Here's another short snapshot into the lives of other people in Ranma's
life.
Disclaimer:  All characters portrayed in this story are owned by their
respective creators and companies.  I don't own any of them.  Please
don't sue me.

This story draws ideas from the anime of each of the series involved.

This is another part of my Preludes and Interludes series, which in turn
is part of my Life and Times series.

C & C welcomed.  Flames not.

A Yu Yu Hakusho story

Preludes and Interludes:  Yusuke

By

Donny Cheng

500 years in the future�

	"Ouch!  Why don't you watch where you're going, you jerk?"  Mai picked
herself up from the ground, after being bumped by the guy in front of
her.

	"Sorry," The stranger spoke softly, "I didn't mean it."

	"Just be more careful."  Mai then proceeded to leave.  It would be
getting dark soon.  Living in a town just outside of Neo-Tokyo did not
provide all that much safety at night.

	"Say, can I make it up to you?"  The man called out.

	Mai didn't know why, but she felt compelled by the voice to stay and
listen.  She took a closer look at the man.  He was of average height
with black hair combed backwards.  He was quite handsome and his body
was muscular.  He reminded her of someone that she couldn't place. 
"Sure, why not?  You can take me to get some food, I'm hungry."

	He smiled.  He had a chance.

			* * * * *

	"�and I've lived here all my life ever since."  Mai finished.  Wow, she
couldn't believe it.  She spent the last three hours talking non-stop
with the stranger.  He hardly spoke at all and just listened intently to
what she her story.  That intensity made her just blurt out everything.

	"I'm sorry to hear that.  My condolences to your loss."  He looked
sadly at Mai.  The girl had had a tough life so far.  Her parents both
deceased because of the youma that hunted around the outskirts of
Neo-Tokyo.  "Why don't you leave this place and live in the city?  I'm
sure it's much safer."

	"I guess, I'm just stubborn.  My family has lived here for generations
and I don't want that tradition to be erased because of me."

	He looked at the girl appreciatively.  She still had the same spunk she
always did.  "That's very noble and brave of you."

	Mai blushed.  What was wrong with her?  All the man did was compliment
her and it made her feel all tingly inside.  No one had ever done that
to her before.  Being one of only four eligible women for marriage in
the village meant for a lot suitors wooing her.  "Thank you."

	A moment of silence broke out between them.  Both didn't know what else
to say.

	Mai looked outside the window and noticed it was dark already.  "I
guess I better be going."  She got up from her chair and started to
leave.

	The man's despair grew when he heard that.  It didn't seemed like it
worked.  This would be the fourth generation in a row that this
happened.  He began to wonder if their bond was weakening.  That scared
him a lot.  He decided to chance it.

	<Flip>

	Mai stood in her tracks, "What the..?"

	"My, what plain panties you're wearing," he mused as he held the hem
from the back of her skirt.

	"YUSUKE!  You jerk!"  Mai turned around and slapped him.

	Despite being one of the most powerful demons in Makai, Yusuke's head
nearly flew off from the force.  He held his cheek and smiled in
remembrance.  She still had the touch.

	Mai held her mouth in shock.  She just realized that she never asked
for the man's name.  How did she know it?  It was then that bits and
pieces of memories flashed through her mind.

	Welcome back, Keiko, Yusuke thought to himself.

			* * * * *

Urd, Botan, Makoto, and Ryoko breathed a collective sigh of relief as
they watched the scene unfold in the pool of water before them.  With
that soap with the blorples being pre-empted by intergalactic baseball
games, the immortal girls needed something to fill in their need for
romance.  They were just happy that Keiko didn't reincarnate into a
Mamono Hunter like the last time.

	Belldandy smiled.  It worked.  "If you will excuse me, I will leave.  I
don't believe you need my services now."  She needed Keiichi now and
fast.

	Ranma rubbed his eyes as if he was tired and did his best to look like
he hadn't been interested in what had happened.  It just wasn't manly
for a grown man to cry.  He had noticed Yusuke's sadness the past
century and wanted to be there when his friend finally smiled again. 
"Well, I guess I better be going too."

	"Oh, no you don't.  I finally beat Skuld after she won six years in a
row.  There's no way I'm letting you out of my sight," Urd said as she
grabbed onto Ranma's arm.

	"No, Ranma is going to be with me.  Now that Yusuke has found Keiko
again, he won't be back in Makai for the next little while.  I won't
have anyone to talk to for a while."  Botan grabbed Ranma's other arm.

	"Hey, it's my month!"  Makoto called out.

	"Really, Makoto, you of all people should know.  Remember I am the
ambassador at the moment.  It's Ranma's duty to show me around as First
Knight."

	Ranma groaned.  At least there was only four right now.  He was sure he
could slip by unnoticed when the girls began to fight.  He hoped that
the Almighty would feel lenient.  Fighting in heaven was strictly
forbidden.

			* * * * *

Seventy years into the future�

	Belldandy sighed.  "Are you sure, Keiko."

	Keiko's spirit floated towards the goddess.  "I'm sure.  I'm afraid I
will decline going to heaven."

	"Okay, then I will send your spirit back to Koenma.  He will help you
reincarnate the first possible chance."

	Keiko nodded and then faded out.

	Belldandy felt tears well up in her eyes.  Yusuke, being a demon, meant
that he would never be able to step into heaven.  Keiko knew this and
hence her decision.  Keiko could not stand being away from her husband
for the all of eternity and hoped to be reunited with Yusuke on earth. 
All Belldandy could do was pray for the best.

			* * * * *

The End. (maybe)