by Lerris Smith
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or Sailor Moon.
Akane was in the dojo demonstrating the effectiveness of her art against another sack of defenseless bricks. She yelled, "That darn Ranma!" breaking through a stack of four bricks as she finished his name. When he gets back I'll make him pay for seducing my sister! An hour later the floor was covered in brick debris and the supply of bricks Nabiki had just ordered was now lose gravel on the floor.
Dinner came prompting Genma Saotome and the rest of the Tendo's to gather around the table.
"Oh my, has anyone seen Ranma or Nabiki? I hope they are alright. Dinner will get cold."
"The pervert tricked my sister to go out with her."
"Saotome, how dare your son betray my poor little Akane."
"Oh woe is me. Why have the gods cursed me with such an unfaithful son?"
A slight grimace passed through Kasumi's face and was as quickly gone. No one here noticed it. No one ever had, except Nabiki, once. "I thought Nabiki said she had some business to take care of this morning. I'm sure they are alright after all she does have Ranma-kun to protect her."
"That baka. He'd better keep his paws off my sister."
"Oh no, my daughter's fiancée is being unfaithful with my other daughter." Soun continued to wail, while Kasumi moved dishes away from him to prevent ruining what little food Genma had not already devoured. Kasumi was glad she set some aside for the pair, but she was beginning to worry. Where could they be? She continued to wonder and worry as she finally surrendered to the inevitability of sleep that night.
Breakfast came and went with Akane once more promising to track down her errant fiancée and make him pay. The small black pig that had shared her bed last night nodded with every word she said as she left for school.
Later that morning the disciples of Happosai were playing anything goes shogi.
"Oh no, my baby is still missing."
"What's to worry about? Nabiki is a big girl. She can take care of herself. Besides she has my boy with her. Who knows maybe they went to get married."
Soun shouted with glee, "My baby girl is getting married." as Genma repositioned several pieces. Soun then seemed less certain and asked, "Do you really think so Saotome?"
"Well they haven't been home so they must have been doing something."
"Quite right Saotome. The schools will be joined. I'll call the priest. When they get back we can have the wedding." Genma rearranged the rest of the board while Soun's attention was absent.
Kasumi pondered commenting on how easily they simply ignored the engagement between Ranma and Akane in favor of one they thought had a better chance to succeed. Maybe Nabiki and Ranma do have a better chance. Then again just about any girl that doesn't beat on him with a mallet, bombori, or spatula stood a better chance. Still its probably not a good idea to let this get too far out of hand. Kasumi smiled sweetly and said, "Oh my. Shouldn't we find the bride and the groom first before calling the priest?" In truth her slight interference was probably unnecessary since the hapless duo had never figured out the phone book in the house was fake. Kasumi wondered how Nabiki had managed an apparently genuine phone book with all the phone numbers that might be useful for a wedding replaced with Nabiki's own contacts. It was really a quite an impressive feat. Now how many times has it been? Five? Six? No, seven I think, and they never figure out why everyone is suddenly busy. Of course there were always bar phone books, as the failed wedding adequately demonstrated, although Nabiki apparently had fixed that issue afterward. Still, it was best to make sure this didn't go too far. There was always the chance they would go to a new bar and last minute plans were sometimes messy, as the failed wedding once again demonstrated.
"She has a point Saotome. I know what we will do."
"Operation Soun and Genma's marry the children."
"I know just where to look. Kasumi can I get some money for our investigations?"
"Sure father. I'll go get it."
Kasumi regretted supporting the duo's bar tab with the money Nabiki worked so hard to make, but the alternative seemed worse. "Good luck. Call if you find them." Kasumi let out an inaudible sigh as the pair walked out the door. At times she wondered just how faithful her mother was. It would explain much. She chastised herself for having such negative thoughts about her own father as she went out the door to talk with Dr. Tofu and see if he had seen them.
Before long she arrived at his office, only to see a sign on the door saying that "Due to unforeseen circumstances the clinic will be closed for a short while." It went on to suggest that everyone consult Nerima General hospital if necessary. How very odd. I wonder if this is related. She let out a small sigh and headed back home. She would see Dr. Tofu another day. A small smile graced her face as she thought of all the strange antics Dr. Tofu would pull to get some time alone with her. He truly was a sweetheart.
Dr. Tofu was getting worried. It had now been three days since Nabiki and Ranma lapsed into what was essentially a very deep sleep. He was surprised at how well they instinctively drank when he carefully gave them water or Gatorade. Oh they didn't hold the cup or anything, but they swallowed much better than unconscious people are supposed to. He had expected to have to hook up an IV, but they were drinking more than enough for now. Heck they even managed to drink thin nutritional milkshakes which was unheard of for anyone unconscious. Still, other than their odd ability to drink anything put to their lips, they were largely unresponsive. It was most odd.
He tried running hot water over a towel and then wiping Ranma's face with it. Dr. Tofu was about half expecting it, but it still came as a bit of a surprise when Ranma stayed female.
"Patience doctor. They are healthy are they not?" came from Setsuna who had just entered the room.
"Yes. I can't find anything physically wrong with them. The dim blue-green glow is odd of course and the fact that they won't wake up..."
"They will recover. I'm more worried about how his curse has interacted. If he is truly trapped female. I just hope that is not the case, since if it is..."
"I know. I have watched first hand his life the last couple years while you have only payed attention to it... What were the words you used? 'because of his entertainment value"'
"Hey, that was just at first."
Dr. Tofu snickered.
Days passed and Akane seemed to be taking things in stride. Indeed she seemed happier than normal. The other fiancées were on the warpath, but thanks to what Akane said at school, they were all after the mercenary girl who was also nowhere to be found.
Kho Lon was annoyed. A mere man was making a mockery of Amazon law and that could not be allowed. Worse she could no longer sense his presence anywhere in the area, yet somehow she was fairly sure he was alive. Still Ranma had been entertaining. Certainly far more entertaining than the drudgery of the Amazon council. She sighed. If Xian Pu didn't stop taking hours on every delivery searching for her Airen she was going to have to hire more help.
Xian Pu was waiting outside the Tendo Dojo. It was mid morning and she had just delivered some ramen in record speed before hiding here. Soon enough her target emerged and began her daily journey to Dr. Tofu's office. She followed silently and hid a short time later as the building came in sight. She saw the sign on the door flip to showing closed. Before long, Dr. Tofu walked out the door and spotted Kasumi. "Kasumi. How nice to see you here."
Xian Pu, in her surprise, almost forgot to keep her aura suppressed. Why is he acting normally around too too nice girl?
"It is good to see you too Ono." They had now reached the entrance to the clinic and Dr. Tofu was getting his keys back out. Xian Pu was nowhere to be seen. "Have you seen Ranma-kun or Nabiki? We have been worried about them."
Both Xian Pu and Kasumi caught his momentary jump in surprise. Xian Pu looked around for a way to get closer without being noticed.
"Where are my manners? Come in Kasumi, and let me make you some tea. It has been awhile since we have had a chance to talk." Xian Pu kept to the shadows and found a spot on the other side of the clinic where she hoped to be able to listen from near the open window. Dr. Tofu made no effort to change the sign from closed to open.
"You know something." It was not a question.
"They are fine Kasumi. I'm sorry for not letting you know."
"What are you hiding Ono? Its just us."
Dr. Tofu looked around as if unsure about something, but he seemed to lose his train of thought as his eyes passed over Kasumi. "Of course. Well I guess you can come see them, but I think its best to keep their location secret for now."
Xian Pu continued to follow them from as far away as she dared. It was especially hard when Dr. Tofu started driving, but she managed to just barely keep up via roof hopping. Still, she dared not get closer. She could not risk Dr. Tofu sensing her presence, not when Airen may need her, and especially not when Mercenary Girl may be seducing her Airen. She still didn't really understand that, but the rumor was all over the school yesterday when she had spied on Akane and her friends. Well at least Kitchen Destroyer seems to be out of the picture. She seemed my only competition and with her anger she didn't stand a chance. Shampoo smiled wickedly as she remembered all the subtle promptings she did to encourage Akane's anger. Grandmother would be proud.
Before long they came to a large house with a fenced in driveway. Dr. Tofu pressed something on the ceiling of his car and suddenly the fence opened and he drove in. The door closed before Xian Pu could enter, but hopping over the fence presented no problems.
Kasumi and the doctor entered the house to be greeted by Setsuna. "Hello doctor. Hello Kasumi. My name is Setsuna Meio." Setsuna frowned slightly as she said the latter. She had partially gotten out of the habit of hiding all her emotions since she become mortal again. She regretted that slip.
In response to the unasked question Dr. Tofu added, "Kasumi saw me at my office and wanted to see Ranma and her sister."
"Pleased to meet you Meio-san." Kasumi bowed to their hostess.
"They are this way Kasumi." Kasumi followed the doctor and saw Ranma-chan nestled next to Nabiki, both wearing hospital gowns and apparently little else, although judging by the bulges around their wastes they had something covering them there.
"Oh my. What is going on?"
"They collapsed."
Dr. Tofu's words were cutoff by the sound of a door being shattered. "Where is my Airen?" She stalked past Setsuna and the cats until she saw the open door and ran in. She saw Ranma and Nabiki in bed together loosely holding each other. How dare that bitch. She raised her bombori in preparation to rid herself of an obstacle once and for all, when she suddenly collapsed. Just before Xian Pu collapsed Nabiki shifted in her sleep away from where Xian was, incidentally dragging a red head with her. This caused her hospital gown to flip partially open allowing Kasumi to see the rest of her clothing such as it was.
Dr. Tofu eased her to the floor as Setsuna came in and said, "Well that was unexpected."
"What about my sister and Ranma-kun?"
"They are fine Kasumi. First we have to deal with Xian Pu. That pressure point won't last long."
Just as Dr. Tofu finished speaking Artemis came in with a small bottle in his mouth and dropped it in front of Dr. Tofu. "Setsuna's sleeping pills. I thought..."
Dr. Tofu nodded and read the bottle quickly. He then placed one in her mouth and hit a point to force her to swallow. "I'll carry her upstairs. With any luck she should stay asleep for at least a few hours." Before long the doctor had returned and rejoined the others who were in the living room drinking tea, with the exception of the cat's who were drinking milk. The doctor took a seat. "As I was saying they are fine or at least they will be."
"They are in diapers!"
Dr. Tofu scratched the back of his head. "Well, they have been asleep a long time and sooner or later you.. Besides it was less invasive than other methods, and with Ranma's curse.."
"Ono." said Kasumi in a slightly irritated tone. It hurt that Ono was obviously trying to hold things back from her, especially about her sister. "I need to know Ono. She is my sister and I care for Ranma like a brother." Dr. Tofu sighed. He really did not like being in such positions.
Setsuna spoke up. "Ranma fought one of the odd youma we have in Jubaan. He tried to protect Nabiki from the blast but only managed to deflect part of it. They just need time to rest and will be fine. Dr. Tofu managed to carry them here since it was close, and since it seemed a bad idea to let all his enemies know he was injured we have kept Ranma here."
Kasumi nodded. The words sounded reasonable and she couldn't detect any deception in her tone or features. A glance at Ono was enough to confirm it was a lie. She really did know him too well for his own good. Ono wouldn't lie to me without a good reason, so I guess I can go along with it for now. "What are you going to do about Xian Pu?"
Dr. Tofu sighed. "I still have the information on the Amazon memory erasure techniques and the ingredients for the Xian Pu. I could give you a ride back to Nerima along the way."
Kasumi pondered. If she was not back soon the others would get suspicious and maybe make matters worse. She really wanted to stay here and look after Nabiki and Ranma-kun though. There was also the possibility of getting information from this Setsuna. Still, it would do no good if she brought trouble down on them. "Ok Ono. Do you need help with Xian Pu?"
"No, I can get her."
Kasumi got home before any of the others, although it was a close thing. Dinner would be a simple affair tonight as she didn't have much time to cook and get the household chores done. Xian Pu was dropped off a little ways away from the Nekohaten. Ono knew she would wake up soon and hopefully not remember much about this day. Still it was trouble. The gap in her memory might alert Kho Lon and undo all he had done. Worse, it might make Kho Lon an enemy and she knew the antidote as well.
Xian Pu awoke and wondered where she was. She remembered searching for Ranma but the memories were vague. Still nothing much happened today so she might as well turn in. Hopefully tomorrow would be more productive. She just knew Kasumi would eventually lead her to something.
It was nearly a week from the time Ranma and Nabiki first entered their near coma state to when they finally awakened. Ranma looked around and saw she was leaning into Nabiki's side near her left breast that was only covered with a very thin blueish gray hospital gown. Ranma tossed the covers off in his hurry, to get out of what to him was a very bad situation. Ranma knew this was a bad situation since it had happened more than a few times in the past, usually as a result of Kodachi or Shampoo sneaking into his bed. Ranma's movement and the departure of the covers woke Nabiki who instinctively glared in the general direction of the disturbance to her rest. Whoever woke me up is going to pay. Now I'll never know if the corporate takeover worked. Her eyes focused and she realized it was Ranma. Odd. She continued to think how very odd this was when she began to notice a few things. First, she was in a bed with Ranma and both of them were in hospital gowns. After the two instinctively separated a few feet she patted the only other piece of clothing she had on through her gown and realized the second thing. She was in a diaper. How the heck did I get involved in the Ranma weirdness swirl? Oh look he is cringing expecting to be hit. Chalk about another causality to my little sister's paranoia, although admittedly this does look bad. Then she remembered how she got sick and Tofu and someone else. So we are better now I guess, and um by the feel of things I need a shower badly and why do I get the feeling that there is danger nearby?
Ranma who was too lost in thought to try to come up with a credible excuse that would not leave her penniless, completely missed the play of emotions playing across the middle Tendo's briefly unguarded face. Ranma was caught up by the sense of something wrong as well. "Somethings up. I better go check it out."
Nabiki was confused. That wasn't my imagination? Since when do I have a spider sense? She didn't understand what she was feeling, yet she was sure about it, especially since Ranma felt it too. "I know. Take me with you."
"What, are you crazy? Whatever it is is dangerous. Why would you want to go?"
"I just need to somehow. I don't know why. Just do it Ranma, or do you want me to tell Akane that you were snuggling up to me?"
Ranma blanched. "Um ok, but just stay out of the way."
Nabiki grumbled, "I am not stupid, but first we had better put some clothes on."
Ranma blushed as he caught a view of Nabiki's shapely legs and back as she got up out of bed.
Teasing Ranma is fun, especially when there is no Akane around to beat Ranma up for it. Both of them hastily put on the nearby clothing with Ranma refusing to turn around until Nabiki said, "Let's go."
Ranma quickly opened the large window and helped Nabiki out and soon enough Ranma was roof hopping towards a medium sized park while carrying Nabiki.
"We are still in Jubaan."
"Ya."
"And we smell. What the heck happened to us?"
"I don't know." The rest of what Ranma might have said was cut off as he arrived at the park only to find bodies scattered around the ground and something vaguely female that looked to be mostly made of water. Nabiki rapidly sought cover fighting off the temptation to become ill. She was sure there was something she could or should be doing, but she had no idea what. She didn't even have a cell phone with her.
Ranma ran over and tried to spin kick it, but her foot went through knocking her off balance. Ranma was then pulled inside the water comprising the youma's body. She couldn't move or breathe and was getting weaker. Gotta do something.. Nabiki is out there. She brought her battle aura out to try to boil away the water or weaken it in some way, but it had little effect other that making the water really hot. It didn't even change Ranma back to his male form, but he was too busy to notice this right then.
Nabiki looked on. Ranma was going to die unless she did something. Suddenly Ranma's battle aura was out. Had it ever been that large before? Nabiki looked around and saw a softball and bat lying next to a body. She tried to remain mostly behind the trees as she grabbed the ball and threw the ball at the monsters face in a vain attempt at distracting it. The monster smacked the ball aside, but the damage had been done. It saw Nabiki and moved across the intervening space almost before Nabiki was done with the throw. Ranma saw the distance to Nabiki shrinking fast and did the only thing he could. She had risked a lot to try to distract it and he had a debt to pay. He wondered if she could ever pay all her debts briefly before falling deeply into the Soul of Ice in an attempt to freeze the water around her. It was a desperation move since the ice would likely kill her as well. She could see the ice forming as she closed her eyes instinctively to protect them. A few seconds later and it was done. Nabiki was safe. She tried to break free but the ice was too tough and she was too weak. She suspected whatever she was fighting had drained her sort of like Hinako could, but knowing that did her little good.
Nabiki was beating on the outside of the ice with her fists and feet for almost a minute before she remembered the bat. Her hands were bruised and bleeding from several places as she she tried to chip away the ice from Ranma's body. Unfortunately, the ice was too hard and only little pieces came off.
Ranma sensed Nabiki was near and crying for her? She wished there was a way for her to survive this. She clawed with her remaining energy to reach something, some hope to get out. She felt something warm she had not felt before and embraced it as a falling man will cling to the last few tuffs of grass to prevent falling over a cliff.
Suddenly energy rushed into her body causing her to grow taller as her body shifted back to his birth gender. This change in size burst the ice and scattered it in many directions causing additional cuts to Nabiki's arms and face. An elegant black tuxedo formed around his body, complete with a red rose in the breast pocket. He stepped out of the remainder of the ice and went over to check on Nabiki who had fallen backwards.
Nabiki didn't know what to make of it. "Ranma? Is that you?"
"Ya. Its me."
"That's some outfit you have there Saotome."
Ranma looked down at himself and groaned. "What the heck is this? I can't fight in this? I look like a complete and total idiot."
Nabiki smiled a catty smile. "I don't know. I think you look pretty good. Now if I only had a camera..."
Ranma continued to groan as he took the top hat off and jumped on it. The dang thing wouldn't even stay smashed.
As Ranma was attempted to destroy his hat, the pieces of ice had melted and reformed into a puddle that was reforming into its original shape.
Ranma sensed something heading his way, so he dived forward and rolled out of the way. In the corner of his eye he saw a spike of water fly past. Not good. Well how am I going to kill it now? He saw Nabiki take cover and mentally thanked the gods that at least one woman was not stupid enough to try to jump into a no win situation. For some reason he had this incredible temptation to take the rose out of his inside pocket and throw it at the monster. He promptly stepped on the temptation hard and forgot about it. There is just no way in hell I'm ever gonna throw flowers in a fight.
Ranma dodged several more times as he searched for ideas on how to end this threat once and for all. He fired a quick, low powered Moko Takabisha, only to see the water open up and for it to pass harmlessly through itself. Unless I can distract it or something, so it doesn't see it coming... The dodging continued, but sooner or later Ranma knew the ice bolts the thing was sending out would hit and he would be in trouble.
Nabiki hated being helpless, but there was no way she could even keep up with the dodging. She looked around for something useful against, well whatever it was. She thought it must be some kind of Youma. She had heard stories about them around here. Her search was fruitless. There simply wasn't anything that would be useful against a great big vaguely human shaped blob of water. What I wouldn't give for a flamethrower right now, or better yet some nicely trained mercenaries with flamethrowers and grenades. Wishful thinking was not about to help Ranma and some part of herself was demanding that she do so. It was most frustrating. Sure I care for the idiot, but since when did I care this much? She then thought back to Ranma's weird shifting to being a boy and the tuxedo. Ranma is faster now? How? The Tuxedo looks a bit like that Tuxedo Kamen character I've heard about... She snickered. After all wasn't Tuxedo Kamen the true love of Sailor Moon? Akane will just love to find out about this fiancée .
A sudden thought occurred to her, if they were both doing the glowing and weird thing, and if Ranma could turn into.. Saotome, how dare you drag me into your messes? To be fair, Nabiki hadn't forgotten that she was the one to ask him to come along, but well that was hardly the point. Still some part of her liked the idea of being a pretty soldier. Power, control, greed. To the dark side these lead. She promptly squashed the errant thought and briefly wondered when Yoda became her conscience. She got a little farther away and sat down behind a car. Well if Ranma could do it, then maybe I can.. She centered her thoughts and tried to feel anything different about herself. She focused on the need to be able to help Ranma and to prevent any more deaths. The last was important. No one deserved to have a family member die. She remembered the pain too well. She didn't know whether it took seconds or minutes since her sense of time began to scatter, but she heard it. It was an echo of herself, of a friend long lost now found, of a peace of the puzzle that links all the surrounding pieces to make things whole. She reached out with a mental hand and embraced it and suddenly every nerve in her body lit up as if she was the test dummy for an electric chair. She understood now.
Serenity had been watching the world for so long, and now that time was almost up. It would be her time for reincarnation soon. At least she got to see her daughter before she moved on, although she would do anything to change the reason for their meeting. She looked at the battle in progress, at the beginning that was unfolding as she watched. The shape of things to come was still largely uncertain, but she understood the true nature of the moon kingdom magic, unlike the edited version Setsuna eventually read about. In the beginning the magic was simple and obeyed the users will as intended, but over time it adapted and grew. The danger of linking it to the souls of its wielders, is that it learned and changed. Sometimes it shifted in seemingly unpredictable ways, yet in the end it had a purpose shaped from the souls and attitudes of the wearers. The true danger was not found until one of the elite guards accidentally killed her boyfriend when she caught him in bed with another woman. Her rage, had loosed the tenuous holds on her power and a fireball had launched from her ahead of her clenched fits. She saw it emerge and go forth. She tried to call it back, to stop it somehow but it was too late.
Under truth spell it was soon proven that she, although very angry, had not wished even briefly for their death. Oh she would have delighted in their pain and misery at that brief moment of anger, but not what happened. The power had acted on its own. The power could not be trusted. The power was stripped from her and dispersed and she was set free. The records were sealed and no one else was given such power. The risks were too high. The other handful of elite guards kept their power. The moon kingdom could not afford to have their defenses weakened that much. Instead they underwent mental training to try to control their reactions. Discrete surveillance was setup to prevent any situations that might cause such a tragedy again. In time those few became the first subjects the mages and engineers used to develop the bindings and limitations that kept the magic safe. One surprise came during that time. Sara, the guard who was stripped of her power, regained it. The mages were at a loss to explain it, but suspected the removal left some tiny part behind and wondered if removal was even possible. Sara did not want to risk her power getting out of hand again and the mages could see no way to separate her from her power short of death because they had grown deeply intertwined.
One particularly brilliant engineer mage had been working on a plan to create a controlling artifact to act to help control and regulate the power they were dealing with. He crumpled up yet another paper. "No matter what we make, the very nature of the magic will warp the construct over time. I begin to wonder in our arrogance in thinking we can tame such forces." Later that night he awoke and realized the solution. It was totally unacceptable of course, but it would probably work.
Soon enough the then queen asked for his report. Sara and a few of the other guards were there. When Sara first realized that her magic was coming back she had offered to leave and never return, but Serenity insisted she remain in her position.
"So you are saying there is no way, no way at all to make the magic safe?"
He hesitated and started to speak, and stopped again.
"Speak if you know something, then tell us."
"My queen. The problem is the power itself warps and changes over time, making any structure created to manipulate the power itself subject to changes and unpredictability." He hesitated again and spoke slowly and quietly. "The only way I can think of to prevent this twisting is to put something in place that has a stronger, will and form, if you will, than the magic and the interactions of the others that is shaping it." He got even quieter. "Only a living soul, bound at the heart of the construct could have such power."
Serenity avoided pondering the true implications of what he said for a few seconds and asked the obvious question.
"How does that solve the problem? I thought the interaction with a person's soul is what created the instability and control problem in the first place."
He continued a little louder than before, but with a slightly bitter tone, "It was, but in that case the linkages were tenuous since the soul had a body to operate and a life to life.. For this to work..."
"someone must die and be trapped forever in a chunk of crystal."
He nodded sadly to her conclusion.
"I'll do it." came from Sara who had been standing back and to the right of the queen's throne.
"I forbid it. The price is too high."
And it was, for nearly four years it was, yet no better solutions were found and in the end new threats from outsystem made the need desperate. In the end the decision was taken out of his hands as she had used her own power to start the transference and had already performed the critical step by plunging the silver dagger with the crystal matrix fastened in its pommel into her own heart. It was already too late to save her. The only question was whether to finish the job or to deny her dying wish. He finished it.
Having recalled the history of the power's creation she once again turned to the as yet unfinished battle as her mother's friend came up to sit beside her.
"Hello Sara. How have you been?"
"I am well, although I almost wish I could continue to be there for them."
"You have done enough, and I think it has taken on a life of its own now."
"But isn't that what we were trying to prevent all along?"
"We didn't understand then, and I'm not sure we fully do even now, but I think we were trying to prevent a child from having the power to blow away buildings should its parents accidentally slip in their guardianship. I think, or rather I hope it has matured since then and can be trusted on its own now. Do not forget that you yourself have guided it and shaped it for millenia."
"Most of that time was in a dreamless sleep waiting for your daughter to be reborn."
"Still we must hope. What happened to Ranma seems a good sign."
"What do you mean? It looks like he just got Tuxedo Mask's transformation."
"No, its not that simple, and the Tuxedo is largely irrelevant anyway, although I must admit to being amused that he at least realizes the silliness of fighting in one. The important part is how it appears to have interacted with his curse. Balance had to be achieved, which meant incorporating the curses magic into its own. It could have left him male in his normal life and made him female when transformed. Given the amount of female based Senshi magic he absorbed, that was the most likely outcome."
"But it was the opposite."
"Yes. The magic chose this. A man and woman working together often complement each other, making the resulting team much stronger than simply their individual parts added together. When magic is added into the mix, it is even more true. It is more complex than that of course. We strive the hardest for those we care deeply about as my daughter demonstrated so many times."
"There is also the fact that Ranma might have been reluctant to transform if every time he was forced to be a girl in a fuku."
Serenity chuckled. "Yes that might have been a problem, but as it looks, it will be his only way to become male."
Sara laughed as well.
"Watch over them for me will you?"
"Of course, my Queen. I wish I could do more than watch though."
"We do what we can. For now I am going to visit with my daughter." She walked the few steps and pulled Sara into a hug. "Goodbye Sara. I am sorry to have never had a chance to get to know you better. You have my eternal gratitude for the sacrifices you made for our people. When Setsuna's time comes please give her my deep thanks as well."
"Thank you, my Queen."
Author's Notes: I originally planned to write out the entire sequence of fighting and the rest, but that requires more thought. Then I decided to explain a little about the why of things and well that got bigger than expected. At any rate you'll have to watch for the next chapter to see how things turn out. Feel free to send me some ideas if you want. Very little is cast in stone yet. Having finally written my idea for the curses interaction, I am a little uncertain about it. It is original, as far as I know, but well the next chapter definitely requires some thought.
I think in one of my other stories someone was concerned when I had Ranma have a thought like If I were to marry... that it was foreshadowing or that he had already made a decision when it didn't quite fit the plot. Relax, it would be insane if Ranma didn't occasionally consider being married to the various women around him given how much pressure to marry he is under. Things take time. Relationships are hard. Rest assured that there will be no marriages in the next chapter of this fic either. Things are too new. Still it will be interesting to see what kind of team the Wild Horse and the Ice Queen make. If anyone sees corrections or just wants to tell me what they think, feel free to toss them into a review or email.
2005-04-01