It wasn't the only shrine in Juuban, nor was it the largest, most 
visited, or even terribly important. A grove of trees and a slight 
elevation screened the compound from the street below. In the courtyard 
of the shrine, a young priestess sat in meditation. Long reddish-black 
hair flowed down from her head, perfectly framing her deceptively calm 
face. Behind her closed eyes, the girl's mind was in turmoil trying to 
make sense of the... insanity... in a young couple's lives, and the 
crazy people who caused it.

Hino Rei had come home angry over what had just transpired; her friend 
Ranma's attempt to reconcile his mother and his situation met with 
failure. Not even the endorsement of the world's most powerful 
superheroines had persuaded the Saotome matriarch to let go of a Seppuku 
promise Ranma had made as a five-year-old. Now it seemed that Ranma and 
his fiancee Akane would have to make their way without a mother's love 
and guidance. A frown finally revealed her roiling emotions as she 
considered whether the love of that jerk of a mother was worth anything. 
Rei banished memories of Mrs. Saotome's rejection of her only child, 
finding peace at last. Ranma and Akane needed their friends now, not 
anger. A wave of calm rolled back in, washing away her angry expression.

As her meditation continued, Rei wondered if there was a way to 
strengthen the bond between Ranma and Akane. Suddenly, a flash of 
inspiration pierced the veil that had hidden the answer. The shrine 
maiden returned to the physical, having received the insight she had 
sought from the spiritual.

After hurrying inside, the priestess punched Ami's number on the phone.

She waited impatiently for the call to go through. "Hello?"

Ami's mom answered. Rei hoped her friend was home. "This is Rei, is Ami-
chan there?"

She was! "Thanks!"

"Hello, Ami-chan?" She waited for her friend's returned greeting.

Excitement increased on her face. "I just got a great idea, could you 
come up to the shrine?"

"Great! See you soon!" Rei hung up the phone, content to wait for her 
friend.

***

Twice in a Millennium

A Continuation of "Sailor Ranko" by Fire
By Kevin D. Hammel

Ranma 1/2 is property of Rumiko Takahashi. Publication Rights are held 
by Viz in The US and Shogakukan in Japan. Sailor Moon is property of 
Naoko Takeuchi. Publication rights held by Kodansha Ltd. in Japan and 
Mixx Entertainment in the US. My purpose is to honor these creators and 
their works. No infringement intended.

***

A young woman with closely cropped black hair walked in an unfamiliar 
corner of Nerima. The young warrior's face showed apprehension as she 
approached the Saotome home. When Ranma had first told her about his 
mother's rejection, Akane had almost stormed off in a rage. The Akane of 
the past might well have, but not now. 'Auntie' Saotome had become quite 
close to Tendo Akane and her 'cousin' Ranko, how could she do this to 
both of them? Saotome Genma's contract was a joke in itself, a pathetic 
attempt to pry a son from his mother. More ludicrous was the contention 
that the pact was unfulfilled.

Akane looked at the simple ring on her finger with a smile. The month 
Akane and Ranma had spent in Jadeite's dimension proved Ranma was the 
one for her, even though he'd been a girl the whole time. There, at long 
last, Akane had become Ranma's peer in the Art. She accepted the fact 
she would never be his equal, but could finally spar with her fiancee 
knowing that both of them were going all out. A smile grew on her face 
as she remembered the wonderful, frightening, dirty, and exciting 
adventure they had shared; and the heroism that she had found in herself 
at its end. Akane's smile dimmed a little when she realized that Ranma's 
role as Sailor Sun created a new gulf between them, but things were 
never easy for the star crossed couple.

As she reached the Saotome house, the smile dimmed a little more. Akane 
took a few calming breaths. Anger was still her enemy, especially right 
now. Her smile restored, she walked to the door full of hope for 
reconciliation. Somehow, Nodoka had forgotten how to love her child. The 
fact Akane had lost her own mother a decade ago only strengthened her 
resolve. She had to succeed for Ranma, and herself.

***

Ami hopped out of a bus and walked down the street to the entrance of 
the shrine where her friend Rei lived. She wondered just what could have 
gotten her friend so worked up. Could it have anything to do with what 
happened with Ranma's mother?

It was only a few minutes later that both of them bounded down the 
stairs, running to catch a bus. They needed a lot of help to make Rei's 
vision a reality.

***

Akane hesitantly regarded the button beside the door. A warrior who held 
off three youma in their home dimension was not going to turn back 
because of a one-centimeter square of plastic! She pushed the button, 
summoning the sound of creaking floorboards, as hesitant footsteps came 
to answer the bell.

Nodoka opened the door and suppressed a gasp. She had seen Tendo Akane 
before, but never as she was now. A pretty schoolgirl, a bit soft from 
the pleasures of urban life, had greeted 'Auntie' Saotome when she last 
visited the Tendo home. Now a warrior came to the Saotome house, 
presumably to have her revenge on a mother unworthy of the title. Nodoka 
bowed. "Come in, Akane."

"Thank you... Mrs. Saotome." Akane walked a few meters into the room 
with both strength and grace Nodoka had never seen in her before. The 
young martial artist turned, her face bearing none of the rage Nodoka 
had expected. "We must talk."

Akane finally had a good chance to look at her fiancee's mother. The 
hours since Ranma's departure had not been kind to the woman. Her eyes 
were bloodshot, and red streaks covered her face.

"Have a seat, Akane. May I ask why you came to visit?" Nodoka asked in a 
soulless voice, it seemed her very being had been washed away by tears.

The two women sat down, and were silent for a few minutes, Akane 
speaking at last. "Mrs. Saotome... how could you treat Ranma the way you 
did?"

Nodoka closed her eyes, then rose and left the room. Akane could hear 
metal scraping against metal, then the woman returned carrying a small 
metal mixing bowl. She set it in Akane's lap, then returned to her seat 
without a word. Her downcast face made emotions unreadable.

Akane looked into the bowl and saw the yellow-brown ashes of a piece of 
paper. Warmth and the unmistakable smell of burning told her fire had 
only recently consumed the document. Akane had a very good idea what had 
been written on it. She looked up from the basket, a ray of hope 
escaping her control for a fleeting moment. "What's this?"

Nodoka spoke... eyes on her own clasped hands, not her son's fiancee. 
"Akane, my life has been controlled the last decade by the contents of 
that basket. Today, that paper blinded me to honor for the last time." 
At last she looked up. "The agreement my husband made is gone now, love 
won over honor in my heart." She closed her eyes, lowering her head. 
"But, before it was gone... it cost me Ranma today. I saw him... for the 
first time in ten years... and drove him away. Without him, I am not a 
mother... I am nothing."

"Mrs. Saotome!" Akane shouted, then lowered her voice. "You will always 
be Ranma's mother, you gave him life." She rose, to stand before the 
older woman. With a smile she raised Nodoka's chin, pleased there was no 
resistance. "To me, you're still Auntie Saotome. You made a terrible 
mistake today, and it's going to be tough to patch things up. But you 
can, and I'll help you... as long as it doesn't affect my relationship 
with Ranma." She glanced at her ring finger.

Nodoka followed Akane's eyes and saw the final proof of her son's 
manhood. "I'll try, Akane."

***

The twosome on the bus became a foursome before the group reached its 
final destination, as Minako and Makoto boarded en route. A phone call 
from Rei's had brought a sixteen-year old girl with two blonde ponytails 
out to the bus stop to greet her friends. Next to her was her pet black 
cat, Luna. After Ranma's disastrous attempt at reconciliation with his 
mother, the inner Senshi had gone to their respective homes, only to be 
re-assembled a short time later at Rei's request. Now all five girls 
gathered in Usagi's room.


As the leader of the group, Usagi spoke first. "So, Rei-chan, why did 
you want to get us together so soon? We just got back, and I'm still a 
little tired after all that dimension-hopping," she said, stifling a 
yawn.

Rei looked serious. "Well, I got a wonderful idea, though it will 
certainly need the approval from the Moon Princess to work..."

***

Akane walked the few blocks from the train station to her home with a 
concerned smile. Reconciliation was out of her hands now; the next move 
was Mrs. Saotome's. The Saotome matriarch had taken a big step when she 
burned the agreement... would Ranma understand just how big it was?

***

Luna looked as concerned as a cat could. "But, Rei, it's been a 
millennium since the last was called, and they were all royalty from one 
of the Kingdom's planets!"

Rei scowled at the cat. "Doesn't bravery and skill account for 
something? Look at Sailor Sun, SHE was a commoner."

Usagi responded with a distant expression. "She wasn't even made a 
Senshi until after her sacrifice." She smiled slightly before 
continuing. "But her rebirth shows that she became a true Sailor 
Senshi."

Rei smiled. "It does, but... it's better to have a living Senshi than a 
dead heroine."

Luna responded. "We have no idea of the dangers to us, let alone the 
candidate you propose, Rei. Besides there are no planets left; Earth is 
Endimyon's power base, after all!"

Ami looked up from the computer she had been typing furiously on as the 
conversation progressed. "But there are other worlds in our Solar System 
besides planets..." Her expression became a little downcast. "And a lot 
of them are bigger than Mercury. Look at some of the ones I've found!"

***

Never had a piece of paper looked so terrifying, or so empty. Taking pen 
in hand, Saotome Nodoka began to put words to the paper. It was a 
struggle to pour her heart onto the page, but it was the only way. She 
honestly didn't think she could face her son again. Perhaps words could 
bridge the chasm her thoughtless had created.

Hours passed, or were they minutes? A glance outside at gathering 
darkness proved it to be the former. The matriarch looked once more at 
the paper. It said all she felt, and all it must. It was ready. A stamp 
of her hanko finalized the document. As she folded the paper, a few 
droplets fell to betray the emotions that raged just beneath her facade 
of control.

Nodoka went to the bureau and withdrew two envelopes. She addressed both 
to 'Ranma'. In one, she placed the recently completed note. The tears 
had dried, providing mute testimony on her emotional state. In the 
other, she dumped the cold ashes of the document she should have 
forgotten; hoping her son would understand the message of the now 
illegible paper.

Ranma's mother closed the documents, then sealed them. She would not 
trust anyone save herself to deliver them safely. A glance at her watch 
showed there was more than enough time to take them to the Tendo home.

The bus ride of a few kilometers seemed unending; events that so 
recently took place replayed over and over in the mother's mind. She had 
spat at her own son's feet, not waiting to hear what happened. Her mind 
had been made up in an instant. Just as suddenly, her heart had been 
broken as she heard the reality of what happened, first from one of the 
Sailor Senshi, then the young warrior Ranma would take as a wife.

So deep and painful were her recollections that she missed her stop. 
Nodoka stopped the bus then walked back to her stop, a short walk 
further taking her to the Tendou home.

The doorbell summoned a young woman Nodoka knew well, Kasumi. The young 
matriarch blinked once, then smiled for her guest. "Good evening, 
Auntie. What brings you here?" There was an edge to her voice, a strain 
not normally present.

Nodoka closed her eyes for a moment, searching for composure as she 
squeezed tears from her tightly shut eyelids. Opening her red stained 
eyes, she thrust the two envelopes at her hostess. "Please make sure 
Ranma gets these, Kasumi-chan."

Kasumi accepted the packages with a small bow. "Of course, Aunt... 
Saotome-san. Ranma and Akane are visiting if you wish to see them..." 
Her sentence died as she saw the horrible anxiety on Nodoka's face.

"No... Thank you." Nodoka bowed one last time, then turned away. She 
fought with all her willpower to keep from breaking down. Her composure 
lasted until she was home. As she collapsed on her bed, she wondered if 
her self-control would ever return. If HE would ever return... home.

***

Kasumi walked into the living room, then over to the couch her sister 
and fiancee shared. "Ranma?"

"Yeah, Kasumi? What was that about?"

Kasumi looked thoughtful before proceeding. "These messages were left 
for you. Would you like to look at them?"

"Sure... I guess." Ranma replied as he took the two envelopes. Both were 
addressed to him using only his given name.

He opened the first, withdrawing a document pockmarked with dried tears. 
He unfolded the paper, then began to read. As he read the letter, anger 
grew on his face, then vanished as quickly.

Akane looked at her fiancee with concern. "What's wrong, Ranma? What 
does it say?" Finished with it, Ranma handed the document to his 
soulmate, who began to read.

Ranma,

It is amazing how a moment or two of pride can cause years, or a 
lifetime, of suffering. A life based on supposed honor can be destroyed 
if one forgets for even a moment the true meaning of the word.

I have made two terrible mistakes in my life, accepting the document 
from your father was the first. The second I made today, letting his 
written words, a newsreader's commentary, and my own stubborn pride 
blind me to your honor.

Knowing the secrets you were kind enough to share with me this morning, 
I will not repeat them here. I will tell you how I feel, though. After 
you and nine of your friends left, one of them stayed behind. She told 
me the true story of your love for Akane, and the lengths you went to 
save her, and our world. My world and life collapsed when her tale was 
finished.

I realized too late just how much a man you became, both brave and 
loving. A child I would be proud of, but one my own foolish pride lost 
to me. Imagine having your child taken away for ten years, then lost 
forever in a moment of arrogance and ignorance.

I had another visitor today, I won't mention her name but I will mention 
that she provided perspective on events recently concluded. She showed 
me what she herself learned; physical gender has nothing to do with the 
heart or spirit of a "Man Amongst Men".

I will not stand as judge for your father or you, Ranma. You will find 
the document that destroyed my life in the other envelope. That was the 
first signpost on my personal road to ruin, but it will misguide me no 
more. I stand ready to do as honor dictates, if that is your request. I 
am a failure as a mother, that is certain. I am fully prepared to 
rectify my mistakes with my lifeblood, if required to finally know honor 
at last.

I now ask you in humility for forgiveness. I just want to have my child 
back. I beg you give me the chance to be your mother, Ranma. All I ask 
for is a chance to start anew. Know that if that is not to be, I will 
die happy. My son has made me very proud.

Your Mother,

The impression of a hanko at the bottom concluded the document.

Akane turned from the paper to look at Ranma, who opened the second 
envelope to see the cooled ashes she had observed earlier. Ranma closed 
the envelope, engrossed in thought. Akane kissed him gently on the 
cheek. "Ranma... please tell me what you're thinking."

"I don't know what to think. Just a few minutes ago, I'd pushed her out 
of my mind. Now... I dunno..." He closed his eyes for a moment, coming 
to a realization as he opened them. "It was you, wasn't it Akane? You 
visited her didn't ya? Why?"

Akane looked into her fiancee's beautiful blue eyes, "Because, Ranma. 
Because your mom deserves a second chance... I... I want her to be there 
for us and our children. My... my mom can't be." Akane closed her eyes 
for a moment before opening them to continue. "But I also told her you 
come first in my heart. If you don't want her..."

"I need to think about it, Akane. I'm not gonna be like her and talk 
before I think. Though us Saotome's are experts at it." He smiled at his 
love for a moment. "Thanks, Akane." He looked thoughtful then continued. 
"Maybe there's somebody else I need to thank..." He kissed the top of 
her head. "Sorry, Akane. Gotta to do this visit alone."

"I... understand, Ranma." <Senshi business,> Akane added to herself, 
wondering who the other person mentioned in the letter was. "See you 
back in Juuban, Ranma."

"Yeah, Akane." Ranma said as he returned the letter to its envelope, 
then headed for the door.

***

Replaying the scene with his mother in his head, Ranma had a good idea 
who the Senshi that confronted her was. His two closest friends in the 
group were Ami and Rei. He doubted Mercury would have gone on the 
offensive, but Mars certainly would have. He'd seen the paper, ink 
streaked by tears. What had the Senshi said to his mother? Familiar 
scenery pulled him from his musings; his stop was coming up.

Rei was catching up on some chores as she saw Ranma walk up the steps 
with a concerned expression. He greeted her with a serious face as he 
drew a letter from an envelope. "Hey, Rei! I need to talk to you about 
what happened earlier."

The shrine maiden scowled as she thought of the last time that she'd 
seen Ranma, at his lousy mother's house. "What, Ranma? Don't tell me 
that you let that jerk get to you!"

Ranma was clearly taken aback. "I hope you aren't callin' my mom a jerk, 
Rei. Just think of what she went through today."

"What she went through! What about you? She spat at you! She actually 
wanted you to KILL yourself today! Why... if... she... were... here... 
I'd..." Anger consumed the young priestess' ability to talk as her face 
reddened.

Ranma thrust the paper at his friend. "Read this, Rei. My mom just wrote 
it..."

Rei snatched the paper from Ranma's hand, nearly tearing it in her haste 
to get it over with. As she read it, a lot of her anger left. A quieter 
girl looked up from the paper. "I guess she took it really hard, Ranma." 
The priestess said as she handed the paper back to her teammate.

Ranma accepted it with a grin expression. "Yeah. Now I need to decide if 
I want a mother or not."

Anger blossomed on Rei's face again, only to be washed away by a more 
sober expression. "Ranma, I think your mom needs you and..." She looked 
up straight into her taller friend's eyes. "You and Akane need her."

"What did you say to her, Rei? What did you do?"

"I gave her a piece of my mind. I told her WHY you weren't on Earth 
while the rest of us were." Rei looked down as she struggled to 
continue. Glancing up into Ranma's eyes, she finished, "The last thing I 
said was that I hoped our paths never cross again."

Guilt and sadness combined with understanding to mask Ranma's reaction 
to Rei's actions. "I... guess I see what you were tryin' to do, Rei..."

Rei glanced at the paper as Ranma carefully folded it up. "But it sounds 
like your mom finally caught a clue. Maybe you'll be able to patch 
things up." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I hope I do get to 
cross paths with her again."

Ranma gently took her hand and offered a tentative shake. "Thanks, Rei. 
I gotta think about this s'more."

"Sure, anytime," the girl said to Ranma's back. She wondered if Ranma 
could win his mother's heart back... or was it if his mom could win 
Ranma back? From what little she'd seen of Nodoka, she seemed every bit 
a stubborn as her son.

***

Ranma walked the short distance to the Miyagi dojo from Rei's. He wasn't 
surprised to see his fiancee waiting for him. "Hey, Akane!" he shouted 
as he approached the entryway.

"Hi, Ranma. How was your meeting?" Akane asked with genuine concern 
darkening her face.

"Good, Akane. Really Good. I figured out who talked to mom today..."

"Who Ranma?"

"One of my friends... Sailor Mars."

"So what are you going to do? Visit Auntie Saotome?"

"Not today, but SOON." Ranma said with a bit of hope on his face.

"Good." Akane replied with a cute smile.

Ranma smiled back as he offered a hand to his fiancee. Hand in hand, 
both reentered to the house where they lived in Juuban.

***

Makoto, Setsuna, and Rei gathered for a meeting at Ami's. Her mother was 
working at the hospital, providing an excellent opportunity for the 
girls to meet without outside interference. All four had agreed Rei's 
plan was a good one, and were prepared to see it through.

As host of the meeting, Ami spoke first. "I thought we should get 
together to finalize our choice of a focus target." She turned to 
Makoto. "Mako-chan, it's going to have to be one of your satellites. I 
have a definite preference, do you have any?"

Makoto looked thoughtful. Living on Earth, she didn't often visit the 
world which was her power's focus. The Senshi of Jupiter did know the 
feel of the four major moons intimately, however... icy Callisto, rocky 
Ganymede, tempestuous Europa, and fiery Io. Which would she suggest? 
Makoto came to a conclusion, speaking at last. "Well, if it were me..."

Ami shook her head in the affirmative. "It IS up to you, Mako-chan. 
You're going to have to channel the power to help us create a new 
henshin stick."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Anyway, I think I've picked a good one 
out..."

Upon hearing the name, Ami smiled. It was her choice as well.

***

<Wedding preparations, oh brother!> Was all Ranma could think as he 
followed Akane and Kasumi from shop to shop as they made sure everything 
was perfect. It was amazing that so much work and worry could be 
invested in a short ceremony. Flowers, clothing, decorations for the 
dojo... So much to fret over. It was, it seemed, easy to say 'I love 
you' and darn near impossible to say 'I do'. But, considering all that 
happened to say 'I love you', was it REALLY that easy, or just in the 
past?

At home, Nabiki set to work undoing all her little sister was doing. She 
didn't want Akane to be stuck in a marriage neither Ranma nor little 
sister wanted. They needed some breathing room to decide if they really 
were in love, if marriage was really what they wanted.

Just a few invitations to some people who had somehow been left off the 
guest list, but knew Ranma and Akane well... It would be a pity if THEY 
couldn't come, too. Nabiki gave a self-contented smile as she mailed the 
envelopes; the wedding would be very interesting indeed.

A tired Ranma and Akane returned to Juuban. All the preparations had 
been made; all they had to do now was wait... and train.

***

Princess Jupiter surveyed a little-visited corner of her vast domain. 
The very world itself was vital, exhaling mighty plumes of fire. 
However, its surface was desolate; devoid of all life except the 
worldlet's mighty show of a geologic approximation of organic ebb and 
flow.

Death would come in mere moments were it not for the protection their 
magic offered the Jovian Ruler and her guests. Each of the other young 
women was princess of an inner planet or Terra's moon. Sailor Jupiter 
searched the landscape looking for a suitable rock to transform for a 
higher purpose, finding a solid dark brown stone that would serve as the 
basis for a new Henshin stick. Nodding to her friends, she joined their 
hands and the group used a Sailor Teleport to travel to nearby Castle 
Io.

The inner Senshi materialized across from the massive stone table that 
dominated the Great Hall of Castle Io. Seated at the table were the 
remaining Sailor Senshi, save Sol's new warrior who remained behind on 
Earth unaware of events far away. Pluto sat in the center of the table 
studying a dusty tome, flanked by Uranus and Neptune on one side, and 
Saturn on the other.

Jupiter approached the Guardian of Time with the stone she had found, 
traversing the mosaic of Jupiter, its rings, and its four great moons 
that decorated the floor. All eyes focussed on the stone she carried, 
the only sound in the room the reverberating click of the tall Senshi's 
boots against the polished stone. Her walk, and her reflection's, 
provided the only motion in the tableaux.

Pluto looked up from her book to gaze at the rock Jupiter carried, then 
broke the silence. "That specimen will be fine, Princess Jupiter. Are 
you ready to channel the power of the moon to create the Henshin stick?"

Jupiter stopped, thought clearly marked on her furrowed brow. Rei or Ami 
would have been better choices; they were good friends of Ranko. But 
Phobos and Deimos were much too small and Mercury had no moons. So the 
duty and honor fell to her. Soon there would be a new Sailor, powered by 
one of HER moons. A proud smile bloomed on her face as she answered the 
question at last, "Yes, I am."

"Excellent." Pluto intoned then gazed at the book, rereading the words 
she had long before memorized yet again. "The instructions are quite 
specific. Concentrate on you planet's power, then try to separate out 
the moon's."

First the stone then the Senshi herself began to glow. The bright light 
surrounding her became fire and arcs of lightning as she found and began 
to channel the moon's energies. As the cold flames leapt higher, Pluto 
added an incantation from her book; fixing the image of the young woman 
who would use the stick as she chanted the words...

Back on Earth the next day, Makoto looked at the small wand she had made 
with Setsuna's help. It was transparent yellow, shot through with red to 
give the appearance of flames frozen and sealed within.  The wand was 
perfect for both the world it represented and the warrior who would 
wield it. Storing the rod away with a thought, Makoto returned to her 
preparations. She and her friends were going to throw a very special 
party for two very special people. If all went well, the Senshi's number 
would swell to eleven. All would go well.

***

Each day for Nodoka was like the one before. Each was almost like an 
out-of-body experience as she almost floated through her work, then her 
time at home. Waiting for HER judgement by her child. The mat was laid 
out in the living room, and she checked the tanto each day. She knew 
well the cuts required for Seppuku by a woman, and was ready for her son 
to provide her release whether by death or rebirth. It was obvious her 
son was giving it much more thought than she had.

Ten years of planning and hoping. Ten seconds of denial. Two seconds of 
utter stupidity mistaken for honor. And now she waited for it all to 
end.

A knock at the door jolted her back to her home. She hoped it would be 
Ranma. Nodoka rose and walked to the door, dread vying with faint hope 
for her heart. She opened the portal to see three... girls? Akane she 
immediately recognized, she remembered the Sailor Mars from her previous 
encounter, finally, the girl she had grown to love as her own... 
Ranko... Ranma. Her wait was over. Nodoka bowed to her child. "Thank you 
for returning, Ranma. I pray that you will end my suffering. Sailor Mars 
and Akane, thank you both for showing an old woman the error of her 
ways." She looked up to see three illegible faces.

As one, the three girls offered a curt bow and a "Thank you."

Nodoka motioned for them to enter then directed her guests to take a 
seat on a sofa. She knelt down on the mat she had prepared for her 
moment of truth. Looking down, she picked up the katana and handed it to 
Ranma, who would serve as her judge and second.

The girl accepted the weapon, her face remaining noncommittal.

Nodoka picked up the tanto, then placed it in front of her, focussing 
her eyes on the deadly weapon as she waited.

After several minutes of utter silence in the room, Ranma spoke. "Mom, I 
have thought long and hard on what happened a few days ago. Though I 
don't wanna judge my own parent, your letter kinda forces me to. First, 
you spoke before you knew all the facts... BUT when you knew what was 
goin' on, you tried as hard as you could to fix things. Pop never woulda 
done that, ya know." Ranma struggled to maintain her composure as she 
continued, a free flow of tears showing her true emotions. "Please, mom, 
put that knife down, you might hurt yourself... You might hurt Akane and 
me." She waited a few moments before continuing. "I forgive you, I don't 
wanna see you die over a dumb mistake, please? God knows me 'n pop 'ave 
made plenty of 'em."

Nodoka hesitantly looked up into eyes filled with pain, tears, and some 
love. Words came with difficulty as she adjusted to the possibility of a 
future beyond this day, this moment. A life with... "Ranma." She almost 
whispered, pausing a few heartbeats as she looked for the courage to 
continue, "Thank you."

Ranma found a small smile to put on. "Aww, it wasn't much. You deserved 
a second chance, mom."

***

Ranma and Akane emerged from the station in Nerima holding hands. Ranma 
turned to the girl who would, in just a few days become his wife. "Well 
Akane, I guess we really are gonna do it... right? After that time in 
Jadeite's dimension and with all the weight training you do now, you 
ain't even uncute any more..."

A small, dark cloud appeared above Akane's head "RRRRanmaaaa! Why I 
could..."

Ranma turned to her and finished his line. "You went from uncute to 
beautiful, Akane!" After giving her quick peck on the cheek, Akane's 
fiancee turned and ran... straight into a sprinkler watering a 
flowerbed.

Akane blinked in shock at Ranma's admission, then burst into laughter. 
"You're still cute, Ranko... wanna be friends?"


A soaking Ranko, who forgot being drenched and female replied to her 
fiancee. "Yeah, Akane I'd like that."

Akane put her arm around the smaller girl, finally noticing how cold the 
water was. "Let's get you home, I think you could really use some hot 
water."

"Thanks." She turned the Akane and whispered in her ear. "You've gotta 
be the most macho, beautiful, over-muscled, wonderful, tomboy on Earth, 
Akane."

"I never thought I'd fall for an insensitive, cute, macho, pervert like 
you, Ranma." Akane whispered back.

Nabiki watched in shock as Ranko and Akane turned off the street and 
headed to the house. Each had an arm over the other's shoulder, right 
where each of them wanted those arms to be. Looking at the two girls, 
she saw only smiles of friendship and love. There was no anger on 
Akane's face or flustered confusion on Ranma's. Only two people who 
obviously cared deeply for each other. NOT the two people she had sought 
to break up. Gears in the middle daughter's head went into hyperdrive as 
she thought of a way to avert disaster the day after tomorrow. Eyes 
narrowing, she came up with a plan as she stepped out the front door.

"Hi, Akane and RANKO! I was wondering if I could interest the two of you 
in a little wedding insurance?"

"Hey, Nabiki!" Ranma's eyes narrowed, "Why would we need insurance, huh? 
This another scam of yours?"

"Believe me, Ranma, it's not like that at all. Tomorrow, let's go 
downtown and I'll help you two get some wedding insurance, okay?"

Akane glared at her sister. "Sure Nabiki! How much is it gonna cost?"

"It's free, honest." Her forced smile slipped to a moment to show a 
little guilt. "So, will you two go with me tomorrow? It'll only take an 
hour or so..."

"Okay, Nabiki!" Both girls replied in perfect unison, then laughed as 
they looked at each other.

Nabiki looked very relieved. "Great! See you two tomorrow morning early, 
okay?"

"Sure!" Akane pivoted to look to look at her fiancee again, "Let's get 
you some hot water, Ranko!" She said with enthusiasm. Akane then turned 
toward the house and hustled in, followed by Ranma.

***

Waiting for the two was a letter with beautiful calligraphy on the 
envelope. 'To Akane and Ranma' the outside said. Akane carefully opened 
the letter, resulting in a shredded envelope and a relatively legible, 
if ripped, missive. The manuscript was beautiful, obviously 
painstakingly written.

Ranma and Akane,

You two make a wonderful couple, and we wish you all the best. To help 
start your life together; we have a special gift for the two of you. 
Please come to Rei's house tomorrow night to pick it up.

Your friend,

Ami

***

Ranma and Akane kissed each other after marking the insurance policy, 
then headed for the door. The lines had been long, a few hours turned 
into the better part of the day. Well, they didn't have any pressing 
engagements today... save the one in Juuban that night.

Nabiki's actions when they finally got up to the window were really 
bizarre. Distracting hand gestures, small talk from a girl who HATED 
same... It was almost as if she was trying to pull something over on 
them. Fortunately Ranma and Akane were too observant to let THAT happen. 
They didn't get a chance to really study the documents, but Akane's big 
sister assured them everything was in order.

The paperwork marked at last, Ranma turned to Nabiki with a genuine 
smile of gratitude. "Thanks, Nabiki. Akane and I really appreciate your 
help."

"Not a problem, Ranma." Nabiki looked around to verify no one she knew 
was in earshot. "I hate to say this, but... You two deserve some 
happiness." With that and glance in both directions, she hurried away.

Ranma started after only to be stopped by Akane's gentle tug. "Don't go 
after her, Ranma. Nabiki's got a rep to protect, you know."

Ranma stopped in his tracks then offered a smirk to Akane. "You're 
right. It was awfully nice of her, though." He looked thoughtful. "Let's 
hop a train to Juuban and see what Ami's gift is."

"Yeah, Ranma, let's go."

The young couple headed out the door, hurrying to the nearest station.

***

Rei kept a lookout from the hill overlooking the street. She was glad 
the temple's other two residents were gone to the 'mountains' for a 
night of... meditation, or so they said. A bus pulled up and two very 
familiar people hopped out. Turning around, she gave a signal that 
brought Ami from the temple door to her side. Both girls traded a broad 
smile, then tried to keep their enthusiasm under wraps.

Ami hurried to greet her two friends. "Hi, you two! I'm so glad you 
could make it."

Ranma smiled at his friend. "It's no problem, Ami! Why do you have to 
give us a present today instead of at the reception tomorrow?"

Ami blinked for a moment. "Because it's a special present, Ranma. That's 
all I'll say."

Rei met the three at the top of the hill. "Hi, I'm glad you two could 
make it!"

Akane crossed her arms. "Okay, why did you drag us all the way across 
the city?"

A voice rang out from behind a tree. "Because, this is a very special 
gift. It's for both of you, but you're going to have to accept it 
Akane."

Walking out from behind the tree was a warrior Akane knew well. Her face 
showed surprise as she identified the girl. "Sailor Jupiter! Why are you 
here?"

The girl walked with graceful deliberation worthy of her station as the 
Princess of Jupiter and the gravity of the situation. Stopping just 
short of Akane, she looked down at the shorter girl with eyes that spoke 
of anticipation. "I came to give you this." One of her white-gloved 
hands reached up and seemed to pluck something out of the air.

Akane looked wide-eyed, first at the Sailor Senshi, then at the 
beautiful gem-quality yellow rod with a fierce red flame frozen within. 
Amazement became puzzlement as she accepted it. "It's beautiful, but 
what is it?"

Ranma looked in awe from the rod to Jupiter, who gave him a wink. He 
knew what it was, and couldn't believe there was another one. "B... b... 
but," he stammered as his old eloquence returned for a moment.

"Tendou Akane" A voice came from the Temple entrance. It was the 
greatest and most famous of the Sailor Senshi who spoke, Sailor Moon. "A 
thousand years ago, a commoner gave her life in defense of her kingdom, 
and by the grace of the Kami was reborn to serve her... his... whatever! 
Queen's daughter in her time of need. One thousand years later, the 
reborn Sailor Senshi owe their lives to another commoner, who risked HER 
life to protect themselves and their Princess as they prepared an 
attack. So..."

There was a loud hiss as four people breathed in after noticing a rock 
Sailor Moon didn't.

"I" The leader of the Sailor Senshi came crashing to Earth, then 
executed a rather sloppy roll and came up with a slightly bleeding knee. 
"Ouch! Now where was I? Oh, yes..." Pain and a few tears showed through 
her disguise field as she continued to speak and walk, with a noticeable 
limp. "So we have decided to offer another commoner a position as a 
Sailor Senshi." Dismissing pain, and summoning up all the regal bearing 
she still possessed, Sailor Moon continued. "Tendou Akane, will you join 
us in the fight for Love and Justice?"

Ranma reached for his henshin stick then held it so Akane could see it.

Akane gazed open-mouthed from her fiancee's stick to hers. She looked 
faint, but Ranma grabbed her and held his fiancee up for the few moments 
it took the shocked girl to recover. What should she do now? She knelt 
before the Princess and future Queen, replying, "I, Akane of Clan 
Tendou, would be honored to serve you as a Sailor Senshi."

A bright gem flared on Sailor Moon's chest, generating a beam of 
blinding light which engulfed Akane and the stick she held of a few 
moments, then seemed to flow into Akane and the stick, eventually 
vanishing. Sailor Moon turned behind to the remaining Sailor Senshi and 
Tuxedo Kamen, all of whom were approaching from the temple. "Did I do it 
right?"

A nod from Sailor Pluto put a smile on her face as Sailor Moon turned 
back to face her newest warrior. "Rise, Tendou Akane."

Akane stood. "Uh... what do I do now?" She asked in complete 
befuddlement.

A woman in a black-skirted Sailor fuku replied. "Raise the stick, and 
shout your transformation phrase, "Io Lumina Power! Make Up!"

Akane swallowed and raised the rod high, shouting "Io Lumina Power! Make 
Up!" Flames seemed to flow from the stick and engulf her. As her body 
became a glowing light, she rose slowly turned as her new fuku formed 
around her. Each part was etched on her body by a bolt of lightning: 
skirt, boots, bodysuit, and collar. The lightning coalesced to form two 
bows, a large one in front, and a smaller one in back. Finally, the 
energy flowed into a gem at the bigger bow's center. As the light show 
died down, Sailor Io was lowered to the ground to end with a pose of 
hands on her hips with clenched fists.

Ranma looked at his fiancee in awe. Sailor Io wore a white body suit 
with a yellow skirt and collar.  A light blue bow decorated her chest, 
with a similar ribbon tied behind her skirt. Yellow piping decorated her 
long white gloves. Finally, a pair of calf-high laced flat-soled yellow 
boots completed her outfit.

The Sailor fuku did nothing to hide the incredible musculature her stay 
in Jadeite's dimension and continued weight training had developed. 
First it had been Jupiter, then Uranus, followed by Sun. Now, a new girl 
took the title of 'Strongest Sailor Senshi'.

Ranma struggled to pick his jaw up off the floor, as he tried to 
speak... "Aka... Sailor Io!"

Io turned to Ranma, offering a playful pose with one hand behind her 
head and the other outstretched toward him. "Hey, Sailor!"

Ranma looked sheepish, "Uh, yeah..." Raising his stick, after a few 
moments of her own blinding light, Sailor Sun stood by Sailor Io. Sun 
threw her arms around the larger girl, then planted a deep kiss on her 
love's lips to the applause of the assembled multitude of girls in short 
skirts. The one guy still present clapped too.

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus gave each other's hand a squeeze; this 
love wasn't QUITE the same as theirs, but... It was obvious which two 
Sailor Senshi would be married first, darn.

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen gave each other's hand a squeeze; this love 
wasn't QUITE the same as theirs, but... It was obvious which Sailor 
Senshi would be married first, darn.

Breaking their kiss, the two Senshi looked with love at each other for a 
few moments more, then turned to their friends. One by one, each of the 
other warriors de-transformed to reveal his or her mundane identity to 
newest Sailor Senshi.

Sailor Pluto, Meioh Setsuna was a woman Akane had never met. She seemed 
a bit aloof, as did Sailor Uranus, Ten'oh Haruka, who Io did recognize 
as a member of the upper class at Juuban. The tall blonde was obviously 
enamoured of Neptune's Senshi, Kaioh Michiru, another older student 
Akane recalled from school. The new Senshi smiled at how similar the two 
beautiful women's relationship was to her own with Ranma... at least 
part of the time.

Next was Saturn who, despite her youth and diminutive stature, wielded a 
NASTY looking pole arm, the Silence Glaive. With a purple glow, she 
became a young girl, perhaps twelve or so. She introduced her self as 
Tomoe Hotaru.

Akane noted that Hotaru went to stand with Haruka and Michiru, looking 
up to each with a smile; then refocusing her glance back on the new 
Sailor Senshi herself. The three young women seemed to be almost a 
family... 'Father' with an arm wrapped protectively around Michiru's 
waist, Mother with two hands gently resting on Hotaru's shoulders, and 
Child. Akane sighed, anticipating the day she and Ranma would have their 
own children.

On hearing Io's sigh, Michiru smiled at her. The young woman knew Akane 
and Ranma's day would come. No need to check with Pluto on that account.

Now the other couple de-transformed. Akane sucked in a gasp as Sailor 
Moon became Tsukino Usagi, the bottomless pit of the ice cream shoppe, 
crybaby, scholastic slacker, and general klutz... With a smile, Io 
recalled Sailor Moon's antics just a few minutes previous. Behind her, 
Tuxedo Kamen became a handsome college-age man... Chiba Mamoru. Akane 
noted that Mamoru and Usagi were an item much the same way she and Ranma 
were.... at least part of the time.

Next, Sailor Venus became the athletic Aino Minako and Sailor Jupiter 
became Kino Makoto. Both girls were well known to Akane. Minako was an 
excellent volleyball player, and Makoto was quite good with - and quick 
to use - her fists. Akane had to admit a special feeling of kinship with 
the Kino girl. Not only did they both like to brawl, but Makoto had lost 
BOTH her parents. If only Akane could cook like Makoto did... Thank the 
Kami for takeout.

Io now had a very good idea who the last two Senshi were. Sailor Mars 
became Hino Rei, they were at her temple after all! Finally, Sailor 
Mercury became their good friend and Ranma's tutor Mizuno Ami. Akane 
wondered what Ami thought about her Sailor Senshi outfit, though she did 
look great in it. The new Senshi hoped her own didn't make her look too 
fat.

Finally, only Io and Sun remained in Senshi guise. Sun spoke first; 
tears she didn't even notice falling. "Gosh, I don't know what to say, 
but I don't think we'll ever get any present tomorrow as nice as 
this..." She looked at Io, "Maybe we WILL need to look into transferring 
to Juuban High for good."

Io just shook her head back and forth, still in disbelief. "I don't know 
how to... this is like a dream, every girl's dream... Thank you, all of 
you."

Sun stood on tiptoes and whispered something to Io, getting a broad 
smile and an affirmative nod from the latter. The redheaded Senshi 
turned to her friends. "Sailor Io and I are going to go for a moonlight 
tour of rooftop Tokyo, see all of you tomorrow!"

A chorus of good-byes responded, then two streaks of flames flew down 
the street.

Rei turned to Makoto. "Thanks, Mako-chan."

Makoto sighed, then flushed a little. "It's so romantic. Someday I'll 
find someone who..."

"Looks like your old boyfriend," the remaining people helpfully finished 
Makoto's sentence before going their separate ways.

***

Two Sailor Senshi stood overlooking Tokyo, each with an arm around the 
waist of her partner. Unsure what building they ended up atop after an 
exciting night of roof hopping, they just soaked up the astonishing 
view. Lights and signs blinked as they do only in the part of Tokyo know 
as Ginza. A glow on the eastern horizon attracted their attention. The 
grays of pre-dawn had diminished the neon a bit, but finally thin 
daggers of light heralded a new day, THEIR day.

Sailor Io looked a little bleary eyed, but her eyes sparkled with the 
excitement she still felt. "We stayed up ALL NIGHT? What about the 
wedding?"

"Don't sweat it, Io-chan. That ain't till... TOMORROW... uh... today? 
Lets get going!"

Two fiery streaks flew across the rooftops of Tokyo, coming to light in 
Nerima district near the Tendou dojo. After de-transforming, Ranma and 
Akane crept into the house.

***

Ranma idly wondered if Sailor Saturn could 'cure' tiredness. There were 
still a few hours left. He'd sleep for just a few...

"BOY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" His father's shaking and shouting 
jerked Ranma awake. "You're supposed to be get married, not sleeping!"

"Okay... Okay. I'll get ready." The catnap allowed Ranma to actually 
feel somewhat refreshed. After washing quickly, he was ready to get 
ready, he figured it wouldn't take long.

It didn't take long as both Soun and Genma almost ripped off his clothes 
to replace them with a white tuxedo. <Hey, this wedding stuff is a lot 
easier that I thought! I'd better check on Akane...>

Ranma went over to Akane's room and knocked.

"Who is it?" Came the muffled response from inside.

Ranma turned the knob and slowly opened it. "Hey, Akane, you better 
get..." His words were taken away by the sight in front of him. "Akane, 
you look beautiful." Ranma said, flushing bright red. She did look 
beautiful in a long, fancy western-style wedding dress. Lace, satin, and 
flowers combined to enhanced Akane's beauty past any threshold Ranma was 
capable of withstanding unaffected.

"Thanks, Ranma." Akane replied. Somehow, she was unable to look at her 
husband to be in the eyes despite all they went through. Today she was a 
bride and she was going to do her best to act like one.

"See ya, Akane." Ranma turned and left.

Akane shared a smile with her mirror. Since moving to Juuban, trading 
the Nerima madness for that of another district, both their lives had 
changed. She wondered how different today had been if their fathers 
hadn't conspired to force them together away from the distractions of 
Nerima. What if Ranma hadn't trained her in the Art to be a peer? What 
if Ranma hadn't become Sailor Sun and run off to save her? What if they 
hadn't spent the most intense month imaginable alone together on a 
planet infested with demons? What if she hadn't beaten the heck out of 
that bird woman who tried to break into her bedroom after they came 
back? What if... 

There was a knock on her door. "Akane, please come downstairs."

"Thanks Kasumi!" Akane followed her sister. Today they would cement what 
had started not long ago in that very dojo. She would move beyond 
friendship with the only person she wanted to spend her life with... She 
was getting married... THEY were getting married.

***

Soun hid what seemed to be a cask of sake away from prying eyes. He 
didn't escape the most prying eyes in the Tendou family, however.

"So, Daddy, are you saving that for the big blowout you and 'Uncle' 
Saotome are going to have after the wedding?" His middle daughter asked.

"Well, that guide from Jusenkyo sent only enough for one person, so I 
wanted to save it for Ranma... But only after the wedding."

"So, you're engaging in a bit of blackmail, huh?" Nabiki said with a 
smirk.

Soun looked both ways, to assure the conversation didn't fall on... 
unwelcome ears. "No, Nabiki, nothing of the sort. I haven't even told 
him of my purchase. I just want to make sure he gets it... after the 
wedding."

"Whatever, call it what you want." Nabiki said with a tiny smile.

A new voice entered the room "Tendou, why?"

"What, Saotome?"

"How could you hide it from me? I understand about the boy, but ME?" His 
face hardened with a little resolve. "I'll look after it, in fact, I'll 
take it!" Grabbing the cask, he ran off... or at least started to. An 
exploding wall stopped him short, and flung the precious cask from his 
hands.

"Is this the Tendou dojo?" a bewildered Ryouga asked. As his eyes 
widened in surprise, he saw a cask flying through the air then realized 
it was, aided by a large banner attached to the container. "Nannichuan!" 
Ryouga shouted in joy. Perhaps he could become a real man for Akari...

Ranma entered the dojo to hear words that would have elated him a few 
months ago. Nannichuan, the promise of a cure... But what of the Sailor 
Senshi? What of Sailors Sun and Io? Would the henshin stick still work 
if his curse were removed? Did he want... need a cure anymore?

Ranma looked at the cask with grim anticipation, and a healthy amount of 
dread. He turned to Akane, who had entered the room; "Do I want a cure? 
Akane, do you want me cured?"

Akane stopped short... she had to think about it; this was no time for 
hasty answers. A small smile grew on her face as her heart told her what 
to reply. The bride to be shook her head no. "I said I'm marrying you, 
Ranma... as you are... I'm sure it wouldn't go to waste on someone 
else."

Out of the corner of his eye, Ranma saw a series of projectiles coming 
his way. With a quick leap, he dodged them, landing on the floor.

"Shampoo exploding food miss Akane!"

Ukyou looked disappointed, her gift for Ranma missed its mark. "I've got 
lots more of this SPECIAL okonomiyaki for you... Ranma honey!"

A tall, blonde-haired young man wearing a suit and an elegantly dressed 
young woman with emerald hair grabbed Shampoo and pinned her to the 
wall. The man spoke with a touch of uncharacteristic anger. "I heard 
Akane beat you in a challenge for Ranma's hand. Your lack of honor gives 
Amazons a bad name!"

"Husband no tell Shampoo no love Shampoo. Violent girl may beat Shampoo, 
but husband still love." Her expression darkened. "Violent girl no get 
kiss of death from Shampoo. Shampoo kiss."

Increasing the pressure a bit, Haruka continued. "Well, let's talk this 
over while those two get married, okay?"

Michiru nodded in agreement.

Two girls in formal dresses double-teamed Ukyou. The taller one had 
brown hair in a ponytail, the shorter one had long, unencumbered 
reddish-black hair. The shorter girl spoke first. "I thought Ranma had 
an agreement with you... I thought you were his friend!"

The taller one added her thoughts as the two pinned Ukyou against the 
wall.  "Ranma and Akane love each other. Doesn't love mean anything to 
you?"

A shout of "Ukyou-sama!" Pierced the air to the rear of the girls.

In counterpoint, a young woman in an elaborate black wedding dress knelt 
to speak to Ranma "Ranma-sama! Are you all right?" 

Ranma sprang to his feet just as a katana struck were he had lain 
moments before. Dodging both Katana and Kodachi, he turned to see who 
had struck at him. His assailant shouted out his judgement. "By all the 
gods, this wedding is an abomination. I shall not permit it!"

"Get off it, Kunou!" Ranma took a swipe at the kendoist, then tripped 
over a bucket of water. Water always had a tendency to show up at the 
least convenient times in Ranma's life... Times like right now.

Kunou's face transformed as quickly as Ranma's. "My beloved pigtailed 
girl, you are a vision dressed in white! Let the wedding today be ours!"

"Oh, yeah, Kunou? How do ya like this, huh?" Ranma said as she expressed 
her love for Kunou the way that she always did, with a few punches. 
Kunou was soon down, right in the puddle of water. The cold liquid would 
hasten his return to consciousness, but he wasn't up yet.

In the rear of the dojo, Akane turned to confront a smug Nabiki. "You 
sent out those... extra... invitations, didn't you?" Akane inhaled. She 
had to keep the rage inside, then release it slowly. No need to hurt her 
Big Sister.

Nabiki returned a feline smile. "Maybe I did." She almost purred. "Look 
at all the yen it brought in!"

"It was kind of you to remember all the friends Ranma and Akane forgot 
to invite!" Kasumi beamed.

"Kind is NOT the word!" Akane replied as she stormed off.

The battle of the Nannichuan continued, with neither Mousse, Ryouga, or 
Genma giving quarter. As if it had a life of its own, the cask flew from 
them and cracked open, threatening to spill the precious liquid on the 
floor, or on Ranma, who had the misfortune to stumble away from her 
'love' into its path.

Ranma looked on in fascinated horror. The cure, her dream of a few 
months ago had become a nightmare. Swallowing, the girl prepared to 
dodge the rapidly advancing cask. All she had done as Sailor Sun passed 
before her eyes. All that she and Akane could have done as Sailor Senshi 
might soon be washed away.

Nodoka looked on in horror. Her son had finally come to terms with his 
dual nature and become more that she had ever dreamed of. Perhaps there 
was one thing she could still do for Ranma. Decorum and manners were 
cast aside as she launched herself on a course to intercept the 'cure'. 
Ranma and Akane's future was different than what Nodoka had dreamed, but 
she would not let it be denied. She was Ranma's mother, no matter his 
gender.

From behind the mother and son arose a cry of "Sake!" A small form leapt 
past Ranma and the hurtling Nodoka to down the cask's contents in one 
gulp. "What? SOUN! What is the meaning of this? This is just water!" 
Happosai said as he smashed the empty cask at the floor.

The young martial artist was still in shock. After the wedding she, and 
Akane, would tell Soun how they really felt about her... condition. For 
once in her life, she almost wanted to thank the old lecher. She saw her 
mother fly in front of her to hit the ground, hard. Realization of just 
how much her mother loved her fought with concern for her mom's 
wellbeing. Ranma knelt down to attend her. "Mom, why didja have to do 
it?" But Ranma knew the answer... her mother loved her.

Meanwhile, the three combatants had grabbed Happosai. No matter how hard 
they tried, Mouse, Genma, and Ryouga couldn't get a drop of precious 
fluid out of the old lecher. Even prying his mouth open over a funnel 
proved fruitless.

Akane was almost beside herself in the shadows at the edge of the dojo. 
This was their special day. HOW could Nabiki do this to Ranma and her 
own sister?

Happosai leapt free then with a shout of "Happo Daikarin!" escaped, 
leaving a bomb in his wake. Of course, it landed right where Ranma was 
kneeling, trying to revive his mother. The bomb exploded, leaving an 
unconscious girl in a tuxedo collapsed on top of an unconscious woman. 
Ami and Hotaru rushed to their aid.

His pigtailed girl now down for the count, Kunou turned his attention to 
his other love The beautiful Akane stood apart from the tumult, 
contemplating her love for him at the edge of the dojo floor. It seemed 
that she was using the pigtailed girl as a focus in her meditations, 
which had already brought love's tears to her eyes. He walked over to 
her, finishing with his most courtly bow. "Perhaps it is our day, Tendou 
Akane. Today, we shall marry."

Akane, roused from her sad contemplation of a mother's love and her 
fallen fiancee, replied with a "Moko Takabisha!" Kunou was blasted to 
the ground, unconscious.

"Well, done, Akane! You are truly a fitting bride for the master... 
Marry me!" Happosai shouted as he grabbed the hem of her wedding dress.

Akane looked down at him with a glare of pure hatred. "You Jerk! You 
HURT my fiancee and his mother! How on EARTH do you think I could have 
any love for you?" Akane said as she dragged Happosai along in her rush 
to be at Ranma's side, not even bothering to push him off as he inched 
his way up, ever closer to her chest. Pushing Kodachi out of the way, 
Akane knelt beside her fallen love. Ami and Hotaru concentrated on 
Nodoka as a weeping Akane cradled Ranma's head in her arms.

Kasumi commented on the wild chaos in front of her. "What an exciting 
wedding!"

***

Ranma awoke to two small hands on his head, still generating warmth that 
filed his body. "H... Hotaru?" he asked.

"Yes, Ranma. I'm glad you're better." The girl replied with a smile, 
withdrawing her hands.

Ranma sat up to see a beaming Akane next to a smug Nabiki. "Akane, what 
are you happy about? Our wedding just... uh... kinda blew up."

"Ranma, Nabiki just explained what our wedding insurance was... That 
paper we marked yesterday... was our marriage document." She plopped 
down and hugged Ranma. "We've been married since yesterday."

Ranma blinked a couple of times, then pulled Akane's face around to kiss 
his wife.

Ami had amused herself with her portable computer as she waited for 
Ranma to recover. She had found some information that would certainly be 
of interest to the young couple. It seemed a certain orbital station 
from the Silver Millennium was still in orbit. Perhaps it might provide 
a place for them to get away from all this chaos, at least for a while.

***

Even a million kilometers from its surface, the sun is hot, VERY hot. 
Almost infinitesimal against the face of the star at the center of the 
Solar System, a tiny bubble of metal and crystal orbited the flaming 
nuclear furnace. It was only because of powerful magic that the bubble 
even existed, as it had for a millennium. For the first time in nearly a 
thousand years, footfalls of Sailor Senshi echoed through its confined 
metal corridors. For the second time in a millennium, the station was 
inhabited.

Ranma looked up from the book she was studying to see her wife looking 
up from the volume SHE was studying. The young women exchanged smiles. 
The books they were poring over consisted mostly of technical data 
collected by the woman who became Sailor Sun over the years she lived 
here. But their research had yet to turn up any information of the woman 
who built the station, just her legacy. They knew what she did, but not 
HER.

Both women were dressed in their Senshi garb, because this wasn't a 
place a normal human could live for more than a few minutes. The 
temperature was pleasant and air both plentiful and breathable, but 
while the radiation this distance from Sol would quickly kill a human, 
it could not kill a Sailor Senshi. Pseudonyms were not needed here, 
however. Sailor Sun was Ranma and Io was Akane.

The honeymoon hadn't been anything like what they had expected, but what 
was in their lives? Before they teleported back to Mercury on the way 
back to Earth, Pluto and the inner Senshi had said they would return in 
4 days. Ranma looked over her shoulder at their 'romantic' honeymoon 
suite... two cots, a small ice chest, and a box of canned food.

Breaking the silence, Akane spoke. "Ranma, do you remember ANYTHING 
about this place?"

Ranma's face showed some thoughtful concern. "It's hard to say. I don't 
have any real memories about it, but it just feels right. Kinda like a 
kata of the school, it's comfortable."

Akane had a contemplative look as she digested what her spouse just 
said. "Well, why don't you try to let go a bit, let you instincts guide 
you... like in a familiar kata. Maybe you'll remember something."

Ranma concentrated for quite a few minutes, but couldn't come up with 
more that the comfortable feeling she'd had since coming here. "Why 
can't I do it?" She asked not one in particular, frustrated.

"Ranma no baka! I said let go, let your instincts guide you. Thinking 
just makes it tougher."

The redheaded Senshi gave her wife a smile. "Oh, I get it. Good idea, 
Akane!" Ranma tried to relax and clear her head so she could focus on 
the shreds of memories she possessed. It was kind of like trying to 
reconstruct a building from a handful of sawdust. Her vision kept being 
drawn to an ornate metallic figure on the bookcase. The figure was of a 
bird in flight, on a metallic base. It was intricately detailed, looking 
almost like a real bird, though it was of the same burnished coppery 
metal as the rest of the station. She realized it was very important. 
Getting up, Ranma walked over to the figure and caressed it with her 
delicate fingers, trying to see if she could feel anything.

As she continued to try to understand, she began an almost instinctive 
series of hand movements, guiding the bird in an elaborate flight over 
the shelf. With a crack, a whine began as machinery dormant for hundreds 
of years struggled to life.

With an almost inaudible click, door opened just to the left of the 
bookcase, but only a few millimeters. The machinery continued to whine 
for a few moments then stopped. Ranma, followed by an excited Akane, 
walked over to the frozen panel. "Let's see what a little muscle will 
do!" Ranma said as she threw herself into an attempt to lift the door. 
Straining, sweating, and huffing proved to no avail. The door remained 
locked.

Akane rubbed her hands in anticipation. "Okay, that's what a little 
muscle will do, let's try a lot... On a count of 3. 1... 2... 3!" Akane 
and Ranma threw themselves into it. With a report like a rifle shot, the 
door flew open revealing a spiral staircase leading down. Akane turned 
to her husband, "Well, it's your place... You first."

"Thanks Akane!" Ranma responded as she excitedly clambered down the 
stairs, spouse in only slightly more cautious pursuit.

***

The stairway led to a study with an ornate door in one wall. A beautiful 
stone desk had a series of crystal globes arranged in a hexagon. Each if 
the globes had a delicate mechanism inside it. As Ranma stared at the 
globes, small gears whirred inside each. In a moment, a cylinder of 
light formed which the six spheres marking points on its base. A three 
dimensional image of a woman appeared, and she began to speak in halting 
Japanese.

"Greetings, Sailor Sun." The woman said as she bowed deeply. The 
apparition bore a distinct resemblance to Ranma's mother Nodoka, except 
with longer hair. Years of hard life showed clearly on her face. A few 
small wrinkles and some grey hair marked her as thirty-something. 
Despite advancing years however, her beauty was undiminished. The 
ancient Sailor's garb was identical to that neo-Sailor Sun wore, from 
red metal headband to the red boots on her feet. Long Auburn hair ran 
free beneath the headband down to her waist. "I know not when I greet 
you, only that it is in the future. Today I go with the vanguard of our 
fleet to face the Dark Kingdom. I will not survive." She clenched her 
fists for a few moments, gathering composure to continue.

"When am I speaking to you? Is it a week, a generation, or a hundred 
generations hence? That I am speaking to you at all means that there is 
at last a Sailor Senshi for the Sun." She couldn't keep a proud smile 
off her face before continuing. "I invite you to visit the adjacent 
room, my... daughter. In there you will find my personal journals, and 
autobiography. Though I will never see you, know this: You have made me 
very proud." The image flickered and faded out as the tiny gears 
stopped.

Ranma was stunned, roiling emotions taking even her speech away. 
Noticing her love's concern, Akane wrapped both arms around Ranma's 
waist, letting her husband know that she was there, that she cared. At 
last Akane spoke. "Ranma, are you all right?"

Ranma sniffled a bit... "Yeah, Akane. I'm fine. Let's go in her room and 
look at those books. I really want to know who she... I... was back 
then."

Akane kissed the smaller girl on top of her head. "So do I love, so do 
I."

Opening the door revealed a bedroom containing a beautiful bed, a desk, 
and a bookcase. On the desk was a box filled with sand. Roughly a half-
meter square, in its center was a frozen bird of prey surrounded by 
swirling yellow waves of magic. Ranma found herself drawn to it. Walking 
up to the box, she hesitantly brought a hand to the magical barrier. 
First she touched it, feeling nothing. Gathering courage, she pushed her 
hand through the barrier that then soundlessly dissolved. As a sunburst 
pattern flared on its head, the bird came to life.

Chizuko hoped Angwyn... Sailor Sun, would get done with her spell. She 
told her to close her eyes, but the bird was getting impatient. Blinking 
her eyes open, she was unknowingly propelled a thousand years into the 
future. The girl looked enough like Angwyn to be her daughter... Could 
she be? Perhaps the spell did work, time to find out. "Hello? Sailor 
Sun?" She asked with the bow she usually reserved for her mistress.

Ranma had seen many things in her short life, but a talking hawk was 
certainly on the short list of most amazing. "Yeah, I'm Sailor Sun, who 
are you?"

"I am your advisor, Chizuko, of course!" Tilting her head to the side a 
bit, the hawk turned to see Akane. "And who are you, young Senshi?"

Akane took a few hesitant steps forward before responding. "I'm Sailor 
Io."

"Sailor Io? What planet is that?"

Akane smiled with pride. "Io is one of the great moons of Jupiter, and I 
am its Senshi."

"So are you a friend of Sailor Sun's?"

Akane turned a bit red. "Actually, I'm her... his wife."

The hawk just blinked then asked again. "I'm sorry, did you just say... 
wife?"

"Yeah, she said wife... but we can't walk around here without the 
protection the Senshi magic gives us."

The bird spread her wings and flew over to a desk next to the bed. 
"Hmm... it looks like the radiation shields have gone out, so I guess 
you're right. Let me check out the station a bit. I'll leave you two 
girls alone." The bird flew to the door, a mumbled "husband and wife?" 
and a shaken head not going unnoticed by the two Sailor Senshi.

Sailors Sun and Io smiled at each other, then sat down to try to finally 
get to know the first Sailor Sun.

That night, they shared Angwyn's bed. They had to be fully dressed 
because they were STILL in a hostile environment, but it was wonderful 
anyway.

***

A week later, Ranma and Akane squared off in the Miyagi dojo. The young 
couple had persuaded the master to allow them to stay on through High 
School as instructors and students. Miyagi was only too happy to oblige.

Ranma ducked under Akane's kick, "Come on Akane, you can do better..." A 
solid blow to the midsection abruptly ended his taunt.

"Yeah, I can! See?" Akane replied with a smile.

"Yeah, but do you see?" Ranma asked as a quick move swept Akane to the 
floor then offered her a hand up. "That's enough for to day, don't you 
think Akane-chan?" Ranma always liked to stop when he landed the last 
blow...

"Okay, Ranma." She shook her head slowly. "I, uh WE... could use a 
nice... hot..." Her sentence was interrupted by the buzz of a small 
wristband each of them wore.

Hearing the noise, Chizuko glided into the room, lighting on Ranma's 
shoulder. " I wonder what it is this time?"

"So do I," Akane added.

"Let's get ready, Akane-chan!" Ranma concluded with a smile for his 
wife.

Soon, two Sailor Seishi raced across Tokyo's rooftops, with their 
advisor soaring above. The three were ready, ready to fight for their 
Queen, love, justice, and their worlds; be it Earth, Io or the Sun.

The End?

***

First of all, I must thank Fire for his wonderful story, Sailor Ranko.

I read Sailor Ranko on his webpage...
http://www.users.fl.net.au/~fire/
The story itself is at:
http://www.users.fl.net.au/~fire/one_shot/s_ranko.txt

I was struck by his characterization of both Ranma AND Akane, but I felt 
that a little could be added to his story, so I typed this up. The first 
10K was written in a week or two, then I had no inspiration for about 3 
months or so. Finally I figured out how to finish the story and did, in 
only about a week for the first draft. Of course fine-tuning took a few 
more weeks.

Thanks to my pre-readers: Fire (of course), William Dix, Louis-Philippe 
Giroux, Mike Koos, Nicholas Leifker, Isaac Marchionna, Bryan Neef, 
Andrew Norris, and Chad Walker.  Any errors which remain are my 
responsibility, not theirs! If I forgot anyone, please let me know...

Additional public and private C&C welcomed!

Thanks for your time, and I hope you enjoyed the story!



Kevin D. Hammel
June 28, 1999
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khammel@mail.geocities.com
http://www.geocities.com/~khammel/ff/
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