Ranma stood by the window in the Hikawa Shrine main meeting room that looked out at the building where the actual shrine was kept with the sacred fire. The young harmonixer was dressed in a formal western suit and desperately trying not to tug at his collar. Of course, Ranma’s discomfort at the moment could only partially be blamed on his stiff shirt collar. Most of his discomfort came from the fact that today he was meeting his betrothed.

Why oh why did his grandfather agree to this? Ranma wanted nothing more that to transform into Orexis and take off like a bat out of hell. He was only 16! Someone as young as him had no reason to be married. True, Ryoga was married at 16 while Ranma only had a four year engagement, but it was the same thing right? He didn’t even know who the woman was that was supposed to be his future wife! But, wasn’t the whole point of this meeting and the long engagement just so that the two of them could get to know each other. He had no say in the whole process! However, his grandfather had set things up so that an out was possible if things just didn’t work out.

Every time Ranma tried to justify why he should just bolt, his mind would come up with a counter argument that would leave him all the more confused. Eventually, Ranma became so confused that he did something that he normally wouldn’t do. The young harmonixer pulled out the orthodox cross that he kept under his shirt and began to pray. Technically, every member of the Inugami family ever since Anastasia married Kurando was Russian Orthodox, but Nicholas and Ranma tended to both be rather unreligious and continued many Shinto practices.

A few minutes later, Rei walked into the room and her eyes practically bulged out seeing her cousin praying. The raven haired priestess waited a few seconds so that she could burn what she was seeing in her memory and then she politely coughed. Ranma immediately got up off his knees and placed his cross back under his shirt so fast that Rei wouldn’t have known he had it if she hadn’t already seen him holding it while praying. The two cousins looked each other in the eyes for a second and then Ranma said, “They’re here aren’t they?”

Rei nodded her head and then said, “I feel sorry for your new fiancée.” Ranma shot Rei a glare which only caused her to roll her eyes and reply, “Let’s look at the facts cousin. You’re a fanatic when it comes to martial arts training, you’ve got an obsession with studying folktales and the occult, you can make yourself have the personality of liquid oxygen at will, and your best friend acts like the lead character of a cheesy wrestling movie. I wouldn’t be surprised if whoever you’re supposed to marry breaks the engagement off after a month.”

Ranma raised an eyebrow and shot back, “Oh really, Rei? You see the engagement ending after a month? Did your voodoo tell you that or is it just women’s intuition?”

Just like Ranma had hoped, Rei’s face became red with anger and she shouted out, “Divination! I practice divination, not Voodoo! Use the little paste that remains of your brain after all the hits you’ve taken to remember that.” Rei’s rant was quickly derailed by Ranma’s snickering that was quickly joined by giggles from Rei.

As soon as the laughter died down Ranma asked, “Hey Rei. When are Grandfather, my betrothed, and her parents coming in?”

Rei shook her head and immediately replied, “Sorry Ranma, but the meeting is being held in the house; not here in the office. Uncle Nicholas and Grandfather had you wait in here so that they wouldn’t have to put up with your nervousness before the meeting. Can’t say I blame them since it looks like you’ve worn a hole in the carpeting. Now come on you big lug, we don’t want the lucky lady to think that you’re tardy as well as a weirdo.” Ranma nodded his head and then the two cousins walked over to Rei’s house.

Ranma was lead by Rei into the family room where everyone was waiting for him. The young harmonixer immediately looked at his grandfather and the elder Hino. His eyes then drifted to a dignified middle-aged couple who were obviously the parents’ of his bride-to-be. Finally, Ranma’s eyes moved towards his intended bride and bulged out. Without warning Ranma blurted out, “Michiru Kaioh? You’re the woman Grandfather wants me to marry?!”

The aquamarine haired woman slowly nodded her head not trusting herself to speak. She was just as shocked, if not more so, as Ranma about this whole betrothal business. Her parents had shown up at her house two days ago to inform her of the match and now she found out that Ranma of all people was to be her future husband. Why didn’t Sailor Pluto give her a warning?! What was she supposed to say about having to marry a guy who she had one brief conversation with in school, witnessed him kill a man with a single punch, and then helped fight of a demon?

Mrs. Kaioh spoke up before things among the two teens could become even more awkward. “Oh phew, you two know each other. I was hoping to prevent either of you from getting any preconceived ideas about your intended by keeping your identities secret until now.”

Ranma quickly glanced at his future mother-in-law and said, “Don’t worry Ma’am. Other than her name and the fact that we’re in the same classroom, I know nothing about Michiru. O-of course that will change quickly.” Ranma hastily added the bit about getting to know Michiru because he didn’t want to risk offending Mrs. Kaioh.

Mr. Kaioh’s eyes narrowed for a split second as the father in him sensed possible innuendo towards his daughter. However, the aging businessman quickly relaxed as his sharp eyes detected no sign that his potential son-in-law meant what he said like that. Mr. Kaioh reflected on what he remembered from the copies of Ranma’s grades that Nicholas had sent, the oral report that Takashi Hino had given him during their meeting last week, and finally what his own eyes were showing him. Ranma was a strong young man with a better than average, though not top of his class, grades who was trying to handle this situation. The boy’s answer to his wife showed intelligence, restraint, and a great deal of concern over what he said might be interpreted as. Yes, the young man was a good solid choice for his dear Michiru’s future groom.

Nicholas politely coughed to get everyone’s attention and then said, “Grandson, this is Mr. Shinji Kaioh and Mrs. Misato Kaioh. Mr. and Mrs. Kaioh, this is my grandson Ranma Inugami.” The elder Inugami waited a moment for Ranma to bow to the elder Kaiohs and then he continued on. “Now then, why don’t we go over what’s expected of the two of you during your betrothal. After that I think we should let the two of you have some time to yourselves to talk about status among yourselves. You’ll want some time to sort everything out without our presence I believe.”

Both teens remained silent, so Mr. Kaioh pulled out a small piece of paper and began to read from the document. “The two of you are expected to go on at least one date a month and contact each other at least once a month unless extraordinary events prevent this from happening. Your dates do not have to be extravagant; we just want you to spend time together doing something together so a picnic or a movie is good. Naturally, you two are expected to be faithful to each other and so will not go on dates with someone besides each other. Also, you two are expected to work out any problems among yourselves in a mature and adult manner. Talk over your problems, ask the three of us for advice, and if you feel you two need it seek out a relationship councilor. You may not ignore any problems, pretend that they don’t exists, or refuse to speak to each other about a problem. We’ve put these expectations in place to help insure that your future marriage is a healthy relationship. Finally, you two are allowed full discretion over the level of, ahem, ‘intimacy’ in your relationship before the wedding. However, the wedding will be held earlier if needed to maintain proper decorum.” Even though he tried to phrase it diplomatically, there was only so much that Mr. Kaioh could do to limit the embarrassment of that being brought up or the consequences if Michiru became pregnant.

An uncomfortable silence descended on the room after Mr. Kaioh finished speaking. This silence ended when Mrs. Kaioh spoke up, “Well then daughter, why don’t you and your new fiancée go and have some time to yourselves?” The two teens quickly took the option to leave. Even if they were supposed to spend some time together, it would be a lot less awkward that being around their elders.

Shampoo was in her house sitting at the kitchen table writing a letter to her great-grandmother Cologne. Her letter was very detailed as it described what had happened since she had left the village:

‘Dear beloved elder Ku long,

I, your great-granddaughter Xain Pu, write this to you so that you might know the events that have happened to me since I left the village with my husband Ryoga Hibiki. As I related to you before leaving, my husband and I set out from the village in order to find my husband’s parents and let them know about the union between their son and myself. This has been no small challenge due to the distance between our village and my husband’s homeland. Furthermore, my husband’s troubles with navigation where inherited from his parents increasing the difficulty of locating my in-laws. I pray to the ancestors that my own children do not inherit such problems from my husband.

Upon leaving the village, I and my husband set out roughly north-east until we reached the Huang He. We then followed the Huang He towards the sea stopping at towns along the way and earning money from underground pit fights. Ryoga may sound a bit silly with how he goes on about wrestling and hasn’t yet given me a proper wedding night, but he is certainly capable of taking care of me. Two times the Triad attempted to procure me, but in each case my husband took care of them before I had to lift a finger. It may not be proper for an Amazon to have someone else fight her battles for her, but I must confess that it felt good to not have to pound a hormonal male that was lusting after me.

Back to the journey, my husband and I followed the Huang He to the see. When we reached the sea we then walked along the coast of Laizhou Bay to the city of Longkou. In Longkou we procured the services of a smuggler ship that carried us to South Korea. Once in South Korea, we traveled overland to the city of Pusan and from there purchased a legal boat ride to Japan. We spent two and a half weeks trying to find my in-laws before admitting that we would just have to wait until our paths crossed each other. My husband, since he couldn’t find his parents, then decided to find his best friend Ranma Inugami whom we eventually found in Tokyo.

It is thanks to Ranma and his grandfather Nicholas Inugami that my husband and I have the home we currently are staying in. The Inugamis, from what I understand, are connected to the Japanese government and are tasked with helping to eliminate supernatural threats to Japan. Nicholas Inugami gave my husband and I our house provided that we help take care of supernatural threats and attend a local school in return. Both of these conditions I find fair, although I will that some of the students at the school I am attending were a little more restrained. Were it not for elder Inugami’s devotion to his late wife’s memory and the recent engagement of the younger Inugami, I would have insisted that fellow members of the tribe be sent out to challenge the Inugamis for marriage. As of this moment I’m observing them, particularly Ranma, for possible friendship status within the tribe.

Over all beloved elder Ku Long, I am happy here in Japan. I miss the village, I miss my sisters, and I miss you. However, what I have seen and experienced on my journey along with the people I have met make this journey worth it. That is not to say that my journey has replaced the village in my heart, but that my experiences have allowed me to bear the separation.

Your great-granddaughter,

Xain Pu’

Shampoo gave her letter a through look over to make sure it said everything she wanted it to say. Once she was satisfied, the young Amazon folded the letter and stamped her personal seal on it. She then got up and walked to spare bedroom that Ryoga had converted into a training room. The purple haired woman stuck her head inside the room and licked her lips. Ryoga was calmly bench pressing four times the world record without his shirt on.

Ryoga quickly noticed his wife looking at him and put his weights on the stand. He then got up and said, “Hi Shampoo. What do you want?”

Shampoo smiled and said, “Airen, Shampoo leave to mail letter to great-grandmother. Shampoo later shop for good ingredients for good dinner. See you after Shampoo back home.” With that, Shampoo gave her husband a wink and headed off to mail her letter.

Back at the Hikawa Shrine, Michiru and Ranma were silently standing in the shrine’s courtyard. The newly betrothed couple had no idea what to say to each other. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ranma spoke up. “You know, this is extremely awkward Michiru.”

Michiru couldn’t help herself and gave a faint smile. Yes, she thought, it was very awkward for her to be engaged to a man that she was sure would have been classified as an enemy during the Silver Millennium. Moreover her crush on Haruka, which had so far remained a crush given the other girl’s flirting ways, took things to a whole new level of awkward for the warrior of Neptune.

Ranma started scratching his head while speaking up again. “Look Michiru, I, er, I,” the young harmonixer paused for a second, closed his eyes for a brief moment, opened his eyes, and tried again. “Michiru, I have no idea how to be a boyfriend; let alone someone’s fiancé. So, ah, would you mind setting the pace in our, er, relationship? I just don’t want to make things too terrible for you!”

The aquamarine haired magical girl felt a small tug at her heart as she listened to Ranma. His stuttering and broken speak was grating on Michiru’s nerves, but the absolute sincerity and honesty Ranma was projecting more than made up for that. It was sweet that he was trying to look out for her and wasn’t being a jerk like she feared when she first found out about the engagement. Michiru nodded and said, “Okay Ranma.”

Relief washed over Ranma’s face when he heard Michiru agree. He had been terrified that she might be upset over him not ‘being a man’ in the relationship. True, he didn’t know what Michiru was expecting of him, but Ranma had heard that guys were supposed to be the leader in relationships. Whatever the case, the couple had set down an important guideline to their future relationship. Ranma then asked with a little more confidence in his voice, “Uh Michiru? How do we handle things at school? I mean, do we announce the engagement, just hang out together during lunch, or do you want to pretend that we just know each other from class while at school?”

That was something Michiru hadn’t thought about. She had been so surprised over her engagement, particularly the fact that she was to a boy who turned into a demon, that such mundane things as how the engagement would affect things at school had never crossed her mind. Michiru bit her lip and thought about Ranma’s question for a few seconds. Finally she gave her answer. “Let’s keep things low quiet about the engagement while at school Ranma. I don’t mind having lunch with you and if some asks why we are spending time together we explain the engagement. However, I do not see a reason for us to broadcast this arraignment to the whole school since it is a private matter.”

Ranma nodded his head and replied, “That sounds good to me.” The young harmonixer paused for a moment and then continued. “I want to ask you something. How do you feel about this, the engagement you know?”

Michiru sighed and then softly answered Ranma. “I was most displeased when my parents told me about the arrangement. In my mind, I have too much to do at the moment between my schoolwork, my painting, and my violin recitals” –not to mention my duties as Sailor Neptune, she privately added- “to deal with the added demands that an engagement would bring. Furthermore, the idea of anyone else, even my parents, picking a partner for me” –Michiru mentally added that she knew her parents would pick a man and, while bisexual, she preferred women- “to be both insulting to my judgment and archaically barbaric. Finally, the thought of having to marry someone that I do not know” –and who turns into a demon she thought- “frightening at best.”

The aquamarine haired young woman paused for a second and then continued on. “However, things have gone better than I thought they would. You’re not who or what I was expecting as my selected fiancé Ranma. I don’t love you or even know you well enough to say that I even like you. However,” here she paused for a moment to gently bring her hand to Ranma’s face, “What I have seen from you lets me know that I will like you as a friend in the future and, perhaps, I’ll even grow to love you. But for now, you’re only an acquaintance that I know I’ll have to marry one day.”

Ranma was silent for a few minutes as he came to terms with what Michiru told him. Finally, he sighed and said, “Well, I guess it’s good that I know where I stand. Just so you know I wasn’t thrilled about this whole thing either. However, Grandfather had some good reasons for agreeing to this and I decided to trust him.”

The shrine courtyard was silent for a few moments. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but it was a bit awkward. Once again Ranma spoke up and said, “Michiru, why don’t we call it a day and meet again some other time?

Michiru nodded her head and replied, “Agreed. We both need time to deal with everything that has happened. Meet me in the cafeteria tomorrow at school for lunch. It will give us a chance to get to know about each other a little better and the atmosphere there should make things less uncomfortable then they are now.”

Ranma quickly nodded his head, said goodbye, and then left the courtyard. Once Michiru was alone she looked up at the waning moon in the sky and softly said, “Spirit of Queen Serenity, Please watch out for me and help me in this.”

Haruka Tenoh was walking down the street giving off an aura of anger and depression that made everyone give her a wide birth. Today was the day that Michiru was going to that stupid betrothal ceremony to meet her ‘fiancé’. The star track athlete wasn’t sure what burned her more: the fact that the Kaiohs had done something like this or the fact that Michiru was going along with it. Oh, if only she could get her hands on the snot nosed wimp that Michiru was being forced to marry. After all, only a complete loser would resort to something like an arraigned marriage to get a girl.

Suddenly, Haruka heard Michiru’s parting words from there last conversation in her head and her mood dampened. “Listen Tenoh, I may not like that my parents arraigned this engagement for me, but I’m going to go through with it. I’m not about to run away from home due to a disagreement with my parents. Besides, a formal agreement between families should keep whoever my parents have arraigned for me to marry form ‘letting their eyes wander’.”

Okay, maybe she had reacted a little too much when she had found about the betrothal. But, did Michiru really need to send those barbs at her? Haruka hadn’t been on speaking terms with her parents in over a year since they tried to put her in an arraigned marriage. In her defense, the boy was a total loon who thought he was a samurai. However, her refusal had broken the camels back in an already strained parent/child relationship. The elder Tenoh’s had set up a trust fund that would let Haruka live comfortably without working for the rest of her life and used their contacts to help get her started in racing. But, they had otherwise cut off all contact with Haruka.

It was the other thing that Michiru had said that truly dug at Haruka. The two of them were in love with each other, or at least like each other a lot. However, the duo weren’t exactly an item yet and that was mostly because Haruka like to check the market. She couldn’t help it! After all, there were so many pretty girls around and it wasn’t like she meant anything when she flirted with them. However, for some inescapable reason to Haruka, this behavior did matter to Michiru.

Haruka continued to walk down the street in her foul mood never noticing that someone had been following her with their eyes. Setsuna was barely able to hold back a tear as she watched her teammate walk by in such pain. What made so hard for Setsuna to watch was the fact that she had contributed to the distress that was plaguing Haruka.

As Haruka walked out of view Setsuna muttered, “This is why I hate my job.” Being the guardian of the Time Gates meant that Setsuna was also charged with insuring that things didn’t go horrible for the Earth. Well, that wasn’t in her official job description. She had added it after her failure to act on information about Metallia had caused the destruction of the Silver Millennium and almost a trillion people’s lives. For the most part, Setsuna was content to let things go by themselves. However, there were times when high probabilities of certain future events required her to act.

One such event was an ice age that was typically referred to as ‘The Great Freeze’. Circumstances surrounding this ecological disaster varied from timeline to timeline, but the basic gist of them all was that the Sailor Senshi got in over their heads and an enemy turned the planet into an ice cube. Setsuna was not about to let such a disaster and the death of billions happen and closely examined the timelines where ‘The Great Freeze’ either didn’t happen or was severely mitigated. In all those timelines Setsuna found that the Sailor Senshi were closely allied with various force that could generally be described as ‘grey’. These forces weren’t squeaky clean heroes or evil villains, but somewhere in-between like the Inugami.

Encouraging Nicholas to go through with the engagement of Michiru and Ranma was just Setsuna nudging things so that the senshi would be more open. The Guardian of Time hated breaking up Michiru and Haruka before they even truly got started, but it was for the best. Letting the two get together would lead to the duo to adopting a very xenophobic and isolationistic attitude that would infect all the other senshi. Further more, it would save to duo from a lot of heartache. Michiru and Haruka were very different people from Princess Michelle and Princess Armara. Usagi and Mamoru had a soul bond that would unite them throughout all time allowing them to overcome any and all challenges. Michelle and Armara had a life bond that had been passed down to Michiru and Haruka due to their reincarnation. A life bond allowed a couple to overcome any and all challenges like a soul bond, but it was only meant for one lifetime.

Setsuna then muttered, “Better to let the past die and suffer one major heartbreak then it is to hold on to the past and live a thousand years with constant small heartbreaks. I just hope that they can forgive me for meddling if they find out what I’ve done.” The lonely Guardian of Time left to go get a drink. Even with the knowledge that most timelines showed her teammates happy with their future partners, Setsuna still felt the need for alcohol to convince her that she had done the right thing.

Nicholas Inugami walked up to the receptionist at the front desk of Atsuko Detention Center for Women and waited for her to recognize his presence. Finally the receptionist looked up from her computer and asked in a dreary manner, “What are you here for sir?”

The harmonixer calmly pulled out a document from his jacket and said, “I am Nicholas Inugami and I am here to see my daughter Nodoka Saotome.” He then handed the document to the receptionist whose eyes bulged out when she saw the approved request for a visit form being handed to her. She was new and had never come across someone wanting to visit an inmate before. After all, Atsuko Detention Center for Women was for the worst female criminals in Japan. Family members of the center’s inmates usually pretended that the women had died.

For the next few minutes, Nicholas patiently waited as the receptionist entered the paperwork into the detention center’s computer system. After what seemed like hours to the graying warrior the receptionist finally said, “Take a right and go down the hall to meeting room 5. The inmate you wish to see will be waiting for you.” Nicholas nodded his head and then walked to the meeting room.

When Nicholas entered the room, he saw Nodoka sitting down in the chair on the prisoner’s side of the meeting room. Father and daughter were separated by a two inch thick sheet of glass that cut the room in two. No one else was in the room, but there were security cameras so that the guards could watch what was happening. Quietly, Nicholas sat down in the chair that had been provided for him and looked at his daughter. The years in confinement had not been kind to his daughter. There were tear stains running down her cheeks, her face was showing premature wrinkles, and there was a slightly hallow look in her eyes.

Nodoka was the first to speak. “Why are you here Father? It’s not my birthday.”

Nicholas nodded his head and replied, “I know and I will be back here when it is your birthday to visit you. This visit is because Ranma has been betrothed and I wanted to let you know. You are his mother after all.”

Immediately, Nodoka’s head dropped and she barely whispered loud enough for her microphone to catch. “What does it matter? I’m dead to him.”

Nicholas quickly and firmly said, “No you’re not daughter! Ranma still acknowledges you as his mother. He doesn’t come to visit you and he doesn’t like to talk about you because he feels betrayed by your actions. However, he does still love you as a child loves his mother just like a part of him still loves Genma even though he has no respect for the man.”

Nodoka nodded her head and sat silently for a few moments. After a bit she hesitantly asked, “Who is Ranma’s wife to be?”

The old harmonixer calmly replied, “Michiru Kaioh, the only daughter of Shinji Kaioh. She has good grades, is local celebrity in Tokyo’s art and music circles, and is reasonably attractive. Furthermore, Setsuna gave her endorsement to the match so I am confident that she will be able to handle some of the more eccentric parts of Ranma’s life.” The two continued to talk for the next half hour about the match until Nicholas’s visiting time was up. What neither of them noticed was a small robotic fly sitting on the roof recording everything they said.