"Shadows in the Moonlight"
by Vega

Chapter 2

"Whatta yer doing, kid?" A voice called out, and Gohan paused in mid-air, turning joyfully in the direction of the sound.

"Mr. Piccolo!" he exclaimed and clutched the crystal in his hand tightly, waving with the other.

Piccolo hovered closer, arms crossed and legs dangling. "Where are you going at this hour? Your Mom will be worried." he snorted.

Gohan held out his hand. "I'm going to see Kami-sama to see if he can help me."

"With what?" Piccolo asked as he peered curiously at the glittering crystal in his pupil's hand. "What is that old fool going to do with a shiny rock?"

"It's not a rock!" Gohan protested, "It's a crystal! And there's a man inside of it. I wanna help get him out."

Piccolo took the crystal from the demi-Saiyajinn's hand and turned it over in the light of the stars. "Whoever he was," Piccolo muttered, handing it back, "He's dead now. That's one powerful spell."

"He's not dead!" Gohan cried, "His eyes moved!"

Piccolo sighed, getting annoyed by the vibes the thing gave off. They weren't exactly good, but they weren't evil either. "Listen, Gohan, don't waste your time. Whoever trapped that guy in there, they probably had a good reason. Just forget about it and go home."

"No!" Gohan said stubbornly. He was like his father in that he never allowed himself to be beaten when he had a goal in mind. "He's alive, and I'm going to help him!"

He left in a flash of golden ki, and Piccolo called after him, "You just be careful, kid!" When he could no longer see the golden streak that was the boy, he muttered, "We've had enough evil for a while," and resumed mediating.

***

Nephrite grunted, sweat trickling down his face as he tried to shove the blue ogre out of the sumo ring. Insofar, he wasn't having any luck.

In a final, desperate move, he pressed his palms against the ogre's chest and screamed. Energy leapt out of his fingertips, momentarily stunning the monster so he forgot to push, and simply leaned his weight against Nephrite without grounding himself.

Nephrite took advantage of the opportunity and crouched down, striking out at the ogre's foot and sending him crashing forward, over his sweat-covered back, and out of the ring.

A few paces away, Radditzu's face fell. "No!" he roared, "How in the Hell did you do that?!"

"I surprised him." Nephrite grinned and wiped his face and chest with the towel Zoicite handed him. The smaller General tried to lean up to give Nephrite a little victory kiss, but the auburn-haired man grabbed his throat before he could.

"Don't even."

Zoicite shrugged and walked a few steps away to stand beside Kunzite, who had a knowing smirk on his face.

Nephrite shook his head. Even with Ami, the slender man still thought he could seduce anything on two legs. Nephrite snorted, remembering how Zoicite had fallen in love with the Water-Planet's Princess. She had been the only one who hadn't fallen for him immediately, and so seducing her became a challenge for Zoicite's intellect which eventually grew into love.

With himself and Makoto, it had been passion at first sight.

"Love" was too weak a word to describe it.

Radditzu snarled and ran forward to haul the blue ogre up by his tank-top, snapping Nephrite out of his reverie. "Fight me!" He snapped, and the ogre nodded.

They fought, and Radditzu lost. The Saiyajin challenged again, and again was pushed out of the ring, even though he used as many of the ki-attacks as he knew. "Shimatta!" he shrieked in fury, "You stupid fool! How did you defeat him?!"

By this time, Nephrite had donned his tee and jacket once more and was brushing his hair out with his fingers. "My purpose is for good." he shrugged, not believing that Radditzu didn't understand already. "Your, for evil. The goodness aides me, and helps me to win, so that my task may be accomplished. You, however," he paused a moment as Radditzu seethed, "Mean to escape Hell for evil purposes, and that evil inhibits your progress. The more you fight, the more it will slow you down."

Radditzu clenched his fists in anger, his entire frame shaking with rage as Kunzite and Zoicite silently agreed with Nephrite.

"Get used to Highest Hell." Nephrite smiled and walked away, " Because this is as high as you go."

*** 

Luna and Artemis sat on Usagi's roof, curled up on the shingles that were warmed from the late afternoon sun.

"I guess we should tell them sooner or later." Artemis sighed, chin on paws. "Minako had another dream."

Luna nodded, eyes closed as she pondered. "Makoto mentioned something about an auburn-haired General yesterday, and I think Ami's had a dream too."

Artemis looked up at his companion, "What about Raye?"

Luna shook her head. "Nothing, as far as I can tell."

The white cat shifted his head back into his paws. "I guess we should tell them..."

Beside him Luna merely nodded.

"Tonight?" 

"Yes, tonight."

***

Kami smiled down at the little boy on his front step.

He loved visitors, but it was rare that he ever got them.

"Can you help him?" was the first thing out of Gohan's mouth after the hellos, and he held up the crystal.

Kami looked at it very closely. There was a human trapped inside of it, shrunken. He shook his head in wonder. "Where did you get this?" the old Namekjinn wondered aloud and gestured for Gohan to follow him to a bench outside.

"I found it in the Mutizumite Mountains." the boy confessed. "I think he's alive."

Kami nodded. "Yes, he is. Do you know how he got in here?"

Gohan paused in his shifting into a comfortable position on the bench. "You don't?"

"No, it did not happen on Earth. I only see... the instant he fell into the snow. No further back."

"Piccolo says..." Gohan said uncomfortably, "Piccolo thinks he's bad. That's why he was sealed inside the crystal..." he turned big dark eyes to Kami, "Is that true?"

"I don't know." the elder admitted. "But I suppose we could find out."

Gohan nodded, and Kami's palm flashed. The boy covered his eyes as the light erupted from the crystal, shattering it. There was a groan, and when he looked back up, the man from the crystal was now full-sized, and laying on the tiled court-yard of the Look-Out, shuddering and sweating feverishly.

"You're alive!" The boy exclaimed and jumped down to embrace the blond man, oblivious to his whimper of pain.

"Son Gohan," Kami clucked, "He's in Spell shock, let him rest."

"Oh." the boy let go, and moved to turn away, but one gloved hand shot out and gripped Gohan's wrist tightly. "Huh?"

"T-thank y-you..." the man stuttered, trembling. "I-I'm i-in y-your d-d-d-ebt..." and passed out.

***

"I don't know!" Usagi whined into her communicator. "Luna just said that you should come to Makoto's house!" "Fine!" Raye hissed, and flicked the screen off. She then pulled on her street clothes and paused at the door to tell her grandfather goodnight.

"Wait, Raye!" he called, "Where are you going...?"

***

"This is my house." Gohan said, pointing down to the little cottage his family occupied.

Jadeite nodded. "It's very nice."

"Where's your house?" Gohan asked innocently, turning in mid-air to look his new friend in the eyes. At first, Gohan had been worried that Jadeite was going to try to hurt his friends, for it sure seemed like the blond man was ready to kill the first person he saw when he woke up, but Kami ha done something called "Soul Purging" and Jadeite had instantly fallen asleep again.

Kami had then explained to the boy that his friend had been brainwashed at one point into thinking he was evil, and that he had just removed it.

Apparently, being God gave one that sort of know-how.

Jadeite sighed, soul weary, and Gohan returned his mind to the situation at hand. "My home has been gone for Millennia." the man whispered, and turned away from the bright inquisitive eyes of his rescuer. "I did it myself."

"Yeah, but..." Gohan began, "Kami says you were being controlled by someone else, so it wasn't as if it was really you..."

Jadeite rubbed his temples with gloved fingers. "I know, Gohan. I know..."

Gohan didn't know how to respond, so didn't.

Suddenly, to their left, came a growling-squawk, and Jadeite nearly fell out of the air as a small purple dragon flew up to them and began to nuzzle Gohan and lick his face.

"W-what's that?!" The General cried, alarmed.

"This is my friend, Icarus." Gohan said, patting the drooling lizard on the head. "He won't hurt you."

"No, I daresay he will not." Jadeite almost chuckled as he got a hold of himself. He reached out to pet the dragon himself, and surprisingly, Icarus allowed it.

"He usually doesn't like other people." Gohan commented as Icarus began to eagerly lap at Jadeite's face. The somber General laughed. And once he began, he didn't stop, not for a very long time. It felt so good to laugh! Not the maniacal laughter that beryl's denizens were prone to, but the real kind, brimming with mirth. In fact, it felt so good, Jadeite sank to the ground below and began to cry.

Gohan dove down after him, the dragon landing beside him, and put a hand on his new friend's shuddering shoulder. "Jadeite?" he asked, uncertain of the mental state of the blond man, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine...." Jadeite sighed, wiping his face clean, then leaning back to lay in the lush grass beside Goku's old hut and stare up at the sky. "I just... memories, you know."

Gohan nodded. "I know what you mean. Every time I remember when Oolong got soot on his nose trying to start a fire, I laugh too."

Jadeite smiled fondly. Inside of this little boy he sensed a powerful warrior, but the child was also quick-witted, innocent and trusting. Son Gohan, like himself, was a paradox. Gentle and quiet, yet at the same time, strong and powerful; willing to do what must be done, however much it may be abhorred by the poet's soul behind the magic.

Jadeite had liked him immediately. And as much as he tried to pay attention to the child as Gohan had explained how he had been discovered and freed from his nightmarish crystal Hell, he couldn't help but roam through his newly returned memories of the Silver Millennium.

At first the memories had frightened him, then only confused him. When he first remembered Sailor Mars, it was with hate, but as he dug deeper, it was with confusion and finally complete adoration and guilt.

What had he done to his beloved Fire Princess!

And where were the other Kings? Had Beryl trapped them in crystals as well? Were they scattered around the globe in their prisons as he had been? Or were they still alive, still under the power of Metallia? Or were they dead? So many questions, so many foggy memories...

"––coming in?" Gohan looked to Jadeite for the answer to a question Jadeite didn't remember the boy asking.

"Pardon?" the General apologized, sitting up.

"I said, are you coming in?" Gohan gestured to the door. "Mom's making dinner."

Jadeite nodded, then climbed shakily to his feet. The memories could wait for later. Or rather, sorting them out, could wait for later. That food smelled good, even from out here.

He stumbled into the kitchen behind Gohan, not realizing how absolutely starving he was.

"Gohan!" the boy's mother admonished him as he came in, his hair and jacket rumpled. "Where have you been? You were gone for a whole day!" Jadeite paused as he heard the screech. A whole day?

"Gohan." he began, "You didn't tell your Okassan you were gone?"

Gohan ducked his head, ashamed. "I forgot to call you. I'm sorry, Kassan, but I was with Kami––"

Chichi threw up her hands, and turned back to her pots. "And I suppose you're going to tell me that you were there about that silly crystal I found in your pocket?" she raved, "My son is turning into a delinquent, and I can't do anything about it! You're just like your father, running off and leaving me here to get grey hair and wrinkles!" she sobbed.

Jadeite felt guilty for Gohan's deception and honourably stepped forward to catch the dish that slipped out of Chichi's trembling soapy hands.

Chichi blinked and looked up into his eyes, and Jadeite smiled. "I'm afraid it was my fault, Ma'am." the General apologize, offering her plate back. "Gohan wanted to help me. However, I do agree that he should have informed you of his whereabouts." He sent a glare in the direction of the boy, who whimpered, but then Jadeite winked, and Gohan was appeased.

Chichi as well was mollified enough to let this one transgression slide, and smiled her best smile at the blond before her, the one she used on Goku when she wanted anything. "My name is Son Chichi."

The man put a fist over his heart and bowed low. In his red-trimmed grey uniform, he was really quite stunning. "Lord Warrior Jadeite." he said, "Fourth King of Prince Endymion's Royal Guard."

Chichi was really to stunned to move. Then she giggled. Not that certain flirty giggle that she reserved for her beloved husband, but the one that she used to use on the boys in the fighting tournaments. Or for Goku's friends.

Behind them Gohan had just finished cranking his jaw back up to where it was supposed to be. He was about to speak when Goku burst through the door, sopping wet with a whale of a fish clenched in his left hand.

"Daddy!" Gohan grinned, turning to wrap arms around his father's waist, and the man rewarded his son with a pat on the head.

Jadeite had to push down a wave of jealousy. His father was centuries dead.

"Goku-saa!" Chichi smiled happily, "We have a guest!" and pointed to Jadeite.

"Oh, hey!" Goku smiled vacantly, and stuck out his free hand to shake the guest's, as Chichi had taught him to. "Nice to meet you, I'm Goku.

"Lord Warrior Jadeite." the General repeated and bowed again. "Warrior, huh?" Goku's smile grew wider as he handed the fish over to Chichi, who proceeded to chop it up with alarming speed and bag it, label it, and shove it into the barren freezer. "D'ya wanna spar?"

"Goku!" Chichi scolded, and Goku ducked his head in the same manner as Gohan had minutes earlier. Jadeite laughed.

"I would love to, Mr. Son."

Goku clapped his hands happily, then wrapped his arms around his stomach. "After dinner okay?" He smiled sheepishly.

Jadeite nodded, "Of course. I too am famished."

***

 Raye wrapped a hand around the strap of her bag, staring intently at the stars. It wasn't that she was afraid someone was going to steal it while she stood here alone at the bus stop. Hell, she was SailorMars, there weren't many who could get it from her, but it looked a lot less foolish and lovelorn than wrapping her arms around the metal sign post.

The sighed and closed her eyes, wishing that somewhere out there there was a man for her. Like Usagi and Mamoru. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen were destined for one another, and their love was ageless.

Was there anyone in this universe like that for her?

Had there ever been a Prince for the Princess of Mars?

The bus to Makoto's district huffed to a stop in front of her and she climbed on, dismissing the silly girlish thoughts. What would Usagi say if she saw Raye's eyes sparkling with unshed tears?

She'd probably laugh. And then Raye would laugh with her to cover her true feelings. But right now, Raye didn't want to laugh.

She sighed heavily and took a seat near the back of the near-empty bus.

The rested a hand on her chin, then stared out at the stars.

It was at that exact moment she felt as if something within her had suddenly... caught fire.

She gasped in shock, closing her eyes to concentrate on the feeling.

Something inside of her heart had just... come alive. As if it had suddenly been released from a crystal prison.

And suddenly, she knew. Somewhere, there was someone waiting for her. She closed her eyes and dreamed of this faceless soul mate, and the distant ochre mountains of home...

***

Jadeite lay quietly on the futon in the guest room.

In the room over, he could hear Gohan's measured breathing, and beyond that Mr. And Mrs. Son's murmuring voices.

Jadeite closed his eyes, praying his dreams would be filled with visions of Princess Raye and her wonderful fire planet, rather than the horrors of the Negaverse and Dark Kingdom that had plagued him in his fevered dreams the night before...

***

Nephrite, Kunzite, and Zoicite all looked down into the pool of water that was the window to Earth, and each smiled fondly as Jadeite drifted off to sleep, oblivious to his three comrades watching him like guardian angels from Hell...

***