Minna-san! Gomen nasai! It's been SOOOO long! I have seriously been struggling with this chapter for MONTHS. That and work has been pretty crazy! I know where I want the story to go but I couldn't figure out HOW to get there and make it believable! After months of thinking, deciding, and actually having to freaking MAP the dang thing, I came up with this one. Hope you like it!

Also, to help you all no get so confused, I am changing the label of the chapters. However, INSIDE the actual document I am keeping the chapter number. Mostly because I can't change it as quickly as I can the label and it'll to help me organize the chapters (as you can probably already tell, I don't organize my chapters like does).

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Naruto, and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles, their characters, settings, etc., belong to their respective creators. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to me!

Chapter 49: Bonded Strengths

The day suddenly became a night without stars, spreading a deadly silence amongst the people that looked on in wonder and confusion. The moon was above them, but it was as red as blood. Only a few knew the cause of this phenomenon...Kaguya had been released.

The woman appeared above all, her evil gaze directed towards Suna. Her cruel laugh sent a tidal wave of evil intent that hit the camps outside the walls, heightening the malice that was already present. The people outside were now stark raving mad, nearly killing each other to get inside the walls. The gates held strong until a large gust of wind tore them open, enabling a sea of hate to spread within Suna. Having been touched by the Silver Crystal, the residence of Suna did not understand why people were burning down their homes, hitting them…killing them.

Naruto, Sasuke, the Suna ninja, and the White ninja, sprang into action. All reasoning had been taken from the people of the world, leaving Suna at their mercy. Ninja were forced to take down civilians before they caused any more harm. It was pandemonium!

Naruto went straight to Gaara's manor, in search of his friend and niece. He reached Selene's room, nearly toppling over Gaara who lay sprawled on the floor.

"Gaara!" Naruto first went to his friend but the man wasn't moving or speaking. Blood was pouring out of a wound on the Suna lord's back, a shocking discovery. No one had ever been able to attack Gaara from behind. What in the world happened!?

"N…Naruto…" Hearing his friend's voice brought a sense of relief from the Hokage. At least the guy wasn't dead.

"Hang in there Gaara." Naruto's first obligation was to get his friend some help. He had no idea how anyone could have snuck up on Gaara but the guy was losing a lot of blood.

"She is scared of me…"

Naruto halted his movements immediately. The haunted look on Gaara's face was downright terrifying. It reminded him of the time they both duked it out in the Chunin Exams. The sand wielder could very well revert back to his insane young self if something wasn't done.

"Gaara…Where's Selene?" Now that he noticed, there was no sign of the foreign princess anywhere.

There was no answer, making Naruto frown.

"She saw you kill, didn't she?" Again nothing from his friend. Naruto sighed…

Then promptly punched Gaara in the face.

"Snap out of it Gaara!" Sure it must have been traumatizing for Gaara to have a loved one be afraid of you but now was NOT the time! There was a freaking war going on outside his house dang it!

Blinking of eyes and Gaara's irises focused on the Hokage.

"Gaara, I'm sure your pretty messed up right now but your people need you." Naruto frowned. He was starting to see why Sasuke was so annoyed all the time. This was ridiculous really, though Naruto couldn't blame Gaara. "I can't sit here and help you get over this! Deal with it later!"

Knowing his friend was right, Gaara pushed past the hurt and summoned his sand. The sand went into the wound in his back, holding tightly to limbs and closing the wound until he could get a medic to permanently fix it. Able to walk now, Gaara had Naruto release him.

"Kaguya's been released." Naruto told him. "I've got to go." He rushed to the window when Gaara stopped him.

"We need to find Selene."

"Are you crazy!? I'm sure she's fine Gaara! She's got those guardians of hers anyway!"

Gaara paused. His eyes focused, clear. He knew something Naruto didn't.

"Please trust me, Naruto…Come with me." In a flash he was out the window, Naruto tailing right behind him.

"What's up Gaara?" Naruto had never really fought alongside his friend before. This would be the first time the both of them entered battle together; at least that's what Naruto believed they were heading for because Gaara seemed quite sure he was heading towards something bad.

"I need your skills to remove the genjutsu that has its hold on Selene."

Naruto frowned. "What?" Selene was under a jutsu?

They landed quite far from the battlefield and the chaos. In the midst of sand and rubble there stood Selene, her trusted Celestial Guardians at her side. Naruto noticed Selene's far off gaze, her golden crescent moon shining lightly upon her forehead. He recognized the signs immediately. Selene had been pulled by the full moon, but at the moment the moon was blood red...Could that have an even greater pull?

"Stop." Gaara's clear voice broke the silence, causing Haruka to turn and face them. "This is not your fight."

The Scout of Wind stared him down.

"We know…" She stated. "But we cannot go against our princess."

Gaara frowned.

"She isn't your princess currently. She is under a genjutsu…the first one ever created."

The Hokage's mind went into overdrive, his eyes widening until they turned serious.

"When Kaguya was first imprisoned, she placed the first genjutsu upon her daughter." Gaara explained. "It activates every time Kaguya is in danger…Thus the reason why she is saved every time she is released. The only way to stop the cycle from happening again, is to release the current heir of the Moon."

How Gaara figured that out Naruto would never know but it made a lot of sense. It did seem odd that Kaguya was technically saved every time she was released by someone from the Moon. First it was her daughter, then that Sailor Moon lady…and now…

Haruka paused, the information sinking in.

"Selene wants to seal her again…"

Gaara stared right at the woman.

"Are you truly sure that is the correct course of action? Are you willing to risk her life on it?"

Again Haruka paused.

"Do what you need to do."

Moving aside, she allowed them to pass the wall of guardians to reach Selene who stood alone in her trance-like state. Without a word Naruto grabbed his niece and like many times before drove his glowing hand into her chest. He had to be careful because this was an ancient jutsu that stood against time itself. Would he be strong enough to lift it from his niece?

"Get out of my family you witch." Of course he was! This was his family for goodness sake!

The ball of light wasn't the typical blue glow, instead it was black as night. Frowning Naruto squeezed, the ball of light bursting into tiny light fragments.

Selene's eyes blinked once, twice; they focused onto her uncle's form.

Gaara hung back a bit, watching the uncle and niece silently, unsure of how to approach or if he even should approach.

"Selene…Your first time seeing blood and death is always the hardest, believe me." Naruto touched her head. "But even I can tell Gaara loves you…More than anything if you ask me." Then he was gone in a flash of smoke, signifying it was in fact a clone and not the true hyperactive ninja.

Gaara did not approach Selene, instead he turned his attention back the other way, where the fighting was commencing. He rather didn't wish to deal with Selene at the moment for it was too painful; he could not focus with the thought of her terrified of him. He needed to focus on the battles at hand, rescue his people and help both Naruto and Sasuke in any way he could.

"Haruka…Get her out of here."

"Wait!" Selene rushed him, took his arm. "I…I am sorry."

There were tears in her eyes as she spoke those words, those little words that somehow broke Gaara from his grief.

"If I am to live out here, I must bear the fact that not everything will be perfect." She sighed. "I…I have to be strong. You and my uncle told me such…"

He took her hand. "Right now you should leave. This is not your fight, remember?"

She nodded. "Yes…" A sad look befell her. "I only wish there was another way…A way to stop the fighting that did not involve more fighting…A way for everyone to be safe."

"You do realize that no one here can stop her but us." Haruka butted in. "How will humanity deal with its problem? You've not the power to defeat her."

"We will find a way." Gaara told her. "For now go."

"No…I…I have an idea…A way we might be able to help." Selene stared at them all. All eight Celestial Guardians looked upon her for her orders but Selene didn't feel like their commander, she felt as though she were their friend.

"There is a painting in my parents' room…It is of a beautiful golden chalice." Selene smiled. "My father once told me it was created by the Celestial Guardians…How they focused their powers into one spot…Whoever so drinks from the chalice will receive their power…However I wonder…" She stared at Gaara.

"What would happen if everyone did such at the same time? Not just the Celestial Guardians, but everyone in the world…Including Priest Helios…what if they all gave their power to one person? Would that be enough to stop Kaguya now and forever?"

Gaara knew what she was planning for Helios had spoken of a time in which the Moon, the Earth, and Elysion were once connected. Now that he thought about it, there was only one person that could be connected to them all. Though deep inside he dreaded the notion but if this was to truly work, it was the only option.

"It would have to be you, Selene." He did not want her in this fight, no one did. "You have the blood of Earth, Moon, and Elysion running through you, don't you?"

"Earth and Moon yes, but Elysion…" She frowned. "I…"

"ChibiUsa…" Saturn finally spoke up. "ChibiUsa's son…He is the son of the Moon…and Elysion." She stared at her princess. "The prince is correct, princess…Only you can drink from the chalice and help humanity win this never ending war."

Selene went mute for a long time, Gaara felt her hand squeeze his own and he in turn squeezed back in support.

"I…will do it." She was firm in her decision and Gaara was proud of her for that. To think she had made so much growth in so little time. "But, Helios said I should not intervene."

"He said you should not kill, and I agree." Gaara told her. "When the moment occurs…Walk away."

A shake of blonde hair. "No…I am by your side Gaara…" Her blue eyes became determined. "I will not falter, not this time. But…How…How can we get everyone to stop fighting and work together?" That was a good question. There was infighting everywhere around them. How could they tell everyone to stop what they were doing and just let go?

"Remember, Selene…" Pluto smiled at Crystal princess. "The crystals can do such…Let the crystals inside of you both listen to your wish, your dream…they will heed your call."

The pair locked eyes. Gaara couldn't believe he was just standing here while his people, the world was falling around him. Yet something told him this was the only way to save everyone. Throughout these past few months, Gaara had learned one thing: to trust in his heart. It had been a hard battle but in the end, the heart had won.

"Gaara." He could practically feel Selene's unease. Though she had sworn to complete this task, she still had a bit of doubt within her. There could no lingering thought of such for this to work.

"Trust in yourself…And trust in me. I will not let you fall." And he wouldn't, not in this lifetime nor any other.

A slight smiled spread across the princess' face then she closed her eyes and Gaara followed suite. For a moment the pair simply stood there amongst the rubble, ignoring the blasts and the shouting coming from afar.

Then a voice rang out, one neither of the two knew. It pushed through the blasting and screaming.

The world seemed to stand still…

Please…Listen…

Like a wave the voice traveled on the edge of the Silver Crystal and the Golden Crystal's blended lights, scouring Suna and beyond. When it could go no further, more power was given to it by the Celestial Guardians who knew exactly whom the voice belonged to. Many of them smiled, yet did not speak a word as the voice of the last Crystal Queen spoke out for all to hear.

Let go of your fears…Let go of your hate…Please…Listen…

Listen…

Next Time: Into the Cosmos