This is the first of many chapters (maybe) of a Ranma/Tomb Raider 2 fic.

C&C/MST appreciated.  Flames get extinguished by my DELETE key.

Hope you enjoy...

Gems and Jewels: Chapter 1

	The short woman pushed her round sunglasses back up on the bridge of her
nose.  Peering up at the blazing sun, she sighed in frustration.  Looking
back down, she read the hastily scrawled note.

	Nekohanten - Reversal Jewel.
	Ask for Shampoo or Cologne.

	What the hell would the owner of a restaurant called �The Cat Caf� know?
Sweeping her long ponytail behind her, and making sure her guns were hidden
beneath her light summer coat, she opened the door to the Nekohanten.
Mousse looked up from cleaning a table.  His mouth fell open and a line of
drool began to flow down his chin.
	Before him was a short caucasian woman, maybe 5�5", with long brown hair
tied up in a pony tail.  She wore a set of brown kahiki shorts with light
brown jacket.  Mousse found it hard to take his eyes away from her chest,
the proportions of which were even better than Ranma�s.  He walked over to
her as she sat down at an empty table.
	"May -"  His voice cracked a little, and he cleared his throat.  [I must
stay loyal to Shampoo!]  He tried again.  "May I take your order?"
	The woman smiled slightly.  "I am looking for Shampoo," she said in
slightly accented Japanese.
	Mousse frowned.  What would this stranger want with Shampoo?  And way was
she carrying hidden weapons?  Guns too, by the shape of the slight bulges
under her arms.  "I�m sorry, but she�s out of on a delivery.  I can take
your order if you wish."
	"What about Cologne?"
	Mousse did not like her manner.  Her tone was curt, almost rude.  "She�s
busy in the back, cooking."
	"I would like to talk to her when she has a free moment.  In the meantime,
I�ll take one of your deluxe ramen."
	Mousse frowned and nodded.  He went to the order desk and gave Cologne the
order and the message.  A minute later, Mousse gave her the bowl of ramen
and began to clean tables.  Just before the woman finished her ramen,
Cologne came bouncing out on her staff.  The woman looked surprised.  Not
by her manner of movement, but by her clothes.
	"I am Cologne.  Mousse said you wanted to speak to me."
	"Those clothes.  The style�they�re Chinese, from the White Mountain Range,
aren�t they?"
	Cologne looked impressed.  "That�s very good.  Not very many people would
know that.  What was your name?"
	"Croft.  Lara Croft."
	"So Ms. Croft, what brings you to my restaurant?"
	"I was told by a dealer in Chinese antiques that you know of something
called the �Reversal Jewel�."
	Cologne�s eyes narrowed.  "I may.  Why are you looking for it?"
	"I am an archeologist -"
	"Don�t try to fool me, young lady.  I�ve read your books.  They were very
good, but that doesn�t mean you can lie to me.  You get paid to �liberate�
artifacts and give them to your employer."
	Lara winced internally.  "All right, you�ve got me.  But before you walk
away, I can make you giving me the information worth your while."
	Cologne laughed.  "You think money is a problem to me?  Ha!  You obviously
have not done your homework."
	Lara frowned.  This old bag seemed to know all the tricks.  She must be
very shrewd.  Time to try threats.  "I mean to get the Reversal Jewel.  I
did not let a crime syndicate stop me from getting the Dagger of Xian, and
I�m not going to let you stop me from getting the Jewel.  I�ve tried to be
friendly, but my patience is wearing thin.  So tell me what you know or -"
	"Or what?  You�ll use those puny excuse for weapons on me?"  Cologne moved
like greased lighting, pushing Lara across the room with the tip of her
staff, sending her crashing against the wall.  The other patrons,
experienced in the types of fights that happen in Nerima, quickly exited
the building.  Mousse jumped back, a set of throwing knives in his hands.
	Lara leapt to her feet, her guns drawn, one pointed at Cologne, one
pointed at Mousse.  Cologne looked at them calmly.  "When they find your
corpses, they�ll remember that you threw the first punch," said Lara.
	Cologne shrugged.  "This fight is pointless.  Wait her and I�ll get you
wait you want."  She went to the back of the restaurant almost faster than
Lara could see.  Lara heard clinking sounds, and a moment later Cologne
reemerged.  She threw a small object at Lara.  
	Lara smoothly pocketed one gun and snatched the item out of the air.  She
looked at it, confused.  "What�s this?"
	"That is the Reversal Jewel."
	Lara snorted.  "Now you�re the one who is a lousy liar.  I know that the
Reversal Jewel is much larger than this."
	Cologne laughed.  "You must be thinking of the Stone of Opposites, from
which the Reversal Jewel was carved."
	"What?"
	"The Reversal Jewel was carved from a piece of the Stone of Opposites in
such a way to only affect emotions.  The Stone can make much more drastic
changes if used properly."
	Lara cursed.  All that research on the Reversal Jewel wasted!  "So tell me
then of the Stone of Opposites."
	"Why should I tell you?"
	"Let�s not get into that argument again.  There must be something you need
that I can provide."
	"There may be at that.  Let�s say for a future favor."
	"Done."  Lara and Cologne sat down and began to talk.

	The lone remaining occupant of the restaurant, one Akane Tendo, sat hidden
behind a table trying to be seen.  [Stone of Opposites?]  She heard a
comment by Cologne, stating that the Stone could reverse several different
kinds of magic, as well as personalities, and even physical attributes.
[Reverse magic?  Ranma might be interested it that.]  Moving as stealthily
as she could, Akane sneaked out of the restaurant, and ran home.
	Inside, Cologne watched Akane leave, and smiled. 

End Chapter 1

Continue or no?


Adam Brown aka Nighthawke

Fanfics available at

http://members.tripod.com/~Sharron_Apple/