Ranma Half Moon chapter 66 [title withheld]
Author's note: This episode happens during the Sailor Moon episode 34, "The Sparkling Silver Crystal! The Moon Princess Appears"
"Why, Queen Beryl? We could have finished them off."
Queen Beryl looks at Zoisite with scorn. Why does he continue to not show me the respect due to a queen? "Orders have come directly from our great leader, Queen Metaria. We must take Tuxedo Kamen alive."
"But ..."
"Zoisite, orders are not to be questioned!"
"Yes, my queen."
Zoisite and Kunzite leave the Queen's court. Zoisite is visibly shaking.
"You did well in battle, Zoisite."
"Master Kunzite, do you really think so?"
"If the situation had not changed, we would have prevailed. Even with the unexpected addition of that new Sailor Warrior."
Zoisite blushes.
"But, now, we must set another trap."
Zoisite smiles and evil smile. "Of course."
...
Mamoru finally makes it back to his apartment. He had to walk most of the way because he had been too weak as Tuxedo Kamen to flash step. He rests for a moment against his apartment door. When he moves away a telltale blood stain appears where his shoulder was.
Mamoru punches the door in frustration. As a doctor in training, I know Zoisite did not hit any vital organs, but this wound is serious, and it is difficult to keep closed.
Mamoru sits on his sofa to gather himself before treating the wound.
Zoisite's face appears on Mamoru's wall. "Mamoru-chan? So nice to see you."
"Zoisite. How did you find me?"
"I know who you are now, so it wasn't hard. Let's settle this one on one, like men. Meet me at the Starlight Building at five tomorrow. You bring your two crystals, I'll bring my five."
Mamoru smiles, masking out the pain. "I'll be there."
The image of Zoisite vanishes.
Like men? Yeah, don't dress up like a girl next time, Zoisite.
...
Ranma-kun hears a knocking on his window. The midnight moon throws the shadow of a cat into the room. The shadow does not scare Ranma-kun. He opens the window and Artemis jumps in.
Artemis' eyes immediately double in size. "Meow?"
Ranma-kun chuckles. Artemis has never seen me as a boy except for the time when I was cos-playing a girl at the school fair. "What's up, cool cat? Don't worry. I'm really her. This is just how I normally look."
Artemis sighs. "That was quite a shock."
"Hey, my friends at school are in complete denial. They firmly believe that I have a cousin who I change places with when I transform as some kind of magic trick."
"I can see why they would believe it."
"How did Minako hold up?"
"She was nearly perfect in the battle but was struggling horribly during the introductions. I could tell that she was nearly in tears. I made up an excuse to get her out of there."
"Good thinking."
"I think she'll do better next time. At least Luna and I had a chance to set up a meeting place for tomorrow."
"Where?"
"Ranma, there are certain things that you shouldn't know about if you are to be an effective shadow warrior. If I tell you too much, you might inadvertently lead the enemy back to our main army."
"Understood."
"I know that some things about being a shadow warrior will be very harsh, but I know that you can handle them."
"There was one thing that was really weird today."
"Oh?"
"After the battle I tried to take the other Rainbow Crystal from Tuxedo Kamen but I could not."
"He was too fast?"
"No, the crystal seemed to stop me from attacking."
"The crystals didn't stop him from hitting you in the face."
"That was different. He didn't have a crystal with him at that time."
"I see. Maybe he is not our enemy after all?"
"I don't know. Maybe the crystals themselves know who they belong to?"
...
Ranma-kun makes it home from school and Nabiki meets him.
"Hey, your boyfriend Mamoru left a message. He wants you to come to his apartment. Sounds exciting."
"Moe, Nabiki, it's not like that."
"Well, putting that aside, you better put your girl side on. The message seemed pretty urgent."
Ranma-kun changes into Ranma-ko upstairs and prepares to leave.
"Young lady, you're going on a date dressed like that?" Nabiki rolls her eyes.
"Did the message say a date? Besides, he sees me in pants all the time."
"Really, Ranma, you should learn to work it more."
Ranma-ko doesn't even dignify that comment with a response and leaves.
Ranma-ko arrives at Mamoru's apartment. She checks her shirt pocket to make sure the Rainbow Crystal is still there. The Rainbow Crystal is way too important to leave lying around and if a crisis arouse I would need its powers right then and there.
Ranma-ko takes the elevator. She sees herself in the mirror. Should I have made more of an effort to make myself look cuter?
Ranma-ko knocks on Mamoru's door.
"It's open."
Ranma-ko lets herself in and shuts the door. She sees a horrible sight. Mamoru is leaning against a wall. He looks half dead.
"I'm glad you came ..." Mamoru starts sliding down the wall.
"Mamoru!" Ranma-ko runs over and catches Mamoru to prevent him from falling.
Ranma-ko kisses Mamoru.
To be continued!