Ranma ½ belongs To Rumiko Takahashi, Viz video and others. Any other works belong to their respective people as well. I don't own any of this so just sit back and enjoy the tale, oh and don't sue me please that would be bad.

Chapter 10 – Separate ways

Ranma and Ryouga stood in front of the class and were introduced. The teacher looked at Ryouga and said, "Say something about yourself."

Ryouga looked at the class shyly and said, "I'm uh Ryouga Hibiki and I like martial arts."

"Good. Now have a seat next to" Said the teacher as she glanced around the room and Minako and Makoto pointed at an empty desk right next to them. The teacher continued and said, "Minako Aino."

Ryouga walked to the spot and blushed some more as the two girls tried to hand him various things and invited him to lunch.

Meanwhile Ranma was standing at the front of the room staring at Minako and Makoto as well as Usagi and the other girls. His minds eye redressed them in their Senshi uniforms without trouble and then demanded vengeance. He stared at them all barely controlling himself and then he heard, "Ranma. Ranma!"

He looked up at the teacher and said, "Huh?"

She looked exasperated and said, "Just take a seat next to Ami, maybe something will rub off on you."

He walked down the desks and began to sit down next to the school girl. She looked at him and smiled and his mind went somewhere else.

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He was in her sailor form and just arrived on Mercury after the cleansing by Serenity. The planet itself was quiet, no longer was there the chaos of traffic or even the laughing of children, all around was an almost mindless order, people programmed to be good citizens, programmed to be dutiful to the Lunar Imperium. She walked along the road and saw the Mercury Palace, there at the palace was disorder. Citizens were complaining about treatment and wages at the plasma factory. She walked closer to the group and saw that the Mercury Princess was coming out to meet them as well. Happiness infused her momentarily, as she thought that the princess would meet them and see their plight.

That happiness was doused as Mercury said, "I see you have refused the cleansing. The Lunar Imperium has one answer to your demands." Then Mercury held up her hands and said, "Shabon Spray Freezing." Leaving the group of complainants frozen in blocks of ice. Ranma screamed out her frustration and attacked. The battle was long, but ended in defeat for Sol, she was ultimately forced to retreat when the forces of Mercury joined in the battle. Wishing to avoid harming those forces that were controlled by the cleansing she left to ponder her options and to speak with the princess of the outer planets starting with Saturn.

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Ranma returned to himself with a scream of defiance and looked around the classroom. The teacher said, "Ranma Hibiki, buckets, hall."

He walked out of the room and glanced at the members of the class again. He stared at the inner senshi and a part of him saw regular everyday school girls, while another part saw the people who had betrayed the solar system and helped Queen Serenity murder him in another life.

He stood in the hall with buckets and contemplated what he would do. Then he realized that it would be impossible for him to go to this school and deal with these feelings every day. When class ended for lunch he handed a note to Ryouga it said, "I quit, I'm not going to school here Ryouga, I'm sorry.." Then he wandered off to the park to meditate and practice.

Ryouga's day consisted of being embarrassed and shy all day. Trying to figure out why two cute girls were vying for his affections, he barely noticed the note that Ranma had given to him and continued on his day in bliss and awe.

It was much later in the day and Ryouga finds himself alone with Makoto at the Marine Park wondering how he got there, but not caring. They stand watching the waves and Makoto hugs him close. Minako comes running up to the two of them and starts arguing with Makoto.

Usagi and Ami also show up followed by Rei the trio try to convince Makoto and Minako to stop fighting over Ryouga who is starting to look concerned over all the attention and fighting.

Makoto looks at Ryouga and says, "Who do you like more Ryo-chan?"

Minako stands next to her and says, "Ryo-Chan? How could you call him that you just met? Hibiki-san you like me more right?"

Ryouga looks at the two girls and his mind blanks out. He wonders how Ranma was ever able to deal with this sort of thing with four girls and sometimes more. He looks up at the girls and says, "Uhm I uh that is."

As Ryouga gibbers to the girls a daimon appears in front of Makoto and Minako. It pulls open a blue cloak and Makoto gasps and covers her eyes until she realizes that the Daimon has a red dress on underneath the cloak and has wrapped her up in it.

Ryouga yells out, "Mako-chan!" and attacks. The Daimon takes a large right cross to the head and starts punching back. The two are engaged in deadly combat when the Daimon is able to grab Ryouga and throw him into the nearby water.

Then a red haired woman appears and says, "I am Kaolinite, if there are no more distractions I will be taking this girls' heart crystal."

The daimon then pulls open its dress, showing a black star on its right breast. A beam shoots out of it and hits Makoto, who starts screaming in pain.

Ryouga starts swimming towards shore when he sees two sailor girls in some nearby bushes watching the scene. He hears the two of them suggest that everything is going according to plan and increases his efforts to get to shore and help Makoto.

Ryouga gets back on shore and sees the heart crystal appear and Makoto's eyes blank out and her face falls. The Heart Crystal appears in Kaolinite's hands just as Ryouga reaches her. Ryouga realizes that this crystal is important and in a single clear move he pulls a long cylinder from his backpack and ignites his blue lightsabre cutting off the hand holding the crystal.

Kaolinte screams in agony as she looks at the cauterized stump and stares at Ryouga who is bending down to pick up her hand and ignoring her. She fires a powerful beam at him but he reacts in time to block it with his blue blade. Then Kaolinite sends her hair whipping out to grab the blade from him and to retrieve her hand in between them. The two are struggling with the hand when a cry of "World Shaking" comes from the two sailor girls in the bushes. Kaolinite is able to wrench her hair and put Ryouga in the way of the blast, she lets go as it hits him and sends him flying away.

Neptune runs in and grabs the crystal from the hand lying on the ground and says, "Sorry, but we need the Talisman."

Kaolinte clutches her stump and screams, "Sukaa get rid of them." She then watches as Sukaa the Daimon releases Makoto, who falls to the ground, and attacks Uranus. Then she starts walking towards Ryouga who is barely regaining consciousness and says, "You will die now boy. Those two care only for the crystal and the Sukaa will deal with them. In the meantime I will kill you for taking my hand."

That is when the other four Sailor Senshi appear. Sailor moon fires off a "Moon Tiara" at Kaolinite who avoids it and disappears saying, "I won't forget you boy."

Ryouga gets up from the ground and sees Venus use her "Venus Love-Me Chain" and Mars her "Burning Mandala" on Sukaa, but it creates illusionary multiples of itself which block the attacks. Sukaa then uses its dress to body wrap the two senshi. He looks at the two embattled senshi and then towards the girl who hit him and says, "I don't know what that Crystal is, but I think Mako-Chan needs it. Give it back now."

Neptune says to Uranus, "Well it isn't a heart crystal."

Sailor Moon who is standing next to Ryouga says, "Please return the crystal."

Uranus tosses it to Sailor Moon and says, "Here return it quickly." Sailor Moon retrieves the crystal and stares at the two senshi for a moment and then Mercury reminds her to return it the heart crystal.

The heart crystal is returned and Mercury, Moon, and Ryouga ask if Makoto is alright. She looks at them and says, "Yes."

Ryouga then looks towards the two trapped senshi and says, "Stay here Mako-Chan." Then he runs towards the Daimon with his lightsabre out.

Makoto transforms into Sailor Jupiter as his back is turned and as Ryouga is cutting Mercury and Venus out Jupiter uses "Sparkling Wide Pressure" on the daimon. Then she yells to Sailor Moon and says, "Now!"

Sailor Moon uses "Moon Spiral Heart Attack" the Daimon Sukaa is destroyed.

Ryouga extinguishes his lightsabre and checks on the two girls he had just helped out. Seeing that they will be okay his attention goes is gained as Uranus and Neptune are leaving and Jupiter says, "Wait! You are always waiting around to get heart crystals. You're no different than these Daimons."

Uranus looks at her and says, "So what?"

Jupiter says, "I'll beat you up!" She attacks, but Uranus smirks and blocks her arm before punching her in the stomach. Jupiter falls to the ground, and her friends run to her side while Ryouga leaps towards Uranus in attack mode.

He slams into her like a freight train, knocking her to the ground and punching her a number of times. Without any preparation for the attack Uranus is fighting a losing battle and starting to lose consciousness as well until Neptune shouts, "Deep Submerge" this time Ryouga has the presence of mind to leap into the air when he hears the attack phrase.

Ryouga avoids the attack and charges Neptune who is barely able to avoid the blows. Then Uranus gets up and shouts her attack phrase. Seeing her get up Ryouga turns on his lightsabre again and blocks the attack with his weapon and continues an assault on the two girls. The rest of the sailors watch in awe as a normal human boy is able to go toe to toe with the outer scouts.

Mercury says, "In addition to some internal energy he is also pulling an energy force from somewhere, but the computer shows no dark kingdom energy, and nothing else related to the Daimon phenomena. Whatever force he is using is completely unknown to the Mercury computer."

Mars says, "The internal energy is most likely his chi. I can sense his chi aura from here. He must be very powerful and very well trained to access and us it like that."

Jupiter gets up and says, "Well I'm going to help him." Then she shouts, "Supreme Thunder" and Joins the fray. Neptune and Uranus retreat from the battle and run off. Jupiter grabs Ryouga as he is about to chase them and says, "Good job citizen. Do not worry as lovely defenders of love and Justice the sailor scouts will get them next time."

Ryouga looks up at her and blushes unable to use a coherent phase as she touches him. She plants a kiss on his cheek and unconsciousness claims him.

Ryouga wakes up again this time with Makoto speaking his name. He smiles up at her and it is almost as if little hearts can be seen coming from his head. Minako looks on in jealousy, but then comes and helps pick the lost boy up.

"Are you okay?" Makoto says then she hands him a small piece of paper and says, "Here, you dropped this in the fight."

He looks down at the paper and realizes that it is from Ranma. He sees the first two words "I quit" then smiles at Makoto and says, "I uh have to go see my brother okay?" Makoto smiles at him and says, "Alright" then smiles at him and walks away with her friends.

Minako says, "I guess you can have him." Then walks ahead of the senshi in their civilian identities. The rest discuss Makoto and her new boyfriend as they giggle and walk into the distance.

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Meanwhile Ranma has been training in the park in his female form as a form of meditation. He puts up a series of kicks and punches against an opponent that isn't there.

A sickly looking girl with long black hair watches on. She is entranced by Ranma as she moves in her graceful and deadly way. She watches for hours as Ranma tries to relieve all of her stress and remove the anger that he is feeling. He slows down and sits next to the tree cooling off and then Ranma spots the girl who was watching her. She says, "Hello there. I didn't know I had an audience."

The girl says, "I'm sorry."

Ranma smiles and says, "No need to apologize, I'm Ranma Hibiki I practice here a lot now."

The girl smiles and says, "I'm Hotaru Tomoe, I like coming to this park it is so quiet and peaceful."

Ranma looks around at the trees and bushes and smiles to Hotaru who is walking towards her. As the younger girl approaches Ranma receives another flashback.

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She is speaking to a view screen on it is the princess of Saturn. She says to her, "Please consider this princess, all of the inner planets except for earth have become part of the Lunar Imperium. The cleansing has spread so far already and Beryl of earth is desperate. I don't know if the solar forces and hers alone can defeat the Imperial armada. We need more allies."

The princess of Saturn looks calm and aloof and says, "I have the power of the silence. Can it really be so important that my power is necessary?"

She looks at Saturn on the view screen and says, "You don't need to unleash the full power, but we need you help if we are to defeat Serenity."

Saturn replies, "Very well Sol, I will accept an audience. Come to Saturn and I will lower the silence wall for your ships to pass."

She turns off the view screen and says, "Captain set a course for Saturn, full speed."

The captain looks towards her and says, "Aye sir."

Suddenly the ship is rocked by and explosion. A man nearby says, "Sir, damage report from the starboard side. Computer modeling suggests that the damage is similar to the Venus Love me chain."

Sol cries out, "Evasive Maneuvers captain." Then she teleports herself into outer space. There she is confronted by Mercury, Venus, and Mars. The confrontation is deadly. With no quarter given or asked she fights on, but is no match for the power of the three senshi. Then they bring her into a ship and force her to kneel in front of Empress Serenity the first. She holds the Ginzoushou in her hands and the cleansing begins. She fights it tooth and nail with all of her reserves and then she screams, "Supernova!" without a magical guardian to channel the power it consumes her…

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Hotaru is sitting next to Ranma holding her hand and says, "Miss? Miss Ranma are you okay?"

Ranma looks at her and realizes she must have fallen down when the flashback occurred. Then she sees a scratch on her leg, but says, "Yeah, I'm okay. I just got a scratch when I fell that's all."

Hotaru laughs and says, "Are you sure? I can help."

Ranma smiles and says, "You can eh?"

Hotaru looks shy and says, "Yes, but it scares some people."

Ranma says, "I don't scare easy, go ahead."

Hotaru touches Ranma's knee and heals it with her powers. Ranma looks on and says, "That's pretty good kid." Then she realizes that Hotaru has used up her own power to heal her and is about to fall unconscious. Holding on to Hotaru she concentrates and touches Hotaru infusing her with some of her own Chi reserves.

Hotaru feels the power infuse her and says, "You, you're like me?"

Ranma says, "In a way I guess. I used an ancient Amazon healing technique and infused you with my chi, is that what you did?"

Hotaru looks up at the red haired elven girl confused and says, "No, I've always been able to do it. Other people tease and laugh at me for it Ranma-san. They call it a curse, sometimes they even beat me up."

Ranma replies, "They tease you for a gift like that? It took me years of training and ability before I had enough chi reserves to even attempt the technique that elder Cologne showed me. To have the ability to heal like that is precious to me. To have it always is a boon, a gift from the Kami, not a curse."

Hotaru looks up at her and says, "Thank you Ranma-san."

Ranma looks at her and says, "Just Ranma okay?"

Hotaru blushes and says, "Alright Ranma, I thank you for your kind words and for allowing me to watch your beautiful dance earlier."

Ranma says, "It's a Kata part of martial arts and I'm making it my sworn duty to show you how to do them. That way no one will beat up on you again."

Hotaru smiles and says, "Will you Ranma? Thank you so much, I barely know you, but feel like you are my dear friend."

Ranma blushes and says, "Thank you Hotaru, I'd be happy to be your friend."

Hotaru then sees that it is getting dark and says, "I've got to be going home now."

Ranma looks at the same darkening sky and says, "Why don't you let me walk you there?"

Hotaru smiles at the older girl and says, "Alright."

They walk towards the Tomoe household and Ranma notices that Hotaru is having a hard time keeping up. He says, "Hey kid are you okay?"

Hotaru tells Ranma that she tends to be sickly and has attacks that sometimes immobilize her. Ranma is very concerned and asks Hotaru if she will be willing to go see a good friend of hers tomorrow. They get to Hotaru's house and Hotaru finally agrees and saying that she will meet Ranma at the park after school and they can go see Ranma's friend from there.

Ranma leaves the Tomoe household with a bad feeling and walks back to the park wondering what it could be. When he gets to the park he sees Ryouga waiting by a tree.

He walks up to Ryouga and says, "Hey man, I guess you got my message huh?"

Ryouga says, "Yes. I got it. Why are you quitting Ranma?"

Ranma explains to a confused Ryouga which girls in the class are the sailor senshi and how he can't trust himself to be around them because of his memories from being Taya.

Ryouga is stunned that his Mako-Chan is a senshi and then realizes that they will need Ranma's help. He says, "They need your help. There is this witch that's stealing crystal things from peoples hearts, there are the demon creatures that she creates, and then there are two other sailor girls who aren't on their side. They could really use both of us, I know it."

Ranma looks at his friend and says, "I wish I could Ryouga, but I see them and I can't help it. The memories I gained from becoming Sailor Sol keep getting in the way. In a different universe those girls killed me. It's hard for me to let go of that."

Ryouga sighed and said, "Alright fine, have it your way, but I'm going to help them. Especially Mako-chan."

Ranma looked at him and said, "I understand you big goof, go help them out. I'll be training here every night if you need a sparrin partner and we could figure our some of this Amazon lore."

Ryouga said, "You're not coming to the inn?"

Ranma replied, "No, I'm going to be closer to this park." Then he touched the tree and smiled.

Then Ryouga said, "What Amazon lore."

Ranma held up the book and said, "Sword techniques for your lightsabre."

Ryouga says, "What have you got?"

Ranma says, "This section of the book is penned by an Amazon who had seen the techniques used. This one is called the Gatotsu. The Amazon who penned this section apparently ended up trying to marry the man in Japan who used it. Apparently she gave up on the marriage after he explained the techniques to her."

Ryouga said, "You think I could learn them then?"

Ranma said, "Absolutely, I'll copy them down and have them ready the next time you meet me in the park okay?"

Ryouga smiled and said, "Yeah I'd like that Ranma. You'll be okay by yourself won't you?"

Ranma said, "I will Ryouga now go, on enjoy being by yourself for awhile, besides I bet Mako-Chan would much prefer if she didn't have to worry about your brother bargin in."

Ryouga blushed and stammered and then said, "Alright Ranma, I'll see you around." Then he walked off.

Ranma smiled and meditated closed his eyes and felt the park all around him with his chi. Then he smiled for awhile as he felt everything around him become calm and quiet for the night.

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The next day found Ranma in his female form waiting at the park for Hotaru. She sat and waited and then waited some more. Getting tired of waiting she walked to the Tomoe household and knocked on the door. A lady with long red hair answered it and looked at the girl. Then she said, "Who are you?"

Ranma looked at her and said, "I'm Ranma a friend of Hotaru's is she home?"

The lady said, "Hotaru is unwell she will not be receiving visitors today."

Ranma began to get angry and then said, "Very well uhm miss."

"Kaolinite" Said the woman. She then closed the door and saying, "Good day."

Ranma grinned to herself and used the Umi Sen Ken to become invisible. Leaping onto the roof and opening a window in the house. She walked down a hallway looking for Tomoe's room when she was surprised by Kaolinite grabbing her arm and saying, "I thought I told you to leave."

Ranma thought (That's not possible, no one can tell where I am when I use the Umi.) Then she said, "I'm just concerned for my friend. She wasn't well and I wanted to bring her to a doctor I know." She looked at Kaolinite's angering form and said, "I'll pay for it, there's no need to get angry."

Kaolinite just looked at Ranma and said, "I will not allow you to harm our plans." Then she attacked.

Ranma was wrapped in her hair and choking before she could even think to block. She felt stars and blackness coming into her field of vision and pulled out the katana she received from a predator to cut the hair. It was blasted out of her hands by Kaolinite and more stars and blackness were forming she tried to gather her chi for a Kinjin Rashu Dan, but could not do so. So just as consciences was about to flee she whispered, "Solar Strength Makeup."

Hotaru opened her door in time to see Ranma transform into Sailor Sol and then to watch the resulting transformation burn through the hair binding leaving Sol standing there with a flaming sword.

Kaolonite easily put the flames in her hair out and said, "You will die for your foolishness." She tossed a Daimon egg out and said, "Kill her!" and leaped down the stairs towards the basement.

The Daimon was full of razor sharp edges and metal and its four hands were swords and it said, "Slice, Dice!" Then it attacked. Ranma was able to block the attacks, but even with her speed was hard pressed to block all four swords. Sol shouted, "Solar Flare!" and the burst of super heated plasma started to melt Slice into slag when another Daimon slammed into her from behind crushing her into the floor. She looked and saw that Kaolinite was on the lower level holding on to even more Daimon eggs.

Ranma tried to lever out from under the Daimon when she saw Hotaru standing at her door and said, "Hotaru, get away quick!"

Hotaru looked at her new friend and realized the danger she was in and instead of running she said, "Saturn Eternal Power makeup" Then placing one hand in the air, Hotaru rotated on the spot, feeling her clothes vanish, only to be replaced by knee high boots and two big bows, one on her chest, and one on her back, and the ribbons on that one went all the way to her knees. She ended the transformation floating on wings and with the silence glaive in her hands. She then attacked the Daimon on top of Ranma with it.

As Saturn attacked, Ranma was able to get out from under the Daimon and the two of them made quick work of the creature, but they still had the Slice Daimon to contend with and possibly more coming from Kaolinite.

Ranma grabbed Saturn and yelled, "Sol ultimate technique!" Then she ran out of the house and leaped onto a nearby roof. She looked behind her to see if there was anyone following, but there was no pursuit as she continued to escape with Saturn in tow.

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Authors Notes: That's another chapter down. I realized I was rushing a bit in the previous one, but there is so much that needs to be covered.

I've got the inner senshi and Ryouga who will be using his continuing force powers as well as his lightsabre and new sword techniques. I've got Ranma and Hotaru and learning about the Eternal form and what it means for his powers, not to mention Mistress 9. I've got the Death busters and their plots, I've got the Outer senshi, and I haven't even gotten to Pluto, nor have I gotten to the villains of Shadow who have been sent by the mist creature who will be attacking as well.

I'll try not to rush everything. Hmm maybe I need a pre-reader. Any volunteers?