Ranma Half Moon chapter 20, A Love Letter of Mystery and Promise, part 4

Author's note: This episode fits in around the same time frame as Sailor Moon episode 19, Tuxedo Kamen's Love Letter.

Author's note: I now have a fiction press site for non-fanfiction stuff. If you want to check it out, do a search for "resop" at the "fictionpress" website. My story is called "A Dream of Roses". It is about a group of blossoming young girls who are giving it their all for an opportunity to shine brightly as professional wrestlers in Japan.

Naru sighs after finishing her food. The Big Fat fast food place might be the most popular spot in Juban, but it is a long way from the MS Department Store. Also, I have no idea how to meet up with Tuxedo Kamen because on the way out of the store I heard that the store was closing early as a security measure. They were afraid that the girls who got the love letter were going to cause a riot!

Still, Masato Sanjoin said that he would be there. I will find a way to do it, without fail! Naru's eyes flare.

A couple of tables over Minako and Mio sing to each other, just barely hearing each other over the din of the street and the other customers. "A goldfish is flying up in the sky. Is this possible? It flies over your head, making you panic! Flying is fun. Watching it is so exciting."

Minako frowns. I have to admit that Mio and I would sound okay doing one of the show's songs together. But having to play Wapiko? Minako shudders.

"Mio-chan is happy. Mio-chan and Minako-chan will have fun on stage. Ne?"

"Humphda." Minako raises her nose and points it away from Mio.

Mio's eyes narrow behind her big round glasses. I feel a presence. She looks out of the corner of her eye to see Naru walk by.

Naru mutters to herself. "Come on, you can do this."

Mio sits straight up and grabs some money from her purse. She play-punches herself in the head. "Ow, ow, ow. My manager is going to be an ogre. Mio-chan late. Here, use Mio-chan's money." Mio gets up and walks off in the same direction that Naru was walking.

Minako looks at the money. It is certainly more than enough. Oh well, I can give back the excess next week at the audition. I don't like the idea of owing Mio money.

However, Mio had just given me the money without the idea of getting change back, and Mio must already be rich from her stupid song. An evil look comes over Minako's face. With this money I could buy a really high-quality designer bra. It wouldn't be visible in the audition, but it would give me a lot of confidence.

Minako looks up. Darkness is already falling. I had better run to the brassiere store before they can close.

...

Ranma-ko gets off the train. Normally I would have used my martial arts ability to run on top of the buildings to get to Juban, but with this blouse and skirt I felt self-conscious.

The streets are already deserted and dark. This area must not do a lot of evening business?

Ranma-ko sees a girl walking ahead of her. She seems strangely familiar. Where could I have seen this girl before?

The hairs on Ranma-ko's neck stand up and she breaks into a cold sweat. Here we go again! Ranma-ko breaks into a run. "Run! Get out of here!"

Naru turns around. "What?"

A Yoma Monster rises from the ground right behind Naru.

"Duck!" Ranma-ko launches a running side kick right at Naru's head.

Naru ducks.

Ranma-ko knocks the Yoma Monster over.

Naru blushes and pushes her index fingers together. "Goldfish?"

Ranma-ko turns red. This was why I don't like fighting in a skirt. "Get out of here!"

Naru runs around the fallen Yoma Monster and runs down the street.

Ranma-ko distracts the Yoma Monster by throwing a store sign at its head.

The Yoma Monster turns around.

Ranma-ko gets ready to transform.

"Venus Crescent Beam!"

A shaft of light beams down from a streetlight from across the street. Ranma-ko can see Sailor V standing on top of the streetlight.

The Yoma Monster cries in pain.

Ranma-ko and Sailor V nod.

"Sailor V kick." Sailor V launches herself from the streetlight.

Ranma-ko waits for Sailor V to close the distance, then goes for a low drop kick to the right leg of the monster.

The kicks land at the same time. The Yoma Monster disintegrates.

A mysterious figure moves in the darkness of a nearby alley. A momentary glint of light reflects off of large round glasses.

Sailor V helps to brush off Ranma-ko's clothes. "Going to see Tuxedo Kamen?"

Ranma-ko nods.

Sailor V notices Ranma-ko's breasts. "Um, I hope I'm not being rude, but are you a ..."

Ranma-ko sighs. "I am a boy."

Sailor V raises an eyebrow.

"I am under a Chinese curse. Cold water changes me into a girl. Hot water changes me back to being a boy."

"And, you can transform into a Sailor Warrior?"

"Hey, I don't understand it either. But, I think that Tuxedo Kamen might be the key to understanding this mystery. That's why I'm going."

Sailor V gets an evil look. "Perfume? Lipstick? Cute clothes? Is that the only reason you're going?"

"I'll need to stand out."

Sailor V nods. She grabs Ranma-ko's hands. "As one girl to another, do your best, Saotome-kun. Go for it! Have all the confidence a great outfit can give you!"

Ranma-ko gives Sailor V an embarrassed look. Didn't I just tell this girl that I am a really a guy? Still, Sailor V seems more confident than the previous time we met and it is slightly catching.

...

Ranma-ko catches up to within a block of Naru to where Ranma-ko can see Naru.

Naru sighs and leans against the closed shutters of the department store. It opens for Naru like magic.

Ranma-ko races to catch up. Suddenly, Usagi, that strange blonde girl who hangs out with the talking cat Luna, races up to the open shutters and enters. She wears the same style skirt and blouse combination as Ranma-ko wears. How vexing!

When Ranma-ko gets to the store the shutters have closed. Those two girls are in danger! Ranma-ko looks each way to see if she is alone and then uses her martial arts jumping ability to bounce off of various objects to get to the second-floor windows.

The windows are open and Ranma-ko enters.

Ranma-ko hears a commotion and races to a ledge overlooking the first floor.

Ranma-ko's heart skips a beat. She sees the girl she just saved from the Yoma Monsters being drained of energy by Tuxedo Kamen.

Ranma-ko's eyes grow bigger. I remember the first time she saw that girl. She was the girl in the park that I saved when I first encountered a Yoma Monster.

Ranma-ko looks on in horror. This means the girl in Tuxedo Kamen's arms was never in danger from the Yoma Monsters, she was only being used as a decoy, a decoy from the King of the Yoma Monsters, Tuxedo Kamen!

To Be Continued!