Dear Reader,
This is a fanfic based on the characters by Rumiko Takahashi.

This is also a backstory type thing that carries over into the main plotline.
It won't include many of the Ranma 1/2 chars, but don't fret, they'll
show up!

P.S. This is written in somewhat like a synopsis format, similar to
Celia-san's 'Sailor Moon Ace'.



			Ranma 1/2 : American Strangers
			  The story of the strangers
			      By: Sarah J. Gates
			

Sunlight slants into a thick forest.  Dew sticks onto some underbrush which is
suddenly disturbed by a barefooted Mei.  Mei wears a pair of shorts and a
shirt, Mei's hair pulled back.  Mei walks to a nearby hut, and knocks on the
door.

The door opens, and Mikeru pokes his head out.	Mikeru complains that it is
really early, and he needs his handsome sleep.	Mei pokes at Mikeru and says
that he is one major sleepy head.  Mikeru sighs and comes out, brushing back
his hair.  Mei and Mikeru walk on in the forest.

Mei breaks the silence and asks him if he knows why they have to go to America.
Mikeru shrugs and replies that her isn't sure, but he thinks it's important.
They stop talking and continue on to the coast.

On the costline, Mei and Mikeru find their guide to America.  Mikeru climbs on-
to the boat, and then Mei follows.  As soon as they take their seats, the guide
blows a whistle and the sailor men row the boat away from Japan's coastline,
stirring up a little silt.

Mei leans on the railing, looking at the sea.  Mei draws in a deep breath of
salty, sea air and sighs, missing her homeland already.  She thinks that even
though she is needed more to guard America, Mei can't help missing her home
country.  Fish jump up in the ocean, nipping at the boat.  A large fish jumps
up and touches Mei's nose.  Mei smiles slightly and pets what turns out to be
a dolphin.

Mikeru looks around in the cargo hold.	Mikeru thinks that maybe he could get
something to tinker with while they sail to America.

A few weeks later, on the coast of Key West...

Mei and Mikeru walk off the boat.  Mei carries one small suitcase, but Mikeru
lugs off at least ten trunks.  Mei turns around and scolds him.  "If your lazy-
ness isn't enough, your trip packing skills are a killer!" Mei tells him.

Mikeru biidahs at her and carries the luggage.	Mei sighs and peers around for
their guide at the dock.  She spots a man with a sign that reads, "May and Mi-
kay Rue"  Mei says that that's definately him.  They walk up to the ferry that
is headed inland.

[A blue sky and a blue lake.  Where they converge stands Mei.  Above her, in
hiragana is Ranma 1/2: American Strangers]

Commercials: Mei and Mikeru action figures by Ban Dai.	Complete Ranma cast
UFO catcher dolls. :)

[Same as above with one difference, Ranma 1/2: American Strangers is in Eigo]

Mei raps softly at the hotel door.  No answer.	Mikeru raps at the door this
time.  No answer.  They both just about beat the door down at the same time.
Nancy peers out the peep hole, then says, "Password and codename."  Mei whisp-
ers at the door her password and codename, then Mikeru.  The door swings open,
and both are ushered inside with haste.

Once inside, Nancy closes and locks the door.  Nancy says that it is a good
thing they arrived, because it is getting harder to do her job by herself.  Mei
nods and agrees.

Nancy tells them, "They're coming closer and I'm not sure how long I can hold
them back alone.  That's why I sent for you.  You're the best.	They receded a
little, but I think they have regrouped and are coming back."

Mei nods.  Mikeru asks Nancy if the local government has taken interest.  Nancy
says that the FBI is labeling it a natural phenomina and leaving it alone for
the most part.	She pauses and then says that she thinks they are secretly
sending in spies to check it out, and that is why she's being cautious.

Mei thanks Nancy for the briefing.  Nancy says it's no problem, and then offers
the two some snacks she has.  Mei says that she would love some, but Mikeru
declines.

Mei inquires about the status of the enemy after Nancy brings her some cup-
cakes.	Nancy tells her she has traced their progress, but she can't pinpoint
where they're coming from.  She says that with the progression they are making,
they will arrive soon.

A persession of robed figures trudge through the Everglades, working their way
up to the main city on the coast.  Maji rides on an equinesque thing, and
thinks about her next target for attack.  Maji knew as well as the rest of her
troops that Nancy, the local Chosen, had traced them to this very point, and
she knew she was expecting another attack on her location.

Maji steers her steed away from a suspicious-looking log, and continues think-
ing.  Maji knew that what she had to do was confuse Nancy by heading towards
her location, and then, breaking off to a new target farther away.  To be less
traceable, Maji pondered to herself, she would need to use the techniques of
teleportation to get to her target city: Nerima, Japan.

Quite a few days later....

Mei meditates on the location of the troops.  All of the sudden, their reading
stops.	Mei tries harder to locate them, but she finds nothing.  Nancy calls
her from the kitchen, seeming wary about something.  Mei steps into the kitchen
and Nancy hands her readout.

Nancy goes into explaining that she lost track of Maji, until one of the locals
of Japan sent her this.  Mei read over the readout.  It says that Maji has been
sited on her way to Nerima, located in Tokyo, Japan.  Mei groans.

Mei says, "I just got here and now Maji is going to Japan!  Well, we must go
quickly."
Nancy inquires, "What do you mean 'we'?  You and Mikeru?"
Mei replies, "No.  You and me.  We make a great team, and besides, I doubt we
could fit Mikeru's ego in the car."

Nancy giggles and nods, saying Mikeru is one giant ego trip.  Mikeru asks from
the living room, "What am I??"	Mei just replies that they never said a thing
about him and heads to her room.

Mei opens her door, and flicks on the light.  She strolls over to her bed and
pops open her suitcase.  Mei carefully pulls out a knife with interesting carv-
ings, a fingerless, leather glove, and a dusty, old tome.  Mei puts the tome in
her back pocket, puts on the glove, and holds the knife in front of her face.

Mei says that she didn't expect to unpack the knife so soon, but she is happy
to have it in her hand again.  She stuck a few fakes in her pocket, and then
slid in the real thing.  Mei closes the suitcase, sticks it in her back pocket
with her tome, and walks to the door.  She flicks off the light and steps out.

Mikeru watches some badly dubbed Lunar Sailor Warrior (Sorry, I just couldn't
resist. :) and eats some cerial.  Mei tosses him the read out and tells him to
stay here.  Mikeru reads the readout and protests.  Mei says that Nancy and
herself are the two best and should be the ones to go.	Mikeru sighs and says
he will keep watch.  Mei smiles and heads to Nancy's room.

Nancy packs a few essentials.  She equips herself with the same things as Mei,
except her weapon is more of a spear.  Mei explains that Mikeru will take over
for Nancy when they go to Japan.  Nancy says okay and they step out.

[<See last bumper in []'s>]

Commercial: Mei's tome and glove (it really glows!!!!)

[<see last bumper in []'s>]

Mei and Nancy find themselves near Ucchan's after the strenuous teleport.  Mei
says that while they are in the buisness district, they should get some food.
Nancy readily agrees.

The two enter the restaraunt, sniffing the wonderful smell of Okonomiyaki.
They look at each other and smile.  Mei says, "I think we'll like it here."

[Fade to the ending bumper:
Mei and Nancy side by side, with Ranma chasing P-chan while being chased by
Akane with a mallet.  Shampoo, Ukyou and Kodachi glare at each other, while
Kunou and Mousse stand to the side.  Happousai is hopping around with his large
sack, and Soun and Genma sit on the patio of the training hall.]