Apologies if this turns out to be an unnecessary duplicate but I suddenly
realized that my previous post wasn't wordwrapped properly.  Oops!

-------------------------------

Here's a little New Year's gift for you guys.  I jotted it down in a
few hours and it's a bit surrealistic but I hope you like it.  ^_^   I
don't think something like this has been done before so I hope I'm not
unconsciously plagarizing....  ^_^;

I haven't played Final Fantasy VII for myself so all my information is
from the various strategy guides and FAQs I've read.  Put down any
inaccuracies to artistic license.

BTW, this story contains a spoiler for FFVII.

-------------------------------
DARKER FANCY - A Final Fantasy VII/(guess!) crossover

	He heard her calling his name.  And when she called, he had to
follow.  In the middle of the night, he headed for the huge shell
house in the center of the forest.  His companions trailed after him,
asking questions that he could not or would not answer.

	He moved purposefully through the shell house, always following
her voice.  He stepped out onto a platform only to see a stunningly
beautiful crystal city lying below.

	Descending, he and his companions ended up in the center of the
city where they found HER.  She was kneeling in prayer, apparently
oblivious to their presence.  He swiftly climbed up to where she
knelt, leaving his companions to follow as best they could.  He stared
down at her at her bowed head.

	At first, he only felt happiness and relief.  He had found her and
she was safe.  But then something terrible swelled and grew inside him
like a black, soul shredding cancer.  For here was the source of his
pain, the feelings that tormented him without mercy, the turmoil which
consumed his life....  As long as she existed, he would keep suffering
forever.  Without conscious thought, his hand grabbed for the huge
sword on his back.

	A tremendously strong grip pulled him around and yanked him off
balance as an all too familiar male voice shouted, "What the HELL do
you think you're doing!?"

	He stared blankly at his male companion for a second, confused. 
Although the man was as strong as ever, why was his comrade shorter
and more compact than he remembered?  And where did the guy pick up
that huge backpack and that ridiculous headwrap?

	He shook his head to clear it.  This man was no comrade, no friend
-- only a rival for her.  The man didn't care about him, his pain, or
his feelings.  The man only cared about HER.  

	He pulled free from the man only to be grabbed by his female
companion who yelled, "Don't do it!  This isn't you!"

	He gazed at her in bewilderment.  Why was she trying to stop him? 
After all, the young woman kneeling before them was her rival.  Why
should the woman clutching his arm try to stop him from killing HER? 
Hadn't the woman standing beside him tried to do the same thing
herself?  And in that murderous attempt, she had betrayed his trust
although he couldn't quite remember the specifics.  And when did she
start toting that weird bladed weapon on her back?  

	But the details were unimportant.  He had more important tasks to
worry about.  He glared at the woman fighter and flung her aside.

	There was a low growl behind him.  He spun around, blade in hand,
to face the large cat beast crouching behind him.  He froze as some
senseless terror briefly drowned out his hatred of HER.  The purplish
pink cat beast growled, "You crazy!?"

	His fear paralyzed him just long enough for his other two
companions to pounce on him.  As they struggled back and forth, the
kneeling woman softly whispered his name.

	He turned to look as SHE lifted her head.  He had never seen her
so tranquil... so rapt.  There was no hostility or anger on her face
as she looked at him and gave him a slow, loving smile.  As long as he
would live, he would never forget how she looked at that moment -- her
short, black hair that shifted and gleamed with the slightest move of
her head, the dark brown eyes,....  

	He felt the raging darkness in him slowly seep away, to be
replaced by wonder and hope.  He took a step forward.... then a sudden
impulse made him look up.

	Out of the light plunged a dark figure.  It was if his hatred,
thwarted by her smile, had now been given physical form.

	He could do nothing but watch as the great sword plunged
completely through her.  With agonizing slowness, she slumped over,
held up only by the monstrous blade that had been wielded with such
deadly precision.

	The black-clad figure looked up at him.  Blue eyed gaze met blue
eyed gaze.  The man in black smiled ever so slightly before pulling
his sword out of her body.  It slid free with an unforgettable
scraping sound.

	She sagged bonelessly to the floor.

	He ignored the black-coated man... creature... no, MONSTER
standing over him.  The one that laughed.  The one that gloated.  The
mad one.

	With her limp, cooling body in his arms, he had enough madness of
his own.

	"No."  He flung his head back and screamed, "NOOOO!!!"

-------------------------------

	Ranma sat bolt upright and screamed, "NOOOO!!!"

	Hiroshi hacked and choked on his soda as it went down his
windpipe.

	Daisuke completely botched his battle turn and was forced to watch
helplessly as JENOVA-LIFE pounded the crap out of Tifa and Barrett. 
He turned to glare angrily at the now awake Ranma.

	"Why the hell did you do that!?  I was trashing the bastard! 
What's a matter with...."  Daisuke's voice faded off as he saw Ranma
staring blankly into space.  For a long moment, he didn't respond. 
Then he turned his head slightly.  

	Daisuke could only wonder at the look of raw pain and unendurable
loss on Ranma's face.  The schoolboy thought, (Whoa!  Must have had
one doozy of a nightmare!)

	Hiroshi was still hacking and wheezing but he managed to stifle
the noise when he too saw Ranma's expression.

	"Uh, Ranma?  You... okay?"
	
	The young martial artist did not react immediately, then he
suddenly got up, flung open the window to Daisuke's bedroom, and
jumped out.  His two classmates followed him to the window but only
caught a fleeting glimpse as Ranma disappeared into the cool,
near-moonless night.

-------------------------------

	She was annoyed with HIM -- not an unusual state of affairs.  She
stepped out onto the side porch.  The night was abnormally chilly for
that time of year and she pulled her bed jacket more tightly around
her shoulders.

	(I wonder what that idiot's doing at... what, 4 AM in the morning?
 Baka!)

	She fumed.  It was the anniversary of her first meeting with HIM. 
True, it hadn't been the happiest moment of her life to find out she
had a sex-changing fiance.  But seriously, after all they had been
through together -- especially that ordeal at Mount Phoenix followed
by the bombed wedding less than a week ago -- one would think that the
date would have SOME sentimental significance to even that insensitive
twit. 

	Oh yes.  Akane Tendo was most definitely ticked off at Ranma
Saotome.

	She turned to go back indoors when she noticed someone standing
silently on a large rock edging the koi pool.  Even with the feeble
moonlight, Akane instantly recognized Ranma.  She had no idea how long
he had been standing there.  Watching her.

	"You jerk!?  Where the hell have you been all night?  And what the
hell have you been doing?  No doubt you've been 'making up' with
Shampoo or Ukyo!"

	He didn't answer.  He stepped off the stone and stalked
purposefully in her direction.  Wordlessly, he thrust something cool,
leafy, and fragrant into her hands.  

	And then he kissed her.  
	
	Not a nervous kiss.  

	Not a playful kiss.
	
	He REALLY kissed her, with all the passion and the intensity of a
man who knew exactly what he felt and knew exactly what he was doing.
	
	Akane was so stunned that the thought of resisting or retaliating
completely slipped her mind.  

	He took a step back, never taking his eyes off of her, then he
abruptly jumped up and disappeared from sight.

	She is left staring blankly at the empty space where he had just
been standing.  There had been no shyness, no awkwardness in Ranma's
expression -- just a terrible sense of urgency and need.

	Akane looked down in her hands and saw flowers -- gorgeous yellow
flowers with the scent of heaven.  She had never seen such beauties
before.  Where could Ranma have possibly gotten them at this late
hour?  

	She gently stroked a silky petal as she gazed out into the night. 
Wondering and dreaming....

--------------------------------------------

Author's comments:

	I don't know why I did it.  I think I've been reading too many
FFVII strategy guides and been watching that Full-Motion-Video of
Aeris' death too many times.  Combine that with constant work on my
Ranma 1/2 fanfic, too much Mountain Dew, and this little
story/scenerio spouted and wouldn't go away.

	Why was I reading not one but multiple FFVII strategy guides when
I don't even PLAY Final Fantasy VII?  What can I say?  I'm the sort of
person who skips to the ends of stories -- even mystery stories.  So
there!   :P

	There's something oddly enticing about the idea of mixing Ranma
1/2 and FFVII.  However, I suspect that certain unnamed persons could
start issuing death threats if I take time out from writing "Tiger
Claw".  ^_^;

--------------------------------------------

Quick and dirty disclaimer: All rights and privileges to Final Fantasy
VII characters belong to Square Co., Ltd.  All rights and privileges
to Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz
Communications, Inc., and associated parties.  The characters of these
series are used without permission for the purpose of entertainment
only.  

--------------------------------------------
madamhydra@aol.com         /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/:E

http://members.aol.com/madamhydra/index.html