"Elder, may I have a word with you in private?" Nodoka asked Cologne. "Of course, Dear," Cologne agreed. The two elder women moved to the dojo. Nodoka assumed seiza position and Cologne seated herself opposite the maroon-haired woman. "What is it you wished to speak of, Dear?" Cologne asked. "Elder, do you think I'm a bad mother because I expect my son to live up to my expectations?" Nodoka asked. Cologne sat thoughtfully for several minutes before answering. "Do you wish for my honest opinion?" Nodoka nodded so Cologne continued. "As mothers, we often have to do things that are hurtful to our children. I didn't like having to give Xian Pu her curse, but the law was clear. She failed in her duty as an Amazon warrior and had to be penalized. She also needed to learn a lesson about her pride. You see, she need not have given Ranma's girl-form the Kiss of Death." "I don't understand," Nodoka said. "The match was fairly fought over food Ranma and his father had eaten by mistake. Yet her pride wouldn't let her accept being humbled by an outsider in front of the whole village, even though she had just won the tournament," Cologne explained. "She rashly vowed to hunt down and kill someone with far more skill than she possessed and not surprisingly, she failed. She is just fortunate that Ranma is a kind person. Most people would have met lethal force with lethal force, but Ranma just avoided her or incapacitated her long enough to get away." "What has this to do with me and my son?" Nodoka asked. "I was merely illustrating that sometimes we must hurt our children so that they will learn a lesson," Cologne said. "Xian Pu knowingly invoked the tribal law and she was expected to deal with the consequences." "So you feel I am justified in enforcing the contract my son signed?" Nodoka asked. "Not in the least," Cologne said, a hint of disgust tainting her tone. "First of all, Ranma was six years old and couldn't even write, much less read and understand what was in that contract. Nor could he appreciate the consequences of failure. The fact is Ranma never even signed it. As you heard, his father told him he was finger painting. No self-respecting mother would call for their child's life just because they didn't turn out the way the mother wanted. It is a mother's duty to protect their children, not judge them. You have failed thus far in the first and set yourself up for the second." "I-I see," Nodoka said, looking down in shame. "Forgive my bluntness," Cologne said, "but you have allowed yourself to be manipulated by that miserable waste of a male you call a husband. It was his goal to alienate you from Ranma and he succeeded marvelously in that." "Why would Genma do such a thing?" Nodoka asked. "You heard him," Cologne spat. "He considers women to be weak and inferior. He wanted to stamp out Ranma's softer side and getting him away from you was the first step. He also thought that you would interfere with his plans for Ranma." "I always let Genma control Ranma's training," Nodoka denied. "Tell me, had you been there, would you have allowed him to subject Ranma to the Nekoken?" Cologne asked. "Certainly not!" Nodoka said emphatically, then paused. "I see what you mean. Then it's true. I'm a failure as a mother?" "You made a mistake," Cologne said. "A mistake you have been paying for, for the last eleven years. IF Ranma returns to us, you now have an opportunity to be his mother and make things right. Do not think Ranma has been hiding from you because he fears for his life like his miserable coward of a father. Ranma hides from you because he desperately doesn't want to disappoint you." Nodoka sat silently with her eyes closed as a tear squeezed out from beneath the tightly closed lids. "Come, Dear, let's go watch more of your son's adventures," Cologne said gently. (oO\O/Oo) Ranma woke up purring as she felt herself being gently stroked. Her eyes slowly opened to Rei propped up on one elbow slowly caressing her. "Morning," Ranma purred languidly. "You know of my true nature and my part in the Commander's plan, don't you?" Rei asked softly. "I know, and it doesn't make any difference to me," Ranma said. "I love you, Rei. And I meant what I said when I said you're irreplaceable. I don't care if they do have a tank full of copies of you, seeing you die would hurt." Rei paused in her stroking and blinked her now glistening eyes several times. "Thank you," Rei said softly. "But what of my purpose in the Commander's plan?" "I won't allow him to use you like that," Ranma vowed, placing a gentle hand on Rei's cheek. "I'll do whatever it takes to ensure that you and Asuka live through this. If I get to stay afterward, then we can be happy together. If I'm forced to go back, then at least I'll know you are both alive." Rei closed her eyes and nuzzled into Ranma's hand. Rei's hand, which was resting on Ranma's smooth, taut belly, was joined by another, fingers intertwining with hers. "Let's just hope you get to stay, Liebling," Asuka said groggily from where she was cuddled up to Ranma's other side. "I don't fancy living without either of you." The three of them laid there for a while longer, basking in the warmth of their mutual affection. "Ugh," Asuka commented. "I feel awful." "What's wrong, Koi?" Ranma asked her with concern. "I just feel sick, Variable-chan," Asuka said. "My back is sore and my stomach feels a little queasy." "Hmm, well, we have a sync test later today," Ranma commented. "Maybe we can get Dr. Akagi to check you out. Speaking of which, we need to get going. I hope you both were keeping up on your training while I was gone." Both girls nodded. "Good," Ranma said. "I'll go get started on breakfast if you two want the furoba first." "That would be acceptable," Rei said. "Let me go brush my teeth and stuff first then," Ranma said, giving each girl a gentle kiss on the forehead before untangling herself and heading to the bathroom. (oO\O/Oo) "Damn," Ranma cursed as she lowered herself into the furo and didn't change. "I hate it when this happens." Sighing, she settled in to soak in the hot water, closing her eyes and relaxing. Suddenly, her eyes popped open wide as something occurred to her. A weak smile appeared on her face. "I guess it had to happen sooner or later," Ranma said to herself. "Things are bound to get ugly though." (oO\O/Oo) "Asuka-chan?" Ranma said, entering the room where Asuka was laying on the couch looking miserable. "Yeah?" Asuka prompted. "Here, take these," Ranma said, handing her a couple of pills and a glass of water. "They'll help you feel better." Asuka sat up and accepted the offering. She shot Ranma a weak smile of thanks and put the pills in her mouth, washing them down with the water. "There's something I need to give you, Koi," Ranma said. "Come with me, please." Ranma offered her hand to Asuka and pulled her to her feet before leading her to the bathroom. "You'll want to carry these with you when we leave," Ranma said, handing her a few items. Asuka blinked at the other redhead in confusion after she saw what the items Ranma handed her were. "This is embarrassing and I'm really sorry, but I have to ask, do you know how to use them?" Ranma asked. "I-I-I," Asuka stammered, blushing. Ranma sighed. "Believe me, Koi, this is one discussion that I never thought I'd be on either end of," Ranma said. "If you want, you can have Dr. Akagi explain things." "N-no," Asuka said hesitantly. "I'd rather you explained it to me." Ranma nodded and steeled herself. "The flat thin items are panty shields," Ranma said. "I usually use them until I start spotting. After that, I switch to the tampons. Those are all I have so if you'd rather use sanitary napkins, you'll have to get your own. The tampons work better for me as a martial artist. I don't have to worry about them moving out of position and they're less obvious than the napkins." "Alright," Asuka said, blushing madly. Ranma went on to explain how to insert the tampons, demonstrating on herself as Asuka watched closely. After that, Ranma explained how to properly dispose of the used items, cautioning Asuka that flushing them down the toilet could cause the toilet to become plugged up. The whole experience was mortifying for both girls. When the deeply blushing girls came out of the bathroom, Rei was looking at them curiously. Asuka began giggling as a thought popped into her head. "Just think, Variable-chan," Asuka giggled. "You may have to go through that whole explanation again with Rei soon." Ranma paled causing Asuka to giggle harder. "By the way," Asuka asked as she recovered from her giggle fit. "How did you know?" "I...um...didn't at first, until I got in the furo and didn't change," Ranma explained. "Kasumi told me that when women live in close proximity together their cycles will sync up. It suddenly occurred to me what was happening when I remembered the symptoms you were complaining about. And there was something else." Asuka looked at the madly blushing Ranma in question. "Well?" the German redhead prompted. "Well, you remember how I mentioned my sense of smell is much more sensitive now?" Ranma said in embarrassment. "Are you saying you could smell it?" Asuka demanded, mortified. "Well, at first I thought it was just from last night, but then I could still pick it up after you got out of the furo," Ranma explained. "I'm not saying ya stink or anything. You just smell a little different from normal." "You know, Variable-chan," Asuka said darkly, "if you didn't go through this too, that would be so embarrassing." "I know. I'm sorry," Ranma said apologetically. "Don't worry though. We'll get you your own bottle of Midol and a nice hot water bottle on the way home. Then I'll show you some utterly divine massage techniques that Kasumi taught me that will make you feel almost normal." "What are you two discussing?" Rei asked innocently. "I'm having my first period, Rei-chan," Asuka said proudly. "Perhaps, I too can learn the massage techniques so I can be of assistance to both of you," Rei suggested. (oO\O/Oo) "I don't understand it," Ritsuko said shaking her head. "Understand what?" Misato asked. "Asuka's sync ratio is still falling," Ritsuko explained. "It started to drop when Ranma was trapped in the Eva, but I thought it would be back up now that he's back." "Maybe it's her period," Misato said. "Ranma's doesn't drop that far when she has hers," Ritsuko argued. "She's having hers at the moment as well and it still hasn't fallen more than 5 points." "Well, it is her first period," Misato said. "You know how stressful your first period can be. What's worse is Ranma had to explain what was happening to her and show her what to do. It's gotta be completely embarrassing for your boyfriend to have to explain to you how to use a tampon." Ritsuko burst out laughing. "Oh my god, poor Ranma," Ritsuko laughed. "I bet they were both red as lobsters!" "It's not funny," Misato snickered. "Okay, maybe a little funny, but I bet that's why her sync rate is down." "So what are the standings?" Asuka demanded over the intercom from her entry plug. "Have I caught up to Variable-chan yet?" "Sorry, Asuka," Ritsuko said. "You've actually fallen behind. Rei is nearly up to Ranma's ratio thanks to Ranma losing a few points due to her menses." "WHAT?" Asuka shrieked. "I can't be in last place! I just can't!" The German redhead began cursing in German and pounding her instrument panel angrily. Ritsuko looked over at Misato. "Nice one, Ritsuko," Misato said dryly. "Way to induce a mood-swing." Ritsuko blinked sheepishly. "Asuka, you're just under a lot of stress right now," Ritsuko tried to reassure the grouchy girl. "You'll be better in a few days." "But Variable-chan doesn't drop that far," Asuka whined. "It's not fair!" "Ranma has been having hers for a while now," Ritsuko explained. "The first time is always hard. Once you get used to it you won't drop any more than Ranma's does." Asuka seemed mollified but she continued to mutter curses in German. (oO\O/Oo) "Dr. Akagi?" Rei asked dispassionately. "Yes, what is it Rei?" Ritsuko prompted, looking up from her paperwork. "Will I also begin my menses soon?" the blue-haired girl asked softly. "To be honest, I don't know, Rei," Ritsuko answered. "You have all the correct equipment so it is possible. Only time will tell." "I see," Rei said. "Will I be able to bear children?" "Um...as I said, you have all the correct parts to get pregnant, but I wouldn't recommend taking the chance," Ritsuko said carefully. "It would be difficult to explain to Commander Ikari how that happened and..." Ritsuko trailed off, not wanting to finish that thought. "He would most likely have me removed and activate the third," Rei finished for her in the same tone one might use when discussing the weather. Ritsuko just looked away and nodded. "I understand," Rei stated. (oO\O/Oo) "Where's Rei-chan?" Asuka said as she moaned in pleasure under Ranma's skilled hands. "I thought she wanted to learn how to do this?" "She stayed to talk to Ritsuko," Ranma explained. "I guess she should be home in a while." "Mmmm, that feels good," Asuka purred. "Yeah, I always thought so too when Kasumi did it for me," Ranma agreed. "I didn't get it very often though. If Akane had saw Kasumi doing it, I would have got malleted to the moon for being a pervert with her sister." "Mein gott, how did you put up with her?" Asuka asked. "Everything is training, Asuka-chan," Ranma giggled. "Thanks to Akane and that mallet of hers, I'm able to take one heck of a beating without it slowing me down. Of course I know now that I shouldn't have let it happen. While I was using it as training, I was also training her that it was alright to take her anger out on me by hitting me. Enabling her, is what I think Ritsuko called it." "And you were also being conditioned to fear affection," Asuka pointed out. "Yeah," Ranma agreed sadly. "I don't anymore though." Ranma leaned down and kissed Asuka on the back of her neck. Asuka moaned happily. "I love you, Variable-chan," Asuka purred. "I love you too, Asuka-chan," Ranma said tenderly. (oO\O/Oo) Rei stood before the tanks containing numerous copies of her. The blue-haired girl was deep in thought considering what she had come here for. On the one hand, if she carried out what she was planning, she could be in grave trouble. On the other hand, with numerous copies of herself, the Commander could have her removed if he discovered her relationship with Ranma and her change of loyalty. The fact was, after the Commander nearly caused her to lose Ranma with his cruel act of inducing the Nekoken, Rei had begun to despise Gendo Ikari. She had, she decided, very little choice if she wanted some sort of insurance that she wouldn't be replaced. Going over to the control panel, she depressed a button. "I'm sorry," she whispered to her copies as they began to dissolve in the tanks. Covering her tracks, she quickly left the room and made her way out of the facility. When they discovered what she had done, they would find that the only person that had been in that room was Sub-commander Fuyutsuki. Dr. Akagi might be able to detect her tampering, but Rei was now convinced that Dr. Akagi would say nothing. Rei now truly was irreplaceable, just like her beloved said. (oO\O/Oo) As luck would have it, a day later, Kozo Fuyutsuki vanished. The truth was he was kidnapped by SEELE so that they could interrogate him, but given the fact that the Rei clones had been destroyed and the security logins placed him on the scene, the situation looked really bad for him. It also worked out perfectly for Kaji, who was still playing the part of SEELE's inside man, in spite of the fact that NERV was aware of his supposed allegiance to the shadowy cabal. It was the perfect cover for his operation to abduct Fuyutsuki. He wouldn't even be suspected. (oO\O/Oo) Rei entered the apartment and immediately hugged Ranma tightly, burying her face in the part-time redhead's shoulder. Ranma could tell that the blue-haired girl was obviously upset and held her close while giving Asuka a confused look. "What's wrong, Rei-chan?" Ranma asked with concern. "I destroyed them," Rei said, sadness tainting her voice. "I truly am irreplaceable now." "I'm sorry, Rei-chan," Ranma said compassionately. "I know that must have been terrible for you." "I felt...most unpleasant," Rei said. "I felt as if I were killing myself." "I understand, Rei-chan," Ranma said comfortingly. "At least you're safe now. That bastard Gendo can't just recycle you if he feels the need. Not that I'd let him anyway." "What are you guys talking about?" Asuka asked. "Rei-chan, do you want to tell her?" Ranma asked. "It's up to you." Rei nodded against Ranma's shoulder. Ranma sighed and sat down holding Rei in her lap. She began to explain Rei's nature and Gendo's plan to Asuka. "You mean she's part angel?" Asuka exclaimed in shock. "And I'm part girl. So what?" Ranma countered. "She's still the same person that we came to love. And it doesn't change the fact that she loves us and has been there for us when we needed her." "I guess that does explain some things about how she was raised," Asuka conceded. Asuka looked at Rei who was now trembling slightly in Ranma's embrace. Her thoughts spun crazily as she thought about the revelations of the past couple of days. They had seriously shaken her worldview. Coupled with the fact that her hormones were going nuts from her period, Asuka felt desperately off balance. Suddenly, it hit her as she watched Ranma comforting Rei tenderly. Ranma was her pillar. It didn't matter if she was off balance. She could cling to him for support. Thinking back to the two times Ranma had been lost to them, she realized that Rei was also a source of support for her. Nothing else really mattered. Asuka slowly stood and moved over to the pair. Hesitantly, she put her arms around them and held on to them tightly. "I-I feel so lost," Asuka said. "Like I'm in over my head. But I know in my heart I can trust both of you. I'm not giving either of you up. You can both count on me." (oO\O/Oo) Kozo Fuyutsuki sat in the cell they had thrown him in following his interrogation by SEELE, his arms secured behind him to the chair-back he was sitting in. SEELE was clearly worried about Gendo Ikari's loyalty, as well they should be, and they had obviously brought him here to try and figure out what the man was planning. Fuyutsuki would hold out giving them anything important for as long as he could, but he knew that things would get worse before they got better. SEELE wasn't a group that was bothered by human rights, nor did they constrain themselves to human methods. In the end, he knew he would break. He just hoped he could buy Ikari enough time to implement his plan. He turned to look over his shoulder when the door to his dark cell opened. "You," Fuyutsuki said. "Yes, me," Kaji drawled. "I'm afraid you're going to have to come with me, Sub-commander." Kaji squatted down to unfasten Fuyutsuki's hands. "You know what you're doing," Fuyutsuki stated. "They will kill you." "Yes, I imagine so," Kaji said in a causal tone. "But at least I'll have company. Gendo Ikari believes you've betrayed him. He has Section 2 out hunting you with termination orders. So while SEELE will be hunting me, NERV will be hunting you. Fortunately for you, my employers want to meet you." "Your employers?" Fuyutsuki asked. "I thought you worked for SEELE?" "All in good time, Sub-Commander, all in good time," Kaji said pleasantly as he completed releasing Fuyutsuki's bindings. (oO\O/Oo) "It's just sitting there, Ma'am," Hyuga reported. "It's floating in orbit just out of our range." "What? Is it looking for a nice soft place to land?" Misato asked sarcastically as she looked at the glowing object that resembled a stag horn fern painted glowing white. "What's it waiting for?" "I don't know, Ma'am," Hyuga answered. "Fine, Asuka, I want you to take the point," Misato ordered. "When the angel gets close enough, take the shot. Rei, I want you to back her up." "Roger," the two girls said. "What about me, Misato?" Ranma asked. "Sorry, Ranma," Misato said. "You're sitting this one out. Unit 01 is to remain in cryo-stasis until further notice." "Roger," Ranma said glumly. "Don't worry, Variable-chan," Asuka said cheerfully. "We got this one." (oO\O/Oo) Asuka maneuvered Unit 02 off the catapult and awaited the delivery of her rifle. It was the most powerful in NERV's arsenal, firing a rocket-assisted, HE (high explosive) penetrator to near-orbital altitudes. There was only one weapon that could match it in terms of delivering power at extreme ranges and that was the commandeered JSDF positron laser rifle. The problem was that at the range they were dealing with the laser lost much of its energy, which is why it was relegated to a backup role in this case. Warning klaxons sounded as the lift bringing Asuka's rifle rose to the surface. The red Eva reached out and collected the rifle from its carriage. Asuka shouldered the rifle and dropped her targeting hood, waiting for the angel to come into range. Much to Asuka's frustration, the angel steadfastly refused to cooperate. It hovered just out of range, seemingly teasing her as her targeting indicators drifted tantalizingly close to achieving a target lock. Asuka, not a patient person by nature, found it maddening. Suddenly, a beam of pure, white light stabbed down from the angel. The surprise caused Asuka to jerk the trigger on her controls sending a shot downrange to fall miles short of the target. Then the effects of the beam illuminating her began to take effect. Asuka could feel the angel invading her mind and she lost control of her Eva. The Eva thrashed about, firing the rifle wildly as it did so, sending HE shells raining down on the city before it until the rifle's ammo was depleted. Dropping the useless rifle, Unit 02 clutched at its head in a desperate attempt to ward off the effects of the beam. In the entry plug, Asuka too was fighting to keep the angel out of her head. "NOOOO!" Asuka cried. "Don't come in my head! Stay out of my mind!" (oO\O/Oo) Back inside the NERV control center, Maya was monitoring Asuka's brain functions. "We're showing signs of thought contamination all across her ego border!" Maya said urgently. "It's attacking her mind!" Ritsuko exclaimed. "How can it know that much about us?" "We've got to get her out of there!" Misato shouted. "Asuka! Retreat! Get out of the beam!" "No! I can't! Can't retreat..." Asuka wailed. "No! Don't show me that! I don't want to remember! R-Ranma, where are you?" "Rei! Take the shot!" Misato ordered. "Yes Ma'am," Rei said calmly. Rei stood behind the massive positron laser, its huge barrel resting on the top of a building and lined up her shot. Achieving a target lock, she depressed the trigger. Windows blew out of every nearby building as the beam of intense energy superheated the air along its path. The beam rose up through the atmosphere on target, only to splash uselessly against the angel's AT field. "It's no good!" Hyuga announced. "The beam doesn't have enough energy to penetrate the AT field!" "Damn," Misato cursed, furiously trying to come up with something, anything to take out the angel. "Vital signs are becoming erratic!" Maya reported. "We're losing her!" "Let me go out there!" Ranma yelled. "Negative," Gendo said. "We can't risk Unit 01 at this time." "It won't be a risk if I take that thing out," Ranma snarled. "What if you can't?" Gendo asked. "I can, and I will!" Ranma snapped. "Asuka needs my help and I don't lose." "I can't take that chance," Gendo said. "Then what are we going to do?" Misato demanded. "We can't just leave Asuka out there to die!" "You are right," Gendo said. "Send Rei to Terminal Dogma to retrieve the Lance." "What?" Misato demanded. "We can't do that! Adam is in there and if Adam meets Eva, we'll trigger the Third Impact." "The Lance of Longinous is the only thing we have that can destroy that angel," Gendo said. "Bring her in to get the Lance. Now." "So that was just another lie," Misato muttered as Rei was directed to retrieve the weapon. (oO\O/Oo) Asuka found herself running. She was running to catch up to Ranma and Rei who were walking away, arm in arm. "Variable-chan, Rei-chan, wait for me!" she called to them, but they didn't seem to hear her. "Please wait! Please don't leave me!" "Why would they wait for someone like you?" a voice asked. "You're not good enough for them. You never were." "No! I love them and they love me!" Asuka wailed. "Why would they possibly love someone as worthless as you?" the voice asked. "That's why your father left, because you weren't good enough for him." "Nooo!" Asuka wailed, falling to her knees and covering her ears, but still the voice continued. "Even your mother killed herself because you weren't good enough. She hung herself out of shame, having given birth to a useless piece of trash like you." "That's not true!" Asuka sobbed. But still the voice continued, showing her scenes of every time in her life she had failed, the death of her mother, every horrible moment she had ever experienced. Asuka's psyche was relentlessly beaten down and crushed. (oO\O/Oo) Rei finally reached the surface, Lance in hand. It had a long shaft that split into two halves that coiled around each other before extending out into two tines. "I am in position," Rei said calmly. "I am preparing to launch the Lance." Rei drew back and paused to allow the computers to calculate the shot. Once they made the adjustments, she initiated the throw. Unit 00 propelled the lance downrange with mighty heave. As soon as the lance left the Eva's hands it turned into a bolt of energy that stabbed through the clouds and streaked toward the target. The angel brought up its AT field but the lance pierced through it as if it were mere rice paper before penetrating the body of the angel causing it to disintegrate. "It worked!" Hyuga reported. "The angel is destroyed." "Status of the Lance?" Gendo asked. "It achieved escape velocity, Sir," Hyuga answered. "It's now in lunar orbit." "Then there's no way to retrieve it," Gendo said. "No, we have no way to retrieve an object of that mass," Hyuga stated. "What about Asuka?" Misato asked. "Recovery teams are on the scene," Aoba reported. "She's alive and they've managed to get her out of Unit 02. They have her in a quarantined area incase of contamination. They're retrieving the Eva now." (oO\O/Oo) Ranma was running toward the area where Asuka was sitting. A guard stepped in his path. "I'm sorry but you can't go in there," the guard said. "This area is quarantined." Ranma ignored him, leaping over the guard's head and into the area marked off with yellow tape. "Asuka-chan!" Ranma shouted as he sprinted up to the girl as she sat dejectedly on the ground. "Asuka-chan, are you alright?" "No!" Asuka shrieked. "No, I'm not alright! Leave me alone. I'm not good enough for you anyway. You'll just leave me behind. Just like my father. Just like my mother." "Huh?" Ranma said in confusion. "Asuka-chan, I love you! I don't think you're not good enough for me! If anything, I'm not good enough for you!" Ranma scooped the redhead up into his arms and held her close. She began to struggle, but he didn't let her go. Asuka began to sob and pound on his chest with her small fists. Eventually she gave in and wept into his chest. "It's okay, Asuka-chan," Ranma whispered soothingly. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. I love you and I think you're way more than good enough for me." (oO\O/Oo) "Hello," Kaji said with a pleasant smile as three men with guns drawn entered the room. "So at last you've found me. I've been expecting you. My friend really wanted to meet you." "Hiya, fellas," Ranma said cheerfully. Two of the men whirled around toward the pigtailed martial artist. A shot rang out and three men crumpled to the ground. One of them wouldn't be getting back up. "So I guess now you have to disappear?" Ranma asked. "Yes, but I wanted to arrange a contact for you before I vanished," Kaji said. "You can trust Misato. She's been working with me since just after the 12th angel. From now on, your contact for JSDF Intelligence will be through her." "She'll miss you," Ranma said. "Yes," Kaji said. "I'll take care of her for you," Ranma offered. "You have my thanks," Kaji said, offering his hand. Ranma took it and they shook. "You had better go. I'll take care of things here. Best of luck to you." "My luck ain't never been good," Ranma smirked. "I'll rely on my skill, thanks." "And formidable skill it is," Kaji smiled. "Fare thee well, Ranma Ikari." "You too, Kaji." Ranma turned and left. (oO\O/Oo) Nabiki stopped the tape and looked around at the others. Nobody looked like they had much to say, so she figured she'd put a thought out there. "Anyone else think it's hilarious that Ranma, the man among men, machoest of the macho, had to explain what to do about a period to Asuka?" Nabiki snickered. Cologne burst out laughing while the fiancées looked a bit green. "Oh what I would have given to be a fly on the wall during that demonstration," Cologne chortled. "And who knew he could be so comforting?" Nabiki said in amazement. "I guess whoever ends up with him is going to be a very lucky girl. I, for one, can vouch for Kasumi's massage techniques. They're very soothing." "I'm just glad Ranma is finally getting to use them," Kasumi said happily.
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