[Disclaimer]: I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this fanfic. The idea, however, is mine.
AN - Oh before I forget … adb to answer your question, the Inners wouldn't really stand a chance in a fight against the Z-Senshi in the least. At least in this story, they don't. They could hold their own for a while, but in the end, they'd lose. =( And Silverforest, your questions will be answered as I write the rest of this fanfic.
Whatever It Takes
Chapter 5: Promises Broken, Promises Fulfilled
Right before the explosion occurred, Sailor Uranus caught something from the corner of her eye. However, before she could get out of harms' way, the explosion sent her flying back. The aftershock caused Masumi to fall back, knocking her back to her senses. She shook her head as her birthright faded, and looked at the three figures that stood in front of her.
"Sailor Uranus," Neptune exclaimed, rushing to her side. Sailor Pluto glanced over at the two, before turning her attention back in Masumi's direction. A cloud of dust obscured her view of the girl, however as it began to clear, her eyes narrowed.
"So, Inner Senshi, you made it here after all," Pluto stated, drawing both Neptune's and Uranus' attention. Sailor Moon, Mars, and Jupiter stood in front of Masumi. Electricity danced across the ground briefly, and Sailor Jupiter crossed her arms with a satisfied smile on her face.
"You," Uranus growled, standing angrily as she realized the cause for the explosion. She clenched her fist, and turned sharply towards Pluto. "I thought you said that they wouldn't come here!"
Pluto shrugged. "I didn't think that they would, Sailor Uranus," she replied. "But apparently, protecting Hotaru is important enough to them."
"Giving them a key in the first place was a mistake," Uranus yelled.
"We have nothing to worry about, Sailor Uranus," Neptune stated, placing a hand on Uranus' shoulder as she shook with anger. "They should know that we're stronger than they are." The two stood shoulder to shoulder, and as they looked upon the Inners, Mars sneered.
"We'll see about that," she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger. "Burning Mandala!"
"Sparkling Wide Pressure," Jupiter echoed. The two Senshi sent their attacks towards Uranus and Neptune. The duo watched as the attacks drew nearer, and jumped up into the air before they were hit. Jupiter cursed under her breath, and then she and Mars ran towards the two Outers.
"You should really tell them to stop, Sailor Moon," Pluto stated, turning from where the four were fighting, towards the girl. "Before they get hurt. They're only obstacles to us now, and we won't hold back or be held accountable if any harm comes to them."
"What are you doing here, Sailor Pluto," Sailor Moon demanded. "You weren't supposed to be here until tomorrow. You lied to Kami! You broke your word."
"Don't be naïve, Sailor Moon," Pluto retorted. "Do you honestly think that we would wait when there's a possibility Sailor Saturn could reawaken at any given moment? I know you felt her energy earlier."
"Not until you came here," Sailor Moon exclaimed. "Her Senshi energy was non-existent, until we arrived. Why couldn't we just let her be? Why can't she be the only one out of us all to live a somewhat normal and happy life?"
"You kept us from completing our mission before, but you won't be able to stop us again, Sailor Moon," Pluto stated, ignoring the girl's questions. "I won't allow any harm to befall you, but we will destroy Sailor Saturn. Have no doubt in that."
"This isn't right! Senshi should not be fighting against Senshi," Sailor Moon stated as she watched the others fight from the corner of her eye. "And I won't allow it, even if I have to fight against you myself." She reached towards her tiara, taking it from her forehead. As it charged with energy, she let it fly. "Moon Tiara Action!" Sailor Pluto twirled her time staff around, knocking the disc away.
"If you truly are going to fight, then you should try a more powerful attack, Sailor Moon," Pluto stated, resting the end of the staff on the ground once again. "Though nothing you do will be nearly enough to stop us." Sailor Moon frowned, her scepter appearing in her hand. Both Sailor Moon and Pluto looked to where the others were fighting as a flash of light appeared in the sky.
"Sailor Jupiter," Sailor Moon exclaimed as Uranus knocked the Senshi of Lightning away from her. The flash of light had been Jupiter's misguided attack. As Jupiter sat up, glaring at her opponent, she gasped. Sailor Uranus began to gather energy in her hand, and a determined glint was in her eyes.
"World Shaking," she exclaimed. The attack tore across the ground, reaching its' full potential as it became air-borne. However, instead of heading towards Sailor Jupiter, it headed towards an unguarded Masumi.
Sailor Moon gasped, running full speed towards the cowering girl. "No," she screamed, throwing herself over the girl, covering her.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
A heavy feeling settled in the bottom of Goku's stomach, though it wasn't the food he had just consumed. A small frown graced his features, and Chichi stopped clearing the table as she noticed this. "Goku," she asked. When she got no response, she shook his shoulder. He shook his head, turning his attention to his wife and smiling.
"Dad, what were you thinking about," Gohan asked. "Is something wrong? You're not still thinking about the surge we felt in 18's ki, are you?"
"Yeah, I guess I am," Goku replied.
"She probably just got angry at Krillin," Chichi stated, returning to her task. "I'm sure it's the same for me when I get angry."
"Not like her power, Mom," Gohan mumbled. Chichi sent a glare towards him, and he shrunk back with a nervous laugh. "Well it's true, Mom! I know, because I've felt her power before." Chichi rolled her eyes, and turned towards the sink.
"The anger of a mother is a universal power, son," she stated matter-of-factly. She jumped in surprise as Goku's chair crashed to the ground. She spun around, a hand on her chest. "Goku, what in the world is the matter with you!" Gohan stood as well, as if he sensed something.
"Dad, what is that," he asked. "That…new power?" A definite frown was now on Goku's features. He glanced at his wife and sons, and then disappeared. Gohan gasped, before he turned, running out of the door.
"Goku, Gohan," Chichi exclaimed. Without a second thought, she grabbed Goten from his high chair, and followed her son out the door.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Sailor Moon clenched her eyes shut, pulling Masumi closer to her own body. She sent up a silent prayer, and felt a wind rush around their bodies. Waiting for the impact of pain she would surely feel from Uranus' attack, she opened her eyes, feeling a warm wind across her back. She turned her head cautiously, and saw a glowing figure standing in front of her - a man, she could tell, from his physique. The energy around him faded away, revealing a man with blonde hair.
"S-son Goku," Masumi whispered in confusion, drawing both his and Sailor Moon's attention towards her. He smiled, and Sailor Moon gasped as both his hair and eyes faded to black.
"Sailor Moon," both Jupiter and Mars exclaimed, running towards their leader. They stopped short in front of Goku, watching him cautiously.
"Who are you," Neptune demanded.
"If those two are you friends," Uranus began, gesturing towards 18 and Krillin, "you'd better leave, or the same will happen to you. This doesn't concern you." Goku glanced over at his best friend, and frowned.
"Son Goku," Pluto exclaimed with sudden realization. "How is he here? He's supposed to be dead," she thought inwardly. He looked towards her, and his frown deepened.
"You know who I am," he stated. "You must be the ones Dende-sama was talking about. And if that's so, you're the ones I have to protect Masumi from."
"Dad," Gohan yelled, gaining Goku's attention.
"Gohan, check on Krillin and 18," Goku stated as his son ran towards him. Gohan nodded, going towards them. While Goku was distracted, Pluto turned towards the other Outers.
"We must leave for now," she stated. "There will be another opportunity for us." Both Uranus and Neptune reluctantly agreed, and then the trio disappeared.
"Hey," Jupiter exclaimed. "Come back here! We're not finished!"
"Where'd they go," Goku asked, looking around.
"They ran," Mars stated angrily. She turned to Goku. "And just who are you anyway? How did you avoid getting hurt by Uranus' attack?"
"Oh, that," he asked. "I hit it away. Didn't you see me?"
"That's impossible," Mars exclaimed. "You're lying! No one can do that."
"It landed right over there," Goku insisted, pointing to where a smoking crater was in the earth. "I guess I just moved too fast for you to follow." As Mars scoffed, Sailor Moon cleared her throat.
"He saved us, Sailor Mars," she stated, motioning towards Masumi and herself. Masumi had a dazed look on her face, and Sailor Moon shook her gently. "Hotaru, are you alright?" The girl blinked, and then looked at her.
"Get away from me," she screamed as the birthright of Saturn suddenly reappeared on her forehead. A dark purple aura surrounded the girl, and the shock wave from her energy sent Sailor Moon flying away from her. Masumi crouched down, covering her ears with her hands as tears streamed down her face. "My name is Masumi … My name is Masumi…" she chanted.
"What's going on," Sailor Moon asked, sitting up from where she landed. She cringed, grasping her side, and Sailor Mars and Jupiter joined her side.
"Are you okay," Jupiter asked. Sailor Moon nodded, and the two Senshi stood over their leader.
"She doesn't recognize us," Mars realized. "But she does seem to fear us; probably because the Outers attacked her. This is going to make protecting Hotaru a lot harder if she doesn't trust us." They looked back towards the girl, conflicted looks on each of their faces.
"Masumi, settle down," Goku exclaimed, making his way towards the girl. "No one's going to hurt you!"
"That power," Gohan thought as Krillin and 18 began to come to. "That's what we felt earlier." He watched as Goku walked towards Masumi, awestruck. "Dad's almost struggling just to reach her." He looked down as Krillin groaned. "Krillin, get up! Something's wrong with Masumi."
"Masumi," he exclaimed, sitting up. He looked towards his daughter, and gasped. "Masumi," he yelled. At the sound of his voice, the aura around her disappeared, and she turned towards him.
"Daddy," she cried, standing and running towards him. She fell to her knees beside him, throwing her arms around his neck. "Daddy, I was so scared." She began to cry, and he comforted her. 18 regained consciousness, and joined them, hugging her daughter from behind. Goku smiled at the sight, and turned to where the Senshi were standing. They were gone.
"Where are they," 18 demanded, her ki flaring around her body. "They attacked my baby! I'll kill them!"
"They're gone," he stated, as Gohan joined his side. "But they'll probably be back."
"They'd better not show their faces around my family again," 18 raged. "Or I swear I'll kill them; slowly, painfully."
"18, please," Krillin pleaded. "Not in front of Masumi." As he tried to calm her down, Gohan turned towards Goku.
"Who were they, Dad," he asked.
"I don't know who they are, but I know why they came, Gohan," he replied. A chorus of Goku's were heard from above, and he looked up towards the sky, smiling. "It looks like the others are here." Gohan looked up, waving as he saw their friends.
"Masumi," Krillin exclaimed suddenly. Both Goku and Gohan turned back towards where the girl was. An aura was around her once again, and to their amazement, she began to grow a little taller, and began to look slightly older. When the aura faded, her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and she fainted.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Usagi, Rei, and Makoto were walking down the street in the shopping district of Satan City, window-shopping. They had slipped away when Goku was trying to calm Masumi down, and had powered down once they reached the outskirts of the city. Since Capsule Corp was so close to the shopping district, they decided to walk around.
"What are we going to do," Usagi asked, looking at the orange-colored sky. Dusk was falling. "When we came here, I didn't even think about where we would go, or what we would eat. Where are we going to sleep?" Her eyes started to water, and Rei hit her with a balled fist in the back of her head.
"Don't get melodramatic, odango atama," she scolded. "We'll find somewhere to sleep." She looked up in the sky, inhaling the air deep into her lungs. "It smells like spring, so I'm sure it will be warm enough at night for us to sleep outside."
"Sleep outside," Usagi whined, lagging behind them. "But … but…"
"It's not as bad as it sounds, Usagi," Makoto replied. "I'm sure there's somewhere around here with a clean lake. You remember the sight while we were flying in that … thing with Yajirobe. This place is beautiful."
"Are you even listening, Odango," Rei demanded, slowing her walk to a stop. She turned around, only to see Usagi wasn't there, but standing in a window. She and Makoto joined Usagi's side, looking into the window she was staring into.
"Look at all the stuffed dolls," she gushed. "I wonder if they have anything I would like? I wonder how much they cost?"
"What does it matter," Rei demanded. "We don't have any money anyway. Shouldn't we be trying to figure out how to keep an eye on Hotaru? That's a little more important, don't you think?" Usagi pouted, crossing her arms.
"You're no fun, Rei," Usagi exclaimed.
"Hey, look at this one," Makoto stated, pointing to the object she was talking about. "A Mr. Satan doll?"
"Isn't this town called Satan City," Rei commented, remembering the signs.
"Who is he," Usagi asked.
"Are you dumb? Who doesn't know who Mr. Satan is," a voice said from behind the trio. They spun around to see two little boys.
"Well, who is he," Usagi asked. "We don't live around here."
"You don't have to live around here to know who Mr. Satan is," the first boy stated.
"Yeah, he only saved the entire world from Cell," the second boy added.
"Cell," Rei asked, confused. "Who is…"
"Boy, you must really be dumb," the first boy interrupted.
"Isn't it past your bedtime," Rei asked through clenched teeth.
"We don't have to worry about the safety of the streets, because Mr. Satan, the World-Champion, protects the city," boy two said.
"I'll show you world-champion," Makoto stated, rolling up her sleeves. The two boys screamed and ran off, laughing.
"Weirdoes," they exclaimed in unison, disappearing around the corner.
"The nerve of those little brats," Rei exclaimed angrily. The trio turned to continue walking, only to bump into Haruka and Michiru.
"Funny running into you here," Haruka stated coldly, narrowing her eyes at them.
"I was just thinking the same thing," Makoto sneered. "I'm surprised you haven't already returned home, considering you ran from our fight earlier."
"You're acting brashly, Makoto," Michiru stated in her serene voice. "We left purely on necessity. We'll have our chance at Hotaru again."
"You should be the ones to go back home," Haruka added. "Before we do something we regret."
"Haruka, Michiru, please," Usagi began.
"Just save it, Usagi," Haruka snapped, cutting her off. Usagi stepped back involuntarily at the harshness in her voice. "We're enemies now, so just stay out of our way," she continued. She put her hand on the small of Michiru's back edging her forward, and the two made their way past the trio. Usagi watched them leave, with a heavy heart.
"She … didn't call me Koneko-chan," she thought, hurt. She blinked as her vision blurred, taking a deep breath.
"Usagi," Rei began. The blonde turned her attention to her two friends and smiled.
"I'm okay," she replied. "We'd better find somewhere to sleep tonight. We'll head back towards Capsule Corp in the morning."
To Be Continued . . .
Sorry for the delay in updating this story! The response to this story has been especially good, so to my reviewers, thank you all so much! To my readers, please leave a review - your comments will help motivate me. ^_~