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Neon Genesis Evangelion is owned by Gainax and copyrighted to ADV in the
United States.  The characters of Ranma 1/2 Universe is the sole creation of
Rumiko Takahashi and is copyrighted to various companies.  All materials save
the environment and situations are being used without prior authorization.
This is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended for material
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to be sued for expressing my interest in these series. 

Thanks to my pre readers David Johnston, Alfred Tsang, Murmur the Fallen,
Octavion, TonyLoco, James Lee 

Evaneglion / Ranma : Past/Future Chapter Seven
Created by Long Ngo
Started May 27, 1998
Finsihed May 29, 1998
Revised June 2, 1998
Revised June 4, 1998

* * * * *

      "I can't believe you Misato.  10 minutes into the party and you're
drinking heavily.  Ranma is not even here yet." Ritsuko chided.

      "Relax Ritsuko.  I've had a very hectic week ever since Ranma arrived."
*hick*

      *I know what you mean.  Ranma is an enigma.*  thought Ritsuko, taking a
sip from her glass.  "So is Kaji coming?"

      "Maybe, Commander Ikari wanted to talk to him.  He said he'll be over
later."

      Shinji was looking at Misato.  "Hey Toji, Misato is really drinking
tonight."

      "Yeah!  Where is Ranma? Is Ayanami coming?"

      "Ranma is on his way but I'm not sure about Rei.  I couldn't reach her."

      "Rei?  Getting intimate with Ayanami, Shinji?"  Kensuke teased.

      "Shinji and Rei sitting in a tree, K I S S I NG, first come love then
comes marriage then comes Shinji with a baby carriage."  Kensuke and Toji
started to sing.

      "Come on guys, stop it.  It's not like that."  Shinji was blushing a
bit.  

      "Stop teasing Shinji!" Hikari hated it when those two picked on the
defenseless Shinji.

      "Let the three stooges do what they want," suggested Asuka, flinging her
hair back and went looking for more beer.        

      Shinji was saved from further discussing his love life by a knocking on
the door.  "I'll get it."  Getting up as quickly as possible, he headed
towards the door.  Opening the door revealed Ranma in a pair of black pants
and a red chinese silk shirt.  There was a golden dragon embroidered across
the chest area.  "What kept you?"

      "Well after the tests, I went shopping.  You don't know how hard it was
for me to get this red shirt.  Had to get it custom made.  Anyways, guess who
I bumped into while downtown?"
 
      "Who?"

      "You can show yourself now."

      Walking into view, was Rei.  Instead of the classic white and blue
school uniform she ordinarily wore, Rei had on a white t-shirt tucked into a
blue pair of jeans.  What was more amazing was the "Born to be Wild" logo on
the front of the t-shirt.  The outfit Rei had chosen fitted snuggly to her
figure.  One of the reason she had picked this particular combination of
clothes was it reminded her of an Eva plug suit and the other reason was
standing next to her.

      "Rei?"

      "Doesn't she look kawaii Shinji?"  *Never could say anything remotely
close to this without getting beat up at home.*

      All Shinji could do was nod his head.  *Wow, she really looks great.*
Looking at Rei, he noticed her blush slightly at Ranma's remark.  *Ranma and
Rei?  Can it be?*  "Wow, you look great Rei!  Why the sudden change?"

      "See, told you so."  Ranma winked at Rei.

      "Arigatou, Ranma, Ikari-kun."  Before Rei could answer Shinji's
question, everyone had turned their attention to the two new guests.

      "Wow, is that Ayanami?"  Toji and Kansuke asked in astonishment.  

      "You look great Ayanami!" complimented Hikari.

      "Wonder Girl?" Asuka was bewildered.  "What's with the new outfit
Ayanami?  Trying to impress someone?"

      Over on the far side of the room, Misato was choking on her beer, having
seen Rei's new look, especially with the t-shirt she was wearing.

       Ritsuko had raised an eyebrow in a gesture of surprise and curiosity.
*This week can't get any weirder,*  she hoped.

* * * * *

      "Do you understand your assignment?" asked Gendou.

      "No sir.  I just don't see the purpose of such an endeavor.  You do know
that I have Special Ops training which includes hand to hand?" answered Kaji.

      "That does not matter.  I wish to know the limit of Saotome's physical
powress."

      "How should I go about doing this?"

      "He considers himself a martial artist."

      "A martial artist?"

      "Yes."

      "You want me to spar with him?  What style does he use?"
   
      "Yes.  That is what you are to find out as well.  Dismiss."

      On the way out, Kaji could not help but wonder.  *Who are you Saotome?
For Ikari to call me here personally must mean you are important somehow.  I
think SELLE 
might like to know more about you, Saotome.* 

* * * * *
      "So, why the sudden change Ayanami?" Hikari asked. 

      "Yeah!"  Toji and Kansuke asked at the same time.

      "I felt like it was time for a new look."

      Hikari knew that there was something more here than Ayanami was willing
to reveal.  Looking over at a certain pigtailed boy, *Could it be?  Is Ranma
the reason for Rei's sudden change?*  

      "It's not fair!" Kansuke protested.  "Why wasn't I picked as the Fifth
Child?"

      "Maybe because you are a 'hick' moron," Asuka commented.  *Stupid Ranma.
Steal the spotlight from me will you.*  "So Wonder Girl, who do you like?
Shinji or Ranma?" 

      "I always thought you and Shinji would get together," commented Toji. 

      "Yeah!" Kensuke added.

      "Hey Shinji! Get over here."  Asuka yelled.

      "What do you want Asuka?  I was over there talking to Ranma."  Shinji
said in an irritated tone.  In one hand was a beer can and the other hand,
which was unoccupied, Shinji used to point at Ranma.

      "Do you like Ayanami?"  Toji asked.

      "What?"

      "Do you like Rei?  It's a yes or a no question."  Asuka pressured.

      "What kind of question is that?"

      "Yes or no?" Hikari wanted to know as well.

      "Okay.  Yes, I like Rei." 

      "You like me Ikari-kun?"

      "Y..yy..e.s.s." Shinji stammered.

      Rei did not know how to respond to this sudden revelation.  *I feel
happy that I am wanted but I do not desire Ikari.  The one I desire is Ranma.*

      No one noticed Rei glancing in Ranma's direction but Hikari.  *So she
does like Ranma.  Never thought Rei would have a social life, much less land a
boyfriend before Asuka or I.*

      *Shinji likes Rei?  That stupid baka.  Why do I feel jealous?* 

      Ranma could see Shinji blush from across the room.  *Thank goodness
that's not me over there, playing twenty questions.*  Hearing a knock, Ranma
went to see who was a the door.

* * * * *

      "Hick. Can't believe Rei 's new look."  Misato's speech was beginning to
slur due to the amount of alcohol she had already consumed.

      "Rei could give Asuka a run for her money right now.  I wonder what made
her change her attire?"  

      "I think it has something to do with Ranma.  Hick.  Everything seems
like it has something to do with Ranma."

      "Do you think Misato?"

      Before Misato could answer, "Hey Misato!  There is a guy calling himself
Kaji.  Should I let him in?"

      "Kaji!" Asuka shouted.  "Let him in stupid."

      "Are you Misato?"

      "Why you!"

      Before things could esculate any further, "It's okay Ranma.  You can let
Kaji in." Misato called out.

      "Hello Misato.  It seems like you gotten yourself another boyfriend
while I was busy but don't you think he is a little young?" 

      "Kaji, stop picking on Ranma."

      *So that was Ranma.  Handsome young man, though not as handsome as me.*
"I was picking on you."

      "Kaji," growled Misato.

      "Okay, okay.  Is that Ayanami?"

      "Yes, what do you think of her new look?" Ritsuko asked.

      "She could give Asuka a run for her money.  Why the sudden change?"

      All Ritsuko did was glancing at Ranma.

      "I see."

* * * * *

      Looking around the room, Ranma noticed that everyone had left except for
Asuka, Shinji, Ritsuko, Kaji, Misato and Rei.  Over to one side was Asuka
hitting on Kaji.  Ranma had just meet Kaji and was intrigued.  *There is
something about that guy.*  On the couch was a passed out Shinji.  Ranma
laughed slightly at the sight.  *Shinji is going to have a headache when he
wakes up.*  Turning his attention to Rei, "It's getting late.  Do you want me
to walk you home?"  Seeing Rei nod her head, Ranma went to inform Ritsuko
about his early departure.  

      Rei felt happiness, irritation, loneliess and boredom, throughout the
party.  Looking at Ranma, the boy who had given her this gift, she felt
herself blush.  *Home is where the soul feels at peace,* Rei quoted to
herself.  There was something about Ranma that made her feel safe and secure.
A feeling she only experienced when piloting her Eva.  Rei still had a hard
time sorting out all the new feelings she was experiencing.  Some she enjoyed,
others she felt a dislike towards.  During the party, Asuka had started to bug
her about her new outfit and what she thought of Ranma.  At this point, Rei
discovered that she could not act like her past self.  She found it hard to
ignore Asuka.  

      "I'm heading home Ritsuko."

      "Okay, I'll see you later Ranma."


* * * * * 

      "So how did you like the party Rei?"

      "I do not know."

      "Huh?"

      "I have nothing to compare it to."

      *Why is it that I can never have any normal friends?*  "Was the party
boring?" 

      "No."

      "Did you feel uncomfortable or out of place?"

      "No."

      "Then that means you had a good time."
       
      "Hai."  *I watched you the entire time.*

      Suddenly, Ranma sensed danger ahead.  From one of the alleys, five men
wearing masks appeared.  "Well look what we got here boys," the man in the
middle said.    

      Instinctively, Ranma moved in front of Rei.

      "What a joke.  Lover boy is trying to protect his girlfriend.  Look kid,
I'm feeling generous.  Give us all your money and the girl and we'll let you
go free.  Me and the boys want to have some fun tonight."

      One of the thugs turned towards Rei.  "Born to be wild huh? Well doll,
tonight we'll see just how wild you are."   

      For the first time, Rei felt fear.  The fear of death and what laid in
store for her with these men.

* * Flashback * *

      We see Ranma standing next to Akane.  They were facing the Golden Pair
in the first Charlotte Cup.

* * End of Flashback * *
      
      "Touch her and I'll kill you!" Ranma declared.  His face was a mask of
rage and determination.

      "No one can say I didn't give you a chance.  Kill the kid but try not to
harm the girl too much."

      A grim smile appeared on Ranma's face.  "I'm warning you.  I've had a
miserable day and now you are spoiling the only highlight of my evening."
Ranma's voice was calm and controlled. 

      "Kid you're going to have the worse day of your life."  The leader took
out a gun from beneath his jacket.  "You could have lived."

      The thought of these five men touching Rei enraged Ranma.  Akane could
protect herself to a degree but Rei could not.  She reminded him of Nabiki and
Kasumi all rolled into one.  Two people he considered family.  Ranma's grayish
blue eyes flared as waves of energy started to surround him.  Unlike the
previous evening, the energy surrounding him had a red hue to it.  He will not
let these men touch her.

      "Shit!  Boss what is he?"

      "Shut-up and get in there."

      The five started to surround Ranma and Rei but Ranma's attention was
fixated on the leader holding the gun.

* * Flashback * *

The scene was Mount Phoenix.

      Behind Saffron was the dehydrated form of Akane.  

      Later, Ranma was kneeling down next to Akane's limp form.

      Akane was dead.

      His fault.

      Why did he hold back?

      Akane was alive.

      Almost lost her.

      Why did he hold back?

* * End of Flashback * *

      Rei could not believe what she was witnessing.  She had seen Ranma use
his ki two times before but it was never this strong.  *Does he care about
me?*  The thought sent a warmth through her body.  All fear left her as she
remembered his earlier statement.  *Touch her and I'll kill you.*


* * Flashback * *

Ranma was talking to his Nodoka after his return trip from China.

      "I killed him Okaasan."

      "He revived."

      "I didn't know that at the time."

      "It does not matter my son, he was at fault." 

      "I do not understand."  Ranma was confused.  Okaasan was making it seem
like killing was acceptable.

      "Martial arts was developed not to fight but to protect.  That is the
very essence of the Art.  You used it to save Akane's life and that is
honorable.  Had you killed for any other reason than self-defense or the
preservation of another's life, you would have dishonored the Saotome clan and
been honor-bounded to commit seppuku.  Do you understand?"

      "Hai"

      "A true martial artist is a master of his environment and should never
be pressured into a situation where that the option of killing exist.  If that
does happen, never hold back.  It would endanger those you try to protect."

* * End of Flashback * *

      *I will not take that kind of chance ever again.  They will not touch
her.*  With that final though, Ranma's aura flared to life.  

* * * * *

      Maya was sitting in in the control room.  She had drawn the graveyard
shift this week.  "This is so boring."  No sooner had she spoken, then alarms
started to sound throughout Nerv headquarters.  

      "What's the problem?"  Commander Ikari's voice asked from Maya's
headphones.  

      "An unknown energy spike sir."

      "Get me a fix on it.  Call Misato and prepare the Evas."

      Using one of several obiting satellites, Maya soon locked onto the
energy signature.  Focusing and enlarging the scene, Maya gasped.  Before her
was the image of Saotome and Ayanami being surrounded by five men, one with a
gun.  Ranma was glowing bright red in the middle.

      "Report."

      Maya was startled by the Commander's sudden appearance.  "The unknown
energy is eminating from Saotome sir."

      Not even Gendou could keep the surprised look from his face.  *What are
you?*  "Cancel the Evas but I want Major Katsuragi and Doctor Akagi  here
now!"   The calm exterior that Gendou had surrounded himself with cracked.  

* * * * *

      Four men were lying on the ground either unconscious or in great pain.
Ranma's eyes had never left the leader but he had effectively dispatched each
of the four thugs with a single blow as they got near.

      *What in the world is he?*  The leader was truly scared now.  "Die!!" he
shouted and started to unload the entire chamber into Ranma.

      Rei was speechless.  She had never seen anything like this before.  At
first she was truly concerned for Ranma when the leader of the gang pointed
the gun at Ranma but that fear soon turned into wonder as each bullet melted
before even touching him.

      Moving as the last bullet left the gun, Ranma punched the man in the
midsection followed by an upward open palm thrust that caught the winded
leader under the chin.  Using his left hand, he grabbed the man by the shirt
and lifted him off the ground.  Staring into the thug's eyes, Ranma then
cocked his right arm back for the finishing move.  "You're dead!!"   

      Before Ranma could strike, Rei had placed her hand on Ranma's
shouldering stopping him from finishing his final move.  Seeing as how she had
Ranma's attention, Rei shook her head.  *I do not wish for you to kill for my
sake.* 

      "You were lucky you never touched Rei or else you would be dead right
now.  I never want to see you again."  Bringing his right hand back down to
his side, Ranma  tossed the leader of the thug's 10 feet.  The body of the
thug impacted the far wall and slid down unconscious.

* * * * *

      The party had truly wind down as almost everyone was alseep but Ritsuko
and Kaji.  The silence of the night was interupted by Ritsuko's cellular phone
ringing.

      "Misato, the Commander wants us at headquarters now!  Misato!"  Ritsuko
was trying to wake Misato up with no luck.  "Kaji help me get Misato into the
car.  I'll try to wake her on the way."

      "No problem.  What's up?"

      "I don't know but it's urgent."
   
* * * * * 

      "Are you okay Rei?"

      "Hai."

      They had reached Rei's apartment without much trouble.  "It seems like
we're here.  Have a pleasant night and see you tomorrow Rei."

      Before Ranma understood what was happening, Rei had placed both her arms
around his neck and was leaning on the balls of her feet.  "Arigatou Ranma,"
Rei spoke in a soft tone.  *Thank you for everything.*  She then proceeded to
kiss Ranma before he could react.

      Ranma was surprised when he felt Rei's lips pressed against his.  *Rei?*
At first he didn't respond but rather stood rigid with shock.  Ever so slowly,
Ranma started to relax and lean into the kiss.  *Arigatou Rei.*  The simply
kiss soon turned into one of passion as Ranma took control sensing that this
might be something new to Rei.  *I can't believe I grateful to Xien Pu for all
those times she kissed me.  It was great practice.*

To be continue :

Author's Note :

      Past/Future is going nicely.  Chapter Eight is almost done.  The
Ranma/Rei relationship is going smoothly.  What I really would like is to be
able to add a lemon side story somewhere inbetween the next couple of chapters
but I lack the experience to write one and was wondering if any authors out
there would be so kind as to help.  Please email me and I'll provide more
detail.