The small creature shook its head from side to side as it 
considered its fate. A woman washing the sidewalk, a splash of 
water and the world had changed...

Again. It hadn't really been the world, of course, just him. 
Sigh...

It had been like this ever since that fateful day in China. 
Perceptions changed, too. Sounds became more intense. And people 
became giants. He shook cold water off himself, then bounded into 
the shadows... or at least in their direction. It was time to 
embark on another quest for warmth and its welcome magic. 
Suddenly, an unearthly force interrupted his journey just as it 
started. Sheer power totally overwhelmed his puny struggles. Even 
as the feel of cement beneath his feet gave way to that of... 
claws? Pinchers? No this was softer. Hands, it was a girl's hands, 
holding him securely. Despite his frantic efforts to leap from its 
clutches to safety, he remained held fast.

"Kawai!" An enthusiastic voice thundered as his captor raised his 
face to her own for closer examination. His eyes, closed shut as 
if to protect him from any force he couldn't see, opened. First a 
sliver of light gave him a shadowy view of a monstrously huge 
being that had him under its complete control. As his eyes opened 
fully, additional details changed the picture from imagined horror 
to a girl. She was... well... beautiful. Her hair was styled 
somewhat oddly, with two long ponytails dangling from two small 
balls of hair on either side of her head. She was, simply, the 
most beautiful giant - girl - he'd ever seen. Maybe Sailor Io was 
cuter, but he doubted he'd ever see the fiery tresses of that 
magical girl who claimed to be a Sailor Senshi again.

He remembered her blush as a new flush burned beneath his dark 
fur, fueled by his predicament.

It was hard to know, exactly, what the light-haired girl looked 
like as the eyes of his current form allowed him scant color 
perception. Soon, he had to turn away from the radiant smile that 
occupied much of his view, as his inherent shyness closed his eyes 
while the fight to leave his captor's arms just melted away.

His ears took over, with an even deeper perception than he was 
used to. Simple speech became a symphony of subtle sounds lost to 
his other form. "Usagi-san," A cultured voice, colored with 
something resembling a cat's mewing cry, interrupted his euphoria 
and fetched his vision as he looked down to see... a concerned 
looking feline talking to his captor. His eyes bulged in surprise.

"What, Luna?" the giant asked her companion.

"What on Earth are you going to do with that... well, thing?" The 
cat replied.

The creature tried to scowl at the feline's insult, his angry 
expression hidden beneath his shiny black coat of fur. He then 
took pause, <That cat spoke!> He thought. <There's a way for me to 
speak in this form!?!>

"He's cute. I'm gonna keep him as a pet." The giant girl's mouth 
cocked slightly as her brows knit in contemplation of what to say 
next. "His name's B..." Synapses that were well used in Usagi's 
brain, those that formed excuses as to why her homework wasn't 
done and other creative works went into overdrive. Names like, 
Bugs, Babs, and Buster filtered through, each one rejected until 
she picked the perfect one. "B-chan!" she said at last with a 
smile. Then she looked straight into the creature's eyes as she 
continued. "Let's get you home, okay, B-chan?"

Luna's eyes grew wide at the originality of the rabbit's name. 
"Usagi, Usagi, why is everything named Usagi? Your future daughter 
and now that... thing..."

B-chan couldn't think of what to do as the girl's proximity again 
froze his mental capacity for several seconds. Eventually, panic 
jumpstarted his mind again. He had never thought much about girls 
but now, as the girl began to walk again, he considered his fate 
as a girl's pet, of all things. As the girl... Usagi, he 
recalled... brought B-chan closer to her chest, new sensations 
chased away the creature's consciousness as he swooned.

Usagi looked down at the sleeping, furry bunny, "You're tired, 
aren't you B-chan?" the blonde asked as she saw her new pet nod 
repeatedly while he tiptoed along the border of unconsciousness. 
"Well, I'll see if I can set up a nice bed for you at home."

"This is a poor time to get involved with stray animals, Usagi-
chan," Luna pointed out as she followed her charge.

"What if I'd thought that when I found a wandering cat a while 
back?" she replied, with a quick glance back to the small creature 
padding behind her.

Luna blinked, "I guess you are right Usagi-chan. It's your heart 
that has serves you well both as Usagi... and Sailor Moon."

B-chan's eyes opened wide again at the remark. With strength and 
speed he didn't know he had, the rabbit leapt from the girl's 
arms. It bounded toward the shadows, and freedom. <What weird 
thing will happen next in my accursed life?> He wondered as he ran 
into a fence, caution having given way to panic.

Usagi looked down at the woozy little animal, who offered no 
resistance as she cradled it to her chest again.

***

Ranma 1/2 Honor and Love
(Yet Another) Ranma/Sailor Moon Crossover 

Episode 11: Take My Revolution
By Kevin D. Hammel
Ranma 1/2 is property of Rumiko Takahashi. Publication Rights are 
held by Viz in The US and Shogakukan in Japan. Sailor Moon is 
property of Naoko Takeuchi. Publication rights held by Kodansha 
Ltd. in Japan and Mixx Entertainment in the US. My purpose is to 
honor these creators and their works. No infringement intended.

***

Io watched as Rhea leapt to another rooftop. She couldn't keep the 
warm feeling she had from spilling out her chest to her whole body 
as her eyes followed the taller building-hopper. They'd endured a 
tough battle today, just the two of them, strengthening a bond 
weakened over a decade of separation.

Sure, Io had her friends amongst the Neo Senshi, and she felt even 
closer to her... sisters... amongst the Jovian Moon Senshi. Except 
the enigmatic Ganymede, who remained a mystery. It was wonderful 
to be part of the team that was growing closer with each training 
session. Both those hitting the books to study, and practicing the 
Art together. That bond was also increasing with each test on the 
battlefield, and on paper. But this link was older, and had grown 
stronger than any of the others she had... left.

Rhea, sensing Io's absence, pirouetted 180 degrees to see the look 
of pride and love on the smaller girl's face. The tall Senshi 
couldn't help blushing as she realized the admiring looks were for 
her. A leap and a bound put her at the smaller girl's side in an 
instant.

Io looked up and gave her taller companion thumbs up. "I was just 
thinkin' Mo... Rhea-san. What we did today was pretty cool." She 
said as she looked at the Anti-Sailor's pendant. "We gotta get 
this to Mercury-chan. Maybe Charon can look at it too."

"Yes, Dear." Rhea replied in a distracted voice, uncolored by the 
importance of the artifact they had stolen from Azurite's minion. 
Other, more personal, concerns weighed heavily on her mind. How 
could she show Io how she felt? She was so proud of her... Rhea 
covered her eyes in shame. She had been thinking daughter, not 
son.

"Rhea-san, what's wrong?" Io asked in a voiced laced with worry.

"Dear... Io... Ranma..." Her voice was taken away as she realized 
what she had said...

"Oh, now THIS is interesting," a sarcastic third voice replied 
before Io could. From the shadow of a sign on the rooftop 
stepped...

"Ganymede..." Io whispered.

The tall warrior glared at Io in response as she continued, "I 
think you know who I am, Io. So, let's finish this 
conversation..." A flash of lights later and a young man still in 
his school uniform replaced the young lady.   

Io stared the young man. "So, boys CAN be Sailor Senshi after 
all," she whispered. Detransforming, Io became a girl wearing a 
boy's uniform that was MUCH too big. She was joined by a middle-
aged woman wearing a kimono.

The elder woman spoke first. "What do you have to say for 
yourself, young man?" She asked in a stern voice.

"What do I have to say... What do you have to say for yourself, 
Mrs. Saotome? After all, your husband engaged me to a girl when 
Kikuko and I were CHILDREN. I lost EVERYTHING because of what the 
jerk did." With a fluid motion, the angry young man pulled a huge 
spatula from behind his back and lunged at the woman with the 
weapon. "You're living out another sack of lies, just like your 
good-for-nothing husband. Kikuko? HA! You think that was going to 
keep me from finding her? Well?"

Mrs. Saotome gulped at what was being said, regretting even more 
the pseudo deception she had perpetrated on her son.

The young man turned to Kikuko, shouting, "Ranma, you and your 
father have made my life a living hell. Hiding behind another 
name..." She clenched her hands, forcing the blood from her 
fingers in anger. "So, what's your REAL name? Never mind, I don't 
care." The tide of bitterness continued, as he shouted, "I lost 
EVERYTHING! You hear me? My childhood! My inheritance and even my 
husband!"

As his glare went from Kikuko to her mother, Ukyou pulled out his 
spatula, ready to extract his pound of flesh, "Where is he? Tell 
me now or I'll beat it out of you!"

The elder woman pulled out her katana in response, but Ukyou was 
far more skilled and swung a blow that ripped Nodoka's family 
blade from her untrained hands. The sword clattered to the flat 
asphalt rooftop, leaving its owner defenseless.

"Mom!" Kikuko shouted while leaping to intercept the spatula's 
return swing with an arm positioned to block. As the redheaded 
martial artist landed softly, the cooking implement impacted on 
her forearm. The girl grit her teeth to stifle a cry of pain that 
tried to force its way from between her white, tightly pursed 
lips. 

"Fine! Ranma, or whoever you are, prepare to die!" He kicked the 
girl away from the weapon and raised the blade for a killing blow. 
Ukyou took a good look at the pain within the eyes of his intended 
target and felt just a tinge of remorse. Taking a moment to 
reevaluate his opponent, he asked, "What do you have to say for 
yourself... Ranma?"

"U... Ucchan... Why?" Kikuko pleaded.

The young man pulled the spatula slowly back, a look at the pain 
in the small girl's face giving him pause.  Holstering the weapon 
behind his back again, he couldn't help but let a few tears fall. 
He had lived for this moment, but his heart had denied him the 
revenge he had sought.

As her opponent replaced the spatula Kikuko relaxed her stance, 
while keeping her guard. As the pain in her forearm lessened, her 
lips relaxed into an expression reflecting her calm wariness.

"Where is he?" Ukyou spat, to be answered only by the sounds of 
traffic far below.

The elder woman broke the silence, "Please, tell me what my 
husband did to you, Mister..."

"Kuonji... Ukyou Kuonji" the shaken youth replied in a measured 
tone, still only a misspoken answer away from flying into a 
berserker rage.

Kneeling down to check on her confused and frightened child, 
Nodoka looked up at the boy with motherly concern. "Very well, Mr. 
Kuonji. Tell us your story."

"When I was little, I used to spar with a... boy... named Ranma." 
The young man started as his eyes went from the older woman to 
settle into a glare at the girl. "Everyday we would fight a little 
and when he won he would swipe an Okonomiyaki off our cart. I 
really grew to like Ranma a lot." He shot a glance at the red-
haired girl, trying to see if the color on her scalp was the real 
color or a dye job. The face matched her childhood friend 
perfectly, making Ukyou very suspicious of the separation between 
fact and fiction in the Saotome family.

Wariness flowed to an expression that tried to become a 
understanding smile, as Kikuko visibly brightened, "Ucchan..." 
Kikuko whispered. "I... remember."

The boy scoffed at Kikuko's remark as he continued, "Finally, my 
father decided that it would be best if I was engaged to Ranma to 
continue my line since I was the only heir to my family business. 
Genma agreed and took my father's cart as a dowry."

Nodoka's eye twitched. She silently pondered whether Dearest had 
thinking about cursing Ranma back then? The elder paused in 
thought as the facts didn't add up, "Dowry?"

Ukyou, while staring at his fake fiancee in disgust, recalled his 
tale. His eyes were tearing at the horrible memory. "I was 
supposed to go with Ranma but that stupid, lying, stealing damned 
jackass took the cart and left me by the side of the road." He 
pointed at the elder with the look of a judge about to pass 
sentence. "Your husband took my life away and cast me out like 
yesterday's garbage. I had to go..."

He sniffed away the collecting tears under his nose and wiped the 
remainder with his sleeve. "I had to go back to my father in 
disgrace. And I ceased to be who I was. I lost my womanhood 
because of him." Face turning red and hate returned to his eyes, 
as a battle aura formed around the boy. "I became my father's son. 
I was supposed to be Mrs. Ranma Saotome and now look at me!"

"LOOK AT ME!" He shouted at the pair on the ground. His face 
softened as his anger was spent, trying to find a piece of what he 
was and failing. "I had to live my life as a boy. My father has no 
daughter... Anymore..."

Kikuko tried to smile in understanding as she said, "Ucchan..." 
Kikuko answered, "Your father took you to Jusenkyou?"

"Jusenkyou? What's that?" Ukyou asked with a puzzled expression.

"You can change back with hot water." Kikuko beamed, hoping to 
have found an answer to this boy's problem.

Ukyou blinked. "Back into what?"

"A girl!" Kikuko stood up, glee in her eyes. "We can change you 
back."

Still puzzled, Ukyou responded, "Uh? You're not making any sense, 
Sugar. I'm a girl."

Nodoka and Kikuko froze, eyes blinking as their minds tried to 
figure out just what was going on.

Nodoka tilted her head, looking at Ukyou far more carefully until 
she saw the faintest outline under the fabric of the boy's chest 
of something where a bra should be, but wasn't. "Are you wearing 
bindings Ukyou-kun?" the mother hesitantly queried.

Ukyou, torn between exasperation and laughter responded, "Of 
course, how else am I supposed to live like a man? How else can I 
pull this off?"

Kikuko looked to the sky in embarrassment. Nodoka nodded in 
understanding. "Please, Ukyou-san, why did your father do this to 
you?" the latter asked.

"I just told you. My life as a woman ended when that fat bastard 
took my dowry. Without that, I can't get a husband, so my father 
made me his son." Tears filled her eyes again as the memories of a 
lifetime of living a lie came back. "My father told everyone that 
my 'sister' was married off and that I'm the new heir to the 
family school."

"I was sent to an all-boys academy. Lived in an all-boys dormitory 
and had to be a boy." Anger took hold again as a decade of pain 
poured out. "Do you know what that was like! Well, do you?" She 
closed her eyes as she continued, "Hiding, making excuses, and all 
the close calls. Oh and that pervert Tsubasa..."

"Tsubasa?" Nodoka asked.

"I'm not going there. But I had to practice my art by the ocean, 
away from anyone seeing me. Because..." She slumped, spent. "It 
was the only time I could be... me." Tears were all she had left, 
so she cried.

The cries of the youth her family had hurt drew the elder woman 
toward the distressed girl. She could not keep some tears of her 
own as she embraced the younger woman.

It felt so good... and right to be held like she was Ukyou thought 
as rationality returned, after summons by catharsis. Composing 
herself, Ukyou pushed lightly away from the woman, who released 
her. Taking a step back, she noticed Kikuko had shed tears too.

"MISS Kuonji..." Nodoka said as she looked at the girl before her. 
"I need to verify what you have said... BUT if it is true, I will 
do all I can to see justice done for you. Revenge, however, is not 
possible. My husband was... killed recently." A slight quiver of 
her lips was all that betrayed the lost love of ten years ago. A 
living child had reduced that pain to only a small ache.

Any hope for revenge, and Ukyou's legs, crumpled with the older 
woman's announcement. With a moan, the girl fell to her knees. 
Vengeance had been snatched from her. How could she blame Kikuko 
for what had happened? And her childhood friend's mother had 
offered comfort, not disdain or anger. Hate begat hate. It was 
hard to dislike people who had not caused her suffering. Again she 
felt the warmth she had missed for so many years, as Kikuko's mom 
embraced her once more.

"He couldn't have gotten away." Rage again filled her heart as she 
shot a glance at the Saotome elder, "Where's his body?"

"He's buried at the Saotome gravesite. I'll take you there 
myself." Nodoka offered.

Still not completely trusting the elder, she turned to Kikuko. 
"And who are you? Really?"

"I'm..." Not wanting to say, Kikuko's tear-filled eyes searched 
for an answer. "Ranchan." She smiled.

Ukyou softened her stance. She couldn't figure out why she trusted 
the red haired girl but she wanted to escape from her old life. 
The new one thrust upon her by her recent Senshi-hood was warm and 
inviting and for now, seemed free of pain.

The seated girl was part of that new life, and friends were 
something Ukyou desperately needed.

Kikuko held out a hand, "Ucchan, I missed you."

A sudden rush of pleasant thoughts, of times gone by that Ukyou 
had secretly dreamed would return, gave her a feeling she thought 
she'd never feel again. She grabbed the hand like a lifeline and 
pulled Kikuko into her arms. "I missed you too." How could she 
blame Kikuko for what had happened? And her childhood friend's 
mother had offered comfort, not disdain or anger. Hate begat hate. 
It was hard to dislike people who had not caused her suffering. 
Again she felt the warmth she had missed for so many years, as 
Kikuko's mom embraced both of them.

"Let's go," Nodoka said while rising. "We'll need to transform to 
get to street level, but there's a place down there that I want to 
take you girls."

Kikuko and Ukyou followed Nodoka for a few blocks when a familiar 
storefront brought a smile to the short redhead's face. "Ice 
cream!" She said as she looked up at her mom, who nodded in 
response.

Two high-school girls, currently wearing boy's uniforms, and the 
mother of one sat around a small glass table in an ice cream shop. 
Before each of them sat a dish of brown and red streaked soup that 
had once been ice cream. Anger and sadness had been replaced by an 
unreserved smile on the smaller young lady and a guarded one on 
her friend's face. The mother of the smaller girl watched the 
other two warily, glad she had read her child right.

"I'm really a guy Ukyou... Ucchan" Kikuko said as she put a spoon 
down,
every centimeter of her small body giving lie to the ridiculous 
statement. She then took her spoon and seconds later made an 
entire sundae disappear down her throat.

"Well, you sure eat like one." Smiling, Ukyou undid a few buttons 
of her shirt to show a tightly bound chest. "See, I'm a guy too." 
she said with a tongue stuck out.

Both girls couldn't help laughing at teach other's comments.

"Kikuko!" Nodoka stuttered. "That's not how a lady..." She stopped 
in mid-sentence, trying to figure out just what she was going to 
do about raising her child. She wished for a moment there were 
parenting guides from Jusenkyou Press on this subject.

Ice cream and laughter had dissolved a lot of tension, Nodoka 
thought as she smiled. At least Ranma's childhood friend was a 
friend again. Now, matters of honor had to be addressed. When both 
girls were finished their laughter, she finally spoke, "let's go 
home." 

"Okay, mom!" Kikuko said as she popped up from her chair.

Looking at an uncertain Ukyou, Nodoka offered a smiling entreaty, 
"Miss Kuonji you are welcome to visit, of course."

Ukyou nodded, confident only that she had found an old friend. The 
tide of anger and rage which had sustained and directed her for a 
decade was already receding. Only the hope of friendship remained 
to guide her uncertain steps. She stood, turned, and followed her 
friend out the door.

Ukyou had felt a mother's love for the first time in over eleven 
years. Her life had changed today. Hope had replaced hate, and 
would guide her. For now.

Doubts, concerns, and misgivings had to be set aside. For now.

She would be Kikuko's friend. For now.

Moments later, three Sailor Senshi leapt from an alleyway and 
roof-hopped toward the Saotome home.

***

Nabiki looked across to her sister Kasumi in the small room the 
three Tendou sisters shared at the Saotome residence. Both sat on 
one of the three futons that provided bedding each night in their 
temporary home in Juuban. Concern was evident on both girls' 
faces, because their host and her child were missing. A knock on 
the door brought the elder girl, Kasumi, from her seat to answer 
the summons.

"Yes?" Kasumi asked as she opened the entryway.

Through the open portal, she saw Sailor Saturn, who with Sailor 
Neptune and Shampoo, had joined the others at their vigil. I... 
Jupiter thinks Io is nearby.

Kasumi bowed in respect to her planetary sensei, "Thanks, Ho.. 
Saturn-chan. That is good news."

"Yeah, thanks!" Nabiki called out from behind her sister.

With a bow before turning, Saturn left the two sisters alone 
again.

Kasumi returned to her seat. "That is good news," The eldest girl 
stated with relieved cheerfulness.

"Yep... But..." Nabiki said thoughtfully as she captured her 
sister's eyes. "She obviously had more to say than she let on."

"Yes." Kasumi replied with a slight nod. "I could sense 
something."

"Was it Sailor Senshi intuition?" a sarcastic Nabiki asked.

Kasumi curtly nodded her head once. "Yes. That's it, I think."

"Uhhh... ri-ght. So, what did you want to talk about, Big Sister?" 
Nabiki questioned, a little concerned for her sister's sanity.

"Well... I was thinking. The marriage pact can't be fulfilled 
since it would hurt Mako-chan feelings. It has been so long since 
mother passed away and father is so lonely." Kasumi said while 
staring at her two hands as the lay folded in her lap.

Nabiki paused, taking in Kasumi's thoughts. "So, it looks like 
that's it. It's not like Akane's in love with him, her... 
whatever."

"Don't be too surprised about what Akane thinks," she answered in 
her all knowing tone. "And from I know, Saotome-san is very lonely 
as well."

"You're not..." Nabiki wanted to roll her eyes at first, but then 
the idea took root and didn't want to let go. "You know, I think 
you've got something there."

"After all," Kasumi continued while staring at her two hands as 
the lay folded in her lap. "I think Ki... Ranma was probably in 
love with Kino-san before he even came to our home. It wouldn't be 
fair to them force enforce that agreement. They looked so happy 
together." 

"Yeah," Nabiki nodded, "for a pair of weirdos. I'm sure glad I 
didn't get stuck with him."

Kasumi acknowledged as she shook her head once again. "That's not 
nice. Ranma has a little problem, that's all. I'm certain that 
they'll work around it. I can understand why Akane still wishes to 
acknowledge the pact, but Ranma and Makoto make a nice couple when 
Ranama is either a boy or a girl. Getting in the way of that would 
do more harm than good."

"Look at it this way sis, Akane hates boys." Nabiki acknowledged.

"Yes, and Ranma is half girl. I can see Akane's attraction to 
him." Kasumi agreed.

Though her face betrayed her, Nabiki concentrated to keep from 
laughing as she replied, "Sis', I don't think that she hates all 
boys. It's just those perverts she fights off every morning at 
Furinkan. She wants to marry a mature man and I think you know who 
I'm talking about."

"Akane wants to marry someone?" Kasumi asked in surprise.

Nabiki retracted her statement instantly as she realized the 
minefield she just entered. "Well, marry is a strong word. But I 
know she's got a crush on someone..." Nabiki silently added, "And 
that someone has a crush on you."

"Please tell me, who does Akane like?" Kasumi wanted to hear the 
juicy gossip and sat expectantly.

Nabiki lied. "Uh... I don't know his name, just that Akane seems 
to like some guy. Still... What do we do about Akane and Ranma? 
Though she's not head over heels for him, I think she likes her... 
errr... him." Nabiki smiled as she continued. "It's hard to think 
of her as a guy, we don't see Ranma much."

"Yes. She has been a girl a lot recently. But it's not our place 
to tell her how to live her life." Kasumi helpfully added.

"Anyways... About Dad..." Nabiki interjected, hoping to get the 
conversation back on track.

" Yes, about Father." Kasumi collected her thoughts on the matter 
at hand. "There is a way for the families to join and I think it's 
for the best. Father has been so lonely."

"But," Nabiki sighed in relief, after expertly avoiding an 
embarrassing sequence of questions only to go into another touchy 
subject, "I dunno. Is that what they want?"

"I think so. Father desperately wanted to join the families, and 
it's been so empty here with Mother."

"Saotome-san," Nabiki contemplated the proposal with businesslike 
precision, "as a mother, I can see that. I like her a lot."

"Yes, a mother would be nice." Kasumi answered with a smile.

"That's for sure." Nabiki replied as she winked at Kasumi.

"Let me go get Akane-chan. We should talk to her and get her 
feelings on this." Kasumi said as she rose from the futon.

"Okay. I'll be here." Nabiki replied as she rolled over to dig out 
a history book from her book bag. Being a Senshi wasn't a valid 
excuse for missing homework.

Kasumi left the room to go find Akane.

***

Now downstairs, Kasumi heard a thump, then noticed the forms of 3 
Sailor Senshi for an instant as the trio leapt from the rooftop. 
She got up to open the door for the highly anticipated arrivals.  
The open portal revealed Kikuko, her mother and a girl she hadn't 
seen before.

"Hey, Kasumi!" Kikuko said excitedly as she thrust a strange 
looking pendant in the eldest Tendou daughter's face. "We got this 
from some weird sailor-wannbe in some weird place."

"Maybe Ami-chan or my sister would like to see it," Kasumi 
replied, backing away from the door.

As Kasumi retreated from the entryway, Kikuko, Ukyou, and Nodoka 
all entered the home. As Kikuko bent to remove her shoes, she was 
buried in the hugs of Naru, Akane, Sailor Jupiter, and Shampoo. 
Sailor Saturn gave Nodoka a concerned, but relieved expression as 
she opened her small arms wide. Nodoka bent down to receive a hug. 
"I'm so glad you're all right, Saotome-san." The young girl said 
as she embraced her Senshi.

Nodoka could feel the Warrior of Silence's tears as she held on to 
the small girl. Her mind replayed the horror her son had rescued 
them from, not to mention the bizarre revelations of one of 
Ranma's friends.

Kikuko was overwhelmed. "Thanks guys," she tried to say. "THANKS 
GUYS," She yelled when conversational tones didn't do the job. 
"Please, let go, we've gotta get the others."

After Kikuko had escaped the hugs, she held up the device she had 
stolen so all could see it. "Who knows what that bogus Senshi 
would a done to us, but..." As her chest puffed out, almost 
unnoticed behind the oversized boy's uniform, she continued, "I 
got the drop on her and stole this from her. Then I pushed one of 
these buttons and one of those weird blue bubbles took us back to 
Japan."

Nodoka couldn't help herself as she whispered, "So manly."

Fortunately, only Saturn heard her, answering with a smile as she 
looked up at the elder of her two Senshi.

Nabiki, who had come down the stairs after the commotion made 
study impossible, transformed to Charon as soon as her name was 
mentioned. She walked over to Kikuko, who offered her prize after 
turning to the sound of Charon's heels against the floor.

Nodoka's child offered her treasure to the black clad Sailor 
Senshi. "Here, Charon-chan. See if you can figure out what makes 
this thing tick."

"Thanks," Charon offered as she took the small device into her 
hands as she summoned her goggles. Again, the display was alight 
with numbers, but her lack of training didn't provide an 
explanation of their meanings. "Magnify," Seemed to be the command 
that might be most useful. "Enhance," brought a fine tracery of 
lines around the face of the device. Shaking her head, she looked 
up. "Look, I'd love to help, but I think Mercury's going to have 
to help me figure this out." She turned to Kikuko, "Sorry, Kiku-
chan. I'll help Mercury... and maybe learn from her. But I'm kinda 
a rookie at this sort of thing."

"I understand." Kikuko replied as she took the device back. 
"Thanks for checking it out."

"No Problem. And, I hope I'll be able to help Mercury figure it 
out." Charon said with a tiny smile.

"Anybody called Mercury yet?" Kikuko asked the assembled guests.

"I did, Kikuko-san," Saturn replied. "She's on her way."

Kikuko looked around, noticing Naru and Shampoo. At least she 
would get two of the people told today. "Naru?"

"Yes," the girl with an auburn perm replied.

"Naru, There's something I want... need to tell you." Kikuko herd 
the click of another pair of shoes as Jupiter stood behind her. 
Having her first friend in Juuban at her side made talking a lot 
easier. "You and I both shared our secret identities with each 
other. I like being straight with people. But I need to tell 
Shampoo too. So you'll have to wait a bit."

"That's okay, Kiku-chan, " Naru replied with a smile.

Kikuko walked over to Shampoo, "Shampoo... first off. I don't even 
know it I'd be here today if it wasn't for you. When I stumbled 
into your village, I didn't even know if I wanted to live any 
more. Or would be able to. Cause my..." Tears interrupted her 
speech.

"Is Okay, Ranma. Shampoo remember. Respect for elders is good, 
even for man.
Shampoo was happy to help a warrior, even if Ranma from outside."
Shampoo was now next to her. "Ranma Amazon in Shampoo's mind. 
First
outsider Shampoo says that to."

Naru turned her head between Shampoo and Kikuko, looking at both 
people strangly. "Ranma? Why is she calling you Ranma? Is that a 
nickname she gave you?"

"Thanks Shampoo. Your friendship meant a lot to me. So I was 
careful not to spoil it. You living in a village of girls and all. 
But, lies just get bigger and bigger until they blow up and hurt 
people, so I need to tell you something." Kikuko turned to Naru, 
"you too Naru-chan. It has something to do with my name."

"But you're Kikuko, right?" Naru was getting a little concerned.

Shampoo also raised an eyebrow. "Kikuko? Who that? You Ranma."

"Gimme a minute to explain. Let's go get some water." She pointed 
over to the kitchen area and started walking in that direction 
with Jupiter holding her hand for comfort. Her two friends 
followed closely, watching the sign of friendship of the pair 
ahead with a little concern.

Stopping in the kitchen, Jupiter reached into the cupboard 
extracting two mugs to help in Kikuko's explanation. Filling them 
with the proper temperature waters, she set them on the counter in 
her friend's reach.

"Thanks, Jupiter," she said, grateful for the unspoken 
communication. She glanced up at Jupiter, and could see pride in 
her face, a pride echoed in Nodoka and Charon's faces. "This is 
gonna seem really weird but, when I was training in China with my 
pop, I got a weird curse that changes me in water. In fact, it 
changed me into a..."

"Jusenkyou," Shampoo said in heartbreak. "You fall in spring. How 
could you fool Shampoo like that? You lowly man!" Yanking the mug 
of hot water from Jupiter, more than enough was splashed out to 
effect the reversion of Kikuko to Ranma. When the transformation 
had stopped, Shampoo slapped the deceitful man hard enough to draw 
blood. Exhaling loudly, the Amazon warrior pivoted and stormed 
from the room.

Naru gasped at the transformation. Kikuko grew to a towering 
height and his clothes suddenly were a perfect fit. A strong boy 
replaced her friend and she took a step back, stopping when she 
hit the door frame.

The young man who looked a lot like her... former? friend Kikuko 
turned to Naru, "Naru-chan, don't be afraid, I'm still me. I can 
explain."

"What are you?" Naru said to the tearful, bleeding boy. She felt 
along the doorframe until she found the exit. After backing 
through the opening, she bolted through the living room in fright. 
Streaming tears marked her path through the room, down the hall 
and out door.

"Dammit!" Ranma shouted to the heavens. He turned to Jupiter and 
took the cold water. "And Ryouga says HIS life is hell." Raising 
it for a second, he lowered his hand, still grasping the mug. "If 
I ain't gonna lie, I might as well not lie to you too. After all, 
I know all about stuff like this. Nabiki only THOUGHT she was 
throwing away her manga." He said as he wrapped his two arms 
around Jupiter, planting a kiss on her surprised lips.

Jupiter was in shock. Ranma was kissing her. Really. So she kissed 
back. Really. So surprised by the sensations he felt, Ranma 
dropped the mug of cold water, which fell to the side, dumping its 
contents on the floor. Jupiter slipped in the pool of water and 
fell on top of Ranma, knocking both of them into the puddle. 
Making her boyfriend a girl again.

Ukyou watched the whole thing in utter amazement. She suppressed 
urges both to attack Ranma for revenge, and push Sailor Jupiter 
off of the fiancee that was hers by right. The potential for 
adoption and choosing a life for herself was more attractive than 
the fleeting happiness revenge promised. Her current life... was 
hell. Sort of like Ranma's.

Akane felt a lump in her throat. "Sorry, Akane," Her sister Charon 
whispered in her ear.

"It's okay. I was a dummy for not seeing Mako-chan loved him." 
Akane replied, as a single tear ran its course down her face.

Charon shrugged, "they were probably in love before the funeral. 
Though Ranma's a bit slow moving sometimes." Her gaze encompassed 
the room, as she gave a low whistle. "But when he moves, boy, do 
things happen." She said, as her gaze rested on the teleportation 
device Ranma had stolen earlier in the day. She looked at Akane, 
who wasn't terribly broken up that her bizarre fantasy had gone 
for naught. "Akane-chan, come upstairs, Kasumi and I need to talk 
to you."

Nodoka, having just seen the 'Kikuko' experiment blow up in her 
child's face was torn between grief and celebration. She decided a 
victory fan would probably be out of place in the current setting. 
Still, somehow, the experience had prodded her son into action. 
And prompted him to take his place amongst Men.

Jupiter pushed herself off the now female Ranma, who sat up too. 
Other than a bruised and swelling cheek, Kikuko was physically 
okay. But her spirits were pretty low, despite her admission of 
feelings for Jupiter.

Jupiter hugged her. "It'll be okay, Kiku-chan. We can talk to 
Naru-chan and Shampoo-chan and straighten things out."

"I sure hope so, Mako-chan." Kikuko replied, putting what fervor 
she could in her currently wavering voice.

***

Naru practically flew home. To think... that guy, girl, THING 
pretended to be her friend for all those weeks. How could it lie 
to her? How could it... She slowed down, just before the door to 
her apartment building.

"How could he?" She spoke softly to herself and she entered the 
entry code to the glass door. Rationality crept in as the girl 
realized who she was going to see in a few moments. A person she 
respected, loved and had lied to every since she became a Sailor 
Senshi.

"How could he not?" Naru closed the door and pressed the elevator 
button. Living his life must have been hell. A girl that changed 
into a boy... Just the thought of turning into a boy made her 
stomach queasy. Maybe she was too hard on him, since he did say 
the he could explain it. She had run before he could tell her 
about the change and what the 'ranma' was. The silent elevator 
helped her think, but she had to talk to someone about this. Naru 
rushed out into the hallway after reaching her floor to call the 
only other person she knew she could talk to. Seconds after 
entering her apartment, whooshing past her surprised mother, she 
called Umino and begged him to come by.

Just a few minutes later, Naru faced Umino in her room. She shut 
the door after her boyfriend had entered to keep her mother from 
hearing what she was about to say. "Umino, I need to talk to you 
about something." At her mental command, an orange pen with a 
little star on the tip appeared in her hand. "This is going to 
seem really weird... but I'm one of the Sailor Senshi."

"Really?" Umino brightened up. "Did you make the costume or 
where'd you buy it? I dunno about if I should go as Goku or if I 
can get a costume for..."

"No... I mean I AM a Sailor Senshi."

He ignored her as he kept rambling, "a good price, or maybe if I 
search the internet for one of those places that those custom..."

"Are you listening to me?" She grabbed her geeky boyfriend by the 
collar.

Having gotten Umino's full attention and scaring the living 
daylights out of him with her newly acquired battle aura, Naru 
relaxed her iron grip. "I'm a Sailor Senshi, I'm Sailor Callisto."

"Oh..." He stood back, happiness in his eyes, well as best as 
could be seen though his coke bottles that he wore on his face.

"I already knew that." He blushed and turned away.

Naru held her arm up in surprise, "What? H... How did you know?"

"I saw you transform at school," he sheepishly replied. "I didn't 
tell anyone."

"Okay." She said, swallowing. "So why the act?"

"Well, I knew that the Sailor Senshi's identities are a big secret 
and since you're a Sailor and you have to keep the secret I 
thought that I had to keep the secret so you don't get into 
trouble."

Naru's eye twitched ever so slightly. How could he say that in one 
breath?

"Okay, well, there's something else I have to tell you." Naru 
said, swallowing again in trepidation. "There's this dreamy new 
guy who showed up when we were fighting. Don't get this wrong. I 
still love you. But... somehow, I really felt a strong attraction 
to him."

"Naru, I'm sure glad it was you and not someone like Kikuko-chan 
who fell for the Silver Rose."

"Kikuko-chan... Kikuko-chan... Ha ha... Wait... what do you know 
about the Silver Rose?"

"Transform to Callisto and I'll show you." Umino replied with a 
sly smile.

Raising her henshin pen, Naru whispered, "Callisto Lumina Power, 
Make up!" As she transformed, there seemed to be another light in 
the room, competing with hers.

Transformations done, Sailor Callisto saw across from her a 
dashing young man, smartly dressed as a Don of a bygone era. The 
gentleman reached into a pocket and produced his trademark, a long 
stemmed silver rose. "So... So..." was all Callisto could say 
before the handsome, strong, and well-dressed vision she had seen 
before swept her off her feet. And all the guilt melted away.

"Naru, what was that light and..." Mrs. Osaka asked as she opened 
her daughter's door. Standing there, were a Sailor Senshi and a 
young man. Both of them blinked as one.

"Uhh... mom..." Sailor Callisto haltingly tried to speak. The 
Silver Rose threw open the window and leapt through to the ground 
three stories below. Callisto crunched her face as a painful 
sounding crash was heard out the window from a three story fall 
into a dumpster. A shriek of a startled cat followed, then a loud 
banging of trashcans as the Silver Rose fell out of the dumpster 
and slipped on more garbage. Callisto smiled slightly as sounds of 
honking, yelling of motorists and screams of "masher" receded into 
silence.

Mrs. Osaka stared dumbfounded at the oddly dressed girl who seemed 
familiar in some way. "Mom? What is the meaning..." The woman's 
question died as a magical lightshow swirled around the orange-
clad girl revealing... "Naru-chan?" With her mind on total 
overload, Naru's mom passed out.

As the older woman sank to the ground, her daughter did what she 
could to cushion her elder's fall. Yanking a pillow off her bed, 
Naru tried to make her mother comfortable by placing under the 
older woman's head. Another tug, and a few moments' work, had her 
mom covered in Naru's quilted bedspread.

Ms Osaka struggled to consciousness. The last thing she remembered 
was a nightmare where Naru was... "Naru?" The woman asked as she 
sat up. A wet towel fell from her forehead in the process.

"Mom? Are you okay?" Naru asked, her face a picture of concern.

"I... I think so." She shook her head as she continued, "So... are 
you a Sailor Senshi, Naru-chan?"

"Mom, I'm Sailor Callisto, and I have a very important job to do." 
To confirm it, she transformed for her mother. Thinking about 
Kikuko's confession, she continued, "my friend took a big risk 
telling me about herself tonight. And I had to talk to Umino. I 
decided that what she did was the right thing to do and I had to 
tell you, although you kind of beat me to that one." She beamed 
for Kikuko's sake. "I don't want to keep secrets from you mom. For 
everyone's sake," Naru concluded with a smile.

The shocked older woman shook her head slowly in agreement. A 
bemused smirk formed as the reality of a daughter who was a Sailor 
Senshi took hold, "So Mister Spaghetti Western..."

"Was Umino, yeah... I didn't even know 'til tonight." she said 
with a wistful smile, which soon became a grim expression that 
spoke of courage... and fear... her mother had never seen before 
on her daughter's face. "Mom, the world is in trouble, and I need 
to help. I'm sorry... but I've really gotta help them."

"Although, this is going to take some getting used to. I'm so 
proud of you, daughter... Thank you for letting me in on your..." 
She looked at Naru's uniform, admiring its craftsmanship, 
"occupation. Callisto-chan. Still, you're my only child so... try 
to be safe, okay?" Naru's mom said, her face now betraying pride 
and fear... an expression almost mirroring her daughter's.

"Of course, mom. I'll be careful. All... almost all of us have 
parents. And all of us have loved ones. That's why we're doing 
this. To protect everybody. But, for me, especially you to keep 
you safe, mama." Callisto smiled at her mother as she finished. 
Both of them were crying as they embraced each other.

The truth had been far less painful than she had thought, but then 
her mother didn't run in terror. Breaking her mother's embrace, 
she decided there was something she had to do to try to set things 
right, so she went to the kitchen. It was only the work of seconds 
to become Naru again.

***

Ami arrived on the scene only a few minutes after Naru and Shampoo 
had left. Makoto let her in. All that remained of the 
heartbreaking incident was a patch on Kikuko's cheek. Ami's eyes 
locked on that very wound and dressing as she asked, "What 
happened Kikuko? Please, tell me."

Usagi silently followed Ami, her concerned gaze also falling on 
Kikuko. She held a fidgeting black rabbit with a yellow-polka 
dotted kerchief wrapped around its neck. "Yes, Ranma. Tell us."

B-chan turned to see his most hated enemy. And saw a... a girl. 
Japan was a big country. Who knows how many Ranma's there were. It 
was sure a dumb name for a girl, though.

Kikuko, seated at the table next to Charon turned to her friend's 
voice. "Me and Sailor Rhea got captured."

"Who's Sailor Rhea?" almost everyone asked.

To illustrate, Nodoka summoned her pen and transformed.

"Wow, a parent joining our team. That's kinda cool, actually," 
Usagi said with a smile. "Welcome, Rhea-san."

Rhea reddened, "When I'm transformed, just Rhea, please. Don't 
treat me any different."

Charon had looked up from her study, "You know, you don't look 
much older than any of us, so Rhea-chan it is."

"Thanks," Rhea said with a flush of embarrassment.

Nodoka's revelation made Kasumi, seated with Akane after their 
conference, even more convinced their plan would work. Looking 
down at her sister, she found complete agreement. A glance at 
Charon elicited a wink and a victory sign.

Kikuko couldn't contain herself, so she transformed too. The story 
would be better told as Io anyhow. "So, Rhea-chan and me got 
captured today. We were on the way home from school when these 
monsters jumped us. Then it went dark 'n we woke up in some kinda 
room. I tricked the baka who captured us and took her well... 
uh... buttony thingy. I pushed one of the buttons. One of those 
blue bubbles came. Poof! Me and Rhea were back in Japan."

"We had a nice ride back with on the train an old school friend of 
Ranma's." Rhea added.

Io looked at Rhea with a bit of exasperation, "I ain't sure 
Ryouga's really a friend."

B-chan couldn't believe it. Ranma was a Sailor Senshi? And a cute 
girl? And he thought... Fueled by righteous indignation, he leapt 
from Usagi's arms and attacked Sailor Io. Or tried to.

"What the heck is this thing doing?" Io asked as the black bunny 
hopped onto the table, snapping at her gloved hands like a crazed 
carnivore. The gloves' magic was more than enough to turn aside 
teeth made for eating grass and other vegetation, however.

"B-chan!" Usagi shouted, as she jumped up and snatched the rabbit 
away from Io. "What are you thinking?"

"Probably not much," Io laughed, "they don't call 'em dumb bunnies 
fer..." Io swallowed as she received the first glare she ever had 
from Usagi-chan. The Princess. Her Princess. All she could do was 
look down.

"That's okay, Io-chan, really." Usagi said, her expression warming 
again. "And my new pet B-chan did act pretty strangely." She 
turned to the rest of her friends. "I'll just take my bunny home. 
I don't know what got into him." She squeezed him close again. B-
chan passed out.

***

A sliver of light from his mom's room attracted Ranma the next 
morning. He rapped twice on the door to request admittance.

"Come in," His mother's tired voice responded.

Opening the door slowly, he saw the pack he'd brought back form 
China. Arrayed about it in neat stacks were papers. His mom turned 
to him, her eyes bleary from lack of sleep.

Nodoka held up a paper. "I found it." She said with only slightly 
more animation than before.

"What didja find?" Nodoka's son asked. The three Tendou girls had 
now joined Ranma in the hallway looking in. All three girls had 
thrown robes over their night clothes; Pajamas for Akane and 
Nabiki, a nightgown for Kasumi; to see what the discussion was 
about.

"The paperwork that promised Ukyou-chan as your bride, Ranma." 
Nodoka replied evenly.

"What?" Akane asked. "I thought Ranma was promised to us!"

"Give it a rest, Akane. We went over this last night, remember?" 
Nabiki whispered in her sister's ear.

"I realize that, Akane-chan. But, as I'm sure you know, Ranma has 
made another choice." She shook her head back and forth as she 
continued. "Ukyou-chan, who you might know as Sailor Ganymede was 
promised as a bride to Ranma ten years ago."

"I see." Akane replied, "But Ranma didn't kiss Ukyou, either, last 
night. Not that he'd probably want to kiss a guy."

"Not terribly observant, are we Akane?" Nabiki asked with a voice 
dripping sarcasm. "Ukyou is a girl. Still," she turned to face 
Nodoka before continuing, "That doesn't explain why she pretends 
to be a guy."

"Let me help you with that question," All five people turned to 
the call of a sixth as Nodoka walked to stand in her room's 
doorway. Ukyou, who had spent the night as a guest in the main 
room, stood with hands clasped in front of her as she spoke. "My 
dad decided that... after Ranma's pop ran off with the food cart 
that had been given as my dowry... for marriage to Ranma... 
That..." She closed her eyes, the old pain still hurt despite the 
passage of years. "Since his daughter Ukyou had been given in 
marriage, a SON would take her place."

"Wow," Was all Nabiki could say.

"Ukyou-chan... Ucchan was my best friend back then. Heck I didn't 
even know she was a girl. We just had fun playin'" Ranma said, 
adding his own memories.

"Kuonji-san," Nodoka said with her head bowed, "I can only offer 
you part of what my husband promised."

"Part?" Ukyou asked with a touch of anger, "It's been way too long 
to settle..."

"Hear me out." Nodoka interrupted. "I offer you the full cost of 
the cart, with interest as compensation for your suffering. AND I 
offer you adoption into our clan, if you will accept that in place 
of marriage."

Ukyou had spent a few hours of her own considering how she would 
respond. The chance to really put her suffering behind her had 
finally come. "Both my folks are dead, so I'd like that a lot, Ms 
Sao... mom."

"Mrs. Saotome, I seem to have fallen terribly ill this morning." 
Nabiki said in a voice full of theatrical pain and suffering. 
"Maybe you can write a note and I can help with the paperwork."

"Do you really think you... Oh. Of course, Nabiki-chan. I will 
write the note for you." Focusing on Ranma, she continued, "Can 
you take it to school today, Kikuko-chan.?"

"Sure mom!" He said, the turned to Ukyou... "Ucchan's that okay 
with you? I mean I didn't mean to do anything to hurtcha, but it 
just kinda happened. I'm really sorry, though."

"No Ranm... Ranchan, that's okay. I think having a mom, finally, 
is worth it."

"You realize, Ukyou, that you will be a daughter. Not a son?" 
Nodoka asked.

The girl swallowed. What stability there had been in her life was 
due to the gender that she had been forced to adopt, "Uh.. yeah, I 
guess. But my dad legally made me a boy."

"And I will see what I can do to change that. Maybe you can be a 
boy at school, and a girl away... until I can fix the problem."

"Okay... mom." Ukyou said before she was swallowed in an embrace 
by her soon-to-be new mother.

A knock at the door signaled an early arrival for the morning 
training session. Used to quick changes in the morning, Ranma ran 
into his room. Not ten seconds later, Kikuko ran out in her gi and 
leapt down the stairs.

***

Kikuko blinked in shock at the girl on the other side. "Naru... 
chan?" She asked experimentally. She was still in shock and unsure 
the taller girl was still her friend.

"Kiku-chan. I'm sorry." Naru replied as she thrust a bento in her 
friend's direction.

"Th... thanks." Kikuko replied, in a soft voice that still 
betrayed her happiness. "Let me take that inside."

"Sure." Naru replied.

"Naru-chan's here and she made me a bento!"  Kikuko shouted from 
inside the house.

Naru smiled, then looked thoughtful, "Hey Kiku-chan, I have 
another person who wants to join your training sessions." She 
shouted into the house. Turning, she motioned a young man to come 
forward.

"Naru, I'm not sure we can..." Kikuko called out on her way back 
from the kitchen. When she got back to the door, she blinked at 
the young man in front of her. It was Umino, Naru's boyfriend and 
the textbook definition of the word 'geek'. All he needed to move 
up to the word 'nerd' was a pocket protector. Kikuko wondered if 
he didn't have one hidden under his jacket. "And... he's a guy. 
And I thought..."

"He's the Silver Rose too... and could REALLY use some training." 
Naru said in a low voice. "Do you know a guy who might be able to 
train him?"

"Maybe I do." Kikuko replied. "Just maybe." She closed her eyes 
and thought to herself, "Oh, boy, I've got my work cut out for 
me... as Ranma."

(END)

My sincere thanks for reading, please let me know what you think!

I am sorry this took so long. My life has been a whirlwind the 
last three years. I have found I can write again. And, for once, I 
actually have a story plotted to conclusion, scene by scene.

Thanks to "Burger" Bill Heineman for some ideas on embellishment 
and Mike "Kino Makoto" Koos for C&C on the first draft.


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