No Need for Destiny
Chapter 14
No Need for New Introductions
Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.
I would like to first personally thank all of those reviewing my stories. I enjoy reading your comments, and try to correct the grammatical errors I miss with my final read-through as well as my spell checkers. The suggestions you all make will help make this story better for everyone to enjoy, as well as allow my to fix some plot holes I may unintentionally leave. If you find any, let me know, and I will correct them and repost the chapters.
Yosho Masaki sat within the shrine atop the hill, enjoying a simple tea while sitting at a low table, as the breeze of the day blew through the room.
"I can still sense you, you know," he said quietly.
A male voice began to chuckle, as a figure slowly faded into view across the table. "It took you too long if I could get this close," said Ranma Saotome Kuramitsu.
"Most of us don't have your abilities or time spent training," said the Crown Prince of Jurai. "I take it the ship that arrived is one of yours?"
Ranma nodded, as Yosho poured some tea for him. "Yep, looks like the Three Goddesses are free from their little experiment. Got to say though, I never figured Tenchi would be what they had been hoping to find."
Yosho's eyebrow arched at that. "Oh?"
"No offense meant, Yosho," said Ranma with a smile. "I know the boy is special; even able to summon three wings his first try."
"Tsunami may have helped with that," said Yosho.
"Maybe," said Ranma, recalling his own training when he had started to wonder if a human could summon the Wings of the Light Hawk like the ships could. It had taken him five thousand years to master all ten, Nabiki took fifteen thousand to do it. But then, he was more into pushing his limits than she was. The drive had been lacking for her.
"I heard he pulled off five this time around against the Choubimaru," Ranma remarked.
"Remember the previous timeline, do you?"
"I was blessed by the Goddesses that did it," replied Ranma.
"Then could you explain why you almost allowed your descendants to almost wipe out Earth?" he asked smirking.
"I had barriers up to prevent that," said Ranma reluctantly. "You know, you spend your time raising them, and they try something stupid like that."
Yosho just smiled.
"But Misao did join GP, got married to that girl, and I got to watch my granddaughter Mikami tear into her brother," Ranma finished with a smile. "Minami was always a little too high strung in my opinion, somewhat of a black sheep."
"So I take it that it won't happen again?"
"It better not," growled Ranma, "or I'll toss their asses into a black hole till they learn better."
"I am a bit surprised that you visited me first and not your First Wife," said Yosho, changing the topic.
"Mikumo never got to know her," said Ranma sadly, as he looked out the window towards the house, or where it would have been, if it was level to the Temple. "I could tell him stories, show him videos and such, but he never had a true chance to connect with her, before her seal broke.
"I think he thought it was his own fault for a while," Ranma admitted sadly. "I think every child goes through that if parents separate."
"Very true," said Yosho sadly. While he had no experience with it, he had been told tales by those coming to visit the Masaki Shrine. It wasn't something he'd wish on any child. "So you are giving him some time first."
Ranma nodded solemnly.
"And this has nothing to do with the fact that her faked memories might make her try and kill you first?" asked the smirking Prince.
"Well, there is that too," admitted Ranma quietly. "Hell, I'm pretty sure the reason Ryoko and Ryo-Ohki have some cat-like features is because she remembers the problems I used to have with them."
"Ah yes, the Neko-ken," said Yosho. "Did you ever track how that dreaded technique came to be in the first place?"
Ranma nodded. "Apparently, my own damn fault; a New Goddess named Bastet heard of my fighting abilities during a visit to Earth, and saw me practicing it. She made a technique based off it to teach her followers in Egypt. Given time and others seeing it and trying to figure it out..."
"A copy that was copied so many times, it broke down to much to fully be the original," admitted Yosho.
Ranma nodded sadly. "Makes me wonder how many of my own problems are literally my own damn fault." Shaking his head slightly, he tried to move onto more cheerful topics. "So, have you been teaching Tenchi any Infinity School with his Jurian Kendo?"
"I tried," said Yosho, "but the boy seems more inclined to use swords than fists and feet. Perhaps you could give it a try. I haven't been able to have a successful student since I started teaching it.
"I wonder if that one annoying pest of a first student cursed me," he wondered aloud.
"Pest?" asked Ranma. "You never told me about a pest."
"My first student since I tried to teach anyone," said Yosho sadly. "His potential was great, but I never met a man so perverted at such a young age. I finally got tired of his antics and sent him towards China."
Ranma paled. No! There is no damn way that it was him! "Um ... China?"
Yosho nodded. "I figured some time dealing with the Amazons might cure him of his ... habits."
The Prince looked over to his visitor. "Is there a reason you are hitting your head on the table like that?" he asked.
It was her first date in all of her life. She knew what was supposed to happen on them, knowledge somehow cobbled together from listening to the Inners talk about their own dates—dates that usually ended up followed by ice cream and complaining about said guy and how he either disappeared, was an enemy is disguise, or had an 'emergency' but never called again—as well as when Usagi would discuss her latest date with Mamoru.
His talks usually only consisted of asking for the Help Wanted ads in the paper.
She might include Haruka-papa and her dates with Michiru-mama into that equation, but that tended to allow odd and chaotic factors in her theories.
Well, that and she had no idea how a clown shoe, a potato gun, and something called "Little Jimmy" played into a date.
But here she was, sitting in a back booth at the ice cream parlor near the Crown Arcade, fresh from a quick rescue from the local bullies, by her hero. Hotaru still wasn't certain just what he did, but after he ... destroyed that dumpster, the bullies appeared to wet themselves, and tried to run for it.
If nothing else, that image would keep her happy for a long time.
Of course, he didn't let them go. He quickly knocked them out, changed their clothes to evening gowns, skirts, and sports bras, before leaving them there, and asking her to this spot. It was ... unusual. After all, the bad guys weren't supposed to ask you out for ice cream. Well, they might, but they'd never pay for it.
He paid after it was delivered, so there was a very good chance he was either not a bad guy or at least a bad guy who didn't stick you with the bill.
"So," she started, before pausing. "Um..."
Ran sighed. You would think that after ten thousand years, after finally being reunited with the one soul he loved, that he would have prepared plans for how to act, to speak, what to discuss.
But come the time to do so, all he could draw was a blank. What could he tell her? Would she even have a faint recall of him if he took of the sunglasses he still had one, the one major thing that distinguished him from his father? Would her soul feel any longing to be close to him after all this time? What if he had changed too much from then?
Taking a deep breath, he decided that it was now or never. He would either find some common ground, or finally have to silence the desire to be near her. "I'm sorry if I startled you," he said quietly, as he bit into his sundae.
"I ... thanks," she said quietly. "How'd you do that?" she asked quickly, wanting to know while she still had the courage to do so.
Put them in front of monsters from any level of Hell, and they'd face it with utmost courage. Put them together on a date: watch them shake like leaves.
"It's a technique I learned from my parents," he answered truthfully. Granted, the needed knowledge of how to manipulate energies on a level to trash the dumpster like that and not take a huge chunk of the planet along with him came from his mother, the control from his father.
Still, probably wasn't something she was ready to hear.
Hotaru blinked. Someone taught him! "Wow," she said in awe.
Ran smiled a bit. Saturn had always enjoyed seeing what he could pull off. "May I ask you something?" he said quietly.
Seeing her nod, he continued. "Do I look familiar to you?" he asked.
She blinked at that. "We've met before?" she asked.
He nodded slowly. "A long time ago, when you were ... almost another person," he said cryptically.
She blinked at that. Was he ... from that past? "Um..."
Ran internally cringed a bit. Perhaps I moved a bit too fast. She might not even have started to recall that time.
"Are you ... one of the Royal Court?" she asked carefully.
Ran blinked. "You mean of the Moon or the other planets?"
"Other ... planets?" she asked curiously. "I only thought the Royal Court was sent forward."
"It was," said Ran, wondering how their knowledge of the past was so bad. Man, Enma's mom really dropped the ball on this one. "It just wasn't only the Royal Court of Selene."
Hotaru almost broke out in a relieved smile. "Um ... how much do you remember?" she asked quietly.
Ran almost looked sad. There was definitely a difference between the woman he sat with now and the woman whom he had met all those centuries ago: confidence. Saturn had been a woman who would challenge the universe. Hotaru seemed to be almost completely shy.
"I'm sorry," she quickly said. "I didn't want to bring up bad memories."
"It's not that," he said quietly. "It was that I'm realizing how different you are from your old self," he said.
"I-I'm sorry," she said quietly.
"No need to apologize," he said. "But if you'd like, I could tell you a bit about the past if you would like."
"How much do you know?" she asked; her voice still quiet.
"All of it," he said, removing his sunglasses to allow her a look into his eyes, hoping it would spark some memory within her soul
"Amazing," she said, staring into his eyes, pools of blue surrounded by a deep purple. Part of her ... part of her yearned to loose themselves in those eyes. "H-how did you recover them all?" she asked.
"Because, my Lady," he said with a small smile, "I never lost them."
Hotaru pulled back from those blue pools, her eyes now wide. "But that would mean..."
He nodded slightly. "That is why I am very happy to meet you like this once again, my Lady. I ... I wanted to apologize for failing you."
"Failing me?" she asked quietly, still in shock.
"Oh, don't worry about alerting others to our conversation," he said quickly, putting a small crystal on the table, one her heart said was very familiar. "This device was from Royal Security on Saturn; allowed their spies and such to talk while anyone on the outside only saw and heard a normal conversation; works on low-level technology so no magical properties to set off the alarms of any nearby mages," he said.
She blinked. Saturn Royal Security? Was he ... a surviving citizen? "Um..."
"I was on my way to Sol when the attack started," he said sadly. "We arrived near the end, but we could only do so much.
"I raced to you," he said quietly, reaching across the table, holding her slim hand, never carrying that she didn't pull away from him. "But ... but you ... you used your most powerful attack to destroy a planet-killer."
She looked at him, her senses warring with themselves.
Trust him, he is from the past!
He is not human, his eyes...
His soul aches, the story has made him feel sad.
He felt sad we died.
Why?
Why?
"We were ... close?" she asked.
He shored up his mental shields, biting back the pain, the hope. Reaching into his pocket, he produced a small box, and laid it on the table. "I was coming to bring ... bring Saturn this that day, a day that took so many years to wait for because of the stupid Saturn Age of Majority saying you had to remain unwed for so many years after you were born."
She gasped, as she slowly reached for the box. He was ... a past lover?
Somewhere deep in her mind, deep in the part of every girl, a mental-chibi-Saturn was doing cartwheels, singing about the fact that she had found a past lover, while Venus and Jupiter couldn't string a relationship to last more than a date.
Girls can be cruel at times.
Opening up the box, that cruelness died a quick and painful death, as the images of the ring reached into her soul. "It ... it's beautiful."
He nodded. "There isn't another gem like that in this universe," he said with a smile. "I spent months making it."
"You must have really loved her," Hotaru said quietly.
"She was my first and only love," he said.
Hotaru didn't know how to take it all. Here was a lover from a past life, still alive, sitting before her, having handed her the wedding ring he would have given her had not the Great Fall occurred. A part of her wondered if this was how Usagi and Mamoru felt at times. "Why ... why are you telling me this?" she asked.
"I wanted you to know," he said. "I ... I'd be lying if I said I hadn't hoped we could pick up where we left off, to be with you again.
"But I know you're not her, well ... not completely. I would be a cruel man to expect you to replace her. Nothing could ever replace her.
"I guess ... I guess I just wanted to see you, to talk to you, to in a way, say goodbye to that special woman," he finished, a small tear making its way down the right side of his face.
"I ... I'm sor—"
"Don't apologize," he said quickly. "It is nothing to be blamed on anyone. I have nothing against you, Hotaru," he said. "In a way, I am being selfish for wanting this moment.
"You should keep the ring," he said.
"But it was for..."
"And in a way, the best thing I can do is give it to you," he said with a small smile.
"I ... I do need to go," he said quietly. "Father will worry, and we need to make plans?"
"Plans?" she asked with curiosity.
"He wants to have," he said pausing for dramatic effect, "a family reunion."
He paused a bit, seeing her face-fault onto the table. He used to always do stuff like that with Saturn, and she to him. It had felt ... nice, as if it was another way to say goodbye. "I should be going now."
"Wait!" she cried quickly, grabbing his hand once more. She didn't know why, but she didn't want him to go. Maybe it was her past life catching up to her, those desires long lost to the ether between one existence to the next. Maybe it was because he had bared his soul to her, something people rarely did.
Maybe it was because he was a hot man who knew her, knew her powers, and was not afraid, had never been afraid of what lurked inside, and had a great butt.
"You want to go for a walk?" she asked.
Yep, most likely the last one.
Setsuna sat in the dining area of the house of the Outers, reading the news in the paper. "Well, looks like things will be quiet for a while," she said.
"Must you play these games?" came a deep voice from the small shadowed corner, as a tall figure seemed to step out from it.
"The world must make its own way, my son," said Setsuna, as she stood up from her chair, and walked to the figure, hugging him tightly. "And what's with the shadow teleport?"
"I like to practice the techniques that are offered me," said Enma, color and detail fading into light as he dispelled the illusion. "It is good to see you, Mother."
"So tell me," she said smiling, as she motioned towards the table, "what is my son up to these days. Last I heard, your Father didn't want to interfere too much in the timeline until we reached the beginning."
"That happened a few days ago," said Enma, sipping his tea.
"Oh," she said.
"Please Mother, I know that Nabiki has talked to you," he said with a sly smile.
Setsuna sighed. Sometimes, her child knew too much to be teased, and where was the fun in that. "She also told me about a possible Kuramitsu reunion. Does this mean I'll finally meet the woman in your life?"
He blushed a bit. "Um ... women, actually, and our children."
Setsuna's smile faded quickly, being replaced with a glare that would have frozen the darkest demon from the Pit. "Women?" she asked; her voice ice cold.
"What can I say," he said, trying to chuckle, "like Dad, strong women don't ask for my opinion, they tell me what it is."
"How many?"
"Two," he said quickly. "And we've only been together less than two hundred years."
"Oh?" she said, sipping her tea. "Why is that?"
"Why we have been together for such a short amount of time or why I have two wives?"
"Both," she said with a growl.
"Would you believe that it wasn't my fault and they are okay with it?"
"No"
"Oh," he said quietly. Think fast or Mom's going to Dead Scream me into another time period. "How about I let them explain it to you at the reunion? You can meet your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren."
Setsuna's eyes opened wide, not having given any thought to grandchildren—or even beyond the next steps of 'grand'. "And you never told me because?"
"Because even after Serenity awoke and you could communicate once more from normal space-time, you still insisted that I keep personal information to myself to ensure I didn't distract you from the duties of dealing with Sailor Chaos and her plans," he answered with his own glare. "Not exactly the family reunion I was expecting, but hey, I'm used to dealing in need-to-know problems."
Setsuna felt a pang of sadness and coldness reach deep into her heart. She hadn't wanted to tell him that. Even as the Great Fall happened, even as she was left sealed within the Gates of Time sub-dimension, even as she watched him suffer, all she had wanted to do was hold her son once more.
But sadly time had passed; he had grown up, and apparently had a family without her knowing. "I ... I am sorry, my son," she said quietly.
Enma sighed, rubbing his forehead, not wanting to end up in an argument with her now. "I will be bringing a contingent from the Sealed Systems," he said. "They'll be guards; maybe some of the local rulers who I feel are ready to learn of worlds beyond their little bubble."
"Edo but not Avalon?" she asked, knowing all about the Sealed Systems. Nabiki's reports had been pretty thorough. Apparently not thorough enough if she didn't tell me I'm a grandmother...
"Avalon is still into small kingdoms and petty warlords," he said sadly. "I've had better luck nudging Edo towards a more stabilized government base."
Setsuna smiled at this. "The Jade Dragon?"
Enma cringed. "Nabiki told you about that?" he asked scowling, hating the nickname he had received. Worse yet was it was the same on both worlds. Even the damned dragons of Avalon called him that.
He was pretty sure he knew the half-brother responsible for that little bit getting out on Avalon.
"Yes, as well as yours and Ran's plan to spur society developments along on both worlds."
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "I'd rather they not destroy each other. Spent the same amount of time, but there is just so many more ways for it to go wrong on Avalon than Edo, added together a spell that little put a good portion of land under a protective bubble..."
"I understand," she said. "Guiding without being heavy-handed, without treading too close to stealing free will; such are hard things to do. You now know a hard lesson every Heir to the power of Pluto has had to learn."
Enma snorted at that. "I learned that ruling the Alpha Centauri colonies," he said.
"Speaking of which," he said, looking at her, "why haven't the Senshi been told they should be preparing to take over ruling their worlds once again? The descendants do want to return to their ancestral homes, you know."
She had to rub her own forehead this time. "The girls are far from ready from being able to take over their thrones," she said quietly.
"We all don't get perfect childhoods," he said. "And sooner or later, they will have to grow up. I will not allow the systems to be run by a fool, Mother" he said angrily.
Setsuna's eyes shot open. "You would deny her birthright?" asked Setsuna stunned.
"I would deny her the chance to act a fool simply because she'd rather gush over the reborn Earth Prince rather than learn what she needs to know," he said, his voice filled with certainty.
"She has proven herself."
"Not to me," he said. "I was charged with this duty, Mother. I did not want it, I tried to throw it off, but it is mine nonetheless. And I will not hand it over now unless I am above reproach on Serenity's qualifications."
"And what are those qualifications?" asked Setsuna, as her son stood up, and began walking back to the shadowed corner.
"Something I will discuss with her at the family reunion, so do tell my sisters about it," he said with a smile, before he began to fade into the shadows. "Take care, Mother."
Setsuna just stared at the corner, before sighing. It seemed that no matter what the age, children were always going to cause problems for their parents.
"I know Mother is laughing at me this very moment, I know she is," Setsuna muttered, as she took the now empty tea set into the kitchen. It seemed she needed some time to think on some issues.
Enma faded back into view aboard his ship, within a large chamber he had set up for teleportation. After all, he didn't want someone to accidentally get sent to the bridge. Plus, if he ended up coming to the ship with some enemies following or hiding among his men, the last thing he wanted was them near any sensitive areas.
"Guards!" he cried out, causing several dozen figures to appear from the darkness within the chamber.
Counting them off, he smiled. All of them were here. "I will be preparing to make a Zero-Point Insertion within the day."
"Zero-Point Insertion?" asked one of the men, his details still hidden by the shadows.
Enma smiled. That man had been with him for close to one hundred and forty years, around the time he started to choose elite members of Edo for his personal guard. "I plan to pick up the newest contestants and return within moments of our departure."
"While time will pass for them, none will pass from their departure," said a female member of the guard.
Enma nodded. "Prepare the Jade Scrolls," he said, not revealing his disgust that the scrolls had taken on such a title. Sure he had green hair and could level entire worlds if he wanted. But why did he get such a name?"
On Avalon, a certain Mazoku sneezed.
"I expect your tasks to be completed before I arrive," Enma said.
"Should we take the others?" asked the female who had spoken earlier.
Enma nodded. "I want this wrapped up quickly. They've expanded much since my last visit. Be careful," he added. "Reports from my Agent suggest that some other groups are making moves."
"Should we terminate them?" asked another male.
"Only if they make that necessary," said Enma. "Our pact is with the Hidden Villages only, not the gangs."
The group nodded, before the leapt away into the shadows.
Shaking his head, his hand went up to his chest, setting over his heart. He remembered the worlds all too well, had a love on each. "Phlegyas," he said. "Set course for Avalon. I need to pick up some important people."
He felt a bit of the ship's emotion come over the link: happiness.
"Don't get too happy," he said. "Wait till you meet my daughters; you'll probably want to space the youngest yourself if she's still as volatile as ever."
"Metal trees?" said Amida Yamada.
Nabiki looked across the table to the multitude of dark-dressed businessmen and few ladies. "They are designed for desert areas and areas of extreme cold. Surely you do not believe I would fund research to building forests in the deserts?" she asked.
"I fail to see the profit in such a venture," said Amida.
"You fail to see the profit in desert nations that want to appear supportive of the Kyoto Protocols by offering them an option that will create jobs, excess energy and carbon from products?" asked Nabiki, her eyebrow arching.
As the man bit back a retort, she continued. "Added with the Green Algae Carbon Capture program for all of our interests in coal-burning power plants, we stand to make an ecologic shift in the view of Kuramitsu industries as well as a tidy profit in those eco-friendly ventures," she said with a smile. "You don't get good publicity from polluting, you get it from being seen and proven less of a polluter than your competition, especially in this Earth-friendly age."
Kiyoshi Suzuki slowly nodded. "The Americans will not be rushing to support our projects."
"I could care less about the current American views," waved off Nabiki. "Both of their political parties spent more time and money denouncing Kyoto than finding ways to take advantage of it.
"We will not make such mistakes," she said, eyes narrowed. "Let them be embarrassed by our progress, let their citizens see that they have failed them. Maybe then they'll actually get off their asses and vote for some useable politicians."
"You mean a good politician exists?" asked one man, causing the group to chuckle.
Nabiki leaned back in her seat, a smile on her face. "I have heard such things, but I have often wondered if they belong in such books like the stories of Atlantis."
A renewed round of chuckles filled the room.
"Anyway," she said, waving her hand. "The analysis, which is in your booklets, shows the expected cost analysis of constructing these titans, as well as possible profit from good publicity, credits among the Kyoto nations, not to mention a steady source of carbon-procurement and bio-diesel. I've heard already that Brazil is interested in the latter."
The others wordlessly mumbled,
"And should the Americans come around, I suspect our political capital will increase in North America."
"How many backers do we have so far?" asked one of the few females.
"Forget backers," said a man Nabiki only knew by his first name Tai. "How many clients do we have lined up?"
She smirked at that. "Several of the OPEC nations have expressed extreme interest; many are already experimenting with the Green Algae tech. Venezuela and a few others declined, but their regimes aren't stable to even suggest we invest in their infrastructure."
The others nodded their agreement. While many would have hated a female leading in the business world, Nabiki was far too much a shark for them to even try to discredit. Her logic was flawless, and her revenge was something none of them wanted to experience.
Besides, in such turbulent times within the job market, none of them were going to rock the boat of such gainful employment unless necessary. And as a boss, Nabiki rarely made it necessary without good reason.
"Initial ventures stand to bring a return of fifteen percent current profit," she finished, placing the final nail in the coffin.
"Any questions?" she asked.
Seeing none, she stood up. "For the next few days, I will be out of the office. My secretary will be able to contact me, but I expect to only be called if the are major problems."
The others nodded, knowing enough to not ask what she was up to. As far as they were concerned, as long as it didn't risk their careers, they didn't care.
Nabiki smiled as she entered her private office, stretching a bit. Despite wherever she went, she did so enjoy the business challenge.
It had been hard enough ensuring that they could even run Kuramitsu Sol Dynamics. If not for Yosho's backing—and thus extra hidden security for the fleeing Prince—it would have been near impossible. But here they were, following a general plan by the two galactic super powers to slowly raise Earth towards a First Contact scenario.
Assuming of course the more eccentric members of the human race didn't kill everyone off first.
"Such a lovely view, is it not?" she said, turning to her side, spotting a certain tanned figure standing beside her, looking out the window.
"It has some moments to be sure," said Hild. "Glad to see you're as sharp as ever."
"I may not have developed my senses as well as my dear husband, but they are at levels that suit my needs for the moment," Nabiki added with a smile. "May I ask to what I owe the pleasure of your company? Shop?"
"Nothing as mundane as that," said Hild. True, the person before her was one of a rare few entities with whom the Demon Queen could chat with about shop. It was very rare to meet a person whose mind was that sharp.
"Well, if it is for ... more fun activities," Nabiki said with a smirk, "Ranma-dear will be with Washu today."
"I am a bit surprised you are not there as well," said Hild, ignoring the barb. She did so love these fights.
Almost as much as she loved the ... fun things.
"It is something they should do together and by themselves," Nabiki said. "I had him for twenty thousand years; she can at least have him back to herself for one day."
Hild nodded, her face still showing disinterest. She was tempted to make an appearance at the Masaki Shrine and introduce herself to Wife #1. However, she was in no way, shape, or form willing to piss off a power that was an Elder Goddess, let alone all three.
No, she could wait. But introductions would come. And thus, why she had come, became a topic once more. "I was wondering if you could ask dear Enma to do me a favor when he goes to Avalon to pick up his family." Hild asked with a smile.
"Yes?" asked Nabiki, curiosity peeked.
"Then might he pick up my children via your husband?" asked Hild with a sweet smile.
Nabiki's face lost all emotion, as she stared at the Demon Queen. "Hild-chan, did you forget to tell us ... something?"
Bastet sat in her office within Yggdrasil, looking over the announcement that had just been sent to her terminal.
"Kuramitsu Reunion planned to be held at Masaki Shrine, Japan, Earth. There will be a preliminary meeting for all deities with a Class-2 license in Debugging, or higher tomorrow."
She nodded at that. "I wondered when they would come here," she muttered. After all, such powerful beings were not within the system. Sure, some were, those born on or who had been on Earth long enough to be automatically registered. But there were a lot out there, and they were not known for being 'bug-free', as it were.
But a family that large, tied to so many powerful forces, from Elder Goddesses to Hild herself, no, it was not expected to be an easy period, not when that many unregistered people would enter the system.
"I feel sorry for the Relief services if any of those deserve a wish," she said with a smirk.
It was still a good bit of gossip that circulated around Heaven, the comings and goings of the relationship the Norse Goddess Belldandy had with the mortal. There was many a debate among the older deities about what such a relationship would entail. It was hardly a secret that the other Norns fancied the boy as well. And given the history of the deities, monogamy wasn't a limit.
Then again, the sisters were part of Time itself. Could one marry someone without the others? An interesting question. "I may have to bug that old pervert Odin about that," she said with a sly smile.
Alas, she had other things to worry about now; namely one particular branch of the Kuramitsu clan that was her project.
But why? True, he had done some very good things for her. Sure, she could have done it, but things that went wrong on the mortal plane often were better solved by the mortals, lest they start relying on the Gods once more to run their lives.
"He never got a chance either," she murmured, looking at the glowing orb forming on her desk. "And they are each part of the same soul; a soul that should be made complete once again."
Nodding her head, she prepared to ... deliver ... the gifts. "Not everyday you get on the good side of a Kuramitsu," she said with a sly smile.
An elderly figure was sitting by herself, enjoying the hot waters of the spring she was visiting near Canterbury, New Zealand.
"Ah, so peaceful here," she murmured.
Retirement was suiting her just fine. Her grandson was running the dorm she had left him, he was in Tokyo University, and looked like he had finally found the woman of his dreams.
Of course, the calls from her daughter said that he had also become the dream of many other women.
The moment was just perfect. Nothing could ruin it.
"MESSAGE!" came a high, annoying voice to her left. "Message!"
The woman's face twitched. "I left a Do-Not-Disturb notice," she growled out.
"MESSAGE!" the small annoying creature bellowed once more.
She glared at the small little automaton, wanting to wish it out of existence. "If it's from Mother, so help me..." she growled, taking the message from the creature, causing it to pop away.
Dear Hi-chan,
The woman twitched at that. "Can't the woman ever use a full name?"
I just wanted to tell you that Dad and Mom are getting close to setting up the date for the family reunion! We're all going to be together in one place! Isn't that great!
The woman's eyes shot wide open. "This ... is bad."
Since Dad said we could, I brought everyone to Earth to meet you and the rest of our extended family! I can't wait to see how they are all doing!
She cringed at that. There was only one little problem with that: she hadn't told them that bit of family history yet. "Not too bad, I still have time."
Anyway, we'll be by later today to your home! I want to see if you've added to that hot spring!
The clerk's head suddenly shot up, looking towards the direction of the loud curse word. "I didn't think the elderly cussed like that."
In Kanagawa Prefecture; at the bottom of a long set of stone stairs, stood three people: two women and one man.
"Isn't it beautiful, Ya-chan?" asked the blond female, wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
The lone man, wearing a causal business suit, scratched his cheek. "Well, the trees did come in better than we thought, Rushuna."
"I can't wait to see what she did to the hot springs!" squealed the blond known as Rushuna.
"Can we go in now?" asked the final girl, having short black hair and wearing a t-shirt and jeans.
"Sure thing, Mi-chan," smiled Rushuna. "I wonder if she kept those secret passages."
Ranma was floating in a silent void, every sensation too small to really be felt. He just felt ... at peace.
"Wake up, my Love."
A soft voice did pierce the quiet, ringing true into his mind. But he felt too content to wake up and leave this blissful state.
"Wake up, my Love; I have a surprise for you."
The blissful voice still wasn't enough to drag him from this perfect existence.
"I have ghople."
His eyes shot open wide. "Ghople?"
His eyes shot open, expecting to see a buffet in front of him.
He was not expecting the strange eyes of Tokimi. "Um, To-chan?" he said.
"Hello, my Love," she said with a smile, stroking his hair. "How are we feeling?"
"What happened?" he asked, discovering that he was lying on a bed mat, and his head was resting on her lap.
"My dear sister got lost between fact and fiction," Tokimi said with a giggle.
"Damn," Ranma muttered, as he looked up at the Goddess. "She laid me out?"
"With one punch."
Ranma chuckled a bit. "She was always the strong type.
"Now," he said, slowly sitting up, rubbing his head, "may I ask why you're here?"
She giggled once again. "I can't visit my Love?"
"Um ... I didn't say that," he added quickly.
"I SAY HE'S FINE!" yelled a very familiar voice from outside the door, before it swung open.
Ranma could only stare into the eyes now of his First Wife, think about his current position, and the fact that said Wife had just cleaned his clock with one shot... "Shit..."
"Sister?" growled Washu. "What are you doing to my husband on this, the day of our reunion?"
"What's going on?" asked Sasami, trying to peek around the other house mates who were behind the angry Elder Goddess.
Ranma slowly tried to inch away from the possible crossfire of the two.
"Ranma, dear," said Washu, her voice strained almost as much as the smile on her face, "could you go downstairs with the others, while I chat with my ... dear sister?"
"Yes, dear," he said quickly, making a beeline for the door, flipping through the small space between the heads of those assembled and the top of the doorway, and dashing down the stairs.
"Um, Little Washu?" asked Tenchi, looking between the departing male and the resident mad scientist.
"Tenchi, could you take Ryoko and Ayeka downstairs. I need to have a little chat with Tokimi and Tsunami."
"Does that mean I should stay?" asked Sasami.
"Ms. Washu!" bellowed Ayeka. "Please explain what is going on!"
The only reply was Washu's head slowly turning towards them, the look of intimidation on her face, daring them to question her.
"We'll be going now!" yelped Ryoko, as she grabbed her rival and love, darting after the form of the boy who was her apparent step-father.
Washu slowly closed the door, before directing her glare at her sisters. "Now, shall we talk about ... my husband?"
Tsunami was so glad she was inside Sasami now. Surely her sister wouldn't kill a cute and adorable child. Right?
"I so hate you," growled Ranma.
"Oh?" asked Yosho.
"Grandfather," said Tenchi, finally getting feeling back in his arm after Ryoko's hold was released. "Can you please explain what is going on?"
"I'd like to hear that myself," said Ranma. "I came her to reconnect with my wife. Instead, it is a scene I'll probably endure tomorrow when I head back to Nerima."
"You better not be dumping Mom, Old Man," growled Ryoko.
"Miyah?"
Blinking, everyone saw the child-form of Ryo-Ohki looking at them from the couch, confusion in her eyes. "Miyah miyah, miyah?"
Ranma just smirked, before walking over to the human-form cabbit. "Well, I guess I could be your father in a way. I am legally married to your mother."
"Miss Washu is married!" gasped Ayeka, not even considering the possible danger her 'little sister' was in upstairs.
"News to me," said Yosho.
"Well, she kind of forgot to sign the divorce papers," said Ranma with a nervous smile. "Technically, we're just in separation."
"I see," said Yosho. "She truly does forget the little things like that."
Tenchi just scratched the back of his head, wondering why stuff like this kept happening to him. "So ... um ... how long have you know Little Washu?"
Ranma smiled as he sat on the sofa, leaning back. "I first met her during her first year at the Science Academy," said Ranma with a smile, memories of that day returning to him. "She was very nervous, considering her best friend at the time was going to throw a welcoming party for her."
"Washu? Nervous?" asked Tenchi, blinking in surprise.
"She wasn't very fond of crowds back then," said Ranma with a smile.
"Then why'd you leave her?" asked Ryoko.
The room became quiet, minus the exception of Mihoshi still focused on the sentai series playing on the television.
"Me," said a voice of Mikumo Kuramitsu, as he exited the restroom, fresh from a relaxing soak in the floating hot spring.
"You?" asked Ayeka.
Mikumo nodded, as he sat beside his father. "When I was born, my presence ... affected the seal the Goddesses were using to support and suppress her memories, so she could continue her experiment. If she had happy memories, if she allowed herself hope of seeing us again, she would have taken it," he said sadly. "She would have sought us out, and exposed herself to that effect for a second time. If she did, she would have been both unable to continue the experiment, and perhaps even forced to leave this level of reality."
"So the Three Goddesses came up with this solution," said Ranma, "a solution to ensure that we would survive until the experiment was over."
Mikumo stood up and moved to stand before Tenchi. The Godling smiled, before he bowed to the youngest Masaki. "Thank you, Lord Tenchi, for freeing my Mother from that test."
"Me?" he asked.
"You did become a God for a bit," said Ranma with a smirk.
"G-G-God?" he squeaked. He hadn't been that strong, had he?
"You'll get used to it," said Ranma, waving off the concerns. "Hell, you live with a few Goddesses, and there'll be all sorts of people at the reunion."
"Reunion?" they all said at once.
Ranma blinked, before he looked back towards Yosho. "I did talk to you about that, right?"
"No, you didn't," said the Shinto priest.
"You're slipping, Old Man," smirked Mikumo.
"I'm just trying to get into character for tomorrow, that's all," Ranma said, trying to pass it off. Truthfully, he had sort of forgotten after learning of one of Yosho's failures in teaching, not wanting to truly believe how much of his life was now flowing in a circle. At least he isn't a blood relative; at least I have that small miracle.
"Anyway," he waved off, "I was wondering if I could gather the clan here for a family reunion. I figured this would be one of the more secure areas on Earth to hold it."
"Lord Kuramitsu," said Ayeka, "why would the Kuramitsu clan wish to have a 'reunion' here on Earth?"
"Oh, that's easy," said Mihoshi, still watching the television, "it's because we're originally from Earth."
Those of the Masaki House, minus Yosho, could only blink in shock.
Ranma just shook his head. His great-great-granddaughter did have a certain knack for doing stuff like that. "Well, I better explain. You see—"
POP!
The others could only stare as the form of Ranma Kuramitsu was replaced in a puff of smoke by a tanuki statue, holding a note in its front paw.
Mikumo sighed, as he grabbed the note. "It's from Mom. 'Private time with husband, interrupt and be a guinea pig. Love, Little Washu.'"
"I guess the conversation is over," said Yosho with a slightly perverted smirk.
"Can you tell the story, Great-Grandpa?" asked Mihoshi, show over, and now fully focused on the conversation.
He nodded. "Sure, though we may want to check up first on Auntie Tokimi and Sasami first. I do hope Mother didn't scare them too much."
It was a slow day in the Kame Game Shop. There hadn't been customers for a while. But given that school classes were still in session, which was to be expected. After all, it was very unlikely someone older would come in, unless they were college kids or amateurs hoping to go professional, maybe the occasional parent wanting to by their kids some new cards.
So he did what he did every day when it got like this. He quickly cleaned up, and glanced out the window, watching as the cute women walked by.
He'd be doing that outside the shop, but he had no clue when his daughter-in-law would return. Getting caught once had been bad enough. Hearing her threats after the fifth time put a huge damper on the idea.
Yuki had such a temper. He did wonder if that was why she was such a good match for his son. The boy did need someone to rein him in from time to time.
"MESSAGE!"
Sugoroku Mutou could only blink at that. "A Message Sprite?" he asked, spotting the small humanoid machine holding a letter, sitting on counter. "I wonder from whom?" he asked, walking over to it.
"MESSAGE!" it squeaked again.
Taking the note, the Message Sprite vanished in a small puff of smoke, more for the dramatic effect desired by its makers rather than a need.
"I wish they'd stop doing that," Sugoroku muttered. The last thing he needed was his daughter-in-law thinking he had taken up smoking.
Dear Bro,
Thought I'd give you a heads up. Guess who heard about the reunion.
Lady Seto is coming.
Have fun, and we are now even for you not telling Mom and Dad about the Amazons.
Hippolita.
He paled at reading those words. "Shit," he muttered, looking around fearfully, in case the famed Devil Princess of Jurai had shown up earlier than planned. She did have family on Earth, so it wasn't like she needed an excuse.
She was back. Oh, the nightmares he had about this one woman. Why couldn't she just leave people alone? He had a wife, wasn't that enough?
His son? No, he was safe. If there was perhaps one woman scarier than Lady Seto, it was Yuki.
But then why would Hippolita send this note to him. Surely, the fact that he was married would dissuade her. Surely the fact that he could insist all ideas for 'other spouses' be run through his wife would by him time to hide somewhere.
He glanced around his shop with worry. What was her game? Surely she wasn't coming for him. Usually, already being married bought you a secondary target status with her.
And then he spotted a family photo hanging on the wall.
Crud, she was after his single, nearly old enough to graduate from high school grandson.
"Oh, it was such a nice day too," he sighed. Now he was going to have to straighten things up for his parents to arrive, and find his grandson some fiancées before Seto 'offered' some suggestions. "Why is it anyone named Seto is nothing but trouble for my nerves?" he muttered, as he began to clean in earnest.
"Dinner's served!" yelled Akane, as she brought the steaming pot of ... unknown substance ... into the dining area.
Kasumi just maintained her smile, standing behind the two fathers, as Akane set the massive pot on the table. "Oh, it was so nice for Akane to want to practice some more before working on a meal for Ranma-kun tomorrow, wasn't it, Father?" she asked.
"Uhhhhhh."
Genma just paled. Maybe he could fake some sickness to get out of it. Damn it, the Boy was supposed to be the Girl's guinea pig for this slop, not him. Oh, where is that dishonorable boy? Why has he forsaken his father like this?
"Um ... what is it?" asked Soun, as Akane began to pour the ... unknown ... into a bowl. He certainly hoped that the image of something slithering out of the bowl and sliding back into it had been a trick of the light.
"It's domburi," said Akane with a smile.
"Um, should it be this ... soupy?" asked Genma with fear.
"Is there something wrong with my cooking?" she asked; a slight hint of anger in her voice.
"Saotome, how dare you insult my daughter's cooking!" he yelled, seeing an opportunity to save his stomach, I mean, help boost his delicate child's confidence in her cooking ability. "I demand you eat that bowl now and apologize for ever doubting her skills."
"Don't worry, Father," Akane said with a smile. "There is more than enough for everyone here."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Akane-chan," said Kasumi sadly. "But I am meeting some friends in a bit to catch a movie. I just stayed long enough to ensure you didn't have any questions about where I might keep some of the ingredients."
"But you should eat before you go," said Akane.
"But we are eating before the movie," said Kasumi with a smile. "And it would be rude and a little awkward to be the only one at the table not eating with the group."
Akane slowly nodded. She guessed it made sense. At least the fathers would eat her cooking.
Kasumi nodded as she left; a look of relief on her face. She was just glad her friends could get together for such a night on such short notice. "Don't forget to clean up when dinner's over, Akane-chan," she said. "If not, I won't let you cook tomorrow when Ranma-kun and Nabiki-chan return."
As she left, she wondered if she should invite Auntie Saotome over tomorrow. If nothing else, it would provide an extra set of hands to ensure Akane's meal came out ... better.
"So this is the place," said Ranko with a smile, as she opened the door to the penthouse apartment.
The Inner Senshi could only stare at the place. "You've got furniture in here already?" asked Minako. "I thought you just got it today."
"I did," said Ranko. "But Daddy has always been quick to respond. I guess he picked this all up and had it delivered while we were meeting," Ranko said. The truth was it had been transported down from PI by her father's request, probably even set up by him. She just hoped he left the more embarrassing stuff up there.
Makoto just looked around in awe. The whole décor of the place was perfect, a visual masterpiece. "Wow," was all she could say, the urge to agree to live here growing steadily.
"My bedroom and the guest room are probably already furnished," Ranko added. "I don't think he would have put anything in what'll be your room, Mako-chan," said Ranko with a smile. "Why don't I get us some drinks?"
After she entered the kitchen, the girls gathered together.
"Well?" asked Rei.
"She's not emitting any evil energy," said Ami, running over the latest results and scans of the new girl. "She's got a lot of life energy, though."
"She is a martial artist," said Makoto. "Her Dad even talked to me about chi attacks; formed a ball of it in his hand to show me it was possible."
Rei's eyes shot wide open. "I've heard of some priests and martial artists that could do that, but I thought it was all an urban legend, stuff you'd only find in manga and video games."
"So ... she's not a minion of evil here to destroy the world or something like that?" asked Usagi.
"Not from what I can tell," said Ami. "She's got some unusual properties in her DNA that the Mercury Computer is not able to identify, but she appears to be completely human."
Makoto nodded. So she was being offered a great apartment, low rent, free food, a good friend who would teach her rare martial arts moves, a father-figure who would expect her to be on her best behavior, and not have any of the previous items be connected to the latest threat to the Earth.
"Guys," she said smiling, "I think I'm going to take her offer."
"Great!" said Ranko, entering in with a tray filled with cups full of ice, and a bottle of fruit punch. "Shall we celebrate? I've got a fridge full of ice cream, I've got popcorn, and I think we even have the movie channels on the TV."
Usagi's eyes began to tear up.
"What now, Dumpling Head?" asked Rei.
"I ... I'm just so happy!" cried Usagi.