"Mamoru's Grief! The Terror Of Talking Cats?"

The Senshi stood protectively around the body of their fallen leader. Makoto tapped her foot impatiently. "Dammit...!" she growled. "It's been over half an hour! What the hell is wrong with the police around here?!"

Ranma shuffled her feet. "Uhh...yeah...this part'a town's kinda weird, an' with all th' crazy fights we have around here all th' time, there's some or another kinda big disaster damn near every other week, so...th' cops've just kinda given up on this place."

Rei grumbled. "You could've told us that earlier."

"Sorry."

"Don't snap at Ranko-chan," Minako admonished. "She's doing her best. This...I don't think any of us really know what to do right now."

Rei looked down and away. "Sorry."

"Hey, it's cool," Ranma said. "You just lost your best friend. I know how pissed you are. If somethin' like this happened t' Ucchan, or Ryouga, or Akane..." She shook her head. "If any one'a my friends had...this happen to 'em...I'd be tearin' shit up all over th' place."

As they continued to wait, Ranma pulled her own phone, sealed in a watertight aluminum case, out of her pocket. "Yo, Kasumi," she said once the party on the other end picked up, "I might not be back 'til after dark, if I'm back tonight at all. Some crazy stuff just happened, an'...just...tell everyone not t' worry about me, okay? I just gotta handle somethin'. Cool. Thanks. No, I'm alright. No, nothin' like that. Listen, I gotta go now. Later." With that, she disconnected the call and slipped her phone back into her pocket.

"Nice phone case," Minako said.

Ranma chuckled. "Y'see th' kinda fights I get inta all th' time. Keeps it from gettin' broke. Keeps it from gettin' wet, too. I'm kind of a water magnet."

A patrol car and an ambulance finally arrived at that moment. As paramedics raced over to the group, two uniformed officers emerged from the car. The younger of the two took one look at the body, paled, and ran to the other side of the car to throw up. The older officer stared at the scene, shaking his head grimly. Then, he noticed Ranma, and tensed. "You. Why am I not surprised."

"Hey, this ain't like th' usual crap that happens around here," Ranma said defensively.

The policeman looked around at the completely destroyed street, then raised an eyebrow pointedly.

Ranma winced. "Well, okay, yeah, it LOOKS like th' usual crap," she admitted. "But this girl was murdered."

"She's telling the truth, Junsa-san," Ami said, bowing. "We are friends of the girl who was killed. The five of us are from Azabu-Juuban, and were here on an outing. The destruction of the street was caused by something...strange," she hedged, "but our friend was murdered by a man with a sword."

The police officer frowned. "Could you describe him? And where did he go?"

"He was real freaky," Ranma said. "But he was wearin' a disguise, so no idea who he was. But I know it wasn't anybody from around here. He just came outta nowhere, ran her through right there in th' street."

The policeman frowned. "So you're saying this was a random murder, and had nothing to do with you?"

"Far as I know, yeah," Ranma said, arms folded.

The officer sighed. He walked over to the car, where his junior was just pulling himself together. "Call headquarters. Report this as a murder case."

"Hai!"

The older officer walked back over. "I'm afraid all of you need to wait here until a detective from Major Crimes arrives. You are not under suspicion, but the detective will need to ask you each questions."

"Can we...could we at least call her family, while we wait?" Minako asked. The officer nodded.

* * * * *

As the girls waited for the detective, the coroner, and the crime scene investigators to arrive, Minako, face pale with dread, made a series of phone calls.

"Ikuko-basan? It's Minako. Anou..." She faltered. "There's been...something happened to Usagi...I'm sorry. No...we need to tell you about it in person. Oh...we're in Nerima-ku right now. Gomen nasai...we have to stay put where we are until the police finish questioning..." Ikuko's wailing and screaming could be heard from the phone's tiny speaker. Minako winced. "We'll...see you as soon as we can..."

"Mamoru-san? It's Minako. ...hai. That's right. I'm sorry. No, don't blame yourself. There's no way you could've...you'd never have made it in time. We were in Nerima-ku when it happened. Look, I can't explain everything right now, but we'll...hai. Hai. See you there, then."

Minako sighed as she hung up, rubbing at her eyes, which were filling with tears again.

Ami looked at her. "He knew?"

"Of course he knew," Minako replied. "He was already halfway across Shinjuku when...when she..."

"Right, he would've been, wouldn't he?" Ami replied. At Ranma's questioning gaze, Ami said, "We'll explain later." She glanced at the two policemen hovering nearby out of the corner of her eye. Ranma nodded.

"Are you gonna call Haruka-san and Michiru-san?" Makoto asked Minako. "They...they need to know too."

"Oh, right, I really should." Sighing, Minako placed another call. "Haruka-san? It's Minako. Listen...Usagi's dead. No, this isn't a joke. She...was murdered this afternoon. We're in Nerima-ku. We already called her family and Mamoru-san. I can't say much about it right now. Can you and Michiru-san meet up with us as soon as we get back to Juuban? Setsuna-san too, if she's around."

The look on her face told the others that Haruka had hung up on her rather abruptly.

"Think they'll show?" Makoto asked.

"I hope so," Minako sighed. "We may not be close, but at the very least they respected her..."

The detective arrived, and for the next hour, the five girls were questioned extensively about the murder of Tsukino Usagi. When it was done, they all boarded a train and headed for Azabu-Juuban. Absolutely nobody questioned Ranma's decision to join them.

* * * * *

Upon arrival, they were intercepted by several people. With little discussion, the entire group went to the park near Tokyo Tower and found a relatively quiet place to talk about what had happened.

Ranma felt like a fifth wheel as she hung back from the group. Tsukino Ikuko, a middle-aged but still attractive woman with wavy blue-black hair, was sobbing loudly. Behind her, her husband Kenji, a kind-faced salaryman with short hair, absently polished his square-rimmed glasses while be blinked back tears; he was clearly fighting not to break down. Usagi's little brother Shingo sat morosely on a bench beside his family, looking at the ground and saying nothing. Rei stood with Usagi's parents, attempting to console them while at the same time looking very much in need of consoling herself.

If Usagi's parents were in bad shape, the man sitting on the ground a few meters away from Ranma was utterly, completely broken. Ranma wasn't the most empathic or sympathetic person in the whole world, but even she could see that this guy looked as though his soul had been ripped out.

"Mamoru-san is...was her boyfriend," Ami whispered quietly to Ranma.

Ranma blinked. "Ain't he a little..."

"Older than her? Yes. It's...a long story."

Ranma shrugged. "It don't bother me none. Besides, he looks like hell. He musta really loved her."

"More than life itself. He'd have died in her place, had he been there."

A bit farther away, two tall women, one with sandy blond hair and dressed in male clothes, the other an elegant, graceful beauty with wavy seafoam-green tresses, stood conversing in low tones with Minako and Makoto. Occasionally, one or more of the small group would cast a glance at Ranma; she pretended not to notice.

Ranma had quickly cottoned on to the fact that Usagi's parents had no clue she was Sailor Moon, and that the others didn't want that to be public knowledge; they had told Usagi's family, rather convincingly, the same story they had fed the police.

Rei suddenly walked over to Ranma and Ami. "Her family needs to be alone for a while, so they're going home." she said. "The rest of us are going to go back to my place for now. Mamoru-san's going to come too."

"Have you told him what really happened yet?"

Rei shook her head.

"What really...wait, y'mean he knows she was...?" Ranma asked.

"Hai," Rei replied. "I guess there's a lot we need to explain to you while we're at it."

"Yeah, no kiddin'." Ranma shuffled her feet. "Okay, round everyone up an' let's get th' hell outta here. I don't think I can take much more o' watchin' her folks cry anyway."

Rei nodded. "It hurts like hell," she said in a hoarse whisper. "It's...better to do something more productive right now."

Ami glanced up sharply. "I just thought of something."

"What is it, Ami-chan?"

"Luna and Artemis...they don't know yet."

Rei winced. "Oh GOD. Luna's going to go completely berserk. She's known Usagi longer than any of us."

"Well, Minako-chan can pick Artemis up and bring him to the shrine, but what about Luna?"

Rei glanced at her watch. "Actually, I think Luna's usually running around right about now. Maybe we'll run into her. If not, I'm sure Artemis knows how to get in touch with her right away."

"This...Luna whoever...she don't got a phone?" Ranma asked.

Rei couldn't help but giggle. "That would be an interesting sight," she said. At Ranma's puzzled expression, she added, "You'll understand when you meet her."

* * * * *

A very sober group boarded a bus bound for the stop near Hikawa Shrine. On the bus, Mamoru kept sneaking glances at Ranma; she wasn't sure if it was because she was unfamiliar, or because she was covered in Usagi's blood.

After what felt like entirely too long, the bus disgorged Ranma, Rei, Makoto, Ami, and Mamoru; Minako had gone with the two older girls to collect Artemis, and Rei assured Ranma that with the way Haruka drove, that group would be with them shortly.

Ranma whistled as he looked up at the torii. "So, you really live at a shrine?" he asked Rei.

"Hai. This shrine has been maintained by my family for generations. I'm training as a miko." She studied the petite redhead and frowned. "Would you like me to get you a change of clothes?

Ranma looked down at herself and grimaced. "Uhh...yeah. I think...that'd be a good idea."

"We'll wait out here while Ranko-chan gets changed," Makoto said. Rei nodded to her, and the two girls rushed up the steps to the shrine.

Once they were gone, Mamoru asked, "Who is that girl?"

"Her name is Ranko. She hasn't given us her family name yet," Ami explained. "She was...involved in the incident earlier. It's better to wait until we're all inside to talk about it." She noticed the furrowing of Mamoru's brow, and added, "Ranko-chan did everything she could to help us today. She feels very bad about not being able to save Usagi-chan. Please don't be cold or hostile to her."

"I won't, but...what do you mean, she tried to save Usagi? A regular person got involved in...in a Senshi fight?"

Makoto chuckled. "If there's one thing Ranko-chan isn't, it's normal."

Ami's phone rang. She answered it, spoke briefly, and nodded. "Okay, Ranko-chan's changed. Let's go up."

* * * * *

As Makoto, Ami, and Mamoru entered the shrine, Rei was just hanging up the phone. She had changed clothes as well, having also gotten quite a bit of Usagi's blood on her. Ranma was already seated at the low table, now dressed in a spare set of miko raiments. The others seated themselves around the table.

"That was Minako-chan," Rei said. "They just picked up Artemis and Luna, and they're on the way."

"They found Luna that fast?" Makoto asked.

"She was with Artemis, it turns out," Rei said, an amused smile on her face. She shook her head. "I'll be back in a minute with tea."

As she left the room, Mamoru turned to face Ranma. "I'm told you fought to protect Usako."

"I tried," the redhead said uncomfortably. She looked away. "They told me you an' her were..." She trailed off. "I'm sorry I couldn't save her."

"It can't be helped," Mamoru said with a sigh. "Just the fact that you tried counts for a lot." He clenched his fists tightly, head bowed. "Dammit...if I'd only been able to make it there...!"

"They said you knew Usagi was in trouble," Ranma said. "How...?"

Mamoru smiled thinly. "I suppose, since it appears you already know quite a bit about us..." He withdrew a long-stemmed red rose from his pocket. He began to shimmer and blur; an instant later, his clothing had transformed into a black tuxedo with a long, red-lined opera cape. A white silk domino mask covered his eyes.

Ranma blinked. "Oh...kay..."

"Ranko-chan, Mamoru-san is Tuxedo Kamen. You have no idea who that is, do you?"

"Nuh-uh."

"I've been Usako's protector since before I knew who she was," Tuxedo Kamen said, reversing his transformation. "I have a deep connection with her...I've always been able to sense when she was in danger, and until today, I've never failed to protect her when she needed me. Until...today..." Mamoru bowed his head, silent tears spilling from his eyes. As Rei returned with a tray of tea and crackers, Mamoru looked up at her. In a hoarse whisper, he asked, "What happened, Rei?"

Rei sighed. "We were attacked," she said simply. "Some monster showed up, we fought it. Ranko helped. She's an incredibly powerful martial artist. The monster...it was strong, and it hurt Usagi pretty bad, but with Ranko's help, we were able to weaken it enough for her to finish it off. Then, while we were all checking on Usagi to see how badly she was hurt, this...man, with purple skin, showed up, and he just ran her through with a sword. There...wasn't any time for any of us to do anything. He came out of nowhere, and it was over before any of us really realized what was happening."

Mamoru nodded, face grim. "Naruhodo." He shook his head. "So...there's a new enemy. And we have to fight without Sailor Moon...without the Gin..." His head snapped up sharply. "The Ginzuishou. What happened to it?!"

Rei shifted uncomfortably. "About that, well..."

Ranma raised her hand. "I've got it," she said.

Mamoru stared at her, eyes wide. "You...?"

"Usagi kinda gave it t' me, just before she died," Ranma said. She reached into her top and pulled out a locket which hung around her neck on a silver chain. She pressed the two dots on the face of the locket; it opened to reveal the brilliant, shimmery crystal.

Mamoru gasped. "But...why..."

Rei and Ami exchanged a glance. Ami nodded grimly. Rei sat down beside Mamoru and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Mamoru-san...I know this is going to be hard for you to accept, but..." She took a deep breath. "Ranko...Usagi chose her..." She stopped for a moment, seemingly unsure of how to deliver the news.

"I'm her replacement," Ranma said bluntly. "I'm Sailor Moon now."

Mamoru's eyes widened. "WHAT?!"

"Mamoru-san...the new enemy is after the Ginzuishou. Usagi was targeted specifically. They knew she had it. That's what they were after. I believe...they knew she was the only one who could use the Ginzuishou."

Ranma nodded. "That's what Princess Serenity told me, when we were all knocked out."

"Princess...Serenity told you..." Mamoru frowned, brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"There's a piece of Usagi's soul still inside th' crystal," Ranma explained. "I still don't get th' whole Princess Serenity thing, but anyway, she talked t' me, an' she asked me t' take her place, 'cuz it ain't enough just t' protect the crystal. Somebody's gotta be able t' use it, or we're all screwed."

"Sou ka..." Mamoru said thickly, eyes cloudy with pain. He gazed intently at Ranma, then nodded. "If...if she chose you...as her successor...I'll do my best to protect you and the Ginzuishou, at any cost."

Ranma laughed. "Thanks. Don't worry too much, though. I've pretty much got things under control."

"Ranko-chan was beating the hell out of the monster we were fighting, and that was before she turned into Sailor Moon," Makoto said. "Without any Senshi powers whatsoever, she went all Street Fighter on that thing. It was unbelievable!"

"How DID you do that, Ranko-chan?" Ami asked. "I didn't think people could actually do things like that in real life."

Ranma chuckled. "Like I said, I'm th' best in th' whole world." She quickly sobered, and looked down at the table. "Anou...there's somethin' ya gotta know, though. About me. I got this kinda, well, problem..."

The others looked at her with concern. "What is it, Ranko? We'll help however we can."

"I wish you could," Ranma replied. She sighed, glancing at her teacup. She swallowed heavily. "Maybe I better wait 'til th' others get here, though. I don't wanna hafta explain it more than once..."

The door slid open. "We're here!" Minako called out.

A moment later, three girls walked through the door. A blue-black blur shot across the room and landed on the table in front of Rei. "Tell me it's not true! Usagi-chan...she can't really be dead!"

Rei opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by an ear-splitting scream.

The Senshi and Mamoru all stared in alarm at Ranma, who was suddenly clinging to the ceiling and screaming her head off. "C...c....c.....c......CAAAAAAAAAAT!!"

"What the hell?" Makoto wondered, eyes wide with shock.

"Ranko?" Rei asked. "Are you...alright?"

The redhead declined to respond, electing instead to tremble and stutter in terror.

"Luna! Artemis! Wait outside!" Ami hissed at the two cats. Exchanging puzzled glances, they left the room, casting curious stares back over their shoulders at the freaked-out redhead on the ceiling.

Haruka raised an eyebrow. "Wow, I've never seen ailurophobia THAT bad before."

"Neither have I," Ami said. "This...complicated things."

"Ranko?" Rei called softly. "The cats are gone...please come down..."

"G-gone?" Ranma said, looking around warily. At the distinct lack of cats in the room, she took a deep, shuddering breath, dropped from the ceiling, and landed in a seated position at the table. "Sorry about that," she said.

"It's okay. We didn't know you were afraid of cats." Rei paused. "Is that what you were going to tell us?"

Ranma shuddered. "No...it's somethin' else. But I..." She paused suddenly. "Wait a sec. That c-cat...it didn't..." She shook her head. "Nah, couldn't be. I'm imaginin' things..."

"Talk? Yes, she can. Luna and Artemis—the white cat that was with her—can both talk," Ami explained. At Ranma's wide-eyed stare, she continued, "they're not ordinary cats, Ranko-chan. And I'm sorry to say this, but now that you're Sailor Moon, it's important for you to be able to deal with this ailurophobia, because Luna and Artemis are very important members of our team—"

"Wait. Back up there," Haruka said sharply. "What do you mean, 'now that she's Sailor Moon'?"

Rei took a deep breath, and explained everything that had happened in Nerima to the late arrivals...

* * * * *

Haruka and Michiru stared at the petite redhead. "Odango really gave you the Ginzuishou, right before she died?"

"Yeah. An' now I'm Sailor Moon. It ain't exactly th' best thing that coulda happened t' me, but I gotta do it. I'm gonna find out whoever th' hell's behind all this, an' they're gonna pay."

//You're absolutely certain that this new enemy was after the Ginzuishou?// a voice issued from the speaker of a mobile phone sitting in the middle of the table; before Rei had begun her explanation, Minako had gotten the idea to shove one of their phones outside, in speakerphone mode, with another phone on the table inside, so that Luna and Artemis could be included despite having been forced out on account of Ranma's ailurophobia.

Ranma shuddered, but fought it down to reply, "Yeah. That purple-skinned bastard was hell bent on takin' th' crystal from me."

//That's...troubling,// Luna said. //I honestly can't think of anyone we haven't already faced who would even know about the Ginzuishou.//

//Me either,// Artemis added. //This one's a total mystery.//

"Ranko-chan," Minako said, "you said there was something you wanted to tell all of us, right?"

"Oh, yeah, that. I almost forgot." Ranma chuckled nervously. She took a deep breath. "First, I think we need more tea."

"Sure thing," Rei said. A few minutes later, she returned and refilled everyone's cup with fresh, hot tea.

"Okay, so spill your big secret," Haruka said, eyeing the redhead, arms folded.

"Okay, here goes..." Ranma picked up her teacup, but instead of drinking it, she dumped it over her head.

She gained a significant amount of height. Her hair turned jet black.

With a rough, masculine voice so very different from the voice they had heard earlier, Ranma said, "I'm Saotome Ranma. Sorry about this."

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