::Chapter Two::

In another place......

"Can you feel it?," she murmured softly, her aqua hair blowing in the wind. "The waters are churning......something is amis..."

"The future is changing....," the tall yellow haired other announced. "I can't feel the princess..."

"Should we check it out?" The first one spoke again, looking into the golden sunset.

"Lets wait....see how things develop first." The other answered. "Besides," she continued, "that isn't our department. The inners should be able to handle it." And they dismissed their troubled thoughts, watching the sun set over the sea.

But there were no inner senshi.

And the churnings grew louder.

"Usagi-chan! You should be studying!!" Luna scolded from her post on the stone wall. She sighed wearily. The girl was impossible. It was a never ending-daily ritual for the two.

"AWWww! Come on Luna!! I wanna have fun! Besides, this could be a great opportunity to search for Negaverse creeps!" Usagi replied convincingly. "This way, I can keep watch and have fun at the same time!" It was late after school and Usagi was headed downtown. There was a new restaurant in town and she wanted to check it out. Luna shook her head. Honestly, the girl thought with her stomach. She rolled her eyes.

"Oh give me a break! You're not fooling anyone, Usagi! You're just looking for an excuse to stuff your face."

Usagi grimaced, eyes watering. "Luna you're always ruining my fun!," she pouted.

Luna sighed. The girl was impossible. The fate of the world was at stake and she was going to pig out. They should be planning their next move against the Negaverse.

Usagi looked down, her sapphire blue eyes filling. Didn't Luna understand? She'd never ASKED to be Sailor Moon. She felt as though the task had been forced upon her. On the one hand, while she was Sailor Moon, the earth was safe. On the other, if she didn't become Sailor Moon, the earth was doomed. She just wanted to be a normal teenage girl with no worries. Why couldn't someone else fight the Negaverse? She sighed, her thoughts drifting back to the other night, immediately brightening. It had happened over two weeks ago, but still she kept thinking of him; Of that handsome warrior in the orange gi. He was so cool...and cute! Almost as cute as Tuxedo mask, she thought with a giggle. Her tears were forgotten for the time being.

Luna had been discussing her thoughts on The Enemy when she heard a giggle. "Usagi!" The girl was snapped out of her reverie by a very irritated black cat. "Usagi weren't you listening?" She paused. "What were you thinking about anyway?"

Usagi laughed nervously, blushing slightly.

Luna sighed. "It was that boy again, wasn't it?" She suddenly had a thought. "What about Tuxedo Mask?"

Usagi frowned. "He didn't even come to rescue me, Luna. Do you think he could be working for......" she leaned down, lowering her voice dramatically, "The Enemy?" The cat frowned as well.

"You know...I don't know," she admitted. "But this 'Goku' fellow was pretty suspicious too if you ask me."

"WHAT?!" Usagi fell over, her face hitting the cold concrete painfully. "No way Luna! He was majorly cool...and he even stayed to make sure I was okay...unlike Tuxedo Mask....who's always leaving..." she stopped. It was true. Tuxedo mask had never stuck around for very long. Just threw a rose, yelled a few encouraging words, and was gone. Not that she didn't appreciate the help, but it would have been nice to find out more about him. At least for a minute.

Luna glared at the star struck girl.

"Usagi-chan...I think you should know..," she started. "I was getting weird vibes from that guy..and that blast he threw...only NEGAVERSE minions have that sort of demonic power."

Usagi laughed. DEMONIC? "Oh Luna!", she gushed frivolously, "You're always so suspicious!" she continued her trek along the peaceful sidewalk.

Luna had had enough.

She scowled angrily at the girl. "Usagi!!" she scolded. "Why can't you take anything seriously?! I HAVE to find those other senshi...if it were left up to you, the world would be doomed! And so would our missing Princess! Grow up and stop acting like such a Meatball head."

Usagi's crystalline blue eyes filled with tears. "Luna?! How can you say that! I hate you!!" and she ran off, crying.

Luna was instantly sorry. "Usagi-chan, wait!!," she called out after the girl. But she was long gone. Oh.....What have I done? Thought the small cat guiltily. She hadn't meant to sound so harsh; She just wished Usagi would take life more seriously. Would it really hurt for her to start acting like a warrier? But maybe she'd gone about it in the wrong way. Siging, Luna started after her.

Usagi ran. Her eyes were full of tears, everything was a blur. She was tired of people not taking her seriously. Even her own FAMILY. Sure she acted ditzy at times, but that didn't mean she was a total AIRHEAD. The scene with Luna kept replaying in her mind.

If it were left up to you, the world would be doomed! Grow up and stop acting like such a meatball head!

Luna didn't think she could be Sailor Moon.

Well that wasn't her fault! You couldn't just throw something at a person and expect them to be able to do it just like that! Atleast...she was like that. She couldn't do things that quickly or that well. Maybe Luna WAS right. Maybe she was just a goof off. She squeezed her eyes shut, the tears comeing faster as she ran harder, not caring where she ended up. Maybe I should just give up being Sailor Moon for good... And it's not as though there weren't other Senshi out there. Didn't Luna say something about needing to find the others? So that meant-

She slammed painfully into a hard body and was sent tumbling to the ground.

"Gosh! I'm sorry!! Are you Oka-" The voice stopped.

"Hey! Sailor Moon?"

Usagi looked up. Through her tear blurred vision, she could make out a tall figure. The cloths were different, but there was no mistaking that hair...

"G-Goku?"

He kneeled down beside her, concerned. "Sailor Moon? Did I hurt you?" he asked, confused by her tears. She threw herself in his arms, sobbing hysterically. He stared down at the young girl in surprise before drawing her close into a comforting hug. "Hey..it's okay.." he soothed softly. "What's the matter?"

She only cried harder, soaking the front of his jacket with her tears. Finally after a few moments, she attempted to speak.

"L-Luna said....she said...I never...t-take anything seriously!," she said between hiccups. "A..And that...the world was doomed because of me!!!" She burst into another wave of endless tears, clutching at his jacket.

Goku gasped. The world doomed? It might be in danger right now, yes, but he wouldn't go so far as to say it was doomed...not just yet anyway. And Luna...he guessed that was the little black cat he'd seen with her that first day. So he wasn't imagining things.. He knew he'd heard it talking! How could she say such a terrible thing as that? He felt strangely protective of this small girl who reminded him so much of himself. "Sailor Moon?" he asked softly. She had stopped crying and seemed calmer, save for a few hiccups here and there.

"Usagi."

"Huh?"

"Call me Usagi." she whispered, backing away. She was suddenly embarrassed. What was she thinking, launching herself into his arms like that? She didn't even know him! He must think her a complete fool!

He smiled. "Okay then...Usagi. Listen. Don't worry about what other people think. People used to call ME all sorts of things back home. But they knew they could always count on me whenever they needed." His laughing dark eyes suddenly took on a haunted look. They'd counted on him, yes...and he'd let them all down at the last minute. His face hardened with determination. He wouldn't let what happened to his world happen to this one as well. He would do all he could to protect it. He glanced down at the girl, who currently seemed to be avoiding his eyes.

"Usagi."

She looked up, a faint pink tint across her cheeks.

"C'mon! Cheer up! Tell you what..how about we go get something to eat...I'm STARVED!" He had to stop torturing himself with the past. This girl seemed to be the only hope this world currently had. He had to build up her confidence or the world really WOULD be in trouble.

Usagi giggled. She felt better already. And come to think of it...she WAS hungry.

"..Okay!"

He smiled and stood up reaching a friendly hand down to pull her up. Once Usagi had brushed the grass and dirt from her school uniform, the two began walking in search of a restaurant, both in higher spirits.

Luna watched the events from a nearby tree. She still didn't trust this 'Goku' character. He'd recognized Usagi in her civilian identity! The magic that kept others from recognizing her seemed to have no effect on him. Who IS this guy? she wondered. I'd better follow them..

She leaped gracefully down from her tree and made her way after them.

"...and he called himself 'Goku'", the blond general finished. This was the second time he'd told the queen. The other generals listened in curiously.

"Goku? how odd....I don't recall that name...," the red haired Queen murmured slowly.

"He is unusually strong my Queen....," Jadiete continued. "I think he may even be stronger than Sailor Moon herself."

Beryl's red eyes flashed. "Never underestimate your enemy Jadiete!" She raged.

Jadiete quaked, apologizing.

"The girl is younger still!....her powers will only grow with time.." "..But...," the now calm Queen settled, "this Goku interests me...he could be a powerful ally..or adversary.." The generals were silent. Suddenly Queen Beryl spoke. "Jadiete! Plan your next move carefully ..I wish to know more about this 'Goku' before we make any decisions. You may go. Do not fail me again!"

The generals bowed and disappeared. Left alone, the Queen allowed her troubled thoughts to surface. Something knawed at the back of her brain. During the Silver Millineum... There had been no senshi called 'Sailor Moon. She frowned. Who IS she? Where did she come from?? She left to consult the darkness.

Usagi was astonished. The guy ate even more than she did!! Whoa, she thought in wonder. Luna would never believe this... They were at the new restaurant, which turned out to have an all you can eat buffet. It was a good thing too. Usagi was on her fifth plate of food and Goku was on his eighth. He seemed to have forgotten about her in his food fest. She took the opportunity to study him. He was older than she'd originally thought. He seemed around seventeen or so; it was his eyes that made him seem so young, she realized with a start. They seemed so innocent..and yet...they held something else in them too...some terrible sadness. She'd seen it back during the fight with the youma that night. His eyes had been filled with such emotion and intensity...

He looked up questioningly, feeling her eyes on him. She was about to stutter an excuse when a voice interupted.

"Geez Meatball head...haven't you had enough YET?" Oh no.

She looked up, her saphire eyes meeting cold ones as blue as the earth. "Baka!!," she retorted angrily. "How many times do I have to tell you....MY NAME IS USAGI!! U-S-A-G-I... Not MEATBALL HEAD...not ODANGO ATAMA...or anything else you wanna call me...GOT THAT?!" He only snorted, ignoring her comments... As usual. Instead he focused his attention on Goku who, despite the growing argument, was still pigging out.

"Good God! - are you and your friend planning to put the store out of business on the FIRST DAY? This table alone has more food on it then the Buffet Bar." He watched as Goku jammed a dozen bread rolls down his throat. "Disgusting...," he exclaimed. "God....you're even worse than Meatball Head!" He did not like this man. Something about him seemed familiar...that hair....

Usagi fumed. How dare he talk like that to Goku? Goku didn't seem to mind. This guys attitude reminded him somewhat of Piccolo..or Vegeta. He meet Mamoru's angry gaze calmly.

"I'm sorry...did you want some?" He offered politely.

Mamoru only stared. He knew him from somewhere, this boy...of that he was certain. His subconscious was screaming a name...a name he couldn't seem to remember.. "What's a guy like you doing hanging out with little kids anyway?," he demanded suddenly. "You've got to be around my age." He watched Usagi blush.

"Why are you here if you're not ordering anything?" Goku asked innocently.

Mamoru frowned.

Why WAS he here? Something had called him...beckoned him to come, and he couldn't resist. Something was happening. Something was terribly wrong. The Princess no longer called to him in his dreams..and the masked man...the one in the perpetual tuxedo...What was his connection in all this? He had to find out. Something was going on, and somehow this guy was involved; of that he was certain...

Without another word, he turned and walked away, lost in his own thoughts. Behind him, Usagi stared after him. He'd seemed...strange..more serious than usual.

"Something's bothering him." Goku stated matter of factly. He'd sensed a strong hidden ki in that guy, which was strange. He still couldn't sense anything in Usagi, and yet he knew that she had to possess some sort of power. Listen...Usagi-chan," he started, suddenly serious. She looked up, a mouthful of noodles hanging from her mouth. She slurped them up messily. He smiled. She reminded him so much of a younger version of himself. Then his face became serious again.

"I'll help you," he stated simply, aware of the semi-crowded restaurant they were in. She looked confused at first...then her eyes widened in shock.

"You WILL?!" He nodded.

A part of him didn't want to fight anymore..didn't want to risk loosing the earth all over again. And yet another part...perhaps the Saiyajin in him, ached for battle. He couldn't - no - he REFUSED to just sit around uselessly. He'd make up for his past mistakes by protecting this world and it's future.

And Usagi-chan was the future.

Usagi cheered. Without thinking, she rushed over to Goku and grabbed his neck in a strangling hug. "Hey!" He laughed, glad she was feeling better. Tears didn't suit her. She cheered again, totally oblivious to the stares she was receiving.

"I think I'm starting to like this job!," she said happily. Goku only laughed again.