Ranma stood in front of the Nekohanten staring at the necklace Shampoo was dangling in the afternoon sun. Akane was a few feet in front of him with her eyes glued to the necklace. Ukyou was to Ranma's left with an angry expression and glaring dangerously at Ranma. Mousse was behind Shampoo, standing quietly in the shadow for a change. Cologne sat on her staff with a dry smile.

"This going to be a long day," Ranma muttered quietly.

"You had better have a good explanation for this, Ran-chan or you're going to be in a whole world of hurt," Ukyou sneered.

Shampoo remained in a state of shock as her pride refused to believe what was before her. She did not want to acknowledge the fact that she had lost; a warrior of her stature lost to a weakling like Akane. And so for the moment, she remained frozen with the golden ring glittering in the sunlight, occasionally reflecting off her face as it rotated about it axis.

Akane continued to curse her luck as she stared at the necklace. There was no way she was going to loose sight of it, not on her life. The one piece of jewelry represented the most important aspect of her life and a chance at happiness.

Ranma took a deep breath and walked toward Shampoo and stopped a few feet from her out-stretched hand. Slowly, he reached up and carefully unlocked each finger until he freed the necklace.

The moment the necklace was loose, Akane sprung into action and had it securely in her hands, holding it close to her heart after collapsing to her knees. She idly stood up with Ranma gentle probing. She looked up at Ranma, tears threatening to overflow, and whispered softly, "I-I... I'm sorry, Ranma. I-I didn't mean to let her take it," she said, shaking.

Ranma remained silently and gently wrapped his hands around Akane's hand until she review the necklace to him. He took the chain and secured it around her neck.

During the entire display, Shampoo and Ukyou watched in shock and sadness.

Ranma turned to his other fiancées, former fiancées, and looked down at the floor, unable to meet their accusing eyes.

In unison, "NOOOO!" Shampoo and Ukyou screamed.

Shampoo and Ukyou attacked Ranma furiously, releasing their anger and depression. Ranma leaped away at the initial attack and stood his ground as the two girls kick and punch. Akane was about to interfere when Cologne stopped her with her staff and telling her that it was something that Ranma must face on his own. Mousse watched from the background and cheered for his beloved, but knew that when it was over, she would be in far worst condition than Ranma. Ranma staggered between the attacks, but never raised his defense. Eventually, Cologne hopped over and poked both girls in the back of the skull, rendering both immobile and unconscious.

"Mousse! Carry them into the restaurant," she ordered and hopped away.

Akane rushed over to the battered Ranma and supported him the best she could. However, he shied away and walked into the restaurant on his own. Akane was a bit miff but let it pass and hurried into the restaurant.

Inside, Ranma was sitting at one of the table and Akane was sitting on a stool across from him.

*******

[Juuban]

"Come on, you guys. Let’s hurry before it’s too late," cried Usagi.

"I don’t know about this," Ami commented softly.

"Aww, Ami. You know what’ll happen if we’re late," Usagi reasoned.

"Yes, but…" Ami said, still uncertain.

"I hate to say it, but she’s right, Ami," a raven hair girl said, looking somewhat annoyed.

"Biiddde. You’re just upset that I knew about it before you did," Usagi gave her the red eye and tongue.

Rei visibly colored, "Of course not! I knew about it, but just forgot," she lied miserably.

"Just admit it, Rei. Usagi was right," Makoto nodded, not missing the chance to see Rei being wrong, especially to Usagi.

"No way!" Rei shouted and stormed off.

"Umm… Rei, we’re going that way," Ami pointed to her left while trying her best not to giggle.

Rei stopped in mid stride, turned, and stomped off, not bothering to look at her so-called friends.

The other four girls giggled at the display and followed their friend. It wasn’t long before the five girls arrived at their destination and drooled at the sign.

"Fushigi’s Rainbow Ice cream," the girls said simultaneously. "Free ice cream to the first 1000 customers!"

[Elsewhere]

The morning was still young as two particular people found themselves settled in a quiet café. The café was well decorated with various painting of Japan history. At a table against the window, a female with blonde hair rocked by on her chair and looked casually out the window.

"So, what do you think of this Isus Mur?" the blonde asked.

"He’s dangerous."

Haruka snorted, "That’s a given. It also doesn’t take a brainiac to realize he was also possessed."

"True," her companion nodded, "But it’s not like anything in the past. This possession was more…. ingrain some how."

"Yeah," she agreed quietly, "It would be nice if Setsuna was around."

Micheru smiled, "You know better than that."

"Yeah yeah. I know. That doesn’t mean I like the idea. It would be nice for her to show up one time and just tell us what’s going on."

"Until then, we’ll just have to deal with it. But right now, let see what we can find out about this new threat," Micheru said and pulled out her mirror.

Haruka just raised her brow and nodded. She silently sipped her tea and waited patiently. After a few minutes, she noticed her companion was frowning ever so deeply. "Anything?"

Micheru shook her head, "No. Nothing. It’s all a black cloud. I did see a flicker of an image be it was too fast for me to recognized." She replaced the mirror back in subspace and accepted the cup from Haruka. "Thanks," she smiled.

"What’s wrong?" the blonde asked.

"I-I don’t know. I feel like I’m missing something. Something we over-looked during the fight. Something very important," she said softly.

Haruka just nodded having felt the same way. "Maybe I’ll figure it out later. Were you able to see what the flickered image was?"

Micheru frowned, "I can’t be sure, but… But I could have sworn I saw a piglet."

"A piglet," Haruka asked incrediously.

"Yes, a small black piglet," she said sternly.

Noting the danger behind the voice, Haruka did the intelligent thing; accept it at face value and change the topic.

"What do you think the others are up to?" Haruka asked casually.

Micheru sighed, "They’re supposed to be exploring the city and looking for sign of trouble."

Smirked, "I bet you 10 to 1 that Serena is stuffing her face with ice cream right now."

Micheru giggled and nodded.

At that same moment, a girl with two large buns sneezed.

"Are you ok?" asked Ami.

Serena wiggled her nose and nodded, complete oblivious, and quickly return to her supper fudge ice cream sundae.

[complete]

*******

[Nekonhaten]

Shampoo and Ukyou found the nearest available chair and sat. They both glared at Akane and occasionally Ranma. After everyone was settled, Cologne cleared her throat.

"Before anyone say anything, I want each of you to listen before interrupting. I will only say this once." Once everyone nodded, she continued, "Ranma, kneel before me."

Ranma walked over and did as told, his head bowed before Cologne.

"By the ancient law of our people, I invoke the Rites of Kra La Hsu," she said in Chinese at which both Shampoo and Mousse grasped. "I, Kho Lon elder of Jotzukyou, name you Saotonme Ranma my heir and protector. Do you accept the titled," she continued in Japanese.

Ranma nodded, "I do."

"Then by the power of our people and Jusenkyou, I name you Ranma of Jusendo, protector and warrior of Jusenkyou," she announced the titled and sprinkled golden dust over Ranma. "You may raise, Ranma of Jusendo.

Ranma stood and bow one more time to the matriarch before facing the others. Everyone seemed to be in a state of shock.

"Er….sorry ‘bout this," he said lamely.

It didn’t take long before the silent was shattered by a loud crash, "Ranma!" Akane pulled the mallet from his head and lifted him up by the collar, "What is she talking about?" she shouted as she shook him violently. "What just happen? You didn’t marry the Chinese hussy did you?"

Ranma waved his hand in denial, "No! It’s nothing like that!"

"Then what?"

"Cologne accepted me as her heir and made me a protector for the village. That’s all, honest!"

Akane eyed him warily and then turned to Cologne, "What does that mean really?"

Cologne chuckled lightly, "Maybe I should have made you the protector instead."

"NO! Great Grandmother, why you do this?"

Cologne sighed, "Because it is in the best interest of village."

"What of ‘Kiss of Marriage’? Ranma marry shampoo, Ranma be protector," she shouted.

"Ranma will not marry you," Ukyou and Akane shouted in unison and then turned and glared at each other.

"Why? Why Great Grandmother invoke rites?" she shouted, near tears.

"Control yourself, great granddaughter. I have made my decision and that’s final!"

Shampoo turned to Ranma with pleading eyes, "Ranma choose Shampoo, yes? Ranma be Shampoo husband?" she asked, her voice desperate and filled with hope.

Ranma opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out. He tried it a few more times, but still nothing. Finally, an elbow to the rib gave him the boost he needed, "I’m sorry," he said while shaking his head.

Shampoo stared at Ranma in shock.

"He has made his decision," Cologne said evenly.

Shampoo wanted to retort, shout, cry, just anything at her great grandmother, but the power and authority behind her voice crushed any chance she had. Instead, she turned and ran away from the scene.

"Have you made your decision?" Cologne asked.

Ranma nodded and turned to Akane. Ranma carefully removed the necklace and handed the ring to Cologne. Cologne sprinkled the golden dust on right and chanted something in Chinese. Once done, she returned the ring and Ranma placed it back in the necklace.

Akane watched the preceding curiously and noticed a glint of blue in the ring before Ranma returned it to her necklace and back around her neck. Before she had the chance to ask what just happened, a rustled of noises and the door slamming indicated the departure of their other guest, Ukyou.

Ranma silently cursed himself for ignoring his best friend, or at least he hope she will still be his best friend and was about to go after Ukyou when Cologne stopped him.

"One last thing Ranma," Cologne pulled out a manual and handed to Ranma, "Read this and follow each law to the best of your ability." She then pulled out a bracer with a blue emerald imbedded in it and handed to him, "Keep this near you at all time."

Ranma accepted the gifts and placed the bracer on his left arm and tucked the manual in his shirt. He bowed to Cologne and existed the restaurant with Akane following curiously behind. Once they were far enough from the restaurant, Akane grabbed his elbow and turned him around.

"Alright, Ranma. You got a lot of explaining to do," she said, somewhat annoyed and angry at being left in the dark when she seemed to be affect with the whole routine. However, her features soften when she noticed his eyes.

"Ukyou?"

Ranma nodded. "I-I hurted her. I-I…" he trailed off.

Akane reached out and held his hand, "I know, Ranma. We both knew that our decision would hurt some people more than others."

Ranma didn’t say anything. After a while, he said, "I-I need to go."

Akane stopped him though, "Ranma, let her be for a while. She needs the time to think and calm down first, ok?"

Ranma stared in the direction of ‘Ucchan’ and nodded absently. After a moment, he walked toward the Tendo Dojo while holding onto Akane’s hand tightly.

*******

[later scene]

It had been several hours since they left the Nekohanten when there was report of explosion coming from 'Ucchan'. It didn't take a genius as to the cause of the explosion and so, here he stood, and ready to face whatever doom lied behind the door. With uneasy step, he opened the door and peeked inside. He finally entered the restaurant with a sense of impending doom.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Konatsu cringing in the corner and gulped. He turned his head to the other side of the room and gulped again. Before him, his once best friend was glowing with an eerie violet color. Her hand clenched tightly around the battle spatula and her eyes glowed. Ranma nervously swallowed and shook his head.

It must be his imagination, he told himself. Eyes just don't glow like that, he reasoned, but it did not elevate his fear.

"Er...You...You ok, Ucchan," he asked stupidly.

"GRWWWLLLL" came the reply and she charged from her position.

Ranma gave a yelp before dashing out the door and was on the rooftop, running for his dear life. Not far behind, Ukyou, with her huge glowing spatula, chased him with uncanny speed. Occasionally, she would throw her mini-spatula at Ranma and explosion occurred upon impact. The explosion seemed to re-enforce Ranma effort to get further away and as quickly as possible.

The chased led the two martial artists throughout the district of Nerinma with explosion and destruction trailing their path.

*******

Akane sat on the couch watching the latest anime, Card Captor Sakura. She just loved the cute little tiger and made a mental note to have Ranma buy one for her the next time they went shopping.

"Hmm...That will give them the perfect chance to explore the city," she told herself.

Suddenly the TV flickered to a blue screen and a long beep announced that it was one of those emergency broadcast. She raised her brow and crossed her finger, praying that it wasn't because of what she thought it was.

"We interrupt the following broadcast for this important news," the announcer said while adjusting his spectacles. "We advice all citizen of Tokyo and the surrounding ward, especially Nerinma, to remain inside. If you're not, please do so immediately. I repeat, for your personal safety, please remain inside or go to the nearest building near you."

Akane blanched at the news and cursed under her breathe. She had hoped that the confrontation between them would have been at least relatively peaceful. Then again, she reminded herself that it was Ranma and this was Nerinma.

"We are attempting to locate the source of the disturbance.... Wait, our 'Sky-copter' is at the scene and we do have a visual," he said excitedly. A small view screen appeared at the upper right corner.

"As you can see, there seems to be two blurs running across the roof of Nerinma. The one in front looks like a young female with red hair in red shirt and black pants are running away from a second female."

"Is the second one glowing," he anchor man asked from the station.

"I-I don't believe it, but it looks like to be true. Wait... I think I'm picking up on some sound from the young lady in front."

"....W-Wait... Let's ...bout this.... P-Please! H-Help!...."

"Wow... Were you able to get all of that?"

"It looks like the young girl is running for her life out there," the announcer reasoned. "What tragic fate for one so young and cute," he added with a hentai grin. Not realizing that he said it out loud, he turned to face the camera and clear his throat, "hrmm... Well, as you can see the destruction resulted from the chase, we advise everyone in the vicinity to take cover and stay tune with your number one news station."

The screen changed to a full view of the chase as the helicopter did it best to follow the action.