Blessed
Prologue
1: Beatitas et Lumina
By
Libby Thomas (libby@bluebellknoll.com)
Based
on characters owned by Rumiko Takahashi and Naoko Takuechi
Series
idea by Little Michi, based on A Duet of Pigtails by Libby Thomas
Tsukino
Usagi looked at her friends for the last time.
tossed
the lunar pen to the floor, her symbol as Sailor Moon.
*We're*
done.
was
no sorrow or tears in her blue eyes, the only emotion now being one of
contained
anger.
genuinely
angry, and the reason for it was as old as anger itself.
"Usako,"
Mamoru said, holding his hand out to her, his eyes filling with
tears.
hurt
you!"
At
his side, her eyes already pouring out her sorrow, Rei couldn't even face
her
closest friend.
occurred,
but the damage was already done, and everything they knew would
suffer
for it.
Behind
them all, a stately distance away, the rest of the Senshi stood,
unbelieving
what was transpiring.
of
the world; the loss of their queen but just as much their closest friend.
To
the majority of the Outers, it wasn't as earth-shattering, but it still
wasn't
good.
only
the destruction of all her plans since time began, but moreso the loss
of
Chibi-usa, the child that had so brought so much joy to her life.
Instinctively,
Rei raced forward, enveloping the blonde pigtailed girl in a
desperate
embrace.
Usagi-chan!
"Let
go of me, you bitch." Usagi's voice was a dark growl, a seething tone
that
was so cold one would have thought she was taking lessons in etiquette
from
Beryl.
"Usagi,
please listen to reason--"
*"I
SAID LET GO OF ME!"*
herself
thrown back several feet, finally to crash painfully against the
tree
in front of the shrine.
standing
there, furious as hell and her fist enveloped in a magic aura.
Usagi,
the Light Messiah, had finally used her magic for the power of force,
had
finally learned what it meant to hate.
*"I
HATE YOU!!!!"* she screamed at Rei, then turned that rage on Mamoru.
*"I
HATE BOTH OF YOU!!!!
BETRAYED
ME!!!
Ginzuisho
appeared in her hand and she made a vow:
known
as Sailor Moon and Princess Serenity--"
Somehow,
Ami knew what was about to happen.
shouted,
pleading.
immediately,
hoping to stop the end of everything they knew.
Undaunted,
Usagi continued.
Sailor
Moon.
continue
to be the keeper of the Ginzuisho, but that power will never again
see
the light of day."
emotion.
At
the completion of her words, there was an explosion of dazzling, blinding
light
and when it ended, Tsukino Usagi was gone.
Sailor
Moon fuku and the lunar pen, abandoned just as she felt all had
abandoned
her.
to
her, crying uncontrollably; Minako hugged her friend for support but it
was
an empty one as she too began to weep.
Makoto,
her own eyes blinking from the sting of tears, looked at Mamoru with
anger
and disgust.
stupidity
caused this.
over
and slapped the man who would someday be the High King, her anger at a
dark
crescendo.
anymore.
Mamoru
took the slap, not really noticing it.
from
his life forever, and it was entirely his fault.
mistake,
and the world will pay for it.
Meanwhile,
Rei found herself staring at the fury of two of the Outers.
Haruka
and Michiru, united as always, looked at Rei with complete hatred.
"Everything
we've accomplished, and you had to go destroy it just because
you
and Mamoru couldn't keep your pants on."
Rei
didn't answer, didn't do anything but look at the space where Usagi had
been,
a landmark to her own selfishness.
Mamoru
that she'd controlled for so long, but in the end, could no longer
contain.
not
caring if he was the intended of her best friend; she wanted him and was
filled
with that insatiable need.
Usagi
had a key to Mamoru's apartment, and when she caught them both in bed,
the
damage had been done.
A
distance from them all, Luna turned to Artemis, her heart breaking.
do
we do now?"
"I
don't know," he admitted, as both cats watched an uncertain future
unfold.
*
* *
"Ranma,
it was an accident," Kasumi said, her eyes filling with tears.
"It's
not like anyone could have expected it."
"I
know," he said, looking at the table, still dressed in the white tang and
pants
of his funeral attire.
left
of the Tendos.
"I
don't know what to say, Ranma-kun, I really don't."
her
brother-in-law and the only one left that she could call family.
funerals
for Soun, Akane, and Nabiki had only ended a couple of hours ago,
leaving
behind Kasumi, Ranma and Ranma and Akane's newborn son, Tokuma.
Tokuma
was mercifully asleep upstairs, sheltered from the pain by his
infancy.
uncertain
future.
The
phone rang, and another voice answered it, female and dulcet in its
tones,
though no less sad.
Please
to wait one second."
gave
Ranma the handset.
Officer
want Ranma and Kasumi come to station to fill workpaper."
former
Chinese Amazon looked at her friend and love with sorrow.
hadn't
seemed so long since she lost to Akane, but found out in the long run
that
friendship with Ranma meant much more, and her love and friendship for
him
was enough to make the so-called Amazon Princess renounce everything.
When
Mousse and her great-grandmother had returned to China, Shampoo
remained
behind, gaining Japanese citizenship and moving in with Ukyo.
she
heard, Mousse had married another girl in the village, and Cologne had
finally
accepted that Shampoo could no longer live the life of an Amazon.
Ranma
nodded, taking the phone.
from
the pair for a second, then turned and headed towards the kitchen,
where
Ukyo and Ryoga were.
Chinese,
following up with, "It so unright.
and
Tendo-san to die."
loss
of her friends.
or
tragedy, but for it to happen now, so close to the bone....
Ukyo
stopped dicing the carrot, then looked at her fiancé for comfort.
and
Ryoga had built a relationship together from the ashes of their loss of
Ranma
and Akane.
their
day of joy had been turned into a hellish nightmare.
sugar,
it isn't fair.
it's
not right that he had to survive the accident, while Nabiki's car was
completely
totaled."
Ryoga
huffed, anger in his eyes.
shoulda
been able to take a crash."
Ukyo
looked at him.
they
could have survived, and if they had, they would've been paralyzed for
life."
Ukyo sighed.
to
get away from Nerima and all its insanity.
it,
and when she first took it for a spin, all the girls had raced off to
Chiba
for a weekend.
natural
about it after a while, as natural as the rest of Nabiki's habits.
But
the events of last Thursday were not by any means natural.
should
have been a routine drive, Nabiki had gone to visit a friend in
Miura,
and had taken her father and sister along.
drunk
driver behind the wheel of a semi on route 16.
into
them just outside of the Taura city limits, and the car spun out of
control,
propelled off its wheels and landing cab-down.
ambulance
arrived on scene, all three were with the ancestors.
Shampoo
peeked outside of the kitchen, watching as Ranma and Kasumi held
each
other, both crying unashamedly.
Genma
and Nodoka came in, each of them just as distraught and there to
comfort
the younger two.
"Not
fair," Shampoo whispered to herself, feeling more helpless than she
ever
had at any time in her life.
her
life in feline form, if it would bring back Akane and the others.
not
fair."
*
* *
Standing
on the shoreline by Kamakura, Usagi looked at the moon in the dark
of
night, surrounded by the stars.
homeland,
something that had been a part of her soul.
mother
(in her previous life) Queen Serenity I, stretching as far back as
their
ancestor, Kaguya, the moon had stood, a pinnacle of civilization.
Even
now it awaited the return of mankind, hoping for a better tomorrow.
((That
tomorrow,)) Usagi thought, ((will never come now.))
the
top of her hair, she pulled on a pair of mother-of-pearl broaches,
undoing
her trademark hairstyle.
of
hair spilled free and poured to a point just past her waist, the way she
would
leave her hair from now on.
in
her hand, she looked at the two articles of her station as Sailor Moon.
((Goodbye,
future.))
could,
the two items plunking into the ocean with little difficulty.
seconds,
the waves swept over the area, and a teary Usagi bid farewell to
the
life of Sailor Moon.
It
then came as a surprise to her as something else went into ocean as well.
She
turned around and found Setsuna lowering her arm from the throw, dressed
in
normal clothing for the first time in a while.
find
you here," the older woman said.
"But
I already did," Usagi told her, crossing her arms.
more
to do with the Senshi."
"Then
you have nothing to fear," Setsuna replied.
I
resigned as Sailor Pluto an hour ago."
she
clarified.
I'm
not prepared to handle it, since I'd been so used to what I knew.
I
can't handle it, I can't be Sailor Pluto.
neglected
my life as Meio Setsuna for so long, I don't know who I am
anymore.
Usagi
nodded, but said nothing, and Setsuna caught the unanswered question.
"The
others will stay.
but
they will survive.
us.
"I
know," Usagi said, reaching forward and embracing her friend, crying for
everything
that she'd lost.
seeing
Setsuna crying as well.
Moon
admitted,
"You'll
know," the dark-skinned woman answered, "you'll find out.
tell
you how or why, and this time it's because I don't know.
find
peace and happiness, I promise."
But
before she did, she commented, "But whatever happens, Usagi, I'll be
there
if you need me, my queen."
"But
I'm no longer a queen," Usagi reminded Setsuna.
Usagi
now."
"Then
you're something more important."
"You're
my friend."
the
younger one on the beach to the caress of the night, and a future filled
with
change, as a shooting star signaled the omens of what was to come.
*
* *
That
same night found Ranma on a dark vigil.
she
was atop the home, bereft, adrift and lonely.
widowed
and the head of a family of three.
Tendo
clan, was in dark spirits, unable to weather the loss of her entire
family.
Looking
up at the sky, Ranma began to pray to the kami.
to
do this properly...I never have...but I hope that my family--especially
Akane--find
peace in the afterlife.
there,
or even if I will, because of my curse.
my
family get some peace."
hopped
off the roof ready to go inside and face yet another night alone in
the
world without her beloved Akane.
Had
the redhaired martial artist looked up, she would have seen a shooting
star
racing across the sky, always a sign that the gods have listened to
what
one of pure heart has to say.
*
* *
Fourteen
months later:
"'...and
the Senshi narrowly escaped another attack by monsters,'" Osaka
Naru
read the day's headline story.
Mercury
apologized for the extensive damage done to the Yokohama Sea Life
park,
saying that the demolition of the rollercoaster was the only way to
cage
the kraken beast long enough to bring enough power to bear.'
"'In
a related incident, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Moon were admitted to the
local
hospital for injuries, where they were released soon later.'"
up
the paper, Naru groaned in disgust.
recently
because of the Senshi."
whatsoever,
and the redhaired woman continued, thinking it to be agreement.
"Think
about it: they used to be heroes, and now they're the laughingstocks
of
all Tokyo.
around
them all the time--Tuxedo Kamen, well he ain't much better!"
The
second person continued to say nothing, merely sitting on the park
bench,
overlooking one particular part of Tokyo Bay.
"Hey,
are you listening to me?"
frustrated.
*very*
different than what you're used to, but c'mon--you've had the same
'do
for years, and this one really makes you look classy!
shouldn't
look like a little girl anymore!"
Usagi
felt her hair for the eighteenth time today, her hand going through
the
space where for the first 21 years of her life was either a long mane of
hair,
or twin ponytails before that.
that
brought out her eyes and made her seem older than she was.
feels...so
different."
"Well,
yeah, it does, doesn't it?" Naru replied, and was rewarded by a smile
from
the blonde.
Usagi
had changed a lot.
had
seen the blonde change into an entirely different person.
now
and working on a college degree in business management, there was little
trace
of the teary, clumsy goofball that she'd been during her teens.
Naru
looked in her best friend's eyes now, there was strength and a sort of
arrogance,
as though Usagi had changed from a crybaby into a queen.
As
for herself, Usagi kept her anger inside.
Senshi
had carried on without her, even finding replacements for Sailors
Moon
and Pluto.
last
time she talked to the former Senshi of Time had been six weeks ago,
when
Setsuna had informed Usagi that she'd met a guy and was considering a
future
with him.
As
for the rest of the Senshi, Usagi saw them every so often, but didn't
speak
to them; through the use of some lunar spells and the personality
changes
that Usagi went through, they didn't recognize her.
left
the Senshi, she began her change; this new hairstyle made it complete.
Her
life as Sailor Moon was nothing but a memory now, the sort of adolescent
dream
that made one wonder if it actually happened at all.
"Well,
it's lunchtime, Naru," Usagi announced.
restaurant
in the mall, and I'm in the mood for some pasta.
me?"
"Sure!"
Naru chirped, as both rose from the bench, headed towards the stairs
that
led to the mall.
*
* *
"Ranma,"
Shampoo said, phrasing her words slowly and deliberately.
course
of the past year, Shampoo had taken language courses to improve her
speech.
Roppongi,
and was even dating someone who worked nearby.
Ukyo
had gotten married, she'd moved into the Tendo-Saotome residence,
easing
life a little for the empty home.
Kasumi's
going to hurt for a very long time."
"Shampoo,
you know as well as I there's nothing we can really do.
happy
about it, but she knew that there was a chance this might happen.
When
Tofu went abroad to take an internship in medicine, he hadn't proposed
to
her; she wanted to wait when he came back.
Ranma
sighed, running his fingers through his mop of hair.
gotten
a letter from Tofu explaining that he was going to remain in Boston
and
open up his own practice--and marry another Japanese woman he'd met
while
studying at Harvard.
down
in tears for the loss of the only man she ever loved.
The
Chinese woman nodded.
can
set her up with, but I'm not sure she'd like that--she needs time to
heal."
Ranma--I'm
sorry!
"'Thoughtless,'
Shampoo."
"That,
too."
memories.
It
did, regardless.
have
to worry--I've adjusted.
and
Kasumi to think about, and they need me.
sister,
right?"
Shampoo
nodded.
for
the weekend, just the four of us.
has
gone on vacation, right?"
explanation
when baby Tokuma, currently seated on Shampoo's lap, gurgled and
followed
nature's answer. "Oh, no...Ranma, your son's a mess again."
Ranma
tried hard not to laugh.
doesn't
he?
where
we can change him," he replied offhandedly.
it's
nearly lunchtime.
restaurant
in the mall."
Shampoo
nodded.
her
old pet name for him still there after all this time, though the meaning
behind
it was more ironic than intentional nowadays.
continued,
had it not been for the sudden scream of terror, only a few feet
away.
held
Ranma's son.
as
he quickly bolted in the direction of the cry, ready to assist at a
moment's
notice.
*
* *
"Okay,
ladies, cough up the dough!"
mask,
brandished the knife in a menacing manner.
toughs,
also in party masks, awaited the spoils.
this
section of the area behind the mall, and as far away as they were from
the
rest of the Tokyo Big Sight complex, there was no indication that anyone
would
be able to aid them in time.
hafta
get hurt."
Standing
her ground with a troubled look on her face, Usagi shielded Naru,
who
was terrified by the whole ordeal.
all,
she'd been in life and death situations before, so what was this in
comparison?--but
was faced with a new dilemma: should she give in, or take
the
advantage and stop them?
she'd
never told Naru, and to reveal it now would be inconvenient, to say
the
least.
One
of the other goons reached in his pocket, pulling out some rope.
I
guess we'll just have to take it out of you the hard way.
wouldn't
mind taking a little something else outta you, too."
his
voice, coupled with his words made it starkly clear what he'd intended,
and
that changed the entire situation.
Behind
her, Naru squealed in fright, her face a mask of complete shock.
Usagi,
however, closed her eyes and prepared a defensive spell; she'd been
working
on changing her lunar magic a lot since her old days, and the
arsenal
of magic she now had at her disposal was more akin to a contemporary
sorceress
than the Senshi of Justice she used to be.
final
cry of panic before passing out to the ground, Usagi began to whisper
the
first stages of a fireball spell, something that would hopefully prove
to
be the method that would allow both women to escape unscathed.
It
proved to be unneeded.
*"GET
AWAY FROM THEM!"*
opened
her eyes and found herself in the face of a protector for the first
time
in years.
different.
dressed
in Chinese clothing, this man moved with the swiftness of a sparrow
and
the agility of an acrobat, throwing punches and kicks with ludicrous
ease.
attention
completely caught up by the man's ballet-like display of martial
prowess.
Her
respect for this man increased as one of the bullies, clearly a martial
artist
in his own right, called up a ball of ki energy and lobbed it at
their
would-be protector.
the
non-magical phenomenon of ki in use before.
expected
was the pigtailed hero blocking it as though it were nothing and
releasing
a strike of his own, the beam of burning red energy far stronger
than
what she'd ever seen before.
knew
that could punch a gouge in a wall.
red
beam, the blast could easily shave the summit off a mountain.
confirmed
that a second later as the blast bored into the man, plowing him
into
the nearest wall, rendering him painfully if mercifully unconscious.
"Hey,
are you two okay?"
sonorous
and kind.
"Yes,
yes it was," Usagi agreed, looking up into his face...and for the
first
time in what seemed like forever, got lost in a pair of eyes.
eyes,
the same color as hers, filled her with a peace and rapture that she
hadn't
felt in a long, long time.
from
somewhere.
she
was sure she would've remembered him somehow if he'd been part of the
distant
past.
As
for Ranma, he found himself somehow powerfully attracted to this young
blonde
woman with blue eyes like his own.
same
haircut as Akane had?
about
her that seemed to echo in his soul, a reverb that seemed older than
time
itself.
Usagi
smiled a bit.
thanks.
unconscious.
her
faint friend.
"Here,
let me help."
to
the nearest bench, some distance away.
and
a bit of awe, at this stranger who had just come to their rescue and did
it
with style.
stirring
that she hadn't felt in a long time, and something that she
honestly
thought she'd never feel again.
being
saved by such a handsome, dashing gentleman, but perhaps it was
something
more.
About
the same time, Shampoo raced up to them, holding Tokuma and looking
around
at the results of the latest Ranmadventure.
invite
me for the fun," Shampoo replied, her lilting voice holding a forlorn
tone.
fun,
you know that?"
((Father?))
Usagi wondered, looking at the Chinese woman carrying the baby.
((He's
married?))
why.
encountering
unfamiliar emotions and darker tones that she'd never known
existed.
"Shampoo,"
Ranma laughed gently, "you're his stable, not-as-wild-as-me aunt.
You're
supposed to set a better example for him than I do."
The
Chinese woman smiled.
The
gods forbid what would happen then, ne?"
((He's
single?)) Usagi caught that like a lifeline, though she was wondering
who
the mother of the child was, if it was his son.
out
later.))
your
debt."
go.
for
reasons she really wasn't sure of.
"No
thanks is needed, really," Ranma said, gazing into her eyes and feeling
a
rush that he hadn't felt in a long time.
"Not
true at all.
lunch,
Mister...?" the blonde asked, hoping for a name to match with the
face
that was busily burning itself into her mind.
"Um,
Ranma.
I
call you?" he grinned, not even realizing that on the face of the former
Amazon,
a knowing smile of her own crept up.
"You
can call me whatever you want," Usagi answered, without thinking.
my
friends call me Usagi.
lunch?"
*
"You
like him, don't you?" Naru asked, seeing the starstruck look on Usagi's
face
for the first time in ages.
"He's
so fabulous," she whispered, her mind fully off in dreamy mode.
the
moment, the pair were on the way back home to the apartment they shared
together
in Suginami ward, and as the JR sped on its way to their
destination,
Naru had to admit, she'd only seen that look on Usagi's face
for
one other person before, and it had been ages since an emotion like that
had
been present in her friend at all.
((She's
in love, and she doesn't know it,)) the redhead thought.
Ranma,
I really hope you're ready to have this chaotic odango-onna in your
life....))
*
"You
like her, don't you?" Shampoo asked, peering over her tea, her familiar
Cheshire
Cat's eyes staring at him, probing for a weakness.
midnight
at the old Saotome-Tendo home, and as become customary, the two old
friends
shared a late-night tea while sitting on the rooftop, gazing at the
stars.
has
the same hairstyle Akane did."
"Shampoo,
it's not like that," Ranma protested, a blush rising to his face.
"It's
just--"
"--you
were looking at her the way I used to wish you looked at me, the way
you
always looked at Akane," Shampoo interrupted.
You're
still a young man, even if you're a father.
find
love again, and considering you have a baby, a new woman in your life
might
end up being Tokuma's mother."
"Funny,
I always thought you hung around because you wanted the slot.
that
I'm offering, mind you, but...."
"Ranma,
I discovered long ago that though I love you, I'm much better off
being
your best friend and confidant instead of your significant other," she
answered,
her eyes containing a hint of sorrow.
are
very happy together, so you lost your chance."
unintended
sting out of her words.
responsibility
to make sure you're happy.
happy,
then go for it.
you."
Ranma
reached over and hugged his friend.
count
on you."
Shampoo
leaned against her old friend, thinking of bygone wishes and present
luck.
you
would."
"That
is?"
"When
you have a girl, I'd suggest Shampoo as a name.
you
know," she said with a laugh.
"Shampoo,
I'm only asking Usagi out for lunch.
with
her."
Shampoo
stared at Ranma, her brown eyes looking deeply into his.
Ranma,
she wants to have your child, even if she doesn't know it yet.
girl
you meet usually does."
*
Two
years later:
In
the darkness of the room, the pair lay under the sheets, holding one
another.
night
in Aoshima.
about
a few things that were going in their relationship, and how to handle
it.
things
that they hadn't during the course of their relationship, deepest
darkest
secrets that the pair had held to themselves.
It
was necessary, Usagi had told him.
time
since the day they first met, and the past two years had been a joy for
them
both.
up
a florist shop near the Osakas' jewelry shop. Situated not too far from
Shampoo's
restaurant, Ranma's "adopted sister", Usagi, and Naru had become
the
best of friends; Usagi and Naru even served as bridesmaids at Shampoo's
wedding
two months ago.
Now,
they themselves were at that precipice.
asked
Usagi to marry him and be a permanent part of his life.
that
verged on tears, Usagi has accepted his troth and was looking forward
to
their union together.
everything
bare, to be honest with each other and hold no secrets back.
Ranma
admitted to Usagi that he and "Tendo Ranko", Kasumi's cousin, were
one
and
the same.
his
curse, he mostly hid it from her, and during their long heart to heart.
Fortunately
as he grew older, the change was becoming less and less, as the
water
magnetism the curse seemed to have all but dissipated; other than the
occasional
rainy day or genuine accident, Ranma mainly stayed male.
However,
just as surprising was her revelation that she, Tsukino Usagi, had
once
been the teenage hero known as Sailor Moon.
Ranma
all of a past that no longer mattered anyway, she merely left out the
details
of the Moon Kingdom and told her fiancé that she left the mantle of
Sailor
Moon behind when she wanted to live a normal life again.
years
since, she never dealt with any of her former teammates, and she had
no
idea who the new Sailor Moon was.
As
she lay asleep in his arms, Ranma gazed at the sparkling ring on her
finger.
he'd
wear.
that
wherever her spirit was, he still loved her and knew she'd be happy he
was
able to move on.
out
to the four winds.
his
soon to be wife on the top of her head, he closed his eyes and went to
sleep.
As
he did, Usagi opened her eyes and smiled.
ever
had Mamoru, ironically.
love
she had for Ranma was stronger because it had been a conscious choice
to
love him.
no
longer be Serenity; it would be Ranma who would be the man she spent
forever
with...
...as
well as the father of her child.
well-toned
stomach.
Though
the wedding would be in four months, five months later would see the
birth
of their daughter.
once
would have been Chibi-usa, a child that would see a far different
future.
((A
different name for a different future, my daughter,)) Usagi thought to
the
tiny life now nestled within her.
world.))
*
Six
and a half years later:
Saotome
Mikome raced around her mother, chirping happily, her long pink hair
tied
into a braid just as her father's was.
expressive
red eyes, she asked, "Mama, when are we going to Aunt Kasumi's
party?
Brushing
her shoulder-length hair, Saotome Usagi, age 29 as of the previous
week,
held a soft smile on her lips.
have
been, a high-speed terror; this time, however, the adult woman that
Usagi
was dealt with it in stride.
tonight,
and Shampoo will be there.
cousin
Akane with her, so you two can play."
had
announced that she and her husband were expecting, the same time as
Ranma
and Usagi made their announcement.
Akane,
something that brought tears to Ranma and Kasumi's eyes; Mitsuhara
Akane
was born five minutes before Mikome had been, and the two girls were
the
best of friends.
Another
voice sounded, and Saotome Tokuma ran into the room, carrying the
phone.
Handing
the receiver to his mother, Tokuma took a second to stick his tongue
at
his little sister, to which she chased after him, mock-angry.
no
attention to this, as she knew it was just a game the two siblings
played.
Turning
her attention to the phone, she said, "Yeah, Shampoo, what's up?"
"'Sagi,
are you sure that Ukyo and Ryoga are on flight twelve?"
distance,
Usagi could hear the sound of airport speakers at Haneda rattling
off
their litany of incoming and outgoing aircraft.
that
it's coming from Sapporo, and that's a little north, you know?"
"Hey,
Shampoo, Ukyo told me flight twelve.
their
other restaurants?"
hometown
after her father died, leaving the pair everything including a
small
family fortune she wasn't aware of.
into
a chain of Ucchan's all over the country.
to
Nerima, and the whole extended family would be reunited, especially in
light
of the good news.
get
beat up by Ranma."
The
blonde could just see the smile on her friend's face.
don't
want him to train you, I could always oblige.
coming
out of the terminal," Shampoo quickly added.
"No
thanks, I've already been through your Amazon regimen once, remember--I
had
bruises for weeks!
Mikome's
already looking forward to spending time with Akane as usual.
to
you all later."
"Ja
ne."
Turning
off the phone, Usagi sighed and grabbed her gi top, tying it on over
her
T-shirt.
something
she both looked forward to and regretted.
they
met, Ranma had insisted that Usagi be able to protect herself, and even
though
he now knew of her secret, he still insisted that she learn defenses
other
than magic.
aid
of magic, she was talented enough to handle herself in a tough spot.
Readying
herself for the inevitable, she went downstairs.
*
* *
Her
kick towards his head missed by a longshot, but even at age 31, Ranma
had
to admit that his wife was better than he thought she'd be.
other
than a seasoned pro, and that snap kick would have dropped an
assailant.
disposal
would teach someone not to mess with the woman who had once been
the
leader of the Sailor Senshi.
Moving
like a blur, Ranma dashed behind her and tackled her from behind,
hugging
her gently.
She
turned and planted a romantic kiss on his lips while still in his arms.
Gazing
at him with bedroom eyes, she asked, "Am I fast enough now?"
"Absolutely,"
he responded, returning the kiss.
the
subject saying, "It's going to be great getting everyone back together
again."
local
medical clinic, owned and operated by Tendo Kasumi, M.D.
her
focus, Ranma urged his sister-in-law to go back to college; the results,
a
decade later, made her the neighborhood doctor and prosperous in more than
one
way; at 33, she'd finally started dating again and her new boyfriend
seemed
charming and wise.
girls
were all gathering for the party down at a private restaurant at
Ariake
Island, while the men would spend a night at the dojo catching up on
old
times.
"It
is, isn't it?" she added with a smile.
to
it, and I know that it's going to be a blast--assuming Mikome doesn't
wear
herself out from the surprise."
the
wall.
to
get ready."
"Want
some company?" Ranma asked suggestively.
"I
think I'll be taking a cold shower," she responded tartly.
safe
and frankly, two children are enough for this house."
after
seeing the disappointed look on her husband's face, she kissed him and
said,
"Well, we could stand to stay in practice.
shower,
and that'll make it hot."
towards
their home and the shower.
To
be continued in
Prologue
2: Girl From Manhattan
Prologue
3: Battleground Shinjuku
and
the main series!
Author's
Notes:
The
concept of Blessed is based on A Duet of Pigtails, and the original
draft
of it is very much (too much!) like the adventures of Saotomes Hikaru
and
Ranma.
friend)
brought it to my attention, we talked about it and decided to work
out
a rewrite of the initial stages of her series.
interesting
that I offered to do up a new prologue for her as well as the
occasional
sidestory.
Where
Duet and Blessed go are two different paths now, and you may see me
putting
in a tale here and there to this series.
see
how two stories with a common origin will end up.
BTW,
for you language buffs out there, the title is Latin for "Blessings and
Light".
