Unexpected Saviors

Rei had finally stopped when her feet came to a cliff that dropped fifty feet into the rocky ocean below. For several minutes she only stared at the air that seprated the top of the cliff and the waves below. The wind blew hard, trying to tell her that death awaited at the bottom and all her suffering would disappear. A soft smile graced her face as she imagined seeing her Usagi again. "Usagi, that's where you've gone. Something bad happened and you've moved on to the after life. Well I'm going to join and tell you that I'm sorry. HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME USAGI? I WAS BEING AN IDIOT AND YOU RAN OFF INSTEAD OF YELLING BACK AT ME LIKE YOU ALWAYS DID!" Rei sank to her knees and sobbed into her hands. "Why did you leave? I was only trying to do what was best and you were like a sister to me." Her crying soon stopped, replaced by another wave of unnerving calmness. "I won't have to worry about it any more. I can leave too." Without thinking any more about it, she stepped off the cliff.

Expecting to fall she closed her eyes shut tight and refused to watch the end come. After a few seconds of feeling nothing connect with her body, she opened her eyes, startled to see that something was holding her up. At first, she thought it was a branch holding her robe, but as she looked up, she gasped. Hanging on to the side of the cliff as if her life depended on it, was Serena.

Usagi managed to run across Artemis and snagged him as she stopped running. "What's the matter?"

"You have to hurry. It's Rei. I don't know what she's going to do, but it can't be good." Artemis pointed towards the direction he had last seen Rei walking and Usagi ran, trying to catch up with the priestess. It wasn't until they were near the back end of the campus that they both realized they were close to the cliff.

Neither had to be told to hurry, Usagi never knowing that she could go faster until that moment. Her entire body ached and she wheezed, on the brink of passing out. Suddenly they saw her. She was shouting and crying on her knees, and for a split second, Usagi felt like she had enough time to reach the priestess. Rei stood, walked off the edge and fell.

"REI! NO!" With one last ounce of will power, Usagi jumped after Rei and managed to grab her robe on the way down. With quick reflexes she snagged onto a branch before she made it ten feet and held onto it with one hand while she held onto Rei with the other.

When Rei glanced up, Usagi tried to smile, but the pain she was going through was extreme and it was all she could do not to cry. "Serena?" She whispered.

"Rei..." The voice was so familiar to Rei that her eyes quivered in a new pain. "Is this so worth it, that you're willing to throw a way the rest of your life? What about your friends?"

"It doesn't matter if the one person that was my best friend disappeared. Everyone's gotten over it, saying that there's nothing they could do to bring her back, but it was my fault they opened up on her in the first place. My famous temper got in my way again and now Usagi's probably dead. Please, let me go. You can't hold my wait and yours. Besides, you have nothing to do with this."

"No!" Rei looked at her startled and something about those blue eyes, made her heart skip a beat. "I may be mad at you Rei, but I forbid you to commit suicide. If you want to make it up to me, then start by living and we'll talk."

The words were slowly sinking into Rei's mind and fresh tears began to shake her body. "Usagi?"

"Yes, Rei! Dammit, if you die, I will hate you for eternity! Now hang on."

Rei smiled for the first time in three years. She had a long way to go, but it was a start and she'd do anything to make up for the past. "I'm so sorry about what happened then. Please, let go and save yourself. You've been through enough without supporting both of us."

"Nice try, Rei. You're not getting out of this so easily. You have a choice to make. Either we both live, or we both die. That's what friends are for, even angry ones that feel like kicking your ass!"

"You've grown up, Usagi. What happened to my meatball head?"

Usagi smiled, despite her pain and almost came back with a smart remark when the branch suddenly cracked. "Damn!"

"What's the..." Both women screamed as they plunged to their death. With great difficulty, Usagi manuvered her body under Rei, prepared to take the full impact of the water.

Artemis was on top of the cliff, looking down at Usagi and Rei. He sighed in relief when they stopped falling, but he knew that the branch wouldn't hold them for long. It was impossible for either of them to transform and for five minutes they hung in the air. Were they talking? 'I have to do something! I can't get help; there isn't enough time!' Suddenly the branch snapped. "USAGI! REI!" Artemis jumped after them, but someone grabbed his tail and held him up as two blurs rushed past him. "What?"

"Interesting, furball. What did you think would happen if you caught them?" Artemis turned, looked at the creature holding him, and fainted. Piccolo shook his head and watched Vegeta and Kakarot rush to save the two women. They had lost sight of Usagi when Kakarot had spotted the golden cat on the cliff. Recognizing it and hearing a scream, he wasted no time.

Usagi closed her eyes, prepared for her death, but something wrapped around her waist and lifted her into the air. The shock of not hitting the ater and Rei trying to commit suicide was more than she could handle. Usagi blacked out. "Damn, that was close," Kakarot growled.

Rei looked at the man holding Usagi and then the one holding her. "Vegeta?" Then she looked down, seeing the water below. "How are we flying?"

"Magic."

"You're not very talkative, are you? Can we land now?" Vegeta landed and Rei regretfully pulled out of his grip. "Thank you for saving my life?"

"What the hell were you doing over the cliff?"

Rei blushed and turned to see if Usagi was ok. Kakarot was gentle with her as he held her head in his shoulder, her back in the crook of his right arm, while his left hand curved under her slim legs. Kakarot thought she was heavier for a normal human, but she was thin. "Is she going to be alright?"

"She's shaken up, but other than that, she's fine. Why don't you two come with us until she wakes up?"

"I really should tell the other girls that she's back."

"No." Everyone turned to see a cat jump from Piccolo's arms, moving into Rei's. "If Usagi wanted them to know, she would have told them. The only reason she told you was because she had no choice. You have no idea how much you, the other girls, Luna and Mamoru have hurt her. I'll be damed if any of you are going to close her off any further. I know you're sorry for the past, but you still don't fully understand the actions that have caused her to run away in pain and anguish. The friends she trusted the most twisted a knife deep inside of her. Until Usagi says other wise, you are to say nothing to them about her, this incident or myself. If you can't handle that Rei, I will block all your memories of Usagi being Serena."

Rei looked at Usagi and then Artemis and nodded. "I promise not to say anything. I'll do anything for her if it will make up for what I did and today."

Vegeta plucked the cat out of her hands and looked at him closer as if trying to remember something. "Furball, why are you this color? I can tell that someone painted you."

Artemis tried to bite Vegeta, but he laughed and pulled him up by the scruff of his neck. "Put me down!" After a few seconds he gave up struggling and crossed his arms and glared at the Saiya-jin in front of him. "You don't act surprised that I can talk."

"No, I'm not. I remember two cats from a long time ago, but the two I know are white and black with two yellow crescent moons on their foreheads. They went by Artemis and Luna."

Artemis was speechless and uncrossed his arms. "How... That was a thousand years ago."

"Who are you? Are you related to one of them?"

"I think we need to wait for Usagi to wake up. If I say anymore she'll ring my neck and put me outside for a month."

"Fine, but in the mean time, I think I'll hold on to you. If you try to run, you won't have to worry about missed meals. I'll snap your neck before she wakes up."

Rei reddened in anger and snatched Artemis from his hands. "Like hell you will! If you hurt him, then you'll go through me first. We won't go anywhere, but you keep your hands off of him!"

Vegeta stared at the dark haired woman for several seconds with a straight face and then smirked. "You have guts woman. Not many people would yell at someone that can fly and saved their life."

Rei lost her anger, but she meant what she said. "I said thank you for saving my life, but I'm serious. You are not to hurt this cat."

Kakarot rose in the air and flew off towards his apartment. The outfit she had on was fit for running, but she was not awake and her body was already starting to freeze. Not wanting her to get pnemonia, he raised his ki level to keep her warm and safe. "What is your story? Why would you risk your life for someone like that?"

He sensed Piccolo and Vegeta close behind and didn't wait for them. They knew where he was headed and he didn't answer to anyone anyway. By the time he stepped foot into the dorm room, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks were already awake and preparing breakfast for the two kids. They gasped when they saw the unconscious woman in his arms, but moved out of his way immediatly. There was a look of posseviness in his eyes and his hold was protective. Not wanting her to be disturbed, he laid Usagi down in his bed and pulled the covers around her so that she would keep warm.

"Dad?" Kakarot looked up to see Goten shyly looking in, not sure how to approach his father. He felt a twinge of guilt about acting a bit weird lately, but Vegeta said he wouldn't be able to control it.

"What is it Goten?" he asked with a smile.

"Are you ok? I mean you didn't get hurt or anything did you?"

"No. I'm fine. You've gotten older. Have you thought about dating anyone?"

Goten blushed and turned away for a second. "No, not really. Most girls were only interested because of being your son, or because of the martial arts tournament. Trunks had it bad too, because he came in first."

Ruffling his hair, father and son laughed. Goten knew his father still cared about him. "I know you'll do alright. I apologize for being hard to deal with lately, and I'll be back to normal soon enough. Just avoid me when I get into one of my mood swings."

"I will dad. She sure is cute. I can see why you like her. Don't let her get away dad, or I'll have to say that my mighty father got beaten by a girl."

A gleam came in his eyes, but not one of anger. "You won't have to worry about her getting away son. She's already mine, she just doesn't realize it yet."

Goten left his dad's room. "I hope she's worth it and treats you right."

Next came Vegeta with a dark haired woman and Piccolo carring a strange, golden cat. Trunks looked a tad upset as he glared at his father and Piccolo. "I wish you had told me about having guests. I only cooked enough for us."

Rei smiled at the purple haired man in the kitchen. "I'm not hungry, thank you. We're just waiting for Usagi to wake up." Rei went to sit in the living room and stared out the window wondering how everything had changed so suddenly again. Just as quickly as Usagi had left, she had appeared again.

*Dream*

"Usagi! Are you ever going to do anything right and show up on time?" Rei yelled at her.

"Yeah, really Usagi, you have to start giving more of an effort instead of always being late to everything. You will never get any stronger at this rate," Makoto said.

"I'm disappointed in you Usagi. High School entrance exams are a week a way and you're still making 50's on most of your exams. You never listen to a word I say or teach you. How do you expect to pass," Ami finished telling her, reading her science book.

Usagi, holding back tears from their remarks, looked at Minako. "Anything you would like to add?"

"Well, you don't act like a leader sometimes, Usagi. I'm not saying you're not powerful, just that you're irresponsible. You're going to get someone killed, and a simple I'm sorry I'm late, will not fix it."

*End Dream*

"NO!" Screamed Usagi as she bolted from the bed. Her vision was blurred and she couldn't remember where she was or what had happened to her. As she tried to run, a strong grip circled her waist and held her tight. Not knowing what else to do, she struck out with her knee and heard a grunt and the grip loosened on her.

She made it out of the room toward the door before she was pinned to the floor by another strong grip on her back and on her neck to keep her from striking out at them. "Snap out of it!"

Usagi broke down and began to cry in a way she hadn't done since leaving three years ago. She quit fighting and let the emotions of the past overwhelm her in one flood and curled up in a ball clutching her knees. Kakarot had managed to come out of the room, after recovering from the blow between his legs. He may be a Saiya-jin, but some things remained vulnerable no matter how strong you become. Vegeta moved away from Usagi at Kakarot's approach and moved to the other side of the room, fully aware that he didn't need to get any closer to Kakarot's intended mate than he had too.

His tail twitched behind him, as his eyes softened at the broken hearted girl laying on the floor and bent over to pick her up. Without even realizing he was doing it, a soft purr was coming from his chest to help sooth and calm her nerves while Rei came over to hold her friends hands. Kakarot looked at her with unease. As far as he was concerned, she was one of the reasons this girl was like this and growled at her. With a sad, but determined gaze, she stared at him back. "I know I've done a lot of wrong in the past, but I'm not going to let her down. Let me stay with her until she tells me to do other wise."

He nodded and sat down on the couch, curling Usagi close to him so she could feel his warmth and strength. Artemis joined both Kakarot and Rei, sitting in Usagi's lap adding his purr with the strong warrior.

Usagi started to feel their presence and reached out to seek some comfort from the terrible loneliness and ache that surrounded her soul and heart. Her tears slowed to trickle, and then stopped as she started to look around her. She blushed as she realized that she was sitting in someone's lap, and it was most definitely male. Looking up, she noticed Kakarot looking at her intently, but saying nothing, waiting for her to make the first move. His body was tense and ready for anything, but this time Usagi had nothing rude or smart to say.

Her mind and body was tired from the day's activities and she laid her head back down despite her embarrasement and fell back asleep, welcoming the comfort Kakarot offered. He was a bit surprised, but a smile graced his face as his tail wrapped itself around her waist and he took her back to his room, lying her back down on the bed. When he tried to pull away, she cried a little. Kakarot decided that it would be better if she wasn't alone and crawled in beside her, holding the trembling woman as she slept. Before long, he was in a deep sleep beside her, feeling like a piece of a puzzle had been placed together.

Rei glanced at the man that carried Usagi back into his room and could only smile. "I don't think she's getting out of that relationship."

"You've noticed his attachment to her as well," Vegeta commented with crossed arms. His gaze was intense as he looked at her. Her whole body seemed exposed to him and she wanted to go back to her room and hide for awhile. Her actions today were shameful and dishonorable and she bowed her head in defeat. How could she even call herself the senshi of Mars after jumping off a cliff? Her body jumped when a gloved hand turned her face to stare into the darkest eyes she had ever seen. They were so black you could see your own reflection mirrored in them and the passion behind them. "Why did you jump off the cliff?"

Rei tried backing away, but Vegeta's tail snaked around her waist and tigthened, holding her imbole against him. "I was being a coward. Look! You wouldn't understand, so quit judging me." This was her last attempt to try and get him to turn his back on her, but it was becoming apparent he had no intentions of letting go and the heat between them was becoming unbearble.

"Did I say anything about judging you? I told you; I know what it's like to feel alone and guilt. I may be able to give you an answer or two if you want to ask the questions or tell me about it."

"Why do I get the feeling you aren't normally this helpful?"

"Count yourself lucky. Now talk to me." His head was moving in closer to hers as he cupped her chin higher to meet his own.

"Don't order me..." She never finished as his mouth connected with hers, giving her, her first kiss and such a rush to her head that she thought it was going to explode from the pressure. He moved his kiss to her neck and circled behind her to rub his hands down her sides making her body tremble with each stroke.

"I order whom ever I please." A shiver ran down her spine as he whispered into her ear. "Two pain-filled souls," another kiss behind her ear, "can help each other out." He finished his last few words by nipping her ear lobe and to bring a soft cry come from the woman. He stepped away from Rei realizing what he was doing and wanted to start cursing. He found himself much more attracted to her than he cared to admit and the flushed and confused look in her eyes only fueled his desire for more. With a super effort, he suppressed the urge to claim her and walked into the other room. "I'll be around."

Her knees lost strength in them and she thumped to the floor as she stared at the room he walked into and closed the door behind him. Then she noticed the lavendar hair man and his friend with black hair that looked a lot like the one holding Usagi, standing with their mouths wide open. "What?"

"I have never seen dad get that into it with anyone, including mom."

"He's married?" Rei gasped. She didn't know if she should be angry or if she should kill Vegeta.

"No! No! He was, but not anymore. He left mom after finding out a few things. My name is Trunks and this guy is Goten. I guess you're off limits to us if dad's interested in you."

Rei blushed three shades of red and didn't know how to respond to his statment.

"True, he would tear us limb from limb if we moved in on her." Goten and Trunks laughed and grabbed Pan and Bra, shouting they would be back later.

Piccolo decided to grab Gohan and spar for a while, leaving Rei and Artemis to do what they wanted in the dorm room. He would know the minute Kakarot woke and would return then. He was as curious about what was going on as they were. It wasn't every day that you saw a talking cat that would jump over a cliff.

Warmth, strength, and kindness surrounded Usagi like a thick blanket and she woke up, expecting the dream to end, but she noticed that an arm was wrapped around her stomach to keep her close and a body that cupped her keeping her back pressed against a firm chest. A tail was circled around her arm and instead of freaking out like most women would have done, she gently touched it, noticing that it was very soft.

Kakarot jumped in his sleep at the slight touch of his sleep, but cuddled closer to Usagi falling deeper into his slumber. She couldn't help but smile at her discovery. Apparently his tail was very sensitive, which means not only would it hurt if she grabbed it tight, but could do other things as well if she was gentle. Her fingers ruffled the fur, rubbing the skin of his tail, making Kakarot groan and whimper.

She stopped, not wanting to get caught for messing with his tail and tried to get up. As she moved not even an inch, a low snarl came from Kakarot as he nipped her neck, making her fall back down beside him. It wasn't a hard nip, but enough to make her blood boil and realize that things were becoming a little to intense with her and Kakarot. She tried prying his fingers loose, but ended up getting bit again, harder.

For the first time, Kakarot felt comfortable as he held something other than dirt as he slept. He had only been with Chi-chi twice in his entire marriage and resented her for it. She said she didn't like being with him, because the two times that he was with her, he got her pregnant. When he felt his warmth trying to leave, he began to wake and the first thing he saw was Usagi trying to pry his fingers loose. She stopped when she saw him wake, but he didn't say anything as he patiently waited for her to say something.

"Uhmmm. Hello." She knew this was stupid, but she didn't know what else to say to him. Most of the time she was yelling or running from him so didn't know how to react differently. "I'm hungry."

Kakarot laughed and rolled out of bed, letting her go. "I would be too after running the way you did this morning."

"You saw me?" Usagi was edgy about Kakarot. He appeared to be more than he looked.

"Vegeta and I were curious, so followed you. Glad we did, or I wouldn't be able to tease and taunt you any longer. How did you end up over that cliff, if you don't mind me asking?"

She quickly closed up with her hidden barriers falling into place. "I do mind you asking. I appreaciate the two of you saving our lives, but I need to get home."

For a minute, he thought she was going to say something to him, but her habit of not letting anyone get close to her had surfaced again. "All right, but if you want to talk, I'm around." Usagi sighed in relief as Kakarot walked out of the room to let her do as she wished, knowing that giving her a little space now, would help him in the long run. Still, she was being civil and had not yelled or tried to hit him like she normaly did.

Rei, talking to Artemis, jumped to her feet when Usagi entered the room right behind Kakarot. The same expression she carried in the dormitory was back on her face, but Rei knew it was there to keep from getting hurt again. She decided that Usagi should be the first one to talk as they stared into each other's eyes. Artemis, had jumped out of Rei's hands and landed on Usagi's shoulder, licking her neck and purring in her ear. "Are you ok, Usagi?"

"I'm fine, but I thought I told you not to talk in front of other people?"

"I didn't do it on purpose. You were about to fall and a green man grabbed my tail. Then some other man that had a tail, knew that I could talk and somehow knows about the silver millenium and the lunarian cats."

Usagi frowned, not knowing how to process this information. Were these people an enemy? Another barrier had surfaced in case they were; she was not going to make friends by accident with the enemy. Looking at Rei, she crossed her arms and walked closer to her. "Rei, I'm still angry with you and the other women, but I'm not going to have Artemis block your memories just yet. According to him, you're really sorry about the past, but I haven't quite made that decision yet. If you wish for me to believe you, then you're going to have to earn my trust, because I'm not going to simply hand it out on a silver platter with a golden spoon."

"I know I've messed up. I have not and never will hate you Usagi. I was a stupid teenager three years ago and couldn't control my temper for anything. What really surprised me was the other girls doing that to you as well. They're normally the ones that get on to me for always jumping on you."

Usagi wanted to hug Rei, but knew she couldn't make things that easy for her. Her face was a blank mask of emotions, making it impossible to determine what decisions she was making. "I assume Artemis has told you not to say a word to the other women about who I am then?"

"He did."

"Good, then let's go."

Usagi turned to walk out the door when she saw a shorter man than Kakarot, standing next to the door frame with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. If he thought he was intimidating to her, then he had another thing coming when she matched his scowl and stance making everyone look at the two of them startled. If they didn't know better, they would say they were related. "Do you have a problem with something?" she challenged him.

"Yes. You. Who are you and why do you have a talking cat with you? The way you talk to Rei and the way she responds back, I say you were someone of importance. All I see is a weak female in front of me that couldn't even save her own life."

"If you've been hanging with Kakarot then you should know my name, unless you're too stupid to comprehend that. And why Rei responds to me the way she does and what Artemis is doing with me is, frankly, none of your damn business."

Trunks, Goten and Gohan were about to step in and tell the woman how stupid she was acting, but were too late as Vegeta punched her through one of the walls. Rei tried to help Usagi, but Piccolo grabbed her arm and shook his head. "Do not get involved if you don't wish to get killed. She asked for it when she smarted off to him."

Vegeta growled in anger and kicked Usagi up and smashed her against the wall with a hand squeezing her throat. His entire body trembled in undisquised fury as he battled the insane urge to kill the woman. What stopped him, was the fury matching his own, deep in her blue ones and he thought he recognized them from someone. Without thinking, Usagi grabbed his arm and bit down as hard as she could causing Vegeta to yell in pain and rage, but didn't recover fast enough as she head butted him into the kitchen table. With faster reflexes than the Z warriors thought possible for a woman, she round housed Vegeta in the head sending him back through the hole he created a couple of minutes ago.

Kakarot was shaking as he watched Vegeta fight Usagi and had to do everything he could think of not to murder his friend on the spot. "Vegeta stop it now!"

"Stay out of this Kakarot. You're a Saiya-jin and you know damn well she started this fight and she's going to see it to the end." Artemis was scared out of his mind. He knew Usagi was a strong fighter, but something about the man she was up against and Kakarot were very different.

He came up to do a punch and she grabbed his fist to have him sweep her feet and then side kick her in the stomach making her grunt in pain. Forming a ki blast in his hand, he walked up to Usagi's bloodied body and looked down at her. After the little fight with him, she still showed no fear to him and growled in a warning to Vegeta. He found himself respecting the woman and losing his anger, when something flashed in his mind as he remembered a similar fight. When he was eight on the moon, he had a similar fight with a five-year-old girl. She had lost then as well, but she definatly dared him to finish her off as this woman did now, unafraid to meet death. 'But that girl had a crescent moon on her forehead and a silver tail. This woman has neither. But why do they look so familiar. "Rena..." he whispered.

The name triggered a similar reaction in Usagi, causing her to lose all barriers and the challenge she had issued at Vegeta. "Geta...?" He gasped and stepped back not believing that she called him by her nick name back on the moon.

"Impossible. You died."

"Mother sent me to the future along with my court and Prince Endymion to re-live our lives in peace and happiness. I am Princess Serenity of the moon kingdom and Vegeta-sai."

"Where's your tail then?" Vegeta was desparately trying to find a lie in her words and this was the only one left.

Usagi started to think. "My mother had it cut off when I was born into this time because the doctors said it was a deformity. I still have the scar where they did the surgery."

"Turn your left shoulder to me Usagi. If you are who you say you are, then you'll bear the royal mark of the house of Vegeta-sai. Only royalty carried this mark and if you're lying about everything you just said, then I'm going to kill you."

Walking towards him, she turned her back and let Vegeta move her hair away from her shoulder, hearing a loud gasp of shock come from his throat. Plain as day, was a battle-axe crossed with a sword inside of a heart on her left shoulder. Usagi turned back around to cover her mouth as tears were in Vegeta's eyes despite his hatred of them. He didn't care as he hugged Usagi, making Kakarot very jealous. "No wonder you fought back. I would expect nothing less from my sister." Kakarot froze and stared at the two of them and then could smell the similarities in their scent.

Realizing she was opening up to someone, Usagi stepped back and lost the smile on her face. "I'm glad to see that you're alive brother, but I have to go. I'll see you and everyone else around later." Usagi and Rei left with Artemis making Vegeta scowl in anger. He wanted to know what the hell her court did to get her to close up like that. He didn't have a doubt that Rei was sorry about her actions, but the other women, judging from his sister's reactions told him they still didn't really feel bad about the past.

Kakarot walked up beside him and stared out the door longing for Usagi. Vegeta glared at him and then slammed him against the door. "You! I didn't care before about who you were trying to claim as your mate, but I do now. That's my damn sister and according to Saiya-jin law, you have to go through certain trials before you have any right to her."

Any other sane person would have backed off, but Kakarot snarled back and tried to throw Vegeta off. With lightning reflexes, Vegeta snatched Kakarot's tail and squeezed hard enough to bring him to his knees, but not hard enough to render him unconscious. "I'll face what ever challenge you throw at me Vegeta, but I swear to Kami, if you don't release my tail right this instant and don't kill me, I will tear you piece by piece and scatter you to where no one will be able to put you back together again."

Vegeta smirked and let him go, but didn't take his eyes off of Kakarot for on instant. A challenge was issued, but when it would be accepted was the question. The timing wasn't right for it yet. "First of all, we have to see about testing you past a third class warrior. It was against the law for a royal member to mate beneath their status, but seeing as how you were never re-tested after a certain age, we can still do that. If you pass this test, then I will tell you the rest."

"When can I take this test?"

"After I figure out how to do it. Kakarot, I'm not going to try and lock you up or tie you down, because I'm going to trust you not to mark her until the trials have been completed. Am I correct in assuming this?"

Turmoil was in Kakarot's eyes, but he had always done the honorable thing and now was no exception. "Curse you Vegeta, but I will do as you ask and promise not to mark her until the trials have been completed." Vegeta nodded and he let Kakarot leave the dorm, to vent off some steam. It was going to be a lot by the way Kakarot was trembling.

Gohan and the others let out a sigh of relief, but a stern look from Vegeta made them hold it again. "Trunks you have a role in this as well, so don't go getting to close to Kakarot right now."

"Vegeta," Goten said, "I didn't know you had a sister."

"That's because I never gave that information out, nor did anyone ask. It's a long story and when she's ready to talk about it, we may tell you what happened a thousand years ago. Until then, leave me alone about it if you know what's good for you."

Makoto, Minako, and Ami were all wondering where Rei had gone that morning when she and Serena walked in the door. "Rei, we were beginning to worry about you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Rei walked to the kitchen to scrounge up something to eat and was glad that she didn't kill herself that morning. Finding some left over pancakes, cerel and some eggs, Rei prepared her a meal that she hadn't enjoyed in a really, long time.

"Something's changed about you, Rei," Ami observed. "I'm not sure what it is, but you seem happier all of a sudden."

"Is there a problem with that?" Rei snapped. "I told you, I don't need you guys intefereing with my problems and that I would deal with them in time. Instead of worrying about my problems, maybe you should fix your own first."

The three women stood back at the abrubt tone of Rei, and didn't know how to take it. Makoto looked at Serena and noticed that she had been silently watching the whole incident, but saying nothing. "How are you liking it here in Japan?"

"Fine. People are bit to nosy though."

Makoto stiffened and growled. "What is that suppose to mean?"

"How ever you want. I'm going to my room to study." Usagi left the room, making Makoto angrier for not answering the question.

"That girl is impossible."

"No she's not," Rei defended her. "You guys have been judging her sense she walked in the door. Why? Because she's not Usagi and she threatens everyone one of you somehow. Ami, won't try and get to know her because Serena is smarter than her. Makoto's reason is because she isn't afraid of you and if push came to shove, I think Serena can beat you in a fight. After watching her fight today, I know you and Haruka would have a hell of time trying to beat her. Minako, well Serena is proving to be more of leader by staying silent and observing things, rather than jumping right into somthing over her head."

Each remark stung, and the three knew they were true but didn't like being pointed out to it. "Rei, is she your best friend now, that you have turned your back on the sailor senshi?"

"I haven't turned my back on anything. It's more like, I'm finding my path and if you three want to join, maybe you better take a good long look at yourselves and see where your loyalties lie. Because of us, Usagi left, and I haven't seen you three really give a damn about it. Sure you're sorry that she left, but you're not sorry about what you said. I had no excuse either and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't hate myself for it."

Rei finished her breakfast and abrubtly stood from the table. "I have been training every day since Usagi left, in hopes that if she did return, that I would prove my loyalty to her and stand by her side no matter what. What the hell have you three been doing, other than moping around and judging everyone? Excuse me, but when you find my friends and the ones to Usagi, let me know. I don't know you three anymore and frankly I'm very disappointed in all three of you. What's the point of having the sailor senshi, if we don't have the first thing we're suppose to be guarding with our lives? Where is she, while we stand here doing nothing? And another thing, I think it's about time we told the outer senshi the truth." Dropping her dishes in the sink, Rei left the kitchen and slammed the door to her room, making the three women jump.

Not a single eye was dry as they had the truth slapped in their faces like a cold bucket of water. "Did we just lose another friend?" Minako cried. "What is happening to us, that we can no longer talk to each other and stick together?"

"I think that's what Rei was trying to tell us. We have failed at not only protecting Usagi, but we also failed in realizing that we made the error." Makoto picked up her coat and ran out of the apartment, Ami went to the library, and Minako stayed in her room the rest of the day.

Usagi had lingered right out side the door to see if Rei would tell or not, and was quite shocked to find that Rei had done something responsible instead. Maybe Rei trully was sorry for what happened? 'I'll give her a little more time, but I won't make my decision yet.' Instead, Usagi laid down on her bed, to think about Vegeta and the startling discovery about him. 'How come my memories were blocked of him until now?'

Vegeta sat on the roof top of the dormitories that night, looking at the full moon. He had learned a long time ago on how to control the change of the Oozuru, but it was still tempting to let himself go and have some fun. 'Rena... What happened to the happy little girl that use to spar with me? I promise to make sure no one hurts you again.' A headache was forming as he tried to rub his temples, thinking that things had become a lot more complicated sense they left the past time line. "I should kill Kakarot for all this aggravation alone."

Kakarot didn't come back that night and slept in a tree to get his mind clear of all the distractions around him. He didn't understand the changes going on within him and he was depressed about it. Then there was the problem with Usagi. He couldn't explain why he liked her, but the connection was there and he couldn't deny it. The promise he had made to Vegeta was going to be a lot harder than he thought, but he was going to die trying to keep it.