Disclaimer: If I owned Ranma or Sailor Moon thing would have been different for those series. For example the Scouts would have had better advisors then a pair of amnesic cats.

Ranma walked into the family dinning room/kitchen just as Nodoka, Makoto, and Hotaru were setting the table for breakfast. He felt very embarrassed that he had slept in while the girls of the house were preparing breakfast. However, in Ranma's defense he had been up late last night helping Usagi and Setsuna repair a few small problems that had cropped up in the repair robots. Only he and those two had any real experience and/or memory of working with the magical constructs to be of any use in taking care of the problem for now.

The other Inners had started to study the techno-magical nature of the Silver Millennium, but none of the areas those four were looking at handled the repair robots. Even if they were interested in repairing the robots there was still the fact that their frills could get caught on the machines. That was why Ranma was up so late; he was the only one who could do the repairs without worrying about his uniform catching on something.

Just as Ranma sat down in his usual spot Makoto came around and set a full plate down in front of him. Turning to look at Makoto Ranma said, "Thanks Auntie." Makoto started to frown and then Ranma blinked his eyes. With a confused look on his face Ranma said, "What? I've been calling you Aunt Makoto for weeks now. Why are you bugged about in now?"

Makoto then lightly smacked Ranma on the head with two fingers and said, "It's Aunt Makoto or Makoto to you nephew not Auntie. Unlike Nodoka, I don't like being referred to as Auntie by others. Or do I need to bring out 'Mr. Oberon' to remind you Ranma?" When Ranma heard Makoto mention Nephelite's favorite stuffed animal his cheeks started to become red from embarrassment. He could take on the Orrochi dead tired and win. However his mom, both past and present, was the one person(s) he could never hope to best.

Nodoka then spoke up and said, "Enough of that you two its time to eat." The four members of the Saotome household then sat down and started to eat breakfast. After Nodoka had eaten about a third of her meal she said, "So son, are you ready for the tournament today?"

Ranma resisted the urge to smack his head because he forgot that today was the day of the Juuban preliminaries. Forgetting that today was the day of the tournament wasn't all that serious for Ranma considering the fact that he hadn't planed on or needed a special training routine for the tournament. Still, it was rather embarrassing for Ranma to forget these things.

Not wanting anyone to realize that he had forgotten about the tournament Ranma calmly and promptly replied, "Yes I'm ready. Between Me, Ryoga, and Herb, our school is assured to win the preliminaries if not the whole tournament. Now I'm not saying that our other two teammates, whoever they are, and the competition are losers. It's just if any of the other people at the tournament saw one of our full-out fights they would probably think that they had been teleported into a martial arts manga." Everyone else at the table nodded their heads and they had to agree with Ranma's statement. While everyone living in Juuban was pretty much desensitized to monster attacks, the same couldn't be said about ridiculously over powered martial artists.

Nodoka then said, "I'm very glad to hear that you are so confident son. Just try and remember to not underestimate your opponents because that could cost you the tournament. After Ranma nodded his head to show that he understood Nodoka continued on, "By the way Ranma. I have invited your father to come to the tournament."

Upon hearing that his father might show up Ranma started to get nervous. He then looked at his mother and asked, "Was that a good idea mom? No offense, but Pops and I didn't depart under the best of circumstances. Wouldn't he just try to force me back to Nerima in order to 'unite the schools?' I really don't want to have to mess up a good tournament just to correct that old panda."

Nodoka shook her head and replied, "Don't be so quick to assume that your father would do that Ranma. Now before you bring up your personal experiences, I've been in contact with Doctor Tofu ever since you arrived here. According to the doctor, Genma has become very repentant over what he did you since the incident that sent you here. It is my hope that you and he can put your problems in the past so that all five of us can be a family. Please Ranma; try to get along with your father for my sake?"

This news caused Ranma to pause and think. Part of him, the part that resented the neko-ken and all the other bonehead training sessions, didn't want to believe that Genma could be repentant about anything. Ranma did love Genma, but at the same time he held a great deal of mistrust towards his father. Finally after a few minutes Ranma sighed and said, "Okay Mom, I'll try to get along with Pops. However if he tries anything funny then Usagi will be getting a custom Panda fur coat."

Genma walked up to the front door of the small stadium that was hosting the Juuban preliminaries and presented his ticket. Instead of his usual dirty gi Genma was wearing a black hamaka and a clean blue silk shirt. He had figured that it would be a good idea to dress up today. At the very least it would show that he had some respect for the fact that Ranma was entering the tournament.

After consulting his ticket stub a few times Genma was able to make his way over to his seating area. Just as Genma turned the corner he spotted Ranma sitting on the ledge between the seating and where the contestants were to wait talking to a lovely young girl. Although Genma tried to keep up his tough macho façade, a single tear slid down his check. The sight of Ranma hugging the blond pig-tailed girl and the two sharing a gentle chaste kiss really affected Genma. Suddenly a voice behind Genma said, "It brings back memories doesn't it Genma?"

Recognizing the voice that was talking to him Genma replied, "It sure does Nodoka." The pudgy marital artist then turned around to face his estranged wife. With a far away look in his eye Genma continued, "Twenty-three years ago in the lot behind nutty Natsume's shop. Those two foreigners in the exchange program didn't understand how they were supposed to treat a lady. I can still remember how you cheered me on as I fought those two. That day was the day-"

Nodoka smiled and calmly finished Genma sentence, "It was the day that I kissed you for the first time." She then smiled and continued on, "You had been trying to get my attention since school had started the previous semester. How many idiotic things did you try that year to get me to notice you, twenty, forty, or was it sixty?"

Genma then blushed and said, "In my defense, the clown suit riding the unicycle was Soun's idea. Come to think of it, I think he suggested it just to see if I was desperate enough to actually try it." Nodoka started to giggle a little as she remembered that particular stunt that Genma had tried. Once she had stopped giggling Genma said more solemnly, "Sorry for not acting like a good husband Nodoka. I've truly been a jackass for the last decade plus."

Seeing the honest repentance on Genma's face Nodoka gently kissed Genma on the cheek and said, "All is forgiven dear. I think you've managed to make up for your past mistakes. Besides, it all seems to have worked out in the end. Ranma seems to have forgiven you as well, but I don't think that he will ever forget."

With a small sigh leaving his lips Genma said, "I deserve far worse then I've suffered Nodoka. Being viewed with a little mistrust by Ranma isn't that high of a price compared to I should have to pay. At least I have the comfort of knowing that he has turned out alright in the end. It's also great to see that the boy has a girlfriend who loves him."

This remark made Nodoka smile and she said, "The two are very much in love. In fact, Usagi isn't put off by Ranma's curse and I've seen her kiss Ranma on the lips when he was in his cursed form. According to what Ikuko's pumped out of Usagi, the little dear wouldn't leave Ranma if his curse got locked and she normally doesn't swing that way. When Usagi looks at Ranma in his cursed form she doesn't see a boy in a girl's body or something like that, she just sees the person that she's in love with."

Genma started to smile a bit when he heard Nodoka say that. Thanks to the locking ladle incident Genma had become aware, even if it was only in nightmares, of the possibility of Ranma being stuck as a girl. Before Genma had only been mildly worried about this possibility because of the fact that it would have stopped all hope for the family line to continue. Even at his worst back then Genma wouldn't have tried to engage Ranma to a guy. At least, he sincerely hopped that he hadn't been that depraved and thoughtless that he could have done that.

Speaking of the locking lade, Genma suddenly noticed one of the other competitors that was on Ranma's team. Although Genma had only actually seen Herb's girl form, he was still able to id the Musk prince. In a nervous whisper Genma said as he pointed to Herb, "Nodoka, what is that boy doing here?"

Nodoka followed Genma's finger to where Herb was standing and she smiled. "Don't worry dear," Nodoka said in a soothing manner, "Herb isn't about to cause any trouble for Ranma. He's here as an exchange student because his father decided that the prince needed to expand his horizons. In fact, Herb and Ranma have become very good friends since Herb came back to Japan. You see that medallion that Ranma is wearing?" Genma glanced over to Ranma and saw the pendant hanging from the boy's neck. After Nodoka saw that Genma and seen the medallion she said, "It was a gift of Herb. That medallion states that Ranma now has a position in the upper levels of the Musk hierarchy."

Not knowing what to say, Genma decided to stay quiet. It was something new that Genma had started to do since he and Ranma had parted paths. To Genma's surprise he had found that over 80 of his problems could be prevent if he just took a step back and thought about the situation. This trick didn't work on the other 20 because that was from his earlier problems finding him.

To Genma's surprise, Nodoka latched onto his arm and said, "Now why don't we go down and talk with everybody dear. This is supposed to be a family event after all. Besides, I want you to meet our daughter Hotaru. She's a little frail, but she is just the sweetest person you will ever meet. And you should see how Ranma looks after her. If you didn't know better you could swear that they were biological siblings." And so ready or not, Genma was lead down to where the rest of the family was at.

Just as Ranma placed a small kiss on Usagi's cheek he noticed his father walking towards him. Part of Ranma was angered that his father was walking next to his mother. This was mainly because in his mind the two ways of parenting that Nodoka and Genma represented were opposites. Thus to that part of Ranma his mother and his father shouldn't be that close. However, the more rational part of Ranma accepted that his mother was trying to repair the Saotome family. As long as Pops didn't do anything stupid, Ranma's more rational part reasoned, he would be courteous as well. Besides, another part of Ranma really wanted Genma's repentance to be genuine.

Ranma was brought out of his introspection by Usagi tightening her hug slightly. The tightened hug didn't hurt Ranma at all, but it did remind him that he had Usagi there with him. After receiving that reminder, Ranma turned to look strait into Usagi's eyes. For a moment the two of them just looked at each other as if they were discussing something. Once the moment passed Usagi nodded her head and walked over to Nodoka. Usagi said hello to Genma and then she politely directed Nodoka away.

Now without their better halves, the Father-Son duo just silently stared at each other. There was an uncomfortable air of tension surrounding the duo as neither was quite sure how they should start this conversation. Finally Genma broke down and said, "It's good to see you Ranma. Your mother has told me a little bit about how things have gone for here in Juuban. I know that you probably won't believe me, but I'm proud of you Ranma. You've grown into a young man of good character and you managed to find a very good girlfriend. Hang on to her son because a good woman like your girlfriend or your mother is something very special."

Genma's comment about Nodoka and Usagi being very special hit a nerve for Ranma. While he fully agreed that Nodoka and Usagi were special, the younger Saotome was angered that his father said that given what the elder Saotome had done. In a frosty tone Ranma said, "What gives you the right to say that Pops? You LEFT mom 10 years ago and dragged me along with you! If mom was so special to you, why did you leave? Why?" At this point Ranma's anger had left him and he was starting to cry. Ranma wasn't speaking as a young man; he was speaking like a hurt and scared child.

The hurt and pain in Ranma's voice cut at Genma's heart even more then Ranma's words had. With his head bowed low Genma said, "Ranma, I messed up. During my training journeys with the master I started to pick up a few of his bad habits particularly when it came to responsibility. When I first started planning our trip it was only supposed to be a few weeks. But then, things started to come up at home that I was having trouble dealing with. Even though those problems had mostly been solved by the time our trip was supposed to start I got scared and used the trip as an excuse to get out of there. I honestly thought at the time that after two months you and I would return home. However, once we were on the road the fear of those problems occurring again hit me."

Genma then kneeled in front of Ranma and said, "I am so sorry son. After we had started the training trip I pretty much fell into what I remembered from my old training trips. Every time I did something stupid to you because of 'The Art' it hurt me, but I always rationalized it as something that was needed. Even so, I did feel guilt at what I did to you and that guilt drove me stay farther away from your mother. Because I stayed farther away from your mother I mimicked the master's training more and more. It was a vicious circle that you were the victim of. I don't think that I can ever repay you for what I did to you, but I hope you can find it within you to give me the chance to try."

Slowly Ranma's face softened as he listened to what his father told him. While Genma's actions at times had been almost inexcusable, Ranma could understand why they had occurred. It also cleared something up for Ranma that had been bugging him for some time now. When his parents married his father apparently didn't act like Ranma remembered the man acting during the last years of the trip. Pops, at least how Ranma view his father, was the result of a decade of problems spiraling out of control. Now that Po-, er, his father had started to correct those problems Ranma was willing to try and help. Ranma placed and on his father's shoulder and said, "Hey Dad, let's go talk to the rest of the family for a few minutes before matches start."

The stadium was packed to the brim with people who had come to watch the tournament. When it was time for the tournament to start the lights in the stadium dimmed so that the referee under a single overhead light was much more noticeable. This referee tapped his mike and said, "Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the First Special Wards Scholastic Martial Arts Tournament. You here today will get to watch the Juuban preliminaries to see which team will go on to represent Juuban in the Finals. Before this tournament can begin I have been asked by the sponsors to say a few words about this tournament."

"This tournament was created in order to show that even in these modern times there are still those young people who carry the spirit of the ancient warriors of Japan. In these modern times the ways of those old warriors may seem obsolete, but we must never forget them. Because, if we forget those warriors and what they truly stood for we forget an important part of whom we are as a people. All participants of this tournament are students from the local high schools who have been trained in at least one form of the martial arts. It does not matter what form of martial art the student practices be it kendo, kempo, other eastern arts like tai chi, or even western arts like kickboxing. All forms are accepted here because even if the form is different, the spirit is still the same."

"Naturally, such an all-encompassing tournament may seem a bit hectic so let me explain the rules. The members of the various teams will fight in one-on-one matches between two teams. As soon a member of one team is knocked out, steps outside the ring, or surrenders, another member of the team will take that person's place. A team will be eliminated when all five members have either lost the same round or none of the team members are fit to continue on as determined by the doctors standing by. All weapons users are using non-lethal training versions of their particular weapon or weapons of choice. Other then those few rules this tournament is a free for all. Now let's enjoy the SHOW!"

After the applause of the crowd died down the ref/announcer said, "And now for the first set of matches. Our contestants are the team from Takeuchi High School verses the team from Togashi High School. Starting of the line up for Takeuchi High for this round we have Ranma Saotome while his opponent from Togashi High is Sai Minamoto. According to the bios on their sign up sheets, Ranma Saotome practices his family's version of Anything Goes Marital Arts which is a primarily aerial art form while Sai Minamoto is a master of bojutsu."

Ranma and Sai walked onto the raised circular ring and politely bowed to each other. Instantly afterward the two of them took defensive stances and started to circle around each other. After a few circles around the ring Ranma started to do a few faints so he could judge Sai's abilities. Each faint was carefully chosen by Ranma to test Sai's reaction time and how good the staff user was at reading his movements.

Once Ranma had felt that he knew enough about Sai's abilities he made his move. Leaping high into the air Ranma made it almost painfully obvious that he was aiming for a head kick. Sai, just like Ranma hoping, immediately swung his staff to hit Ranma in mid-air. Then when the staff was less then a foot away from him, Ranma grabbed it with both hands. He then used his momentum to flip over the staff and hit Sai in the small of his back with both feet.

Sai was a very good martial artist and many of the students at Togashi High respected him for his skills. However, Sai had never heard of, or even suspected, the move that Ranma had just used. Thus he was completely unprepared for the attack and between it and his collision with the ring he was knocked out. Ranma in the mean time got off of Sai's back and casually swung the boy over his shoulders. He then carried Sai over to the Togashi High end of the ring and handed the unconscious boy to the other members of the Togashi team. Those team members carefully carried Sai over to the nurse station and were now very nervous about their upcoming fights.

Unknown to anyone, Genma had picked up an unwanted shadow from Nerima. Shampoo had been watching the Tendo house in order to look for signs of where Ranma had gone. Ranma had been gone for almost two days before she had found out that he was missing. Even though the Amazon Champion didn't want to admit it even in her mind those two days had been more then enough time for Ranma's trail to disappear amid the chaos of the city. So she had been left with no other option except to watch the Tendo dojo and pray that Ranma would contact the occupants of the house.

Finally just before Shampoo was going to give up hope of getting anything out of the dojo, a letter had been delivered to Genma. Shampoo hadn't been able to get her hands on that letter, but she knew from her observations that what it contained was important to the Panda Man. Going by what she knew of the lazy bum, the purple haired warrior figured that the letter must have something to do with Ranma. So Shampoo had watched Genma like a hawk and waited to see what he was going to do. When the portly man left his normal routine today Shampoo had activated her curse and carefully followed him.

And just like she had hopped, Genma had led her strait to Ranma. However, Shampoo had become enraged when she saw that blonde floozy hanging off of Ranma. He was hers by Amazon law! She had put up with Spatula Girl and Kitchen Destroyer trying to get Ranma since they did have a claim on her husband. Even though Amazon Law was far superior to Japanese Law, Shampoo did recognize that she would have to show some respect for those inferior laws. Her grandmother had insisted on that point so thoroughly that even Mousse, blind bat that he was, would have understood.

But this, this, this bimbo didn't have an arraigned marriage with Ranma! Shampoo knew that because about a month before Ranma had left Nerima she had managed to extract a list of all the girls that Genma had engaged Ranma to. While the list was very extensive, none of the girls on the list except for Spatula Girl and Kitchen Destroyer lived in Tokyo. That meant that the urchin hanging off of her husband was a poacher and if there was one thing that an Amazon couldn't tolerate it was a poacher, especially of the relationship kind.

At first Shampoo had wanted to go in charging to show that blonde that you don't try to steal an Amazonian husband. Sadly for that plan, her cat body was not that intimidating and she knew it. This had given Shampoo enough time to cool off to make up a new plan. She would watch the tournament from her current spot up here on the hanging ceiling lights and then follow her husband back to wherever he was staying at. If that floozy tried to get it the way, well obstacles had to be removed one way or the other.

Suddenly a voice from behind Shampoo said, "What do you think you are doing Shampoo of the Chinese Amazons?" Since Shampoo had never expected to meet anyone up here, much less someone who knew her name, she lost 8 of her nine lives to fright. Quickly turning around to face whoever was talking to her, Shampoo was shocked to see a black cat with a crescent moon on its forehead. This made the Amazon a little nervous because she had never heard of a cat like creature that could talk.

Luna looked at Shampoo and thought about how she could take care of this whole mess. Thanks to scanning Ranma's mind and a few talks with Pluto the lunar advisor knew that Shampoo could be a major thorn in the Sailor Scouts side. A thorn that could cause the Sailor Scouts too much trouble if the unknown enemy started to make its move. When Luna had spotted the purple haired cat she had become determined to stop that problem from happening. Hopefully, Shampoo would be willing to listen to reason.

After carefully thinking about what she should say Luna said, "Look Shampoo, Things are very different here in Juuban then they were in Nerima. Ranma doesn't want anything to do with the people living in Juuban including you. I've heard him say that many times as I've watched him from the shadows. The young man seems to be a good catch as far you human girls are concerned, but you won't be able to catch him. He doesn't want you Shampoo."

There purple haired cat's response to this was to shake her head. Luna then decided to try a slightly different approach. In a much more serious tone Luna said, "What will you do Shampoo when you go down there, try to hug Ranma, and he refuses your advances? Will you try to 'remove the obstacle' and hurt someone that is very precious to Ranma? How do you think he will feel if you attack that girl he was holding earlier? Do you think that he will just sit back and let you hurt her?"

"You know that the answer to that is No. Ranma will not allow you to hurt anyone precious to him, especially that girl. If any harm fall on her head you you're the cause Shampoo, Ranma will hunt you down and KILL you. Don't think for a second that if that if that situation came up that you can use your fellow Amazons as a shield to hide from Ranma's wrath. Not only is Ranma fare stronger then you remember, but he has joined the Musk Dynasty. Do you really think that the elders of your tribe will allow you to continue chasing after Ranma when it will risk a war with the Musk?"

Shampoo heard what the talking cat was saying and refused to listen to the words. There was no way that an Amazon husband, even one as unorthodox as Ranma, would ever ally themselves with the Musk. Who'd want to join a bunch of chauvinistic half animal men? This creature, she reasoned, must be some sort of demon sent to confuse and mislead her. Obviously the floozy was some sort of witch who had sent this creature out to try and keep her away from Ranma. The witch was probably afraid that the presence of his wife would break the spell he was under. Once this demon was taken care of, Shampoo vowed, she'd move on to taking care of the witch.

Luna saw the look in Shampoo's eyes as the purple haired cat hissed and the moon cat knew that diplomacy had failed. She then slowly unsheathed a single claw on her right front paw. Just as Luna had suspected Shampoo leapt towards her with claws fully extended and teeth bared. With surprisingly graceful skill Luna rolled away from Shampoo and nicked the purple cat with her single claw. Almost instantly Shampoo felt her muscles freeze up and she collapsed onto her side.

With a sad resigned look on her face Luna walked over to Shampoo and felt for the other cat's pulse. Shampoo was dead just like Luna had expected. The poison sealed within that claw was potent enough to kill an elephant. As a secret member of palace security, Luna had sometimes had to remove dangerous members of the Lunar Court. She then mournfully said, "I really didn't want to do this Shampoo. From what I've heard you could have been lived to be a great person. However, you just had to have things your way and damn the consequences." Even if she had sometimes had to kill dangerous individuals that were attempting to overthrow the government, Luna had never liked this business. The only reason why she had been a secret member of palace security was because of her unparallel access to the Queen and the royal family.

Burning the location of Shampoo's death into her mind, Luna left to go back to Usagi. She would return in the evening to remove and dispose of Shampoo's body. Anyone who knew Shampoo would notice the girl missing, spend a few days, weeks, or even months searching for the girl, and then decide that she had run away. No one, especially Usagi or Ranma, would know what had occurred here today and the true events surrounding Shampoo's disappearance. Never again would another Beryl rise up, at least, not if Luna could help it.