Cologne watched as the eldest Tendo sister walked out the door of the restaurant after saying her goodbyes. The dear had been truly grateful for some pragmatic and helpful advice from an experienced elder. Said elder was wondering why her dear great-granddaughter had brought her obviously most dangerous rival for Son-In-Law's affections to her for help. Part of Cologne accepted Shampoo's explanation that such issues were minor compared to seeing to her husband's mental health. Her great-granddaughter was starting to leave the ways of girlhood behind her and was starting to adopt a proper matronly way of thinking.

Even so, Cologne was sure Shampoo had another motivation in bringing Kasumi to see her and discreetly giving the signal to not play any possible games with the outsiders. Cologne didn't often play games with outsiders as the younger generations called it these days. Her early experiences here had convinced her that honesty was the best course of action even if the Japanese like to be too indirect for her tastes. Shampoo knew that but had still given her the signal.

Shampoo's plan would become clear to Cologne soon enough. The young woman was clever and well trained. She just didn't have the centuries of experience that Cologne had. When Shampoo needed her help, she'd be there. Until then she had more than enough issues to deal with. The duck that had better talk when asked and then listen when told was currently at the top of Cologne's list of troubles.

The elder headed over to the cage Mousse had been stuffed in inside the storage closet and hid herself from his ability to detect her. Cologne slowly spread her senses out and found something she really wished wasn't there. Mousse was clearly using an old chi trick to keep his arm bones in place while trying to speed heal them. Part of Cologne wanted to be impressed at the boy's rather advance self-treatment. Mostly she wanted to wring his stupid neck for doing something so idiotically moronic. At least she didn't have to question the fool. The tradeoff was that she'd have to lambast him more over his stupidity.

Cologne moved so that Mousse could see her and she noticed him toning down the chi technique to act as an internal splint. Very impressive since she wouldn't know what he was doing if she had just come in after the shift in technique. So much talent and potential in the boy, yet he insisted on wasting it due to vanity and an unrequited desire. Drastic measures would have to be taken if the fool was to be salvaged for the tribe and especially for his relatives' sake. Cologne sent up a silent prayer to her ancestors that the scared straight program she had been regretfully working on for her unwanted ward would work.

A chill filled the air as Cologne used the Soul of Ice and let it cool the room. This wasn't something she did when scolding her charges and Mousse had the sense to notice. He also had the sense to pull out his glasses and wear them. Cologne spoke in a low chilling tone laced with a hint of killing intent. "You are one slip up away from a quick and permanent trip to the butcher shop boy. Listen and listen well to what I am about to tell you. It's all that stands between you living and me having to write a letter stating you ran off to find your fortune to your relatives in order to cover up you becoming some unsuspecting person's Peking Duck dinner."

The elder outwardly ignored Mousse relieving himself in fear. She did note that it seemed the cursed duck might have bought her act. Without easing up on the tension she continued. "I have tolerated your stupidity and foolishness out of respect for your family and the fact that you were carrying on in a shameful manner far beyond the sight of our people. Your parents and I were hoping that removing you from the village would allow others to forget your atrocious behavior so that we could reintroduce you without you bringing shame on everyone."

"By your actions you have repeatedly embarrassed me, shamed Shampoo, and dishonored your family. This was before you ventured to leave the village to chase after Shampoo. Look at this," She paused to pull out a letter with the seal of the head of Mousse's family. "This was sent to me after I reported taking you on as my ward here. The elders of your house have declared that if I certify your inability to reform then you will be cast out of your family and the tribe. Do you understand Mousse? If I sign my name on this document you will be an outcast denied any aid from anyone in the tribe. Moreover, it will be the duty of everyone in the tribe to drive you away or kill you if practical."

Mousse let out a squawk of horror and surprise. He quickly read the document Cologne had shown him and saw that she was telling the truth. Moreover, he glanced at the list of names witnessing the document and saw his own parents' names. He wondered how could this be. This had to be some sort of nightmare.

Cologne continued. "Your recent actions nearly forced my hand into signing this document. Breaking into a police station, indirectly aiding the Musk, and spreading libel about a member of the tribe after he saved your life. There's not much lower you can sink and still remain among the living boy. Officer Fielding would have been well within her rights to keep you and that pig-cursed fool locked in your curse forms instead of unlocking you."

"Even if I could ignore the dishonor your actions have brought there are larger considerations at play. The Party has lost face thanks to the Musk and their actions here in Japan. Beijing cannot do anything publicly given that mystical events are to be kept from the public eye. However, you can bet that there will be repercussions behind closed doors. Your connection to this event means that the repercussions might be directed at the tribe. If so, your butt is the first to go on the block for appeasement."

"I am willing to give you one final chance to get out of the pit you've dug for yourself provided outside forces don't call for your head. To stay alive and a member of the tribe you will do exactly as I say. Nod your head once to show that you understand." Once Cologne got the nod she continued. "First, you will cease any and all attempts to get Shampoo to commit adultery."

That cause Mousse to squawk in outrage. Cologne would have none of it and promptly slammed Mousse's beak closed with her fingers holding his mouth shut. "I said you are to listen and listen well fool! Shampoo is married and there is nothing that can change that fact. The only reason why you haven't been tried is because none of your attempts after Shampoo's marriage was verified happened in the village. If you had tried any of your usual shit after that verification there would be nothing your family or I could do to save you from serious and permanent consequences."

"Furthermore, you will cease all attacks on Ranma Saotome. The man is a part of the tribe now even if he does not want to admit it. Remember that a Joketsuzoku does not fight another Joketsuzoku outside of sanctioned combat! Attacks also include lying about him to outsiders or members of the tribe. Ranma is Shampoo's husband and not you. Accept this fact like a man and move on with your life."

"Finally, we will be taking you to a vet who is aware of the mystical and getting your arms set to heal properly. Trying to hide that you had broken your arms was stupid. You have probably messed your arms up given the do-it-yourself method you have been using to hide your injuries. Hopefully, your stupidity hasn't permanently crippled your abilities. That is for the vet to decide and you will stay in your cursed form until your wings are healed."

With that said, Cologne double checked the cage's lock and then left Mousse alone in the closet locking it shut. She hobbled over to the other side of the dining area of the restaurant and let out the sigh of frustration. Her eyes drifted to where she held that damned document and wished she could just throw it into the fire. Neither she nor Mousse's elders wanted the document to go into effect or had even wanted Mousse to know about.

Why did that foolish child insist on acting so? There was only so much they could do to help Mousse before he would be forced to face the consequences he was stubbornly courting. Once that stopped then Cologne and his elders could work to rehabilitate Mousse's status in the tribe. Maybe if she pushed the boy hard enough, she could get him to pursue a useful college degree? Having Mousse return in six or more years with a degree from a renowned institution of learning would bring honor to his family. It would also help to break people's memories of the reformed Mousse with the fool who left the village.

Ranma nervously walked into the dojo and saw Methos doing some warmups. He said, "Good afternoon, Principle."

Methos turned to look at Ranma and gave him an appropriate bow. "Good afternoon to you as well Ranma. How was it for your first day back at school?"

The young man looked down at the floor for a moment as he thought about the prior day. It had been tricky for him to go to school dealing with the questioning and in some cases accusing looks of his classmates. Ranma was used to being able to blow off the eyes of society. However, getting more involved with the students thanks to his after-school classes teaching them to deal with their curses made them harder to ignore.

Ranma looked up and said, "It was challenging. I do want to thank you for that announcement you made." At start of the school day Methos had used the school intercom to make an announcement. He stated that yes there was an incident in town which had cost several people their lives. There was also the fact that a student of the school was caught up in it. However, Furinkan was a place of learning and not gossiping or speculation. There was to be no talk about the incident, who might be involved, or how they might be involved on school grounds until after the police finished their investigations and made a public announcement. Anyone who broke this would have detention with him for a week.

Methos gave a disarming smile and said, "That was only me acting as a proper principle Ranma. People love to spread rumors that make it hard to decern the truth. This is especially true when police need to find the truth to insure justice. The fact that the police will not make an open public announcement given the nature of the incident keeping my gag order in effect is merely a convenient circumstance to help you."

The immortal reached down into the case by his side and drew his one-handed broadsword. He gave the sword a once over and then held it out so that the tip was pointed at Ranma. He then said, "Summon the Sword of Omens."

Ranma stared at the sword pointed at him and said, "What?"

There was an edge to Methos's voice as he continued. "You heard me Ranma. Summon the Sword of Omens. It is your principal weapon and the reason why you started learning HEMA styles of swordsmanship. Moreover, it is the weapon you used to kill Prince Herb and his retainer."

A guilty look crossed Ranma's face when Methos said that causing the immortal to dig deeper with his words. "Have you even summoned your blade since the attack? Do you think that by keeping your sword hidden from sight it will somehow undo what you've done? Or perhaps you think that if you avoid your weapon, you will be able to avoid being put in a situation where you'll have to kill again?"

Methos lowered his sword and took a step closer to Ranma. "I've tried that myself Ranma and I've seen others both fellow immortals of different types and regular people try. It only works for a time. Sometimes that period of time lasts long enough for a regular mortal to grow old and die never seeing another conflict."

"More often than not that period of time does not last as long as mortals hope. This is a certainty when it comes longer lived people or to people who live extraordinary lives compared to regular men. Someone like you or I fall into both categories Ranma. There will come a time, many times in fact if you continue to survive, where you will find yourself in a life-or-death situation. The life in question might be your own or someone you care about. At that time, you will need all the skill with the blade you can have."

Ranma seemed to faltering under what he was told. However, he tried to rebuff the argument by saying. "It was my sword that."

Methos cut Ranma off by raising his sword again to point at Ranma. "Don't give me that nonsensical 'it's the blade that kills' argument Ranma. That strand of thought crops up again and again as people try to shift responsibility for their actions. In fact, that particular variation of the argument arose here in Japan because of Samurai who wanted to claim they were good Buddhists while still going around loping off peoples' heads. You admitted the other day to me that you can punch someone's head off their shoulders without breaking a sweat. Are your fists somehow separate from you as a person?"

"This," Methos paused to raise his blade into the air and point at it. "Is simply a tool and nothing more. Its purpose is to make it more likely you and those you are defending survive combat by taking down your enemy. The manner of the take down can vary from knockout, maiming, or death depending on your objectives and your relative skill level verses the opponent. If you want to have a chance of coming out alive of a conflict and also ensuring your enemy survives you will need to be much more skilled than they are. The only way to get that skill is to practice. Now summon your sword and assume the first guard stance from the manual."

There was nervous hesitation radiating from Ranma. However, he took a few deep breaths and summoned the Gauntlet of Omens. Ranma grasped the hilt of the Sword of Omens within in scabbard as if it was flaming hot to the touch. For a moment the young man wanted pull his hand away from the hilt. Then Ranma realized that his blade was not on fire and slowly drew the Sword of Omens out. Ranma quietly said "Ho" to cause the Sword of Omens to extend to a longsword length. Ranma got into the stated stance and prepared himself for his first spar with a sword.

For the next hour Methos ran Ranma through his swordsmanship. The immortal was relentless as he drilled Ranma. This was so that Ranma moved past the trauma caused by his first kill and would lose the budding revulsion towards his sword. It was also to prepare Ranma for the next incident. Methos had seen it again and again over his long life. Once someone who lived in interesting times compared to regular mortals took a life their adventures seemed to take a more deadly tint. It had been centuries since Methos had taken on a pupil. Now that Ranma had ended up under his wing he was determine to see that the boy had a fair shot at surviving this world.

Methos suddenly held up his hand to signal a pause in the training. He turned to look towards the dojo's door with a frown. Ranma immediately stopped and turned to look at the dojo's door as well. The door soon opened to have Genma and Ami standing in the doorway with Ami in a training gi. Genma spoke up, "It's good to see you again Mr. Pierson. I'm also happy to see you starting on your swordsmanship again boy. Would the two of you mind shifting things so that Ami and I can also use the dojo?"

Both Ranma and Methos quickly agreed to the request so that both pairs could train. The first pair's training started winding down to cooling off exercises when Genma had Ami transform into Sailor Mercury. Methos glanced at that point between Ranma and Sailor Mercury with a briefly puzzled look on his face. Once Methos had finished his exercising he put his gear away. He then said his goodbyes and walked out of the dojo.

Snarf caught the immortal as he started on the path to the exterior gate. "Snarf, Oh Mr. Pierson. Can I have a moment of your time?"

Methos turned to look at the furry assistant and said, "Okay."

Snarf bowed his head and continued. "Thank you for helping Lord Ranma through this hurdle. I know how challenging this trial can be for anyone and its even more difficult for an unprepared person like Lord Ranma. This was not something I could help him with and I am grateful from the bottom of my heart that you were willing and able to help my lord."

That unexpected thanks touched the old immortal. Methos replied, "No problem Snarf. By the way, what were things like for Immortals of the Game before the fall?"

Snarf gave Methos an odd look and said, "That's the strange thing Mr. Pierson. During the time of the Silver Millennium and its prior iterations there were no 'Immortals of the Game'. The other extreme longevity methods people call 'immortality' today did exist and in roughly the same ratio compared to the regular population from what I have found out."

"I may not be a magical researcher, but I am interested in how a new method of immortality came about especially when it is so random. Perhaps when Lord Ranma has put in some efforts to rebuilding Thundera's biosphere you could visit the Cats Lair? The better medical sensors it has might help you find some clues."

Methos shook his head and replied, "I don't think so. Too many bad experiences with people wanting to 'investigate' how I and others became immortal. I would be up to a trip to visit Thundera. It is rare for me to have many completely new experiences."

Ukyo fought back the urge to curse as she ran out of Furinkan High. Principal Pierson had not been joking when he made that announcement yesterday. Ukyo had been overheard asking Ranma if he knew anything about the Incident and had found herself as one of almost 50 students who had to spend an hour in detention with the principal. That was the first detention she had ever had in her life and found the whole thing mortifying. Part of Uyko was scared of what would be said of her by the other girls tomorrow in school. This single detention might have her exiled to the delinquent social circles!

Who thought selecting Principal Pierson to replace Principal Kuno was a good idea? Okay, to be fair the new principal wasn't batshit crazy or roping the teachers into attacking the students while dressed in weird costumes. He also typically didn't issue ridiculous edicts just to punish the students with crazy penalties. However, when Principal Pierson made a rule, he apparently allowed no infractions which just wasn't fair. Major infractions she could understand, but not everyone could be perfect and so it was just common sense in her book to politely ignore minor slips. Especially for one so connected to the event in question.

Besides, when else was she supposed to check up on Ran-Chan other than at school? He wasn't coming over to her restaurant to talk about things like he should. It was very insulting that she had to find out about the incident several days after it occurred from the school gossip network rather than from Ranma himself. Ranma was supposed to come to her for help on these issues since she was the cute fiancée! Ukyo conveniently ignored the fact that getting Ranma to talk about anything that was bothering him was like pulling teeth.

Ukyo was pulled out of her thoughts by a painful scream of "Snarf!" She looked down and saw that her foot had landed on Snarf's tail. The girl leaped off of the little guy's tail and called out, "Sorry! I am so sorry Snarf."

There was a large envelop on the sidewalk by Snarf that he had obviously dropped to clutch his sore tail. Snarf looked up with a piteous look on his face. He then recognized who had stepped on him and said, "Oh Ukyo. It's good to see you again even if this isn't exactly how I would like to run into you."

The fact that he could seem somewhat cheerful even with his obvious pain made Ukyo feel half Snarf's height. She then blurted out, "Are you okay?"

Snarf nodded his head and replied, "I will be fine. Having someone step on my tail is much like having someone step on your foot. It can occasionally cause serious problems, but usually there is no serious problems unless someone was deliberately stomping."

Ukyo then said, "Come with me to Ucchan's. I can get you some pain meds and a quick snack as an apology." The look in her eye made it clear she would not accept no as an answer. Snarf picked up his envelope and followed Ukyo to her restaurant. He was quickly led up to the bar where Ukyo handed him some pain meds and a glass of water.

Snarf appreciated the gesture. However, Ukyo had forgotten that he wasn't a human. The problem with the meds she had given him was that the active ingredient in the brand gave snarfs prolonged diarrhea. Snarf was not interested in spending the rest of the day in the bathroom so he carefully palmed the med and made it look like he took it when Ukyo gave him a glass of water.

He continued to drink his water as Ukyo warmed up the grill and started to make something for him. What he was about to get he didn't know as Ukyo never asked him what he'd like as a snack. Snarf didn't complain or raise the issue because he felt doing so would be very tacky.

Ukyo started to talk as she made the apology treat. "Why hasn't Ranma come over here to talk to me? If he would just come here and talk, I wouldn't need to asked at school about his role in the incident. Now I'm stuck go to detention for the next week. Me in detention! How unfair is that? It's going to eat into my profit margins that's for sure."

As Ukyo continued to complain, Snarf quietly listened and took notes about what she said. Part of Snarf was annoyed that Ukyo was approaching the latest incident by how it affected her. He considering that to be tactless and juvenile. Both Kasumi and Shampoo were focusing on how they could help Lord Ranma cope with taking two lives. They even seemed to have decided to focus on working together instead of competing with each other from what Snarf and overheard and seen.

On the other hand, Snarf had to consider the fact that Ukyo seemed to be somewhat out of the loop with regards to Lord Ranma's situation. She did refer to it as the incident which he suspected wasn't just to be polite. There was also the fact that Ukyo was asking others questions about the fight showing a lack of knowledge about the situation that was almost a week old. Perhaps Ukyo might change her tune if she was told about things in detail.

Yet on his tail, it really wasn't Snarf's place to inform Ukyo about Lord Ranma's fight or its lethal consequences. Lord Ranma was a private person and would not be happy about him just blurting out his situation even if it was to a would-be paramour. Snarf might have ventured the information if he honestly thought doing so would be in Lord Ranma's best interest. The fact that Shampoo had found out and investigated things barely a day after the fight spoke against him volunteering the information.

It wasn't like Ukyo had come over this past week to check on Lord Ranma like Hiroshi and Daisuke. Those two had just heard Lord Ranma was caught in a major fight and wanted to know the details. Akane had done a great impression of a guard dog tearing into them for how casual they were acting before filling them in on the relevant details. Hiroshi and Daisuke had appropriately embarrassed over their behavior. They then had been let in to see Lord Ranma where the duo expressed their condolences and let Lord Ranma know that they were there to help him. Neither teen had the faintest clue how to help, but had promised Lord Ranma that he'd just have to say the word and they would jump to it.

Snarf accepted the apology treat that Ukyo gave him with a polite nod and continued his thinking while Ukyo vented in the background. The time that Hiroshi and Daisuke spent at the dojo from when they rang the bell to when they left was roughly ten minutes. If you considered where they lived and travel times their whole trip took maybe a half hour. Even if Ukyo needed a little more time to get to the dojo and wanted to spend more time talking to Lord Ranma it wouldn't take much more time then that. Couldn't she have spared an hour in the past week to check up on Lord Ranma?

Perhaps he could give her a chance? Snarf spoke up as he finished the last bite of the snack. "You know Ukyo, I just got back the results of a little research project I started concerning Lord Ranma's heritage and some very distant relatives. Would you be interested in joining me at the dojo while I share the results?"

Ukyo gave Snarf a brief glance as she worked at prepping some of her usual add ins for fast use in the dinner rush. "No can do Snarf. I've got customers coming and I need to be ready for them. Why don't you have Ran-Chan come and tell me the news himself? It would be great to hear it from him and it's been too long since he visited."

Snarf nodded his head in acceptance and then said, "I will let Lord Ranma know. However, I must be off and I wish you a good day." Snarf got down and made his way out of the restaurant. He just hoped that Ukyo was happy in the choice she had made when she truly realized what she had chosen.

Kasumi opened the window in her bedroom and looked up on the roof. She spotted a foot resting near the gutter and called out, "Ranma? Can we talk for a moment?"

The young man was lightly heard walking on the roof and then Ranma leaned down to look at Kasumi with his face upside down. Ranma looked at Kasumi and said, "You need something?"

A faint blush fought to appear on Kasumi's face given how their eyes were almost locked with each other. She took a step back and said, "Could you come in here please Ranma? I'd feel better talking with you if you weren't leaning over the roof."

"No problem. Just give me a clear shot and I will be inside in just a second." Kasumi cleared a path from Ranma and then watched as the twisted through the window and landed on the floor of her bedroom. It was a breathtaking feat of gymnastics that would have earned Ranma a gold medal in the Olympics had he been able to perform. It was known throughout the moonlight community that all 'super' powered athletes were unofficially banned from major international sporting events or even extremely popular sporting events in many areas.

A thought struck Kasumi that this was the first time that Ranma or indeed any young man had been in her room. That line of thought quickly realized that she and Ranma were alone in her room with the door shut which made her heart start to beat faster. Part of Kasumi why she was feeling like this when all she wanted to do was talk with Ranma. Another part of her thought about how just talking with Ranma these days had become more confusing for her even when she wasn't having to deal with the results of Ranma's fight with the Musk. Why were things becoming more complicated for her?

Kasumi shoved those thoughts to the side and focused on what she wanted to talk to Ranma about. She said, "I wanted to ask how you are doing with Snarf's report from dinner?"

Snarf had announced at dinner that he had gotten a report back from the private detective he had hired to look into the Line of Towa for a clue to the location of the Bakusaiga and a possible link to the reborn Sailor Saturn. The report showed that the daughter who married into the Tomoe clan at the end of the Bakumatsu had children before she died. Moreover, her line lived on to the present day. There were several dozen living descendants spread across half a dozen different families throughout Japan.

The direct male line in the Tomoe family went to a Dr. Souichi Tomoe who was a young physics professor at Mugen Academy's university section of the escalator school. Somewhat young for his position. Professor Tomoe did meet the academic criteria when the last professor had to resign for family reasons and the Tomoe family was the major owner of the private academy. The man had a wife named Keiko and a 9-year-old daughter name Hotaru. Professor Tomoe was the head of the Tomoe Clan and the one most likely to either possess Bakusaiga or have the records for when the sword left his clan.

This news had set off a furious debate at the dinner table about whether or not they should make contact with Professor Tomoe to try and find Sailor Saturn. There was also the question of how such contact should be made if they went through with it. Dinner had ended with tons of ideas tossed around and no decisions made.

Kasumi continued her questioning. "I noticed that you were rather silent on the matter at dinner. Do you have any thoughts Ranma? I'd like to hear your opinion."

Having people ask for his opinion wasn't something Ranma was really used to having done. Sure, Snarf asked his opinion on a lot of things. The little guy was an exception given that he placed himself mainly as Ranma's servant. Ranma sighed and said, "I don't know Kasumi. In all honesty I've not really given it much thought."

"Oh?" This wasn't the answer Kasumi was expecting. "Why haven't you given it much thought Ranma?"

Ranma replied, "I've got too much on my plate right now. There are still a number of students who haven't gotten their emergency training down to acceptable levels. That should be clear in two more weeks or so. Then there's that fight with the Musk that I'm still trying to get my head on straight from. I know, I know, that's going to be a work in progress for a very long time. Doesn't change the fact that I am only just starting to function reasonably well or interact with regular people. That's regular people by on the sidelines of the crazy misadventures in the city people standards in Nerima. I think a typical Japanese person who met me on the street would turn around and pretend the meeting never happened."

The young man clammed up just as he was about to continue. Kasumi knew that something else was eating at Ranma, but that he didn't want to talk about it. Her upbringing told her to let the matter rest to maintain the Wa of the household. However, Cologne's advice rang in her ears as she remembered what the elder had shared with her to help Ranma. Kasumi gathered her courage together and dared to break the harmony in order to help Ranma.

She softy said, "Ranma you do not have to be strong around me. When we're alone you can share whatever is bothering you with me. I won't judge you or think less of you for anything you might say. A person cannot shoulder their burdens all the time and they shouldn't even try. Let me keep watch and listen while you take a break from your struggles."

Ranma slumped to the floor and his eyes grew misty. Kasumi knelt down beside Ranma and wrapped her arms around him as he whispered. "I don't even know my mother. I thought she was dead until Pops visited her like a month ago without me. Distant family seems to pop out of the woodwork, but not my mom. Why am I closer with my aunt then her? I can't even remember her face. Why didn't she come and help me during this trial?"

At that point Ranma broke into quiet sobs and said no more. The couple shifted slowly as Ranma cried so that Kasumi could comfort him better. A part of Kasumi was embarrassed as she maneuvered Ranma so his head was resting in her lap. She was also happy that Ranma trusted her enough to be this vulnerable around her. This was how she could help him. Trying to stand by him in an adventure would be a nice daydream, but that was not her lot in life. Shampoo could claim that honor. Kasumi would help Ranma when the adventure was over and he needed someone to be there for him.