Small Netherworld 1: Deal with the devil…no, wait…

AN: Ok so first off I want to mention this fic is not based in the universe of Laharl or Adell or any other disgaea specific universe, it is however in the same multiverse so while Ranma wont start out living with the disgaea crew he may visit them via gateways or vice-versa. If you wanted to read this to see Ranma living with the disgaea characters you're outta luck, at least for a little while.

Also I had originally planned to write this with the portion I am currently posting as the "past" in the story, and intersperse the past segments with segments of "present" so that it would be a bit more interesting to read. I also planned to make some major changes before posting in terms of content, characterizations, etc. However, I have been diagnosed with terminal cancer, so screw it; I'm posting what I have as is even if it's not perfect. It'll come in a couple chunks since I don't like proofing a lot at once. Anyway, on with the story.

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The pigtailed youth sat in snow rising to his chest. His body was very numb due to exposure to the cold. He wore nothing but a thick shirt and thick pants; more would weigh too heavily on him. Despite the chill and meditation he thought he could still feel the scar on the back of his neck that Happosai had given to him three months ago. It was all that was really on his mind despite all attempts to clear it away. It had been much worse than Jusenkyo's curse had ever been. He could barely survive with it, even finding food could be a challenge.

He tried again to focus his mind. It would be stupid to waste months of searching for a cure only to fail because he couldn't concentrate. The mountain was, according to the monks of a nearby temple, said to be a holy place where one could receive visions from a higher power; they had also said something about heroes and their destiny or something; he hadn't really paid attention after he heard what he wanted. He'd run out of options of where to look on his own, no-one knew the cure to the ultimate weakness moxibustion and most agreed the art had been sealed away in a single scroll. Unless he got divine inspiration he didn't see how he'd find the cure.

He sat for hours trying to ignore everything using the soul of ice technique in combination with the meditation training he had practiced for years. Hours later he still sat, completely numb, until sleep took him.

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Ranma did not awake so much as realize he was already awake and someplace new. He was in a large garden filled with flowers. A tall brown haired man was watering the flowers nearby with a small watering can and seemed oblivious to everything else. He was, oddly, dressed in a blue robe. More importantly he looked REAL. This was not to say the garden around him looked illusory in anyway, simply that the man seemed to exude an aura that made his presence certain. He turned to Ranma as though he had just become aware of the boys presence. "Ranma, good to see you," he greeted kindly and gave a faint smile before continuing to water the plants.

"Huh?" the teen asked in surprise. "Who are you? How'd ya know my name?"

"I'm the seraph, Ranma, the leader of Celestia, what you humans call 'heaven'. I'm well acquainted with your file." When the man spoke Ranma didn't question the words for more than a second. The words themselves had a feeling of truth and finality to them and while his mind rebelled for a moment it was then caught up in the knowledge he was not being lied to.

"You… You mean I'm dead?" He was already beginning to curse his stupidity for sitting on top of a mountain until he lost consciousness.

The seraph chuckled lightly. "No, no, very close to death but you're still alive. You came seeking a vision and here you have it."

That shocked Ranma a bit, to some degree he had done this more out of desperation than expectations of a real effect. "Huh? It really worked?"

The man laughed again. "Of course! You came to our meeting place and drove yourself to the brink of death, it would be very rude not to meet you. Besides is in my best interests to meet with you anyway."

"Ah," Ranma responded and nervously rubbed the back of his head, he wanted to complain about having to go to so much effort but the guy was acting too politely to speak harshly towards; he especially did not want to get the guy who may be able to help him angry. "So, do ya know a cure for the ultimate weakness moxibustion?"

"Yes and no. We know how to rid you off the affliction but it should by no means be considered a cure. The moxibustion will last until your death."

"Huh?" Ranma eloquently summed up his confusion as to whether there was a cure or not.

"Without knowledge of the art itself you must die to be free of its effects." The man explained.

The young teen's shoulders slumped. "So that's it then? I'll never get my strength back?" One could almost hear the hope leaving his voice at the words.

"No, you will get your strength back, just not until you're dead." He drizzled a small amount of water onto a nearby daisy.

"What good's that do?!" Ranma snapped back at the man.

The man stopped his task and set down his watering can to face Ranma. "You would be surprised how important that is. It is why I had wanted to meet with you."

"Hah," the martial artist laughed despondently, "what good is strength when I'm dead?"

"In this case it is the only kind that will suffice I'm afraid." The man looked down sadly for a moment, "I could use your aid you see. There is a job I need done and I feel you may be capable of handling it for me. I need someone who fills many requirements for this job and you are, it would seem, the best candidate."

"Whadda you mean a job?"

"You are aware that this 'heaven' as you on earth call it. Have you put together then how real your 'hell' is too yet." The man's question was responded to by a hesitant nod demonstrating that the thought had only now occurred. "It, the netherworld as it is truly called, is in disarray. Many demons are vying for the title of overlord. Without a single leader and the troubles that are caused are endless."

"So? It's hell right? Ain't it supposed to be bad there?"

"No, no, it is simply different than Celestia; not bad per say, but it does have the capacity to be so. The problem, young one, is that all three of our worlds are linked. Disasters in one can easily affect the others. Beyond that even war between them is possible."

An idea hit Ranma when war was mentioned, he was after all a great fighter and fighter was the only job he was well suited for. "You want me in your side's army…" he accused feeling the man was trying to use him.

"Oh, no, nothing like that. You're not coming here I assure you, too many minor indiscretions have yet to be atoned for."

"WHAT?!" The apparently damned boy demanded. The sudden shock of finding not only was he wrong but that he was going to hell made him yell loudly enough as to make the other man looked very flustered.

"You're scheduled to go to the netherworld," the seraph responded with a sad shrug. "I had simply thought I would take this opportunity to make you an offer before you go. I need work done for me there and I could make your stay more enjoyable than it would otherwise be."

"Heh," Ranma laughed to himself again without much emotion. "So I'm screwed either way huh?" A sad nod was the response. He sighed to himself, "Man why's this crap always gotta happen to me?" he asked himself resignedly before turning back to his host, "so wadda ya want?"

"A simple trade: I provide you with what little help I can to see you happy in the netherworld, you on the other hand simply need to conquer it."

"Conquer it?"

"Yes."

"As in take it over…"

"Indeed."

"Ya want me ta take over all of hell."

"That is the goal, yes."

"That's insane!"

"I thought it was a good plan myself." The man looked taken aback at the harsh reception his idea had received. "There aren't any demons I can trust that well. None of my followers could be trusted to not make issues worse. And among humans there are few who are skilled enough and not likely to abuse the power they would gain too badly. Are you not a good fighter?"

"Of course! But I can't conquer hell!"

"Oh? Have you ever tried?"

"Of course I aint'!"

"And how familiar are you with demonic forces?"

"Um…" Ranma replied at a loss as he did not want to admit his ignorance. He did not want to admit that prior to seeing the absoluteness of the man he had never seriously believed in heaven or hell.

"I see," the man replied with a nod. "As things stand my evaluation of the situation seems to be the most informed. And trust me I would not ask you to attempt this unless you could succeed; though I make no promises as to if you will succeed."

Ranma was at a loss. He had to admit he really didn't know what he'd be up against if he accepted the crazy mission. He was the best fighter around, for his age, he knew some of his elders were better but given time he knew he'd leave them by the wayside. He'd never have considered really fighting the denizens of hell; had he they'd probably have locked him up at a funny farm. Could it really be within his power? It felt like the man was telling the truth, crazy as it was. He only really knew one way to know however. "So what do I have to do?"

"Oh many possibilities exist, it's up to you to decide on the details. You could gain wealth, power, supporters, political expertise, there are many ways to obtain the title of overlord; though I expect, and I hope you excuse me for doing so, that politics are not your forte. We will advise you a little where we can but due to the difficulty of maintaining communications most things will be left to you."

A sweat drop formed upon the young Saotome's brow. "So you aint got any idea do ya?"

"Essentially." The man nodded to confirm it. "Everything will be at your discretion. Are you interested?"

The youth thought about it. "So I can die now and help ya, and in return you help me in hell or wherever. Or I can just go on with my life as the world's weakest martial artist? That about it?"

"Besides the stemming of disaster your aid may give us? Yes, that does about sum it up."

"Right," Ranma said and steeled himself to make a decision he thought he may later regret in his usual manner of agreeing to something before really considering it enough. "I'll do it."

"Very well, you'll wake up in a moment. Just stay where you are for a few minutes without exercising and you will loose consciousness for the last time." Good luck Ranma he said with a final sad nod.

Then everything went white.