For those of you who feel the introduction is familar, this was indeed posted before as a rough draft. It now has an additional 70kb or so and has been polished up.




         Innen : Onshuu

               One of Two


    Life is a collection of uncertainties and assumptions. Hand in hand they drag the unwilling participant down the ever winding road of fate till all resistance is gone and, of their own volition, they step into the void. Along this road are distractions. Many beautiful forms, feelings, and expressions; tantalizing lapses from the endless monotony of the gray path which they stride. Love's green stem may appear, naive in its early growth. Bearing its frail bud which may bloom, with time, into a red flower, capturing the soul of the weary walker and ripping the pained gaze from the road to that of this new ever mysterious temptation.

    Let us, however, not limit our perception of this gray expanse. There is no light without dark, nor does crimson love lack its own counterpart of blackest hate. As its better half, this flower waylays those traveling the road, continuing with them until finally discarded. The black, silken petals catch the eye, as does its pleasing scent to the nose. It gives an energy to the beholder, a fevered passion only matched by its sister's gift of the same to her patrons.

    Once again, let us not prejudice ourselves with unbound assumptions and false logic. Hate and love are not in contrast to each other, far from it, rather they are each part of a whole, a whole which embodies every aspect of human feeling and existence. They compliment each other, make one another whole. For that brightest red flower is most vulnerable, and when stricken, dies, only to re-emerge colored as the blackest ash. Likewise, the unadulterated midnight of the black flower may be broken by a single spot of red but a shade different then its previous incarnation.

    The two are one in the same, as they are in the human soul.



    The afternoon sun shone upon Furiken High School, its merry light giving an air of mischief and fun to the populace. The trees whispered to themselves, gently rustling their budding branches in both amusement and irritation at the many who walked about below them. For a long while it was feared that these simple things would be gone, never to return to some. A single ceremony which should have been joyous had been turned, through both the greed and nativity of one, into one of anger and violence, an event which would echo the blasphemous intrusion across this district called Nerima.

    It could be felt in the neighborhoods, where people spoke in hushed tones about those who had felt the atrocity most keenly, in the way the groups would disperse and sweat nervously under the gaze of a young man who's pain was thought to be secondary, if not mythical, and who's braided hair marked him as clearly as a burning sign. It could be felt as one ate, the normally succulent food turned bland and empty. In the face of the new chief, who's role in the matter was indirect yet still held a similar sharpness. It could be seen on the sorrowful face of the girl passing on her bike, hindsight and understanding having come, yet again, far too late. Life was steeped in the poison of anger, helplessness, and pity.

    Then, as if ushered in by the promise of a soon coming spring, came hope, and with it a flurry of forgiveness. Rekindled fires of friendships and the bright burning flames of the newly formed appeared, eating away at the hollow despair which had taken root so deeply in their heart of hearts. Spring appeared in full strength, giving not only the plants the power for rebirth and new beginnings, but also the people who had been so dormant in the soul's winter.

    For two a husk of fear had been shed, unmasking a mutual love and need which, although painful to others, would bring about a catharsis and halt the would be tragedy of love stringed deaths. So it would have been, so it should have been.

    But fate, that cruel and unrelenting master, knows no sympathy nor emotion, nor pride, nor hate, nor fear, nor death. It knows the way, and is the way. The way which must be followed, for it was crafted by free-will.


    Of those many aforementioned new beginnings, one in particular is most strongly relevant to our tale at this time. A new beginning which brought a master artisan from her self-induced hermitage back into the world, seeking after that which she thought was lost from her forever. It had not come without cost, nor without pain, but she would have sacrificed far more to be welcomed again into the sight of her love. For her to call him anything less would belittle her feelings, burned and bent from their innocent beginnings into mature and sadistically truthful ones. Yet, I stray from our current focus.

    She drew a hand, once strong and sure, to her pale face, brushing aside her short brown hair. A gift madness had left her. Hazel eyes beheld the source of her hopes and anguish, rejoicing in the sight of his face devoid of the wrath it once held. The bright smile faltered for a moment, for she beheld a mirror expression on the face of her rival who was sitting painfully close to her beloved. Such happiness radiated from them as to return madness from its brief sojourn.

    "I know this must hurt Ukyo-san, however there is something more important." The voice came drifting from the ground, a voice which set the woman's teeth on edge as much as its unnatural owner who, at this moment, need not be discussed.

    "Yeah, I know." Turning her head away from the loving couple, and thus the pain it caused, she looked to the self proclaimed guardian. "That's her."

    Contrary to popular thought, silence was not golden. Or at least in the mind of Ukyo Kounji it wasn't. Rather it was a deep rust color, one which, when broken, unleashed whatever force currently wished to oppress her. The long silence of a distraught father, unable to tell his daughter her fiancee had stolen her dowry and ran. The silence in which old emotions swiftly rise up and shatter the shell of hate. The silence when one finds they're greatest rival to be one who must become a vital comrade with who there can be no enmity nor anger.

    "Ukyo-san? Did you hear me?"

    She rose her head from its bowed position, forcing liquid crystal and emotion away. Emotions were a catalyst for action, if the emotions were controlled then the actions were as well. "Yes, I heard you, sugar."

    "We must speak with her immediately!" The voice shook with excitement, years of searching having finally paid off at the time of greatest need.

    "Not now. After school." Ukyo stood, casting off the burning flashes of anger and sadness, and walked away.

    "But- Ukyo-san, wait!"


    Time passed and shrill ringing announced the release of students from their daily prison of education. Along with this release came the two most vital to our tale. One clad in Chinese clothing, a small but acceptable rebellion against dress code, the other in a much more usual dress and blouse worn by all female students.

    They walked hand in hand, the boy still ever so slightly nervous even after several weeks of doing so, along the road to their home. To be technically correct, it was rather the home which they each lived in but were to eventually inherent. And to avoid any confusion on the reader's part, each had a separate room (much to their parent's despair). No words, for separate and distinct reasons, were spoken as they walked along. The boy spoke not for he had a habit of speaking clumsily and often aggravating the listener through that clumsiness. The girl on the other hand felt no need to speak and was sincerely enjoying the moment.

    "Ranma!" A voice thick with accent pierced the air, drawing the heads of the couple in its direction. There was a squeal as the rubber wheels of a bike attempted to go from fast to stop.

    "Heya Shampoo." Said the boy. Not unkindly, but not too happily either. Through painful lessons he had learned greeting another girl too enthusiastically would result in harsh glares or worse from his current companion.

    The woman jumped off the bike. She, similar to a one introduced a short while ago, had attained her adult status through the pain of unrequited love. While she had not faced madness, she had seen her greatest fear come within inches of claiming her. Also like her new friend, she had endured and by doing so had re-established her place in life both physically and mentally. "Ranma, you and Akane come by later. Great-grandmother want speak about training."

    The boy's eyes gleamed as the thought of his ever lasting hunger being sated, even for a short while. "We'll be there!" This said with a vehemence and finality to it that rarely arose in him.

    The purple haired woman nodded and smiled to her beloved. "Good. See you!" She waved and took off the way she had came.

    The story of this woman, who's part in our tale is tragically brief, is unusual by most standards. She was birthed in China at a remote amazon village which lay close by a set of, now infamous, cursed springs. Raised as a warrior she flourished, growing in her skill day by day. She was popular among the males, although only one showed such interest in any obvious way. Her life had a general upward spiral to it. A clandesence which polished her personality and confidence to a peak level where she believed herself to be the best of her generation. This illusion was brought tumbling down one day, leaving her in shock and finally heading off to Japan. There she met the love of her life, and took part in the atrocity which formed a regret and sadness which would hue the remainder of her life a deep blue. Yet, my heart fails me and I cannot bring myself, at this time, to speak of her demise.

    Instead, allow us to turn our sights back to the couple and the ones watching them. Among the watchers, of which there were two, one form was clearly recognizable as Ukyo Kounji, whose unevenly sheared brown hair made her all the more noticeable. The other watcher was not immediately apparent to the eye as such. For who suspects an animal body to be capable of harboring intellect?

    "Are you sure?" Came the voice, once again rising a goodly distance before it reached Ukyo's ears.

    "It's the only way we can get her and Ranma apart for a long enough time." Her pale hands clutched at the building for support. Running such a distance at a high speed was no longer an easy task for one who had faced death.

    "Couldn't we just use a norm... Oh, alright I'm going." With an indignant sniff a shape ran from the alleyway and onto the street. Once assured it had full attention of the approaching couple it spoke.

    The pig-tailed boy's face went pale, his body stiffened in fear, his jaw clenched so tightly that one would fear his teeth would chip from the pressure. After a moment of such posture he spoke, or rather yelled, two words. "DEMON CAT!!!" Then he was off, with not so much as a dust trail able to follow him.

    "I'm not a demon." The feline sniffed indignantly.

    "That's enough." The shadows curled forward to accompany a new shape, then once again receded as the sun banished them.

    "Ukyo?" The girl looked confusedly from the black cat to her former rival. "Did that cat just talk?"

    A shimmer of a smile lit Ukyo's face, soon disappearing under the haze of despair once more. "Yeah. But it gets worse."


    There is fear and there is fear. One is true and current, the other in memory of a past circumstance. Both are potent, both are dangerous. The remembrance of fear, however, is the far more dangerous of the two. For Ranma, it was the memory of darkness, of slashing claws, of carnivorous wails, of piercing teeth. With every thought of this fear, it grew. With every sight of that which summoned it, the pain was brought back. The curtain, torn and mended so many times, of his sanity was slowly disintegrating. These, summed up in the words "I'm losing my mind", were the boy's thoughts as he stopped running.

    People on the street barely gave him a glance. The happenings of Nerima had tired its residents to a level of uncaring and callousness to all but the most severe occurrences. The premiere martial artist running and screaming about a small four-legged pet was not one of them. Although the 'demon' bit was new.


    Youma. A stupid name for a stupid beast. On afterthought, a Youma didn't truly count as a beast. It was more of a demon, albeit a weaker form of demon, but a demon nonetheless. They could be accredited with interesting forms attack though. The primary move in any situation seemed to be possession. Basically, it involved grabbing hold of the nearest human who ran some form of business then using that body to draw out the energy of the patrons. Take a diner for example. Now if the owner happened to be much stronger then the average human, and was taken by surprise, then a perfect host was produced. If the host was strong enough there wouldn't even be a need to change out of the body to fight. Not that such a need would arise of course.


    "What?" A deadpanning voice, the voice of disbelief.

    Ukyo sighed and leaned against a nearby building. "Come on Akane, after everything we've seen is it that hard to believe? Magical defenders of Earth-"

    "The solar system." Corrected the black cat.

    "-compared to a cursed boy who turns into a girl when splashed with water." The fabric of her shirt made a soft rubbing sound as she slid down the wall into sitting position. "Same old stuff."

    To understand the chosen fiancee's current feelings was not a difficult task. She was always one who wished to prove her own strength, so overshadowed by that of her beloved's, and ability. However, given the chance with the ever overwhelming weight of responsibility and duty, she gave pause. A trait which would prove to be wisdom's seed.

    "It's not like you have a choice, Akane." Ukyo rose her lily-pale and gently rubbed at her eyes. "Do you really think I give a damn about the world anymore?"

    This deterrent from her normal form of speech caused Akane to look closely at her, assumed, friend. "Are you okay?" Through secondhand knowledge, curtsey of her betrothed, she had heard Ukyo was doing badly for a period of time. She had thought it over with though. Ukyo Kounji had never been one to dine with cynicism.

    "Am I okay?" Windows to the soul revealed sadness therein. "Yeah. I'm just peachy." Remembered visions of flashing knives and liquid crimson flickered through her mind accompanied by mocking laughter.

    The feline decided to make its presence known again. "As Ukyo-san was saying, it is your duty. I can't force it on you, but I believe you will see the light on your own." The cat backflipped, surprising the hesitant hero. "That" A paw battled at a broach. "Is how you transform."

    "Transform?" Bending at the knees, she retrieved the object. The fantasy of playing super hero that lay ever dormant in most minds easily springs to life when such an opportunity makes itself apparent.

    Ukyo stood with a grace reminiscent of her training. Raising a strange looking stick and mouthing words of ancient origin, light enveloped her. When it cleared away, Ukyo stood clad in a short green miniskirt which threatened to become indecent at any moment the light-fingered wind took an interest in it. The skirt was joined to a leotard looking blouse with cut arms and green trim. A large bow in pink ribbon was positioned just above her breasts, nestling a jade jewel in the center. Lastly, a pair of long white gloves (also trimmed in green) and small green shoes, which only sharpened the attention on her long slim legs, completed the ensemble. The effect was stunning. Her pale, nearly white skin gave a gentle contrast to the green of her uniform. Her figure, shown in unflinching truth thanks to the skin-tight cling of the clothing, appeared impossibly petite. Brown, uneven hair curled lovingly around her bare neck, giving a slightly wild look. One could mistake the lovely figure for an elf if pointed ears were to be found.

    "Ukyo?" The human bystander breathed in wonder. The change was nearly angelic in nature, but at the same time horrific in its revelations. The latter thankfully, or perhaps not so, would only make itself apparent at a later time. When the eye looks for beauty, it will rarely permit itself to see the foil.

    "Sailor Jupiter." Corrected the talking quadruped. "You must learn never to say the real name of any the sailor scouts.. assuming we find the rest." The last was said under her breath as most perilous or forbidding suffixes tend to.

    "Sailor? Like the sea kind?" Akane blinked in confusion.

    "Not exactly. Each planet has its own protector. She is Sailor Jupiter. There is also a sailor for Mars, Mercury, Venus, and several others."

    "And I'm one of these.. Sailors?"

    "Yes. You are Sailor Moon."

    "The moon." She was less then thrilled.

    Luna bristled, arching her back slightly. "Do not speak about it like! It is a great honor, Sailor Moon's strength is nearly unequaled!"

    "But.. the moon? It's so boring."

    A cat scowl presented itself to Akane. "Regardless of which, you are Sailor Moon. This area seems deserted enough why don't you try it on."

    "Is it like hers?" Fear of embarrassment is a very powerful force in any situation.


    To most evil is a status, a state of mind, or a philosophical term. To others it is a stench. Those with the right training can taste it in the air, feel it in their soul. Crossing into the confines of the Nekohaten Shampoo tasted it, and thus became the first of fate's victims. Her eyes turned hard as she surveyed the mess. All through the restaurant people lay crumpled in their seats or sprawled on the floor. As far as she could tell, they were only unconscious. Spoons lay gripped in their hands nine out of ten times, perhaps a final reflex action before whatever happened to them. "Great-Grandmother?" She would be able to explain what happened.

    The old woman stepped from the shadows, and they followed her. Through them a small, familiar shape could be seen. Her short form was standing laxly, a confidence in her ability to counter whatever happened to guard her path. There was a difference though, it was tinged with an arrogance and a scathing glare which insulted all under its gaze. The stench of evil flowed from her in waves. "Hello there child." Said a voice, dripping in the false kindness of the candy offering stranger.

    "G-grandmother?" The purple haired beauty took a stumbling step backwards. Possession was the only explanation. And it wasn't "nice" like the oni Ranma had fought. Large spherical weapons slid from unknown areas and smoothly into her hands. She assumed a fighting position, one knee drawn up in the air and a bonbori pointed at her possessed family member. "You not Great-grandmother!"

    "Of course I am dear child, why don't we sit down and talk over a bowl of soup? I can explain everything." The voice began to brake into a raspy growl.

    Battle cry echoing from wall to wall Shampoo attacked.


    The aluiriphobic boy sighed and looked around him. His amazon friend, and her Great-Grandmother's restaurant was nearby. He walked through the streets, idly noticing the setting sun. It is one of the unappreciated things in life, the setting sun that is. Sunrise, the beautiful birth of light to the world, is time and time again honored in for its magnificence. Deemed as a good omen. But does not its death deserve equal worship? The slowly darkening light grasping onto the clouds as if to prevent its decent, coloring the sky with its cries of desperation and despair. Then, slowly the grip loses hold and the sun slips lower, its death cry unnoticed by former admirers. With bare minutes remaining in its life the current martyr bled the sky crimson.

    Ranma paused and looked about him. The world had become a light shade of red, creating a very surreal environment. Nothing was clear anymore, instead it was faded about the edges. Caught up in wonder and awe he stood for a moment, realizing the beauty of the Lightgiver's death. He looked at the sun, and for once in his life gave himself up to the moment. Closed eyes stared at the burning ball, relishing its warmth. The shadows played tricks across his body. They painted him in shadow blood and scarred his hands and arms with tales of battle, turning the boy into a monster. Behind him, his shadow twisted in the strangle light, growing jagged and skewed until it seemed more a living demon then a shadow. The pockets of darkness coalesced through his closed eyes, the warmth faded, then with a final moment of soothsaying the light returned to normal and the setting sun continued its decent.

    Ranma took a shuddering breath, it was those moments he lived for. A moment of clarity, of absolute perfection, a moment where he was God. These were few and far in-between, leaving no memory when they were gone save the euphoric memory and an intense desire. The Art brought him this on a lower level, it was his addiction. Smiling he started walking to the Nekohanten.



    Rose colored embarrassment crept up Akane's face. "I knew it! I look horrible!" She hid her face behind her hands. In all reality, she was far from horrible looking. She didn't possess the grace and delicate beauty Ukyo embodied, however her own form was appealing in its own way. She was far from chubby or fat, her morning jogs combined with small doses of The Art saw to that, instead she was smoothly muscled. There was a sturdiness to her, a solidity. It was not overwhelming as one who worked with weights and things of metal, rather it was a subtle strength given by The Art. Her own uniform was, much similar to Ukyo's, akin to a school uniform suffering from material loss. However, instead of a green skirt hers was a deep blue color. Her bow was red, as was the trimming about her gloves, and there was a small golden sphere held in the center of the ribbon, just another variation of the one described before. There was but one distinguishing trait. A golden tiara, somewhat hidden by her short black hair.

    The black feline looked at Akane as if judging. After a short period of she nodded. "You look wonderful Akane-san." She was no frail beauty that needed protecting. She was instead a candle in the darkness. One who's appearance that was both charming and steadfast would sturden resolve in her followers. She would be a splendid leader. If only she would stop cringing.

    The candle paused, unhiding herself. "Really?" She looked down at her legs, then the rest of her body. Ever doubting is the female mind, until given firm reason to believe otherwise. "You sure? I don't look... stupid?" she was sure Ranma would take one look at her and burst into laughter.

    "No. You look good Akane. Like you were always supposed to be like that. Strong, pretty. It's you." Ukyo spoke up again, any emotions lost beneath the one of loyalty towards this figure. After several moments the feeling resided and she damned herself for it.

    Akane basked in the compliments, blushing slightly. A cold feeling snaked itself about her heart and tugged.

    "What's the matter?" The unnatural animal asked, seeing her turn pale.

    "I don't know.. just a feeling. Something bad happening. It's over there!" She pointed then started running in the same direction, soon taking to the roofs for a faster route.


    Shampoo stumbled back, needing space to catch her breath. Whatever had possessed her Grandmother was pathetic from a technical point of view. Its movements were predictable, its style was non-existent. It couldn't dodge to save it's life. Yet she could find no way to defeat it. Every predictable movement was done at incredible speed and with tearing strength. Every landed blow was shrugged off, seemingly having no effect whatsoever. She had to knock her grandmother's physical body unconscious, then she would be able to concentrate on exorcising the demon. Tightening a hand about her remaining bonbori Shampoo leapt to the attack again.

    When one is at death's gates, the only option remaining is often aggression.


    Energy flowed through her veins, power the likes she had never dreamt of. It pronounced her every move, strengthening it, accelerating it. She was moving swifter then she ever had before, stronger. She could take on every martial artist in Nerima and not lose her breath. It was ecstasy.

    But below that, overcoming the desire to run with the flow of power, was the sense of peril. Of evil. She didn't know her destination, only knew its direction. She spared a glance back as she leapt from roof to roof. Sailor Jupiter followed her closely, seeming to have no trouble keeping pace. Tucked under one arm she carried the black cat. A scream of pain carried in the air. Frowning with worry Akane increased her speed.


    Ranma was approaching the restaurant when his senses started going berserk. Something was very, very wrong. The retreating sunlight reinforced echoed his worry, reinforcing his worry. Evil. Strong evil. Eyes scanned about him and he slowed his pace. It was nearby, it leaned over his shoulder, breathed on his neck then was gone the next moment. Close, very close. A blue shimmer erected itself around him as he slowly began to gather his power. A cry of pain came from the restaurant and Ranma had his source.


    Oft has Ranma been referred to as a boy throughout our tale. This statement, in itself, is not entirely accurate. In consideration of his skills he is no boy, for he has spent his life training himself developing and proving said skills in combat time and time again. In the area of mental anguish he is not a boy, for he has dealt with situations enough to drive any lesser man insane. The area that he is yet a child in, is that of love. He loves a young child does. Showing this love in taunts, light jests, sometimes even fighting. This is, admittedly, not entirely his fault. A lifetime spent in the woods without the ability to meet a potential partner, much less find time to grow in knowledge and experience, does not equip one to face certain situations. Situations such as multiple fiancees. So it is not out of happenstance he is referred to as this, it is because therein lies the heart of the matter.

    "You are weak, but your screams shake the very walls." The youma's voice had lost all it's resemblance to that of its host's. its harshness tore at Shampoo's heart.

    She sprawled on the floor. Purple hair tangled and blooded, lying in a mess underneath her injured body. Moaning Shampoo forced herself up once more using a nearby wall for support, the carefully painted surface dipped red by her hand. She looked up at the beast and knew disappear. Her inadequacy in the art which led her to Ranma would seemingly be her death now. A fitting scenario in the eye of the rose.

    "If you had only ate your soup like a good girl." The Youma cackled, enjoying its own attempted humor.

    Lilac eyes shimmered with tears, their vibrant color led into chaotic, futile motions about the room. Escape from one who hid within others, lowest of the low. Shampoo cursed her own cowardess.

    Metallic laughter filled the air, scraping against her supple skin like a razor. "This is what I live for! Cower! Fear! Let me hear you scream!" It bent down, grasping Shampoo's arm. Raising its eyes to hers, full intent was conveyed. She struggled not, for her energy to do so was gone. A wet braking sound, like a piece of chewed egg-shell, then white bone punctured smooth skin at the elbow. A geyser of red poured forth, flowing about the now red bone in a hideous dance. Again came the sound, from just below her wrist. With another twist the bone surfaced, breathing copper water in its release.

    "Mmph!" Her eyes closed tightly and her jaw clenched in on itself. She would not give in to the beast.

    "Mmmmppphhhh." It repeated mockingly. Placing its hand around the now unanchored bone, it twisted viscously.

    A high pitched squeak made its way through Shampoo's mouth as muscle tore from bone.

    "Scream!" Another twist. "Scream!" And another. "Scream!!" With a final heave the bone came completely free from her arm.

    Her body no longer being held up, Shampoo collapsed against the ground. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, breathing shallow and empty of point. Her eyes snapped open, pain and fear shining like a beacon. She inhaled a deep breath and gave a soul tearing cry of pain and plea for help in the form of her beloved's name.


    Ranma's felt his heart clench in his chest at his name carried cross the district. The restaurant door gave under his rush like so many splinters even as he cursed himself for not being faster. The sight inside nearly made him mis-step. "NO!" His voice did not carry the power to halt time.

    A wooden staff pierced through Shampoo's chest.

    He leapt from the ground and impacted against her assailant full force, knocking it into the far wall. "Shampoo.." Eyes filled with concern, he gently gathered her into his arms.

    "Airen.." A dreamy small broke across her face. She knew she was at an end. "You came, Airen."

    Her happy gaze held him fast, unable to look elsewhere and unable to move.

    "My Airen." Using her working arm she gently raised a hand and caressed his cheek, trying to remember him at this moment. Her body shivered for a moment, then ceased. Unable to perform even this simple action.

    Bending his head Ranma met Shampoo's lips in his own. He knew no other way to make her passage easier.

    What had always been denied in life was given freely in death. Such was fate. "I love you, Airen." The words were less then whispers. A small tilt of her head put her lips to his one last time. She breathed her last.

    The metallic laughter struck again. "Humans! Weak! Weak!" It sneered at Ranma. "You won't catch me off guard again. Weak!"

    The Amazon's last breath stirred in his lungs, exciting a fire he'd never tapped before. An energy who's existence was unknown even though it sheltered within his own body. Uncaring, he drew from it. Letting it feed him, fill him, he cloaked himself in it. And with this cloak came the anger. The pinnacle of hate and anger he had felt when he realized Shampoo had died stretched over him, no longer a thing of such intensity that it could not be sustained but a thing which sustained because of its intensity. Rage given voice shouted, power surged. In motions he would later not remember the hands twisted, a dead art given resurrection for a brief moment.

    The ki attack was unlike anything he had ever done before. A solid red sphere in the middle, only inches wide, surrounded by lacy twilight colored darkness. It moved swiftly to its target, hitting it full in the chest then devouring all caught within that darkness. It was over in moments.

    Solid red rage, torn black hate.

    Staggering a step back, Ranma recovered. He turned to face Shampoo's soul befret corpse, and in the process caught sight of two in something akin to schoolgirl uniforms. "Go away." His voice made them flinch somewhat.

    "Ranma, I just-" Began the one in the blue skirt, reaching a hand toward him.

    "I SAID LEAVE!" His hand slashed through the air in front of him as a visible warning.

    "R-ranma.. It's me. Akane." A wounded tone.

    He peered at her intently. "Akane?" He shook his head. Of course it was Akane. "Sorry." He bent down and began cradling Shampoo's broken body again, numb feelings returned full force. "I'm sorry." He repeated, this time he reached his words toward the kami's realm. Fight over, anger gone, pain rushed in. Drawing a shuddering breath he clutched the body to him as if to bring her back. "I wasn't fast enough, I didn't even think.. Shampoo.." Raising her limp head as a puppeteer he touched it to his own. Tears dropped from his closed eyes onto hers, then rolling off her ever beautiful face and onto the floor. The sight of which making one question who was truly mourning for whom.

    Hesitant steps toward her fiancee were halted by Sailor Jupiter's pale hand, now made firm and strong by the magic flowing through her veins. "Not yet." Grief was a familiar box to Ukyo, for she had escaped from it more times then she cared to recall.

    For a moment it seemed Akane would argue, but no such protest rose from her lips. Unable to look at the scene before her any longer she walked outside, barely noting the destroyed entrance.

    The feline was waiting. "I'm sorry, was she a friend?"

    Akane paused, the question braking through the numbness that had began to grow. "I.. She..." A moment of consideration. "Yes."

    Behind her back Ukyo felt anger rise within her. She had not been Shampoo's friend. Shampoo was an acquaintance, a rival, but not a friend. She had been the chef's friend though. Dumb with shock and grief they had manage to find a bit of peace in each others company, the knowledge that they alone had not suffered grief at the decision of Ranma. Together they had returned from their separate trials, able to live once more. Together they had rejoiced at the forgiveness which restored some of that which was lost. But no more. She bit her bottom lip as her vision blurred.

    Akane looked over her shoulder and saw Ranma still holding Shampoo. Bile forced its way up her throat at the sight of her ruined arm. She turned away, the sight bringing back numbness. It was hard to believe. Shampoo was dead.

    Luna would have given a sigh of relief if such a thing were possible. She had feared that this would heavily impact the will of her charges fighting ability; either leading them into blind anger while fighting or, worse yet, retreat into themselves and the deny their responsibilities. She glanced up at Ukyo again. She wore an expressionless look upon her face, causing reconsideration upon Luna's former thought. "Ukyo-san, are you going to be all right?" It was blunt, but it was likely to get a rise of anger from her or some other emotion that may give the watcher a hint as to the emotions boiling underneath.

    "No." A single word, no tone in the voice.

    Akane, shaken out of her funk by the voice, shared a look with Luna for a short while but returned her attention back to Ukyo. There had been a small glimmer of light and Now Ukyo stood as herself once more, Sailor Jupiter returned to her place of waiting.

    "Akane you should do the same."


    Splinters of the doorway crackled and snapped underneath Ukyo's steps. She continued falteringly, stumbling under the effort needed to continue towards solace. Ironically, in order to reach that solace meant facing, once more, misery's cause. Tear veiled eyes failed to guard sight of the shattered shell, still clutched in arms strong and warm. With a small sob of pain she fell against him, arms linking about his neck and face pressed against his muscled back.

    "Ukyo?" Ranma looked over his shoulder, pain filled eyes clearing. "When did you get..." He trailed the meaningless question into nothing. He clenched his eyes then gently lay down the Amazon's corpse. He touched a hand to one of the lily arms about his body, slowly turning in the desperate embrace.

    "She's dead." Ukyo cried into his shirt, tears mixing with blood and lightening the dark stains.

    His arms easily encircled her frail form. "I know." He bowed his head. "I know."

    Sobs continued, growing harder. "Why?" She abandoned all attempts to hold herself upright, relying solely on the form clutched in her arms for support. She felt him bend then she was lifted, arms under her knees and her back. Like a bride in the arms of her groom.

    "Let's take you home." Tragedy and hurt has strange effects on people. For Ranma, not surprising if one considered his childhood, it brought about a clarity of mind and decisiveness. At least when others he cared for needed him. Later on, when alone with his thoughts, emotions would run rampant until he would manage to force them away.


    Ukyo dim state of awareness sharpened as His arms released her. A sharp cry of protest broke the silence of the room and she struggled to maintain her hold on him.

    "Ucchan, it's alright. You're home." Ranma gently pulled his arm away from her. The still frightened look in her eyes bought a reassuring smile from him. "Really, it's okay. Look around you."

    Heavy breathing slowly settled and Ukyo calmed down as her mind and body slowly gave into emotional exhaustion. Silence crept into the room, stealing the voices of both. The blankets shivered with movement as the intangible chill inside their grasp failed to warm.

    With a movement filled with concern and dread Ranma bent low and lightly grasped her shoulder, calling attention to himself. "Ucchan..." Though desperate straits may give an air of confidence and responsibility, it cannot fill the void which only experience must fill.

    While not able to summon a smile, his clumsy attempt to lend support met its objective.  Ukyo's eyes were pain-filled, but she was no longer dumb-stricken by grief. "Thank you." She gently rubbed her cheek against his hand. To be able to gather even a small amount of sustenance or courage from such a thing may seem merely romanticizing and futile, and Ukyo was well aware of this. Even moreso because she had come to understand and, perhaps, accept that he was one who was beyond receiving love from, his heart having been taken. These things not withstanding, she did in fact gather strength from the action.

    Not quite knowing how to react Ranma gently withdrew his hand. Ukyo looked up at him with a long suffering expression. "I.." The need to return to his home and check on his fiancee was a priority, however one that was nearly equal was that of making sure his life-long friend would be out of danger, both emotional and self induced.

    "I know." Her voice had returned to that of a whisper. "Go on, I'll be fine."

    His jaw clenched tightly. "I'll be back early tomorrow." Blood oath conviction given out swiftly and sincerely.

    Ukyo said nothing for a short while, merely looking at him. Then she gently nodded her head and snuggled into the blankets and awaited the mindlessness of sleep.


    "Who the devil was that?!"

    "A human, my queen."

    "Idiot! Tell me something I don't know."

    "I have no answer my queen, merely a guess." A pause. "I believe that he is a warrior of his kind. There were such people before who also possessed similar abilities."

    "All books and scrolls with such knowledge was collected and is in our possession."

    "What one man has created, another may create again. The form used was primitive at best when compared to the fighters which you destroyed."

    "Is he a threat?"

    "No. The Youma was the weakest I could find. It was a way to 'test the waters' if you will."

    "Energy is not to be wasted, but you have done well this time. What else did you learn?"

    "Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter have returned."

    A sharp intake of breath. "And the others?"

    "None appeared."

    "All is well then. But a small threat may become large, do not foddle with precious energy anymore."

    "Yes, my queen."



    Dawn awoke the two in a tangled mess of limbs. Between the ever volatile sleeping habits of Akane and those of innate dodging and blocking of her bedmate, the two were well caught in a web of blankets, sheets, and each other. Some merriment was found in such a situation as that it grabbed the slow thinking ability of the waking mind, filling it with laughter and mirth. Remembered carnage only seeped in as the questioning of how they came to be in their current situation took place.

    That brief moment of light-heartedness would be the only for the day it seemed. The rest of the Tendo family and Ranma's father had all heard first hand from the belated hero exactly what took place a mere sixteen hours ago. Breakfast was a somber affair, even the ever smiling Kasumi found herself sighing at the death of the bright and happy Shampoo. Alas, not the entire family felt that way. For both Nabiki and Soun it was a sadness over the sadness it had caused Akane. This is not to imply they were inhuman or without feeling, but rather that she was at best an acquaintance to them. Adding to situation, Kasumi, Soun, and Nabiki had all experienced a much more personal death before. Shampoo's death was a gentle grief compared to that loss.

    Unfortunately, or perhaps not, Akane was too young to clearly remember the events at that time, and so this was her first true encounter with life's end. She was a creature of emotions, quick and flighty at all times but with a continuing undercurrent that remained true. Thus, the loss of this person whom she had known affected her in a small way in sorrow over the loss of that person but moreso in the manner of which she had been removed. Pain. Blood. Destruction. These themes ran foremost in her mind that day, to be exorcised by the nurturing of family members and dedicated attention from her fiancee.

    At the end of the meal, which came sooner then was the mean as that nobody could stomach it, Ranma left to fulfill a promise to one of his remaining friends.


    Ucchan's held a similar tone as the Tendo household had. Serving its morning customers with a gloomy atmosphere punctuated by offers of condolences from those who knew Ukyo and the girl had been friends, and the mumbles of gossip mongers. The doors opened, admitting the town's focal point. As if a plug had been pulled, the people paid their dues and drained out of the restaurant. None offered a word to the boy, only glances of pity or condemnation. He was the invincible hero, the white knight. He was always on time, never would such an injustice take place while he was around. Reputation builds as a shell does, oft times by built from the outside to encase the object of that reputation. Woe be to the man who dares to allow its ruin.

    If any of this was noticed by the owner, she failed to remark upon it. "I want to see it again."



    The ex-restaurant looked far worse in the daylight then it had in the night. A burning hole went through the door and out the back wall, as if a firebrand had been thrust through its guts. Sacrilegious dawn smiled its yellow rays upon the scene, bringing every detail into hideous focus. Not content until the nightmare was held in this clarity, Ukyo crept through the entrance wound with a strong arm supportingly about her waist.

    The unexpected can be so harsh.

    Within the scorched cadaver lay not the bare floorboards where the Amazon had breathed her last, but she herself. Broken and battered, blood dried and matted where it lay. With a sharp gasp the twice wounded woman turned into His arms once more. Once she may have been stronger, once pride may have kept her from such an action. Once she had been pure, untouched by the tainted caress of anguish and the warmth of madness.

    Upon further observation, were either one of the teens able to look away from the other, another figure would be noticed. A figure which held its own private vigil over the broken girl's body. Looking up with tired eyes, the matriarch spoke.

    "I was beginning to wonder when you would arrive." Startled glances from both. "Ranma Saotome, the husband who's heart Shampoo never snared, though not for a lack of trying. I thank you for stopping this before it went further. You probably don't know the full extent of what happened the night before, nor do I feel inclined to tell you all. Just know this, it was not of her own free will Cologne did this to her Grand-daughter. Such things are rare, but it seems evil forces have their fair share of power here in Japan. Were you not to stop her at this point, I can only imagine the carnage that may have ensued. I would not have arrived before this morning and if it were a true demon in possession of her body, the price of her death would have been much higher then a single child." The little woman's shoulders slumped. Reaching in the sleeve of her robe she withdrew a small necklace. "Keep this with you, Ranma Saotome. May it remind you of your failure, and why you must always strive to attain perfection in the art. I know of your exploits and fear that the worst is yet to come. Be good to your chosen wife and protect her. For it appears in Japan, males have strength which the foolish females fail to raise themselves to."

    Ranma caught the thrown necklace easily. Curious at the bristle-like feeling he looked down at it. A blood-soaked lock of Shampoo's hair tied onto a bit of twine. He swallowed. "I will."

    The matriarch sighed and nodded. "Go now. The Amazons will take care of their own."

    Ukyo began to retreat immediatly. Instead of calming her and allowing her to come to terms with the death of her energetic friend, the trip had brought back the confusion and denial of the past night.

      Ranma slipped the necklace over his head. "I'm sorry." He left, supporting Ukyo's shaking form.

    After seeing Ukyo safetly back home Ranma returned to his own. The rest of the day passed without incidence and by the end of it Akane was feeling considerably better. Not quite normal, but better. The entire household seemed to brighten at the fact, making dinner a more lively occasion than breakfast. Perhaps tomorrow would be a better day.


    Dreams. Echoes of the subconscious, conveyor of the future, pleasent pass-time. Regardless of personal opinion, dreams effect others like little else can. They come at the time when one is most vunerable, most open to attack. Seeping into the slumber's mind and telling its tale with forceful sequences and half remembered thoughts. A left-over from night which effects the day. Yet, perhaps saying day is inacurate. For there are dreams of such force that they wake the beholder from even the most comatose state, be it starlit night or sun filled day.


    "Do you love me Ranma?" Short skirt flikered lightly in the wind temptingly, making his blood race.

    "Yes."  He answered quickly, easily. None of his usual hesitation or awkwardness.

    A strawberry blush traced across her face, emphasing her naive charm. She gently brushed a hand across her face in an embaresed manner. The long white gloves she wore caught his eye. "For how long?"

    "Ever since that first day in the dojo. I was hurt by your refusual though, and scared you would reject me. I don't think I could have lived if you had." Feelings that he couldn't possibly explain or speak vocalized without effor.

    The smile was warm and loving, her lips, unmarred by makeup, pressing together lightly with abstract promises. She coyly put her hands behind her back and turned her side to him. "Why didn't you say so earlier?" She rested her chin on the white fabric covering her shoulder, watching his face.

    "I couldn't. I just couldn't risk it. I spent two years loving you until I thought you had died. Only when I thought I had lost you did the words come." Ranma didn't possess the gift of communication, such easy speaking about his heart could not have been possible.

    Akane giggled, facing him once more. Not truly noticed until now the pseudo-uniform caught his eye. He had seen it before. While not an appropriate feeling outside, inside the dream he allowed himself to truly appreciate the candor in which it revealed his fiance's body. With smooth, graceful steps she closed the distance between them.

    "And if I left you?" Her breath was warm on his skin, producing feelings at odds with the dread he felt at her question.

    "I'd die."

    "Why?" She pressed her body against his, whispering into his ear.

    "Because I trust you." His breathing was turning heavy and he put his arms around her, pulling her close to him. He pressed a kiss against her neck, experienced in such things through the dream.

    Akane turned her head up, exposing her neck to him in a sensual manner. At the same time she reached up with her left hand and placed it about his neck to pull him closer. "I'm glad you feel that way, Ranma." She trailed her hands to his chest and gently pushed herself away from him. She reached up to the ribbion, twineing a finger in one of its ends. "It makes me happy." She pulled the ribbion taut and slowly it began to unknot. "However," With a final tug the ribbion was undone. As if magic, the school-girl uniform seemed to melt off of her body, lying in a heap about her feet. "I'm afraid that I love somebody else." An arm vieled in darkness crossed against her chest and another about her stomach, pulling her tightly against a shadowy figure behind her. With a final smile to Ranma she turned her head upwards and the unseeable man pressed his lips to hers in a lover's kiss.


    The open window allowed the moon to breathe its gentle light onto the now awake boy. His wide open eyes gleamed in the intangible silver, almost feline in nature. His breathing was slow and measured, a normal action now present through force of will alone. He rose calmly and left the room, skin tingling lightly as that the t-shirt and boxers offered little in the way of warmth. His steps were sure, resolved. Quickly, but not to the point of braking an even pace, he made his way to his fiancee's room.

    The blinds on Akane's window were open, allowing the faint yellow streetlight to gently illuminate the room. It was a sharp contrast to the cold moonlight that he had awoke in. This, for some reason, made him feel a little lonely. Akane was in one of her calmer states, curled up into a ball and sleeping blissfully. Seeing her made Ranma falter for a moment, shrugging it off he continued on. He had to do this quickly, before he fully woke up. Before he decided how stupid it was, how she would laugh, how she would betray him.

    He sat down on the bed, his weight making it bend slightly towards him. "Akane." He said gently, he shook her shoulder lightly. A groan of complaint was soon followed by a weary eye opening.

    "Ranma?" Her voice was whispery, mind still clouded by whatever dream had been interupted.

    "I-I love you Akane."

    She smiled dreamily, still not quite awake. "I know th-"

    "But I'm afraid you're going to leave me."

    Waking up was no longer a problem. "What? I'd never-"

    He interupted her again, his words coming out quickly, nearly incomprehensible. "I couldn't.. I was so lonely Akane. All those years, so alone. I had the art, and that helped but there was nobody but Pop, nobody else. Ucchan was there, but then we had to go and that hurt even more then before. I.. I love you Akane. I'm afraid though, I don't want to hurt anymore and if you leave-"

    Akane wrapped her arms around him. Her eyes were lightly covered with tears. "I wouldn't do that Ranma, I love you too."

    He hugged her back tightly. "Promise me." He whispered pleadingly in her ear. "Promise you won't ever leave me, that you won't betray me. That I won't be alone again."

    Akane was shocked at the intensity in his voice. He was opening up to her, completely at her mercy. "I... I promise." She kissed his lips lightly, shyly. "I promise." She repeated firmly.

    Already Ranma felt the creeping fears of non-sleep clouded thought edging about his mind, causing him to pause, to reconsider. But it was too late, it was done. And she had promised.

    Akane gently broke away from him with a smile on her lips. "Let's go to sleep"

    Ranma nodded and the two curled up underneath the covers, soon reaching the intended state.


    Kasumi carefully wiped away her joy caused tears and tip-toed back to her own room, now fully assured that Ranma and Akane were perfect for each other.



    The morning came, finding the two lovers in bed. Note, dear reader, that this is not to say they had sex, but rather the purer meaning of the term lovers, as in two who are in love. Akane awoke first but made no attempt to rouse herself, instead taking the time to think about the night before. Ranma had opened up, had spoken his feelings. To her. Nobody else, just her. It gave her a warm and fuzzy feeling, which she then shared by snuggling tight against Ranma and daydreaming thoughts of weddings and children.

    Ranma stirred awake not too soon after, needing a moment to recall how he had ended up in Akane's bed. As his thoughts returned and the sunlight cleared his head so returned the embarresment and uncertainty he had raced against in the sickly warm light of the street-lamp.

    "Good morning." Akane had placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned over him, smiling her special little smile.

    Ranma warily smiled back. "A-akane.. about last night.. I.. I..." He what? He was sorry? No, he wasn't. He was glad he had said it? Well, yes he was. She hadn't turned away from him or laughed. "Thank you." He finally said, averting his eyes from her inquisitive look.

    "Your welcome." She pressed against him again, obviously wishing a similar gesture in return.

    Hesitatingly, Ranma put his arms around Akane and pulled her tightly against him. He was still unused to showing affection. They talked about little nothings for a while, weather, school, but eventually found themselves mentioning Shampoo. At which point Ranma tensed. "Ukyo!" He stood quickly, nearly flinging Akane away.

    "What about her?" Akane asked, hurt. All this intense talk about her not betraying him, and now he wants to go see another woman?

    "I have to go see her! I'm already late. When Shampoo died it hurt her a lot-"

    "And it didn't hurt me?" She said in a slightly angered tone. Instinct is to make others feel bad in order for oneself to feel better or gain attention. One of the more base tendencies of mankind.

    "No, I mean yes." He ran a hand through his hair and turned pleading eyes to her. "I'm worried Akane. Ucchan's not herself lately, she's changed. I'm worried about her."

    The concern in his eyes made her feel guilty. He was just worried about his friend and here she was getting je-, yes jealous. She could admit it now. Pushing away the feeling, and some of her pride in the process, she apologized. "Of course, I'm sorry I should have trusted you."

    Ranma visibly brightened at the words. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

    Akane watched him leave the room and sat down heavily on the bed. She trusted Ranma, really she did! It was just he could be such a... a.. "Ranma you pervert!" She punched her pillow. "Ah, much better." She sighed contentedly and lay down on the bed again. She would get up in a bit.

    "Is he gone?" Came a quiet voice from the closet.

    Akane blinked several times. She knew that voice. "Luna?" Crossing the sun-warmed floor she opened the closet door and the black cat slid out.

    "Finally!" The cat twitched her nose. "You have no idea how long it took me get into here! I swear your sister has a sixth sense. I'd be sneaking into your home and there she was! 'Sorry Mr.Kitty, you can't be here.' 'Kitty, you don't listen very well.' 'You really must leave Mr.Kitty.'" Luna's voice did a poor imatation of Kasumi. "Confounded woman." The cat snarled lightly. "I lost my temper and yelled at her, next thing I know she slaps a Shinto ward on my forehead and I wake up in an allyway."

    Akane paused, not quite understanding the irratated cat's rapid fire speaking for a moment. "Kausmi did that?"

    "The tall one, yes I belive Kasumi is her name." The cat sniffed indignantly and leapt onto the bed. "But enough of that, there is still much we must talk about."


    Konatsu bowed politely to Ranma. "She's upstairs sleeping. Please tell her I will run the restaurant until she feels better." He smiled. "And I won't even give money away."


    Ranma grinned, remembering the incident, and went upstairs. She was awake when he entered. "I knew you were here." Ukyo smiled a little. She was wearing a large shirt which worked well for the top but barely kept her decent from the waist down. This was not an attempt to snare Ranma, it was normal night-time clothing for her. She also knew that Ranma wouldn't notice.

    "Feeling any better?" Ranma moved close, unabashed. For somebody who had been so surrounded by women he was still amazingly naive. As such, he only truly 'noticed things' when an overly obvious show of affection was displayed. Subtle come-ons or actions which could be misinterpeted rolled off of him like water.

    She sighed heavily and looked away, trailing a hand across her purple comforter. "I'm dealing with it better. But feeling..." She broke off and looked back at Ranma, tears in her eyes. "I really miss her."

    Deciding he had seen far to many tears within the past couple days Ranma reached out a hand to wipe them away, then froze slightly as Ukyo suddenly lunged and hugged herself tightly against him. Neither spoke, then Ukyo stiffened and released him.

    "I'm sorry." The brown haired chef turned her back to him.

    "It's alright Ucchan, I know you didn't mean.. well you know." Ranma tugged at his braid uncomfortably. "Konatsu said he'd take care of the resturant."

    Ukyo made no response. She wrapped her arms around herself and stared into the wall in a way reminiscent of a day-dreamer.

    "He promised not to give away any money this time." Ranma forced a laugh which came out far louder then he'd intended, grating against the silence-bound room.

    Ukyo made no immediate reaction, but then turned around and faced him again with a bright smile. "Well, Akane's probably waiting for you isn't she?"

    "Yeah, she is bu-"

    "Don't worry about me Ranma, I'll be fine. Now you had better head back before she starts getting ideas about what might be taking you so long." Her false happiness was a veritable aura of surrender and depression, but so masked it escaped the notice of the only one who could stop it.

    "Aw Ucchan, she wouldn't-"

    "Now you and I both know what Akane is like, really don't worry I'll be fine." Her words came quickly, allowing him no chance to interupt. She shooed him towards the door. "In fact, I'll probably head down and help Konatsu as soon as I get changed."

    "Really? Well if you're sur-"

    "Of course I am, but I can't very well change if you keep standing there can I." Her smile faded slightly but quickly returned. "Now go on. You don't have to worry about me anymore."

    "Okay." Ranma returned Ukyo's beaming smile, happy she was feeling better. "I'll drop by tomorrow!" Waving he left the room. Gullible Ranma had unknowingly fallen for an act which his friend had secretly prayed he would see through. But to wish for one thing and act in avoidance to it rarely results in anything besides failure.

    The door closed and with it the fakely smile dropped from Ukyo's face and her shoulders slumped. Akane favored a light perfume that smelled faintly of daisies. It fit Ranma surprisingly well.



    "Youma." Akane repeated the word. So that was what killed Shampoo. "Does Ukyo know yet?"

    Luna's tail stopped flipping back and forth. "I assumed she did, but come to think of it she probably hasn't given it sufficent thought to realize."

    "Why did you come to me first?"

    "You are Sailor Moon."

    "So?"

    "You are the leader."

    Akane paused, hesitation at this revelation of even more responsiblity. "When the others attack, how will we find them?"

    Luna smiled, as much as a cat can, at Akane's response. "Normally there is another scout who's specialty is tracking down the dark energy used to transport and sustain the Youma, however until she is found we will have to rely on your senses. They worked once, let's hope they work again." Luna didn't recall anybody but Queen Serenity who had that particular ability, not that she was complaining. It was strange though, wasn't there a connection between Sailor Moon and the Queen? She strained to recall, but as usual her scattered memory revealed little to nothing.

    "Ranma could probably do it better then me."

    "Eh..." The cat hesitated. "That was another thing I wished to discuss with you. He already knows your identity which can't be helped, but I'm not sure that it's wise to involve him further."

    Akane laughed, standing and beginning to change. "It's not like he's going to tell anybody."

    "He may not have a choice."

    She paused, red shirt halfway on. "What do you mean?"

    "The enemy is very strong and has varied abilities. Even, perhaps, a form of telepathy. As Sailor Moon you are protected from these, but a normal human wouldn't stand a chance."

    "But.." Akane huffed a bit and sat down on her bed, dressed in jean coriroys and the aforementioned red shirt. "Ranma isn't normal you know."

    "That's true, but without very strong magic, and he only had trace amounts, it would be unlikely to impossible for any resistance to even the lesser attacks of the Youma." She had realized that this 'Ranma' was definitly not normal. Thinking back on the battle, Luna had noticed something familiar about the way Ranma had fought. The projectile in particular. However she could not place it any more then she could the connection between Sailor Moon and Queen Serenity.


    An overview of the next several days is required as that they pass, for the large part, without incident nor anything that is truly relevant to our tale. Ukyo slowly drew herself out of grief's mire with no small amount of help from her beloved and Konatsu, who in some ways helped to fill the void Shampoo had left. Ranma's visits, which soon took place after school as that the morning was no longer plausible, became merriment filled thanks to the pseudo-mask of happiness worn when he was about. Strangly, this falsity may have been more benefical in restoring the sorrow-bound chef than the honesty of depression.

    While Ranma spent those few hours away Akane trained. Under the expert direction of the midnight-colored feline she learned, and soon mastered, combatative magic attacks which put her power far over any level she had ever dreamt of. She never spoke of it to Ranma.


    Discarding this general view of things, we must begin to once more pay close attention. It was one of those normal days with a slight twist which would begin the unraveling. The pig-tailed hero was returning from visiting Ukyo slightly earlier then usual and decided to enter the dojo and watch Akane practice. His face had a smile of contentment on it, as if all was right with the world. And indeed, it may have been for him. His normally choatic life was peaceful and orderly, he had a fiancee he loved, his closest friend was happy, and he had even managed to avoid cold water for several days. As if to reinforce this line of thinking the sky had chosen its sapphire gown, unadorned by distracting pearls which might block its single adornment of a golden amulet. But, to invert a tried and tested truth, once things were this good they could only get worse.

    With a casual manner born of familiarity Ranma walked to the doors of the dojo, easily sliding them open with hardly a touch. The framilar scents of wood, incense, and the faint smell of sweat assallied him. He was ready to call out a greeting when something alien to this haven struck his eye and called a dream from the recesses of memory. "A-Akane.."

     She turned smoothly to look at the intruder. Her feet were bare, as was proper for the location, as were her legs, leading up into the short blue skirt hugged about her hips. Her gloved arms crossed in a smooth motion, fingers looking long and graceful in the white fabric. Her graceful demeanor dropped once she caught sight of him. "Ranma." Blushing, she covered herself with her arms as if she were naked.

    "Wha..?" Mouth dry, Ranma swallowed. "What's going on?"

    Face still a cherry red color, the words came haltingly from Akane. "Well you see I have," She paused, then shrugged her shoulders, "magic."

    Ranma blinked. "What?" Slowly the dread was receding, allowing further thought on his fiancee's attire, strange as it was alluring. Perhaps that was another feeling left from the nearly forgotten dream.

    She tugged at her skirt uncomfortably, suddenly feeling akward and helpless in it. A sharp contrast from the gouts of power flowing through her moments ago. "Can we go inside and talk?" Her face had a pleading look to it.

    The martial artist nodded slowly, still looking confused.


    "..So now I have these powers." Akane finished her long winded story. She had told him everything that had happened, while omitting one detail. Ukyo. The reasoning behind this was that she felt it was something Ukyo would wish to do for herself, which was true to an extent, or rather untrue, that would have shocked Akane.

    Ranma's face had now darkened and was looking very serious. "Uh-uh. No way."

    "It's true! I can-"

    "That's not what I mean. You ain't fighting anything strong enough to kill Shampoo, not while I'm around."

    Akane's jaw set. Angry position one-oh-nine. "You can't stop me. I'm a martial artist too. Besides, I'm the only one that can find them."

    "Fine, you lead me to them I'll fight them." Being long used to confronting each other in such situations, a familiar pattern developed.

    "You're such a sexist pig! Honestly Ranma, just because I'm a girl you don't think I can take care of myself."

    "Toma."

    Akane's eye twiched slightly. "I'm stronger then I was then, I told you I have magic."

    "Kirin."

    "Ranma..." She growled out.

    "Saffron." His voice was a whisper, no anger in it.

    Akane swallowed and looked down at her hands. "Ranma, this is something I have to do. I can do it too. I can fight for myself. You'll see, you don't need to protect me."

    Ranma drew in a deep breath. "I'm not going to let you die Akane. If I have to, I'll follow you everywhere you go. Watch everything you do. I will fight to the death before I let something hurt you. It's my duty."

    Part of Akane wanted to be grateful, to grab hold of him and let him protect her like he wanted to. The other, and larger, part was royally pissed. "And it's my duty to fight these things!"

    They both glared at each other.

    "Fine! See if I care!" Ranma yelled, stomping off.

    Akane sniffed haughtly and stomped away herself.

    Kasumi, drawn by the yelling, entered the room and sighed. "Those two..."


    Dinner was less then civil between the two, made worse by the badgering of parents who changed the "forgive and forget" lecture to the "forgive and go get married" lecture. Both Akane and Ranma knew the other wasn't intensly angry, but they also thought they were right. This in mind each went to bed after dinner sure the other would see the logic of his or her argument come morning.

    And it worked, in an odd way. As they had in times passed each glared at one another for a short while, then ceased. A peace drawn between them with absolutly nothing resolved. Each would do their own thing, to hell what the other thought. Relationships are strange things.


    But now, we have lost sight of the endearing chef for some time. In this time she has come to a realization. Shampoo was dead. With this realization came another. She had very few reasons to live. This does not mean she was considering ending her life, that path had been attempted and discarded before, but that she was able to truly come to terms with herself and what she lived for. Assured of her place in life she began to live again, happier then she had been in quite some time. Her cooking once again rose to its level of mastery, her smile was cheery and bright, she was once again young "Ucchan" doing what she wished and loving it.

    Sadness and anger still held a strong place in her heart but these were rare to appear, and only did so because she allowed them to. And above all else, she still desired Ranma's love. Not the love of a friend, which she already had, but the love of a mate. She wanted everything he had to offer. His overprotective ways, naive nature, machoistic attitude, all of it would be welcomed by her. True, he now seemed a bit childish at times but that was easily forgiven. She had been the same not too long ago.

    She would not try and steal him from Akane. It would never work. Instead she would wait. Patiently, and for as long as it took. She would continue to be his best friend, be there to help him with what she could but the if the day came when Akane betrayed him she would be there. At the same time, she prayed it never did.

    Ukyo glanced at the clock. School was nearly out, which meant Ranma would be coming soon. With a small smile she began to prepare one of her specialty dishes.


    The sky was cloudy, a would be moon-lit world dark to the point of blackness save small specks where starlight pierced through the cloud covering. Ranma was thankful for this. Ever since the dream the moon was threatening, mocking. It made him feel impure. So in this oddly dark night Ranma sat comfortably leaning against his fiancee. The two were out on the front porch, holding hands. The chill failed to bother either of them noticibly as that they were pressed shoulder to shoulder, sharing warmth. Before them lay the pond, a black mirror which rippled and stirred with the wind in an enchanting way.

    "Ranma." Akane turned her head to him.

    "Yeah?"

    "I love you."

    Ranma smiled at her, still a little unerved by the words. "I.." He took a quick, shallow breath then tried it again. "I love you too."

    Akane smiled and leaned her head against him. A gentle breeze sent the world stirring slightly. In the darkness nothing held depth. The trees were not trees, but shadows which were projected onto an invisible screen. The wall and houses were not these, but rather geometric figures upon the screen. The world was a living painting that served only the purpose of entertaining the lovers' minds.

    "It's such a dark night."

    Ranma smiled, he had been thinking the same thing. "Yeah, it's nice."

    "You think? I like it more when the moonlight is out."

    "Nah, it's better like this. More.. peaceful." Ranma struggled to get out his thoughts. "It's like we're all alone, but still part of everything." He held out a shadow covered hand, its blackness matching the world's.

    Behind Akane, the door slid open. Light poured from the opening, washing Akane free of the darkness and creating a partition of opposites between her and her loved one.

    "You two should come in soon. It's getting late." Kasumi's kind voice called from the doorway.

    "We'll be in soon sis." Akane smiled at her sister, eyes pleading for a little more time.

    Smiling, Kasumi nodded and left. Leaving the door open.

    "How's your training going?" Ranma broke the silence with the only topic that came to mind.

    Akane smiled at the question. "Great! Luna says I picked everything up much faster then she expected." Ranma shuddered at the cat's name.

    "You gotta show me those techniques sometime."

    "I told you, they're magic not techniques!" She stuck her tounge out at him. "Baka."

    Ranma grunted. "Anything you can learn, I can."

    Akane's only response was a smile. She could do something he couldn't and it was driving him crazy. Finally, she had caught up.

    There was another moment of silence before Ranma spoke. "Do you belive all that stuff about you being a reincarnation of somebody from who knows how long ago?"

    She looked down at her feet and shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know. Everything else Luna told me was true. The magic sure isn't any trick, but.. I just don't know." A look passed across her face quickly, too fast to be sure of what it meant. "Does it matter?"

    "Matter?"

    "I mean, does it change what you think of me?" Akane's head was bowed slightly and she looked at him from underneath her bangs.

    Ranma laughed. "I turn into a girl, I'm used to weird things."

    "So I'm wierd?" Akane's voice was playfully angry.

    "No! I mean-" Being his normal self, Ranma missed the tone in her voice and only understood when she began laughing.

    "Good night Ranma." Akane brought her face close to his for a kiss, then paused at the shadowed face and pecked him on the cheek instead of her original target. She stood and walked inside, feeling strangely scared. About what, she could not have said.

    Ranma rubbed his cheek with one hand, a smile on his face. He beheld the shadowed world with eyes of the same for a moment more, then entered the light filled house.


    The night was passed quietly but filled with actions both sinister and pure. A monster stalked the street in a human guise lovely and seductive, part of a plan to further a certain queen's goals. Much less extravagant and much slower than the first plan, yet infinitly more effective. This time, the possessed human was not a store-owner, nor any type of person who saw vast amounts of people every day. She was however very beautiful, a nessesity of her proffesion, and dressed just right to attract the desired attention.

    Before delving further into the situation, it would be wise to further consider this demon in disguise. It was a very special kind of Youma. Incredibly intelligent, nearly genius level intelligence according to human standards. This lead to very quick advancement among her queen's minions until it was the most valued of all the low level demon-spawn, which although didn't mean much was still noteworthy. She, as it had developed an affinity towards having a gender, had developed this rather tame sounding scheme herself and proposed it to Jadite, who in turn went with it to the Queen. At first, things had progressed slowly. The first night she spent hours gaining only one or two victims. Painstakingly she learned the ways to entice a man, to persuade him towards her with a glance or a 'careless' gesture. At first she had drawn them, or allowed them to draw her, into allyways where she would drain them dry of energy and left them slumped on the ground. The problem was the energy gained by this was still far less then the cost to send her from her dimension to earth day after day.

    That had been nearly two weeks ago. Things had been smoothed over since then, and she led what could almost be considered a normal human life. She was well known to her co-workers on the streets of Love Hotels, even friends with some of them. She owned an apartment nearby the hotels which she occasionally brought a rich patron to, and thus was able to form a steady, and surpisingly high, income. No longer did she roam back and forth between dimensions, but lived with the humans. This meant her energy output more than tripled as that the sending cost no longer had to be payed. She had also managed to make herself a 'local' and developed a rather risque` reputation of tiring her patrons out with looks alone. Which was quite close to the truth. Her methods of energy gathering had changed along with her lifestyle. Now she only gathered bits and of energy from people, things viewed as simple teasing touches were actually ways which she siphoned small amounts of energy. Her, now infamous, kiss would draw a third of the person's energy very quickly, between the rush caused by the energy drain and her now experienced kiss she left the victim with a woozy but very pleased smile on his face and left her friends roaring with laughter at the dazed expression.

    Tonight was such a night for her. The moon shone down on her harshly, lighting up her apparel with a cold silver tint. She wore a long red silk dress that fit tightly against her body, making her well-endowed figure even more desirable. The bottom of the dress had slits along either side, revealing her long legs with every step. Around her neck was a black fur trim that went well with her painstakingly fixed blond hair which trailed sensually down to the middle of her back. She and two other women were talking about the latest fashions and strange happenings with clients, which was the status quo for slow nights.

    "Here comes another one." One of the women nodded her head towards a young looking man in jeans and a t-shirt walking their way.

    "Heh, can't possibly be over 16." A black haired woman sighed. "So many immoral youth these days." A round of laughter at the comment.

    "Hey ladies." The youth said, deepening his voice in a useless attempt to make himself appear older. He swaggered closer and squared his shoulders.

    "Isn't past your bed-time, boy?" A women with short blonde hair and black lace gloves pinched his cheek condecendingly. Her name was Ginger, not her given name but nobody used those.

    "I'm a man!" He flushed with anger. "Look! I have the money, that means you have to do what I say." He pulled out a wad of bills and waved them about as if they were all the power in the world.

    "Oh my, quite the temper." The pseudo-human smiled.

    "Do it Scarlet!" Ginger tugged on the possessed human's arm askingly.

    "I don't know, wouldn't want to knock the poor boy out." Scarlet looked at the boy apprasingly. Young men had a fair amount of energy, it would be worth the effort.

    "Come on, you know you want to. Not a night goes by without you making some guy light-headed, it might as well be him." The dark haired women, who went by Lily, smiled. "I'll never get tired of that."

    Scarlet gave a little sigh. "Very well." Without warning she took hold of the boy's face and pressed her lips to his for a few long seconds. Then she withdrew, taking the money from his hands in the process. "I can keep this right?" She asked him sweetly.

    They boy blinked, stumbled back a step, then nodded. A sappy grin appeared on his face and he stumbled away, not hearing the scornful laughter of the women.

    "Boys are so fragile these days." Scarlet smiled and tucked the money down the front of her dress.

    "Foul demoness, I have found you and your sinful actions which steal the life energy of poor lost souls shall end tonight!" The voice rang out loud and stern along the empty street.

    "Who?" Scarlet looked up, along with the other women, to where the voice had come from in time to see a man in a tuxedo leap down from the roof of a love hotel right in front of them. Without warning the man threw a rose, stem first, at her. She screamed in pain as it pierced her sholder, knocking her to the ground.

    "Scarlet!" Both her friends crowded around her, willing to try and protect her from the obviously insane attacker.. "Somebody help!" Ginger screamed.

    The man wore a white mask, however it didn't hide his now confused eyes. "Please ladies, you do not know what she truly is. She's a monster! She must be killed!"

    Scarlet knew who this was, and also knew she was probably strong enough to kill him. But not without breaking her cover. So instead she tried another stratagy. "I'm not a monster! Just because I.. I do what I do doesn't make me one. I'm just trying to make a living! What right do you have to say what I do is wrong? To hurt me?" Clutching at her wounded shoulder she sobbed into Lily's arm, appearing for all the world like an innocent women. The rose still stuck from her shoulder in an obscene manner.

    The masked man snarled. "Filthy wretch! How dare you defend yourself with the lives of innocents!" He stepped foreward menacingly.

    "Hold it right there mister." A hotel owner had made his way to the street by this time, along with some people hired for situations like this. The owner wielded a aluminum baseball bat. "We don't tolerate people like you around here."

    Lily remained holding Scarlet in a motherly, protective manner. "Akira, be careful. This guy isn't normal."

    The leader nodded. "Somebody call an ambulance." He paused for a moment, then thought of something clever. "And a priest for this guy's final rites." The four men fanned out around the overly dressed attacker.

    "Please, I don't want to hurt you-"

    "Just women huh? Damn sickos." A shirtless man covered in tattoos growled and inched closer, bone breaking on mind.

    "No!" The man swore in frustration. "You are all being decieved! She is a monster, she is evil!"

    "You're the only monster around here buddy!" Akira shouted, signalling the attack.

    "Please!" The masked man dodged and weaved, avoiding the blows without much of an effort. "I don't wish to hurt you!" The baseball bat connected with his left shoulder, lightly brusing it. "Damn it! I warned you!" He easily landed an uppercut on the leader, sending him flying backwards and crashing against the wall.

    "Bastard!" Tattoo Man attacked again, attempting to get him in a headlock. With an almost negligent manner Tuxedo avoided the clutching hands and punched him firmly in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. The wail of an ambulance carried across the air and with a final curse Tuxedo fled the scene. The men that remained standing went to chase after him, but ceased as soon as he was out of sight.


    Not so far away Akane peered from her window into the moonlight sky, wondering what had so disturbed her rest.



    The crisp ringing of a bell announced the arrival of more customers into the Ucchan. Ukyo paused in her work, expecting a certain someone, and glanced up at the door. "Hi Ran-" The bright loving smile faded, replaced with a hurt look which also passed, leaving what could pass for a smile if it weren't for her now shadowed eyes. "Hi Ranchan."

    "Hi Ucchan, Akane wanted to come today." He shrugged his shoulders in a partial apology. He valued the time he could spend with his friend without worrying about offending Akane. It was one of the rare situations where Akane was the intruder.

    For her part, Akane failed to notice the obvious discomfort she caused. Her behavior through the day had been unfocused, as if she hadn't been paying attention to anything. Which if one delved into her mind they would find true. After waking up the previous night she hadn't gotten back to sleep. To complicate matters further she also couldn't forget the feeling that had woken her up during the night, an urgency crossed with something she couldn't quite place. "I need to talk to Ukyo alone for a sec, okay?" Not waiting for Ranma's mystified nod she almost dragged the chef upstairs.

    "Konatsu, make Ranchan his usual. I'll be back in a minute." She called over her shoulder moments before losing sight of him behind the pristine wooden walls of her home and workplace. Ukyo thought swiftly, drawing up two reasons as to why her rival turned ally would wish to speak to her. Neither of which did she find agreeable. With the realization of one of these reasons, panic gripped her. "You didn't tell him!" She shoved Akane against the wall, what would have been a much harsher action if she were stronger.

    "What?" Surpise etched itself on Akane's face, a reaction to the intense denial on Ukyo's.

    "You haven't told Ranma about me, have you?"

    Realization dawned and Akane shook her head. "No, I thought you would want to."

    "Good." Ukyo released Akane and drew in a deep breath, which shook unhealthily in her lungs. "Good."

    "I won't say anything until you do." This said mollifyingly.

    "You promise?"

    "Yes."

    "Promise?" This repeated insistantly.

    "Yes!"

    "Say it." Ukyo's gaze was firm on Akane.

    "I promise." Akane blew her bangs out her eyes, already frustated at not having gotten about the reason she came.

    "That's three times you promised. Remember that." The ferocity and determination in Ukyo dimmed, leaving Akane her opening.

    "Did you feel something last night?" The short-haired girl nearly sighed at Ukyo's blank face. "It was... I don't know, a call. Something that said 'come quickly, danger'?"

    The cook shook her head. "You're the one who's getting all the training, you would know better then me."

    "How did you know? Did Luna-"

    "No, I haven't seen.. the cat," the words fairly hissed from her mouth, "since- Since Shampoo's death."

    "Then how'd you-"

    "Does it really matter?!" She coughed after the outburst, raising a pale hand to her mouth. After the fit had subsided she looked back to her destined leader. It was all the cat had spoken of. Finding Sailor Moon, making her remember. Only Sailor Moon could defeat the Queen, only Sailor Moon could truly destroy the evil. She didn't care though. Akane could have the glory, defeat the evil. All Ukyo wanted was to be left alone with the one person in this world she still truly cared for. It would be enough.

    "No, it doesn't matter. I was just curious." With childish hurt Akane turned away from Ukyo and headed back downstairs.



    "I'm glad you came again today Ranma-sama, even if you did bring Akane-san along." Konatsu sat himself across from Ranma, careful not to touch the countertop grill.

    "Wassat?" Ranma looked up from his meal, the statement drawing him from his thoughts.

    "Ukyo-sama gets lonley quickly now days. She's not as bad as," His feminine face turned a shade paler, "as before, but she's still so alone."

    Ranma made no response, finishing the food in his mouth.

    "She only brightens when you are around." A wistful smile appeared on the ninja. "As much as I wish I could bring her that happiness, you are the only one."

    Ranma looked helplessly at him. "I don't know what to do, I didn't ask anybody to fall in love with me. I wish I could be there for her but... You're a man, you gotta know what I mean."

    While Konatsu had no idea what it felt like to have so many girls in love with him. He nodded his head anyway. "You can only do your best. She doesn't ask anything more of you." He smiled again. "She never asks more of anybody."

    Intangible, unseen mist screamed in the minds of both martial artists. Ranma was on his feet and headed out the door, followed by Konatsu.

    "it's a demon." The ninja leapt to the top of a building, scouting.

    "I know, I feel it." Ranma's own eyes swept the streets around him, years of training his mind and body coming smoothly to work as a radar. "Somewhere that way." He pointed into he horizion.

    "I-it's very strong." Konatsu swallowed. Having more spiritual training than Ranma he was able to compare relative strengths. Konatsu knew he would be dead before he threw a punch.

    "I'm going after it. If Akane shows up, try to slow her down. She'll just hurt herself if she gets into it." After seeing Konatsu's nod of agreement Ranma took to the roofs with one thought in mind. Vengence.


    The ice-cream parlor was the most frequented in the area. its prices were always low and the best flavors were always in stock. Customers went in and out all day, particularly after school when a girl managed to drag her boyfriend over and force him into buying one of their more expensive parfaits. Today it was even busier then usual, a half-off deal in celebration of a supposed change in ownership. The strange thing was the only thing that had changed was the price, and the overly happy attitude of the server.

    Drawing from the previous circumstance Ranma was left in, we can no doubt guess what has happened, or is happening rather, here. Or can we? At first glance, curse the revealing properites of those words, the customers appear to be perfectly sound in both mind and body even after consuming the treat served by a dark servent. But that is only with a glancing look. A further inquiring gaze would find each customer growing short of breath, perspiring at the very act of walking. Each would find their way home and make it to bed just before falling into a deep, drained sleep.

    Now it would be noted by a member of the ancient kingdom, if one were to be found, that such an activity is of important note. Not because it stole the energy of humans, but rather because it was done in such a clever manner. No bodies scattered across the floor, nor haggard people hanging around the doorways to drive off customers. A flow of energy that would only drop as the natural flow of the community did. Unobtrusive, nearly undetectable. It would be a great concern to one from the ancient kingdom that the dark force which they must fend against had garnered any form of intellect. The natural question would be, what had caused such an action?

    The answer is rather complex, but summed up could be answered in one word. Fear. Fear is a motivator nearly as grand as Love and Hate, providing endless waves of destructive inspiration. The fear had been found in one the queen's generals. The cause? A rather clever Youma which was starting to gather the queen's favor. Having made no great progress, he was overshadowed by the intelligent, yet lowly, Youma and feared that his position may be outstripped. So the plan was born from fear. It was quite possibly the most intelligent plan he had ever devised, and so far it was working. Watching from a distance that can not be explained in physical terms, he prayed to any listening dark deity that it would continue to do so.

    Unfortunately for said general, all things must come to an end. This end began with the server's smile faltering.

    While not the oldest or most experienced, the youma had a dedication to its mission and its life. Somebody with power was approaching. If it continued approaching that meant it would have to be fought. Of course as being somewhat smarter then the youma, we realize the possibility of a person with power simply wanting ice-cream. However, this is not the case so its stupidity was a boon to the beast. It set down the scooper, ignoring the customers orders, and waited.

    The glass door opened swiftly, cracking on impact against the wall. "Everybody out." Ranma's battle aura was in full flame, enveloping him with its light. They left. Some because of the command, natural to get away from the angry martial artist. The building was soon deserted, the tired people getting their energy drained even while they left.

    Ranma and the server faced each other, fury on Ranma's face and an amused look on the server.

    "I was getting worried about you?" A guttural tone, akin to that used by the possessed Cologne, clawed it's way from the youma's throat. "Pathetic."

    The insult snapped what small pretense of restraint Ranma still held. Leaping foreward he began the uneven fight. The jumping kick was blocked, but carried enough momentum to send the youma into the wall. Any continued offensive was destroyed by a large explosion of hurled concrete that had been ripped from the wall.

    Unable to speak in it's form, the youma merely growled it's anger. Unable to fight in the frail body, it had mutated horribly. Arms were now extended twisted and knarled. Each finger was now tipped with a short spike-like projection. The legs had buckled inward, knees which bent towards the center of it's body and allowing it's center of gravity to stay close to the ground. The uniform had burst, chest now a mass of muscle thinly covered with fur. The most horrible aspect of change was it's face, which no longer resembaled that of a human but more of a wolf with eyes the size of plates.

    "Monster." Ranma growled through his teeth ferally. "I'm gonna rip you apart."

    It's large eyes merely glared back in response.



    "Konatsu? What's wrong?" Ukyo blinked in confusion as her employee avoided glancing in her direction.

    "Nothing." The reply was far too strained.

    Ukyo's eyes narrowed. "Where's Ranma?"

    No reply.

    "Probably got in a fight with Ryoga or something. You don't have to cover for him Konatsu, he does it enough that it doesn't bother me." Akane sighed and sat down on a stool. Would it be like this when they got married?

    Konatsu still said nothing, his eyes locked onto Ukyo's.

    "That's not it, is it?" Ukyo spoke softly, the words carrying fear and a hint of vehemence.

    Still nothing, trapped as the overly-metaphorized bird in the snake's gaze he continued to stare back at her.

    The ground shook slightly, accompanied by a loud cracking.

    Ukyo's eyes widened. "Oh God." She ran out the door.

    "Ukyo-sama! No!" Konatsu was a second to slow to catch her.

    "What? What was that noise? What's going on!?" Akane looked around in confusion for a moment. Then admist the chaotic swirling of her mind she felt a faint tug. "A youma!"

    With a speed she should not have possessed Akane headed out the door, but was halted, barely, by a Konatsu. "You can't Akane-san! Only Ranma is strong enough to fight it, you would only hurt yourself."

    Akane seethed with rage at the petite ninja. "I don't have time for this!" A backhand followed the statement, knocking him harshly into the wall. After a moments guilt for the action she changed into her alternate form to fully access her magic. Sailor Moon then took to the streets, heading towards the evil which she could, now, easily sense.


    Ranma barely dodged the leaping blow, allowing it to create a two meter long fissure in the earth instead of his body. Specks of blood covered him, and a narrow flow of the precious liquid steadily seeped from his shirt where a piece of tile had punctured his skin. By looks alone one could learn what had been done to him. The tile floor held a deep impression vaugly humanlike, and Ranma's hair was powered white from crushed particles of said floor. His left side held several deep scratches which had been filled with such particles and, though they no longer bled, scrapped his nerves with each movement. His body was covered with bruises and deep gashes and if one could see his bones they would find light fractures traced through his skeleton.

    The youma was not visibly wounded.

    Ranma stood glaring at the thing, breathing heavily. No words were wasted now, each precious second to regain his health was needed.

    The cracked doorframe crumbled, glass tinkering to the ground in a rain of crystaline ice.

    The signal obeyed, both attacked.

    As before the attacks came at an insane rate, yet were predictable. It was this that had kept our hero alive through it all. His skill, his experience. It was all there was to fight the beast. It's speed could not be outmatched, nor could it's strength. Both of these Ranma had tried and failed. All that remained was the innermost essence of his training.

    Slowly, the martial artist's vision darkned. Wheather this was on account of blood loss or concentration could not be said. The beast was all. Each attack had to be avoided, each lure ignored. Steadily he wound his way closer and closer to the monster, then backed away just to move closer once more. It was the most intricate music he had ever danced to. The steps were plain to see, it was the rhythm that threatened to overwhelm him. The pace never changing, but remaining frantic. He had to hold out until the music stopped.

    The dance continued, slowly starting to vary. The steps became less clear and the tempo seemed to increase. Then a step was almost missed, resulting in a stinging slap from the musician. Then another. And another. The steps were blurred, failing him.

    The music paused.


    Sailor Moon ran into the doorway, words of magic on her lips. The sight before her scattered them even as her heart skipped a beat. As if in slow motion she saw it all. Ranma's hands thrust through both of the beasts eyes and a framilar blue glow began to build around him. Inside the beast a human's spirit screamed, knowing its life was about to be ended with the monster that had possessed it. He looked desperately to Akane, mouthing words of plea. Begging her to save him, for she could.

    "NOOO!" Her scream went unheard, lost in the roar of power leaving Ranma.

    The wolf head snapped back, a roar of anguish leaving its throat, silently echoed by a wail of the spirit trapped inside. Black filth ran from the gapping hole in its head, making a puddle which softened the fall of it's destroyed body on the floor. The body shook several times, then dissapated into thin black shimmers which condenseced and dissapeared.

    "For Shampoo." Ranma's breath was ragged and he painfully collapsed into a sitting posion on the ground.

    Akane's mouth was dry. Ranma had just killed an innocent man.



    Genma sighed. "He'll be fine, just a little sore. He should be out long enough for you to stitch the wounds." He suddenly grinned. "My boy just killed a demon." With a happy smile he left the room. Joy chosen over concern for well-being. For Genma Saotome it was a way of life.

    Akane watched him leave with disgust. They were in the guest room, which had been Ranma's for over two years now. "Are you sure you can do this Kasumi?"

    Although pale, Kasumi nodded. "He doesn't have any life threatening injuries as long as these get closed up." She smiled weakly. "I always stitched you up well."

    Akane smiled also, remember all the wounds she'd recieved as a troublesome child. All that remained now were scars almost too fine to see. "I'll be back in a minute. Ukyo, could I talk to you?" Akane stood. She wore one of Ukyo's kimonos, though she never suspected her to own any, over her sailor outfit and had removed the tiara from her hair. She still had trouble reverting quickly, so for sake of speed she had gone with the disguise.

    Ukyo looked up from Ranma's face. She looked like she would refuse at first, but stood and followed Akane too her room.

    "Ukyo, we can't let Ranma fight anymore."

    Ukyo paused before replying. "I don't want him to get hurt either, but this is who he is, Akane. Fighting is his life." During the near-loss of her obsession she had come to terms with several truths about Ranma. Both his failings, and what he truly was. Some of these were incorrect, but for the large part Ukyo was correct in her decided facts about him.

    "I'm not worried about him getting hurt!" Seeing Ukyo's scathing look Akane attempted to explain herself. "That came out wrong. I am worried about him getting hurt, but even more then that he can't fight because he kills people."

    "The youma."

    "No, the people!" She sat down on her bed, looking sick. "When a person is possessed by a youma, they share bodies. When we attack a youma, we only hurt it's form. The human inside remains healthy. When we kill a youma, only it dies."

    Ukyo's face turned a shade paler than usual. "So Ranma..."

    "He killed that man."

    Ukyo's legs gave out under her. "No."

    "I saw it, I saw his soul. He died."

    "Then Cologne..."

    Akane hadn't even thought about it. "He's killed twice."

    "He didn't know!" Ukyo looked up at Akane disparingly, defending her beloved. "He didn't know, it wasn't his fault."

    "He didn't know, but the people are still dead." Akane's voice was somewhat cool, lacking her signature emotional tone.

    "It.. it wasn't his fault."

    Akane opened her mouth to speak, but paused. It wasn't his fault right? He hadn't known. But she had told him she was the one supposed to fight them, if he had listened they wouldn't be dead. She was Sailor Moon after all, he was a commoner. He should have listened so they wouldn't be dead, it was his fault. She shook her head in confusion. No, that was wrong... wasn't it?

    "He had to do it." Ukyo continued on, giving every reason to the unwittingly done murder she could. "You saw how hurt he was, if he could barely handle it there's no way we could."

    "What are you talking about?" Akane looked at her in disgust. "We're stronger than him now, that monster would have been nothing between the two of us."

    "No we aren't!" Ukyo snapped her head to the side, avoiding looking at Akane.

    "Come now Sailor Jupitor, you can feel the power can't you? You ran with me that night, over the rooftops. Ranma isn't nearly as fast or powerful. He's only human."

    "Only human?!" Ukyo stood shakily from the floor, turning to face her comrade in arms. "Listen 'Sailor Moon', just because we got some powers all the sudden doesn't make us any better than somebody else. And I will never, ever be better than Ranchan! His life was martial arts, it's impossible for me to be better than him! Ever! Some magic shouldn't, no, can't change that!" Beset with emotions she left Akane's room.

    Those closest to a person are often blinded to the most crucial parts of their being and sense of place. Only those removed a short distance can truly observe the whole in it's entirty. It is this which so easily colors the rose.



    Akane sighed as she walked to school, thinking over the events of the day before. So much was happening lately she hardly knew what was happening. "Stupid cat." Pausing on her way she leaned over the fence she and Ranma had so often passed. She spoke aloud, her own voice helping to fill the lonliness of Ranma not walking with her. "Ever since it showed up with that stupid costume I've felt so much... better. It's like I'm another person, somebody stronger than Ranma. Somebody special. Somebody important" With another in what had been a long series of sighs for the day she pushed away from the fence. "But how could I say those things... Ranma a mere human? Ha!" She scoffed, what had she been thinking? She walked through the school gates, only paying vauge attention.

    "Akane Tendo! I see the infidel is not here today, perchance this means you have broken free of the knave's spell..." He trailed off as she met her eyes with his. "Your beauty would outshine the moonlight itself." He whispered, her eyes drawing him in.

    She stared back, heart skipping a beat. Neither spoke. Ever so slowly the whispers about her grew louder and she snapped back to reality. "Shut-up Kuno." She said sternly, stalking past him and entering the school. He did nothing but stare after her.


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~Syithe
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