Somewhere along the dark path of the forest of tall shadowing trees where they had followed the tracks of Jadeite's car, Luna and the Sailor Scouts came across a large sinister mansion not too far in the distance.

"What is that place?" Usagi squealed, "It looks spooky."

"I've heard about this place. They say that it belonged to some millionaire that mysteriously disappeared like a year ago. Nobody ever comes along here though, it's probably been empty for a long time," said Venus.

Mercury looked over the dark building and noticed there was dim lighting in some of the rooms, meaning it could not be empty. "That makes it the perfect place for the Negaverse to operate at unnoticed. Surely, that's where Jadeite is going and he's not alone."

"Why wouldn't they come after us though?" asked Mars. "Something isn't right here."

Luna nodded. "I agree. Let's proceed quietly to see what they're up to. Be on your guard, but don't do anything yet unless there's danger. Let's go."

* * * * * * * *

After left alone for the first time since he was back, the reality of him being back in the chapel seemed almost illusory to him. Nephrite closed his eyes and thought hard to focus, falling into somewhat of a reverie as the stars seemed to fill the room and encircle him. He was doubtful he would be able to make sense if they told him anything at all after they had failed in helping him find the crystal last time.

The stars and the black crystal had lead him to Naru, even though she knew nothing about the crystal or Sailor Moon. Seeing her had done nothing to help him and in fact, it was his pursuit of Naru that ultimately led to his death. This was the first time the stars had failed him. Previously, they had always lead him in the direction of glory and success, at times where he was the shining medal of the Negaverse they had always shown him the best path. Surely, when his life depended on it, the stars should have shown him the identity of Sailor Moon or the location of the crystal. It did not make sense. The stars had been wrong, and they had cost him the rest of his days. He thought of what they stars were showing him. Perhaps what they showed him was not always what it seemed.

Could it be that the stars had destined for him something stronger, beyond death, greater than glory? And yet, here he was back and still Naru was here. This sweet pawn of a schoolgirl, who seemed to play no role in the MoonKingdom or Negaverse whatsoever. He had always thought she was just a distraction, though a lovely distraction she was...

Lost and confused he asked the stars for guidance once more. "What is the purpose of my return?"

The clusters of smoke-like stars began to twirl around the room, to shape the image of their answer to him. Opening his eyes, Nephrite could see the smoke of the stars were clouding through to form a face he knew all too well. Though the answer confused him, it did not surprise him. Naru, always Naru. But why?

Just then, the silence was broken as he heard a loud crash in the kitchen a couple rooms over, followed by faint sound of someone yelling his name. The shining stars that filled the room swiftly left in a faded smoke as Nephrite rushed to the kitchen.

"Nephrite! Nephrite!" He heard his voice called more clearly and urgently now, but it was not Naru's voice calling him but Jadeite's. And then, there was more muffled yelling and crashing. As he came to the kitchen, he had to pause in the doorway in sudden overwhelming shock of what he saw.