Hi all,

This is my debut on the FFML.  I've been here a while lurking but have
finally decided to come forward from lurking status.  Of course Ranma
and Highlander concepts are not mine and I'm not doing this for
profit, but here is a snippet I just wrote up.  Any comments
appreciated, especially on style as I know I'm really bad with
dialogue.  No flames please, I don't think my frail ego can take it ;p


Also, to anyone kind enough to respond, please send comments directly
to me as well as putting it on the list, since I sometimes lose track
with the volume of the list.

Oh, also, this is the obligatory note to all saying this is my first
fic ;)

I also want opinions if I should continue or not, but I'll let you
know now that this fic is not just about Ranma becoming immortal
because I have a slight twist planned that ought to make it pretty
interesting.

D.Fire

		One-half a Life (tentative)

	As Ranma entered the Nekohanten, Shampoo launched herself at
her beloved husband.  Before Shampoo could reach Ranma, Ranma quickly
side-stepped the glomp, causing Shampoo to grasp in vain at empty air
and to lose her balance.  Seeing that Shampoo was about land in a
heap, Ranma casually reached out and grabbed her hand to steady her.
"Sorry, Shampoo, I'm not here to see you," Ranma tersely explained.
"I'm here to see the old ghoul."  With that explanation, he headed
toward the kitchen area.
	Before Ranma had even taken two steps, she was assaulted by
the second coldest feeling she had ever felt.  The only time she had
felt a colder feeling was when she first awoke at the morgue.  'What
the heck is that?', she thought.
	"So, son-in-law, you have finally been defeated," Cologne said
as she approached Ranma.
	"How did you know that, o-baba?" Ranma demanded in return.
	"I know, son-in-law, because I can FEEL you.  Perhaps you
aren't the Amazon material I had hoped you would be, if you have
already been defeated and killed this early in your life."  This last
statement was uttered with a sigh, expressing a disappointment beyond
words.
	"What are you muttering about you old ghoul?  Tell me what's
going on," Ranma demanded.  She was starting to grow frustrated with
the whole situation.  Ranma was on the verge of attacking Cologne when
Cologne abrubtly turned to Shampoo, saying something to her in
Chinese.
	Upon hearing what Cologne said to her, Shampoo gaped, and her
eyes widened noticeably expressing her shock.  Aquick exchange then
followed between the old ghoul and her granddaughter in Chinese.
	Ranma could understand a little bit of Chinese since having
spent a considerable amount of time training in China, but the content
of the exchange was way beyond her limited comprehension.  She managed
to catch a few words such as "death" and "husband", but the meaning of
the rest of the conversation was completely lost.  "What's going on?"
she yelled at the two.
	The conversation continued for another five minutes.  Well,
actually, the conversation itself only lasted another 30 seconds or
so, but after that the arguing began.  It quickly escalated to a
shouting matching between grandmother and granddaughter.
	The argument ended, however, with a deafening silence.  During
one particularly long harangue from Shampoo, Cologne casually reached
over and poked one of Shampoo's shiatsu points with her staff,
paralyzing and silencing Shampoo.
	Upon seeing this, Ranma interposed herself between the two,
blocking any further attack from Cologne.  She demanded again but more
forcefully, "What the %!#s going on?!"
	With a casual sweep of her staff, Cologne sent Ranma careening
into the nearest wall.
	'Damn, I didn't even see that coming,' thought Ranma.  'She
must be serious this time.'  Jumping up, Ranma yelled, "I'm ready for
you this time, O-baba.  You won't catch me off guard again."  She got
into a ready stance to fend off other attacks.
	"This business no longer concerns you, son-in-law, I mean
Ranma.  As of this moment you are no longer Shampoo's husband,"
Cologne quietly said.  "And we are leaving."  With that said, she
casually hopped onto her staff, and hooking Shampoo, she headed toward
the back of the Nekohanten.
	Seeing the despair in Shampoo's eyes, Ranma thought, 'I've got
to find out what's going on.  I'll probably regret this but ...'
Ranma acted quickly and gathering up her strength, she rushed Cologne.
	Sensing Ranma approaching, Cologne quickly turned and readied
herself for an attack, but to her surprise, Ranma did not attack her.
Instead, she found Shampoo taken out of her grasp and quickly beyond
her reach as Ranma bounded out of the room with Shampoo in tow.
"Wait!  Son-in-, Ranma. Wait!  Come back!", Cologned yelled as Ranma
went beyond the range of her voice.