"And now ladies and gentlemen..." The announcer paused, getting the attention of all the students crammed in the small auditorium. "The moment you all have been waiting for. The Grand Prize winner of this year's elite Class President for the collegial category. I would like to take the opportunity to refresh your memories as to what is the Grand Prize. The winner of this year's competition will receive what he or she wishes for the most (some restrictions apply). Now I will ask the Minister of Education himself to please open the envelope and say who is our lucky winner."

You could have heard a pin drop as everyone's attention was on the envelope. The minister with great care and slow motion opened the envelope. He took the card out as slowly and looked at the answer. He facevaulted and looked at the announcer. The man looked at the card and announced:

"Ladies and gentlemen... it's a first. We don't have one winner, but three..." The crowd went "OOOOOOOHHHHH!!!" The announcer resumed. "Our lucky winners are Tendo Akane..." The announcer paused as Akane yelped and blushed. She was so shocked. Nabiki, her sister, had to push her forward to claim her prize. Somewhere in the mass of seated people, Saotome Ranma snickered.

"Lucky for her this wasn't a contest to find the cutest girl because she would never have won!"

"The second name is Yukimura Keiko!" Keiko was so happy but she maintained her dignity and also stepped forward. In the crowd, a pale blue haired girl stood up and whistles. "WAY TO GO KEIKO-CHAN!!!!" A boy next to her grumbled as he looked at her jumping up and down.

"Botan! Calm down!"

"Oh Yuusuke-kun! Aren't you happy she won?" she replied. Next to her a boy with long red hair took a rose out of his hair and threw it toward the stage. Keiko caught it and threw a small kiss at Kurama. Yuusuke noticed. Kurama turned to him with a small smile.

"Don't worry. I won't take Keiko-chan from you..." he winked.

In the shadows of the auditorium a small figure all dressed in black had watched the scene. "Humpft!" he simply muttered as he rolled his eyes.

"And now, last but not least! Yuuki Miaka!" finally announced the man.

Miaka couldn't believe it she won, she won, she won, she won, she won, she said over and over in her head as she jumped up and down and giggled as though she had just won the grand prize on the Price is Right. She rushed the other two winners and held them in the biggest bearhug she could muster. Ouch! Hey! She's pretty strong! Akane remarked to herself. Well she's rather rambunctious thought Keiko. In the audience Yui was happy her friend had won she just wished that she would have won with more dignity.

"And now the only tough part will be for them to divide the Prize!..." The announcer said. Miaka stopped jumping and all three girls looked at each other.

Several hours later in a conference room at the hotel where the contest had been held, the three girls sighed. None of them had come up with an idea which pleased them all. They had argued back and forth during this time and almost came to an agreement when Akane's sister looked at her and told her no. So the negotiations started again to the great displeasure of the sponsors and to all who respectfully waited for the girls to decide.

Along the way, Miaka got bored and while Akane and Keiko argued, she took out the latest issue of Teen Idols Manga. She flipped through the pages and stopping at one she sighed heavily. "Three Lights..." she whispered. Keiko and Akane stopped arguing, looked at the magazine, big grins spreading on their face. The three girls looked at each other and huddled. They started to whisper amongst themselves. Nabiki eavesdropped and Ranma could have sworn he saw dollar bill signs flashing in her eyes. The three girls nodded. An agreement had been reached.

"We know what we want!" announced the three girls at the same time.

The sponsor, seeing the Three Lights' pictures thought he knew exactly what the girls wanted.

"Let me guess. You girls want tickets to the big concerts of the Three Lights... Right?"

"WRONG!" they all said.

"Heh-heh! I meant Back-passes of course... you want back-passes for the concert of the Three Lights... Right?" he ventured.

"WRONG!" they repeated. Now Ranma, Yuusuke, Botan, Kurama and Yui wondered what the heck they all wanted... if tickets were not prize... What was it?"

"We wish the Three Lights could come to our school..." said Akane.

Silence....

"But you all go to different schools and there is a restriction of time when the prize is given you know..." said the sponsor.

"Yes, we know... " Started Keiko.

"Only one week!" finished Miaka. Nabiki was smiling big time.

"What the heck is she planning?" Ranma thought. He couldn't trust his future step-sister any more than he trusted the weather report.

"Okay..." the sponsor said, "...it can be arranged. Since it's seven days we can split the time between you girls and..."

"Huh?" the three girls said. "Split?..."

Nabiki stepped up to the sponsor. "You fail to see the big picture here, sir... How many girls are there here?"

"Three..." the man answered.

"How many Lights are there?"

"Three..." the man beamed. "You mean..."

"Yes. Why divide the time when each girl can have one Light for one week..."

Akane, Keiko and Miaka agreed they would have a ballot and see who would get which of the Three Lights. The sponsor prepared the paper while Nabiki watched him to make sure the guy wasn't trying anything funny. He placed the three papers in a big empty fishbowl and he shooked it a couple of times to make sure no one knew which paper held what name. He put the bowl on the table and each girl took one.

They all looked at their paper at the same time and beamed.

"Oh! My favorite!... Really!... Who'd you pick?" they all said at the same time.

Akane was first "Seiya Kou!" she announced. Ranma could hear Nabiki saying, "Yes, yes, YES!"

Keiko was second. "Yaten Kou!" Botan yelled and fainted. Yuusuke could have sworn he saw Kurama blush slightly...

Yui blushed. "Oh my god, Miaka that means you have..." Miaka beamed "Taiki Kou!"

"Now that everyone is happy, all we have to do now is make arrangement for their stay and..."

Nabiki interrupted the sponsor. "You don't have to make plans for Seiya-san sir! We have a big house. He can stay with us... as long as you pay for his room and board..."

"Very well..." said the man, thinking it would cost him less than a hotel room.

He didn't know Nabiki but he was about to... thought Ranma. So that's what she had planned... Hey waiaminute! There are no rooms left at the house... the only ones using the guest room are...Me and Pop!

Ranma looked at Nabiki, who looked back at him with the "don't say a word or I'll blackmail you..." look.

"YAAAAWWWNNN!!!"

"Please, Yaten... Put your hand before your mouth when you yawn..." said Taiki as he ate breakfast and read the newspaper.

"How can you tell? You always have that newspaper blocking my face..." grumbled Yaten as he took the Lucky Charms cereal box and emptied some of it in his bowl. He let out a snarl of frustration. "Grrr, who took all the marshmallows again?"

"Don't look at me!" said Taiki flipping through the news.

"How could I?" He rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "What am I going to eat now... that thing is tasteless without the marshmallows..."

"Frankly, Yaten I don't know why you eat that stuff, the box it comes with has more nutritional value..." Taiki replied.

"Yes, Mr. Granola..." grumbled Yaten. Just then the door slammed shut. Seiya came in the room still jogging.

"Ah! Seiya how was your jogging with Mamoru-san..." asked Taiki.

"Healthy! I can smell him from here..." said Yaten pinching his nose.

Seiya ignored him and took his sweaty T-shirt off. "Fun! You know we have a lot of tastes in common..."

"Yeah... like your taste in women..." Yaten said as he rummaged through the cupboards trying to find breakfast. Seiya threw his soiled T-shirt on him.

"Yearck! Get that thing offa me. I don't wanna go to school smelling like you!" disgusted he kicked the garment away. Seiya dashed to the showers.

"Yo! Yaten, would you mind fixing me a breakfast drink?... Thanks!" He said as he closed the door to the bathroom.

"What am I, a maid?... Might as well fix me one of those if I want to eat breakfast..." he sighed.

While he did that, a funny looking smile traced itself on his features. He listened to the water running and Seiya singing in the shower. After a small hesitation, he opened the hot water faucet to the maximum. He chuckled when he heard Seiya yell at the cold water. Taiki dropped the newspaper and looked at Yaten like a father would look at a mischievous child. Yaten chuckled "Gomen, gomen..." and closed the faucet. He started to drink breakfast when the phone rang.

Not even looking up from the newspaper, Taiki said. "It's for you..."

Yaten sighed. Not again! He thought. "Moshi-moshi Minako-chan..." He paused as he listened to her.

"No... It's because YOU'RE the ONLY one who calls us this early..." he replied.

"...no... We were having breakfast... what?... hang... hang on a sec. willya?" He put his hand over the receiver. "Yo! Taiki! Switch the TV on... on channel 7 Minako-chan said they're going to talk about us... because of a contest..." He spoke back to the phone. "Okay... thanks... yeah... yeah... see ya at school... y...y... ok BYE!" he hung up. "I swear this girl is a real motormouth..."

Seiya angrily got out of the shower and started to yell at Yaten when Taiki shushed both of them. The reporter on TV said Three Lights so they both shut up and listened.

"Ohayo Gosaimasu and welcome to the news of Channel 7... In the entertainment news this morning, 'Weird happenings for the Three Lights'. Last night was the annual competition of College Class Presidents and for the first time there was a tie for first place. Three young ladies won and since the contest prize was what they wished for... They all wished that the Three Lights go to their school for one week. The young ladies agreed to the terms that they would each get one of the Lights to accompany her to school for one week. We do not know yet which Lights will go to which school. It will be announced in a Press conference this afternoon at 4:00 p.m... We will keep you posted. An earthquake shook the northern prov..." Taiki turned the TV off. Seiya and Yaten both had the same expression of disbelief.

"They can't do that now, can they?" said Seiya.

"Of course, they can't!" Yaten was so outraged he threw his glass against a wall. Taiki ducked the projectile and took out their contract and examined it. "I don't remember signing up for such a thing. They can't make us do it... Right Taiki!" Taiki frowned at the contract and took out a magnifying glass. On both Seiya and Yaten's head a huge sweatdrop formed.

"Right... right Taiki?!" Yaten asked getting nervous.

Taiki sighed "Have any of you read the fine print?" Both Seiya and Yaten facevaulted.

"What fine print?" they shouted.

"This one..." and for sure, there it was the proverbial loophole which permitted their sponsor to do such a thing.

The noon bell rang at Jyuuban College and the students got out of class to eat lunch outside. Somewhere in the schoolyard a group formed of the Three Lights and of all the senshi that went to Jyuuban...

"Hey, you guys really got a rotten deal..." said Makoto.

All the senshi, even Michiru and Haruka, nodded to that. Minako beamed as she presented Yaten with a bento box.

"Here, Yaten-kun... I made a special curry to cheer you up..." she presented the box with her best smile.

"Argghhh...." cringed Yaten softly. He was about to refuse the offer when an idea struck him. "Oh Arigato, Minako-chan... You shouldn't have..." Taiki and Seiya looked at Yaten suspiciously. "... But of course I'll be happy to eat..." Taiki and Seiya nodded and took the bento box from Yaten.

"Oh, no! You don't, short stuff!" said Seiya giving the bento box back to Minako, who didn't understand what was going on.

"You're not getting away from this situation by making yourself sick..." said Taiki sternly.

"...Busted!" whispered Yaten. Minako was angry.

"Are you telling me my curry would make Yaten-kun sick?... " She looked Taiki straight in the eyes.

"Ara... Minako-chan... ah! No, of course not!" He lied, sweating. He looked for support but all present just looked at the spectacle of the tall Taiki cringing from the gaze of the smaller Minako.

"I'll prove it to you!" She opened the bento box and taking a spoon she dug right in and put a big spoonful in her mouth. She chewed a couple of times and turned a lively green color as she choked at her own food. She excused herself and ran toward the school restrooms.

Just as everyone was recovering from the incident, a courier arrived and gave each of the Lights a letter.

"Oh, boy! This must be where we must be going..." Said Seiya, as he tore the envelope. He read the letter and facevaulted. "Nerima! What the heck am I going to do in Nerima?..."

"...You mean besides making an ass of yourself?" chuckled Yaten but his chuckle dies in his throat when he read his own letter. "Oh no!... anything but that..."

"What's your problem?" asked Seiya.

"Sarayashiki... I'm going to Sarayashiki College..." Yaten was pale. All the girls facevaulted. Haruka chuckled.

"Looks like someone is going to have his little butt kicked around..."

"Come on! It can't be that bad..." said Seiya.

"It is... I used to go there and I got into lots of fights with the boys over there..." said Makoto. "And let's just say I didn't win all the time..." The boys shuddered. Makoto could easily battle any thugs even when she wasn't Sailor Jupiter. But for her to admit she got sometimes beaten up... really scared Yaten.

"I don't wanna goooo!" whined Yaten.

"Well, I got a nice little college not too far from here so Ami-chan and I could still..." he stopped. "Ah! No! I have to stay there 24 hours a day!!!! Gomen Ami-chan we will have to go to the Planetarium another week..."

"Ah Nooo! Stephen Hawkins-sama was going to do a lecture..." she pouted. Taiki smiled and gave her his tickets.

"Here, Ami-chan, you go and why don't you take..." he scanned his friends and realized none of them would be interested in astrophysics. "Aaaah... anybody you think would like to go with you..." he added diplomatically.

They all settled back to eat lunch. Only Yaten seemed to have lost his appetite.

"I don't wanna goooo...." Yaten repeated.

"What's the matter Yaten?.... Yaten kowaiiiiiiii!!!!" Taiki said imitating Minako. Everybody laughed. Even Usagi got it... eventually all except Yaten.

Ranma woke up grumbling. The futon he had slept on last night was an old thing, only good to be thrown into the garbage. It was cold in the dojo, so cold his pop had slept as a panda. Ranma couldn't change into something warmer so he has shivered all night. He and his father had to sleep in the dojo because the almighty Seiya Kou was coming over that very evening and the girls kicked them out to clean the guestroom.

"I haven't met the guy and already I hate his guts... This week is going to be hell..." sighted Ranma. Already the girls at school were going crazy wondering what they would wear when their idol would be around.

"Women... hah! They can't wear anything else at school but their school uniform... Baka... just like that Kawaiikune Akane... who redecorated the house for him. Feh! What a waste of time..." He ducked just in time. Akane had rushed him with one of her extra large mallets which crashed loudly in the floor.

"Who's a kawaiikune?" she asked red with fury.

"We all know you are..." replied Ranma, ducking yet another blow.

"You're lucky I'm going easy..." she said. "I don't want to break anything before Seiya-kun arrives..."

"You haven't met the guy and already you're using his first name! Aren't you a little too fast in using his first name?" Akane stopped chasing and blushed. Ranma couldn't believe it.

"For all we know he might be a stuck-up, boring, overbearing hentai..." said Ranma.

Akane has a sly smile. "We all know you are..." she replied. Behind her, Genma the panda held up a sign. "YEAH! WHAT IS WRONG, SON, JEALOUS?" Ranma walked up to his father and bashed him with his own sign.

"You stay out of this if kawaiikune Akane wants to look like a fool with her prissy teen idol, then why should I care..." Bonk! Akane connected and sent Ranma flying into the koi pond. A very wet and angered Ranma-chan surfaced as Soun got out of the house.

"Ah, Ranma my boy! I see you are bright and early today..."

"It's all because of that macho chick, built like a stick, kawaiikune daughter of yours..." said Ranma-chan hotly.

"RRRRRRRRAAAANMMMAAAA!!!!!" growled Akane.

"CHOTTO MATTE KUDASAI!" said a voice that commended so much authority that they froze. They all looked to who had talked when they facevaulted. It was sweet and meek Kasumi.

"Now, Ranma, I will ask you to not EVER change into a woman and make a spectacle of yourself in front of Kou-sama. And I also want you to behave while we have a guest in the house. If by sheer unluckiness you get splashed with cold water, I do not want you in the house... AM I MAKING MYSELF CLEAR?"

Ranma-chan was so stunned by Kasumi's outbreak that she only replied. "Hai!"

"And you, Akane, I don't want you to run around the house with that mallet of yours for the duration of our guest's stay. You will both stop your bickering and behave for the entire week or else you WILL have to answer to me... Is that CLEAR?"

Akane was equally stunned. "H-Hai!"

"Now you will have to fend for yourselves for breakfast this morning because I still have to plan and devise tonight's feast for our guest... I want you to start behaving now because I will not repeat myself..." with that she turned and headed back to her kitchen. The rest of the morning went rather calmly as each of them did their chores so that everything would be ready for Seiya's arrival.

Soun and Genma were also silent for most of the day but then the kids went away to get Seiya at the train station. Both fathers agreed they would devise a plan to make Ranma jealous. They would encourage Akane to be with Seiya-san all the time. Ranma, being the impetuous man he was, would have no choice but to profess his love to Akane out of jealousy and then, WHAM! they would rush them to the altar to get them married. The two men started to cry of pride at the genius of their plan. 'Operation Seiya to Akane. The art of making Ranma jealous 'was well underway.

"Where's the squirt?" asked Seiya as he zipped his duffel bag and arranged the strap on his shoulder.

"Would you believe he went with Mako-chan to her karate class..." replied Taiki.

"You mean he's actually scared enough to learn karate..." asked Seiya incredulous.

"Yes, and don't worry. I had Haruka-san and Mako-chan make sure he comes home safely..." chuckled Taiki.

"I've never seen him act that way... do you think he's overreacting?" asked Seiya. Taiki was about to respond, when the doorbell rang.

"Ha? Who might that be?" wondered Seiya. He opened the door and there stood Usagi and Mamoru. "What? What are you guys doing here?"

"We've come to see you off, Seiya!" beamed Usagi.

"I'm glad you came, but didn't you have something already planned for this afternoon?" asked Seiya. |

"We wanted to see that new DeCaprio movie but we figured the lines would too long so we called Taiki and here we are..." answered Mamoru.

"Ha! I hate to be a partypooper but we have to get going if you want to take the train to Nerima on time... You guys want to ride along in the van?" asked Taiki.

Mamoru and Usagi nodded and they helped Seiya with his bags. They arrived shortly at the train station and Seiya boarded his train, but not before Usagi made him promise to bring her something back from Nerima. He took a seat aboard the train and waved to his friends and soon the train started to move.

He arrived soon enough in Nerima. As he got off and he was wondering how he would recognize the people that would give him shelter at their home, he did a double take. He saw a very huge sign "Welcome Seiya Kou! from the Tendo Household" with waving fans. So much for incognito, thought Seiya, as he heard young ladies screaming his name. Oh well... I guess trying to hide would be out of the question now. So he put up his best smile and got out of the train. He wasn't all the way out when he felt a lot of hands grabbing him. He even felt a few quick kisses mostly on the cheek followed by "Haaaa he kissed me" and "Aaaaa, he touched me...." Seiya was quickly getting overwhelmed when he almost got hit by a humongous mallet. He then saw a cute short haired girl swinging the mallet wildly as the girls around him scattered.

"You, girl! He's coming with us... in one piece if that's not too much to ask..."

"There she goes again... macho chick... She's lucky she didn't hit him..." remarked Ranma, his arms folded on his chest. A bike appeared next to him.

"Hai... Akane always violent girl" said a purple haired girl with a really high pitched voice.

"Sh-shampoo? What are you doing here?" asked Ranma while the purple girl hugged him so tight he actually was lifted off the ground.

"Shampoo heard big noise... so Shampoo came see... Ranma happy see Shampoo..."

Yeah happy like a guy who goes to the dentist for a root canal... he thought. He explained that they had come there to greet some idol singer because he was going to stay with them for a week. Trying desperately to get the Chinese Amazon girl off him before Akane would notice and bash him on the head. Shampoo turned her head to look in the direction Ranma was talking about.

"Ranma, wo ai.... WO!" She instantly let go of Ranma who fell flat on his face. She looked at Seiya with longing. "Ohh he beautiful..."

Oh great! Another one that goes gaga... he smiled. Well, maybe I'm going to get some peace and quiet for a while.

Akane, seeing Seiya's bewildered face, stopped swinging her mallet, quickly hid it behind her back (for all the good that did) and blushed.

"You must be Tendo Akane... Pleased to meet you" said Seiya.

Ranma, hearing the conversation said to himself... what? He already heard of her macho chick reputation? He was still flat on his stomach as he thought that.

Akane blushed even harder. "Hai, I am, Kou-san. Sorry about that..."

"Please, Tendo-san, call me Seiya... We are going to be together for the week after all..." Seiya replied flashing his most charming smile.

"Of course K-... Seiya-san..." she blushed even deeper. Oh brother! thought Ranma. Now she's giving him the cute and innocent act, just like Dr. Tofu.

"As for the mallet swinging..." he smiled again. "Maybe I should call on you sometimes to be my bodyguard."

"Akane the bodyguard BWahahahahahahaha! NOW that's rich!" laughed Ranma out loud.

"Boy, are you ever in trouble..." said Nabiki. Ranma gasped. He realized he said that out loud. He looked at Akane who was purple with rage. He cringed, oh boy is that going to hurt, he thought.

He waited, but the blow never came. He heard her laugh instead. "Hahahahaha! Ranma you're such a 'Kidder'! He lives with us at the Dojo..." she stressed out the word kidder.

Seiya meanwhile had walked up to Ranma and offered his hand to help him up. Ranma realized he was still lying on the ground. Ranma simply took the hand and let Seiya help me up. He was impressed the guy did have some strength.

"Nice to meet you, Ranma-san!" Seiya gave him a hearty handshake then bowed.

"Uh. Nice to meet you too, Kou!" Ranma returned the bow.

"Ah, please call me Seiya... The other two lights are called Kou, too, so we like to use our first names..." replied Seiya.

Akane then introduced Seiya to her sister Nabiki and Katsumi. She reluctantly introduced Shampoo. Well what do you know, thought Ranma, he's not a snob after all. Hey, maybe this won't be too bad.

"Excuse me, could you tell me where the Nerima district is?" asked a boy with a yellow shirt, black pants and a yellow and black bandana.

"Sure, you just go that way... you can't miss it, it's straight ahead..." replied the old lady.

"Domo Arigato gozaimasu..." he said as he watched the old lady walk away. He took out a jar from his backpack. "Now Saotome you will rue the day you humiliated me..."and he headed in the opposite direction the woman gave him.

The alarm clock ran in a loft in Tokyo. Under the covers someone grumbled and reached to the clock and stopped the infernal ringing. The arm crawled right back under the warm blankets. The body heaved into a sigh then was still.

Several minutes later, Taiki came into Yaten's room. Sighing heavily, he sat on the bed and nudged him until he got a response.

"Come on, wake up, Yaten.... You can't be late to go to your new school." said Taiki. A muffled answer came back.

" Yougnagnagnagnagnagna to your new school..."

"And good morning to you too, Yaten!" Taiki replied sarcastically. He nudged Yaten again but this time roughlier.

"Okay, okay, okay... I'm up!" grumbled Yaten. His head peeked from under the covers. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to go to Sarayashiki College. Jyuuban was a nice college, his friends were there. Sarayashiki was the college from hell; rival gang members skirmished daily and frankly he didn't want anything to do with it. But he was stuck, he had no choice and having no choice made Yaten a very cranky guy. He threw off his covers and scratched his head. He started to stretch, when he winced in pain.

"Ouch! I'm all sore..." he complained.

"Mako-chan and Haruka-san did warn you to take it easy, but did you listen?... NoOoOoO..." Said Taiki.

"I don't need a lecture. I need painkillers..." whined Yaten.

"You'll survive... Come on get out of bed and get dressed. You wouldn't want to be late..." replied Taiki.

"I think you're mixing me up with someone who cares..." Yaten sneered.

"Come on. It's only for a week... it'll be over before you know it..." Taiki got up and headed to his own room to get ready.

"I wish it would be over already..." Yaten resigned himself and headed for the bathroom to get a shower.

Taiki dropped Yaten off at the gate of Sarayashiki College. Drat! I'm too early. What am I supposed to do to kill time around here. Then Yaten heard a pitpat next to him. It was Luna.

"Ah? L-Luna? What are you doing here?" asked Yaten squatting down to pick her up. She jumped in his arms.

"Ara... Usagi-chan wanted me to make sure you got to school all right..." she blushed slightly.

"I'm here... Aren't I? You should have more faith in me, Luna..." Yaten said as he scratched her throat gently. Luna's only response was to purr.

"Myiiiiiiiiii!" Both Yaten and Luna turned their head to see where that kitten cried out. He and Luna gasped when they saw three boys playing wishbone with some poor little cat.

"Poor little fella. How could they...? Yaten-kun?" Luna stopped talking and looked up to Yaten who was growling. He let put Luna down and started to run in the direction of the bullies. Luna wanted to cry out for him to stop but students were coming in the schoolyard. She couldn't talk so she ran after him meowing to get his attention.

"Well, I hope this guy isn't too much of a stuck-up..." said Kurabara. "Or else I'll put him in his place..."

"Haven't you promised Yukina-chan that you would protect him from the bullies..." asked Kurama. "She won't be pleased if she learns that..."

Kuwabara facevaulted. "You wouldn't dare tell her?... I didn't mean it... honest...".

Kurama laughed softly Kuwabara was so obvious when it came to Yukina. Up ahead Keiko fumed.

"Hurry up, you guys! We've got to be there before Yaten Kou arrives. You heard those jerks yesterday. They said they would rearrange his face because most of those guys girlfriend's had a crush on him..."

Yuusuke yawned; it was too damn early for him. "What are we, bodyguards?" Keiko frowned. They were almost at the school gates when they heard Yaten say, "You leave that cat alone... Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

Keiko, Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama said "Uh-oh!" They heard a cat screech and spit as it was thrown over the school fence. They heard a cackle.

"Oh... you mean like you?" one of boys said. Me and my big mouth, thought Yaten.

"Come on, get him!" The four boys rushed Yaten from all sides and since a group had formed behind him, Yaten had no choice but to stand his ground. He dodged the first punches but he ran out of places to dodge to and got hit in the stomach. Luckily for him, it only grazed him so his wind wasn't cut off. He swung and landed an uppercut under one of his assailants knocking him out. Yaten felt a sharp pain on the back of his neck as he realized that having a ponytail wasn't such a great idea when you are in a fight. Two guys, as the third punched Yaten in the stomach, quickly overwhelmed him; he fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

One of the guys made him stand up again by pulling him by the ponytail. "Now how about we rearrange that cute face of yours?"

"I think you'd better not..." said a voice behind them.

"... Or you'll have to answer to us." Another voice said.

"U-Urameshi-kun!... K-Kuwabara-kun..." The guys let go of Yaten who slumped back to his knees. Keiko and Kurama went to help him. Kurama told Yaten to take slow steady breaths. Yaten tried to do this but he felt the content of his stomach had other ideas. "I-I'm going to be sick..." he croaked. Keiko and Kurama grabbed him and helped him to the restroom.

Meanwhile, Yuusuke and Kuwabara were busy teaching proper welcoming etiquette to the bullies that attacked Yaten. They made them promise and therefore set an example that if someone else would try a stunt like that, Yuusuke and Kuwabara would beat the crap out of them. Feeling they made their point clear, they joined their friends in the boys' restroom.

Yaten was splashing water on his face when he saw blood in the water. He looked at his face to see if the blood came from there. He sighed... no injuries on his face. Then he looked at the hand he punched the guy with. His skin had split on his knuckles and he was bleeding a lot. Keiko also noticed and told the others they should go to the infirmary.

Taiki's day at Miaka's College was nice. The other students were very polite and easygoing with him. Of course he had a pack of girls following him around but he expected that. After all, it would only be for a week and he would go back to Jyuuban where people didn't follow him as much any more.

Taiki was happily talking away with Yui and Miaka, when they passed the old library. Taiki paused and asked the two girls if they would mind if they did a quick stop at the library. The girls didn't mind.

Upon entering the library, someone asked Yui to help her with a science project. She excused herself and went with the girl. Taiki went in the poetry section of the library while Miaka rushed to see if the library had any new Manga. After a quick unfruitful search, Taiki sighed. He wanted to find a new poetry book so he could send Ami a few poems while he was gone. Unfortunately, they had the same books as in Jyuuban, so he started to roam in the different sections. Then he saw Miaka, but she was dressed in an old Chinese costume. Intrigued, Taiki moved closer. Miaka saw him and beckoned him to follow her. She took a stairway and opened a door at the top of the steps. Taiki, who had tried to talk to her, still followed at a few pace's distance.

Yui met Miaka in the Manga section and asked her where Taiki was.

"He's in the poetry section just there..." she replied; only Taiki wasn't there anymore. Both girls looked at each other and started to look for him. They couldn't find him anywhere.

"You don't think?..." said Miaka.

"Let's not take any chances and see if he is there..." Both girls started to run toward an all too familiar stairway.

Meanwhile, Taiki had come into the room and was surprised to see it empty. Miaka had indeed disappeared. But Taiki didn't delve on that very long when he saw all the old books in front of him. Feeling like a kid in an unattended candy store, Taiki looked at the titles. Most of them were very old books, probably donations, and mostly in Chinese. He looked at one promising title which roughly translated into "The story of the four Celestial gods". He tried to take the book, but for some odd reason it was stuck there. Fearing he might break the book, Taiki decided to check another one. There was a smaller book next to it and it looked like a poetry book. Taiki took it and it easily slid off. After dusting it, he read the cover title, "The love of Suzaku no Miko's headmaiden." it looked like an old epic poem. Without hesitation he opened the book and started to read.

"This is a story of love... of love that has spanned over countless centuries. Of lovers fated to be rejoined lifetime after lifetime. And of the futile attempt Chaos has of spoiling this Love..." Chaos?... Taiki thought I wonder if...

Just then Yui and Miaka entered the room and cried out. "Matte! Don't read anything..." But it was too late. Already Taiki's body began to glow. He disappeared, leaving only the book falling on the carpeted floor....

"So, Akane-san... which class is next?" asked Seiya as he got up from his chair when the bell rang.

"Physical Education... but you don't have to attend if you don't want to... since you're a guest here. The principal doesn't want you to be injured..."

"What? Miss Phys. Ed.? You got the wrong Light..." he laughed softly. "It's what I like most at school... I wondering if maybe I could do some football..."

"Football?... what are you, a glutton for punishment?" asked Ranma. He ignored Akane's enraged features. She wouldn't dare do anything in front of her precious Seiya, thought Ranma. "No, around here we play Japan's national sport: baseball!"

"I like baseball, too... Uhm, where do we change?" asked Seiya.

"Just follow me, Seiya-kun..." said Akane. Ranma grabbed her.

"Just where do you think you're going? The BOYS' Locker room? Miss Hentai..." Akane blushed.

"No, of course not. I was just showing him the way TO the Boys' locker room..." she replied.

Ranma shrugged. "Don't sweat it. I'm going there, remember? I'll show him the locker room..."

"Ha ha... yes, of course! See you at class, Seiya-kun..." she herself headed to the girl's locker room. Seiya waved Akane goodbye.

Ranma sighed as they walked to the locker room. "Seiya... Aren't you like tired of having all those girls chasing after you? Like that doofus Akane?"

"Well, I don't think so. I think Akane-san is a sweet girl..." started Seiya.

"Akane... a sweet girl... That kawaiikune tomboy? Give me a break! You don't know her as I do..." replied Ranma.

"From the rumors I heard, I guess you two are really engaged, then?" asked Seiya.

"Who told you that?" fumed Ranma.

"I've heard it around... also heard your parents had the whole thing planned..." added Seiya.

"Well you heard right! My baka pop and Tendo-san arranged our marriage when we were kids. We didn't even decide for ourselves. That started us on the bad foot ever since we've met. Who could have parents stupid enough to arrange their children's marriage without telling them first..." Ranma opened the door to the locker room and gestured Seiya to get inside.

"Hum... a least your parents did this because they cared about you..." Seiya whispered lowly. Ranma caught it, even if it wasn't meant for him to hear. Huh? What was that all about he thought.

Akane and the other girls from her class were changing in their locker room, when they heard an evil crackle. I know that laugh, thought Akane, trying desperately to find her top and to put it on as soon as she could.

"COME TO ME MY LOVELIES!!!!!! COME TO PAPA HAPOSAI!!!!" the small figure leaped high in the air and as it descended back into the girls. He groped them as he passed. The girls started to shreik in terror as the small, yet dirty old man went from girl to girl like a bee would on flowers.

Seiya and Ranma had just finished changing when they heard the commotion. Hearing Happosai cackle Ranma knew the perverted old man had yet again slipped into the girl's locker room. He turned to Seiya.

"You stay here. I'll handle this..."

"Demo..." it was all Seiya could say before Ranma disappeared into the corridor. The other guys in the locker room had weird looks on their faces.

"It's that hentai demon Happosai hitting the girls locker room again..."

Demon? thought Seiya, uh-oh maybe I should check it out... Seiya tried to tiptoe out of the locker room to transform.

"Yeah and Ranma went there to stop him... anybody got a bucket of cold water..." asked one of the guys.

"I do... and, guys, maybe we'll get real lucky and see 'You know who' naked..." one of the guys replied, brandishing his bucket. The others looked at him with Hentai grins and they all rushed out of the locker room, leaving Seiya alone and with a huge sweatdrop on the side of his head. What was that all about?... he thought. Oh never mind!

"Fighter Star Power Make up!" Fighter appeared and she slipped outside by using one of the windows.

Meanwhile, Ranma was battling Happosai in the girl's locker room trying to dodge the old fossil's attacks and those of the screaming girls. Ranma was having the upper hand on Happosai when he felt cold water hit him. Oh no, not now, she thought as she transformed into a woman. Happosai's eyes lit up and he jumped forward and latched himself to Ranma-chan's chest.

"Gyaaaahhhh!!!! Get away from me, you pervert!" yelled Ranma-chan. She hit Happosai and drove him a few feet underground. Then she heard someone snapping his fingers.

"Penetrating the darkness of night, I am one of the three sacred shooting stars... Sailor Star Fighter... is here!" Ranma-chan lifted her head toward the voice and was surprised to see the woman standing in the tree.

"Uh, listen lady... whoever you are... I really think that getup of yours is not really recommended when battling with a hentai like Happosai..." and just as she finished uttering those words, the ground shook and Happosai leaped out at Fighter.

"PRETTY LAAADY, PRETTY LAAADY!!!!" and before she had time to say Star Serious Laser. Happosai was groping her leaving no spot on her untouched. Fighter blushed seriously and tried to hit the slippery little man who just dodged all of her attacks.

"Gyaaaaaa!!!!! Stand still you PERVERT!!!!" Fighter yelled. She felt the old man on her back.

"You look flushed my dear... let Happosai make you feel better..." he cackled. Growling, Fighter grabbed the old man and yanked him off her back. She heard the crowd of boys gasp... then she felt a draft. She saw in the horizon the old man gleefully laughing, holding on to something black. Then it hit her. She looked down and she realized her top was missing. Looking down, she also saw all the boys of Furikan High with major nose bleeds. She did a doubletake and immediately covered herself with her arms. She heard a disapproving grumble in the crowd.

"Give that back, Happosai!" yelled Ranma-chan, as she hit the old man in the back. Happosai let go of the garment and the top landed on Upperclassman Kuno's head.

"Ha! This is an omen of this blackhaired goddess. The heavens have given me a sign... Hold on, my Love! I will save thee from this humiliating fate..." Wiping his nose of blood with his sleeve, he took the stolen top and took out his wooden katana. He leaped and charged at Happosai. With the combined efforts of Kuno, Ranma and a blast of Star Serious Laser from Fighter, they succeeded in hurling Happosai into a small orbit. When he comes down... he's going to be far away and incapacitated for a while... peace at last... thought Ranma-chan. In the corner of her eyes she saw Fighter coming towards them.

"Ah, my Love! Come into my arms for I have defeated the demon which harassed thee..." Kuno said, Fighter frowned. How many perverts were there anyway? she thought. She gracefully landed on top of his head and kicking, she leap off trying to find refuge on the roof. That sent Kuno face's flying into the ground, knocking him unconscious. Ranma took the black top from his hand and leap after Fighter.

Fighter was so outraged, she was shaking. "I have battled with Galaxia, Sailor Animates and Sailor Farces and THIS NEVER happened to me... this is so humiliating!" She punched the chimney on the top of the school.

"Yeah, well, life's tough..." said Ranma-chan. Fighter turned around and gasped. The girl was just behind her she hadn't heard her come to the roof... That girl is good, she thought. Ranma-chan extended her arm toward her and gave her back her top.

"Here... I believe this is yours?"

"A-Arigato..." she took her top and the girl leaped up again and disappeared from view.

"Well, see you later. I have to go to class now!" she called back.

"The class! Shoot, I've got to untransform and hurry there..." cursed Fighter as she rushed to put back her top. From the roof, she saw the baseball field. There was a clusters of trees behind it so she leaped from the roof to the woods. Once there, she transformed back into Seiya and sat down on a bench. A very wet Ranma came running to the baseball diamond.

"Uh? Seiya? You're here already?" he asked.

"Well, the other guys went away so I decided to come here and wait for the class to start... How come you're all wet?" Seiya puzzled.

"Uh... Some guy pushed me in the pool..." Ranma said quickly. He was relieved to see the rest of the class coming with the teacher. He waved to Akane, trying to stop all other gossip with Seiya. Unknown to him, Seiya also was relieved.

Yaten took a sharp breath as the doctor of the clinic adjacent to Sarayashiki College was stitching up his hand. Kurama was with him. The others had a test this morning and Kuwabara and Yuusuke couldn't possibly miss it. Kurama's class already took their test so he was excused to accompany Yaten to the clinic. Before they felt him with Yaten, Kuwabara had whispered something to his ear.

"Check him out, will you... that guys is throwing up such an aura he looks like he just got out of a Tchernobil spirit world..." Kuwabara was very sensitive to auras and after a few moments of concentration, Kurama felt what Kuwabara had hinted about. Yaten's body positively glowed with energy but it wasn't demonic in nature, quite the contrary... If he would have known better, Kurama would have sworn Yaten was an angel. But he knew better, this wasn't a seraphim... no something different. But what?

The doctor finished stitching his hand and gave Yaten a couple of prescriptions for the pain and some antibiotics, just to be on the safe side. Yaten grumbled out loud.

"I haven't even stepped inside, and already I've got stitches..."

"The school is tough, but don't worry. Now that Kuwabara and Yuusuke-kun 'talked' to them... I don't think anybody else at school will lift a finger against you..." Kurama told him.

"Should that make me less worried?..." sneered Yaten. Nope, definitely not an angel, thought Kurama, smiling. Yaten raised an eyebrow, what's his problem? he thought. The doctor spoke up:

"Young man, you'd better cool off for the rest of the day and don't get into any more trouble. Your stitches should hold, but don't do anything to make them open again..."

"Yeah, yeah... whatever!" Yaten took the prescription and left the doctor's office with Kurama. In the waiting room he saw the four guys that attacked him. All of them were in a sorry state. Yaten was scared the guys would pounce on him but they didn't look at him. He only felt Kurama's hand take his and escorting him to the pharmacy. Yaten was up to the counter when he realized Kurama still held his hand. He angrily swatted Kurama's hand back.

"Hey! What's the big idea?" spat Yaten. "I'm not a baby, you know..."

"I can see that now... Oh, I'm so sorry!" Kurama said calmly with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Oh great! I'm stuck with Mr. Smart-Alec... what else could go wrong? as he thought that Kurama started to laugh. Yaten looked at him with wide eyes.

"Don't tell me you read minds?" asked Yaten nervously.

"I don't have to... Your face is quite an open book." The pharmacist came to them and took the prescription. Since Yaten didn't have a folder there he had some papers to fill in. As he wrote, he felt Kurama's gaze on him... he tried to ignore it but it made him feel uncomfortable. Finally he turned to Kurama and said:

"What is it? Why do you keep staring at me?..." He spat.

Kurama looked away when Yaten looked at him directly into his eyes. "I- I was just reflecting on how we have the same eye color..." He looked back at Yaten who for the first time realized that Kurama also had green eyes.

"Yeah, we have the same eye color... so what?" Yaten returned his attention to the forms he was filling out. He ignored Kurama and finally finished. The pharmacist took the forms and gave Yaten his prescriptions. He said the doctor had left instructions for him to take them right away. Taking the glass of water, he swallowed the water and his pills and exited still followed by Kurama.

Yaten was walking in front of Kurama when he suddenly stopped, his head jerking to a nearby tree, his eyes peering into the darkness there. This startled Kurama who looked in the direction Yaten faced. Kurama could fell Hiei's presence. Impossible! He thought, how can he sense Hiei? Thinking fast, Kurama didn't slow down and bumped into Yaten on purpose.

Yaten turned angrily. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" Hiei, sensing the opportunity Kurama just gave him, jumped away from the scene to watch secretly elsewhere. Kurama looked at Yaten giving him the same angered look.

"Well, why don't you watch where you're going?"

"Make me!" Yaten and Kurama squared off in a match of locking gazes. The two pairs of emerald eyes looked at each other defiantly. Yaten started to feel uncomfortable. His heart started to pound in his chest, but he held on. I'm not backing off, he told himself. But his resolve soon resorbed. He couldn't look at Kurama any more. He could feel the other's eye entering his mind, his soul. Yaten panicked and looked away. He didn't realize Kurama had the same reactions he did.

"I... They're going to wonder where we went we... we'd better go..." Yaten barely said it that he was running toward Sarashiki College. Shimata, he cursed himself, I let him get to me... Baka, baka, baka! That was stupid, Yaten. He's... he's just a College kid... you've battled greater foes than this without flinching... but you couldn't keep out the stare of a teenage... boy. He ran faster. He had to get away from him. He couldn't let him see how it had affected him because he didn't understand himself.

Kurama stood there surprised at Yaten's and his own reaction. His cheeks were burning and he knew they must be a shade redder now. His heart calmed down as he looked at Yaten running away from him. He was startled when Hiei came to stand beside him.

"What's wrong with him?" Hiei quietly asked. Kurama collected himself and shrugged for Hiei's benefit.

"I-I don't know..." He tried to say that nonchalantly but he wondered if Hiei saw the slight nervousness in his voice. If he did, Hiei didn't show it, his face devoid of emotion as always. "Did you have time to look at him through the Jagan?"

"Nope, he startled me... He's good, almost saw me." Hiei replied.

"I see... and since he's now in the college you can't scan him there, too much interferance..." added Kurama.

"Yes... Like Kuwabara said this guy is a walking battery... We'd better keep an eye on him... Try to get him to go to Kuwabara's place after school... I should be able to use the Jagan on him there..." Hiei jumped away as he finished, leaving Kurama alone. No longer sensing the korome, Kurama walked to the college deep in thought.

Masaka... he told himself. His eyes... I must have seen things. It's impossible... His eyes... for a moment they looked like a woman's eyes..."

In a dark corner, a shadowy creature had watched the whole thing. It chuckled. Master will be pleased. I have found a powerful soulseed for him and a way to get his revenge on Koenma. By taking out his little group of mortals and traitors to the dark realm. As Yaten passed by, the creature disappeared.

"Yui-chan! What are we going to do?" said Miaka when Taiki disappeared. Yui bent down and took the book and read the cover.

"From the title of this book, I can't do a thing but you can..." said Yui.

"Uh?" Miaka was puzzled.

"It's called 'The Love of the Suzaku no Miko's Headmaiden'... I guess you have to help Taiki-san win the love of the Suzaku no Miko's Headmaiden... and since you are the Suzaku no Miko... it is your duty to go and help Taiki-san." explained Yui.

"Yeah! And Taiki-san is such a nice boy I'm sure it'll be a piece of cake!!" said Miaka enthusiastically. "Speaking of cake... do you think I could grab a snack before going because I'm famished..."

Yui fell to the floor. "How can you think of food in a time like this???!!!!" she yelled at Miaka.

"Well, when I'm nervous I get hungry..." whimpered Miaka.

"Miaka, you breathe and you get hungry..." flattly said Yui. "Now get in that book and help Taiki-san find his love and you'll both be able to get out of the book..."

"All right, all right..." replied Miaka opening the book. A flash of light engulfed her but Yui could hear her say before she departed: "anyway the food is better at Hotohori's palace than the vending machine in the basement..."

"AAAAAIIIIYYYYY!!!" Miaka yelled as she fell but she landed on something soft. Miaka was unarmed but she could hear a growling underneath her she looked up and saw that Nuriko had broken her fall.

"Oh.. Hi Nuriko!" said happily Miaka.

"Miaka GET OFF!!!!" yelled Nuriko. Upon hearing the word Miaka, Tomahome's head popped out of a doorway.

"Miaka... You're back..." he smiled at her and Miaka forgot the reason she was here. She leapt up (much to the pain of Nuriko!) and rushed to kiss Tamahome.

"Yeah, yeah... we're real glad you're back..." Nuriko looked at the two lovers and sighed and made a face. No reaction. Figures, he thought when those two kiss the lightning could strike next to them and they wouldn't notice. Nuriko heard a gasp. It was Hotohori, Chichiri and Chiriko.

"Miaka... you've come back..." Hotohori smiled. And waited, and waited and waited some more... "Uh...Miaka?... moshi-moshi... Miaka." Hotohori tried but without success to get her attention.

"Never, mind I'll go..." grumbled Nuriko. Tamahome and Miaka were still kissing when Nuriko went next to them and yelled in their ears:"MIAKAAAAA!!!!! EMPEROR HOTOHORI WANTS TO TALK TO YOOOUUU!!!!"

Nuriko, satisfied, waited until it seemed like Tomahome and Miaka recovered. Miaka smiled and went to give Hotohori a big hug. Nuriko looked to the ceiling... Baka girl!

"It's good to see you, Hotohori..." she smiled. "You too, Chichiri and Chiriko..." letting go of Hotohori, Miaka remembered why she had come here... food! No wait a minute that's not it...she scratched her head while the Seishi were looking at her puzzled. Suddenly she remembered.

"Have you guys seen a brown haired man? About as tall as Hotohori and who has weird clothes like mine and a long ponytail?" asked Miaka. The seishi looked at each other.

"He looks like that... " Miaka took out a picture of Taiki she had in her pocket. The seishi shook their head.

"No... we haven't seen anybody like that." said Chiriko. "But maybe Tasuki or Mitsukake might have. I'll go ask them..."

"Please, Chiriko it's very important that we find him..." said Miaka now worried.

Hotohori placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Do not worry Miaka... we'll find him...Is he somebody important?"

"Yes and I have to bring him back to my world..." Miaka paused as Chiriko walked away looking for Tasuki. Miaka thought, maybe if she talked to the headmaiden of Taiki she would accelerate matters.

"Hotohori... Where is my headmaiden?... I have a headmaiden don't I?" she asked.

"Your headmaiden?... Last I heard she was in your apartments. She had fallen ill a few days ago and your other maidens are looking after her..." replied Hotohori.

"Yeah, I heard she had a real high fever and she was delirious..." added Nuriko.

"Oh, I have to talk to her." said Miaka as she rushed to her apartment.

"Miaka..." said Tamahome simply. Nuriko shrugged. "Don't worry. She'll come back to you eventually..."

Taiki felt a coolness on his face. Someone was dabbing his brow with a damp and cold cloth. He felt hot and a little weird. He tried to open his eyes.

"Aoi-chan, Aoi-chan, come quickly!" said a familiar voice. Yaten? thought Taiki.

"Oh! Thank Suzaku! Midori-chan... I think Murasaki-san is finally waking up!" huh? thought Taiki trying to focus his eyes, Seiya?

When Taiki's eyesight finally cleared, he saw Seiya and Yaten's face over him looking down at him in concern. He almost did a doubletake looking at them. For some reason they were now women and dressed in old chinese clothes, but what was more startling was their hairdo. They must have put on wigs because they both didn't have enough hair to have those hairdos. Yaten hair was brought up much like Usagi's odangoes but they sat on the sides of her head and were covered with a satin-like fabric covered with small pearls and jewelry, two thick red ribbons were knotted to them.

Seiya looked even weirder; her black hair was brought up and then made into two ponytails that looped on top of her head. She also had ribbons stuck in there and they flowed down to her waist in cascade. She also had a small tiara-like object on top of her head.

"What's up guys... going to a masquerade party?..." Taiki paused, my voice is higher. Taiki looked down and saw the bumps underneath the covers. Taiki took a hand to those and felt them. My breasts? When did I turn back into a woman... she thought.

The other two looked at each other worried at Taiki's reactions.

"Midori-chan, I think you'd better get Mitsukake... Murasaki-san is still delirious I think." Aoi said. The one that looked like Yaten got up.

"Hai! Aoi-chan!" she went out. A few seconds later Miaka entered the room.

"Miaka!" called Taiki.

"Murasaki-san! Hush! Shame on you to call the honorable Suzaku no Miko like that!..." Aoi was outraged.

"It's okay... I heard my headmaiden was ill... I wish to talk to her... alone..." said Miaka.

"I must object Great Miko... Murasaki is unwell and is still delirious..." said Aoi bowing in front of Miaka.

"I said I want to talk to her alone..." repeated Miaka with more authority.

"Hai..." said Aoi-chan bowing. She quickly got out of Miaka's way, exited the room and closed the door behind her.

"Miaka?..." asked Taiki.

"Taiki-san?... What are you doing in my headmaiden's bed..." Miaka sat down next to Taiki. She looked suspiciously at the bumps on Taiki's chest. Undaunted, she reached for one of them and squeezed hard. Taiki cried out in pain. Miaka eyes went wide, she backed off.

"YOU-YOU'RE A WOMAN!!!!!" she cried out. Taiki had a huge sweatdrop on the side of her head.

"I- I'm as surprised as you are..." she lied.

Miaka looked like the heaven just fell on her head... "And I said to Yui-chan this would be easy..."

end of part 2

Author's note:
Murasaki means Purple
Aoi: means blue
Midori: means Green

and yes you guessed it... it refers to the eye color of Taiki, Seiya and Yaten :)

Ryoga had finally found the Tendo's house. He knew Ranma, Akane and Nabiki would be in school and that Kasumi was busy making dinner, humming to herself as she did so. Tendo-san and Saotome's father were engaged in a match of go and watching television. As soon as one of them would look at the screen the other would rearrange the pegs around... This game was nowhere near finished the way those two cheated. Ryoga grinned; everyone in the house was too caught up with what they were doing to notice him. He slowly edged his way to the koi pond; and arrived at his destination. He quickly surveyed the place. No one even noticed he was there. Satisfied, he reached into his backpack and took out a big sealed porcelain container. He took off the cork and poured the contents into the pond. He chuckled softly to himself.

"Now, Saotome... you will know the true meaning of defeat at my hand. This will humiliate you and put you in your proper place... It will also make sure you will never be able to marry the beautiful Akane." He would have laughed at this point but he didn't want to attract attention. He got up and tiptoed to the Dojo. He entered the shadows and waited there.

With Happosai out of the picture, a relative calmness took over the College. And with the ringing of the bells, students poured out of it to go home. Ranma, Akane and Seiya were going back to the Tendo's when upperclassman Kuno appeared before them.

"You! Ranma, you who knows the pigtailed girl..." started Kuno.

"I thought I told you Kuno, she isn't interested..." interrupted Ranma.

"Peasant! Let me finish... I wish to talk to the pigtailed girl about something... The raven haired goddess that graced our school today... I wish to pledge my undying love to her!" Kuno said. Seiya facevaulted.

"Uh? Kuno, aren't you in love with the red-haired pigtailed girl?" kidded Akane trying to make Ranma upset.

"Tendo Akane, although I once pledged my love to you and to the pigtailed girl, I must beg your forgiveness because the vision of beauty I saw this afternoon made me forget I ever wooed you."

"Uh?" said Ranma.

"I was moved to tears with such grace," he continued " such perfection, such..."

"Beautiful breasts..." said a guy that passed behind Kuno. Seiya was beginning to be mighty enraged with the entire conversation. Behind his back he was clenching and unclenching his fists. He wanted to punch the guy but should he just do it... it would seem suspicious. So he just waited for the fool to vent himself, all the while his blood was boiling in his veins.

"Yes!" continued Kuno. "The breasts of a woman, so full and nurturing. She was such a vision of womanhood, nothing compared to the youthful rambunctious pigtail girl..." Kuno was cut short as Ranma punched him and sent him flying in a nearby tree.

"Kuno! You pervert!" said Ranma.

"Gee! Ranma... what's the problem, jealous?" smiled Akane knowingly. Seiya was stupefied at Ranma's reactions; he did the wrong connection and thought that Ranma was in love with his female side too. Oh! Great! What else can go wrong? He thought.

"Saotome! You have long put yourself between the pigtailed girl and me, and now that I leave her to you out of generosity, you want to steal that beautiful goddess of perfection away from me..." Seiya couldn't help but blush at that comment, but he reasserted himself quickly. The man was a real bore... He'd listened to Taiki's poems sooner that to this guy's endless tirades.

Kuno took out his wooden katana. "Womanizer! You are long overdue to be put in your place, Varlet!" He lunged forward. Seiya couldn't take any more of this, so when Kuno passed next to him he tripped him and Kuno fell flat on his face in front of Ranma. Seiya turned around.

"Uh... Seiya, don't worry. I can take care of that bozo!" said Ranma.

"Who dares strike the Blue Thunder of Furikan and foil his attempts at righting wrong? Who is this upstart, so he can taste Kuno's blade...?" said Kuno menacingly getting up and coming towards Seiya.

"I dare, I Seiya Kou!" said Seiya mimicking the other man's pompous tone. "Tell me 'Blue Thunder' do you always refer to yourself to the third person like that?"

Kuno slashed wind with his wooden sword; Akane gasped knowing all too well that Kuno's skill with the sword was unparalleled in the entire school. But Kuno only slashed at the wind; Seiya had jumped out of harm's way and stood next to Ranma.

"How about you and I teach that guy a lesson?" asked Seiya.

"To Kuno? It would be a pleasure..." replied Ranma. Kuno charged them and they let him have it. They both punched him and sent him flying in the opposite direction and into the school wall, knocking him unconscious. Ranma looked at Seiya impressed.

"Hey! You're good... for an Idol Singer! I bet that gets pretty handy when dealing with overzealous fans." laughed Ranma.

"Huh? Seiya-kun?" said Akane. She didn't think he had it in him to do that. "I didn't know you were good at martial arts..."

"Well... it's good exercise..." said Seiya as he scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. I've got to be careful not to hurt anybody, he thought.

"Well, what do you say we get out of here before sleeping beauty wakes up?" Said Ranma, as he headed for the streets.

"Sounds good to me!" replied Seiya. "You coming, Akane-san?"

"H-Hai!" she answered. She knew why Ranma had struck Kuno but she puzzled on why Seiya joined in the fight...

Yaten was strolling down a street when he heard a weird scream; he turned and gasped at what he saw. It was as though someone had cut the world in two. What was behind him was a horribly deformed landscape. The ground was red with blood and in the distance he saw a foreboding castle. Yaten took a few steps backward only to discover that the macabre landscape was following him. As he looked down he saw that he was no longer a he and was wearing a flowing white robe. What the? She said.

"Don't move! You'll bring evil into the world!" She spun around. It was Kurama. He was dressed in green silk. He was advancing towards her, slowly. His eyes, they were on her. She had to stop looking at him but she couldn't. She just stared back into his emerald eyes.

"Don't move..." he whispered.

"G-get away!" she replied, her voice trembling. "Star Sensitive Inferno!" she yelled. Nothing happened. Kurama still was walking towards her, his eyes still gazing into her own. The sounds of bells rang into Yaten's ears.

Yaten woke up as the students got up to leave for lunch. Yaten was still a little disoriented, when he felt Keiko's hand on his shoulder.

"Yaten-san? Daijobu?"

"H-Hai!" replied Yaten. "Gomen. I must have dozed off..." He got up and took his stuff. Kuwabara and Yuusuke joined them.

"No wonder! It took us all morning to do that damn exam... you were bored and rested your head on your desk. You were off to lalaland in no time..." said Yuusuke.

"Must be those antibiotics the doctor gave me..." Yaten replied, his stomach growled. "I haven't brought a lunch. I hadn't had time to prepare one this morning. Where do you guys go for food?"

"If you want to see your next birthday I suggest you don't eat at the cafeteria..." said Kuwabara.

"The food at the cafeteria isn't that bad..." said Keiko.

"Never mind... We guys always go to the Seven-Eleven at the corner of the street. They always have warm meals there and a very good variety of bento... You want to come with us?" Yuusuke asked Yaten.

"Yeah... sure, maybe. The walk will clear my head..." said Yaten as he put his hand to his head. He had a major headache. Something was buzzing in his mind. He dismissed it. He probably got up too fast, and some fresh air would be welcomed.

"Okay, I'll leave you with you guys... Don't do anything funny now!" she pointed an accusing finger at Yuusuke.

"Relax... go eat your lunch... we'll bring you back, loverboy, before you know it..." winked Yuusuke.

Keiko looked to the ceiling and gave Yuusuke a quick goodbye kiss. Yaten looked at them; she's involved with him, he thought, good, one less girl to worry about.

Keiko left them at the door of the school where Kurama was waiting for them. Yaten grumbled to himself, not him again. Yaten carefully avoided the guy. Another student passed between them.

"Hey! Urameshi! They're giving free nikuman at the cafeteria. The guys decided to go eat there. You want to join us..."

"Man, I wouldn't eat at the cafeteria even if they paid me... We're going to eat at the seven-eleven..."

"Suit yourself... I'm not passing up a free meal..." the boy said and he continued running toward the cafeteria.

"I hope you don't expect me to bring ya flowers at the hospital!" yelled back Yuusuke.

Keiko arrived at the cafeteria. It smelled divine, and everyone was eating nikuman. Since they were free anyway Keiko decide to eat a couple. She took a tray and took her order. She noticed that it wasn't the same personnel that usually catered to the cafeteria. Maybe they're trying new ones because of the complaints on the food, she thought. She bit into her food. It was delicious, I've never had one that was that good before, so when she finished her portion she did like all the students of the school. She stood in line for more.

Meanwhile, Yaten ate some hot Oden that he bought. Yuusuke told him the Oden was great. Yaten had mixed feelings about it, and after a few bites he wasn't hungry anymore. I was famished, he thought, then he looked at Kurama, but I guess someone ruined my appetite. He wasn't feeling himself also, as the guys talked, he had a couple of wisecracks in mind but they stayed stuck in his throat. Must be the medication, he thought, that stuff is making me groggy. He sighed heavily.

Meanwhile, Kuwabara and Yuusuke were checking Yaten's aura secretly while munching on their food. Yaten had other things on his mind or else he would have felt Hiei's presence about 50 feet away. Both Yuusuke and Kuwabara got up and gestured to Kurama to stay there. They didn't want to attract Yaten's attention but Yaten didn't bat an eye. The two guys went to the tree where Hiei was hidden. Yuusuke took out a pack of cigarette and the two of them talked to Hiei while smoking.

"Well, did you use the Jagan on him yet..." asked Yuusuke.

"I'm bidding my time... He almost saw me this morning..." the reply came from the middle of the tree.

"Do you have any ideas why this guy is throwing off so much energy?" asked Kuwabara in turn.

"No... But I spoke to Botan about it... She asked Koenma's assistant to track him down..." Hiei whispered as he looked intently at Yaten waiting to catch him unaware.

Kurama looked at Yaten. Something fascinated him, it wasn't just the aura. It had to do with his impression he got this morning about his eyes. Kurama had a sly smile. He just had to gaze into his eyes again.

"How's your hand?" He asked Yaten.

"Fine." Yaten replied in a flat tone then cringed. Baka! Why did you reply, now he'll want to talk.

Kurama looked at Yaten then got up, threw the remains of his lunch in the trash and sat back down but just next to Yaten. Yaten started to get up but Kurama prevented him from doing so. Yaten grumbled something but didn't turn to look at him.

"Why are you avoiding me?" asked Kurama.

"None of your damn business..." Yaten spat.

"Hum... That's not very nice of you..." Yaten snorted as Kurama said this. Silence. I am not turning to face him, said Yaten to himself.

Back at the tree, Hiei fumed. It's no good, now he's shielding himself. Why?

"So you're determined to be a little baby and stay in your corner?" asked Kurama. I don't care if you turn around mad, just turn around and look at me.

"I'm fine just the way I am..." Yaten replied flatly. Kurama cursed. That didn't work. Okay, let's try another tactic.

"So, I see the rumors I've heard about you are true..." hinted Kurama.

Yaten lifted his head, his eyes slanted. "What rumor?"

"That Seiya Kou is the only real singer in your group and you're just a prissy guy who's just the Japanese equivalent of Milli Vanilli..."

Yaten clenched his fists. Kurama smiled cockily. He had him baited. Now to gently pull the fish back in his net and he would get what he wanted.

"That's what I heard: all looks to make the girls go gaga but no real talent... except for lip-synch. Yep... Pretty face poster boy...." Kurama looked out the corner of his eye. His tactic was working. He was seeing Yaten's knuckles turn white and he could see he was about to lose it now for the coup de grace.

"I also heard this isn't your real face and that you've had more aesthetic surgery than Michael Jackson has..." Yaten turned around. His eyes were looking straight at Kurama's who was smiling triumphantly.

"Well, ya heard wrong!!!!" he yelled. Yuusuke and Kuwabara stared at him when they saw him burst like that, wondering what the heck, Kurama, why was he smiling like a schoolboy and what he could have said to make Yaten burst out like that. Perfect, thought Hiei who wasted no time to uncover his Jagan from the bandana he was wearing.

"And wipe that stupid looking grin off your face!" Yaten continued to yell.

"You know, you're so darn cute when you're angry..." teased Kurama; Yaten went ballistic and continued to scream at Kurama.

Humph! Thought Hiei, anger makes him careless. His defenses are down. Now Mister the Idol Singer, let's see what you h... " Hiei did a doubletake, rubbed his three eyes and stared back again. Yuusuke and Kuwabara had looked up to see him.

"Well... What do you see?" asked Yuusuke.

While Yaten was still yelling at Kurama who was just slightly amused by the whole situation, Hiei had a smile that started to run through his features. Yuusuke lifted an eyebrow, surprised. Hiei was smiling? He looked on astonished as the smile became wider and wider until Hiei started to laugh. Hiei had to hold on to the branches so he wouldn't fall off the tree. The two boys at the bottom of the tree looked at each other wondering if Hiei hadn't gone completely nuts. Hiei was laughing so hard the tree was shaking, that made Yaten stop yelling, his face red because of the anger in him. He looked at the tree while Yuusuke and Kuwabara were looking embarrassed in his direction. Kurama was wondering what Hiei was laughing about... waitaminute Hiei was actually laughing? Yaten didn't want to hear any more and took off in the direction of the school. Kurama now feeling a little guilty, ran after Yaten.

That made Hiei double up in laughter, his Jagan eye still opened. He laughed so hard he finally fell off the tree.

"This is rich..." that's all Kuwabara and Yuusuke could tear out of him until his laughter subsided.

Yaten was almost at Sarayashiki College when Kurama caught up with him. Kuruma grabbed him by the arm. The other was trying to shrug him off.

"Yaten... Wait! I'm sorry I didn't mean the things I've said... I just wanted to make you turn and face me..."

Yaten spun around. "WHY?" he yelled, looking at Kurama in the eyes again. Kurama's eyes had softened and he was showing Yaten that he was sorry. Yaten tried to stay angry with him but he couldn't. His heart had started to hammer in his chest again. He felt his legs weaken, his blood both ran cold and hot in his veins. He was calming down as though hypnotized by those green eyes. Kurama came closer to him and put his hands on his shoulders. Yaten shuddered when he touched him.

A shadow was looking at the two teenaged boys' altercation. It smiled. It gestured to a small flock of demons. "You see that silver hair boy... attack him and his friend too..."

"Yes... yes master!" the demons replied rushing to complete the task. Another demon came to stand near the shadow.

"You have sent minor demons, to do higher demon's work..." it said.

"That's what cannon fodder is for isn't it?" The red eyes glinted in the shadow. The figure took out a golden disk and tossed it to the demon. "I think you know what to do with this?"

The demon smiled. "I see. There is wisdom in your plan. Oh! Great One!" the beast backed up and bowed before disappearing.

"Of course! That's why I am where I am now... Why sully my nails when I've got minions that are so eager to get butchered to gain my favors?..." The shadowy figure laughed. "Soon... soon, my dear... you will help me crush Koenma and his band... whether you want to or not!"

Kurama looked deeply into Yaten's eyes. Yes, he thought, that's what I saw this morning. What does it mean? Still he edged closer to Yaten as though diving into the other's eyes. Yaten offered no resistance. Their chests were only inches away when the demons fell on them.

Kurama and Yaten broke free of each other's gaze as the demon tore at them. They both cried out. Hiei stopped laughing and gasped. "Demons!" Kuwabara and Yuusuke cursed as they ran toward Yaten and Kurama. Both concentrated. Kuwabara called forth his spirit sword and Yuusuke used the Reigun to blast their way through them. Hiei was already there and was doing short work of the demons but more came.

"FUUKA EMBUZIN!!!" cried out Kurama and a wall of thorns and razor sharp rose petals flew from him as he destroyed the fiends. "YAAATEENNN!!!!" cried out Kurama. He couldn't see him, but he saw a pile of demons tearing at something. Kurama grew pale. Yaten didn't stand a chance against those. Something snapped inside him and he rushed the creatures in a killing frenzy.

Yaten's skin and clothes were been torn from him. Already the beasts that attacked him had drawn blood. Yaten was faced with a split second decision, survival or death at the claws of these creatures. She chooses survival.

"HEALER STAR POWER MAKE UP!" Kurama and the others were almost upon the heap of demons when they heard Yaten yell out the sentence. A blinding light appeared amiss the demons and scattered them to their untimely demise at the hand of Kurama, Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Hiei. When the light faded they all gasped (save Hiei who already knew) when they saw Sailor Star Healer standing where Yaten should have been. Kurama blushed. It was her eyes he saw when he looked at Yaten... no she's Yaten! He said the last part outloud, Yuusuke and Kuwabara facevaulted.

"You mean? He's really a woman?" Kuwabara croaked. That's all he had time to say because another wave of demons descended upon them.

Miaka was still reeling at the thought: One of her favorite idol singers was now a woman. This did not go well at all, she thought. How am I going to make him fall in love with a man? She thought about it and the more she thought the more she became disgusted... Taiki-san the idol of so many Japanese girls, falling in love with a guy!!! Bet the tabloids would love to get their hands on that story... Who would believe me anyway?

Taiki, for her part, had no idea what was going on other than Miaka had found out that he err... she was really a woman. Taiki, still thinking she was in Tokyo, was trying to figure out a way to make Miaka believe that she really wasn't a woman. That will be hard to accomplish since Miaka had grabbed her bosom and pinched her hard. Ouch! She winced, it still hurts too! She looked down to see what she was wearing when Miaka gasped.

"You know just because you have the body of a woman doesn't mean you have to be hentai about it!!!"

Taiki was about to say that she's seen herself naked countless of times... when she decided that it'd be better if she didn't have that conversation.

"Okay, okay..." she said quickly. "Where are we anyway? A Chinese restaurant and hotel?"

Miaka facevaulted, of course he had no idea where he was... oh well, better tell him now...

"You're in the south part of Ancient China in the palace of Prince Hotohori in the country of Konan..." It was Taiki's turn to facevault.

"You're kidding me... right?" Miaka shook her head. "What do you mean Ancient China?" Taiki asked.

"You remember the book in the library you took..." Taiki nodded. "Well it was a magical book and when you started to read it you were transported here to really live what was going on in the book... Now you have to fall in love with a man and then we'll get out of the book and go on with our lives. But you have to be my Headmaiden and fall in love... but with which man, I don't know!!! I thought you'd be the one falling in love with my Headmaiden... not you becoming my Headmaiden.... Man! I'm having a headache!" her stomach also growled.

"So I have to do what's happening in the book then we'll both get out of it?" Miaka nodded. "But what are you doing in the book?..." asked Taiki.

"I'm the Suzaku no Miko... err... I'll tell you about it later... now who's the most eligible bachelor around here... hummmm..."

"Uh! Miaka... I'm not into men, you know..." blushed Taiki.

"Don't you think I know that??!!" snapped Miaka.

Taiki facevaulted. "How did you know that I liked women?" Miaka stared blankly at him.

"Well... DAAAHHH! You're originally a man... of course you like women better..." she said.

Taiki sighed. I better not get into that type of conversation either, she thought. The one where she's really a woman and she's already in love with a woman. I think the whole business is complicated enough as it is. Oh no! She thought... I have to fall in love with someone.

"I can't do it, Miaka!..." Taiki said suddenly. "I'm already involved with someone... I don't want to cheat on her..." Taiki stopped when he saw Miaka's reaction, maybe I shouldn't have talked about that too, she reprimanded herself.

"NANNI??? You are???.... Nobody knows about this..." She took out her notebook. "Who is it??? I want to know... argghh all the girls will be so jealous!!! TELLME! TELLME! TELLME!!!"

"Ara... I don't think that's a good idea..." started Taiki.

"You shouldn't tell the media that you're involved with someone, you know... Think of all the girls who have a crush on you... thinking one day you'll take them in their arms..." Miaka went on and on and her eyes, Taiki thought, had the glint that Makoto had when she talked about romantic stuff.

"I'll tell you... once we get out of here..." promised Taiki, maybe by the time we get out of here she'll have forgotten.

"Okay, deal..." she said replacing her notebook into her jacket. "Now... how can I get you to fall in love with someone..." Her face lit up. "Get dressed! I know just who you're going to meet."

Taiki wanted to object but Midori came back with Mitsukake, Miaka went to talk to him as she told Midori to help Murasaki dress. Soon Miaka, who had also changed, left the room with Taiki/Murasaki in tow. She looked around in the castle until she saw who she was looking for. She stopped and turned to Taiki.

"Wait here, please..." she walked in the direction of a woman.

"Nuriko!!! Nuriko!!! I'd like you to meet someone..." said Miaka.

Nuriko sighed. " Hello again, Miaka..." Nuriko didn't say that very enthusiastically.

"Nuriko... I'd like you to meet Murasaki..." started Miaka.

"Your Headmaiden? I already know her..." said Nuriko.

"You do?" asked Miaka.

"Yes, she was one of Hotohori's many concubines, I met her there..." Nuriko said.

"Oh! Listen... this isn't the Murasaki you met... His real name is Taiki and he comes from my world... he's really a man... so I thought you might be interested..." Miaka whispered.

"You mean Murasaki is like me? A man that dress and act like a woman." asked Nuriko.

"No, not really... you see, here he's a woman but on my world, he's a man... and for him to go back he needs to fall in love with a man... I thought you'd be perfect..." replied Miaka.

"Hum, I don't know Miaka... I mean what does he look like on your world... " He asked.

Miaka wanted to take out Taiki's picture but she already gave it to Chiriko, so she took out a picture of the Three Lights. Nuriko took it and had a big smile on his face.

"Wow, he's gorgeous! He's the drop dead beautiful one with black hair... right?" Asked Nuriko.

"No." said Miaka.

"Uh-oh! He's the stud muffin with the silver hair and the cute green eyes right?... right?" asked Nuriko.

"....no." said again Miaka.

Nuriko looked at the picture of Taiki then at Murasaki.

"Sorry... not interested!" he gave Miaka back her picture.

"Demo..."she started to say. But just then Tamahome, Hotohori and Tasuki arrived in the corridor.

"Nuriko! Miaka!... Thank Suzaku! You're both here!" said Hotohori.

"What's wrong, Hotohori-sama?" asked Nuriko.

"The Priestess of the Moon was coming for her annual visit to bless the countryside," said Tamahome. Priestess of the Moon, Taiki raised an eyebrow... naaaahhh! It couldn't be! "She was on her way here when she and her warrior-priestess were attacked and kidnapped..."

"Yeah!" said Tasuki. "And the kidnapper left his calling card..." He took out a black rose.

Nuriko gasped. "The Kishi no kuro bara!..."

"You mean he's a woman?" croaked Kuwabara as the demons unleashed another attack.

"Are you crazy? Get away from here! These things mean business..." yelled Healer.

"What? And let you have all the fun?" said Yuusuke using his multiple punch technique on a swarm of demons. "I don't think so..."

"Yeah! We're professionals... kid. Don't you dare do that at home..." added Kuwabara as he used his spirit sword for demon shish kebab. Hiei paused a few seconds to look at her and the demons he just passed exploded in blood and guts from the multiple invisible cuts he did to them.

Using his Rose Whip to slash at demons, Kurama turned to Healer. "You better go hide... we'll take care of them."

Healer was fuming. "Oh! Can the Macho gimmick! Just because I'm a girl now doesn't mean I'm helpless! STAR SENSITIVE INFERNO!!!!" With one blast she managed to destroy more demons than Hiei. Looking to the guys, who were a bit surprised by the extant of her power; she blew on her index finger as if it was a smoking gun, a sly smile played from her features. She was about to say another wisecrack remark when another bunch of demons arrived.

"Is there no end to these things?" she yelled as she jumped away from them. She yelled her attack and blasted the beasts into oblivion.

"There must be a portal to the Makai somewhere near... Kuwabara..." said Yuusuke as he cleared the demons around his friend so he could concentrate to pinpoint the location of the portal. Kuwabara closed his eyes and after a few seconds he pointed to the school.

"It's on the second floor in the teacher's lounge." Kuwabara said. He extended his spirit sword against the demon that had reformed around him.

"Kurama, Hiei!" called Yuusuke. "You two close that portal... we'll handle things here..."

Kurama looked at Healer then back at Yuusuke. "We can't just leave you here... there's too many of them..." Another crack of his whip dealt the demise of three other demons.

"Don't worry about us..." replied Yuusuke. "Between me, Kuwabara and Toots we should manage..." Healer, who had jumped out of the path of Hiei, redirected her jump so that she would fall on her elbow on top of Yuusuke's head. She let her weight and her momentum add to the blow that she dealt him.

"Don't you EVER call me Toots again! The name's Sailor Star Healer, if you ever call me Toots you'll have to unbutton your jacket to eat... got it?" Everyone including the demons paused and had sweat drops hanging on the side of their heads. Great! Thought Yuusuke who was having a mundo headache now thanks to Healer, just what we need: attitude with legs...

"What's the big idea?... We're on the same side..." yelled Yuusuke.

"Maybe your friends are used to be insulted, not me, so don't treat me like a ninny or insult me and I'll be just fine!" replied Healer. And to prove that she was on their side she blasted the demons that were ready to attack Yuusuke by hiding in his blind spot. Kurama couldn't but continue to observe Healer as she gracefully sent the monster meet their maker.

"Don't just stand there, gaping!" snapped Yuusuke annoyed at Kurama. "I though I told you to go close that damn portal!" Kurama blushed and started to run where Hiei had disappeared. After a few jumps he had catch up with him.

While they were gone, Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Healer were left dealing with the demons and after a few tries they succeeded in combining their efforts to battle these things. Yuusuke hated to admit it but Healer was quite a good fighter, he almost regretted calling her Toots... almost.

Suddenly out of nowhere Botan appeared floating on her oar, she called to Yuusuke.

"Yuusuke! That Idol singer doesn't really exist and we double-checked the energy signature it's from a girl called..." just then she saw Sailor Star Healer dealing yet another blast to the demons. "Oh... I guess you already know, uh?"

"What, you mean Miss Sailor in the skimpy costume?" growled Yuusuke between his teeth.

"I HEARD that!" snapped back Healer kicking a demon in the groin area sending it flying into a small orbit. Kuwabara couldn't help but wince... that must have hurt! Botan swooped down next to Healer.

"Princess Yaten of the Star Healer?... What are you doing here?" asked Botan. Both boys turned around, had they heard well? PRINCESS????

"What do you think I'm doing?..." Healer blasted the demon before turning to Botan. "Who are you? And how do you know my real name?" Botan was about to tell her when she saw a much bigger demon appear behind Healer.

"PRINCESS! LOOK OUT!" she cried out.

Meanwhile Kurama and Hiei were running toward the portal slashing their way through the demons that tried to bar their way.

"So!" said Hiei suddenly. Kurama looked at him wondering.

"You're so quiet all of a sudden..." said Hiei.

"I don't understand what..." started Kurama.

"Don't lie!" Hiei snapped back.

"N- nothing has happened..." tried Kurama.

"Yet!" finished Hiei. Kurama sighed. Hiei could always read him like a book, but what could he say? He himself didn't understand those stirrings he felt when he looked at Yaten and why she/he fascinated him so much. He still cared deeply for Hiei, what he felt for Yaten was different. But how could he tell Hiei that without hurting his feelings.

"Hiei..." he tried to say while slashing another demon. "...It's not what you think..."

Hiei turned around, his sword describing a deadly arc that destroyed yet another gang of demons. "I know what I think Youko!" Hiei spat this with such venom in his voice that Kurama cringed. "I know also what you feel although you're too dumb to see it yourself..." In his rage Hiei killed two other demons. "You've fallen in love with her..."

Kurama looked at Hiei; his eyes were wide with surprise he trembled. "No... no... Hiei you're wrong I still love you..." Kurama's eyes stung.

Hiei turned back around and finished climbing the steps. "I didn't say you didn't... I said you have fallen in love with her..." Hiei said, he entered the room, saw the portal and the many demons that guarded it.

"We'll talk later... close that portal..." Kurama nodded.

"Yes, later but we do need to talk..." Kurama admitted. He went to work on the portal closing it easily. Almost too easily he thought and as soon as the portal closed the demons started to disappear with or without Hiei's help. Kurama turned a triumphant smile to Hiei. That's when they heard the scream.

"PRINCESS! LOOK OUT!!!" Healer didn't have time to turn as an even bigger demon appeared next to her. Passing his arms over her, he put a golden disk in front of her chest. Instantly black lightning surrounded Healer as she screamed in pain and anguish. Hearing her screams, Hiei and Kurama rushed to the window. Glass flew outward as they both crashed through it ignoring the cuts the broken glass etched on their skin.

Healer yelled a primal scream, as she felt violated to the very core of her being as the black lightning entered her body. Yuusuke rushed the demon while Botan asked Kuwabara's help. On top of Healer's screaming head Kuwabara saw a flower forming, then blossoming and in the middle of the petals shone a pure blazing crystal. Even without his innate sensibility he could feel this crystal was her, the core of her being and it was been ripped from her. Botan concentrated her energy on the crystal so it wouldn't detach itself from Healer. In the middle of the golden disk a black crystal formed spewing black lightning at Botan and Kuwabara.

Meanwhile Yuusuke was battling the demon; he was soon joined with Hiei and Kurama. They fought the demon helpless to stop Healer's body ascension into the sky. Botan and Kuwabara followed her they could only prevent her own illuminating crystal from fleeing her body and were helpless against the black lightning. Botan knew they had to move fast or else they would loose Healer.

"Yuusuke!!! Use your Reigun on the golden disk... QUICKLY!!!" yelled Botan hoping Yuusuke could hear her over Healer's screams. Hiei and Kurama nodded to Yuusuke and they doubled their efforts on the beast. Kurama was pouring huge amounts of energy in his next attack; this demon was going down. Yusuke ran toward Healer and pointed his finger. A beam of spiritual energy shot from it and smashed the golden disk. The dark crystal exploded and unleashed the energy it had corrupted toward Botan, Kuwabara and Yusuke. The black lightning tore at them sending them flying backward. Healer stopped screaming. The crystal settled back into the flower and it closed once more.

Kurama's whip hit true and in a vengeful scream he used his powers to destroy the fiend. The demon disappeared spewing hellfire, drained Kurama fell to the ground exhausted. The flower on top of Healer's head disappeared; she feebly opened her eyes she saw Kurama on the ground. She moved her hand toward him and fell as gravity once again had a hold on her. Kurama gasped. He stumbled forward. too drained to move. He watched helplessly as her body plummeted to the ground.

"NOOOOO!!!!" he screamed, then he felt the wind and a black blur. Hiei had jumped and grabbed Healer who fainted in his arms, her ponytail draped on his shoulder like a shawl. He turned around with his prize in his arms looking intently at Kurama.

"Now... now do you believe me?" whispered Hiei.

Taiki was sitting on a plush cushion in Hotohori's hall, waiting. Next to her sat Aoi and Midori who were dead ringers for Seiya and Yaten. Taiki was angry. She prided herself with her intellect but here in this situation she was the clueless one and that frustrated her. She knew that someone had been kidnapped and that she was supposedly the Tsuki no Miko (the priestess of the Moon) but what she couldn't figure out was why she and the other two maidens of Miaka (who was the Suzaku no Miko... whatever that meant) were present in court. Why would ladies in waiting be included in a discussion on how to get back the captured Miko? It made no sense, so Taiki waited and listened trying to fit together the piece of the puzzle. Hotohori spoke up.

"Ladies Aoi, Midori and Murasaki, I think you know why it is imperative that you take part in this meeting... we will also need your help in locating the Tsuki no Miko."

Taiki almost said she hadn't a single clue at what the heck he was talking about but when she saw the other two nod grimly so she just nodded, too.

"Our first allegiance was to the Tsuki no Miko, before we were sent by her to protect the Suzaku no Miko, if you would have not asked for our help we would have asked permission to join you." Said Aoi. Taiki raised an eyebrow. Had she said protect?

"I thank you and your sisters, Yoake-hoshi no Miko. You are of the same sisterhood as the missing Miko..." replied Hotohori.

"Even though our head sister the Shogo-hoshi no Miko isn't here. Murasaki, the Nichibotsu-hoshi no Miko and Midori the Yugata-hoshi no Miko and I will do our best to help free the Priestess of the Moon."

While Aoi and Hotohori were exchanging court protocol, Taiki was thinking about what they had just said. The Prince had called Aoi: Yoake-hoshi no Miko the Priestess of the dawn star. Then Aoi mentioned another Miko who wasn't there. She called her Shogo-hoshi: Noon star. She had then called her Nichibotsu-hoshi no Miko: priestess of the sunset star and finally Midori, who she called Yugata-hoshi: evening star. Taiki shuddered. It resembled too much the Sailor Starlights. She began to see the pattern. The Tsuki no Miko could only be Sailor Moon and the four warrior-priestesses that were with her were the inner senshi. So the two Miko that were coming here must be...

Just then the door burst open while a troop of chamberlains were trying to contain the tornado that flew into the throne room.

"Please, please Kaze no Miko... calm yourself. The Prince will see to you..." said one of the chamberlains.

"Get out of my way! Our great Priestess has been kidnapped. There is no time to lose!" Taiki saw her. Although she had longer hair held in a bun, it was Haruka... there was no mistake about it. And the turquoise haired woman who rushed to contain her was Michiru's twin. The Kaze no Miko and her friend both were wearing a battle armor and on the pectoral was the sigil of Uranus. On the other's armor there was the sigil of Neptune.

"Calm down, Tatsumaki-chan. Your outbursts are not helping us and you insult the very help we came to seek..." said the turquoise haired woman.

"Tsunami-chan!" replied Tatsumaki. "I will calm down as you requested but I hold the country of Konan responsible for what happened..."

"I understand your sorrow," said Hotohori calmly. "If our own Suzaku no Miko would be kidnapped we would be ourselves quite agitated, Umi no Miko. We understand your friend's outburst and we will not hold it against her nor against the Tsuki no Miko..."

Miaka smiled. Hotohori could be so soothing and inspired so much trust that the Kaze no Miko, kneeled and asked for forgiveness. Hotohori raised his hand to signal her to rise.

"I cannot grant you forgiveness for you have done nothing to anger me, Kaze no Miko. I only ask that you trust us and help us search for the Miko. We have found this black rose on the site where we think the Tsuki no Miko was kidnapped." Hotohori took out the black rose and showed it to the two warrior priestess.

Tatsumaki fumed. "It's the calling card of the Kishi no Kuro Bara... He had started to appear six months ago. He eased the pouches of rich merchants only to give to the most unfortunate. I didn't think he'd go so low as to kidnap the Miko..."

"Hai!" added Tsunami. "He was a gentle thief. He even helped a poor merchant by protecting him all along his route."

Taiki, who had listened to the entire conversation, wondered out loud. "Maybe it's not the Kishi no Kuro Bara... but someone who wants to make us believe it is him, sending us on a false lead."

Tsunami smiled. "As always, Murasaki-san, you talk with the words of wisdom... The Miko was wise to send you here."

"Then perhaps our best course of action would be to seek out the Kishi no Kuro Bara and question him to see if he knows of the disappearance of the Miko... if he doesn't maybe we could ask for his help to figure out who is responsible... Do you know who he really is?" asked Hotohori.

"No one knows his identity, Prince..." replied Tatsumaki. "We only know that he roams the High Road and that he is dressed all in black complete with mask. But he isn't alone, he is attended by four ronins who help him in his enterprise..."

"Very well, Tamahome, Tatsuki, Miaka and I will accompany all of you who are of the sisterhood." declared Hotohori. "Since it is sunset we will set out tomorrow at day break. Aoi-san, Midori-san and Murasaki-san will escort you to your rooms." Hotohori stood up and said he would be retiring for the night.

Aoi, Midori led Tsunami and Tatsumaki to the rooms they would use for the night. Taiki trailed behind deep in thought. She was trying to fit together the pieces of the puzzle that lay before her. She now knew that somehow all of the senshi (although with different names) were in this story and that she was part of a sisterhood, that she (Murasaki) was sent here by the Tsuki no Miko for reasons she still didn't know. She didn't know why but she felt the Kishi no Kuro Bara had nothing to do with the kidnapping. She had a gut feeling he was being set up. She was still deep in thought when they arrived in the room. She was pulled out of her thinking when she saw Aoi starting to cry, supported by Midori who also was crying.

"I should have been there..." anguished Aoi. "... Why did she send me here? Away from her?... Koibito, Shiori-chan, why so far from your love..." Taiki raised an eyebrow did she heard well... koibito: lover?

"I know, I know Aoi-chan." she cried holding Aoi in her arm. "It tore my heart, too; to be separated from my loving Kiniro, but I... we all had to do the Tsuki no Miko's bidding..."

Taiki didn't know why but tears were welling up in her eyes. Soon she too was crying heavily but she was damned if she knew why. Aoi lifted her head and seeing Murasaki crying she reached out to her. Taiki, against her will, rushed to the two huddled women and rested her head on Midori's breast while Aoi was hugging her fiercely. Midori was stroking Murasaki's hair all the while rocking softly the two women. Taiki was at loss; she really didn't understand what was going on, until Tsunami spoke up, placing her hand on Taiki's shoulder.

"Oh! Murasaki-san..." she said. "Take heart. we will find Mizuumi, your lover..." What? Taiki thought I have a lover in this world? Who can this Mizuumi be?

"Yes!" interrupted Tatsumaki brandishing her fist. "Take heart, my sisters. You will be reunited with your lovers. Together we shall deliver them: Shiori-sama, Mizuumi-san, Akari-san, Inazuma-san and Kiniro-san."

Seiya couldn't possibly take another bite; he would burst. Katsumi's cooking sure was great; she did all his favorite food. She had even made hamburgers just for him, and the dessert was divine. If she ever entered a cooking contest with Makoto he would have a hard time deciding who was the greatest cook. Funny thing about dinner, though Ranma had to fight for his food with the family pet panda. He was a big panda. They didn't call him Mr. Panda for nothing. He was well behaved and quite intelligent for a Panda, too. Nabiki, while she was clearing the dishes, asked the panda to give her the plates from his side of the table and he did! They must have spent long hours training the panda but Seiya wasn't at the end of his surprise when he saw Akane's father playing go with the panda, and they both cheated!

Seiya was smiling. He was wondering if the others were having as much fun as he did. Maybe I should call them, he thought and he rose from table. Ranma, who had changed into more comfortable Chinese style clothing, was going to the Dojo to do some kata. He asked if Seiya wanted to spar a little. He quickly added that he would go easy on him when Akane, Nabiki and Katsumi gave him the evil eye.

"That'd be fun!" replied Seiya. "And it will help me digest all that delicious food." Katsumi blushed and giggled. Seeing all the attention Katsumi was getting Akane told everyone that she would do tomorrow night's dinner. All in the room turned pale and everyone told Akane that she didn't have to... and they were coming up with really stupid reasons why she couldn't cook. Seiya didn't understand what was going on and told Ranma that he would change then head outside to make a quick phone call. He would be joining him after that in the dojo.

After going into the guestroom and changing, Seiya headed outside passing by the ongoing argument between Akane and her sister. Why don't they just let her cook? He thought. He shrugged. Not wanting to butt in on a family discussion, he just excused himself and went to the telephone on the corner of the street.

He took the long distance telephone booth, inserted his phone card and dialed his phone number. The phone rang once, twice. On the fifth ring he growled knowing he would get the answering machine.

"*CLICK!* Konnichi wa! You have reached the home of Seiya, Taiki and Yaten Kou. As you must have realized we can't come to the phone right now so leave your message after you hear the beep..."

Seiya heard his voice "...If you want to leave a message to Seiya press one!" he then heard Taiki's voice. "If you want to leave a message to Taiki press two!" It was Yaten's turn " Yadda, yadda, yadda, press three! And Minako-chan if you fill my voice box again I won't address you ever again!!! Press four if you're clueless!...*****BEEEEEEEPPPP*****"

"Yaten, Taiki? It's me Seiya.... Pick up the damn phone... Come ooooon I know you guys are there!.... Yaten, you lazy bum move from that couch and pick up!..." Seiya sighed. He was about to hang up when someone picked up the phone.

"Finally! What took you so long?" said Seiya. There was no answer on the other side. "Helloooo, are you going to answer or what? This call is starting to cost me a small fortune to just listen to your breathing... Heeelllooooo!!!!"

"Uh... Moshi-moshi... uh... Yaten can't come to the phone right now. Do you want to leave a message?" said an unfamiliar voice.

"Who is this? And where's Yaten? Or Taiki for that matter?" asked Seiya suspiciously.

"My name is Minamino Shuiichi, Yaten is... in the bathroom right now. Taiki-san hasn't come back yet..."

"Excuse me for being rude but what the hell are you doing at our apartment?" asked Seiya.

"Uh... Yaten got into a fight today with some school bullies..." Shuiichi paused while Seiya on the other side was swearing. "... But he's okay now... Me and my friends escorted him back here, so they wouldn't try anything funny and Yaten invited us to stay until Taiki came back..."

Yaten inviting people in the apartment, that was a first. The guy seemed sincere so he thought Yaten must be in good hands. "Okay, listen... I'm going to call back tomorrow. You tell him that. I'll call around the same time as today... tell him to be there..."

"I will, don't worry... Sayonara!" Seiya hung up. He swore he should have listened to Yaten's hunch. He knew there would be problem at that school... hmm, not much he could do now so he headed back to the Tendo's.

Meanwhile Ranma was warming up in the dojo. He too had given up on the Tendo girl discussion. He wondered how Seiya would be as a sparring partner when he felt movement. Instinctly he dodged an iron umbrella, which crashed loudly where he stood a few seconds earlier. Turning, Ranma saw his would-be aggressor.

"Ryoga-kun! What are you doing here?" asked Ranma in a battle stance waiting to see if Ryoga would charge him again.

"Saotome! I have come to do battle! To avenge my wounded pride..." said Ryoga, who charged Ranma yet again.

"What have I done this time?" boringly asked Ranma, easily evading Ryoga's jab.

"As if you didn't know, Ranma!" Yet again Ryoga swung the umbrella. Ranma again dodged but didn't reply.

"Not that I give a damn... but I'd like to know really... because I have no idea what you're talking about..." replied Ranma.

"Stop trying to weasel your way out of this and fight like a man!" Ryoga attacked yet again but he purposely held back. Unknown to Ranma, Ryoga was guiding him to the door of the dojo. Once Ranma would be in position, he would strike him. Ranma, thinking Ryoga would vent his anger when he'd be exhausted enough, just avoided the lame attacks. He would have goaded Ryoga but he really wanted to know what bit him. He figured he'd let Ryoga tire and then give him a couple of good jabs and it would be over.

After a few minutes Ranma jumped in front of the Dojo door. Perfect, thought Ryoga as he prepared himself to strike. Ranma heard footsteps outside. Oh, no! He thought, I completely forgot about Seiya. He tried to warn Seiya not to come. Seeing his foe distracted, Ryoga smiled and struck true. At the same time Seiya opened the door to the dojo. Ryoga, thinking he had to destroy the door in order to get Ranma into the pond, struck with all his might. He sent both Ranma and Seiya flying into the koi pond. Seiya struck the water a few moments before Ranma.

Akane and Nabiki, who were sitting on the porch saw the whole thing. Ryoga got out of the dojo triumphantly.

"Now, I have my revenge Saotome..." he was cut short when he heard three growls.

"What have you done to Seiya?...." Akane, Nabiki and Katsumi said menacingly. "He better be all right..."

"Who?" asked Ryoga.

Just then Ranma-chan stuck out of the water, followed by a female version of Seiya. Everyone did a doubletake.

"Ara..." said Katsumi.
"Oh! Great another one..." grumbled Nabiki.
"Oh! My!" said Akane.
"Uh?" said Ryoga.

"What's the big idea?" said Ranma-chan and Seiya-chan at the same time. Surprised to hear a female voice next to her and wondering how come she turned back into her female body all of a sudden. Both Seiya and Ranma looked at each other, gasped and said.

"YOU!? You're the girl I saw this afternoon..." They both covered their mouth at the same time realizing they had just each blown their cover.

Meanwhile, Ryoga was pondering out loud. "Uh? That was supposed to stick Saotome in girl form for a week, not to turn another guy into a woman..."

"So, you're..." growled Katsumi.
"...responsible..." growled Nabiki.
"for this??..." Growled Akane.

Ryoga started to laugh nervously. "...Yes?..." he squealed.

Famous last words... He was knocked senseless by a vase, an iron frying pan and the biggest mallet this side of creation. The girls then proceeded to beat the living fat out of Hibiki Ryoga. They were so wrapped up in their job, they didn't hear Ranma's next sentence.

"So it was you, that Sailor whatchamacallit!" said Ranma-chan. Seiya blushed, how was she ever going to explain this...

End of part 4

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