Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 37
Location: Juuban District, Tokyo, Japan (Spring, 2008).
SLAM!
Everyone in the home occupied by Setsuna Meioh, Michiru Kaioh, Haruka Tenoh and Hotaru Tomoe jumped, as one of the occupants stormed into the room.
"Hey, 'Suna," said the tom boyish Haruka, as she looked up from her "Popular Mechanics" magazine. "What got your panties in a bunch?"
The longhaired, green haired, very much red-eyed Setsuna gave Haruka the evil eye.
"Not now, Haruka," Setsuna says, as she sits her briefcase on the table.
"'Suna, dinner will be ready in a minute," said the aquamarine-haired Michiru, as she exited the kitchen. "So I need for you to remove your briefcase-"
"Fine," Setsuna says, as she takes her briefcase, and tosses it into the family study.
CRASH!
"Ah!" said a voice.
"Um, sorry about that, Hotaru," Setsuna says.
"Oh, dear," Michiru says, as she leaves to see if her adopted daughter was okay.
"All right, spill it," Haruka said, with her arms crossed.
"Okay…you know that I am working on a project, right?"
"It's that 'Ranma Saotome' thing, isn't it?"
Setsuna looks at Haruka with a bewildered look.
"You've mentioned that name in your sleep on more than one occasion."
"Damn, I think I need a vacation…but yes, it's about THAT MAN. I've spent days just chronicling the life-time of THAT MAN, and I STILL have a long ways to go before I'm finished."
"So, who is this Ranma Saotome, and why are you so hell bent in doing…whatever you are doing?"
Setsuna sighs, as she sits down on a nearby chair.
"You know the concept of 'The Triat', right?"
"Yes, I do. It's 'Weaver', 'Wyld' and 'Wyrm'. That's basic cosmology."
"Well, Ranma is the avatar of the Wyld."
"WHAT?" Haruka yells. "He's the legendary 'Chaos Factor'?"
"I'm afraid so. And worse…he is involved with the Moon Princess."
"WHAT?" Michiru yells, as she and Hotaru comes out of the study.
"Ow!" said the raven-haired Hotaru, as she covered her ears.
"Sorry…so Usagi is involved with some guy other than Mamoru?"
"Yes," Setsuna says.
"Does he know?"
"No, he doesn't…and I expect that you ALL not to tell anyone else. Is that clear?"
"Sure," Haruka says.
"Of course," Michiru says.
"Oh, neat!" Hotaru says. "I get to hear some gossip!"
"Kiddo, you can wait in the other room until dinner is ready," Haruka says.
"Aw! I never get to have any fun…"
Once Hotaru is gone…
"Alright, so…?"
"It's like this…"
An hour later…
"WHAT?" Haruka and Michiru yelled in unison.
"I'm afraid so," Setsuna says, as she sipped her "Long Island Ice Tea". "Both the Princess and THAT MAN are tens of thousands of years old, and have been instrumental in being involved in a lot of things, past, present and future."
"Oh," Haruka says. "Star Wars" is REAL?
"So, the Princess is a full goddess?" Michiru asks.
"In fact, she is the present 'Lord of Asgard' as an 'All-Mother'."
"Wait…does that mean that she knows that we're speaking about her?" Haruka asks, as she looks up.
"She can, if she wants to, but the Princess is good about privacy rights issues."
"Whew, that's good to hear. I would hate to think of her peeking in on me and Michiru, and sullying her innocence and all."
"Actually…"
An hour later…
"WHAT?" Haruka and Michiru yelled in unison.
"Aye, it's true," Setsuna says. "She CLAIMS that she doesn't like girls, but instead says she simply likes the company. You wouldn't know it from all the conquests that she has 'racked' up over the years. Then again, if you have had various patron deities, demons and magi of love as both teachers and lovers, you'd be experienced as well."
"I see…" Michiru says.
"A weird thought came over me," Haruka begins. "Have you ever been involved with the Princess in ANY way?"
Setsuna's mouth opens, and closes. She then looks away, with a noticeable blush.
"Oh, no you didn't!"
"Well…yeah. But I was intoxicated at the time!"
"Yeah, right!"
"So what happened? I thought you were merely observing the Princess' activities?"
"For the most part, that is correct. But there was one time that I had a more…intimate encounter…"
FLASHBACK!
Location: San Francisco, California (Summer, 1967 CE).
Sailor Pluto had managed to track down the Moon Prince in the City by the Bay. She knew that the chaotic nature of the American Vietnam War, particularly with the Toc Faan (a group of necromancers that have given the American military problems) involved, was preventing her from looking in on her Princess. Now that she and her so-called mate were receiving military leave, Setsuna knew that they were heading for San Francisco for leave. They would have went to Japan, but the even they had to be careful how they interact within that area of the world.
At the moment, Setsuna was dressed conservatively for the times. She wore her hair in a tight bun, wore "Granny glasses", a white blouse, black belt with silver buckle, khaki skirt and comfortable shoes. She was dressed rather conservatively.
As she crossed the street on the intersection of Haight and Ashbury, Setsuna was sodistracted with her thoughts, that she failed to notice an approaching car…
HONK-HONK!
"Huh?"
Suddenly, someone carries her across the street, just before the car hits her.
"Hey, jerk!" her rescuer yells. "Why I ought to-"
"You!" Setsuna yells. Ranma looks down.
"Oh, hey, Setsuna," Ranma said. "How's it going?"
Setsuna looks up and examines Ranma's face. His hair was growing out, and he wore a slightly bushy mustache. Overall, he was still as youthful as ever. From what she knew, Ranma and Usagi were assigned to the military's forward operations; while Usagi worked in a MASH unit, Ranma was in Special Forces, assigned to the US Army. On occasion, he would work with other units, since he was fluent in East Asian and Soviet languages. Unofficially, Ranma and Usagi were assigned to track down and eliminate the Toc Faan, a group that was very brutal against first the French and later the Americans. Before the end of his last tour, one of the Toc Faan cells (whose common ploy is to use the dead as fodder) had summoned a powerful demon, from the realm of the Yama Kings, which took Ranma hours to defeat. The fact that Ranma knows one of the Yama Kings (as part of his and Usagi's quest to achieve "Enlightened Immortality") prevented additional interference from the underworld.
With that out of the way, Ranma and Usagi needed a much-needed break, so…
"I am fine…what are you doing in San Francisco?"
"Well," Ranma said, as he helped Setsuna up to her feet, "Usagi wanted to go to this summer music festival here in the city, as well as get some mystic training from her 'friend' Marianna Balador."
"'Balador'? Isn't she the Primus of the 'Cult of Ecstasy'?"
The Cult of Ecstasy was a group of mystics who uses hedonism to study Temporal Magic and other aspects of Time. Formerly known as the 'Seers of Chronos' in ancient Greece, the CoX uses many means to push the senses to achieve magical effects, including mind-altering substances. Mariana Balador, as the Primus, is the head mage of this group.
"That's the one. She wants to learn other aspects of Time manipulation. Personally, I think her 'training' is just an excuse to get intoxicated."
"I see. So what are you doing?"
"An old friend asked me to help him teach 'Jeet Kune Do' over in Oakland, while he gets his other 'shop' up and running in Los Angeles. I figure, I owe him a favor and all…"
"Oh."
"So, where are you staying anyway?"
"I just got here. I wanted to see if you were in this neighborhood before I hunted for a hotel."
"'Suna, you can stay with Usagi and me."
"I wouldn't want to impose…"
"Hey, it's no problem. We're renting a house with a few other people, and we have plenty of room. Besides, Usagi would love to see you."
"Alright."
"The house is not far from here…"
Not too far was a Victorian-style house. Setsuna could her music waffling through the hair.
"Don't worry; the guys won't play their music at night."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, they have gigs to play."
When the two entered the house through the front door, Setsuna and Ranma could see a band playing.
"Hey, guys," says Ranma.
"HEY!" the guys say in unison, as they stopped playing.
"Who's the babe?" asked the lead guitarist. He had medium length, black curly hair, and wore a multi-colored t-shirt in asymmetrical patterns.
"Oh, where are my manners? Jerry, this is Setsuna Meioh. 'Suna, this is Jerry…Jerry Garcia."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Garcia," Setsuna says, as she shakes the musician's hand.
"Same here."
"Where's Usagi?" Ranma asked.
"Um, 'Bunny' is out in the back, meditating or something."
"Thanks. Oh, is it right with you guys if 'Suna crashes her for a while?"
"I'm sure it's okay, but she's your responsibility."
"No problem. Come; follow me."
As the Jerry and his friends continue to practice, Ranma escorts Setsuna through the kitchen and into the backyard. Setsuna was amazed how much diverse flora there were in the yard. However, what amazed Setsuna even more was the sight of a nude Usagi.
"Come to me, circle of life! Enjoy the blessings of which you bestowed upon the children of Gaia!"
Usagi was speaking in a weird voice, as vines and roots crisscross into and out of her body. Limbs grew out of her head and shoulders, baring multi-colored leaves and fruit.
"What in the world…?"
"According Usagi, she is communing with the 'World Tree'…I think."
"Oh, you mean Yggsdrasil."
"Yeah. Yo! Usagi!"
As Usagi's eyes began to focus, the fruit, leaves, limbs, vines and roots faded away.
"Yes, Ranma- 'Suna!" Usagi said, as she recognized the dour-looking woman.
Usagi ran up and hugged the Senshi of Time.
"'Suna! It's so good to see you!"
"Er, um, yes," 'Suna says, as she was slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, sorry," Usagi said, as she realized her state of dress, in comparison to Setsuna's. "With so much free-spirit around here…I'll go get dress."
"Um, yes, please."
Afterwards, Usagi, Ranma and Setsuna went over to local diner to get something to eat.
"So, what have you been up to?" Ranma asked. He wore his green US Army fatigues, while draping his arm over Usagi's shoulder.
"I have been monitoring your activities.
"Really?" Usagi says, as she took a drag on her cigarette. She wore her hair long and loose, wore a silk headband, flannel shirt and bell-bottom jeans, sandals, and rose-tinted glasses. "Did you see…everything?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Including the vacation in Milan?"
"Yes, that too."
Usagi begins to giggle, and whispers something in Ranma's ear.
"Oh, yeah," Ranma says with a smile. "You were really limber that night."
"I think I need to go," Setsuna says with signs of discomfort.
"No, you can stay," says Usagi. "The problem is…you're too wound up. You need to relax."
"But I don't want to get in the way…"
"Don't think nothing of it, 'Suna," Ranma says. "YOU are our guest while you are here."
"Jerry has a gig tonight; you can party with us," Usagi says, as she holds Setsuna's hand.
"If you insist…" Setsuna says, thinking that her time out would be a normal one.
The next day
When Setsuna woke up, she found her head pounding.
"Oh, my head…" Setsuna says, thinking that she had WAY too much to drink. Slowly, her mind began to focus on her surroundings.
Wait.
She was in bed.
Check.
She was nude.
Check.
Setsuna began to move, only to find herself next to a body. Slowly, she turns to see WHOM she was laying next to.
It was a sleeping Usagi, who was snoring away. Unfortunately, she was also nude.
"Oh, no…"
Just then, Ranma enters the room with a tray of breakfast.
"Morning," Ranma said, as sits the tray down on the nightstand. "I whipped you up something. I figure you might be hungry after last night-"
Upon hearing the name breakfast, Setsuna bolted to the nearby bathroom.
SLAM!
BLURRGH!
"Whoa," Ranma says. "I guess you won't be having breakfast after all."
Ranma then sat down on the bed, and gently shook Usagi.
"Hhhhhh," Usagi managed.
"Dear, I'm going to go jogging."
"Hhhhhh."
"Love you," Ranma said, as he gave Ranma a kiss on Usagi's head.
A short time later, Setsuna steps outside the back porch, where Ranma was exercising.
"I need to ask you a question, Ranma," Setsuna asks evenly. She couldn't find her clothes, so she wore one of Usagi's outfits.
"Shoot," Ranma said, as he was doing his crunches.
"Did you and the Princess take advantage of me last night?"
Ranma stops, and sits up.
"Pardon?"
"I need to know did YOU and HER take advantage of me?"
"Do you feel sore?"
"No…"
"Then no, we didn't."
"But…the Princess and I were nude…in your bed!"
"So? When you were 'wasted', you slipped and fell on some vomit, so Usagi took your clothes, and hand washed them before going to bed. And Usagi ALWAYS sleeps in the buff."
"Then where were YOU?"
"I slept on the couch. What, you think I take advantage of people?"
"I…I guess not."
Ranma gets up.
"Look, Usagi thinks highly of you, even though you look over her shoulders WAY too much. And if she is your friend, then I am, too."
Ranma begins to walk past Setsuna, but then stops.
"Oh, by the way, you should get some ointment on that tattoo of yours."
"Huh?" Setsuna replies.
"Yeah, you decided to be Jerry's first bearer of his band's tattoo. Why have a skull as part of one's logo, I'll never know…"
And with that, Ranma steps inside the house, leaving a perplexed Setsuna outside.
As the days roll on, Setsuna becomes close to Usagi and Ranma. The Summer of Love was a magical time for free expression. And slowly, Setsuna was embracing that spirit. Unfortunately, she knew that Usagi and Ranma would have to move on, and seeing that a window of opportunity was closing, Setsuna decides to make her move…
KNOCK-KNOCK!
"Thank goodness, break-time" Ranma said, as he rolled over to his side of the bed, while keeping himself covered. "What time is it anyway?"
"Hush," Usagi said, as she made sure that she was properly covered. "Yes?"
Setsuna comes into their bedroom. She was wearing one of Usagi's robes.
"Is there something the matter?" Usagi asks.
"I…I just wanted to thank you for putting up with me," Setsuna says.
"Ah, it's no problem," Ranma says.
"You can stay with us at any time," Usagi replies.
"I know, which is why it pains me to say that I will be leaving first thing in the morning."
"Well, if you need anything-" Ranma began.
"I am fine. However…I want to properly repay you two for your hospitality."
And with that, Setsuna disrobes in front of them.
"Okay…"
"'Suna, are you…?"
"I…I want to experience what you have experienced for centuries…that intimacy that I can never have. At least, in this moment of time, I was that experience with the two people I have fallen in love with."
Usagi and Ranma were speechless.
"If I offended you-"
"No, it's just that…are you sure?" Usagi says. "I'm not oppose to anything-"
"Exactly," Ranma interject.
"ANYway," Usagi says, as she gives Ranma a dirty look, "do you REALLY want this?"
"I do."
And with that, Setsuna closes the bedroom door shut.
END FLASHBACK!"And that was that," Setsuna says. "The next day, I left, and a few weeks later, the Moon Princess and…Ranma…moved on. I think they went to Europe on some adventure with the British Secret Service, before returning to Vietnam for yet another mission for the American government."
Haruka and Michiru look at each other, and then at Setsuna.
"What?"
"I believe I know what's bugging you," Haruka says. "You are using your anger towards this Ranma and the Princess to hide your true feelings about them."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"You, my dear, are in love with them," Michiru says.
"N-no, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are! You've been watching them for so long, that you've become emotionally tied to them. And whenever either the Princess or this Ranma does something that you don't like, you feel betrayed."
"She's right, you know," Haruka says. "'Suna, YOU are in love."
"So what if I am?" Setsuna countered. "I can't afford that sort of luxury."
"Regardless of your decision, you need to talk to them," Michiru replies. "If nothing else, this admission could help you clear your mind. Oh, I better get dinner set."
"Yeah," Haruka says, as she and Michiru gets up. "By now, Hotaru is probably starving to death, or something."
As food is being prepared, Setsuna can only recall how the Summer of 1967 was one of the few times she was truly happy. She has much to think about.
Tbc.