After Piccolo and Yamcha left that evening, the girls too had began to prepare themselves to leave, as much as they hated to. They just didn't seem to want to say good-bye to Lucky. They all tried to make excuses as to why they could stay, but when I came right down to it, they knew that they would have to leave sooner or later.
So there the six of them stood, in front of Usagi's house with Lucky, saying their last good-byes before they had to see her off to a new home the next day, something they had been dreading ever since they first found her. But now it was finally coming true and all of them were in tears. They had all become quite attached the little critter.
The six friends passed the excited puppy around themselves as they stood in a circle so they each got a chance to hold her one last time. Ami took Lucky from Minako and brought her to her face. "I'm really going to miss that face."
Hotaru reached up and placed her hand on Lucky's back as she began to pet her ever so slowly. "I know. I can't believe we actually have to get rid of her."
At that moment, the door to the house behind opened up and out walked Chi-Chi, the main decision maker in this situation. "What are you all balling about?" She asked in a rather suspicious but hinting voice. Usagi and Minako, who cried together, turned to look at Chi-Chi, letting their grief be well known to the woman. "Cheer up you guys, I've found a great home for Lucky." 'I knew this would be hard on them.'
Makoto scanned her eyes over her friends. She wasn't sure about what their feelings about that were, but she was happy for Lucky, but still upset that she had to see her go. "You did?" She asked in a small voice, one barely understandable.
Chi-Chi nodded with a smile. "Yes, I have." She leaned her head back when she heard her husband walk out of the house with a bowl of food in his hands. 'Figures.'
Minako tried to calm herself and sniffled. "What kind of house is it? Will she be treated good?"
Chi-Chi nodded, again. Only that time her smile only grew wider than it had been before. "She will be treated wonderfully. It's a house in a wide open area with lots of kids to play with in a great house. She'll love it. Trust me, she already does."
The girls were to busy worrying over the puppy's departure that they failed to really grasp the words that had just flown out of Chi-Chi's mouth. Instead, they just turned up the whimpering and paid more attention to Lucky.
Goku chuckled with a mouth full. "Did you guys just hear her or not?"
Rei perked to Goku's question more so than her friends had. "What are you talking about?"
"She just said you could keep her. If you were paying attention you would have figured that out." He shoved in another mouth full of food.
The girls didn't really take in what had just been said for the same reason that they had not heard the original statement from Chi-Chi. They were too involved in what they were doing beforehand to even really care about anything else, which only caused them more pain in the long run.
Ami, as usual, was really the first one to stop and realize what had been said about thirty seconds after it had been said. "Wait a minute..." She pulled herself away from what she was doing and turned to look at Goku with a stunned face. "What did you just say?" Pale faced, Ami reached back and felt around for her friends without taking her eye off of Goku and Chi-Chi.
Ami's hand found its way into the face of Minako, who didn't exactly appreciate having something rudely shoved in her face. "Hey. Ami." She turned to Ami, who was still in a sort of trance. "What's the matter with you?" She looked up to the smiling parents of Usagi. "Wait, why are you two so happy?"
Hotaru looked up when she heard Minako's question. "Huh?" She found it odd that anyone could be happy in a situation like this. 'Well Goku's eating so he has a reason to be happy.'
Chi-Chi giggled at the faces of the bewildered children. "I said that you could keep Luck here, for the third time." Third times a charm. That got the attention of the rest. The remaining three shot their heads up with hopeful eyes to go along.
"What?" Usagi took her hand away from Lucky and pulled away from the group to walk closer to her mother. "You mean we can keep her here mom?"
Chi-Chi nodded. "Yes you can keep her. You all have been doing such a good job of taking care of her and you've obviously gotten quite attached to her." She grinned as she looked at her husband. "All of you have."
Goku chuckled as he threw a hand behind his head. "Yeah. I guess she wasn't trying to eat me after all." He continued to laugh as he turned around to walk back into the house where he would find more food to fill his Saiyan stomach.
Usagi ran to her mother and threw her arms around her. "Thank you mom! You don't know how cool you're being right now!"
Chi-Chi smiled down at her daughter as she noticed her friends coming near. "You're welcome." She looked up to the others with a warm smile. "All of you. I'm kind of attached to her myself. I don't really want to see her leave."
Usagi looked up to her mother as she continued to hug as she smiled with supreme happiness. "And we love you for that, don't we girls?" Usagi's question got a unified nod from all the girls as she began to play with Lucky, who was there to stay.
Ami giggled as Lucky barked with happiness, sneaking in a kiss to Ami's nose every now and then. "Well Lucky, you're part of the gang now." She laughed as she turned to look back at Chi-Chi. There was still one thing left to do that day. "Would you mind if Usagi and I went to the music school for a while. I know it's late, but I know of a very good group that will be rehearsing tonight. I think that this may help her in her studies."
Chi-Chi looked down to her excited daughter. 'Well if it will improve her grades even more.' "You'll miss dinner if you leave now. Your father is already inside eating."
Usagi was officially shocked at her mother calm nature that went along with her answer, which alone was pretty shocking. She had expected maybe a raise of her voice along with a big lecture of curfews. 'Must be the fact that it can help my grades. Hehehe. Mom's great.' "You mean I can really go? Honest?"
Chi-Chi nodded. "Only if you promise to call before you're ready to come home so your father or I can come and get you. I don't want you flying by yourself in the dark quite yet."
Usagi giggled. "Ok mom. It's a deal." She turned to her friends, who except for Ami, had all gone back to playing with Lucky. 'Wow, three weird things happening in one day.' "You guys wanna come with me and Ami to the Music School?"
Hotaru looked up to Usagi first. "Papa will want me home for dinner before too long."
Makoto looked up with a frown on her face as she rubbed Lucky's belly. "Two words, my dad."
Minako grinned up at her two friends who seemed to have problems with their parents. "Come on you guys, they'll understand if you don't come home tonight. Let's go to the Music store."
Rei only sighed. "Minako, didn't your parents yell at you last year for barely passing the end of the year test? Don't you think that you should be studying for this years?"
Minako dropped her head in embarrassment. "You just had to point that out, didn't you?"
Rei giggled as she turned to Ami. "I guess I'm out too. Grandpa wants me home in time to do my chores around the temple. Maybe I can go with you guys next time when it's not so late."
"Ok, that sounds reasonable. I guess we'll see you tomorrow." Ami turned to Usagi, who had found her way back to Lucky with Makoto. "Come on. We should be going before they begin."
"Your mom doesn't mind if you go this late?"
Ami shook her head. "I usually go to the school after practices. I like to clear my mind of the day's happenings before returning to home."
~*~*~
Once at the giant school of Music, Usagi looked at the outside of the building in awe. The school was on the outskirts of town and had a 400 Acre plot of land to build on, though they left a lot of it bare just to be nature. "This is amazing. It's the biggest school I've ever seen."
The school looked to have at least three floors in the main building with at least five other buildings in the main part of the campus, which looked to have one to two floors depending on the building. Near the rear, there were two large buildings big enough to house at least 2000 people.
Ami giggled as she grabbed a hold of Usagi's arm and pulled her to the main building. "Of course it's big. Those buildings in the back were the symphony halls, built with just the right materials for the acoustics to be heard just right. Almost everything is built with wood so the sound will bounce off instead of be absorbed."
"Uh, Ami? You lost me." Usagi wasn't too concerned with Ami's wording as soon as she entered the school, where she saw hundred of people, from young to old. They were all conversing with each other, sharing their knowledge of Music as well as asking advice of others. Almost everyone there had their instrument by their side as if it was their child that they must protect. "Wow..." Was the only thing able to emerge from Usagi's lips.
"I knew you'd like it, Usagi." She began pulling on Usagi's wrist to pull her deeper into the world of Music. "Follow me, I want you to meet someone."
Usagi looked around at everything. She wanted to take in as much as possible. "So this will help me study?"
"I believe so. Ever since your parents broke down and allowed you to listen to music as you did your homework, your grades have improved. But your class work is suffering because you are not allowed to listen to music during class. I think that if we get you a better understanding of music, you may be able to use it in everyday life."
Usagi giggled at that. "How does music help in everyday life?"
"More than you can believe. Not only does it sooth the soul, but it can be so powerful that it enhances the mind, as it does with yours. But not only that. It does things that I can't fully explain to you as I myself have not even gotten a good grasp upon them. That is why I'm taking you to meet my teacher."
Usagi stopped and widened her eyes. "You learn here?"
Ami blushed as she let go of Usagi's wrist. "Yes. I have been going to this school ever since I was little. Before I moved here, I went to a branch school in Tokyo. And before you ask, I play the harp."
Usagi smiled with wonder. "Can you play for me one day?"
Ami's face turned a darker color red at the thought. She hated to play for anyone but her mother and teacher. "Maybe when I get better."
'Note to self, get Ami to play for us.' "Ok. I understand. Maybe in a couple of weeks then."
Ami smiled at Usagi's persistence. 'She's always tryin to make people feel better. She is a true friend.' "Shall we continue on our journey then?"
Usagi nodded. "Sure thing." She put he arm around Ami's shoulder and the two of them began to walk forward once again.
~*~*~
About ten minutes after figuring out that Ami's music teacher wasn't in his room as expected, Ami knew of only one place that he could possibly be. One of the symphony halls. She led Usagi to the main hall where the group would be rehearsing for the night, but stopped just before entering. She turned to Usagi with the most serious of expressions. "Now don't make noise in here. I know you like to be loud and all, but please, they don't like it when we make noise because for one, it ruins the acoustics sine our voices get caught in the sound, and two, it ruins their concentration."
Usagi grinned. "You think I can't be quiet?"
"Well think about it Usagi. Has there ever been a time that you were quiet?"
Usagi pondered for a moment before she came up with her answer, though they both knew very well what it would be. "I guess not. Well, I'll be quiet now. I'll break my noisy record."
Ami smiled as she gently pushed in on the doors that led into the hall. "Great." She turned into the hall and led Usagi down near the front. She looked up to the wooden stage to see that the group was just about ready to rehearse, but not quite. The conductor hadn't come out yet, but a small group played by themselves.
Usagi looked around in astonishment. Just like Ami had said, everything was made of wood, except for the padding part of the chairs for comfort. The floor was even made of wood. 'I guess they want the sound to bounce all over the place.' She looked up to the wall behind the group of musicians where an enormous wooden pipe organ was built right into the wall. 'This is just...wow.'
"This is a group of students from this school, Usagi. You'll love them. They always put on a free symphony for the students who go to this school at the end of the year."
Usagi glanced over at Ami. "You mean you normally have to pay to come here."
"Of course. It takes a lot to run a place like this. But it's not only for maintenance, they have to pay the groups who come and play here."
Usagi's eyes continued to grow along with her excitement as she placed her eyes on girl with aqua hair as she walked from the stage into the main aisle with a Violin. "Hey isn't that...?" Ami turned to look at what Usagi was inquiring about.
The girl gave a quick smirk as she strolled by the two kids. "Hey Monkey. Never thought I'd see you in a place like this."
Usagi fell over the chair next to her as she tried to race out toward Michiru. "Michiru! WAIT!" She cringed when she felt and saw the angry eyes of the performers on her. "Oops." She whispered under her breath. Usagi looked back to Ami as she stood back to her feet. "Since when does Michiru play an instrument?"
Ami shrugged in shock. "I don't know. It's news to me as well as you. Let's go check it out."
"That's what I was trying to do before I tripped." This time it was Usagi who grabbed Ami by the wrist and pulled her out. She didn't want anymore hold ups before they got a chance to question Michiru.
"Maybe she's not so coldhearted after all." Ami pulled her wrist from Usagi once she was clear of the chairs. Both girls immediately darted out of the hall at full speed in hopes to catch up to Michiru before she got a chance to leave.
"I still have my doubts. She's having some serious mood swings lately though." Once outside again, Usagi scanned the busy area and quickly fixed her eyes on Michiru, who was actually wearing a dress. 'Now that's just scary.'
"I wonder how long she's been here. I've never seen her around before." Ami ran after Michiru, who just gracefully walked away. "Michiru! Stop!"
Acknowledging that she had been called out to, Michiru respectfully, turned around with a slight blush of embarrassment. "Yes?"
Usagi caught up to the two girls and smiled softly at Michiru. "Wow. You look really pretty, Michiru? Why don't you wear dresses more often?"
Michiru turned away as she could feel her blush becoming more noticeable. "I hate dresses."
Ami smiled as she made her way in front of Michiru again. "No you don't. It's obvious otherwise you wouldn't be blushing like you are." She let her eyes travel down to the glassy Violin in Michiru's hands. "That's a lovely instrument you have there. Looks like very fine craftsmanship."
Michiru frowned. She didn't like all the good attention she was earning from the two. "What would you know?"
Usagi walked around Michiru and reached out for the Violin. "I don't know anything about instruments but I think it looks pretty."
Michiru softened up as willingly handed Usagi her instrument. "Thanks, I think. My mother ordered it from this place in London. It's supposed to be top of the line. I've never used it in a concert before."
Usagi looked up at Michiru in curiosity. "I didn't know you were in to this kind of stuff. Why didn't you ever tell us?"
Ami had a bit of curiosity herself. "How long have you been attending this school?"
"I just started this year, but I've been hiding it from everyone. I've been taking private lessons ever since I was about five, before I met Haruka." Her eyes grew deep with anticipation and sadness as she thought back to the days before Haruka. "Now everything is different."
Ami sympathetically looked up into Michiru's eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I have to hide my love for playing from Haruka and the others. I have to make them think that my mother is forcing me. Even tonight because of the practice, I had to finally come clean and tell them about this. They think that I'm enjoying this, that my mother isn't forcing me. It's true, but I don't want them to hate me." Her expression hardened at the realization of what she had just said. She hadn't planned on telling them anything, but it just felt so good to finally be able to talk about it with someone. She had been holding it in for years on end. "But what would you losers care? Stupid Braniac and Stupid Monkey."
Usagi handed Michiru back her Violin as she put her arm around her waist. "You don't mean that now do you?"
Michiru sighed as she looked down to Usagi and then over at Ami, whose eyes were asking the same thing. "Truth?"
Ami nodded. "Truth."
"No. I don't mean it. Actually, I don't really mean anything I do. Not anymore I don't. Before I meant everything I did, but not now. I've grown up. I mean, I'm fifteen years old it's about time. But my friends haven't grown up yet. They are still very immature."
Usagi smiled up at the troubled girl. "Then don't hang out with them. Find friends who like you for you. That's what I did. That's what all of us did. We found each other."
Michiru smiled at the young girl's statement. "You're smarter than you look, Usagi. But I can't betray my friends. I still have confidence that they will come around sooner or later. It took me a while to realize what was wrong and right, and now I'm trying to get them to do it. But promise you'll keep my secret until they come around."
Ami looked at the smiling Usagi and then back up at Michiru. "We promise." 'She called her Usagi and not Monkey. I guess she has changed.' "I guess this means that you'll still be picking on us around Mamoru."
Michiru nodded. "Don't take it personally." She cocked her head to the side when she felt her friends approaching. "Uh-oh. Here we go again. I'm going to get yelled at now."
Usagi let go of Michiru and pulled Ami to the side. "We need to help her."
"I think I know how."
Curiosity got the better of Usagi again. "How?"
Ami smiled. "Follow my lead." She led Usagi back to Michiru and winked up at her, telling her that they were just playing along with her little game. "Whatever Michiru! You could NEVER play better than me!"
Usagi grinned. 'Ooh, I love this game.' "Yeah! You suck! I don't know why you're even here! You need to go back home where you belong!"
Mamoru stopped short of his next step as he scowled at the two girls making fun of his friend. "Oh no they don't." He grabbed Haruka and pulled her towards Michiru and the two younger children.
Michiru glanced over at her two fuming friends who were fast approaching. 'This is great. Reverse psychology.'
Ami smirked at Mamoru, which only made his anger rise up higher. "Michiru, you will never amount to anything. You are the worst Violinist that I have ever met. You need to just pack your bags and leave this school."
"Yeah! They don't want low-lives like you around!" That earned Usagi a fake hurt look from Michiru.
"Why don't YOU leave Odango! You're the lowlife!" Mamoru growled as he approached Michiru, though he wasn't angry with her. "You can take that brain with you too."
Haruka walked to Michiru and pulled her away from the two youngsters. "Don't listen to them, Michiru. You play wonderfully. They wouldn't know good music if it bit their heads off."
'Always thinking in terms of violence.' "Those kids are horrible." Michiru pretended to cry into Haruka's shoulder.
Seeing that, Mamoru lashed out at Usagi, who jumped back to dodge. "You idiot! She's a great player! Better than YOU could ever be! Why don't you scram before I get REALLY mad!" Even though he wasn't into the music thing like Michiru was, he wouldn't let that stop him from standing up for her. After all, she was his friend.
Usagi and Ami backed away, pleased with their results. "Are you SURE that she can play better than me? I'll bet she can't even play a basic scale on that thing." Ami could feel the anger boiling inside Mamoru. She was rather enjoying herself. Not because she was making fun of someone, but because she was helping Michiru be accepted by her good for nothing friends.
"GET OUT!" Usagi and Ami giggled as they turned around and ran away. Mamoru turned to Michiru, who seemed to be getting a hold of herself. "You play great, Michiru. Don't let them pull you down. They don't now what they're talking about."
Haruka kept her arms around Michiru in the form of a hug. "That's right. Now, let's go inside. I believe you have a concert to prepare for and I want to listen to the practice since I can't make it to the concert."
~*~*~
The next day after school, the six friends arrived at the Son house. Earlier in the day, Usagi and Ami had told Minako, Makoto, and Rei all about their night at the Music school, including what they had learned about Michiru. That had been the topic of the day. None of the five could get over the fact that Michiru had been faking her hate for them. They all wondered how long she had been hiding it. They had noticed the change in her, but they never thought that it could have been something so big.
When they had told Hotaru, she hadn't been as shocked. She hadn't really known Michiru so she didn't really even know how to react. But she could tell by the way that the girls were acting that it had to be something of a big thing.
Now, the girls, except for Hotaru who was training with Goku, were trying to plan out the way they were going to train their new students. They knew that they had to be firm, not too firm as they wanted to teach them respect and the only way they knew how to do that was with love and compassion just as Goku had taught them.
"So how are we going to teach them?" Makoto and everyone else turned to a dazed Usagi, who seemed to be in a trance of thoughts. "Usagi?"
"Huh?" Usagi shook her thoughts away and turned to Makoto, who called out to her. "Oh, I was thinking about teaching them about basic fighting. You know, how dad taught us. How to fight with honor. How to only hit someone if it's in self defense when THEY started it first. Dad always stressed that."
Minako laid down on the ground and looked up at the sky. "I remember him always telling us that. That's a good idea, too. We should teach them that."
Rei nodded in agreement. "They have a nasty habit of just going up to people and starting fights."
"Do you think we should teach them how to make shields and how to..." Ami paused when she felt the eyes of her friends look upon her. "Well they need to learn how to do that kind of stuff too." Before anyone could truly reply to Ami's suggestion, the girls perked their heads to the south, where the Ki signatures of their new students could be felt.
Rei stood up and put her hand just over her eyes to shelter them from the bright light that the sun was producing high in the sky. "Looks like we're going to have to finish this later. They're here already." In the distance, she could see Nine figures flying towards their position.
Piccolo landed first, followed by his son next to him. "Here they are."
Mamoru looked around to the girls in pure disgust. He could have gone of on his father right there and then for the stunt he was trying to pull on them. "Oh great. Do you mean to tell me that these are the new Sensei's that you wanted us to train under?"
A look of horror entered the girls' eyes as they all came to realize that none of the older kids had been told who they were to be training with. That was not exactly the best situation for them to be in at the moment for they knew the rage of these kids. They had hoped that Piccolo and Yamcha would have at least told the kids who was going to be training them so they had time to think it over.
Piccolo and Yamcha smirked down at the girls as they laughed under their breath. "Our payback to you for the stunt you pulled yesterday." That earned a groan from all five girls, though ,they didn't regret at all making Piccolo wear Mickey Mouse ears.
Yamcha looked to the six teens behind. "They will be training you until you learn."
Haruka sneered at Yamcha. "What do you mean 'until we learn'? We don't need any of this crap from you! I'm not learning from a damned MONKEY!" Usagi just stuck her tongue out at the girl.
Michiru tried to sound convincing, but anything she said had no real heart behind it. "No. We don't want to learn from them."
Piccolo grinned back at her. 'I knew she was changing.'
Mamoru looked up to his father. "I will NOT lower myself to learning from these little twits."
Piccolo growled as he brought his attention down to his son. "ENOUGH! ALL OF YOU! You training is at a stand still. You can't rise to another level. You, Yamcha, and I cannot decipher the new techniques that these children have created and mastered. Plus, you can't fight as a group. You also need to learn a thing or two about respect, something that these girls have learned from the master as well as use every single day."
Yamcha joined in Piccolo's glare at their students. He couldn't believe that they were acting in such an unruly manner. He had never met anyone who had so much hate to give. "You will train with them. You will learn from them. You will treat them with respect. No name calling, no fighting, and you're to train as they tell you until you achieve greater heights, or we tell you otherwise."
Piccolo glared at his son. "That means not calling her Odango OR Monkey."
Mamoru scowled at a stunned Usagi and then up at his father. "You can't be serious."
With patience running VERY low, Piccolo reached out and grabbed his son by the collar. "IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!"
Mamoru felt fear of his father as he looked him in the eye. 'Damn, I can't get out of this. He's not going to let me.' He looked down to the ground and mumbled something two quiet for any human to hear. But Piccolo's hearing, as well as Usagi's hearing heard it just fine.
Piccolo grinned. He wanted everyone to hear it. "What was that?"
Mamoru clenched his fist, letting his anger be shown. "I SAID FINE!"
"Good." He dropped his son and walked to his last two students. He knew that Michiru wouldn't put up much of a fight in this situation, but Haruka was another story. He grabbed both by the back of the neck and brought his head in-between the gap that theirs created. "That also goes for you two, understood?" He harshly released them when he got a nod from both.
Yamcha glared back at the four Americans that he had brought back to Japan with him on his most recent trip over there. "You four, I know that you don't know these young ladies all that well, but I also know you treat them like dirt. That stops here or else your training does." He got not a single protest from the group. "Good. I'm liking your attitude." He turned to the group of girls, who were completely stunned. "Let me introduce these guys to you." He baked away from the group to make them totally visible to the girls. "This is Kenneth (Kunzite), Nathaniel (Nephrite), Justin (Jadeite), and Zodiac (Zoisite) Keep in mind they're American so they have American names.
"We leave you with them now." Piccolo jumped into the air with Yamcha and took one last look down at the trouble making kids. "Behave...or else."
Yamcha turned once more and smirked down to the scowling girls, who still couldn't get over the fact that the Rat Pack had just now been told of their new training. "Good luck." 'They're going to need it.' Yamcha and Piccolo laughed at their joke as they both flew off.
The two groups were left to face off against each other. One group literally radiated fury and defiance, while the other was more calm and down to earth. Both groups didn't exactly want to work together, but Usagi's group knew that I had to be done. They had been asked by Piccolo and Yamcha to work with them to make them better people so that was what they planned to do.
Usagi gulped as she stepped forward, which none of her friends seemed to want to do. "I guess we sho..."
Mamoru continued to scowl at Usagi with pure hatred. He wasn't too worried about working with the others for his hate for Usagi had grown immensely over the past week far beyond what it used to be. "Hang on Oda..."
Usagi frowned. 'He did it! He called me name!' "Wait a second. NO ODANGO. I made Piccolo promise that before we started."
Mamoru let out a growl in disgust that his father would ever agree to such and outrageous request. "Fine. But let's get one thing straight. We DON'T want to work with you. We're only doing it because our Sensei's are making us. But don't worry, it won't be long until they realize how incredibly stupid this all is."
Makoto looked to Usagi, who seemed to be losing her temper. 'Uh-oh.' She looked up to Mamoru and stepped forward to him and pushed Usagi back. 'Looks like the Odango thing is really getting to her.' "Look, Mamoru. We want to put the past behind us. Can't we use this time to mend fences?"
Ami could definitely agree with that. "Yes, it's not logical to have such a rivalry between us. Can't we just be friends?"
Minako nodded to show her agreement. "Right, Lets just let it be boats under the bridge."
Rei, as well as every other friend of Minako, sighed. "That's water under the bridge, Minako."
Minako giggled. "Oh yeah, that works to."
Haruka glared at them with no respect at all. She didn't care what her Sensei wanted. "No we can't. We don't like you at all."
Usagi frowned at their unwillingness to learn. "Fine lets begin then and get it done with." 'It's gonna be hard but I'll bet I can do it.'
Ami walked past Usagi and began handing their new students something. "Here, this will help you to get stronger."
Minako and Usagi curiously looked over her shoulder to see what she was giving them. Minako reached over and grabbed a small pendant. "This is just like our gravity pendant that Bulma gave us."
Usagi grabbed it from Minako, who only responded in a frown. "Hey. It is. Where did you get these, Ami?"
"Last night I called Bulma and asked her to make them. I figured since they were still training with weights that they should move up. I picked them up today before school." She reached around and grabbed the amulet out of Usagi's hands and handed it to Michiru. "They're set to thirty-five times earth's normal gravity. You are strong enough to handle it."
Usagi playfully knocked on Ami's head. "Always thinkin aren't you?"
Ami giggled. "Yeah. I guess I am. Ok people, we wear these things all day everyday except when we're sleeping so I guess you guys should too."
Mamoru snickered as he looked down to the necklace like item. "You've gotta be kidding me. I'm not wearing a necklace. No way."
Michiru turned her amulet over to see her name engraved on it in cursive and let out a near silent gasp. She looked up to Ami, who winked at her. 'These kids really aren't all that bad.' She smiled back to let her appreciation be shown.
Ami smiled. 'I knew she'd like it.'
Rei grinned as she joined her two friends up with their new students. "So let's see it. Let's see you guys turn them on."
Six teens reluctantly put their pendants around their necks, which Michiru happily put hers on. They pushed the button that activated them and all seven immediately fell to the ground, unable to move an inch.
"It's too heavy, Od..., Usagi." Mamoru growled at the fact that he had to call Usagi by her real name.
Makoto laughed as she sat down in front of the students. "You just need to get use to it, Mamoru. It's not that hard once you get used to it. Now getting used to it is the hard part." She turned to Usagi with a pale face. "I really hope that you remember how you got Hotaru used to it cause I really don't like how your dad made us do it."
Usagi cringed at the thought of how she had been trained with the Gravity. "Don't worry. I do. I don't think that these guys would appreciate the way daddy did it." She turned back down to Haruka with a grin. "On the other hand."
Haruka struggled to breathe as she scowled at Usagi's feet. "Just be done with it!"
Usagi giggled. "Fine, fine. Lay on your backs and pump your legs like you were walking. It worked for Hotaru. Then, when you get used to that, you can try it with your arms."
Makoto grinned down at the teens who were trying to turn over to lay on their backs. "After that, to make it more fun, why don't we even try having you guys shoot a Ki blast with the gravity. Or you can try to block one from us. Or even..."
"Whoa girl hold on there." Rei laughed as she placed her hand on Makoto's shoulder. "Thinking mighty high there, aren't you? They haven't even gotten their legs used to the new gravity yet. I think that once they get their arms and legs able to move they should try standing up."
A smile ran across Makoto's face. "And when they stand up THEN they can work with Ki blasts!"
Ami thought about Makoto's method for a moment. She knew that Rei wasn't liking the idea and was about to try and stop her friend from going any further. "Wait Rei. She may be onto something. Then after Ki blasts, we can have them fly with the gravity."
Usagi bent down and helped Michiru on her back. "If you feel tired, stop. I passed out once cause I didn't stop when I was tired."
Michiru smiled with a nod. "Ok." She glanced over to Haruka, who was glaring at her. "But I'm not doing it because I like you and want to listen to you, MONK...USAGI! I'm only doing it because I want to stay conscious."
Usagi stood up with a smile. "Great."
~*~*~
For that whole training sessions, which was three hours long, the girls had the Rat Pack do nothing but exercises to get them used to their new gravity. None of them truly tried at all for the didn't want to work under Usagi and her loner friends, as they referred to them.
As they finished up their exercises, the group of girls sighed in exasperation. They never expected the group to resist as much as they had. Makoto was probably the toughest on them all, as well as good with motivating them to keep going.
"Come on you guys. Don't you want to be stronger than us so you can beat us? I know that's what your dream is. It's fairly obvious. So work and maybe you'll be able to beat us."
Minako giggled as she walked up to the teens on the ground, who were able to move their legs easier than before. "Great way to make them work Makoto. Now they're going to want to beat us up when they're finished."
Haruka grinned. "We were going to beat you up anyway."
Minako impishly smiled down at the two girls, who weren't exactly trying their hardest. "We'll tell Piccolo on you if you don't work harder."
"Tattle tail."
Minako stuck her tongue out to her. "Nahhh."
Usagi turned around to the trees that surrounded her house when she heard her father and Hotaru talking in the distance. "Looks like they're done. I guess we should fly Hotaru home. We don't want to get her late again. I think her dad's getting made about that."
Mamoru and Haruka turned to each other with smirks and evil thoughts. Both knew exactly what the other was thinking and knew that if they winged right, they could have their wish come true. "Usagi..." Haruka interjected before Usagi had a full chance to approach her father and Hotaru, who were looking quite beaten up. "I'll fly her home. I live in that direction and can get to know her at the same time." She put on a fake smile as if she was a changed person. "This way you can just stay here and you don't have to worry your parents with being gone."
'Uh...' Usagi bent her neck backward to look up at her father, who now stood directly behind her. "Is it safe?"
Goku knew it wasn't safe. He could see through that girl without any trouble. He had heard more believable lies come from his daughter, but this was for Usagi to find out. She was helping the others teach these people respect and if he were to interfere than it could risk the whole project. "I can't help you with this. It's your guys' decision to call. But let me give you advice, don't think you know them as well as you think you do." With that, he walked turned away with a grin and began walking back to his house where his dinner awaited him. "Bye girls."
Justin snickered at Goku as he turned his pendant off. He noted that his friends were doing the same. "What a freak. No wonder why Usagi's just a dork. Her father's worse than her. Is he always saying stuff that don't make sense?"
Usagi could feel her face become red with anger. It was one thing to make fun of her, but it was a whole different subject matter when it came to her family. "Take that back! My daddy isn't a dork!"
Justin grinned and was ready to say more when he found Mamoru's hand over his mouth. "Shut up. Remember we aren't supposed to make fun of her. But don't worry, I have a plan. Just hold your tongue for a while."
Hotaru wasn't sure if she knew exactly what she was doing, but she was going to try to mend fences between groups. The Rat Pack didn't really have much against her from what she could tell. "Sure. I'll go. I sounds like fun." She walked to the smirking Haruka and Mamoru. Michiru didn't seem to be enjoying herself.
"What? Are you sure about that Hotaru?" Rei bent down to Hotaru's level. "What if they try something."
"Stupid girl. We aren't going to try anything. We're just trying to help out. If you don't want our help then do it yourself." Mamoru pushed Hotaru away.
Hotaru begged Rei with her eyes for her to let her go. "I'll be all right." She walked back to the group and waited for their acceptance.
Mamoru had no intention of rejecting the child. "Come on. Let's get out of here." With no further word or thanks to the girls, he and his gang took off into the air with Hotaru.
Rei turned back to her pouting friends. "I think she'll be ok."
Usagi groaned. "She better be or else I'm going to be in major trouble with my mom AND Mr. Tomoe."
( That's it for this part. What did you think? )
So there the six of them stood, in front of Usagi's house with Lucky, saying their last good-byes before they had to see her off to a new home the next day, something they had been dreading ever since they first found her. But now it was finally coming true and all of them were in tears. They had all become quite attached the little critter.
The six friends passed the excited puppy around themselves as they stood in a circle so they each got a chance to hold her one last time. Ami took Lucky from Minako and brought her to her face. "I'm really going to miss that face."
Hotaru reached up and placed her hand on Lucky's back as she began to pet her ever so slowly. "I know. I can't believe we actually have to get rid of her."
At that moment, the door to the house behind opened up and out walked Chi-Chi, the main decision maker in this situation. "What are you all balling about?" She asked in a rather suspicious but hinting voice. Usagi and Minako, who cried together, turned to look at Chi-Chi, letting their grief be well known to the woman. "Cheer up you guys, I've found a great home for Lucky." 'I knew this would be hard on them.'
Makoto scanned her eyes over her friends. She wasn't sure about what their feelings about that were, but she was happy for Lucky, but still upset that she had to see her go. "You did?" She asked in a small voice, one barely understandable.
Chi-Chi nodded with a smile. "Yes, I have." She leaned her head back when she heard her husband walk out of the house with a bowl of food in his hands. 'Figures.'
Minako tried to calm herself and sniffled. "What kind of house is it? Will she be treated good?"
Chi-Chi nodded, again. Only that time her smile only grew wider than it had been before. "She will be treated wonderfully. It's a house in a wide open area with lots of kids to play with in a great house. She'll love it. Trust me, she already does."
The girls were to busy worrying over the puppy's departure that they failed to really grasp the words that had just flown out of Chi-Chi's mouth. Instead, they just turned up the whimpering and paid more attention to Lucky.
Goku chuckled with a mouth full. "Did you guys just hear her or not?"
Rei perked to Goku's question more so than her friends had. "What are you talking about?"
"She just said you could keep her. If you were paying attention you would have figured that out." He shoved in another mouth full of food.
The girls didn't really take in what had just been said for the same reason that they had not heard the original statement from Chi-Chi. They were too involved in what they were doing beforehand to even really care about anything else, which only caused them more pain in the long run.
Ami, as usual, was really the first one to stop and realize what had been said about thirty seconds after it had been said. "Wait a minute..." She pulled herself away from what she was doing and turned to look at Goku with a stunned face. "What did you just say?" Pale faced, Ami reached back and felt around for her friends without taking her eye off of Goku and Chi-Chi.
Ami's hand found its way into the face of Minako, who didn't exactly appreciate having something rudely shoved in her face. "Hey. Ami." She turned to Ami, who was still in a sort of trance. "What's the matter with you?" She looked up to the smiling parents of Usagi. "Wait, why are you two so happy?"
Hotaru looked up when she heard Minako's question. "Huh?" She found it odd that anyone could be happy in a situation like this. 'Well Goku's eating so he has a reason to be happy.'
Chi-Chi giggled at the faces of the bewildered children. "I said that you could keep Luck here, for the third time." Third times a charm. That got the attention of the rest. The remaining three shot their heads up with hopeful eyes to go along.
"What?" Usagi took her hand away from Lucky and pulled away from the group to walk closer to her mother. "You mean we can keep her here mom?"
Chi-Chi nodded. "Yes you can keep her. You all have been doing such a good job of taking care of her and you've obviously gotten quite attached to her." She grinned as she looked at her husband. "All of you have."
Goku chuckled as he threw a hand behind his head. "Yeah. I guess she wasn't trying to eat me after all." He continued to laugh as he turned around to walk back into the house where he would find more food to fill his Saiyan stomach.
Usagi ran to her mother and threw her arms around her. "Thank you mom! You don't know how cool you're being right now!"
Chi-Chi smiled down at her daughter as she noticed her friends coming near. "You're welcome." She looked up to the others with a warm smile. "All of you. I'm kind of attached to her myself. I don't really want to see her leave."
Usagi looked up to her mother as she continued to hug as she smiled with supreme happiness. "And we love you for that, don't we girls?" Usagi's question got a unified nod from all the girls as she began to play with Lucky, who was there to stay.
Ami giggled as Lucky barked with happiness, sneaking in a kiss to Ami's nose every now and then. "Well Lucky, you're part of the gang now." She laughed as she turned to look back at Chi-Chi. There was still one thing left to do that day. "Would you mind if Usagi and I went to the music school for a while. I know it's late, but I know of a very good group that will be rehearsing tonight. I think that this may help her in her studies."
Chi-Chi looked down to her excited daughter. 'Well if it will improve her grades even more.' "You'll miss dinner if you leave now. Your father is already inside eating."
Usagi was officially shocked at her mother calm nature that went along with her answer, which alone was pretty shocking. She had expected maybe a raise of her voice along with a big lecture of curfews. 'Must be the fact that it can help my grades. Hehehe. Mom's great.' "You mean I can really go? Honest?"
Chi-Chi nodded. "Only if you promise to call before you're ready to come home so your father or I can come and get you. I don't want you flying by yourself in the dark quite yet."
Usagi giggled. "Ok mom. It's a deal." She turned to her friends, who except for Ami, had all gone back to playing with Lucky. 'Wow, three weird things happening in one day.' "You guys wanna come with me and Ami to the Music School?"
Hotaru looked up to Usagi first. "Papa will want me home for dinner before too long."
Makoto looked up with a frown on her face as she rubbed Lucky's belly. "Two words, my dad."
Minako grinned up at her two friends who seemed to have problems with their parents. "Come on you guys, they'll understand if you don't come home tonight. Let's go to the Music store."
Rei only sighed. "Minako, didn't your parents yell at you last year for barely passing the end of the year test? Don't you think that you should be studying for this years?"
Minako dropped her head in embarrassment. "You just had to point that out, didn't you?"
Rei giggled as she turned to Ami. "I guess I'm out too. Grandpa wants me home in time to do my chores around the temple. Maybe I can go with you guys next time when it's not so late."
"Ok, that sounds reasonable. I guess we'll see you tomorrow." Ami turned to Usagi, who had found her way back to Lucky with Makoto. "Come on. We should be going before they begin."
"Your mom doesn't mind if you go this late?"
Ami shook her head. "I usually go to the school after practices. I like to clear my mind of the day's happenings before returning to home."
~*~*~
Once at the giant school of Music, Usagi looked at the outside of the building in awe. The school was on the outskirts of town and had a 400 Acre plot of land to build on, though they left a lot of it bare just to be nature. "This is amazing. It's the biggest school I've ever seen."
The school looked to have at least three floors in the main building with at least five other buildings in the main part of the campus, which looked to have one to two floors depending on the building. Near the rear, there were two large buildings big enough to house at least 2000 people.
Ami giggled as she grabbed a hold of Usagi's arm and pulled her to the main building. "Of course it's big. Those buildings in the back were the symphony halls, built with just the right materials for the acoustics to be heard just right. Almost everything is built with wood so the sound will bounce off instead of be absorbed."
"Uh, Ami? You lost me." Usagi wasn't too concerned with Ami's wording as soon as she entered the school, where she saw hundred of people, from young to old. They were all conversing with each other, sharing their knowledge of Music as well as asking advice of others. Almost everyone there had their instrument by their side as if it was their child that they must protect. "Wow..." Was the only thing able to emerge from Usagi's lips.
"I knew you'd like it, Usagi." She began pulling on Usagi's wrist to pull her deeper into the world of Music. "Follow me, I want you to meet someone."
Usagi looked around at everything. She wanted to take in as much as possible. "So this will help me study?"
"I believe so. Ever since your parents broke down and allowed you to listen to music as you did your homework, your grades have improved. But your class work is suffering because you are not allowed to listen to music during class. I think that if we get you a better understanding of music, you may be able to use it in everyday life."
Usagi giggled at that. "How does music help in everyday life?"
"More than you can believe. Not only does it sooth the soul, but it can be so powerful that it enhances the mind, as it does with yours. But not only that. It does things that I can't fully explain to you as I myself have not even gotten a good grasp upon them. That is why I'm taking you to meet my teacher."
Usagi stopped and widened her eyes. "You learn here?"
Ami blushed as she let go of Usagi's wrist. "Yes. I have been going to this school ever since I was little. Before I moved here, I went to a branch school in Tokyo. And before you ask, I play the harp."
Usagi smiled with wonder. "Can you play for me one day?"
Ami's face turned a darker color red at the thought. She hated to play for anyone but her mother and teacher. "Maybe when I get better."
'Note to self, get Ami to play for us.' "Ok. I understand. Maybe in a couple of weeks then."
Ami smiled at Usagi's persistence. 'She's always tryin to make people feel better. She is a true friend.' "Shall we continue on our journey then?"
Usagi nodded. "Sure thing." She put he arm around Ami's shoulder and the two of them began to walk forward once again.
~*~*~
About ten minutes after figuring out that Ami's music teacher wasn't in his room as expected, Ami knew of only one place that he could possibly be. One of the symphony halls. She led Usagi to the main hall where the group would be rehearsing for the night, but stopped just before entering. She turned to Usagi with the most serious of expressions. "Now don't make noise in here. I know you like to be loud and all, but please, they don't like it when we make noise because for one, it ruins the acoustics sine our voices get caught in the sound, and two, it ruins their concentration."
Usagi grinned. "You think I can't be quiet?"
"Well think about it Usagi. Has there ever been a time that you were quiet?"
Usagi pondered for a moment before she came up with her answer, though they both knew very well what it would be. "I guess not. Well, I'll be quiet now. I'll break my noisy record."
Ami smiled as she gently pushed in on the doors that led into the hall. "Great." She turned into the hall and led Usagi down near the front. She looked up to the wooden stage to see that the group was just about ready to rehearse, but not quite. The conductor hadn't come out yet, but a small group played by themselves.
Usagi looked around in astonishment. Just like Ami had said, everything was made of wood, except for the padding part of the chairs for comfort. The floor was even made of wood. 'I guess they want the sound to bounce all over the place.' She looked up to the wall behind the group of musicians where an enormous wooden pipe organ was built right into the wall. 'This is just...wow.'
"This is a group of students from this school, Usagi. You'll love them. They always put on a free symphony for the students who go to this school at the end of the year."
Usagi glanced over at Ami. "You mean you normally have to pay to come here."
"Of course. It takes a lot to run a place like this. But it's not only for maintenance, they have to pay the groups who come and play here."
Usagi's eyes continued to grow along with her excitement as she placed her eyes on girl with aqua hair as she walked from the stage into the main aisle with a Violin. "Hey isn't that...?" Ami turned to look at what Usagi was inquiring about.
The girl gave a quick smirk as she strolled by the two kids. "Hey Monkey. Never thought I'd see you in a place like this."
Usagi fell over the chair next to her as she tried to race out toward Michiru. "Michiru! WAIT!" She cringed when she felt and saw the angry eyes of the performers on her. "Oops." She whispered under her breath. Usagi looked back to Ami as she stood back to her feet. "Since when does Michiru play an instrument?"
Ami shrugged in shock. "I don't know. It's news to me as well as you. Let's go check it out."
"That's what I was trying to do before I tripped." This time it was Usagi who grabbed Ami by the wrist and pulled her out. She didn't want anymore hold ups before they got a chance to question Michiru.
"Maybe she's not so coldhearted after all." Ami pulled her wrist from Usagi once she was clear of the chairs. Both girls immediately darted out of the hall at full speed in hopes to catch up to Michiru before she got a chance to leave.
"I still have my doubts. She's having some serious mood swings lately though." Once outside again, Usagi scanned the busy area and quickly fixed her eyes on Michiru, who was actually wearing a dress. 'Now that's just scary.'
"I wonder how long she's been here. I've never seen her around before." Ami ran after Michiru, who just gracefully walked away. "Michiru! Stop!"
Acknowledging that she had been called out to, Michiru respectfully, turned around with a slight blush of embarrassment. "Yes?"
Usagi caught up to the two girls and smiled softly at Michiru. "Wow. You look really pretty, Michiru? Why don't you wear dresses more often?"
Michiru turned away as she could feel her blush becoming more noticeable. "I hate dresses."
Ami smiled as she made her way in front of Michiru again. "No you don't. It's obvious otherwise you wouldn't be blushing like you are." She let her eyes travel down to the glassy Violin in Michiru's hands. "That's a lovely instrument you have there. Looks like very fine craftsmanship."
Michiru frowned. She didn't like all the good attention she was earning from the two. "What would you know?"
Usagi walked around Michiru and reached out for the Violin. "I don't know anything about instruments but I think it looks pretty."
Michiru softened up as willingly handed Usagi her instrument. "Thanks, I think. My mother ordered it from this place in London. It's supposed to be top of the line. I've never used it in a concert before."
Usagi looked up at Michiru in curiosity. "I didn't know you were in to this kind of stuff. Why didn't you ever tell us?"
Ami had a bit of curiosity herself. "How long have you been attending this school?"
"I just started this year, but I've been hiding it from everyone. I've been taking private lessons ever since I was about five, before I met Haruka." Her eyes grew deep with anticipation and sadness as she thought back to the days before Haruka. "Now everything is different."
Ami sympathetically looked up into Michiru's eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I have to hide my love for playing from Haruka and the others. I have to make them think that my mother is forcing me. Even tonight because of the practice, I had to finally come clean and tell them about this. They think that I'm enjoying this, that my mother isn't forcing me. It's true, but I don't want them to hate me." Her expression hardened at the realization of what she had just said. She hadn't planned on telling them anything, but it just felt so good to finally be able to talk about it with someone. She had been holding it in for years on end. "But what would you losers care? Stupid Braniac and Stupid Monkey."
Usagi handed Michiru back her Violin as she put her arm around her waist. "You don't mean that now do you?"
Michiru sighed as she looked down to Usagi and then over at Ami, whose eyes were asking the same thing. "Truth?"
Ami nodded. "Truth."
"No. I don't mean it. Actually, I don't really mean anything I do. Not anymore I don't. Before I meant everything I did, but not now. I've grown up. I mean, I'm fifteen years old it's about time. But my friends haven't grown up yet. They are still very immature."
Usagi smiled up at the troubled girl. "Then don't hang out with them. Find friends who like you for you. That's what I did. That's what all of us did. We found each other."
Michiru smiled at the young girl's statement. "You're smarter than you look, Usagi. But I can't betray my friends. I still have confidence that they will come around sooner or later. It took me a while to realize what was wrong and right, and now I'm trying to get them to do it. But promise you'll keep my secret until they come around."
Ami looked at the smiling Usagi and then back up at Michiru. "We promise." 'She called her Usagi and not Monkey. I guess she has changed.' "I guess this means that you'll still be picking on us around Mamoru."
Michiru nodded. "Don't take it personally." She cocked her head to the side when she felt her friends approaching. "Uh-oh. Here we go again. I'm going to get yelled at now."
Usagi let go of Michiru and pulled Ami to the side. "We need to help her."
"I think I know how."
Curiosity got the better of Usagi again. "How?"
Ami smiled. "Follow my lead." She led Usagi back to Michiru and winked up at her, telling her that they were just playing along with her little game. "Whatever Michiru! You could NEVER play better than me!"
Usagi grinned. 'Ooh, I love this game.' "Yeah! You suck! I don't know why you're even here! You need to go back home where you belong!"
Mamoru stopped short of his next step as he scowled at the two girls making fun of his friend. "Oh no they don't." He grabbed Haruka and pulled her towards Michiru and the two younger children.
Michiru glanced over at her two fuming friends who were fast approaching. 'This is great. Reverse psychology.'
Ami smirked at Mamoru, which only made his anger rise up higher. "Michiru, you will never amount to anything. You are the worst Violinist that I have ever met. You need to just pack your bags and leave this school."
"Yeah! They don't want low-lives like you around!" That earned Usagi a fake hurt look from Michiru.
"Why don't YOU leave Odango! You're the lowlife!" Mamoru growled as he approached Michiru, though he wasn't angry with her. "You can take that brain with you too."
Haruka walked to Michiru and pulled her away from the two youngsters. "Don't listen to them, Michiru. You play wonderfully. They wouldn't know good music if it bit their heads off."
'Always thinking in terms of violence.' "Those kids are horrible." Michiru pretended to cry into Haruka's shoulder.
Seeing that, Mamoru lashed out at Usagi, who jumped back to dodge. "You idiot! She's a great player! Better than YOU could ever be! Why don't you scram before I get REALLY mad!" Even though he wasn't into the music thing like Michiru was, he wouldn't let that stop him from standing up for her. After all, she was his friend.
Usagi and Ami backed away, pleased with their results. "Are you SURE that she can play better than me? I'll bet she can't even play a basic scale on that thing." Ami could feel the anger boiling inside Mamoru. She was rather enjoying herself. Not because she was making fun of someone, but because she was helping Michiru be accepted by her good for nothing friends.
"GET OUT!" Usagi and Ami giggled as they turned around and ran away. Mamoru turned to Michiru, who seemed to be getting a hold of herself. "You play great, Michiru. Don't let them pull you down. They don't now what they're talking about."
Haruka kept her arms around Michiru in the form of a hug. "That's right. Now, let's go inside. I believe you have a concert to prepare for and I want to listen to the practice since I can't make it to the concert."
~*~*~
The next day after school, the six friends arrived at the Son house. Earlier in the day, Usagi and Ami had told Minako, Makoto, and Rei all about their night at the Music school, including what they had learned about Michiru. That had been the topic of the day. None of the five could get over the fact that Michiru had been faking her hate for them. They all wondered how long she had been hiding it. They had noticed the change in her, but they never thought that it could have been something so big.
When they had told Hotaru, she hadn't been as shocked. She hadn't really known Michiru so she didn't really even know how to react. But she could tell by the way that the girls were acting that it had to be something of a big thing.
Now, the girls, except for Hotaru who was training with Goku, were trying to plan out the way they were going to train their new students. They knew that they had to be firm, not too firm as they wanted to teach them respect and the only way they knew how to do that was with love and compassion just as Goku had taught them.
"So how are we going to teach them?" Makoto and everyone else turned to a dazed Usagi, who seemed to be in a trance of thoughts. "Usagi?"
"Huh?" Usagi shook her thoughts away and turned to Makoto, who called out to her. "Oh, I was thinking about teaching them about basic fighting. You know, how dad taught us. How to fight with honor. How to only hit someone if it's in self defense when THEY started it first. Dad always stressed that."
Minako laid down on the ground and looked up at the sky. "I remember him always telling us that. That's a good idea, too. We should teach them that."
Rei nodded in agreement. "They have a nasty habit of just going up to people and starting fights."
"Do you think we should teach them how to make shields and how to..." Ami paused when she felt the eyes of her friends look upon her. "Well they need to learn how to do that kind of stuff too." Before anyone could truly reply to Ami's suggestion, the girls perked their heads to the south, where the Ki signatures of their new students could be felt.
Rei stood up and put her hand just over her eyes to shelter them from the bright light that the sun was producing high in the sky. "Looks like we're going to have to finish this later. They're here already." In the distance, she could see Nine figures flying towards their position.
Piccolo landed first, followed by his son next to him. "Here they are."
Mamoru looked around to the girls in pure disgust. He could have gone of on his father right there and then for the stunt he was trying to pull on them. "Oh great. Do you mean to tell me that these are the new Sensei's that you wanted us to train under?"
A look of horror entered the girls' eyes as they all came to realize that none of the older kids had been told who they were to be training with. That was not exactly the best situation for them to be in at the moment for they knew the rage of these kids. They had hoped that Piccolo and Yamcha would have at least told the kids who was going to be training them so they had time to think it over.
Piccolo and Yamcha smirked down at the girls as they laughed under their breath. "Our payback to you for the stunt you pulled yesterday." That earned a groan from all five girls, though ,they didn't regret at all making Piccolo wear Mickey Mouse ears.
Yamcha looked to the six teens behind. "They will be training you until you learn."
Haruka sneered at Yamcha. "What do you mean 'until we learn'? We don't need any of this crap from you! I'm not learning from a damned MONKEY!" Usagi just stuck her tongue out at the girl.
Michiru tried to sound convincing, but anything she said had no real heart behind it. "No. We don't want to learn from them."
Piccolo grinned back at her. 'I knew she was changing.'
Mamoru looked up to his father. "I will NOT lower myself to learning from these little twits."
Piccolo growled as he brought his attention down to his son. "ENOUGH! ALL OF YOU! You training is at a stand still. You can't rise to another level. You, Yamcha, and I cannot decipher the new techniques that these children have created and mastered. Plus, you can't fight as a group. You also need to learn a thing or two about respect, something that these girls have learned from the master as well as use every single day."
Yamcha joined in Piccolo's glare at their students. He couldn't believe that they were acting in such an unruly manner. He had never met anyone who had so much hate to give. "You will train with them. You will learn from them. You will treat them with respect. No name calling, no fighting, and you're to train as they tell you until you achieve greater heights, or we tell you otherwise."
Piccolo glared at his son. "That means not calling her Odango OR Monkey."
Mamoru scowled at a stunned Usagi and then up at his father. "You can't be serious."
With patience running VERY low, Piccolo reached out and grabbed his son by the collar. "IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!"
Mamoru felt fear of his father as he looked him in the eye. 'Damn, I can't get out of this. He's not going to let me.' He looked down to the ground and mumbled something two quiet for any human to hear. But Piccolo's hearing, as well as Usagi's hearing heard it just fine.
Piccolo grinned. He wanted everyone to hear it. "What was that?"
Mamoru clenched his fist, letting his anger be shown. "I SAID FINE!"
"Good." He dropped his son and walked to his last two students. He knew that Michiru wouldn't put up much of a fight in this situation, but Haruka was another story. He grabbed both by the back of the neck and brought his head in-between the gap that theirs created. "That also goes for you two, understood?" He harshly released them when he got a nod from both.
Yamcha glared back at the four Americans that he had brought back to Japan with him on his most recent trip over there. "You four, I know that you don't know these young ladies all that well, but I also know you treat them like dirt. That stops here or else your training does." He got not a single protest from the group. "Good. I'm liking your attitude." He turned to the group of girls, who were completely stunned. "Let me introduce these guys to you." He baked away from the group to make them totally visible to the girls. "This is Kenneth (Kunzite), Nathaniel (Nephrite), Justin (Jadeite), and Zodiac (Zoisite) Keep in mind they're American so they have American names.
"We leave you with them now." Piccolo jumped into the air with Yamcha and took one last look down at the trouble making kids. "Behave...or else."
Yamcha turned once more and smirked down to the scowling girls, who still couldn't get over the fact that the Rat Pack had just now been told of their new training. "Good luck." 'They're going to need it.' Yamcha and Piccolo laughed at their joke as they both flew off.
The two groups were left to face off against each other. One group literally radiated fury and defiance, while the other was more calm and down to earth. Both groups didn't exactly want to work together, but Usagi's group knew that I had to be done. They had been asked by Piccolo and Yamcha to work with them to make them better people so that was what they planned to do.
Usagi gulped as she stepped forward, which none of her friends seemed to want to do. "I guess we sho..."
Mamoru continued to scowl at Usagi with pure hatred. He wasn't too worried about working with the others for his hate for Usagi had grown immensely over the past week far beyond what it used to be. "Hang on Oda..."
Usagi frowned. 'He did it! He called me name!' "Wait a second. NO ODANGO. I made Piccolo promise that before we started."
Mamoru let out a growl in disgust that his father would ever agree to such and outrageous request. "Fine. But let's get one thing straight. We DON'T want to work with you. We're only doing it because our Sensei's are making us. But don't worry, it won't be long until they realize how incredibly stupid this all is."
Makoto looked to Usagi, who seemed to be losing her temper. 'Uh-oh.' She looked up to Mamoru and stepped forward to him and pushed Usagi back. 'Looks like the Odango thing is really getting to her.' "Look, Mamoru. We want to put the past behind us. Can't we use this time to mend fences?"
Ami could definitely agree with that. "Yes, it's not logical to have such a rivalry between us. Can't we just be friends?"
Minako nodded to show her agreement. "Right, Lets just let it be boats under the bridge."
Rei, as well as every other friend of Minako, sighed. "That's water under the bridge, Minako."
Minako giggled. "Oh yeah, that works to."
Haruka glared at them with no respect at all. She didn't care what her Sensei wanted. "No we can't. We don't like you at all."
Usagi frowned at their unwillingness to learn. "Fine lets begin then and get it done with." 'It's gonna be hard but I'll bet I can do it.'
Ami walked past Usagi and began handing their new students something. "Here, this will help you to get stronger."
Minako and Usagi curiously looked over her shoulder to see what she was giving them. Minako reached over and grabbed a small pendant. "This is just like our gravity pendant that Bulma gave us."
Usagi grabbed it from Minako, who only responded in a frown. "Hey. It is. Where did you get these, Ami?"
"Last night I called Bulma and asked her to make them. I figured since they were still training with weights that they should move up. I picked them up today before school." She reached around and grabbed the amulet out of Usagi's hands and handed it to Michiru. "They're set to thirty-five times earth's normal gravity. You are strong enough to handle it."
Usagi playfully knocked on Ami's head. "Always thinkin aren't you?"
Ami giggled. "Yeah. I guess I am. Ok people, we wear these things all day everyday except when we're sleeping so I guess you guys should too."
Mamoru snickered as he looked down to the necklace like item. "You've gotta be kidding me. I'm not wearing a necklace. No way."
Michiru turned her amulet over to see her name engraved on it in cursive and let out a near silent gasp. She looked up to Ami, who winked at her. 'These kids really aren't all that bad.' She smiled back to let her appreciation be shown.
Ami smiled. 'I knew she'd like it.'
Rei grinned as she joined her two friends up with their new students. "So let's see it. Let's see you guys turn them on."
Six teens reluctantly put their pendants around their necks, which Michiru happily put hers on. They pushed the button that activated them and all seven immediately fell to the ground, unable to move an inch.
"It's too heavy, Od..., Usagi." Mamoru growled at the fact that he had to call Usagi by her real name.
Makoto laughed as she sat down in front of the students. "You just need to get use to it, Mamoru. It's not that hard once you get used to it. Now getting used to it is the hard part." She turned to Usagi with a pale face. "I really hope that you remember how you got Hotaru used to it cause I really don't like how your dad made us do it."
Usagi cringed at the thought of how she had been trained with the Gravity. "Don't worry. I do. I don't think that these guys would appreciate the way daddy did it." She turned back down to Haruka with a grin. "On the other hand."
Haruka struggled to breathe as she scowled at Usagi's feet. "Just be done with it!"
Usagi giggled. "Fine, fine. Lay on your backs and pump your legs like you were walking. It worked for Hotaru. Then, when you get used to that, you can try it with your arms."
Makoto grinned down at the teens who were trying to turn over to lay on their backs. "After that, to make it more fun, why don't we even try having you guys shoot a Ki blast with the gravity. Or you can try to block one from us. Or even..."
"Whoa girl hold on there." Rei laughed as she placed her hand on Makoto's shoulder. "Thinking mighty high there, aren't you? They haven't even gotten their legs used to the new gravity yet. I think that once they get their arms and legs able to move they should try standing up."
A smile ran across Makoto's face. "And when they stand up THEN they can work with Ki blasts!"
Ami thought about Makoto's method for a moment. She knew that Rei wasn't liking the idea and was about to try and stop her friend from going any further. "Wait Rei. She may be onto something. Then after Ki blasts, we can have them fly with the gravity."
Usagi bent down and helped Michiru on her back. "If you feel tired, stop. I passed out once cause I didn't stop when I was tired."
Michiru smiled with a nod. "Ok." She glanced over to Haruka, who was glaring at her. "But I'm not doing it because I like you and want to listen to you, MONK...USAGI! I'm only doing it because I want to stay conscious."
Usagi stood up with a smile. "Great."
~*~*~
For that whole training sessions, which was three hours long, the girls had the Rat Pack do nothing but exercises to get them used to their new gravity. None of them truly tried at all for the didn't want to work under Usagi and her loner friends, as they referred to them.
As they finished up their exercises, the group of girls sighed in exasperation. They never expected the group to resist as much as they had. Makoto was probably the toughest on them all, as well as good with motivating them to keep going.
"Come on you guys. Don't you want to be stronger than us so you can beat us? I know that's what your dream is. It's fairly obvious. So work and maybe you'll be able to beat us."
Minako giggled as she walked up to the teens on the ground, who were able to move their legs easier than before. "Great way to make them work Makoto. Now they're going to want to beat us up when they're finished."
Haruka grinned. "We were going to beat you up anyway."
Minako impishly smiled down at the two girls, who weren't exactly trying their hardest. "We'll tell Piccolo on you if you don't work harder."
"Tattle tail."
Minako stuck her tongue out to her. "Nahhh."
Usagi turned around to the trees that surrounded her house when she heard her father and Hotaru talking in the distance. "Looks like they're done. I guess we should fly Hotaru home. We don't want to get her late again. I think her dad's getting made about that."
Mamoru and Haruka turned to each other with smirks and evil thoughts. Both knew exactly what the other was thinking and knew that if they winged right, they could have their wish come true. "Usagi..." Haruka interjected before Usagi had a full chance to approach her father and Hotaru, who were looking quite beaten up. "I'll fly her home. I live in that direction and can get to know her at the same time." She put on a fake smile as if she was a changed person. "This way you can just stay here and you don't have to worry your parents with being gone."
'Uh...' Usagi bent her neck backward to look up at her father, who now stood directly behind her. "Is it safe?"
Goku knew it wasn't safe. He could see through that girl without any trouble. He had heard more believable lies come from his daughter, but this was for Usagi to find out. She was helping the others teach these people respect and if he were to interfere than it could risk the whole project. "I can't help you with this. It's your guys' decision to call. But let me give you advice, don't think you know them as well as you think you do." With that, he walked turned away with a grin and began walking back to his house where his dinner awaited him. "Bye girls."
Justin snickered at Goku as he turned his pendant off. He noted that his friends were doing the same. "What a freak. No wonder why Usagi's just a dork. Her father's worse than her. Is he always saying stuff that don't make sense?"
Usagi could feel her face become red with anger. It was one thing to make fun of her, but it was a whole different subject matter when it came to her family. "Take that back! My daddy isn't a dork!"
Justin grinned and was ready to say more when he found Mamoru's hand over his mouth. "Shut up. Remember we aren't supposed to make fun of her. But don't worry, I have a plan. Just hold your tongue for a while."
Hotaru wasn't sure if she knew exactly what she was doing, but she was going to try to mend fences between groups. The Rat Pack didn't really have much against her from what she could tell. "Sure. I'll go. I sounds like fun." She walked to the smirking Haruka and Mamoru. Michiru didn't seem to be enjoying herself.
"What? Are you sure about that Hotaru?" Rei bent down to Hotaru's level. "What if they try something."
"Stupid girl. We aren't going to try anything. We're just trying to help out. If you don't want our help then do it yourself." Mamoru pushed Hotaru away.
Hotaru begged Rei with her eyes for her to let her go. "I'll be all right." She walked back to the group and waited for their acceptance.
Mamoru had no intention of rejecting the child. "Come on. Let's get out of here." With no further word or thanks to the girls, he and his gang took off into the air with Hotaru.
Rei turned back to her pouting friends. "I think she'll be ok."
Usagi groaned. "She better be or else I'm going to be in major trouble with my mom AND Mr. Tomoe."
( That's it for this part. What did you think? )