|
Cologne stood back from the fighting as it began, intent on studying the prowess of the others. She had a rough idea of just how good Soap was, but she knew next to nothing about Tofu and Taro. Her eyes widened when she felt the huge quantities of chi being consumed just for the initial clash. The exercises Ranma put her through today were nothing compared to what she was feeling.
Tofu waited patiently for his opponents to charge. He could feel Soap coming in for a direct assault while Taro tried to sneak up on him and take his right side. Cologne seemed to have other ideas as she simply remained standing where she was. *Assessing us.* He thought as he deftly redirected Soaps first two attacks. He expected to make her lose her balance and deal with Taro one on one. He was surprised.
Soap smiled inwardly as Tofu redirected her attacks like he used to some decades ago. He was ill prepared for her devastating follow up. She landed a kick in his solar plexus and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath. *Thatll teach you to take me more seriously.* She thought as he managed to recover and land a weakening shiatsu in her ankle. There was always a price to pay if you physically attacked Tofu.
Taro shoulder-rammed the distracted Tofu, making him lose his ground and jump away from his opponents to get some breathing room. *Soaps gotten a lot better. That attack wouldnt have landed last time.* Even if he would like to think otherwise, he knew Soap was probably the closest to Ranma in learning ability. She wasnt the best fighter of Ranmas disciples, but she was gaining ground in skill faster than any other. There would come a time where she would catch up with Tofu and Mouse, even if that was in the distant future. He was brought back from his thoughts with a familiar feeling across his chest and arms. Taro did two things before he was sent flying backward. He cursed himself for getting distracted and powered his chi up to receive the attack, which almost broke his ribs and completely made his upper body useless.
Tofu landed his trademark attack on Taro as he noticed he was distracted. He took advantage of Soap taking a fraction of a second to press a shiatsu on her knee and rushed Taro. His arms blurred at a speed that made the Amaguriken seem like the basics of speed punching as he pressed hundreds of shiatsu on the other man and finished with a kick to the sternum that activated all of them at once. *Taro wont be getting back up anytime soon.*
Cologne resisted the urge to gape openly at the display in front of her. She had barely taken two breaths in the time it took for Taro to be sent flying out of the fight. The overall skill and power needed to perform Tofus technique was something she hadnt even dreamed possible before. She jumped forward intent on at least trying to distract Tofus attention from Soap, who was on the defensive.
*Not good.* Thought Soap as she continued to do her best in defending herself from Tofus debilitating attacks. She was using up all of her chi way too fast for her liking, but she was doing a remarkable job of standing up to her superior. So far Tofu hadnt been able to land a single shiatsu combination, and he even sported a black eye for all his trouble. She smirked as she thought of the amount of damage required for him to get bruised.
Tofu continued his relentless assault on Soap, a smile slowly but surely forming on his lips. *Shes gotten so good in so little time?* He was amazed at the skill the Amazon was showing. Ranma had indeed chosen well when he picked her up from those slaves. Out of the group, Soap was the only one that started training with Ranma since she was a child.
Soap smiled as she saw someone coming over Tofu's shoulder. She jumped slightly to avoid a sweep and used a small chi blast to propel herself back and away from Tofu's range. The blast wasn't strong enough to make any damage. It was more a distraction.
Tofu felt someone coming from behind masking her chi and noticed Soap's gaze over his shoulder. When she retreated he quickly sidestepped to the right and away from a cane strike. "Very good, Cologne." He said as the elder flew past him and landed next to Soap. "But not good enough." Just as he finished boasting he felt something take hold of his left arm. Turning ever so slowly he saw who the offending hand belonged to. Gulp.
Cologne and Soap smiled as Tofu was introduced to the ground by a gigantic and enraged minotaur.
Tofu got up slowly and prepared himself for the coming onslaught. The fight became much more interesting with this turn of events.
--------------------------------------
Shampoo didn't know for how long she had been running. Her tears had stopped as her concentration turned to fighting off the exhaustion. Muscles trained to sustain incredibly draining exercises were protesting for the long strain.
She finally came out of the forest to stop before a cliff. Falling to her knees she took labored breaths as she looked down at the rocks hundreds of feet bellow.
Another figure came out of the forest and stood next to her. Calmly admiring the scenery he remained there standing, waiting for the young Amazon to speak. He didn't wait long. "'What do you want?'"
Mouse wasn't taken aback by the venom in her voice. "'I'm just watching a beautiful day next to a good friend.'"
Shampoo snorted as she sat back. "'I don't know what you're talking about.'"
"'Even after all that's happened I think of you as a friend, Shampoo.'" He said with a smile.
They remained there in complete silence for nearly an hour, both lost in their own thoughts. Their eyes never leaving the impressive sight of nature. The feeling of being insignificant when confronted with the world.
"'Why?'" Shampoo asked silently. It could have been a question to herself. She could have been thinking aloud. Either way Mouse decided to answer her.
"'I don't know. I just do.'" He said with a straight face.
Shampoo stood up and glared at him. "'I don't know you. I can't consider you my friend.'"
Mouse nodded. "'Fair enough.'" Even if the words should hurt he was still relieved. It seemed like Shampoo had forgotten all about losing Ranma in exchange for her hatred towards him. *If that's what she needs right now...*
Shampoo's eyes widened at the answer she got from Mouse. She had expected for him to crawl to her feet and beg forgiveness, not this indifference. Mentally berating herself she remembered Mouse wasn't what he appeared to be. Her elbow still hurt from the time he defended himself from her. "'Why did you act like a weak male?'" She asked not able to meet his eyes. Her pride was wounded at losing to him, and she was forced to marry him now that he finally managed to defeat her.
Mouse read her thoughts and placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "'Don't worry, Shampoo. The Amazon Laws won't force you to marry me.'"
"'But...'"
Mouse silenced her placing his other hand on her free shoulder. "'When the Amazon village was founded, Soap made sure there was an exception to the marriage laws. The direct students from the Kami that taught the Amazons their martial arts are free from them.'"
Understanding dawned on Shampoo as her shoulders slumped. "'So Ai... Ranma was never really my husband.'"
Mouse bit his lip at seeing Shampoo was beginning to fall in depression again. He couldn't believe the strong effect his friend had on women when he was acting as a complete jerk to be left alone. Releasing the Amazon he turned back to the cliff. "'The Ranma you know doesn't exist, Shampoo. The true Ranma has loved and will forever love only one person.'"
"'Setsuna.'" Shampoo whispered as she remembered the green-haired woman. When Ranma mentioned her name his lips formed a smile she had never seen before.
Mouse nodded. "'You don't know the whole story behind them and it's not my place to tell you about it. Either way, if you think you don't know me Ranma is more a stranger to you than you believe.'"
"'What?'"
Mouse nodded. "'The Ranma you know is a chauvinistic jerk who cares for others and will do everything for people not to get hurt.'" Shampoo nodded, not understanding where he was going with this. "'That Ranma is just all an act. The real Ranma, at least before he was reunited with Setsuna, is a cold-hearted man with nothing but bitterness in his soul. The only people he helps are completely incapable of taking care of themselves. He's a person who lives for the Art and will do anything to improve his skills.'" Mouse took a deep breath, mostly so that Shampoo took in each and every word that left his lips. She needed to see things clearly to get over the illusion of the pigtailed martial artist. "'None of the others know this. Not even Soap, who has spent the most time with Ranma in the past three thousand years. He didn't start taking up students to teach his Art, even if he changed his mind later on.'"
"'Then why did he?'" Shampoo asked with genuine curiosity.
Mouse sighed as he started explaining.
*******************************
The cries of pain and sounds of flesh and bone being rendered filled the air. Dozens of men did their best to surround and attack the two figures, making them face from six to seven people at the same time.
Six or seven people fell to the floor lifelessly for their efforts. The two martial artists had to move because the corpses were getting in the way of killing more enemies.
Any person watching the spectacle would have thought those two were Kami of some sort. Their skill and power being considered not from this world.
After a couple of minutes of this, the mercenaries still standing made a run for it. No reward was worth fighting true masters of the Art. The two martial artists made no move to follow, they didn't need more deaths. As they looked all around they saw about a hundred men on the field of battle. All of them dead. "You're improving, Wa To."
Said man turned to look at his friend. "Not as much as you, Ranma. Most of your opponents didn't even feel when they died." And it was true. The cries of pain came from Wa To's opponents.
Ranma shrugged. "I don't like making people suffer more than necessary." He said with complete indifference. It unnerved Wa To the ease with which Ranma could kill and not feel remorse. He knew the pigtailed martial artist never attacked someone without good reason, but when he did he was as ruthless as his mother.
They both started walking towards two wagons filled with people. With little effort they broke the locks and opened the cages. "'You're free to go.'" Wa To announced to the slaves. "'There's a village about a day's walk in that direction.'" He said pointing east.
The faces of the famined people were priceless. Shouts of joy filled the air where a few minutes ago agony was the only thing that could be heard. Most of them thanked the good man as they prepared to make the journey towards freedom. Even if they had seen both men fighting the slave traders the man in black made them all uneasy. He emanated an aura that chilled to the bone. His expression was cold and he seemed to be indifferent to their plight.
Not even five minutes later the last of the fleeing figures vanished from sight. Wa To sighed. *They didn't even thank Ranma.* He knew his friend was intimidating, but he had either way saved their lives. Turning back to the cages he saw Ranma entering one of them. "What's wrong?" He asked as he followed. Just as he entered his eyes widened in shock. There were still people in the cages. "Why did they leave them behind?" This particular cage had about a dozen bodies scattered around. Some of them breathing with difficulty. Most agonizing.
Ranma snorted as he knelt next to a dirt covered little girl. She must be five at most. "Selfish bastards." He started to press several shiatsu on her unconscious body and his eyes narrowed at the results.
Wa To tilted his head to the side on his friend's weird behavior. He hardly ever showed any interest in anything aside from the Art. In fact, he didn't know why they had come to save these people from the slave traders. Tofu dedicated his life to helping others, but Ranma never liked to get involved. He was surprised when the pigtailed martial artist stood taking the girl in his arms. "I'm leaving. I can't let this little girl die and she needs medical attention." His voice didn't sound as it usually did. It almost sounded concerned. "Yes. She'll take my place someday." He whispered so low Wa to wasn't sure if he heard anything at all.
"I'll take care of things here." Wa to announced motioning to the others. He didn't know why Ranma had interest in that little girl, but he wouldn't question him.
Ranma nodded absent-mindedly. "I'll tell Tofu to come by. He'll be here in a few hours." And with that the pigtailed martial artist rushed out, the little girl in his arms.
**************************
Shampoo looked confused at Mouse after he finished with the story. "'What did that have to do with his purpose for taking students?'"
Mouse sighed and looked to the horizon. Shampoo noticed a deep sadness in his eyes, but waited for an answer. "'That little girl he rescued was Soap.'"
"'And?'"
"'And she was to be Ranma's heir so that he could...'" He stopped to clear his throat. "'So that he could die leaving his Art in good hands.'"
"'WHAT?'" Shampoo cried out in complete shock.
----------------------------------
Cologne could barely stand as she studied her opponent. She was feeling the effects of fighting full out for nearly two hours now. She felt like her body was about to explode from the pain. She was smiling widely, though. It had been a while since she felt so whole.
Soap clutched her broken left arm as she took a defensive stance emphasizing the use of her legs. She had blood flowing from a couple of finger strikes that managed to pierce the skin on her right shoulder, severely limiting the use of her right arm. Fighting Tofu was always painful. Mouse and Ranma were more gentle, though they both finished the fights faster.
Tofu stood over the beaten cursed form of Taro. It had taken a use of his chi at full power to withstand the combined assaults of Soap and Taro. Cologne attacking strategically to distract him didn't make things easier. She had a quick mind and adapted fast to the situation. Since she was no match to any of them she simply supported the others with lightning fast attacks that created holes in his defense. He didn't come out of it unscathed, not by a long shot. His right eye was swollen shut and his ribs were most likely broken. His dislocated left shoulder didn't help either, though he did manage to settle it back in place after forcing Soap to retreat.
Taro was busy watching all the pretty stars and barely managed to notice Ranma approaching them. When he noticed the expression on his face he cursed for letting himself lose control, again.
Soap and Cologne both smiled looking over Tofu's shoulder. "I won't fall for that one again." He announced as he prepared to finish the fight. He was stopped by a hand over his left shoulder, which sent waves of pain through him. The voice that accompanied the action chilled him to the bone.
"You do remember what happened to Mouse after he beat Soap too badly, right?"
"Umm..." Tofu offered while thinking. *This is going to hurt!*
Soap and Cologne winced in sympathy at what followed as Tofu was beaten up by a calm Ranma. The fact that Tofu was easily being handled by Ranma made Cologne watch in awe. "You don't feel offended by Ranma defending you?" Cologne suddenly asked, remembering he always had trouble because of his over-protectiveness.
Soap shook her head as she headed to where Setsuna was watching things. "No. He's always been overprotective of me. Besides, he's not fighting Tofu for hurting me. He always gets like this when we take the sparring sessions too far."
"Meaning?" Cologne queried, intent on avoiding such a lesson from her new 'sensei.'
"Never brake any bones or cause injuries that last more than two weeks." She answered. "Taro will be getting his lesson as soon as he fully wakes up." Amusement was evident in her voice.
"You're all crazy." Cologne muttered under her breath. Soap heard the comment but didn't argue. Her student was right.
----------------------------------------
Mouse and Shampoo were already making their way back to the training area. The Amazon found talking to the older man an enjoyable experience. She felt stupid for feeling like that, but he was actually interesting now that he wasn't fawning all over her. "'So Soap was raised by Ranma?'" She asked as she saw a broken branch. She grimaced, promising herself to be more careful the next time she ran through a forest. She could easily be tracked down if she was so careless.
Mouse nodded. "Yes. It was that experience that changed Ranma. It seems like Soap awakened a part of him that died ages ago. Very few have ever seen him like that.'"
"'So there's two Ranmas.'"
"'You could say that.'" Mouse said after thinking about it for a while.
After that they walked in complete silence until the reached the clearing. When they did they were met with the sprawled form of Tofu and Taro's cursed form, beaten as well. On the edge Ranma could be seen attending a topless Soap.
Shampoo gritted her teeth at seeing someone else fawning her breasts in front of her Aireen, but she held back her impulse reminding herself her Aireen didn't exist.
"'Those two will never learn.'" Mouse said with humor, his eyes closed shut.
"'What?'" Shampoo asked, taken out of her inner struggle.
Mouse smiled and pointed at Soap. "'Remember what I told you about Soap and Ranma? Tofu and Taro took the fight too far and ended up hurting each other. Soap being hurt added to the fire.'"
Shampoo giggled a little, surprised as she did so. "'Maybe the Ranma I know isn't so different from the original.'" *At least in some aspects.* She mentally added to herself.
-----------------------------------------
Setsuna almost protested audibly at Ranma's protective behavior of Soap. Her calm expression nearly fell when he took off Soap's tunic, exposing the greatly endowed Amazon. When she noticed Ranma's expression she stopped, though. Ranma's face was an emotionless mask with little hints at concern. For him to be showing that emotion at all meant he wanted more than just beat the crap out of Tofu and Taro.
"You should be more careful." He said coldly as he pressed several shiatsu on her chest and shoulders. The holes on her shoulder stopped bleeding after a few seconds. He turned his attention to examining her ribs.
"Hai." Soap whispered as she lowered her gaze to the ground. Not because she felt embarrassed at her nakedness. Ranma had raised her after all. Tofu and Taro were unconscious and would probably remain like that for a few hours. No, it was because she felt like a child that was being chastised for doing something wrong.
Cologne watched with interest the interaction between Soap and Ranma. She came to the conclusion that Soap definitely loved the man, though the love she saw was more like the one of a daughter for her father. Ranma also seemed to care deeply for the Amazon master. He wouldn't react so strongly if he didn't.
Ranma finished examining Soap's ribs, happy that they were untouched. Her shoulder's muscles would take about a week to heal completely, as well as her left arm. He turned his gaze to Setsuna and she gave him an almost imperceptible nod. *I'll be answering some questions after this.* He turned his attention back to Soap. "Cover yourself. I believe Mouse does want to open his eyes sometime today without me kicking his ass for looking at something he shouldn't." He said jokingly.
Shampoo and Mouse had arrived and stopped a few feet away just as Ranma examined Soap's ribs. The later laughed a little. "It would indeed be a beautiful sight, but I don't think I could enjoy it very long before the pain overwhelmed me."
Soap blushed a little as she carefully covered herself. Cologne was amazed at the scene taking place. She had known Soap for most of her life and knew the Amazon Master was a very serious person, yet she was blushing like a school girl at a little teasing from Mouse. *It seems like they all let their defenses down around each other.* Soap finished closing her tunic and Mouse was allowed to open his eyes again.
"I take it Taro started this?" Mouse asked as he looked directly at Ranma.
"Yeah, he turned into his cursed form and attacked Tofu, dislocating his shoulder. Tofu lost it, as usual." Ranma answered then turned to Soap. "When they wake up tell Tofu and Taro you'll all be using healing chi techniques for a week. That way you'll be back at full health to start training and Cologne will learn the techniques."
Soap nodded seriously, her green eyes filled with determination. The pigtailed martial artist turned to Mouse and asked. "How would you like to meet your sister?"
"Do you even need to ask?" Mouse asked in return, a wide smile on his face.
"Not really." Ranma shrugged as he offered a hand to Setsuna.
She took his hand and stood up. "So we're returning to Juuban, then?"
Ranma nodded. "Yeah, that couple of idiots ruined the plans I had for the next few days. We'll have to postpone."
Setsuna turned back to the blonde Amazon. "It was quite a pleasure meeting you, Soap. I hope we can talk some more next week."
Soap smiled at the green haired woman. "I'm looking forward to it." She was still impressed because Setsuna was wearing a business suit and it was spotless. That wasn't so easily accomplished in the wilderness.
"We'll be seeing you guys in a week." Mouse said as he started walking into the forest. Shampoo seemed hesitant for a moment, but finally decided not to follow him. She had many things to think about.
Setsuna and Ranma followed after Mouse. Just as they were disappearing from sight Ranma's voice was heard. "Nice fight, Soap."
Said Amazon blushed once again. "Arigato, Ranma-sensei." She whispered. Turning to Cologne, who had an amused expression on her face, she firmly said. "Not a single word."
Cologne smirked. "I wouldn't dare say a thing. Everything's quite clear."
Shampoo sighed as her eyes lost track of Ranma. *Good bye, Aireen.*
-------------------------------------
"How does this look?"
Michiru couldn't help but stare at her charge. She still couldn't believe the change that had come over her 'little Hotaru.' Where there once was a small frail looking girl now stood a strong looking woman. "You look beautiful." She finally said. While her features had changed very little, the cute little girl had blossomed into a gorgeous woman. She wore a long black dress that covered most of her, giving away little skin yet showing off the great body underneath. She wore high heels, making her tower over everything even more.
"Do you think Ryoga will like it?" Hotaru asked a little nervously.
Michiru was about to flinch at the mention of that man's name, but held it in. *It will take some time getting used to that.* She thought. She smiled widely. "If he doesn't then he must be made of stone." Michiru was truly glad her fears had proven wrong. Hotaru, even if older, acted as if Michiru was her eldest sister. Not like a mother anymore, but Michiru found out this kind of relationship was still very enjoyable.
"Are you sure you're not into girls?" Asked a third voice from the door. They both turned to see Haruka casually leaning on the doorframe. They giggled at the implication.
At first they had been afraid Haruka would react badly at the grown Hotaru, but they were wrong. If Michiru was the older sister then Haruka was like an older brother. The family had changed, yet their affections hadn't.
The front door was heard as it opened and then closed. "That must be Setsuna." Hotaru said.
Michiru and Haruka exchanged a look. "Since when does Setsuna use the front door?" The later asked as she walked down the hall, quickly followed by Michiru and Hotaru.
They arrived to the living room to see it was indeed Setsuna who had entered the house, together with Ranma and another man. "Greetings." Setsuna said calmly.
Haruka stepped forward, careful not to threaten Setsuna in any physical way. She learned how protective Ranma was from their first meeting. "Greetings?" She asked. "Setsuna, you disappeared for several days."
Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "So? I've done it before." She answered knowing full well why Haruka was upset. Her absence wasn't the reason.
"Looking good, Hotaru." Ranma observed with a smirk. "Is your big date tonight?"
Hotaru blushed a little and nodded. "Hai."
The silence that followed was very uncomfortable for everyone. They all could feel the tension forming between Haruka and Ranma, even if the later had refrained from lashing out at the former since the incident in the shrine. Ranma's expression revealed nothing, yet the temperature dropped a little in the room.
Haruka didn't know how to react. She was used to be on the receiving end of aggressive behaviors, yet Ranma's cold anger was something that put her on edge. Maybe it was because she knew he had a good reason to be angry at her, even if she had been reborn as a different person.
The knocking on the door made everyone relax. "I'll get it." Michiru announced as she moved towards the door.
The door opened to reveal Ryoga, dressed in a black suit. The guy smirked at seeing one of the guardians of his date. "Konbanwa." He greeted.
Michiru turned back to the living room, to find Setsuna and Ranma had disappeared. *No surprise there. They seem to like doing that.* She thought.
Hotaru stepped forward. "Hi, Ryoga." There was a slight blush on her cheeks, which only intensified when she saw his reaction at what she was wearing.
Ryoga's eyes glued themselves to Hotaru. Several seconds passed before any coherent thought formed in his head. "Ready to go?" He asked as confidently as he could. Hotaru was barely able to nod as she took his offered arm.
Michiru and Haruka barely managed to contain their laughter. Hotaru and Ryoga, powerful beyond belief, acting as little kids on their first date. The scene was quite amusing. They remained silent and watched as the young couple walked nervously. Michiru closed the door behind them. "And you were afraid they would do something improper." She joked.
Haruka laughed. "I can't believe that confident asshole would stutter like that."
Their mirth was broken by a male voice, they had both forgotten about the third person coming in with Setsuna. "Just don't let him hear that."
They both turned as one on the source of the voice. Haruka's eyes narrowed as she studied him. Michiru looked at him and almost instantly launched herself at him.
Haruka saw her lover crush the guy in a hug as tears started to leave her eyes. "I've missed you too." The man said quietly as he returned the embrace, his eyes a little watery as well.
The blonde woman looked on with shock at the scene. "What's going on?"
Michiru smiled as she turned her head to look at her lover. "Haruka, I would like you to meet my brother." She said with a smile.
-------------------------------------
The three of them were sitting around the kitchen table as Mouse finished telling them both his story, the very short version. "So you were Michiru's older brother and are Ranma's disciple in the martial arts." Haruka summarized. It was a little hard to swallow, but considering the revelations of the past few weeks she could take it in stride. Besides, seeing Michiru so happy made it all the easier to accept.
Mouse nodded. "I still consider Michiru as my little sister, though. Even if we didn't part in the best of terms."
Michiru, who had regained some of her past memories, flinched at that. "I'm sorry, Wa... Mouse." She said with a little trouble. It would take time getting used to the new name. "I never meant any of those horrible things I said." She was relieved at seeing him smile.
"Don't worry about it. I've had a lot of time to think about the incident, and I didn't act properly myself." Mouse said apologetically.
"What happened?" Haruka asked.
Mouse and Michiru shuddered at the memory, but either way started retelling the events of that accursed day.
***************************
Sailor Neptune was about ready to kill her brother so he wouldn't dishonor himself. They were both in the throne room completely alone. Since their parents had died last year the princess, even if Wa To was the eldest son, was named ruler of the planet by Queen Serenity.
Wa To stood defiantly in front of his sister, intent on leaving to help his friend. "I'm going either you like it or you don't."
Neptune's eyes flashed in anger. "You won't disobey a direct command from Queen Serenity. We'll remain here as we were ordered."
Wa To snarled. "I'm not staying. I'm not abandoning my friend."
Neptune gritted her teeth and slapped her brother, hard. It hurt her incredibly to do so. She loved him more than anyone else. He had always been there for her even in the direst of times, yet she couldn't allow him to go against the Queen's wishes. She would lose him.
Wa To took his hand over his burning cheek. "I see what you have learned from Serenity's court." He regretted the words as soon as they left his lips, yet he had to defend himself somehow, and he would never place a finger on his baby sister.
A slap would have been nicer, for his words struck her harder than any physical blow ever could. She knew Serenity's court was not perfect as the Queen proclaimed, far from it, yet she spent a great deal of time in it. "Don't address me like that." She commanded royally.
Wa To bowed to her as one does to royalty. Both siblings hurt at the gesture, yet they were forced to act like this. "By your leave." He said as he turned and walked towards the big doors.
"You do understand that if you disobey the Queen's commands I'll be forced to kill you." She stated.
He stopped just as he was about to exit the room. Without turning, and with a voice that didn't show his broken heart, he answered. "So be it, your highness." And with that he left.
**************************
"One day later, the Silver Millennium fell." Mouse finished, a lone tear traveling down his cheek. Even after so long the wound was still open.
Michiru was crying as they finished the tale. For her it was as if it had happened all over again. "I would never have..." She was silenced by a hand on her shoulder.
"I know." Mouse said reassuringly.
Haruka tried to change the subject so both reunited siblings would let the past remain in the past. "So what's your relation to Setsuna?" She asked.
Mouse sat back and digested the question. "I barely know her. I wouldn't know her at all if it wasn't for Ranma." At Haruka's look of disbelief, he continued. "The friend I was going to help was Ranma of the House of Nova. We were trying to capture Beryl alive so Queen Nova could get her daughter back and away from Metallia. We didn't get there in time, and had it not been for Ranma's mother I would have died with everyone else."
Michiru was taken back to the present with this. "You didn't die?" She asked incredulously.
Mouse shook his head. "As weird as it sounds, the magical combination of the Silver Crystal and Nova power had an interesting side effect on us. I've been alive for over twenty-four thousand years."
Haruka remembered something from back then and asked. "Then how come you look so young? You should have been about thirty by the time the Silver Millennium fell."
Sighing, the man answered. "My appearance, as well as Ranma's and Ryoga's, is an illusion. Hinako is a very powerful sorcerer. We needed to look young for several events to take place. The effects should be wearing off sometime around next week."
"So you're saying that Hotaru is out dating with a man who really looks around thirty?" Haruka asked, her temper rising at Ryoga's audacity.
Mouse smirked. "Considering Ryoga and Hotaru will live for many more thousands of years I would say appearances are not important. Ranma dates a woman that looks older than him, yet neither him nor Setsuna seem to care. Time has little meaning after you live for so long."
Michiru smiled at Haruka's embarrassment. She turned to her brother. "What can you tell us of the Novas?" She really wanted to hear it from someone she trusted. Haruka paid close attention to his answer as well.
Mouse frowned as he thought about how to answer that. He needed to be objective about it. "It depends on how you relate to them. If you're their friend, you get used to them and know you'll always have their support. If you are indifferent, then you don't have to worry, for you won't even notice their existence. But if by some chance you're their enemy..." And he left the rest unsaid. Turning to Haruka, he seriously added. "I know what Sailor Uranus did to Ranma during the Silver Millennium. The only other person to know all of it was Beryl."
"Then how come I don't remember anything? All the others are getting at least part of their memories back." Haruka said with a little apprehension.
Mouse shook his head. "I don't know. I can tell you Ranma has decided to give you another chance, though."
"What?" Michiru asked. He sure seemed like he still was angry at Haruka.
"You don't know Ranma as I do." Mouse said looking directly at Haruka. "If he wasn't giving you another chance you would be dead already."
Silence followed as Michiru and Haruka considered what had been said. There was more to the Novas than they had originally thought. Ranma seemed to have been friends with a lot of people. The prince of the Earth, the prince of Neptune, Sailor Saturn. Setsuna's lover. That last one still made them think it was all a dream.
"He sure knows how to pick them." Haruka said. "His friends were all very powerful during the Silver Millennium. He was adopted into a family that could rival Queen Serenity's power."
"They didn't rival Serenity." Mouse said to that. Both Michiru and Haruka noticed the lack of respect when he referred to their Queen. "Serenity was actually afraid of what Nova alone could do."
"What?" Haruka asked, offended.
Mouse sighed and stood up. "I've said more than I should. If you want to listen to more it'll have to be from one of the Novas."
Haruka took his arm in a strong hold. "You're not going anywhere until you take back what you said."
Michiru sighed and placed a hand over her lover's shoulder. "Please calm down, Haruka." Turning to Mouse she asked. "Where are you going?"
Mouse shrugged. "I'm not really sure. I might go over to Nodoka-sama's house."
Michiru smiled. "You could stay here if you like."
Mouse turned his gaze to Haruka, waiting for her reaction. The blonde nodded. "We have a guest room for you to stay. I'm sure you two want to spend some time together." Even if she felt nervous around anyone that was related in some way to the Novas, she understood Michiru needed this.
Mouse smiled. "Arigato."
---------------------------------------
Ryoga and Hotaru were on their way back from the restaurant. So far their date had gone pretty much like any other normal date should go. Good food. A great conversation. Nothing out of the ordinary.
"I'm bored." Ryoga announced with a yawn.
Hotaru giggled. "It sure was uneventful compared to our last date." She paused and looked up to the night sky, still a smile on her features. "I had a very good time, though."
Ryoga scratched the back of his head. "Yeah. I've always enjoyed spending time with you, squirt."
"Liar. You couldn't stand being around one of 'Serenity's lap dogs.' It was only because of Ranma that you didn't kill me." She said as she remembered how she had lashed out at him in a rage, only to have him shrug off her attack and counter with his own.
Ryoga laughed nervously. "Sorry about that. I didn't understand that not all of Serenity's minions were like her." He turned pensive after that. "Though I still don't know how Ranma managed to knock me out that time."
"You're just angry because he managed to get the upper hand on you once." Hotaru accused playfully. She was really enjoying being around people that weren't scared of her power. Though with Ryoga she had to admit, they had something more.
Ryoga nodded. "Can't argue with that. I'll kick his ass as soon as I see him again." He said eagerly. They both stopped walking and looked at each other, smiles on their faces.
*CRASH*
A wall exploded outwards as a big furry creature stepped out on the street. "KILL!" It cried out.
*CRASH*
*CRASH*
*CRASH*
*CRASH*
*CRASH*
Five more creatures made their appearance, surrounding the dating couple. "KILL!" They all cried at the same time.
Ryoga cracked his knuckles as he lowered himself into a fighting stance. "Now I know what was lacking on this date." He had a huge smile plastered on his face.
Hotaru shook her head with a smile and stood back to back with Ryoga, Silence Glaive at the ready.
The monsters found it strange that two humans would smile at seeing their impending doom, but shrugged it off and attacked.
--------------------------------------
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Michiru and Haruka asked as they caught sight of Ryoga and Hotaru, both covered in blood and their clothing in a really depressing state.
Hotaru smirked. "Just a regular date with Ryoga." She had to lean on Ryoga for support when she saw her guardians faint. Her laughter making her lose her balance.
END PART 8
Author's Notes: Sorry about the delay with this story. I've been really hard pressed with RL lately, finding even less time to write.
Anyway, how do you like the chapter. There's some character development as I promised before. I actually wanted to work with more people, but they'll have to wait.
Also, at the end of the chapter there was a new attack from monsters. Why? A new enemy, of course. But who is it? You'll just have to wait and see.
Till later! |
