RanmaZ

Chapter Two

Sailor Pluto Comes Calling

          Ranma smiles as walks along the fence towards school.  Akane, on the other hand, is frowning.  "What are you so happy about, baka(1)?"  She asks in an irritated tone.

            "Nothing much," He says with a smile and continues on his way.

            Akane growls.  ("He's lying!  I know he is!")  She looks up at him again.  "You better not have been with Ukyo or Shampoo.  Remember you're engaged to my sister."

            Ranma decides to have some fun with Akane.  "Shampoo's my friend.  Besides I am engaged to Ukyo as well as your sister.  And which sister would that be anyway?  I was engaged to all the Tendo sisters.  Wait a minute!"  He turns to Akane.  "Doesn't that include you?"

            Akane humphs and turns away.  "We aren't engaged."

            Ranma smiles.  "Come on Akane!" 

Akane turns and is surprised to find Ranma right beside her.  ("Wasn't he on the fence?")

            "Come on Akane, let's skip school and go on a date!"

            Akane blushes.  ("He sounds serious.")

            Ranma stares in Akane's eyes, presumably for an answer.  For a moment there is nothing, before he finally bursts out in laughter.  "You should have seen your face!"  He cries out as he wipes the tears from his eyes.  "Lets go on a date!"  He laughs again.

            Akane, however, begins to emit a red battle aura.  "Ranma no baka!"  She cries out.

            ("So this is Furinkan High?")  Sailor Pluto thinks as she looks down on the school.  She arrived at the school early to make sure the Saiyan would not slip past her.  ("I've heard about it.  It's supposed to boarder on a reform school.")  She scans the schoolyard for the Saiyan but sees nothing.  ("Just a bunch of kids going through their normal routine.")  Then she spots him.  "There you are!"

            Ranma has just entered the schoolyard with Akane close behind.  He wags his tail in her face and dodges a punch.  "Come on Akane!  I know you can do better than that!"

            "Shut up!"  She swings again but hits nothing.

            "Come on!  You…," Ranma's words die as his senses kick into overdrive.  He pushes Akane out of the way before his back explodes in pain.  He recovers and stays standing.  "Who?"  His eyes make their way to the spot where the blast originated from, the top of the school.  ("It couldn't have been Ryoga, there wasn't any depression.")  When he finally sees his assailant he is stunned.  "A girl?"

            Said girl hopes down off the roof and lands easily.  "What did you do to upset the Sailor Senshi, Ranma?"  Akane asks as she picks herself off the ground.

            "Who?"

            "The Sailor Senshi.  They're a group of girls that fight evil over in Juuban," Akane explains.

            Ranma looks at her with a confused expression.  "Never heard of 'em."  Everyone facefaults.

            "In any case," Sailor Pluto says as she picks herself up.  "I have come to destroy you."  She levels her staff at Ranma.

            "Destroy me?"  Ranma asks.  "I don't even know you.  Why do you want to destroy me?"

            "You are a Saiyan."  Sailor Pluto wastes no more time.  ("This Saiyan will die!")  She rushes forward and swings her staff at Ranma.  She is very surprised when her staff encounters nothing but air.  "Huh?"

            "Um."  Pluto whirls and faces the voice.

            ("When did he move there?")

            "Couldn't we talk about this?"  Ranma asks.

            "No!"  Pluto rushes forward again.  She attacks with a barrage of kicks and punches.

            ("She's fast!  Amiguriken(2) fast!")  Ranma thinks as he dodges her attacks.

            ("He's just dodging!  How can he be that fast?")  Pluto attacks with her staff once more trying to catch Ranma off guard.

            Ranma, however, catches the staff.  "I don't know what your problem is with Saiyans, so I can't let you keep attacking me."

            "Saiyans are evil!"  She yells.  "Dead Scream."  The attack shots out of the globe end of the staff and strikes Ranma in the chest.  He is caught off guard and sent into the school building.

            "Ranma!"  Akane yells out as she rushes to his side.

            Seconds later a, "Ranchan," can be heard from the school.

            ("I need to make sure that he's dead.")  Pluto begins to head to the school building to finish off the Saiyan.

            "Hold!"  A voice calls out.

            She stops and turns.  "Who?"

            "I shall be the one to defeat the foul sorcerer Saotome and no one else!  I am Tatewaki Kuno!  The Blue Thunder of Furinkan High!"  Kuno declares as he takes up the Gedan Position(3).

            Pluto does not waste much time on the fool kendoist.  Kuno is felled with a swift blow from her staff.  She turns back to the school and is surprised once more.  "Get out of my way."

            The two girls in her way shake their heads and take up fighting stance.  "I won't let you near my Ranchan!"  Ukyo declares as she levels her spatula at Pluto.

            "I am Tendo Akane, heir to the Mutsubetsu Kakuto Tendo Ryu(4).  Even if Ranma is a jerk he is my friend and the heir to the Mutsubetsu Kakuto Saotome Ryu(5), I cannot let you harm him."

            Pluto sighs.  "Foolish children, you don't know what you're doing."  Pluto takes up a relaxed stance.  She wants to get the girls out her way, not hurt them.  "Come at me then!"

            Ukyo and Akane nods.  They jump into action at almost the same time, one with a spatula and the other with a fist.  Both inch towards Pluto, their attacks promise nothing but pain and vengeance.  But Pluto moves in-between them.  Before they know what is happening she has delivered one solid blow to their backs.  They are both knocked down.  Pluto turns to go tot eh school.  "Not yet," Akane says as she struggles to her feet.

            Pluto turns around and smiles.  ("A very strong willed girl.")

            "Akane!  Stay down!"  A female voice cries out from one of the school windows.

            "I will not stay down oneesan(6)!  Ranma's defended us so many times!  The least I can do is return the favor!"  Akane yells as she continues to stare at Pluto.

            "I applaud your courage," Pluto pulls back, ready to deliver the blow that will end the fight but not injure the girl too much.  "But it will do nothing for you.  The Saiyan will die."  Her fist descends on the all but defenseless Akane but stops inches from her nose.  "Nani(7)?"  Pluto looks at the hand that has caught her fist and then up at the face.  "You!"

            "You all right, Akane?"  Ranma asks.  Akane nods.  "How about you, Ucchan?"  She nods as well.  "Kuno's probably too stupid to be hurt but go check on him."  They nod and head towards the downed kendoist.  Ranma turns back to Pluto.  The concerned face that was speaking to his friends is now gone.  In its place is an angry face.  "You hurt my friends and placed the lives of innocents at risk by coming here and attack me!"

            "Shut up Saiyan!"  Pluto shoves her staff in his face and attacks.  "Dead Scream."  The attack hits but shatters upon Ranma's face.  "How?"

            "You ain't even worth my time."  He casually tosses the girl into the air.  "Don't come back!"  He screams as he powers up.  The force of his ki causes the ground to shake and crack.  But most of its force is directed at the girl above him.  She is struck and sent flying off into the distance.

            "Ranma, you didn't have to do that," Akane says as she and Ukyo return.  "She's a defender of justice."

            "Yeah Ranchan, it was probably a misunderstanding," Ukyo says.

            "I figured that.  So I focused my ki on just sending away.  She'll be hurtin' when she lands.  But she'll live."  Just then the bell rings.  "Kuso(8)!  We're late!"  All three run into the school, leaving Kuno face down in the dirt.

            Katsuhito takes a sip of his tea.  Washu sits before him.  Their faces are unreadable.  Katsuhito sits his tea down and speaks.  "You are sure it is a Saiyan you have detected?"  He asks.

            Washu nods.  "I might have been imprisoned during their heyday, but I can still hack into the Galaxy Police's files.  I am absolutely sure there is a Saiyan on the Earth.  It is mostly likely in Tokyo."

            Katsuhito nods.  "This is most disturbing.  The Jurians believe that the Saiyans have been extinct for around 30 years."

            "Yes, I read the reports about the last encounter," Washu's face is grim.  "Ayeka will no doubt hold a great hatred towards this Saiyan no matter what."

Katsuhito nods.  "I'm sure father told her stories when she was younger, much like he did with me."

            "The Saiyans are the equivalent of the Boogie Man to the Jurians," Washu adds.

            "Indeed.  Tenchi, however, will be more willing to accept this Saiyan if he or she proves to be good."

            Washu nods again.  "That would be nice, however, it is unlikely.  All Saiyans were reported to be cold-blooded murderers."

            "I doubt that the whole race was that way.  But if this Saiyan proves to be like the reports say, then we will have no choice but to kill him.  We cannot allow someone with the power of a Saiyan to run loose on the Earth."

            Washu nods.  "I'll try and gets some more information on the Saiyan before we decide on our move."

            "Good afternoon, sensei(9)!"  Ranma calls as he enters the Nekohanten(10).

            "And good afternoon to you, deshi(11).  I would like to speak to you before you head out for your deliveries," Cologne says.

            "All right!"  Ranma heads back to the kitchen.

            "Ranma!"  Shampoo calls as she glomps onto the pigtailed Saiyan.

            "And hello to you too, Shampoo," Ranma says as he returns the hug.

            Shampoo is stunned.  ("Ranma never returns my hugs.  Maybe I've still got a chance!")

            "Saotome, you fiend!"  A voice yells out.  Mousse jumps into the kitchen.  He already has two swords primed and ready.  "Get your hands…"  He never finishes.  Ranma casually backhands him into the next room and into unconsciousness.

            "Be careful when you attack me, baka!  You could have hurt Shampoo," Ranma says.  He then looks at Mousse.  "He can't hear me, he's unconscious."  Ranma shrugs and heads back into the storage area of the Nekohanten.  He spots Cologne in the back corner and heads towards her.  "So what do you want Cologne?"

            Cologne looks up the Ranma.  This boy is the reason she left her comfortable life in China.  She saw the potential he had.  Not only with his curse, but also without it.  He has become like a son to her.  And she is all but sure she has become like a mother or a grandmother to him.  Now is the moment of truth.  "It is about last night…"

            "Now this might hurt a bit," Michiru warns as she inches closer to Setsuna with a cotton ball of alcohol.

            "I'm not a child," Setsuna insists.  Of course a second after the alcohol touches she cries out in pain as the cute burns.

            Michiru and Hakaru can't help but laugh.  "I can't believe you," Hakaru says as she looks over Setsuna.  "You've only got a few cuts and bruises.  It's not that bad, and you're acting like it's the end of the world."

            Setsuna looks at Hakaru and in all seriousness says, "It might be the end of the world."

            Hakaru's smile disappears.  "What do you mean?"

            Setsuna motions for them to sit down, which they do.  Then she begins.  "I went to Nerima today to ensure our future.  Instead I got these injures."
            "What do you mean ensure our future?"  Michiru asks.

            "You remember that picture I took from Hotaru yesterday?"

            "You mean the picture of the kid with the tail?"  Hakaru asks.

            Setsuna nods.  "I went to Nerima to find that boy."

            Hakaru shakes her head.  "I told you that picture was a fake."

            Setsuna gives a halfhearted laugh.  "I wish it had been.  That boy was the one who did this to me," She motions to her cuts.

            "Nani?"  The two Senshi cry out in surprise.

            "He is evil.  There is no doubt in my mind he will try and destroy the world sometime soon.  I thought that with the element of surprise I would be able to stop him.  But he beat me…easily."  Setsuna looks back at her two friends.  "We must destroy this boy if we are to ensure Crystal Tokyo's future."

            "Should we get Hotaru and the Inners?"  Michiru asks.

            "No.  I don't want to stain Hotaru's hands with the blood of this boy and any innocents that get in the way.  And the Inners are guided by their emotions.  They will most likely try and give this boy the chance to prove his innocence.  A chance that he will use to kill us all."

            Hakaru nods.  "All right.  When do we leave, and where are we going?"

            "We will go tomorrow, Sunday.  You have no school so it will be more convenient.  We go to Nerima to secure our future and the safety of this world."  Hakaru and Michiru nod.

Baka- Fool, idiot

Amiguriken- Chestnut fist

Gedan Position- Kendo position, better for defense (Kuno's using this position because Pluto is an unknown enemy), the bokken or shinta (wooden swords, bokken has a 'blade' while the shinta is round and normal made from bamboo) is held in front of the kendoist and down at a slight angle.

Mutsubetsu Kakuto Tendo Ryu- Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts or Tendo School of Indiscriminate Grappling

Mutsubetsu Kakuto Saotome Ryu- Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts or Saotome School of Indiscriminate Grappling

Oneesan- older sister

Nani- What

Kuso- a curse word shit or damn

Sensei- Teacher

Nekohanten- Cat Café

Deshi- Student