Cursed

Akane looked into the well, biting her lip as she peered into the darkness. This time she knew better, there was more than just spiders to be afraid of. Her hands tightened on the katana's sheath and she squared her chin resolutely. There was more at stake too, she wouldn't let down Ranma's mother or her friends.

Ryoga looked doubtful as he peered over the edge. "You sure about this, Akane?"

The girl shrugged. "It worked the last time."

"Of course it works," the hanyou said peevishly, looking most impatient to be on their way.

Akane smiled at him. "Don't worry, Ryoga. I know it's strange, but it will be over in a minute."

"Just jump in," Inuyasha said, looking at Ryoga contemptuously. "Don't be a coward."

"I'm not a coward," Ryoga answered from clenched teeth. "I just don't believe any damn dry well, on a shrine's sacred grounds or not, is going to take me into the warring states era. Give me a break."

"So don't go," Inuyasha said challengingly. "There's the door, you can find your own way out." For some reason his words made the young man flush and grip the edge of the well.

"No," Ryoga said in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm going, just to keep an eye on Akane."

She smiled at him and tucked her hand into his. "You're so good to me, Ryoga. I really appreciate your help."

That made him smile sheepishly, ducking away and blushing. "You're welcome, Akane. There's nothing I wouldn't do to help you."

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Inuyasha muttered, studying the ceiling of the shed. Humans and their attitudes, it was enough to make a half demon cringe. Even from a human who had youkai blood somewhere in his heritage, something about this Ryoga grated on his nerves in a way that only a certain cocky wolf normally inspired. He did not have time for this crap. "Get in the fucking well already!"

Ryoga still hesitated, not wanting to lose face in front of Akane. "You're sure about this?"

Inuyasha snorted. "Yeah, you should be able to get through just fine. You got demon in you somewhere."

"I don't believe any of that," Ryoga said stiffly.

"Don't matter to me what you believe," the hanyou countered. "Just jump in fast, don't hesitate or try to climb in slowly. It's best to just jump all at once."

"Whatever you say," the young man muttered. He glanced back at Akane reassuringly. "I'll be waiting on the other side." Then he crouched slightly before leaping into the air, falling gracefully down the shaft of the well. And hit the ground hard with a painful crunch and muffled yelp. Inuyasha sniggered. "Dumbass."

Akane glared at him. "You knew he couldn't get through," she accused, shaking her finger at him. "You have to be with whoever goes in, you or Kagome. You knew that!"

"Yeah," he grinned unrepentantly. "He'll go through when I go in with you."

She shook her head. "You have a real mean streak to your personality, Inuyasha."

He chuckled happily as he took hold of her arm to make the jump himself. "I know. Runs in the family."

*****

As soon as Inuyasha climbed out the well, he knew something was wrong. Maybe it was just the way the wind made his nostrils twitch, maybe it was pure youkai instinct. Maybe it came from being paranoid by nature and his intuition told him nothing was ever going to be easy. In any case, he paused for a long moment when he climbed out the well, carrying Akane Tendo on his back but leaving Ryoga to climb out on his own. Akane stared at him, still holding Ranma's mother's katana firmly in her hands. "Is something the matter?" she asked him.

Inuyasha waved his hand, annoyed. "Shut up," he muttered, tasting the breeze with all his senses. He wasn't sure but, oh something was up. "We got a problem," he muttered.

Ryoga put his arm protectively around Akane's shoulders. "What kind of problem?" the boy asked suspiciously.

His eyes firing golden in the fading light, Inuyasha looked down at Akane in all seriousness. "He's already here."

She swallowed hard. "Ranma," Akane whispered.

"What's the problem with Ranma?" Ryoga more or less hoped that something had at least knocked the cocky martial artist of his high perch. Saotome could be insufferable at times, more full of himself than anyone had a right to be. If this other demon had really gotten to him, there was no telling what kind of trouble was in store for them. Ryoga had no intention of being caught in the backlash of whatever had struck this time and there was no way in hell he was letting Akane pay for Ranma's mistakes either. "What kind of problem?"

Inuyasha didn't answer, but he turned and sprinted out of the glade like someone had set fire to his heels. "The river," he yelled over his shoulder. "I think he took them down to the river."

Not good, Akane decided grimly. She gave Ryoga a quick poke in the ribs. "You gonna stand there all day?" she barked, grabbing the front of his shirt to drag him off. They went at a quick pace after the hanyou, Inuyasha didn't wait for any human but Kagome, and then with grumbles and assorted bitching. He didn't know why the idea of the punk taking the whole village down to the river bothered him so much, but it did. He just wanted to be in time, he hoped that nobody had had to die yet. Under a fucking spell or not, Ranma was going to eat Tetsusaiga's edge if he'd so much as put one hair on Kagome's head out of place. Damn right he would.

"So nice of you to join us, brother," a soft voice hissed from the trees. Inuyasha had burst out the forest to find the whole village was sitting on the river bank, looking for all world like an unwilling group of sightseers. Actually, the looked just like a crowd of angry, anxious and scared humans. Some of the babies and smaller children were crying, their mother's comforting them as best they could. He could see Kagome holding Shippo in her arms, watching for him. Her face lit up in gladness when she caught sight of him and Inuyasha felt something tight in his heart give way, at least she wasn't angry at him anymore. "Okay, punk," he growled. "What game are you playing now?"

Ranma laughed, hanging from his knees from a branch in the nearest trees. "Game?" he inquired pleasantly. "What makes you think this is a game, brother?"

"I ain't your fucking brother," the hanyou snarled. One asshole relative was enough in his opinion. He did not need two, Sesshomaru was all the brother he could stand having, damned if he was adopting Ranma or anyone else.

The young demon gracefully flipped off the branch, moving with a predatory elegance as he approached Inuyasha. "Naraku said she might have turned you against us," Ranma murmured, his mouth curved in a cruel smile. His fangs glinted, looking long and sharp in his mouth. Inuyasha met the glowing scarlet gaze and didn't flinch. He knew where Ranma was, at least he thought he knew. It was a hard road back to sanity. He sniffed the air and was relieved when he didn't smell any fresh blood. The killing hadn't started yet, he was glad he'd gotten back in time. "You need to let these people go," he growled.

Ranma blinked at him. "What do you mean?" he asked in a sweet voice. "They're free to go anytime they want."

Inuyasha shot a look at Kagome, hoping for a sign from her about what was really going on. The girl shook her head and pointed at the ground. Holding his eyes, she brought her finger up and over their heads as her arm formed an arc in the air. A barrier, he guessed. It figured. With a snotty glance at Ranma, Inuyasha stomped over the area where Kagome and Shippo were standing, Miroku and Sango right behind them. The villagers looked frightened, maybe of the menacing expression the half demon was sporting, maybe because of Ranma, he couldn't be sure. Slowly, Inuyasha reached out a claw towards Kagome. His hand suddenly burned like he'd buried it in a hot bed of coals. There was a small angry flash of yellow light and he yanked his hand away. An answering shock from the inside and all the humans screamed in agony.

Ranma snickered. "If you try to break that barrier, you'll kill them. I used their living ki to build it. Destroy that barrier and each of those humans dies. I'm just going to leave them there and see if you can figure a way out of it before they all starve to death. I'm wondering if they might eat the little ones first, you know, to spare them."

Akane gasped and backed up into Ryoga. She'd never heard anything so horrible and she'd never thought she'd hear it from Ranma. "Ranma!" she shouted, her voice full of pain. "Stop it already before someone gets hurt! You always have to go too far and make an idiot of yourself!"

The inuyoukai cocked his head, frowning at her. "Did you get yourself another girlfriend, brother? I don't know where you found that one, she's sort of...uncute."

"What?" the girl shouted, outraged. "You got a lot of nerve, Ranma! If those people weren't in danger, I'd just leave you here instead of trying to save you! Moron! Conceited pervert!"

"Definitely uncute," Ranma smirked at Inuyasha. The hanyou sighed. When you were right, you were right. "Don't look at me," he muttered, determinedly looking away. "She's not my fiancée, she's yours."

"Did I lose a bet or something?" Ranma wanted to know. Somehow injured innocence and disdain were hard to pull of when you had glowing red eyes. "You want I should just kill her first?"

Okay, that was it. "Nobody's killing nobody," Inuyasha snapped. "You let Kagome go, the rest of them too or I'm going to pound dirt up your ass until you puke mud, punk."

I could have lived without that visual, Akane decided, fighting the urge to be sick at the thought.

Ranma laughed again, the cold, mocking laugh that she'd first heard a lifetime ago back in the dojo. How can he just forget about me, Akane wondered miserably. How can he just turn his back on everything and everyone who loves him? There's got to be Ranma in there somewhere, I just know it. "Here," she said suddenly. "Take this sword Ranma. It's your mother's sword."

"You think I need my mommy's widdle sword to beat his ass?" Ranma sneered, cracking his knuckles. "I don't think I'm going to need anyone's help ever again. I'm just going to get more and more powerful. Naraku thinks I'm his ally for now, but I've got a few surprises for him too. You can join me, Inuyasha. If not, you can die like the miserable humans you want to protect."

"Working for Naraku never brings anyone happiness," Miroku called out. "He's using you, Ranma."

Ranma didn't answer, his eyes were fixed on Inuyasha. "What's it going to be?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "You've been pissing me off since I met you, punk. Even if Naraku is controlling your mind, it's still going to be a pleasure kicking your ass." He slipped Tetsuisaiga from its sheath and let the blade transform in his hand. "I've been waiting for this," he hissed.

"Ranma," Akane whispered, cringing back at his coldly insane expression. The young demon whipped up his hands and sent a pulse of golden youki right at her, intending to fry her where she stood. Inuyasha made a desperate jump straight up in the air and came down between Akane and the deadly energy, just barely managing to block the strike in time to save the girl's life. Ryoga grabbed Akane and pulled her to side and out of danger. "You son of a bitch," the outraged young man snarled. "Have you lost your mind, Ranma?"

Inuyasha didn't move when Ranma turned his angry gaze on Ryoga. "Do I know you?" he sneered.

Ryoga flushed and swallowed hard. Now that he thought about it, the creature standing in front of him really didn’t look like the Ranma he knew. There was a resemblance, but the black hair was twice as long, magenta facial markings and long fangs distorted his face and as for the eyes… Ryoga shuddered, not liking whatever it was and decided that Ranma had really managed to fuck himself up good this time.

Ranma moved swiftly, closing the distance between himself and Ryoga, seizing the young man by the front of his shirt and hoisting him high into the air. The angry inuyoukai sniffed the air, his reddened eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Why do you smell of pig?” he demanded.

Something heavy slammed into Ranma, knocking him to the side and forcing him to drop the shaken Ryoga. Ranma snarled, turning around and tearing at his attacker with sharp claws. Inuyasha hit him hard in the jaw and spun around to bring the blunt edge of Tetsusaiga down on his head. “If you want to kill anyone, you gotta go through me!”

“That’s not going to be a problem, bastard!” Ranma screamed. He kicked Inuyasha hard in the chest with both feet, sending the hanyou sprawling. Inuyasha bounced back swiftly, never letting go of his sword. “Come on, punk,” he shouted. “Make it interesting this time, I’m going to hand you your ass on a platter.”

“Just fucking try it,” Ranma hissed, circling around. Ryoga dragged Akane away and up the riverbank. “Let me go,” she cried, struggling with him.

“No,” he answered. “Whatever it is, that’s not Ranma, he’ll kill you just as easy as look at you. It might have been Ranma once, but it’s not anymore.”

She elbowed him hard, making him let go. “That’s why I have to make him take this sword,” the girl screamed. “Don’t you get it? The sword will reverse this spell he’s under if I can just get him to take it.”

Ryoga was doubtful, watching the strange demon battle with Inuyasha. Ranma laughed, obviously enjoying himself as he struck again and again at the hanyou. He jumped away, swiftly evading Tetsusaiga’s edge and came down a few feet from the river. He brought his palms together and sent a powerful wave of youki into the earth. Inuyasha braced himself, but was still blown completely off his feet and flew several yards away and fell with a splash into the river. He came up sputtering and swearing.

“How’s the water?” Ranma taunted, grinning.

“Find out for yourself,” Inuyasha snarled. He didn’t want to use Tetsusaiga’s true power, fearing it would kill Ranma rather than subdue him. If only the stupid brat would take the sword, they could settle this easy. He brought the massive blade up again, pausing for just a moment as he tried to decided how to aim the blast. Nope, everyone was getting wet this time. He brought the blade down into the river with a yell, energy pouring off its surface and sent a shock of water racing over the edge to drench everyone.

Akane gasped and fell to her knees as she was drenched, looking up to see Ranma standing on the riverbed, looking annoyed and not realizing that his form had changed. “Brilliant,” she whispered. “I didn’t know Inuyasha could think that far ahead. Ryoga, did you see that? Ryoga?” He was gone, Akane looked confused and searched around her. “Ryoga?”

“Was that supposed to be impressive?” Ranma asked in an acid tone. Only problem was, his voice was suddenly much higher. She looked down at her body, her red eyes going wide with shock as she found her form had changed. “You son of a bitch,” the angry demoness screamed. “What have you done to me?”

Inuyasha grinned nastily, still standing dripping in the middle of the river. “What’s the matter, forget you turned into a bitch sometimes? Maybe Naraku will make you his mate when he sees how pretty you really are, Ranma.”

Fury darkened the female’s face, her eyes glowing with incandescent anger. “Change me back!”

Inuyasha leaned on his sword with an insolent sneer. “Can’t do it, wench. You’ll have to submit if you want me to tell you how to reverse it. Until then maybe you should leave the fighting to the males and let those people out of that barrier. Or do you want to be a bitch for the rest of your life?”

Ranma was shaking, she was so angry she couldn’t see straight. The power was building in her arms, flickering past her fingertips. “I’ll see you in hell before I surrender,” she screamed, unleashing a terrible wave of youki right at Inuyasha. He brought the sword up, deflecting most of the energy into the river. Water blasted around him, filled with heat of Ranma’s fury.

Akane ducked as hot water splashed around her. “Oh no,” she murmured.

Ranma stared at himself, male again. “What the hell is going on?” he yelled, furious that his body was changing against his will. “Am I under some kind of spell or curse? I’m going to kill you for that!”

Making sure Inuyasha could see him clearly, he reached into his shirt and pulled out a small vial. He shook it meaningfully and glared at Inuyasha, who froze, knowing what was coming. “Ranma,” he said softly, the rest of the people around them could barely hear his words. “Don’t. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“I know that this jewel shard increases a demon’s power,” the youkai sneered. He crushed the bottle in his fist, picking out the glowing shard. “That’s why you’re after it, that’s why Naraku wants it. I’m done playing with you, asshole. Let’s see what happens when you see my real strength and power. I gave you a chance to join me, but I’m just as happy to kill you now instead.”

Kagome rushed forward, stopping just in time to keep from frying herself on the barrier. “Inuyasha, don’t let him do it!”

It was too late, the hanyou ran forward, raising Tetsusaiga for a mighty swing but Ranma had already jammed the jewel shard into his arm. It pulsed and the young demon was nearly taken off his feet as the jewel sensed the evil raging inside of him and corrupted. Dark power filled the boy’s body, pulsing with insanity, misery and corruption. Insane laugher echoed around them and Ranma screamed, reveling in the new power he felt, the power of pure evil and hatred. He would be unstoppable now.

Inuyasha stopped, crouching down slightly as he came out of the water. “Kagome,” he shouted urgently. “What do we do?”

“I don’t know,” she wailed, watching as her friend’s aura continued to darken. “I don’t know how to stop it.”

“I have to kill him,” Inuyasha said grimly. “I’m sorry, Kagome!”

“No,” Akane wailed, racing down the edge of the riverbank. “Ranma, please,” she sobbed, running up to him. “Just take the sword.”

He focused on the girl standing so near him, smelling her blood and her fear. Delicious. She would be the first to satisfy his hunger for death. Akane choked, a clawed hand wrapped around her throat and slowly lifted her. She kicked wildly, still clinging to the sword with one hand. Ranma squeezed her neck tighter, enjoying the grimace of pain on her face. “Watch me, brother,” he said, his voice a harsh and grating hiss. “This human will be the first to die, then the others after her. I will not spare any!”

Akane struggled weakly, her vision starting to fade. “Please, Ranma,” she said, looking into those soulless red eyes. “I love you.”

The demon looked startled, her words made no sense and he dug his claws into her neck, her blood trickling over his fingers. “What did you say, bitch?”

“I love you,” she gasped out. Her hands came up in front of her, offering him the sword like a prayer. “You love me too. Don’t you remember?”

He didn’t, he didn’t remember. But something about her face, contorted in pain, going dark with the blood trapped by his fist and the smell of her tears tugged at the back of his mind. Who was he? There was a jewel singing to his senses now, filling him with dark desires to destroy. His blood was hot in his veins, urging him to crush the pathetic mortal’s life, destroy her. Only…he hesitated. Her smell was so familiar, her tears somehow compelling him. He didn’t want to remember her, he didn’t want to be compelled to spare her. No, it meant nothing to him who she was or who he was. What he was now was all that mattered, the darkness bursting forth from him like angry wind of destruction and pain. All he needed to do was to tighten his claws and the little girl’s neck would snap, her bones crushed in his fist and her blood would flow dark and rich over his hands.

He was going to do it, but something else was happening. She’d shoved the hilt of a sword into his free hand and his fingers automatically took it, drawing the blade from its sheath as if he’d been waiting his entire life for that one moment. Why? Did she want him to use the sword to kill her?

Ranma screamed when white hot light suddenly poured forth from the sword, its blade flaring like a tiny sun. It hurt like no pain he could have imagined, it went well past the limits of physical agony and transcended them. It burned like he’d thrown his arm into a container of acid, eating at his skin and dissolving his bones. Ranma found himself babbling helplessly, wailing and shrieking, but it was all inside of him as he still stood in frozen stasis with a girl dangling from one hand and a burning fury in his other. He couldn’t unclench his fingers, they were glued to the hilt of the sword and with a sudden shock of pain and realization, Ranma lost what was left of his mind.