Wharpt said:
Akane should feel privledged. The only other person I know of that Sailor Saturn has pulled that manuever on is Sailor Moon.
Actually there's another instance.
Ooh the elusive catch of getting a lurker to respond. Glee
Back to new stuff at the castle.
The new doc link
-----
Nodoka voiced her thanks as the energetic girl, Aino Minako as she had introduced herself, brought her a drink. WIth her long luscious golden blonde hair and obviously sunny disposition, Minako reminded her a little of her son’s Amazon wife, Shampoo. She normally didn’t use furniture so Nodoka found sitting on the large sofa an unfamiliar but comfortable experience.
‘Much like being in a modernly furnished room within an ancient space castle.’ She thought to herself as she looked out the window into space. Sipping on her beverage, she could almost miss the subtle hint of alcohol. After all the revelations of the past two days, she didn’t feel the least bit guilty about indulging in an adult beverage. ‘Served to me by a minor.’ She noted and held back on asking where this had come from.
“We didn’t want to overload either of you too quickly.†Ami explained, sitting on a nearby reclining chair. “So it was just supposed to be the three of us.â€
“I’m sorry that we ruined your surprise.†Kasumi told the two apologetically.
“No, no-- it’s okay.†The blonde tried to wave off Kasumi’s apology before giving the white cat with a gold crescent moon on his forehead a glare. “I blame someone else for that.â€
“Your poor planning, not mine.†The talking cat said smugly from his place next to Nodoka. “I’m embarrassed for you. Intending to dump all that hideous confetti on these lovely ladies. How unimaginably rude!†He put a paw up to his chest dramatically.
“You’re quite talkative all of a sudden.†Minako grumbled and unceremoniously dropped down on the couch next to Artemis and pulled him into her lap to face her. “Why is that, hmmm?†She asked, tugging on one of his ears.
“Obviously, he’s just being a very manly cat.†Nodoka suggested, having been quite taken by the white feline’s manners. ‘It’s sad that my Ranma doesn’t have any manly role models to look up to.’
“I’m glad someone noticed.†Artemis freed himself from Minako to scamper to her. “Ranma is so lucky to have such a perceptive mother like you.â€
“Thank you.†She let herself smile at the praise even though this trip was highlighting how little she did know her only child. “I just wish he had such a manly influence as you in his life.â€
“Ever since Ranma awakened, I’ve done my best to offer her my wisdom.†The white cat boasted proudly, sitting up a little straighter. Nodoka didn’t fail to notice the use of a female pronoun for her son.
“Is there a reason for someone to be awakened?†Kasumi asked worriedly, staring down at her own drink held between both hands.
Ami coughed lightly in her hand to draw attention. “For most of us, it happened when our lives were in danger; but that’s not a sure thing. From talking with Sailor Pluto, who has been active the longest out of all of us, there appears to be an element of fate tied to it.†The girl with short dark blue-green hair paused to compose her thoughts while daintily sipping some water.
“It’s not just us either; our first enemy was also reincarnated from the Silver Millenium, along with four of her generals. So, we don’t know if there are others out there who remember. There could be dozens-- maybe hundreds, of civilians who have no way to contact us. We just don’t know what stimulus actually causes a person to become aware of their past life. When Ranma first remembered you, Kasumi, she thought you would start to remember right away, but that clearly didn’t happen. Obviously, further study will need to be done in order to ascertain this process better so we’ll know whether or not to expect more in the near-- Why are you all staring at me like that?†Ami finally trailed off, noticing that Minako appeared to be falling asleep and that both Kasumi and Nodoka were losing focus.
“I’m sorry, dear, but I’m feeling a bit lost.†Nodoka admitted in embarrassment.
“So-- I’m not another Senshi?†Kasumi hazarded a question, wary of beginning another lecture.
“What I was trying to say-- is no, there is no specific reason why you awakened.†Ami answered without a long explanation.
“And to answer your actual question.†Artemis spoke up loudly to draw attention, one of his ears twitching. “You are not a Senshi-- and someone is coming down the hall, Mina.â€
“Oh right!†Minako fumbled with her hands to grab something in her pocket before everyone was shook by a deafening explosion that shook everything in the room.
Nodoka recoiled instinctively away from the doorway and covered her ears. When no more bombs went off, she slowly let her hands drop and straightened back up to take stock of what had happened. A deceptively small tube filled with confetti over the entrance that Minako installed, had gone off like a large cannon, and even had small streamers of brightly colored paper still stuck to the barrel.
Hovering a meter above the stone floor was the miniature Senshi Lautia with her right hand raised above her head to where a wide circular distortion in the air was hanging. “Princess Venus could you not try to assassinate Princess Saturn while you’re here?†The little guardian asked with a tiny hint of amusement in her voice before letting her hand drop and the distortion to vanish.
“Sure thing Lautia.†Minako laughed nervously and looked away sheepishly.
“I see where your loyalties lie.†Ranma bemoaned dramatically, still wearing her sailor fuku. The doorway was wide enough that her son was able to fit through flanked by both Akane and surprisingly that nice Hotaru girl from the other day. The two girls were staring up at the cannon with stunned looks.
Lautia responded to Ranma with a very quick and rude sounding remark in a foreign language. Nodoka was at a loss as to what was said but everyone save Akane suddenly looked scandalized and blushed to various degrees.
“Did that really happen?†Kasumi discreetly asked Ami, her face flushed from her own drink and what had been suggested by Lautia.
“Several times.†Minako answered the question with a suggestive wink.
“Well maybe if you didn’t act like this!†Ranma berated the little Senshi who crossed her arms and started to go into a lengthy tirade in that strange language. “My fault?!†The redhead screeched. “How is this my fault? Are you seriously going to do this now? We have guests and I’m not going to have this conversation with you in front of everyone.â€
“I guess it did.†Kasumi added when there was a gap between the two redheads arguing.
“That one only happened once.†Minako grimaced before admitting shamefully that she had helped.
“Fine!†Ranma agreed exasperatedly and the guardian nodded before vanishing in a small shower of sparkling light. “I’ll be back in a bit.†The girl rolled her eyes and stomped out of the doorway. “Try not to blow any holes in my castle till I get back, Mina.â€
Nodoka watched her child leave as soon as she had arrived and quickly decided to follow. “Excuse me-- I’m just going to make sure everything is alright.†She explained, bowing her head politely to Hotaru on the way out. “It’s nice to see you again, dear.â€
“Thank you, it’s nice to see you too, Saotome-san.†Hotaru answered her brief greeting demurely.
Nodoka paused to give Akane a concerned look. “Akane, you look as though you’ve seen a ghost, are you alright?â€
“Me? Fine, fine, just fine.†The youngest Tendo answered quickly, eyes briefly darting over to Hotaru.
“If you say so, why don’t you have a seat and meet some of Ranma’s Senshi friends and their manly cat, Artemis.†She suggested and left without waiting for a response.
“Isn’t Artemis a girl’s name?†Akane asked absently causing Minako to chortle. “And did you just say cat?!†(3)
zx
Within her office, the police superintendent general, Sakurada Natsuna spun her chair back and forth while clumsily twirling a pen between her fingers. Tiredly glancing at her desk clock, she still had two and a half hours before she would leave for the night and it already felt like forever. It was nice not having to walk a beat but paperwork was such a drag. (4)
Running a hand through some of her long dark red hair, she slammed her forehead onto her desk unceremoniously. Pulling out a small framed picture of Sailor V, she gently ran her fingers over the glass. “So boring without Sailor V around.†She groaned.
Hearing a light knock on her door before it began to swing open, she quickly straightened up and tried to look presentable. Her eyes widened at leaving the picture out and hastily put that back in her desk drawer. “Yes?†She asked sweetly as one of special officers, the blond Wakagi Toshio entered.
“I have the report on the Hanazono Apartment deaths.†He placed a plain looking manilla folder in front of her. Natsuna just stared at him without comprehension on why he would give her that report. “You said you wanted to be kept up to date on any weird incidents.â€
“Oh! Right! Well on your way then.†She waved a hand dismissively, eagerly taking the report from it’s folder to read, unconcerned with any response by the special officer.
“No decomposition?†She spread out the report across her desk, several disturbing photos mixed in had extra notes. showing victims with signs of a struggle; blunt force trauma or asphyxiation. None of those were singled out as the cause of death, instead everyone of them had died from complete organ failure, as though their entire body had simply shut down. It was too early to make a definitive analysis but the preliminary results matched the deaths associated with the current crop of monsters terrorizing several special wards of Tokyo.
Natsuna had already been trying to keep Sailor Venus up to date on these instances and would need to notified about this one. “This looks like a job for Sailor V.†She brought up her laptop and started to send Minako a notice. (5)
----
Well since I have Ranma/Minako as best buddies, I wanted to make a few references to her solo manga.
But with the superintendent being less obviously creepy.
3 - Sailor V manga reference, basically how Minako responded upon meeting Artemis for the first time.
4 - Hey look, more Sailor V stuff! In this case the huge closet Sailor V fan superintendent and one of her special officers, Wakagi Toshio. Who wasn’t much of a fan of Minako.
5 - A Superman and Gargoyles joke all in one. Which reminds me I need to work on Between Day and Night.