Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ The Crow 1/2:Dragons Rising ❯ Chapter One: The Fallen HEro ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The Crow 1/2: Dragons Rising
By Dark Angel 98s

In the end, he did not die, as any of them would have expected; far from it in fact. He died silently, on his knees, the last words out of his mouth being his pleas for them to leave her alone. But in the end, it had not mattered, as it never does in such situations. And he had died, not as he had lived, with great sorrow, and much regret.

They say, that if a person's soul carries enough sadness and misery with it, they cannot rest peacefully on the other side. And if that person's grief is powerful enough, if there devotion is strong enough, then they can be carried back from the lands of the dead upon the wings of deaths messenger, to set the wrong things right...



Part One: The Fallen Hero

One Year Ago...
Nabiki Tendo had paid dearly for this entire affair. More than she had been willing to, in the beginning, for someone not truly a part of the family. But Akane had insisted. Actually, she had done a lot more than insist. She still wore the bruises from where her wheelchair bound sibling had grabbed her, and came close to breaking her arm. Speaking of her beloved sister, she turned to look over at the youngest Tendo.

Akane was much changed by the ordeal she and Ranma had been through. They ran much deeper than the injuries to her face, or the damage to her spine that would keep her from walking ever again. Those events, from just a little less than two weeks ago had scarred her deeply to the core, breaking her heart and soul. Just seeing the sad creature that sat between her father and oldest sister almost brought tears to her eyes. And Nabiki knew that there could be no revenge for what had transpired, no retribution. They had made sure of that when they had taken care of the deed, the last person who was willing to stand up to the madness had died trying to save the poor injured girl here today. For that reason alone, Nabiki had taken the requests of Akane, and added her own flair, making this perhaps one of the most beautiful funerals any of those present would ever attend. IF only Ranma could be here to see it now...

The Saotomes stood across the way, side by side, arms in arm. Nodoka Saotome stood proud and tall, looking every bit the noble samurai, dressed in a beautiful black silk Kimono and light pull over. Her husband, the often weak willed and foolish Genma Saotome looked, for once, strong and powerful, every bit the man he could have been had he not been trapped under Happosai's 'training'. Nabiki did not know how he had changed from the sobbing wreck he had been earlier today, but had a sneaking suspicion that it was a mixture of desire to do the just thing for his son just this once, and the bottle of Sake Kasumi had given his shortly before they had left the house. And he was doing it, being strong for his son.

Nabiki's gaze turned to follow across all the others present, so very few of the old Nerima group here, because of the rift in the group. There was Ukyo, who had been a surprise to every one present, especially since almost everyone here believed her to have something to do with the whole affair. But Akane had stopped their father and Genma from physically throwing her out of the graveyard. Her words had been simple and expressed a far more rational mind than anyone believed Akane would have, after what had happened. "She has lost more than I have, both her best friend, and someone who she had loved dearly. She would never have allowed this to happen, no matter what. Let her grieve..."

Next, she found herself looking at Ryoga and Akari, who both held each other close, Akari looking down at the cold, black lacquered coffin, Ryoga watching Akane with something like sadness in his eyes. It looked like the Eternally Lost Boy had finally made his choice, and went with the girl who actually had feelings for him. However, if Nabiki ever found out it had been for other reasons, she cast a quick glance at Akane, then he would regret it most severely.

Only a few of the rest had even bothered to show up, Doctor Tofu, Miss Hinako, and some of Ranma and Akane's closer friends from school. None of the others would have even been welcome here. Not now, not ever.

Nabiki's examination of the gathered group was brought to an end, when the priest finished speaking over the coffin, which was shut due to the fact that it was not possible to show the remains of the young Saotome, so awful were the injuries. The priest, who Ranma and crew had helped to catch an escaped Oni, stepped back, and motioned for those present to say their final words over the deceased.

Ryoga was the first to step forward, pulling free of Akari's arm, and moved to stand before his one great rival. He looked down at the coffin; face a dark mask of pain. "I-I-I-...I just wanted to say, that despite all that I went through because of him, all the pain, all the embarrassment, there was no one I would rather have at my side. He was a better person than I ever allowed myself to see, and despite everything I tried to do to him, he still counted me as his friend." He seemed lost for a moment, unable to find any further words, but after a moment of floundering, mouth working over what he wanted to say, he spoke again, voice low and quite. "I wish I had been there, instead of lost. I heard what they were going to do, and tried... Oh god, how I tried to get there in time. But I couldn't... If I had only been able to, this wouldn't have happened... I could have stopped it. I should have been able to..." A faint aura had begun to form around him, glowing ever so faintly a dark, sickly green. Nabiki recognized it as the buildup for his Shi-Shi Hakodan, but before the powerful depression attack could begin in full, Akari moved to wrap an arm around him, and hug him close. Ryoga returned the hug briefly, using the time to regain his composure. When he turned back around, looking down at the grave, he seemed a lot calmer, and the aura had gone. "I will miss you Ranma. I wish I had gotten a chance to return your friendship. Here... Take this." Moved over, and took his bamboo umbrella where it rested next to his seat, and returned, laying it gently atop the oak wood box. "Maybe it'll help you more than it helped me." He smiled faintly. "Ya stupid jerk..." He turned and walked away, then, not looking back, Akari hanging on him. He was trying to hide it, but Nabiki saw the tear that slid down his cheek.

The next to move forwards was Ukyo. Her eyes were a dark red, and her cheeks were tear stained, and looked to have been that way for some time. She looked different, no longer wearing the okonomiyaki uniform she was so known for, but in its place was a simple one-piece black dress, cut too loose for her. Despite how Nabiki felt about the girl, there was a sudden pang of sadness for the girl. Her world had been destroyed just as badly as Akane's had, and for the first time, she doubted the young chef did actually have anything to do with the attack.

She moved up to the edge of the grave, looking down, yet her eyes showed that she really was looking somewhere else, somewhere deeper. When she spoke, Nabiki had to strain to hear her soft, low, hoarse voice. "Ran-chan. There is not a lot for me to say, I haven't already said to you so many times already. I don't know if I can go on, without you here. But...but I will try. Because I know you would want me to." She paused for just a moment, before continuing, the tears beginning to fall from her eyes again. "I will always love you, Ranma. Always..." With that she stepped back, and cried silently.

The next few were not of much importance, mostly friends, who told quick, and amusing remembrances of how Ranma had been a good friend, and had brightened all there lives just a tad. They had never really known him, but they tried. Maybe even some of them would truly miss him, but she doubted it. And once they were done, it was time for his parents to speak.

They both moved forward together, arm in arm, the death of their son having brought them closer together than they had been in years. Nodoka remained silent, as was the proper thing for a wife to do, instead letting her husband express the feelings both shared. Genma himself remained calm and in control, smiling sadly at all those present. When his spoke, his voice carried loud and firm, and a distinct note of pride.

"Today we are hear to lay to rest, my son..." He glanced over to his wife, "OUR son. Ranma was someone special in this world, someone unique. While he had many faults; too much pride, too little common sense, and a tendency to stick both feet into his mouth at every opportunity; he also had many strengths. Honorable, skilled, devoted to his craft, devoted to his friends and family. These things made him truly stand out, for I raised him, and trained him in the way I was trained, and I am surely lacking in all of these things. Some how, he managed to grow into the man he did, a great man. A man we could all be proud of knowing, a man that could not have made his mother and I any more proud." He started to crack then, as the emotions of the moment began to take over, and his wife started to pull him away, but he held his ground, and somehow managed to hold his composure. "I want all of you to remember him like that. Because, despite all his faults, you will never in your lives meet another as good, and true, and noble as he." And with that, the tears came; yet somehow his face did not change, and he stopped resisting as his wife lead him back to their seats. Nabiki decided then and there, that this moment was perhaps the most noble in the older, broke martial artists life, and she found that she had a good deal of respect for the man now.

The last one she expected to speak was Akane. Much to her surprise, when Kasumi and their father whispered to her, Akane shook her head, and whispered back. Nodding, they both rose, Kasumi beginning to disperse the gathered mourners, and Soun moving over to speak with the Saotomes. It took very little time for everyone to leave, even Ukyo, who was gently ushered off by Kasumi herself. Soon, no one was left standing there, except for the Tendo's. Both Soun and Kasumi began to walk off, back towards the car, and gestured for Nabiki to follow. She cast a look back at her now crippled sister, sitting there silently in her wheel chair, face downcast, so still that she too seemed dead, before following.

"Why are we leaving her there? Why wouldn't she speak?" Nabiki was more than a little confused, considering how much they had all gone through to make this perfect.

Soun stopped them, just a little over halfway to the car. He looked into her eyes, a deep sadness filling their dark blue depths. "She told us that what she has to say to him is private. Not for anyone but, her, Ranma, and God to hear. We will honor her request." They all three turned their heads, to look back at the open grave, it's tall shining gray headstone, and their grieving sister and daughter.




Akane sat quietly, not moving or speaking for a very long time. But when she did, it was to reach up slowly, and touch the huge bandage that covered the left side of her face. Kodachi Kuno had caused the cuts there, all deep and ragged, in a fit of madness so great that it still sent shivers across her body. If it had not been for Ranma's intervention, she would most likely be lying where he was now. He had come to her aid, as always, even against so many skilled fighters, fearless and skilled. But in the end, he too had fallen to them. It was then that events had fallen out of control, into chaos, and he met his end, still trying to protect her from harm. And in the end, he had succeeded.

"Ranma, you idiot. Why? Why did you risk your life for mine? You had a chance to escape, but instead, you stayed, and begged for my life. I didn't want you to. I never ask you to protect me. Why, out of all the times you have been selfish, couldn't you do it one last time?" Tears began to stream down her cheek, but she ignored it, for the moment.

"Was it honor? Did you die trying, because you couldn't leave a girl to be hurt?" Her voice was rising as she spoke now, as anger rose in her. It was a familiar emotion, and one that often lent her strength. "WAS IT PRIDE? DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD BEAT THEM ALL YOURSELF?" Her weakened body shook with the motions she was feeling. "OR WAS IT........ love?" Her voice dropped to no more than a whisper at the end, and the tears somehow seemed to come with even more volume. "Did you try to save me because, after all the times you denied it, you actually loved me?" And she just sat there weeping; great sobs tearing forth from her. She had no idea how long she stayed like that, but her family did as they were asked, and stayed back, giving her time.

When the crying was over, many long minutes later, and she finally regained her voice to speak, she continued on in a whisper, words so faint, she was not sure she even spoke them. "I just came up here, to tell you something. They one thing we never seemed to be able to say to one another. The one thing I always wanted to say to you. Ranma Saotome, I love you."

With those final words, she began to sob again, and gestured for her family to come, that she was ready. It seemed to take them less than a heartbeat to reach her, all three of them holding her in their arms, hugging her close. And after all the crying was finally done, they left, returning to their rented car, and driving off, all of searching for a way to make their family continue on.


The grave was filled in shortly after the Tendos had left, and the cut up square of sod that covered it made it seem that nothing had happened here today, it erased all the loss and sadness, making it seem to be an old thing. Yet the grief was still here, the sadness, and the loss. It seemed to radiate dark waves across the very air itself, and seemed almost a physical thing. It was the feeling of something too painful to be left unfulfilled, and it seethed like a living thing, trying to tear itself from the very ground and seek justice for the wrongs done to the man left buried here.

For weeks, nothing living would go near this place. Not a dog, or cat, or bird, or even insect. People passing by would catch chills suddenly, and move to avoid this place. The caretakers had begun to notice this strange feeling after a while, and were trying to decide wither or not to have a priest exorcize the plot, when much to their surprise, months after the funeral had taken place, a great black crow landed before the headstone. It seemed to look up, and stare at the words across the smooth gray stone. Satisfied that it had found exactly who, or what it had been searching for, it cawed, and hopped closer, eyes fixated upon the words that ran across the base of the tombstone.

"May flights of angels carry him to rest, this man, this warrior, this fallen hero..."

End of Part One