The Cryptkeeper : The Hand of Goddess PT I
by Michael �Ranma13� Cerda

Revised 5/31/02

I do not take credit for the Ranma 1/2 characters. 
They are owned and created 
by the goddess Rumiko Takahashi.  The rights go to her
and Viz 
communication.  This is my own story and in no way
express how Rumiko 
wanted her story to go.  With this at mind, enjoy.

----------------------------

Sitting down in his favorite chair, he looked over at
the cherry wood stand next 
to him.  The day�s mail was lying on the silver
platter.  Scanning it over one 
envelope grabbed his attention.  Picking up the
envelope, he took the silver letter 
opener from the stand.  Opening the envelope with it,
he carefully removed the 
letter.  Reading the letter over, his eyes grew wide. 
Quickly looking up at the 
grandfather clock in front of him and back down at the
envelope.  

�Jesus, You have to be kidding me.  Jonah!!�

Walking through the double doors, a fairly tall
gentleman dressed in a tuxedo 
bows, �Yes sir,�

�Will you quit calling me sir.  I�m twenty years
younger than you.�

�Of course, Mr. Saotome,�

Rolling his eyes, �Can you get four rooms ready, we�ll
be expecting guests 
soon.�

�Of course, when will they be arriving.�

Looking at the clock, �From what the letter says
within the hour.�

~~~~~~*~~~~~~

It�s late afternoon, everybody in the street stopped
and stared at the commotion 
coming from the four people walking down the street. 

�THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!�

Waving his hands, �It�s not my fault.  I didn�t know
what the place was.�

�That�s right it�s not your fault daddy that you
couldn�t read Chinese.�

Nodding his head, �That�s right.�  Thinking about what
he just said.  �Wait!  
That�s not what I meant.�  Waving his hands
frantically.

�Oh dear�

AARRGGHH, I�m not going.  I have to go and find a
cure.�

Placing a hand on her shoulder,  �Now Akane that�s not
the way to talk to 
father.�

�Humph,� crossing her arms, �Fine, but the first
chance I get I�m going to find a 
cure.�

Walking in silence for ten more minutes, they stop in
front of an enormous gate.  
Taking out a piece of paper, he looked up at the
numbers on the gate.  �This 
must be the place.�

�Daddy you didn�t say this friend of yours was
loaded,�

�Well when his parents died, he inherited the family
fortune from his mothers 
side.�  Looking past the gate into the vast courtyard.
 They were in awe of the 
enormous mansions that sat out in the distance.

Kasumi and Nabiki continued to stare, as Akane seemed
unimpressed.  �Hmph, 
yeah he maybe rich, but I bet he isn�t as good of a
martial artist than I am.�

�Genma said that his son showed great promise.  I
don�t know if he kept up with 
the art.�  Looking around, �where should I ring the
doorbell.�

Nabiki tapped on her fathers shoulder, �I think he
already knows we�re here.�  
Pointing at a camera, �Whey don�t you go to the
intercom over there,� Pointing 
to the speaker next to the gate.

Walking over Soun pressed the red button, �Hello?�

�Yes sir.  What may I do for you today?�

Scratching the back of his head, �Uh yeah.  Can you
tell Ranma Saotome it�s the 
Tendos to see him.�

�One moment.�

Almost immediately the gates opened.  The four looked
at each other and 
walked inside the estates.  They strolled down the
road that led to the mansion.  
They were in awe of the beautifully landscaped
courtyard.  Just looking at it 
gave them a sense of calmness.  They approached the
stairs that led to the main 
doors.  As they neared, the doors swung open. 
Standing just inside was a young 
man.  He was dressed in a business suit.  His hair was
pulled back into a 
ponytail.

Bowing, �Greetings, I�m Ranma Saotome.  I�m very
pleased to meet you again.�

Nabiki was nearly knocked off of her feet.  The person
standing in front of her 
was absolutely gorgeous.  His suit fit snug to his
body, showing his muscular 
physique.

Kasumi was equally impressed, she saw a man of
maturity beyond his years.  
What she noticed the most was his eyes.  They were a
gorgeous shade of blue.  
It was as if they were gazing right through her.

Akane wasn�t very impressed, �Showoff�

Soun ran up and hugged Ranma, �Ranma my boy, it�s been
too long.�

Ranma was struggling against the vice like grips, �Uh,
Mr. Tendo.  
I�can�t�breathe.�

�Daddy, I think that he�s not suppose to turn blue.�

Letting Ranma go Soun composed himself.  �Yes, of
course.  Excuse me.�  
Coughing, �Let me introduce you to my three daughters;
Kasumi, age nineteen, 
Nabiki�s seventeen and finally Akane who�s sixteen.�

�Nice to meet you,� as he bowed, �Jonah,�

Jonah comes into the room, �Yes,�

�Could you take their belongings into their rooms.�

�Yes sir,� as he grabbed the bags and took them
upstairs.

Nabiki watched as the man took their bags.  Watching
up go upstairs, he was 
fairly tall with short black hair and a small
mustache.  For what she could tell he 
was physically built.  He reminded her of somebody who
would play American 
football.  �He�s not from Japan is he?�

Ranma was impressed by Nabiki�s observational skills,
�No he�s not, Jonah�s 
from the United States, California to be exact.� 
Glancing at the three Tendo 
daughters, each one was unique in their own way. 
Akane, the youngest daughter 
and the one closest to his age were the fiery one of
the group.  He could tell she 
was impatient and easily lost her temper.  Nabiki on
the other hand was the 
complete opposite.  She was very observant of her
surroundings and used her 
brain to instead of her fists.  There was something
that put him off about her, he 
couldn�t put his finger on it.  The oldest daughter
had a something about her, she 
almost commanded peace and serenity around her.  Just
being near her evolved a 
sense of peace within him.  Behind that gentle smile
of hers, he could see a great 
power just beckoning to be unleashed.  Ranma
definitely thought the Tendo 
daughters were very attractive.  Smiling to the four,
�Welcome to my home.  Let 
me show you around.�

Holding the door open, the Tendos stepped inside the
mansion.  They looked 
around as they saw a ceiling stretching thirty feet. 
A chandelier hung above 
their heads.  The area was white, with black and white
marble flooring.  Against 
the back wall stood huge Samurai in full armor. 
Motioning them to the right 
they walked to a pair of double doors.  

Opening the door and ushering them in, �Welcome to my
library.�

The Tendos stepped into the room as their eyes bulged
out of their sockets.  
Their mouths dropped to the floor.  The entire room
was done in the old English 
wood.  At the farend form where they were standing was
a huge fireplace where 
a great fire was blazing.  The most impressive sight
for them was the 
bookshelves that lined the walls.  Books filled every
shelf from floor to roof.  
Turning around there were books above the doorway.

�Please feel free to sue the library whenever you
want.  I have books in all 
topics and subject matter.  I just have one rule,
please be respectful.  I do a lot of 
work in here that requires great concentration.� 
Waiting for everyone to nod his 
or her heads, �Now follow me please.�

Leading them left of the library, Ranma opened a door
as each one of the 
Tendos proceeded ahead.  Entering the room and closing
the door behind him.  
�This is my dining room.  As you can see I chose
comfort over extravagance.  
The dining room is the one place I like to feel
comfortable.�

Soun was impressed, the dining table was about two
foot high and measured 
roughly eight foot long.  It was finished in black
lacquer.  Lying on the ground 
around the table were silk pillows.  �Very nice
Ranma.�

�Thank-you Mr. Tendo.  Over there,� pointing to the
far right corner of the 
room.  �That�s the kitchen.�

Kasumi�s eyes brightened up; �May we see the kitchen.�

Shrugging his shoulders, �Sure�

Walking down the dining room and around the table. 
They followed Ranma 
down the hall that led to the kitchen.  Kasumi wasn�t
prepared, she was 
expecting a nice cozy kitchen.  What she saw was a
huge restaurant kitchen.  A 
couple of commercial stoves were against the back
wall.  Large mixers sat 
against another.  The freezer looked like her kitchen
at home.  The kitchen 
looked very intimidating.

�As you can see, if you like to cook.�  Motioning his
hand across the kitchen.  
�This kitchen is equipped for anything and everything
you would need.  A walk 
in pantry, meat locker, and industrial size fridge is
at your disposal.�

�Great, I love to cook.�  Soun, Nabiki and Kasumi fell
over in shock.  Akane 
just scowled at her family.  She knows what the
problem was.  She was working 
with shotty equipment.  With Ranma kitchen at her
disposal she would be able 
to cook feasts.  Looking down at her family, �My
cooking is not that Bad!�

�Mr. Saotome great to see you.�

�Mr. Morimoto-san, It�s wonderful for you to be back.�
 As he bowed.

�Hai, I decided to come by and practice a bit.�

�Great! Remember my kitchen is your kitchen.  Let me
introduce you to my 
guests.  This is the Tendo�s; Soun, Kasumi, Nabiki,
and Akane.  They will be 
staying with me for a few days.�

�Wonderful, I shall prepare a special dinner in their
honor.  I should be getting 
back, I have a sauce on.�

�You have match this week?�

�Maybe, the odds looks that he will be picking me.�

�Well, good luck.  I will not keep you longer.�

�Nice to meet you all.�  Mr. Morimoto went back to the
stove.

Nabiki leaned over to Kasumi, whispering.  �Is that
who I think it is?�

�I think?�

Ranma turned around, �well let�s show you the rest of
the house.�  He led them 
out of the kitchen and back into the dining room.  He
led them into another 
hallway that lined the back of the house.  The one
side of the hallway was lined 
with windows with a door in the middle.  The hallway
had a great view of the 
back of the house showing the gorgeous back courtyard.
 Ranma stopped in 
front of the door as he opened it.  �This is the back
of my home.�  Pointing to 
the right.  �There�s the pool along with a little
bathhouse.�

�Wow,� Nabiki couldn�t believe the size of the pool,
it looked like a lagoon.  
The waterfall was flowing along the rocks.

Pointing to a fairly large building to the left,
�That�s my dojo and training 
facility.�

Akane�s mouth dropped, she�s never seen a dojo so big.
 Six of her families� 
dojo could have fit easily into the building.  �Can we
take a look.�

Ranma saw the gleam in her eyes, �Why don�t I show you
the rest of the house.  
After you unpacked you can look around at your
leisure.�  Akane�s face 
dropped, disappointed.

�With such a big dojo do you own your own school.�

�No, I only use the dojo for training.�  Looking out
at the dojo, �it was my 
father�s idea for me to become the greatest martial
artist in the world.  He 
wanted the school to grow and to be carried on for
generations to come.  His last 
request was to continue the Anything Goes School.� 
Snapping himself back, 
�Pardon my reminiscing, Let me show you the rest of
the house.�

Nabiki and Kasumi felt the pain coming from Ranma. 
They watched as he 
walked down the hallway.  Slowly they started to
follow behind.  

He showed them the rest of the house, finally ending
where they began.  �I�m 
sure your all tired,� Jonah came into the room, �Jonah
will escort you to your 
rooms.  Feel free to freshen up and look around some
more.�

Coughing, �Uh, Ranma my boy.  Can I talk to you in
private?�

�Of course Mr. Tendo.�  Turning to Jonah, �Could you
see them to their rooms.�

�Of course sir.�

Ranma cringed, �Right this way Mr. Tendo.�  Ranma led
Soun to the Library.

Akane watched as the doors closed behind them, �What
was that all about?�

Nabiki was very suspicious, �I don�t know�

�Let�s not get dwell,� Kasumi knew better though. 
There was a reason for 
visiting Ranma, she just hoped it wasn�t what she
thought it was.

�If you ladies follow,�  The three girls turned and
followed Jonah up the stairs.

~~*~~

�Would you like anything to drink,�

�No thank you,�

Motioning to a chair, �Please sit down.�

Soun sat in the chair as he watched Ranma sit in one
across from him.  �Your 
home is very impressive.�

�Thank-you, I must admit that I hardly spend anytime
here.  My travels keep me 
away.  Jonah is a great help, you could say that he�s
the guardian angel of my 
house.�  Leaning over toward Soun, �now what�s the
main reason for your 
visit.�

Soun was caught off guard by the question, �What do
you mean?�

�Mr. Tendo, I know that you and my father wee best of
friends, like brothers.  
You trained under the same master, but you show up six
years after my parents� 
deaths.  Are you in trouble?  Do you need financial
support?�

Soun took a deep breath, �No nothing like that son.� 
Pausing, �Your father and 
I dreamt of the Anything Goes School continuing on
even after our deaths.�  
Siting back and looking up at the very high ceiling. 
�When I married we had 
two daughters.  One night we celebrated, when we found
out your mother was 
pregnant.  We agreed that night, if Nodoka was to have
a boy, we would engage 
you to one of my daughters.�  Clearing is throat,
�Well my late wife was 
pregnant with a third child.  I fit was a boy our
schools would be unified for 
sure.  At the end you were born and six months later
so was Akane.  The plan 
was to engage you to one of my daughters on your
sixteenth birthday.  Well 
something�.uh, came up, but we�re here now.�  Gleaming
a huge smile.

Just staring at the man in front of him, Ranma�s eyes
were bulged out.  He rarely 
was caught off guard.  Trying to get his thought
process back, he couldn�t 
believe his father would do something so appalling. 
If his idiot father weren�t 
already dead he would kill him.  Ranma looked over at
Soun who had a child 
like giddiness to him.  Pinching the bridge of his
nose, �Mr. Tendo?�

�Please we�re family now, Soun please.  Or if you
prefer dad.�

�Look, Soun.  No offense, but you can�t expect me to
marry somebody when I 
only met today.�

�It�s a matter of honor,�

�My life at this moment doesn�t allow me to have
anytime to get to know 
somebody enough to marry them.  I do have one question
did my mom agree to 
this arrange marriage?�

Soun sighed, �At first, no she didn�t.  Neither did my
wife, but we all came to an 
agreement.  You would live with us for a year and at
the end of the year if 
nobody wanted to continue the engagement, the promise
would be annulled.�

 �Sorry, I can�t go off and live with you,�  Ranma sat
back and tapped his chin 
with his finger.  His mother agreeing was a totally
different situation.  He 
respected her decision.  �Okay, I agree with my
mother�s decision.�

� Yeah,� Soun jumped into the air.

�Hold on,� he watched Soun stop, waiting for him to
sit back down.  �I can�t 
live at your house.  Your daughter will have to stay
here.  I assume Nabiki and 
Akane still to school.�

Soun nodded his head, �That�s right.�

�I will provide transportation to their school.  No
need for them to switch 
schools.  One year from now, if your daughters and I
don�t agree on the 
engagement.  The arrangement shall be annulled.  Do we
agree?�

Soun thought about it.  He really didn�t have a choice
in the matter.  �I agree.�

Getting up from the chair,  �Well let�s go tell your
daughters.  They�re going to 
love his one.�

~~*~~

�Can you believe the size of these rooms.�  Nabiki
rushed into Kasumi�s room.  
She was in heaven.  Her whole entire life she dreamt
of living in a huge 
mansion.

�It�s very nice isn�t it.� Kasumi looked around the
room, she had a king size bed 
with a canopy.  In front of the bed sat a huge
television.  On one side of the bed 
were doors that led to the balcony.

�Come here Kasumi, look in the bathroom.�  Nabiki
grabbed her sister�s hand 
dragging her into the bathroom.  Flicking on the
switch, �you even have your 
own whirlpool tub.�

Kasumi and Nabiki left the bathroom as Akane strolled
in, �How�s your room 
Akane dear?�  Kasumi was bothered by the way Akane has
been acting.

Nabiki had the same idea about Akane, �You could be a
little nice you know.�

�Well I shouldn�t be here.  I need to find a cure,
also I don�t trust dad.  Ever 
since we got back from China he�s been babbling about
�finally we�ll be 
united�,�

�Yeah I agree with you sis.  Something�s going on.�

�At least he had a dojo where I can train.  I wonder
if he�ll spar with me.�

�Akane please be on your best behavior.  Remember
we�re guests here.  Also 
you should ask more lady like.�

�Well my curse for sure isn�t lady like.�

Kasumi couldn�t argue with Akane, �Be it as it may, I
want you to behave.  
We�re only here for the weekend.�

�Yeah alright,�

�Excuse me,�

�Hey Jeeves.  What�s going on?�

Jonah smiled, �Your father and Master Saotome wish to
see you in the Dining 
room.�

�Well it�s showtime.�

Akane looked at Nabiki, �What do you mean?�

�Well we agree that daddy was up to something.  Well I
think we�re about to 
hear what that is.�

Kasumi walked past Jonah bowing to him, �Thank-you,�
Akane stomped past 
him, while Nabiki walked up and elbowed him in the
stomach lightly, �Thanks 
Jeeves.�

Jonah just shook his head.  He knew that things were
not going to be the same.  
Watching the girls walk downstairs each one was
completely different from the 
other.  Wispering to himself.  �Things are definitely
going to get interesting 
down here.�

~~~~*~~~~

�ENGAGED!!!�  the three sisters said in unison.

Soun nodded his head happily, �That�s right,� Looking
over at his three 
daughters.  He saw huge battle aura�s flaring. 
Gulping, he scooted towards 
Ranma.

�Don�t we have a say in who we marry.�  Akane couldn�t
believe her father.  
First her curse then an arrange marriage.  

�Yes father, I agree with Akane.  This seems mildly
inappropriate.�

Soun looked scared, �Girls, this is a matter of honor.
 Our two schools could 
finally be reunited.�  Looking over at Nabiki?�

�Well this sure will make things interesting.�

Ranma was expecting their reaction to be the way they
were.  �Your father and I 
agreed to some stipulations.  I was caught off guard
by this just as you are.  I 
was less than enthusiastic.�

�There you go.  He doesn�t want to go through with
this idea either.  We�re 
done, let�s go home NOW.�  Akane stood up slamming her
hands on the table.

�Akane dear please.�  

Akane slowly sat back down under her sister�s stare. 
Ranma watched the 
exchange, �There is one problem.  My late mother also
agreed to the 
engagement.  The same as your mother.�

That drew the three sisters� attention.  The fact that
their mother agreed was a 
totally different situation.  They couldn�t easily
refuse the engagement.  Kasumi 
looked at her father, �Is this true?�

Soun bowed his head saddened by the memories of his
wife, �Yes she did.�

�Then we have no choice, but to accept the
engagement.�  Nabiki was a little 
excited.  Her life till now was boring.  �Who are you
going to choose?�

Ranma had everyone�s eyes on him, �Well your mother
and mine only agreed to 
the engagement under one circumstance.  I�m to live
with your family for a year.  
During that year I�m to get to know the three of you. 
If at the end of the year we 
still don�t want the engagement.  The arrangement
shall be annulled.�

Kasumi thought for a moment, �So we�re to move into
your mansion.�

Ranma nodded impressed, �Yes.�

�WHAT!?  What about school.  I�m not going to change
schools, especially not 
for him.�  Akane said the last part with venom.

�Akane,� Soun never had suck a tone for one of his
daughters, but even he knew 
when Akane stepped over the line, �Ranma has offered
to drive you and Nabiki 
to school so you wouldn�t have to change schools.�

Akane sat back down feeling somewhat guilty, �Sorry
for the outburst,�

�No need, I understand how you feel.  Like your father
said Akane and Nabiki, 
you�ll be driven to your school.  Kasumi?� he watched
Kasumi faced him.  �I 
understand you were the matriarch of your household.�

�That�s correct.�

�Well, I�m sorry to say that here will be little for
you to do around here, but I 
could get you a job working for me.�

�That�s very kind of you Mr. Saotome.�

�Ranma please,� Standing up, �This is your home now
welcome.   Now I�m 
hungry let�s eat.�

Right on queue Mr. Morimoto and a couple of assistants
brought in plates of 
food.  One by one the plates were lied down on the
table.  One of the assistants 
that was carrying a pitcher of water accidentally lost
his balance as the pitcher 
went straight in the air and on Akane.

�ThPPPT� Ranma immediately spit out his drink when he
saw Akane turn into a 
guy.

�Why does this happen to me?�  Feeling embarrassed and
angry.

Ranma realized immediately what happened.  �Jonah can
you get some hot 
water.�

�Yes sir,� Jonah went into the kitchen.

�Mr. Tendo please don�t tell me you took your daughter
to Jusenkyou.�

Giving her father a death look,  �Yes he did.�

�Let�s eat first and then tell me what happened.� 
Ranma knew that things were 
going to be rough, but he had no idea how bad.

~~~~*~~~~

Ranma sat in this usual chair.  Soun was sitting in
the same type of chair across 
from him.  Off on the right the three girls sat on a
large sofa.  Akane was turned 
back to her original form.  She wasn�t in the best of
moods.  Jonah was passing 
out cups of teas as Ranma grabbed the cup.

�Thank you.  Now please tell me how did this happen?�

Soun coughed, �It started a couple of months before
the accident.  Your father 
was planning on taking you to a trip to China.  He
found a brochure on a 
forbidden training ground.  The name was Jusenkyou. 
He had an extra brochure 
so he gave it to me.  Because of the accident he never
took you.�

Ranma couldn�t believe it, his father (kami rest his
soul) was actually going to 
take him to Jusenkyou.  He knew his father was an
idiot, but he had no idea.  A 
head of cabbage had more sense than his old man.  Soun
continued talking 
interrupting Ranma�s thoughts.

�Well to properly train my daughter in the art.  I
thought that it would be a good 
idea this summer to go to China on a training trip. 
It would give her an idea of 
what�s it like to train as a true martial artist. 
Well looking over some old papers, 
I found the brochure your father gave me.  Instantly I
knew I had to take my 
daughter to Jusenkyou.�  Soun stood up giving them a
dramatic pose.

Ranma just stared in shock, he had to wonder if Soun
and his father took 
something when they were younger to make them complete
idiots.  Looking 
over at the girls, each one rolled their eyes.

�Well it took us nearly a month to find somebody who
knew about the springs.  
The guide took us to the training grounds.  When we
got there, we were 
surprised that it was just a bunch of pools with
bamboo poles sticking out.�

�Didn�t the guide warn you,�

�Well�uh��

�Yes he did, but dad here didn�t listen.�

Clearing his throat, �Yes, well��

~~~~*~~~~

�Sir this is very bad training ground.  Nobody comes
here anymore.  Very bad 
if��

�I can�t believe we spent an entire month looking for
a great training ground and 
all it is.�  Motioning to the pools, �Is a bunch of
pools with poles sticking out of 
it.�

Soun looked over the brochure, �it doesn�t say
anything about it looking like 
this.�

�Of course it doesn�t say.  You can�t read Chinese.�

�Oh yeah,� as he put his hand behind his head
laughing.  �Well since we�re here 
we might as well train.�  Soun leapt onto one of the
poles.  

�Sir!  What are you doing?  Very bad if you fall.� 
The guide was waving his 
arms furiously.

Akane couldn�t tell her father that she was a klutz. 
Anyway the place didn�t 
look that hard to her.  What harm would it do if she
fell?  Concentrating, Akane 
jumped s she landed on the pole.  Smiling, she started
to lose her balance.  
Falling into one of the pools below.

Soun quickly jumped down next to the guide, �Oh so
sorry, you fall in 
Xiaochiniichuan,� as he pulled out a sign with the
name on it, �Spring of 
drowned young man, very tragic story of man drowned
there 3500 years ago.  
Now whoever falls in pool take body of young man.�

Akane surfaced feeling her body go through a dramatic
change.  Opening up her 
gi, she screamed..  Her bra, which was once full, was
now empty as she had a 
male chest.  Instantly Akane feinted.

~~~~*~~~~

�Oh my poor baby girl.  What one must sacrifice for
the art.�  Soun started 
wailing.

Ranma having fell over in shock, set his chair back up
as he resat himself.  �Um, 
Akane.  If you knew your balance wasn�t very good. 
Then why did you try to 
train there?�  Taking a sip of his tea.

Nabiki interrupted what Akane was about to say.  �I�ll
answer for her.  You see 
my little sister has an ego complex.  She thinks she
can do anything.  She is the 
self proclaimed greatest martial artist in the world.�

Ranma spit the tea from hearing the comment.  Kasumi
thought something was 
wrong, �Are you alright Mr. Saotome?�

�Ranma please,� Ranma looked at Akane, he could tell
just by her walk that she 
is as graceful as a gorilla.  Her skill is that of an
amateur.  She did have great 
strength, but she didn�t know how to control it.

�I am a great martial artist,� Akane didn�t like
Ranma, how dare he make a 
mockery of her skills.  �Don�t take me so lightly.  I
challenge you.�

Ranma wanted to laugh, he had no problem fighting
girls.  His biggest rival was 
a female, but he didn�t fight anybody he knew he could
beat easily.  �I�ll take 
your warning into consideration,� Blowing off the
challenge and addressing 
everyone else.  �It�s getting late, I think I�ll turn
in.�

�A wonderful idea, Ranma my boy.�

�Mr. Tendo, Jonah will see you to your room.  Since
the girls already seen 
theirs.  I hope you liked them.

�Oh they were wonderful,� Kasumi smiled brightly.

�Great,� Getting up Ranma walked out of the room,
�Till tomorrow then.  
Goodnight.�

~~~~*~~~~

Kasumi woke up, she couldn�t really get to sleep. 
There wasn�t a time when she 
slept in any other house other than hers.  The thought
saddened her.  Since her 
mothers� death, she had assumed the role of all of the
motherly duties in the 
house.  Now she would be living in a different house
for a year.  Each day she 
knew what her duties were.  Now she didn�t know what
to do with herself.  
Kasumi was seriously thinking of taking Ranma up on
his offer for a job.

Sitting up, Kasumi thought about the engagement.  At
first the idea seemed bad, 
but Ranma was definitely a mature young man for his
age.  Would it be that bad 
to be engaged to him?  She will have to be open minded
for her father�s sake.

Knowing that she wasn�t going to sleep soon, Kasumi
decided to get up.  Putting 
on her robe, she exited her room.  Walking down the
hallway, Kasumi went 
downstairs.  Standing at the bottom of the stairs, she
looked around.  She didn�t 
really know where to go.  Finally going left she went
into the library.  The room 
had to be her favorite in the house.  Looking around
the room, she couldn�t 
comprehend the amount of knowledge that was stored in
all of the books.  The 
room was dark except for the fire blazing in the
fireplace.  Walking to the fire, 
she couldn�t help, but notice the size.  Two people
could easily fit inside.  
Walking a bit closer, Kasumi didn�t notice the lump in
the carpet.  Tripping she 
quickly brought her hand up trying to regain her
balance.  One of her hands 
caught a hold of a samurai figurine.  Putting a little
pressure the head flipped up.  
Regaining some of her composure, Kasumi looked over
the figurine.  In the 
middle of the base of the neck was a black button. 
Having her curiosity getting 
the better, she slowly pressed the button.  The fire
went out as a small noise 
could be heard.  Looking into the fireplace the back
wall was slowly moving.  

Not really knowing what to do, Kasumi entered the
fireplace.  The back wall 
concealed a stairway leading down.  Examining down the
stairwell an 
indistinguishable sound could be heard below. 
Mustering up the courage she 
started down the stairs.  Only taking a few steps she
triggered a sensor causing 
the wall to move back into place.  Turning around
quickly she tried to stop the 
wall, but it was too late.  The wall closed in on her.
 Taking a deep breath, she 
turned around and continued down.  Feeling the walls,
they were made of stone.  
It was as if somebody chiseled the entire stairway.  A
small tube of light ran 
along the side of the stairway.  Giving off a small
amount of light.  The stairway 
was spiraling down so she couldn�t see far enough
ahead to know what was 
happening, but she knew that there was somebody at the
end of the tunnel.  The 
noise was growing louder.

Reaching the end of the stairway, Kasumi came to a
large hallway.  Lining the 
walls were suits of armor from various civilizations. 
Walking slowly down, she 
came to the end.  Looking she came to a huge room.  In
the center was a dome 
like building made of some clear material.  Inside she
could see, �Lasers?� being 
fired.  Standing in the middle of the building was
Ranma.  Kasumi blushed, as 
he was shirtless with a pair of Chinese pants on.  She
watched the sweat run 
from his body.  Turning around quickly from
embarrassment, she bumped into a 
sit of armor knocking it down.

Ranma huffed, he was on the highest level he�s been
able to achieve so far.  He 
smiled, it was good to work out.  To get his mind off
of the engagement, which 
he still didn�t know what do.  The idea of being
engaged was out of the question, 
but he respected his mother above all others.  She
felt that he should give it a 
chance and that was what he was going to do.

�You ready,�

�Yeah,� off in the corner, Ranma heard a noise. 
Turning his head a laser fired, 
blasting him in the chest.  He flew back into the
wall.

Kasumi saw in horror as the laser connected into
Ranma, �OH No,� quickly 
Kasumi ran into the building.  Running up to Ranma,
she bent down.  Relieved 
that he was still breathing.  �Mr. Saotome, are you
alright?�

Jonah came rushing in, �Sir, Sir.  Are you seriously
injured?�

Ranma groaned as he slowly stirred, �R..Ranma please.�
 Sitting up, he was 
disoriented.  Laughing I guess a full powered laser to
the chest isn�t the best way 
to train.  Standing with the help of Jonah and�Ranma
turned to Kasumi, �It 
seems we have a visitor.  Can you��

�Right away,� Jonah quickly left.

Ranma sighed, �Well, I guess I should say welcome. 
You�re the third person, 
other than Jonah of course to see this room.�

Kasumi was in awe, she was so worried about Ranma that
she didn�t realize how 
big the room really was.  The room was equaled in size
to the mansion.  �What 
is this place?�

�I guess you could say this is a huge underground
vault.  I also train in here.�  
Ranma saw the puzzled look on Kasumi�s face.�  Ranma
started walking out of 
the room and into another.  �Ms. Tendo, do you believe
in magic, demons, 
supernatural."� Kasumi shook her head.  �You see most
people don�t believe in 
such things.  It makes the world safer to live in, but
they do exist.�

They entered a room that was pitch black, in the
middle displayed a huge 
holographic image of the world.  Kasumi walked up to
it, fascinated at how 
detailed it looked.  �This is beautiful.�

Ranma smiled, �Magic and monsters did exist in this
world abundantly at one 
time.  Gods, goddesses, they all played a part in
human history.  Over time 
people forgot about it.  They started believing in
science and technology.  Most 
of what I talk about hide in secret places away from
human eyes.  Civilizations 
in the past were very powerful, and carried with them
equally powerful weapons 
and artifacts.  Some of these didn�t do much harm, but
they�re were 
circumstances of some of these items that could rule
over the world.  Bringing 
humanity to their knees.�

�Oh my�

�Yes, that�s where I come in.  There are many people
and organizations that 
would love to get their hands on one of these items. 
I�m what you call a Tomb 
Raider or Relic Hunter.  I�m what you call an artifact
ethusiast.  I keep the most 
dangerous artifacts here in my underground vault. 
Ranma took Kasumi out of 
the dome room and led her to a huge door.  It was
black with steel bolts 
surrounding the perimeter.  Putting his hand on a
scanner and looking into an 
eye piece.  

<confirmation confirmed, voice recognition please>

�Cryptkeeper,�

<voice recognition confirmed, Thank-you Mr. Saotome>

Kasumi was startled as the vault came alive, within a
minute the doors swung 
open.  She watched as Ranma stepped onto a green
circle.  Just beyond him was 
a door lined with red crisscrossing beams.  Upon
standing on the pad a green 
light scanned over his body.

<ki signature confirmed>

She watched the lasers quickly disappear as lights
turned on inside the vault.  
Ranma motioned for her to follow him into the vault. 
Upon entering the room 
she was surprised how small the room was.  The room
was circular with stands 
lining the wall.  Each stand had a light that
illuminated an artifact.  Some of the 
stand were empty, in the middle of the room was a suit
of armor enclosed in a 
glass case.  Walking up to it, she touched the glass. 
The armor was beautiful.  
Gold lined the edges with the plates made of silver. 
It gave off a sense of 
power. 

Walking up behind Kasumi, �That�s the armor of Ghengis
Kahn.  You could 
probably say he was the only person t rule most of the
world.  We all know the 
stories of the conqueror.  Villages would tremble and
surrender before he would 
even get there.  One thing that the history books left
out was this suit of armor.  
It gave the bearer the power of invincibility. 
Nothing man made could destroy 
the armor and the person wearing it.�

Kasumi turned to Ranma, �Then why did he die?�

�I said invincibility, not immortality.  You still
aged and could get sick.  When 
he died his suit was buried with him.  Come let me
show you around.�

Ranma took Kasumi around the room explaining the
history behind each 
artifact.  Kasumi was exhilarated, she found
everything fascinated.  She found 
everything fascinated.  Never would she have thought
that such objects existed 
in the world.  Exiting the vault, she watched Ranma
hit a code on a keypad as 
the alarm set.  Leaving the vault the doors closed
behind them.

�Well Kasumi, you�ve seen all my little secrets.�  He
watched as Jonah walked 
behind Kasumi.  Nodding to Ranma, �Now, I wonder what
we�re going to do 
with you.�

Kasumi started to get nervous.  She didn�t realize
that she would be in any 
danger.  Looking around for an escape, she started to
back up.

Ranma smiled, he punched at Kasumi with half the
speed.  She quickly dodged 
and blocked the punch.  �I Knew it!�  He was excited,
�I knew you were hiding 
your true power.�

Kasumi didn�t know what to expect.  She easily saw the
punch coming and was 
able to defend against it.  She knew that he pulled
the punch.  �Why did you do 
that?�

�Because Ms. Tendo it was a test.�

�A test for what.�

�How would you like to join our little group?�

�Oh my�

------------------------------

End of Part I

Ranma trains Kasumi, while an ancient artifact arises
started an epic quest to 
save the world.  Next on Ranma � Cryptkeeper : Hand of
Goddess Pt II

Authors Note:  I must give credit, I thought of this
story while reading Treasure 
Hunter by Greg Housely.  I will be bringing in
surprise cameos and the usual 
Nerima idiots will be worked into the story slowly. 
Please C&C are welcomed 

http://www.geocities.com/fanficshrine/index.htm
ranma13@yahoo.com









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