Disclaimer: I don't own SM or DBZ but the characters are being borrowed for my amusement.
Tenshi's Notes: Minna-chan, gonna keep this short and sweet at this point. Legacy readers, you're meant to be confused. If you watch Fushigi Yuugi, it should be a little easier for you to follow since I try to write the characters as true to form as possible. This fic isn't too far off from the end and the big show down will occur soon! *hums* That's about it really. Special thanks to my imouto-chan, Usachan, for holding her fics ransom until we get ten reviews for Perfect World. *giggles* If I tried that, I'd be holding it infinitely. Thanks to the rest of my chans, the readers who emailed me, and my reviewers! I appreciate it! ^-^ Anyway, ja!
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The door to the time machine swung open as three weary travelers stumbled out of it. One very cranky Saiyajin wiped a corner of his armor and glared at the blonde, who looked equally disheveled. The third stepped off the platform, and stretched his muscles out.
"You were taking up all the leg room."
Ignoring the angry tone of the shorter of the two men, she stared at the sleeve of her shirt in dismay.
"Vegeta-sama!!" She cried out. "You drooled on me!"
Trunks choked, and Vegeta just about exploded.
"I have had it with you, woman!!" He yelled out, looking like a keg of dynamite that had just been lit. Being cooped up in a small, enclosed area had made the normally surly Saiyajin even testier than usual. Trunks had been the pilot, so he had the most comfortable seat in the house. However, he had been forced to cram Usagi and his father in the tiny space in the back of his seat.
She paid Vegeta no attention whatsover as she made her way over to him. Standing on her tiptoes, she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"Are you sure you're okay, Usagi?" Trunks asked as he put his arms around her tiny waist, not noticing his fuming father slowly lose his rage.
She nodded as Trunks held her close. As his arms wrapped around her, she thought of the two attacks that had gotten her while they were flying. Vegeta-sama had been sleeping thankfully so he hadn't noticed a thing. Trunks had been pre-occupied with piloting the time machine away from a meteor shower. She was scared. Truly scared. The attacks were growing stronger. The last one had all but taken her strength from her and it was at the very last moment that it had stopped suddenly. She relaxed against Trunks, the pretense of being strong getting to her. She noted Vegeta's thoughtful gaze on her and she turned to look at him. His black eyes saw too much and she saw the concern in them.
"Usagi…" Vegeta called out in warning. "You had more attacks didn't you?"
"Nani?!"
Usagi sighed, and she knew that she should be grateful that the prickly Saiyajin cared so much for her. But still, Vegeta was acting like a mother hen.
"Vegeta-sama!" She chided, before looking back at Trunks. "I'm all right. A bit weak, but I'll be okay."
"A bit?" Vegeta snorted.
"Your ki… it's weakening, yet something else is growing stronger within you." Trunks' eyes widened in shock.
"It's taking her energy. I thought as much. There is another being in her, wanting to get free."
"Like a parasite…" Trunks' voice trailed off.
"Nani?!" A strange voice cried out in response to his comment.
Three heads whirled around to stare at the group of intruders.
"Koneko-chan! What's the meaning of this??"
Usagi smiled weakly as she leaned against Trunks, who was supporting her at the moment.
"It's nothing…"
"Megami-sama is stronger now," the startlingly pretty young girl beside the two older women announced with saddened deep purple eyes.
"What the HELL is going on???" Trunks demanded angrily, feeling so damned helpless at the moment. "Who is this Megami-sama you keep referring to? I want answers!" Veins stood out on his forehead, frustrated beyond belief. He wasn't about to lose the last person in the world who mattered to him. He'd kill anyone who even tried.
The young girl looked at him with the strangest eyes. They were a deep shade of purple, innocent and all-knowing.
"Megami-sama is our saviour, our ultimate weapon. She's the one who protects the planets."
"Hota-chan!" The blonde man berated.
"Haruka-papa, it's okay. I don't sense evil from them. Her origins are unknown, but we know she exists in Usagi's body, only appearing when she is needed. Something has changed though." Her brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand. I thought Megami-sama and Usagi are supposed to exist in peace together."
"I… I remember the entity saying something about evolving, and a Master." Usagi responded weakly. The trip had taken a lot out of her, further draining her already frail state. Trunks held her close to him, supporting her weight fully at this point.
"You've talked to it??!?" The blonde man yelled, whose temper seemed to rival Vegeta's.
"How is that possible?" The aquamarine-haired woman asked.
"They should have no awareness of each other, but yet they do. Very strange." The young girl's eyes narrowed suddenly at the figure approaching.
"Usagi-chan!"
"Mina-chan…" Usagi smiled faintly. Out of all the Inner senshi, she felt closest to Minako. Almost identical in looks and personality, they seemed to share a bond. She had rather hoped that Minako would be able to sense her return and was pleased to see that she had.
Trunks and Vegeta gaped as a blonde with a big red bow on her head bounded towards them and hugged Usagi with such enthusiasm. She looked almost like Usagi, they both thought.
"I was so worried. Things have been awful here, Usagi-chan." She paused and took in the man that had been holding Usagi and her eyes widened.
"Kami-sama, this is the bishounen that Mamoru was talking about? The purple-haired one that took you away?"
Usagi and Hotaru giggled as Trunks blushed. The blonde man glared at Trunks, only to receive an even more intimidating one from the short, black-haired man standing near them.
Minako whirled around in surprise, staring at Hotaru, Haruka, and Michiru in shock.
"Haruka-san? Michiru-san? Hota-chan? What on earth are you guys…"
Pieces of the puzzle slowly fell into place as she added up what was in front of her. Usagi's arrival, the two strangers that had accompanied her, and the two women who appeared around the same time as the mysterious senshi did.
"Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune?!" She shouted incredulously.
The short man smirked slightly before commenting to Usagi. "Those baka onnas are your senshi?"
"Vegeta-sama, be nice now. They're my friends."
"The little girl is the most powerful out of all of them though," Trunks observed thoughtfully.
"Yeah, the others' kis don't even register with me."
Usagi shuddered unexpectedly. A deep chill had traveled down her spine, almost feeling like someone had walked over her grave. Trunks glanced at her with concern. "What is it?"
A voice took over temporarily as her eyes glazed over.
Master will be here soon. (AN: Entity is speaking)
"Did you sense that ki?!" The short black-haired man yelled out as Usagi fainted.
"Didn't he die already?!" Trunks snarled, anger rising in him, warring between his concern for Usagi as he held her unconscious body in his arms.
"Who's the Master?" Minako asked, her expression echoing the other worried ones around her.
"This is not good. Not good at all," Hotaru commented quietly.
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Minako determined something very quickly. The short black-haired man, Vegeta, was fiercely protective of Usagi, as was his son, and would kill anyone that tried to hurt her. They had ended up in Haruka and Michiru's apartment, and put Usagi to rest on a bed. She looked so fragile and delicate, and Trunks wouldn't budge by her side. She sighed as she thought of the look in Trunks' eyes. She wondered what it would be like to be loved that whole-heartedly and with such devotion. He had been so afraid of losing Usagi, and Minako saw right away that the love that they shared was for lack of a better word, amazing. Unlike what Usagi and Mamoru had, they weren't bound by the ties of the past or destiny. They were together simply because they wanted to be, and because they couldn't see themselves with anyone else. You didn't need to be a Senshi of Love to see these things. With another sigh, she found herself in the midst of an argument (or a fight) threatening to break out between Vegeta and Haruka.
"You people are selfish! You would rather see Usagi die and preserve your stupid weapon!" Vegeta shouted.
"You baka! That's not true! Koneko-chan means the world to us!"
It was true wasn't it? They were all prepared to sacrifice Usagi's life so they could have the perfect weapon, their defender against evil. But as part of their duties, weren't they also supposed to protect their princess? Minako wondered silently. I don't wish that, Usagi-chan. If I had a choice, I'd rather have you, my friend.
"You are all weak and pathetic. That's all it boils down to," Vegeta snarled, his bad temper disguising the worry and concern he had for Usagi, except to Minako.
"WEAK?! Pathetic?!" Haruka shrieked, as she flung a punch towards Vegeta. He disappeared suddenly before reappearing above her, his arms crossed over his chest, smirking at her. "Foolish woman. You are nothing. No wonder you need Usagi. You can't even hit me."
The door flung open suddenly, and Trunks stomped out, angry blue eyes glaring at all of them.
"Usagi is trying to get some rest. For the love of God, can you guys be quiet?!"
Apparently, tempers ran in the family, Minako thought, though once again, she could see the strains of worry in his face.
"How is she?" She asked softly, gaining his attention immediately as the room quickly quieted down. Everyone looked at him expectantly. Running a frustrated hand through his hair, he sighed. "She's not responsive. She won't wake up. I don't know what's wrong. I just don't know."
"We should call the rest while we can. If the Master is going to show up, we're going to need everyone else's help."
"Are the rest as powerful as these ones here?" Vegeta asked insultingly.
A growl sounded from Haruka as Michiru tried to restrain her. "I've had it with you, little man!!!"
"MAN? Don't confuse me with one of your ningen types. I am the Prince of Saiyajins, the most powerful warrior race there is."
"Vegeta-sama," a voice called out pleadingly from the doorway of the bedroom.
"Usagi!!" They all cried out, staring at an extremely pale blonde resting heavily against the door. Trunks made his way over immediately to support her, relieved that she was awake, but at the same time, alarmed at how weak she had become.
Vegeta stared at her, worried that she might not make it. Whatever was in her was obviously draining all of her energy. The once vivacious and lively blonde was now wan, almost sickly looking.
"I'll be okay, Trunks… I'm stronger than you think. Really," she smiled weakly. Turning to look at Vegeta, she continued, "Please, for my sake, don't argue anymore. My senshi mean well. They're not responsible for what is happening with me. They didn't do it. Someone else did."
"Who is then?" Vegeta snarled, in annoyance, dying to kill someone for what they had done to her. He felt so helpless. It was like watching the destruction of his planet and his people all over again.
"I don't know… I don't remember anything beyond my childhood days when I was with the Tsukinos."
"You mean they aren't your real parents?!" Minako cried out in shock.
"You've seen Mom and Dad. Do I look like either of them?" Usagi asked wryly. "Why can't I remember beyond dreams and hazy figures?"
The three outer senshi stared at their beloved princess in shock. Something was not quite right. They couldn't quite put their fingers on it, but there was something off about the whole situation. Something they weren't being told.
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AN: I realise I make Usagi faint rather often, but if you had an entity growing in you, taking your life force, you'd pass out pretty frequently too.