Ranma 1/2: SoulSong
        A fanfic by Katrina Lee Halbred

---------------------------------------
Legal Jargon:
    Ranma 1/2 and its cast are copyright by Rumiko Takahashi,
    Pony Canyon, Viz Video, Viz Comics, Kitty Video, Shogakugan
    Video, and any other companies that hold the copyright.
    
    Catalina McKallen and her companions are copyright by Katrina
    Lee Halbred. Please don't use them without my permission.
    The xylan musical instrument is also copyright to Katrina Lee
    Halbred and hopefully, is of my own creation. (That is to
    say, there isn't another instrument out there that looks like
    it, that I know of.)

    Thanks go to Shadow Dancer for prereading this for me and for
    his help on trying to get the perspective descriptions
    correct.
    Thanks also go to Lisa Prior for her input on Catalina's
    abilities being introduced incorrectly.
    Thanks go to Nicholas Leifker for his C&C and further input on
    the story.
    My thanks also go to SMoonUsagi and RyogaLost for writing their
    Ranma fanfic series Naisen as it showed me how to introduce a
    character into the series who was different and how to do
    some parts in reference to the way people would react. I'd
    suggest reading their series as it is, in my opinion a lot
    better than this one is.

    Note:
    Felinoid : Another word for a cat-human cross.
    Telikinesis: The ability to move objects around with your
    mind, assuming that there are energies around us that can be
    tapped into and that size and weight doesn't matter.
    
======================================

    "'Bout time you realised
     You are a specialty,
     There is no one like you.
     Spend your life worrying 
     'Bout what you could've been
     Can't you like being you?"
        -Howard Jones (Lyrics from his song "Specialty")

    Part 1: Beautiful Monster
    [Opening song: Specialty by Howard Jones]

        Ranma sat in his seat looking bored. He glanced at Akane,
 quickly looking away as he noticed that she was still glaring at
 him. He still felt guilty for insulting her, but his pride wouldn't
 let him apologize. It didn't matter, anyways, everytime he tried
 to apologize to her, it always ended with his head in a wall or
 the ground courtesy of her mallet. Still, with Kuno challenging
 him and his absent-minded remarks about Akane he was lucky he
 had been able to defeat Kuno before she flattened him.
        Of course, maybe making that comment about her being too
 slow to punch him might've been going just a bit too far...
        "Class," began Miss Hinako. The young girl teacher was
 smiling as she waited for everyone to quit down. "We have a new
 student." She introduced the American-dressed girl who stood next
 to her with her head downcast and a baseball cap on, the bill
 covering her face. The front of the cap said "Anime Fan Club" on
 it and showed a picture of Kaneda on his motorcycle, sliding to a
 stop.
        "All you meanies had better not pick on her," she was
 wagging her finger as the class in what was supposed to be a
 threatening jesture. "She's different." Miss Hinako glared at
 the class. "Only delinquents pick on others and they will be
 dealt with accordingly."
        The girl seemed shy and timid as she squeaked up. "My
 name is Catalina McKallen. Hello." She never once lifted her
 eyes from the floor.
        Ranma looked at her, closely. <Something strange about
 her.> He thought. She was dressed in blue jeans, a yellow
 T-shirt and blue denim jacket. Nothing strange about her dress
 as this was common American attire. She had long, brown hair
 bound in a pony tail.
        "She has been given permission to dress differently...for
 now. Catalina, please take a seat by Mr. Saotome and Ms. Tendo."
 Miss Hinako pointed her hand in the direction of Ranma and Akane.
        She walked by everyone, her head still downcast. However,
 as people turned to look at her, they started to whisper and
 giggle. Ranma wondered about this. As she walked by Ranma he
 thought he caught the movement of something that looked faintly
 like a white tail but he couldn't be sure. She sat behind Akane.
 As she sat down, Ranma noticed that her brown hair went just
 below her waist.
        Catalina smiled at Akane, trying not to look nervous,
 but failing miserably. Akane got a good look at her face and
 smiled back.
        Catalina's face was covered with thin, white fur. Her
 brown eyes had a slight, feline slant to the pupils and when she
 smiled, small fangs stuck out slightly. The end of her nose had
 the upside down pink triangle common to a cat, but was primarily
 of human shape.
        The giggles turned into stifled laughter and shocked
 sounds as others in the class finally got a look at her face as
 well. Ranma and Akane both looked as if they were going to get
 out of their seats, their eyes narrowed in angry annoyance at
 the cruelty of the class, but they never got a chance.
        Miss Hinako snapped around from her writing on the chalk
 board. She pulled out a five-yen piece and held it out in front
 of her. "Were those delinquents I heard laughing in here?"
 she asked innocently, which wasn't very hard to do considering
 her present form. The class was instantly silent.
        Miss Hinako looked at Akane. "Miss Tendo, will you and
 Mr. Saotome please show Catalina around school after class is
 over?" She glared at Ranma as she said this. <Go ahead and give
 me a reason to drain you, Ranma.> She thought darkly. <We've
 still got a rematch to settle.>
        Akane smiled. "Yes, Miss Hinako. Ranma and I would love
 to, wouldn't we, Ranma?" Her question to Ranma had a slight
 hiss to it.
        Catalina looked back at Ranma. Ranma finally got a good
 look at her and freaked. "A C-C-C-Cat-cat-cat....Aaaa!" The
 desk and chair Ranma was sitting in fell over, with him in them.
 He began backing away from Catalina and into one of the far
 corners of the class room, his eyes wide in terror. "K-keep
 h-her away f-f-from m-me!" Catalina's eyes started to water.
        Muffled groans and remarks of "Oh, man, not again" could
 be heard around the room.
        Akane looked at Ranma and then back at Catalina.
 Hastily, she bent over and whispered something to Catalina, who
 listened quietly.
        "Ranma has a problem. He is deathly afraid of cats due to
 something his father did to him when he was a little boy and
 well, let's just say that he is lucky to be alive. The only
 problem is that he is absolutely terrified of cats."
        Catalina's eyes cleared up as she 'ahhhed' in
 realization, her face brightening up a little.
        "Catalina, I know you don't want to, but please remove 
 your cap while you're in the class room? Its very distracting."
 Miss Hinako asked gently but with a slight commanding tone.
        "Y-Yes Miss Hinako." Catalina took her cap off revealing
 two cat ears poking out from beneath the hair on her head.
        Akane noticed that the backs of Catalina's hands were
 covered with white fur as well.
        Akane stuck her hand out to Catalina who took it gently.
 "My name is Akane Tendo. You want to be friends?" Akane smiled
 reassurignly at the felinoid girl.
        "S-Sure." Catalina finally smiled a genuine smile.
        <She's cute.> The cat-girl thought. <What am I thinking?
 Looking the way I do is bad enough, but...this also?>
        "Miss Tendo, Miss McKallen, and Mr. Saotome, all of you
 stand in the hall, now! I will not have my class disrupted in
 such a manor!" Miss Hinako did not look pleased at being ignored.
        Akane groaned. Catalina looked at her curiously. Ranma
 continued to make warding jestures towards Catalina who politely
 ignored them.

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

        Catalina held her bucket with one hand while leaning
 against the wall. Her cap was on her head, backwards.
        Akane sighed, holding her bucket with both hands.
        Ranma was standing somewhat behind Akane, holding a
 bucket in each hand and watching Catalina carefully. His eyes
 darted around as if he were expecting someone to attack him at
 any minute.
        Akane finally turned around and glared at Ranma, a very
 angry expression on her face. "Ranma, you insensitive JERK! Get
 ahold of yourself! Catalina is _not_ a cat! Does she meow? Is
 she walking on all fours? Is she doing anything that would
 indicate that she's a cat?" She grabbed Ranma by the scruff of
 the shirt and started shaking him.
        "B-But...She looks..!" He began.
        "And you look like a crossdresser at times!"
        That set Ranma off. "Well at least I'm not an uncute
 tomboy like you!" His apprehension about Catalina's appearance
 suddenly seemed forgotten as he wholeheartedly got into the
 argument with Akane.
        <This is interesting.> Thought the cat-girl. <The
 emotions of both of them are opposite of what their actions are
 portraying. I wonder if they are even aware of it. Well, its not
 my place to say anything.>
        Catalina decided to step in when she saw the mallet
 appear in Akane's hands and head towards Ranma's head. She moved
 her hands and the mallet disappeared in a slight wind.
        <I'll ask about how that mallet appeared out of nowhere,
 later. Right now, I need to stop this before someone gets hurt,
 even though I suspect Ranma's had plenty of prior experiences
 with that.>
        Akane was startled, as was Ranma when the mallet appeared
 to disappear. "Hey!" Akane was looking around her for the
 mallet. "Where'd my mallet go?"
        Catalina handed it back to Akane, calmly. "Um, I don't
 think this is the place to be fighting right now. I would ask
 about the crossdresser remark, but I get the strong feeling that
 it is _not_ my business."
        Akane looked at Catalina, a surprised expression on her
 face. "How did you do that? Are you a martial artist?"
        Catalina blushed. "Um, actually, I only know some Aikido.
 I don't really know martial arts."
        "Then how?" Ranma asked the question, an interested sound
 entering his voice, his fear about Catalina's appearance
 temporarily forgotten.
        "Hyper-metabolism combined with a sped up metabolic rate."
        Akane decided to forgo her argument with Ranma and to
 find out more about her new cat-girl friend. "How did you learn
 to speak Japanese so well, if you're from America?" Akane looked
 at Catalina, curiously.
        "Well, my mother is Japanese and my father is Irish
 American. She taught me the language as I was growing up."
        Akane's curiosity got the better of her. "I have to know,
 why do you look like a cat?" At this question, Ranma looked
 _real_ interested, and then started to look _really_ nervous at
 having been reminded of what Catalina looked like.
        Catalina sighed. She had been alone for so long, she had
 almost forgotten what it was like to have a friend. She wondered
 if she was ready to tell Akane and Ranma her past.
        "If its not my business, I understand." Akane really
 wanted to know, but also understood the need for privacy
 concerning one's life.
        "No, its not that. Its just that...Well, I didn't always
 look like this. I was human..." Her voice became very silent,
 almost to the point that neither Akane or Ranma could hear her
 "Once..."
        Her voice gained strength as she continued. "You see, my
 father worked at a Radioactive power plant. There were a lot of
 people who were against radioactive power plants saying they
 were dangerous. I never believed them and neither did my parents.
 One day, while my father was at work, my mother had taken me to a
 park that had a lake in it. I used to go play in the lake all the
 time. This time, however, when I touched the water, I changed."
 Her eyes started to water as she remembered the pain and
 confusion she felt. "The problem with the lake was that the
 plant that my dad had worked at used the stream that came off
 the lake for its coolant system. The water becomes radiocative
 once it leaves the plant. I happened to be in the water at that
 point." She was almost sobbing. "At that moment, my life ended.
 I became this...monster that I am now." She was sobbing
 uncontrollably, now.
        Unsure of what else to do, Akane set the bucket she was
 holding down and walked over to her felinoid friend, giving her
 a hug as she cried.
        She finally regained her composure and her eyes narrowed
 in anger as she remembered what had happened. "I have been poked,
 prodded, cut, and everything else imaginable, including some
 things not imaginable, by scientists and doctors all trying to
 figure out why I can do this or how I can do that. In addition,
 they have been trying to figure out why I never died of
 radiation poisoning. The dose I received would've killed anyone
 else."
        "You aren't a monster." Akane tried to smile at Catalina,
 but the cat-girl's eyes were downcast and she didn't see.
        "Akane's right, cat-girl." Ranma piped up, suddenly,
 apparently forgetting her fear again. "You should meet my pop.
 Half the time, he acts like a panda and the other half he acts
 like a jerk."
        "Huh?" Catalina looked confused. However, as it
 registered what Ranma just galled her, she bristled, her claws
 extending and retracting subconsciously. "Don't call me
 cat-girl. The name's Catalina. I am _not_ a cat."
        "So you've lived in solitude?" Akane asked her, trying to
 understand.
        Catalina nodded mutely. "Everyone has always either been
 afraid of me, or taunted me. No one has ever once stopped to talk
 to me." A tear fell down her cheek.
        Akane giggled. "I don't think you'd think of yourself as
 a monster if you saw some of the things that went on at my
 house."
        Catalina looked at Akane, dumbfounded. "Is that why you
 aren't afraid of me?"
        "Why should I be afraid of someone who is different?"
 Akane asked quite seriously.
        Ranma snorted. Akane glared at him with dagger eyes, but
 he wasn't paying attention. "She's not that much different,
 Akane. She seems more like she'd fall into the lines of almost
 normal for us."
        "Normal? Different?" Catalina was looking more and more
 confused.
        "Yes, different. That's all you are. You aren't a
 monster, demon, or anything else like that." She groaned as she
 remembered Kuno. "It has always made me mad when some people
 have to pick on those who are different to make themselves feel
 good."
        "Ranma Saotome!" A male voice sounded behind them.
        <*SPLASH*>
        Ranma-chan sighed, a frustrated look on her face.
 Catalina looked like...a wet cat-girl. Ranma-chan tightened the
 belt on her pants.
        Akane and Ranma both groaned "Kuno."
        "Ranma Saotome, thou vile sorcerer at last I have found
 thee in the company of one of thine demons!" Kuno charged at
 Ranma's back, tossing the now empty bucket as he did.
        "Ah, the beautious Akane Tendo, I will save thine soul
 from these two vile beings!" He charged at Ranma-chan who
 finally turned around, ready to kick Kuno into low orbit.
        "Ah! Pig-tailed girl! I have freed thee of the spell
 which that villainous Saotome held you with. Now I will deal
 with this demon wench-Oof!" Kuno was cut off as something
 slammed into him, knocking him backwards. Ranma-chan stopped a
 foot short of Kuno's face. Her brow furrowed in confusion.
        Catalina's eyes were narrowed and she looked pissed. "I
 am not a demon," her voice was cold. "I am not a wench. And I am
 _NOT_ a DEMON WENCH!"
        Kuno recovered, only to get charged by Catalina as she
 slammed her shoulder into him at a rather fast speed. She
 miscalculated, however, as Kuno fell onto his back. She rolled
 over sideways ending up on the other side of him. Kuno got
 up.
        "You dare to challenge me, you demon? Where is your
 master, Saotome?"
        Catalina's brow furrowed, almost to the point that her
 eyebrows almost looked like horns. Her eyes had a dark,
 smouldering glow to them.
        "Catalina, be careful, Kuno's a Kendo master!" Akane
 yelled at her friend, fiercely.
        "Ah, the wonderful Akane doth give me just praise."
        "I don't know about Kendo, but he sure is a pompous
 master." Catalina looked smug with her remark.
        "You dare mock the Blue Thunder! Have at thee, thou evil
 demon! StrikeStrikeStrikeStrike!" Kuno's bokken was suddenly in
 his hands and flashing out, catching Catalina off guard as she
 suddenly found herself moving backwards, trying to dodge all the
 attacks that headed her way.
        <Impossible!> She thought as several of Kuno's strikes
 started connecting and she found herself flying backwards. She
 looked behind her, realizing in horror she was heading for the
 window. <This is going to hurt...>
        "Aaaaaaaa-!" She screamed as she went through the third
 story window, sending glass flying everywhere. 
        "Catalina! Oh, my god!" Akane looked frantic.
        Ranma-chan stared at the window and wondered how someone
 could allow themselves to be taken out that easily by Kuno of
 all people.
        "Ah, but she fought the valiant fight. Too bad it were
 foretold of mine being the vengeance of Heaven upon all that is
 evil." He turned around and started to walk away. Ranma and
 Akane both glared at Kuno, wondering how to beat him up this
 time.
        Suddenly, there was some pipy up-beat music emanating
 from the window. It sounded almost like a flute, but was
 slightly lower and had a bit of a twang to it. Everyone turned
 around to see Catalina sitting in the window sill, her back
 against a side, playing a strange looking instrument. Catalina
 leapt to the floor.
        Akane gasped at what she saw. Her jacket was missing, as
 was her cap and she had blood spots all over her fur-covered
 arms. She was wearing a pendant of a Celtic cross which held a
 clear quartz crystal beneath it. She did not look pleased, as
 the deep frown on her face indicated.
        "Hark, what light from yonder window breaks? 'Tis I,
 Catalina McKallen here to kick your ass. Do you know how long it
 is going to take me to wash blood out of my fur?" She glared at
 Kuno, flexing her claws. He looked mildly surprised.
        "Ah, so thou doth finally show thine sorcerous self at
 last, demon sorceress. No matter, I, Tatewaki Kuno shall
 vanquish you as I have vanquished others. For it doth be the
 destiny of the Blue Thunder to fight all that is evil-Erk!"
 Kuno's soliloque was cut off by a right cross thrown by a mad
 Catalina, who suddenly appeared in his face.
        "Kuno, what the hell kind of grades did you get in
 Shakespeare? I aced mine, how about you?" Catalina stared at
 Kuno intently as he recovered from her punch.
        Before he could answer, Nabiki answered from the side. "I
 believe he barely passed with a C." She was obviously enjoying
 this fight. <This cat-girl has some potential. Wonder if there
 is any profit to be made, here.>
        Kuno glared at Nabiki. "I hate you."
        "Good, I'm glad." Nabiki smiled her reply.
        Kuno turned to face Catalina. "Very well, have at thee!
  StrikeStrikeStrike!" He went into his infamous bokken attack,
  said bokken lashing out at an unbelieveable speed.
        Catalina was ready as time seemed to slow down for her.
  Each of Kuno's movements seemed to move at a normal pace for
  her. She dodged each of his attacks and then finally grabbed
  his outstretched bokken, ducked, turned, and threw him over her
  shoulder.
        <*WHAM*>
        Kuno landed on the floor with a solid thud, a dazed
  expression on his face. "T-That is impossible! No one has ever
  beaten the Blue Thunder before!"
        Akane and Ranma-chan both groaned.
        Catalina didn't wait for Kuno to get up as she suddenly
  flipped into the air and landed on top of him, her elbow
  connecting with his abdoman solidly.
        She got up. "I am _not_ a demon and Ranma is _not_ my
  master. if you insist on harassing me like this, I will give
  you a good reason to think of me as a demon!" She started to
  walk off.
        "The Blue Thunder does not acknowledge defeat!" Kuno got
  to his feet. He began to charge Catalina. He didn't get very
  far. She turned around and swung her right arm out in front of
  her, as if she was throwing something. Her arm moved faster
  than the eyes could follow and there was a booming sound as
  Kuno fell on his back, knocked out.
        Most of the students that had gathered to watch the
  fight rushed over to get a look at how Kuno was defeated.
  Nabiki merely walked off, smiling to herself. Catalina rejoined
  a stunned Akane and Ranma-chan.
        "What'd you do to him?" Akane had a confused look on her
  face.
        "Um, I'll tell you what, friends, lets trade stories,
  shall we? I want to know why Ranma is now a girl and what the
  hell is going on. In return, I'll tell you about my abilties."
        Akane smiled. "Fair enough." 
        Catalina returned the smile, her fangs showing quite
 freely. For the first time since her...change, she actually felt
 like she might still be human.
        Ranma-chan grumbled about trying to find some hot water
 as she wandered off.
        The bell rang. Catalina sighed as she headed off to her
 next class with Akane.

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

        Akane ate her lunch in quiet. She looked over at Ranma
 noting that he was also quiet. She wondered where Catalina was
 since she hadn't seen her around the entire lunch time.
        "Ranma can we go look for Catalina? She said that we'd
 swap stories when we see her."
        Ranma nodded to her, mutely. He seemed distracted.
        As they started their search and headed towards the
 section of school that was next to a forest, they heard music
 coming from that area, feigntly. They approached the side of one
 of the buildings, carefully, following the sounds of the music.
 As they got closer to the forest, the music grew louder. They
 also noticed that the music was that same strange music that
 Catalina had been playing in the hall. The music was strangely
 beautiful, yet sad. They looked up and saw Catalina sitting in a
 tree. In her hands, was what appeared to be a flute of some kind.
 She suddenly stopped playing.
        "Oh, hi Akane, Ranma. How's tricks?"
        "Tricks?" Akane and Ranma asked simultaneously.
        Catalina sighed. "Never mind. It's just a strange
 American form of greeting. It's like saying 'what's up?'"
        Akane shrugged. Ranma decided not to ask further.
        "What is that you're playing?" Akane asked, curiously.
        Catalina grabbed onto a branch and flipped down, landing
 next to Akane and Ranma with grace and ease. She twirled the
 instrument in her hands idly.
        "Oh, this?" She asked, pointing to the instrument she
 held. Akane nodded. "This is a Xylan."
        "A xylan? Is that like a flute? I've never heard of it
 before..."
        The cat-girl's cheeks reddened in embarassment, slightly.
 "Um, no one has. That's because it's an instrument I invented."
        Akane's jaw almost hit the ground. "You invented it?" Her
 tone was filled with awe. "Can I take a look at it?" Ranma also
 looked interested...until a splash of water came from above and
 left her all wet.
        Catalina's eyes widened quite a bit as she watched Ranma
 shrink in size, grow breasts, change hair color, and develope a
 woman's curves.
        <First things first. I'll get to that in a minute since
 that is obviously _not_ a crosdressing trick.>
        "Sure." Catalina handed the instrument to Akane.
        "Thanks." Akane examined it, carefully turning it over.
 It was the size of a flute, but had three extra holes on one
 side and what appeared to be some small levers on the other
 side. It was made of what felt like silver and it had a clear
 quartz crystal on the top portion of it, near the end.
        Akane handed the xylan back to Catalina. "Wow," was all
 she could say. Ranma-chan looked equally intrigued.
        "Now would you please tell me why Ranma keeps changing
 sexes when he gets wet?" Catalina was seriously confused.
        Ranma-chan sighed. "Have you ever heard of Jhusenkyo?"
        Catalina shook her head. She listened to Ranma-chan tell
 the story of how her father and her became cursed and the
 engagement between herself and Akane.
        "Sounds like an interesting place." She wondered briefly
 about whether or not, this spring of drowned girl could cure her
 of her problem. She sighed as she remembered Zalnea's words
 on that. 'There is no way for you to change. None of the
 legendary places have the power. There is a reason why you are
 like this and not dead. And that is for you to find out.'
        "Catalina, if you don't know martial arts, then what was
 that you did back there?" This was asked by Akane. Ranma-chan
 merely watched.
        "Well, I should have died of cancer and of radiation
 poisoning when I was changed, but for some reason, I didn't.
 Instead, I seemed to pick up a few abilties. Mainly, I can speed
 up my metabolism so that my speed and perception of time is
 enhanced greatly. I'm not sure how fast I can move, but the
 thing I used to KO Kuno was a sonic boom. I moved my arm
 fast enough to create a sonic boom in Kuno's driection. And as
 far as my healing," she indicated the fact that although she had
 dried blood all over the fur on her arms, she was not cut. "It
 would appear that I am impervious to most forms of physical
 damage as well as to most poisons. It still hurts, but I heal
 fast. I also seem to have telekinetic abilites, but I have
 always had these ever since I was a child." She sighed.
        Ranma-chan wowed. Akane looked impressed.
        "Um...How did you find out about her healing abilities?"
 asked Ranma-chan before Akane could shut her up.
        Catalina turned a very deep shade of red. "Um...I tried
 to kill myself about three years ago. All I succeeded in doing
 was making a mess."
        Akane gasped, putting her hand to her mouth. Ranma-chan
 rolled her eyes. "What did you go and do that for, dummy?"
        "I'll tell you what, Ranma. When you look at yourself in
 the mirror and see a monster, then you can talk. But for now,
 SHUT THE HELL UP!" Ranma-chan was taken aback by Catalina's
 sudden change in emotion. She decided to be quiet.
        Akane shook her head at Ranma's question. "You'll have to
 forgive her, Catalina. Sometimes she doesn't think before she
 speaks."
        Catalina's face brightened. "Oh, it's OK. She just doesn't
 want me to take her for a little ride, now does she?" Catalina's
 look was of pure innocence, but it was directed at Ranma-chan in
 a most devious way. Ranma-chan gulped, deciding that maybe a
 ride with her was definitely _not_ a fun idea.
        Akane glanced around them. "So, is there anything special
 about being over here?"
        "Actually, I enjoy the silence. It allows me to think and
 to play my music. Nobody is over here to bother me." Catalina
 seemed quite intent.
        Akane grabbed the cat-girl's hand and started dragging
 her towards the main part of school. "Catalina, you are never
 going to get to know people if you stay secluded all the time.
 Besides, if Ranma can deal with other people and his curse, you
 can deal with other people and your form."
        Ranma-chan followed Akane and Catalina back into the
 populated area of school. <Akane,> he thought. <You're right,
 but, I always stay human. Catalina looks only partially human so
 there are differences. I only hope you aren't committing a grave
 mistake...>
        "But Akane-" Catalina tried to protest.
        "No buts, if people can't accept how you look, that's
 their problem." Akane hoped she was doing the right thing. She
 knew that Catalina would only get more depressed if she stayed
 by herself all the time.
        Catalina, sighed, but reluctantly let Akane lead her back
 to the main part of the lunch area, with Ranma-chan bringing up
 the rear. The cat-girl hoped that there weren't any other fights
 this day as she was dirty enough as it is.
        <I lost one of my favorite jackets and baseball caps.>
 thought Catalina. <I wonder if I can find that same stuff here,
 in English?>
        Her thoughts turned to other things. <I wonder why those
 two constantly act like they hate eaach other. It's as if they
 were actually trying to hide their feelings. But, why would they
 want to? It doesn't make any sense. Oh Zalnea, why am I here?
 Why am I like this? Why do I have these abilties? Last time, I
 killed someone. How do I redeem myself from that, even if it was
 in self defense and to protect someone else?> She shook her
 head, trying to clear the questions she had no answers to.

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

        Akane had been determined to introduce Catalina to some
 people she knew, but everyone seemed to shy away from them. It
 was almost as if Catalina had a highly contagious disease or
 something. All to soon, the bell rang and it was time to go to
 Catalina's worse nightmare: Gym Class.
        She had always hated gym class as it always exposed her
 body to everyone.
        Ranma, now male, left to go to his PE class as well.
        Akane led the felinoid into the girl's locker room where
 they suddenly found that they were being given a wide birth.
 Everything was quiet once Catalina entered the area, all the
 girls in various stages of undress. Catalina suddenly felt all
 eyes on her.
        Akane's eyes narrowed, slightly as fire started to appear
 in her eyes. "What are you all staring at? Haven't you ever seen
 a girl before?" Instantly, everyone went back to what they were
 doing, but they were still trying to get looks at the new oddity
 in the locker room.
        Akane led Catalina to an empty locker which was by hers.
 "Just a sec', I want you to meet someone." Akane walked around
 the corner, leaving the cat-girl looking around her nervously as
 she sighed and opened her locker. She set her gym clothes down
 on the bench and took off her shirt. She placed it in the
 locker, hanging it up on the hook in the back. She then put the
 yellow shirt on that was for the PE classes.
        About that time, Akane led a tall girl around the corner
 with chestnut brown hair tied with a ribbon.
        "Catalina, this is Ukyo Kuonji." Akane introduced the girl to
 the felinoid. Ukyo extended her hand in greeting and Catalina
 shook it, timidly.
        "So, you're the new weirdo around here, eh?" Ukyo asked,
 smiling.
        "Weirdo? You make it sound like there are a lot of
 those around here." Catalina smiled as she withdrew her hand.
 She knew she was going to like Ukyo as the girl's emotions were
 quite happy, for the most part. Catalina could sense a deep love
 for someone who she was a afraid didn't return it. She brushed
 her empathy away, annoyed that it was there.
        "Well, let's see. Ranma, Kuno, Kodachi, you."
        "Kodachi? Who's that?" Catalina looked at Ukyo, her brow
 furrowed in puzzlement.
        Ukyo looked at Akane sharply. "You didn't warn her about
 being associated with you and Ranma?" Akane looked a bit
 embarrassed. "Um, no...Kind of got sidetracked..."
        "Well, Kodachi is Kuno's sister. She's in love with
 Ranma-male, totally insane, hates Akane and female Ranma, and
 thinks that the way to get Ranma to marry her is to poison him."
        Catalina raised her eyebrows. "Back home they'd say she
 was ready for the looney bin." Ukyo smirked and Akane laughed.
        Catalina looked at her gym shorts, turning them around
 and amking sure the hole was cut for her tail. <Well,> she
 thought. <At least Mother modified these so that my tail fits
 through without bending it.>
        Catalina took off her pants as she talked and put the
 school shorts on over her pink panties. She looked down at
 herself and grimaced. She felt naked without the feel of her
 blue jeans. She didn't like the fact that her fur-covered legs
 were prominantly displayed. 
        Ukyo noticed this. "What's wrong?" she asked.
        "Well, when was the last time you saw a six-foot tall
 cat-girl in school colors playing PE in gym class?" 
        Akane giggled. So did Ukyo. Catalina finally had to join
 them as it did sound funny.
        "You get used to it. Don't let the way the other girls
 act bother you. You get used to it after a while. I was treated
 the same way when I first got here." 
        "Oh? Why would you be singled out, Ukyo."
        "Um, long story. I'll tell it to you sometime at my
 restaurant. Deal?"
        "Restaurant? _Your_ restaurant? How do you manage to own
 a restaurant and goto school?"
        "Actually, I _run_ the restaurant, own it, and go to
 school."
        Ukyo closed Catalina's mouth. "Are you suffering
 from Lock-Jaw or something? Your mouth seems to stay open for
 an unusually long time."
        Catalina blushed an even deeper shade of red then before.
 "Um, no, this is all so strange. I just wasn't expecting
 anything like this. Are there any other surprises I should
 expect?"
        Akane laughed while Ukyo smiled. "Well," began Akane, who
 was now dressed and ready for class. "Let's see. There's
 Shampoo, who rides a bike defying the laws of gravity and turns
 into a cat. She's totally in love with Ranma. There's Mousse who
 turns into a duck, is blind as a bat, and is in love with
 Shampoo. There's Ryoga who gets lost looking for the bathroom,
 is supposed to be Ranma's friend, though why Ranma likes being
 attacked in the middle of the night is beyond me."
        Akane closed Catalina's mouth, this time. "Are you sure
 you're OK, Catalina? That seems to be happening a might bit too
 often." Akane was smiling as she said this, but soon broke out
 laughing.
        "We'd best get onot the field before we're late," said
 Akane.
        The cat-girl followed Ukyo and Akane. 
        <I hope this isn't a mistake,> thought Catalina as she
 looked down at herself. <It is now quite obvious how different I
 am and I am scared again. Why should this school be any
 different than any other? I hope it is, though.>
        Trying to keep hope, she walked onto the field with Ukyo
 and Akane.

         -[End part 1]-

    Well, that's the end of part 1. Part 2 due out when I finish
    it. As always, C&C is appreciated. I always like knowing when
    someone reads one of my stories and likes or dislikes them. I
    at least like knowing. 


    Coming up next: Catalina plays baseball with the rest of her
    class and finds out that she isn't the only one with unique
    abilties. It would seem that Furinkan is the name for
    weirdness. But, can Catalina cope with the new coach who has
    a strict 'no enhanced abilties' rule? Also, Catalina finally
    meets the Akane's family. Read in next time for "The Game of
    Life"    
            -Katrina Lee Halbred
            austin@keyway.net