Disclaimer: Aa Megamisama, Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2.... Oh well. Not mine that's 
all! 

Thanks to Tannim for hosting this fic. 
http://tannim.anifics.com

*******
A Different Path
A Ranma 1/2/Sailor Moon/Aa Megamisama crossover
By Draknor 
Chapter 4 - Broken and Rebuilt
*******

The Tendou Dojo was known to be the center of all the weirdness and craziness 
that the Nerima district of Tokyo Metropolitan City was famous for other than
Fuurinkan High School.

This time around, it was quiet. Yes utterly quiet. Not even a bird chirp. An 
omen. Something was about to happen. Something big and earth shattering....

Ranma Saotome was brooding. It was a fine day and there were no challenges, no 
jealous fiancees fighting over him. No crazy kawaiikune tomboys malleting him.
No battle cries of 'Saotome because of you I have seen hell! Prepare to die!' 

All in all it was a perfect day and he did not want to waste it. Which was why
he was on the roof and thinking about the past year. Especially when she was with 
him. 

She made it possible for him to be able to think with his brain and not his fists. 
She made it possible for him to make friends and not enemies. She was the one who
taught him all the things his father neglected to teach him. The manners, the 
politeness and what true honour is. Honour. His own father's twisted version of 
it had caused him all of his present problems. 

That honour had cost him too much. He did not want to hurt others. But it had hurt
others for him. Akane. Shampoo. Ukyou. Beyond recognition. The snake that silently
poisoned his mind with its venom. And its deadly. 

Until she came along. That was when his whole life had turned upside down. Instead
of following his own distorted view of the world, she had changed his vision. His
sight. His world. Everything came tumbling down and from the rubble and ashes 
rose another world. A whole new world. 

He had never experienced such a world before. The world that brought him courage. 
To face her. To face the truth. Face himself. He was hiding. Hiding from her. Hiding
from his soul. Hiding from his emotions. 

He refused to acknowledge the supposed weakness. Weak girl? Emotions made him weak?
Who taught him all that? Girls are weak and stupid? Male chauvinism cost him. He 
now knew better. Everyone have a male and female side. The strength and raw power
of the male. The sensitivity and sensuality of the female.

That was what made him whole. In forcing him to face his female side, she had given
him strength. He felt a strength inside him like a glacier melting. He realised then
that the teachings his father had taught him were wrong. 

He felt a bit empty at her leaving. True he despised the curse. But more and more
he came to care for her. Love her. As a sister. He looked into the mirror and each
time he did not see her, his heart would cramp. Hurt. Lonely.

No one understood him. No one cared about his feelings, his needs, his wants. No one 
except her. To think he wanted to get rid of his curse in the first place, thinking
it was wrong. A mistake. A quirk of Fate to tease him. 

Yet the truth stared at him deeply. The curse was not a curse at all. It was a lesson
of Life. A lesson to be taught by himself. The results had to be shoved into his 
face to let him realise it.  

Now she had given him a chance. A chance to change his life for the better. A chance
to make his own decisions and find his true love. Thinking about love made him think
about his suitors.  

Did he love Akane? Or is it obligations of the engagement that drove him to protect 
her each and every time? Did he know what love is in the begining before the fiancee
problem started? Was it love that drew him to Akane in the first place or was it 
friendship? 

He realised that Akane still thought of him as the sad and lonely red haired girl 
who gatecrashed into the Tendou house that fateful day. She felt betrayed didn't 
she? She must have felt I took away the first real friend she could have made. 

That must be why she behaved menacingly every time he approached her. If only I am
a full girl that time. If only I let her take over and gone into oblivion. If only
I did not get cursed in the first place. But that would mean hostility at the very
begining because of the morning fights and Kunou. If only......

If only I wasn't enarmoured at Pop's words, I would have gotten back to China or
went to visit Okaasan. Damn you Pops. Why did you make my life a mess? 

Eventually there was only one person to blame: Himself. He was still high on the 
honour propoganda. If only I reject that pact in the very first place. Then everyone
except the fathers would be happy. If only he would cancel all the engagements.   

Ukyou was seeing him as a best friend. But her mindset was changed by the engagement.
Genma had stolen her yatai and she naturally felt it right that she should be the
rightful fiancee for him. If only Genma had not made a mess of her life as well. 

She was suffering enough already. Getting her own world ripped apart was enough. 
Being forced to live as a different person was torture no parent could have
wished on his or her child. Kuonji-san must have been blind by fury and honour. 

Again he wonder what kind of honour code his father and Kuonji-san was riding on.
Not to mention Kunou and Soun. What kind of thoughts were going inside their 
minds? Trying to delve this was going to take more than psychology. 

Shampoo was a different matter. She did not understand that different places have
different laws and Cologne never helped matters by not explaining it to her. In 
fact the Elder seemed bent on getting Ranma to marry her great granddaughter. 
No matter what the cost. She only saw him as a perfect specimem to breed strong
warriors for the future. To continue her village's continued existence.

She seemed to say the Amazon Laws were evoked. But she forgot that in Japan 
JAPANESE LAWS are the only recognised laws and not her Amazons Laws. Ranma 
was sure she knew this but either she can't be bothered to explain to Shampoo
or she ignored it purposely. And he knew it was the latter somehow. 

In fact Shampoo already violated several laws. She caused intentional harm,
battery, destruction of property and assualt. She thought the people here
are nothing more than puppets, no obstacle is to get in her way.

Win at all cost. Disregarding fairness and equality. While that was the motto
of the Musabetsu Kakutou-ryu, Ranma felt it was absolutely rubbish. Up to a 
few months ago he would have win at all costs. But now he felt it was wrong. 
Winning while hurting other people especially innocent people is not right. 

Kodachi was delusional just like her brother Tatewaki. The siblings had been
chasing him either wanting to 'love' either of his forms or kill them. He wondered
if they knew the real meaning of love. He learned that they didnt. 

Their father was a madman, while their mother abandoned them. The two did what they
could to alleviate their pain. Creating their own fantasy worlds to suit themselves.
They were afraid to face the truth, the reality of the real world. 

Just like the Tendous, Ryouga, Genma and the Amazons. They all shut themselves up.
Soun and his tsunami tears and demon heads. Kasumi and her happy go lucky. Nabiki
and her love for money. Akane and her deep anger and temper. 

Ryouga and his tendency to blame Ranma for everything, even those of his own designs.
Genma and his obsession for martial arts. Mousse and his targetting Ranma as the sole
obstacle to Shampoo's hand. 

Don't they realise that? That it was their own fault. That it was their own doing?
No.... they all wanted to blame someone else. And guess who was the scapegoat? They 
always, ALWAYS say it was Ranma's fault for every problem even those he obviously
did not start nor got involved in.

Yes I am the scapegoat. The lamb everyone wanted to slaughter. The plane everyone
wanted to shoot down. The guy or gal everybody loves to hate. Sometimes I wonder 
why I don't choose seppuku. Is it because of her?

Yes it was her. The beacon of light to his sea of darkness. The raging fire to
his tempest. It was her who kept me standing on my two feet. Her bright red hair
standing out like a blazing inferno. 

Her cheerfulness warmed his heart. Her blue eyes soothed his soul like a balm. 
Her smile brought him to smile as well. Somehow she touched him and he was free. 
Free of his chaotic mind. Free of the swirling shadows. Free of the entanglements
of honour. 

The only remaining thing he could do for her was to finish her lessons. Yes time to 
make decisions. Without anyone's suggestions or coercion. Regardless of how painful
the decisions may seem. The final lesson was about to be tested. Courage to face up
to his mistakes and his life. 

Yes I shall do it. With that determination welled up in him. He had a purpose finally.
A true purpose for the first time in his life. He leapt off the roof and went to 
find his mother. 

In a different dojo, a red haired girl was watching this on a screen conjured 
up by a small command to Yggdrassil. Nodding her head and saying "Excellent.  
Looks like he is finally getting it.", she smiled contentedly.  

=====

Kageshi took in the sight before him amazed at the size of the Sakura Dojo. 
Reading the sign "Sakura School of Heaven's Way Martial Arts, Dojo, Restuarant 
and Family Center" he walked to the front gates and rang the doorbell. A moment
later, the gates opened to a vast compound. He stared agape at the real size 
of the Sakura Dojo compound. I will never have guessed it is this big from the 
outside, he thought.

Stepping into the front yard, he was welcomed by Kyosuke. An introduction was 
exchanged and Kyosuke directed him to Reiko's office. "Come in!" A lithe and
beautiful voice called from inside. Kyosuke opened the door and let Kageshi in.

Kageshi was greeted with the sight of the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
Lush red hair flowed down her back like a flame twirling in the wind. Her face
was lacking of makeup but he didn't think she needed it as her rose pink lips 
formed a smile. The smile warmed his heart like a beacon of fire. 

"Welcome Kuonji-san. I didn't expect you to be this early. Please take a seat."
She indicated a plush chair in front of her desk while sipping a cup of tea. 

"G-gomen Sakura-san. I apologised for gaping like that. But you looked stunning." 
Kageshi stammered. 
 
Her laughter sounded like sweet music to him. "Oh you are not the only one to say
that Kuonji-san." Her features turning serious, she stared at him as if looking
right into his soul. "Now if you don't mind can we start on the business?"

Seeing his nod, she continued. "My name is Sakura Reiko and although I had no 
relation with Saotome Genma but I do care for his son Saotome Ranma. I knew 
all about what Genma did to you and that Ranma didn't know until your daughter
Ukyou confronted him. If anything Ukyou is suffering more than you do. Genma 
is dishonourable but Ranma values honour highly. I do not wish to see both
Ukyou and Ranma suffering even more because of what that oaf did."

Kageshi remained silent for a moment thinking about what she said. 

"A moment please Sakura-san. But our family honour is stained by Genma when 
he abandoned Ukyou and stole her drowy. How do you propose that the honour 
be restored?"

"For one thing, I will compensate you for the yatai you lost. For another,
you will be given half of one of the dojos to set up your Okonomiyaki 
restaurant. We will share the profits the restaurant makes. Once you have 
make enough money, you may open your own place. I know of some contractors
who are willing to rent at low prices. Or you can continue here as you like.
In other words I will enter into a partnership with you." 

"Sounds reasonable. What is it you wish me to do in exchange?" Kageshi asked.

"Simple. Call your daughter back. She needs her own family more than you think.
And restore her to her rightful gender in the family records. That's all I 
asked." Reiko replied relaxing in her chair and typing on her computer. 

Kageshi contemplated for a while then stared at the cheque Reiko put in front 
of him. The amount was ten times the value of the yatai. Wide-eyed and nearly 
in tears, he took the cheque. 

"Thank you Reiko. I do not know why you are doing this. But I thank you for 
your kindness. I missed my daughter all these years and I felt remorse at 
having to reform her into a son. No make that a tool for revenge. I never 
know how to repay you." Kageshi was now crying softly. 

"Don't be. I am glad to help you. Now you want to go and call your daughter 
home ne? Here's her phone number. Don't ask me how I got that. It's a secret!"
Reiko winked at him, eyes brimming with cheerfulness.

"Hai. Now if you excuse me I need to go home and pack up. I'll see you in a 
bit then. Sayonara and Arigato Gozaimasu!" With that he left the office. 

Kyosuke stepped inside a moment later and smiled at Reiko's glowing face. 
"Going well ne? I bet you will have undone all that the fool did in a few 
weeks." 

=====

The air was crisp and light. Birds singing and crickets chirping. Another day in the
Tendou Dojo. Akane was sighing. When will Kunou ever end the morning fights? She was 
breaking bricks as usual and muttering "I hate Boys!".

She was thinking about Ranma and the female Ranma-chan. The snobbish and arrogant boy
had since sobbered a lot and less than likely to put his foot in his mouth. Yesterday
was a good indication of his new found maturity. 

She was in the family room when he asked her whether she wanted to train. As expected,
she called him pervert and jerk and waited for the coming uncute tomboy remark. But it
never came. Taking a look, she could see him frowning a little and saying nothing 
before walking off. 

Strange. Almost as if he had forgotten how to insult. She could not find any faults 
with him and it was always Ranma's fault. If it wasn't for the engagement, she might
made friends with him. He doesn't seem like a pervert as the boys chasing her seemed
to be. 

She thought of the red haired girl. The girl had betrayed her. Betrayed her trust. 
She felt Ranma-chan had been the bad girl and refused to make friends with her. 
Even when the latter had tried to be nice and friendly. She refused to believe her
anymore.

Further insult was rubbed onto her when her sisters had betrayed her and shoved the
engagement to her. It was terribly hurting. Sisters should stick together. But there
was a profound change. Nabiki. She would never have thought Nabiki to be the one to
reconcile with her. Nabiki initiated the healing process. Or so it was thought. 

Akane however was far more perspective than that. Though it was subtle, she found out
that it was Ranma-chan who helped Nabiki. I bet it was her who was responsible for 
Ranma's change too. But what was the curse doing? Was it alive? Did it have its own
thoughts and its own personality? Did it have its own existence? 

Complexity seemed to be the norm for Ranma. All the engagements, all the rivals, all
the challenges, all the garbage Genma heaped on him. 

Did he really deserve all that? Come to think of it, he did in the first place. 
Arrogance beyond even Kunou's ego, uncouth language even a five year old can beat him 
in a debate, a man who says he doesn't need education. He changed. Changed since. 

Akane just shook her head. Wondering what she was going to do about the engagement. 
The fathers wanted it very much. Perhaphs Genma wanted it more than Soun to fill 
the gap of his life when he retired. Would have a secure source of food and money. 

Shrugging, she decided to let Ranma make the first move. And if he decided to break it,
she would respect his decision. She owed Ranma-chan that at least. 

=====

A bright and warm day it was. A call to breakfast was made. Just as the Tendous and
Genma were about to begin their breakfast, the Nerima crew was arriving. First to 
appear was Ryouga. Remember the wrong directions Reiko gave him? Hai they allowed
him to reach the Dojo earlier than usual. It took him half the time he usually took.
The last gift from her before the ascension. He never knew. 

"Akane? What are you doing in Hanoi?" 

"Hanoi? This is Nerima Ryouga-kun. Or have you gotten lost AGAIN?" Akane sighed.
No wonder he blamed Ranma for everything. He got lost often!

"Have you eaten yet Ryouga? We have some food left." Kasumi smiled brightly.

"Um no. I am actually a little hungry." The Lost Boy laughed nervously. 

Nabiki snorted. A little hungry my fanny! He hadn't eaten for days I bet!

While they were at it, the rest soon strode (or broke) in. The Amazons,
Ukyou and finally the Kunous. Everyone was clustered in a circle, waiting
for the main lead to appear. They wondered what was going on.

As if on cue, Ranma came down the stairs followed by Nodoka. They were wearing
formal kimonos, Ranma in the black male kimono, Nodoka in her pale yellow one.
They stopped in front of the crowd and knelt down, bowing deeply. 

Sitting up, Ranma addressed the crowd.

"Arigato Gozaimasu for coming at the invitations. I had an important announcement
to make. Please do not react until I finished. It involves all of you directly or
indirectly."

Looking at his mother for support, he continued, this time more confident. 

"You all know that I am engaged to three women. And they all had valid claims."
Cutting off any protests from Genma and Soun, "As for the fourth, she merely
forced the claim on me without my confirming it. And another four unclaimed 
engagements my father made just to fill his stomach."

"To resolve everything including keeping their family honour and not prolonging
any pain resulting from my indecision, I hereby declare the engagements, all eight 
of them, annulled and dissolved. Thank you for coming."

Protests from all parties involved in the engagements, were heard. But the main 
participants sans two were relieved. Akane and Ukyou wore a smile on their faces. 

Ukyou got a call from her father saying that someone had resolved their feud with
the Saotome family and that he was compensated more than enough. He also wanted
his daughter to come back saying he was sorry for forcing her to become his son. 

She was in cloud heaven and although she lost Ranma, she never really loved him. 
She still treated him as her best friend. She was blinded by the engagement issues
the same as many of the others. That was her cue to finally leave Nerima and return
to her parents. 

Akane was happy. Not only for herself but also for Ranma. He finally took the courage
to end it all. She was free too. It was killing two birds with one stone. She gave
silent thanks to the person mostly responsible for this and hoped to forge a new 
friendship with the pigtailed boy. 

Nabiki smiled in public for the first time since Ranma arrived. It was not the cold
smile of the Ice Queen. Rather it was the warm smile she gave Akane a few months ago.
She was happy for her sister. And Ukyou. They were freed at last. Free. And it just 
made her feel better. 
  
Ranma saw their looks and smiled. He had not lost two fiancees. No he never had any 
fiancees. Indeed he gained a friend and regained a best friend. In all life was 
worth living. Despite the protests that was threatening to blow into a full scale 
melee, knowing that he and others were happy was enough. Most of all his mother. 
She was swelling with pride and happiness at her son's courage and defiance. 

Cologne too smiled secretly at Ranma's changed behavior. He was growing a backbone
at last. Good luck to whatever you do. She had grown fond of him and her. She was 
alot like Cologne's younger self. He was strong and confident but lacking in self
assurance and independence. She hoped Ranma would not waste her sacrifice. 

Although many people would argue that Khu Lon was obsessed in gaining Ranma as a 
husband for Xian Pu, there had been changes. The red haired girl had reminded her 
of her younger days where she too had been defiant and stubborn. The pigtailed boy
was strong and confident but lacked backbone and independence. All the things she 
did to him was to build up his independence and with the girl's help, she succeeded.

Ranma returned downstairs with a backpack followed by Nodoka. He bowed to Soun.

"I am sorry Mr Tendou. I have caused enough problems for you and your family. For 
that I ask for your forgiveness. Your daughters need happiness. Not a forced marriage
that cannot work out. I am going home."

Soun was too upset and crying out a olympic sized swimming pool to answer. He did 
said "Oh the schools will never be joined now!" repeatedly.

Genma grabbed his son and shoved him to a corner, shouting "BOY! What do you think
you are doing? The engagement cannot be cancelled. You are such a disgrace. Or have 
you forgotten your honour?"

"Honour? Your own twisted version of it? What about it Pops? It should be you who
disgraced the family. Making promises of marriage just to fill your big stomach!
Have you no shame at all? Or do you really know the meaning of Shame?!"

Ranma at this point was furious. He wanted to actually forgive his father. But then
he had to point a finger at me! That Baka!

"You do not feel ashamed when you stole Ucchan's yatai ne? You do not feel ashamed 
when you hid from Mom eh? You do not feel ashamed when you made engagement pacts 
with no intentions to fulfill them! Yet you want me to believe in your blasted
honour! No Pops I am taught true honour and I no longer followed your lead!"

Kodachi was silent. All in all she was kidding herself with illusions of her 
Ranma-sama holding her and kissing her in the pale moonlight.... NO! No...
it must be the pigtailed harlot's fault. Are you sure? a voice asked in her 
head. Kodachi-chan please wake up from your fantasy. Who are you? She asked.
I am you. The reason. The thoughtful part of you. It's time you wake up. 
Yes. And for the first time, Kodachi Kunou had a genuine smile.  

Shampoo had been stunned into silence. All her dreams, all her efforts gone into
waste. It wasn't anyone who shattered them. Her Airen had willingly ended all 
the engagements. Which proved to her, no to them that he did not love her. He
did not love any of the girls. She began to weep not for her loss but for herself.
She had been deluded for far too long. Far too much to stop herself. 

A hand touched her shoulder. She looked up to see Kodachi smiling at her. A genuine 
smile. No malice no madness. Her mouth began to etch into a smile. And she embraced
the gynmast. Soon all the girls joined them in a friendly and warm embrace. The 
begining of a new friendship was about to blossom.

It had taken the breaking of the engagements to show them that they could be friends.
They could go shopping together. They could go eat ice cream. They could do every 
thing friends do everywhere. Realization struck them and they felt another embrace.

This time they looked at Ranma who was embracing the group as much as his strong arms
could. Yes they could use a male friend. One that could protect them and yet not 
be a pervert. Glints of naughtiness shone in their eyes as they looked at him and back.
Slowly opening, they playfully swept him into the middle and proceeded to give him a 
mega friendship glomp. Of course he fainted from a steaming blood rush.

Kunou and the boys were on cloud nine. Surely the gods have so favoured the Blue
Thunder of Fuurinkan High to deal such a complete victory over the foul sorceror
who had enslaved the lovely Akane Tendou and the pigtailed goddess. No that can't
be right. Something devious must be plotted and then he could enslave them again. 

"Foul sorceror what are you planning now..Umph!" Sent flying into LEO by a flying
kick. Good riddance! Ranma thought.

Ryouga was happy. For himself of course. He could now date Akane. But what if Ranma 
divulged his P-chan secrets? No he was honourable to last a year. Was it Ranma's
fault everytime? Ok Maybe most of the time its his fault. Akane-san here I come! 

He went to see Akane about asking her for a date. Unfortunately he found himself
in a tundra landscape. WHERE AM I NOW? He had gotten lost yet again!

Mousse was elated. Surely Saotome have now given up on Shampoo and she too have 
given up on him. "Shampoo I challenge you to a fight and if I win, you shall 
marry me!" And he started to give his intended a glomp. 

Unfortunately, he glomped several girls this time. Uh oh. Instruments of torture
were brandished. And Mousse found himself trapped.

"Stupid Mousse blind and grabbed my breast! Not only that grabbed others too!" 

"How dare you touch the Black Rose in such a way and expect to get away with it!" 

"I hate boys! Well not all boys Gomen Ranma. Just perverted boys!" 

"I agree with you Akane-chan. Face my Battle Spatula duck boy and know that 
feminine fury is the most powerful force in the universe!"

A flying Chinese boy wearing a robe with voluminous sleeves was sent flying
into deep space by four enraged girls. Numerous bruises and cuts were evident 
on his body. 

In a dojo in nearby Juuban, a red haired girl was laughing her head off at the scenes
and commotion on her Yggdrassil screen. Sometimes being a goddess is so much fun.

Daisuke and Hiroshi arrived at the Tendou Dojo having seen the two missiles from 
their way there. "Hey whats going on here?" Hiroshi asked.

"Hey buddy how are you doing? Um could you fill us in on what happened here?"
Daisuke was clearly confused. 

They began their explanations and after that the two boys snickered. 

"Good one. I see you dissolved the engagements. So any more news?" Hiroshi asked.

Ranma shrugged. "Probably. I am going to a new school. Marabuki Neo High was just
opened last week and I went there to take a look. They have an excellent syllabus 
combining martial arts with science and arts and I signed up. Its just a few 
kilometers from Nerima so I can come visit you guys often."

"Marabuki Neo? I heard their standards are very high and the entrance exams are 
pretty tough. So how did you get in anyway?" Daisuke asked curiously.

"Just because I did not do well in Fuurinkan does not mean I do not pass their 
entrance exams." Ranma replied cryptically. 

"Well best wishes to you Ranma. Hope you can visit us often. We shall miss you.
And look at the new friends you have made here. Shampoo and Kodachi." Akane smiled.

"Sure. I can come visit anytime. With my skills, I can reach here in a few seconds.
After all I am the best martial artist!" Ranma displayed his trademark cocky grin.

The entire room save for the fathers burst into laughter. Kasumi smiled as usual and
asked "Oh My! Anyone wants some tea?" A resounding "YES!" boomed. 

Back in Asgard, Kami-sama sipped his wine. Congratulations daughter. You have done 
well. Smiling at His latest child's achievements. One down. Many to go. My child you
did your Father proud. Sending a email to Reiko's office, He set up more commands 
for her reward.

*****

Author's Notes:

In the coming chapter, we will be looking at the opening of the Sakura Dojo.
Official. Honest! Expecting fireworks? Well.. That's a secret!

C&C are welcome. If you want to see my site you are welcome too. 
http://hotaru.anifics.com jumeau@pacific.net.sg