-AN
Originally I was on the fence about making this a potential harem story, but I think I've got a concrete roadmap to do it now. Not announcing pairings yet, but I'll be editing the tags as chapters come out. Don't wanna spoil the fun after all.
-Story Start-
The night was in full effect and the wind was cool against his skin as Ranma leapt from one rooftop to another. His days were admittedly pretty boring now, between basic classes and the occasional spar with Shampoo. But his nights were starting to pick up and allow him to vent off some steam. Which was were he was headed now. Youma sightings seemed to be increasing and his senses had picked up the sailor senshi fighting a decent sized group just ahead by a few blocks. Pulling his training sword from his stuff space and extending his next leap, he was already prepping a vacuum blade along its edge.
Over the last few weeks the senshi had slowly started to notice that their usual levels of team work had been improving quite a bit. To drive this point home, without a word said between them Ami had laid down a floor of ice to entrap several youma, who were then set upon by several lightning attacks via Makoto and arrows of flame from Rei. Leaping away from a youma trying to sneak up on her, Ami barely looked back as a venus love me chain wrapped up her assailant before dicing it into pieces. Coming within paces of Usagi who was in the midst of recovering her tiara, Ami sighed as more Youma made themselves known.
"Is it just me or are they extra easy to get rid of recently?" Minako as Sailor Venus was smiling as she grabbed another youma and tossed it into a group of its fellows.
Chaining an attack together with Ami, Makoto released a lightning bolt into a smaller group, "Sure seems like it. Maybe that means they're sending whatever they have left?"
Huffing Usagi tossed her tiara again to decapitate a rather brutish looking gremlin, "They could at least let us rest then, this is too much!"
"Mind if I cut in then?" Ranma fell in among the group of girls before sprinting ahead and blurring into the assembled group of youma. Body parts and dissolving energy soon filled the air as the girls watched on in wonder.
"He really is super good, isn't he?" Rei remarked as Ranma released a slash that somehow obliterated 4 youma a dozen meters away from him.
Grouping up as they caught their breath, they watched on as Ranma weaved in and out of the energy gluttons. And it wasn't more than a few minutes before they were wiped out and Ranma was standing under the street lights wiping his brow free of sweat. "Well that was a good workout." Tossing his sword over his should and into his personal pocket, Ranma was ready to leap back to the rooftops, "Ya'll good?"
"All good now that you're here!" Venus was as always, full of energy.
Ami however tapped the side of her head while looking at Ranma, "Perhaps though, if you're going to continue this you should think up a disguise." None of the scouts had to worry about that because of the disguise fields that surrounded them with their magic. But Ranma didn't have that.
Grinning Ranma nodded, "I'll think about it. Besides, not like I leave anyone behind to see me besides you anyway." Though if they were recommending it, and they had also been doing this longer than him, he should probably listen.
Taking the the rooftops, the senshi waved goodbye as they left to continue their patrol. All except Usagi as Sailor Moon as she turned back to Ranma. "Actually, if you're going to stay out for a bit longer, can we talk?"
Watching the powerhouse of a magical girl for a moment, Ranma eventually nodded, "Sure, let's hit the rooftops and see if we can find any more youma tonight." Getting a smile in return, they both lept in the opposite direction of the others and were off on their own.
"Wait a minute! Did we just get ditched by out leader? To spend time with a hunk?" Venus was already wailing as Makoto consoled her while also dragging her away.
Rei snorted before waving them off, "We're done for the night after all. Or supposed to be, she'll call us if she needs anything."
As the scouts said their goodbyes and headed to their respective homes, Ranma and Usagi had made themselves comfortable on a rooftop overlooking one of the local parks. Ranma still couldn't look at her directly with his chi senses active, cause she was still just to bright, but he was happy all the same. Usagi on the other hand was fiddling with her fingers and playing with her skirt obviously wanting to say something to the pig-tailed boy.
"So what's up? You look distracted." Even one to get right to the point, Ranma kept a healthy distance between them while turning to look at her.
Nodding to the high schooler turned magical princess looked up to him, "You've said a couple of times that I have lots of energy but it's not controlled. How can I fix that?"
Ah, this problem. Honestly Ranma wasn't entirely to sure how to help her specifically with her issue. But he had some ideas. "Well, the biggest thing is finding balance. You've got a long of energy to play with, but so much of it is all light based or yang based, there's almost no yin inside you at all. That's throwing everything out of balance and most likely why you're such a klutz too." Feeling like teasing the girl, Ranma wasn't prepared for the concerned look on her face.
"But we're supposed to fight evil right? We're defenders of love and justice." Here Usagi placed her hands over her broach containing the Ginzuishou, "Why would we allow the darkness into our hearts?"
Ranma watched the young woman next to him fight with herself for a moment before waving a hand to the city splayed out before them, "All life has light and darkness. Even me, even you, within the light there's always supposed to be some darkness. Trying to have none at all ends up leading to some pretty horrible consequences. Just as much as having nothing but darkness within one's heart."
"What could be so bad about getting rid of everyone's darkness though? Wouldn't that lead to an ever lasting peace?" Usagi hadn't spent much time thinking about the philosophy
Ranma shook his head, "Would people still be human though? Never mind you would be taking away people's free will and ability to choose, You'd be forcing them to live unbalanced and broken with nature." Ranma held out a hand, "Besides, dark doesn't necessarily mean bad. I can be angry because someone hurt my friends, but then have the compassion to forgive them if they make amends." Ranma again pulled his sword from his stuff space, holding it up to inspect it's gleaming edge in the moonlight.
Usagi thought really thought about it for a while. Would it still really be that bad if people had no negative feelings or emotions? They'd be happy always and would have a concept of being evil or wrong or…. "But then how would they know…" Muttering out loud, she started to get it. If she took away the darkness in people's hearts then what would stop them from considering every action they did as the correct one? What was it Setsuna said to her once already, the path to hell was paved with good intentions? That was the one, "But how do you find the balance?"
Ranma shrugged at that one, "You've just gotta live your life. Do the good you can, reign in your emotions when something bad happens, and forever work towards using that darkness toward your advantage. Remember, it's all energy that just needs to be focused and used toward a good cause." With a flourish he twirled the multi metal blade before vanishing it into his storage. "You look like someone who hasn't had a chance to get things off her chest in a while. Have something you wanna talk about? Maybe that'll help." Blue eyes met blue, and a smile was all that answered Usagi.
It didn't take long to think of one that had weighed on her for a long time. "You've been nothing but trust worthy. So. I'm going to be honest with you." Usagi sighed before she drew her knees into her chest, arms crossed over her knees as she looked up into the night sky at the crescent moon. "Because I wasn't strong enough, all my friends have died at least once." Beryl, Metaria, Mistress 9 and Pharaoh 90 all came to mind when thinking of her own personal failures. "If I had been stronger, my friends wouldn't have had to sacrifice themselves in order to keep me safe, and I wouldn't have had to revive them. And I get so angry sometimes, angry that all these enemies from our past lives come back just to finish what they started. Or some ancient enemy bent on destroying humanity, like there isn't anything else they could be doing with their time. Go toss yourself into a star for once and go bother someone else for a change."
Letting the girl rant for a few minutes, Ranma had to get used to the idea that while he knew she had way more power than he really could comprehend, he didn't think it reached quick literal 'I've re-written a part of the universe for my friends' level of power as he was now learning. At least however it didn't seem that she even saw just exactly how much power she was playing with. No completely. But as the girl wound down Ranma nodded with a smile, "Feel a little better?"
Taking a moment, Usagi nodded, "A little. It's nice to talk to someone not involved you know? Some who can maybe understand just being a normal person thrust into super special circumstances and told told, 'this is your destiny, figure it out.' Like, I always fantasized about being a pretty princess, but now that it's a reality, I'd like to toss my wish giver out a window from the Tokyo tower." Turning watering eyes over to Ranma, the girl had a brittle smile on her face now, "Just, why is it us?"
To that Ranma had the only answer he could give to himself after Saffron. "Cause someone else wouldn't be strong enough and would get it wrong." Nodding down to the street where a few people were still walking about though not paying attention to them Ranma smiled softly, "No one will say it's fair, but you had the strength necessary to see it through. And now, you get up every day proving you continue to have that strength. Just remember, you have a whole team to rely on as well. Don't forget to talk to them, let them shoulder some of the burdens as well." Ranma felt the appearance of 4 people behind them, but they were familiar so he didn't move.
"He is right my princess, you have us to rely on for as long as you need." Setsuna walked up to the pair, while a quiet grouping of Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn form a loose circle around them all.
Nodding Usagi let silent tears fall, "If you don't mind Setsuna, can we have a minute, I'd, like to keep talking for a while."
"Oh course, my princess." Bowing and walking away to the others to metaphorically watch their backs, Usagi proceeded to tell Ranma all about the silver millennium and how they had been reincarnated from the past. The history behind their conflicts, and some of their more recent issues, trials, and successes. About her current worries with her apparently fated love and the frustration that maybe just once, she didn't want to leave something up to fate. That choosing between school and fighting monsters was not something she wanted to do but obviously had no choice. And for another half an hour Ranma sat and listened to the young woman who had shouldered the burden of the world and all it's people on her shoulders already more than once.
After having sat in silence after her explanation, Usagi took an offered handkerchief from Ranma gratefully, "I want to be stronger, if for nothing else than to be able to protect what is precious to me."
Ranma stood slowly and put his hands on his hips, enjoying a cool breeze on his skin for a moment before looking down at the shorter girl, "Something tells me you're already plenty strong, so maybe worry less about strength and more about relying on your friends. The little things will get resolved, but your faith in your team and your friends is something you always need to nurture and believe in. And maybe then, you'll find the real answer you're looking for." Watching the girl stand up and dust herself off. He quietly took his handkerchief that she passed back to him.
"Thank you, Sensei, for listening to me. Can I ask one last question?"
"Of course."
"You mentioned your amazon princess friend and her curse. But you didn't mention what exactly it meant for her like all the others and yourself."
"Ah." Shuddering as he had to think about Shampoo as a c-c-cat. He figured that after the info dump Usagi has just given him, he could try on this one.
"For the amazons, strength and duty are everything. So should be pretty easy to imagine, a young girl thrust into training to one day lead her people before she's even had a chance to live a life for herself. Never mind here comes this strong outsider who beats her and now she has to get married on top of that?" Chuckling Ranma raised a hand, "What is something a princess like that would value above all else with a life like that?"
Usagi didn't take long to think of an answer, "Freedom, a carefree lifestyle, little responsibility." Being a cat was certainly all those things.
"Granted, she was cursed as a punishment for not fulfilling her mission. But something tells me her grandmother had a hand in making sure things turned out the way they did." Holding eye contact with the young princess Ranma held his grin, "Maybe channel a little bit of your own inner c-c-cat. Relax and stay carefree from time to time."
Giggling Usagi nodded, "Sure thing Sensei. And I really would love to hear about why you don't like cats someday."
"No problem, it's getting late though, why don't you head home. I'm sure you'll have lots to think about tomorrow." Ranma watched as she smiled wide and with a nod to the others, the group of women jogged to the other end of the roof and started hopping away. Watching them vanish into the distance Ranma couldn't help but sigh and wonder just what his life had come to. This felt more like a moment of being a real sensei than any before so far. Another presence, another sigh, Ranma scrubbed the back of his head, "Is it always that hard?"
Happosai took a long drag on his pipe before releasing a breath full of smoke up into the air, the twisting form of a dragon trailed above them before dispersing. "Sometimes. It's hard now to find the right words because you yourself havn't been through everything yet. But over time it'll be easier to find the right words." Settling himself on the roof's edge next to Ranma the old pervert smiled, "The hard part, is letting your students make their own mistakes."
Getting the feeling Happosai wasn't talking about him, he still nodded all the same, "I figured you'd be headed south by now to all the beaches while summer still lasts." Listening to the old man cackle, Ranma shook his head, "I don't think I'll ever fully get you."
"Be glad my boy, cause the day you do, the day you may end up an old pervert just like me." Taking another deep drag from his pipe, the elderly grand master smiled at the much younger master. "Now I feel like I can leave things to you full time. Take care Ranma boy." Standing and stretching Happosai gave Ranma one last wave before leaping over the edge of the roof and disappearing from sight. Knowing he'd never find him even if he tried, Ranma himself turned and started on his own way home. Maybe if he hadn't been so distracted he would have caught the beginnings of a new headache coming his way.
"And while the Sailor Scouts have once again defended our city from harm, we have to wonder who this newest member of the little group is, and what his relationship is with sailor moon." While on the tv screen the shot was from to far away to be definitive, Nabiki could make out a blonde magical demon hunter holding the hand of a pig-tailed male in chinese styled clothing.
"You idiot." Nabiki muttered to herself quietly though it earned her a look from Kasumi. Not that the fathers or Akane had heard her, ranting and raving as they were.
"We must depart at once. Now we know he's in Juban, it won't take much more to find him and bring him back!" Genma was already on his feet, the sight of his meal ticket giving him new energy.
"Truly this is a great day Genma, we've found your son and we can finally work back towards joining the schools!" Soun, all tears which were enough to activate a certain grumpy panda's curse, was still happy to see they could secure their future.
"I knew that pervert was off with some new hussy. I don't want anything to do with him, let him rot over there for all I care." Akane's mind was already made up and not much was going to change it now.
Seeing the situation coming apart fast, Nabiki thought it over as quick as she could before frowning. She had promised to help him out after all and she was supposed to wait on his list of who he wanted to know in what order, but maybe she could stall a bit. "Well, if we know the area I can narrow it down." Seeing both fathers look her way with hope in their eyes, Nabiki nodded, "Give me a few days, I'm sure I'll ferret him out in no time." Not much of a stall, but with the fathers she could probably bat them along for a while.
"You hear that Genma, this'll all be solved before we know it! We should celebrate." From there, Nabiki tuned them out as she stood to go use the phone. She had to at least look like she was making an effort.
However before she could fully get there Kasumi had her gently by the upper arm and was dragging her into the kitchen. On silent footsteps the older woman slid the door closed behind them both before turning to face the middle sister, "You already know where he is." It wasn't a question and the normal obliviousness was all gone from Kasumi's face.
Seeing she wasn't gonna lie to her sister, Nabiki nodded, "Yeah. Found him and had a talk with him a couple weeks back. I made him a promise to let him tell me what people could know where he was and what people to leave out of it." Sighing Nabiki crossed her arms under her chest, "Things have been busy, but apparently he's already somewhat resolved things with the amazons."
Kasumi nodded, "I figured as much when Shampoo stopped coming around." Taking a breath and turning back to the kitchen door, Kasumi nodded, "Please, for once. Take care of yourself too." No elaborating, Kasumi was already out the door and leaving her younger sister alone.
Unsure of what to make of that, Nabiki turned to the kitchen phone and dialed a number from heart. Waiting for the usual two rings, she was greeted with a cheerful woman on the other end, "Moshi moshi, Saotome residence."
"It's Nabiki oba-san. Can we talk?" She was already nervously twirling the phone cord around a finger.
"Ah, I guess the fathers and the other fiances say the news too hmmm?" Nodoka's voice was calming at least and that helped the younger girl.
Nodding though knowing Nodoka couldn't see her, Nabiki pressed on. "They're going to want to come find him now. Any idea what Ranma wants to do?"
"Actually I just got things settled and have something important here. So the Kuonji girl can know where he is, and after that then the fathers with Akane."
"Okay oba-san, I'll make it happen." Saying her goodbyes and hanging up, Nabiki was already planning how she was going to get this done without her sister somehow getting wind of it before she wanted her to. Not that her luck was usually that good. But she could definitely use it right now. Stepping away from the phone and heading to her room, she had some thinking to do. Behind her, Kasumi watched her quietly a thin frown on her own face as she wondered just when things had gotten so complicated.
At the top of the stairs Nabiki was once again stopped, this time by the youngest of the Tendo sisters. Angry at first glance, Nabiki was clued in that more was going on as the younger girl was not only shuffling in place but was also playing with her hands in an odd way. "Onee-chan, can we talk for just a second?"
"Sure Akane, what's up?" Curious as to the change in behavior but knowing better than let it show on her face, Nabiki did her best to keep up her ice queen persona.
"Well uh. Before you tell our fathers, if you do find Ranma. Could you let me go talk to him first, before them?"
Feeling like teasing was in order, Nabiki let a not so fake grin spread on her face. "Well well little sis, it really did just take some absence to make the heart grow fonder huh?" Chuckling at Akane's blushing, Nabiki couldn't believe her luck right now.
"Th-th-that's not it! I just want to pound him flat first before anyone else can get to him." Seeing her sister level a look at her that said everything she really didn't want to hear spoken out loud, Akane hung her head and nodded, "Okay. Fine. I want to talk to him first before the fathers get a chance to get in the way and mess things up. That's it."
Kind of happy to see her younger sister actually admit to something honest with her feelings, Nabiki had no problem nodding and making that promise to her, "Sure sis. Before the fathers can get to him, I'll make sure you get your chance. Kay? And look, won't even charge you for it." Grin becoming a full on smirk as Akane scoffed and walked away to her room, Nabiki thanked the kami that she hadn't overheard her phone call. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
The next day however was a Sunday, and by agreement from both his mother and most of his students, Ranma had decided to keep the dojo closed and instead stayed home and trained with his mother. Though ever since he had let Shampoo in on his plans, she had taken to joining them. Adept with weapons herself she made herself a great sparring partner during his sword practice. Currently the small backyard was fill with metal striking metal as Ranma and the amazon princess danced around each other in what to anyone else would be a dance of metal and death.
Clapping her hands together briefly, Nodoka called a pause for now, seeing Shampoo beginning to tire, "Let's take a lunch break. And Ranma, let me see that sword of yours." Smiling as her son obeyed her without question, she held the blade up to the light and inspected it's edge as both teenagers walked inside, grabbing offered towels on their way in and drying themselves of sweat. Frowning at the damaged edge and a rather large crack beginning to work its way up the spine of the blade, Nodoka should have realized he would reach this blade's limit so quickly. Turning back inside she herself took the blade and hung it on the wall next to the honor blade, "You've been using the blade in conjunction with your father's sealed techniques."
Nodding while sitting at the table Ranma had the decency to at least look chastised, "Well just the blade alone wouldn't be enough for youma, so I've been using it to generate vacuum blades. I didn't think it would wear out the sword this quickly though."
It was Shampoo however that spoke up, "But training blade made cheap. Not meant to withstand full strength and chi attacks. Lucky not break before now." Still happy to play at barely speaking passable japanese, Shampoo was still having her fun after all.
"Oh, oops?"
Sighing at the lack or thinking on her sons part, she however couldn't hold it to much against him, "Well, it's a little soon, but…" Reaching back with little ceremony Nodoka took the family blade from the wall and handed it slowly to a wide eyed Ranma. "Something that shouldn't have any trouble keeping up with you. Especially if you're going to keep up these late night activities." Wistfully sighing and holding a hand to her cheek, she smiled "If only your late night activities involving girls ended with me getting grand babies instead of mountains of dead monsters. I'd be much happier."
Raising a hand and grinning Shampoo gave a predatory grin to Ranma, "Don't worry honored mother, I'll get Ranma to change his focus soon enough." Though he knew she was both teasing and serious, he was hoping it leaned more on the teasing side at the moment.
"Oh to have such a wonder and dutiful future daughter. What more could a mother ask for." She knew what she could ask for, and Ranma knew it to by the look he was getting from her. "Now, you are in some trouble however. The rest of the Nerima group is going to be looking for you soon."
Confused on how that happened and really hoping that Nabiki hadn't sold him out like she promised she wouldn't, Ranma held up his hands in defeat, "But I didn't do anything this time."
"You were caught on camera dear. Fighting with the sailor senshi is bound to get attention. So, I've already let Nabiki know that we're ready for Ukyo to know, but she's mentioned that after that, Akane wants to meet with you before the fathers. Think you're up for that?"
"Gonna have to be. And I guess, I've put it off long enough." It had been a month and a half since he'd left Nerima. It sure felt like much longer though since his life had changed so much. Stability and some peace could definitely do a lot for someone's mental stability. "When should we be seeing Ukyo?"
"I know you're in there you jackass!" A scream of feminine rage filled the air that had all three people seated at the table blinking at the others.
"Guess that would be now. Let me go get her, and maybe we won't be repairing anything today." Ranma stood and walked to the front door, now not so sure he wanted to do this. But life had to go on and he had promised himself that he would work through his own problems. This was one of them, even if it started out as Genma's fault. "I owe dad an ass kicking to end all ass kicking when this is all over. So saying, he opened the door and greeted an irate looking Ukyo in casual clothes and thankfully, no battle spatula. "Hey Ucc-chan. Come on in, we uh, have a lot to talk about." It was going to be a busy day for sure. But Ranma decided if he could end it without it going to violence, he'd be pretty happy.
-AN
And we're going to end it here. Next chapter we'll see Ranma's hopeful resolution with Ukyo, and a surprise visit from Akane? And hey, who's this midget time traveler?
