~*~*~*~
Dende kept a watchful eye on Earth the rest of that day after Goku had left. Piccolo had decided on scouting out around the Earth for any abnormalities. He would go along with Goku's plan of waiting for the enemy to strike first for he knew the advantages to fighting on your own turf, but he also knew that they wouldn't be able to take their eye of the guy when they finally got a hold of him. That would be utterly dangerous for, once they engaged in a fight, and stopped for a breather, this thing could have time summon the Dragon and have earth destroyed. They would have to finish it off quickly.
But, what puzzled Piccolo the most was why it had shown itself to Usagi first of all. That brat always seemed to be the first one to know about recent attacks. Of course, as Usagi had reported, Cell had been sent by Beryl, and Beryl wanted Usagi's Strength. Beryl had been defeated, this guy couldn't have been affiliated with her, could he? That was nonsense. The Senshi had destroyed Beryl in the Dark Kingdom itself. Plus, she was a tired subject. This guy couldn't have anything to do with her, but then, why had he gone to Usagi? Goku had told him everything she had told. Maybe there was something she wasn't telling anyone. Of course, then again, what reason would she have to lie? Usagi seemed to have learned her lesson when not to lie when it came to important things such as this. She was old enough to understand that it wasn't a game.
~*~*~
Usagi opted not to go and visit Luna, who now lived with Minako and Artimas. The day had worn not only on her emotions, but her physical strength as well. She was too tired to really discuss what happened for yet another time. She was ready to return home and relax for the evening. Nothing could change her mind now, especially not after what happened with Tatsuo and Mamoru. She even found that a little strange. Why had Tatsuo come up to them again, especially after what happened when she arrived at school that morning? Didn't he know that after an argument, a near physical event like that, that she wouldn't want to talk to him again, let alone make up with him. As much like her father she wanted to be - calm, composed, and forgiving - she was going to forget his teachings and elect not to talk to the boy ever again.
Emotionally exhausted, Usagi turned to her friends. She couldn't help but put on a small smile. "Thanks for listening, guys."
Minako smiled back at her friend as she wrapped her arm around her shoulder. "No prob."
Makoto nodded in agreeance to Minako's words. "That's what we're here for, to be friends."
Usagi smiled wider at that. She knew, no matter what, that she would always have her friends to hold her in place. They had always, and would always be there for her no matter what. "I know." She turned her attention to the sky at a flock of birds who flew overhead. "I think I'm gonna go home, Minako." She said as she looked back down to the girl with the red ribbon. "I'm too tired to explain anything anymore. I just wanna go home and relax on something soft, preferably the couch where I can watch cartoons or something."
Minako grinned. That didn't sound like a half bad idea. "Ok. I'll tell Luna and Artimas for you then."
Usagi nodded slightly to show her appreciation. "Thanks, Minako." She looked around to her friends, still with a smile. "See you guys tomorrow!" Waving goodbye to her friends, Usagi let herself rise into the air. From there, she flew in the direction of her home.
On her way home, she soon began to wonder if her mother was ok, or more importantly, if she had even waken up from her fainted state. She remembered her grandfather telling her of all the times her mother had fainted, how she would usually stay out of it for a few hours. She hoped she hadn't caused her mother all that much pain with her news, but it couldn't exactly have been avoided. Her mother would have had to found out sooner or later, and she rather it have been sooner than later.
Usagi sped up at the thought of finding out what happened with her father and Dende. She had actually hoped that her father had been right when he told her that there was no way the Dragon Balls could have been revived so early, but then again, she had seen them with her own eyes in the hand of the her attacker. The situation was much too confusing, even for herself. She would just have to wait until she arrived home to find out the verdict.
~*~*~
~~Son Household~~
Goku watched over his wife with an eye of worry. Usagi would be home soon and Chi-Chi still hadn't wakened from her fainted state. He had never seen her out of his for so long, of course, she had been told something huge. There was a chance that he would have to go off and fight again. He remembered hearing from Master Roshii of all the times she had fainted, but he never thought it had been this bad. The worst, he had heard, was the time Buu had attacked and he had left the lookout to stall and give Trunks time to go home and find the Dragon Radar. She had lost it that time. She hadn't even waken up until she heard that Goku was departing for the afterlife, which was some time after that. He hoped she hadn't been stunned too terribly. He had actually wished Usagi hadn't told Chi-Chi before himself. He wished that he could have been the one to spill the news, something he had never been able to do. He wished that he could have tried to calm her before she fainted. But there wasn't much he could do about it now.
He sat on the coffee table that sat in front of the sofa with his elbows rested on his knees. As he sat there, watching over his wife, he was reminded of the time he had watched over their daughter after passing out from over exertion. The only difference here was Chi-Chi had done nothing, physically, to herself.
With a sigh, he looked up the ceiling in wonder. What exactly would he tell her when she did come to? He was certain she would go nuts just as she always had, and she had every right to. But what could he say? It was either risk his life to protect the Earth, his home, and family, or stand by and let the opposing force take everything they ever had? He would have to make her understand. Now that he was older, he understood his wife's grief, but couldn't abide by her calling heart.
He turned his eyes back down to the woman when he heard a moan of fear escape her lips. "Chi-Chi..." He reached forward and placed his hand upon her stomach and gently began to shake her. "Chi-Chi. Are you alright?"
Chi-Chi's eyes slowly opened and fell into those of her husbands. Not a single thought of anger or rage crossed her mind, yet she was completely aware of what took place earlier that morning. With a groan, almost that of distress, she covered her face with her hands. This had to be the first time she remembered waking up so calmly from being so troubled.
Worried that she may have forgotten for her lack of anger, Goku pushed himself to the floor and kneeled beside the sofa. He placed his other hand on her arm as if to comfort her just on the chance that she had in fact remembered. "Are you ok?"
Chi-Chi let out another long groan. She didn't need this right now. This was not something she was supposed to be dealing with anymore. The Earth had been saved, hadn't it? Things were supposed to go back to normal. This wasn't normal. As she sat there with her face covered, thousands of questions raced through her mind, the most predominant being "why me?". All she had ever dreamed of was a nice family with a husband who would stay with her for all time, without the risk of dying every five years.
Felling like a child, she pulled her hands away from her face so she could look back to her worried husband. Seeing his concern she actually felt satisfied that she had caused him pain. For once, he knew a little of what she felt every time he went tramping around the Universe.
Goku gulped. He knew for sure Chi-Chi remembered. She wouldn't have been so silent otherwise. She would have asked him why he was looking at her so strangely. He was grateful for that for he wouldn't have to explain to her again, yet, he felt guilty for putting her through something like this again. "Chi-Chi, we need to talk."
Chi-Chi sighed with a nod. She had no desire to sit up. All she wanted to do was relax and allow everything to settle in. "Usagi told me..." She looked away from his face and up to the ceiling. "You have to go away again."
Goku cringed at that. That sounded so harsh. It made him sound like one of those sleazy husbands who was never home for his wife and children. "You know why I have to."
Chi-Chi closed her eyes. "I know. It's not because you want to..."
Goku grinned. "Well, maybe a little."
Chi-Chi frowned as she slapped her husband across the face. "This is no time to be joking!"
Goku lowered his head. "Sorry..." He replied sheepishly. Chi-Chi's frown disappeared rather quickly, sooner than Goku had expected. Her silence was NOT a good thing. "Look, we may not even have to fight. The thing that attacked Usagi..." His explanation was cut short by the tears now forming in his wife's eyes. He knew he touched on an extremely soft spot on that one. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and lifted her up a bit. "I..."
Chi-Chi shook her head to tell him not to go on any further. These were the tears that she had been holding up inside her for so many years, the tears she had been saving just for him. "You don't understand, do you?" Goku was left speechless and said nothing. "All these years you've fought with my Gohan... it was hard enough. And then you died for good, only to return to me for a day."
Goku tried to smile, but it was too hard. He didn't know how anyone could try to look on the bright side of this, but he would have to try, for her sanity. "But at least I was brought back..."
Chi-Chi frowned. "You really have no idea, do you? You DIED. I was alone, I had two sons, YOUR sons to raise ALONE." She paused to form a slight smile. "But, I am grateful for them being alive. And now, Usagi comes to tell me she may have to go and fight with you guys, you veterans, it's just too much for this old mother to take."
Goku hugged his wife tighter. He never knew it hurt her so. "I know, but ..."
Chi-Chi cut him off yet again, this time with a scowling glare. "No! You don't know, Goku, you don't! You don't know what it's like worrying if your husband and child will survive the day! You don't know what it's like worrying if something will attack and literally rip your family apart! I don't know if I can live like that anymore."
"If you're worried about Usagi getting hurt then ..."
Chi-Chi shook her head. "I'm not worried about her. I know you'll protect her, you've always gotten my children home to me. I trust you. I'm worried about you, Goku. In protecting the kids, and everyone else, you get yourself killed, promise me you won't get yourself killed this time... if not for me, then for Usagi..."
Goku closed his eyes for a moment. That hit too close to home for his liking. That had been the exact reason why he hadn't particularly wanted another child before Usagi was born. He didn't want to have to end up hurting it because of a silly fight. His main worry had always been having to leave like he had Gohan and Goten.
But he knew there was no telling what would happen. Fights were unpredictable, especially since he didn't know exactly what he was up against. "I don't know if I can."
Chi-Chi closed her eyes once again. At this point, she would have begged if she had to. "Please, Goku, promise me, you won't die."
Goku nodded with compliance. What else could he say to her? "I promise."
~*~*~
Usagi arrived home at her usual time of 3:00, a half hour after school had been let out. All they way home she couldn't help but get herself excited over what her father may have found out. She played scenario after scenario of what he would tell her when she got home. But the one she wished for most was the Dende would have told him that the Dragon Balls had not been revived but had only been replicated in appearance and not power.
A small smile cracked on her face as she reached for the knob of the front door. Now would come the time that her hopes would be a proven fact. Taking a deep breath for luck, she slowly turned the knob and pushed in, only to see a vacated family room. She took a step in and closed the door behind her, setting her school bag down to the side. "Your loving daughter's home!" She grinned to herself as she walked further into the room.
Looking around the room, she noticed that nothing had really been altered since she left earlier that morning. "Hmm..." She slipped her shoes off and lazily tossed them back to her bag and began making her way to the living room where she had last seen her mother, fainted.
"Mom? Dad?" she called out as she turned the corner. She sighed of relief when she saw her mother sit up from the sofa; her father stood to his feet from the floor. Her grin grew to a smile as she walked to the sofa and leaned over the back of it. Her mother looked horrible. Her eyes had heavy black bags forming beneath them from being stressed, as well as red rings from her cry. She basically looked as if she had just waken up, which was probably the case. Her father was probably speaking to her about his findings just before she got home. "Feeling better?"
Chi-Chi said nothing. Instead, she just stared up at her daughter in shock. Her eyes had been planted on the black cheek of Usagi. She blinked twice just to make sure her eyes weren't playing any tricks on her, that her daughter's cheek really was THAT black. Had that been there earlier when Usagi came to her before, or was that a new development? Did Usagi get attacked again. "Honey..."
Usagi turned her head on its side in curiosity. She wondered why her mother was looking at her so strangely. "Yes?" She glanced up at her father, who had said nothing so far.
Chi-Chi reached for her daughter's cheek, causing the girl to pull back in pain. "What happened to your face?" She demanded as she threw her feet off the couch and proceeded to stand.
Usagi put her hand over the bruise, though not directly on it. She only wanted to protect it from further touch. Looking down at he ground, she remembered back to that morning. All she could really remember was teleporting to her father's newly raised power level and then seeing a flash of gold coming for her and bam, next thing she knew she was flying back into one of her brothers with a huge pain in her face. "It's a bruise..." She explained with a grin. "I'm not sure I like it, it's not exactly my color, what do you think?" She giggled to herself as she tried to make this situation easier on her mother.
Chi-Chi frowned. She didn't find that at all amusing. Here was her daughter with a huge, ugly, black bruise planted on her face. It had been years since she came home with an "injury" like this. "Well, dear, how did it happen? Were you attacked again?" Goku chuckled to himself, which only gained him a sharp glare from his wife. "Do you think it's funny that your little girl has such a bruise on her face?"
Goku did nothing but throw his hand behind his head. It wouldn't be long before he was in the doghouse again because of this. That always seemed to be the case. He would get blamed for Usagi's injuries every time, even if he had nothing to do with it. Chi-Chi blamed it on the fact that he was the one who had trained her and taught her to be so rough. But actually, for once, this HAD been his fault.
Usagi looked at her mother, and then her father. She wanted to save his skin, like he head for her so many times, but it didn't look like there was going to be any way around it. "Well... you see... I... Uh..."
Chi-Chi frowned. "Usagi, please just tell me, I won't get mad. If you DID Get into another fight I'll know it wasn't your fault. You were attacked, right? Your father ..."
"...is the one who did it..." Usagi looked up to her father who was now backing away from his wife. A small giggled bubbled out of her lips.
Chi-Chi paused mid-sentence. "Usagi, I think you're going to have to say that again because I could have sworn you just said your father was the one who hit you."
Usagi stared down into her mother's eyes. "He did..."
Before Usagi could explain anything Chi-Chi had dashed to her husband and grabbed him by the throat against the wall. "You HIT her?!"
Usagi's eyes widened as she joined her mother at her side. "Mom no... it's not what you think! Daddy didn't mean to! It was my fault!"
Goku calmly grabbed his wife's wrist with a gulp. It had been years since he was actually kind of afraid of what his wife would do. Of course, he knew better than to cross Chi-Chi. She was one angry cookie when one of her children were in danger, even if they were put into danger of their own father, which would be him. "Chi-Chi I..." He squeezed her wrist and slightly tugged on her arm to pull it away from his throat.
Chi-Chi dropped her grip on her husband when she realized exactly what she had done. She hadn't intended to do that at all. It was more of a protective reaction than anything. "I...I...I'm sorry...I don't know what came over me..." She dropped to her knees and dropped her head.
Goku sighed as he looked at his daughter, and then at his wife. He knew exactly why she had done what she did. She was worried. He knew that first hand, he had never seen his wife so calm with such emotions. She had been trying to so hard to stay calm lately. He had to commend her effort, but at another time. Goku held his hand out for his wife in comfort with a smile. "It's ok, Chi-Chi."
Usagi looked down at her mother in full amazement. She had always seen her mother strike her father for silly, menial things. But this, THIS was something else. She could feel her mother's rage when she burst up and grabbed her father. Something must have happened while she was on her way home, it was the only explanation. She knelt down and wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders. "Mama? Are you ok? You need anything?"
Chi-Chi smiled softly as she patted her hand on her daughter's helpful arm. "Thanks, Usagi, but I'm fine." She laughed quietly as she looked up at her husband. He had put up with so much from her over the years and here he was, still at her side. It amazed even her that he would put up with all her crap without a fuss. That was just one of the many things she loved about him. She kindly placed her hand in his and allowed herself to be pulled up. She looked into Goku's eyes and held her head with shame. She couldn't believe what she had just done, but it looked like he had already forgiven her stupidity. "I think I'm going to ... make something to eat..."
Usagi scratched her head in confusion. Was her mother just going to let things go at that? Of course, she wouldn't be dumb enough to ask her that. She knew better than to question her mother at times like this, but this was particularly strange. More so than normal even. 'Something BIG must have happened while I was gone. This is not MY mom.'
On her way to the kitchen, Chi-Chi stopped short and slightly turned her body toward Goku. She wore a wide smile of thanks on her face. "Thank you, Goku. Just don't forget your promise." Smiling out of her own satisfaction, she turned back and began making her way to the kitchen where she would take her mind of things by baking something, just as she always had in her youth.
Usagi was left between her parents, sharing glances between the two of them. It was at that point that she knew SOMETHING happened, though she wasn't sure what. Her father had seemed to make amends with her mother, but how? Her mother had always been difficult, of course, she seemed extra upset about something this time. Maybe this new attack had gotten to her more than she let on. In anyway, she was sure she could get all the answers she wanted from the one person she could always count on. "What was that all about?" She asked as she turned to her father.
Goku smiled at himself. He had done good, for once. Maybe he was actually getting a hang of this husband thing finally. They had gotten through that without a fight, well, almost. He looked down to his questioning daughter with a grin. " Let me worry about it, sweetie. It's a parent thing. Your mom is having a hard time coping with this."
Usagi said nothing in reply to that, she knew better. But she didn't really have anything to add anyway. She knew her mother was obviously having a hard time, and was trying hard to keep from going off. But her mother had always been a ticking time bomb waiting to go off at the slightest touch, it was only a matter of time before the right thing would set her off. "Oh." She said solemnly.
Goku hunched his back. He hated having to be in the middle of this, but he would just have to give Chi-Chi the space she needed. At least this time she had kept from going completely nuts. "So? What's up?"
Usagi tried to forget what had just happened as she sat down on the sofa and stared up at her father. This was just not her day. Why couldn't things just go right for once? Everything always seemed to go wrong at exactly the same time, and this topped the day off completely. "I might ask you the same question, dad."
Goku scratched his head as he took his place on the coffee table. He hadn't exactly thought of something to tell her. He hadn't the time. As soon as he got home, he found his wife lying in her fainted state, just as Usagi had described, and his thoughts were immediately turned to her. But now, that was behind him, and he still had nothing to present to his daughter. He didn't exactly want to lie, yet, he swore to Piccolo that he would say nothing.
He rested his hand upon his knee and looked side to side. He couldn't think of anything believable to tell her. Anything he would say would either be a lie or a bogus reason.
Usagi became quite suspicious at her father's actions. "Daddy? Something wrong?"
Goku snapped his attention back to his daughter. Better come out with it, while leaving out important details. She wasn't to know now, she wasn't in any immediate danger at the moment. It wouldn't have been any use to have her worried as well as Chi-Chi. He especially didn't want Chi-Chi knowing about the Black Star Dragon Balls, not now anyway. She was already in too bad a mood for that. And Usagi, she was already worried enough about the Red Star Dragon Balls. "Well..."
Usagi leaned in closer to her father, part in excitement, and part in fear. She wanted to know, yet she didn't. "Yeah!"
Goku sighed. Here it went. "I talked to Dende today..." He paused as he pondered over the next detail. Telling her that Piccolo was there may have risen suspicion on her part. Then again, he could tell her that Piccolo had been there because he felt the flash of the invader's power. "...and Piccolo who had been there because he felt the enemy's presence earlier, but only for a few seconds. We talked, and our Dragon Balls haven't been revived. We don't have to worry about those, but this guy is still REALLY dangerous." He smiled to himself in the back of his mind. He had pulled that off rather smoothly. Technically he hadn't lied to her. He had just skipped over some truths, much like Usagi had done when she told him about her fight earlier, which he still remained completely clueless about.
Usagi appeared to believe her father. And why shouldn't she? It was completely true. "So what are we going to do?"
Goku; "What I said earlier. We wait for an attack here first. Hopefully it'll have more guts than to attack a kid again. It'll go after something that's stronger than you, not that you're weak or stupid because you're younger."
Usagi grinned. She so could have played her father along with this one by giving a huge guilt trip, but she knew better to at this point. He too had a lot on his mind with her mother and having to lead the fight. "Ok. So we wait, got it. As long as he doesn't have our Dragon Balls things are looking up, right?"
Goku knew in the back of his mind that things weren't looking up. In fact, quit the opposite, now that he knew exactly what kind of power this thing held in its possession, things were worse. And as much as he wanted to tell her, his conscious told him not to, that he should uphold his promise. He said nothing either way. Instead, he decided to change the subject to more important matters. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around her chin, slowly turning her head so he could get a better look at her cheek where she had been hit. It was already black as night with edged of blue. It was hard to believe that such a bruise came from his own fist, though completely accidental. "I'm SO sorry."
Usagi smiled with pride. If he was really abusive like Tatsuo suggested, he wouldn't be apologizing. Her father had never hit her before, and he never would. She couldn't understand why he didn't realize that. "It's ok, dad. I know it wasn't your fault, it was mine."
"I hope none of the teachers gave you trouble about it."
Usagi shook her head. "Nope!" She exclaimed as she pulled away from his grip to gain control over her face movement once again. "I told them what happened and they believed me. But..."
Goku frowned. He knew that but. "But? But what?"
Usagi joined her father with a frown of her own. "Tatsuo didn't believe me. He said you wanted me to think it was my fault. He's one crazy guy, but it's annoying. I don't know why he wants us to fight so badly."
Goku let out a soft growl. He couldn't believe that kid. "Ignore him. He doesn't know what he's talking about."
Usagi smiled. "I know that. He said you'd do it again, but I said you didn't do anything in the first place. So oh well to him!"
Goku chuckled. He didn't quite believe that. Although his daughter had one of the kindest hearts around, she also had a bit of a temper when it came to her family. "Yeah..." He said with much suspicion lingering in his voice. "You should get changed out of your uniform for dinner. Your mom's probably got something big cooking."
Usagi grinned. Her mother always liked to cook something big when she was upset about something. It was how she got her mind of the things that made her angry. "Alright." She stood from the couch and stretched tall. "What a day."
Goku watched as she walked to her room. She as such a resilient kid it was amazing. He didn't know anyone who could go through so much in such a short life and continue to be so cheery. Of course, she was his daughter. All of his kids seemed to be able to bounce back from the harsh and cruel world, him included. Chi-Chi was another case though. She would take some work, but he seemed to have that under control. Maybe he had finally figured her out. He put his hands behind his back with a smirk of pride. 'Yeah, I got this marriage and parenting thing down pat...'
~*~*~
Usagi walked into her dark room, without turning on the lights. The sky outside was already beginning to darken, but there was still a sufficient amount of light to see in. All she needed to do was change into some regular cloths and then it would be right back out to watch T.V. before dinner. With a long sigh, she flopped on her back to lay on her bed. She closed her eyes and smiled. "Finally, I get to relax."
"I wouldn't say that quite yet..."
Usagi's eyes flew open with fear as she shot herself up to a fierce sitting position. She glared around her room, using her ears as well to detect whoever just said that. Of course, she was pretty sure of who it was. The voice sounded all too familiar. "You!" She sneered in a rage. All she wanted to do was relax and here he was disturbing her rest again. "I'm not giving you the Broach. You'll have to come and get it offa me if you want it!"
"Great minds do think alike, don't they. Though I think on this one it was a fluke in your case!"
Usagi looked toward her closet where the voice seemed to be coming from. "What?!"
Without further notice, the next thing she knew a blue blob had her on the ground. He sat on top of her and slapped her across the face a couple times, causing her to whimper in pain. But, as soon as his eyes traveled down to the treasure on her chest. "It's mine now!" Holding her head back by her face, with his free hand he reached down and ripped the item away from her shirt.
With her mouth covered, she couldn't cry out for help and she wasn't in much of a position to raise her power. She wasn't completely thinking enough to surge it as she was told. She was too frightened. So instead, she lifted her tail and wrapped it around the creature's throat.
The creature quickly lifted his hand away from her face and numbed the tail with his power, causing it to drop to the ground. But, it was just enough time for Usagi to make her move. "DADDY HELP!"
It was at that moment, that a Super Saiyan three Goku burst into the room. He knew exactly what had caused her to cry out like that. She had to have been attacked again. He took one look at the ordeal and powered up a small Ki attack and fired it at the back of his daughter's attacker. "Usagi!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, fearing that this thing that had done some serious damage to her.
The blue guy actually looked to be hurt by the attack. Upon impact, the broach flew out of his hands and slid under Usagi's bed. He jumped away from Usagi and lingered in the air as he glared down at Goku, who was scowling up at him. "Shit!" He seemed not to care about Goku. In a fret, his eyes traveled to the floor in search of the treasure he had just dropped.
Goku rose to the creature's altitude. This wouldn't help Chi-Chi's mood to have their child attacked in their own home, but that didn't quite matter at this point. He kept his eyes on this guy and watched his every move.
The creature looked back up to Goku after he decided to forget the broach for now. Goku was too much stronger than him right now. It looked like he would have to go to plan B. Usagi wouldn't be so careless anymore. Attacking at her home was his last hope of catching her off guard, unless... maybe he wouldn't have to go to Plan B right away. Maybe there was an alternative. "You leave me no other choice than to vacate the premises."
Goku frowned. "You aren't going anywhere!" At that moment, the door slammed open to reveal an angry mother who, at that point, could have passed for a rapid dog. Goku didn't take his eyes off his opponent for a moment, but didn't have to. He knew exactly who was standing there at the door. "Chi-Chi, leave!"
Chi-Chi frowned at her husband. "No one attacks my home and gets away with it!" She looked down at her daughter, who had her head under her bed. "Usagi, get out of here! Leave this to me!"
Goku growled, not taking his eye away from his foe. "Usagi, get your mother out of here!"
Usagi popped her head out from under her bed and looked up at her father and then to the blue creature who had just attacked her. Her face still stung from his slaps. "Ok!" She stood up and began running for her mother.
The creature smirked. "Looks like I'm the center of the party, but I'm really going to have to get going now. It's so late."
Goku grinned. This guy was gonna run scared. They both knew who the stronger fighter he was. Maybe they could get through this without losing anyone but the invader. "I don't think so."
The creature said nothing. He just waved to the group and then, poof, he was gone.
Goku blinked twice, Usagi and Chi-Chi weren't far behind. He scratched his head in confusion as he powered down. There didn't seem to be a need to be powered up anymore as the power level he had just felt was suddenly gone. "Where'd he go?"
Usagi, who was already halfway out of the room shrugged. "See? That's what happened today."
With Usagi in her hands, Chi-Chi ran to Goku and hugged the both of them. "We're moving!"
Goku said nothing as he placed his hand upon Usagi's head. His heart was still racing deep inside. There was nothing worse than to hear his little girl crying out for help in their own home and then to find someone actually attacking her. She didn't look too beaten up. "You ok?"
Usagi nodded with a heavy breath. "I'll be fine, just a little shaken up." She smiled up at him as she hugged him harder. "Thanks for helping me. I was really scared there."
Goku smiled. "So was I."
Chi-Chi grabbed her husband with a sharp glare. "Who in the HELL was that?!"
Usagi pulled her mother aside and put her hands on her shoulders. "Mom... now, don't get upset, but, that was the guy who attacked me earlier."
Chi-Chi frowned as she looked up to her husband again. "THAT?!"
Goku nodded. "Apparently." He looked down at his daughter, still worried that she may have been hurt more than before. "Was that it?"
Usagi nodded to confirm. "It was. Last time it didn't just disappear like that though. I could actually feel it running away."
Goku groaned. This was the first time he didn't know what he was facing. And now, they had met and the critter got away without being beaten, or getting the Dragon Balls back. "What was he doing to you when I came in here?"
Usagi gulped, she didn't exactly want to tell him that. "I... I don't know."
Goku knew different. He knew she did. He was distinctly holding something. "What was he holding?"
Usagi shook her head again, backing up a ways into her mother. "I...I really don't know, daddy."
Goku frowned. "Are you lying to me?"
Usagi backed away even further. "No. Of course not, I really don't know."
Chi-Chi frowned up at her husband as she pulled her daughter to the side and covered her with her arms. "Goku! Stop it! She didn't do anything, she's the victim here!"
Goku sighed as he dropped his tall composure. "I guess." He watched his daughter carefully for any sign of strange activities. There had to be SOME reason why that guy would be so persistent as to chase her around. And what was it that he was holding. Looking down at Usagi, he realized that something about her outfit was missing, but what? That's it, the locket she usually wore on her school uniform, It was gone. Was that what he had been after? But why would he be after such a silly trinket? "I'm sorry, Usagi." He smiled as he wrapped his hand around her head. "I'm just glad you're alright."
(La la la la.... Oh yeah, that's the end of this part. See ya tomorrow! )
Dende kept a watchful eye on Earth the rest of that day after Goku had left. Piccolo had decided on scouting out around the Earth for any abnormalities. He would go along with Goku's plan of waiting for the enemy to strike first for he knew the advantages to fighting on your own turf, but he also knew that they wouldn't be able to take their eye of the guy when they finally got a hold of him. That would be utterly dangerous for, once they engaged in a fight, and stopped for a breather, this thing could have time summon the Dragon and have earth destroyed. They would have to finish it off quickly.
But, what puzzled Piccolo the most was why it had shown itself to Usagi first of all. That brat always seemed to be the first one to know about recent attacks. Of course, as Usagi had reported, Cell had been sent by Beryl, and Beryl wanted Usagi's Strength. Beryl had been defeated, this guy couldn't have been affiliated with her, could he? That was nonsense. The Senshi had destroyed Beryl in the Dark Kingdom itself. Plus, she was a tired subject. This guy couldn't have anything to do with her, but then, why had he gone to Usagi? Goku had told him everything she had told. Maybe there was something she wasn't telling anyone. Of course, then again, what reason would she have to lie? Usagi seemed to have learned her lesson when not to lie when it came to important things such as this. She was old enough to understand that it wasn't a game.
~*~*~
Usagi opted not to go and visit Luna, who now lived with Minako and Artimas. The day had worn not only on her emotions, but her physical strength as well. She was too tired to really discuss what happened for yet another time. She was ready to return home and relax for the evening. Nothing could change her mind now, especially not after what happened with Tatsuo and Mamoru. She even found that a little strange. Why had Tatsuo come up to them again, especially after what happened when she arrived at school that morning? Didn't he know that after an argument, a near physical event like that, that she wouldn't want to talk to him again, let alone make up with him. As much like her father she wanted to be - calm, composed, and forgiving - she was going to forget his teachings and elect not to talk to the boy ever again.
Emotionally exhausted, Usagi turned to her friends. She couldn't help but put on a small smile. "Thanks for listening, guys."
Minako smiled back at her friend as she wrapped her arm around her shoulder. "No prob."
Makoto nodded in agreeance to Minako's words. "That's what we're here for, to be friends."
Usagi smiled wider at that. She knew, no matter what, that she would always have her friends to hold her in place. They had always, and would always be there for her no matter what. "I know." She turned her attention to the sky at a flock of birds who flew overhead. "I think I'm gonna go home, Minako." She said as she looked back down to the girl with the red ribbon. "I'm too tired to explain anything anymore. I just wanna go home and relax on something soft, preferably the couch where I can watch cartoons or something."
Minako grinned. That didn't sound like a half bad idea. "Ok. I'll tell Luna and Artimas for you then."
Usagi nodded slightly to show her appreciation. "Thanks, Minako." She looked around to her friends, still with a smile. "See you guys tomorrow!" Waving goodbye to her friends, Usagi let herself rise into the air. From there, she flew in the direction of her home.
On her way home, she soon began to wonder if her mother was ok, or more importantly, if she had even waken up from her fainted state. She remembered her grandfather telling her of all the times her mother had fainted, how she would usually stay out of it for a few hours. She hoped she hadn't caused her mother all that much pain with her news, but it couldn't exactly have been avoided. Her mother would have had to found out sooner or later, and she rather it have been sooner than later.
Usagi sped up at the thought of finding out what happened with her father and Dende. She had actually hoped that her father had been right when he told her that there was no way the Dragon Balls could have been revived so early, but then again, she had seen them with her own eyes in the hand of the her attacker. The situation was much too confusing, even for herself. She would just have to wait until she arrived home to find out the verdict.
~*~*~
~~Son Household~~
Goku watched over his wife with an eye of worry. Usagi would be home soon and Chi-Chi still hadn't wakened from her fainted state. He had never seen her out of his for so long, of course, she had been told something huge. There was a chance that he would have to go off and fight again. He remembered hearing from Master Roshii of all the times she had fainted, but he never thought it had been this bad. The worst, he had heard, was the time Buu had attacked and he had left the lookout to stall and give Trunks time to go home and find the Dragon Radar. She had lost it that time. She hadn't even waken up until she heard that Goku was departing for the afterlife, which was some time after that. He hoped she hadn't been stunned too terribly. He had actually wished Usagi hadn't told Chi-Chi before himself. He wished that he could have been the one to spill the news, something he had never been able to do. He wished that he could have tried to calm her before she fainted. But there wasn't much he could do about it now.
He sat on the coffee table that sat in front of the sofa with his elbows rested on his knees. As he sat there, watching over his wife, he was reminded of the time he had watched over their daughter after passing out from over exertion. The only difference here was Chi-Chi had done nothing, physically, to herself.
With a sigh, he looked up the ceiling in wonder. What exactly would he tell her when she did come to? He was certain she would go nuts just as she always had, and she had every right to. But what could he say? It was either risk his life to protect the Earth, his home, and family, or stand by and let the opposing force take everything they ever had? He would have to make her understand. Now that he was older, he understood his wife's grief, but couldn't abide by her calling heart.
He turned his eyes back down to the woman when he heard a moan of fear escape her lips. "Chi-Chi..." He reached forward and placed his hand upon her stomach and gently began to shake her. "Chi-Chi. Are you alright?"
Chi-Chi's eyes slowly opened and fell into those of her husbands. Not a single thought of anger or rage crossed her mind, yet she was completely aware of what took place earlier that morning. With a groan, almost that of distress, she covered her face with her hands. This had to be the first time she remembered waking up so calmly from being so troubled.
Worried that she may have forgotten for her lack of anger, Goku pushed himself to the floor and kneeled beside the sofa. He placed his other hand on her arm as if to comfort her just on the chance that she had in fact remembered. "Are you ok?"
Chi-Chi let out another long groan. She didn't need this right now. This was not something she was supposed to be dealing with anymore. The Earth had been saved, hadn't it? Things were supposed to go back to normal. This wasn't normal. As she sat there with her face covered, thousands of questions raced through her mind, the most predominant being "why me?". All she had ever dreamed of was a nice family with a husband who would stay with her for all time, without the risk of dying every five years.
Felling like a child, she pulled her hands away from her face so she could look back to her worried husband. Seeing his concern she actually felt satisfied that she had caused him pain. For once, he knew a little of what she felt every time he went tramping around the Universe.
Goku gulped. He knew for sure Chi-Chi remembered. She wouldn't have been so silent otherwise. She would have asked him why he was looking at her so strangely. He was grateful for that for he wouldn't have to explain to her again, yet, he felt guilty for putting her through something like this again. "Chi-Chi, we need to talk."
Chi-Chi sighed with a nod. She had no desire to sit up. All she wanted to do was relax and allow everything to settle in. "Usagi told me..." She looked away from his face and up to the ceiling. "You have to go away again."
Goku cringed at that. That sounded so harsh. It made him sound like one of those sleazy husbands who was never home for his wife and children. "You know why I have to."
Chi-Chi closed her eyes. "I know. It's not because you want to..."
Goku grinned. "Well, maybe a little."
Chi-Chi frowned as she slapped her husband across the face. "This is no time to be joking!"
Goku lowered his head. "Sorry..." He replied sheepishly. Chi-Chi's frown disappeared rather quickly, sooner than Goku had expected. Her silence was NOT a good thing. "Look, we may not even have to fight. The thing that attacked Usagi..." His explanation was cut short by the tears now forming in his wife's eyes. He knew he touched on an extremely soft spot on that one. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and lifted her up a bit. "I..."
Chi-Chi shook her head to tell him not to go on any further. These were the tears that she had been holding up inside her for so many years, the tears she had been saving just for him. "You don't understand, do you?" Goku was left speechless and said nothing. "All these years you've fought with my Gohan... it was hard enough. And then you died for good, only to return to me for a day."
Goku tried to smile, but it was too hard. He didn't know how anyone could try to look on the bright side of this, but he would have to try, for her sanity. "But at least I was brought back..."
Chi-Chi frowned. "You really have no idea, do you? You DIED. I was alone, I had two sons, YOUR sons to raise ALONE." She paused to form a slight smile. "But, I am grateful for them being alive. And now, Usagi comes to tell me she may have to go and fight with you guys, you veterans, it's just too much for this old mother to take."
Goku hugged his wife tighter. He never knew it hurt her so. "I know, but ..."
Chi-Chi cut him off yet again, this time with a scowling glare. "No! You don't know, Goku, you don't! You don't know what it's like worrying if your husband and child will survive the day! You don't know what it's like worrying if something will attack and literally rip your family apart! I don't know if I can live like that anymore."
"If you're worried about Usagi getting hurt then ..."
Chi-Chi shook her head. "I'm not worried about her. I know you'll protect her, you've always gotten my children home to me. I trust you. I'm worried about you, Goku. In protecting the kids, and everyone else, you get yourself killed, promise me you won't get yourself killed this time... if not for me, then for Usagi..."
Goku closed his eyes for a moment. That hit too close to home for his liking. That had been the exact reason why he hadn't particularly wanted another child before Usagi was born. He didn't want to have to end up hurting it because of a silly fight. His main worry had always been having to leave like he had Gohan and Goten.
But he knew there was no telling what would happen. Fights were unpredictable, especially since he didn't know exactly what he was up against. "I don't know if I can."
Chi-Chi closed her eyes once again. At this point, she would have begged if she had to. "Please, Goku, promise me, you won't die."
Goku nodded with compliance. What else could he say to her? "I promise."
~*~*~
Usagi arrived home at her usual time of 3:00, a half hour after school had been let out. All they way home she couldn't help but get herself excited over what her father may have found out. She played scenario after scenario of what he would tell her when she got home. But the one she wished for most was the Dende would have told him that the Dragon Balls had not been revived but had only been replicated in appearance and not power.
A small smile cracked on her face as she reached for the knob of the front door. Now would come the time that her hopes would be a proven fact. Taking a deep breath for luck, she slowly turned the knob and pushed in, only to see a vacated family room. She took a step in and closed the door behind her, setting her school bag down to the side. "Your loving daughter's home!" She grinned to herself as she walked further into the room.
Looking around the room, she noticed that nothing had really been altered since she left earlier that morning. "Hmm..." She slipped her shoes off and lazily tossed them back to her bag and began making her way to the living room where she had last seen her mother, fainted.
"Mom? Dad?" she called out as she turned the corner. She sighed of relief when she saw her mother sit up from the sofa; her father stood to his feet from the floor. Her grin grew to a smile as she walked to the sofa and leaned over the back of it. Her mother looked horrible. Her eyes had heavy black bags forming beneath them from being stressed, as well as red rings from her cry. She basically looked as if she had just waken up, which was probably the case. Her father was probably speaking to her about his findings just before she got home. "Feeling better?"
Chi-Chi said nothing. Instead, she just stared up at her daughter in shock. Her eyes had been planted on the black cheek of Usagi. She blinked twice just to make sure her eyes weren't playing any tricks on her, that her daughter's cheek really was THAT black. Had that been there earlier when Usagi came to her before, or was that a new development? Did Usagi get attacked again. "Honey..."
Usagi turned her head on its side in curiosity. She wondered why her mother was looking at her so strangely. "Yes?" She glanced up at her father, who had said nothing so far.
Chi-Chi reached for her daughter's cheek, causing the girl to pull back in pain. "What happened to your face?" She demanded as she threw her feet off the couch and proceeded to stand.
Usagi put her hand over the bruise, though not directly on it. She only wanted to protect it from further touch. Looking down at he ground, she remembered back to that morning. All she could really remember was teleporting to her father's newly raised power level and then seeing a flash of gold coming for her and bam, next thing she knew she was flying back into one of her brothers with a huge pain in her face. "It's a bruise..." She explained with a grin. "I'm not sure I like it, it's not exactly my color, what do you think?" She giggled to herself as she tried to make this situation easier on her mother.
Chi-Chi frowned. She didn't find that at all amusing. Here was her daughter with a huge, ugly, black bruise planted on her face. It had been years since she came home with an "injury" like this. "Well, dear, how did it happen? Were you attacked again?" Goku chuckled to himself, which only gained him a sharp glare from his wife. "Do you think it's funny that your little girl has such a bruise on her face?"
Goku did nothing but throw his hand behind his head. It wouldn't be long before he was in the doghouse again because of this. That always seemed to be the case. He would get blamed for Usagi's injuries every time, even if he had nothing to do with it. Chi-Chi blamed it on the fact that he was the one who had trained her and taught her to be so rough. But actually, for once, this HAD been his fault.
Usagi looked at her mother, and then her father. She wanted to save his skin, like he head for her so many times, but it didn't look like there was going to be any way around it. "Well... you see... I... Uh..."
Chi-Chi frowned. "Usagi, please just tell me, I won't get mad. If you DID Get into another fight I'll know it wasn't your fault. You were attacked, right? Your father ..."
"...is the one who did it..." Usagi looked up to her father who was now backing away from his wife. A small giggled bubbled out of her lips.
Chi-Chi paused mid-sentence. "Usagi, I think you're going to have to say that again because I could have sworn you just said your father was the one who hit you."
Usagi stared down into her mother's eyes. "He did..."
Before Usagi could explain anything Chi-Chi had dashed to her husband and grabbed him by the throat against the wall. "You HIT her?!"
Usagi's eyes widened as she joined her mother at her side. "Mom no... it's not what you think! Daddy didn't mean to! It was my fault!"
Goku calmly grabbed his wife's wrist with a gulp. It had been years since he was actually kind of afraid of what his wife would do. Of course, he knew better than to cross Chi-Chi. She was one angry cookie when one of her children were in danger, even if they were put into danger of their own father, which would be him. "Chi-Chi I..." He squeezed her wrist and slightly tugged on her arm to pull it away from his throat.
Chi-Chi dropped her grip on her husband when she realized exactly what she had done. She hadn't intended to do that at all. It was more of a protective reaction than anything. "I...I...I'm sorry...I don't know what came over me..." She dropped to her knees and dropped her head.
Goku sighed as he looked at his daughter, and then at his wife. He knew exactly why she had done what she did. She was worried. He knew that first hand, he had never seen his wife so calm with such emotions. She had been trying to so hard to stay calm lately. He had to commend her effort, but at another time. Goku held his hand out for his wife in comfort with a smile. "It's ok, Chi-Chi."
Usagi looked down at her mother in full amazement. She had always seen her mother strike her father for silly, menial things. But this, THIS was something else. She could feel her mother's rage when she burst up and grabbed her father. Something must have happened while she was on her way home, it was the only explanation. She knelt down and wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders. "Mama? Are you ok? You need anything?"
Chi-Chi smiled softly as she patted her hand on her daughter's helpful arm. "Thanks, Usagi, but I'm fine." She laughed quietly as she looked up at her husband. He had put up with so much from her over the years and here he was, still at her side. It amazed even her that he would put up with all her crap without a fuss. That was just one of the many things she loved about him. She kindly placed her hand in his and allowed herself to be pulled up. She looked into Goku's eyes and held her head with shame. She couldn't believe what she had just done, but it looked like he had already forgiven her stupidity. "I think I'm going to ... make something to eat..."
Usagi scratched her head in confusion. Was her mother just going to let things go at that? Of course, she wouldn't be dumb enough to ask her that. She knew better than to question her mother at times like this, but this was particularly strange. More so than normal even. 'Something BIG must have happened while I was gone. This is not MY mom.'
On her way to the kitchen, Chi-Chi stopped short and slightly turned her body toward Goku. She wore a wide smile of thanks on her face. "Thank you, Goku. Just don't forget your promise." Smiling out of her own satisfaction, she turned back and began making her way to the kitchen where she would take her mind of things by baking something, just as she always had in her youth.
Usagi was left between her parents, sharing glances between the two of them. It was at that point that she knew SOMETHING happened, though she wasn't sure what. Her father had seemed to make amends with her mother, but how? Her mother had always been difficult, of course, she seemed extra upset about something this time. Maybe this new attack had gotten to her more than she let on. In anyway, she was sure she could get all the answers she wanted from the one person she could always count on. "What was that all about?" She asked as she turned to her father.
Goku smiled at himself. He had done good, for once. Maybe he was actually getting a hang of this husband thing finally. They had gotten through that without a fight, well, almost. He looked down to his questioning daughter with a grin. " Let me worry about it, sweetie. It's a parent thing. Your mom is having a hard time coping with this."
Usagi said nothing in reply to that, she knew better. But she didn't really have anything to add anyway. She knew her mother was obviously having a hard time, and was trying hard to keep from going off. But her mother had always been a ticking time bomb waiting to go off at the slightest touch, it was only a matter of time before the right thing would set her off. "Oh." She said solemnly.
Goku hunched his back. He hated having to be in the middle of this, but he would just have to give Chi-Chi the space she needed. At least this time she had kept from going completely nuts. "So? What's up?"
Usagi tried to forget what had just happened as she sat down on the sofa and stared up at her father. This was just not her day. Why couldn't things just go right for once? Everything always seemed to go wrong at exactly the same time, and this topped the day off completely. "I might ask you the same question, dad."
Goku scratched his head as he took his place on the coffee table. He hadn't exactly thought of something to tell her. He hadn't the time. As soon as he got home, he found his wife lying in her fainted state, just as Usagi had described, and his thoughts were immediately turned to her. But now, that was behind him, and he still had nothing to present to his daughter. He didn't exactly want to lie, yet, he swore to Piccolo that he would say nothing.
He rested his hand upon his knee and looked side to side. He couldn't think of anything believable to tell her. Anything he would say would either be a lie or a bogus reason.
Usagi became quite suspicious at her father's actions. "Daddy? Something wrong?"
Goku snapped his attention back to his daughter. Better come out with it, while leaving out important details. She wasn't to know now, she wasn't in any immediate danger at the moment. It wouldn't have been any use to have her worried as well as Chi-Chi. He especially didn't want Chi-Chi knowing about the Black Star Dragon Balls, not now anyway. She was already in too bad a mood for that. And Usagi, she was already worried enough about the Red Star Dragon Balls. "Well..."
Usagi leaned in closer to her father, part in excitement, and part in fear. She wanted to know, yet she didn't. "Yeah!"
Goku sighed. Here it went. "I talked to Dende today..." He paused as he pondered over the next detail. Telling her that Piccolo was there may have risen suspicion on her part. Then again, he could tell her that Piccolo had been there because he felt the flash of the invader's power. "...and Piccolo who had been there because he felt the enemy's presence earlier, but only for a few seconds. We talked, and our Dragon Balls haven't been revived. We don't have to worry about those, but this guy is still REALLY dangerous." He smiled to himself in the back of his mind. He had pulled that off rather smoothly. Technically he hadn't lied to her. He had just skipped over some truths, much like Usagi had done when she told him about her fight earlier, which he still remained completely clueless about.
Usagi appeared to believe her father. And why shouldn't she? It was completely true. "So what are we going to do?"
Goku; "What I said earlier. We wait for an attack here first. Hopefully it'll have more guts than to attack a kid again. It'll go after something that's stronger than you, not that you're weak or stupid because you're younger."
Usagi grinned. She so could have played her father along with this one by giving a huge guilt trip, but she knew better to at this point. He too had a lot on his mind with her mother and having to lead the fight. "Ok. So we wait, got it. As long as he doesn't have our Dragon Balls things are looking up, right?"
Goku knew in the back of his mind that things weren't looking up. In fact, quit the opposite, now that he knew exactly what kind of power this thing held in its possession, things were worse. And as much as he wanted to tell her, his conscious told him not to, that he should uphold his promise. He said nothing either way. Instead, he decided to change the subject to more important matters. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around her chin, slowly turning her head so he could get a better look at her cheek where she had been hit. It was already black as night with edged of blue. It was hard to believe that such a bruise came from his own fist, though completely accidental. "I'm SO sorry."
Usagi smiled with pride. If he was really abusive like Tatsuo suggested, he wouldn't be apologizing. Her father had never hit her before, and he never would. She couldn't understand why he didn't realize that. "It's ok, dad. I know it wasn't your fault, it was mine."
"I hope none of the teachers gave you trouble about it."
Usagi shook her head. "Nope!" She exclaimed as she pulled away from his grip to gain control over her face movement once again. "I told them what happened and they believed me. But..."
Goku frowned. He knew that but. "But? But what?"
Usagi joined her father with a frown of her own. "Tatsuo didn't believe me. He said you wanted me to think it was my fault. He's one crazy guy, but it's annoying. I don't know why he wants us to fight so badly."
Goku let out a soft growl. He couldn't believe that kid. "Ignore him. He doesn't know what he's talking about."
Usagi smiled. "I know that. He said you'd do it again, but I said you didn't do anything in the first place. So oh well to him!"
Goku chuckled. He didn't quite believe that. Although his daughter had one of the kindest hearts around, she also had a bit of a temper when it came to her family. "Yeah..." He said with much suspicion lingering in his voice. "You should get changed out of your uniform for dinner. Your mom's probably got something big cooking."
Usagi grinned. Her mother always liked to cook something big when she was upset about something. It was how she got her mind of the things that made her angry. "Alright." She stood from the couch and stretched tall. "What a day."
Goku watched as she walked to her room. She as such a resilient kid it was amazing. He didn't know anyone who could go through so much in such a short life and continue to be so cheery. Of course, she was his daughter. All of his kids seemed to be able to bounce back from the harsh and cruel world, him included. Chi-Chi was another case though. She would take some work, but he seemed to have that under control. Maybe he had finally figured her out. He put his hands behind his back with a smirk of pride. 'Yeah, I got this marriage and parenting thing down pat...'
~*~*~
Usagi walked into her dark room, without turning on the lights. The sky outside was already beginning to darken, but there was still a sufficient amount of light to see in. All she needed to do was change into some regular cloths and then it would be right back out to watch T.V. before dinner. With a long sigh, she flopped on her back to lay on her bed. She closed her eyes and smiled. "Finally, I get to relax."
"I wouldn't say that quite yet..."
Usagi's eyes flew open with fear as she shot herself up to a fierce sitting position. She glared around her room, using her ears as well to detect whoever just said that. Of course, she was pretty sure of who it was. The voice sounded all too familiar. "You!" She sneered in a rage. All she wanted to do was relax and here he was disturbing her rest again. "I'm not giving you the Broach. You'll have to come and get it offa me if you want it!"
"Great minds do think alike, don't they. Though I think on this one it was a fluke in your case!"
Usagi looked toward her closet where the voice seemed to be coming from. "What?!"
Without further notice, the next thing she knew a blue blob had her on the ground. He sat on top of her and slapped her across the face a couple times, causing her to whimper in pain. But, as soon as his eyes traveled down to the treasure on her chest. "It's mine now!" Holding her head back by her face, with his free hand he reached down and ripped the item away from her shirt.
With her mouth covered, she couldn't cry out for help and she wasn't in much of a position to raise her power. She wasn't completely thinking enough to surge it as she was told. She was too frightened. So instead, she lifted her tail and wrapped it around the creature's throat.
The creature quickly lifted his hand away from her face and numbed the tail with his power, causing it to drop to the ground. But, it was just enough time for Usagi to make her move. "DADDY HELP!"
It was at that moment, that a Super Saiyan three Goku burst into the room. He knew exactly what had caused her to cry out like that. She had to have been attacked again. He took one look at the ordeal and powered up a small Ki attack and fired it at the back of his daughter's attacker. "Usagi!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, fearing that this thing that had done some serious damage to her.
The blue guy actually looked to be hurt by the attack. Upon impact, the broach flew out of his hands and slid under Usagi's bed. He jumped away from Usagi and lingered in the air as he glared down at Goku, who was scowling up at him. "Shit!" He seemed not to care about Goku. In a fret, his eyes traveled to the floor in search of the treasure he had just dropped.
Goku rose to the creature's altitude. This wouldn't help Chi-Chi's mood to have their child attacked in their own home, but that didn't quite matter at this point. He kept his eyes on this guy and watched his every move.
The creature looked back up to Goku after he decided to forget the broach for now. Goku was too much stronger than him right now. It looked like he would have to go to plan B. Usagi wouldn't be so careless anymore. Attacking at her home was his last hope of catching her off guard, unless... maybe he wouldn't have to go to Plan B right away. Maybe there was an alternative. "You leave me no other choice than to vacate the premises."
Goku frowned. "You aren't going anywhere!" At that moment, the door slammed open to reveal an angry mother who, at that point, could have passed for a rapid dog. Goku didn't take his eyes off his opponent for a moment, but didn't have to. He knew exactly who was standing there at the door. "Chi-Chi, leave!"
Chi-Chi frowned at her husband. "No one attacks my home and gets away with it!" She looked down at her daughter, who had her head under her bed. "Usagi, get out of here! Leave this to me!"
Goku growled, not taking his eye away from his foe. "Usagi, get your mother out of here!"
Usagi popped her head out from under her bed and looked up at her father and then to the blue creature who had just attacked her. Her face still stung from his slaps. "Ok!" She stood up and began running for her mother.
The creature smirked. "Looks like I'm the center of the party, but I'm really going to have to get going now. It's so late."
Goku grinned. This guy was gonna run scared. They both knew who the stronger fighter he was. Maybe they could get through this without losing anyone but the invader. "I don't think so."
The creature said nothing. He just waved to the group and then, poof, he was gone.
Goku blinked twice, Usagi and Chi-Chi weren't far behind. He scratched his head in confusion as he powered down. There didn't seem to be a need to be powered up anymore as the power level he had just felt was suddenly gone. "Where'd he go?"
Usagi, who was already halfway out of the room shrugged. "See? That's what happened today."
With Usagi in her hands, Chi-Chi ran to Goku and hugged the both of them. "We're moving!"
Goku said nothing as he placed his hand upon Usagi's head. His heart was still racing deep inside. There was nothing worse than to hear his little girl crying out for help in their own home and then to find someone actually attacking her. She didn't look too beaten up. "You ok?"
Usagi nodded with a heavy breath. "I'll be fine, just a little shaken up." She smiled up at him as she hugged him harder. "Thanks for helping me. I was really scared there."
Goku smiled. "So was I."
Chi-Chi grabbed her husband with a sharp glare. "Who in the HELL was that?!"
Usagi pulled her mother aside and put her hands on her shoulders. "Mom... now, don't get upset, but, that was the guy who attacked me earlier."
Chi-Chi frowned as she looked up to her husband again. "THAT?!"
Goku nodded. "Apparently." He looked down at his daughter, still worried that she may have been hurt more than before. "Was that it?"
Usagi nodded to confirm. "It was. Last time it didn't just disappear like that though. I could actually feel it running away."
Goku groaned. This was the first time he didn't know what he was facing. And now, they had met and the critter got away without being beaten, or getting the Dragon Balls back. "What was he doing to you when I came in here?"
Usagi gulped, she didn't exactly want to tell him that. "I... I don't know."
Goku knew different. He knew she did. He was distinctly holding something. "What was he holding?"
Usagi shook her head again, backing up a ways into her mother. "I...I really don't know, daddy."
Goku frowned. "Are you lying to me?"
Usagi backed away even further. "No. Of course not, I really don't know."
Chi-Chi frowned up at her husband as she pulled her daughter to the side and covered her with her arms. "Goku! Stop it! She didn't do anything, she's the victim here!"
Goku sighed as he dropped his tall composure. "I guess." He watched his daughter carefully for any sign of strange activities. There had to be SOME reason why that guy would be so persistent as to chase her around. And what was it that he was holding. Looking down at Usagi, he realized that something about her outfit was missing, but what? That's it, the locket she usually wore on her school uniform, It was gone. Was that what he had been after? But why would he be after such a silly trinket? "I'm sorry, Usagi." He smiled as he wrapped his hand around her head. "I'm just glad you're alright."
(La la la la.... Oh yeah, that's the end of this part. See ya tomorrow! )