Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

"Rei! You have to calm down," Makoto commanded in a pleading tone as she and Minako held Rei in place.

"Let me go! I'm going to find that Odango and make her return what she's stolen from my grandfather," Rei yelled as she struggled against their hold.

"You're not thinking straight. If you would just stop for two seconds and---," Minako began.

"And what! My grandfather is dying and you expect me to do nothing. I don't care if she is our princess! I'll---."

"Don't finish that thought until you've actually truly considered the weight of it Rei," Ami interrupted sternly as she gave her friends a look that dared her to continue, "I know you're hurt, but you are NOT the only one who feels that way!"

Seeing that Rei seemed to have gained back her senses, the two girls released their friend. Rei clenched her fists tightly with a scowl on her face. She knew her three friends were right, but it still frustrated her to no end how helpless and useless she felt. The image of her grandfather's unconscious form lying on the hospital bed kept resurfacing.

'Why? This is the second time I was powerless to save him…and this time it was Usagi who…'

"We will find a way Rei," Makoto said while giving her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder, "We always do and this time will be no exception."

"But," Rei began with an almost hopeless tone, "This isn't like all those other times. We have two enemies…and one of them is Usagi. She's the one who always inspired us. It's always her that provided the miracle no matter how bleak things are."

The other three mirrored Rei's sad look each not knowing how to lift the groups' spirit from the truth behind their friend's words. They had always looked toward their princess as a source of hope and inspiration. Usagi was and always will be an important friend to each of them. How could they fight the person they have sworn to protect?

"I have to talk to her and find out if she really understands what she's doing. I will make her see sense," Rei suddenly declared with her usual rage in her eyes.

"If you're planning to find her at the Tsukino residence, you're out of luck."

The four girls turned to see Mamoru leaning against his car with Luna and Artemis standing on the car roof.

"What do you mean Luna? I don't care if she's not home right at this moment. I will just wait until she gets home," Rei said determinedly.

"You would just be wasting your time," Luna said harshly.

The recent events and Usagi's sudden personality change had taken a toll from Luna. The constant research she's been conducting with Artemis about the Ginzuishou had left her agitated. Her own grief and feelings of guilt only further worsened her mood. She understood Rei's feelings, but she was just in no mood for the Fire Senshi's stubborn attitude.

"Ahem, perhaps I should explain why doing so would be of no help to anybody," Artemis said trying to be the voice of reason, "You see Usagi used the Ginzuishou and altered her family's memories. They now believe that Usagi is out of town visiting some distant relatives. Obviously she's trying to distance herself from her family which would indicate Usagi is preparing to seal away Chaos soon."

"I still don't understand why Usagi would do this," Ami said in deep thoughts, "Is she planning to do what Galaxia had done? That would seem rather pointless considering the outcome of Galaxia's good intentions."

"She does plan to seal away Chaos, but not the way Galaxia had done," Luna said with downcast eyes.

"We can finish this conversation later," Mamoru cut in before any of the girls could voice their questions. "Michiru and Haruka are waiting for us at their place. They said they've learned some important things that need to be discussed. Get in."


"Haruka sit down. Your constant pacing is making me dizzy," Michiru said to her fidgety partner.

Pulling Haruka down to a sit, Michiru poured a cup of tea and handed it to her frowning partner.

"Here, hopefully this might calm your nerves a little."

Not even taking a sip of the tea, Haruka placed her cup down onto the coffee table. Leaning back against the sofa, she crossed her hands and continued to glare at nothing in particular. Seeing that her partner would not be loosening up any time soon, Michiru inwardly sighed.

'Well at least she's not pacing around anymore,' with that thought, Michiru turned to the boy sitting opposite of Haruka and said, "Haruka is just very impatient sometimes. Pay her no mind."

The boy smiled politely giving a small shake of his head, "It's fine. I understand how nerve wreaking waiting can be. Anyway I should be thanking the two of you. You and Haruka-san had been very kind in providing me a place to stay."

"Think nothing of it Urawa-san," Michiru said as she took a sip of tea, "After all, you are a friend of Ami and the others. On top of that we know you're taking quite a risk by coming her to help us."

"Well I'm not sure what I've told you two will actually help and in regard to the danger, I believe in you two and the other Sailor Senshis. After all you guys have never failed before."

"There's a first time for everything," Haruka said with a tone full of bitterness.

Before either would respond, the doorbell started ringing. Excusing herself, Michiru got up and headed to the front door. Opening the door, she was greeted by the four girls and Mamoru. Luna was hanging on Ami's shoulder while Artemis was in a similar position on Minako's shoulder. They shuffled into the living room almost single-filed without exchanging more than a half-hearted "hi."

"Urawa-kun! What are you doing here," Ami asked in a surprised tone.

"Well, Haruka-san and Michiru-san said it would be under their best interest as well as mine if I stayed here for the time being," Urawa answered, then not really knowing what else to say, "So how have you been Ami-chan?"

Recovering from her surprise, Ami gave a weary smile before saying, "Its be rough, but we're hanging in there."

After Urawa gave a small nod of understanding, Michiru suggested they all take a sit so the meeting can begin.

"So what did you two find out," Luna asked after everybody had taken a sit.

"Before that, we wanted to ask if you or Artemis have any idea on how Usagi will seal away Chaos," Michiru said.

"We have looked into that matter and found that the Ginzuishou does have the potential to seal away beings. Just as the late Queen Serenity had sealed the seven Nijizuizhou into the rainbow crystals, we think Usagi is planning to combine the power of the Ginzuishou along with the energy of the seven Nijizuizhou to seal away Chaos," Luna explained.

"But if Queen Serenity had been able to seal away the seven Nijizuizhou with the power of the Ginzuishou alone, why can't Usagi do the same with Chaos," Minako wondered aloud.

"Chaos is the manifestation of the negative thoughts of all beings. It can be considered as the source of all hatred. It can feel no remorse or sadness. In contrast, the seven Nijizuizhou have their own ways of thinking. Just as Urawa had once demonstrated, they have good in them as well. The Ginzuishou reflects the user's heart and like her mother from her past life, Usagi's heart draws power from purity. The seven Nijizuizhou were more easily sealed because each had a source of purity to be intensified and overcome the evil, but since Chaos is a being completely composed of hatred, it lacks that speck of purity needed. Therefore Usagi is collecting the energy of the Nijizuizhou which are composed of negative energy, but still contains that needed speck of purity. We are guessing that Usagi plans to let Chaos absorb the negativity of the Nijizuizhou along with the small bits of positive energy and use that to seal away Chaos with the power of the Ginzuishou," Luna answered.

"Then why would Usagi go out of her way to collect the energies of each Nijizuizhou? She could just let Chaos collect them on his own," Ami asked with furrowed brows.

"We're not sure, but we have some theories," Artemis said uneasily, "One of them is that the bits of pure energy would eventually be overcome by the negative energy that makes up Chaos."

"What are your other theories," Mamoru pressed noticing the uneasiness of the two cats.

"Well we think Usagi may be using the energies she's collected for some other purposes," Artemis finally answered.

"The puzzle pieces are fitting together aren't they Haruka," Michiru said to her partner.

"What do you two know? Did you find out how Usagi is using the collected energies," Luna asked with a look that demanded the two Outers to immediately tell them what they've learned.

"Have you guys noticed that Setsuna have recently disappeared," Michiru questioned to everyone's surprise.

"Now that you've mentioned it, why isn't she here," Makoto asked.

"But she is the Senshi of Time. It wouldn't be the first time that Pluto returned to the Time Gates," Luna reasoned.

"No, Setsuna always informs us if she's returning to the Time Gates," Haruka said loudly.

Michiru placed a hand on her partner's shoulder indicating for her to calm down. Taking a deep breath, Haruka took a moment o bring her emotion under control before continuing in a calmer voice, "It was around the time Michiru and I felt a sinister presence approaching Earth when we seeked out Setsuna to discuss the matter, but we couldn't contact her at all."

"Do you tow think Chaos had anything to do with her disappearance," Rei asked.

Michiru gave a shake of her head saying, "Setsuna would not take action without at least informing us and we know that Chaos had not reached Earth yet when we lost contact."

"Are you suggesting Usagi had something to do with this," Mamoru inquired with narrowed eyes.

"Who else would have the kind of power to keep Pluto at the Time Gates," Haruka challenged.

"Wait how do you know Pluto's even at the Time Gates," Makoto shot back.

"That's the only place we would be unable to sense her presence at all," Michiru said calmly, "We may not be able to know exactly where she is, but my mirror should be able to pinpoint her presence to a certain location unless he's not longer in our timeline."

"This would prove that Usagi is hiding something from us," Rei said with a frown, "As the Senshi of Time, Pluto may have foreseen something that Usagi doesn't want us to know."

"But wouldn't the Ginzuishou itself be powerful enough to keep Pluto at the Time Gates? It doesn't seem necessary for Usagi to go out of her way to compete with Chaos for the Nijizuishou," Ami said.

"But there is a reason for her to collect the Nijizuizhou's energies herself," Michiru said with a knowing smile, "You recall how once the Nijizuizhou's energy is taken from their human form they would die?"

All except for Haruka and Urawa nodded with confusion still written on their faces.

"Well, Haruka and I had found this very strange and knew something or someone must be sustaining their life energy just enough to keep them alive," Michiru continued causing the others to go wide-eyed at her implication.

"So you're saying that Usagi is the one keeping the Nijizuizhous alive," Makoto asked.

When Michiru nodded, a flood of relief flowed through Mamoru, the Inners and the two guardian cats. This means that Usagi doesn't want to sacrifice anybody after all!

"But wait," Rei said suddenly as a thought hit her, "Even if she is sustaining their lives now, what about when she seals Chaos away? Isn't she only prolonging their lives?"

"Knowing Usagi, she wouldn't keep them alive to just throw their lives away for nothing," Minako said, "She must have something planned out."

"That's what we're afraid of," Haruka said.

"What do you mean," Mamoru asked fearing the answer, "Is she planning to do something that would endanger herself?"

"I think it's best if you tell them what you've told us Urawa-san," Michiru said.

Urawa gave a nod of his head and all eyes were turned to him. The room turned deadly quiet for the few seconds he took to organize his thoughts.

"Well I've been getting the same visions lately," Urawa began, "Sometimes I see this dark misty figure that would always send shivers down my spine. I can't remember much in particular except for the two blood red eyes and its cold stare. Seeing them, I would feel myself paralyze in fear and at the same time I would begin to feel weaker and weaker by the second. Every time the vision would fade out at that exact same point."

"What does that have to do with Usako? All that suggests is that Chaos may---," Mamoru started with a frown.

"There's more to it Mamoru-san," Michiru interrupted and indicated for Urawa to continue.

"The other vision I have involves Usagi-chan," Urawa continued with an unreadable expression, "I see myself and the others like myself floating. In the next instant we seemed to be blanketed in darkness, but the next thing we knew a sudden flash of light appears and engulfs the seven of us. Then we would hear Usagi-chan's voice apologizing and saying something along the lines of 'I will take over now.' The last thing in my vision has me waking up to the night sky and the vague sounds of each of your separate cries for Sailor Moon to wake up."

The room became silent once more as each tried to take in what they've just heard. The implications behind Urawa's vision left them feeling numb. Somewhere their princess and close friend was probably planning to seal away Chaos using her life as the price!

A/N: Story should be nearing its end. Can't say when I'll update next since classes are starting again. That and I feel I should be working on my other stories as well =[