Ranma lay where he had fallen and listened while the arguments continued unabated. He had been attacked by both Kuno and Mousse this time and was, of course, winning when Ryouga showed up. At that point, Ranma decided he had had enough fighting and allowed a few blows to get through. Taking a particularly brutal blow from Ryouga and moving with it, he had flown into a wall, fallen to the ground and just lay there with his eyes closed, seemingly unconscious. After a few minutes of listening, he realised that no one would bother to check on him. He waited a few more minutes before getting up quietly and slipping into the house.

He could hear the arguments as he walked through the house toward the front door. It was hard to believe that, even after all they had gone through, noone cared enough to check on him. It was expected of Kuno, Mousse and Ryouga, but the girls usually rushed over the moment he was injured. Granted, they had been in a rather heated argument at the time, but you would think one of them would have figured it out by the way the guys were praising themselves.

"Ranma, are you going somewhere?" A voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to reality. He looked up and saw Kasumi standing in the kitchen doorway looking at him questioningly.

"Yeah, Kasumi. I'm going for a walk. Don't bother with dinner, I don't think I'll be back until late tonight. I need to think. See ya." Ranma walked out the front door as Kasumi acknowledged his remark.

He stepped outside and onto the sidewalk and thought to himself <Kasumi, now there's a person who would have checked on me. If anything happens to anyone when she's around, she notices.>

He walked on for a few blocks until the noise of the arguments receded into the distance and then leapt onto the rooftops before picking a random direction in which to travel. After some time, Ranma spotted an ice cream shop and decided to go inside. He had just started to look around for some cold water when it started to rain. He hadn't even noticed the sky clouding over. He sped up, hoping to get inside just after the transformation, before he got too wet.

Ranma quickly stepped through the doors and into the ice cream parlour where he, now she, proceeded to walk up to the counter. Standing at the counter was a girl with long blonde hair tied up into what looked like yellow balls of wool. She had just finished ordering several bowls of ice cream and was trudging to a table where she could enjoy her purchases. Ranma stopped watching her and stepped up to the counter. The server was shaking her head in disbelief.

"I think that is the biggest order that I have ever served. I hope she gets over whatever's bothering her. She looked really depressed, I don't think even ice cream will help her this time." The server shook off her melancholy and turned to Ranma, "What can I get you?"

Ranma looked over the offerings. "I'll take two large triple chocolate sundae's, a large caramel fudge sundae, and a big banana split with chocolate sauce, fudge and nuts."

The serving girl looked even more surprised than she had been before. "Are you sure you can eat that much?"

Ranma nodded. The girl stared at Ranma for a while before turning to gather the order. Ranma took the order from the girl and thanked her. Ranma looked around the parlour briefly before settling her eyes on the blonde girl who had ordered so much. She was sitting at a table in the far corner of the parlour and was eating with shoulders shaking slightly. Ranma made up his mind and headed towards her.

As Ranma headed towards the corner, the other diners at the parlour looked up briefly before dismissing her and going back to their ice cream. Ranma, however, ignored the other diners and focussed on trying to hear anything from the girl. When she was a few steps away from the table, she heard soft crying coming from the girl. Ranma paused briefly and considered whether or not to go on. However, she couldn't stand to see any girl sad, so she built up her courage and walked the final few steps to the table.

When Ranma reached the table she smiled gently, placed her ice cream on the table and spoke. "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

The blonde looked up and saw a red-haired girl looking down with concern in her eyes. "No. But you probably don't want to sit with a weak girl like me."

Ranma sat down and looked over at the girl. Her brilliant blue eyes were rimmed with red and puffy from crying. Her mouth and chin were covered in ice cream and she looked dejected. Ranma was at a loss about what to do. Her father had never taught her what to do in a situation like this. However, she had a starting point. She was sure she could pick up the rest.

She cleared her thoughts. "Why do you think you're weak?"

As the girl finished chewing on a spoonful of ice cream, she spoke. "My boyfriend says that he can't possibly love a weak girl...like me."

"Well, do you think you are weak?"

"It must be true, Mamo-chan...Mamoru-san told me and he's always right. I'm a klutz and a cry-baby and weak. No wonder Mamo-chan... Mamoru-san hates me."

Ranma was again at a loss. It wasn't as easy as he'd thought to cheer someone up. Perhaps if he used the same thing as he tried with Ukyo.

"I can't believe that. I mean, a cute girl like you can't possibly be weak. And anyways, noone, not even me, can always be right."

They sat in silence, broken only by the clinking of spoons on plates and the low conversations of the other diners. Ranma took the time to examine this girl's ki. What she saw was amazing. This girl had almost as much energy as Mousse and he was no slouch. He sat back, concluding that this girl had no worries about being weak, although she could improve quite a lot.

Ranma was just about to tell her this when she spoke. "My boyfriend can be really mean sometimes, you know. I mean, he says he doesn't feel any love towards me and wants nothing more to do with me. I always thought we were meant to be together, that our destinies were intertwined. Now I feel like I've been asking too much of him. I hope he was was saying that stuff for a reason and not because he means it. But he did say it and I just had to get away. I sat in a phone booth for a while and just cried. Then I decided to go for some ice cream, that always cheers me up. But its not really working today. I just can't seem to stop crying for long." She paused briefly. "Oh, and thanks." She smiled weakly at Ranma.

"Eh? What for?"

"For listening. Not many people would do that for a stranger."

Ranma put a hand behind his head and laughed nervously. "Heh heh. Well, I couldn't leave a girl sitting there being all sad, could I? Anyways, your boyfriend was wrong. You are strong, a lot stronger than most people. Don't let anyone tell you different. I wouldn't say this to just anyone, trust me, but true strength is more than just physical, it comes from your heart and soul, and is directed by your will. Your heart and soul are strong."

The girl looked more and more convinced as Ranma continued to speak, gaining confidence with every word. When Ranma had finished the girl reached over the table and hugged her, smiling and crying at the same time. "Thank you. Thank you for believing in me. Would you tell me your name? I'm Tsukino Usagi."

Ranma looked very flustered when Usagi reached over and hugged her but returned the hug when she realised it was just a thank you. "You're welcome, Usagi. I'm Saotome Ranma and I'm glad I was of some assistance."

When Usagi sat back down and wiped the tears away from her eyes, she got her first good look at her new friend. She was wearing a green, oversized mao suit on a small frame. The green hat covered a shock of red hair tied in a pigtail. She looked back with a pair of beautiful blue eyes almost the same colour as Usagi's own. There was something about those eyes that drew her in. As though those eyes would tell her everything she needed to know about their owner. On the surface they carried concern and confidence, but if you looked deeper, you could see other emotions - sadness, pain, frustration.

Meanwhile, Ranma had also lost herself in the eyes looking at her. They were a deep blue that shimmered with light. She could see relief and compassion flowing out from those eyes. But deeper, barely concealed, Ranma could see the pain and self-doubt still evident. So she decided to make an offer.

"Usagi, would you like me to help you to become stronger? I can teach you to become more confident about yourself and at the same time, improve your ability to defend yourself. Would you like me to teach you martial arts?"

Usagi considered for a moment and, on a sudden impulse, decided to accept the offer.

"Thanks, Ranma. I would really like that. Since its Sunday tomorrow, can we start then?"

Ranma thought briefly. "Sure. I don't have any other plans. But if we do end up training, there's something you'll have to know. Come with me. I'll show you." She stood and, indicating that Usagi should follow her, headed over to the counter. She ordered a cup of hot water to take away, left the shop and walked out into the rain with Usagi at her side.

The rain was down to a light drizzle by the time they reached Shiba Park a few minutes later and had stopped by the time they had reached a spot where Ranma could demonstrate her curse in private. Ranma hesitated for a moment and looked at Usagi before going straight to the heart of the matter.

"Usagi, I'm a guy." Usagi was about to point out the major flaw in that statement when Ranma cut her off. "Yeah, yeah, I know it sounds ridiculous, I look like a girl at the moment. I'll tell you why. Nearly a year ago, Pop dragged me to a martial arts training ground in China. It was called Jusenkyo. While training there, Pop and I were cursed to change form whenever we were struck by cold water. He turns into a Panda...and I turn into a girl."

"That's the most ri..." Usagi was confused at this point and not really believing the story. So, when Ranma poured the cup of hot water over her head and gained a few inches in height, at the same time losing a few important pieces of anatomy, Usagi fainted.

"Hmm, she didn't take that too well. Guess I'll have to wait."

Ranma thought about this girl and why he would so quickly come to like her. She was nice, sure, but he had met other nice people before but he hadn't connected like this to any of them. There was something about Usagi that drew him to her. Even just watching her walking, shoulders drooping, to her seat in the ice cream parlour had called to him. She was not meant to be sad, there were so many other things she could be doing. So, even though he was feeling a little down, he had gone over to cheer her up. In the first few moments of talking to her, he had seen a kindred spirit, one who would do anything to help a person in need. And looking at her, he could see that she had a hidden core of strength. He would do all he could to see that she could access that core when she needed it. And he had a feeling she would. Training her in martial arts and building her confidence in herself would be the first step.

He glanced down at the sleeping Usagi and sighed as she mumbled in her sleep. This was going to take a while.

Fifteen minutes later, Ranma had had enough. Usagi was still sleeping. While he usually enjoyed sleeping when he could, now was not the right moment. The others would be out looking for him soon and while they would probably not come as far as he had, there was no use in taking chances. He hated to think what they would do if they caught him with another girl. It was time to wake her up.

After he had tried everything from shaking her to shouting in her ears to wake her, Ranma walked over to a fountain and filled his cup with cold water. He walked over to Usagi and raised the glass over her head. He decided to give her one last chance to wake up the easy way before tipping the water over her head.

He spoke softly directly into her ear, "Usagi, if you don't wake up now, I'm gonna pour this ice cold water over your head. Are you sure you don't want to wake up some other way?"

He waited for a few seconds for a response, but she just shivered in her sleep and refused to wake up. Ranma poured.

Usagi had been having a wonderful dream about a trip to China with her Mamo-chan. They were just walking between the pools of water in a beautiful valley when a guy in a mao suit threw some cold water at her. She gasped and looked down at herself to see that she was now a guy, and woke up with a scream.

"So, I finally managed to wake you."

Usagi turned and looked at the guy standing gazing down at her. It was the guy in her dream. She screamed and scrambled backwards, but stopped when she noticed what he was wearing. He wore a mao suit that looked exactly like the one she had seen Ranma wearing, although his outfit fit a lot better. He was well built, muscled without being too bulky. Just looking at him, she could see grace and power in his movements. His black hair was tied into a pigtail and framed a handsome face with beautiful blue eyes that she recognised from somewhere.

Ignoring him for a moment, she ran the past few minutes through her head and came to a conclusion. She was crazy. Crying over Mamo-chan had caused her to start seeing things. Then again, Luna being able to speak had turned out to be real, so maybe this was as well. And those eyes did remind her of Ranma's "Ranma? It was real?"

"Uh-huh."

"That wasn't a dream?"

"Nope. And that's not the only strange thing that's happened to me."

"There's more?" Usagi said disbelievingly. "Would you tell me?"

Ranma decided to chance discovery by one of his fiancees, nodded and started to tell her about his ten year training trip. "Well, when I was about 6 years old, Pops decided that I needed to go on a training trip to make me into the greatest of martial artists, a 'man among men'. We left my home and my mother, who, according to pops, would mother me too much, and started to travel across Japan..."

As Ranma talked into the afternoon, Usagi could only listen with awe and sympathy as Ranma described the hard life he had lived on the road. While a shivering and scared Ranma was describing the Neko-ken training his father had put him through, Usagi gathered him in her arms and comforted him, truly shocked that someone would do such a thing to their son. She resolved not to introduce him to Luna unless she had to. Then again, perhaps Luna or Artemis would have an idea of how to cure it. When Ranma stopped shivering, he continued his tale, telling Usagi more about his trip than he had ever told anyone. His fears, his triumphs, his failures and his frustration. As he was reaching the close of his story with his most recent adventures, he noticed the slowly darkening skies and realised just how much time had passed. He had to get back to the Dojo.

"Usagi, I have to go. Its getting dark and I have to get back to Nerima.

"Do you have to? You could have dinner at my place. My parents won't mind."

Usagi continued that thought and muttered to herself

"At least Mom won't."

Just then, Ranma's stomach indicated what it would like to do and Ranma decided to accept Usagi's offer.

He followed Usagi as she led the way to her house, pointing out various locations in Juuban. He was introduced to Usagi's usual haunts, the Crown game centre, the school, and the mall amongst them. As they approached her home, Usagi turned to Ranma.

"My mother is a little enthusiastic about any nice-looking boys she sees me with, so please don't worry about anything she says. I'll deal with it. Just watch out for my father, he's a little overprotective."

"No problem. Just don't go telling them I'm your boyfriend, okay. Chances are someone I know will hear about it and everyone will come down on me like a brick."

Usagi walked up to her front door with Ranma and opened it.

"I can't believe you did that. I told you not to say I was your boyfriend." Ranma sighed. "I hope that no-one in Nerima hears about this."

"But I didn't say you were my boyfriend. I just said we had just met and I invited you for dinner. My mother just assumed that you're my boyfriend and that we're dating. It's not my fault."

"But you didn't deny it."

"And neither did you. Don't worry, she won't tell anyone. Just let her think we're dating. It won't hurt."

Ranma sighed "Alright. I guess it should be okay. Lets go find someplace to sit down. Know any good places around here?"

"There's a great place over by Zojoji Temple, near Tokyo Tower. It should take about 20 minutes to walk there, and you can continue your story on the way."

"Sounds good. Lets go then."

The two started headed off north, Ranma talking of the last few months and Usagi listening. By the time they reached the temple, Ranma was just finishing his story.

"So I just get out of being stuck in my cursed form just and get back, and I find we are getting a new teacher. 'course, the new teacher isn't exactly normal. She just happens to look like a 12 year old and she drains our energy if we do something wrong. Why can't something normal happen in my life? Is it too much to ask?" Ranma sighed and looked over to Usagi, who had suddenly stopped. "Is something wrong, Usagi?"

Usagi just shook her head and motioned for Ranma to continue. She'd have to look into that with the scouts later.

"You know, it'd be really good to just get away from it all. Just walk away and don't look back."

"Just walk away..." Usagi repeated distractedly.

They both fell into silence, Ranma thinking about how it would feel to be on the road again, Usagi dreaming of a time with nothing to fight.

Suddenly there was a small beeping noise coming from Usagi's wrist communicator. She turned on her communicator and heard Minako speaking. "Guys, come to the cosmetics shop by the park. Looks like we have a new enemy to fight."

"Sorry, Ranma. I've got to go. A monster has appeared and there's a group of girls who have to defeat it. I'm one of them."

Ranma looked gleeful. "Really? Can I come along?"

"You'd better not. You don't want any of the other girls, particularly not the one who just spoke, to see you without a disguise. If you thought your fiancees were bad, just wait till you meet Mako-chan and Minako-chan. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow. Is three in the afternoon okay?" Ranma nodded.

Usagi ran off but turned back briefly at the edge of the park, "Oh, and Ranma...Thank you."

"Good luck, Usagi."

Sailor Moon spotted the store as soon as she left the park. She rushed over to the entrance and took note of the situation. Sailor Venus was trapped against a wall and about to be finished by a green-haired droid.

Sailor Moon stepped inside and struck a pose. "For love and justice, I am the beautiful sailor suited warrior, Sailor Moon. Trying to force your cosmetics on girls who just want to be liked by boys is wrong. In the name of the moon, I'll punish you!"

The droid then attacked Sailor Moon and forced her to retreat around the store. The droid trapped Sailor Moon against a wall when a voice spoke. "A young girls skin is lively and fresh. There's no need for thick makeup."

The droid attacked Tuxedo Mask, but the attack was repelled back into the droids face, erasing it.

"VENUS CRESCENT BEAM!" Venus attacked from the side and struck the droid, who was busy trying to redraw its face, in the chest. "Now Sailor Moon!"

"Right. MOON PRINCESS HALATION!" An expanding spiral of glowing crescent moons spread out from her wand and struck the droid, reducing it to dust.

Tuxedo Mask was about to leave when Sailor Moon stopped him with her words, "Its not true that you hate me, is it. You came to save me."

"Saving you doesn't mean I feel any different."

"Then tell me why you hate me."

"I hate weak girls. Ja ne." Tuxedo Mask turned and walked away.

Sailor Moon held her hand out helplessly. "Mamo-chan..." She watched him for a moment, "Okay, I understand. I'll become stronger and get you back."

Ranma's words came back to her, <You are strong, a lot stronger than most people. Don't let anyone tell you different>.

<I'll get you back, Mamo-chan>.

The next afternoon, Usagi walked out of her front door and off to the park with her cheerful, bouncy self. She was ready to start training so she would become stronger for her Mamo-chan. And what a day to start. Perfect Blue skies with the occasional white, puffy cloud. The birds were singing brightly and flitting from tree to tree, the cicadas were busy trying to attract a partner and the scent of flowers spread throughout the park. The only thing that could improve the day was having Mamo-chan beside her, and she was going to be working towards that with her new friend.

With some martial arts training under her belt, even that stuffy old Rei would have to admit she was a true Sailor Senshi. But that was all for another day. Today, she she was going to become stronger.

As she neared the meeting spot, she could hear some clapping and cheering from what sounded like little children. She stepped into the clearing and saw a female Ranma, busy entertaining children with his acrobatics in and around a playground. So she just decided to stop and watch for a while.

After a few minutes, Ranma happened to look in her direction and froze, while hanging by one leg over a twenty foot drop. Usagi watched as her face went as red as a beetroot and dropped to the ground, flipping to land lightly on her feet. As Usagi walked over, the children swarmed Ranma and asked her if she could do it again.

Ranma looked at Usagi sheepishly and shrugged.

Usagi started laughing, not having felt this good in a long time. When she had finished, she decided to rescue her new friend from the group of admirers. Then again.

"Well, Ranma, looks like you'll be teaching more people than you thought." she said, eyes twinkling.

The kids, of course, decided to voice their opinion for the idea and started shouting in approval. Ranma sighed in resignation and looked down to see the enthusiasm of the kids.

"Fine, you can all join in, but remember not to try any of the things I was doing, okay. You have to train for a long time to be able to do that."

She looked around and chose a place not too far away to begin.

"Right everyone, over here and line up into three lines. That includes you, Usagi."

Two weeks, and several training sessions, later, Ranma was flying towards Juuban, muttering under his breath. "Stupid Tomboy, why does she always hit me? I was just telling her the truth...

"Akane, where'd you get this stuff, a toxic waste dump?"

...Well, at least she hit me somewhere new."

Ranma plumetted towards the ground, heading for a small fountain on the outskirts of Nerima. <Why is it always water?>

He splashed down. Ranma looked down at his female body and decided to go visit Usagi. <Maybe I can finally join in on a fight>. He jumped out of the fountain, adjusting his clothing in mid air and ran off into Juuban.

After 10 minutes of running, he spotted Usagi sitting in a coffee shop, looking depressed. He walked in.

Usagi was sitting in a coffee shop drinking a hot chocolate and going through her last words with Tuxedo Mask...

<"Sailor Moon! Another brilliant attack."

"So you love me..."

"No, I don't love you."

"But you saved me..."

"That's different. The string of destiny has been cut."

"No!"

...Why, Mamo-chan. What have I done? I can't take any more of this. Just tell me the truth>.

She had just finished the last of her hot chocolate when she spotted Ranma walking over. He approached her table and sat down. "Hi, Usagi. Another bad day?"

"Yeah. I think Mamo-ch...Mamoru-san has a new girlfriend.

I saw him with another girl today. I guess he's made his decision. But, he builds my hopes by saving me all the time, and then destroys them with his words. I still love him, but I can't handle any more of it. I just want to get away. But I can't."

"That doesn't sound good. Me, I nearly lost my fiancee to a monster in the forest of Ryugenzawa. And then to another guy. I don't know what to do. I did learn something important from the experience. As long as she is happy, I can live without her. I don't think that even my family honour is worth the unhappiness I would cause her. Right now, getting away sounds like a great idea."

"Well, Ranma. We're stuck. I have too many responsibilities to just leave, but I don't want to be around to hurt Mamo-chan any more. You can't get out of your engagements without major problems and yet, from what you say, everyone would be happier if you left. There has to be a way out of this."

The table fell silent as the two thought about ways around their problem. Ranma spotted a red-haired waitress and tried to attract her attention, without success. After she had left the dining area, he managed to call over another waitress.

"Hey, Usagi, you want anything?"

"Mm. Sure, can I have another hot chocolate?"

"Can we grab two hot chocolates please."

"Sure, They'll be here in a minute."

Ranma and Usagi returned to their thoughts. Soon, the hot chocolate had arrived and Ranma spoke. "Why don't you just pick up and move someplace else? That's what I'd do if it wasn't for my stupid pop's stupid promise. "

Usagi considered for a moment before realising the problems. "That might work, except that I don't think I could live on my own. I need to be with other people. I also can't cook very well. And what about my family, they'd worry too much. As for you, you could renounce your family name and leave. Most of your problems would be solved by that."

"I don't really want to renounce my name, it seems too much like giving up and it probably wouldn't do much, anyway. In the long run, I would probably be better off just leaving. That would be my first choice." Ranma sighed.

"If I just left, my family would search high and low for me. I'd have to, somehow, get them to forget me. I could do it, but it feels wrong. Yet, I'm at the stage when I just can't stand it anymore. I need to get some control over my life, and if a change is the only way to do it...well, If we worked together, maybe, we can do it. Do you want to?"

"Together?" Ranma asked thoughtfully

Usagi nodded hopefully

"Why not?"

Usagi was silent for a moment. "Why not...I guess we should start as soon as possible."

"How about tomorrow? I'll meet you outside your school tomorrow morning and we can get started. That will give us enough time to get everything together and say goodbye."

Usagi agreed. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye."

The following morning, Ranma woke early and went to speak to Kasumi. "Kasumi, I just want to thank you for being you. You have helped and provided for me. I may not often say that I appreciate it, but I really do. Thank you."

Kasumi blushed slightly and smiled, "Thank you, Ranma-kun." She noticed his backpack, "Are you going somewhere?"

"Kasumi, you're the only one I'll tell this to." Ranma paused briefly, "I'm leaving to try to get away from my problems and get my life back on track. I can't tell you where I'm going and I don't know when or even if I'll be back, but I'll try to visit occasionally. Take care of yourself, Kasumi." Ranma turned to leave.

"Ranma-kun."

Ranma turned back, "Yes, Kasumi."

"Please come back sometimes, even if it is just to visit. We'll miss you."

"Thank you. I will. Oh yeah, the others probably won't remember me. I thought that if they don't remember, it'll easier to move on." Ranma looked down at his feet and spoke softly, "I was gonna do it to you as well, but I want someone to remember me. Would you please remember me?"

"Of course I'll remember you, Ranma-kun. But I don't think its very nice to remove someone's memories."

Ranma sighed. "I know, if there was another way, I'd take it. They all need to let me go and this is the best way I can think of. I could see everyone searching the earth for me. If they don't remember, they can just get on with their lives."

"Well, perhaps it is the best way. Would you like me to make you some lunch before you go?"

"Thank you, Kasumi, I would love that."

Kasumi assembled a huge lunch for Ranma and gave it to him. She had unshed tears in her eyes as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, "Goodbye, Ranma. I hope you can find the peace you are searching for."

Ranma, with unshed tears of his own, hugged her and turned to go once again. As he reached the eit to the Dojo, he turned to see Kasumi standing at the entrance to the house. "Kasumi, I'll miss you. Look after everyone, but don't hide here forever. Remember your dreams and do your best to make them come true. Farewell." He bowed briefly before leaping on to the rooftops and heading towards Juuban.

Usagi also woke up early. She threw back the covers to discover a small pink-haired girl had once again joined her for the night. She looked down at Chibi-Usa and sighed. <I'm sorry, Chibi-Usa. You won't be able to do this anymore. I promised I'd look after you and I will, for as long as I can. But I have to do it away from Darien.>

She got out of bed and looked around at her room. She had started packing the previous night so the room was very clean, but empty. <I'm glad everyone bought my explanation, they didn't have to be so shocked though. I do tidy my room sometimes.> She quickly dressed in her school uniform and packed the last of her things.

Just as she finished packing, Chibi-Usa woke up and jumped out of bed. "G'morning, Usagi. Wow, your room is so tidy. But why are you putting everything away in boxes and stuff?"

Usagi responded nervously, "Well, if everything's out of the way, I can move around better, so cleaning's easier. Great plan, ne."

Chibi-Usa shrugged and walked off to the bathroom. Usagi turned to look at Luna, who was still sleeping on her bed. "Goodbye, Luna, I'll miss you. I'm sorry I can't take you with me," she whispered.

<I'm really going to miss everyone.> She headed out the door and went downstairs to say goodbye.

Ranma waited just outside Juuban Junior High until he saw Usagi walk up to the gate. As she passed him, he called out her name to attract her attention. She slowed down and stopped just a short distance ahead. Ranma quickly caught up and the two walked towards school. "Usagi, are you ready to do this?"

"Yes. I think I am. What do we have to do today?"

"Well, first we have to go to the school and get you transferred. I got myself transferred before I came here. After that, we'll have to find a place to stay and move our stuff in. And you also have to use the crystal. Speaking of which, can you please not change Kasumi's memory. I've talked to her and she understands."

"Um, I suppose so. She's the really nice Tendo sister, right."

"Yeah. Come on. Lets get going." Ranma and Usagi ran quickly towards the school.

High above, in Rubeus' spaceship, a meeting of a different kind was underway. Wiseman had just appeared to give Rubeus his new instructions.

"Rubeus, as of now you will be working with Esmeroodo and Safiiru. The three of you must get the ginzuishou and capture the rabbit. Your failure will almost certainly spell the end of our attempt on Crystal Tokyo. In spite of your defeats at the hands of the sailor senshi, you are being given one last chance. Use it well." Wiseman disappeared.

A few moments later, Esmeroodo and Safiiru arrived and looked around. "I hear you haven't yet accomplished anything, Rubeus. Is there perhaps a little problem we can help you with?"

"I don't need your help. If Wiseman had not ordered me to work with you, I would do this myself. Why is the Ginzuishou so important now that he needs to send you two to help?"

Safiiru answered, "We are losing. The queen has nearly broken free from her prison."

Rubeus looked incredulous as he interrupted, "But that prison is unbreakable, there is no way out. She can't be breaking free."

"Nevertheless, she is. Also, the battle is nearly lost. Yesterday, new forces rose in defense of Crystal Tokyo. Four giant creatures led by a glowing figure have wreaked havoc amongst our forces. They attacked from behind and have destroyed a quarter of our forces. Nothing we do seems to effect them. The glowing figure simply avoids any attack and the four creatures are unaffected. A barrier of some sort protects them from all damage. Without the ginzuishou, when the queen breaks free, we are lost."

"Thats not possible. Only five units and they are winning?"

"He speaks the truth, Rubeus. We must get the crystal and the rabbit. Do you know where they are?"

"Yes. Sailor Moon holds the crystal. And the rabbit is in her care. I can organise a few droids to keep the other senshi and Tuxedo Kamen busy but they may not be enough. If we are to be sure of victory, we will need more droids."

"Very well, Rubeus, I will go to Crystal Tokyo and bring some back."

"Do it now. We must finish quickly."

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