Before the Fall of the Silver Millennium: The Grand Masquerade was in full swing. It was a yearly ball at the Crystal Court, in which everyone disguised themselves with glamour, and tried to find their loved one without identifying themselves, merely by knowing how they acted and their mannerisms. It was intended to be a test of love, for it was said that true love was the best guide. Usually, over two thirds of the people would find themselves with the wrong person when the evening ended and would get a good laugh. Ruby was fairly certain he wouldn't embarrass himself by ending up with one of the serving maids like he had last year. He knew Cassandra always brought her staff everywhere, which meant she'd have to be carrying some sort of pole. Unfortunately, twelve different women had shown up with staves, bows, long ceremonial rods, and other possibilities, but he knew how she thought, so he was sure he'd picked the right woman. She dressed as a simple shepherd and carried a shepherd's crooked staff. It had to be her, he was sure. She'd made many past comments about having to herd people who didn't know where they were going. So he'd latched onto her early, and they'd hit it off quite well. It was hard to be sure, for he knew Cassandra delighted in making herself very hard to locate at these balls, but he had that feeling in his gut he got when he was with her. It had to be her. And also importantly, she seemed quite sure that he was the one she was looking for. She'd stopped looking around fairly soon after they'd hooked up, and now they'd been dancing together off and on for at least two hours. The end of the ball was coming, and he had decided to give her a kiss at the very moment when the glamours would end and the masks would fall. Ruby himself was wearing a disguise which Diamond had told him was 'simply feeble', but which was the best he could manage...his disguises always seemed to not work out anyway. It was just a tuxedo and a mask studded with gems, one of which was his own trademark, just as a hint. Not that he thought Cassandra would likely need one; she was quite good at this game. They danced an intricate dance, which sometimes drew them close together, sometimes sent them strutting around the great hall side by side, and sometimes pushed them out to where only an intertwined finger linked them. He had tested things a bit, touching her in ways he always did with Cassandra...nothing to get himself hit, for he wasn't THAT sure, but little subtle things. She'd responded just as he hoped, when he ran a finger along her cheek, or twined a lock of her long hair around a finger as they danced nearly chest to chest. He could feel the drums beating in his mind, feel his heart pounding in his chest as they spun out away from each other, then drew in close once more. The clock chimed, and he swept her into an embrace and kissed her passionately. He could hear the spells shatter, and tasted the sweetness of her lips. The kiss was passionate and satisfying. Until he realized she was several inches too short now that the glamour had vanished. He opened his eyes, and stared into those of Eowyn. For a moment, the entire universe froze up And then the wave of laughter began. It wasn't hostile laughter, merely the usual amusement at all the mismatches which had taken place. Much of it wasn't even directed at them. But Cassandra's was. She was standing with Endymion, and Jadeite with Serenity. They'd all misfired, but none of the others had ended up with someone they had a history of feuding with. "You...you tricked me!" Eowyn shouted. "Hey, you're the one who stole Cassandra's usual motif!" "Carrying a big stick doesn't make me Sailor Pluto!" Eowyn waved her shepherd's crook about. "And how the hell did you mistake me for Jadeite? He hasn't got HALF my class!" "Hey!" Jadeite cut in, frowning. Before he could say anything else, Sapphire flew across the room and crashed into him, knocking him down. He had apparently demonstrated, for the fourth year in a row, his ability to find Diamond in disguise. "Who were you anyway?" Ruby asked Cassandra, who was now leaning on Endymion and trying not to fall down from laughing. "I was the Elf Queen. And I brought my staff...it's in my magic pocket." "Along with Ruby's brain, I think." Eowyn snapped. "Hey!" They had to be separated before they could start a riot. Later, Cassandra said to Ruby, "Don't feel bad about it; I couldn't find you either." "I just...she was just..." He kicked a rock. "She drives me crazy!" "So, was she a good kisser?" Cassandra teased. "How can you be so...so...just..." "Not jealous?" Cassandra said. "Yeah," he said. "I'd have lost it if you and Endymion had smooched." "Oh, that sort of thing happens all the time. It takes a long time to know someone well enough to do the right thing. And I know destiny is on our side." Destiny got pretty easily sidetracked today, he thought guiltily to himself. "You sure you ain't mad?" "Well, if you'd had sex, I'd kill you. But sometimes, a kiss is just a kiss." She kissed his cheek. "I have to go, Ruby." "Me too," he said. "Lots of work tomorrow." "For me as well." He smiled, then swept her into the same pose he'd held Eowyn in before, then kissed her fiercely. "I won't make that mistake again." "Better not go to the ball next year, then," she said, her eyes twinkling. "Is that a prophecy?" "Of course, next year, you'll just wish it was Eowyn you kissed." His eyes widened. "What...who..." And with that, she vanished, leaving him to pace and wonder all night long what she meant. As it turned out, the next year was the first time that Sapphire screwed up trying to find Diamond... ***************** Children of Fire A Sailor Moon/Ranma Elseworld Chapter 13: Parents and Children By John Biles ***************** Usagi had fallen asleep again, which didn't surprise Rei too much, as Diana had always done that after making love. She idly ran her fingers through Usagi's golden hair, and tried to figure out what to do next. Why do I always have to be the responsible one?, she thought. She's the Princess, not me, I'm just one of her warriors. Part of her regretted what they'd done--it would complicate everything, and she knew she shouldn't have done anything like this while her relationship with Ranma was still up in the air. We should have gotten him, she thought. It's not like we were going to die if we didn't make love right that minute. I have to tell him, she thought. But the thought of telling him terrified her, because she didn't know how he would take it. He might want to join them, or he might decide he'd been dumped and go running off with Ukyou or Setsuna. Am I greedy to want both of them?, she asked herself. If she and Usagi were together, then Ranma could make Setsuna happy. Setsuna had waited so long for him, and she knew Ranma had feelings for Setsuna. But on the other hand, Ranma kept rejecting those feelings; he was scared of turning into Ruby. Rei could appreciate that; she'd been afraid of becoming Eowyn. She couldn't be sure about her own feelings for Usagi, although she'd decided it just wasn't worth fighting them any more. I know I love Ranma, she thought. Not Eowyn, not inherited feelings, but all me. I just wish I knew if Ranma felt like that about me...sometimes he seems to, but sometimes he just... Sometimes he just seemed to be stringing them all along. What kept her from believing that was that he hadn't had sex with any of them yet, which he certainly would have if that was all he was after. Although she wasn't really sure what he was after. Possibly, he wasn't either. This couldn't go on forever. Something had to be done. His ability to hold back was collapsing; she'd given in herself and she hadn't been under half the pressure that he was under. I'll just go to him and tell him the truth, she decided. If he dumps us, he dumps us. If he says yes, then we'll be happy, and Setsuna and Ukyou will have to get over it. There's nothing I can do to ensure their happiness, she thought. The decision made her feel happier, like a weight had lifted. Honesty is the best policy, she thought. Usagi stirred. "Did I fall asleep?" Rei gently stroked her cheek and tried to muster her willpower. "No, you fell asleep," Rei replied. Usagi blinked. "Isn't that what I said?" She sat up and kissed Rei's cheek. "How are you, dear?" "Tired," Rei said, then leaned over and kissed Usagi back, feeling nervous about it, despite what they'd done the previous night. "Didn't sleep well because of worrying about stuff." Usagi cocked her head. "What are you worried about, Rei-chan?" "I've decided we ought to tell Ranma about this." Usagi blinked. "Why wouldn't we tell him?" "Some guys would take this pretty badly, you know," Rei said, feeling a little exasperated. "But he told me he didn't mind if I went after you," Usagi said. "Although we probably should have invited him. I just...I was afraid it would start a fight, and you looked so cute when you were sleeping, and... I screwed up, I guess from how you're looking at me." She stared off at the lamp stand instead of Rei. "I love you, Rei-chan, and I just couldn't think straight." "We may have blown it with him, you know," Rei said, trying to pound it in. "I'll talk to him tonight. And tell him." "We both should," Usagi said. "But I'm sure he won't mind." Rei tried to both figure out how to tell Usagi she felt she ought to do this first herself, then tried to figure out why she felt she ought to do it herself. Because she was the one who was engaged to Ranma, she decided. Because Usagi didn't owe him an explanation, given he knew what she'd wanted to do, but I feel like I do, she thought. "I need...to talk to him by myself," she said softly. "I kept denying I felt anything like this...you don't owe him an explanation. I do." Usagi frowned. "You...you don't want me to come with you to talk to him?" "I'm going to talk to him tonight," she said. "When we're back home, in our bedroom, where his dad and my grandpa won't be spying. I hope. I just...Don't look at me like that." "Like what?" Usagi blinked. "Like I slapped you or something," Rei said. "You're trying to..." She took a deep breath. "He already knows everything about how you feel, I just need...Please." Usagi frowned. "But we both did this." Rei paused again, and tried to marshal her arguments, but they slipped through her fingers. "Usagi, I..." The door opened and Shampoo walked in. "Usagi, we need to...oh." Rei stared at her nervously. "Uh, hi." "Shampoo come back later." And then she was gone. "She won't tell anyone, will she?" Rei asked. Usagi blinked, and then it sank in that Rei didn't want word of this getting around yet. Rei-chan is right, better not to tell everyone until we settle things with Ranma, she thought. "I'd better make sure she doesn't," Usagi said, streaking after Shampoo in both a literal and figurative sense. Rei sighed and headed for the shower. This could get ugly, she thought. ***************** "Pop just told me we're going to go see my Mom starting tomorrow. I'm probably gonna be gone a fair chunk of summer break, as a result," Ranma said to Usagi, Rei, Setsuna, and Ukyou. "There's probably gonna be a lot of boring screaming and yelling and everyone trying to kill each other. So don't nobody get no ideas about following me." "But I want to meet your mother!" Usagi asserted. "Right now, she's more likely to kill us than want to meet you, or so I hear," Ranma said. "So no crazy hiding in my luggage or nothing." Setsuna frowned. "We're not crazy enough to try that, Ranma." Ukyou stopped poking at Ranma's luggage. "I thought I saw a spider. Really." "Anyway, we leave tomorrow. Rei, you'd better ask the spirits to keep us alive, especially Pop." Rei nodded, looking a little nervous, although Ranma couldn't see why she would be. "Okay." "Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know so that you don't all think I've died or run away or something when I'm gone tomorrow," he said, getting up. "Hope everyone has a better summer than I probably will." *************** Ryouga sat under a tree and sighed. I blew it, he thought. I wonder if I'm still in Japan, even. The hilly terrain could be any of twelve countries he'd seen in his life. There was a friendly bark, and he turned. "Shirokuro!" he said. She had a note tucked in the small box that hung from her collar. He ran over to her, fed her a dog biscuit, petted her, and took the note. It read, 'Finally convinced your grandmother to get out of bed. We should be home soon. Have Shirokuro take you home. If all goes well and she FINALLY approves the marriage, we'll need you for obvious reasons. Your loving mother, Hibiki Ryoko.' He stared at it. Marriage? Have I been gone so long they arranged a wife for me, and I didn't realize it? He pocketed the note. "Let's go, Shirokuro," he said. "I hope Mother hasn't changed too much since she left home five years ago to fetch Grandmother. I'd be embarrassed if I didn't recognize her again, like last time." Shirokuro simply barked, lashed her tail around Ryouga's right hand, and began to lead him. ************* "You could have just called, you know," Cologne said to Shampoo's image in the magical mirror. "I didn't want to let them know I'd called you," Shampoo said in Greek. "Usagi and Rei have slept together, and Usagi's parents have decided she shouldn't be an Amazon any longer; they found another cure." "I am glad they have finally regained their humanity," Cologne said. "What about her and Ranma? If this means she's given up on him..." In Greek, Shampoo replied, "He seems paralyzed by his struggles with his past self, unable to pick anyone. Usagi's better off without him." "If he's the Dragon of the East, then we'll all die if they aren't joined in union, Shampoo," Cologne snapped. "And you don't have to speak to me in Greek." "The magic compact gets cranky if I don't," Shampoo replied in Greek. "And it prevents anyone overhearing and understanding. Some Japanese people speak Chinese, but virtually no one here speaks Greek. I finally understand why we have preserved that language." "It's not the only reason," Cologne replied. "You have to make sure they get married. I know you dislike the boy, but you must do it." Shampoo frowned. "I'm not having much luck with Mamoru either." "Keep trying, child. I'm sure he'll come to see your charms. He looked quite handsome in the pictures." "I hope so, great-grandmother." "No man can resist an Amazon. Just keep trying." "I will. I will." "Now, this is what you must do next, Shampoo. Listen carefully..." ************* Rei sat on her bed and tried to decide what to do. She'd decided Usagi was right, that they should both tell Ranma, but then Shampoo had dragged Usagi off for no apparent reason. I have to tell him tonight, Rei thought. The longer I wait, the more likely there is to be a disaster. Ranma-chan walked in, dressed in her usual night garb of a muscle shirt and boxers. Rei felt a faint thrill from seeing her like that which made it hard to concentrate. She wondered if Ranma-chan thought she was sexy in her red silk pajamas. "Man, I am just worn out. You'd think a vacation would make you less tired," Ranma-chan said, stretching. "And tomorrow, I start the long march out to the countryside." "Worried about what your mother might do?" Rei asked. "Naah, we'll work things out," Ranma-chan said, but her voice sounded a little forced in its lightness. "I'm sure it'll all come out okay." Rei got up and came over, sitting down next to Ranma-chan on her futon. "It'll be okay," she said, taking Ranma-chan's hand. "Your mother will like you." "If she doesn't think my curse makes me some kind of freak, or Ruby doesn't pull some shit, or Dad doesn't do something stupid. Which he will," Ranma-chan said, staring at her feet. "This could turn into a complete disaster. Probably she'll want to engage me to someone else, who will turn out to be a monster and..." She shook her head. "I'm not gonna do this. I'm going to go, it's going to be okay, and if it isn't, I'll fix it. Ain't no point in worrying." Her voice sounded a little more confident. "Geez, I musta sounded pretty pathetic." "No, anyone would worry in your situation," Rei said. "I don't think you're pathetic at all." Not as pathetic as I am with my lack of self-control, she thought, then tried to shake off the thought. She turned and looked at Rei, at her intently for a moment before softening. "Thanks. I guess I'd better get some sleep. Pop will probably try to get us out of here when the sun comes up." "Ranma, I..." Tell him, she thought. Have to do it now, this is my best chance. "I hope you have fun during summer break," Ranma- chan said, then suddenly realized Rei was still holding her hand. She squeezed it. "I suppose Usagi will be chasing you the whole time, since I'll be gone. I sometimes wonder if maybe she's just teasing, though. I mean, I can see how you can find two different people attractive at the same time, but I could never be so blatant about it like she is. Not without getting hit, anyway." "Ranma, do you like two different people?" Rei asked. She'd feel better if he did, because it would mean she wasn't so bad for feeling like that. "No. No. Yes." She stared at the ground. "But I'm not sure I can trust my feelings about one of them." "That would be Setsuna," Rei said. She felt a sense of relief to some degree, but her nerves were still turned up to a high level of tension. Ranma-chan nodded. "And the other one is?" she asked hopefully, despite not being sure if she was worthy of it any more. Ranma-chan looked at her, then looked down at their hands, then up at Rei. "Grandpa and Pop are listening at the door," she whispered to Rei. Rei frowned. "You sure?" she whispered back. Ranma-chan nodded, rose silently, then crept over to the door and opened it. Grandpa and Genma failed to fall into the room because they weren't there. A cockroach did dart into the room, only to get squished. "That had better not have been one of them," Rei said, giggling. Ranma-chan frowned. "I could have sworn I..." She ran over and checked the closet, but it was also devoid of lurking adults. Finally, she came back to Rei and sat down after closing the room door. "I guess I'm just paranoid." "And the other person is?" Rei asked, returning to the original topic. Ranma-chan froze up for a few seconds, then said, "I really got to pick someone soon. I nearly had sex with several people during our vacation, and eventually, I'm gonna screw up and do it. I mean, you're all rather sexy, and..." "Ranma," she said with a hint of steel, "Don't be evasive. If you're not...if you're not in love with me, I can handle it." She did her best to squelch the butterflies flapping wildly in her stomach, though stabs of alternating terror and hope kept striking her. She laughed faintly. "This is ridiculous. I was never this afraid to say how I felt about a woman when I was Ruby. I had to chase Setsuna down, instead of being the hound everyone pursues. You're right, Rei. No running away. Not this time. You're the other one, Rei." She turned and took Rei's hand. "I have to get Ruby out of my head to know who I really love, but I can tell you that you and Setsuna are the two I like the most. You're the two I think I could marry. Eventually. When we're all a lot older and I'm not in high school any more." She smiled at Rei. "Does that make any sense?" Rei felt a surge of joy at this, followed by an eddy of guilt. Why couldn't I have waited? she asked herself. We could have just told each other how we felt and settled it all the right way. She squelched the thoughts; she had to tell him now. Rei leaned over and kissed Ranma-chan on the cheek, trembling as she felt the temptation to try something more. "I understand, Ranma. I sometimes don't know what is me or what is Eowyn. But I..." Tell him, she told herself. Now. "So you don't love Usagi or Ukyou?" Her brain spun. There had to be some way to reconcile her emotions, but if he didn't love Usagi...she couldn't...She didn't know what to do. "Not like the kind of love where you marry someone. I like 'em both a lot, but it's not the same as the way I feel about you or Setsuna. They're great fun to be with, but I don't think it's _love_." She shrugged. "It's hard to say with words." "Then why do you keep kissing Ukyou and stuff?" Rei asked, trying to muster the willpower to make her own confession, but she'd never been good at admitting guilt, especially to something this important. "Sometimes I ain't thinking with my head. She is a babe," Ranma-chan said. "And I've kissed about all four of you by now. I just do stupid stuff sometimes. We all do. Anyway, I've resolved that I ain't gonna kiss nobody until I get the old bastard out of my head. Or do anything else. 'Cause it ain't fair to no-one." "Ranma, have you...you know...with any of us?" Rei's voice wavered. Half of her hoped he had, so she wouldn't have to feel so guilty, and the other half hoped he hadn't, the same part of herself that wished she'd managed to wait. Ranma-chan's eyes widened. "No! I coulda, but I kept my cool and stuff. Just barely at times. Naah, if I had sex with someone, that would pretty much be it. And you don't think any of the others would keep it secret if I did sleep with them, do you?" Her voice was wavering; clearly she was embarrassed. "That's a kinda...I mean...no. Haven't done it." Say it, Rei told herself. "Ranma, I love you. But I also...I also have strong feelings for Usagi. They may just be from Eowyn, but..." Ranma-chan gulped, and tried to say something, then failed. She had the luck of someone on the hot seat. Then she got a grip on herself, and spoke, obviously trying to calm herself by not replying directly. "Probably," Ranma-chan said. "Since Eowyn and Princess Serenity were lovers. I'm surprised she isn't chasing after Endymion; I always thought they did like each other." "But we acted on them." "You kissed her? Fair enough, I've kissed all three of the others. I ain't mad. Although it does complicate matters." Her voice had an affected casualness, but Rei could see Ranma-chan was bothered by this. "We had sex at the hotel." "..." The window flew open and Grandpa and Genma poured through it. "YOU DID WHAT?" Genma shouted. "With that Amazon? How could you betray your fiancee like that?" Grandpa demanded. "You...you had sex with Usagi?" Ranma-chan asked in shock. She stared at Rei as if to suggest Rei had also had sex with the entire population of T&A Academy. Rei felt the need to shout something, but wasn't sure what to shout. "See, I told you, boy!" Genma said to Ranma-chan. "You've let your fiancee be seduced! And you call yourself a man?" "But she...I thought she...I never thought they...I mean, I trusted..." Ranma-chan began to babble, not able to think fast enough. "I can't believe you gave your virginity to the Amazon instead of your fiancee!" Grandpa shouted at Rei. "I can give my virginity to whoever I damn well please!" Rei shouted back. There was a certain relief in being able to simply yell at someone instead of having to baste herself in her own guilt, although deep down, she knew she had no real cause for righteous indignation. "Boy, there's only one way to fix this," Genma said to Ranma-chan, staring her in the eyes. "What's that?" Ranma-chan asked, still trying to recover his mental footing. "You have to get some hot water and have sex with her right now before she decides to never sleep with a man ever again," Genma said. "And I'm throwing the Amazons out." Grandpa sighed. "I will see if her parents can restrain her. I don't want to throw them out into the world while they're still readjusting. In fact...ahh. I know what to do." He snapped his fingers. "Come with me for a moment, Genma." They stepped out into the hallway and began whispering while Ranma-chan and Rei looked nervously at each other. Then they came back. "We've decided that Rei will have to go to visit a priest I know and undergo special purification rites during her summer vacation," Grandpa said. "You leave tomorrow. Once you've purified yourself and Ranma has settled his family business, then we'll take measures to make sure neither of you strays again like that." "..." Ukyou poked her head in the door. "I heard shouting. What's going on?" "Rei betrayed her fiancee with the Amazon," Genma said curtly. "Go back to bed." "She...you and Usagi, uh...had sex?" Ukyou asked Rei. Rei bellowed, "I did NOT BETRAY RANMA! I didn't do anything wrong!" It was an instinctual denial, rather than a heartfelt one. "You're the crazy people who said we were engaged! Neither of us ever made a promise to each other!" Ranma-chan frowned. "Oh, I can't do anything with anyone else or I'm in trouble, but you can? What kinda crazy logic is that?" She'd regained her footing, and like Rei, was letting old bad habits creep in. "You told her you didn't mind!" "I wasn't thinking straight, okay? I didn't think you'd actually go for it!" "It's not like you haven't done things with other people!" They had scooted closer and were yelling at each other from a range of inches now. "I've KISSED other people! Not had sex with them! I had chances with Ukyou AND Setsuna and even Naoko at the casino, and I managed to say no! Because I was trying to wait until this was all settled!" Ranma-chan's hands instinctively clinched, and she tamped down the knowledge that two of those three situations hadn't been evaded entirely by her own choice. "You nearly had sex with SETSUNA?" Ukyou shouted. "How could you?" "Who had sex with Setsuna?" Usagi asked, poking her head in. Shampoo and Usagi's parents were in the hallway as well, having been attracted by the shouting. "I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH SETSUNA! AND I DIDN'T HAVE SEX WITH UKYOU AND HARUKA, EITHER, EVEN THOUGH I COULD HAVE!" Ranma-chan shouted, then regretted opening her mouth. "And Haruka TOO?" Usagi, Rei, and Genma all shouted in unison. "Let's all calm down," Grandpa said, smelling imminent apocalypse. "Shampoo thinks Ukyou and Haruka would make a good couple," Shampoo said. "Go for it, Ukyou." "You were going to have sex with Ukyou and Haruka? And you say I betrayed YOU?" Rei shouted, knowing she wasn't entirely justified in getting mad, but giving in to her own anger to hide from her own guilt. "If you want two girls, you could have just come to me and Rei-chan," Usagi said. "Haruka doesn't even love you." "Haruka was just teasing!" Ukyou protested. "And I don't like girls!" "I think this is enough shouting," Kenji said, trying to calm the waters. Rei began pounding on Ranma-chan, who blocked the flurry of blows. "How could you? How could you?" Ranma-chan simply parried the blows and tried to ignore the shouting, but finally, she had enough. "ENOUGH!!!!!" She shouted and leaped to her feet. "I didn't have sex with NOBODY! I may have come close, but I didn't do it! So stop hitting me when YOU'RE the one who had sex with someone else!" "But we want you to join us!" Usagi said. "We both love you, so we thought the three of us could work things out." "He's mine! You two have each other!" Ukyou asserted, grabbing Ranma-chan's arm. Usagi grabbed the other arm. "True love cannot be denied!" "Ranma, you shouldn't be letting them grab you like that," Genma said, dragging her away from both of them. "Looks like I'm going to have to teach you about fidelity on this trip." "Hey, I ain't the one who ran off and fucked someone else!" Ranma-chan shouted. "Rei's the one who did that!" "I didn't..." Rei stopped and took a deep breath. "Okay, I did! And she was a lot better than YOU'LL EVER BE!" Ranma-chan's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. "Man, you've been slapped," Shingo-neko said. His mother picked him up. "You shouldn't be here," she said, "And you should be in your human form." "Human form is boring!" he protested as she carried him off. "See what you've let Usagi do to her?" Genma said. "Fine, be a dyke for all I care!" Ranma-chan said, spinning on one foot. "I'm leaving NOW to go see Mom and straighten things out and then...I'll marry Setsuna!" "You can't marry Setsuna!" Ukyou shouted. "What about me?" "You can marry Tsubasa!" And then Ranma-chan was out the door, leaving everyone speechless. "He'll be back," Genma said. "Didn't look like it to me," Grandpa said. "He's made up his mind." "He didn't take any clothing, and only I know where his mother is," Genma said. "He'll be back." "EVERYONE GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM!" Rei shouted. Usagi began clearing everyone out, which wasn't easy. Grandpa stopped in the doorway. "Don't forget Rei, tomorrow you leave for purification." "Whatever," she said, starting to cry. "Just get out and leave me alone." "Rei, I'm sorry about..." Usagi began to say. Sharply, Rei said, "You too! I wouldn't be in this mess if I hadn't let you have your way with me! You should have thought about the consequences, dammit!" "But Rei, I love you," Usagi said weakly. "I guess you really do hurt the ones you love," Rei snapped, then shoved her out of the room and shut the door in her face. She turned the lock, then fell to her knees and sobbed. The fact that she could hear Usagi sobbing on the other side of the door made her cry more, but she left it locked all night long. ************ Setsuna turned off the TV with a sigh and lay back on the floor, staring up at the ceiling in frustration. Another night alone in an empty house. Another night with her true love halfway across the city. Sometimes she wondered about that, if he was her true love. Ruby had been, but Ranma... he was so indecisive. Ruby, she remembered with a shiver, had known what he wanted and hadn't let anything or anyone stop him from taking it. Her hand touched her lips, remembering the time.... ************ Senshi Pluto stalked out of the reception into the Royal Gardens. She did not know why she came to these events, beyond some vague sense of duty. The Queen did not require her presence, that was certain. And she did not particularly enjoy being either ignored or bored to tears by the guests. She was so caught up in her thoughts she almost didn't see someone else join her in the garden. Still, it was hard to sneak up on the Senshi of Time. Despite that, she didn't know who this intruder was until he spoke. "Cassandra." "Ruby! What are you doing here? There's no delegation from Earth visiting...." He laughed, that strong, confident, almost arrogant laugh that made her weak in the knees--not that she would ever let him know that. "I came to see you," he said, taking her in his arms and beginning to dance to the faint music coming from the palace. "Dance with me?" Against her better judgment, she felt herself melt into his arms as they danced under the light of the full Earth. Then the music stopped their eyes met, and his head lowered to kiss her ruby red lips.... ************ Setsuna shook her head to clear it of the fantasy/memory. She knew Ruby loved her... if only Ranma would show a bit-- A sudden knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts. Who could be here this late? she wondered, pulling on a robe. Looking out the fish-eye, she got her answer. "Ranma?" she asked, holding the door open for the miserable martial artist. If she didn't know better, she would have thought he had been crying. "Can... do you have a moment, Setsuna? I really need ta talk." "Of course, Ranma... let me put on some tea, and--" "No, I can't... if I stay too long, they'll come looking for me," he said, his voice laced with bitterness. Setsuna knew she shouldn't, but he looked so miserable that she couldn't resist. She took him in her arms and held him tight. At first he went stiff, so much she could almost imagine his pigtail standing on end, but slowly, he began to relax. He looked up and their eyes met. Setsuna gasped at the raw pain she saw reflected in those eyes. Pain, betrayal, and longing. She had seen that look before, the night that Diamond had died, the night before everything had fallen. And now, as then, she felt the pull of those eyes. "Ranma?" she whispered, half-disbelieving, as her face drew closer to his. He seemed to relax even further at her use of his name. The pain and betrayal fell back--not gone, but reduced--leaving the longing foremost. His lips touched hers in a kiss, tentative at first, then stronger, more passionate. She returned that, not knowing what brought this on but beyond caring. Somehow, they found the couch, their tongues dueling until they were both gasping for air. "Wow," Setsuna said, her brain a little frazzled by the sudden kiss. Ranma seemed to step back a little, though he didn't move from where he was holding her, except to place one hand behind his head. "Um, sorry about that." "Wow," Setsuna said again, still not entirely running on all cylinders. "Setsuna, are you OK?" Ranma asked. "Wow--I mean, I'm fine, Ranma." Her lips curved in a slow smile. "That was..." "'Wow.' I got that," Ranma said with a chuckle. Soon she joined him. When they stopped, she turned to him, a little more serious. "Not that I'm complaining, Ranma, but what brought this on? I could tell that something happened tonight..." Ranma's chuckles died away, as if someone had flipped a switch. "It's Rei... and Usagi," he said at last. "They..." Comprehension dawned. "Oh, Ranma.... I'm sorry." She struggled for something to say, while cursing. That kiss was nothing more than a rebound. He loved either the Princess or Mars and now they had rejected him, so he came running to her. "You can't take it so hard... the Princess and Eowyn had a special tie that almost no one could come between...." "Usagi... she keeps saying that she wants us both.... but I don't think I can do that. For my honor, I need to pick one person to love. I had just told Rei that I loved her--" Setsuna felt like her hard was made of glass, and that glass was cracking. "--and you... I don't know how much of that is Ruby, but there's something between you and me--" Setsuna blinked. "--and I couldn't make myself decide. I felt something for Rei, too. Ukyou, she's my best friend, I don't think of her like that... and Usagi, she's nice and all, but I barely know her--" Setsuna blinked again. "--so how can I--um, Setsuna, are you alright?" "Huh?" "Are you alright? You looked kinda--" Setsuna shook her head, another smile blossoming on her face. "Oh, Ranma, I'm very, very 'alright.' It's just...I was wanting to hear you say something like that for so long. I love you, too." She leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, not wanting to frighten him away. "I... I can't make a commitment right now, Setsuna... I wish... I gotta see my Mom first, make things right with her.... but when I get back, I wanna see if there is anything more between us. I really do. I know it's not exactly what you wanted, but... can you wait?" Setsuna threw back her head and laughed. "Ranma, I've waited 25,000 years for you... I think I can wait a little longer. But, promise me, you'll come back?" "I promise. And I ain't like Pop. I keep my promises." "I know." He twitched in her arms. "I should get back. If they come bursting in here--" "I'll know in time to warn you. Just... hold me a little longer. Convince me this isn't a dream." His second kiss was far better than any dream she'd ever had. ************ Ranma poked his head into Ukyou's tent. "Hey, you awake yet?" Ukyou sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Define awake." "You understanding what I'm saying?" he asked. "More or less." "Look, I gotta leave with Pop to go see Mom in a little bit, and I...gotta talk about some stuff with ya before I go. If you're awake enough, anyway." He sounded more nervous than usual. "Sure, sit down and talk," she said, trying to make some room in the tent for him. He came in and sat down. "Pop and I are leaving to go see Mom in an hour or two. So I wanted to say goodbye for a while." She frowned. "I want to meet your mother." "We don't know if she's gonna kill us or what. And she may just tell us to go away. And since she thinks we're demons or some such crazy thing, it could get ugly. So it's just gonna be us," Ranma said. She sighed. "I don't know what to do with myself for my vacation." "Shouldn't you go visit your dad or something?" "I guess. He'll put me to work, though." "And then there's the other thing." Ranma tried to steel himself to the task. He didn't want to hurt her, but... "I've been thinking about what I learned last night." She looked at him expectantly and hopefully. "I had to do a lot of thinking, and I came to the conclusion I've been dorking around too much on this whole...with all of you. I still can't make up my mind entirely, but there's no point in me making you wait." Her face crashed as she guessed what he was going to say. "I've been doing a lot of dumb shit, getting your hopes up for no good reason. You're really cute, and kinda sexy sometimes, but I'm not in love with you and I shouldn't be doing all the stuff I've done. I'm kinda glad I'm going off in the wilderness with Pop, 'cause I need to get a grip on myself before I do anything really dumbass." Ukyou began to cry, and Ranma froze up, not sure what to do. "Uh...you can hit me if it helps." The spatula came around, sending him flying through the top of the tent. As he flew over the shrine, Ranma thought, well, that went better than expected. *********** Confront Usagi or not confront Usagi, Ranma asked himself as he picked himself up from the dust. He'd just decided to avoid her for now when she almost bumped into him coming around a corner, taking the choice out of his hands. She looked very nervous and hesitant, and the way she stumbled gave the impression she'd been pushed. "Umm, Ranma, we need to, umm...like...talk." "I have nothing to say," he said flatly, trying to avoid screaming at her. "I can see how it goes." "Ranma...I thought...I mean...I like both of you!" Usagi blurted out, inching towards him. "I'd have invited you to come, but it would have started a big riot and..." Only the knowledge that he'd pretty much told her seducing Rei was okay kept him from just screaming at her in frustration. "Usagi, I can't date two people at the same time. It just doesn't work." "You're dating all four of us at the same time!" she said, suddenly switching from teary to angry. "Hey, that's..." He sighed. "I ain't the one doing the chasing here, and you know it." "It works just fine in China," Usagi said. "We ain't in China, and we ain't going back. And now I gotta go with Pop to get killed by Mom." He turned to go, but she grabbed his shoulder. "Ranma, I'm sorry," she said. "But can't we...I love you, Ranma." "I like you a lot, Usagi," he said, "But I don't love you." He took a deep breath. "You and Rei...you can be happy together. It looks like I'm gonna be going with Setsuna, see if we can make things work." "You...you're dumping us?" Usagi asked weakly. "You dumped me for each other," he said flatly, folding his arms. "I've been fighting off Setsuna just cause the old moron liked her, but I guess that ain't no good reason to hold back. You two sure didn't." Usagi blushed. "Ranma...I...I've never done that with someone I didn't love! I...I'll do it with you right now if I have to, to prove that I..." "Sex don't prove nothing about love," Ranma said. "I coulda had a lot of sex by now, but I tried to wait so I wouldn't make a dumb ass choice about who to do it with. I tried to do the honorable thing. Well, I still ain't had no sex, and I ain't made any dumb ass mistakes, but you...." He kicked a rock so hard it shattered into dust. "Look, Usagi, I don't hate you forever or nothing, but I REALLY don't want to see you for a while. We gotta work together, and I hope we can be friends and all that stuff, 'cause you're neat to talk to, but you made your choice when you seduced Rei. Now I've gotta make mine." "I just...I was just lonely and she was..." Usagi began to cry. "A martial artist has to have discipline," Ranma said sharply. "Did they not teach you that in China?" Usagi now simply came unglued, lunged forward and cried on his shoulder. He patted her back feebly, trying to figure out what to do. He couldn't be too comforting, or she'd get the wrong idea, but he hated to make a girl cry. "Look, I just can't date both of you, okay? At least you have Rei." "Rei won't talk to me either," Usagi bawled. "She just yells at me and runs away." "Oh, she does that to everyone," Ranma said weakly. "Once she calms down..." "She's going away tomorrow!" "Well, that gives you until tomorrow," he said. "And I gotta go now." "Ranma, do you hate me?" She stared at him with huge tear-filled eyes. "No, but I just want to be ALONE for a while," he said. "Before I start beating people up." He pulled away from her. "Uhh...I hope you have a good vacation." And then he walked away, feeling horrible, but not knowing what else he could do. *********** "Boy, you should apologize to Rei," Genma told Ranma a little while later as they were about to leave. "I ain't got nothing to apologize for," Ranma said, crossing his arms. "Let's go get killed by Mom and get this over with." "Never leave them angry," Genma said. "You're going to have to marry her, and leaving her to stew for a month won't help." "I ain't marrying no one," Ranma said stubbornly. "Let's go." Rei emerged from the temple onto the porch and stared silently at Ranma, looking more morose than angry. Ranma stared back, wondering how much of what she'd said the previous night she meant, and how much of it had just been people yelling at each other. Did she really love Usagi more than him? She'd said she loved him, but then... He shook his head. Pop's right, I gotta say something, he thought. Then she turned and stormed inside as Shampoo came round the corner, looking angry. "On second thought, boy, let's just get out of here." They ran. ************* Rei watched the countryside roll by as the train rolled along and wished she could go back in time and stop herself from being an idiot. On the other hand, I'd probably just screw things up worse, she thought. I shouldn't have slept with Usagi, or tried to tell Ranma about it anywhere within 50 miles of anyone else. And all the yelling and glaring just... She sighed and tried to stop beating herself up. Maybe this is for the best, she thought. It'll give us all time to cool down. This shrine Grandpa's sending me to does sound kind of nice. Hopefully the priest is less of a flake than Grandpa. I just wish I knew what Grandpa had been talking about when he was babbling about some rivalry he has with the guy. I just hope we don't have another crisis while I'm gone, that they won't need me when the next Rainbow Crystal shows up. Not much chance of me stumbling on it way out in the countryside. Assuming they're all around Tokyo, anyway. What with all our recent recruits, though, they should be fine. *************** "You must be Rei-san," the old man said to Rei when she got off the train. His hair was turning grey, but he'd managed to keep all of it, and he wore dark-rimmed glasses and a priest's uniform. "That's me," Rei said. "You're Masaki-sama?" "Hai." He took one of her suitcases. "Ready for rigorous spiritual training?" "No," she said. "I'd rather have a real vacation." "Good," he said. "We can just goof off the whole time, then." "..." He laughed. "I'm afraid I can't be that easy on you, but I promise it won't all be hard work. Your grandfather was rather vague on the phone, though, about why he was sending you to me." "I pissed him off by not being a good little sheep who would marry whoever he wanted," she said, deciding to be pseudo-honest. "I'd rather not talk about it." "Fair enough," he said. "I understand you have some ability to see the future by gazing into fire." "The Sacred Fire likes me," she said. "I've never done it with a different fire than that one." "Then we'll have to start with that." They headed out into the parking lot, soon reaching an ugly van. "How long will you be staying?" "A month," she said. "Good, good, that will give us plenty of time," he said. "And off we go." ***************** Ranma sat on top of a train running into the countryside, running over a meditation exercise in his mind...in theory. In actuality, he was struggling to try to focus on it while his brain kept turning over what had happened. How could she say she loves me, but then confess she'd done something like that? Why couldn't she wait? But then, he had to admit he'd come pretty close to doing the same thing with some of the others. I've just screwed this all up, he thought. Am I doing the same choosing Setsuna? The Old Bastard liked her, but that doesn't... I mean...does it really matter whether Ruby liked her or not? he asked himself. Maybe I've just been being a total idiot about all this. Setsuna loves me. Being with her just feels so good, he thought. But then, being with Rei feels like that too. Or it did. His brain went round and round, until finally he realized he couldn't remember what he was supposed to be meditating on. "Hey, Pop..." he began. Genma snored in reply. Ranma sighed and gave up, watching the terrain go by for a while. I gotta stop being so indecisive on this, he thought. Even if it means I end up engaged. I've let this drag on for way too long. The rest of the day went into deep thought. ***************** The Masaki shrine was a simple wooden building with living quarters in the rear and a large open room in front--the shrine proper. "I'll be staying with my son," Masaki-sama said. "So you'll have the living quarters to yourself. He lives nearby; I'll walk over each morning to begin your training." She nodded. "I can make my own breakfast." "Good. I'll be here at seven each morning, so you'll need to rise appropriately." She nodded again. A little solitude at night will be nice, she thought. "Okay." "Alright. Let me show you everything, and then I'll let you settle in." ****************** Rei couldn't sleep. She wasn't sure if it was sleeping on a futon instead of a bed, or if she had grown used to not sleeping by herself, or if it was just emotional turmoil. I miss them, she thought. I wish I'd said goodbye to Ranma. I wish I'd managed to handle things differently. I wish...I wish I could sleep. She went outside and stared up at the half-moon hanging over the forest. It's like there's no one else in the entire world, she thought. For a moment, she saw Ranma's face suspended in place of the moon, then laughed. I wonder if he's looking up at the moon right now, she thought. ****************** Ranma dropped low and swept the feet of one of the nine-tailed humanoid fox-like beings that were trying to sweep over himself and his father. It was hard for him to see their faces in the light of only half a moon, but he thought he caught a glimpse of terror on its face as it fell off the train. "Tell me again how catching a ride on top of the train is gonna save us time and money, Pop," Ranma said. Genma caught another one by the arm and rolled backwards, tossing it over his head and down into the gap between train cars, where it managed to catch the edge of the roof and hang. "How was I supposed to know these things would get the same idea? Grandpa Hino and I blew up that evil Kitsune temple YEARS ago." "You! You're the one!" one of the Kitsune shouted. "Kill the defiler of our sacred shrine!" Ranma parried a sword stroke from one of the Kitsune, then disarmed it with a kick. "Next time, I plan the vacation." "Hey, it's not like the travel brochures mention demon foxes like to hop trains these days, you know!" Genma protested, dodging the sword blows from another one. "I suggest we abandon ship." "Good idea." They leaped off and let the train carry the fox-men away. "I guess we hoof it," Ranma said. "Walking purifies the body and soul," Genma replied. "And makes the feet hurt." "Afraid of a little exercise?" "No!" "Then catch me, boy." Genma took off running, and Ranma sprinted after him. ************* Rei said, "So, what are these purification exercises anyway? And why do you have so many carrots in the pantry?" Masaki-sama smiled. "My son and grandson grow them. And for your first purification exercise, we're going to have to take a little hike to the waterfall." Rei munched on her carrot. "So I can sit in it and meditate?" "No, you have to go over it in a barrel," Masaki- sama replied, then took a large swallow of tea. "..." ************* Ranma trooped through the woods, half-listening to Genma ramble on, but mostly thinking about other things. Pop's right, I've got to apologize to Rei, he thought. Either she doesn't really love me or she lost control to Eowyn for a while. Better to find this out now, right? he asked himself. I mean, I kept control with Setsuna. OK, I did go running off to her without even thinking about it, but she.... He sighed. I hate second-guessing myself. He tried to think of the honorable thing to do. I've got to see Rei and settle things, he thought. If this means we're over, then we're over, but that don't mean I can yell at her. If she truly loves Usagi, I oughta be happy for her.. And if she just did it in a moment of stupidity...I don't know what I'll do, he thought. He slugged a tree. Why'd she have to do something so STUPID? he asked himself. If she could have just kept control of herself a little longer, I coulda told her that I loved... How could she say she loves me when she did something like that? Then again, I felt like just jumping into Setsuna's bed to spite her, he thought. I calmed down enough not to, but...damn you, Ruby for messing up my head. If it wasn't for you, I could have gotten together with Rei or Setsuna a long time ago and this would never have happened! Ruby said nothing, which pissed Ranma off more, and he slugged another tree. Say something, you bastard! "Ranma, we're not here to kill trees," Genma said. "Or did you learn the Tree-Fist somewhere?" He laughed at that. "Just feeling aggravated." "You have a right to be aggravated by what Rei did," Genma said. "But you've also got to make things up with her, since she'll be your wife one day." "Whatever." Ranma kicked another tree. "We all make mistakes, Ranma. But one mistake is not enough reason to give up on a person. I'm sure Rei will get her head together during her training and apologize to you. And when she does, you're going to accept it." Ranma nodded sullenly. "I just can't believe she did that." "Well, you haven't been behaving any better than her. Don't think I don't know about some of the things you've been up to. You shouldn't encourage women like that when you're not interested." "Pop, you can't..." Ranma cut himself off, realizing his father really did hold the moral high ground on this. He'd never seen his father even flirt with another woman; the man had been very faithful to Nodoka. "I don't like being mean to people." He'd hated being cold to Usagi like he'd been in their last meeting. "Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, boy. Raising false hopes just means more pain later." He shook his head. "If you'd been paying more attention to Rei, she wouldn't have ended up doing what she did." Ranma winced because part of him agreed with his father. He wanted to be mad at Rei, but he hadn't been much better, what with flirting with Ukyou and Haruka at the same time and everything else. At least I managed to say no to Naoko outright, he thought. "I can't just follow her around." "You have to let women know what you feel, even if talking about it is boring as hell," Genma said. "They like that. They need the reassurance. If they don't get it, they go crazy." Ranma nodded. Rei certainly had. ************* Rei tried to focus her thoughts, but all she could think about was how wet she was getting. It didn't help that Masaki-sama had gone off and left her there, saying she had to meditate until he came back. He's probably off watching soaps like Grandpa does, she thought. I guess Ranma would probably hate this even more than I do, what with his curse, she thought. Usagi would either tough it out or...she'd just go swim in the waterfall pool. Rei laughed at the thought, and nearly drowned herself. No more laughing, she thought. Ranma... What am I going to do about him, she asked herself. I love him, but sometimes he makes me want to kill him. I don't even know for sure if he...if he would still want me. After what I did. I shouldn't have done it, she thought. Could he forgive me? Do I deserve to be forgiven? At least he knows I love him...but will he believe it? After everything I said? Her brain went round and round in circles, and a sense of guilt settled in for a nice long stay. I'd have dumped me in that situation, she thought. If I was him. How could I have been so stupid? Why couldn't I have waited? She wanted to blame Eowyn for it, but that was too easy. Eowyn was part of her, not some invading spirit. It had felt so right to do that with Usagi, to reaffirm their old relationship. I love her, she thought. That's why I did it. But I feel like I love Ranma too. Would I have slept with him if he'd ever really come on to me? Can I really love two people? I have to do something...I have to apologize whenever I see him. I should have gone to him before he left, she thought. I could at least have said I was sorry. He might...I wish I knew if he was still angry. Rei shivered. When is Masaki-sama coming back anyway? ************* "Shouldn't you be tending to that student you mentioned?" Masaki-sama's niece-in-law asked as she passed through the living room on the way to the kitchen. She was the sister of his son-in-law, a red-haired woman whose athletic figure belied her middling age. Masaki-sama looked up from the TV. "She has to meditate on water flowing over rock for another..." He checked the TV Guide. "Two hours." She frowned. "She'll freeze." "If the Fire truly burns within her, she can take it." "And if it doesn't?" She asked, frowning deeper. "She'll get out of the water if it gets to be too much for her." "You sure of that?" He nodded. "She seemed quite sensible to me." ************** Ranma ran through a kata, mostly running on autopilot while he watched his father practice a kata, and he thought about his life. Even after years of practice together, he was still always impressed by how nimble and quick his father was despite his bulk. And he had learned a huge amount of martial arts; Ranma didn't even recognize this kata, and his father had been training him for years. Ranma was pretty certain he was stronger than his father, and probably faster too, but the man still had more skill. He watched his father leap about, tree to tree, forgetting his problems for a while. But with time, that paled, and his thoughts turned again to his recent troubles. He flowed into an attack kata, putting all his anger at Rei and frustration over what had happened into it, kicks and punches flowing from his heart to exorcise it. It soothed him, and by the time he finished, he felt much calmer, moving into one of his defensive katas and trying to think about his options. I shouldn't have just run immediately to Setsuna without thinking about it, he thought. I still...Part of me wants to kick Rei in the head, but part of me still wants...still loves her. But then, I love Setsuna too. Now if Rei and Setsuna... He shook his head. I could wish for the trees to all start flying too while I'm at it, he thought. Well, I promised Setsuna I'd give her a real chance instead of just ignoring how I feel 'cause of Ruby being a pain in my butt, he thought. And I gotta keep my promises. I'm not gonna find out what's me and what's the Old Bastard by avoiding her. And if it is all him... well, then I'll know. But it's not. I DO love her. And this does sorta solve things fairly neatly. Well, not for Ukyou. He frowned. I shoulda told her a long time ago instead of doing all the dumb shit I did, he thought. Well, when I get back, I'll make it up to her. Somehow. When he punched a tree instead of the air, he realized he'd been thinking so much, he'd completely lost track of what he was doing. He stopped and sat down to try to meditate and get his mind clear. After a few seconds of that, his father loomed over him, "Boy, what are you doing?" "Trying to clear my mind." Genma sat down next to him. "Can't focus enough to do katas?" Ranma nodded and waited for the lecture. To his surprise, Genma simply nodded. "Let me teach you an exercise I sometimes use." This took about fifteen minutes, and after another quarter hour of meditation, Ranma was able to return to his katas, feeling more focused. He resumed his practice, and was so caught up in it, he didn't notice his father smiling at him. You'll be a great martial artist one day, Genma thought. Once we settle this woman business and our family business so it can't distract you anyway. Assuming Nodoka doesn't kill us. He shook his head and dismissed the thought. Going into a battle prepared to lose guarantees you will, he thought. ************** Rei's stomach growled, and the sun had vanished from sight, although it was still bright enough for her to know it was daytime. She stayed in the waterfall, though she was very chilled and soaked to the bone. If I leave, he'll just send me back, she thought. Wise old masters are like that. Her stomach grumbled again, and she ignored it, trying to think about warm things. She closed her eyes and imagined a candle flame, feeling its light and warmth, then imagined that flame spreading to limn her body with red fire. Slowly, she started to feel warmer, and her tensed muscles began to relax. It was hard at first to keep up her concentration on the flame, but gradually it became easier. Unfortunately, this had the consequence that she started to once again become incredibly bored. Her stomach growled again, and she sighed. Where is Masaki-sama, anyway? "Still here? Good," Masaki-sama said. "Are you done meditating on the wearing away of stone?" "On what?" He frowned. "So you forgot what you were supposed to be meditating on?" "Freezing cold water does that to me." She frowned back at him, smothering a feeling of guilt over having forgotten it. "We'll do this again tomorrow." "AGAIN?" "Until you get it right." "Easy for you to say! I'll catch pneumonia or something." He shrugged. "The ways of wisdom are not paved with soft flowers." "What?" "Come on; the carrot soup will be done by the time we return." She was glad to get out of the water, and not glad to have more carrots for dinner. *********** Rei sat and stared into the bonfire. "It's not a sacred fire," she said. "I don't think this will work." the fire protested. She jumped. "Did you hear that?" I guess my old abilities must be kicking in, she thought. Maybe I can do this. "The question is whether you can hear it talking," Masaki-sama said, extracting a plastic bag from inside his kimono, which he began to tear open. "Talk to it." He wandered to the edge of the clearing and started looking for something on the ground. "Uh, hi," Rei said, not sure how to address this spirit. For a moment, she could see a face in the flames. It looked confused. "Are you a fire kami?" The fire waved towards her and she jumped back. "I didn't mean any disrespect. I just...I didn't think I could do this with just any fire." The fire pouted. She sighed. "My apologies, most powerful fire-sama. May I gaze into your depths for wisdom?" Masaki-sama continued his search. The fire seemed quite pleased with itself. She gazed into the fire, and slowly, images began to form. Ranma-chan, dressed in a blue sundress, ran laughing through a field of flowers. Setsuna sat on a throne dressed in the regalia of the Imperial family of Japan. Usagi sat on a bench, eating ice cream. Ukyou practiced sword forms on the top of a speeding train, which then went into a tunnel, sending her flying. Kodachi kissed Michiru. Gosunkugi sat in the waterfall and melted. Masaki-san fought a duel with Major Diamond through the wreckage of a house Rei had never seen. Elvis began to sing 'Love Me Tender'. And the smell of marshmallow filled her nostrils. She glanced over and saw Masaki-san roasting marshmallows on a stick over the fire. "You want one?" he asked. "These images don't make much sense," she said, trying to concentrate. the fire said. The images flickered, and now Rei found herself watching Kodoma no Omocha. "I need to know the future, not watch cheesy TV! I need to know what to do about Ranma and Usagi!" Rei blurted out, then regretted it. "And who are they?" Masaki-sama asked, handing Rei a toasted marshmallow. She ate it, then said, "Grandpa engaged me to Ranma Saotome, the son of an old friend of his. And Usagi is this crazy amazon who wants to marry him and me." "Both of you at once?" She stared at the fire. "It's a big mess." He nodded. "And he prefers her to you?" "We don't know for sure who he prefers. I mean..." She shook her head again. "It's a big mess." He nodded. "So he won't chose between you two?" "Not who he prefers of me and Usagi. He told me he likes me better, but...He won't choose between me and Setsuna." "Wait, is her name Usagi or Setsuna?" She shook her head. "No, Setsuna is...There's four women, and he can't make up his mind between two of us, and he won't make it clear, and I... I did something stupid." Masaki-sama nodded again and put more marshmallows on another stick, then started toasting them. "It's hard for a boy his age to commit himself. But he won't even tell the two he doesn't like?" "It's...do you believe in reincarnation?" "Yes." "His past life is giving him trouble," Rei said. "It's one reason he can't tell who he likes. He likes me, but his past life loved Setsuna. Do you know anything about getting past lives to shut up?" "There's the shrine of the weeping kami, but it's too dangerous. The weeping kami has a somewhat...overenthusiastic method of helping people forget things." "Overenthusiastic?" "The weeping kami tries to help people forget their sorrows. At times, this means forgetting everything connected to one's sorrows, right down to their very identity. Not a method I'd recommend. Probably he could learn to control it by studying meditative techniques, though." He pulled another marshmallow off his roasting stick and ate it. "Your grandfather could probably help him. I'm surprised he hasn't." "He tried, but it didn't do any good," Rei said. Masaki-sama nodded at that and changed the subject. "So you're trying to figure out how to get him to make a decision between you and Setsuna?" "More or less," Rei said. "There's some other complications." "So what's he like?" "Brave. A loud mouth at times. Handsome. Kinda indecisive. Falls apart if you come on to him too strong. He's not good at school, but he's quick witted and good to have with you in a crisis. A great martial artist. Rude. Insensitive. But only sometimes." She got some marshmallows and started toasting them. "I don't want to have to marry him right away like Grandpa wants, but I do care about him a lot." He nodded and ate a few more marshmallows. Many died in fire before Masaki-san broke the silence. "You said this Usagi wants to marry both you and Ranma?" "She has this crazy Amazon law, and she's in love with both of us. It's all a big mess." I can't tell him we had sex, she thought. He'll freak. "But you don't love her," Masaki-san replied. Rei stared at him, trying to figure out what the right thing to say was. Something about him made her say, "My past self did, and I think I...I do. Ranma's not the only one with past self problems." "Well, that gives us something else to work on, then," Masaki-san said. "I can teach you the exercises to help you deal with it, and you can teach him." Her eyes widened. "Really?" He doesn't seem phased at all by my admission I was in love with a girl, she realized, and was surprised by it. "Really. Some of it may be a little difficult, depending on how strongly awake your past self is, but it should help." "I'd be very grateful!" "We'll start with that tomorrow, then." ************ "We're going where first, Pop?" Ranma asked as they tramped along through the hills. Time, namely days of walking, had somewhat lightened his mood; it was easy to forget his troubles while surrounded by the beauty of nature. "The shrine of O-Kuni-Nushi. The oracle there is the one who told me I had to leave like I did," Genma said. "So I'm going to go see if he has a better idea why your mother has gotten crazy ideas in her head than I have." Ranma nodded, although his own suspicion was that his father had probably misunderstood the oracle's instructions or run off before hearing the whole thing. Pop had never been too good at following instructions. Towards evening, they reached the shrine, a small wooden building nestling on a very large ledge on the steepest side of a hill. There was no good way up to it, however. "Now we climb," Genma said. "There ain't no easier way?" "It shows one's spiritual dedication," Genma said. Several hours of spiritual dedication later, Ranma was up at the top of the cliff, while Genma was still struggling to make it the last hundred feet or so. "Throw me a rope, boy," he said. "What rope?" "Didn't you bring any rope?" "I didn't expect to be climbing any cliffs." A tall, muscular man clad in saffron robes emerged from the front door of the shrine. "Ahh, one comes seeking the guidance of the oracle." "Yeah, me and Pop." "Come in, and I can see about answering your questions while he finishes his climb." "Hey!" Genma shouted, but they both ignored him and went inside. Right as they entered the main room, Ranma said, "Actually, do you have any rope?" There was a great crack in the floor, he noticed, with a large bamboo chair placed over it. "I have a rope ladder. Would you like me to lower it to him?" "Hmm. Actually, I wanna ask some questions before he gets here," Ranma said. The monk nodded and sat in the chair. He flicked a switch and a ceiling fan started up. "Ask away." "Don't we have to go through some sort of mystic mumbo jumbo first?" "Not unless it entertains you," the monk said. "Right. How many questions do I get?" "One free question. After that, you have to pay one book for the first question, two for the second, four for the third, and so on." "Uh, I ain't got any books," Ranma said. "Not with me, anyway." "We take IOUs." Can't ask too many questions, Ranma thought. "Okay, for the free question--how can I cure my curse?" "There are several ways. You could sell your soul to a demon. You could get a life mage to teach you how to control your curse. Or you could meditate for decades, transcend your self, and it would become irrelevant. You could use the Silver Crystal to cure it completely, but this might kill either you or the person using it." The oracle spoke with his eyes shut, breathing in the fumes which came up from the crack. "That's assuming you want to be male all the time." "Yes." "Next question." "Which will cost me a book, right?" "Yes. Next question will be two books." "Hey, I was just..." "Asking me a question. Your two book question?" Gotta be more careful, Ranma thought. Or I'm gonna end up having to steal the National Library to pay him. "How can I get Ruby out of my head?" "Define 'out of your head'." "Not talking to me, not influencing my behavior AT all. Make it where I'm completely free of Ruby's influence." "You could sell your soul to a demon. You could go to the Shrine of the Weeping Kami and petition her. Or you could use the Silver Crystal, but it would probably kill you. Next question is four books." "Oh wait, how much do these books have to be worth?" "Any hardback will do. Next question is eight books." "HEY! That was just a question about the rules." Ranma frowned at the oracle. "Are you gonna keep doing this every time I ask a question?" "Yes. Next question is sixteen books." Ranma sat down to think hard. "Gimme a second to think." The oracle nodded. "As you like." Gotta find out where that shrine is, Ranma thought. Should I ask for a life mage's home address? Yeah, good idea, he thought. But how am I gonna afford the cost? "Uh, can I pay on the installment plan?" "Yes. Next question is thirty-two books." "Ain't there some way to..." He caught himself in time. Don't jump on the landmine, Ranma, he thought. Venus and Zoicite were life mages, Ruby said. Ranma started. He hadn't even heard Ruby for several days. Uh, you been listening in? he asked Ruby. This is the doubling game. I suggest you stop now before you bankrupt yourself, Ruby replied. So you think Venus could do it? Now that I think about it, the sacred fire said I needed an 'air mage', which is probably Usagi, Ranma thought at Ruby. If you want to use the crystal and risk death, yes, Ruby replied. But much as I dislike that curse also, I don't think it's worth anyone dying to get rid of. Much better to see if Venus can teach you to control it. I'd better ask about the temple of the weeping kami and call it quits, then, Ranma thought. You have the money for thirty two books? Ruby asked. Ranma frowned intensely. No. Better call it quits, then, Ruby replied. "Okay, that's enough," Ranma said. Groggily, the oracle got out of his chair. "Man, that always gives me a hideous migraine." Genma stumbled in. "FINALLY. Now...hey, you're not the oracle!" "I most certainly am!" "Last time I came here, the oracle was a short, chubby man wearing a Buddha mask!" "Father retired ten years ago after an incident I don't think he's want me to talk about. It was rather...it's family business." The monk stared at the ground. "Ten years ago." Genma frowned deeply. "I need to talk to him. Very, very much." "Help me tidy up, and I'll take you to see him," the monk said. "Thank you," Genma said. "We can discuss payment plans on the way there," the monk said to Ranma. I wonder if manga counts as books, Ranma asked himself. Not unless they're hardbacked, Ruby replied. Ugh, Ranma thought. ************* The monk, whose name was Keisuke, led them into the simple home of his father, which was decorated and laid out in a very traditional style. His father was having a beef bowl and reading a scroll as they came in. "Take off your shoes," he said without looking up. "I go barefoot all the time now," his son said irritatedly. Genma looked carefully at the old man. "You're not the Master in disguise, are you?" "I'm the master of this house," the father said, looking up at Genma. "But I've never been your teacher, I don't think." "I came here about ten years ago, to ask what to do about my master escaping from the cave I trapped him in and..." Genma began. "Do I look like an elephant?" the old man snapped, standing up. "If I had a grain of rice for every person who came to me with that problem, I..." "You do, dear," said the old woman clad in a blue and yellow flowered kimono who now emerged from the kitchen. "We have enough rice to eat it every day for centuries, since that's what you always charged for your services." "If I had a plate of wasabi...," the old man began. The old woman put a plate of it down on the table by him. "Here you go, dear." "If I...forget it. I take it the advice I gave you went south?" "Actually, I went west," Genma said. "Actually, I think Pop's worried someone impersonated you and gave him bad advice," Ranma cut in. "Or gave Nodoka bad advice," Genma said. "Nodoka? Never met anyone with that name in my entire life," the oracle said. Genma frowned intensely. "Are you sure?" "What does she look like?" the old man asked, sitting back down with his wasabi. Genma gave him a detailed description. "Well, I may have forgotten. I've probably forgotten. But that doesn't ring a bell." The old man shrugged and picked up his chopsticks. "Junior, go give them an oracle." "Don't call me JUNIOR!" "And it would help if you remembered to make it actually oracular and mysterious instead of being so explicit and clear." The monk clenched his fists. "They get mad and won't pay if I do that!" "It would help if you charged them in rice instead of books!" "But people will pay more for a quality service!" Ranma and Genma stepped back, watching them bicker. "We ain't like that, are we, Pop?" Ranma asked. "I hope not." "They'll be going at this for hours," the old lady said. "Come with me, and I'll do a tarot reading for you." "Buddhists do tarot these days?" Ranma asked in surprise. "I'm no priestess," she replied. "But I play a lot of solitaire." They went out on the porch, and she extracted a deck of cards from inside her kimono. "These are vague and fuzzy, I have to warn you." "Oh, do you know where the temple of the weeping kami is?" Ranma asked. "I take it you want to forget something?" the old lady replied. "That's one way of looking at it," Ranma replied, sitting down crosslegged. Genma simply got down on his knees, as did the old lady, who began shuffling her cards. "You'd best not forget who your true fiancee is," Genma said to Ranma. "Naah, it's for some other stuff," he replied. "You must enter the Forest of Sorrows and search it. If you prove yourself worthy, you will find the temple." The old woman gave the deck to Genma to cut, which he did. She then began dealing out cards. "Where is the Forest of Sorrows?" "Not a clue," the old woman said. Ranma facefaulted. "Now, what is it that you wish to know?" "Why is my wife mad at me?" Genma asked. "This card symbolizes the querant," she said, laying down The Fool. "That's about right," Ranma said. Genma just frowned. "The next card symbolizes your problem." The second card was Justice reversed. Genma nodded thoughtfully. "The source of your problem," the woman continued, turning over The Devil. "The Master," Genma grumbled. "But how?" "And the fourth card is the solution." For a second, she held the card without flipping it over, then dramatically slammed it down. The Lovers. "Love will find a way," she pronounced. "So, I should rush in, sweep her into my arms, kiss her, and all will be forgiven?" Genma asked. "Yes," the old woman said. "No woman can resist my charms, especially not my wife," Genma said. "I should have thought of this to begin with. Thank you." She put a hand out, and Genma shook it. "Let's go boy." "But, you need to..." the old woman began. "I think she wants to be paid," Ranma said. "I'm broke," Genma announced. "But if you ever need a martial artist, you can send to the Hikawa Fire Shrine, and I will come." The elder oracle went flying out the window, which shattered. He got up and shook his fist. "Hah! If you had what it takes, you would have predicted my blow and avoided it, not used it to throw me out the window!" He leaped back in. "Any good at replacing window panes?" the old woman asked. ************ Rei fell down again. "I still don't see how meditating upside down on a pile of carrots is going to help me find my spiritual center," she said to Maskai- sama. "Laughter is an important part of a healthy life," he replied, smiling. "So is good eating!" She threw a carrot into his mouth. He blinked, then pulled it out. "Good aim," he said, then looked thoughtful. "Ever done sword fighting?" "Not really. I've trained some in unarmed combat, though." He nodded. "Then you should learn some armed forms as well. Come with me." He went and got a bamboo sword for her from the temple, then led her through the forest to a clearing with many small poles stuck in the ground across much of it. They put the swords to one side after he said, "Show me what you've learned in unarmed, first." She nodded, then bowed to him, backed up, and charged, sliding low and knocking him off his feet, then springing up for a waist-level kick. Unfortunately, he was still on the ground, and simply grabbed her other foot and rolled, tossing her. She landed lithely and moved in for a more cautious attack. She found, to her frustration, that she couldn't hit him. He never struck back, just dodged her attacks, maneuvering between and across the short poles, which hampered her movements. As her anger mounted, she heard Eowyn speaking to her. You ought to limn yourself with fire if you're going to fight hand to hand, she said. I don't know how, and even if I did, I can't do it without transforming, Rei said. I can do it, Eowyn said. And you'll learn to use your strongest powers even in your normal form with time. Do you want me to? What do you want in return? Rei asked. Despite your fight with her, I'm so glad you finally saw the light about Diana, I won't ask for anything to teach you this. Just promise you'll make up with her when you see her, Eowyn said. I will, Rei replied. I wanted to do that anyway. Masaki-sama paused. "Rei?" "Just trying to remember a trick," Rei said. She imagined fire within herself, her whole body ablaze, the fire spreading out around her. The air around her began to glow, and she saw Masaki-sama's eyes widen for a moment. "Interesting," he said. "Your grandfather has trained you well, I see." She nodded. "Well, come and get me." She charged into the fray, unleashing more punches. This time her aura changed near misses into hits. Masaki-sama made no sound, but visibly winced several times. Rei felt a surge of confidence at that. Then he sped up. She pushed herself harder, but he was moving so fast she could hardly believe it. Her legs started to feel as heavy as stone. Exhaustion washed over her, and she collapsed, her fire guttering out. "That's the problem with aura tricks. They drain you quickly, so if you don't beat your foe fast, you may end up unable to fight at all." "How can you be so fast?" "Years of practice at not being hit," he replied, helping her up. "We'd better let you rest; sword training can wait." She wobbled, struggling to stay on her feet. "I won't be doing that any time soon." You shouldn't have been drained that quickly, Eowyn said. You must have done it wrong. Or perhaps you just need more training to build your energy reserves. Whatever. I just want to sleep, she thought, then stumbled again. "Let's go," she said. ************ The next morning, Rei was roused by knocking on the shrine door. She got up and went out, and saw a middle- aged couple in hiking clothing, carrying a litter on which an old woman lay, wrapped in several sheets. The man of the couple, who was dark haired and muscular, asked, "Can you tell us the way to Juuban ward?" "Ummm...in Tokyo, you mean?" Rei asked weakly. The old woman mumbled something Rei couldn't quite hear. The middle-aged woman, who had dark black hair with a purple sheen to it and vivid eyes the color of a garnet, said, "Your grandmother says to...sorry, you're not one of our relatives. My mother-in-law says, 'yes, in Tokyo'." "Umm, you do know you're in the wrong prefecture, right?" "Hah! I told you this wasn't part of Tokyo," the man said. "But noooo, you wouldn't listen." The old woman mumbled again, and he shut up, but still grumbled very quietly. "Can you tell us how to get to Tokyo, then?" Rei spent about five minutes giving them directions, then repeated them again for the old lady. Finally, the family took off...heading straight off into the woods the wrong way. They must be related to Ryouga, she thought. ************ The car came careening wildly around the bend, and Ranma and Genma had to jump up into the trees lining the road to avoid being crushed. Ranma was fairly certain he saw several flashes of light inside it, and a booming noise that probably wasn't the muffler. He decided it wasn't his problem and ignored it, leaping back down onto the road. His father landed near him. "We're almost there, boy. Assuming she's still living with her brother, anyway." "Didn't you check?" "No way to check without giving the game away," Genma said. "Only about three more miles to go." A really loud explosion went off back the way they had come. Genma glanced, then said, "Not our problem." "Right." ************* Ranma looked out across the large clearing. "Pretty nice place," he said. The house was two stories tall, right next to a large pond, surrounded by fields where crops were growing. "I thought you said Mom's brother was an architect." "Maybe it's a hobby," Genma said. "Hopefully instead of reading shojo manga, he now grows stuff." "So why are we hiding up in these trees?" "Keeping an eye out for your mother. I don't see her anywhere." "She's gone shopping," an tall, thin man said at the base of the tree. He was dressed as a priest, and looked to be in his sixties, with thin gold-rimmed glasses. "Fortunately, she's in a good mood, so she'll probably be merciful and kill you swiftly, Genma." "Hah! I'll just sweep her into my arms and all will be forgiven! The retired oracle's wife told me that!" Genma struck what he hoped was a romantic pose. This made it hard to stay in the tree, however, and he toppled over, nearly falling on the priest, who lithely stepped to one side and avoided a crushing. "I see your reflexes are as good as ever," Genma said, sitting up. "I hope yours are as good as they used to be, if you want to live. If you want to leave, I won't tell her you came." The sun glinted off his glasses, making his eyes unreadable. Genma frowned. "I won't run away." "As you like," he said, then looked up at Ranma. "You must be Ranma." Ranma jumped down. "You Mom's brother?" He shook his head. "I'm her brother's father-in- law. I run a shrine near here. Nobuyuki married my daughter, Achika. My name is Masaki Katsuhito. It's been so long since you've seen me last, I'm not surprised you've forgotten me. Your cousin and his lady friends are gone for the weekend, unfortunately." "So, like, why is Mom so mad at us? I mean, I've gotten the impression it's more than just Dad dumping her." "I didn't DUMP her!" Genma said, rapping Ranma's head. "I did what the oracle of O-Kuni-Nushi advised me to do." "The oracle told her that you'd sold your soul to a demon and that Ranma is actually a demon in human flesh now. Or some such thing. But I can see that's not the case." Katsuhito shrugged. "It is wisest not to put too much trust in oracles, but she's...stubborn." "The oracle told me he'd never met her." Katsuhito frowned. "Come with me and tell me everything. Perhaps we can find our way closer to the truth and avoid a horrible death for you that I would have to clean up." *************** Nodoka woke up and stretched. It'll be nice to have the house to myself for a few days, she thought. The hot springs would have been nice, but I need a vacation from the usual anarchy around here. My nephew really needs to make up his mind before those girls all kill each other. Hmm, perhaps a swim would be good, she thought. And for once it won't be interrupted by spaceships falling in the pond or people firing energy bolts. She changed into her bathing suit, a red and yellow striped one piece, grabbed two towels, and walked out of the house to the dock, then dived into the pond and began to leisurely swim. All her nervous tension gradually flowed out of her. There was a splash near the dock. Turning her head, she saw a red haired girl in a green one-piece that didn't fit her well, rising up out of the water. A flabby panda sat on the dock, watching both of them. The girl said, "Hi, I hope I'm not bothering you!" "No, not really." I wonder if Katsuhito is trying to recruit shrine maidens again, Nodoka thought. "You're not another alien, are you?" The girl blinked. "Alien?" "Nothing. Nothing." She shook her head, laughed, and relaxed. "Your uncle...uh, uncle-in-law, said it was okay if I swam here," the girl said, swimming closer to Nodoka. "That's my pet panda." "I'm Saotome Nodoka. Nice to meet you. Are you here to train with Katsuhito as well?" "Something like that," the girl said. "My name is...Mei'ou Ranko." They began doing the backstroke in parallel. "There's another girl training at the temple as well," Nodoka said. "I think Uncle said her name was Hino Rei. If she's who I think she is, I knew her grandfather. Do you know her?" Ranko faltered and nearly sank, then recovered, giving the panda a sharp glare. "I...uh...yeah." "Sounds like you two have some sort of problem?" Ranko laughed nervously. "Uh...yeah." The laughter soon stopped and she looked quite glum. Nodoka stopped swimming and simply floated. "What sort of problem?" She paused. "I shouldn't pry." "Romantic problems. She did some stupid shit and...I probably shouldn't talk about it. She'd kill me." Ranko sighed. "I hope your love life is better than mine." "My last few dates just never quite panned out," Nodoka said. "My last serious relationship ended six months ago when he chose engineering over me. But that lasted almost a year. Don't worry, you're still young, so don't worry about ending up an 'old maid' like some girls do." The panda began making choking noises, and she looked up at him. "Do we need to help him?" "He probably ate a bad grub," Ranko said, staring at him intently. The noises ceased. They swam a while longer, and then Katsuhito came out to the dock. "Oh, I thought you were taking a nap, Nodoka," he said. "I did," she said. "Can I ask a favor of you?" he asked. "Sure." "Ranko here wants to go see the shrine of O-Kuni- Nushi. Can you take her there tomorrow?" Nodoka frowned. "I haven't been there since...you know. It's too depressing." "I know, but I have to take Rei out for some special training tomorrow on the sacred day. But if you can't do it, I guess I can get Tenchi to do it when he comes back." Nodoka thought a moment, and decided it would be healthier for the girl if Tenchi's insane friends didn't see him being sent off into the wilderness with her. "Okay, I'll do it," she said. "I suppose after ten years, it shouldn't be so bad." "Did something bad happen to you there?" Ranko asked. Nodoka simply nodded. "We'll have to leave early in the morning. It's a long walk." "Okay," Ranko said nervously. ************* "The Forest of Sorrows?" Katsuhito said during dinner. "I wouldn't advise going there. It's very dangerous, and sometimes you stumble into the Shrine of the Weeping Kami and end up forgetting something or even everything." "The Shrine makes you forget?" Ranko asked, pausing from shoveling teriyaki chicken into her mouth. "The Weeping Kami created the Shrine to help people forget painful memories. If you drink from the fountain, you forget all your sorrows. If you just bathe in it, you can purge yourself selectively. Or so the legends say," Katsuhito said. "But the legends also usually show some disaster that happens afterwards because the person forgot something important as a result. So what do you want to forget?" Ranko glanced over at Nodoka, then at the panda, then at her food. "Umm...I can't really talk about it." "I thought about going there years ago," Nodoka said, "But I decided I'd rather not simply forget it all. Although I did melt down the sword he left with me and made barbeque tongs out of it. They're quite nice." She had changed out of the bathing suit into a green blouse and long skirt. The panda began to choke on his food. Nodoka looked over at him. "See, I told you to feed him bamboo, not stir-fried vegetables and chicken." Katsuhito rapped him on the back and the choking stopped. "I tried to give him bamboo earlier and he just attacked me with it." "He's a strange panda," Nodoka pronounced. "Yes, he is," Ranko said. *************** They got up early the next day. It would be a two day trip on foot. Nodoka spent the day talking with Ranko, who seemed nervous all the time, but would deny it when asked why. Talking about martial arts, in which she was quite versed, relaxed her, though. Nodoka wasn't up to talking about martial arts all day long, though, so they spent a fair amount of time walking in silence. She didn't mind; she had come to enjoy hiking about the mountains, often by herself, over the last ten years. Having company for meals made it more pleasant. Ranko had prepared their hiking food; she was quite good at it. After dinner, they set up camp for the night, having walked enough for one day. When conversation lagged, Nodoka said, "Interested in a little sparring? Or do your feet hurt too much?" Ranko looked very nervous. "Um...sure." They moved to one side of the clearing while Mr. Panda watched them. She got into a fighting stance and bowed, while Ranko got into one she found familiar. The Saotome Anything Goes stance. Nodoka blinked, then charged forward, bamboo sword sweeping low at Ranko's knees. Ranko flipped back out of the way. A dozen strokes later, she still hadn't hit Ranko, although she kept speeding up herself. The girl's quick, Nodoka thought, but why is she going purely defensive? She paused, and stopped attacking, watching Ranko shift back and forth between her legs as she waited for Nodoka's next attack. Then Nodoka exploded in a burst of furious speed, charging in, sword held high and to the right, shouting out something incoherent she'd just made up. Ranko jumped left...right into the kick Nodoka aimed with her left leg instead of bringing down a sword blow. That disoriented Ranko for the crucial second she needed to then bring down the sword on her, followed by another kick and a leap back away from her. Ranko stared at her in shock, and she grinned. "I haven't forgotten I have legs," she said. Now Ranko smiled. "I had started to get that idea." "Well, you've shown your good at defense, but how's your offense?" "I, uh...wouldn't feel comfortable attacking...someone older than me." "I can take it," Nodoka said. "I won't feel humiliated if I can't stop you." Ranko glanced over at the panda, who nodded to her. She blinked, then said, "Right. You asked for it." And then she was on Nodoka like a swarm of bees, a flurry of kicks and punches. Nodoka parried them all, then managed to swat Ranko in the gut, tossing her back. "You were holding back," Nodoka said. Ranko got up. "So were you." She laughed. "Try again." Sword met fist, blurring at high speed, blocking every blow, every kick or punch. Ranko began to sweat, and so did Nodoka, who had to give ground in order to maintain her defensive posture. Then she let a kick get through, in order to grab Ranko's feet with her left hand, and rolled backwards, tossing Ranko into a tree. Ranko hit the tree feet first and bounced back into action. Only to be sent flying by another sword blow. Now Ranko was seriously on the defensive, being pushed back, barely able to parry the blows. The wooden sword seemed to almost glow, and then it definitely did so. Even parried blows hurt. Ranko let Nodoka smack her hard in the side, but managed to then catch the end of the sword and wrench it away from Nodoka by simultaneously kicking her. Nodoka fell back and the sword flew away. She assumed her fighting stance again. "I yield," Nodoka said. "I'm fairly good unarmed, but not even close to you." "I've never seen anyone that good with a sword," Ranko said, helping her up. "And that trick you did at the end..." "Uncle taught it to me. He can do it a lot better than I can. And I've been training with him for ten years. So what style do you practice?" "Mei'ou Anything Goes," Ranko replied. "Father told me he adapted it from what his old master taught him." "His old master wouldn't happen to be a perverted little under-wear stealing freak, would he?" Nodoka asked, wiping the sweat from her face. "I've never met the man," Ranko said. The Panda began scratching slowly in the dirt, until finally he managed to etch the hiragana for 'yes' in the dirt. Nodoka stared in awe. "You taught him to read and write and understand spoken Japanese?" "He's rather smart for a fat, lazy bear," Ranko replied. Mr. Panda smacked her with a backpack. "Amazing," Nodoka said. "My ex-husband and his best friend were taught by a freak named Happousai, whose style was rather like yours, except more aerial." "Could be. He never talks about the man." "I'm not surprised. He was a warped, underwear- stealing freak. Genma had to spend three years with Hino-san purifying himself after studying with Happousai. But I guess the taint went too deep to be purified completely," she said, staring up at the stars. "So he went bad after we'd been married for six years." She sighed and looked at Ranko. "It was horrible, to learn my own husband had become a demon cultist. And turned my own son into a demon's vessel." She shuddered. "Learning that from the oracle destroyed my life. Just thinking about going to see the oracle again makes me nervous. I keep thinking he'll tell me something else that will destroy my life again." Ranko stared in shock. "He told you that? Did he have any proof?" "The oracle of O-Kuni-Nushi is never wrong," Nodoka said sternly. "What the gods have to tell us is often unwelcome, but they do not lie." "But are you sure you understood what they meant?" Ranko asked earnestly. "I mean...how could your husband hide being a demon cultist so effectively?" "Genma was always cunning; too cunning for his own good, usually." She sighed. "But I went to three different oracles, and they all confirmed each other." Ranko frowned deeply, saying nothing but gazing up at the stars. "Well, I hope the oracle doesn't tell me anything like that tomorrow." "So what do you want to ask it about?" "I have some relationship problems that I can't solve," Ranko replied. "Want to talk about it?" She sighed and shook her head emphatically. "I spent the whole trip wallowing in it, all the way here. I've been mad and sad and bad and just about everything else, and I just don't want to think about it for a while. If I'd run into Rei...I dunno what I would have done." Nodoka nodded. "I won't push you. But if you feel like you want to talk about it, I'm willing to listen." "Thanks," Ranko replied. ************* Nodoka stared at the front door of the temple of O- Kuni-Nushi, trying to muster the strength of willpower to go in. It looked like it hadn't changed at all, except for a new paint job. Ranko looked back at her from the doorway. "Is something wrong?" "No," she said, coming in. She didn't see the oracle she remembered anywhere; there was a young man in saffron robes busily sweeping up. The oracle she had known had been very, very short, and a lot older. "Is the oracle in?" "I'm the oracle," the man said. "Can I help you?" "Did you use to be shorter and older?" "You're probably thinking of my father. He's retired," the oracle said. "Oh, right. I guess it was ten years ago." She shook her head, feeling a little silly. "I brought a sack of rice to pay with." The oracle nodded. "Well, I had been charging in books, but after...consultation with Father, I decided to change the policy back. Let me consult the book of oracles to see what you're currently up to, price wise." Ranko looked vaguely disgruntled for no apparent reason. He pulled out a huge book bound in blue leather. "When was your last visit?" "About ten years ago," she said. He frowned. "It wasn't during the month of April, was it?" "Yes. April ten years ago, that is." "Ahh, we don't have any records for April due to a..." He looked embarrassed. "A demon-possessed madman took Father's place for a month. Do you remember the oracle telling you to bring him all your panties to be exorcised?" Nodoka and Mr. Panda's eyes widened. "GROWF!" he said, and started looking everywhere frantically. Nodoka said, "A demon-possessed madman...named Happousai?" "Yes, that was his name. He stuffed Father down in the crack and took his place using some sort of magical mask he'd bought at a shop. The Medusa Mask or some such thing. He was able to pass himself off as the oracle and caused incredible amounts of havoc before my uncles managed to drive him off and rescue father. He went around impersonating some other oracles of the area, too." Nodoka's fists clenched. "And you didn't tell anyone who had come to consult with the oracle during that time?" The young oracle backed up, knowing what usually comes next. "If you want to beat up anyone, beat up my father! He's the one who made that decision! I was only ten! And besides, Happousai didn't keep accurate records, anyway!" "Show me the book! I have to know if it was him!" They went to the backroom and dug out the volume for that year, then Nodoka pored through it, finally coming to April. The handwriting clearly changed, and many of the entries made no sense at all. One, however, was quite clear. She pored over it, then threw the book at the wall. "Damnation, he always called me that...it WAS him!" "I'm sorry," he said. "Anyway, how about if I give you the traditional three free questions as an apology?" She stared at him. "That's a start. Then I'm going to go pound your father flat." "Be my guest. Want help?" "Let's do the questions," she said. They went back out, and the oracle sat down on his oracular chair. "Ask away." "Where is Happousai?" The oracle's eyes glazed over. "Traveling to meet his destiny. He will soon come to you." "Hey, you didn't give vague answers the last time I was here! We need to know where he IS!" Ranko said. Nodoka blinked. I thought she'd never been here before. "The oracle usually gives vague answers, so we don't become overly dependent on the gods for answers." "Really?" Ranko frowned. "Second question. Did my husband really become a demon worshipper and turn my son into a demon?" "No." "So much for vague and fuzzy," Ranko said. Nodoka's eyes widened. "So why did three other oracles confirm the answers?" "The wisdom of the gods is imparted to few, but many pretend to that wisdom in order to make money from the illusion of heaven. The one who loves panties spread his wealth to win them to his cause." Nodoka slumped and stared at the floor. "He bribed them. How much for my next question?" "For the question you just asked, one quarter sack of rice. The actual next question will be half a bag." Nodoka sighed. "I forgot about that. Well, I can only afford one question." She thought for a few minutes. "Well, now that I've properly made a fool of myself, where are my..." "No, wait," Ranko said. "Save it for something more important. I know where your husband and your son are." Nodoka's eyes widened. "You do?" "Yes, she does. Next question." The oracle said. "Hey, I wasn't asking you!" "Had to try." "Did Uncle set this up with you?" Nodoka asked Ranko. "Yes, he did." the oracle said. "That will be..." "I didn't ask you that either!" Nodoka said. "Can you hurry up and ask me your last question? The sacred fumes are giving me a headache." "More or less," Ranko said. "How soon should we expect Happousai to show up?" Nodoka asked. "Sooner than you like." The oracle got off the chair and wobbled. "Would anyone like some tea?" "Yes, please," Ranko said. "Yes," Nodoka said, handing over most of the rice as payment for her questions. "So where are my husband and child?" she asked. "I don't...I don't know if I'm ready to face them, but...do they even know I divorced Genma?" "They know, but they really didn't understand why," Ranko said. "Do you think...they'll understand why?" "Mr. Saotome's pretty reverent to oracles and the like," Ranko said. "And he took your son away because this very oracle told him to." She slapped her forehead. "I got so mad at Happousai, I didn't even think to ask why Genma never came back if he wasn't a demon cultist." "The oracle told him he had to leave for your own good, or something like that," Ranko said. She glanced over at Mr. Panda, who came over and put a paw on Nodoka's shoulder. "I think he's trying to comfort me," Nodoka said, smiling a little at the panda before she lapsed back into being somber. "Here's your tea," the oracle said, bringing everyone some hot tea." "So, are you ready to see your husband, or do you want to wait a while?" Ranko asked. She thought for a moment. "As soon as possible. Waiting would only make it harder." Ranko tossed her glass of tea on the panda, who transformed into Nodoka's ex-husband, Genma. Nodoka stared in shock, then quietly fainted. ************** Nodoka stared at the floor. "I don't know what to say." "Neither do I," Ranma said, staring out the door. "It was an understandable mistake," Genma said. "I'd have made the same mistake in your position." This was said with the unspoken coda 'but I didn't make that mistake, which makes me superior'. He was doing the 'be noble because you were a fool and I wasn't' thing. This was far worse for Nodoka than being yelled at. "I can't believe you can forgive me so easily," she said. "If you'd actually tried to kill me, it would be a lot harder," he said. "But you're my...well, you were my wife." Now he fell silent staring at Nodoka. "Now, if Ranma had fallen for that, I'd be obliged to pound him flat, but it was an understandable mistake." Which Nodoka would likely never be allowed to forget. "I've never made a mistake like that," Ranma snapped, then sighed. "As compared to Mr. 'Leave his wife without an explanation'." "I was only doing what the oracle told me to do!" Genma protested. "Assuming that wasn't Happousai too." "..." Genma began to deflate. "Didn't think of that, did you, Pop? Fits rather neatly together," Ranma said. He got up. "I'll go ask the oracle to consult his book." He vanished into the back of the shrine. Nodoka said, "About our..." "Making the family honor blade into barbeque tongs puts me in a rather difficult position," Genma said. I think I'm technically supposed to kill you, he thought. Or maybe kill myself. Neither of those appealed to him. "What about the shrine?" "Uncle hid it somewhere so I couldn't smash it, I think," Nodoka replied. "I'm very, very sorry." Her hands shook with frustration. I want to kill Happousai for what he's done, she thought. "I'm not sure what the customary response to that is," Genma said, "But I don't think either of us will like it. Nor am I sure where I can get a new one. Or if I should. It would seem you have abandoned traditional ways." "I was never so traditional as you, Genma," Nodoka said. "And I could not go back to being that way. And yet...our divorce was needless. A mistake the shame of which I don't know if I could ever overcome. I don't know how I feel about...about anything now. But I want to help you raise our son for whatever little time we have left before he is old enough to strike out on his own. I don't know how you feel about me, but..." "I understand," he said. "I spent three years atoning for my shame with Hino-san after my training with Happousai, to make myself worthy of you. I'm sure he would be happy to have you come and stay with him, and work to overcome your shame. And I wish to make amends for leaving you. We...we don't have to make any sort of permanent decision immediately." His voice wavered, and he said, "I have missed you." She winced. "I am sorry. There were nights when I missed you greatly as well, and cursed the gods for my fate of us being separated by...what I believed the case." Ranma returned and whacked Genma in the head. "Guess who listened to Happousai!" "..." "When I get my hands on that bastard, I'll...I'll kick him to the moon!" "I'll help you," Nodoka said. ***************** Happousai sneezed and fell off the log he was sitting on. "Hmm, I need to change my tobacco mix," he said, dumping the contents of his pipe into the fire. "Now where did I put the good stuff..." Two young hands reached out of the darkness and handed him a sealed jar. "You left it in the goodie bag, Grandfather," she said. "I did?" He blinked, then shrugged. "Thank you, granddaughter. How's the sorting going?" "Pretty well," she said. "I wish big sister would get back with some food, though. I'm starving." "Well, so am I, but it won't make the food come faster if you complain," he said, then came over and did a dive into the middle of the pile of panties. The sorting scheme immediately went blort. "Ahh, my silky darlings!" He began swimming about. "Grandfather, I just finally got them sorted by brand!" "I care nothing for brands; I live for the feel of polished cotton!" Then he suddenly stood up and looked extremely serious. "Also, I never manage to hold on to these long enough to know them by name." He sighed. "And now we're going to have to run again." "Why, grandfather?" the young dark-haired girl, who looked unlikely to be much more than eight years old, asked. "Because I can hear your older siblings running towards us, followed by a mob." He sighed. "I taught them too well to steal food; they were supposed to BUY it this time, but I guess old habits die hard. Gather the goodies; it's time for us to flee," Happousai said. "Must we always run forever?" the young girl asked. "Running is my life," Happousai said. "And I cannot rest until I find my renegade ex-student and stop him his evil rampage." A spotlight seemed to shine down upon him, and for a moment, he looked noble. "I'm sure locking me in a cave and leaving me to die was not the last of his crimes." "Don't worry, Grandfather," the child said. "We'll stop him. You've trained us well." She shook her fist at the sky in a rather unimpressive manner, not aided by her squeaky voice. "Saotome's reign of terror will end!" Happousai smiled. I finally understand why some people bother to have children, he thought. "Grandfather, RUN FOR IT!" the eldest of his granddaughters shouted. "They're after us." Happousai and his family fled into the night as usual. **************** Rei reached for another carrot to skin it for cooking. it screamed as she began to peel it. She tossed it aside and sighed. Sometimes I hate this, she thought. She put it down and began to meditate, running through the exercises Masaki-sama had taught her. Once her mind was full of the image of being a field of flowers, she went back to peeling. If the carrot spirits were trying to harass her still, she managed to ignore them. I am so sick of carrots, she thought. Rei, Eowyn said. I need to talk to you. Rei tried to ignore her, but trying to block out both her and the screaming carrots was more than she could manage. What do you want? she asked. I don't suppose you know a way to shut up the carrots, do you? Exorcise them, Eowyn said. It'll put the spirits to sleep. Always bless your food before you cook it. Thanks, Rei said. So what did you want to ask me about? What do you intend to do about Ranma? Eowyn asked. I don't know, she replied. I can't think of a legal solution, even assuming Ranma...would go for both of us. After all, he did tell me that he likes Setsuna more than Usagi. And I...I couldn't wait, and I hurt him, and now he may hate me. She felt a lump in her stomach, a mixture of hunger and guilt and fear. The legal part is a conundrum, Eowyn said. Since Diana is not legally a princess in this time. And I agree with you about not wanting to live in the Amazon village. We could all go back to the Moon. It's a lifeless hunk of rock now, Rei replied. We wouldn't last long with no air. No...no life at all? Eowyn asked in shock. But it was so green and vibrant and... Grey and dusty and airless. The Dark Kingdom devastated it completely, Rei said. She concentrated on the image of the full moon, trying to show it to Eowyn. There was silence, and a mental gasp, followed by a sensation of quiet rage from Eowyn. There WILL be a reckoning for that, Eowyn asserted. For a little while, Eowyn was silent, apparently lost in her horror and anger, but then she continued. As for Ranma, if you persist in desire for him, you will have to face him. I would rather you let Cassandra have him, though. I can't understand what she sees in him, but she does love him, and she's waited twenty five thousand years for him. Don't be greedy. Rei winced at that. Maybe I am being greedy, she thought. After all, it would make things simpler. Assuming Usagi isn't so mad at me for yelling at her...maybe I should call her. Well, if I had a phone, I could call her. Your bond is deep and strong, the Oath of Bronze ties your souls. You can get over this, Eowyn said. Well, there's my advice. Oh, your pot is boiling over. "Ack!" Rei jumped to take care of the pot, and the joys and not-joys of cooking soon distracted her from her love life. ***************** "Let ME drive!" Tourmaline said to Amethyst as Amethyst almost drove their van into a tree. "I'm the one who has to pay for this thing." "I know what I'm doing!" Amethyst replied. "And I'm the only one of us with a valid driver's license." "I still say we should have teleported here," Feldspar replied, folding her arms under her breasts and sounding just a tiny bit petulant. "Too dangerous," Diamond said. "I think the old man's got wards. He somehow knew about us coming last time." "I just wish we could take more of our experienced youma this far away from Tokyo," Tourmaline said. "But only those of us born on Earth can go far from the gate until Mother opens it all the way, which means we're stuck with novices." "I'm not a novice!" Sandstone protested. She looked rather like a living statue. "Compared to Gold or Iron or Pyroxite, you are," Tourmaline replied. "Fortunately, we'll only have Guardian Saturn to deal with, probably. And maybe his father. And whatever defenders the priest Daddy fought before has." "A green-haired demon and a boy with an energy sword," Diamond said. The van swerved again. "Sorry!" Amethyst said. "The Saotome boy is mine." "Tourmaline should be the one to secure her fiancee," Diamond replied. "I do NOT want to marry him!" Tourmaline replied. "Even Beryl agrees with us," Diamond replied. "It's fate." I've never liked fate, Tourmaline thought. ************ Ranma-chan watched her mother and father stand on their hands in the waterfall for a while, then turned to Masaki-sama. "Are you sure that's the honorable way to atone for everything?" "Yes, of course it is," Katsuhito said, then turned away so no one could see him try to restrain laughter. "Come with me, they'll be here for a very long time, no point in us hanging around." They walked away in silence for a while, then Katsuhito said, "So your father engaged you to Hino Rei?" Ranma-chan frowned and stared at the ground. "Yeah, he did," she said curtly, then changed the subject. "Can we go get me some hot water?" She listened to her shoes squish as she walked along the stream. "That water is COLD." "Sure, follow me and I'll get you some hot water," Katsuhito said. "So what do you think of her?" Ranma-chan tried to decide how honest to be. "Don't want to talk about it. Don't wanna marry nobody right now. She did some stuff to kind of piss me off, and I just don't wanna think about it right now. I'm sure Pop and Grandpa sent her here just to get the two of alone, but I just...Did they?" "They did not consult me, although I soon figured out you'd be coming once I'd talked to Rei. Although I am wondering why it took you so long to get here." "Oh, we did some traveling around first to get in some training so we'd be ready if we had to fight for our lives or something," Ranma-chan said, sighing. "Well, at least that went better than I ever imagined." "Your parents deserved better than they got out of life," Katsuhito said. "So where have you been the last ten years? Done anything interesting?" Ranma-chan spent the next half-hour telling many stories as they headed to the temple. Wait a second, she thought. Mom told me REI was here at the shrine! Then the smell of cooked carrots and onions hit her, and her mouth watered. "Fooood." Hunger warred with nervousness about seeing Rei and hunger won. Katsuhito laughed. "It does smell good. A pity your father will miss it." "I feel heartbroken," Ranma-chan said, laughing. Rei came out to where they were. "Masaki-sama, dinner...RANMA?" Her stomach churned, and she felt herself shake with nervousness at the sight of him. "I...uh...hi, Rei," Ranma-chan said feebly. "We just...uh...came for some hot water for me." She put her hand behind her head and laughed nervously. "I'll just take some food to your parents, Ranma, and let you two talk." Katsuhito was gone with three bowls of carrot and onion soup before they could reply. For a minute, the two just stared at each other, and then Rei went and got them each a bowl of soup and sat down on the steps with Ranma-chan. "How's your summer been?" she asked, staring into her soup. "Turns out Pop's old Master broke him and Mom up by impersonating and bribing oracles, so now they're atoning for everything by standing in a waterfall," Ranma-chan said, then settled down to slurping soup. I'll go get some hot water once I'm done eating, she thought. "I think that waterfall is Masaki-sama's answer to everything," she said. "Couldn't they just apologize?" "Mom had the family honor blade turned into barbeque tongs," Ranma-chan replied. Rei spent a while boggling and eating. Finally, she said, "I've been here training with Masaki-sama. He taught me some exercises that help me deal with the spirits, so I haven't had as much trouble with Eowyn or grass or rocks or everything." "I learned I ain't never going to an oracle ever again," Ranma-chan said, glancing over at Rei, catching her glancing at him. They turned their heads away from each other. "I found out about something that might be able to get rid of Ruby, but I can't decide if it's worth the risk," Ranma-chan said. "I'm inclined to take my chances, but everyone keeps saying it's a bad idea." "What is it?" "There's this fountain where you can forget stuff. So I wanna just forget Ruby. But sometimes it screws up. Still, the Oracle did say it could get Ruby to go away completely. I dunno, what do you think?" "Well, I think maybe I ought to teach you the exercises Masaki-sama taught me, then if those don't work, you could try the shrine. Because the exercises don't always work, but there's no real risk of a disaster, either," she said. "Is the fountain permanent?" "So far as I know. And the Oracle did recommend it. On the other hand, he also said selling my soul to a demon would do it, so I dunno how good his advice is." They ate in silence for a long time, and then stared at each other, not sure what to say. Finally, Rei said very faintly, "I'm sorry." "Why?" Ranma-chan asked. Rei blinked. "Because...oh, you mean why I did it. I let myself be tempted. I should have gotten her to stay with someone else, but part of me hoped something would happen. I don't know if that was me, or Eowyn in me, but...I screwed up. And I know I can't make any better, but I'm sorry." She stared at her empty soup bowl. "I should have known better." "I coulda had a lot of sex in the hotel, but I didn't," Ranma-chan said with just a little sharpness. "I know. Ranma...is the end for us? I mean...not that we've been formally dating or anything, but...if this means we'll never date or be married or anything, please just tell me," she said, leaning towards Ranma- chan, then drawing back, afraid to get closer and fearing to be pushed away. "That's been the worst part all this time for me...knowing I've screwed up, but not how much. If I've blown it forever, just tell me." "I don't know," Ranma-chan said. "I really...like you, Rei, but I can't marry you and Usagi at the same time. And it seems like you like her more than you do me. I mean...you never tried to do that with me." Tell her about Setsuna, she told herself. Before you do anything stupid like make that sort of promise to her. With Rei right in front of her, it was too easy to let memories of other girls slide away. "She came on to me! I wouldn't have started anything with her!" "But you'd finish it," Ranma-chan said flatly. "And which one of us almost slept with Ukyou and Haruka at the same time?" Rei fired back. "If Setsuna tried to get you into bed as seriously as Usagi did with me, would you have done any better?" "The key word is ALMOST! I didn't! I had a lot of chances to have sex and I didn't take them!" "But none of them were with people you really loved," Rei said. "If Setsuna had seriously come on to you, could you have said no?" "Hey, I could have had her any time I wanted, but I was able to wait, 'cause I knew it was a bad idea!" Ranma-chan shouted, then tried to calm herself. "Yeah, I've been doing a lot of dumb shit with everyone and dragging this out way too long 'cause I didn't trust my own instincts, but I never went all the way with any of you, 'cause I knew better." She turned and stared out at the forest. Now or never, she told herself. "I've decided that I ought to try seeing if I really do like Setsuna, or if it really just is Ruby warping my brain." "So this is the end," Rei said faintly. "Part of me still...still loves you, Rei, but I can't date two women, and it looks to me like you made your choice between me and Usagi." Ranma-chan stared into her soup, which failed to produce an oracle to guide her. "This ain't easy for me." Rei slumped. "What about Grandpa and your father? They're not going to be very happy with either of us." "I don't know," Ranma-chan said. "They may not ever give up. But I made a promise to Setsuna, and I keep my promises." She couldn't stand to see Rei looking so sad, and her brain kept trying to find some sort of way to wiggle out of this. "Rei...you...you do love Usagi, don't you?" "Yes, I do," she said, turning to face him. "Although I sort of left without talking to her about all this, so I don't know what she's thinking about me right now." She shook her head and sighed. "If I've driven her away..." "Oh, you know Usagi," Ranma-chan said, trying to cheer her up. "She doesn't get mad very easily. I'm sure she'll forgive you. I dunno if she'll forgive ME, but..." "What did you do to her?" Rei asked. "Dumped her." Before Rei could reply, the explosions began, echoing off the mountainsides and through the forest. "What the hell is that?" Ranma-chan asked. "I don't know, but it's coming from the direction of the waterfall," Rei said. "That's where Mom and Dad are!" Ranma-chan said. "Oh shit!" They took off running, even though they feared they would be too late. ************* A little while earlier, Katsuhito had arrived at the waterfall just in time to come up behind a small squadron of strangely dressed woman and one man. They looked vaguely familiar, and reeked of dark energies. Although he couldn't think of who most of them could possibly be, he did the one in armor as a man named Diamond, who had recently caused some trouble at the shrine in company of a strange energy vampire who resembled a child. And one of the women carried herself with the manner of a martial artist. The group was confronting Genma-Panda and Nodoka, who were out of the waterfall, but still standing in the pool at its base. Diamond was talking to Genma. "You have become a very strange woman, Nodoka. What are you doing in a waterfall with a panda, anyway?" "Who are you?" Nodoka asked. A woman dressed in a fairly revealing green dress was pointing a cylindrical black crystal at Genma-Panda. "Just hold still." Nodoka didn't plan to stand still. She kicked a gout of water up into the armored man's face, then grabbed his still-sheathed sword while he was shielding his face. She moved into a fighting stance. "I don't know who you are, but you aren't going to just carry off Genma." He backed up, concentrated, and created a second sword, then charged at her. "That isn't...oh, the curse." He sighed, and one of the women slapped her forehead and looked frustrated by him taking this long to realize this. He looks familiar, she thought, then brought the crystal blade around to block his overhand strike. They began to duel back and forth in silence. Katsuhito was glad that he was carrying a bokken, as he'd been planning to do some weapons training with Rei later in the day, and began circling to try to position himself for a strong opening attack. Unfortunately, this left Genma-panda to fight four people by himself. Genma-Panda got into a fighting stance and roared at his opponents. "He's in a martial arts stance," the shortest one said. "Weird. Must be trained," the one who looked like a statue said. The panda turned and ran past them, leaping onto the armored man from behind and sending him sprawling. That got him and Diamond hit by multiple energy bolts, leaving them both lying stunned in the water. The green-clad woman lifted the crystal high, and a dark beam began to play down from it onto Genma-Panda, who writhed and cried out. Circles of alternating darkness and light erupted from his chest. Nodoka charged, but the shortest of their foes gestured, and winds howled from her hands, spinning round Nodoka and tying her to a tree. Katsuhito took this as his cue to attack. He leaped across the clearing, striking at the green-clad woman's hands to knock the crystal way. The crystal went flying, but the purple-haired girl spun and kicked him in the gut, knocking him away before he could grab it. Her onslaught was ferocious, and it drove him back for several minutes, while he tried to analyze her style and find an opening. It was a familiar looking style, and he began to suspect she must be someone he knew, but in disguise. But who? While he was busy with her, the green-clad woman returned to whatever she had been doing to Genma-Panda. He roared a final time, and then a blue crystal flew out of his body into her hands. Dark energies coruscated across the panda's body, transforming him into a huge, demonic looking monster panda, with a mouth big enough to swallow a man's head whole. He immediately stood up, looked around, then rushed off, howling "FOOD!!!!" The green-clad woman sighed. "I should have thought of that. Sandstone, can you please go chase that fool down?" "Yes, ma'am!" Sandstone said, then ran off after Gluttony. Katsuhito began pressing his counter-attack when this happened, now driving the purple-haired woman back. While the green-haired woman helped the armored man out of the water, the shortest of the women gestured at him, and he felt chains made of solid air wrap around himself. He managed to break them by drawing on the holy power of the shrine's sacred tree, to which he was linked, but this took just long enough for the purple-haired woman to kick him in the head three times and wrench his bokken away from him. He recognized the move as one Kasumi Tendo had used several times when sparring with him and Nodoka in the past. But that couldn't be Kasumi, he thought. She looked rather different. But she moved like Kasumi, and used the same style. And Soun Tendo had three daughters... The thought chilled him. Perhaps it wasn't Genma who had gotten involved with demons. But why hadn't he taken Kasumi if he'd gone willingly all those years ago? Well, it doesn't matter now who exactly they are, he thought. Just that I don't think I can fight them all alone. He flipped back away from the purple-haired woman, then grabbed a handy stick, and faked an overhead assault on her. While she wasted precious moments parrying it, he let go of it and ran for Nodoka. Another stick served as enough of a focus to let him break the winds holding Nodoka to a tree. Several energy blasts racked his body, but he clenched his teeth through the agony, shielding himself and Nodoka as best he could, then picked her up and simply ran off into the woods, carrying her like a sack of potatoes. I'm sorry, Genma, he thought, but at least this way we can try to rescue you later, instead of all of us being captured. He circled round, then began heading for the shrine. **************** Guardian Saturn and Sailor Mars sped through the woods, wishing the distance to the waterfall was less uphill and not so far as it was. Saturn also wished Mars could run faster; she'd thought about carrying Mars, but that would have slowed her down, making it pointless. Then bursts of water and lightning erupted at them from behind two trees. Each of them dodged, skidding to a halt, after which winds came howling down on them, tying both of them to trees. "Damnation!" Saturn shouted. Feldspar, Amethyst, and Tourmaline erupted from out of cover. Saturn struggled to break her bonds while Mars tried to wiggle one of her evil wards into her hands. Amethyst grabbed Saturn's legs, although she took a nasty kick in the shin, and it was clearly a desperate struggle. Feldspar slapped an onyx collar around Saturn's neck and she went limp. Meanwhile, Tourmaline held a finger an inch from Mars' left eye. "Don't even mumble a syllable, or I'll blow your head open," she said. "Maybe we should take her too," Feldspar said. While they discussed this, Mars listened to the wind mumble to itself; it was a spirit. Maybe I can influence it without my wards, she thought. Yes, you can, Eowyn said. Just do a simple banishment...no, wait, you'll have to speak, and then Tourmaline will blast us; we might not survive it at such short range. Oh wait...just teleport out of the bonds! Can I do that silently? she asked. It'll be more exhausting, but just think the command phrase, Eoywn replied. SAILOR TELEPORT, she thought, and reappeared halfway across the clearing; her aim hadn't been half as good as she hoped. "What the..." Tourmaline said, then got blasted with a Fire Soul attack. "Get him...her out of here! Now!" "But sis..." "Do it!" They teleported away with Saturn, and for a moment, all Mars could do was stare. This got her blasted off her feet by Tourmaline's lightning. "What are you looking so mopey about?" Tourmaline asked. "After all, you've been screwing someone else on the side, so do you really care what happens to him?" This registered just enough for Mars to get mad, although later she'd wonder how Tourmaline could have known this. "Give him BACK!" Mars shouted, then unleashed a Fire Soul at Tourmaline, who dodged. "No." They traded blasts for a while, with Mars growing ever more frenetic. More and more trees were bursting into flames as she blasted wildly at Tourmaline. After a while, Tourmaline seemed to give up on attacking, and just kept running with Mars chasing after her. Behind her, the blaze spread through wood rendered perfect for burning by a hot, dry summer. "Stop running! Give me back RANMA!!!!!!!!" Mars shouted, working up to a nearly frothing fury. "I couldn't, if I wanted to," Tourmaline said, finally reaching the river she'd been looking for. She started to run up it. As she'd planned, Mars followed her into the stream. "You know where they took him! Tell me! Damn you! FIRE SOUL!" Another gout of flame flew at Tourmaline, who narrowly dodged it by throwing herself down onto her hands and knees in the water. "LIGHTNING STORM!" she shouted, and discharged it through the water, a great roiling wave of electricity which washed over Sailor Mars, flinging Mars out of the water and crashing into a tree, which toppled from the impact. Tourmaline winced at that and stood. "And that's that," she said. Mars rose to her feet, surrounded by an aura of flame. Her lips moved, and Tourmaline couldn't hear what she said, but a second transformation washed over her. "This is your last chance. Tell me or die." "You forgot the third choice," Tourmaline said. "What?" "Bye!" She teleported away, not sure what had just happened, and not willing to risk finding out. Super Sailor Mars howled to the heavens, and exploded like a phoenix, knocking down the forest around her, then collapsing in on herself and reverting to Rei Hino. She whispered, "Ranma," then collapsed and passed out. *************** Tourmaline staggered to the van. "Well, that wasn't fun." Amethyst caught her as she stumbled. "You don't look so good." "I gave her my best shot, and it wasn't enough." She sighed. "But we got what we came for." "I'm sure Beryl will agree you did your best," Amethyst said. That's what I'm counting on, Tourmaline thought. **************** Rei woke up in the shrine with Nodoka and Katsuhito, both looking exhausted, kneeling near her. "Did you get Ranma back?" she asked weakly, as she tried to sit up. "No," Katsuhito said. "Did those women take him?" "Yes," she said. "They got Genma too," Nodoka said, then started to cry. "This time the demons really do have them, and I couldn't save them. My son. They took my son!" She crumpled; it was clear she'd been holding herself together on the hope Rei would know where Ranma was. "Rei, what is going on?" Katsuhito asked. She sniffed the air. "I smell smoke." "We had a massive forest fire; you would probably have burned to death if you hadn't been in the center of a firebreak." His voice was calm, but she could hear the accusation. "I burned down the forest?" she asked in shock. "If you made the fire, yes. We stopped it before it spread too far, but we've lost a lot of forest. Rei, what is going on?" "This is going to take a long time to explain," she said. "None of us can do anything until we know what's really going on," he replied. "Okay, it all started thousands of years ago, on the moon..."