Feelings of the Moon
Chapter Twelve - Grandfather
--+--
"Where are we?" Goku asked his fellow Saiyajin. The two stood in a black mist. A pair of doors stood tall andaustere behind them. "This doesn't look like Earth, ours or theirs." he said.
"How should I know?" Vegeta snapped. What would Kakarot know about Usagi's old Earth anyway?
The two looked around, unable to see through the fog and unsure of walking through it. The sound of quiet footsteps came from behind the doors and the two quickly turned around to see a girl.
She was short, no older than twelve. She had pink hair gathered in pigtails, resembling a bunny, and two red eyes that stared up at them in fear. She pressed a hand against the door, ready to back away.
"Who are you?"
She flinched at the sound of Goku's voice, and ran behind the door when she caught sight of his tail.
"Just some kid, lets go." Vegeta growled, facing the fog around him.
"Did I see..." Goku trailed off, and Vegeta sighed at the idiot. Kakarot tiptoed around the door, the girl squeaked and ran around the front, and saw Vegeta. Goku came up from behind her and lifted her up. She screamed and wriggled as he held her waist.
"It is!"
"Kakarot, you dumbfuck! Leave the bitch alone and come on!" Vegeta moved into the fog, and was well on his way through it when he heard the Saiyajin.
"She's got a tail like me!"
Vegeta stopped midstep in shock. He cocked his head around, staring throught the fog at the two figures.
"What...?"
The girl continued to scream as the Saiyajins stared at her with surprise.
--+--
Rei and Minako thanked Dende after he gave them news of the Space-Time Door opening. It was about time they could go on their way. Hopefully Galaxia hadn't gotten to any more of the senshi.
"I forgot to mention..." Dende started. "The Z Fighters were up here earlier. I knew you wouldn't want them to know you're here, just in case. But Goku and Vegeta went to your world."
"What?!" the girls gasped.
"Apparently Chi-Chi went missing, and since they couldn't find her anywhere on this planet, they got the idea that she was in your dimension. Maybe you can go help them get her back, they think your friends have her."
The two went running out of the room, coming into the open night sky.
"They've been gone for a few hours already!" Dende yelled after them. "Good luck you two!"
--+--
"Well, we've dealt with the whole time traveling business before. I guess it makes sense." Goku mused. "Its just difficult to process, my eighteen year old already having a kid." They were walking through the fog, Chibi-Usa explaining to them how she'd done much traveling through her short life. They came upon another gate, like the one they'd arrived at. It opened as they reached it.
"I'll come with you," Chibi-Usa said to the men. She couldn't believe that the tall man was Usagi's father.
They couldn't believe she was Usagi's daughter.
"I'm not sure thats safe," Goku said, shaking his head.
"So? I'm not your daughter!" she stuck out her tongue. "You say you're the strongest men in your universe, so I'll be perfectly safe. I deserve to know more about whats going on anyway!" She had kept from them her nearly dying. Usagi would freak if that was passed along. The strange little Chibi Chibi had given her a tail, and it gave her strength. It was unbelievable, but Vegeta said it was just her Saiyajin side coming out. "It'll help to have someone whose been here before on your side as well."
That decided it, and they went into Usagi's old world.
As they fell through the space, Chibi-Usa told them about the people who she'd hid from before. The dark people who would go through.
"I saw a man go to your world, and bring back the body of a woman," Goku gulped.
"That must've been Chi-Chi!"
"Then a woman went through not long before you came in!"
"What did she look like?"
"I was too busy hiding to notice!" this earned a snort from Vegeta. "You must have really good hearing, to know I was there."
Goku chuckled, and their trip through space came to an end. Something hit him, and his eyes popped.
"Oh my God!" he screamed. The others looked at him, wondering what would surprise the strong man like that.
"What?" they asked in unison.
"I'm a grandpa!"
--+--
Usagi was dreaming. She knew this, because there was no way she would be looking right at her Mamoru in real life. He was in America. In another dimension entirely!
But here, in her dream, he stood before her. His warm smile, stormy blue eyes were right there. She longed to jump into his arms, and stay like that. It was just that something felt wrong, and that feeling kept her from going to him.
"Come to me, Usako." his dreamy voice crooned. Oh, his voice was so lovely. Usagi's eyes began to shut, giving into her body's urge to listen.
Still, she did wonder why none of her dreams had Cosmos in them. It was like she disappeared all of a sudden, her last message concerning the Gates of Time. Usagi missed Cosmos. She missed her Mamo-chan as well, though. So she went to him, smiling softly, her eyes closed. His arms wrapped around her tightly. It was so warm here. She felt like staying there forever.
Impossible. As she opened her eyes, Mamoru melted away, becoming nothing more than a withering corpse. She gasped and stumbled away from the carcass. The smell of salt and rust filled the air, and she saw maggots crawling through his eye sockets.
"Mamo-chan!" she cried hysterically as her love decayed. She found herself on the hard ground, throwing up. This wasn't such a warm place after all. In fact, the air was becoming cold. It was so cold...
"Mamo-chan!!"
--+--
The city of Juuban was amazing to Goku. His friend didn't care much for the sights, and suggested splitting up.
"We'll cover more ground," he huffed.
"Goku might get lost," Chibi-Usa said. "Its okay if you want us to be alone for a while, Vegeta. Goku's not that bad a third wheel." she grabbed his muscular arm and grinned.
"Time alone? What for?" Goku asked. The other two sweatdropped and Vegeta wrenched his arm away from the kid.
It was crazy to see all the cars with wheels. According to Chibi-Usa their technology wouldn't advance like that until her time.
"Well, we need to be quick, so lets go!" Goku said, swooping the girl into his arms. The men took off flying and Chibi-Usa started screaming at the top of her lungs.
"You can fly!?" she screeched into his ear. He winced.
"Of course!" They soared over the buildings, landing on one that was surrounded by a park. "Thats right, Usagi said no one here could use ki like us." He set her down, looking around.
"Do you fly like that in your dimension? In front of people?" she asked.
"I don't see why not..." he shrugged. The idea of showing off power like it was completely normal was new to Chibi-Usa. It wasn't like the sailor senshi went around proclaiming to all their true identities. The girls always went to great lengths to keep everything they did secret from friends and family alike.
"This is Tokyo Tower!" Chibi-Usa explained, "Used for radio transmission, and that sort of thing. We should go to the regular hang out spots...achoo!" she sneezed. Vegeta noticed her shivering slightly.
"Cold?"
"Its winter here! Of course I'm cold!" Chibi-Usa was wearing a pair of overalls and a t-shirt. Not much for February.
"Why is it cold here?" Goku asked. They weren't affected by the cold the same way as humans, but it was interesting to know the weather was so different. Goku looked up at the cloudy sky, snow was threatening to fall. "We should get you a coat or something, huh? Then we'llgo wherever you think they would be now."
The three agreed, and were up in the sky once again.
--+--
Videl smiled, pleased with her work. That Usagi would be doing much better now. She had just finished cleaning the room and moving the furniture around. Those old clothes Usagi had worn were in shreds, swept with the excess hair into the trash. The room was lovely, and the chain around the blonde's ankle added a nice touch.
"Sweet dreams, Usagi." she sang as she grabbed her things. Scissors, hair products and makeup, and the shopping bags were all thrown into her backpack. With one last look into the room, Videl flicked off the light and closed the door.
--+--
"Dammit, where is she?!" Piccolo shouted angrily into the night sky. After leaving her with Videl he went to the Son home to spar with Gohan. His friend assure him they would be safe together, but now it was as though they were gone! He couldn't sense her anywhere, and Videl was in her father's house. Her ki was extremely low, fading in and out weakly. It was annoying for one, having to search the skies for her. Then he didn't know if she was okay. He quickly searched for Gohan, who was heading for Videl's faint energy.
"That girl is asking for trouble," he sighed. He hated to have to call in for help. Trunks and Goten were at home with Bulma, he knew they'd love an excuse to stay up later than usual. With that, he flew to Capsule Corp.
--+--
Usagi set down the last stuffed rabbit down on her bed. Having rearranged them, and cleaned her room, she gave the bunch a nod of approval. Her room was now nice and neat, a big change from the mess it had been when she'd arrived home. She was back in the Tsukino household where she belonged! The house was empty when she arrived, but she was sure her family would be home soon. A yellow rabbit smiled up at her, as though agreeing with her.
That was a mean joke Mamoru pulled too. Usagi knew perfectly well that he was fine. She was waiting for him too. Sitting at her desk, she picked up a small picture they'd taken that summer.
'You always complain when I'm late!' she pouted, 'But now I'm waiting around for you! Hurry up Mamo-chan!' she thought.
Paper was neatly stacked on the desk. Getting an idea, Usagi took some sheets and began to doodle. This would keep her busy while she waited.
--+--
"They come here often?" Goku asked the child he carried on his shoulders. The three travelers stood in the Crown Arcade, Chibi-Usa telling them that the girls frequented the place, as well as the restaurant upstairs. During the flight, Goku had told her about hiding her tail, and it was now wrapped around her waist like her grandfathers'.
"All the time," she answered. "But with whats going on I'm not so sure anymore. Actually, Usagi-chan was always the one convincing everyone to come, and since she's gone...I don't know."
"Well take us somewhere they will be! I'm not in the mood to wander around some city for hours because you can't find them!" Vegeta snapped.
Goku sighed, lifting the kid over and on the floor. They headed upstairs, but not before a familiar face noticed Chibi-Usa.
"Hey!" it was Motoko, calling her from the counter. "Chibi-Usa-chan! Its been ages," he laughed, waving her over. She complied, sending her new friends to search upstairs.
"Hi Motoki-kun, you're still working here?" she asked, sitting at a stool.
"Yeah, I figure I'll be working here the rest of my life, drying the same milkshake glasses for eternity." he sighed dramatically, pausing his glass-drying and feigning exhaustion. "How are you? I'm glad I caught you, its like everyone is gone!"
"I'm not that hungry," she passed. "I guess everyone is busy with school and stuff,"
"Maybe..." he stated, eyebrows scrunching, "But it seems like your sister has disappeared or something. The last I saw of any of you was probably your friend Hotaru, and that was months ago!"
Chibi-Usa's heart jumped, Hotaru was her best friend! What would happen when they met again? Would Rabi make them fight? Would the Saiyajins be strong enough to take on all the senshi?
'Hotaru-chan...' she thought, a tear rolling down her face. Motoki stopped his work.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry!" he said consolingly. She shook her head, wiping it away. He continued to apologize as Goku and Vegeta spoke in the restaurant.
"Hey, Vegeta..." Goku whispered, the two had looked around and there was no sight of any of the girls. The shorter man grunted. "I was thinking about how we ended up at that Gate of Time. Shouldn't we have gone straight to Rabi?" Vegeta sat down at a table, grabbing a menu as though to order.
"We wanted to cross another dimension, and we did. I wouldn't worry about technicalities," he said. Goku sat with him, a troubled look on his face. Vegeta glared at him. "Quit moping about it, dumbass. Lets go, they aren't here." he stood, and a waitress running around smacked into him.
"Sorry! Can I get you guys anything?" she asked, hands raising to check her ponytail.
"Hell no!" Vegeta barked. Goku sweatdropped and smiled apologetically as they reunited with Chibi-Usa.
"Bye Motoki-kun! I have to go!" she smiled as they headed to the door. Motoki stared after them.
'Whats with the muscle?'
--+--
"We've been attacked twice now," Haruka said to Michiru. "Ami and Makoto are dead, Rei and Minako gone."
The two women sat in their living room. The mansion felt empty, but so did the rest of the world. Their team was falling apart. Michiru sipped her wine. Hotaru was in her room, reading.
"I don't know if we'll survive any more attacks, there are only us four now." Haruka continued, bowing her head in shame.
"There should be five," Michiru said, grabbing Haruka's hand. "But Rabi left, Setsuna said she crossed dimensions as soon as the Gates opened. Poor Hotaru, she shouldn't have to fight. Not after just reawakening. I dare not count Rabi's new pet either."
The two sat in silence, thinking hard about how to deal with Sailor Galaxia. They had killed two of her Animamates, Iron Mouse and Aluminum Siren.
"More senshi...just how many more?" Haruka thought out loud. Their musings were interrupted when a blast came from upstairs.
'Now...!?'
The two rushed to where the sound came from.
"Where are they!?" they heard an angry voice shouting. It came from Hotaru's bedroom!
The women burst through the door, and found a hole in the wall. Dust filled the room, and two men stood in the hole as silhouettes. Her bed was completely destroyed, and Hotaru was on the floor, shaking before the two large men. At the sight of the women, the men bent into fighting stances.
"Hotaru-chan!" Michiru cried, reachinng out for her adopted daughter.
"Tell me where my wife is!" the one in orange demanded. They moved in, and Haruka gasped. It was Usagi's father, and the shorter man from her world!
"You again!" she snarled, "Uranus Crystal Power, Makeup!"
"Neptune Crystal Power, Makeup!"
When they henshined, Sailor Uranus and Neptune held their weapons ready.
"I said, I want to know where Chi-Chi is!" Goku roared. The shorter man shot forward, and instead of hitting them, he snatched up Hotaru and jumped out the window before they could stop him. "You'll give her to me or never see this child again!"
"They're so fast! They flew out..." Neptune gasped. The two were gone, just like that. They heard Hotaru's screams fade, and ran to the hole.
"We have to go after her!" Uranus said, "I'll kill them both!" she lunged forward but was stopped by her partner.
"They want something in return, or someone." she stated in explanation. "We can't just run after her, lets call Setsuna."
"But..." Uranus breathed. "They'll kill her!"
"Then lets hurry!" the two contacted Setsuna, who came to them immediately upon news of Hotaru's kidnapping.
Sailor Pluto appeared, an angry look on her face.
"He said he wanted his wife." Neptune offered.
"Chi-Chi?" she asked, they nodded.
"You know who she is?" the two had no clue, only knowing of the Saiyajin they'd fought.
Pluto nodded.
"I do, but...what's going on? Why would they think we have her?!"
--+--
"Let me go, you brutes!" Hotaru screamed. She was flying in the air, the Saiyajin carrying her away from her family. She couldn't henshin without her wand, which she stupidly left next to her book. The possibility of escape with her lack of physical abilities was unlikely. It was exhausting her just to struggle in his arms. The monster only squeezed harder, which hurt. She stopped moving as they descended upon a rooftop near Sailor Mars' old school.
"Thanks for leaving me here!" someone shouted, and Hotaru saw an incredible sight. Chibi-Usa, her best friend, was running across the building to them.
"Chibi-Usa!?" she choked, her hand covered her mouth.
"Hotaru-chan!" her friend exclaimed in surprise. "Let her go!" Hotaru was dropped and the two ran into the other's arms. She couldn't believe that this was her friend, who she hadn't seen since their defeat of Nehelenia.
"So they'll never see this child again?" her kidnapper asked Goku. "Since when do you kill children, Kakarot?" he snorted.
"Hey, this is my wife we're talking about here!" he retaliated. "I needed a bargaining tool, of course we aren't going to kill her! Looks like she's a friend of Chibi-Usa's anyway."
The two looked down at the hugging girls.
"I guess we should get you a coat too," Goku suggested, looking at Hotaru's short skirt.
"Chibi-Usa-chan, you have some explaining to do!" Hotaru frowned.
--+--
Usagi set down her finished picture of Luna. She giggled at it, having made Luna very fat. It wasn't her fault the kitty had been gaining so much weight. She'd been drawing to pass the time, glancing at the clock that now read 6:00. It wouldn't be long before her family came home. Kenji would be getting off work, Mamoru would be coming from America. Ikuko and Shingo were probably out Christmas shopping.
'Maybe I'll draw one more picture,' she decided. She'd already drawn a bunch, though. It was getting boring. She instead grabbed one of the manga she'd recently borrowed from Rei. A new story would be good to focus on while she waited.
'It won't be long now,' she thought reassuringly. 'Someone will come along eventually.'
--+--
Sailor Lead Crow bowed before Galaxia.
"Imagine our luck, majesty! The princess herself has appointed me Sailor Mars! I could not imagine anything more perfect! Her guardians' crystals have already been taken as well." she smiled.
"Do not celebrate just yet, you must take Mars' crystal first. Kill her, and be greatly rewarded." Galaxia said, waving Lead Crow away. As her soldier vanished, she smiled.
'Stupid little Rabi,' she thought, 'Your love for Khoss will cost you.' the golden-clad woman laughed. 'His influence over her is doing me well, soon I will have all their crystals.'
--+--
Lead Crow transported herself to Juuban, and headed straight for the other senshi. She flew into the air, her strong crow wings flapping in the February wind. Her search took her to T*A Private Girls School.
'Sailor Mars old school, hm?' she thought as she landed inside the gate. Upon the roof, lights shimmered. 'They are up there! Hopefully my new comrades won't be too surprised to see me!' she laughed, and leapt up to the roof.
She herself was surprised, Uranus and Neptune were fighting two men. Two little girls huddled together, away from them.
'Time to make an entrance, do not worry Siren, I will avenge you tonight!'
"You look like you could use some help from Sailor Lead Crow!" she chanted. The fighters stopped for a split second, and the next thing she knew, she was in the air. She gasped for air as a strong hand yanked her by her throat. Everything was going fuzzy when a face came in. A man with outrageously wild hair glared at her.
"Space Turbulence!" Uranus shouted, her attack heading for the other fighter. He shot multiple light attacks back and they exploded on contact.
"You're one of them!" her attacker growled. "Tell me if you know anything about Chi-Chi!" he shook her roughly.
"Who--?!" she choked, her world spinning before her. He yelled incoherently and threw her like a doll. She slammed into another body, and soon another came crashing down on the both of them. She groaned, trying to move. Pain shot through her body as a blast hit all three of them, sending them over the building.
"Ahhh!" she screamed as she flew through the air, and the feeling of butterflies rippled in her stomach. A sickening crack came from her right leg as she met snow-covered ground. She saw Sailor Uranus coughing up blood next to her. The senshi was shaking her head, and attempting to push her body up. Their eyes met, and Uranus' widened as her body was lifted. Lead Crow's attacker now held the senshi of wind by her leg, swinging her upside down. The movement made Crow's stomach lurch and she shut her eyes.
'I cannot let these monsters kill us! I need those sailor crystals! I need Mars' crystal to become a true soldier!' she thought.
"We don't have...your wife..." Neptune cried, nursing a wound in her side. Crow arched her head slowly to gaze at the Neptunian. "Please...just release Hotaru and Chibi-Usa." she moaned, falling forward. The shorter fighter appeared behind her and clutched her collar.
"The pink-haired sprite is with us, fools." he sneered. "She brought us to you, she is Kakarot's granddaughter after all." he lifted Neptune and looked down at Crow, who winced. He reached to lift her when another voice came into play.
"Stop!" Crow looked up, but too quickly and found herself falling. The feeling faded and she closed her eyes to keep from passing out.
"Mars Flame Sniper!" the words came and Neptune fell as the fighter was hit with a burning arrow.
'No! Saved by...her!?' and Crow blacked out.
--+--
10/08: I've been writing a lot, and got back into this story! Does anyone think Vegeta is OOC?