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Disclaimer: You know the drill it’s all not mine and I’m not pretending it does.
Thanks too all you reviewers out there.
When I was younger my father taught me about Honor and did dishonorable things. He taught me by opposite example I guess, but I don’t think I truly understood what Honor was until I was tested. That was when I learned the true meaning of Honor.
- Ranma Hitoshirenu
Chapter 8 – Honor
Ranma arrived at the Cherry Hill temple just in time to greet her fellow gymnastics team mates. The other girls smiled at Ranma’s arrival and Kaede said, “Ranma you have got to see the guy they have teaching here.”
Ranma shrugged. “I do? Why? is he any good?”
The rest of the team sighed and Kaede said, “Just look at him.”
“Okay.” Ranma walked into the temple and saw a young blonde haired guy starting a class while a number of other girls watched. The gymnastics team crept up behind Ranma and the bleached blond said, “See, look at him isn’t he dreamy?”
“No, not really, his foot is way out of alignment for that kick and his balance is completely off. Heck, I bet any of you girls could take him two falls out of three.”
The black haired girl said, “Trust Ranma to notice his martial arts technique right girls?”
The rest of the team chuckled and Ranma said, “Huh? Isn’t that what you asked me to be here for? His technique is way off so you guys wouldn’t get anything from training here. The best thing to do would be to just practice more at the gym in my apartment building.”
The girl with long black hair patted Ranma’s shoulder and said, “I guess you really do have a one track mind.”
The rest of the gymnastics team snickered again and Ranma turned towards them with a perplexed look. She responded to the two girls statements by saying, “What do you mean Kaede am I missing something?”
The team burst out in laughter and it finally clicked in Ranma’s mind. “You guys wanted to look at that guy and…and…” Ranma didn’t finish the statement and just squirmed and said, “That’s disgusting!”
Ranma’s teammates giggled some more and made a few comments about her possible developmental status. Ranma squirming at the attention and then held out a hand to silence the group as another woman with brown cat ears prominent on her head and a somewhat feline appearance walked into the shrine with a weird looking black creature. The cat like woman said, "What kind of a self-defense class is this, where there's no fighting? COME ON!"
The woman started attacking the participants and Ranma jumped into the melee to protect the people there saying, “Hey! Team get everyone to safety alright I’ll keep this crazy chick busy.”
Ranma’s gymnastics teammates helped the other girls get away from the attacking girl and the strange black creature while Ranma attacked. Ranma sent a vicious right hook into her opponents face and said, “Who the hell are you?”
The punch sent the cat hooded girl to the floor, but she picked herself up from the floor and wiped blood from her face as she said, “You dare to strike me? I am Cooan one of the four Akayashi sisters and I will be your death girl. Droid Rhonda, help me kill this interloper”
The black droid stopped trying to attack the girls and moved towards Ranma, who just smirked and said, “Bring it on.”
The two joined forces and the daimon sent a bolt of energy directly at Ranma. The young read head was unable to dodge the large magical blast and was sent flying through the wall of the shrine and out into the street. Ranma’s semi conscious form lay in the street for a moment or two and then she felt Nemesis energy coursing through her system. She quickly jumped to her feet hoping that no one had seen the transformation and then had to move quickly to avoid another blast, this time from Cooan. The evil cat girl had exited the shrine and was walking towards her with the Droid in tow. Sailor Angerona cursed and moved quickly to dodge more blasts from both of her opponents.
Angerona was dodging blasts left and right when a pink haired girl came into view at the corner. She was wearing sweats and was standing next to Usagi. Cooan immediately stopped attacking Angerona and ran past her while the Droid fired multiple blasts at the Nemesis powered magical girl. The pink haired girl saw Cooan coming for her and screamed, then ran with Cooan close behind. Angerona cursed again as she dodged more blasts and watched the pink haired girl lose the race. Cooan was able to grab the pink haired girl. And so Angerona changed her tactics and rushed Cooan. The Droid sent a dark blast of magic at Angerona, but this time she swatted it off with Nemesis enhance claws and rushed towards the other cat girl. When Angerona arrived Cooan tried to flee, but Chibi-Usa bit her arm and then Angerona added her own punch to the same place. Cooan screamed in pain and loosened her grip allowing the red haired senshi of Nemesis to rip Chibi-Usa from Cooan’s grasp.
At the same time the droid fired a blast of energy that slammed into Angerona and sent her flying again. She landed a short distance away with Chibi-Usa unharmed and still in her arms. She placed the pink haired girl behind her and said, “Stay here, I’ll take care of them.”
The rescued Chibi-Usa watched as Angerona attacked Cooan and her evil droid thinking, She must be the princess. I’ll have to get close to her to find the crystal.
Angerona’s attacks sent Cooan running back toward the temple and her Droid ally. When the she arrived the droid came to her assistance and they were both able to send magical blasts of power at Angerona. Angerona dodged the magical blasts from her two foes and sent her own Nemesis laced chi attacks back. The battle went back and forth inside the temple for a few moments when Sailor Mars came onto the scene. She saw Angerona fighting another girl with brown cat ears as well as a large black Daimon. The three combatants were destroying the shrine and she became very angry. She added her own power to the fight and shouted, "Mars Celestial Fire Surround!"
Burning rings of fire shot at Cooan and her droid companion and set them aflame. The droid ignored the fire and continued attacking, but Cooan was busy beating out the flames and did not keep up her own relentless attack. Seeing the opening Angerona decided to finish this battle right then and right there. Two sets of Nemesis powered chi claws sliced Cooan into shreds and then Angerona dodged out of the way as a dark blast of energy from the Droid blasted towards her and instead atomized Cooan. Without even a second thought Angerona jumped to the ceiling and from there she dropped and landed on the Droid’s back and started clawing it to pieces. With an additional blast of flames from Mars the creature was also dispatched.
As the battle finished Mars came up to Angerona and clapped her on the back saying, “Good job.”
Angerona nodded and said, “You too. Are we okay about yesterday now?”
Mars nodded and said, “Yeah I guess so, but no more insults okay?”
Angerona was going to put her foot in her mouth again when the Juuban gymnastics team came close to the two scouts and Kaede and Aiko spoke at the same time. “You haven’t seen a red headed girl around here have you? She helped to protect everyone, but was sent flying out of the temple by one of those creature’s blasts.”
Angerona looked nervous and ended up lying badly by saying, “Oh I think she took cover when I arrived.” She pointed to an alleyway and said, “Over there I think. I’ll go tell her it’s safe to come out.”
Angerona quickly went to the alleyway and Ranma walked out. She was lucky because none of the girls noticed that Angerona was gone while she remained. They were too busy smothering Ranma as they all hugged her and then took turns scolding her for worrying them so much. In the meantime Sailor Mars had found a convenient spot for her own transformation and now Rei was speaking with Chibi-Usa and Usagi.
In the middle of all of this Ranma was suddenly unable to control her own body. She went stiff for a moment and then she felt herself say, “I have to go now.” Ranma jumped up on a rooftop and was unwillingly taken to a small warehouse. She watched herself open a doorway and walk inside the building. Once inside she stood before Wiseman he said, “I am very angry with you Ranma. You have killed a member of the Black Moon family against my wishes and possibly ruined the future that I created you to protect. For this action you will face my wrath.”
Ranma was confused by Wiseman’s anger because she thought she was supposed to fight against the Black Moon family at the moment. So she just said, “Huh?” and then pain blossomed all over her body. It shot from her head all the way down to her toes. Every fiber of her being screamed with pain and yet she could not even cry out. The pain suddenly ended and Ranma felt relief wash through her system. Then, suddenly the pain was back again and this time it seemed even more intense. It went on the same way and Wiseman walked away leaving her to stand still staring at a wall and enduring the cycles of pain and relief. The pain would come and then there would be relief and then it would start again. This went on and on for hours or perhaps even days. Ranma lost all track of time.
Ranma woke up in her apartment with her head in Someone’s lap. She felt a hand caress her hair and cracked open her eyes. Above her she saw Neherenia’s face staring down at her with tears of sadness running down her cheeks. The woman spoke to herself as she cried saying, “Ranma, Ranma what have you done to me. Why do I cry for you? You were only a means to an end. A way to help me break my own servitude to the Black Moon family and now, now I am sad for you. Oh please wake up soon Ranma and free me from the emotions I am feeling, free me from these horrible tears.”
Ranma could barely force herself to even speak, but she did. She said, “Ah it takes more than a bit of torture to defeat me Neherenia. You’ll see I’ll be fine in a day or two.”
A smile lit up Neherenia’s face. “You’re okay!”
The force of the hug made Ranma’s abused muscles scream in protest. She yelped and said, “Whoa, not so hard, not so hard.”
Neherenia stopped the hug and laughed. Ranma smiled a weak smile and then said, “So, how long have I been out? I kind of lost all track of time.”
“You have been out for almost a week now.”
Ranma stood up and ignored her pain as she exclaimed, “A week! Oh man, what about Nabiki and Cologne? What about Kaede, Aiko and the gang. What about the sailors? Man they’re all going to be worried about me.”
Neherenia stood, put a hand on Ranma’s shoulder and gently pushed her back onto the couch. “Take it easy Ranma and do not worry Ranma. I informed Cologne and Nabiki of your situation. As for your other friends at school, I informed them that you had a family emergency and had to be away.”
Ranma smiled and said, “Thanks Neherenia you really are like a big sister aren’t you?”
The black haired woman looked at Ranma and said, “I guess I am at that. Now, how about you go rest in your bed and I’ll bring you the portable phone. You can call all your friends using it.”
Ranma said, “Thank you” and then walked slowly to her room. When she arrived she immediately fell asleep. As she was sleeping she dreamed. She stood on the black surface of Nemesis staring up at the stars and a loud booming voice spoke to her, “My apologies my servant. I can do nothing for you in this situation. You must find a way to break the bond of the Black Moon. You must do it soon or my true nature will be forever corrupted by their evil. Please, help me. You must serve the true purpose of Nemesis.”
Ranma woke up and refreshed and fully rejuvenated. She worried about the ramifications of her dream and then shrugged and said, “Maybe Nabiki and Cologne have an answer by now. After all it has been an entire week.”
Then Ranma chuckled to herself and said, “I guess Neherenia decided sleep was more important than calling them last night, but I guess I really should do that now.” She walked towards her closet and grabbed her clothes and was about to pick them up when she smelled herself and thought, Maybe I’ll call after a shower.
Ranma walked to her bathroom and stepped into the small western type shower and sighed as the warm water and soap made her clean. When she was done she dressed in her standard black jeans and t-shirt. She looked in her room for her baseball cap, but couldn’t find it. Without a thought she transformed into her senshi form and then transformed back to her civilian form keeping a bit of Nemesis energy and forming it into a black baseball cap. She rubbed her red cat ears and said, “Sorry guys you need to hide” and placed the cap on her head. When she was done with all of that she stepped out of the bathroom and went out to greet the new day with a smile.
The smile on Ranma’s face disappeared when she walked into the living room. In front of her stood the black cloaked form of Wiseman and he was holding Neherenia in his cloak. The cloak itself was billowing with power and sending electricity coursing through the pretty black haired woman’s form.
Wiseman didn’t notice Ranma’s arrival and momentarily stopped electrocuting Neherenia with his magic saying, “How dare you! How dare you cease the punishment that I gave to Ranma! You are a servant and nothing more. You should still be with the scouts keeping tabs on them and what they are doing, but you are here instead. Do you even have information? Has anything you have told me been of any real use? No! Ranma was a failure and the scouts defeat every foe even with the information we have. How is this possible?”
Wiseman grabbed Neherenia and said, “How! It is your fault. You have disobeyed my orders and been giving us false information. You have been helping them!”
Wiseman finished yelling and calmly said, “This will teach you to go against the wishes of the Black Moon family.”
Electricity coursed through Neherenia’s body again she screamed in pain. Ranma also screamed and attacked Wiseman, but after one blow her body suddenly locked up and fell to the ground. Wiseman looked up from electrocuting Neherenia and said, “Ranma!”
Ranma looked up from the floor and forced herself to speak, “Yeah that’s me. Now let her go ya’ jerk. It’s me you want.”
Wiseman dropped Neherenia in an unconscious heap on the ground and said, “True and yet she disobeyed my orders as well. Somehow she was able to defy my will even though she signed the contract. The same way you defied my will by destroying Cooan. Tell me how were you able to accomplish that?”
Ranma thought quick and said, “You told me to fight against the Black Moon family to bring me into the senshi’s ranks.”
Wiseman looked at Ranma and said, “You were told to fight against them to gain the Senshi’s trust. You were supposed to defeat a few Droid’s. I assumed that you understood that you were on our side and would not actually try to kill a member of our family. Indeed it should not have been possible at all. How is it that you were even able to defeat Cooan?”
Ranma looked at Wiseman and the answer came to her as she remembered the fight, “Cooan never told me that she was a member of the Black Moon family. She introduced herself as an Akayashi sister and so I didn’t know.”
Wiseman shook his head and looked startled, “Could it really be so easy? You didn’t know she was a family member and so you were able to fight and defeat her. Well then, I may decide to forgive you for your transgressions Ranma.”
Ranma sighed in relief, but Wiseman turned towards Neherenia and said, “Neherenia however will have to be destroyed. After all she seems to have neglected to tell you everyone’s names…” Ranma realized that Neherenia must have neglected that duty on purpose; her advisor’s hatred of the Black Moon family was as great as that for the senshi.
Even with that realization Ranma’s muscles bulged with her attempt to attack Wiseman anyway. Her red chi claws glowed vibrantly, but she was stuck in one spot. All she could do was watch as the black robed man walked closer to Neherenia and started to kick her unconscious form with barely concealed glee. Ranma screamed, “Wait! Stop, I’ll do anything, just don’t.”
Wiseman stopped and Neherenia’s body slumped to the ground again as he said, “But with the contract you will already do anything I ask, what makes this new offer any different?”
Ranma hesitated and looked at Neherenia’s body on the ground. The woman had risked herself to save Ranma and now Ranma had to do something to save her. Only one thing came to mind, “It won’t be forced. I’ll promise on my honor to work within the spirit of our contract as well as its words. I’ll repay you for my error and use my full knowledge and abilities to work against the Senshi now.”
Ranma could swear that she saw an evil smile come from underneath the black cloak as Wiseman said, “Yes, that just might work.” He held out a hand and said, “Very well I accept. Now, come with me Ranma we have work to do.”
Ranma said, “Wait can I just make sure she’s okay?”
Wiseman said, “Very well I will be generous.” and Ranma bent down. She checked Neherenia and saw that she was breathing regularly. Then Ranma picked up the tall black haired woman and said, “I’m just going to put her in bed okay?”
Wiseman looked irritated, but allowed Ranma to walk into the hallway with Neherenia’s body. Once she disappeared down the hallway Ranma brought Neherenia to her bedroom and placed her in the bed. She looked down at her new sister and examined her wounds again. Nothing seemed to be damaged, but Ranma imparted a bit of Nemesis energy into Neherenia anyway. Neherenia went from unconsciousness into a peaceful and healing sleep and Ranma smiled at her. “You’ll be safe here for now okay.”
Then Ranma looked around and found a pencil and a piece of paper. On the paper she wrote, “Somehow you were able to help me before despite the contract and I’m trying to help you now. Wiseman will probably ignore you for a little while, but I have to do something I might regret. I hate to ask you for another favor, but please go to Nerima and find Cologne or Nabiki. Cologne should be able to protect you and hopefully they will be able to help. In any case, please tell them that I need an honorable solution to my problem.”
Ranma finished writing and then put the pencil down. She was about to walk away when she changed her mind and put the pencil back on the paper. At the end of her note Ranma added, “Please try to be safe Neherenia, Your brother sister Ranma.”
Ranma walked out of Neherenia’s room and into the living room. There she took Wiseman’s hand and he teleported the two of them to a new location.
Neherenia stood and got out of her bed. The pain from Wiseman’s electrocution was still with her, but she tried to ignore it. She walked out into the living room and tried to walk to the door. Her body did not lock up and she was not prevented from leaving the apartment. She walked to the elevator and thought, That must be it. Because I was told to keep Ranma safe I am able to go out and help her. I’ll need more than that though if I really want to free us from this stupid contract, because sooner or later someone will realize how I am able to do this and then they will rescind the order.
The elevator stopped on the ground floor and Neherenia walked out of her apartment complex. From there she flagged down a cab and stepped in thinking, I really hope Ranma’s friends can help us out.
The cab arrived outside the Neko-Hanten and the driver looked back at her and said, “That’ll be 10,000 yen please.”
Neherenia smiled at him and accessed her own magical powers saying, “Why sir I gave you twice that much before we left.”
The cab driver said, “Oh yeah sorry about that” then he drove off leaving Neherenia outside the Neko-Hanten. The tall pale skinned black haired woman made sure her hair was in proper order and walked in to the establishment. Once inside she looked around and found a tall black haired Chinese youth. The boy was wearing white robes and glasses he said, “What can we get for you today miss?”
“I need to speak with Cologne is she here?”
Mousse examined the strange woman in front of him and sighed in exasperation. Shampoo had just come back from a place called Ryugenzawa and when he tried to show her his affections he had been rebuffed and now Cologne was in the back speaking with her now and if he went back there he knew that he would just end up unconscious again. Just like all the other times when I tried to follow after Shampoo. Damn you Saotome this is all your fault! Mousse shook off his anger and depression, and then he said, “Yes, she is here, but she is rather busy at the moment speaking with her great granddaughter. Can I ask what this is about?”
Neherenia had to follow the black haired boy as he went to serve another order. She said, “It’s about Ranma.”
Mousse became angry and said, “That bastard what has he done now!”
Neherenia put a hand on Mousse’s shoulder and said, “No, Ranma-chan you know her, she’s my sister. She is in grave danger and needs assistance.” Mentally Neherenia added, I should talk, I am in danger as well.
Comprehension dawned on the young Amazon’s face and he said, “Oh her, will she be okay? She was going to help me out with Saotome, but she’s been gone and the old mummy and Shampoo weren’t very clear on what she was doing.”
“That’s my fault really I wasn’t sure how much to tell them.” Neherenia looked towards the back of the Neko-Hanten and said, “Look since they are busy, why don’t you show me to a phone and while I wait, I can call Nabiki and see if she can come over we may need her assistance anyway.”
Mousse nodded and brought her to the phone. He handed her the receiver and said, “Here you are miss um...”
Neherenia inclined her head very slightly and said, “Neherenia and you are?”
The young Amazon bowed slightly at the waist. “I am Mu Tsu, but everyone around here just calls me Mousse.”
Neherenia smiled and said, “Well it was nice to meet you Mousse, but I have to make this call and you seem to be quite busy, so don’t let me keep you.”
Mousse walked off to serve customers and Neherenia dialed the phone. After a few rings a soft and quiet voice picked up and said, “Tendo residence can I help you?”
“I need to speak with Nabiki please.”
“Who shall I say is calling?”
Neherenia remembered her mistake with Mousse and said, “Tell her that it is Neherenia and I have important news about Ranma-chan.”
“Oh my! She hasn’t called in some time. Is everything okay?”
Something about the voice on the other end awoke Neherenia’s emotions again and made her want to comfort the person. She said, “I hope she will be okay, but can you please get Nabiki. This matter is quite urgent.”
“Very well.” The phone went silent for a few moments and then another voice came on the line. “This is Nabiki; my sister tells me that you’re Neko-chan’s sister, Neherenia, you haven’t called in about a week, so what is this about?”
Neherenia was about to answer when anger crept into Nabiki’s voice as she said, “No lies! Are you planning on telling me the truth this time or not?”
Neherenia sighed and said, “I can only tell you so much. I think you know that Ranma and I are both bound by a contract to the Black Moon family and I am rather sure that Ranma has given you a copy of the contract that I signed. I am hoping that you have found some way to help us work around this contract before it is too late.”
“Too late! What do you mean?” Nabiki exclaimed.
“I’d prefer not to go over this twice why don’t you come to the Neko-Hanten and I’ll explain everything to everyone involved.”
“Alright, that’s not a bad idea and while I’m there maybe I can find out what happened in Ryugenzawa. My sister and her wayward fiancée have had the biggest blow out I’ve ever seen and I’d like to get some information from a certain purple haired Amazon.”
Neherenia looked around the restaurant only saw Mousse and seemed a bit confused, “Well try to make that a second priority will you. This is a matter of much graver importance.”
Neherenia could hear the smirk in Nabiki’s voice. “I think I knew that already, but a girl has got to make some money somehow right?”
Neherenia declined a response and Nabiki just said, “Well I’ll see you soon Neherenia,” and she hung up.
Neherenia waited for awhile and in the meantime she ordered some ramen. By the time Neherenia finished the ramen, Nabiki was walking in the door. The young brown haired girl with a pageboy haircut came over to Neherenia and said, “You must be Neherenia.”
Neherenia nodded and said, “I do believe Cologne and her Great granddaughter are finished speaking now. Why don’t we go back and introduce ourselves?”
Nabiki nodded and studied the woman as they walked. She was tall with dark black hair, pale white skin and deep brown eyes that were almost black. In addition she walked with a definite grace and style that suggested she was either royalty or very well off financially. Finally, the woman was wearing a simple black dress and black nail polish it finished her look and made her seem as if she was the person people envisioned when they used the term ‘Gothic’.
The two girls walked into the back of the Neko-Hanten and Nabiki introduced Neherenia to Cologne and Shampoo. The ancient Amazon said, “Yes, we have spoken on the phone. Now please have a seat while my great granddaughter brings us some tea.”
“Granddaughter will you please bring some tea for our guests?” Shampoo glanced up with puffy and red eyes it was clear that the girl had been crying. “Yes, will do great grandmother.”
Nabiki had notice Shampoo's face and tears and thought to herself Now that’s odd if Shampoo and Ranma were close in Ryugenzawa like Akane was screaming about when he arrived, then why isn’t she happier. Either something happened to make her sad in Ryugenzawa or afterwards, or she has been crying because she’s happy the smile suggests the second option, but I just can’t be sure. I need more information. Nabiki sighed and thought, Okay enough stalling by thinking about Ryugenzawa and Ranma-kun I’m here for Neko-Chan at the moment and it sounds serious.
Neherenia and Nabiki sat at the table. Shampoo was gone for a while and the three women sat in a respectful silence. In that silence Nabiki’s thoughts returned to fear for Neko-chan’s life and nervousness, so she focused instead on the complex puzzle of Ryugenzawa and what had happened there. On the outside Nabiki was a picture of perfect calm, but on the inside she was teeming with absolute curiosity about Ryugenzawa and fear for her new partner in equal measures.
Shampoo returned with the tea, poured everyone a cup, and then sat down to join them. That was when the answers started to come in. Cologne drank a sip of her tea and said, “Now tell us Neherenia, what is so the problem and how can we help?”
Neherenia examined the old woman in front of her and then said, “I apologize, but I will have to be brief. Time may be of the essence.”
Then Neherenia began her tale, “To begin with I will tell you that Ranma and I belong not to the Hitoshirenu family, but instead to the Black Moon family. Our surname of Hitoshirenu is a legal fiction to hide our identity from possible enemies.”
Neherenia gazed at Cologne and Nabiki and both women nodded. She then continued to speak. “It started about two weeks ago when Ranma did not come home. I was given no information of her whereabouts or plight and my superiors just told me to keep an eye on the Sailor Senshi and report on their activity.”
“I decided to find and follow one of the girls who I had seen with Ranma and who had been identified as Sailor mercury. I was stuck in my cat form at the time and it took me about a day or two to find her at the school she attends.”
Shampoo butted in and said, “You have Jyusenkyou curse as well?”
Neherenia answered saying, “No, and I can’t explain it at the moment.” She then continued from the interruption. “Once I found Sailor Mercury I followed her back to her house and told her that Ranma was missing.”
Nabiki said, “Wait a minute I’m missing something here. Why would the scouts care about Ranma? What do they even have to do with this?”
Neherenia answered saying, “Ranma is a sailor scout.” The three people seated at the table began asking questions left and right, but Neherenia silence them by saying, “Please I can not say anything else on this subject.”
The group lapsed into silence again and Neherenia said, “Mercury accepted me and the news, then she readily contacted the other Sailor Scouts and they in turn searched for Ranma. They did not find Ranma, but they did come into contact with the Dark Moon family and fought them on a number of occasions. Since I was spending time in Sailor Mercury’s company I learned the outcome of these events.”
“The first thing I learned was that Ranma had killed one of four sisters named Akayashi. This sister Cooan was in a battle at the cherry hill shrine and her three other sisters were now trying to get revenge on the other sailor scouts in addition to their other plans.”
Cologne butted in this time and said, “What other plans?”
Neherenia opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She shook her head and said, “I can’t tell you that. What I can say is that the three sisters tried a number of different things, but none of them succeeded. In fact the sailor scouts were able to defeat all three sisters and apparently brainwash them.”
It was Shampoo’s turn to burst in by saying, “What you mean?”
Neherenia said, “I mean that the Sailor girls took away their enemies personalities. They basically made them flighty girls without any ‘evil’ within them and apparently removed their desire for some type of vengeance. No discussion, no debate the sailors just used their magic to remake these people.”
Cologne saw anger in Neherenia and said, “That makes you angry does it?”
“You bet it does, how dare they make people feel differently, how dare they make them behave against their selves. Whatever these girls did it’s like, like creating a robot out of a thinking person. It’s just like Serenity and her court all over again! Keeping beauty and light for themselves and forcing the masses to adore them or else! It is better to die free, than to become some mind numbed slave to their ideals of ‘good’.”
The room sat in confusion as Neherenia ranted about things that none of them had ever heard of before. Finally, Neherenia realized that she was ranting and that no one in the room would understand why without a long explanation. So, the black haired woman calmed down and said, “Look let’s just say that the Black Moon family has at least one or two good ideas and leave it at that.”
Neherenia then continued her recounting of events by saying, “The day after the three sisters were defeated I was walking to Sailor Mars’ house when I felt something strange. It was a powerful magical field inside a small warehouse. So I walked inside and found Ranma standing there as stiff as a board and screaming. She was being tortured and I went to help her. I went to her and when I touched her I was immediately transformed into my human form. I was then able to bring her to our apartment.” Neherenia finished the story by recounting the details of what occurred in her apartment, neglecting to mention her emotional outburst at that time and when she finished the story she gazed at the people assembled at the table and said, “So here I am just like Ranma asked me to do. Can you help us?”
Wiseman replied saying, “That’s really too bad Rubeus, because here I came bringing you a gift.” Wiseman motioned to Ranma and said, “This is Ranma alias Sailor Angerona. She will replace the Akayashi sisters for you.”
Rubeus stared at Ranma and said, “She’s the one who started this mess by killing Cooan and making the other sisters so sloppy. How can I possibly use her?”
“She has information about the Sailor Senshi and promised on her honor that she will follow us and do our bidding. She can bring you the rabbit and the senshi. With her help you can redeem yourself and gain the crystal.”
Rubeus seemed impressed and Wiseman said, “Still I could use her for other duties if you like and allow you to face Prince Diamond on your own as a failure.”
“No, wait. I’ll accept your gift.”
“Very well” Said Wiseman and then he teleported away. In that moment it seemed as if Ranma’s restrictions were gone. Without thinking she immediately jumped up and tried to attack Rubeus, but her body stopped itself in front of the red haired man. He laughed a hearty laugh and said, “So Ranma is it? Wiseman said you promised on your honor to help us. Attacking me like that wasn’t so honorable though was it?”
Ranma sighed thought to herself, It felt like the right thing to do though. How do I get myself into these situations and am I really honor bound to that promise? At the very least it looks like the magic of the contract will make me follow it, but should I really do everything I can to honor my promise? Is that really the most honorable thing to do? Is it the right thing to do? Ranma thought about honor and remembered a day a long time ago. She was a little boy and he was in the country at night. Unhampered by light pollution there was a vast curtain of uncountable stars in the sky above. His father was right by his side and he looked up at the older martial artist with pride and awe, then he said, “Daddy tell me about honor?”
Genma looked down at his little boy and said, “Son, Honor is a simple and yet complicated concept. It is the right thing to do; the thing that must be done no matter what. It is your personal integrity and your standing in society. Those people with the most Honor shine as brightly as those stars in the sky.”
Young Ranma stared up in the sky and at the stars. He said, “Daddy I’m going to shine just like a star when I grow up.”
Genma ruffled his hair and said, “I know you will son, I know you will. Now get some sleep okay. Tomorrow we’re going to try a new training regimen and as a martial artist you are honor bound to follow it through.”
Ranma smiled up at his father and said excitedly, “A new technique? What’s it called daddy? Can we start now, can we?”
“No, no, we’ll start tomorrow. Tomorrow I promise I’ll teach you the Neko-Ken.”
Ranma finished remembering the past and thought, Is that really Honor? What did I learn from that? I did it and it hurt me very badly in mind and spirit. Now I’m cured of the fear, but I’m stuck with those consequences. Did I sign up for that with my honor? Is that what honor is really? What is the honorable thing to do here, and how will I know? Ranma continued to think about it, but her thoughts were interrupted as the red haired continued speaking about some plot or other and his voice went up in volume, “I Rubeus will defeat the Sailor Senshi! And you will be my new servant in this endeavor. Now, Wiseman said you had information and so you will tell me everything you know about the Sailor Senshi.”
Ranma sighed and with some disappointment in herself gave a full accounting of who the Sailor Girls were and what they were capable of as she was speaking. She did decide not to include the details of their civilian identities or where they lived, but that didn’t make her feel less badly about doing it. Rubeus smiled and said, “Thank you for the information. Much more honorable don’t you think. Now you mentioned that you meet regularly with the sailors isn’t that right?”
Ranma reluctantly nodded and Rubeus said, “Very well as a reward for your honorable answer I am going to let you gather all of the Sailors and bring them to me. In addition I want you to collect the pink haired rabbit and bring her to me as well.”
Ranma growled her displeasure and Rubeus just laughed. Then he went to a lever and pressed it. Suddenly the floor of the room opened up and Rubeus said, “Go on step over there, the anti-gravity field will levitate you to the ground.”
Ranma stepped to the opening and was slowly levitated to the ground. Rubeus yelled down, “Oh and Ranma, I want you to bring me them all to me by this time tomorrow night don’t be late.”
Once Ranma was on solid ground she looked up and saw that she had been in a large black flying saucer. It was hovering over a forest near Tokyo and glowing with malevolent energy. Ranma snarled with anger, outrage, and disappointment with herself... Her mental battle with herself from earlier in the ship came to the forefront of her thoughts and finally she said, “Screw it! A deal like this shouldn’t be honored. It’s just not right! No matter what the old man said, what did that fat fool know about honor anyway!”
She transformed into her senshi form and Angerona gathered her rage and used her knowledge of the Moko Takabisha to focus it into a powerful chi blast, then she added Nemesis power into the construct and tried to fire it at the black ship above her, but her hands would not allow her to direct the blast anywhere near the ship.
Angerona slowly released the energy and tried to come up with a new plan. She knew that she had to bring the Sailors to Rubeus and she knew that she would not be allowed to harm the man. She had 24 hours to figure something out.
Author’s Notes: It’s a cliffhanger I know and I need to apologize beforehand, because right now I am working on the Ryugenzawa side story that happened here in this chapter. That’s because it is important to the continuing story and what will happen next. So, that means everyone will have to wait two chapters to hear what happens next.
Changes since last posting: Minor changes in the rewrite…