"The Senshi, Princess Serenity's bodyguards," she said softly, barely able
to control her trembling voice.  "You don't remember me, either, do you,
Ryouken?"

      You know, senshi in Japanese just means soldier or warrior. (Actually,
it can also mean other things as well, such as former teacher.) If someone
wants to refer to the Sailor Senshi, it would make more sense to use the
full name.

Soun took a deep breath, already having more than enough to befuddle his
less than steady mind and downed the proffered elixir.  After matters of
honor were settled, he continued their earlier conversation.  "Maybe, hic.
my friend, maybe one day he'll understand and make us proud," he spoke as
sagely as he could muster.  Genma grunted in response, not feeling the hope
that his friend was offering.  The boy was already sixteen and all he wanted
was to practice and to fight, never taking any rewards for it.  What point
was fighting except for those rewards?  The whole art was based on taking
what you wanted, and the boy just didn't do that.

He had stopped stealing when he began to understand what he was doing, and
here he had women throwing themselves at him and he did nothing.

         This portrayal of Genma is not uncommon, but it doesn't really jibe
with the manga. A Genma that felt this way would never have sealed away
the Yamasenken and Umisenken - using them would enable him to be the
greatest thief in the world. Aside from Happosai, the only time we see any
stealing in the manga that I can recall is Ranma stealing food from Ukyo,
and that was with the consent of her father. I don't remember Genma
ever stealing anything, except for the supposed treasure of the Saotome
family, and hey, it is his family treasure; judging from how poor they
seem to have been during their travels neither Genma nor Ranma apparently
stole much if at all.

"Maybe, Tendo, maybe.  I fear, sniff, I fear that the art dies with us."
If Ranma wouldn't start using the art for his own benefit, then it was just
another style, with the heart of it taken away.

     Well, not really. Musabetsu Kakuto doesn't really mean "Anything Goes",
with all the negative connotations people tend to associate with that phrase.

"Ranma!  Get out here!"  she bellowed.  She repeated her yell up the stairs,
and then turned on the fathers when no answer was forthcoming.

      This version of Akane has been taking her psychotic pills today, it seems.
I would normally expect her to be worried about him. This is pretty unlike her
usual behavior.

Genma held his tongue and looked on in disappointment as his friend bumbled
out a trepid reply to his daughter, the man needed to place some discipline
on his children.

      "trepid"?

Taking a deep breath Noriko began, "My proper title was Princess Noriko
Miyamoto of the planet Vulcan."  She waited a moment, ignoring the gasps
from the others at the table.

      The only names I believe we are given from the Silver Millennium are
Serenity and Endymion, neither one a Japanese name. So why do we have
"Setsuna" and "Noriko Miyamoto"? (I always assumed Setsuna was simply
one of many aliases she used ovber the years.)

"I lost that title during a war that took place a millennium ago, before
your recorded time began.  The planet Vulcan was destroyed during that war,

       A millennium is only a thousand years, and our recorded history goes back
before then, believe me.

Ranma inwardly winced when she looked directly at him.  She had his
undivided attention as he tried to remember what had happened, tried to
confirm the validity of her story.  If he had been paying more attention to
the others he would have noticed Nabiki's slightly bored and disbelieving
look, the speculative glances that his father was giving Noriko, and the
shock and sympathy Kasumi and his mother were directing towards the young
woman.

      So everyone but Nabiki is simply believing this story? With no proof?

"Some sister, Ranma, " Nabiki said while smirking.  "So, the Senshi also
come from your time?"

     Again, better refer to the Sailor Senshi. 

"Boy, it's your duty to avenge your family.  You're a prince, you should
reclaim what's rightfully yours,"  Genma admonished his son before turning
to Noriko.  "He'll be very wealthy when he takes over his kingdom again."
Ranma felt sick listening to his father's words.

     Okay, I'm used to Genma being portrayed as dumb, but really, what
does he think being a prince of Pluto gets you these days? Besides, no
court that I'm aware of allows for inheritance via reincarnation.

"Those _girls_ destroyed our kingdom.  Took away _our_ future, yours and
mine.  Doesn't that mean anything to you!?!"

     I can understand her being worked up, because it happened fairly recently
for her, but why would she think Ranma would be? He's not even the same
person.
 

When they stood by the front door Nodoka began.  "I feel for your situation.
My son is many things...  I'm learning he's a great deal more than I had
thought or had hoped for, but certain times." Nodoka just sighed ans shook
her head.

"I would like to help you.  I have a few ideas, please meet me for tea
tomorrow so we can discuss them."

    Why would Nodoka care? The Meio Noriko is concerned with isn't
really her son. If Noriko gets Meio back, Nodoka loses Ranma.

They spoke of a destroyed civilization, and its resurrection.  A time when a
threat would come to destroy the world.  When one who had lived twice, born
of another planet, and re-born of this one.  He would face great struggles
in his life until he received his inheritance, and then his former struggles
would seem insignificant.  He would be aided by those he thought his
enemies, and betrayed by those he thought his allies.  The decisions he
would make would decide the fate of the universe.  He would be aided by an
Amazon.  Cologne tingled with glee when she had found that last part.  The
one thing that bothered her the most was the reference to redeeming his
sister.  Ranma was an only child as far as she knew, although she wouldn't
put it past Genma to have been indiscrete.

    Since she's already seen references to his being reborn, I don't see why
this would puzzle her. And how would the scrolls refer to an Amazon if they
predated the Amazons? They'd presumably refer vaguely to some female
warrior.

Reid Carson
rcarson@rcarson.com

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