Author's Note: Hello all! I hope you enjoy this new chapter of Silver Rose.

"KURAMA!" the scream echoed over the battle field. The Ginzouishou flared for a second, just as golden eyes returned to dull green and silver hair to red.

"Take care of her!" was the last thing the red-haired young said, before closing his eyes.

Kurama had absolute respect for intellect. He also knew, from memories, what a good strategist Mercury, now Mizuno Ami, was. But those were but memories. He saw her now again, planning how to better make their little spy trip work. Although he had been working with a team for some years now, and he trusted that team with his life, they had always left the strategizing to him. And he had always enjoyed it. He enjoyed it even more now. He gained a new understanding of the Senshi and their way of working through threats. Usagi was their heart, the one they felt they needed to protect. Rei, Makoto and Minako were the power houses, the ones that provided the attacks. Ami was the strategist, she hung back and made the plans. As for the Outer Senshi, they all focused on attacking, while also trying to protect Usagi.

He sighed softly, as he evaluated the last member of their team: Chiba Mamoru. He was powerful. He was the wielder of another great Crystal, the Golden Crystal. But he never used it in battle. Kurama was puzzled by this. In their own team, they used all the weapons at their disposal.

"Chiba-san?" he asked softly, while the girls were planning.

"Minamino-san," Mamoru acknowledged the demon.

"I wish to speak to you. In private, if possible."

"Of course! Follow me, please!"

Kurama got up from his seated position, smiled at Yusuke, and, with a last glance behind him, left the room.

"What did you wish to tell me, Minamino-san?" asked Mamoru, as soon as they were outside, on the temple grounds.

"Kurama, please! You have great power, Chiba-san. Why not use it?"

"Mamoru, then! As for my power… all I can say is that I know I have it, I can use it, but I prefer not to. You may not this, but the Golden Crystal is not the same as the Silver Crystal. The Golden Crystal is tied not only to me, and my life force alone. It is also tied to four others."

"I remember meeting the Shittenou briefly. Before the battle. The power of your Crystal is tied to them?"

"Yes, the power of my crystal is tied to them aswell. I… I am sorry. I wish I remembered you too. I understand my memories have been altered. And believe me when I say, I have tried to get passed whatever block is on them, but I didn't succeed."

Kurama inclined his head. He understood the young man's frustration. He had lived with a half-remembered life. It was not pleasant, to say the least. As he was about to say something, though, they both felt the girls' energy. They were transforming.

Mamoru looked briefly to Kurama and, with a nod of understanding, they both rushed to the room.

"What's going on?" asked Kurama.

"Mercury's computer went hay-wire," answered Yusuke.

"There is some negative energy amassing," said Sailor Mercury. "It is coming from near here. We need to hurry. It is getting stronger."

Mamoru took out a rose from his jacket pocket, swirled it in his hand, and, suddenly, Tuxedo Mask was standing next to Kurama.

Yusuke looked at his red-haired friend. The rose was his signature flower. To see someone else use it so casually was weird to him. Kuwabara was also a bit spooked by the appearance of the rose in Mamoru's hand, but the energy coming from it was different from the roses Kurama usually used. Still, to them, the rose was and always had been Kurama's weapon of choice.

Venus looked towards Koenma: "Will you be joining us, too?"

"I think I will, yes. It has been some time since I last stretched my muscles," smiled the Prince of Reikai. It was an almost predatory smile. He may have not had a lot of fighting practice, but he relished the practice that he did have.

They all sprinted down the steps, only to be stopped by a veritable wall of negative energy. It surrounded the shrine, and, beyond it, they could see monsters emerging from a pit. They looked like some of the youma the Senshi had battled when they first became aware of their powers, but also, different somehow.

"Youkai!" said Hiei. He unsheathed his katana and slashed through the energy wall. It gave way for a second, only to close up again. Yusuke fired a Reigun at it. Again, it rippled, but did not part.

"World… Shaking!" Uranus's attack crashed against it, without any effect, just as Neptune's "Deep Submerge" did. Next came the others, again, with no effect. In the mean time, the demons were dispersing towards the city.

"We are just going to tire ourselves out," said Tuxedo Mask. "A joint effort would be best."

"Hm! Not just yet!" scoffed Hiei, while taking off the bandage on his arm. The Dragon tattooed on it roared to life and managed to cut through the wall. As the Senshi and Reikai Tantei rushed through the breach, the dragon returned to his wielder and Hiei smiled a satisfied smile. He would prove to Mars that he had not lost his power. He was going to protect her. He was going to respect his promise.

"Look! They are heading for the city," cried Eternal Sailor Moon. "We need to hurry!"

"Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, you are the fastest. Head them off and hold them in place. There are too many for Sailor Moon to dust them all in one go!" said Mercury, tapping on her computer. She was uneasy about these demons springing up. They were too many. To be able to rip such a large hole in the wall that separated the Makai from Ningenkai, someone had to be very powerful. She tried to not think the worse. Suddenly, he felt a colder breeze pass her. As she turned her head, she was met with blue-green eyes, and blue hair. Touya had joined them too. She smiled tightly at him. She did not have time for thoughts of past lives when their present ones were in danger. But at the back of her mind, she was more than grateful for Yukino's presence.

They spread out the city, taking out demons, rounding them up so Eternal Sailor Moon could cleanse them. But, no matter how many they killed, more were coming. Sailor Moon was concentrating as hard as she could on cleansing as many demons as possible, but she was beginning to tire. Her grip on the Eternal Tire slipped just as a demon was coming from behind her.

"Sailor Moon!" "Lunaria!"came the shouts from both Tuxedo Mask and Kurama, but both were too far to help. Tuxedo Mask could throw his roses far, but he had also began to tire. And Kurama had only one long range attack. And it used too much of his youki.

Sailor Moon heard the shouts, but she was too slow to turn. Just as the demon was about to pounce on her, a large thorn appeared from the ground and the Sailor soldier was tumbled to the ground. She looked up, ready to thank whoever had saved her, only for her words to die in her throat. Her eyes locked on the violet eyes of Fiore. His gaze landed on her and softened.

"Princess. You are unharmed. I am glad for that!"

"Fiore! But…"

"Maybe another time would be prudent to discuss this, yes? Know that I am here to help and serve, as I have sworn," he said with a low bow, then turned to Kurama and Tuxedo Mask, who had been fighting together.

"Lord Youko! It a pleasure to see you are in good health. Prince Endymion!" he bowed again, then sprinted into the fray.

Tuxedo Mask was stunned. He had not believed Ami when she said it was possible for Fiore to have returned. Yet, here he was. and he had saved Sailor Moon. He also knew Kurama, and had addressed him as 'Lord Youko'.

"Mask, now is not the time. Lord Fiore is on our side. That's all you need to know."

"But… but he's the enemy. He was, I mean."

Kurama speared a look at the masked man next to him. Then he leapt into the fight.

"Mamoru-san," the voice of Sailor Mercury next to him startled Tuxedo Mask, as did the use of his civilian name. "You need to focus, Mamoru-san. There will be time for explanations later."

With a decisive nod, Tuxedo Mask resumed his own fights. But his mind remained on Fiore and his unexpected, but more than welcome, help.

Hiei had been cleaving, burning and maiming low-ranking demons for what seemed like an eternity. He had lost sight of Sailor Mars some time ago, but he could still feel her energy burning brighter than any fire. She was alive, alive and fighting. He hated it. And, at the same time, he loved that she was as fierce as the fire she represented. He remembered the flames that danced at her command. And he rejoiced in remembering everything now. A demon tried to impale him on its claws, but, with a smirk on his lips, Hiei was behind it, his katana buried in its spine. The thrill of a good fight, the song of battle, it was his greatest pleasure. Suddenly, he saw a flaming arrow light the sky. He amended his thoughts: seeing Sailor Mars in battle was his greatest pleasure.

Yusuke and Koenma were both laughing in delight. Yusuke was in his element, fighting more hand-to-hand, while Koenma used reiki. They fought back to back and, in between demons, they both searched for a two Sesnshi. Koenma remembered well the first time he had seen Venus in a fight. Youko had paired them. He said they both needed some one-on-one training. The Reikai prince had been stunned when he had seen the speed and strength the Senshi of Love exhibited. She was magnificent with her Venus Love Me chain, as well as with the Moon Sword. He made it possible to always train with her when he was able to come to the Moon.

Yusuke didn't remember his life in Makai. But the pure energy that poured out of Sailor Jupiter as she had transformed made him curse their former Queen for blocking his memories of coming back to him in this new body. She was just like the lightning she wielded so expertly. Vibrant and powerful.

Sailor Mars was firing arrow after arrow. The demons chocked her with their negative energy, but she kept on firing. They were many, but she knew they were not to be allowed to get further into the city. Suddenly, she heard Tuxedo Mask and Kurama shout Sailor Moon's name. She turned, but her view was blocked by the demons. She cursed softly, then continued firing her bow. She felt the cleansing energy of the Ginzouishou pour out of Usagi. Every time her friend, her Princess, used the powerful Crystal, Mars' heart stopped for a fraction of a beat. She knew the price Usagi paid. A portion of her life force would also pour out the Crystal. But Usagi was strong now. Much stronger than she had been in the beginning. Much stronger than even during the Silver Millennium. Sailor Mars shook her head to clear the image of the Silver Palace from her mind. It was both painful and so, so sweet. All of a sudden, she felt a spike of demon energy, but it was as known to her as her own. A massive dragon coiled on the sky, turning it black. The dragon opened its maws, then collapsed on a mass of demons. Her fire lord was fighting. She smiled and, with renewed power, she fired more arrows.

Jupiter and Saturn fought side by side. The little girl was formidable with her weapon of choice, and the demons fell before the scythe. Jupiter smiled a bit, remembering the dazed look on Yusuke's face when they transformed in front of them. He had looked at her like struck by her lightning. She enjoyed putting that expression on his face. But she then remembered Keiko and sobered. Whatever had happened before, it was sure to not be repeated. If anything, Ling had always been honorable. He would respect the woman he was with. She just hoped that the negative energy that the demons had sensed was not coming from Keiko.

Uranus and Neptune were fighting together, as they always were. To their left, Pluto powered up a "Dead Scream" that obliterated the demons surrounding her.

Suddenly, a spike of energy caught their attention. They saw a flash of blue, and then ice encased some near-by demons. Touya was doing a good job fighting with them. As he leaned to the right, Uranus could see the dark blue hair of Mercury peaking from behind him. They were back to back, Mercury using her harp to guard Touya's back. They made a good team, thought Uranus. She was distracted from observing the two ice wielders by another flash of blue, this time, followed by red. A young man, dressed similarly to Moon royalty, was fighting alongside Kurama. Both were using flowers, but the unknown man seemed to grow them directly from the earth, whereas Kurama seemed to have an endless supply of seeds hidden in his hair.

Suddenly, the battle field turned quiet. In the centre of the demons, a light was forming. The Senshi knew it meant Eternal Sailor Moon was powering up. Indeed, she rose above the demons and Senshi alike and, with eyes closed, she summoned the Ginzouishou. It shone in her hands then released its light down on the demons.

Kurama, Yusuke, Touya and Hiei closed their eyes, and winced a bit. The cleansing light of the Silver Crystal hurt them too, but it was also soothing. Kuwabara let his sword dissipate. He had been fighting alongside Saturn, marveling at her power. But the silver light coming from above was more powerful. He was bathed in purity, love and happiness. When he opened his eyes, the demons that had been left were gone, only ashes left behind.

Eternal Sailor Moon descended slowly and she too opened her eyes. She was exhausted, but the demons were gone. Well, the summoned demons. Kurama and his team were still there. She had been afraid for a second that the purifying might of the Crystal might hurt them, but they were alright.

She smiled at her Senshi, who gathered around her. Rei was relieved, as always, when she used the Crystal. Uranus and Neptune were approving her power and the other girls were happy to have defeated the demons. Sailor Moon lifted her eyes when she felt gazes on her. Blue met green and held. Then, Mamoru entered her sight. He wore a slightly disturbed expression, glancing over her shoulder. Sailor Moon turned, to see Fiore kneeling before her.

"Lord Fiore! I am thankful to you for saving me!" she said formally.

He kept his kneeling stance. "Lord Fiore? Please, get up!"

"Princess Serenity, I must apologize for my actions. They were unforgivable and I hope to atone by serving you loyally again," Fiore's melodious voice was tinged with sorrow.

Sailor Moon looked at the girls surrounding her, then over her shoulder, at Tuxedo Mask. His eyes were on the kneeling Moon Lord.

"Rise, Lord Fiore! You have nothing to atone for. You had been tricked," Sailor Moon said, in the end.

Fiore lifted his head and smiled gratefully. He had been worried that the Princess would not accept him again. Now he could protect her as had always had been his duty. If only he had remembered sooner. He had been in his child form when the seal on his memories was broken. He was horrified at what he had done. He had hurried through space back to the asteroid peacefully circling the Earth, destroyed the remaining Xenian seeds, then hurried to the blue planet. He had arrived just in time to witness the destruction brought by Chaos, but he was too weak to help then. But now, he could be near his Princess. And maybe, he would be able to regain Endymion's friendship again.

"Well,' said Kuwabara, 'why don't we get back to one of the temples. We need to continue that strategizing thing."

"Actually,' interrupted Mercury, 'the strategizing meeting won't be necessary. Lord Fiore is the CEO of Xenian Labs, aren't you?"

With a proud smile, Fiore nodded. "Yes, I am. Should I be waiting for both you, Sailor Mercury and you, Lord Youko, tomorrow?"

"We'll be delighted" replied Mercury. She knew it was reckless, but she now remembered Lord Fiore. He had been on Queen Selenity's council and he had always been fond of flowers. He was also very powerful.

Kurama also nodded his acquiescence. He looked forward to work in Xenian Labs. Besides, Lord Fiore had been a friend during the Silver Millennium.

Chaos seethed inside Keiko's mind. The girl proved to have her own brand of power. It was not even remotely close to that of Galaxia, but Chaos didn't need that kind of power anymore. This girl was different. Her power was different. Chaos had sensed it only once before. It was the power of sorcery.