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.

63. Chapter 63: Meetings and Departure

Ranma ½

A Scary Thought:

What happened last time: Relationships were drawn to a close, Herb and Ranma came to an understanding while Usagi and Ukyo both looked to their own improvement.

Chapter 63

Early morning in Nerima saw Akane on her way to school, or more accurately on her way to Dr. Tofu's. It was a common side trip on her way to school as his clinic was essentially on the route. Akane had a whole host of excuses to visit, and today was little different as she had decided to pay Selene a visit, or so she would claim.

On arrival at the clinic, though, she found the doctor not present, and just a sign set out saying he'd be back in a half hour. 'Drat. Guess I'll try tomorrow,' she thought before noticing Mousse coming out from the back. "Mousse," she greeted. "Haven't seen you in a long time."

The boy started at the unexpected greeting, but quickly reset and walked over. "Uh, yeah, I've been busy."

"Hmm," Akane murmured.

"Looking for Tofu? You just missed him," Mousse said.

"Figured. Is Selene about?"

Mousse hesitated but shook his head. "No. She's uh... doing something for Frost I think."

"Oh. Guess Frost will be taking her..."

"No, actually. She said Selene can stay behind," Mousse said.

Akane brightened at hearing this. "Great! Frost doesn't seem to treat her very well."

"Uh... yeah," Mousse said. "You on your way to school?"

"Yeah, guess I should get going. If you can, say hello to Tofu and Selene for me. Seeya," Akane said and headed out. She didn't make it far before finding Mousse rushing to catch up. "Hmh?" she responded as she continued to walk.

"I... uh... Selene kinda told me what you said... about me and Shampoo," Mousse said

"Oh?" Akane replied, not sure how to take that.

Mousse hung his head. "I... think you were right," he said sadly. "And... I've decided to... stop pursuing them."

Akane blinked in surprise at this, but after a moment nodding approvingly. "That's very mature of you."

"You think so?"

"Wasting your life chasing after someone not interested isn't good for you or them. Realizing that is important, and not easy," Akane said, but her own words seem to deflate her some.

Mousse silently frowned, all too aware of what topic she was worried about. "Sure, but that doesn't mean you give up prematurely when there are just some bumps in the road," he said, causing Akane to look back up. "For me and Shampoo... I've had a long time to try and work things out and they just aren't. It was well past time to call it. I just didn't want to accept it."

Akane thought about this and nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah, exactly," she agreed, causing Mousse to mirror her smile. Said smile quickly turned to horror though as a downpour of water came over the hedge next to the road, dousing him.

"AH! Sorry, sorry!" A woman called out, looking cautiously out onto the road. "No wolf this time? Good," she muttered.

"It's alright, we're fine, just a bit wet," Akane assured the woman. "I'm good, but you look to have gotten drenched." Mousse stood before Akane in shock and nodded. "You okay."

"Uh... yeah, fine," he managed to get out. "I better go get changed."

"Yeah, well, seeya around then, if you're staying around?" Akane asked.

"I... haven't decided yet," Mousse replied.

"Well, if you do decide to leave, be sure to say goodbye, okay?" Akane said and waved before heading off.

As Akane left, Mousse watched her go just long enough not to draw attention then immediately rushed off.

Not two minutes later he barged into Tofu's clinic, shouting, "FROST!"

"I'm right here you dope, you don't need to yell!" Frost snapped back from her usual room. Mousse rushed to the door of said room, finding Frost meeting him there with a frown. "What, finally here for revenge? If so, bring it on!"

"No!" Mousse quickly answered before looking about. "It's about my... curse," he said quietly.

"What now?" Frost replied tiredly, making way to allow him to follow her back into her room. "And this better be good. I have to pack to leave tomorrow morning."

Mousse closed the door behind them. "Something is wrong! I didn't transform."

Frost looked back at the boy confused. "You look male to me," she said.

"Nono, I mean to a cat. I got hit with cold water... and nothing!"

"Don't be ridiculous," Frost countered with a skeptical frown. "It was probably just warm enough not to hit the threshold temperature."

"Then try it yourself," Mousse urged.

Frost continued her frown before sighing. "Fine, fine, just to prove you're an idiot," she said and produced a thermos she kept with her. Unscrewing the lid, she emptied the content on Mousse but just as he claimed, nothing happening prompting her to go wide eyed in shock.

"See!"

"There is no way..." she muttered as she started looking him over.

"You screwed something up, didn't you?!" Mousse accused.

"I did not, and shut up!" Frost barked as she continued her analysis. "Nothing unstable I can see. Hold on a sec," she said and walked over to a box and retrieved a small medallion. "Put this on," she ordered but Mousse looked at it skeptically. "It isn't going to do anything to you. It is just a simple mana sensor. Put it on," she said more forcefully, and reluctantly he complied.

Frost examined the medallion and shook her head. "Nothing... what the hell?" she muttered.

"You DID break something!" Mousse once more accused.

"I did not! It makes no sense. Herb's been transforming back and forth no problem or I would have heard something. Is this your first time trying to turn back to a cat?" Frost asked and Mousse nodded. "Okay, maybe it just works one way... but why just for you?"

"I don't know!"

"I'm not talking to you!" Frost snapped. "Okay, let's try this..." she said after a second and chanted a quick spell before extracting an elaborate magical circle diagram from Mousse.

"What's that?"

"It's your curse formula, or at least what we can see of it that isn't magically obscured," Frost replied. "Jusenkyo curses are so weird they block the normal analysis spell somewhat... what the hell..."

"Is it bad? Am I going to die?" Mousse asked in growing panic.

"Shut up, you're fine," Frost barked before returning to the diagram. "It... how the..." she muttered as Mousse stood in tense silence. Frost tilted her head and scowled before brightening just slightly. "Try... shapeshifting."

"But I'm not-"

"I know, just do it!" Frost ordered.

Mousse frowned this time but complied. 'What good is that going to do? I'm not in cursed form... what?!' he thought and much to his shock his form shifted easily to that of his female human as he commanded. "No way!"

"Yeah, that a... that checks," Frost said. "Try going back now."

"Huh?" Mousse said in confusion before realizing her intent. With a slight concentration his form indeed shifted right back to male. "It worked!"

Frost looked at the medallion Mousse was still wearing and nodded. "And no reaction from the medal... yep... but how... that makes no sense... it is like a million... no billion to one shot."

"What is?"

Frost growled in irritation at the question but after a second decided to answer anyway. "I'm guessing, somehow, in some monumental stroke of luck, the other magics I cast on you fixed the trigger mechanism on the curse magic."

"What? What do you mean, fixed it?"

"The curses weren't originally curses. Jusenkyo was likely made by the Moon Kingdom as I now know, and originally had some other purpose, but something broke the magic, specifically the trigger mechanism. So now anyone getting a magic enchantment there can't control the trigger, and only the water trigger portion remains. I'm guessing that was some kind of safety backup."

"But it's not working anymore," Mousse said.

"Of course not. The backup isn't needed when the main mechanism is functioning."

Mousse looked down at himself. "But... how? When? I transformed back initially, right?"

"It might have been when I released you from the binding. That might have been it, but it might have been earlier when you had your curse unlocked. Unlike Herb, there are a number of magics on you, and it seems like it is particularly interacting with the familiar part."

Mousse blinked at this. "But then why would I... I may have done so without even realizing it. I desperately wanted to be male again so when I thought I could-"

"Exactly, you may have commanded the transformation just as you thought the transformation would have taken hold. I'm guessing this time before you came here you didn't want to."

"Desperately not!" Mousse agreed quickly. "Does that mean you can fix everyone's-"

"No!" Frost quickly interjected. "Like I said, it is a million... billion to one shot. The spells must have interacted very subtly to pull this off. I highly doubt I could replicate it, not to mention the number of magics involved is actually rather troubling, and at least one of them is that love pill."

"Right," Mousse said.

"I mean, I'll definitely have to try and see... but, don't go spreading this around. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up."

"Right... you're pretty much the only one besides Shampoo who even knows about my curse. Should I tell her?"

Frost frowned, but slowly nodded. "Yeah, maybe best or she could get super confused if you get drenched accidentally, but make sure to tell her I probably can't replicate it and she too should keep it to herself."

"Right," Mousse said with a nod.

"Bloody hell," Frost said, suddenly holding her head. "I got enough things on my plate. I'm going to need a spring of drowned triplets to have any hopes of getting through everything!"

Mousse frowned. "You're sure I'm okay. This isn't going to blow up in a week or anything?"

"You're fine. Just keep the medallion and if it starts glowing, then you can worry, as that means the mana is seeping out and the magic is unstable, but given how powerful Jusenkyo curses are, if it isn't seeping out already, it is probably fine."

"Probably?" Mousse asked in worry.

"Yes, probably!" Frost snapped back. "I can't say for sure but you're worried over a tiny chance. You're more likely to get hit by a meteor. If the medallion does glow, use that communicator at Kasumi's place to contact Jasmine and I'm sure we can do something... hopefully."

Mousse frowned. "You're not inspiring confidence," he muttered.

"Even if it does destabilize, that's probably a good thing as we could slowly drain the curse till it is dead of energy, just have to do so in a controlled manner. So, you'll be fine... unfortunately," she added, causing Mousse to give her a flat look. "In case it wasn't obvious, you can probably do your cat form... or I guess forms too."

"Forms?"

"Male and female. You have two curses, remember? You already have shown you can split off the female one, so no reason you can't split off the cat one by itself too," Frost said but before he could ask any more questions Frost quickly waved him off. "Enough already. Out! I have packing to do, and you just gave me more troubles to think about."

Mousse took the hint and exited the room. Once outside though, he headed to another nearby examination room with a full length mirror and after ensuring he was alone concentrated for a moment. Sure enough his form shrank down to cat size and a new cat came out of his clothes. 'She was right. I can do it,' he thought as he examined his new male cat form in the mirror. 'Look almost like a male version of Luna,' he remarked in reference to his coloring before quickly shifting to his normal female cat form, then finally back to his normal human form. 'Doesn't even feel draining at all. I bet I can maintain any of these forms as long as I want now.'

As he contemplated this and redressed he once more took note of the medallion. "Maybe... better not use it too much," he muttered.

XXXXX

The school day was coming to a close and with it Kitsune was at her locker, switching out her supplies in preparation for heading home when suddenly Saki appeared. "Hey Saki, didn't see you and Sampei in class today-" she started to say before Saki interrupted.

"Did you know?!" Saki forcefully asked, shocking Kitsune.

"Uh... know what?"

"Did you know?!" Saki repeated even more forcefully, but with a bit of franticness about her as well.

Kitsune blinked in total confusion at this and shook her head before saying, "Okay, calm down and back up. Know what?"

Saki mirrored the blinking before taking in a quick breath and saying, "I went with Sampei today to his... marriage meeting."

"Okay..."

"And... she was there. It was really her!" Saki said as if it was a great revelation but this only further confused Kitsune.

"I'm not a mind reader, Saki... although that would be an awesome super power, but never mind that, I don't possess said power. Her who?" Kitsune replied in mild annoyance.

"My sister!"

Kitsune processed this for a few seconds, remembering at last a throwaway joke the other day. "Oh! No, oh gods no. I didn't know... wait, you're really serious right? You're not joking?"

"Of course, you think I'd joke about something like this?!" Saki asked in a brief bout of frustration.

"Wow... what are the odds?" Kitsune pondered aloud before smiling. "But hey, whatever, this is great, right? You found your sister."

"Great?! This is a disaster!"

"What?!" Kitsune replied now even more confused than when this all started. "Now you're making no sense at all! How is this a disaster?"

"She... I never wanted her to see me... like... this!" Saki answered, but once more this only served to confuse Kitsune. "Like... a delinquent!"

Kitsune once more processed this for several seconds before bursting into laughter, much to Saki's shock and chagrin. "You can't be serious," Kitsune said through her laughter, but, seeing Saki merely glare at her, reset. "Saki, seriously girl, what are you thinking? First, I'm sure you didn't go in there with some new tattoos and smoking a cigarette or something right?"

"Of course not!" Saki answered reflexively.

"Then what are you worried about?" Kitsune said more seriously. "What, were you planning to play at being some super cultured noble woman or some stupid thing like that?"

"I... well, no..." Saki said.

"Exactly, so you're worried over nothing. Any act you put on now will fall apart soon enough. Better for her to see the real you right away and not get into some web of delusions," Kitsune advised, the words giving Saki pause.

Saki hung her head in thought. "I... you're right," she finally admitted, but then looked up. "But what am I supposed to tell her about our... parents?"

Kitsune cringed and then shrugged. "Yeah, that's a bit of a sticky topic if she doesn't know. Still, you might as well tell her the truth. No point hiding it. Sooner or later she'll find out."

Saki looked away in consideration. "I... don't know."

"Up to you," Kitsune conceded. "Hmm, surprised that the organization you work for didn't know about her, though. Doesn't sound like she was that hard to find."

Saki looked back at Kitsune with a sudden frown. "Yeah... awfully convenient that," she agreed. "You'll excuse me. I have to go talk to a certain someone," she said and without further word marched off.

"Someone's in for an earful," Kitsune noted.

XXXXX

Nodoka blinked in sheer shock at what she had just heard from Kasumi and Shampoo. After nearly a full minute she finally spoke. "This... this is quite the situation. Have you told anyone else?"

"No," Kasumi replied with a shake of her head. "And I'd prefer not to."

"Wise," Nodoka replied, then frowned. "So you need some questions... hmm."

"I have to speak to Akane and Nabiki on another matter, actually," Kasumi hinted and Nodoka waved her off.

"Go on. It will take me a few minutes to think up some good ones. Is that a matter I should know about too?"

"Uh... perhaps, but it is more... personal in nature," Kasumi replied.

Nodoka considered then shrugged. "Very well. Go on then, but I expect to be informed if it does turn out to be important."

"Oh, I'm sure you will be," Kasumi said with a slight smile before heading off and leaving Shampoo with Nodoka.

"Hmmm," she thought aloud before smiling. "Oh, that should be a good one for starters. Ask her what was the first thing she said to me when we first met."

Shampoo puzzled a little at this before nodding.

"As for the others... it is a bit difficult. You want ones that both of us would remember clearly. Give me a few minutes dear, want to consider this carefully," she said before changing the topic slightly. "How are things with you and Kasumi?" she asked idly.

"Is okay," Shampoo replied.

"That's good. With this whole Musk business, I thought things might be a bit tense."

"Is not Kasumi's fault," Shampoo responded.

"Well, you and Kasumi do have a particular part in this whole mess, so I think there is little threat to it," Nodoka commented to Shampoo's puzzlement.

"What you mean?"

"After all, all of Kasumi's other suitors are men... well, I suppose Herb can take the form of a woman, but I would assume that little interests him," Nodoka explained and Shampoo nodded as Nodoka continued on in silent thought.

'Little interests him...' Shampoo echoed in her mind. 'Does it... little interest Kasumi... being a man with me...' she wondered with renewed worry. She lightly shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought, but it stubbornly remained. 'Maybe Kitsui was right...'

Shampoo's thought was pushed aside as Nodoka brightened as another question came to her.

XXXXX

At the girl's dorm Usagi sighed as she looked over her school work. "I hate studying," she quietly remarked.

Across from her, Minako nodded in agreement. "I hear you. So dull... I don't know how you can stand going to cram school, Ami."

"I enjoy it, actually," Ami replied without even looking up from her work.

Both Minako and Usagi cringed slightly while Makoto, who was also with them, merely chuckled.

"Say, did you guys get called into the office too yet?" Minako asked.

"About the evaluations? Yes," Ami replied. "I was cleared to return," she said.

"Not like you should have been here in the first place," Usagi said. "Still surprised they let that go."

"I suspect had either I or my mother complained they would have reconsidered, but since I did not, and encountered my mother not to, they let it go by," Ami replied. "It was an opportunity at the time, and given all that we have learned here, I think it was indeed time well spent. Still, mother is very eager to have me return."

"You should," Makoto encouraged. "It isn't like we're that far apart. I'm staying though."

"You didn't get cleared?" Minako asked in surprise but Makoto shook her head.

"Oh no, I was easily cleared, but I want to train more, and I really want to try out work at this new restaurant setup," Makoto explained. "How about you two?"

Usagi hung her shoulders. "I got cleared, but mom says I should stay."

"Why?" Minako asked.

"My grades are way up," Usagi answered with a sigh.

"Oh..." Makoto and Minako said in knowing response.

"Almost thought your parents would want you back with that whole disappearing for several days thing," Makoto added.

"Yeah," Usagi said, remembering with no fondness her brief stint in the control of the nanomachines. "But, honestly, not like that hasn't happened a few times back there too, so I guess they're used to it. I suppose it is fine though. I just arranged to do that training with Kasumi. Hard to do that unless I stay."

"Hmm, true. I'm cleared, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back or not," Minako said.

"What, you aren't going to stick around with your new boyfriend?" Makoto joked with a smile but on seeing Minako grow suddenly nervous frowned. "Don't tell me you two broke up already?!"

"Well... I... yes," Minako admitted, dropping her head to the table.

"What happened?" Usagi asked in surprise.

"I... uh... kinda... missed a date... or two... or three... in a row," Minako said with a cringe.

"Yeah, one is forgivable, two is pushing it, three, I'm totally in agreement he should dump you," Makoto said with a flat look and crossed arms.

"It wasn't my fault... okay, it was partly my fault, but things came up... and I forgot the one time... and I totally didn't realize the other time I had to do something else at the same time... I'm terrible, aren't I?"

"Yes!" Makoto replied and even Ami had to nod in agreement. "You at least apologized, I hope?" Makoto asked.

"Of course I did, but by the third time... yeah."

While Usagi listened to her friends' banter, her mind turned to her own issues. 'I still haven't talked with Seiya... I can't keep avoiding it,' she thought.

XXXXX

As the day came to a close, Kasumi was preparing for the evening with very mixed feelings. "Perhaps I should stay awake," she suggested from the bathroom.

"No worry. Shampoo be fine. No even know if can get back in," Shampoo replied from the bedroom. "Shampoo wake you if any trouble."

'I suppose, but it doesn't make me any less nervous,' Kasumi thought. In theory Shampoo was safe, but this whole business with her false mother was putting her on edge.

As she was thinking about this, Shampoo came into the bathroom. As was her usual, Shampoo wore little more than an oversized shirt top to sleep, but by now Kasumi was more than used to it. Still, when she hugged Kasumi from behind, the closeness still caused Kasumi some momentary distraction.

"Everything be fine," Shampoo assured her with a tight squeeze.

Kasumi considered and nodded at last and Shampoo released her, allowing the older girl to turn to her. As she did, she found Shampoo in thought. "Something wrong?"

"No," Shampoo replied easily before looking at Kasumi with a sudden seductive smile and taking Kasumi's hands in her own. "Come," she insisted, pulling lightly towards the bedroom.

"Just give me a moment," Kasumi said looking back at the sink, but Shampoo pulled more insistently.

"No, stay like that. We try something different," Shampoo said.

Kasumi blinked, but allowed herself to be pulled along. "Uh... okay," she said.

XXXXX

Sometime later, Shampoo, now spirit walking, overlooked Kasumi sleeping peacefully next to herself. 'It's not that bad I suppose,' she thought of the evening's activity before smiling, 'it at least distracted Kasumi.' Nodding to herself she tried to focus her spirit sense in search of the door.

As with all the times before, she could feel it, but it was totally unlike the feeling she got from her physical environment, a presence that was there yet not. 'So Pu did something like this, disappearing, yet being there, but how do I get in like this?' she wondered. She reached out and passed her hand through Kasumi to no effect, but such was expected. 'It is no good. It sorta feels like it is in Kasumi, but not really. Almost want to talk to So Pu,' she thought but quashed the thought with a frown.

'Okay, let's think about this. That weird mind thing Rose did allowed us to see into Kasumi's mind, and I could see it there and touch it. I can't do that trick myself, but it was just a complex illusion... like a mental landscape... a little bit like mediation imagery," she thought, remembering the talk with Usagi from the other day. 'Could I maybe just imagine it having a form?' she pondered and with a shrug decided to try.

Concentrating, she visualized the gateway seemingly standing in front of her. Once satisfied with the result she reached out.

In an instant she found the familiar sensation of a body that was hers yet not around her, and a grassy field surrounded her. 'Guess it worked.'

"Hello again," Kimiko greeted, gaining Shampoo's attention. Shampoo examined the woman for a moment. There was nothing to her looks that was out of place. Still, she knew she could not be real. With a grim look, Shampoo approached. As she reached the edge of the picnic blanket, Kimiko gestured for her to sit. "Come... I don't bite... I think." Shampoo frowned, but then nodded and sat down opposite Kimiko. "Shampoo, right?"

"Yes," Shampoo confirmed.

"Kasumi's alright?" Kimiko asked and Shampoo nodded. "That's good. I get the feeling this isn't really a social call, but before we begin, if I might..?" Kimiko asked and Shampoo nodded once more prompting Kimiko to continue. "What am I?"

Shampoo blinked in surprise causing Kimiko to sigh. "I get the feeling you don't know either," she said. "I've known since the moment I awoke here that I'm... not... real? Not exactly the right word, but it is hard to explain."

"We... no know what you are. That was going to ask," Shampoo responded.

"Then we both don't know," Kimiko said and looked off at the field. "My last memory before meeting Kasumi was being in the hospital, sick as all could get out, and with a very dire prognosis. I didn't make it, did I?"

"No," Shampoo answered. "Kimiko Tendo die around ten year ago."

Kimiko nodded. "Given how old Kasumi looked, that seems about right. Still, weirdly I knew who she was instantly with no doubts in my mind. And this body..." she said, flexing her hands. "It feels... GREAT, too good in fact. I haven't felt this good in years."

"You is younger than even should be," Shampoo said, regaining Kimiko's attention.

"Oh? How old do I look?"

"Mid twenty or so," Shampoo answered.

"Oh yes, that's far too young," Kimiko replied. "Forgive me, you're not a native Japanese speaker, are you? Would you prefer to talk like this?" Kimiko asked in Mandarin, once more surprising Shampoo. "I know, right. I don't recall ever having learned Mandarin... I don't recall any way I would know you know it either, but you do, don't you?"

"Yes. I'm from a village in China," Shampoo answered back in her native tongue.

"Hmm," Kimiko muttered and she pondered. "As I said, I've known I'm somehow not real since I awoke, and I know many other things as well that I can't even fathom how I know. For instance, I know you've been gone from here for many days, but to my knowledge only a few moments have passed since you left."

"Nearly a week, yes," Shampoo replied and Kimiko nodded.

Kimiko looked around the great field surrounding them. "I also know this place is... home. Never seen it before in my life, and looks rather empty, yet I know it is where I should be when at rest," she said then frowned. "However, I also feel like there is a... cloud in my mind, where knowledge I should have is... absent. I know, sounds kinda weird but that is the best way I can think to describe it. Almost like I'm still partly asleep." She sighed and returned her attention to Shampoo. "I don't suppose you have any theories at least?"

Shampoo nodded. "Three."

"Well, please, do go on," Kimiko urged.

Shampoo paused to think but soon began. "First, you could be a demon, or another being disguised as Kimiko."

"Yes, that doesn't sound good. I don't think I am, but I suppose it is possible I might not even be aware of such if the disguise is very thorough. You don't seem particularly convinced by such an idea though?"

Shampoo frowned and shook her head. "To do such a thing so convincingly, you'd need to be very powerful, able to read Kasumi's mind, and respond perfectly to her. I can sense spirits and yours is... normal."

"Not that of a powerful demon?" Kimiko confirmed and Shampoo nodded. "Well, that's good. Besides, what kind of foolish demon would disguise themselves as a person someone knows is dead, and not even get the look right? So, I guess if I am some demon or such I'm not very good at my job."

Shampoo smiled slightly at this before continuing. "Second, you are a homunculus."

"A what now?"

"Artificial human," Shampoo reworded.

"Oh, so kinda like a clone then? I see, that... makes sense I suppose. If I was artificial perhaps the process would make me look younger, and naturally this body wasn't in that stupid fight I got into in my youth so never got that injury so I'd feel much better. Still, you don't seem very satisfied with that answer either."

Shampoo shook her head. "No. Again, your spirit is a problem. A new homunculus is... well, new. It should have a spirit like a child's, not a full grown woman."

"And I have a full grown woman's spirit?" Kimiko confirmed and Shampoo nodded. "Hmm... okay, and the third idea?"

"You're a Kimiko from another dimension," Shampoo replied.

Kimiko immediately shook her head. "I think we can pretty safely rule that one out. I don't recall any weird dimensional happenings, and as I said, I have memories right up to my stay in the hospital... probably right up to the moment of my passing. Although, I suppose if we combined your second idea somehow with your third..."

Shampoo tilted her head to the side as she considered this. "Is... possible."

"If so, I might be little different than the real Kimiko, although I notice that is your last theory and you never proposed Kimiko being brought back from the dead."

"No. Spirits don't normally linger so it is impossible to truly bring someone back unless their spirit is still around."

"Right, and I died ten years ago, doubtful my spirit would have hung around to conveniently be revived now," Kimiko said and sighed. "Well, unless you know for sure I'm some form of real Kimiko, I guess it is only best for you to treat me like some sort of imposter, especially as I know I'm not the real thing, even if I don't know exactly what that means."

"I have some questions," Shampoo said.

"Questions?" Kimiko echoed.

"Yes, to see if you got your memories from mind reading," Shampoo explained.

"Oh... but wouldn't I just read the correct answers from your mind?" Kimiko asked.

"I don't know the correct answers," Shampoo explained.

"Oh! Yes, I see. You ask the questions, and compare my answers later with the person who does know the answers. Clever... assuming I can't read their mind somehow remotely, but that seems like a stretch. Okay, shoot!" Kimiko said eagerly, crossing her legs in front of her.

Shampoo took a moment to set herself then asked, "Nodoka asked these questions. The first is, what was the first thing you said to her when you first met?"

Kimiko took a second then burst into laughter to Shampoo's confusion. "Oh, she would ask that. Yeah, not too many know about that. Just me, Soun and Nodoka. Let's see... umm... Yeah, I sorta called her a stuck up bitch," Kimiko said with a smile at the memory, much to Shampoo's shock. "I was... very standoffish back then, and I got the completely wrong impression from Soun about her. Purely my own fault. My goodness, I'm glad Soun was there to soothe things over. That would have been quite the mess. Hmm, I never did apologize to her properly about that, and sadly for you, my memory of this is very clear. It doesn't seem very artificial at all. Assuming it is correct, would you mind carrying my apology to her?"

"I... I will," Shampoo said.

"Good, next?"

"Um... she wanted to know what you talked about when you were first discussing switching Ranma and Kasumi."

Kimiko frowned and leaned back in thought. "Hmm, that wasn't near as colorful an event. I recall saying something like I've never raised a boy before and wanted advice and she pointed out she had never raised a boy before either so any advice she would give would be outdated," Kimiko said. "Can't argue with that logic. I believe I told her Kasumi would be no trouble. We talked about some other details, but nothing particularly interesting. Ranma was the younger one so she was mostly briefing me on his various habits.

"Oh goodness, did he and Akane get married at last?"

Shampoo shook her head. "The engagement has been changed to Kasumi."

"Kasumi?!" Kimiko echoed in confusion. "You mean to say we pulled that whole switch for nothing?!" Shampoo nodded. "UGH! I should have been more firm when I said the whole idea was stupid! You know what went wrong... actually, never mind. That's not the matter at hand and hardly matters anyway. Next question."

Shampoo nodded and continued. "Lastly, what was the last thing you talked about with Nodoka?"

"Ah, in the hospital," Kimiko said and sighed. "I recall me being all 'don't worry, I'll be fine,' and knowing damned well I wouldn't be. She saw right through me I think, but didn't really argue the point. I do recall suggesting she and Genma would have to help out with the kids as I doubted Soun could manage on his own."

"She did move in after Kasumi went on her training journey," Shampoo said.

"Training journey? Like, in martial arts? With Soun?"

"No, Genma," Shampoo replied.

"Oh dear lord! That buffoon probably got her into all kinds of trouble," Kimiko said. "Thankfully, she seems to have made it through it all. Right, questions, any more?"

Shampoo shook her head. "No, just those three for now."

"Okay, well, again, my memory of these times is pretty clear so I don't think you're going to get a nice easy answer about me, but who knows. Good, now then, if you would indulge me, may I ask some questions?" Kimiko asked and Shampoo nodded. "Good. You're a friend of Kasumi's, from China?"

"I'm... her wife," Shampoo replied.

Kimiko blinked before frowning. "Wait? Wife? You're serious? You are serious! How does that work?!" she finally exclaimed before quickly calming. "Uh... no offense to you..."

Shampoo sighed, collected her thoughts for a moment, and began explaining everything to Kimiko. Naturally as the story continued, Kimiko became increasingly shocked but remained largely quiet, simply listening.

"...And now we have to marry Herb too." Shampoo finished with a sigh.

"That's... that's it, right?" Kimiko confirmed and Shampoo nodded. "Cursed, in a... five way marriage... Caught in the middle of two Chinese factions... dear lord, no wonder she was stressed!"

Shampoo nodded in agreement to that. "At least Herb got the concession so that the marriage shouldn't expand any more... I think."

"You think?"

Shampoo hesitated. "I... honestly would like someone else to be with Herb, but the more I think about it the more unworkable that seems."

Kimiko frowned. "I see. I suppose I can't blame you," she said and sighed. "What a complete mess. Damn that Genma! I was right not to trust him! Well, nothing to do about it now." Kimiko calmed herself, closing her eyes to think. "If I might ask a question... why didn't you stop Kasumi?"

"Stop her?" Shampoo asked in confusion.

"From going into that place where you all apparently nearly died?" Kimiko clarified.

Shampoo hung her head. "Oh. I... I didn't really... I'm not sure."

Kimiko opened her eyes and examined Shampoo. "This Amazon law of yours, it says Kasumi is... or I guess was, the head of your marriage, right?" she asked and Shampoo nodded. "Was it that?"

Shampoo blinked in surprise and thought. "I... I don't know. Herb didn't stop her either."

"That's true," Kimiko conceded and once more went into thought. "I suppose the situation was complex, but I do get the impression both of you gave up too easily on your warning." Shampoo reluctantly nodded in acceptance of this. "I guess... I think you need to assert yourself more in situations like that. I don't know about your Amazon customs, but to me, whatever the nature of your marriage, you are her partner, not her follower. You must make up for her weaknesses, and when she's being too naive and you know it, you have to make her understand. Don't let up so easily when you think she's doing something she shouldn't.

"By the same token, I suppose, don't ignore her either. You should both try to reach at least a point of mutual understanding of the others' concerns, even if you don't see eye to eye on how to ultimately move forward."

Shampoo considered and nodded. "I'll try."

"Don't be afraid to seek some back up from those others too. If you're all going to be in this mess of a marriage, they'll have to step up too." Kimiko leaned back slightly to look at the sky. After a moment of silence she lifted her hand into view. "Of course, one wonders if you can even trust advice from a... thing you don't even know the true nature of."

"You don't seem like a thing to me," Shampoo replied, surprising Kimiko.

Kimiko refocused on Shampoo and smiled. "Perhaps you're too trusting... but thanks. Still... until you have some idea what I am, please advise Kasumi to treat me as... well... untrustworthy at the least. I hate saying it, but it is the only sensible way. Has she told Soun or her sisters?"

"No."

"Then probably don't, but I'll leave that for her to decide. It would probably cause them more distress than anything. I'm sure she's mixed up enough as is."

Shampoo nodded. "I'll tell her."

"Good," Kimiko sighed and looked at the door. "I wonder what happens if I touch that thing? Something tells me though it isn't the time to even try," she said and looked back at Shampoo. "Do keep an eye on Kasumi for me."

Shampoo nodded. "I will."

"Good, then off with you. Go talk to Nodoka and confirm everything, or not. It seems I don't experience time like you on the outside so next time we meet I'm guessing it won't be that long for me."

Shampoo nodded once more and rose back to her feet. With a final exchange of goodbyes, Shampoo returned to the door and exited, leaving Kimiko alone to consider.

"Hmh... Is this when I show my true colors and begin my evil laugh?" she asked with a smile before chuckling at her own joke. "Uh... not so much I guess," she said before looking back at the door in thought.

XXXXX

"You know, honestly, this actually confuses me more," Grenda said as Shampoo finished recounting the events of her encounter with Kimiko. She, Kasumi, Shampoo and Frost were gathered in a room within the castle for one last briefing. "And the answers she gave?"

"All correct, or near enough according to Nodoka," Kasumi said for Shampoo who confirmed with a nod.

"Yeah, figures," Grenda said and sighed. "So, somehow, she's got the real Kimiko's memories, right upto the time of her death, yet also knows she's not the real thing, and has a bunch of properties that are completely inconsistent with your mother. I just don't get it."

"What about her spirit age?" Kasumi asked. "If she is some duplicate..."

"Uh, not so fast on that front. I actually consulted with Teesha... uh, you remember her, the one who made those homunculi of you all?"

"Oh right, the one with the... horse."

"Mittens, yes, that's her. Anyway, she's a bit of an expert in the field. Not tops or anything, but she knows her stuff. So I discreetly ran the situation by her without explaining too much, and she had an interesting bit of input. She said one of the big problems they have with homunculi creation is time. It takes a lot of time to make good stable ones. Those spiders she used for you guys were like top of the line for quick production, and you saw how limited they were. Thing is, not only your mother, but both of you, also got homunculi bodies that are apparently considerably superior to those... like WAY superior.

"Why this is important is that apparently there is a whole branch of research on how to accomplish quick homunculi creation and the most effective means, in theory, seems to be to make homunculi blanks. Essentially they are generic bodies that can be customized in the moment for whatever form they need. Now, that's all theory as no one has really managed it outside of pretty trivial cases. As you saw from the spiders, while they were pretty good looking, internally they were nothing like you. What the important part is, though, is if someone did solve this problem, the blank could be kept in... cold storage as it were for a long time. Inactive yes, but that doesn't stop the spirit from growing completely. A thousand plus years... yeah, that might be enough to make it feel grown up," Grenda explained but then frowned.

"That said, it is very convenient that its spiritual age is so close. That's a lot of bother to go through to make a replica, just to have it admit openly it is a fake. It doesn't make sense," Genda said and crossed her arms.

"So, we're still not sure?" Kasumi asked.

"Honestly... I just don't know," Grenda said. "Like I said, I'm perhaps even more confused," she said before turning to Frost. "How about your end?"

"It is definitely Moon Kingdom in origin," Frost replied. "But, that's about all we know. They apparently had it in storage since... well, the Kingdom's inception practically. No warnings, no special mentions... Information is rather limited though."

"Still, that probably explains why it reacted. From what little we've gained from their records so far, nothing they've done to that thing has had an impact. So why it suddenly reacted is the question. That demon stole a lot of Jupiter's power before it fought you. I'm guessing during that fight with you, it used that same power and the doorway reacted to it and I'm guessing because you were in contact, imprinted on you somehow," Grenda suggested.

"The Jusenkyo curse may also factor in. Jusenkyo is also apparently made by the same person," Frost said to Grenda's surprise.

"Really? Well, then, yeah, that's definitely another strong possibility."

"So, now what?" Kasumi asked.

Grenda looked to Frost who shrugged and in a similar mindset sighed. "I guess... just be careful. I mean, nothing is pointing to it being harmful. We just have no idea what it is for. Maybe all it is some strange way to talk with departed relatives, and because it was realized the spirits don't match they shelved it as a failure... even so, that seems like a really odd thing to shelve. Surely it has wide uses beyond that? I don't know, but again, doesn't sound harmful. I'd just say... don't mess with it.

"I'll keep looking into it. There is still tons of documents in that place we have yet to crack that may have more info," Grenda said.

"And if the Senshi can find the workshop, it might have something too," Frost added.

"Workshop? Another Moon Kingdom thing?" Grenda asked to which Frost nodded. "Okay, well, whatever, point is, we're out of info at this time so just... play it safe."

Kasumi nodded sadly. "I understand."

"I can guess this is all rather... off putting for you," Grenda said sympathetically. "Just remember, even she admits she's not the real deal, and her advice is sound, don't trust her either."

"Yes, of course," Kasumi replied and with an approving nod Grenda turned to Frost. "How about you, you about ready to go?"

"Almost. I just have another bag-" Frost started to explain.

"Well, chop chop, girl. Don't want to keep Jasmine waiting. She gets cranky, and you don't want to see her cranky," Grenda advised, prompting Frost to rush off while the rest slowly followed, coming to the field outside where the exit to the pocket realm was located. "Hate taking your one magus away from you with all this stuff going on," Grenda commented as they arrived.

"It's alright. I'm sure we'll get by," Kasumi assured her.

"Yeah, but if you do have any serious troubles that you need a magus for, don't be afraid to contact Jasmine, okay? I mean, it better be serious, but..."

"I understand," Kasumi said with a smile as they arrived at the entrance portal and entered the restaurant.

The trio headed to the ground floor, arriving at the front door where Frost's other bags were currently stored. There they found Ranma and Herb, the two having apparently been in a conversation of their own. They greeted them and at that moment, a thought hit Grenda. "Oh right," she said suddenly and pulled out a bag. She reached within and with a strained grunt lifted out a small statue, one in the perfect likeness to a certain old pervert. "Do you know this little troll?"

Everyone else looked at the statue with uncertainty. Finally Kasumi spoke up. "What happened to him?"

"I caught this little pervert rifling through my dresser. I was fresh from the shower and wasn't wearing my glasses and... well this resulted," Grenda explained.

"Hmm," Kasumi said.

After another few seconds of silence, Ranma took over. "So... uh, is he alive?"

"It is like being in a suspension. I can reverse it," Grenda explained, looking over everyone and seeing no one eager to speak. She sighed and placed the statue on the front desk. "Okay, I can read the room," she said and pulled out a vial from the bag and placed it next to him. "If and when your conscience gets to you, pour the contents of that vial over him and he'll be right back to normal. Till then, put him in a closet somewhere. Should he wonder why it took so long, say getting the vial was troublesome."

Everyone collectively nodded.

"He could use a vacation. I think I know just the place," Kasumi said with a sudden smile and picked up the statue, Shampoo grabbing up the vial and the two headed off together.

Grenda chuckled and turned to head to the Karaoke bar to wait but Ranma called out to her. "Ah, miss... uh, Grenda right?"

"That's me," Grenda replied, turning back. "Something else I can help you with?"

"Uh... just a question, of a sort of magical nature," Ranma began and seeing Grenda silently urge him on, he continued. "I was just wondering if anyone has ever tried to do magic with ki instead of mana?"

Grenda tilted her head slightly. "Odd question. I suppose the answer is yes, but not to much success. While the two are definitely closely related, it's kinda like the relation between ice and water. You can make a sculpture out of ice, but not so much water."

"Right," Ranma said in disappointment.

"That's the primary issue. Magical incantations need a pretty static structure, and to form ki like that you need to constantly adjust it. It just isn't practical to do for anything complex. That's not to say ki use is inferior. I'm not a ki user myself, but I've heard it has many applications that are rather poor for mana too."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Thanks," Ranma said and headed off.

He made it only as far as the stairs though when he noticed Herb close behind him. "What?"

"You give up awfully easily," the prince commented.

"What? You heard the lady," Ranma said. "It is a dead end."

"She said it had not been very successful, not that it was completely useless," Herb replied, causing Ranma some interest. "I know something about the topic. The main issue is, like she said, ki desires to flow naturally. Thus, unlike mana, it can't easily be formed into complex structures needed for magic."

"So?"

"So, there is a way to make it flow in a controlled manner though. Your instructor, Hinako, is one such example," Herb said, causing Ranma's eyes to widen.

"Right... it flows naturally in living things, so if you alter the energy flow within those things you can get it to flow in a pattern," Ranma thought aloud but frowned. "Sounds awfully dangerous though, messing with someone's energy flows like that."

"Indeed, hence why it has been used to little success," Herb concluded as started to proceed up the stairs. "Still, given your current training and skill set, perhaps it is something you can indeed make use of in some... creative manner."

Ranma huffed at Herb, but as the prince left sight, nodded. 'Yeah, maybe I could.'

XXXXX

A man dressed in a suit entered a simple board room and took his seat at one end of the main table, placing his suitcase upon it. He looked down the table, seeing the other chairs occupied not by people, but instead by life sized puppets. Each was neatly sitting and identical, their bodies mostly made of seeming wood, and no distinct features. The only exception to this was at the opposite end of the table, a single chair occupied not by a puppet or person, but instead a pulsing mass of what one could only assume was tar. He eyed it for a moment, before opening his briefcase and removing a small golden bell which he promptly rang.

Instantly the puppets came to life, each shifting position. Some sat upright and back. Another few rested their elbows on the table in front of them. One even shifted to have its feet resting on the table casually. Even this one was not the outstanding one though. No, that was reserved for the single remaining puppet that remained still, unmoved from its original position. The puppet adjacent to it seemingly looked over then rapped the table in frustration before turning away.

"I see we're all here," the man said and set down the bell. "We'll deal with the matter of section 7 later. For now I want a progress report. Section 1?"

The 1st puppet on his right responded. "We're fully up and operational again."

"Very good work. Section 2?"

"Still in progress. Everyone is packed up, but many of our facilities are still looking for fresh locations," another puppet responded, its voice seemingly the same, but the slight differences in timing revealed it to be another speaker in control.

"Section 3?"

"Much the same. We'll need at least another month."

The man nodded, and the tale continued as each section reported in, skipping only 7.

"12?"

The final puppet groaned. "I have some branches being... difficult."

"You have informed them this is a central authority directive?"

"Yes. They keep making excuses for delays and haven't moved."

The man sighed and leaned back to think for a moment. "Very well. I will send the Assassin to speak with them more directly. If they don't comply, he will remove them."

The puppet hesitated then nodded. "Yes sir, thank you."

"Section 12 has always been a pain in the ass," the puppet with its feet upon the table commented.

"Yes, well, it seems everything is on pace," the man said. "I know this has been... trying-"

"You can say that again," Section 1's puppet said harshly. "You know how much sales I've lost because of this disruption!"

"We've all lost sales," Section 3's responded. "And what of section 7? What's left?"

The man rested his elbows on the table and his chin upon his laced fingers. "Not much. Several branch offices were cut off and didn't receive word before revealing themselves. This leaves less than half of its teams in operation, and naturally they all had to pick up and move promptly. Given the remains are so few, I'm considering dissolving section 7 and merging its remnants with neighboring sections, but a final tally of remaining assets will have to be conducted first. I'll remain as temporary controller for section 7 in the meantime."

Section 8's puppet growled angrily. "Whatever, I just want to know what happened. That was my sister..."

"Supposedly it was that stupid gorgon again," another section commented.

"Bullshit! There is no way in hell she could take my sister down," section 8 countered.

"Hey, I'm only telling you what the buzz is from the council. They say Devlin was in on it too," the other section puppet replied.

Section 8 scoffed, prompting the man to clear his throat, silencing everyone.

"I concur with Section 8's opinion. Grenda, while a significant annoyance, is simply not powerful enough to pull off an operation of this magnitude," the man said. "Even with Devlin's support, that still does not explain it. However, beyond the parties involved, even more concerning is how the site was compromised in the first place."

"Section 7 clearly was sloppy," Section 1 said, immediately earning the ire of Section 8.

Section 8 slammed its hands on the table. "My sister was more than capable."

"Apparently not since she isn't here to tell us anything," Section 1 countered, but the man interjected.

"Enough!" he calmly ordered, silencing both parties. "I trust all sections agree that it is a top priority to learn the details of this matter?" he asked and received only nods or silence in response. "Very well then. Inquisitor."

At the far end of the table, the tar took notable life at the name, seemingly shrinking only to suddenly reemerge shaped as a woman in a business suit. However, while a casual inspection might have mistaken her for human, the creepy, inhumanly wide smile on her face and the pitch black eyeballs easily gave away her inhuman nature. "Yes master?"

"All other priorities are rescinded. Your only task at this time is to investigate and learn the details of the attack on section 7's vault. I want to know who was involved, and most importantly how they found it," the man calmly instructed.

"Of course. I shall see to it. Given the limited resources available, however, I may require some assistance," the Inquisitor replied.

The man nodded. "Right. You have level 1 access. Contact me if you need anything."

"Very generous master. I will see it done."

The man nodded once again before waving her off. "You may be on your way. The rest of our business no longer concerns you."

The inquisitor slightly bowed before seemingly collapsing within herself and disappearing completely.

"Damn thing gives me the creeps," Section 8 commented.

"Gives us all the creeps," Section 1 replied.

"I expect full cooperation with the Inquisitor, like usual," the man said.

"Yeah, like I'm going to screw with that thing," another section replied. "Still want to know where the devil you found it."

The man huffed and ignored the question. "Let's move on to other matters..."

XXXXX

"Well, here we are," Grenda declared as she and Frost arrived at their destination. Frost looked about, seeing nothing but a fairly nondescript room and let a little disappointment show. "I know, underwhelming. Don't worry, the rest of the facility is far more interesting. Just take the door right in front there and head to the room at the end of the hall. That's the main study, and where she hangs out during the day most of the time," Grenda instructed.

"You're not staying?" Frost asked.

"I'm already going to get an earful for being away this long, and probably a massive earful for our little excursion... so I better get going. I do come by now and then, as does Jasmine's other Archmages, so you won't be too lonely," Grenda said with a smile before weaving a fresh teleportation spell and vanishing.

Frost took in a deep breath and headed off. The hall was just as nondescript as the entry room, little more than wooden paneling with a few scenery paintings to break it up. However, just as Frost was beginning to lower her expectations she opened the door to the study and stopped cold.

The room was circular, with bookshelves arranged in concentric circles within, with breaks in the stacks allowing movement between. Given the room had easily a footprint in excess of the San Cheng Huang's, this was already impressive. However, the fact it stretched up into the sky above with no easy end in sight, and had a glass floor showing more stacks on floors below that likewise stretched out below for equal distance was mind boggling.

Even this was not the end of it. Frost could see at the far end of the room a great window with a view out onto the landscape, showing her arrival point hand to be likely several hundred stories high in the air. "It has to be an illusion, right?" she asked openly as she walked forward to get a better look. As her angle improved she could see below, across the landscape, a giant spell engraved into the land. At about the mid-way point in the room, she noticed similar windows to her right and left, equally dividing the room, and they too showed similar views.

"It's HUGE!" Frost commented before rushing forward to the window to look down on it.

"It is also incomplete," Jasmine commented from above.

Frost looked up to see Jasmine seemingly floating above her, before looking down at her own feet and realizing the floor was not glass at all, and she too was similarly floating. As she was processing this, Jasmine gestured and Frost found herself floating up to Jasmine's level.

"I hear you've been busy," Jasmine commented before directing Frost to a nearby desk situated at the center of the room. "Take a seat," she directed.

"Right," Frost replied and turned to head to the desk before noticing a ghostly version of Jasmine walk by.

"And don't mind them, they're doing research," Jasmine said as she walked over and sat behind the desk.

"Uh, right," Frost responded and quickly continued on her way, sitting opposite Jasmine.

"Your books?" Jasmine asked in prompt and Frost quickly took them out and placed them on the desk where Jasmine started leafing through them quietly. Several minutes passed in silence, although Frost was still distracted by her new surroundings, now noticing even more ghostly versions of not only Jasmine but several other people, and even creatures, walking about the stacks.

"Is this... a general research facility?" Frost asked as a particularly demonic looking entity walked by a floor above them.

"Public? No, but I do allow those who have earned the privilege to make free use of it," Jasmine replied. "Honestly, only a few floors are useful to mages, as there is easy magic to do the heavy lifting for us, so the rest are mostly for more conventional needs."

"I... see..." Frost said.

"Hmm, I see a few 9th and even the start of the 10th circle in here," Jasmine commented, regaining Frost's focus.

"Well, they aren't really complete," Frost said.

"Yes, but they're close in several cases," Jasmine said before closing the last of the books and pushing the stack back toward Frost. "Pick a 9th and complete it."

"What? But I just-"

"You're an Archmage now, Frost. You have clearance all the way up to and including 10th so long as you go through me, and I'm giving the clearance for a 9th at this time. I'm not one to hold you back. If you can do 9th, get on it. After you show me you can do that, if you can pull off a 10th, I expect that too. Understand?" Jasmine said with a serious look to which Frost obediently nodded. "Good."

Jasmine leaned back slightly in her chair and looked out the window. "What you see out there is my in progress 13th circle spell."

"13th?!" Frost echoed in shock.

"Yes. It is a bit of an ongoing challenge between all the 12th circle mages to see who can manage the first successful 13th. Honestly, I'm a bit behind, but there is no guarantee the current leader won't hit a setback or outright fail, so I'm charging ahead steadily. Of course, this isn't happening anytime soon. Simply doing the layout still has at least another... oh... decade to go."

"Decade?!" Frost echoed once more, simply struck.

Jasmine sadly nodded. "Yes, these things don't go quick, and the actual activation will probably take me a good month or two as well, which I'm not looking forward to, especially as it will probably blow up in my face, but that's why I do checks for errors frequently."

"It must take an enormous amount of mana..." Frost thought aloud.

"Oh yes, and that supply is quite secured, I assure you. Oh, in that regard, I have heard from Siren about your little... deconstruction incident..."

Frost blushed and hung her head.

"Yes, I trust you understand that you do not EVER do anything like that here without my clear permission, yes?"

"Yes, of course," Frost meekly replied.

"Good," Jasmine said before relaxing her posture and signaling to a stack nearby. A book obediently removed itself from the stack and Jasmine placed it down on the desk. "This is your work book. Complete all the tasks within and you're free to go."

Frost took up the book and started looking through it. "Does that include the... fighting challenge?"

"Grenda or Devlin mentioned that I assume, and yes, it does. All the finer rules are laid out within. Don't worry, I have a special facility for said challenges where we both use avatars for the fights, so there is no risk of harm to either of us. You may challenge me at any time, but do be restrained in such, or I will be annoyed."

"Of course," Frost quickly said.

"From your work records I got from Siren most of the rest should be reasonably easy for you, although some of it is time consuming," Jasmine said. "Still, if you are diligent you should be able to work through the majority in just over a month I'd say. It is typically the combat task that proves the most troublesome."

'I bet,' Frost thought, confirming that most of the tasks listed she had skimmed through so far did not seem particularly difficult.

"I suppose in the desire to maintain openness I should say that your being assigned to me is not mere chance," Jasmine said, regaining Frost's attention. "Perhaps Siren mentioned this, but the council is rather curious about your particular fast progress. Most everyone else who has similar levels of progress has some form of implanted knowledge, but we know of no such thing with you."

"I... I'm not hiding anything," Frost replied, slightly nervous.

"I'm sure you're not, but nonetheless it is a curiosity we'd like explained," Jasmine said and paused, examining Frost. "Might it have something to do with your new acquaintances?"

"Hmh?"

"The residents of the Moon Kingdom," Jasmine said much to Frost's surprise. "Oh we're quite aware of them, and I figured out quite quickly you'd stumbled into their midst. Honestly, the council would be a might displeased hearing about that, but I don't give a damn, and so long as you don't go blabbing about it, they will go on ignorant of the situation."

"You know about them?"

"Of course. Even know their true identities. I should say, some of us do. The 12ths and the more trustworthy 11ths. However, we consider them... things to be avoided for the most part, at least for now," Jasmine said. "Still, I won't discourage you from involvement with them. Just be aware some of the others might view it dimly. Given the Senshi's power, attempts to leverage them into your sway could be seen as threatening."

"I wouldn't," Frost replied quickly.

"I doubt you could even if you wanted to. However, I do find your involvement with them curious in regards to your magical progress." Frost blinked at this and suddenly looked to the side in thought. "Think of something?"

"Uh... maybe..." Frost replied quietly.

Jasmine shrugged. "You need not elaborate. If your knowledge comes from something related to them, that is enough for me to know. I won't pry," she said, causing Frost some relief. "Good," Jasmine said and snapped her finger and instantly a butler like figure appeared next to her. "When she's ready, show Frost to her room, and give her a tour of the other facilities as she requests."

"Yes mam," the butler replied.

"He's at your call. He's an automation, so don't worry about him," Jasmine said as she got up but had taken but a single step before a thought came to her. "Oh right. I guess I better tell you before a certain stupid lich deliberately drops it."

"Hmh?"

"My... older, original, and considerably more... infamous name," Jasmine replied, gesturing to another stack and another book floated to her, which she placed before Frost.

Frost looked at the cover, reading the title, 'The true history of the round table.'

"Before I will answer ANY questions, read that in its entirety. As to my name, that is Morgan Le Faye," Jasmine said with a weak smile.

Frost naturally went wide eyed at this, spinning on Jasmine and almost impulsively asking a question before noticing the Grand magus pointing forcefully at the book. "Uh, right, read the book first."

"Good."

XXXXX

'This is so... boring,' Seiya thought as she lay upon her bed and stared at the ceiling. 'I REALLY need to find something to do with my time here.' she sighed, reconsidering all the usual means of passing the time and immediately discarding each in turn as she had done an half hour prior. 'At this point, Eris coming to mope more would be a welcome change of pace.'

She tilted her head to the side to look at a nearby clock and frowned in discontentment as the time had barely shifted from the last time she had checked it. Just as she was about to resume her in depth study of the ceiling she heard a knocking at the door to the apartment.

'Hmm, wonder who that is?' she thought as she got up. As the knocking persisted she remembered that Setsuna was currently out and considered briefly how to deal with the situation before deciding that anything was better than sitting around so headed to the door. She arrived just in time for a fresh set of knocking and opened the door. "Sorry, I was..." she started to say before seeing the party on the other side, namely Usagi.

"Uh... hi," Usagi greeted with a slightly nervous smile.

"You here to see Setsuna?" Seiya asked but Usagi shook her head.

"I'm here to see you," Usagi answered.

Seiya stood stunned by this for a moment before stepping aside and gesturing for Usagi to enter. Usagi did so, and after closing the door behind her, the two entered the main room, Usagi asking, "How you been doing?"

"Fine... mostly. Bored to tears," Seiya admitted. "Not to mention I feel like a total freeloader."

"Uh... right," Usagi said as she turned to Seiya in consideration. "Maybe... since Kasumi knows about us, and your situation, maybe we could ask her to help out."

"You're the second person to suggest that," Seiya said with a slight smile but shook her head. "I don't know though."

"I'm sure she'd help out. They even have a karaoke bar there, real fancy one. You were a singer so it should be perfect!"

Seiya shook her head once more. "It is the customers who sing at karaoke bars, not the staff," she pointed out.

"Uh... right, still..." Usagi said, but was already deflating.

Seeing this, Seiya wavered. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to ask," she said in concession, brightening the other girl. "Eris came by the other day," she commented to change the subject.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, she was moping," Seiya said as she sat down, prompting Usagi to do likewise. "Something happen?"

"Uh... something. Guess you didn't hear. I... sorted teleported myself to where Mamoru is... over in the US."

"Oh," Seiya said with a slight chuckle. "Seems you got back okay?"

"Yeah, Ami figured something out," Usagi replied. "Eris was there, briefly."

Seiya nodded. "You know, under that mask, she looks very much like you," she said to Usagi's surprise. "Yeah, quite a surprise to me too. She says it is like Ixion and Mamoru, coincidence, or maybe something related to your stars, but you're not related."

Usagi looked down in thought at hearing this but soon shook her head and looked back up. "Mamoru is coming back to Japan."

Seiya put on a smile. "That's great."

"Yeah," Usagi agreed with her own little smile but on looking at Seiya for a moment it wavered. "Are you... okay with the way things are?" she asked suddenly.

"I'm fine," Seiya answered but this only made Usagi frown.

"I remember everything you told me on the Moon, remember," Usagi pointed out, causing Seiya's smile to crack. "Your feelings... how you'll likely never get over them..." she pressed on, Seiya's look growing more pained by the second. "If you ignored everything else, would you-"

"Of course I would," Seiya admitted suddenly. "But... I just can't ignore everything else. I don't want to get between you and him," she said, getting up once more to pace.

"You couldn't even if you tried," Usagi countered, regaining Seiya's attention. "After all, if what you said is true, that love between the star seed bearers is eternal, then nothing you can do will change how I feel for him, or he feels for me, right?"

Seiya stopped her pacing and considered this. "Yeah, I guess so," she acknowledged before letting out a small laugh. "I know where you're going with this."

"You don't think it can work?" Usagi asked.

"Hells if I know," Seiya replied. "You know, I sorta understand why she rejected it," she idly commented to Usagi's confusion. "Eris, I suggested something much the same to her."

"Take it, she didn't like the idea?"

"Not at all," Seiya answered. "Said it was impossible." Usagi hung her head but Seiya continued. "Didn't say I agreed with her." Usagi looked back up. "You sure about this? You go down this path and your life is going to get super complicated."

"It is already complicated," Usagi said with a slight smile. "Mamoru, Ixion... Eris too I suppose. What's adding you to the mix?" she asked and Seiya had no answer. She hung her head. "I never did tell you completely about that dream."

"I know I was in it, apparently close to you," Seiya said to which Usagi nodded.

"Very close," she replied. "It was just a dream so I wasn't really... considering, and everything was idealistic, but still, it was what I... wanted. I wanted you there," she said and looked up once more. "Maybe it won't work at all, but I want to find out."

Seiya scratched her head nervously. "I assume you already discussed this with him?" she asked and Usagi nodded prompting Seiya to sigh. "Well... damn it... I'm not going to say no."

Usagi brightened into a smile upon hearing this.

"You think the others are going to be okay with this?" Seiya asked.

Usagi hesitated. "Uh... probably not super okay with it, but so long as Mamoru is still here I think they'll accept it," she said.

"Still, I'll... tread carefully," Seiya said before considering. "Guess that really means I should consider that job."

"Right, let's go over there right now and ask," Usagi suggested, getting up and Seiya nodded in agreement.

As Seiya got on her shoes, a thought hit Usagi which caught Seiya's attention. "Hmh?"

"I... can you still transform... between your-"

"To a guy you mean?" Seiya asked. "Yes." Usagi pondered this to Seiya's puzzlement. "Why?"

"You... prefer this form, right?" Usagi asked.

Seiya pondered the question and smiled. "I don't mind transforming for you-"

"No," Usagi unexpectedly interrupted. "If this is what you prefer, stay like this."

"You okay with that?"

"Yes," Usagi replied easily. "Honestly, I thought about it a lot, and I don't really care, at least not with you. Is that weird?"

"If it is something cosmic... probably not," Seiya answered with a slight smile. "Come on," she directed and with a nod from Usagi they headed out.

XXXXX

"Jin, you jackass! You hid this from me, didn't you?!" Saki accused the moment the door to Jin's apartment was opened.

"Nice to see you too," he replied calmly, ignoring Saki's outburst. "Would you like some tea?"

"You knew about Miyuki, didn't you?!" Saki asked.

"Yes," Jin calmly answered, but this served only to anger Saki. However, before she could say anything, Jin cut her off. "And never once did you ask about her."

"What?!" Saki asked in a mixture of anger and shock.

Jin gestured to a seat calmly and quietly causing Saki to grit her teeth but obediently sat down as Jin headed to the kitchen and put on a kettle. "Yes, we did quite the thorough background check on you. Miyuki's current situation came up quite quickly."

"You never told me," Saki growled out.

"And I said, you never asked," Jin calmly replied.

Saki clenched her fist in front of her as Jin continued in the kitchen making tea. Silence embraced them for several minutes as he went about the task, and finally he returned to the living room, setting down a tray with a tea kettle and two cups, offering her one before taking the other for himself and sitting opposite her. "You can't deny it, can you?" he calmly asked.

"I assumed you would have told me," she quietly retorted.

"I would have, had the topic even come up, yet it never did. In truth, I fully expected to have to intervene to hold you back from seeing her on a whim, but you never even so much as looked into the records," Jin replied before taking a sip.

Saki went wide-eyed at this revelation before looking around aimlessly in thought.

Jin remained silent for another minute as Saki was lost in her thoughts. "I hear you ran into your grandmother."

"Uh, yeah," Saki replied more calmly.

"Good, good," Jin said with a nod. "She can be a bit rough, but she seems like a good woman at her core."

Saki frowned at this. "Wait, you've met her before?"

"Not personally. She was one of the people who came up in your background search though and I talked to a few people that had interacted with her," he answered. "Again, something you never inquired about."

Saki clenched her teeth once more but could not deny the claim.

"Let's be honest, Saki, I think you didn't want to find your sister."

"What?" Saki asked in shock.

"I'm not saying you have anything against your sister. No. You know your mother favors your sister over you to a... well, unhealthy degree. You, despite this, seek her attention, and finding your sister could rob you of that attention," Jin analyzed.

"That's..." Saki started to reflexively deny but trailed off.

"Tell me, Saki, why have you been hunting for your sister?"

"Mom asked me to," Saki replied quietly.

"Did she tell you who adopted her?"

"No," Saki answered.

"Why not?" Jin asked calmly.

Saki frowned. "She obviously didn't know."

Jin shook his head. "Saki, think. Does that make any sense to you? You know the situation that caused the incident between your parents. How could your mother NOT know?"

Saki blinked at this. "You're... right, it doesn't make any sense. You're telling me she knew all along?"

"Of course she knew," Jin replied in slight irritation. "She sent you on a wild goose chase thinking that you'd waste your time hunting for her, unable to locate her with your limited resources."

"That can't be..."

"It's the truth, and you know it," Jin insisted. "It is time you come to this simple realization: Your mother... hates you." Saki clenched her teeth and looked away. "I don't like saying it so bluntly but it's the truth, a truth you know as well, you just don't fully accept it. Stop trying to seek validation from her," Jin urged before sighing. "If you're looking for family, your grandmother seems like a far better option."

"What about my sister?" Saki asked.

Jin sighed once more. "That's complicated. Her family is rather high up the social ladder, as it were, and her adoptive grandfather is rather protective of that standing. Unlike her adoptive father, who apparently was willing to at least entertain some connections, the grandfather doesn't seem so interested."

"What happened to the father?" Saki asked.

"An accident some years ago. Nothing suspicious if that is what you're asking. It is a bit unfortunate, as he was the only other party with much knowledge of the situation between your father and their family, and now both of them are gone so we can only really guess at what the true situation was," Jin said before taking another sip.

Saki considered this and finally let herself drink some of her own tea. After another minute of silent contemplation, she asked, "Is this assignment at Furinkan... are you... phasing me out?"

Jin closed his eyes and after a moment nodded lightly. "That seems to be the plan, yes. Don't worry, they will honor every agreement made, even despite the recent... incident. Actually, our mutual friend signed the paperwork that very night and sent it off. It only has to go through channels and your mother will be off death row and enjoying a nice life sentence instead."

Saki looked up at this before nodding in acceptance of it. "Then... what of me?"

"Seems you have got lots of options now. Miss Li said she'd put in a good word with Interpol. Our mutual friend has also indicated he has other work that he could assign you, taking you on as a proper agent. If neither of those suit your fancy, I have my own agency."

"You have an agency?" Saki asked in surprise.

"Oh yes. This whole business is more of a side gig for me. You're welcome to join if it interests you. Or, perhaps you'll try your luck with your grandmother. Don't know much about this... Amazon village, but they seem... interesting, and you do have family there."

"Yeah, I do, don't I," Saki agreed with a thoughtful look. "Maybe I will take her up on that training offer." Saki pondered a moment longer. "Still, what about Miyuki?"

"That I can't help much with. Although, funny enough, maybe your grandmother can. They seem to have interesting... connections," Jin suggested much to Saki's interest. "You'll have to ask her."

"I think I will."

XXXXX

In a particular jail cell, a girl leaned against the wall as she lay on her bed. Outwardly, she looked calm and collected, but inside her head was a different story. Right now, she was pissed!

'I had all the plans in place, and then they transferred me out of the blue! Now I'll have to start all over again,' she thought in deep annoyance. 'Months of planning ruined.'

Unexpectedly a guard appeared at her door. "Remi, you have a visitor," he stated simply.

"Visitor? Who?" she asked with her usual calm outward demeanor.

"Some attorney. Probably some update on your case," the guard said as he unlocked the door and she got up to be escorted.

Remi's eyes narrowed. 'I'm not expecting anything today, or for at least a week,' she thought, but played along and let herself be escorted to the visitor's room, and within she did indeed find a woman in a business suit and glasses waiting, a brief case on the table. The guard removed her restraints from the escort, securing Remi to the desk inside instead and exited. Remi looked at the back corners, noting the presence of two other guards standing watch, an unusual fixture to a meeting with a lawyer, before returning her attention to the woman.

"I don't know you," Remi said as she took the seat opposite the woman.

"I'm a representative of an organization with a deep interest in your case," the woman explained.

"Oh. And what organization would that be?"

"In due time," the woman replied. "The important part for you is that we have the means to alter your current arrangements. How do you like the sound of having your record cleared completely, and being free?"

Remi's eyes narrowed once more. "Sounds a bit too good to be true. but I'm listening."

XXXXX

End Chapter 63

Next time in A Scary Thought: Time passes before Frost's return.

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 crossover? At this point, probably not. I have tried to square the circle of Gargoyles time travel mechanics with my story and it just isn't working and unfortunately they are too key to Gargoyles continuity to just ignore so most likely Gargoyles will remain just a shout out kinda crossover but not official. Anyway, besides that we have Chun Li, Rose, Shadow Lady, Shadow, Gill 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, Chun Li from much of the Street Fighter series, and now Gill from Street Fighter III). 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. And lastly comes dear old Siren who is from Dreiser's story 'Black Rose Blue Thunder'. I won't be using her much but she fits a temporary need. Be Dea comes from D B. Sommers fic Shampoo ½, and if you haven't read it, do so, now! I've also previously mentioned Perfume from same fic (although this story has two Perfumes being mentioned, the other being from my own Most Unlikely of Friends). Garnet was first mentioned by Jim Bader in A Very Scary thought I believe, but whatever the case I don't believe he ever actually appeared in any of Jim's stories, although I could be wrong. As already mentioned, Miku, Neru and Haku are vocaloid character, but just cameo's for them.

On a side note for those crossovers, it recently came to my attention that some believe I am crossed with Negima. I'm actually not, but out of curiosity I checked out Negima and could certainly see the similarities (a lot of them in fact, and was quite surprised seeing as I had never even heard of Negima until it was mentioned). That got the proverbial wheels in my head turning about potential crossovers so... maybe, but don't count on it. As Uq Holder, Negima's continuation, is still in progress and throwing in all kinds of new curve balls, I'll probably be forced to steer clear.

Speaking of things I'm not crossed with, two notable ones are Ah My Goddess and Tenchi! Jim liked to use the latter a great deal, and I believe he might have used the former too, although less sure on that, but either way I have decided both are ultimately incompatible with my vision of my story world.

Oh, something new cross over wise to speak about this chapter, and that is Miyuki. Not long ago I discovered there is a Sukaban Deka manga and it has a LOT more content than the anime covered. Now, for the most part I'm ignoring the manga canon particulars as they already contradict the anime canon which I used for the basis of the cross over. However, I will be taking some inspiration from it. The first bits being for Saki's backstory and the existence of her sister Miyuki. While there is obviously nothing in the manga about the mother being an Amazon, it actually fits reasonably well with what is there, so with a bit of a massage that is what we have here.

Website... does my website even exist anymore? Well, I have it on my hard drive still, but that hardly counts. Needless to say, if you do stumble on it, it's hopelessly out of date.

XXXXX

Now?

"Hmh? Oh... well, I suppose I've let the cat out of the bag now. Alright, knock yourself out."

YAY! It's finally time for another installment of Kitsune's Corner! And after much delay we finally have Jasmine! Or shall I use your original name?

"I prefer my Musk name now, since my original name has been sullied so badly."

Right. So-

"No, Mordred is not my son. No, I didn't sleep with Arthur. No, Mordred isn't even Arthur's son, he just treated him like one."

Uh... right... okay. So, was like anything right?

"Well, Arthur existed."

Haha... seriously?

"... Fine. Okay, it seems that half-wit Merlin put in place some magic to maintain the legend of Arthur. Problem is, the spell is very weak on maintaining the details so it allows a lot of... artistic license. Bits and pieces are true, but no particular accounting of the events is correct."

So... Merlin's an incompetent?

"... Not really. He's competent, just prone to doing things half assed. I'd give him a good piece of my mind if I knew where he was hiding himself away, but no such luck."

Not trapped in a crystal?

"Possibly, but god knows where. There are various other accounts of his fate too which might be right, or perhaps none of them are right. Who knows."

So you're not an evil sorceress then?

"...Not anymore."

Anymore?

"I was very young and stupid once, and having a bit of a long term temper tantrum. So, yes, during much of Arthur's time, yeah, I was pretty bad. Sadly, that seems to be what gets the most play nowadays. My whole redemption arc seems to have been lost."

Oh, too bad. So what was that all about?

"Guinevere being a hypocritical bitch!"

Oh right, the whole having an affair with Lancelot thing.

"Which is also only partly true."

What?! He didn't.

"It's complicated. She definitely had an affair, but it wasn't with him. He took the blame though and he did love her."

Oh... so what exactly did she do?

"To me? Well, I wasn't exactly happy in my relations of the time and yes I was entertaining various men which she outed me for getting me banished from the court. She was probably just annoyed that I could mess around while she couldn't, but that's no reason to be a bitch about it! After that whole incident I got kinda ticked off and took out my anger on the whole round table."

Right, right. But you're over that now?

"Completely. I was over it even back then, it just took a while. I found a nice guy, got settled in a bit and realized I was being needlessly childish and decided to drop the whole thing... save one last dig at her..."

You taddled on her to Arthur, didn't you?

"...Yes."

You realize that brought down Camelot, right?

"No. Arthur let her off the hook and hid it. It's Mordred revealing it publicly later that caused all the trouble."

Oh. Quite the jerk he was.

"... Debatable. His mother, my sister, was her own breed of bitch, and was always pushing him on, and it wasn't like he was wrong. Guinevere was sleeping around. That the whole thing spiraled out of control from there is just unfortunate. But enough about that. I get enough questions about that whole mess."

But it's so interesting! Fine. Okay, so Jasmine, how'd you get that name?

"Mandrake gave it to me. It is customary to get a Musk name if you join the Musk, so when I married him, I took it."

Second husband?

"...Technically first."

Oh, didn't get official married to the first guy, huh?

"No. Was going to, but then the whole fall of Camelot happened... things got busy, then he died in the war."

Oh damn, I'm sorry.

"Yeah, it was depressing. Mandrake was the first man after him that really made me feel something, and now he's dead too."

Ugh.

"Yeah, exactly."

Take it you left the Musk after that?

"Didn't have much choice. You see, the whole reason he died was the Dark Kingdom attacked the Musk. This was just before they assaulted the Moon Kingdom. I was out of the area at the time, and by the time I returned the Musk had just vanished. I learned later that Sorora had taken their capital and surrounding lands into its own pocket dimension to protect it. So, I was stuck outside, while he was stuck in. He died before they rejoined the outside world."

And Garnet killed him.

"All signs point that way. Honestly, I don't know what happened in there, but I don't like what I hear, especially with the way Garnet has turned out."

Right. One thing, are you human or Fae.

"Yes."

That wasn't... oh funny. So which is it?

"Both actually."

Huh? How does that work?

"It's... complicated. It gives me a headache honestly."

Right, okay. Hmm...

"What you got there?"

You know, you do kinda look similar.

"What is that? Let me see... what the hell? Who is this?"

Arthur... or rather Artoria... or is it Altria? I don't know...

"... God damn it Merlin! Now Arthur is a woman! Hmm... she does actually look similar. Damn it Merlin!"

Well, you are brother and sister... he was a he, right?

"Mine was!"

Right, right.

"Okay, now I need to know more about this. I'm unfamiliar with this work. Show me it all!"

No point, you'll have to be flashie thingie'd before you head back. Besides, that's all from the future.

"Bah, fine! I'm probably evil in this one too anyway."

Probably... anyway, till next time all... whenever that is.