Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A New Future 2 - First Blood ❯ The NWC Ride: Intermission ( Chapter 20 )

This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling, punctuation and the occasional word choice to make things clearer. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!

I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi, Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.

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As Sailor Mercury's image vanished from her communicator's tiny screen, Sailor Moon looked up to stare at her sister's blanched face across the ramen restaurant table they were sitting at, then knocked her chair over as she shot to her feet. “I have to go, now!” she said, then turned to bow to the table's third occupant. “My apologies, Saotome-san, but my friends need me.”

“Of course,” Nodoka said, nodding as Ranma also quickly rose.

“Ya do realize that there's no way we can get there in time,” Ranma warned.

“I know, but Yasuko, I have to try,” Moon insisted.

“Yeah, I know,” Ranma agreed, “let's go.” Then, glancing over her sister's shoulder, added, “Or maybe not.”

Moon turned to see what Ranma was looking at, and her eyes widened at the sight of the emerald-haired young woman dressed in the Senshi's distinctive uniform, this one with a black miniskirt, approaching them from the restaurant's entrance. “Pluto! Venus, will she be all right?” she asked apprehensively.

Pluto smiled. “She's going to have a very unpleasant time while she heals, but they'll keep her alive,” she assured Moon.

Moon's shoulders slumped in relief. “Oh, thank the kami,” she sighed, then straightened and waved a hand at the only unused seat at the table as Ranma sat back down. “Have a seat? We've already eaten, but I'm sure you know that. After all, you know everything, right?” she added, smiling impishly.

Pluto looked over the debris covering the tabletop even as she felt something inside her relax. Usagi had forgiven her for the way she hadn't helped Ranma after learning he was her reincarnated sister Yasuko, the same way she forgave everyone given half a chance — she had even offered what comfort she could when Pluto's memory of the Camlann battlefield had hit her like a hammer. But there had remained a slight reserve that hadn't been there before, and that was very atypical for the outwardly ditzy blonde — very slight, perhaps only in Pluto's mind, and at last that reserve was gone.

So, let's return the favor, shall we? the Senshi of Time thought as she suppressed a grin. She shot her young friend a sly smile, and replied, “You don't need to be the Senshi of Time to know that the Moon sisters have eaten here — the casualties to their appetites make that impossible to miss.”

Ranma and Moon both blushed, as a still-seated Nodoka chuckled. “And in Ranma's case, this is an improvement. At least she actually chews her food now, instead of simply inhaling it — though I'm still convinced she uses meals as speed exercises.”

“Mom, I'm not no lady!” Ranma protested.

“No, you aren't,” Nodoka instantly agreed, wincing slightly. “But there are some rules of common courtesy that apply across the board.”

“Uh ...” Ranma turned to Pluto. “So Puu, if ya aren't here ta whisk us off ta save Venus, why are ya here?”

Pluto and Nodoka exchanged an amused look, but Pluto took pity on her young friend and accepted the change of subject. “Well, you and Moon were about to go dashing off for Juuban. This is the first really good day your mother's had since the last time you saw her, you would have shamed your shadows by leaving them in the dust, and since you have some questions for me, I thought I'd drop in and make everyone's day a success. Shall we move to somewhere a bit more private?”

Moon and Ranma glanced around at the other customer trying very hard to not appear to be listening, and blushed again. “Yeah, let's do that,” Ranma agreed. “Good thing it's schooltime, or we'd be mobbed by fangirls instead of havin' everybody tryin' ta act like they're ignoring us.”

The three settled the bill (or tried to, rather — the proprietor refused to accept any payment) and quickly left.

/oOo\

The polite disregard of the people around the four continued, and they soon found a quiet corner of a nearby park. Nodoka and Pluto settled onto a bench, and Moon and Ranma flopped down on the grass nearby (Moon carefully looking around first to make sure no one was close enough to get a good look at the amount of over-exposure that caused).

“So, Ranma what are your questions?” Pluto asked.

“Yeah, like you don't know,” Ranma replied with a grin from where she lay on the grass. “I oughta just have ya give the answers.”

The redhead closed her eyes, found her calm center (she'd shut down her ki-sensing ability again at the restaurant — the awed respect had made her distinctly uncomfortable), and reached out to search the grounds around her for anyone they might have missed. Nope, just Mousse and another Amazon, I'll hafta get her name some day. Interestin' how Shampoo and Mousse never show up together, seein' how hooked on each other they are.

“Alright, we're clear,” she announced, opening her eyes again. “First, can we get Mom away from Pop — her own place, maybe? It's not like he's gonna know if she's there once the fight's over, anyway, considerin' how much time he's gonna spend drunk.”

Glancing at her suddenly stiff mother, she added, “Mom, one thing I finally figured out is that ya can take honor too far — when it hurts ya or others an' helps no one, it's time ta get practical. You've given Pop — Genma — more loyalty than he's ever deserved, it's time ta get out before ya snap and kill yerself — or him.” With a chuckle, she added, “Think of it as lookin' out for him by removin' a potential threat.”

“But I'm his wife!” Nodoka protested.

“So don't divorce him, just move out,” Ranma said with a shrug. “It's not like it'll matter much — I doubt he'll will last long after he gets his payment for the fight, the way he likes his sake.”

“But where will I go?” Nodoka asked hesitantly. “What income I have is in Genma's name, it wouldn't follow me.”

“Saotome-san —” Pluto began.

“Just Nodoka, please,” Nodoka broke in. “As important as you were to Yasuko and are to Ranma, you're all but family.”

“Nodoka, then,” Pluto started over with a grateful smile. “You seem to be at ease with Ranma's current relationship with Akane, would you have a problem with sharing a house with a similar couple? I should warn you that the house also comes with a teenage girl and a single woman.”

Unnoticed by Nodoka, Ranma and Moon shot Pluto startled looks. “I wouldn't want to impose ...” Nodoka said hesitantly.

“It wouldn't be an imposition,” Pluto responded. “One of the couple is a race car driver and the other is a concert violinist, both with busy schedules, and I'm rarely home. And have you ever tried to get a teenager to clean up anything beyond her own room? You would no more be able to keep from taking over the cooking and cleaning than you can stop breathing, and it would be a big help.”

Nodoka gaped. “Move in ... with you?!”

“I ... Pluto, it would be great to have Ranma's mother that close, but is it wise?” Moon reluctantly asked, sitting up. “Anyone that tracks her might learn who we are.”

Pluto shrugged. “The same is true for anyone that makes the connection between Ranma and Vanguard, which is currently at least a quarter of Nerima, maybe half,” she said offhandedly. “I don't think having Nodoka move in with the Outers will increase our risk much.”

“Then it's settled!” Ranma asserted. “Mom, you let us know the next night Pop — Genma — gets drunk, and me and Akane, and some a' the Senshi, will come out and help ya get packed and moved.”

Nodoka hesitated, but finally nodded and a broad, relieved smile spread across her face.

“Wonderful, welcome home,” Pluto said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I must warn you, though, the race car driver is a bit of a tomboy.”

As Nodoka snorted a laugh, Pluto turned back to Ranma, she continued, “So, next question?”

“Trainin',” Ranma answered instantly also sitting up. “Thanks ta Akane losing her temper — I pushed her into it, Mom, on purpose, a test,” she added as Nodoka stiffened. Turning back to Pluto, she continued, “Thanks ta Akane and some cameraman that asked an interestin' question, I have this.” Reaching out, the shimmering energy of her ki claws appeared along her forearm, again in the kite shape of a shield carried by a movie knight of Camelot.

Ranma admired it for a moment. “Cool, huh?” she asked, grinning at the gasps from her sister and mother. Then reaching out her other hand, she said, “And I think I can do ... this!” More energy sprang from her empty hand, shaped to match the swords that had accompanied the knights' shields.

“Thinkin' a' the tight quarters my part of the final fight will be in and the way I almost got blinded the other day, the shield'll come in handy, though I'm thinkin' a' some kinda eye shield as well — maybe somethin' like Mercury's.” At Nodoka's gasp of dismay, Ranma smiled reassuringly at her mother. “I'm fine, Mom, all healed up — an' I did it on my own, I can do it again if I need to.”

To Pluto, she continued, “However, as useful as it is, for some reason we never really came up with shields of our own here in Japan, maybe `cause a' the fact that the old-time samurai were also archers. So I don't know anybody that can train me in how ta use one. Do you know anybody?”

“Well, as luck would have it —” Ranma and Moon groaned, and Pluto laughed. Sobering after a minute, Pluto said, “I'll explain later,” to a confused Nodoka. Then to Ranma, “Actually, in this case it is luck, pure and simple. There are very few that have made any effort to keep the old European weapon arts alive, and those mostly as a hobby, like the Society for Creative Anachronism in the United States. I do have a few contacts in America, but never imagined that European sword and shield would be a skill set we'd need.

“However, as it turns out, one family I've known since the American Revolution still sends its sons, and now daughters, into the American military for at least a few years of service if not a lifetime career. One of those sons, Douglas MacKenzie, is a Marine stationed in Japan, and he has a reputation as one of the SCA's toughest fighters — in large part because he treats it as an actual combat art, rather than a sport. He's even been in discussion with scholars working to recreate the old styles from medieval training manuals.

“But our window of opportunity is brief — he has plenty of leave time he can use, but in about a month the increasing tensions between the United States and the European Union since the US withdrew from the United Nations and told it to leave New York City will lead to the European nations dissolving NATO in retaliation. When that happens, Doug's unit will be called back to the US.”

Ranma simply stared at her in confusion, but Moon's face paled. “Kami help us,” the older sister whispered, “how long until feelings improve between the US and Europe?”

“Never,” Pluto replied, eyes going sad, “not until both empires have collapsed into chaos. They are planting the seeds that would have eventually led to the death of most of the human race. Just because we are going to miss the worst of it and the world will now come out better than ever doesn't mean there aren't some hard times ahead.”

Taking a deep breath, she straightened. “But that is for the future, we have more immediate concerns. Ranma, Doug will be able to train you, but you're going to need to leave town for it.”

Ranma opened her mouth to protest, but Pluto continued, “It's because of the answer to your next question. You're right, I don't know why it didn't occur to me before. The Arlanans aren't just testing us to learn our capabilities, they're wearing us down — weakening us to the point that they think victory is inevitable but not easy. And before your awakening changed everything, they would have been right if not for Saturn's most devastating attack, the one they never saw.

“So, if we go with your idea of pulling out any of us wounded badly enough that the Arlanans will have good reason to think them dead or crippled, it'll advance the date of their invasion to as short as a month. I suspect we're proving more resilient than they expected.”

“So if I drop out, and Venus drops out, and anyone else really hurt later, then we push the date up, get this over with these killers turned murderers, and cut down on property damage and save lives, sounds like a winner to me!” Ranma said.

And maybe it happens fast enough that Akane won't be ready, Pluto thought to herself, seeing the little smile on Ranma's lips.

Something must have shown on her face, because Moon gave her a long measuring look before turning to her sister. “But Ranma, where will you practice? You'll need more room than your apartment, and you can't train in the park, not with your sword — you'll draw a crowd, and maybe the Arlanans' attention. And will one month be enough time to learn a new style?”

“One month? Sure, no sweat, plenty of time!” Ranma asserted proudly, then added after a moment, “Well so long as I'm not disturbed. It's been awfully quiet since the day I got locked, but there's no sayin' when it might start up again. Yeah, you're right, Pluto, I'll need somewhere outta the way.”

“You have one already,” Pluto said, then when Ranma looked at her curiously added, “The Amazons. They've been moving into that town up in the mountains, and they'll be happy to make sure nobody bothers you, and supply more sparring partners at the same time.”

Ranma made a face, but reluctantly nodded again. “Yeah, yer right, but all the kowtowing from most a' them gets a little old. Alright, if ya could arrange for MacKenzie-san ta help train me, I'll talk ta Cologne about movin' ta the new village for awhile.”

“Deal,” Pluto agreed, keeping her smile firmly in place. And this'll give you a chance to get to know your people a little better.

“So, next question?” Ranma asked.

“What philosophers I might know?”

“Yup, that's the one,” Ranma agreed.

Nodoka and Moon stared at the redhead. “Why?” Moon asked. “We're just a bit busy right now, and ... well, you've never seemed to be interested in it before.”

Ranma sighed. “It's `cause a' my claws ... sword ... whatever,” she replied. “Before, sure, I did the meditation thing — it's good for learnin' how to sense and control yer ki. But I never went in for all the rules and weird stuff that the monks that helped Pop — Genma — teach me insisted on tacking on top. I figured it was just nonsense. But now ... this new technique, new weapon I've come up with is just too easy!”

“Easy?” Nodoka and Moon chorused.

Ranma nodded. “Easy. All ya need is ta be able ta sense and manipulate yer ki, and be able ta keep yer feelings from mixin' in. The first I've been able ta do for a decade, the second almost as long, and the last is — okay, it's hard, but it doesn't take years of work increasin' yer levels of ki ta make it possible. The amount of ki pretty much everyone has is enough.”

Nodoka and Moon glanced at each other. Nodoka shrugged. “I suspect your definition of `easy' is a little different from everyone else's,” she said with a wry smile. “But granted it's easier, why is this a problem?”

“Because it's also lethal,” Ranma replied, face turning grim. “So far, Akane's the only other person I've taught the technique to. In a stand-up spar with ... Genma, she'd lose, badly. But in an up close fight to the death, give her a second's warning and he's dead meat, no question. If I teach others, they'll eventually teach more, and then — just how many people able ta kill at the drop of a hat with no way ta take that away from them and no way ta keep them locked up are goin' ta be walkin' around? And what are they gonna be like?”

A suddenly thoughtful Nodoka nodded. “I see, so you want to teach others when not to fight as well as how.”

“Right,” Ranma agreed. “So, Puu, any more rabbits to pull out of yer hat?”

Pluto shook her head. “Sorry, Ranma. I can talk to you about the rules I've come up with over the millennia and why, point you to some other people and books, but in the end, if it is to mean anything to you, you are going to come up with your own code. For this, there are no simple, one-size-fits all answers.”

“Damn, I was afraid ya were gonna say that,” Ranma groused, then shrugged. “Oh well, that's for after we win, anyway.”

Sword and shield vanishing as she re-absorbed her ki, Ranma stretched, then stood up. “As great a break as this has been, I still have another stop before headin' home and Akane's gonna be pissed if I'm not there when she gets home from school.” She glanced at her suddenly stiff mother, and said softly, “I wish ya could just come with us now. But the three of us aren't enough ta get ya packed, much less moved, and who knows what ... Genma would do with yer stuff if ya just leave it.

“Actually, come ta think of it, we don't need ta wait till he gets drunk on his own!” Ranma continued, face brightening. “Puu, this Friday slip Mom an extra roll of yen Genma can just happen ta find, and when he leaves we can come over and get her outta there. Okay?”

“Of course,” Pluto agreed, and Nodoka relaxed somewhat — at least her ordeal had an end, even if it had to continue a few more days.

/\

As Nodoka stepped forward and enfolded her daughter in a farewell embrace, Moon quietly pulled Pluto to the side. “Ranma's little plan to keep Akane out of the fight isn't going to work, is it?” she whispered.

The Senshi of Time gently shook her head. “No, it won't,” she replied, “and a good thing, too — Akane's presence significantly improves our chances of victory.”

“And her chances of living through it?” Moon asked.

Pluto hesitated for a moment, then said, “As good as anyone's that's not a Senshi — or Ranma.”

Moon gazed at her old friend, and there was something — speculative — in that gaze, something that made Pluto distinctly uncomfortable.

“Hey, Moon, say yer goodbyes and let's get movin'!” Ranma called, and Pluto almost slumped in relief when Moon glanced over at her sister with a smile.

“Right!” the blonde girl said, and smiled at Pluto. “So I'll see you at the next meeting if not in another fight first?”

Pluto agreed, and turned with her to say farewell to Nodoka, suddenly eager to get back to the Time Gates. She didn't understand what her Princess was thinking, and it worried her....