AN: I would say thanks to all those reading this, especially every one
that has posted a review for it. I appreciate the comments, encouragement,
and have even gotten some good ideas from them. One comment lead me to
create two entirely different versions of chapter 4 and it was a hard
decision deciding which one to go with. Some parts from the alternate 4
may work their way in the fic later on. Anyway thanks for taking the time
and on with the story.
AN2: In one section of this story there is a fairly detailed description of the casualties of the disaster. I did a fair amount of research in coming up with the numbers I used, however I grant that they could be completely off and my estimates unrealistic. Before any are tempted to comment on my scientific accuracies, please remember that this is a fanfiction. Thanks again and enjoy.
Chapter 5: Leave Takings
Ranma snarled in a low tone, "Happosai." While a new voice in his head supplied a new word in an equal unpleasant tone, "Youma."
Happosai was basking in the energy he was drawing off his 'silky darlings' as he ran without worry from the irate crowd of women behind him. He was quite shocked when his source of energy was knocked from his hands and before he could jump to retrieve it he found his foot pinned to the ground by of all things a red rose. Looking up he got a shock. 'A senshi? Here? This one is new; none of the others were ever fast enough to hit me.' He suspicions were confirmed when his attacker spoke.
"Happosai! You are blight and affront to decency and women everywhere, and in the Name of the Earth I'll punish you!" Sailor earth followed up this dramatic announcement by slapping her hand over her mouth in what looked like shock. Happosai didn't have time to observe anything else however as the pursuing crowd of irate women descended upon him.
Ranma simply stood there for a moment. She simply couldn't for the life of herself figure out what had possessed her to say that, or for that matter take up that silly pose while doing it. It had just simply happened as soon as she went to initiate her attack. By the time she came back to herself the crowd of women that had been chasing the old man, who apparently wasn't even human if his new instincts were to be trusted, had already commenced to beating the pervert flat. Now his perversion was cast in a new light. 'How long has he been a Youma?,' Ranma mused to herself. 'After the women are through with him, I'm going to have to interrogate the old man, Youma, whatever.' It was frustrating that an enemy might know more about what she should be doing than she did.
Ukyo stared at the girl she suddenly noticed beside her. 'A sailor senshi! They're real, and one is standing right next to me!' Ukyo fidgeted nervously for a moment before getting up the courage to speak.
"Uhm, excuse me, but I wouldn't be able to get an autograph or something could I? Its just so amazing, I thought you guys were an urban URK!" Ukyo suddenly found herself swept off her feet and being twirled around by said Sailor Earth.
Ranma turned to the familiar voice as soon as she heard it, and after taking a moment for her eyes to confirm what her ears had heard she grabbed Ukyo in a bone crushing embrace and twirled the girl around.
"UCCHAN! I'm so glad you're alright! Things were so hectic once the evacuation started that by the time I had a chance to think we were already on the train and I had given Soun my word to protect his daughters so I couldn't even go back to check on you. Kami it's good to see you!" Ranma finally finished twirling Ukyo and set the dazed girl back on her feet still smiling broadly knowing that her one real worry was now over. Ukyo stood stock still for a moment, before gathering her wits and peering closely at the senshi before her. Her face wore a puzzled frown before suddenly bursting into shock followed by uncertainty. "Ran..chan....is that you?"
Ranma was puzzled for a half-second before groaning and looking down at herself and then back up into Ukyo's hesitant eyes. 'I'm certainly not going to have much of a secret identity if I keep doing this kind of thing.' Sighing he put her hand on Ukyo's shoulder and spoke quietly.
"Yeah Ucchan, It's me. Please don't tell anyone about this, though who would believe you is beyond me." Then Ranma found herself the recipient of a fierce bear hug. After a moment Ukyo released her.
"I can't believe it Ranchan; every time I think your life can't get any weirder you somehow manage to surprise me. This takes the cake though. When we find the time you'll have to tell me about it. Right now I'm just glad you're alright. You don't know what I went through to get here," Ukyo choked back a sob.
Seeing the barely restrained distress on her friends face Ranma instinctively gathered Ukyo close to her. "It's alright Ukyo; I can always get Happosai another day. I think you and I should go somewhere and talk." Ranma pulled back and grabbed one of Ukyo's hands and started to lead her away from the crowd that was still occupied maiming what could no longer be readily identified. "Now let's get out of here before to many more people notice you talking with a sailor senshi in the street."
Ukyo laughed and then followed as Ranma darted towards the woods on the other side of the highway.
[Cherry Hill Temple]
Pluto stepped through the portal with a frustrated scowl on her face. Almost two weeks since Mamoru's death and still the gates hadn't stabilized enough for her to be of much use to the princess. It was just one more troubling thing that concerned her about the new avatar of earth. There was little she could do about it now however and so she resolved to worry on her own time. Right now she needed to brief the princess and the other scouts about what she did know and what they needed to do to begin to set Crystal Tokyo in motion. Setsuna had de-transformed and gathered the eight other scouts in the room that they had traditionally used for scout meetings and had carefully schooled her face and distanced her personal emotions to prepare herself for delivering the news she was about to.
"You all I imagine have some idea the scale of loss that the ice has brought about, I'm afraid that the loss is not over. Before I get to that however you should all know exactly what has already occurred. Last week in the northern hemisphere the casualties were catastrophic. In Canada and the United States, a combined population of 300 million, roughly 80 million made it to safe climates in Mexico and the southern reaches of the US. The casualty rate of Eastern and Western Europe, having no direct land route south, was substantially higher; Out of just over 570 million only about 30 million survived to safer climates. In Russia and the countries the comprised the Former USSR something less than 10 million survived out of 260 million. In China and central Asia above the 30th parallel the loss of human life was near total, leaving a population of roughly 600 million out of the former 1 and a half billion. Out of the 130 million people of this country 40 million have survived the immediate crisis. This leaves 760 million survivors out of more than 2.7 billion in the countries that have been most severely impacted by the ice."
By now most of the scouts were sniffling quietly or simply seemed to be staring off in shock. The exception was Ami, who merely nodded somberly, having run simulations on the mercury computer much earlier than this. After giving them a moment Setsuna continued.
"Unfortunately the story doesn't end there, and it gets much worse before there is any hope. The single largest factor that will affect the survivors of the freeze is the fact that most of the world's farmland has just been erased. The southern hemisphere has few areas that are suitable for growing staple crops. Africa and the Middle East will be the most effected by this, their current populations, plus the refuges from the north, far exceeding the lands food production. The least effected areas will be South America and Australia; however the entire world will feel the food shortage in one form or another. When you factor in the inevitable wars over resources, the relative lack of availability to modern medicine, and many others, the picture becomes grim indeed. The conclusion of this crisis, some ten to fifteen years distant, is a total world population of 600 million and a Japanese population of 25 million; about 10% of the world population two weeks ago."
"Isn't....Isn't there anything we can do?" Minako choked about between sobs while Rei leaned over and brought the girl into a tight embrace. Setsuna hated this, but she shored herself up and continued, she had to let them know there was a purpose to what they were doing.
"Regretfully there isn't much we can do to affect the numbers I just gave you, even with our abilities; the forces behind them are simply too great to overcome." She paused for a moment and continued in a more clear and determined tone. "What we CAN do is lay the groundwork for future prosperity. We have the next ten or so years to reclaim as much of Tokyo as we can, using what we can scrounge from the city, our magic, and what silver millennium technology that we can reproduce. Once we have achieved what we can here, we will then make contact with a few of the more stable governments that will have formed and offer alliance and assistance to them. If we play our cards right and are cautious with whom we share resurrected technology, we can stop the downward spiral of human civilization sometime within the next twenty years instead of it continuing for hundreds. That is what we can do, we can't save those I mentioned, but perhaps we can save the survivors and the future."
All of the scouts were now fully focused on Setsuna and through their tears Setsuna could see a new determination. She didn't think she had ever been more proud, nor felt more fulfilled than she did at that moment, looking at their faces. In the years to come, when things were there bleakest, she would often think of this moment to garner the courage to continue.
Usagi spoke and when she did it was in a voice that was both Serenity and Usagi, and for that Setsuna was also thankful. "Where do we start?"
[Somewhere Else]
Ryouga walked down the unfamiliar highway in despair, as the snow swirled around the barren dessert landscape. Somewhere in the deepest part of his heart, he knew this was Ranma's fault.
"Where in the hell am I NOW!?"
Coming to a four way intersection he glanced at the road sign that had was bent at an angle and looked as though it had seen better days. His despair grew when he saw that the sign was in English. An arrow pointed to the left next to a long word he didn't know
{Albuquerque 10mi}
Later that night shivering from the cold as he dug himself into a snow bank to shelter from the wind, he knew he should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque.
[Ridge outside of Kagoshima]
Ranma sat down on an overturned tree near where she had first practiced in her transformed state. Ukyo sat down next to her still not quite believing that it was Ranma in the very feminine outfit. 'Ranma a Sailor Senshi, Japan under ice, that teenager freezing in the snow asking me to make sure her sister was ok,' she sobbed, 'has the world gone completely insane?' She felt Ranma's small arm fall across her shoulder and she leaned into him and cried. When she quieted down the two of them simply sat in silence for a long time before Ranma spoke.
"Ucchan, why don't you tell me about it?"
And so she did.
[Cherry Hill Temple]
Michiru found Hotaru sitting on a bench underneath the large sakura tree that was in a secluded corner of the temple grounds. She quietly walked over and sat down next to her, simply waiting.
"I don't know if I can take it Mom. All those people, why did things have to be this way, wasn't there anything we could have done?" Her voice had an air of frantic despair to it as she continued. "I can destroy the world, why can't I save it? Oh god Mom I miss Usa. She was my friend and now she won't ever even been born. The only real friend I ever had, never existed! How did things get like this Momma?"
"Hotaru, there are questions that can never be answered. Sometimes we have to leave those questions to the higher powers to answer. Even as powerful as we are Hotaru, sometimes the world is going to show you how small you are. Never forget about your friend Hotaru. She was a kind and beautiful person, and no matter what has happened, she impacted our lives for the better and so she will always exist in our hearts, as long as we don't forget what she taught us." Michiru paused for a moment to keep her composure. "Usa would understand you being sad Hotaru, but she would also want you to go on, and be happy." Michiru stood up and pulled Hotaru up and into a hug. "I don't know when that will be Hotaru-chan, but I have faith that there is happiness in our future."
"Thank you Momma," Hotaru whispered into her adopted parent's hair, "I'll try."
"That's all anyone can ever ask Hotaru-chan."
[Refuge Camp A26]
In the woods just outside the refuge camp Genma and Soun sat in a tent that they had 'procured' from the camp's central supply. Somewhere they had even managed to find a shogi board.
"Saotome, what should we do about the engagement. This situation has complicated matters." Genma placed a tile in the center of the board, whether it had been on the board before this move was anyone's guess.
"I don't know Tendo, but I know my wife." Genma shuddered, "We will have to wait until she has calmed down some before pressing the engagement. Besides Tendo this crisis will undoubtedly draw our children closer together!"
"Quite right Saotome, the stress and shared labors of surviving will pull them together like people gathering together around a fire on a cold night; our children will draw close to bask in the warmth of their love for each other!" They both pumped their fists into the air.
"The Schools will be joined!"
[Refuge camp, Late Evening]
Ranma and Ukyo walked back into the camp, both with somber smiles on their faces. Ranma having since de-transformed and actually having found some hot water at the mess on the way in, was once again male. When they pulled back the flap to Ranma and the Tendo's tent they were greeted by his mother and the three girls.
"Ukyo-chan!" Kasumi said excitedly as she came over and hugged her, "it's good to see you. I am very happy that you made it."
Nabiki then walked over and shocked everyone by hugging the girl briefly before pulling back. "It is good to see Kuonji-san. It somehow seems more like home now that Ranma has more than one fiancé again." This caused everyone, even Akane, to break into a brief chuckle. Akane then came over and hugged her as well.
"Well Ranma are you going to introduce me to this lovely young woman?" Nodoka asked as she stepped forward.
"Mom this is Kuonji Ukyo, she's my best friend from when I was six; Pops engaged me to her."
Ukyo sketched a bow, "It's a pleasure to meet you Saotome-san."
Nodoka smiled, "Just call me auntie dear, it is a pleasure to meet one of my child's friends." Ranma winced, not once had his mother called him her son. It was always 'my child.' 'Does she think I'm not a man because of the curse? Maybe I am a disappointment to her.' Nabiki noticed the wince and made a few guesses, making a not to talk to Ranma about it later, possibly have Kasumi talk to him about it.
"I can see we are going to have to request another tent. The six of us in one tent might get a little crowded after a few nights." Nabiki said.
Ranma hesitated and then spoke, "Actually that might not be an issue. Now that your and my father is here, well I am still having those feelings that are coming from somewhere up north. I just know that whoever is behind them knows why I became what I did. I just have to go." This statement of course was not well received.
"Ranma you know what I went through to get down here, and now that I'm here and reunited with you; you want to go off on some trek into the unknown." Ukyo accused scowling.
"My child I to have reservations about this, we have just been brought together after all these years, and going north will be very dangerous."
Ranma looked guilty and flustered, "but I have to go. Don't you see it's driving me nuts not just the call, but not knowing why. Besides when I'm, um, transformed, I don't even feel the cold at all."
Nodoka sighed, "I understand Ranma. Why doesn't everyone sleep on it tonight, and if you still feel compelled to go in the morning. I will wish you well. But if you do leave I expect to here from you as soon as possible. I will not be separated from you again like last time."
"Mom, I promise."
"Very well, why don't we all collect our ration of rice for this evening and settle down for dinner together." Everyone, especially Ranma, was agreeable to this idea.
[Tent 859, 8 pm]
Ranma looked at her cards carefully, having elected to turn female earlier so she could enjoy her dinner without the queasiness that came with being male.
"Bullshit!"
Nabiki smirked, "Sorry Ranma, pick'em up." Ranma sighed in frustration as she picked up the pile of cards. Nodoka looked at her cards and then laid down two.
"Two Jacks."
Before Ranma could check recently acquired inventory of cards, she felt a sudden presence at the edge of her perception. Dropping her cards her hand once again instinctively found her henshin pen.
"Ranma," Nodoka said in an inquisitive tone, "is there something wrong?"
Ranma absently nodded her head as she stood up. "Happosai's back. There's something you all should know, if the new feelings I have gotten are right, then he's not even human. I've got to go stop him."
"I'll go with you Ranchan," Ukyo said grabbing her spatula she had laid on the ground
"Me too," Akane said as she cracked her knuckles.
Ranma shuffled her feet nervously, "um I kinda got to do this, um, transformed, and maybe it wouldn't be a good idea for him to associate you guys with the senshi. If he escaped he is one person I really don't want knowing my identity."
Nodoka spoke before either of the girls could protest. "I think Ranma is right. This is her battle and I think it would only endanger you and her if either of you girls went. Be careful Ranma."
Ranma nodded, "I will Mom."
"Earth Star Power, MAKE UP!"
As the transformation washed over Ranma, Nabiki took a careful look at everyone's reactions. Something she didn't miss was Ukyo's wide stare and rising blush. 'Hmmm, now that's interesting.' Nabiki mused quietly to herself, "something to defiantly keep an eye on."
Ranma stalked quietly through the night getting close to the dark feeling until suddenly she saw him slipping out of one of the tents with a large bag on his shoulder. Mentally clamping down on the urge to announce herself she launched a flying kick at the pervert. The kick was deftly deflected with a pipe at the last moment sending Ranma crashing into the side of another tent, knocking it over. Leaping back to her feet she pulled the rose from her hair and then another and another as she sent them rapid fire towards Happosai who was forced to give ground as he twirled his pipe to deflect the deadly flora. Ranma stopped throwing roses but kept up her attack forcing Happosai out of the camp and into a recently cleared field that was being prepared for habitation. Ranma Connected a magically enhanced kick to the freak's mid section causing him to fly back twenty feet leaving a furrow in the ground.
Happosai coughed and got back up to his feet, appraising his opponent.
"Well now girl, why haven't I ever seen you before. You're quite a bit more skilled than your friends."
"Quiet old man, tell me, where you ever human?"
"Oh yes, I was once as human as you. I had to make a deal to get out of a cave a couple of ungrateful students of mine locked me into. I never much cared for my humanity anyway, and she doesn't ask for much."
"Who's 'She'?" Ranma asked
"Now that would be telling." Happosai sneered before yelling "Happo- daikarin!" and launching the explosive at Ranma. Ranma leapt to the side, flung her arms forward and called out something that had just appeared in her mind.
"Rose Tempest!"
A whirlwind laced with magically enhanced rose petals flew from Ranma's finger tips and slammed into Happosai, blowing him into a stack of tent frames as the petals cut anything they made contact with. Running purely on instinct Ranma pulled another Rose from her head and launched it as hard as she could towards the slowly standing form of Happosai. The Youma that had once been the Grand-Master of Anything Goes didn't even have a chance to cry out before his heart was impaled by the flower. Ranma stared in shock at what she had done as the perverted master fell to his knees before dissolving into a black mist.
Sailor Earth had the sudden distinct need to rid herself of dinner's rice.
[Tent 859, sometime later]
Everyone was still awake and talking quietly when Ranma came back in, once again in normal clothes and male. They all noticed his pale complexion and somewhat haunted eyes.
"Ranma-kun," Kasumi said softly, "are you alright?"
Ranma nodded and went over to his cot. "I'm fine Kasumi, just; I don't want to talk about it."
Sensing Ranma's mode everyone decided that the questions could wait until morning.
That night Ranma dreamed that of a blonde-haired woman that comforted him and eased his guilt over the killing. When he woke up he only remembered parts of it, but the surprising thing was that he did feel better, as though confessing to the dream girl had given him some sort of absolution.
[Five miles north of Refuge Camp A26]
Ranma glanced once again at his two companions; the result of a lengthy debate that had consumed most of the morning. Ukyo had simply refused to be left behind and Akane had been drafted into the trip by their fathers. One might have noticed that her protests seemed a bit weaker than was her want. Ukyo had dropped a few names from the people she had met in the Evacuation Command Center, and gotten them three sets of expedition grade clothing and gear for the trip. Ranma wandered once again where his life was taking him and just what kind of trouble he was leading his fiancés into.
[Somewhere Else]
A shadowy figure approached the stone alter where a light shimmering in the air denoted some presence.
"Mistress, Happosai has failed to deliver the energy he was assigned to collect."
A voice, both terrifying and beautiful responded seemingly from everywhere within the chamber. "Yes, I felt his connection with me severed late last night. If Happosai has been eliminated and our influence in him discovered we may have to move up our plans. Keep me informed of our other agents' progress and discretely investigate the area of Happosai's disappearance. Do not under any circumstance allow yourself to be discovered, if you are the punishments will be more than your worst nightmares can conjure."
"Yes Mistress."
AN2: In one section of this story there is a fairly detailed description of the casualties of the disaster. I did a fair amount of research in coming up with the numbers I used, however I grant that they could be completely off and my estimates unrealistic. Before any are tempted to comment on my scientific accuracies, please remember that this is a fanfiction. Thanks again and enjoy.
Chapter 5: Leave Takings
Ranma snarled in a low tone, "Happosai." While a new voice in his head supplied a new word in an equal unpleasant tone, "Youma."
Happosai was basking in the energy he was drawing off his 'silky darlings' as he ran without worry from the irate crowd of women behind him. He was quite shocked when his source of energy was knocked from his hands and before he could jump to retrieve it he found his foot pinned to the ground by of all things a red rose. Looking up he got a shock. 'A senshi? Here? This one is new; none of the others were ever fast enough to hit me.' He suspicions were confirmed when his attacker spoke.
"Happosai! You are blight and affront to decency and women everywhere, and in the Name of the Earth I'll punish you!" Sailor earth followed up this dramatic announcement by slapping her hand over her mouth in what looked like shock. Happosai didn't have time to observe anything else however as the pursuing crowd of irate women descended upon him.
Ranma simply stood there for a moment. She simply couldn't for the life of herself figure out what had possessed her to say that, or for that matter take up that silly pose while doing it. It had just simply happened as soon as she went to initiate her attack. By the time she came back to herself the crowd of women that had been chasing the old man, who apparently wasn't even human if his new instincts were to be trusted, had already commenced to beating the pervert flat. Now his perversion was cast in a new light. 'How long has he been a Youma?,' Ranma mused to herself. 'After the women are through with him, I'm going to have to interrogate the old man, Youma, whatever.' It was frustrating that an enemy might know more about what she should be doing than she did.
Ukyo stared at the girl she suddenly noticed beside her. 'A sailor senshi! They're real, and one is standing right next to me!' Ukyo fidgeted nervously for a moment before getting up the courage to speak.
"Uhm, excuse me, but I wouldn't be able to get an autograph or something could I? Its just so amazing, I thought you guys were an urban URK!" Ukyo suddenly found herself swept off her feet and being twirled around by said Sailor Earth.
Ranma turned to the familiar voice as soon as she heard it, and after taking a moment for her eyes to confirm what her ears had heard she grabbed Ukyo in a bone crushing embrace and twirled the girl around.
"UCCHAN! I'm so glad you're alright! Things were so hectic once the evacuation started that by the time I had a chance to think we were already on the train and I had given Soun my word to protect his daughters so I couldn't even go back to check on you. Kami it's good to see you!" Ranma finally finished twirling Ukyo and set the dazed girl back on her feet still smiling broadly knowing that her one real worry was now over. Ukyo stood stock still for a moment, before gathering her wits and peering closely at the senshi before her. Her face wore a puzzled frown before suddenly bursting into shock followed by uncertainty. "Ran..chan....is that you?"
Ranma was puzzled for a half-second before groaning and looking down at herself and then back up into Ukyo's hesitant eyes. 'I'm certainly not going to have much of a secret identity if I keep doing this kind of thing.' Sighing he put her hand on Ukyo's shoulder and spoke quietly.
"Yeah Ucchan, It's me. Please don't tell anyone about this, though who would believe you is beyond me." Then Ranma found herself the recipient of a fierce bear hug. After a moment Ukyo released her.
"I can't believe it Ranchan; every time I think your life can't get any weirder you somehow manage to surprise me. This takes the cake though. When we find the time you'll have to tell me about it. Right now I'm just glad you're alright. You don't know what I went through to get here," Ukyo choked back a sob.
Seeing the barely restrained distress on her friends face Ranma instinctively gathered Ukyo close to her. "It's alright Ukyo; I can always get Happosai another day. I think you and I should go somewhere and talk." Ranma pulled back and grabbed one of Ukyo's hands and started to lead her away from the crowd that was still occupied maiming what could no longer be readily identified. "Now let's get out of here before to many more people notice you talking with a sailor senshi in the street."
Ukyo laughed and then followed as Ranma darted towards the woods on the other side of the highway.
[Cherry Hill Temple]
Pluto stepped through the portal with a frustrated scowl on her face. Almost two weeks since Mamoru's death and still the gates hadn't stabilized enough for her to be of much use to the princess. It was just one more troubling thing that concerned her about the new avatar of earth. There was little she could do about it now however and so she resolved to worry on her own time. Right now she needed to brief the princess and the other scouts about what she did know and what they needed to do to begin to set Crystal Tokyo in motion. Setsuna had de-transformed and gathered the eight other scouts in the room that they had traditionally used for scout meetings and had carefully schooled her face and distanced her personal emotions to prepare herself for delivering the news she was about to.
"You all I imagine have some idea the scale of loss that the ice has brought about, I'm afraid that the loss is not over. Before I get to that however you should all know exactly what has already occurred. Last week in the northern hemisphere the casualties were catastrophic. In Canada and the United States, a combined population of 300 million, roughly 80 million made it to safe climates in Mexico and the southern reaches of the US. The casualty rate of Eastern and Western Europe, having no direct land route south, was substantially higher; Out of just over 570 million only about 30 million survived to safer climates. In Russia and the countries the comprised the Former USSR something less than 10 million survived out of 260 million. In China and central Asia above the 30th parallel the loss of human life was near total, leaving a population of roughly 600 million out of the former 1 and a half billion. Out of the 130 million people of this country 40 million have survived the immediate crisis. This leaves 760 million survivors out of more than 2.7 billion in the countries that have been most severely impacted by the ice."
By now most of the scouts were sniffling quietly or simply seemed to be staring off in shock. The exception was Ami, who merely nodded somberly, having run simulations on the mercury computer much earlier than this. After giving them a moment Setsuna continued.
"Unfortunately the story doesn't end there, and it gets much worse before there is any hope. The single largest factor that will affect the survivors of the freeze is the fact that most of the world's farmland has just been erased. The southern hemisphere has few areas that are suitable for growing staple crops. Africa and the Middle East will be the most effected by this, their current populations, plus the refuges from the north, far exceeding the lands food production. The least effected areas will be South America and Australia; however the entire world will feel the food shortage in one form or another. When you factor in the inevitable wars over resources, the relative lack of availability to modern medicine, and many others, the picture becomes grim indeed. The conclusion of this crisis, some ten to fifteen years distant, is a total world population of 600 million and a Japanese population of 25 million; about 10% of the world population two weeks ago."
"Isn't....Isn't there anything we can do?" Minako choked about between sobs while Rei leaned over and brought the girl into a tight embrace. Setsuna hated this, but she shored herself up and continued, she had to let them know there was a purpose to what they were doing.
"Regretfully there isn't much we can do to affect the numbers I just gave you, even with our abilities; the forces behind them are simply too great to overcome." She paused for a moment and continued in a more clear and determined tone. "What we CAN do is lay the groundwork for future prosperity. We have the next ten or so years to reclaim as much of Tokyo as we can, using what we can scrounge from the city, our magic, and what silver millennium technology that we can reproduce. Once we have achieved what we can here, we will then make contact with a few of the more stable governments that will have formed and offer alliance and assistance to them. If we play our cards right and are cautious with whom we share resurrected technology, we can stop the downward spiral of human civilization sometime within the next twenty years instead of it continuing for hundreds. That is what we can do, we can't save those I mentioned, but perhaps we can save the survivors and the future."
All of the scouts were now fully focused on Setsuna and through their tears Setsuna could see a new determination. She didn't think she had ever been more proud, nor felt more fulfilled than she did at that moment, looking at their faces. In the years to come, when things were there bleakest, she would often think of this moment to garner the courage to continue.
Usagi spoke and when she did it was in a voice that was both Serenity and Usagi, and for that Setsuna was also thankful. "Where do we start?"
[Somewhere Else]
Ryouga walked down the unfamiliar highway in despair, as the snow swirled around the barren dessert landscape. Somewhere in the deepest part of his heart, he knew this was Ranma's fault.
"Where in the hell am I NOW!?"
Coming to a four way intersection he glanced at the road sign that had was bent at an angle and looked as though it had seen better days. His despair grew when he saw that the sign was in English. An arrow pointed to the left next to a long word he didn't know
{Albuquerque 10mi}
Later that night shivering from the cold as he dug himself into a snow bank to shelter from the wind, he knew he should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque.
[Ridge outside of Kagoshima]
Ranma sat down on an overturned tree near where she had first practiced in her transformed state. Ukyo sat down next to her still not quite believing that it was Ranma in the very feminine outfit. 'Ranma a Sailor Senshi, Japan under ice, that teenager freezing in the snow asking me to make sure her sister was ok,' she sobbed, 'has the world gone completely insane?' She felt Ranma's small arm fall across her shoulder and she leaned into him and cried. When she quieted down the two of them simply sat in silence for a long time before Ranma spoke.
"Ucchan, why don't you tell me about it?"
And so she did.
[Cherry Hill Temple]
Michiru found Hotaru sitting on a bench underneath the large sakura tree that was in a secluded corner of the temple grounds. She quietly walked over and sat down next to her, simply waiting.
"I don't know if I can take it Mom. All those people, why did things have to be this way, wasn't there anything we could have done?" Her voice had an air of frantic despair to it as she continued. "I can destroy the world, why can't I save it? Oh god Mom I miss Usa. She was my friend and now she won't ever even been born. The only real friend I ever had, never existed! How did things get like this Momma?"
"Hotaru, there are questions that can never be answered. Sometimes we have to leave those questions to the higher powers to answer. Even as powerful as we are Hotaru, sometimes the world is going to show you how small you are. Never forget about your friend Hotaru. She was a kind and beautiful person, and no matter what has happened, she impacted our lives for the better and so she will always exist in our hearts, as long as we don't forget what she taught us." Michiru paused for a moment to keep her composure. "Usa would understand you being sad Hotaru, but she would also want you to go on, and be happy." Michiru stood up and pulled Hotaru up and into a hug. "I don't know when that will be Hotaru-chan, but I have faith that there is happiness in our future."
"Thank you Momma," Hotaru whispered into her adopted parent's hair, "I'll try."
"That's all anyone can ever ask Hotaru-chan."
[Refuge Camp A26]
In the woods just outside the refuge camp Genma and Soun sat in a tent that they had 'procured' from the camp's central supply. Somewhere they had even managed to find a shogi board.
"Saotome, what should we do about the engagement. This situation has complicated matters." Genma placed a tile in the center of the board, whether it had been on the board before this move was anyone's guess.
"I don't know Tendo, but I know my wife." Genma shuddered, "We will have to wait until she has calmed down some before pressing the engagement. Besides Tendo this crisis will undoubtedly draw our children closer together!"
"Quite right Saotome, the stress and shared labors of surviving will pull them together like people gathering together around a fire on a cold night; our children will draw close to bask in the warmth of their love for each other!" They both pumped their fists into the air.
"The Schools will be joined!"
[Refuge camp, Late Evening]
Ranma and Ukyo walked back into the camp, both with somber smiles on their faces. Ranma having since de-transformed and actually having found some hot water at the mess on the way in, was once again male. When they pulled back the flap to Ranma and the Tendo's tent they were greeted by his mother and the three girls.
"Ukyo-chan!" Kasumi said excitedly as she came over and hugged her, "it's good to see you. I am very happy that you made it."
Nabiki then walked over and shocked everyone by hugging the girl briefly before pulling back. "It is good to see Kuonji-san. It somehow seems more like home now that Ranma has more than one fiancé again." This caused everyone, even Akane, to break into a brief chuckle. Akane then came over and hugged her as well.
"Well Ranma are you going to introduce me to this lovely young woman?" Nodoka asked as she stepped forward.
"Mom this is Kuonji Ukyo, she's my best friend from when I was six; Pops engaged me to her."
Ukyo sketched a bow, "It's a pleasure to meet you Saotome-san."
Nodoka smiled, "Just call me auntie dear, it is a pleasure to meet one of my child's friends." Ranma winced, not once had his mother called him her son. It was always 'my child.' 'Does she think I'm not a man because of the curse? Maybe I am a disappointment to her.' Nabiki noticed the wince and made a few guesses, making a not to talk to Ranma about it later, possibly have Kasumi talk to him about it.
"I can see we are going to have to request another tent. The six of us in one tent might get a little crowded after a few nights." Nabiki said.
Ranma hesitated and then spoke, "Actually that might not be an issue. Now that your and my father is here, well I am still having those feelings that are coming from somewhere up north. I just know that whoever is behind them knows why I became what I did. I just have to go." This statement of course was not well received.
"Ranma you know what I went through to get down here, and now that I'm here and reunited with you; you want to go off on some trek into the unknown." Ukyo accused scowling.
"My child I to have reservations about this, we have just been brought together after all these years, and going north will be very dangerous."
Ranma looked guilty and flustered, "but I have to go. Don't you see it's driving me nuts not just the call, but not knowing why. Besides when I'm, um, transformed, I don't even feel the cold at all."
Nodoka sighed, "I understand Ranma. Why doesn't everyone sleep on it tonight, and if you still feel compelled to go in the morning. I will wish you well. But if you do leave I expect to here from you as soon as possible. I will not be separated from you again like last time."
"Mom, I promise."
"Very well, why don't we all collect our ration of rice for this evening and settle down for dinner together." Everyone, especially Ranma, was agreeable to this idea.
[Tent 859, 8 pm]
Ranma looked at her cards carefully, having elected to turn female earlier so she could enjoy her dinner without the queasiness that came with being male.
"Bullshit!"
Nabiki smirked, "Sorry Ranma, pick'em up." Ranma sighed in frustration as she picked up the pile of cards. Nodoka looked at her cards and then laid down two.
"Two Jacks."
Before Ranma could check recently acquired inventory of cards, she felt a sudden presence at the edge of her perception. Dropping her cards her hand once again instinctively found her henshin pen.
"Ranma," Nodoka said in an inquisitive tone, "is there something wrong?"
Ranma absently nodded her head as she stood up. "Happosai's back. There's something you all should know, if the new feelings I have gotten are right, then he's not even human. I've got to go stop him."
"I'll go with you Ranchan," Ukyo said grabbing her spatula she had laid on the ground
"Me too," Akane said as she cracked her knuckles.
Ranma shuffled her feet nervously, "um I kinda got to do this, um, transformed, and maybe it wouldn't be a good idea for him to associate you guys with the senshi. If he escaped he is one person I really don't want knowing my identity."
Nodoka spoke before either of the girls could protest. "I think Ranma is right. This is her battle and I think it would only endanger you and her if either of you girls went. Be careful Ranma."
Ranma nodded, "I will Mom."
"Earth Star Power, MAKE UP!"
As the transformation washed over Ranma, Nabiki took a careful look at everyone's reactions. Something she didn't miss was Ukyo's wide stare and rising blush. 'Hmmm, now that's interesting.' Nabiki mused quietly to herself, "something to defiantly keep an eye on."
Ranma stalked quietly through the night getting close to the dark feeling until suddenly she saw him slipping out of one of the tents with a large bag on his shoulder. Mentally clamping down on the urge to announce herself she launched a flying kick at the pervert. The kick was deftly deflected with a pipe at the last moment sending Ranma crashing into the side of another tent, knocking it over. Leaping back to her feet she pulled the rose from her hair and then another and another as she sent them rapid fire towards Happosai who was forced to give ground as he twirled his pipe to deflect the deadly flora. Ranma stopped throwing roses but kept up her attack forcing Happosai out of the camp and into a recently cleared field that was being prepared for habitation. Ranma Connected a magically enhanced kick to the freak's mid section causing him to fly back twenty feet leaving a furrow in the ground.
Happosai coughed and got back up to his feet, appraising his opponent.
"Well now girl, why haven't I ever seen you before. You're quite a bit more skilled than your friends."
"Quiet old man, tell me, where you ever human?"
"Oh yes, I was once as human as you. I had to make a deal to get out of a cave a couple of ungrateful students of mine locked me into. I never much cared for my humanity anyway, and she doesn't ask for much."
"Who's 'She'?" Ranma asked
"Now that would be telling." Happosai sneered before yelling "Happo- daikarin!" and launching the explosive at Ranma. Ranma leapt to the side, flung her arms forward and called out something that had just appeared in her mind.
"Rose Tempest!"
A whirlwind laced with magically enhanced rose petals flew from Ranma's finger tips and slammed into Happosai, blowing him into a stack of tent frames as the petals cut anything they made contact with. Running purely on instinct Ranma pulled another Rose from her head and launched it as hard as she could towards the slowly standing form of Happosai. The Youma that had once been the Grand-Master of Anything Goes didn't even have a chance to cry out before his heart was impaled by the flower. Ranma stared in shock at what she had done as the perverted master fell to his knees before dissolving into a black mist.
Sailor Earth had the sudden distinct need to rid herself of dinner's rice.
[Tent 859, sometime later]
Everyone was still awake and talking quietly when Ranma came back in, once again in normal clothes and male. They all noticed his pale complexion and somewhat haunted eyes.
"Ranma-kun," Kasumi said softly, "are you alright?"
Ranma nodded and went over to his cot. "I'm fine Kasumi, just; I don't want to talk about it."
Sensing Ranma's mode everyone decided that the questions could wait until morning.
That night Ranma dreamed that of a blonde-haired woman that comforted him and eased his guilt over the killing. When he woke up he only remembered parts of it, but the surprising thing was that he did feel better, as though confessing to the dream girl had given him some sort of absolution.
[Five miles north of Refuge Camp A26]
Ranma glanced once again at his two companions; the result of a lengthy debate that had consumed most of the morning. Ukyo had simply refused to be left behind and Akane had been drafted into the trip by their fathers. One might have noticed that her protests seemed a bit weaker than was her want. Ukyo had dropped a few names from the people she had met in the Evacuation Command Center, and gotten them three sets of expedition grade clothing and gear for the trip. Ranma wandered once again where his life was taking him and just what kind of trouble he was leading his fiancés into.
[Somewhere Else]
A shadowy figure approached the stone alter where a light shimmering in the air denoted some presence.
"Mistress, Happosai has failed to deliver the energy he was assigned to collect."
A voice, both terrifying and beautiful responded seemingly from everywhere within the chamber. "Yes, I felt his connection with me severed late last night. If Happosai has been eliminated and our influence in him discovered we may have to move up our plans. Keep me informed of our other agents' progress and discretely investigate the area of Happosai's disappearance. Do not under any circumstance allow yourself to be discovered, if you are the punishments will be more than your worst nightmares can conjure."
"Yes Mistress."