ywangsrn@netcom.com (Louis Y Wang)

Disclaimer: All characters are property of either Square, Nintendo, or
Takahashi Rumiko.  



                             Ranma +
                           Fanfiction
                        Call of the Wild


                            Chapter 1
                         Stolen Visions

     "I very sorry, but we don't accept credit.  You go away now. 
Bad for business."
     The man stared blankly back at Shampoo.  He seemed to be at a
loss for words.  For several seconds, he would raise his head to
say something only to have it fall back towards the table in
confusion.
     "I'm.. i.. i... I'm sure.. I mean, I really thought.. " 
Confusion wreaked the mind of this man.  After several incoherent
sentences, he seemed to snap back into reality.
     "Who are you?"
     "I Shampoo.  You pay for something or leave, please."
     "Who am I?"
     "Shampoo no know."
     He seemed satisfied with that answer.  He picked up a menu and
began to browse it.  "I would like a #14 special please."
     "And how you pay?" asked Shampoo.
     For a moment, he seemed confused but quickly recomposed
himself and gave her a blank stare.
     "I can offer my services but that is all.  I do not seem to
have any.. currency."
     "Shampoo very sorry but man will have to go if he not pay." 
Shampoo began to return to the counter when a bowl of #14 special
came sailing her way.  Shampoo caught it and turned to Cologne.
     "Who this is for, Great Grandmother?"
     "For our young gentleman friend here, on the house young
child.  Please deliver it to him, would you?"  Cologne smiled
wickedly.  Shampoo could tell there was something going on in her
grandmother's mind.  She never smiled otherwise.
     Shampoo walked calmly over to the stranger and placed the bowl
down in front of him.  He thanked her and picked up a pair of
chopsticks.  He began to prod the noodles and after a few seconds,
realized that the noodles would not fight back.  Happy with the
results, he began to eat.
     Shampoo walked back over to her grandmother and asked her
"<Why are you feeding this man for free?  It is obvious that he
cannot pay for his meal!>" (**note : Translated from Chinese)  
     Shampoo looked over at the man.  He wore an old trenchcoat and
a dirty pair of slacks with a, what-might-of-been-once-white-but-
is-now-grey, tee-shirt.  She snorted in disgust.
     "<Young child, I sense a great power in this man.  If you help
him with whatever he needs, perhaps he can help you attain your
deepest wish."  Shampoo perked up.
     "Ranma?  Really?"  She looked back at the man and frowned. 
"Okay Great-grandmother.  Shampoo help."
     "Good.  Here is sufficient funds to buy this man adequate
clothing.  Take him to the baths, let him wash, and then get him
some clothing.  Then take him to meet your fiance and soon, husband
to be.  Perhaps he will bless you and give you Ranma as a gift." 
Cologne began to hobble away on her staff.
     Great-grandma may be old, but she wise, thought Shampoo. 
Shampoo wonder what power this man have.


                              * * *

     Once again, Ranma and Akane were fighting and once again, the
world was normal.  As occasional glances broke the tension between
the two, it was clear that the two would not speak for quite some
time.  Ranma, was walking on the rail of a fence, as normal, arms
behind his head, casually looked ahead, only to turn and look at
Akane every now and then.  She would return his glance by sticking
out her tongue.
     "Look, Akane, you know what I didn't do; I mean, besides, it
was all Happosai's fault.  He's the lecherous man, not me!  I mean,
what would I want with one or your un-feminine panties anyways?"
     "Look, Ranma, " she answered, "I'm not going to talk about it,
okay?"  Ranma sighed and continued to look ahead, trying his best
to avoid the evil stare of Akane, who was presently at this time,
glowing a faint blue.
     Off in the distance, Ranma heard the ringing or a bike bell. 
Instinctively, he leapt off the fence and tried his best to avoid
a collision with Ranma, to no avail.
     "Shampoo miss Ranma!  Ranma happy to see Shampoo?"
     "Uh, look, Shampoo.. I really.. really.. have to go to school
today.  I have a project in history to finish and I can't be late."
     "Oh.. Shampoo understand."
     Akane and Ranma stared at Shampoo.
     "Serious?  You're not pulling my leg are you?" Ranma
questioned.
     "No.  Shampoo do need favor.  You help man Shampoo meet.  He
have no memory.  He need to go to school for learn!"
     Ranma stared at her.  She's joking, right? thought Ranma.
     "Um.. alright.. who?"
     Shampoo seemed surprised.  Shampoo leapt off of Ranma and
immediately seemed panic.  "Aiiya!  Shampoo no know where man go!" 
She frantically looked around and breathed a sigh of relief when
she saw his standing nearby, trying to figure out how to use a
newspaper vending machine.
     She ran over to his side and grabbed him by the arm.  She
easily lifted him and carried him over to Ranma.
     Ranma looked carefully at the young man.  He was in his late
teens, maybe 16 or 17.  He had a ruffled looked, with messed up
hair and bright eyes of curiosity.  He was wearing a standard
school uniform and had a book bag hanging off his shoulders.
     "I guess I could take him with me.. where will he stay?"
     "Shampoo hope he stay with you."
     "Um.. sure I gues.. OooF!"  Akane elbowed Ranma in the
stomach.
     "Can I TALK to you a second, RanMA!"  Dragging him by the
ponytail, Akane, when quite a distance away, stared at Ranma in her
angry mode.
     "How can you say that?  He can't stay with us!  Remember..
someone, a free loading someone who eats like his father, and his
father is an endless pit.. is already STAYING in our guest room!"
     "No problem.. he can sleep with us.. anything to get rid of
Shampoo!"  Akane considered this a while and sighed.  
     "Okay.. I guess you have a point."

                              * * *

     "Ranma!  Prepare yourself for today, I get my vengeance!"
     Ranma stared blankly at Kuno for a second and then snapped
back into reality.
     "Look.. come on.  We've been doing this for a while.. you
really think you can beat me?"  Ranma laughed and took up a stance. 
"Come on!  I'm ready for anything you dish out!"
     Kuno seemed confident.  "There is no way you can beat the
great Tatewake Kuno!  Prepare to free the pig-tailed goddess!" 
Kuno immediately began his attack, which Ranma easily avoided.
     Akane watched the battle, bored to tears, and turned to the
stranger and began a polite conversation.
     "So what's your story?"
     The man, seemed concerned.  "Shouldn't we be helping Ranma? 
This guy with the sword seems pretty good."
     "Nah.  He been doing this a long time."  At that moment, Kuno
fell to the ground.  "See?"
     "Um.. right."
     "So, what's your name?"
     The man stared at he oddly.  "Uh..  s..ss... r... ff.. fi.. I
can't remember.  What do you want to call me?"
     "Well," she replied, "it seems you can remember some of your
name.  I guess we'll call you.. Gerad.  You look like a Gerad." 
Akane smiled.
     "Gerad."  Gerad contemplated the name.  He smiled back at
Akane.  "I like it."
     Kuno loomed dangerously in front of them.  "How DARE you speak
to the goddess Akane without my consent!"
     Ranma, perching from Kuno's head replied, "I though I took
care of you.. hmm.. must be a little tired today."
     Kuno thrust his sword at Ranma, who leapt off his head.  "This
is my fight between the stranger and myself.. you have no right to
take his fight from me!"
     Ranma stared at the Gerad, who just returned a blank stare. 
"Look.. this guy can't fight you.. let me fight for him, okay?"
     "No Ranma, I have to teach this infidel a lesson!"  He
approached Gerad only to have Ranma step in the way.
     "And I can't let you beat up on an innocent kid, okay?"  Ranma
prepared a fighting stance when Gerad pushed Ranma aside.  
     "Don't worry.. something tells me I can handle this over-
pompous jerk."  Gerad smiled inconspicuously.
     "PUMMEL!"
     In a flurry of blows, Kuno was knocked back against the
building wall, cracking it's surface, planting a large crater in
the side.
     Kuno, struggling back up, shocked, said "How can this be? 
Prepare yourself!"  Kuno began his lightning-sword technique,
launching thrust after thrust at Gerad.
     Gerad, standing in one place, raised his hand, forming an
arcane symbol with his hand, pointing his forefinger and pinky
finger to the sky, his palm facing inside, his thumb holding this
ring and third finger down.  
     "FIRE DANCE!"  With a sweep of his hand, Kuno's body was
enveloped in flame and Kuno went flying backwards.  Kuno hit the
ground with a sickening thud and the fire went out.  Unburnt, yet
unconscious, Kuno could do nothing but let out a groan.
     Ranma could only stare in disbelief as the bell rang for
everyone to go to class.

                              * * *

     If I could teach this guy how he did that, I could beat Kuno
anyday! thought Ranma.
     "Ranma, would you please answer the question?"
     Ranma snapped out of his daydream and looked up at the
teacher.  "42?"  he said weakly.
     Ranma sighed as he got up to stand outside.

                              * * *
     "NANDIAO!  What do you mean you can't remember how you did
that?"
     "I.. don't know.  It just happened."
     Ranma grumbled in disbelief.  The one move that seemed
powerful enough to end all his troubles and Gerad forgets.
     "Oh well.." Ranma said in disbelief.

                            Chapter 2
                          Another Day..

     Akane stirred slightly with the chimes singing quietly with a
slight breeze.  The birds were chirping softly and flying playfully
as the sun rose, bathing the entire sky with hues of pink, orange,
and blue.
     She slowly opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling.  She
slowly got up and stretched her arms, chasing away any remnants of
sleepiness which played games with her mind.
     She put on her slippers and quietly shuffled her way towards
the kitchen.  Today, I'm going to make Ranma one of the best meals
he has ever eaten and then he'll appreciate the value of my
cooking! thought Akane.
     She quietly tiptoed her way across the patio when something
grabbed her attention.
     "Gerad?" she whispered.  Gerad was looking up at the sky,
admiring the view.
     He turned around and smiled.  "Isn't the sky beautiful?  I
don't know if I've ever seen anything like this is my life; the
clash between the light and the dark.  The hues of red and blue,
fighting furiously to reclaim the sky, stars fading quietly, being
cast from the battle."
     Akane stared at him.  "Uh... couldn't sleep, uh?"
     "No, not at all.  I just... felt a calling to see this." 
Gerad let out a small sigh.  "So, what are you doing up so early?" 
     Happily, Akane perked up.  "Oh!  I was going to cook something
for breakfast and make everybody lunch so Kasumi can relax for
today.. she does so much for all of us."
     "Ah.. you want me to help?"
     "Can you cook?"
     "I'm not sure..."
                              * * *

     "Mmmmmm.. this is good, Kasumi!  Very good indeed!"
     "Arigato, but I didn't cook this morning.  Akane was nice
enough to cook today."  As almost reflex, everybody instinctively
spit out the bite they were eating and began to rush toward the
bathroom.
     Akane began to fume.  "Gerad helped me too, you know." 
Everybody sighed a sigh of relief.      
     "Well.. I guess that means he's the best cook in existence in
order to counteract you're poison." Ranma said.
     "What do you mean by that, Ranma?"  Akane began to glow blue.
     "Er.. nothing!  Really Akane.  It was delicious!"
     "Thank you, Ranma.  I'm glad you like it because I made lunch
for you all."
     Ranma beamed.  "Heck, with the help of Gerad, I'll eat
anything you make!"
     Akane smiled even wider.  "Don't worry!  I made lunch all by
myself.."
                              * * *

     The day seemed to crawl by as Ranma's teacher continued his
lecture on Algebra.  He mind was in a state of boredom, except on
the occasion his lunch would jump up from his paper bag and attack
him.  That was fun, fighting his food, but usually the teacher
would ask him to put it away until lunch.  He always tried his best
at school.
     When the break in his unconsciousness came in the form of
lunchtime, he leapt up and dumped his lunch at the nearest garbage
can.  He went to look for Gerad, whom he was determined to save
from the torturous death by Akane's cooking.
     "Hey!  Gerad!  Wait up!"  Gerad turned around and slowed his
pace of walking.
     "Have you opened up your lunch yet?" Ranma questioned.
     "No.. I was hoping to sit down and enjoy the lunch that Akane
kindly made us.  Did you finish yours already?"
     Ranma seemed to shuffle a bit.  "Let's just say it's in the
right place.."  Gerad seemed content with that statement.  Gerad
began to open his bag up when Ranma grabbed the bag away and
quickly closed it shut.  Something from within the bag shifted and
attempted to escape but Ranma gave it a quick punch and it settled
down.
     "Um.. let me take you to a place I know nearby and serves some
_good_ food, okay?"
     Gerad made a few attempts to get the lunch bag back, all of
which were easily evaded by Ranma.  "But why?  Akane made me lunch. 
It would be rude not to eat it.."
     Ranma dumped the bag in the garbage.  "Don't worry.  It'll
still be here tomorrow..."
     
                              * * *

     As Ranma and Gerad left school for lunch, Kuno approached
them.
     "Stranger, it is obvious that you have beaten the great
Tatewake Kuno unfairly.  It is time that you are defeated in a fair
and righteous battle.  PREPARE YOURSELF!"  Kuno began his thunder-
sword attack, which Gerad didn't seem very worried about.  Kuno,
pressing his assault, slammed Gerad in the chest several times,
pushing back against the wall.  Gerad slumped heavily onto the
concrete.
     Kuno straightened up and laughed to himself and then walked
off.
     "Gerad, what happened?  You creamed Kuno, yesterday!"  
     "I dunno.."
     "That's your answer for everything, isn't it..
     "I dunno."

                              * * *

     "So, Ranma, what's this guy's story?"
     "Well.. as far as I can gather, Ucchan, this Gerad guy lost
his memory and just to get rid of Shampoo, I told her I would take
care of him for a while."
     Ukyou looked over at Gerad, who was in the corner carefully
eating an okonomiyaki.

                            Chapter 3
                             Calling

     Akane woke to the smell of Kasumi's cooking.  She stirred
slightly and yawned.  She got up, P-chan held close, and walked
slowly towards the kitchen.  She passed the open court and saw
Gerad clutching his head.
     "Gerad, are you okay?"
     He groaned slightly.  "I can almost remember.. something.  I
don't know why.  Something around here feels almost familiar."
     As if on cue, a bright flash of light filled the area.  P-chan
leapt from Akane's arms, just in time as the bright light engulfed
Akane, making her disappear.
     Gerad slowly got up and stared at where Akane was.  Soun, who
was brushing his teeth in the doorway, collapsed to the ground when
he saw this.

                              * * *

     "My daughter... gone!  Akane!  Where are you!"  Soun crumbled
into a heap of sobbing matter.
     "There is a great magic at work here.  It seems that another
universe is colliding with ours.  We must find the source of all
this power and stop it."
     Cologne stood in the door way of the dojo.  
     "Cologne!  Can you bring back Akane?" Ranma questioned.
     "Only if we can find what opened up this gate between these
two worlds.  It is close.  We must all spread out and search the
dojo for this power before it is used again."
     Gerad groaned in pain.  Everybody stared at him.
     "I know what's going on.  I can remember who I am and what is
happening."

                              * * *

     Everybody was gathered in the training area, in a circle
around Gerad, ready to hear his story.  Happosai, tied up in the
corner, was struggling to try to get free from his bonds.
     "So, Gerad, what's the story.  Why'd you tell us to tie up
Happosai?"  Gerad looked up at Happosai and growled.
     "First off, my name is not Gerad," he laughed, "though that is
the name my brother once took.  This thief crossed into my world
and stole the scroll.  He tried to escape but I followed him here,
although without my memory.  My name is Sabin Rene Figaro.  And
that monster in the corner is the person who stole the sacred
scroll which is the key between this world and the one of Espers."
     "Espers?" everyone said simultaneously.
     "Espers are creatures with great magical powers.  A long time
ago, in a great war of magicians, these creatures where pawns in an
elaborate chess game; each with enough power to level a city."
     "What'll happen to Akane in that other world, Gerad?" Ranma
asked.
     "That world was a world the espers created to escape from
humans who tried to abuse their powers.  As soon as they find
Akane, they will sacrifice her to the statues to strengthen the
seal between the worlds."  Ranma choked.
     "When is this to happen?"
     "At the height to the passing.  In your case, two days, during
the full moon."
     Everybody turned to look at Happosai.  Ranma walked over to
Happosai and removed his gag.  "Why were you trying to open this
gate?"
     "I just wanted enough power to make everyone my servants! 
Honest!  I didn't know it was going to take Akane-chan away from
me!"  Ranma proceeded to punt Happosai into the wall.
     "We must learn the location of the scroll," Cologne said.  
     "You heard the old lady, Happosai!  Where's the scroll?"

                              * * *

     Minutes later, after Cologne finished reading the scroll, she
spoke to the group.  "I can only open this gate from this side. 
Who ever chooses to go to the other world must know that every
being contains enough power to kill you all.  I will not go with
you but for I need to stay here and open the gate for you to all
return."
     "I'm in," Ranma said without hesitation.
     "If Ranma's going, I'm going."  Ukyou said sternly.
     "Shampoo go too."
     "You can't leave without me, Shampoo!" Mousse said.
     "I'm going to save Akane-san!" Ryouga blurted out.
     "I'm going to save my daughter!" Soun cried.
     "I'm going to save my daughter-in-law!" Genma cried.
     "The fair maiden, Tendo Akane, will be returned to this soil
by my just hand." Kuno declared.
     "Then it is to be done.  From what I have read, the world is
set up like a system of tiers; each protected by a guardian.  As
you progress upward in tiers, the guardian becomes stronger and
stronger.  Be warned.  The final guardian is the one to make the
sacrifice and is nothing but pure magic.  He is the beast, Atma. 
I can send you as high as the 16 tier;  Four tiers from the top." 
Cologne paused.
     "Even the weakest esper is far stronger than anyone of you
here."

                            Chapter 4
                            The gate

     There was a bright flash of light and a warping of space as
our adventurers fell into the path of the Esper world.  Everybody
tumbled onto the ground as they fell from the glowing orb which
hovered a few meters from the ground.  Ranma stood up and looked at
his surroundings.
     "Whoa.. " he said as he peered around.  He, and the others,
stood on a path which coiled around a giant tower.  He looked up
and could barely see the top.  He looked down and failed to see the
ground.
     "Is everybody here?" Ranma asked.  He checked the ranks of his
'troops' and noticed that everybody was here intact.
     "Alright guys, lets GO!"  Ranma began sprinting up the hill
and the rest of his 'friends' followed.  Soon, Ranma and gang met
the first gate.
     "That wasn't too hard."  He approached the gate and prepared
to open it only to have the sun blocked out.  He peered up in
shock.  Above him flew a giant bat.
     "Hello. I am Doom Gaze.  And you are lunch!"  The giant bat
landed on top of the gate and stared into Ranma's eyes.  He
immediately fell to the ground.
     "I can't move!"  Ranma struggled to get up but felt as weak as
a newborn child.  
     "Don't worry, Ranma, I'll get this overgrown bird!"  Ryouga
leapt into the air, attempting to land a blow, only to be knocked
back onto the ground and weakened like Ranma.  
     "You don't get it, do you, children!  You will all be
condemned to die!"  Doom Gaze swept his deadly gaze from person to
person, stunning them, weakening them.  They all, in turn,
collapsed to the ground.
     "Akane.." Ranma muttered.
     "I failed you, dear Akane.." Ryouga said.
     "Ran-chan, help me.." Ukyou struggled to say.
     "Dear Ranma, you not let Shampoo down!"
     At that moment, Mousse came running by only to stop and see
everybody on the ground, in pain.
     "What have you done to my darling, Shampoo!"
     "Ahh... another victim."  Doom Gaze set his sights on Mousse,
expecting him to fall like the others, but did not.
     "How can this be?"
     It's Mousse's vision!  He can't see Doom Gazes eyes! Ranma
thought.
     "Mousse!  Only.. you can.. stop him!  He can't.. condemn you!"
Ranma cried.  Mousse perked up.
     "Shampoo, I will save you!"  He leapt forward and a volley of
chains sprouted from his sleeves.  They wrapped around Doom Gaze
and Mousse pulled the beast out of the sky.  He picked up the
chained bat and proceeded to throw him off the tower.
     Slowly, everybody regained their strength.
     "Shampoo, are you alright?" Mousse cried, as he hugged a
nearby pillar.

                              * * *

     Sabin lead the way as the gang walked up to the next door. 
Soon, they reached the second of the four doors and awaited their
next foe.
     "I AM BAHAMUT, KING OF DRAGONS!  STATE YOUR BUSINESS!" said a
booming voice.
     "I am Sabin!  I have come for the girl!"
     "Then you must pass me!"
     A giant chromatic dragon materialized from the emptiness which
surrounded them.  Everybody was shocked at the size of the beast. 
It laughed wickedly and blew a green flame, which everybody dodged. 
The sides of the rockface were now singed.
     Kuno pressed his sword attack, only to be swept aside like a
doll.  Ukyou and Shampoo leapt into the air, weapons at hand.  The
charged, in an attempt to hurt the beast.  They too were cast aside
like toys to the great dragon.  Mousse, angered, began his attack.
     Mousse fired a volley of knives into the beast and wrapped his
chains around the creature.  The creature began to ascend and
Mousse along with him.  Bahamut snapped the chains with a flick of
his tail and down came Mousse, who plummeted, and fell next to
Shampoo.
     Ryouga, Ranma, and Sabin were all shocked at the speed in
which the creature took out more than half the gang.
     Ryouga growled.  "You will not stop me from saving Akane!"  He
channeled all his energy into a blast a fired it off at Bahamut.
     "SHI-SHI HOUKOUGAN!"  The chi-blast flew from his hands,
slamming into the side of the beast.  Bahamut howled in pain,
obviously hurt by it.  He swung his tail around, knocking Ryouga
into the cliff-face, creating a crater in the solid rock.
     Sabin, seeing the creature hurt, took this opportunity to
prepare his attack.  "BUM RUSH!"  He leapt at Bahamut and began a
flurry of blows, which would kill an ordinary man.  The creature's
skin began to flake away at the pounding.  Hurt, it sent out a
flame from it's mouth, which engulfed Sabin.  Sabin fell to the
ground, unburnt, yet unconscious.  
     Damn, Ranma thought.  I'm the only one left!  He thought of
Akane, lying on an alter, being killed for the sake of some evil
scheme.  
     "This cannot be.  PREPARE YOURSELF!  HIRYU SHO-TEN-HA!"  The
whirl off energy came flying from the ground, lifting the giant
beast, tearing and yanking at it's body.  It's wings were torn off
by the force and howling in pain, it fell off the edge of the
tower, descending to the ground, far below.

                              * * *

     Beat up and tired, it was difficult getting to the next gate. 
Ranma had seen what they had already beaten.  It was hard to
believe what the next beast would be like.
     "There it is!  Comon!" Ranma yelled.  Calling on the last of
his reserved strength, he ran towards the gate, preparing for the
worst.
     Sabin walked up to the gate.  "Something feels awfully
familiar about this feeling I have.." Sabin muttered.  Then, from
the sky, came the beast they were to fight.  Kuno leapt at it and
begun his thunder-sword attack.  He was tossed aside, covered in
ice.
     Sabin shot up in surprise.
     "Maudin!  It's me, Sabin!"  Everybody stared at Sabin.  The
beast walked over, looming over the human.  He grabbed Sabin and
embraced him in what looked like a giant bear hug.
     Maudin put Sabin down.
     "Um.. Sabin.  I think we deserve an explanation." Ranma said.
     Sabin smiled.  "This guy is a friend of mine.  Long ago when
I fought the forces of darkness with my friends, he helped us out. 
A lot, I may add."  Sabin turned around and quickly chatted with
the beast, which was over 9 feet tall.  "He says he'll let us pass,
unharmed.. well.. except for Kuno."
     Kuno lay on the ground, unconscious, from the initial attack.
     Maudin lifted his arm and from the sky descended a white
unicorn.  It touched the group with it's horn and a feeling of
warmth spread over them.  Amazed, the group was completely healed.
     "Pass.." said Maudin in a booming voice.  And everybody walked
through the final gate.

                            Chapter 5
                        The Final Battle

     Sabin, Ranma, and the others walked for a short distance and
soon they came to a giant temple which could only be described as
'weird'.  Almost organic, the group watched as the temple pulsated
grotesquely.  
     "Akane's in there?" Ranma asked Sabin.
     "Yes."  
     Ranma and the others sighed and entered the temple.

                              * * *
     The room they entered was a giant room.  Lining the walls were
lumps of flesh, warm to the touch.  In the center, surrounded by a
light, was Akane lying on a pedestal, unconscious.  
     "Akane-san!" yelled Ryouga in surprise.
     "Akane!" Ranma echoed.
     The two ran forward towards Akane but stopped short when they
heard an evil laugh.
     "I AM THE ESSENCE OF ALL MAGIC.  I CONTROL ALL THE POWERS IN
THE UNIVERSE.  LIFE.  DEATH.  THE UNIVERSE ITSELF.  STATE YOUR
CLAIM HERE."
     Ranma, in a shaky voice, said, "We've come to take back
Akane."
     "NO.  THE GATE MUST BE STRENGTHENED.  YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT. 
YOUR EXISTENCE HERE JEOPARDIZES OUR LIVES.  SHE MUST DIE."
     In front of the alter, the air grew thin as an image appeared
in front of the group.  It wavered in the air and materialized into
what looked like a half-beast, half robot monster.
     "AND I MUST STOP YOU."
     Everybody attacked.
     A bright flash filled the room.
     And everybody was on the ground in an instant.
     Ranma's muscles ached.  But he had to save Akane.  He stood up
and looked the beast in the eyes.  "We have to take Akane back."  
     "THIS CANNOT BE."  A large energy ran along the ground, headed
straight for the group.
     Ryouga struggled to get up.  "Akane will never be yours!"  He
leapt up and charged the energy.  "BAKUSAI TEN KETSU!" he cried as
he pounded the temple floor.  The rock shot up from the explosion,
disrupting the flow of energy.  
     Atma stopped his attack.  "ENOUGH OF THIS FOOLISHNESS."  He
perched up and his form melted into a form that was vaguely
humanoid.  He approached the alter and picked a sword up off of the
table.  Raised it above Akane's head.
     "No!"  yelled Ranma.  The beast stopped.
     "WHY DO YOU WISH ME TO STOP?"
     "Because..  I love her." Ranma said.  "Take me instead."
     The beast smiled a toothy smile.  "I SEE YOUR LOVE AND I KNOW
IT TO BE TRUE.  I WILL GRANT YOU ANY NUMBER OF WISHES YOU DESIRE." 
Ranma looked at the beast in shock.
     "I just want to go home.  With Akane.  Safely." he said.
     "PROMISE NEVER TO RETURN."
     "I promise."  he said.  And then, they were home.

                            Epilogue

     Ranma was laying on his futon.  He stared up at the ceiling,
recalling the days events.  As the nighttime came, the cool air
chilled his body.  There was a knock at his door.
     "Ranma, can I come in?"
     Ranma looked up.  The door slid open and Akane looked shyly at
Ranma.  Sabin had long returned home with his scroll.  Genma and
Soun were downstairs playing sho-gi.  Nabiki was watching TV and
Kasumi was cleaning.
     "Ranma.. I.. "
     "It's okay.  Don't say anything."
     Akane let out a sigh.
     "I have just one question."  Ranma looked into Akane's eyes.
     "What?"
     "Ryouga told me that you could of had any wish in the world. 
Any at all.  And you said that you wanted me..."
     "Yeah, so?"
     She looked down at the floor, embarrassed.  She fiddled with
her feet and looked up, right into Ranma's eyes.
     "Why didn't you ask, also, to become a normal guy?"
     Ranma slapped himself on the forehead and fell back onto his
futon.

End.

     I've been writing this for quite sometime and I don't know if
it's any good.  This is my first Fan-fic so, BE NICE!  I started 
this thing just after christmas and just barely finished it now for
two reasons.. 1, I don't like posting once every few day but instead
prefer putting the whole thing in one shebang.  2, I'm lazy :).  I got an
idea for this thing because I was wondering, while playing Final
Fantasy Three (it rules!), what would happen if Mousse met Doom
Gaze?  So, this story spawned.
     I would like feedback.  Was it any good?  Did you like it?  Do
you want me to write more?  I love doing video-game crossovers and
such because it allows me to test my writing and creativity to
bring life of games.  
     For those who are confused, go out, get a SNES, play FFIII. 
For you who have played it and are still confused, get psychiatric
help.
                                                       Young Wang
                                              ywangsrn@netcom.com

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*           ------,          *  Proof through substitution :              *
*           `7~~~__          *  1.  Lincoln is dead                       *
*          /~; /~,-7\        *  2.  Elvis is dead                         *
*         `~|,',' /' |       *  3.  Lincoln is Elvis                      *
*           || |/'  /        *  4.  Lincoln _was_ Elvis                   *
*           `>`~---~         *  5.  Given : Elvis was 'The King'          *
*           /,               *  6.  Proof : Lincoln ruled under monarchy  *
*           `\   _           *                                            *
*             `~~            *********************************************
*           "..." - Genma    *  Young Wang - ywangsrn@netcom.com          *
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*  'Joudan ja nai wa yo' - Tendo Akane * 'Buki!  Buki!  Bweee!' - P-chan  *
 *************************************************************************