Ryouga Hibiki had seen some strange things in his life but nothing took the cake like the individuals he ran across during his latest trek through Japan. His journey began two days after Ranma and Ami had left Nerima for Juban Prep. Ryouga had somehow managed to find his way to the Nekohantan without getting lost, which was considered a small miracle on his part, and spoke to Cologne about learning a new technique. Ryouga had seen first hand what Ranma had learned from the old ghoul when she had tricked him into receiving the Full Body Cat's Tongue. The speed of Ranma's punches had increased tenfold and Ryouga was determined to get one step ahead of the heir to the Anything Goes school of martial arts. The secret technique Cologne knew of was nothing more than a handy way to demolish rocks, trees, and the likes but Ryouga was determined to use it in a battle against Ranma Saotome. The only problem was he had no clue how to get to the Mintako ward of Tokyo in order to find the Azabu-Juban neighborhood. And so what should have been a quick thirty-minute journey by bus or subway turned into a two-week journey to find his rival.

Along the way Ryouga had found himself in a part of Japan he had somehow managed to miss during his prior travels. Whether it was by luck or purely an accident Ryouga wound up in West City. After somehow ending up undetected on Capsule Corp grounds Ryouga walked right into the path of a sparing match between the last two pure blooded Saiyans in the known universe. And after getting yelled at by Vegeta and pointed in the right direction by Goku Ryouga almost got run over by the pair's two young sons. After leaving the small group Ryouga managed to get even further lost and wound up in the middle of the Black Forest where he ran into the rest of Goku's family.

"Excuse me but can you tell me where I can find Juban Prep High School?" Ryouga asked the woman hanging the wash out to dry.

"I'm afraid you're two hundred miles north of there. It's in Tokyo young man." She told him.

Ryouga became frustrated and clenched his teeth while balling his hands into fists. And as he tried hard not to scream in front of the woman Ryouga's face turned as red as a beet. When he couldn't hold his anger in any longer the eternally lost martial artist cursed to the heavens.

"Ranma Saotome this is all your fault! Curse you Ranma, I swear I will find you if it's the last thing I do!" He yelled out.

The woman just looked over at the young martial artist and sighed before speaking with him.

"Well I hope you make it to Juban alright." She said to him.

With that Ryouga was once again on his way towards Tokyo heading in the wrong direction getting himself further and further off course.

********

Kimiko Yamamoto sat in front of her computer and monitored the conversation taking place between Usagi's cat Luna and someone calling themselves Central Control. The topic of their latest discussion focused on the last battle between the Senshi and the Dark Kingdom. Luna was using a cleverly disguised computer that looked like a Sailor V video game. But the game was actually a training and communication device all in one. And no one but Luna, Central Control, and Kimiko knew the true purpose of the video game.

The conversation between Luna and the mysterious person at Central began focusing on the Senshi and their allies. It seemed Central needed to know a bit more about the individuals they were entrusting with the protection of the world. Kimiko listened as Luna gave Central the information she had on the Senshi, Tuxedo Mask, and a certain aquatransexual martial artist.

"Son Usagi AKA Sailor Moon born June 30 in Ginger Town. Currently resides four miles outside the town in the Black Forest with her parents and two brothers ages sixteen and five. Her blood type is O and her greatest fear is needles. Usagi has spent the last eleven years of her life training in martial arts and has seen more than her fair share of battles." Luna began.

"The next Senshi is Ami Tendo AKA Sailor Mercury born September 10 in the Nerima district of Tokyo. Currently resides with her father and two older sisters. Her blood type is A and she enjoys reading and plying chess or shogi. She is engaged to be married, although not by choice I have been told. Ami has studied Tai Chi and Kempo and is one of the top students in Japan.

"The most recent addition to the Senshi team is Rei Hino AKA Sailor Mars born April 17 in the Sendai Hill neighborhood of the Mintako ward of Tokyo. From what I have seen Rei lives with her grandfather in the Hikawa-jin Shrine and is studying to be a shrine Miko. Her blood type is AB and she meditates every day. Rei was born with ESP and what Usagi feels is a very strong Ki sense that is tuned into evil vibrations. Like Usagi and Ami Rei has studied martial arts in order to help her meditation and strengthen her Ki sense.

"As for the young man Ami is engaged to, Ranma Saotome, not much is known about him. But what I do know is that he and his father currently reside with the Tendo family. Like Usagi Ranma has spent quite a few years studying all forms of martial arts. Ranma has a deadly fear of cats due to a training technique gone wrong and received a water based Chinese curse on a recent training trip that turns him into a female when doused with cold water.

"The only person we know nothing about is the young tuxedo clad man we refer to as Tuxedo Mask. Usagi believes this rose throwing warrior is much like her father in the respect that he offers words of encouragement and advice when needed although they can be a bit cryptic at times. And that's pretty much what I've gathered so far." Luna told the Central rep.

Kimiko scribbled down a few notes on each individual Luna had mentioned as she listened to the conversation over the Internet phone setup she had on her computer. Most of the information Luna had given the Central rep was information she had easy access to but the information regarding Rei was taken down word for word. Kimiko then made a note to look into the whole Tuxedo Mask matter personally when she had a few spare moments. She needed to find out if Tuxedo Mask was someone the Senshi could trust or someone to be weary of.

********

Usagi tossed and turned in her sleep sweat staining her brow. The dream that had been plaguing her off and on for the past five years had shown itself yet again. Every time she had the dream it was always the same series of events. Something Usagi had witnessed in her past during the incident with Cell and the androids had scarred her. And when she refused to talk about the incident with her family the dreams began forcing her to relive the event over and over again.

The dream always started off the same with a ten year old Usagi standing in the middle of a barren town. She and Krillin had separated to see if they could find any survivors in the city and at the moment Usagi could see nothing other than clothes lying on the streets where the people that wore them once stood. After looking down the empty street for a few moments Usagi heard the sounds of machine gun fire coming from a side street. The rata-tat noise of the gun had become an all too familiar sound since cell first made himself known.

As Usagi ran towards the sound of the gun a new sound joined the gunfire. It was the blood-curtailing scream of someone being attacked. Usagi remembered them all too well from the news reports on the television earlier that morning at Master Roshi's island home just before Cell had devoured the camera man. Now it seemed to the young female Demi-Saiyan that Cell was about to take another victim.
The moment Usagi reached the source of the gunfire and screaming she was greeted with a sight that would stay in her mind forever. Cell had just plunged the sharp needle like tip of his tail into the shoulder of a young man no older than Mirai Trunks. The man cried out in pain and dropped the machine gun he was holding as Cell began to slowly drink up his body. The man's body began to turn rubbery and wrinkled as its very essence was pulled from inside him. When Cell finished feeding on the young man all that was left of him was the clothes he had been wearing only moments earlier. Usagi thought this was the end of everything but she was mistaken when Cell caught a glimpse of her.

Cell could care less that Usagi was just a young girl and made his way towards her.

"Ah you'll make a fine addition to my essence." He said hungrily.

As his long tail snaked up ready to strike at her Usagi noticed Cell's attention quickly shift from her to something or someone behind her. The bug like android quickly headed in the direction of whatever it was he had seen. Looking in the direction of the retreating Cell Usagi noticed two shadows running down the street. When she was certain he was out of listening range Usagi broke down and began crying. It was at this point in the dream when Usagi would wake up trembling in fear mumbling to herself over and over again about how she didn't fight back.

********

Guardians of the Earth
Episode Four: The Past Returns

********

Ami tore off the page in her calendar like she did every morning and noted the date. Scribbled next to the date was a note to herself she had written the day she purchased the calendar unfortunately she hadn't envisioned being at Juban Prep on this day. Next to the big black numbers and the picture of Leo the white lion in blue gel ink were the words visit mom's grave bring blue daisies. Without even realizing it the anniversary of the day her mother had finally succumbed to the ovarian cancer had crept up on her. Picking up the small frame next to her calendar Ami touched her fingers to her lips and placed them upon the last photo of her mother before she went to the hospital for what would be her final days of life.

The simple little photo showed all the women of Tendo family sitting on the front porch of the Tendo family home. Her mother wore a simple little blue jumper over a white t-shirt. On her head was straw hat attempting to cover up the peach fuzz head that once held beautiful long chestnut locks. Sitting on either side of her mother were her sisters Kasumi and Nabiki and on her lap was a smiling bright-eyed Ami. Kasumi who had just turned twelve that year was dressed in a modest little white sweater and a soft blue skirt. Nabiki on the other hand wore a pink blouse and white jeans. Her hair was the same as it was today cut just below her chin. Ami however had on a simple pair of yellow overalls over a white blouse with a Peter Pan collar. Every single one of the Tendo women had a big smile upon their faces. It was the happiest moment in her nine-year-old life.

"Mama why did you have to die?" Ami asked her mother's photo, "We've never really been the same since. Papa hasn't taken on any students since the funeral and spends his days hovered over a shogi board. Sure Mr. Saotome is around to keep him company but I can tell that he is a very lonely person. I miss you very much mama it's just not the same without you." Ami began to cry as she thought about how much her family's lives had changed since her mother's death.

It was at that point that a very tired looking and red eyed Usagi came dragging herself into the room she shared with Ami. The young genius looked over at her newfound friend and saw the sorry state she was in. The tearstains were quite noticeable on the face of the Demi-Saiyan and it looked as though she had gotten very little sleep. Ami was glad it was a Saturday because if it had been a school day Usagi most likely would have passed out in the middle of one of their classes.

"Usagi you look like a frightful mess." Ami said with concern.

Usagi looked towards her friend and saw the similar tearstains on her face. Immediately concern for her fellow Senshi swept over her and thoughts of her dream were pushed out of her mind. Usagi wondered what was bothering her friend.

"Ami is something wrong?" Usagi wondered.

"No not really. I was just thinking about something or rather someone." Ami told her as she picked up the calendar and photo.

Usagi saw the notation scribbled on the calendar and the people in the photo and understood just who the someone was that Ami had mentioned.

"Ami is that your mother?" Usagi asked pointing to the woman in the photo wearing the hat.

"Hai, that was my mama. By the time this picture was taken she was always wearing that hat. The little girl on her lap is me." Ami said as she wiped the last of her tears.

Ami rarely talked about the illness that took her mother and the pain her death left in her heart. Not having a mother around hurt especially when the day she passed on always came around. But the seventh anniversary of her mother's passing was especially hard for Ami because she couldn't go to the gravesite with the rest of her family and place a bouquet of her mother's favorite flower in front of the headstone, blue daisies.

"Oh Ami I know how hard it is to loose someone close to you. I lost my father twice, my sensei, and my best friend but of course those weren't natural deaths so they could be brought back. But I know how you feel. It hurts when they leave you." Usagi said in understanding.

"I'll be alright Usagi. I'm more upset over the fact that I can't go with my family to visit her gravesite today like we always do each year." Ami reassured her, "But I should be concerned about you not me. You look like death warmed over."

"Thanks a lot Ami." Usagi replied dryly.

Luna, who had been observing Ami's actions since she woke up had to agree with the Senshi of Wisdom Usagi didn't look all that good.

"I have to agree with her Usagi you look as though you didn't get much sleep last night." Luna said to her young charge.

Usagi tried to stifle a yawn but found out it was to no avail and let the yawn escape her mouth. She was indeed a lot more tired than she was letting them believe. Since she had been awakened by her nightmare Usagi didn't go back to sleep. Looking at the small clock on her nightstand Usagi noted that it was a little bit past two in the morning. Usagi had stayed awake for the rest of the night afraid that if she went to sleep again the dream would come once again.

"Okay if you want the truth I didn't get much sleep. I woke up sometime around two in the morning and have been awake ever since then all because of a bad dream I always have." Usagi finally admitted to the others.

Ami turned to her friend and decided that they both needed to get out for a bit and get away from the reminders of what was troubling them. She knew both she and Usagi didn't feel like spilling their guts out about what was bothering them. Ami knew her reasons but she didn't know Usagi's. But what she did know was that Usagi would find a way to get the young genius to open up and if she attempted to do that Ami would try and do the same with Usagi.

"Usagi why don't you get cleaned up and we'll go to the park today. It seems you and I both need a break from things for a bit." Ami suggested.

"That sounds like a great idea Ames." Usagi replied a bit hoarsely.

********

Saturday was Ranma's favorite day of the week. Now that he and Ami were attending Juban Prep his Saturdays were trouble free and he could do whatever he wanted. And on this particular Saturday Ranma wanted to go to the park and get in a nice relaxing run. It was great not having his old man around driving him insane always trying to get him to marry Ami. It was also great not falling into the koi pond every morning or having a little old woman dump her wash water on him when he went to school each day. All Ranma looked forward to each day was getting through his classes no matter how boring they seemed.

Although Ranma didn't have to worry about the usual triggers for his curse he still had to contend with the forces of nature and the occasional errant glass of cold water. And while the frequency of the curse showing up had lessened since coming to Juban it still reared its ugly head now and again. Usagi and Luna had gotten used to the fact that Ranma turned into a girl on occasion and even used it to their advantage. In fact the night they learned about the curse they had stayed up into the wee hours of the night learning all they could about one another in Usagi and Ami's room. And when Kimiko made her rounds of each floor Ranma once again became Ranko only this time she was Usagi's friend from back home.

Ranma threw on his favorite pair of black Chinese pants and a green sleeveless Chinese shirt that had no collar and a pair of training slippers. Ranma had fallen in love with the look while on his journey through China. It was better than the old white gi his father made him wear and it helped him stand out at Furinkan High. After checking the braid in his ponytail and grabbing the key to his room Ranma was on his way to Juban Park.

The park was full of people out enjoying the warm spring day. Many people were walking on the paths, playing in the open areas, walking dogs, having picnics, or just sitting on the benches that dotted the park. Still others were renting rowboats and sitting out in the middle of the large pond in the center of the park. On a day such as this one the park was the place to be. And as Ranma got to the park he noticed Usagi and Ami sitting on one of the benches with Luna and off in the distance he spotted one Mamoru Chiba the man Usagi hated more than anything. If those two should happen to bump into each other it would make for one very interesting Saturday.

Ranma began running through the park at a nice leisurely pace. As he ran on one of the many paths in the park Ranma had the feeling someone was talking about him. Ranma let a small sneeze out followed by a second one a few seconds later. Somewhere in the back of his mind Ranma's danger sense started kicking in after taking a nice three-week vacation telling him to be on the lookout. Somewhere someone was on their way to challenge Ranma to yet another dual. And Ranma had the distinct feeling that that individual was either Kuno, Shampoo, or Ryouga. Ranma was betting on the later member of the trio Ryouga because it was just about the right time for him to make an unscheduled appearance.

********

Ryouga knew he was back in Tokyo because of all the normal looking skyscrapers. Unlike West City, which had a futuristic look to it, Tokyo resembled every other modern city in the world with large buildings surrounded by quaint centuries old structures. And even though Ryouga was in the right city he still had no idea where the Mintako ward was located. Frustrated and angry Ryouga decided to take a break from his search for Ranma after finding himself in a rather large park. And as Ryouga placed his rather large and heavy pack down with a slight thud he got the distinct feeling that he would be running into Ranma fairly soon. That's when the flash came.

Ryouga stiffened like a board and stood there staring off into space. He could see as plain as day that Ranma was running along the path he was standing in front of. The young aquatransexual martial artist was wearing one of his many Chinese style outfits in colors of green and black and had a key around his neck. Ryouga could see what was about to happen next when Ranma reached his location. The pair would end up having one of their many battles. When the premonition ended Ryouga prepared himself for the upcoming battle.

********

Mamoru Chiba was glad to be having a Saturday off. It would allow him a chance to work on a paper he had due for his American Literature class at Azabu Tech. The teacher had told them to pick one work from an American author and write an in depth paper on the book that included a character study and a section on the symbolism and hidden meanings within the story. Mamoru had decided to choose a story no one would expect him to read a book by Ernest Hemingway titled The Garden of Eden. The simple story about a young newlywed couple living France captivated him. But it was the story's unexpected twist that had him hooked. The bisexual wife made the story quite interesting.

At the moment however the book and the paper was put out of his mind. The only thing Mamoru was interested in on this particular was the sights, sounds, and smells of the park as he ran down one of the paths. Taking a quick glance around Mamoru noticed three particular individuals he had the distinct pleasure of running into on several occasions over the past three weeks. There on a bench off in the distance sat Son Usagi and her friend Ami Tendo with a certain black cat they were never without. Off on one of the other paths Mamoru caught a glimpse of the young man that was also always with him. If he remembered correctly from the conversation he had overheard between Usagi and his best friend Motoki the boy's name was Ranma Saotome.

As Mamoru continued to look around the park he noticed a young man he had never seen before looking in Ranma's general direction. The young man wore black pants and a loose fitting yellow tunic with a black belt at the waist. On his feet were simple moccasin styled boots and he wore a yellow bandana with black dots here and there upon it. And judging from the size of the pack on the ground next to him this particular individual was quite strong. Mamoru shrugged off the odd feeling he was getting from the newcomer to the park and began his run. If something were to happen he figured the Senshi would handle it like they handled every other odd occurrence that had taken place lately.

********

Ami turned to face Usagi with uncertain eyes. She knew the young blonde would bring up the subject of her mother's death sooner or later and on the way to the park Ami decided she would get the jump on the female Demi-Saiyan and tell her everything she wanted to know. And the best way to go about doing so would be to divulge something even Ranma didn't know about.

"Okay Usagi you wanted to know why I was crying and why my mother had on that hat in the picture I showed you well I'll tell you." Ami began, "My mother died of ovarian cancer and by the time that picture was taken she had lost all of her hair due to the radiation treatments. That hat became a part of her and we couldn't picture her any other way."

Usagi and Luna didn't know what to make of the situation. Sure Usagi had lost everyone she had become close to but they could be wished back by the dragon balls. This was a different situation. Ami's mother died of natural causes in one of the most painful ways a woman could die and she would never be coming back. Usagi couldn't imagine what life would be like if her father hadn't decided to allow the dragon to bring him back. If Usagi hadn't blurted out the fact that Chichi was going to have another baby Goku would have never come back.

"You want to talk about it Ami?" Usagi prompted.

"I might as well. After seven years I think it's time I told someone what I went through." Ami replied to her.

********

Yuka Tendo was born with thick beautiful chestnut locks and bright blue eyes that sparkled when the sunlight hit them just the right way. It was that sparkle and shine that made Soun Tendo fall in love with her and ask her to marry him. But there were other qualities about her that Soun loved just as much if not more. Yuka was a kind and gentle woman with a good head on her shoulders and great intelligence. It was Yuka who kept the house running and the finances in order all while helping Soun run the small dojo he owned where he taught the many forms of martial arts that made up the Anything Goes school.

After three years of marriage Yuka gave birth to their first child a little girl they named Kasumi. The year before Yuka and Soun had attended the wedding of Soun's best friend Genma Saotome to his wife Nodoka. It was at the reception where Soun and Genma over one too many drinks pledged to unite the two schools of Anything Goes through the marriage of their children, that is if one of them had a boy and the other a girl. That night Kasumi was conceived.

Yuka and Soun reveled in the joys that were parenthood and almost immediately wanted another child. But Genma and Nodoka who wanted children but not for the same reasons were not so lucky. Try as they might they were having difficulties having children right away.

Two years after little Kasumi was born Yuka gave birth to her second child a little girl they named Nabiki after her favorite aunt. Nabiki's birth brought the couple even more joy and happiness although Soun hoped he and his wife could have a boy just to be on the safe side for the sake of the agreement.

It was a year after Nabiki was born that everything went right for both the Tendos and the Saotomes. Four years after they were married Nodoka gave birth to her only child. A boy they named Ranma. And not too shortly after Ranma was born Yuka gave birth to her final child another girl that Soun named Ami. The agreement could go on as planed although neither one of the men knew it yet.

For six years the Tendo family lived in complete and total happiness and then it happened. During one of her routine visits to the local doctor, a woman by the name of Ono, something was discovered that wasn't right. Yuka had been experiencing some very painful menstrual cycles and mentioned it to the doctor. Right away Dr. Ono suggested Yuka go to the hospital and see a woman's health specialist who dealt with fertility issues and other internal problems. And after a battery of tests the doctor discovered that Yuka had a malignant tumor in one of her ovaries that was beginning to spread.

The recommended treatment for the disease was radiation therapy. And over the course of the next three years Yuka was in and out of the hospital receiving treatments. A great source of strength for the Tendo family was the wife of Soun's best friend. The helping hand Nodoka provided in getting Yuka to the doctor for treatment and helping around the house was as much a relief for her as it was for the Tendos. Nodoka needed to take care of someone since her husband and son had left her alone in her house.

As Yuka entered into her third year of her illness the Tendo girls had begun to take over much of the household duties Nodoka had provided. Kasumi now manned the kitchen while Nabiki balanced the budgets and household finances. Ami on the other hand spent her days consoling their father.

The briefest of moments the Tendo family had a glimmer of hope. The radiation treatments were beginning to take hold or so they had thought. It was a bright spring day and Yuka and the girls had spent most of the morning in the garden. Soun seeing an opportunity they rarely had gathered his girls together on the front porch of their house and snapped a photo of them. It would be the last one they would ever have together.

A week after the happy photo was taken Soun accompanied his wife to the hospital where she began another round of treatments. However, the doctors didn't realize just how weak Yuka's body really was and how bad the cancer had become. The radiation hit her harder than it had in the past and when the doctors ran a few tests to find out why they found out that the cancer had not only spread to the other ovary but to other parts of her body as well.

The radiation treatment Yuka had received caused her to become violently ill. The radiation sickness that overtook her body moved with the speed of a cheetah ravaging every fiber of her very being. Within forty-eight hours of her latest treatment Yuka was back in the hospital only this time she would not make it out alive.

The days that passed for Soun and his children were some of the hardest they could have faced. Soun was constantly being bombarded with questions from his youngest daughter Ami who couldn't quite understand why Yuka couldn't come home or why she couldn't visit her. Then one day out of the blue Soun suggested the children come with him on one of his visits to the hospital.

Upon their arrival at Yuka's hospital room Soun went in first to prepare his wife for the unexpected visitors he had brought with him. After five minutes in her room Soun came out into the hall and motioned for his eldest child Kasumi to enter into her mother's room. Kasumi spent the better half of the ten minutes she was in the room listening to her mother tell her what her new duties around the house would be. Yuka knew she was dying and Kasumi would now be the one to look after the house and prepare the meals. When she finally emerged from the room Kasumi sent Nabiki in to see Yuka.

Right away Nabiki understood what would be expected of her when Yuka passed on. Her head for numbers made Nabiki the perfect choice to handle the household finances. Nabiki had always loved playing the role of the business owner in her games of pretend with Ami. Now she would get her chance to handle the money for the business that was the Tendo dojo. When her time was up Nabiki sent in a very scared and confused little Ami.

Ami walked into the room and saw her mother lying on the hospital bed. Her clean white sheets were several shades darker than Yuka's skin. Her eyes were shallow and her lips were very dry. Everywhere she looked Ami could see various tubes coming from her mother's arms and face. The littlest of the Tendo children walked over to her mother and began to cry.

"Don't cry little one for soon I will be going to a better place." Yuka said hoarsely.

Ami looked up at her mother with tearstained questioning eyes.

"Where will you be going mama?" Ami asked her mother.

"I will be going to a beautiful place called the Otherworld. In this place there is no pain and no suffering of any kind. King Yamma will be waiting for me when I arrive at the gates to the other dimension to give me passage to my new home. Think of it this way Ami I will be free of my disease and finally at peace." Yuka explained to her young daughter.

Ami understood a bit of what Yuka was trying to tell her but there were so many questions she needed the answers to.

"But who will help me dress in the morning and get me my lunch ready for school?" she asked.

"Kasumi will." Yuka answered.

"Who's going to walk me to and from school each day?"

"Kasumi and Nabiki will both do that."

"Who will help papa?"

"Nabiki will look after the money from now on while Kasumi looks after the house."

"What about me mama?"

"You will keep your papa company and give him all the love he needs. You my little one must live and remind your family they have lives worth living for."

The moment she finished her little speech Yuka took a few labored breaths before continuing to talk to her daughter.

"Ami I want you to be the best person you can be. Who knows maybe someday you'll be the person who actually finds a way to cure someone of what I have. And know that even though I will miss you terribly I will never stop loving you. I will always be a part of you in whatever you choose to do." Yuka said as she placed a pale hand upon her daughter's cheek.

Ami instinctively put her hand over her mother's and stood there crying her little eyes out.

"I love you too mama." Ami said to her mother as she breathed her last painful breaths.

Ami felt her mother's hand go limp under her own and the tiny tears she had been crying began to rush out of her eyes clouding her vision and staining her face and clothes.

"NO MAMA!!" Ami cried out as a new wave of tears flooded down her face.

Yuka Tendo was no more.

********

"Oh Ami that was the saddest thing I had ever heard." Usagi said to her friend as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

Ami looked over at her friend and roommate and could see the understanding upon her face. She knew Ami had been through a lot with the death of her mother. It was hard watching someone die before your eyes and Usagi knew that all too well. But it was even harder to witness someone being murdered just because they lived and didn't do anything to the person killing them.

Usagi sighed and swallowed hard. If Ami could get over her fear and recount one of the hardest moments in her life then maybe just maybe Usagi could find the courage to do the same.

"Ami I think it's finally time to tell someone about the dreams I have been having." Usagi said.

********

Usagi and Krillin made their way from the Capsule Corp headquarters to the island where Master Roshi lived. They had split up from Trunks over an hour ago after finishing off Dr. Gero's lab and the infant Cell. Trunks had decided to go and train with Vegeta so he could become stronger and more effective against Cell. It then became Krillin and Usagi's job to deliver a set of plans for Juunanagou to Bulma so she could study them to find any weaknesses to the androids. Originally Usagi wasn't even supposed to be with Krillin but she had insisted on going with him and Trunks to find Piccolo. Usagi figured Gohan would be able to watch over their father and mother at Master Roshi's. Besides they had planned on returning to the island after seeing what they could do to help Piccolo.

By now they were flying over one of the deserted ghost town like cities that had been a teeming metropolis just hours before. The sight below them was something the ten-year-old female Demi-Saiyan had thought she would never see before in her life. And as Usagi looked around the city from the sky Krillin caught the sight of something or someone out of the corner of his eye along with the faint distinction that Cell was once again about to feed on someone.

"Usagi I thought I just saw something down there." Krillin said.

"Do you think it could be some survivors?" Usagi asked with great hope in her voice.

Krillin looked over at the small warrior and knew just how much she hated to see anyone get hurt. Like her he hoped someone was able to escape the horror that was Cell.

"I think we should go down there and check it out." Krillin suggested.

"If you think so." Usagi replied a bit scared.

Krillin could sense the small girl's fear and tried to comfort her a bit.

"Don't worry kiddo nothing's going to happen to either one of us." Krillin reassured her.

Usagi smiled at her father's best friend. Over the years he had become one of her best friends as well. And after many adventures she had with him and her brother she would trust Krillin with her life.

"I know you won't let anything happen to me Krillin." She said.

"Well yeah because if something did your mother would have my head on a platter." Krillin replied with an equally huge smile.

Usagi let out a small giggle at the thought of her mother going ballistic over anything happening to her or Gohan. Chichi was very protective of her little Saiyan twins. Almost as soon as the thought popped into her head Usagi went into what she called fight mode. In this mode she became as serious as her father was during a battle.

"What's the plan Krillin?" Usagi asked as her Saiyan side kicked in.

Krillin took a quick moment to come up with a strategy before answering his female partner.

"We'll split up and search a section of the city for any survivors or Cell. Find either one and I want you to fire a blast into the sky like a flare. I promise to do the same. DO NOT try and take on Cell by yourself you hear me." Krillin told her.

"I promise only if you promise to do the same." Usagi replied.

"I'll try." Krillin said. And with that the pair split up in opposite directions.

Usagi stood in the middle of a barren Nikki Town. At the moment Usagi could see nothing other than clothes lying on the streets where the people that wore them once stood. The distinct smell of rotten fruit and skunk spray hung in the air stinging Usagi's nose but the young Demi-Saiyan didn't let it get to her. After looking down the empty street for a few moments Usagi heard the sounds of machine gun fire coming from a side street. The rata-tat noise of the gun had become an all too familiar sound since cell first made himself known. Without even thinking Usagi ran towards the gunfire.

As Usagi ran towards the sound of the gun a new sound joined the gunfire. It was the blood-curtailing scream of someone being attacked. Usagi remembered them all too well from the news reports on the television earlier that morning at Master Roshi's island home just before Cell had devoured the camera man. Now it seemed to the young female Demi-Saiyan that Cell was about to take another victim.

The moment Usagi reached the source of the gunfire and screaming she froze and was greeted with a sight that would stay in her mind forever. Cell had just plunged the sharp needle like tip of his tail into the shoulder of a young man no older than Mirai Trunks. The man cried out in pain and dropped the machine gun he was holding as Cell began to slowly drink up his body. The man's body began to turn rubbery and wrinkled as its very essence was pulled from inside him. When Cell finished feeding on the young man all that was left of him was the clothes he had been wearing only moments earlier. Usagi thought this was the end of everything but she was mistaken when Cell caught a glimpse of her.

Cell could care less that Usagi was just a young girl and made his way towards her. The only thing he cared about was that she was Goku's daughter.

"Ah you'll make a fine addition to my essence." He said hungrily.

As his long tail snaked up ready to strike at her Usagi noticed Cell's attention quickly shift from her to something or someone behind her. The bug like cyborg quickly headed in the direction of whatever it was he had seen. Looking in the direction of the retreating Cell Usagi noticed two shadows running down the street. When she was certain he was out of listening range Usagi broke down and began crying.

It wasn't long after Cell had left that she saw an airplane take off into the sky and two figures follow after it. One of the figures was Cell and the other one was Krillin.

"HE PROMISED ME!" Usagi yelled into the emptiness that was Nikki Town before she took off into the sky to go after Krillin.

********

Ranma knew something was wrong the moment he reached the turn in the path. Somewhere in the back of his head Ranma's mind was screaming out to him telling him to beware. Ranma was unaware that he was developing a Ki sense and that new sense was telling him he was getting close to his rival one Ryouga Hibiki known to him as pig boy.

As Ranma rounded the turn he heard the familiar cry ring throughout the park.

"Ranma Saotome prepare to die!" Ryouga yelled as he launched himself towards his foe.

Almost immediately Ranma's instincts kicked in and he moved into a defensive position. Ryouga made the first move by lashing out at Ranma with his razor sharp and extremely heavy red bamboo and oiled cloth umbrella. Ranma jumped into the air to avoid the heavy object landing gracefully on his feet. Angered by the simple defensive move Ryouga tried using his umbrella once again producing the same results. By this time the people on and in the vicinity of the path quickly got out of the way of the two rivals from an all boys junior high school.

"This time Ranma I will defeat you!" Ryouga declared rather loudly.

"You'll never be able to defeat me pig boy." Ranma shot back.

"Oh yes I will Ranma. For you see the Old Ghoul Cologne has taught me a new technique that can find the weak spot in anything and break it into a million pieces. And I Ranma Saotome intend to use his technique on the very bones in you body." Ryouga told the aquatransexual martial artist.

"I'd like to see you try." Ranma challenged.

With that Ryouga let his umbrella drop to the ground with a loud thud and immediately prepared for his newest attack. Focusing his energy on Ranma Ryouga felt Ranma's energy for a weak point in his body. Once found Ryouga would then focus the full force of his new attack upon that spot in hopes of breaking it into millions of tiny shards. Ranma on the other hand just stood and waited for the attack.

"Bakusai Tenketsu!" Ryouga called out sending the full force of the attack upon Ranma.

The attack was supposed to turn Ranma's bones into a powdery dust. But what Ryouga didn't know was that the breaking point technique could not be used against living creatures. The attack Cologne had shown him was nothing more than a way to break a few stones and bricks while developing control over one's Ki.

********

Mamoru knew something was up the moment he saw all the people vacating part of the park. Taking another quick glance around the park he saw what was causing all the commotion and chaos. Ranma and the unknown young man were facing off against one another. The young man had called forth some strange attack that didn't seem to have much effect on Ranma and was currently back to lashing out at the pigtailed martial artist with a red bamboo umbrella. The way he wielded the umbrella reminded Mamoru of the way a fencer wields an epee during a match. But the amazing part of it was the way Ranma nimbly leapt into the air to avoid the umbrella.

As Mamoru continued to watch the battle unfold before his eyes he remembered hearing Usagi tell Motoki about her extensive martial arts training. He figured that if anyone was going to get those two to stop their fighting the meatball head was the one to do it. With that thought in mind Mamoru reluctantly made his way over to the bench where Usagi and Ami were sitting with that cat.

********

Ami couldn't believe what she had just heard. He new best friend and roommate Usagi had witnessed as a young child the murder of an innocent person for no apparent reason other than the fact that they were alive. As if that wasn't scary enough the creature had made a move as though he were going to do the same thing to Usagi. Luckily for her he became distracted and saw someone else he wanted to go after instead. And then to top it all off her friend had broken his promise to inform her the moment he got into any kind of trouble.

"Wow I guess witnessing something like would give anyone nightmares." Ami commented.

"Yeah I still get chills just thinking about what happened that day." Usagi replied.

Ami was about to ask Usagi what happened after Cell had left to go after the plane when she noticed some people desperately trying to vacate the park. Wondering what was going on she stopped a woman on a bicycle to inquire about the mad rush.

"Excuse me ma'am but can you tell me why everyone is rushing to leave the park?" she asked.

"Some kid with a big red umbrella is trying to beat the living tar out of another kid with a small braided queue." The woman explained before leaving.

"Thank you." Ami called after the woman.

Ami thought about the descriptions of the two combatants for a moment before the recognition fully sank in. There were only two people she knew of who fit the description the woman gave her, Ryouga Hibiki and Ranma Saotome. Ami knew she had to stop their fight before the two martial artists destroyed the entire park.

"Usagi we need to stop those two before anyone gets hurt." Ami told her friend.

"You know who it is?" Usagi inquired.

"Yes it's Ranma and his rival a boy named Ryouga Hibiki." Ami said.

With that said Usagi, Ami, and Luna ran in the direction the people were coming from. Not paying too much attention to her surroundings and going as fast as she possibly could Usagi didn't notice the young man running in her direction. And as fate and bad luck would have it the two collided right into each other on the small paved path. Usagi took a good look at the person she had hit fully intending to apologize but changed her mind when she saw the other person was none other than Mamoru Chiba.

"Hey, why don't you watch where you're going you big baka!" Usagi yelled at him.

"Me! I wasn't the one trying to break the land speed record you walking steam roller!" Mamoru shot back at Usagi.

Usagi was in no mood to fight with Mamoru at the moment and told him so.

"Listen Mr. Personality," she began using another Bulma put down, "I don't have time for this! I have a fight to break up!"

"Well that's exactly what I was coming to see you about. It seems your friend Ranma is fighting some guy using an umbrella like a weapon." Mamoru explained.

Ami knew she had to get to Ranma and Ryouga before anyone got hurt and she decided to break up the heated argument brewing between Usagi and Mamoru by using the one technique that always got Ranma and Ryouga to end their own verbal battles. Ami simply walked away.

"I don't have time to listen to you two argue right now. I have to get to those two before they end up killing each other." Ami said as she left the pair on the ground.

Luna feeling the exact same sentiment as Ami did and followed the blue haired Senshi of Mists over to the two fighting martial artists. She was interested to see what sort of skills this acquaintance of both Ami's and Ranma's had and she wanted to see if Ami could get them to end their fight.

Usagi feeling left behind by her best friend and her cat forgot all about her verbal argument with Mamoru and headed after the retreating pair leaving Mamoru by himself. It wasn't long after she had left that Mamoru decided to follow her and see if he could give Ami a hand. He may not have been very fond of Usagi but Mamoru had to admit there was something about Ami he liked and he didn't want to see her get hurt in the process of trying to stop her fiancé and the unknown youth from fighting.

Sensing Mamoru behind her Usagi called out to him over her shoulder.

"Listen you I don't need any of your help you got that!" Usagi yelled at Mamoru.

"I'm not going to help you I'm going to help your friend." Mamoru called back.

"Well you better not get in my way!" Usagi yelled as she came upon the battle scene.

What Usagi and Mamoru saw left them speechless. Ranma and Ryouga were going at it at a near blinding pace. Mamoru was having trouble keeping up with the two combatants while Usagi was following them like a spectator at a tennis match. The older youth looked over at the blonde haired martial artist and wondered how in the world she was able to see what the pair was doing.

"Hey odango how are you able to watch those two?" Mamoru wanted to know.

"Simple really. Everyone I know with the exception of my mother and one of my dad's friends is able to fight like that. We train to be fast and we train to be able to watch each other in battle. Although some of us can be too fast for even us to follow." Usagi explained.

"Now that's fast." Mamoru commented.

As Ranma and Ryouga met each other blow for blow Ami recognized the fighting technique Ranma was using. It was the same one the full body cat's tongue had forced Ranma to learn in order to be able to retrieve the amulet containing the cure from Cologne. Ranma was in the midst of using the Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken. After a few minutes of watching the pair battle Ami decided it was time for the fight to end. Bending down to Luna she whispered something in the black feline's ear.

"Meow!" Luna said sounding like a normal cat.

"Um Saotome don't look now but you have a cat behind you." Ryouga warned a bit nervously.

"C-c-c-c-cat! Get it away from me!" Ranma yelled freaking out.

With his guard temporarily down Ryouga was able to get off the one blow that would end the fight and send Ranma sailing into the pond at the center of the park. As Ranma realized where he was headed he let out a very loud protest.

"Oh kuso, this is just too great!" he yelled for the entire area to hear.

With that Ranma landed in the pond with a resounding splash surfacing once again as his female half the buxom Ranma-chan. Ami and Usagi couldn't help but laugh at Ranma's predicament.

"Well that ends that fight." Ryouga said triumphantly.

"I swear Hibiki I'm gonna get you for this!" Ranma yelled at his rival.

As Ranma climbed out of the pond she turned to face her fiancé and her roommate with a very sour looking face.

"Very funny you two." Ranma mumbled at them.

Ami stopped laughing long enough to introduce Usagi and Mamoru to Ryouga.

"Ryouga I'd like you to meet my new roommate Son Usagi and an acquaintance of hers Mamoru Chiba. Usagi, Chiba-san this is a friend of ours Ryouga Hibiki. He and Ranma are always arguing over something but he's really a nice person who happens to have a little directional problem." Ami said.

"Pleased to meet you Ryouga-san." Usagi said flashing her patented smile.

********

Yea I finished another episode! Once again I apologize for the tardiness in getting this one out. I still can't find my notes. I want to thank everyone who has been reviewing my stories, not just this one but the other one I've decided to update as well. It means a lot to know you like my work. I look forward to more reviews from you. I have a folder for this story on the Sailor Moon crossover discussion boards if you have any suggestions please leave them there or put them in your reviews. I need to know if I should make Makoto and Ryouga a couple or not because it will dictate how a future episode is written.

Okay now I want you to remember the little scene where Ryouga has the premonition because it's going to be important later on. As you can see Usagi and Mamoru are a lot like Ranma and Ami and Bulma and Vegeta. And while Usagi may not understand some of the put-downs she hears she'll use them anyway. The two techniques Ranma and Ryouga use were indeed taught to them by Cologne although I don't think in the original story Ryouga learned the breaking point to get back at Ranma after he learned the chestnut technique. Oh and yes Ryouga would somehow happen to wander into a place and not realize how he got there like Vegeta and Goku's sparing match.

So you're wondering where the Dark Kingdom went. Well don't worry the next general will show up in the next episode. So that means more Naru, more Umino, more Rei, and more arguing couples. Next up for our heroes is a monster whose backhand is deadlier than her forehand. Find out who the new millionaire playboy in town is and why the Dark Kingdom is after the captain of the tennis team Naru's own cousin. Keep a watch out for episode five The Mysterious Millionaire.