma nodded.  It was good to relax.

 

            The Samurai Troopers and Nasté sat quietly in the small computer room.  The day had been tense.  They had just had their asses handed to them and were nearly killed.  Then out of no where a kid had saved them and effectively handed Sarenbou his ass.  Then the most shocking thing had happened.  The boy had the body armor that belonged to Ryo.  Nasté finally broke the silence.  “I do have some good news.”

            “Good news would be most appreciated,” Seiji says.

            “I’ve found a few files in my grandfather’s computer that talk about the White Armor.”

            “Really?  What does it say?”  Shu asks.

            “Not much just the basics.  Grandpa knew about it but didn’t know much about it.  He called the White Armor, the Armor of the Inferno.”

            “Armor of the Inferno?”  Toma asks.

            “It fits, Wildfire, Inferno,” Shin jokes.

            White Blaze’s ear twitches.  He stands up and sniffs the air.  “What’s up White Blaze?”  Seiji asks.  The white tiger answers in a rather odd, yet effective way.  It jumps through the glass window and onto the balcony.  Almost instantly the Troopers are there.  They are a bit surprised to see a Soldier of Doom in White Blaze’s jaw.

            “Look!”  At the edge of the forest there were more than 30 of the Soldiers.  They stood with their weapons ready.  “Ready for some fun?”  Shu asks.  The other nod and jump from the balcony leaving White Blaze to protect Nasté.

 

            “Ranma!”  Ryo cried out mentally.

            “Don’t yell!”

            “Gomen.”

            (“Don’t worry about, so what’s wrong?”)

            “Your worry-free walk has officially ended.  I just sensed a great darkness.  And it appeared at Nasté’s home!”

            “Great.”  Ranma signed and shot forward at his top speed.

 

            “It would seem that you have dealt with my Soldiers rather easily,” Sarenbou noted as he appeared out of the forest.  “It matters not.”

            “You again!”

            “What do you want?”

            “The White Armor.”

            “You know we don’t have it.”

            “Oh I know that.  However, you are excellent bait for the one who carries it.  He has hidden himself again.  But I’m sure he’ll come out if I take the four of you as hostages.  Or perhaps the girl.”  Sarenbou eyed Nasté.  “Yes I think the girl will make a fine hostage.”

            “You know,” A voice from behind him started.  Sarenbou turned and was delighted to see the bearer of the Wildfire Armor leaning against a tree.  “For a demon you’re not very good at covering you backside.”

            “And you hide your aura well, for a human.”  Actually Sarenbou was wondering why he couldn’t sense anything from the boy.  “I could do better.”

            “Don’t matter.  My supernatural senses go way beyond anything a human should have.”

            Sarenbou smiled, at least Ranma thought it was a smile, and rushed forward.  The demon grabbed at the boy when he was in reach.  But instead of the body armor of the boy, Sarenbou slammed his hand into the tree the boy had been leaning against.  He quickly turned his head to the side and noted that the boy wasn’t attacking.  “Show me the White Armor.”

            Ranma grinned that cocky grin that had lead many a martial artist to their defeats.  “Why?  You can’t even beat me when I summon the Armor of Wildfire.  Why would I use the White Armor?”

            “Why you!”  Sarenbou cries out as he attacks.  “Wave of Destruction!”  Ranma is caught off guard by the special attack.

            (“I actually felt that,”) He notes.

            “He’s packing some serious power.  It might be better if you summoned the Armor of the Wildfire and defeated him.”

            Ranma nods.  “I think you’re right.”

            “Talking to yourself?”  Sarenbou mocked.  He batted away an arrow from Heaven.

            “Back off!”  Toma yells as he lets loose a few more arrows.  Sarenbou hops back and gives himself some room

            “You all right?”  Shu asks the new comer.

            Ranma nods and stands up.  “Guess I might as well end this.”  A red battle aura flares up around Ranma.  Everyone, even Sarenbou and Heaven who are still fighting, stop and take note.  “Armor of the Wildfire!”  After a brief transformation Ranma stands in the Armor of the Wildfire.

            “What is this?  I thought you possessed the White Armor!”  Sarenbou yells in outrage.

            Ranma smiles.  “I do.  I just don’t need it to beat a weak demon like you,” He says as he draws his twin katanas.

            “Is that so?”  Sarenbou asks as he prepares to attack.

            “Yep,” Ranma answers as he brings the katanas together.  With a mighty leap (or what most would consider a mighty leap) Ranma was in the air preparing his attack.  “Fury of the Wildfire Revised!”  He called out.  With that his red battle aura returned.  “Ryuu No Tenmou! (Dragon of Heaven’s Vengeance, I think).”  With that and a swing of the swords a fiery dragon shot out towards Sarenbou’s attack.  The new technique easily swallowed up Sarenbou’s attack and sped towards him.  The dragon’s jaws came down upon the demon causing him to scream out in pain.  The dragon then changed direction and headed straight up into the air, where it dissipated.  It left, in its wake, the demon.  His body was smoking, but he seemed to be all right.  Ranma landed and smirked.

            “What is the secret of the White Armor?”  Sarenbou asked.

            Ranma signed and spoke.  “I ain’t gonna tell ya.”  Sarenbou fell over.  His spirit left his body looking like a mist.  The others look at the young man in shock.