Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of the characters, nor do I claim them. The idea, however, is mine.
AN- Hi readers … I just wanted to say a couple of things. Neko-chan, I can relate with you on how you feel towards Chibi-usa sometimes, but for the time being, I need her in my story. So bear with me, kay? ^_^ And Golden Angel, you guessed right. The 'lil cameo was Captain Ginyu. Again, all, I'm really sorry for the delay! I had a little trouble writing a certain character in character, so hopefully he's not too OOC… *sweatdrops* Enjoy your read!
Whatever It Takes
Chapter 7: Welcome to Capsule Corp
Vegeta looked down at Chibi-usa in a state of shocked annoyance as the girl pounded away at his chest uselessly. "What's your problem," Chibi-usa demanded angrily. "You leave Masumi alone!"
"Chibi-usa," Masumi stated. "Don't do that! Vegeta has a very short temper."
"You should listen to her, girl," Vegeta stated, roughly grabbing Chibi-usa's wrists and pinning them together. "The only brat I tolerate is my own." She glared up at him, and then kicked him in the shins. He sneered down at her, pushing her away from him. As she fell down, her leg twisted underneath her, and she cried out in pain.
"Why did you do that, Vegeta," Gohan demanded, kneeling down to Chibi-usa.
"Chibi-usa," Masumi exclaimed. "Are you alright?" She reached out towards her at the same time that Gohan did, and as their fingers brushed past each other, she felt her cheeks grow hot.
"Where did you hurt yourself, Chibi-usa," Gohan asked, turning his attention to her. Masumi sighed, coughing lightly to hide her disappointment.
"Chibi-usa's the one hurt, not you," she silently scolded herself. "You shouldn't be so selfish, Hotaru…" She grabbed her head, squeezing her eyes shut. "Hotaru? Where did that come from! My name is Masumi … isn't it?"
"Masumi," Usagi asked, concern laced in her voice. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine, Usagi-hime," she replied distractedly. A shocked look passed over Usagi's face as Masumi shook her head, focusing her attention back towards her friend. "Where does it hurt, Chibi-usa," she asked quietly.
"My ankle," she stated, gritting her teeth. Masumi placed her hands gently over Chibi-usa's ankle, and they began to glow. Her brow furrowed and as the glow of her hands intensified, the sign of Saturn appeared faintly on her forehead.
"Masumi, don't exhaust yourself," Usagi warned quietly. She had intended for only Masumi to hear however Goku, who stood near Usagi, heard and looked over at her strangely.
"There," Masumi breathed heavily. "How does that feel?"
"Much better," Chibi-usa replied. "How about you? Are you alright?"
"I'm just a little tired," Masumi replied, smiling at her. "I'll be fine." She frowned and turned towards Usagi.
"What is it, Masumi," Usagi prompted.
"Usagi," she began. "I have a feeling … that Rei and Makoto are in distress."
"What," Usagi asked. "What do you mean?"
"Hey, it's Piccolo-san," Gohan stated suddenly. "He's close by." He narrowed his eyes as he looked into the distance, watching as the Namekian drew closer. "It looks like he's carrying something." As Piccolo landed near them, Usagi gasped.
"Rei, Makoto," she exclaimed. Piccolo had Rei tucked under his arm, and Makoto was tightly clutching onto the arm he had wrapped around her waist. Both were struggling to get out of his grasp, and failing miserably.
"Piccolo, is it really necessary to carry them around like that," Goku asked. "They seem to be friends of Masumi's friends, here."
"Goku," Piccolo stated, turning his attention towards the Saiya-jin. "What Dende said is true. You are back on earth, because of the girl."
"For the time being," Goku replied. "Say, why are you holding those two anyway?"
"I found them snooping around the complex," Piccolo stated.
"We weren't snooping," Rei said angrily. "Now get your hands off of me! Put us down!" Piccolo sneered, tossing the girls to the ground without regard.
"What's your problem," Makoto demanded. She stood up quickly, balling her fist and punching Piccolo across his face. Her eyes widened, as his face didn't even budge from the force of impact she put behind the punch. A cocky smirk spread across his face as she balled her fist again, taking another swing at him. He easily caught her fist, shoving her away from him onto the ground.
"Don't waste my time," Piccolo sneered down at her. Makoto glared up at him, slowly reaching into her pocket.
"Let's see how well you'd do against Sailor Jupiter, then," she thought, grasping her henshin pen.
"Makoto, don't," Usagi exclaimed, realizing what she was planning. "Don't do that," she repeated, offering her hand to help the brunette stand.
"Piccolo-san, these girls are okay," Gohan stated. "They must have just gotten separated from Usagi and Chibi-usa."
"Yes, we were … distracted away," Rei stated, looking at Usagi pointedly. "And we should be going."
"Rei, Makoto, wait," Masumi exclaimed. "You just got here! Please, stay! Don't make Chibi-usa leave yet, please." She turned towards her parents, a pleading look on her face. "Can't they stay, just for a little while?"
18 narrowed her eyes, studying the girls. "Let them go if they wish," she stated.
"I'm staying here, with Masumi," Chibi-usa said matter-of-factly.
"Chibi-usa, you can't just invite yourself to stay," Usagi scolded. "We have things to do."
"Besides, we'd only be treated as some sort of criminals," Makoto added, looking at Piccolo pointedly. He sneered in her direction at her statement.
"Please, Chibi-usa," Masumi exclaimed, going back over to the girl's side. "I'm so lonely sometimes. But now that you found me again …" As she allowed her voice to trail, Chibi-usa's eyes widened slightly.
"Hotaru," she whispered. Masumi looked into Chibi-usa's eyes, and then broke their gaze, closing her eyes as she looked away.
"Well, I think it's a great idea for you girls to stay," Bulma stated suddenly. "Why don't you stay just for a while, and be Masumi's playmate for the afternoon, Chibi-usa?"
"Really, Bulma," Masumi asked, her eyes brightening slightly. She smiled as Bulma nodded her head.
"We wouldn't want to impose," Usagi stated. Her stomach grumbled loudly and she flustered.
"I'll even throw in lunch for you all," Bulma added with a smile. Usagi seemed to think it over, and when her stomach growled insistently again, she smiled.
"I guess we'll stay, then," Usagi exclaimed.
"Usagi-baka … Always thinking with your stomach," Rei muttered, flustering slightly as her stomach rumbled as well.
"How about brunch instead," Chichi suggested. "I'll cook, but since there are so many people, I'd like some help."
Makoto stepped forward. "I'll help you, miss …"
"Call me Chichi," she replied.
"Alright, Chichi-san," Makoto stated. "I'm Kino Makoto, and I'm a pretty decent cook." As the two walked towards the house, Goten and Trunks began to fuss, and Bulma sighed.
"Well, I'll take care of these two," she stated, heading towards the playpen. She stopped as she passed by Vegeta. "And you keep your attitude in check. Don't harass these girls!" He scowled, turning on his heel and heading towards the gravity chamber.
"This seems like a reunion of some kind," Usagi said to Rei. Goku, Gohan, and Krillin were talking with Piccolo, 18 watched over Masumi and Chibi-usa as the girls stood off to the side, and Tien, Chaozu, and Yamcha talked amongst themselves.
"Usagi, about earlier," Rei stated. "Makoto and I did see Uranus and Neptune, but they disappeared before we could do anything. Then we ran into Piccolo when we were looking for you and Chibi-usa… We'd better keep a look-out for them, in case they show up."
"Right," Usagi replied, frowning slightly. "I think that Hotaru is regaining some of her memories."
"It seems that way," Rei commented. "She recognized me and Makoto, and we never told her who we were."
"You're sure we never mentioned your names in front of her," Usagi asked.
"Pretty sure," Rei stated. "What do you think will happen, if she regains her memory of everything that happened to her as Hotaru?"
"I don't know," Usagi began. "I don't think she would destroy the world, like the Outers are insisting she would, if she regained her memories. She warned me that you and Makoto were in danger, right before Piccolo showed up with you. Isn't that strange? I don't …"
"Hush, Usagi," Rei interrupted. "They're looking this way." She unconsciously tried to push her hair behind her ear, and sighed when she remembered it was up in a bun because of her "disguise."
"Usagi, Rei," Gohan stated. "Why don't I do introductions? I'm sorry if it seems we're being rude."
"Uh, no problem, Gohan," Usagi replied with a smile.
"Everyone, this is Usagi and Rei," Gohan began. "Girls, this is my father, Goku. You've both met Masumi's mother, 18, and this is her father, Krillin."
"Nice to meet you," Krillin greeted. "I'm glad Masumi has someone aside from Gohan, to play with."
"You've also met Piccolo-san," Gohan continued. "And Vegeta, who left. This is Tien and Chaozu, and this is …"
"Yamcha," he introduced himself, winking in Rei's direction and taking Usagi's hand, kissing it lightly. "I'm glad you and your daughter took that detour, Usagi; your likeness is uncanny. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"D-daughter," Usagi stammered as her face turned red. "Chibi-usa is my sister, not my daughter. I'm…I'm…"
"Yamcha, these girls are my age," Gohan stated, sweatdropping.
"Well, you can't blame me for trying," Yamcha laughed, nudging Gohan. "But they're just right for you!"
"Yamcha," Gohan exclaimed, flustering as well.
"It's nice to meet you all," Usagi said politely. There was an awkward silence afterwards, and Goku studied Usagi.
"This girl," he thought to himself, "she knows about Masumi's abilities, but how?" He envisioned an image of Sailor Moon in Usagi's place, however brushed the thought aside. "Welcome to Capsule Corp, girls," he stated, breaking the silence. "Where are you girls from?"
Rei and Usagi looked at each other, and Usagi smiled weakly. "Oh, we're just tourists, Goku-san," she began.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Later, after everyone ate and the meal had been cleaned up, everyone sat outside; their stomachs full. Goku patted his stomach appreciatively, and Usagi sighed contentedly. As Krillin laughed, all eyes were on him.
"What's so funny, Krillin," Goku asked, a puzzled look crossing his face.
"Usagi's appetite rivals yours, Goku," Krillin replied, chuckling. "Or that of any Saiya-jin, for that matter!"
"Saiya-jin," Usagi asked, testing the new word out. "What's that?" Everyone looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.
"A race far superior to the weak humans," Vegeta stated, awkwardly holding Trunks with a scowl on his face. Usagi looked at him quizzically.
"Are any of you Saiya-jins," she asked, an innocent look on her face.
"Me and Vegeta are full-blooded Saiya-jins, and our sons are half-blooded," Goku answered.
"Kakarot, be quiet," Vegeta barked, causing Trunks to cry. "It's none of their business!"
"Oh, so you're aliens, like Piccolo-san," Usagi asked, a small smile lighting her face. "I believe that life can exist on other planets. Like our sister planet, Venus, or even on Mercury."
"Odango atama," Rei growled loud enough for Usagi to hear. Piccolo looked in their direction, frowning slightly.
"I don't think that life can exist on this galaxy's planets, except for Earth," Gohan stated. "Saiya-jins and Namekians came from planets far away."
Usagi frowned at his statement, and as she was about to say something more, Rei clamped a hand over her mouth. "Usagi has a very active imagination," Rei stated, quickly thinking of a way to change the subject. "Chichi-san, the meal was delicious."
"Makoto helped, so she deserves credit as well," Chichi said.
"It was nothing," Makoto commented, "because cooking is what I love to do."
"Then you'll make a good wife some day," Yamcha stated. Bulma glared at him, hitting him on the back of his head.
"Don't be so sexist, Yamcha," she yelled.
"18," Usagi began uncertainly, biting her lip as the woman turned her gaze towards her. "Thank you, for allowing Chibi-usa to play with Masumi. I'm sure she enjoyed her time together with your daughter." She began to fidget as 18 only looked at her.
"There's no need to thank us, Usagi," Krillin supplied. "Masumi needed the company as well. She doesn't have any girls her age to play with."
"Usagi, where are Chibi-usa and Masumi, anyway," Makoto asked suddenly, looking around the area.
"What," 18 exclaimed. "Where is she?" Rei gasped as the wind changed direction, billowing some hair out from her bun.
"We can look for them," Rei stated. As she stood, Usagi and Makoto did as well. "We'll go find them both."
"I'll go myself," 18 snapped. She felt a hand on her wrist, and she looked over to see Chichi holding onto her.
"18, you have to learn to loosen the reigns a bit," she stated, gaining startled looks from the others. "It's hard a first, I know, but you have to give them some freedom. I'm sure that Masumi is fine, and if she wasn't, we'd know."
"This is most likely Chibi-usa's doing, 18," Usagi commented. "She likes causing mischief, so please, don't blame Masumi."
"I don't," 18 stated, narrowing her eyes. Usagi swallowed noisily, before turning towards Rei and Makoto. As the three girls began to walk away, Goku watched them leave.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"What were you trying to do back there, Usagi," Rei demanded as the girls sprinted through and around the trees, searching for Chibi-usa and Masumi. "Next, I suppose, you'll be telling them there's life on the moon and that you're the Moon Princess! If we're going to keep a low-profile, we can't talk about stuff like that!"
"Don't start, Rei," Makoto muttered. "That's not important right now. We've got to find Hotaru, before Uranus and Neptune do." Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in the distance, and Makoto cursed underneath her breath. "Senshi, henshin-yo! Jupiter Star Power!"
"Mars Star Power!"
"Moon Cosmic Power!" (AN - Or is it Cosmic Moon Power?? *sweatdrops*)
"Make up," they exclaimed in unison.
To Be Continued …
If you didn't guess, Piccolo was the one I was having trouble with keeping in character. He and Vegeta are pretty hard to write; I think, at least. What do you think? Did I do a decent job? Anyway, please leave a review!