Night Shift 5

[LawOhki]

doc link if you wish to make comments inline or want to see the current version of everything in order.

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A scene before this covers Minako visiting the site of Ryoga's slaughter of the apartment building.

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Relaxing after the morning hustle to prepare breakfast and lunch, Nodoka sipped lightly on a steaming cup of tea with both Mau sitting in front of her watching Chibi-Usa practice with Genma. Usa had changed her hair to be held in a high ponytail, letting the pink cascade flip around wildly as she mimicked Genma’s complex forms. Diana was making excited little oohs and aahs as the two moved about. Occasionally the small gray kitten would even give words of encouragement.

Her husband seemed so much more like the man she married with purpose returned to his life again. She knew that he really didn’t have the drive to train Ranma anymore now that her son had surpassed him. Nodoka subtly bit her lower lip, wondering if she had ignored him a little too much upon being reunited.

‘I wonder if Ranma would let us spend some time at his castle?’ She wondered, curious if it would inspire Genma’s more romantic side. They had married young after all and she wasn’t too old to have another child. ‘Ranma would definitely make a wonderful role model. He and Chibi-Usa get along so well.’

Chibi-Usa slipped on the wood as she was performing a snap kick into Genma’s hands and fell hard on her backside with a small cry of pain.

“Husband, don’t push her so hard.” She instantly rose to go help the child up.

“Nonsense, the only thing hurt is her pride.” He stood over Chibi-Usa expecting her to immediately jump up to her feet.

“She’s just a child.” Nodoka narrowed her eyes at the glasses wearing man in annoyance. ‘Just when I was thinking he had some redeeming qualities.’

“I’m okay.” Chibi-Usa broke into their small argument, quickly patting away the small amount of dust on the back of her gi.

“See.” Genma clapped the small girl on the back. “I was right about how you’d coddle Ranma if we stayed. You can’t even put aside your womanly concerns for a cousin let alone our son.” He boasted proudly at being able to justify leaving her.

‘My womanly concerns?’ She snarled internally. “I doubt I would have such concerns if our son had had a good manly influence in his life from the start.”

“Am I not manly enough?” Genma asked sarcastically and flexed himself into different poses like a bodybuilder.

“An opening!” Chibi-Usa shouted and speared Genma in the side with her hand hard enough to make the man crumple to the ground in pain.

“Being manly is more than just a good physique.” She remarked haughtily, resolving to stress how rude her niece had been, sometime much later. “Artemis is quite manly.”

“My manliness just comes naturally.” Artemis sat up straighter. “Of course I would never be so unmanly as to abandon such a lovely woman for years.”

“What was that cat?” Genma snapped and groaned at the same time, still rolling on the floor in pain.

“Father impugned your qualities as a man.” Diana answered helpfully.

“Woe is me, to have a wife who thinks a cat is more manly than her own husband!” Genma bemoaned dramatically, instantly sitting up in a crosslegged position as though he hadn’t been writhing in pain a moment before. “And think not that I haven’t noticed your new hair ornament.”

“You did?” Nodoka asked in amazement, absently reaching up to feel the magical gold clip holding her hair up in a bun. ‘I wonder what else he’s noticed.’ She thought with a small smile returning to her lips.

“Of course! Who gave it to you?” Genma suddenly lunged for Artemis and picked the cat up under his front legs. “Was it you cat?! Confess now!” He demanded jealously.

“Father, what have you done?!” Diana exclaimed.

“Nothing! Honest!” Artemis shook his head violently side to side.

“Can we get back to training?” Chibi-Usa asked from her forgotten place to the side, trying to get back to the reason they were in the dojo in the first place.

Nodoka calmly plucked the poor white feline from her husbands rough grasp and set him back on the floor. “Ranma gave it to me.” She finally corrected him. Genma seemed to realize how big an error he had made when he saw the cold fury smoldering in her eyes.

“Where’d he get the money for that?” Genma asked stupidly before she slapped him across the face.

“It doesn’t matter.” She coldly stated and turned to walk away. ‘After everything he’s done, he questions my honor?!’ Nodoka internally screamed.

“If you want to apologize I know a great flower place.” Artemis told Genma as she left.

“Shouldn’t you get mother some flowers as well, father?” Diana asked.

[Dumbledork]

I still wonder how Genma was able to end up with someone like Nodoka. Probably because both have some very strange notions in their heads. Good one.

[LawOhki]

I still wonder how Genma was able to end up with someone like Nodoka. Probably because both have some very strange notions in their heads. Good one.

Agreed, I was thinking to have Genma apologize to Nodoka by giving her some gift or somehow referencing a moment from their courtship. But at the same time I have to fabricate something for it that fits into their eccentricities because there's nothing given in canon.

I'm already overthinking a lot of stuff for this and that'll be just another thing turn my hair white. /cry

[LawOhki]

Lunch

Ranma basked in the imaginary heavenly glow being emitted from his bento. ‘Oh lunchtime, how I’ve waited for you to save me from class!’ He ignored the myriad of other students who had gathered around the other side of the tree in order to question Hotaru, the mysterious cute girl transfer student. While he should be more interested in why his fellow Senshi decided to leave her far more prestigious school to attend Furinkan, or how the rumor mill was already declaring them a couple, he couldn’t find any reason to be worried.

Such things were paltry concerns when placed against the importance of his lunch. His mother and Kasumi enjoyed preparing meals for him, Akane, and Nabiki. This morning had been different. Ranma had watched briefly at the doorway, hyper focused on the fact that Nodoka was preparing something separate from the two Tendo sisters. His mother was even wearing the golden hair ornament that he had given her last night.

She had been all smiles as she personally handed him the boxed lunch, proudly telling him to ‘do his best’.

As far as Ranma knew, this was the first bento that his mother had ever prepared for him; something every other student here took for granted. More importantly, it came right after an event he had expected to utterly destroy him in her eyes. This was the single most significant and important lunch that he could remember.

So he was reasonably upset when he noticed that someone was slowly pulling the delicious and perfect bento away from his grasp. And it was perfectly understandable for him to hiss ‘mine’ and roughly slap the filthy fingers that dared intrude upon such a perfect moment.

“Easy! I just wanted to snap you out of your food coma.” Sayuri held up her hands in defeat.

“You should know better than to get between Ranma and food.” Yuka joked.

“Sorry.” Ranma apologized sheepishly, glancing over briefly at Hotaru who was easily handling all the attention with soft comments and friendly smiles. “So, what did you want?”

“We just wanted to know if you had delivered our letter-- and if she gave a response?”

“Oh--.” He slowly drawled and twirled a set of chopsticks around his fingers and checking to see how much attention was being directed his way. It was problematic enough that Akane had let these two know that he had a connection to Sailor Theia.

Motioning with his hand for the two girls to come closer, he whispered to them. “She said she’d come-- with one condition.”

“Name it.” Yuka excitedly volunteered

“She wants to bring a friend.” He finished, enjoying how both of them completely froze up. “But she didn’t think you would mind it too much, right?”

“Like-- a-- another Senshi?” Yuka gasped excitedly in a high pitched tone and covered her mouth with her hand. Ranma nodded in response and the two girls looked like they wanted to pass out or hug each other in happiness.

“Of course she can! Thank you so much.” Sayuri clapped her hands together and lunged forward to hug him.

As far as Ranma knew, time had stopped on the collective gasp from everyone in sight. His impossibly wide eyes immediately sought out and found Akane sitting on a bench next to the school in the sun. Her bento was crushed in her hands and one of her eyes was an angry scowl while the other looked to be ready to explode out of her skull. Sayuri seemed to realize the grave mistake she had made and was equally frozen. Unwilling to move in anyway lest something horrible befall her.

“So-- you two having a moment?” Hotaru asked sarcastically.

“Ranma!” Akane screeched, her rapidly approaching feet seeming to shake the Earth.

“I didn’t do anything!” He protested, slipping away from Sayuri to take off running from his fiance, lunch still in hand.

zx

The pavement was a blur underneath her as Haruka expertly weaved her way up the mountain path. Few other vehicles traversed the winding and out of the way road, so she was free to open up her sport bike to truly fly. Reaching one of the few straight away sections, she felt the front wheel pick up briefly as she pulled hard on the throttle.

“Hotaru is having fun on her first day.” Michiru’s voice carried over the roar of engine and wind through the speaker in Haruka’s helmet. Perched side saddle on the back of the bike, her lover hadn’t stopped staring at her cell phone nor given any care to the motions of the vehicle.

Haruka didn’t answer, squeezing the clutch and letting back on the throttle as they neared a gently curve, the bike slowed just enough for her to avoid a car that had pulled into her path. The sun dipped behind the trees lining the road, causing rapid fire splashes of light to bounce off her face shield.

“They didn’t assign any homework. How are they supposed to reinforce what they learned? If they are learning anything at all.” Michiru remarked crossly. “And now she’s helping Ranma find some cold water so they can go to some fanclub meeting.”

“Should have been a guardian.” She finally answered, slowing down to a more leisurely pace as the road became rougher near the top of the mountain.

“We won’t be greeted by her when we get home.” Michiru leaned heavily against Haruka’s back.

Coming to a gentle stop next to a guard rail, they both looked out over the valley and hills far in the distance. All four of them had loved the secluded rural mansion and it’s access to even more remote and scenic areas of Japan. But it wouldn’t be a home anymore without the daughter that had united them.

“Setsuna picked up that place in Nerima, want to make ourselves at home?” Haruka asked, placing her hand over the one Michiru had wrapped around her stomach.

“It would be rude not to visit.” The Senshi of Neptune laced her fingers together with Haruka’s. “Should make sure they are both settled in, right?”


------

Was totally accidental to have Ranma and Artemis end with similar lines.

[ijp92]

well it was a happy accident.

don't try and force in stuff like that, but when it falls in your lap go for it.

[LawOhki]

In Senshi form, Ranma knelt on the grass along with Hotaru as Sailor Saturn minus her Silence Glaive outside of the classroom setup for the meeting. Artemis sat with Diana next to them as they waited to put their entrance plan into play. Both of the Mau wore adorable long tailed black tuxedo jackets while Artemis had on a top hat with his ears sticking through the brim.

Inside the room had been decorated with sparkly gold banners around the exterior and crimson triangular bunting criss crossing the ceiling. The desks had been pushed to one side so they could be used as tables for various treats created by the many students who were milling about the room. All the chairs had been put into lines facing the chalkboard. Ranma counted thirty two students, mostly the expected girls but also a few boys. Akane and her two friends were in attendance, the short haired girl still looking unhappy from what happened at lunch. Even Hiroshi and Daisuke had stopped by.

“I can’t see, what’s going on?” Diana asked, standing up on her back legs with her front paws against the school wall.

“Sorry.” Hotaru picked up the feline so that she could look through the window with them.

“Oooh, you’ve become quite popular, Theia-sama.” The kitten complimented.

“I can’t help it, it’s all because of my natural beauty and grace.” Ranma jokingly replied. ‘Mina is right though, I need merchandising.’ She imagined what it might be like to see herself on lunch boxes, billboards, or even tv shows. A role model that could inspire the masses.

“Shouldn’t we get this show going?” Artemis asked in irritation at how long they had been imagining the reaction of their arrival and giggling about different ways to do it. “Women and making others wait.” He rolled his eyes and sighed.

Ranma gave the white cat a brief glare before grudgingly admitting that they were just putting it off now. “Alright, you’re on.” She silently slid the window open to let Artemis hop up and through. Using her powers, Ranma absorbed all light in the classroom until only a single spot in the front was left to illuminate Artemis.

“Ahem.” Artemis loudly exclaimed, holding up a paw to cough into it as he gained the attention of the confused students. Hotaru used her spell from the other night to summon delicate fireflies of dark purple to flutter gently just outside the column of light.

“A talking cat?”

“He has a little top hat and coat, how cute!”

“So cute!”

Artemis sat up a little straighter in pride at his dashing image. “I am here to introduce your guests of honor, so please hold your applause until the end.”

Ranma could practically hear the drumroll and she and Hotaru slipped inside to be hidden in the darkness behind Artemis. Diana dropped in to sit off to the side away from the action. Striking dramatic poses, Ranma waited for just the right moment to let the gathered students see them.

“Making their first public appearance are two of the beautiful sailor suited warriors for love and justice! The princess of the planet of silence--.”

Ranma brought up the light around Hotaru and the purple haired girl finished for Artemis by saying. “Sailor Saturn!” A couple girls clapped lightly before realizing that the cat wasn’t done speaking.

“The other shines as bright as the sun, known in the past as the light that cleaved the darkness. She is--” Artemis trailed off again to let her speak.

“Sailor Theia!” She announced after bringing the light up around herself.

“We’re on the scene!” Saturn and Theia then finished together, turning to the sides, and crossing their arms. To add to the climax she brought up all the light in the room. Artemis quickly scampered to where Diana was waiting, already forgotten.

There was a pregnant pause before the students realized that the introduction had ended and they quickly broke out in excited applause. Ranma beamed at the attention and could tell that Hotaru was feeling the same swell of delight at the acknowledgement they usually never received. All at once they were surrounded by everyone in attendance, some giving polite bows while others gushed animatedly over getting to meet them.

“Excuse me!” She called over their voices, holding up her hands until it was quiet enough to continue. “Are-- Sayuri or Yuka here?”

“I’m Sayuri!” The ponytailed girl exclaimed happily, stepping forward with arms held up in front of her chest.

“And I’m Yuka!” The other girl with unbound hair bumped into Sayuri. They shared a brief glance before turning back towards Theia with expectant looks.

“It’s a great pleasure to meet you.” Theia bowed her head towards the pair before continuing. “Thank you for inviting us, we all feel honored by your recognition.” Through the assembled group she saw Akane standing with her arms crossed trying to feign disinterest.

“Thank you all for doing all this.” Saturn added, providing a unified front. The rarely seen Senshi wasn’t getting the same amount of attention but there were plenty of guests who looked interested in finding out who this new enigmatic and darker Senshi was.

“Tha-- thank you.” Sayuri stuttered and bowed deeply at the waist. Yuka mirrored her movement the moment she saw that it was happening.

“There’s no need to thank us.” Theia addressed the assembled group as grandly as she could with her short stature. “But we will always appreciate it.” She finished, smiling as gratefully as possible.

While it was probably nothing, it felt like such a momentous moment for her. In her past life this kind of thing had been fairly routine or only formally done. In this life it signified the first step down a path that would lead to ruling once again. Within only a brief span of time, Crystal Tokyo would be established and these young ladies and men would be her subjects.

“Sailor Theia, please try my cakes!” Sachiko from her class suggested, holding up a tray with cupcakes decorated by little white frosting and sparkle and sun candy treats.

“I made brownies.” A girl she didn’t recognize with long black hair pulled back in a loose ponytail at the base of her neck held up her own tray.

“Ah--.” Theia found two more trays with different items shoved forward. “We’ll try one of everything.” She finally volunteered and licked her lips. Daintily plucking a cupcake from the first tray, her fingers sunk deeply into the moist cake. “At least one.”

“Thank you.” Saturn took a dumpling from a different tray. “Maybe everyone would like to take a seat and get comfortable? We could arrange the chairs in a big circle and you can ask us questions.”

Theia found it funny how the class erupted in chaos, everyone desperately trying to get their own seat, and for it to be placed as close to the Senshi as possible. Most of the teachers at Furinkan would kill for the ability to motivate students to move this quickly. Some quickly realized that there weren’t going to be enough chairs so they rushed from the room to search for more.

Everyone except for a girl leaning against the far wall. Crouched partially, she had her arms around herself, and was staring at the floor. Most of her light brown hair was braided into pig tails and Theia couldn’t make out her face as it was hidden behind her bangs. Curious, she strode confidently across the room while ignoring the way everyone watched her.

“Is something wrong?” She asked, putting her hands on her knees as she crouched down to try and see the girl’s face.

Hesitantly the girl’s brown eyes looked up to see who had asked the question before she dropped her head once again. “The monsters-- there are monsters-- safer to go home right after school.” She mumbled, sliding further down the wall. “I wanted to stay and meet you-- but now I can’t go home. It’s not safe.”

“Of course you can go home.” Theia knelt down on the hard floor and placed a hand on the girl’s elbow. “I’ll walk you there myself, couldn’t be safer.” She offered, trying to sound as reassuring as possible.

“Every day?” The girl wailed and fell forward to envelope Ranma in a tight hug, sobbing into her shoulder.

Theia stiffened at the contact, remembering the event from lunch, before almost immediately deciding that it didn’t matter. Finding that there were four girls and a boy forming a wall around her she asked for some chairs. She almost didn’t have to ask, as another girl had been thinking ahead and had been retrieving two already.

Not knowing what to say to the girl right then, she let her cry into the collar of her uniform while gently rubbing her back. “What’s her name?” She asked, seeing that Saturn had taken the initiative to grab the attention of the majority of students. Akane was somewhere inbetween everyone, watching her with a strangely intense curiosity.

“Hidoka Narumi-- she’s my girlfriend.” The guy answered standing nearby frozen in embarrassment. “She gets like this sometimes, cause before she transferred she was attacked by a monster.”

‘So why aren’t you the one trying to console her?’ She wondered in annoyance at his inaction. “Hey, I know the monsters are scary but until they’re gone I’ll definitely make sure you can get home.” Theia gently directed the girl to release her enough to sit next to her. “Every day.”

Gulping, she wasn’t sure that she wanted to make that commitment. Sure she usually spent her time right after school doing something similar but personally attending to students was a little different than anything she had done before. But if she could do something truly good while helping Senshi public relations she would do it.

“You would do that?” Narumi asked haltingly, her voice catching over every word, and struggling to pull herself together.

“Yes.” Theia nodded as she slowly recognized who Narumi was. She was the girl Ranma had saved right before regaining her Senshi powers. “We’re here for everyone, never be afraid to ask for help.”

“Thank you.” Narumi teared up once again and buried her face in Theia’s shoulder while clutching her arm.

“It goes for all of you.” She spoke to the small group. “If I’m not around and you’re in need of help, Saotome Ranma knows how to contact me.” Akane had already linked her two identities, so she may as well make it official.

“You really know Saotome?”

“Ya, just what is your relationship to Saotome?” The familiar voice of Nabiki asked inquisitively.

Theia really tried to keep herself from showing any kind of response to Nabiki’s question, the middle Tendo sister standing to her left with her arms crossed. Nabiki’s eyes seemed to catch a momentary lapse and began to twinkle with delight at finding out more than she should have. Right before her gaze drifted to the side. Theia followed where Nabiki was looking and grimaced at the Mau who were waiting off to the side, performing their job, and observing everything.

“Nabiki, you shouldn’t antagonize a Senshi.” Akane roughly pushed through anyone in her path in order to berate her sister.

“Really now, Akane? Don’t you want to know what your fiance has been doing with someone so scantily clad?” Nabiki asked suggestively. Akane sputtered out cheap denials and alternated between glaring at her sister and Theia.

“Diana, will you come sit with Narumi?” She gestured with her free hand towards the grey kitten.

“Of course I will, Theia-sama.” Diana hurriedly padded over to leap up into Narumi’s lap.

“I need to speak with this-- girl. Do you think you can be strong for me?” She smiled and patted the feline on her head, happy to have a helper. Narumi nodded slowly and almost crushed the small cat in her grip.

As Theia rose from her chair, she pointed at the girl’s boyfriend who sat up straighter. She then glared at him and pointed to where she had been sitting. He seemed to get the point and was a blur of motion as he rushed to comply with her unspoken order. ‘Good boy.’

“Thought you’d be taller.” Nabiki remarked while sizing her up. “Little too top heavy.”

“It’s the bow.” She protested and crossed her arms.

“Hey Tendo, she’s not here to listen to you.” A senior boy remarked rudely to the middle child.

“No one does.” A girl added.

“Peddle your cheap smut somewhere else.” Another girl added.

“Cheap?” Nabiki scoffed incredulously.

“Let’s not fight, everyone should be welcome.” Theia explained magnanimously, smirking at having a room of people firmly on her side against Nabiki, who was usually free to do as she pleased around the school. “Although if Tendo-san is here to cause problems then I will have to ask her to leave.”

“So why are you here?” Saturn asked, appearing at Theia’s side, and regarding Nabiki coldly.

Nabiki’s eyes darted between them rapidly and bounced to several of the other students who were hostile to her presence. Quirking her mouth to the side, she suddenly clapped her hands together and smiled so widely that she had to shut her eyes. “To meet the Sailor Senshi of course!” She squealed happily.

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I felt that there wasn't nearly enough senshi being goofy idiots hamming it up.

If you remember the little outline I posted in the last thread, it means a certain character is finally going to make an appearance.

"Is it me?!"



.... yes

[Dumbledork]

Hehehe. I don't think Ranma thought the whole thing through. He shouldn't have brought the cats with him, especially since there had always been the risk of Nabiki being there.

[LawOhki]

Hehehe. I don't think Ranma thought the whole thing through. He shouldn't have brought the cats with him, especially since there had always been the risk of Nabiki being there.

Nabiki is hardly the biggest thing she screwed up on. Not only did she volunteer her civilian identity to be inundated with requests. But she volunteered to be publicly out with what will be an ever increasing amount of students everyday after school. Ranma kind of screwed up a lot of things with good intentions.

Perhaps worse than those things which are mostly inconveniences, Akane is now really looking at her funny.

[Dumbledork]

Yeah, you're right. I'm surprised Ranma hasn't been scolded yet by Setsuna or the other senshi.

[LawOhki]

Hey, remember in the first scene of the first chapter how Ranma and Ami were talking about modifications?

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Later that night

“Thanks for the hot water, Ami.” Ranma rushed through drying his hair with a towel, dropping down lazily on a chair next to the other Senshi.

“You don’t have to always thank me for that. You know our water heater has always gone up to scalding.” Ami replied, fingers dancing over the keyboard of the Mercury Computer.

From Artemis’ place sitting on the bed with a cell phone propped up in front of him, he asked. “Ranma, Mina wants to know why I’m now ‘your mascot.’”

“How should I know?” Ranma answered with a dismissive shrug.

“What about me?” Diana asked sleepily, curled up next to her father trying to sleep.

“You haven’t been-- assigned to a Senshi yet.” The white cat answered before having to duck his head back to the phone when Minako continued talking on the other end. “Apparently the official forum is almost crashing because of the buzz we created.”

“Hotaru certainly had an exciting first day.” Ami smiled to herself as she finished pulling something up on her computer.

“Apparently a picture of me in my tux is so popular that I made the news.” Artemis boasted.

‘This seems vaguely familiar.’ Ranma had a fleeting memory that was too brief to really latch onto and it was gone just as quickly.

“I’m always impressed by our individual pages. Someone went through and tried to fill in a timeline of my appearances. It’s surprisingly accurate.” Ami added.

“So what’s Mina been up to? I was expecting her to show up.” He wrapped the towel around his neck and sat down in a wheeled chair.

“Did you hear that Mina?” Artemis asked into the phone. “I should just put this on speaker.” He backed away enough to look for the button.

“It’s all hush hush, can’t really talk about it yet.” Minako’s voice came over the speaker. “But you and me are going to have a long talk mister about using that tux I bought you to introduce Ranma instead of me.”

“He also introduced Hotaru before you.” Ranma leaned towards the phone to playfully taunt his friend.

There was a long paused before Minako curtly responded. “We’ll talk about this later.” The call cut off with an audible click. Ranma fell off his chair laughing while Ami struggled to contain her own mirth.

“Mina! Hey Mina!” Artemis pawed at the phone. “Honestly, what is wrong with her?” He asked in a huff.

“I don’t know, father. But there’s no need to yell.” Diana picked her head up long enough to berate her father.

“We can track her down tomorrow and find out what’s up.” Ranma offered, curious as well over what Minako was doing after learning from Ami that she hadn’t been in school.

“Yes--.” Artemis chuckled darkly. “A surprise.”

Diana groaned at her father and sat up fully. “Ami-sama, I hate to intrude upon your studies, but would you happen to have anything to drink?”

“I should have some milk in the fridge. Why don’t you go ask my mom? I think she’s preparing her lunch for tomorrow.” Ami suggested.

“Alright.” The grey kitten nodded and bounded off the bed to skip out of the room.

“I’d like some too.” Artemis started to follow after his daughter. “Ya know-- just to make sure it’s good for her.” He added defensively, quickly speeding up.

“Everything’s good with your mom?” Ranma asked, watching as the white cat’s tail vanished behind the door frame.

“Yes.” Ami answered and cast her eyes downwards. “I can tell that she’s worried I’ll get hurt. Occasionally she’ll come and just sit with me. It’s nice but-- awkward.”

“That’s good-- I’d be happy to have just awkward at the moment.” Things around his own home were getting quite complicated.

“I’m sure everything will work out.” Ami smiled reassuringly at him before leveling a suggestive gaze at him. “And how was Hotaru’s first day at Furinkan?” She asked and began to type on the Mercury computer.

Glad for the quick change in subject, he wheeled his rolling chair over to watch the computers display. “She’ll fit right in.” He answered vaguely.

“I can’t imagine her screaming about some slight and causing property damage.” Ami joked, rhythmically tapping her fingers.

‘Could be easier than you think.’ Ranma knew to never underestimate Hotaru. “How are the simulations going?” He tried to change the subject away from his other friend.

“Clean, take a look.” She pushed the Mercury Computer closer so that he could see the screen better. “Only took five million, six hundred thirty six thousand, and forty two passes to isolate all the enslavement spells.”

“Wow.” As much of a genius as Euryphaessa had been when it came to magical constructs, it would have taken Ranma centuries to figure out the complex and layered creation contained within the gold bracelet on his own. “If she could make something like this-- Galaxia could have done so much good.” He remarked sadly.

“Absolute power is said to corrupt absolutely.” Ami nodded slowly in agreement.

He leaned back heavily in his chair as two months of work had finally come to fruition. Shortly after becoming a Senshi again, he had tried to develop new spells and abilities but hit a barrier that seemed hard wired into them. Eury had done research on the process in the past but had been unable to do more than influence an already defined ability set.

As Ranma regained more of Eury’s memories and reconnected with the other Senshi, he found out everything that had happened to them in his absence. Including their deaths and reincarnations by Galaxia to fight against Sailor Moon. His hands tightened into fists, furious over how he had missed out on so much. As Sailor Theia he was strong enough that he could have protected them. Kept them from being killed one by one until only Usagi was left. (1)

As soon as he had heard of it, he had to see where it had happened. The place where all life originated. Where a hopelessly goofy girl, incapable of even getting to school on time, had decided the fate of the universe.

She had been so enthusiastic to go, to witness where stars were born, but when she got there she had shied away from the great precipice. Incapable of handling the enormity of seeing all of creation in front of her eyes. For a week, she had wandered amongst the ruins of Galaxia’s castle before she had found it. A flash of gold hiding in the rubble, covered in brightly colored jewels twinkling in the light from a billion billion stars shining overhead. There had been an innocent temptation to put it on, but she had seen the cruel magic lingering on it, and realized that it was one of the horrific bracers that enslaved any forced to wear one.

“Ranma?” Ami asked, breaking him out of his memory.

“Huh?” He asked in a daze, noticing that he had pulled the last bracelet from Galaxia from it’s hiding place under Ami’s desk. Contained in a wood case, neither of them had wanted to handle it more than absolutely necessary. “Sorry- was just thinking.” He apologized and placed the box near the Mercury Computer, letting his hand trail over the surface.

“I don’t like it either.” Ami stared down at her hands in her lap. “We really should destroy it.”

“We can now.” Ranma knew that Ami had found this far more difficult, having been a victim of Galaxia. “And we can make sure it’ll never happen again.” He added, and grabbed her hands to squeeze reassuringly.

He was just about to ask how she wanted to go about destroying the artifact when the apartment doorbell chimed.

“I’ll get it.” Dr. Mizuno mother volunteered helpfully as she rushed past the open doorway. “You two just keep having fun.”

“Thank you, mom.” Ami called after her mother before sharing a knowing look with him since Dr. Mizuno had no reason to be down the hall, and should have been with the Mau in the kitchen.

“Ya know.” Ranma raised an eyebrow and leaned in towards his fellow Senshi. “We have just unlocked the ability to control almost every aspect of a Senshi. Is there anything you’d want to change?”

“I don’t know, I never really considered it an option. I suppose if Usagi and Minako were more studious they could get better grades without me making them study. And bringing down my own grade point.” She finished tiredly.

“I might be able to find a way to control my curse.” He leaned back, imagining the weight off his mind if he didn’t have to worry about when he activated his Senshi form.

“Maybe I could become a better fighter like you? So we could all be less of a burden when you and Usagi are around.” Ami admitted shamefully.

“That’s not true.” Ranma frowned in disapproval of Ami’s thought. Even if it was true to an extent. The others had all grown into warriors again but magic and memories were no substitutes for a lifetime of training and experience.

“But if you want to be an amazing martial artist like me then you’re going to need to train. In fact I should come up with something for all of you to work on.” He crossed his arms and nodded his head sagely. “You’re all graduating, should have a lot of time on your hands then.”

“That’s not true at all!” Ami’s jaw dropped in shock. “There’s so much studying I need to do in prep for college, and I need to motivate all the others not to become vagrants.”

“I’ve lived as a vagrant for a while, would be a good experience-- especially for Usagi, toughen her up like my pop’s been doing with Chibi-Usa.” Ranma would have to ask Genma the next time he saw him when he planned take the pink haired child on a real training trip. He was so amused by the thought of Chibi-Usa needing to rough it Genma-style that he was unprepared for a blonde rocket that glomped onto both him and Ami from behind, nearly knocking them to the floor from the force of the impact.

“Hi!” Tsukino Usagi greeted energetically, her long pigtails partially falling over them as they came to rest. In her left hand was a school book while in the other hanging over Ranma’s shoulder was an open, partially eaten box of sweets. “So I was just walking down the street, thinking about going to the arcade, well more like going to the arcade, when I remembered that we haven’t hung out in so long! But then I also remembered that I really needed to get this homework done so I brought that and some sweets! I was kind of hungry so I ate a few but we can go get more, right Ranma-kun?”

“You forgot to study again?” Ami groaned half heartedly, long used to their princess being lazy with school work.

“Forgot is such a-- strong word.” Usagi smiled widely and let them go to focus on the wooden box on Ami’s desk. “So what were you two up to in here? Alone?” The blonde asked suggestively and waggled her eyebrows.

“Research.” Ranma answered, swinging his chair around to face the blonde.

“That secret stuff neither of you will tell me about?” Usagi placed her burdens on Ami’s bed before crossing her arms irritably.

“You said it was too much like ‘school stuff’ and you didn’t want to know.” Ranma pointed out.

“Does it have anything to do with this?” The blonde snatched up the wooden box containing the bracer before either of them could tell her not to.

“Be careful with that.” Ami warned, reaching out timidly to try and take it back.

“But what is it?” Usagi froze in place, the lid open enough for her to see the golden jewelry contained within. “This is one of Galaxia’s bracelets.” The blue eyed girl said slowly, delicately picking up the dangerous jewelry between two fingers.

“Yea, I found it when I went there.” Ranma vaguely explained the origin of the piece, wondering why Usagi was acting so strangely about this.

“Really?” Usagi leaned forward and quickly checked his wrists and then Ami’s.

“We were reverse engineering the spells on it.” Ami supplied helpfully.

“Just got done actually.” Ranma proudly added. “It’s got like a senshi unlock code buried in it. With it we can control everything about ourselves. Like our powers, give you all my training, or maybe less obvious things like-- major character flaws.” He explained, hoping that Usagi would see the possibilities.

“You could be better at remembering to study.” Ami pointed out. “We could all find ways to be better.”

Ranma froze up as he felt the brief surge of Usagi’s powerful magic being summoned to obliterate the remnant of Galaxia. A golden crescent moon glowed on the blonde’s forehead while the bracelet crumbled completely into dust. “Um-- Usagi?” He drew the girl’s attention hesitantly, having never seen her like this. Ami looked similarly shocked at the outburst, recoiling to be closer to him.

Usagi looked to the side and down, refusing to look at either of them. “I can’t believe you’ve been doing this--.”

“That’s not what we were doing.” Ami started to protest before Usagi slapped her lightly across the face, shocking the girl into complete silence.

“Usagi, what are you--.” Ranma received a similar crack across his cheek.

“We’re friends-- and not one of us is broken and needs to be fixed.” Wiping at her wet eyes, Usagi looked away again in shame, and turned to flee from the room.

---

Damn it, why is Usagi so difficult to try and write for? She's effectively Pepa from Cliched Fantasy but from modern times and not a hand sized fairy.

[WG_Writer]

Usagi is an idealist, though if reality does smack her hard enough she will push back. I would assume that the Bracers represent much to her, they hold memories of what happened, of the fact that they can control people, and change people.

However she should also realize that if Crystal Tokyo occurs as it was implied, then she will be effectively doing the same thing. She will be 'fixing' everyone. The reason I can see her in character with what you are doing with her is that it hit really really close to home in regard to the entire galaxia mess. However Ami and Ranma are going too far with some of the ideas, Ranma could be excused to a degree as his mind is a tad messed right now between current life and past life. It is possible that this type of magic was not unheard of back then. Ami was younger at that time though so she should really know better. And that may be what is grinding Usagi the most.

I can easily see Queen Serenity actually using such magic on her senshi, not excessively though. Weakness cannot be tollerated when it comes to defending the realm, even if it was someone you cared deeply for.

However we are forgeting one very important fact about this. Usagi is not her mother and she is her mother in many ways. Queen Serenity sealed Beryl away, Usagi Destroyed her. Usagi may have a big heart but when it comes to protecting her friends she will not shy away especially if serenity appears in her.

In my opinion you should either have her not channel her power at all and run away in tears, or you should have her take that one extra step.

She is either Serenity or not when she is hurt, not both. At least that is how I see the character.

[Dumbledork]

This newest bit is a bit confusing. Does Ami's mom know she's a senshi?

[Wharpt]

Ami and Ranma ever heard of the phrase - 'If it ain't broke don't fix it'?

[LawOhki]

Here's the doc link, spoilers obviously.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ARU ... cslist_api

However she should also realize that if Crystal Tokyo occurs as it was implied, then she will be effectively doing the same thing. She will be 'fixing' everyone.

I disagree here. When CT comes about Usagi is only said to have extended peoples lifespans I don't remember it being indicated that she purged them of negative traits.

I'm doubling down on that idea in that the Senshi currently are doing outreach stuff to hopefully prep the public for their eventual take over. Ranma himself realizes that when CT does come about his normal life is going to be done since he'll need to spend a significant amount of time helping to keep the peace as not everyone is going to like having a new all powerful eternal monarch.

And there will be an inaugural issue of a magazine soon. Probably titled 'Magical Teen' and focusing on good deeds all the magical kiddies around the world are doing, male and female.

However Ami and Ranma are going too far with some of the ideas, Ranma could be excused to a degree as his mind is a tad messed right now between current life and past life. It is possible that this type of magic was not unheard of back then. Ami was younger at that time though so she should really know better. And that may be what is grinding Usagi the most.

It's all current day stuff for that. Usagi is upset that two of her friends don't think they are good enough as is and need to be fixed and she values all of them flaws included.

Which is especially galling coming from Ranma, who she had to reassure when first coming into their group that they accepted him for him. Ranma being a male in this scene is purposely done to show that they don't just expect him to be female all the time, it's what he wants to do.

I can easily see Queen Serenity actually using such magic on her senshi, not excessively though. Weakness cannot be tollerated when it comes to defending the realm, even if it was someone you cared deeply for.

I got enough darkness planned for her, don't need mind raping thrown in.

However we are forgeting one very important fact about this. Usagi is not her mother and she is her mother in many ways. Queen Serenity sealed Beryl away, Usagi Destroyed her. Usagi may have a big heart but when it comes to protecting her friends she will not shy away especially if serenity appears in her.

In my opinion you should either have her not channel her power at all and run away in tears, or you should have her take that one extra step.

She is either Serenity or not when she is hurt, not both. At least that is how I see the character.

I'd agree if they were actually doing something that she had to stop. She's conflicted, they're thinking about doing something that is 'wrong' but haven't really done anything.

Destroying the bracelet is really more of a knee jerk reaction and not an outright conscious choice. So upset over seeing it that her magic just vaporizes it.

As for her protective Serenity part, that'll come later when the two try to calm her down.

A lot is going on in this scene, so suggestions or notes on what causes confusion are very welcome.

This newest bit is a bit confusing. Does Ami's mom know she's a senshi?

She does, will likely need to make that more obvious. Probably pulled a bit of a Ukyo when she found out about Ranma's gender changing. I'll also need to clarify where Luna is in all of this.

Ami and Ranma ever heard of the phrase - 'If it ain't broke don't fix it'?

Well their primary reason was to come up with protections against what happened to all the senshi save Usagi at one point, being taken over and mind controlled. So that was something very broken.

[LawOhki]

Upo further reflection with Konsaki and Frice, I'm going to switch to Usagi's pov around the doorbell going off. So i can give Amis mom some screen time and have Luna wondering why her daughter is blowing up the internet. Hopefully this will also make her reasoning more solid.