Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work of fiction
are not mine and I do not lay any claim, either real or 
imagined to the likeness, reproduction, or otherwise.  This 
work is intended for fun only, and is not produced for 
profit.  Please feel free to distribute freely.

Writer's Foreword:
I'll warn you now, this is a crossover lemon.  I've put the
cast of UY, the cast of Ranma, the cast of DP, the cast of
AMS, the cast of AKO, the cast of.... etc. etc. etc. I tried
to break as many boundaries as possible with this, including
having Ataru admit to his true feelings (Whatever they may
be) Well, you don't expect me to tell you now, do you?  You
Ranma 1/2 fans may not like what I've done with Ukyou, but
feel assured that there is a reason (as always) that I've 
portrayed her in such a light.  You might not like what I've
done to Ranma either, but hey, it's my universe.  Kei makes 
a few explicit appearances, and even Yuri has some fun.  All
in all it makes for some very interesting story lines, so
please, read it, and then tell me what you think.

  Comments/Crits to:
			inaba@earthling.net

                        Part XII
           Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me A Match!

  Shinobu sat in the corner of her room, her eyes gazing lazily
over the landscape through her window, her mind running over past
dreams and a dark future.  She sighed lightly as her eyes glinted
along the brightly colored clouds as dusk began to settle over 
the town.  She shifted her shoulders uncomfortably, propping up
her chin with her arm, her ears picking at every slight sound that 
reached them, her mind working over every single instant, taking 
in it's quality, her mind avoiding the pain of any further 
progression along the path that she had laid.

  She hadn't wanted to give up, not on anything in her life, 
especially not Mendo, but that was yesterday, and it seemed so
long ago.  She could remember the way she felt the very first 
day she met him, and remember the very last day he was able to 
touch her heart.  His distance from her was so plain, so concrete,
that even she couldn't deny it's existence.  She knew what kind
of man he was, but that had never seemed to matter before, he
wanted to be near her, and, at the time, she wanted to be near
him.  Then, seeing him in that cabinet with Junko had made things
all too clear to her that even she was just a toy to be played with
and then, thrown away.  He might use her again if he felt like it,
but she really didn't feel like being used, now or ever, or so 
she thought.  'But it would be nice, though,' her mind began, 'just
one more time.'

  "*Iie." she said aloud, shaking her head violently.  There was no
way she would let him do that to her again.  It hurt enough as it 
was, to give herself that one last taste of pleasure would be the
most expensive gift she would ever give, fore it would tear her
apart.  To be there, to touch him, and have him respond by shoving
her on the shelf, spent, she couldn't bear that, she couldn't bear to
be just like Junko, just like who she used to be.
[*no]

  The telephone called to her, interrupting her thoughts as she lingered,
trying to quell the hunger inside her.  She pushed herself off the
window ledge and walked absently to the phone, picking it up, "*Moshi 
moshi?"
[*hello]

  "Shinobu-san?" Ukyou's voice queried over the receiver.

  "*Domo, Ukyou-sensei." Shinobu smiled, glad for an excuse to escape
her thoughts.
[*in this context, hello]

  "*Domo!" Ukyou began, "Shinobu-san, are you going to be able to make
it tonight?" her voice a little worried.
[*in this context, hello]

  Shinobu regarded the question for a moment, her mind mulling over
the effects of a Friday night session, "I'm not really feeling up
to it." apologetically.

  "Oh, are you sick?" Ukyou queried, her throat constricting slightly,
she knew exactly why Shinobu didn't want to go out, hadn't gone out in
days.  She had gone through the same thing when Ranma had decided who
he wanted.  He had never said anything of course, but she could tell,
she wasn't THAT oblivious.  'It must be pretty hard on her, but 
dammit, she had to get over it!'  

  Shinobu sighed heavily, she wanted to go tonight, she really did, 
but..., "Well, I guess I can stop by for a while."

  "Good!" Ukyou responded, squealing happily into the phone, "Not to
worry," she jibed, "we'll go easy on you." with a giggle.

  Shinobu smiled slightly at the jest, her eyes starting to light. 
'This just might be what Shinobu needs.' to herself as she nodded 
and giggled lightly into the phone, "*Domo, Ukyou-sensei."
[*in this context, bye]

  "*Domo!" 
[*in this context, bye]

                           ***************

  Ukyou replaced the receiver slowly, her mind lost in the waves of
thought that swam over her, she had to think of some way to get Shinobu's
head out of the clouds, it was her duty, as a teacher, and as a friend.
The truth was, she didn't like to see anybody in that condition, she
had been there before, and knew all too well how much it hurt to be
turned out, no matter what kind of a** the guy was like.  

  She stood for a moment, her hand still on the phone, working over in
her mind what to do, then her eyes opened wide with realization, her
fingers lifting the receiver and dialing with precise, quick motions
of long practice.

  She waited patiently for a moment as it sang out, then a soft feminine
voice answered from the line, "*Moshi moshi?"
[*hello]

  "*Domo," Ukyou began, "is Ryouga there?"
[*in this context, hello]