Ranma lay back with Happosai in the outpost that the two built. It was unclear to him that Elder Fianna would care to join them. In the past, the Elder had always backed up the legends that Ranma was told..and after all, why should he doubt them? For all anyone knows, the "Durai Reports" were simply a hoax to make people think that the Zodiac Braves weren't simple acolytes, who followed a goddess flawlessly and blindly into their deaths...beyond that, nobody should care.

Ranma rolled on his side and closed his eyes. Best not to think of things I don't understand, I suppose. He thought. With that, he fell asleep.

Akane, Nabiki, Kasumi, Xian Pu, Ryoga, Ukyou, the Kuno's, and Mousse were all fast asleep, and after all, why shouldn't they be? They weren't used to anything political, or anything that was of any real value to the older, wiser people.

Cologne, Elder Fianna, Ranma, and Happosai, however, were all wide awake. After making sure that the others in the encampment were asleep, three shadowy figures went and awoke the two sleeping guards, and relieved them of their assignment. The two men went to the designated tent, and began coming up with a safer way of getting Kasumi to a safe hiding location.

Ranma came into the tent yawning, and stretching one hand over his head. There was really no need to shed his shoes, since that's all there was to wear around here, but he DID remember his formalities, and bowed to the older man the group spoke with before."Hail Elder Fianna," Ranma said as he bowed, keeping his eyes closed and facing the ground. As he came up, he let his eyes open, and took in the full view of the Elder.Elder Fianna, despite his age, was actually one of the most youthful looking men amongst his people. He looked around his mid-twenties (give or take a year or two), and looked scrawny, but still lightly muscled. He wore his platinum colored hair long, down to the base of his back, and shaggy like the mane of a lion. He had no facial hair, and had eyes the color of the sea after a storm. He had no noticeable scars but had green tattoos down the outsides of his arms that zigged and zagged in arcing motions that looked like a filled-in Celtic knot. His garb was a simple loincloth, supported by metal plates that covered his hips, and had straps going from those plates, up his back, and around his shoulders. On his feet he wore simple brown leather boots that were knee height.

"There's no need for formalities, Ranma, you know my title when we're in private." The old man replied as he walked towards Ranma. When he got close enough, he opened his arms to extend a hug. Ranma walked into the embrace and wrapped his arms around the man's midsection.

"You're right, sorry, gramps." Ranma smocked, gaining back his usual arrogance. When the hug was broken, Ranma took a few steps back. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you helping us?"

Fianna looked at Ranma and had no emotion showing on his face. "I'm helping you because it benefits mankind, and our people, Ranma. I'm helping you because you need all the help you can get."

Ranma looked at the ground around his feet at hearing this. Damn, he thought, guess Happosai and Cologne are figuring out what we are about now.

Cologne and Happosai both looked at each other with different reactions. Cologne (as always) had on the expression of hard knowledge, and of one deep in thought. Happosai simply shrugged this new situation off and leaned back to go to sleep.

"What are your people?" Cologne asked the Elder.

"You mean you have all the wisdom of all these humans, but do not know of the Espers?" Fianna asked in return.

Cologne got a look of sheer horror on her face. "The Espers?!" she could barely manage to whisper the word. The Espers, the ancient gods who enslaved humans all those years ago.the ones who control our destinies…Ranma's a part of their race? That means.

"Ranma," Cologne began, "You knew that something of this nature was going to happen, didn't you? You probably were training your whole life for just this kind of situation, right? That means that you can-"

Ranma interrupted her by raising his hand to her accusations. "I had no idea. My dad wasn't ever a part of this race, and I can't to anything to alter this path that we're currently on, because I've never seen this before. I had no idea that we'd be in such deep shit, and I haven't prepared for the situation I've never known about...I'm powerless to stop this from taking place."

Cologne stared into Ranma's chest for a long moment before saying. "Where do we go from here?"

All was silent for a long time, but as the sun began to rise, a plan was formulated.

"So it's agreed?" Fianna asked. "We're taking the girl known as 'Kasumi' to the other realm, where Espers rule?"

Ranma nodded, and Cologne said "Yes, of course." Happosai, on the other hand, simply snored loudly.

Kasumi was up early, preparing a large meal for everyone who assisted with her clean escape. I wonder what happened to Ranma-koi and master Happosai. She thought to herself. She then realized that she'd been thinking of Ranma as "Ranma-Koi" for some time now, and blushed furiously. The sun began to rise on the horizon that was the ocean, and Kasumi's fire was beginning to cook the meat and vegetables that were gathered the day before in the woods.

Ranma saw Kasumi staring into the fire and set the food on when the sun rose.and noticed her blush. The two were alone in the encampment, as everyone else was still asleep and wasn't gonna wake up for another hour, or were watching over everyone else.Ranma walked as quietly as he could to Kasumi's back, and lightly put his hands over her eyes. "Guess who," he said quietly.

Kasumi, who was still quite tired from the week they'd been on the road, wasn't up for games. "Is that you, Ranma-koi?" she asked.

Ranma couldn't keep his hands to her face anymore . Did…she just call me Ranma-koi?! She actually thinks of me in that manner? .man and I'm her sister's fiancé!

Ranma shook his head at his thoughts. Kasumi turned around, not knowing a thing had changed his appearance besides his lack of sleep. "I knew it was you!" she said happily.

Ranma couldn't contain himself, here he was, playing games, when he found the only likeable girl liked him back. He reached out and grabbed her cheeks gently with his palms. The next minute lasted an eternity for the two as their lips were pulled together by Ranma's hands.

That kiss only lasted a minute, but it might as well have lasted the rest of their lives. Ranma and Kasumi knew then that they truly loved each other.

Ukyou and Xian Pu, having wittingly volunteering to share a tent for the night, decided to make use of it in the night. They had grown very close to each other over the past week and a half, after all. Ukyou woke up with her head on Xian Pu's sweaty, naked chest. She realized that she was naked, but as the memories of the previous night washed over her, she didn't really care. She brushed some of the sweaty hair from Xian Pu's face, revealing a bite mark on her eyebrow.

Did I do that? Ukyou thought as she rolled onto her stomach to tease Xian Pu's nipple with her teeth. When Xian Pu opened her eyes, then closed them and groaned, Ukyou became aroused quickly. Well, she thought, at least we stayed long enough for a morning after!