Well, despite the amount of flames I've gotten for this fic, I feel an
obligation to finish what I started.  I'm not one to start something and
then pull out halfway.

I'll be posting this and the Epilogue.  Once it's done, it's done.  For
those who actually like the fic, feel free to email me for the previous
chapters or for parts to the sequel, War (big surprise title there, ne?).

If you don't want to email me, hit my fic page.  Artwork for the
characters can also be found there.  More artwork will be supplied as soon
asI get my hands on a scanner; and yes, one of the storyboards used to
help generate the fic will be posted as soon as I get hands on said
scanner.

C&C is more than welcome, flames are not.


<standard disclaimer>
Ranma and company are property of Rumiko Takahashi.  This is a work for
fans by a fan.  This isn't meant to offend the creator in any way, so
please, no lawsuits!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Fifteen
 
	"Is he going to make it?" Akane asked anxiously.
	Dr. Tofu pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose and wiped
his brow. He looked evenly at the people gathered around him. Ranma and
Akane stood holding hands in either a show of affection or support. Soun,
Nodoka, and Genma stood behind them stoically. Nabiki was talking on the
phone while Kasumi tended to an extremely shocked Ukyou. Ken's brother
simply stood gazing out a window in deep thought.
	"Ryouga will make it, but he's been hurt very badly. I've never
seen techniques using ki do damage so specifically to a person," Dr. Tofu
replied.
	Ranma and Akane sighed in relief. Though the adults never made a
sound, Ranma and Akane knew their parents were relieved as well.
	"Thank you so much, Tofu-sensei," Akane said with a grateful
smile.
	"Save your thanks for your friend there. Whatever he gave Ryouga
slowed down the damage caused by Ken's ki attacks."
	Ranma and Akane turned to look at Andrew pensively. He turned to
meet their gaze. Andrew nodded once before turning to look out the window
again.
	"Do you know what's wrong with Ken?"
	Andrew turned to look evenly at Akane as she walked up to him,
followed by Ranma. Ukyou turned to gaze at him as well. All eyes turned to
regard him.
	"I only have the faintest of ideas," he said heavily. Andrew
sighed deeply.
	"Before Ken disappeared from our home, he had been disavowed. I'm
sure you all know that," he said quietly.
	Ranma and Akane nodded.
	"Immediately after being disavowed, a longtime rival of his
challenged him to a duel of honor," Andrew continued. "Brutus was a savage
fool that cared nothing about honor. It was merely a means for him to try
to obtain the power that my brother had harnessed from the Ethereals that
he possessed, as well as the sword, Long-Tzu.
	"Before Brutus disappeared into a void of his own creation, he
mentioned during one of his usual rants of bravado that he was going to
kill Ken without having to use his own sword. Apparently, Brutus boasted
that he had a device that was only the stuff of myth and folklore. Such a
device was described in the chronicles of The Monkey King, a story
frequently told to children."
	Dr. Tofu nodded. 
	"I believe I've heard the story once or twice before," he replied.
	Andrew nodded.
	"Do you remember how the Monkey King was reigned in from his
wanton behavior?" he asked the doctor.
	"If I recall, a pilgrim was given a helmet that could control the
Monkey King."
	Andrew nodded again.
	"As the story goes, an iron helmet was used to control the
disruptive behavior of the Monkey King by inflicting pain whenever the
Monkey King did anything wrong. The control of this helmet was passed to
the religious scholar making a pilgrimage to India; but it was never
mentioned in his recollection of the journey, and the Monkey King was
simply relegated to a story with the factual figure included in it.
	"Brutus professed to having discovered the device after butchering
a small religious enclave in Tibet. My guess is that Brutus was planning
on forcing Ken to commit seppuku using the artifact. Fortunately, my
brother was able to beat Brutus first."
	"So what does that have to do with Ken?" Ukyou asked quietly.
	"Whoever has the artifact now has employed it. I believe Ken's
behavior was caused by the device." Andrew turned to Ukyou. "You said he
was wearing a gold circlet."
	Ukyou nodded.
	"I also saw the gold circlet around his head," Andrew affirmed. "I
believe this is the device that Brutus was speaking of. Somehow someone
else was able to procure the circlet and use it on my brother. My guess is
that Ken had no idea the device actually existed for him to be fooled into
putting it on so easily. On the other hand, my brother is usually a
paranoid sort. Something must have affected him in such a way as to act
recklessly."
	Ukyou bit her lip and looked at the ground.
	"Moreover," Andrew continued, "I noticed that when he saw you,
Ukyou, he was able to temporarily break the line of force that controlled
him. I need to know what you did to him."
	All eyes turned to Ukyou.
	"I don't know. I just stood there, trying to get him to stop
acting so insane," she said quietly.
	"What is your relation to my brother?" Andrew asked quietly.
	"I gave him a job at my restaurant and a place to stay," Ukyou
replied.
	"I see. Is there anything else?"
Ukyou shook her head.
	"Ken's fighting ability stems from his ability to find strong
emotions and use them against his opponent. If he feels nothing, he can do
nothing," Andrew said frankly.
	"What does that have to do with me?" Ukyou asked indignantly.
	"Surely my brother feels differently about you than others if you
were able to help him break the mind control."
	"I don't understand."
	"Ken is my brother, and I was only able to hold off the effects of
mind control on him long enough for me to disarm him and allow him to
fight whoever or whatever was possessing him."
	"So?"
	"I'm the only family he has left. Both he and I care very deeply
for the safety of our family. He would lay down his life to save mine if
necessary. Would he do the same for you?"
	Ukyou flushed.
	"He's a martial artist. Isn't that in some book of honor?"
	"No, it isn't. Ken acts the way he does because he feels it is
right. Would it have been right for him to hand you his life on a silver
platter?"
	"What are you getting at?"
	"I think you know," Andrew replied quietly. "He must think very
highly of you to place you at a level near that of his own family. He
cares a great deal about you, doesn't he?"
	Ukyou broke down.
	"Yes, he does," she said quietly. "I knew he loved me after he
started working in the restaurant, and acting so nice to me. He was always
there when I needed him. I guess I fell in love with him," Ukyou replied
with a small smile. Andrew nodded.
	"But I don't know if he cares anymore. I've hurt him so badly."
	"Can you tell me what happened?" Andrew asked. "Perhaps I can
help."
	"We were taking a walk together and it was so perfect," Ukyou said
with a wry smile. Tears trickled down her cheeks and she took a second to
sniff away other tears and wipe the salty trails on her face away.
	"I don't even know why I'm telling you this," she continued,
shaking her head sadly.
	"You're telling me this because it could help change things,"
Andrew said firmly.
	Ukyou looked at him and nodded.
	"I guess we both knew how we felt about each other, and one thing
led to another and we started kissing," Ukyou said with a blush. "It felt
so perfect, just like a dream."
	Ranma fidgeted nervously when Ukyou's eyes met his. She turned
back to look evenly at Andrew.
	"I guess I ruined it when I said Ran-chan's name. I couldn't help
it. It was something I always wanted from him, but then I couldn't stop
thinking about Ran-chan. He took it so badly."
	"How can you blame the guy?" Nabiki said flatly.
	"Nabiki!" admonished Akane.
	"She's right," Ukyou said lamely. "It's all my fault."  She hung
her head in shame.
	"Ukyou, do you truly care about Ken? Deep in your heart do you
find love for my brother or some substitute for someone or something you
always wanted?"
	Ukyou looked at Andrew questioningly.
	"What do you mean? Why?"
	"If you truly love my brother, then there will be a way to help
him."
	Ukyou bit her lower lip as Andrew looked at her intently. She
gazed about the room, only to find everyone looking at her.
	"What if I don't know?" she asked timidly.
	"Search your heart. Love isn't something you don't know about.
When I married my wife, there wasn't a gray area involved. We knew we
loved each other. That was all that needed to be said about it.
	"Ukyou, you either love my brother, or you don't."
	Andrew raised a hand before Ukyou could protest. 
	"Go home and sleep on it. I must return to the dojo to prepare for
another encounter with my brother. We will call you when we need you; but
if you should find an answer, then come find me."
	Ukyou nodded sadly.
	Andrew turned to the door.
	"I apologize for the disturbance this has caused. There are some
things that should never have come to pass with regards to my brother. If
you see him or meet him again, do not interfere with his behavior. It may
only incite further harm upon him or you. I must meditate on this issue."
	As he left the clinic, all eyes turned to Ukyou. She simply stood
up and cast a final glance at Ranma and Akane before leaving.
 
	Ukyou sat alone in her restaurant, gazing at the grill. The
darkness of the night was encroaching upon the dining area. Only the pale
light from the streetlights and the moon cascading into the restaurant
provided any light. The pale halos played off the tables as the occasional
car passed through sending small beacons through the restaurant. She gazed
at the grill with a faraway look with a cup of tea, long since cold, in
her hands. As she gazed at the grill thoughtfully, images of playful
conversations and jest played before her. Images of Ranma talking and
laughing with her as she cooked him special okonomiyaki, with small hearts
on them, flew by; closely followed by images of her providing much needed
consolation after those intense fights he had with Akane during their
rough relationship. Each scene played out in turn, the words barely
audible, but the laughter and joy and the feeling of love and acceptance
were there.
	As Ukyou watched the scenes unfold, Ranma seemed to disappear.
Instead a friendly, thoughtful waiter took his place. She watched herself
share jokes and stories about themselves, as well as laughter and pain.
Ukyou blinked as she watched the two dream people stand by each other
closely, enjoying the simple company of the other. As if on cue, her dream
self and the imaginary Ken gazed at each other before embracing the other,
both saying words that she couldn't hear, but could plainly make out.
	"I love you," she watched them say to each other. It felt strange
watching them share those feelings, but she knew it had to happen. She
blinked once and found the images gone. She stood from her seat and placed
the cup of tea on the counter and sighed as she gazed out the windows. As
she walked towards the stairs she thought to how Akane had told her how
well Ken matched her. She had denied it at the time, but as she thought
about it, the more comfortable it felt.
	Ukyou walked towards her room, her mind still cluttered by her
thoughts of both Ranma and Ken. She opened the door to her room and a
stiff breeze rustled her hair. As she gazed into the darkness of her room,
she could see Ranma walking towards her. He had a smile on his face and he
reached out to her. Ukyou instinctively reached out to him. His hand took
hers and she felt an electrifying tingle shoot up her spine as his hand
caressed hers.
	"I love you," she heard him say. Ukyou smiled. It was just like a
dream. Nobody was going to interrupt them. This was time they would share
together, alone and completely open with one another. No family members to
interrupt them, no perverts, no impromptu splashes of cold water, and most
of all, no Akane. Ukyou's eyes focused on Ranma as he stood there smiling
to her. Akane wasn't there. No matter how much she wanted Ranma and cared
for him, she didn't love him like she used to. The reality of Ranma and
Akane loving each other was too much. Ranma never loved her the way she
wanted him to; and she couldn't love Ranma that way anymore. She watched
Ranma blur, but couldn't tell if it was from her own tears welling up from
inside. Ukyou hastily blinked and things had changed. 
	It was Ken that stood before her, holding her hand. Everything
suddenly changed. The warmth of his hand made her feel secure and wanted.
She stepped to him and felt strong arms wrap around her lovingly. It felt
real to her and it felt like it was destined to be that way. For Ukyou, it
was beyond a dream come true. Here was a man that loved no other and would
love no other woman as long as he lived. Ken comforted her when she needed
comfort, rather than trying to lighten the mood with a silly joke. The
warmth from his heart was the kind that came from love rather than
friendship. A fire burning deep in his heart had spread to hers and it
burned fiercely. Ukyou stared up into Ken's eyes and she saw him look at
her with only love, unconditional love. It brought tears to her eyes. She
hastily blinked them away and found herself alone in her room again, her
arms wrapped around herself for warmth. The window was open, allowing a
stiff breeze indoors, but she didn't feel the least bit cold.
	A smile worked its way to Ukyou's face, as things became clear.
Ken loved her and she loved him in return. She may have loved Ranma, but
it was over. There was only one man in her life again; someone who would
gladly lay his own life down for her. As Ukyou left hurriedly for the
Tendo dojo, she prayed that it would not come to that.
 
	Ranma was preparing to go to bed in the dojo as usual when he felt
the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He turned and looked about
the dojo, then walked to the doorway. As Ranma peered out into the
darkness outside, he felt a chill wind blow past him. He looked into the
sky and noticed the stars blinking amidst a sea of black clouds. They
swirled in the sky slowly blacking it out. Ranma couldn't make out the
moon, but remembered that it was time again for a new moon. There would be
no moon tonight.  As he reached a tentative hand out, felt the first few
drops of rain.  A low rumbling noise filled his ears as it made its way
softly through the atmosphere. He cursed his ill luck and quickly ran into
the house.  Something was about to happen.
 
	Ken sat in his cell, chained and tired. Mental exhaustion was
quickly becoming physical exhaustion. The mental torture Cologne was
putting him through to break his will was becoming increasingly more
violent. She would come every hour for a few minutes, trying to probe his
mind for traumatic events and then replayed them repeatedly, each time
adding to the violence and bloodshed that disgusted him. The images
replayed themselves many times after she left. She always accompanied it
with the taunting and the provoking that pushed the right buttons. It made
him more and more angry, but she always made sure the chains were felt. It
drained him of the ability to do anything. The chains were always there.
The more he thought about the more the chains and cuffs around his body
seemed to choke him, to restrain him.
	Like a common dog. 
	The voice resonated in his mind again. The voices were becoming
more and more frequent, and more and more intense. Ken knew what it was
and for the first time, simultaneously welcomed it and feared it. He
hadn't eaten since he'd been imprisoned. Bread and water was offered, but
he refused, choosing to starve rather than accept any quarter from his
captors.
	I will be free. We will be free. We will show them the true nature
of apocalypse. Chaos and destruction will reward those who seek to bend us
to their will.
	The voice maintained the repetitive tone. It was flat and
monotonous, but in a psychotic way. It was almost hypnotizing in its
monotony. Ken closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind of the cobwebs
that exhaustion produced. He could feel his hands pulling on the chains,
testing them for any weakness; a habit he developed within the first few
hours of being a conscious captive. It replaced the vivid flashbacks of
his parents being murdered. It replaced the memories of being disavowed
from his clan. It replaced a great many thing. His hands finished
searching the chains and repeated themselves instinctively. There was a
weakness in the chains and he would find it.
	The sudden flood of light from the doorway interrupted his habit.
Ken shielded his eyes and backed into a corner.
	"Stay still! I am here to help you," a voice commanded in a
whisper.
	Ken saw the light dim as the door was quietly shut. There was the
sound of hands searching the floor before meeting the chains that bound
Ken. Suddenly he found a hand grasping his shoulder.
	"I hope you remember me."
	"You're Mousse," Ken replied weakly.
	"Good. I'm here to help. I think I've got the key that will unlock
the chains. I can't remove the circlet I'm afraid; but I will do as much
as I can to help you otherwise."
	Ken could hear Mousse fumbled with a key, searching for the locks
that kept Ken chained. Mousse cursed quietly.
	"Damn these glasses! If only my eyesight were better."
	"I've got plenty of time," Ken replied with a weak laugh.
	"I think I've got it!" Mousse said triumphantly.
	Light flooded the room as the door was thrown open. Mousse
recoiled in surprise.
	"Water?!" Mousse exclaimed in surprise. 
	Ken felt himself doused with water as Mousse tried to duck behind
him.
	"You missed old crone!" Mousse crowed.
	As Ken's eyes adjusted to the light, he saw Cologne perched atop
her staff with Shampoo standing next to her. There was an empty pail in
Shampoo's hand. Both looked very displeased.
	"Mousse! What do you think you're doing?!" Shampoo shouted.
	"I'm doing what's right! I'm not going to let you use Ken like a
puppet for your own ends, Cologne. I know what you're planning!"
	"Do you?" Cologne replied casually. "Could you have planned this?"
	Cologne raised the gem and her eyes narrowed. Ken recoiled in pain
and agony. Shampoo took a step forward. Mousse took a step back and found
himself in a corner.
	"You're trapped Mousse. Give up now and we might not punish you
for this infringement."
	"And then what?" Mousse shot back. "You go on to destroy
everyone's lives with your new toy? What you plan on doing will only ruin
everything!"
	"On the contrary, the Amazons can only benefit from this."
	"You mean you will benefit from this. You know Ken will be forced
to kill Ranma. You know that you're using Shampoo for breeding fodder, and
you know that your honor and everything you hold dear with the Amazons
will be taken away if Shampoo comes back empty handed!"
	Cologne shook in fury.
	"Insolent wretch! You think this is purely for my own gain? You're
as misguided as you are blind! Ken, kill him!"
	Mousse shot a glance at Ken nervously. Ken stood shakily on his
feet. His eyes were focused with complete hatred.
	"No," he growled.
	"Your tenacity is admirable, but utterly futile," Cologne replied
casually. She focused again causing Ken to go down on one knee. Mousse
watched in horror as Ken's clenched fists started glowing and emanated
light like bright spheres. Ken rose to his feet and violently turned
lashing out with both fists. Mousse steeled himself for the end. He felt
the hands whiz by him and his eyes flew open. There was a loud explosion
and he felt debris and a cloud of dust blow into the room from behind him.
A foot planted itself firmly in his gut, throwing him off balance and
outside.
	"Mousse! Seek out my brother! He was with the Tendos when I fought
the boy at Furinkan. Seek him out and tell him everything you know! He
will help you!" Ken shouted out before doubling over in pain with a coarse
cry.
	Mousse scrambled to his feet. He could feel the first few drops of
rain coming from the blackening sky.
	"Mousse! If you remain, you will marry Shampoo. If you leave, you
will be cast out from the Amazons!" Cologne shouted. Shampoo turned in
surprise.
	Mousse froze in place, a hundred thousand 'what if' questions
racing through his mind. He steeled himself and made his decision.
	"I can't let you destroy everyone's lives like this, especially
not Shampoo's!" Mousse shouted. "Shampoo, I do this because I love you too
much!" he finished, and ran off into the night.
	"Shampoo! Follow the outcast and kill him at the first
opportunity!" Cologne commanded. Shampoo stared at her great grandmother
in wonder.
	"Go!" Cologne shouted in command.
	Shampoo bolted after Mousse, a heavy feeling in her heart.
	"We must prepare for the inevitable now. You have caused me a
great deal of trouble and you will pay for it dearly no," Cologne said as
she gazed at Ken's shaking form on the ground.
 
	"Please! You have to let me in!"
	A door opened and Ukyou burst into the Tendo household.
	"Where's Ken's brother! I need to speak to him right now!"
	Kasumi, in a nightgown, led Ukyou to the dining room where Andrew
sat in meditation. The Tendos and Saotomes began filing into the room.
Ranma hopped into the room, evidently running in from the dojo.
	"Looks like it's gonna to rain soon," Ranma said curtly. "So what
are you here for, Ucchan?"
	Ukyou turned to look at Andrew as he gazed at her questioningly.
	"I have your answer. I know how I feel about Ken."
	"Yes?" Andrew replied casually.
	Ukyou took a deep breath before breaking into a sheepish grin.
	"I love him. I really love him. I don't care if you think I'm
strange, or if anyone thinks I'm nuts. I fell in love with your brother.
Please tell me what I can do for him. I want to help him so much," she
implored.
	Andrew smiled.
	"Then there is a way to help him. I could tell that you were the
key to this. As I said before, Ken's ability to fight stems from his own
feelings. I think we may be able to break the control over him if you can
find a way to be with him.  He must be able to focus on his feelings for
you. It may buy me enough time to do what I have to do."
	"What's that?" Akane asked.
	"Kill whoever is using the circlet."
	All fell silent as Andrew finished his statement.
	"The only way I can be certain of freeing my brother is to kill
whoever or whatever is controlling him. Short of destroying the artifact,
I see no other alternative. The circlet is on his person and I do not
trust myself in this situation with the ability to destroy so powerful a
magical item without harming him."
	"So what do we do in the meantime?" Ukyou asked impatiently.
	"We wait for something to happen," Andrew replied solemnly.
	They didn't have to wait long. There was a loud crack of thunder
and rain began pouring from the sky in a deluge. Akane and Ukyou jumped in
surprise.
	"It's coming down pretty hard," Akane noted after recovering from
the shock.
	Ranma nodded in assent. As he gazed out, he couldn't help feeling
a sense of dja vu.
	A loud thud interrupted the profound silence that had settled in
the room. Ranma quickly opened the door to the yard to find a very dazed
and very wet duck wearing a pair of spectacles lopsidedly. 
	"Mousse! What are you doing here?" Ranma asked.
	The Mandarin duck started quacking incessantly. Akane reached out
to clamp his bill shut.
	"Can it wait until I get some hot water?" she asked.
	The duck violently shook his head no.
	"Get some water. Quickly!" Nodoka urged.
	Nabiki quickly grabbed the tea Andrew had left idle on the table
and tossed it on the duck. A very naked Mousse stood heaving, trying to
catch his breath. Kasumi quickly covered her eyes, and turned away to get
a towel.
	"Ranma! I have urgent news to bring you about your friend!" he
said to Andrew.
	"What do you know about my brother?" Andrew replied quickly.
	"Mousse, please try these on," Kasumi said as she walked to
Mousse. A hand covered her eyes and her other was outstretched with a
robe. Ranma quickly passed the clothes to the visually challenged guest.
Mousse quickly donned the clothes and adjusted his glasses.
	"Who are you, and where is Ranma?" he asked as he discovered that
he was talking to Andrew. Ranma grabbed Mousse by the front of his robe.
	"I'm over here. That's Ken's brother. Talk to him."
	Mousse turned back to Andrew.
	"I have urgent news regarding your brother!"
	"So you have said before. Speak quickly if it is that urgent."
	"Your brother is being held in the basement of the Nekohanten.
Cologne's used a magic circlet and ring to control his mind. He isn't well
at all, and I'm afraid that she will use him to assassinate Ukyou and
Akane."
	"Since when did you care about any of us?" Ukyou asked
suspiciously.
	"I may not have cared before, but since this directly affects my
beloved Shampoo, I have no choice but to act this way," Mousse replied. 
	"So what's going on?" Ranma asked.
	"Cologne was able to convince Shampoo that possessing Ken's mind
would be beneficial for everyone. I don't know how she did it, but she
did. In the meantime, Cologne's been doing something to Ken to weaken him.
It isn't pretty, I can assure you of that." Mousse turned to face Andrew.
"Your brother is in a great deal of pain. When I came to free him, he
looked like a wild animal."
	"Like fettered wolf?" Andrew asked.
	"I couldn't tell you, but he did act like a chained animal,"
Mousse replied.
	"Then that's all I need to hear," Andrew said gravely.
	"What's going on? I want to know what's happened!" Ukyou
protested.
	"All you need to know is that Ken is rapidly losing control of
himself. His deal with Fenrir and Janus is now about to change things very
drastically. I had hoped that it wouldn't come to this."
	"What's going on?!" Ukyou demanded.
	Andrew sighed heavily. All eyes turned to him.
	"This fellow here has rather conveniently described a situation
where my brother is being mentally tortured in order to break his
resistance to mental control. It's very simple. Torture a man enough and
he will break, no matter how strong his will is. This Cologne character is
trying to weaken Ken mentally to make controlling him easier.
Unfortunately, now that Ken is sufficiently weak, Fenrir and Janus will
take over, and all of us will be witnesses to the true destructive force
that Doom stands for."
	"Won't the circlet do anything to him?" Akane asked pensively.
	"Perhaps," Andrew replied, "or perhaps not. It is hard to say. I
am sure it will affect him, but to a much lesser degree than if it were
Ken in control.  I can only guess what Doom will do while wearing the
circlet."
	"So what do we do now?" Ukyou asked. "I can't help if he isn't
himself."
	"We stick to the original plan. I have to kill Cologne," Andrew
replied frankly.
	"What?! I can't let you do that, even if I hate the woman. She's
the matriarch of the Amazons!" Mousse screamed.
	Andrew grabbed Mousse with an iron grip.
	"Listen to me, and listen well. This Cologne person obvious had no
idea what was involved in using the circlet. Do you remember the stories?
Do you know where it's been referred to?"
	Mousse nodded dumbly.
	"When did the circlet disappear from the head of the Monkey King?"
Andrew asked.
	"At the very end, when he was being allowed into Heaven," Mousse
replied.
	"What does that imply, considering the person wearing it was never
supposed to be in Heaven in the first place?"
	Mousse's face drained.
	"Are you saying you can't get rid of it?
	"I can't take the damn thing off my brother's head, but I can get
rid of the person controlling him. That is the only solution to this
problem and I intend on pursuing it. As far as I can remember, no good has
ever come from someone enslaving another more powerful then themselves."
	"You have to be joking," Mousse said lamely.
	"I am not joking. I am dead serious about this. Unless you can
persuade this Cologne to rescind the use of the circlet, then perhaps
things will work out differently; but considering the fact that she
ordered my brother to kill someone, I highly doubt that will be the case."
	Andrew let go of Mousse who stepped back defeated.
	"She's coming here, you know," Mousse said quietly.
	"Why's that?" Ranma asked.
	"I was cast out from the Amazons for trying to help Ken escape;
just a few minutes ago in fact. She sent Shampoo out to kill me, but it
started raining. I flew out of the way before she could do anything. I'm
sure she will be coming here to finish what she started."
	"And what's that?" Ukyou asked.
	"Eliminating all obstacles between Ranma and Shampoo, and the
greater glory of the Amazons," Mousse said sardonically. "Even if it means
eliminating Ranma."
	"You're lying," Akane whispered.
	"I've thought it over too many times already. Why else would
Cologne possess Ken rather than Ranma? She'll use him to kill all the
other fiances and then force Ranma to marry Shampoo. If Ranma doesn't,
then she'll kill Ranma and force Shampoo to marry Ken," Mousse said
bluntly. "Either way, Cologne wins in the end."
	Silence ensued as the Mousse's words settled in everyone's minds.
The truth in his words was difficult to swallow. Thunder sounded in the
background like a trumpet call. It was promptly followed by a knock on the
front door.
	"I'll get it," Kasumi said quietly as she turned for the door.
	"No. If anyone should answer the door, I should. It could be a
trap," Andrew replied gravely.
	Everyone followed him as he made his way to the door. As he opened
it a flash of lightning cast light into the room, surprising them. Cologne
merely gazed at them from her perch on her staff. A small umbrella was
attached to the top of it making it look like a small mushroom.
	"I would like to speak with Ranma," she said simply.
	"Forget it you old hag! You can't force Ranma to marry Shampoo!"
Akane hissed venomously.
	Cologne simply raised an eyebrow in with an amused look.
	"Who said I would force Ranma into marriage. The decision is his,
and his alone, foolish child."
	"Then why do you want him to come out?" Akane asked as she moved
in front of Ranma to block off Cologne.
	"I never said I wanted him to come outside. I merely wished to
speak to him."
	"What do you want, you old ghoul?" Ranma replied coldly.
	"Is that any way to speak to your elders? You should respect
people older than you."
	"If you have something important to say, then say it, otherwise
take a hike."
	"Do you care about the people you are engaged to?" Cologne asked
bluntly.
	"What's that supposed to mean?"
	"Do you or don't you?"
	"Of course I do, but differently. I'm marrying Akane and that's
final," Ranma shot out. The conviction in his voice surprised Cologne, as
well as everyone else around them.
	"Then would you protect her with your life?"
	"Of course!"
	"Ukyou Kuonji, would you rescind your engagement to Ranma if it
meant saving his life?"
	"What do you mean?" Ukyou asked nervously.
	"If Ranma's life were in danger and absolving your relationship
with him would save, would you do so?"
	"I-It's pointless. I'm not engaged to Ranma anymore."  She turned
to look at Ranma evenly before turning back to stare at Cologne coldly.
"I don't love Ranma that way anymore. You can't use him like a bargaining
chip."
	Cologne simply chuckled.
	"Then the responsibility for everyone's safety lies with you,
son-in-law."
	Ranma winced at the words.
	"What are you talking about?"
	Cologne turned to face a stranger in a hakama and gi.
	"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you."
	"Dispose of the formalities. You must be Cologne. Am I correct in
assuming you are the one responsible for imprisoning my brother?"
	"Your brother?" Cologne asked intrigued.
	"Perhaps you are deaf, old woman. If you did not hear me the first
time, I trust you have less than enough brain power to continue this."
	Cologne reddened slightly.
	"Your brother is in very capable hands."
	"Capable is a relative term. I would prefer to use the word
culpable in this case."
	"What have you done to Ken?" Ukyou blurted anxiously.
	"Nothing he could have done to himself."
	"You're lying!" Mousse shouted.
	Cologne turned an evil glare to him.
	"You're an outcast from the Amazons. You have no credibility,
Mousse."
	Andrew stepped forward, staff in hand.
	"On the contrary, I find that he has more than enough credibility.
I'm sure you have Ken nearby. Bring him out."
	Cologne raised an eyebrow. Andrew lifted the jo in both hands.
	"Very well, if you would simply cast your eyes towards, the gate,
I'm sure you will be able to see him."
	Everyone's eyes froze when they saw Cologne bring a hand from
behind her back. A chain was in her fist. As their eyes traveled down its
length towards the front gate, a bolt of lightning struck, lighting the
area. Andrew frowned as Ukyou and Akane recoiled in surprise. Ken was in a
kneeling position cuffed and chained like a prisoner of war. He looked
barely conscious, and his body was shaking.
	"Oh my," Kasumi said softly.
	"The decision is yours, son-in-law. Marry Shampoo, or suffer the
consequences. She will be arriving shortly. I suggest you make up your
mind soon."
	"You call that a decision?" Akane spat.
	"It is as much a decision as it was to fight against Shampoo all
those years ago."
	"And what consequences will I suffer if I don't?" Ranma asked.
	Cologne simply tugged on the chain. Ken lurched forward, planting
his hands on the ground for support. A choked cry of pain came from his
lips.
	"Ken, what have they done to you?" Ukyou whispered.
	"If you do not marry Shampoo, I will ask Ken to fight you for
Akane's hand in marriage and to carry on the Saotome school of martial
arts. He will take the dojo from you."
	"And if I lose on purpose?" Ranma asked. Akane held her breath as
the Tendos and Saotomes looked at him in shock.
	"Then I will not be responsible for Ken's actions."
	"That's a crock!" Ukyou shouted.
	"Is it? I can not control how savagely Ken fights. I find it
harder and harder to persuade him otherwise."
	"Only because you've brought him to that level," Ukyou said
coldly.
	Cologne simply tugged at the chain. Ken barely moved.
	"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Andrew asked quietly.
"Do you know what kind of destructive force you will unleash if you drive
him over the edge?"
	"Of course I do. One doesn't live three hundred years and not
learn anything from it," Cologne replied.
	Andrew stepped forward.
	"You know nothing of what you're getting into. I think you're a
desperate old woman. I've heard everything from the Saotomes and the
Tendos. This ploy of yours is pathetic. It will get you nowhere and it
will only give you grief. I suggest you rescind the artifacts now."
	"And if I don't?" Cologne asked in an amused voice.
	"Then I will be forced to destroy you for the sake of my brother."
	"Would you fight your brother to get to me?"
	"I won't need to. You will be the one doing the fighting."
	"Is that so?" Cologne asked.
	Andrew didn't reply. Cologne simply tugged on the chain harder.
	Ken's head slowly rose to regard Cologne. The blank stare in his
eyes was still there. Lightning flashed once again, and as the thunder
rolled past them, they could see his eyes take on a new look. It was feral
and violent, and it pierced everyone to the bone.
	In his mind, Ken could hear the voices coming again, louder and
more forceful than before. He could see everyone that cared for him at the
door, facing Cologne with as much force as they could; but they knew that
he was still under her influence. The voices urged him to give up control
of his body.
	Give in to your anger, Avatar! The power you want is within you!
Release it, Avatar! Merge with it! Gain your freedom and have your
revenge! 
	Ken slowly closed his eyes. He didn't want to give in. He couldn't
give in, not with Ukyou watching. What would she think? She'd hate me, Ken
thought. She'd turn her back if she saw what I am.
	It is your nature! It is your destiny!
	No! Ken railed against the voices in his head.
	I am in control, he screamed against the voices. I am more
powerful than you!
	The voices were silent for a moment.
	Then why can't you move? Why can't you help those that you love?
Why can't you bring yourself to act? Do you love Ukyou? Would you let her
befall the same fate that your parents did?
	Ken's eyes opened wide. His hands gripped the pavement. The cuffs
bit into his wrist and the collar around his neck choked him. The feelings
of despair filled him again. Images of his parents dying played in front
of his eyes again. He sat paralyzed as they played repeatedly. Suddenly a
single thought pierced the haze, and it gripped him in fear.
	Kill Akane.
	It wasn't the voices of the Ethereals. It was clear and it
frightened him. It was Cologne's voice. It spoke again, uttering the same
command. Ken could feel his hands pushing him off the ground to his feet.
He felt himself moving like a zombie towards his friends. His mind
screamed for his body to turn around, but it didn't. Ken found himself
standing before his brother, and he heard a voice that was his, but wasn't
at the same time.
	"Stand aside."
	Ken saw his brother stare at him intently, almost in fear. Andrew
stepped aside, leaving Ranma and Akane. Ranma stepped in front of Akane,
barring Ken from moving forward.
	"Ken, you have to stop this! Fight it! You can beat the old
ghoul!" Ranma shouted.
	"Can he?" Cologne asked with a laugh.
	Ken saw his arm move like lightning striking out towards Ranma. He
mentally sighed in relief as Ranma easily blocked the blow.
	"Is that the best you can do?" Ranma shot at Cologne. A bonbori
striking his head was his answer. There was a flash of lightning, and
Akane made out Shampoo's form, standing on the wall surrounding the house,
rain running off the poncho she wore. Ken found himself grabbing Akane
roughly and throwing her to the sidewalk. Akane had no time to resist. She
stared up at Ken in fear. Cologne's voice rang out again. It commanded him
to kill her, and true to form, Ken found himself drawing his sword. Blood
dripped off the sword as the rain washed it clean. Akane looked at it in
horror before returning her gaze to Ken.
	"Blood," Ukyou whispered.
	Ken simply raised the sword silently, like an executioner. Ranma
struggled to his feet, but could only watch in horror as the sword tip
swung down in a deadly arc, it's tip aimed for Akane's throat. A hoarse
cry ripped from his throat and Ranma fell to his knees. Akane simply shut
her eyes tightly and prayed that she wouldn't feel anything.
	After feeling the rain for a few more moments, she opened her eyes
in surprise. Ken stood with the sword tip millimeters from her throat, the
tip shaking as violently as his body was. She could see the supreme effort
on Ken's part. It was eating him alive. Akane quickly shuffled out of the
way, but Ken appeared not to notice.
	Andrew smiled. The Tendos and the Saotomes breathed a collective
sigh of relief.
	"Give up Cologne. It's over," Ranma said coldly as he quickly took
Akane in his arms. When she felt his arms wrap around her, Akane broke
down.
	Ukyou took a hesitant step towards Ken. Ranma reached out to her,
but she brushed his hand away. As she walked up to him, she saw his hands
trembling violently.
	"Ken?" she called softly to him. He didn't respond. She turned to
look at Cologne who simply had an arm outstretched, a ruby red glow coming
from the middle finger. Ukyou could almost hear Cologne's teeth grinding
in frustration. Cologne finally screamed in frustration.
	"You will submit, you wretch! The Amazons are more powerful than
you can possibly imagine!"
	Ken shakily turned to face her. His face muscles twitched.
	"Give in, damn you!" Cologne screamed in fury. Her eyes burned in
intense hatred. "Submit!" she shouted. An intense red glow shot out from
her curled fist.
	Ukyou watched in fear as Ken seemed to lock up. He turned a vacant
stare to her, his blade rising. Ukyou mustered as much courage as she
could and took another step forward. She ignored the cries from Ranma and
Akane and fearfully reached out to the person she'd come to love. She
started to speak as Ken slowly brought the sword back for a killing lunge.
	"Ken, if you're going to kill me, then do it now; but before you
do, know that I loved you from the beginning. I'm so sorry it took so long
to say it. I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you and all the trouble
I've been. You were more than a friend to me. I'm the one who should have
been there for you all the time." Ken sword began its deadly arc, but
slowed to a halt as it neared Ukyou's heart. The tip touched her chest,
and Ukyou instinctively stepped back. She could see tears coming from
Ken's eyes. As she reached out to take his hands, the sword fell with a
clatter to the ground. Ken sank to his knees and he began trembling again.
Ukyou started sobbing and feel to her knees with him.
	"Ukyou?" he whispered hoarsely.
	"I'm here," she whispered back. Ukyou brought her face to his.
	"Help me."  It was barely a whisper.
	"Tell me what to do."
	"It's so painful. It hurts so much."
	Ukyou couldn't stop crying.
	"Make it stop. Please make it stop," Ken whispered in a small
voice.
	Ukyou turned to Cologne, the rain mixing with her own tears.
	"Haven't you done enough? I don't care about marrying Ranma
anymore! I don't want to marry Ranma anymore! Just leave Ken alone. Leave
us alone!" she cried. It fell on deaf ears.
	"Shampoo, get rid of this obstacle."
	Shampoo seemed to hesitate.
	"Are you an Amazon or aren't you?" Cologne shouted.
	Shampoo hopped off the wall and strode over to Ken and Ukyou. A
small sword flashed from a sheath on her hip. Ukyou hugged Ken tightly.
	"Shampoo, stop!" Mousse cried out. "Ukyou isn't an obstacle! Ken
isn't an obstacle! Are you an Amazon or aren't you?! Is this the way of an
Amazon? To kill people who can't fend for themselves?"
	Shampoo hesitated.
	"You know it's wrong Shampoo! You know the truth! You know it!"
Mousse shouted.
	"Don't listen to him, Shampoo! He's an outcast!" Cologne shouted
in return. Ukyou could see Shampoo hesitate. Strong arms suddenly lifted
Ukyou from her kneeling position. It was Ken, and there was a strange look
in his eyes.
	"Ukyou, get as far away from this as you can," Ken managed to say
in a broken voice. His body began shaking violently. Shampoo backed away a
step. Ukyou ran back to Andrew with a frightened look.
	"What's going on? He told us to get away from here."
	"It's exactly as I feared it would be," Andrew replied grimly.
	"What?! Is Shampoo in danger?!" Mousse asked hysterically.
	There wasn't time for an answer. Cologne took a fateful step
forwards and Ken saw her out of the corner of his eyes. He clenched both
fists and a feral animal cry erupted from his throat as blue electricity
exploded from his body. Andrew quickly stepped forward, slamming his jo on
the ground, and throwing a pouch out towards Ken. He uttered unfamiliar
words and a shimmering white field exploded from the tip of the jo. Ukyou
shielded her eyes, and watched in horror as a crater spread at an
incredible rate towards them from Ken's feet. The pouch exploded as the
shockwave of ki hit it and a blinding flare of light filled everyone's
eyes. Before she was blinded, Ukyou could make out the blue lightning
arced along the shimmering wall Andrew had erected. The ground shook
violently as if an earthquake had hit them. Ukyou fell to her knees and
everyone stumbled or fell over. The rumbling and explosions continued to
ring in her ears for what seemed to be an eternity before quieting to a
low rumble. When she opened her eyes, a scene of carnage was laid before
her.
	Trenches blasted out by the lightning marked the entire front of
the Tendo yard. They continued towards the houses across the street, and
far down the street. Blackened streaks marked their surroundings. Walls
surrounding houses were blasted down. Electric posts for hundreds of yards
were blown back, blacking out the surrounding houses, if not the city. The
shockwave had even cleared the sky of clouds, but the fires that burned on
trees and shrubs in yards surrounding the destruction drowned the stars
out. The fires even dimly lit their surroundings. Ukyou could only gaze at
the destruction in awe. Ken stood in the middle of a depression that sank
at least five feet into the ground and stretched out three or four feet in
a circle around him. Ken's body still arced electricity into his immediate
surroundings, and a wild feral look possessed him. Remnants of the chains
were still on him, and his clothes were mostly torn and burnt. The circlet
still remained, as did the collar. A low moaning noise came from his
throat and softly died out. Ukyou wondered where Cologne and Shampoo had
gone, but soon saw them crawling out from behind a broken down wall.
Shampoo looked hurt badly. When she turned to look behind her, Ukyou was
amazed to see the rest of the Tendo residence untouched. Everything that
lay behind Andrew during the explosion was untouched. Even the grass
continued to grow as if nothing happened.
	Ranma and Akane pulled themselves to their feet and the others
slowly rose from where they had fallen.
	"I don't believe it," Akane whispered.
	"What happened?" Ranma quietly asked Andrew.
	"Doom is awake," Andrew replied grimly.
	Ranma didn't have time to speak before Ken turned to look at the
destruction around him, all the while arcing electricity around him.
Andrew took a step forward.
	"We meet again," Andrew said calmly as he approached Ken's form.
	Ken seemed to ignore him as he felt the collar around his neck.
With an angry cry he ripped it asunder.
	"Freedom!" Ken shouted in triumph.
	Andrew stood across from Ken.
	"It's begun, hasn't it?"
	"All good things must come to an end."
	"Perhaps. Perhaps greater good may come from ending lesser joys."
	"Perhaps not."
	"Is Ken gone?"
	Andrew whirled about to see Ukyou standing timidly behind him,
peering around his shoulder. Ken approached her, the wild savage look on
his face softening.
	"You are Ukyou," he said plainly.
	"Is Ken dead?" she asked softly.
	"Ken isn't gone. He isn't dead. He's here," Ken said as he pointed
to Ukyou's chest, "and here," he finished, pointing at his own head.
"Only when the soul is destroyed, will I cease to be."
	"Then who are you?"
	"I am Doom. A creation borne from pain and strife. Ken would have
died if I hadn't intervened."
	"Did you do this?" she asked, looking about her.
	"Yes. I can do a great many things if I am so inclined."
	Ken pointed to a house offhandedly.  It exploded into flames.  Ken
flicked his wrist in a dismissive manner, sending rubble flying away from
them down the street.  Ken, or whoever he was now, looked about with a
bemused look on his face.  It looked like he was merely toying with his
surroundings.
	"Is it true that you only destroy things, not create them?"
	Ken laughed. The voice wasn't his.
	"My opposite has said a great deal about me, hasn't he?"
	Ukyou only nodded.
	"If you are wondering, then the answer is yes. I am a creation
devoted solely to the destruction of all things.  I purge those things
which cause imbalance to maintain harmony."
	"Then why haven't you killed me?"
	Ken looked at her quizzically.
	"Because Salvation saved you," he said plainly.
	"Andrew told me you destroy things to purge evil. I caused Ken so
much pain and anguish," Ukyou confessed tearfully, "so why is he gone and
I'm still alive?"
	"Because he loves you, and therefore, I love you."
	Ukyou blinked back tears.
	"What?"
	"Ken and I must share one mind and one body. I must feel the same
emotions that he feels. It is the nature of our binding."
	"Ken doesn't hate me? After what I did?"
	Ken laughed. Or was it Fenrir?
	"He could never bring himself to do that, silly child. If
anything, he is afraid that you despise him for who he is, and what he has
become because of it."
	"Can you bring him back?" Ukyou asked. "We have so much to do for
each other."
	"Have you forgotten your other?"
	Ukyou smiled as tears began falling down her cheeks again.
	"Yes. I have. I can for him."
	Andrew turned to look at his brother, as possessed as he was.
	"Know that your love makes him strong, Ukyou. With it, he can do a
great many things."
	"Will you bring him back?" she asked again.
	"I can not. It isn't his destiny to return now."
	Ukyou's eyes widened.
	"Why? Why won't you bring him back?"
	"It isn't his time anymore."
	"What's that supposed to mean?"
	Ukyou waited with baited breath for Ken, or whoever he had become
to answer. It never came. He simply screamed in supreme agony and crumpled
over. Bolts of lightning erupted from his body, striking around him
randomly. The force from an explosion threw her to the ground. She saw
Andrew take a blast to his chest and fall to his knees in pain.
	"I will win this battle, foolish girl! Ranma will marry Shampoo.
That is final! You're interference in my plans comes to an end now!"
Cologne shouted. The red glow from her hand had transformed itself into a
blood red bolt of lightning, emulating the energy coming from Ken's body.
Cologne turned to Ken's writhing form and lashed out, sending a bolt of
red energy at him. It connected with a sick frying sound, forcing more
cries of agony from Ken's possessed form. Whoever Ken had become, he was
resisting Cologne's control, but barely so. He clutched at the circlet
like a madman in a futile attempt to remove it.
	Suddenly, he staggered to his feet, his eyes going in and out of
focus. The sword leapt to his hand. As he advanced on Ukyou, she backed
away in horror.
	"Ken, don't do this! This is wrong! Fight the control!" Andrew
shouted. It fell on deaf ears. He turned and shouted arcane words, sending
a bolt of white light at Cologne. It hit her full blast, sending her
flying. Andrew advanced on her, his face a mask of rage. Ken's form
suddenly leapt down before him, sword drawn.
	"Kill him!" Cologne shouted through clenched teeth.
	Ken's sword lashed out in fury. Andrew blocked with the jo as fast
as he could. The two mystic weapons clashed, sending sparks flying. Andrew
parried every thrust. Ken blocked every strike. Ukyou could barely see the
sword and jo as they whirled around, striking, weaving and blocking. Only
the flying sparks and sound of clashing weapons showed they made contact.
Andrew blocked a strike downwards and twisted the staff forcefully. The
tip of the jo struck Ken's wrist with a snap. The sword dropped to the
ground as Ken roared in pain. Andrew gave no quarter and whirled the staff
around to strike Ken's temple. Ken blocked with his forearm, but was
knocked to the ground. Andrew brought the staff up to strike down upon
him.
	"No!" Ukyou shouted as she threw herself on his body.
	Andrew stopped the staff inches from the base of her neck.
	"What are you doing?!" he shouted.
	"Don't kill him! You can't kill him! I love him, can't you accept
that?!"
	"It's not a matter of accepting it or not! There's no other way!
He's under her control!"
	Ukyou found strong arms pushing her off Ken's body. It was Ken
himself. There was a sudden clarity in his eyes.
	"He's right, Ukyou," he whispered shakily.
	"Ken?" she asked in surprise.
	"Kill them both!" Cologne screamed.
	Ken turned to glare at Cologne coldly.
	"No. Make me. I dare you to make me," he said flatly.
	Ken rose to his feet, grunting in pain with every movement. Ukyou
could see the circlet tightening around his head, bruising it.
	Ken staggered forwards towards his brother.
	"Do it!" he shouted.
	"What?" Andrew asked in shock.
	"Finish it! You have to kill me!"
	"Are you insane!"
	"You were ready to do it before!"
	"I thought Doom was under her control. This changes everything!"
	"This changes nothing. I can't last much longer against Cologne.
I'm too weak. I was always too weak! I couldn't save mother or father when
it counted. I failed them! I failed our family!"
	"Where did that come from?!  What's done is done - either way, I
can't kill you!"
	"You have to! Give me back my honor! You're family. This is what
family is about!"
	Andrew recoiled in surprise.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
"I failed to protect our parents!  I failed them!  My life means nothing
now!  I killed them!"
	"No, you didn't!  You couldn't save them!  Nobody could!"
	"I should have.  It was my sworn duty to protect them."
	"It was our sworn duty to protect them - our duty.  It was both of our
responsibilities.  I failed in that respect as well.  I am just as
guilty!"
	"You weren't there!  You weren't the one bound and helpless on the 
floor, choked back like some dog.  I was the one there.  I was the one
that had to watch!  I was the one!"
	"That doesn't make you less of a man than anyone else."
	"It makes me worse.  I lost everything because I couldn't fulfill my 
duty as our father's son!"
	"That doesn't mean you have to die!"
	"My death solves everything! Don't you understand? I can't last
much longer," Ken forced through clenched teeth. "And this is the only
way. It's the way of the prophecy!"
	"Dammit, I can't do that!" Andrew shouted.
	"Remember the prophecy! Dark and Light must unite one day; and one
of them must shirk away. Force two to one to Ragnarok, if pure evil run
amok. To make Doom more, to his will bend, Salvation must have seen his
end. For Illumination, Doom must die, sprout forth bat wings and to Hell's
gates fly. The death of one brings forth the next; lost spirits win, and
Death regrets."
	"I can't! This isn't the way!"
"It's the way that was set for me, for Doom! Illumination must return!
Doom must die!"
"Then what about Ukyou?  What about your love for her?  Would you give up
that much for your petty want of honor?"
Ken averted his gaze.  A hundred thousand thoughts raced through his mind,
and in the end, Andrew was right.  He loved Ukyou far too much to care
anymore.  Ukyou was all that mattered.  She'd said that all that mattered
was love.  Now all that mattered to Ken was Ukyou and her love for him.
He looked to her and finally understood how much they had come to share.
	"Enough of this nonsense!" Cologne shouted. The gem glowed again
and another bolt struck him in the back. Ken crumpled screaming in pain.
Bolts of energy shot out again, and Ukyou jumped clear of its path. Andrew
tried rushing to his brother's aid, but a bolt struck him in the chest. He
fell to the ground roaring in pain. Cologne pushed Shampoo forward.
"Finish them, Shampoo!"
	Shampoo's eyes darted from her great grandmother to Ken's writhing
form. Her eyes momentarily locked with Ukyou's. There was immeasurable
pain there. Fear of loving and fear of losing were all wrapped up in a
small bundle that flashed when Shampoo looked into Ukyou's eyes. She
looked back to Ken again.
	"What are you waiting for?" Cologne demanded.
	Shampoo suddenly lunged for the bracelet and ring Cologne wore.
She wrestled with her great grandmother before being thrown back.
	"Have you gone mad?" Cologne shouted in Chinese.
	"No! You are the one that is mad. You would kill everyone to
satisfy your own ends?"
	"This is for you, Shampoo! What are you talking about?!" Cologne
said in surprise.
	"This isn't for me! You want to make Ranma say he loves me! You
want to force this marriage. You want me to give up having Ranma truly
love me! I don't want anything to do with it!" she screamed as tears
flowed freely down her face.
	"You and Mousse are the same!" Cologne shouted in Japanese so all
would hear her. "You are no Amazon! You are a traitor to the village!"
	"Shampoo no want to be Amazon if being Amazon mean being like
great grandmother! Shampoo no want to be like evil Cologne!" she shouted
at the top of her lungs.
	"All of you will pay for this!" Cologne shouted. She pointed the
gem at Ken and liquid fire erupted from it bathing Ken in a bright blood
red glow. Ken screamed in pain again.
	"I won't hurt them! I won't kill any of them!" Ken shouted
repeatedly. Ukyou's mind froze as she watched in horror as Ken's clothes
caught fire and red lightning arced across his body, burning it.
	Suddenly, out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Ranma leap out at
Cologne, in an attempt to kick her while her concentration was focused on
Ken. Cologne jumped out of the way, breaking contact with Ken as she
quickly moved in and out of Ranma's attacks.
	"You'll pay for this Cologne!" he shouted in anger. His fists
became a blur as he began using every technique had had ever learned.
Cologne quickly blocked and jumped out of the way. She found herself face
to face with Andrew. He was heaving in pain, but his staff flew out at her
quickly. Cologne whirled her own staff to block the strikes and blows.
Andrew kept up his attack relentlessly and Cologne felt fear creeping
through her veins. A myriad of chains shot out from behind her, entangling
her and bring her to the ground.  Andrew's staff struck her in the chest
as she fell, throwing her several yards back and into a wall. The chains
went limp as Mousse quickly discarded them and ran to Shampoo's side. She
clutched at him as she cried.
	Ukyou swiftly made her way to Ken's side. His clothes had
smoldered and he seemed barely conscious. Blood was trickling from a host
of places around the circlet. Ukyou cradled his body in her arms.
	"Ken, don't die. You can't die now. Please don't die," she
stammered hysterically.
	"Ukyou," he whispered hoarsely. His eyelids fluttered.
	"I'm here for you, Ken-chan. I'll always be here for you." She
gripped his body in her arms and nestled her face against his.
	"I'm so sorry, Ukyou."
	"Shut up. Don't be sorry for anything. It's not your fault."
	"I'm so tired."
	"Don't close your eyes. Don't you dare close your eyes!"
	"I won't," Ken managed a weak smile.
	"I love you. I don't love Ranma. I'm over him, but I won't get
over you if you die," Ukyou finally managed as tears fell from her face to
wet Ken's cheeks.
	"I love you too. I should have said so before."
	"I'm sorry I never told you before," Ukyou said apologetically.
	"It's nothing to be ashamed about. People have trouble saying
things sometimes."  Ken grit his teeth and choked back the pain.
	"You have to hang on. Bear with the pain for just a minute longer.
Tofu-sensei will be here any minute, and then we can go on living our
lives together."
	Ken forced a weak laugh.
	"It's okay. I can't feel anything. Now that you're here, the
pain's gone."
	"I'm glad. Just hang on, Ken-chan. Hang on for me."
	"For you, anything," he whispered.
	Ukyou bent her face forward and they kissed again. It was a deep
kiss that reached from the bottom of her soul. She poured everything she
knew about love into it. She gave herself to it.
	"Ken-chan," she whispered as she broke the kiss. "Don't leave me.
Please don't leave me."
	Ken closed his eyes and breathed slowly. Ukyou looked about her.
Ranma was hugging Akane, calming her. Mousse was doing the same with a
hysterical Shampoo. Andrew had made his way to the Saotome family, trying
to usher them inside despite Nodoka's protests. The Tendos weren't
anywhere to be seen. Peace seemed to settle in amidst the flames and
destruction. Ukyou noticed the rain had stopped long ago. The silence of
fighting brought calm to the area; but it didn't last long.
	Mousse was the first to notice the chains stirring. He scooped up
Shampoo with little protest from her and leaped out of the way. Ranma
pushed Akane back behind her and stood ready for another fight. Cologne
crawled out of the heap of chains and rubble. She muttered something
unintelligible before raising the hand that held the bracelet and ring
again. The red light flickered to life, but didn't flare.
	Ken stiffened in Ukyou's grasp. She quickly turned a concerned eye
to him.
	"Ken-chan, I know you can fight it. Please fight it. Fight it so
we can be together again."
	"I don't know if I can without bringing them out again," he said.
	"Then do what you have to do."
	"But what about you?"
	"What about me?"
	"Aren't you afraid of what they could do to you?"
	"No. I know our love is stronger than anything they can manage.
You and Doom are the same person, the same being. You don't give anything
up by changing, not even our love."
	Ken's eyes flared momentarily. As Ukyou's words echoed through his
mind, everything became clear. He had ignored everything regarding the
prophecy for too long. For too long, he'd misunderstood it, even though
he'd been given the clues all along. He knew the time of opportunity had
come and passed. It was no longer a time of opportunity, but of
retribution.  Ken mustered his strength and slowly, painfully, got to his
feet. He held out a shaky hand and called for his sword. It materialized
in his hands in a flare of electric sparks.
	"Ukyou, I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I never
knew what love was until I met you. I'm sorry that it's come to this. I
wish there were another way," he said as he turned to face Cologne.
	"Ken, what are you doing?"
	"Please remember that I love you, and that I'll always love you."
	Andrew looked at Ken, and met his gaze. An unspoken understanding
was met. Andrew took Ukyou by the arm and tried to move her away.
	"What are you doing?!" Ukyou said as she yanked her arm away from
Andrew's grasp.
	"You have to get away from him. There's something he has to do,
and you shouldn't be near if you want to live."
	"Then let me stay with him, I couldn't bear to go on if he left
me," Ukyou said pleadingly.
	"Ukyou, please go with my brother. It's best that you go with
him."
	"Why? What are you doing?"
	"I'm going to do what I should have done before. If you love me,
then you'll go with my brother."
	"I won't leave you!" Ukyou said firmly.
	Ken pulled on the bottom of the sword handle. There was a small
popping noise and Ken turned to face Ukyou again. He took her hand in his,
and she felt him press a small bead into her hand.
	"Take this, and I'll always be with you, Ukyou."
	"What is it?"
	"It's a dragon pearl. It's a sign of my undying love for you. I'll
always be with you if you keep it close to your heart.  Hold it near and
wait for me."
	Ukyou took the opalescent sphere. It had the diameter of a dime
and shone brightly of swirling colors. She gripped it tightly and slowly
backed away from Ken under Andrew's guidance.
	Cologne regarded Ken warily. She had sent command after command to
his mind, and despite the obvious pain that the constricting circlet was
producing, he calmly continued acting independently of her. She summoned
her strength and sent a final mental command. She could see Ken begin
wavering.
	"This ends now, Cologne. It all ends now!"
	Ken felt the circlet crushing his skull. He thought back to how
much Ukyou loved him, and how much he loved her. Their love was all that
mattered now, and it steeled his resolve. Ken gripped the sword by the
blade. He ran his right wrist down the blade, and then his left. Blood
began pouring from the open wounds. Ken calmly took the blade again and
slashed once on the inside of his left elbow and then again on his right.
With a slight flourish he stabbed the sword into the ground before him. A
hoarse cry erupted from his throat as the blood began flowing from the
open wounds. Ken clenched his fists as he felt the blood leaving his body.
He closed his eyes and focused his mind and body for one final blow.
	Ukyou saw the blood begin to boil around him and rise in hypnotic
swaying tendrils. Lightning arced from his body to the tips of the scarlet
tendrils. Heat and light began emanating from Ken's body as he continued
to roar. The lightning strikes seemed to multiply exponentially around
him, and Andrew moved her further away. The tendrils continued to sway and
swirl around Ken's body like dancing snakes. The lightning continued to
arc and blackened the ground where they struck. As Ukyou backed away, she
could begin to see a pattern being traced out by the arcing lightning.
Andrew stared in awe at his brother.
	"What's going on? What's he doing?" Ukyou asked worriedly. She was
becoming extremely anxious as blood continued to flow from the slashes on
Ken's arms.
	"He commencing a final attack. Ken's going to use a soul boosted
final attack. I've never seen such power from him before," Andrew
whispered.
	"Will he die?" Ukyou asked on the verge of hysteria.
	Andrew remained impassive and continued to stare. Ukyou turned her
gaze to Ken and was shocked by what she saw. The lightning now maintained
an arc between Ken and the ground and several bolts were tracing out a six
pointed star. The tendrils were entwined around each bolt of blue energy
and seemed to sway and guide each arc of electricity. Light was erupting
in a large column from his position. Ken had stopped his battle cry and
seemed to stand immobile, quivering from the raw power coursing through
him. There was loud snapping noise and Ken's head fell back momentarily,
before righting again. Ken staggered slightly before throwing both hands
outstretched before him.
	Tendrils of blood seemed to fly in a swirling jerking mass of
scarlet threads. Cologne couldn't dodge the onslaught and desperately
tried to minimize the damage. Ukyou saw tendril after tendril pierce
Cologne's body, the impact bringing out a cry of pain from Cologne's lips.
They stabbed like knives and showed no mercy before falling to the ground
to leave red trail from Ken to her body. Six pillars of lightning arced
from six corners and converged on Ken as if he were a focusing point. The
giant bolt of energy crackled around him like a giant blue dragon from
Chinese lore. It seemed to arc into the sky, pause for a split second and
the shoot out towards Cologne. Smaller arcs of electricity ran through the
trails of blood electrocuting Cologne and immobilizing her before the
giant electric dragon struck her in the chest. Ukyou Saw Cologne
convulsing and screaming in agony. Ken continued to channel energy at his
opponent as he ran forward, grabbing his sword from its place in the
ground in a smooth motion. Ken roared another battle cry while he ran at
Cologne, bringing up the sword for a killing stroke. Cologne seemed to
reign in her pain momentarily and shot an arm out Ken as he rushed.
	"Bakusai Tenketsu!" Cologne screamed as she struck Ken in the
middle of his chestplate. 
	Ukyou could see Ken's body jerk back as shards of his armor ripped
through body from the impact. A loud explosion rung in Ukyou's ears. Both
of Ken's arms shot forward, grabbing Cologne's outstretched arm. Ukyou
quickly shielded her eyes with her arms as a flash of white light exploded
from Ken's body, all the while channeling electricity through Cologne's
body.
	When the silence of death dawned upon Ukyou, she slowly opened her
eyes. And looked around. Where Ken and Cologne had stood, there was a
large crater. She rushed there, picking her way through the fragments of
rubble. She frantically dug away at the rocks covering Ken's body. The
sight of his battered, bloody body appalled her, yet she kneeled down
beside him gently turning his body over. His chestplate had exploded
burying shards of his armor in his chest like daggers. Blood still coursed
out of his body in small rivulets. Ken's face was spattered in blood and
his eyes were completely vacant. She cradled his body as her own was
wracked by sobs. Ukyou's head fell forward limply as she felt her world
slipping away from under her. She felt a hand slowly raise and touch her
forehead.
	"Ukyou."
	She could barely hear his voice. He wasn't looking at her, but
rather past her as if blind.
	"Ken-chan, why did you do this? Tell me why!"
	"It was the only way," he whispered painfully. He struggled to
speak again. "Can you take off the circlet?"
	Ukyou looked at the stained gold band around his head. A crack
stretched its length and she pulled it apart. She could see the
indentation it had made in his skull, the skin broken and bleeding. Ukyou
suppressed the urge to vomit.
	"Where's my brother?" Ken whispered.
	Ukyou looked up as a shadow fell across her.
	"He's here," she whispered softly.
	Ken tried to swallow, but red foam trickled from the corner of his
mouth instead. Ukyou could see the blood slowly stop flowing from the
wounds on his body. She looked up at Andrew with tears coursing down her
cheeks, falling on Ken's body.
	"Can't you do anything? Can't you save him?!" she whispered.
	Andrew looked down at his brother, the vacant look in his eyes.
The light must have blinded him, he thought. The explosion mostly likely
had liquefied his entrails. His brother was dying and in extreme pain, so
much that his body refuse to respond; yet there was one message he was
able to convey with his body.  Ken was pleading with his second, with his
kaishaku, to do his honor-bound duty.
	"There's one last thing I must do for him," Andrew said quietly.
Ukyou gingerly passed Ken's body to Andrew as he knelt down next to his
brother's broken body. She stepped away, the scene before her blurring
away as tears flooded her eyes. A hand gripped her shoulder. She turned to
see Nodoka standing behind her, at tears as well. Soun and Genma stood,
paled by Ken's condition. Ranma and Akane stood side by side, both silent
from shock. Even Mousse and Shampoo stood silently wearing masks of
neutrality. Ukyou buried herself in Nodoka's arms like a child.
	Andrew slowly helped his brother into as close to a kneeling
position as possible before retrieving Ken's sword. It lay intact, and
untouched amidst the rubble. With tears forming in his eyes, he regarded
his brother as he knelt there. Ken's dying breath played past his lips.
Andrew gripped the sword firmly and steeled himself for the final strike.
Everyone save for Ukyou stared at him in awe and sadness.  Ukyou refused
to watch.  As he brought the sword up, he could hear Ken's thoughts
traversing through his own mind, speaking to all that could hear.
	Forgive me Father. Forgive me Mother. I have sinned and brought dishonor
to our family. With this act, I absolve myself of the blood that has
stained my hands for so long. Forgive me Father. Forgive me Mother. I have
failed you...
	As he felt tears fall from his eyes, Andrew spoke one word firmly and it
resounded across the crater.
	"Family." 






 *	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	* 	* 
Ethan Tsai
1 N. College Street
Northfield, MN 55057

TSAIE@Gridley.ACNS.Carleton.edu
http://public.carleton.edu/~tsaie/ethan.html