There is a lot of new material in this and upcoming chapters, so if you 
think you've already read it, you might be surprised.

All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published by 
Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by
Viz Communications.

A Different Viewpoint: Curses and Demons:

        Chapter 33

Everyone (with the notable exception of Johnathon and Misty) had gathered 
downstairs in the living room. Despite the people missing, the room was 
extremely crowded. Soun and Genma sat on the porch playing shogi to pass the 
time, and Ryoga sat nearby, trying to stay in one place so he wouldn't get 
lost. Ranko and Ukyo sat together at the small living room table, talking 
quietly to Nodoka, who was sitting across from Ranma, who kept blushing 
redly at the direct suggestions that the child in front of him was making. 
Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus were standing in a corner, 
talking with Akane and Nabiki, while Kasumi kept wandering in and out of the 
kitchen, shuttling food and drinks to everyone as they talked.

Dr. Tofu sat nearby Soun and Genma, pretending to be interested in the game 
while trying to avoid looking directly at his fianc�e. Shampoo herself had 
changed into one of the many Chinese dresses she had left at the Tendo home 
in case of emergency, and was lounging calmly just behind the doctor, eyeing 
him thoughtfully from time to time.

"Mom...." Ranma's voice was soft, but it was far closer to a whine then he 
liked. "I can't just... do that to Ukyo.... I mean... she's getting married 
to Ranko, not me."

* * * * *

Dr. Agasa pulled Conan over. "Listen to the bug you left at the Tendo dojo."

Conan thought back to the moment he was seated at the low table at the Tendo 
place, with it's traditional heater underneath. < I know this is it... if 
only what we hear will prove my theory!> "You might hear some very 
surprising things Doctor... things almost beyond belief."

Dr. Agasa looked at Conan. "What? You told us that you knew where the 
missing girl was... do the Tendo's have something to do with it?"

Conan shook his head. "If I'm right, they can explain not why she is in San 
Francisco, but how she is."

Dr. Agasa's eyebrow raised, but he just nodded.

Conan and the professor listened for a few minutes.

* * * * *

Nodoka stared her son down, her steely gaze completely out of place on the 
face of a 9 or 10 year old girl wearing a flower print blue and white summer 
dress. "Now son, it's your duty to your family to produce an heir... to both 
families in fact. As Ranko cannot carry on the family name in that regard, 
it is only right that you take that responsibility to provide the Kounji 
family with an heir as well."

* * * * *

Conan nodded in triumph to the Professor. "It's that girl's voice! I knew 
it."

Agasa nodded slowly in agreement. "It does sound like a young girl. 
Fascinating."

Conan grinned. "This is but the first, and smallest revelation, Doctor."

* * * * *

Ranko raised an eyebrow but said nothing, not wanting to draw any attention 
to herself. She had, in fact, considered this very problem and decided that 
Nodoka's solution was only logical, especially considering Akane and Ukyo's 
deal concerning her and Ranma. She didn't really like the idea of Ukyo 
having Ranma's children instead of hers... but she couldn't see any other 
way. At least not any other way that she'd go along with.

Ranma, however, continued to be stubborn. "Mom... isn't there some other 
way? I mean... me and Akane will have kids...." He shook his head, not 
really believing that he was already talking about having children. "But 
it's not right... me having kids with Ukyo too...."

Nodoka frowned slightly. "Well, there was another way... I'd consider it." 
She looked at Ranko and Ukyo thoughtfully. "Now Nabiki has been telling me 
quite a bit about Jusenkyo in the last few weeks." She hesitated, then 
pressed on. "Now I understand why the spring of drowned man wouldn't work 
for my daughter...." Nodoka indicated Ranko with a nod. "But perhaps 
Ukyo...?"

Ranko's eyes went wide and she shook her head quickly at the suggestion. "No 
way Mom! I'd never let Ucchan curse herself like that!" She blushed then 
shook her head. "Not a chance! A curse isn't the way to solve anything, Mom! 
You should know by now that Jusenkyo always makes things worse, not better."

Ukyo put her hand over Ranko's calmingly. "Your mom is just trying to help, 
Ranchan, and I can't say I haven't considered the spring of drowned man 
since... well in the last few weeks, anyway." Ranko looked at her in horror 
and Ukyo hurried on. "I'm not going to do it. Even if it would solve some 
problems with us being together... I realize that the curses never seem to 
work the way people might think. If Johnathon-sensei and Mercury-san are 
right, then I'd be just adding to the chaos around here, and we have plenty 
of that already."

Nodoka nodded in understanding. "I'm sure you're right dear. It wasn't the 
best suggestion, I know. I just want to see the Kounji line continue as well 
as the Saotome line. It is the least we owe you after everything Genma has 
put your family through."

Ukyo shook her head. "We'll figure something out eventually, Mrs. Saotome. 
I'm sure something will come up."

Nodoka nodded reassuringly. "I'm sure... still, Nabiki did mention another 
possibility... have you heard of something called Instant Nannichauan?"

Ukyo blinked. "Instant spring of drowned man? What on earth is that?"

Ranko blinked a moment later. "Hey! I forgot about that stuff!" She said 
brightly. "I could be a guy again... even if just for a little while."

Nodoka blinked. "Oh? I thought that the springs would mix with you?"

Ranko hesitated. "Actually, I'm not sure... it worked before though, turned 
me and pop both into guys in cold water... at least for a couple hours."

Ukyo beamed happily. "That sounds wonderful, Ranko! I know how much you miss 
being a guy." She looked at Nodoka questioningly. "Do you think we could get 
any?"

Nodoka shrugged. "I really don't know. I think Shampoo might know where to 
find some... I believe Nabiki said that she was the one who brought it the 
last time?" She patted Ranko's shoulder. "Even if it doesn't work properly 
on you, Ukyo can use it. Either way the Kounji line would be secure."

Ranko blinked several times working that out in her head before gaping at 
her mother incredulously. "You don't mean...?!?"

Nodoka patted her daughter on the back reassuringly. "I'm sure you'd make a 
wonderful mother, Ranko-chan. You certainly have the hips for it." Ranko 
decided that it would be a good time to faint, and slid quietly under the 
table. Ukyo looked a bit faint herself, and Ranma was turning slightly 
green. Nodoka blinked. "Did I say something wrong?"

Across the room, Nabiki nodded to herself, glancing knowingly from one 
Sailor Senshi to the next. "I thought I had all of you figured out... Rei, 
Makoto... Mina. I suppose you're going to tell everyone else as well?"

Sailor Mars sighed with a nod. "Everyone here has the right to know... and I 
suspect almost everyone has us pretty much figured out anyway. We've always 
tried to keep anyone from knowing our real identities, but the only way I 
can see of keeping our secret from getting out entirely seems to be trusting 
all of you.

"That way, it won't be a secret anymore." Venus supplied cheerfully. "It'll 
be a conspiracy!"

Nabiki blinked, then laughed. "I suppose it will at that." She bowed 
slightly to the three Senshi. "Then as the newest member of the conspiracy, 
I thank you for your trust." She looked them each in the eyes then, 
straightening up with a serious expression. "I won't betray it." She smiled 
wryly. "Besides, one of you is practically family now... and I protect my 
family... even if they happen to be magical duplicates... or twins, or 
whatever." She frowned slightly, quirking her head at Venus thoughtfully. 
"Can... can she hear me?"

Sailor Venus hesitated, then nodded. "She's not exactly here... right now 
that is... but my Akane will remember everything you say to me... so it's 
almost like she is here right now."

Nabiki nodded. "I think I understand." She stepped in close to Venus, then 
hugged her tightly, whispering quietly in the Senshi of Love's ear. "Don't 
be a stranger, Akane. You ARE my sister, don't ever forget it."

The original Akane looked at her older sister in astonishment. "That was for 
the other me? You never hug me or Kasumi anymore... why her?"

Nabiki hesitated, then shrugged. "Well... let's just say I know something 
about feeling alone, and leave it at that, OK?"

Akane's eyes fell, then she stepped forward to hug Nabiki as quickly as 
Nabiki had hugged Venus. "I love you Sis." She said quietly but firmly. "You 
don't ever have to be alone."

Nabiki pushed her way out of her younger sisters arms. "Stop it, Akane!" She 
tried not to blush. "You're embarrassing me." Akane released her with a bit 
of a smirk, and Nabiki turned back to the Senshi, forcing her face calm. 
"So, you want to keep the secret down to just the people in this room?"

Sailor Mars nodded. "That's right. We can't let it go any farther, not 
without endangering our normal lives."

Nabiki turned to take in everyone else in the room before turning back to 
the Senshi. "Just to be clear, who else knows? It's important to know who 
I'm not supposed to talk about this with."

Sailor Mars looked thoughtful. "Let me see... Ranma, Ranko, Akane, Kasumi, 
Johnathon-san... that's it, really, at least those are the only people we've 
told directly." She hesitated. "Michael-san might have guessed one or two of 
us. He knows who Makoto is for sure."

Nabiki blinked. "You have kept it quiet! Is that really everyone that 
knows?" She glanced around the room. "You're doubling that number today you 
know."

Mars sighed. "Don't I know it! If there was another way... but there isn't. 
Most of the people here have either started to guess, or will figure it out 
soon anyway... and if we don't let everyone here know about our secret, it's 
likely that others will start figuring out the truth as well."

Nabiki nodded slowly. "I understand. You need us to conceal what we know 
from anyone else who might stumble on to a clue, huh?"

Sailor Jupiter nodded, breaking in. "Jusenkyo... complicated matters. It's 
not hard to see the connection when two different people have the same 
Jusenkyo curse... that would give away Ami and Minako for sure... at the 
least."

"I understand." Nabiki said with another nod. "If anyone finds out that the 
Sailor Senshi were at Jusenkyo, and also finds out about the curses... all 
they have to do to find out your real identities are to know which of you 
has the same Jusenkyo curse."

Jupiter sighed. "Exactly. I don't know how Ami is going to keep her curse a 
secret after this... her mother is bound to find out about it eventually, 
and if she knew about the Senshi going to Jusenkyo, there'd be no way to 
cover this up."

Nabiki frowned. "I guess none of your parents know then?"

Jupiter shrugged. "Well... it doesn't matter for me... but none of the 
others' parents can know. It's too risky."

Nabiki sighed. "That's going to be tough to sell... I don't know how daddy 
will react if he finds out your folks don't know... and Nodoka's another 
problem. She's a bit touchy about these kind of secrets nowadays."

Sailor Venus looked worried. "Do you think they'll tell our parents?"

Nabiki hesitated. "I can't say for certain, but I think we can convince them 
to keep your secret." She frowned. "I really can't be one hundred percent 
sure though."

Sailor Mars sighed. "I'm afraid we don't have much choice in the matter. If 
the people in this room don't all agree to keep our secret, it's bound to 
come out, sooner or later. If they do tell our folks... at least it would be 
better then if they found out on their own."

Nabiki shrugged. "It's your call. I'll see what I can do to help." She 
raised an eyebrow. "So, would you like me to handle this, or would you 
prefer to tell them yourselves?"

Sailor Mars hesitated, then sighed. "I think we should speak for ourselves, 
although I'd appreciate any help you can offer with dealing with the 
consequences."

Nabiki nodded. "Of course."

Sailor Mars took a deep breath and turned to the other Senshi. Are you two 
ready?" Jupiter and Venus both nodded, only slightly hesitantly, and Mars 
turned again to face the room, stepping forward and clearing her voice 
loudly to get everyone's attention. The room slowly went silent as all eyes 
turned to face Sailor Mars, and she spoke up clearly so as not to be 
misheard. "I think it's time you all knew the truth. I hope you all 
understand how important it is to keep this secret, but I think it's time 
you all knew who we really were."

The room was quiet for a moment before Nodoka spoke up. "Mars-san... I... I 
will keep your secret. I have... done enough damage already, it seems, 
speaking where I should have not... but I swear on my honor that I will tell 
no one your true identities, or anything that may lead someone to discover 
them." She glanced around the room, resting her gaze on her husband for the 
longest time. "I think I can speak for everyone here in saying that we will 
all keep your secret."

Soun stood up. "As the head of the Tendo family, I also swear to keep your 
identities secret. Your honor is safe under my roof."

Sailor Mars nodded. "I am very glad to hear you say that Mr. Tendo, Mrs. 
Saotome. Thank you." She hesitated, then nodded. "Anyway, my real name is 
Rei. Rei Hino. I'm in Ranma and Ryoga's martial arts class."

Sailor Jupiter stepped forward a moment later. "I'm Makoto... Makoto Kino. 
I'm also in Ryoga-sensei's class."

Sailor Venus stepped forward with a wink. "I'm Minako Aino!" She abruptly 
detransformed, seeming pleased at all the attention that got. "I'm also 
Akane Tendo the second... some of the time." She added, waving to Soun. "Hi 
pop!" Nabiki sighed and looked at the ceiling in frustration while Akane and 
Kasumi gaped at her in shock.

Soun looked at Minako in confusion. "I'm not sure I understand. What do you 
mean, you're Akane?"

Minako held up a finger. "Wait here a second, I'll go get some water from 
the kitchen and you can see for yourself!" She slipped out to the kitchen 
without another word and Soun, Genma and Nodoka exchanged puzzled glances. 
There was a host of worried glances from everyone else, but no one dared to 
say anything. Minako came back into the living room with a glass of water in 
one hand, still grinning widely. "Watch carefully now!" She poured the water 
over her head and immediately changed, blond hair becoming black, becoming 
just a bit shorter and a bit more muscular.

Akane Tendo stood in Minako's place blinking, then waved nervously. "Er... 
hi dad." There was an audible thud as Soun keeled over and she winced. "Darn 
it Mina...." Akane huffed angrily to herself. "You could have handled that a 
lot better!"

Nodoka was looking a bit faint herself but managed to speak up. "Are you 
really Akane?"

Akane Tendo sighed and nodded. "I'm a copy of her... but as far as I can 
tell I'm Akane... just not the only one. While she was at Jusenkyo, Minako 
fell into the spring of drowned... er... drowned Akane... and I found myself 
in her body. At the time, I thought that Kiima had just thrown me in there 
and tried to drown me... it was like no time had passed, but it had actually 
been months...." She sighed. "So it seems like I'm a copy of Akane from the 
moment Kiima drowned her in the spring. I have all of Akane's memories up to 
that time, and I've been... sharing Minako's body ever since."

Nodoka looked astonished. "That's incredible! And you are both in there 
somehow?"

Akane hesitated, not knowing how much she should tell about her situation 
with Minako. "Only one of us... well, exists at a time... although we do 
share memories of what the other does. It's like having a dream that you 
can't do anything about, then waking up into the dream."

Nodoka frowned. "That doesn't sound very pleasant."

Akane shrugged. "It's better than the alternative...." She hesitated again, 
then decided to at least explain part of it. "At first whenever we changed 
it was like no time had passed... I'd suddenly find myself out in the 
rain... and with no idea how I'd got there... or I'd be in Minako's bathroom 
at home, or something. It was the same for Minako. Luckily some... 
friends... helped us out with a spell... one that lets us remember what the 
other one sees. It's much less inconvenient this way."

Nodoka stood up and went over to Akane's side, looking up at her intently. 
"Why haven't you come home sooner, Akane-chan? Your father would certainly 
have welcomed you home with open arms...." Ranma's now diminutive mother 
suddenly glanced toward her son and his wife, the original Akane, with a 
gasp. "Oh dear...." She frowned worriedly, chewing on her lip. "I'm sorry 
dear, I suppose things must seem awfully complicated to you right now."

Akane Tendo glanced at her twin, and the two of them exchanged sad smiles. 
"Complicated... you could say that, Auntie. Akane and I... we've talked a 
bit about things... I think things will work out alright."

Nodoka smiled in relief, then glanced back at Soun. "Then certainly you 
should come to live with your family. It isn't right, you having to be apart 
from the people who love you like this."

Akane shook her head, smiling sadly. "Minako has her own family, Auntie, a 
mother and father who love her. She has friends, school... a life. I can't 
take that away from her. We can't both have all those things."

Nodoka shook her head, scowling strongly now. "I can't accept that. There 
has to be a way for you two to work something out...."

Just then Soun started to stir, sitting back up slowly and shaking his head 
as if he wasn't exactly sure of what had happened. "Akane?" He looked over 
at his original daughter first, as if reassuring himself that she was still 
there. "I had the strangest dream... I thought there were two of you... 
and...." His gaze wondered over to the long haired Akane currently standing 
next to Nodoka, and he nearly fainted again. "Ach! There are two of you!" 
Soun looked from one to the other in confusion. "How... I don't 
understand...."

Akane Tendo sighed and went over her father's side. "Let me explain again 
from the beginning...."

****************

Dr. Agasa spoke up. "What is this, a joke? They must have found the bug."

Conan shrugged. "Very interesting fiction... if it is fiction. What would 
Holmes say in this situation?"

Dr. Agasa blinked. "You knew about this?"

Conan nodded. "Well, I guessed the Sailor Senshi might be involved after I 
connected the reports of the cat monster working with them to the facts I 
discovered today."

"What do you mean?" Dr. Agasa replied, confused.

Conan held up a small plastic bag. "I found these hairs on The Tendo's 
oldest sisters bed... Too many for an ordinary house cat... and there were 
scratches on the window sill, obviously made by clawed hands... not paws."

Dr. Agasa looked startled. "Clawed... hands? Cat hair?"

Conan shushed the Doctor. "Just listen."

*****************

Before long Soun had the full story, minus the presence of the goddesses.

Like Nodoka, he pleaded for Akane to stay at the Tendo home, and again she 
refused, despite the fountain of tears that brought from the Tendo 
patriarch. When they finally managed to calm Soun down and everyone was 
fully introduced, everyone gathered around the table so they could discuss 
the current crisis.

"As far as I'm concerned," Nabiki was saying. "We're under full scale 
attack. This demoness Mara, or whatever she's supposed to be called, will 
keep coming after us till we're all dead or under her control, and I think 
she's attacking us even now, although she's trying to be subtle about it."

Ranma glanced at Nabiki curiously. "Even now? What do you mean, Nabiki?"

"Though Misty and Shampoo." Nabiki said, nodding at the Amazon. "I truly 
doubt that both of them would go into heat at the same time like this, and 
Shampoo says it came on suddenly, and more powerfully then ever before, 
isn't that right?"

Half the women in the room blushed and all of the men, but Shampoo nodded 
her agreement calmly. "I think Nabiki might be right. Timing is very strange 
for something like this to happen, and it does hurt our fighting strength 
considerably."

Ranko shrugged. "It doesn't seem too bad... I mean, Misty isn't a fighter 
anyway... and Johnathon...." She shrugged. "So we're down one... it hardly 
seems like a deliberate attack. I mean, why would she bother with something 
like this... she could just... rain fire and brimstone down on us or 
something."

Shampoo shook her head. "It is worse than that, Ranm... Ranko. If I get 
splashed with cold water I don't believe I could fight very effectively... 
and I'm afraid my presence would inhibit any of the men."

Dr. Tofu nodded at that. "Misty is putting out an incredible pheromone 
cloud... which is why I insisted that everyone stay downstairs for now... 
and Shampoo was doing the same, although her being outside at the time did 
help quite a bit. I'm afraid their pheromones seem to have nearly as much 
effect on humans as they did on Johnathon-san. It would be difficult for 
anyone to think straight under such conditions."

Ranko blinked twice. "Oh."

*******************

In another house, Conan and Dr. Agasa were still listening hard.

Ai spoke up from behind them. "Ocam's razor would make me believe that they 
are telling the truth. Such a coherent mass hallucination is unlikely.... As 
much as the scientist in me wants there to be a more rational explanation 
for these phenomena, I must believe that the Sailor Senshi do exist. The 
hypothesis that you have discovered the identity of several of these people 
must be taken into consideration.

Conan glanced at her. "I think it deserves investigation. If what we've 
heard is correct, it should be simple enough to verify... I think a visit to 
the Tendo dojo with water guns tomorrow is in order."

Ai grinned slightly. "Sounds very... juvenile." * * * * * * * * * * *

Akane Saotome spoke up next, pounding her fist into the table angrily. "What 
I want to know is what we're going to do about it? This demon keeps 
attacking us and we just sit here and take it! Isn't there some way we can 
strike back?"

Makoto sighed. "If Ami was here we could try and track her down using her 
computer... but without her or Skuld-chan, I don't have a clue how we could 
try and find her."

Shampoo spoke up. "If we cannot find our enemy, then we must shore up our 
defenses and wait until there is a chance to strike. Great Grandmother 
should get the message I sent in less than a day, and this she will see if 
Sailor Mercury can be found in Beijing."

Ranma nodded. "Master Caine will rescue Ami if she's in San Francisco...." 
He frowned. "But if she's really in Copenhagen I don't know what we're going 
to do...."

* * * * *

Dr. Agasa spoke up. "Listen... Isn't the missing girl's name Ami?"

Conan grinned. "They don't know which zoo she was shipped to... At least we 
have some information they will want."

Dr. Agasa looked startled. "Zoo?"

Ai shook her head. "Incredible... the girl wasn't eaten or hurt by the 
panther...."

Conan nodded, a glint in his eye. "She WAS the panther."

All three listened intently to the conversation at the Tendo residence.

* * * * *

"We'll know by tomorrow evening at the latest." Dr. Tofu said softly. "Once 
we know where Mercury isn't, we'll know where she is. We can plan how to get 
to Copenhagen if it comes to that."

"Until then...." Nodoka said softly. "We must wait and keep our guard up." 
The serious look she wore seemed out of place on her child's face, but no 
one mentioned it. "Obviously this demon wishes to weaken us bit by bit until 
she can defeat us... we simply must stay together and protect each other 
until we find means to locate her."

Ranma exchanged a glance with his female side and nodded. "If she tries 
anything more here she's in for a world of hurt, that's for certain. We just 
need to be ready for her."

Akane Tendo sighed. "I guess that means that we all stay here for now. I 
hope Mina's parents don't get too worried."

Makoto shrugged. "We'll just tell them we're sleeping over here tonight. 
We've done it before, and they've always been cool with it. Even better, 
it's the truth this time."

Rei sighed. "I guess I had better call my grandfather as well. He's already 
suspicious, but I don't think disappearing again out of the blue will help 
any." She got up to go to the phone. "Maybe I'll be lucky and he won't be 
home...."

Nodoka shook her head with a sigh. "I don't like the idea of you deceiving 
your families like this. Certainly they'd support you if they knew?"

Rei stopped halfway to the hall and looked back at the child addressing her 
so disapprovingly. "I don't like lying to my grandfather either... but what 
choice do I have? If he knew what I was doing... he may not try and stop me, 
but he'd certainly try to help, and he'd get hurt, or even killed! He's an 
old man, and no where near as indestructible as he'd like to think."

She glanced at Akane Tendo with a frown. "Minako's parents are just normal 
people as well. Knowing that she's is a Senshi would just make them worry, 
and put them in danger." She sighed. "We wouldn't have told anyone, but 
sometimes... sometimes there isn't any choice."

Nodoka sighed and shook her head. "I don't like it, but I understand your 
reasons. I just think that you may be making a mistake."

* * * * *

Dr. Agasa looked at the other two, his eyes wide. "If what we have heard is 
true...."

Conan scratched his head. "Oh, I no longer doubt the truth... but we have 
another problem."

Ai shrugged. "This sort of moral dilemma does not interest me. You've solved 
the case... or at least, you know what happened to the girl, if not 
precisely where she is."

Conan snapped. "Who could I tell? If I tell the girls mother, would she even 
believe me?"

Ai shrugged. "You usually find a way." She glanced at the detective then 
started walking back downstairs to her lab. "If that's what you want to 
do...."

*************

Back at the Tendo Dojo, the council of war continued.

Mars spoke up on behalf of the Senshi. "Venus, Jupiter and I can take shifts 
keeping watch. That way one of us will be ready at all times in case Mara 
shows up."

"We'll watch with you." Ranma insisted a moment later, glancing pointedly to 
Ryoga and Ranko. "Ryoga, Ranko and me can each share a watch with one of you 
three."

Akane Tendo glared at her husband. "Ukyo, Shampoo and I can keep watch too 
you know, Ranma. You three aren't the only ones that have fought demons 
before."

Soun spoke up. "Genma, Tofu-san and I will also take watches. That way there 
will be four pairs of eyes watching at all times. We can't afford to let 
this demoness catch us off guard again." Genma swallowed nervously, but a 
glance from Nodoka kept him glued to his seat, and Dr. Tofu simply nodded in 
agreement.

Nabiki spoke up at that point. "I suppose that leaves Auntie, Kasumi and me 
to take care of all of you while you're busy keeping us safe." She chuckled. 
"Not that I'm complaining." Nabiki wrinkled her nose. "The way I see it, you 
should split up into equal groups, with one of the Senshi in each group. How 
about Sailor Mars, Ranko, Shampoo and Akane take the first watch, Sailor 
Venus, Ranma, Ukyo and Genma take the second watch, and Jupiter, Ryoga, 
Tofu-sensei, and Daddy take the last watch?"

Shampoo protested a moment later. "Why can't I be in the same group as 
Tofu-san?"

Nabiki rolled her eyes. "So that you aren't making out when you're supposed 
to be watching, of course." She shrugged. "Besides, even if you do manage to 
stay focused, what if that demoness splashes you? Any of the guys would be 
distracted then. That's why I put you with all girls."

Shampoo sighed and nodded. "Is so. You are right, merc... Nabiki Tendo. Best 
not to take the chance."

Kasumi stood up. "Why don't I start dinner? It's already starting to get 
late, and we can talk more while we eat."

Nodoka got up as well. "I'll help, Kasumi-chan. You have to be careful in 
the kitchen, you know."

Kasumi blinked down at the small girl beside her, as if not quite 
understanding, then smiled brightly. "Oh yes! That would be wonderful, 
Nodoka-chan!"

Nodoka nearly choked at the diminutive use of her name but covered it almost 
immediately with a smile. "I suppose that does fit me now, doesn't it?"

Kasumi looked concerned. "Oh my. I'm sorry, Auntie. I wasn't thinking 
clearly."

Nodoka sighed. "It's alright dear. I am a little girl now... at least in 
appearance."

"You are still my Auntie Nodoka." Kasumi told her.

Nodoka smiled softly, looking adorably cute. "Come, we have quite a bit of 
preparations left to do with so many guests." She started toward the 
kitchen, looking at Kasumi expectantly.

Kasumi followed instantly with a nod. "Of course, Auntie."

******************

Luna crouched, mewling softly in an alley, an increasingly concerned Artemis 
glancing around worriedly at the growing horde of male cats gathering about 
them. "Luna... transform already! I know you can do it... you were the one 
that showed me how!"

"C-can't... concentrate...." Luna managed to say. "A-Artemis... you've got 
to... I can't fight it any longer..."

Artemis took one last look at the closing circle of male cats around them 
and shook his head. "No... not here, not now." With a flash of light he 
transformed into his human male form, wearing a black on black outfit he had 
borrowed from Mamoru Chiba. He scooped up Luna deftly before the nearest cat 
could reach her and sprinted away, holding her close to his chest. "Hold on, 
love. It won't be much longer."

*****************

Keichi was busy at work in his school lab, making moon rock bracelets with 
Belldandy, or that is, Belldandy Three when he noticed that something was 
wrong. Belldandy had been helping him with his work, as she usually did, but 
suddenly she seemed distracted. She gave off a low moan and went to sit down 
shakily on a lab stool.

"What's wrong, Belldandy?" Keichi asked worriedly. "Has something happened 
to one of the others?"

Belldandy hesitated, flushing slightly. "It's Bell-cat. She's..." Belldandy 
blushed a bit brighter. "Well, she's in her cat form, exploring.... and..."

Keichi shot up. "Is she OK? Did she find something?"

Belldandy shook her head. "She's not in any danger.. but... er... she's 
rather excited."

"Excited?" Keichi looked confused. "Did she find something?"

"Not exactly..." Belldandy explained. "She's just entered her cycle rather 
abruptly."

"Her cycle?" Keichi blinked, then blushed. "You mean she's...?"

Belldandy took a quick breath, then another, as a wave of sensation ran into 
her from her feline twin. "Yes... she's going into heat." She wiped sweat 
from her brow and looked surprised. "Oh dear... it seems that I'm being 
affected by her mood as well..."

Keichi swallowed. "You mean... you're feeling what she does?"

Belldandy nodded, unconsciously opening her collar slightly. "Yes, to a 
lesser degree." She fanned herself slightly, opening her collar a bit more, 
allowing Keichi a glimpse of her damp cleavage. "Oh my..."

Keichi swallowed nervously. "Er... will she be alright?"

"I believe so." Belldandy told him reassuringly. "Bell-four has gone to 
bring her some hot water... once she's in human form again, we'll all be 
fine." She fanned herself again, her breathing starting to speed up 
slightly.

Keichi wasn't sure if he was pleased or disappointed. "Oh. Well that's 
good."

Belldandy looked at her beloved fondly as he went back to work mixing the 
ingredients for the moon rock bracelets. "Keichi...."

"Hmm?" Keichi looked over at her questioningly, doing his best to ignore her 
flushed skin, the cleavage she was presenting him with, or the rather 
lustful look she was giving him as he sat at his workstation. "What is it, 
Belldandy?"

She shook her head, moving over to sit next to him, and put on hand over 
his, smiling. Keichi smiled back and gripped the hand in his tightly, and 
for a long time they simply sat there, looking at each other. Belldandy's 
eyes seemed more expectant than usual, and Keichi slowly leaned closer to 
her. She met him halfway, and they melded into a kiss without saying another 
word.

***************************

Back in the woods near the old shrine they lived at, Bell-four rushed 
panting up to the place Bell-cat had collapsed, carrying a steaming kettle 
and a robe. Bell-cat was panting on the ground, curled up in a ball, and she 
looked up gratefully as Bell-four poured a stream of hot water onto her 
head. Moments later Bell-cat was a naked human female, and sat up, uncurling 
her body with a shudder, reaching for the robe her twin had brought her.

"Thank you." Bell-cat said simply, standing and pulling the robe closed. "I 
hope I didn't bother the rest of you too much?"

Bell-four shook her head. "Oh no... we were all just worried about you... it 
must have been very intense, if we all felt it so strongly."

Bell-cat nodded, looking concerned. "I don't believe normal cats are that 
strongly effected when they go into their cycle. There is something 
unnatural in this."

Bell-four looked concerned. "Do you think it is a spell?"

Bell-cat nodded. "I think so...."

Bell-four frowned. "Do you think it is Mara?"

"I don't see what purpose it would serve her..." Bell-cat said with a frown. 
"Save as a distraction. Why would she send me into heat?"

Bell-four's face mirrored her twin's concern. "Could it have something to do 
with Jusenkyo?"

Bell-cat shrugged helplessly. "Without our powers... there is no real way 
for us to know. I only hope that the moon rock bracelets Keichi is preparing 
will work on these mortal bodies."

Bell-four nodded with a sigh. "They might be our only hope."

*****************

Far off, in foggy San Francisco, Kermit picked up the phone. "Yes?"

The voice on the other side was one he was familiar with, a young Japanese 
detective who had asked him for a favor once already. "I am sorry to bother 
you, Kermit-san, but..."

Kermit interrupted. "I'm sorry kid, I still haven't turned up anything 
unusual about this vanished actress you wanted dope on."

Shinichi Kudo sighed. "I did not think that you had. I am calling about 
another matter."

Kermit shrugged to himself. "What is it? Lost another lady?"

Shinichi sighed. "In a manner of speaking, yes. Get comfortable there, 
because this is a long and confusing and unbelievable story."

Kermit chuckled. "If it's new to me kid, I'll pick up the tab on this call."

Shinichi grinned. "Done. Now listen..."

Minutes later, "Kermit was shaking his head and grumbling. "Stupid... I knew 
it was an overseas call. Look, since it's now my nickel, why don't we cut 
this short. Are you sure you can get your end arranged?"

Shinichi chuckled. "I already have. The girl's passport will be ready for 
you to pick up at the embassy before you can drive there, knowing San 
Francisco traffic." He paused for a moment. "I'm not complaining, but why 
did you believe me so easily?"

Kermit sighed. "Because I've run into Jusenkyo curses before... Long story, 
look, I'll email you the details, but I should go before this girl starts to 
shed."

*****************

"Hello Inspector Megure."

"Shinichi Kudo! What a surprise! Now then, why have you called me today?"

"I have solved your missing girl case Inspector."

"Missing girl? Do you mean?"

"Yes, I have discovered Miss Ami Mizuno for you. Friends of mine in America 
rescued her from her kidnappers."

"Kidnappers? America?! What happened?"

"I'm afraid the location and identity of her kidnappers is yet unknown to 
me, though I have several promising leads."

"Well, this is wonderful! But what can I do?"

"Just this. Can you see to it that the girl's passport and travel documents 
are made up at the Japanese embassy in San Francisco, as soon as possible? I 
will have one of my friends, a detective on the San Fran police force, pick 
them up."

"Certainly my boy! Nothing easier! I'll phone a friend of mine in the 
ministry, we'll have the girl home tomorrow!"

"Thank you inspector. I'll keep you apprised of my progress in the case."

*****************

At the Tendo home, most everyone had gone to bed, sleeping on blankets in 
the living room down stairs, while Sailor Mars, Ranko, Shampoo and Akane 
Saotome patrolled the grounds and rooftops of the dojo outside, keeping a 
quiet watch out for danger.

Ranma, however, was finding it difficult to sleep, and kept starting awake 
only to notice Minako looking quietly in his direction. Akane had changed 
herself back into Minako before they had all gone to bed, but ever since 
then he kept catching the blond haired Senshi looking at him whenever she 
thought he wasn't looking, and it was starting to get unnerving. Finally he 
slipped out of the blankets and over next to her.

"Minako...." He whispered. "What is it? You've been staring at me...?"

Minako chewed on her bottom lip, hesitating before she spoke in a soft 
whisper. "I need to talk to you... upstairs... follow me in five minutes, 
alright?" She slipped off into the hall, and Ranma blinked, raising a hand 
to stop her too late.

"What does she think she's doing?" The pigtailed youth muttered to himself, 
and started trying to think of a good reason why he shouldn't follow the 
blond girl upstairs. There were several, not the least of which was the fact 
that Johnathon and Misty could still be heard, faintly above, and no doubt 
the fur cloud, or whatever it was that Dr. Tofu had mentioned, would still 
be there as well. Minako was certainly up to something, and there was no way 
he was stupid enough to fall for it....

After four and a half minutes, Ranma's will broke, and he slipped out to the 
hall to the stairs to the second floor, looking for Minako. What he found 
instead was a single sock on the bottom step, then a second sock half way up 
the stairs.

"What in the...?" Ranma followed a trail of clothing up the stairs and down 
the hall, blushing brighter and brighter red as he did so. The sounds from 
Kasumi and Johnathon's room had finally died down, but the panties laying on 
the floor in front of Akane and his room were, by his estimation, the last 
piece of clothing Minako had been wearing... leaving the blond girl 
certainly naked in his room.

Ranma hesitated for a long moment outside his and Akane's door, his heart 
pounding. Akane would certainly pound him into the floor if she had any idea 
he was up here, but she would do the same to Minako if she found the girl 
laying in wait in their room, and while he could take the abuse, Minako 
certainly could not, despite her Senshi abilities. Telling himself that he 
was just performing an act of mercy, Ranma opened his bedroom door and 
slipped inside, closing it behind him as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

*****************

Around four minutes earlier, Minako had slipped into Ranma and Akane's room, 
blushing brightly as she dropped her panties on the floor outside it, 
holding a sturdy length of rope, a pair of handcuffs and a glass of water. 
Setting the glass of water on the headboard, she quickly pulled the covers 
off the bed and dropped in the far corner of the room, then set about tying 
both of her feet to the bottom corner bedposts, spreading them invitingly 
wide for anyone who might venture in. With slightly more difficulty she 
managed to tie off her left wrist to the upper left bedpost, careful not to 
jar the glass of water, then slipped one end of the handcuffs over her right 
wrist.

The next bit would have been easier with an assistant, but Minako hadn't 
dared ask anyone for help. She took the water glass in her right hand, and 
laid it very carefully in the middle of her chest, then slowly reached her 
right hand over to the far bedpost. Careful not to spill the water on her, 
she snapped the other end of the handcuff around her right wrist to the far 
bedpost, securing her in a spread eagled position across the bed, the glass 
of water precariously perched just underneath her naked breasts. She waited 
then, listening carefully and trying to keep her breathing low, although she 
was almost painfully aroused by the thoughts of what would happen next. Her 
breathing started to quicken involuntarily, and she nearly missed hearing 
the door opening. Glancing down her body, she saw Ranma, his eyes going wide 
as he drank in the sight of her. Before he could turn around, however, she 
jerked her upper torso slightly, letting the glass fall over and water spill 
all across her belly in a wave.

An instant later, Akane froze, not truly believing what Minako's memories 
were telling her, even as her own senses confirmed that she was indeed tied 
spread eagled in her own bed, with Ranma staring at her as if he was about 
to catch fire. "Oh Kami..." She whispered. "R-Ranma...."

"A-Akane?" He whispered back, not really believing what he was seeing. 
"What... why...?"

Akane flushed bright red clear down to her upper chest, suddenly struggling 
futilely to cover herself up. "Ranma... stop.. stop looking at me like 
that." She was incredibly, preternaturally aware of every inch of her bared 
skin, of her nipples engorging even as Ranma involuntarily glanced down to 
between her legs, where her most private self was bared for his inspection. 
Akane felt a warm wetness down there as well, and tried desperately to close 
her legs, making the bedposts grown, but not able to apply her full 
strength.

Ranma looked away finally with a gasp that sounded painful, dropping his 
eyes to the side of the bed where the covers were piled. Quickly he scooped 
up the piled bedclothes and tossed them over Akane, covering her nakedness 
with one smooth motion, and for several moment afterwards, it was quiet.

"Akane?" Ranma's voice was quiet. "How in the... who tied you up like that?"

Akane laughed quietly, sounding a bit hysterical. "Mina... she tied herself 
down... and spilled a glass on herself when you came in...."

"Oh yeah...." Ranma said, his voice sounding distinctly embarrassed. "I saw 
that part...." He hesitated. "I guess... I don't need to ask why?"

Akane swallowed. "Ranma... don't... Minako... I didn't ask her to do this to 
me." She rolled her eyes. "I'd never ask ANYONE to do this to me... I don't 
know what she was thinking."

Ranma hesitated. "Don't you know what she was thinking? I thought that's how 
the spell was supposed to work."

"Er..." Akane swallowed. "OK, I do know what she was thinking... but I don't 
know why she... went so far like this... it's got to be the pheromones that 
Misty is putting out."

Ranma nodded, swallowing, keeping his eyes firmly on the floor though an act 
of will. "I guess... but... she knows what you're thinking too, right?"

Akane hesitated, gulping as what Ranma was getting at started to become 
clear. "But... I don't.... I don't...."

Ranma slowly turned to her, and just as slowly started to pull the covers 
off of her body. "Akane... Mina wouldn't... do this... not if you didn't 
want it too... right?" Akane shook her head, trying to deny it, but she knew 
she was lying to herself even as she did so. Ranma knew it as well, and also 
knew, from everything he had learned about his wife, that Akane would fight 
her feelings forever if that was what she thought was right. He pulled the 
covers the rest of the way off of her, and sat down on the side of the bed, 
putting one hand on her belly. "Akane... if you really don't want this... 
tell me to go.. and I will." He ran one hand up her flank and Akane 
shivered, but couldn't find the power to speak. Ranma gently cupped her 
right breast in his hand and she closed her eyes.

"I can't." She finally said. "I want to tell you to go... but I just can't"

"I know." Ranma replied, and after that there were no more words.

Minutes later, alerted by the noises coming from within her room, Akane 
Saotome hung from the rooftop and peeked inside. The sight she witnessed 
there caused her fists to tighten in rage, driving her fingers deep into the 
rooftop. The rage was gone in an instant as she recognized the short girl on 
the bed beneath her husband, and she pulled herself back up on the roof in 
an instant so as not to let Ranma notice her. Shampoo bounded over a moment 
later, eyes questioning as Akane stood and started to walk slowly away from 
her room.

"What's going on?" Shampoo asked quietly. "Isn't that your room, Akane?"

Akane glared at her with a frown. "So?"

Shampoo shrugged. "I was just curious who might be making your bed squeak, 
pervert girl." She said lightly, noting the tension around the shorter 
girl's eyes and trying to break the mood.

Akane sighed. "Someone who belongs there." She finally said, continuing to 
walk away.

Shampoo hesitated, then followed curiously. "Your twin?" She asked, having 
noticed the growing tension between Ranma and Sailor Venus's cursed form.

Akane sighed again and nodded, not surprised that the Chinese girl had 
guessed. "I knew that this would happen." She admitted. "I told Ranma that 
it would be OK... I even insisted that he do this...."

Shampoo put a hand on Akane's shoulder comisseratingly. "It is still hard, 
yes?"

Akane looked up at the stars and sighed again. "It's still hard."


End Chapter 33

I hope you liked it! Please C&C, it's why I write!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1449/fanfics.html


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