AN: Remember, time passes differently in space, so Makoto is in her early 20's too. And Gohan and Goten are half Saiyin, half human, and half Martian. Is that possible?

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"So what can we do?"

Rei sat beside Makoto, overjoyed to see her friend whom she hadn't seen for so many years. She still couldn't get over the fact that Makoto and Usagi both looked young and wonderful, while she looked at least 10 years older. [Actually she's 15 years older.] She made a mental note to herself to spend more time in space to age slower. Makoto, meanwhile, couldn't believe that Rei, or "Chichi", was married and had two kids [two *hottie* kids]. She was shocked to say the least.

Most of the Z warriors were still at Capsule Corp. Piccolo had gone off somewhere and Tien had taken Chatzou to train in the mountains (but they promised to be back for lunch). The rest had heard the horrible tale of Makoto's nightmare in the Outer system. Bulma had even dragged Vegeta out of the gravity chamber to hear the news.

"So what can we do?" asked Krillin again.

"I really don't know," answered Makoto. "It seems so . . . . . hopeless."

"Oh come on, guys!" cried Goku, cheerful as always. "It can't be *that* bad. I mean, we thought Cell was really horrible too and unbeatable, but Gohan got the better of him."

Gohan blushed slightly. "But this isn't the same, Goku," Rei insisted. "You've never fought a Darkness or any evil that doesn't attack with martial arts. This one will be different..."

"Goku's right," said Usagi quietly. Everyone looked at her; she'd barely said a word since she'd returned from Kami's. "Hope is a fragile flame that burns within us. If we lose hope and give up before the battle has even begun, the flame flickers out and darkness rules. Keep your hope alive; we can do it."

"But how, Usa?" asked Makoto. "This ... this *thing* is even stronger than Chaos. How can we beat it?"

Usagi smiled. "I have changed a lot since the senshi were last united. Until I know my enemy, I will not know its weakness or how to beat it. I must find Venus and Mercury, and we must head out and reunite with Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Only then can we win."

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And so the mission began. Rei pulled out her most recent pictures of Ami and Minako and showed them to the Z senshi. (Tien, Chatzou, and Piccolo had returned. Vegeta had left to train again). At first, no one could recognize them or give any leads on where they might be found. Then Yamcha saw Minako's picture and seemed to lose his voice. "That's . . . . . she's . . . . . . . this is . . . . . Aph- Aphrodite is a sailor senshi?"

Usagi looked at him questioningly. "You mean Minako? Yes, she is the Ai no Senshi, protector of love and beauty. Why?"

Rei giggled softly. "Remember what I told you about Mina becoming a movie star?" she whispered softly. Usagi nodded and Rei giggled again. "I think she has a huge fan in Yamcha."

Usagi's face lit up and she smiled mischievously. "Matchmaker time," she whispered, a spark of her old self returning. Out loud she said, "Do you know her, Yamcha? When did you see her last?"

Yamcha blushed a deep crimson. "Well ... I don't really know her, but . . . . Master Roshi's the one that got me hooked. She's an amazing actress, but they don't give her enough credit. The last thing I heard about her, she was trying to shoot a quick film or something in Tokyo. But she's losing popularity, and I dunno if it ever got off the ground."

"Thank you very much, Yamcha, you have greatly helped the search," said Usagi with true gratitude. Then she turned to the others, and her tone became business-like. "We must split up. Yamcha and myself will head to Tokyo to search for Venus. The rest of you, search for leads to find Mercury. Rei tells me that she last heard from her from Europe. If you can't fly, try searching over the internet or something. We must find them as soon as possible!"

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Everyone nodded and 'took their positions'. "I'll get a head start in the search at Tokyo," yelled Yamcha as he ran out the door, noticing Usagi was still occupied. "I'll meet up with you there!" Usagi nodded. Goku, Gohan, and Goten flew off somewhere to search for Mercury. Tien, Chatzou, Krillin, and 18 followed shortly. Piccolo just disappeared to somewhere. Rei headed off to find Bulma and work together on the search.

Usagi ran outside, calling the Nimbus as she went. "You expect to get there while it is still light on *that* thing?" a voice said behind her. Usagi spun around to come face to face with 17. Mirai ran out the door, followed by Makoto with Chibi Trunks on her heels.

"Come on, you're coming with me," said 17 with a smirk, and without another question, he picked up Usagi and slung her across his back and launched off. Usagi thought she saw a flash of anger in Trunks's eyes as she looked back. He was just about to followed when Makoto grabbed his sleeve. "Um..... I can't fly." Trunks let out a grunt of frustration, but picked her up and slung her across his back. Chibi followed, wondering if you were supposed to treat girls this way.

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They reached Tokyo in a matter of minutes and found Yamcha without a problem. They stood on a roof top, trying to decide how to continue.

"How are we gonna find one onna[picked up from Veggie] in this big city?" asked Chibi.

"He's got a point, Usa," said Makoto. "How *are* we gonna find her? It's like finding a needle in a haystack. Plus the fact that the only one of us who's seen her in almost 20 years is Yamcha. So we won't even be able to recognize the needle."

"Ok," said Usagi, business-like again. "We'll have to split up. Makoto, take the Nimbus and go with Trunks to see if she's at her old apartment. Yamcha, you and 17 should go to local studios and movie stores and see if you can find out anything about where Aino Minako, or Aphrodite, might be. Mirai, if you and Makoto don't find her there, do the same as Yamcha and 17. I'm staying here, to see if I can use any of my powers to contact her."

Makoto nodded and ran to the edge of the roof, where she called the little yellow cloud and jumped on it to catch up with Trunks who was already waiting above. 17 and Yamcha both jumped down to the street below. Usagi was beginning to meditate when Chibi Trunks pulled on her sleeve. "What about me?"

Usagi smiled. "Stay here and keep watch. I know that I can only trust someone as brave and strong as yourself to protect me from any youmas or enemies. And also, let me know if you see a girl with long blond hair and blue eyes approaching." Trunks nodded and puffed out his chest and began patrolling the roof.

Usagi smiled and began her transformation. In a flash of silver light, her old clothes were replaced by the silver fuku she knew so well. She felt a staff grow in her right hand and earrings dangling from her ears.

Trunks turned around quickly, he had felt a sudden peak in a powerlevel very nearby. He blinked his eyes. "But... but you're that other lady that Goten's mommy wished back."

Usagi smiled at his innocence. "Yes, that's right. Remember, I am both Usagi and Cosmos, one in the same." Chibi nodded his head, but Usagi doubted that he really understood. She set down her staff and closed her eyes, beginning to meditate.



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All worldly noises seemed to stop and Usagi reached deep within herself. 'Minako,' she called without uttering a word. 'Mina-chan, where are you? We need you Mina!'

She found herself walking down dirty streets and alleyways. The buildings all looked run-down and in desperate need of repair. There were a few groups of people in rags, rummaging among the trash for food. Many were little more than children. Usagi had a sudden urge to help them, but she knew that she couldn't do anything in this form.

She wandered up more streets, and things seemed to get slightly better, but not much. She stopped at the door to an old yellowed building. It was in better condition than most in the area, but that wasn't saying much.

'Minako,' she called again. A middle-aged blond opened the door and stepped into the street, wearing some type of uniform. Her once shining hair now seemed dull and pulled into a long braid. She stared at Usagi with tired eyes, as though she could see her, but Usagi knew she couldn't. The woman blinked and shook her head. Pushing a stray hair out of her face, she hurried away to work.

'Minako,' Usagi called after her, sadly.

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"Miss Usagi-san! Miss Usagi, wake up!" Something tugged at the sleeve of her fuku and a voice called her back. She opened her eyes. She was still on the roof, and Chibi Trunks was trying to wake her. Mirai, 17, Yamcha, and Makoto were all back. She stood and smiled as they breathed a sigh of relief.

"Someone new moved into her old apartment," explained Makoto. "And few of the stores had even heard of Aphrodite, let alone be able to tell us where she is."

"We're looking in the wrong parts of Tokyo," said Cosmos, brushing off her fuku. "I saw her, but I don't know where. Look in some of the slums and darker areas." Usagi glanced at the sun; it was low and she guessed it was around five (afternoon). "I must check back at CC, but I will return shortly." With that, she teleported in a flash of silver light.

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Next time:

"Good morning," said the woman behind the desk, without looking at them. "Please sign in and a doctor will be with you shortly."

Piccolo growled in his throat. "We're not here for an appointment, baka onna."

"Huh? What did you call me? A baked onion?"



Hmm... Piccy, Tien, and Chatzou come to America. This should be *very* interesting. Also, it's not too late if you still wanna sign up for the Alert thingy I'm providing. Send an email to Callistostar786@hotmail.com. Until next time, Ja ne! ~Calli-chan