Emerald Ranma
==> A Ranma Crossover and a Crossover Ranma <==

Chapter Two
Reverse Deja Vu

(The story begins in reverse, then progresses forward, as we see
the end of the chapter whiz by, and soon we are greeted by the title.
The narrator intones: "We now take a look back at what changes
there were for our favorite characters in the Altaverse.  As you will
see, many things are the same.")
(Altaverse - Primary Timeline, Streets of Nerima, 1984)

Nabiki ran as hard as she could, panting as she looked behind her,
keeping a lookout for her sister.  She slammed into something hard,
and tumbled to the ground.  Her father stood before her, a
despondent expression on his face.

He held out his hand and helped his daughter to her feet.  "Go get
your sisters, Nabiki.  We have something important to discuss."

Nabiki felt afraid, a strange feeling new to her.  She ran back to the
house, the doll left forgotten on the ground.

Soun closed his eyes and let a few tears run down his cheeks.  "I
can't believe this.  How could this happen? How could I let this
happen?!"

He opened his eyes and his expression turned from sadness
to fury.  "Aargh! I can't believe this happened!" He slammed his fist
into the wall next to him, which crumbled instantly.  He grabbed his
head and shook violently.  "I'll find whose responsible and make
them pay!"

(Fast Forward to: Tendo House, 1996)

The alarm clock went off.  A swift punch effectively stifled the
clock's clamorous cacophony.  Akane turned over, and quickly fell
back into a deep slumber.

A knock came from the door.

"Go away!" The knock sounded again.  "I'm trying to sleep!" Akane
picked up two pillows and covered her ears with them.  She closed
her eyes and tried to fall back asleep.

Nabiki's voice sounded from the door.  "Come on, sis.  Daddy says
he has some important announcement for us.  So get out of bed,
sleepyhead!" Loud music began blasting from the door.

"Oh Nabiki! Come on! That's really unfair!"

Nabiki hummed as she walked away from Akane's room.  "I can't
hear you! I guess you'll just have to get up."  She spun around and
danced down the hall.

Akane grumbled.  "Nabiki, sometimes I really hate you."  She rubbed
her eyes and yawned, pulling off the blankets. "Why can't I have
normal sisters who let me sleep late?" She slumped over to the door,
and yanked it open.

The music player blared gratingly on Akane's nerves.  With a growl,
she kicked it against the wall, stifling its irritating noise.  She
wiped her brow, and opened the bathroom door.

Kasumi lay deep in bubbles, a mask over her eyes.  Akane knocked
on the open door.

Kasumi sat up and removed the mask.  "Why, hello Akane! Did you
have a good sleep? I already made breakfast, so I thought I'd take a
nice bubble bath and relax, before we hear Father's announcement.
I still have to do the laundry later, so make sure to give me
everything you want cleaned.  That includes socks, too, Akane!"

Akane blushed.  "I know, Kasumi.  But these are my lucky socks!
When I wear them, I never lose a fight, even against Daddy or
Nabiki!"

Kasumi chuckled.  "That's because the odor knocks them out."

Akane grinned.  "Well, maybe there's some truth to that.  Anyway,
I promise to give you them next time, ok?"

Kasumi sighed, but smiled at her younger sibling.  "Very well, Akane.
But this time keep up your end of the agreement! Don't make me get
out of the water!"

Akane giggled.  She knew that Kasumi hadn't practiced any kind of
martial arts or even much exercise except for general calisthenics
since their mother had passed away.  "Oh, Kasumi, you're so silly!
You should be a comedian!"

Kasumi snorted.  "I don't think so." >> Hmm, I wonder.<<

Akane winked at her sister.  "Just think about it."

(A little while later)

Soun looked at his daughters lined up, standing straight.  He smiled.
They would make excellent wives someday, and would help to ensure
the continuation of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts.  Yes,
just excellent.

Soun cleared his throat.  "I have an announcement, daughters.  My
old friend, Genma Saotome is on his way here with his son, Ranma."

The girls murmured to themselves and exchanged glances.  A boy? In their
house?

Nabiki frowned. >> I hope this kimono is nice enough. <<

Kasumi pouted slightly. >> Oh, my.  Well, I'm glad that I took a
bath.  I'm nice and clean. <<

Akane crinkled up her face. >> A boy? Well, as long as he's not like
those perverts at school, I guess I don't mind. <<

Soun grinned. >> They certainly look excited. <<  "They're coming
to honor an old agreement between the two houses."  His daughters
focused their attention on him.  "An agreement to be completed by
marriage."  The girl's mouths dropped.

"What?!"

"I'm too young to marry!"

"I won't marry anyone younger than I am."

"Is he cute?"

Soun held up his hands.  "Calm down, girls.  You'll meet him soon
enough.  They're supposed to arrive today."

Nabiki bit her lip.  "Arrive? Where are they coming from?"

Soun laughed.  "Some sort of training journey in China.  I'm sure Genma
was teaching the boy our martial arts traditions.  Just like I've
tried to teach to you girls."

All three glared at him.

Kasumi narrowed her eyes. >> Why is everyone I know obsessed
with martial arts? I'm surrounded by martial arts-obsessed people in
my family already, and now Daddy's invited two more? <<

"Ah heh heh.  I mean, like I've succeeded in teaching to you girls.
Anyway, I want you to be on your best behavior, understand? That
includes you, Nabiki! Got it?"

Nabiki smirked.  "Oh I got it."

Akane and Kasumi giggled.

Soun cleared his throat.  "Ok now, settle down.  They're arriving
very soon, so again, best behavior!"

The doorbell rang.

Nabiki squealed.  "Ooh, that must be Ranma now!" She ran over to
the door and opened it with a bow.

A panda and a girl entered the house, completely ignoring a gaping
Nabiki.

She shook her head.  "That wasn't.  It couldn't be.  Not a panda?"

(The screen freezes on Nabiki's stunned expression, and fades to
a known location where we last left two people were zipping around
from universe to universe.)
(Pocketverse - Outertime, Same place as last time,
Later than last time by several minutes)

Ranma-Original appeared in an extravagant and well-designed room with
exquisite furniture the norm.  He looked around and saw the black-robed
man with his eyes closed, seemingly in some sort of trance.

"Uh, sir, or whatever your name is? Are you okay?"

The man opened his eyes and whirled toward Ranma.  "Someone has
been here!"

Ranma blinked.  "What?"

The man held up a hand.  "I don't know how, but someone has
trespassed here!"

Ranma laughed nervously.  "But I don't see any signs of a break in or
nothin'. How do you know?"

The man smiled slightly and shook his head.  "This is no ordinary
room.  You see, I built this room out of extra-dimensional space,
which basically means space outside the normal universe.  To answer
your question, only someone with the same soul as me should be able
to enter, which is why I'm confused.  No one should be able to
trespass without setting off the alarms and booby traps."  He shook his
head again.

"Well, it doesn't concern you anyway.  It's my problem, so I'll worry
about it later."

Ranma raised his hand.  "Listen, I appreciate all this stuff you're
telling me and all, even if it is sort of weird.  But what's your name,
anyway?"

The man hesitated.  "Well, I suppose you can call me, uh, Jeram."

Ranma squinted.  "Is that your name or not?"

Jeram sighed.  "I guess so.  Just try not to tell anyone, ok?"

Ranma frowned.  "Uh, sure, why not? Hey, so what are we doing here
anyway?"

Jeram sighed.  "Well, this was supposed to be like a safe haven, but I
guess it's not as secure as I had thought."

Ranma shook his head.  "No, I mean why are we here? Didn't you
say I could save the world or somethin'?"

Jeram smiled slightly.  "Ah, yes, of course.  Well, it's a long
explanation.  Perhaps you had some other questions that I could try
to answer?"

Ranma thought for a second.  "Uh, ok.  How about, uh, what
happened to the planet, anyway? And what happened to Ka" Ranma
breathed in sharply and closed his eyes.  "Kasumi?"

Jeram looked at Ranma.  "Well, that's part of the explanation.  I wish
I had more time, but essentially here's what transpired.  This evil race
of beings, often called 'demons', corrupted the timeline.  In addition,
that's what happened to Kasumi.  She was also corrupted."

Ranma closed his eyes and tried not to think about it.  "Ok, ok, never
mind.  Here's another question.  How are we going to 'save the
world' anyway?"

Jeram smiled.  "Ah, well you see, I think that you could help me
change back your world.  You were the only one in your universe
who was unchanged by the timeline."  Jeram tilted his head.  "You
have no memories of a changed past, correct? You only remember
the original one?"

Ranma thought for a second.  "Yeah, I guess so.  So what does it all
mean?"

Suddenly the room shook, and pieces of furniture and valuables were
thrown around the room.  Ranma ducked and spun, dodging the
majority of them, and quickly fell into an arms-crossed block which
deflected an airborne figurine.

The room quaked again, much more violently, knocking Ranma off
his feet.  Jeram was floating in the air, a nimbus of golden light
surrounding him.  His eyes glowed with an unearthly red light.
The black robes seemed to take on a life of their own, and writhed
and twisted around Jeram's body.

His voice echoed throughout the room.  "NO! I will not allow you to
harm him! Never!" Jeram's eyes closed and he held up his hands,
gathering vast amounts of energy.

Ranma started to back up against the wall.  "Whoa, hold on man.
What's going on? Can't I help?" The wall shattered behind him,
sending Ranma sprawling to the floor.

Jeram clapped his hands together and somehow reality started to rip
in a direct line toward Ranma.  The room shattered in non-existence.

(Before we can get a good look at where Ranma went after that,
we take another look at how history differed, this time for Vileverse.)
(Vileverse - Primary, G-T Inc. Lab #47, 1977)

Soun looked on anxiously, trying to make out his daughter among the
blurred figures behind the glass partition. He knocked on the
window, but instantly pulled back his hand. "Ow! That was really
painful." His eyes dampened and he put his injured hand in his
mouth.

A doctor walked up to him. "Now, now, Mr. Tendo. The window is here
For protection, for both you and your daughter. In case of trouble,
this bulletproof glass will keep her safe in case of intruders, and it
ensures that you don't accidentally interfere with the operation."
Soun took his hand out his mouth. "But why can't I at least be in the
same room as her? I mean, what if I promise to sit perfectly still and
silent?"

The man smiled indulgently. "Ah, but you see, the specialists are
constantly talking to each other, making sure everything is going
exactly as it should be. You might misinterpret or be confused by a
person's remark and overreact. That wouldn't be good for anyone,
especially your daughter."

Soun hung his head, ashamed. "I understand." He lifted up his head
and looked at the doctor. "So then the implants will be effective?
With no problems?"

The doctor grinned. "Well, she'll have to come in every once in a
while to check up, but I'm sure there won't be any problem at all."

(Fast Forward to: Tendo House, 1996)

Kasumi woke up shrieking. She quickly pulled herself together. She
was the responsible one, after all, the eldest child. Kasumi sat up and
rubbed her eyes. The dream had been particularly realistic this time.

Perhaps Dr. Tofu could assist in interpreting the dream. It was so
strange, yet so real. Everything in flames, people screaming. It was
as though Kasumi had just found herself in some weird world that
had changed without her. Then she was running, running, with
nowhere to go. The dream always ended the same way, cradling her.

Kasumi choked and sniffled. Her dead father in her arms. Then she
would look up at his killer, and instantly wake up. It made no sense.

Well, enough was enough. She would tell Dr. Tofu as soon as he opened.

But first, Kasumi knew she needed some sleep.

(Fast Forward to: Streets of Nerima, 1997)

Soun tripped over a crack in the ground and stumbled. He slowly
slumped to the ground. >> How could this have happened? It wasn't
my fault, really. I mean, how could I have known? << He broke
down and started sobbing.