Ok, I've had some reports that there's a problem with spacing. Um, I put spaces in it when I write it, so the problem is with ff.net, not me. I'm using Microsoft word. Sorry, I don't know what the problem is and, by the way, I'm really pissed off right now. I am sick and tired of people who think they can flame my hard work when they haven't even read it. They skim through, or merely glance at it, and then have the nerve to criticize me for what I've done wrong, telling me my attitude toward DBZ is unrealistic because SM fans are stupid and don't listen to reason. I'll say it here and now. I am not a SM fan. I was once, when I was younger, but I'm not anymore, I only like to use the characters, and the power readings I have put forth in the last chapter, hey, I was talking about the Super Saiyans blowing up planets, ya dumbass, not Usagi. But if this person had actually read the fic, he/she would know that Usagi isn't Sailor Moon anymore and has completely different powers. Regular SM could never in a million years beat a Saiyan, to my opinion, and I never said she uses Chi, I said the Saiyans did.

I'm sorry if that's all a little rude, but I don't care. Everyone has a right to form his or her own opinions, but you should at least know all the facts before you go and make a complete fool out of yourself.

For everyone else, I'm sorry. I'm trying the best I can.

Please check out my newest fic, "Cold Day in July." It's only a one shot, it wouldn't take too long, and it's about everyone's favorite lavender haired wonder. Besides, it's in desperate need of reviews. You can find it in the DBZ section, or just go to my profile. Thanks.

I own nothing.

Usagi glanced at the girls following her silently down the dank hallways of Zeke's palace, without really looking like she was examining them. They were grouped together as if in fear, although they tried to look brave when they caught her watching. They had changed over the time she had been gone, but of course, that was to be expected. They were older, more mature - although that really wasn't saying too much - and each girl's hair was a little different than what she remembered. Longer or shorter or styled differently, in some cases a shade lighter or darker.
She could hardly believe they didn't recognize her. Her Tenshi form was a far cry from what she had once fought in, and much more beautiful than her true form, but the thought that the girls she had once been so close to didn't know her was just so strange.
She slid against a wall, peeking around a dark corner to find a connecting hallway empty. This was almost too easy; didn't Zeke have any security?
"Hurry." She hissed when the senshi hesitated, looking down a different hallway as if wanting to go that way instead. She was getting very impatient with them, she didn't have much time. Vegeta had only given her two hours to rescue them before he came after her himself, and she definitely didn't want that to happen.
The voyage to Earth from Vegetasei had been uneventful, and from there she had gone strait to her old dimension, taking her husband and sons with her. It was dangerous for them, but she wanted to show them off. Let everyone see how happy she was, no thanks to them. She had to remind herself that she had decided to forgive her friends. Vegeta despised them worse than ever since the soul-binding, after he had seen firsthand what they had meant to her. She had to remember to forgive them, otherwise they weren't likely to live past meeting her mate.
"Is there anyone else being held here, or just you four?" She couldn't help but to ask as quietly as possible as they slipped down the corridors.
"Just us." Makoto answered.
"What about Tuxedo Kamen?"
"H.he managed to get away. How do you know about-"
"And the Outers?" She snapped, impatient with stupid questions. She didn't know why she didn't want them to know who she was yet, why she had hesitated. Perhaps it was her own small revenge. Perhaps a part of her thought that they didn't deserve to know. Telling them the name Trunks used to call her when she had first met him was the first thing that had come to her mind.
"They weren't at the fight." Minako answered hesitantly. "They.they haven't spoken to any of us in almost eight years."
"Oh?"
"They won't forgive us. We.we did something horrible. We left-"
"Shut up, Minako!" Rei snapped.
"Oh, that. I know all about how you abandoned your leader to die." Usagi said as flippantly as she could manage. "I've often wondered if you felt any remorse at all. Wasn't she your friend? Wouldn't she have done anything for you? And you wouldn't take the risk of rescuing her. I guess that's one way to get rid of a less than competent leader. Lucky for you they took the stupid one. Hurry now, through this door. We're almost out."
She hurried through the door and turned back to them, jerking with surprise as Ami slapped her.
"How dare you say that!" The blue haired woman snapped, eyes wet with guilty tears. "We loved Usagi. She was the best of any of us."
"You sure do have a strange was of showing it."
"We.we had no choice. We couldn't.the world needed us." She didn't sound like she quite believed herself. "You weren't there, you can't know what we went through!"
"How do you know all this?" Minako whispered.
Usagi thought quickly. She didn't want to tell them who she was, but she didn't want to lie, either. "I have some psychic ability." She stated coldly. Well, it was true. The soul binding ceremony had opened her to the power of foresight, after all. "Now, do you want to be rescued, or don't you? There are plenty of things I would rather be doing here than taking care of you four, but you're top priority. I'll have to kill Zeke another day."
"You plan on.?"
"Be quiet. We're almost free."

"What took so long? I was about to come after you."
Usagi kissed her annoyed husband, slid past him into the apartment they were renting, and plopped down in an armchair in exhaustion. "I was only gone an hour and a half." She sighed fondly.
"What happened?" He demanded, standing in front of her with his fists planted on his hips.
"I got in, I got out. There wasn't even a struggle."
"That's disappointing. So.?"
"So? They didn't recognize me. I think they regret leaving me, but they've moved on. They're fine on their own. I don't even want to see them now. I just want to destroy Zeke and go home." She reached out and grabbed one of his hands in both of hers, kissing his knuckles. "Being back here really makes me appreciate everything I have now. I'm so lucky to have you. And the boys."
He smirked as a huge yawn prevented her from saying more, leaning down to lift her into his arms. "Come, you should go to bed." He ordered, voice softening as it only did when they were alone.
"The boys."
"Asleep. As you should be. I feel your exhaustion, you can take the time to appreciate life some other time. Like perhaps when you can keep your eyes open."
"But."
"Baka." He said affectionately, nudging open the door to their room with his foot.

"I'm going to go buy groceries, anybody wanna' come with?" Usagi called, pulling her long, thick hair up into a high ponytail. Trunks hopped out of the room he shared with his little brother, tugging on a boot. Veggie followed, fingers in his mouth.
"Dad's taking us up to the roof to train. He says Veggie's old enough to start learning to be a warrior now, and he's not gonna put it off just because we're in another dimension.
"That sounds like him." She laughed. "I'll bring you a prize."
"Something good." "Yes, yes, something good. Of course."
A large hand found her waist from behind. "And will you bring me a prize as well, woman?"
She grinned, turning to kiss him. "Of course. Don't work my boys too hard, now, or you might be in trouble later." She pulled away, not failing to notice Trunks' happy smile as he watched them, and grabbed up her purse and car keys. It hadn't been too difficult to rent a car and an apartment, despite the fact they didn't have much money. She felt a little guilty for using mind control to get them, but it had been an emergency. Anyway, she could use her old bank account for her groceries.
Tokyo itself had changed since she had been gone, however she had no trouble finding the store she wanted. She tried to find a shopping cart that wheeled properly, and set to finding the objects she needed. Vegeta had scribbled something illegible on her shopping list, right between the milk and the bread, and she was squinting at it, trying to decide what it said, when she turned a corner and her grocery cart collided with someone else's.
"Ohmygosh! I'm so sorry!"
"No, it was my fault." Usagi countered quickly, with a smile, blushing as she realized what it was her mate hate written and stuffing the note in her pocket. She looked up at the person she had run into and froze. "Minako!" She blurted without thinking.
The blonde tilted her head to the side, observing her while trying to calm the squalling three-year-old who had been sitting in the cart and had been frightened by the collision. "Do I know you?"
"It.it's me." Usagi said faintly, deciding she might as well tell her. "I.I'm."
Minako's blue eyes widened slowly. "Usagi?" She shrieked. "USAGI?!?!"
".Yeah."

"Wethoughtyouweredead.Whathappened?Wherehaveyoubeen?Areyouokay?OhGod,Usagi,I 'msosorrywenevermeanttohurtyoubutwehadnochoiceandwe'rereallyreallysorryandwe thoughtaboutyouallthetimeandn whatareyoudoinghereandhwerehaveyoubeen?"
"Whoa, whoa. Slow down a little, I'm not used to your chatter anymore."
"Wow, your voice is different. Why're you so quiet?" Minako shook her head. "Nevermind, that's not important. What's important is that you're here. You're really here!"
"Yes, I am. It's good to see you again."
"It's way better than good to see you again. Where have you been?"
"It's a long story." She smiled.
The child began to cry again and Minako picked her up. She calmed, looking at Usagi through large wine red eyes, strands of lightly curling pink hair falling into her face. "Usagi-chan," Minako smiled proudly. "This is my daughter."
"Daughter? Oh! You're married?"
Her eyes darkened. "Widowed. He dies before she was born, he was a police man."
"I'm so sorry."
"I.I'm okay."
"So, what's her name?"
She grinned. "Usagi. I named her after you."
Sudden realization dawned on her. "She.she's Chibi-Usa?"
"I think so, yes. It kind of makes since, you know? I pretended to be you when they took you, and became the leader like I'd been trained to. So."
"Yeah, I get it. I'm glad, that had worried me a little. I was worried I had killed her by not marrying Mamoru." Usagi scribbled on an empty spot on her shopping list and tore it off, handing it to her old friend. "This is where I'm staying. Why don't you all come to dinner tomorrow night?"

To Be Continued