*DISCLAIMER*

None of these characters, situations, places, names, letters or silicon pathways belong to me. In fact, I'm not even writing this fanfic.

Tail Kinker Presents

F L U X

Part Three of Six

The train whistle blew, jolting Usagi out of an already-forgotten nightmare. She sat up stiffly, and stretched, trying to realign joints that had seized up from the punishment of a six-hour train ride.

"Ano..." Rei sat up slowly, holding her head in her hand.

Usagi winced, as a twinge went through her neck. "I feel like hell."

Rei looked up at her blearily, her eyes refusing to focus. "I got news for you, Usagi. You don't look so hot either."

"Gee. Thanks." She glanced out the train window. "We're pulling into the Nerima station now. You wanna wake up the other four?"

"You get Chibi-Usa up; she's had some nightmares. I'll get the other three."

"Nightmares?" Usagi sniffed. "I warned her before we left--"

"Don't. Just...don't." Rei turned away from Usagi and gave Ami a shove.

Usagi sighed. There were some days that you got absolutely no respect at all. And those were the good days. She gently shook Chibi-Usa. "Wake up, sleepy. We're here."

Chibi-Usa rolled over and snorted. Usagi frowned. "Get up, you little spore!"

Chibi-Usa sat bolt upright. "Don't call me that!"

"Knew that'd work." Usagi helped the smaller girl to her feet. "Get your jacket on. We've arrived."

* * * * *

The bell jingled as the door to the Nekohanten opened. Shampoo looked up, to see three young women walk in. She scowled. "What Kitchen Destroyer do here?"

Oddly, it was one of the other girls that answered, a blonde girl with two long pigtails. "Hey! My cooking isn't that bad!"

Shampoo blinked. "Is not Kitchen Destroyer...So sorry! Welcome to Nekohanten, Shampoo take your order, is okay?"

The girl that she had mistaken for Akane - now that she looked closer, she could see that this girl was more slender, and was wearing earrings. Plus, she could never recall Tendo Akane coming to the Nekohanten without Ranma in tow.

Her two companions hung back slightly. One, the girl with the pigtails, was absentmindedly toying with a small brooch pinned to the front of her jacket. The other, a tall girl with long dark hair, looked to have been severely beaten some time in the recent past.

The short-haired girl approached her somewhat nervously, and addressed her in halfway decent, if accented, Cantonese. We are here to speak to the Elder Kuh Lon. We were told we might find her here.

Shampoo raised an eyebrow. Whom may I tell her has come to speak with her?

Mizuno Ami, Tsukino Usagi and Hino Rei.

Wait here, and I will tell her. Shampoo turned and walked out of the room.

"Umm, Ami? What's going on?"

Ami turned to the other two. "She said that she's going to tell Kuh Lon that we're here. Whether or not Kuh Lon chooses to speak to us--"

"Never fear, young one."

Ami turned to face the speaker - a tiny, wizened old woman, balanced on a staff as though it were a pogo stick.

"If you've gone to the trouble to find me, the least I can do is find out why. Eh?"

Ami bowed to her. We went first to--

"Please, feel free to speak Japanese. Not only will it be more comfortable for you, but it's more practise for my great-granddaughter." Kuh Lon pulled out a chair and dropped herself into it. "Now then. How may I be of service?"

Ami looked down at her sneakers. "Well, we went to China, and we--"

"Stop." Kuh Lon raised her hand. "You have been to Jushenkyou, and now are cursed. Am I correct?"

"Well...yes." Ami blinked. "How did you know?"

"Well, if you've been to China, and are now looking for the only Elder with direct knowledge of the Cursed Springs..."

"Ah." Ami nodded. "Yes. We're looking for a way to get rid of the curse, and the guide there told us that the Amazon Village had most of the information on the springs. We went there, and they told us to come here to find you."

"Obviously," said Kuh Lon, glancing over at Rei, "they did not simply give this information away."

"True."

"Well, it is true that I know many ways to stop the action of the Curse. As far as I know, there is no direct cure for the Curse itself; the best that can be managed is control of the change itself. But again, this information is not simply to be given away."

Ami gulped. "What do we have to do?"

Kuh Lon chuckled. "It's very simple, actually. I take it that the three of you are rather skilled fighters?"

"Well, yes..." Ami sighed. "Rei had to fight one of your warriors before they'd even tell us where you were."

"I can see that. Obviously she heals quickly." Kuh Lon drew a puff from her pipe and looked the threesome over. "There is a certain individual in this town, an arrogant young martial artist who has caused problems for many of us. Primarily, he is a sexist. To be defeated in battle by a woman may take some of the air out of his sails. Do this, and I will give you a means to control the Curse."

"Woah!" Usagi stepped forward. "I don't like this at all! Beat up a guy? Just for a cure for the curses? That's totally against everything we stand for!"

Kuh Lon glared at her. "There is no other way for you to get the cure. Are you prepared to discard that for your own values?"

"Sometimes values require a sacrifice!"

"Shut up, Usagi. You ain't cursed." Rei cracked her knuckles. "Besides, if he's that much of a sexist, he needs a good beating. Maybe all five of us should gang up on him!"

"Five?" Kuh Lon looked closer at Usagi. "You do look familiar..."

"Uh-oh..."

Kuh Lon's eyes widened. "Your aura shows you to be of the Silver Millenium. You are one of the Senshi!"

"Uh...You must be mistaken..."

"No, I don't think so." Kuh Lon smiled. "I suppose it shall be easy work for you to defeat Ranma."

"I guess so..."

Kuh Lon turned back to Rei. "I am afraid that you will be unable to simply attack Ranma all at once. I would not accept that as a worthy victory. You must attack him one-on-one. It is the most honourable approach."

Rei sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that." She bowed. "Thanks for the offer. I'll take it to the others and see what they say."

Usagi smacked Rei arm. "That's my job!"

"Cope."

* * * * *

"I hate to say it, but she's got us over a barrel."

Usagi chewed idly on one of her ponytails. "What I'd like to know is how she knew who we were. I mean, she just glanced at me, and knew we were Sailor Senshi."

Rei sighed. "She just looked at our auras."

"Oh, I'm sure that tells you everything you need to know, Miss Fortune Teller." Usagi jumped up and began to pace. "How about explaining it for us mere mortals?"

"I've tried explaining it to you, Usagi. You're just too dense to figure it out!"

"Guys..."

The two ignored Ami. Rei stepped up, a finger pointed at Usagi. "I can't even begin to imagine how you've survived all this time. And as leader, yet!"

"Guys..."

"Oh, sure, Rei. Like you'd do any better. 'Oh, there's a new threat in town. Guess I should do a fire reading about it.' As opposed to, say, just going out and looking at it."

"Guys..."

"Better to not expose yourself to danger until neccessary. Though to watch you in action, you'd swear it was never neccessary."

"GUYS!"

The two whirled to face Ami. Simultaneously, they yelled, "What?"

Ami simply pointed...at the young man who was staring at them in confusion. The gentleman in question was dressed rather oddly - a traditional kendoist's garb and sandals, with a bokuto in hand.

The man took a tentative step towards them. "Mine eyes do deceive the mind, for it seems that before me, I do see Tendo Akane. Yet, to hear her speak, it is obvious that it is not so. For certainly, was Tendo Akane ever the assertive, strong and even temperamental woman. Whereas you, lovely lady, are quiet and demure."

The three blinked. Finally, Usagi managed to find her voice. "Uh...who exactly are you referring to?"

The kendoist pointed his bokuto at Ami. "Why, to this vision of loveliness, almost the equal of my love, Tendo Akane."

"And what's wrong with us?"

Kuno blinked. "Certainly, you are both fair to behold - you, with your pale hair of such amazing length, and you, raven-tressed and obviously healthy."

"That's better." Usagi sniffed.

"You three are perhaps newly arrived in Nerima? For certainly, if you were long-term residents, you would have heard of Tendo Akane. As well as my illustrious self."

Usagi nodded. "Actually, we're looking for a guy called Saotome..."

"Saotome!" The kendoist's countenance darkened. "That fiend! The ebon sorceror who has enslaved both Tendo Akane and the Pigtailed Girl!"

"Ummm..." Rei stepped forward. "Tell us more."

"The foul demon in human form is a shape-changing demon, who has trapped the fair Tendo Akane in a sham of an engagement, quite against her will! He holds the Pigtailed Girl in some form of dark magical bondage, that grants him total control over her mind, body and soul! He has employed his ebon arts against not only myself, but several others in this fair city!"

Usagi nudged Rei. "I guess we got our justification for taking him out, eh? In fact, sounds like he's right up our alley."

Rei nodded, then addressed the kendoist. "Okay, pal. Where can we find this Saotome guy?"

* * * * *

Sailor Mercury flipped open her computer and began scanning the house before her. From her vantage point in the tree, it was unlikely that she'd be noticed.

She glanced over her shoulder, to see Sailor Mars on the roof of a nearby building. In case things got ugly, at least she'd have some backup. But Makoto had pointed out that while possibly two of them could hide in the neighbourhood, six was probably out of the question.

From within the house, a male voice could be heard: "Ah, come on, Akane! I told you, your cooking has really improved!"

Mercury locked onto all the life-forms in the house, and began scanning for Saotome. There was only one male in the house of the right age group - the one currently speaking. There was also one negative energy trace.

Oddly, they were not the same person.

The voice continued. "After all, it used to be so bad that even a hog would refuse to eat it. But Ryouga was sucking it down like there's--"

"Ranma no baka!" A new voice, female this time. There was a loud *THUMP*, and Saotome - or at least she assumed it was he - came sailing out of the house and smacked into the boundary wall.

Mercury's eyes bugged. ~There's no way he could have survived that!~

But, the young man peeled himself off of the wall, and shook himself once. Mercury scanned him quickly, and was amazed to see that, aside from a nasty bruise, he was completely uninjured. And the bruise wasn't from impacting the wall.

A young woman stepped out of the house, a large mallet in one hand. Mercury boggled again - the woman was a dead ringer for herself!

~This must be that Akane girl that everyone's been mistaking me for.~

Below her, Ranma was rubbing his jaw. "Jeez, Akane. What are ya tryin' to do? Kill me?"

Akane appeared to be quite upset. "That's the general idea!" She swung the mallet at him, and he hopped over the blow. Mercury suddenly realized that the swing was going to hit--

*WHAM*

"Oof!"

Ranma and Akane blinked, as Sailor Mercury fell at their feet.

Akane was the first to recover. "Hey, you! Who are you, and what are you doing in our yard?"

"Ummm..." Mercury picked herself up off the ground. "It's rather difficult to explain..."

Akane glared at Ranma, who held up his hands. "Hey, Akane, if she's another fiancee, then I don't know nothin' about it, okay? Talk to Pops, not me."

"I'm not..." Mercury paused. *Another* fiancee? She idly wondered how many he had, then shook her head and started again. "I'm actually here to...to challenge Ranma Saotome."

Ranma looked at her oddly. "Sorry. I don't hit girls."

Mercury scowled at him. "That's a rather chauvanistic attitude, you know."

Ranma shrugged. "Besides, you're not a martial artist. I don't gotta accept challenges from someone who don't know what they're doin'."

Mercury's scowl deepened. "You...you arrogant pig!"

Akane wordlessly handed her a mallet. Mercury ignored her, and took a step towards Ranma.

Ranma took a step back. "Now, wait a minute--"

"Shabon Spray!"

*SPLASH*

A female and very annoyed Ranma glared at the Sailor Senshi.

Mercury blinked. "You--"

"Fine. I'll fight you." Ranma took a step forward.

"Wait!"

But Ranma wasn't listening. He - now she - launched a powerful kick at Mercury, who was hard pressed to get out of the way in time. Mercury jumped up to the top of the perimeter wall.

Ranma shifted to an odd stance, hands cupped together. "Mouko Takabisha!"

The energy blast caught Sailor Mercury in the gut, tossing her over the wall, and over the next building. On the roof of that building, Sailor Mars watched her fly. She hesitated long enough to make sure that Mercury was going to land safely, then leapt into the Tendo compound.

"All right, you creep. It's my turn!"

She glanced around, and completely failed to find a teenage male.

The red-headed girl groaned. "Not another one."

Mars looked closer at the girl. Red hair, pigtail, chinese clothing..."You must be Saotome Ranko."

The girl eyed her warily. "And you would be?"

Mars drew herself tall. "I am Sailor Mars, warrior of love and justice!"

The darker hair girl smacked a fist into an open palm. "I knew I recognized that other girl! You're the Sailor Senshi, right?"

"Yes. And I'm looking for Saotome Ranma." She looked back to the redhead. "Where can I find him?"

"Another challenge?" The girl shifted into a combat stance. "Bring it on!"

"Ummm...I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to fight Ranma." She darkened. "He's an enemy of all women..."

"ARRGH! Where do you people get your ideas? From listening to Kuno?" The redhead threw a kick at her. She blocked it, and scowled at the girl.

"Look, kid. Don't mess with me, or you're gonna get hurt."

"Mouko Takabisha!"

Mars was a little more alert than Mercury, and dodged the ki blast with room to spare. She scowled at the girl. "So you're the one who blasted Mercury. Guess I underestimated you."

"No kiddin'." The redhead smirked. "Ain't nobody who can defeat Saotome Ranma."

"Well, as soon as I find him, we'll test that theory. Mars Firebird Strike!"

The Firebird formed before her, and she was about to launch her attack...when she realized the redhead was laughing.

"Oh, this is too easy!"

Mars scowled, and launched the Firebird at the redhead. The girl dodged to the left, but the Firebird followed her. Mars smirked; the Firebird was homing, and would follow the girl wherever she ran.

In fact, the girl was now moving at a full tilt run, moving in a big circle around her. She paused. No, not a circle. A spiral, closing on her...

The dark haired girl yelled at the redhead. "Ranma! Not in here, you'll wreck--"

"Hiryuu Shouten Ha!"

A massive blast of wind flipped Sailor Mars into the air. Unable to stop herself from rising, she instead concentrated on minimizing the damage on impact.

~That pond in their yard will help...it's my best bet.~

Just as she reached the peak of her arc, she realized that the youth below must certainly be Ranma, even though she was...well, a she.

~Oh, well. Gender bending is hardly a new thing, anyway.~

And perhaps half a second before impact, she remembered her curse...

*SPLASH*

Ranma stared down at the annoyed hawk struggling to free itself from the pond. "Uh, Akane..."

"I see it, Ranma." Akane walked up and lifted the bird out of the pond. "You want me to get some hot water for her?"

"Are you nuts? She'll just start flinging fireballs again. Leave her as she is."

"That's not at all nice, Ranma! Perhaps if she agrees not to attack you when we change her back..."

The hawk, which was lying dejectedly in Akane's hands, nodded once. Ranma sighed. "Fine. You take her into the bathroom and change her back. No need for her to have another reason to attack me."

* * * * *

"So why exactly were you two attacking me?"

Rei, now back in human form and wearing one of Akane's gis, sipped her tea before answering. Ranma had also shifted back to his normal form, and was seated across from her. On the couch were Akane and her older sister, Kasumi.

"We were in China, hunting a demon, and some of us fell into springs at Jushenkyou. The Amazon Elder Cologne told us she could cure the curses, if we defeat you in combat."

"Huh?" Ranma scratched his head. "Maybe she's got a stash of Nyannichuan water we don't know about." He shrugged. "But why defeat me?"

"I don't know. She said it was to cure your being a sexist, but I don't think that's her real reason."

Akane snorted. "Probably just some scheme to get Ranma to marry that Chinese bimbo, Shampoo."

Rei smirked. "At least we know to ignore that idiot Kuno now. I *thought* his answers didn't make a whole lot of sense."

"Yeah. That's Kuno, all right."

She stood. "Thank you, Akane, for lending me the clothes. I'll get them back to you tomorrow. But I have to go."

"Waitaminute!" Ranma jumped to his feet. "You're coming back?"

"Not to fight. But more of the Senshi will be coming." She sighed. "You might not be the villain you were painted to be, but you're still the only obstacle between us and a cure."

"Right. That I can understand." Ranma nodded. "Tell your friends to bring it on."

"Oh, my!" Kasumi's hand flew to her mouth. "Ranma, I thought you never hit girls? Akane always complains that you never take her seriously."

"Well, these girls are different." Open mouth, insert foot. "They can take care of themselves."

"Ranma..." The mallet appeared out of nowhere, and Ranma took a short, but not entirely unexpected, nap.

Rei winced. "Now that, he had coming."

* * * * *

Author's notes:

Comments and Criticism can be sent to tailkinker@home.com.