Note: Sorry its been a while since the last update again, but I do feel better. AND this chapter has been edited, so we're good to go. I'm delivering 3 chapters right now, but depending on how the day goes, I might get another out by the end of the night or tomorrow...we'll see. We're getting close to the end of the story, so hopefully I can finish it up and give it out to you. And summer vacation is fast approaching, so hopefully I'll have more time to write and possibly work on that 4th installment I mentioned a while ago. Ciao for now!

PS...Please review people:)

Chapter 10: The Last Chance

I spent the entire night destroying cities, ruining natural landscapes and murdering thousands upon thousands of people. I hit every continent, destroyed whatever I came up to and thought nothing of it. I had even gone to the artic to pull out the largest ice burg I could find and toss it into space. And yet…as I traveled back towards the brightening horizon I did not feel better.

In fact, I felt worse. Usually taking out my anger on the so-called innocent people of the world made my anger disappear, made me realize that I need not be angry because I was perfect and more powerful than anyone else on this planet. However, this time I hadn't come to that realization. I knew it to be true—there was no mistake in that—but the satisfaction wasn't there. All that lingered in the back of my mind was her. That little human with her dark blue hair and incisive gray eyes…the face I couldn't seem to get enough of, the attitude I silently hoped to unleash because she was the only one I enjoyed talking to.

She wasn't my equal, by no means; but the way she presented herself caught me. Of course I hadn't seen it when she first arrived, shoving that stupid contraption in my face in hopes to get me to answer her lousy questions. No…it came sometime after I tried choking her…the first time. I wasn't one to believe in fate, a small concept that many thought ruled the world, but it almost seemed that Goku showing up and asking her to live was meant to happen. Was I supposed to keep her alive and to test just how far a human's will could go?

Or was I doomed to suffer with a weakness I hadn't thought possible?

I don't know what had come over me. I'll admit it to only myself that I could possibly be physically attracted to her. I don't know how such a thing was even considerable because I'm sure Dr. Gero had no intentions of me finding someone to bond with. Then again, the answer was much to clear; Goku, the second most powerful being in the universe (after me of course) had found a woman and produced a child. Vegeta, prince of the Saiyan race, had done the same. Since both of their cells were a part of me…then perhaps it was something that could happen to me.

But I cared nothing for her—absolutely nothing. She was disposable and that was fact. Killing her would solve all my problems. But if that was the case…then why hadn't I done it yet? What was it that kept me from killing her? I had so many opportunities where she was at the point to begging me to kill her. Yet even though the surge of power flowed through my veins something held me back and I couldn't do it! I couldn't let her die!

I had seemingly and unconsciously found my way back to my arena; it came into view and immediately I saw the little creature huddled in a corner. It actually surprised me to still see her there—I had honestly figured she'd be running by now; after all, she had all night. Yet it shouldn't have been expected since she wouldn't have gotten very far without collapsing. She was much too far away from any village or otherwise to get very far. My chest tightened and I wanted to blow her apart before I closed the distance any further. The last thing I wanted right now was to look upon her and suddenly have that urge to touch her…I vowed I'd never allow myself to perform such a demoralizing act ever, ever again.

I landed on the floor gently, opposite of where she stood. The moment she heard me she looked up, but I quickly kept my eyes away from her unsettling gaze. If I didn't look at her I could keep myself in place and not consider her existence. As long as she sat there and said nothing….

Of course that couldn't be possible. She couldn't take the hint that I stood stiff and unhappy; if I tightened my fists any more my nails were likely to draw blood from my palms. "Please say something," she said in a timid voice and my finger tips nearly punctured my skin.

The muscles in my face cringed and I could feel my mouth drawing out the frown I held even more. "I have nothing to say to you," I replied harshly. And although I had just said I wouldn't, I continued. "I'm actually surprised you're still here. I figured you'd be well on your way so you can get away from this inhuman-freak, as you so called."

She bit her lip and looked away momentarily. "Look, I'm sorry. I really am. I mean…this whole thing—the past few days and stuff—it's really taken its toll on me. It's not exactly what I thought I'd be going through."

I had a horribly strong urge to lash out at her with every bit of contempt I felt. Could she really be that stupid to think that this wouldn't have happened? She came out here looking for trouble—she was dumber than I gave her credit for if she thought she'd get what she wanted and never see any consequences. I did give her what she wanted…she learned the answer to every question she asked…she just wouldn't be able to share those answers with the rest of the world.

"Where did you go?" She asked suddenly. She started walking towards me now, and I could feel myself growing tenser with every step she took. I didn't want her coming near me…I didn't want that desire to even come close to entering my thoughts again.

"I had a bit of frustration that needed to be let out. I went looking for some innocent victims to prey on," I said truthfully and she stopped quickly.

"You didn't…"

"Do you want a body count?" I countered.

"Cell…how could you…"

"Shall I demonstrate?"

"I'm serious Cell….why?"

She was angering me…"Why not? The entire human race is due to become extent within a matter of days, so why not give a few of them a jump start into the next life? Its only fitting that I warm up my future actions with a little exercise."

"You know, I was going to give you another chance…try to think that you're not all that bad. But now…I don't think I can, Cell. I just don't think I can."

"And you think your petty words will bother me?" I asked. She really angered me. "Say what you will, but what's done is done. And I have no regrets."

"None?"

"None."

"So what you forced upon my yesterday is just all part of your plan?"

Damn her. Damn her to all burning Hell. How dare she try to push me into a corner. Of course it wasn't part of my plan! She wasn't supposed to know that, though! What I did and said was final and she wasn't supposed to question that.

I quickly formulated an answer that would hopefully shut her up. "What I did yesterday was purely spur of the moment. I allowed the human portion of my instincts to get the best of me, and all it proved was that my upbringing was correct—humans are humble, lonely creatures."

"Then you were on the verge of surrendering to such a lousy specimen."

I nearly laughed, but I kept my humor to myself. She really did believe she was so smart and had me figured out. My poor, dear Layrial…how little you know. "Trust me, it will never happen again."

I saw the sorrow in her face, the regret settling in her eyes as she looked down. I smiled and allowed a soft chuckle to escape my throat. "What's wrong, Layrial? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

Without any sign of her upcoming actions, she turned around and retreated for her corner. What surprised me, though, was that she started throwing everything into the plastic bag she had and gathered everything up in her arms. I waited to see how long she'd go before she fell and broke down into her pitiful sobs, but when she jumped off the platform and started walking away, I realized she was serious.

"Where do you think you're going?" I called to her.

Her answer was simple. "Home."

I laughed inwardly to myself with that word and watched her continue proudly forward. And then…when she was much farther away than I anticipated her going, I discovered that she was very serious. She was going without looking back. She was going to take her chances in the desert; she'd rather die of dehydration, starvation or animal attack than spend the rest of her life huddled here with me looming over her.

I waited and watched. Every minute that passed she became more distant. Not once did I see her look over her shoulder or pause in her steady pace. I was watching her leave me instead of the other way around. She was finishing her life without giving me the pleasure of doing it myself. If she died it was her fault, now wasn't it?

Surprisingly, though, she made it farther than I expected. She was almost out of my line of sight. My curiosity struck up and I wanted to see how far she could get before she gave up. I took to the air slowly, making sure to keep my distance in case she decided to finally look back. She hadn't, thankfully, and I continued to observe her from above. The length of time she was able to continue was astounding. How many humans would push themselves like this? I could see that she was starting to get slower the further she got, which meant she was growing tired. Her ambition was running out and soon she'd meet her doom.

I waited, though, longer than I thought I'd have to. She continued on and on, not once looking back or stopping to catch her breath. She was slowly walking now and I figured it was only a matter of time before she gave up completely. I decided to turn off course and watch her from a nearby rocky hill. I stood still and calm, the heat having little affect on me as I watched her.

Finally she went down, rolling over and staring up at the sky. She took what I assumed was a bottle of water and poured it over her face. She was so relaxed from laying there it seemed as if she accepted the notion that her time was up. It didn't matter whether she lived or died any more.

As I noticed she was no longer moving a thought came to my mind and I didn't like it one bit. I felt like there was some little foreign creature standing on my shoulder, whispering into my ear and telling me untruthful words. If there was such a creature I'd flick him into eternity to whisper to someone else. I didn't care for her; if she died it mattered not to me.

Then why are you out here watching her die?

Because I want to see her finally meet the inevitable.

You care for her, you fool. You care for a human.

I deny such a thing.

Which means its true…

I found myself going to her. I stepped down next to her, knowing full well that she wasn't dead—yet—but she was close to it. She looked at me weakly, but it didn't seem she understood what was around her.

"Layrial, I want you to know that I hate you for doing this to me," I told her, and I only spoke the way I did because I knew she wasn't conscious enough to understand. "You've done something to me that I can't explain…and I hate you very much for it."

I grabbed her arm and pulled her up, everything that was in her arms falling to the ground and remaining there. I picked her up and held her, her body so limp that it made me wonder how she was still breathing. When I looked at her next her eyes were closed; she had finally passed out.

There was one thing for me to do if I couldn't finish her off myself. I'll allow her to live; she'll be the one person to be able to say she escaped perfect Cell. I'll make sure she'll receive the proper care so she can open her eyes and realize that I had spared her life. I will rid myself of her once and for all and yet I'll have kept my promise as the gentleman I am.