Here's the final chapters. C&C welcome. I'd like to thank you for your nice
little comments about my first post.
Moments in Time
By: Paul Sampson
Standard Rumiko Takahashi disclaimer on all. Please don't sue,
you wont get much. I have a nice paperclip if you really want it.
Chapter 15
Hero's Death
"How many made it back?" asked Ranma.
"Happosai didn't," responded Cologne, "when the building
collapsed he went to save others and got crushed himself."
"WE had an 80% loss," responded Hiroshi, "They had heavy
artillery at the back."
"Kuno," said Ukyou, "saved your mother and I during the
flee from the building, it cost him his life. Your mother
was hurt during the explosions that followed. Your father
is with her now."
Ryouga looked closely at Ranma as he lay there, "Hey
Saotome, where's the Ice Queen."
"You don't want to know," responded Ranma," it's a long
story."
"We have some time." Cologne motioned for Ryouga to
move away. She then took a long look into his eyes and
saw something she hadn't expected, sadness.
Ranma took a deep breath and began his tail.
***
We, Nabiki and I, were running through the halls. We
had just passed sector eight when sector seven collapsed.
I turned to her and asked which way.
"Too much confusion," she responded, "Though is gets s
stronger the higher we go"
After a couple of flights of stairs we decided it was
too dangerous with all the drones. We opened the doors
for an elevator shaft and looked. The lift was about ten
floors up, and with a few well placed chi blasts the lift
was about ten floors down. WE climbed, or should I say I
climbed and she road on my back, up till she had the floor
confirmed.
The only problem was that the entrance to the main room
had it's only door in sector seven. The walls themselves
were about four feet of pure steel. Hey Ryouga, wish ya
were there. So back to the shaft so we could try the
ceiling.
I positioned myself above the main room. The first part
was just cement, that was easy. I blasted a hole past
the wiring and pipes only to find more steel. In mid jump
into the small hole Nabiki yelled at me to stop. I didn't
listen and wound up in the floor below. The steel had just
been an air duct.
Looking up I was surrounded by twelve figures clad in
black cloaks. The fight didn't last long and upon
decloaking I found them to be skinny little people. I
recognized one of them, Gosenkugi,
I remembered from Kasumi's story that it had all been
that little twerp's fault. As I jumped at him the other
eleven jumped me. That was when I got a good look at
them, they were drones like the other.
"So Mr. High and Mighty Saotome finally came,"
Gosenkugi started, Kodatchi madness in his voice, "All
this time I had hoped you lived. Since the unfortunate
death of my love my hatred for you has grown a million
fold. There is nothing left for me, and thanks to my
servants there shall be nothing left for anyone."
"I don't think so," came a voice. After a brief
glance I spotted Nabiki at one of the many computers
lining the room. She was smiling, not her old predatory
smile but one of joy. She looked right at me, "Ranma
jump. I know it's forty floors, but jump." I asked
her why, to which she responded, "I know I can never be
forgiven, but if you love my sister jump."
So I jumped, straight out the sector seven gap. As I
fell I found it strange that I kept level with the same
floor. In the floor I could see Nabiki holding Gosenkugi
in place, and smiling all the while. That was when I
figured out what was happening. Too late though, then
next thing I remember is waking here.
***
"Your father carried you," said Ukyou.
"Ranma," said Cologne while still staring at him,
"You called her Nabiki."
"Yes I did," Ranma replied, "She ended the war, freed
the drones, and almost saved my life. She was a good
friend, and I'll miss her."
"We'll miss you old buddy," said Ryouga.
"I can't stay awake any longer," said Ranma, "I love
all of you, and forgive you for everything. (Looking at
Cologne) I do mean everything. Tell mom and pop I said
bye. Enjoy life, and don't let memories of me keep you
from that. Hey, don't be sad I'll be with Akane and
all the others. We'll watch over you."
Nothing was said for a long time until Cologne spoke
up, "Ranma Saotome is gone, the world will always remember
him and the others who died in this war."
Epiloge
The building that had been Shadow Headquarters was
buried under tons of new cement. A top the mound was
a statue of Ranma, in a fighting stance with his head
held high. Inscribed in the base of the statue were the
names of the many who died in the finial battle.
Only very few ever knew the location of Ranma's body.
Buried next to the body of his love, Akane. All those
who knew thought it was a noble gesture. The spot is
taken care of by the highest order in the Church of Ranma.
All other churchs collapsed after it's creation. It's an
interesting religion with betterment though spiritual,
emotional, psychological, and physical means.
The technological age of the world was over, and from
it's ashes rose a new world of peace. A place where honor
and loyalty were rewarded and doors no longer needed locks.
Technology was not abolished but all technology had to
first been cleared by the council then the president.
That council was made up of the the remaining people
Ranma gave his blessing to. Ryouga for his heart, Kasumi
for her kindness, Tofu for his skills, Genma for his
experiance, Nodoka for her maturity, and Cologne for...
well for being Cologne. It was decided by all that should
one ever parish then their replacement must have the same
quality.
As for the President, Miss Ukyou was elected in 1/1/01.
The past was not to be forgotten but not remembered fondly.
Since the world was starting over so should the calendar.
Ukyou and Hiroshi had five beautiful kids. Two boys and
three girls. She died at the age 105 in her bed. He died
a few years later from a stroke.
Ryouga continued his travels of the world. He one day
found a farm untouched by the war, and fell in love
with the girl who lived there. Ryouga and Akari had two
strapping boys. One of which married Ukyou's youngest
daughter. He died during the storms of year 97 saving a
young child.
Kasumi and Ono Tofu had only one daughter, named Akane.
She was the bride of Ryouga's other son. They lived their
lives traveling between the different villages teaching
about medicine and helping the sick. Tofu died in service
to the people at 75. Kasumi continued his work until she
became too weak. She died at the age of 95. The Nurses
of Kasumi, or N.O.K, carries on their work.
Genma and Nodoka had a tough couple of years following
their sons death. After help from their friends they got
it back together. They lived the rest of their lives in
peace, with Genma teaching the art to all who asked.
Any Thing Goes is the new way of sports. He died at 90,
she at 85.
Cologne spent the rest of her days teaching Ukyou, Ukyou's
children, and Ukyou's grandchildren, all she knew. Ukyou's
lineage was all that would remain of the great amazons. The
stories would be told till the end of time. She died at the
over ripe age of 500. Her final words were, "Must it have
taken as much death as this before the world achieved peace."
------------------
Read my other fics at
http://PaulSamp.tripod.com/
Paul Sampson
TTFN!!!!
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