X X X X X X

"Speech"

'Thought'

#panda sign#

(Telepathy)

Phew no more having to worry about keeping track of languages. A smaller chapter, but I liked where I ended it.

X X X X X X

Kamiki Seto Jurai was not a happy woman. At her age she had seen many things, done many things, and currently enjoyed the station as the driving force behind all big decisions in the Jurai Empire. Even among her peers she had aged remarkably well, looking for all the world as if she was barely out of her 30's. It was a tremendous ego boost to know that she was still considered a beauty at her age of over 10,000 years old.

Standing alone in the command deck of her treeship Mikagami, she kept her face calm and impassive as a large screen displayed the face of someone she, and everyone else, had thought long dead. That being the face of her grandson Kagato. The man's face was a match for his fathers and his older brother Yosho's. But his dark green hair, sickly pale face, and cruel eyes were the opposite of his brother and father.

"Grandmother, I hope you have been well." Her grandson's voice was as eloquent as ever, something that had captured the hearts of many women before his true nature had come forth.

"I have." She answered evenly.

"I know that I have been, missing, for some time. But I hope that we can leave any unpleasantness behind us."

Her face was a mask of calm resolve as she listened but inside she was screaming. "I suppose that depends on what you are planning."

"Planning? Grandmother whatever would make you think I'm planning something?" She wanted to sneer at his acting. "I am but a prince who has come back home. I expect nothing more than what my station entitles. I have already convinced Father that I am ready to assume the throne. With your great political power I am worried that you might appose my coronation."

"And you would be right to think I would."

"But you and I both know you will not." Kagato's face spread into a smile.

"What would stop me?"

"It seems you've become predictable in your golden years. It is like a cooling breeze of nostalgia. But you should understand that if you move to stop me, then certain information will be brought to light."

"What are you talking about."

"Why Grandmother, recordings of you conspiring with my father and mother to have my dear brother Yosho kill me." Kagato's smile increased greatly at her grimace. "Even with your political power you would not be kept from the gallows when the universe at large found out that you committed treason. But do not fret Grandmother, for I have no desire to prematurely leak such information."

"And what if I were to release the information on you? How you became a monster who perverted the power of Jurai for your own selfish pleasures of death and destruction. How you killed off entire worlds to slate your blood lust. Do you think you would be made king then?"

"You seem to have collected a fair amount of children, haven't you Grandmother."

"Why do you dodge the question?"

"Simple, do you think I was idle all these years? I know where each and everyone of them are. Should such information as you just mentioned become public knowledge. Well, let us just say that you will find yourself very lonely."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"On the contrary Grandmother, their lives are meaningless to me. But so long as you remain unopposed to my coronation then no harm come to them."

"Bastard." She spat.

"I care not for comments on my parentage. Especially by one who knows better. All I wish to know, is if you will abide by my request?"

"You'll have my silence, but how long do you think you'll be allowed to keep the throne? Do you think that the nobles will allow a monster like you to be the king of Jurai?"

"We shall see won't we?" The screen blipped out of existence leaving her staring off into the vast expanse of stars.

Collapsing into the plush red cushion that was her command chair she slammed a fist down on the arm rest. "Bastard." Shaking with fury she tried to calm herself down.

'This is terrible, how could Yosho lie about Kagato's death? Didn't he know the danger? Why now? Why did he wait so long to come forward once again? Yosho's failure and disappearance with Ryoko means I stand alone here. Blast that coward Azusa, he always was more interested in leaving the throne than he was to hold it. But I cannot allow Kagato to be crowned king. Something must be done, but I am now forced to use indirect measures.'

Signaling to get the attention of one of her subordinates she resolved herself to the gamble.

"Get me a secure communication to Masaki Airi at the Galaxy Police, NOW!"

"Ye ye ye yes Seto-sama."

X X X X X X

Washu waited patiently for the world to finish coming back together around them. There was no way to speed up the process. Reality had to be given time to work things out on its own, otherwise strange things could occur. Minor anomalies mostly, like a table moving suddenly three meters to the left, or objects changing places. The multiple views of her lab merged into one and without any fan fare they were all back.

'Whoops we appear to be missing Ranma-chan.' Doing a second head count confirmed her original. Ignoring the rest of the group, she went over to the control panel and started to scan the data to find out why.

'Isolated transport target subject number Six and Seven not found at original destination, searching... searching...' Narrowing her eyes she pondered what that could mean.

Ranma and Rin-ohki hadn't been in the transporter when Ryoko had restarted it. Which meant there was no reason why he and his partner would have been moved again. Even more disturbing was that the controller didn't know, and the controller was designed to know. Even just being on the same city as the spherical controller, caused it to note you in the log. A rapid beeping interrupted the concern of losing her child to the multiverse.

'Target Six and Seven found, recalling now...' Breathing out a sigh of relief she waited for the vague outline that would indicate the location where they would assume form. The space ship outline that destroyed two walls and the ceiling, along with several more rooms in the complex, was not what she was expecting.

The group shielded themselves as best they could from the falling debris, and not feeling like playing doctor at the moment, she formed a barrier above everyone but Ryoko, who could take care of herself.

As soon as the ship fully materialized it popped out of existence to return to cabbit form. Rin-ohki came into existence in front of her, swaying unsteadily back and forth till she fell flat on her face. At the same time, two unconcious forms shimmered into view just to the side.

One she identified as her son wearing extremely baggy dark red clothing, his hair drew her eye next, having changed to dirty blond. The other body was a very tall female, with bright blonde hair, a black stripe extending over her left eye, and cat ears like Ranma.

"And here I thought I was through with this dimensional mess." She slapped her forehead just before more crashing was heard from where the bulk of Rin-ohki's ship form had been briefly. "My lab!" She cried.

X X X X X X

"Okay thank you, have a good night, yes, you too." Washu ushered the last of the household members from her lab and shut the door. Choosing to lock it to avoid any more mishaps with ditzy blondes, royalty, and her dear little Ryoko. Briefly dusting off her hands, she strolled over to the prone bodies in her lab entrance. Arrayed on a pair of futons were Ranma and a mystery woman, as well as a single cushion which contained both cabbits, Ryo-ohki deciding to sleep next to her sister.

Hopping up to her mid air cushion she brought up her laptop and started to rapidly load up a program to scan the pair. Now that she was alone she could get some work done without being hounded endlessly with questions.

"Huh, Washu?" Ranma's voice stopped her typing and she realized that he had woken up. 'Oops.' Looking around for a moment, his eyes stopped on the woman, and then came back to her. "Please tell me I didn't wake up in another dimension again."

"You didn't wake up in another dimension." She answered playfully and he gave her a dark look. "You're still angry with me aren't you?"

"Angry? Why would I be angry? I just don't trust you." His green eyes caught the sleeping cabbits and he relaxed. Taken back by his comment, she didn't immediately respond, instead she moved to open her private files.

"Ranma, there's something that I should have told you, but we all got taken up by outside events."

"And what's that?"

"You'll have to come here and see." Standing off her cushion she held out her hands, indicating she wanted him to take a seat. There was a brief moment where he looked like he wasn't going to take up the offer. But he stood on unsteady feet and sat down. Smiling she reached over to the computers keyboard, and hit the return key.

On the screen a video started to play, in it she was handcuffed, and standing in the middle of a dark room. The only light was a single overhead that shined down illuminating Washu. In front of her a large screen displayed the image of an elderly blond man with dark tan skin and blue eyes. Next to the display was another, only this one was just a silhouette.

X X X X X X

"Hakubi Washu, we ask you again, where have you hidden Jurai royal property?" The blond man demanded.

"Property? Sorry I haven't touched anyones property." Washu answered, feigning ignorance. "Could you refresh my memory?"

"Do not mock us Washu." The darkened out man warned, sounding far younger than the blond.

"They are the property of no one."

"We are aware that you have been subverting your mandate from the onset. That is not in question here. What we need to know is where you have sent the two test subjects. Or do you not realize that you face high treason for your actions?" The blond explained and shuffled some papers on screen.

"Since when have the consequences stopped me?"

"If you will not tell us then we will be forced to carry out your sentence. In light of your impressive contributions to the galaxy, as well as possible future inventions, we would much rather have your cooperation."

"And you won't get it." Washu interrupted.

"Very well, we have no choice but to exile you in a containment cage, set adrift in space, you will never be recovered." The blacked out man announced and his display cut out.

"Is this really what you want? Do you really want to sacrifice yourself and everything you worked for?" The blond asked, his elderly face softening.

"I allowed someone to be taken from me once before, I've ensured that it won't happen again." Washu shifted on her feet but did not look up at the display.

"I see－ goodbye." The screen died, leaving Washu alone in the dark room. Beneath the red head a pedestal rose up through the floor. Four arms, equally distanced from each other, shot upwards and pale green barriers flickered into view between each. Boxed in, Washu looked around fearfully before the barriers turned into an opaque black, obscuring her from view.

X X X X X X

"What－ what was that?" Ranma asked after the video stopped.

"It's all I could find of my sentencing." Washu answered. "I really wanted to find something from when you and Ryoko were little but－ the Galaxy Police were rather thorough in their purge of all information pertaining to you two. Not that there was a large amount, Dr. Clay was able to figure out that you were never put into stasis and reported me quickly."

"And this is supposed to make me trust you or something? I don't even know what was going on." He tried not to sound angry but he was. Was Washu trying to make fun of him or something?

"Ranma, that report you found was a fake. As soon as I had seen that something had gone wrong, and that you were both fully sentient beings, there was no way I could take that away." Washu grabbed one of the ground based red cushions and sat down. He noticed that she looked very old all of a sudden, even through her childish exterior. "I should have explained things right away. But－, I don't know."

"I'm listening." He said after a moment, his view of Washu having done a one eighty. After reading that report he had gone from trusting to distrusting. How was he supposed to listen to her knowing that she would have destroyed him and Ryoko to create weapons? Who was to say that she wouldn't pick up where she had left off now that she was freed?

"There's really not much more to tell." The diminutive scientists demeanor instantly became more cheerful. "You and Ryoko were supposed to land on this planet, a friend in the Galaxy Police even programmed my prison to cross this planet's orbit. And well, the best laid plans." Washu shrugged. "Something got messed up, a decimal point in the wrong place, an extra zero, there are so many variables that could have been off. Ryoko crash at the right time but in the wrong place, I got to the right place but was locked inside, and you got here late. As far as I'm concerned the issue is just a bad memory, and I would like to focus on the here and now."

"I gotta think about this." Looking away, he found Ryo-ohki curled up next to Rin-ohki, looking like a pair of adorable pets. "What about them? Were they supposed to be weapons? Super cute little space ships of destruction?"

"I'm not proud of it but yes. Their companion forms were designed specifically to be unassuming."

"Rin won't become some monster will she?" He asked worriedly. "Some hidden thing that kicks in later?"

"No, they are children, the only way she or Ryo-ohki could become monsters is if their parents were."

"Just like me and Ryoko." He noted and Washu smiled proudly. "Right?"

"My Ranma-chan is finally starting to use his brain." Washu gushed. "But since I answered your questions, can you do something for me? Just a itsy bitsy tiny weeny little favor?"

"I um guess."

"Tell me why your hair and eye color changed."

"Um－-." He paused wondering if he should tell her that he was a werecheetah now.

"That's alright I guess, time is the one thing we have a lot of." Washu waved it off and hopped to her feet. "But honestly, this has been a long day, and I would like to get some sleep."

"What do you mean day? I've been gone for like five."

"For you yes, for Tenchi-dono and Ryoko it was a single day, and for Ayeka-dono and Sasami-chan it's been a few weeks. Don't worry about it, I'll send your friend back tomorrow morning." There was something suggestive to Washu's smile as she walked away and opened up a doorway before passing through it. Behind her the door closed and then faded from view.

"Miyah?" Ryo-ohki hopped up into his lap.

"Hey Ryo-ohki." Bring up a hand he scratched the cabbit behind an ear. "How've you been?" Ryoko's cabbit started to explain how his sister got into a fight with some girls wearing really short skirts. Then as an after thought she asked how he could actually understand her. "A translation spell."

"Miyah?"

"Heh, yea it's pretty cool."

"Miyah－ miyahmiyah."

"What have we been doing? Well first we woke up on a street in Nerima."

X X X X X X

Brianna's first thought upon waking was wondering who was responsible for the splitting migraine she felt. Literally it felt like someone had bashed her brains out with a brick, possibly solid gold. The next was questioning where she was? Taking a moment to check under the covers to see if she was clothed, she sat up and clutched the cover to her chest protectively, and looked around.

Near her feet was Ranma, sleeping soundly on a similar futon, and next to her on the left were a pair of sleeping cabbits curled up against each other. Not lingering long on the cute display she checked out the strange forest that was spread out around her. Some large pipes and other mechanical items were visible from the ceiling and the floor was some kind of hardwood. Not counting the large red carpet that she was on.

Tapping several buttons on her wrist watch, she prepared to call up some kind of battle armor, defensive in this case. Well as defensive as her weapons platforms got. Except the display that popped up showed her inventory empty. Not just lacking what she wanted, but actually empty, there was nothing on the list. For a brief moment she panicked, feeling very vulnerable all of a sudden, there wasn't a time she could remember being without.

Taking several deep breaths, she calmed down, if anything should happen she could improvise. Judging by the accommodations, she was not at the mercy of some evil genius, and wouldn't need anything. Crawling over she lightly shook Ranma by the shoulder.

"Hey, Ranma wake up." The boy rolled away from her.

"Lemme alone Pops it's too early." He groaned.

"Do I sound anything like that panda?" She asked, slightly insulted that anyone would mistake her with that waste of a human being.

"No." Ranma said carefully and rolled back over to look at her. "What time is it?"

"How should I know? I don't even know where I am." Rolling her eyes, she would have to tap into the local satellite network in order to synchronize her watch with, since the time display had been off.

"Haha, right." Sitting up Ranma had to pull out the string tying his hair back out and redo it, as it had gotten tangled during the night.

"So, where are we?" She asked hoping to find out just why her hyperspace storage space was inaccessible.

"My mom's lab."

"This is a lab? So I'm in your reality?" Ranma nodded. "It looks more like some kind of park."

"This is just like the main entrance, it goes other places."

"I'll have to give Gina some tips, I like the whole garden aesthetic, really livens up the place." A wooden clattering alerted her to a free standing door opening up in front of her. A short girl with blue green hair done up in a pair of long pigtails peeked her head in. On her apron was a large carrot motif.

"Ranma-niichan, breakfast will be ready soon." She announced happily.

"Hey Sasami." Ranma answered and the girl's pink eyes found her.

"Oh, your friend is up." Entering into the room, the door closed and vanished behind her. "I'm Masaki Sasami Jurai, it's nice to meet you." The girl greeted and bowed her head politely.

"Hello, I'm Brianna Diggers." Inclining her head forward she tried to be polite.

"Will you be joining us for breakfast?"

"If it's not too much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all." Sasami smiled brightly at her. "Hurry or Ryoko-neechan might steal it all." Waving the girl ran off through the door that reappeared.

"We should probably hurry." Ranma floated up to his feet.

Deciding that food might be the best course of action, followed shortly by reestablishing her connection to her hyperspace storage, she rose to her feet and stretched. "Lead the way." Following him over to where the door had appeared, and once again as if sensing someones presence it faded into view. "So what kind of magic is this anyways? The door I mean."

"You'll have to ask－ my mom." Ranma hesitated at the last two words, a strange little smile spreading over his face, before he opened the door. Behind it was nothing, just a flat layer of black. Stepping to the side she inspected it, finding it to be completely flat, there was no depth to it. "Just step through." Now Ranma's smile was more devious. "Unless you're scared."

"Ooh, is that a challenge?" Ducking down, since the door was only about six feet tall, she stepped through, and then found herself immediately stepping out into a hallway. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced to the right and left. Sniffing, her nose was assaulted by the wonderful smell of someone cooking, and knowing how to do it. Stryyp was a hell of a cook, but his menu was rather limited to tuna, and as much as she loved the fish, it did get old.

"That was different." She commented and noted that there wasn't the brief feeling of disorientation that accompanied the use of a light gate. No this was like she had simply walked through a doorway into another room. 'Gina's gonna throw a fit when I tell her about this thing.'

"This way." Ranma passed her by and headed to the left. Following, she had to once again duck down to pass through a door. 'Forgot what a pain houses not designed for a werecheetah are to move around in.'

Brianna was surprised at the size of the two story living room she found herself in. Her time spent in Japan gave her the impression that a normal apartment for multiple people would have fit inside this one room. Glancing out one of the glass walls, she found that they were in some kind of valley with a large lake just outside. Everywhere a thin layer of snow coated the ground and more was slowly falling.

"Tenchi!" A girl with long swept back cyan hair begged plaintively, drawing her attention to a small group of people sitting around a table. "Ayeka's being so mean!"

'Wow, it's sonic the hedgehog.' She thought, believing this to be Ranma's sister, unless floating was a common trait in this reality.

"How dare you involve Tenchi-sama in this－ this－ this UGH I don't even have a name for what you're trying to do you monster woman!" Another with purple hair in more of a helmet style but with two long tails coming from the back spoke. (1)

"Ah ah, what's all the commotion this morning?" Along with the normal group of people, she looked to what she assumed was the kitchen entrance, and saw an elderly man wearing priest clothing. "I smelled something delicious and wanted to investigate." His eyes twinkled with amusement and scanned over to her. "And who is this lovely young lady?" Now all eyes swung back to her.

"Hello, I'm Brianna Diggers, it's nice to meet you." She greeted trying to be polite. There was a round of polite greetings from the assembled group. Well the cyan haired one wasn't all that polite compared to the others.

"Would you like to join us for breakfast Diggers-san?" Tenchi asked once they were all introduced.

"Thank you." Taking a seat, Ranma dropped down next to her.

"My you're tall, what species are you?" For several seconds she looked at a short girl with long red hair and green eyes that had appeared a few inches in front of her face, before crying out and scrambling away. "No need to worry my dear, I am Washu-chan, the greatest scientist in the universe! Although maybe I should add the multiverse now that my machine has gone through it's beta phase."

"Washu-sama please don't scare her." Ayeka admonished.

"Chan, Washu-chan." The red head corrected crossly.

"Wait a minute, you created the machine that sent Ranma to my reality?" Washu nodded. "But that would mean－ you're Ranma's mother?" But that was impossible, this girl was only ten or twelve years old max.

"That I did, and if you're wondering I can send you back anytime you wish."

"Anytime?" She asked hoping to just clarify that. Alternate realities and times she had deal with back when fighting the time traveling dog, Dr. Peachbody, but if she was guaranteed a way back it would take a large load off her mind. Nearly as big as the fact that she didn't have any armor or weapons available.

"Yup, the relative time and position are recorded so it'll be like you were never gone."

"So your machine goes through both time and dimensions." Pursing her lips she was trying to wrap her mind over something that powerful being created by the girl in front of her. Gina was better at raw calculations, even with her limited abilities in that regard, the power required must be staggering.

"We'll talk later, but food first."

X X X X X X

"Awwwww." Sighing happily, Ranma floated on his back in swimming pool sized bath. A pair of cabbits happily paddling around and chatting with each other animatedly. Somewhere on the far side of the pool a small waterfall was falling, and all the white noise was making him want to find a nice spot to nap.

Which felt wrong, after going through an incredible adventure, he felt like he should do something. No doubt tonight or tomorrow, the stories of where and what they had done would start to come out. That thought brought out another question. What did he want to do about Brianna? The half werecheetah confused the hell out of him.

What would happen when she went back? Did he want her to go back? Throwing up his arms, he submerged himself, swimming towards the deeper end of the pool. Now that he thought about it, he should have realized back at the beach how he didn't feel the need for air. Unlike back at Jusenkyo when after a single moment he had been desperate for air.

X X X X X X

'Vacation time.' Brianna thought after talking with Washu, the scary little girl, who apparently was Ranma's mother. Both her and Gina could be scary when it came to something they liked, even Brittany's obsession with tuna was beyond normal people. But that little girl put Gina to shame. 'At least she's willing to send me back shortly after leaving, though till then, I am at the mercy of a mad scientist.'

'A scary smart mad scientist.' She was already trying to work out the mechanics around subspace, which was apparently at the core of the entire lab. Existing on some other plane of reality, separate but connected to the current. Did she mention that it was something like five planets large? 'And it was nice of her to offer me some materials to create some power armor and weapons. I feel so naked without five or six weapons platforms waiting in hyperspace.'

Pausing as she exited the lab and into the house in normal space, she turned around and inspected the door. Such a simple unassuming thing, and it could easily be used to move all over the world and even the solar system so long as you had another positioned on the other side. 'This at least explains how Rin-ohki can have that ship form. All that mass is called forth from subspace. Hmm, that gives me a few ideas for mass shifting armor and weapons.'

"Excuse me, Brianna-san." Ayeka interrupted her thoughts on missile ideas.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to use the bath?" The purple haired girl asked pleasantly and Brianna's eye twitched subtly realizing this was a subtle hint that she wasn't smelling all that great. Wasn't her fault that she had to go Jetta's house yesterday and missed her shower.

"Sure."

"Excellent, it'll also give us a chance to get to know one another, this way please." The girl smiled pleasantly and Brianna remembered the whole communal bath thing.

Following behind Ayeka up to the second floor, she stopped only briefly at a doorway that shouldn't actually lead anywhere, before opening it to show that it was another subspace door. Ayeka entered and she followed, the mystery over them now gone, and found herself inside a huge Roman or Greek styled bathing area, she couldn't decide which.

"Wow, you guys really know how to live." Secluded lake front house in the mountains, these subspace areas making it even bigger, and who knew what else?

"I suppose compared to anything on Earth this home and Washu-sama's improvements would seem impressive." The girl said and headed over to a wash area. "Though it is a vast improvement over the home that was here before."

"Before?" She asked, taking her cue from Ayeka who was disrobing to do so herself.

"Yes, Mihoshi-san crashed her shuttle and destroyed it, shortly before we had to deal with that dreadful reality fiasco. I'm just happy that Tenchi-sama has an abode closer to the standards of a Jurai noble."

"You guys are royalty?" She asked as they took seats on stools and started to clean. Brianna frowned at how small everything was for her. Back in Atlanta, everything was custom made with Brittany in mind, here she felt like a giant. Or at least more of a giant than she was.

"Oh yes, Sasami, Tenchi, and I are all royalty of the Jurai empire. The strongest in the universe." Brianna could literally hear the snob come from the girl.

"That's nice, my big sister married the prince of an entire race, so you're not the only royalty." She sniped back.

"What race would that be? Perhaps they exist here as well."

"Kryn."

"I can't say I have ever heard of them, but the next time I am in contact with my father, the Emperor I'll inform him that he should consider diplomatic ties with them."

"I'm sure they would appreciate it." Mentally she gagged, finding talking with the girl to be a chore.

"I know that you've only been here a brief time and will be going home soon. But I need to warn you about that devil in human guise called Ryoko."

"Ranma's sister?"

"If that monster could be called a sibling of anyone."

"She seemed alright to me." Idly she noted that this was really good shampoo.

"She is also responsible for the deaths of an untold number of people and the near destruction of Jurai. Whole worlds have fell to her over her years of crime."

"I'll take my chances." Now she knew what was going on. A royal power play, Ayeka wanted her to be on her side. Too bad she'd make her own decisions.

"If that is your wish." Ayeka was finished washing and held a towel demurely in front of herself to cover her privates.

"Free will is something I hold very dear." Standing she would have done the same but the towel simply wasn't big enough. The two cabbits that ran up to them slid to a stop before looking up at them happily. "And what are you doing here?" She asked and bent down to pet Rin-ohki. A splash of water and a gasp of air alerted them to someone in the water. Looking, they found Ranma staring with wide eyes at the pair of them.

Her first reaction was the thought that he should be just a bit more out of the water, 'No bad libido!' She quickly squashed that line of thinking. Ayeka's reaction was not on the same wavelength, the purple haired noble screamed. Ranma's reaction was to cover his eyes, eep, and teleport away.

X X X X X X

'I don't think that this was supposed to be a mixed bath.' Ranma thought, sitting cross legged underneath the water, in the deepest part of the pool. He wasn't stupid enough to hang around and try and explain things to an angry Ayeka. Her gut reaction seemed to be call up her floating logs and zap whoever got her that angry, usually his sister. He would talk to her later after she had calmed down.

Floating rather than swimming he sped through the water and into the wall. Grabbing his clothes and escaping was the immediate concern. Sticking his head out of the floor he scanned around quickly to see if anyone was in the changing area. Forming his battle suit, he rose up from the floor and grabbed his clothes and a towel before quickly changing into them. Another teleport got him to the door, and he was out of it before anyone could see.

Toweling off his hair, phasing got rid of the excess water, but any that had soaked in remained. Leaving his hair wet and skin damp. 'Meh it's better than wet fur.' Fading into view in the rafters of the living room, he found Ryoko sitting in the same position that she had done before the house was wrecked. She was also watching Tenchi down below like a hawk.

"What's up with you?" He asked and Ryoko finally noticed him.

"Nice hair." Ryoko smirked and shifted position to look at him. "So you're trying to be a Kuramitsu now?"

"Huh? What's Mihoshi got to do with blond hair?"

"All her family looks the same and they own those losers the Galaxy Police. So if you go off and get a tan I'm going to have to disown you."

"Yea because being the brother of some super criminal is all that better. I might just disown you for being a monster woman." He meant it as a joke, even trying to mimic Ayeka with her usual way of say 'monster woman.' Ryoko didn't seem to take it as one, her eyes widening before narrowing into dangerous little slits. A moment later she had vanished.

"What's her problem?" He asked no one in particular.

"Ranma-niichan!" Sasami called up from the floor. "Phone call for you." (2)

"Uh, I gotta go do something, tell them I'll call em back."

"Okay." Sasami replied as he teleported in the general direction that Ryoko had went. He couldn't actually see anything that would indicate a direction. But he could feel the disturbance caused by Ryoko's parting and which way it went.

Up at the shrine, he took a moment to look around before heading off towards the cave where Ryoko had been imprisoned. He didn't really have a reason to start there but he had seen his sibling there before, so it was as good a place as any to start. Floating a short distance off the ground to avoid making a noise, and because he didn't have anything on his feet. He had trudged bare foot through snow with Genma before, and he was not looking to repeat it.

Coming to a halt at the edge, he did indeed find Ryoko at the cave, she was sitting on the steps up to the mouth, staring at her left wrist. 'Guess I'm turning into Ranko.' Sighing, he moved across the field to sit in the air in front of Ryoko.

"What do you want?" Ryoko asked gruffly.

"I don't think you're a monster woman alright."

"What makes you think I care about what you think?" The cyan haired girl asked angrily, the gem at her wrist glowing in response to the rise of emotion. "I'm Ryoko, the most feared space pirate in all the universe! Why would I ever care what some little boy who grew up on some backwater planet thought of me?" Floating up into the air the self proclaimed space pirate glared down at him.

He blinked several times, the girls gold eyes boring into him, and the gem glowing like a flashlight. "Well alright then." Spinning he moved away and gave a negligent wave of his hand. "Have fun sitting in the cold."

Ryoko appeared before him with a finger pointed in his chest. "Now listen here you nosy little cat boy." She advanced, pushing her finger into his chest to push him backwards. "I'll have you know that－ that－ uh." Ryoko trailed off. "I forgot what I was going to say." She said sheepishly.

"I'm gonna have to ask Mom if you're really related to me." He sighed and put his face in the palm of his right hand. "Listen I don't care what you did or why. But it was weird, when I was trapped in those strange realities, I kinda missed you." Moving his hand to the back of his head he played with his ponytail nervously.

"You missed me?" Ryoko looked shocked and stared at him.

"Well－ yea, I mean you are my sister in some weird way, even with how annoying you are sometimes." Nervously looking away, he hoped she felt the same way, since he had grown attached the idea of family past Genma.

Ryoko just stared at him, lost with how to respond before spinning around and floating a short distance away. Just as suddenly she swung back around and looked at him hopefully. "Do you think Tenchi missed me?" He frowned, here he was trying to be nice to her, and all she could do was ask about Tenchi?

"I don't know, ask him." Shrugging he tried not to show his irritation. The cold was starting to get to him, he hadn't really dressed for the weather, even if it didn't feel as cold as it looked. "Why do you come here anyways? I thought you'd hate this place."

"Here?" Ryoko looked unsure of herself. "It's nothing." She said quickly and turned to cross her arms.

"Guess you won't mind if I head inside then." Teleporting past her to the stone steps, his feet touched the cold stone only for a second before he was up in the air once again.

"Hey! Stay out of there." Ryoko appeared in front of him and blocked the way.

"Something you don't want me to see?" He suggested and peered around the space pirate.

"And what do we have here?" They both jumped at the elderly voice the spoke behind him. "If you want Ryoko, I believe my ancestor left instructions on how to seal you back up if needed." Katsuhito teased with his hands behind his back.

"You just try it old man and I'll kill you like I'll kill that Yosho when I find him." Ryoko growled and rose up to try and be imposing. "I'm letting you off without a beating cause you just got screwed over by being related to the guy but don't push your luck."

"I'm sure you would." Katsuhito continued to smile absently and turned to him. "Ranma if you wouldn't mind, please clear the snow off the steps."

"Sure I can do that." The priest nodded to him and gave Ryoko a sly look.

"Well have a good day." Waving the priest headed off through the bamboo trees.

"Guess I should get started." Floating off he was going to go get something warm to wear. "Have fun playing in your cave." He waved to Ryoko before flying away purposely, ignoring her angry retort.

X X X X X X

"So what did Washu give you?" Ranma asked Brianna, the tall blonde sitting crosslegged on the floor and tinkering with some kind of long cylinder. Strewn around her, were dozens of other pieces of metal, some fabric, and strange things he had no word for.

He assumed that Washu had also given Brianna some clothes, the displaced clone now sitting in a pair of blue jeans, and a red tshirt. 'I really wish she'd cover up a just a bit more.' He gulped, keeping his eyes up.

"Just a little of this and that." She answered, swinging the silver cylinder, and letting it fall against her shoulder like a bazooka. "Purely for self defense." She said with a mischievous grin.

"Is that a gun?" He asked.

"I said for defense." Brianna scoffed, putting the tube down on the floor.

"Defense from what?"

"Ya know, I don't actually know. I mean, it's not like I'll be going on any archaeological digs while I'm here. But! It pays to be prepared."

"Miyah?" Rin-ohki asked, sniffing at a piece of metal.

"Don't even think about it." He chastised the cabbit, reaching down to pick her up. "You want anything?" He asked Brianna. "I'm going to grab her a couple carrots." The cabbit's reaction was to jump from his hands, up to his neck, and affectionately rub her head against him.

"Some water please." Brianna replied without looking up from her work.

"Right." Stepping through the closed door and into the kitchen, and bumped into Sasami who was going in the opposite direction carrying drinks. The effect, one wet and female Ranma, and Rin-ohki licking some of the water from her cheek, the cabbit having hid behind her head.

"Ranma-neechan I'm sorry!" Sasami gathered up the fallen plastic cups in an instant, and handed her the hand towel in the next.

"It's alright." She answered, wiping some liquid from her face.

Ding-dong

"Visitors?" Sasami asked.

"I'll get it, if you get Brianna wanted some water." She told the girl, dropping off Rin-ohki to spend time with Ryo-ohki.

"Sure." Sasami headed off for the sink, and he teleported to the base of the steps.

The bell rang again, and he groaned. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Throwing the towel over his shoulder, he slid the door open.

"Sasami-chan!" A tall woman yelled, gathering him up in a bone crushing hug before she could respond. "Sasami-chan! I've missed you so! Oh Sasami-chan!" The woman shook her around like a rag doll.

"Lemme go!" She cried out, hearing her ribs strain, as all the air was forcibly pushed from her lungs.

"Sasami-chan!" The woman cried even harder, repeating Sasami's name. "Why have you dyed your hair? It was so beautiful before!"

"Imouto-chan, I don't think that is Sasami-chan." Another woman spoke calmly from the doorway.

"Really?" The woman asked, releasing Ranma to slump to her knees.

"Oi oi, what's with the yelling?" Ryoko asked, stepping through the wall. "Who are they?" The cyan haired woman asked.

"I don't know, she just grabbed." She couldn't finish, her face having painfully been planted in the wall, the mystery woman having knocked her to the side in a mad dash towards Ryoko.

"Sasami-chan!" The woman yelled again, grabbing Ryoko now, and repeating her earlier act. As Ryoko was being shook around, Ranma got to her feet unsteadily.

"Are you alright miss?" The calm woman asked.

"Yea, just fine." She answered and finally got a chance to look at their visitors.

The calm one turned out to be a tall stately woman, with long black hair gathered in two tails from the sides of her head hanging to her hips, and the back reaching down nearly to the floor. Her clothing instantly reminded Ranma of Ayeka's, with bright colors, wide bands, and contrasting colors. Draped over her shoulders and reaching down to her knees was a sky blue cloak. The front of the cloak was split so to show off a pink kimono underneath. On the woman's forehead was a single large green dot.

"I'm sorry for the rude introduction, I am Masaki Funaho Jurai, and the woman currently assaulting that other girl is my co-wife, Masaki Misaki Jurai." Funaho explained calmly. "Um Imouto-chan, I really don't think that is Sasami-chan either."

"Really?" Misaki pulled away from the dazed Ryoko.

Ranma took a second to check out the other woman, and found that she had bright blue hair like Sasami's, gathered up in a high ponytail that trailed all the way down to her feet. Her cloak was a close match to Funaho's, though the colors were in far darker shades of green. Underneath, instead of a kimono, was a burgundy shirt and off white pants.

"Is something the matter?" Sasami asked, stepping out from the kitchen with her carrot apron on. "Ah! Okaasama!"

Misaki turned back to look at Funaho, who nodded, and then threw Ryoko face first into the wall. Running up to Sasami, Misaki gathered her up in a far more gentle hug. "Sasami-chan!"

"Did she plan that?" Ranma asked, pointing to the two hugging females, and having to smile at Ryoko who was slowly sliding down the wall.

"I'm not always sure with Misaki." Funaho answered with a small unreadable smile on her face.

"Wait a minute, you said Masaki, and Jurai? You're from Jurai?" She asked Funaho.

"Yes we are." The woman answered sadly. "If you would be so kind to gather the rest of the home, we have urgent news."

"Just a sec." She teleported to Sasami's side, the girl still being hugged by Misaki. "You know these two?" She asked.

"Yup, this is Mother Misaki, and that's Mother Funaho." Sasami was able to answer.

"Alright, guess I'll go get Tenchi." She made another teleport up to the shrine. Sasami may have trusted everyone, but she never called anyone Mother. Appearing at the shrine, she found Katsuhito in his living quarters, sipping at a cup of tea.

"Ah Ranma, are you back for more work to do?" The old priest asked.

"Nah, I'm looking for Tenchi, do you know where he is?" She asked.

"He was heading home, you likely just missed him. Anything I can do?"

"No, but there are some ladies from Jurai who say they have urgent news, and Sasami even says that they're her mothers."

"Mother?" Katsuhito gasped.

"Yea, one was real huggy and had blue hair, and the other had black and was real, I don't know, royal like. Ya know, if you had said to me a month ago, I would have wondered about how someone could have two mothers."

"Would you mind taking me to the house?" The priest asked seriously. "I think I would like to meet these ladies."

"Sure, I guess." Grabbing the old man's wrist, she teleported them both down to the bottom of the steps. "I'm getting pretty good at that." She commented, and then noticed that Katsuhito was ignoring her, purposely striding towards the house. "What's up with him?"

"Ranma, what's going on?" Tenchi asked, finishing his descent down the stairs.

"Sasami and Ayeka's moms just showed up." She answered with a shrug before heading off for the house herself.

"Oh uh Ranma, why did your hair and eye color change again?" Tenchi asked nervously.

"Eh? Well." Scratching at the back of her head, she wondered if she should tell him about the werecheetah thing. Brittany had explained how to do the changing back and forth thing, but she had also said that it might happen accidentally until Ranma had gotten used to it. Something she really didn't want to do, as far as she was concerned, she would remain out of hybrid form as much as possible.

"It's just another curse I picked up, yea that's it." Laughing several times, she hoped he would buy it, since it was basically true.

"It looks good on you." Tenchi whispered, almost too low for her to hear.

"Huh? It does?" She asked absently, pulling a lock of blonde hair in front of her. "I was just getting used to red." She whined.

"You could dye it." Tenchi suggested tentatively.

"Why would I do something girly like that?" She asked, turning to Tenchi and putting her hand on her hips. "Hair's hair, I'll just have to get used to it."

"Right right." Tenchi waved his hands in warding.

"Man, you're so jumpy, come on let's go find out what's up."

X X X X X X

Washu sat with her arms crossed, listening to the two former Queens of Jurai as they elaborated on the recent events that had transpired on the capital. She was not very amiable to the position they now found themselves in. Gathered in the living room with the rest of the household, they waited for the two to finish.

"Kagato has taken over as the Emperor of Jurai." Funaho explained. "He used an old stipulation, that since your father Azusa had already forfeited his place on the throne, which he did seven hundred years ago shortly before Ryoko attacked Jurai, in preparation for Yosho to take the throne. Since there was no one in line for the throne, and Yosho didn't return, he was acting as steward in Yosho's stead. Only the top most level of Jurai's royalty knew of this, the general populace simply assumed that Azusa had never vacated."

"Kagato's first act, was to banish Asuza, as well as us. He knew that he couldn't have us executed, so this was the only way for him to eliminate us as political threats."

"You've been banished?" Sasami asked from where Misaki was cuddling with her.

"That is not the only thing we came to tell you." Misaki pulled away from Sasami enough to talk. "Kagato has no such restriction with you, and he's ordered that you be brought in for treason, so that you can be executed."

"But that's ridiculous! Why would or Oniisama want us dead?" Ayeka asked in shock. "Up until now, we didn't even know that he was alive."

"Because of Tenchi-dono." Funaho answered. "As a descendant of Yosho, he, or someone along the line closer to Yosho, is the rightful heir to the throne. Should he marry either Ayeka or Sasami, then he would become Emperor. Even though Kagato has taken over the throne through a technicality, he would have to give up his position should that happen."

"Well that sucks for you Ayeka." Ryoko flickered into view next to Tenchi, having taken a spot in the rafters. "But Tenchi's mine, and Emperor of your stupid empire or no, I aint sharing with you."

"You stupid monster woman! This is bigger than you and your ego!" Ayeka screeched, trying to pull Tenchi away from Ryoko.

"Bigger? All you Jurai big wigs have done is drag poor Tenchi into your political game. I say good riddance."

"Ryoko." Washu commanded, stopping her psuedo-daughter from continuing. "Don't be so short sighted."

"Washu-dono, thank you." Funaho bowed her head slightly. "We humbly ask that you help our daughters."

"You shouldn't thank me." She answered, seeing Funaho smile slightly. "Because I'm not going to help them because you asked. I'll help them because they're important to my children."

"We thought that you might feel that way." Funaho said sadly.

"Jurai and the GP tried to erase me, and stole the research I developed over nineteen thousand years of work. I couldn't care less about what goes on in your family." Standing up, she attempted to leave.

"Unfortunately, Kagato has also declared you, Ryoko, and Ranma to be guilty of treason against the Emperor." Misaki's comment stopped her. "No one in this household is safe, save Mihoshi-chan. Kagato could not add her to the list, seeing that her Grandfather is the Grand Marshall of the Galaxy Police."

"And－ how did he find out about us?" She asked, feeling a cold hand grip her heart. As far as Kagato should know, Ranma was lost in space along with her, and Ryoko died fighting Yosho.

"Mihoshi's report to the Galaxy Police was intercepted by one of Jurai's spies." Funaho answered.

"My report?" Mihoshi asked innocently. "Oh that report." She realized and hung her head.

"We are truly sorry to bring such terrible news, but we must be going. The Galaxy Police will be arriving in several of this planets hours. I recommend that you take the opportunity to disappear." Funaho stood up. "We'll take Ayeka, Sasami, and anyone else who wants to go with us."

"You're just going to run away?" Ranma asked. "You aren't going to try and stop this Kagato guy at all?"

"He has too much support among lesser nobles. Asuza represented the old regime, and in a society as long lived as Jurai's, change like this only comes once in a millennia. They've seized upon this opportunity for personal gain." Funaho answered Ranma.

"Running away now would only give Kagato's regime credibility." Katsuhito interrupted, the old priest sitting calmly next to Brianna. "If as you say, Tenchi is the true heir, then it needs to be brought to the normal citizens attention. Surely Kagato would lose his support should the common people know of what he's done."

"Kagato has been planning this coup d'etat for a long time. When he first appeared before Azusa and I in the throne room, forces under his employ, had already secured the palace. Since he has already has the backing of the Galaxy Police, his next move, if he hasn't done so already, will be to take over the news sources."

Washu tuned out Funaho, an incessant thought repetition from Ryoko distracting her. The cyan haired member of her strange family, was repeating just one thought. 'Kagato has found me.' Washu didn't have to read her child's memory to know that it was Kagato who had been controlling Ryoko, initiating the attack on Jurai. The secretive nature of the project, the raw power that was to be created, and the absolute control mechanism. Kagato had tricked her into creating the perfect race of soldiers to enforce his will upon the universe.

'He'll pay for what he's done.' She thought darkly. "Brianna-dono, let me send you back home so you don't get caught up in all of this." She gestured for the exceptionally tall girl to follow her.

"Are you kidding?" The blond scoffed. "I was wondering when the fireworks would start up." The girl grew a decidedly manic grin. "Say you don't have any high explosives do you? Mercury fulminate, nitroglycerin, silver azide, sodium azide, or some copper acetylide? Maybe even something a bit more exotic?"

Grinning herself, Washu resisted the urge to glomp the girl. "I like you! I'll have to grab a few things from my lab. Although I'm very interested in just what Rin-ohki assimilated while in your reality."

"Washu-dono, are you seriously planning to fight?" Funaho asked.

"Well－- the way I see it, there are three choices. The first is that we wait here and are captured by the Galaxy Police, shortly there after we will be found guilty of high treason by Jurai, and executed. Not my idea of fun. The second is that we flee to some forgotten corner of the universe and hide. Obviously we could use my dimensional tuner to do the same job and make us unfollowable. Our final option, defeat Kagato, and clear up this mess once and for all." She explained.

"Agreed." Katsuhito nodded sagely. "Proving our innocence is paramount. If it takes committing the very crime that we are accused of, then that is what we must do. But we cannot allow such an individual as this Kagato, to remain as the leader of such a powerful empire."

"Are you all in agreement?" Funaho asked. "Do you realize what you will have to do, in order just to reach Jurai? This is committing suicide."

"Jurai threw me away to rot in space once." She spoke, crossing her arms. "I don't see how choosing it this time would any better. Of course this all depends on what Tenchi-dono wants to do." At her mention of his name, the young Prince sat up a little straighter.

"Well, if it's as you say, then I don't see much of a choice. I say we go to Jurai." The pigtailed boy answered.

"Ryoko?" Washu asked, unsure on how the former space pirate would decide to act.

"I couldn't care less about Jurai's opinion, but if they're trying to hurt my Tenchi, then I'm going to finish them off this time." The cyan haired girl answered. "Sides, without me you couldn't do it anyways."

"Ranma?"

"Me? Well I'll help out, not sure what I can do though." The blond girl answered.

"Don't sell yourself short, you and Rin-ohki should be able to fight on equal footing with a second generation tree ship. Which reminds me, Tenchi-dono, would you mind giving Ranma one of the gems?"

"Hey! I want my gems back." Ryoko demanded, getting in her face.

"They're not just yours, and it's about time that he got what he was supposed to have." She answered, unconcerned with Ryoko's glare.

"Sasami-chan, you don't want to go do you?" Misaki asked the pink eyed girl.

"Uh huh, if I don't go, no one will get food." Sasami answered with a smile.

"Food?" Misaki asked, turning to look at Ayeka. "You still can't cook Ayeka-chan?" In response, Ayeka looked away nervously.

"There will be ships following ours." Funaho drew everyone's attention. "Seeing that we came here, Kagato will assume that we took you with us. If they show up to arrest you, and no one is here, that will only confirm it."

"So we'll have a head start." She summarized. "You'll play the part of the decoy. I suppose the plan is coming together, though we do have one loose end." Washu turned to look at the confused Kuramitsu. "Mihoshi-dono, we'll need you to try and persuade your grandfather to go against Kagato, can you do that?"

"Kagato sounds like a very bad man." Mihoshi answered. "Detective first class Mihoshi is on the case!" She exclaimed, standing up and saluting Washu.

"Oh my little girls going off on an adventure!" Misaki suddenly yelled, pulling Ayeka and Sasami into a hug.

"And how about you little ones?" Washu asked, bending down to look at the pair of cabbits, who were digesting the conversation. "Do you want to help?" Her answer was miyah in stereo. "So we have a pair of ships to get there. Might I recommend that everyone gathers essentials for the journey?"

Watching the rest of the household, minus Katsuhito, disperse to get their belongings. 'Hopefully just the bare essentials.' Washu thought, imagining the large amount of luggage Ayeka might drag along with her. Washu's beyond impressive mind started to go to work on how they might accomplish their mission.

"Washu-dono." Funaho broke her concentration. "You realize the peril they have been put in, don't you? This isn't some misguided attempt at revenge is it?"

"If it is, I'm blinded to it." She replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there are things I need to retrieve from my lab."

X X X X X X

Author Notes:

(1) – While Ayeka maybe following back into old habits, two months is really nothing to her, and she really didn't gain any maturity from her time spent in feudal Japan.

(2) – Nodoka calling to ask his opinion on things before she went to the Tendo's.

－－－－－－－－－-

A Very Invasive Omake by Tyron23

－-

"So, where are we?" She asked hoping to find out just why her hyperspace storage space was inaccessible.

"My mom's lab."

"This is a lab? So I'm in your reality?" Ranma nodded. "It looks more like some kind of park."

"This is just like the main entrance, it goes other places."

Brianna thought for a bit about something.

"So Ranma you're an alien right?" She asked looking over at the boy sitting on the other bed.

"Uhh yeah." He responded not quite sure where she was going with this.

"And since we're in your mom's lab and she's an alien too that means I was abducted by aliens."

"Well I don't think she meant for this to happen but yeah." Ranma said before getting a bit panicky. "Don't worry though my mom's the greatest scientific genius in the universe she'll have you back home in no time!" He waved his arms around trying calm her down.

"Well this is my first time being abducted by aliens. I was kinda wondering when you were going to get around to probing me." Brianna said with a leer on her face.

".."

"Of course if you want I don't mind anal probing or maybe a little probing on top or some missionary probing. I promise to cooperate fully. Feel free to probe me as many times as you need to!"

"In fact let's get the probing started right away!" She giggled as she tackled him off the bed onto the floor.