Usagi sat down in her desk and looked over at the empty desk next to her. A week had come and gone since the last time Naru had been to class and Usagi was becoming worried. Naru was the first friend she made when she came to Tokyo and without her Usagi wouldn't have known what to do or where to go in the large city. Sure Usagi had been to West City a number of times but Tokyo was a whole different place. Tokyo didn't look or feel like West City and being away from her family didn't help much.

As Usagi waited for class to begin she noticed Momoko and Hikari were talking to Umino. She knew they were talking about Naru because they kept looking over at the desk she usually sat in. The trio was also worried about Naru like Usagi was. Out of the four of them Umino had known Naru the longest. The smaller class gossip had grown up with Naru and the two of them had attended school together since nursery school. Over the years Umino came to learn a lot about Naru and knew what her favorite things were. The young auburn haired girl's absence from class worried him as much as it did Usagi.

"I haven't seen Naru in a week." Momoko said.

"Yeah I tried calling her to see what's wrong but her mother said she doesn't want to talk to anyone. I'm worried." Hikari added.

"That makes two of us. It isn't like Naru to miss any school unless something's really wrong. Maybe she's really sick. This is the longest she's ever missed school." Umino told the girls.

Usagi decided then and there as the bell rang to begin class that she would go over to Naru's house and talk to her friend about what was going on. And one or another Usagi was going to convince Umino that he should come along with her. Because whether they wanted to admit it or not Naru and Umino were beginning to have feelings for one another.

********

Zoicite stood before his queen with a proud confidant look upon his face. Even though the effeminate general had lost the first of the Seven Shadows his mission could still be called a success. The sandy haired man had captured the first of the seven rainbow shards. Right now the Dark Kingdom had the upper hand in the war with the Senshi something they had never had.

"Zoicite I must congratulate you on your retrieval of the rainbow shard." Beryl said, "The appearance of this new Senshi bothers me some but you have succeeded in getting what we need the most. Now tell me have you found out where the next shard is located?"

Zoicite prepared to answer his queen's inquiry by showing her who the next host was by using the black crystal he now controlled.

"Black Crystal show me the next holder of a crystal shard." Zoicite commanded.

The familiar tendrils of light came from the black crystal and showed the image of a person who held within them a rainbow crystal. The image was that of a British minister with brown hair, matching eyes, and pencil thin mustache. The minister wore a long black cloak with a white collar and silver cross. Both Zoicite and Beryl let a smile come across their lips when they saw the image of the minister.

"Go and retrieve the crystal he holds within him. And if you can bring back the Shadow Warrior as well." Beryl told him.

The effeminate general bowed to his queen before leaving the throne room in his usual shower of sakura petals. Soon the gaijin minister would be shown what he truly was.

********

Guardians of the Earth
Episode Twelve: Moving On

********

Class had ended for the day and Usagi knew exactly where Umino would be on this day. This was one of the two days when the smaller nerd tutored Ranma in math. Usagi knew she would be doing Ranma a favor by taking Umino with her to see Naru. Quickly running to her room Usagi wanted to deposit her books and let Luna know where she would be before grabbing the unsuspecting Umino.

"Hey Luna sorry I won't be able to make the meeting this afternoon but something's come up and I need to go check on my friend Naru. I'm sure whatever you discuss at the meeting you and Ami can fill me in on it later." Usagi said as fast as she could while still being legible.

With that Usagi left the stunned lunar feline still sitting on her bed now next to the simple standard issue black book bag and ran out the door without even changing her clothes.

"The girls aren't going to like this. And besides Makoto is going to have a ton of questions." Luna said to the now empty room.

Usagi ran across the quad to the main building of the school and made her way to the library. Ranma was sitting at one of the tables next to Umino who was trying to get the pigtailed martial artist to pay attention to the lesson they were about to review. Deciding the best course of action would be to simply grab Umino by the arm Usagi went over to relieve her friend.

"Ranma you'll thank me for what I'm about to do." Usagi announced, "Umino you're coming with me. You're not tutoring today."

With that Usagi grabbed Umino by the arm and books in the other hand and dragged the unsuspecting nerd out of the library.

"Hey where are you taking me Usagi?" Umino asked her when they were out of the library.

"We my young friend are going to pay a visit to Naru and you are going to help me cheer her up." Usagi told him.

Upon hearing they were going to see Naru Umino gave in and let Usagi drag him down the streets of the Azabu-Juban neighborhood at a break neck speed.

"Oh then lead the way. I'll do anything for an under the weather friend." Umino replied.

Upon reaching the OSA P building Usagi and Umino walked up the stairs to the apartments and knocked on the door to the apartment belonging to the two Osaka women. After waiting for a moment Naru reluctantly came to the door and opened it. Usagi's mood immediately changed when she saw the sad depressed look upon Naru's face. The young woman still hadn't gotten over Nephlite's death and it pained Usagi to see her looking the way she did.

"Usagi, Umino what a surprise. I wasn't expecting anyone to come by today." Naru said sounding quite sad and depressed.

Naru led Usagi and Umino to her room and the trio took seats throughout the small room. Usagi wasn't certain what to say to Naru without letting her secret out in the open. And after a few moments of silence Umino was the first to speak.

"I thought you were sick, but maybe you just had a broken heart." Umino said causing Naru to start crying over Nephlite.

Upon seeing her friend start to cry Usagi did the first thing that came to her mind she lightly hit Umino on the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" Umino wanted to know.

"Can't you think of something else to say?" Usagi questioned him.

Umino thought for a moment and remembered what one of Naru's favorite things was.

"Let's go eat chocolate parfait." Umino suggested just making Naru cry even more.

Usagi immediately whack Umino on the head once again.

Naru thought about what Umino had said and figured he was right. She needed to get out of the house and rejoin society once again. The time had come for her to end her mourning.

"Let's go play somewhere. Let's go eat something good." Naru said out of the blue.

Naru's suggestion made her friends look at her for a moment wondering if she really meant what she said. But the smile upon Naru's face told them that maybe she was ready to go out again.

********

Ami, Rei, and Makoto sat on the porch of the shrine house waiting for Luna to get the meeting underway. She knew the girls were wondering where Usagi was at that moment and lunar feline wished the female Saiyan could be there to answer the questions Makoto was going to have.

"You're probably wondering where Usagi is right now well I'll tell you. Usagi came flashing by right after her classes to inform me she was going to check on her friend Naru. She was in such a hurry she didn't even bother to change." Luna said.

Ami knew Usagi was very fast and if she didn't bother to change after class then she must have really been in hurry to get over to Naru's. Like Usagi Ami had also noted the girl's absence from school in their homeroom class that morning as well.

"Who's Naru?" Makoto asked the others.

Ami fielded this question.

"She's a girl in the same homeroom as Usagi and me." Ami explained.

Makoto let it go at that and decided to learn more about the enemy and their mission.

"So Luna can you tell me what's going on? I mean what's the deal with that moon stick of Sailor Moon's and this whole people turning into youma thing?" Makoto asked the lunar feline.

Luna knew this was one question she could handle and it was part of the reason she had called the meeting in the first place.

"This is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. After the attack yesterday I went to discuss a few things with my contact at Central and I learned something interesting." Luna began, "The Silver Imperium Crystal we are supposed to find has the power to destroy a planet.

"No one knows where to find the Silver Imperium Crystal. But it seems the seven rainbow crystals are smaller pieces of the Silver Crystal. Each crystal was once a powerful Shadow Warrior. The Shadow Warriors were the most powerful youma in the Dark Kingdom. Together they were known as the Seven Shadows and they had the power to destroy everything they touched.

"The only way the shadows could be defeated was if they were sealed inside the Silver Imperium Crystal. Somehow someone had sealed them away and broke the crystal into seven smaller parts each one containing a Shadow Warrior. The crystals became humans living peaceful lives but now Zoicite wants the crystals so he could bring back the Silver Imperium Crystal for his leader." Luna explained.

The girls took in everything Luna had told them but they knew there was more she had yet to tell them. And after it had all sunk in Ami was the first to break the silence.

"So we have to stop the Dark Kingdom from getting the rest of the crystals." Ami said.

"Sounds okay to me." Makoto added.

"Hey that's my line." Rei protested with a smile.

"But there's more to it then that. A leader has finally been chosen." Luna said to the girls getting their attention once more.

Ami wondered who the leader was going to be.

"Who has been chosen to lead the Senshi Luna?" she asked her roommate.

"The moon rod Usagi was given yesterday marks her as the leader of the Senshi. With it you will be able to find the holder of a rainbow crystal. The moon rod will respond to the crystal inside of a person." Luna explained.

Rei couldn't believe Usagi was chosen to be the leader of the Senshi. Even though she had nothing against the female Saiyan she didn't think she was ready to be leader.

"I don't think Usagi is ready to be the leader. No offense but someone who's lived their whole life in the middle of a forest wouldn't have what it takes to be a leader. She's too trusting and naïve." Rei said protesting the choice.

"Rei you seem to forget the kind of life Usagi has lead." Luna reminded her.

"What kind of life is that?" Makoto wanted to know.

Luna stopped to consider the fact that Makoto didn't know about Usagi's Saiyan side. After a brief moment Luna decided to let Ami field that question.

"Ami you know as much as I do about Usagi why don't you tell her." Luna said.

"Alright. You see Makoto Usagi is half alien." Ami began.

"How can she be an alien if she looks like us?" Makoto wanted to know.

"Her father's race the Saiyans look just like humans except they're born with prehensile monkey like tails. With these tails the Saiyan race can turn into a large monkey like creature called an Oozaru during a full moon. Cut off the tail and they are just like you and me. Yet they have exceptional strength and enhanced hearing. And because of her training Usagi has even developed a Ki sense and can manifest her own Ki to a visible form.

"Usagi never knew she was a Saiyan until she was five and she and her twin brother were kidnapped by a man claiming to be their uncle. From then on her life revolved around martial arts. She's fought one threat after another and has helped to protect our world from a whole host of strange things. Usagi is stronger and faster than you or I could ever imagine to be." Ami explained.

"Wow." Was all Makoto could say after hearing about Usagi.

After being reminded about Usagi and hearing something the female Saiyan hadn't told her Rei knew Luna had a point and reluctantly accepted her as their leader.

"Okay so maybe she has what it takes to be a leader." Rei said.

********
In Tokyo a good place to get the best Chinese food was in Yokohama. Yokohama was home to Tokyo's very own Chinatown and in Chinatown you could get just about any Chinese related item you needed from clothes, furniture, and nick knacks to spices, cooking utensils, and a complete dinner. And it was for this reason Umino, Usagi, and Naru were headed to Yokohama. When Naru had mentioned getting something good to eat Usagi suggested going to someplace other than the Azabu-Juban area. She had her reasons and she wasn't about to tell them to Naru and Umino without giving away her secret. Luckily for her Umino suggested getting authentic Chinese food in Yokohama.

That was the plan for the rest of the afternoon. Usagi and Umino both said they needed to change before heading off to Yokohama and they wouldn't take very long to do so. Usagi said she could make it so they could be ready to go in thirty minutes tops. And so Usagi introduced Umino to her top running speed and dropped the school gossip off at his house before blasting off back to the dorm. And just like they promised Usagi and Umino were back at the OSA P in less than thirty minutes.

By the time they reached Yokohama by train the trio decided to walk around for a bit before getting something to eat. Usagi, who had never been to a Chinatown before, wanted to take in all the sights and smells of the ward. Naru didn't really care what they did or where they went as long as she wasn't reminded of him. And Umino just wanted to go and get something to eat like they said they were.

The three friends wandered around Yokohama for what seemed like an hour. Usagi and Umino let Naru lead the way and soon they found themselves in a gaijin style cemetery. Usagi watched as Naru looked around at all the tombstones. She could tell her friend was wondering if Nephlite had a tombstone that told the world who he once was. Umino just wondered when they would eat.

"Come on guys when are going to get something to eat? All these graves are giving me the creeps." Umino complained to the others.

Usagi gave Umino a look that told the gossip to keep his mouth shut. But Naru just ignored the smaller nerd's complaints and stared out at the rest of the cemetery. Usagi went over to her friend and put a hand upon Naru's shoulder to let her know everything would be all right.

"There are so many tombs here. But Nephlite doesn't have one." Naru said trying to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes.

Usagi looked over at Naru and decided to try and cheer her up.

"Nephlite doesn't need a tomb. Not if his body doesn't exist anymore." Usagi said.

Naru looked at Usagi wondering what in the world she was talking about.

"Usagi how can his body not exist anymore? What are you talking about?" Naru asked her.

Usagi tried to explain what she had been told in easy to understand terms.

"Well where I come from we believe a person's soul travels to another place called the Other World when they die. It's here in the Other World that a person meets King Yamma judge over all souls. He's the one who decides where a soul's final destination will be. My father told me once that a soul whose body still exists in this world is a little white floating cloud. But when the body no longer exists in this world it can join the soul in the Other World. Only those deemed worthy by King Yamma still retain their body. My father was one of those people.

"But it's more than just that. Certain individuals can be brought back from the dead. Anyone who has died an unnatural death and hasn't been dead for a year can be brought back by seven magical balls called the Dragon Balls. The Dragon Balls allow anyone who gathers them the chance to ask the eternal dragon to grant them two wishes. If the wishes are within the dragon's power he'll grant them. I have a good feeling Nephlite just might be able to be wished back like my dad was. If not maybe he'll be given passage to wherever King Kai ended up after the Cell fiasco." Usagi told her friend.

Naru started to feel better about things and as she took in everything that Usagi had told her the minister who watched over the cemetery came over to the two girls.

"I couldn't help overhearing and your friend does have a good point." He said in heavily British accented Japanese.

"But it hurts too much when I think about him." Naru told the minister.

"Here why don't you come with me and we can talk about it." The minister offered.

Usagi watched as Naru and the minister went off to a small secluded area in the cemetery to talk about what was hurting her so much. Usagi knew the minister would be able to help Naru more than she would. He was trained to handle this sort of problem.

"Why don't you tell me a bit about the person you miss so much." The minister probed as they walked along one of the paths.

Naru took in a deep breath before beginning to tell the gaijin minister all about Nephlite.

"Well Nephlite was a special person. He was caught up in some bad things but I could tell he didn't really want to be a part of them. And I know he cared for me like I cared for him. He died in my arms. I don't really have much to remember him by." Naru said as she pulled out the makeshift bandage.

The minister looked at the bandage and could tell that was the only thing she had to remember the man she called Nephlite by. Looking up at Naru he saw the tears upon her face.

"You cared for him enough. And I have a feeling that someone will come soon enough." The minister told the still crying young woman.

No sooner had the words left his lips then a bright light and a shower of sakura petals filled the area along with a loud cackle. In an instant a sandy haired effeminate man was floating above them.

********

Usagi and Umino were becoming worried about Naru. Even though she was with the minister Usagi still worried about her because she had not seen where they had gone off to. And to top it all off Usagi was getting some strange Ki readings from all around the cemetery. She didn't like it one bit. Usagi had to do something and fast. Sending Umino one way Usagi headed in the direction of the Ki she was sensing. And as Usagi headed off to find Naru she felt a light tug on her pant leg. Looking down Usagi saw Luna looking up at her.

"Found my note huh Luna?" Usagi asked her feline guardian, "What's up?"

"Take a look at the moon rod in your bag." Luna said.

Usagi pulled the moon rod out of her backpack purse and looked at it. The small jewel at the bottom of the crescent moon was flashing.

"Why is the jewel on the moon rod blinking like that?" Usagi asked Luna.

"It's reacting to a rainbow crystal. The closer you get to it the stronger it will blink. Find the crystal and it's more than likely a youma will appear as well." Luna explained.

"What in the world is going on here?" Usagi wanted to know.

Luna looked up at her charge and decided she'd have to wait to give her the low down on everything that she told the other Senshi later. It was more important that they find the crystal before the Dark Kingdom did. They couldn't afford to loose another one.

"I'll tell you about it later. Right now we have to find that crystal before the Dark Kingdom does." Luna told Usagi.

Usagi knew that the last youma was pretty tough and she might need a bit of back up. Looking down at Luna she asked her a quick question to confirm a thought on her mind.

"You gave Mako the comm. right?" Usagi asked Luna.

"Yes I did." Luna replied.

With that Usagi pulled out the communicator she had received from Bulma and pressed a button with the symbol of Jupiter on it.

"Mako here what's up?" Makoto asked.

"Mako where are you because I'm going to be needing some assistance real soon. We've got possible youma activity in a cemetery near Chinatown in Yokohama." Usagi said.

"Hey I'm not too far from there. I was in Chinatown doing a little spice shopping. I'll be there real soon." Makoto told her new friend.

With that Usagi turned off her communicator and motioned for Luna to follow her. The lunar feline and her charge headed off in the direction the moon rod indicated.

********

The minister looked up at the floating man above him with fear. He wasn't certain what in the world this unknown person would do to him or Naru. And as the minister cowered in fear Naru looked at the effeminate looking man trying to figure out where she had seen him before. He looked so familiar to her yet she couldn't place him.

"Who are you?" the minister wanted to know.

"Who I am is of no concern to you. It's who you really are that I am interested in. I'll soon show you your true identity." The effeminate man told them.

Zoicite pulled out his black crystal and went to hold it out over the minister. But the moment Naru saw the crystal she remembered exactly who the effeminate looking man was. He was the man who ordered the death of Nephlite.

"Hey that crystal was Nephlite's!" Naru yelled, "You're the one who had him killed."

Naru grabbed for the crystal but Zoicite was able to dodge her attempt.

"You're useless to stop me girl." Zoicite said, "Zoi!"

With a quick thrust of his hand Zoicite sent an attack towards Naru and the minister. Not wanting Naru to be hurt the minister covered the girl with his body and pushed her to the ground.

********

Usagi and Luna ran as fast as Luna's legs could carry them. When they reached the area where Naru and the minister were Usagi saw that the stone on the moon rod was blinking uncontrollably. She knew that there was a rainbow crystal nearby and that a youma would soon appear. Peaking through the bushes Usagi and Luna saw Naru and the minister being attacked by Zoicite.

"What is he doing here?" Usagi asked Luna with anger in her voice.

"He must be looking for the same thing we are a rainbow crystal." Luna replied.

Usagi tried to suppress her anger and her Ki when she saw her friend being attacked once again.

"I have to do something to help her." Usagi said to Luna.

"Usagi maybe it would be better if you waited for Makoto. I don't want you doing something irrational because of your Saiyan side." Luna replied.

"I can't wait Luna. I have to do something before Naru gets hurt. Too many people I get close to get hurt Luna." Usagi argued.

Luna saw no point in carrying out the argument with Usagi because at the moment the safety of the minister and Naru were far more important.

"Go ahead and transform if you must." Luna said.

With that Usagi stepped back from the bush and prepared to transform.

"Moon Prism Power!" Usagi called out.

After the usual ribbon and light show Usagi, now as Sailor Moon, was ready to do battle with the effeminate general. Giving Luna a look that told the feline to stay back Sailor Moon revealed herself.

"Defender of love and justice Senshi of the Moon I am Sailor Moon! In the name of the moon I shall punish you!" Sailor Moon announced.

Zoicite ignored Sailor Moon and once again went to use his black crystal on the minister. Holding it over the minister Zoicite caused it to pull the crystal inside the minister to come out of his body. The orange colored crystal didn't stick around for very long and went flying off into the distance. Zoicite had no idea where the crystal went. And as Zoicite tried to locate the orange crystal the minister turned into a youma right before Sailor Moon's very eyes.

The youma looked like a combination between a lightweight Olympic boxer and a vulture. He had blonde hair, pointed ears, red eyes, and large yellow orange wings. The youma wore red striped blue boxing shorts, boxing gloves, head protector, and a belt with a large boxing bell where his belt buckle should be. Zoicite realizing the transformation had taken place turned his attention back to Sailor Moon.

"Bokushi I want you to get rid of Sailor Moon. Knock out the moon twit." Zoicite ordered.

Bokushi nodded his head and turned towards Sailor Moon preparing to fight the female Saiyan. Seeing what was about to happen Sailor Moon quickly got into a ready position to defend herself. The youma rang the bell on his belt and began dancing around and punching the air. After a few moment of shadow boxing the youma turned his attention to Sailor Moon and rang the bell once again. This time the youma caught Sailor Moon off guard when he used a one two combination punch consisting of a left uppercut and a jab to the stomach. Sailor Moon wasn't able to block the jab to the stomach.

"Hey! I'm a martial artist not a prize fighter!" Sailor Moon yelled out.

Naru seeing what had happened didn't want anyone to get hurt. She knew she had to somehow get through to the man the youma once was.

"No Reverend Hackett you can't do this. You're a peaceful man who helps people not hurts them." Naru called out to the minister.

Bokushi turned his attention to the yelling schoolgirl and prepared to give her a strong right hook to the face. Naru froze when she saw the look the youma was giving her. With a ring of his bell Bokushi began charging at the young schoolgirl. But just as he was about to deliver the punch something amazing and quite unexpected happened. A brown and black blur came rushing onto the scene.

"No Naru!" the familiar voice of Umino called out as he dove to get her out of the way of the oncoming punch.

Landing hard on the ground Umino scraped his arm pretty good causing it to start bleeding. Seeing his target out of commission Bokushi turned his attention back to his original target.

"Time for the final round!" the vulture like youma called out.

Bokushi went to attack Sailor Moon once more and used the one two combo again only this time he led off the combo with his jab to the stomach and then followed it with the uppercut. Once again Sailor Moon was hit by the youma. But just before Bokushi could get off another attack someone came and swept Sailor Moon away from the attacking youma. Looking up at her savior Sailor Moon saw it was Tuxedo Mask. The dapper defender had once again come to her aid.

"A minister shouldn't attack girls. You should hold them gently in your arms." Tuxedo Mask said to the youma while holding onto Sailor Moon.

Bokushi didn't care one bit what Tuxedo Mask had to say. Adding a bit of Ki to his punches Bokushi prepared to attack Tuxedo Mask.

"Buster Punch!" Bokushi cried out.

The Ki backed punch sent a wave of energy towards Tuxedo Mask and the dapper defender jumped to avoid the blast. When he landed he gently placed Sailor Moon on the ground and took his turn at the prize fighting youma. As Tuxedo Mask left to fight the youma Sailor Moon noticed he dropped something upon the ground. Looking down she noticed a star shaped item upon the ground. Picking it up Sailor Moon noticed it had a small circular top. She brought back to reality when she heard the sounds of Tuxedo Mask and Bokushi fighting.

********

Makoto arrived at the cemetery in time to see Tuxedo Mask fighting with Bokushi. Ducking into the same bush Usagi had used she met up with Luna who like her was watching the entire scene unfold itself in front of her. After catching her breath Makoto got caught up on what was happening.

"What's happened so far?" Makoto asked Luna.

"Well Zoicite found the next crystal before we did but it got away from him. It seems a gaijin minister was the next host. The minister is now the youma you see fighting Tuxedo Mask. He attacked Sailor Moon a couple of times and was able to land a few punches. Seems she needs to work on her boxing skills. He then tried to attack her friend Naru but the young man they were with got her out of the way in time. It was during the second attack on Sailor Moon that Tuxedo Mask showed up and saved her again. He could use some backup Makoto." Luna told her.

Now knowing what was going on Makoto pulled out her henshin rod and prepared to transform.

"Jupiter Power!" she called out.

When the electricity and light faded Makoto stood before Luna as Sailor Jupiter.

"Well wish me luck." Jupiter said as she rushed head on into the fray.

Standing before Bokushi and Tuxedo Mask Jupiter made her presence known.

"Why not take on someone your own size buddy!" Jupiter challenged.

Bokushi focused his attention on Jupiter and sent a Ki back punch at the tall brunet. Jupiter jumped out of the way avoiding the attack.

"Oh so that's how you want to play. That's fine by me!" Jupiter said.

With that Jupiter prepared for her attack and crossed her arms. The lightning rod on her tiara extended and the electricity in the air charged the rod.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter called out sending the blast towards the youma.

As the blast hit the youma Sailor Moon arrived on the scene and pulled out her moon rod. Holding the rod firmly in her hands Sailor Moon prepared to heal the youma.

"Moon Healing Escalation!" Sailor Moon called out.

When the healing light faded the youma was once more the peaceful British minister.

Tuxedo Mask saw that everything was back to normal and turned to leave the area but before he did he noticed a small orange sparkle on the ground. Looking down the dapper defender noticed a small orange crystal and picked it up. Something about the crystal intrigued the tuxedo-clad warrior. With that he left the scene crystal in hand.

Zoicite saw the retreating form of Tuxedo Mask and noticed he had the crystal in his possession.

"I'll get it from you. You can count on that." The effeminate general said.

Zoicite then left the cemetery in his usual shower of sakura petals

Luna had also noticed Tuxedo Mask retreating with the orange crystal. Worried about what might happen to it she turned to Sailor Moon to voice her concern.

"Sailor Moon shouldn't you go after him and get back that crystal?" Luna asked her.

"No. I'm not going to go after him. I trust him Luna and I can tell he won't do anything to it. If anyone besides us should have a crystal then I'd rather it be him." Sailor Moon replied.

Luna just sighed. She wasn't ready to trust Tuxedo Mask just yet.

********

Far away from Sailor Moon and her allies and friends in a secluded area Tuxedo Mask looked at the small orange crystal. Transforming back to Chiba Mamoru he examined the crystal and remembered what his dream princess kept telling him in his reoccurring dream. The smaller pieces would form a greater crystal. In simple plain mathematical terms the sum of the parts equal the whole. If he were to get all the remaining crystals he would be able to free his dream princess and regain that which had been taken away from him, his past. All he had to do was let the Senshi and the sandy haired effeminate general do all the work. He would just reap the rewards by taking the crystals.

"One down, six to go." Mamoru said quietly to himself.

********

Naru, Usagi, Umino, and Luna had found an out of the way bench in the cemetery. Usagi and Luna sat off to one side of the bench while Naru and Umino were on the other side. The young schoolgirl was currently examining bad scrape on Umino's arm.

"You need to have that bandaged." Naru said to Umino.

Pulling out the bloodstained green cloth she had used on Nephlite Naru untied it and began to wrap it around Umino's arm.

"Isn't that the bandage he had?" Umino asked her.

"Yeah it is but Nephlite would want me to use it." Naru replied, "Besides you got hurt saving me."

Umino began to blush as Naru finished tying off the bandage. Looking up at the girl he had known for a long time he said the first thing that came to his mind.

"I just couldn't let anything happen to you. I've known you for too long and I like you way too much to let anything happen to you." Umino said.

Fortunately for Umino he had blurted out the right words for now Naru was blushing and admitting something she hadn't even admitted to herself until now.

"I like you a lot too Umino." Naru told him as she took his hand.

Usagi had seen what had just happened and smiled. She knew those two belonged together and now that they had admitted their feelings for one another they just might spend some time together. This was just what Naru need right now.

"Usagi, Umino I'm sorry if I made you worry. I promise you I'll go back to school from now on." Usagi said to her two friends.

Yes good things were coming out of this little adventure in the cemetery Usagi was sure of it.

********

That night as Usagi sat on the large branch of the tree outside her window the young Saiyan contemplated what Luna had told her earlier that night. Looking up at the moonless sky Usagi wondered what her life would have been like if Piccolo hadn't destroyed the moon. Then she remembered what Luna had said about the moon's connection to the Silver Imperium Crystal. If the moon were to reappear when the crystal was found then maybe she would be able to become as strong as her father and her twin Gohan. And if the rainbow crystals were smaller fragments of the Silver Imperium Crystal Usagi was going to have to make certain the Senshi were the ones to get the rest of the crystals.

As thoughts of the connection between the moon and the crystals danced through her head Usagi pulled the star shaped item she had found on the ground from her pocket. Pressing a button on the top of the star the small circular cover opened to reveal an exquisitely designed watch face with a small crescent moon that served as the second hand for the pocket watch. Noticing another button on the side of the pocket watch Usagi pushed it and was surprised to hear a beautiful melody that served as the alarm for the pocket watch. Whoever owned this watch certainly took very good care of it. Then it hit her the pocket watch belonged to Tuxedo Mask. Usagi sat and lost herself in the watch's haunting melody.

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Another episode finished. Yea! Don't worry all you Ranma fans the next episode will be just for you. Let's see if you're keeping count that's two crystals down and five to go. For those of you keeping score it's Zoicite one Tuxedo Mask one and the Senshi zero. This is the week I head off to Boston on Thursday so I'll try and get as much done as I can before then. But I can't guarantee more than one episode before then. I still have work stuff and house stuff plus a lot of packing and errands to do before then. So I'll do all I can to get the next episode out before Thursday.

There really isn't much to explain in this episode. I had Usagi explain to Naru about the Other World and King Yamma because she wanted to make her friend feel better. Knowing how much Nephlite really meant to Naru Usagi explained the Dragon Balls to her as well. The name of the minister is the name of a priest in a BBC show called Father Ted. Okay so you're asking yourself why Sailor Moon had trouble with the youma. Simple in my alternate world Sailor Moon is a born and bred martial artist and she probably didn't have time to learn the complex boxing techniques that went along with Olympic and Marquis of Queensbury style of boxing while she was helping to save the world. Besides that bell served more than one purpose than just getting the youma focused it also distracted the target with its ringing.

Now about the little item Usagi found at the fight scene I could have gone two ways with it manga or anime. In the manga the item is a star shaped pocket watch. In the anime the item is the infamous star locket. So I decided to combine the two. The locket aspect comes in when she pressed the button for the alarm on the watch. The melody it plays is the same as the one played in the anime.

Remember what I told you about paying attention to the little things that pop up in prior episodes well that is about to come into play big time. It seems Ryouga just can't stay away from Ranma and from trouble. The lost boy returns to the Azabu-Juban neighborhood to challenge our favorite pigtailed martial artist once again but what does Zoicite want with him? And why is Mako chasing after him? Does Ryouga know something about her and the other Senshi? These answers and more will be revealed as the yellow crystal is found in episode thirteen Ryouga's Gift.