(Music fades in)

(Credits begin)

“Jump In (Ranma’s Theme)”

Opening Theme for

An Ending To All Our Days

I looked into your eyes,

That first time we met,

I was wondering what you thought,

You were wondering too, I bet.

I never thought I could love you,

You never thought you’d love me,

We’re finally together-

Jump on in,

Say that I’m the only one,

Jump on in - to my love.

Jump on in,

Our lives have just begun,

Jump on in - to our love.

We see the world through together eyes,

Together we face what comes ahead,

I’ll never forget what you shared,

And I’ll never forget what you said.

The way you smile lights my heart,

You speak my name and it’s the world,

You make me so happy-

Jump on in,

Tell me I’m the only one,

Jump on in - to my love.

Jump on in,

Our lives have just begun,

Jump on in - to our love.

(Guitar solo)

The way you smile lights my heart,

You speak my name and it’s the world,

You make me so happy-

Jump on in,

Say that I’m the only one,

Jump on in - to my love

Jump on in,

Our lives have just begun,

Jump on in - to our love.

(Repeat Chorus)

(Fade)

(Title fades in)

An Ending To All Our Days

By

Joshua Trujillo

Part 10: Scarlet Destiny

Ranma became aware that there was a hazy fog he was floating through. He couldn’t feel his arms or legs and he could see very little. A soft voice called his name from somewhere. It was Akane. His body felt strange. A soft light shone from somewhere ahead of him, casting its soft glow on his body. His BODY?!?!? It was covered in maggots. He could feel them eating their way through his flesh and bones. The pain was...THE PAIN-

The ceiling looked like his room. He had to admit-that was one Helluva nightmare. Ranma looked down. His body was whole and fresh, though he was sore in his back. He’d heard about his infection.

Where was Akane? And Ryouga? Someone was wiping his forehead with a damp cloth. He looked over. Kasumi-who else.

“Oh my. You’re finally awake. I’ll get the others,” She said, starting to get up.

He grabbed her arm.

“Don’t...leave,” He said quietly.

He hated to admit, but that dream affected him more than he really wanted to think about.

“Oh-okay Ranma,” She said, smiling and tilting her head.

***

“That’s the first thing he’s said since he dropped in,” Cologne said, staring at the shriveled munchkin on the futon.

“Who’s this Sukido?” Ryouga asked.

“Sukido Kuno. My brother and only current stain on the blade of Kuno righteousness,” A voice said from the doorway.

Ryouga turned to him. Something was odd.

“Kuno. So what does he have to do with Happosai? And why are you dressed like that?” He asked.

He was dressed to the nines. There was a ceremonial sword strapped to his side and his outfit, while of the same type as what he often wore, was colored black with gold accents. A blue lightening bolt ran from his shoulder to his foot.

“It was this night that was to be the occasion of the dinner with Nabiki Tendo,” He said, turning to her, “I see that it probably will not come to pass, will it Nabiki?”

It was the first time that Ryouga had seen Kuno look genuinely disappointed.

Nabiki just turned her head down and mumbled an apology. Kuno softened and shook his head.

“Ah well, my peers can wait,” He said, “What is this about my brother?”

Nabiki smiled at him for dropping her appointment like that, she’d make it up to him later. That was a promise she made silently to herself.

“Tell me Ryouga, was this demon released by you or Ranma?” Cologne asked.

“Ranma.”

“Was the demon contained in a vessel or in a solid statue?”

“A statue.”

“What did the statue look like?” She continued.

“I didn’t get a good look at it, but it was upside down.”

Cologne’s eyes grew wide then narrow.

“That’s what I was afraid of. Ryouga, you and Ranma have uncovered and unleashed a demon of corruption. If the demon does not get its goal, it can become very violent. Where is this Sukido now? Kuno, your brother is in grave danger. His soul may be too far under the control of the demon,” She said.

“Sukido was out with Nabiki,” Akane said.

“Well-we’re back now, what’s up?” Nabiki said, entering from the garden.

Akane looked around.

***

“This whole trip has made me see just how much I want Akane. I mean, we have our problems, but I think we generally love each other,” He said, trying to get up.

Kasumi gently kept him from getting up and hurting himself. She knew it was important for him to rest.

“Yes Ranma, she does love you, both of you just have a hard time showing it,” She said.

There was a knock at the door. It was Sukido.

“Kasumi, I need to tell you something,” He said.

Kasumi nodded and got up.

“Get some rest Ranma, I’ll be back in a minute,” She said.

Ranma nodded and closed his eyes.

“Of course now Sukido, what did you want to talk to me about?” She asked.

She could see that it was something that bothered him because he was pacing back and forth -pacing

"Kasumi, Nabiki and I have talked and well, I-uh...” He stammered.

“You asked her to marry you,” She said quickly.

“Yes- but there’s a problem.”

“What is it Sukido?”

“You,” A deadly intent in his eyes.

***

Tofu walked into the livingroom area to a mass of confusion.

“What’s going on here?” He asked.

Akane rushed up.

“Tofu-san, where’s onee-sama?”

“Kasumi? She’s tending to Ranma. She’ll be down in a few minutes,” He said.

Akane looked very scared and rushed past Tofu upstairs.

“Akane!” Ryouga shouted, running up the stairs after her.

“Will someone please tell me what the-” Tofu started.

He was cut short as an explosion ripped through the house. It came from the direction that Ryouga and Akane had run to. Everyone soon followed.

***

Against the far wall, Kasumi propped herself up with the edge of the window. She felt the blood rush to her head against her getting up. Sukido had attacked her viciously and quickly, but watching her sisters all these years wasn’t for nothing. She had been able to counter his moves in the beginning, but was quickly outmatched by his superior speed and skill. He also threw in some chi moves to burn and weaken her. She had been able to awaken Ranma, but he wasn’t able to help because of his incredibly weakened state. When Sukido threw a chi blast at Ranma, Kasumi thought that he’d simply fall over, either unconscious or dead, but Ranma had somehow been stabilized by the blast and came to her aid. They were both beaten and bleeding. Ranma was also trying to pull himself up. Sukido was standing inside the doorway, looking nothing so much like the demon that he was. Kasumi was so disappointed in him. He was such a nice man too.

“You see, I recognize you now. You’re the main obstacle that is keeping my Confused One from his goal. Both of you must die though. You,” He said, pointing at Kasumi, “For your purity. You see, because of this, you’re incredibly strong. I doubt I can even physically kill you. I don’t need to though because your soul would expire long before your body does. You truly are a remarkable specimen. It IS a shame to waste my talents on your sister.”

“And you,” He turned this time to Ranma, “Must die for loving Akane. You are the true obstacle keeping my Confused One from his goal. I was going to use the Tendos against you, but somehow you’ve managed to imbed yourself into their hearts with enough love to counter me. I bow to you, it was worth more than I expected, but still, the man you are fails my expectations. Thank you both for the interesting game, now goodbye.”

“You...You’re the demon that Ryouga was talking about from the cave! I won’t let you hurt Akane,” Ranma said, powering up his chi as quickly as his damaged body would allow.

Sukido saw this and chuckled.

“But you can’t stop me. You can’t beat me. You can’t-nnng!!” He was interrupted by a wash of chi across him.

The energy blast from the ever-familiar Shishi Hokkodon pushed him into the wall between Kasumi and Ranma. Ranma looked back to the source and smiled as Ryouga walked into the room with Akane behind him. Akane rushed to Kasumi.

“Kasumi!” she shouted.

“Take her and get out of here Akane,” Ranma said.

Akane nodded and helped Kasumi out of the room. Ryouga helped Ranma towards the door, but Ranma stopped him and pointed back to Sukido.

“Can you fight?” Ryouga asked.

“No,” Ranma replied, smiling up at Ryouga, “But I will.”

“Combined attack?” Ryouga asked, smiling back.

As the smile broadened across Ranma’s face, he noticed a glow from Sukido. The whiteness filled the room. Ryouga could now see the destruction from a fight that he couldn't hear downstairs.

“Let’s do it,” Ranma said, straightening.

Ryouga took Ranma’s hand and both faced Sukido.

“Mouko Takabaisha!” They both said, almost quietly.

Both roaring lion bullets came forth and combined into a huge missile of energy. Sukido looked very shocked when it pounded him against the wall. It then pushed him through the wall and into the empty lot next. Both ran to the opening and looked out.

“Do you think that got him?” Ryouga asked.

There was a white flash and an explosion in front of the opening that forced them back. A voice cried to them from below.

“Looks like my timing is still pretty good.”

“It’s the freak!” Ranma said.

“I see, he intercepted the beam with a Happodaikarin. The concussive force of the explosion was enough to interrupt the beam,” Cologne said from Ranma’s right.

“Good work Master,” Soun said from behind Ryouga.

Ryouga and Ranma turn and see that everyone had crowded more or less into the room.

“Ranma okay?” Shampoo said, gingerly holding him.

“Yeah-I’m okay,” Ranma said, pushing Shampoo away as easily as he could.

Feeling the blunt end of Akane’s mallet was the LAST thing he needed today.

“Where’d Sukido go?” Akane asked, examining Ranma at the same time.

“We blew him into the next lot,” Ryouga said, proudly.

“How’s your sister?” Ranma asked Akane.

“She’s okay. Tofu’s there with her,” She said to Ranma.

Akane then turned to her father.

“Dad, Auntie Nodoka and Uncle Saotome, you’d better go help because I don’t know how long Tofu-san can hold his anger,” She explained.

“Right!” Soun and Genma both said in unison.

They ran out of the room. Nodoka pulls Akane aside and asks her something that

Ranma can’t hear, so he turned his attention to the field, trying to see Sukido.

“Son-in-law, be very careful fighting this demon. He will strike at points you didn’t even know that you possessed,” Cologne said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll watch-

Another explosion.

“Geez he’s persistent. Ranma, Ryouga, You must destroy the host body. It’s the only chance to free the demon,” Happosai said from the garden below.

“NO!” Nabiki ran in screaming at that decision.

She ran forward and grabbed Ranma.

“You hurt him and - I’ll, I’ll never forgive you Ranma,” She cried, shaking him, “I’ll hate you Ranma. I’ll-nnng....

And she collapsed into his arms.

“Sleep child. We have no time for this,” Cologne said from behind Nabiki.

Two more explosions rocked the house, close to each other. Sukido was getting better aim. Cologne turned to Shampoo.

“Great-Granddaughter, you and Mousse are the last line of defense. You must protect the house and those who remain here,” She said.

“But Shampoo wants to-”

Cologne got a serious expression and shouted something in Mandarin.

“Child please listen, this demon,” She began as another explosion fluttered to ash outside, “can only be beaten through the use of chi. I blame myself for not training you better, but you must remain.”

“Yes, Great-Grandmama,” Shampoo said, depressed.

Another explosion.

“Ranma, Ryouga, GO!” Shouted Happosai.

“Let’s go,” Ranma said.

“Right,” Ryouga answered.

The both nodded and jumped through the hole and began to bound to the empty lot.

“Not that way you morons...oh, why can’t they use the door like everyone else, oh!” Akane said.

Akane stopped at the sight of Kuno, out cold on the floor.

“He can’t use chi either, but arguing with him is pointless,” Cologne said, passing Akane.

Akane thought about it, but left it alone. Cologne bounced past Akane and headed downstairs. Akane followed, not really sure what to expect next.

Ranma had gotten his wind back and both were fast approaching Sukido. Sukido’s shirt was in tatters and there was a thin trickle of blood from his mouth. Right now, he was busy exploding the daikarin that Happosai was tossing at him from the wall surrounding the house.

This was IT! Ranma thought.

He rushed to Sukido, putting on a burst of speed with which Ryouga was hard pressed to keep pace.

“Katutsenshin Amaguriken!”

Ranma went immediatley into his special move, his fist flying faster than ever, his arms moving with practiced ease. Sukido would have a fight on his hands now. Sukido backed up slightly and twitched his head. A white energy shield flared between Ranma and Sukido just as Ranma’s punches started to connect. The shield flared blue wherever Ranma’s fist touched it. Ranma was thrown back and yelped. His knuckles were smoking.

“Did you really think-” Sukido began.

Another daikarin exploded against his shield.

“Enough!” Sukido shouted with an inhumanly deep voice.

Ranma watched as a chi-formed arm extended from Sukido and smashed into the wall, destroying it an instant later. Both Ryouga and Ranma ran to Sukido as his attention was turned.

“Bakusai Tenketsu!” Ryouga shouted, thrusting his finger forward.

Ryouga’s finger connected with the white shield and pain lanced up his arm. No turning back now. Blue electricity arced up his arm. White flares shot from the shield and finally the shield exploded, throwing both Sukido and Ryouga across the field. Sukido was quick to recover.

“That hurt!” He bellowed.

Sukido ducked quickly as a huge spatula cut the air near his head. The muscle under his eye twitched. He held a hand up and a small line of blood formed from a cut on his face. He scowled. Ranma pulled himself together into readiness and ignored the pain in his hands.

How had Uc-chan found out about-but Ranma knew better than to ask. Cologne. Ranma had no time to think about her motivations for getting them all together.

Ranma watched in horror as a green ball of energy formed up around Ukyou. Ranma ran to her but she shot up out of his reach. Ukyou screamed, stopping Ranma from going after Sukido as he looked up at her. The battle spatula was wrapping itself around her legs as Ranma watched it. The color darkened from a silver to a red as it grew hotter by the second. It was burning her! He had to do something immediately.

“Hiryu Shotsen Ha!” He shouted.

Ranma stumbled as it took the wind from him. He caught his breath in an instant and caught Ukyou, who was now falling to the ground. The battle spatula fell away and Ranma scowled as he could see the burns it had inflicted. It was almost better she was unconscious.

“Rest here Uc-chan,” He said to her, setting her on the ground.

Ranma turned to the demon that was still spinning in his last attack. Energy was flying out from Sukido in all directions.

“Ranma!” A voice shouted from the other end of the field.

No-not now...

“Akane!” Ranma yelled.

He started to run for her as a beam nearly hit her. He dodged one blast, but knew that he was leaving himself wide open. Like a lightening bolt, a beam coursed through his chest as he neared Akane. The pain was worse than he ever knew. The whiteness spread from his chest into his mind. It clouded his thoughts and made him fall to the ground. It was even worse than the last time he ate-no, better not joke at a time like this. He remembered hitting the ground, but not passing out.

Akane reached Ranma just as a shot from Sukido ran him through. She knelt down to him and checked his neck for a pulse. Yes, it was still there, but weaker. Apparently, even Ranma couldn’t withstand too much. There was more commotion in the field. Akane brushed her eyes with her sleeve. When did she start crying? She didn’t know. It was Ryouga that she could hear across the field.

“Shishi Hokkodon!”

The beam of energy shot out from Ryouga and nailed Sukido, pushing him up even higher from the dissipating tornado. Sukido landed with a sickening thud and Ryouga fell back, exhausted. He sat up slowly and examined his burned arm. He really couldn’t feel a thing. Probably nerve damage. He had patted the flames out at least. Being on fire reminded him too much of his other half. Bacon...he shivered slightly.

“Are you all right boy?” Said Cologne from his right.

“Yeah-arm just hurts though.”

“Here,” She said, poking him twice in the shoulder.

Immediately Ryouga’s head cleared and the pain lessened.

***

“Ranma?” Akane asked him.

She had his head in her lap. It was the one thing she thought might make him more comfortable. She prayed he could hear her.

“Akane-my back REALLY hurts,” He mumbled slightly, trying to sit up.

She wiped her eyes and laughed. She helped him sit up as Ryouga and Cologne came over. Ryouga looked worse for wear.

“Is he-Is Sukido dead?” Ranma asked.

“That I doubt Ranma, demons are tenaciously hard to kill,” Cologne answered.

“The old one is right!” An impossibly deep voice rumbled.

All eyes turned to Sukido’s body. A thick mist was rising into the air above it.

“The demon,” Ryouga said.

“Why do you fight me Confused One? You need not be hurt any further-just let me fulfill the wish you gave me earlier,” It said to Ryouga.

“THIS is the demon from the cave?” Ranma asked, astonished.

“Yes.”

The demon’s form strengthened until it could be seen. The demon formed a huge greenish body, vaguely male. Arms ended in lethal looking taloned hands. A pair of midnight black eyes flashed from beneath impossibly big horns on his head.

“Yes, and I must fulfill his wish for the heart of that one,” He said, pointing to Akane.

Ranma placed himself in front of Akane as he got up.

“Now I can complete my task,” The demon said matter-of-factly.

The demon started to move to Akane.

“Shishi Ho-”

Ryouga was cut off as the demon threw out a wave blast of energy that tossed everyone in all directions. Ranma picked himself up first and saw that Ryouga was out for the count.

“You’re beginning to anger me confused one. If you cannot make up your mind-I’ll do it for you,” The demon said to the unconscious Ryouga.

The demon yelled a horrible war cry and shot a hand towards Akane, who had just pulled herself up.

Many things went through Ranma’s mind at that point. One was to yell, another was to run over there. Both seemed good, so he did. Another thought was to throw another Hiryu Shotsen Ha at him, or even a Mouko Takaibasha. Neither might work against this form of the demon. So Ranma did the only thing that he thought might work.

He put himself between Akane and the demon.

***

Akane thought it was all happening so fast. First Sukido was the demon, now, he was just the shell for the demon. The concussive blast had thrown her to the ground. Just stunned, she pulled herself up to her elbows and looked back toward the demon.

The hideous talons on the arm were reaching towards her. She had to move. She had to act, but she couldn’t. She was too slow.

“Akane!”

She turned and saw Ranma slide in between her and the demon.

What was he-?

She felt something wet spatter across her face as the demon’s translucent claws came right through Ranma. The claws phased out and Ranma fell. No-what did this mean?

She held his head and began to cry. She looked again as she felt his hand in hers. He was saying something. What was it? She held her head close to his, trying to calm her tears to hear him.

“Akane...I-Love youuuu....”

His grip became more and more lax as his consciousness drifted away. Ranma let one final breath escape him as he quieted into death.

Akane was stunned. This wasn’t happening. He wasn’t dead-how could he be? Ranma ALWAYS wins. He beat Saffron, he beat Happosai, he beat Cologne,Ryouga, Kuno, Shampoo, Kirin, Toma...EVERYONE! He was strong, he was quick, he was everything.

She needed him.

She loved him.

Akane just held his head and cried, rocking gently back and forth.

***

Consciousness came back to Ryouga with a flash of white-hot pain. He looked to his arm. It was broken in at least two places from what he could see. Not only burned, but useless now as well. Ryouga looked across the field. A had her back to the demon, but it wasn’t doing anything. She was cradling something in her lap-

Ranma?

Why did-?

Could he really be-? Ryouga thought.

"Why yes Confused One. He is dead. He was what was keeping her heart from you. Now you’re-ahhh!” The demon blurted.

An explosion upside his head made him stop and look towards the remains of the wall. Ryouga looked and tried to struggle to his feet. Cologne and Tofu had helped to dig Happosai out from under the rubble. Tofu was taking the daikarin from Happosai and pitching them at Cologne, who was batting them with her cane at the demon.

“Why do you insist on fighting?” The demon said, batting away the grenades, “The day is mine. Confused One, why-”

“Shishi Hokkodon!”

The blast hit the demon who countered with another wave blast that picked Ryouga up and threw him at the trio near the wall. Tofu caught him.

“That HURT! Damn you, now I’m mad-huh?” The demon began.

All eyes turned to Akane, who had begun to glow bright red.

***

Akane had stopped crying. Ranma wouldn’t like to see her cry. She knew that. He would want her strong. She was strong. The flame burned within her flared to a bright blaze. She could tell she was emitting a chi aura.

She didn’t care. Everything she ever had. Her hopes, her fantasies, her dreams were being cradled in her hands right now. He was dead. She never got to love him, or be loved by him. None of the things she wanted to say had ever had the chance to be said, now it was too late.

The demon had taken that from her.

And by God, all that the demon had taken from her, she was damn well going to take back!

She bent down and kissed Ranma.

Breaking the kiss, she said, “Don’t worry now my love, this is my fight now.”

Akane stood and was vaguely aware of the demon.

“What-What are you doing?” It said unsteadily.

Akane spun to face the demon and the air gathered around her into a mighty whirlwind. The demon unleashed a massive energy attack. It spun harmlessly around Akane and was thrown up into the air.

“Hiryu Shotsen Ha!” Akane roared.

The whirlwind barreled forward and easily overtook the demon. Unearthly shouts and cries rose from the twister, but were then strangely silent. A could see that, in the middle of the tornado, there was a statue, upside down, spinning madly.

“RANMA!” She screamed.

And she unleashed something more powerful than Ryouga had ever seen. Splitting the statue like his Bakusai Tenketsu, but then burning the pieces to ash. All in the span of a second.

Akane wobbled unsteadily on her feet and walked back over to Ranma. Seeing his form, lying there was too much. She dropped beside him and started to cry.

***

Ryouga tried not to cry too much. Either from the pain in his body, or the pain in his heart. Seeing Akane was just getting to be too painful.

Sure they had won, but at what cost?

Nodoka climbed over the rubble of the wall to Ryouga. She had her katana drawn. Ryouga was almost glad that none of the parents had gotten involved. Both Soun and Genma started cheering at the sight of Happosai laying there. Happosai jumped up and started throwing “well-I-never”s and “ingrates” around while the two were trying to make up for it.

Tofu went to the field to bring Akane and Ranma back to the house.

What a price...

(Music fades in)

(End credits roll)

“Forever Yours (Akane’s Theme)”

Ending Theme For

An Ending To All Our Days

Tell me lies,

Set me free,

What first could not,

Suddenly can be.

Love you forever,

Lose me today,

Look in my eyes,

And hear me say-

I’ll love you forever,

Just hear me say,

I’ll love you forever,

To my very last day,

I’ll love you forever.

Seeing the future,

Being the past,

What’s now is forever,

And forever won’t last.

Love you forever,

Lose me today,

Look in my eyes,

And hear me say-

I’ll love you forever,

Just hear me say,

I’ll love you forever,

To my very last day,

I’ll love you forever.

(Instrumental Solo)

To protect me you said,

As you stepped into eternity,

Into my heart forever,

You gave your life for me-

I’ll love you forever,

Just hear me say,

I’ll love you forever,

In so many ways,

I’ll love you forever,

To my very last day,

I’ll love you forever.