Thanks to my pre readers : Anand Rao, David Johnston, TonyLoco, Angeline
Jacoba

The title was of this fic came from Lord Talon.  He will be helping me with
the Sailor Senshi part of this fic for I know very little about them.

Ranma / Sailor Senshi : Eyes of a Stranger Chapter One
Created by Long Ngo
Started April 25, 1998
Finished May 15, 1998

* * * * *

      "No!!" Ranma shouted in angish.  "Please don't die.  I love you."  Ranma
pleaded.  In his arms was the limp form of Tendou Akane, his fiancee and one
true love.  Sitting in the center of the crater that was once the top of Mount
Pheonix, Ranma berated himself.  He wasn't fast enough in dealing with Saffron
to save Akane.  The fact that she was no longer the dehydrated doll didn't
matter.  Akane was forever lost to those she loved.  

      *I should have been faster, better.  What good was the Art, if I
ccouldn't use it to save the girl I love.*  He had finally admitted his love
for Akane.  Swallowing his pride, Ranma swore that he would never use the Arts
again except to protect others, even if his own life was at stake.  He did not
deserve to live but his suicide would further hurt those around him.
"AKANE!!!!!!!!!!!!" The shout of immense pain echoed throughout the mountain
area.

* * * * *
A Week Later

* * * * *
      Nabiki was the first person to see Ranma return.  What was strange was
the absence of Akane and the ragged look of on Ranma's face.  It seems like
all the life had left his body.  "Hey Ranma where is Akane?"  The look on
Ranma's face frightened her.  *Did something happen to Akane?*

      In a tone filled with remorse and deep depression, Ranma quietly
answered.  "She's dead Nabiki and it was all my fault."

      Nabiki was speechless.  Her little sister was dead and Ranma said he was
responsible.  "Care to explain Saotome?"  Nabiki asked in a voice deprived of
feelings.  Above all else, family came first to Nabiki.  Everything she did,
she did for family.

      "It's all my fault," Ranma answered again before heading up to his room.

      Nabiki wanted to slap Ranma.  She wanted answers and Ranma was not
providing any.  Getting up, she headed towards Ucchan's.  Ukyou must know what
happened over in China.   
        
      Approaching Ucchan's, she could see that the store was closed.  Knocking
on the door, Nabiki waited for Ukyou to come down the stairs but she never
did.  *What is going on here?*  Now dreading the answers, Nabiki headed
towards Nekohanten.  She remembered Mousse and Shampoo heading over to China
with Ranma.  Ryouga was out of the question.

      Nearing the Nekohanten, Nabiki noticed that the restaurant was also
closed.   Unlike Ucchan's, the Nekohanten's doors were open.  Walking inside,
she heard Cologne's voice.

      "We're closed.  Please come back tomorrow." 

      "It's Nabiki.  I've come for some answers and I'm not going to leave
until I get some."

      Hopping down the stairs on her cane, Cologne reached the spot where
Nabiki was standing.  "This is a very grave time.  If you want you can talk to
Mousse out back or come back tomorrow."  Having spoken that, Cologne headed
back upstairs.  At first Nabiki didn't hear anything while heading to the back
but soon she heard the faint sound of crying coming from up top. 

      Walking outside, Nabiki found Mousse.  The look on Mousse's face was one
of sorrow.  Usually Mousse was sad about being rejected by Shampoo but
something told her that this was not the case.  "Spill it Mousse, what
happened in China?  What happened to Akane?"         

      Looking up, Mousse was not surprised to see Nabiki.  He had sensed her
approach before she ever appeared outside.  Mousse was a great martial artist,
even though he constantly lost to Ranma.  He had always held in check some of
his skills.  His art was dangerous and deadly and he never wanted to kill
Saotome anymore after their first encounter but after the trip to China,
Mousse soon found that Saotome Ranma was a person that was truly hard to kill
even if he wanted to.  Mousse always knew Ranma held back but never knew how
much.  

      Unknown to some, Mousse was not the the helpless blinded martial artist
everyone thought he was.  Though his eyesight was bad, he had a technique that
used an opponent's heat and aura signature to help him locate the individual.
This technique was even better than normal sight but he rarely used it.  It
was something he wanted to keep a secret from everyone.  This particular skill
was advanced enough that when blindfolded, he could tell where everyting was. 

      Looking back, Mousse saw the final moments of Ranma's battle with
Saffron.  When Ranma suddenly realized that Akane might die very soon.  For a
very short period of time, Mousse sensed the barriers that held Ranma's true
abilities hidden from others fall away.  In that moment, Mousse had seen a
true master of the arts.  One who knew no bounds.  Someone who at the age of
17 was more powerful than Cologne and Happosai but still lacked the experience
and skill to wield it properly.  He finally realized how wrong he was.  He
always though Ranma to be the overconfident, insensitive jerk that stole
Shampoo from him.  He could have never been so wrong.  The macho bravo was all
an act to hide his true abilities.  As for Shampoo, Mousse finally noticed
that she never had a chance to win his heart.  It had already belonged to
another and now that person was gone.  The trip home had proven something to
Mousse, the black hair pigtailed young was not an enemy but a friend.  Someone
who had secretly been trying to help him improve his own skills through the
various battles they fought.  A person who had won his respect in the end.
Finally coming out of his deep meditation, Mousse started to explain to Nabiki
what happened in China and Ranma's last few words.              

* * * * *

      Looking around the room, Ranma felt that he was barely holding his
emotions and actions in check.  He was beyond depressed.  He had sworn an oath
in China which he planned to fullfil.  Ranma was packing up.  He had decided
that he was going to leave Nerima.  The place held to many memories of moments
wasted when he could have shared it with the one he truly loved.  It also
reminded him too much of Akane.  Ranma had finally found the courage to face
his Okaasan.  Whether she rejected him or demanded that he commit seppuku, so
be it.  Either way he was better off than staying in Nerima.  Writing a final
note to the Tendous, whom he  considered a second family, he finally started
to head out but not before he left something to pay for all the trouble he had
caused the Tendous and promised that he would make it up to them in the
future.  Glancing one last time at the training hall that had become his home
for far longer than any other he had ever remembered, Ranma walked into what
he hoped was a new start on life.  He was finally being reunited with his
mother.

* * * * * 
      Saotome Nodoka missed her husband and only child, Ranma, dearly.  They
had left 11 years ago and she had not seen them since.  Ranma would be 17 now
and a man among men by the oath Genma swore to her upon leaving for his
training trip with Ranma.  A knock at the door disrupted her thoughts.  *Who
could that be?*  Opening the door, she was greeted by a young man.  He was
wearing a red shirt and black pants.  The same clothing Ranko usually liked to
wear.  "Hello may I help you?"

      "Hello Okaasan."

      "Ranma?"  

      "Hai."

      Quicker than a blink of an eye, Nodoka was hugging her son.  She was so
happy.  *Something is missing though.*  "Ranma, where is your father?"

      "He's at the Tendous.  We got back yesterday from China.  I have
something I need to tell you though."

      The way Ranma carried himself and the look in his eyes told her that
something was wrong, something very wrong.

      Spending the next few hours explaining his life story tired Ranma out.
He began began with his earliest memories like the Neko-ken, Jyusenkyou, his
multiple fiancees, his many battles and ended it with the death of Akane and
his oath.  Nodoka was crying by this time.  Her son had gone through so much.
Looking into his eyes, she also knew that it had pained him to hide from her
all those times she had visited.  Although he was cursed with a female body
and had decieved her, given his circumstances she could not hold it against
him.  Nodoka thought that one of the reasons he suddenly revealed himself to
her was becasue of Akane's death, because of the oath and because of seppuka.
"What are your plans now my son?"

      "I can't stay with the Tendous any longer.  Everything reminds me of
Akane."  Ranma was openly crying at this point.

      "Why don't you stay here Ranma?  You're always welcome.  You can also
attend your last year of school at Juuban High."  Nodoka soothed.

      "Hai." 

      Truly her son was a man among men.  Never had she heard of someone going
through so much at such an age.  Through his battles, he had matured into a
fine young man.   

To be continued: