"Usagi-chan! Time to get up!" came Kasumi's horrendously
cheerful voice.
"Aww, can't I sleep just a little--" the youngest Tendou daughter
opened a bleary eye and saw the clock. "Eeps! I'm late!" and she was
out of bed and scrambling to dress.
Kasumi smiled. Three weeks now, and her sister still hadn't
caught on that her clock was set half an hour ahead of the others in the
house. The smile faded a bit as Kasumi saw that Usagi hadn't even
touched her food from the previous night. She must have been very upset
about Ranma's behavior, decided Kasumi. I'll have to find some way to
smooth things over.
After all, if Usagi didn't marry Ranma, that meant that she or
Nabiki would have to. And Kasumi had other plans for her life.
Usagi brushed her teeth while trying to comb out her ponytails,
with the result that neither enterprise worked particularly well. That
was a really weird dream I had last night, she thought. Boys that turn
into girls, talking cats, monsters taking over jewelry stores...who knew
I had that good an imagination?
"Whaddya mean, school?" came a slightly frantic sounding male
voice from the living room. Male? Then Ranma wasn't a dream. And Usagi
suddenly realized she'd pinned a brooch to her school uniform. The
brooch that let her transform into Sailor Moon. So that wasn't a dream,
either?
Usagi decided to stop thinking for a while, because she was
pretty sure it would make her head hurt.
HALF MOON
by Scott K. Jamison
(Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and its associated characters created by Rumiko
Takahashi; Sailor Moon and its associated characters created by Naoko
Takeuchi. No infringement is intended.)
Chapter Two: Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Usagi looked up at Ranma, who was walking on the fence rather
than alongside her. He looked a little the worse for wear.
"Ranma, are you alright?"
"Oh, the bruises? Naah, don't hurt a bit. Our fathers had a
little `discussion' with me when you left the room. You know, that
floating demon head thing of your Dad's is pretty impressive."
Demon head? Usagi didn't remember her father doing any such
thing. But then, he'd always hinted there was more to the Art than he
ever showed.
"Uh, sorry about what I said last night. Didn't mean to make you
cry. Get angry, yes. Demand to be let out of the engagement, yes. Cry,
no."
"You hate me that much?"
"Aw, geez, not again, going all teary-eyed on me! That's not
what I meant! I'm sure you're a very nice girl, but I don't wanna get
married--"
Genma rushed up and attacked Ranma. "It's not as if you have any
choice, boy!"
Ranma knocked his father into the canal. Genma leapt back up in
panda form, but was clumsy enough in it that Ranma could easily evade him
on the narrow fence.
"Whassa matter, Pops? Panda got your tongue? I ain't never
gonna marry an uncute dumpling-head just because you said so!"
Uncute? Usagi's eyesight began to blur.
"WAAH! Ranma-chan's being mean to me again!"
Ranma bashed away his father and moved closer to Usagi in an
attempt to calm her. Unfortunately, the geyser of tears she was
producing was cool enough to activate his curse...
Kasumi went into Usagi's bedroom to gather the linen, this being
wash day. When she lifted the blankets, she was surprised to find a
black cat snoozing in Usagi's bed.
"Now, how did you come to be here?"
The cat started awake, and stared at Kasumi. There was something
about its eyes...intelligent, almost human-seeming. And that funny mark
on its forehead...
"Good morning, crescent-moon cat!"
It mewed in reply.
"Are you Usagi's new pet? I do wish she had told us first.
Would you like some milk?" It seemed to nod its head, and followed
Kasumi out of the bedroom.
"You know, in all the excitement last night, I forgot to ask
Usagi how she did on her test yesterday. Getting a good education is
important, isn't it, kitty?"
The cat gave what seemed to be an affirmative meow.
Luna hoped this human, Kasumi was her name? would continue
talking. She'd need to know more about Usagi's family if she was to keep
Sailor Moon a secret.
"So this Tofu-sensei is hung up on your sister, huh?"
"I think so, at least he acts really goofy whenever she's around.
And I'm pretty sure Kasumi likes him too. She's always borrowing books
from him," replied Usagi.
Ranma had wanted to go home for a hot bath rather than show up at
school as a girl, but Usagi had calmed down enough to remember the kindly
doctor's office was nearby. She sighed a bit. He'd been her first
crush, until this year when she'd seen someone even better...
As it was, they were now seriously behind schedule. So it was
time to run.
Shortly before they got to Fuurinkan High's gates, Usagi tripped
over a pebble.
"EEK!"
Ranma quickly grabbed her around the waist to keep her from
falling. "Careful!"
"Oh! Uh, thank you..." Several other students walked past, and
some of them stared and whispered. Ranma and Usagi blushed when they
realized what the hug looked like, and he let her go, perhaps a bit too
abruptly. They entered the gates at arm's length from each other.
Usagi spotted someone she wanted to talk to.
"Kunou-sempai! Yoohoo!" Normally she wouldn't have been so
forward, but the scare of the engagement convinced her that if she didn't
seek out romance now, she'd never have a chance at it.
The handsome upperclassman looked over from the knot of male
students he was in, most fellow members of the kendo team. A girl was
calling to him. Blonde hair, in a peculiar style. Oh, yes, Nabiki
Tendou's sister, she had some sort of animal name.
"Greetings, Kitsune Tendou. How do you fare on this pleasant
spring day?"
"Um..." That was a shock to Usagi. Tatewaki didn't even know
her name! "I'm, ah, fine."
"Excellent! Much as I would like to extend our conversation, the
progress of time is fleeting, and we must needs pursue our educational
vocations." He smiled, and turned away. Kunou was well aware of his
attractiveness to women, but none of them yet seemed to have what he was
looking for, and he quickly dismissed this one from what passed for his
mind.
"Usagi-chan! There you are!" came a less-welcome voice.
She turned to see a pale, skinny boy with dark rings under his
eyes. He had his ubiquitous camera with him.
"Say cheese! Hey, you with the pigtail, could you move out of
the shot?"
"He won't! This is my fiance, Ranma Saotome!" Usagi pulled the
pigtailed boy closer to her.
"Say what?" asked Ranma, taken off guard by Usagi's sudden change
of attitude.
"Your...fiance!?" The pale boy seemed to be on the verge of
shock and tears. He turned on Ranma. "How--how could you do this?"
"Hey, it was our parents' idea...and why should I answer to you?"
"I'm Hikaru Gosunkugi, and *I'm* Usagi's boyfriend!"
Unfortunately, Ranma's training led him to judge other men by
their apparent combat capabilities. And his senses were screaming
"wimp".
"You gotta be kidding me. A weakling like you?"
"Ranma, for shame! Just because Gos-kun is delusional is no
reason to pick on him. Martial artists shouldn't be bullies!"
Ranma was rather startled. Usagi hadn't seemed like the type to
give lectures.
"Saotome, I won't forgive you! You don't deserve Usagi!"
Gosunkugi declaimed.
"And just what are you going to do about it?"
"I'll--i'll--think of something, I'm sure." The pale boy stalked
off. How could this happen to him now, when he was so close to
happiness?
"C'mon, Ranma, I'm tired and we're late! Theteacher'llkillus!"
And so they went into the school.
So. Sailor V was alive and back in Tokyo. Or so the evidence
available to Jadeite would seem to indicate. Who else could have
interrupted the flow of energy and destroyed his youma? Now he had to go
to the trouble of getting another and coming up with a new plan.
A simple disguise kept the passersby from noticing him. Two of
them, youngish-looking women, were debating the horoscope in today's
newspaper. Jadeite snorted. They reminded him of Nephrite, and his line
about the stars controlling everything. The true man could break the
bonds of fate and forge his own destiny...
Destiny...an idea began coming to him. Now he knew the youma he
would need.
Ranma and Usagi reached the classroom with a minute to spare.
The girl waved to her friend Naru, who was also looking sleepy, but had a
small and disbelieving crowd around her.
"Hiya, Naru-chan! What's up?"
"Oh, Usagi-chan! The strangest thing happened last night! This
nasty monster pretended to be my Mom and sold evil jewelry! Then Sailor
Moon came and rescued me!"
"Don't you mean Sailor V?" asked Usagi, pretending she didn't
know *exactly* what Naru was talking about.
"No, she definitely said her name was Sailor Moon!"
"You aren't actually buying this monster story, are you?" asked
Ranma.
"I saw--er, I've seen reports of monsters before! If Naru says
there was a monster, I believe her!"
"Thanks, Usagi-chan. Uh, who's he?"
"Ah! Naru, this is Ranma. He and his dad are staying at the
dojo. Ranma, this is Naru, my best friend."
"Hi."
"Pleased to meetcha." Ranma noted Usagi'd left out the
engagement this time. Naru was an average-looking girl with short,
somewhat crinkled hair.
At that moment, a girl in a yellow dress came bouncing into the
classroom. She looked to be eleven or so, and had very long brown hair.
"Good morning, class!" she chirped.
"Good morning, Hinako-sensei," replied the students
automatically.
"Say what?" asked Ranma incredulously.
"Hinako Ninomiya," whispered Naru. "Yes, she really is the
teacher, and don't mention how she looks. She's sensitive about it, and
you really, really don't want to get her angry."
Usagi nodded emphatically.
Thus forewarned, Ranma bit back his wisecracks as he was
introduced to the class. He found an empty desk behind Usagi and started
to listen to the teacher's lecture.
Unfortunately, it had been quite a while since he'd been in
school, English wasn't his best subject, and the room was uncomfortably
warm. Ranma's head was soon nodding.
He wrenched himself awake, and realized he'd missed several
minutes of instruction.
"Psst! Usagi! What page are we on?" No answer came. Ranma
looked up and saw that Usagi was fast asleep behind her book. He winged
a pencil at her, eraser first.
"Ow! Nabiki, cut it out!" Usagi rubbed behind her ear, then
realized what had happened when everyone started laughing.
"Tendou-san, sleeping again? Out in the hall," directed Hinako.
"But Ranma hit me!"
"Is this true?"
"Well, yeah but--"
"The hall for you, as well, then. I do hope this doesn't mean
you're a delinquent. I don't like delinquents." Ranma barely suppressed
his amusement at the childish teacher's sternness.
He and Usagi took their buckets out, distracting Hinako from
noticing that Naru had also slipped into blissful slumber.
Nabiki took a calculating glance at Kunou. As the richest kid in
school (and one of the least brilliant), he was her steadiest source of
income. But she'd always known he could be even more fruitful an
investment if she found the proper key.
She'd hoped to sell pictures of Usagi to the boys, but for
reasons she couldn't fully understand, she'd had only one customer, and
Gosunkugi had quickly figured out he could take his own photos, being in
the Camera Club and all.
Why Usagi didn't sell was a mystery. Okay, she was a little
light in the chest department, but she was awfully cute, and boys were
supposed to like fluffheads.
"Unlike smart girls like me," Nabiki grumbled to herself. Then
she'd noticed Usagi's accidents always drew a crowd. Now Nabiki was
saving up for a camcorder, so she could make up a tape of "Usagi's Best
Pratfalls" to sell. Heck, she might even get something good enough to
win a prize on "Japan's Funniest Home Videos".
Meanwhile, there had to be a way to make a profit off Ranma and
her, er, his father. The transforming boy's other form had definite
potential, but just how good a martial artist was Ranma? Only way to
find out was to see him in actual combat...
"Hiya, Kunou-chan." She sauntered over to his desk. Only she
could get away with using the diminuitive, though Nabiki's classmates
doubted there was any affection lost between the two.
"Greetings, Nabiki Tendou. To what devious schemes do I owe the
dubious pleasure of your company?"
"Devious? Moi? I just wanted to share the happy news of my
sister's engagement!"
"Ah, so your elder sister has finally landed the good doctor?"
"No, my other sister!"
Kunou's brow furrowed in thought. "Oh yes, the blonde one. Come
to think of it, there was a boy with her this morning. Red shirt?"
"That's the one. His name's Ranma Saotome. He's supposed to be
a pretty good martial artist, heir to his family's school."
"A martial artist, you say? Just how good of one?"
Hah! I knew that would pique his interest, Nabiki smirked
inwardly. Now to reel him in.
"Only a true test of battle could show that for certain, wouldn't
you agree?"
"That makes sense. I shall have to see if he is agreeable to a
match." Kunou hoped the new boy would be a challenge. One could only
become the best by defeating the best, and decent opponents had been
scarce of late.
Nabiki was already figuring what odds to offer.
"My arms are sore!" whined Usagi.
Since they'd only been holding the water buckets five minutes,
Ranma was unimpressed with her fortitude. He opened his mouth to say so,
but remembered her reaction to insults. He didn't want to change again
so soon! But now that his tongue was in motion, he had to say something.
"So, what gives with this Gosunkugi guy? You two an item?"
Usagi stuck out her tongue. "No way! He's such a geek! Just
'cause I needed to borrow his homework once, he thinks he's my
boyfriend."
"And the guy in the hakama? The one who doesn't know your name?"
"Kunou-sempai was just confused! He's the captain of the kendo
team, and handsome, and he talks sooo neat!"
"Um, right." Ranma didn't know why, but the way Usagi talked
about this Kunou person really irritated him. Not that I care how she
feels, of course, he assured himself.
At lunch, Gosunkugi was eating alone. As usual. But he looked
more depressed than usual, so Naru decided to see what was the matter.
Hi, Gos! Why the long face?"
"Uh, hi, Naru. Why shouldn't I be depressed? Usagi's gotten
engaged."
"What?! Where'd you hear that?"
"She told me herself. Some good-looking musclehead named Ranma."
Naru could almost see a little dark cloud hovering above Gosunkugi's
head.
"Oh, him? He's just staying with her family."
"Then...then it's not too late! I can still convince her my love
is pure, she'll see I'm the one for her, she'll introduce me to her
father, we'll get married and live in a big house with three kids and a
dog..." He was completely lost in his fantasy.
"Gos, you are such a silly." Didn't he realize that if Usagi had
claimed to be engaged, it meant she would say *anything* to make him go
away?
Ranma and Usagi were just about to leave together (but not too
closely) when Ranma was stopped by a boy in kendo gear. Usagi didn't
notice and kept going.
"Excuse me, are you Ranma Saotome?"
"Yeah, so?"
"This is for you, from Kunou-sempai." The other boy handed over
an envelope.
It proved to be a formal letter of challenge, "between men of
valor" for the following afternoon.
"May I have your answer?"
"Tell him I'll be there. You have my word as a man." Ranma
grinned. A challenge would allow him to strut his stuff. He hoped this
Kunou was good.
Usagi sighed. All things considered, the day hadn't gone *too*
badly. Her brief nap in English had refreshed her enough to get through
the other classes, and Ranma hadn't done anything else embarrassing.
Still, it really irked her that Kunou hadn't even bothered to
remember her name. After all, Nabiki knew him, and she should have told
him... Wait, her sister always said Kunou was an idiot. What if she
wasn't exaggerating? But he used all those big words! She'd just have
to try harder to make an impression next time.
She saw a line in front of an alley where an old-fashioned
fortune teller had set up his stand. Maybe he could give her some
advice. But after the line didn't move for ten minutes, Usagi got
impatient.
She remembered that if you kicked your shoe up in the air, the
direction it came down facing would be towards your true love.
"Fly, fly up in the blue, point me to my loved one true!" and
Usagi kicked as hard as she could. Maybe I shouldn't have closed my
eyes, she thought as she scanned the area for the shoe. Where had it
gone?
*BONK*
"Hey! Whadja do *that* for!?" came a familiar voice.
Ranma was holding Usagi's missing shoe and rubbing the top of his
head.
"You really are a dumpling-head, you know that?"
"And you're a big meanie!" replied Usagi, sticking out her tongue
at her unwilling fiance.
Ranma relaxed a little. Angry he could deal with, unlike crying.
"Here's your shoe back. Try and be a little less klutzy, okay?"
Usagi snatched back her footwear. She had to admit it was a
pretty silly thing to do. Just a schoolgirl superstition, after all.
"Hey, let's go to the arcade! Maybe I can beat Level Five on the
Sailor V platform game this time."
"Umm, okay." Ranma didn't have any money, but at least he could
scope out the newest fighting games. He hadn't been in an arcade since
before the trip to China.
Neither teen noticed the building behind them suddenly undergoing
renovation.
Ranma and Usagi soon found themselves at the Crown Game Center.
The girl made a beeline for the Sailor V game. As usual, she died on
Level Four.
"Huh. Try jiggling the joystick just a little left when you see
the blue guy," suggested Ranma.
"But that'll--oh." Usagi tried it, and found the blue guy was
indeed fooled by the tactic. "How'd you know that? I thought you'd
never played this game."
"All these characters have fighting styles, so you look for the
patterns. Just like real martial arts, but easier to predict."
This time, Usagi was able to get to Level Six before being blown
away. She entered her name at #8.
"So, this Sailor V stuff is pretty popular, huh?"
"Like, where have you been? Sailor V is the coolest! `A
sailor-suited champion of justice, she fights a never-ending battle
against the forces of evil!'" Usagi slightly misquoted the ad copy from
her model kit.
"So? Lotsa comic book characters do that."
"But Sailor V is real! People have actually seen her capture
crooks and fight monsters."
Ranma decided Usagi was pretty gullible and had fallen for some
publicity stunts, but was saved from saying so by his growling stomach.
Usagi giggled, then reddened when there was an answering rumble
from her own tummy. "Time to see if Kasumi made any snacks!" she
announced brightly.
Gosunkugi stood in the dim red light, peering at the latest
development. As always, Usagi looked lovely in the picture, but he'd
have to crop it to get rid of Ranma. If only real life were that simple.
Although the pale boy had an active fantasy life, he knew too
well he was no physical match for a trained martial artist. Or even
someone in decent shape. And pounding nails into straw dolls, while
emotionally satisfying, had given no visible results on any of the
bullies at school.
Maybe it was time to try other magic...
The next morning, Usagi woke somewhat earlier than usual, due to
screams and the sounds of battle coming from the yard.
"Huh? Whazzup? 'morning, Luna."
The cat stretched and yawned herself. She'd spent most of the
night prowling the neighborhood to familiarize herself with the new
surroundings.
"Good morning, Usagi. I say, what is that racket?"
They looked out the window to see Ranma and his father Genma
locked in combat.
"Don't get overconfident, boy! A bokken can be a deadly weapon
in the right hands!"
"Hah! Like a master of Anything-Goes has to worry about anyone
who relies on weapons."
"You're not *ugh* a master yet!" and Genma kicked his son into
the pond with predictable results.
"Breakfast!" came Kasumi's voice, ending the sparring session.
Usagi realized she'd better get ready too.
"Coming, Luna?"
"No, I'll get a bit more sleep. Catnaps, don't you know."
The way to school was punctuated by Ranma having to dodge several
sudden water attacks. It was almost as if he'd become a magnet for
anything liquid.
"Will you stop fooling around, Ranma-chan?" Usagi asked, and
grabbed his wrist as she ran. He almost immediately regretted letting
her pull him along, since the route took them right through the school's
lawn sprinklers.
"Wait, Usagi-chan!" came Gosunkugi's voice. "I have something
for you!" She screeched to a stop. Usagi knew that if she didn't get it
over with now, he'd keep bugging her all day.
"Morning, Gos. What now?"
"Th-this is for you." replied the pale boy, nervously shoving
forward a folded piece of paper, then running off.
Usagi opened it, with Ranma looking over her shoulder.
The paper was covered in an illegible scrawl in several different
colors, odd drawings and a reddish substance Usagi hoped was wax.
"Can you make heads or tails of this?"
"Nope. Geez, his handwriting's worse than mine!"
"Hey, you're a girl again!"
"No duh, Usagi. Where's the hot water tap?"
As they moved off, Usagi crumpled up the paper and tossed it over
her shoulder. Gosunkugi, hiding behind a convenient shrub, was bonked in
the head by his own "Infallible" love charm.
"I must have misread the instructions. At least Ranma wasn't
with Usagi today. Wonder who that cute redhead was... No! Must stay
focused on my goal! Usagi, I will win your heart!"
The other students gave the boy talking to himself a wide berth.
"Uranai House" opened for business with a sign: [Grand Opening!
Male high school students get a free Tarot consultation!]
The palmist across the street frowned. This was going to cut
into his business. And though he couldn't quite put his finger on it, he
got a bad feeling from the building.
Nabiki had, as always, done a good job of publicizing the
challenge, and a fair-sized crowd was gathered at the athletic field.
Kunou felt some of the observers were treating the affair with less than
the dignity it deserved, but he was not overly concerned with the antics
of his lessers. He noted clouds building to the east. It would rain
soon.
"Be careful, Ranma-chan," advised Usagi. "Kunou-sempai is very
skilled."
The pigtailed boy just grinned. He'd never lost a challenge
before, and he wasn't going to start now. He ignored the distant clouds.
The fighters bowed and made their formal introductions. Kunou
raised his bokken, and they began.
The first pass saw the two run past each other at lightning
speed. To most in the audience, it was as though nothing had happened.
They were a bit disappointed.
As he stopped, Ranma laughed. "I win." Then he winced in pain
as the bruise on his neck made itself felt. "Whoa, he never even touched
me. Must be from the air pressure alone."
"I'd call it a tie," said Nabiki.
"What mean you, Nabiki Tendou? Surely you can see that I, the
magnificent Blue Thunder have once again triumphed as it was inevitable I
must--"
The middle Tendou sister held up her mirror to Kunou's face.
"Guess again."
"This is no time for me to admire my own handsomeness, much
though it delights all around. I--what is that on my noble brow?"
Swelling there was a bruise roughly in the shape of "chaos", the
first kanji in Ranma's name. Kunou hadn't noticed it due to a certain
insensitivity to pain.
"Air pressure again. Like I said, a tie."
"Didn't I tell you he was skillful, Ranma-chan?" asked Usagi
admiringly.
"A little. But you ain't seen nothing yet."
"Agreed, Ranma Saotome. We shall continue until there is a clear
victor, myself!"
"Be careful, Kunou-sempai!"
"Do not fear, Kitsune Tendou. I am the Blue Thunder,
undefeatable in battle!"
"Oh give me a break," said Ranma, "and her name's Usagi. Though
if she keeps rooting for you, I'm gonna call her Dumpling-Head again."
Usagi stuck her tongue out at Ranma while the fighters faced off
again.
Now more aware of each others' skills, they were a bit more
cautious this time. Intent on the contest, no one noticed the dark
clouds rolling in. A series of feints and twists began, neither
combatant quite landing a blow. Nabiki accepted some new bets at revised
odds.
Kunou rapidly tired of finesse, and returned to his all-out
attack mode. "Strike! Strike! Strike!" His thrusts came fast and
furious, and against a lesser foe than Ranma would have assured him
victory. In fact, so powerful were his blows that his misses cut into
the earth itself--
--And into a buried water pipe, resulting in an instant fountain.
Ranma "GAHHH"ed and backflipped away from the spray. He patted
himself down, relieved to find he wasn't damp enough to activate the
curse. Kunou hadn't been as lucky, taking a burst to the face.
"Yo, Kunou, over here!"
The swordsman turned in the proper direction, but could see
nothing due to the wet bangs in his eyes. He knew he should have gotten
a trim, but Kunou was just a bit phobic about haircuts. He trusted only
one haircare specialist and even then watched him in the mirror like a
hawk.
When he swept back his hair, he was annoyed to see that Ranma had
relocated to the other side of the field, near the hill marking its edge.
He was unused to having his targets move on him.
"Swift my sword and swifter still my feet, have at thee again!"
he cried, running towards Ranma. As they were about to close again, the
skies opened up, and a blurry shape came from nowhere. It snatched Ranma
from mid-air while simultaneously planting a foot in Kunou's face. Then
it vanished over the hill, still carrying Ranma.
Nabiki cursed herself for not thinking of bringing umbrellas to
rent. Several of the students ran for shelter, while others debated just
exactly what they had seen.
Gosunkugi turned his collar up and stalked off. No question
about it, Ranma was handsomer, stronger, faster...and he was actually
living with Usagi. "I just don't have a chance. I hate my life."
Usagi trotted off in the direction she'd seen the panda go.
In a nearby shed, a returned-to-manhood Ranma and his father
argued the merits of Genma's intervention.
"He's gonna think I'm a coward!"
"You want everyone to know about the girl?"
"Well, no, but I coulda won! I shoulda finished that fight,
dammit!"
"Excuse me," came Usagi's voice as she joined them. "It's coming
down pretty hard out there."
"Hmm, you're right. Well, Pops, be seein' ya."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm going out there and finishing what I started, curse or no
curse. Coming, Usagi?"
"Okay, but I have a bad feeling about this..."
As soon as they were outside, the rain made Ranma female again,
the water making his too-large outfit stick to his body in uncomfortable
ways.
Kunou appeared, looking rather angry.
"Kitsune Tendou! Where is Ranma Saotome, that coward, that less
than virtuous man? Nay, no man at all!"
"What did you say?" growled Ranma.
"I said that Saotome is no man!"
"Um, Kunou-s--" Usagi began.
"Okay, that does it, you and me, right here, right now!" Ranma
had instantly forgotten his current gender.
"But--who?"
"Defend yourself!" screamed Ranma as he attacked.
The kendoist was caught somewhat off guard by his new opponent
(or so he imagined her). He was barely able to bring up his sword at
all, let alone stop her frenzied attack.
Kunou's eyes unfocused, then focused again on a red pigtail.
Finally, the pain hit and he fell to the ground.
The rain had passed fairly quickly, as it usually did in Nerima,
but as far as Gosunkugi was concerned it could have continued forever.
In his dark mood, he wouldn't have noticed the sign if he hadn't run into
it.
"Free Tarot consultations?" The pale boy had mostly concentrated
his studies in the occult on Japanese mysticism, particularly the darker
Shinto rites, but he recognized the Tarot as a Western import. "Why
not?"
Usagi and the still-female Ranma strolled down the street.
"How *dare* he say I wasn't a man!"
"I don't think he knew you were there, and you don't exactly look
like Mr. Macho in that body."
"Thanks so much for reminding me. Huh, no line for the fortune
teller today."
Usagi looked. Sure enough, there wasn't, though there was one
across the street at a fancy-looking place she didn't remember seeing the
day before. They were mostly teenage boys, with a scattering of older
men and a few girls.
Then she saw the sign. Usagi looked at her companion and
shrugged. "Let's visit the palmist!"
"Aw, fortune-telling is a lot of hooey." But Ranma followed her
down the alley.
The fortune teller seemed happy to see them, and Usagi held out
her hand.
"Hmm..." stalled the palmist as he studied the lines. Part of
his art was in interpreting the lines, but most of it was in reading the
person before him. "Your life and love lines are both strong, Miss. I
do see many crossing lines, obstacles you'll have to face, but if you are
strong, you'll overcome them."
Something was just a bit odd here... "I see...you will have
friends and enemies, many of them, with strong feelings towards you."
"A boyfriend? More than one?"
"Perhaps. One who loves you may be closer than you think."
Ranma rolled his eyes. This geezer really knew how to pile it
on.
Madame Z, or Baamu as she was better known to her superior
Jadeite, smirked as she gazed upon her latest prey. He might appear
frail, but there was a pool of energy there waiting to be tapped well
beyond most of the fools who had come to her today.
"I-I want to know about the future..." said Gosunkugi.
"The future can be many things. The choices we make now
influence what is to come. The cards speak to us, and if we seize the
chances given, we make the future ours." She exhaled noisily, and the
pattern of Tarot cards on the table stood on end, all at once.
"Amazing!" It was so easy to impress these foolish humans.
"This is the Querent's card, the one that symbolizes you. The
Hermit, I see. A seeker after knowledge, but isolated, needing another."
Gosunkugi nodded.
"Your goal? The Page of Cups, a young woman then? A generous
soul, but with hidden depths." His eyes were shining, he was clearly
hooked. "This card crosses you, the obstacle in your path. The Fool.
Another suitor, but unsuited for her."
Gosunkugi was mesmerized by the fortuneteller's voice. She was
right on everything! "B-but what can I do? He has all the
advantages..."
"This card is the path to victory...The Devil!"
"B-but isn't that a bad card?"
"No, in the Tarot the Devil represents inner confidence, the
freedom from fear and weakness..." The card floated off the table and
slid inside Gosunkugi's jacket, stopping just above his heart. "Why
don't you keep it? Fight for your woman..."
"Thank you, Madame Z! I will! Usagi, you will be mine!" Eyes
just a little glassy, he ran from the room.
Baamu sighed. That had been all too easy. Her glance fell upon
the final card, symbolizing the outcome. The Tower reversed, disaster...
She smiled as she slipped another Devil into the deck.
Mrs. Osaka smiled at her daughter.
"I appreciate your helping me clean up the store yesterday and
today Naru-chan, but I don't want you to miss out on your after-school
activities."
"I...I just want to make sure you're all right, Mama. I don't
ever want to lose you again." Naru hugged her mother, uncaring that
someone might be watching.
"I'll be just fine, Sweetie. After all, what are the odds of
anything like that happening again? We've had our brush with monsters,
and that's an end to it. Do you think this display case would look
better over there?"
The next morning, Ranma's spirits had improved with the weather.
The news said today would be sunny, no chance of rain. And he'd actually
gotten enough sleep the night before, despite his father's snoring.
Better, Genma (in panda form this morning after their sparring session)
had written a sign letting everyone know he had a job.
Ranma snorted a bit. His father's jobs never lasted long, and it
would take some firm "persuasion" to get the old man to fork over an
allowance. But at least he'd have a little spending money. Too bad
Fuurinkan didn't allow students to have outside jobs.
He and Usagi had actually managed to run all the way here without
one water hazard, which made him just a bit nervous. Could he actually
get through an entire day without being splashed?
They were inside the gates when the first bad news of the day
struck.
"Hold, Ranma Saotome! I would have words with you!"
"Ah, Kunou, I--"
"That's Kunou*sempai* to you! How dare you abandon our combat!
I demand satis--*Guk*" The kendoist suddenly doubled over as someone
punched him aside.
That someone was Gosunkugi. Quite a number of people gasped.
Not just because he'd just struck an upperclassman, but because for the
first time anyone could remember, the skinny youth was violating the
school uniform policy. He had on a blue leisure suit, of all things.
"Good morning, Usagi-chan. Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Uh, yes, I guess so...Gos-kun, what--"
"I felt like a change. Whaddya think?"
"You still look like a wimp," said Ranma automatically.
"Wimp, huh?" Gosunkugi whirled on the larger boy. The dark
circles under his eyes were still there, but now they emphasized a
shining look to his gaze. Ranma involuntarily drew back.
"Maybe I'm not a wimp anymore, hm? Now that I've got some
confidence. I'll show--" He was interrupted by a tug on his trouser
leg. "What?"
Kunou dragged himself up to his full height. "Dost know who you
have trespassed against?"
"Kunou-sempai. I'm busy."
"Though you be but a frail weakling, still you have injured me,
and I must needs seek redress. Apologize, or--"
Gosunkugi kicked Kunou in the chin, sending the older boy down
for the count. "I am *so* sorry...not. Now..." He turned, only to find
Usagi and Ranma had left for class.
"Soon, Usagi. You will be mine soon..."
"...so you see, Ranma was not responsible for that panda
interrupting your combat and carrying him off. I'm sure he'll be happy
to have a rematch." And this time, I include a "bizarre circumstances
prevent the fight from concluding does not entitle you to a refund"
clause in the betting pool, thought Nabiki.
"That is all very well and good. My victory, though delayed by
happenstance, is nevertheless inevitable. But now, Nabiki Tendou, we
must speak of an even more pressing situation."
Nabiki gazed levelly at Kunou. More pressing? This sounded
profitable...
"I require information. Yesterday, there was a girl. She was
with your sister. A comely lass, though ill-clothed."
With my sister. Good-looking, but badly dressed. Oh my, he
means Ranma! mused Nabiki inwardly. "Did she have a pig-tail?"
"Yes! So she did! You know of this pig-tailed girl?"
"You could say that..."
"Excellent! Do you know where she may be found?" There was
something a bit too intense about Kunou's stare.
"I think I could find her. Why?"
"I wish to have you deliver this missive, then. For your usual
extortionate fee of course." He handed Nabiki an envelope.
"I would be happy to, Kunou-chan." She smiled. He had no idea
how happy she was... Time to dust off the old Nikon...
Usagi was getting a bit worried. Gosunkugi had really changed
overnight. His new confidence was...scary. He'd come swaggering into
the classroom as if he owned it.
And now he was...giggling? She'd never heard him do that before.
Normally, he was too depressed to laugh, and when he was happy, he was
more likely to swoon than shout. Usagi craned her head around to look at
what Gosunkugi was up to.
She started blushing. He was actually reading one of those ecchi
magazines in class, if reading was the right word for it. Reading it,
and obviously enjoying it.
In all fairness to young Gosunkugi, it was in fact a high-class
photography magazine that just happened to have many pictures of
scantily-clad women in it. But in his current state of mind, that hardly
mattered.
"Gosunkugi-san!" snapped Hinako-sensei. "Just what do you think
you're doing?" Ranma started awake, grateful those words hadn't been
directed at him.
"Enjoying myself, teach. But then, that's a foreign concept in
your classes, isn't it?"
Ninomiya reeled in shock. He dared to speak to her that way!
Well, she'd soon teach him to respect his elders. She started striding
over to Gosunkugi's desk, only to find her feet going out from under her.
"Aww, did widdle Hinako faw down and go boom?" sneered a boy with
light brown hair, Hiroshi. There was a peculiar glow above his heart, in
a rectangular shape. Other boys began to stand up.
Usagi was confused. Hiroshi was a bit of a hentai, but normally
very polite. And the other boys, they were all decent, hard-working
students. Why were they suddenly behaving so badly?
"You--you're all delinquents!" snarled Hinako-sensei cutely.
"You must be punished!" Most of the students took the opportunity to
duck under their desks. Even a couple of the suddenly defiant boys
looked a bit worried.
"Uh, Usagi, why are you hiding?" whispered Ranma.
"Hinako-sensei sometimes gets a bit carried away. We'll be safer
down here."
"Ha! I ain't scared. I didn't do nothing."
"Don't argue, you idiot! Get down here!" Usagi grabbed Ranma's
pigtail and pulled him under her desk.
"Ow!"
Meanwhile, the childlike teacher had completed a wide circular
motion with her arm, and was holding out a small coin with a hole in the
middle. "Happo go-en satsu!"
Ranma watched as tendrils of ki began to be torn off the
boys...and then snap back to them. Hinako-sensei shouted her "magic
words" again, but with no greater effect.
"But that's impossible! You can't do that! It's not fair!"
wailed the child-woman as she sank to her knees.
"Sure looks to me like we can," replied Gosunkugi. "C'mon guys,
let's blow this popsicle stand. Nothing more she can teach us." He and
the other boys who'd visited Uranai House the day before marched out.
"That's what you were so scared of?" asked Ranma. "Looks like a
pretty puny trick to me."
"I don't get it! Normally, her go-en satsu drains the ki right
out of people! Something's wrong, Ranma. We'd better see if we can help
the sensei." Usagi didn't like seeing people unhappy, and the teacher
looked to be on the verge of tears.
"Um, guys...is there something we should know about your
relationship?" asked Naru.
Ranma and Usagi suddenly noticed how closely they were huddling
together and broke apart, whacking their heads on opposite desk tops.
After making appropriate pain noises, they stood up.
"Uh, heheh...no, nothing you need to know about, Naru-chan.
Ranma just wouldn't get out of the way by himself."
"Wait a minute. Gosunkugi was right! You're engaged!"
"It ain't like that! It was our parents' idea!" Ranma felt the
need to protest even though it gave away that the engagement was a fact.
"Tendou-san, you and Saotome-san are getting married? How
romantic! I love weddings!" Hinako-sensei bubbled, her failure suddenly
forgotten. "That reminds me, I must schedule a home visit soon..."
Several classmates added their congratulations while Usagi and
Ranma developed sweatdrops.
In a dark place, Jadeite held out his hand, palm up. A white
nimbus formed, becoming a spiral of energy. The precious human energy
the Dark Kingdom required, drawn from unsuspecting humans and focused
through him back to Queen Beryl. And if Sailor V interfered this time,
she'd have a nasty surprise coming. He allowed himself a tight smile.
Luna's head snapped up, startling Kasumi slightly. She'd let the
cat rest in her lap while she sewed. This cat was so well behaved, no
pulling at the threads or anything! She was definitely going to have to
ask Usagi where Luna had come from.
But now Luna's behavior changed. Her hackles rose as she arched
her back, and a slight hiss was heard. Had a dog wandered into the yard?
Kasumi followed the cat's gaze, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Luna jumped off the Tendou girl's lap and ran out, apparently in
pursuit of whatever it had scented.
"Be careful, crescent-moon cat," called Kasumi, not really
expecting it to understand.
The Assistant Principal rechecked his figures. As always, money
was a bit tight this month, but if he put off the ceiling repairs for one
more week, the school should be able to pay the water bill... There was
a rattling at the window. He got up and looked.
A rock struck the window, startling the AP. Wait a minute? Who
did that? More small pebbles struck the glass, cracking it slightly.
Anger flared.
He shoved up the window, and shouted, "Who's responsible for
this?!" Something struck him in the forehead. He looked down to see a
group of the male students standing in the commons, holding rocks. And
at their head was...who *was* that?
"I am. You wanna make something of it?" Wait. Skinny, pale,
dark circles under the eyes? It had to be young Gosunkugi. But that was
impossible! The boy was a notorious wimp! He apologized for breathing!
"Gosunkugi-kun! What is the meaning of this?"
"It means that I'm finally doing something I should have done a
long time ago. I'm taking charge. From now on, what I say goes!"
"This is an outrage! Young man, this will go on your permanent
record!"
"Record this, old man!" And the students let loose another
volley of rocks. Stung and admittedly afraid, the assistant principal
closed the window and hid behind his desk.
He should have seen it coming. When the Principal had gone on
sabbatical, his assistant had decided to relax the rules a little. He'd
allowed some variance in the dress code, allowed some unusual school
activities, even looked the other way at fights, as long as they were
even. But now things had clearly gotten out of hand because of his lax
discipline.
He reached up to the top of the desk and grabbed his phone.
"Miss Minamura? Get me Hawaii...."
Lunch arrived, and Ranma was very grateful. Kasumi was a good
cook, and it had been an awfully long time since he'd had three squares a
day. The disruptive students had left the classrooms fairly quiet with
their departure, though distant noises made it clear they were still on
the grounds.
Some might have thought Ranma the delinquent type, but he had too
much liking for freedom of action to fall into a gang. He'd always
despised bullies and petty criminals. One of the reasons he wasn't too
fond of his father...
"Naru-chan! Come and join us!" called Usagi, who was gulping
down her own bento.
The two girls quickly got into a deep discussion of the
engagement that Ranma only half-followed. The day was warm for late
spring, and he felt sleepy. He only interjected an objection or two when
Usagi maligned him.
For her own part, Usagi felt a bit frustrated that she wasn't
able to state one of her biggest objections to the engagement. But it
wouldn't be honorable to reveal Ranma's secret...
"Usagi-chan! There you are!"
It was Gosunkugi, looking, if possible, even more wasted than
usual. But he still had that weird gleam in his eyes.
"Oh. Gos-kun. What do you want?"
"What I've always wanted, of course. You."
"Um, Gosunkugi-san, I reeally don't think you should be saying
that..." warned Naru.
"Why not? It's true. C'mon, baby, how's about a little kiss?"
He grabbed Usagi's arm and pulled her closer to him.
"Owie!"
Ranma pried Gosunkugi's fingers off. "Go away. I don't wanna
hafta hurt you."
"You can't hurt me any more. I am invincible, with the Devil on
my side!" Gosunkugi swung a punch, which Ranma easily avoided.
Okay. Lovesickness must have sent him completely over the edge,
thought Ranma. I'd better put him down gently. He essayed a simple
legsweep.
Gosunkugi fell down...and bounced right back up. He snarled, and
launched himself at the larger boy with a credible imitation of claw
hands. Ranma was very surprised when they actually managed to tear the
cloth of his shirt.
How the heck did he do that? There's no muscle on his frame...
Ranma decided to take the kid gloves off and punched Gosunkugi in the
stomach. The smaller boy was thrown back, but regained his feet with no
sign that he'd been hurt.
"Your blows are nothing to me. I will have Usagi!" Ranma
charged, but Gosunkugi picked him off the ground and used his own
momentum to toss him face first into a tree.
Ranma was momentarily stunned, allowing Gosunkugi the opportunity
to approach Usagi again.
"I believe you were about to give me a kiss?"
She noticed a slight trickle of blood from the corner of his
mouth.
"No! Get back! WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"
Her piercing sobs apparently cut through whatever state of
madness Gosunkugi was in and he backed off.
"Perhaps you're not quite ready. I--eh?" He turned his head, as
if at some unheard signal. "I will take this up later."
He walked off, and Usagi's sobs stopped. She smiled at Naru.
"It worked!"
"You were *faking*?"
"Not entirely...Oh, Ranma, how are you?"
"I've been better. That guy is in for some serious butt
kicking."
"I think you should see the nurse first. You hit that tree
pretty hard," suggested Naru.
Usagi saw a black cat on the wall, waving its tail as if in
signal. "Uh, yeah, Ranma. You should have that looked at. Naru, will
you take him? I gotta see a cat, uh, you know."
With Ranma safely out of the way, Usagi ran over to see what Luna
wanted.
"What is it? Ranma's been hurt, and--"
"I sense evil energy. Our enemies are striking again!"
"Another monster?"
"Yes. I'm sure a youma is behind this. Has there been anything
unusual going on?"
"Well, other than Gosunkugi getting a complete personality
transplant and beating Ranma..." It suddenly struck her. "He said
something about `the Devil'. That's English for `Youma' isn't it?"
"Sort of. Where is he now?"
"I don't know. He left just before you came." Usagi furrowed
her brow. "I think he went this way."
Gosunkugi was nowhere in sight, but other boys were, all walking
in one general direction. Luna and Usagi followed at what they hoped was
a safe distance.
"Ow!"
"Sorry, Ranma. Forgot the school nurse is out. Now sit still so
I can finish cleaning that scrape."
"Ow!" Naru no doubt meant well, but an angel of mercy she
wasn't.
She turned away. "I'll find a bandage and fix you right up." It
took a little bit, since she was unfamiliar with the office's setup.
When she turned back to the chair, Ranma was gone.
Usagi and Luna watched from an alley as boys from various high
schools entered Uranai House. Something was definitely up.
"Shouldn't we call the police?"
"And tell them what? `My cat let me know a monster is attacking
teenage boys'? This is a job for Sailor Moon!"
Usagi nodded. She was scared, but a hero had to work through
fear. She raised her hand...and stopped.
"Uh, Luna, what were those magic words again?"
"You mean you don't remember?!" Luna sweatdropped.
"Hey, it's been a whole three days, and I only said them one time
before."
"*sigh* `Moon Prism Power Make Up.'"
"MOON PRISM POWER MAKE UP!" Once again, the colors and music
flooded Usagi's body, turning her into Sailor Moon. "Let's go!"
"Kunou-kun, please explain the difference between Han and Chu
Dynasty...has anyone seen young Kunou?" asked the teacher.
Nabiki realized with a start that she hadn't seen him since
lunch. Where could he have gone?
Baamu was pleased. Her puppets had come when she pulled their
strings. By extension, Jadeite would be pleased. She was harvesting
much energy for the Dark Kingdom. And if all went according to plan,
Sailor V should be showing up right about--
"You! What have you done to these boys?"
"Ah, Sai--who are you?" It looked sort of like Sailor V, but
there were key differences, including that ludicrous hairstyle.
"I am Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice! Mankind should
have hope for the future, not have it dictated by the cruel whim of
monsters! In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"
"A pretty speech...but doing is harder than saying. Get her,
boys!" A wave of her arm, and the teenagers advanced on the intruder.
Usagi started getting panicky. There were so many of them! She
recognized a few, despite their currently bluish coloration. And if they
were all as hard to hurt as Gosunkugi...She started to whine.
The boys covered their ears as the piercing sound threw off their
equilibrium. One by one, they collapsed, at last out of energy.
Baamu assumed her true form. "If you want anything done right,
you have to do it yourself!" Her hair became ropes, lashing out at
Sailor Moon. One caught the girl by the throat.
Usagi began choking. Her hands tore at the hair, but it was too
strong. This looked like the end--
Then something flew through the air and severed the lock. It
stuck in the floor, and Usagi looked down at it. A red rose.
"Who dares?!" growled Baamu.
"I do. I am Tuxedo Kamen." The speaker was in a window some
distance up the wall. He was a young man in formal evening wear,
including top hat and scarlet-lined cape, and was wearing a white mask.
Despite much of him being hidden, Usagi could instantly tell he was
incredibly handsome. "Sailor Moon! I have faith in you! Be strong and
you will win!"
"Y-yes, Tuxedo Kamen." She nodded, then stood up. She took the
tiara from her forehead and spun. "MOON TIARA ACTION!"
Baamu screamed as she was destroyed. When Usagi looked back,
Tuxedo Kamen was gone.
"Tuxedo Kamen-sama..." she breathed, hearts in her eyes.
The nimbus of energy abruptly imploded, and Jadeite closed his
fist in rage. "So. Sailor Moon." She would pay for that.
Usagi ran back in the school, and found Ranma standing in the
hall holding a bucket. She winced as she realized she soon would be too.
"What happened?"
"Uh, I got back to class late."
"The nurse's office is just down the hall."
"I, um, had stuff to do. See you in a minute."
Kunou showed up for his next class looking slightly winded.
"Where did you go, Kunou-chan?"
"That is none of your concern, Nabiki Tendou. It is merely
necessary for you to know it was my action, and therefore of the utmost
importance."
"Yeah, right." As Kunou moved to his desk, Nabiki noticed
something dropping from his trouser leg. A red rose petal.
"Hmm..."
Elsewhere in Tokyo, a boy wearing a black and yellow bandana came
to with a start.
"This isn't where I fell asleep! Will I never find who I search
for?" Then he realized where he was. "My old school. Where I met
*him*. Wonder if they've sent on his records yet? Wouldn't hurt to
check." And so he walked towards his destiny.
END CHAPTER TWO
Thanks again to my loyal prereaders and the other people who've
helped me with this story. Please send comments to majks@cyberx.com
unless you feel really confident in your opinions, in which case RAAF is
also a good place...
SKJAM!
Comments to majks@cyberx.com please.
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