¡Buen día a usted, mis lectores! Estoy escribiendo realmente en español porque me aburren sin mencionar mí conseguí cansado del viejo "Hey Guys" saludo… Hehehe! Psyche! Finally got a BIG PAY Day last week (Pacquiao by KO win on the ninth round, BOY!!) and it couldn't have come at a better time since my Birthday is on the 8th of July and I'm going to hold my annual Beer fest for my bros. Anyway, thanks for the reviews guys and to answer some of my readers questions:

NCPrezmike: Like I said in Chapter 10, I ended up borrowing a few elements from FF7:AC and DoC but this fic will not include those two games in the main story line. So the events in DoC never really happened in this fic. (By the way, I heard that James Posey just opted out from the Celts. I think the Suns should look into signing him to add some defense to their line-up since I think Steve Kerr is planning to build a more defense-oriented team. As for my team… Well, Posey's a bitch who always fouls after the whistle and I don't really want him in our roster coz his face pisses me the hell off. And we have Ariza who's younger than him by a mile so whatever.)

KitsuneOverlord: To shed some light into your question without giving too much away… Let's just say that Vincent never did stop "leveling up" if you know what I mean. And as for the whole Ranma being called out by Vincent thing, you could take it as Vinnie just trying to piss him off.

And before I forget, the line "Truth behind truths" came from the Anime: Full Metal Alchemist which is one of my favorite Animes of all time. Sorry for the long Intro and here's Chapter 12.

Chapter 12

Ranma stared at the creature that stood in front of him. She was completely drenched as the rain continued to pour down from the dark clouds that cluttered the morning skies.

'So, this is your cursed form… This is the first time that I've seen you in this state.'

"Your name… its Vincent, right!?"

The creature smirked.

'Well done. You were able to find the answer quicker than I anticipated. That's right… my name is Vincent, Vincent Valentine.'

"Alright, enough stalling! I've answered your question, now you have to answer mine! Where is she?!" Ranma demanded.

Vincent's smirk grew even wider.

'Are you sure that's the only question you wanted to ask..?'

"Of course! What else would I want to ask you anyway!?"

Vincent slowly began to inch himself closer to Ranma with a knowing grin on his face. He stared at the youth, his crimson eyes piercing through the very depths of young Saotome's soul and sending chills down her spine.

'There is doubt within you…'

Ranma tried to look away. "W-What're you talking about..?"

'You've begun to doubt everything and everyone around you. You doubt your friends, your family… yourself. You've even started doubting the very reality that you exist in.'

"That… that's not true." he whispered in protest.

'I wonder if you can look at me with a straight face and tell me that what I just said isn't true. Maybe… you're not ready yet.'

"Stop playing mind games with me!" she shouted at the creature named Vincent. "You either answer my question or I'm leaving!"

'I guess… After all, a promise is a promise.'

Vincent slowly took out a small purple orb. He began to toss the orb into the air, continuously catching it again and again with his golden claw.

'There are two answers to your question.'

"Two..?"

Vincent nodded.

'The first answer can be found in a place called the "City of the Ancients".'

"City… of the Ancients."

Memories of his last dream began to race through his mind. That place… it was where Aeris…

'So I take it that you're familiar with that place then.'

"…Yeah, I've seen it." she gently shook her head. "But I don't know here it is."

Vincent suddenly threw the purple orb in his hand towards Ranma who immediately caught it. She stared at the purple orb in front of her, and soon she recognized the sphere in her hand for what it truly was.

"This is… a materia." She whispered, her blue eyes filled with awe. She couldn't believe that she was actually holding something that she though only existed in her dreams. And right at that very moment she knew that the thin line that separated the world where she lived in and her "dream world" had now vanished.

'Take that materia to the old Amazon. She should be able to lead you to the right path.'

Vincent slowly turned and began to walk away.

"Wait!" Ranma called out to the creature.

"You said that there were two answers. What about the second one!"

Vincent stopped.

'…You'll be the one to answer that question yourself.'

Soon, Vincent's body started to merge with the shadows, fading slowly into nothing.

"Wait! I don't understand!"

'I'll be waiting in the City of the Ancients… Cloud.'

The dark clouds that were ripe with water covered the sun as the morning rain continued to pour down over all of Nerima.

Under the not so favorable weather, a young purple-haired Amazon named Shampoo slowly began to open the small Chinese restaurant that she and her great-grandmother ran for business. The young Amazon, after taking a small cloth from the kitchen sink, started to wipe the tables clean of the dirt and dust that had accumulated through the night.

Shampoo's great-grandmother, Cologne was sitting at one of the corner tables, her eyes staring outside the window.

'Hmm… it looks like business will be a bit slow today.' the Amazon elder commented.

As Shampoo continued to wipe the tables clean with the cloth in her hand, a white duck wearing a pair of coke-bottle glasses entered the small restaurant. After unfurling its wings and shaking the water off its feathers, the duck's gaze wandered around and quickly stopped when it saw the purple-haired Amazon. The duck noticed a degree of strangeness in the young girl's movements. Often times, she was a live wire, always going about her business like an overzealous rabbit.

But today, that wasn't the case.

She was deathly silent; the expression on her face was as cold as the weather outside. Something was definitely bothering her.

The white duck slowly approached Shampoo. In an attempt to cheer her up it took out five rubber balls from underneath its wings and began to juggle it. The young Amazon, however, did not oblige the duck with a smile nor a single glance.

'Mousse, no bother me.' she scolded the duck.

'Mousse.' Cologne called out to the heartbroken bird. 'My great-granddaughter needs a little time for her self. You should leave her be for a while.'

The duck hung his head in defeat and went straight to the kitchen.

The old Amazon's eyes then gazed at Shampoo.

'You're thinking about son-in-law, am I right?'

'Great-granny, me worried about Airen.' She replied, saddened.

'Do not worry…' Cologne assured her. 'I'm sure that son-in-law will figure everyth-…'

Their conversation, however, was immediately interrupted by someone who had suddenly stormed inside the restaurant. It was Ranma; her clothes were wet as she appeared to the two Amazons still in her female form.

'Airen!' Shampoo shouted in joy as she rushed towards Ranma and embraced her tightly. The young Saotome did not respond in kind and gently pushed her away. Ranma looked straight at Cologne.

"Old bat… I need to talk to you."

'I assume that it's very important to you son-in-law, seeing as you rushed in here despite the weather.'

Ranma slowly pulled out a purple orb from her pocket and tossed it to Cologne.

"Tell me… do you know what that is?"

The old Amazon stared at the orb intently, her eyes looking at every angle. After observing the orb, her face immediately lit up in shock.

'This is… no, it couldn't be.'

'Great-granny?' Shampoo had rarely seen her great-grandmother in awe before.

'…A materia.' she finally answered. 'Where did you get this?'

"A friend of mine gave it to me."

Cologne eyed the young martial artist suspiciously.

'Look, it doesn't matter how I got it. I just wanted to ask you… if you know a place called the "City of the Ancients"."

The old Amazon was silent for a moment. She slowly got off her chair and locked the entrance of the restaurant. She then glanced back at her great-granddaughter.

'Shampoo, I want you to go to the kitchen and heat up a kettle full of water. And make me a cup of tea while you're at it.'

The purple-haired girl hesitantly nodded before making her way to the kitchen.

Cologne returned to her sit.

'Son-in-law, have a seat.' she spoke as she signaled Ranma to occupy the chair on the other side of the table.

Ranma took her seat, her gaze not deviating from Cologne.

'Who told you about that place?'

"…Does it matter?"

'No… I guess not.' Cologne sighed. 'Have you ever heard of… the Cetra?'

"…Aeris." she whispered to herself.

'Back when I was at the same age as Shampoo, my great-grandmother once told me that prior to the present that we live in there had been countless civilizations that had come and gone before us. Among this ancient civilizations were the "Cetra". This Cetras, or Ancients if you will, were one of the earliest inhabitants of this world. They also had something that no other civilization before or after them had… the ability to speak with the planet.'

Ranma was silent. He already knew of this things… because she had told her herself.

-

'We, the Cetra, were born from the planet, speak with the planet, and unlock the planet. And… then… we will return to the Promised Land. A land that promises supreme happiness.'

-

"…"

Cologne continued on.

'The Cetras believed in something called "The Lifestream".'

"Lifestream..?"

'The Ancients described it as the flow which governs the life of worlds. It contains the essence of the Planet and the memories, emotions, and knowledge of all who have lived in it. In a way, you could consider it as the planet's own spirit… its soul. They say that all life comes directly from the Lifestream. From plants to animals, from the largest of beast to the smallest of the insects… all living things are a part of it. And when they die… they return to it. Even we humans are no exception.'

Cologne stared at the purple orb in her hand.

'Materias are crystallized pieces of the Lifestream. They contain the memories of the spirits that had returned to the planet. If used correctly then we can access those memories and in turn gain incredible power.'

"How do you know all this?"

'Because the Amazon tribe also possesses a materia of their own. But since we don't know how to use it, the materia is safely locked away.'

"How about the City of the Ancients… could you tell me about it?"

'The City of the Ancients was the capital of the Cetra civilization. Other than that, I barely know anything about it.'

"Do you know where to find it?"

Cologne shook her head.

'No one knows where its exact location really is. The only thing that my great-grandmother told me concerning its whereabouts was an old riddle of the Amazon Tribe.

"Riddle?"

'Northward, the great city lies silent in the land of Norig, cradled by the forest that sleeps through night and day.'

…Cradled by the forest that sleeps through night and day…

"…Sleeping Forest" she spoke in a hushed tone, cautious of the old Amazon that sat on the other side of the table. She did not wish for Cologne to hear a word of her self contemplation. One thing was for sure, whether Cologne was aware of it or not, Ranma had already figured out half of the riddle.

But deciphering the other half would not be so easy. She knew that as good as she was in terms of fighting; she was by no means intellectually gifted. Ranma needed someone who was smart, someone who was an expert when it came to solving ancient riddles and had a vast knowledge of history…

…Luckily for her, she knew someone who was all of that and more.

'Goddammit Saotome!' a scruffy looking man shouted at the black-haired youth that had barged inside the teacher's lounge without so much as a single knock on the door.

The man, who was in his late thirties, had dark hair with streaks of brown in them. The white shirt that he was wearing had more creases on it than there were students in the school. His left ear was pierced. His hazel colored eyes were currently glued to the screen of the Gameboy that he was playing with in complete concentration as he huffed on the cigarette in his mouth.

'Can't you see that I'm in the middle of something important! After I get past this level then I'll only need to finish two more before I kick the final master's ass!'

Ranma couldn't help but roll his eyes in exasperation.

"I can't believe this..! Are you for real, Mr. Onei!"

Mr. Onei was one of Furinkan Highs most decorated teachers. An educator that graduated at Tokyo University with top honors, he was a history teacher that knew everything about Japanese History and was rumored to have read every history book in the National Library. He was also an archeologist at heart and had far greater knowledge in the said field compared to most experts. He would often times leave the country to join his friends in visiting and exploring newly discovered archeological digs in foreign lands. The principal viewed him as a great asset to the school and gave him free reign of when and who he wanted to teach.

But even with all those jaw-dropping credentials and privileges that made some of his colleagues envious of him, Mr. Onei was nothing more than 15 year old teenager trapped in an adult's body. He was absent most of the time and he would abuse his privileges to the point that he ended up giving only two lectures a month. But the students admired and respected him. His method of teaching was interactive and fun. And unlike the other teachers who were too pompous for their own good and hypocrites in their own right, he listened to his students problems and gave good advice… except when he was playing with his Gameboy.

'Come on baby! You can make it! Damn, I should've bought more potions in the item shop!'

"Teach, I wanted to ask you…"

'Shhhh!' he admonished Ranma. 'Just a little more…'

"But Teach..!"

'Shhhh! Play now, talk later.'

"Sensei!!" Ranma shouted, his hand slamming down on the table of his teacher and crushing it in the process.

Mr. Onei stared at him for a few seconds. He then sighed and pressed the pause button on his Gameboy.

'This better be good Saotome, because if it isn't then you're buying me a new table! Got that!'

"Teach, I wanted to ask you something. It's really important."

After telling his teacher of the old Amazon Riddle…

'Hmm… interesting. Norig, huh…'

"So… you think you can tell me where it is?"

'One hundred percent… no fucking idea. I mean, if a 300 year old Amazon elder couldn't figure it out then what made you think that a thirty-something year old bachelor with a friggin Gameboy in his hand could!?'

"Oh…"

'Besides, what are you searching for anyway?'

"I was… no, forget it. It wasn't anything." he spoke, disappointment lacing his every word.

'You know, you really suck at lying.'

A lifeless chuckle escaped his lips. "I was… I was searching for something important… to me, at least. I thought I was close to finding it but I guess I have to find another way."

'Important, huh…' Mr. Onei slowly removed the cigarette from his mouth and expelled the smoke in his lungs. 'How important..?'

"Let's just say that I would've sacrificed… a lot, for it."

'Hmpf.' Mr. Onei shrugged. 'Tough luck, kid.' He pressed the pause button of his Gameboy once more and resumed playing. 'Well, I'll be rooting for you.'

"Thanks anyway, Sensei…" he said as he made his way to the door.

Just when he thought that she was within his reach… it turned out to be nothing more than a mirage.

'Oh, and one more thing Saotome… I'm ninety-nine percent sure that whatever the hell you're looking for is in Austria.'

"Wha…" he stopped, his blue eyes widened in utter disbelief. "I thought you said you didn't… Wait! Austria!!"

'Friedrich Heer, one of my favorite historians, said in his book entitled Der Kampf um die österreichische Identität that "Austria" was derived from an old term originating in the Celtic languages of ancient Austria. More than 2,500 years ago, the major part of the actual country was called Norig by the Celtic population that inhabited it. Funny isn't it… the things you learn when you end up reading a book on Saturdays after your date ditches you.'

"Austria… so that's the place where I can finally meet her then…"

'I'm home!' Akane shouted nonchalantly as she opened the door of the Tendo house, a small frown etched on her lips.

Ranma had yet to return. Some of her classmates had told her that he had briefly visited the teacher's lounge in search of Mr. Onei, a teacher who had only twice given them lectures on Japanese History but whom they liked nonetheless. After hearing this piece of information, she immediately dashed to the teacher's lounge. But when she arrived, Ranma had already left. She tried to coax Mr. Onei in to telling her the reason why the young Saotome had come looking for him, but their teacher refused to cooperate.

-

'I've told you three times already! What I and Mr. Saotome discussed is highly confidential. Not to mention it's against the law.' the eccentric educator stubbornly answered with a slight smirk on his face much to the dismay of Akane. Also, the fact that her teacher wasn't even paying her much attention and chose to play with his Gameboy instead, annoyed her a bit.

'And what law would that be?!' she asked, trying to suppress her anger.

'Ah… the "Non-snitching Act", as stated in Article 6, paragraph 7, section 8 of the "Leave me alone coz I'm in the middle of my game and if you don't then I'll fail your ass Law". Now please leave because you're seriously cutting into my game time.'

-

As she slowly removed her shoes, she noticed a familiar pair of black footwear that had been neatly placed at the side.

'…Ranma.'

She hastened her movements. He was finally back. She wanted to ask him so many questions, but more importantly she wanted to see how well he was coping with everything that was happening. She knew that grief was something that was not easily overcome… but maybe…

She shook her head. She chided herself for being too optimistic. But the thought still lingered. Perhaps he had come to his senses and had finally let her go… Of course the idea of Ranma being able to come to terms with her death so quickly was not only unlikely, it was just downright farfetched. But she could still hope… right?

Racing through the hallway of the house, she stopped right in front of Ranma's room and quickly opened it.

'Ranma!' she smiled with glee.

But her sunny disposition didn't last as her eyes gazed at nothing more than an empty room.

'Oh, Akane!' a gentle voice spoke from behind her.

She quickly looked back.

'Kasumi.' she greeted her brown-haired elder sister.

'You're a little late coming home, Akane.' Kasumi questioned.

'Oh, it's just that I asked one of my teachers about something important.' Akane answered. 'Anyway, I saw Ranma's shoes near the front door so I was wondering if he's home yet.'

'Yes, Ranma came home just a few hours ago, although I haven't seen him for quite some time now. I'm sure that he's just resting somewhere in the house. Why don't you se if he's in the dojo?'

'You're right. I'll go check if he's practicing there right now.'

Just as Akane was about to dash out of the hallway…

'Akane, wait.'

'What is it Kasumi?'

'Could you first tell Nabiki that her bath is ready. You see, she asked me earlier if I could prepare a nice hot bath for her, and it'd be a waste if the water just sat there and cooled down.'

'Sure.'

Akane climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked right in front of Nabiki's room. She was just about to knock on the door when…

"So, will you help me..?"

That voice…

'Ranma…' she whispered. What was he doing in Nabiki's room?

'First off, I don't get it. Why the heck would you want to go to Austria?' a feminine voice, which could have only belonged to her sister Nabiki, asked.

Austria..? No, he couldn't be planning on leaving… could he?

Akane positioned her ear near the door and intently listened in on the two youth's conversation.

Inside the room…

"I… It's because… Tsk! Could you just lend me the money without asking so many damn questions!?" Ranma blurted out at the young woman who was sitting on the chair right in front of him.

'Ok. One, when it comes to money matters I don't rush into things unless I'm sure that I'm investing on something that will be productive in the long run. And two, what makes you think that I even have that much money to begin with.' she answered in a business like tone.

"I don't know… maybe the fact that you've been swindling me and the majority of the people here in Nerima for years now was what probably gave it away." he answered sarcastically.

'You know, you could've asked Kodachi to lend you the money. Or if she wasn't available then I'm sure that Kuno would've been more than willing to help out his 'Pig-tailed Princess" in her time of need. Either way, chances are that you wouldn't even have to pay them back.'

"Not funny!" he spat out. 'You know damn well that they're going to ask me to marry them or make me do something disgusting in return! Those two idiots are absolutely out of the question!"

A moment of silence reigned between the two. After a while, Ranma sighed and slowly got down on his knees.

"Please… you're the only one that can help me." he pleaded. "I know we haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but if you do this one favor for me then I'll forever be in your debt. I swear I'll pay you back with a hundred… no, two hundred percent interest. If you want, when the dojo is transferred to my name then I'd gladly give it to you and you could sell it or do whatever you want with it…"

Nabiki stared at Ranma. Her figure remained poised, but her eyes couldn't hide the glimmer of shock and surprise that shone from within it.

"I'll do anything you want… Just please, please help me!"

Both remained silent, until Nabiki stood up and gazed out her window.

'Let me guess… this has something to do with that girl in your painting, right?'

"…"

'Hmpf! You really are an idiot!' she grunted loud enough for Ranma to hear her not so kind remark.

"…"

'Here you are, being chased by four gorgeous girls that most men would trade half of their life span to have; four girls that are willing to kill each other for your attention… and you're just going to throw all of that away to travel to some country that's half-way across the planet… to see a girl who's already six feet under the ground. You really are dumber than you look!'

Her voice was different now, it was cold… heartless… it was as if it belonged to some cruel judge. She turned to Ranma, her eyes scrutinizing every inch of his being. No, this was no longer the Nabiki Tendo that he once knew.

"…"

'I mean think about it, with that much money you could go to China and visit Jusenkyo. You could cure that curse of yours and be normal again… isn't that what you've always wanted?'

"How did you know that she's…?'

'Akane told us last night. She waited for you to come home, did you know that? The last time that I've ever seen her like that was when… our mother died. Even though I never show it most of the time, Akane's still my sister and I care about her a lot.'

"…"

She slowly walked pass Ranma before she stopped and continued on.

'You're right, I do have the money and nine hundred and ninety-nine times out of a thousand I wouldn't even consider doing this but… I could lend it to you. Use it to go to Jusenkyo and get that curse of yours fixed… all I ask is that you forget about that girl. After all, she's dead. And no matter how much you cry and moan about it, nothing will ever change that.' she smirked.

"…"

'So what will it be? Jusenkyo… or mourning over some girl's grave that's half-way across the world?'

Ranma sighed once more before standing up.

"…I guess I can't expect any help from you then."

'Tsk! Moron! I'm giving you the chance of a lifetime and you're just going to walk away from it!'

As Ranma headed towards the door and slowly turned its knob…

"A man has to have his priorities straight… It's not like I don't want to be cured, but I realize now… that there are more important things. If you're not going to help me and if worse comes to worse… then I guess I'll just have to swim to Austria."

He gently opened the door and exited the room.

'Idiot!' Nabiki grumbled. 'Now I really need to take that bath.'

As she left her bedroom she heard a few sobs echoing from out of Akane's room that was located not far from her own.

As she approached the door and slowly opened it, she saw the defeated figure of her younger sister crying her eyes out on her pillow.

'A-Akane..?'

'He's… He's leaving me, isn't he!?' she mumbled through her tears.

'Akane…' Nabiki approached her sister and gave her a comforting embrace.

'N-Nabiki… w-why would he want to leave?! Is it because… because of me? Is it all my fault?'

'Don't cry anymore… it's not your fault.'

'I… I don't want him to leave.'

'Don't worry; he's not going to leave you… I'll make sure of that.'

Akane, with her eyes still wet with tears, looked at her sister in a puzzled manner.

'After I'm through with him… he's going to forsake that little whore of his..!'

Weird chapter don't you think. Wonder what Nabs is gonna do to poor Cloud/Ranma (laughs maniacally). Anyway RnR please.

Author's Note: So you might be wondering why I chose Austria. Two reasons: (A) I thought it was too much of a cliché if I ended up placing the City of the Ancients somewhere in Japan or China. (B) I actually superimposed the FF7 world map and the Earth's world map and it turned out that the City of the Ancients was located in Austria. (And who said that fanfic writers only pull stuff out of their ass). Also, Mr. Onei (another OC of mine) was actually inspired by my favorite teacher of all-time. I exaggerated a few of his traits but his essence is pretty much there.