Well, this is another BETA version of the prologue to the sequel to my
first fanfic, "The More Things Change", and as such, it is subject to
wild and major changes if I think that it needs it.  I've got a plot ironed
out and I just wanna see what the ML thinks of the direction that I'm gonna
be taking this thing in.

I'm putting out prelude and part 1 out, mainly because I'm

                                  ==STUCK==

and could use some inspiration for part 1.  I figured the mailing list
ougtha be able to do that, somewhat.  Comments and criticisms

                             =APPRECIATED=ALOT=

thanx...

and in case you've lost track of what happened to the cast, well, here's
a reminder of what's going on and who the major players are.

The Cast, returning from "The More Things Change..."

Ranma & Akane (17):   After a long stretch of bickering and arguing, they 
  
  finally got together.  Why?  Mousse pulled a reverse-Shampoo on them and used
  passion spice to get them together.  He wasn't being nice, he was just trying
  to give Shampoo a reason to stop obsessing over Ranma So far only Akane has
  found out about Mousse's trickery.  They're a couple still, but barely.
  Ranma still hasn't learned to keep his mouth shut.

Ryoga (17):  Driven to new depths of depression after he was told that Akane
  and Ranma were getting serious, he abandoned the Tendo Dojo and his
  role as P-Chan (Ranma bought a pig to take the part) and ended up
  sleeping on the streets not caring about anything anymore.  Ukyo
  ran into him and helped him through the rough times.  He's attracted
  to her but doesn't admit it to himself even.  Nearly kills himself
  and his adversary in a major fight.  Has recently acquired the same 
  curse as Ranma while wandering around China (He fell off a cliff, again.)

Ukyo(17):  Greatly upset at the news of Ranma & Akane's becoming an official
  couple, but puts up a brave front.  She became closer to Ryoga as she
  helped him deal with this major event as well.  Attracted to Ryoga but
  hasn't admitted it to anybody, even herself.

Mousse(17):  finally got Shampoo (legally, anyways).  He's happy and moved back
  to China.

Shampoo(17):  angry, tired, Mousse's wife (and not happy about it) but also
  given up on Ranma.

Cologne(300+):  returned to Jokuzetsu and has resumed leadership duties.
  Doesn't like her son-in-law, but the law is the law.

Tsubasa(16?):  has taken her talent for disguises to the next level, 
  incorporating mecha hardware at first merely for protection against the 
  hazzards of Nerima, but quickly learns the combat uses for it.  Heavily 
  uses parts of the Mishima Heavy Industries weaponry.

Gosunkugi(16?):  At first attracted to Akane, he gave up like a wimp when he 
  heard they finally were getting serious.  Befriended Ukyo and comforted her
  when everyone thougth Ryoga was killed.  Isn't sure if the pursuit of romance
  is a worthwhile pursuit anymore.  His parents have given him alot of
  self-help books recently, which he has come to rely on in social situations
  sometimes, with mixed results.  Also, some mysterious group wants Gosunkugi
  to accelerate on his progress in magic, and so they used a book to get
  his attention and later talked to him face-to-face.

Akari Unryuu(17):  She and her pet sumo pig have rampaged across Japan, but
  they've yet to find a good date.  Then she sends her pig after Ryoga,
  who immediately gets into a gigantic brawl.  Akari's pig is beaten,
  and so it is proven that there is someone worthy to date her (it was her
  grandfather's idea) but now the question is:  who hit the pig?

Happosai(100+?):  Horny.

Ryo Muhoshin(17):  old associate (somewhat) and rival of Ryoga.  Trained in 
  usage of umbrellas as martial arts weapons under the Unorthodox Weaponry 
  School of Martial Arts( UWSMA).  He went on a mild rampage, targeting 
  practicioners of breakaway branches of the school for a campaign of revenge
  by the school (including the gigantic Dojo Destroyer, whatsizname from the 
  "Tea Ceremony" martial arts school, the martial arts handwriting guy...)
  Comes to Nerima only to get beaten up several times by different people
  and nearly killed by Ryoga.  Has a running feud with Happosai.
  Oh yeah, he has an uncanny resemblance to Gosunkugi.

Ryoko Muhoshin(16): Ryo's younger sister, wielding yo-yos, boomerangs, etc.
  As a backup plan to make sure the UWSMA doesn't look bad even if Ryo fails
  to defeat Ryoga, they plan to have Ryoko target Ryoga for marrige.  She
  fell in love with him already, years ago when he stayed at the UWSMA
  with her and Ryo.

Megane(15) & Kyoko Muhoshin(12):  15 & 12 year old brother & sister that round
  out the Muhoshin 4.  He's a musician/martial artist, she wields hair care 
  products.  Kyoko's been to Nerima before, once, briefly (See "8 Days A 
  Week") and couldn't defeat Mousse's accidental afro.

Manami Hinako(17):  after the disasterous battle that nearly killed Ryo and 
  Ryoga, Ryoga wandered across the earth injured and with amnesia.  While in
  the States, Manami met him and helped him out... and fell for him. 
  Unfortunately, he had his mind on another girl and she reminded him of her.
  And so one day he, still without complete memory, left her, and with very
  little clues to his identity.  Then her family moved back to Tokyo....

Lord of the Shadoloo(?):  The infamous boss of the Street Fighter videogame
  series (called Vega in japan, Bison in the USA vidgames, don't ask why)
  the crime lord was looking for recruits and intercepted an amnesia-stricken
  Ryo wandering across China.  He infused Ryo with "Psycho Power", a dark
  aura that has interesting powers.  Kuno accidentally acquired a portion
  of that power when he struck Ryo down while he was flexing his newfound
  energy.  Kuno and Ryo lost the power when Gosunkugi, having no idea what 
  he was doing, tried to throw a spell or two at them during another 
  mass-melee which resulted in a lengthy hospital stay for nearly everyone.

Mishima Heavy Industries:  Corporation that specializes in technology
  and weaponry, including Mechs.  Yeah, it's the MHI from "Cat Girl
  Nuku Nuku".

Nabiki(18):  she's making money.  What else is new?  Seriously, she's been
  an information agent for anyone looking to see who's who in the
  Nerima district.  This includes Ryo Muhoshin.

Jusenkyo:  due to a disasterous mix-up in Chinese bureaucracy, several hundred
of the cursed springs have been demolished, including those which contain
cursed boy/man waters.