Akane stares at the scene in front of her as she walks towards the two in front of her, footsteps making crunching sounds on the pebbly remains of the stone door of Lina's room. Lina is lying covered only in a white sheet on her stone bed, face down, with Ranma sitting besides her.
Akane : "Ranma, what are you doing?"
Ranma stares while his hands are still on Lina's shoulders, giving her a massage. He blinks and swallows, but he can't speak. He begins to sweat nervously as Akane stalks up to Lina and glares at the two of them. Lina looks back at Akane, equally surprised.
Lina : "Oh.... er, welcome."
Akane keeps staring at the two of them and points at Ranma's hands, moving down from her shoulders to her bare, wingless back and rubbing them.
Akane : "What is the meaning of this?"
Lina smiles sweetly at Akane as Ranma's hands move even further down her body.
Lina : "Why, your darling Ranma's giving me a massage, what else? Would you like to join me?"
Akane glares darkly at Ranma, who's shaking with nervous energy and sweating with a passion as he keeps kneading Lina's back. She folds her arms and starts tapping a foot.
*tap* *tap* *tap*
Akane : "What else indeed. Ranma, why are you massaging Lina?"
Ranma tries to open his mouth to speak, but Lina waves a hand at him and his mouth shuts, NOT of his own accord.
Lina : "Why, maybe it's because he likes me more than you?"
Akane : "Wha-"
Lina : "Enough to get..... more intimate with me?"
Akane : "WHAT!?"
Akane stomps the floor with a heeled boot, smashing a hole into the
stone floor as she leans forwards with fists clenched. Eyes wide, Akane's
face is burning up with heat and hatred as Lina watches. She takes a few
more steps towards the two of them with murder in mind and fists clenched.
While Ranma watches Akane approach with that deadly fire in her eyes
and starts to quake in his shoes even under Lina's compulsion, Lina appears
bored. When she's a few steps away from the two of them, Akane growls.
Akane : "I am going to kill you, Lina."
Lina laughs, then slowly gets off the stone bed. She summons some clothes on, then takes a few steps to the side.
Lina : "I don't think so, right, Ranma-kun?"
Lina opens her palm to Ranma, still sitting on the bed, and he nods.
Ranma : "Yes, Lina." <What am I saying!?>
Akane watches as Ranma gets off the bed and steps towards her. Stopping in front of Akane, Ranma stares at her. Darkly.
Lina : "Well then, Ranma-kun.... in that case, why not get rid of her?"
Ranma : "Very well." <NO! I'm not gonna hit her!>
As Ranma drops into his ready stance, Akane takes a few steps back, eyes wide in shock.
Akane : "R...Ranma? W...wait! This wasn't what I had in mind!"
Ranma swings his hand in a dismissive gesture, shouting at Akane fiercely.
Ranma : "Shut up! You've always wanted to hit me without holding back for a long time, haven't you!? This is your big chance!" <What the....!?>
Akane barely has time to dodge Ranma's first kick as soon as the words are out of his mouth. Pivoting on the balls of his heel as he brings his foot down from the kick, Ranma switches feet to come in with a roundhouse at Akane's head. Akane barely manages to dodge the kick and leaps backwards with her arms crossed defensively in front of her as she tries to ward off Ranma's next attack, a running flying kick.
Akane : "Ranma! What are you doing!?"
As Akane hops off to one side to avoid the sliding sweep kick that follows Ranma's flying kick, Ranma growls.
Ranma : "You've always wanted to fight me for real, haven't you, Akane? Well, what are you waiting for!?" <Waitaminute! I don't mean this!>
Akane : "Ranma....?"
The fight moves out into the corridor, where Akane flies out the doorway and stops a small distance down the tunnel. She turns to look at the doorway where Ranma is stepping out of now, Lina in tow. Shadows cover Ranma's face, making him look more sinister than he already is. Lina just stands there and smirks as Ranma charges Akane and tries an uppercut, which Akane somersaults backwards to avoid. She barely manages to catch the blow aimed at her neck on the way down though, as Ranma brings his raised arm at her, elbow first. She tries to kick Ranma away without hurting him, but Ranma simply hops backwards and folds his arms, smirking. Akane staggers slowly towards the two, breathing heavily.
Ranma : "What's the matter, Akane? No heart for the fight? Maybe this'll wake you up! Kachuu tenshin amaguriken!" <NO! STOP!>
Akane's eyes widen for a second, but she quickly recovers and brings her wings up just in time as Ranma's fists begin to connect. They thud relentlessly off her wings, Ranma pounding away mercilessly at her. A small distance away, Lina laughs.
Lina : "How does it feel to be hit by your.... former lover.....? Hurts, doesn't it?"
Akane watches Lina laugh from behind her wings as tears begin to form in her eyes. She squeezes them shut and grits her teeth, silently imploring Ranma to stop, trying to form a thought in his head telling him to stop.
Akane : <....Ranma..... please.....!>
After a few more seconds, Ranma lets up and takes a few steps backwards for a breather. Sensing a pause in his assault, Akane unfolds her wings and looks unsteadily at Ranma, who is breathing heavily and has his arms crossed.
Akane : "Ranma.... please.... is Lina that worth fighting for!?"
Ranma : "What would YOU know, Akane!? At least she shows some response to my affections!" <What the....!? Lina, you are going to die, compulsion or not!>
Akane takes a few steps backwards and drops to her knees, head hung low. Ranma unfolds his arms as Akane plants her palms onto the ground for support.
Akane : "R...ranma?......"
*doki* *doki* *doki* *doki*
Akane : "Why are you doing this?"
*thud* *thud* *thud* *thud*
Akane : "Why?"
Akane looks up at Ranma, tears dripping down her cheeks. Lina raises an eyebrow as she spots this, but it quickly turns into a suspicious glare.
Lina : "Go ahead and answer her, Ranma-kun.... she's waiting for an answer."
Ranma turns to listen to Lina, then turns back to Akane. He nods.
Ranma : "I'm doing this because Lina wants me to." <That's true enough.>
Akane : "What.... does she want you to do then?"
Ranma takes a few steps backwards, eyes glinting dangerously.
Ranma : "That's simple." <Oh no.>
Ranma bares his teeth in a wicked smile, then flashes blue as his battle chi flares up.
Ranma : "I'll tell you."
With that, Ranma charges towards Akane with fist drawn back.
Ranma : "SHE WANTS ME TO KILL YOU!" <NO!>
As he charges, Ranma builds up his chi into the drawn-back fist until only his fist is bathed in blue energy. Akane looks at Ranma sadly, then smiles weakly. She stands up slowly, wings drooping limply, then looks at Ranma with those deep, sad eyes as she draws herself to full height and spreads her arms open.
Inside his psyche, Ranma begins a fierce battle to break Lina's compulsion.
Lina watches in interest as Akane smiles at Ranma, as if inviting him.
Ranma's psyche strains against its bonds as through eyes he cannot command, Ranma watches his fist get nearer to Akane's heart.
Akane watches as Ranma aims for her heart, and she looks heavenwards, giving a prayer to anyone who'll listen before looking back at Ranma, whispering softly.
Akane : "If that'll make you happy..... then.... I'm here. Kill me."
Something in Lina's heart breaks.
Lina : "........!"
She drops from her standing position into a dashing one, holding out her
hand towards Ranma.
Lina : <WHAT AM I DOING!?> "RANMA! YAMETE KUDASAI!!" (Yamete kudasai = STOP!!!!)
Ranma suddenly feels a weakening of the bonds holding his body prisoner, but not enough despite Lina's own efforts.
Lina watches powerlessly as Ranma nears Akane with his fist, unable to stop him in time, forgetting to let go of her compulsion completely.
Ranma's mind screams as he watches his fist get nearer to Akane. His fist wavers slightly as he begins struggling anew to tear away the bonds holding his body prisoner.
Akane opens her eyes as she hears Lina scream, a flash of blue blinding her at the last moment.
*CRUSH*
Lina stares as Ranma smashes into Akane and a blinding flash of blue blinds her. When she can see again, the dust is just beginning to settle, showing only two shadowy figures in it. One is the unmistakable form of Ranma, unmoving, with Akane's silhouette slumped lifelessly against his shoulder. Lina drops to her knees as she realizes what she's just done.
Lina : "No....!"
Ranma : <No! Akane!>
With eyes squeezed shut, Ranma's tears are washing his cheeks clean of the dirt and grit that coat the rest of his face. Shuddering, Ranma grits his teeth as his mind runs through the thing he's just done.
*cough* *cough*
Ranma : <?>
Opening his eyes, Ranma realizes that his fist is NOT covered in blood, as he had expected, and not embedded in Akane's heart as he thought, but deep in the rock behind Akane, missing her body by a fraction of an inch and directly underneath her outstretched arm, now draped around his shoulder. A huge crater graces the wall. (Think of the crater Ranma made when he hit the wall during the Ice Skating battle with Sanzenin and Azusa.) The coughing continues, and Ranma notices it's not him. Then he feels his shoulder shuddering a little as the form on it keeps coughing.
Ranma : <Akane?>
Removing his hand from the rock wall, Ranma holds Akane by the shoulders out in front of him and shakes her gently. He's totally forgotten the fact that he can move by himself again.
Ranma : "Akane? Daijobu ka?" (Daijobu ka = You alright?)
After a few seconds, Akane stops coughing. She opens her eyes a crack and through her blurred vision, spots Ranma. She smiles weakly.
Akane : "Baka. I knew you wouldn't hit me for real."
Ranma : "You had that coming though, tomboy."
Akane : "You alright, Ranma?"
Ranma removes one hand from behind Akane and flexes his fingers, looking at it. He looks back at Akane and nods.
Ranma : "Guess so. I....I....Akane...."
Akane puts a finger to Ranma's lips, shushing him. She sits up by herself and gets closer to Ranma, nearly touching noses with him.
Akane : "Shhh.... I know, Ranma. You were being controlled by Lina, weren't you?"
Ranma nods. Then the sound of sobbing from behind the two of them interrupts their reunion. The two look behind them. Far behind the two of them, sitting on the floor with knees buckled, Lina is crying. She is covering her face with her hands, shuddering.
Ranma : "Ore? Lina....is.... cryin'?" (Ore pronounced "Oh ray", it's the Japanese version of "Huh?")
Ranma gets up, pulling Akane with him. The two of them walk slowly towards Lina and sit by her sides.
Lina : *sniff* "Oh.... I'm.... so.... sorry!" *sob* "I.... sorry! No..... " *sob*
Akane taps Lina on the shoulder gently and asks softly.
Akane : "Sorry about what, Lina?"
Lina moves her hands to cover her mouth and nose and turns to look at Akane with a tear-streaked face, sniffing.
Lina : "I.... I made Ranma kill you, Akane!"
Akane : "?" (^_^U)
As Lina goes back to her crying, Akane looks over Lina's shoulder to Ranma, who just shrugs and runs a finger in circles besides his right temple. Akane gives him a stern look and Ranma claps his hands together in apology.
Ranma : "Gomen, Akane."
Lina : <???>
Lina suddenly blinks and her tears are forgotten as her brain suddenly registers that it's Akane sitting besides her, talking to her. She turns to look at Akane again. She blinks a few times and rubs her eyes to make sure she's not seeing things.
Lina : "....you're alright?"
Akane nods, then smiles.
Akane : "Yeah, guess so."
Lina starts feeling Akane up and down to make sure she's still a physical being. Akane endures this for a few seconds before Lina stops.
Lina : "You're alive."
Ranma shrugs and looks at Lina disapprovingly.
Ranma : "Duh."
Lina : "Ranma... didn't kill you?"
Ranma suddenly pivots towards Lina and shouts.
Ranma : "WHAT!? LINA, YOU-"
Akane holds a hand out at Ranma and he shuts up as Akane nods at Lina.
Akane : "No..... I knew he couldn't do it even if you forced him to though, Lina. That's the power of our..... love."
Ranma looks like as if a lightning bolt smashed him in the face as he gives Akane an indignant look.
Ranma : "Nani!?" (Nani = What!?)
Akane shoots Ranma an evil look and he is quickly subdued again.
Lina blinks at Akane, then stands up. Both Ranma and Akane follow suit. Lina takes a few steps away from the two and then turns around to face the two of them, shoulders slumped.
Lina : "Look.... I'm sorry I did all this. I was just.... jealous."
Ranma looks at Akane, and Akane looks back at Ranma. Lina goes on. She looks at the two of them sadly and plays with her fingers as she asks quietly.
Lina : "Could the two of you forgive me? I know it's a ridiculous request, but...."
Ranma flashes Akane a questioning look. Akane nods at Ranma.
Akane : "Come on, Ranma.... she's already sorry enough as it is!"
Ranma shakes his head and waves his hand dismissively.
Ranma : "Uh uh, no way! You think I'm gonna forgive her that easily!? Look at what she nearly did!"
Akane : "Ranma."
Akane gives Ranma the coldest look he's ever seen, and Ranma gasps. He staggers back a step, then recovers. He nods, then looks at Lina sternly.
Ranma : "Oh all right, if you insist. But only because you've got an unfair advantage, Akane. You're forgiven, Lina."
Lina nods, then smiles weakly.
Lina : "I guess that was immature of me to do something like this....."
The two of them look at Lina stupidly. She doesn't notice. Instead, she looks up at the two of them with large, bright, hopeful eyes.
Lina : "But since everything turned out all right, I guess it's nothing now!"
*doof*
Lina looks at Ranma as he falls onto the floor in shock with his fingers in that famous pose. Akane looks on too, before Ranma suddenly springs back up. He stomps indignantly towards Lina and stares her down as he begins yelling at her.
Ranma : "NOTHING!? First, you knock me and Ryouga out. Then you drag us both to this hellhole you call home. Then you control my body against my will! Then you make me fight Akane! Then you nearly make me kill her! And that's called nothing!? Why I oughta....."
Lina shrinks as Ranma keeps yelling at her before Akane walks up to him and smacks his head with a mallet. Lifting his unconscious form effortlessly over one shoulder, Akane bows to Lina apologetically.
Akane : "Sorry about Ranma.... he's like that sometimes."
Lina : "No.... er.... I guess I should be grateful you forgave me.... Akane-sama."
Akane looks shocked as Lina bows to her. She shakes her head embarrasedly.
Akane : "Oh no no no no! Lina! It's alright.... I think I know why you're jealous."
Lina looks up and blinks at Akane.
Lina : "You do?"
Akane : "Sure. You knew from the second you met us, didn't you? And I'm willing to bet.... it's got something to do with what I did that I should be sorry for."
Lina : "Then, shall we....?"
Akane : "Lead the way."
Shampoo : "Shampoo think bat girl crying."
Looking at the darkened figure on the beach, Shampoo, Mousse, Cologne and Ukyo exchange glances. Ukyo looks at Cologne, Cologne looks at Shampoo, Shampoo looks at Ukyo, and Mousse looks at a nearby rock outcropping, a still steaming kettle by his side. Ukyo looks back at Sekki sympathetically.
Ukyo : "Poor gal.... wonder what's wrong?"
Shampoo : "Shampoo go ask?"
As Shampoo takes a step towards Sekki, Cologne holds out her staff to block her way. Carefully observing Sekki, Cologne shakes her head.
Cologne : "She might be too dangerous for any of you three in her current state.... better let the older folk handle her."
Shampoo and Ukyo watch as Cologne hops towards Sekki cautiously.
Cologne reaches Sekki's side and cautiously gets off her staff. She taps Sekki's wings with her staff.
Cologne : "Is there something wrong, girl? Can we help?"
Sekki stops shuddering for a moment and shifts her wing to take a look at the rasping, ancient voice speaking to her. Her first assumption is that some old Egyptian mummy friend of hers decided to swim to the Isle to visit her, but changes her mind when she notices that Cologne's still very much alive and well.
Sekki wants to kill her.
Cologne barely manages to leap out of the way as Sekki lashes out with her wings, their razor sharp edges tearing gouges in the sand in front of Cologne. The flying grains sting Shampoo and Ukyo as they hit the two girls.
Mousse : "There is always a beautiful quality about the moon at night, wouldn't you agree, Shampoo....? Oh, your skin is so cold, Shampoo! Come, let me warm you with my embrace, my love!"
*THUD*
Mousse : "....?"
A coconut rolls off Mousse's head as his spectacles fall into place from the impact. Rubbing his head painfully, Mousse notices that he's been hugging a coconut tree when he was actually trying to hug the rock outcropping which was actually to be the Shampoo he wanted to hug. It's then that he hears the commotion going on behind him. He spins around and notices that Ukyo, Shampoo and even Cologne are having a fight for their lives as a black, fast, malicious shadow attacks them from anywhere and everywhere.
Mousse : "Oh! Shampoo! Fear not, I'll save you! Chaaaaaarge!"
Mousse joins the fray.
Death to all.
I must kill those......
Those who took away my life.
Took away my dear Akane.
*KILL!*
Sekki fires off an energy blast at Shampoo as Ukyo and Cologne are still picking themselves out of the sand after taking hits to their heads and bodies. Shampoo watches as the yellow-gold energy heads for her chest, unstoppable.
A flash.
Shampoo stares as a giant wok appears in front of her and is almost disintergrated by the energy blast. Mousse follows closely behind the wok, and scoots over to Shampoo's side.
Mousse : "Shampoo! Are you all right, my love?"
Shampoo : "Shampoo all right. Mousse fight crazy bat girl!"
Mousse : "I was already thinking of it."
Shampoo stares as Mousse dumbly charges at Sekki with all his weapons extended. She blinks as Mousse to takes a few swings at Sekki and misses completely, fighting as if he forgot that he could be killed. Shampoo sighs.
Shampoo : <Mousse is so stupid. He'lll get himself killed for me? Ah well.... fools are fools.>
Shampoo walks off to one side to help Cologne dust herself off.
Shampoo : "Oh ba ba all right?" (Oh ba ba is what Shampoo calls Cologne in Japanese. Kind of means grandmother or something I think.)
Cologne : "Yes yes yes..... hm? Is Mousse taking that succubus on!?"
Shampoo : "Yes."
Cologne points towards Mousse with her staff.
Cologne : "Go help him, great-granddaughter! We can't afford to lose him,
our only source of free labour!"
Shampoo : "Yes, oh ba ba!"
Ukyo also joins the fray just as Shampoo comes in, while Cologne does some calculations.
Cologne : <Poke her.....>
At the battle scene, Sekki is a whirlwind of furious hatred and abandonment.
Sekki : <Kill them all! Kill those who took Akane away from me!>
Under bloodshot eyes, Sekki watches as Mousse tosses several shurikens and a boxer glove on a chain at her. She covers herself with a wing, and the projectiles bounce harmlessly off its shielded surface. She returns fire as she pulls her wing away with a blast aimed at Mousse's face. He manages to pull out a mirror in time, and the blast bounces right off it, into the ground nearby, causing a small crater in the sand, lined with fast hardening glass.
Ukyo swings her giant spatula at Sekki while she's occupied with Mousse, but is surprised when Sekki kicks out at the spatula and sends Ukyo flying a small distance away with its two pieces still in her hands.
Shampoo attempts an uppercut swing with her bonboris (those huge concrete ball-shaped maces on sticks) but is intercepted by Sekki as she switches feet after her last kick with supernatural speed and watches as one.... then both of her bonboris are shattered by kicks. She barely dodges the wing-slash in time as Sekki jabs out with one wing, then tries to sweep Sekki off her feet. Sekki simply hops and lands on Shampoo's leg as it passes under her, and Shampoo gasps as the apparently light landing nearly crushes every bone in her leg. Mousse spots Shampoo's distress and tries to smash Sekki off Shampoo's leg by throwing a bowling ball on a chain at her head, but Sekki punches it back straight into Mousse's face.
Shampoo : "Ah!"
Sekki : "I'll start my revenge by killing you slowly.... my little kitten."
Ukyo regains consciousness in time to see Mousse being bowled over by his own weapon as Sekki applies more pressure to Shampoo's leg. She can also hear Sekki's words even half her brain is still foggy from the incredible force behind the kick.
Sekki : "You.... you and all your friends.... took Akane away from me. You turned her away from me.... and now she can never be mine again! I'll kill you all!"
Even from here, Ukyo can see the insane glint in Sekki's eyes as she grinds her heel into Shampoo's leg. Shampoo screams as her bones snap under the pressure, and Sekki's heel digs deep into her flesh. Sekki chuckles slightly as Shampoo grits her teeth against the tears of pain streaming from her eyes.
Sekki : "Pain, isn't it? No.... not pain enough. You can't imagine the pain I feel now, can you? It's all because of Ranma.... it's because of that little thing that Akane ran away..... rebuked me and ran away.... you! Your fault!"
Shampoo : "W....what.... Shampoo.... do?"
Sekki laughs sardonically as she gets off Shampoo's bloody and useless leg and hovers in the air, looking at everyone beneath her.
Sekki : "What did you do? I would believe.... the cliched phrase 'It's what you didn't do' applies. You... of all people.... could've won his heart! Maybe Akane would've forgotten Ranma when she found he loved you more! She wouldn't have left me.... my dear Akane...."
Shampoo looks up between the burning pain of her leg's injuries and tears of pain, cursing.
Shampoo : "Crazy bat girl no think.... Shampoo try win Ranma's heart!? Shampoo try!"
Sekki eyes Shampoo contemptibly.
Sekki : "Did you? Why did you all think I tried to help everyone the first time you weaklings came onto the island?"
Shampoo, Mousse and Ukyo look at Sekki questioningly. Sekki's eyes flare red for a second before settling down to a cooler shade of purple.
Sekki : "Too stupid to think for yourselves, humans? I would think so. How do you think the spell on this island came around?"
Ukyo stares at Shampoo, Shampoo at Mousse, Mousse at Ukyo (he think
she's Shampoo). Cologne.... hey, where's she?
Sekki doesn't notice. She wouldn't care even if she knew Cologne was
already preparing a strange powder in her robes, hiding in the bushes.
Sekki goes on.
Sekki : "I seduced the Priest! He was so hopelessly innocent he thought I was for real! I told him.... told him that I couldn't allow my sister to escape the island or the world would be doomed! I never told him.... she just wanted to rule the demon world! He believed me. She was the demon world's princess heir at that! I was jealous! That weak-minded girl..... she'd never have let demons run free in the human world if she had her way!"
Ukyo stares at Sekki. Shampoo's eyes widen as she thinks back to everything about Lina the time before. Warm..... friendly, childish. An innocent childishness. She didn't think so then.... she knows now.
Shampoo : <I knew that silver-haired girl..... had a good heart somewhere in there.>
Sekki laughs again. She gathers her energies in a hand as she looks at the three mortals beneath her.
Sekki : "But now.... I've spoken too much, haven't I? You know I've been acting all this while now...."
Ukyo, Shampoo and Mousse are bathed in a golden light as Sekki's orb of energy grows larger. The face of Sekki is one of cruel intent, bent on their deaths. Ukyo realizes something.
Ukyo : <We're going to die..... Ran-chan, this is the end and I can't even warn you!>
Ukyo's eyes begin to tear as she realizes the situation is now hopeless.....
*rustle*
Ukyo : "?"
From the bushes, a withered voice whispers.
Cologne : "Psst! Ukyo! Distract Sekki a few more seconds! I'm nearly done with my demon-subduing powder! Hurry!"
Hope enters Ukyo anew as the words carry a new message to her brain. Not for naught anymore, her love for Ranma. Ukyo gathers her courage for her distractions, even though she knows she could be roasted in under a second if Sekki chose to now.
Ukyo : "Hey! Sekki-sugar!"
Sekki : "?"
That got Sekki's attention. Her orb grows a little smaller, a little more translucent as her attention is divided between their destruction and Ukyo's last words.
Sekki : "Yes......?"
Ukyo : <Gotta make this count!> "Sekki! You're absolutely sure you want to roast Akane's friends? I mean, look at us! We're weak, we're helpless...."
Ukyo ignores the dangerous glares being afforded to her by Shampoo and Mousse at her bold statements. She goes on.
Ukyo : "..... and we can't even fire off chi blasts like that! But, even then, you'll totally, and I mean totally, ruin any chance of getting Akane back if you fry us like yaki soba, right!?" <I hope we really aren't gonna end up yaki soba...>
Shampoo glares at Ukyo for the apparent slander of the Neko Hanten's second most popular dish. But she realizes that Ukyo's stalling for time.... although what for, she doesn't know, since she knows Sekki is now undecided on her actions.... a dangerous time for hesitation. Mousse pulls out a shuriken, but Shampoo holds his hand down.
Shampoo : "Pizza girl trying something."
Ukyo : "We're only here to get Ran-chan... I mean, Ranma-honey, back! We know the spell isn't going to break anytime soon for the island, so if you'll just let us get Ranma-honey back, we'll be off and Akane'll be yours to woo! Isn't that true, Shampoo?"
Ukyo winks desperately at Shampoo, who picks up the message and nods almost too vigorously.
Shampoo : "Haihaihai! We only here to pick up Ai Ren! We leave violent-Akane to Sekki!"
Shampoo nudges Mousse in the ribs, and he reluctantly adds to their act.
Mousse : "Yeah.... I still haven't defeated Ranma in battle to win Shampoo's heart! If he dies before we get him out, Shampoo'll NEVER marry me!" <Erm... not that she'll be alive or anything after you're done with us though.>
Shampoo's face flushes at this statement and her face grows indignant. She pouts.
Shampoo : "Shampoo never want marry Mousse in first place!"
Sekki now begins to look more and more unsure of herself as the reasoning of the mortals beneath her actually begin to make sense..... scaringly logical sense. Her fireball begins to shrink and grow even more transparent, its yellow glow weakening. She stammers over her words as she almost extinguishes the ball of destruction in her hand.
Sekki : "I..... I......"
Cologne, hiding in the bushes until now, gets the cue from Ukyo to come out. Hopping from the bushes, she throws a bag of some greenish-blue dust at Sekki.
Sekki suddenly detects a powerful presence out of the bushes and spins in mid-air to see who it is. She watches as a small pouch of something glittering is thrown at her. Anger and betrayal flash in her eyes as Sekki realizes she's been tricked.
Sekki : "LIARS!"
She bats the pouch away with a wing effortlessly, but the pouch breaks open and the greenish-blue powder inside is scattered in the air, glittering in the moonlight. The cloud envelops Sekki and causes her to cough uncontrollably. Through tears of irritation, Sekki begins building her energy-blast again with the thought of finishing them all off now.
Cologne watches as the dust envelops Sekki, and causes her to start coughing.
There's no other effect.
Cologne : "Oh no! She must be too powerful for the powder...! Shampoo! Get down!"
Cologne watches as Sekki glares at them with hate-filled eyes and builds up her energy blast again to turn them all into part of the landscape. Ukyo, Shampoo, Mousse and Cologne all watch hopelessly as Sekki extends her arms to release the energy-ball, the demon subduing dust apparently having no effect.
Sekki : "Final Flare....!"
The energy-ball in her hand flashes white for a second and all four of the people on the beach cover their eyes as a final gesture to the death staring them in the face.
*thud*
Sekki falls to the floor, unconscious, as the dust finally takes effect.
Cologne peeks out from behind her robe's sleeve to look at her dust's effects, followed by Shampoo, Ukyo and Mousse.
Cologne : "What do you know? It's the first time this recipie's ever worked!"
*crushcrashcrumplethud*
Cologne : "........?"