Title: Love For All Time Part 19

Author: Jade Hunter

A.N: So, this is it. Why is Ryuujin so panicked? What is Shadow up to? And 
Nabiki, what do you think you're doing? BTW, in case you're wondering why
I change the Senshi's names so much, it's like this. In the past, their names
were the Americanized ones, and now, their names are Japanese. 'Kay?

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer is on parts 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16.

"talking"
**thoughts**
<<telepathy>>
_emphasis_
////memories////

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"Miiiiiisssssssstrrreeesssssss," a Phantom slithered close to the throne
and held up a small disk. "I haaavvvee thhhhee innnnfoorrrrmaaattioonnnn youuu
orrrrderrredddd."

A gloved hand shot out of the shadows, and snatched up the small disk.
It inserted the disk into a large computer, and waited a bit impatiently for the 
information to come up on screen. Whe it finally did, Shadow scrolled down, 
obviously searching for one specific thing.

<<You think you have bested me,>> she sneered. <<You have only
delayed the inevitable, my dear _Master_.>> 

Silence answered her, and her fist clenched in rage. <<So, you pretend
that our link is dead; am I so repulsive? I know you can hear me, you and my 
sisters!>> 

Nothing but silence. <<Answer me!>>

Nothing. Suddeny, her fist relaxed, and a catty sort of smile entered her
tone. <<Do you want to know something interesting, Master? This planet, however
primitive compared to what the Silver Millenium once was, has quite a few rescouces.
Many humans are quite greedy, willing to do anything for the right amount of money.
So, of course, when I asked of a person with strange blue/grey eyes and raven hair,
offering vast amounts of money, many were only glad to respond.>>

Nothing was said, but she sensed the tenseness of her former Master and
her sisters. <<Ah, finally, I have captured your attention. Do you know whose 
description matched you, Master? A Nabiki Tendo told me of a martial artist, a
fighter of great caliber, possibly the greatest in Japan. She sent me a picture of him,
and, as I am alive, it is you! Are you surprised?>>

The tension built up, but still, silence greeted her. <<You still have nothing
to say? Very well, I shall do all the talking. It seems that this Nabiki Tendo is quite
desperate to find this fighter, who disappeared about the same time as I felt the link
reawaken. Weak as my link is to you, I felt it, I felt your memories come alive, and I
felt your magic do it's work as you manipulated all the pitiful humans on this planet
into believing that you were another one of them, a person other than the one you
reincarnated yourself as! I may not have recognized it then for what it was, but 
looking back on it, yes, it was you! You are this Ranma Saotome! Will you be silent
now? Now when I have discovered your weakness?>>

Finally, an answer came, and she felt smug. <<What is this weakness? You
know as well as I do that I have no weakness.>> Amusement flowed in every word,
every tone, and she felt anger and defiance rise up in her in answer.

<<Oh, no, Master,>> she snickered. <<You _had_ no weakness. Humans,
however short their lifespan, have very intense lives, don't they, my Master? And every
year you spent as a human, before the magic of your heritage burned through your veins
once more, it affected you, didn't it?>>

<<No.>> But the answer was terse, and she cackled with glee.

<<It did! It did! And now, you have the weakness of your human life, a
weakness that I can exploit to destroy you!>>

<<I have no weaknesses!>> But his reply came out forceful, and his thoughts
were strained.

She sneered, <<Who are you trying to convince? You, or me?>>

<<I have _no_ weaknesses.>> He was calm now, and could think clearly.

<<Ah, but I see one. I see two. I see three. I see a million!>> she sent a
wave of her triumph to him, to her sisters, and waited for their reaction. 

When none came, she was disappointed. <<I shall tell you, then. Your
Sailor Pluto. Ah, no need to get angry, she is not your weakness, and neither is
your Sailor Saturn. They have a link to you, all the Senshi do. You would know as soon
as they would when they are in danger. No, they are not your weakness.>>

She waited for his response. There was none.

<<But, now, after your human experience, there must be some people you
care about, some people _without_ those links.......?>> She let her thoughts trail off,
content to let him figure out things on his own.

<<No,>> his thoughts were now jumbled, he was worried, and he was 
cursing himself for not thinking of it earlier. <<No.>>

<<Yes,>> she smiled. <<Oh, Master, how well you've dug yourself a deep grave.
Now, all I have to do is give you a simple.....push.>>

*****

"What?" Setsuna asked, alarmed. "What is it?"

Ryuujin turned to her, face ashen, <<It's Shadow.>>

She frowned as she recalled the vengrful element, <<Shadow. What is 
she up to now?>>

<<Kami,>> Ryuujin growled, smashing his hand on the floor and startling
the others, who were still staring at him in confusion. <<I should have known. Should
have realized that she wouldn't give up so easily.>>

<<Ryuu-chan,>> Setsuna said sternly. <<What is going on?>>

<<Shadow. She found out who I was reincarnated as,>> Ryuujin explained,
lips drawn in a tight line.

Setsuna needed no other information, <<Which means she knows who
you interacted with, who you came to care for.>>

He shot her a look full of surprise, <<How did you-?>>

She smiled, <<Please. I know you. And I know how intense human lives
can be. Usagi and the others have come to care for others, also. It is not surprising
that you should care for those who you grew up with.>>

"Ooooookay," Minako drawled slowly. "Are we interrupting something here?"

Hotaru giggled as Ryuujin grinned sheepishly and Setsuna blinked in
surprise.

"They were talking," she said to the others. "Through the Bond."

"The bond?" Ami repeated.

Rei furrowed her brow slightly for a moment, and then smiled slowly as
she found a fleeting memory, <<You guys?>>

"Wah!" Minako screamed as she jerked her head to and fro. "What was
that?"

Makoto gaped at the Shinto priestess who was imitating the chesire cat,
"Rei, was that you?"

"Yeah," Rei nodded slightly, and then concentrated once more. <<It was
me.>>

Michieru took in some air and expelled it in a sudden 'whoosh', "What?"

Seeing Haruka's and Michieru's confused faces, Setsuna stepped in, "The
Inners and are hearing Rei through their telepathic bond. You, the Princess, the 
Prince, Luna, and Artemis cannot. Only the Inner Senshi have a bond with each other,
and we have one with each other. You are an Outer, and so have a bond with Hotaru
and I. Do you not remember?"

Haruka frowned and then replied hesitantly, "Yes. Sort of."

"And we all have a link with.....," trailing off, Michieru glanced at Ryuujin.

"Eh?" Minako asked. "We do?"

Ryuujin smiled slightly and sent out, <<Yes. You do. Not just the Inners,
not just the Outers, not just the Princess, not just the Prince, and not just the Mau,
but _everyone_.>>

Even Luna's fur was a little ruffled at the sudden ringing in her mind. 
Artemis jumped a few inches, and Mamoru pressed his palm to his head for a
brief moment. Usagi's response was similar to that of Minako's, only more.

"So what was the fire about?" Haruka demanded.

Setsuna hesitated then said, "You cannot know until....."

"You get the special portion of your memories back. That portion is the
key to everything....." Ryuujn sighed apprehensively.

*****

"So..........do you think they remember us yet?"

"No, it is a great probability that he would have cotacted us the minute
they recall us."

"Right."

"So they don't remember us?"

"Not yet."

"Oh. That's disappointing. You'd think we'd be the first thing they'd 
remember."

"Emotionally, I agree. However, if I am logical, I do not agree. Logically,
they knew us only for a brief while compared to others. It is expected that they
remember us last."

"Logic is not my strong point."

"I know."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That logic is not your strong point."

"I know that!"

"Then why did you ask?"

"Because you said 'I know' in that tone!"

"What tone?"

"The 'knowing' tone!"

"Because I know that logic is not you strong point."

"See, that tone!"

"What tone?"

"The.......well, _that_ tone!"

"Pardon?"

"Argh!"

".........You two have got to be the strangest beings ever."

"..........I'm seeing no choice but to agree with him. You two are strange."

"He used that tone! You heard it!"

"What tone?"

"_That_ one!!"

"I don't understand what tone you mean."

"Just let it go, you two."

"But he used _that_ tone!"

"What tone?"

>sigh<

"Forget it. You'll never get those two to stop."

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To Be Continued In Part 20.

~~~~~Jade Hunter~~~~~