Well, I sorta want to finish this before I
go any farther with "Searching" but even though
I say that, I know I'll probably have the next
chapter out this week because I feel guilty for
not having one last week even though there were
two parts out the week before. (Lady Cosmos
updates every weekend for those of you who don't
know.) No promises about "Searching" though. No,
it's not on hold. I just want to finish this one.
(This one will be done soon, I promise.) My only
reserve about it is the fight with Beryl. I know
there will have to be one, but I am not any good
at fight scenes (as you all well know). Don't
complain if it's anti-climactic, but if you're
disappointed, you could always write me and give
me tips for next time.


Sister Earth
Part 8


_______________________________________________________

    Wufei grimaced as he heard Mamoru greet Usagi
in a deep voice, asking how she'd been doing and
things like that. The group went into the cafe as
they had planned earlier, and all the girls crowded
around Mamoru and asked questions. Every female in
the store turned and stared at the new arrival,
some even obviously considering to join the group,
and others wishing they had the guts to.
    That was not good.
    Seiya (Wufei had remembered his name when he
found out that he wasn't Mamoru) looked from Mamoru
to Wufei and back again, a frown crossed on his face.
It was clear that he didn't like either of them and
was trying to decide which one he hated the most.
The other Gundam pilots, in turn, were staring at
Seiya and Mamoru, trying to decide which one to kill
first. Although none of them would ever admit it,
they had grown as close as brothers, and if either
of the new guys planned to steal their brother's
girlfriend, then he'd have them to deal with, wouldn't
he?
    It took a few moments to assemble enough tables
for everyone to be pushed together, until they were
finally all seated. Somehow, Usagi ended up between
Seiya and Mamoru, and an annoyed Wufei had to settle
for sitting across from her. She looked at him and
smiled, then winked.
    Mamoru and Seiya stared at him coldly.
    He stared back, only his stare was combined with
the glares of his "brothers." The two men backed down.
    Score: Wufei-1 Mamoru-0 Seyia-0
_______________________________________________________

    Usagi didn't notice the tension around the table
at all. She was just happy to be back to the place she
considered her home. Sure there was a war raging and
people all over the place were hurting, but that gave
her more of a chance to help. Back in her old world,
she only really helped the people of Japan. True, had
any of her enemies won, the entire world would have
suffered for it, but they didn't, and hardly anyone
outside of Tokyo knew who the Sailor Senshi were.
    But everyone here knew a Gundam when they saw one.
    No, Usagi wasn't looking for fame or anything like
that. She wanted people to see her and have hope though,
to know that one day there would be peace again. All
they needed to do was wait while she protected them.
    Not like in Tokyo, where sometimes her motives and
even her very existence were questioned by the tabloids,
where little children were made fun of for wanting to be
like her because there "is no such thing as real
superheroes," or rather, "superheroines."
    Usagi looked up at Wufei, who was looking completely
miserable sitting across from her. Well, of course he
would. They hadn't seen each other in forever, and her
other friends weren't really allowing them much time to
themselves.
    Well, she'd have to find a way to fix that, wouldn't she?
    Usagi smiled at her boyfriend and offered him a wink,
hoping he'd get the message. He probably didn't. Guys
were really bad at picking up on what a girl is really
trying to say. Especially when she's not talking at the
moment.
    Oh well.
    Appetites being what they were, the cheesecake was
soon finished, and somehow, they'd worked out a way to
pay the check that was fair for everyone.
    Usagi was sure she heard the staff of the cafe breathe
a sigh of relief when her noisy, messy group left. Well,
they'd left a good tip. What else could they do but
promise not to come back in a big gang ever again?
    "So now what are we gonna do?" Duo asked. "Anyone
wanna catch a movie?"
    "I do!" Makoto said, raising her hand playfully. Yaten,
Minako and Quatre also decided to go.
    "I hate movies," Heero growled.
    Ami looked primly into her change purse. "I don't
have enough. I need to get home and study anyway. I'm
only fifteen chapters ahead in Honors Pre-calculus and
I don't want to risk getting behind."
    "Ami!" Usagi groaned.
    "Now, Usagi, I had fun today and did non-study related
things. I deserve a little time with the books."
    "Hey, Ames, only fifteen chapters? That was before
we left though, right?" Rei questioned.
    "Certainly not. I spent every moment of free time
studying while you all were being lazy."
    "That wasn't laziness. We were sleeping."
    "Well, I am going to spend the rest of the night quiet
at home. Anyone who wishes to accompany me may, too."
    "Better'en some stupid movie, I guess," Heero muttered.
Trowa nodded his agreement.
    "I think I will, too," Taiki offered.
    "Well, personally, I'd like to be shown around this
place." Seiya looked at Usagi. "I bet you know it pretty
good by now, ne, odango?"
    "Huh? Oh, I guess so."
    "I think that sounds like fun," Mamoru decided.
    "And I want to come, just because there's nothing
better to do," Rei put in. They looked at Usagi expectantly.
    "Actually, um, I was hoping just me and Wufei could hang
out tonight, if that's okay with everyone else." Usagi was
blushing and looking at her feet.
    "Ooooh! Wu-man and Usagi sittin in a tree..."
    "Maxwell, go to your weak movie right now if you want to live!"
    The braided man didn't waste any time. He grabbed his
companions and was gone before any more was said.
    "So, Usagi.." Mamoru began. "He's your new boyfriend?"
    "Yes," she replied without hesitation.
    For some reason, although Usagi couldn't figure out
why, Seiya walked to a wall and began slamming his head
into it. She winced. That definitely looked like it hurt.
    "We'll-we'll see you all later." Usagi took ahold of
Wufei's arm and began to walk away. The remaining parties
of the group went their own ways.
    "Are you okay, Wufei? You seem kinda...I dunno, stressed."
    "Of course I'm stressed. I've got competition now."
    "Huh?"
    He smiled a little. "Never mind."
    "No no no! Who do you count as your competition? Mamoru?
He and I were over before we began! I'd never go back to
him, not after all the times he hurt me."
    "Well, him and the other guy."
    "What other guy?"
    "Seiya."
    "I don't like Seiya!" She laughed, burying her face
in his shoulder.
    "He likes you though."
    "No, he doesn't! We're just good friends! I don't know
why everyone thinks that anyway." She wiped her eyes. "You're
so funny sometimes."
    "Hey, onna, I am not funny."
    "Yes, you are. But it's okay. It just makes you cuter.
Especially since you don't even realize it," she smiled.
"Gosh, Wufei, how did I survive before I met you? I feel
like this place is where I really belong. I can't explain
it...I don't want to go back to where I'm from," she
admitted, sighing happily.
    "Then don't."
_______________________________________________________

    The next attack came right during the middle of school.
They seemed to be getting more numerous now. Normally, the
Senshi and the pilots would have had some trouble in getting
away to go fight, but since it was the school being attacked,
they were gone without anyone noticing.
    It had happened during Math class. Everyone, with the
exception of maybe Ami, was slouched over their books in
boredom or slumbering when unexpectedly, soldiers came
rushing in, telling everyone to stay calm, but to keep out
of their way.
    They had to wake Duo up, but somehow, everyone got out
easily and managed to meet around the back of the school
with no trouble. Everyone was there, including Mamoru, who
had been posing as a teacher's intern from the collage.
    "We have to go get our MS's," Makoto hissed, ringing
her hands in worry.
    "No, they are too far away for that," Trowa said calmly.
"If we were to leave, the battle would be over with by the
time we returned."
    "I can call mine," Usagi offered, "and could get it to
bring two others with it. We just have to decide which two
would help us the most, and who can do good on the ground."
    Minako nodded, her old days as leader taking over.
"Right. Me and the other Senshi will stay here. We have
powers, even if they aren't as strong in this world.
Besides, it's about time people met the Sailor Senshi!"
    "Right! So the only question now is, who wants to fight
with me, and who wants to fight with the Senshi?"
    The pilots looked at each other in silent agreement.
    "Heero is the best in his gundam," Quatre said, "and
you and Wufei work well together. Duo's a pretty good shot
on the ground, as is Trowa, and I can help if anyone is hurt."
    "Yeah," Duo laughed. "and if worst comes to worst, we
can always snatch an MS from someone who doesn't expect it."
    "Now where has that happened before?" Rei asked, looking
around the entire group, her gaze purposely falling on Usagi
last. "Oh, right. Odango, that's your trick."
    "It worked, didn't it? Okay, so I'm gonna call Wing and
Shenlong? No problem," Usagi smiled and closed her eyes.
    "Hey, Minako, did I hear you say that you all are from
another world?" Heero asked.
    "Yes, we are. We're from Earth."
    Duo began to laugh. "You are such a blonde! This is Earth!"
    "No, you don't get it. Our earth is just like this one,
only it's in a different galaxy," Ami explained with patience.
"Right now, we are in the Snickers galaxy. Our home is in the
Milky Way galaxy."
    Duo began laughing again. "Milky Way? That's a candy bar!
What a stupid name for a galaxy!"
    "Snickers is the name of a candy bar, too, baka!" Rei shot
out, annoyed at her home being made fun of.
    "So you're all from...Milky Way?" Quatre asked, trying to
keep a straight face.
    "Not the Starlights. They are from a planet right between
here and our home."
    "Right," Yaten agreed. "And *our* planet rocks!"
    "You people make it really hard to concentrate," Usagi said,
keeping her eyes closed.
    "Well, it'd help if you would hurry up. We're gonna miss
all the action."
    "Mako-chan, you and the others can go ahead and fight.
The gundams will be here soon."
    "How soon?" Heero questioned.
    As an answer, three gundams landed fifty feet away from them.
    "How's that?" Usagi asked.
    "I guess that's good enough..."
_______________________________________________________

    Mamoru ran into the battle without visible hesitation.
He'd fought before, but this time, it was against regular
humans. They weren't evil, they were just following orders.
But what choice did he really have? He had to make sure the
war went the right way so that his home could stay safe. He
knew from the brief explanation Sestuna had given him when
he came that the battles were usually fought in the air with
great robots called mobile suits, and that it was slightly
odd for there to be a battle on ground involving only humans,
but it was true.
    The opposing troops crashed in on each other with the
ferocity that a war that had gone on way too long could
bring. Above them were several MS's that periodically shot
at the troops.
    It wasn't exactly a fun experience.
    Without even thinking about the fact that no one knew
who he was, and that his own appearance might be counted
as unusual, he transformed and produced a rose, throwing
it expertly at one of the enemies, looking away so he
wouldn't have to see the result.
    "You're throwing flowers?" A soldier next to him asked
in disbelief. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
She had raven hair that was pulled back into a ponytail out
of her face, and she wore a small grin as she fought. "Gee,
first, you wear a tux to a battle, then you throw roses. Now
that's original!" She turned to him and smiled. "What's your
name?"
    "T..Tuxedo Kamen..."
    "Yeah, if that's your name, then I'm Benjamin Franklin.
Come on!"
    "It's Mamoru."
    "Nice to meet you. I'm Toni. You wanna go get some
dinner sometime? You're kinda cute."
_______________________________________________________

    "Owwie owie owie..."
    "Shut up, Maxwell, it's not that bad and you know it,"
Wufei grunted as the pilots walked down the street.
    "What do you know?" Duo shifted on his crutches. "You
were up in your cushy gundam the whole time."
    "But Duo, it's been three weeks since the battle. You
should be getting better by now," Quatre pointed out.
    "A broken leg is a serious injury. Have some respect!"
    "Maybe we would if you had actually broken it in battle,
instead of just falling over the janitor's rake," Heero
responded coldly.
    "Well, I'm getting tired. Wufei, will you carry me the
rest of the way?"
    The Chinese boy ignored him. No use in continuing a
fight when he was this close to Usagi's house.
    They reached the door and Trowa raised his hand to knock,
but stopped when he heard voices yelling inside. Not realizing
how foolish they were going to look to any passerby, they
pressed their ears up to the door and listened in.
    "But why can't he come with us!" Usagi was yelling,
sounding as if she was on the verge of tears. "Mamoru is
bringing Toni back with him! And they've only known each
other for three weeks!"
    "Princess, Toni is a soldier. Her absence won't make
any changes in the way the war is going. It might not even
be noticed. But Wufei is a Gundam pilot. He has to stay
here, or the war could be lost." The calm voice of the
Senshi of Time answered.
    "I hate this! Everyone always gets what they want
except me! Just because I'm the Moon Princess, I have
to sacrifice my happiness for everyone else? It isn't
fair. I never asked for any of this!"
    "I know.."
    "I'm not selfish, Puu. I don't ask for much."
    "I know.."
    "Then why can't this one little thing go my way?"
    "You know why. I explained it, and tomorrow we're leaving."
    The door swung open and Usagi stormed out, running
right into Wufei. She looked at him a moment, her eyes
holding something that broke his heart, then she pushed
past the pilots and ran off.
______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________
To be continued
Please don't ask me how Toni knows who Ben Franklin is.
I really have no idea myself. She just does, alright?