jared@netuser.com>

Mirrors Multiplied

Part Three
When Things Get Interesting

by Jared Ornstead

Todays Disclaimer was stolen from a little old lady who only drove it to
work on Sundays.
(Ranma 1/2 and its associated characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.
Sailor Moon and its associated characters created by Naoko Takeuchi. No

infringement intended.)

************************************************

Sailor Pluto met the young man just outside the wall as he left the
Saotome estate. "Transform, Ranma. We've got to talk."
He looked around. "A world of over two-thirds water, and I can never
find any when I need it. C'mon, lets find a fountain and a less public
place."
It began to rain. Visibility dropped sharply.
"You timed this pretty well." Ranko observed.
"That's my job. Change."
Ranko called out her transformation phrase, and was swiftly replaced
by Sailor Earth. Pluto waved her staff and suddenly the two of them were
in a non-place. No features, no landmarks, no floor, just the pair of
them floating in place.
Earth pivoted to face Pluto, totally comfortable in zero-gee. "So
what's up?"
A weary Pluto shook her head in resignation. "You *do* realize that
you are the single largest disruption the time stream has ever had?" She
asked, not at all happy. "Everything has been affected. The fabric of
time has been worn very thin, Earth."
Earth shrugged. "I'm sorry. I had no idea what I was doing."
Pluto got mad. "And you think that's *good* enough? Are you saying
your selfish search for happiness was *worth* all this? I'm not awake
yet!" She screamed, bringing a hand to her chest. "None of the Outer
Scouts are! But I've been called to come back through time to deal with
your meddling. I *hate* meddling, and I hate to do it in response to
meddling."
Pluto simmered at a lower heat. "Enough. You aren't of the Silver
Millennium, yet you are now a Sailor Scout." Her eyes blazed. "If you
*weren't* a Scout I'd destroy you now."
Earth was weighing the other Sailor's abilities. "Yes, Pluto. You
could do it. But you'd have to freeze time, which would be breaking your
own rules. And that wouldn't help this situation any."
Pluto calmed slightly. "You're right, Earth. You are very powerful.
Extremely so. Which is why I'm going to do what I'm planning to do."
Earth cocked an eyebrow. Holding herself close enough to action to
be able to counter any non-temporal move on the other Scout's part.
"You can relax." She sighed. "I'm *not* going to hurt you. I need
you to help fix the trouble you've caused." Pluto sagged as if under a
heavy weight. "First you have to be of the Silver Millennium. Not easy
to do, I assure you, but because the distortion is centered around you I
can make use of some of it to alter your past. One more set of memories
isn't likely to disturb you greatly."
"Fair enough." Earth admitted.
"Second, because of ripples from this distortion the Inner Scouts
may be called to counter threats that they cannot handle. In fact your
frequent rewriting of history has played merry havoc with all the
schedules. Nothing is as it should be. The Outer Scouts will be *years*
in discovering their identities!" Pluto glared. "There is one exception
to that. Saturn is already stirring."
"And how can I help with all this?"
Pluto fumed. "Saturn *needs* guidance and direction, Earth, or she
could destroy your world just fighting minions! Of all the Scouts,
Saturn is by far the most dangerous to her friends. And so *you* will be
her guardian and protector. Uranus and Neptune would have done this if
time were different. Now they can't, so *you* will."
"Okay, I promise that I will take care of her."
Pluto eyed Earth dangerously. "Teach her, Earth. She's got to learn
to control herself or there won't be a planet for you to live on. Her
powers are that dangerous. She can heal, but she can also harm."
"Pluto, I don't lie." Earth warned, beginning to grow weary herself.
"I don't give my word easily, and you already have it."
"That's a good thing, Earth." Pluto returned. "Because Saturn is
waking up in response to a need for her powers."
Pluto waved her staff and Sailor Earth was returned to Nerima,
alone.
She tapped her communicator. "Serena?" She asked, somewhat surprised
at who'd answered. "We've got to get the Scouts together. Something big
has come up."

They sat together in a quiet spot in the park, Ranma with his arm
around Rea's waist. She was leaning into him, for once not even noticing
Serena babbling away.
The last Scout joined them.
"Sorry, gang." Amy apologized. "I'm not used to having to meet twice
in one day. I was with my mother at the hospital and it took me some
time to get away."
"That's ok," Serena groaned. "It gave our two love birds time to
make us sick with their snuggling."
Rae was too happy to notice, or care.
Ranma apologized. "Sorry about that, Amy. But two important things
happened since our talk this morning, and it seemed wise that you should
know about them. One is that I met Sailor Pluto."
There were blank looks.
"Now before you ask, I'd heard about Pluto before, but I'd never met
her. She is the guardian of time, and she'd traveled back *through* time
in order to give me a warning. That warning was... Well, let me put it
another way. Have you noticed that all our planets are in close to the
sun? Pluto called us the `Inner Scouts.' She explained that there were
Outer Scouts, but that most of them wouldn't be joining us for awhile.
Except one."
Ranma looked down at the girl in his arms, then back up at the
others. "She told me that Saturn will be joining us soon, and that she
has some rather special problems. I got nominated to take care of her,
but I'll need your help in locating her."
"I don't see any problem with that." Lita leaned comfortably against
a tree.
"Yeah, we'll all pitch in." Mina stretched her torso, enjoying the
sunlight.
"I can set my computer to scan automatically for energy of the
Silver Millennium. I'll just have to figure out a way to edit out
Ranma's on-again-off-again trace of it so it doesn't give out any false
readings."
Ranma smiled into Rae's hair. "I don't think that will be a problem,
Amy. I think my signal will have strengthened by now. Pluto said
something about that."
"Oh. Well then was there something else? You mentioned that two
things had happened to you." Amy had opened her computer on the leafy
ground before her, yet remained attentive nonetheless.
"Yeah, what other *great* news do you have for us?" Serena
questioned dubiously.
"Oh. The other was that I got my mother's permission to marry Rae.
Rae darling, will you marry me?"
Rae lit up like a star.
"Ranma Saotome! Prepare to die!"

Kuno charged from between the trees, his eyes glowing red and a
sword held above his head. Ranma shot to his feet and continued the
motion into a convenient tree. His eyes caught the roughly-chiseled
wooden sword Kuno was using, and shrank to mere pinpricks.
"Uh, oh!"
Kuno effortlessly chopped down the great tree in which Ranma was
hiding. "Come and face the might of the Great Tatewaki Kuno, oh Fiend
from Hell! And taste the bitter cup of utter humiliation!"
Ranma sailed over to a stone monument, and left it barely before it
shattered under a blow from Kuno's blade. He dove under a tree, over a
rock ledge, and around a concrete utility pole, all destroyed moments
behind him by the wrath of the super-powered kendoist.
Kuno stood at the edge of a body of water, the treacherous Saotome
having just leapt across to escape from danger. "Fool of an imbecile!"
Tatewaki cried, raising his wooden sword and striking down at the water.
The pond exploded in a line between them and when the mists had fallen a
gap, a trench, was revealed in the water. Walls of quivering wetness
hung suspended on either side of a dry path.
Kuno started down the path. "Know fear, Saotome. As all your days
have come to an end."
"Jupiter Thunder, Crash!"
"Venus Crescent Beam, Smash!"
Swifter than lightning, Kuno had turned to block the deadly beams.
His sword crackled with energy, beating back the twin assault.
The walls of water surrounding him were not so lucky. They crashed
inward.
Tatewaki arose from the depths, as motionless as a chess piece on an
elevator. He was completely dry, and cackled insanely in triumph. "Oh!
Even the Sailor Scouts do tremble and quake before me!" He screamed,
laughing at the glory of it all.
"Actually, negacreep, we handle trash like you all the time." Sailor
Moon retorted dryly.
"His source of power is the sword!" Ranma called, before diving into
the bushes near a stream.
"That's confirmed." Mercury reported. "That sword more than triples
his speed and is a source of great power. It makes him practically
invulnerable."
Sailor Earth appeared beside them. "That sword packs a whollap. To
be honest I've never fought it before and won. A couple of times its
made hamburger out of me, but accepted my surrender. And twice I've seen
it destroy itself."
"Under what conditions did it destroy itself?" Mercury queried,
busily typing at her computer.
Earth's brow furrowed in thought. "I can't remember, but both times
it had something to do with a girl."
Mars was powering up. "His source of power is the sword, huh? Mars
Fire, Ignite!" Her spinning jet of fire laced out to snare the sword in
Tatewaki's grasp. Kuno held it forth, expecting the sword to stop the
blast, then held onto it screaming as the wood grew to unbearable heat.
"Apparently the sword's defensive functions are only engaged when
protecting its wielder." Mercury informed them. "I suggest that we
direct our attacks toward it."
"Got *that* right! Moon Tiara, Magic!"
But Kuno had learned wisdom from his error, leaping over the blazing
disk of energy to land on the shore beside them.
"Scatter!" Earth called, then launched an attack on Kuno's gullet,
which was effortlessly deflected, and returned in a dozen strikes more
powerful. Earth went down.
Tears streamed from an angry Mars as she shouted. "No one attacks us
on the day I get engaged!" A cloud of sizzling energy surrounded her.
"Mars Fire Bird, Strike!"
Kuno was just about to strike Earth a lethal blow, and heard over his
shoulder a cry of passion. Turning to face it, he caught sight of a
vision of loveliness, surrounded by wreaths of fire. Said wreaths of
fire coalesced into a shinning, fiery bird which struck down on him.
Not about to waste a moment. "Venus Crescent Beam, Smash!"
"Mercury Bubbles, Blast!"
Earth got out of there just as the combined attacks hit.
Kuno staggered out of the explosion, clothes afire and his hair
turned into a charcoal bird's nest, shivering with cold even while
burning.
"Did you even hit him?" Sailor Moon asked as an aside to Venus.
Venus nodded and pointed at Kuno's hands, shot through the wrists.
"Eww." Moon bigsweated, holding her nose. "Guess he really didn't
want to let go of the sword, did he?"
Earth rebounded and rolled to her feet, but Mars wasn't finished
yet. "For what you have done on my engagement day, you can never be
forgiven!" She yelled at the top of her lungs toward the hapless Kuno,
struggling to regain his defensive posture. "I call upon the power of
Mars!" A huge fiery aura coalesced around her, blazing with heat and
energy. "Mars *Twin* Fire Birds, Strike!!"
Kuno parried one of the destructive, blazing forms, which
incinerated his sword down to the hilt. The other caught him on his
undefended backside, torching the noble Kuno's shorts in a towering
inferno of flame, and sending him screaming into the lake in high
pitched agony.
The other Sailors bigsweated. "Uh, remind me not to get Mars mad at
me, Kay?" Moon requested.
The others nodded wordlessly.

Ranma ran into Kasumi on his way home through the market.
"Hello, Ranma-chan!" She called merrily.
He gazed down in terror at his chest, then practically died of
relief when he failed to see what he'd feared. "Man, just an expression.
Whew!"
She started over to him. Ranma really didn't have time to talk, but
supposed that he could make an exception for Kasumi. Then something
warned him and he pulled her body against his, carrying her along with
him as he dodged under an energy blast aimed in their direction.
He leapt away with her in his arms as the resulting explosion turned
a shop counter into ash.
"Oh, Ranma-chan. Are we going on our date now? Could we stop by the
market for just a moment? I have to pick up some green vegetables for
dinner tonight."
Ranma's eyes were hurriedly sweeping for foes. "It's kinda hard to
say, Kasumi. But there might not *be* a market in the next thirty
seconds or so."
He spotted his antagonist, creeping up on him from around a corner.
His eyebrows furrowed, `too easy', and made the leap to his side as the
rooftop he'd been standing on was destroyed from behind.
Ranma scowled mightily, then raced along the rooftops. This was not
good. He was being efficiently and effectively tracked and hunted, and
after that first blast he'd had no choice but to carry Kasumi along with
him. She was *shockingly* sexy under her house dress, but carrying her
was also weighing him down and slowing his reactions.
That `guess when the unseen attack comes' trick was unreliable and,
at best, worked only a couple of times. He sought out an empty field to
stand in. He had to identify what was hunting him, because some people
would allow Kasumi to go free, while others?
"Kasumi?" He asked. "Be an angel and use your position to look
behind me? Please tell me if anyone approaches. Okay? We could be in
danger."
Kasumi nodded and began her vigil, looking over his shoulder behind
them. Then, led by some mysterious female sense, decided that now would
be a good time to resolve something.
"Ranma? Do you..." She blushed and struggled. "What I am trying to
say is that, I know you know Nabiki very well, and Akane is alot younger
than I am. Do I... Am I too old to be attractive to you?" She blurted
out suddenly.
Ranma fought to hide his initial panic. He could practically hear
her self esteem hanging on that question. Kasumi was an invulnerable
person in many regards, and one whom he deeply respected. But her
confidence wasn't all that high, and she could be very easily hurt
whenever that wavered.
To build up, or destroy, Kasumi right where it hurt. Hmm, tough
question...
He shifted to get her more comfortable in his arms. "Kasumi, I think
that you are very attractive."
She plucked self-consciously at the collar of her house dress. "You
don't think that... that I'm too housewife-ish?"
Double Jeopardy. Nobody asks the same question twice unless they are
really in need of ego return. Then again, who did she have to tell her
these things? She'd probably had these doubts about herself for a long
time, and along comes someone who can answer them...
He forced a chuckle. "The dress doesn't matter *that* much, Kasumi.
A man would have to be blind not to see the woman inside it."
Wrong comment. Compliments and witticisms aren't enough to reach the
deep wounds. Ranma changed tack. "Look, I like Nabiki. She's weird but
cute, and a good friend who can help you out of a jam. If you can afford
it, that is." He amended, smirking just a little. "Akane can be neat
sometimes, but she's a little temperamental and can get pretty wild. But
while they have their own gifts, and I'm not belittling them, you have
the ability to make everyone feel happy, cared for, and, well... loved.
That's a rare gift Kasumi, and I think everybody appreciates it."
She changed demeanor in his arms, no longer tense. A handyman knows
when something is no longer leaking, but a craftsman doesn't put his
hand to something if he knows he's going to stop when it's `good
enough.' He wants it *done*. It becomes a matter of pride.
He sighed. "Kasumi. There's alot in this world that I *don't* know.
And I always seem to be getting into trouble, or saying the wrong
things. But you make me feel very good. And I like to be around you. I
think the world would be an awfully unhappy place without you in it." He
confessed honestly.
Ranma kinda forgot that she sort of considered herself engaged to
him at the time.

About a dozen knives came flying at them from the edge of the field.
Ranma ignored them, they were just distraction for what was to come...
He vaulted out of the way as an energy blast obliterated the center
of the field, then took off running. He'd caught a glimpse of his
pursuers. And he was scared.
Ranma came down as Ukyo was just opening the doors to her
restaurant. "HiUcchanIloveyoubutIcan'tstoptotalkrightnowseeyoulaterBye!"
He then leapt away with a beautiful, long-haired woman in his arms.
Ukyo blinked, then stood looking down his fading trail.
"Wow, I wonder what all that was about. Poor Ran-chan really looked
scared. Should I...?" But no, her question was already answered. Now was
not the time.

Ranma was of a wonderful philosophy that no one should die for
having trusted him, and his enemies were vengeful. So he dropped Kasumi
off at his mother's estate, thankful for once for all the perimeter
guards and defenses. But as the protection there was not perfect, or
even nearly so, he sped off, knowing that his enemies would be following
him.
Nodoka approached the eldest Tendo daughter. "Why Kasumi dear!" She
embraced her warmly. "I'm so glad my son has chosen you. So you've
accepted his proposal?"
Kasumi bobbed her head eagerly, gleaming with a brilliant light.
"And he spoke to you about there being more than just you, that
there may be other wives?"
Nothing could impact on Kasumi's happiness. Recalling what he'd said
about liking Nabiki she nodded again, intent on the world of joy that
she had found.
Nodoka embraced the radiant girl. "I'm *so* glad. Please, I want you
to know you can call me `Mother' from now on." She called to her butler.
"Priory, this young lady is going to be living with us. See that a suite
of rooms are prepared for her."
The butler bowed.

A wet but no longer pursued Ranko found her way to the Tendo dojo.
Sneaking inside she pulled out a tiny mirror useful for seeing around
corners. Seeing no one in the Tendo bath she slipped in to get some hot
water.
She would have preferred the kitchen, but when Kasumi was at market
she left her home in ship shape, battened down and tidy. It would take
twice as long to get hot water there. If only from cleaning up after
herself.
There is a miracle surrounding the Tendo bath, not unlike the
mystery spot in California where gravity inexplicably works backwards.
No sooner had Ranko gotten inside and was reaching for the tap when the
outer door opened.
Someone came inside.
Akane came in to the bath area nude and slid the screen closed
behind her. Oddly, one of the hot water taps was running. She turned it
off, then sat down to get a good scrub.
Ranma recalled ruefully that the *one* time their parents had ever
gotten them together it had been by laying down a strict cleanliness
rule. With all the baths they'd had to take after fights, squabbles,
practice and mishaps, and the inevitable run ins those baths involved,
they had finally grown comfortable with each other and, well...
Akane washed off all the dirt from a hard practice session, then
slipped into the tub for a long soak.
Ranma was having a *very* hard time holding his breath. He'd learned
pearl diver techniques that allowed one to stay under for ridiculously
long. But he'd hoped that it wouldn't come to this.
Using the last of his breath he shouted underwater. "Now you see me,
now you DON'T!"
Akane practically leapt out of her skin as the bath bubbled and
frothed around her. It looked for an instant like a large shape had left
the water.
In fact...
Akane grabbed the screen just as it was about to open of its own
accord. "Oh, no you don't!" She grabbed a towel and began swinging it
around her, hoping to detect an invisible shape by slapping it.
Ranma was clinging to the ceiling. Exactly how long could he hold
like this he didn't know, and just where did she get experience fighting
invisible opponents?
Akane quieted down. Latching the screen shut behind her she put a
plug over the floor drain, then turned on a tap, staying on guard for
the minutes it took to cover the floor in about a half-inch of water.
Clever. He appraised. She would see any footsteps, probably hear
them as well. Which cut down the places an invisible person could be. He
could stand on the sink, or the tub, maybe cling to a few other places.
Or he could be on the ceiling.
Akane began whipping her towel over the places in question.
He prayed she wouldn't think of the last place. She finished
checking all the tile and fixtures, them gave him a good look, seeing
right through him. Akane shrugged and replaced the towel on its bar.
"Oh, well. I guess he got away."
Ranma was struggling between relief and fatigue. Happosai would be
fully charged right now, but Ranma didn't get his energy by spying on
girl's baths.
A drop of water from his soaked hair ran down his nose, falling from
the tip and descending gracefully to the puddle on the floor.
Akane had nearly put her foot back in the tub, the sound of her
going in would easily have hidden the drop, but she hadn't. It was
heard.
Ranma had dropped to the wet floor before even before the towel was
back in her hand. Going down on one knee he dropped his eyes to the
floor, returning visible before her.
"I apologize for my intrusion, I did not mean to spy. I await your
will." About the worst she could do was hit him, and that wouldn't hurt.

Akane dropped her towel. "Ranma? What are you doing here?" Realizing
who he was she snatched back up her towel and wrapped its wet length
around her.
Ranma did not raise his eyes from the floor. He explained. "While
passing your home I encountered a pressing need for hot water. Not
finding any to be had in the kitchen I came here. You entered and, not
knowing how to explain myself, I hid."
Tying a knot in the towel to keep it on she asked. "Why didn't you
just ask? If you'd come to the front door I would have given you some.
Are... are you a pervert?"
His head shook negatively, still not raising it. "No, Akane, I would
prefer to be married before looking on a woman in this way."
Her hands lost their hold on the knot she was tying, the towel fell
to the floor with a wet splot.
Perhaps that was not the best thing to say.
He rose, averting his gaze. "I'll go now."

In a hospital with far better facilities than the medical community
usually knew existed, several doctors were gathered around a table. On
boards all around them were displayed several photos of grievous
injuries. All, interestingly enough, done to the same body.
Kuno's family physician put his hands firmly on the table.
"Gentlemen, we have the technology. We can rebuild him, better,
stronger, faster..."

Soaking wet and female (it was just one of those days) Ranko stopped
by a telephone to call Rae and ask if she could stop by for hot water.
She fumbled in a coin and dialed in the number as she remembered it.
"Hello," a female voice answered. Ranko didn't recognize it. Did Rae
have an aunt, a sister? The voice went on with only a brief pause. "You
have reached the Goddess Helpline..."
Ranko hung up. She didn't need some silly psychic. Apparently she'd
not remembered the number correctly.
She almost didn't notice the shop window behind her flare and start
to glow. Almost, that is. Some things are hard for a near-paranoid
martial artist to ignore. Ranko spun to face it in a ready stance.
A gentle woman in outlandish garb pulled herself out of the window.
She caught Ranko with a smile that would have melted ice. "Why hello.
I'm the goddess Belldandy."
Ranko dropped her stance, bowing low. "Hello, Belldandy. Is your
father well?"
Belldandy bobbed, still smiling. "Why yes, he is! Do you know him?"
"Only by reputation. May I interest you in a cup of tea?"
Belldandy beamed. "How sweet! But I'm not here for refreshment. I
have come to grant you you're heart's desire."
She floated up close to Ranko, conspiratorially. "But the rules say,
I'm only allowed to grant you one wish."
Another one? What was she going to do with *another* one?
Belldandy laughed. "Oh my, you really have had a little trouble,
haven't you? But there's no need to worry. I personally guarantee that
this will turn out all right."
Ranko relaxed considerably, warming to this person. She laughed,
thinking back on how frustrating her life had been. "Oh, Belldandy. I
only wish you could say that would be true forever. Things have a habit
of going horribly wrong for me. Huh?"
Belldandy wasn't listening, her head was thrown fully back and her
face was wrapped in concentration. Their clothing, hair and loose
objects swirling around them in an unseen wind. A beam of light escaped
from Belldandy's forehead, rocketing skyward, where it split the crowds.

The goddess fell back into a more normal state and beamed at Ranko.
"I am very happy to inform you that your wish has been approved!"
And Ranko thought she'd learned to be less careless. Then she
remembered what that wish had been and she almost hugged the goddess.
"You mean *this* will turn out alright? The wish, the engagements,
everything?"
Belldandy did look concerned. "Well, I did contact my sister Urd.
She said that your file is extremely thick, more than any one goddess
could handle. But while I cannot guarantee everything, there is much
that I can do to help out." She held out her hand to be taken. Ranko
took it.
"For instance, your curse has helped you, but also put you in
danger. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen. Will you let me help?"
Ranko nodded her acceptance. Belldandy closed her eyes and for a
moment the two of them glowed brightly.
Belldandy wavered, and Ranko caught her. "That was harder than I
thought. But you should... have..."
The goddess passed out. Ranko caught hold of her and swung her up
into her arms. Should have... Control? She tried willing a change.
Nothing.
"Oh, well. I guess I'll learn about it later." Ranko remembered that
the Ucchan was near. It had been so many lives since she'd seen it that
she'd briefly forgotten.
"Well, gotta get hot water if I'm going to go home."

A soaking wet Ranko entered the Ucchan, Belldandy in arms.
Ukyo looked up from the customers she was serving. "Hey, Ran-chan.
Isn't that a different girl than you were carrying around earlier
today?"
Ranko giggled. "Yeah, it is. I can't wait to tell you the story.
Hey, do you mind if I drop her off in your room?"
"Oh, I don't know. I'm not used to strange men in my room." Ucchan
played with her.
"So who's a man?" Ranko responded with a tease and a wink.
Ukyo laughed. "But you *are* strange."
"Got that right. Do you mind?"
"Love nothing better. I hope to be *married* to a strange man soon.
Come down soon, okay?" She waved a spatula at Ranko. "No ravishing women
on my bed."
"Well, I dunno, *I* can think of a woman I'd love to ravish on your
bed. See ya in a bit!" Ranko dashed upstairs.
The customers were staring at her.
Ukyo thought about how to explain it, then gave it up, pouring
another okanomiyaki happily.

Ranma trotted downstairs, still soaking wet but male. He grabbed a
tray and began moving among tables.
"Say Ran-chan, how long have you been in the restaurant business?"
Ucchan deftly tossed him a finished okanomiyaki, which he smoothly
caught on a fresh plate and slid before a customer.
"Ah, never. My family's rich."
She paused in the act of throwing him another, then tossed it to
him. He caught it just as easily and placed it before another paying
customer. "Hey, now I can't believe that. You handle yourself too
easily."
Ranma whisked up a tray full of dirty dishes and sailed behind the
counter. He hadn't dumped the dishes in the sink before they were
already out and drying. Had she blinked? Ucchan had been sure those were
dirty. Then they were dry and stacked, with Ranma putting away the
drying cloth.
Ukyo shook herself. She was sure she hadn't blinked.
"Say, do you cook?"
Ranma pecked her on the cheek and sailed back over the counter.
"Wouldn't presume. You happen to cook okanomiyaki to perfection. I'm too
afraid that if I try I'll ruin your restaurant's reputation."
She tossed him another pancake, he caught it. She smiled wickedly,
and threw three more. Was that a tear in his eye? He seemed to be
enjoying himself.
He scooted back over to her. "Ahh, reminds me of the good old days
when Great Grandmother tried to bean me in the head with a bowl of
ramen. Well, six bowls of ramen, actually."
Ukyo tossed another okanomiyaki halfway across the room, Ranma was
under it. She didn't hesitate, tossing six more in rapid succession, all
in different corners of the dining area. Ranma not only caught them all,
he served them with aplomb.
Ukyo settled into this game in earnest.

Half an hour later the Ucchan was filled to capacity with a line
waiting outside. But Ranma and Ucchan were laughing too hard to continue
their game.
"Sorry Ucchan," he kissed her. "But I have to go. No doubt all the
people waiting to kill me are getting impatient, and I have to go hide
my latest fiance in the closet so you don't see her and find out."
"Well, of course. You wouldn't want me to know. But I thought the
closet was full. Don't you have three in there already?" Ukyo teased.
"Oh, no. You're thinking of the dresser. That's just where I keep my
backup fiances, the one's I'm just stringing along. You know, free food,
a little snuggling, but nothing serious? No, I only have two that I'm
keeping in the closet."
Ukyo glittered at him cutely. "Do I get my own shelf?"
"Well of course you do. Why, you're in the top three *easily!*"
Ucchan glowed at her future husband. She feigned concern. "But, my
dearest Ran-chan, wouldn't you get lonely? I mean, with *only* three
fiances won't you grow bored?"
He posed, as if accepting a hardship. "I know, but it is a burden I
am prepared to accept. Luckily, I can always fall back on one of the
spares I've stuffed in the ceiling tiles."
The two of them collapsed together in mirth.
The customers thought it was funny up to the point when Ranma dashed
upstairs to fetch down Belldandy. She was still sleeping, so he merely
carried her out of the restaurant in his arms.
Then the customers, thinking this was staged, thought it was
hilarious.

Ranma arrived home, evading no fewer than three attempts by old
women to fling water on him while `cleaning the sidewalk.' He'd gotten
wise when he realized that they never seemed to toss the water all that
high or far until he came by. Getting soaked while passing overhead had
sort of clued him in that something was going on.
But he'd evaded them. And, still male, he jumped over the gate to
home. The guards weren't used to his display of acrobatics yet, but he
figured he didn't care. Ranma went inside and handed off Belldandy into
the faithful care of some of the maids under Priory.
"Hi, this is Belldandy. Would you please prepare some rooms for her
and put her to bed?"
"Of course, young master. Shall she be staying long?" This was the
butler's oblique way of asking if she was going to be another bride.
Ranma thought about the wish. "Very long, Priory. Or at least I hope
so. Anyway, goodnight!"
He ran off to bed, while behind him whispering and speculation began
among the maids.
Priory smiled as he gave the order to open up another suite.

Ranma dreamed.
There had been a swirling rainbow, colors fading into deep gray
mists. Ranma had come to awareness as a girl. She'd spent an hour
moping, turning the covers around her, too upset to sleep.
That had really been the crux of it. She was tired, but her anger at
Happosai wasn't letting her sleep. The mirror hadn't been *that* bad, if
only the old freak hadn't made it into the madhouse it had been.
Deciding to go for some hot water, female Ranma slipped out of bed.
A pair of slippers automatically met her feet as she slid from beneath
the covers. They had a somewhat jarring effect on her that got her to
look at things, to see her room for the first time. Her gaze traveled
over the white down comforter and pink sheets on a deep, soft bed, the
stuffed animals on chairs, the long tee shirt she was wearing over
yellow panties, the little panda slippers that had found her feet.
True to form, Ranma had started screaming.
The woman who had answered those cries turned out to be his mother.
But it had taken her close to eleven hours of care and concern to get
certain things across to her child.
Like the fact that Ranma had been *born* a woman.

Ranma woke in a cold sweat, shudders quaking his frame. He sat up
and grabbed his head. No, that hadn't been fun. Perhaps a necessary step
in becoming who he was now. Still, it hadn't been fun, though being with
his mother had been nice.
Delivering Akane and Kuno's baby had not been.
Ranma stretched his limbs, looked at his clock. Close to midnight,
not time for even the earliest riser. He went back to bed.
And dreamed.

Dreamed of soft, white flesh under his hand, of ruby lips, and
dancing eyes. Of pounding a stake through Lita's heart, and sleeping in
a room hung with garlic.
In all not nearly as bad as that time he'd married Akane. With the
vampire Rae he'd enjoyed glorious, sun-filled days of love and laughter.
She'd only become a vampire scout at night, letting them enjoy the sun
together while it lasted.
He'd never found out where Akane hid that mallet.

Ranma woke refreshed and well-rested. By now it was automatic to
reach over and pluck a snack from the tray, today it was blueberry
muffins filled with jam, and grab the morning's paper.
He supposed his `former self' had read the financial pages or the
comics, he had use for neither. The front page read "Mars to Marry!"
with a subsidiary article that detailed Japan's reaction.
The first story retold events at the Cherry Hill Park, somehow
skipping the helicopters and going on to tell about how the Scouts had
defeated a raving maniac (officially unidentified) who had begun
attacking helpless park visitors. The paper told that during the fight,
in a moment of great emotion, an upset Mars had blamed the villain for
spoiling a very special day, revealing that she had that day accepted a
proposal of marriage.
Very little was known of the Sailor's social lives, but that one
incident had sparked enormous public interest. A popular clothing
manufacturer would be coming out with bridal attire based on styles
unique to Mars' costume, and a `Wedding Dress Mars' was being rushed to
stores by a major toy company. Orders were already stacking up on these
items.
The subsidiary article announced that the Japanese government had
met and were expected to deal with the possibility of making the day of
the announcement a national holiday.
Ranma dropped his paper in surprise, thereby missing the article on
page three about the recent string of panty thefts.

In the kitchen of the Saotome mansion three women were to meet.
Belldandy had risen early, recharged and refreshed, and found herself in
a wonderful room with blue carpet and draperies.
A maid had shown her the garden, and now she wandered into the
kitchen holding a basket full of strawberries.
Nodoka looked up from where she was kneading dough, her arms covered
in flour to the elbows. "Good morning!" she beamed, earning a responding
glow from the girl. "You must be Belldandy. Priory left a note for me on
how Ranma brought you home with him last evening. I'm sorry I wasn't
awake to greet you."
Belldandy assumed a cute expression. "Oh no, really. You don't have
to be sorry just because of me. I was given a *wonderful* room and feel
very happy. I was just in your garden."
Nodoka blinked. Those were strawberries. Somehow it seemed so like
her son to find someone who would be able to gather strawberries out of
season.
Belldandy giggled. "Yes, your son is an amazing person. May I help?"
She asked, indicating the dough Nodoka had been kneading.
Nodoka smiled. "Of course, dear. Have you done much baking before?"
"No, but I would *love* to learn."
Kasumi floated in on a cloud of happiness.

--Sorry folks, I would love to write more, but the image of those three
together in a kitchen boggles the mind. *I* can't even see what's going
on in there, they're sending off such powerful Domestic Tranquility
rays. Though I should imagine plants get healthier and small woodland
animals start appearing where they have no right to be. In fact, if a
unicorn or a rainbow shows up unexplained now you know why.--

To be continued...

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************************************************

Author's Notes:
You know, I tried to play it your way. I lived by the rules. I paid
attention to the criticism and advice that I was receiving. I even wrote
out a plot in advance.
Then I discovered that I wasn't having any fun.
So shove it, it's not my muse. I will continue mucking with reality
as I see fit. I will fold, spindle and mutilate it. Because that's what
I do best, and if you're reading this, then you liked the first two
enough not to be complaining about it.
And in case it's escaped everyone's notice. This is *not* a serious
work.

So far each part of this has announced its own end. I just can't
write more in that part, so I post it and go on. It has nothing to do
with length, I don't think, merely activity. I've been fitting more in
less space.
The bathroom scene was so I could see how this new Ranma would
react. Didn't comport himself too badly, considering.
Now this is just a thought. But how does everyone feel about a
Nabiki - Urd alliance?

FYI: I decided to make the Scouts of an age with the Nerima gang. Why?
For the romance, of course.

And now a line from that popular song:
"It's my story and I'll write what I want to, write what I want
to..."

Html conversions and a web site are under way. But they detract time
from the real business of writing. So I'm sure you can forgive me in
that I don't divert too *much* time.

I had been giving serious consideration to calling this quits at
part five or so, but then I got an email or two with just this nifty
idea I *had* to try, and well...
As always I can be got ahold of at the aol address of skysaber, and
most of you have already found me at my posting address.

P.S. Does anybody know how I can modify my fics after they've
reached archive status? Not that I have any HUGE changes in mind (or
else I'd repost) I just want to know.