-AN

Usagi with command of warships? We're about to hear about the cat fist training? Oh dear.

-Story Start-

There was silence between the small group including the new Queen, her daughter, and apparent future husband/lover/consort? Hadn't really figured that out yet. But their trip from the Palace and out into the open grounds was comfortable at least, until with some awe inspired gasps the group reached outside to see the fruits of the recovering magical biosphere. Emerald green grass was coming to life already, while already smaller bushes and what looked to be maybe trees were beginning to poke their way here and there. No walls visible, the the palace was the center piece of a large open complex of buildings and facilities that for some reason reminded Usagi of a college university more than the seat of power of her future queendom? Kingdom? Eh, she'd figure that out later. Looking up, she could just barely make out the shimmering magical barrier and dome that protected them from the harshness of space. As she watched, it seemed to slowly be expanding as well, probably meaning that as the palace power grid came only the biosphere would grow as well. Taking a deep breath, Usagi felt the moon seem to breath with her. It was, exhilarating.

"What does it feel like?" Ranma was watching her as they walked, curiosity clear on his face.

Giggling with a rush of feelings and sensations she had never experienced before, Usagi let go of him and twirled in place. "I can't really explain it. It's like being reunited with a portion of myself I didn't even know was missing. Like this was always meant to be." Taking another breath and sighing at the freshness of it, the young woman opened shining eyes, "This has to be what having chi coursing through you on Earth must feel like. It's like, I'm connected to everything around me."

Watching the woman dance among the grass, he turned to Usa with a smile, "She do this often in the future?"

Nodding Usa had a bright smile on her own face, "When she could sneak away, mama and I would dance in the palace gardens and reconnect with each other and with the nature of the world around us. It was something we shared." Diving into her memories, Usa eventually bounced away to join her mother laughing the whole way. Watching her go, Ranma looked back at the others who had stayed silent this whole time while keeping a respectful distance.

"You're not going to join in?" Curious to see how they felt, he was met with three shaking heads.

Michiru was leaning into her lover with a content smile on her face, "Our duty first and foremost is the protection of our prin-I mean our Queen. And we don't share the magical connection with the moon as she does. This is the seat of her power after all. Perhaps if we were on Neptune or Uranus we might have the same giddy feelings." Watching her Queen and daughter laugh and dance together, she motioned with a hand to Ranma, "Perhaps you should join them?"

Seeing the send off for what it was and rolling his eyes at meddlesome friends, Ranma was still curious himself. Extending his chi and senses, he probed a bit at what exactly the moon felt like. He had been cautioned about doing so on Earth by older masters, that such an ancient life could overwhelm him, but he figured Usagi could help him out in this case. Probing deeper into what felt much like a lei line on Earth, Ranma was almost immediately overwhelmed be several different feelings all at once. Euphoria, relief, grief, rage, love, lust, it was making his head spin at the heedy mix of emotions and feeling all centering around one very powerful young woman who was watching him closely. Pulling back his senses and taking several deep breaths in order to call himself, no wonder she couldn't fully describe what it all felt like.

Ushering Usa to go play with the outers, Usagi walked up to Ranma and placed a hand on his chest to steady the both of them, "I, felt, that. Was that you?" At his nod, Usagi giggled, "We were connected, for a moment."

Nodding Ranma sighed, "I've never tried mingling my chi with another person like that before, I thought I was just probing the moon. But I guess, you really are connected to it, huh?" Seeing the girl nod and look up at him through lidded eyes, a blush slowly grew on his face, "Uh…sorry?"

Dancing back a step and laughing, Usagi shook her head, "I guess, it's nice to know that even you can have those kinds of thoughts." An impish grin on her face her playful nature pushed forward, "So so naughty. No wonder you become my bed bouncer of a husband in the future."

"He-hey! I don't, mean to think about that stuff, just. You know, I'm still a guy who likes girls." Ranma blushed as apparently she had gotten an inner look at him just as much as he had her. "Besides, you are pretty cute, it's hard not to imagine. Ya know."

Blushing but nodding, Usagi turned to look up at the Earth above them, "It's okay, I'm not gonna pound you." Thinking of a certain blue haired girl with a temper back on their home planet. Usagi was reminded of the incident inside the palace. "Hey Ranma, why're you so afraid of cats?"

Blushing and looking away as that particular weakness was brought up, Ranma decided he had no reason not to tell her, since she was being so nice about his deepest thoughts come to light. "Well uh. Remember how I talked about all the crazy training techniques my pops tried out on me? Well one of them was the cat fist."

"Cat fist?" Well that was an interesting name. Usagi was now looking at him curiously.

Nodding Ranma couldn't meet her eyes, knowing this wouldn't end well, "Yeah uh. It was supposed to create the ultimate warrior more in tune with an animal nature. Of course, my pops being himself, he didn't read till the end that explained the training technique could and probably would lead to madness." Shaking himself and focusing hard on the sight of Usa playing tag with Hotaru he continued, "It involves digging a deep pit, filling it with starving cats, and then tying fish products to the trainee and dropping them in. Process is to be repeated until either they learn the technique or they go mad. And well, I'm mostly all here, except for my fear. If my fear of cats get's to high I kinda black out and go full cat. I pretty much think I'm a cat at the time, complete with ki claws and fangs. Most of the time either triggering my curse or letting me take a nap is the only way to get out of it."

Looking at the man before her in dead silence, the gears in her head just weren't meshing as they should. A father, any father, tortured their child? Parents were supposed to love their children right? They weren't supposed to hurt them. To make a living weapon? Ranma's father tortured him in order to make him a living weapon? Ranma's father…. "Your…YOUR FATHER DID WHAT!?" Was the ground vibrating? Somewhere in the distance there was an alarm.

Chuckling and scratching his neck Ranma wasn't sure how much he could really explain it, "Yeah uh, that was like, when I was 6 I think. My memory get's really foggy around then. It's part of the reason I had such a hard time remembering about Ukyo as well." Now Usa and the others were staring at them too. Usa with an odd look of understanding, which probably made sense considering she might have known what he was telling her mother at the moment. "It's okay now, I'm mostly used to it, I just gotta work on my fear and I'll be good to go in no time." Unsaid was that he couldn't even think about the furry things without being revolted, but he'd get there. One day.

A dark chuckle escaping her mouth, Usagi was already turning back to the palace, "Oh no, this won't do. I already didn't like your father for the things he's pulled, but this? This? I wonder how he'd like the negaverse. Or maybe I'll shunt him in a pocket dimension for a few millennia." Already making way back down the path, Ranma had to reach forward to clasp her hand in his own. "You can't stop me, he deserves it! So much worse in fact." She had turned back to him, her eyes glossy and rainbow colored tears gathering at their edges.

Nodding however, Ranma reached up and wiped them away, "You'll have to get in line. I'm pretty sure mom has first crack at him." Pulling the mixture of laughing and crying girl into his arms, it was odd to see someone so angry on his behalf. She really was a woman who carried her emotions on her sleeve. It was, nice, to be worried over for once. Looking over her shoulder, the rest of the scouts had come to see just what had upset the new Queen. Not seen were the moon cats. "Uh, she learned a bit about my past."

Seeing quizzical looks from everyone, if has a now much calmer Usagi who pushed away from the warmth of the boy first before turning back to everyone, Usagi took a deep breath and sniffled only slightly. "I'll explain later, for now no moon cats around Ranma." Seeing everyone nod, Usagi turned to Ami, "Can you check up on the moon palace from earth now that it's linked to me?"

Nodding though even more than curious than before, Ami nodded, "Sure can, and as long as you authorize it we can do pretty much everything from back home except for maybe order an orbital bombardment." Seeing everyone edge away from the tech, Ami sighed, "Not like I would want to."

"Just wait till you hear about some more of Ranma's past." Usagi sighed before holding out her hand to Ranma, "I'm ready to head back and go to bed, how bout you?"

Nodding he linked hands with her, "Sleep sounds good." Today had been filled with enough excitement thank you very much.

-b-

Ranma was always met with groggy and listless students on mondays, and this one was no different. Whether many of them admitted it or not, plenty of these morning ladies seemed to party pretty hard over the weekends. Today's yoga cooldown showed much less exuberance than usual but that was okay for the introspective Saotome. Yesturday he had watched someone he considered a close friend realize her birthright and become a Queen. He could honestly say that was a new experience. As it was he was sort of floating through the day so far, only really coming back into things as an Amazon princess waved a hand to get his attention.

"Yoohoo, Airen, you in there?" While he had been moving on autopilot Shampoo had been tempted to take liberties. But she had promised to be more thoughtful of his own feelings, not that her labido agreed with her.

Snapping back to reality, Ranma sighed, "Sorry Shampoo, lost in thought. What's up?"

"Wanted to warn you, father's and Tendo's are on their way. Didn't want you blindsided." Looking up into the martial artist's eyes, Shampoo was concerned, "Are you okay Ranma?"

Shaking his head and trying not to think so hard about another woman he cared for paying so much attention to him, he voiced his concern, "Might not want Genma here with the rest of the gang get's here. They learned about the cat fist last night."

Nodding with a knowing look the young princess grinned, "Maybe Genma finally get what coming to him? Also, I swung by and left mother-in-law know too. She on way."

Groaning at the potential warzone his dojo was about to turn into, Ranma sighed, "Maybe I can run away, go on a training trip in the mountains."

"Shampoo happy to keep you company. Nights get very cold."

Not even missing a beat for once Ranma quipped back, "I'm sure you have plenty of ideas on how we can keep warm huh?" Seeing the suddenly hungry look in her eyes, Ranma chuckled nervously, "We aren't going on a training trip to avoid my dad and his foolishness."

"Ugh, no tease your wife Airen. Maybe quickie in the back before they get here?"

Rolling his eyes and at least giving the girl and firm and engulfing hug, Ranma stepped away with a smile, "That's all you get for now. I'm, still working up to it okay? It's still a lot to deal with."

Blushing and trying to hold on to the warmth of the man she loves, Shampoo still put on a pout and sauntered away to begin stretching for the coming class/conflict, "No fair, but Shampoo glad Airen trying." Didn't mean she couldn't put on a show in the interim. Get her imagination going would he, ha, she'd show him what he had to look forward too. Stripping out of her usual flowing silk shirt and pants, today she was enjoying her latest purchases of a pink and purple sports bra and matching biker shorts.

Doing his best to ignore the Chinese bombshell doing her best to dislocate her spine while revealing a lot of soft flesh. Ranma groaned and turned to the door where already students were beginning to trail in, less it seemed today, but he was warned by a few that with the summer break coming to an end they'd be in less frequently. A bummer, but he could deal. Giving Shampoo what she wanted and keeping her within his eyesight though, he himself took a moment to check his usual bracers and clothes. Maybe it was time for a change in wardrobe for himself as well? Eyeing his class and noticing the tallest of the senshi in the back, meaning that the rest were probably in as well, he wasn't exactly prepared to see his mother giggling and smiling between a happy looking Usagi and a demure looking Setsuna, another rare sight in his class. Walking over to the trio he looked at his sportswear clad mother,

"What brings you in today? Not like you need to work out at all or need any training."

Waving her son away Nodoka smiled, "Didn't young Shampoo tell you who was coming in today? I just wanted to make sure I was present." Smile as sweet as ever, Ranma wasn't buying it and turned a raised eyebrow to Setsuna.

"Your mother and I have been, bonding, as of late. She asked if I would like to attend." Somehow that same sweet smile on her face was even more unnerving.

Turning to the last of the trio, Usagi was all smiles and rainbows at the moment, "I'm not even gonna ask you. Just uh, don't fly off the handle unless they do okay?" Getting a nod in return, it was probably the best he was going to get. So returning to the front of the class with a grinning Shampoo waiting for him, Ranma turned and began running the class through their initial drills and warm ups. It however, wasn't to last long as the door blew open and in spilled several people Ranma wasn't sure how to feel about at the moment. Genma and Soun were an easy toss out the door feeling. Both were in a tangle on the ground and hadn't made it back to their feet yet. Behind them was a serene Kasumi and a somewhat chastised looking Nabiki. Mixed feelings involving those two, he turned to the last few members of the group. Mousse and a surprising Ryoga had shown up, with Akane bringing up the rear. Akane gave a demur wave out of sight of everyone else, which Ranma nodded in return. Mousse looked ready to kill, and Ryoga wasn't exactly much better, though hell if Ranma knew what he was mad about today. Sighing and clapping his hands, he turned to his class,

"Alright everyone! Form against the wall and relax for a bit, we may have some challengers I have to deal with today!" Watching everyone hustling to comply, noticing the senshi and his mother were somehow in the front row suddenly, he was just turning back to the intruding group as his father and Soun got in his face.

"You useless boy! What's the meaning of this, running and way and opening your own sham of a school! Oh our ancestors weep at your dishonor. You'll return home right away and we'll sort this all out as the adults!" Genma as always, was looking at the bigger picture.

"You ran out on my darling daughter, how could you boy! Come home, we'll fix things and then get your marriage underway. I'm sure that's for the best. We must join the schools after all." Soun was probaby a few moments from full tears, and Ranma really wasn't in the mood for the water works.

However, he didn't have to worry much about them, as Kasumi and an embarrassed looking Akane grabbed their father by the ear.

"Daddy, you're interrupting classes, com'on, you promised!" Akane was dragging her father rather forcibly while Kasumi bowed politely to Ranma. Nabiki only followed along to sit along with her family along the wall.

"But sweety I just want what's best for you."

"Hai hai, well let me figure that out before you get pounded into the dirt." And with that, for once the Tendo contingent was taken care of without him really interfering."

Genma however was only edging closer, slowly moving within real striking distance. "Don't ignore me boy, I can still take you to task if that's what it needs to come too." Mostly bluffing and hoping the boy still felt honor bound not to use the sealed techniques against him, he was sure in his advanced years he still had a few tricks to use on the boy. He did, however, fail to see three women coming up behind him.

"Oh, Genma dear." Like the kiss of a ghost, Genma felt a horrid shudder arc up his spine.

"Ah, No-chan. I uh, I'm just making sure the boy knows his place is all, I-" He didn't get to finish as a bokken smashed into his head and drove him into the practice mats.

Nodoka, smile still on her face, raised and slammed her bokken into her husband's head repeatedly, "Oh. Don't. Worry. Someone. Is. Going. To. Learn. Their. Place. Today." Breaking the bokken on her last word, she calmly tossed the broken training weapon over her shoulder. A new one courtesy of Setsuna was already in her hand.

Watching his father being dragged into the corner for most likely the beat down on his life, Ranma turned to Mousse and Ryoga. "Well, I can guess what you two want. So I'm only going to warn you once, damage my dojo or my students and I will break you. Do you understand?"

Finally having enough and exploding, Ryoga lunged forward first, "You ruined my life you ingrate! Today I'm going to kill you!" A razor sharp bandanna was already flying through the air followed by several others. Belt already in hand as well and stiffened with ki, Ryouga was fully intent on his promise for one reason or another.

Ranma however wasn't having it, as each of those bandanna's had they missed would have gone into the crowd of students. Boosting himself with ki, Ranma wasn't going to play around with the pig headed lost boy. Plucking each of the bandanna's from the air, Ranma was going to introduce Ryoga to his latest experiment with ki mastery. Taking in Ryoga's already massively hot ki, Ranma brought it in around himself, miniaturizing a shoten ha in his palm, before expertly dodging Ryoga belt swing and plunging his palm into Ryoga's solar plexus. Releasing the pent up energy in the next moment, and feeling several ribs shatter, Ryoga was thrown against the wall next to the entry door where he cratered it and fell to the ground in a heap. Watching for a moment longer to make sure the boy was alive, Ranma was satisfied there was at least a pained groan from the boy. Focusing on a thinking Mousse now, Ranma shifted his stance to make it clear the visually challenged boy would get the same treatment. Ranma, now very in tune with the energy both within himself and the room around him, it was startlingly easy to see what was going through Mousse's mind as the man started and stopped his own advance. On the one hand, he wanted to fight, but on the other, he didn't want to end up like Ryoga.

Coming out of his ready stance and bowing, Mousse rose to his full height with a sigh and shook his head, "Perhaps, I miscalculated today. But I would like to have a, discussion with you." Looking pained but going through with it, Mousse seemed to have finally broken through his usual delusion.

Sighing and nodding Ranma looked back to Shampoo with a raised eyebrow, "You wanna finally have a talk with him, no games or making fun of him this time?"

Thinking it over and coming up with that it couldn't hurt, Shampoo nodded, "I'll try." Walking to the back, Shampoo motioned for a silent Mousse to follow her, who did so while Ranma himself turned back to a rocking and moaning Ryoga. Walking over and kneeling over the boy, Ranma poked him.

"You ready to talk now, or do I gotta break something else?"

The pain doing a good job of working him out of his usual stubbornness, the lost boy eventually laid flat on his back while looking up at the ceiling. Breathing labored but even he let loose a heavy sigh, "You left before we could settle things….and…when I came back Akane was so sad…..your pops, told us you ran away and made Akane cry….and you know me…..once I got it in my head you were bein a bastard, that was it." Looking over at the blue haired girl just out of earshot of them, Ryoga again mumbled, "I'm guessin' that wasn't how things happened?"

Ranma shook his head, "Yes and no. Akane and I had a serious talk. She's sad about it, but we're both working on it and that's for US to deal with, not you or anything else." Looking over to his father getting worked over by three very vengeful women, Ranma had a grin, "Pops'll get what's coming to him. But you. I thought things were good between you and Akari? Why come here all pissed off?"

Wanting to chuckle but knowing it'd hurt, Ryoga shook his head, "Might not love her…but still care. Couldn't put up with the thought of your being an asshole to her."

Shaking his head, Ranma stood up, "I mean, I sort of get it. But from now on you're gonna have to leave me alone. Focus on your own life. I won't put up with your temper tantrums or misplaced anger anymore. And I'm sure Akane won't put up with it either, and think about what Akari probably feels like knowing you're running off to defend some other girl who didn't even ask you to?" Standing up and grabbing Ryoga by a leg, Ranma dragged him into the back room. Ignoring the chinese amazons talking at the table, Ranma finished dragging his oldest rival to rest next to the far wall. "I'll send someone who can heal you in a minute. I think you can sit with the pain for a bit." Getting a weak moan in return, Ranma was already back out the door.

Shampoo watched her husband go, a fond look on her face. Mousse wanted to deny it, but realized by this point he couldn't. "After all this time, I think I get it." Seeing a confused Shampoo turn back to him, Mousse crossed his arms, "He give's you freedom. Freedom to choose, to be yourself. No village expectations or anything." Mousse paused as he took off his glasses and cleaned them, "Not like me, who only saw you as the princess. As the ultimate goal to accomplish."

Hands on hips, Shampoo nodded, "Take you long time to see. I no prize, I still person." Shifting her weight and not caring about his wandering eyes, she turned to walk away, "You wanted to take away my choice. Just like council, just like villagers and rivals. Just like Ranma, I wanted to choose for myself."

Frowning Mousse pointed a lazy finger at her, "Isn't that what you're doing to Ranma though? Treating him like an object?"

Shaking her head Shampoo had had this conversation with Ranma already before, "Wasn't completely serious before. But now am, Ranma know my intentions, but also know I willing to wait. Won't force him, but will give him, incentives, to choose me."

Doing his best not to think of those incentives and failing, Mousse tiredly turned to leave. "For what it's worth, I really do love you."

"Do you? Or do you love the idea of me? Because if you loved me, you would have sat down with me and actually talked to me like a person, instead of flying off at Ranma every time you saw him." Eyes hard, Shampoo countered the visually impaired boy.

Shrugging and deciding that he probably had some thinking to do, Mousse was out the door and not a moment later out of the gym, no words said to anyone else.

Behind him and watching his father now getting worked over with what looked like a kanabo, Ranma turned back to his class. "Alright everyone! Seems like I'm going to have to deal with a bit of a family emergency. Class is over early today, but we'll stay a bit later tomorrow to make up for it!" Getting groans from his students, many had questions on how he struck Ryoga the way he did. But they all respected his wishes. At least until he got to the undercover senshi, to which was walked up to a curious Hotaru, "Any chance you can heal that knucklehead in the break room? I'd really appreciate it." Getting a quiet nod from the girl she was off to complete her task, behind her a curious Usa followed along. Both passed by a happy looking Shampoo. Giving pork boy no more thought, Ranma finally turned his attention to the Tendo. Walking up and then sitting down with the group while ignoring the growing group of women beating the tar out of his father, Ranma looked pointedly at Soun.

It was however Kasumi who impromptu leaned forward and hugged the boy, "It's good to see you Ranma-kun. You look well." Pulling back with a smile, Ranma returned it with a nod. While the eldest Tendo daughter acted oblivious to what went on around her. Ranma knew if was her way of coping with the way her life had gone. She tried in her own way, and that was enough for him.

"You know me, nothin' keeps me down for long. So what brings you all out to me today, besides the usual father plotting."

"I just want-" A quick hand slapped over his mouth, it was a bored looking Nabiki who turned to the boy,

"Sadly we are just here to keep daddy from going off the rails. You know how uncle Genma can get him worked up." Having realized long ago her father was the passive one in that relationship, Nabiki was well past tired of one of them having to pick up the slack for him.

Akane wanted to say something, but Shampoo joined them before she could, leaning over Ranma's shoulder with a smirk. Bristling before remembering her promise and their conversation, Akane sighed, "It would be nice if you'd visit from time to time ya know."

Leaning forward and bringing Akane to their side with a laugh, Shampoo settled the only partially protesting tomboy in on Ranma's other side, "Shampoo say you come stay here instead. That what Shampoo plan."

"Wait what?" Ranma felt like he was suddenly missing something.

Shampoo nodded, "I talk to mother, she say the more the merrier and said I could stay with you. Akane should do the same."

"Why that's, that's…" Akane wanted to say scandalous, or indecent, but her gut was scream about it being unfair. Was she just supposed to transfer school halfway through the year? They only had this half a year left and they were done. College was coming.

Ranma looked between the grinning Shampoo and the over thinking Akane and was coming to a very familiar conclusion. "Uh, can't I have a word in on this?"

Shampoo made a show of thinking about it, thought she was actually doing so. So many problems had come between them all because they just hadn't talked. Well, this was one subject she didn't mind sharing. "Well, Amazon way it to make the tribe strong. You strongest male tribe ever run into, so you get perks. Me and battle sisters get to share, so no more fighting." Of course, battle sisters being anyone she had fought with or lost to honorably. Akane and Ukyo were both on that list.

"Share?"

Akane leaned forward to shoot Shampoo a cross look, "I thought that was going to stay between us?"

Shampoo shrugged, "No sense keeping secret from Airen, bad things come from secrets." She tossed a very pointed look at the girl.

On the one hand, Ranma was ecstatic that there would be no more fighting over him. However somehow he just knew this was going to stress him out in a completely different way. Looking back at his mother who was taking a break and allowing Setsuna and Usagi to tag team his dad, he raised his voice to catch her attention. "Hey mom, what's this about Shampoo coming to live with us?"

Rubbing a sore shoulder, the fairly spent woman turned to her son with a smile, "OH yes, daughter asked my permission to move in and I saw no reason to say no. You aren't against that are you?" While one of her grandchildren from the future had come to visit, she was determined to make sure there would be more. Lots more.

Leaning back on his hands and sighing, Ranma decided he didn't have the energy to fight. "No fighting right?"

Shampoo leered at the boy, "Only different kind of battles from now on."

Soun and the rest of the Tendos all blushed slightly, though it was the older man who gave the boy a sympathetic look, "You better not neglect my daughter son."

"I haven't even agreed to anything!" Turning as a soft hand touched his own, Ranma found the doe eyes of Akane staring up at him with slightly pouty lips filling his vision. Another hand met his cheek, pulling him to stare into the sultry eyes of the amazon princess. It took all of a second for him to fold. "Do what ya want dangit! Just so long as there's no property damage." Missing both girls grinning as he closed his eyes and looked away, it was a bounding Usagi that they all missed.

"I feel like plans are being made. Don't leave me out! I'm going to need downtime too!" Sprawled out on top of Ranma who hand Akane on one side and Shampoo on another, she felt something lift her slightly. "Oh my."

"New comer need to know place, we talk first before get to have Ranma time!"

"Exactly, you don't get to have him all to yourself!"

Wiping away tears while a suddenly rejoining them Usa took pictures with a camera she pulled from somewhere, Nodoka was waving battle fans, "My manly son!"