~ New Moon ~ Chapter Five: Hey minna! This chapter is going to actually get the story going. Before it’s been sort of jump and skip around. I hope now it’ll make a little more sense to some of ya. =~-^= Oh and when I wrote this my mind went blank on Chad’s Japanese name. Hope ya don’t mind too much! I don’t own Sailor Moon or Ranma 1/2. Don’t sue me, you won’t get much if you do anyway! Please R&R!!! *gets down on knees and begs* Please? *gets hit by a wadded up piece of paper from off stage*Uh, sorry bout that! Um. . . . Ja ne! =^-^= Notes: * * - indicate thought -------- - short passage of time ~Cherry Hill Temple~ It was a typical sunny day in Juban. Birds singing, kids playing in the park, Rei Hino sweeping the temple grounds while her fellow scouts waited for a certain blond who had in affinity for being late. No, not bunny-chan. Minako. Rei looked up from her sweeping with a frown. She could see a distant dust cloud approaching the temple. *Seems almost like when Usagi used to. . . . but that’s Minako.* She let out a sigh as the before mentioned blond raced up the steps. Her fellow senshi turned as one to regard the senshi of love. “Hey. . . (huff) . . guys! (puff) Sorry I’m so late. I got detention for falling asleep in class.” Rei felt herself losing her temper. “So, since Usagi’s gone your trying to fill the gap? Being late AND falling asleep in class?!” Minako let out a slight sigh. “Rei, you have no reason to blow up at me! I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I had a dream about. . . you know.” The blond fell silent and suddenly decided to memorize what her shoes looked like. (AN: LOL) Over the past few days all of the senshi had been having recurring nightmares about the death of their princess. The princess they were supposed to protect. The princess that was, at the moment, lost. Rei smiled slightly in sympathy. “I’m sorry Mina-chan. I guess I’ve just been a little too high strung because of what’s been happening. Don’t worry though, we ARE going to find her. Right Luna?” The girls turned as one to the two cats sitting on the ground. The black one nodded. “In fact, Sailor Pluto has told me of a lead she might have. A friend of hers seems to have come into contact with an Usagi in an area not too far from here. Don’t get too excited though girls. It could just be a different girl or a false alarm. Pluto says she will check it out and if it warrants more of an investigation then she will alert us.” Ami nodded her head and brushed her short blue hair from her eyes. “That would be the best thing to do for now. After all, we have an enemy here and we don’t want to leave the town unguarded.” The brunette next to her flashed the group a victory sign. “Don’t worry you guys! These cardians aren't that tough.” Makoto tried to push her own doubt down. *What if we can’t do this without Usagi? * “I’m sure we’ll have them crying for mercy in just a few days. Then we can all go searching for the Moon Princess.” Artemis smiled up at the optimistic senshi of Jupiter. *This is just like before when our ‘official’ mission was to find the Moon Princess. Maybe our luck has changed. If not then it’s going to have to be Usagi who finds US. That's not too likely.* “Well girls I think that now----. . . Meow!” The girls stared at the white cat as if he had just grown a new head. Minako leaned closer to see if something was wrong. “Artemis? What is it?” She turned her attention from her lunar guardian however when she heard a shrill shriek coming from Rei’s direction. “Ha! I knew I could still sneak up on you Rei!” The fire priestess spun around with a look that rivaled any youma’s and came face to face with . . . “Grandpa! How many times do I have to say don’t do that!” The withered old man let out a loud laugh. “I have to keep you on your toes!” The other girls all started giggling as they watched Rei try to hold in a sharp retort. She turned her glare on them however and they soon shut up. *That’s better!* Taking a deep breath to calm herself she turned back to her guardian. “Is there anything else you want grandpa?” The aged Shinto priest giggled. “Guess who’s coming to visit Rei?” Rei sighed again and quickly counted to ten. *. .7. . . 8. . . .9. . . .* “Who Grandpa?” He chuckled again. “Your Uncle is coming back from his vacation in America and instead of going straight home to Nermia he has decided to visit you. He’ll be staying about a week.” Rei felt her mood brighten. *Finally some good news!* “Really?! When will he be here?” She hardly noticed as her fellow senshi of love and justice leaned forward eagerly to hear the answer as well. *After all*, Minako reasoned, * Rei’s uncle is pretty hot!* Makoto was thinking along the similar lines as she elbowed Minako to the side. *Who cares if he’s a little older? He looks just like my old sempai!* Ami, the studious one of the group was eager as well but for alternative motives. *I wonder if he’d be willing to teach me some of his healing techniques. If I’m going to be a doctor I might as well start learning first hand now!* Rei’s grandpa grinned foolishly at the girls. “He’ll be here in about twenty minutes. He just called from the bus station. I might send Chad to help him bring his things. Then he might be here even sooner so you girls had better go get ready!” They all blushed slightly but nodded anyway. With a shared glance they rushed towards Rei’s room. ------- Minako stared in the mirror at her reflection. *Maybe I should wear another bow? Or maybe just get rid of it altogether? . . . .Naw!* She finally stopped tugging at her outfit and sat down on Rei’s futon. Suddenly Chad’s voice rang. “Hey Rei! Your uncle’s here! He’s a pretty cool dude!” Rei rolled her eyes but stood anyway and walked towards the door. Minako and Makoto however beat her to it. “Get out of my way!” “No! I call first dibs since I’m taller!” “Well, most men like blonds so you should just give up anyway!” The senshi of Venus and Jupiter kept trading insults and didn’t even notice as someone stopped in the doorway to watch. “Ha! Seems as though I’ve come in the middle of a duel! ” Rei turned away from the duo with a look of annoyance that quickly disappeared when she saw who the speaker was. “Uncle!” She rushed towards the man in the doorway. “Why hello Rei! I haven’t seen you since you were this tall!” He held up a hand to about four feet from the ground as he set some of his bags down. Rei felt herself blushing as the duo realized who was there and rushed towards him. The blond reached him first and swiftly took his hand, pumping it vigorously. “Hello Rei’s uncle!” *Wow! He looks even better than in the picture!* He was tall with his shoulder length brown hair pulled into a pony tail and round glasses that suited his face. Makoto elbowed Minako out of the way and grabbed his hand, shaking it as well. “Minako! I can’t believe you don’t even remember his name! It’s . . . um. . “ She rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment as Rei sweat dropped. *Figures they’d remember his every freckle but forget his name.* Ami on the other hand giggled slightly. “Hello Dr. Tofu. It’s nice to meet you.” The ruffled Dr. Tofu straightened his glasses as he stepped towards the blue haired girl. “Akane? Is that you?” As he got a closer look he started blushing. “Oh I’m sorry! I thought you were someone I knew from Nermia! Forgive me.” He bowed slightly and Ami bowed back, blushing. *He is pretty cute. Wait! What am I thinking?!* “That's alright Dr. Tofu. My name is Ami.” “Pleased to meet you Ami.” Minako and Makoto glared at Ami. Rei smiled brightly. “So tell me about your life in Nermia Uncle! How’s business and all?” She winked at him slightly. “Any cute girls you like there?” Tofu blushed and nodded slightly. “Actually yes. Her name is Kasumi Tendo. Would you like to see a picture? Akane is one of her sisters.” He remover his wallet from the back pocket of his pants and, still blushing, handed a small snapshot to the raven haired girl. “Her family owns a dojo in town. In fact, two of her sisters help to keep my business going!” He laughed and Rei looked at him quizzically. “Perhaps I should explain. The two youngest sisters practice martial arts and are quite good at it. One of them, Akane, gets in quite a few fights. The younger usually only joins fights when they get too out of hand for Akane but they both injure other people or themselves on a regular basis.” Rei grinned. “I think it’d be fun to learn more martial arts! I mean, aside from what you’ve taught me uncle. Do they give classes?” Tofu sighed. “Actually they don’t. Ever since his wife died Soun Tendo has been. . . . preoccupied.” Rei looked at him curiously again. “Then how do they make a living?” Tofu smiled. “The girls of that family are all very resourceful. The second oldest, Nibiki, usually finds ways to make ends meet. She’s quite a shrewd business woman!” Makoto, interested in anything that has to do with fighting, stepped closer. “Do you think we could get the two youngest at least to give us lessons?” Dr. Tofu considered that for a few moments and then nodded. “You might. I’m going to call latter tonight to tell them I made it back from America okay. I’ll ask them for you if you want.” Makoto smiled brightly. “Thanks! Hey, how old are the two youngest anyway? It might be a little weird to take lessons from girls younger than us.” Minako frowned before Tofu could answer. “Why are we going to ALL take lessons?” Ami turned to the blond. “I think it’s a good idea Mina-chan. It will help us with our work.” Minako stared for a few seconds but finally nodded her head with a smile. “I guess your right Ami. We would do a lot better if we all knew some martial arts.” She turned to the tall brunette. “Good thinking Mako-chan!” “They’re both 16.” Everyone turned to Dr. Tofu with blank looks on their faces. “The two youngest? They are both 16.” It finally registered that he was answering the question from earlier and Makoto smiled. Rei on the other hand was confused again. “You mean they’re twins?” Dr. Tofu smiled at his niece. “No. The youngest was adopted. She doesn’t look a thing like any of her older sisters.” Rei nodded in understanding. “That makes sense then.” She turned to the other three girls. “Well guys. I guess I call you all tomorrow with the answer from the dojo. It’s getting pretty late and you’d all better go home.” The others nodded. Minako picked up Artemis and Ami picked up Luna. “Goodbye Rei-chan!” They chorused. After the girls had left Tofu turned back to Rei. “Well, I think I’ll go call now. Where’s your phone?” Rei ran a hand through her hair. “Just down the hall and around the corner.” Dr. Tofu nodded and left the room. +~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ What did ya think? Good? Bad? Tell me -k! Also, does anyone know what Dr. Tofu’s first name is? *rubs back of neck in embarrassment* I’m really brain dead tonight and since I promised to have this chapter up by tonight I don’t have time to look for it. *LOL* I really hope you liked it! Well, Ja ne! stonekid@etv.net Tsukino Neko =^-^=