Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction / Ah My Goddess Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction / Zenki Fan Fiction ❯ Book One: Heir to the Throne ❯ Demon God Cycle II: Guardian Devil ( Chapter 8 )

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ranma 1/2 or any other anime or video game

that may appear in the story.

** - thoughts

Chapter 8:

Guardian Devil

I've been watching you awhile

Since you walked into my life

Monday morning,

when first I heard you speak to me

I was too shy to let you know

Much too scared

to let my feelings show

But you shielded me and

that was the beginning

The goddess wept tears of sorrow and heartache when she learned the fate of her love. She had been a fool to turn away his love for her.

Now he was lost to her forever, doomed to be trapped for all eternity in the abyss.

Now at last we can talk

In another way

And though I try,

I love you,

Is just so hard to say

If I only could be strong

And say the words I feel

*I never had the strength to say* she thought crying harder into her pillow *that you're the one I think about each day.*

My bleeding heart begins to race

When I turn to see your face

I remember that sweet dream

Which you told to me

I wanted just to be with you

So we could make the dream come true

And you smiled at me

and that was the beginning

She thought back on the day when they had first accidentally met. How she saw the overwhelming sadness in his eyes, sadness hidden behind a mask of anger and hate. But despite what the other gods or goddesses said, despite the terrible acts he had committed on the battlefield, despite the warnings of her older sister, she was able to chip away the icy prison that caged his heart. In the end, it was her foolish pride that caused her downfall.

Now at last we can talk

In another way

And though I try,

I love you,

Is just so hard to say

If I only could be strong

And say the words I feel

"I'll wait while you're gone, and while you're there. I will be with you, here. My vigil is yours. My heart is beside you. Our souls have touched, my love. My only solace is -- that if you become lost, a part of me will be lost with you." she said softly remembering the words he had said to her, after her pride had killed his heart.

Tell me what you're thinking of

Tell me if you love me not

I have so much I long to ask you

But now the chance has gone

When your picture fades each day

In my heart the memory stays

Though we rant, you're always smiling

And I will hold it long

"Oh Bell....." Urd said softly as she left her younger sister alone.

She slowly walked away without making any sound, leaving Belldandy alone with her tears and shattered heart.

"Come back to me...." she pleaded softly as her teary eyes slowly closed from exhaustion and fell into peaceful slumber, unaware of her sister's departing figure, as it vanished in the darkened hallway.

Eternal Abyss..........

A girl in a blue dress with a mallet looked at him frowning.

A tall boy with a bokken charged him. A girl with long hair and a spatula gave him some food. A pig with a bandanna bit him. A girl with purple hair glomped him. A boy in white robes and glasses attacked him

A panda stole food from him. A girl with long hair in an apron poured hot water on him. A girl with short hair took pictures of him A little wrinkled monkey threw bombs at.....

Zenki opened his eyes once again to the darkness that surrounded him.

He did not know how long he had been in here, since time did not matter here. He was drifting aimlessly in the black void, with no sign of life other than himself. He hadn't seen his father, yet. But he was more than happy never to meet with him again. Those images he dreamt kept showing themselves since he was born, he could never understand what they meant though.

*Upon my lips I should taste the blood which I spilled upon the cold

earth.* he thought *upon my hand I should experience their grip as they faced death with trembling hands, upon my chest I should feel the

brides of those I killed clinging sorrowfully to their husbands, my eyes I should see the lives that I have ceased, upon my ears I should hear the cries of their children, upon my mind I should remember the faces of those who shall never be looked upon again upon my heart I should suffer the grief at what I have done.*

"I should regret..." he said sighing

After a short while, Zenki started to sing a lullaby his mother once sang to him when he was born.

April roses,

tiny sparrows

Comets bright and new

All belong together

With the mystery that is you

When I see your little face

I hear a song from long ago

I think you know

The many secrets I've forgotten

Generations through the ages

Joined as one somehow

Leading to the miracle

That I am holding now

From the sky and from the sea

Upon a breeze you came to me

You seem to see

A greater universe than I do

Sleep my baby,

sleep my baby

Dream of somewhere far away

Do you remember still

How I hope you always will

Keep the memory of the day

The world was born

When you wake up I'll be waiting

Eager for your smile

You've had quite a journey darling

You should rest a while

When you cry we still rejoice

To hear your voice - oh yes, it's true

My sweet was you

Please understand how much we love you

Sleep my baby,

sleep my baby

Later on perhaps you'll tell

The wondrous things you've seen

More miraculous than dreams

Tell me all about the day

The world was born

Sleep my baby,

sleep my baby

Dream of somewhere far away

Do you remember still

How I hope you always will

Keep the memory of the day

The world was born

That was the only thing he remembered about his mother, his damnable father never told him what had happened to his mother. Fu Leng told him that she was dead, but Zenki knew that he was lying and that his mother was alive somewhere. With nothing else to do, Zenki closed his eyes and dreamt of Belldandy and her most beautiful smile.

Suddenly a wave of pain burst into him, sending him screaming in agony, as it coursed all over his being.

"W-What's...what's happening to me..?!" he gasped trying to find the source of his pain. Blinding white light engulfed him and he disappeared from the eternal abyss, leaving no trace of his passing.

--== Dream Sequence ==--

"Wake up from your dream, my child. There is no cradle. Wake up from your dreams, fated child. The dream is not going." a voice called to him

"Who are you?!" Zenki roared "Show yourself!" he demanded

"Arise. Discover the truth of the darkness." the voice continued, ignoring his queries.

"What truth?!" he asked the voice

"Burn with truth, scorch the seeds of evil, burn with truth, set fire to the tree of darkness." the voice answered cryptically

"Stop speaking in riddles!" said Zenki

"Goodbye, my child, until we meet again in the days of destiny." said the voice

"What the hell are you talking about?! Days of destiny?! Answer me!!!" he shouted angrily

"Remember, my child, it is always darkest before the dawn......" with that the voice faded into nothingness.

--== End Dream Sequence ==--

Slowly, Zenki opened his eyes and blinked. Darkness did not greet his

eyes, but the wooden rafters of a temple.

"Unfamiliar ceiling...." he said slowly

He bolted up from where he lay after realizing what he said.

*Unfamiliar ceiling that means...*

"I'M FREE!!!" he shouted pumping a fist in the air, not noticing a figure dressed in white slowly approaching him.

"You have me to thank for that, Zenki-dono." said an old, wizened voice behind Zenki.

Zenki whirled around and came face to face with an old man with a snow white mustache and beard. He sensed very powerful magic coming off the old man in waves.

"Who are you?" he asked frowning at the old man

"I am the sorcerer, Enno Ozune, it is a pleasure to finally meet you

Zenki-dono." said Ozune bowing to Zenki

"What do you want?!" Zenki asked bluntly

Ozune chuckled, "Straight to point eh? These are dark times Zenki-dono and Evil Beasts run rampant in the land. We need your power to put an end to these beasts, will you help us?"

"No." answered Zenki

"Please Zenki-dono give us your strength. It's the least you can do for me for freeing you from the eternal abyss." said Ozune

"You presume to order me, the fiercest demon god in all existence to help a mortal like you?!!!" Zenki asked angrily as he easily lifted the old man into the air.

"You do not look like a demon god to me Zenki-dono." said Ozune calmly

"What?! How dare...." Zenki trailed off, his anger disappearing in an instant as he got a look on his hands. He released Ozune and looked at his body.

"NOOOOO!!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!!!" Zenki shouted in shock and anger.

"I did not want to resort to blackmail Zenki-dono, but you have forced my hand. I have sealed off your true form and you reside in a body of a

human." answered Ozune

"I'LL KILL YOU!!!" Zenki roared, lunging at Ozune who easily sidestepped the attack.

"Do that and you can say get back your true form ever again." said

Ozune as tried to calm the raging Zenki

"What did you say?!" growled Zenki

"It is I who sealed you, and I can release you temporarily, but only I know how to free you from the chains that bind you." said Ozune as he conjured a hand mirror, so that Zenki could see his face.

The demon god turned human gazed into the mirror and felt a sense of déjà vu as he saw his visage on the mirror. He had long midnight black hair, a handsome face, and his eyes were ocean blue.

*Why I do feel that I've seen this face before?* he asked himself, until Ozune's voice snapped him out of his gaze.

"I am sorry Zenki-dono but as strong as I am the darkness is stronger.

But do not be saddened, even though you possess a human body, you do not have our weaknesses." said Ozune consolingly

"Huh?" Zenki asked intelligently

Ozune sighed and said, "Though you are human some of your powers are transferred in that body, like enhanced strength, speed, agility, and endurance among other things."

"But why do I feel kinda weak?" asked Zenki

"An unfortunate side-effect of your release from the abyss, it seems to me that you have lost 3/4's of your powers and it will take a very long time for them to come back to you." said Ozune

"How long?" asked Zenki

"It may take hundreds of years for you to regain your lost powers." answered Ozune

"Dammit! How can it get any worse than this?!" Zenki asked out loud

Suddenly two men armed with spears rushed into the room and hastily made their way towards Ozune and Zenki.

"Ozune-sama!!!" one of the two called out

"What is it?!" asked Ozune seeing the faces of his guards

"An evil beast has been spotted by the river Ozune-sama!" answered the other guard

*You've got to be kidding me.* thought Zenki as he pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"We must stop the beast before it can cause any harm!" said Ozune as he followed his guards out of the room. He turned and looked at Zenki and asked,

"Aren't you going to help Zenki-dono?"

*I should say no...but if I want my body back, I guess I have to help the old geezer.* Zenki thought sighing mentally. He looked at Ozune and smirked,

"Lead on old man." Ozune just smiled and left the room with Zenki following closely behind him.

They came upon the river and saw that the huge beast resembling a giant salamander had cornered three terrified girls on a big rock and was about to attack them.

"Let me release you Zenki!" said Ozune as he prepared to chant the words of power to break Zenki's seal.

"There's no time!" exclaimed Zenki as he ran towards the beast. He executed a flying kick when he came within striking range of the beast.

"Meteor Drive!!!" he shouted as flames surrounded his body

The beast turned to look at the source of the noise only to receive a burning boot to the face that sent it reeling back. It roared and swiped at Zenki with its huge paws, Zenki just somersaulted away from the deadly swipes. He needed to release a lot of pent up anger and the beast was just too convenient for him.

"Whether strong or weak, you shall receive no mercy!!!" he shouted at the beast, which responded by charging at him. He leapt sideways to dodge the charge and gathered energy in his hands.

"Critical Flare!!!" he roared as he unleashed multiple spheres of energy at the side of the beast.

Screaming in pain, the beast swung its tail at Zenki, who stood his ground and caught the tail, driving him back a bit. He grunted as he used his strength to lift the beast by its tail and slam it back down on the ground on its back. The beast wailed pathetically as it tried to right itself from its position. Zenki realized that he was rapidly losing strength as his body was not used to the strain in power.

*Damn I've got to finish this quickly.* he thought to himself

"Hey old man, throw me a sword!" he shouted at Ozune

Ozune chuckled when he heard growls coming from his guards at Zenki's lack of manners towards him. He conjured a katana and threw it at Zenki with unerring accuracy, who merely caught the hilt of the sword and went into a stance.

Seeing the beast finally right itself and charge at him once again,

he sneered at it and said,

"You're no match for me!" he shouted, running towards the beast, "Let me show you why!"

"Finishing Strike!!!" Zenki suddenly vanished as he and the beast closed in on each other. The beast stopped its charge to look for its elusive foe. Suddenly, it screamed in pain and agony as the sound of steel cutting through flesh and bone was heard. Zenki appeared behind the beast and said,

"Zantetsuken." with that the beast was cut in half and turned to dust,

as Ozune and his guards approached Zenki, he suddenly collapsed on the ground.

"What is wrong with him Ozune-sama?" asked the guard as he watched

Ozune on the unconscious Zenki

"Nothing, he is just exhausted from overexerting himself." said Ozune he looked at the other guard as stood up,

"Bring him to the temple, he deserves some rest."

"As you wish Ozune-sama." said the guard as he half-carried, half-dragged Zenki towards the temple.

Day later........

Groaning, Zenki opened his eyes once again expecting to see darkness, he was surprised to see the same ceiling he had seen in his dream.

"So.this isn't a dream then?" he asked himself as he slowly sat up from his bed

"No Zenki-dono, this is definitely not a dream." said Ozune chuckling as he came into the room.

"So I'm really free old man?"

"Yes and no Zenki-dono. I will permanently release the seal on you, once you help cleanse this world of the evil beasts." answered Ozune

"I guess I don't have a choice." said Zenki sighing

"There is always a choice Zenki-dono." corrected Ozune as he left Zenki alone with his thoughts.

"Whatever old man, whatever." said Zenki as he lay back down on the bed, closing his eyes he silently made a promise to himself.

*Someday Bell, I will return to you.* he closed his eyes as sleep fell upon him.

*Such a beautiful heart you have Ranma.* the cloaked figure thought to herself, watching him sleep *it's no wonder that those girls couldn't help but fall in love with you.*

She took her gaze away from her viewing globe and upon the raging seas that surrounded her island palace and sighed to herself. *I'm going to miss this place*