#include "stddisclaimer.h"

			       Final Attempt VI
			  The Girl Who Fell To Earth

	      A story by Suika Roberts, Saint of Eris Discordia
  Based on the work of Takahashi Rumiko, Takeuchi Naoko, Fujishima Kousuke,
				 and others.

	The three of us are walking in the park, although I'm feeling rather
superfluous, since Usagi-chan and Rei-chan seem quite content with each
other.  I'm not sure why they invited me along, perhaps as camoflage, but at
least Usagi-chan's mother knows about them, so that may not be it.

	A crackling noise comes from ahead, and I turn from watching a small
green caterpillar eat slowly at a leaf.  Some strange sort of purplish-pink
spacial distortion flares in time with the rumble, and a small girl falls
headfirst out of it.

	I charge forward, then slow as the girl rights herself with far more
ease than I had expected, then somehow shifts herself in the air to drop
lightly onto the ground in front of Usagi-chan and Rei-chan.  She moves with a
grace that belies her apparent age, the smooth, easy power of someone who's
been practicing longer than I've been alive.

	`Hi mom,' she says, looking at Rei-chan, then stretches up and kisses
her on the cheek, `Usagi,' she says then, turning to give Usagi-chan a firm
clout on the arm.

	`Who are you?' Rei-chan asks, stepping between Usagi-chan and the new
girl.

	`Oh, that's right.  You haven't met me yet.  Sorry,' the girl tugs one
of the pink tails trailing from her long Odango, and I notice the darker roots
for the first time.  She looks about nine, and is wearing a skirted
sailor-style outfit, `I'm Hino Usagi, but please, call me Em.'

	`Hino Usagi?'

	`Em?'

	`From the future, right?' I ask, at the same time as the other two.

	`Yep.  Won't tell you how far, though.'  She makes a face, and I follow
her gaze to Usagi-chan's, `Yes, I'm your daughter.'

	`How,'

	`Did I know what you were going to ask?'

	Usagi-chan nods.

	`I read the incident report.'  She starts laughing as Usagi-chan
faults.  `Blessed Eris, I'd forgotten how much fun this is.'

	`How old are you?'  I ask, curious.  I glance at Rei-chan, who's
protectively almost-hovering over Usagi-chan.

	`Older than I was last time I visited, which hasn't happened for you
lot yet,' she smiles an almost familiar smile, then I finally recognize it as
one of Obaba's.

	`How much older?'

	`Umm,' she rubs her cheek, `almost two hundred years.  Picked up my
fifth doctorate since then.'

	Fifth.  I blink.  Usagi-chan's eyes roll back and she swoons, but
Rei-chan catches her before she hits the ground.

	`Well, I think that's enough fun here.  Mako-chan, let's go visit your
folks,' she suddenly grins, lacing her fingers together and stretching them out
in front of herself, palms out, `It's gonna be so much fun to kick
Ranma-sensei's ass, even if it's gonna be the only time,' she starts towards
the front of the park, then turns towards the other two, `I'll see you later,
'K?'

	Rei-chan manages a silent nod.

	`Kick her ass?'

	`Yeah, she's just too skilled back home, but for once I'm not only
older, but better.  She'll catch up by the end of this visit, though, so I
gotta make it last.'

	I look down at the little girl in front of me, and shake my head.

-

	`Saotome Ranma, I give you proper challenge.'

	Ranma-mama looks up from the book she's reading.  `And who are you,
that gives challenge?' she replies, checking her page number before closing the
book and standing.

	`I am Hino Usagi, called Em by most, and your future student.'

	`Future student?'

	`Yeah.  You've been teaching me since before I could walk, and done a
very good job.  However, in this time I am the more experienced martial artist,
and I'm gonna take advantage of that.  So, be warned, I won't go too easy on
you.'

	`Really?' Ranma-mama almost doesn't shift.

	Em almost doesn't shift to answer.

	Ranma-mama almost doesn't shift again.

	Em kicks her in the head.  I blink, startled to see someone take down
Ranma-mama so easily, and miss half of what remains of the fight.  Within the
time it would have taken me to blink again Em has Ranma-mama on the ground, her
arm twisted almost up to her shoulder blades.

	`You're good.  How long have I been teaching you?'

	`Not quite three hundred and fifty eight years.'  I blink, keeping it
from turning into a fault through force of will.
---
log:
1999 Nov 7:	started
2004 Jan 4:	Title Block added