Obligatory Disclaimer (Do you even read this anyway?): I don't own Ranma or the game this fic is based on

Just so you know, it's going to be taking a bit longer now to release new chapters. My grades are slipping, so my computer time has been halved, and midterms are coming up… oi.

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Herb sat quietly, his legs crossed beneath him. He sat crouched on a large rock, in the center of Mifunashiro, the Manikins Holy Land. Mifunashiro was dug into a long network of tunnels crisscrossing under New Asakusa. In the center was a large boulder that Herb used for meditating, in a deep cavern rich in Magatsuhi.

Herb would often come here when times were stressful. He liked to meditate in this cool cavern, on a rock surrounded on three sides by water. He hadn't been able to meditate much at all before the Conception, on account of the fact that Mint and Lime were constantly groping at his girl side.

Herb's eyes didn't open as he heard the doors to his chamber slide open. Tofu and Futomimi entered in lockstep, bowing respectfully. "Herb, we have been sent to inform you of something."

"What is it?"

"Our messengers have heard rumors all around town. The other Manikins have been talking about Creation. They are beginning to desire their own Reason."

Herb opened his eyes. "Yes, I've been thinking about that myself. Keep me informed. Remember, I'm not as self-centered as I used to be. I worry about the well-being of my fellow Manikins."

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Once again, the sand crunched under Ranma's feet as they walked through the desert, leaving Ikebukuro behind them. The Kagutsuchi began to grow the red of evening above them.

Akane was silent. Normally, she would have clobbered Ranma for some much as mentioning 'the cute fiancee'.

But that was an old world. Things were different now. Deep inside, she had always known that Ranma considered Ukyo nothing more than his best friend. And now that friend was gone, replaced with a pestilence in human form. Well, roughly human anyway. Ranko's leaving them probably didn't make it any better.

Suddenly Ranma stopped. He held up a hand. "Stop."

"What?"

"Listen." Akane listened.

She could hear something, very faint. It was a mix of various noises. The familiar crackle of flames. The occasional whinny of horses. Voices in conversation.

Ranma dashed forward up the next sand dune. Akane ran after him. At the top of the sand dune, they stopped.

In a deep valley of sand below them, a large circle of old wagons sat with their wheels in the sand. A small stockade held fourteen horned horses. In the center of the circle were several campfires. There were demons sitting around the campfires, making the whole thing look like some strange episode of The X-Files. Something like Aliens meets the Oregon Trail.

Akane felt a smile spread across her face. "The caravan."

Ranma turned his head. "What?"

"It must be the caravan that Nabiki told us about! She said there might be humans! Come on!"

She took off down the hill, Ranma running behind her.

They called, waving their arms to get their attention. A small white demon sitting on one of the wagons turned his head. They saw him turn and yell to someone in the wagon.

Most of the activity in the camp ceased, Ranma and Akane reached the bottom of the hill. A pair of demons came running to meet them. "Are you human?"

Akane nodded breathlessly. "Yes!"

"Come with us."

The two martial artists followed the demons back to the wagons. The scene did indeed look strange. Demons, and a few humans, sitting around fires, exchanging talk. Some cooked food over the fires.

The small white demon came running over to them as fast as his stubby little legs could carry him, a huge, cute smile on his face. He really was quite small, he barely came up to Ranma's knee.

"Humans, hee ho! I love humans! We hardly ever get humans around here!"

Akane's eyes grew huge and sparkly. "HE'S… SO… CUTE!" She bent down and grabbed the little demons like it was a stuffed toy. The little frost demon struggled to get out of her grasp. "Let go of me, hee ho!"

Ranma would have helped, but couldn't as he was too busy roaring with laughter.

Eventually, a grey-skinned demoness in a green dress wrenched the demon from her grasp. "Alright, that's enough."

Akane blushed. "I… I'm so sorry."

The little demon laughed. "No problem, pretty lady, hee ho! My name's Jack Frost, and this lady here's Sarasvati!"

Akane blushed again. "Why thank you."

Sarasvati bowed. "Don't worry about him, he's always jolly like that. You are welcome here. You may stay as long as you like."

As Ranma and Akane bowed back, a familiar voice reached Ranma's ears. "I should have known you'd survive the Conception, Ranma Saotome."

Ranma froze at the voice he expected to never hear again. Slowly, he turned his head and stared at a familiar feminine face. She was a woman with short white hair, and a pair of wings tucked behind her

Akane gulped. "Kiima?"

Kiima nodded. "You seem surprised to see me. Not that I blame you. Most of the Phoenix people were wiped out, powerful as we were."

Akane could almost hear the gears turning in Ranma's head. "But… if you're here… then that mean that-"

"You deduce correctly, Ranma Saotome. I'm impressed that you survived."

The veins in Ranma's neck expanded slightly as he heard the voice of the one person to ever match him in strength. "I'd really hoped I wouldn't have to meet you again, Saffron."

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Inside the Amala Temple, there was darkness, as there had been for many years.

With a loud creak, the doors were pushed to their sides, casting an expanding line of light into the room.

Click-Click-Click. Click-Click-Click. Click-Click-Click.

Hikawa's spiderlike walker machine moved him into the chamber. He slowly moved his head from side to side, looking for anything peculiar. Mousse treaded behind him, with an Oni demon bringing up the rear.

Hikawa was pushing his troops to find Magatsuhi quickly. Not just to fully start his Reason, but for another purpose: the poison that Hinako had given him was slowly removing his control of his body. He could already no longer move four of his fingers.

"Can I help you gentlemen?"

The Oni jumped, searching around for the voice. Mousse allowed some of his scythes to dangle next to his fingers.

Suddenly, the room lit up with light. A pair of torches on each wall burst alight.

A great pool of liquid Magatsuhi sat before them. On a circular platform in the center sat a young man. He had faces stretching out of his chest, and his eyes glowed purple. Behind him, a hooded figure in a cloak sat with its head bowed. Several more in hoods lined the wall behind it.

Hikawa quirked his head. "You must be the Ryoga fellow I've heard so much about. I see you too have ascended to Higher Being Status."

Ryoga grinned toothily, showing his fangs, which had elongated to sharp canines. "Right. And you must be Hikawa. You're a lot weaker-looking than I've heard."

The Oni growled. "How dare you insult Commander Hikawa!" The Oni flung his spear at the Higher Being in hopes of injuring him. In one smooth motion, Ryoga caught the spear, twirled it around in his hand, and flung it back. The spear impaled the Oni through the chest and continued to embed itself in the wall behind it.

The hooded figure flinched.

Hikawa did not blink. "A Higher Being indeed. Do you claim this Magatsuhi for your own?"

Ryoga nodded. "I do. And as you may see, I even already have my sacrifice." He gestured above him.

Hikawa glanced at the familiar figure dangling above the Magatsuhi Pool in chains. "I see. So why do you not kill her and be done with it?"

"I'm just waiting for the right time. Do you wish to try and kill me? If you do, I shall kill you here and now."

Hikawa shook his head. "No need. As you said, I'm in no condition to fight you. We shall look elsewhere. Come, Mousse."

Hikawa clicked his way to the exit. Mousse regarded Ryoga silently as he followed.

The hooded figure stared up at the figure dangling above the pool. It quickly averted its eyes and looked down.

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In an eerily familiar scene, Akane and Kiima watched as Ranma and Saffron stared at each other over one of the fires. It was all Ranma could do to restrain himself from leaping at the Leader of the Phoenix People right there and then.

Saffron looked a bit different from the way he had looked when Ranma fought him. He looked like a teenager, and actually didn't look a day over fifteen, three years younger than Ranma. Akane supposed it had something to do with the Phoenix eggs.

Saffron eventually broke the silence. "You have every right to want to kill me."

"Darn right."

Akane face-faulted.

"I'm not the person I used to be."

"So you say."

"And so says Kiima. But I really am different. Please believe me, Ranma Saotome."

Ranma laughed, a single humorless Ha. Why should I believe anything you say? You tried to kill me, Akane, and everyone I knew."

"That was because of my upbringing. When I was younger I was spoiled, and never had to do any honest work. But when I was resurrected by the eggs, Kiima made sure I was raised better than before."

Kiima nodded. "Indeed I did."

Ranma glared. Saffron continued. "I truly regret what I did. I hope you can find a way to forgive me, both you and Miss Akane Tendo."

"Not a chance." Akane smacked Ranma upside the head. "Ranma! Can't you see he's serious?"

"I do not expect for you to be able to forgive me immediately. I shall let you sleep on it. I shall ask you again tomorrow." With that, Saffron stood and walked into the darkness toward one of the wagons.

Kiima stood as well. "It's getting late. You two should get to bed soon. Good night." She followed Saffron toward the wagon.

Ranma and Akane remained seated on their log, staring into the flames. Akane spoke softly. "I think he's telling the truth. You ought to at least give him a chance."

"You didn't fight him. You don't know him like I do."

Akane sighed and stared into the fire.

"…Ranma?"

"Hmm?"

Can ask you something?"

"You just did."

Akane giggled softly. "You know what I mean."

Ranma smiled. "Ask away."

"Why do you save me?"

Ranma turned to look at her. "What?"

"I know that you and I don't… didn't get along very well. We fought all the time. So why do you always save my life?"

"Because you life's in danger. It's the right thing to do."

"But really. What's the real reason you rescue me?"

Ranma sighed and stared at the fire. "I… I really don't know. I… I'm just always afraid you'll be hurt, and… I just don't think I could forgive myself if you were."

Akane smiled. "Thanks."

Ranma stretched an arm out and around Akane's shoulders. Akane didn't resist and rested her head on his shoulder.

They stayed that way for a while, in front of the dying fire, watching the lights above them in the other regions twinkle like stars.