Ranma Half Moon chapter 85 "There's No Business Like Snow Business" Part 1

Author's note: This episode happens during the Sailor Moon episode 38 "The Snow! The Mountains! Our Friendship! And of Course, A Monster, Too".

Haruka drives up into the Furinkan High School parking lot. She gets a call on her cell phone. "Hi, Michiru. How is the tour going?"

"Almost over. I can't tell you how much this is killing me to not be in on the action."

"Well, you're not missing that much. This high school is seriously strange."

"But, they've already had one Yoma Monster attack. I'm sure that if we stay with this lead, we'll be able to flush out our enemy."

"I'm on the job."

...

Ranma-kun and Akane take their seats in homeroom class.

Ranma-kun looks at Mio thoughtfully. Mio seems to be progressively growing more lively, but she still seems only half the girl I saw at the Princess Diamond Ball.

"Mio-chan, I found a great way for you to accelerate your come back!"

Mio looks at one-twenty-five in fear. "Let me guess, it's an idol pro wrestling tournament?"

"No, no. It's a skiing competition. I'm sure you'll be able to win the Moon Princess contest."

Both Ranma-kun's and Haruka's ears pick up at this reference.

"And, it will help propel you back to the top of the idoling world."

Ranma-kun walks over to one-twenty-five's desk. "Skiing's not really my thing, but my cousin might be interested."

Mio's eyes light up.

Haruka joins their party. "May I see?" Haruka looks over the contest flier. "This contest is at a very exclusive resort. I would think you would have to book hotels months in advance."

Mio blushes nervously. "Well, my record company has a suite in that area that they use to impress clients. I could call and see if it is use. But, ..."

One twenty-five looks at Haruka defiantly. "Yeah, Haruka. I'll bet you think that a tomboy like you can out ski Mio, but I'll have you know that you are sadly mistaken."

Mio rolls her eyes and makes a cell phone call.

"Well, I race motorcycles. Skiing is an entirely different thing."

Mio gets off of her cell phone. "The suite is not being used so we're welcome to use it."

Mio's fan boys cheer.

"Ranma, your cousin and Haruka are of course also invited to stay with us."

Haruka smiles. "You seem pretty confident."

Mio play-punches herself in the head. "Even before my heart attack, I couldn't get past the beginner slopes in skiing. But, it sounds like a fun party!"

Ranma-kun goes back to his seat. A "Moon Princess" contest? Dark Kingdom was behind the Princess School, so I'll bet they're behind this contest as well.

Mio smiles. Ranma and Haruka, let's see what sort of fun I can have with you?

...

A now familiar presence breaks up Kunzite's meditation.

"Kunzite, I hear you have a new plan."

"Endymion. You have heard correctly."

"Your plans have all failed in the past. Why will this plan be any different?"

Kunzite bites his tongue. Who does Endymion think he is? He wouldn't even be in my room disrespecting me if the plan that Zoisite and I had dreamt up hadn't killed Endymion's previous identity. "Maybe the result will be different if you don't interfere?"

"I think the problem is that you don't know the Sailor Warriors that well. The key to winning any conflict is to know your enemies as well as you know yourself."

What a smug, disagreeable person! But, there is something about his words that trouble me, as if I have heard them before. "I suppose you know the Sailor Warriors well?"

"There is no way I will not get the Silver Crystal."

"Stay out of my plans!" Kunzite turns away from Endymion and looks at a picture of himself and Zoisite. Who knew that killing Tuxedo Kamen would cause more troubles than when he was alive? Even so, where have I heard that proverb before?

...

The next day the crowd takes the train up to the resort.

Ranma-ko, Haruka, Mio, Mio's fan boys, and some of Haruka's fan girls hang out in Mio's company's suite.

"Wow, Mio, your company must be really raking it in."

"Gee, one-seventeen, that's nice of you to say, but my company is only number eight of the twenty some idol companies in Tokyo. We have our heads above water, but we can't just throw money around for no reason."

Ranma-ko chuckles. "Can't throw money around?" Ranma-ko gestures around to the opulence of the suite.

"You'd be surprised at how cost effective this suite is. The company entertains tons of clients here every year. Compared to alternatives, this isn't so bad."

Haruka looks out the window, unimpressed by the suite. "Shall we hit the slopes?"

"Yeah!"

Ranma-ko and Haruka rent skis and start out on a beginner's trail. Ranma-ko falls three times but can keep up with Haruka.

"I'm going to do a trial run on the course. Will you be okay?"

Ranma-ko nods. "I'll try the intermediate course."

"Good thing that snow is cold water rather than hot water, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

Haruka skis off and Ranma-ko starts on the intermediate trail.

"Oh my goodness. Saotome Ranma?"

Ranma clumsily stops herself. "Who wants to know?" Ranma-ko skis back to two girls who are looking at her with amazement.

"This is so surprising to see you here. Makoto, this is Saotome Ranma. She once came to Rei's temple seeking advice on Mamoru."

Makoto looks at Ranma-ko in shock, then squeezes one of Ranma-ko's breasts.

"I wish you wouldn't do that."

Ami smacks Makoto in the shoulder. "What is wrong with you?"

"I thought Saotome Ranma was a guy."

Ranma remembers Makoto was at the Furinkan High School school festival. "You must have met my cousin. He's also named Saotome Ranma. My father and his brother are pretty weird. Where did you meet my cousin?"

"It was at a school festival. I went as a guest of my martial arts instructor. Your cousin was in costume as a princess."

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, my cousin is four inches taller than me."

"I'm so embarrassed."

Ami smiles slyly. "So, Ranma, are you going to compete in the Moon Princess contest?"

Ranma looks up at the contest slope. "My school of martial arts accepts all challenges. I will."

To be continued!