TRIO C&C
(The scene comes in on the living room of the Trios home. However,
only Gohan and Ranma are on the reviewing couch.)
Gohan:(Looking around) Where's Usagi?
Ranma: She said she refused to review this story anymore. Said she
couldn't take it.
Gohan: I can understand.
Voice: Good news/Bad News time guys. Good news: I got someone to
fill in.
Gohan/Ranma: And the Bad News is...
Voice: It's Akuma.
(Right on cue, the "Demon" Street Fighter teleports in the room and
sits down. The heros leap up.)
Akuma:(Looks at them distastfuly) Please. I am not here for battle.
Later, perhaps. For now however, I am only here to offer my...
unique perspective.
(Ranma and Gohan sit back down.)
__________________________
Mama's Hand
By
Douglas Helm
Edited/Co-Plotted
By
"Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl
Rated : R
Author's Warning -
This piece of fanfiction contains disturbing images and deals with
material that IS inappropriate for younger readers. Please respect
the rating that I've given it.
[Akuma:(Grins) Sounds like fun.
Ranma: YOU think this is FUN?!?!
Gohan: Relax Ranma. He doesn't know.
Akuma:(Curious) Know what?
Gohan: You'll see...]
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi, and all terms, names, etc.
associated with the series are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi and
Kodansha. We make no claim to them and this work of fanfiction should
not be seen as making a claim.
Part IV - A new friend
As the hall clock struck eight that evening, Usagi softly padded
across her room and entered into the hallway before drawing the door
closed. She gave a little sigh and rested her palm upon the door for
a moment. <She's asleep. I hope she doesn't have any bad dreams,>
Usagi thought.
"Is she asleep?" came the soft voice of her mother. Usagi turned and
saw Ikuko standing in the hallway.
"Oh Mom!" Usagi gave a small cry and wrapped her arms around her
mother, "What type of monster does THAT?"
[Akuma: Does what?
(Gohan fills Akuma in on the previous parts of Mamas Hand.)
Akuma:(Battle aura flaring) WHAT?!?!?!!?!?! THAT UNHOLY
{Censored}!!! I SHALL TEAR HIS STOMACH OUT AND EAT IT RAW!!!!!!
Ranma: O_O;
Gohan:(Shocked) You... I would have thought...
Akuma:(Snarls) You thought WRONG! There is a line even *I* will not
cross, and the beating of children is well BEYOND THAT POINT!!!!!
Ranma:(Under his breath) Hikaru would disagree.
Akuma:(Gets in Ranmas face) SHE can defend herself! This child can
NOT!]
"Because Chibi-Usa might still look to him for love. I'm not saying
to respect him. Just be careful about what you call him when she's
around." Giving her daughter a kiss on the forehead, Ikuko continued,
"Usagi-chan, she's going to look up to you an awful lot for a while.
I think that sometimes it'll be rough."
"I know, Mom," Usagi said, drawing warmth from her own mother, "I
want to help though. I HAVE to help." She let the hug go when she
noticed a black form looking at her worriedly. "Luna!" Usagi called,
"Where have you been?" Luna mewed and scampered over to Usagi who
picked her up.
[Ranma:(Frightened) C-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c CAAAAAAATTTT!!!!!!!!!]
"I see she came back," Ikuko said. "Now don't stay up too late, Usagi-
chan," Ikuko cautioned her daughter. "Good night."
"Good night, Mom," Usagi called. She watched her mother enter her
bedroom before closing the door. "Luna, we gotta talk," Usagi said
seriously.
"Usagi, talk seriously? Is this about Mamoru?!?" Luna asked softly.
[Ranma:(Suddenly not afriad and jelously) Who's Mamoru?!
Akuma:(Thinking) Note to self: Jelousy is stronger then fear.]
"Luna no baka!" Usagi hissed and started off toward the kitchen. In a
louder voice Usagi said, "Come on, Luna, I'll get you something to
eat." Luna was about to say something but her stomach had the final
word. It liked the idea of food.
[Akuma: What was that noise?
(Gohan and Ranma hold their stomachs as they look at Akuma sheepishly.
)
Akuma:(Slaps his forehead) Why me?]
******
The cream in Luna's stomach sat heavily as Usagi finished explaining
the day's events. The black Lunar cat growled and thrashed her tail
about. She looked at Usagi and said, "I'm glad to see you're taking
this seriously." Usagi took on a hurt expression but Luna didn't
allow the retort to come, "Usagi, when we were fighting Beryl, you
were one of the most irresponsible people I knew. When Ail and Ann
came you matured SLIGHTLY."
[Ranma: Watch what you're saying about MY girlfriend you crummy cat!
Akuma:(Thinking) This one has quite the protective streak.]
Usagi felt annoyed but she could understand what Luna was saying. "I
think I acted that way to cover up that I was scared," she said after
a brief pause, "But Chibi-Usa needs someone and, like Mom was saying,
Chibi-Usa's looking toward me for comfort." She looked at Luna and
said, "Would you help, Luna? I think what Chibi-Usa needs is a friend.
Someone to talk to that isn't her 'Mommy'."
"What about your mom?"
"No," Usagi said while shaking her head, "Chibi-Usa's scared of her.
She needs 'something' she thinks will be non-threatening and that
something won't be human."
[(Akuma opens his mouth to speak.)
Ranma/Gohan:(As they bop Akuma on top of the head) Don't even THINK
about it!!!
Ranma: Besides, you ain't exactly "non-threatening."
Akuma:(Rubbing his head) Bite me.]
"I'll do what I can, Usagi. I can't promise anything. If her story is
true, then something's happened to me." Luna shivered, <And something
awful happened to Serenity. I won't say anything until I'm sure
though. Usagi is worried enough as it is.>
"You're the best, Luna." Stretching Usagi yawned and commented, "Well
I'm going to bed now. Good night, Luna."
"Good night, Usagi-chan," Luna replied, "I'll be up in a few minutes.
" Nodding, Usagi left the room, leaving Luna alone with her thoughts.
[Akuma: In other words, the cat was lonely.]
******
Her first conscious sensation was of the cold floor against her bare
skin. It was slightly damp, rough but in away soothing to her aching
back and shoulders. Her head was gently supported and someone was
slowly pouring something into her mouth.
[Akuma: Hmph. With the exception of the last line, it sounds like
the average start to my day.]
Too weak to protest, Serenity swallowed. The liquid slid easily down
her hoarse throat, coating it and soothing it in a lining of icy
liquid. The voice, when the mysterious person finally spoke, seemed
distant somehow and very hazy.
"My Queen?" Serenity tried to claw her way back to some semblance of
coherence, "Serenity-sama, it will be all right."
<'Serenity-sama'???> Serenity questioned hazily in her thoughts, <Who
is left that would call me that?> Certainly the Palace staff but none
would come down here. It was unlikely that Endymion would order them
down here to tend to her. <Pluto?> She tried to see but her vision
was a mass of dark blurs within darker blurs. "Pluto?" she asked
weakly, softly.
"Yes, My Queen." The voice sounded clearer, "When you sent Small Lady
back into time then I was free to act. I did not want to risk her
safety." Pluto shifted slightly and said, "I'm here to help you as
well."
[Ranma: HER again?
Gohan:(Smiles) Well, she DOES tend to always show up when we need her
the most.]
"No Pluto," Serenity said softly, "This is the wrong timeline.
Something must be corrected. I belong here. They say hindsight is
perfect. In my case, it is all too clear. I allowed this to happen. I
could have sent Small Lady away but I thought it would stop."
Serenity flushed slightly, <It had started out as some harmless fun,
experimentation, but... it got out of hand. Then when Small Lady was
born, he carried the violant part over to her.> A small sob escaped
her.
[Akuma:(Raises an eyebrow) "Experimentation"? So she likes it rough,
eh?
Ranma: TENSHIN AMAGURAI KEN!!!!
(Akuma gets punched 50,237 times.)
Akuma:(Thinking) And I thought GEN hit hard.]
"I am the Guardian of Time. I may not interfere," Pluto intoned. If
Serenity had seen the Senshi of Time's facial expression though, it
was likely that Pluto was already interfering more then she liked.
"Pluto, you are shielding the memory of Small Lady from Endymion,
aren't you?" Pluto remained silently. Sighing slightly, Serenity said,
"Pluto, you gave an oath to Queen Serenity of the Silver Millennium
to guard time. I relieve you of that oath; you have done your duty."
Coughing Serenity whispered out, "Pluto, I give you another duty, a
new oath. Protect my daughter. Change her future, if not mine."
"I can not," Pluto said but her usual stubborn tone was gone.
[Ranma:(Grumbling) Like ya couldn't help me with that whole Woe
Bringer incident.]
"Pluto, I ask you to do this for the Royal House of the Moon as one
of its Senshi. Fulfill this new oath. Help my daughter." The only
sounds were of Pluto's soft breathing and Serenity's weasing breaths,
<Please, Pluto, allow me to have some peace. For when I am gone, I
will not receive any for my own crimes.>
[Ranma: Huh? What's she talking about?
Akuma:(Shakes his head) Fool. She feels reponsible for not acting
sooner to help her daughter and herself.
Gohan: Yeah... but I think this self tourturing is what that...
(growls) slime, wants.]
******
Chibi-Usa clung to Usagi's arm while staring at Luna. It was about
eight o'clock Sunday morning and the little girl had been shocked to
see Luna sleeping on the bed. She gave a nervous shiver but kept her
eyes fixed on the strange cat that was looking at her.
"Chibi-Usa-chan, this is Luna," Usagi said while giving the little
girl a hug, "Luna, this is Chibi-Usa."
"Konnichiwa Luna," Chibi-Usa said softly. <Kawaii... She looks like a
nice kitty.>
"Konnichiwa Chibi-Usa-chan," Luna said slowly and took a step forward,
"Did you have a good sleep?" Chibi-Usa krept back trying to keep the
distance between herself and Luna.
[Ranma: I understand how she feels. There's nothin' scarier then a...
(shudders) CAT.]
"Hai," came the nervous response. "I had good dream. I dreamt that I
was always good and Daddy wasn't ever mad at me." Usagi's features
crumpled slightly but she managed to suppress the sniffle. She could
feel her eyes misting over.
[Akuma:(Angry) "I had good dream"? That monster has damaged her
brain! She's talking like SHAMPOO!
Ranma:(Thinking) Why do I feel like I'm about to be crushed in a bear
hug?]
<Luna's a nice kitty. Mommy says she had good friend who was a kitty
named Luna. Is this the same one?> It appeared so because she was
with her mother and Luna was with her mother so it was a natural
conclusion. <Daddy not say I couldn't talk to Luna or play with her.
Tentatively, Chibi-Usa slowly reached out to touch Luna. Luna held
still while the child's fingers brushed against her soft fur. <She's
soft,> Chibi-Usa thought as she reach up behind Luna's ear and gave
it a tentative scratch.
[Ranma: She's actually PETTING that thing?!
Gohan:(Angry) "Had good friend"? I think you're right Akuma,
Endymion must have hit her in the head!]
"Hmmm... That was nice, could you do it again?" Luna asked.
"Hai!" Chibi-Usa said with a little more enthusiasm in her voice. She
started to scratch Luna's head gently becoming more comfortable with
the Moon cat as time went on. After a few moments Luna was curled in
Chibi-Usa's lap allowing herself to be petted like a regular cat.
<Oh that feels good!> Luna thought as she purred her pleasure, <I
haven't had this type of treatment in a while.> The very proper cat
stretched and lay lazily in her position of contentment, <I hope this
helps Chibi-Usa. I hope she heals up and that she can learn to trust
others.>
[Akuma: Trusting others will only end up with you being hurt again.
I say, don't trust ANYONE.
(SSJ Gohan blasts Akuma with a Ki Ball.)
Gohan:(Powering down) Shut up!
Akuma:(Smoking) Oh, bite me.]
"See Chibi-Usa-chan, you're doing really well. Luna's purring and
that means she likes it a lot. You're very good at petting her,"
Usagi encouraged Chibi-Usa. "I'm just going to go to the bathroom.
I'll be right back, okay?"
"'Kay," Chibi-Usa agreed, the smile that was on her face was nearly
touching both ears. Usagi sighed contentedly. She liked having Chibi-
Usa happy and Luna seemed to be helping quite a bit. <Mommy said I
was good at this. Daddy won't be mad and I like petting Luna. Her
fur's so soft and she's warm... She sounds funny when she purrs.> And
for the first time in a long time, Chibi-Usa giggled. It was one of
childish innocence and pure boundless joy.
[Ranma: Did you just sniffle?
Gohan: Wasn't me.
(The two heros look at Akuma.)
Akuma: It CERTANLY wasn't ME.
(When Gohan and Ranma go back to watching the fic, Akuma pulls out a
black hankey and quickly dabs his eyes before putting it back in his
gi.)]
******
When Usagi came back she found that Luna and Chibi-Usa were having a
serious discussion. Luna was telling Chibi-Usa all about cats and
what the difference was between Moon cats and Earth cats. Usagi
smiled happy to see that Chibi-Usa seemed to be comfortable around
Luna.
"So you're a 'space' kitty?!?" Chibi-Usa asked in wonder, "Where's
your thingy?'
"Thingy?" Luna questioned.
[(Akuma is about to speak.)
Gohan: Someone said that joke already.
Akuma:(Pouts) Curses.]
"Yay, the thing that sticks out the top of your head."
"You mean my antenna?" Chibi-Usa nodded. "Well we don't have antennae,
" Luna admitted, a dejected look briefly flitted across Chibi-Usa's
features before the smile returned. "We have a crescent moon instead,
" Luna said while pointing to the crescent moon on her forehead.
"I hate to interrupt you two but what's Chibi-Usa gonna wear?" Usagi
asked, "I mean that pajama top's good for sleeping in but..."
"Do you have any clean underpants that are small on you?" Luna asked.
She noted that Usagi blushed at such a personal question, "Well,
Usagi, we are all girls here."
[Ranma:(Embarased) WE aren't!
Akuma:(Shaking his head) I did NOT need to hear that.
(Gohan blushes.)]
"Let's see," Usagi said and dug through one of her drawers. "Well I
thing this is about the smallest I have," Usagi said holding up one
particular pair of underpants. "We'll try them on after I put on the
salve. I think her track pants are okay, Luna?"
"Mommy?" Chibi-Usa asked softly.
"Hmmm?" Usagi questioned while raising her head.
"Could I stay in this?" Chibi-Usa asked indicating the pajama top,
"It's nice." Usagi got up from her position and went to sit on the
bed, "I like wearing this. It doesn't hurt my bum."
[Akuma:(Mike Myers voice) You little cheeky monkey! Stop looking at
that kids bum!
Ranma/Gohan: O_o;]
"Well that's a pajama top," Usagi said. She looked at the little girl
for a few minutes before saying, "I got an idea." She smiled. "Well
let's get you ready. First, do you have to use the bathroom?"
"Hai."
"Okay then, do you remember where it is?"
Chibi-Usa nodded, then said, "Mommy, will you wait outside?" She
looked hopefully at Usagi.
"Okay, then I'll put some salve on. We'll get you dressed after that,
ne?" Chibi-Usa nodded and gave Usagi a hug, Usagi hugged her back and
said, "You're very good, and I love you."
"I love you too, Mommy," Chibi-Usa said. <I like Luna and Mommy's
really neat!> She felt warm and safe. It was an unusual and
infrequent feeling. Chibi-Usa was determined to be good. <I want
Daddy to love me too and if I'm good, he will,> she thought. Taking
Usagi's hand, she started towards the bedroom door leaving Luna to
wonder what Usagi's plan was.
[Akuma: Knowing her, not much.
(Ranma and Gohan both punch Akuma in the gut.)]
******
About twenty minutes later Usagi, Chibi-Usa and Luna headed down
stairs for breakfast. "Well Mom?" Usagi asked as she and Chibi-Usa
entered the kitchen, "What do you think?" Luna came in close behind
Usagi and had to admit to herself that Usagi's idea had some merit.
Ikuko turned around at her daughter's voice and stared for a moment
at Chibi-Usa. She seemed to be wearing only a pink sweater that was
just a too little big for her. The sweater came to below Chibi-Usa's
knees and the sleeves were bunched up so that only her hands were
sticking out. <Oh, the poor thing!> Ikuko thought and fought the urge
to chuckle. "Well now you look very kawaii," Ikuko said.
[(All three chuckle.)
Akuma: Now she really is a "Chibi-Usa".
Ranma: What's THAT supposed to mean?
Akuma: Oh please. You must have figured out by NOW that...
(Pluto appears out of nowhere, smacks Akuma over the head with the
Time Rod and vanishes again.)]
"Usagi, is she wearing any underpants?" Ikuko asked softly after
walking closer to her daughter.
"Hai, a pair that was a too small for me. The sweater shrunk and I
thought she'd look kawaii in it," Usagi said, "The medicine's working
too because the welts aren't as red. I think they're still sore but
they aren't as red as they were."
[Akuma: Welts?
Gohan: Remember what we told you about the end of chapter 3?
(Akumas eyes thin into slits.)
Akuma:(In a dangrously calm voice) I'll... be... back.
(Akuma teleports.)]
"Good, I'll pick her up some clothes tomorrow after you get back from
school." Usagi paled slightly at the thought of school. "It'll be
tough on her so maybe you should tell her about school tonight so she
isn't surprised when you go running off tomorrow."
"Okay Mom," Usagi said. She noticed that Chibi-Usa was looking
pleadingly at her, "I better go sit by her. She's still pretty
nervous. I hope she can get to trust you though. I mean you wouldn't
hurt her or anything." Usagi was about to walk away but Ikuko stopped
her by placing a hand on Usagi's arm.
"Usagi, I know this might not need to be said but I just want to be
clear. If the time comes that Chibi-Usa does do something `bad', I
want you to be very careful what you say and do. She's still very
timid and, right at the moment, you are the only one that she really
trusts."
[Ranma:(Sarcasticaly) Well gee, it's nice to see you have such trust
in her.]
Usagi took on a hurt expression but didn't say anything. After
looking at her mother for several seconds, she slowly made her way
towards the table where Chibi-Usa was sitting. Luna was sitting in
the litttle girls lap. <How could Mom think that I'd ever hurt her?>
Usagi thought numbly as she sat down, <I mean I want to find that
monster and hurt him.> She looked over and brushed Chibi-Usa's hair
out of the girl's face. "I'm sorry I couldn't get the hang of those
`rabbit' ear odangos." Usagi had spent several unproductive minutes
trying to put the little girl's odangos up in the original style but
hadn't been able to. "But you look very pretty with your hair down."
[Ranma: HOLD IT! WAIT A MINUTE! If she can get her OWN hair in that
crazy style of hers then she should be able to the kids hair without
too much trouble.]
"Arigato Mommy," Chibi-Usa said, "May I please have some milk?" She
started to stroke Luna's fur again. <Luna and Mommy love me and soon
Daddy will too!>
"Hai, I'll get you a glass," Usagi said. <My little one, I'll have to
tell the Senshi about this but not now. Right now, I'm needed and I
think that's great.>
End of Part IV
______________________________
Gohan: I wonder where Akuma went.
Akuma:(Outside, somewhere) RAGING DEMON!!!!
(Ranma and Gohan race to the window and look outside to see a
gigantic burst of light, with a glowing blood red kanji for "heaven"
in the middle of the light burst. As soon as it fades, Akuma
teleports back into the room.)
Akuma:(As he brushes flecks of dried blood off his shoulder) Ah.
That was most relaxing.
Gohan: What did you do?
Akuma:(Evil grin) Let's just say that THIS worlds Endymion will not
get the chance to become like the one we just observed.
Ranma:(Thinking) What a nut bag. (Aloud) Oh well, we'll be back for
the next chapter.