Lines Of Destiny A Sailor Moon/Ranma 1/2 Crossover
By Louis-Philippe Giroux <dragon@anime.sobhrach.com>
Thank you for all your comments! Keep'em coming! C&C is always welcome!!!
Sailor Moon was created by Naoko Takeuchi and Ranma 1/2 by Rumiko Takahashi. Please don't sue me.
The latest versions of the previous chapters are always the ones on my WWW page at http://www.anime.sobhrach.com/~dragon/lines/lines.html
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Chapter 4
Makoto had just come back from the market when she decided she was bored. Among all the Senshi, Makoto was perhaps the only one who missed the occasional fight with a youma, daimon, or whatever they periodically fought. Before she became a Senshi, Makoto used to release her frustrations on people around her, which resulted in her being expelled from different schools on a regular basis. As Sailor Jupiter, Makoto had found a way to use channel her destructive temper into a constructive fashion, namely electrocuting youmas. It had been several weeks since the defeat of Pharaoh 90 at the hands of Sailor Saturn, and very few monsters had reared their ugly heads since then. As a result, Makoto had been feeling bored recently, not that she would admit it to the others, especially not to Usagi...
She looked at the time. *Mamoru probably arrived at the train station a while ago*. Not knowing what else to do, she decided to go see Rei at the Hikawa Shrine, remembering yesterday's conversation. If she was lucky, she might get to meet Rei's mysterious cousin before everyone else.
She let out a small sigh. The moment she had heard Rei's cousin was a martial artist, she had gotten her hopes up, but said hopes had taken a quick and brutal nosedive when she learned that Rei's cousin was coming with his wife.
Shaking her head away from such thoughts, she left her apartment, locking the door behind her and headed in the direction of the Hikawa Shrine. After a moderate walk, she arrived in view of the gates to the shrine and saw two people going in. One of them was a young black-haired, pig-tailed man, wearing a red Chinese shirt and loose black pants and the other was a black- haired girl, wearing a yellow dress and a sky-blue blouse. They were both carrying suitcases with them. Maybe _he_ was Rei's mysterious cousin.
Ranma and Akane pushed open the gates and went inside the grounds. They looked around and saw the steps leading to the shrine itself. Seeing no one around, they decided to climb them and halted when they neared the top.
"Rei? Are you here? It's me, Ranma!" he called out.
A girl came out of the main building, a look of anticipation on her face. She had long, raven-black hair that went down her waist and she was clad in traditional Shinto priestess robes.
"Ranma?" she said, blinking, all the while looking shocked for a few seconds. "Is that you?"
"What? Don't you even remember me, Rei?" answered Ranma with a smile on his lips.
Rei seemed to stare at Ranma for a few seconds, but quickly put herself together. "It's been a long time, Ranma. Welcome to the Hikawa Shrine."
"Thank you for your hospitality," Ranma replied politely. "Rei, may I introduce you to Saotome Akane, my wife."
Akane bowed in response. "I would like to thank you and your grandfather for your hospitality."
"Oh, it's nothing," said Rei, waving the matter away. She looked at Akane curiously. "So, when did you two get married anyway?"
"Yesterday," deadpanned Ranma.
Rei stared at him for a few moments, then mentally shrugged. *Usagi and Mamoru are as good as married and Usagi is younger than he is, so why not them?* Besides, it's not as if it was any of her business, anyway.
"Come on, I'll show you around the shrine grounds," she said.
"Do you mind if I tag along on the guest tour, Rei-chan?"
Rei, Ranma and Akane turned around to see Makoto, standing in the shrine's doorway.
"Mako-chan!" Rei said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Ranma and Akane finally got a good look at the unexpected visitor: a very tall girl with long, flowing brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She had a simple green dress on that complimented her... substantial features well.
Rei turned to Ranma and Akane. "Ranma, Akane, this is Kino Makoto, a very good friend of mine."
Makoto gave a polite bow, which was returned by the two Nerimians.
Rei repeated her question. "What are you doing here, Mako-chan? I thought you would have gone with Usagi and the others to greet Mamoru at the train station."
"I just came back from grocery shopping," replied Makoto. "By the time I came back, the train would probably have arrived a long time ago. In fact, the other girls and Mamoru are probably on their way here."
"Then they're probably not far behind," concluded Rei. She turned to Ranma. "You know, if I remember correctly, you were on the same train as Mamoru. Which reminds me, I hope nothing bad happened on your way here?"
Ranma looked pensive for a second. "The trip was fine. There was a fight at the train station, but that's all."
Rei looked a bit surprised. "What kind of fight?" she asked.
Akane decided to jump in before Ranma could put a foot in his mouth. For some reason, she felt she did _not_ want Ranma to say that they had trashed a monster. It would probably just upset Rei; after all, young Shinto priestesses didn't deal with monsters on a regular basis, right? "Someone started a fight inside the train station and got kicked out," she answered. *It's not a lie, it's just not the whole truth* she told herself. With that, she subtly pinched Ranma's arm to warn him against saying more.
Ranma looked sideways at Akane with a slightly puzzled look. "Nothing I couldn't have handled if it had come down to it," he finished, looking back at Rei.
"You think you're that good a martial artist?" asked Makoto.
"I don't think I am. I _know_ I am," said Ranma with a hint of arrogance in his voice.
Akane winced. Rei and Makoto each raised an eyebrow and looked questioningly at Akane. She shook her head. "Ranma _is_ good, but he has an ego problem as well."
Ranma suddenly looked miffed about Akane's rebuke.
"Well," said Rei, unwittingly defusing a potential scene, "let me show you around the shrine, okay?"
"Lead the way," Ranma and Akane chorused.
"Wow. Replies in stereo, too? You two are _definitely_ made for each other," said Makoto with a smile, trying to deal with the chagrin she'd felt when she'd seen just how much of a fine specimen Ranma was and the fact that he was taken in the most permanent way possible. *Akane sure is lucky!* she thought enviously.
Meanwhile, Ranma and Akane blushed slightly at Makoto's comment. They knew they should be used to it by now, but coming from a relative stranger (a younger girl, no less, despite Makoto's deceptive physical appearance)...
Rei raised an eyebrow at the blush. "You'll have to excuse Makoto. She's an incurable romantic."
It was now Makoto's turn to look miffed. "Hey, I'm just searching for the right soulmate, that's all!"
Rei rolled her eyes. "A soulmate who happens to look like your old sempai, right?"
Makoto frowned, but said nothing.
Rei motioned Akane and Ranma to follow her. "Come on, Ranma. Time to give you the guided tour."
And so it went, Ranma, Akane and Makoto following Rei as she showed them around the shrine. They eventually reached the small courtyard outside. Ranma looked around and smiled.
"Rei, at what time do you usually get up?" Ranma asked.
"Around six o'clock. I have various duties to perform before I go to school. Why?"
"Would there be a problem if I used the courtyard to practice my martial arts each morning? I need to keep in shape, even if I attend university."
"I don't think there will be any problems," replied Rei. "I'll have to ask Grandfather about it, but I don't think he'll mind."
"Where _is_ grandpa anyway?" asked Ranma. "I haven't seen him yet."
"He and Yuuichiro, who, by the way, is an apprentice who also lives here, left yesterday to visit holy grounds outside the city. They'll either be back tomorrow or the day after," replied the raven-haired priestess. "And for the final stop of the tour, something I guess I should have showed you earlier: the guest room."
Ranma and Akane went back to get their luggage, which they had left at the entrance, and followed Rei. She led them to a large room where two futons had obviously been recently installed.
"You sure don't seem to have a lot of luggage for two university students who want to live in an apartment," observed Makoto.
"We only have the basic stuff for a few days. Once we find an apartment, we'll send for the rest," replied Akane.
"There's only one guest room, so you'll have to bunk in the same room. I hope you don't mind," said Rei.
Ranma and Akane looked at each other questioningly, then back at Rei. "Why should we mind, Rei? We're married, remember?" said Akane.
Rei blushed slightly. "Oh yeah... I'd kinda forgotten that just now.." she said a bit nervously.
Makoto suddenly had a wicked gleam in her eye as she saw a golden opportunity for a little payback. "Maybe you should have bunked the futons closer together, Rei. After all, they _are_ newlyweds..."
Rei suddenly burned beet red, thinking about the possible implications of what Makoto had just said. Rei turned towards Ranma and Akane, whose faces were also in the process of acquiring a healthy shade of red. Seeing them blush as well, Rei immediately panicked and jumped to conclusions. "NO, please! Don't do that here!... I mean... err..." Rei stuttered.
Makoto couldn't help laughing out loud at Rei's predicament. The brunette turned to Akane and Ranma and apologized: "Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. Seeing Rei squirm is a rare sight and I couldn't pass this up." *Not to mention revenge for making fun of my sempai,* she added silently.
"You are _dead_, Makoto," Rei growled too softly for Ranma or Akane to hear.
Akane coughed politely. "Yes, well, speaking of... that, maybe we should go apartment-hunting while there still is time today, ne Ranma?" said Akane, not-so-subtly nudging Ranma with her elbow.
Ranma shook himself out of the slight daze he was in, then nodded absently. "Uh? Yeah, apartment-hunting, that sounds good." He and Akane turned to leave. "We'll try not to come back too late, okay?" he said, looking over his shoulder.
As soon as they were out of sight, Rei whirled on Makoto, who was still grinning like an idiot. "Makoto! What on Mars possessed you to make a comment like that? They're older than us, remember!"
"Calm down," said Makoto. "It's exactly like I told them. You need to learn to relax, girl."
Rei's frown suddenly turned into a smug smile. "Well, *I'm* not the one who's going to pass for a sex-crazed maniac because of that little stunt."
Makoto sweatdropped.
* * *
"Your cousin has *very* weird friends, Ranma." said Akane, once she and Ranma were safely out of hearing range.
"I'm just starting to realize that. Maybe Nerima wasn't so bad after all... Oh well, it'll only be for a couple of days, remember?" After a few seconds' pause, he added: "Why didn't you want me to tell Rei there was a monster at the train station?"
"Ranma, Rei's a young Shinto priestess in training. We don't even know if she believes in monsters. She probably has enough problems of her own without having to worry about monsters and everything."
"Okay, I can understand that, but why did you have to tell her I have an ego problem? You know I'm good!"
"But you do have an ego problem, my lovable baka husband," said Akane in a teasing voice.
Ranma smiled. "And you still can't cook, kawaiikunee-chan."
Akane smiled and took Ranma's hand, which he gladly offered.
* * *
Meanwhile, Usagi, Ami and Luna had helped Mamoru take his luggage back to his apartment before heading to the shrine. While they were doing that, Hotaru had gone with Minako to her house to pick up Artemis and brief him on the events that had transpired at the train station. Both groups met up again near the shrine.
Once the troop entered the shrine, they were faced with a smug Rei and a flustered-looking Makoto.
"What happened with you two?" asked Ami.
Rei thought about it and decided to go for the brief approach, omitting the details. "Makoto wanted to embarrass me in front of my cousin but ended up embarrassing herself instead."
Makoto threw a frown at Rei, who pointedly ignored it.
"Your cousin is here?" asked Ami. She looked around and added in a lower voice: "Should we move elsewhere, then? We have... serious business to talk of."
"Don't worry. He's gone apartment-hunting with his wife," replied Makoto , almost sullenly.
"That's right! Ami-chan told us he was married!" Usagi squealed. "How romantic! Aren't you eager to get married too, Mamo-chan?" she asked Mamoru, who was currently lost in his thoughts.
"Yeah, yeah, can't wait," he mumbled distractedly. Fortunately, Usagi totally missed the tone and only heard the message. While Usagi was staring dreamily in the air with hearts in her eyes, thinking of her marriage to Mamoru, Minako turned to Makoto and Rei. "Have they been married long?"
"Actually, no. Turns out they got married yesterday," said Rei.
Surprised looks were everywhere. "And it's registration tomorrow too, if I remember correctly. What a way to spend a honeymoon," said Minako, shaking her head.
Rei and Makoto suddenly looked as if they found the walls of the shrine very interesting. Before the other girls could start asking the really interesting questions, though...
"Ahem!"
All the girls suddenly took notice of Luna, who was looking generally annoyed. "We have more important business than discussing the married life of Rei's cousin."
"She's right," said Ami. "There was a monster attack at the train station today."
Rei's eyes widened while Makoto looked somehow disappointed. "Argh! The first monster attack in months and I miss it!" said the tall brunette sulkily.
A sweat drop found it's way behind Luna's and a few of the other girls' heads. Ami, however, was unfazed by Makoto's comment and continued. "Well, it's not the monster in itself that was strange, but rather _who_ dispatched the monster."
Makoto looked at Ami. "What? You mean you weren't the ones who killed it?"
Minako jumped in the conversation: "We didn't even have a chance to transform! There was some kind of superpowered hunk accompanied by a girl who arrived in the same train as Mamoru who fought the monster. The guy cut its arms off with an energy blade, but then got thrown in a wall. The daimon tried to escape, but the girl bashed it with a hammer she got out of nowhere and the guy finished it with another energy blast. You should've seen him move, Makoto; it was unbelievable." Minako went on to describe the fight in detail with the speed of a sports commentator on amphetamines, concluding with the mysterious couple's escape.
To say that Rei and Makoto were interested by this would be a serious understatement. "What did they look like?" asked Makoto.
"The guy had black hair, tied in a pigtail. He was wearing loose black pants and a red Chinese shirt. The girl had short black hair, a yellow dress and a blue blouse," said Minako quickly, who noticed Rei wasn't listening to her anymore.
Rei and Makoto were looking at each other. "Wait... Doesn't that sound like...?" Makoto started in an incredulous tone.
Rei suddenly whirled back on Minako. "Did you talk to them? Did they say their names?" she asked quickly.
This time, it was Usagi who jumped in. "We didn't even have a chance to. They vanished right after the guy killed the daimon."
Makoto's eyes grew introspective. "I think Rei and I may know who your 'superpowered hunk' is... though we're not absolutely sure," said the brunette.
"Who do you think they are?" asked Artemis, cutting off Luna in the process, who settled by glaring at him.
"My cousin and his wife," answered Rei. "Ranma and Akane Saotome."
"Your cousin!?" everyone else (except Makoto, of course) chorused incredulously.
Once they calmed down, Rei continued: "Ranma and his wife look exactly like you described... And they mentioned there had been a fight at the train station."
"That's... quite an understatement," said Ami.
"Wait, it gets weirder," said Minako. "We also found out Mamoru had a sister who was Sailor Terra in the days of the Moon Kingdom and Hotaru had a brother," she said in an excited voice.
"Sailor Terra?" chorused Rei and Makoto. "That would be a first! Why haven't we ever heard anything about her before today?" asked Rei.
Luna and Artemis suddenly looked distinctly uncomfortable. Luna had conferred earlier with Artemis and it seemed he had also spontaneously recovered some memories concerning Endymion's family. It was not going to be fun trying to explain that. Suddenly, Luna got an idea and turned to Hotaru and Mamoru: "Why don't you tell them what you told us?"
Hotaru and Mamoru each raised an eyebrow at Luna's somewhat blatant attempt to divert the attention away from herself and Artemis but nevertheless told their tale to Rei and Makoto, who listened intently.
End Chapter 4
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