Transcending Time, a Ranma/SM crossover

by JohnnyG

You can also find this story on fanfiction.net here:
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2357156/1/

Summary:
Ranma/SM Xover. Ranma begins having dreams where he is married to a
beautiful green-haired, red-eyed woman. Pluto, after putting him out
of her mind since the fall of the Moon Kingdom, begins to dream of her
long dead husband. Connection? Ranma/Setsuna

Side Note: Ranma will NOT be a Scout or some kind of Sailor Knight.
He is something else alltogther.  O_O

This story takes place at the very end of the manga continuity.  It
was originally meant as a one-shot, but because I've been so busy I
decided to release it in very short chapters so that I at least feel
like I'm accomplishing something.  So, while the chapters will be
short, there will be many of them.  Also, I have NOT abandoned Aijou &
Aitou.  It's just that with the little free time I have, my muse is
forcing me to work on other stories first.  This is one of them, as is
Tabi No Sora (my Irikara story).  I have put my story Mind's Eye on
hold indefinitely.  Also, I am working on two different story ideas
for Naruto.  Now that I'm beginning to have a little more time, my
hope is to work on all of the stories in parallel (as my muse
dictates).  Wish me luck.  Oh, and I must take the time to thank
Strife Aileron for his proofreading (and Ranma/SM knowledge) as well
as my wife (for her support and proofing as well).  Anyhow, on to the
story.

--

'Why me?'

Ranma Saotome, heir to the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, sat
on the roof of the place he had called home for more than a year,
gazing up at the stars.  While this might seem a normal occurrence to
those who knew the young man, there were several things wrong with the
scene.

First and foremost was the fact that he was currently a she; not
unusual given his curse, but an oddity nonetheless since it wasn't
raining and Ranma tended to change back as quickly as possible.
Another abnormality was the ripped and charred remains of a white
tuxedo that hung loosely on her body.  Also, her whole demeanor did
not portray the usual Saotome cockiness, but rather a deep sense of
resignation.  However, the most frightening thing of all, the detail
that would have likely scared the wits out of those who knew Ranma,
was the contemplative look she was currently sporting.

'Damn,' she thought with agitation, 'I can't believe I almost got
married today.  I mean, Akane looked good in her dress and all... but
come on!  I ain't ready to be married to nobody, least of all that
uncute tomboy.'

As she sat twisting her pigtail repeatedly, it occurred to Ranma that
she was contradicting herself from one thought to the next, but she
really couldn't help it, her mind was in turmoil.  'Pops and Mr. Tendo
are just gonna keep trying this crap too.  It ain't ever gonna stop.
Plus, what was with Akane thinkin' that I said I loved her?  I know I
didn't say that!  How could I love someone... like...'

Against her will, Ranma's thoughts drifted back to Phoenix Mountain,
when she had believed Akane was dead, and focused on the pit of
despair she had found herself in.  ''Course I didn't want the tomboy
to die.  I wouldn't want that to happen to nobody, not even someone
like the Kuno's.  That don't mean I love her or nothin'... does it?'

The last part was added weakly, even in the quiet of Ranma's own mind.
She knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that even though she wouldn't
wish that fate on another person, there was no way she would have
fought to the same degree that she had for just anyone.  That led her
thoughts down a different path.

'What if it had been UChan?  Or Shampoo?  Would I've fought any less
for them?'  The answer was a simple one for Ranma.  'No, I woulda
fought the same.  Does that mean... do I... l-lo...'  She forced those
thoughts down.

"Fine," Ranma grumbled resignedly.  'So I care about all of 'em, but
that don't mean nothin'!  I woulda done exactly the same thing if it'd
been Kasumi, or even Nabiki, and I know for a fact that, at most, I
think of them like sisters.  Well, that might be stretchin' it with
Nabiki, but still...'

This new line of thinking was difficult for Ranma, causing her to
massage her temples.  She was forced to examine her feelings more
closely for all of the girls in her life.  She thought about what
Kasumi and Nabiki meant to her, then compared and contrasted what her
reactions to both of them would be under a variety of circumstances.
The situations Ranma thought up were very difficult for Ranma to
process, but she forced herself through the exercise.

'What would it be like to hold their hands?  To k-kiss them? To m-ma-
marry them?'  While the first two held a vague sense of appeal, Ranma
honestly couldn't see the third ever becoming a reality.  She thought
about why the first two thoughts had any kind of allure, and was
forced to admit that it was really the concept of holding the hand of
any girl, or kissing them for that matter, that was the source of the
attraction.  It really didn't have anything to do with Kasumi and
Nabiki specifically, just girls in general.

With that more difficult line of thinking complete, Ranma moved onto
something much easier for her.  'What would I do if they needed my
help?  What if they needed to be rescued?  Would I risk my life, even
sacrifice it, to save them?'  Ranma knew beyond a shadow of a doubt
that she would do anything to help them if it was within her power.

Now that she had a better understanding of her own thoughts
surrounding Kasumi and Nabiki, Ranma moved forward by asking herself
the same questions about Akane, Shampoo and Ukyo. To say that the
revelation she came to was startling to the pigtailed girl would be an
understatement.

'I care about all of 'em, but like it is with Kasumi and Nabiki, I
don't really think of 'em more than sisters.  And I may be stupid, but
even I know that ya don't go marrying your sister.  So I guess it
might be considered lo-love, but no different than what I feel for my
mom.  And I sure as hell ain't marrying her neither.'  That
particularly disturbing thought was cut short by a voice from below.

"Ranma," Kasumi called from the ground.  "I'm getting ready to close
up for the evening."

"Okay Kasumi," Ranma replied.  "I'll be down in a sec."

Shaking her head to clear the fog that had seemed to settle there,
Ranma stood and stretched.  It helped her feel a little better, but
the general weariness this whole experience had brought still
permeated her.  She really didn't know what to do with these new
revelations, or even if she could do anything with it, but now wasn't
the time.  Maybe tomorrow would help bring clarity.  Clinging to that
hope, Ranma leapt down from the roof and went inside to prepare for
bed.

After a quick stop at the bathroom, and the use of hot water to return
to his male form, Ranma went to the room he shared with his father.
The older man, well, panda at the moment, was asleep and Ranma had to
fight down the urge to kick him for making his life such a mess.

After a quick change of clothes, Ranma laid down on his own futon and
stared at the ceiling.  His thoughts quickly returned to what he had
been contemplating earlier.  'I guess I ain't even really sure what
love is.  I know what I feel for mom, as well as people like Kasumi
and the other girls, but I guess I don't understand what love is
supposed ta be like between two people who are supposed ta be
married.'

Ranma tried to think of examples of happily married people he knew,
and honestly couldn't think of any.  The only married couple he could
think of at the moment was his parents.  'And they sure as hell ain't
gonna win Couple of the Year anytime soon.'

Letting out a deep sigh, Ranma turned on his side and slowly began to
fall asleep.  Before finally succumbing to the peaceful abyss, one
thought repeated itself in the young man's mind.  'I wish I knew what
real love is.'

With that wish firmly planted, Ranma fell asleep... and dreamed.

--

All comments are welcome.  Thanks for reading.

My personal webpage:
http://www.computersensa.com

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