The path of life chapter 1 		Written by: Matdeception.

**********************************************************************

Disclaimer: Ranma ½ was created, and is owned by Rumiko Takahaisha. Gold
Digger was created, and is owned by Fred Perry. No financial gain comes
to the author of this story at the creators expense. This story is
written in complete adoration for the characters and worlds created by
their respective authors.

Authors Notes: Just alittle comment about Gina's attitude. I forget
which manga set she changed from the 'Calm, collected, and totally under
confident young woman' to the easily identifiable 'boy hungry genius' we
know her to be. It wasn't until Brittany confronted her and forced
reality down her throat. The reality being Gina was damn hot (not in so
few words, Brittany actually grabbed her breasts and admonished her for
not showing those babies off before). Until then, she was almost totally
'ignored' and 'rejected' in her mind, and that's how she appears in this
part of the story. However, none of the Gold Digger cast will be seen
until after the Saffron incident in the Ranma world. This chapter deals
with establishing a rather 'light hearted' connection with the Diggers,
which I have yet to decide whether I'll let them meet again with the
same emotional 'air' so to speak, or get all angsty and shiznats.
Anyway, just a heads up, it will be about a chapter or two until GD
comes back into the fore.

**********************************************************************

Taming of the beast - The path of Life Chapter 1.

A full month since he was brought here, a full month since he had spoken
a word, almost a full month wasted from his training. Ranma reflected,
that despite his down time, he had refused to let his current skills in
the Art die, so thus he practiced. Practiced from sunrise until sundown.
This went on for a week or so, until he accidentally punched through a
wall in his room, nearly causing the recovering heart attack patient in
the adjacent room to relapse.

Hiso marveled at the boys physical prowess, and at the rate in which he
recovered from his ordeal. Oh sure, he admitted, the boy was going to
end up with numerous scars after he fully healed, however the sheer
strength he possessed was simply mind boggling, not to mention his
fluidic grace. Still, after that event Hiso made sure by the next day a
oversized storage room had been cleaned out, and turned into something
akin of the Modern Day Dojo's that had infested Japan since ancient
times. Explaining to the medical staff that "This could possibly break
the emotional void he had erected around himself to defend against his
trauma."

They had eagerly agreed to this action, most of the doctors involved
having already read the police report, as well as those of the
eyewitnesses that had found the boy in the first place. Appalled (the
word covering so little of the actual contempt and rage the doctors had
over the incident) by the situation, the doctors went out of their way
to make the boy's stay here as comfortable as possible. It is a doctor's
duty to save lives, to make sure they survive, and grow in a 'fitting'
atmosphere whenever possible. The state Ranma was found in clearly
showed he was not growing in a fitting atmosphere. The stuff of
nightmares can erupt from such upbringing, so they reasoned the normally
disallowed use of medical resources was worthwhile. If giving up some
closet space prevented a psychotic killer from emerging, they would pay
the cost in spades.

Ranma, thankful for the extra space, however didn't show signs of
recovery, and the physiologists brought in to help the boy made
absolutely no progress. At times, they report, he just wasn't there. As
if his mind went for a walk, or went to focus on something else while
they attempted to pry him out of his funk. They defiantly refused to
give up on him though.

**

Ranma, however, didn't really care much for the doctors. He was more
focused on what was happening within his body at the moment to care. He
had felt it almost instantly when he woke up, like a tendril of power
had snapped and been set ablaze within him. For the life of him, he
couldn't understand it.

'Okay, think Ranma. Focus. What's different about you today, that wasn't
there in the past?' Images of his fathers presence flashed through him,
and then was discarded. He's been left alone many times in the past, so
he reasons Genma's presence had nothing to do with what he was feeling.
Reviewing his recent memories, setting aside the Neko-Ken training for
obvious reasons, he focused on what could have brought this about.

Three hours had passed before he mentally let off a frustrated scream
'What the hell is this!?!' Finally, he decided to look into the
Neko-Ken. It's the only path he had not followed yet. When he looked
back, he found nothing that could attest to what he was feeling, to what
was raging inside him almost demanding to be released. The images were
skewed as they flowed through his mind, it almost seemed like a blank
spot form his memories, however that's when it happened.

Like a snake, this hidden energy responded to the mental images passing
through Ranma's mind. Hissing as the energy did in reaction to the
Neko-Ken training, Ranma unconsciously shuddered visibly. 'Whatever this
is, its responding violently to the Neko-Ken training. Maybe if I grab
onto it, I can control it.' So he tries, like a mental game of tag he
chased the elusive power. No matter how many times he would review the
scene's of his Neko-Ken training, and no matter how many times he tried
to enclose upon it, it would always evade his grasp. Another hour of
this attempt ended in Ranma giving up for the moment in frustration and
disgust at his own inability.

'Damnit! I can't even control my own frustration! How can I ever gain
control of this, when I can't even control myself?' Letting off a tired
sigh, Ranma began with the very basics of his art, starting at the
beginners Kata, while mentally commenting 'If I lose control, lose my
focus, its time to start at the beginning. Regain my focus, and try try
again.'

And so it went, every day he would pick up where he left off, slowly
rising from the ground based basics of his art, to the basics of his
aerial style. Slowly but surely, he climbed the ladder of his skill,
even going so far as to alter some of his Kata's to represent the
knowledge and experience he has picked up through out his life on the
road. Adaptability and flexibility are the trademarks for his style, and
though he doesn't know it yet - He's already a master at that tenet.


**

"Is there anything else you would like to declare, Mr. Diggers?" asked a
rather plain looking Japanese Custom agent. Theo AKA Dr. Theodore
Pisqual Diggers, thought she looked rather handsome in her professional
uniform. Her deep black hair was prolly as long as his dear Julia's,
only this one had it rolled up into a bun at the top of her petite head.

"No, nothing else to declare." He answered, then received a pointy
finger into his stomach. Grumbling to himself at his Daughters antics,
he stated, "Except that I'm married and madly in love with my wife." He
almost chuckled at the blank expression the woman gave him. Shrugging,
he pointed to the two adolescent pre-teens by his side. "Sorry, they
kind of demanded I say that when I meet an attractive woman. They got it
in their crazy heads some 'harlot' will run off with me if left
undefended."

Receiving another jab to his stomach from his daughter, Brittany, Theo
was awarded with a slight blush from the customs agent. Deciding to
forego any more 'embarrassing' moments, that could very well earn him a
beating from his daughters, Theo responded "If there's nothing else …"
Receiving the nod, and their passports, from the woman, the trio stepped
out of line and began making their way towards the airport exit.

However, on the way his daughters just had to pipe in with some crass
remark. Brittany, the young and lively thirteen year old bounced once,
causing her strawberry blond hair, with some odd black spots appearing
here and there, to rise and fall about her shoulders and face piped in
"Honestly daddy, you should be more grateful for me and Gina! We decided
to come alllllll the way from home just so you wouldn't get lonely!
Right Gina?

Brittany, glancing towards her sister , continued to bounce and jump
around like the energetic Mexican jumping bean she was turning out to
be. Gina, however, decided to deflate her rather 'exuberant' sisters
cheerful mood by admonishing her "Gina and I, Brittany. It's supposed to
be Gina and I, not me and Gina."

Brittany, indignant for her sisters admonishment, stuck her tongue out
and cooed after giving off that annoying 'nyahhh' sound, "We can't all
be Miss Perfect Sentence structure can we, oh biiiiiiiig sister!"

Theo, feeling a head ache coming on, decided to end this soon to be
screaming match, "Come girls, I have some important things to do here.
Can we at least get along for the next few days?" This 'trip' had really
gotten to Theo, as any trip to visit a dying friend would get to him.

The girls, oddly empathic to the situation, stopped their arguing and
silently followed their father. Before to long, Brittany's attention was
snagged on the various little things that tend to catch those 'flighty'
of mind and thought. A weird looking chair, some of the Kanji that
showed off of signs. Yep, everything in her view was 'magic' and
'mystery'. Gina however, was not easily satiated. Despite Brittany's
obliviousness to their visit, Gina knew what was going on. Its hard to
miss the signs, father had been depressed ever since he announced this
trip. Even though Gina 'knew' what was happening, she didn't want to be
around it. Death, in any form, scared Gina at this age, so she reminded
her father of his earlier promise as they approached the curb to the
street. "Remember daddy, you promised to leave me at the library before
you run off to do your business!"

Theo simply nodded, while he hailed a taxi and loaded their luggage up.
Soon after, the three Diggers were off, their path leading to their
hotel to drop off their luggage, then the library to drop off more
luggage (Gina), and finally to the hospital to visit the goal of their
trip, one currently dying Chisato Hino.


**

Jump. Sidekick to opponents head. Follow through with an overhead twist.
Land, immediately flowing into a leg sweep.

Ranma had been going frantic the last fifteen minutes. Whatever 'it' is
inside him, it had started jumping, crackling, and reacting to god only
knows what. It scared him, he could admit to himself. Despite the fear
he felt for 'it', he continued to probe and 'watch' its actions,
figuratively speaking, of course.. Something was different this time.
Normally it would only react as he thought about the horrors inflicted
on him by the Neko-Ken. Now it was happening with out any mental
stimulation on his part.

'Had regaining my focus been the answer? What could possibly cause 'it'
to react like this?' Ranma mentally commented as he finished his latest
Kata with a back flip, landing in his starting stance, he let out a few
deep breaths. A moment later, he relaxed his stance, and continued to
stare off into space as he mentally reviewed what had happened.

A voice sounded from the doorway, Ranma Idly noting 'it' had just gone
into a frenzy as the soft syllables entered his ears. Surprised,
compiled with his 'fear' over how this new found 'power' was reacting
caused Ranma to whip around to quickly, his legs still tired from his
earlier exertions , and trip over themselves as Ranma came crashing to
the make shift tatami mats.

"You're a funny boy aren't you?" answered that same sing song voice.
Lifting his gaze to the door, he spied a rather young girl, gaijin from
appearances. 12 - 14 years of age, oddly 'feral' green eyes staring back
at him. Ranma couldn't help but noticed two distinct differences from
what normal people look like, when compared to her. 'The ears…'

"Something on my face?" she asked, moving a stray lock of hair from her
forehead in a vain attempt to find some ungodly marr upon her features.
Finding none, at least none she could feel with her hands, she spoke
"Hi. I'm reeeally sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your dancing! It was
so beautiful though, what was that anyway?" she continued in her
questions.

Ranma barely heard her, something else had struck him as odd with the
girl, besides the funny pointing ears. Deciding his curiosity wouldn't
lay down and die until he asked, "Why are you talking so funny? Your
lips are moving, but not in time with your words?"

"Ummm, my daddy.." She idly wondered if she was going to get in trouble
for telling the boy her father was a magician "cast a spell on me, some
transagralation or something. It lets people understand me, and me them
while its on."

"Magic?" Ranma asked, and then tossed her explanation away. It didn't
matter to the art, so ultimately was worthless, right? "Never mind. And
I wasn't dancing, it's called martial arts! Combat yah know, punches,
kicks, jumps." He tapered off in his explanation, noticing the girl was
fidgeting under his gray-blue eyed gaze. 'Why is she nervous?'

Ranma, deciding to break whatever tension had set itself up in the girl,
asked "So what's your name?" while pushing himself off the floor, doing
a handstand, then flipping forward to his feet and landing not even
three feet away from her. "I'm Sa..Ranma, just Ranma."

"Brittany Elin Diggers, but everyone calls me 'Cheetah'." She stated,
receiving a blink from the pig tailed martial artists, and the question,
"What's a.. cheetah?"

"Silly! Cheetah is the name of a cat! The fastest cat in the whole wide
world!" Ranma noticed, as she spoke the word 'cat' the tendril of energy
within his minds eye snap and go taunt. Tentatively reaching out for it,
and succeeding in wrestling it down, he became slightly surprised that
the tendril seemed to vanish, only to reappear intermingled within his
own body. 'The mention of a 'cat' did this? Waita minute, could this be
that Neko crap pops was trying to teach me?'

Silence ensued the pair as Ranma kept his attention inward, and Brittany
couldn't think of anything else to say. Getting bored, and a little
scared at how the weird boy was acting, Brit decided to retreat back to
the hallway, off handedly saying "Um.. my daddy wants me to stay close..
I better go.."

And as quickly as it came the catfist vanished and Ranma lost control.
'What happened?'. Returning his attention outward, he noticed the girl
was half way out the door. 'Could she be the link I need to understand
this?" Deciding to follow the best lead he had so far, he called out to
her, "Hey wait!" he stammered, trying to find a reason for her to stay.
Only one thing popped into his mind, so he went with it. "That dance..
would you like to learn how to do it? Its kind of fun, and great for.."
he fumbled for words, lacking greatly in 'child' speech. So he decided
to use the one thing that always brought a smile to his face. "Great
for.. uh.. eating?"


**

Slightly Earlier

Brittany 'Cheetah' Elin Diggers was completely, with out a doubt in her
mind - Bored. Every since her and papa got to this strange building she
was left alone in the waiting area. Father had gone off on his business,
and asked her to wait here.

'Bleah! This is soooooooo boring! There's nothing to do!' Brittany idly
noticed some people stopped alittle ways down, to stare into a room that
had its door propped open. From her vantage point, she really couldn't
see much. She, however, couldn't miss the look of awe the people adopted
as they stared into the room. 'Must be a play ground!' thought Brittany,
'After all, I only see those type of looks on other kids when there was
something fun to play with.'

Her curiosity would not die. This, compiled with her increasing boredom,
had her wandering towards whatever spectacle had so hypnotized the
adults earlier. Trying to appear sneaky, she hugged the walls and inched
her way towards the opening.

'I am sneaky, I am undetectable, no one will find me." She stated
mentally as several nurses, patients, and doctors eyed her. Needless to
say she ignored them, 'Must all like staring at the wall. They can't see
me, I'm a ninja! Yeah!' Coming the last few feet to the door, she lost
interest in the 'Ninja' game and simply walked in, took a quick look,
and immediately began hemming and hawing at the sight before it.

A boy, ten or eleven years old and dressed in what looked like shortened
versions of what the male nurses wore, was flying through the air. His
lean and muscled body didn't escape Brittany's attention. Inwardly
thankful for getting that talk about 'The birds and the bee's' as mama
and papa put it, she simply stood there and watched. Mesmerized, unable
to say anything for fear it would end.

However, like all good things, this came to an end. Brittany eyed the
boy funny as he stood there, completely stalk still. Soon though, he
relaxed his stance, his gaze settling on the far wall of the room.

'What is it with the Japanese and wall staring?' she spoke in the barest
of whispers.

That's when the boy jumped, as if he heard her, and tripped over his own
feet, crashing gracelessly down to the floor. Brittany giggled,
commenting "You're a funny boy aren't you?" And her breath was taken
away as a pair of the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen looked up from
the floor, and gazed intently upon her. Moments passed, Brittany hiding
a blush by play-acting "Something on my face?" Using her hands to cover
her blush,  and smoothly, at least in her opinion, she asked "Hi. I'm
reeeally sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your dancing! It was so
beautiful though, what was that anyway?"

"Why are you talking so funny? Your lips are moving, but not in time
with your words."

Brittany got inquisitive at this point, most people never noticed that
until it was pointed out, slightly curious, and also alittle fearful,
she answered, "Umm.. daddy.." taking in a deep breath, and idly
wondering if she was going to get in trouble for telling this boy her
father is a magician "cast a spell on me, some transagralation or
something. It lets people understand me, and me them while its on."

"Magic?" the boy asked, gaining an inquisitive look and completely
missing Brittany's nod. A moment later, he refocused his eyes sharply on
her, "Never mind. And I wasn't dancing, it's called martial arts! Combat
yah know, punches, kicks, jumps." Brittany fidgeted under his gaze,
mentally pondering 'Is this what daddy meant? Is what I'm feeling the
same as what's supposed to happen when I meet my "Knight" as he said?
I'm soooooo confused!'

The boy continued to gaze at her funny, eliciting a rosy blush in the
process. Another moment passed in silence, until the boy spoke "So
what's your name?" while doing a neato hand stand forward roll/flip
thing, at least that's what Brittany thought to call it. The boy
continued, after landing two feet in front of her "My names Sa…Ranma,
just Ranma."

Ignoring Ranma's stumble over his last name, Brittany was glad for
something to say, glad she could talk instead of stand around and blush
like an immature girl. "My names Brittany Elin Diggers. Everyone calls
me 'Cheetah' though."

"What's a.. 'Cheetah'?" and Brittany then goggled at the boy. 'How could
he not know what the besttest animal was in the whole wide world?'
tossing this thought out for later, Brittany answered. "Silly! A cheetah
is the fastest cat in the whole world!"

Once again Ranma just stared at her, 'Why Is it so hot in here?'
Brittany began asking herself, all the while hoping something would come
up so the boy would stop looking at her like that. However, when nothing
came up, and with Brittany reaching her 'blushing' limit, she took
matters into her own hands. She had to get away, she had to calm down
and think "Umm.. my daddy.. wants me to stay close. I better go."

Slowly stepping back and heading towards the exit, she couldn't bring
herself to turn her back on him. Some how his gray-blue eyes had
captivated her, their depths seeming to expand for eternity as they
stared at each other. Just as she was about home free, Ranma spoke
again. "Hey wait!" Brittany stopped in her tracks, blushing even more
after noticing the slight blush adorning the boy's cheeks. 'At least I'm
not the only one who feels it.' She mentally commented.

"That dance.. would you like to learn how to do it? Its kinda fun, and
great for.." he fumbled for words "Great for.. uh.. eating?" Like music
to her ears, the 'hint' he gave her that she could indulge in yummy
yummy Tuna. "Eating?!"

The boy nodded, smiling in such a way to make Brittany's heart skip a
beat. 'I really wish daddy hadn't given me and sis the 'talk' before
coming here' she mentally cursed, but smothered her feelings of
insecurity as he answered "Yeah… you want to go grab some food? We can..
talk.. some more or something, uh.. learn more about each other. Yeah,
that's it."

"YES!" screamed Brittany, letting off an excited squeal as her mind
indulged in fantasies of tropical islands completely made of Tuna, for
the moment her previous insecurities forgotten. She hurriedly spoke,
"Lets go!!" and so she snatched the boy's hand with her own, and
practically dragged him out the door and down the hall, intent upon her
search for the cafeteria, and completely ignoring the boy's yell's to
let go, and that he could walk under his own power.

**

Theo sighed heavily after listening to the doctors report on his friends
condition. Cancer was eating her alive, and she refused his outside
help. He couldn't get Chisato's words out of his head "Theo, please.. my
time has come. Don't go about curing this."

For the life of him, Theo couldn't help but believe his friend suddenly
became a retard. 'Who wouldn't jump at the chance to be cured? Its
inconceivable!"

 Exiting the room and back into the hallway, Theo's greeted to the sight
of his Daughter, Brittany, physically dragging a younger boy down the
hall while yelling something about "TUNA". Shaking his head at the
sight, he moved to free the boy from his horrible fate. Just before he
reached them though, a hand landed on his shoulder, and firmly held him
in place.

"Leave them alone please." Theo couldn't help but wonder why some one
was telling him what to do, especially when it concerned his daughter.
Luckily, the owner of the hand, one Dr. Hiso, explained. "The boy she's
with, he's been through a traumatic experience. This is the first time
he's talked to anyone since arriving here."

"What do you mean?" Theo asked

And so Dr. Theodore Pisqual Diggers was informed of Ranma's situation.
How he was found, he's trauma, and how Ranma's recovery was going.
Needless to say, Theo was pissed, pissed and full of pity for the young
boy.

"I'll… let it be for now." Theo stated softly after thinking it over for
a few moments, "But I expect you to keep a close eye on him when he's
around my daughter. I don't want what happened to cause undue pain to my
daughter? Agreed?"

Dr. Hiso smiled and nodded, seeming completely understanding of Theo's
feelings of the subject. "Not to worry, Mr. Diggers. In all the time
Ranma has been here he hasn't lashed out at anything, besides a few
walls, so he's relatively harmless. And" Hiso clucked his tongue,
continuing, "Thank you. I'm not going to lie and say we weren't
concerned about his refusal to speak, and thankfully your daughter seems
to have broken the first tiny peice of many for that shell he has spun
around himself."

Theo simply nodded dumbly from where he was sitting, across the room
from his daughter and the boy - Ranma was his name -, who were busy
scarfing down ungodly amounts of food. Tuna mostly, Theo noted with abit
of amusement.

**

With that, time passes as it wants to do. Day by day Brittany slowly
melted away Ranma's shell, and day by day Ranma came to grasp what he
now terms as the 'Neko-Ken'. Considering it appeared after the cat fist
training, and reacted strongly to the mention of cats. For a reason
Ranma hasn't figured out, Brittany garners much of the same attention
from 'it' as cats do. Their friendship blossomed, and Brittany even
roped Gina into visiting.

"Hey Ranma!" Brittany squealed in delight, while dragging her sister
Gina behind her in a mad dash towards the pig tailed martial artist.

Stopping in his work out, the ten year old smiled up to his slightly
taller friend, "Hey Cheetah, who's your friend?" he asked, after
noticing the rather bedraggled and heavily panting girl behind his
friend, who happened to have fallen to her knees in exhaustion when
Brittany released her hand.

"Ranma! This is my sister Gina! She's abit of a nerdy nerd, but I wanted
to introduce you two!" she giggled and chimed as only a girl of her
energy scale could.

"Gina eh? " Ranma tossed some words in he had heard a few days ago from
some other people in the hospital. "Cute name for a cute girl." He said,
as he knelt down and offered his hand to Gina "Here, let me help you up.
I'm sure I have some ice water around here, if you're thirsty."

Gina, having the decency to blush at the compliment, accepted the
offered hand. 'Wow, he is cute!' she mentally chimed in. Being 13 years
old, almost 14, didn't really install a 'He's to young' mind set within
the young girl. Hell, she's grateful, especially after the birds and the
bee's talk she got from her father, that the opposite gender noticed
her. She had been depressed when a few boys in her school told her
Brittany was much better looking than her. "Thanks Ranma.." she said as
shyly as ever.

Now Brittany wouldn't admit it to anyone, but she just got her first
dose of 'jealousy' over Ranma right then. With her sister no less! So
she coughed politely when Ranma helped her up, and when Gina refused to
let go of his hand. "Gina gina gina, you just met the boy!"

Ranma was confused when Gina didn't let go of his hand, and even more
confused when Gina forcibly ejected his hand after Brittany's comment.
Deciding he didn't need to know why, and repeating in his mind 'Girls
are too weird' he went back to his training, again completely oblivious
to the love struck young teenagers in the room who got their first real
taste of boy watching. Even if he was only 10 years old, he 'looked'
thirteen or fourteen, so it was perfectly all right to oogle him like
this, at least in Gina and Brittany's mind.

**

A week had passed after Brittany and Ranma first met when Ranma finally
fully grasped the 'Neko-Ken' with out needing to be in Brittany's
presence. With a cry of "HELL YEAH!" Ramma thrust his first into the
air.

CRASH

Came the sound as Ranma inadverntly let loose a pathetically weak Ki
blast into the roof. No real damage, aside from the slowly smoldering
tiles overhead. "Opps."

**

During the next two weeks, Gina, Brittany, and Ranma got much closer.
They were friends, in Ranma's eyes at least, and friends help friends
right? So

Jumping back as the two girls screamed and howled like banshee's, Ranma
couldn't help but ponder what was going on. All he said was "Wow, Gina,
you keep yourself in good shape, if what Cheetah told me about your
uh.." he fumbled for the word. " neerdy? Yeah that's it, if what Cheetah
told me about your nerdy ways is true." Then he turned to Brittany,
ignoring or oblivious to the glare that erupted from Gina to Brittany,
and commenting. "You know Cheetah, if what Gina told me about your.. uh"
searching for the words, " glut.. uh.. gluttonous, yeah that's it. If
what Gina told me about your gluttonous way is true, then all we need to
do is put you on a diet. You'll be as 'cute' as Gina is in no time."

From there all hell broke loose. Ranma heard more curse words that day
than he would believe possible. When the doctors, and some Gaijin man
ran into the room and witnessed the cat fight, Ranma explained what had
happened before hand, and the Gaijin erupted in embarrassment.

"BRITTANY ELIN DIGGERS! GINA BABBETTE DIGGERS!" he roared as only a
mortally embarrassed father could, "Stop this NOW! There's no reason to
be fighting over Ranma like.." and he was silenced by the glare of death
he received from his daughters. Idly noting Ranma had asked him a
question.

"Fighting over me? What for?" Theo groaned at the complete naivety the
young boy displayed.

**

And so it continued. Day in, and day out with both girls trying to
'flaunt' their stuff to Ranma. Ranma, being completely oblivious to
this, never reciprocated their advances, which caused them to try
harder, which to Theo's shame, included wearing rather skimpy modes of
dress. When he tried to get them into more 'juvenile' clothing he was
soundly beaten to a pulp.

**

"Hey Ranchan" cooed Gina, extremely smug she came up with such a cool
nick name before Brittany could, "How do I look in this skirt?"

Brittany was ready to tear her sisters head off, and she couldn't really
explain why. Every time she got close to HER Ranma she felt like tearing
Gina's hair out. The only reason she hadn't yet is because Ranma totally
ignored her sisters blatant advances.

"Looks.. uh " fumbling through the advice the doctors had given him
concerning the Digger sisters, he continued " uh.. nice. Really.. uh..
shows off your.. uh.. beautiful legs."

Not to be out done by her sister, Brittany asked, "Does my make up look
all right Ranma?" drawing her face to within inches of Ranma, she
continued "Does it make me look older or younger?"

Ranma never got a chance to answer, with a cry of "HARLOT" the battle
between Gina and Brittany was rejoined in earnest. Crawling out of the
scuffle, Ranma noted how he had accidentally fallen into the Neko-ken,
and thoughts of what could have happen to his two best friends if he
lost controlled filtered through his mind. Scaring him.

**

Later that same night, Brittany lay awake in bed. Her sister Gina
soundly asleep and muttering something about 'Ranma' in her sleep. It
disgusted her how her sister could be so mean. 'I was Ranma's friend
first!' she mentally cried.

Deciding she needed to talk to some one - ANYONE but gina - about her
feelings, and the confusion it brought down upon her, Brittany jumped
out of her bed, slowly and soundlessly exiting through the door to the
living area of the suite Theo had rented for their stay in Tokyo.

Theo himself was still awake, sitting on a couch and seemingly lost in
his memories as he poured over some type of picture book, time to time
muttering "I'm going to miss you.. Chisa.."

Brittany, in need of help and seeing her father was in an almost exact
emotional jumble as she was, approached him. Jumping over the couch in a
single bound, having shifted to her Hybrid form earlier in the night,
she alighted herself in his lap and hugged him.

This completely caught Theo by surprise, but he didn't reject the rather
abrupt show of emotion. Still, seeing his daughter with this confused
soulful eyes forced him into action. "Is something wrong Brittany?"

Steeling herself, she asked, "Papa.. I'm.. confused." A lot harder to
admit than people believe, she continued. "I.. think I'm in love papa.
And its making me angry.. angry every time Gina gets near him.. papa?
What am I going to do?"

Theo could only chuckle. In love? Oh Julia was going to LOVE hearing
about this. "Well.. does he feel the same way about you?" Needless to
say, Theo didn't have to even guess whom she had developed feelings for.
It was rather obvious, only an idiot would have missed it. "And.. does
he know that were going to be leaving for home in the next few days?"

Scrunching her facial features up cutely into a pout, even though she
was going for more of an inquisitive appearance, Brittany shook her
head. "I don't know. I.. I'm scared to tell him papa. What if he doesn't
return my feelings? Or worse "she choked out, "What if he's in love with
Gina? I don't know if I could take it."

Theo nodded slowly, "When you fall in love, you always risk rejection.
However, you have to risk it if you want to be happy. He may say no, but
he may say yes. If you never tell him, your dooming yourself before you
start."

Brittany sighed, 'Figured he would say something like that. Should I
tell him? Should I 'take a chance' like he said? Or be content with
being his friend, and never knowing if he cared about me like that."

Silence reigned for nearly ten minutes, Theo content to hold is
distraught daughter while she mentally weighed the pro's and con's of
admitting her feelings. After the ten minutes, she snaked up and kissed
her father on the cheek, saying "Thanks daddy." And off she went,
bounding from his lap and back to the room. Squealing in mental
excitement, 'Tomorrows the day I SMITE you RANMA!!" and within 5
minutes, Brittany had fallen asleep with an unusual glow and smile on
her lips.

Theo, for his part, prayed she wouldn't tell him. First crushes and all
aside, there's no way they could have a relationship. His home being
here, in Japan, while theirs in America.

**

Gina awoke from her dream, the dream being of her and Ranma in rather
flirtatious situations. She sighed softly, opening her eyes and catching
sight of Brittany in the lame light that filtered through the window
from the moon. Conflicting feelings immediately ignited within her
heart. She knew Brittany was a victim of the green-eyed monster. One
would have to be a complete moron to miss it. She knew she should have
stayed away from 'her' Ranma the moment it started. But.. in her entire
13, almost 14 years of life no one but her mother and father made her
feel so good to be alive. Never made her feel so good to just be who she
was. Ranma did this, and she couldn't bear the thought of returning
home, returning to that horrible existence where she was mainly ignored
and hardly tolerated by her friends and peers.

Gina felt that she needed to talk to some one, ANYONE but Brittany. And
so, with out preamble, and a lot less grace than Brittany had put forth
only 30 or 40 minutes before hand, Gina exited the room. Her gaze
falling on her father as he sat on the couch, his head rolled back over
the top as he gazed to the roof. 'Hope daddy doesn't mind me
interrupting him like this..' she mentally begged as she slides up onto
the couch, immediately latching on and hugging his sides. A soft sob
echoing from her as she did so.

Theo, once again surprised by his other daughters rather abrupt show of
emotion, encircled her into his arms, lightly pulling her into his lap
as he cooed, "There there Gina hun, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

When Gina turned her gaze up to meet his, a sinking feeling settled into
the pit of his stomach. This could only mean trouble, and from what he
gathered, trouble for a certain pre-adolescent pig tailed boy named
Ranma. "Papa.. I'm confused.."

"What's got you so confused?" Theo said, unable to do anything but watch
the bomb exploding over this little affair. "I.. I'm in love papa, and I
don't know what he thinks about me. He's always so nice.. to Brittany
and me.. he's not like my other 'friends'. He doesn't ignore me, or
think I'm weird.." she sobbed out. Theo couldn't help but scream
internally 'WHAT DID THAT BOY DO TO MY DAUGHTERS!!! I'LL KILL HIM!"

"Papa… should I tell him how I feel? Or should I just forget it?"
Sighing to himself, he relayed the same advice to Gina that he did to
Brittany. Namely, love is all risk, one that can and will blow up in
your face from time to time, but once you find some one who returns your
feelings, it makes it all worthwhile in the end.

Theo's explanation was all the encouragement Gina needed. She would tell
Ranma. With that, she thanked her father and jumped out of his lap,
oddly feeling more alive as she ventured back to her room, and the sweet
oblivion that awaited her. Before she succumbed, she softly spoke out
loud "Tomorrow, yes.. you'll be mine forever come tomorrow! Just you
wait Ranma!"

Thus, Ranma's day tomorrow was already decided. He'd get an early view
of what his life would become in six years. Whether he likes it or not.

**

At the strike of 1:37am that night, Chisato Hino was pronounced dead,
and Theo was informed mere minutes after her death was pronounced. When
the girls woke the next day, he gave the bad news that his business here
was finished, and that they would be boarding the plane to go home in a
few hours, so they could have time to pack up and move out of their
temporary home.

Brittany wanted to cry, so depressed that she would be leaving behind
her friend and first love/crush with out so much as even saying
good-bye. Gina reflected Brittany's train of thought perfectly, however
she didn't have the amount of pride that Brittany did, and let her tears
flow.

Theo, distraught as he was over the death of his long time friend and
confidant, wasn't dead to the world of his daughters. He knew exactly
why they were crying, and in fact he planned to stop by the hospital so
they could say good-bye. Hopefully the girls will come out of THAT
waiting fiasco with a lighter attitude, and more wizened to the way of
the world. "Brittany, Gina its time to go. You have everything?" Slow
nods from his two broken hearted daughters, and off they went after
entering the Taxi.

**

"Power…" Ranma spoke out loud to himself. These last few weeks have been
defining to his view of the world. 'No.. not the world..' he lamented.
He's been scared, afraid, and full of unbridled horror over this
'Neko-Ken' technique. 'Its dangerous.. too dangerous. How many times
have I accidentally slipped into it these last few weeks?'

Sighing softly, Ranma allowed his gaze to flow to the roof, in
particular a spot of the roof that had been blown away from the rest of
it. 'What would have happened if I lost control? Would Gina and Brit
been hurt?' Allowing his gaze to fall back from the roof, to the floor,
Ranma continued in his thoughts. 'Its to dangerous.. I've got to get rid
of it.. something.'

Reviewing the sight he spied in the early morning, the sight of Chisato
Hino being 'sealed' within a think black leather bag. When Ranma asked
what happened, Dr. Hiso had commented "She's gone Ranma. She's gone and
its time to take her away, away where only the spirits and the forgotten
can journey.'

Something about what he said sparked a rather ingenious plan into mind.
'Seal, take away. Yes! I know I can do! It's kinda like forgetting mom!
Just let my memories wash away, seal them away into a part of my mind
were all my forgotten memories go to.' He crowed in triumph, completely
ignorant of two recent additions to the room.

Brittany smiled a soft, private smile that she allowed for only her
Ranma. She and Gina had been watching him, ingraining every facet of his
being into their minds. They never wanted to forget their first true
'love'. Their very first 'crush', and the only person they will come to
know in such a view, a perfect view of untainted purity of emotion.
Well, if he managed not to break their little ole hearts in the next few
minutes. Steeling herself, she stepped forward into the room, leaving
Gina just in the doorway. They had talked this out on the way up, one at
a time to say good-bye in their own way to their 'Ranma'.

"Ranma?" she broke into his crowing with a soft, almost desperate tone
in her plea. "Ranma. My family will be leaving home soon.. I.. came to
say good bye."

Turning around, he smiled immediately at seeing Brittany suddenly appear
the way she did, however the tone, and meaning behind her words stabbed
at his being like a hot knife through butter. 'Brit? Leaving?' he
sighed, he knew they would leave one day. Either they left him, or he
left them. He smiled and nodded, reached out and encased the older girl
in his muscular, yet small arms. He spoke softly, "I'm going to miss you
so much Brit."

Unable to hold back her tears now, she left off with a torturous sob as
she hugged him back in earnest. She felt so warm, so safe in those small
little arms. She had always wondered what it would be like for him to do
this, and now that he is the finality of the situation set in. Steeling
herself for rejection, she let out what had been growing deep in the pit
of her stomach during the time she knew him. "Ranma.. I love you, I want
you to know that no matter where I'll go, I'll always love you like I do
now."

Confusing 'sisterly love' with 'boy and girl love' Ranma nodded and
whispered into her ear, "I love you to Britchan, I'll think about you
every day! I promise!" he hugged her tighter, then let her go. "Hey
Brit, " he reached a hand up to one of his bangs, pulling his hair taunt
as he embraced the neko-ken, accepting the instinctual knowledge to form
Ki claws, and sliced away the hair. Releasing the Neko-ken, he held out
small crop of his hair, "Take this Britchan, when ever you see it,
remember me, and remember our friendship. And remember my name.. Ranma,
Ranma Saotome. I hope we can meet again when we grow up."

Brittany accepted the offered gift, allowing more of her cheery
personality to return. She wasn't scorned, and her love wasn't rejected,
even though she was about to leave her first crush, she was happy in
knowing he felt the same way about her. Not wanting to risk breaking
down again, Brittany waved good-bye one final time, and exited the room,
Gina coming in shortly after.

Things proceeded much the same way as with Brittany. Gina admitted her
'love' for the younger pig tailed boy, and Ranma confused the true
meaning behind the statement with 'sisterly' feeling. Offering her
another bang of hair, they quietly exchanged feelings of remorse for
having to leave each other. That was that, shortly there after Gina
left, waving good bye one final time.

**

Ranma had stood within 'his' make shift Dojo well into the night, plans
and idea's flowing through his mind about how he would 'seal' the
Neko-Ken. He came up with a rather staggering plan, one that if it
worked would completely seal the power and knowledge of the Neko-Ken
forever from his mind. He just needed to do one more thing before he
could seal it, and now was the time. He had been feeling a familiar Chi
signature all day, and that signature was that of his father. Finally,
after a month and a half of waiting, his father had come.

Encroaching himself in the Neko-Ken, Ranma allowed the full force of the
technique to immerse within his being. Glittering angry claws of red
energy formed 3 inches from his fingers. His entire body was surrounded
in a nexus of flowing and raging power, power demanding it be released,
demanded vengeance for being brought into this world in this first
place.

Ranma spoke, his voice completely with out emotion, sounding like death
walking. He spat out "Father. It's time to end this."

Genma Saotome emerged from the Shadows, his entire body quaking at the
horrible power radiating from his son. In this instant, Genma knew his
son's retribution wasn't going to be pleasant.