Cursed. Ryouga was cursed. Not with a bad sense of direction or what Jusenkyo had given him. No Ryouga's curse was different from what people thought or knew about him. Ryouga had an ability he kept hidden from everyone he knew. Not even Ranma and Ami knew about his curse. At least that's what he liked to think it was. He could deal with the real curse given to him by Jusenkyo or the bad sense of direction but this was uncontrollable. This had a mind of its own and came and went when it wanted to and Ryouga knew what it showed him could not be changed.

Ever since the last time he saw Ranma and Ami Ryouga had once again began to wander the countryside. And every so often Ryouga would get glimpses of people he would meet in the different towns he wandered into. Like the last time Ryouga went out on a training trip he ran across some interesting people. The most interesting group he ran across was a family of three and an old perverted man that reminded him of Happosi. Ryouga spent some time with them and since the quartet lived on a very tiny island it was hard for him to get lost. After two weeks of intense training with the adults living on the island, Ryouga considered the old man as much a child as the little girl, he was once again on his way.

After the two weeks on the island with his new friends Ryouga ended up once again in the mountains. This time he ran into the bald man and his tiny companion once again. Ryouga soon found out that they had much in common and found some more training partners. And after another two weeks Ryouga Hibiki was back to trying to find Ranma and Ami once again. After four and a half weeks of intensive training and travel Ryouga had learned a brand new technique.

********

Usagi sat at her desk and wrote. Sure her homework had long since been finished but this writing was for pure pleasure and to update her family how she was doing in a big city like Tokyo so far away from the ones she loved. She wanted to let her father and her brothers know she was still finding time to work on her martial arts and that she had a training partner. She wanted to let her mother know that her studies hadn't been suffering and although she wasn't perfect she was a solid A B student, math was still not her strong point. Usagi had so many things to tell her family and so many things she couldn't tell them. Not just yet. Oh she would tell them about Luna and the Senshi but that would be done in person.

Looking at the letter Usagi read what she had written so far.

"Dear mom, papa, Gohan, and Goten. Life in Kinmoko hall at Juban Prep has been quite interesting the past month. First off I'm sorry I haven't written you but things have been so hectic lately. What with classes and working out with Ranma and the study sessions with my female friends taking up a good chunk of my time I've been too preoccupied to find a moment to write to you. But now that I have a few free moments I'm doing just that.

"Things started to get crazy shortly after my last letter to you. That's when my friend Naru, you remember her she's the one who lives above the jewelry store, fell for a much older guy. And let me tell you he was trouble with a capital T. He was no Vegeta. Naru had seen him a few times during the social functions her mother's family attended and tried to get to know him better. But then one day things began to deteriorate. I had heard things through the grapevine about the so-called Sanjouin Masato being involved in some pretty bad dealings and it turned out I was right. One night he used Naru's trusting nature to his advantage and had her steal something from her own mother. I should know because when I went to talk to her about him for what was the millionth time that day I ran into her mother. The next night things got even worse and Naru witnessed his murder. But before he was murdered by the people he worked with Sanjouin Masato came clean with her for what was probably the first time in his life. Naru's heart shattered on that night.

"A few days after the murder of Naru's crush a new student arrived in the hallowed halls of Juban Prep, a student with a major reputation. Ranma and I had seen this girl earlier that morning taking on a group of thugs picking on a defenseless girl. It was amazing to see her take them on single handedly. Later on at lunch I was the only person to approach her. We talked and introduced ourselves to each other. Her name is Kino Makoto and she lives on her own. She's kind of like papa. Her parents died in a plane wreck when she was twelve. I thought mom, Ami, Rei, Juu-chan, and I were the only female martial artists around. Guess Mako proved me wrong. It looks like I may have found a kindred spirit.

"The next day after I met Mako my friend and school gossip Umino and I tried to cheer up Naru. A week had passed since the murder and she hadn't been in school. We left Naru's and went to Chinatown for a bite to eat but before we could even go into a restaurant we found ourselves in the local gaijin cemetery. Naru just stared at the tombstones thinking about her murdered crush. I talked with her and told her he was probably already in the Other World. I pretty much told her all the stories papa had told me. It seemed to help her a bit and the talk with the British minister made her feel even better. But things weren't going to stay well and good for long. The man who murdered Naru's crush was after the minister and so was a strange creature. Two of the Senshi, a group of crime fighters in Tokyo, showed up and dealt with the youma. During the fight the youma went after Naru and wouldn't you know it Umino showed up just in time to save her. Afterwards they admitted their feelings for one another and are now a couple. Seems the guy for Naru was next to her all along."

Usagi took a moment to think before continuing her letter.

"Mom, papa Ranma and the girls are the best group of friends I could have ever found. Ami's always trying to push me to be a better student while Rei is trying to get me to be a better person. I think her grandfather has other ideas though. He's like to see Ami, Mako, and me in a pair of hakama and shrine robes. He's so much like Muten Roshi it's just too kawaii. Mako and Ranma continually push me to be a better person physically. We all learn a lot form each other. I think this was the best thing that could have happened to me. Well, I'd better get going it's getting late and I need my rest. Give Goten a hug and a kiss for me. My love to everyone, Usagi."

With that Usagi folded her letter put it in the envelope and addressed it.

********

Ranma sat in his room looking through his shoebox full of pictures. The images of the older Tendo sisters and their father along with his own father brought back both pleasant and not so pleasant memories. Most of the pictures were taken by Nabiki and the ones Ranma had were considered the rejects of the group. There were a few pictures of Ranma as a girl in the pile in positions Ranma would rather have not been in and there were a few choice photos of his father as a panda. Whether he liked it or not Ranma's collection of photos contained shots of Shampoo, Cologne, and Happosi. Somehow Nabiki was able to get a shot of the tiny pervert just after a major panty raid. Ranma liked looking through his photos.

As Ranma continued to look through the pictures of the people who had the biggest impact on his life he got to the photos of Ami. The young blue haired genius looked quite nice in the uniform of their former school. This was how Ranma liked to think of Ami with a smile on her face and a book in her hand. When she wasn't calling him names or pounding him senseless for talking to Shampoo Ami could be quite lovely at times. But his training with his father over the years made Ranma believe girls were quite weaker than boys. Son Usagi had proven otherwise.

Ranma had gotten to a photo he considered to be his favorite. Ami was dressed in a simple blue sundress and had a tiny black pig in her hands. She was rubbing noses with him and had a huge smile on her face. And even though Ranma despised the pig there were times when he missed having him around in both of his forms. Before Usagi it was Ryouga who constantly challenged him to be a better martial artist.

"Where have you gotten yourself to this time pig boy?" Ranma said to the picture.

Whether he liked to admit it or not Ranma actually missed the wayward martial artist. It had been far too long since he had seen Ryouga Hibiki.

********

Zoicite stood before Queen Beryl waiting for the verbal beating she was going to give him. The effeminate general had let the second of the rainbow crystals fall into the hands of Tuxedo Mask. The young general had failed his second mission. And what's more Sailor Moon was able to heal the minister causing them to loose yet another youma. Zoicite hated waiting for his queen to hand out her punishments. If he was going to be reprimanded he wanted it to be over with fast. As he waited the sandy haired general tried to think of what he would say to his leader.

"Zoicite you have failed me. You have allowed Tuxedo Mask to get the orange crystal. I am quite disappointed." Beryl said breaking the silence.

Zoicite quickly dropped to one knee and bowed his head before his queen.

"I'm sorry I allowed it to happen my queen." Zoicite said quietly before raising his head.

From within the gathered minions Malachite stepped forward to address Beryl.

"Your Majesty Tuxedo Mask will eventually come for the crystal we possess and when he does we can get his from him." Malachite said.

Malachite had a point. It was logical even to Beryl that Tuxedo Mask would eventually come for the crystal they possessed. The white haired general was just reminding her of something she already knew. Beryl snapped out of her thoughts and addressed her generals once again.

"Very well. Zoicite I want you to get the five remaining crystals and do not fail me again. Have I made myself clear?" Beryl said.

Both generals now stood side by side and bowed to their queen.

"Yes your majesty." They said as one.

********

Zoicite and Malachite were in the elaborately decorated chambers of the high commander of the Dark Kingdom forces and his life partner. The sandy haired general couldn't waste any time between missions. He needed to find the next crystal host and he needed to find the person fast. Beryl was beginning loose patience with him and it worried him very much.

"If I don't find the next crystal soon Beryl might pull me off of this mission." Zoicite said with obvious worry into Malachite's chest.

"Don't worry Beryl won't pull you off this mission as long as I have something to say about it." Malachite reassured the effeminate general.

Getting himself free of Malachite's gentle hold Zoicite sat up on the dark blue velvet chaise lounge and pulled out the black crystal. Holding the crystal in his gloved hand he prepared to locate the next host.

"I need to succeed in this next mission anyway I can." Zoicite said quietly.

Then he began his incantation.

"Black Crystal, show me the next holder of a rainbow crystal!" Zoicite commanded.

The tendrils of light flowed from the crystal once more and began to reveal who the next holder of a rainbow crystal was. The image the crystal showed was of a young man with short dark hair and eyes. He was dressed in a loose yellow tunic that was belted at the waist with brown paints and light brown mukluk style boots. Upon his forehead was a yellow and black bandana and he carried a large pack with a red bamboo umbrella on his back. The young man appeared to be quite strong and he had lost expression on his face. Looking at the image Zoicite thought he could hear the traveler say something.

"Now where am I?" he said, "Somehow Ranma this is all your fault!"

Zoicite knew this was going to be a very long mission.

********

Guardians of the Earth
Episode 13: Ryouga's Gift

********

Everyone had gathered in the halls of Juban Prep before lunch to check on the results of the midterm in English class. As Usagi looked at the results of the test in her second worse class she saw that Ami was once again at the top of the list. Looking up the list Usagi saw Ranma's name jumbled amongst a mess of D students a little further up the list in with the C students was Makoto's name. Usagi saw Naru's name at the top of the B students and the further up she went the fewer the students became. Then she saw it. Her name was in with the A students. A smile came upon her face. It wasn't a perfect score or even as good as Umino's sixth place but Son Usagi had placed tenth over all on the list of results for the midterm test. All that extra studying with Ami and her mother's special techniques had paid off.

"Hey I did better than I thought." Usagi said quite proud.

"A C that's better than I thought I was going to get." Usagi heard Mako from behind.

"You did better than Ranchan though." Usagi told Makoto.

"Hey I try." Mako said with a smile, "It's more than I can say about him."

Said Ranma had walked out of his class and came over to the listing of the results. He began to look over the list and found his name with the other D students.

"A D so what else is new." Ranma muttered.

"Obviously not much." The voice of Ami added to the conversation.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ranma asked her.

"You're satisfied with squeaking by. As long as you pass your classes you're just fine with it." Ami said, "Your father never taught you the value of a good education. Even if I didn't enter all the competitions I still believe it's important to receive the best education possible."

Ami stopped and let what she said sink into her fiancé's brain. And while it did she looked over the list and saw where the names of her and her friends were on it.

"A C is good Makoto but you could do better. Maybe Usagi and I can help you go over the material covered in the class." Ami offered.

"Yeah I do need to pull up my grade." Makoto replied as the girls headed towards the cafeteria.

As Ami and Makoto found a place to eat out in the schoolyard Usagi noticed Ranma sitting by himself under one of the trees looking at a picture. Walking over to her friend Usagi peaked over his shoulder and looked at the picture. The picture was the one of the smiling Ami rubbing noses with P-chan. Usagi smiled at the tender little scene that played itself out before her eyes.

"Cute picture. So that's what P-chan looks like. I've heard Ami talk about him." Usagi commented with a smile.

"Yeah that's the little pig that's wormed his way into her heart. I wouldn't have any problem with it if he were a normal little pig." Ranma replied a bit annoyed.

Usagi took another look at the picture and couldn't find anything unusual about the pig.

"What makes you say that?" she asked him.

"Take a look at the bandana on the pig and tell me where you've seen it before." Ranma said.

Usagi looked at the pig once again carefully studying the bandana he wore. At first she didn't see it but the more she looked at it the more it began to look familiar. Then it hit her. She knew exactly where she had seen the bandana before, Ryouga.

"That look's like one of Ryouga's bandana's." Usagi said.

"That's because that is Ryouga." Ranma told her.

Usagi blinked a couple of times letting the information sink in.

"That's Ryouga? Is he cursed too?" Usagi asked him.

"Yes he is. But don't breathe a word of this to Ami. She has no clue. I promised Ryouga on my honor as a martial artist I wouldn't tell her." Ranma said.

"I won't say a word to her about this." Usagi promised.

********

School had ended for the day and Kino Makoto was on her way home. Today was one of the days that Ami had Juku and Ranma suffered through another tutoring session with Umino. Makoto felt sorry for her new friend. And as she headed for her apartment building Makoto let a small chuckle escape her lips.

Passing along the streets of the Azabu-Juban neighborhood Makoto lost herself in her thoughts. Not really watching where she was going Makoto bumped into someone. Looking up Makoto saw the most intriguing brown eyes she had ever seen. They were full of pain and jealousy. Taking a further look at the young man she noticed what he was wearing dark blue pants, a yellow sleeveless shirt, wristbands, brown boots, and a yellow and black bandana in his dark hair. On his back was a rather large pack with a red bamboo umbrella on the top. Wow what a hunk, Mako thought.

"Sorry for bumping into you." Makoto said to the slightly taller boy with a slight blush.

"I really wasn't paying too mush attention to where I was going so it's partly my fault too." He said with the same red tint to his cheeks.

What's this strange feeling coming over me, he thought.

"Um I seem to be a little lost. Can you point me in the direction of Juban Prep?" the young man asked Makoto.
"I can go one better and take you there myself." Makoto offered.

"I'd like that." The young man replied with a smile.

Makoto took the young man by the hand and began retracing her steps back to school.

"By the way my name's Kino Makoto." Makoto said engaging in some small talk.

"I'm Hibiki Ryouga." Ryouga told her.

"So what brings you to Juban?" Mako asked.

"I need to finish a fight with an old rival of mine who happens to now attend your school." He explained to Mako.

"Really? Who?"

"A martial artist by the name of Ranma Saotome."

"Ami's fiancé?"

Ryouga was intrigued that Makoto knew Ami and Ranma. It seemed the engaged couple had made more friends than just the blonde with the cat who helped Ami break up the last round with Ranma.

"You know Ranma Saotome and Ami Tendo?" Ryouga asked quite surprised.

"Know them? Ami happens to be one of my new best friends and Ranma he's a great guy who happens to share the same interest with me." Mako said.

"And that would be?" Ryouga probed.

"We're both really into martial arts. We've been starting to spar together on the weekends with a friend of ours." Mako explained.

The pair walked past the gates of Juban Prep and Makoto led Ryouga to the main building. Once inside she led the lost boy to the library where they were greeted by the sight of a very bored Ranma sitting at a table next to a smaller boy with thick glasses and unruly brown hair. The smaller nerdy looking boy was droning on and on about something because his hands were moving a mile a minute. Ryouga looked at the pair completely stunned while Mako just smiled and tried not to laugh.

"I'm afraid he's a bit detained at the moment. Today's one of the days he has to suffer through a tutoring session with Umino." Makoto explained in a whisper.

"Well then do you have a piece of paper and a pen?" Ryouga whispered back.

Pulling out a slip of paper and a black pen Makoto handed the items to Ryouga who found a table and began to scribble out a note. Makoto looked over his shoulder and read what it said.

"Ranma. Meet me in the park in one hour. The time has come to finish what we have started. I have been very productive on my latest journey and have a surprise in store for you. This time I will be the victor and you know what they say about the victor. I look forward to renewing our match and seeing you then. Do not fail to show. Ryouga."

After reading the note over Ryouga folded it and wrote Ranma's name on the outside. He then handed the note to Makoto and motioned for her to give it to Ranma. Makoto reluctantly agreed and walked over to the table where Ranma and Umino were studying. After handing him the note Makoto waited while he read it. Ranma looked up from the note and saw the waiting Ryouga standing near one of the tables glaring at him. Nodding his head and returning the glare Ranma gave Ryouga his response.

With that Makoto left the library with Ryouga to show him to the park and wait with him for Ranma to arrive.

********

Rei and Mamoru were once again out on another outing together. They were spending time together after classes were over. Rei still had her crush on him and they had gone out a couple a of times since the incident in the park and Mamoru could consider Rei one of his closest friends like Motoki. And as the pair walked down the street Rei hooked her arm through Mamoru's and had a big dreamy smile plastered upon her face.

Mamoru's mind wasn't on the date or the movie they were going to see. His mind was elsewhere deep in thought about what had been happening to him lately. The dreams he had been having were coming every single night now and since he came into possession of the orange crystal Mamoru knew what he had to do. He had to find the rainbow crystals at any cost if he were regain his past. Who am I really, he thought. Has my life so far been a farce, he wondered silently. I know those dreams have something to do with my past but what.

"Yen for your thoughts Mamoru." Rei said bringing him out of his deep thought.

"Huh?" Mamoru replied.

"Is something bothering you?" Rei wanted to know.

"Oh. No nothing's bothering me. I was just thinking about a few things." He told her.

"Well if we don't get going we're going to miss the movie. This is one of my favorite foreign films. I can't wait to see Casablanca again." Rei said.

With that the pair headed for the local fine arts theater to see their movie.

********

Makoto and Ryouga were sitting on a bench in the park getting to know one another better. Somehow Ryouga knew he would be doing this exact thing. His little curse, as he like to think of it, showed him this tender scene. Ryouga felt right sitting there talking to Makoto.

"So you've been traveling around from one place to another trying to improve your martial arts?" Mako asked trying to understand what he told her.

"Yeah and I guess it all started after I first met Ranma. I don't really hate him it's just that I got mad at him when I thought he didn't show up for a match we'd scheduled near my house. And ever since then I've been trying to better myself so we can have an even match. He's constantly pushed me to be better and I him. But lately I've been mad at him for the way he's been treating Ami. I know I don't stand a chance with her but I consider her my friend and as one I want to see her happy." Ryouga said.

Makoto smiled at the wayward young man.

"Ranma has a few rough edges that need to be worked out and I think being at Juban has helped him as much as it's helping me." Mako said.

"Only a few? The way his old man brought him up Saotome's nothing but rough edges." Ryouga tried to tell her.

"That's what makes him interesting." Mako replied.

Ryouga to a moment to consider what Makoto had said. Ranma interesting that'll be the day, he thought. But as he thought about it some more his second sight kicked in and showed him something. The sprinklers were about to pop up and if they didn't move they would get soaked and Ryouga didn't want to turn into P-chan at that particular moment.

"We'd better move to another bench." Ryouga suggested taking Mako by the hand.

"Why?" Makoto asked him.

"You'll see." He replied as they sat down.

The moment they sat on the new bench the sprinkler system kicked in and preceded to soak the bench they had just been sitting on.

"How'd you know that?" Mako asked him.

"Highly developed danger sense." Ryouga said not wanting to mention the second sight.

"Oh." Makoto replied.

It was at that moment that Usagi and Luna came walking though the park. Usagi was dressed casually in a short pink silk Chinese style dress and light green denim jacket with white canvas shoes. On her back she carried a small brown leather backpack purse. Seeing her in something other than the school uniform or pants was kind of hard to believe for Makoto. Usagi actually looked nice in the dress.

"Hey Makoto, hey Ryouga." Usagi said with her usual smile, "Ryouga?"

Usagi did a double take when she saw Ryouga sitting on the bench next to her new friend. The last time the lost boy was in town he and Ranma got into one of their usual fights. Usagi could only wonder what he was up to this time.

"So Ryouga what brings you back to the Azabu-Juban area?" Usagi asked him.

"I came to finish the fight you, Ami, and that older guy broke up last time." Ryouga told her.

"Whatever. Just try not to get yourself killed. I'd like to consider you my friend." Usagi replied.

As Usagi was talking to Ryouga Luna noticed the moon rod in her bag. The stone on the rod was blinking out of control. And since they knew Mako didn't have a rainbow crystal the lunar feline deduced the next target had to be Ryouga.

"With the new technique I learned this time Ranma doesn't stand a chance. In less than fifteen minutes Ranma is going down for the last time." Ryouga said.

Usagi let a small eep escape her lips and grabbed Luna by the scruff of her neck.

"Well we'd better be going. Heh, heh. I promised Ami I'd meet her at the juku." Usagi told them in a high squeaky nervous voice.

With that Usagi ran out of the park and fast leaving Makoto to wonder what that was all about.

********

Dinner had been canceled. The sight of Ryouga in the park next to Makoto had done that. Usagi didn't mind seeing Ryouga again and she didn't mind that he was talking to Mako. But it was the thought of him fighting with Ranma again that had her worried. Usagi didn't want a repeat performance of the last time. And as she stood outside Ami's juku Usagi tried to think of what she could do to stop the feuding pair of martial artists.

"Usagi about that boy Ryouga. I need to talk to you about him." Luna said.

"Not now Luna here comes Ami." Usagi told her.

Ami walked out of the juku to the sight of her roommate actually wearing a dress. She knew she had them but she never thought Usagi would actually wear one. But before Ami could comment on how nice Usagi looked the blonde Saiyan grabbed her friend by the hand and began leading her in the direction of the park and Ryouga.

"I'm sorry but dinner is off." Usagi said.

"Why?" Ami wanted to know.

"Ryouga." Usagi told her.

That was al that Ami needed to know. She knew all too well what happened when Ryouga was in town. He and Ranma always had to continue their never-ending feud. They had to stop them.

********

"Alright Ryouga let's get this over with." Ranma said as he saw the lost boy waiting on a bench in the park for him next to Makoto.

Makoto looked over to Ranma. He was now dressed in his usual black pants and a blue sleeveless Chinese styled shirt.

Ryouga got up from the bench and placed his pack on the ground next to Mako. Turning to her he asked her to watch his things for him.

"Watch my pack for me." Ryouga said.

"I'd love to." Makoto replied.

Ryouga then turned his attention back to Ranma and began to give him his usual pre fight speech.

"Prepare to die Saotome! I've gotten better since you last saw me. I've been studying under a master of the arts and one of his best students." Ryouga said.

"Oh really well I've been doing a little extra studying myself." Ranma replied.

"Yeah I saw your teacher." Ryouga joked trying not to laugh.

"That wasn't the studying I was talking about." Ranma replied.

Ryouga sneered at Ranma thinking he had the upper hand in the situation. The lost boy decided to let his rival in on his secret.

"Well I'll have you know I was studying under the Kamesennin Muten Roshi himself." Ryouga told Ranma with a slight snicker.

Ranma tried not to laugh. Ryouga was a little to late jumping on the turtle method bandwagon.

"Ryouga I've been studying that method a lot longer than you have." Ranma said nonchalantly.

"You fiend how do you know of the Muten Roshi's teachings?" Ryouga demanded to know.

"A very good friend of mine has known Muten Roshi since she was five." Ranma stated.

"Oh and that's supposed to impress me?" Ryouga wanted to know.

Makoto watched as Ranma and Ryouga continued their little verbal one on one. She began to wonder if this was the continuing feud Ryouga had mentioned. But before the pair could even throw one punch at each other a loud cackle filled the park. Looking in the direction of the cackle the trio saw Zoicite floating in the air above them.

"About time you showed up Zoicite." Ryouga said as he crossed his arms across his chest.

Zoicite became angry that his intended target knew who he was before he could even have the chance to introduce himself to him.

"How do you know who I am?" Zoicite demanded.

"I've been able to see into the future since I was a little kid." Ryouga told him.

Ranma couldn't believe what he was hearing. Ryouga was born with a special ability and had been using without anyone's knowledge. Ranma began to wonder if Ryouga used his ability during all of their fights. If so then Ranma thought Ryouga had cheated during those fights.

"In fact I know all about my other self. And it had nothing to do with being a pig." Ryouga added.

"Well then I guess it's time to return to what you once were." Zoicite said.

Ryouga glared at the effeminate dark general. There was no way he was going to allow himself to do the things he had seen in his visions. The lost boy would rather die first.

"Sorry but I'd rather be dead than serve someone like you." Ryouga said.

With that said Ryouga got into a ready position and began to power up his Ki like he had learned while on the road. Ryouga wasn't going to go down without a fight. And now was a perfect time as any to show off his newly acquired attack.

"Take this!" Ryouga yelled, "Shishi Hokodan!"

Thrusting his hands out in front of him Ryouga let forth a blast of blue colored Ki. Seeing the blast coming for him Zoicite countered it with his own blast.

"Zoi!" the effeminate general yelled as he thrust forth his hand.

The little pink crystals from Zoicite's attack canceled out the Ki blast Ryouga had sent towards him. With the blast gone Zoicite pulled out his black crystal and held it out over Ryouga's body.

"Since you won't come willingly I might as well take what is rightfully mine." Zoicite said.

Ryouga was in great pain. Clutching at his body he felt the crystal inside him react to the crystal Zoicite had. If something weren't done soon he would change into the youma and hurt a possible love. Ryouga didn't want to do anything to hurt Mako.

********

Usagi, Ami, and Luna arrived at the park expecting to see Ranma and Ryouga trying to tear each other limb from limb. But they hadn't expected to see what was happening before them. Zoicite was floating above Ryouga with his black crystal held over the lost boy. Ami could tell from the look on Ryouga's face that he was in a lot of pain. They had to do something.

"Usagi we have to save him." Ami said.

Usagi was about to respond in kind when Makoto ran into them.

"Great you guys are here! I was just about to call you." She said.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Usagi replied.

With that said the three girls got out their henshin devices and transformed.

"Mercury Power!"

"Jupiter Power!"

"Moon Prism Power!"

When the light show was over with the three Senshi stood ready to defend Ryouga's life.

"How dare you attack an innocent life Zoicite!" Jupiter yelled.

Upon seeing the three Senshi Zoicite stopped his attack. Ryouga slumped to the ground in great pain and Jupiter and Mercury went to go and see if he was all right.

"Jupiter, Mercury get him out of here." Sailor Moon said.

"Right!" they replied.

The two Senshi helped up the fallen martial artist and took him to a secluded part of the park.

"It's time to see what the student has learned. You ready Ranma?" Sailor Moon said.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Ranma replied while getting into a ready position.

Sailor Moon began to power up her Ki levels but Zoicite had more important things to do than to stick around and see what puny attack Sailor Moon would use on him. With that Zoicite vanished in his shower of sakura petals.

"That baka!" Sailor Moon yelled.

********

Mercury and Jupiter placed Ryouga down on one of the benches in the small garden area of the park. Ryouga was still in pain and lying on the bench seemed to help him some. As he let out a heavy pained breath Ryouga said something that took both Mercury and Jupiter by surprise.

"Ami, Mako." Ryouga called out to them before passing out.

Mercury looked over at Jupiter with a confused expression on her face.

"He knows. Somehow he knows." Jupiter said to her friend.

"But how?" Mercury asked Jupiter.

********

Sailor Moon didn't like the way things were going one bit. Ryouga was in pain and for some reason Zoicite was after him. She needed to find Ryouga and fast before Zoicite attacked him again. As the pair prepared to search for the trio Luna came out of her hiding place to offer up her own two cents on the whole situation.

"Sailor Moon if your young friend is a target of Zoicite then it just might be possible that he's carrying a rainbow crystal inside him. Take out the moon rod and see what you get." Luna said.

Taking the rainbow crystal out of her subspace pocket Sailor Moon saw that the stone on it was flashing. Ryouga did indeed have a crystal inside of him.

"He's got a crystal in him and Zoicite wants it and the youma inside him." Sailor Moon said.

Ranma looked at her like she was nuts. This was Ryouga. There was nothing out of the ordinary about him other than the fact that he turned into a pig when he got wet. But if what she said were true than Ryouga was in a lot of trouble and so were Ami and Mako. For the first time since he met her Ranma was afraid of what might happen to Ami.

"We've got to get to them and fast. If he does anything to Ami I'll personally kill him." Ranma said indicating Zoicite and not Ryouga.

With that the trio headed off in the direction the moon rod indicated.

********

Ami was worried about her friend and went to check his pulse. As she did she noticed something in the pocket of his pants. Pulling it out she saw it was a candid shot of her rubbing noses with P-chan. Three thoughts ran through Mercury's head as she looked at the photo. One how did he come into possession of it, two it had to have been Nabiki, and three how much did her slightly older sister charge him. Mercury shook her head and turned her attention back to the situation at hand.

"Cute picture." Jupiter said from over her shoulder.

"My very entrepreneurial older sister took it and probably sold it to him for a tidy sum." Mercury explained, "I wonder how much pictures of me are going for these days."

"Your sister sold it to him?" Jupiter inquired a bit shocked.

Ryouga began to groan and moan as he slowly woke up. Looking up he saw the concerned faces of Ami and Mako looking down at him. And in Ami's, no Mercury's, hands he saw the photo of her rubbing noses with his pig side. It was the only photo he had of the two of them together.

"Ami, Mako I'm glad you're here." Ryouga said weakly.

"Ryouga how do you know who I am?" Mercury wondered.

Ryouga let out a slow breath and prepared to tell Mercury his secret.

"I have the ability to see into the future. Sometimes it comes without warning and sometimes if I concentrate on what's to come I'm able to see what will happen. That's how I know you're Ami and you're Makoto. I saw you transform before you actually did. Just like I saw Zoicite coming for me." Ryouga explained to them.

"Don't worry Ryouga we'll make certain Zoicite doesn't come after you again." Makoto said.

Ryouga smiled at Makoto before getting a frown upon his face. He had seen what was to come during his slight slumber. As the youma Ryouga would attack his friend and a girl he was starting to like. He didn't want to do something like that.

"Ami, Mako I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that you'll kill me when I turn into the youma. I won't be able to control myself and I just might end up killing you." Ryouga said with a heavy heart.

Ami couldn't believe what she was hearing. One of her good friends was asking her to be his second in seppuku if he should turn into a youma. Ami wasn't about to allow that.

"Ryouga you can change your future. You're the one who writes it. You just have to believe in yourself." Ami told him.

"Ami's right Ryouga. You're the only one who has control over your life not some dark kingdom flunky." Makoto added.

Ryouga then turned his head towards Makoto and directed his next comment at her.

"I'm sorry we won't be able to get to know each better but this is for the best. You're a real beautiful individual Mako." He said.

"I won't give up on you Ryouga and you shouldn't either." Mako replied with tears in her eyes.

At that moment a loud cackle and a shower of sakura petals filled the area to reveal Zoicite.

"What a touching little scene. I'd be crying right now if I cared but I don't. All I want is the crystal and my youma. And I shall have them." Zoicite said as he pulled out his black crystal.

Holding the crystal out over Ryouga's body Zoicite began to call the rainbow crystal to him.

"Rainbow crystal come forth I command you!" Zoicite called out.

The black crystal in Zoicite's hand began to glow and Ryouga's body began to react to its power. The lost boy began writing and screaming in pain as the crystal inside him reacted to the power of Zoicite's black crystal. Jupiter looked up at Zoicite with cold green eyes.

"You're hurting him. Leave him alone Zoicite." She demanded.

But it was too late. The yellow colored crystal, that matched the color Ryouga's shirt, floated out of his body and into the waiting hand of the dark general. The lost boy slumped to the ground in pure agony. The pain was just too much. And then it happened. Ryouga began to change.

Right before their eyes Ryouga turned into a large robotic looking creature with no neck, a green and white outer shell, and two hands that resembled Swiss army knives with the scissors out. The youma roared and began to go after Jupiter and Mercury. The tall brunet tried to protect her smaller friend and looked at the youma with defiant pleading green eyes. Something about those eyes registered inside the youma and a memory surfaced. The words don't give up began ringing in his brain.

The youma turned to face Zoicite and lashed out at him with one of his scissor like hands in a way that resembled Ryouga's fighting technique. Zoicite was it on the arm and the sandy haired general dropped the yellow crystal. Seeing the falling crystal Mercury dove for it and made a successful catch.

Zoicite looked at the youma and knew he still had some human emotions inside him. Thrusting out his hand Zoicite turned the youma into an even larger youma thus removing any trace of human emotion still left inside him.

"Bunpo destroy the Senshi!" Zoicite ordered.

The enlarged Bunpo turned around and prepared to attack Mercury and Jupiter with an inhuman look in his eyes. But before he made a move a voice rang out through the park.

"How dare you turn a boy's feelings around!" Sailor Moon said.

Bunpo ignored Sailor Moon and began to go after Mercury and Jupiter. Raising a scissored hand Bunpo began to increase his Ki levels and made a move reminiscent of Ryouga's Shishi Hokodan. The Ki blast headed towards the two Senshi and Jupiter knocked Mercury to the ground to avoid the attack. To counter the attack from Bunpo two attacks came charging through the park.

"Mars Fire Ignite!"

"Moon Tiara Magic!"

The two attacks hit Bunpo head on and helped to distract him long enough for Mercury and Jupiter to get their own attacks in.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter called out.

"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" Mercury added causing her mist to freeze the youma.

Ranma winced when the bubbles hit the youma. If he really were Ryouga then the temperature of Mercury's attack would turn him into some sort of strange looking pig. But fortunately for both Ranma and Ryouga the thick outer shell on Bunpo kept the cold mist away from his true body.

"What in the?" Mars complained when she saw the youma was still standing.

"That thing really is Ryouga and your Senshi attacks aren't doing much good." Ranma told them.

"He's right. The youma is too strong." Luna added.

Hearing what Ranma and Luna had said Sailor Moon knew it was time to stop thinking like a Senshi and start thinking like a Saiyan.

"Well then Ryouga's about to get a taste of my Saiyan power." Sailor Moon said with a small smirk on her face.

"I just hope she doesn't go overboard." Luna commented when she saw the smirk.

Powering up her Ki to its maximum level Sailor Moon prepared for her Masenko blast.

"Take this Bunpo!" Sailor Moon yelled, "Masenko Ha!"

The well-placed Ki blast reduced Bunpo's power to a level where he could be healed with the moon rod. A quick check with her Ki sense confirmed it.

Pulling out the moon rod Sailor Moon prepared to heal Ryouga.

"Moon Healing Escalation!" Sailor Moon said.

The healing light wrapped itself around Bunpo and began to drive the youma out of Ryouga. With a loud cry Ryouga was turned back into a human.

Upon seeing that the youma was returned to normal and the crystal was safe in the hands of the Senshi Tuxedo Mask from his hiding place decided not to show himself and quietly left the area.

Zoicite seeing that he had failed once again became frustrated and prepared to leave.

"You may have won this one but you haven't won the war!" he yelled before leaving in the usual shower of sakura petals.

The Senshi transformed back into their normal guises and turned their attention to the fallen Ryouga. The first one in the group to be by Ryouga's side was Makoto. Ami motioned for the others to stay back. She knew something was forming between them and she wanted it to happen naturally.

"Ryouga you okay?" Mako asked him.

"Yeah I'll survive. That Usagi packs quite a punch though." He replied.

Everyone in the small group laughed at his comment.

********

Ryouga was leaving once again. But this time he wasn't leaving because of anything Ranma might have done or said Ryouga was leaving because of something missing from inside him. When the Senshi and their male friends gathered at the shrine after the attack they came clean with Ryouga about who they really were and what was going on. The lost boy admitted some feelings that he had kept hidden from a lot of people even himself. And admitting these feelings seemed to help cure him of one of his curses, the bad sense of direction.

When Ryouga heard about Usagi's Saiyan side he was amazed to learn about what she knew in the way of martial arts. But he was more amazed to learn that she was the friend Ranma had mentioned earlier and that not only did she know Muten Roshi but her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all students of the Kamesennin. The lost boy made a silent promise to return to the Azabu-Juban neighborhood not only so he could learn a thing or two from Usagi but also so he could see Mako once again. Deep down he really cared for her.

And so the Senshi, Ranma, and Luna stood on the monorail platform bidding Ryouga goodbye. The girls had pooled their money and purchased a Ryouga a ticket to Nerima. The lost boy figured some time on familiar ground would be a good place to start his journey. And as they waited for the train they began saying goodbye to each other.

"You're welcome to use my room while you stay with my family." Ami said, "I'm going to miss you as I always do Ryouga. Have a safe journey."

"I will and thanks." Ryouga replied.

"You're an interesting person Ryouga. I look forward to seeing you again." Rei told him.

"You too Rei. You too." Ryouga said.

Usagi waited for Rei to step back and took her turn at saying goodbye to her friend.

"Anyone who can survive living with Muten Roshi and Juu-chan ranks high in my book. Take care of yourself Ryouga Hibiki and when you do return I'll continue what Muten Roshi started if you'd like. So until then my friend." Usagi said.

Ryouga returned her smile before replying.

"Now I know I'm going to have to return here." He said with a chuckle, "Until next time Usagi."

Ranma who really wasn't one for mushy stuff found himself getting just as worked up as the girls.

"Ryouga man if my pop or the old hentai tries anything funny you have my permission to pound them senseless. You'd better come back because we still have a sparring match to get to." He said.

"That's another reason I'm going to have to return here." Ryouga replied.

After Ranma had his turn everyone waited for a moment while Mako gathered her courage and stepped forward to say goodbye to the man she was starting to care for.

"Ryouga I'm really going to miss you. I made you something for the train ride." Mako said as she handed him a large box lunch.

"Gee thanks. It'll be better than the ramen noodles." Ryouga replied.

"I've got something else for you too. It's to go with that picture of Ami you have. It's not the best one around but here." Mako said before handing Ryouga a photo of her in a green halter dress over a black mock turtleneck.

"I don't know what to say." Ryouga commented.

"Just say you'll promise to come back." Mako said as the train pulled into the station.

Ryouga picked up his pack and began to board the train. And before he was completely on he turned around and said one last thing to Mako.

"I promise you I'll come back to you." He said.

With that Ryouga boarded the train just as the doors closed and the on time train to Nerima left.

********

A very soggy hurrah for I've finished another episode. And as I write this it's storming outside. Well, this is the last update for the week I'm afraid. I've got that wedding in Boston and I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. But enough about that I've finally did an episode centered on a Ranma character again. Now you see why I told you to always pay attention to what happens in each episode. There was a glimpse at what Ryouga could do in an earlier episode.

As you probably guessed Ryouga found his way onto Muten Roshi's island and made friends with Krillin and Juu-chan. He probably thought Marron was real cute. And after being with them for a while he ran into Tien and Chaozu and spent time with them too. They do like to train in the mountains a lot. Now as for the Shishi Hokodan Ryouga used it's not your normal depression driven attack. This version is just like all the other attacks you'd find on DBZ. When anyone learns a Ki based attack it will be like the ones found on that wonderful program. That's what an AR fic is all about.

Someone once said a picture is worth a thousand words. Well a certain picture of Ranma and Ryouga standing up to someone fist defiantly raised inspired the whole stand up to Zoicite part of the story. I figured it would spice up the story if Zoicite showed up in the middle of their verbal tirade. And thus Ryouga valiantly standing up to the dark general was born.

Couple alert couple alert! There is now a new couple in the works here. Ryouga and Mako are going to be a couple. Oh and if you didn't notice I've laid the groundwork for Ranma and Ami to admit their feelings for one another before the end of this part of the saga. Don't worry by the end of this one there will be quite a few couples in the works.

Now for those of you keeping score it's now an even tie at one a piece. So it's Dark Kingdom red, Cape Boy orange, and Senshi Ryouga's yellow. Hmm who's going to get the next one?

So what's next on the docket for our heroes? It looks like Usagi is about to get an art lesson. What's this the girl in the pictures has a white tail? Why does a local artist want to use Usagi and Mamoru for her next big painting? Are Usagi and Mamoru getting closer to one another? And is Tuxedo Mask a friend or an enemy? Find out when Zoicite tries for the green crystal in episode fourteen Art Lessons.