I know its been a while since I posted anything to the list, but a 
couple people have been asking me about finishing this fic.  So got back 
on it.  As usual send c+c to me directly.  Just remember that this is 
just the begining of the final chapter of my fic The Game.
					Trom


	Part 6 End Game

	"HIA!" Nasuko yelled as she launched her attack.  Letting loose 
with three quick jabs to Misuteri's mid-section, which her friend 
avoided easily.  The two friends then leaped backward to put some 
distance between them.
	"Come on Misuteri, show me what you got," Nasuko taunted her 
friend.  Misuteri narrowed her eyes in contemplation of her opponent.  
They had been sparring partners for years, ever since they both entered 
the school.  Though they knew each other inside and out, they had been 
spending the last few weeks with the Grandmaster of the Anything School 
of Martial Arts.  Ranma Saotome.  While his training tactics were 
unusual at best, they were affective, and they have both learned many 
new techniques.
	"All right! Let's do it!" Nasuko screamed as she charged, she 
flipped onto her hands and started spinning around in a circle as she 
speed toward Misuteri.  "Anything Goes Attack! Chain Saw!"
 	[Author's note: I know I stole that move from the Shadow Skill, 
but I figure Ranma had to have learned it in his travels.  Heck he could 
have invented the thing.  Besides it's such a cool move.]

	"Tengoku Waru!" Just as Nasuko was about to connect with 
Misuteri, Misuteri vanished in a cloud of smoke.  Nasuko regained her 
footing and took a ready stance, waiting for the attack which could come 
from any direction.  The darkening of the ground around her was the only 
warning she received, though it was enough.	Nasuko rolled to the 
side as Misuteri lashed out from above, seemingly from out of nowhere.
	Nasuko was quick to react as she raced toward her recovering 
friend and let loose with a sliding kick, knocking Misuteri off from her 
feet. 
	Misuteri hand sprang up from where she fell, and back towards 
her friend, who was not expecting her to go on the offensive so quickly 
after such a set back.   Misuteri came down with an axe kick, collecting 
cleanly on Nasuko's shoulder. [Thump]
	"Argh!" Nasuko growled in pain before pushing into a distant 
corner of her mind and just acted.  Drawing her Ki around her, she 
leaped up from her crouched position, rotating as her Ki flared up.  	
	"Kiken Flash!"  The desperation move caught Misuteri square on, 
and rocketed her out of the fighting circle.

	"HOLD!"  A calm voice called out unnecessarily.  Kasumi Saotome 
was very pleased with her students.   They had advanced admirably since 
Ranma had came among them, teaching them techniques that was only 
thought to be more fiction than fact.
	The joy a teacher feels when a student reaches a new level in 
skill, whether it be the Art or some other form of expression, blossomed 
with in her breast.  The only sorrow was that they would soon be leaving 
the compound to travel the world as wandering martial artists, as all 
those of the Saotome school must do.  For there are many out there that 
need aide, and one of the most important codes of the true martial 
artist, was that you must protect the weak from those that would prey 
upon them.  It was a sorrow that many parents feel, one of pride and 
sorrow.
*****************************************

	Ranma Saotome sat in contemplation.  He, currently in female 
form, had lived a long life, almost too long.  He has seen loved ones 
come and go, outlived children, grandchildren, and even great 
grandchildren.  Most to old age, but some to war and violence.  It is 
said that the worst thing to happen to a parent was to outlive their 
child.  If that was so, than he had experienced that pain squared.
	If not for those who's hearts he held, he wasn't sure he could 
have made it this long.  When each and every one of your childhood 
friends and loved ones, those that who were as close to him as family, 
left the mortal plain, a little piece of him went with them.  They were 
always there for him, both in body or spirit.  Training, exploring the 
universe, and helping his cousins uphold their kingdoms.  But still even 
after a couple centuries, even that becomes trying. 
	This game of theirs, while amusing was just a moment in the drop 
of the bucket of time.  Surely he loved each and every one of them, in 
his own special way.  For to one like him, love was something from which 
all should receive.  So it was that he acquired more suitors, true they 
were the same ones, he has had for centuries, but it wasn't very usual 
for someone to have many wives, unless you were Arabian Sheik or 
something.   Still it did make his mother deliriously happy, Ranma just 
had to smile at the memory of that day.
	For one such as Ranma, a man of adventure in every since of the 
word, boredom can be dangerous, even deadly.  He had contemplated going 
outside the galaxy, but was reluctant to leave right away as The Senshi 
would be unable to follow, and he was reluctant to get them angry at him 
for such an action.  Maybe if he let one of them win and then just 
stayed for a year?  It was true that each and everyone of them loved 
him. Still a whole year of him hanging around the palace, and they would 
be packing him off to the next system, if not dimension.  He had come to 
realize just the right buttons to push to get on their nerves.
	Still, what to do about the game?  If he gave up to easily then, 
they'd suspect something, and that he was playing favorites with the 
victor.  No, it had to a really spectacular finish to a grand chase.  
But to what end?
*************************************

	Detective third-class Yutaka Harada was dreaming.  That she was 
before the great altar of the Great Spirit Warrior, Simba, the Great 
White Lion.  How she got there she knew not, but paid homage to the 
Great Spirit of her people's ancestors.  Prostrating herself before the 
altar as she should, be murmured wishes of a good hunt to all of Simba's 
children.  
	"Child." A deep voice with in her mind drew her attention to 
altar.  If she were not already prostrating before it, she would have 
fallen over.  For there upon the altar lay a huge white lion!
	"Child, you are involved in a hunt are you not?" The great beast 
inquired of her.
	"Uhm," Yutaka hesitated, it was not everyday one receives a 
vision from their patron spirit.  But noticing the look of impatience 
that was appearing on the lion's features prompted to answer. "Yes My 
Lord, I hunt a being of great power, one who's mates are onto gods 
themselves."
	"To hunt one so powerful, you must use a weapon of equal power," 
The Great Spirit began.  "When your own natural weapons cannot draw down 
your prey, then find those that can.  Also bear in thought that the 
creature you hunt is also a hunter.  One who cannot be killed, but can 
be captured.  If enough force is used that is," The Spirit amended.
	"How My Lord?" Yutaka pleaded, her honor as a detective third 
class is at stake.  "How can I capture such prey as this?  He is able to 
destroy worlds with his power! What weapon can allow me to capture him 
without totally destroying him?"  It was proven at the tournament that 
he didn't care that she was Galaxy Police, or that she had a warrant for 
his arrest.  She gave the standard warning and he didn't even break 
stride, as if he hadn't even heard her.
	"Worry not child, as it is written that the one you hunt cannot 
die yet," The Lion Spirit pauses a moment as if to decide upon what to 
say. "So say'eth The Lord Almighty."  With those words, Yutaka woke up. 
 
	
	The altar with the white lion upon it slowly dissolved.  The 
whole room turned from a pristine temple for the worship of the Great 
Spirits, to one of dark beauty.  The altar into a throne, the white lion 
into a green haired woman with bat wings growing from her temple and 
back.  Turning to lounge on the throne, Morrigan laughed out loud.  This 
was much more fun than fighting weak demons.  The Game would be hers. 

**************************************************
"Mother is the name of God on the lips Children." The Crow
trom2@together.net
http://homepages.together.net/~trom2/webpage.htm