Disclaimer: Ranma and related characters were created by Rumiko
Takahashi.  Characters from Sailor Moon were created by Takeuchi Naoko.
Both series are owned by their creators and several large corporations

Well, I've been working on this off and on for a while and the first
chapter is finally ready.  If any one cares about the continuity, this
takes place after vol. 38 of the manga for Ranma and prior to the
appearance of the Sailor Starlights for Sailor Moon.  Anybody who wants
to preread this or any of my other works, please send a private email to
me.

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An Unlikely Couple: Chapter 1

     Shampoo looked at the huge bird-like monster advancing on her and
grimaced.  Dying was bad enough, but for an Amazon warrior to be killed
by something so silly looking was unforgivable.  It didn't look like she
had much choice, though.  The monster was far quicker than it looked and
she'd wrenched her knee dodging it's last attack.  Resolving to go down
fighting, Shampoo was both surprised and relieved when a rose suddenly
impaled the monster's hand.

     As the monster shrieked in pain, Tuxedo Kamen scooped up the pretty
girl and jumped to the top of a nearby streetlight.  From there it was
easy to reach the rooftops.  When he attempted to set the girl down, he
found himself caught in an unbreakable, but oddly pleasant grip.  He was
unable to resist when Shampoo pulled his head down to meet her lips.

     Shampoo ended the kiss and stepped back to inspect her rescuer.  It
was hard to tell with the mask, but he seemed to be very handsome.  He
was taller than Ranma, and had excellent taste in clothes.  There was
one final point to consider.  He was obviously a skilled martial
artist.  Shampoo recalled the rose and wondered at its significance.
Martial arts horticulture, maybe.

     "What did you do that for?"  Despite his question, Tuxedo Kamen had
his own suspicions as to the reasons.  That's why Shampoo's answer
surprised him so much.

     "You saved Shampoo.  Is law."

     "What?"

     Tuxedo Kamen blinked when Shampoo produced a book and handed to
him.  Seeing that it was already open, he started to read.  "If an
amazon warrior's life is saved by an outsider male, she must marry him.
That's absurd!  I'm not going to marry you."

     Shampoo's shoulders slumped as she turned away, a tear glistening
in her eye.  "You no like Shampoo?"

     "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!"

     Tuxedo Kamen jumped guiltily. He'd forgotten about the monster.  Oh
well, it sounded like Sailor Moon had already destroyed it.  "It's not
that.  I'm sure you're a very nice girl."

     "Then you marry Shampoo?"  Tuxedo Kamen tried to avoid her embrace
but failed miserably.

     "No!  I've already got a girlfriend."

     "Who?"

     "Her."  Shampoo turned in the direction he was pointing and and
critically examined Sailor Moon, who had just jumped up onto the roof.

     "Humph!  Shampoo better looking," she said, thrusting out her
chest.

     Unfortunately, the masked hero couldn't resist a quick comparison.
His last sight that night would be of Sailor Moon swinging a large
mallet.

===================

     "Shampoo, are you going to school now?" Akane ventured nervously.
The outfit Shampoo was wearing might have passed in some schools, if the
bottom two thirds of the skirt hadn't been missing.

     "No.  Shampoo wear for new airen.  He like."

     "I wonder why."

     "New airen," Ranma repeated.  "What about me?"

     "Handsome and mysterious Tuxedo Kamen only one for Shampoo."

     After watching Shampoo depart, Ranma turned to Akane.  "She dumped
me?  I don't see what's so great about that Tuxedo Kamen, anyway."

    "Ranma, it's so romantic the way way he always helps Sailor Moon.
Almost like a fairy tale."

    There was something about the look in Akane's eyes that upset
Ranma.  "All he does is run around in a suit.  I could do that."

    "Don't be absurd.  You don't have a romantic bone in your body"

=================

     Ranma silently crept down the stairs.  Even if Nabiki was visiting
a friend, and the other inhabitants of the house were variously
occupied, it wouldn't do for him to be observed.  Akane and Mr. Tendo
wouldn't understand what he was doing.  In all honesty, Ranma didn't
really want Shampoo chasing him.  There was his pride to consider
though, he couldn't just let someone dump him like that.  Especially not
for some masked moron.  He'd show Akane how a real martial artist
handled monsters.

     A dusty and weary traveler paused in front of the Tendo training
hall.  This time Ryoga would tell Akane the he loved her for sure. 
Akari was a beautiful girl, but his love for Akane was pure.  Plus, he
had no idea where Akari was.  Ryoga absently stepped aside as a masked
person wearing a tuxedo and top hat stepped out of the building.  Yes,
this time he'd tell Akane for sure.  Ryoga furrowed his brow in thought
as he realized something.  The person who'd just left had been in
disguise.  That could mean only one thing.

     "Ranma, how dare you try to trick me?" Ryoga bellowed.  Akane
forgotten, he ran after the distant figure.

     When Ryoga reached the last spot he'd seen Ranma he looked around
in puzzlement.  Ranma was no where to be seen.  Looking around wildly,
Ryoga caught sight of someone leaping across the rooftops.  With a snarl
Ryoga leapt up after him.  He wasn't going to let Ranma get away this
time.  

=====================
 
     Ranma was beginning to realize that his plan wasn't quite as well
thought out as it could have been.  He'd been able to get to Juban
easily enough by sneaking a ride on the public transportation system,
but he had no idea what to do now.  He'd never really gone looking for
trouble before.  It had always just seemed to find him.

     "How dare you cheat on Akane?"  

     Sort of like that.  Ranma ducked under Ryoga's umbrella with the
ease of long practice.
  
      "What are you talking about P-chan?"

      "You're wearing a tuxedo.  Admit it, you came here to meet a
girl."  Ryoga scowled in frustration as Ranma nimbly twisted to avoid a
circle kick. 

      "I'm looking for a monster, not a girl."  Not having time for a
fight, Ranma hoped to calm Ryoga down.

      "You're cheating on Akane with a monster?  Die!"  Ryoga swung his
umbrella down, hoping to smash Ranma with a single blow.  It didn't work
out that way, Ranma stepped aside and Ryoga's umbrella continued down to
strike the pavement.  It then continued on to destroy the water pipe
beneath the street.  Ryoga only had time for one startled bwee before
the stream of water swept him away.

     Ranma looked down at her appearance in disgust.  "Aw man, how am I
supposed to fight monsters like this?"  As if to answer her, the sound
of a nearby explosion shook the night air.  As Ranma sprinted towards
the disturbance she thought to herself that the Sailor Senshi didn't
seem to have much trouble.

==================

     Haruka was beginning to realize that the Senshi's new enemy was
going to be trouble.  The problem was the unexplained divergence from
the tactics that their enemy's usually employed.  First attacking
outside of Juban district and now appearing in two locations
simultaneously.  Since the monsters didn't seem to be very strong,
Haruka and Michiru had volunteered to deal with one of creatures by
themselves.  Which led to her current predicament.  A huge crystalline
creature was holding her in one pincer and using her as a shield.  The
only bright point was that none of the inners could see this.

     Ranma adjusted her clothing in irritation.  Not only was the tuxedo
waterlogged and probably ruined, it just didn't fit anymore.  At least
she'd managed to find the Sailor Senshi.  There were two of them
fighting some crystal monster on the street below her.  It looked like
the one with short blond hair was in trouble.  Time for a dramatic
entrance.

     Sailor Neptune blinked as a masked figure landed on the arm holding
her partner.  If she hadn't known better, she would have sworn that
Tuxedo Kamen had shrunk in the wash.  The bright red hair disproved that
theory, however.  It didn't really matter, since the newcomer was trying
to pull Sailor Uranus free.

     "Don't worry, I'll have you loose in a second."  Ranma silently
snarled in frustration.  Her efforts to rescue the monster's captive
weren't going as well as she'd hoped and it was getting hard to keep her
footing with the monster swinging it's arm around.  Hmmm, maybe she
could use that.  Ranma moved with the next swing and hurled herself off
the arm, while keeping her grip on the blond girl.  Finding herself
flying through the air, Ranma twisted around to steady the other girl
and make sure that they both landed on their feet.

     "All right.  Let's blast it Neptune!"    Haruka was more than ready
to vent some of her anger and embarrassment.  Fortunately, the monster
made a convenient target.  "World Shaking!"

     "Deep Submerge!"

     The two attacks merged and slammed into the monster.  It shook for
a moment, as it resisted the combined assault and then exploded with a
roar and a near blinding green flash.  

     Sailor Uranus dusted her hands off in satisfaction, another threat
had been eliminated.  "Thanks for helping."  Realizing that she was
speaking to empty space, Sailor Uranus looked around in puzzlement.  "I
wonder where she went to?"

      "You mean that was a girl?"  If Ranma had still been there he
would've found Michiru's tone very familiar.

===================

     Ryoga reminded himself that it was the duty of martial artists to
protect the innocent from monsters.  There was no doubt about that, the
only question was what he could do.  It was times like this that
transforming into a small black had definite drawbacks.  Well, he'd just
have to try his best.

     Sailor Venus dived gracefully out of the way, as a spear flashed
through her former position.  Recovering quickly, she saw the black
armored knight that they were fighting block Mars' Flame Sniper with
it's shield and hurl a spear at her.  The monster wasn't really that
dangerous, but it was fighting the four senshi to a draw.  What a time
for Usagi and Mamoru to go on a date.  Suddenly,  a small black form
hurtled into the knight's face and then leapt away before it could be
struck.  Venus was quick to see the opportunity.

     "Quick, attack while Luna has it distracted!  Venus Love and Beauty
Shock!"

     "Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

     "Mars Flame Sniper!"

     "Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

     The force of the four Senshi's attack overwhelmed the knight and it
disappeared inside a pillar of white light.  When the light died,
nothing remained but a wisp of smoke, which was dissipated by the wind.

     "I don't believe it!  We beat a monster without Sailor Moon."  

     Mars smiled a Sailor Jupiter's astonishment.  "I wonder what's
taking meatball head so long, anyway?"

     "Interrupting a romantic date is unforgivable.  I am the pretty
sailor suited warrior Sailor Moon and I will...  Hey, where's the
monster?"

     "I think the other Senshi already defeated it, Sailor Moon," Luna
said.

     "They can do that?"  Nearby, Tuxedo Kamen covered his face with one
hand.  He'd just gotten Usagi to forgive him and their date was
interrupted by a false alarm.

     "What do you mean by that?  Of course we can.  Say, Luna, what are
you doing over there?  Weren't you distracting the monster?"

     "I think that was this litle follow, Venus."  Sailor Mercury had
finished examining the spot where their opponent had perished and was
now holding a small black animal in her arms.

      "Oh, what a cute pig."  As the other Senshi gathered around to
examine Mercury's find, Tuxedo Kamen and the moon cats stood by and
watched.

      "It looks like he's hurt his leg," Sailor Moon said, pointing to a
scrape on one limb.

     "Yes, I'm going to look after him until I can find his owner."

     "Girls, we'd better leave before we attract too much attention. 
You can look at the pig some other time."

     "Be quiet, Artemis.  What were you doing while we were fighting
that monster, anyway?"

     "I thought I saw someone watching and I was trying to find them."

     Mercury cut into the growing squable between Sailor Venus and her
alleged pet.  "He's right, we'd better leave now.  We can meet tomorrow
night at the temple, to discuss this new enemy."

     After a few words of parting, the Senshi went their own ways.  No
one noticed the shadowy figure that trailed after Tuxedo Kamen.

===================

     A hot bath was just the thing he'd needed, Mamoru decided.  It was
a lot easier to put things in perspctive now.  He and Usagi had patched
things up, and it was nice to have an enemy that could be beaten with
comparative ease.  Mamoru closed his eyes and decided that he'd just
soak for a few minutes before he got out.

     Moments later, Mamoru was awoken by a splash and the sensation of a
heavy weight pressing down on him.

     "Shampoo find airen.  She so happy."

     Mamoru's eyes flew open in shock.  "Get off of me!"  After
overcoming his shock, he continued, " And put on some clothes!"

     Shampoo watched avidly as Mamoru scrambled out of the tub and
hurridly covered himself with a towel.  "Shampoo not have any clothes
here.  Airen not mind?"

     "No!  I mean, yes I mind."  Mamoru cracked an eye open to see that
Shampoo had gotten out of the tub and was moving towards him.  Scooping
up the shirt he'd been wearing, he tossed it towards her.  "Here, put
this on."

     Outside the bathroom, Mamoru paused.  The shirt was an improvement,
but there was no way he wanted her seen leaving his apartment dressed
like that.  There was only one option.  Luckily, he had the numbers of
all the senshi on his speed dial.  "Makoto, I need a favor.  Could you
hurry over and bring a spare set of clothing?"

===================

     Deep in the earth, beneath the city of Tokyo, a silver haired
woman, dressed in a grey business suit, materialized and bowed deeply. 
"Lord, two of the attacks failed.  However the third was a success."

     On the plinth before her, a transparent lavender crystal pulsed
briefly.

     "I understand.  However, we will find a suitable host soon."

End Chapter 1