Hi I just decided to contribute to the continuing story line that 
different authors have had their hands in.  I thought that since I 
usually miss adding my two cents in, that now would be a good time to 
try it.  This is combining; Restless Spirit, Sailor Moon R1/2, Ranma 
Muyo in love, Kitty love, and probably more fics that I will come across 
that feature characters in love with Ranma Saotome.  C+C welcome.  Do 
you think I should put more space between lines or something?  Nothing 
to harsh please, I am sensitive.

I do not own any of these characters, except for any brand new 
characters that I create as plot roles or some such.  But then anyone 
can use them if the wish.  Please do not sue me, for I am just a 
student.  

	The Game 
	by 
	John E Trombley
	(Trom)

	A small town a hundred kilometers outside of the walls of the 
majestic Crystal Tokyo. Its significance greatly dwarfed by the huge 
city and its occupants.  In fact there was almost no reason some one 
would go to this small town for any reason but one.  That one reason was 
what at first drew the towns people, which was what was a first just a 
back water town to a happy little suburb.  It was the one reason which 
many people tried to find the town.  Though if that person was not even 
trying they could. For this town was special, it seemed to get lost for 
long periods of time.  How can a town get lost?  
	There was an old legend that the two founders of the town, 
seeking escape from relentless pursuers came to this spot which would be 
the town.  They were mighty warriors, who lived a life of constant 
battle.  Their skill was so great that they could destroy whole mountain 
ranges with but a fraction of their power.  The two warriors have 
traveled long together off and on for over a hundred years, but this 
would be their last journey together.  For though both had lived many 
years, time seemed to stand still for one of the two warriors.  Though 
no one new why.  It was here that Old Age finally caught up with one of 
the warriors and knowing that death loomed over his head, challenged his 
life long friend to a final duel.  
	Though old age had set his teeth in him, the old man was still a 
force to be reckoned with.  Their battle lasted many days, each 
delivering blows that could shatter solid steel, they battled.  On the 
sixth and final day of their fight, death claimed the old man.  His 
friend cried tears of grief and remorse, for he was finally alone. The 
old man was the last of his childhood friends, while he had made more, 
still he could still remember the two of them fighting in school 
together over little things.  How both were used to judge the other's 
skill, and together they grew in the art.
	It was at the location of that town that the Most Powerful 
martial artist in the world buried his best friend of over two hundred 
years.  Still not wanting to be left alone, there he build himself a 
house so that he could be close to his friend.  To keep his skill up he 
battled those that roamed the lawless earth for this was a time of Chaos 
for the world.  Those who could not protect themselves, they journeyed 
to live near this Master.  Many were those who went to learn from him, 
so that in time a town grew from its not so simple beginnings.  Many 
were the warlord who would try to sack the town to gain renown for 
besting the towns most skilled warriors.  This continued for a hundred 
years until one day, The Master vanished.  Many were those that 
panicked, and upon hearing this news many warlords banded together to 
destroy this small town.  The towns people prayed for a miracle, for 
though they trusted their warriors, they did not wish their families to 
be threatened.  So greatly did they pray, that a spirit heard them.  
This spirit has been in the town since before it's founding.  It grew to 
love those that would live near it and did not wish for anything to 
destroy that happiness.  Gathering it's strength it pushed it's soul, so 
much so that it enveloped the whole town and a little beyond.  It fused 
its spirit with the town, allowing its aura to combine with the towns 
own.  Then when the Warlords attacked, they were dismayed to find that 
they could not find the town.  No matter how long or hard they searched 
they could not find it.  Without a town to sack they turned against each 
other, killing each member to the last man.  So it was that when ever an 
overwhelming force would threaten the town that force could never find 
it.  In honor of the spirit that protects it the people changed the name 
of the town and made one unbreakable law.  You Must Never Eat A Pig! The 
town was named HIBIKI, after the great warrior Ryouga Hibiki whose 
spirit continued to protect them.

	It had been many years since the person came to Hibiki, many 
years since he has seen his children, grandchildren, heck even his 
great-grandchildren.  The one thing that Ranma Saotome never lacked was 
women who longed to be with him.  It seemed every other powerful 
individual in the universe who were immortal chose him to be with.  
Wether it be Goddesses, Androids, Aliens, or even the Sailor Scouts. He 
seemed to be their only constant source of Masculine companionship.  If 
he didn't have the Scouts after him, then it was Urd or Skuld (who ever 
won that year), to a bunch of Aliens, that every once in a while decided 
that they desired his company.  Heck he even had the Intergalactic 
Police after him on some drummed up charges, just so someone could get 
to him before one of his many other suitors could.  And when a group as 
a whole found him! The fur really flew then.  
	It had gotten so bad once that the women called a truce and 
decided to make things fair.  That was when the Game first came into 
being.  Who ever could find him first was allowed one month with him 
without challenge from the others.  Not that they always stuck to the 
rules.  They did not even ask his opinion on that, nor did he denied 
them.  For Ranma still could not bring himself to hurt women in that 
way.  So the first knight of Crystal Tokyo, after leaving word with his 
cousin, Neo-Queen Serenity, set off on his century long training 
missions, thus started the ultimate game of hide and go seek.  So he 
lead the life of a traveler, following his old friend Ryouga's travel 
route.  Being the times they are, and the power that he had built, Ranma 
was no longer bound to the Earth for he had already became the world's 
greatest Martial Artist, and continued to look for more challenges in 
order to grow in skill.  Not only did he go to other planets to look for 
challenges, he also went to different planes of existence.  While he did 
not always win every fight that he was in (some were ties)he enjoyed all 
of them.  While not immortal, he was eternally young, that added to his 
skill made him as close to being immortal as you can get.  The battles 
and the Game were what kept Saotome going all those years.  For without 
challenge to keep his interest, he would have long ago succumbed to 
boredom.  The greatest threat to all those who live long lives.
	Still it was nice once and while to visit his family.  Not just 
those children he had by the way of the Senshi or Goddesses, but his 
family from the first part of his life.  Akane, Shampoo, Ukyou, Kodachi, 
yes even Kodachi; each learned that no one could truly posses Ranma, 
each could have their turn with him.  For he could love each of then no 
less than he did another, for there was one thing Ranma loved more than 
anything, and that was his Art.  I guess they should be proud of 
themselves, for after them, Ranma could only find comfort in those of 
Goddess power-levels or higher.  
	So it was that the seemingly young girl entered the town of 
Hibiki.  She was surprised by the progress that has been accomplished in 
her long periods of absences.  Were once there were just a few farms 
with a couple of town houses.  Now the houses were lined with streets, 
actual streets.  While not necessarily too close together to cause 
discomfort.  It had a kind of homy feel about it.  On her journey 
through the town she watch children playing in a very nice park, their 
parents chatting merrily near by.  Businesses lined a few streets 
selling good quality wares for reasonable prices, while all the 
buildings appeared to be in good repair.  Much has changed in the time 
that she had been gone.  Hopefully not to much.  While not as large as 
some cities it didn't take her long to get lost.  Occasionally she would 
notice something that reminded her of the past, but it was so well 
blended with its environment, that she almost missed them.  It was good 
to see the people living in harmony with their surroundings and not 
trying force their will over the land.  Well manicured lawns and small 
gardens seem to brighten each home no matter how small.  It seemed that 
everyone took at least a little pride in the appearance of their homes. 
	Very embarrassed that she had to ask for directions in her own 
town.  The girl went up to a shopkeeper and asked for the location of 
the Anything-Goes Dojo.  The woman was more than happy to give her 
directions even though she knew not whom she gave them to.  It was 
always nice when a new student came to study, which meant more business 
for the stores.  Seeing as how it always seemed hard for new students to 
even find the town, all were welcome when they did.  The shopkeeper gave 
a ruff description to the Compound.  Compound? Confused Ranma thank the 
proprietor of the store and continued on her journey.  She had little 
time, so she would make the most of it.
	Compound? What did the woman mean by that?  When last Ranma left 
the town, the dojo was just a few rooms for living attached to a large 
training hall that opened up to a training yard.  All together it was no 
larger than any other medium sized dwelling.  Of course that was over 
almost a hundred years.  He had left his two chosen students to care for 
the place as well as to continue the teaching of the Art.  There were 
barely a half dozen students when Ranma decided to go on a training 
trip.  (In other words, he was tired of all the attention he was getting 
from his female companions and it was time move on.) For he could not 
better himself in the art without much more challenges.
	Following the directions that shopkeeper gave her, she soon came 
upon a large stone wall.  The size of it brought back memories of the 
original Kuno compound, she shuddered at the thought of the two Kuno 
siblings from her childhood.  While she soon became friends with each of 
them, their obsessive behavior when he had first met them still gave her 
shivers.  The long wall seemed to stretch on for a whole Kilometer 
before turning on itself to completely surround the compound.  With 
little effort she cleared the wall, coming to rest at its apex, she 
surveyed the surroundings.  Many buildings littered evenly around the 
compound.  Some were not that large, while one particularly dwarfed the 
rest.  Before continuing on she lowered her Ki so far that it was 
practically nonexistent.   It was then that she went among those who 
carried on the Saotome legacy.
	Many were those who traveled the compound.  From grounds keepers 
to students, all possessed to some degree martial arts experience.  
Passing a beginners class, she was slightly surprised to see some adults 
in it.  In this day and age, to not posses martial skills could mean 
death.  While it was not so bad as it was in the town's infancy, still 
no matter how safe it seems at times, danger can come from any 
direction.  She grinned as a four year girl threw a middle-aged man.  At 
least the little ones learned from it.  She came across many other 
different students training either on their own or in groups of 
different skill, not one of them nor their instructors noticed her in 
anyway.  
	So it was that she spent many hours observing the training 
techniques of the instructors and how the students absorbed that 
knowledge.  Eventually at her own pace, she made her way to the largest 
building where she felt the greatest amount of Ki in the compound. She 
considered wether or not to present herself to the student body.  Of 
course that would be taken out her soon enough might as well give them a 
thrill, although not in this form.  His male form was older than his 
female and looked much more impressive.  They deserved it for what she 
was going to put them through.

	Kasumi Saotome sighed as she contemplated the sand of rock 
garden before her.  Something different would soon happen.  The signs 
were all too evident to one who knew where to look.  While she looked 
nothing like the original Kasumi Tendo, her quiet disposition mirrored 
her name-sake almost exactly, hence her name.  Every generation had at 
least one child named after one of their honored ancestors. She was a 
matronly look about as one who have lived a content long life.  Her 
blueish-black hair, slightly streaked with silver was tied up in a 
orderly bun.  Her head instructor's dogi while not completely hiding her 
figure, it only served to enhanced the slight aura of peace and 
competence about her.   Usually the sands helped to ease her mind from 
the burden of being one of the most influential people in the town.  
Whenever there was a dispute that those outside the compound could not 
come to terms with, they came to her for judgement.  
	She smiled slightly at the memory of when she bested her 
grandfather, to become the head of the school.  At the time she thought 
he was happy for her, that she had surpassed him in skill.  That was a 
thrill every instructor held when a student surpassed them. Knowing that 
you helped nourish that individual, bringing honor to your house as that 
individual excelled onward, allowing the to Art grow stronger.  It 
wasn't until that the townspeople started coming to her for answers to 
their disputes, that she figured out his true motives.  Of course she 
could go to the Elders for advise, though the final responsibility was 
hers.  She soon came to realize why grandfather was really happy.  All 
he had to do nowadays was instruct some of the more experienced students 
and get drunk when he felt like it.  That burden of responsibility had 
been passed to her.  Along with the infighting within the school, many 
things plagued her mind.  Hopefully this change in the air would be 
beneficial to the school.  For she would not wish to be the Headmaster 
of the school that caused that same school to split.  Again her brow 
creased with worry.  
	 "What's wrong?" a voice interrupted her thoughts.
	While to all outward appearances she did not move. The owner of 
the voice could see every part of her body tense, ready to fight or flee 
depending on situation. 	Reaching out with her senses both those 
inner and outer she searched for the origin of the voice.  Nothing.  
Usually she knew when anyone came upon her but this person hid 
themselves completely from her.  
	"I worry about the future." She kept her voice calm and 
collective not wanting to show any signs of weakness to whomever that 
person was.  As head of the Saotome school of Anything Goes Martial 
Arts, she had a reputation to uphold for the honor of her house.
	"Why worry about the future when it had not happened yet?" the 
voice asked.  Still Kasumi could not place were the voice originated 
from.
	"Still, one cannot remained glued to the past while going 
forward in life." She shot back.  Who ever the person was they would 
reveal themselves when they were ready wether she wanted then to or not. 
 "If we do not look to the future, how can we not best determine how to 
evade obstacles in our life path?"
	"By always being prepared.  A martial artist should be aware of 
their environment at all times.  He does not let new things discourage 
then from their path to perfecting their art."  The voice did not change 
at since speaking her.  By now she had figured that the person she was 
speaking to was young and female, at least by the sound of their voice. 
 Still that voice held a wisdom that only came from experience. 
	 "Who are you?" Kasumi asked, while it was rude to get right to 
the point like this, much was on her mind.
	"I guess I have been gone a long time from your point of view." 
 The voice sighed.  With that Ranma-chan faded into view sitting beside 
her.  She did not look completely at Kasumi, seemingly seeing things 
that few could see.
	"How?" Kasumi exclaimed shocked that this young girl could get 
so close to her without her realizing it.
	The girl smiled, "Just a trick I learned from an old pervert.  
Although I have improved upon it." She placed her hand behind her head 
and laughed.  "With my kind of life, I had lots of chances to work on 
it."
	Realization suddenly dawned on Kasumi then.  She knew who this 
was beside her.  She just stared wide-eyed at the girl, her ancestor.  
Not even her grandfather has ever seen him in his lifetime.
	Ranma-chan just laughed embarrassedly at the look on her face.  
She hated that, when people looked at her like she was a Kami or 
something.  With that she changed back to his old self.  He had long ago 
mastered his curse and no longer needed water to cause the change.  In 
fact he no longer thought of it as a curse any longer, he hasn't for the 
longest time.  
	If she wasn't shocked before, she was now.  She had heard the 
legends. Who hasn't?  But to witness it herself.  Where once sat a 
beautiful young red haired girl, now sat a man seemingly in his 
twenties.  His hair still sported a pigtail and his face while very 
handsome, she knew why many longed for him.  His eyes showed his true 
years, while losing none of their excitement for life.  After she 
reseaved a good long look Ranma changed back to Ranma-chan.
	"I am honored that you would visit us Master."  Kasumi replied 
bowing formally in respect.  He was after all, the Grandmaster of the 
Anything Goes School of Martial Arts.
	"The honor is mine.  I am most proud on how the school looks.  
You have done a fine job keeping the art alive and well."  Ranma-chan 
beamed in pride that a descendent of hers was doing so well.  "Still 
call me Ranma.  After all I am your-." Ranma-chan stop counting off the 
generations on her fingers.  After a while she just gave up.  Math was 
never her strong suit. "Well, just call me Ranma.  Do not call me 
grandma or grandpa!" she gave Kasumi a mock scowl, before breaking off 
into giggles.
	Soon Kasumi joined in with her honored ancestor.  To tell the 
truth, he was not all that she had expected.  Most idols aren't.  Still 
it was easy to see why this person can make so many friends so easily.  
Heck even if you hated him/her at first, you would at least have to 
respect him/her for his skill, after that you couldn't help but 
eventually come to like this person.  She just had that kind of 
personality.	
	"If it is not to impudent for me to ask.  Why do you stay in 
your female form?"  From all the legends she had heard.  Early on in his 
life when he was first cursed, it was his greatest desire to remove the 
curse and stay male for the rest of his life. 
	"Ah, that is one of the reasons I am here."  She stated, "Might 
as well get everything out in the open right off.  Well anyway there are 
a great many people who are searching for me that I don't want finding 
me just yet." She then grinned broadly. "Wouldn't want to make it easy 
on them, now would I?  Anyway my female form disrupts their tracking 
methods.  That added to the Town's natural ability to get lost, I 
figured I had a good few months to train some of the students before 
they zeroed in on me."
	"But, you founded this town.  Wouldn't they know to look for you 
here?" *Yes, things are definitely going to get interesting around 
here.* Kasumi thought to her self.
	"Na, I haven't been back here for ages.  They probably all think 
that I'm in that competition over in quadrant Sixteen-Alpha-Zulu or 
something."  Ranma remarked off handedly.
	"Why did you not go to the competition?"  
	"Because that's what they expect me to do.  Hey, can't become 
too predictable can I?  This'll really throw then off my trail!" she 
exclaimed as if letting Kasumi in on a private joke.  Which in all 
actuality it was.
	"Any way enough about me.  Tell me about the school........"she 
began.

To be continued.
------------------------------------------------------------------------		------------------------------------------ 	
	"This is your world, I'm just doing a cameo."
	"Mother is the name of god, on the lips of children."