Chapter 3 Return to the beginning

On the dark street a folding of space was occurring that would have left Albert Einstein drooling. The very air and space within the middle of the street seemed to fold and bend as though Kamisama himself was doing origami. Within the center a ripple started to form slowly expanding outward to the edges of the folding. Than suddenly without warning a rip stretched down the center and opened inward as if falling into a hole. Within the hole two individuals could be seen moving toward the opening. One was obviously human though a little taller and broader than the average of the species. The other only had the characteristics of walking on two feet and having two arms in common with humans. The creature was to tall and broad to be human and the tail behind it would have given it away even to the most short sighted of foes. That is not to say the ivory colored scales that covered his body not the large horns and mandibles were any less obvious.

When the two individuals reached the entrance to the hole they paused as if considering some great decision that could not be undone once decided. Just as the smaller of the two turned around to ask the second a question he was abruptly pushed through the opening with the second following sharply behind him. As the first individual passed through the fluid like membrane rippling over the holes edge a small but noticeable change occurred.

Marks one could only attribute to maturing and aging eased a bit and the individual shrank a bit. The individual seemed to age back several years till he appeared to be about seventeen. Still several distinctive features remained on the young. Startling japenese blue eyes contrasted the deep red hair that was pulled back into a long ponytail. His facial features would be considered refined if not for the jagged scar that reached from above his left eye down to the corner of his mouth on the same side. He was clothed in a pair of black leather pants and black silk shirt. Over this he wore a black leather trench coat (think German WW2) with a red logo over the left breast of a horses head within a circle. Jet black combat tanker boots graced his feet and a large black GI duffel bag was draped over his back. His hands and neck was covered by a non reflective black material that seemed to display the muscle and skeleton structure of the individual. Under the clothing one could see the gun webbing holding several knives and two distinctively different guns. One was extremely modern looking while the other had a more archaic look as if it was a musket.

As the second individual stepped through the membrane the change was much more noticeable. The individual shrank to the size of a tall human about 6 foot three inches and the shoulders shrank to accommodate the change in size. But this was not the most noticeable change as the individual lost all of the accents that would still have kept it from looking human. Gone where the horns, tail and scales. Gone where the mandibles and teeth that would have scared the creatures from the movie aliens and the eyes changed also. He now appeared to be a caucasian with closed cropped hair and iron blue grey eyes. He was clothed similar to the first individual but the clothes know hung loose on his frame. The second individual stepped into a near by alley to change into more fitting clothes that were pulled out of one the three large GI duffel bags he carried.

"Jeez do you have to this now!" the smaller of the two quipped.

"You try to walk around with a hole in your pants where your tail used to hang out of." The larger of the two rumbled. 'nd 's th't 'ny w'y t' t'lk t' y'r f'th'r R'nm'. (And is that any way to talk to your father Ranma.)

A swift kick toward the head was blocked as an annoyed young man spat. "I told you that when we came back that you would have to speak Japanese not Korelian. How do you expect anybody to understand you when you don't speak their language let alone one that doesn't pronounce vowels, Korinth!" More would have been forth coming if a hand didn't sneak path the youth's defenses to strike him on the back of his head.

"Enough, we need to find a place to stay tonight and tomorrow to find a more permanent home base for us. It is going to take a lot of work for us to assimilate into this culture."

"Alright, alright, I there should be a hotel about a click up the road on the right. Are you sure that Ship got everything setup for us? And how hard can it be to get used to living back here?"

"Yes, to your first question. Ship is if nothing exacting in every detail. As to your second question, well you just spent ten years living and fighting in a world that makes all the violence in this world seem tame. How many sociopaths and psychopaths do you think are at the old place as compared to here? It has gotten better since the professor took over but still this place should be a little bit calmer." Replied Korinth as he picked up his bag and motioned to his companion to remove his armament as they headed down the empty street.

"I really wish you wouldn't say that. It only means our lives will get worse." With that being said the two did not speak until they reached the hotel and than only to register with the manager. Only when they reached their room did the two begin to converse again.

"Why do I detect a lack of excitement upon returning home, Ranma?"

"Is this really home? I mean I have spent the last 10 years fighting and living in another realm against creatures and people who I hope never find this place. Only to leave it behind so that I can come back to a place where the only person who might miss me I don't know."

"Well when you put it that way I guess it does take a little of the fun out of it. But, look at it this way only six months have passed since you left in this realm. I myself am looking forward to setting up shop, going to school and living in a realm where I do not have to worry about serial killers, carien and insane ebons running around loose using biological ebb enhanced psychotropic weapons on me. With the new identities and funds Ship has setup for us we should not have a problem setting up as a new tech firm."

"You did look at the age Ship setup for you didn't you?"

"Yes, I believe he aged me one year older than you. Why is that going to be a problem?"

"Well it means that you will have to attend and finish high school and college."

"What do you mean? I already have finished school on Meny and been tutored by the Professor as have you.."

"Well school here is different than on Meny. First they do not teach weapon tech, small/large arms, and forensic science in high school. Secondly, much of what the Professor taught us about the technology we will be introducing will be way above the average PHD in physics and engineering. So we will have to procure some credentials before we start to release the tech on this world."

"Well we will just have to work with this setback. We have enough funds to pay for it and we can always apply for patents and live off that money until we finish school. Of course we can always fall back on our martial skills and hunt down bounties. It would be like old times except for the total complete insanity that seems to follow us." (Note: Does anybody know if Bounty Hunting is allowed in Japan?) Pausing as to consider his next words Korinth finally spoke "All of this can wait until tomorrow. Right now we need to sleep. Tomorrow will be difficult enough without being exhausted."

With nothing more being said between the two they climbed into bed and slowly drifted off to sleep. Unbeknownst to the two black suits seemed to emerge from their skins slowly covering their bodies. Neither one noticed as they slept throughout the night and into the morning. Waking for the two was something of an unnerving experience as both of them were sure that they had not activated their suits when they went to sleep. After several minutes of staring at each other Korinth got out of bed and went into the bathroom only to come out shortly.

"Ranma, what the hell is wrong with the bathroom? There is no shower."

"Oh, yah it is a little different here than back home. You first rinse of with cold water, than lather up and than rinse and than soak in the big tub." Ranma explained to his extremely confused companion.

"I don't understand. Why would I wish to splash cold water over my body so early in the morning when it has nothing to do with training? I mean this body is not exactly setup to setup to live in arctic climate so why rinse my self with cold water?"

"Remember that conversation we had when I first arrived on Mort about it just is they way things are done and to get over it. Same thing, so just hurry so that we can find some place to settle in. I don't want to stay in this hotel forever." With only so much grumbling as to appear unhappy with the arrangements but not enough to seem childish Ranma's companion entered the bathroom closing the door forcefully. Ranma only sighed, as this was only the beginning of things Korinth would have to accept as being different. Flicking on the television Ranma turned it to a news channel to reacquaint himself with his new home. [I'm going to have to remember how to act, not that Pop was much help in this regard, if we are going to pass of as two Japanese students returning from studding aboard. Damn, I can't even remember who was the Prime Minister before I left. I am going to have to really study up on history, not that I knew it before, or this is not going to work.]

Stepping out of bathroom Korinth shrugged into a black silk shirt "Get dressed we need to find a realtor. We also need to register with a school and have time to practice. So stop moping and get going."

Notice: I am not MadCat who posted this fan fic for me on fanfiction.net. If you have any questions please or comments please send them to Nightfall02_2000@yahoo.com. Or you contact MadCat on his address posted on Fanfiction.net. Also I am looking for a name for this fic.