Twins of Flame Slayers and respective properties are possessions of H. Kanzaka and R. Araizumi. Ranma 1/2 and respective properties are possessions of R. Takahashi. The Kaotarian People and respective properties are possessions of R.C. McFadden. What relationship they have with this story, I have no idea. Chapter 01: Revelations, Realizations, and a Reunion The moon was high in the sky, illuminating the roof of the Tendou Dojo. Perched on that roof was a disconsolate woman. A particular irony since she is not always a woman. Saotome Ranma pulled her knees a bit tighter to her chest as she looked at the explosion-charred and hammer-pounded sod that was the Tendou courtyard. "Damn it. What is wrong with me?" She asked herself as she stared up at the moon. "That's a secret, Ranma, my boy." An irritating voice spoke, as an elderly pervert sat down next to the sometimes girl, a pipe between his teeth.. Ranma looked up and hissed a bit. "What's wrong, you old letch? Get enough groping of others?" Ranma asked with a surprisingly acid tone. Happosai grinned a little. "Now, my boy, I actually have a present for you." "A present from you? As long as it's not that Secret stuff." Ranma said. Happosai laughed and shook his head. "No... I don't deal with those kind of secrets. Not that Victoria had much left." The pervert joked, then handed him a rather familiar object. Ranma hissed a little. "You're giving me that? Why?" The miniscule martial arts master grinned a little. Not his usual grin either, but one of a person who is in on something that nobody else is. "Because someone you never knew you lost is searching for you. And perhaps it's time you found her." Ranma snorts. "Another fiancee? Pass." Happosai only laughed. "No, boy.. someone more important," Ranma raised an eyebrow. "What could be more 'important'," The sometimes girl said mockingly, "than a fiancee?" Happosai grinned. "That is a secret." The lecher then leapt and disappeared into the night. Ranma snorted and looked back up to the moon once more. --- Happosai stepped into the cavern. "Well, this will definitely make things more interesting back home, won't it, old boy?" He looks down at a small pile of bones and knelt near it."You know, this is perhaps the most fun I've had in a while. Though I never figured what you saw in undergarments." The short figure began to expand, becoming younger-seeming, taller. "Though scaring those two hypocritical morons is a lot of fun." The figure sits back, lighting a candle, which illuminated the figure's face. "Poor girl. This is going to be hard on her. I almost feel sorry for what she'll go through. But it'll probably be better for both of them. A lot more fun too." With a grin, the figure patted the skull of Happosai, before folding his arms. "Thank you for letting me borrow your form. It's amazing that you inspire more fear into those two disciples of yours than my kind do." The being laughed. "Imagine, people being more afraid of a withered little pervert like you than a mazoku..." --- Lina Inverse looked at the circle inscribed upon the ground. "How did she do it..." the sorceress muttered as she prepared a mystic ritual. "So many possibilities." Philia grumbled as Lina prepared her spell. "Lina, what are you doing? This ritual looks... well, useless." The dragon looked at Lina as she continued "It looks like some sort of necromantic ritual?" Lina hrmed. "Not quite.. part of it's necromantic, but just to speak to the dead. If she is dead..." Philia blinked and shook her head. "Lina, she has to be dead. There's no way someone can survive such a backlash like that." The dragon pats her shoulder. "Lina..." Lina brushed the hand off. "Philia, I have to do this. I have to know." The dragon sighed as she began to assist Lina with the ritual. --- "RANMA! I'LL CRUSH YOU!" A battered Ranma looked up at Ryouga with nearly lifeless eyes. "Not now, Ryouga. I'm not really up to it." Ryouga paused for a moment. "Wow, Ranma, you look like hell." The lost boy smirked. "Rough night?" Ranma continued to look at Ryouga with that dead expression. "When hasn't it been?" Akane stormed in. "Thanks, Ranma, you're going to make me late again." The girl walked by, infuriated. Ryouga blinked. "Wow. She really isn't happy with you." Ryouga grinned a bit maliciously. "Good. You deserve it." Ranma didn't even rise to the jab, turning away, leaving Ryouga behind. Ryouga paused. Wow. Something's really torn him up. If it wasn't Ranma, I'd be worried. Heck, I'm a bit worried anyway. The lost boy paused then snorted in disgust. "Sympathy for Ranma. What next? Ranma liking his female form?" --- The pigtailed martial artist seemed almost ambivalent to the ladle of water that doused her as she closed in on Furinkan High, Akane just ahead. Ranma's rotten mood declined even further as a bicycle ran right over her. "Nihao, Airen!" The sickeningly cheerful chirp was barely acknowledged as the redheaded martial artist stood wearily, not even noticing the glomp. "RANMA, YOU PERVERT!" Akane said, as if merely reciting a role she had rehearsed for months, as a mallet smashed Ranma from the Amazon's grip and into a wall. "I can't believe you! Even after all that we put up with at that sham of a wedding, you're still glomping her?!" Ranma looked up from the indentation, her arm falling to her pocket, finding the object within it. "Maybe Happosai was right." She says and pulls the object. Akane and Shampoo's eyes widen as the object comes into view. "No... Ranma!" Both said at the same time, as a single tear fell onto the surface of the Nanban Mirror. "Take me to the one who lost me..." Ranma screamed in pain as the Mirror flared. Then Ranma disappeared. --- The pain was incredible. This had never happened when the mirror was used before, but all Ranma could do was scream silently as her body seemed to burn. --- Lina began to chant as she finished the last part of the spell, the actual incantation itself. The very air crackled with mystical energy as the spell built power. Philia's eyes widened. "Something's very wrong!" She yelped out as she backed off. "Lina, stop!" Lina's own eyes bulged as she noticed the energy within the air, and tried to break off the spell, but her lips seemed to move of their own volition as the spell refused to stop. The power continued to sizzle through the air, as a light began to surge amidst the magic circle. Philia began to scream in fear and pain as the magic surged higher and higher... Lina would have screamed were she able to, but the only things out of her mouth were the words of the spell. As the spell reached a crescendo, a third voice joined in the cacophony of the room, adding her own screaming to the mix. A crash, as if something shattering. And then there was darkness. --- Ranma tried to scream as her eyes opened, but her throat was raw, and the best she could give was a strangled yelp, before she rolled, her stomach heaving violently. After a few fierce dry heaves, she looked up with eyes blurred by pain and tried to figure out where she was. Lina tried to scream as she felt the pain sear through her. She sat up, a hank of mage-bleached hair falling into her face as her own eyes tried to focus. Philia sat up, groaning as she reached to rub her head. "What happened?" She asked softly. She looked at the two figures and then went to Lina's side. "Lina, are you alright?" Ranma pushed herself to her knees, eyes still trying to focus. "Wh.. where am I?" She mumbles blearily. Lina and Philia looked up, a bit suprised at the sound of a female voice. A very familiar voice, speaking an unfamiliar language. The most disturbing fact was that that voice sound almost the same as Lina's. The two looked toward the voice, and their eyes widened even further. And both said the same thing at the same time. "What the hell?!"