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Preamble.



Well, I know I already provided a link to my website - but as

per the emails I received, some people wanted a text version.



Just a few notes, I updated the foreword, so you can take a look

if you want. Also, my old email address, dojohouse@xoommail.com

is well and truly dead, so please don't send anything there.



Oh, and for those who haven't seen this work before - there's a

Prologue that precedes this story (available at my website).

















Fate of Love.



A fanfiction by Jason Wong,









inspired by Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2,

   and

Naoko Takeuchi's Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon.



















Chapter 1. Revelations.







### Present. ###





>From an aerial perspective, the great city-sprawl that most people

knew as Tokyo was a curiously harmonious hodge-podge of old and

new, of a striving new economy overtaking the industries of old -

which in itself had overtaken the traditional and near dormant ways of

ancient Japanese lifestyle.



But here and there, evidence could be seen of that long surpassed

culture - nestled in micro-pockets of land seemingly immune to the

encroachment of high-riser complex abodes. Indeed, such pockets

may have been considered to be appear decidedly absurd when

viewed in the grander perspective, were it not for the fact that this

was Tokyo - and such novelties were commonplace.



One such place was known by all who frequented its historically

beautiful walls, as the Hikawa Shrine - more a temple in its own right,

and the domain of an aged priest and his only grand-daughter. What

perhaps made this situation even more intriguing was the current

activity that the latter of the two, the young highschooler - and the

widely held beauty of the Shrine - was currently immersed in.



Now, the studious highschooler may have chosen to spend her

weekend immersed in the texts, or perhaps found the time for some

constructive study in the library. Alternatively, if you were more of an

outgoing girl, you may have taken an outing with your friends for an

afternoon of window shopping, or maybe perchance a leisurely walk

in the local park with your beau.



Whatever the choice of activity, stoking roaring fires in a decidedly

stuffy ancient building of hewn stone and wood was probably not a

task that immediately came to mind as an ideal past time.



However, for this certain Shinto priestess, who, at least in the outside

world went by the name of Hino Rei, this was the chosen item for the

day - as it had been for nearly every afternoon for the past week or

so.



It had been that one brief instant which had resulted in this

rather...pyrotechnic obsession - one instant where, the fire reading

had yielded not the blurry, half-defined shapings, but a crystalline

clear image - a form given volume and dimensions by the sacred fire

which fuelled it. Even her own grandfather, who had decades of

experience and practice to back up his Shinto skills had never been

able to produce such a vision. That in itself was more than enough

reason to keep on practicing, trying to grasp the fiery image once

more.



That and the fact that despite the clarity - it so just happened at the

time she hadn't been in a state of attentiveness to discern the identity

the instant's form had belonged to.



And *that* was very irking.



Frowning furiously in concentration, Rei pushed the spent ash out of

the path of the still burning embers. Precision was the key here - not

power. She impatiently brushed aside sweaty raven bangs that

threatened to obscure her vision, sparing a glance for the high noon

Sun that just managed to peek in through the rafter windows.



Leave it to Fate that it would happen to be the height of Summer -

possibly the worst time to be playing with hot fires.



*Ooohhh!!* This was *sooo* infuriating. Just like Usagi could be

sometimes, or just like.......just like......



The sudden flare from a bursting tongue of flame shocked her out of

her tantrum. Whipping about, the Shinto Priestess pulled her precious

long hair out of harm's way before the greedy tendrils destroyed one

of her great sources of personal pride.



But even that was soon ignored, when the girl caught a glance of the

flame that had so recently threatened her.



It was not so much the flame though, but the crystalline image that

was shaped within it - like nothing she had ever conjured before in

her short, present life.



The fierily bright image still burning in the back of her mind, Rei could

only stare dimly at the hazy glow of the dying flames, as she felt the

tears slowly trickle their way down her face.



She was crying, and she hadn't the faintest idea why.







********

********







### Past. ###



Within the great circles of life, called the Solar System by its

inhabitants, there were ten planets wherein life could be found. All

had in their own unique way, a characteristic beauty unsurpassed by

their sister worlds. For Saturn, it was oftime said that the view of the

Sun as it crossed its mighty rings of dust and ice was like a never-

ending river of sparkling diamond cascades. In a similar fashion, it

was the vast ocean bodies - teeming with life and the brightened

colours of the underwater environs that was Neptune's claim to

natural fame.



But, for the planet Mars, the fourth major world from the Sun, its

greatest wonder was undoubtedly the sunset - burning the naturally

red skies into an almost surreal wash of oranges and fiery yellows, as

if the Gods themselves had set the heavens ablaze in triumphant

glory.



And one spectator, high upon the rise of an undeveloped hill that was

his own regular place, could be seen marvelling at this near daily

wonder.



It was hard to distinguish the boy from the tree that the said boy had

chosen to lean upon - especially as he lay within the shadow of the

setting Sun. But Equoris could have recognised that lanky gait from

anywhere - the characteristic pose which seemed unique only to his

friend and long time companion, Squire Marcos, the son of a Royal

Knight of Mars.



That Marcos was technically a member of the nobility, and Equoris

was technically, well, a nobody had little effect on their

companionship. The messenger never begrudged the higher social

standing of his friend, or the privileges held thereunto, and similarly

Marcos had never once made use of his rank to order his friend

about.



Of course, their oftime wildly differing opinions *was* a source of some

conflict, but for the most it was a compatible relationship.



Sitting down heavily, and sharing the shadow of the tree, the courier

thus announced his presence.



Silence reigned for several long minutes, a clear message to Marcos

that his friend had something to say, but would only say it if and when

he was invited to.



"Okay, I'll bite. So what's up with you today?"



Equoris turned to his friend and long time companion. "Ohhhh nothing

really. Nothing much to mention of sorts." It was the kind of tone

where one just *knew* there was something of great import that the

speaker was hiding.



It also meant that Equoris *really* wanted to tell all, and it would

probably be something that he felt proud and/or arrogant about.

Times like this, the jerk was just too easy to read. "Oh get it over

with runner boy - unlike you I don't have all day."



The messenger glared meaningfully at his companion. To Marcos,

that was his 'You'll have to be nicer than that to get me to talk' look.

"Don't give me that Equoris I *know* you five times better than you

know yourself." He sniffed disdainfully. "I could probably figure it out

without you having to tell me anyway."



There it was, just as he had expected. Equoris's face had now

morphed into the 'Go ahead and give it your best shot' invitation. A

nice guy, but waaayyy too predictable.



"Alright, here goes." Marcos kneeled so that he could better analyse

his 'specimen'. "You never showed up last night at the gaming tavern

- so that means you 'a.' either got into a fight, 'b.' were rejected by

the recruitment office, or 'c.' a combination of 'a' and 'b'."



Equoris pointedly feigned disinterest.



"Don't try to look innocent runner boy, like I said I know you."

Marcos smirked loftily. "Anyhow, it takes you at least a day to

recover your temper from said 'a' or 'b', but it's been less than that

and curiously enough you're in a fairly good mood. In fact, from that

eye-twinkling which you are incidentally, *very* poor at hiding, I'd

have to say you are in a *remarkably* jovial mood tonight, so

something really 'remarkable' must have happened between 'a' or

'b', and now. How am I doing so far?"



The messenger was unable to reply, what with his sudden fascination

with the random patterns that formed rough whorls on the bark of the

nearby tree trunk.



"Ah hah! You're trying to ignore me - which means you're *really*

worried that I might have a good chance of figuring it out - so this

'good' thing must be something predictable, something I'd be able to

attach only to you. Hmmm."



After all that, there was really only one answer. Marcos sighed,

placing a forlornly wearied face into his open palms. "Please don't tell

me Equoris, you've met *another* girl."



Abruptly, the courier broke his silence. "Ahhh, my dear Marcos, she

was exquisite I tell you. The smoothest, softest silk of skin, a lovely

elegant face of perfection framed by a cascading torrent of the

purest, unending raven river of hair. Oh and her eyes, her *eyes*

Marcos! Truly I was lost in those endless depths of deepest royal

purple." Equoris trailed off, almost wobbling in his rapture.



Though Marcos could only silently moan into his hands in

exasperation. "Not again Equoris, have you no shame, no sense of

propriety at all? What about...what was her name.....Brianna?"



"*Her?*" His surprise was certainly convincing. "We parted ways more

than a week ago." He straightened in renewed vigour. "Oh but this

maiden was soooo different I tell you. She was.....she had......she

had lovely slender legs that I'd warrant would take a full week to

reach the ground." The swift messenger trailed off into stately silence.

"Alas it was a once only meeting." The tragedy was embellished with

a wistful sigh.



"Eh? That's a new one." Usually when his friend moved into such a

state, he'd be all over the prey like a wolf on an unguarded carcass.

"What, were you so 'enraptured' by her 'ravishing' beauty, you

forgot to get her name?"



Equoris looked halfway hurt to insulted. "*Hardly.* I said she was

pretty - I never said anything about her personality. *That* my dear

Squire was why I never found the opportunity to....ahem....'chat'

with her further."



"Oh, do tell." His voice was drier than the sands of the Venusian rift.



"Quite a shame really, much too arrogant and stubborn - a typical

palace girl."



Marcos knew well about his companion's stigma against the nobility

- 'palace' people included. Despite being a member of that rather

exclusive society (albeit currently a low-ranking member) , the Squire

could well sympathise with the feeling. Both as a messenger and a

prospective guard, Equoris had seen the heel end of the overlord's

boot far too many times for one of his tender years. Still...."I'm

surprised really - never thought you to pass over a pretty face - no

matter what the social standing of its owner."



"Yes, well by the time I had finished taking her snooty attitudes down

a notch or five, it seemed rather late for a little constructive wooing."

Again, the forlorn sigh. "If I had been of a better mind I might have

tried - but oh, if only I was able to tame such a fiery lass."



"If only you were able think with something *above* your waist for a

change."



"Envious are we?" Equoris grinned slyly. "It matters not - I'll never be

able to see her again anyway."



"For that I'm supremely glad - at least for her sake." In grudging way

that he'd *never* show to the courier playboy, Marcos had to admit to

no small amount of envy. Equoris's roguishly dark haired

handsomeness, his finely fit runner's body, coupled with the

broadness due to the oftime combat training was more than enough

of an incentive to keep the girls pining and lining.



The fact that he could also be charmingly disarming with words, if not

exceptionally well-spoken, and knew *just* the way to slip in the

praises to a bashful girl without her even noticing - well - it wasn't fair

that just one boy would get all the good fortune.



Marcos looked up to his companion as the messenger absently

cleaned his fingernails. Given the above average spare wealth his

father had garnered over the years, Equoris had been gifted with

something very few commoners ever saw in their entire lifetimes - an

education. Nothing like the upper-class schooling Marcos had

received - the runner boy was no genius by a very long stretch - but

he was about as learned as any civilian of Mars could be without

being a noble.



*And* he toyed with the girls to the scandal of the market gossipers. It

was a common myth amongst the rumourmongers that the flighty

messenger boy had bedded over half the pretty girl populace, *under*

eighteen, of Mar's capital.



Of course it *was* only a myth - but the fact that Equoris probably

could have made it truth had he been bothered enough to.....well

bother with it, did not help matters in the slightest.



"Hello there, have you gone all mute on me, Marcos?"



The squire opened his eyes to see Equoris's inquisitive visage peering

into his own. "Equoris - promise me something, as a friend."



"Eh? Suddenly we're all so solemn?"



"I'm serious Equoris." He stared unblinkingly into the taller boy's

playful eyes. "Break all the hearts you want, string as many girls as

you have room to hold - but don't make any lasting......damage."



"Huh? How do you mean?"



"I think you know what I mean." His gaze never broke during his

reply.



The courier seemed to consider the implication for a few moments,

before, "Oh. *Oh that.*" He shrugged it off. "You know me - always a

man of honour above all else."



"Yes," Marcos replied dryly, "Honour."



"No really. Believe it or not I have always planned on saving myself

for that 'one true love'." He held his hands out as if to proclaim

innocence.



The squire's disdainful glare clearly stated what he thought about

*that*.



"Fine then," Equoris whined in mock hurt. "Don't believe me then."



"Exactly what I was thinking," he muttered contemptuously.



"Well fine then."



"Fine."



And therein ended the conversation for the day.





*********





It was unusual for Arianne to make two outings beyond the palace in

as many days - but considering the events of the previous foray, she

couldn't have really claimed a truly satisfying experience. So thus,

'dressed' in her impenetrable disguise field the Royal Princess was to

be found exiting the grounds via a well used horse-and-cart

throughway - it wouldn't do to take the same route as before to risk

the admittedly slim chance of encountering that......that.....peasant.



Passing amiably through the hawker's emporium, Arianne revelled in

the openness - both in the atmosphere and the characters who

inhabited it. Now this was what a proper excursion should feel like -

no worries, no bothers, no.....



"Ah, behold the precious princess!"



Arianne promptly used a word that was ill-befitting a girl - princess

or otherwise.





*********





He hadn't intended to - honestly he hadn't. It was supposed to be

merely a quick run-down to the food market to pick up a few of the

groceries that Mother had forgotten to purchase the previous day.



But the moment he saw that cotton weave hood and cloak, Equoris

simply knew he wouldn't be able to resist. Despite the fact that her

face was as always hidden from view, and she had taken the pre-

caution of changing the colouration of her attire, the messenger was

very sure with whom he would be shortly......chatting with.



"Keep a minimum distance of ten feet from me, else you lose a vital

organ."



Equoris reeled in dramatic shock. "Oh my lovely Majesty, you

wound me."



"I'm glad we have an understanding - now if you would excuse

me....." Without bothering to heed any further response, she sniffed

haughtily and swiftly sought another direction of travel - not

particularly choosy about one save that it take her as far away as

possible from *him*.



Like one of those flies which you knew was there but couldn't quite

swat, the boy courier continued to hover within conversation range.

"Here now, there's no need to be so sour about it." It was quite

interesting talking to the back of her hood. "I'm sorry if you were

antagonised so. Come now fair maiden, do not spurn me thus."



"Will you just *stop* calling me that?" Arianne very nearly stomped her

way through the pavement.



Equoris smiled cheekily, glad to receive some sort of reaction. "I

*could* call you the ugliest backside to be found on a rabid hairless

dog - but such an injustice to your unsurmountable beauty would

injure me almost as much as yourself."



"Cheeks flushing scarlet in embarrassment, the girl averted her face

and resumed her brisk walk.



Silent for once, the messenger continued to tag after, openly admiring

her gracefully elegant sway even as she tried to adopt an air of

frustrated exasperation. When after several minutes it became clear

that the annoying pest would continue to follow wherever she chose

to go, no matter how long the duration, Arianne angrily halted once

more. "What do I have to do to get rid of you?"



Bowing respectfully, Equoris's demeanour seemed magically shift.

"Allow me to express my sincerest apologies by entertaining you for

your stay beyond the palace walls. In an hour I can show you all the

unknown highlights of this great city."



With his head lowered, the teenager failed to note the girl's quick

start of surprise. *He knew I was from the palace?* Calming herself

helped considerably here - there were thousands of people who

were attached in some way to the Royal grounds - he probably

assumed her to be a servant of some sort enjoying the time off her

duties.



Of course, the more present issue at hand was his offer - a dubious

one at best, especially since the word 'entertainment' could cover an

alarmingly wide variety of activities. Yes, better to follow the safer

route. "Thank you but I am quite capable by myself. Now if you

please...." *Please, please just leave me alone.* Even she couldn't

understand this sudden desire to stay clear of this mysterious boy. He

just seemed so.....so......



"I swear on my word of honour, that I have only the most honourable

intentions. We can keep to the public areas if you fear me to be a

lecher."



Which was exactly what she had feared - though hadn't expected

him to come right out and say it directly. After all, although Arianne

was more than capable of defending herself, any such necessity

would almost certainly involve a compromise of identity, and then

Mother would be sure to find out, and the whole House would end in

an uproar, and........no it would have been too much of a risk. Still,

he had given his word.



"Look here, I'll even hand over my courier's license - so that if you

are displeased with my conduct, you can have me arrested." So

saying, he pressed into her hands, a small, cardboard thin plaque -

unremarkable save for the green waxed chop proclaiming its

authenticity.



As she absently turned the license over, the Princess murmured

curiously, "Messenger of the Nobility - Equoris. Aged of seventeen in

this, the first year of our.....our Princess's reign." She looked up from

her perusal of the license. "You are a courier?"



"Yes!" He struck his chest in a ridiculously exaggerated flair of

braggadocio. "And you will find no swifter, nor more reliable a

messenger in the whole of our System!"



She tried to suppress it, but failed and burst out laughing at the tall

boy took a courtly bow that nearly bowled the both of them over.

"Come now, fair maiden, you hold both my identity and my livelihood

in your right hand. Is this not assurance enough?"



Her pretty brow frowned as she eyed him suspiciously. "Alllllright

then you smooth talker. I'll give my trust, *for* the moment."



"Well then, shall we be off?" Ever the lady's man, he offered a courtly

arm to her.



*I can't believe I'm trusting this buffoon.* Trying to hide her

annoyingly natural enthusiasm at the prospect of being led about her

own city by an obvious street-wiser, Arianne grudgingly accepted the

proffered arm.





********





"*This* is what you call a 'highlight'?" Arianne stared unbelievingly at

the scungy and clearly paint-bare hawker's cart that served as a

cooking station for a grizzled old pie vendor.



"Cast off ye high and frilly attitudes towards the unkempt, palace

wench." Equoris stared meaningfully at his companion. "Darmius's pie

shop may be a little under the weather - and so may Darmius himself,

but his sweets are unrivalled in all of the city."



"I certainly hope so." Arianne murmured dubiously. It was a silent

hope that this 'Darmius' kept his wares in a greater state of

cleanliness than he did everything else.



"Hello, old man, nice to see you again."



"My greetings m'boy." The addressed chef took a moment to spare a

glance at the girl beside the courier. "Equoris, have you no shame?"



"What is that supposed to mean?" The cloaked girl eyed the taller

boy curiously, whilst the boy himself simultaneously glared at the

chuckling old vendor.



"Ahh, nothing - just a personal thing between the two of us." He

hastily brushed away the comment. "Spare the chat for later old man

- I'd like two of your finer apple-and-peach cream concoctions."



Furrowing his brow in a mock imitation of concentration, the old

pastry chef peered into the heated vats below. "Hmmm, what to get

for a scoundrel boy and his pretty companion?"



"See?" Equoris whispered conspiratorially. "Everyone is in agreement

about your beauty."



The princess could only look away, blushing furiously whilst she self-

consciously pulled her cloak hood down further. So she might have

stayed, had her gaze not been arrested by the sight of two innocent

looking fruit encrusted cake items, simply exploding with mountains

of cream.



"Bet you didn't expect that from a dingy shop like mine eh?" Darmius

winked knowingly. "I use only the finest ingredients from the finest

locations - so long as you don't ask how I came by 'em, feel free to

help yourself."



"A true thief and proud if it." the courier deftly translated.



"Hey now watch your language!" The chef threw a playful cuff that

was entirely too slow to reach its target. "I'll have you know you

insolent whelp that I paid honestly earned premium prices for today's

cream barrel."



Arianne wisely took the opportunity to snatch one of the pastries.

Her eyes widened on the very first bite - indeed that aforementioned

cream tasted very much like.........



"And so just *how* did a highlander dairy's cask straight out of the

Royal palace's larders find its way to your sorry hands?"



.......the stuff she had enjoyed for breakfast this very day. Ah well.



"Just pay up and get thee gone Equoris - you're staining my good

name and making for bad business." Darmius's glinting smile betrayed

his gruff demands.



Laying down a half-sovereign, the teenager was quick with a

rejoinder. "My good looks draw more business for your cart than

your stolen cream ever will. However, duty calls and I'll bid you

good day - keep up the finest work old man."



"Bah! Arrogant upstart." Eyes suddenly glinting mischievously,

Darmius beckoned the as of yet silent Arianne over, just as she was

turning to leave. "Whatever this lying scoundrel asks for, just say no."



It seemed that staring daggers at the irritating pie vendor had less

than effective results.





*********





Arianne stared unbelievingly at the sight of her guide standing upon

the ledge of a sandstone wall some eight feet high. That in itself

was not that incomprehensible (if a little unusual), but the fact that

he'd arrived there by means of a single.....enormous leap - well........

"How did you do that?"



"Do what? The jump?" He hesitated in uncertainty. "It's not

that.....bizarre is it?" He smiled jokingly. "I mean, it's not as if I went

and vaulted clean onto the roof - it's only a few feet."



"A *few* feet?" She pondered over his complete casualness over the

matter, before noticing an impatient wave.



"Come on, what are you waiting for?" He held out a helping hand.



"You can *not* be serious." She stubbornly folded her arms across her

chest, as if awaiting an alternate proposal.



"Oh come off it." Equoris fairly scoffed. "I'm not asking you to eat hot

coals. Just hold out your hand and........."



"And find a more reasonable, nay a more *normal* way to get up onto

that wall. And by the way, why in God's name would I want to make

such a spectacle of myself by frolicking up there? Walls were made

for privacy, not for idiots like you to....." She continued on, unaware

that his interest had long ago thoroughly perished.



"Oh brother." The messenger sighed more to himself than anyone

else. Taking brief advantage of her diverted attention, he nimbly

dropped once more to the pavement and without further preamble,

scooped the still chattering girl into his strong arms.



"......so unless you find...find.....EXCUSE......" but before one could

say, 'Put me down you insolent pervert!' the pair were airborne. The

princess's words abruptly died in her throat as her breath was fairly

taken away by the sudden rush of movement, strangely comforting in

his firm embrace. And oh for those precious half-seconds of

completely free weightlessness as Equoris, untroubled by his burden,

alighted gracefully upon the narrow stone ledge.



"There now, that wasn't so bad was it?" He grinned disarmingly

down at his passenger, whilst simultaneously setting her down on her

feet.



And for the life of her, Arianne could not find the energy to answer

with a reasonable retort. Proper ladies of the court were *not*

supposed to be man-handled as she had been - and proper ladies

were definitely not supposed to...supposed to enjoy it. "Never, *ever*

do that again..." The cloaked girl suddenly growled furiously in an

effort to salvage what was left of her frayed composure. ".....at least

not without my permission first," she unthinkingly finished in a rushed

breath. *Where on Earth did that come from?*



"You have my word, your highness." Equoris bowed fitfully. "But

come now, if you would deign to follow me." Sheesh, most girls he

knew would haven given their all to be taken up into his arms as she

had. *Talk about ingratitude.* His grumblings were caught short as

the girl's hood, pulled awry by the leap, fell away, and as before

released her unfurling river of night black hair. The teenager boy

stared in clear admiration.



Ethereally aware of his close gaze, Arianne hurriedly sought to gather

her long tresses, flying softly in the evening breeze. Suddenly met with

a surge of red-cheeked bashfulness, she turned away, hoping that her

voluminous clothing could hide her embarrassment. This was all too

unfamiliar and disconcerting - never before had she felt so.....rattled

by a mere boy's attentions.



Disappointed, Equoris reluctantly tore his eyes away from the sight.

A moment of awkward silence, and he silently waved again for her to

follow. And just as reluctant to broach the unspoken moment

between them, Arianne followed.





*********





"Oh.........My." The young princess was torn between wonder and

frank amusement when visited by the vista that her guide had led both

to see.



The Royal Palace of Mars - *her* palace - backlit by the almost eerily

fairytale light of both moons of their world.



Phobos and Deimos - floating in a perfect symmetry like two glowing

icons of solidarity, seeming to rest tenuously upon the needle sharp

spires of the palace's highest towers.



True - it was her own home - one that she was as familiar with as any

other member, but.......seen this way, in these

environs........"Beautiful.......absolutely beautiful." She seemed

unaware that her thoughts had been voiced aloud, even as a small,

open smile graced her lips.



"Yes." Equoris quietly whispered his heartfelt agreement, though his

eyes gazed not upon the sight that enthralled his companion.

"Perfect."



Forcibly shaking himself out of his daze, the messenger turned his

gaze back towards the palace. "I think nobody knows of this locale

but I - I'll warrant even her Majesty, the Princess herself would never

know the true beauty of her own abode........what's wrong?" He

glanced quizzically at what sounded to be an ill-suppressed giggle.



Arianne was fairly shaking as she held her open hand firmly against

her mouth.



"What's so funny?"



"N-nothing. Really." With a deep breath she hastily swallowed the

last tremors of laughter. "Just that - it isn't known amongst the general

populace but the nickname, so to speak, of the Royal Palace is

'Phobos Deimos Castle'." Her face lifted to stare at Mars's twin

satellites. "I never knew why - until now."



"Ah yes, the palace people, in their palace world." His voice was

studiously neutral. "Someday I hope to be counted one amongst the

guardians of your........your 'Phobos Deimos castle'."



"Really?" The raven haired maiden eyed the taller boy wryly. "And

why would a humble courier expect to enter the military - any

military?"



"Don't start with me on *that*." Equoris's reply was a half-retort, half

warning. "I'm no mean fighter myself - if only they gave me a proper

chance."



"There's a distinct difference between a common street brawler, and

a soldier."



"Yes, and a right shame that the conscription boards are too thick

headed to give a chance for one to distinguish himself from the other."



Innately sensing a subject of which her guide was not too fond of

dwelling upon, Arianne drifted about for another topic. "What hour is

it?"



"Two toward the mid of night. Why do you ask?"



"Two.......hours?" She nearly yelped in fright. "My God! I have to get

back!" Unthinkingly the princess whirled about, before realising she

hadn't the faintest idea how to get down. "Where's the nearest route

to the palace?"



Smirking, Equoris pointed directly at the castle. "Straight line that

way - provided you can jump of course."



She might have punched him, had he not been required to lead her

out. "Darn you, I'll be in sooo much trouble if I am missed."

Swallowing her anger (and no small amount of pride), she continued.

"Please, no jesting now. How do I get back?"



Taken aback by her sudden seriousness, the messenger gestured for

her to follow. Taking off at a brisk run, he looked over his shoulder.

"My occupation requires me to know the back routes of this city.

We'll be there shortly."



Wasting no breath on talk, the raven haired girl silently pursued,

thankful that her footwear allowed for such movement. Even so, she

found herself on the verge of lagging behind.



"When are you required to be back by?"



Woefully, Arianne answered. "A half-hour ago."



Shaking his head, the runner boy picked up the pace, and within a

short while the pair were once again standing along the peak of the

sandstone barrier.



Concerned in her own worry, the palace girl never even thought to

voice a complaint as Equoris impulsively gathered her up, slipping

one arm under her legs whilst the other supported her waist. "Tally

ho."



He hit the ground running, though so softly, she barely even noticed

when they made contact with the pavement. Though what did hold

her attention was the fact that the courier had as of yet failed to

relinquish his hold. "I *am* capable of running myself, thank you," she

not so tactfully hinted, fitfully mortified by the various stares that their

unconventional appearance was garnering.



"We'll make the palace in better time this way. No one can match a

messenger of the nobility in fleetness." Even as he nimbly dodged the

city's late night pedestrians, he grinned mischievously at his charge.

"And besides, your feather-light weight bothers me not at all."



Flustered, angered and strangely flattered all at once, Arianne hotly

responded. "That's ridiculous! We would be so very much faster if

you'd just........."



Ignoring of her protests, Equoris found an open throughway and

surged into his sprint.



".......just......just...." Both voice and irritation died in the face of

awe,

as she felt them......them.......Gods above he was so *fast*! Flying

across the promenades as if the earthbound barriers were non-

existent, she could not even feel the moments where his feet surely

must have met the ground. Daring to look up from her nestled

position she stared, blindly shocked into disbelief at the realisation

that for a few tenuous seconds, he'd been dashing along the *side* of a

fence. "My God what are you?" she whispered, half-fearfully.



And all the while, cradled as delicately as a babe, her body felt not

the jostlings that would have plagued any normal human. *Smooth as

the crystal ice, and just as clear.* Smiling as the childhood fairytale

line came back to her, Arianne freely tilted her head into the

comfortable crook of his broad shoulder, exalting in the ever-

constant rush of the wind through her wildly flying tresses.



And yet much too soon, and before realisation could catch up with

abandon, Arianne sensed their inevitable return to the snail's pace of

the real world.



Coming to a fluid halt, Equoris stepped aside and gently set his

burden down with all the delicacy of a crystalline snowflake.

Weakened as she was by the invigorating rush of the journey, the

princess fought for stability against the solid earth, despite her light

deposition. She flushed in embarrassment at feeling his steadying

hands upon her shoulders, only then noticing the ragged state of his

breathing.



"Woo hah. Seems......a little more......exercise.....is in.......order for

me." He offered a sheepish grin.



"Are you alright? You needn't have run *quite* that fast." She looked

on concerned, as the courier bent down, hands rested on his thighs.



"I'm alright." With a playful push, he nudged her towards the

carriageway entrance of the palace. "You'd better be going - else it'll

be a waste of all my efforts to get you here promptly."



"I....." Arianne began hesitantly. "I.....I'm not very good at this sort of

thing - but.....thank you."



Equoris winked suggestively at that. "Hey - anything for a pretty

face."



"Ah......" Oooh this was so embarrassing. Unable to find anything

further to say, the long haired girl headed reluctantly towards the

open gates. Suddenly, before rational thought could take hold, she

whirled. "C-can I see you again?"



Blinking in surprise, the teenager stared curiously at the pretty maiden

before replying, softly, "I'll be awaiting your presence out here,

tomorrow. Same time?"



Regretfully reminded of her duties, and (even more damnably) her

status within the Mars society, Arianne hesitantly stammered. "I....I

cannot guarantee that I may be able to......" She gestured helplessly

towards the massive walls of the palace front - a sign of her

responsibilities.



Quick to understand, the boy nodded his sympathy. "Then I shall

await you tonight, and the next night, and every night that follows - in

the hope that you find the time." In a last display of his unconscious

swiftness, Equoris darted towards her side, and before she had even

time to register his arrival, lightly took her small, delicate hand into

his. In the time old gesture that a gentleman would use to greet a

lady, the messenger pressed his lips in the lightest of brushes across

her fingers. "Until then, fair princess."



Feeling her cheeks flush in heat, and imagining the resultant blush

spreading across her entire body, Arianne took a single step back,

before running in full to the relative safety of the entrance alcove.

There, hidden from the overpowering dominance of those wonderful

blue eyes, she leaned back against the wall, feeling the cool stones in

counterpart to her sudden hotness. And all the while, she lightly

fingered *that* hand - her right hand - the one that tingled with an

unseen but delightful energy.





*********





"You're late tonight." Marcos was to be found lounging casually

against his favourite corner chair of the 'Wagoneer's Tavern' - both

his and Equoris's frequent place of meet.



The addressed courier waved to the tender. "Two ales." Turning to

his friend, he added, "My treat."



"And to what do I deserve this most rarest of privileges?" the squire

naturally being the wealthier of the two, this was certainly a most

unusual event.



It was then that Equoris gave his companion the look. *The* look.



There was a pronounced silence as the very specific expression was

processed and digested.



"Oh by the moons of Jupiter, *Equoris*!"



"Perfection, dear Marcos, absolute perfection."



"Who is it this time?" The noble paused to take a sizeable mouthful

from his chilled tankard.



"Oh no, the same girl as before." He gazed querulously at the shorter

boy. "I am not *that* fickle to change so - and

besides.....besides.....with her about I could swear off the pursuit of

any other for the rest of my life."



"Why don't you just write that last sentence up and have the local

printer make copies for you." Sarcasm had just reached a new level

of dryness. "That way you can just flash me one every time you feel

the inclination instead of wasting time repeating yourself."



Visibly hurt, Equoris meekly replied, "That was unnecessarily cruel,

and besides, you are being rather heavily judgemental in the

consideration that you have yet to meet her."



"And *you* have yet to express any sentimentality that originates from

anything higher than your most basest lusts." The answer came as a

fiercely grumpy growl.



"Do you begrudge her loveliness? I think she is the loveliest, most

beautiful damsel I have ever had the fortune to meet." The boy sighed

happily in reminiscence.



"I think fortune has hardly anything to do with *that*." Marcos smiled

thinly, visited by a sudden thought. "May I ask a question?"



"Yes of course." The messenger unfolded hands from behind his

head.



"Did you perchance manage to garner her name?"



Silence.



"Damnation."



"As I said, all your care is devoted to appearances. I think one such

as you would be termed as, say, a bastard?"



Resting his elbows upon the pine wood table, the tall messenger

blinked at the unusually caustic insult. "What's eating you all of a

sudden - even you aren't this uncivil."



Visited with the sudden thought that this might have been Equoris's

way of changing the subject, Marcos reluctantly let it slide. "Found

out from father an hour ago. In two days I am to be readied for my

Presentation."



The Presentation. The coming of age ceremony all noble sons and

daughters looked towards with fervour - the day when they would be

presented before the Royal Court as a fit subject to rule in the name

of the Princess of Mars - a day of celebration. So why in God's

name..... ".........are you so bothered by this all?" Equoris exclaimed

incredulously. "I ought to be slapping you on the back and having the

rounds about the tavern!"



Marcos's obvious lack of enthusiasm promptly sucked that notion

dry. "Father wants to enlist me as soon as is conveniently possible,

and I mean convenient for him."



That took some thinking. Marcos's father was the well known Sir

Guymion, one of the select few from the global population who had

had the privilege of serving her Majesty, the High Queen Serenity

herself. With the ability to travel between planets limited to the

mages, and those under the direct Royal duress, well, amongst the

common populace at least, the name Queen Serenity was more a

legend than a commonplace term. After all, the vast majority would

never even see her, let alone set foot upon her planet, in their

lifetimes.



For Sir Guymion to enlist his own son meant......"Y-you're......"

Equoris paused, unable to find the breath. "You're going to be trained

amongst the Queen's Guard? - one of the *Lunar* Guard?"



"Yes."



"On the Moon? In our System's capital.........with the *Queen's* Royal

Legions?!"



"Yes."



Equoris blanched, utterly devastated by his companion's appalling

lack of enthusiasm.



*WHACK!!*



"Ow! Dammit what's your problem?"



"Oh I don't know." The courier's demeanour was surprisingly calm

after his recent surge of movement. "It's just that I have this friend

here, who has just been handed a once in five lifetime's chance, right,

and I mean *right* into his unappreciative lap. Do you *know* how hard

it is to get such a ranking? Nine planets' populations - ten counting

the Moon capital - twenty billion people, and only less than a

thousand ever get to join the Lunar Guard." Now well enthused into

his rant, Equoris continued unabated. "You've bypassed the local

army, you've been seen over the Royal Mars Guard - your father has

shot you way up to the top! Do you *know* what I'd give for that,

Marcos?"



The squire slammed his empty tankard heavily upon the table. "That's

EXACTLY what the problem is, Equoris!"



"Oy! You two pipe it down over there." The innkeeper called from

the bar.



Marcos's voice dropped down to a furious whisper. "Exactly

Equoris. Me, a trainee with less soldier's experience than you can

flush down a portable latrine, pushed all the way to the elite. And

why?" He gritted his teeth angrily. "Because my father happens to

frequently rub noses with the high and mighty over by the Capital."

He gestured widely towards his partner. "You just asked me if I

knew what you'd give for a chance - you the champion bare-fist

boxer of your age group, the one who can beat me hands down in all

but magic and fencing. I may be good with a sword, but why should I

be given that right over anyone?"



"Take the chance, and worry not about the ethics of it, is all I say."

Seeing the continued look of irritation, he continued hastily, "No wait,

and let me finish. If you are so concerned about your unfitness for the

title, go to the Moon, work your very hardest, prove your abilities -

and earn the title you have been bestowed." The courier settled back

comfortably in his seat. "But mark my words you'll regret it for your

life if you pass this up."



Quietly, Marcos examined his hands, as if to find some hidden truth

contained within. "I never really wanted to be a solider you know - at

least when I was old enough to understand what a soldier's

profession was."



"Well, it looks like the decision is in your hands then." Equoris dealt a

hearty slap to his companion's back. "But really, what is it about

being a soldier that you find so abhorrent?"



His voice laced with sarcasm, Marcos said, "Oh I don't know,

maybe it's the *wars* they fight in. They're the darnedest things - those

wars - all those people dying, and getting maimed and injured." He

held his chin in an absurdly thoughtful pose. "Hmmm I wonder why I

would feel so dis........."



"Alright, ALRIGHT I get the point." The messenger interrupted. "But

it's not as if it would be a reasonless occupation - it's for our Queen

and our duty to defend that which we have been raised to cherish."

He smiled encouragingly. "Love and justice - just like our very pretty

Sailor Senshi live to defend."



"Equoris, you've never *seen* a Sailor Senshi. How can......."



"Don't change the subject!" Settling down, he continued. "Look, all

I'm trying to say is that unless you feel that you would be unable to

serve your Queen, take the offer, and do Mars proud." Standing up,

the boy finished off the dregs of his ale. "I have to be going now -

another darn Squire has an early run for me tomorrow."



Still outwardly unconvinced, Marcos gloomily waved his farewell.

"Goodnight Equoris."





**********





Sighing in both relief and the release of a pent-up breath, Arianne

gratefully closed the large double doors to her apartments.



Safe. By some God-sent miracle, she had managed to bypass both

her parents and the cadre of advisers - both of whom seeming to

possess the irritating knack of appearing just when you didn't want

them........."



"Daughter, I have been awaiting you for some time now."



Curses. She turned, reluctantly lifting her eyes to meet his gaze.

"Father, I-I......."



His upheld hand stayed any further comment. "You needn't bother. I

will not hear any excuses." Wearily, the elderly warrior rubbed both

hands to his forehead. "Arianne, what am I to do with you? On the

one hand you tire your carers to no end, but on the other......well you

would not be a true daughter of the House of Mars if you had not

such a temperamental spirit. His wan smile lasted for but a moment.

Eyes hardening, her father continued. "But you cannot be allowed to

ignore your duties as a Princess, and a Sailor Guardian of our

Queen."



"I keep to all my lessons and tutoring, and as for the protection of the

Queen, well....." It was no secret that amongst the inner Senshi at

least, Sailor Mars was considered to be one of the more potent in

sheer power and energy - though the position of 'most powerful' was

an oftime hot debate, based more on planet patriotism than true

measuring of capabilities.



Which was of less than base concern for the Sailor Senshi themselves

- whether it was to be Jupiter's Oak Revolution, or her own Burning

Mandala that was most effective - one need only recall the power of

the Outers to be humbled in entirety. Arianne reflexively shuddered at

*that* thought. Pluto, and even more so, Sailor Saturn.......it was

practically a social stigma to discuss topics on that par.



"Be that as it may," the stern tone brought her back to reality. "There

is more to holding the title than merely soldiering and schooling - very

much more." Her father sighed once more, looking away from the

elegant image of his only child - so much like her mother, yet......no

this had to be done.



"My daughter, please take your seat."



And within Arianne, alarm bells were knocking their way about her

mind. When Father called her 'My daughter', it was the final bane of

any possibility of fortunate news.



"I know this will not be easy for you to take, but please bear with me

till I am concluded."



*Oh No!*



The man seemed to measure each of his words with utmost care.

"Your mother and I......have decided, for the welfare of Mars......that

in due course a suitable suitor should be found for you to be married

......."



"Married!?" the princess abruptly blurted. "Father have you lost

your......."



"Arianne! Please, this isn't easy." The King apparent of Mars

straightened his resolve. "Ever since the betrayals by Beryl and the

others, relations between the planets have been strained to the limits -

the alliance which has held for thousands of years is weakened by

uncertainty and doubt." Silently, he arose and placed a firm hand

upon his only daughter's shoulder. "That is where your duty begins."



"Father, I......."



"You are not some sideline Baron's seventh sire!" He sharply

interrupted. "You are the Princess of Mars! My daughter, a Sailor

Senshi in service to your Queen and the Solar System." More

sedately, he continued. "I am not asking you to wed the nearest

eligible noble boy by noon tomorrow Arianne - there are many

prospective sons to choose from, and we are in no great hurry.

Simply that you never forget your duty to the planet from which you

were born to rule. Millions of people will come to depend on your

decisions alone."



"I, Father, I......" but the princess trailed off, unable to find anything

suitable in reply - not to a responsibility that bore the entire weight of

Mars.



"Just think on it please?"



She sighed remorsefully. "Alright Father, so long as I have the final

say in which boy I will be courted with......I can live with my

obligations."



The old warrior smiled approvingly. "You do myself and your

Mother proud to bear this at so young an age. We can only hope

Mars may live past these troubled years and prosper."



"Thank you, Father." But despite the truth of his words, and for no

apparent reason she could fathom, Arianne could find nought but

hollowness in his praise.



*I should find pride - I am serving my world, as the Senshi before

me always have.*



Yeah, pride.









**********

**********









### Present. ###





"Kiyaiii......Ha! Ha! Ha!"



"Miss, miss, and errrr miss." Ranma smiled genially.



"Stand still you jerk!" Akane spun for a wild roundhouse, anger and

frustration making her offensives clumsy.



"If a real opponent would avoid your moves, then so will I." The

pigtailed teenager settled into his basic unassuming stance, before

being forced once more into a dance of defensive dodges.

"And....until......you're.....-woo that was pretty close-....fast

enough.....I'll keep right.....on.....dodging."



Considerably out of breath, and yet to land more than a gratuitous

puff of displaced air on her erstwhile fianc�, Akane could do no more

than angrily fume. "Stupid baka." Tossing her head, she stormed out

of the dojo without even bothering with an acknowledgment.



Or at least, she tried to. Suddenly, forward progress seemed to be

rather difficult - which shouldn't have been very surprising given the

strongly muscled hand firmly gripping her arm.



"What have we learned from this?"



"That you're an insensitive perverted jerk."



"Too much anger - and not enough thought equals........beep." He

teasingly touched index finger to her forehead.



Angrily, she clumsily swiped at the offending digit. "If only you took

me seriously instead of playing around all the time."



Suddenly sombre, Ranma curtly responded. "I'll start treating you

seriously when you start taking the Art seriously."



"Seriously?" Akane stared unbelievingly at her opponent. "A teasing,

joking, perverted baka like you is telling *me* to be serious?!" A

violent roundhouse complemented her disbelief.



The pigtailed fighter's eyes narrowed for but an instant at that.

"Mouko Takabisha."



The blazingly hot bolt of energy passed close enough to singe hair.

Shocked into silence, Akane reflexively stumbled back, even as the

heat of the chi warmed her face. Forcing herself to calm, she silently

reassured herself. *He would never hurt me, he would never hurt

me, he would ne.......*



"So, what new forms or techniques have *you* learned for the Art,

since I've been around?"



"I....I....." And for some reason, the whirling, rushing spin of the

summer breeze seemed to be a very interesting sound to focus upon.

Uncertain, a little embarrassed, and certainly not enjoying either

feeling, Akane absently twiddled her fingers. It was then that she

noticed the unusual chill flowing down her right flank.



"Huh?" Her gi. Her favourite yellow gi. Burnt from waist to shoulder.



Very burnt. Singed all the way down to her sports bra.



"You......you......PERVERT!!!!"



**SLAM!!**



Well versed in the art of fianc� discipline Akane had her mallet safely

retrieved and packaged away with the minimum of fuss, turning on

her heel and marching out of the dojo in one smooth movement.



Leaving her 'sensei' to muse on the curious new way of seeing life -

two inches from the floor.



*Something really must be done about this.* "I'll second that."

Ranma heartily agreed with his brain's suggestion.





**********





The bedroom door was perhaps the first non-living item to feel the

impact of a certain Tendo daughter's anger. Downstairs in the living

room, Nabiki winced sympathetically as the resounding slam echoed

throughout the house, very nearly shaking its ancient foundations to

the core.



And the founder of that thunderous peal fell heavily onto her bed, the

pillow absorbing her angry tears. Martial Arts, the foundation by

which she had survived her childhood years, her, the heir to the

Tendo School of Anything Goes - and he had dared to mock her

efforts.



*Mouko Takabisha.*



"Shut Up!" She angrily screamed to no one.



*Amaguriken.*



Saotome Ranma, the heir to the 'Saotome' School of Anything Goes

Martial Arts - the brother school to her own. How did the

representative of that descendant Ryu compare to her own?



*Hiryu Shoten Ha.*



What honour did she do her own Art, her own School?



"That's not *fair*." She muttered incoherently in the bedclothes. This

was Ranma she was comparing herself with. Ranma! No one could

measure up to him - he had proven that decisively in China.



*So what about the others?*



Others?



*You're the worst of the lot, and you know it girl.*



"That's not true. Before Ranma came I was.........."



Before Ranma.



*Maybe the reason why he doesn't take you seriously, is that you

don't.........don't deserve to be.*



Drying her eyes decisively, Akane clenched her fists in determination.

That had to change. She didn't fully understand why, but to have that

pigtailed boy, *her* fianc� not take her seriously was.......wrong. She

wanted, no she needed his respect.



And what's more, Akane knew just the person who would help her.



"Now where's Ryouga when you really need him?"





*********





"To tell, or not to tell." Sailor Pluto absently toyed with a Golden

Sovereign, insignificant save that it was of solid gold and over ten

thousand years old. "That is the question - for today at least."



Seemed like aeons ago, probably because it was.



Several minutes' deliberation finally yielded an answer. "Sorry Sailor

Mars, but it looks like 'not to tell', for the moment." Tarnished by the

longest of ages, her memory of the times and the situations around

this newest player in the scheme were just too hazy to act decisively

upon.



Just remembering his name had taken several days, no, it would be

worse than cruel to tell the Senshi of Fire that a long lost

acquaintance had finally returned, without being able to provide

anything more than the most rudimentary of obscure details. Sailor

Mars would be distracted - tempted perhaps to ignore her duties in

favour of seeking out this boy.



If Fate deigned to allow it, Senschenal Equoris of the first Royal

Guard would come to them in his own time.



And hopefully by then she could remember what needed to be

remembered in order to.......deal with it.





**********





Ranma sighed despondently at the scene unfolding before his eyes.

"This isn't what I wanted."



A Tendo Akane that was finally training her hardest, putting in her all

to achieve that which she always claimed to aspire to - that was very

good.



Hibiki Ryouga, her chosen Sensei and mentor - not so crash hot.



"Is she stupid or something?" Ranma seemed unaware of his

vocalised thoughts. "I mean, if she wanted somebody to train her,

didn't it even occur, just for a moment, to ask........"



"You've got only yourself to blame for that, Saotome." The voice was

dry, the voice was all-knowing - the voice of Tendo Nabiki.



"What do you know about it?" he responded hotly, irked both at

being caught unawares, and having his thoughts revealed so easily

(even by Nabiki's standards).



"Ranma, Ranma, Ranma. Art thee unwise in the ways of tact and

society." The middle Tendo daughter sagely tsked her disapproval.



"This isn't going to cost me anything is it?"



Welllll.......now that you mention it......"



"Awww, leave me alone Nabiki, I'm broke already." Ranma fairly

whined.



"Well, you're in luck today then." The business girl smoothly

interjected. "I'm feeling generous so consider today's consultation on

the house."



"I should mark this day down in gold gild and silver, on the calendar."

Ranma mumbled grudgingly. "The day that Tendo Nabiki gives

something for nothing."



"Nimble today aren't we?" Too nimble. Nabiki was not entirely

comfortable with the idea that Ranma, on any given day, would

possess the mental capacity for anything other than complete

bluntness. "Anyhow, let us get back to the issue at hand. Akane."



"Akane and Ryouga." Ranma filled in.



"Yes, well frankly I'm surprised that you're surprised that she *didn't*

go to you for help." She paused to take a particularly flattering

picture of her younger sister - her camera appearing and

subsequently disappearing with the minimum of fuss. "After all, why

would she go to you?"



"Well....." the pigtailed boy ticked off the points with his counting

fingers. "I learn the same School of Art as her, I've known her longer,

I'm waayyyy better than pig-boy over there, I won't get lost trying to

find the dojo, and.....and....."



"And?"



"Oh come on Nabiki! You know...." Ranma gesticulated furiously.

"It's *me*! We always do stuff like that together."



The girl's gaze returned to the still sparring pair, the camera unloading

once more. "Apparently not today," came the dry murmur.



"What are *you* staring at?" The pair reflexively stiffened at the sudden

comment.



"What?" Settling into the familiar, and well-worn stance of arrogance,

Ranma crossed arms in front of himself to meet the challenge head-

on. "Ain't no sign here saying I can't stay an' look where I want."



"What's wrong Ranma?" Ryouga cut in, happy to hand in his jibe.

"Feeling left out?"



"Shut up pig face. This ain't none of your business."



"Who you calling a pig face? Ranma you take that........"



"Think you ought to be smart enough to work that out. After all

there's only one *pig* in this room."



"Ranma! Stop picking on............"



*Oh boy.* Nabiki sighed inwardly to herself - this conversation was as

good as over. She resolved to make a safe getaway, and return once

things settled down a little.



And Tendo Akane could only growl in annoyance as her sensei

promptly forgot her lesson in lieu of more......violent matters.



Leave it to that stupid jerk to interrupt her training *and* start another

fight in the same breath.





********





Several hours, and several bruises later Nabiki eventually found her

greatest monetary source angrily scrubbing away at the dirtied welts

that marred his otherwise admittedly handsome features. But before

she could even announce her presence he had already begun. "Damn

Ryouga - sometimes he *really* tests the limits of our friendship." The

Anything Goes heir furiously dried himself. "Antagonising me like that

with that surly smirk, that snooty........"



"Earth to Ranma? Do we have a signal?" The Tendo girl teasingly

prodded the taller boy on the forehead.



There was little reaction, save for a decidedly sour glare. "I thought

you were here to help me."



"Surprised you still remembered." She smiled wryly in response.



"I have a *very* good memory."



Nabiki blinked, startled. That, from a jock like Saotome? She

ignored the thought and continued. "Anyhow, I'm here to help you

help yourself." She stood back, as if to gain a different perspective.

"Frankly Saotome, I think all of us here are a little tired of your

horsing around with this fianc�e business."



"It's not like I'm enjoying any of this - in fact it stinks to unholy

Hell in case you didn't notice."



"Ooohh such language." Nabiki mock swooned. "Are we

approaching the quarter life crisis here?"



"Maybe......" the Anything Goes heir trailed off sombrely. "Just been

thinking a lot lately - about life, abut my friends." His eyes darkened

in thought. "About those who I used to think were my friends."



"Saotome Ranma, going philosophical - now *this* is worth marking

down on a calendar."



"Thinking about changes...." The pigtailed boy continued, as if he

hadn't heard. "I mean, what kind of life is it? I would have thought

that after......after China things would have been different - ya know

everyone would have kind of.....grown up?" He sighed ruefully.

"Feels like I'm the only one that was changed by those events."



"I really wish one of you would tell me just what happened at this

Phoenix Mountain." Nabiki had picked up random details to be sure

(she *was* Nabiki after all), but it seemed that none of the participants

were willing to divulge the full story.



And that infuriated her to no end.



"I.....I'd rather not talk about it, if it's all the same to you." His reply

was almost incoherent.



"It is *not* all the same to me." Nabiki snapped in an unusual display of

outward emotion. "She's *my* little sister - and I'd like to know just

how she was nearly......"



"Killed? Lost?" Ranma turned to smile at her. "She's very alive, and

very healthy." He rubbed at a distinctly mallet shaped imprint on his

cheek. "And *very* strong. Be content Nabiki-chan." Without leaving

time for her to devise a suitable retort he promptly found the nearest

window and made good his exit.



"I hate it how he does that." Nabiki muttered to nobody in particular.

There was just no way to verbally badger somebody if they chose to

make leg shattering drops which normal humans had no business

attempting to duplicate. However, her dwellings were presently cut

off by yet another thought - one certainly more perplexing.



*Nabiki-chan???*





**********





And not twenty kilometres away, another girl was sitting stunned, but

for entirely different reasons. Tsukino Usagi, aged sixteen, blonde,

klutzy, and the future Queen of Tokyo (that is, if everything went

according to plan).



But that wasn't very important. What was of present concern was the

fact that Rei, Hino Rei to be exact had wilfully and without any

argument, allowed the blonde full and uninhibited access to her entire

manga collection.



The *whole* collection - even her prized limited editions.



Drawn into an unprecedented amount of worry, Usagi peered closely

into the purple dark eyes of her priestess companion, experimentally

munching on a cookie right up in her face - as a way to up the ante,

so to speak.



No visible reaction.



Now she was *really* worried. "R..Rei-chan? Are you alright?"



No answer. Usagi paused to consider if this was what all her friends

called 'The Silent Treatment'. Although up till now, that kind of

approach seemed hardly appropriate to one such as Rei.



It was then that Makoto, followed closely by the other two Inner

Senshi entered the living room of the Shrine. "Hey, what's up with

you two?" It was unusual per se to see this particular pair in such

close proximity without at least one pair of hands on another's throat.



"Rei's....Rei's....." Usagi's brow scrunched up in thought.

"Uhh....What's the word to describe someone whose unconscious,

but with their eyes open?"



"Catatonic?" Ami offered helpfully.



"Yeah that's it." Actually, the Moon Princess had no idea what that

word was - but one could always trust Ami in these sort of things. "I

was kinda thinking 'vegetable', but that didn't sound too nice."



"Huh?" It seemed that the subject of their discussion was apparently

not as incoherent to the world as previously thought. "Meatball head,

I am *not* a vegetable!"



The others almost reflexively rushed to change the subject. By now,

the art of running damage control between these two was practically

instinctive. "Are you feeling well then, Rei?" Minako knelt before the

priestess, and placed a palm to her forehead.



"Thanks Mina-chan, I'm okay." The raven-haired girl casually

brushed off the contact. "I....I just did a fire-reading, and the results

were kind of......kind of......strange."



"Strange?" The oftime Senshi of Mercury stared down, as if trying to

discern her friend's puzzled expression. "What is it you saw?"



Rei sighed, wilting a little under the combined concern of all her

fellow soldiers. "It was the clearest reading I've ever done, but only

an image - no movement, so setting, no *nothing*!" She clenched her

fists as frustration arose once more. "I have absolutely *no* idea where

this boy came from or who he was - for all I know the fire reading

could have been foretelling who the next pizza delivery guy would be.



"Mmmm." Usagi murmured appreciatively. "Pizza...."



"A boy eh?" Makoto eyes gleamed speculatively. "Did he by any

chance happen to look like my old..........."



"No Makoto he didn't." Rei interrupted firmly. "Nobody, least of all

you knows what your 'sempai' looks like."



"I do too know." Makoto nearly whined, obviously hurt by the

chorus of disbelieving open-eyed looks she was receiving.



"Getting back to my fire reading......" the Shinto priestess tentatively

interjected once more, when it became clear that no one else was

going to. "It was a boy I've never met before in my life. I'm sure of

that at least."



"Really?" It was only then that the fire Senshi took note of Usagi's

ever-present adviser, Luna. "You know that quite often, events from

our past take a while to register, even if........"



"I *know*, Luna." Rei said impatiently. "This person was unlike anyone

I've known. He was tall, kind of broad built, with a pigtail..... She

sighed despondently. "Princess Mars never knew anyone like that -

and yet......" She trailed off, uncertain. "And yet, even though we

don't know each other I suddenly got all these....these.....sad vibes

from seeing him."



Silence followed that statement - there was no real way to respond

to that.





**********





 "Oh My! Ranma-kun, what are you doing here?" Despite her

surprise, Kasumi's query came with her ever-present, ever

brightening smile.



The pigtailed boy took a moment to look about, as if only then

noticing his own presence in the family laundry room (which was

probably because he *hadn't* noticed before).



"I......I dunno." He scratched behind his head quizzically, as if to

encourage the brain contained within to divulge its motivations.



If the eldest Tendo found his behaviour puzzling, she hid it well.

"So......is there anything I can do for you?"



"Ah no, not really." He still hadn't worked out why he was here. No

matter, if it was important it would come to him, and in the meantime,

"Say, do you need a hand with that?"



Kasumi looked down to the basket of freshly washed and dried

clothing - around the same quantity she was used to collecting every

Thursday. After all this time she was more than accustomed to

coping with the housework on her own. "No thanks, I can manage

by myself."



Shrugging indifferently, the Anything Goes heir pulled the basket free

from her grasp, his martial artist's grasp refusing to yield to her

relatively light hold upon the burden. "It's no matter anyway. It'll be

faster with both of us folding up." He promptly floated out of the

confined room, heading for a more spacious area.



Kasumi could only stare curiously as her long time houseguest

disappeared around the doorframe. This was perhaps the first time

anybody had ever helped her with the housework on an ordinary day

(somehow, Akane's attempts to prepare dinner didn't seem to

count), and from Ranma of all people!



When she arrived at the living room, the said boy was already

patiently folding up his own variously coloured shirts, steadily adding

to the neat pile already balanced atop his head. She couldn't help but

giggle at the spectacle as Ranma expertly tossed a pair of boxer

shorts high into the air, to land evenly atop his pile. Her amusement

turned to full blown laughter when he finished the performance with a

courtly bow, still keeping the various clothing items in check.



The pigtailed teenager gazed at the mistress of the Tendo household,

revelling in the joyous freedom of her voice. "You know that must be

the very first time I've ever heard you laugh before."



Her open amusement promptly terminated at that, overshadowed by

a spreading flush of embarrassment. He grinned cheekily at her.

"Hurry it up Kasumi. I don't want to have to do *all* the work myself."



Snapped back to her task, and ignoring the further reddening of her

cheeks, the girl shakily took up a piece, one of Nabiki's short shorts,

and set about folding it. This was altogether an entirely unusual

experience - first having someone else doing the chores with her, and

now being rattled by that very same person - all so......disconcerting.



"Ranma-kun, don't take this the wrong way, but is everything

alright?" She looked up at the taller boy, concerned.



"Why do you ask?" The bantering humour that had decorated his

visage seemed to wilt a little.



"You seem.....a little different today."



"Really?" He shrugged indifferently. "I didn't notice."



"More, nice." Actually, it was the fact that he was talking to her at all

- sure they exchanged greetings all the time - but this..... "Are you

feeling well?"



Exasperated, the pigtailed boy snatched up another article of

clothing, totally unfazed that it was in fact a bra - and moreover

Akane's at that. "Why is it that whenever I'm 'nice' everyone assumes

that I'm sick or somethin'?"



"I-I'm sorry - I didn't mean......."



"Forget about it Kasumi." He shrugged indifferently. "Didn't mean to

make such a big deal about it anyways."



The pair continued to fold in a somewhat uncomfortable silence.





********





It was *his* spot - the Tendo family's roof - and no other's. Oh sure,

given the surprising concentration of 'roof hopping capable' martial

artists within the Nerima precinct, it was true that this particular house

top had seen its share of feet over the months.



But still, when one really considered it - this place had always been

Ranma's spot - and thus, when he was in those rare moments of

philosophy and pondering, this was the place to be.



It was a feeling he could never really have shared with anyone - just

sitting there, gazing up at the stars. Not nearly as many as when he

had done so on that long training journey - but enough to truly remind

one of his real place in the grander scheme of things.



And besides, aside from the occasional Kodachi or Ryouga drop in -

it was also one of the few places where one such as Saotome Ranma

could find a little peace and quiet - and a little time to think.



Life. His life. If one were to find a single words to describe his life,

what would they be?



Chaotic. Violent.



Unacceptable.



"Oh what to do?" He mused aloud, as if the worlds above him could

prepare a fitting answer. *What to do, what to do, what to.......*



Indeed, it seemed for a moment that his questions may have received

a reply - for there was a distinctly voice-like sound pervading the

airwaves. "Huh?" He sat up abruptly, looking about to register its

source.



Yes, there was definitely a voice, and by the occasional 'baka' that

seemed to rise out of the general murmuring of the distortion, it was

easy to guess who it was. Raising his hands to cup over his mouth,

the pigtailed martial artist shouted his own answer. "Up here Akane!"



Within a few short minutes, a pair of parallel wooden posts could be

seen bobbing about near the guttering, until they finally came to rest

against the solid wooden rafting.



A ladder. The Saotome heir sighed mournfully. Nearly a year past his

arrival, and Akane still needed a ladder to get onto the roof. True,

there were technically two schools to the Anything Goes Ryu - two

lines which their eventual marriage was supposed to unite - but it was

painfully clear to all that only one school would survive the

generation.



Ranma had for all practical purposes, nothing to learn from the line

that Akane was supposed to represent - and for some reason that

saddened him greatly. No one would wish to learn the Mutsabeto

Kakuto Ryu from Tendo Akane, if they could get the infinitely more

famed Saotome Ranma for Sensei.



And whilst he mused, Ranma's combat trained vision continued to

mark the jolt upon the ladder as the girl in his thoughts gradually

ascended the steps. Tendo Akane, the Anything Goes Sensei - no it

would never work. Ranma may have been many things considered

reprehensible by the mores of Japanese society and etiquette - but he

could see that without a change in temper and disposition, Akane

would never make a worthwhile teacher.



But did she even want to inherit the dojo, and become a Sensei? Did

she see her future as alongside her..her husband, carrying on the

Art to the next generation?



Somehow, Ranma had never been able to picture Akane's future as

being involved purely with the Martial Arts - she seemed more the

kind of girl to go to university, get a degree, find a worthwhile career.



He, on the other hand, was useless for anything *other* than fighting

and protecting - and passing down the Art of both to others. Though

he had never done so before, he imagined he'd be a satisfactory

teacher.



He almost laughed aloud as another thought struck. Women seeking

to learn the Art might have been uncomfortable under the tutelage of

a male - but just by circumstance, Ranma was capable of fulfilling

that role as well.



*'I'm a martial artist too you know.'* But unless there was change -

the Tendo School of Anything Goes would die with its final heir.



*Thud.* *Thud*. Three more steps to go, and she would be at the

apex of her ascent. But even before her appearance, the youngest

Tendo's decidedly acerbic voice preceded her. "What are you doing

up here Ranma?"



As always the underlying defensiveness that seemed to taint her every

conscious word to him cut a little deeper than it should have. "I'm just

thinkin', Akane." Leaning forward, he offered a hand to her - an offer

that was swiftly ignored. "What, ya worried about me?"



Had Akane not jerked her head to look the other way, she would

have noticed her fianc� mouthing her reply - word for word. "Hmph,

as if I'd be worried about a baka like you."



And all the while, Ranma continued to stare at her profile, beautifully

outlined by the moonlight illuminating behind her. Even when she was

angered, Akane would ever be the beauty of his life. Quickly though,

the aching vision was dispelled as the girl returned her heated gaze

back to his presence, forcing him in turn to avert his own eyes.



In that instant, he had seen many things - a little anger, aloofness,

beauty, independence.



Jealousy - an almost desperate jealousy. Ranma couldn't understand

why, but he could sense the insecurity in her clear outward pride,

perhaps underlying in her aura.



Could it be, that Akane had sub-consciously recognised what he had

just discovered in her - in both of them? A subliminal knowledge that

in the race for martial supremacy she was hobbling in crutches? Well,

that wasn't really fair - Akane was racing with the very finest of

competitors in the world - to come last in the sort of group that

Ranma mixed in was honour itself.



"Ranma, what are you staring at?" The short-haired girl's eyes

narrowed suspiciously, secretly guessing that her fianc� was devising

a new insult to her appearance.



Belatedly, Ranma realised that his attention to the present had

wandered yet again. "Nuthin' Akane. Just thinking."



"Are you feeling alright?" She leaned forward, as if to gain a clearer

perspective.



Sigh*. Again the questions after his health. "There's nothing wrong

with me Akane. Aren't I allowed to think for myself without people

butting in and asking about......" Damn it no. He'd gone and done it

again....



"Well *excuse* me!!" Instantly the hostility that had been under-boiling,

well, over-boiled. "And to think that I might have been worried about

you!" In a huff, the Tendo girl, slid down the roof, back to her ladder.



"You were worried about me?"



"Ha! You wish, Ranma." Caught a little off-guard, she turned once

before hurrying down the ladder, trying to ignore the obvious

contradictoriness in her words.



Leaving her fianc� to dwell on their brief, yet as always heated

conversation.



"Saotome Ranma, you really know how to put your foot in it, don't

you?"



Still, he had to thank her. Whether intentional or not, Akane had

helped the decision along.





***********





Morning came, and with it the same issues that had plagued a certain

high school girl as the day before. Blearily, Rei arose from her bed,

irritated that within seconds of her awakening the morning had been

thoroughly spoiled.



It was irking that even now there wasn't much that could be done to

further the subject of her fire reading. Well, of course there was

always the option to go see Grandfather, but Rei had to admit that

the idea of discussing the vision with someone like him was not

particularly thrilling.



*Hmph, he'd probably come up with some perverted theory about

my 'hidden desires' making me see cute boys in my fire readings.*



As the priestess mechanically slipped out of the giant tee shirt that

was currently serving as sleepwear, she continued to muse on the

vision, absently humming an improvised tune. Coming to her uniform,

she silently took note of its colour - grey - the colour of T*A Private

Girl's High School.



It was a exclusively privileged institution - her place in it being due

mostly to her father's.......privileged position in society.



And up till now, Rei had never questioned why it was that she

attended one school, where practically all of her real friends went to

another. Still, it was a place she had gotten thoroughly accustomed to

- and given that as a graduate of the Junior section she had automatic

enrolment in the adjacent Senior High School, it looked like the

Shinto priestess would continue to be its exclusive member within the

Senshi group.





***********





At around the same time, though in another place, a panda was

readily coming to wake. Mechanically, Genma reached over to the

space beside his, for the traditional custom of attempting to eject his

only son out through the guest window - as a way of martial arts

training of course.



A custom, it seemed that would be difficult to perform today -

considering that all that was available was a neatly folded pile of bed

sheets. Blinking confusedly, the panda looked about for his wayward

child. The futon was missing, presumably already folded and stacked

in the cupboard. Other than that, all seemed serene and normal

(given this *was* Nerima).



Ranma had woken up before him?



"Ranma, get up! Or we'll be......." As per usual, Akane made her

appearance several seconds later - armed with a half-filled pail of

water, she was the final alarm clock so to speak - and one that could

*not* be delayed by hitting the 'sleep' button. "........late?"



A little dumbfounded, the Tendo girl looked about. This was most

unusual. Ranma was *never* punctual - he *relied* on Akane to get

them to school on time (most of the time). It was then that she

noticed the single note affixed roughly where Ranma's head would

have been, were he still asleep.







# # # # #



Dear Akane,



I'll be a little late for school today, so you go

on ahead without me. But thanks a lot for

stopping around to wake me up anyways.





Ranma.



# # # # #







As usual, it was in Ranma's illegible scrawl - but other than that there

were no similarities with the boy who had presumably written it.



Ranma had left her a note?



He was being considerate - of a sorts?



So mystified was the youngest Tendo, she never even noticed her

older sister peering curiously after her as she shambled down the

stairs.



Never a morning person, Nabiki scratched her head wearily at the

unexpected peacefulness of the morning - an almost unheard of

modicum in the mayhem that was the Tendo Dojo household.



Meanwhile, the younger sister continued to ponder, whilst she

mechanically sat before the already waiting breakfast. Ranma being

nice and considerate could mean several possibilities.





A. He was sick.

B. He had done or was in the process of doing something that would

make her angry, and was trying to appease her a little before she

found out.

C. He was out with one or more of his other fianc�es and didn't want

her to find out (that was sort of tied in with point B).





Either way..........."Rrrraaannnnmmmaaaa........." Akane seemed

unaware as the note clutched tightly in her hands flared away into

charred ashes. Oooohhh he had some explaining to do when he

showed up at school.





************





The subject of the short haired girl's thoughts could be seen making

his way down a long, and rather unfamiliar path.



And the fact that it was unfamiliar, among other things, grieved

Ranma a little - for it was the stone pathway that led to the front door

of the Saotome residence - the home of his own mother.



But that would change - he'd come to the firm decision last night, and

thus was acting upon it today. So thinking, he resolutely knocked

upon the entrance.



"Yes, who is........Ranma!" Nodoka seemed both surprised and

pleasantly elated - this was perhaps the first time her son had taken

the effort to visit her in their true home. Her warm welcoming hug

said as much.



Returning the embrace, the pigtailed teenager awkwardly stepped

across the threshold - still a little uncomfortable at showing affection

of any kind - especially to a woman who until a few months ago had

been seen more for her very sharp sword than anything else.



"Shouldn't you be going to school now? You'd best hurry my son, or

you'll be late." The Saotome matriarch frowned ever so slightly. "A

manly man is never......"



"Mom, can we talk for a moment? It's important." The uninterrupted

seriousness of his eyes conveyed the truth of his words.



Instantly, the elder lady was by his side. "What is it, Ranma?" Her

son so very rarely expressed came to her for consultation, well.......



"I've been thinking........well Mom, the thing is, I've been

thinking........" He scratched behind his pigtail uncomfortably.



When it became clear that he wasn't about to immediately divulge

what he had been 'thinking', the matriarch gently ushered her child

into the living room, where an informal tea set already lay brewing.



"You see Mom, the thing is.....well........."



Sighing in mild exasperation, Nodoka settled in her chair, pouring

another cup of tea for her son. This was clearly going to take a while.





***********





"And where is your fianc� today?" Nabiki's tone was deceptively

mild as the sisters made their familiar way to Furinkan.



And, as to be expected, there was the standard issue response. "He

is *not* my fianc�! And I don't know where he is." Despite her

forcefully fuming expression, Akane maintained her calm - the sort of

calm you see in the centre of a tornado.



"And doesn't that worry you just a bit?"



Akane knew what her sister was trying to do, what with all the subtle

tweaks aimed at dismembering her temper.



The trouble was, Nabiki was so.....so *good* at it.



"I have no reason to be worried about that baka."



"Oh?" Her respectful tone fooled nobody. "You trust him enough not

to fool around.......say you know Ukyou hasn't been coming to

school lately either."



"Shut UP Nabiki!" Quickening her pace, Akane easily stormed past

her annoying older sister - all the while ignoring her shimmering

vision.





***********





"Are you quite sure about this, my son, I mean really sure?"



The boy before her placed tired hands before his eyes. "Yes Mother,

I spent the greater part of the night in dwelling upon the idea." Damn,

it was a relief to have finally gotten that all out before his mother - so

relieving that he didn't notice the quizzical gaze she gave him at his

odd speech inflection.



By the time he had raised eyes to her once more, the look had

evaporated. "What's important though Mom, is are ya okay with it - I

mean, I know it's all of a sudden and all.......and ya know....."



"Oh no, my son, you know you will always be welcome to me." Her

eyes narrowed in lieu of another thought. "However, I'm not sure

how the Tendo's will view this, especially Akane."



Instantly on the defensive, Ranma grouchily fired back. "That tomboy

couldn't care.less." But the insult died in his throat even as

Nodoka's disapproval became ever more evident.



"That is no way to talk of your fianc�e." She sternly admonished.

"And you know very well Akane cares."



Sombrely, Ranma answered. "If so, she's at great pains to conceal it

- though I do apologize, Mother. I *am* making efforts to....to.....stop

with the insults."



Heaving the sigh patented to all bereaved mothers, Nodoka set her

tea cup down onto the table. "I wish you two would hurry up and

admit your love, and spare my poor nerves the constant stress."

Pausing, she awaited the expected denial - and was again surprised

when there was none forthcoming. "I long ago gave up the idea of

grandchildren - is a nice quiet marriage too much to ask?"



"I'll marry on my own terms or not at all." growled Ranma furiously.



Choosing to ignore her son's rudeness, not to mention his suggestion

at the possibility of breaking Clan honour, she continued to pursue

the issue. "You did not deny it when I spoke of the love between you

two."



"I'll deny it now then, Mom." But against his implied protestations, the

pigtailed boy's eyes looked pained. "A one sided love cannot be

shared between two."



It took several very long seconds for that to register fully, but when it

did....... "R-ranma. Did I hear you correctly?" Was this truly her son?

The boy who had made denial almost an Art form unto itself?



"I have to go now Mom, or I'll never get my stuff done before

lunchtime." Abruptly, he arose, as if making to leave.



"Wait, Ranma!" Her outstretched hand forestalled his departure. "Did

you just acknowledge a love for your fianc�e?"



Giving his mother one last loving look, he replied. "I'm sorry Mom,

but I've been thinking about it a lot, and I have my reasons."



And by the time Nodoka had figured out that her child hadn't even

answered her question, he was already gone.





************





"So much to do, and so little money." For perhaps the umpteenth

time, Ranma cursed the high interest debts that seemed to perpetually

plague his monetary relations with one Tendo Nabiki - debts which

served to keep his reserve cash to the minimum subsistence level.



It seemed strange, now that he considered it - why was it that

whenever he happened on occasion to garner a reasonable amount

of money, his owings to the middle Tendo daughter seemed to

increase accordingly?



And when he was broke - well - it was no fun having to pay interest

for interest payments that had been postponed.



Though for today at least, the pigtailed teenager was in good fortune

- having, over the past few weeks preceding.....preceding Phoenix

Mountain, managed to save a fair amount (by his standards) through

the occasional allowances and working previously down at the

Nekohanten.



And now that he thought about *that*, Ranma hadn't been down to the

Amazon restaurant, nor Ucchan's since that fateful expedition.



However, that was for later - what he needed now were presents -

three presents to be exact.



Three presents for three girls.





************





It was near lunchtime when Akane was finally able to locate her

wayward fianc� - nonchalantly eating from a takeout box at their

normal lunch spot as if nothing at all had happened. Since they shared

a great deal many of their classes - his absence had been noticeably

conspicuous, both to herself, and to those around her - and already,

she was near seething from all the 'not so discreet' speculations being

exchanged around the rumour mills. In a way the Tendo heir hadn't

noticed until now - though most paid little to no attention to the daily

routines, there were a disturbing number of open ears to changes in

said routine.



And Ranma being absent from her side - and perhaps more unusually

- her not knowing of his activities, was certainly considered to be a

break in customs. As she fiercely made her way to the irritating

pervert, Akane paused to wonder why everyone would make such a

big deal about them not being together for a stupid half-day.



It was then that she realised that, save for the odd interference from

one of the other fianc�es - she and Ranma had done just about

*everything* together - in and out of school.



"Yo Akane." Ranma's standard greeting broke through her reverie.

"Did I miss anything important?"



"I....uh.....I...." Still a little disconcerted, the youngest Tendo stumbled

for words, before remembering the origin of her initial frustrations.

"Care to tell me where you were this whole morning?"



The pigtailed martial artist looked up to the skies, hand held to chin in

thoughtful repose. "No. You'll find out tonight."



"N-no?" Another first for today - a simple, straightforward,

unblemished denial - no stumblings, no excuses. Her eyes narrowed

suspiciously. "I noticed that Ukyou wasn't here as well." Well,

Nabiki had been the one to notice - but that was close enough.



"Akane, Ucchan hasn't been around for weeks."



Even to this day, the way he always said 'Ucchan' grated on her

nerves. "So why can't you tell me where you were then? What,

hiding something again Ranma?" The baka was hopeless at telling

lies, and even more hopeless at hiding them.



"Awww, leave it alone willya?" He seemed more interested in the

admittedly delightful contents of the deluxe takeout box. What do

you care anyway?"



"Because I'm.." she paused. Why did she care anyway? "Ah, go

off and play with your fianc�es - like I really care anymore."



Ah, the securities of habit and reflex.





**********





It was after dinner, when Kasumi was clearing up the dishes, that the

knocking of the Tendo front door echoed across the house.



There was only one person she was familiar with who actually

bothered to request entry in the proper manner - as opposed to

leaping over and/or bashing through the compound wall. As such, her

greeting was out even before the eldest Tendo girl had fully opened

the door. "Why good evening, Auntie Saotome." She accompanied

her ever cheery voice with an equally bright smile.



"Hello dear Kasumi, and......" the Saotome Matriarch paused to look

over the shorter girl's shoulder at the huddled form of her husband

".......hello Genma." She added quietly.



The balding man suppressed a reflexive shudder - still not quite over

the instinctive desire to immerse himself in the nearest water source

whenever this particular woman appeared. "W-why hello N-Nodoka

dear. What b-brings you to these parts?"



Nabiki could only stare disgustedly as the quivering Saotome

nervously eyed his wife's partially hidden sword - although one did

wonder why Nodoka would still choose to carry it around.



Ignoring her husband for the moment, the Saotome matriarch looked

about pleasantly. "Is my son here? He was going to...."



"I'm here Mom." Ranma cut in, appearing from the landing. He

noted with approval that the entire household was seated in and

around the living room. Stepping into the haphazard gathering, he

nervously scratched behind his head. "Uhh, I kinda have..sorta an

announcement to make." Suddenly the confidence which had spurred

him onward throughout the day seemed to dissipate away.



A feeling not helped by the fact that his unusual pronouncement

(unusual for Ranma) had drawn all eyes and attention towards

himself.



Nabiki's eyes quirked in mild interest - her scheming mind already

gearing up to catalogue and record whatever was to come next (well,

actually, the micro-cassette recorder hidden in her shorts would

perform the latter task).



Positively melting under the combined stares - more than one of them

fearsomely suspicious - the Anything Goes heir stumbled, the

prepared speech conveniently choosing the moment to exit his

dawdling brain. Behind him, Nodoka sighed wearily. She was sure

that manly men were supposed to be able to speak for themselves -

this fault, amongst others would definitely have to be corrected.



The kimono-clad lady smiled at that last thought - now finally, the

Saotome mother would be given her proper chance to do just that.



"Come on, *boy*!" Genma exclaimed harshly from his cross-legged

position by the shogi table. "We don't have all night - be a man and

spit it out!"



That seemed to do it. Unconsciously duplicated his father's stance,

Ranma crossed arms before beginning. "I've been giving this a lot of

thought for a while now, an' I decided that it would be better for us

all if I.."



>From without, it seemed that the entire household had unknowingly

leaned forwards.



"..if I move out for a while."



The results, to say the least were...spectacular.



**"WHAT??!!!"**



Nodoka winced as her neatly tied hair was knocked askew by the

resulting wind current. Not to mention old Soun had a terrible

breath...



"Oh my!" Kasumi neatly exclaimed. "Ranma-kun, why...."



Genma was able to put it more succinctly. Surging to his feet, the old

fighter grabbed his son by the shoulders, forcing the shorter figure to

look him in the eyes. "Boy!" He barked harshly. "Stop with this

foolish notion that you can ignore.ignore.ah heh hee." He trailed

off into an uncomfortably sickly laugh.



Hearing the sweetly metallic rasp of a well oiled katana exiting its

sheath can do that to a man.



"Now now, *dear*, let's not lose our control." Nodoka smiled

sweetly. "We might find ourselves losing more than we initially

planned for."



Soun, halfway through the process of assisting his old friend,

promptly plopped back onto his cushion.



"Harmph..as I was saying.." Ranma continued, unaffected. "I

think we all need a bit of a break.." there was the barest of glances

to a certain short-haired girl, "..an' seeing as I'm the one who's

usually involved in all the trouble...well..."



"N-now son." Soun answered, simultaneously trying to sound

reasonable, and ignoring the omnipresent Saotome matriarch. "This is

all so sudden - why don't you give it a few days to.."



"Like I said I've spent a while thinkin' about it already."



"What about us, Ranma-kun?" That had come unexpectedly from

Kasumi. "Can't we have a few days to get used to it?"



"I'm really sorry, Kasumi." The pigtailed boy smiled sheepishly. "But

me an' Mom already talked about this. We decided it's best to get

this over with real quick so as.." again the cursorary glance about,

"so as not to attract too much attention."



Nabiki very nearly choked with laughter on her bag of chips.

*Ranma's* disappearing from Nerima not attracting attention?



Not bloody likely.



Turning her had worriedly, she noted with concern that Akane

uttered not a word. The youngest Tendo sat stony faced, her

expression unreadable in its neutrality.



"Where will you stay?" Although seeing present company, Nabiki

could have already guessed.



Stepping forwards from behind, the boy's mother placed hands

almost possessively on her son. "With me of course - away from

Nerima, and away from all the trouble that he lives with." She

embellished the statement with yet another harsh glare towards a

certain balding martial artist.



The silence that followed was agonizing in its length.



"W-when will you be leaving?" Kasumi nervelessly twisted her tea

towel - still wet from her dish washing - after all, she had to tidy up,

and pack Ranma's things for him, and maybe a farewell dinner,

and..and.."



"Well..." the Anything Goes fighter shrugged awkwardly, "I was

kinda thinking now."



*"NOW??!!"*



"Genmmmaaa....." Nodoka warned dangerously.



"B-but No-chan dear," The Saotome patriarch continued heedless.

"W-what a-about the agreement? And the boy's training? And I

haven't prepared yet..."



"Not you," She interrupted firmly. "Just Ranma - and only Ranma

will be coming with me."



Genma wilted - torn between confusion and hurt. "The Schools.."

he sniffed, voice quavering.



"Don't worry - Ranma's not isolating himself from here forever -

consider it a little holiday for us all." The copper-red haired lady

smiled bemusedly as she looked between the fianc�s. "I think both

our young loves need a break - call it over-exposure to each other."



Both 'loves' tightened visibly at the usage of that word, but said

nothing.



But before any protests could erupt, she added, "Ranma, go up stairs

and gather your belongings."



Silently thanking for the break in tensions, the martial artist dashed

upstairs. In truth he had already packed - not that there was so much

to pack - but there was still the matter of..



Finding little use in remaining standing, Nodoka primly choose a

convenient easy chair to sit in. She didn't say anything more - and

nobody seemed game enough to make any further comments.



Presently, the boy who had held Nerima's attentions for so long

returned, bearing his ever-trusty backpack, an extra duffel bag, and

something else. "I..." he seemed almost shy. "I kinda got you guys

some things...like ya know as thanks for puttin' up with me, and

what with me freeloadin' and damaging the house

and..and...awww heck." he finished impatiently, and unfolded his

bundle. "I'll just give 'em to you and get it over with."



Crossing the room, he came to stand before the eldest Tendo

daughter, he neatly unfolded the first item. Innately feeling a mild

sense of formality Kasumi stood as well, hands entwined in front of

her.



After all, in all the ten years since their mother's passing, nobody had

*ever* given her anything - especially not a..not a..



"A gi?" Curiosity overcoming her embarrassment, the pony tailed girl

let the cotton white garment unfold. "Um, I don't mean to sound

rude, Ranma-kun, I *am* very grateful - but what am I supposed to

do with this?"



The famous cocky grin returned once more to the martial artist's

features. "What do you think you do with a gi that's cut to your size?

Wear it. Tomorrow morning. For training."



"T-training?" Kasumi stared disbelievingly. "Training for what?" She

cooked. She cleaned. She made the house perfect for her family -

you didn't need a gi to practice those tasks.



"Oh fer cryin' out loud Kasumi." Ranma sighed exasperatedly.

"Martial Arts. Tomorrow you start training again."



His last word was not lost on the eldest daughter. Ambiently, she

wondered where he had found out that she used to practice the Arts.

But still, that had been ages ago - surely he wasn't expecting her

to.. "Ranma I can't start kenpo again!" For the first time in living

memory, the ever-bright girl looked almost....desperate. "It's been

so long - and besides..besides.."



"Tendo Kasumi." Ranma commanded in mock-gravity. "Tomorrow

you will get Tendo-san to re-start your training, or else.." He trailed

off for effect.



"E-else what?" What ever happened to the nice, pleasant, non-

interfering Ranma?



The subject of her upset tilted his head in thought. "Or else..else

I'll.." Suddenly he snapped fingers in inspiration. "I'll find the

nearest dirty garbage pile and...and dump it all over the living

room."



"You - you *wouldn't*!!" Kasumi exclaimed, horrified, clasping hands

to her face.



Ranma's decidedly evil grin only widened. "Get ready for some

serious training, Kasumi-neesan."



Leaving the older girl whittling over the image he had recently painted

for her, the pigtailed martial artist turned to the next in line. "Now,

Nabiki - ya know I had to think for ages about what to get for a girl

who gets whatever she wants anyway."



"You *could* repay me all your debts." The short-haired girl

commented dryly. But internally, she was furiously thinking over the

nearly instantaneous shift in personality that the Anything Goes heir

had undergone not a few minutes ago.



"Sorry." Ranma shrugged sheepishly. "I can't afford a present like

that. But here.." he handed her a thick envelope - of a kind she

was personally very familiar with - the type which one usually

procured from a photo developer. ".since you're so fond of my

body, I thought I'd leave these for you to remember me by."



Outwardly hiding her blush at his indirect jibe, Nabiki wordlessly

took the offered package, opening the flap to take a quick glance

inside.



And just as quickly snapping the flap firmly closed. *My God, what

yen Kuno would pay for these. College fund here I come!* She

couldn't hide her surprise, staring at her highest monetary source as if

he were berefit of his wits.



"Hey, I figured you'd get those kinda pictures outta me sooner or

later." Again that annoying shrug. "Figured I might as well save you

the trouble, seeing as I'm gonna be out for a while."



And finally, last but not least..belatedly, Ranma realised that

throughout the announcement, Akane hadn't said anything at all.



Not a single word.



"Akane?" The Saotome heir tentatively stepped up to his fianc�e.



"Ranma?" She returned evenly, her face revealing nothing.

Accustomed as he was to her more...expressive personality, the

change was uncannily disturbing.



The fact that he could literally feel the heat of the rest of the family

practically breathing down the back of his neck was not helping

matters at all. A little frustrated by the warring feelings of confusion

and concern, the pigtailed fighter unthinkingly grabbed his fianc�e's

hand and led her away to a place of greater privacy.



He wasn't sure if her uncharacteristic lack of resistance was

something to be thankful for.





**********





"What are you thinking, old friend?" Genma accompanied the query

with the barest of twitches.



Both of Master Happousai's students were sitting in identical lotus

positions by the garden veranda, facing the setting Sun.



"I don't like this, Saotome, not at all." Soun carefully checked

around to see if his friend's wife was in hearing proximity. "And just

when Akane and Ranma looked like they might have had a chance of

getting a little closer..after all that has happened your son just ups

and leaves."



"Too true, Tendo-kun, too true." The balding man rubbed his

forehead sagely. "That worthless ingrate has, in a night, set back all

our plans for the future of our Schools once again." He sighed

despondently. "But, much as I hate to admit it, I have about as much

chance of beating some sense into him as defying the M-master."



"The Master!" Soun blinked in inspiration, though immediately

lowering his voice as if in fear of summoning the demon himself.

Whispering conspiratorially, he added, "When the Master hears

about it - and the threat to Anything Goes, he'll go livid."



Any further comments were interrupted by a crisply stern voice.

"Tendo-san, Genma? What are you talking about?"



"N-nothing dear." Genma hurriedly distanced himself from where the

pair had been leaning together. "Tendo-kun was just saying how it's

fortunate that the Master has been out and about for so long."



"Yes indeed." Nodoka answered dryly. Looking about, the Saotome

matriarch wondered how much longer her son would take. It was

getting dark after all.





**********





Several stories up - on the roof in fact - there was a much more

subdued conversation taking place.



If one could have even called it that - so far there was yet to be a

word exchanged.



And, when Ranma was finally able to muster the courage to speak -

a quiet, unassuming question dissolved his composure once more.



"Why?"



So many meanings - and even more ways to answer them.

Unfortunately, the raven-haired boy chose the most useless of

responses.



"Huh?"



Impatiently, Akane brushed aside her bangs. "Was it really so bad

here, that you just *had* to leave?"



"Ha!" Ranma actually laughed out loud at that. "You have *got* to be

kidding Akane - besides - you're the one who's always complaining

like how 'I was your worst nightmare', and 'you never asked for any

of this.'"



Had she really said that? It must have been ages ago. How could he

possibly remember all the stuff they'd said like that?



But she refused to let the matter drop. "Do you really think running

away like this will solve anything?"



The martial artist visible stiffened at the accusation. "It should help

with at least *some* of my problems. Besides, I don't see you doing

anything to help."



Sensing an oncoming argument, and almost welcoming it for its sense

of normalcy, Akane responded hotly. "Why should *I* do anything?

It's all your own fault anyway."



Frustrated from emotions held too long in check, Ranma exploded.

"Dammit Akane, I never asked you to do ANYTHING! I have

never asked you to do more than you have."



She turned on him, outraged. "That's not true and you know it.

You're always complaining about how I look, always insulting my

cooking..tomboy this, u-uncute that."



"Exactly!" he returned, just as fiercely. "If you could just accept that

you'll never be a cook then you'd save all of us a helluva lot of.."



*WHAM*



"Shut UP Ranma!" Hot, angry tears wormed their way down her

face. "Go! Get Lost! Go and run to your Mother." Not even noticing

as she effortlessly - for the first time in her life - made the drop from

roof to ground, Akane dashed away to the relative comfort of her

bedroom. But before leaving the garden, there was but one more

thing to say.



**"Who needs a perverted insensitive jerk like you!?"**



And Ranma, stunned into silence, clutched hands to his head as the

pained scream echoed harshly against his ears.





**********





"Oh my," came Kasumi's worried murmur, as she watched her

youngest sister tear past. "Akane's not taking this like how I

expected."



"I think it hasn't quite got to her yet that Ranma's really going."

Nabiki commented mildly, her nonchalant voice revealing nothing of

her true feelings.



*Damn you Ranma, you'd better not hurt my little sister.*



Any further consideration was cut off by the arrival of the very object

of her thoughts. Weary to the bone and showing it, Ranma ignored

those standing by - walking straight to the lady bearing his family's

ceremonial katana.



"Com'on Mom, I'm ready to go now."



Saying nothing, for in truth she could find nothing to alleviate the

situation, Nodoka only nodded her agreement before following her

son towards the door.



Hurriedly, Kasumi overtook the pair to open the front door for both.

"Ranma-kun, promise you'll visit us sometime."



A hint of the cheeky grin returned to his face for but an instant, and to

her total surprise, he reached forwards and gave a quick hug. "Of

course Kasumi - after all I have to check if you've been training like

I said." Almost as an afterthought, he added. "Could you tell Akane

that I left her present in the dojo?"



Still shocked by the embrace, Kasumi shakily nodded her

understanding, but the teenager had already turned to head down the

front pathway - not once looking back.



And thus, Saotome Ranma of the Saotome School of Anything Goes

Martial Arts, took leave of the Tendo Dojo.





*********





She told herself that she couldn't have cared less what the baka had

left for her. She rationalised that whatever was there would obviously

be there tomorrow, and that she was tired and wanted nothing more

than to go to sleep.



But after Kasumi's tentative message about her erstwhile fianc�'s

present, there was no resisting the temptation to just take a peek.



After all, everyone else was asleep - so the youngest Tendo's actions

wouldn't be seen and misinterpreted for something more than their

mild curiosity.



*I know I'm going to regret this.*



Crossing the garden walkway to the dojo barefoot, Akane paused a

moment to stare at the koi pond, it's serene surface shimmering in the

reflected moonlight, as the mild night breeze stirred the waters.



No more bakas would be swimming in *there* for quite some time.



Shaking her head, the short haired girl continued to the ancient

building, almost fearfully flipping the nearby lighting switch.



And froze, her hand still shaking slightly against the doorframe.



Two items rested almost accusingly against each other in the centre

of the floor - an open bag of chestnuts...and her favourite training

dummy.



The one with the red shirt and pigtail.



Falling to her knees, Akane found tears trickling once more down her

face.



*Baka.*











**********

**********

**********







Author's Notes.



I probably should make the note that I tend to take a blend of both

manga and anime when depicting the characters from Sailormoon,

notably Hino Rei in this case. If you haven't seen one of them, it's not

that hard to check out the differences from a website at say,

www.anipike.com .



And also the die hard fans of Sailor Moon will probably come to

notice what they see as a host of inconsistencies and breaks with

canon - well like I always say - I change what I want, when I want.

For people who want canon there's 200+ glorious original episodes

available for them to feast on.



As well, I'm trying to make for a different focus and style on the story

than from my other work Way of the Ninjitsu. Let me know whether

you think I've ended up making the reading better or worse.





You can email me at   dojo@ihug.com.au

Or check out my webpage for other works at

 http://members.nbci.com/dojohouse/









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