Ranma Half Moon chapter 25, Incident at the Ball, part 1 of 4
Author's note: This episode fits in with Sailor Moon episode 22, where the Sailor Warriors thwart a plot to steal the silver crystal of a princess during a ball.
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.
Author's note: Song lyric translation by Kurozuki dot com.
Mamoru walks in the park. It is a nice day. It has been several days since my last blackout and all of my bruises are now healed.
"Humm?" I smell something nice. Mamoru walks over to a Chinese restaurant.
"Niihao!" An extremely cute Chinese girl with pink hair done up in buns greets him. "Shampoo serve today."
Mamoru raises an eyebrow. "I don't need my hair shampooed, but I would like to eat."
Shampoo giggles. "No, no. Shampoo me."
"But, I don't want to wash your hair..." Mamoru notices Shampoo's name tag. "Oh, I'm sorry!" Mamoru breaks out laughing. "Shampoo serve me."
Shampoo smiles slyly. "Would you like manicure, also?"
Mamoru laughs again. "You got me again. Just food is fine, Miss Shampoo."
An elderly lady comes out from the back. "Giving our customers a hard time, great-granddaughter?"
"No, no, customer smiling!"
Cologne looks at Mamoru and sees Mamoru shining and sparkling. Cologne looks startled, like she remembers something.
"Great-grand-mother, are you all right?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Young man, you should try our chicken ramen. It's very good today."
Mamoru smiles. "Sure!"
Mousse observes Shampoo flirting with Mamoru while Shampoo serves Mamoru his ramen. He pushes his glasses up his face. This will definitely never do!
...
"What's this all about, Minako?" Ranma-ko stands in front of Minako's apartment. "You want us to train together?"
Minako nods. "We need to." Minako motions for Ranma-ko to enter.
Ranma-ko takes off her shoes and waves to Artemis. "What's up, cool cat?"
"Hanging in there."
"So, Minako, how are we going to train?"
"By breaking into a formal ball."
Ranma-ko raises an eyebrow. "What?"
"Come on, Ranma, we have to break out of our comfort zone."
"Something tells me that you just want to dress up and meet hot guys."
Artemis shakes his head. "No, Ranma. Our intelligence has told us that the Dark Kingdom is interested in obtaining a mysterious crystal called the Silver Millennium Crystal. The costume ball is to unveil a treasure by the Princess of the Diamond Kingdom."
Ranma nods. "I see. Minako, do you have a costume for me?"
Minako opens her closet. "Take your pick."
...
Minako and Ranma-ko look at each other. They look splendid in their formal gowns and masks. They had no problems at all getting into the ball. It was a simple matter of Minako to distract security by pretending that the front of her dress had broken, which allowed Ranma-ko to slip in. Then it was easy for Ranma-ko to create a disturbance by claiming a guard grabbed her butt so Minako could slip in.
"Where did you get these cool dresses?"
"I made friends with people in the prop department for the musical, so they let me borrow them."
Ranma-ko smiles. Minako may seem ditzy at times, but she is extremely good at getting things done. "How were you able to get off tonight?"
"Mio had a singing gig, so since my scenes were with her, they said I could take the night off."
"Ladies and gentlemen, before our formal program of waltz music, the princess has requested that we be entertained by an idol concert."
Minako raises an eyebrow so far it becomes visible over her mask.
"Everyone! I would like to debut a brand new song tonight. Hopefully, it will become popular so that you can brag that you were the first people to hear it. Does that sound good?"
The crowd cheers.
Minako looks like she's going to be ill.
Ranma-ko looks at Minako. "Are you okay?"
"They didn't say that Mio's gig was going to be here."
"Mio Kuroki, giving you a debut, with love!" Mio makes a heart with her hands and puts it over her chest, then blows a kiss. "My eyes are always jewels, my body clad in lame and charms. Going through life is to 'try get a chance'. Because I have it here, I have strong dreams..."
Ranma-ko shudders. This is the same girl who I heard on the radio and got bad vibes from.
"Because it is me, I don't need anything anymore. Make up, at that moment, the sparkle I give to you, a sailor soldier that is an everlasting love ..."
Minako cringes. What is Mio doing? Is she going to try to steal my spot as Sailor V?
...
At this point, Usagi, Rei, Ami and Luna are still trying to get into the ball.
...
Ranma-ko mingles with the crowd. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he sees a familiar figure. Ranma-ko moves quickly through the crowd. "Um, excuse me."
"Oh, do you want to dance?" Tuxedo Kamen turns around. Oh, it is Ranma-ko. "What are you doing here?"
Ranma-ko nods her head. "Never mind about what I am doing here. Your being here makes me wonder if I am about to be attacked."
Tuxedo Kamen shakes his head. "I can't guarantee it won't happen, but I do not sense any danger now."
"So, why are you here?"
"I am here to see if treasure of the Princess is the Silver Millennium Crystal."
Ranma-ko nods. "I get it now. You wear a mask because you're a jewel thief."
Tuxedo Kamen hangs his head. "You might be right. I've had a reoccurring dream where a mysterious princess tells me to find the Silver Millennium Crystal. Maybe if I find the Crystal, I'll understand who I am."
"Or, maybe you'll raise some Yoma Monsters to make it easier?"
"I told you before, I don't have anything to do with that."
The band starts a waltz.
Tuxedo Kamen grabs Ranma-ko. "Look, let's just agree to keep from fighting tonight? It would be a waste of your beautiful ball gown."
Ranma-ko blushes.
"Shall we dance?" Tuxedo Kamen leads Ranma-ko onto the dance floor.
Why is it so easy for me to dance with Tuxedo Kamen? He's a guy!
Minako looks on from the wall. Saotome-kun, you go, girl. Go get your man!
To be continued!