Nope, Still don't own 'em.
[Panda signs]
Sound Effects
'Thinking'
"Computer Talk"
When people think of Juuban, they think of peace. Tranquillity. Order. Of calm days and quiet nights. Of-
"Raaagh!"
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
No. Wait. That was the other Juuban. Not the Juuban known for random youma attacks and magical battles.
"Dammit Mars, watch your aim!"
"Sorry!"
"World Shaking!"
It's an easy mistake to make, really.
"Rhaaaak!"
"Venus, what part of "Distract it" did you not get?"
"You try getting stomped on, see how distracting you feel!"
Honestly, it happens all the time.
"Kyaa! It's after me!"
"Moon, drop! Supreme Thunder!"
"Kraaah!"
Usagi, gratefully noting that all appendages seemed to be in their accustomed places, turned to the charred, blasted and now lightly twitching form of their most recent foe with a glare.
"For threatening the safety of these people and-"
"Moon…"
The odango-wearing superhero froze, a chill flowing up her spine at the voice.
"What did I tell you about making speeches before the enemy is defeated?" the voice continued.
Had the youma not been battered, scorched and sparking, it might well have sweatdropped at the sight of Sailor Moon gazing shamefaced at the ground while being scolded by a young man. As it was, though, it did as its inner programming dictated.
"Raaaagghh!"
Ranma absently backhanded the charging monstrosity into a lamp-post, not distracted from his lecture in the slightest.
"-So, what do you do when the enemy lies broken at your feet?"
"…finish it off." grumbled the blond in the tone of one well aware of a decrease of cookies in her immediate future.
"And…?"
"And then I may make a speech."
"Good!" Ranma smiled. "Now, on that note…"
"Haaaaiiiiii. Moon Sceptre Blast."
"Kreeeee!"
There was a click as the youth produced a stopwatch.
"Ok! Four minutes from the start of combat to the finish. A definite improvement, though I will have to deduct one cookie each for the speech-making."
Moon cringed sheepishly under the glares.
"However," continued Ranma briskly. "Because I am in a good mood, there is a Kasumi-made chocolate cake if you can beat me back for debriefing-"
Abruptly finding himself addressing an empty street, the young martial artist made an easy leap onto a nearby rooftop and set off in turn, a faint chuckle drifting after him.
Amid the shattered glass and cracked bitumen, a flicker of light danced for a moment. A faint crackling sound, a whiff of ozone, and it was gone.
It would be incorrect to say that Ryoga was happy at that precise moment. Over-use of the ShiShi Hokodan and a naturally depressive personality made moments of real happiness quite rare for the part-time porcine pugilist. Thus, his mood at having once more found his way to the Tendo Dojo would be more accurately termed "surprised pleasure".
Still, thoughts of catching up to Ranma, of putting him in his place, of seeing Akane again (sigh…) warmed his spirit a little, bringing him to a state that might, with a careful squint, in the right light, from a distance, be mistaken for mild happiness.
Maybe.
Ok Ryoga, concentrate. It's about five PM, so Akane (sigh…) will probably be in the Dojo. The Dojo is…
"Hya!"
…That way!
Eyes shut and concentrating furiously, the lost boy followed the sounds of combat one cautious step at a time.
Actually, that was another reason for his (relatively) good mood. He'd known for a while that it was only when he tried to guide himself that his directional problem would manifest. Following or being led, though, was fine.
He couldn't honestly say when he'd realised that this applied to following sounds or smells as well, but it was damn helpful.
Thunk!
Ah, there was the dojo wall. Now, the door… The door…Ah!
'Getting better, Ryoga old boy!' he thought with a smirk as he opened his eyes.
And gaped at the sight before him.
Akane (sigh…) and Kasumi-san were darting around the room, trading blows! Not only that, but Kasumi-san, gentle, saintly Kasumi-san was holding her own!
Ryoga, disbelieving, rubbed his eyes furiously.
Nope, the scene was still there.
Clearly, he had somehow found his way into one of those "Alternative Universe" things. Somewhere where nothing made sense.
'I've never gotten this lost before!' he thought, gawking as Kasumi landed a respectable side kick on her sister, only to be caught in a leg-sweep and a follow-up restraint hold.
"I give, I give! You win!"
Helping her sister to her feet, Akane smiled and unknowingly sent Ryoga into rosy-flower-petal bliss.
"You're definitely getting better, Onee-chan. You need to focus a bit more on the offence, though."
"Yes, Ran-kun said that as well." Replied Kasumi with a slight grimace. "He said we'll work on that tonight."
'"Ran-kun"? Ranma is training Kasumi?' This universe was truly strange.
"Have you and Ranma decided on the styles to start with yet?" Akane continued as she passed her sister a towel.
"We're leaning toward Wushu, Tai Chi and Kenpo as a starting platform, though I'd like to include some naginatajutsu as well. Father and Ran-kun think that should wait a little, though."
"Well, you know how Ranma feels about weapons…"
Ryoga started to tremble. How far from his own world was he? Kasumi not only fighting, but enthusiastic?!
Something was very, very wrong here.
"Ara, hello Ryoga-kun!"
The bandanna-ed brawler froze in the process of edging away.
"Ryoga-kun! when did you get back?"
On the other hand, maybe this universe wasn't all that bad. Any universe that held a smiling, happy, flushed and…gulp…sweating Akane couldn't possibly be one of those evil universes, right?
(And in this simple conclusion, Gentle Readers, one may find a minor insight into Ryoga's character).
Pulling himself together with a titanic effort, Ryoga shakily grinned.
"Um, er, j-just now, Akane-san. Um, you… and Kasumi-san, practicing?"
"Oh my, that's right!" said Kasumi, her tone slightly embarrassed. "You weren't here when it happened, were you?"
"Wha-? Happened? What do you mean?"
"Sit down, Ryoga-kun," said Akane, patting the floor in front of her, as Kasumi, her uncharacteristically serious expression mirroring her sister's, produced a trio of cushions.
'Ranma, what the hell have you done this time?'
"Kasumi?"
"Ah, hai. Ano, where to begin…"
Akane sighed. "Ranma's fallen in love with Kasumi-oneechan, shifted the engagement to her and is now training her in the Tendo-ryu."
"Wha-"
"Also," continued the short-haired girl, blithely ignoring her sister's fidgeting and embarrassed blush, "Shampoo and Ukyo are now his sisters (Auntie adopting Ukyo into the Saotome clan and Cologne making Ranma an ally of the Amazons), Ranma's learned some new techniques, and best of all, I'm being trained again! Isn't that great?"
"…"
"Ryoga-kun?"
"Oh my," remarked Kasumi, taking in the glazed look of the Hibiki youth. "I think you broke him, Akane-chan."
"Too much information at once?"
"Probably."
Ryoga was reeling. Ranma had abandoned Akane! AngerRageDieRanmaDie! Wait. Akane was now free! Free to be confessed to! HappyJoyLoveSparkle!
Of course, still have to cure the pig curse. Curse from Jusenkyo. Jusenkyo Ranma's fault. DieRanmaDie.
But! No more fiancées. No more hurting Akane. Cautious Happiness?
Poor Ryoga had no idea how to feel. Was Ranma good or bad? Abandon Akane. Bad. But Akane happy. Good!
A faint heat haze began to flicker over the troubled youth's scalp.
"…ga. Ryoga. Oi, Ryoga!"
"Wah!"
Rudely removed from his ruminations, Ryoga flailed madly for a moment before taking in the blue eyes now staring at him in concern.
"You ok there, buddy? Kas-chan said you went into a trance and just kinda locked up."
"Where…?"
"Kas-chan and Akane? They couldn't wake you, so Kas-chan's started on dinner and Akane's in her room."
"Ranma…"
"Uh, yeah?"
With a mental shrug at all the weirdness, the Hibiki youth went back to the tried and true-
"Prepare to Die!"
-Only to have a palm smacked to his chest with a shout of "Still!" and lurch to a stop.
"Not inside, Ryoga. I'm up for a fight, but Kas-chan's asked me to keep the damage down."
Outrage once more became tinged with that feeling of unreality. Since when was Ranma concerned about property damage?
"So how about this," the pigtailed one continued. "I'll unfreeze you, lead you to the usual vacant lot, and you can try to beat me there. Sound good?"
Ranma was being considerate. Could this get any more surreal?
Still, gift horses and all…
A nod, a slap to the chest and an explanation to Kasumi later and Nerima's two best (male) martial artists were off.
"So, what did you find out?"
The Outers, comfortably ensconced in armchairs in their living room, shared a glance before Michiru spoke.
"Ranma-san is certainly very skilled. Haruka-chan sparred with him when we joined in the Inners' training and was completely outclassed."
The green-haired Senshi of Time raised an elegant brow.
"Really? And what about when you transformed?"
"Oh, that was when I was transformed." Replied Haruka in a dismissive tone. "Strength, speed, everything but the toughness of the armour. It was great!" she finished, fairly bouncing with glee.
Setsuna was, of course, far too elegant and controlled to sweatdrop. She felt the need to, nonetheless.
"He, a normal, unaugmented human, managed to beat your transformed self, and you're happy?"
"Mm!"
There were almost sparkles around the blond Senshi, such was her excitement.
"…why?"
The look Setsuna received from the Outers was one bestowed on someone who has missed the very, very obvious.
"Because if I learn from him, I can get really, really good." Explained Haruka slowly.
"Making us more effective as Senshi as a result." Added Michiru, backed up by a solemn nod from Hotaru.
"And you didn't consider that a human with the power to defeat a transformed Senshi might possibly be a threat?" she asked somewhat acidly, only to be rocked back by the two-part yell of "NO!" from Haruka and Hotaru.
"Ranma-san is very nice." The Senshi of Saturn continued, utter certainty in her voice. "He'd never go against us."
"That's right." Haruka cast a fond glance at her daughter. "From what I know and what I've seen, the only way Ranma-sensei would turn on us is if we either turned on him, or hurt an innocent. It's his way."
This was really not her week, Setsuna noted. Crystal Tokyo was at 73 percent, plus/minus .71 and now this. She sighed.
"Michiru, what are your thoughts?"
Please, please, please be the voice of reason…
"I agree with Haruka and Hotaru."
Dammit!
"Ranma-sensei seems quite a decent young man, though we should naturally be cautious."
Setsuna resignedly decided to take what she could get.
"Could I at least meet this paragon of virtue?" The acid in her tone could have etched glass as she made her request.
"Sure!" chirped Haruka, ignoring it utterly. "Either at the shrine after school for training or the next youma attack, whichever comes first."
About to deliver a sarcastic "Thank you", the Princess of Pluto was pre-empted by the strident beeping of their communicators.
"Youma. About five kilometres off." Confirmed the blond, an excited grin on her face that was shared by the other two.
"Looks like you'll get your chance, Setsuna."
"What curiously good timing." Mused Michiru as, transformed, the quartet took to the rooftops.
Hotaru nodded. "Almost like a script, or something."
It was often remarked that, for a ward of Tokyo, Nerima had a surprisingly large number of empty lots, most of which had been vacant for several years. Though visitors and tourists tended to assume the reason to be low property values, geological faults and similar, the true reason was rather more interesting.
It was, in fact, a carefully-considered decision by the Nerima City Council to allocate these empty lots, out-of-the-way stretches of disused parkland and derelict buildings as 'Martial Zones'. Nerima having long been the martial arts hub of the Tokyo region, it had been decided that providing the practitioners with designated battlegrounds, training areas and camping sites would decrease the likelihood of said practitioners making their own vacant lot, disused park or derelict building.
The year the zoning scheme was introduced, property damage caused by martial artists dropped by a full 75 percent. Riding on that success, the Council adjusted the number of martial zones proportionate to the number of martial artists (as determined by a yearly census), the frequency of battles and the approximate level of damage caused (now measured in 'Hibiki Units', curiously enough).
The reader may find it significant that the number of martial zones has close to tripled since the arrival of Saotome Ranma in Nerima.
Ranma and Ryoga faced each other across Martial Zone 27. One calm and slightly smiling, then other clearly equal parts confused and upset.
"Ok Ryoga, ready when you are."
A moment of stillness, then…motion.
Punches were traded and blocked. Kicks were dodged, grapples were broken.
And Ranma, surprisingly, was on the defensive.
'Huh, Pig-boy's gotten faster. Keeping me at a distance.'
The blue-eyed youth smirked slightly, ducking a whistling roundhouse kick.
'Guess he's still sore about the paralysing thing.'
Oddly, Ryoga's face lacked its usual expression of rage, instead displaying a rictus of concentration.
Putting that aside, Ranma decided to go back on the offensive. Adjusting his stance, he began the opening sequence of the "Shelling the Lobster" manoeuvre.
Ryoga blinked in shock as the series of strikes neatly tore his guard apart, leaving him completely open to the straight kick that thundered into his stomach a moment later.
'The sky is really pretty this time of day.' Thought Ryoga from the end of the trench he had gouged before stopping.
Standing and dusting himself off (not quite able to ignore the look of relief on his opponent's face) he took a deep breath and centred himself once more.
"Haven't seen that move before." He observed in a slightly over-casual tone.
"It's Tendo-Ryu." Replied Ranma in the same. "I learned it helping in Kas-chan's training. You ok?"
A quick bark of laughter was his answer. "You may have learned a new trick or two, Ranma, but so have I. Earthen Palm!"
Ranma had just enough time to see Ryoga slam an open palm shrouded with ki into the ground before being blasted into the air as the earth around his feet exploded.
Instincts honed by a life of the Art and several years of high-risk living had him in motion even as the explosion was forming, allowing him to avoid the worst of the blast. What he did catch, however, hurt like hell. Shaking off the shock and noting his immanent impact with terra firma, the pigtailed youth adjusted his aspect to land like a c- c- furry thing some distance from the smirking Ryoga.
"Ow. Ok, bakusai tenketsu variation?"
"Bakusai tenketsu improvement." Replied the bandanna-browed one.
"Care to explain how you did it?" asked Ranma, edging around as ideas formed. "Just out of curiosity, I mean."
"Hmm," replied Ryoga sarcastically. "Let me think. Will I share with my rival the ultimate move that will finally allow me to defeat him? Hmm, decisions, decisions…"
"Alright, alright, you don't have to be a jerk about it." Grumbled Ranma. "Just thought I'd ask."
"Tell you what," said Ryoga after a moment, a mocking grin on his face. "It's called "the Aspect of the Earth Dragon". You wanna know more, you'll have to beat me."
Calm on the outside, Inner-Ranma was doing a little chibi-dance of glee.
'Yes! I knew he'd at least tell me the name. The name I can work with. Kami bless martial artist bragging tendencies!'
Jolting into motion, he darted across the loosely-packed gravel toward his opponent.
'Ok, watch carefully,' he thought as his rival again charged his hand with ki. 'He charges his hand with ki, releases it into the ground and-'
Boom!
"Owie!"
'-blows up the ground I'm standing on.'
"Come on Ranma!" smirked Ryoga, exaggeratedly dusting off his hands. "Is that all you can do? What happened to the new techniques Akane told me about?"
Ignoring the taunts as he rose to his feet (surreptitiously removing a piece of gravel from a rather uncomfortable place), Ranma thought furiously.
'"Aspect of the Earth Dragon", it's called. "Bakusai Tenketsu improvement". He's tougher, faster and can do a ranged breaking point attack. What's the key here?'
Boom!
"Itai!"
"Is that all you've got Ranma?" Laughed the fanged one as his distracted foe was blasted skyward-
-only to be caught in the open mouth by a handful of gravel propelled at Amaguriken speeds.
Slipping into the Umisenken as his rival coughed and spluttered, the martial magician edged cautiously behind him.
'Come on Ranma, think. Ki. Earth dragon. Strong, fast-
I wonder…'
It would be difficult. It would be risky. It would very probably be extremely painful. It could very easily backfire.
He'd do it anyway, though.
For Science!
Bringing the Umisenken to full strength, the pigtailed youth bolted for his rival. As expected, Ryoga's head snapped around the moment he was in motion.
It was too late, however.
'Yes, just as I thought,' smirked Ranma as he flipped onto his hands and planted both feet firmly into his opponent's midsection. 'He saturates the earth with his ki, shifting its chi in turn. As long as he's touching the ground he can sense me, hit me. But-'
A sharp yell and a jerk and Ryoga was airborne.
'-If that's true, he should be at a disadvantage in the air.'
Following the partially-porcine projectile aloft, a quick series of blows proved his hypothesis to be correct, at least as far as the speed and toughness went. Sure, Ryoga could get by in mid-air combat, but the Saotome-Ryu specialised in it.
In this situation, "Specialised" beat "getting by" every time.
In the final few seconds before touchdown, Ryoga found himself subjected to a combination of blows, kicks and punches that left him dazed, inverted and, he noticed at the last moment, on the bottom. As the approaching ground filled his vision, he had only time for a slight whimper.
Hopping off his unwilling landing pad, Ranma watched, fascinated, as the nearby chi flows sent streams into the supine form.
'Ah, yes. He pulses ki out for an attack and draws chi in for healing and defence. Cool.'
"…ow."
"Hey buddy, you awake?"
"…Every time."
"Huh?"
Ryoga staggered to his feet, bangs hiding his eyes.
"Every time, Ranma. Every time I get a new technique, you manage to beat it in one or two fights. Every single time! You didn't even need to use a new technique yourself this time! WOULD IT KILL YOU TO LET ME KILL YOU JUST ONCE?!?"
The silence as Ranma attempted to formulate a reply was broken by a strident beeping.
Ryoga's look of frustrated rage gave way to confusion as Ranma yanked a pager from his pocket and gazed intently at the display, then to anger once more as the pigtailed youth stuffed it back in the pocket, babbled something about "Gotta go Ryoga things to do see ya at the dojo bye" and took off running.
Giving vent to a growl, the Hibiki youth locked his senses onto his rival's departing form and followed.
'Dammit Ranma, I'm not done yelling at you yet!'
"This is embarrassing."
"Oh come on. Just think of it as…cosplay."
Luna silently calculated the effort it would take to render her fellow mooncat down to his component molecules. Reluctantly concluding it to be impractical (for now…), she settled for watching the fight below and silently fuming, her long, bunny-like ears held at an irritated angle.
The reader may well wonder at Luna's new lapine accessories, and rightly so. Cats (and Mau, for that matter), are feline after all, and thus not noted for long, floppy ears or puffy cotton tails, both of which were to be found on Luna's person.
In truth, the black mooncat's new look was the effect of a combination of punishment, mischief, Usagi's inner otaku and a helpful comment taken perhaps just a tad too far.
Following Ranma's introduction to the black-furred Mau, Ami (having investigated the Neko-ken and learned just how extreme Ranma's ailurophobia was, Luna's new "Black Furry Thing" designation notwithstanding) had decided that, for Ranma to properly interact with the Senshi, Something Would Have To Be Done.
Suggestions varied on that point, ranging from a carefully organised and enforced timetable (not practical when you took youma attacks into account) to an esoteric scheme involving some strategic shaving, lessons in bipedal motion and two small tuxedoes (firmly and loudly rejected by the two concerned), to no avail.
It was ultimately Hotaru who provided the solution by idly observing that it was a shame the mooncats couldn't use the disguise pens.
A moment of silence followed by some excited shouting and a series of tests later proved that, actually, yes, mooncats could, in fact, use the disguise pens after all.
It was just a shame, thought Luna, that Usagi's favourite anime happened to be on as they were debating what form the disguises should take.
Luna growled at the memory, flipping her long ears over her shoulders where they fell to the base of her cute, puffy tail. She had really come to hate those ears. Them and that itchy jewel on her forehead. The big back legs were a pain to walk with, too.
And as for that craving for carrots-!
Yes, gentle Reader. Luna is disguised as a cabbit.
"'But you look so cute, Luna!'" the disgruntled feline squealed mockingly. "'And it's close to your normal look, so it'll be more comfortable.' Grrr, show her comfortable. Try a hairball in your shoe, see how comfortable that is…"
She had to admit, though, the girls were doing a lot better since they started training. Watching Jupiter pummel a youma with a neat combo of lightning-reinforced punches as Mars and Venus teamed up on another gave a slight feeling of satisfaction, she'd admit. And the fact that Moon had not yet fallen, face planted, fainted or so much as freaked out in over a week had to be a positively glowing recommendation of Ranma's skills as a teacher.
Even Mercury, usually their support fighter, was acquitting herself well in the melee, slowing targets for her comrades in between dealing out strikes with a variety of ice weapons.
'I do wish she'd stop that creepy chuckling, though.'
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune showed less improvement (they had been quite skilled to begin with, after all), but they blended well with the others as they darted around the fight nonetheless.
"Hi Luna, Artemis."
"Yaah!"
A hurried grooming later, both disguised felines fixed the dark-haired youth now smirking at them with a baleful glare.
"Stop. Doing. That! You are not supposed to sneak up on a…Mau! Much less two Mau!"
"Heh." Ranma chuckled as he sheepishly scratched the base of his pigtail. "Sorry, just figured you were watching the fight and didn't wanna talk. My bad."
Breathing a sigh of relief as the glares cooled a little, Ranma shuffled over to the edge of the roof.
"So, how long, how many and how tough?"
"Well," answered Artemis, "The fight's been on for about seven minutes, there are
seven-"
Boom!
"Good shot Jupiter!"
"-make that six enemy effectives and they look to favour toughness and armour over speed."
"Cool, thanks Artemis. Another couple of minutes, you think?"
"Make it three, I'd say," the white pseudo-cabbit suggested. "Their teamwork's better, but they're backsliding now and then."
"Three it is," nodded the teen, grinning as sailors Jupiter and Mars loosed a combination that shredded another two youma.
"Luna, remind me to add an extra cookie each to their rations."
"I still think it's not right, bribing them like that."
"You're just annoyed that Moon won't share them with you after the "hahaha, Ranma is a youma" thing," interjected Artemis with a smirk (ducking a claw swipe with the ease of long practice) before a cough brought them both back.
"Focus on the fight, ok? I'll want your thoughts later on."
Attention back on the battle, it became clear to the three observers that the fight would soon be over. The Senshi's greater agility, improved teamwork and (in Jupiter and Mars' cases) adapted magical attacks (Jupiter having "taken back" the lightning-sheathed fists of the Ikazuchi sen ken and Mars flinging ofuda like shuriken) were proving more than a match for the common or garden youma.
Checking his watch as the final monster crumbled to dust (simultaneously frozen, burned and electrocuted), Ranma grinned before gathering the moon-cabbits into his arms and hopped from the ledge.
Handing his passengers to their respective charges, the youth cast a grin to the lightly panting Senshi as he stepped off the cracked footpath.
"Ok, thirty seconds to spare, well done. Now, lets-"
A flash of light and the screaming of his danger sense was all the warning he has as the asphalt beneath him was blasted skyward.
Ryoga would likely have presented a rather comical sight as he sprinted after his pigtailed rival. The fact that he had a spare bandanna wrapped over his eyes and his shoes hanging from his belt, for one thing.
The way he was furiously sniffing the air for another.
'Dammit Ranma, if I have to follow you to China again I'm going to kill you! A LOT!'
No, no, stay calm. Remember what the scroll said. "Still as the mountain". Now, tune out the distractions, search the chi flows for the right 'taste'.
'No, no, no, n-Aha!'
Sensing his opponent in the middle distance, Ryoga set off with a renewed energy in his stride. Left, right, cross a street, left again, strange zaps and crashing noises from up ahead, cross another street and…there!
A fanged grin of triumph grew on his face. Never again would Ranma be able to run from him in a fight! No more would the coward be able to flee his True and Just Punishment!
A ward away, Kuno Tatewaki sneezed, cursing as he jarred his most recent injuries.
Now, to continue the fight! With a happy growl, Ryoga pulled the bandanna from his eyes…
Just in time to see, in no particular order of importance, a group of young women in colourful (and very skimpy) uniforms, his rival falling back after apparently being blasted into the air by someone other than him, and a giant crystalline crab-thing (the cause, he concluded, of said blasting) that was swiftly pulling itself from a hole in the road.
'Huh,' he thought, battle-thirst momentarily forgotten. 'A giant glass crab. That's a new one.'
Hang around Nerima for any good length of time and one will get very blasé about supernatural events.
"Heads Up!"
Whock!
Face driven into the ground for the second time in ten minutes, Ryoga had a sudden flash of de ja vu before pushed off the pigtailed projectile and faced the crystal crab.
Only to be completely ignored as the monstrosity loosed a bolt of pale light that sliced through Ranma's former position and reduced a post-box to a puddle of molten slag.
"Ranma! Supreme Thunder!"
The power of a Senshi's attacks is to a great extent dependant on the caster's emotional state. The lightning presently being thrown by Jupiter, having seen her teacher, friend and crush attacked with lethal force, could have powered all of Tokyo for a full day.
Blinking the glare from her eyes, she felt a moment's dismay to find the crab-beast completely unharmed before it spun to face her.
A flash, an instant of searing pain and darkness claimed her.
A frozen instant of shocked silence passed at the casual felling of one of their number, before being broken with a yell of "Earthen Palm!"
The dam broken, the very air itself tore as the counter-attack was launched. Flame, ice, water, light and ki blazed into the crystalline menace, the concussion shattering windows for blocks around.
"Saturn, is Jupiter ok?" asked Ranma in the lull that followed, keeping a wary eye on the cloud of dust.
"Yes, I think so. The armour stopped most of it," replied the dark-haired girl, her glowing hands over the taller girl's wounds. "She's got a lot of burns, though. It's like she was hit by a laser."
"Ranma, what the hell is that thing, who are these girls and how is it all your fault?"
Ranma gave a slight sigh as he turned to his unexpected ally.
"Ok, in order: I have no freakin' idea, the Sailor Senshi and why the hell is it always my fault, bacon-boy?"
Taking a deep, calming breath, the pigtailed youth continued.
"Not that the first one really matters, nothing could have lived…through…that…"
Face rapidly blanching, Ranma cast a pleading look at the nearby Neptune.
"Please tell me I didn't really just say that."
Her wordless headshake coincided with the first sound of moving rubble from the blast zone.
'Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT! I should know better by now!'
Mentally shaking, he slipped once more into battle mode.
"Ok. Ryoga, Uranus, Neptune and Moon, you and me will keep it busy. Saturn, get ready to put a Wall up and deal with injuries as they occur. Mars, Venus, ranged attacks. Mercury, find us a way to kill it, ok?"
A chorus of nods was the response. As the battered but intact crystal crustacean emerged from the clearing dust it was met with the blue flash of a moko takabisha. Rocked back, it was struck from the sides by a World Shaking/Deep Submerge combo and a bolt of glowing energy from above.
"Bakusai Tenketsu!" snarled Ryoga as a webwork of cracks spread over the thing's torso, sending the right arm/claw flying in a spray of shards, his toughened and ki-reinforced body shrugging off the sting.
Leaping back from the razor-edged spray, Ranma's sense of triumph vanished as the lost shards sublimated into powder and began flowing back to its parent in a sparkling stream.
"Oh, just GREAT! Regeneration! Wonderful!"
It would be safe to say that Ryoga, as well, was displeased at this recent turn of events, a displeasure expressed in the form of a series of Breaking Point strikes that easily de-limbed the beast along its right side as Ranma (having taken advantage of the momentary lull to reach Gnosis) mimicked his actions along the left with a cry of "Thunder Fist!" and a staccato series of detonations as each punch landed.
"Hey, Mercury," he called, grimacing as, once again, glittering motes filled the air, "you got anything yet?"
"T-this doesn't make sense!" exclaimed the blue-haired Senshi in scientific indignation. "No internal structure, no nervous system, just pure silica! That thing shouldn't even be moving, much less fighting us!"
"Silica? That's like glass, isn't it?" asked Ryoga, keeping a wary eye on the re-forming youma.
"Quartz, actually. That thing is basically nothing more than an overgrown quartz…crystal…"
Cocking an eyebrow even as he readied himself for round three, Ranma cast the genius Senshi an inquiring look.
"Mars, over here!" she snapped excitedly. "The rest of you, keep it busy! I have an idea."
Sounds of battle erupted once again as the Senshi of fire hurried over.
"Ok," started Mercury, her tone brisk. "When I say, I need you to hit that thing with the hottest flame possible for as long as you can hold it. Saturn, be ready to put up a Silence Wall when she does, that thing seems to target attacks."
"And what will you be doing when this happens?" queried Mars, slightly taken aback at her comrade's manner.
A slight smirk crossed the bluenette's face.
"Oh…something Cool."
'Squee! I finally got a cool one-liner!'
"Deep Submerge!"
Ranma could have sighed in resignation as the tail of Neptune's attack turned him into a her, were she not too busy dodging claw swipes and laser blasts. As it was, she felt a momentary flicker of gratitude for the speed boost and flipped over a charging Ryoga, twisted around another claw and ducked a Crescent Beam from a surprisingly business-like Venus.
"So, any idea when that solution's gonna come, Ranma?" growled Ryoga, spitting out some asphalt from where he had just been face-planted.
"Well-"
"MOVE!"
Startled, the two martial artist heeded their screaming instincts as a mass of flame roared toward them, each grabbing the nearest Senshi and leaping away from the blast zone.
Absently restoring Uranus and Neptune to their feet, Ranma gazed with a touch of awe at the near white-hot conflagration issuing from Mars.
'That's cool and all,' he thought as the flames began to die down, revealing a quite obviously rd-hot mass of motile crystal, 'but how will that-'
"Mercury Freezing Spray!"
The Senshi (plus four) stared in mute amazement. As the icy mass covered the glowing form, fractures formed. More and more as the thermal stresses grew. Finally, in a tinkling crash (that Ranma would later liken to the sound of Ryoga getting lost in a window factory), the crab-thing detonated in a spray of razor-edged shrapnel that spanged off the shadowy wall of energy that flickered into being before them.
Watching the shards evaporate, Ranma cast a glance at the exhausted-looking Mercury, currently supported on Uranus' shoulder.
"So? Is it dead now?"
A quick tapping of keys and the Senshi of Ice frowned.
"No, not quite. There's still a core of some kind left. Destroy that and yes, it's dead. Look for a glowing crystal."
With a sigh, Ranma carefully strolled over the cracked and blasted pavement (ignoring Moon's comments of "Why is it always a glowing crystal? Do these bad guys all have the same designer or something?") and cast a careful eye about.
"Ok, glowing crystal, glowing crystal…aha!" Ranma grimaced at the sight of the already-regenerating core.
"Damn energiser bunny wannabe…Mercury! Any special way I have to destroy this thing?"
"Dead scream."
A flash of fuchsia light filled the street as the ball of energy detonated, then there was silence…
Several minutes later-
"Look, I said I was sorry!"
"Hmph!"
"Honestly, what did you expect me to do after seeing that display?"
"You attacked me!"
The Senshi, plus one somewhat confused martial artist, watched the interplay between their pigtailed sensei and green-haired advisor and comrade with a slight sense of trepidation.
"How many more times do you expect me to apologise?"
"Until I can believe you!"
Ranma gave a long-suffering sigh.
"Fine. I apologise for interpreting your Sparkly Magical Attack of Doom (that was flying directly toward me, incidentally) for an attack on my person and subduing you with a painful restraint hold. Ok?"
"Hmph!"
"…I give up."
Venus nudged the newly healed Jupiter from where they had been watching the conversation with some fascination.
"I've never seen Pluto in a huff before."
"I think it's mainly embarrassment that Ranma-sensei took her down so easily." The brunette nodded.
"Yeah, probably. Now," the blond continued, a sly grin appearing on her face. "On to more important matters."
The two Senshi's expressions took on a somewhat predatory cast as they cast their gaze toward the Lost Boy.
Cute?
Check.
Strong?
Check.
Does not appear to be a disguised youma, negaverse general or other villain?
Tentative check. Get Mercury to verify later.
Target locked.
Ryoga, chuckling at Ranma's attempts at pacifying the irate Senshi, felt a sudden chill.
'Half of me wants to run very, very fast. The other half wants to stay right here. What the hell?'
"Oh, sensei," Venus called, drawing Ranma's attention away from the now-sulking Sailor Pluto. "I don't think you've introduced your friend."
Ranma had seen the look now adorning Venus and Jupiter's faces enough times (albeit directed at him) to recognise their intent and mentally grinned.
"Oh yeah, right." He said, striding to a startled Ryoga and clapping a hand on his shoulder. "This is Hibiki Ryoga, my good friend and rival."
"'Rival'?" asked Venus with a studied innocence. "He must be very skilled then, right?"
"Yup!" grinned Ranma at the tell-tale nervous sweat now appearing on the bandanna-bearing boy's forehead. "He's the only one in Nerima who can really challenge me anymore. Heck, you saw him earlier."
'What's going on?' thought Ryoga, confused and apprehensive. 'Why is Ranma talking me up like this?'
"He travels a lot too," continued Ranma. "I don't think there's anywhere he ain't been yet."
The looks he was getting from the two Senshi were, for some reason, making him feel like a plate of dumplings in front of Genma. And the weird glittering in the air around them-!
Hibiki Ryoga, master of the Bakusai Tenketsu, Nerima's one-man demolition team, was suddenly very, very afraid. That bastard Ranma! How dare he praise fum so fulsomely to two…attractive…girls…
Ok, something not quite right with that sentence.
Jerked from his ruminations by a yell of "oh crap!" and an iron grip on his wrist, the lost boy found himself being swiftly dragged off as Ranma (somehow applying Amaguriken speed to his mouth, it seemed) babbled an explanation.
"SorrygirlshavetogetbackfordinnerinvitedRyogatalktoyoutomorrowusualplaceandtimeforSpecialTrainingsorryforhittingyouGreenieokseeyoulaterbye!"
Feelings among the Senshi were mixed as the two martial maniacs took to the rooftops. Worry about this most recent opponent. Satisfaction at their growing skills.
Envy, at Ranma and Ryoga getting to enjoy a Kasumi-Sama-made meal.
And, on the part of a particular blond and brunette, a jumble of anticipation, calculation and battle plans. Yes, a certain cute, bandanna-wearing brawler's single days were numbered!
Minako and Makoto were on the hunt!
"Timeline 001 Probability: 70.73 percent, Plus/Minus .823 percent. Signal Drift: Three spikes detected. Continuing Alpha Directive"
"Thought you could run, huh Genma?"
"Growf!" [Honestly, it was just a] flip [scroll! What's the big] flip [deal?]
Shi Fu darted around the flung sign with a smirk. "Remember who taught you Panda Style, tubby. And it was not "just a scroll". You tried to steal the highest treasure of our valley!"
"Tigress wasn't too happy when you tried to engage your son to her, either." Added Po with a smirk as he joined the fray. "You might wanna avoid China for a while." He chuckled, paws flashing out, their speed belying his size.
"Indeed," grinned Shi Fu darkly, slipping a series of nerve strikes through the part-time panda's guard. "She and Viper are planning on having a "nice long chat" with you."
Soun groaned from his position on the sidelines of the fight as Genma paled (somehow quite obvious, even under the fur) and bounded over the garden wall and down the street, taking the fight with him.
"I swear, Saotome!" He roared, fire flickering in his eyes. "I will learn the Secret of the Signs yet! Damn Youuuuuuu!"
"Would you like a cup of tea father?"
"…yes please."
Secret Author Technique: Omake!
A flash, a moment of searing pain, and darkness claimed her.
The moment of shocked silence at the casual felling of one of their own was broken by an ear-splitting yowl and the crack of discharging plasma bolts.
"MiiiiiiiiiYAAAAA!"
Several minutes later, a shell-shocked Ranma crawled to the edge of the smoking, glass-lined crater now adorning the roadway.
Yes, it seemed the crab-thing was quite definitively dead.
Turning his attention from the gently clinking crater to the floating mass of spines above them, he cleared his throat.
"Um, yeah, good work Luna. Just…overkill, you think?"
"Miyah, miyaaah."
Somehow, the sense of embarrassed acquiescence was clear.
"Well," said Mercury in a shaky voice. "This answers one question, at least."
"What's that?" asked Moon, staring in fascination at what was, effectively, her pet spaceship.
"The disguise pens do make a complete change."
"…miyah?"
"No Luna, that hull does not make you look fat."
Author's Apologies:
Ok, time for the traditional "Smylingsnake apologises for taking so long to update" session. What can i say? Real Life and employment are eating into my writing time, my Muse seems to have run off to Perth and i've been having real troubles getting ideas for anything more than the most general details. Suffice to say that i have no idea when the next chapter will be done. i'm going as fast as i can, but there you go. sorry.
Anyway, now that the grovelling is done, time for
Reviews:
Hiryo: Sorry it wasn't faster, mate. thanks for the good wishes.
Nysk: Thanks very much. Somehow, the idea of genma doing ANYTHING to do with butterflies scares me.
Hero Slayer: I know what you mean, Tai kwon do can be a pain. all those splits...
and yeah, considering all the varied styles in Ranma, i'm not sure there IS anything that can't be 'martialised'.
Tiger Timberwolf: Wow...um, thanks? Glad you liked it. expect a few more little asides and inserts in future chapters, too. Thanks!
Tri-Emperor of The Twilight: Ain't i a stinka?
JS1210326: I thought it worked. Po's a Kung-Fu panda, Genma's a Kung-fu panda...
starravenwolf: Thanks! i hope this has made it clear for the former. as to the latter, wonder no more!
RanmaChaos: Updating i can do. how fast is another matter.
deathgeonous: Yeah, sorry about that. Glad you liked it.
Jerrac: Damn, you have a point. i'll put some thought into that, i think. mught be able to plug a plothole and advance the story in one. hmm...
Quathis: Glad you liked it. I think i'll have a little more fun at nabiki's expense before the tale's over. As for Kasumi, i don't think perfection so much as the story focusing only on what she does well. Ranma specialises in the Art, and thus does it well. Kasumi specialises in matters domestic, is all. that being said, i get the impression that her learning curve might well mimic ranma's, given the right impetus...
Tergar no Konoha: Well, thanks. I don;t know how i do it either, truth to tell. i suspect i may just have a warped sense of humour.
Firehedgehog: Thanks.
Dumbledork: Aye, that was part of my thinking.
Midoriryu: Well thanks very much! good to hear you're liking it.
Anime-Ronin: he he he...
Bobboky: thanks!
Minstrel Savant: Yeah, but she escaped. next time, i'm using a radio tracker. As for Kung-Fu Panda, hope you liked the latest installment.
borg rabbit: Thanks. i'll see what i can do...
Cattsith: glad you liked it. i thought a little randomness was in order.
ThreadWeaver: I figure it was more shock at the notion of Kasumi getting carnal that jarred her mind into some odd paths. couple that with some flickers of attraction (ranma IS quite good looking, after all) and there you go!
Cor Strike FX: Yes. yes, i did.
GeorgeTobor: Ok, you make a good threat- Point! i said point! as i said above, i'll finish this story. what year i finish it in...
LunaRoseAF: Glad to help out.
hentai18ancilla: heh. yeah, i like seeing Nabiki off-balance. glad you liked it.
OBSERVER01: Thanks!
masaki yang yi1: I have one ot two ideas, though nothing concrete yet. i will say, there will be no curse cures. changes, maybe, but no cures.
shinikage: Thanks. character interaction is tricky sometimes. glad you approve.
Bree R.: Well, thanks very much! i'm always glad to get such positive feedback. it tells me i'm doing something right. cheers!
Prustan: Thanks. i do so like having characters display hidden depths. as for Artemis, i hadn't really thought of it. i figure the mau don't spend every waking hour with the senshi, so he wasn't there. as for the other two, well, Setsuna's made her appearance above. as for Mousse, wait and see.
Loatroll: Thanks.
ShineX: Thanks a lot. Glad you liked it, unrealisticness notwithstanding.
lord Martiya: Glad you liked it. as to the questions, in order: Probably not and Most likely.
Jimbobob5536: A good thought, but given what Lina does with those spells alone, combining them with Ranma techniques strikes me as a Very Dangerous Idea.
Although..."Ranma Blade!" hmm...
Cyde: Thanks for the feedback and you do make some good points, but i don't really see it that way. Based on what i've seen in the manga and anime, Akane has one hell of a temper and rather less control of it than she should. Yes, i've exaggerated it, and yes, Ranma is hardly blameless or a saint, but this is how i see the characters and this is how i'm portraying them. I like to think i've presented a decent rationale for Akane's in-text actions, and you'll note that i've tamed things down a little in recent chapters, but the basic fact of the matter is, this is a work of fanfiction. whether Akane is like that in the Manga/Anime or not is less important , i feel, than whether her behaviour and personality are fitting for the plot of the story in which she is written. Granted, there are limits to what can be changed and still claim to be Ranma fanfiction, but i hardly think Akane with anger problems or a more polite Ranma are really all that out there.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback. even if i don't fully agree with you, i'm grateful for the advice. thanks!
DimensionTravelerRyu: It's always the quiet ones, i know. As for the Avoiding Tardy technique, i figure Usagi just hasn't perfected it yet.
Wonderbee31: Glad you liked it. as for Kasumi, wait and see...
xDelta-Ha-chanx: well, here's an update. i'll do my best.
Steven Kodaly: Yeah, i prefer to know the names of my reviewers. as for nabiki? he he he...
edised: Hight praise! thanks mate.
Well, that's all for now. i'll have the next chapter up as soon as possible. of course, i have no idea when that will be, but rest assured, i'll go my best.
Stay tuned.