Wow, this is the longest any of my fics have gone on,
I think. Hee hee, lots of people have told me that
I'm evil for the incredibly short chapter ten. All I
can say is....um, what was I gonna say? Oh, well.

I need votes! Who do you want me to put Usagi with in
my next fic??? At the time I'm typing this (Sunday,
October 21), the votes are even. One vote for the
eternal idiot, one vote for the prince of all
vegetables, and one vote for future shorts. Of course,
by the time anyone reads this there will hopefully be
more votes than that. (For anyone who doesn't know
much about DBZ, or what the characters are often
called in some circles, those are just my nicknames
for them, 'kay?)

Anyway, I guess ya'll want me to start the fic now,
ne? Should I? Well....I guess I will. But only
because you asked so nicely. I own nothing.


Searching
Chap 11

__________________________________________________________________

   "Seven months," Rei mumbled miserably, staring out
the window in Makoto's apartment. "Seven months and not
a word."
   "Come on, Rei-chan, they don't even have e-mail in
ancient China, and I don't think our postman makes stops
there anymore," Minako pointed out in an attempt at
making her friend feel better.
   Makoto shot her a "you're an idiot" look. "What's
*that* supposed to mean?"
   "I'm just saying that we couldn't exactly expect
Usagi to drop us a line or call us on the phone all
the way from ancient China, Mako! I wasn't being
literal. Besides, Usa was really angry the last time
we saw her. Setsuna said she had her send them back
the day after your argument. They would have gone
sooner except that Miaka girl wanted to visit her
family, and I think Usagi even stopped by to see her
'rents, too." She gave a slight, totally fake laugh.
"I hope her dad didn't shoot Hotohori. He's a hot
one. If there's anything to be said about Usagi,
it's that she has good taste."
   "Minako?" Rei asked, turning from the window.
   "Yeah?"
   "Shut. Up."
   "Yeah, okay," the blonde said with a sigh. "Man, I'm bored."
   "How do you think she's doing?" Mamoru asked
from where he sat in a darkly shadowed corner.
Somehow he thought that Usagi going to the past
and marrying some guy was somehow his fault.
"Medical conditions in ancient China weren't that
great. I hope her husband has enough money for a
decent doctor."
   "Seven months," Rei repeated again. "She
should be pretty far along now. Especially
depending on how long she was pregnant before
she found out."
   "My calculations show that it was only about
a week. Usagi has always been able to tell when
something was different with her body," Ami put
in quietly. On the coffee table beside her sat
her mini computer, closed and off.
   "I still say it's your fault for yellin' at
her." Haruka huffed at Rei.
   Michiru put a hand on the sandy-haired girl's
arm. "Haruka..."
   "Is it wrong to be upset when your friend
goes off and does something stupid?" Rei demanded
bitterly. "I'd take it back if I could. Don't you
think I feel bad enough on my own?"
   Hotaru lifted her head from where she had
it pillowed against her arms. "You'd apologize?"
   "Of course I would. She's my best friend,"
Rei answered quietly.
   "If that is your attitude, then perhaps I
can arrange it," Sestuna offered with a smile.
____________________________________________________________________

   Beryl rubbed her temples in an attempt to
get her head to stop hurting.
   Being evil was so *hard* these days!
   "It's been months since we felt that disturbance in
the time waves," she said, trying to keep her voice calm.
"You wanted time to investigate, I think you have had more
than enough. So tell me." She stood from her throne, voice
rising. "Why you still don't have any information for me
on who caused it! Are the Senshi onto us?"
   The four Kings cast each other looks, trying to decide
who would speak. Beryl was upset to note that they didn't
cower under her yelling.
   Finally Kunzite stepped forward. "My queen, as your
source in Qu-dong has probably already told you, in this
particular period of history, it is to be expected that
there would be disturbances. The universe of the four gods-"
   "It wasn't that kind of a disturbance," she said through
clenched teeth.
   "Well, it was a glitch, then. The Senshi are as
oblivious to us as they have always been, I assure you."
   Beryl kept a critical eye on her four Kings, not
quite believing them, but having no reason not to. "And
you're sure you've done everything you can to make sure
it is not those infernal pests?"
   "Yes, my queen. May we be dismissed now?"
   "Why? To go where?"
   "My queen, you are aware that we have stations in
Hong-nan to..." Kunzite looked at the others.
   "Gather information," Jaedite supplied quickly.
   Beryl didn't notice their mistake.
   "You spend an awful lot of time in that province. I
can't see why. It's too peaceful. Nothing happens there."
   "But isn't it better to have eyes everywhere, my queen?"
   "I suppose." She sighed.
   The four Kings bowed and left, whispering among
themselves. The four had become a true group, spending
a lot of time together. If Beryl didn't know any better
she'd say that they trusted each other.
   She liked it better when they were trying to kill each other.
   "When will you move, my queen?"
   She looked over at Nakago and smiled when she saw
how strong her glamorie over him was. "Soon, my Nakago,
soon."
___________________________________________________________________

   Yui frowned to herself as she watched Suzaku's Chosen
in the garden below her. Most of her frown was meant for
the young, beautiful empress of Hong-nan. Obviously pregnant
although, even in her seventh month,  not showing very badly. She sat on a
bench in the shade with her husband, the emperor, both looking absolutely
perfect.
   The frown was for two reasons. One was that the empress
was so absolutely happy. Yui hadn't talked to her yet, the
group had just arrived in Qu-dong yesterday, but she was
jealous and didn't think anyone, especially not anyone
*that* perfect, deserved to be happy.
   The other reason for the frown was also the reason
Suzaku's Chosen were even in Qu-dong. Somehow that perfect
little empress had convinced everyone that an alliance of
peace between the two provinces would actually work and
benefit everyone. Negotiations would start tomorrow. An
alliance meant that she could no longer rightfully take
her revenge on Miaka.
   Miaka, who was also down in the garden, was laughing
and playing some kind of game with the other members of
Hong-nan's party.
   Suddenly the empress looked up to the balcony where
Yui was standing and smiled. Yui ducked behind a wall.
When she looked again, several minutes later, the empress
was gone.
   "Wh...Where did she-"
   "It's a nice day," a sweet voice said from behind her.
"You should join us."
   Yui spun around. The empress was right behind her.
"I would never associate with Hong-nan trash," she said
cruelly.
   "Well, you can associate with me then, I wasn't born
in Hong-nan. But really, that's not a very nice way to
describe them. Everyone I met in my country is very nice."
   Yui scowled. "Go away."
   "My name is Usagi. You must be Yui. Miaka told me about you."
   "Figures."
   "Why are you so mad at her? I know...what happened." Her
kind, innocent blue eyes darkened. "But maybe...did you ever
consider that perhaps there was nothing she could do?"
   "Maybe not, but she lied to me!"
   "Couldn't she have come back for both you *and*
Tamahome? Couldn't there have been more than that
one reason? I don't understand."
   "Leave me alone. What do you know? You probably haven't
had to go through anything in your life harder than choosing
which dress to wear." Yui crossed her arms, glaring. The
empress's comment had hit close to home.
   "You'd be surprised," she answered with a sad smile.
   "Hey hime!" someone, a man with short blonde hair and
wearing a gray uniform, called from the garden, waving up
at the balcony. "You comin' back or what?"
   "Be right there, Jed," she called back. She gave Yui
another smile and left.
___________________________________________________________________
   (the next day)
   Hotohori cast Usagi a glance and gave her hand a
squeeze. Immediately she looked at him and offered a
huge smile. He could understand why. After years of
being enemies, Hong-nan and Qu-dong would finally
make peace.
   And they owed it all to her.
   Despite the fact the peace arrangements had all been
Usagi's idea, Hotohori had not originally wanted her to
come with them to Qu-dong. She was getting far along and
the journey, he'd been afraid, could hurt her. And besides
that, if anything went wrong, there was always the chance
of assassination while in enemy territory. But she'd
insisted and, in the end, had gotten her way.
   Nevertheless, Hotohori still found himself worrying about her.
   "How are you?" he whispered.
   "Great, you? You look a little nervous. Don't worry, I
have the feeling this will all work out great. I don't want
our children to have to worry about enemies on the borders
when they grow up."
   "Children?"
   "You didn't only want one, did you?"
   He laughed a little. He loved her more than even he
could believe. "Yes, of course."
   "Okay then."
   "Psst!" Jaedite leaned over in his seat, below and to
the side of Usagi's. "When's this gonna start? I'm bored!"
   Kunzite, sitting below and to the other side of Hotohori,
leaned over and shot the blonde man a look. "Shut up and be
patient, you moron. These things take time."
   "But I'm bored!" he whined.
   Sitting next to him, Nephrite pulled Jaedite's thick,
curly hair. "Sit back," he hissed. "This is important and
you aren't going to ruin it. I told you to bring something
to do!" The brunette man reached into his back pocket and
pulled out a comic book.
   "Neffy." Usagi leaned over to see him. "Where did you get that?"
   "Uh..."
   "Put it away."
   "But, Sere-chan! Spider-girl is finally gonna get
back her powers...I think."
   "It can wait!" she hissed.
   From beside Kunzite, Zoicite began to laugh a
little, but he stopped when Usagi shot him a look.
   Miaka fidgeted a little, and tried not to stare at
Yui across the room. Her best friend since childhood
refused to look at her other than to give her a scowl
or to glare. It was really hurting her feelings. Around
her, her Seishi--there were six of them now, they'd
found Tasuki and Mitsukake--noticed her discomfort,
but none of them knew what to do. Tamahome would have
hugged her, but didn't want to risk it during an
official meeting.
   "Hey hime." Kunzite leaned over again to look at
the empress. "See that blonde guy over there?"
   "He's kinda hard not to miss."
   "That's the one I told you about. Beryl has him
wrapped around her pinky finger and I'm willing to
bet money that she isn't about to let peace happen.
You know how evil she is. Keep an eye on him."
   She nodded, but didn't answer any more than that.
   The meeting was starting.
   It only took a few moments for Usagi to begin
to become bored out of her mind. For a moment she considered "confiscating"
Nephrite's comic book,
but decided that if the empress started to read in
the middle of a historical event, it could very
well be considered rude.
   The meeting was just getting to the good part,
about halfway through, when a strange, unnatural
light began to shine in the middle of the room.
Many people jumped to their feet and ducked behind
guards.
   When the light cleared, it revealed nine
people in strange yet familiar clothes.
   Usagi let out a laugh.
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

To be continued

Well, this is a little longer than the last one.
Review and don't forget to vote if you haven't yet.
If you need info on DBZ, let me know. I have a very
good link. I'm serious, I really need y'all's help.
Ciao.