p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Days went by and even though Bulma had convinced Rori it was best not to join in the Cell Games, she continued her training. Still, she had stopped using her phoenix form and that was something. She tried not to strain herself, not wanting anything harmful to happen to her body now that she wasn't the only one using it. The gravity training room was her best bet at not going overboard while still keeping active. Even though she had promised Bulma she wouldn't go to the fight, she still worried. Cell would be angry now if she didn't show up. He'd know something was amiss. Either way, it was suicide and she needed to be there too./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""So, you're still planning on competing?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori looked up from her plank position hearing Vegeta's questioning voice after he'd entered the gravity room. She bent her knees coming back to a seated position and shrugged her shoulders looking like a cat who'd been caught lying about devouring a mouse with a tail sticking out of it's mouth, "I said I wouldn't, didn't I?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Then what are you doing? You shouldn't have the gravity on in here either... "/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Calm down," she stood up and waved him off, "I'm fine. And look, it's no more gravity than on our home planet. I'm not putting my body through anything it can't handle."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""If you're not going to fight, you're hogging the gravity room when emI/em could be using it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Now you just sound like you did back when you were a teenager." She shook her head. Rori knew she was being stubborn, but she couldn't help herself imitating his voice, "Don't hog the training room! That's for people who are actually going to conquer planets, blah, blah..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori ignored the annoyed look on his face and started doing sit-ups, not surprised to find that he had plopped himself next to her, silently doing his push-ups. This felt like a shadow from a distant past that was all too familiar. Vegeta never liked her when she was very little or so she'd thought. When she was around the age Gohan was when she first arrived on Earth, Vegeta had treated her like a pesky bug that wouldn't leave him alone. Though he was probably right to do so. She tended to cling to him when he would come back to the ship after long journeys because he was closer to her in age than Nappa, and Raditz always scolded her like a father. It wasn't until she was around Gohan's current age that Rori had realized Vegeta didn't hate her. It dawned on her that Vegeta could have kicked her out of the training room like Nappa or her brother often did, but with Vegeta that never happened. If Vegeta found her in the training room on Freiza's ship when it was his turn, he'd grumble and tell her she was wasting his time, but he'd never kick her out. He'd only do the same as he did today. Once in a while he'd yell at her for her form or tell her she wasn't doing something right, but by then she knew he was actually trying to help her progress in his own ill-tempered way./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"After a few minutes, Rori came up from a crunch and held herself there before letting her arms drop from their position around her head to her sides, "Vegeta?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"The older Saiyan didn't answer, but he turned his head to look at her from the corner of his eye./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I need to tell you something..." she had thought about this over and over, and had finally come to the conclusion that Vegeta was the only one she could trust to do what needed to be done./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I know you still want to fight and I think you should." he commented without breaking his stance./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori shook her head, "No, it's not that..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Vegeta sat up audibly sighing to portray his patience was thinning, "Out with it, we only have a few days to train."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori took a deep breath, but she knew he should know about what Cell had told her when she'd encountered the over-sized bug the other day. Trunks was his son after all. Even though he acted as though he couldn't care less, she knew it wasn't true. She'd known him her whole life and he acted the same way around her from time to time. So she took a deep breath and told him every detail of what Cell had revealed her: how he would make her life miserable again and how if it wasn't her, he'd take Trunks. When she finished she gave him a minute to let things sink in before she could ask him what she'd been wanting to, but he cut her off./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You're not going."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""What? But you just said-"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""If you go now, you're just going to get in my way!" Vegeta couldn't believe she would even think about going to the tournament knowing what Cell was planning. If she went now, he'd have to keep his eye out for not only her but Trunks as well. And Bulma wasn't wrong-which was as close to thinking Bulma was right as he would ever admit he had been-if Rori went she wasn't just putting her life at risk anymore. Before he knew about what Cell was planning, he wasn't too worried about the phoenix, but he couldn't protect everyone. Planet Vegeta was proof of that./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""The only reason I'm telling you this... I just wanted you to know because if he wins, whether I'm there or not he'll find me and if he doesn't he'll find Trunks. I know you don't want that for either of us. You know what it was like on Freiza's ship... This will be much worse. If something goes wrong... Please don't let us go through that..." Rori pleaded. If she were alone in this, she'd learn to live with it, but now she was about to have a baby. She couldn't let that child be used as one of Cell's pawns and she hoped that Vegeta would understand the sentiment. He must feel that same about Trunks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You think I'd...?" he couldn't even finish the sentence. How could she think he would kill his own son or his oldest... friend? Even in these circumstances./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You killed Nappa... no problem...right?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Vegeta stared her down now furious. He didn't know what to say. How could she not see the difference. Yes, he'd killed Nappa, but he didn't care for Nappa like he did her or his son. She knew that. Why was she throwing this in his face?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Vegeta... I'm asking you for this because whether you'll admit it or not, I know you actually care enough about us to stop us from living that kind of fate. If things look like they're going south on the battlefield... If not for me, for your son, for mine."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Vegeta stood up no longer able to look at her and started to leave the room./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You... are not going." he voice resonated strong and firm before she felt the door slam behind him./p
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p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Cell was quite proud of himself. At first he was worried that he would be bored, but after his little meeting with Rori, the military showed up, followed by a news crew. At the very least he was not alone now, despite having easily disposed of the military. He made sure to give the cameras the very show they were looking for. Soon, things quieted down again and he began to feel around for the energies of the Z fighters. It kept him busy to keep tabs on them. Every now and then one energy would go missing, first Piccolo and Rori, then Vegeta, and then Trunks. This never happened more than a day. Though after Rori had paid him a visit, he had not felt her power again in a few days. He could tell that the others were still training now and then, but the sudden drop off in her power seemed to intrigue him. Maybe he shouldn't have revealed his plans for her until it was too late for her to escape. Was that what she was trying to do now? He had always thought that even if she was afraid, he had gotten through to her by threatening to take Trunks in her place. Was she selfish enough to try and hide now? He didn't think so, but he wasn't going to risk it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Cell looked over to one of the cameramen filming him from a distance. Once Cell's eyes made contact with the man filming, he watched as the coward started to visibly shake with fear, and his shaking only increased when Cell moved one of his fingers slightly beckoning him to come closer. Cautiously, but quickly, the camera man came over to the side of the arena where Cell met him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You-you wanted to t-t-talk to me s-sir?" the cameraman stuttered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Just a little message I wanted to make sure an acquaintance of mine hears." Cell smirked, now facing the frightened journalist, "Don't worry as long as you promise to air this a few times, I promise not to harm you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"The cameraman nodded, rolling the film and pointing his camera towards the creature, calming himself enough to speak without stuttering, "Whenever your ready, sir."/p
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p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"After things had gotten heated between Rori and Vegeta, she decided it best to let Vegeta have his training room and left to spend the day back at her apartment. Surprisingly, Yamcha asked to join her, acting as if nothing had changed between them the past few days, despite the brevity of giving their relationship a shot. Rori sat on the floor between her sofa and coffee table half watching the news channel that was covering the pre-Cell Game activities, half pushing around the food they'd ordered around the plate with her chop sticks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You're really out of it, huh? You usually devour your food..." Yamcha commented from behind her, actually making use of her couch by sitting on it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Huh?... Yeah, I guess... I'm not really that hungry lately... Bulma said that was normal... just ...I didn't think it would be this bad..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You'll get you appetite back, don't worry. Don't you remember how Bulma eventually started eating almost as much as Vegeta?" Yamcha laughed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Oh, yeah!" she smiled and then suddenly froze, "...wait... I think that means we're going to need a small farm to feed a pregnant Saiyan appetite..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""...you're really going to wait to tell Piccolo until after the Cell Games?" Yamcha questioned a bit concerned. He knew if it was his kid, he would want to know, even if there was a chance they were all going to die anyway./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I don't see the point in worrying him now..." she continued to play with the food, trying to avoid this conversation, "It would just make it that more upsetting if we don't survive, you know? Maybe he doesn't want to be with me, but I still think he would want our kid. I see the way he is with Gohan and... I don't know... I just don't think it's the right time."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Yamcha could never understand why Piccolo had ended things with Rori. He knew their break-up had crushed Rori, but he wasn't so sure that Piccolo didn't feel the same way. He had observed Piccolo while he was with Rori and then again when they went to fight the androids without her and something was just off about him then, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The guy was so stoic; it was hard to tell if he wasn't just imagining things./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"They both got distracted by the television cutting to a new scene away from the normal commotion of the Cell's arena. The instant they saw who it was for, the two burst into laughter together. Rori buried her head into the sofa, her face surrounded by a blanket of her hair and arms trying to keep her laughter in as the scene cut to Hercule assuring the public that Cell's strength was nothing, but a mere back alley trick, a light spectacle and nothing more. When she looked up she saw Yamcha trying to calm himself, but there were tears coming from the corners of his eyes, he had been laughing so hard./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I really needed that!" he smiled at her, trying not to look back at the tv screen, knowing he might start again./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori risked a glance back at the screen and sighed, "D'you think we should warn him?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori and Yamcha had had a previous encounter with Hercule not too long ago at a bar. It was hard to forget, especially for Rori. It was the night after she'd finished a terribly long set with Sam, who was also witness to the event. They had all been so fed up with the sexist set director that day. They were so tired that they didn't even change out of the sports wear that the set had supplied and rushed directly to a bar nearby that was typically pretty calm, but that night it was overcrowded./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"I wonder what's going on... it's never like this." Sam complained looking around for seats, but found none, leaving them standing with their drinks at a circular bar table with no chairs./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"It's fine." Rori assured her before smiling slyly to herself, "I just hope Yamcha gets here before he loses his drink."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Why would he-" Sam started, but cut herself off after she turned her head from gawking at all the people in the bar, back to Rori who was almost finished with her own beer already, "Oh."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emAs Rori grinned and finished her beer, Sam had managed to steal a bar stool and took a seat, before looking across the table at her friend, "I forgot how much you pack away... what planet did you say you were from again?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori stuck her tongue out at Sam and was about to have a little sip of Yamcha's beer before she felt a hand on her shoulder. Rori had been hit on before at bars and by now she had been prepared to shut down all kinds of strange men, but nothing could have prepared her for this guy./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Hey, you can really pack it away for such a scrawny thing!" The man said before she turned to face the ever loud 'Champion' Hercule. The man laughed unabashedly at her now that he saw her face, "Oh, I see why now. You're that sports model for all the new fighting gear. My little girl really likes you, she always wants to wear your clothes, but she doesn't fit in them yet."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emAt first Rori had planned to brush the guy off, but now she wasn't sure if he was actually trying to hit on her or just be friendly. She decided to feel this out a bit more and just smiled politely, "Thanks... It's nice to see you're teaching your daughter it's not just a man's sport."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emWhen that's all she said to him, the man seemed to be a bit perturbed, as if she should know who he was or say something more. Rori glanced at Sam who was also doing something weird with her face that she wasn't sure what to make of and was grateful when Yamcha arrived pushing his way through the crowd to get to them. When he stopped next to Rori her looked up at Hercule who from his perspective appeared to be towering over 'his' girl./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Hey, you drank my beer!" Yamcha exclaimed to Rori, edging himself in between her and Hercule./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emThis only made Hercule furious, did they not know who he was or something? He tapped Yamcha's shoulder making him turn back around. For a moment the two argued, Yamacha insisting that lots of guy wanted to talk to Rori and if he wanted to he should take a number behind the rest. Hercule prattling on about he was someone exceptional and how dare Yamcha get in between the Champ and his winning night's conquest./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori rolled her eyes and took this opportunity to steal some more Yamcha's drink. She knew Yamcha could handle himself, especially with a weirdo like that. Meanwhile, Sam pushed a second stool over to her./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"What is this guy on about?" Rori shook her head, not getting why this Hercule was so upset. Yamcha had gotten rid of a lot of guys that tried to hit on her before, but none had put up this much of a fight./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"He's the new World Champion... he just won. It was on the radio today. Didn't you hear?" Sam explained./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"The World Champion in what?" she shrugged her shoulders causing Sam to audibly sigh with frustration./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Rori you live on this planet now! You have to learn some of the things that are going on here! Though I'm surprised Yamcha appears to be as clueless as you are." Sam commented watching the two still arguing, "He's the World Martial Arts Champion. As someone pushing those products, you oughta know that. Now get in the ring before Yamcha does something stupid."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori sighed and hopped down from the stool, looking down at herself kind of embarrassed that she was still in her clothes from the set, a red baseball cap, black sports bra, cut off fighting gloves, yoga pants, a red jacket tied around her waist, and sneakers. She looked like she was going for a run, not a night out. Rori made her way over just as Hercule was challenging Yamcha to a fight./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"I'll take that challenge." Rori answered in Yamcha's place causing Hercule throw his head back for a hearty laugh./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Don't be ridiculous! I'm the Champion. I know you must do a lot to keep in shape for that clothing line, and that's great and all, but this is the real deal. Besides I'm not going to hit a girl."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emThat really struck a nerve with her, especially after putting up with that set director all day. Not to mention this guy had a daughter. What was he teaching her? Rori was about to show Hercule that even though he wouldn't hit a girl, she definitely would hit a boy, but calmed herself when she heard his suggestion./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"I'll tell you what. I'll arm wrestle you, but don't complain if I hurt your arm and you can't work." Hercule taunted inviting her over to a reserved table, surrounded by ropes that kept his fans in the bar at arms length./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"All right." Rori smirked and followed him over, Sam and Yamcha following to watch, but getting stuck outside of the rope ring./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emSam got out her phone whispering over to Yamcha, "I'm definitely getting this on tape. The other girls aren't going to believe me when I tell them this..."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emYamcha rolled his eyes, "What's the big deal?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Do you people live under a rock?!" Sam exclaimed./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Now I won't hit a girl, but I'm not going to go easy on you either." Hercule cautioned as he set his arm down on the table, palm open waiting for her, "It's ok if you want to back down, I know you have an image to maintain. I'll tell you what, just give me a kiss and we'll call it even."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori laughed and planted her opposite arm down firmly on the table. This she was familiar with. Even though she came from a different planet, she used to arm wrestle Raditz all the time when he came home. He would always let her win, but this would be a real win for her. Easy street./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Don't worry about me. It's not just beer that I can throw back." she put her hand in his waiting for the count down. Before they had even started, the room full of people had stopped what they were doing to crowd behind Yamcha and Sam, trying see what the Martial Arts Champ was doing arm wrestling a girl./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emAs soon as Sam counted down to 1, Hercule used all his force, ready for an easy win, but he found that her arm didn't even budge. Not an inch. He tried again to put some more force in it and still nothing. It was like he was up against a brick wall. He looked up and met her eyes, seeing a smug smile form on her face. She wasn't even trying. He quickly looked over to the crowd watching from a distance and then back at her whispering, "what kind of trick are you using?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Did I ever tell you that my brother used to be the world martial arts champion...?" she asked making her eyes big and innocent, like it had slipped her mind./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emHercule's face faltered shook his head, "but still-"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"You're out of your league. Trust me, there's no other trick to it than that, but I'll tell you what. I know you have an image to keep, so I'll let you win if you promise to leave us alone and make sure your daughter knows that she has a good a chance as any man does when she grows up."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"I don't think-" Hercule started to argue, but as soon as he did, she began pushing his hand effortlessly toward the table and he changed his mind under the heat of all the bystanders, "Ok, ok. Promise."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori smiled and let up her grip, letting Hercule push her arm all the way down on the table before he stood up in his victory arms in the air. The crowd cheered his name. Rori stood up after him, shrugging to Yamcha who knew and Sam who only had an idea of what had just happened./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Good match. You really are the champion, huh?" Rori teased Herucle, as he laughed uncomfortably./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Yeah, well you almost had me there, but you know I couldn't let you win no matter how cute you are!" he continued to laugh awkwardly as his fans thought he had actually let her think she was going to win./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Oh well, maybe next time?" Rori pat him on the back hard enough for him to know not to push his luck, but not hard enough that she would send him flying. She hopped down from the step in front of the reserved table, coming out from behind the ropes and left the bard shortly after with Yamcha./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I don't know..." Yamcha commented, "Maybe he needs to learn his lesson again?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Before Hercule could finish his bragging the television cut back to the Cell Games Arena. "Breaking News! Cell has asked our brave reporter Duke to come into the ring so he get a message out to the future challengers of the Cell Games!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""A word of caution for a companion of mine who plans on hiding or skipping the tournament. There is no hiding. There is no waiting. I will find you and I can light this world ablaze in the process or I can make it quick and painless. Though I actually might enjoy the former, the choice is yours."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori stared at Cells face that remained on the screen after he spoke. She stood up from her spot on the floor./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Rori, he's just taunting you." Yamcha argued./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Yamcha, if I don't go now... he's going to know something is up. I'm going to the Cell Games." she said as she went into her room closing the door behind her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""What now?" he questioned knowing she knew it was a few days before the Cell Games would begin./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Huh?" she questioned as Yamcha heard her rummaging through her things in her room, "No, no. Now I'm going to pay my brother a little visit. There's something I still need to learn from him before I'm sure I'm ready."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"When she opened the door Yamcha was a bit shocked to find her in the clothes she was wearing when she first came to earth, but decided not to comment. It was a smaller version of Raditz's armor down to the red bands of ribbon around one of her legs and arms. She was lucky Bulma had helped her make a similar armor after Piccolo had destroyed the original years ago./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Well don't overdo it." Yamcha cautioned, "That brother of yours can be a little intense when it comes to training."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Right..." she smiled. emOh, you have no idea, Yamcha.../em she thought as she left to find Goku./p
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p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"A/N: Hello all, thanks for the nice reviews again. I'm really glad you're all still enjoying this. So, I'm adding a few side plots that I thought I was going to add sometime after the story because I know everyone wants to see Piccolo and Rori back together, but then I thought they might be a little too important to leave out in regards to Rori's odd relationship with certain characters. Mainly Vegeta, Yamcha, Hercule, and a certain brother of hers that she'll be seeing in the next chapter. The next chapter "Highway to Hell" will be another side plot and if all goes according to plan after that the Cell Games will commence./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"I may decide to start up again later with the Buu Saga, but I think before I do that I will continue with the side story I mentioned in the other chapter. As for Rori and Piccolo being sent to a different timeline, while they're there they won't have any previous memories of the current timeline, but when they return to the current timeline they will remember what happened in the other one as well as this one. /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""So, you're still planning on competing?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori looked up from her plank position hearing Vegeta's questioning voice after he'd entered the gravity room. She bent her knees coming back to a seated position and shrugged her shoulders looking like a cat who'd been caught lying about devouring a mouse with a tail sticking out of it's mouth, "I said I wouldn't, didn't I?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Then what are you doing? You shouldn't have the gravity on in here either... "/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Calm down," she stood up and waved him off, "I'm fine. And look, it's no more gravity than on our home planet. I'm not putting my body through anything it can't handle."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""If you're not going to fight, you're hogging the gravity room when emI/em could be using it."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Now you just sound like you did back when you were a teenager." She shook her head. Rori knew she was being stubborn, but she couldn't help herself imitating his voice, "Don't hog the training room! That's for people who are actually going to conquer planets, blah, blah..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori ignored the annoyed look on his face and started doing sit-ups, not surprised to find that he had plopped himself next to her, silently doing his push-ups. This felt like a shadow from a distant past that was all too familiar. Vegeta never liked her when she was very little or so she'd thought. When she was around the age Gohan was when she first arrived on Earth, Vegeta had treated her like a pesky bug that wouldn't leave him alone. Though he was probably right to do so. She tended to cling to him when he would come back to the ship after long journeys because he was closer to her in age than Nappa, and Raditz always scolded her like a father. It wasn't until she was around Gohan's current age that Rori had realized Vegeta didn't hate her. It dawned on her that Vegeta could have kicked her out of the training room like Nappa or her brother often did, but with Vegeta that never happened. If Vegeta found her in the training room on Freiza's ship when it was his turn, he'd grumble and tell her she was wasting his time, but he'd never kick her out. He'd only do the same as he did today. Once in a while he'd yell at her for her form or tell her she wasn't doing something right, but by then she knew he was actually trying to help her progress in his own ill-tempered way./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"After a few minutes, Rori came up from a crunch and held herself there before letting her arms drop from their position around her head to her sides, "Vegeta?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"The older Saiyan didn't answer, but he turned his head to look at her from the corner of his eye./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I need to tell you something..." she had thought about this over and over, and had finally come to the conclusion that Vegeta was the only one she could trust to do what needed to be done./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I know you still want to fight and I think you should." he commented without breaking his stance./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori shook her head, "No, it's not that..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Vegeta sat up audibly sighing to portray his patience was thinning, "Out with it, we only have a few days to train."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori took a deep breath, but she knew he should know about what Cell had told her when she'd encountered the over-sized bug the other day. Trunks was his son after all. Even though he acted as though he couldn't care less, she knew it wasn't true. She'd known him her whole life and he acted the same way around her from time to time. So she took a deep breath and told him every detail of what Cell had revealed her: how he would make her life miserable again and how if it wasn't her, he'd take Trunks. When she finished she gave him a minute to let things sink in before she could ask him what she'd been wanting to, but he cut her off./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You're not going."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""What? But you just said-"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""If you go now, you're just going to get in my way!" Vegeta couldn't believe she would even think about going to the tournament knowing what Cell was planning. If she went now, he'd have to keep his eye out for not only her but Trunks as well. And Bulma wasn't wrong-which was as close to thinking Bulma was right as he would ever admit he had been-if Rori went she wasn't just putting her life at risk anymore. Before he knew about what Cell was planning, he wasn't too worried about the phoenix, but he couldn't protect everyone. Planet Vegeta was proof of that./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""The only reason I'm telling you this... I just wanted you to know because if he wins, whether I'm there or not he'll find me and if he doesn't he'll find Trunks. I know you don't want that for either of us. You know what it was like on Freiza's ship... This will be much worse. If something goes wrong... Please don't let us go through that..." Rori pleaded. If she were alone in this, she'd learn to live with it, but now she was about to have a baby. She couldn't let that child be used as one of Cell's pawns and she hoped that Vegeta would understand the sentiment. He must feel that same about Trunks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You think I'd...?" he couldn't even finish the sentence. How could she think he would kill his own son or his oldest... friend? Even in these circumstances./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You killed Nappa... no problem...right?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Vegeta stared her down now furious. He didn't know what to say. How could she not see the difference. Yes, he'd killed Nappa, but he didn't care for Nappa like he did her or his son. She knew that. Why was she throwing this in his face?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Vegeta... I'm asking you for this because whether you'll admit it or not, I know you actually care enough about us to stop us from living that kind of fate. If things look like they're going south on the battlefield... If not for me, for your son, for mine."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Vegeta stood up no longer able to look at her and started to leave the room./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You... are not going." he voice resonated strong and firm before she felt the door slam behind him./p
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p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Cell was quite proud of himself. At first he was worried that he would be bored, but after his little meeting with Rori, the military showed up, followed by a news crew. At the very least he was not alone now, despite having easily disposed of the military. He made sure to give the cameras the very show they were looking for. Soon, things quieted down again and he began to feel around for the energies of the Z fighters. It kept him busy to keep tabs on them. Every now and then one energy would go missing, first Piccolo and Rori, then Vegeta, and then Trunks. This never happened more than a day. Though after Rori had paid him a visit, he had not felt her power again in a few days. He could tell that the others were still training now and then, but the sudden drop off in her power seemed to intrigue him. Maybe he shouldn't have revealed his plans for her until it was too late for her to escape. Was that what she was trying to do now? He had always thought that even if she was afraid, he had gotten through to her by threatening to take Trunks in her place. Was she selfish enough to try and hide now? He didn't think so, but he wasn't going to risk it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Cell looked over to one of the cameramen filming him from a distance. Once Cell's eyes made contact with the man filming, he watched as the coward started to visibly shake with fear, and his shaking only increased when Cell moved one of his fingers slightly beckoning him to come closer. Cautiously, but quickly, the camera man came over to the side of the arena where Cell met him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You-you wanted to t-t-talk to me s-sir?" the cameraman stuttered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Just a little message I wanted to make sure an acquaintance of mine hears." Cell smirked, now facing the frightened journalist, "Don't worry as long as you promise to air this a few times, I promise not to harm you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"The cameraman nodded, rolling the film and pointing his camera towards the creature, calming himself enough to speak without stuttering, "Whenever your ready, sir."/p
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p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"After things had gotten heated between Rori and Vegeta, she decided it best to let Vegeta have his training room and left to spend the day back at her apartment. Surprisingly, Yamcha asked to join her, acting as if nothing had changed between them the past few days, despite the brevity of giving their relationship a shot. Rori sat on the floor between her sofa and coffee table half watching the news channel that was covering the pre-Cell Game activities, half pushing around the food they'd ordered around the plate with her chop sticks./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You're really out of it, huh? You usually devour your food..." Yamcha commented from behind her, actually making use of her couch by sitting on it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Huh?... Yeah, I guess... I'm not really that hungry lately... Bulma said that was normal... just ...I didn't think it would be this bad..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""You'll get you appetite back, don't worry. Don't you remember how Bulma eventually started eating almost as much as Vegeta?" Yamcha laughed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Oh, yeah!" she smiled and then suddenly froze, "...wait... I think that means we're going to need a small farm to feed a pregnant Saiyan appetite..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""...you're really going to wait to tell Piccolo until after the Cell Games?" Yamcha questioned a bit concerned. He knew if it was his kid, he would want to know, even if there was a chance they were all going to die anyway./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I don't see the point in worrying him now..." she continued to play with the food, trying to avoid this conversation, "It would just make it that more upsetting if we don't survive, you know? Maybe he doesn't want to be with me, but I still think he would want our kid. I see the way he is with Gohan and... I don't know... I just don't think it's the right time."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Yamcha could never understand why Piccolo had ended things with Rori. He knew their break-up had crushed Rori, but he wasn't so sure that Piccolo didn't feel the same way. He had observed Piccolo while he was with Rori and then again when they went to fight the androids without her and something was just off about him then, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The guy was so stoic; it was hard to tell if he wasn't just imagining things./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"They both got distracted by the television cutting to a new scene away from the normal commotion of the Cell's arena. The instant they saw who it was for, the two burst into laughter together. Rori buried her head into the sofa, her face surrounded by a blanket of her hair and arms trying to keep her laughter in as the scene cut to Hercule assuring the public that Cell's strength was nothing, but a mere back alley trick, a light spectacle and nothing more. When she looked up she saw Yamcha trying to calm himself, but there were tears coming from the corners of his eyes, he had been laughing so hard./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I really needed that!" he smiled at her, trying not to look back at the tv screen, knowing he might start again./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori risked a glance back at the screen and sighed, "D'you think we should warn him?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori and Yamcha had had a previous encounter with Hercule not too long ago at a bar. It was hard to forget, especially for Rori. It was the night after she'd finished a terribly long set with Sam, who was also witness to the event. They had all been so fed up with the sexist set director that day. They were so tired that they didn't even change out of the sports wear that the set had supplied and rushed directly to a bar nearby that was typically pretty calm, but that night it was overcrowded./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"I wonder what's going on... it's never like this." Sam complained looking around for seats, but found none, leaving them standing with their drinks at a circular bar table with no chairs./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"It's fine." Rori assured her before smiling slyly to herself, "I just hope Yamcha gets here before he loses his drink."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Why would he-" Sam started, but cut herself off after she turned her head from gawking at all the people in the bar, back to Rori who was almost finished with her own beer already, "Oh."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emAs Rori grinned and finished her beer, Sam had managed to steal a bar stool and took a seat, before looking across the table at her friend, "I forgot how much you pack away... what planet did you say you were from again?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori stuck her tongue out at Sam and was about to have a little sip of Yamcha's beer before she felt a hand on her shoulder. Rori had been hit on before at bars and by now she had been prepared to shut down all kinds of strange men, but nothing could have prepared her for this guy./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Hey, you can really pack it away for such a scrawny thing!" The man said before she turned to face the ever loud 'Champion' Hercule. The man laughed unabashedly at her now that he saw her face, "Oh, I see why now. You're that sports model for all the new fighting gear. My little girl really likes you, she always wants to wear your clothes, but she doesn't fit in them yet."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emAt first Rori had planned to brush the guy off, but now she wasn't sure if he was actually trying to hit on her or just be friendly. She decided to feel this out a bit more and just smiled politely, "Thanks... It's nice to see you're teaching your daughter it's not just a man's sport."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emWhen that's all she said to him, the man seemed to be a bit perturbed, as if she should know who he was or say something more. Rori glanced at Sam who was also doing something weird with her face that she wasn't sure what to make of and was grateful when Yamcha arrived pushing his way through the crowd to get to them. When he stopped next to Rori her looked up at Hercule who from his perspective appeared to be towering over 'his' girl./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Hey, you drank my beer!" Yamcha exclaimed to Rori, edging himself in between her and Hercule./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emThis only made Hercule furious, did they not know who he was or something? He tapped Yamcha's shoulder making him turn back around. For a moment the two argued, Yamacha insisting that lots of guy wanted to talk to Rori and if he wanted to he should take a number behind the rest. Hercule prattling on about he was someone exceptional and how dare Yamcha get in between the Champ and his winning night's conquest./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori rolled her eyes and took this opportunity to steal some more Yamcha's drink. She knew Yamcha could handle himself, especially with a weirdo like that. Meanwhile, Sam pushed a second stool over to her./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"What is this guy on about?" Rori shook her head, not getting why this Hercule was so upset. Yamcha had gotten rid of a lot of guys that tried to hit on her before, but none had put up this much of a fight./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"He's the new World Champion... he just won. It was on the radio today. Didn't you hear?" Sam explained./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"The World Champion in what?" she shrugged her shoulders causing Sam to audibly sigh with frustration./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Rori you live on this planet now! You have to learn some of the things that are going on here! Though I'm surprised Yamcha appears to be as clueless as you are." Sam commented watching the two still arguing, "He's the World Martial Arts Champion. As someone pushing those products, you oughta know that. Now get in the ring before Yamcha does something stupid."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori sighed and hopped down from the stool, looking down at herself kind of embarrassed that she was still in her clothes from the set, a red baseball cap, black sports bra, cut off fighting gloves, yoga pants, a red jacket tied around her waist, and sneakers. She looked like she was going for a run, not a night out. Rori made her way over just as Hercule was challenging Yamcha to a fight./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"I'll take that challenge." Rori answered in Yamcha's place causing Hercule throw his head back for a hearty laugh./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Don't be ridiculous! I'm the Champion. I know you must do a lot to keep in shape for that clothing line, and that's great and all, but this is the real deal. Besides I'm not going to hit a girl."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emThat really struck a nerve with her, especially after putting up with that set director all day. Not to mention this guy had a daughter. What was he teaching her? Rori was about to show Hercule that even though he wouldn't hit a girl, she definitely would hit a boy, but calmed herself when she heard his suggestion./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"I'll tell you what. I'll arm wrestle you, but don't complain if I hurt your arm and you can't work." Hercule taunted inviting her over to a reserved table, surrounded by ropes that kept his fans in the bar at arms length./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"All right." Rori smirked and followed him over, Sam and Yamcha following to watch, but getting stuck outside of the rope ring./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emSam got out her phone whispering over to Yamcha, "I'm definitely getting this on tape. The other girls aren't going to believe me when I tell them this..."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emYamcha rolled his eyes, "What's the big deal?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Do you people live under a rock?!" Sam exclaimed./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Now I won't hit a girl, but I'm not going to go easy on you either." Hercule cautioned as he set his arm down on the table, palm open waiting for her, "It's ok if you want to back down, I know you have an image to maintain. I'll tell you what, just give me a kiss and we'll call it even."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori laughed and planted her opposite arm down firmly on the table. This she was familiar with. Even though she came from a different planet, she used to arm wrestle Raditz all the time when he came home. He would always let her win, but this would be a real win for her. Easy street./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Don't worry about me. It's not just beer that I can throw back." she put her hand in his waiting for the count down. Before they had even started, the room full of people had stopped what they were doing to crowd behind Yamcha and Sam, trying see what the Martial Arts Champ was doing arm wrestling a girl./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emAs soon as Sam counted down to 1, Hercule used all his force, ready for an easy win, but he found that her arm didn't even budge. Not an inch. He tried again to put some more force in it and still nothing. It was like he was up against a brick wall. He looked up and met her eyes, seeing a smug smile form on her face. She wasn't even trying. He quickly looked over to the crowd watching from a distance and then back at her whispering, "what kind of trick are you using?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Did I ever tell you that my brother used to be the world martial arts champion...?" she asked making her eyes big and innocent, like it had slipped her mind./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emHercule's face faltered shook his head, "but still-"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"You're out of your league. Trust me, there's no other trick to it than that, but I'll tell you what. I know you have an image to keep, so I'll let you win if you promise to leave us alone and make sure your daughter knows that she has a good a chance as any man does when she grows up."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"I don't think-" Hercule started to argue, but as soon as he did, she began pushing his hand effortlessly toward the table and he changed his mind under the heat of all the bystanders, "Ok, ok. Promise."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"emRori smiled and let up her grip, letting Hercule push her arm all the way down on the table before he stood up in his victory arms in the air. The crowd cheered his name. Rori stood up after him, shrugging to Yamcha who knew and Sam who only had an idea of what had just happened./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Good match. You really are the champion, huh?" Rori teased Herucle, as he laughed uncomfortably./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Yeah, well you almost had me there, but you know I couldn't let you win no matter how cute you are!" he continued to laugh awkwardly as his fans thought he had actually let her think she was going to win./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"em"Oh well, maybe next time?" Rori pat him on the back hard enough for him to know not to push his luck, but not hard enough that she would send him flying. She hopped down from the step in front of the reserved table, coming out from behind the ropes and left the bard shortly after with Yamcha./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""I don't know..." Yamcha commented, "Maybe he needs to learn his lesson again?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Before Hercule could finish his bragging the television cut back to the Cell Games Arena. "Breaking News! Cell has asked our brave reporter Duke to come into the ring so he get a message out to the future challengers of the Cell Games!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""A word of caution for a companion of mine who plans on hiding or skipping the tournament. There is no hiding. There is no waiting. I will find you and I can light this world ablaze in the process or I can make it quick and painless. Though I actually might enjoy the former, the choice is yours."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"Rori stared at Cells face that remained on the screen after he spoke. She stood up from her spot on the floor./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Rori, he's just taunting you." Yamcha argued./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Yamcha, if I don't go now... he's going to know something is up. I'm going to the Cell Games." she said as she went into her room closing the door behind her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""What now?" he questioned knowing she knew it was a few days before the Cell Games would begin./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Huh?" she questioned as Yamcha heard her rummaging through her things in her room, "No, no. Now I'm going to pay my brother a little visit. There's something I still need to learn from him before I'm sure I'm ready."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"When she opened the door Yamcha was a bit shocked to find her in the clothes she was wearing when she first came to earth, but decided not to comment. It was a smaller version of Raditz's armor down to the red bands of ribbon around one of her legs and arms. She was lucky Bulma had helped her make a similar armor after Piccolo had destroyed the original years ago./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Well don't overdo it." Yamcha cautioned, "That brother of yours can be a little intense when it comes to training."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;""Right..." she smiled. emOh, you have no idea, Yamcha.../em she thought as she left to find Goku./p
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p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"A/N: Hello all, thanks for the nice reviews again. I'm really glad you're all still enjoying this. So, I'm adding a few side plots that I thought I was going to add sometime after the story because I know everyone wants to see Piccolo and Rori back together, but then I thought they might be a little too important to leave out in regards to Rori's odd relationship with certain characters. Mainly Vegeta, Yamcha, Hercule, and a certain brother of hers that she'll be seeing in the next chapter. The next chapter "Highway to Hell" will be another side plot and if all goes according to plan after that the Cell Games will commence./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11.2px;"I may decide to start up again later with the Buu Saga, but I think before I do that I will continue with the side story I mentioned in the other chapter. As for Rori and Piccolo being sent to a different timeline, while they're there they won't have any previous memories of the current timeline, but when they return to the current timeline they will remember what happened in the other one as well as this one. /p