Her Return

Chapter Four

Areiko returned around nine that night. She snuck through her bedroom window looking around her room. Her light was still out, and her door was still locked, letting Areiko know that no one had entered her room. But they could've always teleported in here, but she highly doubted that anyone would do that to her.

Areiko crawled through the window on all fours. She walked to her bedroom light still walking on her hands and feet. She then stood upright looking at her hands to see that they were stained with blood. Her eyes widening turning to look at her bed to see that she had left bloody hand and foot prints all over her bed spreads. She began to breathe heavily as she quickly rushed over to the other side of her room standing in front of a full length mirror that was purchased a few days ago.

From head to toe; she was soaked in blood. It stained around her lips and smeared on her cheeks. The red liquid ran down her chin dripping onto her white shirt. The rose that was once pink was no longer its color. It was drenched in blood and sort of glowed from the glitter. The sleeves of her jacket were rolled up and barely touched by the blood that stained her clothing. Even Areiko's shoes were covered in it.

Areiko breathed in deeply, letting the air out shakily. She then kicked off her shoes quickly throwing them into the closet located next to her. She ripped her jacket off of her body managing not to get any blood on it. She then looked at her quilt that was stained with the blood as well. She rushed over to it grabbing onto the ends of the blanket wiping the window ceil clean of the crimson color.

She then quickly grabbed the quilt around her wiping her face off making sure that all traces of the blood was located within the blanket as it was wrapped around her. Using the blanket, she placed her hand onto the door handle and exited her room.

There was no one located in the house, as far as Areiko could see. She sniffed the air catching Goku and Chichi's scent in the living room. Instantly she knew that the two of them were sitting together on the couch. She sniffed the air trying to find Goten but his scent was nowhere to be found. He was probably sleeping over Trunks's house for tonight since it was the weekend.

Areiko rushed off into the bathroom shutting the door silently and locking it. She threw the quilt onto the floor walking towards the shower, but not before glancing into the mirror. She looked at her reflection. She just wanted to break down in tears. She didn't like looking into the mirror to see blood plastered all over her.

She turned her head away from the mirror. She then reached behind her pulling her hair out of her ponytail. She allowed her hair to drop and drag across the tile floor. Areiko didn't even bother to strip herself of her clothes. She just threw herself into the shower. Areiko seated herself into the tub tucking her knees to her chest. The water from the showerhead poured down onto Areiko's head separating her long beautiful hair causing it to fall at her sides. She rested her forehead on her forearms staring at the blood stained water watching it rush to the drain and disappear.

Areiko tilted her head back letting the water run down her neck. She then pushed her hair back with her fingers making her part disappear. Areiko sighed shakily again looking forward at the wall in front of her. She then leaned forward making the water hotter then it already is.

Lekira? What in the hell are you doing?

"I'm leaving."

What? Why?

"I… I just have too."

Does this have anything to do with your past?

If it doesn't then… wait… Lekira—

"Don't even say it Trigger! I'm NOT crazy!"

Lekira! Listen to yourself!

"There's nothing for me to listen too! I KNOW I'm not crazy! She can shape shift! I'm telling you! She's real! She's trying to kill me! She's trying to kill you and Pyro as well!"

Lekira, Pyro and I are fine! Look at us! We're perfectly okay, there's no one after us.

"You say that now because you can't see her. The moment I want to show her to you… she shape shifts into a random person and walks away."

Lekira… listen to yourself! You NEED help!

"No! No I don't!"

Lekira…

"Get away from me!"

Lekira I wanna help you!

"No Trigger… you and Pyro helped me enough. You've listened to my stories about my past lives… and now I wanna do you guys a favor."

If you want to do us a favor… get some help!

"For the last fucking time! I! Do! Not! Need! Help!"

Lekira… yes you do! You fight with yourself! For God's sake! You cut!

"I explained to you why I cut!"

I know, to control this 'wild' side of you! But Lekira… you need help! Cutting won't be the answer to control that side of you.

"It's working for the moment now isn't it? If I keep this up… it'll only have to feed once or twice a year."

Lekira…

"No Trigger! We're getting off topic here! I'm leaving to protect you and Pyro! And… that! Is! Fucking! Final!"

Areiko pressed her lips together remembering that argument that fateful day. She closed her eyes fighting back tears. She then turned her head to the side resting the side of her face against her forearms.

Finally, Areiko decided that she was going to get out. She stood up turning off the shower at the same time. She stood there for a minute waiting for someone to knock on the door once the water was shut off. But no one came. Areiko looked down at the quilt that rested on the floor.

"I gotta get rid of this…" she then grabbed onto blanket making sure that no blood was to get on her again.

Areiko approached the bathroom window. She opened it up taking off into the air.

She landed in the middle of the woods near a lake that she knew all to well. This was the very same lake that she bathed herself in three years ago when Orx had attacked. As she stood there, the memories of those fateful weeks flashed in front of her eyes to the point where she shielded them with the hope that they would just stop, and they did. But not right away.

Areiko then looked at the pink blanket that she loved. It was the quilt that Goku had given her when she first arrived here at the Son House. She absolutely loved it. It kept her warm during the winter and cool in the summer. It was the perfect blanket.

Areiko's eyes locked themselves onto the lake. She then crumpled the blanket up into a ball and threw it into the lake. She watched and waited as the quilt slowly snuck to the bottom of the lake after it absorbed water for about five to ten minutes. She looked down feeling horrible about the blanket. But she quickly got over it as she returned to the Son House.

She climbed back through the bathroom window and unlocked the door. She then teleported herself out of the bathroom and back into her room. She quickly rushed to her door locking it again. After she knew that it was safe, she began to strip herself of her soaking wet clothes.

She changed into her pajamas then crawled into bed. She rested her head onto her pillow looking up at the ceiling staring for what seemed like hours. Soon she got a knock on the door.

"Reiko?"

Areiko rolled over her. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Goku."

Without leaving her bed, her bedroom door unlocked. Goku watched the door strangely as it opened by itself. He blinked then turned his attention towards Areiko. Her back was facing him her tail swished against the floor; it was still a little black, but not as much.

"Um…" Goku glanced around the room. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well… it's because you haven't left your room since you brought Trunks here." Goku replied. Areiko just smirked. Only if he knew how wrong he was at that moment. Areiko had actually just gotten home covered in blood, unable to remember anything really about what she was doing outside in the woods.

"So I came to check on you." Goku blinked spotting a wet stain on her pillow from her hair. "Did you take a shower?"

Areiko rolled over turning her head to look at him, "no why?"

"Well…" Goku looked at Areiko intently. He then shook his head. "Never mind." He then stepped out of the room. When Areiko rolled over. He took one more glance at her before shutting her bedroom door.

Chichi looked over the couch looking at her husband. "Is she alright?" she asked. Goku rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn't help but feel that there was something missing, or that there was something that Areiko wasn't telling him.

"Yeah she's fine." Goku answered his wife seating himself down next to her. "She's just tired." Goku lied.

Chichi nodded her head, "well, thank goodness that tomorrow's Saturday right?"

Goku nodded. "Yeah…" Chichi looked at her husband blinking a few times.

"Goku?"

Goku turned looking at his wife, "hm?"

"Are you sure that everything's alright?" Chichi asked again. Goku nodded his head pulling her close to his chest holding her tightly. Chichi cuddled against him. The married couple continued to watch television together till they decided to go to bed.

Saturday morning came rather quickly for Areiko, since she didn't get one ounce of sleep, and she had also told Goku that she would help him baby-sit Pan since Gohan and Videl were going out.

Watching Pan, it was going to be easy for Goku, but not so easy for Areiko. Areiko wasn't really good with kids, at least not now she wasn't. Back then she was wonderful with little kids since she liked to do the same things that they did. But since she's changed, she didn't know how she was going to react to this babysitting thing.

Areiko basically just sat at the kitchen table watching as Goku ran around the house chasing Pan. She watched listening to the giggling and shrieks of laughter coming from Gohan's little girl. Pan ran around the table a few times then hid behind Areiko's leg as Goku was chasing her.

Suddenly Goku stopped, "hey… where did my granddaughter go?"

"I'm right here grandpa!" Pan shouted out loud as Goku looked down at her. He smiled reaching out for her till Pan turned around and ran off, Areiko following her with her eyes.

"Why don't you play Reiko?" Goku asked placing a smile onto his face. Areiko looked at him and then shook her head.

"No thanks." Areiko replied. "I'll just watch."

"Come on," Goku continued, "I'm sure Pan would want you to play."

"No."

"Please Areiko?"

"NO!" Areiko screamed so loud that Pan came out of her hiding place stepping into the kitchen. Goku's eyes widened watching as Areiko stood up with her hands firmly on the kitchen table. "I don't wanna play your fucking game!"

Pan's eyes began to tear up, "aunty Aweiko?"

"I'm not fucking fifteen anymore Goku!" Areiko continued ignoring little Pan who was still standing in the room. "I'm fucking seventeen! I don't play child games anymore!"

"Reiko—"

"No Goku! Don't even try to get me to calm down!" Areiko continued walking around the table. "I'm sick and tired of being treated as if I'm a little child! Last time I checked, I fucking grew up! And if you can't see that… that just proves you're dumber then I thought you were."

Pan started crying. Areiko looked at her and rolled her eyes. "And get her to stop!" she added walking off into her room slamming the door shut. Goku jumped at the sound of Areiko's bedroom door shutting. Goku looked down, Areiko's words hitting him hard.

Pan continued to cry as she walked up to her grandfather tugging at his pant leg. Goku turned his eyes onto his granddaughter who continued to cry. Goku sighed bending down hugging her closely.

Areiko walked towards her bed throwing herself down onto it. She put her hands behind her head staring up at the ceiling, her harsh words ringing through her head.

No Goku! Don't even try to get me to calm down!

I'm sick and tired of being treated as if I'm a little child!

Last time I checked,

I fucking grew up!

And if you can't see that…

That just proves you're dumber then I thought you were.

Areiko rolled over closing her eyes ignoring her words that ran through her head. She didn't care about how harsh she sounded. She meant every word of it. Areiko began to think that maybe it was a little to much. No, nothing could ever be to much if it had to go through Goku's head.

Areiko closed her eyes, she felt herself drifting off into a deep sleep…

Areiko rushed down the street. Running along the yellow lines that separated the two sides of the road. As she ran, she glanced around. Every building next to her had fallen apart. Rubble and debris laid everywhere on the ground as if it was meant to be there. Dust lingered in the air. Areiko could feel the hot heats waves from the fire that burned on the sides of the street on the buildings. The one thing that really disturbed her was that everywhere she turned her eyes, there was a dead body. The city was dead.

Areiko turned her head forward slowing down her sprint to a run, a run to a walk, a walk to a complete stop. She looked forward before her. There in the middle of the street was a young girl. She looked no older then the age of sixteen. She wore a black jean jacket with sea blue jeans with glitter on the front of the thighs. Her white t-shirt that said: "Give Hugs, Not Drugs" was stained in blood. A trail of the red liquid ran down the side of her face. Her hands were covered in scratches and burn marks. She was covered in dust that was visible on her black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail with her long bangs against her face shaping it out. There was a purple star tattoo on the left side of her face that glowed as she hugged a body to her chest.

The body that she was hugging was a man. No older then the age of eighteen. There was a gigantic hole in his chest as blood poured out of his back and chest creating a blood puddle that the girl and the corpse sat in. His brown hair was rugged up and stiff, showing signs of having blood in it. Scratches, scraps, and burn marks were rested all over his exposing arms and legs. His yellow shirt was stained with his blood and his dark blue jeans were ripped and torn.

Areiko approached the girl and the corpse, her eyes widening, "Trigger?"

The girl turned her head towards the sound of her name spotting Areiko, "is he…"

"You should know!" Trigger shouted standing up instantly. "You bitch! You were the one that killed him!"

Areiko's mouth nearly dropped open. "Trigger! How could I have killed him if I had left the city!"

"You came back!" Trigger bellowed, "you came back and destroyed this city!" she added. Areiko glanced around her. She shook her head pressing her hands onto her head.

"No… no I didn't!"

"Go ahead!" Trigger started gaining Areiko's attention. "Act crazy! Because I'm not buying it! Because when you did this" – Trigger pointed around them – "you were perfectly sane! You were talking to us! Talking to Pyro! And you killed him you fucking bitch!"

Trigger lunged forward landing her fist in Areiko's face. "Lekira you're right!" Areiko placed her hand onto where she was punched looking up at her as blood trickled down the side of her mouth. "You ARE a monster!"

Areiko turned her eyes away. "Trigger…"

"Shut the fuck up!" Trigger shouted about to kick her till Areiko leapt back getting to her feet. "You're a monster! Just like you told us! I didn't believe that you were capable of killing your best friend when you told me! But now that I've seen what you did to Pyro… I believe anything! He tried helping you! And you fucking killed him!"

"Trigger! I didn't do it! I swear!"

"Liar!" Trigger shouted pointing at Areiko. "Get the fuck out of here!" Areiko stepped back as Trigger approached. "Leave Lekira!"

"Fine!" Areiko bellowed. She turned her back to Trigger and took off into the air. Trigger continued shouting at Areiko as flew off.

Areiko glanced over her shoulder. The burning city that she loved so much was starting to disappear. She turned her head forward paying attention to the objects in front of her.

BOOM!

Areiko's eyes widened as she suddenly came to a halt. She turned around quickly to see the city suddenly explode before her eyes. Areiko's eyes began to tear up as she shook her head.

"NOO! TRIGGER!"

"Run sister!"

Areiko glanced around.

"Run! But I'll tell you this! You can run but you can't hide! I'll find you! And destroy everything you have!"

Areiko shot up from her sleeping position on the bed. She looked out her window to see that it was dark out, instantly knowing that she had been a sleep for a couple of hours. Areiko sat there staring at the new quilt that she placed onto her bed.

"What am I doing here?" Areiko asked herself. "I'll get them killed… like I did with Pyro and Trigger."