Special thanks to Anthony Lum, Octavian and Mark Severino for helping this
poor story teller with his grammar.

Thanks to my pre-readers : Eric McGinnis, Anand Rao, Lord Talon, James Lee, K
Yee

Evangelion/Ranma 1/2 : Past/Future Chapter Three
Created by Long Ngo
Started April 18, 1998
Finished April 22, 1998
Revised April 30, 1998

* * * * *

     "Class, please give a warm welcome to Saotome Ranma.  He has just moved
to Tokyo-3.  Mr. Saotome, would you please tell the class a little about
yourself."

      *I'll be heading home soon so making some friends here is not a good
idea,* Ranma thought.  "I'd rather not," Ranma replied and went searching for
an empty seat.  As he was looking for a seat, he sensed almost ever pair of
eyes in the classroom looking at him.  Scanning the room, Ranma noticed the
girl with short blue hair near the window was the only student not staring at
him but was rather staring out the window.  Seeing an empty seat behind her,
Ranma decided to sit there.  As he walked toward the back of the classroom
toward the empty seat, he could hear the familiar whispers : He is so
handsome;  He's the one that took out Toji;  I, for one, am not going to mess
with him;  I think I am in love;  What a jock.  Without looking, Ranma knew
the last comment was from Asuka.  Sitting down, Ranma started to look out the
window.  *So he was in the future.*  If the conversation with Shinji hadn't
convinced him nor the incident with Ritsuko and Misato, the newspaper he
picked up did.  Seeing January 28, 2015 as the date on the newspaper had all
but proved his hypothesis.  There was an article that about the upcoming 15th
anniversary of Second Impact.  Ranma read the booklet that Ritsuko handed him
and found out that Second Impact was the day that billions died and was
somehow linked to the Angels.  That was what made this so confusing.  He had
used the Naban Mirror once to travel to the future but had heard nothing about
Second Impact.  The lunch bell startled Ranma out of his deep thoughts.

      Shinji had been surprised twice today.  The first time was seeing Ranma
beat Toji so easily and the second time was the response Ranma gave the
teacher after being introduced.  Shinji made a mental note to ask Ranma about
the second incident at lunch, having worked out the cause of the first one.

      Asuka was mad.  No, she was furious.  Before Ranma arrived, she was the
center of attention.  She was the most popular student at this school.  At
least here, she had beaten the unbeatable, Third Child.  Now, even that was
taken away from her.  Now she had to compete with someone else.  Looking
around, she noticed everyone was talking about Ranma.  She didn't want to
think about what would happen when they all find out that Ranma was going to
be the next Eva pilot.  At first, Asuka was happy thinking there might soon be
a normal Eva pilot besides her.  Looking at Ranma, she was not so happy
anymore.  She wanted a normal pilot not a popular one.  The fact that Ranma
was not looking her way for the full effects of her glare to work infuriated
her even more.  She was going to give Ranma a piece of her mind at lunch.

      Toji sat at his desk, a little peeved at the morning events.  *How could
I have lost that easily?*  Looking up, Toji saw the teacher introducing the
boy to the class.  The anger had long since dissapated after talking to Shinji
after the fight.  Shinji explained that Ranma was trying to get away from
Asuka and wasn't looking where he was heading.  He also found out Ranma's name
and that he would be the Fifth Child.  Also, the look on Asuka's face
everytime Shinji mentioned Ranma made it a little easier.  In his book, anyone
that made Asuka that mad can't be too bad.  Also making friends with Shinji
and even having a real conversation with him was not an easy feat.  It was
considered spectacular.  Looking at Ranma, he decided to talk to him at lunch,
when the bell rang.

* * * * * 

      Hearing the bell ring, Asuka jumped out of her seat and stalked towards
Ranma.  "Saotome, you numbskull.  What did you think you were doing running
off like that when I was talking to you?"

      Ranma could not believe it.  Trying to get as far away from Asuka, Ranma
had picked a seat on the opposite side of the classroom but she had to come
over here.  *Can't she get a hint?*  "Argg, stop bothering me you uncute
tomboy."  *That usually stops Akane from ranting.*  Ranma tensed, bracing
himself for some physical punishment.  What happened next was not what Ranma
had expected.  Instead of hitting him, Asuka just continued her verbal assult.
Ranma started to hit his head on the table.  Physical pain he could understand
but not this verbal abuse.

      After seeing Asuka walking towards Ranma, Shinji got ready to come to
Ranma's aid.  Usually he would back away from confrontations but after seeing
Ranma call Asuka an uncute tomboy, which was not a good idea, then start
hitting his head on the table, he knew he had to do something.

      Toji saw the look on Asuka's face as she advanced toward Ranma.  *Boy is
he going to get it,* Toji thought.  Toji was not going to do anything because
of what Ranma did to him this morning, but changed his mind as he saw Shinji
following Asuka.  After hearing Ranma call Asuka an uncute tomboy and then
preceded to hit his head on the table repeatedly as Asuka's voice went up a
few more octaves, Toji could not take it anymore and went to help Ranma as
well.

      *An uncute tomboy?*  "Argggg, you stupid jerk!  Who do you think you are
calling me uncute!  I'm the most popular girl here!  Tomboy? Tomboy?  Why
you..."

      *My head.  I was wrong.  This is the worse than Akane's mallet and the
headache at the hospital.  At least they stopped after a few moments.  Does
this girl ever breathe?*  Looking up at the clock, Ranma noticed that there
was still 25 minutes left for lunch.  Ranma then noticed the girl in front of
him was looking his way.  More precisely, she was staring at him with those
red eyes of hers that seems to look directly into a person's soul.  Her gaze
never wavered the entire time.  *Kawaii,* was all Ranma thought before she
turned her head and stared at Asuka.  Following her gaze, Ranma also saw
Shinji and the boy from the morning approaching him.  Soon there was a three
way tongue lashing with Ranma in the middle.  Looking back at the girl in
front of him who was had also turned her attention back toward him.  Ranma
decided to study her as she seemed to be studing him before the outside world
came crashing down on him once again.  "Argg!!!  I'm out of here."  Grabbing
his lunch, Ranma looked for the fastest escape route and found the window.
Getting up, Ranma leaped out of the window to the dismay of everyone in class.
Soon there was a crowd rushing to the windows.

      The arguement stopped when all three Eva pilots heard Ranma's shout,
right before he leaped out the window.  Running to the window that Ranma had
used to exit the school, all three were again surprised to see Ranma doing a
ten point landing from his three story free-fall.  *Is he human?* they all
thought.  No one noticed the expression of surprise on Rei's face after seeing
Ranma's stunt.  After this morning's incident, which she had a clear view from
her seat, she was a little curious as to how a boy could move so fast.  Now
seeing him leap safely from the third floor, Rei wanted to know how he was
able to do what he did.  *Maybe Commander Ikari could explain.*

* * * * *

      "I can't believe it," Ranma yelled in frustration.  "Why can't she leave
me alone?  I even kept my mouth shut for once.  What does that reward me with?
Nothing.  She just kept on going and going." *For once I wish Ryouga, Mousse
or even Kunou were here.  At least with them I would have someone to help me
vent this frustration and I don't have to worry about hurting them.*  Seeing a
tree, Ranma started to take his frustration out on it.  Needless to say, the
poor tree wasn't looking so good soon after.  The few people that did see it
just gasped and slowly walked away when Ranma looked at them.  *I'm heading
home.*

      Moments later, three kids were running outside looking for Ranma.
Asuka, Toji and Shinji were all looking for Ranma.  Each had their own reason
for finding him.  

      Soon, Rei had also entered the school yard and headed for her usual
place under the tree.  Today, she didn't have a book to read but rather some
questions that needed answering such as how Saotome-kun had been able to do
what he did.  Nearing the tree, Rei stopped.  By the looks of it, the tree had
seen better days.  By simple deduction with the facts at hand, Rei knew that
he had came here after his incredible escape.  She had sat by the the tree
ealier before school started and as far as she could tell, only Saotome-kun,
after everything she had witnessed today, could have done this the the tree.
"At lease the tree was still up," Rei softly spoke.

      As the dyanmic trio had finally given up after searching the compoud for
the past 10 minutes and headed toward Rei.  Each wanted to talk to the other
Eva pilots about the Fifth Child.

      "Ayanami, have you seen that stupid moron that called me an uncute
tom..."  Asuka as well as Shinji and Toji had suddenly stopped after seeing
the tree.

      "Rei, what happened to the tree?" Shinji asked.  

      "Yeah!!" Toji couldn't help putting in his five cents as well.

      "Saotome-kun, " was all she had said.

      "What?  Which way he he go?"  Asuka wanted a piece of Ranma.

      "I do not know."

      "Come on Wonder girl, you don't have to hide him."

      "I do not know where he is," Rei repeated herself.  *Why wouldn't Asuka
just leave her alone.  She needed to think about the day's event and with her
standing there, she could not concentrate. Was this the reason why Ranma was
hitting his head on the desk then later jumping out the window?*

      "Fine then.  You can have the lunch he made for me and Shinji.  I just
know he put something in it, right Shinji?  We'll eat the one you made."
Tossing the lunch onto Rei's lap, she dragged him away.  Toji soon followed
the departing Shinji.

      "See you later Rei." 

      "See you later Ayanami."

      Not looking up, Rei opened the lunch and took a bite.  Her eyes widened
just a bit as she finished her first bite.  "This is good," Rei exclaimed in
her normal tone of voice to no one.  As the bell rung, Rei noticed that she
had finished most of the meal.  Rei rarely ate and when she did, she did not
eat much but today was turning out to be unusual.  She really need to talk to
someone about Saotome-kun.  For just a moment she smiled.  Until today, she
had only smiled for two people : Ikari-kun and Commander Ikari.  Now, she had
smiled for someone she just meet, although that person was not around and he
did not ask her to smile.  *Who are you Saotome-kun,* Rei thought before
heading back inside.

* * * * *

      "Argg, I do not want to go back to school," Ranma muttered.  Still he
had promised Ritsuko that he would wait for Shinji and Asuka after school so
that they could take him to Nerv.  If nothing else, he kept his promise.
Heading to the gate of the school, he heard the bell ring and waited.  Soon,
he could see Asuka and Shinji.  They were being followed by the boy he meet in
the morning and the kawaii blue hair girl that sat in front of him in class.

      Shinji was worried.  Ranma had not returned to class after lunch.  As he
left school, he saw Ranma and waved to him.

      Seeing Shinji wave, Ranma waved back.  He soon stopped as he sa Asuka
looking at him.  *She's evil.*  Jogging up to the group.  He decided to make
amends with the big kid seeing as how he and Shinji were friends.  "Hey Shinji
intoduce me to your friends."

      "Oh sorry about that.  Ranma meet Toji the kid you beat up before
school."  That comment got Shinji a light punch.  

      "Sorry about this morning Toji.  I was having a rough day."  Ranma
turned to Asuka for a second.  "No hard feelings?"

      "Yeah.  You have to teach me how you did that someday.  Never seen
anything like it."

      "Sure, I'm one of the best."  Ranma couldn't help from bragging just a
little.  Asuka said something in a language Ranma did not understand.

      "After seeing what you did you must be."

      "And this Ranma is Ayanami Rei."

      "Hey there Rei.  You remind me of a really close friend from back home
but you're much less violent."  Ranma smiled at her.

      "Thank you Saotome-kun," Rei replied.  Rei chose to take it as a
compliment.  So far the new student has baffled her to no ends.

      "Call me Ranma, all my friends and my enemies do."  Ranma replied
cheerfully.  The reactions from his statement varied.  Rei showed no emotions
while Shinji, Toji and Asuka were shocked.

      *Enemies?* all four pilots thought at once.

      For the second time today, Rei did something unsual, she initiated a
conversation.  "Why are you doing that?"  Ranma was now walking on the fence
with what looked like no effort at all.

      "Oh, forgot you don't know me that well.  This is balance practice.  My
old man taught it to me when I was really young."

      Rei nodded, the answer being satisfactory.

      "So where are you and Toji heading, Rei?"  Ranma was curious.  For the
past 10 mintues they were going the same route.  

      "They are heading to Nerv Headquarters just like you idiot.  Here I
though Shinji was the dumbest person I knew."  Asuka was starting to get on
Ranma's nerves again.

      "Is your name Rei?  No! So stop bothering me you uncute tomboy!"

      Seeing where this was leading, Toji and Shinji tried to restrain Asuka.
"Rei, why don't you lead Ranma to headquarters and we'll be right behind."
Toji recommended.

      "Thanks guys."

      Rei was silent again.  So, Saotome-kun was an Eva pilot like herself.
So far Saotome-kun was the only other boy besides Shinji to call her by her
first name.  It had taken Ikari-kun over 6 months while Ranma had assumed that
they were friends.  "Why do you do that?"  Rei asked.

       Ranma stopped and looked at Rei.  "Do what?"

      "Why did you call her an uncute tomboy?"  

      "I don't know.  Habit I think.  She is so annoying."

      "Is that why you jumped out of the window?"

      "Yes.  I couldn't stand Asuka another second."

      "Why did you not use the door?"

       "Becasue the window was faster and that way she could not follow me."
Ranma had finally figured out what was bothering him.  He had not once seen
Rei smile once.  Heck, he had not seen expree anything other than the cool
uncaring facial expression her usually see on Nabiki's face.  Yet, Ranma knew
Rei was not cold hearted like Nabiki was sometimes.  Trying to break the ice,
Ranma tried something he did about two years ago to turn a possible enemy into
a very close friend.  "Rei?"

      Sensing Saotome-kun wanted to ask her something, turned toward him.

      "Why don't you smile more?  It makes you look kawaii."

      Rei was shocked.  Perhaps it was everything that had happened around
this strange new boy.  She sensed that he was like a bottle of excitement.
Everywhere he went, excitement seemed to flow from him.  The more time she
spent around him, the more she realized what kind of life she had lead before.
For the first time ever, someone had not only complimented her for doing
nothing but for being who she was.  He did not say she was weird but rather
she was cute.  She could not understand the new feelings this boy brought upon
her.  She felt herself blushing.  The only reason she knew that was because
she felt her cheeks and they were a little warm.  Looking up, she could see
Ranma smiling at her.  "Thank you Sao..."

      "Ranma, call me Ranma."

      "Thank you Ranma."

      "No problem.  So how much farther do you think we have?"

       "At out present speed about another 10 minutes to the train station and
then another 10 mintues till we reach Nerv Headquarters."

      "This is taking too long.  Knowing Asuka she'll be here any second now."
Leaping from the fence onto the ground next to Rei.  "I do not want to put up
with Asuka anymore than I have to.  She is almost as bad as Kodachi."  Ranma
shivered a little.  "I know a faster way."

      Rei was curious.  This was the most direct route to the train station.
Before she could ask Ranma what the faster route was, she felt Ranma picking
her up.  

      "Hold on tight, I see Asuka coming."

      Rei, looking over Ranma's shoulder, also saw Asuka.  She was mad and
stumping towards them.  Following Ranma's instruction.  Rei held on firmly
onto Ranma's neck.

      Shinji, Toji, and Asuka was curious.  *Why was Ranma carrying Rei?*
Asuka was mad and did not care.  She wanted to give that jerk a piece of her
mind.  

      "You are right Ranam-kun.  I see Asuka nearing."  Rei could see Ranma
smile as she used his first name.

      "Now hold on."  With that Ranma leaped onto a nearby roof and started to
perform one of his favorite past-times, roof-hopping.

      Before Asuka could reach Ranma, she stopped to see him leap up to a
nearby roof and started to sprint, leap, sprint, leap continuously across the
various rooftops.  Asuka stared in shock at what until today she thought
humanly impossible.  She was not the only one.

      "Toji, did you just see what I saw?"

      "Which part?  The part where Ranma was carrying Rei, the part where
Ranma leaped on top of that two story house or the part where he was leaping
and sprinting across the rooftops?"

      Rei could not believe what she was witnessing.  Measuring the speed and
height of his leaps, Ranma was traveling faster than most Olympic althetes.
This was also the second time Rei was this close to another boy.  The first
time was when Shinji had accidently fallen on her after her bath.  What she
felt then was something of discomfort but right now she was enjoying herself.
Something she rarely felt outside operating the Eva.  After 4 minutes they
reached the train station.  After Ranma put her down, "Thank you."  With that
simply statement, Rei smiled.  She wanted to show her appreciation and thought
that maybe a smile was what Ranma wanted.  Rei was rewarded with a smile in
return and a single word which made her blush again.  Ranma was evoking
feelings she never thought she would experience.

* * * * *

      The instant Ranma and Rei stepped inside Nerv, red lights flashed all
around them.  

      "We must hurry, an Angel is attacking."

      Not knowing what was going on Ranma nodded and started to follow Rei.

* * * * *

      "Maya, give me a status report," Misato ordered.

      "Pattern blue.  It's an Angel."

      "What is the status of the Eva pilots?"

      "Asuka, Shinji and Toji will be here in about 8 minutes.  Ayanami and
the new pilot, Saotome, are preparing now."

      "What did you say?  You're not seriously thinking about sending Ranma
out there, are you?"  

      "Commander Ikari's order.  Also, the other pilots will not be here for
another 10 mintues."

      "Entry plugs for Unit 00 and Unit 03 have been inserted," Maya informed.

      Ranma was assigned Toji's Eva because of the 4 pilots, Toji was the
newest and least experienced.  Ranma's Eva arriving tomorrow.
  
      "He has never piloted an Eva before," Ritsuko pointed out.  She did not
know what it was but there was something special about Ranma.  Behind all the
mysteries and human bravato, there was a kind and humble soul somewhere in
Ranma.  She could tell by looking into his eyes.  She had glimpsed a part of
Ranma that he rarely let other people see.

      "Neither did Shinji but you still made him pilot Unit 01," Misato
countered.

      Ritsuko knew when she had lost but she still did not like it.  Looking
at Unit 03, she prayed for Ranma's safe return.

To be continued.