"Is that makeup?" Trunks asked, gesturing towards the compact.

Usagi's ears turned red. "No!"

"I mean it looked like a compact mirror."

"Well yeah, but... Just listen to me okay?" Usagi waited for Trunks to nod in compliance. "Luna told me that if I say a magic phrase, the compact will transform me into a Sailor Soldier."

"Oh wow!" Trunks was at a loss for words. Usagi? A Sailor Soldier? Bulma had told them the Sailor Scouts had died. "When did Luna give it to you?"

"When we saved her." Those words fell onto Trunks like anvils as Usagi uttered them.

Trunks spoke slowly. "Usagi... do you know what that means? You had the power to change into a Sailor Soldier this whole time..." As the thought caught up to him, Trunks didn't have the restraint to yell at her. "You could've saved Gohan! I mean— what happened that night? I got knocked out and you were still awake? You could've done something! Maybe Gohan would still be here!"

Usagi went misty eyed as she choked back a sob.

Remorse filled Trunks' lungs. It became hard to breathe. "Wait, don't cry... I—"

Usagi brought the compact close to her stomach, hanging her head. "Don't you think I know that?! I beat myself up every day for not changing into Sailor Moon." Tears were now streaming down her cheeks, her face flushed. "I miss Gohan so much..."

Without warning, Trunks closed the distance between them and held her close to his chest. How dense he was to not think of her feelings. Gohan was her brother, of course she felt terrible.

Chi Chi's motherly instincts told her to go to Usagi's room once she heard the screaming and crying, to yell at Trunks and throw him out for making her daughter cry. However, Chi Chi hovered her ear over the door with hesitation.

"Usako..." Trunks placed his hand over her back. His shirt was wet with her tears. "Please don't cry."

"Usako, that's different from bunhead." Usagi laughed a bit between her words. She sniffed, pulling back from him.

Despite that, Trunks pulled her back in. "Yeah well, I figured we graduated. We're not kids anymore. I shouldn't blame you for a decision you made as a kid. I'm so sorry..."

Usagi stood with her arms dropping numbly to her sides, one hand still clutching the compact. She lacked the motivation to embrace him in return. Being reminded of Gohan's death made her feel empty. Regardless she leaned her head on his chest as the last of her tears dripped off of her chin.

"We're both still grieving." Usagi said. "I don't blame you for trying to pin blame on me."

"It's not your fault," Trunks reassured. He pulled back slightly to dry her face with his shirt.

"Trunks... Your shirt." Usagi turned red with shame.

Trunks shrugged. "Doesn't matter, it's already wet. It'll dry. Now c'mon, let's go." He walked with her leaning on his shoulder to leave her room.

Sensing that she might be caught, Chi Chi ran back into the kitchen to add the carrots to the stew. "Trunks! Why don't you stay for dinner?" the woman offered once the teens reappeared.

"Actually, I better get going so I can give this to my mom." Trunks pulled the shard out of his pocket to show Chi Chi. "But uh, can Usagi come over?"

"Hmm." Her teenage daughter, heading home with a boy. Chi Chi was inclined to say no, but she was a kid once. Even younger than them when she wanted to marry Goku. They might not see it now... But—

"Sure, why not? But you might as well stay until dinner is done so I can send you home with some stew. And when you leave," Chi Chi drew close towards Trunks, prodding him in the chest with her finger. "You better protect Usagi, do you hear me?"

Trunks had never felt more afraid of Chi Chi than in this moment. "Y-yes ma'am!"

Chi Chi then smiled. "Great!" She clasped her hands together, satisfied with that answer.

. ｡ * ✧ * ｡ .

"Be careful not to drop it or spill it." Chi Chi handed Trunks and Usagi bags of containers that held stew in them. "Try not to fly too fast and not too slow because I want you to get there safe! Trunks, try not to get too ahead of Usagi I know she's a bit of a slow flier."

"Mom!" Usagi puffed out her cheeks in embarrassment while Trunks was dizzy with all the instructions.

Chi Chi placed her hands on her daughters shoulders. "Be back soon, okay?"

"I'm not going away forever, mom. I'll be back tomorrow." At this point, Usagi was itching to leave so that Chi Chi would stop embarrassing her. She knew it came from a good place but with Trunks present, it felt too much.

"Don't worry Chi Chi," Trunks grinned. "I'll bring her back to you. She's in good hands."

Usagi glared at them. "You guys act like it's the first time I stayed over at Capsule Corp."

"But it has been a while, hasn't it Usako?"

Trunks was right, the last time Usagi stayed over was when Gohan was still alive and training her. It would be nice to see Bulma and the others, Usagi reasoned. Even if memories of Gohan haunted her, she had a support system.

"Ooo, I'm excited!" Usagi squealed. "I can't wait to see Ami and Rei again! Hurry up Trunks, let's go already!"

Chi Chi watched on fondly as Usagi and Trunks departed from her. It was good to see her little girl back to her old self.

Trunks was careful to keep Usagi in front of him and in his sights, heeding Chi Chi's warning. He wanted to take care of Usagi, not just for Chi Chi's sake but for his own. He couldn't bear to lose another friend.

On their way there, they could feel the Androids' energy in a nearby village.

"Usako, stay here." Trunks commanded her as they touched ground. He placed the bag down and reached for the sword strapped to his back. Before he could get a response out of her, he ran off to save the village.

"Not this time Trunks... I'm not staying idle anymore." Usagi took out her compact and uttered the magic words. "Moon crystal power... Make up!"

"Well if it isn't out good friend Trunks," Android 17 snickered as he saw the boy approach them. "Back for more after we beat you this morning?"

Trunks gripped the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white. "I can't let you hurt anymore innocents!"

"You heard that 18?" 17 looked at his sister. "He's going to try and stop us."

"What else is new. We'll just kill him with the same attack that killed his friend." Android 18 flew close to her brother, holding out her hand.

"Moon tiara action!"

A boomerang came from behind Trunks and slammed into 18's arm. Taking advantage of 18's momentary distraction, Trunks followed up with another attack. "Masenko!"

"What the hell?" 17 looked around for the source of the boomerang. His eyes followed it as it returned back it its owner.

Usagi grabbed her tiara and placed it back onto her head and stepped out into the open as Sailor Moon.