Disclaimer - I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this fanfic, nor do I claim them. The idea, however, is mine.
AN - With the recent events that have been occurring stateside, posting seems so insignificant; so superficial… In light of this, I dedicate this to you all, to everyone, in hopes to lift your spirits during this dark time. To all the families of the victims in this horrendous act, you are in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless us all . . .
Whatever It Takes
Chapter 9: Usagi's Dilemma
Usagi sat by herself at the windowsill, staring out the window at the colorful hues of early morning. Sighing heavily, she allowed her mind to wander. "What am I going to do," she asked aloud quietly. She closed her eyes briefly, remembering what she had overheard the night before…
Usagi walked past the Briefs' family room, and noticed a figure sitting in the dark on the couch. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was Hotaru. She watched the girl silently for several minutes, jumping slightly as Hotaru spoke out loud.
"You couldn't sleep either, Gohan," Hotaru asked. It was then that Usagi noticed Gohan standing half-shrouded in the dark, staring out at the stars. He turned towards Hotaru, his smile hardly noticeable.
"No," he replied. He watched her as she pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin lightly on her knees.
"Gohan," Hotaru began, her voice breaking. "I don't want to leave. I-it's not fair!" She began to sob quietly, causing Usagi's chest to tighten in sympathy. Hotaru gasped as she felt a pair of arms go around her, noticing that Gohan now sat next to her.
"It's okay," he coaxed, as she allowed him to pull her close. "Go ahead and cry." Hotaru's chest heaved, and then she buried her face into Gohan's shoulder, sobbing as if her heart were breaking. He rubbed her back gently, until her crying subsided. She pulled away from him slightly, looking into his eyes.
"I'm sorry," she began, pulling away from him completely. "I should never have gotten myself involved here at all." She brought her knees back up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs.
"What are you talking about," Gohan asked. "You can't control when or where you're born."
"It was my will that brought me here," she explained. "I'm not even really Krillin and 18's daughter. I was just simply reincarnated into their child."
"Stop it, Masumi," Gohan stated. "That's not true!"
"It is the truth," Hotaru screamed, her eyes brimming with tears once again.
"Masumi…"
"Don't call me that, Gohan," she interrupted. "What I'm saying is the truth; the horrible truth. All I do is bring pain to the ones I love and care about, when all I want to do is help."
Gohan frowned. "What… what brought you here, then, Mas…Hotaru?"
"When I fought Pharaoh 90, when I died, I felt such horrible pain coming from this dimension," she began. "That pain that I felt, reflected especially strongly from you, Gohan. It was during the time that you fought Cell, when you lost your father." She paused, a slight blush staining her cheeks. "I was attracted here by that pain; I wanted to help relieve it. You see, it's the same pain that I have always felt, and I wanted to take your pain away."
"You came here for me," Gohan asked, a blush covering his face as well. She looked at him shyly, nodding her head.
"But I realized what a mistake I made, because it was my presence that sped the approach of Babidi," she continued. "That's what really triggered my rapid growth; I felt his presence, and the stirring presence of Majin Buu, deep within the Earth. I wanted to protect everyone from his evil, to protect the people I came to know and love as my family. But it would have been better if I had never come at all."
"Everyone loves you. You're family, and we love you because of who you are," Gohan exclaimed, causing Hotaru to look at him in surprise. "And I'm not sorry that you came here. Not at all." By this time, she was crying again, and he brought up his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. His hands lingered on her face, and she looked into his eyes
"G-Gohan," she stammered, as he began to lean forward. His face was inches from hers, and as he was about to kiss her, she turned her head slightly, and he kissed the corner of her mouth instead. He pulled away and looked at her as she quickly stood up.
"I shouldn't have done that," he stated, searching her face for the reason she moved away from him. "I didn't mean to…"
"Gohan, I'm sorry," Hotaru interrupted, lowering her gaze, "but if I had kissed you, it would have just made it harder for me to leave tomorrow!" She gave a pained cry, and then ran out the room, not even noticing Usagi as she ran past her…
Usagi blinked, coming back to reality. "You deserve happiness, Hotaru," she stated, wiping away a tear that slid down her cheek. She rested her head back against the wall, and sighed. "Sailor Pluto, please hear me. I need to talk to you."
"Yes, Usagi-hime," Pluto stated moments later, appearing in the room suddenly. Usagi jumped in surprise, causing the Senshi of Time to smile slightly. "I had a feeling you'd want to speak with me."
"What will happen when we leave," Usagi asked quietly. "Will they remember anything that has happened?"
"No," Pluto replied. "I will turn back time, so that none of this will have ever happened. They'll have no memories of any of this, or of Hotaru."
"I'm glad for that," Usagi trailed, causing Pluto to smile inwardly.
"But," she prompted.
"But can you do that, even with your powers," Usagi asked, a worried look on her face.
"It's forbidden to use my powers in such a way, but I'm prepared to accept the consequences, Usagi-hime," Pluto answered. "I should have never allowed Hotaru to come here in the first place." She noticed the worried look on Usagi's face, and smiled slightly. "Don't worry yourself about it."
Usagi bit the inside of her lip, and then cleared her throat. "I spoke with Hotaru last night, and she wants to speak with Sailor Uranus and Neptune."
"Oh," Pluto questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Usagi stated. "Can you arrange it? She wants to meet them where they attacked her and Chibi-usa. They'll be able to find the location." Pluto simply nodded, and then disappeared from the room. Usagi sighed once again, and then returned her gaze out the window.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
AN- Just a word of warning… I'll be switching between two events that'll be occurring at the same time with (~~~~ * ~~~~) so there's no confusion of what's going on.
Sailor Saturn stood in the forest clearing, clenching her hands opened and closed. The signs of the previous battle that took place there still evident, she brought her hands up to rub her bare arms as she felt a chill. She heard a twig snap behind her, and she spun around.
"So, you actually showed up," she heard Sailor Uranus speak, as the two Outer Senshi she had summoned appeared.
"Yes," Saturn stated. "I wanted to speak with you before things got too out of hand."
~~~~ * ~~~~
Bulma and Chichi were in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess Goten and Trunks made while eating their breakfast. The Senshi, the Son family, Krillin and 18, and even Piccolo had stayed the night once again at Capsule Corp. Both women looked up as they heard the shuffling of feet, and watched in silence as 18 came into the kitchen.
"Good morning, 18," Chichi greeted cautiously.
"Is it," 18 asked flatly, grabbing a mug and pouring herself some coffee. She sat down at the table, a dazed expression on her face.
"18," Chichi began, "I only meant…" She trailed off as she felt Bulma rest her hand on her shoulder. She looked at the other woman briefly and then at 18 once again. "Would you like something to eat?"
"I don't care," 18 replied. Chichi stifled a sigh and then went about beginning to make breakfast. Soon, Krillin joined them, much in the same mood that 18 was in. Makoto entered the kitchen afterwards, and wordlessly began to help Chichi cook. The raven-haired woman smiled at her in appreciation. As the smell of food wafted through the house, Goku, Gohan, and even Vegeta entered the kitchen.
"Good morning everyone," Chibi-usa exclaimed, bounding into the kitchen happily. She took notice of the atmosphere almost immediately, and became somber. She silently walked over towards 18, and hugged the older woman. "I'm so sorry, 18. Thank you for understanding."
The room became still.
~~~~ * ~~~~
"So, you're planning a final confrontation afterall," Uranus demanded.
"No, nothing like that," Saturn replied. "When will you understand I have no wish to fight you? I only wish to stay here."
"It's already been decided," Neptune said. "Pluto will be taking us all away from here, whether you want to leave or not."
Saturn sighed. "Why can't you understand? You're only hurting the people that have grown to love me."
"You're the one who doesn't understand," Uranus snapped. "Your very presence attracts evil. First, the Death Busters and Pharaoh 90 in our own time, and now here with this Babidi! Your very being is a threat to existence!"
"It's not true," Saturn replied quietly. "I'm loved, here. I'm accepted. And I would give my life to stop Babidi."
"But won't your death just cause more pain to the ones you love," Neptune asked, causing Saturn to gasp. "They will lose you either way you leave out of their lives. Isn't it better to return, and have Pluto turn back their lives to the time you never even existed here?"
"I won't go back," Saturn stated. "If I'm such a threat to you, please, just leave me here!"
"What about Chibi-usa's feelings," Neptune asked.
"She'll forget me," Saturn replied, her eyes watering. "And she'll forgive me! She'll accept my decision, because she cares about me."
"Tears, Sailor Saturn," Uranus taunted. "How uncharacteristic for you. Your show of emotions changes nothing, however."
~~~~ * ~~~~
"I know this must be hard on you," Chibi-usa began. She gasped as 18 roughly pushed her away, standing up angrily from her chair.
"Who do you think you are? What do you know or care," 18 yelled. "Have you ever lost a child? Don't mock me with your fake sympathy, damn you!"
"I do understand," Chibi-usa yelled back. "I've lost Hotaru once, too, and I watched it happen all over again here, with Gohan!" She shook her head, tears falling down her face. "I understand what pain is! I don't feel good about taking Hotaru away from here." She paused, lowering her head. "But at least you'll forget you ever lost her at all."
"What do you mean," Krillin asked, frowning. "How can you say we'll forget someone who's made such an impression in our lives?"
"Puu won't let you remember Hotaru," Chibi-usa stated. "She isn't that mean. She knows what pain is, too."
"That's enough, Small Lady," Sailor Pluto stated, her entrance, as always, silent and sudden. She turned to the others, a calm expression on her face. "I was hoping to take the Senshi away before any of you awoke, to avoid this confrontation. Now I see that wasn't possible." Everyone turned as Rei stumbled into the kitchen.
"Something isn't right," she stated, her breathing labored. "I feel such anger from somewhere." She clutched at her chest, her worry expressed on her features. "Something's very wrong."
"She's right," a voice spoke from behind Rei. "I sensed it, too."
~~~~ * ~~~~
"You can't force me to leave," Sailor Saturn exclaimed. "The Princess doesn't think I should leave! She wants me to have a normal life, here."
"Usagi doesn't know what she wants," Uranus uttered, a frown on her face. "She's not thinking with a clear head!"
"She's thinking perfectly fine," Saturn stated angrily. "She wants what's best for the team! The entire team!"
"Enough," Neptune said forcefully. "Will you come willingly, or no?"
"No, I won't," Saturn retorted. She turned on her heel and began running. Cursing under her breath, Uranus took off after her, with Neptune following closely behind.
~~~~ * ~~~~
Pluto's eyes grew big. "Hotaru, what are you doing here," she demanded. "Have you already talked with Sailor Uranus and Neptune?"
"What are you talking about," Hotaru asked. "I haven't left the house at all."
Pluto blanched. "But, Usagi-hime told me you wanted to…" She allowed her voice to trail, her face growing paler. "She wouldn't…" She turned to Chibi-usa, looking at the girl. "Where is Usagi, Small Lady?"
"I don't know," Chibi-usa exclaimed. "She wasn't in the room this morning. I thought she was out here already."
"Something's wrong, Sailor Pluto," Rei stammered. "I should have sensed it earlier." She ran to the room that Usagi and Chibi-usa slept in the previous night, and returned almost immediately. "Her broach and the disguise pen are gone!" Suddenly outside, there was an explosion, and Rei's head snapped up. "Usagi-chan!"
Sailor Pluto spun towards the door, her long hair fanning out behind her. "Come along, Senshi," she instructed. "We must stop the Outers." Rei, Makoto, Hotaru, and Chibi-usa followed Pluto out the door.
"Hey, wait," Gohan exclaimed. He, Goku, Krillin, and 18 quickly followed. Vegeta lazily pushed himself off the wall, slowly following behind. When they all got outside, the Senshi were running off in one direction, transforming at the same time.
"What's going on," Piccolo demanded towards Gohan. He was roused out of his state of meditation by the sudden bustle of activity.
"The Outer Senshi are fighting against their Princess, and we're going to go stop it," Gohan yelled back over his shoulder. Piccolo scowled and sat back down, closing his eyes once again in meditation. After a moment passed, he sighed, getting up and going in the direction the others went off in.
~~~~ * ~~~~
"You can't run forever, Sailor Saturn," Uranus exclaimed, chasing after the other girl. Faintly, she heard voices yelling in their direction, and she frowned. "I can't let them stop me this time," she thought inwardly.
"Sailor Uranus," Neptune yelled. "We have to stop her now, before the others arrive!"
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Uranus replied, stopping in place. She raised her hand in the air, her energy beginning to gather. "World …Shaking!" She threw the attack in the retreating figure's direction, and the other Senshi's warnings seemed to fall upon deaf ears.
"Oh no," Jupiter exclaimed. "Usagi's made herself to look like Sailor Saturn!"
"Usagi," Mars screamed. "Odango-baka, duck down!" Usagi, as Sailor Saturn, turned in the direction Mars yelled from, distracting her. It was then that she noticed Uranus' attack bearing down on her, and she stopped in horror.
"Usagi," Chibi-moon screamed, and time seemed to go in slow motion. The attack hit Usagi head-on, and she flew back. She hit the ground hard, her disguise transformation getting knocked out. The momentum of when she hit the hard surface carried her across the ground, and as she finally rolled to a stop, she was in her regular civilian clothing.
"Oh, my God, Uranus," Neptune gasped in horror. "What have we done?"
"No," Uranus gasped. "NO!!" She ran over to where Usagi lay unmoving, and dropped down next to her. "Usagi, please, get up." She gathered the girl into her lap, shaking her gently.
"Uranus," Neptune said quietly beside the duo.
"Koneko-chan, please," she whispered hoarsely. "Please, open your eyes." She squeezed her eyes shut, and opened them once again when she felt a hand against her face. She looked down, and saw Usagi staring up at her.
"Haruka-san," Usagi stated in a strained voice. "You called me Koneko-chan. I knew you weren't really mad at me."
"Oh, Koneko-chan," Uranus cried, hugging the girl to her before loosening her grip. As Usagi slowly began to try to get up, she helped her stand.
"Usagi," Neptune began, helping to support her. "Are you alright?" Usagi looked over towards her, smiling weakly and flashing a 'thumbs-up' sign.
"Why in the hell would you pull something like that," Uranus demanded. "You could have been killed!"
"I had to make you see what we were doing was wrong," Usagi replied. "We shouldn't be forcing Hotaru to leave. My mind is very clear, and I know it's not right to make her leave." She looked up as the other Senshi finally made it to where the trio stood. Saturn stopped a few feet away as Jupiter stalked up to Uranus, punching her across the face and knocking her to the ground.
"Mako-chan," Usagi gasped.
"What were you thinking," Jupiter demanded, glowering down at Uranus. "You could have killed Usagi-chan!"
"How was I supposed to know it was her," Uranus yelled back, standing angrily. She grabbed a fistful of Jupiter's fuku, and Mars stepped forward, pushing her away. As the three began to argue, Chibi-moon shook her head, while Krillin, Goku, and Gohan gawked in disbelief. Vegeta, 18, and Piccolo watched impassively.
"I've had enough," Saturn yelled, causing Usagi and the others to look at her. The silence glaive was in her hand, and an angry look was on her face. "This has gone on for long enough. I'll show you the silence, you so fear. Prepare for the void!" She rose the glaive in the air, spinning it around.
"Hotaru, no," Chibi-moon exclaimed. She tried to run towards Saturn, however the force of her power pushed the smaller girl back.
"Silence … Glaive," Saturn exclaimed. She spun the staff around once more, and then plunged the pointed end into the ground, kneeling down on one knee. (AN - I have no clue what her attack/attacks look like, so I'm just making it up!) By this time, a massive wind picked up around her, and the ground began to shake.
She looked up, an apologetic, yet determined, look on her face. As she opened her mouth to finish the phrase, Pluto stepped forward.
"Wait," she stated simply, causing Saturn to stop. "Think of the consequences of your actions. You'll kill us all."
"Yes, but it won't be permanent. I want Uranus and Neptune dead. The rest of you will be reborn," Saturn exclaimed.
"Think harder," Pluto snapped. "If you continue, you'll kill Son Goku, as well. And if he dies while he's already dead, he'll forever disappear from this plane." Saturn faltered. "Piccolo, Tien, and Chaotzu have all died on Earth once before as well," Pluto continued. "And if you continue, they, too, will die permanently. Shenlong-sama will not be able to grant them life again."
"But … but you can turn back time," she stated quietly.
"No," Pluto said sadly. "Not even my powers can break and overcome this physical law. Are you willing to forever take Son Goku away from his family, away from Gohan? Are you prepared to condemn the others?" Sailor Saturn shook her head as tears slid down her face.
"I just want for this to end," she cried bitterly. "I don't want any more pain. I just want acceptance." Her shoulders hunched forward, and her body went lack as she cried silently. Usagi pulled away from Sailor Neptune, and knelt down next to Saturn, wrapping her arms around the girl.
"Shh, Hotaru," Usagi murmured, trying to comfort her. "I wish…I wish there was something I could do for you, Hotaru-chan. I'm sorry." Saturn rested her head against Usagi's chest, and a solitary tear, one of many, rolled down her face. As it fell from her chin, landing on Usagi's broach, a bright, pure light seemed to explode outward.
Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillin, and 18 shielded their eyes from the brilliant light, and once they could see again, Gohan gasped.
"Masumi," he exclaimed. "They're…they're gone!"
To Be Continued . . .