First fic alert. This isn't the first thing I have written. But it is
the first on I have even considered posting to the FFML.

If you have read any kind of fan fiction before then you have seen the
disclaimers that all (well almost all) fics have.

I was warned that my previous 'please don't sue me' statement was
almost an open invitation to sue. Well, please don't sue. I have no
real money I am a poor college student. My estimated net worth could
not even come to a thousand dollars. (And now a days it probably
doesn't even break a hundred.)

C&C is welcomed and encouraged. No flames please.

I need some help on the names I have created. Are they close enough
to Japanese to pass?

Thanks to all pre-readers. Without which this work would be a lot
worse.

As a final note Kasumi might be OOC, at least from the cannon. I
prescribe, at least in this fic, to the idea that Kasumi isn't nearly
as oblivious as she seems.

Here it is.
Version 2.14
Last Update: 08/23/98

--------------------
Thoughts
Sound Effects **
--------------------

It was a dark and rainy day in Nerima, turning into a dark and
rainy weekend. At noon all the streetlights came on and by six you
couldn't even seen them through the rain. Not even the local martial
arts fanatics would be wandering about in this weather, well maybe with
the exception of one old pervert. And the women chasing him of course;
but there wasn't nearly as many as normal.
There was one person out in this weather, but he wasn't a
martial arts fanatic, or even just plain crazy. His attire seemed to
match the weather perfectly, a large brown trench coat (so soaked it
looked black) and a large leather hat, pulled over his face. It is
attire that any fictional detective would wear, but if that is what
this person was going for he failed miserably.
No, this person had a look or maybe a feel about him that would
make any police officer that him stop to ask him a few questions.
Maybe about an unsolved murder, or maybe about some illegal drugs just
taken from some street punks, or any of a dozen unsolved cases. And
if they noticed his companion they would do more that question him.
With him this man had a young girl, who seemed to be no older
than five years of age. She was wearing a small parka that did nothing
to keep her either warm or dry. She could be better shape. Her hair
is the definition of unkempt, and she hasn't had a chance to bath in
sometime. If you paid close attention you might notice that she has
not been very well fed in a long time either, and that her clothing
really didn't fit her. She seemed almost invisible, the kind of person
you could look straight at and not even notice. She seemed almost part
of the background, only the most observant person would see her, and
even then only if they where paying careful attention.
The man leads the girl down the street, not showing any
affection or concern for her. The feeling was mutual; the girl did not
exactly have a look of hate on her face, more like a look that says,
"I wish I was anywhere else." The man was obviously searching for
something, something he found just a few minutes latter.
What he found was a large walled residence. The sign above the
gate proclaimed it to be the "Tendo Dojo." Grimly the man knocked on
the door and waited.

--------------------
Ranma 1/2:
Childhood Mysteries
Part 1: The Beginning
--------------------

Ranma has had a bad day. It wouldn't take a genius to figure
that out. The set of his shoulders where screaming to the world that
he was not happy.
Man what a day, Ranma thinks to himself, three maybe four
attempted poisoning, attacks by Ryoga, Mousse, Kuno, Happosai, and even
Tarou. Six, no, seven poundings by Akane, Nabiki coned me out of all
my money, and my day hasn't ended yet.
Thankfully, with the exception of Kasumi he had the house to
himself. Akane and Nabiki where spending the weekend with friends, and
Happosai is out stealing panties. Both sets of fathers where with
Nodoka, most likely trying to come up for a plan for another wedding.
The weather was keeping all the usual problems away. Of course it was
too good to last. And of course here he was doing homework, not that
he had anything else to do, but still...
It was at this point in his contemplation that Ranma heard
Kasumi's voice downstairs. "Ranma is up in his room. Ranma you have a
guest." Kasumi calls up to him.
As the man walked in the room Ranma has to fight an instinct to
go into a combat stance, Something about this guy just rubs me the
wrong way. I don't even feel this nervous around Kodachi.
"Are you Saotome Ranma?" The man's voice fit his looks. The
term ominous doesn't even come close to describing it. Even Darth
Vader's voice had nothing on this one.
"Yes, I am," Ranma answers, "What do you want?"
"I am a courier, I was hired by one Misko Tako, to give you
something." With this the man reached into his coat. Ranma fearing
the worse goes into an instant combat stance. "Here," The courier pulls
out a huge brown envelope and hands it to Ranma, "This is everything
you need to know."
"Your not here to challenge, kill me, or drag me to an altar,
are you?"
"No. Read the packet."
"Wait..." Ranma suddenly realizes something, "Did you say Misko
Tako?"
"Yes"
Ranma gulps and worriedly replies, "Is she ok?"
"I am not sure, I was hired over the phone. The information
you want is in the envelope." The courier points to the envelope.
Ranma looks down, almost unwillingly, to the envelope, and as
soon as his eyes are away, the man quickly and quietly leaves. But he
left the child behind. Ranma looks up quickly with hundreds of
questions on his mind, but breaks off when he sees that the man was
gone and at the sight of what he left behind...
Ranma openly stares at the child, who looks back at him
through her hair, head down. An extremely shy look is on her face,
"Hello," Ranma says, in a very quiet voice, "Who are you?"
Not getting an answer Ranma begins to examine the packet. As
he reads the information in the package he begins to look rapidly
between the child and the packet. His face turns pale, almost as if he
had seen a cat. Finally he voices all his thoughts in one simple
statement.
"Why me? Why?!"

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

Kasumi has had a good day. The house was clean and the usual
problems had stayed off the Dojo's grounds. She was, however, worried
about Ranma. The stress seemed to be getting to him. For the last
couple of days he seemed rather depressed, a great deal like his friend
Ryoga. I hope that man didn't have any bad news for Ranma-kun I don't
think he can take much more. Life has been tough on him lately. *Sigh*
Akane has been tough on him lately.
As if her thoughts had summoned him Ranma came slowly down the
stairs. Kasumi bit back a gasp, for Ranma was paler than she had ever
seen him before, but in his eyes was a serious look.
"Kasumi."
"Yes Ranma?"
"Do we have anything to eat?"
Kasumi frowns knowing Ranma ate less than two hours ago, "Are
you hungry Ranma?"
"It's not for me." With this Ranma reaches behind him and
gently pulls the girl from behind him, where she has hidden. This time
Kasumi was not able to hold in her gasp. The girl had obviously not
eaten for several days, and the look she afforded Kasumi was one of the
most fearful she had ever seen. The child had been hiding behind
Ranma's leg and didn't seem too inclined to let go.
Without a word Kasumi got up and heads into the kitchen. A
little less than two minutes later she comes out with a virtual feast.
Everything that was ready to eat in the kitchen was placed in front of
the girl. After looking at Ranma and then Kasumi the child attacks the
food with gusto that would put Genma to shame.
"You need to slow down some," Ranma gently chides, "You'll get
sick if you don't."
"Ranma who is this?"
Ranma looks carefully at Kasumi and then to the girl, he then
motions Kasumi into the kitchen. Once in the kitchen Ranma hands
Kasumi a small stack of official looking documents, "Well according to
these, she is my daughter."
"..." Kasumi would have fainted, but she was too stunned to
faint.
"Her name is registered as Saotome Miko, her mother is not
listed but her father is listed as Saotome Ranma."
"Ranma you do realize the trouble you will be in if you accept
that girl as a daughter?"
"I don't really care. This is something I just have to do.
This is something they'll just have to get use to."
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
As an answer Ranma nods and smiles. Garbing something to drink
Ranma returns to the main room and sits next to Miko; who had stopped
eating when Ranma left the room. After Ranma sits back down next to
Miko she once again begins eating, if anything speeding up the pace of
her eating.
Kasumi waits just a little longer before returning to the main
room, Ranma seems very serious about this, but who are this child's
parents, and why does Ranma seem to accept this so easily?
As Kasumi returns to the main room one more question occurs to
Kasumi, "Ranma what are you going to do about everyone else?"

End Part 1

Well here it is my first fic.
I hope it wasn't too bad.
If you need to get in touch with me write me at trscrogg@unity.ncsu.edu

I've got a web site now, it's at
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~trscrogg/index.html
All my stories are stored here.


Part Two
Ranma introduces Miko to pleasure of a bath. Miko calls Ranma "dad."
Kasumi tries to discover more of Miko's and Ranma's past. Happosai
appears.