Okay: Before we get started, lets go back to our standard "Please don't sue me!" disclaimer for anyone who missed it earlier:

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon was created by Naoko Takeuchi, Tenchi Muyo! is the property of AIC/Pioneer LDC, Inc. None of the characters in this story are mine and this work is strictly for entertainment, not for profit.

Continuity Notes: This story takes place in the Sailor Moon S season of the anime. The Tenchi continuity is a mix of Tenchi OAV 1+2 and Tenchi Universe. (Kiyone!)

Chapter2

"Oh, Look!" Sasami exclaimed. "It's blooming!"

In Washu's lab, Kiyone was about to leave when one of Washu's consoles began loudly beeping for attention. Kiyone looked on as the genius scientist turned to the offending panel and frowned in concentration.

"What is it, Miss Washu?" Kiyone asked.

"I'm not sure." Washu replied. "It seems to be some sort of negative energy field ... and it's coming from inside the house..."

"Myia!" Ryo ohki cried in sudden agitation as she leapt from Sasami's shoulder. As she landed on the kitchen floor, she began to hiss at the offending plant.

Mihoshi jumped; startled by Ryo ohki's sudden violent reaction, as she did so, the knife in her hand bumped the plant on the cill and knocked it into the sink. "Oops!" Mihoshi exclaimed as she reached for the still blooming plant.

As Sasami watched, she noticed where Mihoshi's other hand was resting. "Mihoshi! Look out!" She exclaimed as she saw Mihoshi's hand slip. "That's the switch for Washu's new..."

Her sentence was interrupted as Mihoshi's hand brushed the switch in question and Mihoshi suddenly jerked her right hand out of the sink as a beam of orange energy shot up from the drain and incinerated her new plant.

"Whaaa!" Mihoshi cried.

"...Turbo laser garbage disposal." Sasami finished in resignation.

"Oh my!"

In Washu's lab, the mysterious energy signature vanished. "Hmmm. That's strange." Washu remarked as she noted the signal's abrupt cessation.

"Could it have been a malfunction in the scanner?" Kiyone wondered.

From some people, Kiyone's question would have been seen as a challenge to the diminutive genius, but Washu knew that with Kiyone, she was only making sure to cover all possibilities... Even infinitesimally remote ones. Washu added to herself. Still, she ran a diagnostic on the scanner unit. As expected, her equipment was in perfect working order.

"No." Washu answered. "The scanner checks out fine." She turned to Kiyone with a considering look. "I'll try to analyze the signature and see if I can come up with anything. In the meantime, we don't need to worry Tenchi or the others right now so we'll just keep this between the two of us for now"

Kiyone nodded in agreement. "Right."

Mihoshi looked mournfully into the sink where her plant had just been destroyed, but then turned to examining her right hand, noting in relief that all of her fingers were still there. She turned to Sasami with a sigh and a little smile.

"Oh, well." She said. "I guess I'll just have to go get another one tomorrow after Kiyone and I finish our patrol."

Dawn at the Hikawa shrine; the next morning, found Rei Hino beginning her morning chores as she began to sweep the grounds in front of the shrine. On this morning; however, she saw that she was not alone at this hour as she observed their guest standing in the middle of the courtyard apparently lost in contemplation. Rei liked Katsuhito. He and her grandfather had been friends for decades and it was good to see her grandfather have someone his own age to talk to.

But there seemed to be something else to Katsuhito Masaki. Something that Rei could not quite explain even to herself. She thought back to his last visit. It had been just before she had learned of her identity as Sailor Mars and the Hikawa shrine had just taken a new assistant named Jed: Rei had ambiguous feelings about Jed from the beginning, but she had noticed how Katsuhito had taken an instant dislike of the new shrine assistant. During the four days of his visit, Katsuhito spoke hardly a single word to Jed, nor even hardly acknowledged his presence... Except for the last day, when Rei accidentally overheard Katsuhito issue a very clear and unmistakable warning to "Jed":

"If any ill should befall this house, you WILL answer to me." Katsuhito had said in low, yet forceful tones that surprised Rei and seemed to freeze "Jed". This was even stranger in retrospect as "Jed" had been revealed as Jaedite.

Having fought the powerful negaverse general, Rei could not imagine how Katsuhito had managed to so unnerve Jaedite... Yet "Jed" had seemed very nervous for the next several days and it would not be until another two weeks after Katsuhito's departure that the disappearances began near the temple.

"Ah! Good morning Rei!" Katsuhito said smiling; noting her presence, even as he continued his contemplations.

"Good morning Katsuhito-san!" She answered.

Katsuhito turned from the view to face the young shrine maiden. It was remarkable to him how much she favored her mother he mused as he thought to a time long ago.

"My daughter Achika was married on this spot. Did you know that Rei?"

"Really?" Rei asked.

"Yes." Katsuhito said. "Your grandfather insisted on performing the ceremony as a favor to an old friend... He simply refused to have it any other way!"

Infact, Katsuhito recalled his friend's words on the matter quite clearly: Any priest can perform the ceremony! He declared. But you're the ONLY one who can be the father of the bride and that's more important than who the priest is...

"Those were happy times..." He said wistfully.

"Grandpa says you're going back to Okayama today." Rei said, sounding disappointed.

"Yes, Rei. I have enjoyed this visit but I have a shrine of my own I must tend." Then added... "You and your grandfather are always welcome to come to Okayama sometime. The house is a little full as of late, but there is always room for family... You could even bring your boyfriend Chad if you like." Katsuhito said with a mischievous smile. "He would be most welcome..."

Rei started turning beet red with embarrassment. "But Chad... I mean... He's not my... Well I like him and... Well he does take good care of Grandpa, but... We're not..." She said spluttering.

"Yes, he's a fine young man. I can see." Katsuhito smiled in mischief. "Yes, A fine and fortunate young man indeed..."

At the same time in Okayama, Tenchi was busily sweeping the steps of the Masaki shrine. As his grandfather would be home from his visit to Tokyo come evening, Tenchi knew he needed to make sure the shrine was in immaculate condition. Down below, Kiyone and Mihoshi were getting ready to go out on patrol.

"Mihoshi! Mihoshi!" Kiyone called. "Come on Mihoshi! We have a patrol to make!"

"I'll be there in just a second!" Mihoshi answered as she raced out of the house to join her partner.

Kiyone looked strangely at her partner for a moment. "Uh... Mihoshi?"

"Yes, Kiyone?"

"This is just a routine patrol... Why are you wearing your combat uniform?" Kiyone asked.

Mihoshi looked down at the purple and orange battle outfit she was wearing. "Well, uh... I uh... You see..." Mihoshi began.

Kiyone waved a hand in resignation. "Never mind Mihoshi." Kiyone dismissed. "I'm sure I really don't want to know."

Meanwhile, Ayeka, Ryoko, and Sasami stood gathered at the entrance to Little Washu's lab. Each of them being quite curious as to why their resident genius had called for them.

"So, does anybody have any idea what she wants?" Ryoko said holding her hands idly behind her head.

"I'm afraid not." Ayeka admitted.

"Me either." Sasami added.

"Well... I guess there is only one way to find out." Ayeka said and knocked on the door...