Disclaimer: Seeing as I haven't done one of these recently, I figured I will again. I don't own Ranma 1/2 nor do I own Sailor Moon. Heck, I barley own Kaga and Laun! Don't sue me, please. Oh, and I don't own Evangelion either, for the small cameo it makes here.

The Kingdom Comes Again

Chapter Eight

I suppose not everything can be a disaster, so I will give you some good news. If Serenity, the Princess, not the Queen, is anything like I remember her being when you find her, she will welcome you with open arms. The Princess was like her mother, but with out the steel called for by leadership. She could still care about everyone she met, and she did so completely, and without reservation.

I recall her once stealing a plate of cookies from the kitchens, and going to each guard on the gates and walls, and giving them a couple of cookies each. She felt that if they could stand in the cold night air for HER, then she could walk around giving them cookies. She gave the Commander of the Guard a major headache that time, having to detail a couple of the guards to follow her for her own safety. She made them come with her and get glasses of milk for everybody.

Yes, she will welcome your help. All though, she might be wary about letting you fight. She is soft hearted, and might want to keep you out of the struggle, for your "own good."

Good thing you aren't members of the kingdom, eh? You don't have to follow her orders, yet.

Akane was staring off into space all through the last class of the day. Seeing as the history teacher for Furinken had the same opinion of most the rest of the Faculty. That being if they aren't making noise, they aren't making trouble. (As any parent can tell you this generally is NOT the case, or rather the reverse is usually true. However in Furinken, the resident martial artists tended to NOT be quiet, so it worked for them.)

'That dream...I remember now. Darn it why couldn't I remember when they where THERE?' Akane thought to her self, clenching her fist. She didn't notice Ranma inch his desk away from her.

"Psssst." it was the third time that annoying sound made itself known, so she turned towards it, finding Rei leaning close to her. "Me and the other girls are going to go to a movie. Want to come?" Rei asked, watching the teacher intently in case he DID turn around.

"Sure, I guess, But don't we have to wait for Usagi?" referring to the girl who got stuck with detention after school. It would seem Mr. Kaga had decided that if he had to stay after school, so would unruly students. (Kaga also thought holding buckets was likely pointless with the number of Martial Artists in the school. Imagine his shock when he took a poll and found at least four in every class!)

Rei grumbled. "No, she knew about it yesterday, so she shouldn't have been late. I'm frankly amazed by that, since Setsuna drove us all here!"

"I can understand her problem though. Kuno can eat up some time."

"Yeah, but you and Ranma just left him where he landed. She should have, too. I know she's a nice girl, but some creatures really don't deserve it." 'Heck' Rei thought to her self. 'I can think of Negaverse Generals who deserved it more then Kuno. He's weird.'

Akane grinned. "True." unknowingly agreeing with both the statement and Rei's thought.

The Teacher in question, realizing the class had disintegrated behind him, shrugged, and started talking about Second Impact. 'If they aren't paying attention anyway,' Thought the teacher 'I can at least amuse myself.'

Those few students paying attention sweated on discovering their teacher was a Evangelion Otaku.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Usagi and Ranma walked out of the school, Ranma looking bored and Usagi looking annoyed. "I can't believe they didn't wait for me!" She muttered, annoyance at her 'so called' friends just running off without her.

"Hey, Akane NEVER waits for me. Of course, I think that was the first time a teacher kept me after school, at least willingly." The annoyance in Ranma's voice was a fine match for Usagi's own.

They both watched Kaga run out of the building, jump onto some sort of high tech racing motorcycle, and speed off for home. "He's weird."

Usagi shrugged. "I don't know. he actually makes sense, sometimes. AND he doesn't get upset over little things. He actually wants you to speak English, not write a novel in it. I still wish I knew what him and Minako argued about though."

Ranma shrugged, not really caring himself. "Something involving color."

"I thought it was colour?" Usagi shrugged, her self. "Anyway...I can't believe they left me!"

"You already said that."

"Yeah, but it really surprised me. Well...I'll get even, and go have more fun without them then with them!" Usagi grabbed Ranma's hand and dragged him off with her, at full Usa-speed.

Ranma, rather shocked by this event...and the sheer speed the girl was maintaining, yelled. "WHAT ARE YOU DRAGGING ME ALONG FOR!" a side portion of his mind thinking 'Hmm...good Ki control on her running. She must do this often.'

Usagi stopped, and smiled cheerfully. "Well, you looked bored, I want to have fun...so I figured I would kill two birds with one stone. Your going to have fun with me!"

Ranma just KNEW this couldn't end well!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The Dark King, now calling himself Shiro Mikata, after the poor bastard whose body he stole, looked at the office building in front of him. "Not exactly a palace, but you have to start somewhere." he muttered to him self, looking rather cheerful.

Walking across the street, and into the alley, he approached the shipping entrance...and the two thugs standing there. "Get out of here." one of the thugs said, motioning with a hand, displaying the missing finger on his left hand.

"No." Said Mikata, and with that darkness covered him. His transformation lacked the show of the Senshi's, but when he stepped out the Silver and Black plate mail armor he wore was still very stunning...and one hell of a shock to the guards.

"Oh ****" yelled one of the men, who then rushed in, snapping a collapsible baton and swinging it into the Dark one's head. He was shocked when the man didn't dodge.

He was completely stunned when he took the hit without really noticing it.

Mikata smiled, still unbearably cheerful, and pointed his hand at the guards chest. "Entropy Wave." he said calmly, and suddenly the guard dissolved into powder right in front of him. Mikata walked through the cloud without seeming to notice it, and looked at the second thug.

The man was panicked. He wasn't sure what he could do against this guy, but he knew the Oyabun would be worse then this guy, any day. He hit the alarm button on the wall. Then he charged the Evil Knight, and threw a well trained kick, punch combo. Again the Knight ignored the attacks and the damage they should have caused.

"Pathetic soldiers, but loyal. I approve!" Laughed the Knight, who just backhanded this guard across the alley, and into the wall with a sickening crunch. "Entropy Wave." and the door was soon out of his way as well.

The men on the other side of the door, Lesser Yakuza soldiers who had come to be gofers for their individual bosses, pulled out knives and attacked the Dark One in a mass. The laughter of the Knight was terrifying to all of them, but they would not fail their leaders.

They failed their leaders in very painful ways, and very quickly...mostly by taking backhanded blows and elbow jabs that sent them into the walls and oblivion. One Soldier stood out from the rest, and actually cut the cheek of the Knight with a thrown Shuriken. The Knight stopped, the rest of the soldiers down, and looked at the man.

"Interesting. You have potential. What would it take for you to join me?" He asked, pleasantly...knocking the next three thrown blades with his gauntleted hand (And pulling them out of the metal which healed its self after he did so.)

"I serve my Oyabun, and will until either he or I die." The Shinobi-Yakuza said, pulling out a pair of Tanto style knives to fight the knight with.

"Then you will serve the new Oyabun?" asked the completely unthreatened Dark King, a grudging respect apparent in his eyes as he looked over the ninja-Yakuza.

The rather non-plussed ninja blinked. "Yes..." He slid into a defensive stance, not sure what the hell was going on. The man didn't attack, nor defend, and had stopped moving entirely.

"I find your terms acceptable." The Dark King said with a friendly smile. "Moonlight Flash."

The ninja was blinded by the magical attack, then disarmed and knocked out cold by a well placed, but fairly gentle, blow.

Entering the elevator, the Dark King chuckled to himself. "Father Figure, eh...I was a father once."

The elevator doors closed and descended into the sub-basement.

The Body guards on the bottom floor were not waiting for the doors to open. The Oyabun's two men, and his right hand mans body guard all drew automatic pistols and started pumping bullets into the door, the other men drawing their more common knives. They were all shocked when the Knight stepped out of the elevator. Their dismay was obvious when he opened his hands and dropped the bullets to the floor. "Such crude, inefficient weapons. WHERE went the day's of swords and magic, hmmm?"

Shaking his head he approached, ignoring the new clips, and the bullets raining in. "And why are you group of incompetents the closest body guards of those men? The only real warrior was up stairs. I can respect him." He looked up and the smile was gone. "Not you! ENTROPY WAVE!"

The first two times he used the attack, it was a quiet tone...this time it was a yell of Power, and as the yell filled the room, so did the Power. The body guards all fell to the magic, the strongest of the group getting a couple of more blows or shots in, before turning to dust.

"I do apologize, but I can't have you attacking my back. One of you might get lucky, and sneak a blow through my shields. You understand, I'm sure." he said, to the dust filled room. Then he walked to the oaken doors at the end of the hall, carefully avoiding the piles of dust on the way through.

After all, there wasn't any hurry now, since he knew the men hadn't left yet. He still felt a little bad about having to step through the one upstairs, but they might have run if he hadn't hurried. How was he supposed to know there were no challenges to be had in this building.

With a kick, he opened the unlocked doors, and strode in. "My name is Shiro Mikata, and I am the new Oyabun. Anyone got a problem with that?" He asked.

"I run this ward, you stupid man. KILL HIM!" Yelled the old man, Oyabun of Juuban ward.

"Moonlight Flash." The Knight said cheerfully, moving aside from the men's attacks, happy to see none of them were stupid enough to rely on those silly 'Guns'. He grabbed the FORMER Oyabun of Juuban by his throat, and lifted him up out of his chair, and over his head.

"Now, if I could call this meeting to order..." The Dark One said, slamming the mans head into the wall in lieu of a gavel. "We are here to elect a new Oyabun. All those who want to remain living and serve him, say 'AYE'!" The crack of the old mans neck being crushed adding a certain eloquent punctuation to the statement.

The evil being known as Mikata smiled as the room filled with the word "Aye" from so many voices. "Excellent." He said, a small bit of power turning the corpse to dust as he dropped him. Sitting in his new leather chair, the Dark Lord's armor changed to an Armani suit. "So, how is business going, anyway?"

___________________________________________________________________________________

Usagi walked down the stairs of the train station, having dragged Ranma all the way to Juuban. Ranma was a few steps behind her, looking around like he was expecting an attack of some sort.

"So," Usagi said, slowing her step to begin walking next to the strangely nervous Ranma. "What do you do for fun?"

"Martial Arts." Ranma answered, glancing over as they walked into the Juuban shopping district.

"Umm. I meant what else do you do?

"Well, I like to sleep, and eat good food?" Ranma said, not sure what Usagi was asking about.

"I mean hobbies, Ranma." The Odango bearing girl said, with a small sweat drop sliding down her temple.

"Well," Ranma said, a bit shy. "I do like to cook, though if you tell ANYONE I will deny it."

"Why, cooking is a perfectly good hobby. I wish I was a good cook." Usagi smiled cheerfully. "Makato won't let me touch any food unless she has either cooked it, or is standing there watching me." She giggled.

"Might have to introduce her to Akane. She'd leave you alone after that."

"She can't be that bad. I am much worse I am sure." Usagi said with a sure nod.

Ranma grinned and looked at the smaller girl. "Has anything you ever cooked tried to fight back...literally?"

"No...Why?"

Ranma just chuckled. "Best you not know, if you have a weak stomach."

"Oookay." Usagi said, shaking her head. "So how long have you and Ryoga been friends?"

"Lets see...." Ranma thought to himself, muttering out loud. "The first time I kicked him in the bread line was about a week after I started school, it was the seventh grade...hmmm. about, say three or four years. Of course, he just got over trying to kill me every time he saw me about a month or two ago, so that might mean something too." He shrugged.

"Um, how about those two guys at school...what are their names?"

"Hiroshi, and Diasuke. They are cool enough, I guess. But they aren't really close friends, now that you mention it. I hang with them and all, but they aren't really into the Martial Arts like I am." He frowned. "They also keep asking if they can look at my breasts as a girl. That kinda gets old, ya know?"

Usagi nearly face faults, but retains her balance. "UUmmm, do you have any friends who don't regularly try to kill you...or molest you?"

"Sure...Ucchan! She just wants to marry me." Ranma said with a smile and nod. "Hey, Usagi, you okay?"

Picking her self up from a completed face fault the girl called Sailor Moon nodded. "Tell me, Ranma, have you ever had friends. I mean normal friends who didn't try to fight or marry you or something?"

Ranma paused and thought about that. Usagi waited for him, and it took more then just a few seconds. "Nope."

Usagi blinked, then looked very sad. She even teared up. "That is so sad!"

Ranma blinked, and then noticing the tears, and not realizing they are FOR him and not because OF him, panicked. "Its okay, I mean...Ummm....What did I do so I can apologize?" 'well, I get to find out what Usagi hits people with, at least.' he thought to himself with a soft sigh.

Usagi blinked away the tears and was confused. "I wasn't angry at you, Ranma! Its just everyone should have friends...and I am not really sure you ever had any."

Ranma thought about that, blinking. "Well, Ucchan and Ryoga have their faults, but they are friends."

"I don't care. From this day forward I will be your friend! I even promise to never try to kill you, or marry you." She smiled.

"You can do that?"

Usagi just shook her head, with a drop of sweat on her temple. "Yes, Ranma-kun...You can do that."

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Shampoo came dragging into the Nekohatten, looking very tired, and wearing about a pound and a half of chalk dust. She came in the back door and slumped in a chair in the kitchen.

Laun, crawling out from under one of the stoves, to look for a tool, and blinked at the condition of the blue haired girl. "What the heck happened to you? You okay?"

"Yes...Strange Blue Ninja Man chase Shampoo! He throw these things at Shampoo!" Holding up a bunch of used black board erasers. "He yell something about school before he attack. Is very strange."
Laun just blinked, giving Shampoo a blank look. "A ninja is chasing you with school erasers and throwing them at you? Umm...what do you do to him?"

"Nothing. Stupid blue Ninja run away if Shampoo chase! Is strange."

"Yes...yes it is."

"What is strange?" Kaga asked, slipping into the kitchen from the Dining room side. He was carrying a boys and a girls Furinken High School Uniform.

"Stupid blue ninja chase Shampoo with School Supplies. Is weirder then Spatula girl!"

"Oh." Kaga, aka the Blue Ninja, said. "That explained absolutely nothing." Hanging the uniforms on a wire shelf, he sat down, pondering Laun as she shrugged, and went back under the stove, obscure working sounds coming from underneath.

"You aren't rigging this one to double as a forge like the one at home, are you Laun?"

"No, Kaga, I am not."

"Big Brother, why you have School clothes?" Shampoo asked, looking at the dress, with mild interest.

"What? Cologne didn't tell you?" Kaga asked, all innocent.

Laun popped out from under the oven to watch the show. When Kaga sounded innocent, he was doing something she either thought was funny, or had to hit him for.

"No. What Great Grandma need tell Shampoo?"

"Starting tomorrow you are enrolled in Furinken High."

"WHAT!" Shampoo said. "Shampoo no go! Must chase Airen!" The wooden staff to the head was a rude surprise.

"Your Airen GOES to school every day! Akane and Ukyo go with him. You are going to school." Cologne then with a snort continued. "Besides, maybe it will help your Japanese. It hasn't improved much since we got here."

Shampoo frowned. "Shampoo's Japanese work fine. People know what Shampoo mean." she was thinking about the idea of spending school with Ranma every day, her frown turning into a small smile.

Kaga chuckled. "First step, personal pronouns. Either way, you have to go anyway. You and Mouse both."

"Why?" Asked Shampoo.

Cologne jumped in. "I really should have thought about it. You and Mr. Part Time are here on Student Visa's. If it wasn't for the fact that the Principle at Furinken is a complete moron, I would have had to send you to class, or back to china, before now."

"And since Kuno, the elder, has noticed you, he is making MY life hell through you. I think he's still upset that I wouldn't shave my head 'To set a good example, yeah'." he mimicked the demented headmaster's tone.

"All right, Shampoo go." She said, wandering off to find Mouse, figuring she could get some amusement explaining why he couldn't wear his robes there. 'How does Ranma get out of wearing the stupid uniform?' She thought to herself (Yes, Shampoo DOE S sound more clear in her head. So there.)

Kaga chuckled. "That went easier then I thought. I expected to get at least a little hurt."

"Yeah. Hey, weren't you going to tell us about the Monster attack, yesterday. I didn't get home till late and still want to hear it."

"Sure..." Kaga relates the story of the rampaging Soccer team (I.E. most of last chapter, though not in detail.) "Funny thing being, I found out Setsuna and Sailor Pluto wear the same brand of perfume."

Cologne looked at him, along with the slightly more intense gaze of Laun. "How did you find that out?" The younger Amazon asked.

"While they held me yesterday." he said (Yep, he forgot to mention the whole "Saved me while I was a fox" thing. It WAS embarrassing, after all.)

"While she WHAT!!?" Laun said, standing up.

Kaga, panic rising. "Wait...they held me when I was a fox, not when I was a man!"

"So, you let two women, OTHER then me cuddle with you as a fox?"

"yes...I mean NO...wait...let me explain...it involves the fight!" Laun picking up a large wrench and stalking forward, already having chosen a conclusion, and deciding to punish him for it. "Oh, hell." Kaga said, and took off like a shot, the Silver Haired Amazon on his heals.

A few blocks away Kasumi waved as the two ran by. "My, what nice looking people. They remind me of Ranma and Akane." she said, as she went back to her shopping.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, back with The Dynamic Duo...or rather, Ranma and Usagi.

"Aww Man...why is it always water!" Ranma-chan said, staring at the car that had just driven by.

Usagi's giggling not really making it better. "Hey, its not funny you know!"

Usagi stopped her giggling, barely. "I know you don't like it. It's just weird, and I either run from strange things or laugh at them. I'm sorry."

"Naw, it's cool. Ucchan spent half an hour playing with hot and cold water when she found out about me. "

"Now that doesn't seem to nice!" Usagi frowned. "And speaking of Ukyo...I want to ask you something Ranma, and I swear your answer will go no further then my ears, okay?"

Ranma shrugged. "Sure."

"Which fiancee do you really like?"

The show of Ranma sputtering, and trying to speak in a way not to anger the girl who asked that (Forgetting she wasn't ONE of the fiancee's for a moment.) was of great amusment to the blonde. The wild movements of his head as he looked for the attacks he KNEW where coming was just as funny.

"Calm down! I just want to know."

Ranma calmed, then sighed. "I can't answer that! I would mess up to many girls honor, if I tried to choose." the sometimes and current girl replied.
"But you know." Usagi said, looking at him closely. "Admit it, you know."

"No, I don't! They are all important to me."

"Is it Ukyo?"

"No!" She growled, rolling his eyes.

"Shampoo."

"Usagi, no! stop it would ya?"

"That Kodachi person Akane mentioned?"

"HELL NO!" She shuddered in visible...discomfort.

"Akane?" She smiled when he winced, and tried to hide his emotions.

"No!...leave it Usagi."

"Okay, Ranma. I'm sorry." 'I know a secret. I know a secret.' being her internal monologue.

"Can we find a restaurant or something. I want some hot water." Ranma asked, changing the subject, anyway.

Usagi looked around, and smiled big as she saw the greenhouse where Mamoru had just started working. "Come on!" she said, grabbing the red headed girl's arm.

"Huh?"

Entering, they soon spotted Mamoru talking to another, older man. Usagi and Ranma were soon next to him, Ranma now understanding why she was dragged in here.

"Hello, Mamo-chan!"

"Hello, Usako! Who's your friend?" He asked. 'Looks like one of the girls from the fight, yesterday. '

The Red head in question blinked at him, then got a look of realization on her face. "Oh, right, you don't know yet."

"Know what?"

"Could I have some hot water? It's easier if I show you."

The older man chuckled. "Take a break, Chiba. It's going to be a while before I have these trays ready, and you haven't taken a breather yet." He said as he walked off, to fill seedling trays with soil and fertilizer.

Mamoru led the pair to the sinks, and filled a cup with some warm water, holding it out to the girl, who took it and dumped it on her head, turning into Male Ranma. "What the HELL?" Mamoru said, reaching for a rose.

Usagi just burst out into giggles, almost falling down it was so funny. Ranma just smirked, enjoying reactions like that in spite of himself.

"Mamoru Chiba, Meet Ranma Saotome...customer of Jusenkyo spring of drowned girl." Usagi said, catching her breath.

"Huh?" Mamoru asked, blinking in confusion.

"Chinese curse." Ranma replied, and did a quick run through of his trip to china. He'd had practice and it was a very quick story, by now.

Mamoru blinked. "So, are you really a girl in that form...I mean physically?" Mamoru said, quickly stopping Ranma's building anger.

"Um, Doc Tofu said something about me being a very healthy and normal girl, in that form, if that's what you mean."

Mamoru nodded, the scientist in him going 'cool'. (Anyone who DOESN'T think scientists think things like that have obviously never talked to a biological sciences major or an engineer. I have two friends, one each profession, and they say this stuff all the time. Especially if it is.)

Usagi smiled, seeing Mamoru get the far off look Ami usually wears. "We were hanging out together cause the rest of the gang went to a movie without us!" How she could say that in both a Cheerful and Annoyed tone of voice escaped both men.

"Poor Theater." Mamoru said, being passingly familiar with the Gang. 'Poor monster if one attacks, too..' "Hey, Usako...those new roses I told you about are blooming. Go look, and I will talk with Ranma."

The girl nodded and ran off to see the flowers, knowing the testosterone was about to flow. Mamoru turned to Ranma.

"Not that I am paranoid, but what are your intentions with Usagi?" Mamoru asked, paranoid.

Ranma looked at him confused, then stuttered, realizing what he was asking "Nothing like that, damn it! Why does everyone assume that!"

Mamoru stepped back at the boys anger. "Sorry, Ranma, but she IS my girlfriend!"

Ranma growled. "They always are, Mamoru!" Looking at him. "I'm sorry, man. I just get asked this crap a lot. Usagi is my friend, and even promised not to get engaged to me THANK GODS! And before you ask what I mean, I have four fiancees right now, and have had more at times. And its my fathers fault, so don't ask me HOW it happened! I still don't know for sure in some cases.

"Oh." Mamoru said. Usagi running up giggled at his rather...stunned expression.

"Let me guess. Told him about the fiancee's?"

Mamoru blinked at Usagi's cheerful analysis of his thoughts. "How did you know that?"

"I had the same expression when I heard about them." She smiled. "Well, we will get out of your hair, Mamo-chan, so you can work...and so I can show Ranma around Juuban!"

"No problem. Have fun." Mamoru said, suddenly not at all concerned about Ranma. To be honest his thoughts were more along the lines of 'Poor guy.' and this without knowing who all the fiancee's are.

Usagi and Ranma were soon back on the road, after Usagi gave Mamoru a rib crushing hug.

They were just nearing the arcade Usagi was talking about, as a mater of fact, when an older woman with auburn hair spotted them. "Ranma, is that you?" Nadoka said, stepping out of the shop she had just finished shopping in.

"Mom?" Ranma said. "Hi!" he was surprised to see her.

"Hello son, and who is this lovely young lady?"

Ranma, seeing were THIS could go, locked up. Usagi on the other hand had no such issues. "My name is Usagi, I'm a friend of Ranma's. It is good to meet you Mrs. Saotome." she said, bowing with a big smile.

Nadoka bowed in return, smiling at the girl and her son, Usagi missing the appraising look the older woman gave her. "Well, Ranma, you do have a talent for finding the pretty girls!" she said, thinking 'My son is so Manly!'

"Yeah, well, she's just a friend, not another fiancee, okay mom?" He replied.

Nadoka shrugged. "Thats okay, dear. You should have girlfriend's who aren't fiancee's."

Usagi, who was blushing from the pretty girl comment, looked at Nadoka, wondering if she meant 'Girl friend's' or 'Girlfriend's."

Ranma KNEW she meant "Girlfriend's" but didn't pay attention to that. "We were hanging out since all the others went to a movie. You need help with any of that mom?" he said, pointing to the shopping bags she had.

"Not to worry, dear. I can handle it. you and Usagi-chan run off and have fun." Nadoka said. She turned and started walking, smiling over her shoulder. "Nice to meet you Usagi."

"Thank you, Mrs. Saotome." She replied, waving.

Ranma just wiped the sweat off his forehead as she rounded the corner. Then turned to Usagi. "Should we be on our way?" he asked, fearing his mother coming back, not having really embarrassed him at all.

"Sure." Usagi said, and they started walking again. They spent a small bit of time at the arcade before deciding to head out again.

Soon after leaving, Ranma was wet and cursing again, Usagi's giggles annoying him, now her, again.

"Come on Usagi...stop laughing."

Usagi just smiled, then paled as a male voice spoke from behind her. "Who's your new friend, Usagi?" Kenji Tsukino said, having just stepped out of a store, him self.

Turning Usagi looked at her father. "Um...This is Ranma, Ranma this is my dad." She said, suddenly finding the girl change VERY useful.

Ranma bowed to the man, who blinked at her rather masculine posture and movements. "Good to Meet'cha sir."

"And good to meet you, too. It is always nice to meet Usagi's friends, you girls are all so pleasant." He said, thinking 'and if she's with you, she isn't with Mamoru.'

"Um, actually sir, I'm a OUCH!" Usagi had just stepped on Ranma foot...hard.

"Oh, sorry, Ranma!" she gasped, as if it wasn't intended. "Maybe you should sit down, I didn't mean to dig the heel into your foot."

Mr. Tsukino chuckled. "Ahh...The dangers of Usagi." Waving off his daughters annoyed look. "Well, I have to run home. Have fun, girl's!" he said, walking off.

"What the hell did you do THAT for?" Ranma said. "I thought you weren't gonna attack me!"

"That was for your own safety!" Usagi hissed, watching her father turn the corner and disappear. "He still has a shot gun loaded for Mamoru, after all!" She shudders, having seen the weapon in question. The smile on her fathers face when he cleaned it was deeply disturbing.

"Ummm...Right." He said, wondering what the heck a guy in the middle of Tokyo is doing with a shotgun.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Later that evening, Ranma was walking up to the Dojo, fear filling him, though he wouldn't admit it. "No fiancee's all evening...I am SO going to get malleted." he thought, walking into the house, and dining room, expecting to find an angry Akane.

He found Kasumi, in the rare act of watching TV. "Oh, hello Ranma. You missed dinner, but I saved you some." She said starting to get up.

"No, that's okay. I ate." Looking around he asked. "Um, Kasumi? Have you seen Akane?"

Kasumi smiled, sitting back down to watch television. "Yes! She told me she was going to a double feature, and wouldn't be home till after ten. Why?"

"No reason. Thanks Kasumi." He sat down and watched TV with her, thinking. 'I actually spent the day with a girl other then a fiancee, and am not getting hit for it?' Looking around him carefully. 'Strange.'

AN: Figured a bit of Ranma and Usagi interaction was called for. Bet you all thought this would be a Ranma+Usagi thing, too. FOOLED YOU! Bwahahahahahahaha.

As for the Proponents of the other Fiancee's or the Senshi. I am not a pure Akane fan, but I have plans for both Shampoo and Ukyo, I don't like Kodachi at all, and none of the Senshi actually appealed to me for Ranma this time around. That doesn't mean he WON'T have Senshi trouble, just not yet.

And remember, Read and Review.