ALRIGHTY, already* I get the hint* You guys hate that Chibi-Usa's dad is not Endymion* *grin* aren't I evil? Ok, I am willing to let up, a bit. Just to please you, (and I DO love that you've let me know how you felt about it) I've put in a bit in here specifically on that, that I wasn't planning on putting untill WAY later.
AND, since I'll do ANYTHING for reviews, I decided to give you a treat. An extra-long chapter, with a little bit of explanation... however, not too much. I do want you to continue to read the series after all.
Um... this focuses a bit more on the DBZ world where MOST of this series will be set, but there is also a huge chunk of the SM world for everyone who told me exactly what they thought about Endy & Pluto and Serenity &.... ((ah ah ah... you didn't think I'd tell you so easily did you?)) Anyway, THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed, and this chapter is for you...
Oh yeah, almost forgot. I don't own any part of Sailor Moon or DragonBallZ. Plain and simple.
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Hope of a Planet ch. 3
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Kami looked up expectantly as Pluto and Chibi-Usa stepped through the portal. Kami smiled as the girl with the pink odangos, who looked around in awe.
"Good morning, Kami." nodded Pluto.
Hearing this, as if it were a cue, Chibi-Usa curtseyed to him. "Hello, Mister Kami-sama."
Kami chuckled. "I see you are not in need of manners, but please just call me Kami."
Chibi-Usa looked up and grinned. "Ok."
Kami smiled and than frowned. A look of confusion and worry crossed his face for a second before he smiled again. Pluto noticed and raised an eyebrow at Kami. Kami nodded, but as he was motioning for his assistant Mr. Popo to come over, Chibi-Usa tugged on Pluto's skirt.
Pluto looked down, "What is it?" she asked Chibi-Usa, absentmindedly as she focused on Kami.
Chibi-Usa looked from Kami back to Pluto and then asked in a rather loud whisper. "Do all the people here look like him?"
Kami, having heard, laughed out loud, cutting in before Pluto, who looked mortified, could say anything. "No. They don't. Only I and one other look like this. Everyone else looks basically like you." he explained.
Chibi-Usa nodded, tilted her head in thought, and then asked. "Are you from a different planet?"
Kami's eyes clouded over for a moment, as he tried to grasp onto some ancient thought that seemed just out of his grasp.
Chibi-Usa, thinking he was confused, tried to explain. "We're all from different planets, aren't we, Puu?"
Pluto smiled, again wondering at this small child's perception, "This world is very similar to ours. That is one of the reasons you are going here. There are many obvious similarities, and many more that are not so obvious. Always remember that, ok?" she told the small child.
Chibi-Usa nodded as Mr. Popo finally stepped up to them, as Kami had motioned. Kami then spoke to Chibi-Usa. "We have a beautiful view up here, and Mr. Popo, my friend, grows some lovely flowers, would you like to see them before you continue on your way?"
Chibi-Usa nodded politely, and Mr. Popo, taking the hint, guided her out of earshot from Kami and Pluto.
"What's wrong?" asked Pluto warily, cutting to the chase.
"You told me that she has a great power." Kami told her. "I would assume that it is greater than yours?"
Pluto nodded. "Not at this moment in time, but it will become so very soon. Why?" she asked suspiciously.
"I cannot sense her ki." Kami stated gravely.
"Her ki?" asked Pluto slightly confused.
Kami tried to explain, "Ki is like your aura. Your essence. It also reveals a natural, even unrefined, power level. I can sense the ki of all living things, even you, and that of The late Queen Serenity. Which proves that it is not a particular of your race. So I am greatly distressed that I can not sense her ki."
Pluto frowned and narrowed her eyes as she crossed her arms. "Could it be possible that you do not detect her ki because the power connected to her ki is drawn from her scout form. She is not in scout form as I am. She will have a scout form, but not for a few years. That is when she will be able to tap into the powers of her heritage planet, in this case, the moon. She will need a talisman to aid her." Pluto produced a heart-shaped broach. "However, as I think about it, she may need it sooner, so I will entrust it to you."
Kami took the pink broach and put it in his robe nodding. "Perhaps. That could be a reason, although it is highly unlikely. Especially since I could sense the ki of Queen Serenity, and she was not in scout form."
Pluto interrupted. "The forms of our royalty is even more powerful than our scout forms."
Kami waved his hand dismissing it, "Even if her power is related to her scout form, I should still be able to sense her life energy." He paused deep in though for a moment before asking, "Could you tell me anything about her biological father?"
Pluto scowled. "You could probably tell me more about him." she mumbled.
Kami looked at Pluto oddly. "What do you mean?"
Pluto shook her head. "Nothing." she said, straightening up to her full 5' 11". "No. I'm afraid I can tell you nothing about her father... except. He was... is only half human."
Kami sighed not used the such cryptic answers. However, realizing that it would not be a good idea to press, he changed subjects. "Anyway, this does make the task of getting her training a whole lot more difficult."
Pluto raised an eyebrow. "May I ask why?"
Kami sighed. "Well, I had planned to have her walk in on Son Gohan's training session with Piccolo."
"Son Gohan.. Isn't that Son Goku's son?" asked Pluto.
"Yes." answered Kami slightly amazed that Pluto knew these things.
"So, why couldn't you just ask if she could stay with the Son family?" asked Pluto.
"It is not that easy." sighed Kami. "You see, Son Goku was killed in the last battle." Pluto's eyes widened at this information causing Kami to hurry on in his explanation. "It is not as dire as you think because we are able to wish him back with the dragonballs. However, it will take a year, because he is going to train with King Ki. So, Piccolo is training Son Gohan... The problem is, if I simply ask Piccolo to train Chibi-Usa, he will refuse. He's stubborn. I was hoping he would sense her power level, even if it was hidden as Son Gohan's is..." he trailed off.
"Hidden." he smiled. "That's it. It must be hidden. So, the only way..." he paused before continuing, "Of course if he doesn't sense anything... that might be even better....It all depends on if,..." he continued to ramble for another minute or so, seemingly forgetting that Pluto was even there, untill she interrupted, clearing her throat.
"This information is not comforting." muttered Pluto. "And I'm beginning to feel left out. But, I do have complete faith in you Kami-sama." she took a deep breath, smiling as she realized how true that statement was.
"I will be back to check on her occasionally." she promised, "But, if you'll excuse me, I must be getting back to guard the time gate."
Kami nodded. "Oh, yes. Of course. Don't worry. We'll figure something out." He motioned to Chibi-Usa who was smiling at different plants and chatting with Mr. Popo.
Pluto bowed. "Thank you." she said as she turned to say good-bye to Chibi-Usa.
*******************
Pluto returned to the time gate, and was surprised to see Neo-Queen Serenity. There was never a time when the queen had sought out Pluto before.
Pluto politely bowed. "Your majesty, to what do I owe the honor?"
Serenity sat down. "I think he knows..." he trailed off as crystalline tears trickled down her porcelain cheeks.
Pluto stepped forward, a battle of guilt and jealously waging in her heart, as she awkwardly embraced the queen.
"Maybe," Pluto said hesitantly, almost choking on the words for fear of what they meant. "Maybe it's time to tell him."
Serenity nodded. "I know. I should have told him before... But I wasn't really sure..." she paused, shaking her head. "No, I WAS sure. That's why I didn't want to tell him."
Pluto remained silent, as Serenity continued. "Because... He'll never understand!!"
Pluto's crimson eyes darkened. "Oh, I think he will." she sighed. "I know he will."
Serenity's tear-filled eyes looked up to Pluto quizzingly.
Pluto put a arm around the frail queen and asked. "Do you know where he is right now?"
Serenity nodded, hesitantly.
Pluto told her more sure than she felt. "Well then, come one. Let's both go talk to him."
Serenity looked at Pluto again, tilting her head as if pondering and then finally nodded as they both set off.
********************
Endymion was distraught. He hadn't wanted to be so short with Serenity, but... He sat down on their bed. He should have known that she wasn't ready for him to bring up the subject, yet. After all, Chibi-Usa had just left.
He shook his head. And what right did he, of all people have, to point fingers. 'It all started out so innocently...' he pondered.
******flashback*******
Endymion sat in bed reading while Serenity tossed and turned. He frowned briefly as she struggled to find a comfortable position to lay. He knew she must not be feeling good, although she said nothing about it, because she always slept like a log, unless she was sick.
After her millionth sigh he leaned over, kissed her forehead, grabbed his book, and got up.
Serenity bolted up. "You don't have to go. You're not bothering me."
Endymion smiled. "I know I'm not, but still you're not sleeping good. Don't you feel well?"
Serenity looked startled. "Well, I didn't want to say anything, but... I do have a bit of a headache."
Endymion nodded, "Do you want me to go ask Ami for something to help you to sleep?"
Serenity looked at the clock. "Goodness no! It's almost 1:30, she's probably sound asleep. I'll be fine. But what about you?" she asked.
Endymion found himself smiling again, "I can read anywhere else just as well, but you can only sleep here." he told her.
Serenity smiled. "You're right." she yawned. "Well, goodnight."
Endymion leaned over and kissed her forehead again, "Night, love." with that he turned off the light and left, casually nodding to the guards on duty.
He went into his study, but found it hard to ignore the pile of papers on his desk. So he tried the sitting room, the living room, and even the den, all to find that it wasn't the atmosphere, it was the book. It just wasn't sparking his attention.
And so he trudged off to the library. As he stepped through the doors he was surprised to see, "Setsuna?"
The woman paused in her scanning of the shelves to flash a brilliant smile at Endymion, then as if realizing her manners she bowed. "Your highness."
Endymion scoffed. "Please. You've known me a long time. No formalities, at least not while I'm in my pajama's." he joked.
Setsuna looked at his attire as if seeing it for the first time. He was wearing a white silk pants and shirt. She smiled.
"Well, then, I suppose I could just call you Endymion." she said as if it were a huge ordeal.
Endymion laughed. "Why, thank you, milady." he said in English with a Southern Drawl, tipping an imaginary hat.
"Why I do declare, Mr. Butler. How unexpected of you to visit, poor littl'ole me." Setsuna quipped, also in English with a similar if not more feminine accent.
Endymion looked her in shock. "You've read Gone With the Wind?"
Pluto smiled, mischievously. "Read it?... Why, yes I suppose I have. I did learn to read a few years back."
Endymion laughed with her. "That's not the way I meant it."
Setsuna nodded. "I know. Actully I had the pleasure of meeting the author."
"Really?" quipped Endymion, shocked to be reminded that this seemingly 20-yr old woman had lived... well a long time.
"Yes, fascinating woman." she remarked as they sat down to talk far into the morning hours.
****end flashback********
Endymion shook his head. They had met in the library quite a few times, harmlessly untill one night... One night they had gone a little far, and it was all downhill from there.
He didn't want to hurt Serenity, he loved her, more than life. But... at the same time, he also loved Setsuna, in a different way. She was more his intellectual match, while Serenity was his soulmate. He sighed grabbing his head, when suddenly the door burst open, revealing both Serenity and Setsuna.
Endymion sighed. 'Great.' he thought, as the two women entered.
*******************
Chibi-Usa kicked that rock that was by her foot. According to Kami, who was in fact a very nice man, even if he was green, she was suppose to wait here untill she met 'someone'. He wouldn't even tell her who. But, she had to pretend not to be waiting. She was to say she was lost, and didn't know how to get home, or where she lived, or even who her parents were.
She didn't like it. None of that stuff was true. Her mother always told her that a princess never lied. But Kami had said that no one was supposed to know she was a princess either. This was no fun. And as if all that weren't bad enough she had been sitting here for more than an hour all alone, after that fun ride on Mr. Popo's magic carpet. But that was another secret she was suppose to keep.
She was so confused. She didn't understand why she was here. Or why she had to keep so many secrets. Or why she had to meet up with whoever she was meeting up with. She didn't understand anything, and no one was explaining anything to her. She groaned and threw herself back on the ground and looked up at the clouds. 'Oh look a bunny...' she thought lazily as she drifted off to sleep.
Just then Son Gohan came prancing up the hill, a huge fish strung across his back. He was humming a tune when suddenly he noticed a little girl laying on the ground. He set the fish down cautiously and crept up to her.
She was kinda cute, if Gohan were to think about those things. Her long pink hair... Pink hair?.. Gohan had never seen anyone with pink hair before. And especially not done up in those two little bunny ear looking things. And cute little freckles speckled lightly across her perky little nose. She was dressed casually in a nice yellow T-shirt and overall shorts and sandals.
Gohan looked around in confusion for where the girl could have come from. There weren't any main roads around or any towns that she could have wondered from. He was just about to retrieve his fish and continue along his way when the girls nose suddenly wrinkled and her eyes popped open. Gohan was surprised that her eyes were a very dark chocolate brown, almost red. He jumped back as the girl jumped up.
Chibi-Usa's nose was being tickled by a oddly familiar scent. For a moment she was back at home playing at the beach and suddenly she opened her eyes and came face to face with a young boy about her age with jet black hair, and brown eyes so dark they were almost black as well.
She jumped up from where she had previously been laying and sized up the barefooted boy in overalls. She tilted her head quizzingly before wrinkling her nose again. "You smell like fish." she blurted out. 'Could this be who I'm waiting for?' she wondered.
Gohan frowned and drew her eyebrows together in semi-confusion before breaking out in a smile. "I've been fishing." He declared proudly. "All by myself, and I caught a big fish like my dad."
Chibi-Usa giggled. "Oh, so that's why you stink like fish." she wiggled her nose to accent her point, and then she thrust out her hand, smiling in greeting. "My name is Chi...".. she stopped for a second deciding that if no one here knew her mother than there was no need to be called Chibi-Usa. She smiled and corrected herself. "Usagi. My name is Tsukino Usagi. But you can call me Usa."
Gohan was a little put back a being laughed at, but not being one to hold a grudge he shook Chibi-Usa's hand. "Mine's Gohan. Son Gohan. Son Goku's my dad." He nodded proudly. Not getting the usual look of awe that usually accompanied this statement he looked oddly at the nicely dressed girl and then asked in confusion. "So, Usa, how did you get way out here? Where are your parents?"
Chibi-Usa frowned. Already she was going to have to lie. "Well..." she sighed. "I don't remember."
"Don't remember?" echoed Gohan in confusion.
Chibi-Usa rushed on. Not being very good at this lying thing, she took one of Kami's ideas. "Well, my parents and I were traveling and I must have gotten separated. Anyway I don't know where they are right now. So I'm all by myself." she bit her lip and closed her eyes briefly. 'Please believe me.' she thought, and to her relief Gohan seemed to do just that.
"I'm all by myself, too." Gohan confessed. "But I'm not lost. Not really anyway. I know how to get home from here, at least I think I do. It's over that ridge, through a desert and across a huge lake. ((quite honestly, I don't remember exactly how he got home so I'm pretending here)) That's where my mom is. I was going to go there but, well, I'm actully training." He puffed his chest up.
"Training?" asked Usa, generally impressed. Scouts usually didn't get to train untill they were at least ten, but this boy didn't appear to be any older than her. And could this be the person she was waiting for?... She thought it would have been someone... well, older.
"Yup." the boy's face darkened. "There are enemies coming soon who want to take over the earth. I'm going to be on the Z Fighters Special Forces Team." he beamed.
Chibi-Usa tilted her head. "What's that?" she asked.
Gohan sweatdropped. "You mean, you don't know?" he asked incredulously.
Chibi-Usa shook her head in earnest, causing her pigtails to gently hit her face.
Gohan frowned, "Well, shucks. I thought everybody knew about the Z fighters. But, I'll tell you what. Since you're lost. You can stay with me. I'll show you how to cook a fish and I'll tell you about my dad and the Z fighters."
Chibi-Usa nodded, smiling. "Ok." she told him as she followed him back to his small cave.
That night Gohan told Chibi-Usa about his world. Most about 'his dad' and a little about the dragonballs. Chibi-Usa was thoroughly impressed. As they drifted off to sleep their tummies full, and their throats sore from talking. Chibi-Usa spoke, barely above the dying crackling of the fire. "Thank you for letting me stay with you."
Gohan sighed almost sleeping. "Mmm-hmm."
"Your dad sounds really brave. Do you think I'll get to meet him, when you wish him back."
"Mmm.hm."
"Do you miss your parents?"
"Mm-hm."
Chibi-Usa stared at the darkness of the cave ceiling. "I miss my mom and dad too." she whispered as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Unbeknownst to the two children inside the cave, a dark ominous figure hovered sitting by the opening listening to their conversation. His dark green face bore it's trademark neutral expression, but his thoughts were troubled. This girl was very peculiar. First of all, he couldn't figure out how she had gotten this far without her parents. She had no supplies, and yet she seemed to have a pampered air about her. She had a softness that almost penetrated even his well-built barriers.
He shook his head. The girl had obviously not been alone for long, but the nearest settlement was more than a 3 day walk, and he would have sensed any cars or other vehicles coming through during his meditation. Piccolo frowned. Even taking her appearance out of the equation there still the fact that the girl had no ki. He was very surprised to find her in the cave with Gohan. He would have sensed anyone else.
Yes, the girl presented a very interesting problem, but he didn't see the hurt in letting her stay on with Gohan. Might even do the boy some good. He thought. Taking care of her as well. Yes... Piccolo nodded. I'll just have to keep a closer eye on them and see who this girl really is.
AND, since I'll do ANYTHING for reviews, I decided to give you a treat. An extra-long chapter, with a little bit of explanation... however, not too much. I do want you to continue to read the series after all.
Um... this focuses a bit more on the DBZ world where MOST of this series will be set, but there is also a huge chunk of the SM world for everyone who told me exactly what they thought about Endy & Pluto and Serenity &.... ((ah ah ah... you didn't think I'd tell you so easily did you?)) Anyway, THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed, and this chapter is for you...
Oh yeah, almost forgot. I don't own any part of Sailor Moon or DragonBallZ. Plain and simple.
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Hope of a Planet ch. 3
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Kami looked up expectantly as Pluto and Chibi-Usa stepped through the portal. Kami smiled as the girl with the pink odangos, who looked around in awe.
"Good morning, Kami." nodded Pluto.
Hearing this, as if it were a cue, Chibi-Usa curtseyed to him. "Hello, Mister Kami-sama."
Kami chuckled. "I see you are not in need of manners, but please just call me Kami."
Chibi-Usa looked up and grinned. "Ok."
Kami smiled and than frowned. A look of confusion and worry crossed his face for a second before he smiled again. Pluto noticed and raised an eyebrow at Kami. Kami nodded, but as he was motioning for his assistant Mr. Popo to come over, Chibi-Usa tugged on Pluto's skirt.
Pluto looked down, "What is it?" she asked Chibi-Usa, absentmindedly as she focused on Kami.
Chibi-Usa looked from Kami back to Pluto and then asked in a rather loud whisper. "Do all the people here look like him?"
Kami, having heard, laughed out loud, cutting in before Pluto, who looked mortified, could say anything. "No. They don't. Only I and one other look like this. Everyone else looks basically like you." he explained.
Chibi-Usa nodded, tilted her head in thought, and then asked. "Are you from a different planet?"
Kami's eyes clouded over for a moment, as he tried to grasp onto some ancient thought that seemed just out of his grasp.
Chibi-Usa, thinking he was confused, tried to explain. "We're all from different planets, aren't we, Puu?"
Pluto smiled, again wondering at this small child's perception, "This world is very similar to ours. That is one of the reasons you are going here. There are many obvious similarities, and many more that are not so obvious. Always remember that, ok?" she told the small child.
Chibi-Usa nodded as Mr. Popo finally stepped up to them, as Kami had motioned. Kami then spoke to Chibi-Usa. "We have a beautiful view up here, and Mr. Popo, my friend, grows some lovely flowers, would you like to see them before you continue on your way?"
Chibi-Usa nodded politely, and Mr. Popo, taking the hint, guided her out of earshot from Kami and Pluto.
"What's wrong?" asked Pluto warily, cutting to the chase.
"You told me that she has a great power." Kami told her. "I would assume that it is greater than yours?"
Pluto nodded. "Not at this moment in time, but it will become so very soon. Why?" she asked suspiciously.
"I cannot sense her ki." Kami stated gravely.
"Her ki?" asked Pluto slightly confused.
Kami tried to explain, "Ki is like your aura. Your essence. It also reveals a natural, even unrefined, power level. I can sense the ki of all living things, even you, and that of The late Queen Serenity. Which proves that it is not a particular of your race. So I am greatly distressed that I can not sense her ki."
Pluto frowned and narrowed her eyes as she crossed her arms. "Could it be possible that you do not detect her ki because the power connected to her ki is drawn from her scout form. She is not in scout form as I am. She will have a scout form, but not for a few years. That is when she will be able to tap into the powers of her heritage planet, in this case, the moon. She will need a talisman to aid her." Pluto produced a heart-shaped broach. "However, as I think about it, she may need it sooner, so I will entrust it to you."
Kami took the pink broach and put it in his robe nodding. "Perhaps. That could be a reason, although it is highly unlikely. Especially since I could sense the ki of Queen Serenity, and she was not in scout form."
Pluto interrupted. "The forms of our royalty is even more powerful than our scout forms."
Kami waved his hand dismissing it, "Even if her power is related to her scout form, I should still be able to sense her life energy." He paused deep in though for a moment before asking, "Could you tell me anything about her biological father?"
Pluto scowled. "You could probably tell me more about him." she mumbled.
Kami looked at Pluto oddly. "What do you mean?"
Pluto shook her head. "Nothing." she said, straightening up to her full 5' 11". "No. I'm afraid I can tell you nothing about her father... except. He was... is only half human."
Kami sighed not used the such cryptic answers. However, realizing that it would not be a good idea to press, he changed subjects. "Anyway, this does make the task of getting her training a whole lot more difficult."
Pluto raised an eyebrow. "May I ask why?"
Kami sighed. "Well, I had planned to have her walk in on Son Gohan's training session with Piccolo."
"Son Gohan.. Isn't that Son Goku's son?" asked Pluto.
"Yes." answered Kami slightly amazed that Pluto knew these things.
"So, why couldn't you just ask if she could stay with the Son family?" asked Pluto.
"It is not that easy." sighed Kami. "You see, Son Goku was killed in the last battle." Pluto's eyes widened at this information causing Kami to hurry on in his explanation. "It is not as dire as you think because we are able to wish him back with the dragonballs. However, it will take a year, because he is going to train with King Ki. So, Piccolo is training Son Gohan... The problem is, if I simply ask Piccolo to train Chibi-Usa, he will refuse. He's stubborn. I was hoping he would sense her power level, even if it was hidden as Son Gohan's is..." he trailed off.
"Hidden." he smiled. "That's it. It must be hidden. So, the only way..." he paused before continuing, "Of course if he doesn't sense anything... that might be even better....It all depends on if,..." he continued to ramble for another minute or so, seemingly forgetting that Pluto was even there, untill she interrupted, clearing her throat.
"This information is not comforting." muttered Pluto. "And I'm beginning to feel left out. But, I do have complete faith in you Kami-sama." she took a deep breath, smiling as she realized how true that statement was.
"I will be back to check on her occasionally." she promised, "But, if you'll excuse me, I must be getting back to guard the time gate."
Kami nodded. "Oh, yes. Of course. Don't worry. We'll figure something out." He motioned to Chibi-Usa who was smiling at different plants and chatting with Mr. Popo.
Pluto bowed. "Thank you." she said as she turned to say good-bye to Chibi-Usa.
*******************
Pluto returned to the time gate, and was surprised to see Neo-Queen Serenity. There was never a time when the queen had sought out Pluto before.
Pluto politely bowed. "Your majesty, to what do I owe the honor?"
Serenity sat down. "I think he knows..." he trailed off as crystalline tears trickled down her porcelain cheeks.
Pluto stepped forward, a battle of guilt and jealously waging in her heart, as she awkwardly embraced the queen.
"Maybe," Pluto said hesitantly, almost choking on the words for fear of what they meant. "Maybe it's time to tell him."
Serenity nodded. "I know. I should have told him before... But I wasn't really sure..." she paused, shaking her head. "No, I WAS sure. That's why I didn't want to tell him."
Pluto remained silent, as Serenity continued. "Because... He'll never understand!!"
Pluto's crimson eyes darkened. "Oh, I think he will." she sighed. "I know he will."
Serenity's tear-filled eyes looked up to Pluto quizzingly.
Pluto put a arm around the frail queen and asked. "Do you know where he is right now?"
Serenity nodded, hesitantly.
Pluto told her more sure than she felt. "Well then, come one. Let's both go talk to him."
Serenity looked at Pluto again, tilting her head as if pondering and then finally nodded as they both set off.
********************
Endymion was distraught. He hadn't wanted to be so short with Serenity, but... He sat down on their bed. He should have known that she wasn't ready for him to bring up the subject, yet. After all, Chibi-Usa had just left.
He shook his head. And what right did he, of all people have, to point fingers. 'It all started out so innocently...' he pondered.
******flashback*******
Endymion sat in bed reading while Serenity tossed and turned. He frowned briefly as she struggled to find a comfortable position to lay. He knew she must not be feeling good, although she said nothing about it, because she always slept like a log, unless she was sick.
After her millionth sigh he leaned over, kissed her forehead, grabbed his book, and got up.
Serenity bolted up. "You don't have to go. You're not bothering me."
Endymion smiled. "I know I'm not, but still you're not sleeping good. Don't you feel well?"
Serenity looked startled. "Well, I didn't want to say anything, but... I do have a bit of a headache."
Endymion nodded, "Do you want me to go ask Ami for something to help you to sleep?"
Serenity looked at the clock. "Goodness no! It's almost 1:30, she's probably sound asleep. I'll be fine. But what about you?" she asked.
Endymion found himself smiling again, "I can read anywhere else just as well, but you can only sleep here." he told her.
Serenity smiled. "You're right." she yawned. "Well, goodnight."
Endymion leaned over and kissed her forehead again, "Night, love." with that he turned off the light and left, casually nodding to the guards on duty.
He went into his study, but found it hard to ignore the pile of papers on his desk. So he tried the sitting room, the living room, and even the den, all to find that it wasn't the atmosphere, it was the book. It just wasn't sparking his attention.
And so he trudged off to the library. As he stepped through the doors he was surprised to see, "Setsuna?"
The woman paused in her scanning of the shelves to flash a brilliant smile at Endymion, then as if realizing her manners she bowed. "Your highness."
Endymion scoffed. "Please. You've known me a long time. No formalities, at least not while I'm in my pajama's." he joked.
Setsuna looked at his attire as if seeing it for the first time. He was wearing a white silk pants and shirt. She smiled.
"Well, then, I suppose I could just call you Endymion." she said as if it were a huge ordeal.
Endymion laughed. "Why, thank you, milady." he said in English with a Southern Drawl, tipping an imaginary hat.
"Why I do declare, Mr. Butler. How unexpected of you to visit, poor littl'ole me." Setsuna quipped, also in English with a similar if not more feminine accent.
Endymion looked her in shock. "You've read Gone With the Wind?"
Pluto smiled, mischievously. "Read it?... Why, yes I suppose I have. I did learn to read a few years back."
Endymion laughed with her. "That's not the way I meant it."
Setsuna nodded. "I know. Actully I had the pleasure of meeting the author."
"Really?" quipped Endymion, shocked to be reminded that this seemingly 20-yr old woman had lived... well a long time.
"Yes, fascinating woman." she remarked as they sat down to talk far into the morning hours.
****end flashback********
Endymion shook his head. They had met in the library quite a few times, harmlessly untill one night... One night they had gone a little far, and it was all downhill from there.
He didn't want to hurt Serenity, he loved her, more than life. But... at the same time, he also loved Setsuna, in a different way. She was more his intellectual match, while Serenity was his soulmate. He sighed grabbing his head, when suddenly the door burst open, revealing both Serenity and Setsuna.
Endymion sighed. 'Great.' he thought, as the two women entered.
*******************
Chibi-Usa kicked that rock that was by her foot. According to Kami, who was in fact a very nice man, even if he was green, she was suppose to wait here untill she met 'someone'. He wouldn't even tell her who. But, she had to pretend not to be waiting. She was to say she was lost, and didn't know how to get home, or where she lived, or even who her parents were.
She didn't like it. None of that stuff was true. Her mother always told her that a princess never lied. But Kami had said that no one was supposed to know she was a princess either. This was no fun. And as if all that weren't bad enough she had been sitting here for more than an hour all alone, after that fun ride on Mr. Popo's magic carpet. But that was another secret she was suppose to keep.
She was so confused. She didn't understand why she was here. Or why she had to keep so many secrets. Or why she had to meet up with whoever she was meeting up with. She didn't understand anything, and no one was explaining anything to her. She groaned and threw herself back on the ground and looked up at the clouds. 'Oh look a bunny...' she thought lazily as she drifted off to sleep.
Just then Son Gohan came prancing up the hill, a huge fish strung across his back. He was humming a tune when suddenly he noticed a little girl laying on the ground. He set the fish down cautiously and crept up to her.
She was kinda cute, if Gohan were to think about those things. Her long pink hair... Pink hair?.. Gohan had never seen anyone with pink hair before. And especially not done up in those two little bunny ear looking things. And cute little freckles speckled lightly across her perky little nose. She was dressed casually in a nice yellow T-shirt and overall shorts and sandals.
Gohan looked around in confusion for where the girl could have come from. There weren't any main roads around or any towns that she could have wondered from. He was just about to retrieve his fish and continue along his way when the girls nose suddenly wrinkled and her eyes popped open. Gohan was surprised that her eyes were a very dark chocolate brown, almost red. He jumped back as the girl jumped up.
Chibi-Usa's nose was being tickled by a oddly familiar scent. For a moment she was back at home playing at the beach and suddenly she opened her eyes and came face to face with a young boy about her age with jet black hair, and brown eyes so dark they were almost black as well.
She jumped up from where she had previously been laying and sized up the barefooted boy in overalls. She tilted her head quizzingly before wrinkling her nose again. "You smell like fish." she blurted out. 'Could this be who I'm waiting for?' she wondered.
Gohan frowned and drew her eyebrows together in semi-confusion before breaking out in a smile. "I've been fishing." He declared proudly. "All by myself, and I caught a big fish like my dad."
Chibi-Usa giggled. "Oh, so that's why you stink like fish." she wiggled her nose to accent her point, and then she thrust out her hand, smiling in greeting. "My name is Chi...".. she stopped for a second deciding that if no one here knew her mother than there was no need to be called Chibi-Usa. She smiled and corrected herself. "Usagi. My name is Tsukino Usagi. But you can call me Usa."
Gohan was a little put back a being laughed at, but not being one to hold a grudge he shook Chibi-Usa's hand. "Mine's Gohan. Son Gohan. Son Goku's my dad." He nodded proudly. Not getting the usual look of awe that usually accompanied this statement he looked oddly at the nicely dressed girl and then asked in confusion. "So, Usa, how did you get way out here? Where are your parents?"
Chibi-Usa frowned. Already she was going to have to lie. "Well..." she sighed. "I don't remember."
"Don't remember?" echoed Gohan in confusion.
Chibi-Usa rushed on. Not being very good at this lying thing, she took one of Kami's ideas. "Well, my parents and I were traveling and I must have gotten separated. Anyway I don't know where they are right now. So I'm all by myself." she bit her lip and closed her eyes briefly. 'Please believe me.' she thought, and to her relief Gohan seemed to do just that.
"I'm all by myself, too." Gohan confessed. "But I'm not lost. Not really anyway. I know how to get home from here, at least I think I do. It's over that ridge, through a desert and across a huge lake. ((quite honestly, I don't remember exactly how he got home so I'm pretending here)) That's where my mom is. I was going to go there but, well, I'm actully training." He puffed his chest up.
"Training?" asked Usa, generally impressed. Scouts usually didn't get to train untill they were at least ten, but this boy didn't appear to be any older than her. And could this be the person she was waiting for?... She thought it would have been someone... well, older.
"Yup." the boy's face darkened. "There are enemies coming soon who want to take over the earth. I'm going to be on the Z Fighters Special Forces Team." he beamed.
Chibi-Usa tilted her head. "What's that?" she asked.
Gohan sweatdropped. "You mean, you don't know?" he asked incredulously.
Chibi-Usa shook her head in earnest, causing her pigtails to gently hit her face.
Gohan frowned, "Well, shucks. I thought everybody knew about the Z fighters. But, I'll tell you what. Since you're lost. You can stay with me. I'll show you how to cook a fish and I'll tell you about my dad and the Z fighters."
Chibi-Usa nodded, smiling. "Ok." she told him as she followed him back to his small cave.
That night Gohan told Chibi-Usa about his world. Most about 'his dad' and a little about the dragonballs. Chibi-Usa was thoroughly impressed. As they drifted off to sleep their tummies full, and their throats sore from talking. Chibi-Usa spoke, barely above the dying crackling of the fire. "Thank you for letting me stay with you."
Gohan sighed almost sleeping. "Mmm-hmm."
"Your dad sounds really brave. Do you think I'll get to meet him, when you wish him back."
"Mmm.hm."
"Do you miss your parents?"
"Mm-hm."
Chibi-Usa stared at the darkness of the cave ceiling. "I miss my mom and dad too." she whispered as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Unbeknownst to the two children inside the cave, a dark ominous figure hovered sitting by the opening listening to their conversation. His dark green face bore it's trademark neutral expression, but his thoughts were troubled. This girl was very peculiar. First of all, he couldn't figure out how she had gotten this far without her parents. She had no supplies, and yet she seemed to have a pampered air about her. She had a softness that almost penetrated even his well-built barriers.
He shook his head. The girl had obviously not been alone for long, but the nearest settlement was more than a 3 day walk, and he would have sensed any cars or other vehicles coming through during his meditation. Piccolo frowned. Even taking her appearance out of the equation there still the fact that the girl had no ki. He was very surprised to find her in the cave with Gohan. He would have sensed anyone else.
Yes, the girl presented a very interesting problem, but he didn't see the hurt in letting her stay on with Gohan. Might even do the boy some good. He thought. Taking care of her as well. Yes... Piccolo nodded. I'll just have to keep a closer eye on them and see who this girl really is.