"We Don't Accept You! Uranus And Neptune Versus Ranma"

"I'm Saotome Ranma. Sorry about this."

The gathered Senshi stared at Ranma, mouths agape. Mamoru blinked repeatedly.

//What's happening in there? Who was that talking just now?// Luna demanded over the open line.

"Ranko?" Rei asked slowly. "But...but..."

Ranma sighed. "It's a real long story, but first...you gotta know this is the real me. I'm a guy, I was born a guy, an' up until about a year an' a half ago, I was one hundred percent male..."

* * * * *

The youngest of the three Tendou sisters, Akane, walked out of the family dojo, dressed in a sweat-damp yellow gi; a towel was draped around her shoulders, and her face was flushed from exercise. "Oneechan? Have you seen Ranma?"

The eldest sister, Kasumi, paused in sweeping the walkway connecting the dojo to the house. "Ranma-kun called while you were working out," she said. "He said he had something to take care of, and won't be back until after dark, or possibly tomorrow."

Akane frowned. "Something to take care of? What...?"

"He didn't say, but he sounded very upset," Kasumi said. "I hope nothing serious happened."

"If he's off doing something perverted..."

Kasumi frowned. "Akane-chan, you really need to stop thinking the worst of him all the time."

"I don't think the worst of him all the time!" Akane replied defensively. "Just...okay, most of the time, but he's just such an idiot and a pervert and..."

Kasumi sighed. "In any event, please try to trust him a little more. Has he ever really let you down? I mean, when it really counted?"

"Well...no..."

A faint ringtone drifted through the door of the dojo. Kasumi raised an eyebrow. "Ara...did you forget your phone in the dojo again?"

Akane flushed. "Yeah, I guess I did." She hurried back into the dojo, and came out again talking into her phone. "Moshi-moshi? Oh, hey Ukyou. Eh? Ranma? Actually, Oneechan just said he called a little while ago and isn't coming home tonight, why...?" She listened for a moment longer. "Well, yeah, sometimes Ranma's fights do a little damage...eh?" She held the phone away from her ear, tapped a few keys, and stared at the screen. Her eyes widened even further, and she went pale. She placed the phone back against her ear. "Th-that...are you sure Ranma was caught up in that? ...yeah. I'll be sure to let you know when he comes back. Thanks for...yeah. Bye."

Akane walked past her sister into the house and sank heavily onto the sofa in the TV room. "Ranma..."

"What happened, Akane-chan?" Kasumi asked, sitting down beside her.

Wordlessly, Akane handed over her phone. On the screen was a picture of a completely destroyed street, littered with twisted husks of mailboxes, wrecked signposts, crumpled vending machines, and storefronts with shattered windows and burnt remnants of awnings and noren.

"Ara maa," Kasumi said. "What in the world happened there?"

"That's the block halfway between Ukyou's place and the ice cream shop," Akane said quietly. "She said Ranma was at her shop this morning, and there were some girls from another ward there. After they ate, they went with Ranma to the ice cream shop. About an hour after they left Ukyou's, THAT happened. She tried to call Ranma, but he's not answering his phone."

"Ara..." Kasumi studied the small, grainy cellphone photo intently. "Is that...is that blood?" she asked.

Akane took the phone back from her, staring at the picture. Her eyes widened. "I think it is," she said sickly.

The phone rang again. Akane quickly answered it. "Ukyou? What...WHAT? Uso..." Her eyes widened in shock. "Oh my god...no, it definitely wasn't...he called here not too long ago, so it couldn't be...yeah, I'll let you know as soon as we hear from him again. I'm sure he's fine. He has to be." She hung up, and her phone slipped from her fingers, landing in her lap.

"Akane-chan? What is it?"

Akane looked up at her sister, face pale. "There...there's been a murder," she said. "A girl...was killed."

Kasumi gasped. "Sonna..."

Akane picked her phone back up, and tried to call Ranma. Kasumi watched intently. After almost two minutes, Akane disconnected in frustration. "The idiot's got his phone turned off," she muttered. "Has to be. Baka..."

* * * * *

"...'an that's about it."

"Wow," Makoto said. "That...um...that sucks."

"Tell me about it," Ranma muttered. "Um...you gals aren't pissed at me, are you?"

"Huh? Why would we be?" Minako asked.

"It's just...I let you think I was a real girl, an'..."

"Well, that makes sense," Ami said reasonably. "When we met you, you were female, and there was no reason you'd have needed to tell a group of girls from the other side of Tokyo about your...problem..."

"It sure does explain why you're such a tomboy," Makoto teased.

"Now that you mention it, I did wonder why 'Ranko' talked like a boy..." Rei said. She gazed intently at Ranma. "But...given everything you just told us, I'm surprised you agreed to become Sailor Moon's replacement so easily..."

Ranma shrugged. "Honestly? It ain't the strangest thing I've hadda do as a girl."

"I'm not sure I want to know," Mamoru said.

"Me neither," Minako said, turning green.

"Anyway, I couldn't say no," Ranma said. "Y'hadda be there. When Serenity asked me...it was like, I just couldn't say no. Like whatever she wanted me t' do, I hadda do it."

Rei smiled sadly. "I think we all know what you mean."

"Yeah, she...that's just how she was," Makoto agreed, voice rough.

"An'...an' I think she knew. Or at least, th' crystal knew. Right before I woke up, she called me by my real name."

//The Ginzuishou was likely speaking directly to your heart,// Luna said. //If that's the case, then it knew who and what you really were. Since it accepted you regardless, that's good enough for me.//

//And me,// Artemis added.

"Me too," Rei said. Ami, Minako, and Makoto nodded agreement.

Haruka folded her arms. "I'm sorry, I'm not that easily swayed. I know nothing about this boy."

"We both respected Princess Serenity, but she was far from infallible," Michiru said. "It might be better if the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou were handed over to one of the other Senshi. Sailor Mars, for instance. Though I think I'd rather it be given to Sailor Pluto."

"Where IS Setsuna-san?" Minako asked.

"We're not sure," Michiru said. "She's not always the easiest person to track down. But I'm sure she won't be at all pleased with the Ginzuishou falling into the hands of an outsider." She turned to Ranma, her gaze beseeching. "Please, give us the Ginzuishou. You need not be involved in any of this."

"I ain't givin' it t' nobody," Ranma said flatly. "Not until we finish this, anyway."

"I'm not sure we should give you a choice in the matter," Haruka said.

Mamoru glared at her. "This is NOT the time."

"No," Haruka shot back, "this is EXACTLY the time. Before this new enemy shows up again. Before this...person...makes a mistake that puts us all in danger."

"Lady, you're startin' t' piss me off," Ranma said hotly.

"Would everyone please calm down?" Ami pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Ami-san, but Haruka-chan is right," Michiru said gently. "This is a matter which must be settled before anything else."

"And we're settling it right now," Haruka added, standing. Her henshin wand was already in her hand.

"URANUS PLANET POWER, MAKE-UP!"

Michiru stood as well.

"NEPTUNE PLANET POWER, MAKE-UP!"

Ranma groaned. "You two are as bad as Ryouga," he muttered. "An' I don't like t' fight girls, but..." He grabbed Mamoru's tea, poked a fingertip into it to check the temperature, nodded, and dumped it over his head. It had cooled enough to trigger the change. With a grim smile, the redhead pulled the henshin locket out of her top.

"MOON SPIRIT POWER, MAKE-UP!"

The sight of Ranma clad in the painfully familiar seifuku was enough to make Mamoru break down again, but this was noticed only by Rei; everyone else was staring in shock and dismay as three Senshi bolted out into the courtyard. Ami, Minako, and Makoto rose to their feet and raced after them.

A moment later, Makoto returned. "Anou...Rei...you know they're about to trash this place out there, right?"

Rei shot to her feet in alarm. "Mamoru-san...gomen nasai!" With that, she raced outside to join the others.

* * * * *

"Y'sure you two wanna do this?" Sailor Moon asked. "Cuz I'm in a REAL bad mood right now, an' I ain't gonna hold back."

"Come at us with everything you've got then, nisemono," Sailor Uranus said. She raised her right hand above her head; streaks of light gathered in her open palm. "WORLD..." She closed her fist and slammed it into the ground. "SHAKING!" A massive golden energy ball erupted from the point of impact, tearing up the ground beneath it as it flew toward Sailor Moon.

The newest Senshi leapt high into the air; Uranus' attack succeeded in little more than rending a deep gash in the shrine courtyard and uprooting an ancient tree.

"MOON TIARA ACTION!" Sailor Moon removed her tiara, which transformed into a disc of deadly golden light, and hurled it at the taller Senshi. Uranus dodged, but didn't entirely avoid the return path of the tiara, which clipped her in the shoulder, drawing blood.

"HARUKA!" Sailor Neptune cried. She scowled at Sailor Moon, who had just landed lightly on the ground. "DEEP...SUBMERGE!"

A shining blue energy ball erupted from Neptune's outstretched palms, zooming toward Sailor Moon with the speed and power of surging waves. The redhead dived under it and kicked upwards, sending it flying into the air. As Neptune stared in utter shock, Sailor Moon charged, bodychecking her; the green-haired Senshi was sent flying, crashing into the omamori counter and sliding to the ground.

An enraged Uranus rushed Sailor Moon like an angry bull, bellowing. The shorter Senshi nimbly leapt out of her way, then spun around and kicked her three times in the back of the head before she landed. Uranus staggered, but managed to keep her footing; she pulled an ornate, jewel-encrusted scimitar out of thin air.

From the sidelines, Minako gasped. "Haruka-san! You don't need to go THAT far...!"

Uranus slashed at the redhead, who parried with a pink sceptre that was suddenly in her hand. She stared at it, blinking. "Gah." Shrugging, she used it to fend off Uranus' attacks, then swung it in a wide arc and slammed it into the taller Senshi's temple. Uranus cried out and dropped to the ground, stunned.

"Anou...Ranma-kun...that's not how you're supposed to use that," Ami said, a pained expression on her face. Rei facepalmed.

Neptune started to pull out her own Talisman, but before she could, she found herself slammed up against the courtyard wall, windpipe cut off by the shaft of Sailor Moon's sceptre. "Give up. Now. I don't wanna hurt you," the redhead said.

Feeling a rush of wind behind her, Sailor Moon spun around, grabbing Neptune by the shoulders as she did so and positioning her in between herself and the incoming strike; Uranus' sword halted millimeters from Neptune's face. Her eyes widened in shock. She lowered her sword, bowing her head. "Kisama..." she spat.

Sailor Moon gently lowered Neptune to the ground; her sceptre disappeared. She fixed Uranus with a steady gaze. "I don't wanna hurt you OR your friend," she said quietly. "I didn't start this fight. You did. And now it's over." She shimmered; her seifuku was replaced by her borrowed miko outfit.

Taking the hint, Uranus and Neptune returned to their normal forms; Haruka helped Michiru to her feet. The seafoam-haired girl was still somewhat wobbly, and rubbing at her throat where the shorter girl had pinned her earlier. "I admit you're at least a more competent fighter than she was," Haruka said bitterly. "And you have a ruthless streak she lacked. I don't trust you, but...for now, I suppose the Ginzuishou remains with you."

Without another word, the two defeated Senshi left; Haruka's tires squealed loudly as they pulled away from the shrine.

"Real friendly, ain't they?" Ranma said, sighing.

"If it helps, it isn't just you," Ami said. "None of us get much respect from those two."

"But...then why are they Sailor Senshi?" Ranma asked, confused.

Ami sighed. "Come back inside, I'll explain..."

As everyone went back into the shrine, Rei surveyed the damage to the courtyard, and fumed. "Oh, those two are so cleaning this mess up."

* * * * *

Underneath the wrecked omamori counter, Luna and Artemis conferred.

"He's good," Artemis said. "And a little scary. Using Neptune as a human shield..."

"He's a much better fighter than Usagi-chan was," Luna said, nodding. "I mean, it's hard to accept there's a new Sailor Moon at all, and nobody can ever take the place of Usagi-chan, but..."

"He just pasted Uranus and Neptune," Artemis said. "Imagine what he'll do to the enemy."

"Un." Luna sighed. "Now, if we can just get him over his fear of cats..."

"That was...really weird," Artemis admitted. "I've never seen anybody freak out like that over a couple of cats before..."

"Shingo-kun used to be afraid of cats, and he could throw a pretty good tantrum about it, but..." Luna sighed. "We'll work it out somehow."

* * * * *

"So they're sorta...separate from th' rest'a you gals?"

"Hai," Ami said. "We had already faced a number of deadly opponents before we were even aware of their existence." She frowned. "The problem with Haruka-san and Michiru-san is that they're extremists. They believe in going to whatever lengths are necessary to accomplish their goals."

"Yeah, I kinda got that," Ranma, now male again, said.

"They have good intentions, really," Ami said. "It's just...they're a little intense, and distant."

"Well, it doesn't matter," Ranma said with a shrug. "Just as long as they don't get in my way when we're fightin' a real enemy."

Makoto walked in. "Your clothes are dry now, Ranma," she said.

"Arigatou," Ranma replied, leaving the room to change.

Makoto sat down at Ranma's vacant spot at the table. "So, what do you think?" she asked.

"Honestly? I'm not sure," Ami replied. "But Usagi-chan trusted him. We should too."

"That's not what I meant at all," Makoto said. She grinned. "Isn't he cute?"

Ami facefaulted. "Mako-chan! Mou..."

A few minutes later, Ranma returned. "Crap, it's gettin' late," he said. "I think I better head home." He took a few minutes to exchange phone numbers with the rest of the Senshi, then left the shrine.

* * * * *

Standing atop the torii, Orpheus watched the young martial artist leave the shrine. Burning red eyes narrowed, he followed his quarry...

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