Smells like evil spirit
By Y. Yuan
/*begin sequence*/
Even if the sun had not already set, mortal eyes still could not see the bent
otherworldly figure that was perched above the Nekohanten, seeming to shudder
with some emotion barely contained. The figure suddenly straightened and cried
out, "Fools them all! So easy to manipulate! Bwa ha Ha hA!" Then it vanished.
Just three meters below, soaking in a steaming hot tub, a chill briefly passed
through the wrinkled flesh of a naked Cologne. "The evil is growing."
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"Master, help us please!" sobbed Soun.
"Master, you're the only one that can make Ranma admit he loves Akane!" pleaded
Genma desperately, as if Nodoka's blade was already slicing through his neck.
"And why should I help you two worthless spineless idiots!" Happosai replied as
he lazily spun his pipe in his hand. Happousai contemplated his two disciples
almost prostate before in the crouching tiger stance.
Soun shakily brought forth his offering, and Happousai's eyes lit up in delight.
"Akane-chan no panti!"
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Akane sneezed as she was preparing for bed. "Ranma better not be thinking hentai
thoughts of me. Especially when I'm going to get up extra early for that baka to
make him breakfast!" Akane went to sleep dreaming of blowfish, nightshade,
tapioca, and wild horses.
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Meanwhile, her somewhat mercenary sister, was cooking a recipe of her own.
"One sleeping Ranma, male check. One cup of water, not too cold, check. Camera
ready. Rising moon, target visible. All right." Saotome was one hotshot martial
artist, but it always amazed Nabiki how oblivious he could be. Even now, she
watched as he changed sexes, but did not wake.
Then she took a few more pictures.
"Ranma, all your old troubles will be over tomorrow. And this is all I'm
charging," whispered Nabiki as she faded out of the dojo.
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Later that night, another shadow dropped into the Tendo dojo.
"Ranma, my boy. You don't really deserve Akane. Genma's a failure in raising you
and I've tried so hard to free you from your foolish notions. I've still got a
few tricks left in me, and I'm going to have an heir to my school."
With that, the shadow is gone, but the scent of jasmine rises from the burning
incense that was left behind.
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"Genma, I'm disgusted by you. Ranma's situation is unacceptable. He is nowhere
closer to being with Akane as when they first met. Remember your promise when I
had married you. My family's school is almost dust! When I come back from my
visit, the schools will be united, or I will cleave your head apart!"
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"It's been a pleasure doing business with you Cologne."
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"Oh my! Smells like evil spirit."
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/*end sequence*/
1. Ranma is affected by several events contributing to an altered state.
a. Happousai's incense
b. Akane's toxic waste^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H food
c. Shampoo's ramen
d. Kodachi's flowers
e. Akane's food again
f. Akane's table on Ranma's head technique
g. Ranma's general depression over his lack of control over the direction of his
life.
a. Happousai incense is most likely intended to bring out Ranma's inner passion.
He expects Ranma to proclaim his love for Akane or at the very least, tear off
her clothes in lust. The beast that Happousai frees is not the one he was hoping
for, and may have led to his own demise.
b. Akane's food weakens Ranma's strength when he needs it most.
c. Shampoo's ramen is intended to make Ranma less inhibited. This time, she
wants to know the truth if Ranma loves her or not. Unfortunately, the ramen only
makes him say what he feels is true at the moment.
d. Kodachi's flowers was in the process of fogging Ranma's mind when he knocked
them away. It just contributes to his weakness.
e. Akane's food, need I say more?
f. Ranma is not invincible as one may think. In the anime, Ranma thought he was
a girl because of a hard knock to his head. It is exactly after this incident
that Ranma seems not to be himself.
g. Ranma lack of control is a result of his chaotic life. Herein lies the answer
to who has been the real cause to Ranma's downward spiral.
But first to clear up a few suspects:
Nabiki: might have been doing something innocent like helping to sell
Nekohanten, and was resolving stuff with Ukyou and Cologne
Nodoka: even though she wasn't there and we expect her to say at any time:
"Silence daughter! I will take my grandson on a training journey and he will
learn to raise his shadow armor! The Shinogara will rise again!" She's flesh out
well beyond a evil spirit wanting to possess Ranma body and soul.
Which brings us to the point "Who does want to possess Ranma body and soul?"
The answer is (drum roll)
Ranma, his evil side that is.
Happousai's incense is mentioned in the anime as having seperated Ranma into
himself and his evil female spirit side.
What would happen if the evil spirit side wasn't exactly locked away when it was
defeated? For some reason it wanted to possess Ranma, and I would think that it
hasn't changed its mind.
This possessive spirit is what later infected Soun, and caused the somewhat
irrational atmosphere that affected Nerima. This evil spirit in the end is what
is possessing Herb to want to possess Ranma.
Even if that event did not happen, it is enough that Happousai's incense freed
something that was waiting to sink its claws into Ranma.
Whose fault was it? Can we really blame Ranma for being too weak to resist this
spirit? It's hard to blame anyone because Mr. Fetter had cast Ranma into a
deadly web of good intentions. Shampoo and Kodachi should not have used drugs to
make Ranma lose control over his mind.
Happousai is definitely a lamebrain for using the incense. In the end, it was
the ignorant Akane who gave Ranma the bop that pushes his brain to the
otherside, and allowed his mind to be possessed.
/*final sequence*/
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Time was nothing to this spirit. It could wait till the very end to lay claim to
what belonged to it, body and soul. Had it not been there, when these bloodsacs
cast distrust, anger, fear, hate, all delicacies for the demonic palate.
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Herb dies, but a mist rises from his body and the area is covered with fog. A
somewhat familiar male voice says, "It is done."
A strong gust disperses the hanging cloud, and we see... Okaasan! A male
Okaasan, but how can this be. Okaasan, no this doppelganger smirks, and
addresses Okaasan,
"I've taken you're body and now I will have your spirit. ^C^V Bwa ha Ha hA!"
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