A Scary Thought

by Derekloffin

What happens when Kasumi is the one coming back from a training trip rather than Ranma? Well, read on to find out. Chapter 33 new content not on my webpage yet.

34. Chapter 34: Conspiracies

Ranma ½

A Scary Thought:

What happened last time: A confrontation between Kasumi and Copy-cat Ken went awry as Kasumi was possessed by the Dark Ha Do then kidnapped, despite the best efforts of her friends and suitors to stop the kidnappers. Sailor Moon is also in the clutches of our kidnappers. Meanwhile, Lemon is scheming once more, but this time it looks like Ukyo is her target.

Chapter 34

Usagi's reawakening to the world was not a pleasant one. Her neck was complaining bitterly, and she felt like she had stepped into one of those expressionist paintings she never understood.

What happened? Usagi thought as she continued to lay where she was, not daring to open her eyes for fear of being overwhelmed by her chaotic senses. I remember chasing that man and... Usagi continued to think but her memories soon failed her. Something had clearly happened, but what.

Finally after a moment of continued rest, the fog on her mind cleared enough for her to risk a look. Opening her eyes, at first all she saw was darkness, but her eyes adjusted and she found herself in what looked to be a darkened hospital room, on a bed. She turned her head around, examining the room, and confirming it was as she first thought, and then, turning the other way, stopped cold at seeing Mamoru, apparently asleep at her bedside in a chair. "Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked, awakening him.

"Usako?" Mamoru asked, and noticing her eyes opened smiled. "We were getting worried about you."

Usagi sat up with Mamoru's help. "What... Why are you here? How did I get here?"

"You got blind-sided by one of those people you were chasing," he explained. "The others managed to rescue you, but when I heard you were hurt, I had to come."

"Oh," Usagi said and held the back of her head and laughed nervously. "That wasn't too smart of me, was it?"

"It all worked out," he replied with an easing smile, and in what Usagi found an unexpected move, he gently took a hold of her by the chin and kissed her. It didn't take long for her to return this kiss, and not long after that before the two her in a passionate embrace. Finally, after a minute or so, they separated. "I missed you."

"Me too," Usagi admitted, and gave into that feeling to just hug her future husband. They stayed like that for another minute, Usagi's eyes closed as she just enjoyed it while it lasted. However, after only a few more seconds the door to the room opened, causing Usagi to look and see someone totally unexpected.

"Hey Odango. Long time no see."

Usagi stared on in shock. "Sei... Seiya?"

XXXXX

It was now the third day since Kasumi's disappearance. News of the unusual events at the beach had spread quickly prompting a lot of questions. For Saki's part, at first she just dismissed it all as some of the usual craziness that surrounded this place. However, when Usagi too never showed up, and the last known place she was seen was that same beach, things got a bit more serious. When the disappearance went from a few hours to days, Saki suddenly realized this wasn't just the usual.

"Where is that bastard Kyoichira?" Saki yelled as she kicked in the door to one of the upper office areas of the police agency she worked for.

"Ah, Saki, how good of you to pay us a visit," Kyoichira replied calmly from a nearby desk. "However, I may have to charge you for that door."

"Shut up!" Saki exclaimed as she marched over to his desk, ignoring the many other officials giving her a variety of looks. "Both Kasumi and Usagi were kidnapped, and you haven't even contacted me! Why am I out of the loop?"

"Calm down, Saki," Kyoichira cautioned in a more serious tone. "We were still in the process of piecing things together ourselves. I was going to call you in shortly, actually, but since you were so kind as to come here yourself..." Getting up, Kyoichira motioned for Saki to follow him.

"What the heck is going on?" Saki asked, her earlier anger now checked.

"Like I said, we're still trying to piece that together. In here," he directed, opening a door to one of the briefing rooms. Saki entered to see a woman inside studying something being projected on a screen. "Saki, this is agent Chun Li, of Interpol," Kyoichira introduced, and Chun Li turned briefly to nod and smile in greeting to Saki.

"Hi... wait, Interpol?"

"Yes," Chun Li replied. "We'll get to why I'm here in a minute. First, you might want to see this," she said, moving back to the projector computer and resetting it to run from the start. As she did Saki leaned against one of the desks to watch the screen.

"Thankfully, the area where the kidnapping took place had some security cameras nearby," Kyoichira explained. "We pulled the footage and enhanced it as best we could. This is what you're looking at."

Saki nodded and studied the screen. There, Kasumi appeared to be standing out in the water, facing off with Ukyo, and talking although the file lacked sound. "Is she-"

"Walking on water, yes, as crazy as that sounds," Kyoichira said. "And that person on shore she's talking with is actually a boy named Ken, Copy-cat Ken."

"I've heard of him. Lots of the students have been talking about him," Saki said, but despite her knowledge was still surprised to see how convincing the boy was in his disguise.

"In any case, this isn't the important part. Fast forward a bit would you."

"Right," Chun Li said with a nod, and skipped forward till Kasumi could be seen manifesting a dark aura.

"What the devil is that?" Saki asked as she looked closer but for the moment received no answer. As the video continued, Saki watched as Kasumi went berserk on Ken until at last the others restrained her.

"Here it comes," Chun Li said as she joined the pair near the screen.

Within seconds the two attackers appeared, and their brief confrontation with those on the beach played out. As Saki watched, the female was particularly interesting, not so much because she was firing missiles, but because she bore an uncanny resemblance to the woman next to her. Finally the film paused at the end, and Saki turned to the others, looking for answers.

"She could be my twin, couldn't she," Chun Li said first.

"Twin huh?" Saki replied skeptically.

"Before you get too suspicious there, Saki, Ms. Li here has a solid alibi. She was in Paris at the time at a conference, with several hundred witnesses, and even security footage," Kyoichira explained.

"And, I'm actually an only child, so despite appearances, she can't be my twin," Chun Li added and moved back to the computer to bring up two stills of the attackers. "As for her partner in crime, I know him too. His name is Charlie Nash. Or rather, I should say, it was Charlie, as the real Charlie is dead. I identified his... remains, personally."

Saki puzzled at this and looked at the screen. "So, what the devil is going on then?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out," Chun Li said as she too returned to examining the image. "Obviously, when they ran my doppelganger's image thru the system, I came up as a match, and that's why I'm here. I took the first flight over the moment they confirmed that I wasn't involved. Needless to say, it's quite the mystery."

"And what about Usagi?" Saki asked.

"She's on the tape too, in the crowd. She leaves just a few seconds after the male there ran off with Kasumi. Our assumption is she tried to help out in some way. Maybe she followed him back to where ever they're holding Kasumi. However, since we have no word from her, we have no idea what actually happened to her. On the bright side, no bodies have shown up in the morgue."

Saki frowned at hearing this, both grateful for the news, but at the same time realizing just how serious the situation was. "So, you don't think she was a target?"

"Doubtful. Neither of our attackers paid any heed to her. I would assume she was an incidental target. We can only hope that means they'll let her go if they have her, or that she'll show up safe on her own. However, while we're on the subject of other targets, it's quite clear that this Shampoo was also a target. Thankfully they didn't manage to get her, but they may try again."

Kyoichira nodded. "We already have her under surveillance."

"Good, but somehow I doubt your officers will be able to protect her if these two show up again," Chun Li added then sighed.

After a moment of silence, Saki became frustrated. "Is that it? Don't you guys have anything? Kasumi and Usagi could be in real danger here."

"Oh, I'm sure of that," Chun Li replied and leaned back against a desk to look at her two companions. "So, just how bizarre do you want to get?"

"I go to school with a guy that thinks snow globes are the key to the universe. Try me," Saki replied.

Chun Li nodded with a slight smile. "Alright. Let's start from the top. Have you ever heard of Shadowloo?"

"I have," Kyoichira answered. "They were a drug cartel, right? I heard they were taken down though, not too long ago."

"That's the official line, yes," Chun Li said with a nod. "In truth, Shadowloo was far more than a mere drug cartel. They were into smuggling, slave trade, gun running, and just mayhem of every variety you could think of. They were darn powerful at one time. My own father was killed by them."

"Sorry," Saki said but Chun Li waved it off.

"It's in the past, but that is the reason I came to know them. Ever since that time it was my goal in life to take them down. A few years ago I tied up with Charlie Nash. He was also investigating them on his own accord. Together we got pretty deep in, and started to see just what Shadowloo was really about.

"You see, about that time, they were out acquiring various high level martial artists. Some were mercenaries, some kidnapped and brainwashed, and others... well, we'll get to that. It seemed kind of strange to us at the time. That is until we found out about Shadowloo's leader and his true objectives. His name was M. Bison. The guy was a megalomaniac, determined to eventually have the whole world in his power. Sounds totally crazy, even to us at the time, but the frightening thing was, he actually was getting very close to his goal. The martial artists were just part of his plan.

"This guy wasn't normal. He had his own power. He called it psycho power. It was a brutal form of energy manipulation. Normal people he could kill with a touch. Even martial artists at your level wouldn't last long. But, even that wasn't enough for him. He actually built a large complex designed purely to refocus his powers, and with that, he was near invincible, and worse still, he could use the complex as a weapon's platform. He called it the Psycho Drive. We figure there was enough firepower in it to level a city the size of Tokyo in seconds."

Saki and Kyoichira looked shocked at this. "You have to be kidding?" Kyoichira said. "Why haven't I heard about this?"

"Two reasons, one they didn't want a worldwide panic, and two we managed to take the thing out before he could put it to use," Chun Li replied. "Charlie and I found the place not long after it was completed, but Bison apparently was missing one important component, and that's where our martial artists come in. He was looking for a person who could drive the weapon with their own power. The others he either used as goons, or experiments. Thankfully, together with a friend of Charlie's, named Guile, we managed to take the place out, but Charlie had to stay behind to hold Bison. He didn't make it out.

"We thought that was the end of him, but then, about a year later, myself and a bunch of the other martial artists he apparently had troubles with got letters of invitation to a street fighting tournament. Turned out the bastard was still alive somehow and running the tournament. Guile and I decided to enter to try and track him down and take him out for good. Along the way, with the help of some of the other fighters, we smashed up most his organization and then Guile and I managed to hunt him down. We fought him to a standstill but he retreated. Only one of us could go after him, which I think was his plan. Guile had his family to think about so I volunteered."

"And you took him out?" Saki asked but Chun Li shook her head.

"Wish I could take credit for it, but no. I managed to finally catch up to him, and we exchanged a few rounds, but then... this guy I've never seen before just comes out of no where demanding Bison fight him instead. I have learned since then that his name was Gouki, but often goes by the name Akuma. He was inhumanly powerful. I've never quite seen the like, even when Bison was at his strongest. Clearly Bison felt the same and tossed me aside to fight him. Match didn't last long though. Akuma killed him with barely any effort then left without another word."

Chun Li paused a long moment to let them absorb this. "Now, let me connect a few dots for you. First of all, we had very good reason to believe Bison was dead the first time around, namely his remains. Sure they were beat up badly, but still recognizable. When we ended up with a second body it was quite confusing, more confusing still when we found them to be genetically identical.

"Doesn't end there though. One of Bison's little experiments was one Cammy White. She acted for a time as one of his assassins, but more importantly she too shows an incredible genetic similarity to Bison."

Saki puzzled over this. "A woman?"

Chun Li nodded. "Yep. Looking into it a bit further, we found a number of girls he had been tinkering with. Many of them had genetic modifications, and many were manifesting various aspects of the same psycho power he used. Cammy, however, was the height of the experiment. While the others were kidnapped, as near as we can tell Cammy is completely artificial. For some reason he had a fascination with getting these girls to use the psycho power. Our best guess from analyzing his remains and them is that the psycho power he uses is very hard on a male body, but a female body is far more tolerant to it. We know his own power, although formidable, wasn't enough for the Psycho Drive. We figure he was trying to make himself a fighter capable of powering the Psycho Drive, modeling them after himself."

"He was trying to bioengineer a human battery?" Saki said in disgust.

"Sure seems like it. However, the experiment never really reached a conclusion. Whatever he was attempting, Cammy and the others only ever manifested limited power. They never had the potential to power the drive. Hard to say why. Probably, they were failures.

"And of course, that leads us to our last thing, Akuma. Akuma utilizes a technique known as the Dark Ha Do."

"Dark Ha Do?" Saki echoed in confusion, but quickly remembered the early part of the video. "Kasumi was using that, wasn't she?"

"I'm pretty sure she was. We have pretty good intelligence that another fighter, Ryu, also could use the Dark Ha Do. In fact, it was about the time that Ryu really came on the scene that Bison took quite an interest in him, so much so in fact he ended all his experiments with the girls, and even ordered Cammy's termination. Putting the pieces together, it seems he wanted Ryu as his power source."

Kyoichira shook his head. "I don't like where this is going. You mean to say this whack job may be trying to use Kasumi as a battery in some kind of super weapon?"

"Sure sounds like it, doesn't it," Chun Li replied.

"But, you said he was killed," Saki pointed out.

"True, but that's what we thought the first time too. And in truth, up till today I pretty firmly believing he was dead myself. Shadowloo, after his second death, pretty much collapsed into nothingness. There hasn't been a peep to suggest they are back, that is until now."

Chun Li returned to the computer and punched up a new screen. "A couple months back, there was a robbery at a genetic research facility, Gen-U-Tech. The only thing they took was a cloning accelerant. It was pretty weird so it was flagged by Interpol to look into, and until now I haven't really thought much about it. I wrote it off as some corporate espionage, but one property of this agent is it stains the pigments of any biological material it is used on. The result is a clone that is very dark stained, just like our two mystery attackers."

"So, you think they're clones?" Kyoichira asked and Chun Li nodded. "But why you and Charlie?"

"Who knows. If it is Bison behind this, maybe this is his sick way of getting back at us. It was us that were primarily responsible for the destruction of his weapon. But, the fact that it is us and really the only thing we really had in common was Bison, strongly suggests Shadowloo is involved. We know they had just the sort of know how to make clones. On top of that the accelerant suggests that these two are very recent productions. Gen-U-Tech claims that accelerant could make a full grown human clone in a matter of months, but of course they have never tried it, which is a totally different issue."

"Clones or not, I kinda doubt a normal clone can fire missiles," Saki pointed out, gaining a nod from Chun Li.

"Or turn invisible," Chun Li added. "Clearly they've been augmented in some manner. Still, even that I wouldn't put past Shadowloo science. They've done some pretty twisted stuff to people. Making them into cyborgs seems right up their alley."

Saki nodded then slipped into thought. "I still don't get how he could have lived. The first time, he could have put some clone in his place and escaped while you weren't aware, but the second time, you saw him die yourself, didn't you?" Saki asked

Chun Li nodded. "Very true, and exactly what I thought. Listen, I'm not saying it is Bison. Maybe it is just some wannabe using some Shadowloo tech that he or she got their hands on, but this whole thing has Bison's stink all over it."

"And that Psycho Drive, did he have another one?" Kyoichira asked.

Chun Li shook her head and shrugged. "That's the big question, isn't it? If he is after Kasumi as a power source, logically he has something to plug her into. Thing is, we looked high and low for any signs of another one of those things, and I don't just mean physically. We checked every paper trail Shadowloo had and nothing suggested another one of those Psycho Drives exists. And, we're not talking a small gun here. That complex was huge and expensive. It seems highly unlike that he could completely conceal a second one's construction."

"Highly unlikely, but not impossible," Kyoichira added, and Chun Li was forced to nod in agreement.

A moment of silence passed between the threesome, letting everyone absorb what they had heard. "This Ryu," Saki finally said, "I've heard that name. I think Sakura talks about a Ryu."

"Yes, and they are one in the same," Chun Li replied. "It was actually, partially thanks to Sakura, that Ryu managed to get away from Bison."

"So, he did get to Ryu then?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure on the details. They didn't seem too important at the time as we had taken the Drive out already when I found out. So, she's part of this class of yours?"

"Yes. We should talk to her," Saki suggested and the others nodded.

"Right, and this Ken fellow. I think, by looking at the video, that he was just incidental himself, but anything could help. Right now, we have some suspicions, but nothing concrete, and no real leads I'm afraid. The only thing we do have is a whole lot at stake. If there is another Psycho Drive out there, I don't need to tell you how dangerous such a thing could be."

XXXXX

"Now Ranma, you know I can't let you in there," Dr. Tofu cautioned as he blocked Ranma's access to Copy-cat Ken's hospital room.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't pound that S.O.B. into a fine paste?" Ranma demanded, his anger all too obvious. "Kasumi's missing because of him! I know he's involved!"

"Calm yourself, Ranma," Cologne said as she hopped up the hallway. "Letting your anger get the best of you will not find Kasumi. Nor will it mend my great granddaughter's wrist." Ranma glowered, but finally calmed himself enough just to huff and turn away. Satisfied, Cologne turned to the doctor. "How is the young man? I heard he had awakened."

"He had, but his resting right now. He has several broken bones, and a great deal of bruising, not to mention a fairly nasty concussion. It is hard to believe that Kasumi is responsible for such injuries," the doctor replied. "I suppose you want to ask him about what happened."

"Yes," Cologne replied.

The doctor nodded, eyeing Ranma cautiously. "You and many others. He doesn't seem to have made any friends around here. Herb was also by earlier and I thought I might end up in a fight with him. Plus, I had to forbid Frost from coming up her once she found out what happened to Shampoo."

"Good judgment," Cologne said in complement.

"How is Shampoo?" Ranma asked at last.

"It was simply a minor fracture, more painful than serious. She'll still need to wear that brace for another week or so though," the doctor answered with a confirming nod from Cologne. That did little to ease Ranma's mood though.

"That jerk!" Ranma exclaimed and slammed his fist into his palm before noticing another person coming into the hall. It took him a second, but then his eyes went wide in recognition. "THAT'S HER!"

"Hmh?" Cologne said as she turned to see a Chinese woman approaching them. "Her who?"

"That's the one that was with the guy, I'm sure of it!" Ranma quickly explained, and move to challenge the newcomer.

"Ah, you're Ranma, right?" The woman asked as she came to a halt.

"That's right! What have you done with Kasumi?"

"Nothing," she replied. "My name is Chun Li, and despite appearances I'm not who you think I am."

"Oh no?" Ranma said, not believing a word of it, but found Cologne at his side.

"Ranma, you said your attackers had dark skin. It is quite clear this woman's complexion is normal."

"She must have been wearing some sort of face paint," Ranma suggested, but already his certainty had diminished.

"And her hair as well?" Cologne pointed out, stumping the boy for a moment and allowing Cologne a moment to speak directly to Chun Li. "You will understand that we've had many difficulties of late with imposters so I am willing to hear your side of things."

Chun Li nodded. "Glad to hear it. I'm with Interpol and here investigating my doppelganger's appearance. I was actually in Paris at the time of this attack."

"Paris you say?" Cologne echoed, but sensed no deception from the woman. "I believe her."

"What?" Ranma exclaimed, but a hard look from the elder cut off any further protest.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Chun Li said with a slight bow to the elder. "May I ask what other imposters have been running about?"

"A couple of weeks ago, someone came to Frost in the guise of my great granddaughter, Shampoo. However, unlike your imposter, this one was very convincing and did not show such a difference in skin tone," Cologne explained. "And, of course, we have Ken here, who-"

"Is probably the same person," Ranma grumbled.

"I don't think so. I already asked Shampoo, and she said Ken required some sort of cloth to transform himself. The shape changer who took Shampoo's form required nothing."

Ranma looked at Cologne in puzzlement. "How do you know that?"

"There was a witness to the imposter's transformation," Cologne replied evasively. Ranma opened his mouth to question her further but quickly realized that she had deliberately omitted the person's name and wasn't about to give it out.

Chun Li nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, I may not be your kidnapper, but she definitely is someone of interest and I'm more than willing to give you all my aid in finding her and our two missing girls. I was hoping to question this Ken fellow, but I see there is a line-up."

"Indeed," Cologne noted.

"You're his doctor, right?" Chun Li asked Tofu and gained a nod in response. "Did you run any blood works up on him?"

"Blood works? Yes, just precautionary," Tofu replied.

"Have you got the results?"

The doctor nodded, and briefly entered Ken's room to retrieve the chart. Once back out he examined it. "I didn't see anything to be worried about-"

"I'm more interested if you found any drugs or such in his system?" Chun Li asked, and the doctor reexamined the chart.

"There was something, a foreign chemical of some kind that the lab couldn't identify at the time. I had them run another test to see what it was, but by that time it was gone from his system. It could be anything, even a lab error."

"Can I see?" Chun Li asked, and Tofu handed over the paper with the analysis. "Hmm, not much here to go on, but it is similar to something I've seen before."

"And what is that?" Cologne asked.

"A stimulant... very potent stimulant. You see, we have our suspicions that a criminal organization may be involved in Kasumi's kidnapping. Although it may be hard to believe, they are known for very advanced genetics work, including cloning. One particular experimental agent they were working on could induce a berserker like rage in anyone it was given to. This looks like it could be a derivative of the same substance."

The conclusion from this was obvious to all those present. "So, you're saying that's may be why Ken started getting so aggressive?" Ranma asked.

"It could be, assuming it works the same way. Just a few drops of the stuff they were testing would have lab rats literally climbing the walls and foaming at the mouth."

"And Kasumi too?" Ranma asked.

"It is plausible it was used on both combatants. No way to be sure, of course," Chun Li conceded, handing the paper back to the doctor.

"It would certainly fit with Kasumi's unusual behavior and aggression," Cologne replied and went into thought.

"Doctor, did you find any injection points? This stuff I'm thinking of has to be administered directly into the blood stream."

"Yes actually, on his neck, but it didn't look like your typical injection mark, more like a pin prick. There was some inflammation around it, and that's part of the reason I had the blood work done," the doctor replied.

"Hmm, the day Frost went on her little rampage, I recall Kasumi having such a wound as well," Cologne noted. "She had fainted mysteriously earlier that same day, but described to me feeling almost as if she was being overcome. She said it was as if her blood was boiling in her."

"You didn't mention this before," Ranma pointed out.

"I did not wish to alarm Shampoo. I had thought it was perhaps some after effect of the energy field she used in fighting Ukyo and would pass. Now I see that it may have been used to induce her to use the energy," Cologne explained. "Our enemy appears to be able to remain hidden from sight in some manner. They could have used this stealth to administer this drug in secret."

"Then, when Kasumi went nuts in the forest, that may have been them too!" Ranma pointed out, but Cologne shook her head.

"No, that time Kasumi had no such injury. I was quite thorough in examining her after the fight and noted no mark of that kind on her. It is possible it was someplace hidden, but given that they do not seem to care to hide the mark, I doubt they would have bothered that time. No, that, unfortunately, was purely due to Kasumi's other personality."

"Other personality?" Chun Li asked.

"Kasumi has a feral personality, one induced by her fear of cats which effectively turns her into a cat herself. She has remarked to me that her cat personality is little restrained, and even without this drug acts in a very aggressive fashion."

"Hmm, interesting," Chun Li replied as she began thinking.

"Okay, this is great and all, but this doesn't tell us where Kasumi is!" Ranma finally pointed out in some frustration.

"I doubt talking to Ken will reveal anything," The doctor pointed out. "When he awoke a few hours ago he was very shocked at his own actions. I think he was simply a victim here. He didn't know anything about any kidnapping."

"I suspected as much," Chun Li replied with a frown of disappointment then turned to Ranma. "If it is of any reassurance, this is our top priority at the moment. I wish I could go into more detail, but without further evidence I'm afraid I can't."

Ranma huffed. "I still don't trust you, lady."

"All the more reason for me to find this imposter to prove my innocence in this matter," Chun Li responded, and giving everyone a slight bow headed out.

Ranma watched her leave with a frown then turned to Cologne. "Isn't there anything we can do? How about Frost, doesn't she have some fancy magic to find Kasumi?"

"Actually, she does," Cologne replied. "Unfortunately, our enemies also seem to have anticipated this. Her spell is being blocked in same manner. I'm afraid there are no easy solutions here." At hearing this, Ranma hung his head in defeat. "You should return home, Ranma. By some means, we will find Kasumi. It is just a matter of being patient until something reveals itself."

Ranma looked up at the elder, but couldn't argue with the logic. He was spinning his wheels here. Even though he didn't fully trust Chun Li, he had to admit she didn't give him the same feel as those two dark skinned people, and if Cologne thought she wasn't involved, she probably wasn't. So, there was nothing to do but wait for something to come up.

Finally, with a reluctant nod, Ranma turned and headed out himself. However, as he left, he did have one thing in mind. Next time I run into that bastard, I'm going to be prepared, he thought and set off for home.

XXXXX

"Shadowloo? Haven't heard that name in a while," Sakura said as she put aside her school work to look at Saki.

"So, you do know them. I was told you were there when they tried to capture Ryu," Saki said.

"Yeah. I had hooked up with this guy named Dan. He's a pompous, arrogant idiot, but he was a free ticket to see the world and get into some decent action, so I tolerated him. I was looking for Ryu, you see. I was hoping to get him to train me. Didn't turn out like I expected, though. I caught upto him in Thailand just as he had gone off to find this Shadowloo of yours. I followed after him and saw him in some kind of fight with a big lunatic calling himself Bison.

"But, it wasn't a regular type of fight. It's like... I never seen anything like it before. Bison just stood there... well floated actually, but either way, he wasn't doing a thing, and Ryu just seemed to be falling over, almost like he was losing his mind. Then this other guy, Sagat, showed up looking for a fight with Ryu too. He must have been working for Bison at the time, but he didn't like what Bison was doing and tried to stop him. I jumped in at about that point to help out. But, it was weird. It was like Ryu was possessed."

"Possessed?" Saki echoed. "How do you mean?"

"Well, like he wasn't himself," Sakura replied, frowning as she tried to find the words.

"Like he had gone berserk?"

Sakura shook her head. "No, he was attacking us, but not like he had lost control. No, it almost seemed like that Bison guy was controlling him. It took us a while to get Ryu back to his senses."

"And what was Bison doing this whole time?"

Sakura shrugged. "Didn't have much time to pay attention to him while trying to fend off Ryu. Come to think of it, I don't think he did anything. Just watched the whole thing. When Ryu finally came back to himself then he attacked us, but Ryu easily beat him back."

Saki lowered her head in thought. "If he wanted Ryu so badly, why didn't he enter the fight too? Makes no sense."

"Maybe whatever he was doing to Ryu took all his attention," Sakura suggested.

"Maybe," Saki conceded. "You happen to know anything else, anything recent?"

Sakura shook her head quickly in response, but then paused. "Actually, there were those thugs the other day."

"Thugs?"

"Yeah, a bunch of them jumped me and Karin while we were having a match. I thought they were after Karin, but now that you bring up Shadowloo, I wonder," Sakura replied in thought, and noticing Saki's confusion explained. "While I was off on those trips around the world, Shadowloo did send some thugs looking for me then too. I managed to get away from them. Never did find out what they wanted from me. If Shadowloo is on the loose again, maybe I was the target, not Karin."

"That could be. Have you ever used this Dark Ha Do?"

"Dark Ha Do," Sakura repeated, suddenly nervous. "God no. Ryu said never to dabble in that stuff. Besides, just because you can use the Ha Do doesn't mean you can use the Dark Ha Do. Dan has a bit of Ha Do power, and he can't. Neither can Ken, not that Copy-cat Ken guy, I'm talking Ryu's old sparring partner. I've never used it either."

Saki nodded in understanding. "Still, logically, if you can use the Ha Do, you can potentially use the Dark Ha Do, right?"

"Logically," Sakura conceded. "You think that's why they wanted me?"

"Perhaps," Saki answered but sighed. "But, this isn't getting me any closer to Kasumi or Usagi."

"Wish I could be more help," Sakura said with a sigh of her own. "If you do find those jerks, count me into whatever beating you want to lay on them."

"I'll keep that in mind," Saki said with a departing wave and left the room, a frown locked on her face.

"Shadowloo huh," Kitsune suddenly said from the side, startling Saki.

"What... were you eavesdropping?"

"Of course," Kitsune replied with a smile. "Nothing goes on around this school without me knowing about it... save maybe this," she said with a frown, but quickly shook it off and looked back at Saki. "So, you Yakuza types looking to start a gang war with Shadowloo? Come on, give me the inside scope!"

"How many times must I tell you, I'M NOT YAKUZA?" Saki exclaimed, but Kitsune was undeterred.

"Surrrre..."

Throwing her arms up in frustration, Saki started to march out. However, after only a few steps, Saki pulled herself up short as a thought hit her and looked back at Kitsune. "So, Kitsune, you have any theories on this?"

"Theories?" she repeated in excitement at the attention. "I always have theories."

"Good, so, why don't you tell me one, involving Shadowloo."

"Shadowloo... hmm," Kitsune mumbled as she apparently was stumped. Saki was about to give up when Kitsune suddenly brightened. "You know, that just could relate to my Illuminati theory."

"Illuminati theory?" Saki repeated, and followed as Kitsune directed her into their shared room.

Inside, Kitsune rummaged thru her closest, a rather messy affair of papers, cameras, tapes and other assorted goods, little of it to do with school. Finally she came up with a large cork board and placed it on a nearby desk. "This is it."

"What's this?" Saki asked as she walked up to examine the board closer. On it were a number of photos and newspaper scraps with strings pinned between them.

"This is the board."

"The board?"

"The great board of conspiracy," Kitsune replied as if it should be obvious. "It shows the connection between all the major players in the worldwide conspiracy of control."

"Rrright," Saki said. This is not starting well, she thought but Kitsune persisted.

"Now look here. This is Shadowloo here," Kitsune said, pointing to a newspaper clipping which indeed did mention Shadowloo, but not in any useful context. "Now, of course, they've recently gotten on the bad side of the Illuminati. Shadowloo was getting too big for the Illuminati's liking so they set out to wipe them out."

"I know Shadowloo got wiped out. I need-"

"Let me finish," Kitsune complained, causing Saki to obligingly go quiet. "As I was saying, they set out to wipe them out. They used their contacts in Interpol and other law enforcement agencies to sick the authorities on them. Wasn't long before Shadowloo was only a... shadow of its old self," Kitsune said with a smile at her own pun, but Saki only gave her a flat look. Seeing this, Kitsune cleared her throat to relief the tension and continued. "Anyway, so, Shadowloo is easy pickings now, and the Illuminati loves easy pickings so they move in to pick up the scraps thru their various underworld connections via the Girl Scouts."

"Girl Scouts?" Saki repeated flatly, but Kitsune only nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, the Girl Scouts, and then... wait," she said and looked back at the board and scowled. "Hey! Who's been messing with my board?" she exclaimed, removing the picture of the Girl Scouts, but to Saki's shock she placed it back at another position on the board. "The Girl Scouts go here!"

Why am I listening to this loon-job? Saki asked herself, but Kitsune continued on, heedless.

"So now the Illuminati controls Shadowloo, and we all know Shadowloo loves its martial artists. Kasumi would naturally be of interest to them. With the Illuminati now in the mix, they have even more access to facilities and such, meaning they are that much more likely to make their move."

"Uh huh," Saki said, feeling this was going no where fast. "Okay, so now the Illuminati has Kasumi?"

"Exactly!"

Saki sighed. "Fine, fine. Just for amusement sake, if this Illuminati really did have Kasumi, where would they keep her?"

Kitsune quickly returned to her closet and returned with a folder of paper. "Here!"

"Here?" Saki repeated as Kitsune handed her the folder. Curiosity getting the best of her, she opened the folder to see a large picture of a building with a sign reading 'Hotel La Bac' on the side. "A hotel?" Saki said, unimpressed.

"Not just any hotel! That's the La Bac!" Kitsune replied, but Saki just frowned. Frustrated, Kitsune took back the folder and began explaining. "This is a special hotel that the Illuminati had made especially to extract information from people."

"Right," Saki said with a sigh and turned to leave but Kitsune pulled her to a stop.

"Now wait a minute. Look at this. Now what do you see?"

Saki stopped and decided to humor the girl and took a photo from her. "I see a window. So what?"

"And here?"

Taking another photo from Kitsune, Saki couldn't help but look at Kitsune tiredly. "The same window, I repeat, so what?"

"Those were taken months apart!"

"So?"

"They're absolutely identical!"

Saki looked back at the photos, and indeed the window, the curtains behind it, and everything else was identical. "Big deal. This place looked abandoned. The room probably hasn't been touched in months."

"And they left the curtains?"

"They were probably cheap junk, or they forgot them. So what," Saki said dismissively, further frustrating Kitsune.

"Okay, so how do you explain this one?" Kitsune asked, handing over another photo.

Saki sighed, but looked at the photo. This time it was a van going into the garage. "What am I supposed to see here?"

"Why is a van going into an abandoned hotel? Hmh? Hmh?"

"Maybe it's a person checking the place out for damage, or to sell," Saki replied easily.

Kitsune opened her mouth, clearly aggravated, but at a loss for words. Finally she just threw up her hands in defeat. "You're impossible!" Glowering, Kitsune dropped herself onto her bed, crossed her arms, and sulked.

"Look, I just don't see it, sorry," Saki replied but could see Kitsune was quite upset. Sighing once more, Saki pulled out her cell phone. "Okay, for argument sake, I'll get Sampai to look into it."

Kitsune perked up a bit at this. "Sampai?"

"Yeah, he's a bit of a hacker. I'm sure he can dig up something on this hotel of yours," she explained as she typed in his number and waited for him to pick up. "Hey Sampai, it's me... Yeah, yeah, look I need you to do a bit of digging from me. There is a hotel in town called the La Bac. Sounds French. I need you to find me everything you can on it, and be quick... Yeah, thanks." Hanging up, Saki looked back at Kitsune who, although not happy, was satisfied.

XXXXX

At Ukyo's family shrine, life was very boring. Such was to be expected of course. Unable to even do her regular training, Ukyo had little to do but read books or talk with Lemon, and so far the latter was proving to be not all that entertaining. It wasn't really Lemon's fault mind you. She and Ukyo simply came from such different worlds that it was near impossible to maintain a conversation for long on a subject matter that both had interest in.

At this particular moment Ukyo was reading a novel she had brought along with her. It was about the fifth one she had gone thru since coming to the shrine, but without much other entertainment, it was all Ukyo could really do. However, her mind wasn't really on the reading. Instead she was wondering what was up with Ranma. He was over a day overdue for his visit. Sure, they had not set a schedule or anything, but he was very consistent up to yesterday, showing up every other day at around the same time.

In Ukyo's mind she was already setting a time limit on Ranma's next appearance. If he didn't show in another day's time, Ken or no Ken, she was walking out of here to figure out what was up.

However, as Ukyo was setting her resolve on that time line, it was rudely interrupted with the sudden smashing of a kitchen implement against her skull. "OW! What the hell are you doing?" Ukyo cried out in pain as she turned angrily on Lemon. Behind her Lemon looked at her, dumbfounded, holding a large frying pan.

Ukyo got up from the floor and quickly snatched the frying pan from Lemon. "Give me that! Now, do you mind explaining yourself?" Ukyo asked, in suspicion and anger.

Lemon took a second to think then, lowering her cloak hood, simply smiled at the chef. "Just slipped."

"Slipped?" Ukyo repeated in anger, but as she glared at Lemon's smiling innocent face, her angry simply vanished. "S... slipped... right..." Ukyo replied, looking suddenly confused and unsure of herself.

"You were reading your book, remember. You should get back to that."

"Right... book," Ukyo echoed and after a second more of uncertainty, seemed to forget the whole incident and returned to reading.

That disaster averted, Lemon let off a puff of air into her hair in frustration, and headed out of the room to think. This is inconceivable! I thought I had her for sure that time! Lemon thought as she put her hood back on. Thank god she's at least partially interested in other girls or I'd have a whole lot of explaining to do. Finally sitting down on a stone chair in one of the other chambers, Lemon leaned over and rested her chin on her hands.

This whole plan was proving far more difficult than she initially anticipated. It seemed so simple to. All she had to do was defeat Ukyo and that stupid Amazon law would kick in again, making Lemon the head wife, forcing Herb to marry her to marry Kasumi. She could deal with any disagreements from Kasumi or Shampoo using her more advanced powers of influence, leaving the only stumbling block being defeating Ukyo. It was easy enough to lull her into a false sense of security. Lemon was good at that sort of thing. However, defeating her was proving quite a different story. Although the chef was no where near the top of her game, Lemon was so far below her level to start with that it didn't really matter. Most her attempts to date to knock the chef out had resulted in Ukyo evading or partially evading the attack. Only two so far had hit true, and both had been equally ineffective.

Bah, if only she wasn't as resistant to my influence, Lemon thought, but it did nothing to change her current predicament. What do these martial arts types do anyway? Replace their bone with steel plates or something? I can give the tree branch breaking and not doing the trick, but that was a cast-iron frying pan! She should have been out cold!

Lemon sighed in defeat. I'm just going to have to accept it. I'm just not strong enough to defeat her even in her current condition. I guess it's time for plan B, she thought with a saddened look. Plan B was also very simple, just break out the more advanced powers. Unfortunately, whereas she had little issue with using these on Kasumi or even Shampoo, not really knowing Shampoo, or just plain hating Kasumi, but with Ukyo... it was different. Lemon knew the chef, and she was something of a loose friend. Using this power on her seemed wrong.

No! I have to! My entire future depends on this. I can't be going all sentimental at a time like this. Her determination reaffirmed Lemon considered. I'll need a little time to prepare. Last thing I need to do is pass out if my energy level is too low. Nodding to herself Lemon sat up straight, took a calming position, and closed her eyes to gather her energies.

XXXXX

Inside the Tendo dojo, Ranma was busying himself in intensive training. It really all he could do. With no clues to Kasumi's whereabouts, Ranma had no means by which to vent his bent up frustrations.

Practically every waking moment, Ranma couldn't help but feel frustrated. He kept replaying the encounter at the beach and the chase that resulted, each time angry with himself for letting the man get away. He couldn't help but feel that he had messed up, but without fore knowledge of the attack and the man's tactics, he wasn't sure anything would have been done different.

"Damn it all," he mumbled to himself as he repeated yet another kata. I wasn't good enough, he thought bitterly to himself, noting every tiny flaw in his motions. I've been taking things far too lightly. I should be far better than this. As Ranma pondered this, his mind drifted to Happosai's scroll.

Despite Akane's success in bypassing the magic encryption on the scroll, it was still very difficult to read. Not only was the writing horrible, but so was Happosai's descriptions. Half the time he'd go off topic into some wild, and very disturbing, fantasies about ladies' underwear, or worse. Ranma was about ready to declare the whole thing a dead end, but there were hints of this mysterious technique he had. However, right now Ranma's mind was too focused on Kasumi's situation to be messing with Happosai's stupid scroll.

"Aren't you supposed to be seeing to Ukyo's welfare?" Herb-chan asked suddenly from the entrance, startling Ranma out of his kata for a second.

"I got no time for that! What if they find Kasumi?" Ranma replied, quickly resuming his training. "Besides, Ken's out of the picture. She's got more than enough supplies to last her for a while. Either we find Kasumi, and then I'll go, or she'll come back on her own."

"Probably right," Herb conceded. "However, that's not what I came here for?"

"Yeah? And what did you come for then?"

Taking that as permission to enter, Herb stepped into the dojo, causing Ranma to stop and regard her. "We are competitors for the hand of Kasumi, of that there can be no doubt. However, the current situation, and our previous performance, clearly demonstrates we are both... lacking."

Ranma frowned but didn't argue the point. "Yeah, so what?"

"I propose a temporary alliance of sorts. Ours opponents are able enough to demand it."

"Alliance?" Ranma echoed in uncertainty. He and the Musk prince had never seen eye to eye. He was just too damned arrogant for Ranma's liking. However, under the current circumstances... "Alright. What you got in mind?"

"A more coordinated effort for our next encounter," Herb answered causing Ranma to consider. "It is not to my particular taste to be training with you, Saotome, but you are probably the most able martial artist in this area. No other would do."

Habit nearly made Ranma reply with a verbal jab, but he checked the impulse. He may be a jerk, but he's got a point, Ranma thought with a frown, but finally nodded in agreement.

XXXXX

"So, what you got?" Saki asked as, together with Kitsune, they entered Sampai's room at the boy's dorm.

"Not much I'm afraid," Sampai replied, turning to his computer. "This La Bac of yours has been closed down for about 5 years. It was supposed to be a branch of some international Hotel chain, but the company didn't get much business so they closed much of the chain down. In fact, the La Bac was only open for about two years." At hearing this, Kitsune's shoulders drooped.

"So, nothing out of order at all?" Saki asked.

"Nope. Clean as you can get. All records up to date and complete. Inspections on time and in order. Not even a complaint," Sampai replied.

"Hmm..." Saki unexpectedly murmured.

"Something wrong?"

"Nothing on its record at all?" Saki asked to confirm.

"Nada," Sampai answered but saw this caused Saki to frown. "What?"

Saki held her chin in thought. "That's a bit... too clean actually. Even top of the line companies, especially a hotel, should have a complaint or two. You always get some idiot who expects too much, or complains for complaining sake," she thought aloud. "Have they had any interested buyers?"

"Buyers? Hmh, actually, I didn't see any listings for it being for sale," Sampai replied, and began typing at his computer. Both girls watched until he shook his head. "Nope, no listing for sale. That is weird. Why would you not try to sell the place? Even if it's run down, the land has to be worth a lot, wouldn't you think?"

"Yes, I agree," Saki replied. "Well, Kitsune, maybe there is something to this after all."

"See!" Kitsune said in triumph.

"Don't get too excited. All this shows is it's suspicious. So, I assume you know where this place is?"

"Yes," Kitsune replied. "I can take you there."

"Okay, let's go."

Sampai quickly turned off his computer screen and snatched his jacket. "Hey, wait for me." Saki paused briefly at the door, and together the threesome headed out.

XXXXX

Mamoru arrived at the Hikawa shrine, tired and deeply worried. Mamoru always had a sixth sense when it came to Usagi. Whenever she was in danger, he could feel it. That sense had been triggered three days ago, and after a rush to get his affairs in order he had finally arrived back in Japan, jet lagged but determined to do whatever he could to find her.

He had been met at the airport by Haruka and Michiru, and unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, there was little to report on Usagi's disappearance. However, there was news and it wasn't good.

"So she just popped in?" Mamuro asked as the threesome walked up the stairs to the shrine to meet with the others.

"Popped hardly covers it, more like exploded. Obviously, she wasn't in good shape either," Haruka replied.

"Did she manage to say anything?" he asked but the girls both shook their head. "What could have happened?"

"We'll have to ask Setsuna herself when she comes to. We left her with Rei to come get you," Michiru replied as the reached the top of the steps.

"Mamoru!" Rei called out in greeting, beckoning him and the others to follow her inside. He replied with a quick wave and joined her, finding the other senshi save Setsuna inside, their looks of concern every bit as deep as his.

"We're sorry about-" Minako started to say, but he quickly waved her off.

"It's not a problem. So, we don't know anything new about Usagi at all?" he asked.

Ami shook her head. "Nothing more than I told you on the phone. There has been no sign of her, no sign of Kasumi, nothing. I did complete scans of the area and also found nothing. It's like both of them dropped off the face of the Earth."

"It was reckless of her to follow them on her own," Haruka said gaining a frown from many of the inner senshi.

"She's done fine on her own before. In fact, she's saved us numerous times," Makoto replied then sighed. "It's hard to even think about her being defeated."

"We don't actually know what happened," Ami pointed out. "In fact, we can't even be certain that Kasumi's kidnapping is related, although it is the most obvious conclusion."

Mamoru nodded. "And we know nothing of the reasons for this Kasumi's kidnapping either?"

"No," Ami answered, but then looked thoughtful. "Well, there are various rumors going about the class, but I don't consider any of them more than that."

"Essentially, we are dealing with nothing but unknowns at this point," Michiru analyzed. "We don't know who the kidnappers are, what happened to Setsuna, why these people would take Kasumi, what happened to Usagi... we don't even know for certain if these various events are even connected. We have faced many enemies before, but these seem to have come completely out of nowhere and have left us nothing to go on." The others could only nod in sad agreement.

"It is worse than that," a new voice said, gaining everyone's attention. At the door Setsuna stood, looking exhausted, almost as if she'd just dragged herself out of a ravine.

"Setsuna! Are you okay to be up?" Mamoru asked as he moved to aid her, but she waved off the help.

"I'm alright. Just drained. The door of time has flung me out."

"Flung you out?" Mamoru echoed in confusion.

"It is difficult to explain, but when the path of time enters a strong flux, the doorway is not safe for anyone. It has automatic measures to remove anyone inside. Unfortunately, it's not very gentle about it," the senshi of time explained as she seemed to recover some of her strength. "It took all my strength to open a path here. I could have potentially ended up anywhere in time or space."

"A flux in time?" Ami asked in confusion.

"The doorway does more than simply allow passage thru time; it acts as a buffer for time. It attempts to ensure the future by limiting the effects of events that occur in the past. I don't even fully understand the mechanism, but certain events are beyond its ability to control directly. However, to date, I have always been able to redirect the path. This time... it simply shifted suddenly. The last time something like this occurred is when Galaxia came to Earth, but this time is even worse. I believe now, the shape of the future has irreversibly been altered."

The others took a moment to take this in. Finally, Mamoru spoke up. "Does that mean... Chibiusa-"

"No. Don't misunderstand. Chibiusa's future is not changed, but our future is no longer hers. She exists in a different path of time now. Our future may include another version of her... or not, it is impossible to say right now. With the path of time changed, my knowledge of it is gone. I cannot say what awaits us, even if I were willing."

"When did this happen?" Ami asked.

"You must understand I live in a place where time has little meaning. All I can tell you is it was not that long ago."

"Then Usagi's disappearance..." Minako alluded. "Oh no, what if she's-"

"We can't think that!" Rei quickly countered. "She's got to be alive. We just have to find her, that's all." Minako nodded, but the worry on her face did nothing to abate.

"So, the princess is missing then," Setsuna said. "I recall no such event occurring at this time. That is undoubtedly the cause the change."

"But, what do we do?" Makoto asked. "If the future is already changed..."

"How much of a change occurred is impossible to tell, and nothing indicates the future is any worse," Setsuna explained. "These events could result in a significant, but inconsequential change. For now, all we can worry about is the present."

"Which means finding Usagi," Rei pointed out. "Is there nothing you can tell us, Setsuna. We're running on nothing at the moment."

"All I can tell you is that whoever or whatever is involved has a great deal of power. Only beings such as those can overpower the effects of the doorway. Beyond that, it is nothing but a cloud. The doorway gave me virtually no warning. All I could discern was to come to this time period. It's very troubling, actually. I've never even heard of the doorway being caught so off guard by a change. Usually there is significant signs and warning. This time there was nothing."

The room fell silent as everyone considered. Finally, Makoto spoke up. "Look, I don't think we can fool around here. The moment we have a lead to work with, we have to go in, full force."

"You mean to go in as the Senshi?" Ami confirmed. "We risk revealing our identities to Kasumi. One of us appearing as a Senshi she can easily attribute to... odd behavior, but all of us..."

"I don't care," Makoto replied. "I trust Kasumi, and if what Setsuna just said is right, we're dealing with something every bit as dangerous as Galaxia, maybe even more so. We can't take something like that lightly. We'll just have to deal with it if Kasumi finds out."

"I agree," Michiru unexpectedly said, gaining the others attention. "I have no desire to reveal my identity to her, but of anyone I feel she could be trusted."

Mamoru looked around the room and saw no disagreement on anyone's face. "This Kasumi seems to have made quite an impression on you all," he commented, and gained numerous looks that confirmed this. A look of shame on Haruka's face was particularly surprising to him.

"We should get going," Ami said at last. "Luna and Artemis might have come up with something, and we are far more likely to learn something in Nerima than here." All nodded in agreement with this.

"Are you going to be alright, Setsuna?" Minako asked, gaining a weak nod from the older senshi.

"I will manage. Unfortunately, with the doorway as it is, my powers are more limited than usual. I should also warn you, the doorway is intimately connected to our teleportation ability. It may no longer function properly if at all."

"Hopefully we won't need it," Michiru said and with that everyone started to head out.

"You should get some rest," Mamoru said to Setsuna.

"I will," she said with a thankful nod and smile then joined her fellow outer senshi as they left.

"You can stay here if you like, Mamoru," Rei offered. "We have plenty of room, and it's more convenient since I'll need a ride too if something comes up."

"Thanks. So, perhaps you can tell me all that has been going on around here, particularly about this Kasumi."

XXXXX

Saki peered up at the Hotel La Bac, shielding her eyes from the reflection of the Sun in the windows. It was little different in person that in Kitsune's photos. In fact, much like Kitsune had said, it was no different. Saki had matched herself up with the angle of the original photo and, besides the lighting, there was not a difference to be found.

"This is kinda weird," Saki mumbled to herself. A noise to her side caught her attention and she turned to see one of the local shop keepers adjusting his sign up front. "Hey!" she called out as she approached.

"Something I can do for you?" the shopkeeper asked as he took notice of Saki.

"What can you tell me about that hotel here?"

The man looked up at the Hotel and shrugged. "The La Bac? Not much really. It's been closed down for years."

"Ever see anybody go in or out?"

"Occasionally. Nothing suspicious if that's what you're getting at. I figure they were inspectors, or workers, or something like that."

Saki nodded in understanding. "I don't suppose you saw anything about three days ago?"

"No, but I wasn't open then. My day off."

"Right. Thanks."

Nodding the man went back to work, leaving Saki to look back at the hotel and sigh. It's a big place, and it may not be the best part of town, but this land must be worth a small fortune. Why wouldn't they be trying to sell it? Saki thought, but came to no real conclusion. After another minute Kitsune and Sampai reappeared, and the defeated look on both their faces told Saki all she needed to know without asking.

"Come on, Saki. Let's just take a look inside," Kitsune urged as she approached. "I'm sure-"

"That's called breaking and entering," Saki replied. "Besides, even if you were right, do you think they're just going to say, 'hey, shucks, we been found out'? No, I kinda think they'd take the intrusion a bit more seriously than that."

"So... you think something is up with this place?" Sampai asked and Saki nodded.

"Something, yeah. What, I don't know," Saki replied, giving the hotel one last look over. "There is nothing more we can do here."

"But what if she's in there?" Sampai asked.

Saki frowned. "She could be in any number of places. That doesn't give us the right to break into all of them, and so far this is one heck of a stretch to say she's here. And, like I said, it's not like they're just going to hand her over. Those two freaks at the beach took down some of the best fighters in the class. I'm good, but not a match for that. We'd need back up and we just don't have the grounds to get it."

Sighing one last time, Saki turned away from the hotel and started to head home. "Come on, there's nothing more to see here."

"But..." Kitsune started to protest, but even she knew there was nothing more to say. "I'll catch up with you."

Saki paused and looked back at the other girl. "What are you up to?"

"Just... need to get some of my stuff around," she replied.

Saki gazed hard at Kitsune. "Don't you even dare try to go in there."

"I'm not stupid!" Kitsune protested.

Saki continued to examine the other girl, and finally concluded she would indeed not enter. "Alright, fine. Come on, Sampai."

"Right!"

Leaving Kitsune behind, Sampai and Saki headed out. "I want you to keep digging on that place. Look at everything you can think of. I want to see every piece of documentation that even mentions or should mention the La Bac on it."

"Right," he replied. "You know... this is just like old times. You and me, together-"

"Don't even think about it," Saki replied flatly, deflating her male partner. Looking over at him, she softened a little. "You're timing sucks."

Thinking about that, Sampai brightened slightly. "You mean there is a good time for such things?"

Saki didn't answer. Nor did she notice the camera on a nearby roof top turn to follow her as she continued on her way.

XXXXX

Inside the La Bac, Kasumi watched the display on a nearby monitor behind hardened glass. "Sad, is it not, to have rescue so close..." the doctor taunted over the building's speakers. But, Kasumi paid him nor the video much mind. She had no real idea how long she had been in this place, but she knew this doctor controlled everything around her. Even the video could have been hours old, or taken in a completely different location. He only used it to try and frustrate her.

Such was Kasumi's life for the last 3 days. Inside the La Bac, the entire building was set up with trap after trap, deception after deception. It was a nearly unending series of near death moments, dispersed between moments of bizarreness, even madness. One of the last floors she had been one was little more than holograms, forcing her to double check everything she saw around her, for anything could disguise the next danger.

And after all this, Kasumi was at the edge of her physical, but more importantly her mental endurance. The doctor rarely afforded her time to think, and gave her even less rest. In fact, by this point, Kasumi wasn't overly sure she was truly awake and much of the time she was acting on simple survival instinct. However, she still had a bit of strength left in her, enough to take the doctor's brief video display as a time to rest, rather than to despair. So, Kasumi merely braced herself against a nearby wall and enjoyed the moment.

"You're awfully calm about your situation, or perhaps you're just good at hiding your frustration. It won't matter, you know. All you are doing is making it harder on yourself resisting so. This would be a lot easier on you if you'd merely let go," the doctor said as the video feed ended.

Kasumi merely smiled. "Do you know my Uncle?" she asked.

"I know of him," came the replied after a few seconds.

"He's a very frustrating man. I never realized just how frustrating until I came here. To be frank, after living with him most my life, this is all more annoying than truly frustrating to me."

The doctor chuckled. "I see you still have some of your sense of humor left."

"Not at all. It's simply the truth. After all, you at least have a goal, and you approach the goal as best as you are able."

"Oh?"

"Yes, that I can understand. I never truly understood him."

"I don't think you understand me as well as you think," the doctor replied and as he did, a hiss of air could be heard. However, Kasumi paid it no mind.

Kasumi shook her head. "Maybe. But let me tell you a little story."

"I don't think you have time for stories."

Still ignoring the hiss, Kasumi let herself slide down the wall and sit on the ground. "But, it's a very good story. When I was a little girl, even before I went on the road to train, I spent a lot of time with my Uncle. There was this one time that comes to mind..."

XXXXX

"Hahaha, I have to cornered now, Genma. What are you going to do to get out of this one?" Genma's opponent asked confidently as he sat behind the currently winning side of a game of Shoji.

Opposite him Genma sat pondering, and sweating. Sitting off to the side and watching, a ten year old Kasumi knew her uncle was beat. She didn't know this game too well, but she knew enough that there was no escape. He was going to lose, which meant he was going to lose the bet riding on the game.

"Yes, this is quite the situation," Genma said as he looked up then went suddenly wide eyed. "Oh my god, it's Elvis!"

"Where?" The man opposite him asked, turning his head to see. In that instant, Genma's hands moved in a flash and reset several pieces. "I don't see-"

"Checkmate!" Genma pronounced happily, causing the man to go into shock as he examined the board.

"How... I could have sworn..."

"Hahaha, better luck next time," Genma said with a big smile, quickly picking up a small wad of bills off to the side.

"But Uncle, you moved-" Kasumi started to say, but quickly found Genma's hand over her mouth.

"That's right Kasumi, I moved right in line with my strategy," he said with a nervous laugh. "Come on, let's get going. Don't want your Auntie getting worried, now do we." With that, Genma quickly headed out, with the young Kasumi in tow.

"Uncle, you cheated!" Kasumi said after a moment.

"I just moved outside the normal rules."

"Which is cheating!" Kasumi reiterated.

Genma cleared his throat. "I suppose that is one way you could look at it. You see, Kasumi, this is just one principle in the Anything Goes school of martial arts. You must be willing to make use of any advantage you can find. If a contest has rules, you must be willing to exploit those rules anyway you can."

"Why is that?"

"Sometimes, it's the only option you have. We are not always able win any other way. You must be very observant though. Advantages are not always obvious. Like, for you, many boys won't be willing to fight a girl, so you have to be ready to take advantage of that."

Kasumi nodded then smiled. "I think I understand."

"You do?" Genma asked in a bit of surprise, stopping to look at her.

Kasumi nodded again. "Yes, it's very simple. It's like... Oh, hello, Mr. Police Man. My Uncle just cheated a man out of some money."

Genma turned around quickly in shock, frantically waving his hands. "Wait, you don't understand. She's just... huh" Genma said as he finally noticed there was no policeman. "What...? Kasumi?" As he started to turn back, he noticed Kasumi had in fact pick pocketed him and was now running back to the shoji table with the money where the other man was still puzzling over the board. "She's learning fast..." he muttered but smiled.

XXXXX

"That's all very interesting, but what does it have to do with your current situation?" the doctor asked.

On the monitor in front of him, Kasumi smiled. "If a contest has rules, you must be willing to exploit those rules anyway you can," she repeated. "I'm tired. I think I'm going to stay here for a while." Saying this, Kasumi laid down on the floor and closed her eyes.

The doctor frowned as he watched this, releasing the button on the mic so he wouldn't be heard. Seeing no evidence that she was hiding her intents, he sighed and override that gas controls for the room, and let out a tired laugh. "I wonder how long she has known."

"Known what, doctor?" Rose asked from the side, surprising him.

"Geez, don't sneak up on me like that," he said then after calming, explained. "She knows I can't hurt her. That's why she's not moving." Looking over at Rose, he could see she was displeased by this. "There is nothing I can do. It's your 'rule' after all. She has just figured it out. She was probably hoping to exploit it at an opportune moment to make her escape. Fortunately, I haven't given her any such moments."

"I expected results by now," Rose complained, regardless.

"Honestly, as did I. Kasumi Tendo has set a new record, although I little doubt that this is due to her insight."

"What about the drug?" Rose asked and the doctor shook his head.

"It's losing its effectiveness. She seems to be developing a resistance to it. Now that she's aware of it, her mental discipline seems to have made the difference."

Rose growled quietly for a second in frustration. "This is not acceptable, doctor. You assured me this would work."

The doctor nodded. "I did. I may have been premature in that conclusion. I even let in a few cats some hours ago, but they aren't very cooperative animals, and she's perceptive enough not to be fooled by fakes. The most it has done is scare her."

"We don't want her scared."

"Exactly," the doctor agreed, and turned his chair around to look at Rose fully. "Without lifting the restrictions on harm, I don't think I can do this. She's near her physical limit as is. I'll need to actually think about getting her food soon, which is needless to say not going to improve the fear factor of the facility."

"Harming her is out of the question. I need her intact."

"Then, that leaves only one option. We need to bring in another variable, one we aren't restricted on, and the choice there is obvious."

"Her wife," Rose concluded for the doctor. "Very well, retrieve her then and get to work."

"There is one problem. Due to the earlier attack, Shampoo is being guarded, both by her friends and the authorities. This time they may be prepared to fight even Shadow and Shadow Lady."

Rose scoffed. "If you're so worried about it, then send in our new doll. They certainly won't be expecting her."

The doctor looked off to the side in worry. "I'm very hesitant to send her. We don't know the extent of our control over her. What if-"

"Nonsense. She won't even be aware of what she's doing. To her, she's just living in a dream," Rose replied confidently then began to march out. "Get to work, doctor. Continued failure could be quite... uncomfortable for you."

XXXXX

The day was getting late when Makoto arrived at the Kuno mansion. In the last several days, lacking any clues to Kasumi's whereabouts, it had been agreed that since Shampoo appeared to also be a target, she needed a round the clock guard. Tonight was Makoto's turn, along with Ranko and the regular residence of the house.

However, beyond guard duty, Makoto was also using the time to get some talk time in with her co-resident of the San Cheng-Huang. It was funny, but despite living a good part of the last few months at the restaurant with Shampoo, she had talked little with the Amazon. Most of Shampoo's time was spent either doing work, or trying to get some attention from Kasumi. What little that left she would rarely use to talk with her one time rival for Kasumi. Makoto supposed she was lucky in that regard. The cold shoulder was better than the bruised ribs Kodachi got.

Now, with Kasumi out of the picture, the restaurant in repairs, and little else for her to do, Shampoo was a lot more talkative. For her part, for the first day she had been openly confident that Kasumi would escape and return on her own. When the day passed with no signs of Kasumi, Shampoo's confidence in that quickly left her and instead had been replaced with some bluster about getting vengeance on the mysterious duo. When Makoto found her today, though, that too seemed to have left, and now Shampoo looked truly worried. When someone as proud as Shampoo started showing open worry, you knew the situation was serious.

"Hey, how you feeling?" Makoto asked as she entered Shampoo's room. Shampoo gave Makoto a brief look then looked down at her still braced wrist, but otherwise didn't respond. "Think of it this way, he got a lot worse than he gave," she joked, but it came out rather poorly. As expected, it did little to cheer up the Amazon.

Sighing, Makoto decided to just let things be for now. Shampoo would talk when she wanted to and not before. Taking a seat at a table setup in the room, Makoto set out several of her school books. Despite Kasumi's and Usagi's disappearance, school went on, and she was now several days more behind than usual. As she set to work, idly she wondered if Shampoo was even bothering with her school work, but she couldn't really blame her if she wasn't. The only reason Makoto was with Usagi missing was there was little else to do but worry, and she hated worrying.

Several minutes passed as Makoto puzzled over the mysteries of algebra until Shampoo decided to take a seat at the table with her. Makoto looked up from her work at the other girl, prompting Shampoo to finally speak.

"Do you think Shampoo... in the way?"

"Huh?"

Shampoo frowned as she struggled with the proper wording. "Do you think Shampoo cause what happen?"

Makoto blinked in surprise. It was probably the last thing she expected to hear from Shampoo. "Of course not. What would even make you think that?"

"Because Ken attack Shampoo, and Shampoo could no defend herself, Kasumi... lose control."

"If you hadn't been there, Ken would probably have threatened someone else. And it's not like that Ken is normal. I mean, he got passed you, Herb, Ranma and Ranko. You can't expect to be invulnerable." Shampoo thought about that for a minute, but seemed unsatisfied. "I know it doesn't exactly help, but there is nothing you really could have done. I keep thinking I should have stuck with Usagi, but I didn't know she'd be in trouble either. It's just the way of things." Shampoo took another minute to think but finally nodded.

Shampoo was just in the process of getting up to take a walk when Sasuke could be heard shouting out for Kuno in alarm. His voice got quickly cut off though. By the time Shampoo looked back at Makoto, the other girl was already on her feet and taking position near the door. She motioned for Shampoo to move to other side of the door in hopes of jumping any attacker from both sides as they entered.

XXXXX

Out in the halls of the Kuno mansion, Kuno and Kodachi met up, both having rushed to Shampoo's room at the sound of Sasuke's warning. "It seems, brother, that our kidnappers have finally shown." Kodachi said as she readied her ribbon for a fight. Kuno also readied himself, watching down the hall from the other direction.

"Be on your guard sister. Our enemies can attack invisibly."

"Yes, I was told. Where is Ranko anyway? We could use some backup."

"We are on our own," Kuno replied as he stared intently down the hall for even a hint of a distortion. As the pair fell silent, waiting, a pair of footsteps could be heard. "They come this way," Kuno whispered, gaining a silent nod from Kodachi.

Moving quickly but silently, Kuno moved up the hall to the corner, waiting for the footsteps to get close enough to attack. Meanwhile, Kodachi braced herself against the wall to watch both directions, ready to assist her brother but also weary of a sneak attack from behind.

Last time they took me by surprise. This time I shall smite them and most assuredly learn where they have taken Kasumi, Kuno thought with a confident smile just as the footsteps reached striking range. With a quick battle cry, Kuno rounded the corner and swung his sword.

Up the hall, Kodachi watched this then was quite shocked when her brother's sword appeared to be blocked and her brother stood startled, staring at the attack who was still out of Kodachi's view. A second later a bright light filled the hall and Kuno's cry of agony could be heard followed by him slamming into a nearby wall.

This is not good, Kodachi thought as rushed down the hall towards the attacker. She had no delusion of her chances if the attacker one shotted her brother, but honor demanded she try anyway.

XXXXX

Back in the room, the pair of girls heard Kuno's cry and shortly there after, Kodachi's. Afterward, only the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching.

Both Kodachi and Kuno taken out that quickly? This is not good. Where the devil is Ranko? Makoto thought, looking at Shampoo and considering. I could change into Jupiter... damn it, but Shampoo will see. However, she never got the chance to fully resolve that issue as the door knob sharply turned and the door opened. Reacting, both Shampoo and Makoto jumped the intruder. Only at that very instant did Makoto get a look at the person. Sailor Moon? An instant before either girl's attack reached its target a blast of light filled the room and both Shampoo and Makoto went unconscious.

XXXXX

Outside, the missing Ranko was in fact hiding behind a corner as she watched two invisible attackers make short work of the men that had been keeping an eye on the mansion. There was no mistaking the attackers despite their invisibility. It was the same two from the beach. As for the men, they were police agents of some kind. Ranko had seen them set up outside the mansion shortly after the kidnapping, and a quick investigation had shown them to be with the police. However, whatever agency they worked with clearly didn't train them to deal with this type of scenario.

Ah Geez. Those guys were no help at all, as the last one fell to the ground unconscious, the whole attack taking less than 5 seconds. Ranko watched intently as the pair jumped to the roof of a nearby building just adjacent to the mansion, but then just stood there. What the... Aren't they going in? Ranko wondered.

Her answer came when a completely unexpected third party joined them on the roof. The newcomer was carrying an unconscious Shampoo, but that wasn't what interested Ranko. She was very... decoratively dressed, but there was no mistaking her. "Usagi?" Ranko whispered out loud in surprise. What's going on here? What's with that goofy getup and how did she beat Shampoo and the others?

With no quick answers coming, Ranko found herself in a difficult situation. She was good, but taking both of these guys by herself even she had to admit wasn't likely, and there was the unknown factor of Usagi to count in too. I'll just have to follow them secretly and hope they lead me to where they're holding Kasumi. Then I can call in some backup, she thought.

XXXXX

Back in the mansion, Makoto groaned as she picked herself off the floor. "What the heck did she hit me with? I've never seen anything like that before," she mumbled as she stood up. A quick examination of the room revealed no Shampoo. A quick dash got Makoto into the hallway where both Kodachi and Kuno were laid out, unconscious. "Darn it. I hope I wasn't out long," she said as she drew her transformation tool. "Jupiter Crystal Power, Make Up!"

Mere seconds later, Sailor Jupiter was leaping to the roof, just in time to see Sailor Moon along with two very particular visual distortions making their escape via the roof tops. "I don't have a clue what Sailor Moon is doing helping them, but they aren't getting away this time," she said aloud and started her own pursuit, quickly activating her communicator to contact the others.

"Guys, who aren't going to believe who just stormed into the mansion and kidnapped Shampoo," she said as the others responded.

"They're back? We're on our way!" Minako said quickly then paused. "Wait... who?"

"Sailor Moon."

"WHAT?" Several of the others exclaimed over the communicator.

"I can't explain. Just get to my position and fast. This situation just got a lot more complicated."

"Right, we'll be as quick as we can. Don't lose her, Jupiter," Ami cautioned.

"I won't," Jupiter replied and ended the transmission. They must have done something to her, but what? she thought in frustration but then noticed she was not alone. A look to her side revealed Ranko running right along side her.

"So, what's with the getup?" Ranko asked without looking.

"Ah..." Jupiter said in surprise. Oh man, not her too. And she probably knows that's Usagi too.

"Never mind, we can discuss that later," Ranko said. "Just so long as you're on my side."

"Ah, yeah," Jupiter replied with a bit of relief at the temporary reprieve. "But... she isn't."

"Usagi? Yeah, I kinda guessed that. She's a lot stronger than I gave her credit for if she can take Shampoo and the rest of you down."

"Yeah... she's... got some hidden talents," Jupiter replied, trying her best to minimize damage to their identities.

"Hidden talents, huh," Ranko echoed, but didn't further question the explanation.

Refocusing on their prey, Jupiter turned her mind back to the attack. It had only been less than a second, but she was certain Sailor Moon was not acting normal. She wasn't startled by the attack or... anything really. Her eyes seemed almost dead. Could they have brainwashed her? she wondered. And, what exactly did she attack us with? This is darn confusing. As she thought about it more, a realization hit her. That other woman, she had the same dead eyes. Maybe this isn't Sailor Moon. Maybe it's some kind of robot copy. Well, either way, she has to be stopped. I just hope I don't have to hurt her to do so.

Finally Ranko came to a stop, and Jupiter did so as well, noticing the threesome ahead of them had stopped themselves and dropped down to the ground. "Did they notice us?" Jupiter asked, but Ranko shook her head.

"Don't think so, come on," Ranko gestured and the pair dropped to the ground and hid themselves at a nearby corner to watch.

Up the street, the two invisible attackers finally turned visible, and together with Sailor Moon they walked over to a parked black van.

"They're going to take her in that van," Jupiter concluded.

"Yeah, and we have to stop them. I don't know if we can keep up with a vehicle for long," Ranko replied and started making a stealthy approach, but as quickly as possible. Jupiter followed after her as best as she was able. This time, however, their approach did not go unnoticed.

XXXXX

At the La Bac, the doctor looked at his monitors at the pair. "Sailor Jupiter and Ranko," he identified.

"A perfect opportunity to test the full extent of my new doll's power. Have her attack while the others bring the girl," Rose said to the side.

"Is that wise? She..."

"I told you, doctor, stop worrying. She's completely under our control."

Frowning, the doctor relayed the order.

XXXXX

"Come on, Usagi, let's play," Makoto pleaded as she sat on the coach at the girl's dorm in front of the television along with Ranko where they were currently playing the latest Sailor video game. This one was some kind of fighter, not exactly Usagi game of choice, but she was never adverse to wasting time on video games.

"Sure," she replied as she picked up a free controller and sat down next to Makoto. A quick few selections later and on screen, Sailor Jupiter and Ranko were facing off with Sailor Moon.

As the match started, Usagi frowned. Something about this wasn't quite right, but she didn't know what.

XXXXX

Back in the real world, Sailor Moon turned toward the oncoming pair, and slowly began walking toward them. "Crud, they noticed us," Jupiter said with an agreeing nod from Ranko. "Now what?"

"We hold them here as long as we can, I guess. You distract her, I'll take her from behind and knock her out. Then we can take the other two," Ranko quickly plotted and without further debate rushed forward. Jupiter quickly did likewise, the pair splitting up.

As Jupiter closed the gap, she quickly analyzed the situation. Real Sailor Moon or not, they had to treat her real for the moment. And what about that weird light... Last time I was surprised by seeing her. This time I'll be more cautious, she thought and readied a simple physical attack to force Usagi's attention onto her.

Meanwhile Ranko took a longer route circling in, hoping that whatever had been done to Usagi that she hadn't gained any serious fighting skill and tactical knowledge or this obvious ploy would likely fail, but on short notice it was all they had. Thankfully, as expected, as Jupiter closed in, as the closer and more immediate threat, Sailor Moon turned on her leaving her back open. Hah, too easy after all, Ranko thought with a smile only to have it vanish before she had any time to act.

In an instant a light whipped out from Sailor Moon, swatting Sailor Jupiter easily aside, and she turned back on Ranko. What the devil was that? is all Ranko got to think before the same light whipped out at her. Only her immense training and speed kept her from being hit, as she leapt backwards and just barely out of the path of the attack.

Across the pavement, Jupiter shook out the stars in her head. "So much for that thought," she mumbled as she got weakly back to her feet. "I didn't see even a hint of it coming." Looking up she saw Ranko pushed to her very limit dodging a long strand of light that shot out at her at inhuman speed. All the while, Sailor Moon simply slowly advanced, apparently not even needing to actively control the strange attack. Rubbing her chin, Sailor Jupiter considered, looking over at the other pair who were finishing up loading Shampoo into the van, unconcerned with the fight. I have no choice. Sorry Sailor Moon, but I can't hold back, even against you.

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

Across the way, Sailor Jupiter's battle cry caught both Sailor Moon's and Ranko's attention. However, the attack did little more. As the enchanted leaves fired out at Sailor Moon, the light swatted them away without a single one even coming close. Still apparently uncaring, Sailor Moon did however turn back to Sailor Jupiter.

Jupiter sighed, moving to maintain her distance as Sailor Moon started to approach. "Okay, so you can stop that. Sorry, but I can't leave it there. Let's try something faster. Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

Since when can Makoto toss thunder blots around? Ranko wondered as the thunder based attack screamed forward at Sailor Moon. However, like the previous one it was rendered ineffective. This time the light spread out and formed a shield in front of Sailor Moon, blocking it. However, Ranko didn't waste the opportunity it opened for her. Sailor Moon's full attention was now occupied, giving her just the time she needed to close the gap and land a quick strike at Usagi sleeping point. Or, at least that was the plan.

Just as Ranko got within striking range, Usagi's eyes turned rapidly, and the light moved with it, grabbing Ranko before she had any time to act, and tossing her violently at Sailor Jupiter. Jupiter had no time to dodge, and the two collided and crashed to the ground. As they did, the prolonged contact with Ranko disrupted the magic of Sailor Jupiter's costume and she reverted back to Makoto.

"Blast it," Ranko moaned. "Since when is she that fast?"

"She shouldn't be," Makoto replied as she and Ranko separated themselves and turned to look at the still advancing Sailor Moon.

"I'm taking it that that weird suit of yours is magical," Ranko said as she finally noticed Makoto back in normal attire. "And hers?"

"Ah, yeah, it should be the same as mine... just stronger," Makoto replied.

"So, why can that thing work on me then?" Ranko asked as they got to their feet.

"Wish I could tell you. I have never seen her use that attack before. In fact, she hasn't used anything like it before."

The sound of an engine starting caused both girls to look off at the van as it departed. "Great... just great," Ranko mumbled but there was nothing more to be done. Sailor Moon still blocked their path so pursuit simply wasn't an option. "Alright, we can't follow Shampoo, but we can follow Usagi." Makoto nodded in agreement but then Sailor Moon's expression finally changed.

XXXXX

"Come on Usagi, just finish them off already," Minako directed from the side as on screen Sailor Moon stood ready, while Sailor Jupiter and Ranko's life bars were blinking red.

"This game is boring," Usagi complained. "They way overpowered my character... and why is Ranko in this game anyway?"

"It's create a character," Ranko replied.

Usagi looked hard at the screen. "Awfully good. It looks exactly like you."

"Come on, just get it over with. I'm playing next," Minako urged finally prompting Usagi to sigh and directed her avatar to initiate its final attack.

XXXXX

In reality Usagi seemed to hesitate just one second, a brief sign of uncertainty crossing her face, but it was gone an instant later. With that passing, Sailor Moon finally moved with a more deliberate motion stretching her hand towards her two opponents. In response, the light shot into her open palm and intensified.

"Oh hell!" Ranko shouted and drove to cover Makoto in reflex. As she did a blast surged forth, engulfing them both.

XXXXX

"Sailor Moon Wins!" the game proudly announced, but Usagi was not impressed.

"Whatever. That was way too easy and no fun at all. You guys can play, I'm going out," Usagi said, laying down her controller and looking at the screen with a frown.

"Alright," the other girls replied absently as they set about changing characters for the next match. Usagi didn't pay that much mind as she headed out of the dorm and into the street, still frowning.

I feel like... she thought but couldn't place exactly what she was feeling.

"Odango, perfect timing."

Usagi looked up at the newcomer and pushed aside the thoughts for the time being and smiled. "Seiya. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, silly. Mamoru and I have some real good plans for the night and you're invited of course."

"Of course," Usagi echoed, once again feeling something was very off with the world. However, the prospect of some fun time on the town was enough to put the thoughts into the back of her mind and she simply let Seiya take her hand and lead her off.

XXXXX

"How are you feeling?" Dr. Tofu asked as he looked over a newly awoke Makoto.

"Like I just got run over by a train," she moaned out. "What happened?"

"Ami and Minako found you and Ranko unconscious. It looks like you both got smash thru a wall. I assume it was the same pair from the beach."

"Beach," Makoto repeated absently as she sorted out her thought then bolted upright. "Oh my god, Shampoo. Oh darn it."

"So, it was them," the doctor concluded with a sad look.

"Yeah. How are Kodachi and Kuno?"

The doctor looked across the room to two other beds where the two parties in question were recovering, apparently more displeased than hurt. "Well enough. They couldn't remember exactly what happened which is not unusual for sudden unconsciousness. I'm just keeping them here for a bit more treatment."

"And Ranko?"

"Better than you, actually. She's got amazing stamina, I must say. She's already back on her feet. She's talking with your friends right now."

Yeah, that's going to probably get complicated. I doubt I'm lucky enough that she forgot seeing me, Makoto thought with a nervous look. "Am I okay to go?"

"Well, take it easy, but yes. However, I want to stay here tonight. You took quite a hit to the head and although I don't see anything serious, you can't be too cautious," the doctor replied.

"Will do," Makoto replied with a grateful smile and headed out into the hall. There she immediately spotted Ranko with Ami and Minako, who were both apparently fumbling for words. Yep, there goes our little secret, Makoto thought as she joined them.

"Awake I see," Ranko said in greeting. "Now, so, you mind explaining yourselves?"

"As I was saying, Ranko, I don't really know..." Ami started but Makoto waved her off.

"She saw both me and Usagi, guys. I don't think we're fooling anyone here."

"Oh," both Ami and Minako said in defeat.

Looking between the three girls, Ranko took the hint. "Bah, save it. You have some weird magical powers. That's all I really need to know, I guess," Ranko conceded. "I just want to know why Usagi's power wasn't messed up by mine. If she's just like you, that thing shouldn't have done anything to me."

"I don't know," Makoto replied. "Like I said before, I've never seen that kind of an attack before. Maybe it wasn't like her others... Heck, I'm not even sure that was really her. She seemed so... robotic."

Ranko nodded in agreement and noticed a newcomer enter the hall, Saki. At seeing them, she immediately rushed over. "What happened?"

"We got jumped and overwhelmed. That pretty much covers it," Ranko replied.

"Damn it!" Saki cursed. "Didn't you get anything? See which way they were going?"

"We followed them for a bit," Makoto answered. "But they moved pretty erratically. I think they were just going to that van and trying to possibly throw us off."

"Van?"

Ranko nodded. "Yeah, black one. Nothing much to say about it though. Totally nondescript. We tried to stop them, but we got... wiped."

"A black van..." Saki murmured in consideration then pulled out her cell phone and started dialing.

"Who you calling?" Ranko asked curiously, but Saki only waved her off.

"Come on, pick up already... I hope she... Kitsune? Great! Where are you?"

XXXXX

"I'm... at the dorm," Kitsune replied from the rooftop of a building near the La Bac, various cameras and binoculars setup around her.

"Don't lie to me," Saki said sternly over the phone.

"Okay, fine, I'm still at the La Bac. I was just-"

"Never mind that. Have you seen any vans?"

"Vans, oh yes," Kitsune replied happily, grabbing a nearby notebook and flipping to the last page. "One just entered not that long ago. I was documenting-"

"Was it black?"

"Yes," Kitsune replied. "Why?"

"Stay there and keep a look out!"

"Okay," Kitsune replied in a bit of puzzlement.

"And don't even think about going in there, Kitsune, or I'll personally break both your legs. You got that?"

Kitsune grew pale, and nodded. "Uh, yeah, right. I'll stay right here."

XXXXX

Hanging up the phone, Saki looked briefly at the others. "That's it. I can't believe it, but it's too big a coincidence to not be it."

"What is?" Ranko asked but Saki didn't answer her, and instead rushed down the hall. "Hey, do you know what's going on or what?"

"I'll tell you later," Saki shouted back as she left their sight. As she reached the clinic's exit, her phone was already back in hand. "Chun Li? Good, I got some info and I need a ride, fast. Every second counts here and we need backup."

XXXXX

Less than a half an hour later, Saki was in the office of her boss, a man she still had yet to learn the true name of despite having to work for him over a year now. However, his name little concerned her at the moment. What did concern her was the answer her request received.

"No?" Saki echoed in total disbelief.

Sitting with his seat turned away from her, and looking out the window, the man in black nodded. "I'm sorry, but this is insufficient evidence to simply go storming in."

"What? You've gone on far less before!" Saki argued. "I know it's a bit of a stretch, but three people's lives are on the line here, and if what Chun Li said is true, perhaps a whole lot more. You can't be serious."

"I'm afraid I am."

Saki stood at a loss for words. This was the last thing she had expected. She had been on many assignments while working under this man, and without exception whenever she went to him, he moved with her. It didn't matter if the evidence was weak, or the chances of success low, he would support her. To have him suddenly stonewall her was completely unexpected, so much so that Saki didn't know how to respond.

This... can't be happening, Saki thought. Why would he refuse to act? she thought in desperation.

'They used their contacts in Interpol and other law enforcement agencies to sick the authorities on them.' Kitsune's voice rang in Saki mind as she remembered the conversation from earlier in the day, and suddenly the conspiracy theorist's claimed seemed unsettlingly truer than ever.

"You're working with them," Saki concluded aloud, but got no response. However, she didn't need one. His silence was enough. "God damn it! I don't believe this! I thought Kitsune was nuts but today she seems to be batting really well. I can't believe you would work with scum like this. You're just going to stand idly by and let three people be hung out to dry?" Saki's glare did as best it could to burn a hole thru her superior's chair, but ultimately it was a waste.

"I remember a time when a delinquent school girl came into this office, defiant and hardly one to hold a moral high ground. Funny how things turn out," he finally responded, but this did nothing to calm Saki.

After another minute passed with nothing more coming from the man, Saki scoffed and turned to leave. "To hell with you! I'll go in there myself if I have to!"

"Saki!"

"What?" Saki responded in irritation, pulled up just short of the door.

"You know the types we deal with. They are devils. Not of the super natural variety, but they are every bit as dangerous and every bit as difficult to defeat. When you face devils, sometimes you have no choice but to ally yourself with another devil to stand even a chance of victory."

Saki's anger ebbed just slightly as she understood, but her mind was unchanged. "That doesn't help Kasumi, Usagi or Shampoo."

"No," he replied simply. Another moment of silence passed between the two, and finally Saki left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Outside, she leaned up against a nearby wall, fighting with her own feelings. When she noticed Chun Li approaching, she greeted her with suspicion. "So, where do you stand?"

"I take it that it didn't go as you hoped," Chun Li replied.

"He refuses to help, which means I'm on my own."

"I'm still here," Chun Li pointed out but Saki only looked at her in suspicion.

"Are you? I'm not so sure," Saki said, puzzling the other woman. "Kitsune included Interpol on that list of people on the take. How am I supposed to trust you?"

"Ah," Chun Li said in understanding. "I suppose you can't, at least not for any logical reason. All I can tell you is I will help you."

Saki examined Chun Li intently, and as she did she found true commitment in her eyes. Nodding Saki started for the exit, gesturing for Chun Li to follow. "I... I'm going in there, but honestly if they do have her there-"

"We don't really stand much of a chance," Chun Li concluded for her, and gained a confirming nod from Saki. "I wish I had a suggestion, but on this short of notice my connections are pretty much useless. I'm willing to risk it regardless. I don't think I could live with myself if I just stood by. I assume you share that feeling." Saki once more nodded. "So, you have any kind of plan?"

Saki frowned in thought as they reached the door and stopped. This is suicide. Those guys took down Ranko, Kuno, Kodachi, Makoto and Shampoo. There is no way... she thought, but a realization hit her. It wasn't a pleasant thought, but right now, her options were very limited. With a grim look at Chun Li, Saki once more pulled out her phone and began dialing.

"Sampai, I need you to do something for me and quick... Yeah, yeah, I don't care about that anymore. This is serious. I need you to spread the word for me. Anyone who wants to help get Kasumi and the others back is to meet at that hotel La Bac in an hour, and I'll explain when I get there. Make sure they know we're going in as a group, not to play at being heroic. Got that?... Good." Hanging up, Saki looked at Chun Li's seriously. "They're the toughest people I know. They may not be used to life and death, but we haven't got any real options."

"You're never are used to life and death," Chun Li replied simply then noticed Kyoichira approaching.

Saki also noticed him and frowned. "If he told you to stop me, tell him to shove it!" she said, her anger once more showing.

"No. He just told me to give you this," Kyoichira replied, handing Saki a pair of keys on a special keychain.

Saki looked at the keys in puzzlement for a moment then flipped over the ornament on the chain to see the label. "Hotel La Bac? What are these for?"

"He didn't really say. All he said is you'll probably need them. Also, he didn't say it, but I will. Good Luck."

Saki eyed her supervisor with a mixture of emotion but finally nodded, accepting the small gesture for what it was.

XXXXX

Still unaware of the happenings in Nerima, Ukyo was finishing up with dinner and continuing to wonder where Ranma was. That's it, if he doesn't show tomorrow morning, I'm heading back. If that Ken shows up, I'll just tell him to go jump in a creek because I'm not fighting him. That's all there is to it, she concluded and looked over at Lemon's still uneaten portion. "Hey, this is getting cold you know. You going to eat or what?" Ukyo called out, turning to the doorway as she did.

"I'm not really hungry," Lemon replied, unseen around the corner.

"Fine, whatever," Ukyo said dismissively, picking up the plate to clean up. "But I don't want to hear any complaints later that you're hungry."

"Oh, you won't," Lemon said, this time clearly at the doorway from the clearness of her voice. With Ukyo's attention on the dishes she didn't immediately notice that Lemon was no longer wearing her usual cloak. However, it only took a few seconds for the effect of Lemon's presence to begin to nag at Ukyo. Giving into this, she looked back and went wide eyed.

Below the cloak, Lemon's attire was far more revealing. What seemed to be a single piece of silvery fabric wrapped around her, concealing all the private bits, but just barely. In fact, Ukyo could swear, if she looked close she could probably see thru the fabric, but she was too mesmerized to act.

Smiling at Ukyo's reaction, Lemon approached and kneeled down directly in front of the other girl, taking the plates from her hands and gently putting them aside before focusing on the chef. "You know, it's rare even among women to be able to see me like this and not be totally overwhelmed. Most would be all over me by now. But, I suppose that's not expected from you. Guess you don't have much interest in other women, but you still have some."

Ukyo couldn't form the words to reply. In fact, she wasn't really listening either. She was simply losing herself in the figure of beauty before her. Everything else didn't seem very important right now.

Lemon took Ukyo's dumbfounded appearance as a good sign and pressed forward running the back of her hand down Ukyo's cheek gently, causing the chef to quietly sigh in contentment. "It's always kind of amazing to see the reaction of people to this," Lemon said as she ran her hand once more down Ukyo's face. "But this, this is nothing. I'm not like the others in my clan. Oh, they have power too, but I'm a pure born. That means I came born with more power than most members of my clan will ever have and that will only grow with time. With us pure borns, you never know what exactly we'll get first. I'm sure you've guessed; I got the beauty. But even this isn't its limit. Oh no. When someone finally... tastes this body of mine it's like a drug. No, not even that describes it. It's an addiction that is all consuming. You'll do anything for me. Anything."

Moving on from the face, Lemon worked down to the neck and chest, but her smile waned. "I wish I could do this some other way, believe me. I don't hate you or anything... It won't be so bad, I promise. I mean, not half as bad as me becoming a man. Do you have any idea what that's like for us? No, I suppose you wouldn't. You see, I really don't know the whys, but we were cursed long ago, with a curse far worse than that Jusenkyo. No, ours haunts us and all our descendants. You know part of it already, that we can only have female children, but there is more even than that. Not only are there no males born, but we can never find happiness with a female either, even in male form. Imagine what it's like for the ones in my clan forced to be men. It's like... it's like a living hell for them, never to know happiness and they know it."

Lemon paused as she considered this, and looked at Ukyo as she remained spellbound. "Never to know happiness..." Lemon repeated slowly then suddenly grew angry. "This is not fair! Why do I feel this way? Can't I have things work out for me?" she asked the heavens then suddenly withdrew from Ukyo and stood up. Ukyo tried to reached out, feeling suddenly lost without the touch but received a slap to the face. "No! I... no, you have to stay here. In fact, forget that I was ever here," Lemon ordered, noticing Ukyo now had the look of a hurt puppy on her face. Looking away, Lemon quickly rushed from the room.

As she left the shrine, she grabbed her cloak and headed out into the night, angry with herself, Ukyo, and pretty much the world in general. Stupid conscience, she thought bitterly but couldn't help but feel some relief. Okay, fine. I guess... I guess I just don't like the idea of a girl hanging off me like that for the rest of my life anyway. I'll just have to think up a new angle. Besides, I'm... tired. I probably would have exhausted myself. Yeah, that's it. Better and safer this way, she consoled herself as she hurried off.

XXXXX

At the La Bac, Kasumi was asleep. After three days of near zero sleep, even the hard uninviting floor of the hotel was good enough of a mattress for her, not that she was unused to sleeping on hard floors during her training. Still, she would have preferred something a bit softer, and a nice long shower... and a pleasant meal... well, she just wanted out of this horrid place but right now that wasn't an option, so she took what she could.

Kasumi's sleep was not pleasant though. It was fitful and sporadic. Dreams haunted her. Old memories: her cursing at Jusenkyo, her first meeting Shampoo, nekoken training, and even memories of Haruka.

At the particular moment, though, her mind was back at that same day of that Shoji match Genma cheated at...

XXXXX

"You should have this money," the young Kasumi said as she arrived back at the Shoji table, surprising the man.

"Why's that?" he asked.

"Because my Uncle cheated," Kasumi replied simply but to her surprise the man just smiled.

Leaning over to her, he whispered into her ear, "I know. He lousy at cheating too." Kasumi couldn't help but smile. Sitting up normally, the man continued to give Kasumi a grin. "Why don't you keep that money. And maybe Genma, here, will take you out for some ice cream. Right Genma?"

Kasumi looked back to see her uncle had finally caught up and with a tired and defeated look, he nodded. "Right."

Satisfied with Genma's response, the man looked back at Kasumi. "So, Kasumi, you never did tell me how your mother was," the man prompted.

"Oh... she's... fine," Kasumi said hesitantly. "She got out of the hospital yesterday."

"That's good to hear. Well, you should get going there, as should I. Till next time, Saotome." Getting up, the man bid them goodbye with a wave and headed out.

Kasumi looked back at her uncle, wondering what exactly he would do. A half hour later, just outside the Saotome home, Kasumi was happily licking away at a large multi-scoop ice cream cone.

"You know, Kasumi, you actually have a bit of a knack for this sort of thing," Genma said as they entered the yard.

"For what sort of thing?" Kasumi asked absently as she continued with ice cream.

"The Anything Goes School."

"Oh, you mean that kicking and punching stuff?"

"Well, that's part of it, and you have a knack for that too," Genma replied. "But the Anything Goes School is a way of thinking too. I would say if you trained full time you could become an exceptional master of the style."

"Why would I want to do that?" Kasumi asked as they reached the door.

"Don't you wish to see how far you could take yourself?"

"No," Kasumi answered honestly. "That's a silly reason to do things."

"Silly? What better reason can there be?" Genma asked.

Kasumi paused to think on this. "I don't know," she answered honestly.

Satisfied that he had made at least a partial point with Kasumi, Genma opened the door and lead the way in. "We're back!" he called out.

"You really think I'm good at that Anything Goes stuff?" Kasumi asked unexpectedly.

Turning back to her, Genma nodded. "Of course. You put your mind to it you probably could eventually be better than me, with the proper training of course."

Kasumi thought about this for a second then smiled happily at the praise. However, her smile left when she saw Nodoka coming up the hall, the look on her face one much different.

"Kasumi... your mother is back in the hospital," she said. With those words, the joy of the moment was lost.

XXXXX

Kasumi awoke with that last thought, and remembered back to that time. At that time she knew her mother wasn't in good shape and was just getting progressively worse. No one had told her, but she was old enough to know what was coming just from the way the adults were talking. And knowing that, feeling happy at all on a day her mother was in the hospital just felt so... wrong. It was silly, but she felt guilty feeling happy. Kasumi was older now, and she knew there was no connection in those things, but at the time she couldn't help but feel that way.

Sighing, Kasumi pushed the thoughts into the back of her mind and sat up. "Ah, you're awake. I hope you had a good nap," the doctor's voice said over the various speakers.

"Not really," Kasumi mumbled back.

"That's too bad. Oh, but I have some news for you." The nearby monitor once more turned on, but this time the scene was unmistakably from a room inside La Bac. That wasn't all that interesting. Seeing Shampoo in the room, pacing impatiently, was. Kasumi's reaction was immediate as she rushed to the screen to confirm what she saw.

"I must say, Ms. Tendo, that you are every bit as bright as I expected. More so in fact. You did well to figure out that I'm not allowed to hurt you seriously. Unfortunately, that has just forced me to go to plan B. You see, I may not be able to hurt you, but I can hurt her."

"Let her go," Kasumi pleaded. "I'll give you whatever you want. Just let her go."

"That's a very cooperative attitude, and I believe that you are indeed willing to do just that, and please understand I have no real desire to hurt her. Unfortunately, I don't think your cooperation will mean all that much.

"Let me level with you Kasumi. We want you to use that technique, the Dark Ha Do."

"The Dark Ha Do?" Kasumi puzzled for a second aloud.

"Yes. You've used it several times since we've been observing you. Your first time was against Ukyo. In truth, we had to do a little interfering there to get it to come, getting your other personality to come out. And of course the last time was during your little fight with Ken. I heard he's still recovering."

I always wondered what happened in the woods to make my neko personality to come out, Kasumi thought as she listened. "Why do you want the Dark Ha Do?"

"That, I'm afraid, I'll have to keep to myself. All you need know is that I need it. Show it to us and we will gladly let your Amazon friend go. But, as I suspect, you can't, not voluntarily anyway," the doctor analyzed and Kasumi's face grew worried. "As I thought. I suppose, then, you will simply have to hope that your friend is as able a survivor as you are, as least until your darker half shows itself."

For the first time in her life, Kasumi suddenly felt very frustrated that she wasn't more easily angered.

XXXXX

"Miss... Miss... are you okay," a voice finally managed to penetrate through the haze over Ukyo's mind. Reacting on impulse, Ukyo's hand shot out, stopping just short of an older man's skull.

"Who are you?" Ukyo asked threateningly.

"Just... just a humble priest," the man responded, in some shock from the sudden motion. "I didn't mean to startle you. You were just... staring off at the door."

"Staring?" Ukyo echoed in confusion, finally trying to remember the last few moments. However, despite her efforts, her mind was a complete blank. Changing subjects, Ukyo decided the man was no immediate threat and lowered her fist. "What are you doing here?"

"The caretaking of this shrine has been left to my temple long ago. I come by from time to time to check on things. I saw the seal of the door had been bypassed so I came in to see if there was any damage which is when I found you. Are you sure you are alright?"

Ukyo frowned as she once more pressed her mind to remember. "No... I don't know. I can't remember."

"What are you doing here?" the priest finally asked.

"This is my family's shrine. I came here to... rest."

The priest went wide eyed at hearing this. "Your family? That means you must be his descendant."

"His?"

"Our founder, the one who had us look after this place. It is good to hear that his family line continues on."

Ukyo finally stood up and examined the room for some clues. There was two plates laid out, one meal eaten, the other untouched. Was someone here? That's silly, why wouldn't I remember, she thought, but then a disturbing possibly came to her. Unless this injury is affecting my mind now. Dr. Tofu didn't say anything about it, but maybe he didn't know, or maybe I forgot that he told me.

As Ukyo's expression grew more worried the priest examined her. "Your aura seems a little... off, young lady. You... have not by chance been using the burning soul?"

Ukyo turned quickly to the priest in surprise. "How do you know about that?"

"I know of all the techniques stored in this place, although I'm not a martial artist myself. We were told that technique was particularly dangerous and could damage an individual's energy system. I take it, then, that you have been using the technique."

"Yes," Ukyo admitted, slightly nervously.

"My goodness, then you should come back to my temple with me. I can treat you properly there."

"You know a treatment?" Ukyo asked in surprise.

"Yes, our founder gave it to us, along with many other recipes, although most I cannot use. Come, my temple is not far from here, only an hour or so."

"Recipes," Ukyo repeated in some confusion but decided not to question the man further for the moment. "Alright, hold on. I have to leave a note for Ranma, just in case."

XXXXX

Driving down the side street at a not all together safe speed, Chun Li and Saki approached the La Bac. In the passenger seat, Saki adjusted her wrist and fist guards in readiness, taking a moment to examine her companion whose outfit now essentially matched her doppleganger's.

Noticing the attention, Chun Li explained. "It's the same outfit I fought Bison in. It may not look it, but its very functional."

"I'll take your word for it," Saki replied.

"Nervous?"

"Somewhat. I'll be honest. I've fought a lot of tough fighters in my day, but not any of these supernatural sort. I'm not sure how to approach that."

"Don't worry about it," Chun Li replied. "All those supernatural light shows are nice, but they are no substitute for the basics. I've fought a fair share of people myself, and I've seen more than one idiot lose to a person using only the fundamentals simply because he thinks he so hot because he can toss a bit of ki around and relies too much on it."

"I'll keep that in mind." Finally finished with her adjustments, Saki could do little more than sit back and wait to arrive. As she did she began thinking, reviewing the day's events for any little tidbit of info that might be useful. At this point she needed any advantages she could get.

As she did, her mind came back to their briefing in the morning. It was then that she frowned. "Something doesn't fit here."

"What's that?"

Saki considered a moment. "You said this Bison was experimenting on girls."

"Yes. He was mixing some of his own genetics in with theirs."

"To make a battery for this gun of his."

"That's right."

"But you also said that none of them showed any significant power."

"Yes, we figure the experiments were so far a failure," Chun Li replied.

"Then why make Cammy? I mean, what's the point. When you do experiments, you go down a line of work, perfecting it. You don't waste your time reproving over and over again that it won't work. You'd think he would have moved on to other things before making such an investment on making a completely artificial person. If he could already make much more powerful clones of himself, why not try to perfect them instead?"

"That has been a bit of a puzzle to me too. A sort of minor mystery. Then again, there are a lot of mysteries when it comes to Bison, and there are many possibilities. Perhaps he already knew his clones were maxed out. Or, maybe they never actually survived. What we found at the remains of the site could have simply been a clone that never was awakened."

"Hmm, I suppose," Saki conceded.

Chun Li took a second to examine Saki who was still frowning. "What you thinking?"

"I don't know. This whole thing seems so darn odd. This freak job makes clones and genetic experiments that go no where, kidnaps Kasumi to be a battery but he has no gun to plug her into, not to mention him just keeps coming back from the dead seemingly... I just don't get it. I feel like we're missing something."

"At this moment, we're missing lots of things. We can only hope to get some answers when we go in."

"Assuming they haven't moved her. They could have been warned."

Chun Li considered this then shook her head. "I don't know your boss very well, but he strikes me as a man of conviction, no matter what he's messed up in. He may not directly help us, but I don't think he'd directly hinder us either."

Saki thought about that and had to agree. Besides, if he had wanted to stop Saki he could have had her arrested. Technically she still was simply on probation at his discretion and he could revoke it at any time.

As Chun Li turned the last corner, an interesting sight could be seen through the windshield. Gathered just out of sight of the La Bac, around the side of a nearby building, a large crowd stood. Saki immediately recognized almost her entire class, as well as Hinako, Dr. Tofu, Frost, and numerous others.

Stopping the car, Chun Li took a second to marvel at this. "Well, I guess your friend really did spread the word. We may have a chance here after all."

End Chapter 34

Next time in A Scary Thought: Everyone is gathered and it's time to move onto the attack. However, their enemies are not just going to roll over and they rush their preparations.

For those a bit confused on the crossovers: Usagi, Rei, Minako, Makoto, Ami, Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, Setsuna, Luna, and Artemis are all from Sailor Moon. Kitsune has her ties to the X-files, but only in that she's a fanatic of similar interests rather than appearing in said show. Saki and Sampei are from Sukeban Deka. You may also notice Frost borrowing a spell from here or there; in particular Gargoyles and Illusionaries are two prime targets. Speaking of Gargoyles, if you're a fan of the series you may have already figured this out, but La Bac is Cabal spelt backwards. Also Gen-U-Tech is also a business from Gargoyles. Does that mean this is a Gargoyles cross over? Haven't decided, could just be me stealing ideas ^_^. Anyway, besides that we have Chun Li, Rose, Shadow Lady and Shadow, and the previously shown Karin and Sakura which come from Street Fighter series (Rose, Karin and Sakura from Street Fighter Alpha 3, Shadow and Shadow Lady from Marvel vs Capcom, and Chun Li from much of the Street Fighter series). As for Ranko, well she's from my other major fanfic, Most Unlikely of Friends, although you can largely consider her standard Ranma trapped in female form for most purposes.

If you wish to check out my other works, or those of some other authors I know who write other Altered Destines, check out my Fanfiction website at:

.com

All the previous chapters of this series can be found there.

Well, that concludes things for this chapter. Later.

"WAIT! What about me? You promised!"

Oh right... Okay, I suppose you can have the floor.

"Wohoo!"

XXXXX

And now folks it's time for Kitsune's Corner! What do you think? Too cliché? Bah, I'm a conspiracy theorist, not a creative writer!

"Really, could have fooled me, with all those-"

Shut up, you!

Now, down to business. This will be our new segment where I get to reveal all the juicy inside info on our various Nerima residents.

"And shortly there after have all that information erased from your memory."

WHAT? That's so not fair!

"Can't be helped, sorry, plot integrity and all."

Darn it! Well, whatever. On with the program, and since this is our first installment, it's only natural that we start with... me.

My full name is Kitsune Maruda. Sometimes people comment on the similarities with a certain Fox Mulder, but I don't see it. That guy is just a loon! Anyway, I'm 16 years old (like most our cast). My father is Japanese but my mom is American. They're not together anymore, sadly, but they get along well enough. As such I have spent a good part of my life in the good old U S of A. I'm also fluent in both Japanese and English.

As you have no doubt guessed by now, I was kicked over to Furinkan for fear that I would learn the truth!

"Hey, no lies!"

Okay, okay, truthfully I got sent over here because I was freaking out most the student population with theories about the lunch lady doing secret government experiments on the students by spiking the food. But, you have to admit, that stuff was not fit for human consumption, experimental or not. Oh yeah, and there was... a few other things too...

"Uh huh..."

They don't need all the details. Now, moving on...

Sadly, unlike most our cast, I'm not super human. I'm just a regular girl. Oh, I've picked up a self defense move here and there, but I wouldn't last 5 seconds against a real fighter. But, not to worry, I'm really good at talking my way out of trouble.

Also, I have no love interests at the moment, no time for that stuff. There are far too many conspiracies to reveal to be busy with boys.

Hmm, that's about it for now, but feel free to send in your questions and I'll try to answer them next time. Oh, and speaking of next time, we'll talk about... hmm. Hey Wade, who we doing next time?

"I don't know. I don't think that far ahead."

A lot of help you are! Fine, we'll do the vampire.

"Vampire?"

Frost.

"She's not a vampire!"

Surrrrre she's not.

"Look here you, I made the character up and I know for a fact she's not a vampire!"

Whatever. Until next time folks.