Waiting is such a difficult thing to do, especially when you are waiting for word about a life altering event. Tien, Piccolo, Trunks, and Krillin stand at the tiled edge of the Lookout, paying close attention to Gohan's battle with Cell. While Chichi, Ox King, Master Roshi, and Oolong huddle around Fortune Teller Baba's crystal ball to watch their battle. Yamcha, Puar, and Bulma are in her lab to distract themselves. Dende and Mr. Popo walk the perimeter of the sanctuary, the latter guiding the younger of the earth's voice, how to comfort and protect her.
What am I doing? I'm sitting among Mr. Popo's beautiful flowers, attempting to meditate. I'll admit, I haven't meditated since I'd left Tien's cabin. Bulma has kept me plenty busy in the meantime. My mind keeps reminding me that, after today, Tien and I are going to be official and begin our long-awaited relationship, together. I'm having a hellacious time concentrating.
Just as I open my eyes for a break, Cell instant transmits directly in front of me, separating me from the other fighters. My eyes widen in fear and barely have time to gasp out before the bruised and bloodied 'perfect' android snarls at me and grabs my short hair, hoisting me to his height. At my shout of pain, the others whip around to find me in the villain's grasp. "I do not possess any information about you, so I can only conclude that you, pathetic worm, are the one who told Goku about my existence. You told them how to defeat me. Maybe I should kill you right here, right now. But then Goku and that twerp of a son of his wouldn't be able to hear your delicious screams of pain. Nor will they bear witness to your final breath. Nor will they watch in horror to the fading light of your cold, dead eyes."
He turns his ugly head to see all of the warriors who stayed behind. He grins wickedly at the sight of the huge, white power-filled auras, save for Older Trunks' with his yellow Super Saiyan aura. Trunks, Piccolo and Yamcha have soldier hardened battle faces on. Krillin looks surprised, like he can't believe the monster before him could do such a thing as to come after a woman, one who can't fight back.
But it's the look I can see in Tien's eyes that are unnerving to me. More so than being in the hands of Cell. There's a deadly calm glare there, reminding me of the way he was when Goku first met him in the forest so many years ago.
"Tien!" I shout, but Cell and I are no longer on the Lookout courtyard, but back on the battleground with Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan. Seeing the only ones who could save me now, I sob out, "Goku! Vegeta! Please, help me!" As soon as the words escape my mouth, Cell slams me to the dirt and places his large foot upon my neck, rendering me immobile if I want to stay alive. He kicks my side, forcing me into a fetal position. Well, as close to one as I could. He doubles over and grabs one of my legs.
"I do wonder how many bones of yours I can shatter before you are either delivered unto unconsciousness or you die. Your screams thus far truly delight me." Cell sneers down at me as he slowly twists my ankle, pulling tendons, ligaments, and nerve endings far beyond their intended length. Tears of agony blur my vision. I pant through clutched teeth, my breathing shallow and rapid. I'm dangerously close to hyperventilating already. I unsuccessfully try to restrain my screams and moans of pain. I can feel the tendons snapping and suddenly, Cell snaps my ankle in a 90-degree twist. Completely in a different direction of the original, slow twist.
White, searing light of pain consumes my eyes as I scream in absolute excruciating agony. My tears stream down uncontrollably as Cell ghosts his hand from my ankle to my shin. "P-p-please! St-st-st-stop!" I wail, begging him to stop his torture. I'm in such pain that I can barely form words. With a shift of his wrist, both bones in my lower leg splits in two.
Sliding his fingers past my thigh, he bends once more and grasps my throat, turning me to face the Saiyans. There's no way they can save me at this point. My back is pinned to Cell's chest. His hand between my legs unexpectedly grips my womanhood in a crushing fist. "Shall I strip you and give that boy a lesson in female anatomy? I always did enjoy visual aids when learning something so... Fascinating." The android purrs into my ear.
My eyes widen in fear at the implication of his words and sharply shake my head. I can see Vegeta and Goku vibrating in rage. Poor Gohan is standing before us with wide eyes, a confused look on his young face. He's as innocent and pure hearted as his father, but where he doesn't understand my current situation, Goku does.
The look in Vegeta's eyes remind me of the manic, bloodthirsty prince from when he first arrived on earth with Nappa. I can tell he is seething in fury from where I am in Cell's grasp. The shifting of his eyes tells me he's trying to figure out the best way to attack, without causing more damage to me.
Goku is clenching his jaw, his expression hardening to his well-known battle readiness. His black eyes flashing to the seafoam green and back to black rapidly, his hair doing the same. The most powerful warrior in the world may not be the smartest person in a room, but if you earn his friendship, there is NOTHING he won't do to help his friends, regardless of what the situation entails. The mental dignity of his newest friend is currently in jeopardy. He wouldn't stand for it, and certainly will not allow it to happen in front of his son.
"Dad, what is he doing to Alicia? How can we get her away from him? Why is he touching her in her girl part?" Gohan spares a split-second glance at his father.
"I'll explain after that bastard is dead, son. Prince Vegeta, tell us what to do. We can't let her suffer at his hand more than she has." Goku surprises me at his formality to his prince. This is a completely new situation for him. Sure, King Piccolo had used Tien as a human shield, just like Cell is doing with me, but he never threatened Tien's virtue like Cell is now. They need Vegeta's wider battle knowledge to get me to safety.
"Gohan and I will attack this monstrous deviant at full power. You wait until he drops her and use your transmission to catch her, preferably before she hits the ground. Then get her to the small Namek to heal her leg. Boy, do NOT hold any of your power back. He will not show the same courtesy to us. Understand me?"
"Yes, sir." Gohan hardens his expression, looking every bit like his father, and raises his power level as high as he can. I can feel the earth quake as Vegeta joins Gohan in his own Super Saiyan transformation. Stones levitate all around the valley we are in. Goku stands at the ready with his fingers to his forehead. Gohan and Vegeta position themselves to push off in a second's decision.
I wait with tears freely flowing, waiting with bated breath. Silently praying to Dende or any deity watching that Vegeta's plan works. I've never been in more fear for my life than in this moment. I feel Cell reach for the button on my jeans and I close my eyes. Hearing a roar, I open my eyes to see Vegeta, followed closely by Gohan, spring into action. Charging at Cell at inhumane speed, Gohan dives for the android's waist, while Vegeta wraps his powerful arms around the villain's neck.
Cell gets the wind knocked out of him and releases my neck, my waist. I barely feel myself begin to fall before Goku swiftly catches me. As he searches for Dende's life force, I stop his fingers from touching his forehead. "Wait, Goku. I want to watch him die. I want to witness him begging Vegeta and Gohan to grant him mercy. I want to see the disbelief come across his face when neither grant it. I NEED to view his demise or else I will be plagued with nightmares and fears of him returning. Please, Goku, for my mentality." I beg him to stay until the freak before us is dead.
Goku looks deep into my eyes, considering my words. He nods, before snapping his eyes to his son and prince. "Finish him! Finish him NOW!" Without looking away from their opponent, the two battling Cell jump back, putting themselves between the android and Goku and myself. Vegeta standing straight with his arms straight out to each side of him. Gohan crouches down with both hands cupped by his right hip.
Gohan slowly chants his father's signature move, building more and more power into the glowing blue sphere. "Ka... Me... Ha..."
Vegeta's golden aura intensifies as he forms blazing yellow orbs in each hand. "How DARE you target a defenseless woman. How DARE you even ATTEMPT to violate her into an unwilling mating?!" Gohan's eyes snap to pure rage and blood lust for the android's life at the understanding of exactly what they have saved me from, by hearing Vegeta using those specific words. Gohan's power level sky rockets even higher. He wasn't going to hold back anymore. Vegeta growls out, "Final..."
"Me... HAAAAAA!"
"FLASH!" Both males release their blasts at the barbaric android, but he releases his own Kamehameha wave at them, clashing in the middle. Seeing the center of the dueling blasts teetering like an arm-wrestling match, I look up at Goku. His battle keen eyes capturing and analyzing every single miniscule detail before us. If he fires his own wave, at max power, Cell will be toast.
"Goku," I whisper, weakly. "Go. Go help them. Your own blast can solidly tip the scales in our favor."
"No, I cannot risk leaving you unprotected. I can't hide you anywhere close by because he'll be able to sense where you are instantly. I wouldn't be able to face you or Tien if Cell got his hands on you again." The Saiyan holding me states firmly.
"So, set me down right here and don't go forward more than two steps. Stay aware of his movements. He won't succeed in grabbing me if you're still right here. Your son and prince need your power. Right now." I ball my fists into his orange shirt, as tightly as I can muster. Staring into his eyes, I can see that he is considering my suggestion now.
The man finally nods and squats down to set me on the ground as gently as he can, as to not cause me anymore pain. Goku stands back up and takes just enough steps ahead of me to keep me out of the danger or his own Super Saiyan aura. "Ka... Me... Ha... Me... HA!" He bellows and his blue blast joins Gohan's and Vegeta's attacks and they begin to overpower Cell's, but not completely.
"Goku! You're holding back, damnit! End him NOW! Or else he'll come back even stronger! Just like you and Vegeta do! Don't give him the chance!" After I yell, all three of my warriors push their blasts even harder, redoubling their efforts, roaring out even louder.
"You cannot win against me! I am the ultimate, PERFECT ANDROID! I was manufactured to KILL GOKU! And anyone else who is foolish enough to get in my way!" Even as Cell boasts about his 'perfection,' his own Kamehameha wave is rapidly overtaken by the three combined blasts of Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan.
As the adrenaline of my own capture fades, my pain level rises to new heights. Those three seriously need to hurry the fuck up. I squeeze my eyes closed, trying incredibly hard to not let my tears of absolute anguish fall from them. I can't stop my moans, though.
Goku spares a short glance back at me, hearing my moaning. "Gohan! Dig deeper! Vegeta! We have to finish him NOW! Alicia's not going to last much longer!" Gohan screams in response to his father's orders. Vegeta glances back and sees me wavering, trying to stay conscious. Trying to stay sitting up, but I'm quickly losing stamina. Vegeta redirects his eyes to Goku and gives a nod, grunting to push harder.
Unfortunately, I don't know what happened next. I finally passed out from the excruciating pain of my leg. The next thing I know, I awake in my bed at the Lookout. Gohan is snuggled into my right side, fast asleep. I smile at the twelve-year-old. I'm so proud of him for listening to instructions during his battle. Tien is sitting in a chair on my left side, hunched over, asleep with both his hands encompassing my own. As much as I want to squeeze his hand, I let him rest. I'm sure he was beside himself after Cell took me hostage. My eyes widen at the thought of Cell. Is he gone?
"He's dead." I snap my head towards the doorway to find Piccolo hovering in his meditation pose next to the door. The green man stands and looks at me. "As soon as you passed out, Vegeta and Goku both broke through to the second level of Super Saiyan and Cell was completely disintegrated within minutes." He pauses and considers me. "I was wrong about you. You've provided balance in Gohan's life. You brought us together as an actual team, no longer individual warriors who happen to be on the same side of the battle." He approaches me on my side where Gohan sleeps, and extends his right hand. "Thank you for making him, us, stronger. Piccolo."
I carefully extract my arm without disturbing Gohan and firmly grasp Piccolo's hand. "Alicia. It's been an honor to get to know all of you here, and I'm proud that I could provide something to all of you who put your lives on the line for so many people who you will never meet. Thank you for doing that and giving an outsider like myself a chance to prove herself that she is trustworthy."
The tall Namekian smirks and gathers Gohan into his arms to take him to his own bed. "Wake Tien up. Let him know you're alright. I had to bind him to prevent him from going after you. He wasn't thinking straight and we didn't want to cause more tension or unnecessary danger to you than there already was. He wasn't himself."
"I understand. Thank you, Piccolo, for keeping him safe." Piccolo nods and takes his leave with the exhausted preteen in his arms. When the door closes, I squeeze Tien's hand and set my free hand on top of his. All three of his eyes snap open and stares in, what looks to me as, disbelief. Like he didn't think I'd wake up anytime soon. I smile gently at him, my own eyes watering in relief. "Hi, Misiu..."
At my greeting, Tien's head shoots up, eyes watering, smiling. "My gods! Are you alright? I'm so sorry I couldn't stop him from snatching you! What did he do to you after you vanished?" Tien places his large hands around my face, thumbs brushing my cheeks. Before I can answer, he kisses me soundly. His own tears fall, triggering my own. My hands move on their own to fist his white, sleeveless shirt. When the need for air is too great, I pull back, regretfully.
Weeping, I relay how he snapped my bones, used me as a human shield, threatened to continue to break as many of my bones as he could before death could claim me. I refuse to tell him how that bastard had nearly violated me in the worst way. I couldn't. I don't want to remember the feel of his slimy hands touching me. I sob a little harder, just feeling my skin crawl at the mere memory. I want to go home to Tien's cabin. I just cannot bring myself to tell him. I don't want to see his reaction, nor do I want to see him walk on eggshells around me.
"Alicia, you need to tell him. He loves you and need to know in order to help you heal." I'm not entirely sure when Goku came into our room, but here he is. I stare at the comforter, tears still streaming down my cheeks, and shake my head. "If you don't, I will." The tall Saiyan states firmly. I jerk my head to look at Goku with disbelief. Why would he do that? Doesn't he understand that my stomach churns just thinking about how close Cell was to forcing himself on me, and in front of other people.
Tien looks from me to Goku and back to me. "Tell me what? Tell me, Sunshine. What else did that... that thing do to you?" The three-eyed man faces his long-time friend after watching me violently shake my head. I'm refusing to look at him. "What happened, Goku?" Tien questions in a dangerously low, demanding voice.
"Goku, please! Don't tell him! Please!" I beg. I'm disgusted at the fact that it happened, that I couldn't even attempt to fight back. Will Tien still love me? Will Tien be as ashamed of me as I am of myself? Just when we can finally start being together. Wait, did he just call me sunshine? Not important right now.
"After Cell broke her leg, he skipped he knee and thigh." Goku licks his lips before continuing. "He grabbed her in her girl part. He made the suggestion to strip her down and 'teach Gohan about female anatomy'." Goku motions with his fingers. "Just as he went to unbutton her pants, Vegeta and Gohan attacked him and I caught her before she could hit the ground." Goku looks at me with an apologetic look in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Alicia, but hiding something like this, that literally just happened at the beginning of your relationship, isn't a healthy way to start it. I've known Tien long enough that if you had waited, even a couple of days, his anger would be frightening and you don't need that after this experience. I hope you'll forgive me someday."
Tien's mouth drops. "No..." He looks at me and I duck my head once more. I can't look at him. I can't stand the possible rejection, the pity, but more so, I don't want to see the heartache in his sharp eyes. He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, bringing my head up, but my eyes stay downcast. "Alicia, look at me." I don't. "Look at me, baby." He whispers and I finally lift my eyes to him and make the eye contact I've been dreading to give him. There is nothing but love and understanding in all three of his eyes. "As much as I wish that you had been the one to tell me, I understand why you didn't want to. I don't blame you, at all. I blame that mutation that hurt you. I still love you. I still want to be with you, no one else. Nothing from your past, present, or our future could EVER change how I feel for you. Understand, Sunshine?"
"Why are you calling me that?" I can barely whisper my question; my throat has such a thick knot of emotion.
"Because on the gloomiest day, the darkest night, just seeing you smile makes every moment I spend with you, that much brighter, happier. You choosing to be with me, a man who has never really felt love, fills my soul with joy, contentment, peace. You're my sunshine, Alicia. I finally found the someone who makes my life complete. I never thought I'd ever find that person. My soulmate." He smiles gently, contently before kissing my forehead, cheek, and finally, my lips.
In our kiss, I silently vow to never try to hide anything from him ever again. I pray that I will be the best girlfriend, wife, and mother to his children, hopefully, in the order. How in the cosmos did I get so lucky as to fall in love with such a level-headed, understanding, kind-hearted, strong man like Tien? And at the grace of the gods, he loves me just as much.
He breaks away and leans his forehead to mine. "Do you believe me now?" He breaths.
"Yes. I'm sorry I doubted you. I love you. Can we go home now? Please? I want to begin our life together, now. If we can get through this, we can get through anything. Come what may." I sniffle and give my Misiu a watery smile. Let me be worthy of his love and affection. For the rest of our lives.
"Yeah, let's go home. Do you want to fly, or have Goku take us?" Tien pulls the blankets off of my body and I see that Dende had done an excellent job of healing my leg. The tallest in the room gathers me in his sturdy arms and I have never felt safer. I really love when he holds me in his arms. Makes me feel precious.
"Let's take our time and fly home." I smile brighter than before as Tien sets me back on the floor and we begin our rounds of saying good-bye. I thank Vegeta and Goku for saving me and Dende for healing me. Tien and I both tell everyone not to be strangers and wish older Trunks safe travels and to give the androids of his time hell.
I creep into the room where Gohan is still sleeping and push his bangs from his forehead and kiss it. "I'm so incredibly proud of you Gohan. Thank you for saving me today, my little hero. Stay gold, buddy." I whisper. The young man sighs and smiles in his sleep.
Rejoining Tien at the northern edge to go home, my Misiu gathers me once more in his arms. "Ya know, I hope we'll have a son as smart and sweet and gentle as Gohan." I say as we set out for home and kiss Tien's cheek.
"Yeah, there's so much of Goku in him, it's hard not to love him. He's a really good kid. I bet he'll be an awesome big brother and a perfect babysitter for us, when the time comes. Let's go home, Sunshine. I've missed you terribly these last two and a half years." I beam at the word, 'home.'
I think I'm more than ready for my happy here, in this universe. With this amazing man, my new friends. No, that's not even remotely that right word. My new family. "I can hardly wait to start this next adventure with you, Misiu. I promise to try and be the best wife to you and mother to our children."
"And I promise to protect you, always. To be the man you deserve to have as yours. I promise to love you until my last, dying breath." Tien seals his promise with a firm kiss. I love the determination, the passion, of this man holding me. We will finally get our happiness.
Let's see... Do I end this particular book here and begin another?
Thank you all for reading my imagination creation and sticking with me for the last six years. I think posting this chapter less than 2 weeks after the previous is a new record for me. I've gotten some encouraging words from an unexpected source just before I posted the last chapter, and the words for this chapter was unlocked from my mind with a newfound confidence in myself that I didn't know I even possessed.
As a result, I practically vomited this chapter out. If I'm completely honest with you all reading this, I'm proudest of this chapter. It's a type of scene that I've never even considered writing before, and I think it came out better than expected.
So, to the man who verbally encouraged me, I thank you. For unleashing a creative potential in me that I wasn't sure was there. I doubt you'll ever actually read this, but just in case I don't get to speak with you ever again...
Thank you. From the bottom of my goofy, mushy heart.
Pretty please leave me a review? I haven't gotten a review on this story for the last few chapters. Let me know that ya'll are still reading this. Love you, guys!