Sailor Moon/Ranma/Futaba/Eva/UY - "House of the Crystal Sun"



When I began this, I had just read 'Dance of Shiva' by John

Biles and was convinced that I wanted to write another

'Megacrossover'. Frankly, I just don't have the temperment to

do it. Before I realized I wasn't interested in this any

more, it turned into a 'Ranma trains the Sailor Senshi' fic.



If you would like to use this, or any part of it, feel free.

I'm opening it up, just like the others. Before you start looking

at this, however, although there is a lot of material here,

there is *not* a complete story here. It jumps around a lot,

and is only scripted in places. You've been warned:





1. Rising Sun - Setsuuna contacts the Senshi, discusses a new

trainign arrangement. Part of said arrangement is disclosing

their senshi identities with their families. Discusses some

'new additions' to the team.





Haruka and Michiru have gotten a low-rent apartment. Both are

wallowing in guilt after Stars betrayal/disaster. Not a very

pretty scene. Michiru wakes up from a 4 day drunk (not binge,

just staying good and stoned) in a puddle of her own vodka

smelling vomit. Is considering just getting drunk again. She

passes out from the hangover/bloodrush.



Haruka is sitting over an illegal pistol. As she cleans

Michiru up, she's very seriously committing suicide. The only

thing that's keeping her from is an image of Usagi she keeps

getting, everytime she goes for the box of bullets.



Not a very pretty scene.



Setsuuna has taken Hotaru and has moved in with Souichi

Tomoe. The relationship is not instantly clear. Setsuuna is

getting dressed for a business meeting. Hotaru asks to come

along.



    Setsuuna blinked, as if the possibility had not occured

to her, of all people. She gazed over at Hotaru in interest,

while working a peirced earring into place.



    "Okay," she answered.



    That would certainly throw a new dynamic into the

equation.



    

Usagi addresses her parents. They're pretty skeptical.





Setsuuna and Hotaru appear in Tokyo, Nerima ward. They

approach a familiar dojo.



Ranma and Akane are in the dojo. Both are fairly heavily

bandaged.



    They sat back to back. Both were covered in gauze

bandages and patches. A good portion of Ranma's pigtail was

burned away, but the charred bits were still bound up into

the familiar braided shape.



    There were several places on both teens were a sticky

patch of burn ointment had been applied. Both looked

exhausted and uncomfortable.



    "Man, I can't beleive Tarou really brought a *real*

bomb to the tournament," Ranma wondered, scratching idly at a

'seri-strip' on his arm.



    Akane nodded, careful not to dislodge the gauze patch

over her left eye. "It would seem that he really is willing

to do *anything* to force grandfather Happosai to change his

name."



    "I just wish he wouldn't involve other people," Ranma

complained.



    "Well, your Shiryuu Hoten-ha had quite a bit of left-

over shrapnel in it," Akane noted. "He's probably not going

to show up again anytime soon."



    "Nnn..." Ranma grumbled. "If I have to get in another

fight this year, it will be too damn soon."



    Setsuuna and Hotaru stepped through the doorway and

into the dojo as if they owned the place. Both carefully

removed their dress flats before proceeding over to the

wounded teens.



    Ranma glanced up in irritation, but failed to make any

menacing movement. He began to grumble slightly.



    "We don't want any," Akane snapped. "Go away. And if

you're fiancees, you can get the hell out before I kick your

asses."



    Hotaru glanced up at her guardian in confusion. "Are

you sure it's these two, Pu?"



    Setsuuna nodded. "Unfortuneately," she turned and

addressed the two. "Ranma Saotome. Akane Tendou. Your

presence is required to save an entire world from being

destroyed."



    "Why don't you schedule an appointment with Nabiki,"

Ranma whined. "We've already saved the world twice this

month."



    "A demonic prince hardly counts as a global disaster,"

Setsuuna countered. "What I have in mind is far more

dangerous."



    "It'll just have to wait," Akane agreed with Ranma for

the first time that month. "We're both going to be recovering

from our last fight for a few months."



    "Recovery and a year's worth of training time in a

secluded area are included in the schedule," Setsuuna

explained, producing two brightly colored sales brochures.



    "Pu?" Hotaru asked.



    "With these two, it's best to go for the hard sell,"

the Senshi of Time explained.



    Akane nodded to the younger girl, as she began to

glance over the phamplet.



    "Ooohhh... a penthouse training facility," Ranma noted.

"And what's this?"



    "It's really in a seperate reality?" Akane asked. "No

Shampoo, no Kunou, no Ukyou, no Kodachi?"



    "Hmm... a three day weekend if any cursed martial

artists show up to challenge me," Ranma quoted from the

bullet points.



    "Those are awfully specific pamplets," Hotaru

complained.



    "The need itself is specific," Setsuuna explained.



    "Boy, you've done your research, lady," Ranma

complimented her. "But we've got obligations here that we

really just can't let go for a whole year."



    "That will be taken care of," Setsuuna continued her

'sell'. "In my reality, I am the guardian of time. I've made

special arrangements to 'abduct' you to a side dimension for

a year for the training mentioned in the pamplets. After the

training is complete, you'll be recalled for any conflicts my

associates or I may need you for. In return, you'll arrive

back here a day after you leave, wiser and stronger for the

training and better able to deal with your problems here."



    Ranma and Akane glanced at each other twice before

looking back at the woman.



    "Where do we sign up?" Akane asked.





Rei addresses Yuuichiro and Grandpa. They're skeptical, but

they think it's really cool that Rei is Sailor Mars. They

promise not to tell. Yuiichiro tells Rei that 'He'll be

waiting'.



Usagi starts in on a history of the moon kingdom. Ikuko,

Kenji and Shingo are genuinely entertained. Luna sighs in

frustration.



Setsuuna and Hotaru appear on a city street and start

walking.



    Eventually, they come across a fairly good looking

young man, if you discounted the hand-shaped bruise and

lecherous smile plastered all over his face.



    "Hi! What can I do for you two lovely ladies?" he

greeted the two smoothly.



    "Ataru Moroboshi," Setsuuna announced. Your presence is

required to save an entire world from being destroyed."



    "That's a new one," Ataru aswered sarcasticly. "So, you

wanna play tag, or what?"



    "Huh? Tag." Hotaru stared at the lecherous young man in

shock.



    "Why don't we go out for tea," Ataru offered Setsuuna.

"And maybe you can let me talk you out of the invasion."



    "Is he for real?" Hotaru whispered.



    "I'm afraid so," Setsuuna answered in obvious distress.

"Tea would be okay, but you must understand that it's simply

a business matter."



    "No problem, Babe!" Ataru grinned, and tried to put his

arm around Setsuuna's shoulder.



    She shrugged it off, and tried to keep a step away from

the young man. Ataru was mightily persistent, however. Before

either Hotaru or Setsuuna realized what was happening, he was

leading them both to a teashop with a masculine arm

intertwined with each of theirs.



    "So, what are you?" Ataru finally asked. "Oni? Aliens?

Demons? Fairies? Magical Girls?"



    "The last one," Hotaru gasped out, trying to figure out

how Ataru had managed to hold her hand. She wrung herself

away from him. She was a bit young for him, so she succeeded.

Setsuuna was not so lucky.



    "We are Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn of the Bishojo

Sailor Senshi," Setsuuna explained, beginning to consider

gnawing her arm off to escape from Ataru. "You must let me

go, Mister Moroboshi."



    "So what's the world saving bit about then?" Ataru

asked, his arm snaking around Setuuna's shoulder for a quick

feel.



    There was no help for it, the Senshi of Time realized.

She belted Ataru one, leaving a handprint almost identical to

the other one on the opposite side of his face.



    "We require your unique abilities in order to help

defeat a menace that may eventually destroy our world,"

Setsuuna explained, straightening her dress. She felt an odd

pressure on her backside. She turned, to find Ataru's palm

gently squeezing her buttocks.



    "DO YOU MIND?!?!"



    "Not if I can help it, Babe. So what's in it for me?"

he asked.



    Setsuuna's expression narrowed. "You will get to live

in a penthouse apartment with almost a dozen attractive young

women who will occasionally be dressed just like that," she

pointed to Hotaru who had taken the opportunity to transform

into Sailor Saturn and was warding off Ataru with the Silence

Glaive.



    His eyes ran up and down her body, taking in all the

dangerous  curves. He paused several times on the length of

her super-mini-monster-fighting-mini-skirt. It had been many

a year since Ataru had had a nosebleed for that particular

reason, but the mere... *suggestiveness*... of the young

girl's costume made him want to start again.

    

    "Hotcha. Well. Naughty. Ahem," he tugged at his

suddenly tight collar. "Ya know, if you were a year or two

older..." Ataru leered suggestively.



    "ATARU NO BAKA!" Hotaru shouted, bonking him with the

staff of the Glaive.



    "aaa.... dOzEN, YoU... sAy?" Ataru asked, slightly

concussed.



    Setsuuna cleared her throat. "Yes, may Serenity protect

me if they ever found out I offered you, though."



    "Your secret is safe with me, Miss," Ataru offered

suavely, back to leading her by the arm again.



    "He's inhuman!" Hotaru complained in exasperation.



    "Yes," Setsuuna sighed, lining up for another slap.

"And that's one of the reasons we need him."



* * *



    Makoto doesn't have anyone to tell. She's hanging out

at the Crown arcade, playing the old Sailor V game



    After a few minutes, Motoki walked over to the

obviously distressed girl.



    "Hey," he greeted her.



    "Son of a bitch!" Makoto swore as her player died

again. "Huh? Oh, Motoki-san! I'm sorry!"



    He shrugged to one side. "What's bugging you?"



    "Huh? Nothing's bugging me."



    Motoki eyed her slyly. "You hardly come in here anymore

unless there's something wrong. You never play any of the new

games, either. I've learned the patterns of some of my

customers, and this is the pattern of an upset young woman

named Makoto Kino who's come to let off some steam."



    Makoto blushed at the accurate reading. "It's nothing,

really..."



    "C'mon. Talk to me. We're friends, aren't we?"



    Makoto sighed as she backed away from the dilapidated

video machine. She and Motoki were 'friends' and nothing

more. That was, perhaps, both the solution and the problem

itself.



    There was another arcade attendant on duty, so Motoki

gestured to him and lead Makoto upstairs to the cafe above

the arcade. He led her into a booth and ordered a couple

sodas.



    "So you feel like telling me what's bugging you?" he

asked.



    Makoto shrugged. "For a while, I've had a little bit of

a secret with my friends. Today's the day that they're

letting their families in on it."



    "And that's not really a problem in your case, is it?"

the young man asked.



    Mokoto shook her head. "I really don't feel close

enough to my uncle to tell him. The rest of my family..."



    Motoki made a clucking noise with his toungue. "So do

you feel left out, or what?"



    "I dunno," Makoto admitted. "Over the last few years,

each and every one of my friends' families has made it clear

that they would be more than happy to make me a permanent

member. It's just not the same, though."



    They sat in silence for a few seconds, sipping at their

sodas.



    "So why don't you tell me?" he asked mischeviously. "I

can keep a secret."



    "But... You have Reiko," Makoto complained. "She's your

'family' isn't she?"



    "You said you didn't feel 'close' enough to tell your

uncle. Who *do* you feel close to, Mako-chan?"



    Makoto blushed again. "That's hardly fair..."



    "A guy would have to be pretty thick to miss *some*

things," he answered quietly as he took a sip of his soda.



    "Why didn't you tell me you knew before?" Makoto asked.



    "I'm four years older than you are," he replied. "I

didn't want to ruin things for you. I've always kind of seen

you as a little sister. I didn't want to ruin that either.

Surely there's someone else you've entertained thoughts

about."



    "Only a few," Makoto admitted. "There was this silly

preist at at temple near the *** resort..."



    "That's all?" Motoki chuckled.



    "Mamoru," she admitted, giggling herself a little. "But

then, all of us have been jealous of Usagi from time to time.

Seiya, from the Starlights. We were actually pretty good

friends for a little bit since he went to Juuban."



    "So what happened there?"



    "You know the Starlights' new keyboardist?" Makoto

queried. "The redhead?"



    Motoki nodded. "Her stage name is 'Fireball', isn't

it?"



    "She's the Stalights' 'Princess'." Makoto explained

truthfully.



    "No way!"



    Makoto shrugged, letting Motoki's imagination fill in

spaces that she herself had long wondered about in the cold,

dark night.



    "How can a girl compete with that?" she answered. "No

one else ever seemed to measure up, ya know?"



    "What about the preist?" Motoki asked, half joking,

half seriously."



    "Oath of celibacy," Makoto answered, her blush

deepening.



    "Oh." Maktoki began to blush as well.



    "Don't think I didn't try." Makoto covered her burning

ears in embarassment. "I've been out to his temple a few more

times since I first met him, but he's more interested in

finding 'inner peace' and 'the truth of the kamis' than a

relationship. I don't want to take him away from that."



    Motoki shrugged, not really knowing how to answer. He

flashed a killer smile at the girl he knew was still in love

with him. "So you why *don't* you tell me, then?"



    Makoto took a deep breath. "Okay. Okay. But... if you

ever tell, I'll whip your ass from here to the moon," she

threatened jokingly.



    Motoki took another sip of his soda. "Lay it on me."



    "I'm Sailor Jupiter."



    Motoki blinked.



    "Usagi, Rei, Ami and Minako are all Sailor Senshi as

well," Mokoto continued, the words falling out of her lips.

Once started, the avalanche wouldn't stop. "We've fought and

struggeled and died, and the only thing that's kept us going

has been Usagi's love and the knowledge that the world would

die if we failed and... I miss my Mommy and Daddy," she began

to weep.



    Before she knew what happened, Motoki had moved over to

her side of the booth and was cradling the crying girl in his

arms.

    

    Makoto buried her face in his strong, broad chest. With

his arms around her, she cried until she was all cried out,

ashamedly wishing all the while that he could comfort her

physically as well as emotionally.



    After almost a quarter hour, Makoto lifted her

tearstreaked face and began to dab at her eyes with a paper

napkin.



    "I knew," Motoki admitted.



    "Huh?"



    "Like I said," he answered, still holding Makoto in his

arms. "A guy would have to be pretty thick to miss *some*

things."



    "Huh. I guess with all the..."



    "With the monster attacks," Motoki nodded



    "And the energy drainings," Makoto seconded.



    "And all the dissapearences," Motoki finished. "I have

to be honest with you. I wasn't certain for a while. For a

little bit, I thought both my little sister and Naru Osaka

were Sailor Senshi. I've finally got it narrowed down. Your

little admission earlier verified it for me. I'm also fairly

certain that Michiru Kaiou is a sailor as well."



    Makoto nodded, a little bit shocked, not wanting Motoki

to let her go.



    "Just call me 'Mulder'," he laughed. "I still don't

have any clue who Uranus, Saturn, Pluto or Chibi-Moon are. I

have suspects, but..."



    "I'll ask them if it's okay for me to tell you," Makoto

offered.



    Motoki nodded. "Don't, if you'll get in trouble. It's

not my life's work or anything. Like I said, I can keep a

secret."



    The two sat in silence for several minutes. Makoto took

a drink of her soda to replenish some of the moisture that

was currently staining Motoki's shop apron.



    "Can I ask you something?" she queried.



    Motoki nodded, already knowing his answer.



    "If you weren't already in love... If you didn't have

Reiko..."



    "In a hearbeat," he admitted to her.



    Before parting, the two shared a brief, chaste kiss.



* * *



    Usagi reverts to charts. Parents are starting to

consider calling a doctor for her. Luna is pacing and

ranting.



* * *



    Futaba Shimeru is showering after wrestling practice.

He's seriously considering dropping out. His 'freinds' have

arranged a 'catfight' between Futaba-chan and a beauty from

another school. He's just seen the costumes. They're designed

to tear and let everybody see the 'goodies'.



    Wonders what to do about Misaki. Wonders what to do

about kurin. Wonders what to do.



He towels off and gets dressed, finds Hotaru and Setsuuna

waiting for him.



They want his help. Setsuuna emphasizes getting away for a

'year'.



Futaba will miss Misaki, but to her, he'll only be gone a

day. He agrees.



* * *



    Ami 'explains' things to her mother. Assures her that

TM is not molesting her and her freinds.



* * *



    Usagi is desperate. Calls Mamoru. Mamoru comes over and

cooberates Usagi's story. Parents are like 'Huh?' You done

need a Cat-scan, boy!



* * *



    Setsuuna and Hotaru appear at Juuban High school, but

not, Juuban High school. Meet four apparently random young

people. Ask them for their help. They agree.







    Shinji and Rei are getting dressed after one of the

innumerable sync tests. Things are beginning to get grim in

Tokyo 3.



    Setsuuna and Hotaru come to them in full senshi regalia

and offers an alternative.



    An alternative to the fighting and dying.



    Shinji wants to, but sees Gendou's face.



    Rei sits impassively.



    "Shinji, I can try all day to convince you, but the

simple fact of the matter is that if you want a better way, I

can give it to you. You have to accept or not accept.



    "I... I..."



    "Don't accept and watch your world crumble and die

around you.  Accept and learn how to stop it from happening.

It's that simple."



    "I..."



    Setsuuna grimaced. "Come, Saturn. This is useless. He's

incapable of deciding."



    Hotaru winced, but turned and followed her guardian.



    Perhaps it was because he felt the chance slipping

away. Perhaps it was because the younger girl looked so sorry

for him. Perhaps it was because he didn't want to look like a

coward in front of Ayanami. "Wait!" Shinji desperately called

out. "I want to do it."



    Setsuuna grinned wickedly. "And what of you, 'First

Child'?" she asked Rei.



    "I... I have duty here."



    "To save the world, or damn it?" Setsuuna asked.



    "I... I don't know."



    "For you, the choice as is simple as it is for Shinji.

Will you fight, or will you let others use you to fight?"



    For the first time, Shinji saw Rei's expression harden

in something other than pain. There was pain there, but anger

was there as well.



    "I... I don't want to be used."



    "Come with me then," Pluto commanded.



    "Hai."



* * *



    Minako was having a difficult time.



    "Hey, Mom! You remember all that time I spent with Alan

and Katrina in London?"



    Nahh...



    "Mom! Guess what! I'm actually Sailor Venus!"



    Nahh...



    "Here's a surprise, VENUS POWER MAKE UP!!!!"



    After the obligatory swirls, twinkling musics and

flashes of light, Minako



* * *



    "MOON COSMIC POWER!!!! MAKE UP!!!!" Usagi shouted,

lifting her locket above her head.



    "Oh hell," Luna spoke out loud and covered her eyes

with her paws, not caring who heard her.



    There were a few seconds of flashing light, fluttering

ribbons and tinkling music.



    It was perhaps unfortuneate that Shingo was just

reaching that age where the muddled, confused sight of

unexposed skin would begin to have effects on his hormonal

metabolism. He had a nosebleed and passed out very quietly

behind the sofa.



    Ikuko and Kenji looked on in astonishment at the

heavily breathing young woman in front of them. Momaru's face

was in one hand, as he shook his head in defeat.



    "You morons!" Luna accused. "How could you *not* know!

The odangos! Good lord, the odangos! They're practically

Sailor Moon's calling card and USAGI INVENTED THEM!!!!"

    

    Ikuko and Kenji looked between the talking cat and the

magical girl as if, well, they were a talking cat and a

magical girl.



    "Usagi..." Ikuko ventured.



    "Yes, Mother! I'm Usagi! I'm Sailor Moon! I'm a Little

Teacup! BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!"



    "We'll be going away for a little while," Mamoru

explained, picking Usagi up by the waist and Luna by the

scruff of the neck.



    "HAHAHA! MOON POWER! CHEESE POWER! IN THE NAME OF POPE

PIUS III, I WILL PUNISH YOU!!!! HAHAHA!"



    "Morons! Morons I tell you!" Luna ranted.



    Ikuko and Kenji nodded very carefully, watching the man

take Sailor Moon away.



    "Well," Kenji volunteered after the door had closed.

"That was very odd."



    "Yes. Odd. Very." Ikuko agreed.



* * *



    Girls and Mamoru all arrive at the temple. Everyone has

calmed down. Grandpa and Yuiichiro are there, with (almost)

reverent exprssions on their faces.



    "So, are you all going to transform?" Granpa Hino

asked.



    "And give you a skin show?" Rei asked, kneeling to kiss

the old man on the forehead. "What kind of girls do you think

we are, you dirty old man?"



    The preist laughed, not being insulted. "Take care of

yourself, Granddaughter," he commanded.



    "I will."



    Yuiichiro stood behind the older preist, waiting

calmly.



    Rei took a deep breath.



    "You doofus," she accused.



    "Hai, Rei-san."



    "Oh, what the hell," she swore flippantly.



    The two embraced and kissed deeply. Their hands ran

through eachother's hair, and to those who were looking

closely, they appeared to glow a red sooty color, the fire of

their passion.



    "WHHOOOHOOO! GO REI!" Makoto cheered.



    "YATTA! She finally did it!" Minako exclaimed.



    Tear of joy and love stood unshed in Usagi's eyes as

Mamoru coughed and turned his head politely.



    "You go, girl!!!!" Ami shouted out. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"



    Everybody, Rei and Yuiichiro included, turned to stare

in shock at the Senshi of Ice.



    "Umm... I'm very happy for you, Rei-chan," Ami

corrected herself. "I hope that you two are very happy in the

future."



    Her ears, face and neck burning, Rei disentangled

herself from the young preist, who was rapidly losing

conciousness.



    "I'm so happy..." Yuiichiro mumbled before blacking

out.

    

    Those assembled turned in shock as a tearing sound

errupted behind them. They turned to see the upper half of

the time key protruding from thin air.



    It moved down, as if cutting. A long, thin hole opened

in the air. On the other side, Hotaru and Setsuuna stood.



    "Now, if everything's settled, let's be going,"

Setsuuna called out, her voice distorted.



    Hotaru waved at Grandpa Hino and Yuiichiro who was

happily having a nosebleed on the brick pavement in front of

the temple.



    "I guess we'll be going then," Rei announced. "I'll see

you... tomorrow."



    "And I'll see you a year from now," Grandpa announced.

"A day will have passed and you'll be a completely different

person."



    "I'll still be Rei" the preistess assured him.



    Grandpa waved wistfully as the girls filed through the

rip in space.



    It closed, leaving the preist and his acolyte alone.



    "Wake up, you goofball," Preist Hino commanded. "We've

only got twenty four hours to get their welcome back party

ready."



* * *



Ep 2 - Moving In:



    The girls found themselves on a brick pavement, much

like that that was in front of the temple. There were steps

and trees, but no temple.



    "Where are we, Setsuuna-san?" Ami asked.



    "We have changed probability percentile so that we

occupy a relative reality several microns distant in the

tenth and twenty-sixth dimension from what existed

previously.



    Ami nodded, and began to take notes.



    "Huh?" the rest of the girls asked.



    "We're in a parallel universe," Hotaru translated. "We

don't *really* exist here, and there's less magic. We can

train and even lose our secret identities without

consequence."



    Setsunna nodded, and gestured to a skyscraper in a

familiar, but slightly different Tokyo skyline. "That's where

we'll be staying. Come with me, since it's time to meet the

others."



    They take a cab cross town. Dr. Tomoe is waiting for

them at the base of the skyscraper, which turns out to be an

office plaza.



    "Poppa!" Hotaru cried out. She ran into the man's arms.



    Lovingly, Professor Tomoe kneeled and threw his arms

around the girl.



    They exchange pleasantries. Mamoru gets sentimental for

Chibi-usa. They go upstairs.



* * *



    The Senshi take the elevator up to the top floor. It's

a penthouse. Setsuuna leads them into a series of hallways,

with several doors. (The dormitories.)



    They walk into the main living Area. Makoto catches a

glimpse of the kitchen, and is instantly in lust.



    They walk into a large 'living room/theater' area.



    Ten people were already there, sitting in various

places around the room.



    "Please, make yourselves comfortable," Professor Tomoe

offered. "This will be your home for the next year, so please

treat it that way."



    "Professor Tomoe will tell everyone what's going on

while I tend to your luggage," Setsuuna explained. "I will be

back in a little while. In the meantime, please do make

yourselves at home.



    The Senshi nodded, and found places to sit.



    The other people in the room made places for them.

Souichi Tomoe took up a spot in front of the room in front of

a large screen television.



    "My name is Souichi Tomoe. You'll have to forgive me if

I sound like I'm more comfortable lecturing than speaking one

on one. Currently, I'm a full professor at CA university.

Along with doctorates in physics and microbiology, I also

have extensive medical training. For those of you who've met

Hotaru, I'm her father." He paused for a second. "Up until

two years ago I was also the leader of a group of alien

possessed individuals who sought to destroy all life on

earth."



    Makoto whistled at the frank admission. The professor

continued on as if it were nothing at all.



    "With the help of the Sailor Senshi, and my daughter

who is secretly Sailor Saturn, I was returned to a more

normal state. As you can probably guess, I feel a great debt

to the Senshi and will do anything in my power to aid them.

Since Ms. Meiou, whom you may also known as Sailor Pluto, has

asked me to help coordinate this group, I gladly agreed."



    Usagi's hand urgently shot into the air, waving around

madly for attention.

    

    "Yes, Tsukino-san?"

    

    "Why are all these people here, Professor?"

    

    The rest of the group sweatdropped.

    

    "We'll be getting to that in just a second, Usagi," He

turned back to the group,  "Now, if you all bear with me, I'm

going to go around the group and introduce everybody. I dare

say that some secrets are going to come out, but I assure you

that it's better to get everything out in the open now,

rather than later. This is liable to be embarassing or even

painful for some of you, but you must keep an open mind about

the situation."



    Introduces the five inners, Hotatu, Setsuuna. Makes

note of Haruka  and Michiru. Gives a breif history of the

moon-kingdom, battle with the dark kingdom, battle with black

moon.



    "Then, I'm rather ashamed to admit, *I* became the

Sailor Senshi's nemisis."

    

Prof gives a brutal accounting of the Death Busters, starting

with his teleportation research and his posession at the

hands of Pharoh 90. Ends with his redemption and salvation at

the hands of Sailor Saturn. Gives a *very* breif accounting

of Dead Moon circus and Sailor Galaxia.



    The Senshi all took deep breaths. They had *lived*

through that. While it ended well, it had been painful. It

wasn't something they were expecting to be dragged back up.



    "Several years ago," the professor began, "I was

involved in research involving the combination of quantum

physics and genetic engineering. My hope was to create a

device that would transport genetic material into a DNA

lattice to aid in genetic engineering. My unintended result

was to transport a malevolent organism half-way around the

galaxy and into my research lab.



    "There was an explosion," he reached out to lovingly

stroke his daughter's hair. "And my poor little Hotaru was

right in the middle of it. Her body was fatally wounded. Mine

was too, for that matter.



    "The organism, what we referred to later as a 'Daimon

Egg', offered to save her life. I would have given

anything... anything for such a chance. I had already lost

her mother, so I would have gladly sold my soul into eternal

damnation for my daughter. It turned out that my soul was the

least Daimon Garamouto would take from me.



    "Now, I don't wish to absolve myself of my crimes while

I was posessed by the daimon, but what I'm about to tell you

I remember only in flashes and spurts. My memory was badly

damaged. Most of what I know, I know only because Sailor

Pluto reconstructed the history of what I did.



    "I gathered several talented individuals around myself,

and used my new genetic technology to enhance their bodies

and physical powers. Worse, I played them off of each other

and let them kill each other when they became too troublesome

to bother with anymore."



    There was a noise of distaste from around the room.

Souichi Tomoe nodded and pushed up his glasses.



    "My daughter was also posessed by a daimon egg. As

Mistress Nine, she sought to use one of Sailor Moon's powers

to let the original creator of the daimon eggs use my

transportation technology to travel to Earth and destroy it.

Luckily for me, Hotaru was stronger than Mistress Nine. She

and Sailor Moon destroyed Master Pharoh 90. Sailor Moon gave

my daughter back to me and Hotaru gave my soul back to me."



    Usagi maded a snuffling noise and wiped the tears from

her face. There were a few more wet faces in the room.



    "After, I was hospitalized for almost a year. I had

suffered severe injuries, some of which were leftovers from

the explosion in my lab all those years ago. I wanted my

daughter to be with me, but I simply wasn't capable of taking

care of her. Sailor Uranus and Neptune took care of her for

me while I recovered."



    "This is a highly personal account, I know, but I would

like you all to know how indebted I feel to the Sailor Senshi

and their friends. The Sailors also fought Aliens who called

themselves 'Dead Moon Circus' and an evil Sailor Senshi

called Galaxia that they must think was a much worse threat

than I ever was. For me, the legacy of 'Mad Doctor Tomoe'

continues to haunt me. For the Sailor Senshi, and the rest of

you, if there is anything I can do to help you here, don't

hesistate to ask. I will help you out of my debt of honor,

even if I wasn't already inclined to help you."



    He smiled, a sight which everyone around him greeted

with enthusiasm.

    

    "Enough about me. The rest of you have interesting

stories as well. Let's start to my right. This is Futaba

Shimeru," Professor Tomoe introduced the first of the

newcomers. "He's a sex-changer, like most of his family and

extended family."



    Futaba sweatdropped. "Err..."

    

    Across the room, both Ranma and Akane snapped to

attention. The others in the room looked on in interest.

    

    "Like I said earlier," the professor stated, "This is

likely to be embarassing, but is necessary, I assure you.

*Ahem*," he cleared his throat. "Continuing, both Futaba and

his sister found out a few years after the onset of puberty

that they, like both their parents, changed sexes when they

became excited or stressed. Later, both of them gained some

measure of control over the transformation. Futaba currently

attends high-school and works part time as an idol-singer and

actress. This is all correct?" the professor asked.



    Blushing badly, Futaba nodded.

    

    "Next, this is Ranma Saotome,"  Professor Tomoe

continued.

    

    Ranma shifted uncomfortably. Akane simply stared at the

knowledgable professor. "Like Futaba, Ranma is also a sex-

changer."



    Ranma never thought he would hear it stated quite that

way. Because of the intimacy of the information already

revealed, he couldn't bring himself to comment.



    "Unlike Futaba, Ranma's sex changing is apparently

magical. He received his 'curse' while training at the Tragic

Cursed Springs of Jusenkyou in southwestern China along with

his father, who now shapeshifts into a giant panda. Both

Ranma and his father change into their cursed forms when wet

with cold water and change back when wet with warm water."



    He looked at Ranma, who nodded reluctantly in

confirmation after several seconds.

    

    "Ranma is the disputed master of the Musabetsu Kakotou

school of martial arts, a very loose discipline that

emphasizes strategy, skill and cunning over raw strength.

This is his fiancee, Akane Tendou."



    The dark haired girl smiled weakly and waved at the

rest of the group.

    

    "She has dan rankings in kenpo, karate, and a master

level ranking in the Tendou school of  Musabetsu Kakotou. She

also has a very high strange-attractor rating. Over the last

year Akane has been attacked or kidnapped by aliens,

monsters, martial artists and other curse victims at least

fourty-two times."



    "Urr..." Akane sweatdropped.

    

    "But Ranma always saves you, right?" Minako demanded

with hearts in her eyes. "Oh, how romantic!"



    "'Romantic' is not the word," Akane sighed.

    

    "Tell me about it," Ranma agreed.

    

    Professor Tomoe Cleared his throat again and gestured

to one of the other couples present. One was a dark haired

young man perhaps a year or two younger than most present and

the other was a blue-haired albino girl about his same age.



    "This is Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami."



    Shinji waved nervously. Rei glanced impassively around

the crowd.



    "They fight mysterious aliens referred to as 'Angels'

in order to prevent a prophecied mystical holocaust. Both

Shinji and Rei pilot giant bio-mechanoids derived from the

Angels, called 'Evangelion', in order to do their job."



    "Yo," Ranma greeted them from across the room.



    Hearing his life put so succinctly, Shinji had to

suppress a sigh.



    Professor Tomoe moved on to the next indiviudal. "This

young man is Ataru Moroboshi."



    Shinji thought that Ranma and Ataru bore a certain

resemblence.



    Ataru leered happily around the room. "Hey, I'd just

like everybody to know that I'm happy to be here!"



    "Ataru is the most lecherous being in the galaxy," the

professor explained.



    Most of the room (ie: the females present) scooted

several inches in the direction most opposite Ataru.

Nonplussed, he asked Makoto for her phone number and three

sizes.



    She unashamedly belted him one. Ataru recovered and

turned to Rei Ayanami, who merely ignored him.



    "Ataru bears the burden of the most powerful sex drive

ever precidented," Professor Tomoe continued. "But his

lechery has saved Earth from certain enslavement from the Oni

race by stealing Princess Lum's clothing, causing her to

default in a one-on-one duel. Ataru was subsequently married

to princess Lum by her family's laws, although he considers

the arrangement void by Earth laws. Lum lives in his closet."



    "Wonderful," Akane whispered. "A married pervert."



    "I hear you," Rei Hino whispered back to her after

overhearing.



    Ataru surprised them with his sense of hearing. "I'm

not a pervert, ladies. I'm just a free spirit!"



    The professor gestured to the next group. "Anyway,

These four are friends who attend Juuban Highschool in

Tokyo."



    "I've never seen them, Professor!" Usagi protested.



    "Not the Juuban in your world, Usagi. Remember that

everyone here is from paralell universes."



    The redhaired young man nodded. "I seem to recall a

little girl in my neighborhood who looks rather like you," he

explained to Usagi.



    Usagi looked confused, but willing to accept the

explantion.



    Professor Tomoe continued, introducing the four. Ichiro

was the red-haired youth, Niki was the shorter blonde girl

with a page-boy haircut. Sandi was the taller blonde girl

with long, flowing hair. Shiro was the tallest of the four,

with shoulder length white hair tied back into a ponytail.

Ichiro was almost as tall as Shiro, but not nearly so broad

shouldered or muscular. Shiro and Sandi, who were holding

hands, were pretty obviously a couple.



    "Shiro likes to spend his time in sports, modern dance

and ballet. Sandi is a ballet dancer as well and an amature

florist. Niki spends time with the theater club as a makeup

and costume artist. Ichiro, who is Sandi's older brother, is

a computer guru and an amature astrologist.



    For Rei Hino, it finally clicked. The group of four had

seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place them. With the

astrology remark the professor had made, it all fell into

place.



    "I can't help but notice," Ichiro stated, "That the

four of us seem fairly ordinary when compared with the rest

of this little group."



    "They're not, are they, Professor," Rei couldn't stop

herself from saying.

    

    Professor Tomoe nodded. "As Hino-san has guessed, the

distinguishing features of our guests are only partially

related to thier unusual lives. When Meiou-san sought you

out, she was paying much more attention to your genetic

patterns than your abilities or personal history. Rei may

already know, but for those who don't these four are

genetically identical to the people the Sailor Senshi knew as

the Youma Generals, whom I mentioned earlier."



    "Wow..." Minako whispered.



    "But the Youma Generals all died!" Usagi complained.

"Well, we didn't *see*  Jadeite die, but I always thought

that--MMPH!"



    "Go on, Professor," Makoto prompted, holding her hand

over Usagi's mouth.



    "Like I was saying, Ichiro is genetically identical to

the person you knew as Nephrite. Niki, with the exception of

her gender, is identical to Jadeite, and Shiro and Sandi are

indentical to Kunzite and Zoicite, respectively, with the

same concerns toward gender."



    The four looked surprised and confused.



    The professor continued to explain the changes. "The

major difference between their world and ours is that when

the Silver Millenium ended, there was no remnant of the Dark

Kingdom or Metallia left to regain power. When all those who

died on the Moon were reincarnated, these four were neither

sought out nor brainwashed like the four individuals you

fought two years ago since there was no Dark Kingdom or Beryl

to do so."



    The Senshi looked confused and rather hurt. In Usagi's

case, 'confusion' was a kind understatement.



    "So these are 'good' Youma Generals?" she asked after

several seconds of silence.

    

    The professor nodded. "That is a simplificaiton, but is

the essence of the truth in this case." He turned back to the

four very confused youths. "I'll speak later with you four

regarding your special circumstances. You'll have to

understand that the Sailor Senshi have had some very bad

experiences with your dopplegangers from their own universe.

It will be difficult, but you'll have to give them some time

to get over that."



    "That's not all, though, is it, Professor Tomoe?" Rei

Hino prodded.



    The professor shook his head, gesturing to Rei Ayanami

and Shinji Ikari. "While Rei is a genetically engineered

being created by Shinji's father, she and Shinji share most

of their genetic material. Biologically, they are half

brother and sister and fraternal twins."



    Shinji stared at his teammate with shock and surprised.

Rei didn't seem to be affected.

    

    "I understood that I was unrelated to anyone I worked

with," she noted quietly.



    "I'm afraid that your father has lied extensively to

both of you," The professor answered. "Since our need is so

great, it falls upon me to reveal this."



    Shinji's fists clenched, partly in rage and partly in

shock. "That bastard... I'll... I'll... I'll..."



    Rei's face shone with a slight touch of uncertainty and

discomfort. She began to tremble slightly.



    "Like the others, I'll speak to you two privately once

this meeting is over. I know this is quite an emotional blow

to the both of you. What you and everyone else should know is

that Rei and Shinji are heirs to the Earth Power in their

universe." He gestured to Mamoru, who was leaing against the

wall near Rei, Usagi, Makoto, Ranma and Akane.



    "Mamoru Chiba, as Tuxedo Mask, also uses that power."



    "What about me?" Ataru blurted out. "Surely I don't

have any funky super powers. It'd be cool if I did, but how

could I be that lucky?"



    "Ataru," Tomoe changed subjects, "Shares some genetic

material with Ranma and Mamoru. While they live in separate

universes, a genetic test would show that the three are first

cousins."



    Ranma whistled, noting some resemblance to his mother

in Mamoru.



    "Ataru is heir to the Jupiter Power in his universe,

while Ranma is heir to the Uranus Power in his."



    "And the Jupiter power would be... ?" Ataru prompted.



    "It's related to plantlife and electricity," the

professor supplied.



    Ataru grimaced and rolled his eyes. "Oh, that bloody

figures!"



    "I ain't never noticed any magical powers," Ranma

snapped. "If I had, you can be sure as hell I woulda used 'em

against the old freak."



    "As Meiou-san explained to me, you must understand that

while most of the Earth variants you are from started out

very high in ambient magical power, very little magic remains

in any of your worlds with the exception the Sailor Senshi's.

What powers you may have or have not noticed would be muted

to the point of invisibility by that lack of magical ambience

or 'mana' so to speak.



    "You may notice these powers begin to manifest once you

begin training with the Sailor Senshi and each other."



    Ranma nodded. He had accepted weirder explanations

before. "So what's this 'Uranus Power' and how do I use it?"



    "World Shaking!" Makoto supplied.



    Professor Tomoe nodded. "Our Uranus is a 'speed freak'.

She lives for motorsports and contests of speed. Her attacks

are based on the wind and earth. You will no doubt have to

train extensively before you can access that same level."



    Ranma nodded, grinning.



    "Ranma..." Akane cautioned.



    "Three days," Ranma whispered.



    "You're doing it again. Try to have a little humility,

okay?"



    Ranma just smirked.



    Professor Tomoe continued with Akane. "Genetically,

Akane and Ami would test out as cousins as well. Akane is

heir to the Mercury Power which is related to water and cold

temperatures."



    Ami and Akane waved to eachother politely. Ami warmed

privately at the thought of a 'cousin she never had'. Akane

did too, but was interested in the Mercury power as something

that could boost her martial prowess as well.



    "And Futaba would show up as a distant relative to

Minako," Tomoe finished the relations. "As well, he is heir

to the Venus Power, which is related to metal and light."



    The professor looked around the room. Surrounding him

were a wide array of different expressions. Happiness,

excitement, hurt, confusion, and pain were all in equal

evidence.



    "Are there any more questions?"



    Those in the room were really too stunned to think of

any.



    "If you do have questions at a later date, please come

to me or Meiou-san. Now, if you'll follow Hotaru, she's

familiar with the layout of our little penthouse here, and

can show you all to your rooms. Rei, Shinji. If you'll stay

and talk with me for a bit, I can shed some more light on

your problems..."



* * *



    

"If you will, please follow Hotaru out. She'll show you to

your rooms.





Some Time Passes...



* * *





    After he discarded the thermos, Ranma looked on in a

mixture of disgust and mild amusement at the group before

him. With a smirk, he dropped the roll of duct-tape to the

grassy ground.

    

    "Well... Strength-wise, this group isn't too bad. I

mean, where else are you gonna get to waste such incredible

power?"





    Sailor Pluto, who was still hanging upside down by one

ankle from the Time Key, winced.

    

    "If you were going by tactics though, you guys suck.

Yep. Definitely."

    

    Ami and Akane were still strapped together and hanging

from a convenient low branch.

    

    "Can we get down now?" Ami asked from around a mouthful

of Akane's bluish-black hair.

    

    "No. Now, here's the part where you learn why all the

ice-beams and lightning and so forth didn't do a damn thing

to save your ass. It was supposed to be me and Akane against

the rest o' you, right? So why did I beat her and Sailor

Mercury when Akane switched sides on me?"



    "Urr...    



    Ranma shrugged. "I kinda thought you had somethin' up

your sleeve," he admitted. "Did you ever think to *tell* her

you were gonna switch, Akane?"



    "Urrr..."

    

    "Stupid Tomboy..."

    

    "Ranma!!!" Akane started struggling, which only sent

her and Ami swinging again.

    

    "You both coulda taken a couple seconds to get on

either side a me, if you knew what was going on. Lesson one:

Your allies must be able to react to what you're doing. That

means if they can't read your moves, you gotta tell em what

you're doin'. Why do you think I use attack-names, Akane?"



    "Urrr..."

    

    "Sailor Jupiter," Ranma addressed, turning to face the

other girl. She was sitting against a tree, still angrily

trying to work her way out of the duct tape around her wrists

and ankles. "What went wrong with your attack?"





    "You dodged everything I threw at you!" she accused

angrily.

    

    "And..."

    

    "And what?"

    

    "Well, you were throwing lightning around. How the hell

am I supposed to dodge that?"

    

    "You did."

    

    "It wasn't lightning I was dodging, then, huh?"

    

    Makoto's face brightened in realization. "You were

reading my moves."

    

    Ranma nodded. "And after you threw two or three

lightning bolts at me, and they weren't working, you didn't

stop. Lesson two: If you overestimate the usefulness of an

attack in battle, your opponnent's gonna kick your ass. Don't

use an attack if it don't work. Don't show your oponnent your

full strength. Keep stuff in reserve. You never know when

you're gonna need an ace. Tuxedo Mask. Sailor Mars."





    Mamoru was unbound, but sporting a large bruise along

the side of his temple.  Rei was in a simliar condition.





    "You both knew I changed into a girl. You both knew

what clothes I was wearin'. I think you both knew that your

teammates were getting picked off. What on earth posessed you

to trust the cute red-head in the middle of a fight?"





    Both looked at him in wordless chagrin.

    

    "Don't most o' the monsters you guys fight wear

disguises? I got to use the same technique twice on you two

and that's not something I get to do very often. Lesson

three: See the truth in the fight. Know your opponnent. What

if one of the baddies dressed up as one of you? As a group,

we gotta develop some kinda system to let us know who's who."





Ranma turned to Sailor Venus, who was working at freeing

Pluto.





    "You two, Sailor Venus and Sailor Pluto. Where did you

learn your martial arts?"

    

    "Uhh... from TV," Minako admitted as she picked at the

duct-tape.

    

    "I will be honest, Ranma," Setsuuna admited. "I've had

no formal training. Most of what I have learned has been from

manuals and books."





    "Once you figured out who I was, you two had the best

chances against me, but the skill just wasn't there. You've

also got no endurance. I hit you a couple times and you just

laid down."





    Both girls gulped at the recriminations.

    

    "Lesson four," Ranma began, "Be ready in mind and body

for the attack. Willingness to fight is only a small fraction

of the fight. You gotta be able to kick the other guy's ass a

little, or you're not gonna accomplish nothin'. Sailor Moon--

"





    "I ran away." Usagi admitted guiltily from her standing

position near Mamoru. "I got scared and I didn't know what to

do so I ran away."





    "Saotome Secret Technique," Ranma noted quietly.

    

    "Huh?"

    

    Akane and Ami continued to swing uselessly above the

ground. Akane did her best to turn away from Ami and face the

rest of the group. "It means that he calls running away from

a fight a 'technique'."





    "He who runs away saves a stitch in time?" Minako

asked.

    

    "Uhh...." Ranma sweatdropped.

    

    Pluto, just having managed to lower herself to the

ground, cleared her throat. "He who runs away lives to fight

again another day."





    "Exactly," Ranma noted. "You all lost, but Usagi was

the only one to 'survive' the battle. She coulda run to get

reinforcements or the cops or learned a new technique and

come back and save everybody, if the baddies hadn't already

eaten ya'."





    Usagi blinked in surprise.

    

    "Lesson Five: Know when a battle is lost," Ranma stated

quietly. "That's why the Saotome Secret Technique is the

hardest technique to master in the Saotome Ryuu. You got to

admit that running away's an option if you want to eventually

win. Usagi can dodge real good." Ranma turned to Akane.

"Ryouga can't dodge that good," he noted. "She ain't got not

fighting skills. We'll have to fix that. Now, final lesson.

Even with all the screwing around you all did, you coulda

taken me. What did you do wrong?"





    The group looked at him in silence.

    

    "You're a team, aren't you?" Ranma asked. "Why weren't

you fighting like it? At some point you all decided that you

could take me one on one since I ain't got now powers, so

nobody said anything against splittin' up. If you had split

up into groups or just stayed together, there mighta been too

many for me to beat."





    "But there were seven of us," Minako protested. "Eight

if you count Akane, and only one of you."





    Ranma shook his head. "Nope. I only ever fought one

opponent at a time." He looked at the group in speculation

and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I've been workin' with

Akane some, but I guess I'm gonna have to step that up some

if we're really gonna be fightin' monsters."





    "Finally..." Akane muttered into Ami's ear.

    

    "But she's already got most of the Tendo Ryuu

mastered... Okay.  Tux-boy, Mars, Mercury and Pluto are gonna

train with Akane. She can start you on the basics and show

you how to use what you think you know. Jupiter, Venus, Moon

and Akane will train with me. They've already got the will.

They just gotta get the know-how."





    Akane started to shout angrily. "Ranma! I'll have you

know-ow-ow-ow-ow..."

    

    Ranma stood back from the spinning pair and smirked.

"Next!"

    

    * * *

    

    Ranma smirked. Although he still firmly trounced them,

this group did quite a bit better agasinst him than the

previous. He had actually watched Ataru lay out a semi-

coherent searching strategy before they split up into working

groups.





    Futaba was quite a scrapper, but his brawling skills

just didn't stand up to Ranma's. What made the fight worth it

was the fact that he had to fight Futaba and Ataru at the

same time. He finally distracted Ataru by changing and

leading the lecherous lad away from his ally. After that, it

was a simple matter of cold-cocking Ataru when he wasn't

expecting it and taping Futaba to a tree.





    Niki, Sandi, Ichiro and Shiro had little in the way of

fighting skills, but Ataru's plan took that into account. The

girls were to hide until the two men found him, then run out

and knock Ranma down with sticks they had found.





    Ranma came in his cursed form, though, and asked for

their help against an attacker, just like with Momaru and

Rei. It was Sandi who guessed first, clueing the group in on

the fact that they were 'helping' their opponent. By then it

was too late. Sandi and Niki both swung their sticks, but

Ranma dodged out of the way, letting them pummel the two men.





    Rei and Shinji were quite a pair. They had quite a bit

of working strategy between them. Neither was very strong,

but both had a little gymnastic skill. They weren't afraid to

hit him, either. Rei was the first to attack the girl, not

even bothering to ask if it was Ranma. She simply leapt at

the girl and started swinging and kicking with all her might.

Ranma managed to shove her away, but then Shinji was on her,

doing the same thing.





    Ranma was fairly proud. Even though they weren't very

physically strong, both young adults had quite a bit of

endurance and extraordinary pain tolerance. They were

relentless. He actually had to knock the both of them out to

win the fight.





    Ataru was the natural general it seemed. He wasn't

afraid to maneuver and underneath his perverted nature,

seemed to have a fairly decent understanding of the way

people's minds worked.





    The Juuban four were already a natural team. Ranma

decided to train them as such. Rei and Shinji were also

paired up, although he planned on training them with Ataru

and Futaba, who he was going to start on some advanced

martial arts.





    After two days of training, Ranma decided to stage a

pitched battle. It was a game of 'capture the flag' with

three flags and played by Musabetsu Kakotou rules. Anything

Goes...





    Ataru protested that the Sailor Senshi would use their

powers, but Ranma said that no fight was ever truly fair.





    The first team was comprised of the Sailor Senshi minus

Sailor Moon and Sailor Pluto but with the added bonus (or

dead weight, they might argue) of Ataru since he had

protested fighting against the girls. The Second Team was

Ranma, Akane, Usagi, Setsuuna and Futaba. The third team was

comprised of the Juuban Four and The Evangelion Pilots.







* * *



Some time Passes....





    After the water, there was nothing. There was blackness

all around. After a while, Haruka began to feel a cold, hard

floor underneath herself. Her fingers scrabbled against the

surface for a few minutes. She could feel ceramic tile and

grout.



    Somewhere nearby, Michiru moaned.   



    Haruka's head hurt as if someone had beat it with a

sledgehammer. Reaching up, she could feel a shallow cut on

her head. The bullet, she realized, had never reached its

intended target. It was most likely Pluto's doing.



    She could smell chlorine and water of the alchohol

reek. She could also begin to hear the hum of a motor

somewhere, along with the gentle lapping of water. Her aching

mind eventually came to the conclusion



    The lights flicked on. Haruka flinched from the light.

She held a hand up against the bright light. Michiru groaned

from her prone position on the floor.



    "Who are you," Haruka asked resignedly of the blue-

haired girl who stepped into the room.



    "One of your replacements, apparently," Rei answered in

a cold tone. "Princess Serenity wants to see you. She's not

very happy at the moment, so I don't suggest keeping her

waiting."



    Haruka sighed and struggled to her feet.



    Michiru, who if anything, looked worse than Haruka

felt. Haruka helped her to her feet as well.



    "This way," Rei commanded, striding from the room.



    The walk wasn't very long. Through one hallway and past

an elevator, Rei led them into the main room. All around them

were the other senshi, Professor Tomoe, and several people

the two just didn't know. All were wearing some kind of

uniform. Four of them bore disturbing resemblances to the

Generals of the Dark Kingdom, and were dressed in the same

forboding grey uniforms. Haruka and Michiru were surrounded.



    Rei walked straight into the room, and stood next to

Usagi, who was wearing the long white dress of Princess

Serenity. On the other side of Serenity, a young man with

dark hair stood, clad in a flowing red and black uniform.



    Everyone else around them looked on in mild distaste or

even amusement, but the black haired youth, Ranma, as well as

Serenity and Rei Ayanami looked at them with absolute fury.



    "S-serenity-sama," Haruka stammered, dropping to one

knee under the firey gaze.



    Not trusting herself to speak, Michiru dropped to both

knees, prostrating herself before her queen. Her head knocked

on the floor with a thump.



    "Wonderful," Ranma noted darkly. "Drunk *and* stupid.

Where did you find these guys, Usagi?"



    "Unfortuneately," Usagi explained in a cold, regal

tone, "destiny selected those who would weild the power in

the Silver Millenium. My mother sought them out when they

were children. I almost wish she had left them alone. It

would have certainly made things easier for me."



    "Princess," Haruka pleaded. "We have done all we could

to--"



    "SHUT_UP!!!!" Usagi screamed. "Good Lord, the smell of

you!" With no further commentary, she raised the Moon Sceptre

and drew it in front of her self in a wide circle. "STARLIGHT

HONEYMOON THERAPY KISS!!!!" she called out, raising the moon

sceptre.



    Haruka felt the power course through her, burning the

alcohol out of her system. Michiru screamed in pain and

clutched at her head. Haruka realized that she, too was

screaming.



    When the lightshow was over, both women collapsed on

the floor, huffing and breathing heavily.



    Just because she was no longer hung-over didn't mean

that Haruka really felt any better.



    "Serenity, I... I..."



    "You will be quiet and let me speak," Usagi commanded

with all the weight of the Silver Millenium. "Who is your

queen?"



    "You," Haruka and Michiru responded.



    "And you have dared to tell me that I am not fit to

command you? You have attacked me and you have attacked my

other Senshi. You have questioned my authority at every turn.

When the opportunity came, you gladly sacrificed two of my

Senshi FOR NO REASON!!!"





    She knelt down to stare two in the eyes. They couldn't

help but look away from her horrible gaze.



    "Why?" Serenity asked. It was actually more of a

statement of her dissaproval than a question. Without giving

them a chance to reply, she stood and turned her back.



    "Your power gave you the license and the authority to

decide who lived and who died. You decided a sacrifice had to

be made, so you attacked Setsuuna and Hotaru without a second

thought. How dare you? HOW DARE YOU TRY TO HURT MY SENSHI?!?!



    Haruka struggled to her feet, her hands reaching out

for the enraged woman.



    "Serenity, please understand that--"



    Usagi turned and backhanded her across the face. She

turned and slapped Michiru as well.



    "Be quiet!" she hissed. "I understand that you have

abused your authority as the Outer Sailor Senshi," she

stated. "And then, when the shame was too much to handle, you

sought to kill even more of my senshi to erase the guilt you

felt. Shinji!"



    A younger man with shaggy black hair walked out from

behind the rest of the group. He was smirking slightly, as he

carried a tray up to Usagi. She reached down for what was on

the tray, but couldn't even bring herself to touch it. Shinji

nodded, taking the object off the tray.



    Haruka groaned in dread, feeling shame and fear in her

soul. It was the same revolver that she had had earlier.



    Shinji worked the action on the weapon, causing the

chamber to flip open. Five bullets and a single casing

dropped into his hand.



    "Where is the bullet, Haruka?" Usagi demanded, gingerly

picking the empty steel shell out of Shinji's outstretched

hand. "WHERE IS THE BULLET?"



    "I don't know!" Haruka snapped back.



    "Well then, where did you intend for it to end up?"



    "IN MY SKULL, GODDAMNITT!"



    Usagi opened her other hand, which had been clenched

into a fist. She turned it up, allowing the spent, melted

lump of lead to fall to the floor.



    "You've apparently been trying to injure my Senshi

again, Haruka. Even if Setsuuna and Hotaru can forgive you...

even if the sun and stars could forgive you... I cannot,"

Usagi whispered. "I cannot forgive you for trying to take

yourself away from me."



    Haruka blinked. Usagi's tone was like the sound of a

crypt door slamming shut. She looked over at Michiru, who was

simply collapsed on the floor and weeping.



    "I've begged," Usagi stated, "and I've pleaded. Over

and over again, you've defied me because you were certain

that your way was so much better. It may be a better way, but

any way that takes my Senshi away from me is not one that I'm

willing to take. There will be no more."



    "Serenity, please!" Michiru begged. "We were only

trying to protect you."



    "The only thing you have done is try to make decisions

for your queen," Usagi said, her tone dropping. "I can't

control you. I *won't* control you. Frankly, I'm tired of

dealing with you."



    Haruka and Michiru both dropped their heads as Usagi

continued to speak.



    "I would wash my hands of you, if I wasn't concerned

that you would continue to abuse your powers. You have left

me no choice."



    "NO! Serenity, please..." Haruka began to beg.





    

    

* * *



C. Jones - guilty@furinkan.net

http://www.furinkan.net



Watashi ha ultra-relakusu!