Warning: The characters portrayed in this story are the property of someone
other than me!!!!  Ranma and Co. are the creation of the genius Rumiko
Takahashi.  OMG the creation of Kosuke Fujishima.  All spelling errors and
poor grammer are the sole creation of ME! ^_^
 
 This is the intro to the Rise of the Avatars series being developed.  Book
One consisting of 3 chapters will be used to set up the characters and
prepare the background I want for the coming conflict.
 
 Book One:  Death, Life, Love, and Dinner?
 
 Chapter One: Broken Barriers  (alpha)
 
      Thousands of stars shined brightly in the sky.  The moon was full and
lit the night with a rich soft light.  Clouds were pushed gently across the
tapestry of the sky by the whispering breeze.  A dog barking was the only
interruption to the beuatiful melody that was a Nerima spring.  In all it was
a perfect night.  Happosai looked down below toward the dojo.  He was in one
of his very rare introspective moods.  "I wonder how many battles have been
fought in that dojo over the last several generations?"  It was a rhetorical
question, so it came as a surprise when a soft voice responded.  "Many more
than should be remembered.  Though I beleive few as devestating as
yesterdays, he Happi."  Happosai turned around gingerly, his wounds forcing
him to grimace in pain.  "True enough my lovely, true enough.  I was just
burning a picture of the dojo in my mind before I leave."  The mysterious
lady sat down beside Happosai and held his bandaged hand.  She gently pointed
down to the dojo below.  "I can sense the energy spent down below. I trust
that is where my sister and Ranma Saotome died?"  For the first time in fifty
years a true tear left Happosai's eye.  "Yes....yes Urd it was."
 
 Two weeks earlier:
 
      CRASH!!!!!  Akane's eyes blink blinked.  CRASH!!!!!  Akane sat up and
raised her hand to her brow.  "Can't that dummy and his father let people
sleep!"  She was answered by a high pitched screech, "Hey old man, why you
have an go and get me wet every mornin."  "A martial artist must be ready for
any challenge, your enemies will use any weakness you give them BOY."  SPLASH
 "Left yourself open.  What's that, I'm sorry I don't speak panda you old
goat."  Akane sighed, "Another morning ruined before it began."  She climbed
out of bed and headed to her dresser mirror.  She looked at herself and
couldn't help but notice how her features changed over the last two years.
 She walked over to her window and looked down into the courtyard.  Ona-Ranma
was toweling herself dry.  Akane felt a ping of jealousy as she noticed how
much Ranma's other self had matured.  He was absolutely stunning as a woman,
perfectly proportioned and radiated with a spirit a sun would envy.  Even
worse that jerk's male side also matured well.  He had grown six inches over
the last two years standing a head and a half taller than herself.  He has
also put on fifty pounds of muscle on his already athletic frame.  Thoughts
of male Ranma ran through her head.  'I have to admit he has become quit good
looking.  Hell who am I kidding, he's absolutely gorgeous.  To bad his ego
has grown also.'  "Well I guess it's time to get ready for school."  Akane
muttered, as she took her school uniform from her closet.
 
      Ranma stomped into the house muttering curses under his breath.  Two
years of sparring with his dad, and no matter how much he improved his father
found some way to drop him into the pond.  Ranma knew he was good, in fact he
might be among the best in the world.  He had improved his fighting skills
exponentially since arriving at the Tendo's.  No one is the area was a
challenge for him anymore, even Ryoga was falling behind the alarming pace
Ranma was improving.  Just last month  Ryoga had gone into a total rage about
some imagined wrong.  Ranma had never seen such pure hatred and for one of
the rare times in his life he was afraid.  Ryoga fought with an intensity
unseen before.  Hitting Ranma with punches that could crush a Buick.  Worse
of all Ryoga had finally managed to channel multiple depression blasts.
 Ryoga vented his fury like a force of nature.  The fight lasted of an hour
leaving a trail of devestation across the outskirts of Nerima.  Despite all
of the passion put into his effort the battle had the same result as all the
others only to a much greater extent.  Ryoga was a shambles and Ranma was
relatively untouched.  Yes, Ranma had improved.  As good as he was however,
he knew he wsa not good enough.  Good enough for who?  Good enough for what?
 Ranma had a bad feeling he was going to find out all to soon.
 
        "Mornin Kasumi." Ona-Ranma chimed as he entered the kitchen.  Kasumi
smiled the smile of the innocent and handed Ona-Ranma a tea kettle.
 "Breakfast is waiting on the table.  Ranma could you check on Akane?  She
still hasn't come down."  "Sure Kasumi, just make certain Pop doesn't eat
everything."  Ranma poured the kettle over his head and ran up to Akane's
room.  Ranma knocked on the door. It glided open from the force of his gentle
blow.  The sight before him simply took his breath away.  Akane was wearing a
typical school uniform and looking devestatingly cute.  It still amazed him
ho much she had changed over the last two years.  She had lost off of her
baby fat and her legs, waist, and arms had grown and thinned out.  Her chest,
however, had grown out quite well.  It was during this observation that Akane
slapped him.  "YOU PERVERT!!!!, you walk into my room while I'm changing and
then stare at my chest.  What kind of sicko did my dad engage me too."  "An
extremely lucky one.  An extremely lucky one." Ranma repeated as he gingerly
embraced Akane and gently kissed her forehead.  A twinkle came to Akane's eye
as she cupped her hands to Ranma's chin.  "I guess I can forgive you this
once, but you need to do me a favor first."  Ranma gave a panicked look. "Oh,
and what would that be?"  "Just a proper good morning kiss."  That being said
she pulled Ranma down to her lips and started Ranma's education to proper
morning greetings.  
 
      Akane and Ranma walked to school together, Ranma of course was on the
fence and Akane was on the sidewalk below with a daydreamy look on her face.
 "Akane are you okay down there?"  Ranma was curious about what was going
through her mind.  "Just thinking about how things between us have changed
over the last two years."  Akane smirked inwardly as she saw a blush edge
over his face.  "I was also wondering what ever happened to P-Chan.  I
haven't seen him since last month when you finally developed a backbone and
told me how you felt. I was so excited I had to tell someone.  Figures the
one time I needed to talk to my sisters neither one was at home.  Fortunately
P-Chan found his way home right then.  I told him you said you loved me, and
more importantly that I loved you to.  Funny, when I told him he seemed mad.
 It was so cute how protective he seemed.  If I didn't know better I would
have sworn he was jelous.  You didn't do anything to him since then have
you?"  Suddenly Ryoga's attack made sense to Ranma.  ' Poor sap, he must have
had his heart ripped out.  Oh well, maybe the pigheaded idiot will finally
wise up and commit to Akari.  Next time I see the dumb ox I really need to
straighten things out for both of our sakes.'  Ranma did a triple back flip
off the wall and landed beside Akane.  "Showing off again? You don't always
have to be so dramatic Ranma.  One of these days that ego of yours is going
to get you into trouble even you can't handle."  Ranma stopped walking and
turned his gaze directly at Akane.  "You of all people should realize why I
take my training so seriously.  It's not becouse of my ego.  Okay, part of it
IS becouse of my ego.  But most of it is to keep myself in top form at all
times."  "Honestly Ranma, I wish sometimes you could relax a little and have
fun.  There is more to life than just martial arts.  There are such things as
friends, family and....me."  "I could never forget my favorite tomboy."
 Ranma bent down and kissed her.  Then an evil grin crossed his face.
"Especially one as uncute as you."  This of course led to the summoning of
Mr. Mallet and a chase down the streets of Nerima.  
 
      Ukyo looked down from the window of her homeroom class.  She watched as
the students funneled into the courtyard below.  She wondered what life would
be like next week when she and her friends graduated.  She knew some would
join her in college next semester but many more she would never see again.
 Moriko and Hideaki walked hand in hand through the gates.  'They make a cute
couple, I hope things work out for them.'  Ukyo thought to herself.  She
hugged her shoulders as a tear came to her eye.  It had been nearly a month
since Ranma had the big discussion with her.  A clutching pain seized her as
she bought back the tears that came so naturally to her these days.  "Why
Ranchan?  Why choose Akane?  Why not Shampoo?  Why not....me?"  The last
sentence was nothing more than a whisper.  Deep down she knew the answer.
 Ranma had explained it to her as best he could.  She knew Ranma did care for
her, but only as a friend.  Maybe more than a friend, closer to a sister.  A
sad smirk crossed her face.  How many times had she told the same story to
Tsubassa and Konatsu.  Not to mention twenty or so other guys in the school.
 She couldn't help but wonder if any of them felt the same pain.  Ukyo hoped
not.  Finally the two she had been searching for barreled into the
schoolyard.  Even after expressing their inner most feelings for each other
they still acted like small childern.  No that was not entirely true.  She
could tell the edge was taken off their melee.  Ranma now enjoyed these
sparring matches he had with Akane.  Akane for her part still showed the rage
she was legendary for but it was controlled now.  Tempered by the love she
felt for her prey.  Ukyo knew deep in her heart that Akane loved Ranma every
bit as much as she did.  That didn't make what she had to do any easier.
 Ukyo took a piece of paper and quickly wrote.  Folding the note up she
placed it on Akane's desk and quickly took her own seat.  
 
      Akane draged her uncounscious fiance to class.  She smiled as she
recalled how she had managed to trap Ranma in a corner.  He tried to bound of
the wall and flip over her head.  Today however she was to fast for him.  She
connected right when his feet hit the wall.  She was getting faster every
day.  Looking down Akane couldn't help but sigh.  Deep down she knew Ranma
used these taunts to train her.  Over the last month he always stayed just
out of her reach, making her push herself to her limits.  ' I wonder how much
I've improved?'  Akane thought about this for a few seconds.  In her heart
she felt it was quite a bit.  She could probably hold her own against Ukyo
and Shampoo.  "Morning Akane, I see Ranma escorted you to school today."
 Akane place Ranma in his desk next to her own and returned Ayaka's greeting.
 "You think this dummy could stay awake for the last week of school."  The
class laughed at Akane's sarcastic remark.  All except the lone figure
sitting in back.
 
       Soon the bell rang and class was in session.  Ms. Hinako bounced into
class with her typical childlike manner.  "Okay class, today you delinquents
will attend an assembly in the main gym.  Our own Principle Kuno will be
giving you a lecture on the responsibilities......"  Akane phased out ms
Hinako as noticed the folded note on her desk.  She wondered who would send
her a note.  Since Kuno had left for college last year no one had pestered
her with love letters.  She smiled as she thought maybe Ranma placed it
there.  Akane's smile left her face when she read the note.
 
       Akane, please meet me at the outside courtyard during today's
assembly.
       I have to discuss matters of importance to you, Ranma and myself.
 Ukyo.
 
 End of Chapter 1. >>

This is a very rough alpha copy.  The beta will have a few more added scenes
and dialogue.  The true direction the story is heading will be more clear in
chapter 2.  

Angela Lee.  

Give Me Anime Or Give Me Death. ^_
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj:    Rise of the Avatars
Date:    97-04-05 17:38:41 EDT
From:    AngelaLee1
To:      demonsword@vasia.com

Sorry for the delay:

This is the intro to the Rise of the Avatars series being developed.  Book
One consisting of 3 chapters will be used to set up the characters and
prepare the background I want for the coming conflict.

Book One:  Death, Life, Love, and Dinner?

Chapter One: Broken Barriers

     Thousands of stars shined brightly in the sky.  The moon was full and
lit the night with a rich soft light.  Clouds were pushed gently across the
tapestry of the sky by the whispering breeze.  A dog barking was the only
interruption to the beuatiful melody that was a Nerima spring.  In all it was
a perfect night.  Happosai looked down below toward the dojo.  He was in one
of his very rare introspective moods.  "I wonder how many battles have been
fought in that dojo over the last several generations?"  It was a rhetorical
question, so it came as a surprise when a soft voice responded.  "Many more
than should be remembered.  Though I beleive few as devestating as
yesterdays, he Happi."  Happosai turned around gingerly, his wounds forcing
him to grimace in pain.  "True enough my lovely, true enough.  I was just
burning a picture of the dojo in my mind before I leave."  The mysterious
lady sat down beside Happosai and held his bandaged hand.  She gently pointed
down to the dojo below.  "I can sense the energy spent down below. I trust
that is where my sister and Ranma Saotome died?"  For the first time in fifty
years a true tear left Happosai's eye.  "Yes....yes Urd it was."

Two weeks earlier:

     CRASH!!!!!  Akane's eyes blink blinked.  CRASH!!!!!  Akane sat up and
raised her hand to her brow.  "Can't that dummy and his father let people
sleep!"  She was answered by a high pitched screech, "Hey old man, why you
have an go and get me wet every mornin."  "A martial artist must be ready for
any challenge, your enemies will use any weakness you give them BOY."  SPLASH
 "Left yourself open.  What's that, I'm sorry I don't speak panda you old
goat."  Akane sighed, "Another morning ruined before it began."  She climbed
out of bed and headed to her dresser mirror.  She looked at herself and
couldn't help but notice how her features changed over the last two years.
 She walked over to her window and looked down into the courtyard.  Ona-Ranma
was toweling herself dry.  Akane felt a ping of jealousy as she noticed how
much Ranma's other self had matured.  He was absolutely stunning as a woman,
perfectly proportioned and radiated with a spirit a sun would envy.  Even
worse that jerk's male side also matured well.  He had grown six inches over
the last two years standing a head and a half taller than herself.  He has
also put on fifty pounds of muscle on his already athletic frame.  Thoughts
of male Ranma ran through her head.  'I have to admit he has become quit good
looking.  Hell who am I kidding, he's absolutely gorgeous.  To bad his ego
has grown also.'  "Well I guess it's time to get ready for school."  Akane
muttered, as she took her school uniform from her closet.

     Ranma stomped into the house muttering curses under his breath.  Two
years of sparring with his dad, and no matter how much he improved his father
found some way to drop him into the pond.  Ranma knew he was good, in fact he
might be among the best in the world.  He had improved his fighting skills
exponentially since arriving at the Tendo's.  No one is the area was a
challenge for him anymore, even Ryoga was falling behind the alarming pace
Ranma was improving.  Just last month  Ryoga had gone into a total rage about
some imagined wrong.  Ranma had never seen such pure hatred and for one of
the rare times in his life he was afraid.  Ryoga fought with an intensity
unseen before.  Hitting Ranma with punches that could crush a Buick.  Worse
of all Ryoga had finally managed to channel multiple depression blasts.
 Ryoga vented his fury like a force of nature.  The fight lasted of an hour
leaving a trail of devestation across the outskirts of Nerima.  Despite all
of the passion put into his effort the battle had the same result as all the
others only to a much greater extent.  Ryoga was a shambles and Ranma was
relatively untouched.  Yes, Ranma had improved.  As good as he was however,
he knew he wsa not good enough.  Good enough for who?  Good enough for what?
 Ranma had a bad feeling he was going to find out all to soon.

       "Mornin Kasumi." Ona-Ranma chimed as he entered the kitchen.  Kasumi
smiled the smile of the innocent and handed Ona-Ranma a tea kettle.
 "Breakfast is waiting on the table.  Ranma could you check on Akane?  She
still hasn't come down."  "Sure Kasumi, just make certain Pop doesn't eat
everything."  Ranma poured the kettle over his head and ran up to Akane's
room.  Ranma knocked on the door. It glided open from the force of his gentle
blow.  The sight before him simply took his breath away.  Akane was wearing a
typical school uniform and looking devestatingly cute.  It still amazed him
ho much she had changed over the last two years.  She had lost off of her
baby fat and her legs, waist, and arms had grown and thinned out.  Her chest,
however, had grown out quite well.  It was during this observation that Akane
slapped him.  "YOU PERVERT!!!!, you walk into my room while I'm changing and
then stare at my chest.  What kind of sicko did my dad engage me too."  "An
extremely lucky one.  An extremely lucky one." Ranma repeated as he gingerly
embraced Akane and gently kissed her forehead.  A twinkle came to Akane's eye
as she cupped her hands to Ranma's chin.  "I guess I can forgive you this
once, but you need to do me a favor first."  Ranma gave a panicked look. "Oh,
and what would that be?"  "Just a proper good morning kiss."  That being said
she pulled Ranma down to her lips and started Ranma's education to proper
morning greetings.  

     Akane and Ranma walked to school together, Ranma of course was on the
fence and Akane was on the sidewalk below with a daydreamy look on her face.
 "Akane are you okay down there?"  Ranma was curious about what was going
through her mind.  "Just thinking about how things between us have changed
over the last two years."  Akane smirked inwardly as she saw a blush edge
over his face.  "I was also wondering what ever happened to P-Chan.  I
haven't seen him since last month when you finally developed a backbone and
told me how you felt. I was so excited I had to tell someone.  Figures the
one time I needed to talk to my sisters neither one was at home.  Fortunately
P-Chan found his way home right then.  I told him you said you loved me, and
more importantly that I loved you to.  Funny, when I told him he seemed mad.
 It was so cute how protective he seemed.  If I didn't know better I would
have sworn he was jelous.  You didn't do anything to him since then have
you?"  Suddenly Ryoga's attack made sense to Ranma.  ' Poor sap, he must have
had his heart ripped out.  Oh well, maybe the pigheaded idiot will finally
wise up and commit to Akari.  Next time I see the dumb ox I really need to
straighten things out for both of our sakes.'  Ranma did a triple back flip
off the wall and landed beside Akane.  "Showing off again? You don't always
have to be so dramatic Ranma.  One of these days that ego of yours is going
to get you into trouble even you can't handle."  Ranma stopped walking and
turned his gaze directly at Akane.  "You of all people should realize why I
take my training so seriously.  It's not becouse of my ego.  Okay, part of it
IS becouse of my ego.  But most of it is to keep myself in top form at all
times."  "Honestly Ranma, I wish sometimes you could relax a little and have
fun.  There is more to life than just martial arts.  There are such things as
friends, family and....me."  "I could never forget my favorite tomboy."
 Ranma bent down and kissed her.  Then an evil grin crossed his face.
"Especially one as uncute as you."  This of course led to the summoning of
Mr. Mallet and a chase down the streets of Nerima.  

     Ukyo looked down from the window of her homeroom class.  She watched as
the students funneled into the courtyard below.  She wondered what life would
be like next week when she and her friends graduated.  She knew some would
join her in college next semester but many more she would never see again.
 Moriko and Hideaki walked hand in hand through the gates.  'They make a cute
couple, I hope things work out for them.'  Ukyo thought to herself.  She
hugged her shoulders as a tear came to her eye.  It had been nearly a month
since Ranma had the big discussion with her.  A clutching pain seized her as
she bought back the tears that came so naturally to her these days.  "Why
Ranchan?  Why choose Akane?  Why not Shampoo?  Why not....me?"  The last
sentence was nothing more than a whisper.  Deep down she knew the answer.
 Ranma had explained it to her as best he could.  She knew Ranma did care for
her, but only as a friend.  Maybe more than a friend, closer to a sister.  A
sad smirk crossed her face.  How many times had she told the same story to
Tsubassa and Konatsu.  Not to mention twenty or so other guys in the school.
 She couldn't help but wonder if any of them felt the same pain.  Ukyo hoped
not.  Finally the two she had been searching for barreled into the
schoolyard.  Even after expressing their inner most feelings for each other
they still acted like small childern.  No that was not entirely true.  She
could tell the edge was taken off their melee.  Ranma now enjoyed these
sparring matches he had with Akane.  Akane for her part still showed the rage
she was legendary for but it was controlled now.  Tempered by the love she
felt for her prey.  Ukyo knew deep in her heart that Akane loved Ranma every
bit as much as she did.  That didn't make what she had to do any easier.
 Ukyo took a piece of paper and quickly wrote.  Folding the note up she
placed it on Akane's desk and quickly took her own seat.  

     Akane draged her uncounscious fiance to class.  She smiled as she
recalled how she had managed to trap Ranma in a corner.  He tried to bound of
the wall and flip over her head.  Today however she was to fast for him.  She
connected right when his feet hit the wall.  She was getting faster every
day.  Looking down Akane couldn't help but sigh.  Deep down she knew Ranma
used these taunts to train her.  Over the last month he always stayed just
out of her reach, making her push herself to her limits.  ' I wonder how much
I've improved?'  Akane thought about this for a few seconds.  In her heart
she felt it was quite a bit.  She could probably hold her own against Ukyo
and Shampoo.  "Morning Akane, I see Ranma escorted you to school today."
 Akane place Ranma in his desk next to her own and returned Ayaka's greeting.
 "You think this dummy could stay awake for the last week of school."  The
class laughed at Akane's sarcastic remark.  All except the lone figure
sitting in back.

      Soon the bell rang and class was in session.  Ms. Hinako bounced into
class with her typical childlike manner.  "Okay class, today you delinquents
will attend an assembly in the main gym.  Our own Principle Kuno will be
giving you a lecture on the responsibilities......"  Akane phased out ms
Hinako as noticed the folded note on her desk.  She wondered who would send
her a note.  Since Kuno had left for college last year no one had pestered
her with love letters.  She smiled as she thought maybe Ranma placed it
there.  Akane's smile left her face when she read the note.

      Akane, please meet me at the outside courtyard during today's assembly.
      I have to discuss matters of importance to you, Ranma and myself.
 Ukyo.

End of Chapter 1.