Shin Spirit within: A total rewrite in a slightly darker and more serious
tone.
	I went back and read my old fic, didn't like what I saw very much. It was
good for the time, but I realized that I needed something a bit different as a
base for the later fics [SWI parts 2+3.] Especially for what I wanted to do
with three. I also realized that Akane was a bit too Kasumi-essque for my
taste; and my own actions were not what I'd really be like if I managed to
become Ranma in some way; I was a bit too nice and a little air headed. If I
ever came into power like Ranma was capable of I'd do everything I could to
become as powerful as possible. Especially considering his life. So I decided
start a bit earlier and to do a complete rewrite and overhaul the sequels a
bit before releasing them again and continuing. I'll really start in four
months, but this is sort of a teaser.  here it is...

Spirit within part one: The day I became Ranma.

	It all started on a rather unusual day for Sean, he had just bought the last
few volumes of Ranma 1/2 from his comic retailer and was sitting open mouthed
at the last few pages. He had loved the series and most of Takahashi's other
works, but he never wanted to kill anyone more than he wanted to kill her at
this very moment. He had managed to prevent himself from spoiling the ending
of Ranma 1/2 despite his fanfiction back ground and he just stared at the
manga in disbelief. 
	"That's it?! Thirty-eight volumes of this constant frustration and that's
it!!" he cried in anger as he just stared blankly into the book. He dropped it
to the ground in an attempt to prevent himself from damaging it in his anger.
"This is worse than the ending to Evangelion!!" he roared as he staggered back
and fell the chair he had been sitting in.	
	"I don't believe this!" he muttered half heartedly.
	Something laughed in the back of his mind and he frowned. "Do you think you
could do a better job?" it asked playfully in a strangely feminine voice.
	"Yea sure," muttered Sean as he shook his head. "Great, it drove me insane
literally. I hope it's only temporary,"
	The strange voice laughed again. "Foolish human, would you like to try?" it
chimed cheerfully.
	Sean decided to humor it. "Sure, why not?" he said out loud.
	"Are you sure, once you do this there is no return for you," it said with the
voice suddenly becoming serious.
	"Well, sure...but it wouldn't do me any good if I didn't remember any of
this," he said looking thoughtful.
	"So be it, I grant your wish," said the voice with a small and playful laugh.
It wasn't an evil cackle or a dark presence in the back of his mind, but he
still felt a chill run down his spine as it said the last words. The next
thing he knew he was having a huge migraine attack and blacking out. 
	When he awoke he felt strange he was looking at the back of someone familiar
standing over a small hole in the ground. "What happened?" he grumbled.
	"I melded you to Ranma's soul, you are now one being," said the feminine
voice calmly.
	"Huh?" asked the new Ranma as he shook his head and looked around.
	"This way you have all of Ranma's feelings and emotions, your thoughts will
dominate from now on; but I suppose they are his thoughts as well considering
your the same person now," said the voice as it faded away.
	"Hey wait! What's going on?" asked Ranma as he struggled to find the presence
in his mind again.
	
	Genma turned around and looked at him questioningly. "I didn't realize he was
quite so large," thought Ranma coolly. His memory kicked in like a mule and he
looked at himself in wonder. He was covered in some strange round things and
standing next to his old man by a small hole in the ground. "Uh oh," thought
Ranma in terror.
	"Hey, pop? Maybe you should read the next page in that book," he said
desperately as the elder Saotome lifted him by his gi and held him over the
hole.
	"Nonsense son, I know what I'm doing," replied the man as he let go. "I'm
sure you'll learn the Neko-Ken in no time."

	A few days later Ranma sat watching his father darkly as they trekked onwards
through the wilds of Japan. "Stupid old man," muttered the boy angrily.
	Genma simply walked on ignoring him and reading the book in embarrassment. He
would have stopped completely; but there where still a few techniques he
wanted to try out from it's pages.
	"Come on son, it wasn't that bad. A true martial artist will give up anything
for the art," said Genma sagely as he led the scratched up boy onward.
	Ranma snorted and walked a bit faster to keep up despite the heavy weight of
his pack on his shoulders.

	A year or two passed and Ranma was much stronger, he smiled as the two of
them wandered over the island of Hokkaido. It was a beautiful place really but
they had trained so much that it was hard to appreciate it. Ranma looked at
Genma in slight wonder, he hadn't expected life with the old man to be quite
so hard based on what he knew in the manga. He was really a competent teacher
despite a few incidents; the worst of which was the Neko-ken. He was a caring
and patient individual who did love his son. Ranma had learned that much when
he hurt his leg a few months back. It wasn't serious, but Genma had proven
himself Ranma's father during that time. Even if he was an idiot who put
himself first, he still cared despite his gruff nature.
	It was around this time when a familiar smell rose to Ranma's nostrils.
Okonomiyaki. He immediately returned to instinct and smiled as they approached
it vanishing from his father's side. Ranma made it a point to steal from every
Okonomiyaki cart they passed, it was sort of a personal training exercise for
him. Genma frowned on the practice because he did so even when they had the
money to eat. Despite his training he still tried to obey the law when it was
possible to do so. The penalties for stealing could be quite severe if anyone
decided to press charges if he got caught. 
	Ranma, however, had a personal quest. He wanted to find Ukkyo, and he rather
enjoyed the challenge the vendors gave him; he had only been caught once and
that was the first time he had tried. Genma despite his apprehensions was
rather proud of his son. It was if he was learning those long sealed away
techniques on his own. It frightened him to some degree, but he felt a
fatherly pride in the matter as well. 
	
	Ranma approached the cart and smiled as he saw the sign. "At last!" he
murmured as he looked at the little girl and her father making the little
Japanese pizza's on the cart. Ranma jumped into the trees and lept from branch
to branch as he neared the chefs. He landed silently behind them and snuck up
quickly without a sound. A quick motion of his hand and he had his prize
instantly, he dashed away into the bushes and smiled broadly. A quick glance
told him he hadn't been spotted; he facefaulted and watched the pair cook for
a moment.
	"Those two idiots still haven't noticed!" he said to himself angrily. Then he
realized that the problem was him, he had gotten too good at his personal
little art. "Great, now what?" he muttered. A grin formed as he walked back
and munched on the Okonomiyaki. He hated to do it this way but he didn't
really have a choice; he strolled down the path casually munching on the food
directly in front of the two vendors.
	Ukkyo glanced up and saw him eating. She raised an eyebrow and frowned
looking at her father in curiosity. "Is there someone else down the road?" her
gaze asked him.
	Her father shrugged his shoulders and continued cooking. Ukkyo jumped down
and jogged up to the boy. "Hey, is there another vendor down the road?" she
asked.
	"Nope," replied Ranma simply.
	Ukkyo just looked at him in confusion, that Okonomiyaki smelled familiar! It
had the families secret sauce recipe on it. Her mind wandered back to a small
piece of paper that hung next to the grill on the cart and she gasped. 
	"You-you're that..." she stammered as she pulled some of her spatula's off
the small uniform she wore.
	"Un?" said Ranma in confusion. Ukkyo seemed to recognize him for some reason.
	"Your that world famous Okonomiyaki thief!" she stammered as she got into a
battle ready stance.
	Ranma blinked in surprise. "I-I'm world famous?" he wondered out loud.
	"Every Okonomiyaki chef in the world knows about you! They say you aren't
even human!" she said with a shaky voice. Ukkyo seemed absolutely petrified.
	Ranma was confused. Perhaps he had overdone it a bit? "I'm human really! Am I
really that good?" he asked in wonder.
	Ukkyo just stood and stared at him in disbelief. The arrogance of this boy
astounded her.
	Ranma however was looking at the Okonomiyaki in his hand again. He hadn't
noticed before now, but it was the best he'd ever had. He looked at Ukkyo for
a moment. "Did you make this one?" 
	Ukkyo was not happy, and now she was nervous; she nodded apprehensively and
swallowed. "Is there something wrong with it? I'm just an apprentice!" she
stammered blushing slightly.
	"No, it's the best Okonomiyaki I've ever had," mumbled Ranma honestly.
	Ukkyo just about went into shock. Even if he was a famous thief, he had
Okonomiyaki from all over Japan. It was a great compliment to receive from
someone like him.
	Ranma smiled a little wickedly. "I'll have to steal me some more tomorrow."
	Ukkyo stopped blushing and glared at him. "O-over my dead body!" she cried
defensively.
	"Heh, as you wish," said Ranma as he vanished into the tree's with a single
leap.
	
	Genma pulled his son off the ground after a rigorous training session and
frowned. "What's gotten into you boy? That wasn't like you at all," he
growled. He knew Ranma had gotten caught on purpose. 
	"But, Pop you don't understand! I've found it!" said the boy a little weakly.
	"Found what? What could possibly make you so stupid!?" growled Genma.
	"The legendary 'Best Okonomiyaki in the world!', cried Ranma triumphantly.
	And thus a beautiful friendship borne of combat began....

	After a few months Ranma sat on his father's lap eating Okonomiyaki and
watching the sun set on a hill. "Ranma, which do you like best...Ukkyo, or
Okonomiyaki?" he asked Suddenly.
	Ranma frowned as he realized that he had to answer the question. Ukkyo was
his friend and he didn't want to lose that later in his life, he looked
thoughtful in a sort of playful and childish way. Ranma realized that he
wasn't sure which of the girls would be the cutest and most suited to be his
wife. He grumbled and watched the sun disappear below the horizon.
	"Well, boy?" asked Genma impatiently.
	"I'm thinking Pop," answered Ranma intently. After a few moments of hard
contemplation Ranma grinned and turned to his father. "I like Ukkchan she's
nice, but I like Okonomiyaki too, I like em equal," he said enjoying the look
on his father's face.
	Genma was surprised, he was sure the boy would pick one of the two
instantaneously; and he was fairly sure it would have been Okonomiyaki. As
usual though the boy surprised him, ever since the Neko-ken the boy seemed
smarter, almost too smart for his age. Genma tried to recover as best he
could. "I mean if you had to choose one what would it be?" he asked intently.
	Ranma frowned, he hadn't expected that from the old man. "Hmm, I'd have to
say Ukkchan! She can make Okonomiyaki," was the boy's answer.
	Genma smiled, "So you like Okonomiyaki then?"
	"Wait a minute, I said I like Ukkchan too," answered Ranma looking annoyed.
	"But only because she can make Okonomiyaki for you," said Genma slyly.
	"She's my friend," said Ranma half heartedly; He knew Genma had already
rationalized the whole thing. The question was, what would he do about it?
	"Thank you Ranma," said the boy's father as he stood and walked off.
	"You promised to bring her with us didn't you?" asked Ranma coolly as he
turned to face the man.
	"Wha? I didn't I only said I'd think about it!" replied Genma.
	"You did, Ukkyo told me about it; we can't take it unless we bring her Pops.
It's our honor," said Ranma coldly.
	"How did the boy find out so much?" thought Genma. He scowled and sat Ranma
on his knee. "Son, you are too young to understand such things; please try to
understand," said the elder Saotome gravely.
	"I think you're too old not to understand," replied Ranma.
	"I had hoped it wouldn't come to this," said Genma. "You made your choice
son."
	Ranma felt a pain on his back where his father's hand was and the world went
black.
	
	He awoke with a clattering sound and a bouncing sensation. He slowly opened
his eyes to see he was tied and gagged on the roof of the Okonomiyaki cart
with Ukkyo still in hot pursuit. He struggled against his bonds and growled at
the old man for his treachery. Ukkyo could not keep up and faded into the
distance. Ranma felt sorry for her and his struggles slowly stopped, "At least
I can't be blamed for this now," he thought reluctantly. He had really liked
Ukkchan too, she was a good friend.

	Several days passed and Ranma was still not speaking to his father. He lapsed
into his Kata calmly and let the motions flow almost casually. 
	"Put your heart into it boy!" said his father with a sigh. Ranma merely
looked at him and continued silently. His personal anger with the man
intensified the movements. "That's the spirit son!"

	Nine years pass in the blink of an eye, but what we see before us is not the
Ranma we should know, but a hardened and calculating boy with a hard and bulky
frame. His hair was much more wild and tied back in a loose pony tail. A long
scar ran across his right eye and he stood with a presence that did not look
fitting for one only fifteen years old. "Son he isn't coming, it's been three
days," said Genma.
	"Ryoga Hibiki..." muttered Ranma angrily. He knew exactly what was going on
right now. If he could bite off another problem at the head he would do it.
His cold gaze stared off into the sunset beyond the horizon. "If he doesn't
come tomorrow we'll go, I won't leave before then," said Ranma coolly.
	Genma growled but complied. Ranma had changed dramatically since the affair
with Ukkyo; for the better in his opinion. The boy had become firmly
established in the arts, taking it more seriously than he had ever hoped the
boy would. His son practically lived for a challenge; often going to extreme
lengths to find worthy opponents. Such had been the case with Ryoga Hibiki. 
	Genma was almost as different looking as his son. He was firmer and his Dogi
was much dirtier. However, he did not have the hard determined gaze his son
held. 
	This Hibiki boy had been Ranma's chief rival for the past two years. Ranma
had personally trained him in several of the secret techniques he had
developed over the years. They had a strange friendship because of it, neither
of them appeared to like each other much; but both would gladly die for the
other. Genma did not understand it, but he complied out of respect for the
Hibiki boy. Anyone who could take the 'Bakusai Tenketsu' training his son had
developed earned Genma's respect. Both of their personal skill had grown in
enormous leaps and bounds over the past two years in this place.
	Hibiki himself was a rather strange person in Genma's mind, the boy could
barely find a bathroom; and yet he always seemed prepared for Ranma's
challenges. It had started with some sort of lunchroom rivalry and escalated;
no thanks to Ranma's constant prodding on the boy. It had only taken a few
weeks for them to start fighting regularly. Ryoga would often disappear into
the mountains for weeks at a time and come back stronger than ever. The pair
were almost evenly matched now, Ranma was still superior but it would be a
good fight, if Ryoga would just show up.