Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or Sailor Moon and I'm not affiliated with either.

Thanks again to all the reviewers. The story is coming to a close soon, I hope you've all enjoyed it so far!


Chapter 15

The next morning, Usagi woke up and immediately bounced over to Clark's bedroom, jumping up and down on the bed to wake him up.

Clark, sighed, turned over, and finally opened his eyes and yawned.

"Morning!" she exclaimed just before bouncing off to get dressed.

When Clark walked downstairs to breakfast, Usagi was already out doing the chores. After eating he walked outside, and using his x-ray vision he noticed she was in the loft.

He walked up, and immediately he noticed a very bright light engulfing his loft. He flinched, as it was bright enough to be the light that Jor-el used to hurt him in the past. However, after walking further he saw a silhouette by the window – Usagi. In her hands she held her tier and in the ball a woman with dark hair and a very short skirt over a bodysuit was talking to her.

"Usagi, I am so glad I found you. I've contacted Chibi-Usa, and she's ready to travel back at a moment's notice. Where are you? This is the first I've been able to track you and yet I have never seen this portal before. You must come back, as I am afraid that if you stay too long the future will begin to deteriorate." Pluto said.

"Setsuna-san…" Usagi said, as she shed a few tears. "I'm okay. A lot has happened. I'm ready to come back, but you must let me clear up some loose ends first. I won't be long, don't worry. The future won't change. I'll contact you when I'm ready."

"Yes, Princess. I'll await your call." Pluto responded, and with a bow, the picture disappeared and so did Usagi's staff.

"U-Usagi?" Clark asked.

"Oh! I didn't notice you there!" Usagi said as she wiped away the few stray tears she hadn't been able to suppress.

"Who was that?" Clark asked.

"Sailor Pluto – Setsuna-san. I have to leave soon."

"I see. I guess it was inevitable." Clark said, putting his hands in his pockets and looking down. He heaved a sigh, and sat down on the couch.

Usagi sat next to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

"I know how you feel. I honestly don't know if I want to leave."

"Stay here." Clark said, grabbing her hand. "It's not like you have to go, right?"

Usagi shook her head. "My future is set. In order for it to stay that way I must return. Don't worry. I'll find a way to visit, somehow."

Clark looked up. "It's just that," he sighed, "it's hard, you know? When I finally find someone like me - someone who can relate to me, they – you – have to leave."

"I will come back. Don't worry. For now, let's simply enjoy what time we have left, ne?" She said. Looking down at her watch she noticed the time. "Shouldn't we be leaving for Lex's?"

"Yeah I guess." Clark said. "I guess we should."


At Lex's:

Lex looked up from his laptop just as Clark walked in.

"Hello Clark, what a pleasant surprise. You know, I've been thinking about what you said yesterday…" Lex trailed off, as he closed his laptop.

"And?"

"Well, what can I say? It's not every day you find out your friend," Lex corrected himself as Usagi ran in, "your friends are aliens. But don't you realize that you can be rich? So many people would pay to…"

Clark's eyes turned fearful.

"No! This is exactly why I didn't tell you before! Everyone would look to exploit me, and experiment on me." Clark exclaimed. "That is my worst fear! You wouldn't inflict that on me, would you Lex?"

"I…uh…" Lex stammered. "I wasn't insinuating that at all!"

"You're just like every other business man out there. I really thought you were my friend. Looks like I was wrong."

Clark began to walk out when Lex began to speak.

"Clark, please. Don't walk out on me like everyone else in my life. Just hear me out. I don't want to exploit you, hurt you, or experiment on you. I would never dream of it. I'm just saying that there are endless possibilities out there for you. You should know as well as I do that I can't force you to do anything."

"Just the fact that you think that way makes me almost regret telling you."

"Then why did you?"

"I thought you could handle it. Can you?"

"Yes. Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Could I have trusted you, or would you have sold me out to everyone? We weren't friends, Lex. We were pretending to be. You ignored my lying and I ignored your prying. I told you because I didn't have a choice."

Lex, who was used to the norm of 'beating around the bush', couldn't quite come up with a response. If it was his father he would've given some quip about a screw up his dad made. If it was an out of line employee, he could've mentally knocked them down until they were sniveling, and if it were Nixon, he could've wiped him off the face of the earth. But he didn't know how to deal with this, not with Clark, his best friend.

"You presented me with questions, and being inquisitive, naturally I wanted answers. But I stopped investigating you long ago Clark. And as soon as I did, the evidence simply continued to pile up on my lap. I could only look away so much before it became damning."

Clark glared at him. "This was not the way I'd hoped the conversation would go."

Lex looked at Clark. "What did I do to you in those caves to make you so afraid of me, Clark? Does it have anything to do with this? I saw the look in your eyes when you talked about it."

"Forget about it, Lex."

"I think I have a right to know if I did something possibly damaging to our frienship."

"It wasn't you before." Usagi said, speaking up.

"Maybe it was." Lex began. "I don't know what happened to me there, but I've felt different ever since – more unrestrained, relentless, cold and calculating. I feel like there's a darkness taking me over – one that not even you could get rid of. I'm afraid that it was there all along, but now it's simply been let out. I've fought against it so far, but what if it overwhelms me? Clark embodies the good left in the world, and I can see that in him. That's the only hope I have, and if he and I ever ceased to be friends, I'm afraid that eventually the darkness would take me over."

Clark looked at him, surprised.

"Maybe we should just start from square one?" Clark began.

Lex smiled. "As long as I don't have to hit you with my car again."

Clark let out a laugh.

"No secrets this time?" Lex asked.

"If there's no lies." Clark answered.

"I guess we've reached an agreement."

Lex and Clark shook hands, and their friendship was started anew.

Usagi smiled. "I'm glad."

Lex smirked at Clark. "So what can you do?"

Clark smirked back. "Oh, come on. Haven't you figured it out yet?"

"No. Well, other than the mysterious fires that always happen around you."

"It's the heat vision," Clark said. "I also have x-ray vision, and I'm very fast and very strong. Lately I've been noticing that I can hear better too, and I've been floating when I wake up."

"Floating?" Lex exclaimed.

"Yeah. I hope nothing comes out of it though. I hate heights."

Lex blinked, and then calmed down. "I guess I should constantly expect the unexpected from you." He joked.

Clark looked over. "What's that on your desk?"

"Oh, that's an old picture of Helen I meant to get rid of."

Clark smiled. "Hit me with it."

"Excuse me?"

"Throw it at me. I'm serious."

"Err, okay." Lex said, and he complied.

The wooden frame smashed into millions of pieces and the picture of Helen ripped in a million pieces as well.

"Invulnerable." Clark said.

Lex looked on in awe. "Anything else you want to tell me before I go into shock?" he said jokingly.

Clark hesitated.

"What? You can tell me."

"The green meteor rocks, they're called Kryptonite, and I'm sort of…allergic to them, in the most extreme sense of the word. To be honest, I hate being around them because every time I am, they cause me so much pain and I think, 'Today could be the day I die.' The red ones aren't fatal but they affect my mental state. I do a lot of things I normally wouldn't. Anytime you saw me with the school ring on I was under that influence. It's like a drug."

"Are you serious? You really should've told me sooner. I could have them cleaned up faster than you can…okay maybe not but still, I could have them cleaned up."

Clark looked relieved. "That would be really great," he said, thinking about all the near fatal and screwed up situations he had experienced because of those rocks.

"No problem, I'll get on it right away."

"Anyways, I'm going to head back now. I'll drop over a little later." Clark told him, as he went to leave. "I'm glad this is finally resolved."

"Me too, Clark. Me too."

Usagi walked from her watching place and followed Clark out the door, waving goodbye to Lex.


Clark and Usagi were running out in the cornfield, enjoying the breeze.

"I'm really going to miss this when I go home." Usagi said.

"Who says you won't still be able to do it?" Clark said.

Usagi sighed. "I don't know. I hope I can. It makes life a lot easier."

"I always found it made life more difficult."

"Accept it. It's who you are." Usagi said. "You'll feel a lot better when you do."

"Turn here." Clark directed, and both branched off onto a road going to Clark's house.

"So, Clark, feel like learning a little Japanese before I leave?" Usagi asked.

"If you can teach me within the time it takes to get to my house." Clark joked.

"You're on."


Later…

"So you're leaving us?" Martha asked.

"I'm afraid so. I have to go back."

"Well then I guess all I can say is good luck. It was nice having you here, Bunny. You make me wish I had adopted you too." She said, as she kissed Usagi on the forehead.

"Yeah, we're gonna miss not having you around here." Jonathon said.

"And the extra help on the farm, right dad?" Clark joked.

"Well…"

Everyone shared a laugh.

Usagi looked at her watch. "Well, I was thinking another visit to the caves before I leave would be good, so I guess I should head out. I want to kind of make peace with them."

"Mind if I go too?"

Usagi stuck out her tongue. "Of course not."

"Let's stop to Lex's first. I want to get all of the senshi."

"Don't forget about Chloe!" Clark said.

"Nope. Now let's go!"


At the caves…

Clark put the key into its place in the wall, and a white light came out, but this time it was warm.

"Kal-el, Serenity, warriors. I see you've come." Jor-el began.

Usagi nodded.

"I want to express my highest gratitude to you all. You've freed me, and for that I cannot thank you enough. I wish for you all to keep the power I've given you, and use it to fight in your own world. Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, Keiko, to you I give an upgrade as well. Chloe, to you I give unlimited ability to heal Kal-el, and I grant you stronger healing power. I thank you for always being at his side, and helping him. You two will also gain a psychic link, through which you can communicate with each other. Again, I cannot thank you enough for being there for Kal-el. Also, Mamoru will be fully healed by tomorrow. Now, I believe, there is someone who wishes to speak with you, Serenity."

Queen Serenity walked out, and quickly embraced Usagi. "Mom!" she exclaimed, and began to cry happy tears.

Once they had happily reconciled, Clark looked up. "Lara…Mom?" he asked.

"Kal-el!" she cried and ran over to Clark. "Oh my god, you look so different. You're so grown up. And look how handsome you've become. You certainly took to your father's side of the family. Oh how I've missed not seeing you."

Clark although a bit embarrassed, embraced her, feeling complete for the first time in his life.

Usagi and Clark looked up and at the same time, both said, "How will I see you again?" to their long lost parents.

"Serenity, you must go to the moon and use this globe. Kal-el, you can come here anytime and we will be here. But you must also take this globe, so that you and Serenity can communicate. Also, as you have probably figured out, you're a prince. Yet, you have no idea of your true spiritual nature. To you I grant this, and you may have all the power of a lunarian prince."

Clark felt a surge go through his body, but he felt no different.

As if reading his mind, Queen Serenity spoke up, "Don't worry if you don't feel different. You don't have to. It's simply at your disposal when you need it. Here, it will perhaps add on to your abilities as it is, rather than appear as power like Serenity's."

"How do I use the globe?" Clark asked.

Queen Serenity just smiled. "If you haven't figured it out by tomorrow, come and ask me. Now, Jor-el and I must leave, as we cannot manifest ourselves for very long without rest. See you all again. You may contact me with the globe should you need to. Goodbye, my dearest children, and sailor warriors."

Jor-el and Serenity retreated into the wall, and left the senshi and Clark in silence.


The next morning, Usagi almost had to drag herself out of bed. Looking around, she sighed, knowing full well that she would have to leave people she cared about behind. Martha, Jonathon, Jor-el, Clark, Pete, Chloe…every one of them she would never see again. She tied her hair up in her usual buns, and wondered what it was that stopped her from staying.

"Why not?" she thought "I could be just as happy here, as I am in Tokyo."

Her eyes shifted.

"But then again maybe not. Shingo, Ikuko-mama, and Kenji-Papa will need me. And Luna and Artemis, and…Chibiusa…"

"Oh why does this have to be so hard!" she cried, one bun coming loose and her hair spilling across the floor.

Clark heard the commotion and walked into Usagi's room, laying his hand on her shoulder. She pulled into his embrace, but only a select few tears managed to run down her cheeks.

"I'm such a crybaby. Nakimushi Usagi, that's me," she said, standing up and wiping the tears off her face.

"But don't think you're rid of me that easily!" she suddenly said as she pounced on him and started giving him a nougie. "I'll come back."

She noticed that Clark had been crying too, and stopped. They both burst into a fit of tears and laughter and walked downstairs, each realizing what a great loss they were about to experience.


Usagi, Mamoru, and the senshi, along with Keiko were standing along the side of the dirt road a mile from Clark's house, facing Clark, Chloe, Lex, and Pete.

"So…I guess I won't be able to break the sound barrier when I go home." Usagi joked, to break the silence.

Everyone laughed, weakly.

"Chloe, are you sure you don't want to come?" Usagi asked.

Chloe nodded, with conflict in her eyes. "I know that here, I'm needed more. Don't worry Mamoru, we will find a way to contact each other."

He nodded, his eyes betraying his feelings about losing his only sister again.

"Lex, I can't thank you enough for your co-operation with us on the matter. We're sorry we had to inconvenience you in such a way." Usagi apologized.

"It was no inconvenience, be assured." Lex answered.

Usagi eyed Lex. "Treat Clark well, won't you? I won't hear that you've been treating him badly." She stated.

"Your fears are unfounded, Usagi. I assure you we will be better friends now."

She nodded, and looked at Pete.

"Pete, thank you for your help. You're a very strong individual, even without any powers."

Pete nodded. "Thanks. It was nice meeting everyone, even with the circumstances."

Again, Usagi turned.

"Keiko, you're coming or staying?"

"I'm afraid I have to stay. I have too many commitments here." Keiko said.

"Don't forget your commitment to the galaxy." Usagi reminded. "However, your request is granted. Here's something to use to contact Setsuna if you need to travel between the two places."

Usagi handed Keiko a golden key.

"Arigatou, Usagi-san"

"Clark." It was more of a statement that anything, a start of a long and difficult goodbye, as well as the beginning of the road to peace and prosperity. "Now look, you're crying! You can't do that because then I'm…" she trailed off. "Now…now you've…made…me…"

She ran to him and they hugged in a tight embrace, each one feeling the need to stay with each other and help each other, the strong sibling bond.

They reluctantly let go.

"Goodbye, senshi." Chloe said.

Each one nodded a goodbye.

"Chloe, here's your henshin stick." Usagi said, as she pulled a light out of Chloe, and the stick formed. "It won't disappear now and you can contact us with it. Don't worry. You'll know what to do. Take care."

"Don't be a stranger, ok?" Usagi said, looking at Clark.

Clark nodded.

With that she turned held her hands out to the sky. A black portal opened, and a dark silhouette walked to the edge. Immediately the senshi began to rise.

Just as Usagi was rising, she bent forward and whispered in Clark's ear. "Tsukino hikari wa ai no message. Think about it and you'll understand. Sayonara, onii-san."

With that, she rose into the sky slowly, Clark running after her and trying to grasp her hand as she rose higher and higher. Eventually the senshi all disappeared in the giant portal, and it closed. All that was left was the wisp of Usagi's hair on the ground.

Chloe walked over and put her hand on Clark's shoulder.

"What did she say, Clark?"

"Tsukino hikari wa ai no message. I don't know what it means though. She tried to teach it to me, but I didn't get enough out of it to understand." He replied, with tears in his eyes, all the time looking to the sky with some remaining hope that she would come back.

It began to rain, and thunder started. Clark could feel the humidity. But he kept looking to the sky for her, waiting.

But she didn't come back, and a saddened group retreated to their respective homes, with the exception of Chloe who went to Clark's with him. On the way, they dropped by her house to pick up her laptop.

Now sitting in the loft, Clark was looking through his telescope, and trying to figure out what Usagi said. He knew that sayonara was goodbye, onii-san was brother, and message was…well…message, but that's all he knew. He turned and noticed Chloe busily typing into her laptop. She had been at it for a while, but Clark had no idea what she was doing.

He turned back to look into his telescope and noticed that the moon had risen and was unusually bright tonight.

Chloe suddenly spoke up. "Tsuki no hikari is the moonlight, Clark."

As if on cue, the moon's light shone into the loft and directly on the globe that Clark had been given. Both teens looked on as it started to shimmer.

Next: Yes, I'm not quite done yet. There's still an epilogue! So keep reviewing and checking for the next Chapter.