Chapter 8 Akane's Moment of Truth Deep on the outer rim of the Sol System floating above the planet of Neptune, was the Galaxy Police starcruiser, Yukinojo, sat Mayuka Masaki, Detective First Class and her partner Trysta Starlight (for those who don't this individual it's Sailor Pluto, I'm using her American first with a made up last name), Lieutenant. Mayuka sat reading one of her grandfather's favorite mangas. Trysta frowned slightly looking at the title to the manga. "Honestly, you read those stupid romance comics constantly, you're worst than a teenager sometimes," Trysta said. Mayuka shrugged. "What can I say, I'm a sucker for romance." Trysta shook her dark green mane of hair. "Did you check, the inner sector like I asked?" "Three times in the last hour, not a thing. Like there is anything remotely dangerous in this sector of space," Mayuka grumped, leaning forward and doing another sensor scan. This time however the scans picked up a minor flux in the sub-space field. (Big science talk for what's going on in the tournament.) Mayuka adjusted the sensors just in time to watch the conclusion of the Raye Saotome versus Number 18 match of the tournament. Trysta watched as Raye fall outside the ring, Mayuka on the other hand dropped the manga she was reading and sat up with a gleam in her eye. "Oh wow, a martial arts tournament!" she giggled excitedly. She then quickly adjusted the reception on the scanner and to check the frequency, then switched on the television turning the dial to match the frequency. She then put the scanner back into passive scanning, just as the next fight was annouced. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the next match will now commence. With Ryoko Masaki, facing a young seventeen girl from Graviton City, Eiko Magami," the announcer stated. Mayuka's eye's popped out of her face and she fell off her seat. "What's my m-m-mom doing there?" Trysta shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine." Akane Tendo looked through the doorway leading to the ring and watched Raye walked back to the waiting area looking slightly depressed. Then watched the next two fighters take to the ring as Raye walked pass them. "You okay, Raye?" Akane asked as Raye walked in. Raye looked up smiled weakly. "Yeah, just underestimated Auntie 18 a bit, but no real harm done." Akane nodded turning to look at Number 18 briefly before turning back to her future sister-in-law. Raye was now checking for possible injuries, when she found none she just readjusted her outfit and turned to watch the rest of the female tournament. Akane smiled softly, actually glad the raven haired girl was doing alright. During Akane and Ranma's training trip, Ranma had spoken a lot good as well as bad things about his little sister. Of course being the youngest of three daughters Akane could relate, to these things. She patted Raye's shoulder and smiled. Raye looked at her for a second, then smiled. "I'm fine really," she paused looking at Number 18 then back to Akane. "Just give, Auntie 18 a good punch to the gut for me, big sis." Akane froze at that comment, before realizing what it implied. The arranged engagement happen ten months ago, yet it was put at the back of Akane's mind because of the training. Now, while waiting for her next match she found that everything was brought back into light. She spent more time talking to Ranma, during the training then she had the entire two years with him before she made the wish. "I'll give it my best, Raye." Raye smiled then turned back to watch the match that just begun The World Martial Arts Tournament- Women's Division Round One Akane Tendo Xian Pu Akane Tendo Number 18 Number 18 Raye Hino Saotome ___________spot 5 spot 16 Ryoko Masaki Eiko Magami _________ Videl Son Chun Li Ryoko stood watching the red haired girl as she went through warm up stretches, she yawned waiting for the girl to finish. She watched as the redhead finished warming up and take a fighting stance. Ryoko widen her stance and waited for the red head to attack. The attack came a little faster then Ryoko plan, the red head ran at her at nearly super sonic speed. Ryoko smiled slightly as she flew back, the girl naturally followed. The red head realized how close she came to the edge and tried to stop. Eiko did stop just before going out, instead she teetered for second. Ryoko simply teleported behind the girl and tapped her between the shoulders. Eiko Magami couldn't hold herself up anymore and fell out of the ring, leaving Ryoko as the victor. Ryoko smiled softly and walked off to the waiting area, trying hard not to laugh at the picture it would of presented to everyone watching. The World Martial Arts Tournament- Women's Division Round One Akane Tendo Xian Pu Akane Tendo Number 18 Number 18 Raye Hino Saotome ____________spot 5 spot 16 Ryoko Masaki Eiko Magami Ryoko Masaki Videl Son Chun Li Ranma knew the time was drawing ever closer to the match between Akane and Number 18, he felt nervous. His fiancee was going to be fighting one of the strongest fighters in the world, he prayed that she would be okay. Akane watched as Videl and her opponent slowly enter the ring. Videl was wrapped in a veil of confidence as she turned to her opponent. She cocked her eye toward the stadium seats and found the group of individuals that meant the world to her. She saw her mother-in-law holding up her daughter who was giggling and cheering her on, she then saw her husband up near the tadium roof cheering her on with the other Z-fighters. She then turned to her opponent, and gave the woman a dark smile. The gong was sounded and Videl vanished from sight, when she reappeared again she was right in front of Chun Li. CHun Li never saw what hit her as she went soaring into the sky, when she landed the ring announcer didn't even bother to count staring into the eye's of a very unresponsive person. "Winner, is Videl!" The World Martial Arts Tournament- Women's Division Semi-Final Round Akane Tendo Number 18 __________spot 5 spot 16 Ryoko Masaki Videl Son Akane shook internally, as she watched the announcer took to the ring about to announce the start of the Semi-Final round. She felt someone touch her shoulder and turned to look at the woman she would be facing. Number 18 gave her a simple nod as she walked to the walkway leading to the ring. she pause in her thinking. She then remembered all the times she never listened to Ranma and what complications it caused. Akane quietly walked out into the light heading for the ring, nerves still on edge as she stepped up onto the ring floor. She walked quietly toward the middle of the ring, looking up into the audience hoping to catch a glimpse of Nodoka or Ranma. She then turned to her opponent and started assessing her opponent quietly. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the first match of the Women's Semi-Finals is about to begin. We have Akane Tendo facing Number 18, the winner will go on to main event and face fifteen other competors or the right to be called World Champion!" The announcer walked to the edge of the ring and jumped down then turned back to the two fighters raising his hand, when it came down the gong sounded. (Play "Duel of the Fates" from the Star Wars: Episode 1 soundtrack) Akane took two slow breaths with her eyes closed, when she opened them she flew at Eighteen at a surprising speed. Eighteen though blocked the first punch thrown at her, Akane quickly followed it up with another punch. This was also blocked, but she continued her assault and Eighteen continued to block. The blocking was forcing the blonde haired beauty back, until they were near the edge of the ring. Eighteen took to the air with Akane following her. The two reengaged in mid air trading punches, kicks, and blocks. Eighteen ducked under one punch and sent her foot toward Akane's stomach, the Tendo girl lurch foward but knew what the follow up would be and rolled with the double ax-handle punch, to kick Eighteen in the chin and would have followed it up if Eighteen hadn't vanished. Akane quickly vanished as well as Eighteen reappeared behind her. She then reappeared behind the blonded beauty, to retry her follow up only to face more empty space. This went on for a few seconds, each time they would try to punch or kick the other they would vanish. That was until Akane floated backwards after her next appearance, but instead vanishing she simply spun around and landed wicked kick to Eighteen's temple then she grabbed the blonde beauty's arm and twirled about sending Eighteen hurtling toward the ring floor at mach one. Eighteen impacted leaving a good sized crater in the ring floor, while above Akane position herself for one of her new chi attacks. "Okay, SHINNKUU-HA!!!" Akane shouted and blast of purple and black energy went flying toward Eighteen as she stood up. She saw the energy blast coming and flew out of the way just as it hit. Akane appeared behind the blonde beauty and nailed her with a kick to the back. Eighteen went soaring toward the wall in front of Hercule but stopped herself before hitting it. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Akane standing in the ring glowing orange, wacthing her intensly. "I can't believe how strong she is, so she's Ranma's fiancee. I can see what he sees in her," she smiled then flew at the Tendo girl. She brought her hands back and when they came forward two yellow beams of energy went flying toward the Tendo girl. The resulting explosion caused a huge cloud of smoke. Eighteen couldn't feel chi energy like her husband and the other Z-fighters because of her android parts, but she knew Akane couldn't sense her because of those same reasons. But when the smoke cleared Eighteen was looking at an empty ring. Eighteen immediately looked to the stands at the top, she saw the Z-fighters looking up at the sky except her husband who was desperately pointing something out to her. Eighteen looked up into the sky and saw Akane hovering some two hundred feet into the sky, her orange glow, started getting brighter. "What's she doing?" Goku asked. Ranma smiled in returned. "You'll find out in a second." Chapter Post Note's: Yeah, it sucks. But for my first cliffhanger it's not so bad. Okay, now you know what Mayuka is doing while her dad is participating in the Tournament. And why is Sailor Pluto a member of the Galaxy Police, you might ask. Trust me, Starting Over is merely the flag ship project but when it ends something else will take it's place. I just haven't decided what yet. Anyway until next time.