Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball/Z/GT, but I do own Janden, the Laniins, the other races not including Human, the planet Giendon, a few techniques, the unfamiliar languages, and a handful of other things that are my creation alone.
Warnings: Mentions of Blackmail
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Previously on Kakkhan: Immortal Saiyan Z-fighter—
It was when Kakkhan was looking away, though, when she spoke up.
"So, …Kakkhan, is it?"
Kakkhan grunted his confirmation.
"Kakkhan-kun, are you the Giendonese Warrior?"
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Chapter Fourteen: Dealing with Lime
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"The Giendonese Warrior? Isn't he the guy who defeated Cell?"
Kakkhan now stared at not the ground but at the redhead pacing nervously beside him. Despite his question, he was scrutinizing her intently, his brain racing as he endeavored to reason out why this total and complete stranger would know one of his greater secrets.
Apparently startled by this study, Lime swallowed and nodded warily. Her hands crept involuntarily to her throat, where they clasped each other in a self-conscious movement.
Still gazing at her, Kakkhan neatly dodged a small child of about six or seven years old. "Why did you ask if I was the Giendonese Warrior? I look nothing like him."
"Yes you do!" she burst out, her fingers moving away from her mouth. "You have the same facial features, body structure, and even the same smirk! I-I can see him in you! I—"
"Interesting," Kakkhan interrupted. He had turned his head back to Lehigh's Realm, but his eyes were distant. Inside, he thought once more, reflecting upon the possibility of meeting Lime-san once before. She did seem familiar. "I'll have to think on this."
"So…you a-aren't the Warrior?" At the catch in Lime's voice, he swung back to her curiously. Her head hung as her fingers covered her face below her nose, which was all that he could see with the red hair concealing the rest. The abject droop of her shoulders struck him as odd. Why was she so emotionally invested in finding out if he was the Warrior? It didn't seem natural, unless the obsession ran deeper than a simple curiosity.
Still, he preserved the light tone of his voice when he replied, "I wish. I think it would be so sweet to fly without being in an airplane, feeling the wind against the face and in the hair…."
"That's the way I feel whenever I think about him." No need to ask whom him was. They hadn't changed the subject sufficiently enough. But Kakkhan was interested now.
She continued, "I feel so happy when the Warrior comes up in conversation. My spirits lift so much until I think I could fly. I've been looking for him for years, and I thought I had found him two weeks ago. It was lucky I knew Midori here, or my foster parents wouldn't have let me come here, and now—"
"Why were looking for him in the first place? It seems to me that you're a little…" How could he put this without hurting this girl? She was already almost in tears; he didn't want to cause her to cry, really cry.
But Lime supplied a word of her own. "Obsessed?" She smiled bitterly. "So I've been told for the past two years. But I've never given up hope. I'm not going to start now."
"But why?" Kakkhan insisted, his expression carefully uncomprehending, as if he couldn't figure out Lime's motives. A glimmer of what had happened had already presented itself, but Kakkhan wished to keep it to himself until his suspicions were confirmed. "I don't get it," he added for extra measure.
His companion sighed. "You're going to think I'm ridiculous if I tell you," she began. She sighed again upon receiving a pointed look from Kakkhan. She walked quietly for a few seconds, as if collecting her thoughts, then started again, haltingly.
"The Giendonese Warrior… he saved me four years ago, before the Cell Games. At the time, I was trying to get an apple from a tree next to a river, and if it hadn't been for him, I wouldhavefallenintotheriveranddrowned."
While Kakkhan tried to decipher the last independent clause, Lime withdrew again behind her hair and her hands again, clearly expecting to be turned away once more. However, all that Kakkhan said, when he finally straightened the statement out, simply became, "Okay."
Brown eyes snapped open and blinked at him. A squeak: "What?" emerged from the newly uncovered mouth. When Kakkhan only looked at her in response to the question, she demanded again:
"What did you just say?"
Kakkhan adopted an inquisitive expression on his features, looking like he couldn't understand why Lime was being so ebullient about his answer. "I said," he repeated, "okay. I mean, I still don't get it, but okay. Fine." He pivoted his head away from here again, an apparent attempt to shut the subject down.
But Lime did not want to give it up just yet. "Thank you so much!" She leapt forward and probably would have hugged Kakkhan had not she stumbled nor the Saiyan exert energy to hold her off in anticipation of the gesture. As it was, Lime ended up tumbling into Kakkhan's embrace. The girl immediately blushed, but Kakkhan only frowned.
"You're sick, aren't you? Your skin's clammy and you smell like a hospital does," he commented, "with that disinfectant and everything."
Lime sprang away from him, fear quickly covering the surprise in her eyes and working its way into her face. He mouth worked, but made no sound as she hastily backed away from him. Kakkhan lowered his arms and watched her steadily, waiting for her to answer.
They were nearly out of Lehigh's Realm, but once they were out, there wouldn't be another chance for Kakkhan to obtain his answers. Lime clearly would not talk about them in the presence of others, and she would likely want to spend less time around him because of his insight. If she was here with him, alone, and right at the time of the confrontation, there might be a better chance of disclosure.
Kakkhan discreetly made sure that he hampered the way out of Lehigh's Realm.
"Well?" he pressed, when Lime had hit the wall of the building farthest away from him. She stared at him with fearful eyes, her hands shaking while she slid down the length of the building. Huddling in a heap of bones and flesh at the floor, she flinched with Kakkhan's every movement, causing the Saiyan to shift as little as possible. He certainly possessed the capability to do so, he reminded himself. Meditation in large quantities does that to you.
"I—I—You can't tell anyone else that I'm sick!" she cried. "Only Midori knows, and had to be sworn to secrecy or otherwise I wouldn't be able to come here and—"
"Calm down!" Kakkhan barked, instantly halting the flow of words from the frightened girl. "I'm not going to blackmail you. I just want to know why you're sick."
Lime shook her head violently and commenced pleading once more. Kakkhan surrendered that line of questioning with annoyance; he was evidently going to get nowhere talking about this. So he rocked back on his heels and examined her again.
Now that his surmises were definitely confirmed about Lime's unhealthiness, he could see plainly the sallow quality of her skin, the sag of it under her eyes, as if she were perpetually tired, and how tightly it clung to her, among other things. The constant tremble of her fingers did not go unnoticed, or the unnatural rhythm of her breathing. No, Lime-san was truly not well. Nevertheless, she didn't want to talk about it, so he wouldn't.
"What does the Giendonese Warrior represent to you, then? You have a reason for obsessing about him," Kakkhan asserted, still on his heels. "You told me how you feel. But what does he really remind you of? Flying? Being free? What? Help me out here, if you won't tell me why you're sick."
Lime gulped. Kakkhan rolled his eyes in exasperation and would have taken a step forward, but he remembered what Lime would do if he did. Rolling his eyes again, the Saiyan settled for shoving his hands into his pockets and simply waiting.
After about five seconds had passed, during which Lime had tracked Kakkhan's every move or potential move anxiously, the girl finally spoke up. "He…he reminds me of when Grandpa was still alive, and the times of when I was sincerely cared about and I didn't have to prove myself worthy of that. I mean, he saved me from drowning in the river first, and then he went and saved the entire world from being blown up.
"I—it's probably stupid of me to think this way, but I feel so…so special, that the Giendonese Warrior would be concerned about one person, and one person only, when he had other things on his mind, such as the Cell Games. He was just probably there in the right place at the right time, but still…."
The redhead trailed off into silence, probably realizing that she was giving more personal things away. Kakkhan couldn't blame her for that—talking freely to a person, who had found out a deadly secret, about something else instead that meant just as much to her? Indeed, he could understand. He also sensed the passion within her about the subject, and knew that she brimmed with the fervent desire to tell someone, anyone about her idolization of the Giendonese Warrior without being brushed off.
The alien himself possessed secrets of a similar nature, but there existed already a group of people who knew those enigmas and still liked him. In fact, they had always liked him. Nor did Kakkhan really feel any remorse about keeping from others outside of that group his heritage. No, he didn't really comprehend the pain that Lime endured by having no one to respect her views, but he could try and make her life easier.
"But still," he stated, meeting her startled gaze squarely, "it gives you hope, and judging from your appearance and state of nerves, you probably need it." He turned and quickly walked out of Lehigh's Realm for not the last time, leaving a startled, anxious, and exhausted Lime to find her own way out. If Lime didn't want to spend any more time around him, he wasn't going to force her to.
It felt strange, not to be trusted with anyone's deepest and darkest mysteries.
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As predicted, Kakkhan did not see much more of Lime over the next few days. Although he had relinquished himself to this fate, he experienced more anger that he wasn't trusted. If in Lime's eyes he had a prime opportunity to blackmail her or do whatever, well, he certainly was not about to take it up. He appreciated the image not, even going so far as to be indignant about it. Nevertheless, the redhead tried, and mostly succeeded, in avoiding him.
Five days after the County Playhouse, Midori approached him and asked if she could speak with him privately. Frowning, as the eldest member of the Gang never presented so serious a face, he acquiesced immediately. They only traveled a few meters away from the Gang, but the noise outside of the town square they inhabited became enough for privacy.
Midori faced Kakkhan and came right out with the topic of the discussion. "After much coaxing and talking, Kakkhan, I finally convinced Lime to tell me what was bothering her ever since Lehigh's Realm. Apparently, you found out that she was sick, desperately sick. I don't know how you discovered that, but Lime has been winding herself up into a tight ball of nerves wondering what you're going to do. Since she doesn't want to ask you herself, I will. What are you going to do?"
Kakkhan needed only a thought for his answer. "Nothing. You should know me better than that, Midori. I don't reveal secrets that have been consigned to me. Usually those are voluntary, but my policy includes involuntary secrets, too. I don't abuse the privilege either—"
"That's what I told Lime-san. She wouldn't believe me, though I told her dozens of times. Now that you've said it, though, I can finally get her to relax," Midori interrupted. She grinned slightly at Kakkhan's annoyed expression. "Sorry, Khan-kun. You know how those things go."
"Hmpf," was all that Kakkhan replied with. Midori grinned again, although it faded slightly a second later.
"Did she tell you what she was sick with?" she asked, a tint of hope in her voice. Kakkhan glanced at her sharply, but disappointed her with the negative shake of his head. "Darn. I was hoping that maybe she would open up to someone who didn't know her and thus was not so prejudiced against or for her."
"It doesn't work that way," Kakkhan declared, raising his eyebrows. "Even you know better than that." Now it was Midori's turn to acquire an annoyed expression. Hers fell more on the weary scale than Kakkhan's; an observation supported as the raven-haired girl blew her hair out of her eyes.
"Yeah, I suppose so," she agreed reluctantly. "So, I'm going to have to wait either until Lime tells you herself why she's sick or until she chickens out again and makes me do it."
Kakkhan joined Midori in making a face, though for different reasons than his friend. They turned and trooped back to the remaining Gang members; two noticed the trek back and teased them about sneaking off in the first place. For their trouble, Yuki and Kyō were subjected to cutting remarks about their own adventures, and life found harmony again.
Nonetheless, Kakkhan, out of the corner of his eye, perceived the heated conversation Midori and the new girl held when they thought he wasn't looking. He noticed Lime slump with relief; anger coursed through him again upon her distrust. Really, he was better than that! He growled under his breath and turned abruptly away from them, concentrating instead on the football (1) conversation Tsubasa and Caine batted around.
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"So what do you think of Lime, bro?" Menrui flopped onto the couch next to Kakkhan and huffed a loud breath. "Sheesh, I'm hungry from all that romping."
Kakkhan smirked briefly. Only he and Ru could call the numerous runs resulting from the day's impromptu citywide game of tag "romping". He replied unsympathetically, "Go eat something, then."
"I think I will," Menrui pronounced thoughtfully. He already had crossed the threshold into the kitchen when Kakkhan called after him, "I don't know exactly what to think about Lime-san. What do you think?"
The demi-Saiyan halted his greedy advance into the kitchen and turned back. "I don't really like her, actually. I don't know why, either, but I don't."
"Really?" Kakkhan inquired. "How did you get that impression?" He ignored Menrui's innocent statement of ignorance about the reason. He shifted instead on the couch to look into the culinary room.
"I think it was her unhealthiness," Kakkhan's brother called. "Her ki seemed odd to me, and she was definitely hiding something."
"That's what I got!" the Saiyan corroborated. "But neither Midori-chan nor Lime-san will tell me."
"So that's what you were talking about with Midori?" Menrui stuck his head into the doorway just as beautiful aromas of cooked chicken drifted through.
"Oh, that food smells delicious. Thank Bulma for the refilled refrigerators," Kakkhan announced, his eyes glazing over as his nose screamed for more of the delightful smells. His digestive organ demanded the actual substances, on the other hand, and its owner was only too happy to oblige it. "You better not have taken the last of it!" he threatened as he shot towards the food.
"How could I have?" laughed Menrui. "You were the one talking about the refilling refrigerators!"
Kakkhan disregarded his brother's taunt in favor of the light shining out from the belly of the beloved appliance. "Come to papa," he crooned as he reached for the plate heaped high with fowl.
"You surprise me every day with your devotion to food, Kakkhan," snickered Menrui. Kakkhan's glare did nothing in the least to faze him; instead he merely added, "Though I really can't say anything myself. Still, I don't say 'Come to papa'."
"Guess what Kakkarot and Vegeta say," Kakkhan replied. "They're much worse than I am."
"I believe it," Menrui stated mock-solemnly. "Those two really are just ridiculous sometimes."
Kakkhan agreed absently, "They are." Withdrawing his head and a platter from the machine, the Saiyan spun slowly and carefully positioned the dish on the nearby island. Several foods had discovered their way onto it, and the sights reminded Menrui suddenly why he had come in here in the first place.
After they had dug in sufficiently enough for them to eat a minutely slower pace, Menrui started up the conversation again. "Speaking of Vegeta, how are your anger management sessions with him going?"
His brother had to swallow a large morsel of his professionally created sandwich before answering. The sandwich was professionally created because of the haste in its genesis, not just its perfection upon the revelation.
"It's actually doing well. Yesterday Vegeta managed to be civil for exactly five minutes before he blew up again in impatience." Kakkhan smiled with Menrui as laughter echoed in the house. Theron bounded into the kitchen in response to the noise and immediately made a beeline for the island, which the Paradoxes perched on.
"NO, Theron! You know you're not supposed to be in here!" The Past Paradox, Menrui, shouted at the Great Dane in reaction. Kakkhan merely pointed to the door, a stern look affixed onto his face. Instantly the ears of the Dane drooped, his body hunched, and his tail ceased wagging as he slinked out of the kitchen, obviously feeling unloved.
The Twins ignored him, returning instead to their earlier conversation. They discussed the tactics Kakkhan used in "calming" Vegeta, and how much of an effect on the rest of the Z-senshi the lessons would have when they achieved his goal. They knew instantly, however, when Theron poked his head back into the kitchen again, then tried to sneak in again on his stomach. He ended up lying half-in and half-out of the cook's realm when Kakkhan called out warningly, and had the good sense to remain there until his "humans" let him back in.
"No, Lime, well, she just doesn't appeal to me," Menrui reported out of the blue. Kakkhan blinked and turned to him, clearly thinking, Where did that come from? Menrui clarified: "She…she seems like she has different interests than I do, so much so that we don't have anything in common. Yeah, that's what it is."
"Hm," Kakkhan responded, turning inward thoughtfully. Did he feel that way? Almost immediately he answer was no. He was ready and willing to help Lime-san because she was sick, but was angry because she wouldn't trust him. He reminded himself that it was her fault that she was so paranoid, but it was no use. Rage on the rise became a juggernaut, which could not be stopped.
So Kakkhan announced abruptly, "Let's spar, Ru. Thinking about Lime-san makes me angry."
"Huh?" was Menrui's eloquent answer as Kakkhan stuffed the last of sandwich into his mouth and stood up brusquely. The Present Paradox strode out of the kitchen, stepping over Theron in his path, and striding towards the weapons room, a slight aura of gold already surrounding him. "Wait! What's the matter?"
'Just come on, Ru!' Kakkhan growled in Menrui's head. Forced to abandon his own lunch, the Past Paradox scrambled after him. Theron raised his head and thumped his tail, but he received only a hasty pat on his head in return for his anticipation. Not disappointed for long, Theron smelled the food still waiting to be consumed. No one was around, so he seized this one-time only chance in a lifetime. While Kakkhan tried to beat his anger out of his system and thrust it on Menrui, the Dane began munching happily on beatifically cooked chicken covered with tomato and lettuce, topped with rye bread, and the large helpings of pickles on the side.
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When the sweating Paradoxes returned to find that someone had already cleaned their plates for them, they were indeed upset. Theron suffered a blow on his ear and a severe scolding, as well as banishment from the kitchen for three weeks (a fate made worse by the fact that Theron's proper food was housed there). The refrigerator found itself emptied again, though not for long, due to its refilling capacity. And more plates were laden with edibles, though those victuals found themselves going down the esophagus of two humanoids this time.
And Kakkhan was much better off.
Menrui was confused no longer by his twin's behavior; he'd forced the reason behind the pop spar by almost breaking Kakkhan's windpipe. This might have been cruel and unusual punishment for any other person than Kakkhan, but as his brother was immortal, Menrui had left such thoughts far behind long ago.
In fact, the demi-Saiyan sympathized with his counterpart. To be treated as dangerous (never mind that they were dangerous, being Saiyans) by someone whom didn't know one very well was not exactly heart-warming. Of course, that old lady over down on Trent Lane did that to Kakkhan all the time. The treatment would have been more effective, however, had Kakkhan not elected to return the favor by ignoring her.
Scrutinizing his brother, Menrui decided to speak to Lime. His aim was not to get Lime to divulge her secrets, he told himself, but to stop distancing herself from his brother. If she began to know Kakkhan a little better, then perhaps she would cease her foolish behavior, and through that action, desist in hurting his brother.
If Kakkhan found out that Menrui was doing this... Maybe he'd better instruct Lime in the proper discretion concerning this matter, as well.
He resolved to settle this tomorrow, if Lime gave him that chance.
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(1) "Football" is not American football. It is "football," or soccer, as Americans say. (Sweatdrops) Why do we have to be so backwards? (Shakes head mournfully)
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A/n: Well, that's done. I hope you liked it.
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SNEAK PREVIEW OF: The Tribute to Ephemeron
And upon the paper was written, in Kakkhan's handwriting, almost illegible:
The tribute to EphemeronOh, how bittersweet it is once gone
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ADDITIONAL THANKS:
Bio. Link. LJ Community. Review Responses.
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Thanks to ShadowObscurity and DBZ Chick1 for their awesome reviews! (bows)
Btw, the part of the sneak preview in italics is part of a poem. So don't be confused if you get to that part and you encounter more lines than you thought there were. 'Kay?
Phew! Lime hasn't found out Kakkhan's secret. But she's come extremely close... Too close for words. Luckily, our hero managed to fend her off. But what's this? Lime is now afraid of him? For Kami's sake, why? That's what Kakkhan wants to know. Midori provided some clues, but no one's telling, and Menrui's decided to do something about that! His decision was made when he and Kakkhan began to talk about her over their food, then Kakkhan challenged him to a spar out of anger. The duo came back to find that Theron had stolen their food while they were sparring, resulting in banishment from the kitchen for three weeks! Oh, no! How is everything going to turn out? You'll find out, only if you come back for the next chapter of Kakkhan II! (And if you review!)
Vale!
TheShadowPanther and Allati, from AASN
AASN; Writing is what we do for you at AASN. Enjoy.
Updated 01.21.06