Akito Tenkawa: Welcome to the first meeting of the
Nadesico anime club. Today we shall be reviewing 
something from the classic Ranma 1/2 series. First, a 
roll call. Hikaru Amano?

Hikaru: Hikaru is here!

Akito: Seiya Uribatake? 

Seiya: Always... its Ranma!

Akito: Yurika? Megumi? Anyone? Oh, they said they'd
come! 

Seiya: Yurika said something about cooking lessons from 
Howmei. 

Akito: Great.

Hikaru: And Megumi is washing her hair. 

Akito: Well then, Lets go!

---Adam Brown <van077@imag.net> wrote:

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?

Seiya: Wait, is she thinking this? 
Akito: I believe so.
Seiya: Perhaps a thought bracket would help.

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.  

Akito: Kahiki?
Seiya: Its a spelling mistake. I think he meant Khaki.
Akito: No, its Kahki!
Hikaru: Does it matter, neither of you know for sure.
Be quiet and watch!
Ruri (over intercom): The correct spelling is Khaki.
Akito: Arigo, Ruri-Chan.

Mousse found it hard to take his eyes away from her chest,

the proportions of which were even better than Ranma�s. 

Seiya: No! No one's chest is larger than Ranma-chan's! 
I can't believe it... *sob*
Hikaru: Its okay, Uri-P. Hold on. 
Akito: Remember, no matter how good you get at
something there is always somebody else better. Which
is why I'm content to remain the worst pilot on the 
Nadesico.
Seiya: But Mousse...
Akito: What about him?


 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?"

Akito: You're right! It might be a little out of 
character for Mousse considering that he was happiest
merely to be her duck fun toy. 
Seiya: What was that he said, "Who needs pride when I 
can have Shampoo?"
Akito: You could use some shampoo. 
Seiya: I could... *stares dreamily at Shampoo poster on
wall*

	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?

Seiya: Way? What way?
Akito: Why. Its a typo. Calm down.

  Guns too, by the shape of the slight bulges

under her arms.  

Akito: Hidden weapons and guns! Wow... she's armed to 
the teeth.
Seiya: Those bulges are truly hidden weapons of great 
power, yet I doubt they are guns... poor Mousse, first
Shampoo massive bust and now this. It may be more than 
he can handle.
Hikaru: Will you shut up about the breasts already?

"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."

Seiya: *jumps out of chair and cheers* FIGHT HER, 
MOUSSE! FIGHT HER!

	"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.

Hikaru: Oh Mousse, such a giving person.
Seiya: Maybe he's overdoing it a little bit.
Akito: Any ideas?
Seiya: Hmm... deliver? bestow? impart? 
Akito: Sounds lame.
Seiya: Or maybe he could set the bowl in front of 
Lara in a way to suggest he is displeaced towards her.
Akito: That might work.

  Just before the woman finished her ramen,

Cologne came bouncing out on her staff.  The woman 

Seiya: Which woman?
Akito: Aquamarine... the only woman...
Seiya: Nanako rules!
Hikaru: No time for Gekiganger... its probably just an 
undefined improper noun.  My guess it is Lara... err...
the unnamed woman. An adjective, such as the ever 
popular 'short' might help out here.

looked surprised.  Not

by her manner of movement, but by her clothes.

Akito: Wow, Mousse is really observant today. He could
tell not only that she was surprised, but what was
surprising about the thing that surprised her.
Hikaru: That was awkward.
Akito: So was the last sentence, thought I think it is
only a clause or somesuch and needs something to hold
on to.
Seiya: The sentence before it?

	"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�."

Seiya: But would a dealer in Chinese antiques really
know that? 
Hikaru: Its obvious she's just playing her cards 
close to her chest. Maybe some scroll or some tribe 
informed her in China, and she found out from the 
Amazon she interrogated that Cologne was here.

	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,

Akito: Walk away where? Its her restaurant!

 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. 

Seiya: Tricks? What tricks?
Akito: The moves. The dig. Whats goin' down.
Seiya: So why didn't he just say that?

 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. 

Seiya: And sending... there has to be an and in here 
somewhere. "moved; pushing and sending" See? 

 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."  

Seiya: *drooling* I'll wait for her!
Akito: *slaps Seiya* Grow up! Its a spelling mistake.
"Wait here and I'll get you what you want." See?
Seiya: I'll still wait for her!
Akito: For the ghoul?
Seiya: NO! LARA!

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. 

Akito: Wait, what is Akane doing in the Nekohanten?
Seiya: And why hasn't Shampoo noticed and ripped her
to shreds?
Akito: Shampoo's not there right now, but still... she
never goes there... I think...
Seiya: Maybe this takes place in the Daigakusei No 
Ranma universe... she's eaten at the New Nekohanten a 
couple times...
Akito: But not in Nerima!

 [Stone of Opposites?]  She heard a

Seiya: Whoah! Thought brackets! Finally.
Akito: They're nice, but shouldn't their use be more
consistent? Its like nobody is thinking but Akane.  
Hikaru: Now THAT can't be true.

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

Akito: Well, thats the end!
Seiya: Sure is.
Hikaru: Are you sure?

Continue or no?

Akito: Roll call! Continue with revisions to first 
chapter.
Hikaru: Hikaru says I like it! Just stay focused!
Seiya: Err... work out more motivations, what is
Cologne plotting... figure out why Akane is in the 
Nekohanten... or better yet have someone else do it...
doubtless Nabiki or someone else who is not fighting
for Ranma-kun could pull it off better, though that 
would have complications... not that Akane wouldn't
add complications... 
Akito: You heard the author Seiya... "Continue or no?"
Seiya: I'm getting there.  Lara Croft's search for the
Jewel could be high-lighted (mispelled) more... who she 
learned about it from and other such stuff. But
continue, I guess.
Hikaru: You're sure long-winded today, Uri-P.

Adam Brown aka Nighthawke

Fanfics available at

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

Akito: I now close this first meeting of the Nadesico
Anime Club.  The end of the fic, and our pointless 
running commentary. Goodbye.


==
"I want to protect the Nadesico... and find Akito and go into Love-Love Mood!"
-Captain Misumaru Yurika on her goals while commanding the Nadesico
"I was so blind. Because I loved it so much, I only watched my favorite parts."
-Pilot Tenkawa Akito on Blazing Robo Gekiganger-3
"Is everybody an idiot?"
-Hoshino Ruri on life and her crewmates
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