Savior

by Michael Fetter

Ranma seeks to avenge the world that had been lost.

3. chapter three

Disclaimer: Um . . . look over there!

. . .

All right. I think the owners of Ranma 1/2, Tenchi Muyo, Sailor Moon, and Dragonball Z are gone. This is another one of my fun fanfics. Enjoy.

Savior

Chapter Three

By Michael Fetter

Life wasn't just training and eating at the Masaki Shrine. Since Ranko had been talked into allowing schooling for a few hours a day, there was also sleep. Washuu and Setsunna did their best, but people like Ranma and Ryouga just couldn't muster the interest for school after witnessing the huge leap in their power levels since training began. Others thought of it as rest time between morning and afternoon training.

Then, of course, there was Ami and Akane, who were given dark glares when they received good marks for their exams. Apparently the grades they received here would be placed in their actual high school grade report.

Sasami would sit in on these classes as well since she was still young and Auntie Saotome insisted.

It was nice having Auntie around. Sasami had more time to do other things and pick up the chores that Tenchi could not get to anymore. Ranko couldn't turn everything into training after all.

Sitting beside the garden, Sasami reached out to a withering brown plant. "Oh, poor little guys. You've been neglected since Tenchi-niichan has had to start training with Meiou-san." She plucked it out and frowned at the shriveled carrot. "I wish there was something I could do, but I'm pretty busy too." Sasami tossed it away and placed her hand on the ground and considered. "Maybe Mihoshi or Ayeka could help?"

Humming, Sasami collected the empty basket and headed for the house.
"Hmm." From another direction, the universe's greatest scientific genius wandered into the area following a beep from her portable scanner. "That strange signal is coming from here somewhere." Washuu glanced about the carrot patch for something out of place. Her eyes eventually settled upon a hand print in the soil. "Hello, what have we here?" From the very center of the print a little green stalk was slowly worming its way to the sun. Washuu tried examining more closely and smirked to herself. "Interesting. You're going to be my little guinea pig, okay? Okay!"

Opening a convenient hole in the universe, Washuu transplanted the strange weed into her lab and jumped in after it, cackling.

"Miyah?" Ryo-oh-ki shrugged, her hunt for the perfect carrot a total bust.

*~*~*

Several days later, a young man entered the area. Mamoru looked about the peaceful area and thought it must be a nice place for a shrine. So peaceful. He made it to the door and knocked. "Hello? Anyone here?"

The door opened after a few quiet moments and an older woman with dark red hair and flower-print kimono greeted him. "Good afternoon. Can I help you, young man?"

Who did she remind him of? Mamoru bowed. "Yeah. I'm looking for Usagi. I was told she'd be here."

The woman smiled and bowed back. "Oh, yes. I think she and her friends are training up by the shrine today. My name is Nodoka Saotome."

"Mamoru Chiba. A pleasure."

Smiling wider, Nodoka started leading Mamoru through the house. It was quiet during the mornings when everyone was up at the shrine for more space. "Such a nice young man. I see why Usagi-chan talks about you so much. I'll take you to her."

"Thank you," Mamoru answered a little embarrassed. Knowing Usagi she probably talked the poor lady's ear off about her 'Mamo-chan'. It wasn't bad really. It was just the way Usagi was.

The walk ended up being longer than he thought it would be. There were a lot of steps leading up to the shrine. When he reached the courtyard his legs hurt a little, but the woman was still calm, having traveled the distance many times before. Mamoru could hardly believe it when he looked around and found his girlfriend leaping about the area more gracefully than she could as Sailor Moon. "Usagi?"

Usagi paused in mid air and made a small turn to see who had called her. "Oh, hi, Mamo-chan!" She landed easily on her hands and rolled forward onto her feet. Usagi popped up right in front of Mamoru and hugged him tightly. "Are you on break?"

Still stunned, Mamoru was a little slow in responding. "Yeah. I've got the week off before I have to go back." He kissed her on the cheek and smiled, obviously impressed with whomever had turned his goose into a swan. "What were you doing? It was beautiful."

Usage grinned broadly. "Like it? Meiou-sensei has been teaching us a whole lot. I'm really strong now and not such a big klutz neither!"

Mamoru nodded. "Where is your amazing sensei. I should congratulate her on her achievement."

"Mamo-chan!" Usagi tried to look upset, but she was too happy to see him again. Instead she slapped his shoulder playfully.

Grabbing her around the shoulders, Mamoru hugged her again. "Do you have some time off, Usagi. I thought we could go out tonight."

The blonde squealed and jumped giddily. "Sure! Let me just get MEIOU-SENSEI!"

Mamoru winced and cleaned out his ears when they began to ring.

A moment later a woman surrounded in white flames dropped from the sky slowly. Ranko looked at Mamoru and Nodoka and then Usagi. "You bellowed?"

Licking his dry lips, Mamoru stared incredulously at the redhead. "She-she . . . did she . . . just fly?"

Usagi ignored him and presented her most adorable expression she could. "Can I get the rest of the weekend off? Mamo-chan just got some free time and we were-"

"No," Ranko answered sharply with a frown. "Usagi, you and the other Scouts aren't strong enough yet to think of taking some time off."

Adding a sparkle to her eyes, Usagi leaned in closer. No one had ever resister her before. "But we've been working so hard. Don't you think we deserve a break?"

Ranko looked ready to gag, but then she grinned. "All right. I'll let you go if you can beat me."

Usagi's cuteness was cut off abruptly and she took a step back. That had not been a nice grin at all. "What?"

A little disapproval in her voice, Nodoka tried to get between the girls. "Ranko-chan, I'm sure it-"

Ranko pushed Nodoka aside and stared at the blonde. "Let's go, Tsukino."

Fear entering her eyes, Usagi shook her head and tried to hide behind a nervous Mamoru. "B-But I don't want to fight you."

Ranko stood up straight and shrugged. "Then you don't go."

Others had been drawn to the area when Usagi had bellowed before. Now the group of fighters was grumbling protests. None of them wanted to speak out against their sensei, but they did find this a little unfair. One who had been getting the most advanced training in the group stood forward. "Ranko, we are not at war yet. Usagi and the rest are young and should enjoy the peace while they can."

Ranko frowned at the purple-haired woman. "This is a bad idea, Cologne." They stared at each other in the eyes and Ranko's frown deepened. Even if she were training the youthenized old woman, Cologne still had more experience with training fighters. Ranko studied the others and curled her lip with distaste. "Is this how the rest of you feel? Do you want a vacation and take the result of such selfishness?"

Yosho stood beside Cologne with his bokken resting against his shoulder. "A perfect warrior is at balance with himself and the world around him. The children have been put under a lot stress since this began."

Many of the others agreed with him, mainly the Sailor Scouts. The real martial artists were indifferent considering they lived for becoming stronger.

Ranma too shrugged, speaking with a purr, "I'm good."

Akane elbowed the boy in the ribs. "Baka."

"Fine." Glaring at this weakness, Ranko snorted and waved her hand in dismissal. "And when the world comes to an end, don't come whining to me." She disappeared into the woods to continue her training.

Sighing, Cologne noted the guilty looks of those around her. She gestured for them to leave. "I think that will be it for today. I'm going to talk with Ranko."

The group felt bad about the whole thing, but they did need a break. Most of them decided that they'd be able to work even harder after a little rest and Ranko-sensei wouldn't be disappointed. It was their world she was trying to help them save. A world she had already seen lost.

Slowly they trickled down the mountainside and made plans for their vacation.

Cologne tried to understand where her friend was coming from when she blew up at the group. Having been a matriarch of the Amazons for almost two hundred years, Cologne knew there were ways in which a leader should not act in front of a team. Ranko's inability to compromise could push people away. It may come to a point that they may not want to save their world if it meant putting up with her.

Then there was the obvious disgust Ranko had shown for the group. How did she plan to save those she hated?

Finding Ranko wasn't very hard. Cologne only had to follow the small trail of overturned trees and shattered boulders to find the redhead being cradled by Sailor Pluto.

Ranko buried her head in Setsunna's chest to hide her face. "Don't they care? This is their only chance and they want to dash it all away for ice cream?"

Patting the redhead's back, Setsunna tried to soothe her. "They aren't the only ones that could use a vacation, Ranko-chan. It might do you some good to relax, clear your mind."

Cologne smiled sadly. So, Ranko cared after all. It was impossible for Cologne to completely understand where Ranko's emotions were coming from, but she understood the why a little better now.

Ranko's shoulders sagged and her arms held Setsunna close. "Maybe."

*~*~*

With her spirit recharged, Akane jumped out of the Masaki home and called back towards the door. "Come on, you guys. I haven't been to Shinjuku in a long time. You'll love it."

Akane was all smiles when the proposal for a vacation was made. She did like the training, but she was also starting to feel out of touch with the world. She'd almost forgotten what it was like to wear something other than a gi. The yellow sundress felt almost elegant to her now.

"I'm not surrre," Ranma said uncertainly as he followed at a slower pace, wearing his usual Chinese shirt and black pants. He didn't spend much time in cities and going out to buy useless things didn't sound that fun to him. Probably a girl thing he decided. Still, his mother said it would be manly for him to escort Akane around.

The others walked out of the house a second later. Most had gone off on their own, but the Amazons, having little experience in Japan, decided to accompany Ranma and Akane. Though it was supposed to be a vacation, the two stubbornly refused to change out of their usual attire just as Ranma did. Hopefully Mousse and Shampoo wouldn't have problems with gate security at the train station.

Pouting, but following, Shampoo crossed her arms and walked alongside of Mousse. The vacation had been an order from her great grandmother; otherwise she'd be training right now. "Shampoo want be stronger, but must not tire self out."

Mousse was a little more pleased with the outing, though he had to restrain himself from putting an arm around Shampoo. "Yes. Meiou-sensei has done very well in teaching us, but a little break will help too. Washuu-chan tells me that Ranko-sensei has been talked into giving us the weekends from now on as time off."

Ranma shrugged. He'd likely stay behind most of the time and train or spar with his training partners. Frowning, he looked about the area hoping to spot his fanged friend. "What about Rrryouga?"

Chuckling, Mousse grinned at Ranma. "I think I saw Hibiki being dragged off by young Hotaru."

Shampoo smiled. "Hotaru too too possessive, yes?"

The group laughed as they remembered various scenes with Hotaru leading the older boy around by the hand. His face was always red from embarrassment, whether it is from the girl's forward attitude or Hotaru's adoptive parents spying on him.

The voices died down as they left the area and disappeared down the mountain. Ranko sat atop the roof watching them all go. Her emotions had been tucked away once again and she took the event in impassively.

"And there they go," she muttered. Even Nodoka and Nobuyuki had taken off.

Standing beside her were Washuu and Cologne, both of who were more focused on the problem and have lived long enough to not need anymore of this growing up. Cologne glanced down at the redhead and then back to the blue horizon. "What will you be doing in this short respite?"

Ranko sighed and stretched out her back tiredly. "I'll go train on my own."

Catching a bit of frustration, Washuu-chan tried to distract her friend's mind. The past few months Ranko had gained very little in power from all of her training. "You could help me test a few of the things I've come up with to fight the Saiyajins."

"You've developed something?" Cologne asked. She was the most advanced of Ranko's students, but even she could use a little help to even fight Ranko effectively. Washuu had done some impressive things with her science in the time Cologne had come here and was interested in anything she had to offer.

Washuu's smile became hesitant. "Yes. Although shooting the transport is nearly impossible at the speed they will be entering the solar system I have a few cannons set up. Maybe we'll get lucky." She reached into a subspace pocket and removed a black bodysuit. Washuu had moved faster on their creation after the fifth time Michiru had come to her with a complaint about Haruka's distraction. Apparently Ranko's bodysuit was beginning to show signs of wear and tear. "I've replicated that material you use for armor, Ranko. I'll have enough for each of the fighters without a magical defense."

The redhead nodded once feeling the material and testing its strength. "That'll be something."

"I have some ideas for amplifying your ki blasts through a solenoid reactor, but I'll need you to test them. They might be able to boost the effects ten times, hopefully."

Ranko nodded indifferently. She hadn't looked at either of the two women since the conversation had started and they wondered where her mind might be.

Cologne could see a person with heavy thoughts and knew Ranko truly did need a break and a chance to forget things for a while. Catching Washuu's eye, Cologne grabbed Ranko's arm and lifted the girl to her feet. "Why don't you show me around Japan while Washuu-chan doesn't need your help?"

Washuu nodded encouragingly. "Oh yes. I don't think I'll be ready to get started for a little while. Have fun!"

Cologne smiled as Washuu disappeared and stared into her friend's melancholy eyes. Ranko lived in a past that was not theirs and it would be a long time before she joined them in the present.

*~*~*

Most of the children began returning to the shrine at the end of the week. Ranko was there sitting across a Go board playing against Washuu and losing. She was thankful for the distractions the others caused.

Definitely a better interruption than watching Luna getting jealous over Ryo-oh-ki spending time with Artemis. That's just kind of creepy.

The front door opened and Nodoka returned with Sasami, a balloon tied around the girl's wrist.

Ranko glanced their way and then back to the board. "Where did you two head off to?"

Sasami gushed and hopped onto the couch beside the others. "Auntie took me to a carnival. It was lots of fun! We got cotton candy, went on rides, and saw a haunted house. It was great!"

Cologne smiled at the girl. Children in the Amazon village were not so bright and cheerful and it made Cologne feel good to be here. She and Ranko had flown around Japan and ended up spending most of their time at the beach. Cologne had been slightly flustered by the amount of attention she was getting from men again.

"Has my son returned yet?" asked Nodoka after setting down a stuffed, pink bear Sasami must have won at a carnival game.

Ranko nodded. "He and Akane went out again."

"So manly."

An explosion interrupted Ranko's move on the Go board and she frowned at the back yard. The others looked at her questioningly.

Washuu frowned as well and answered for Ranko. "Shampoo had some argument with Akane and started training on her own. She's been testing out my Ki-cannon for me."

The Amazon entered the room then, lovingly stroking the strange armband on her lift wrist. "Aiyah. Shampoo strong, yes?" She of course said this straight to Ranko.

The redhead snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. "You think that impresses me? A really warrior doesn't depend on tools to fight their battles."

Shampoo snarled and clenched her fists. Her mind returned to the argument with Akane over who was the best martial artist. Her face colored at how easily Akane had knocked Shampoo across the room without even trying. "Shampoo Amazon! Amazon warrior strongest in world! Shampoo not lose to silly girl again!"

"Yes, you said that before," Ranko sneered and glared at the girl. She really wished Ranma and Ryouga had let the Amazon drown on the swim to Japan.

Forestalling her great-granddaughter, Cologne examined Ranko closely. "The one from your time?"

Ranko ignored the others to glare at Shampoo. She felt herself losing control of her anger and needed release. "You want to know why I don't like you, Shampoo? I'll tell you." Ranko glowered when the girl began to back off. "Back in my time you and Akane were fighting over Ranma for a husband. When the war started you both tried to prove you were the better fighter. At the time you were stronger because Akane hadn't trained seriously in years. Then one day you were captured by invasion forces. Akane and a friend risked their lives to go in after you. When they got you out, you struck them while they were resting. Cut their Achilles tendon and let the invasion capture them." Ranko's eyes misted, but she blinked them clear again. "Akane wasn't willing to go without a fight so they killed her. I don't know what happened to her friend."

Shampoo wasn't sure if she wanted to press further, but she couldn't believe she would be so cowardly. The others were already staring at her with a frown though. "How you know? Why you not save?"

Ranko looked away. "I was too late. They kept me off until the Saiyajins came."

Her face turned cold. Shampoo shivered at her penetrating gaze. "You were so happy you told your 'airen' about how you made sure those girls wouldn't get in the way anymore." Ranko began to grin like a predator. "He ripped off your clothes, dragged you to one of the enemy bases, and left you there. I remember you screaming for days before they took you off-world."

Fighting off tears, Shampoo shook her head violently. "Shampoo not do that. Shampoo not coward. Not do that!"

Ranko cocked her head to one side and considered. "You don't seem very different from her to me."

Bottom lip quivering, Shampoo tore off the Ki-cannon and tossed it to the ground before running away. Ranko watched for a moment then turned away, uncaring. The others looked uncomfortable, but she was too busy with her own thoughts.

Cologne eventually stood up. "I should go talk to her."

The room was again silent.

The stone in Ranko's hand clicked against the board. It was Washuu's turn. Ayeka walked into the living room and frowned.

"Where is she? I just know that dirty Ryouko is doing something with my Tenchi," Ayeka muttered darkly.

Still a little angry, Ranko glared at the princess. "Why not, Ayeka? She is carrying his child."

Ayeka huffed and stomped off to a different room.

Washuu arched an eyebrow. "Feeling confrontational today?"

"You did want me to relax," Ranko replied.

"I was thinking eating ice cream and watching movies."

Ranko didn't want to relax. After fighting for so many years, this bit of peace was beginning to put the redhead on edge.

The front door opened again and Akane entered the house with her hand in Ranma's. "Hi, Meiou-sensei."

Ranko glanced up to see Mu Tsu and the Outer Scouts with them. Akane was wearing a black skirt and blue sweater. "You seem chipper."

Mu Tsu chuckled at Ranma's nervous stuttering. Akane refused to let go of his hand. "We went ice skating and they got into a fight with someone called the Golden Pair."

"Ranma screamed that Akane was his girlfrrrrriend when Mikado Senazin tried to kiss her," Haruka chuckled when she rolled her 'r' the way Ranma would.

"It was very sweet," Michiru added.

"Then it got brutal," said Akane.

Ranko looked at Ranma in surprise. "You know how to skate?"

Before Ranma could answer, Akane jabbed him in the ribs with a glare. "Not really. He just flew very close to the surface to make it look like it though."

"It worrrked," Ranma shrugged.

Haruka smirked and leaned in close. "Rrright."

"Good forrr you," Mu Tsu stuck out his tongue.

Ranma stared at the floor and pouted. "Jerrrrks." The group chuckled and his face flushed further.

He was saved from further embarrassment as more people arrived at the shrine. They could all hear Ryo-oh-ki's distinctive meow as she entered the yard.

"Oh, carry me over the threshold, husband!"

"Ryouko," Tenchi whined, but he strolled into the room with a pregnant Ryouko lying contentedly in his arms. People stared at the white dress and tuxedo with raised eyebrows. Tenchi chuckled nervously. "Uh, hi everyone."

"Miyah!" Ryo-oh-ki announced, bounding into Sasami's lap.

Washuu smiled winsomely. "You got married?"

Tenchi blushed, but held his wife tighter to his chest. His voice nearly cracked several times. "Ryouko wanted to go to Las Vegas and well. . ."

"NOOOOO!"

Ryouko rolled her head to find Ayeka by the stairs and held out her hand with the big sparkly rock on her finger. "See it and weep, princess."

Tenchi winced and found himself awkwardly trying to hold off Ayeka's attacks and carrying Ryouko up to her bedroom.

Washuu shook her head and put down her last stone, winning the game. "I should probably make a honeymoon room, or they'll keep us up from now on."

Ranko smiled for a moment, but then it faded away as the past resurfaced in her thoughts. The marriage wouldn't last and she knew it. Death severed all ties. The war had taught Ranko, if nothing else, that nothing was forever.

Suddenly walking by the back door seemingly at random, Hotaru trailed after Ryouga dressed in a bikini with a towel thrown over her shoulder. "I thought we were going to the beach, Ryouga-kun."

"It's around here somewhere, Hotaru-chan." Ryouga insisted, big sweating when he ran into Haruka and Michiru at the porch.

*~*~*

For months he had searched. To be separated form his one true love had driven Tatewaki to near madness until he had finally given in to Nabiki's price. It was high, but to only glimpse upon his fierce tigress, Akane Tendou, once more would be worth any price.

Now he stood at the base of a shrine. No doubt the demons that had captured her thought to avoid detection by the gods in tainting this holy place. Pulling his bokken free, Tatewaki jeered at the empty path. "So, vile cur. You seek to hide my fierce tigress in the woods?! The Blue Thunder shall end thy plots to keep me from my heart!"

Thunder crackled in the distance.

Up near the house, Ranma's ear twitched and he looked about the area. "You hearrrr something?" he asked Akane sitting beside him.

She looked up quickly to the house with hope. "Is it Ryouko?!"

Not long after her marriage to Tenchi, Ryouko was ready to give birth to her child. Nothing had been said about the baby to keep it a surprise.

Over the many months of training, each of the fighters had come to know one another as friends and family. Ranko had even called off the day's training for the latest arrival. Although, she had distanced herself from the group once again and it made many of them wonder what Ranko was thinking.

Ranko glanced up to the clear sky, lost in thought. Something about the timeframe of their upcoming battle distracted her. "Didn't something happen around this time?"

The house suddenly exploded with voices as Washuu opened her lab door. She stood proudly in her adult form with an infant wrapped up in her arms. Several girls squealed and cooed at the sight of the precious child.

"It's a girl!" Washuu proclaimed. The infant rested despite all of the faces trying to get a look at her.

Akane smiled brightly and held onto Ranma's hand, making him blush. She sighed happily at the baby and then looked over at Ranko. "Aren't you going to look, sensei?"

Ranko waved her hand dismissively. "I remember her."

"She's so cute!" Usagi gushed, sparkles in her eyes.

Minako poked at the child. "Look at those little hands!"

The infant grabbed the finger lightly and brought a response from all. "Awww!"

Ranma stared at the child for a moment. He knew that human babies didn't have hair when they were born, but there were already some blue-gray locks on her head. "What's herrr name?"

Washuu brushed her hand over her granddaughter's cheek. "Everyone, this is Jubei."

Of course, now would be the time for someone to interrupt.

"SAOTOME!" Tatewaki rushed forward from the undergrowth with his bokken held high. "The Blue Thunder shall free his Akane Tendou from your evil grasp! I charge!"

"Huh?" Ranma turned to stare at the oddball attacking him and then remembered whom he was standing in front of. Remaining stationary, Ranma caught the bokken with a slight sting in his palm. "Watch it!"

Akane's face burned with anger. "Kuno! How did you find me?!"

The kendoist struggled to pull his bokken out of Ranma's grasp. "Fear not, my fierce tigress, your mercenary sister hath revealed this dog's treachery. For any other man to claim you as his slave, I shall not allow it!"

Ranma snarled and crushed the bokken into splinters. Before Tatewaki even realized what was happening, he was being lifted a hundred feet into the air by his neck. Ranma quickly worked him over in a way that would leave Tatewaki pissing blood for a month.

The boy was already shaking in fear and pain when Ranma glared right into Tatewaki's eyes. "You'rrre lucky I don't hurrrrt you worrrrse. If I see you again I will not be so nice. Underrrstand?"

Tatewaki shook his head quickly at the sinister voice and then screamed when he was simply dropped.

Ranko examined the injured kendoist and then the flying Ranma with an arched brow. It was no surprise to her that Tatewaki had followed them. She had been expected him sooner though. "Hmm, looks like I can up Ranma's training again."

*~*~*

Akane returned home the next day, but the visit was bound to be unpleasant. She tore open her sister's locked door to glare at the mercenary directly.

"Nabiki," Akane hissed.

Noting, the broken door, Nabiki nodded to her sister drolly. "Akane, how nice of you to visit us."

"You sent Kuno after me."

The girl grinned and shrugged her shoulders. "Yes, but he paid me very well. Didn't hurt him too badly did you?"

"Ranma made him piss his pants after Kuno almost struck a newborn," Akane snapped. She was more than just angry, Akane was disappointed. Her sister had always been a little money hungry, but things had almost gone too far this time. Akane loved her family, but she also hated it sometimes too. "You're little joke almost got a child killed the same day it was born. Don't you think of anything besides money? You knew Kuno was going to go off the deep end like that."

Nabiki's winced and her smile faltered. Akane had yelled at her before, but never so angrily or with such authority. Her sister had changed. "I didn't know he'd attack a child."

Pursing her lips, Akane jabbed her sister with a finger. "Stay away, Nabiki. What I'm doing is important and I don't want you ruining things because you like money."

Akane didn't make it to the door before Nabiki leapt off of her bed and pushed Akane to the wall to sneer into the girl's face. "Hey! That money is what keeps us living in this nice house, little sister! It puts food on the table and clothes on your back! Daddy isn't doing anything so don't you tell me how to do things until you start bringing a little in! Those cinder blocks cost money, y'know!"

Akane didn't flinch at the screaming, nor did she show any compassion.

They stared at each other for a few more minutes before Nabiki turned away. She wasn't proud of the depths she had to go to keep the family afloat, but there was nothing else she could have done.

She let her sister go and Nabiki stared at her blank wall. These things weren't her fault.

Ranko stood in the doorway next.

"What do you want?" Nabiki snapped. If she had seen just how powerful Ranko was and how short her patience was, Nabiki might have been more cautious.

As it was, Ranko simply entered the room and dropped a stack of yen notes onto the girl's desk. Nabiki watched her curiously and then panicked when Ranko pulled out the loose floorboard and removed the hidden tin box with all of her blackmail schemes inside. "I'll be taking this in exchange since you'll be giving up your business," said Ranko as she passed by the girl.

Nabiki swallowed, fearing she might be in a lot of trouble if Ranko decided to do anything with the contents of that box.

Kasumi met Ranko on her way out and bowed to the redhead. "It was nice to see you again, Meiou-san."

Ranko glanced into the living room where Tofu sat with a cup of tea in his hand and fog in his glasses. She nodded to the eldest daughter. "And you Kasumi-chan, Tofu-sensei."

*~*~*

Several months later, Ryouga was flying through the air as easily as Ranma. The two were definitely the most promising of Ranko's students. Ryouga would be even better if he could put aside his temper a little better. "You won't escape me this time, Ranma!" Ryouga declared with a glowing fist ready to sock his sparring partner in the jaw.

Ranma floated casually in a defensive stance. "Shoelaces arrre untied."

Ryouga paused and looked down. "Huh?"

Snickering, Ranma flew forward and kicked Ryouga into the ground twenty feet below. He grinned at the boy crawling out of the crater. "Idiot."

"Ha!"

"Ack!" Ranma just barely dodged a red ki-blast that nearly took him in the chest.

On the ground and waving her fist, Akane yelled at him. "Don't ignore me! You remember what Meiou-sensei did last time?!"

Ranma winced and unconsciously rubbed the side of his head where he was hit with a dozen ki blasts the last time. "Hehehe. Don't worrrry. I'm not ignorrrin ya. I'm just waitin forrr ya ta come up herrre."

"Ranma." Akane began to glow brighter. "No!" Both fists were at her side. "BAKA!" And she flew like an arrow.

A falling meteorite would look less intimidating. Meteorite's weren't packing heavy ki laden fists after all. Ranma crossed his arms over his face. "eep."

A little further away, Ranko watched the group of fighters training. A new light burned in many of them once Ranma and Ryouga started flying on a regular basis. Mousse and Shampoo were trying much harder especially since they were not far behind Ranma and Ryouga in terms of skill. Even the Scouts were entering their training with a little more vigor.

Struggling through her fourth hour in the air, Cologne shook her head at the antics of Ranko's favorite students. "I really didn't expect them to get to this level so quickly no matter how good they were."

Smiling, Ranko nodded. "I'm a little surprised myself, but I've been having you all flex your ki constantly for more than a year now." She chuckled when Akane pulled out her mallet and started chasing Ranma through the forest with Ryouga trailing behind yelling encouragement. "Of course, it would've been harder without someone to show them how to fly in the first place."

"Indeed," Cologne nodded. She was proud of her own achievements since beginning her training with Ranko. Who would have thought an old woman could learn to fly amongst the clouds like a child. But not all in the sky were children. Cologne examined her sensei again with a little disappointment. "Washuu tells me your power has become stagnant around six thousand."

"I've hit a wall," Ranko agreed. Though she said it casually, Cologne could tell how much it pained her. "I might be at the limit of my potential. Hopefully, we can over power the Saiyajins with numbers rather than power."

Ranma must have dropped further into the Neko-ken's power because they heard him hiss. A moment later, Akane came running out of the forest, firing ki blasts behind her. The pig-tailed boy either dodged or swatted the attacks out of his way, holding Akane's belt in his grinning mouth.

"How are the others coming along?" Cologne asked, glancing over the other training areas. Some of the children had stopped to laugh at Ranma and Akane's antics.

"A few of the Sailor Scouts might be ready for the Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken soon, especially Uranus. Yosho is teaching Tenchi how to manipulate his Jurian energy now that he has proper focus. Mousse is tossing around ki blasts now, but he won't be flying for a while." Ranko grimaced, but continued evenly. "And despite all of my doubts, Shampoo has learned the Amazon secret techniques."

Cologne knew Ranko would probably never forget what the Shampoo of her world did, but she was starting to divide the two images. It wasn't quite forgiveness, but she had heard Ranko gruffly informing Shampoo on occasion how to overcome some of her obstacles. "Yes, she has improved much thanks to you. Shampoo told me how you helped her gain focus."

Ranko pretended not to hear. "I think I'll teach a few of the Saotome Forbidden Techniques next. Most of them are useless at our levels, but a few are pretty damned impressive." Taking a deep breath, Ranko turned in the air to face off against her most advanced student. If it were just skill, Cologne would be giving Ranko a run for her money. As it was, Ranko looked only slightly winded while Cologne was sweating through the body armor Washuu had given her. "Rested?" Ranko commanded more than asked.

Cologne swallowed and put up her hands. ". . . Ready."

Energy formed in Ranko's hands and she tossed them about like confetti at Cologne's panicked and fleeing body. "Dance, little girl! Dance! Hohohohoho!"

Cologne sweated as she was tossed by the explosion of a near miss. "Does she have to laugh like that?"

*~*~*

Some relationships were tougher than others were. Ranma and Akane didn't have the love hate engagement that Ranko remembered, but something more competitive. And even though Ranma was still the stronger, the two teenagers seemed to play on a level field. It was so different from her memories; Ranko was starting to doubt she had ever been that boy.

During one weekend out, Ryouga had apparently run into Akari and accidentally defeated her sumo pig. It could have been a real mess to have the lost boy become distracted by the attentions of more than one girl. Ryouga had only recently become accustomed to Hotaru's forward behavior and started to mellow out a bit.

When Akari tried to insist that Ryouga was her fiancé, Hotaru promptly clobbered the sumo pig as well and sent the pig farmer packing.

Ah, young love.

Odder still was the relationship between Tenchi and Ryouko. February of the second year of their training, Yosho had finally reminded Tenchi that he could take a second wife if he became the emperor of Jurai. Ryouko had been strangely silent over the issue, but that had yet to be resolved.

Yes, training had definitely helped solidify relationships in the group. Ranko wondered if the Amazons or even Rei and Usagi (you had to wonder) would come to some arrangement as well. There is a thin line between love and hate; if you respect your opponent sometimes the strangest things could occur. Ranko had seen it before.

The ground crunched beside Ranko on the edge of the forest bordering the lake. She had been waiting for half-an-hour for it to happen.

"Kounji," Ranko nodded to the girl and her battle spatula strapped onto her back.

After all this time, Ranko still couldn't think of Ukyou as anything but a buddy from her youth. The redhead hadn't mentioned who Akane's friend was that got captured beside her for a reason. Of all of the fighters in Nerima, Ucchan had the least potential and she was the most likely to be killed again. Ranko refused to lose her best friend and fiancee on the same day again.

Ukyou spun about with her spatula slicing through the air until she stared at Ranko. "Who are you?!"

The air smelled like okonomiyaki, making it impossible for the chef to sneak up on anyone. "Ranko Meiou. I'm warning you to give up your revenge on Ranma Saotome before it's too late, girl."

Ukyou's eyes narrowed and she tightened her grip on her spatula. "How did you- . . . Doesn't matter. I have to get my revenge for what he and his lousy father did to me. I trained for ten years beside the crashing waves to perfect my art."

They both turned when something exploded in midair and Akane came tumbling down to the ground. A few seconds after landing, the girl screeched and flew back up to enter the fight between Ranma and Ryouga.

"How about those waves?" Ranko smirked.

". . ." Ukyou had her jaw on the ground and her eyes fixed to the impossibly fast fighters. She picked herself up and tried to look non-challant, but Ukyou continued to glance at the flying martial artists. "Maybe I can let him off for now." Her countenance dimmed and she glared at Ranko. "What do you expect me to do?! I have to make him pay for what he's done!"

Ranko sighed and pointed out Akane, who was on her way down again. "Do you see that girl with the big red aura chasing him around? That's his girlfriend. If you can do something to Ranma, do you want to have to deal with her too?" By the look on Ukyou's face, Ranko could tell she did not. "Maybe I can suggest a compromise."

"Compromise?"

Nodding, Ranko pulled out a piece of paper she had readied since she first felt Ukyou entering the area. "This is where Genma Saotome is staying. After you've dealt with him, if that isn't enough for your father, come see me again."

Ukyou studied the address silently and then tucked it into her pocket. "Why do you care?"

"He's my student," said Ranko. Believing things were concluded, she floated off into the air for Yosho's training.

"Right," Ukyou muttered slowly. She hadn't even thought of how strong the redhead might have been to talk so casually about what Ranma and his friends were doing. She was glad she didn't attack the woman now. Ukyou took a glance over her shoulder before leaving the area. "Ranchan sure did get handsome though."

High above the ground, Ranko felt Ukyou walking off and sighed. "Later, Ucchan."

*~*~*

As the weekend approached, fewer of Ranko's students actually left the shrine. Most were content to lounge around and waste the day. The more dedicated of her students continued to train, but only Ranko kept up the normal intensity.

It was feeling like a lazy weekend where nothing happens.

Thunder rumbled and Ranko grumbled in annoyance.

Leaving the kitchen with a Popsicle in hand, Akane headed for Ranma's side like she usually did. No matter how much of a jerk the big cat was, Akane couldn't help but like him. She even cared for him. He was really nothing like the other perverts at school and he treated her like a real person. Akane sucked on her Popsicle for a moment and considered Ranma's profile for a while. The pigtailed boy was sitting on the porch and watching their teacher facing off against Yosho. They didn't often get to see the more advanced students spar with Ranko. "Are you still out here?"

Ranma nodded without taking his eyes from the powerful and fluid dance. "She's amazing," he whispered. Ranma had never admired someone before. Usually he blustered about his own skill, but he treated Ranko almost like an idol. "I've neverrr met anyone like herrr."

"Meiou-sensei?" Akane watched the redhead toss Yosho across the yard and strip him of his sword at the same time. She couldn't fault Ranma for respecting Ranko like he did, Akane felt the same way. "She's pretty cool."

Ranma sighed heavily. "I wish I'd met herrr a long time ago. Who knows how strrrong I'd be now?"

Akane nodded in response. What if she had been trained by Ranko-sensei a long time ago? How powerful would she be? "You two are a lot alike, you know? She even looks a lot like your mom. I'd almost think you were related."

Ranma blinked in surprise and stared at her strangely. "What? I don't see it."

Rolling her eyes, Akane sat down and flushed a bit when their thighs touched. Neither moved since the contact was so pleasant. Akane almost wanted to jump into Ranma's lap like Hotaru did with Ryouga.

Inside the house, Cologne, Washuu, and Nodoka were sitting around the table sharing some tea and a little gossip. With all of the teens around the house it was like one big soap opera most of the time. Unfortunately the men were outnumbered, which did not help poor Minako and Makoto.

Nodoka had spotted Yosho fleeing in a panic on occasion. Speaking of which . . .

"Yosho's power output has almost doubled since he began training with Ranko. He's nearly at half her power level. If he still had the Tenchiken he might even be pushing Ranko around," Washuu informed them while running through her latest readings. She had the whole shrine monitored in hopes of discovering the origins of ki or even how it developed. Ranko informed her it was like drawing upon the soul, but Washuu was certain there was a more scientific conclusion behind it all.

"She's earned a lot of respect from the rest of the fighters. Ranma especially. He's her favorite too," Cologne added.

Washuu looked away from her light computer to regard the young pigtailed martial artist in question. "Yes, the Washuu from Ranko's time says he becomes quite the hero."

Sparkles of maternal pride started floating around Nodoka's head as she listened. "Don't forget the two of them were probably the same age in her time. Maybe she was his lover and that's why she likes him so much. My son is so manly!"

Washuu reserved comment on that. Cologne coughed delicately into her hand and looked away.

A hero. Ranko sniffed at the very idea. There were no heroes. She'd never met one anyway. She remembered being Ranma's age and thinking that nothing could stop her. She was going to prove her manliness and save the world. That world was gone now. So much for the hero.

Ranko wanted to believe that training this Ranma would change things, but every day she felt as if it were a useless gesture. Instead, Ranko continued as she always did and wondered if chance would swing her way sometime.

Washuu was chuckling with the other women when her light computer beeped. She tapped a few commands and found something interesting. The person was approaching the shrine with two others right now. "Hello, who's this?"

Ranma and Akane looked away from each other when they felt the power. It was a necessary skill in Ranko's training. Both could feel the power, but it felt different, like it was being held back. Akane looked over the handsome young man walking up. He wore strange armor and his hair was two colors. "The guy looks strong."

Yosho looked over as well and suffered a kick to his ribs for the distraction. He rolled off of the ground quickly and tried to apply the hand to hand skill Ranko had been teaching him. This was not going to be a pleasant match.

Ranma nodded, unsure.

Others arrived at the porch when they felt the power too. Minako and Ami grimaced at the looks the new men gave them. The two younger boys flanking the armored man were almost leering.

Minako frowned further at their choice of clothing. "Are they wearing animal skins?" That was so eighties.

The man ignored all but the woman who had not acknowledged his approach. He knew she had known long before the others and felt no fear. This was certainly the woman he sought. "Would you be Ranko Meiou. The one who destroyed Jusendo with a powerful ki blast?"

Yosho tried to use the distraction to put a fist in her gut, but Ranko pushed it aside with ease and kicked him under the chin. Ranko glanced at the boy and didn't look particularly surprised or impressed. "Prince Herb of the Musk Dynasty, something I can do for you?"

Yosho had no comment as he was too busy trying to block her strikes.

Herb was a little put off that she had continued her exercise without stopping. "I've come seeking my bride. Only someone with such strength is worthy of a dragon descendant. Ranko Meiou, I wish you to return to China with me and be my queen."

Minako whined at Ranko's luck, but the others glared at the man for even presuming to ask that of their sensei. He'd be lucky to leave with his nuts intact. As for the other two-

"Wow, look at all the titties!" Lime enthused.

Mint looked over Akane speculatively. "Do you think one of them would have tea with me?"

-They would probably leave with less.

"Aren't I a little old for you?" Ranko asked without stopping her fight.

Herb scoffed. "Ridiculous. Your power and beauty makes you a perfect bride."

Before taking on her quest to train the world's best fighters, Ranko had considered going to those who would already be considered powerful. The trouble with people like Herb was that his arrogance would get in the way rather than make him try harder when he failed. Of course, he was also a dragon and unlike normal people, his power didn't grow with practice, but with age. Magical beasts were curious like that. "All the same I will have to decline."

Fists clenched, Herb strode forward to disrupt Yosho's training. "Do you know who I am, woman?!"

Ranma stopped the prince before he got too close. "She said no, prrretty boy."

Herb took a step back and blinked. The pigtailed boy had come out of nowhere. Sneering, Herb raised a hand and filled it with ki. "You dare stand in the way of a dragon?! I will make you regret it, weakling."

Ranma grinned and dropped into a modified cat stance. "Trrry me."

Herb snorted and released a massive ki blast to do away with the impudent boy quickly. The shot kicked up a large dust cloud. "You do not stand a chance against me."

No one reacted as he expected and when the dust settled, Herb noticed the spot was empty. Had he incinerated the boy accidentally?

"Up herrre."

Herb gasped as the son was blocked out by the descending form of Ranma. He quickly went on the defensive and skipped out of the way of the attack. Ranma continued to punch and bruises formed on the princes arms.

It was impossible. The boy must have been trained by the Amazon's to punch so fast, but to do it for so long was something Herb had never encountered. His arms were starting to tire when he noticed that not only had Ranma been punching at incredible speeds, but also he'd been doing it while flying!

Growling at the insult, Herb pushed himself into the air with his ki. A golden power visibly shimmered about his body as he charged the pigtailed martial artist.

Ranma smirked at this and flew about taking quick shots at the dragon descendant. Herb threw ki attacks of all kinds, but he lacked the rigorous training Ranma had. It seemed Herb only put the effort into making his attacks without really refining them. It was too bad. Herb might have lasted with a bit more training.

A crater formed in the earth after Herb was kicked. Ranma's foot, who continued to float smugly in the air, cracked the center of his armor. Before Ranko-sensei he was sure the battle would not have been so easy.

"Herb-sama!" Lime called out.

Mint stood where he was and glared the floating boy. Some knives were ready to fly, but he held them back for now. "Hey, you can't do that!"

Akane approached the crater and look in to see the prince stirring slightly at Lime's prodding. "He's not bad, Meiou-sensei. Why not take him as a student?"

Grumbling at the need to be carried by his guard, Herb finally took a real look at Ranma then Ranko. The redhead had not even stopped her training for the fight. His face flushed when he looked deeper into her aura. Herb's power did not compare and he could see it. And if she was Ranma's teacher then she was likely even more skilled than the pigtailed boy had been. Herb strained to pull up the threads of his dignity. "No, I have duties to attend to in my kingdom."

"It's a small citadel in the middle of nowhere, China," Ranko informed the group, making Herb growl deeply.

"Besides, she is too old for me to marry," he snapped back.

Ranko grinned and finally watched the three figures walk off.

Smirking, Ranko pushed her chest forward and put a hand behind her head, posing. Yosho almost collapsed in relief. "Gee, I hope I'm not losing my sex appeal." Without a glance she back kicked and felt her foot connect with something. "You let your guard down, Yosho."

The man moaned in a fetal position on the ground. "U-Uncute."

*~*~*

The warrior maiden was glaring. She'd been doing that a lot since arriving in Japan. While no one treated her particularly bad, everything the others did seemed to insult her. Shampoo didn't want sympathy from the Sailor Scouts. They didn't even understand what it was to be a warrior. She was not interested in clothes and boys!

The others . . . they were all more powerful than she was! Even Mousse had surpassed her months ago!

Shampoo glared at her fists while she sat alone in her room. Ranko had helped her overcome some hurtles in her training, but the insufferable outsider had always treated her like a nuisance or a child! "Shampoo Amazon. Shampoo strong," she told herself.

Amazons were the strongest warriors in the world! Those men like Ranma, Ryouga, Tenchi, Yosho, and Mousse, they weren't better than her. She would show them! She would become the best and when they were all in need of her help, she'd make them BEG FOR IT!

"Shampoo?"

Shampoo tried to keep up her scowl, but the distraction proved enough to make her arms sag in defeat. She was too depressed to be angry with anyone but herself right now. "What want, Mu Tsu? Is busy."

Carefully, Mousse peeked through the open door to see Shampoo sitting on her bed with her bangs covering her eyes. "How is your training coming along. I've seen you don't use your bonbori anymore."

Lips tightening, Shampoo clenched her hands. "Not need tools. Shampoo strong. Beat enemy with fists!" Her fists shook at Mousse, but they dropped when she noticed something different. "Where you glasses?"

Mousse rubbed the back of his head as a blush spread over his cheeks. The boy was going without his glasses now thanks to Washuu's help. Ranko had tried before to get his eyes taken care of, but Usagi could only banish evil and Hotaru could only fix things that were broken. His eyesight was genetic, that is, until Washuu-chan rewrote it. The little redhead was his new best friend. "Washuu-chan was able to fix my eyes. She says genetic problems are child's play to her."

"Crab Girl is child some of time," the girl acknowledged. She wanted to glare at the boy. With his eyes fixed she had lost the one big advantage she'd had over him. "Shampoo is no good no more. Even Mu Tsu better than Shampoo."

Mousse winced. "It just takes some people longer than others. You'll get there, Shampoo. I know you will."

"You is only one," Shampoo sighed in defeat. She felt so low, looking for sympathy from Mousse now. He used to love her so much he would kill anyone for even bruising her. He'd glared at Ranko a lot at the beginning, but things had changed. She and Mousse trained together now and when Ranko came around to evaluate them, Shampoo needed Mousse to defend her from Ranko's critical evaluation.

It was true, what Ranko said back in the village. Shampoo did not have the potential the others had. She, not the men, was the liability. How could she continue to be an Amazon if her own warrior-sisters could not respect her? What was her worth?

Shampoo was shocked out of her internal debate when Mousse put his arm around her shoulder. He hadn't done that in a long time.

Mousse smiled kindly at the girl and pat her shoulder. "Then we'll just have to show them, won't we?"

"Mu Tsu?"

He grinned cockily. "I'm sure we can figure this out. Two heads are better than one, right?"

Tears wanted to fall down her cheeks, but Shampoo held them back stubbornly. She wouldn't cry in front of another warrior, even Mousse. "Thank you, Mu Tsu."

Nodding, the boy stood up and gestured to the door. "Come on. Saotome-san and Sasami were cutting up some watermelon."

Slowly grinning back at him, Shampoo stood up. Maybe joining the others rather than pushing them away would make her feel better. These were her new warrior-sisters and brothers after all. "Okay."

*~*~*

Sitting at the edge of the training grounds and watching her students spar one another, Ranko wondered if Mousse had figured it out or if it were a coincidence.

Shampoo had been improving recently. Not the slow struggle, but really improving. Her snobbish, superior attitude had been cut back a great deal and the girl participated in the training with the others rather than tackling it on her own. The only one who had been holding Shampoo back was herself.

Ranko knew the girl wanted to be better, but she also refused to accept that she had something to learn from others. Accepting help was something a lot of the Amazons had trouble asking for. It stunted their growth in almost every direction. It was the reason most Amazons were so blood thirsty. Denying the simple truths of life could only lead to destruction.

Things were definitely improving. Ranko would be beginning the vacuum blade and invisibility techniques soon. Cologne and Ranma would probably pick it up rather quickly, but Ranko wanted a few others to get a handle on it at the same time. Training wasn't fun without multiple targets.

She was still sitting outside when the others were called in for dinner. Ranko felt the tingle of a few familiar ki signatures approaching her.

"Well, my dear, so you are the one my two worthless students were talking about."

"Grand Master Happousai." Ranko acknowledged the old man with a nod. She glanced at Soun and Genma, and smirked at the signs of his meeting with a certain okonomiyaki chef. They were glaring at her, but Ranko ignored it.

Happousai, the two foot tall Anything Goes founder, puffed lightly at his pipe as he considered the redhead. "I've been watching your little group for a few days and I'm very impressed."

Ranko quirked an eyebrow. "Strange. I didn't notice any underwear going missing."

The old man sighed and looked mournfully at the young girls he could see. "I'm afraid a little charge won't help me any more."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Not sounding at all sincere.

Happousai chuckled. "You'd be the only one." He sat down slowly as if it really took some effort. Ranko remembered he had died not long after the Saiyajins showed up, but she'd never really seen him like this. She'd imagined the old man had croaked in the middle of another panty raid or something, not hobbling on his last legs. "I really only use that method to motivate my students and training methods. More fun than the traditional style."

Almost with concern, Ranko stared into the old man's aura. He was a pervert, but she didn't want to see him suffering. Apart from arthritis, she really couldn't see any pain in his aura. She shifted uncomfortably beside the dying man.

Taking a break from his bowing and scraping, Genma poked at the old man. "Master? Weren't you going to show this girl who the best is?"

"Quiet fool!" Happousai snapped and tossed the fat bastard with his pipe.

Happousai was not a fool despite how he acted. He could clearly see Ranko had skill and power. The girl outclassed the Grandmaster even when he had been in his prime.

After making sure Soun would not interrupt as well, he turned back to woman sitting beside him. "Do you know what it takes to become the grand master of Anything Goes?"

"A bag of silky darlings?" Ranko smirked and the old man chuckled as well.

"Close. The Perverted Arts are just my addition to the style. An esoteric branch." He grinned when she glared at him for staring at her breasts. "No you must prove mastery of the core of Anything Goes, teach students to become great fighters, and adapt the style to suit your own needs by creating new techniques to add to the Art."

Cocking her head, Ranko shrugged. "That's nice. What does that have to do with me?"

"I think you know," Happousai said staring straight into her eyes. Ranko blinked in surprise, not expecting him to uncover the truth so quickly or to keep eye contact for more than a second. "I'd originally planned to spend my last year making sure the heir to Anything Goes was properly trained, but I see you've taken care of that already. Better than I could have done, I'm sure." He reached into his gi and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper.

"What's this?" Ranko asked as she pulled at the string holding the document. Her eyes widened when she saw the flash of gold.

"You've quite exceeded my expectations." Happousai nodded at her surprised expression and stood back up. "Ranma Saotome." The old man was hobbling away by the time she looked up again.

Tendou balked and sputtered as Happousai passed by. He looked at his friend in shock. "Did the Master just certify that woman as Grand Master of Anything Goes? A woman?"

Genma too had paled. "I-It can't be."

Rolling the certification back up, Ranko snorted at the pair. "Shouldn't you two be getting on your way? If you want to remain Masters of Anything Goes then you're going to have to get back in shape and start teaching some classes." When there was no response she turned to look at them with a frown. "Right?" They ran when she flashed her power briefly. Ranko stared after them for a few moments then shook her head and headed in for dinner. "You surprised me, old pervert."

Late at night, after her students had fallen asleep, Ranko stood at the door to the backyard and stared up at the sky. She felt a tingle rising up in her sense.

Nodoka finished taking care of things in the kitchen and stared at Ranko curiously. The woman almost seemed upset about something. Nodoka touched her shoulder softly. "Are you all right, Ranko?"

Feeling the energy spike and then fade to nothing, Ranko swallowed fate and nodded. "Fine," she murmured.

The dead, after all, could not be saved.

*~*~*

Darkness fell over the shrine on what started as a typical day of training. The group of fighters was just finishing off the morning routine and were heading in for lunch when a beeping sound interrupted conversation.

Puzzled, Ami retrieved her Mercury computer that had been quiet since the Sailor Scouts defeated their last enemy. Her brow furrowed at what she read. "Guys, I'm getting a strange signal."

"What is it?" Rei asked, curious. The other Scouts had stopped as well.

Pressing a few buttons, Ami's frown deepened. "There's a lot of unknown energy. It might be another rogue youma."

With the excitement gone, Makoto sighed at the rather boring prospect. Dusting youma's just didn't have the thrill it once did before all of the training. Now, when a youma would show up, just one of the Scouts could put the monsters away. "We better go take care of it."

The Outers shrugged and let the Inners have their fun. It wasn't a part of their job to fight off internal threats anyway. The Outers had to stay focused on outside threats. Haruka waved once at Akane on the way.

Puzzled, Akane watched the Sailor Scouts transform. This wasn't the first time she'd seen it, but she'd never seen them miss lunch before. "Where are you off to?"

Sailor Venus looked back and waved to the girl. "We'll be back in a bit, Akane. Cover for us with Meiou-sensei." And with that they were gone.

Shrugging, Akane went back in for lunch. She had to keep an eye on Ranma or he would stuff all of the food down his own big mouth before anyone else had a chance. Really, he could be such a jerk.

Coming down from the mountain with Cologne and Yosho, Ranko looked eagerly for a good meal. After so many years of fighting, she had sworn to savor her meals as they rightfully deserved. She rubbed her growling stomach and picked up a pair of chopsticks as she sat down at the table. "Alright, kids, let's-" Her eyes strayed around the room. Some people were missing. "Where are the others?"

"They, uh, had to go to the bathroom," said Akane. She failed to grin at Ranko's flat glare. The fighters new better than to take off like this. It may still be months before the Saiyajins were to arrive, but informing others of where you were was still a sensible precaution.

The closet door was flung open suddenly and Washuu rushed into the dining room. "Ranko, a powerful signal suddenly appeared on the Earth."

Ranko stopped to stretch out her senses. What day was this? It was still some five months before the attack began. What could the Scouts be doing? An image of Ami popped into mind, or rather, the lack of a Sailor Mercury in Ranko's time. "Damn."

Everyone was startled when Ranko jumped out of her seat and rushed into the yard to scan the horizon.

Ryouga looked around and found nothing. "What is it?"

Cursing herself, Ranko leapt into the air and honed in on the Scouts position. "When the Scouts found me they were already down three members."

Akane put her hands over her mouth, horrified. "You mean they're-"

Ranko didn't wait to hear the question and blasted off in the direction of the strongest power. It was one of the enemy. One of the monsters must have come before Washuu and Ranma were originally involved. Others were following her, but Ranko was easily out-pacing them in her urgency.

Inside the house, Nodoka's soap opera was replaced by a live broadcast. The image was that of a crash site where an entire city block had been decimated. The reporter stood on the edge, pointing towards the center and the Sailor Scouts examining the cause.

The news anchors looked as calm as they could be after being rushed onto the set. "We are now taking you live to a crash site where the Sailor Scouts have suddenly appeared. We are being told it was not a meteorite, but a pod of some kind-"

The dust was settling now and the Scouts could see the object more clearly as they dropped down around it. They had been horrified to see several buildings collapse just under the earthquake alone. So much death from something that looked like a large, bleached tennis ball.

Jupiter tried to ignore the destruction and focus on the object for now. "What is it?"

"A transport," Mercury answered after her computer scanned the pod. "It must be strong to survive impact like this."

"It's opening!" Mars had a fire spell ready just in case. Others took up fighting positions as well, but were more interested in what would come out of the strange ship. Perhaps it was someone from that Galaxy Police department like Mihoshi and Kiyone.

"High power readings!" Mercury warned fearfully.

Mars was feeling the energy now and looked a little pale. Moon backed away slowly as she saw the other's reactions to the pod and whoever was inside. After hearing all of the tales about the evil alien invaders she was more than a little concerned about the chances of love and justice holding up against such killers. "We should have waited for Meiou-sensei!"

A man with long black hair and a tail stepped out of the pod. He looked a lot like Ryouko in some respects, but far more menacing with his muscular frame and battle armor. The man took one look around the area and scoffed. "How pathetic. Only five little girls stand between me and domination of this world."

Scared and yet determined to save her world, Venus reared back her hands into fists. "We'll show you who's little! Venus Crescent Beam!"

The man disappeared before the blast had even reached him. "Too slow," the man announced from behind the blonde. The Scouts whirled about in time to watch him reach out and snap the girl's neck. He bowed mockingly. "My name is Raditz. You will soon know it very well."

"Venus!"

Jupiter went straight onto the offensive. She hadn't believed, none of them had, that any Sailor Scout could truly be killed. Something had always happened, whether a new ally showed up or new powers were found, something had always saved them in the end. But to for any of them to die so callously! "Try that on me, creep!"

Raditz smirked and easily dodged the girl's attacks. Kicks and punches were avoided with simple flips of the wrist that somehow had the power to send Jupiter sprawling to the ground. This must be a Saiyajin and he was toying with them just as easily as Ranko said they would!

Jupiter screamed on the next pass when Raditz reached out and snapped her leg like a twig. Her Sailor powers would heal the wound, but not quickly enough to rejoin this fight.

"This is fun, who's next?" Raditz smirked and looked at the other three girls. Moon and Mars were standing together, but Mercury had been frozen since she'd watched Venus die. Raditz stepped towards her. "You?"

Mars lunged forward. She had taken up a guarding position in front of her princess instinctively, but she couldn't stand by and watch another of her friends murdered by this monster. "Mercury, look out!"

Raditz leaned back to avoid the Flame Sniper and caught Mars by the throat. He smiled at her, menacingly, showing off sharp canines and cruel eyes.

Mars cringed when she saw him bring up his other hand in a fist. She really wanted to go back to the shrine for more training under Meiou-sensei. Lots and lots of training!

She was shocked out of her panic by the sharp breeze that blew over her face. A fist smacked into a small hand just inches in front of Mars' nose. The girl looked up hopefully to her savior.

"Not this time, asshole," Ranko growled and tried to crush the fist in her grasp.

In pain, Raditz dropped Mars reflexively while going to punch the newcomer and save his hand. The grip was powerful, like the times Napa got a hold of him in their training sessions. He glared angrily at this person and was shocked to see the small redhead glaring right back at him. The Saiyajins were used to seeing fear, hate, and shock in the faces of their victims. They were a race of powerful warriors known throughout the galaxy for their strength. But this woman, her power, Raditz could see the contempt in her eyes. The woman looked like death, his death.

Breathing heavily, Ranko tried to slow down her pulse, but her anger had found release and wanted to enjoy this. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins like high-octane fuel.

Raditz recoiled as he was socked in the jaw and a tooth was knocked out.

Ranko took pleasure in the way her fists connected with the man's body, and the crunching sounds it made when a bone would snap and grind against others. Raditz tried to fight back, but Ranko was unimpressed. She didn't give him the time to build up any significant amounts of energy for a ki blast. Ranko was focused solely on making this man hurt. To make him bleed. She wanted to see him broken and then have him beg for his life the way they had done to her family so long ago.

The Scouts watched in resignation. What Ranko was doing was cruel and disgusting, but they could not make themselves stop her after watching Venus die. This man deserved what he was getting. Likely deserved it several times over for deaths on who knows how many other planets. A part of them wanted to join in and the other side new it was wrong. So they waited and watched, letting Ranko take care of him as she thought best.

Face swollen and bloody, Raditz gurgled up a little blood and spat it on the ground. He had better be killed now or Vegita would definitely kill him later. "You cannot stop us. Even if I die other will come after me."

"I know," said Ranko coldly. She removed the scouter from his head and took a step back and aimed. A powerful ki blast ripped through his body in a fine beam, cauterizing his neck where his head had once been.

The ground shook and the Sailor Scouts flinched in reaction. It had all been done so quietly it chilled their bones.

Ranko turned to them and scowled. These were definitely not the Sailor Scouts she was used to working with. "Where's Venus?" Her voice was like a winter breeze and the girls looked at the ground in shame. Ranko growled when she found Venus' body. It was easy to figure out why there had been only two Inner Scouts in her time now. And she had been sent back to prevent this? Ranko closed her eyes and put her hand through the space pod in loathing. "Dammit!"

The Sailor Scouts slowly picked themselves up through their tears and anger. Cologne, Ranma, Ryouga, and Akane had arrived by then and were trying to lend them some support. "What are you doing?"

Ranko stared at the body at her feet. It twitched a few times, but that was fading quickly. She was considering standing here and watching it decompose. It didn't matter to her so much that Venus had died. The girl had died long ago already, but this was the first time Ranko had seen a Saiyajin dead. It seemed impossible before.

But here was one now, dead by her own hands. She knew her progress had been stunted not long after training began, but this . . . Could it be that she was stronger than the Saiyajins now? Ranko hadn't considered what strength the Saiyajins would have gained over the years of fighting, but now. Was she an even match for Napa or even the Saiyajin prince?

Ranko crouched down and slung the dead body over her shoulder. "Taking him with us. Washuu might be able to figure something out." Moon looked like she would be sick, but Ranko ignored it, muttering to herself, "Looks like I know how Mercury and Mars originally died." Glaring at the Scouts, Ranko snapped at them, "You have to start using your heads. In this fight you are seriously out-gunned."

The girls cringed and took it. They had been warned. Ranko had trained them in how to fight the Saiyajins. They knew they were too weak to fight them on their own and yet they hadn't followed that advice. This was their fault.

Ranko flew off without a backward glance. She needed to know what was different this time. Could she stop these Saiyajins on her own?

Lip trembling as tears flowed down her cheeks, Moon threw herself into Mars' arms and cried "Oh Rei!" Her friend held her quietly, but no less upset. One of her friends was dead and her princess was crying. The Saiyajins would pay for this, but until then she would support Moon and work harder to become more powerful. "Minako!"

Holding her princess closely, Mars started leading her away from the area. They didn't need to deal with the press right now and Venus' body had already been taken away by Cologne. "Come on, Sailor Moon. We should get out of here."

*~*~*

Ranko snorted in disgust. When the Sailor Scouts had returned it was like they had already accepted defeat. Maybe it was a mistake to bring them in on this at all. Ranko would have been able to concentrate on the real fighters if she hadn't.

Now, while they wept, Ranko was looking for answers. She was pacing now, outside of Washuu's lab and waiting for the autopsy report. With the technology the woman used it wasn't a long wait. The closet opened and Washuu walked out with her light computer reviewing the information. "Did you figure anything out?"

Washuu nodded slowly. "They are like humans only more resistant to pressure and they are very resilient when it comes to damage."

Ranko nodded. She knew this already and that they didn't age the way humans would. Saiyajin prime seemed to last well after their fifties. But that wasn't what she wanted to know.

Ami had her own news to report. She took a moment to look over her friends in the living room and sighed with regret. "If that is the weakest of them we may not be able to fight off the others at all."

Rei ground her teeth as she held the sleeping Usagi in her arms. "We can't fight them separately, that's for sure. From now on we all stick together. Otherwise we run." Others cringed, but nodded slowly.

"I don't like running," Haruka growled out angrily.

Cologne snorted. "Tough."

"The best you can do is distract them for a little while," Ranko interjected once Washuu's diagnosis was held off. "In my time the Scouts used their powers to draw them away from regular people. Moon and Saturn might be able to destroy them, but their rate of fire was too slow and the Saiyajins usually spotted them by then."

That gave the group something to think about. They started wondering if there were a way to launch magical attacks faster or to even suppress the magical aura while still in Sailor form. Ranko had heard the same discussion done before, but maybe something new would come of it.

"Ranko." Washuu quietly pulled the woman into the hallway just out of sight. "I thought it best to tell you first, but I might have a way of leveling the field. Ami is too inexperienced with advanced genetic manipulation, but I was taking a look at the recursive power gene that was engineered into their DNA-"

Ranko closed her eyes and put a hand over the woman's mouth. "The short version, Washuu-chan."

The woman grinned in her child body and put away the useless visual aids. "I might be able to turn our fighters into Saiyajins as well."

"What?" Ranko was stunned. Is this what Washuu could come up with after getting just one Saiyajin. Ranko was repulsed by the idea of turning into one of the monsters, but if it made her stronger, even a little bit, it could be worth it. She wanted to beat the two Saiayajins she remembered from her time, and beat them bad. This could be her chance.

"The design is genius. I think I can recreate the process used to turn these Saiyajins into such powerful fighters. If my theory is correct it should multiply any of the fighter's power levels."

Ranko took a deep breath and considered it. "I want you to keep this between us for now. Let me know when you're ready." She glanced back to make sure the others hadn't heard. "I don't want anyone else knowing about this until you're sure."

"Got it."

Ranko waited a few moments after Washuu left. If the scientist came back with a positive answer to the later, Ranko wouldn't discount it. What did it matter now anyway? There was already a Ranma Saotome in this universe and Ranko Meiou only existed on forged documents. What would it matter if Ranko decided to screw with her DNA a little more? In the face of evil, you need monsters to fight monsters.

*~*~*

There was a Shinto service held for Sailor Venus since her identity may give away the rest of the Scouts identities. That made things difficult in several ways, not the least of which was keeping the secret from Minako's somewhat reclusive parents.

Ranko hadn't attended. She'd been to more funerals than she could remember. People were dying all of the time in the war with the Saiyajins. Relatives, friends, and allies. All dead for her own mistakes.

When training started again, Ranko spent more time doing one-on-one with Ranma than before. He figured out the invisibility techniques as quickly as she expected him to. Ranko never taught it to him, only used it herself against him until he could duplicate the maneuver. Not an easy thing when you're being flung around the area by an invisible fighter.

The only trouble with the technique was it required a person to completely invert their aura, but you couldn't hurt the Saiyajins without using at least some of your ki. Ranko had at one time stood right behind one of the Saiyajins while sneaking past them in their ships without being detected, but there hadn't been a damn thing she could do. The moment she appeared everyone would spot her and kill her.

The private funeral had lasted several hours and Ranko had thought of how annoying waiting was. Some of the people stared at her quietly, but Ranko didn't need them to like her. She didn't want to go to the service and that was that. Screw them if they couldn't handle it. She'd done it all before; it was old hat.

Belatedly, Ranko realized she was being pulled off of Ranma while beating him into the ground, blood running out of his nose and mouth. He should have been stronger than that.

"Ranko," Cologne cried, aghast. "What are you thinking? Ranma can't take anymore."
The redhead stared at Cologne blankly for a moment then turned to where Ranma was being helped back to his feet by his girlfriend. Others were standing around, looking at her with mixed emotions of anger and pity.

Ranko wasn't blaming him, no matter what they saw in her eyes. Ranma tried his best and he couldn't do it. That wasn't his fault though. Lots of people couldn't do it. There was no reason to get upset at him.

"If he can't take it," Ranko replied, "then all he has to do is stop me."

Akane was flabbergasted.

Ranko shrugged out of Cologne's grip and flew off. She needed to go train on her own where such cowardly weaklings didn't surround her.

"What the hell was that?" Rei demanded after Ranko had disappeared from sight.

Usagi tried to make sense of it, but could only shake her head in confusion.

At least Hotaru didn't have to wonder while she was busy fixing Ranma with her healing abilities. It was an often-practiced skill here at the shrine and she had gotten used to its draining effects and built up some better endurance.

"Perhaps she is more upset than she allows herself to seem," Ami said in a whisper.

"About Minako," Usagi wondered.

"Of course, about Minako, meatball head," Rei snapped and dragged the Scouts back out for more training.

Cologne took a last look at the healed Ranma sleeping in Akane's arms and wondered.

*~*~*

"Mind if I join you?"

It was late. The moon was high in the sky casting narrow beams of light through the clouds. There were hundreds of shadows out there now. Hiding in those shadows were certainly dangers, but the most damaging of shadows were those hidden inside. Ranko had been sitting on the roof trying to clear her mind of all thought. It had been working until Setsunna arrived. She gestured to a seat beside her. "No."

They sat in silence for a long time. Long enough that all of the lights in the house had gone out before Setsunna spoke again.

"You're Ranma Saotome, aren't you?"

Ranko smirked and stared at her feet. "How did you know?"

"Little things." Setsunna shrugged as if it weren't so important. It wasn't really except it would be easier for the young Ranma to accept her as Ranko Meiou rather than the truth. "You are from sixteen years in the future so you should be alive now. You are gathering the best fighters in the world and there is no one named Ranko in our group. And you take Ranma's side most of the time when he gets caught in compromising positions." Setsunna tried to laugh, but it did nothing to change Ranko's mood. "There's also the way you look at Mrs. Saotome." More silence. "How did you turn into a girl?"

Ranko sighed. "There is a cursed training ground in China. I fell into one of the springs and from that point on cold water turned me into a girl and hot water changed me back."

Setsunna nodded to herself as she worked things out. "Coming in contact with yourself would have caused a paradox." She received a nod in return.

"Tsunami did something to the magic of the curse and now I'm stuck like this forever. I caught up with Ranma just before he would have entered Jusenkyou."

"That's quite a sacrifice."

Ranko shrugged. "Not so big."

"She would be proud of you," Setsunna said suddenly. A blush fell over her cheeks, but she refused to looked at the redhead seated beside her. "I would do anything to insure the future peace of the world. I can appreciate the sacrifice you made to protect others."

Feelings refused to remain locked in her heart poured out and Ranko buried her head in the green-haired woman's chest. "I love you, Setsunna."

Slowly, arms began to encircle her shoulders, but Ranko could feel Setsunna was not really in it. There was nothing said because neither was comfortable to say it.

The next morning, Ranko woke early as usual, but skipped her workout for a trip to the closet. Washuu looked up from her work to watch the redhead enter her lab. "Ranko?"

"Let's do this, Washuu," Ranko said grimly as she sat down on the operating table.

Washuu knew what she was talking about. It wasn't long ago that she had rediscovered the process for creating the Saiyajins from whatever they were before. "Are you sure? I'm not entirely sure this will work. There may even be harmful side effects." Washuu was more than just a little concerned. The process was developed for an entirely different species. While humans appeared similar to whatever the Saiyajins once were, appearances could be deceiving even at a molecular level.

"If it fails," Ranko paused and thought of her wife lost in a different future. "If it fails then I'm still out there helping the others. I have to try, Washuu-chan."

Washuu tapped a few keys on the table and a mask went over Ranko's face. Taking the woman's hand silently, Washuu looked into Ranko's eyes and tried to smile soothingly. "I'll be here when you wake up."

Ranko nodded. "See you later."

*~*~*

Days later, Minako's death still hung like a fog over the fighters at the shrine. The Scouts tried to think of what they could have done differently. More than a few of who were finding comfort in someone else to try to deal with this new pain. They had thought of trying Moon's resurrection powers, but such things were dangerous, not just for the caster, but the deceased and the world in general. Unnatural power like that could go horribly wrong very easily even for a well-versed sorceress.

Instead, training became an obsession. While Ranma had recovered from the beating Ranko had given him, he understood now how weak he was against this enemy. Indeed, many were trying harder to become more powerful to protect their friends and family. The concept of saving the world was never made so clear until the death of an innocent was thrust before their eyes. Having free weekends did seem like a ridiculous idea given the severity of their future should they not be trained well enough to face even the first of their enemies.

No one wanted to say they died because they went out for a movie one Saturday.

They would either train and win, or they would never see another weekend ever again.

On the Saturday after Minako's death, Ranma was pushing all of his sparring partners and himself as hard as he could. He'd never had so many friends before and he refused to lose them now.

Weaving through a steady stream of Amaguriken speed attacks, Ranma cut through Akane's defenses to slam his fist her gut and spin himself in the air to knock her straight for the ground. Pooling just enough ki, he made sure Akane knew she had lost that round.

The ground exploded, but this was becoming common around the shrine. Akane lay on her stomach for a few moments before struggling to her knees. She was tired. She'd been tired an hour ago, but pushed herself to stay up.

"You okay, Akane?"

Breathing deeply, Akane sat back on her shins and looked up to her floating boyfriend. "Yeah, nice shot, Ranma." Her muscles screamed when she tried to stand up. Thankfully, Ranma had come down to give her a hand. She took some pride from the fact that he was also breathing hard. "I can't believe how much better we've all gotten. I really thought I was the best back in Nerima."

Ranma smiled in amusement. "It's a rrrush, isn't it? This is what the Anything Goes School was meant forrr."

Akane nodded with a grin and leaned against the boy's shoulder.

"Brrreak?" Ranma asked, leading her to the porch.

"Yeah."

They sat down together to regain their breath and considered what other parts of their training to focus on today. For some reason, Ranko hadn't shown up at all today and while nothing had triggered either Washuu's sensors or Ami's, people were starting to get edgy. Case in point, Tenchi and Sasami were coming out of Ryouko's room. The ex-pirate was a loving mother and spent all of her time with the baby except to discuss tactics. Washuu had told them that Ryouko's masu body doesn't actually degrade and training could not increase her power. Ranko had verified this with her experience as well.

Sasami looked at them with hope. "Have you seen Ranko-sensei around anywhere?"

"She and Washuu-chan have been missing all morning. I think Yosho and Cologne-sensei are getting worried," Tenchi added, trying to hide his own concern though it was plain in his voice. After Ranko's anger showed itself he wondered what the redhead might do for revenge.

Akane's brow furrowed and looked out to the practice ground. "I saw that too. What do you think it could mean?"

"I don't know, but I hope everything is all right. It's getting close to the end of two years."

They were all startled by a voice behind them and they whirled about to see the redhead in question. She was attired in her usual black armor bodysuit, but she seemed to stand taller. Her eyes looked like they contained fire rather than the normal cold fury.

"No, things are different this time," Ranko stated evenly and passed the four by to head out into the yard.

"Rrranko-sensei?" Ranma watched the woman he'd come to respect more than anyone else and felt a chill upon seeing her.

"Something's different about her," said Akane. Ranma nodded, but followed after Washuu passed quietly.

Tenchi nudged the others towards the yard. "Let's check it out."

Outside, the other fighters paused in their training, having sensed something was different as well. Washuu stood a few meters away from Ranko and had some of her portable scanners out along with the requisitioned scouter to scan for power levels. "Don't overdo it, Ranko."

The woman nodded and closed her eyes. There was some pain, but nothing worse than what she got in a regular sparring session. Ranko spread her legs into a horse stance and held back her fists, concentrating. "I know."

"What's going on, Washuu?" Tenchi asked after a few moments of silence. Washuu waved him back.

"Later, Tenchi."

Ranko screamed.

Everyone went on the defensive, startled by such an action and then the explosion of power from the redhead. They'd seen her power up before, but this was being done slower. Like Ranko was accustoming herself to the power all over again. And then they figured out why.

"Woah!" Ranma had his arm up over his eyes as the power became brighter, golden rather than blue or red. It felt like pure energy, almost burning.

Grinning widely, Washuu jumped up and down in excitement. "Ranko's power level has jumped almost two hundred percent!"

The others gaped in astonishment as Ranko drew in her aura, smiled, and then took off. A crater was left in the wake of her speed. They could tell she was doing one of her aerial katas by the sound of the sound barrier being broken all over the place. Trenches were dug in the ground just from her passing and it was overwhelming to be so close to something like this.

The others could only guess at what such power must feel like, but Ranko was on a high. Her blood boiled! She felt like bursting at the seems. Her new aura was adjusting quickly and the rush would fade, but for now, Ranko felt strong enough to take on a hundred Saiyajins!

Akane gasped when an explosion occurred close by, but the reason had disappeared long before. "I can't even see her!"

Ranma was grinning. While he wanted to be the best, his sensei was the best. Striving to become stronger, to push herself in the Art, not like his worthless father. Ranko was the greatest!

When she was finished, Ranko stopped in mid air and fell softly to the ground. She looked . . . content. "Well?"

Washuu smirked and waggled her finger. "I still want to keep you under observation for the next week, but it looks like we were successful."

Nodding in return, Ranko took off once again. She could ignore the pain; she wanted to enjoy this while she could.

*~*~*

After a week, the gloom in the shrine had all but dissipated. Things were almost festive with the constant reminder of Ranko-sensei's new power.

Ranko winced every now and then, but the pain was normal, Washuu told her. Her genetic code was being rewritten. Nerve endings were probably being altered to deal with the slightly different physiology, adapting to however the Saiyajins withstood such massive amounts of energy in their bodies.

Although the thought of becoming a Saiyajin sickened her, Ranko could not fault the power she was given. In a few more months it wouldn't be a problem anyway. She would kill the invaders and then she would be the last of the Saiyajins.

The species would die with her.

For her check up, Washuu had come out to the yard to scan Ranko's body. Ranko was grinning like a madwoman and hugging the other redhead. "You did it, Washuu-chan. We should tell them."

Washuu tried to look happy, but she still had misgivings. "I don't think so. It may be just a fluke that you responded so well. Your last blood test shows a high level of electric recoil between alleles."

"It's perfect, Washuu-chan." Ranko took a step back and passed her hands over her body. "Look at me. I'm stronger, faster, and more powerful. Hell I'm getting bored because I haven't had a good fight all week." She grinned and went into the horse stance again. It hadn't taken more than a day to reacquaint herself with her ki all over again. "No one can even come close to me now. Watch."

Others came out to witness the check up as well, though they were in the dark about the operation. Haruka shook her head in amusement. All week Ranko had been acting a bit more carefree. This showing off made her seem more human as well. "Will you look at that?"

"She's got to be stronger than Saturn now," Usagi speculated.

Akane cheered alongside Ryouga and Ranma. "We're actually going to beat these monsters. I know it!"

"All right, Ranko!" Makoto whistled out in encouragement as their sensei's aura began to brighten once again. It was stronger a little bit more than before and even she could feel it.

"HA!" Ranko reached the pinnacle of her power, muscles straining, veins appearing over her forehead and neck. She glanced at Washuu through the power and provided a shuddering grin. "See . . it's . . . perfect . . ."

Something felt wrong.

Like a snap, Ranko's aura dropped and she clutched at her head. Shuddering more, Ranko's suddenly fell to her knees and vomited up a mouthful of blood.

"Ranko!"

Washuu was running forward and pushing the others out of her way. She knew something could happen, but she didn't want to believe it. "Get back. Give me some room." Scanners were out and reviewing every aspect of Ranko's body. An outline of the fighter was highlighted in red throughout almost every part of her body. Internal bleeding, hemorrhaging, cardiac arrest, organ failure, and the list went on. "Ranma, bring her to my lab quickly."

Ranma did so and the closet was locked after them. The fighters paced outside, waiting anxiously for results.

There was no problem though, right? Ranko was strong and Washuu was the greatest scientific genius in the universe. Things would be fine.

Others feared that this is what would happen to a body after surpassing its power limit. Their greatest chance for fighting the Saiyajins had likely just been snatched right out from under them. Even Ayeka was worried about Ranko and was not glaring at Ryoko and her baby.

Nobody returned to training in the following hours and nothing had been heard as of yet. Cologne was starting to think of ways to break into the lab when the closet door finally opened.

"Well? What is it? Is Ranko going to be okay?"

Ranma came out of the room with Washuu and he looked over the crowd quietly. He moved over to Akane and sat down beside her at the table.

Stifling her fears, Cologne turned to the scientist. "Washuu?"

Speaking as professionally as she could, the woman stared evenly at the crowd of anxious fighters. "Ranko has fallen into a coma."

"But you can take care of her, can't you Washuu?" Nodoka asked worriedly.

After a moment of silence, Yosho put a hand on the scientist's shoulder. "Washuu?"

"Ranko isn't expected to recover, all right?!" Ranma snapped. He glared at the room with tears running down his cheeks. Not being able to take the stares, Ranma stood up and grabbed Akane to make her follow.

Akane didn't pull away after seeing the sadness in his eyes. "Ranma?"

The boy looked back to the group and tried to control his emotions. "She taught us all we need to know. Now let's just finish what she started." Looking away, Ranma left for the backyard. "Break's over, Akane."

Swallowing, Akane nodded her head and followed. "Right."

End Chapter Three

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