*standard disclaimer* I own none of the characters here except Sotaki. This is a tribute to Ranma, Sailor Moon, layers, Jet Set Radio, and others, and a way for me to express myself and relieve stress. Please don't sue, I don't have much.
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A.N:

"Japanese"

'English'

[Signs]

*Thoughts*

-SOUND EFFECTS-

(AUTHOR'S NOTES)

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Chapter 8: Bubbles

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Sunday rolled out, Monday rolled in. The maniac, the apprentice, and the martial artist all got up with their respective rituals and headed to school. Hikaru was curious as to how Sotaki would stomp Kuno without throwing a single punch, Ranma was eager to be defeated, and hoping that Kuno would finally get a clue.

Sotaki whistled as he strolled to Furinkan about half an hour before the first bell rang. Approaching the delusional kendoist's hiding spot he called out. "Tatewaki Kuno, I challenge you to a duel of honor! These young men who have gathered here today shall be our witnesses! Now come out and try me!"

"WHO DARES? I SHALL SMITE THEE!" Kuno leapt from behind the tree, live steel drawn and flying.

"Cease your attack, for thine temper is far too short. You have attacked someone who has done more than issue a challenge. The battle I desire is not of swords but of words."

Kuno ceased his charge. "Very well, I shall deign to meet your challenge."

"There is a man, in a faraway land. Since you belong to a powerful family, it is up to you to judge him."

"I see no point in this, but I will humor thou for now. Speak, knave."

"Now, I shall tell this man's tale. His life was hard, but not worse than anyone else's. He had a sister and two loving parents, along with all the money they could ever spend. His mother was taken from them at an early age. His sister and he were devastated, and both were changed. Now, neither of them believes than ANYONE can be better than them in any way, shape or form."

"The fool is guilty of hubris, then."

"Wise judgement. Now, the brother attended a public highschool. He obsessed over a girl, and harassed her every day. Every day he accosted her, and every day she beat him away. He proclaimed that anyone who defeated her could have a date. Despite the fact that this would probably lead to her rape, he not only allowed these attacks but actually encouraged them. Every day she denied any affection, and in fact proclaimed that she hated him and indeed all males, but he took these cries as signs of shyness, and thus peeped at her and continued to stalk her."

"He is honorless, and owes this girl a thousand apologies."

"Now, it just so happened that an arranged marriage had her bound to marry a boy who turned into a girl with a splash of cold water. Since the boy was cursed, she abused him verbally and physically. This boy had recieved the curse in China thanks to his father's idiocy. However, he had also recieved ten years of insane martial arts training that would kill a thousand lesser men, and could defeat skilled masters five times his age. However, the brother would not allow it, stating that he had some claim over her, citing 'true love'. He attacked, without any reason besides his own ego."

"Then he is a danger to all those around him, and must be smote down!"

"Continuing with my tale, the man was defeated soundly, however, would not admit defeat, claiming that the martial artist had made a pact with demons, and was thus unworthy of claiming victory. The fool attacked him again, and they both fell into a pool of water. The now-female martial artist dragged the delusional warrior out of the pool, however, all he recieved for his trouble was a grope and a proclamation of love. As you can imagine, this didn't sit too well with the cursed boy, and he thus beat up the man. The fool took these as 'love taps', and started chasing after her. When she proclaimed her lack of love, he decided she had been enslaved by the 'demon' who had beaten him."

"He must become a wandering monk for his sins, then!"

"Every day, for several months, he attacked and molested the girl. He used many underhanded tactics, and struck at the opponent's weak spot without mercy. Still, the cursed marial artist perservered. His antagonist decided that 'to defeat magic, one must use magic', and resorted to trickery, potions, poisons, and many other underhanded tactics. The fact that he survived through force of will was taken once again as 'proof' of his 'evil'."

"There is nothing that could wipe these disgraces from his life!"

"One final question. What would it take as proof, in your opinion, to show that the two were one, and that he had no honor whatsoever?"

"Easy. He would have to be tied up, and shown the change several times. Then the boy would have to be told something by the honorless cur, and be told back by the other form."

"Very well."

"Now then, Kuno. There's something I didn't tell you. Before, in front of witnesses, you answered my question. The man you passed judgement on was yourself."

By this time, Ranma had arrived. He had heard what the last half of Sotaki's challenge, and smirked when Sotaki threw a few ropes at him. Sneaking up behind Kuno, he tied him to a lamp post. Struggling in vain, Kuno swore loudly. "WHAT TREACHERY IS THIS?"

"You defeated me in a challenge of words. Your judgements were correct, and matched mine. Thus, the duel was over. Ranma, please come over here."

Ranma ambled over. "Yeah?"

"Is it true you change from a boy to a girl with the application of cold water?"

"Yes." Ranma was elated. If this worked, he would be free of one of his problems. From then on, he would be able to breathe a little easier.

"Do you love Kuno?"

"NO. Kuno disgusts me. He is a pervert and-"

"Thank you, that's enough. Do you know any magic?"

"On my honor, and the honor of the Saotome clan, no. The only magic I have knowledge of is what Cologne and Shampoo try to use to bring me into the tribe, and what my rivals use to try to defeat me, and my Jusenkyou curse."

"On my honor, I trust him. Ranma has shown me countless times how honorable he was." Dumping some cold water over Ranma's head, Sotaki went on. "Now, what is your name?"

"Ranma Saotome?"

"Were you born a male or a female?"

"Male!"

"How is it you are female?"

"A curse from Jusenkyou. Cold water turns me into this form, hot water changes me back."

"Do you love Kuno?"

"I've answered this before. NO."

"Kuno, please whisper something into his ear."

Ranma bent down, ear first, ready to leap back.

Kuno frowned. Something was starting to trickle through to Kuno past the filter of his ego.

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,"

Twitching, Ranma pulled back.

Pouring hot water over Ranma's head, Sotaki spoke to Ranma. "What did he say?"

"Kuno quoted Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet, the famous balcony scene, where Romeo and Juliet share tender words. Would you like a quote?"

"Kuno? Do you accept that Ranma heard what you said?"

"LIES! SORCERY!"

"Ranma has struggled valiantly to get where he is, and every day you attack him without reason. He struggles vainly to uphold all his honor and what little honor the Saotome clan has left, and you attack him for it. You molest him and Akane, and you try to kill him on a daily basis! YOU ARE NO SAMURAI... YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF THE TITLE OF BURAKUMIN!"

"NO! LIES! THIS CANNOT BE TRUE!" Kuno was close to foaming at the mouth.

"Why? Because then you would have no honor? Face up to your shame, you BASTARD! You have contributed to the Hell that is Ranma's life. You claim to be a samurai, but one of the greatest virtues of a samurai is REASON. They are always open to reasonable discussion. If you would at least to pretend to have any honor, you would have listened to what Ranma and I said, and realized your errors. This has all happened in front of over a hundred witnesses. DO YOU ADMIT TO YOUR MISTAKES OR NOT?"

"I HAVE MADE NO MISTAKES!"

"Really? You accepted a challenge of wordplay, and didn't lose. You swore to stand by your answers by accepting the challenge. I have provided evidence that the scenario I set forth in the challenge is true. The actions of the one you judged are your own! Will you cling to your delusion, or will you finally try to atone? You are standing on the edge of humanity. One more denial, and I can guarantee you Hell itself will consume your soul when you die. NOW ANSWER!"

What Sotaki had said finally reached what little brain remained in Kuno's head.

"I... I... have no honor."

"No. You have some honor. By realizing your folly even through all the hardships you've survived and all the mistakes you've made, you have started on the path to redemption. Now what will you do?"

"I will leave. One thing puzzles me, though. Nabiki told me that her body and soul belonged to Saotome. Why?"

"It's true, isn't it? He does control the 'osage no onna'."

"Heh. It's true, then. I shall become a wandering monk to atone for my sins. Akane, Ranma. I know it's too much to ask, but, please don't hate me."

Hanging his head, Kuno wandered away.

Sotaki shrugged. "Hm. Poor guy forgot that he has school today.

Once again, a mass facefault pervaded the area he was in.

Ranma was amazed. "You didn't just defeat Kuno, you let him defeat himself! Not only that, you removed him from my life! THAT WAS AMAZING!"

"No, it was logic."

"WHO CARES? Could you teach me?"

"Hmmmm... Okay. I'll do it."

Later, after school...

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, MY OWN WORDS HURT ME?"

"I mean, your own words cause you problems. I'm going to steal someone else's idea and say that if you truly wish to be trained by me you must first go as long as I want you to without talking."

"No talking?"

"No talking. Writing stuff down is just fine, but take your time."

"How long do I have to do this?"

"Until I say otherwise. You can tell the rest it's a pressure point, a curse, or a new training method."

Ranma nodded. Holding up a sign that looked suspiciously like Genma's, he wrote out his message. [What is the purpose of this?]

Sotaki smiled. "When you figure that out you may talk once more."

Ranma nodded.

"RANMA NO BAKA! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I WAS WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU! WHERE WERE YOU? WHO WERE YOU WITH?"

Holding up a sign, Ranma wrote. [I was just with-]

"WERE YOU CHEATING ON ME? YOU WERE CHEATING ON ME! YOU BASTARD! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"

Malleting him through the roof, Akane grinned. That'll teach the pervert to play with my heart! Common sense suggested that he might have simply found a friend, and that she was wrong, but was quickly put in its place via a few *Ranma's fault! Ranma's fault!*s.

-WHAM!-

Ranma landed right outside the Cat Cafe. Hearing the ringing of a bell, he leaped up and tried to run away. Suddenly, Ranma was struck by a flash of inspiration. Ducking, he rolled TOWARD the source of the sound.

Shampoo thus overshot her target and kept going instead of using Ranma's now-missing body as the brakes for her bike. The fact that there was a lamppost behind her target only ocurred after the impact.

*Wow. That worked.*

"Ooooh... pretty stars..."

Whistling, Ranma strolled away. His stomach reminded him that Akane had malleted him right before lunch, and he thus headed toward the Ucchan's.

"Hey! Ranchan! Can I get you anything?"

[Sure, Ucchan. Could I get a normal okonomiyaki?]

"Sure thing, Ranchan! Say, why are you using that sign?"

[Old ghoul got me again.] Keeping his face still, Ranma realized just how easy it was to lie with signs.

Hearing a loud slap, she looked up and saw an enormous stack of bills on the counter. "What's that for?"

[That's for all the times I've eaten here, Ucchan. There's enough in there to cover the yattai that Pops stole.]

"B...but then you're giving back the dowry."

[Yeah. That's the whole point.]

"Why?"

[Because, Ukyo, I don't want to be engaged to anyone right now. I understand that you lost honor, and this isn't your fault, but you really can't go around blaming me for it and expecting me to marry someone who I thought was a guy until a few months ago. When you crashed the wedding you really lost what little honor you were trying to regain. You've suffered in silence on your quest for vengeance, but your father ordered you to do it not out of common sense but to soothe his injured honor. If you really think about it, your father is like Genma. He's willing to sell his own daughter and then blame her when the buyer turns out to be an untrustworthy bastard. You should blame Genma and your father, not me.]

"B... but-"

[But what? You've wasted much of your life looking for me? I sympathize, I really do. You had to work hard to survive. I understand. You've heard the story of my training trip, right? Well, that's not half of it. The real root of the problem is Genma. If you want to skin him alive be my guest. But please, let me go. I'm not sure I'll ever love you. It hurts me to do this, but please, Ucchan. Let me go. Please.]

Ukyo broke down crying. Tackling Ranma, she sobbed into his shoulder. Hugging him, she cried for all the lost time. "I... I'm sorry, Ranma. I've made your life Hell in the name of love. Akane mallets you because you'd rather eat my cooking than get poisoned. You do your best to help us all, and I just treat you like an object. Please forgive me, Ranma."

[It's OK. It's not your fault.]

Still sobbing, Ukyo clutched Ranma tighter. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.

*Could Sotaki be right? They all treat me like an crap except for Ukyo and Kasumi.*

Walking through a quiet park, Ranma relaxed.

"RANMA! PREPARE TO DIE!"

Big mistake.

Dodging Ryoga's bandannas, Ranma pulled out a sign. [NOT NOW, RYOGA.]

"SHUT UP AND DIE!" Swinging wildly, Ryoga tried to put Ranma's lights out for good.

"Ryoga? Is that you? RANMA! STOP PICKING ON RYOGA!"

*Jeez, how dense can she get? Maybe it's time Ryoga gets a dose of his own medicine.* Dodging carefully, Ranma backed up to the edge of a pond. Ducking, Ranma held up a sign. [Oh look, ten yen!] Ryoga's punch left him overextended, and Ranma straightening up caused him to fall into the pond face-first. There was no splash, and the pond was fairly shallow. Akane blinked. "Where did Ryoga go? And why is P-chan here?"

[Akane, that depends. If someone makes someone else promise something out of pity, and then uses this promise in dishonorable ways, is it OK to break that promise?]

"What do you mean?"

[I mean I promised Ryoga I wouldn't betray a secret of his, but he's been using that secret against me. In essense, he's hiding behind my honor.]

"What are you talking about, you jerk?"

[I can't say any more, except for this: Ryoga followed me to China. He even tracked me to a certain cursed training ground.]

"What's wrong with you, baka! What the hell-"

[Jeez. Do you realize just how silly you sound? Are you a broken record? How many training grounds that I've told you about exist in China?]

"One. Jusenkyou. But anyone who goes there gets a curse. When we went on a date he was splashed and didn't change into anything."

[Ryoga got his hands on some waterproof soap.]

"But that would mean that he changes into something."

[Yes. And I'll have you know that that something always attacks me. Of course you assume that I 'probably did something to deserve it', and thus mallet me.]

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

[Akane, why do you think I don't want P-chan sleeping in your bed? Why do you think I call Ryoga 'pork butt' and 'bacon breath'?]

"Because he eats lots of pork?"

[I give up. I really do. You're hopeless. You tell me why P-Chan is here. Why does P-Chan always seem to understand you? Why is it every time you tell P-Chan something Ryoga seems to know? Why is it I make PIG cracks at Ryoga every time he tries to kill me? Why P-Chan avoids hot water like Ryoga avoids cold? Why is it Ryoga just disappeared and P-Chan appeared in the same spot when hit with cold water? Why is it they have the same bandanna? Why is it P-Chan and Ryoga attack with the same squeal every time they seem me?]

"I dunno, maybe coincidence?"

[You know, Kuno's less delusional than you.]

"WHY YOU!" Letting her control slip, Akane took a swing at Ranma.

Dodging nimbly, Ranma sighed. [You know, until today I would have let you hit me. But no more. I will never let you hit me again.]

"What do you mean, LET?" she screeched. "You're hit because I'm so much faster than you are!"

[Just like you're such a better cook, just like you're so much more attractive, just like you're so much more trusting, just like you're such a better martial artist, and how mature you are for the circumstances you're in, and how you're such a better housekeeper, and how you're so less perverted(1), right? ]

"RRRAAAAHHHHHH! STAND STILL AND DIE!"

And suddenly, a lightbulb went off above Ranma's head. He stood stock-still and let the mallet bury him up to his shoulders into the ground. Pulling out a sign, he smiled as he wrote on it. [I'm dead now.]

"BAKA! Don't joke about that!"

[No, I'm serious. You have declared killing intent before striking me for the past two years. That's enough to put you away for ten years at least. Considering how many times you've done it, that's enough for life. Considering the circumstances that you've done it, such as me simply coming to the dojo after being malleted a mile by you and you assuming I've been cheating on you, that's enough to get you several lifetimes, or, should I provide more evidence, death. But I've chosen to go easy on you one last time. One more hit from you, just ONE more, and I'm declaring myself legally dead. I'm giving you ONE chance to avoud a fate worse than death. ]

"HA! Who cares if you're dead or not?"

[Three other girls, one of which is a psycho. A pair of fathers, both of which are morons. An old perv and an old ghoul, both of which have access to many many powerful artifacts. Ryoga and Mousse who want to be the ones who kill me. Kuno, who realized his dishonor and became a wandering monk. Saffron. Either he might want to thank me for knocking him out of 'arrogant jerk' mode or for the same reason as Ryoga and Mousse. Nabiki, for all the money I provide her. Okaasan, who's willing to behead her own son if he's not 'manly'. Hikaru, who's quite a martial artist, and Sotaki, who seems to teach Hikaru.]

"Grrrrr... THEY DON'T COUNT! Anyway, how would you leaving be a fate worse than death?"

[Then who would count? And if I die, my 'debts' are unpayed. Therefore, all debts that previously fall to me now fall on the Saotome clan head. If I tell Okaasan the training trip and what I have to put up with because of that bastard of a father, I'm sure she'll divorce him. Since she's not expecting a child, there won't be any more Saotomes except for Genma. Since the pact still stands, and your father is so hung up on the pact, he would still say the families must be joined. Since Mom would warn all women within a five-country radius of Oyaji, he wouldn't be able to sire any children. Since Nabiki provides the money needed to keep your house afloat, Soun wouldn't dare engage her. Since Kasumi keeps you all fed, and the house clean, and loves Tofu, there's no way he'd engage HER. Since a man cannot marry a man, he couldn't engage himself. Who do you think will have to marry Genma?

"YOU WOULDN'T DARE!"

[No, I wouldn't make you marry Genma, although that would start to aproach the torture you put me through, instead I'm going to let you think about the following: I killed a god. I killed a god who had enough power to vaporize a mountaintop. I was looking for a cure, but I wouldn't have killed for that. The curse took backseat to you. I killed a god, all for you. I could have let you fry for all you put me through. I could have done anything to you while you were at my mercy. But I didn't. If you can't trust me after that, then there can be no engagement.]

"I REFUSE TO LISTEN TO YOU, YOU CHEATING, CROSSDRESSING, PERVERTED, IDIOTIC BAKA!"

[Think about what you're saying for a minute. The fact that I'm a better martial artist than my father got me my curse. I don't like it, in fact I've actively hunted for a cure, and yet you continue to insult me with the 'pervert' part. I have done nothing of the sort with anyone my life, so you can't call me 'cheating'. I dress appropriately for both genders, so there's no 'crossdressing' involved. I'm rebutting all your points and have you cornered, so there's no 'idiotic' involved. The only baka here is me, for putting up with you for so long. But that'll be cured soon. You can't reign in your temper even when I DON'T insult you. ]

Akane's mallet hand twitched, but she remembered what Ranma had said, and restrained herself... barely.

Walking off into the sunset, Ranma flipped his pigtail over his shoulder.

"Fine, I release you from your promise. You can tell me the secret."

[I can't. He has to release me first. Maybe you should ask Nabiki, she's probably figured it out.]

"WHY YOU!"

[What did I say this time? Did I imply that the sister who supports the household financially with weekly brilliant scams is more aware than you? I'm terribly sorry.]

"You'd better be."

[So sorry to crack your perfect little world. I'll be going now.]

"Go-HEY! RANMA GET BACK HERE!"

After Akane had been calmed down (with the clever application of a few signs reading [Genma]), they had gone home. Ranma had had some leftovers Kasumi had miraculously saved, and Akane went to question Nabiki.

"Nabiki, today something strange happened."

"What's that sis? Some new demon flew into town? Happosai's acting up? A new dragon? A god? A challenger with a style more obscure than one focusing around flapjacks?"

"No. Ryoga fell in a pond and vanished, and P-chan appeared."

"Sis... that's gotta be the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say!"

"Why? Wierd stuff happens all the time."

"I'm not doubting the validity of the statement, just the context."

"Huh?"

"Figure it out yourself Sis."

"Nabiki!"

"I'm going to bed now. Night."

"Get back here and tell me what happened!"

But Nabiki was upstairs. Behind her, she heard a noise. [Hello, Nabiki.] She turned around and saw Ranma leaning against the wall, holding up a sign.

"What, Saotome?"

[You know, today I realized something. You're the second-biggest cause of my problems.]

"What do you mean, Saotome?"

[You'te the one who set Kuno on me in the first place. You're the one who directs Ukyo, Kodachi, Shampoo, Ryoga, Mousse, and, until recently, Kuno to me wherever I go. And worst of all, you're the one who invited all the unexpected 'guests' to the wedding, So I have you to blame for the loss of my cure.]

"What do you mean, 'until recently'?"

[Oh, you didn't see? Kuno wasn't in class today.]

"What's that got anything to do with it?"

[He was cured of his little problem, and aknowledged his dishonor and became a wandering monk to atone.]

"Oh, really?" Inside, Nabiki was starting to get nervous. Maybe it's something else, like intestinal flu... but Kuno has never been held back by broken legs, much less digestive problems. Maybe he just decided to skip school to plot and rave...

[Yeah. And since I want a cut of all the scams you've centered around me like bets, and all of all the stuff that shouldn't have existed, like the photos and the information, you're gonna need to find a real job, and maybe convince Soun to do the same.]

"What about dojo repair? That's your fault."

[Really? Name five times an attack has been my fault. In exchange, I'll name fifty attacks that aren't. It's all Genma. He's the one who's been making my life hell, and he's the one who's been setting all the fiances on me? And whose fault is it Ryoga, Mousse, and all the other challengers are maniacs that can't keep their hands to themselves inside?]

"Easy. Yours."

[You know just how much like Ryoga you sounded, right?]

"Saotome, stop the games or Akane sees the photos."

[Nabiki, do you know what would happen if she saw those photos?]

"She'd mallet you."

[And do you know how many times I've been malleted?]

"Many."

[Next mallet, I'm not coming back. She declares killing intent before her strikes, so I'm going to fulfil her wishes. Next strike and Ranma Saotome is dead. That means no betting pools, no photos, and no location-selling. But your father is still quite hung up on honor, and thus the pact would still stand. Mom would never agree to stay married to a man who essentially got their child killed, so no new Saotomes. Since he wouldn't dare refuse Kasumi anything he wouldn't marry HER off, and Akane would just beat him to a pulp. This leaves you to marry the one remaining Saotome: Genma. Still don't want to give me a cut?]

"This isn't happening. You're a dumb jock. You couldn't have out-maneuvered me."

[I didn't. You defeated yourself, Nabiki. Now, I'll be wanting that check.]

"Really? Why should I pay you?"

[Because a quick search of the highschool grounds and students would doubtless reveal many interesting papers and photos. A quick quiz of your assistants would reveal betting pools, and Kuno himself would testify against you. When everyone hears the Ice Queen could go away along with her hooks they'll help any way they can. Still want to piss me off?]

"I'll think about it."

The next day, Ranma followed Hikaru after school. [Yo, Hikaru!]

"Yes, Ranma?"

[Where's Sotaki? I think I figured out the whole point of this exercise.]

"I dunno, he's usually here by now." A few seconds later, the pair heard rapid footfalls. Looking around, they saw Sotaki running like crazy toward them. Skidding to a halt in a cloud of concrete dust, Sotaki nodded at the two.

"I'm here. Sorry about that, I slept in and my alarm clock wasn't loud enough. You're here, Ranma, so I'm guessing you've figured it out. why did I silence you?"

[It's to make me think before I act, right?]

"Darn straight. You can talk now. Now, from the happy look on your face I'm guessing that you've cured a couple of your problems, but you've still got some left."

"Yeah, it's driving me nuts. I just can't figure out how ta deal with the Old Ghoul and Shampoo."

"They're Chinese Amazons, right?"

"Yeah."

"Hm... does Shampoo have any other suitors?"

"One. Crazy, half-blind master of Hidden Weapons, name of Mousse."

"Wonderful. I think I'll pay them a visit then. In the mean time I'm going to start training you in control of your curse. You know how to meditate, right?"

"Duh. I've got control of my Ki."

"That'll make things both easier and harder. Now I want you to meditate and look not just at your Ki but at yourself. Hikaru will splash you with hot and cold water, and your job is to pay attention to what happens and why."

Hikary piped up. "Sotaki? There isn't any hot or cold water here."

"That's why I'm going to teach you a new spell today. It's called AQUA CREATE!" Holding his hand flat out and palm down above his head, he swung his hand downward in Ranma's direction. A bucketful of water shimmered into existance above his head, and then obeyed the laws of gravity.

Sputtering, Ranma blinked. "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR?"

"That was a demonstration. Now, Hikaru, I taught you how to buffer your spells, right?"

"That's when I almost finish casting one spell, and then cast a second one, making the two finishes close to each other?"

"Right. Now this time I want you to modify the end of the Freeze and Flare Arrows to match the Aqua Create spell, and buffer the two together. This will produce cold and hot water. Ranma, start meditating."

Looking inward, Ranma saw the glowing sphere of his Ki. Looking around, Ranma noticed that it flowed through his body slightly differently than the flows of his male form.

Hikaru put his hand above his head, and thrust it forward. Calling out the name of the spell, he formed a long spike of water and cast it forward. "STEAM CANNON!" The spear fragmented and became a ball of steam. Impacting with the meditating Ranma, it dispersed into a few ribbons of warmth. In the steam, Ranma's form shifted. He cracked open one of his eyes. "I think I've got something... cold water this time."

Hikaru once again lifted his hand. Thrusting it forth, he shouted the next spell's name. "SEA SPRAY CRASH!" Launching another spear of water, Hikaru watched it fragment into a ball that looked like the spray of the sea. Hitting Ranma, it once again dispersed into long snaking ribbons that settled onto the ground. Ranma emerged from the spray with red hair once again.

"One more time."

"STEAM CANNON!" Blasting forth another ball of steam, Hikaru noticed this time that fog formed from the chilled ground, and Ranma grinned. "I'm getting somewhere. Keep at it."

*****

Hikaru collapsed into his bed, exhausted. *I didn't know I had that much mana in me!* Hikaru had just spent the last hour casting spell after spell. He just wanted to curl up and fall asleep. Ranma had managed to find the trigger to the curse on the last blast, but it was only one-way so far; from guy to girl. Since Ranma was looking for the other direction Hikaru expected more spells tomorrow. Flexing his psi a few times, Hikaru made a few balls, hovered them around, reabsorbed the energy, and fell dead asleep.

*****

Ranma was ecstatic. He had finally found a modicum of control over his curse. It hurt like the devil to change forms but it was worth it... it showed that it was possible to find the reverse process too. A little more work and he'd be able to control his curse!

"BOY!" Genma had snuck up behind Ranma and tossed him into the air. Leaping up after him, Genma began a vicious mid-air combo. Or tried to, anyway. Mimicking Hikaru's motion and combining cold ki from the pond with hot ki from himself, he created a burst of cold water. Launching himeself down at an angle, Ranma landed quietly leaving in Genma's path a ball of cold fog. This was enough to trigger his transformation. In accordance with the laws of physics, Genma sped up due to the change in mass (He's fatter than a panda, and momentum is conserved. Since he lost weight, his velocity had to increase). This launched him over the house. Frozen from shock, the stupid panda was embedded into the ground. Ranma headed inside, eagerly anticipating dinner.

*****

Sotaki checked up on the situation in Juuban, and noted with surprise that the demon had struck early and the Senshi were already moving to engage the enemy. Putting on his skates, he headed demonward.

Sotaki arrived just in time to see Sailor Jupiter take a hit from the demon. This one was small, wiry, and incredibly fast. It looked like a very small man, except its skin was discolored and it had fangs and claws. The Senshi barely kept out of its way, and none of their attacks seemed to hit it. Realizing that this attack was more serious than usual, Sotaki pullet a couple of enormous handguns out of his backpack and took careful aim. The first shots dug up huge concrete divots from under the demon, and the second volley of fire nearly decapitated the beast. Leaping up, Sotaki put away the hand cannons and pulled out a bundle of short TNT sticks. Snapping his fingers by the spliced fuses and snapping the string binding the sticks, Sotaki threw the pack right into the demon's path. Halfway down, a small charge in the middle of the bundle, scattering the powerful explosives. They exploded right when the beast was between them, throwing it up into Sotaki's path. Pulling out his handguns, he unloaded a pair of 2-inch-diameter clips right into the thing's head and heart.

Landing, he holstered his weapons and scratched the back of his head. "Erm... sorry I'm late!" He promptly recieved a smack to the back of his head. Venus shook here hand, trying to rub the soreness out of her knuckles. "What are you made of?"

"What did I do wrong?"

"What the hell do you think you're doing? This is a job for people with experience, not complete newbies to the field! You should stay home! Why are you getting in our way?"

"I'm killing demons. I have more experience than you. I don't have a home. Seeing as you couldn't hit that thing if your lives depended on it I wasn't getting in your way, I was saving your behinds. Any more questions?"

"HOW DARE YOU!" The effect of the slap was only slightly ruined by the lack of mark on Sotaki's face and Venus's whimper.

"Are you through yet? If you don't want my assistance just say so but I think that your group did elect to keep my services. You had your vote."

"I CHALLENGE YOU! I will fight you, one on one. If you can defeat me, I will accept you're better. Otherwise, you leave and never return!"

"I'm going to give you a minute for your ears to catch up to your mouth. If you still want to fight me you can go right ahead. If you attack earlier you forfeit. No killing blows, no crippling blows, no outside interference on anyone's side. Aside from that, no holds barred."

"FINE!" Tapping her foot, Venus waiter impatiently. A portion of her mind tried to remind her that he had just blown a demon to bits, but that was quickly squashed by her pride. A minute passed quickly, and the moment it ended Venus fired off a Crescent Beam Shower at the ponytailed youth's location. Sotaki, however, used the resulting explosion to launch himself upward and away from his opponent.

"I needed to try out my new spell anyway..." Straightening his arms out, Sotaki drew them back and swung them around to his chest, launching a large ball of mist toward the ground in front of Venus. "Helium Cannon!" The ball slowly pulled up as it streaked towards the pissed-off warrior of love and justice, and passed right above Venus's head. She immediately started shivering and swearing. "You JERK! That was cold!"

"That was the point. I'm trying non-lethal spells here." Sotaki frowned inwardly. *Darn, it rises faster than I expected... guess I'll have try a different tack here.* Starting a modified Aqua Create spell, he stopped right before the end. Lifting his hand, he brought it down forcefully, and yelled out his new attack. "TAZER BOMB!" A ball of gel dropped right in front of Venus, and was hit by lightning from the sky. The resulting blast showered Venus in electrified goo, nearly knocking her out. "AQUA CREATE!" The goo was promptly washed into the sewer by a deluge of water. A side effect of this was that Venus was shocked into wakefulness. "Well? Do you yield?"

"NO! That was a lucky shot!"

"Um... Venus? Maybe you should stop pissing him off?" Sailor Moon was hesitant about approaching her friend in this mood.

"SHUT UP! I'll beat him if it's the last thing I do!"

Sotaki sighed. "If that's how you want it... TAZER BOMB!" This time the sphere was slightly closer to Venus, and did knock her out. "Sailor Moon? Would you say I won?"

"Um... yes."

"Thank you."

*****

(1) How can the girl see signs of Ranma chating or trying to cheat on her with every girl in the world in any comment or action without being a total hentai?