Kon'nichi wa minna-chan! Gomen-nasai gozaimasu for taking *looks at he calendar and cringes at how long it's been* uhm, a long time to update. Life has been... interesting. But now that inspiration has once again struck, I've actually written a new chapter. I know it's really short compared to my other chapters, and usually I try to make them consecutively longer as I go, but I did promise to post anything I wrote, no matter how long, from now on, so here it is. And I promise, I have some great ideas as to where this is going now, so I won't take another, uhm, long time, to update again.

Well, enjoy!

New Beginnings

Chapter 4: New Elements in Play

Usagi's eyes went wide as she caught sight of Akane. What she was sensing was a magical aura, and it was growing quite rapidly. Eyes darting to the others, she realized that they were too focused on the fight no realize what was happening to Akane. There was no time to warn them. She had to act.

Calling upon both Saturn and the Ginzuishu, she ran forward and threw her arms up, just as Akane's power became too much for her to hold in. Her shield came not a moment too soon, as Akane's magic hit the inner wall full force, nearly knocking Usagi off her feet. Bright blue mixed with pure silver and the deepest violet as their magics clashed, each seeking to overpower the other.

In the end it was Usagi's experience with her magic that won out. Akane was unaccustomed to sustaining such power as she was. Still, for all her inexperience, she had not expended herself yet today and it took all that was in her for Usagi to hold firm until the blast subsided, leaving both girls so exhausted that they collapsed to their knees as the lights faded.

Usagi couldn't help but smirk as she noticed that their little light show had at least attracted the boys' attention and ended their fight for the moment. She waved off Ranma's hand as he rushed over, directing him to his pallid fiancee. Staggering to her feet, she nearly growled in frustration as she saw the boys nearly resume their fight over Akane as they each tried to gather her in their arms. Her eyes narrowed in thought as she struggled to remember what Ranma had called the other boy.

"Ryouga!" Said boy whirled on her, glaring as Ranma neatly stepped in and gathered his beloved in his arms, settling her onto his lap in a nearby chair. The fanged boy quickly forgot the strange girl as he whirled on his some-time friend and rival.

"Ranma! Let her go!" Ranma jumped with Akane out of the way, as Ryouga lunged at him.

"Stop it Ryouga! Can't you see she's hurt?"

"Ryouga-san." The soft voice at his back both drew his attention and calmed him a bit. He never noticed as Ranma shifted Akane to a more comfortable position in his arms and settled back into the chair.

Turning to the young woman standing frozen at the sidelines, Usagi walked slowly over and lay a hand on her arm, startling the poor girl. She nearly shocked her comatose when she began to speak in her native language with perfect fluency.

"Xian-pu, would you do me the honor of assisting me. I'm afraid that my shield drained my life force terribly, and yours is the only nearby source compatible at the moment." She bowed carefully, avoiding eye contact with the wide-eyed amazon. "Would you allow me allow me the humble honor of sharing a small amount of your life-force?"

Xian-pu and the others could only stare at the back of Usagi's head as she retained the respectful bow, though only the young amazon knew what she had said. How did this girl, this stupid girl, know the distinctive dialect of her village so well? Who had taught her? She was obviously more than she appeared to be. To withstand her attack with an ease that Ranma himself had never shown. To speak her language as though a native amazon herself.

Xian-pu shook herself out of her reverie and glared suspiciously down at the girl, responding to her request with demands of her own, keeping to Joketsuzoku as this strange girl had done.

"Who are you? What warrior of our tribe had the audacity to teach an outsider such as yourself the language of the Chosen? Your strength... You cannot be human"

For the first time since approaching with her request, Usagi looked Xian-pu directly in the eye and drew herself up regally, her calm never wavering.

"My name is Serenity Usagi Tsukino, Last Lunarian Princess, Heir to the throne of the Cosmos, Sailor Moon, sole surviving senshi defender of love and justice, and carrier of the star seeds to my fellow senshi, including your ancestor, the Princess Makoto of Jupiter. And no, I am not human" At the last, Usagi let loose with a short burst of lightening around her form, scaring away anyone outside the Nerima Wrecking Crew who had been brave, or perhaps foolish, enough to stick around thus far.

If Xian-pu was impressed with any part of the rather long title, she was careful not to show it. But at the mention of her own ancestor, founder of her village, and the accompanying burst of power, she fell to her knees and touched her forehead to the linoleum floor in front of her.

"Majesty" she breathed. "My life is yours."

Looking more exhausted than before after her announcement, Usagi reached down and touched Xian-pu's shoulder, drawing her gaze up to meet her own. She took the girl's hand and lifted her up from the floor, pulling her into a friendly hug. Once again, a blinding flash of color surrounded Usagi and the girl within her grasp, this time the darkest green mixing with her naturally silver aura. After a moment, the lights subsided once more and pulling back, the young monarch smiled brilliantly at her new subject and soul-friend.

"Please, call me Usagi-chan. I always hated being addressed formally."

"But, Majesty! You carry the spirit of the Founder. The mighty Queen of the Amazons. I cannot address you so informally." the young warrior balked. Usagi sighed and shook her head almost sadly, as though having run through this argument countless times before.

"My titles mean nothing to me. I use them when, and only when, pulling rank is the only option open to me in an argument. In any other situation, I am simply, Usagi." She grinned once more. "And besides, I now hold a small piece of you as well. You are soul-bonded to me. You are my friend."

With that, she turned away, effectively cutting off whatever argument Xian-pu had made, and reverted back to Japanese to address the others once more.

"Ryouga-kun, do you think that you could escort me home? I'm afraid this afternoon's adventures have rather worn me out. I'd hate to worry Tofu-san by collapsing on the side of the road."

Not waiting for the objection that may have come once he was lucid again, she looped her arm through his and turned to Ranma.

"Ranma-kun, put Akane-chan straight to bed when you get her home. She's not in any danger, but the amount of magic that she used up has drained her severely. She'll be asleep for quite some time while her body recovers."

Leaving the others to ponder the unusual events of the afternoon, Usagi steered Ryouga out of the mall and proceeded down the road to Tofu-san's home.

*****

Ryouga stared down at the girl that was currently sagging against his side. He was tempted to pick her up, she seemed so tired, but he was terrified of getting lost with her. The last thing he wanted to do at the moment was to show his worst weakness in front of her. So he simply watched her and let her lead him to Tofu-san's.

That was another thing that confused him. Was she a relative of the doctor, or a new bride? He hoped it was the former. She was awfully cute. Baka! He nearly hit himself over the head at that thought. You're in love with Akane. Akane! Shaking himself out his reverie, he reminded himself that she had referred to the doctor in the formal sense. It was only logical, therefore, that she be a visiting relative of some sort.

(Somewhere in Hell, Satan was trying to turn the heater on)

Deciding to just find out, Ryouga slipped a steadying arm around the girl's waist. Sniffing back a nosebleed and clearing the frog out of his throat, he opened his mouth and prayed.

"So... uhm... Miss..." Kuso! What was her name?

"Usagi" Came the soft voice from the mall.

"Huh?" She giggled. It was the most angelic sound he had ever heard.

"My name. Tsukino Usagi. But you can call me Usagi-chan. All my friends do."

Friend. She had just called him her friend. No one had ever called him a friend before. Well, except for Akane. But that was different. This girl in his arms was an angel. He nearly fainted hearing her voice.

"Tenshi"

"Excuse me?"

Ryouga blushed profusely and prayed to all the gods he could remember that he hadn't actually said that aloud. Somehow her puzzled look wasn't very reassuring on that count. Clearing his throat again, he tried to think of something, anything to cover his slip.

"Uh... That is... Are you Tofu-san's new bride?" Once again, could have smacked himself had he not been holding her upright. He nearly did anyway, until her angelic laughter filled his ears again. He could die happy after hearing such a melodic sound.

"Selene, no. I'm his student assistant. He and my father are old friends, and he's letting me stay with him while I study here in Nerima."

"Oh." Was all Ryouga could think to say. Luckily for him, they had arrived at the clinic. He reluctantly let go of her as they entered the office area. Tofu-san came into the room at that moment and rushed to her side, his voice unusually harried as he ushered her into the nearest exam room.

"Usagi-chan, are you all right? What happened? You don't appear to be injured. Did Cologne do something to you? Your father is going to shoot me for this."

Ryouga smiled from his place in the doorway as she just laughed and waved a hand dismissively at the doctor.

"I'm fine, Ono-san. I just wore myself out this afternoon at the mall. Ryouga-kun helped me home. All I need is some rest and I'll be good as new. I promise," she added at the doctor's less than convinced look. She managed to make her way up the stairs before either of them could protest.

Tofu looked over at Ryouga and blinked as if noticing him for the first time. Smiling at the perpetually lost teen, he set a hand on his shoulder and guided him into the kitchen area.

"You must be hungry with all the traveling you do, Ryouga-kun. Why don't you let me make you something as a thank you for bringing my charge safely home."

*****

Usagi collapsed on her bed, nearly falling asleep as her head hit the pillow. It took what little energy she had left to stay awake a bit longer. Feeling eyes on her, she lifted her head and glared at the two owners of those eyes.

"You came for Akane-chan didn't you?"

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Gomen for the really short chapter, but I thought this was a good place to stop for now while I iron out my next chapter. And yes, there is another chapter. I'm not posting anything until I have the following chapter started from now on, so you can rest assured that there will always be another chapter coming soon. Hope you enjoyed this, well, teaser of things to come. I'm sorry if it seems to be speeding along, but I my muses seem to like hitting me over the head with ideas late at night. Anyway, review, and remember, while I don't mind constructive criticism, flames will be responded to in kind. Ja minna