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 23
The faces around the breakfast table were tired but animated with a wildly varying sea of emotions. Johnathon looked like the cat who had caught a canary, even though he had finally changed back into his human form. Kasumi was smiling more sweetly than ever, obviously in a very good mood, while Misty seemed both tense and excited at the same time. It was difficult to read her, as her half cat features were unfamiliar, but to those assembled she looked like she was trying not to blush the whole time, despite her inability to do so.
Ryoga seemed to be back to his normal, brooding self, although he seemed even more depressed than usual. Nabiki wasn't a morning person at the best of times, and she was still tired from their trip, but she was watching the others with a keen, though bleary eyed interest, paying distinct attention to all three of her sisters and their significant others primarily. Ranma was obviously the most tired, although as usual, nothing could keep him from a breakfast made by Kasumi. He was just as obviously depressed about something, and next to him, Akane's worried look showed clearly that whatever it was that was bothering him, it concerned her as well.
Ranko looked like the calmest of the group, neither especially happy or sad, but rather neutral, as if resigned to her current situation. < I'm starting to wonder if being stuck as a girl is really all that terrible.> She wondered. < Sure, I'd prefer to be a guy, but it's not like it changes who I am, right? Ucchan and Akane both accept me, love me even, even though I'm a girl. I don't change anymore, but maybe this is an improvement over how things were before.>
Ukyo was caught between euphoria and worry. She couldn't be more pleased with her current situation with Ranko, not to mention her arrangement with Akane, but she couldn't quite escape the nagging worry that it could all go away if something was to go wrong. At the moment, her biggest worry was the new Akane, Sailor Venus's cursed form. She didn't really want to be the one to bring the matter up, as so far everything she thought of to say about it make her seem so... awful. Ukyo felt guilty about her feelings about the new Akane, but even more, realized that if she said anything negative it would make her look almost as petty as she felt.
It was Nabiki who eventually broke the silence, her natural curiosity no longer able to contain itself. "So, Misty..." Nabiki drawled, starting with the least volatile subject first. "How do you like being a cat-girl?"
Misty hesitated, then smiled slightly. "It's quite an improvement over being a cat." She answered honestly. "It is quite nice to have hands... and to be able to talk....."
Nabiki grinned knowingly. "And for other things as well, I bet." She quirked an eyebrow. "Although that bed must be getting pretty crowded by now?"
"Yes." Kasumi answered for Misty. "We'll be looking to get a bigger one soon. My old bed wasn't designed for three."
Nabiki resisted her impulse to follow that line of thought further and changed the subject. I've got to tell you, Misty, you look really cute. I'd love to do a photo session with you. It's a real shame we have to keep you a secret...." Nabiki winced, realizing that she had goofed. At her first comment everyone had glanced over at Misty, who did, indeed, look quite cute in one of Kasumi's lightest summer dresses. At Nabiki's final statement, however, just about everyone joined Nabiki in wincing at her slip. "I'm sorry, Misty, I wasn't thinking...." Nabiki said in chagrin, uncharacteristically apologizing.
Misty shook her head. "It's alright, Nabiki. You pointed out something I think were were trying to avoid. I will have to hide. I can't go out in public like this. Johnathon's experiences have shown us that much." Misty shook her head, giving them a cat-like smile. "I will be fine. My situation is much improved. This fate is one I chose. All of you helped me, at great risk to yourselves. I couldn't have a better family, or better friends. I am happy!" Johnathon hugged Misty from one side and Akane joined in from the other, squeezing her furry older sister tightly.
Nabiki sighed, taking a deep breath. "Well, we're not going to let you just sit at home all the time, Misty. We'll figure out some way for you to get out once in a while."
Misty smiled at Nabiki. "Do you really think so?"
Nabiki nodded. "Sure. It's far from an insolvable problem. I'll think of something. I've got a few ideas already in fact." Nabiki paused for a moment before going on to a different subject. "So... what's going on with my new baby sister? How are she and Sailor Venus dealing with being joined at the hip, so to speak?" She looked over at the younger of her two brothers in law. "Ranma, you were out the latest last night. Did you manage to talk to her?" Ranma hesitated, a trapped look on his face as he tried to think of what to tell everyone.
Akane answered for him, looking worried. "She doesn't want to interfere with Min... with Sailor Venus's life any more than she has too. She doesn't want us trying to see her... or asking... Venus to bring her out."
Nabiki nodded. "So your twin is being selfless and keeping herself out of Minako's way, is she? Sound's just like you, Sis."
Akane gulped. "Nabiki, I didn't..." She sighed. "I did. Me and my big mouth. Nabiki, you've got to promise that you won't tell anyone about the Senshi."
Nabiki looked at her younger sister seriously. "I have no intention of revealing the true identities of the Senshi to anyone. You weren't the only one who spilt the beans anyway, Akane. Ryoga and I have gotten most of them figured out by now. They're all members of Ranma and Ryoga's martial arts class."
Ukyo looked astonished. "Really?"
Nabiki was also surprised. "Ukyo didn't know? Ranko, I'm surprised at you. Not telling your own fiancee?"
Ranko glanced at Ukyo guiltily. "I... she didn't ask... and it wasn't my secret to give." The petite red head grimaced. "Listen, Ucchan, I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't!"
Ukyo shook her head. "Don't worry about it, Ranchan. I understand. It's not honorable to reveal a confidence, especially one that important." She smiled. "I figured you knew the Senshi ever since I saw you dressed up as...." Ukyo started to snicker. "Dressed up as Sailor Earth on the news." She laughed out loud. "Now that was a sight. I don't suppose you'd consider...?"
Ranko growled at her. "I am NOT dressing up in a fuku again!"
Ukyo giggled again. "I'll wear a Tuxedo and a white mask..."
Ranko started to protest, then laughed. "Okay, it's a deal. But only if we're gonna fight monsters with the Senshi, or go to a costume party or somethin. I'm not going around like that normally, okay?"
Ukyo nodded quickly. "No problem, Ranchan. It sounds like fun!" She hesitated. "Well, not the fighting monsters part, although if it's with you, I'll be your Tuxedo Spatula to your Sailor Earth any day." The whole table burst out laughing at that, even the depressed Ryoga was not able to suppress a chuckle or two. Ukyo spoke up again after the laughter died down. "Don't worry about the Senshi's secret identities, Ranchan. I won't try to find out who they are, and even if Nabiki blabs it to me by accident, you know I'll keep their secret."
Ranko nodded. "Yeah, Ucchan, I know. I bet they'll end up telling you who they are before long anyway. They should know they can trust you by now."
Ukyo frowned. "I hope so. I haven't really seen them that often you know, except at the big fight yesterday and the battle in Juuban... but I hope they will let me help them too. They've got a lot of responsibilities, don't they?"
Ranko nodded. "Yeah. That's why we're helping to train them, so they can handle those responsibilities."
Ryoga looked up suddenly with a glare. "Who's been training them?" The lost boy stood up angrily. "Ranma! How could you let me train the Senshi without telling me! I've been teaching them like they were just a group of high school girls!"
Ranma shrugged. "Well, they are a group of high school girls."
Ryoga fumed at him. "That's not what I meant! If I had known they were the Senshi I would have done things different... I would have trained them harder... I'd have...."
"You'd have gotten all worked up and screwed things up, probably." Ranma interrupted. "But you did fine." He shrugged. "They needed to learn the basics before we started them on any advanced stuff anyway, and so far you've been teaching them real good."
"But... but...." Ryoga protested, stammering. "You should have told me, Ranma!"
Ranma frowned. "Hey, if the Senshi had wanted you to know, they'd have told you themselves. I don't tell other people's secrets, right, P-chan?"
Ryoga glared at Ranma angrily. "Don't call me P-chan!"
Ranma grinned. "I wouldn't if you weren't so pig headed."
Akane's rising uppercut caught Ranma under the jaw neatly and laid him flat on the floor without causing Akane to rise from her seat or doing any damage to the house. "Stop picking on Ryoga, Ranma." Akane warned him calmly. She looked at Ryoga with a frown. "Ryoga, you shouldn't blame Ranma for not telling you about the Senshi. It wasn't his secret to tell, or mine for that matter. You should know by now that when Ranma is given a secret, he doesn't tell anyone about it."
Ryoga scratched his head. "I guess...."
Akane nodded, then turned back to her husband. "Ranma, what's wrong with you? I know by now that you've learned how to keep your foot out of your mouth when you want to. It's almost like you're deliberately provoking... him...." Akane blinked. "That's it! You are deliberately provoking him!"
Ranma sat up slowly, rubbing his jaw. "Huh?"
Akane stared at Ranma with dawning comprehension. "You just want to fight with Ryoga? Is that it, Ranma? Is that why you're picking on him? Because you want to start a fight?"
Ranma blinked. "Er...."
Akane sighed. "Ranma, if you want to fight with Ryoga, why not just ask him?"
Ranma considered that seriously, having it finally beaten into his skull that listening to his wife was a lot less painful than ignoring her. "I don't know." He shrugged. "I never tried just asking him before."
Akane raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
Ranma shrugged again and glanced over at Ryoga. "Hey, wanna fight?"
Ryoga blinked. "What, now?"
Ranma rolled his eyes. "No, tomorrow. Yeah now."
Ryoga looked down at his food. "I'm in the middle of breakfast."
Ranma sighed. "After breakfast?"
"Sure." Ryoga shrugged. "Why not?"
Akane beamed at the two of them. "Now wasn't that better than insulting poor Ryoga until he attacks you and ruins breakfast?"
"I guess so." Ranma sighed. "Not as much fun though."
Not wanting to let the matter drop so easily, Nabiki brought up the matter of her new baby sister again. "About this new Akane, what are we going to do? I mean, is she really Akane? Are we going to bring her home? Introduce her to Daddy? Is she going to be married to Ranma?" Nabiki shrugged. "Little things like that bother me."
Everyone looked uncomfortable, and again, Akane spoke up for her other self. "I guess she's as much me as Ranko is Ranma, and Kasumi is Misty. I mean, she's got my body, and my memories up to when I drowned. After that she's had different experiences, so we're not exactly the same. I... I don't think she'll come home... at least not here. Minako has a life of her own after all, and Akane, she doesn't want to disrupt that. I don't know what we should tell Daddy.... If he found out about her I'm not sure what he'd do... and it might compromise Sailor Venus's secret...." Akane shook her head. "But... I don't think it should be up to me. I'm not exactly an impartial observer."
Nabiki shook her head. "I don't think ANYONE here is going to be very impartial about this Akane, Akane. I noticed you avoided answering my last question, and I don't blame you, but I think you should try and answering it anyway, for yourself at least."
Akane hesitated. "Is she going to be married to Ranma? I... we... we did talk about it... last night. I told Ranma that... that we should try to work something out with her." She shivered, looking miserable. "If I was in her position, I think I'd be... horribly, horribly depressed. She probably considers herself nothing but a curse... I'm sure she'd prefer it if she didn't exist."
Kasumi and Misty looked horrified. "Oh dear, Akane!" Everyone else was almost as shocked.
Johnathon looked grave. "So, like you mentioned earlier, she's only interested in minimizing her impact on Minako's life, with no care for herself."
Akane sighed. "That's about it." She looked over at her husband suddenly. "I... I would share our life with her... if she'd accept it... but I don't think she would."
"Stupid tomboy." Ranma muttered under his breath. "Stubborn as a mule, twice as strong."
Akane overheard him, but instead of getting angry, she sighed. "For once, Ranma, I agree. She is being stubborn. I just don't know what we can do about it."
Ranma shook his head. "She won't talk to me. She'll run away or hit me again."
Akane nodded. "She would. I'll... I'll have to talk to her myself." She shrugged. "I agree with my... twin about one thing. We can't disrupt Mina's life... it's as much her decision what happens as anyone's." Akane nodded to herself. "I'll go talk with her today. I don't think putting this off is wise."
Kasumi spoke up. "Father and the Saotomes will be coming home for lunch. I'm sure they'll be curious as to how everything went on our trip. I don't think we should lie to them, but it might be best if we do not mention too much about the Senshi."
"Especially not to Pop!" Ranma stated firmly. "He'd probably come up with some stupid scheme or something if he knew enough about them to use."
Akane spoke up. "I want to go talk to Mina, and my... twin, as soon as possible. I'll see Daddy when I get back. Could you all wait on telling him anything about her until then?"
Kasumi nodded. "If you think that's best, Akane."
Ukyo coughed. "I really should get back to my restaurant. If I don't check on things I'm liable to be worried all day. Konatsu has gotten better with running things but..." She shrugged. "I should let him know we're back in town, anyway."
Ranko hesitated. "I think I'll stick around till Momma comes. If that's okay with you, Ucchan?"
Ukyo nodded easily. "Sure, Ranchan. I can handle things at the restaurant myself. It's better if you help explain everything to your folks and Mr. Tendo sooner rather than later."
Ranma rose to his feet. "Come on, Ryoga. Let's got in some sparring before it gets too late. I've got some new ideas for training the Senshi anyway, and I wanna try them out on you first."
Ryoga cracked his knuckles at he rose to follow Ranma. "Oh, "sparring"... right...."
Johnathon rose as well. "Well, I'm going to get some more rest in before lunch. It's been a long week, and I, for one, could stand some more sleep." He started gathering dishes. "I'll help you with the dishes, Kasumi. You could use a break too, eh?"
Misty and Kasumi stood a few moments later. "I'll help too." Misty added automatically.
"Nabiki yawned. "I'm going to get in a soak. See you all at lunch."
Johnathon, Kasumi and Misty collected the dishes slowly and took them to be washed, taking their time and waiting for everyone to leave with a anticipation that bordered on impatience. Ranko followed Ranma and Ryoga out to the yard, and before long both Akane and Ukyo were off as well. Johnathon, Kasumi and Misty exchanged one glance, then immediately hurried up the stairs to the room, leaving the few remaining dirty dishes in a pile. Johnathon started undressing Misty on the way down the hall, and Kasumi helpfully pitched in. By the time they got through their bedroom door, Misty was already down to her fur. Both her and Kasumi were giggling a little with shared anticipation as they closed the door behind them. *************************
Rei woke with the dawn, as she usually did, although she was still tired from being up so late the night before. She slipped quietly out of bed, trying not to giggle at the sight of Ami sleeping fitfully, cuddled like an oversized teddy bear in Makoto's arms, the two of them laying on Rei's extra futon on the floor. Ami appeared to have a death grip on the blankets for some reason, and Rei quickly realized that was because Makoto had nearly rolled the two of them out of bed and out of the blankets, and only Ami's tight grip was keeping her lower half covered up, as during the night somehow, Makoto had pushed Ami's borrowed nightshirt up to just under the smaller girl's breasts, and Ami hadn't worn anything else to bed.
Rei was suddenly torn between trying to quietly wake Makoto and get her to let Ami go, or giving their blanket a little tug and letting Makoto roll them the rest of the way on to the floor, which would result very quickly in a very embarrassed Ami. Rei blushed bright red both at the mental picture that called up and with equal embarrassment that she would actually consider doing something so hentai.
"This has got to be Mina's fault somehow." Rei muttered. "Giving me all these hentai ideas." She slipped around behind the larger of the two girls and tapped her lightly on the shoulder. "Makoto." She whispered softly. "Makoto, wake up." Makoto started awake violently at her touch, rolling toward her and inadvertently pulling Ami up on top of her at the same time. This also caused the sleeping Ami to lose her grip on the blanket, which promptly slid to the floor. Ami also started awake at being hoisted around and Rei swallowed nervously at the pair of rather alarmed looking girls staring at her in surprise.
"Er... oops?" Rei couldn't help but glance down and note that Ami was indeed naked from well above the waist down, and while she hadn't noticed earlier with Ami in the way, Makoto had apparently decided to sleep in the nude, leaving only Ami laying on top of her for cover. Ami and Makoto blinked at Rei's sudden blush and followed her gaze, immediately joining her in blushing fiercely. Rei swallowed once, then knelt down to retrieve the blanket. "S-sorry about that. I didn't mean to wake you up so suddenly... I just thought Ami looked a little uncomfortable like that." Rei handed Ami the blanket sheepishly, and the short haired Senshi promptly covered herself and Makoto back up.
Under the blanket, Makoto released Ami and let her slip down to sit beside her. "Heh. Sorry about that, Ami. I guess I grabbed onto you in the middle of the night."
Ami shrugged, pushing her nightshirt down around her waist while under the blanket. "I didn't mind, Makoto. I think you were having a bad dream. I didn't really want to wake you, and it wasn't really all that uncomfortable." She smiled slightly at the taller girl to let her know it really was okay. "I'm actually glad you did. I was feeling... well, not very much myself last night, and it was nice to have someone strong hold me all night..." Both girls blushed at Ami's words, but at the same time Ami and Makoto shared a genuine smile.
Rei suddenly felt like she was intruding on a private moment, and abruptly stood up. "Well then... I'll leave you two so you can get dressed. I should let Grandpa know I'm back, anyway." Rei slipped out of the room quickly and headed quietly for the sacred fire, still in her pajamas. Her grandfather would certainly be meditating at this time of the morning. As she had expected, the old priest was sitting before the sacred fire in a meditating pose when she came in.
"Rei." He said softly as she came into the room silently behind him. "How was your trip?"
Rei nearly stumbled before calming herself and launching into the cover story she had come up with while planning the trip to Jusenkyo. "The Misaki Shrine was beautiful Grandfather." She told him quietly. "Not quite as spectacular as it is in the fall, but still well worth the trip."
The old man sighed heavily. "Rei, I called my old friend Katsuhito the day before yesterday, to see how you were doing. You weren't there. You hadn't been there since last fall, in fact." He turned to face his granddaughter gravely. "Where have you been this past week, Rei, and why did you feel the need to lie to me about it?" The old priest looked suddenly like he was about to break down crying. "I promised your parents that I would take care of you, Rei, but how can I do that if you won't tell me what's going on in your life?"
Rei hesitated, torn between guilt and duty. "I... I...." She sighed. "I can't tell you, Grandfather. I'm sorry."
The old priest sighed as well. "I was afraid you'd say that." He shook his head. "You've always been a responsible girl, which makes this all the more inexplicable." He shook his head a second time. "I wouldn't even have known that you hadn't gone where you said if Mrs. Tsukino hadn't called here looking for her daughter. She thought you might know something about where Usagi-chan had gone, so I told her I'd ask you. Then I found that you were missing as well. Does this have something to do with her? Is she in some sort of trouble?"
Rei shook her head quickly. "No! Usagi's fine. I'm sure she's home by now...."
She trailed off with a wince and her grandfather nodded. "So you WERE with her." He frowned. "But you won't tell me what it was about?"
Rei swallowed hard, then shook her head. "I... I'm sorry, Grandfather. I can't."
The old man sighed. "Can't trust your own grandfather? I'm very disappointed in you, Rei. I though you could come to me with your problems... but I guess I was wrong." He sighed again, looking very old. "What good is a decrepit old man like me anyway, if he can't help his own granddaughter...?" The old priest turned away with a cough and a stagger, looking twenty years older all of a sudden.
Rei moved up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "You're not old, Grandfather, and you're certainly not decrepit! If this was my secret to tell, I would. It's not that I don't trust you... I just... I just can't tell anyone about it." She sighed. "I'm really sorry I lied, Grandfather. It won't happen again."
The old priest turned to face her again, looking up into her eyes searchingly. "Can you promise me that? Can you promise me that this really won't happen again?"
Rei hesitated, struck by her grandfather's hard gaze. "I... I won't lie to you again, Grandfather. I... promise."
The old man's gaze softened. "But you still can't tell me what happened to you this week?"
Rei choked, shaking her head. "No."
He frowned. "And you'll never leave without telling me where or why again?"
Rei was frozen, not able to answer that, and not willing to lie again, at least not directly. "I... I can't promise you that."
The old priest shook his head. "I was afraid of that. This secret is that important to you? So important that you'd lie to protect it, even disobey me if you have too?"
Rei swallowed, then nodded again. "I'm sorry, Grandfather."
The old man put a hand to his forehead and groaned. "Why me?" He waved Rei off tiredly. "Never mind, Rei. I see I'm not going to get any farther with this today. I'm glad you're alright, and I suppose that will have to do for now."
Rei hesitated for several seconds, then bowed. "I'm sorry." She said one final time and retreated back to her bedroom.
The old man watched her go with a worried frown. "Now what could those girls have gotten themselves into?" He mused quietly to himself, walking slowly out to the yard to think. He took a broom with him to sweep while he thought, and had finished sweeping almost half of the steps when he spotted two of Rei's friends coming out of her room and heading his way. They came to a startled halt upon seeing him, then continued forward, doing their best to conceal any concern. The old priest, however, wasn't fooled for an instant.
Rei's grandfather nodded pleasantly at the two girls with a smile. "Makoto-chan, Ami-chan, I trust you slept well? Everything was quiet last night I hope?"
The two girls exchanged a glance and Ami turned back to him with a genuine smile. "Everything was fine, Grandfather. I'm sorry we didn't let you know ahead of time that we'd be staying over, but the rain caught us by surprise."
The old priest waved his hand in dismissal. "Not to worry. You girls are always welcome, of course!"
Ami smiled and bowed to him. "Thank you for you hospitality." She straightened. "I'm afraid I must get going, Grandfather. My mother is expecting me."
Makoto bowed as well. "Yeah, I gotta run too. See you later, Grandfather."
The old man waved as the two girls hurried away, his agile mind going a mile a minute over the available clues. < So, those two stayed here last night, which means they knew that Rei would be back at the very least, and more likely that they're in on this little conspiracy as well.> He frowned thoughtfully. < Weren't they both wearing Rei's clothing? I know that girls are always borrowing things from each other, but whole outfits? That seems just strange enough to be a clue.>
He went back to sweeping, thinking things over. < So Rei, Usagi-chan, and possibly Ami and Makoto were involved in something that Rei refuses to tell me about. Rei told me about her "trip" the day before she left, so whatever it was they knew about it ahead of time... but what could it have been?> Several frightening possibilities came to him, but the old priest shook off idle speculation as useless. < I need to find out more before I can come to any valid conclusions.> He nodded to himself.< So, where to look for clues first?> Rei's grandfather headed off to his rooms. < I'll call the Tsukino's first and check in with them. Perhaps they have something to start on.>
The old priest dialed the Tsukino home and was answered on the second ring by an older woman's voice. "Hello? Who is it?"
"Tsukino-san? This is Rei's grandfather. I was wondering if Usagi-chan had gotten home safely yet?" The old priest inquired politely.
"She has, thank goodness." Ikuko sounded surprised over the phone. "How did you know?"
The old priest cleared his throat. "Rei made me aware. Apparently, she and Usagi were together this last week... wherever that might have been. Or at least, it seems so. I have some suspicions that they might not have been the only ones involved."
Ikuko's voice was calm but tired. "I think you are probably right. Is Rei being as tight lipped about it as Usagi?"
The old priest sighed. "If you mean the fact that she won't tell me what happened, unfortunately yes. I don't believe she'll change her mind about it any time soon."
Ikuko made a small disappointed noise in her voice. "I'm afraid Usagi is the same. She did tell me that whatever it was that they were doing, it wasn't about her... and I found myself believing her. It maybe me being a mother, but I think she's protecting someone else."
Rei's grandfather hummed thoughtfully to himself. "That would explain their behavior to some extent, but who were they protecting?"
Ikuko paused before speaking. "Could it have been Rei...?"
The old priest frowned. "I don't know for sure. I have to admit that it's possible. Rei did know the day before she left that she would be leaving, which implies that it was something planned."
"Not very well planned if you ask me." Ikuko fumed. "Usagi left with a suitcase full of clothes, but came back soaking wet in the middle of the night with no suitcase, wearing the same dress she left in."
Rei's grandfather grunted. "Well that is strange, although I think I'm seeing a pattern. Makoto Kino and Ami Mizuno left Rei's room early this morning and I believe they were both borrowing clothes from Rei. Apparently they had spent the night, but it seemed strange for both of them to be wearing Rei's things."
Ikuko was quiet for several moments. "So both of them were involved as well?" She hesitated. "I called Ami's mother about the same time I called you. Ami was home...."
Rei's grandfather hummed tonelessly to himself. "This is a puzzle alright. Ami-chan did stay the night last night, of that I'm sure, so even if she didn't leave with Rei and Usagi, she probably knows about their trip. Plus there's her and Makoto's clothing...." He sighed. "Although it could be something as simple as, the storm last night...." The old priest blew out a breath in exasperation. "I think it would be a good idea to talk to Ami's mother about this. The more we know, the better."
"I agree." Ikuko replied. "Hold on a moment, I'll call her on my cell phone." A short while later the old priest heard Usagi's mother speak up faintly, obviously talking into another phone. "Mizuno-san? It's Usagi's mother... Yes, thank you, Usagi came home safely late last night. That's why I'm calling, in fact. It seems as if something a bit peculiar is going on, and I thought you might wish to know about it. It turns out that Rei Hino was with Usagi, wherever they might have been, but neither of them will say where they were all week, or why they left. Yes... yes.... I've got Rei's grandfather here on the other line. He says that Rei came back last night, just like Usagi, and that both Makoto Kino and your daughter were there in the morning...." Ikuko didn't speak for awhile, and Rei's grandfather could faintly hear another voice in the background.
Ikuko spoke up again a bit later. "Yes, I see... you say she went over to Hotaru's house in the morning, and called you last night to tell you she was staying at the shrine? Yes... yes, I agree. It doesn't appear that she could have been too heavily involved, but it is strange... yes... yes.... I do apologize if my daughter has gotten Ami-chan involved in anything... yes... yes.... Well there was one other thing. Rei's grandfather said that both Ami and Makoto had borrowed a change of clothing from Rei.... Yes, that could very well have been because of the storm last night, it just seemed significant... yes.... Thank you Mizuno-san, we'd appreciate that.... I'm sure that it's... yes... thank you."
Ikuko's voice came over the phone to Grandfather Hino again clearly. "Ah, Hino-san? Did you catch any of that?"
"Some." The old priest answered. "I take it that Mizuno-san will be having a talk with her daughter?"
Ikuko sighed into the phone. "She sounded... well, a bit upset at the idea that Ami might have been involved in Usagi and Rei's disappearance, but she assured me that she will be asking Ami-chan about it."
"I understand." Rei's grandfather said quietly. "About Makoto-chan, I believe she is currently living on her own?"
"Yes...." Ikuko agreed, sounding concerned. "She always seemed like an intelligent, capable girl, so I hadn't been too worried about her, but this makes me wonder...." She sighed. "I don't want to do anything rash. Perhaps we should wait and see what develops."
Rei's grandfather hesitated. "I think I might take it on myself to pay Kino-san a visit, and see if everything there is alright."
"That sounds like a good idea." Ikuko agreed. "You will let me know if you find out anything?"
"Of course." The old priest reassured her. "I'll be in touch." ********************
When Ami walked in the front door of her house, the faint sense of doom that she had been feeling, ever since leaving Rei's shrine, sharply intensified.
"Ami?" Her mother's voice came from the kitchen, sounding slightly shrill, and a moment later her mother arrived as well, giving Ami a hard look, as if expecting some disaster to be revealed. "Ami, there you are. Whatever happened to your clothes?" Dr. Mizuno's eye brows twitched as she brought herself back under control. < I'm not going to interrogate my own daughter. There's no reason for me to be upset, I don't KNOW that anything bad has happened.> Ami hesitated for a few seconds too long while formulating a response to her mother's query. She had looked for her clothing on the way home, but hadn't had any luck. The clothes she had been wearing when she changed to a panther the night before had been missing when she had gotten back to the spot she had transformed at.
"They got wet last night, mother." Ami answered as honestly as she could. "So I borrowed a change of clothing from Rei."
Dr. Mizuno almost accepted that. "I see." It was a reasonable enough statement, after all, but her daughter's long pause before answering bothered her. "So, you left your clothing over at Rei's house?" She had tried to make the question light, but some of her anxiety showed through.
"Well..." Ami hesitated again. "They got... torn. I really don't...."
Ami's mother looked concerned. "Torn? You haven't hurt yourself, have you?"
Ami quickly shook her head. "Oh no, I'm fine."
Dr. Mizuno's expression of concern softened slightly. "That's good, at least. How bad is the damage?"
Ami hesitated again, then sighed in resignation. < She's going to find out anyway if I lie about it.> "Mother, I lost my clothing... all of it. I'm sorry."
Dr. Mizuno's eyebrows twitched again and her voice raised in pitch. "Lost? You LOST your clothes? How in the world could you do that?"
Ami couldn't think of an adequate answer for that immediately. < How in the world can I explain this? I can't tell her that I was running around in the rain naked... even though that's technically what happened... I... I should really tell her the truth... but can I tell her about my curse without revealing everything else?>
Dr. Mizuno was now really starting to get worried. "Ami...." She started warningly. "What happened to your clothes?"
Ami sighed, and went for the truth again. "I took them off last night after I got wet... and when I looked for them this morning they were gone." She hung her head. "I know it was irresponsible of me. I shouldn't have left my clothes laying around outside, but I honestly didn't think about them being taken." Dr. Mizuno looked at her daughter incredulously, her jaw dropping open slightly in disbelief while Ami frantically racked her brains for a way out of her current mess. < She's never going to believe that, but I don't want to lie to my mother... not that I haven't been lying by omission for years now....>
Ami's mother frowned. "Ami, are you trying to tell me that you took off your clothes and left them outside, and that someone made off with them?"
Ami smiled weakly. "Well, yes."
Dr. Mizuno raised an eyebrow. "Ami, I don't need to tell you how unlikely this sounds. Is there any reason you're not being completely honest with me?"
Ami tried not to stammer. "Well I... I don't...."
Dr. Mizuno's face softened. "Ami, I know about Usagi and Rei being missing for the last week. Does this have anything to do with that?"
Ami shook her head, not being able to think of anything to say. "Mother... I...."
Dr. Mizuno recalled suddenly how Usagi's mother had explained that neither Usagi or Rei would explain what had happened, and now it was looking like her daughter would be the same. "Ami...." The older woman hesitated. "Ami, something HAS happened, but you feel that you can't tell me? I'm a doctor, Ami-chan. I hear terrible things every day, and I'm used to keeping people's secrets. You can tell me. I promise that I won't get mad."
Ami sighed again in resignation. < It's clear now that a partial answer won't be enough. Mother knows something big is going on, and that it involves Usagi, Rei and me. Showing her my curse would just get her asking more questions. I'd have to explain how Usagi and Rei are involved, which will lead to Ranma and the others, and before long she'll find out that the Senshi went to Jusenkyo, and figure out our secret identities, if she looks hard enough.>
Ami's mother waited patiently, watching her daughter think. When Ami looked up at her with a sad but serious expression, her heart sank. Her daughter's next words came as no surprise.
"I'm truly sorry, mother. I can't tell you." Ami sighed. "I just... can't tell you."
Dr. Mizuno felt weak all of a sudden and she staggered slightly before regaining her balance. "I... see." Now it was Ami's turn to wait while her mother's mind whirled. < I just don't understand this! Ami has always been responsible, reliable... leaving her clothes outside? Ridiculous! But what is she hiding?> Ami's mother went through dozens of possible scenarios in her head, echoing the earlier thoughts of Usagi's mother and Rei's grandfather, although in her case with even greater detail. She had indeed seen many things as a doctor, and one by one they presented themselves, but nothing quite seemed to fit the facts.
The scientist in her demanded more information, but somehow she knew her daughter would not tell her anything more. At the same time she felt both a wave of sadness and one of pride. Sadness at missing whatever was happening in her daughter's life that could be so important, and pride that her daughter could stand up to her like this. The pride was dimmed by the very real worry that her daughter was being used somehow. She wanted to believe that Ami was simply protecting her friends, but her missing clothing really had her concerned. It implied all sorts of things, especially with Ami's inability to explain, but didn't provide her with enough clues to do more than guess. Dr. Mizuno tried to speak several times but found words useless. Everything she could think of to say seemed inadequate.
Several minutes passed while she fought for clarity, and it was Ami who finally broke the silence. "I... love you, Mother. I want you to know that I never wanted to keep anything from you... and if it was my secret alone, I would tell you. I swear I would. I... I do trust you, mother, it's just... not something I can talk about."
Dr. Mizuno shook her head slowly. "I can't understand what could possibly have happened that you couldn't tell me about, Ami. At least nothing that makes sense. You're too smart to get caught up in anything...." She waved her hand vaguely. "Or at least I hope you are. But even if you've got into something over your head, I'd still help you. You should know that."
Ami frowned. "It's nothing like that, Mother." She hesitated. "At least, it's not what you're probably thinking. I haven't gotten involved in anything illegal, or even immoral. In fact, I think, I hope, that you'd be proud of me, but it's not something I can just tell you about." Ami sighed. "I know this is a lot to ask, but you're just going to have to trust me." She blinked, her eyes widening as she suddenly realized what she had been saying. Ami fought to keep from blushing in embarrassment at her own presumptuousness, but her mother was smiling.
"You want me to trust you?" Dr. Mizuno nodded slowly, and then again with vigor. "I do trust you, Ami. You've earned it, and more." She sighed. "It doesn't mean I don't worry about you, or want to help you if I can... but I suppose I can understand the need to keep a secret, especially if it's not your own." Dr. Mizuno took a deep breath. "You're almost an adult, Ami, and up to now you've showed yourself worthy of my trust... so I will trust you again."
Ami stepped forward and hugged her mother impulsively. "Thank you Mother."
Dr. Mizuno sighed and returned the hug. "You're growing up so fast. I feel like I keep missing so much of your life." She sighed again. "And I have to miss more. I'm late for work already, Ami. I really have to go."
Ami released her mother with a smile. "I love you, Mother."
Dr. Mizuno released her daughter several moments later, with noticeable reluctance. "I love you too, Ami. Try to take care of yourself, alright?"
Ami nodded. "I will, Mother." Dr. Mizuno slipped out the front door, giving her daughter one final wave before going to her car. Ami sighed and closed the door. "Now what? Am I really going to be able to keep my Jusenkyo curse a secret from my own mother?" She sighed. "I suppose I have to, at least until I can think of a way of revealing my curse that won't lead mother into finding out about everything else I've been keeping from her." Ami headed up to her room, thinking hard. "I'll need to start carrying an umbrella everywhere, and a thermos.... No, I won't be able to open one with paws, will I? I'll have to ask Luna and Artemis for advice about that... maybe Johnathon-san or Kasumi will have some ideas too."
Ami stopped halfway up the stairs as a frightful possibility occurred to her. "I wonder if this will effect how I transform into Sailor Mercury?" Ami blinked worriedly. "There is a splash of water when I transform... and what if I use my Shabon Spray on an area I'm in?" She frowned. "Well, that shouldn't be enough to trigger my curse, but I really should make sure...." Ami hesitated before continuing up the stairs. "It might be a good idea to practice in the bathroom... with the hot water on, just in case."
Half an hour later, Ami was talking on her communicator to Rei and Usagi. "So thankfully my transformation doesn't set off the curse, although the mist from my Shabon Spray does. Luckily it takes about fifteen seconds or so to set off my curse, and I assume that would be longer outside of an enclosed space, especially if I'm wearing something even a little water resistant."
"So..." Usagi spoke up hesitantly. "You still haven't figured out a way to get our uniforms back?"
Ami sighed. "Not yet, Usagi-chan. Skuld offered to help boost the range on my computer's scanners, but I don't know when or how she might be showing up. I don't have any idea how to contact a goddess."
Rei's face appeared on Ami's communicator. "I'm sure they'll be able to contact us if they need too." She shook her head in disbelief. "I still can't believe that we met the Fates... the real thing. I don't know why I believe them, but I do. I'm sure they must be really busy doing... well, whatever it is goddesses do."
Only miles away, in a shrine very much like the one Rei was speaking from, a bronze skinned goddess sneezed, then looked up from her soap opera in surprise. "Somebody must be talking about me."
Usagi sighed. "Let's trade problems, Ami. I'll take your curse, and you stay grounded at my house for a month."
Ami laughed. "You're on! I think I'd be getting the better part of the deal, Usagi."
The leader of the Senshi moaned. "You might think so, but I don't. Mom's making me study every day once school's started."
Ami shook her head. "You really should study more, Usagi." She looked concerned. "What about you, Rei? What do you think your grandfather is going to do?"
Rei shook her head. "I have no idea. So far he hasn't decided on anything, but I'm pretty sure he's going to try and find out what happened while we were gone."
Ami nodded. "I agree. He's the one who contacted my mother, I bet, and I'd guess he'll be checking on Makoto as well."
Rei spoke up. "Well, there's no way we can hold our meeting here today. Grandpa is bound to try and spy on us or something." She sighed. "I should stay here and try to keep an eye on him for now."
Ami nodded. "Well, I'm sure we can meet over at professor Tomoe's house. That's where we met while you three were in China."
Rei nodded back. "That's a good idea. Let me know what happens, okay?" She hesitated. "So... what are you planning on doing about your curse? Do you think you should let your mother know?"
Ami shook her head. "If Mother finds out about my curse, she's likely to find out about everything else as well. And if Mother found out about my being a Senshi... well, I'm not sure what she'd do, except she'd probably tell every else's parents and your grandfather."
Usagi looked worried. "Do you really think she would?"
Ami hesitated. "Well, I can't be sure, really, but the possibility is definitely there. If it was just me I'd be willing to take the risk. I think I could convince Mother to let me remain a Senshi... but it's not just me on the line."
Rei hesitated. "I don't know how Grandpa would react. He might let me keep fighting, but I'm afraid he'd try and get involved, and he's no Ranma. He'll get hurt. He's too old to be fighting monsters."
Usagi spoke up querulously. "Mom would never let me be Sailor Moon if she knew about it. She'd freak! Dad wouldn't be any better. He's always so protective of me. I think they'd lock me in my room until I turn eighteen, or even longer!"
Ami sighed. "As I thought. I can't risk Mother finding out. I'll just have to conceal the curse from her. If I'm careful it shouldn't be too difficult...."
Rei shook her head. "It's not going to be that simple, Ami! I think Johnathon-san is correct about the curses making people unlucky... at the least you become a water magnet!" She shuddered. "The aura of... misery around those springs was like a living thing! Just being careful isn't going to be enough."
Ami frowned. "I'm afraid you may be right. All the evidence I've gathered on the curses has seemed to indicate a secondary factor involved." She shook her head. "But difficult or not, I can't think of anything else...." She hesitated. "Well, at least not anything else I wish to try at this time."
Rei blinked. "What is it? Do you have another idea?"
Ami frowned harder. "I have two. One, I leave home. I might somehow convince Mother to let me move out on my own, or in a dorm situation somewhere... although those situations do not negate all possibility for discovery. A more sure solution would be to leave home permanently without informing Mother of my whereabouts... but I don't like like that idea much at all."
Rei swallowed. "And the other option?"
Ami sighed. "I reveal the curse, but hide its origin to keep mother from connecting it to our secret identities."
Usagi showed up on the screen, nodding. "That sounds like a good idea, Ami. I mean, I know you don't want to lie to your mother, but it's better than running away from home!"
Ami sighed again. "The problem with such a deception is pulling it off. The line of connections from my curse to our identities as Senshi is all too clear. Mother will see though anything that isn't very carefully planned."
Rei spoke up. "Do you really think it'd be so easy to figure out? I mean, going from a Jusenkyo curse to figuring out you're a Senshi seems like a pretty big jump to me."
Ami blinked. "Well, it's relatively straightforward. Even if I don't explain to mother how someone gets a Jusenkyo curse, she's bound to find out if she looks hard enough, most likely by talking to someone in Nermia. If she connect my curse to the Tendo Dojo, and if she asks Mr. Tendo about my getting cursed, he'll certainly remember the Sailor Senshi offering to go to China to help Ranma and the others, and from there it isn't a very large leap at all, is it?"
Rei swallowed. "No, not really. I mean, it's not like a lot of people go to cursed springs in China. If anyone hears that the Senshi went to Jusenkyo, and that you have a Jusenkyo curse all of a sudden...." Rei brightened. "Hey! All we have to do is get Mr. Tendo to keep our going to Jusenkyo a secret! If it doesn't get out that the Senshi went to Jusenkyo, your mother won't be able to connect your curse to you being Sailor Mercury!"
Ami blinked. "Well... that could work, actually. I'd still have to explain how I got cursed, not to mention explaining how I got to China and back in under a day... but it could work."
Usagi broke in. "You could say you got splashed by someone who'd been to Jusenkyo... like that perverted little man... Happosai!" Usagi hesitated. "I know it's not good to lie, but it's for a good cause...."
Ami sighed. "And I don't suppose I could make the old man's reputation any worse...." She nodded. "It's a good plan, but it requires that everyone who knows about us going to Jusenkyo keeping it secret, which means that we'll have to reveal our identities to several more people."
Rei nodded. "Ryoga, Nabiki, Ukyo, Mr. Tendo, Shampoo, and Dr. Tofu. Most of them probably have a clue or two to who we are already. We had already decided to tell most of them... and I think they're the sort of people we can trust." She shook her head. "I really don't like the way this is ballooning. First Johnathon-san, then Ranma, Akane and Kasumi... now five more people, at least. I just don't see anything else we can do."
Usagi broke in cheerfully. "I'm sure they'll all keep our secret, and it'll be nice, not having to lie to everyone."
Ami nodded. "It would be nice, but we'll have to be very careful. The more people who know our secret, the larger the chance of it being revealed." She paused. "If I do reveal my curse, we will have to make sure that everyone knows what story we're using to cover it, or knows to pretend they don't know how it happened."
Rei nodded in agreement. 'We can talk to everyone when we go to our next class at the Dojo, the day after tomorrow."
Ami sighed. "I should be able to avoid cold water at least that long." She nodded. "I'll tell everyone what we're planning at the Senshi meeting today, and I'll tell you what happens then. I'd better get started with arranging things."
Rei nodded again. "Okay, Ami, call us if you need any help."
Usagi came on again. "Good luck, Ami! I know things will work out."
Ami smiled. "I will, Rei. Thanks you two. Bye bye." She shut down the communicator and went to a more conventional communications device, the phone.
End of Chapter 23
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