After leaving the warehouse, Michiru headed to the townhouse her family owned in Juban. Currently she was the only one living in the townhouse as her parents mainly lived at the main family house in the countryside. The aquamarine haired senshi wasn't thrilled about living on her own because her parents wanted her to attend TI High, but could freely admit that there were perks to the situation. She didn't have to worry about any nosey parents trying to check up on her for disappearing at odd hours of the night because of senshi business.

Once inside the house, Michiru promptly headed up the stairs to the room she had converted into an art studio. There were about a half dozen finished paintings in the studio along with a dozen more in various stages of completion. Michiru looked at her selection of unfinished work and tried to select one to work on while she cleared her mind. Sadly, none of the paintings called out to her and she promptly grabbed some charcoal and drawing paper.

The artistic senshi quickly sat down at her drawing desk and just automatically began to draw while her mind wandered over the day's events. Who was Ranma? What was he? Had she received the help of a demon to vanquish another demon? Why did she let Ranma walk away? Was that the right thing to do? So many questions were in her mind, and yet, she had so few answers.

Michiru's thoughts and questions raced inside her head like an endless chaotic whirlwind. Why couldn't she have someone to talk and help her sort this mess out? Unfortunately, there was no one that Michiru could turn to for help. Haruka was her closest friend at TI High, but this was one issue that Michiru couldn't speak about. Sailor Neptune had to remain her secret and her secret alone; it would be irresponsible and selfish to bring anyone into the chaotic world she now lived in without just cause.

The reborn ruler of Neptune closed her eyes after going over everything for what seemed like the thousandth time and whispered, "Queen Serenity. If you and the spirits of the past queens are still watching over me, lend me some guidance. I just don't know what to do."

Suddenly a voice from behind Michiru called out, "Hello Sailor Neptune." The aquamarine haired senshi felt like she almost had a heart attack as she whipped around and saw Sailor Pluto standing in the studio. Sailor Pluto smiled and continued on, "I may not be the Queen, but I think that I can help you out."

Michiru blinked her eyes and then gasped out, "Sailor Pluto? You're alive? How did you survive?! Where were you?"

Setsuna in her senshi form gave Michiru a bittersweet smile and answer, "Yes I'm alive. Queen Serenity ordered me to go to the Time Gates and make sure that they were not captured by the Dark Kingdom. Because of that order, I am the only survivor of the fall of the Silver Millennium. You, the rest of the Sailor Senshi, the Moon Princess, and Prince Endymion of Earth were sent forward and reborn. You've woken up relatively early compared to the other Senshi, but the rest will soon wake up."

The aquamarine haired senshi nodded her head. It was a relief for her to know that she wasn't the only survivor. Michiru then opened her mouth and was about to ask about Ranma when Sailor Pluto raised her hand. The Senshi of Time gave her teammate an enigmatic smile and said, "Don't bother to speak Michiru. I already know what you're going to ask me. What should you do about Ranma?"

Setsuna then closed her eyes and solemnly stated, "The truth is Michiru, I cannot tell you what you should do about Ranma. I can offer advice and give you information so that you can make an informed choice. However, in the end only you can make that call. Would you like me to give you what I know about Ranma Inugami?"

Michiru nodded her head slightly dazed that Sailor Pluto was being this forthcoming with information. Her fuzzy memories from the Silver Millennium always showed the Guardian of Time to be mysterious and cryptic. Still, she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth and so she calmly waited for her teammate's explination.

Sailor Pluto got a faraway look in her eye as she started to weave her tale. "After the fall, supernatural threats started attacking the Earth that would otherwise have been stopped by the Silver Millennium. It was during this period that almost all remaining traces of the Earth Kingdom and the Silver Millennium that existed on Earth were destroyed. Now, the reason why I'm mentioning this dark period is that during this time some people began to develop ways to fight off the supernatural."

"One of these early defenders was a man named Vishnu. Vishnu lived in a part of Asia now known as Jusenkyo which has a set of magical springs with transformative powers. The water that fed these springs had been used by Vishnu's ancestors for generations as drinking water. Thanks to the water and the sorcerer's blood running through his veins, Vishnu developed the shocking power to assume the form of demons that he had slain. Over thousands of years, Vishnu's power has mutated in his descendents so that the last of his bloodline, the Inugami, have the power to transform themselves into demonic forms wielding the powers of the demons whose forms they assume."

Michiru blinked her eyes as she tried to assimilate what she had just been told. She then carefully said, "So, what you're telling me is that Ranma is a defender against the supernatural. The reason why he assumes a demonic form is because an ancient ancestor of his developed the ability to change his form?"

Sailor Pluto nodded her head and replied, "Yes. One could even liken the Inugami powers to those of the Sailor Senshi. We both draw power from outside sources to enhance our bodies and allow us to defeat supernatural threats. The Senshi draw their power from the worlds they are bound with, while the Inugami draw from the darkness sealed within them."

"As to my advice, I would recommend that you work with Ranma rather than against him. Both of your goals are the same: protect the people from harm. I have personally fought with someone that has Ranma's powers so I can tell you that harmonixers, as they refer to their powers, are very valuable allies. However, the choice is as always, yours. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to return to the Time Gates." With that, Sailor Pluto vanished from the studio leaving Michiru to mull over everything that she had learned.


Ranma was on his way home from burying the goon he had killed yesterday when he hear a commotion ahead of him. It sounded like the crowd was gawking at something or someone. Curious, Ranma's eyebrow rose and he wandered over to see what was intriguing the crowd. Approaching the crowd, the young harmonixer heard a young woman call out, "Airen! You no get us lost again? Is too too much trouble when lead by you. We never find this friend Ranma you know at now rate."

By now, Ranma had worked his way through the crowd and saw what everyone was gaping at. There on the sidewalk was Ryoga Hibiki with a frozen full sized pig on his backpack with a beautiful purple-haired woman berating him with a metallic fan in her hand. From what Ranma had overheard his best friend along with his friend's traveling companion were looking for him and he didn't see any reason to delay their search. The Inugami warrior stepped forward and called out, "Hey Ryoga! Long time no see."

Ryoga gave Ranma a friendly smile and relied, "Hi Ranma." The wrestler then turned to his companion and said, "See Shampoo? I knew that we'd find Ranma in Nagoya!"

Shampoo quickly whacked Ryoga on the back of the head and said, "Silly Airen. Is Tokyo, not Nagoya. Why you not know cities of own land? But, is too too good that we find friend of yours."

Ranma looked between Ryoga and Shampoo in a puzzled manner. Who was his friend's traveling companion and why was she referring to Ryoga as her husband? Ranma looked Ryoga in the eye and casually asked, "So Ryoga. Who's your new friend?"

Before Ryoga could answer, Shampoo jumped right in and answered for the fanged wrestler. "Is not friend! Shampoo wife to Ryoga!" She said it with such force and authority behind her voice that one would have a hard time arguing against her claim even through her badly broken Japanese. The fact that Ryoga seemed a bit embarrassed, if pleased by Shampoo's announcement only added more weight to her claim.

Following a hunch, Ranma quickly replied in Chinese, "(Oh? I'm sorry if I offended you Mrs. Hibiki. I was just surprised that Ryoga here had gotten married and had not informed me. After all, one should hope to at least receive an invitation to attend their best friend's wedding now shouldn't they? Perhaps my notice just got lost in the mail.)"

Shampoo was shocked for a second to hear someone talking to her in Chinese, but she quickly replied, "(I accept your apology Ranma Saotome. Please, call me Xain Pu. I can tolerate how my name gets mangled in Japanese, but when we're speaking in Chinese I would prefer to have my name spoken correctly.)"

Ranma nodded his head and then spoke again, "(I understand Xain Pu. All I ask is that you please be patent with me when I speak to you in Japanese. I tend to pronounce names as they are spoken in the language I am currently speaking and not as they are supposed to be spoken in a person's native language.)"

The purple haired Amazon nodded her head and quickly replied again in Chinese. "(I will accept that Ranma Saotome and it is good to finally meet you. My husband speaks highly of you as a friend and wanted to visit you on our way to meet his parents. Sadly, my husband's directionally challenged status along with that of his parents has made both of these tasks harder than they normally would be.)"

At this point Ryoga added his two cents to the conversation, "(Hey! No make fun of curse family. Ryoga not too too poor for find way. Found Ranma after all.)"

Shampoo sighed, turned to Ryoga, and then said, "(Might I recommend that you stick to speaking Japanese beloved? The atrociousness of your Chinese is only matched by how poorly I speak Japanese.)" She then paused for a second and then continued in Japanese, "Shampoo too too glad that you find friend. Perhaps find Airen's parents now, yes?"

Ryoga shook his head and then regretfully said, "I don't think we'll find my folks just yet Shampoo. Nerima's on Hokkaido after all. Teacher would say that I should be happy that my sweat and hard work has allowed us to find Ranma, but that even more sweat and blood would be needed to find my parents."

Ranma bit his tongue and didn't bother to mention that Nerima was a ward of Tokyo. Ryoga's sense of direction seemed to get worse every year. The young harmonixer knew that it would be an exercise in futility to try and get Ryoga back to his home, where ever in Nerima it might actually be. Ranma mulled an idea over for a few seconds and then said, "Hey, why don't you two come and stay over at my place for tonight? I'm sure that Grandfather wouldn't mind you two staying over for tonight. It would give us the chance to talk about what's happened since you and I parted ways after taking down those Triad members three months ago Ryoga. What do you say?"

Ryoga and Shampoo looked at each other for a second and then nodded their heads. The fanged wrestler then turned to Ranma and said, "Alright pal. You've got yourself a deal."

Nicholas opened the door to the apartment holding the mail in his hand and quickly noticed two extra pairs of shoes in the bin near the door. He then heard his grandson call out, "Are you kidding me? THAT's how you two got married?"

The elder Inugami put the mail on an end table and heard Ryoga defend himself, "Quite laughing Ranma! It's not that funny."

Almost instantly Nicholas's grandson shot back, "Ryoga, You wandered into Jusenkyo Valley thinking you were on your way to Shangri-La. Startled two Amazon sentries causing them to chase you into their village. Once in the village, you barreled into a building to hide not realizing it was the bathhouse. You were then chased by the bathers into the town square where Shampoo here was fighting in a tournament; which incidentally you interrupted by lifting the challenge log and throwing it at your pursuers. Shampoo challenged you to a match and you won the match making her your wife by using some half-blind moron that had a thing for your wife as a bludgeon. Ryoga, that's both amusing and bizarre. Keep in mind that this is coming from a guy who once fought a demonic kangaroo with a cheesy French accent."

Nicholas chose this moment to enter the room and calmly said, "The circumstances surrounding Ryoga and his wife's marriage are no laughing matter Ranma. While they might seem amusing to outsiders, Ryoga and Shampoo if I heard correctly, were married and that accords the events a dignity that they otherwise would not have had." Ranma's cheeks got a pink tint at his grandfather's mild rebuke while Nicholas turned to speak to Shampoo. "I'm sorry if the actions of my grandson have offended you Mrs. Hibiki. He means well, but occasionally slips up."

Shampoo gave the elder Inugami a friendly smile and replied, "Is no large problem sir. Shampoo know Ranma can mistake. Is good Ranma have Grandfather to teach proper no? Besides, is true friend to invite to house for talk."

The elder Inugami then asked about what the Hibikis were doing in Juban and then quietly contemplated the answer he received. After a few moments Nicholas said, "So, you came to Tokyo so that Shampoo could meet Ryoga's parents. However, that looks like it will be a while and thus you're thinking about staying in Tokyo until you can meet the elder Hibiki couple. It sounds like a good plan, but I would like to ask two questions to help you in making your decisions: where are you going to stay and what are you going to do in the meantime?"

Ryoga and Shampoo looked at each other and blinked. Neither of them had thought about that. Nicholas then quickly came in with a save for the young couple. "Perhaps, you could stay at one of the apartments here in the complex. I'd be willing to role your apartment payments under one of the many scholarship programs the Inugami clan finances in return for two things. The first is that you would go to a school and get fairly good grades. The second condition is that you'd agree to lend a hand whenever there is a supernatural threat to be taken care of. Ryoga, I know that you're able to more than hold your own with the kinds of demons we regularly get. Shampoo, I'm assuming that as the Amazon Champion you have the basic level of fighting skill needed to due battle with malevolent supernatural forces."

While Ryoga and Ranma were too stunned by Nicholas's offer to speak, Shampoo was not. She cautiously looked at the elder Inugami and asked, "Why Offer? You no know Shampoo. You know Airen by Airen knowing grandson, yes? Island land have much cost, make big profit if lease. See not why offer made." Grandmother Cologne had made sure that Shampoo was well versed in the arts of politics and negotiation.

Nicholas calmly sat down and proceeded to politely lay Shampoo's suspicions to rest. "You're absolutely right Shampoo, I don't know you and I know Ryoga only in the sense that a typical parent knows their children's friends. However, I know by Ranma's actions that he trusts you and that I in turn can trust you. Also, this city is in need of more defenders and this offers a way to boost city defenses while helping you out at the same time."

The offer now made a lot more sense to Shampoo. She turned to Ryoga and firmly said, "Airen. We take offer." Ryoga quickly showed who wore the pants in the marriage by nodding his head. Nicholas and Shampoo then left to go get the Hibiki's their apartment while Ranma and Ryoga continued to chat.


Takashi Hino put his office phone down and closed his eyes. He had just spent the past half hour talking with Rei over how things were going for her in school. Mr. Hino was happy that he and his daughter were on friendlier terms than they had been years ago, but did Rei really have to talk about the gossip being told about her? How other people perceived you was important. However, there was no reason in the elder Hino's mind to go into detail when the rumors were the same as they had been in the past. Nevertheless, a small smile appeared on Takashi's face knowing that Rei trusted him enough to let her rant.

Unfortunately, Takashi didn't have a lot of time to enjoy call to Rei and he quickly dialed the phone again. The recipient of the call quickly answered. "Hello, this is Nicholas Inugami. What can I help you with?"

Mr. Hino quickly responded, "Uncle Nicholas this is your nephew Takashi. I'm calling about that Kabuki script we were discussing the other day."

There was a momentary pause and then a static sound. Once the static was gone, Nicholas started to talk again. "Okay nephew, my line is scrambled. What supernatural threat are you calling about?"

Takashi quickly replied, "No current threats for you to handle this time Uncle. I just want some information. Two days ago, Ranma and a UMG defeated a demon that was summoned in Juuban. My field agents say that this UMG is the same one that's been identified fighting against several youma. This UMG's uniform is said to be similar to Sailor Moon and Sailor Pluto. I need to know what you know about this girl."

Nicholas calmly stated over the phone, "My information on the girl is limited nephew, but I will tell you what I know. According to Ranma, her name is Sailor Neptune and she has an attack called Deep Submerge. Setsuna did identify her as one of her reincarnated teammates. Beyond that, I know nothing."

Takashi nodded his head and then said, "Thank-you Uncle Nicholas and descramble your phone." Mr. Hino then hung up the phone and closed his eyes. Being the hidden Minister of Supernatural Activities for the Japanese government was not an easy task. He had to keep track of all 'unusual' people and events while making sure that the public didn't realize what was going on. The Supernatural Activities Office had control over almost every tabloid in Japan using them, and some careful editing of 'official' records, to get people to dismiss the truth.

Of course, the SAO wasn't just about pulling the wool over everyone's eyes. It was also responsible for directing funds to repair damages caused by the supernatural and protecting helpful people with unique abilities. Take Usagi Tsukino a.k.a. Sailor Moon for example. Within 10 hours of her debut appearance, Takashi had been notified about her and had her place on the magical girl protection list. This list insured that Usagi's family were under hidden observation to reduce risk of them being kidnapped by harmful agents and that Usagi would be given some, slack, in her schoolwork during periods of hostile activities.

After a few moments Takashi stood up and started to pace across his office. Setsuna had warned him years ago that the awakening of her teammates would signal an intensification of malevolent supernatural activity that hadn't been seen in this corner of the world since Uncle Nicholas's last major adventure against the Angra Mainyu cult back in 57. The SAO would undoubtedly be running overtime to alleviate the effects of the battles Setsuna had warned about. At least Takashi had his uncle and cousin with their harmonixer powers to count on. Now if only he could find out whom the Sailor Senshi were to place their families under protection. The sooner he knew who to protect, and if necessary contact, the better for everyone.


Ranma, Ryoga, and Shampoo were walking back to the Inugami apartment complex talking about the Hibiki's first day of school. Well, at the moment Ranma and Ryoga were just silently listening as Shampoo vented. She practically growled out, "Stupid males at school no respect look not touch. Next not Airen to touch butt, I cut off hand! Islands just land of perverts."

Wanting to calm his wife down, Ryoga turned to Ranma and loudly asked, "Hey Ranma. Do you think that you and your grandfather can put some pressure on the school's behavior enforcement?"

Ranma shook his head and said, "The public schools don't allow private donations so my grandfather doesn't have much influence there. However, Aunt Setsuna works in the school system and has a lot of contacts. She should be able to put some pressure on the school officials. Only other option I can think of is seeing if Grandfather would be willing to upgrade you two to private school."

Ryoga sighed and wondered what he was going to do to get his wife in a good mood. He liked her as a martial artist and as woman, but nothing in Teacher's lessons about the Holy Ring and the manly art of wrestling seemed to apply to Shampoo. What good were his blood, sweat, and toil if she was continually annoyed? First it was his slight problem with directions, then it was the fact that he still hadn't come through on whatever his 'marital duties' were, and now some punks at school thought it was a good idea to 'check out the new model'. At least with that last problem he had been able to seek out the fighting spirit of a nearby basketball hoop pole and show the punks the error of their ways.

Luckily for the boys, Shampoo simmered down when she heard that a woman could take care of her problem and soon reverted to her typical perky persona. She quickly stated, "Tonight Shampoo make good Ramen, so Airen no go out to practice. Want eat Shampoo's dinner when warm, no?"

Ryoga got a slightly glazed look as he thought about his wife's cooking and started nodding his head like a dog. The meals that Shampoo cooked were simply divine to Ryoga who had previously subsisted on restaurant food, discount canned goods, and spam. Shampoo had declared back when they had left the Amazon village that she was taking over the meals because she couldn't handle having Ryoga's idea of food everyday. Ryoga had never had a reason to complain about his meals ever since that declaration.

The trio quickly reached the apartment complex and parted ways. Ranma naturally took the elevator up to his penthouse apartment and then walked through the front door of the apartment. To Ranma's surprise, Nicholas was sitting on the couch reading a book. The young harmonixer blinked his eyes and then said, "Why are you here Grandfather? Don't you usually stay at the college and grade papers for another hour?"

Nicholas put his book down and calmly said, "Sit down Ranma. I want to have a talk with you." Ranma quickly did as he was told and then Nicholas continued to speak. "I came home early today because there is something I want to talk to you about."

Ranma watched as Nicholas reached over to the small table next to his side of the couch, opened the drawer of the table, and pulled out a small letter. Nicholas then said, "I got this letter three days ago when your friend Ryoga and his wife Shampoo showed up. It's from a long time business associate of mine who helps run our family's corporation."

The younger harmonixer nodded his head and said, "And you wanted to mention this to be because?" It wasn't that Ranma didn't care about the family business; he just figured that he wasn't ready to work in that level. Besides, the Inugami family was mainly involved in holding stock and property. The various ventures the family owned were largely left to trained managers to run.

Nicholas looked Ranma in the eye and said, "I wanted to inform you about this letter for a very simple reason Ranma. It is a request for an arraigned marriage between you and my associate's daughter. After careful consideration these past few days, I have decided to agree to his request."

Ranma's eyes bulged out and he forgot all sense of decorum shouting out, "What the hell?! Are you out of your god-damned mind Gramps? Where the heck did you get this crazy idea?!"

The older Inugami's face hardened and he stated in a firm voice, "Silence Ranma. Act as the gentleman I taught you to be; not the buffoon that Genma tried to turn you into." Ranma immediately shut up and bowed his head in shame.

Once Nicholas was sure that Ranma had calmed down, he softly spoke, "Look at me Ranma." The younger Inugami slowly raised his head and the elder Inugami started to speak again when their eyes met. "I am 65 years old Ranma. The fact that I am so old given everything I've been through is almost a miracle. But, I am only getting older. Ranma, you are currently the last heir of the clan. Do you know what that means? It falls upon you to continue the legacy of 300 years of Imperial rule and the thousands of years that both the Inugami and the Hyuga clans spent guarding Japan. I want to insure that our family doesn't die out."

Ranma's eyes shown with his frustration as he interjected, "But I'm only 16! Grandfather, why are you making this push now? Can't it wait till I'm in my mid twenties or later before you start to worry? Besides, shouldn't I have a say about whom I'm going to marry?"

Nicholas sighed and said, "Ranma, our power and the conflicts we get pulled into results in us having a much higher risk of dying young than even the typical soldier. If you had a brother, sister, or a cousin, I would agree to let you wait. However, you are the last which means it is vital that you marry young to have a family. The fact that you have not so much as asked a girl out or showed signs of a crush tells me that you would progress very slowly in this if left to yourself. As to love, you know as well as I that our family has either great or terrible luck in that department. My mother and I were able to marry the people we loved and things were good for us. My grandfather and your mother married the people they loved and look how that turned out. Grandmother Alexandria unknowingly and unintentionally did everything in her power to destroy the Romanovs. As to your father, I think we both know his faults."

Suddenly, Nicholas got up, walked towards Ranma, and put his hand on the pigtailed-boy's shoulder. Ranma looked up at Nicholas as the elder Inugami started speaking while keeping his hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Relax Ranma and don't worry too much about this betrothal. You won't be rushed into marriage. The betrothal arrangement I was sent requests that the actual marriage waits until both you and your bride to be are legally adults. That gives you four years to get to know your future wife. You either could fall in love during that time, or at least become friendly enough to make the marriage work. If on the off chance that the four years show that marriage will just not work, the betrothal agreement will be tabled and the two of you can go your separate ways. But Ranma, I wish that you would give me your honest effort to make this arrangement work."

To say that Ranma was torn was an understatement of the year. Ranma hated the idea of such a major thing like who he was going to marry being made for him. However, he had to admit that his grandfather had valid reasons for making this arrangement. The fact that Nicholas had given him time to get to know his potential bride to be and had given Ranma an out softened the sting of the betrothal announcement. For the next couple of minutes Ranma silently sat in his chair as Nicholas watched the war going on inside his grandson's mind from the expressions on Ranma's face. At long last, Ranma sighed and said, "Alright Grandfather. I'll give this betrothal a chance."

Note: In Japan, the age of majority (being an adult) is 20