Prince Lost, Knight Found
A Ranma Nibunoichi x-over
by Matthew Talbain

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma Nibunoichi, nor do I own Sailor Moon. Pyra (Flame), Glacia (Ice), Alundra (Lightning), Erosa (Love), Tecta (Earth), Ocea (Water), Thanata (Death), Krona (Time), and Faytha (Healing) ARE mine, though I got the idea for 'em from Jade Hunter's "Love For All Time". I don't own Fred Perry's Gold Digger characters, and I don't own Hideo Kojima's Big Boss and likenesses thereof. So leave me the hell alone, or I'll own your ass!

() indicates thought

--------------Chapter Three: Made a New Man--------------

It was a warm, star-filled night when Ranma crossed the threshold to his new, permanent home. It was not the demolished house, as he'd expected, but the home of his grandfather. Ranma looked around, awe in his eyes, and found European touches here and there. Solid oak floors, a sweeping double-stairwell, and candelabra lighting the floor romantically. Ranma dropped his bags in surprise even as Ryouga and Mousse did a doubletake.

"Genma took you away from THIS?!?!"

Nodoka laughed wryly to herself, shaking her head and quaking visibly under her kimono. She had loved Genma, had believed most every word he'd said. She'd based her thoughts of other men upon him, before he'd taken Ranma. When that had happened, she'd clung maniacally to her beliefs, but they'd slowly worn down, bit by bit. At the farce of a wedding, she'd received the shock of her life. She'd found firsthand what her husband had done to her son, to her own flesh and blood.

And now there was a risk he'd do it again. Genma had apparently not cared about conventional morals or rules. Nodoka doubted he'd care that Ranma would no longer carry his last name. She needed to send Ranma away, and she needed to go with him. But first...

"I'm sorry. It's just that Genma never knew about this place. Now, come, Ranma. Your grandfather is waiting to meet you and your friends. Please don't be surprised by his appearance, he's really quite gentle."

So saying, Nodoka placed a hand on Ranma's shoulder and led him, Ryouga, and Mousse up the stairs. Makoto was out with friends, something about some girl named Usagi being in trouble. Ranma snorted to himself as he followed his mother. Girls usually thought "trouble" was a problem boyfriend or something.

Elsewhere in the Juuban district, Mamoru Chiba sneezed after closing his door on a crying Usagi Tsukino.

Nodoka stopped before an ornate door, taking a deep breath and looking at Ranma and the others with a smile in her eyes. Ranma straightened his shirt, checking the ties of his shirt and the position of his belt on his jeans. Ryouga put down his pack and straightened his bandannas. Mousse pushed his hair out of his eyes. He'd realized he no longer needed his glasses the day they'd released Ranma. Nodoka took another deep breath, looking skyward. She pushed the door open.

Ranma gasped, his eyes adjusting to the light of a roaring fire in the fireplace across from them. But it was not the light that made him gasp. It was the appearance of the man in the room. The man was holding a dummy, a combat knife hooked to its throat. His leg was worked around the dummy's leg, and the man was holding a handgun out, pointing it at the wall. That wasn't all.

The man was tall and lean. His hair, falling gently across his eyes, was medium length, falling to the nape of his neck. It was brown, but it had a definite hint of steel gray. He was wearing a raindrop combat camouflage, and he had an eyepatch covering his right eye. A bandanna, olive green, was wrapped around his head. Ranma's eyes widened at the sight of his grandfather.

"Daddy? I brought my son and his friends."

The man released the dummy, turning quickly to face Nodoka. He smiled and walked up, hugging her tightly and running a hand through her hair.

"Good to see you back safely, No-chan."

The man turned to Ranma and gave him a quick once-over before turning and giving them the same critical glance. His eyes widened slightly at the ageless knowledge seemingly lost reflected in Ranma's eyes.

(One my son, now my grandson....odd how things go, Serenity...odd how things go...)

He grinned, clasping his hand to Ranma's and nodding approvingly before addressing him in a deep, baritone voice.

"Ya gave us quite a scare there, kid. I hear you're very good at hand-to-hand. I'll have to see how good ya are against my CQC."

Ranma smirked confidently, nodding. The man nodded and took in the measure of the other two.

"And you two must be Ryouga and Mu Tsu. I owe ya a coupla knocks for trashin' my kid's kid, and for not protecting 'im when he needed it. But I hear yer good kids. My name's Jack, but you can call me Big Boss, Snake, or Jack."

Ryouga and Mousse nodded reservedly before Big Boss clapped them on the back, grinning like a fool.

"Good! Now, let's go downstairs and exchange war stories. You guys ever eat snake before?"

And so, for the next few hours, Ranma, Ryouga, and Mousse entertained Nodoka and Jack with their different pasts, their accomplishments, and their bitter defeats. When all three were done, Jack leaned back and, while twirling his combat knife excitedly, told them stories of a battle in Russia involving a supertank and a genius scientist, he told them stories of a man named Solid Snake, their uncle, and even stories of a disaster named "Outer Heaven". Even Ranma was impressed. But, as such times are wont to do, the stories ended and serious matters rose to the fore.

"Now, Nodoka, you told me over the phone that you're worried Genma will come back and force Ranma to marry that spoiled little girl. Correct?"

At Nodoka's nod, the whole room fell silent. Jack began to think hard, as was evidenced by the light of his now-lit cigar and the stillness of his knife. Finally, he looked up at Ranma seriously, a glimmer of laughter and something else in his eyes.

"Ranma, I have an idea. BUT, before you accept, let me tell you what my idea entails."

Ranma wisely kept his mouth shut.

"What I'm about to suggest, Ranma, is that you give up your style of clothing, the way you look. You'll have to change the way you fight, the way you act, you'll even have to change your very name. You'll have to cast off old beliefs and embrace new ones. This goes for everyone in this room who wants to escape that hell I've heard about."

Ranma nodded, and Ryouga and Mousse were wide-eyed at Jack's knowledge of their wish to follow Ranma's lead and escape the hellish life they'd been leading. As one, all three looked at Jack and nodded.

"Good. Now, we need some new names..."

Instantly, without any thinking done, three names were uttered aloud and at once.

"Ravyn Kurohyou." Ranma had chosen a name suited to his soul's dark flaw, the black cat within him.

"Koga Shiranui." Ryouga, of course, had played King of Fighter using Mai one too many times.

"Fox Avian." Mousse had decided to use a name that reflected the nature of his curse.

Jack smiled and nodded before pulling out an old transceiver radio and dismissing the four guests to his study. Ranma, Ryouga, Mousse, and Nodoka left to the sound of Jack calling some old friends to arrange matters. Ranma decided to check out his room, and Mousse and Ryouga followed suit.

There was a loud knock on the door downstairs.

----------Minutes Earlier, Juuban District----------

"Please calm down, Sheila. This vacation is for you to relax and forget about Tirga. Cheer up, girl."

Six figures, five female and one male, walked down the now-rain-slick streets of Juuban District. Though none held umbrellas or wore any form of water-retardant clothing, none of them seemed to be in the least wet. Four of the women seemed to be of unusually large size, especially for Japanese citizens. One was a tall redhead wearing a rapier on her side, another seemed to be slightly catlike with blonde hair, and, just a shade shorter than the redhead carried a few visible futuristic looking weapons. The last one, decidedly uncomfortable, was an extremely tall redhead with spots in her hair and who seemed decidedly catlike in her movements. She had tears in her eyes, and her clothes seemed to be struggling to remain on her body. The fourth female of the group, a blonde with a very nice figure, wore an Indiana Jones style hat and vest, with a gold belt buckle with the insignia "GD" at the front of her denim shorts. Lastly, the more petite member of the female group, was a shorter girl with a catlike nature and hair the same color as the taller girl with the weapons. Leading this group was a tall man in a black bodysuit that seemed to mold to his frame, his beard and hair neatly trimmed.

The short girl was currently addressing the depressed redhead, trying to cheer her up. And, apparently, she was failing. However, before the issue could be pressed, the tall man stopped and looked around the street briefly before grinning.

"We're here, ladies. Julia, you're sure we have everything?"

Julia, the redhead with the sword, turned to the remaining girls, three of whom were her daughters.

"Now girls, remember, Nodoka is an old friend your father and I met a while back, and we want to make a good impression."

Theodore let out a low, easy chuckle as his memory drifted backwards in time for a moment.

"No worries, dear. Nodoka will be thrilled to meet our girls and Sheila. Besides, I hear she has a son of her own nowadays."

Banishing all speculation, Theodore raised his hand and gave the door a resounding knock. Within moments, a redhead in a kimono opened the door. A look of confusion crossed her face, but it soon gave way to a look of recognition and joy.To the surprise of many, even Nodoka herself, proper decorum was thrown to the winds as she threw herself out at the man and woman before her, hugging them tightly.

"Oh, Theo and Julia! I haven't seen you two for years! How have things been? Oh, I do hope you're doing alright. Well, don't just stand there in the rain! Come in, come in! BOYS, MAKOTO, COME DOWNSTAIRS AND MEET SOME FRIENDS OF MINE!!!"

As everyone moved in, three figures could be seen descending the steps of the main staircase, two male and one female. Nodoka, however, was not paying attention. She merely noticed that three people were there, not that one was missing. She did, however, remember their chosen names and introduced the boys as such.

"I'd like you to meet Makoto Kino, my daughter, and my son's friends, Koga Shiranui and Fox Avian. Finally, I'd like you to meet my....umm...boy's, where's Ravyn?"

The two young men looked around and shrugged before Makoto began to giggle in a way that everyone thought was unlike her. Finally she looked up.

"He's on his way, Mom. He just needed to get dressed..."

Before she could finish, a figure dressed in black jeans and a tight white t-shirt could be seen to run onto the uppermost landing of the stairwell. Nodoka barely suppressed a scream as the blur leapt over the ornate wooden bannister and flipped four times before landing on one knee, his arms held out at an angle to the ground from his body, his head bowed. Koga, Makoto, Nodoka, and Fox gasped as they saw the figure's hair swept back behind a bandanna, his pigtail cut off, revealing a spiky, debonair free hairstyle.

"Umm...ahem, everyone, meet my son, Ravyn Kurohyou."

At that, the young man looked up and pierced the audience with his ice blue stare, a kind smirk playing across his lips as he stood and walked slowly, purposefully forward, bending down to kiss the tall redhead's hand momentarily. He ignored the jolt physical contact with her sent through him, instead looking up into her eyes and smiling gently.

"Pleasure to meet you all. Name's Ravyn. The honor's all mine."

With that, he again kissed the redhead's hand, somewhat reluctant to let go, but he stood back and smiled despite the ribbing his friends and family were giving him. Finally, Theodore and Julia nodded and stepped forward.

"It's nice to meet all of you. I'd like to introduce my wife, Julia Diggers, and myself, Dr. Theodore Diggers. These are our daughters. The tall blonde with the weapons is Brianna, the one in glasses is Gina, and the one with the spotted hair is our daughter, Britanny. This is their friend, Sheila Silvear."

Ravyn's eyes lingered a moment longer on the last one, but bowed to each in turn before turning to the his friends.

"If you all care to watch, I'll be in the back working on my art. I need a workout like nothin' else. Sheila can share my room if she needs a place to sleep."

Here he smirked kindly, bringing a blush to Sheila's face, a smile to Nodoka's, and a respectful glance from the three sisters. How'd this guy know just how to break Sheila out of her funk? Curious, all five young women had a brief chat with Fox, Koga, and Makoto before going outside, leaving Nodoka to talk to Theodore. As the five made their way into the spacious yard, what they saw took their breath.

Before them, dancing on top of trees, poles, and various objects was a shirtless Ravyn, his spiky hair waving in the wind of his passing. The rain soaked a sheen onto his sleek body, but a slight waft of steam could be seen on his body, indicating that somehow the rain was being heated before it could hit him. Still, the image of a rain-soaked Ravyn, moving to an unknown beat, his eyes closed, his swallow drawn and spinning, and his chest moving gently with his breath, captured the imaginations of the various girls.

Julia's inner teacher began to fantasize about this young man as her student, her heir. Images of a young, black-haired Armsmaster of Jade darted through her mind briefly. In Brianna's mind, images of a well-muscled young man with bold blue eyes and spiky hair coupled with her in bed colored her memories. Britanny had found the partner to practice with, to spar with, and to talk of her troubles with her boyfriend, Strype. Gina's mind was torn between images of mind-blowing sex with Ravyn and images of Ravyn strapped to a table for study purposes.

Sheila, however, was in a quandary. Images of Ravyn fighting alongside her, of Ravyn holding her and whispering words of love in her ear filled her mind. But she shouldn't be feeling these things, seeing these images! She loved Tirga, didn't she?

But a tiny voice in the back of her mind, one she'd never listened to, but was now loud enough for her not to ignore, told her that Tirga had done nothing but screw other girls, that he'd spent all of his energy trying to get her in the sack and not in his home. And now, as she broke down crying at the realization of it, an image of Ranma draping a blanket around her shoulders and whispering calming words to her. Slowly, by steps, she ceased crying and looked up into a pair of cobalt eyes, a blanket draped around her shoulders and a comforting pair of arms steadying her.

It hadn't been just a mental image. And the kitten, black-furred with a gold crescent moon on his forehead, resting on her shoulder, purring against her neck sure wasn't a dream...

-------------The Gates of Time------------

Setsuna Meiou panicked as she felt a current in the stream of time ripple and change. She looked into the gates, her key glowing with the effort as she focused on the particular change.

A gasp left her lips as she saw before her very eyes the man she'd watch die so long ago, so very long ago. She began to cry as she watched his accomplishments in life, his various tortures and training techniques. She laughed joyfully as she saw him make friends, watched his battles and saw him begin to realize his heritage as he held Helios.

Her eyes clouded with tears again as she found what his living would do to the timestream, to Crystal Tokyo. And though she'd only recently been reunited with the knowledge of her loved one's resurrection, she vowed on the grave of her queen she would accomplish her mission.

To save Crystal Tokyo, Ravyn Kurohyou, formerly Ranma Saotome, had to die.

---------------------Author's Corner---------------------

A few matters for you wonderful people to vote on! First, the matter of matchups!

1) Ravyn/Setsuna: she learns her lesson, loves him with all her heart, and everything's peachy...except for Sheila.

2) Ravyn/Sheila: Ravyn survives the impending attacks and proposes to the rock of stability in his new life....even if she IS a c-c-c-cat...

3) Ravyn/Setsuna/Sheila: Can't we all just get along? Mrow! Kittens! Oh my....

4) Your suggestion. This is a "No Akane" zone.

Second matter: who shall be the new villains, if any, besides Setsuna?

1) Darkstalkers have come to Japan in hopes of ceasing Dimitri's rise to power. Meanwhile, Ravyn's fending off the advances of a lovestruck catwoman named Felicia and the tempting succubus Morrigan while keeping Britanny from killing Jon Talbain just because he's a werewolf!

2) Tenchi and crew show up to find out more about the new demihumans in Japan, and suddenly Tenchi's challenging Ravyn for the right to all of "his girls". What would Ravyn want with Ayeka, Sasami, and Ryoko? Absolutely nothing! So what's the deal with Tenchi? And what's up with his new crown?

3) Ranma decides he wants to go stay with the Diggers so that he can refine his art and learn magic. And maybe he can teach that PeeWee asshole a lesson in P-A-I-N.....

4) An odd sorcerer has shown up, and Ravyn and Koga find themselves representing Japan, with Fox representing China, and Sheila and Britanny representing the U.S.A. In what, you ask? A tournament called Mortal Kombat...

Finally, there's the last thing: the matter of a flux in the powers of the three knights.

1) There is no flux. Ravyn is the Phoenix Knight of the Sun, Fox is the Tiger Knight of Cristar, and Koga is the Dragon Knight Nemesis.

2) Due to the chaos in their blood, and Fox's planet being destroyed, the guys' powers are no more. However, the chaos in their blood DOES make for an interesting change after a brief scratch occurs with one of the now-resident werecats. Meaning there'll be a few more werecheetahs and a jagwere. But....Ravyn's not cured of his fear of cats! The fear stuck to him! Oops...

3) Due to their chaos, the way they were raised, and certain training exercises, their powers have gone and done a mix and match thing. Who's the Knight of what now?

4) There powers have changed. Ravyn becomes a towering werepanther because of the nature of the dark Neko-ken within his soul, Koga has become a fierce weretiger because of the rage he'd bottled up during his entire life, and Fox has become a werewolf due to his clever nature and the lithe agility he hides underneath his robes...but wait! Britanny hates, hates, HATES werewolves...uh-oh.....

R&R! Please enjoy this fanfic!