Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own the series depicted within, but go buy them anyway.
Conventions:
~ ~ are used for thoughts and Telepathic communications.
'-kun' and '-chan' will be used to denote Male and Female where appropriate.
C&C to [email protected] please, Flames to /dev/null.
This fic is archived at:
My page http://www.lum.co.uk/cobalt/
Phu's Anime Page http://members.nbci.com/phu_lam/
Many thanks to my prereader Louis-Philippe Giroux [email protected] for his input.
Go read Lines Of Destiny at:
http://www.anime.sobhrach.com/~dragon/lines/lines.html
----------------
The Web of Chaos
----------------
#########
Chapter 2
#########
In the week that school had been in session, the Nerima psyche showed its remarkable
adaptability. The new students and teachers 'adapted' with little fuss or bother. This
was particularly true of Tenchi, as he started to alternate with Ranma on thrashing (or
attempting to thrash) some sense into Kuno.
The Cabal (consisting of Setsuna, Urd, Washu, Ifurita and Hinako. The last for no reason
the other four could determine, but probably for local info) were getting along fine. Urd
explained her careful lacing of wards around the school by saying she didn't feel comfortable
without them. Washu figured she could adapt the sensors she was planting but the random
flux created caused her to filter it out. Setsuna privately preferred it that way, and Ifurita
didn't mind being experienced in ECM and ECCM. Surprisingly (or not), no secrets had
slipped. Yet.
The 'conglomerate' of senshi, martial artists, aliens, goddess and others had sorted itself into
smaller groups. Some rather... odd.
Ranma, Makoto-kun, and Tenchi had got together. That in itself was not all that odd. No, it
was the fact Skuld had apparently insinuated herself into the group and the three young men
didn't seem to mind that was odd. As was the fact none of the ladies chasing that group
seemingly minded.
Haruka and Michiru were joined by Ayeka and Nabiki most of the time. Nabiki liked
Ayeka's devious mind and the way Michiru schooled her features. She wanted to learn that
from the sea green-hared woman. Haruka liked Ayeka for the way she seemed to be a mix of
her aggression and Michiru's elegance. Ayeka felt more comfortable in the presence of
Michiru and (to a lesser extent) Haruka, while Nabiki was of an obviously finer cut than her
schoolmates were. Michiru wanted to stay on top of things, which necessitated cultivating a
friendship with Nabiki. She found the Nerima native a bright and resourceful young lady.
The Senshi of Neptune was also more at ease with Ayeka. The refined young lady with
purple ponytails was also the only person who'd taken her closeness with Haruka as perfectly
natural, not even batting an eyelid when Haruka had kissed her rather openly.
The remaining gaggle of girls had grouped together in one large lump, with Ukyo
gravitating towards Makoto-chan and Ryoko towards Ami of all people.
This was not to say life was anything but the standard craziness of Nerima. Far from it.
Life at the school proved to be interesting as the newcomers found out. Washu and Urd were
called in to try and analyse the... whatever it was that Akane cooked with Usagi's help. The
goddess spent a good half hour believing they had created the Philosopher's Stone (or, more
precisely, the Philosopher's semi-mobile-goop-that-had-been-an-attempt-at-a-soufle-we-
didn't-mean-it-GOMEN-GOMEN-GOMEN!!!), and Washu wanted to take it to her Lab to
"see what it does to all the junk from Mihoshi". Both were VERY glad other 'cooks' of their
acquaintance hadn't been here to help.
The regular fights (seamlessly including the latest batch of fighters) punctuated the week
until Happosai raised a demon on Friday. Thus the first sightings of the Senshi in Nerima
occurred. Things got a little out of hand when Happosai tried glomping the Senshi during the
battle. Kuno got involved, which in turn led to the Nerima Wrecking Crew getting pulled in
(they'd sensibly pulled back to let the experts deal with it). The end result was: a very pretty
explosion; a fried/zapped/pulped ancient perverted martial artist blasted into next week
(considering this was done by a combined blast from Pluto and Skuld, it wasn't too far from
the truth); a 5.0-5.0-3.6 (by the Romanian judge) rating from the property damage council;
about a hundred disappointed fans who didn't get the Senshis' autographs, and Kuno getting
a silly idea into his head...
***
Tatewaki Kuno was meditating. Not to solve his perennial question (Akane Tendo or the
pig-tailed girl), but on an idea. He had to concentrate hard, otherwise he would lose the
fleeting concept.
~ Hum. While the beauteous Pig-tailed girl fought alongside the wondrous, divine Sailor
Senshi, dids't I note the flame-coloured locks that dids't fall, like Heaven's Fire, from her
head. Such is natural for her, yet is rare. ~
His brow creased as he slowly turned the rusty gears in his head. A second thought joined
the previous one.
~ The locks of the studious Professor are also of flame red coloration. ~
The grinding of wheels in Kuno's head could almost be heard as he strained to make these
two concepts fit. Sasuke, faithful ninja-dogsbody, waited silently in the shadows watching
his liege worriedly as steam rose from his ears. He bowed his head and sighed.
TWANG.
Sasuke looked around quickly. He was sure there was a twang, as though a stretched band
or string had broken, but he couldn't see a source.
"OF COURSE!" Kuno had risen to his feet, his expression and posture one of profound
revelation. "It is so obvious!"
"Um, what is, Master Kuno?" The servant ninja asked worriedly.
"That the studious Professor and the Pig-tailed girl are Mother and Daughter! My love must
have brought her esteemed Mother to allow me to pursue her in a more noble fashion, and
circumventing the dark sorceries of the foul magus Ranma Saotome!" Kuno turned to face
the kneeling ninja. "Sasuke, thou must locate the abode of Professor Washu for it is certain
that the magics of the dark magus have infused the school, leaving the Professor unable to
contemplate such matters."
In the Tendo home, Ranma felt a shiver of foreboding go through her.
***
Saturday.
School was out, and students slept in. Well, usually.
Tenchi trudged up to the address given in Nabiki's dossier. He took in the nice house, the
dojo, and the sounds of vicious combat.
Yep, he had the right place.
Sighing he went through the gate, up the path, up to the front door, and knocked.
The door was opened by a young woman in a pretty dress and an apron.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Um, hi. Is Ranma in?" Tenchi asked.
"Oh my. You're not here to challenge him are you?"
Tenchi gave the woman an odd look.
"No, I'm his cousin Tenchi."
"Oh, sorry. We can't be too careful, what with all Ranma's friends dropping by to fight
him, marry him, kidnap Akane and such. I'm Kasumi." Kasumi gave a little bow, which
Tenchi responded to. "Ranma should be out back. Come in and I'll go fetch him."
Tenchi followed Kasumi to the Tea room to wait. Kasumi herself went out to the shogi.
"Ranma! You have a visitor."
"Be there in a sec Kasumi!" Ranma-chan's voice came back.
True to her word, Ranma-chan trudged into the Tea room still slightly damp from her
sparring session.
"Hi Ten-chan. What brings you here?"
"Oh, a few things. Are you sure you don't want to change and dry off first?"
"Wha?" Ranma looked down on herself. "Oh. Er, right. Be back in a bit."
Tenchi just chuckled as Ranma bounded off.
***
"My you're lively today." Makoto observed as he and Skuld left the temple.
"So I like the weekends." Skuld humphed, then stopped to drool at the bikes outside. They
were custom Ducatti 911 turbos.
"Figured you might like them." Makoto chuckled.
Sitting astride one of the bikes (black with sky blue lines) in tight bikers leathers was Ifurita.
"Collecting again?" She teased.
"I'm hurt." Makoto complained before kissing her on the cheek. "You haven't met Skuld
yet have you?"
"She's not in any of my classes."
The young goddess came out of her drooling to notice just who Makoto's companion was.
"Ifurita-sensei?" She asked weakly.
"I'm only 'sensei' during school Skuld-chan." The Demon-God smiled reassuringly.
"Um... OK. You two are together?" Skuld shook her head. "Don't let Urd find out.
She'll 'help'."
"I've noticed that tendency." Ifurita commented dryly.
"So, where're we heading?"
Makoto tossed her a spare helmet.
"Nerima. Tenchi told me he'd be visiting Ranma today. I thought we'd drop in and watch
the show." He smirked.
"I suggested going to Juuban and doing some Senshi hunting." Ifurita pointed out. "But
Makoto pointed out that we should look around the area by the school."
"You've been talking to Hiroshi and Daisaku, right?" Skuld looked pointedly at Makoto.
"OK. You got me. Nabiki seems to have left out a bit from those dossiers, so I'm curious
as to what exactly." Makoto moved over to help Skuld with her helmet. "I've fitted
earphones and mikes to the helmets." He fitted a box to her belt, then connected some jacks
to the helmet. "I initially just wanted to fit radios, but I got fancy and added an anti-sound
system as well. We'll be able to talk clearly, so there's no need to shout." He put his own
helmet on. "You're with Ifurita. She's the better rider of the two of us."
Skuld just nodded and climbed on behind the woman as Ifurita started the engine. It roared
into life with a deep throaty growl before settling down to a smooth purr.
"Wow! Who did you get to do the work? Even Keiichi's friends couldn't get an engine this
perfect." Skuld asked.
Makoto had already started his own bike (a strange flame-red, sky-blue and sea green
combo for the colour scheme) before replying.
"Lets just say I have a few friends who owed me a favour." Makoto's voice was amused
over the radio.
"Hold on very tight." Ifurita's warm voice warned before the two drivers revved the
engines to kick in the turbos, spun the tyres and shot off, completely synchronised.
One didn't need a radio to hear Skuld's scream of fear and delight echo into the distance.
From the wall of the temple, Urd shook her head in amusement. Too bad Makoto and
Ifurita seemed fine. They were an excellent couple.
***
Darkness.
Presence. Master.
A mission.
Transference.
In a backstreet somewhere, a cloud of blackness faded into view. It hung there, coiling and
churning, before drifting off.
***
Peorth was NOT a happy bunny. She was confused, and that made her irritable. Quite a
few things made her irritable but lets not get into that.
Currently she was confused by the invitation from Belldandy to pop down and see them.
Sure Belldandy was nice enough, but they were RIVALS for Kami-sama's sake. Still, she
couldn't really turn down an invite from one of the Norns.
So it was that Peorth, Goddess of Forever, found herself teleporting into the Tea room of the
temple that the Norns (And Keiichi-san, can't forget him) stayed in. The two eldest sisters
sat calmly, waiting.
"Hello Peorth." Belldandy greeted her fellow goddess calmly.
"Nice to see you again Belldandy, Urd." She nodded in greeting. "What's with the wards?
They seem off."
Belldandy smiled and turned her voice to the walls.
"Engage." The word was intoned with magical command.
Peorth felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise as if in fright as the privacy spell Belldandy
had woven into the wards activated. Since the wards could literally take anything Mara could
possibly throw at them, the privacy field was very powerful. Belldandy had not just spent her
time doing housework. No, she had developed wards and spells of immense strength and
power. Urd hadn't known until now why the middle goddess had left her power supply at so
low a rate. She had been increasing her stamina for and efficiency of use of magic. Kami-
sama had approved a threefold increase in her power flow just that day, and the effects could
be felt now.
"Wh..what?" The newly arrived goddess stammered.
"Sit Peorth. There is much to be done." Urd told her.
Peorth gulped. Urd going formal usually meant pronouncements of Destiny. She had a
feeling things would be getting worse.
***
Mamoru Chiba was normally a calm and reasonably collected individual. Right now, calm
and collected was booking passage to Never-Never Land.
"This sounds like something out of a manga." He muttered after hearing the experiences of
the Senshi during the week. "You aren't kidding, are you?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Ami was not happy at being doubted.
Setsuna sighed. That alone was an indicator of how much she had to deal with.
"If there was any way we could avoid this, I would have done it already."
"So why not tell us the whole story Sailor Pluto?"
The Senshi turned to look at Usagi. No, Princess Serenity. They could tell from the
posture, the voice, the very presence projected by the person sat to the side that this was the
Moon Princess.
"Or must I command you to do so?" The tone was soft, cultured and regal.
"There is no need for that Your Highness." Setsuna/Pluto replied. "There are only Two
forces that can prevent me from maintaining the Time Stream and preventing significant
changes. They are all a higher power than I or yourself, Your Highness. The first are those
from whom we derive our powers, the Caretakers of Reality themselves. We would call them
God and Goddesses. I am able to feel their work in the Time Stream, yet this did not happen.
That leaves the second force."
Pluto stopped, before looking each of the others there in the eyes. Her gaze swept across
them like an arctic gale, finally resting on her Princess.
"The Creator Himself has altered the Time Stream. His reasons are beyond anything we
could comprehend; yet He always seeks the betterment of His creations. For Him to take
such drastic action Himself can mean only one thing. Upon the coming battle rests not only
our Fates, but also the Fate of the Universe itself. We were but a stepping stone in the grand
scheme of things. Now we are of the foundation; every thing that has come before us, and
everything yet to come relies on us." Pluto paused. "And those that we stand with." She
finished.
"So what is your council Sailor Pluto?" Usagi/Serenity asked. "What would you have us
do to counter this threat to Reality Itself?"
"Do as you would normally do." Pluto answered. "To second guess The Creator is worse
than futile. He has set into motion events such that when necessary, the threat can be
countered."
"A wise council, yet one that will be grating upon us." Serenity smiled. "Yet it is not the
first time." The smile turned into a cheeky grin. "At least we get to kick ass and take names
at the end of it." At the shocked looks Serenity/Usagi stuck her tongue out at them.
***
"So what's up?" Ranma asked his cousin.
The two of them had relocated to the dojo to talk as the Tea room had got rather crowded
and Ranma could tell Tenchi didn't want everybody to know about whatever it was. Besides,
Tenchi's advice to Ranma during the week had helped the martial artist through class. Well,
Makoto had figured it out, but Tenchi had put it in terms he could understand.
"If you work best during a battle, treat everything as a battle."
Right now, Tenchi was pondering how to broach the subject, and how much to tell.
"Have you ever accidentally used a Chi blast?" Tenchi asked.
"Huh?" That was Ranma's usual reaction to things he didn't understand.
Tenchi sighed. "I mean, you're fighting when suddenly, you use a move you don't know.
You know you don't know it, you're not sure as to how it happened... yet you used it. Has
that ever happened to you?"
Ranma looked pensive. "No. This happen to you?"
"Kinda. Think of the Neko-Ken, but you're aware of doing it. You just don't know HOW
you're doing it."
"So what'd ya want?"
"I need help getting control of these abilities. The few times they've triggered, the power
levels used were overkill."
Ranma nodded sagely. All he understood was that his cousin had a problem and it would be
BAD if it wasn't controlled.
"Wanna spar?"
Tenchi gave him a 'Huh?' look.
"I can teach ya a few tricks, but I kinda need to figure out how much you can do."
***
Mousse was not a happy bunny. Well actually he was not a happy duck-that-had-been-a-
boy-two-seconds-ago, but the general feeling was the same. Right now he was not a happy
bunny (duck, boy, whatever) because he was in mood number 5 (Why doesn't Shampoo see
that I love her, instead of chasing that low life Ranma? I will KILL him. Her. Whatever)
and, like the infamous Kuno, was building up a nice head of steam. Since Mousse's last
attack had been way back on Thursday (Yesterday had been that business with the demon and
the Senshi), he felt that now would be a good time as his enemy would be unprepared.
Considering that Ranma gets attacked an average of 3.6 times a day (Glomps are worth 0.4,
Mallets 0.1), Ranma is constantly on "Watch-out-for-rivals-and-Mallets" status. This renders
Mousse's plan moot but that's never stopped him before.
Also consider the fact that without his glasses (and sometimes WITH them), Mousse
couldn't see straight. The phrase 'Blind as a bat' didn't apply as most bats the Author knows
can see better than Mousse.
Now, taking all these factors into account, many would seriously consider the poor blind
duck-boy insane. The Author would like to point out that this IS Nerima, and the term insane
doesn't apply. It's too stable. However since 'obsessive-compulsive and blind to reality'
does not quite have the same ring to it, it will have to do.
We'll come back to Mousse in a bit, once he's found some hot water.
***
The two Ducatti's were travelling reasonably slowly when they came upon the Tendo dojo.
Reasonably meant they were within the speed limit. Just.
Their stop was as spectacular as their start. The two riders hit the brakes hard, slung the rear
of the bike 90 degrees to the direction of travel (incidentally such that the two riders faced
each other), and allowed the skid for about a second. They then allowed the bikes to
complete their 180 spin and ran the rear wheels against the flow of movement to stop.
For Skuld, her first high-speed ride on a motorbike had been a doozy.
"Ha..has the r..ride stop..ped yet..t?" The little goddess was stuttering from adrenaline.
The two riders chuckled and took off their helmets.
"You'd have thought she didn't like it." Makoto commented.
"You mean those shouts of 'Weee...', 'Yahoo!' and 'Yeeehaaaa!' weren't signs of
enjoyment?" Ifurita asked, puzzled as Skuld tried to disentangle herself.
"You mean those times when she wasn't praying?"
Skuld blushed. If anyone from Above found out she had been praying for deliverance, it
would take centuries for her to live it down.
"I'll never pick on Keiichi again." She muttered as she got used to terra firma once more.
When she'd started the rollercoster ride that brought her here, she had thought the bikes had
been the most beautiful machines she had ever seen. Now the most beautiful machine she
had ever seen was the one that a few moments ago she'd had her arms around, hanging onto
for dear life. The one that had joined Makoto in gently teasing her.
Ifurita.
~ Kami-sama she's gorgeous! ~ Skuld thought.
While Skuld was recovering, the lovers moved their bike over to the dojo walls and locked
them down.
~ The Motor Systems alone... ~
The young goddess jumped when a hand was put on her shoulder.
"You OK Skuld?" Makoto asked. "You seem kind of out of it."
Skuld nodded dumbly.
Makoto sighed. "I'm sorry if we over did it with the bikes..."
Skuld smiled weakly.
"I think I kinda needed it." She told him, but refused to elaborate. "Where'd you learn to
ride like that anyway?"
"From me." Ifurita replied. "I picked up the skills before moving to Japan." Well, it wasn't
EXACTLY a lie, just not the whole truth.
Skuld nodded. She'd check up on Ifurita sometime later.
"Well. Let's go see what's going on?" Makoto said, walking the short distance to the dojo
gates.
***
The Senshi meeting had been over for a little while now. Hotaru and Chibi-Usa were
walking towards a nondescript house between Juuban and Nerima to pick up a friend. Ever
since that first day at school, the three of them seemed to be together.
"I hope Sasami's in." Hotaru commented.
"Why shouldn't she be?" Chibi-Usa asked as they walked to the door. "She said she'd
come out today."
The front door of the house opened to show Ayeka about to leave. Chibi-Usa got a much
stronger version of the feeling she had experienced when she had seen Sasami the first time.
"Oh hello." Ayeka smiled as she noticed the two young girls. "What can I do for you?"
"Um. Is Sasami in?" Hotaru asked.
"Oh. You must be Hotaru and Usagi." Ayeka gave them a searching look. ~ Well they
seem to be nice girls. ~ In fact, they both gave that comfortable feeling she got around
Michiru, Haruka and their friends. Particularly the little Usagi; she wondered if the two of
them were related. "I'm Ayeka, Sasami's older sister." The three of them bowed slightly to
each other. "I'll go and tell her you are here."
A few moments late Sasami came bouncing to the door.
"Hi! Come in, I'm just making lunch."
As the youngest of the Senshi made their way in, they noticed what Sasami and Ayeka were
wearing. The kimono like outfits looked slightly too ornate and a bit too complex to be
regular clothes, yet the two sisters looked entirely comfortable in them.
"Well, I should be going." Ayeka announced.
"Bye Sis." Sasami called from the kitchen. "Don't forget to pick up the groceries."
"Sounds like you run the place." Chibi-Usa giggled.
"Someone has to." Sasami told them as she came in, plate full of sandwiches. "I shudder
to think what they'd do without me."
"They look nice." Hotaru commented, pointing to the food.
"Have one." Sasami beamed.
Chibi-Usa grabbed one and took a bite. Her eyes widened in astonishment. The rest of the
sandwich followed in short order.
"Wow! These are better than Mako-chan's."
Sasami looked on in amusement (quickly taking a couple for herself) as the two Senshi
launched themselves at the food.
***
Tenchi was in a ready stance, trying to find his centre.
Off to the side Ranma was keeping an eye on him while talking with his guests.
"So it's a focusing technique?" Makoto asked.
"Yeah."
"Why in a martial arts stance?"
"It's what I'm used to." Ranma shrugged. "If it don't work I'll try something else."
"Don't you think about anything but martial arts?" Skuld asked peevishly.
"Yep. Avoiding my fianc‚es, not getting killed by rivals, not getting fleeced by Nabiki..."
"I hardly think Tendo-san is as bad as you make out." Ifurita told him.
"So why is she taking photos of you from behind the corner?"
The camera disappeared.
Sighing, Ifurita turned and waved seemingly absently in that direction. A few seconds later
a flustered Nabiki was blown around the corner, camera still in hand and a few inches off the
ground.
"You know, I want sixty percent of those IF you sell them."
If Nabiki wasn't slightly freaked already (she still wasn't touching the ground), she was
after that comment.
"*SIXTY*?!?" Nabiki screeched. "Forty at most."
"Sixty five." Ifurita increased. "Or I can get you expelled for unauthorised distribution of a
teacher's image. It's in the school rules."
Nabiki froze. She hadn't actually thought that someone would use that rule (it was
supposed to cover school events) like that.
"What about the rest?" Ranma asked, an evil smile on his face. "I happen to know she sells
pictures of me in both forms, some highly questionable." He glared at the suspended young
lady. "Not to mention her sister. Isn't kiddie porn illegal?"
Skuld, to Ranma's secret delight, unlimbered her omnipresent mallet and aimed it at Nabiki.
Ifurita's gaze turned stern and disapproving.
"I see. I am sorry for doubting you Ranma-san. It seems I will have to talk to her father."
Nabiki had turned white. Not only because Ranma KNEW of those photos, but he had said
so in front of a teacher.
"And I suppose a teacher going out with a student is any better?" Nabiki shot back.
The smile on Ifurita's face was not reassuring.
"The principal already knows. I informed him as soon as I realised."
The middle Tendo swore silently.
There was a sigh of disappointment from the side.
"Nabiki, how could you?" Kasumi complained.
That broke Nabiki. The one person she admired had found out and disapproved.
"How else was I supposed to keep the dojo in the black?" She demanded. "Dad won't
teach, we have two bottomless pits to feed, all the damages to fix..."
Ifurita yanked Nabiki over to look into her eyes.
"Fifty percent, and you WILL ask those you are taking photos of for their permission."
"Done." Nabiki knew she wouldn't get a better deal.
Ifurita put her down.
"Now I doubt the damages can be that bad."
"If it isn't Akane knocking Ranma through the walls, it's his other fiancees or a rival
screaming-"
"DIE RANMA!" Mousse screamed as he leapt the wall and let loose a large number of
swords, daggers, maces and chains (with and without spikes), and assorted other weapons and
objects.
Unfortunately, although he for once targeted the right person, it is hard to be accurate with
that many projectiles.
For a moment...
...everyone stood stock still in shock...
...Tenchi felt his friends in danger, and found his centre...
For a moment...
...Tsunami jumped as she felt the surge...
...Yggdrasil threw up an alert about a leak of the Ultimate Force on the mortal plane...
...every alarm in Washu's lab went off...
...Setsuna spat out her tea in shock as space/time warped...
...Usagi heard the Ginzuishou scream out, in joy and pain...
...Mamoru felt the Earth groan under the strain of holding the power...
...Belldandy collapsed as her domain buckled and bent...
For a moment...
...Kami-sama smiled...
...a presence stirred...
For a moment...
...Tenchi had total control of his power...
For a moment.
A moment is all it took.
For in that moment, Tenchi moved.
He had the Lighthawk Sword in his hand.
All the weapons, chains and objects halted in mid-air short of their target. Then fell apart,
completely cut through.
Mousse's landing was light, but it was enough to jog the wall which slid slightly to show it
to was cut through. Mousse didn't notice this, as the next moment he found himself
embedded in the wall by the Koi pond. He spat blood.
Ifurita had held back.
Barely.
Gravity peeled the duck-boy from where he hung in/on the wall, where upon he collapsed to
the ground with a sodden thump.
Ranma walked over to the crumpled heap that was Mousse knowing that the Amazon had
gotten ludicrously lucky. When she had reacted, Ranma had seen in Ifurita a fully blooded
warrior. One who had killed for less than what Mousse had just done.
Taking the tub that he and his father sometimes used in practice, he splashed Mousse then
lifted the duck by his neck.
"A word of advice. DON'T try that again."
Tossing Mu-Mu-chan into the air, he blasted the duck over the horizon. He didn't bother
announcing the technique.
"Everyone OK?" He asked as he turned round.
"Nothing but shock." Ifurita announced. "Thanks to Tenchi-san."
"Just Tenchi, Ifurita." Tenchi complained weakly.
Ranma asked the question with a glance. Tenchi nodded, then pointed to the wall. It was
only then that Ranma noticed it. He whistled.
"From over there? I guess we do need to work on things."
***
The three friends were giggling amongst themselves in a cafe when Chibi-Usa spotted a
familiar face.
"Hey it's Mako-chan!" The pink-hared girl exclaimed and waved the tall pony-tailed
brunette over.
"Hi guys." Makoto said cheerfully. "Who's your friend?"
Chibi-Usa and Hotaru smirked. This was TOO perfect.
"Makoto Kino," Hotaru introduced formally, "Meet Sasami Masaki, your Arch-Rival." The
two of them then exploded into laughter.
When the two young girls calmed down the whole thing was explained.
"Really?" Makoto was intrigued. "I've never met someone who could get my friends to
say they cooked better than me. Well, there was that time with Haruka and Michiru."
"Yeah." Hotaru giggled. "Michiru-mama really got Haruka-papa with a zinger that time."
"Michiru-mama? Haruka-papa?!?" Sasami was confused. "Ayeka knows a couple of girls
called Michiru and Haruka. We're not talking about the same people are... we...?" The
azure-hared girl trailed off as Makoto nodded her head.
Hotaru looked sheepish.
"They're my adoptive parents."
Sasami gave her an odd look, then shrugged.
"Well, I call Tenchi my big brother at times."
Makoto shook her head.
"This is getting freaky. There are too many coincidences going on today."
"It could be worse." Chibi-Usa pointed out. "A monster could be on a rampage."
"Yeah. And the Sailor Senshi would turn up to destroy it." Sasami said, a slightly far away
look in her eyes. Not noticing the glances the others at the table were passing between each
other she continued. "I bet it's great to be a magical girl."
"What? Prancing about in costume saying speeches?" Hotaru asked.
Sasami switched tone.
"I am the Magical Warrior Pretty Sammy! In the name of Love and Justice, prepare to be
punished!" She pronounced, making motions with her hands.
The Senshi couldn't help themselves. They laughed.
"And then you'd whack them over the head with a heart topped baton." Chibi-Usa added.
Sasami giggled.
"I suppose when you put it like that it does seem rather silly." Sasami sighed. "But at least
you get to do SOMETHING."
Her friends raised eyebrows at that.
"Come on." Makoto said, getting up. "Let's head to the arcade."
***
Mousse was battered, bruised and had a couple of broken ribs.
"Damn you Ranma!" He whispered hoarsely. He didn't know who that woman was at the
Tendo's, but she had to be Ranma's fault. Admittedly he wasn't thinking straight, as the pain
made his thoughts travel Ryoga-like paths.
Darkness descended, and he passed out.
***
~ Sometimes I wonder why I bother. ~ Washu thought as she checked the brief readings.
~ For a moment I thought it was Mihoshi again. ~ But it wasn't.
Checking over the results, the redhead was amazed that her sensors were in one piece. The
power surge should have burned them out. Heck, she was amazed the planet was still in one
piece.
~ Hum... This looks like Tenchi. ~ Washu noted. A sudden panic gripped her. ~ Is he
OK? ~ She worried, typing furiously. ~ Location: Tendo Dojo, Nerima. The place where
Tenchi's cousin Ranma lives. ~ Washu breathed a sign of relief. ~ At least nothing has
turned up on my scope as a threat. ~
***
At the Arcade, the three Senshi and Sasami bumped into Minako who was playing the Sailor
V game.
"Feh." Minako complained as she lost her last life. "I was this close to beating my record
too."
"You take that game WAY too seriously Mina-chan." Makoto shook her head sadly.
"Hah! I'd like to see you do better."
"I'll have a go." Sasami said timidly.
Minako got out of the way and gestured grandly for her to take her place.
***
Ifurita watched as Ranma practised.
"I wouldn't mind sparring with you Ranma."
Ranma stopped and looked at her.
"Sorry. I don't fight girls."
Ifurita shook her head. "That's just plain stupid Ranma. Besides, I'm not a girl." She said
with a dangerous look in her eyes. "I'm a Woman."
Ranma raised an eyebrow in imitation of Nabiki. "Oh? And how does that make it
different?"
"You may change into one, but you still have much to learn about the female of the
species." Ifurita said sadly. "Your refusal to fight women will be your death Ranma."
Seeing she wasn't getting through to him, she tried another tack. "You wish to teach Martial
Arts correct?"
Ranma nodded.
"Did you honestly think you would only teach men? That sort of sexist attitude will do you
no good in this day and age. You readily acknowledge your father to be an idiot, correct?"
Again, Ranma nodded.
"Then why do you hold to his way of thinking?"
"It's how I was raised. The code..."
"Does not apply in this case." Ifurita stood. "Ranma Saotome, I challenge you to a duel.
Should I win, you follow my instructions as to how you should act. Should I loose, I will
never mention this again. Do you accept, or yield?" The whole challenge was delivered with
Ifurita's Demon-God tone of voice.
Ranma was not feeling very sure of himself at that moment. The tone of voice used
screamed 'I can kill you so easily it is frightening'. However, he had never backed down
from a challenge, so despite his misgivings he assumed a ready stance.
"I accept your challenge, and agree to your terms." Somehow he realised he should have
specified not to do anything with his girl-side, but he KNEW she would not abuse the power
she might have over him (It was a Martial Artist thing).
Ifurita went into combat mode, setting herself in a modified cat stance.
Silence reigned in the Dojo for a few moments.
Ranma launched his assault with a low kick, coming to the conclusion his teacher (and
maybe friend) was able to out-wait him. Ifurita merely side-stepped the kick, responding
with a mid-high kick of her own at Ranma's lowered head. Ranma rolled sideways to avoid,
came to his feet and burst forward. Ifurita blocked the oncoming storm of punches and kicks
calmly, counter-striking where available.
As the fight went on, Ifurita analysed Ranma's style. She dissected it, examined it and
catalogued it.
~ Very good. It seems to be a combination of different styles, but no linking factor. A kick
followed by a knife hand chop? Those two shouldn't really be able to go together. He adapts
quickly. Far too quickly. It's as if he was trained to adapt as fast as possible. ~ The
learning systems kicked in a major link to the analysis routines, then locked out Ifurita's
conscious control of her body. Combat control went to the autonomic systems temporally.
~ What the...? ~ The Demon-God recognised the event. It was for when her core
consciousness went offline. The problem being she was still awake.
Every major combat and computational system engaged in a major functional review.
Ifurita could only watch as whatever was happening went on. She finally realised what was
happening.
~ Adaptation and creativity routines. They are being upgraded. Massively upgraded. And
added to all my systems. ~
The entire process took less than thirty seconds, then Ifurita took control again. The new
and improved Tactical analysis of the time under autonomous control yielded a few new
insights into the Anything Goes style.
~ He still isn't taking me seriously. ~ Ifurita noted. There was a distinct lack of offence on
Ranma's part. ~ Time to divest him of that attitude. ~
Ranma was stunned as he was suddenly hit several times with a strength above Ryoga's,
then tossed about like a rag doll before finally being thrown into the floor so hard he
temporarily blacked out.
"You will need to do far better than that Ranma." Ifurita told him as he slowly made his
way to his feet. "Otherwise you will find yourself IN the ground instead of ON it."
On Ranma's personal scale, Ifurita had just bumped herself up to Taro-like threat levels.
~ I knew she was good for smashing Mousse like that, but this? ~ He was not expecting
this sort of thing from a woman other than Cologne.
Ifurita detected the increase in power from Ranma before his battle aura flared into being.
"OK Ranma, it seems you have decided to take me seriously at last. I hope you have
learned from that mistake."
Ranma's answer was to jump straight in at a higher level.
"Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!"
Ifurita couldn't block all the strikes and was knocked back. Ranma didn't let up.
"Mouko Takabisha!"
Ifurita took the blast dead on, throwing her further back.
~ Better. He's actually considering me a threat now. ~ She thought as she got up. Her
systems were already integrating the attacks into her repertoire. The were also analysed and
discovered to used the same principles, even though they produced hugely different effects.
~ Ifurita: Force Bolt. ~
Ifurita pointed her palm at Ranma and blasted him to the far end of the Dojo.
~ What the hell was that? ~ Ranma thought as he pulled himself from the wall. ~ It
wasn't a chi blast. I didn't sense it! ~
~ Ifurita: Flame Arrow. ~
Ranma reacted to the heat build-up.
"Hiryuu Shouten Ha revised! Horizontal Blast!"
Ifurita weathered the attack, watching in interest as her own was extinguished.
~ Analysis: Tornado attack. Caused by hot and cold air reaction. Energy source designated
Chi/Ki analysed. Integrating. ~
Ifurita smiled to herself as the knowledge came in. This should be fun.
Cupping her hands together she created and gathered her chi then attacked, thrusting her
hands forward.
"Ha!" She yelled.
Ranma definitely sensed it this time, as a chi blast THREE times the size of his Mouko
Takabisha roared down on him. He barely dodged in time. The wall wasn't so lucky, being
disintegrated by the attack.
~ Analysis: Point five-percent blast at Level 2 effectiveness. Attack registered as Kami
Hami Ha. Theoretical Max effectiveness equivalent to Bright Arrow. ~
~ Makoto watched way too much Dragonball when was young. ~ Ifurita thought wryly.
Now that Ifurita was giving off chi, Ranma could sense she had far more where that came
from. He jumped to his highest fighting level; the level he killed Saffron at.
Ifurita's sensors went off milliseconds before Ranma's vicious assault began. The two of
them went at it tooth and nail, Ifurita utilising the Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken throughout
her body at a level Ranma could only dream about.
~ Ifurita: Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken revised: Thunderstorm. ~
Ranma was hit over 2000 times in 1.2 seconds. The stuttering, thundering crack as hands,
arms, elbows, legs and feet repeatedly shattered the sound barrier blew out the paper thin
walls of the Dojo in a shockwave.
The inhabitants and guests of the Tendo household looked at the Dojo in shock. The first
explosion had attracted them to the building behind the house, and now... It had no walls at
all. The roof was miraculously undamaged. They could see inside to the still standing
Ifurita, who only looked slightly dusty, and the collapsed Ranma, whose clothing was in
tatters.
Ifurita looked to the crowd and said simply...
"I win."
***
Minako's jaw was hanging a good half metre down from its usual position.
Sasami finished entering her name into the scoreboard. She turned and smiled brightly.
"Tada!"
"Well, what do you know. She completed the Sailor V game." Makoto was stunned.
"You did know there are no zeros on the score counter?" Chibi-Usa pointed out.
Hotaru didn't say a word.
"Aw, I just play lots of computer games." ~ Not that there's much else to do. ~ Sasami
thought. ~ Besides, this doesn't even come close to Washu's! ~
***
The redhead in question had just arranged the repairs to the Tendo Dojo after being called
by Tenchi. Now she was playing twenty questions with Ifurita.
"Now, how exactly did you do blow out the walls?"
"I hit him 2084 times in 1.2 seconds. Each hit was at roughly 1.4 times the speed of sound."
Ifurita shrugged. "Hyper compression on the shock waves effectively created a supersonic
wall of sound, much like a bomb going off."
"Ifurita has a talent for picking up methods and techniques." Makoto told them. "Although
I didn't expect this."
"Sorry." Ifurita smiled winsomely. "But for some reason chi techniques seem really easy.
I hardly put any effort into my chi blast, and it STILL was about three times what Ranma
used on me." ~ Ifurita: The energy conversion from my reserves has a 3000% magnification
factor Makoto. ~
~ Makoto: 3000%?!? Jeez, that's about the same rate as for your staff. ~
"This I have to see." Washu said.
Ifurita walked out side and cupped her hands in preparation.
~ Ifurita: Kami Hami Ha. One percent. ~
"When you're ready."
"HA!" Ifurita launched a column of energy two metres in diameter into the sky.
"OK." Nabiki recovered from Ifurita's earlier pronouncement of hitting Ranma so many
times in a second that Cologne would freak. "Note to self. No bets against Ifurita-san in a
fight."
"That's a no-brainer Nabiki." Ranma's tired voice came from behind.
"Jeez Ran-chan." Tenchi said, looking him over. "Don't you think you've had enough for
one day?"
"I'd agree." Ifurita commented. "However I believe Ranma has a reason for trying to kill
himself at the moment."
Ranma managed a weak chuckle.
"Good fight, Sensei."
Ifurita smiled and nodded. "Now get your ass back in bed!" She ordered.
Ranma did as he was told, chuckling all the way.
***
The power was around here. It could sense it. The Master would have the power.
***
"Wow. These are better than mine." Sasami said, grabbing another blueberry muffin.
They were at Makoto's apartment. Minako was not feeling too good. Hotaru, after getting
over her shock, joined with Chibi-Usa in trying to contain giggles at the blonde's distress.
"How about we swap recipes?" Makoto asked.
"Sure." Sasami thought the guys back home would love these muffins. "Got a piece of
paper?"
"On the desk. Second from the right."
Sasami nodded and went to get some writing materials.
"I like her." Makoto announced.
Just as their communicators went off.
Minako activated hers first.
"Go."
"There's a dark energy signature in Nerima." Mercury's voice came from the device.
"Pluto and Mars are suspicious, Moon and Tuxedo-Kamen say it's heading for a power
source there. A very BIG power source."
"Be there ASAP. Saturn and Chibi-Moon may be late."
"Roger."
In the other room, Sasami fell against the desk as she felt Tsunami's power.
~ Sasami: What?!? ~
~ Tsunami: Close your eyes for a moment. Your precognition is kicking in. ~
Sasami did as she was asked and saw...
...Someone struggling inside a shell of darkness. The shell was fighting the...Senshi? And
a staff-wielding warrior with bloodstained hands, cloaked in Love.
But the last of the warriors was someone she recognised instantly. Tenchi!...
Sasami's eyes snapped open.
~ Tsunami: I'm on it Sasami. Don't worry. ~ The presence faded to a background level.
Sasami worried nevertheless as she picked up some paper.
***
Pluto was scared. This was not a state she was regularly in. The Princess and Prince were
certain that the darkness was after the power they had all felt. The concept of such power
existing without her knowing about it was frightening enough, but for an unknown
enemy...ANY enemy...to gain control of it...
She pressed ahead of the others, using her temporal senses to locate the power source while
Mercury tracked the dark energy.
~ How in the name of Serenity can that much power just disappear? ~ She wondered.
Mercury had her visor on, and was trying to project the destination...damn it, of COURSE it
would go there.
***
"Thank you for the tea Kasumi-san." Tenchi bowed. "But I really must be going."
"Same here." Skuld said. "It's been fun, but my sister wants me back by two." ~ And I
really want to tell her about you. ~ She added silently.
"OK. Do you want to take Skuld home or should I?" Makoto asked.
"You go ahead." Ifurita smiled at him. "I have a few things still to discuss with Ranma."
"OK. Come on then Skuld."
"What is it about Nerima that causes all the craziness?" Tenchi muttered under his breath as
they walked out the front door. Makoto heard and repressed a smile.
"Will we be going back the same way we came?" Skuld asked Makoto.
"Not quite. I'm not as good a rider as Ifurita."
"Fine." Skuld said, relieved she wouldn't have another 30-minute roller-coaster ride. "I
could do with-" The little goddess suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Tenchi asked, noticing her look.
"Darkness." Skuld intoned. "Something bad."
The two young men began looking around for trouble. Out of the corner of his eye, Tenchi
spotted movement and turned to see...
Mousse landing on the wall of the Tendo compound.
"Oh great." He groaned quietly. "What do you want now Mousse?"
"That isn't Mousse." Skuld growled ominously, slipping her hand beneath her over-shirt to
her bombs.
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked. None of them moved their eyes from the figure on
the wall, a habit picked up from their experiences.
"He's possessed or something."
"You sure? That looks like Mousse." Mousse let off an evil laugh. "Sound like him too.
Well, mostly."
"His eyes Makoto." Tenchi pointed out. "It looks like he can see for once."
Makoto peered at the man on the wall.
"And the fact his eyes are completely black didn't clue you in?"
"They're almost completely black Makoto." Tenchi said. "It's the little details like that that
make all the difference."
"Where is she?" Growled Mousse. "I would take my vengeance upon she who humiliated
me."
"OK. Now that is most definitely NOT Mousse." Tenchi observed. "He has better sense
than to sound like he's borrowed Kuno's speechwriter. I sometimes wonder where Kuno
found one locked in the 16th century."
"You mean he doesn't make them up?" Skuld asked.
"Come on Skuld. This is Kuno we're talking about." Makoto pointed out. ~ Makoto:
Ifurita, dear. We have a guest asking for you. Its Mousse, and we think he's possessed. ~
~ Ifurita: Oh? Why? ~
~ Makoto: He sounds like he's borrowed Kuno's speechwriter. ~ There was a pause; ~
Oh, and his eyes are almost completely black. ~ Makoto added, almost as an afterthought.
~ Ifurita: Oh, all right. But only because you asked so nicely. ~
~ Sarcasm is a wonderful thing. ~ Makoto thought dryly.
"You again?" Ifurita called from the shogi. "I'd have thought you would have learned your
lesson." There was a stern look of disapproval on the Demon-God's face.
"Ouch." Makoto winced quietly. "She's... Upset."
"That's a Bad Thing(TM) right?" Skuld asked rhetorically.
"Along the lines of juggling high explosive on a unicycle?" Tenchi added.
"Discretion is the better part of valour, and 'dis creature knows when to get out of here."
Makoto replied.
"Anything, but no more puns." Skuld winced.
Tenchi knocked them flying to the sound of a hefty thunk.
"I don't think whoever it is liked it either." Tenchi commented. Where they had been
standing was a large double-handed scimitar, it's tip buried in the doorframe.
A miniature waterspout rose from the Koi pond to hit Mousse.
Who wasn't affected.
"OK..." Tenchi drawled. "That's the clincher."
Mousse leapt, and let fly with a hailstorm of projectiles. Acting on instinct, Skuld tossed a
bomb above herself, Tenchi and Makoto.
Impressive force met high explosive object. The results were fairly predictable.
Skuld's bomb exploded, shredding the weaponry aimed at the trio. It also provided a
smokescreen and headaches for them.
Ifurita struck back instantly, avoiding the junk directed at her by launching herself to meet
the possessed duck-boy in mid-air. Mousse countered by pulling a cast iron cauldron out of a
sleeve to use as a shield.
The sullen ring of the cauldron filled the air.
Using the impact point, Ifurita pivoted round to deliver a vicious roundhouse kick to the
back of Mousse's neck. The force drove the young man into the ground like an artillery
shell, dirt exploding from the point of impact. A quick wind-blast cleared the dust for Ifurita
to drop towards Mousse like a missile. The possessed Amazon barely rolled out of the way.
The ground where he had lain was not so lucky, shattering under the force of the Demon-
God's kick.
Mousse rose to a defensive stance to meet...
An Ifurita who was through playing.
~ No more Miss Nice Demon-God. ~ The blue-hared doomsday weapon mentally snarled.
~ Ifurita: Kami Hami Ha. Two percent. ~
The blazing column of chi roared from her outstretched hands as though escaping from Hell.
The sometime Peking duck didn't have time to consider blinking before being engulfed.
Mousse emerged a bit singed, which surprised Ifurita a bit. As she watched however,
Mousse's white robes shimmered and darkened to deepest black.
~ Analysis: Energy from attack absorbed. Recommend caution. ~
The thing controlling Mousse's body smiled an evil grin.
"Yes. You will suit the Master's purpose well."
Without warning chains lashed out at Ifurita.
"Dead Scream."
The magical attack smashed through the chains, driving into the ground at Mousse's feat
before exploding and sending the Amazon flying backwards.
Ifurita took a moment to look up and saw four Senshi and their evening dressed friend
standing on the roof. She recognised Sailor Moon without difficulty, Mercury and Mars took
a little time, and the last...was...
The mysterious Sailor Pluto herself. Ifurita's eyes widened as she began to recognise the
staff wielding Senshi, her countermeasure systems penetrating the magical fields protecting
the Senshi's identity.
~ Tactical: Enemy recovering. ~
That put paid to the analysis of the Senshi as Ifurita returned her attention to the fight.
"So, the Sailor Senshi arrive." Mousse snarled.
"He's suffering from possession." Mercury warned from behind her visor.
"And he knows who we are, so need for the speech." Mars put in.
"Aw, but I like the speech." Moon whined.
~ And these are the people who protect the world? ~ Ifurita asked herself.
Mousse let loose with a storm of knives towards the Senshi, who leapt away.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury directed a blast of water at the enemy, who dodged.
Into Mars's sights.
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
The fire arrow hit, knocking Mousse back a bit but otherwise not doing any apparent
damage.
~ Analysis: Energy absorbed. Impulse delivered correctly. Recommend kinetic attacks. ~
Ifurita smashed into Mousse with a wind attack.
"Be careful! He's absorbing the energy. Go for attacks with lots of impact." The Demon-
God called before directing a Chi blast at the ground under Mousse's feet, throwing him
slightly airborne. Pluto understood quickly, closing for a sharp kick to the stomach followed
by her bringing her staff up under the chin of her opponent with all the force she could
muster. It wasn't quite Akane-class, but it did launch him high.
Ifurita was waiting with a Badger's Slash. She grinned evilly.
"Spike!"
The road outside the dojo compound suddenly developed a large crater and an irate
possessed master of hidden weapons.
"Good. Very good." Mousse coughed as he rose. "The Master will be pleased." He leapt
over the wall and targeted the lone Mercury. "You can die." He said coldly, firing off
another storm of weapons.
"Mercury!" Sailor Moon screamed.
The Senshi of Mercury stood frozen like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a truck.
Seconds from impact a blazing blue light trail swished through the air in a beautifully
complex pattern. Blinking a few times to the sound of metal hitting the hard ground,
Mercury focused on the figure in front of her.
Dressed in an odd brown, black and white outfit that allowed freedom of movement and
seemed to be body armour (Not that the Senshi could complain. Their fuku's were much the
same, appearing flimsy and revealing but with high protection value). Apparently male.
From the profile, his (?) lower face was covered by a mask, the upper by a solid, opaque
seeming visor. But most surprising was the strangely crafted hilt he held, and the glowing
blue blade of energy humming from it. He was holding a lightsaber, like from Star Wars.
"Are you OK?" The male voice was carefully modulated, screaming a highly advanced
distortion technology. The studious Senshi concluded the rest of the readings she may have
got on the figure would be equally distorted. She nodded carefully.
Tenchi was glad that his battle armour had some sort of cover for his face, as he didn't want
to make TOO much of an impact and try to keep it a secret. Seems it had some stealth and
disguise features as well, which he wished he'd known about sooner.
~ I could have really used them to get away from the girls at times. ~ He thought
morosely, watching Sailor Mercury nodding out of the corner of his eye. He then returned
his full attention to the fight.
Sailor Moon was in a quandary. Since the possessed martial artist seemed to be able to
adsorb the energy of attacks launched against him, she couldn't hit him with her standard
attacks for fear of supercharging him. Also, if it hadn't been for the new guy in the odd outfit
Mercury would have been sliced and diced.
And she had this craving for ramen for some odd reason.
~ Great. Hungry in the middle of a battle. Good going Usagi. ~ She internally groaned. ~
Rei will pick on me for a month. ~
She was suddenly clutched protectively by Tuxedo Kamen as he brought up his cloak to
protect them.
Pluto and Ifurita came in from both sides of Mousse, who blocked Ifurita with a cauldron
and Pluto with the kitchen sink.
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" Mercury had her visor down, and tried triggering the
Amazon's Jusenkyo curse. All present saw Mousse's eyes and robes return to normal for a
second upon impact. Black lightning began crackling across his body.
Mousse chuckled as he got up.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." Inky-black orbs gazed out at them. "But you'll have to do
better."
"Is that why you seem to be having problems controlling the body you've possessed?"
Mars asked snidely.
"Oh, I'm having no trouble at all." Mousse grinned evilly.
Before anyone could react, an explosion of crackling darkness engulfed the courtyard.
***
Belldandy paused.
"Did either of you just feel that?" She asked.
Peorth felt justifiably surprised out.
"What now...?" She trailed off as well.
Urd looked at the two higher ranging goddesses in askance.
"What?"
"Something big." Peorth looked at Belldandy.
"Near Skuld." The goddess of the Present nodded.
***
Uranus and Neptune were nearing the battle sight when chills ran up their spines.
"Wha...?" Uranus asked her companion when the dome of black energy appeared. With it,
a distant feeling of sheer terror flooded them.
"Princess!"
Their run turned into a mad dash.
***
Pluto looked around.
"No." She breathed. "No, not again."
Unbidden, she began to run towards the flames...
...That were engulfing the palace of the Moon Kingdom. That were destroying all she held
dear.
She knew she couldn't prevent it, but still she charged desperately to save the person she
loved from dying...
***
Moon whimpered unheard over the mad laughter.
Her friends were dying around her, sacrificing their lives for hers. Her Prince, dying in her
arms from doing the same. Why must they do so?
Why?...
***
The city below was beautiful. Ifurita marvelled at it.
But that didn't stop the doom it was about to face.
Ifurita didn't want to do this. Such peace should not be destroyed. But she could do
nothing as her arm raised her staff; as her systems charged up the instruments of death that
they held.
Showing no emotion on her face she fired, bringing fire and destruction to the beautiful city.
And fired.
And fired.
And fired.
Ifurita's soul screamed soundlessly and she shed a single tear over the expressionless visage
as she snuffed out more and more lives...
***
Tuxedo Kamen pounded futilely on the barrier between him and his love. He had to get
there. He HAD to!
As he watched, his love cradled their future child as the pink-hared girl faded away...
***
Mars and Mercury felt their resistance failing. They had to hang on!
But it was no use, and as darkness fell upon them they turned and raised their arms to attack
their Princess...
***
Tenchi recognised where he was almost immediately.
He was standing on the bridge of the Ryo-Oh. His attack on the Soja was... Had failed.
And Death, riding brilliant green light, was coming for him.
Had come for him. This had been the most terrifying day of his life...
But he had survived it.
As the fear built to overwhelm him, he smiled. And reached out to embrace his birthright.
***
"Please tell me you have an idea?" Neptune asked.
The two Senshi stood on the roof across from the dome of darkness, watching as the
occasional bolt of black lightning trace its way over the surface.
Uranus sighed.
"I wish I did love. I wish I did."
They stood there in silence until they felt something change. Looking, they saw WHITE
lightning fighting and overwhelming the black.
And the two Outer Senshi prayed.
***
Pluto lay sobbing over the body of her beloved. It was over; she had no reason to live. She
could not live without...
"Setsuna...?"
The Time Guardian's head came up sharply to see the fatally exhausted but triumphant eyes
of her love sparkling back at her.
"They will survive..." Pluto heard the whispered voice as the person beneath her used the
last of their strength to pull their lips closer.
"Please... Help them to succeed..." They were almost kissing.
"For me..." Down the Guardian's head came.
"I love you..." Contact.
Setsuna held the tender kiss until her love's spirit passed on. Raising her head to look down
upon the face of her love, teardrops dotting it now and then, she whispered her reply.
"I promise... My Queen."
***
A beam of light escaped the dome as white, jagged lines of power converged here and
there...
***
She could feel them, her friends. Their spirits surrounded her, comforting and encouraging
her.
Helping her.
She was not alone. Never alone. She was...
The Princess.
With that thought firmly in her mind, she brought forth the Ginzuishou against her enemy...
***
Another beam escaped...
***
The barrier cracked. It was weakening!
Another crack. Another...
Tuxedo Kamen put all his strength into this last hit...
***
Their princess smiled at them, and they faltered. They could not... Would not hurt HER!
***
Three shafts of light smashed out of the dome as it began to tremble...
***
This was just a memory. She was past this...
***
A latticework of twinkling lines appeared. The dome seemed to groan...
***
Tenchi stretched out his arms.
"Nice try." He chuckled.
And spread his wings.
***
The black dome exploded outwards, shattering into countless motes that disbursed
harmlessly.
"Very pretty." Kasumi commented.
Hanging above the courtyard in a black cloud was an unconscious Mousse.
"~ You think that will defeat me? ~" A soundless voice told the recovering forces of good.
"How about this then! Submarine Reflection!"
The voice cried out in rage as the blast knocked the Amazon out of its grasp. The boy
landed heavily, with a small wisp of black mist clinging to him, trailing back to the main
body.
"Now Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Kamen called.
"Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" The Senshi leader fired upon the duck-boy, and an
inhuman cry of pain filled the air.
"It has no host. Now what?" Mars asked.
Ifurita positioned herself under the cloud and called to Pluto.
"Your staff!"
Pluto readily complied, and Ifurita started twirling it like a baton above her head as she
focused.
"Try this on for size." She snarled and launched a micro-hurricane into the cloud.
"~ NNNOOOOO!!!!!! ~" The anguished cry resounded throughout the district as the cloud
was torn apart. Finally the cloud dissipated, and the Demon-God let her attack lapse.
~ Tactical: Enemy terminated. ~
~ Analysis: Attack registered as Black Cloud Dervish. ~
Ifurita handed the staff back to its owner.
"Well. THAT was fun." She muttered sarcastically. "Anyone have any idea as to what we
just fought? And why?"
"No." Pluto replied. "However, we would like you to answer some questions."
"Are you willing to put that on an even base?"
Mercury shook her head in resignation.
"Look you two-" She began.
"Blue-hared witch! Prepare to die!" Mousse roared as he...
...made to leap, but found himself stapled to the floor by a rose.
"Space Sword Blaster!"
Needless to say, Mousse found himself once again catching up on his nappy time.
"Uranus, was that really necessary?" Moon looked at the smoking body of the blind
Amazon.
"Hey, I needed some stress relief."
As the two of them started to argue, Mercury turned to her saviour. Who wasn't there.
Realising where SHE was, she turned to her fellow Senshi.
"Guys? We have got to go."
"Huh? Oh right." Moon turned away from Uranus to nod at Ifurita, then jumped with her
fellows to the rooftops and disappeared.
"At least that's over with." Ifurita commented as she looked down on the comatose form of
their attacker. She slowly grinned as an idea formed. "Well, almost..."
***
"Thanks guys. I've had a great time." Sasami smiled at her companions.
"Aw, do you have to go so soon?" Chibi-Usa pouted.
"If I'm not there, one of the others will start dinner." Sasami shuddered.
"That bad?"
"You have NO idea."
"Sounds like Usagi and Minako." Hotaru giggled.
"Worse probably." Sasami looked at the time. "Well I got to go. See you at school!" She
waved cheerily as she left.
"Bye!" The two remaining girls waved.
"That was fun. Poor Minako, getting beaten at her own game." Chibi-Usa giggled.
"You're bad." Hotaru declared, folding her arms across her chest and looking severe.
Chibi-Usa took one look at her friend and collapsed in laughter. After a few seconds, Hotaru
joined her.
***
Shampoo was bouncing across the rooftops, mad as Ryoga. Mousse hadn't been around the
Nekohanten all day.
~ Ooo. You are SO dead Mousse. Maybe I SHOULD make Peking Duck out of you. ~
"I do hope you remember this lesson Mousse." A voice said idly nearby. "I'd hate to have
to reinforce this."
Shampoo stopped and looked over the edge of the roof she was occupying. There, strolling
casually by, was Ifurita. Hog-tied and helplessly flung over her shoulder was a rather oddly
beaten up Mousse. Having seen many ways the terminally near-sighted Amazon youth had
been beat up, Shampoo was surprised to see signs of freezing, fire, wood, metal, chi, ki,
brick, mortar and concrete damage over Mousse's body. There were also less identifiable
marks on his body, plus the occasional whip mark.
"What you doing?" Shampoo asked as she leapt down.
"I believe this is yours." The Demon-God said blandly, dropping Mousse to the ground at
the purple-hared girl's feet. "Try to take better care of it in the future."
As Ifurita walked away, Shampoo looked down in disgust at Mousse.
"What mess have you gotten yourself in now?" She acidly demanded in Chinese.
Mousse didn't reply; he was still comatose.
***
In the other place, the presence received the tatters of blackness so recently dispersed and all
the energy contained therein. Information gained, yet more needed.
It prepared anew.
***
Washu put down the phone, and sighed. The CIA were such pains. At least MI6 were
polite in their dealings.
~ Why would that Kuno boy want my address? ~ She wondered. ~ Ah I'll figure it out
later. ~
"Dinner's ready!" Sasami's voice called from the kitchen of the city house they used during
the week. Portable wormholes were SUCH a convenience.
----------
YES!!! I've finally got this chapter finished!
insert scenes of rejoicing
For those of you wondering what the heck took so long (I've got lots of emails proving that), it was
a combination of things:
1) That Arch-enemy of all writers... Writer's Block! And this one was the size of SDF-1 (Washu, I'll
give the Dimensional Cannon back in a bit. OK?).
2) Real Life. I *DO* work for a living you know.
3) Getting a website sorted. See the beginning of this fic for details.
Conventions:
~ ~ are used for thoughts and Telepathic communications.
'-kun' and '-chan' will be used to denote Male and Female where appropriate.
C&C to [email protected] please, Flames to /dev/null.
This fic is archived at:
My page http://www.lum.co.uk/cobalt/
Phu's Anime Page http://members.nbci.com/phu_lam/
Many thanks to my prereader Louis-Philippe Giroux [email protected] for his input.
Go read Lines Of Destiny at:
http://www.anime.sobhrach.com/~dragon/lines/lines.html
----------------
The Web of Chaos
----------------
#########
Chapter 2
#########
In the week that school had been in session, the Nerima psyche showed its remarkable
adaptability. The new students and teachers 'adapted' with little fuss or bother. This
was particularly true of Tenchi, as he started to alternate with Ranma on thrashing (or
attempting to thrash) some sense into Kuno.
The Cabal (consisting of Setsuna, Urd, Washu, Ifurita and Hinako. The last for no reason
the other four could determine, but probably for local info) were getting along fine. Urd
explained her careful lacing of wards around the school by saying she didn't feel comfortable
without them. Washu figured she could adapt the sensors she was planting but the random
flux created caused her to filter it out. Setsuna privately preferred it that way, and Ifurita
didn't mind being experienced in ECM and ECCM. Surprisingly (or not), no secrets had
slipped. Yet.
The 'conglomerate' of senshi, martial artists, aliens, goddess and others had sorted itself into
smaller groups. Some rather... odd.
Ranma, Makoto-kun, and Tenchi had got together. That in itself was not all that odd. No, it
was the fact Skuld had apparently insinuated herself into the group and the three young men
didn't seem to mind that was odd. As was the fact none of the ladies chasing that group
seemingly minded.
Haruka and Michiru were joined by Ayeka and Nabiki most of the time. Nabiki liked
Ayeka's devious mind and the way Michiru schooled her features. She wanted to learn that
from the sea green-hared woman. Haruka liked Ayeka for the way she seemed to be a mix of
her aggression and Michiru's elegance. Ayeka felt more comfortable in the presence of
Michiru and (to a lesser extent) Haruka, while Nabiki was of an obviously finer cut than her
schoolmates were. Michiru wanted to stay on top of things, which necessitated cultivating a
friendship with Nabiki. She found the Nerima native a bright and resourceful young lady.
The Senshi of Neptune was also more at ease with Ayeka. The refined young lady with
purple ponytails was also the only person who'd taken her closeness with Haruka as perfectly
natural, not even batting an eyelid when Haruka had kissed her rather openly.
The remaining gaggle of girls had grouped together in one large lump, with Ukyo
gravitating towards Makoto-chan and Ryoko towards Ami of all people.
This was not to say life was anything but the standard craziness of Nerima. Far from it.
Life at the school proved to be interesting as the newcomers found out. Washu and Urd were
called in to try and analyse the... whatever it was that Akane cooked with Usagi's help. The
goddess spent a good half hour believing they had created the Philosopher's Stone (or, more
precisely, the Philosopher's semi-mobile-goop-that-had-been-an-attempt-at-a-soufle-we-
didn't-mean-it-GOMEN-GOMEN-GOMEN!!!), and Washu wanted to take it to her Lab to
"see what it does to all the junk from Mihoshi". Both were VERY glad other 'cooks' of their
acquaintance hadn't been here to help.
The regular fights (seamlessly including the latest batch of fighters) punctuated the week
until Happosai raised a demon on Friday. Thus the first sightings of the Senshi in Nerima
occurred. Things got a little out of hand when Happosai tried glomping the Senshi during the
battle. Kuno got involved, which in turn led to the Nerima Wrecking Crew getting pulled in
(they'd sensibly pulled back to let the experts deal with it). The end result was: a very pretty
explosion; a fried/zapped/pulped ancient perverted martial artist blasted into next week
(considering this was done by a combined blast from Pluto and Skuld, it wasn't too far from
the truth); a 5.0-5.0-3.6 (by the Romanian judge) rating from the property damage council;
about a hundred disappointed fans who didn't get the Senshis' autographs, and Kuno getting
a silly idea into his head...
***
Tatewaki Kuno was meditating. Not to solve his perennial question (Akane Tendo or the
pig-tailed girl), but on an idea. He had to concentrate hard, otherwise he would lose the
fleeting concept.
~ Hum. While the beauteous Pig-tailed girl fought alongside the wondrous, divine Sailor
Senshi, dids't I note the flame-coloured locks that dids't fall, like Heaven's Fire, from her
head. Such is natural for her, yet is rare. ~
His brow creased as he slowly turned the rusty gears in his head. A second thought joined
the previous one.
~ The locks of the studious Professor are also of flame red coloration. ~
The grinding of wheels in Kuno's head could almost be heard as he strained to make these
two concepts fit. Sasuke, faithful ninja-dogsbody, waited silently in the shadows watching
his liege worriedly as steam rose from his ears. He bowed his head and sighed.
TWANG.
Sasuke looked around quickly. He was sure there was a twang, as though a stretched band
or string had broken, but he couldn't see a source.
"OF COURSE!" Kuno had risen to his feet, his expression and posture one of profound
revelation. "It is so obvious!"
"Um, what is, Master Kuno?" The servant ninja asked worriedly.
"That the studious Professor and the Pig-tailed girl are Mother and Daughter! My love must
have brought her esteemed Mother to allow me to pursue her in a more noble fashion, and
circumventing the dark sorceries of the foul magus Ranma Saotome!" Kuno turned to face
the kneeling ninja. "Sasuke, thou must locate the abode of Professor Washu for it is certain
that the magics of the dark magus have infused the school, leaving the Professor unable to
contemplate such matters."
In the Tendo home, Ranma felt a shiver of foreboding go through her.
***
Saturday.
School was out, and students slept in. Well, usually.
Tenchi trudged up to the address given in Nabiki's dossier. He took in the nice house, the
dojo, and the sounds of vicious combat.
Yep, he had the right place.
Sighing he went through the gate, up the path, up to the front door, and knocked.
The door was opened by a young woman in a pretty dress and an apron.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Um, hi. Is Ranma in?" Tenchi asked.
"Oh my. You're not here to challenge him are you?"
Tenchi gave the woman an odd look.
"No, I'm his cousin Tenchi."
"Oh, sorry. We can't be too careful, what with all Ranma's friends dropping by to fight
him, marry him, kidnap Akane and such. I'm Kasumi." Kasumi gave a little bow, which
Tenchi responded to. "Ranma should be out back. Come in and I'll go fetch him."
Tenchi followed Kasumi to the Tea room to wait. Kasumi herself went out to the shogi.
"Ranma! You have a visitor."
"Be there in a sec Kasumi!" Ranma-chan's voice came back.
True to her word, Ranma-chan trudged into the Tea room still slightly damp from her
sparring session.
"Hi Ten-chan. What brings you here?"
"Oh, a few things. Are you sure you don't want to change and dry off first?"
"Wha?" Ranma looked down on herself. "Oh. Er, right. Be back in a bit."
Tenchi just chuckled as Ranma bounded off.
***
"My you're lively today." Makoto observed as he and Skuld left the temple.
"So I like the weekends." Skuld humphed, then stopped to drool at the bikes outside. They
were custom Ducatti 911 turbos.
"Figured you might like them." Makoto chuckled.
Sitting astride one of the bikes (black with sky blue lines) in tight bikers leathers was Ifurita.
"Collecting again?" She teased.
"I'm hurt." Makoto complained before kissing her on the cheek. "You haven't met Skuld
yet have you?"
"She's not in any of my classes."
The young goddess came out of her drooling to notice just who Makoto's companion was.
"Ifurita-sensei?" She asked weakly.
"I'm only 'sensei' during school Skuld-chan." The Demon-God smiled reassuringly.
"Um... OK. You two are together?" Skuld shook her head. "Don't let Urd find out.
She'll 'help'."
"I've noticed that tendency." Ifurita commented dryly.
"So, where're we heading?"
Makoto tossed her a spare helmet.
"Nerima. Tenchi told me he'd be visiting Ranma today. I thought we'd drop in and watch
the show." He smirked.
"I suggested going to Juuban and doing some Senshi hunting." Ifurita pointed out. "But
Makoto pointed out that we should look around the area by the school."
"You've been talking to Hiroshi and Daisaku, right?" Skuld looked pointedly at Makoto.
"OK. You got me. Nabiki seems to have left out a bit from those dossiers, so I'm curious
as to what exactly." Makoto moved over to help Skuld with her helmet. "I've fitted
earphones and mikes to the helmets." He fitted a box to her belt, then connected some jacks
to the helmet. "I initially just wanted to fit radios, but I got fancy and added an anti-sound
system as well. We'll be able to talk clearly, so there's no need to shout." He put his own
helmet on. "You're with Ifurita. She's the better rider of the two of us."
Skuld just nodded and climbed on behind the woman as Ifurita started the engine. It roared
into life with a deep throaty growl before settling down to a smooth purr.
"Wow! Who did you get to do the work? Even Keiichi's friends couldn't get an engine this
perfect." Skuld asked.
Makoto had already started his own bike (a strange flame-red, sky-blue and sea green
combo for the colour scheme) before replying.
"Lets just say I have a few friends who owed me a favour." Makoto's voice was amused
over the radio.
"Hold on very tight." Ifurita's warm voice warned before the two drivers revved the
engines to kick in the turbos, spun the tyres and shot off, completely synchronised.
One didn't need a radio to hear Skuld's scream of fear and delight echo into the distance.
From the wall of the temple, Urd shook her head in amusement. Too bad Makoto and
Ifurita seemed fine. They were an excellent couple.
***
Darkness.
Presence. Master.
A mission.
Transference.
In a backstreet somewhere, a cloud of blackness faded into view. It hung there, coiling and
churning, before drifting off.
***
Peorth was NOT a happy bunny. She was confused, and that made her irritable. Quite a
few things made her irritable but lets not get into that.
Currently she was confused by the invitation from Belldandy to pop down and see them.
Sure Belldandy was nice enough, but they were RIVALS for Kami-sama's sake. Still, she
couldn't really turn down an invite from one of the Norns.
So it was that Peorth, Goddess of Forever, found herself teleporting into the Tea room of the
temple that the Norns (And Keiichi-san, can't forget him) stayed in. The two eldest sisters
sat calmly, waiting.
"Hello Peorth." Belldandy greeted her fellow goddess calmly.
"Nice to see you again Belldandy, Urd." She nodded in greeting. "What's with the wards?
They seem off."
Belldandy smiled and turned her voice to the walls.
"Engage." The word was intoned with magical command.
Peorth felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise as if in fright as the privacy spell Belldandy
had woven into the wards activated. Since the wards could literally take anything Mara could
possibly throw at them, the privacy field was very powerful. Belldandy had not just spent her
time doing housework. No, she had developed wards and spells of immense strength and
power. Urd hadn't known until now why the middle goddess had left her power supply at so
low a rate. She had been increasing her stamina for and efficiency of use of magic. Kami-
sama had approved a threefold increase in her power flow just that day, and the effects could
be felt now.
"Wh..what?" The newly arrived goddess stammered.
"Sit Peorth. There is much to be done." Urd told her.
Peorth gulped. Urd going formal usually meant pronouncements of Destiny. She had a
feeling things would be getting worse.
***
Mamoru Chiba was normally a calm and reasonably collected individual. Right now, calm
and collected was booking passage to Never-Never Land.
"This sounds like something out of a manga." He muttered after hearing the experiences of
the Senshi during the week. "You aren't kidding, are you?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Ami was not happy at being doubted.
Setsuna sighed. That alone was an indicator of how much she had to deal with.
"If there was any way we could avoid this, I would have done it already."
"So why not tell us the whole story Sailor Pluto?"
The Senshi turned to look at Usagi. No, Princess Serenity. They could tell from the
posture, the voice, the very presence projected by the person sat to the side that this was the
Moon Princess.
"Or must I command you to do so?" The tone was soft, cultured and regal.
"There is no need for that Your Highness." Setsuna/Pluto replied. "There are only Two
forces that can prevent me from maintaining the Time Stream and preventing significant
changes. They are all a higher power than I or yourself, Your Highness. The first are those
from whom we derive our powers, the Caretakers of Reality themselves. We would call them
God and Goddesses. I am able to feel their work in the Time Stream, yet this did not happen.
That leaves the second force."
Pluto stopped, before looking each of the others there in the eyes. Her gaze swept across
them like an arctic gale, finally resting on her Princess.
"The Creator Himself has altered the Time Stream. His reasons are beyond anything we
could comprehend; yet He always seeks the betterment of His creations. For Him to take
such drastic action Himself can mean only one thing. Upon the coming battle rests not only
our Fates, but also the Fate of the Universe itself. We were but a stepping stone in the grand
scheme of things. Now we are of the foundation; every thing that has come before us, and
everything yet to come relies on us." Pluto paused. "And those that we stand with." She
finished.
"So what is your council Sailor Pluto?" Usagi/Serenity asked. "What would you have us
do to counter this threat to Reality Itself?"
"Do as you would normally do." Pluto answered. "To second guess The Creator is worse
than futile. He has set into motion events such that when necessary, the threat can be
countered."
"A wise council, yet one that will be grating upon us." Serenity smiled. "Yet it is not the
first time." The smile turned into a cheeky grin. "At least we get to kick ass and take names
at the end of it." At the shocked looks Serenity/Usagi stuck her tongue out at them.
***
"So what's up?" Ranma asked his cousin.
The two of them had relocated to the dojo to talk as the Tea room had got rather crowded
and Ranma could tell Tenchi didn't want everybody to know about whatever it was. Besides,
Tenchi's advice to Ranma during the week had helped the martial artist through class. Well,
Makoto had figured it out, but Tenchi had put it in terms he could understand.
"If you work best during a battle, treat everything as a battle."
Right now, Tenchi was pondering how to broach the subject, and how much to tell.
"Have you ever accidentally used a Chi blast?" Tenchi asked.
"Huh?" That was Ranma's usual reaction to things he didn't understand.
Tenchi sighed. "I mean, you're fighting when suddenly, you use a move you don't know.
You know you don't know it, you're not sure as to how it happened... yet you used it. Has
that ever happened to you?"
Ranma looked pensive. "No. This happen to you?"
"Kinda. Think of the Neko-Ken, but you're aware of doing it. You just don't know HOW
you're doing it."
"So what'd ya want?"
"I need help getting control of these abilities. The few times they've triggered, the power
levels used were overkill."
Ranma nodded sagely. All he understood was that his cousin had a problem and it would be
BAD if it wasn't controlled.
"Wanna spar?"
Tenchi gave him a 'Huh?' look.
"I can teach ya a few tricks, but I kinda need to figure out how much you can do."
***
Mousse was not a happy bunny. Well actually he was not a happy duck-that-had-been-a-
boy-two-seconds-ago, but the general feeling was the same. Right now he was not a happy
bunny (duck, boy, whatever) because he was in mood number 5 (Why doesn't Shampoo see
that I love her, instead of chasing that low life Ranma? I will KILL him. Her. Whatever)
and, like the infamous Kuno, was building up a nice head of steam. Since Mousse's last
attack had been way back on Thursday (Yesterday had been that business with the demon and
the Senshi), he felt that now would be a good time as his enemy would be unprepared.
Considering that Ranma gets attacked an average of 3.6 times a day (Glomps are worth 0.4,
Mallets 0.1), Ranma is constantly on "Watch-out-for-rivals-and-Mallets" status. This renders
Mousse's plan moot but that's never stopped him before.
Also consider the fact that without his glasses (and sometimes WITH them), Mousse
couldn't see straight. The phrase 'Blind as a bat' didn't apply as most bats the Author knows
can see better than Mousse.
Now, taking all these factors into account, many would seriously consider the poor blind
duck-boy insane. The Author would like to point out that this IS Nerima, and the term insane
doesn't apply. It's too stable. However since 'obsessive-compulsive and blind to reality'
does not quite have the same ring to it, it will have to do.
We'll come back to Mousse in a bit, once he's found some hot water.
***
The two Ducatti's were travelling reasonably slowly when they came upon the Tendo dojo.
Reasonably meant they were within the speed limit. Just.
Their stop was as spectacular as their start. The two riders hit the brakes hard, slung the rear
of the bike 90 degrees to the direction of travel (incidentally such that the two riders faced
each other), and allowed the skid for about a second. They then allowed the bikes to
complete their 180 spin and ran the rear wheels against the flow of movement to stop.
For Skuld, her first high-speed ride on a motorbike had been a doozy.
"Ha..has the r..ride stop..ped yet..t?" The little goddess was stuttering from adrenaline.
The two riders chuckled and took off their helmets.
"You'd have thought she didn't like it." Makoto commented.
"You mean those shouts of 'Weee...', 'Yahoo!' and 'Yeeehaaaa!' weren't signs of
enjoyment?" Ifurita asked, puzzled as Skuld tried to disentangle herself.
"You mean those times when she wasn't praying?"
Skuld blushed. If anyone from Above found out she had been praying for deliverance, it
would take centuries for her to live it down.
"I'll never pick on Keiichi again." She muttered as she got used to terra firma once more.
When she'd started the rollercoster ride that brought her here, she had thought the bikes had
been the most beautiful machines she had ever seen. Now the most beautiful machine she
had ever seen was the one that a few moments ago she'd had her arms around, hanging onto
for dear life. The one that had joined Makoto in gently teasing her.
Ifurita.
~ Kami-sama she's gorgeous! ~ Skuld thought.
While Skuld was recovering, the lovers moved their bike over to the dojo walls and locked
them down.
~ The Motor Systems alone... ~
The young goddess jumped when a hand was put on her shoulder.
"You OK Skuld?" Makoto asked. "You seem kind of out of it."
Skuld nodded dumbly.
Makoto sighed. "I'm sorry if we over did it with the bikes..."
Skuld smiled weakly.
"I think I kinda needed it." She told him, but refused to elaborate. "Where'd you learn to
ride like that anyway?"
"From me." Ifurita replied. "I picked up the skills before moving to Japan." Well, it wasn't
EXACTLY a lie, just not the whole truth.
Skuld nodded. She'd check up on Ifurita sometime later.
"Well. Let's go see what's going on?" Makoto said, walking the short distance to the dojo
gates.
***
The Senshi meeting had been over for a little while now. Hotaru and Chibi-Usa were
walking towards a nondescript house between Juuban and Nerima to pick up a friend. Ever
since that first day at school, the three of them seemed to be together.
"I hope Sasami's in." Hotaru commented.
"Why shouldn't she be?" Chibi-Usa asked as they walked to the door. "She said she'd
come out today."
The front door of the house opened to show Ayeka about to leave. Chibi-Usa got a much
stronger version of the feeling she had experienced when she had seen Sasami the first time.
"Oh hello." Ayeka smiled as she noticed the two young girls. "What can I do for you?"
"Um. Is Sasami in?" Hotaru asked.
"Oh. You must be Hotaru and Usagi." Ayeka gave them a searching look. ~ Well they
seem to be nice girls. ~ In fact, they both gave that comfortable feeling she got around
Michiru, Haruka and their friends. Particularly the little Usagi; she wondered if the two of
them were related. "I'm Ayeka, Sasami's older sister." The three of them bowed slightly to
each other. "I'll go and tell her you are here."
A few moments late Sasami came bouncing to the door.
"Hi! Come in, I'm just making lunch."
As the youngest of the Senshi made their way in, they noticed what Sasami and Ayeka were
wearing. The kimono like outfits looked slightly too ornate and a bit too complex to be
regular clothes, yet the two sisters looked entirely comfortable in them.
"Well, I should be going." Ayeka announced.
"Bye Sis." Sasami called from the kitchen. "Don't forget to pick up the groceries."
"Sounds like you run the place." Chibi-Usa giggled.
"Someone has to." Sasami told them as she came in, plate full of sandwiches. "I shudder
to think what they'd do without me."
"They look nice." Hotaru commented, pointing to the food.
"Have one." Sasami beamed.
Chibi-Usa grabbed one and took a bite. Her eyes widened in astonishment. The rest of the
sandwich followed in short order.
"Wow! These are better than Mako-chan's."
Sasami looked on in amusement (quickly taking a couple for herself) as the two Senshi
launched themselves at the food.
***
Tenchi was in a ready stance, trying to find his centre.
Off to the side Ranma was keeping an eye on him while talking with his guests.
"So it's a focusing technique?" Makoto asked.
"Yeah."
"Why in a martial arts stance?"
"It's what I'm used to." Ranma shrugged. "If it don't work I'll try something else."
"Don't you think about anything but martial arts?" Skuld asked peevishly.
"Yep. Avoiding my fianc‚es, not getting killed by rivals, not getting fleeced by Nabiki..."
"I hardly think Tendo-san is as bad as you make out." Ifurita told him.
"So why is she taking photos of you from behind the corner?"
The camera disappeared.
Sighing, Ifurita turned and waved seemingly absently in that direction. A few seconds later
a flustered Nabiki was blown around the corner, camera still in hand and a few inches off the
ground.
"You know, I want sixty percent of those IF you sell them."
If Nabiki wasn't slightly freaked already (she still wasn't touching the ground), she was
after that comment.
"*SIXTY*?!?" Nabiki screeched. "Forty at most."
"Sixty five." Ifurita increased. "Or I can get you expelled for unauthorised distribution of a
teacher's image. It's in the school rules."
Nabiki froze. She hadn't actually thought that someone would use that rule (it was
supposed to cover school events) like that.
"What about the rest?" Ranma asked, an evil smile on his face. "I happen to know she sells
pictures of me in both forms, some highly questionable." He glared at the suspended young
lady. "Not to mention her sister. Isn't kiddie porn illegal?"
Skuld, to Ranma's secret delight, unlimbered her omnipresent mallet and aimed it at Nabiki.
Ifurita's gaze turned stern and disapproving.
"I see. I am sorry for doubting you Ranma-san. It seems I will have to talk to her father."
Nabiki had turned white. Not only because Ranma KNEW of those photos, but he had said
so in front of a teacher.
"And I suppose a teacher going out with a student is any better?" Nabiki shot back.
The smile on Ifurita's face was not reassuring.
"The principal already knows. I informed him as soon as I realised."
The middle Tendo swore silently.
There was a sigh of disappointment from the side.
"Nabiki, how could you?" Kasumi complained.
That broke Nabiki. The one person she admired had found out and disapproved.
"How else was I supposed to keep the dojo in the black?" She demanded. "Dad won't
teach, we have two bottomless pits to feed, all the damages to fix..."
Ifurita yanked Nabiki over to look into her eyes.
"Fifty percent, and you WILL ask those you are taking photos of for their permission."
"Done." Nabiki knew she wouldn't get a better deal.
Ifurita put her down.
"Now I doubt the damages can be that bad."
"If it isn't Akane knocking Ranma through the walls, it's his other fiancees or a rival
screaming-"
"DIE RANMA!" Mousse screamed as he leapt the wall and let loose a large number of
swords, daggers, maces and chains (with and without spikes), and assorted other weapons and
objects.
Unfortunately, although he for once targeted the right person, it is hard to be accurate with
that many projectiles.
For a moment...
...everyone stood stock still in shock...
...Tenchi felt his friends in danger, and found his centre...
For a moment...
...Tsunami jumped as she felt the surge...
...Yggdrasil threw up an alert about a leak of the Ultimate Force on the mortal plane...
...every alarm in Washu's lab went off...
...Setsuna spat out her tea in shock as space/time warped...
...Usagi heard the Ginzuishou scream out, in joy and pain...
...Mamoru felt the Earth groan under the strain of holding the power...
...Belldandy collapsed as her domain buckled and bent...
For a moment...
...Kami-sama smiled...
...a presence stirred...
For a moment...
...Tenchi had total control of his power...
For a moment.
A moment is all it took.
For in that moment, Tenchi moved.
He had the Lighthawk Sword in his hand.
All the weapons, chains and objects halted in mid-air short of their target. Then fell apart,
completely cut through.
Mousse's landing was light, but it was enough to jog the wall which slid slightly to show it
to was cut through. Mousse didn't notice this, as the next moment he found himself
embedded in the wall by the Koi pond. He spat blood.
Ifurita had held back.
Barely.
Gravity peeled the duck-boy from where he hung in/on the wall, where upon he collapsed to
the ground with a sodden thump.
Ranma walked over to the crumpled heap that was Mousse knowing that the Amazon had
gotten ludicrously lucky. When she had reacted, Ranma had seen in Ifurita a fully blooded
warrior. One who had killed for less than what Mousse had just done.
Taking the tub that he and his father sometimes used in practice, he splashed Mousse then
lifted the duck by his neck.
"A word of advice. DON'T try that again."
Tossing Mu-Mu-chan into the air, he blasted the duck over the horizon. He didn't bother
announcing the technique.
"Everyone OK?" He asked as he turned round.
"Nothing but shock." Ifurita announced. "Thanks to Tenchi-san."
"Just Tenchi, Ifurita." Tenchi complained weakly.
Ranma asked the question with a glance. Tenchi nodded, then pointed to the wall. It was
only then that Ranma noticed it. He whistled.
"From over there? I guess we do need to work on things."
***
The three friends were giggling amongst themselves in a cafe when Chibi-Usa spotted a
familiar face.
"Hey it's Mako-chan!" The pink-hared girl exclaimed and waved the tall pony-tailed
brunette over.
"Hi guys." Makoto said cheerfully. "Who's your friend?"
Chibi-Usa and Hotaru smirked. This was TOO perfect.
"Makoto Kino," Hotaru introduced formally, "Meet Sasami Masaki, your Arch-Rival." The
two of them then exploded into laughter.
When the two young girls calmed down the whole thing was explained.
"Really?" Makoto was intrigued. "I've never met someone who could get my friends to
say they cooked better than me. Well, there was that time with Haruka and Michiru."
"Yeah." Hotaru giggled. "Michiru-mama really got Haruka-papa with a zinger that time."
"Michiru-mama? Haruka-papa?!?" Sasami was confused. "Ayeka knows a couple of girls
called Michiru and Haruka. We're not talking about the same people are... we...?" The
azure-hared girl trailed off as Makoto nodded her head.
Hotaru looked sheepish.
"They're my adoptive parents."
Sasami gave her an odd look, then shrugged.
"Well, I call Tenchi my big brother at times."
Makoto shook her head.
"This is getting freaky. There are too many coincidences going on today."
"It could be worse." Chibi-Usa pointed out. "A monster could be on a rampage."
"Yeah. And the Sailor Senshi would turn up to destroy it." Sasami said, a slightly far away
look in her eyes. Not noticing the glances the others at the table were passing between each
other she continued. "I bet it's great to be a magical girl."
"What? Prancing about in costume saying speeches?" Hotaru asked.
Sasami switched tone.
"I am the Magical Warrior Pretty Sammy! In the name of Love and Justice, prepare to be
punished!" She pronounced, making motions with her hands.
The Senshi couldn't help themselves. They laughed.
"And then you'd whack them over the head with a heart topped baton." Chibi-Usa added.
Sasami giggled.
"I suppose when you put it like that it does seem rather silly." Sasami sighed. "But at least
you get to do SOMETHING."
Her friends raised eyebrows at that.
"Come on." Makoto said, getting up. "Let's head to the arcade."
***
Mousse was battered, bruised and had a couple of broken ribs.
"Damn you Ranma!" He whispered hoarsely. He didn't know who that woman was at the
Tendo's, but she had to be Ranma's fault. Admittedly he wasn't thinking straight, as the pain
made his thoughts travel Ryoga-like paths.
Darkness descended, and he passed out.
***
~ Sometimes I wonder why I bother. ~ Washu thought as she checked the brief readings.
~ For a moment I thought it was Mihoshi again. ~ But it wasn't.
Checking over the results, the redhead was amazed that her sensors were in one piece. The
power surge should have burned them out. Heck, she was amazed the planet was still in one
piece.
~ Hum... This looks like Tenchi. ~ Washu noted. A sudden panic gripped her. ~ Is he
OK? ~ She worried, typing furiously. ~ Location: Tendo Dojo, Nerima. The place where
Tenchi's cousin Ranma lives. ~ Washu breathed a sign of relief. ~ At least nothing has
turned up on my scope as a threat. ~
***
At the Arcade, the three Senshi and Sasami bumped into Minako who was playing the Sailor
V game.
"Feh." Minako complained as she lost her last life. "I was this close to beating my record
too."
"You take that game WAY too seriously Mina-chan." Makoto shook her head sadly.
"Hah! I'd like to see you do better."
"I'll have a go." Sasami said timidly.
Minako got out of the way and gestured grandly for her to take her place.
***
Ifurita watched as Ranma practised.
"I wouldn't mind sparring with you Ranma."
Ranma stopped and looked at her.
"Sorry. I don't fight girls."
Ifurita shook her head. "That's just plain stupid Ranma. Besides, I'm not a girl." She said
with a dangerous look in her eyes. "I'm a Woman."
Ranma raised an eyebrow in imitation of Nabiki. "Oh? And how does that make it
different?"
"You may change into one, but you still have much to learn about the female of the
species." Ifurita said sadly. "Your refusal to fight women will be your death Ranma."
Seeing she wasn't getting through to him, she tried another tack. "You wish to teach Martial
Arts correct?"
Ranma nodded.
"Did you honestly think you would only teach men? That sort of sexist attitude will do you
no good in this day and age. You readily acknowledge your father to be an idiot, correct?"
Again, Ranma nodded.
"Then why do you hold to his way of thinking?"
"It's how I was raised. The code..."
"Does not apply in this case." Ifurita stood. "Ranma Saotome, I challenge you to a duel.
Should I win, you follow my instructions as to how you should act. Should I loose, I will
never mention this again. Do you accept, or yield?" The whole challenge was delivered with
Ifurita's Demon-God tone of voice.
Ranma was not feeling very sure of himself at that moment. The tone of voice used
screamed 'I can kill you so easily it is frightening'. However, he had never backed down
from a challenge, so despite his misgivings he assumed a ready stance.
"I accept your challenge, and agree to your terms." Somehow he realised he should have
specified not to do anything with his girl-side, but he KNEW she would not abuse the power
she might have over him (It was a Martial Artist thing).
Ifurita went into combat mode, setting herself in a modified cat stance.
Silence reigned in the Dojo for a few moments.
Ranma launched his assault with a low kick, coming to the conclusion his teacher (and
maybe friend) was able to out-wait him. Ifurita merely side-stepped the kick, responding
with a mid-high kick of her own at Ranma's lowered head. Ranma rolled sideways to avoid,
came to his feet and burst forward. Ifurita blocked the oncoming storm of punches and kicks
calmly, counter-striking where available.
As the fight went on, Ifurita analysed Ranma's style. She dissected it, examined it and
catalogued it.
~ Very good. It seems to be a combination of different styles, but no linking factor. A kick
followed by a knife hand chop? Those two shouldn't really be able to go together. He adapts
quickly. Far too quickly. It's as if he was trained to adapt as fast as possible. ~ The
learning systems kicked in a major link to the analysis routines, then locked out Ifurita's
conscious control of her body. Combat control went to the autonomic systems temporally.
~ What the...? ~ The Demon-God recognised the event. It was for when her core
consciousness went offline. The problem being she was still awake.
Every major combat and computational system engaged in a major functional review.
Ifurita could only watch as whatever was happening went on. She finally realised what was
happening.
~ Adaptation and creativity routines. They are being upgraded. Massively upgraded. And
added to all my systems. ~
The entire process took less than thirty seconds, then Ifurita took control again. The new
and improved Tactical analysis of the time under autonomous control yielded a few new
insights into the Anything Goes style.
~ He still isn't taking me seriously. ~ Ifurita noted. There was a distinct lack of offence on
Ranma's part. ~ Time to divest him of that attitude. ~
Ranma was stunned as he was suddenly hit several times with a strength above Ryoga's,
then tossed about like a rag doll before finally being thrown into the floor so hard he
temporarily blacked out.
"You will need to do far better than that Ranma." Ifurita told him as he slowly made his
way to his feet. "Otherwise you will find yourself IN the ground instead of ON it."
On Ranma's personal scale, Ifurita had just bumped herself up to Taro-like threat levels.
~ I knew she was good for smashing Mousse like that, but this? ~ He was not expecting
this sort of thing from a woman other than Cologne.
Ifurita detected the increase in power from Ranma before his battle aura flared into being.
"OK Ranma, it seems you have decided to take me seriously at last. I hope you have
learned from that mistake."
Ranma's answer was to jump straight in at a higher level.
"Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!"
Ifurita couldn't block all the strikes and was knocked back. Ranma didn't let up.
"Mouko Takabisha!"
Ifurita took the blast dead on, throwing her further back.
~ Better. He's actually considering me a threat now. ~ She thought as she got up. Her
systems were already integrating the attacks into her repertoire. The were also analysed and
discovered to used the same principles, even though they produced hugely different effects.
~ Ifurita: Force Bolt. ~
Ifurita pointed her palm at Ranma and blasted him to the far end of the Dojo.
~ What the hell was that? ~ Ranma thought as he pulled himself from the wall. ~ It
wasn't a chi blast. I didn't sense it! ~
~ Ifurita: Flame Arrow. ~
Ranma reacted to the heat build-up.
"Hiryuu Shouten Ha revised! Horizontal Blast!"
Ifurita weathered the attack, watching in interest as her own was extinguished.
~ Analysis: Tornado attack. Caused by hot and cold air reaction. Energy source designated
Chi/Ki analysed. Integrating. ~
Ifurita smiled to herself as the knowledge came in. This should be fun.
Cupping her hands together she created and gathered her chi then attacked, thrusting her
hands forward.
"Ha!" She yelled.
Ranma definitely sensed it this time, as a chi blast THREE times the size of his Mouko
Takabisha roared down on him. He barely dodged in time. The wall wasn't so lucky, being
disintegrated by the attack.
~ Analysis: Point five-percent blast at Level 2 effectiveness. Attack registered as Kami
Hami Ha. Theoretical Max effectiveness equivalent to Bright Arrow. ~
~ Makoto watched way too much Dragonball when was young. ~ Ifurita thought wryly.
Now that Ifurita was giving off chi, Ranma could sense she had far more where that came
from. He jumped to his highest fighting level; the level he killed Saffron at.
Ifurita's sensors went off milliseconds before Ranma's vicious assault began. The two of
them went at it tooth and nail, Ifurita utilising the Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken throughout
her body at a level Ranma could only dream about.
~ Ifurita: Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken revised: Thunderstorm. ~
Ranma was hit over 2000 times in 1.2 seconds. The stuttering, thundering crack as hands,
arms, elbows, legs and feet repeatedly shattered the sound barrier blew out the paper thin
walls of the Dojo in a shockwave.
The inhabitants and guests of the Tendo household looked at the Dojo in shock. The first
explosion had attracted them to the building behind the house, and now... It had no walls at
all. The roof was miraculously undamaged. They could see inside to the still standing
Ifurita, who only looked slightly dusty, and the collapsed Ranma, whose clothing was in
tatters.
Ifurita looked to the crowd and said simply...
"I win."
***
Minako's jaw was hanging a good half metre down from its usual position.
Sasami finished entering her name into the scoreboard. She turned and smiled brightly.
"Tada!"
"Well, what do you know. She completed the Sailor V game." Makoto was stunned.
"You did know there are no zeros on the score counter?" Chibi-Usa pointed out.
Hotaru didn't say a word.
"Aw, I just play lots of computer games." ~ Not that there's much else to do. ~ Sasami
thought. ~ Besides, this doesn't even come close to Washu's! ~
***
The redhead in question had just arranged the repairs to the Tendo Dojo after being called
by Tenchi. Now she was playing twenty questions with Ifurita.
"Now, how exactly did you do blow out the walls?"
"I hit him 2084 times in 1.2 seconds. Each hit was at roughly 1.4 times the speed of sound."
Ifurita shrugged. "Hyper compression on the shock waves effectively created a supersonic
wall of sound, much like a bomb going off."
"Ifurita has a talent for picking up methods and techniques." Makoto told them. "Although
I didn't expect this."
"Sorry." Ifurita smiled winsomely. "But for some reason chi techniques seem really easy.
I hardly put any effort into my chi blast, and it STILL was about three times what Ranma
used on me." ~ Ifurita: The energy conversion from my reserves has a 3000% magnification
factor Makoto. ~
~ Makoto: 3000%?!? Jeez, that's about the same rate as for your staff. ~
"This I have to see." Washu said.
Ifurita walked out side and cupped her hands in preparation.
~ Ifurita: Kami Hami Ha. One percent. ~
"When you're ready."
"HA!" Ifurita launched a column of energy two metres in diameter into the sky.
"OK." Nabiki recovered from Ifurita's earlier pronouncement of hitting Ranma so many
times in a second that Cologne would freak. "Note to self. No bets against Ifurita-san in a
fight."
"That's a no-brainer Nabiki." Ranma's tired voice came from behind.
"Jeez Ran-chan." Tenchi said, looking him over. "Don't you think you've had enough for
one day?"
"I'd agree." Ifurita commented. "However I believe Ranma has a reason for trying to kill
himself at the moment."
Ranma managed a weak chuckle.
"Good fight, Sensei."
Ifurita smiled and nodded. "Now get your ass back in bed!" She ordered.
Ranma did as he was told, chuckling all the way.
***
The power was around here. It could sense it. The Master would have the power.
***
"Wow. These are better than mine." Sasami said, grabbing another blueberry muffin.
They were at Makoto's apartment. Minako was not feeling too good. Hotaru, after getting
over her shock, joined with Chibi-Usa in trying to contain giggles at the blonde's distress.
"How about we swap recipes?" Makoto asked.
"Sure." Sasami thought the guys back home would love these muffins. "Got a piece of
paper?"
"On the desk. Second from the right."
Sasami nodded and went to get some writing materials.
"I like her." Makoto announced.
Just as their communicators went off.
Minako activated hers first.
"Go."
"There's a dark energy signature in Nerima." Mercury's voice came from the device.
"Pluto and Mars are suspicious, Moon and Tuxedo-Kamen say it's heading for a power
source there. A very BIG power source."
"Be there ASAP. Saturn and Chibi-Moon may be late."
"Roger."
In the other room, Sasami fell against the desk as she felt Tsunami's power.
~ Sasami: What?!? ~
~ Tsunami: Close your eyes for a moment. Your precognition is kicking in. ~
Sasami did as she was asked and saw...
...Someone struggling inside a shell of darkness. The shell was fighting the...Senshi? And
a staff-wielding warrior with bloodstained hands, cloaked in Love.
But the last of the warriors was someone she recognised instantly. Tenchi!...
Sasami's eyes snapped open.
~ Tsunami: I'm on it Sasami. Don't worry. ~ The presence faded to a background level.
Sasami worried nevertheless as she picked up some paper.
***
Pluto was scared. This was not a state she was regularly in. The Princess and Prince were
certain that the darkness was after the power they had all felt. The concept of such power
existing without her knowing about it was frightening enough, but for an unknown
enemy...ANY enemy...to gain control of it...
She pressed ahead of the others, using her temporal senses to locate the power source while
Mercury tracked the dark energy.
~ How in the name of Serenity can that much power just disappear? ~ She wondered.
Mercury had her visor on, and was trying to project the destination...damn it, of COURSE it
would go there.
***
"Thank you for the tea Kasumi-san." Tenchi bowed. "But I really must be going."
"Same here." Skuld said. "It's been fun, but my sister wants me back by two." ~ And I
really want to tell her about you. ~ She added silently.
"OK. Do you want to take Skuld home or should I?" Makoto asked.
"You go ahead." Ifurita smiled at him. "I have a few things still to discuss with Ranma."
"OK. Come on then Skuld."
"What is it about Nerima that causes all the craziness?" Tenchi muttered under his breath as
they walked out the front door. Makoto heard and repressed a smile.
"Will we be going back the same way we came?" Skuld asked Makoto.
"Not quite. I'm not as good a rider as Ifurita."
"Fine." Skuld said, relieved she wouldn't have another 30-minute roller-coaster ride. "I
could do with-" The little goddess suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Tenchi asked, noticing her look.
"Darkness." Skuld intoned. "Something bad."
The two young men began looking around for trouble. Out of the corner of his eye, Tenchi
spotted movement and turned to see...
Mousse landing on the wall of the Tendo compound.
"Oh great." He groaned quietly. "What do you want now Mousse?"
"That isn't Mousse." Skuld growled ominously, slipping her hand beneath her over-shirt to
her bombs.
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked. None of them moved their eyes from the figure on
the wall, a habit picked up from their experiences.
"He's possessed or something."
"You sure? That looks like Mousse." Mousse let off an evil laugh. "Sound like him too.
Well, mostly."
"His eyes Makoto." Tenchi pointed out. "It looks like he can see for once."
Makoto peered at the man on the wall.
"And the fact his eyes are completely black didn't clue you in?"
"They're almost completely black Makoto." Tenchi said. "It's the little details like that that
make all the difference."
"Where is she?" Growled Mousse. "I would take my vengeance upon she who humiliated
me."
"OK. Now that is most definitely NOT Mousse." Tenchi observed. "He has better sense
than to sound like he's borrowed Kuno's speechwriter. I sometimes wonder where Kuno
found one locked in the 16th century."
"You mean he doesn't make them up?" Skuld asked.
"Come on Skuld. This is Kuno we're talking about." Makoto pointed out. ~ Makoto:
Ifurita, dear. We have a guest asking for you. Its Mousse, and we think he's possessed. ~
~ Ifurita: Oh? Why? ~
~ Makoto: He sounds like he's borrowed Kuno's speechwriter. ~ There was a pause; ~
Oh, and his eyes are almost completely black. ~ Makoto added, almost as an afterthought.
~ Ifurita: Oh, all right. But only because you asked so nicely. ~
~ Sarcasm is a wonderful thing. ~ Makoto thought dryly.
"You again?" Ifurita called from the shogi. "I'd have thought you would have learned your
lesson." There was a stern look of disapproval on the Demon-God's face.
"Ouch." Makoto winced quietly. "She's... Upset."
"That's a Bad Thing(TM) right?" Skuld asked rhetorically.
"Along the lines of juggling high explosive on a unicycle?" Tenchi added.
"Discretion is the better part of valour, and 'dis creature knows when to get out of here."
Makoto replied.
"Anything, but no more puns." Skuld winced.
Tenchi knocked them flying to the sound of a hefty thunk.
"I don't think whoever it is liked it either." Tenchi commented. Where they had been
standing was a large double-handed scimitar, it's tip buried in the doorframe.
A miniature waterspout rose from the Koi pond to hit Mousse.
Who wasn't affected.
"OK..." Tenchi drawled. "That's the clincher."
Mousse leapt, and let fly with a hailstorm of projectiles. Acting on instinct, Skuld tossed a
bomb above herself, Tenchi and Makoto.
Impressive force met high explosive object. The results were fairly predictable.
Skuld's bomb exploded, shredding the weaponry aimed at the trio. It also provided a
smokescreen and headaches for them.
Ifurita struck back instantly, avoiding the junk directed at her by launching herself to meet
the possessed duck-boy in mid-air. Mousse countered by pulling a cast iron cauldron out of a
sleeve to use as a shield.
The sullen ring of the cauldron filled the air.
Using the impact point, Ifurita pivoted round to deliver a vicious roundhouse kick to the
back of Mousse's neck. The force drove the young man into the ground like an artillery
shell, dirt exploding from the point of impact. A quick wind-blast cleared the dust for Ifurita
to drop towards Mousse like a missile. The possessed Amazon barely rolled out of the way.
The ground where he had lain was not so lucky, shattering under the force of the Demon-
God's kick.
Mousse rose to a defensive stance to meet...
An Ifurita who was through playing.
~ No more Miss Nice Demon-God. ~ The blue-hared doomsday weapon mentally snarled.
~ Ifurita: Kami Hami Ha. Two percent. ~
The blazing column of chi roared from her outstretched hands as though escaping from Hell.
The sometime Peking duck didn't have time to consider blinking before being engulfed.
Mousse emerged a bit singed, which surprised Ifurita a bit. As she watched however,
Mousse's white robes shimmered and darkened to deepest black.
~ Analysis: Energy from attack absorbed. Recommend caution. ~
The thing controlling Mousse's body smiled an evil grin.
"Yes. You will suit the Master's purpose well."
Without warning chains lashed out at Ifurita.
"Dead Scream."
The magical attack smashed through the chains, driving into the ground at Mousse's feat
before exploding and sending the Amazon flying backwards.
Ifurita took a moment to look up and saw four Senshi and their evening dressed friend
standing on the roof. She recognised Sailor Moon without difficulty, Mercury and Mars took
a little time, and the last...was...
The mysterious Sailor Pluto herself. Ifurita's eyes widened as she began to recognise the
staff wielding Senshi, her countermeasure systems penetrating the magical fields protecting
the Senshi's identity.
~ Tactical: Enemy recovering. ~
That put paid to the analysis of the Senshi as Ifurita returned her attention to the fight.
"So, the Sailor Senshi arrive." Mousse snarled.
"He's suffering from possession." Mercury warned from behind her visor.
"And he knows who we are, so need for the speech." Mars put in.
"Aw, but I like the speech." Moon whined.
~ And these are the people who protect the world? ~ Ifurita asked herself.
Mousse let loose with a storm of knives towards the Senshi, who leapt away.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury directed a blast of water at the enemy, who dodged.
Into Mars's sights.
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
The fire arrow hit, knocking Mousse back a bit but otherwise not doing any apparent
damage.
~ Analysis: Energy absorbed. Impulse delivered correctly. Recommend kinetic attacks. ~
Ifurita smashed into Mousse with a wind attack.
"Be careful! He's absorbing the energy. Go for attacks with lots of impact." The Demon-
God called before directing a Chi blast at the ground under Mousse's feet, throwing him
slightly airborne. Pluto understood quickly, closing for a sharp kick to the stomach followed
by her bringing her staff up under the chin of her opponent with all the force she could
muster. It wasn't quite Akane-class, but it did launch him high.
Ifurita was waiting with a Badger's Slash. She grinned evilly.
"Spike!"
The road outside the dojo compound suddenly developed a large crater and an irate
possessed master of hidden weapons.
"Good. Very good." Mousse coughed as he rose. "The Master will be pleased." He leapt
over the wall and targeted the lone Mercury. "You can die." He said coldly, firing off
another storm of weapons.
"Mercury!" Sailor Moon screamed.
The Senshi of Mercury stood frozen like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a truck.
Seconds from impact a blazing blue light trail swished through the air in a beautifully
complex pattern. Blinking a few times to the sound of metal hitting the hard ground,
Mercury focused on the figure in front of her.
Dressed in an odd brown, black and white outfit that allowed freedom of movement and
seemed to be body armour (Not that the Senshi could complain. Their fuku's were much the
same, appearing flimsy and revealing but with high protection value). Apparently male.
From the profile, his (?) lower face was covered by a mask, the upper by a solid, opaque
seeming visor. But most surprising was the strangely crafted hilt he held, and the glowing
blue blade of energy humming from it. He was holding a lightsaber, like from Star Wars.
"Are you OK?" The male voice was carefully modulated, screaming a highly advanced
distortion technology. The studious Senshi concluded the rest of the readings she may have
got on the figure would be equally distorted. She nodded carefully.
Tenchi was glad that his battle armour had some sort of cover for his face, as he didn't want
to make TOO much of an impact and try to keep it a secret. Seems it had some stealth and
disguise features as well, which he wished he'd known about sooner.
~ I could have really used them to get away from the girls at times. ~ He thought
morosely, watching Sailor Mercury nodding out of the corner of his eye. He then returned
his full attention to the fight.
Sailor Moon was in a quandary. Since the possessed martial artist seemed to be able to
adsorb the energy of attacks launched against him, she couldn't hit him with her standard
attacks for fear of supercharging him. Also, if it hadn't been for the new guy in the odd outfit
Mercury would have been sliced and diced.
And she had this craving for ramen for some odd reason.
~ Great. Hungry in the middle of a battle. Good going Usagi. ~ She internally groaned. ~
Rei will pick on me for a month. ~
She was suddenly clutched protectively by Tuxedo Kamen as he brought up his cloak to
protect them.
Pluto and Ifurita came in from both sides of Mousse, who blocked Ifurita with a cauldron
and Pluto with the kitchen sink.
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" Mercury had her visor down, and tried triggering the
Amazon's Jusenkyo curse. All present saw Mousse's eyes and robes return to normal for a
second upon impact. Black lightning began crackling across his body.
Mousse chuckled as he got up.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." Inky-black orbs gazed out at them. "But you'll have to do
better."
"Is that why you seem to be having problems controlling the body you've possessed?"
Mars asked snidely.
"Oh, I'm having no trouble at all." Mousse grinned evilly.
Before anyone could react, an explosion of crackling darkness engulfed the courtyard.
***
Belldandy paused.
"Did either of you just feel that?" She asked.
Peorth felt justifiably surprised out.
"What now...?" She trailed off as well.
Urd looked at the two higher ranging goddesses in askance.
"What?"
"Something big." Peorth looked at Belldandy.
"Near Skuld." The goddess of the Present nodded.
***
Uranus and Neptune were nearing the battle sight when chills ran up their spines.
"Wha...?" Uranus asked her companion when the dome of black energy appeared. With it,
a distant feeling of sheer terror flooded them.
"Princess!"
Their run turned into a mad dash.
***
Pluto looked around.
"No." She breathed. "No, not again."
Unbidden, she began to run towards the flames...
...That were engulfing the palace of the Moon Kingdom. That were destroying all she held
dear.
She knew she couldn't prevent it, but still she charged desperately to save the person she
loved from dying...
***
Moon whimpered unheard over the mad laughter.
Her friends were dying around her, sacrificing their lives for hers. Her Prince, dying in her
arms from doing the same. Why must they do so?
Why?...
***
The city below was beautiful. Ifurita marvelled at it.
But that didn't stop the doom it was about to face.
Ifurita didn't want to do this. Such peace should not be destroyed. But she could do
nothing as her arm raised her staff; as her systems charged up the instruments of death that
they held.
Showing no emotion on her face she fired, bringing fire and destruction to the beautiful city.
And fired.
And fired.
And fired.
Ifurita's soul screamed soundlessly and she shed a single tear over the expressionless visage
as she snuffed out more and more lives...
***
Tuxedo Kamen pounded futilely on the barrier between him and his love. He had to get
there. He HAD to!
As he watched, his love cradled their future child as the pink-hared girl faded away...
***
Mars and Mercury felt their resistance failing. They had to hang on!
But it was no use, and as darkness fell upon them they turned and raised their arms to attack
their Princess...
***
Tenchi recognised where he was almost immediately.
He was standing on the bridge of the Ryo-Oh. His attack on the Soja was... Had failed.
And Death, riding brilliant green light, was coming for him.
Had come for him. This had been the most terrifying day of his life...
But he had survived it.
As the fear built to overwhelm him, he smiled. And reached out to embrace his birthright.
***
"Please tell me you have an idea?" Neptune asked.
The two Senshi stood on the roof across from the dome of darkness, watching as the
occasional bolt of black lightning trace its way over the surface.
Uranus sighed.
"I wish I did love. I wish I did."
They stood there in silence until they felt something change. Looking, they saw WHITE
lightning fighting and overwhelming the black.
And the two Outer Senshi prayed.
***
Pluto lay sobbing over the body of her beloved. It was over; she had no reason to live. She
could not live without...
"Setsuna...?"
The Time Guardian's head came up sharply to see the fatally exhausted but triumphant eyes
of her love sparkling back at her.
"They will survive..." Pluto heard the whispered voice as the person beneath her used the
last of their strength to pull their lips closer.
"Please... Help them to succeed..." They were almost kissing.
"For me..." Down the Guardian's head came.
"I love you..." Contact.
Setsuna held the tender kiss until her love's spirit passed on. Raising her head to look down
upon the face of her love, teardrops dotting it now and then, she whispered her reply.
"I promise... My Queen."
***
A beam of light escaped the dome as white, jagged lines of power converged here and
there...
***
She could feel them, her friends. Their spirits surrounded her, comforting and encouraging
her.
Helping her.
She was not alone. Never alone. She was...
The Princess.
With that thought firmly in her mind, she brought forth the Ginzuishou against her enemy...
***
Another beam escaped...
***
The barrier cracked. It was weakening!
Another crack. Another...
Tuxedo Kamen put all his strength into this last hit...
***
Their princess smiled at them, and they faltered. They could not... Would not hurt HER!
***
Three shafts of light smashed out of the dome as it began to tremble...
***
This was just a memory. She was past this...
***
A latticework of twinkling lines appeared. The dome seemed to groan...
***
Tenchi stretched out his arms.
"Nice try." He chuckled.
And spread his wings.
***
The black dome exploded outwards, shattering into countless motes that disbursed
harmlessly.
"Very pretty." Kasumi commented.
Hanging above the courtyard in a black cloud was an unconscious Mousse.
"~ You think that will defeat me? ~" A soundless voice told the recovering forces of good.
"How about this then! Submarine Reflection!"
The voice cried out in rage as the blast knocked the Amazon out of its grasp. The boy
landed heavily, with a small wisp of black mist clinging to him, trailing back to the main
body.
"Now Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Kamen called.
"Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" The Senshi leader fired upon the duck-boy, and an
inhuman cry of pain filled the air.
"It has no host. Now what?" Mars asked.
Ifurita positioned herself under the cloud and called to Pluto.
"Your staff!"
Pluto readily complied, and Ifurita started twirling it like a baton above her head as she
focused.
"Try this on for size." She snarled and launched a micro-hurricane into the cloud.
"~ NNNOOOOO!!!!!! ~" The anguished cry resounded throughout the district as the cloud
was torn apart. Finally the cloud dissipated, and the Demon-God let her attack lapse.
~ Tactical: Enemy terminated. ~
~ Analysis: Attack registered as Black Cloud Dervish. ~
Ifurita handed the staff back to its owner.
"Well. THAT was fun." She muttered sarcastically. "Anyone have any idea as to what we
just fought? And why?"
"No." Pluto replied. "However, we would like you to answer some questions."
"Are you willing to put that on an even base?"
Mercury shook her head in resignation.
"Look you two-" She began.
"Blue-hared witch! Prepare to die!" Mousse roared as he...
...made to leap, but found himself stapled to the floor by a rose.
"Space Sword Blaster!"
Needless to say, Mousse found himself once again catching up on his nappy time.
"Uranus, was that really necessary?" Moon looked at the smoking body of the blind
Amazon.
"Hey, I needed some stress relief."
As the two of them started to argue, Mercury turned to her saviour. Who wasn't there.
Realising where SHE was, she turned to her fellow Senshi.
"Guys? We have got to go."
"Huh? Oh right." Moon turned away from Uranus to nod at Ifurita, then jumped with her
fellows to the rooftops and disappeared.
"At least that's over with." Ifurita commented as she looked down on the comatose form of
their attacker. She slowly grinned as an idea formed. "Well, almost..."
***
"Thanks guys. I've had a great time." Sasami smiled at her companions.
"Aw, do you have to go so soon?" Chibi-Usa pouted.
"If I'm not there, one of the others will start dinner." Sasami shuddered.
"That bad?"
"You have NO idea."
"Sounds like Usagi and Minako." Hotaru giggled.
"Worse probably." Sasami looked at the time. "Well I got to go. See you at school!" She
waved cheerily as she left.
"Bye!" The two remaining girls waved.
"That was fun. Poor Minako, getting beaten at her own game." Chibi-Usa giggled.
"You're bad." Hotaru declared, folding her arms across her chest and looking severe.
Chibi-Usa took one look at her friend and collapsed in laughter. After a few seconds, Hotaru
joined her.
***
Shampoo was bouncing across the rooftops, mad as Ryoga. Mousse hadn't been around the
Nekohanten all day.
~ Ooo. You are SO dead Mousse. Maybe I SHOULD make Peking Duck out of you. ~
"I do hope you remember this lesson Mousse." A voice said idly nearby. "I'd hate to have
to reinforce this."
Shampoo stopped and looked over the edge of the roof she was occupying. There, strolling
casually by, was Ifurita. Hog-tied and helplessly flung over her shoulder was a rather oddly
beaten up Mousse. Having seen many ways the terminally near-sighted Amazon youth had
been beat up, Shampoo was surprised to see signs of freezing, fire, wood, metal, chi, ki,
brick, mortar and concrete damage over Mousse's body. There were also less identifiable
marks on his body, plus the occasional whip mark.
"What you doing?" Shampoo asked as she leapt down.
"I believe this is yours." The Demon-God said blandly, dropping Mousse to the ground at
the purple-hared girl's feet. "Try to take better care of it in the future."
As Ifurita walked away, Shampoo looked down in disgust at Mousse.
"What mess have you gotten yourself in now?" She acidly demanded in Chinese.
Mousse didn't reply; he was still comatose.
***
In the other place, the presence received the tatters of blackness so recently dispersed and all
the energy contained therein. Information gained, yet more needed.
It prepared anew.
***
Washu put down the phone, and sighed. The CIA were such pains. At least MI6 were
polite in their dealings.
~ Why would that Kuno boy want my address? ~ She wondered. ~ Ah I'll figure it out
later. ~
"Dinner's ready!" Sasami's voice called from the kitchen of the city house they used during
the week. Portable wormholes were SUCH a convenience.
----------
YES!!! I've finally got this chapter finished!
insert scenes of rejoicing
For those of you wondering what the heck took so long (I've got lots of emails proving that), it was
a combination of things:
1) That Arch-enemy of all writers... Writer's Block! And this one was the size of SDF-1 (Washu, I'll
give the Dimensional Cannon back in a bit. OK?).
2) Real Life. I *DO* work for a living you know.
3) Getting a website sorted. See the beginning of this fic for details.