Ki Links: Part 3
10 years later
Winter woke from her deep sleep with a start. She disentangled her legs from the furs that made her bed in the cave and sat on the cold ground, holding her head in her hands. Her whole body was wet in sweat and she breathed heavily. Another confusing dream had left her body shaken, and she fought to calm her racing pulse. She felt weak, and, disliking the feeling, she forced herself to stand up and walk out of the cave.
It was just barely dawn, and the early morning sun cast warm rays across the forest. Beautiful colors and lights danced from the reflection off Mount Torao. Flowers and trees flitted daintily in the light breeze against a perfectly blue sky. The peaceful feeling that settled itself throughout the valley gave Winter a reassuring emotion throughout her body, putting her to ease and relaxing her tension.
She walked, steadily now, to the small spring that still flowed outside. She wadded in slowly, for the change in weather had given the water an icy temperature. Eventually the water rose to just about her midriff and she felt all parts of her body give in to the cold. Enduring it had actually helped add a bit to her training, although now she was used to it. She continued forward until she stood beneath the waterfall. It cascaded down over her nude, muscular figure, rinsing it of the odor of the night. It washed through her now long white hair and flattened her small widow's peak on her forehead. She gathered some in her hand and drank it slowly, quenching her parched throat.
Winter threw the water around her body, rubbing away the dirt and grime of the cave. She bent her arms behind her and cracked her back, and she felt something rub against her hand. She glanced back at it; her tail had grown back again. Funakoshi had always said that she would turn into a monstrous beast if she ever saw the full moon and had her tail grown back. He had removed it when she was a baby and every few months it would grow back and he would remove it again. The routine went on like that.
After Funakoshi was killed, she was always as a young child afraid of becoming the beast and had continued to remove it on her own. This was the first time it had grown back in a few months, and she reached back to grab it. But something stopped her from pulling it out…for the first time it occurred to her that she had not seen the moon at all, let alone the full moon, in at least four years. She felt herself let go, there was no reason to remove it. She wrapped it around her right leg. Besides, it was a heritage she could not refuse. She was Saiyajin, and this small piece of home was somehow satisfying to her. It would stay for now.
Winter sat on a nearby boulder that was formed from the side of the cave into the pond. Her mind was still spinning with images from the nightmare. She found that over the last few years she had had dreams every night, and most of them turned out to be nightmares. It was strange actually, most were filled with clear images that she could recall vividly even when she was awake. They were usually confusing and made little sense, though some she could relate to. Some were memories of better times, when Funakoshi was still alive and when she had not lived alone in this forest of solitude.
As Winter pulled on a black gi and pants, she thought about last night's particular dreams. This past one was incredibly visual, and she could remember all the scenes from it with a startling accuracy even more so than most of the time. There were several people, though they were all shrouded in dark shadows and she could not make out their faces. But among them was one she could see, one that was etched in her memory for life: that murderer Ma Junior, calmly smiling at her mockingly. The shadowed people were protecting him, while she tried every attack she could to get through their barrier. There was also a name that kept echoing in the background: Satan City.
Winter clenched her fist and fired a ki blast at a distant tree. She growled in frustration as she watched it become just a smoldering heap. What was that name supposed to mean? She had studied Funakoshi's books and journals and had never even heard the place mentioned. Besides she didn't want to go back to that world…she was fine here. The only thing she knew was what she had seen those years ago…
She looked down at her reflection in the pool. Her face was set in a scowl and her eyes were sadder than the ones of the human females. Her eyebrows were light and covered by her shaggy white mane that fell down to the middle of her back. She pushed it back and tied it into a long ponytail, so that it would not fall in the way while she trained.
Winter sat for a few moments, looking down at her image staring back up at her. She sighed disdainfully. Funakoshi if you were only still here, I would know what to do, she thought to herself. She growled again. Being sentimental would get her no where, that was all too true. For now, she didn't know this place, let alone where it was, so there was only one thing she could do for now. Train.
She descended from the rock and fired her ki to its maximum level. Something told her that she should practice as hard as possible right now. She wasn't quite sure what made her think such, but it wouldn't hurt anyway. She then leapt forward and began a stream of connected attacks. Go, Winter! Hard hard hard! Focus all your strength! Her heart ran and she put everything she had into the attacks. She stopped for a moment, feeling her body edge almost nervously.
Why was she feeling like this was so desperate?
Bulma looked around the small area she had found in the woods. She had been looking for a good camp site for a few days now, and she could see this place would be perfect. It was open and roomy, set almost in a field area, free from brush and bramble. It was miles from Capsule Corp., and if she had not come in her cloud car it would have taken days to hike there. But it was worth it; this place was literally amazing!
She reached into her pocket and fished out a few small capsules. She threw one at the car, quickly compacting it into the small device. She then activated the others and tossed them one by one to other parts of the area. With a small poof, the whole meadow was crowded with all the camp equipment she had brought. These things were very handy when it came to travelling.
Bulma surveyed the surrounding area. There was so much food that it could have filled both Vegita and Goku comfortably and over ten different means of cooking it. She had remembered to bring the quality designed camping tent, a large inflatable mattress, and sheets and blankets. She was also sure to include a pure water filter, several cooking utensils, spices, herbs, and many dishes of varying sizes. And of course there were her essentials: her new romance novel, stereo, and portable television. "Boy, I hope I brought enough…" she murmured.
It was just barely daybreak when Bulma arrived, and there would be no need to make a fire until dusk. She sat down on a folding lawn chair she had also brought with the tent and calmly breathed in the fresh natural air. She had wanted to get some time on her own for a while now, especially with everyone training for the fight with the Androids in a year. Two years ago, a strange Saiyajin had come from the future and had told them that in three years the Android would come to try to destroy the Earth. He had even turned to Super Saiyajin effortlessly, a feat that even Goku had just mastered. But he never said who he was or why he warned them, only to prepare for the worst.
So now everyone had gone their separate ways to train for the period of time; Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo all went home to train in their area, while Chaozu and Tenshinhan had both gone off into the wilderness again together. Kuririn had also left to train in his own way off in a secluded area of the world with Muten Roshi. Just like the dragonballs, they split to all directions and she hoped she wouldn't need to contact them any time soon…that would be quite the chore.
Only Yamucha had decided to stay within the city to train, although most of the time he was busy going to assorted parties and spending his time trying to impress the local girls. Bulma felt her fist clench at the memory of how many times he had been unable to go out with her because he had to "be somewhere" or he was too hung over to leave his apartment. "Yamucha no baka…" she said softly to herself. "I thought you cared more about me than that…"
It was about the fifth time that he made that excuse that she finally confronted him and, with a not exactly calm tone, told him it was over. She didn't want him around anymore, and, angered, he agreed more than generously. Bulma felt herself let go of a small choked sob, and she felt her rage replace with a gut wrenching sad and regret. I guess what hurt most was that he never changed his mind…I always hoped he might come back again…
It was only after that that Bulma started to take interest in the older man who had decided to train inside Capsule Corp. Vegita had demanded a gravity room built that would operate to three hundred times the Earth's gravity in order to be three times stronger than Goku, or Kakarroto as he always called him. The Briefs had given him his own room and allowed him access to the whole house for whatever he might need. Of course Bulma never minded. He trained day and night, but she always found some way of seeing him or coincidentally bumping into him just in order to come in contact with him.
Bulma felt herself flush from the memory. He had always intrigued her, and finally after all that time he said that he had felt the same way. Well, actually he said he had "chosen her to be his royal mate" and had made it sound like she should feel privileged by his esteemed choice. But she knew somehow through that look in his eyes when he said it and how he embraced her that he meant it in a deeper way.
With that thought Bulma suddenly felt a jab of pain in her stomach. She ran her hand over her bulged stomach softly. He had sure found a big way to express his feelings… Now she had been carrying their half-Saiyajin son in her womb for about eight months. She was expectant in a few weeks and looked forward to having a child of her own. But she hadn't seen Vegita for months, and she started to wonder if he would be this baby's father or if she would be forced to parent it on her own…
Bulma slowly began to arrange everything so that it was easy to get to. By the time she was done it was roughly lunchtime, and she fixed a large meal for herself. She was quite full after two steaks and a cheese sandwich. "Boy if I keep this up, I'm going to have an appetite like Son-kun," she said teasingly to herself.
The climate here was perfect, it was very cool and breezy. She snacked on some chips lazily as she lay on the chair, drinking in the airy peacefulness. She picked up her book and began to read it, absolutely comfortable in this almost world she had found. Her very own paradise…away from work, away from responsibility… She closed her eyes and sighed happily. "This is bliss…" she whispered.
Bulma heard a low growl. She opened her eyes quizzically. No way that can be my stomach after a lunch that big, she thought, a slight nervousness overtaking her. The growl increased to an almost snarl, and she slowly looked behind her chair. A large, black lion was slowly coming out of the area of trees. Its lips were drawn back, revealing two rows of serrated teeth. They were stained red from past hunts that were evidently in his its favor. Its gold eyes pierced straight through Bulma, and it began to slowly advance. Its muscles were coiled tight, looking like they were ready to spring the animal into full killing action.
"Kuso…" Bulma managed in shaky whisper, the fear taking all parts of her.
And, like a black bullet, the lion flew through the air straight at her. All Bulma could do was scream.
Winter suddenly stopped training as the shrill noise filled the entire forest. It was loud, that much was apparent. More than that, though, was that it was definitely human. There was no animal in the forest that could make a noise as loud or tight as that. But how did it get out here? And where exactly was it? She closed her eyes and spread her ki out to all areas beyond the cave. Has to be around here somewhere…there! There were two energies…one was animal, the other was human. And it wasn't far either, in fact it was just through the forest a few blocks.
She took off sprinting through the brush. It would be better to conserve energy than waste it flying such a short distance. Besides, she had yet to go running today and the feeling was good on such a pleasant day. Her muscles sprang with adrenaline and her speed increased. Just a bit closer…she could tell that more from the strength of the screams than the energy sources.
As she come closer, Winter felt herself hesitate. Why was she going after this human? What concern was it what happened to it? She had learned long ago that whether she liked it or not, the course of nature was never fair. You either lived or died, and everything eventually died. She finally looked through the few remaining trees and saw the scene. The human was using a chair of some kind to shield herself from the beast, while it was practically on top of her. She was a young woman, although older than Winter herself. The lion was more than three times her size, and Winter could see it was only a matter of time before the woman lost the fight. Did she deserve the chance to live?
Almost as an answer, her mind suddenly sprang to a new image. In place of the two opponents, Winter saw two new figures. The young woman was Funakoshi, afraid and trying to fend off the overwhelming foe. Instead of the lion, there was Ma Junior, slowly breaching the barrier that separated them. Getting closer…and closer… Funakosama deserved to live! I deserve to live! She shouldn't have to die! She shouldn't have to die! her mind screamed over and over.
Winter threw herself on the lion's back and grappled it to the ground.
Bulma crawled away backwards from the lion and the girl on its back. She thanked everything she had in her that she had been able to manage to get behind the chair when the lion leapt. And already she thanked that person who came out of no where…
The white-haired girl was incredibly strong and fast when compared to the lion. She had managed to force the creature to the ground and put it into an overpowering chokehold. It threw its paws frantically trying to get free, managing to scratch the girl along her back. Bulma could hear her manage a small painful yell as she jumped off the lion, blood dripping from her wounds. She grabbed at her back, trying to keep herself from bleeding more than necessary.
Bulma looked desperately through the equipment to find something, anything, she could use as a weapon to help the woman. Any animal would kill a bloodied victim in no time. She hadn't thought to bring a blaster of any kind, but maybe this would work. She held up a large, industrial-size frying pan. Well, it always worked on even my cooking… she thought fleetingly as she threw it full force at the lion's head.
No sooner had it hit with a large gong that the beast turned on her full speed. Its yellow pupils had taken on a red glow and it growled menacingly. Bulma shielded herself from the sight and crouched on the ground frighteningly, screaming again. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed every prayer she knew that she would live. "Please no! Please no! Please no! Please no!" she cried, sobbing.
But nothing ever came… all there was that could be heard was a gurgling sound and the lion's soft moan. Bulma managed to get up on one knee and looked at the lion. It was quite dead, its back smoking and body strewn on the ground. The girl stood over it, panting heavily and her palm faced down at it. Bulma walked toward her slowly. "Arigatou…thank you…" she stuttered uncertainly.
The girl stood up from her crouched position and dropped her palm. She looked at Bulma silently, her gaze unwavering. She seemed to be trying to understand what she was trying to say. Finally it occurred to Bulma what was wrong. "You don't know how to speak do you?" She started talking slower, like she would to a child. "I-am-Bulma. B-u-l-m-a. What-is-your-name?"
Winter felt herself become irritated. She had just saved this woman's life…did she think she was stupid or something? All she knew was she didn't want to stay around here; she needed to go back to the cave and tend to her wounds. Of course the least the woman could do was let her have the lion…it would provide good food for a while.
She walked over, ignoring the human's inane babbling, and slung the body over her back. She only immediately dropped it again when her body became afire with pain. Winter dropped to one knee and groaned in pain, her mind reeling in shock. Those claws went farther than she thought…
Suddenly Winter felt the woman…what was her name? Bulma was it?…touch her shoulder gently. Pride told her to brush her away and run for the cave, but something else made her stop. "Please, let me help you take care of that. Don't go, please."
Perhaps it was that voice, that kind, caring voice that reminded her so of Funakoshi. Maybe it was the pleading note in it. Winter looked back behind her into the woman's eyes. She felt her own eyes soften and she said, in a voice she hadn't used for years, "Ore Winter da. I am Winter. Dou Itashimashite. You are welcome."
"This may hurt a bit, Winter," Bulma said softly as she examined her back. She gently sprayed the antiseptic liquid onto the open wounds and rubbed the wet cloth over them.
Winter sat, letting the pain seep into her body. She didn't mind it, actually, and the pain did not seem to affect her. She had learned endurance years ago, living alone in the wilderness had demanded it of her. "I can bear it," she responded coolly.
Bulma dabbed at her back gently. The blood was clotting quickly, quicker than a human's would. Winter could feel her cool breath blow on the wounds and she glanced back at her. She had begun wrapping a strip of cloth around her torso, covering the scars. "Luckily they won't need stitches," she confirmed. "They didn't go quite that deep. But you better be careful with them anyway."
"They will heal quickly. I will live," Winter countered, flatly.
Bulma looked at her strangely. "Your wounds are different from many I have seen. And you are different, too… Where are you from? Where are your parents? Your family?"
This woman talks a lot, Winter thought irritably. And perhaps it was best not to tell her everything quite yet… she was still not sure if she could be trusted. And questions were something she wanted to avoid. "This is my home, in the cave a little bit away. I have no family, and I live alone. And if that is all, I will be leaving now."
She stood up and turned away, walking steadily from Bulma, who still crouched on the ground. "Wait! Perhaps you can stay…to eat? I have plenty, and I still must thank you for coming for me."
Winter rolled her eyes. Did this woman ever stop? She wasn't used to such…luxuries. Healing her wounds, cooking for her…of course, it had been a long time since she had had a real meal she didn't have to make herself, and she hesitated. Her stomach grumbled and her iron will gave way to the temptation. "Fine. What do you eat?"
Winter sat back, rubbing her stomach and licking the soy sauce from her fingertips. "So…that is what you people call ramen? It is not wild pig, but I could get used to it…"
Bulma sat back heavily. Winter had eaten as much as she did, if not more! But she was strangely savage…she had mostly eaten with her hands, not worrying about chopsticks or bowls. "Hai, that is my best ramen." She confirmed. She stuck her nose up indignantly. "I hope at least you enjoyed it, most people just don't appreciate my fine cooking!"
Humans are very self-conscious, Winter noted to herself. "It was not bad. But I have not eaten it before. It is a strange food, this ranma…"
"Ramen."
"Whatever."
Bulma pulled up her chair and sat down on it. The dusk was starting to cool the warm temperatures of the day, and she shivered both out and inwardly. Perhaps now would be a good time to start a conversation on who this Winter actually was. "So, Winter…you never quite explained where you came from."
Winter stopped moving and looked over at her, giving her a cold look. This woman, who had welcomed her into her abode even as a stranger, who had fed her, tended to her…could she be trusted? She remained like that for a few minutes, letting her mind think it over. She didn't know how she would react if she told her she was a Saiyajin. Perhaps she could tell her, but not straight out…
She finally pointed to the sky. "Up there."
Bulma cocked her eyebrow. "Nani?"
Winter looked at her again, more irritably. "I came here in a pod as a baby. And Funakosama found me in the woods. I have lived in his cave ever since he died."
"Funakosama? Never heard of him. So…does that mean you are an alien?"
It was now Winter's turn to cock her eyebrow. "An…alien? What is an alien?"
Bulma touched her finger to her nose and thought for a few seconds. "An alien…comes from outer space. From some other planet."
Winter wrinkled her nose. She did not like this explanation. "I am not an alien, Bulma."
"But you said you came in a pod to Earth, right?" she prompted curiously.
Winter finally growled in frustration. There was no other way to explain this…she would just have to show her. She stood up and lowered her pant-leg slightly, uncurling her tail from her right leg and bringing it out. She let it come out fully and swung it back and forth a bit. She finally put it back inside and sat back down again.
Bulma had just sat and stared throughout the whole presentation. Her eyes were glazed and her mouth was gagged open in an almost amazement or fear. Winter leveled her eyes at her angrily and again stood to leave. I knew it…"I'll be going now, Bulma," she said, her voice curled in contempt.
It was then that Bulma decided to snap out of her trance. Her voice was kind and soft, not frightened or angry. "No, Winter, please. I'm sorry. I didn't know…you are a Saiyajin."
Winter felt herself let out a gasp. Nothing had prepared her for this type of reaction. Bulma wasn't afraid of her, she wasn't mad that she didn't tell her…she understood! And it made something click inside her…an almost rekindling of a remembrance. She could feel her hardened soul give way to a rush of new emotion. She understood!
Her voice broke when she spoke again. "You…know what I am?"
Bulma laughed a bit. "More than you know! My son…my…" she stopped for a moment, faltering over the word. "His father…some of my friends. They are Saiyajin, also."
Winter turned back around and sat back down again next to Bulma. "I always thought I was alone. I always thought I would remain alone. Die alone. I never knew there were more like me…"
"You can come back with me, if you like. You can be with them, with people like you. Other Saiyajin."
Winter felt dozens of feelings rush over her at once. They were new to her…or they were old, ones she had abandoned long before. Hope, longing, joy… to be with others of her kind was an overwhelming thought. But she had to remain staid before this human. She nodded once and smiled at her. "I shall return with you Bulma. When you return to your world, I shall come with you."
Bulma held out her hand to Winter and Winter grasped her wrist. Bulma became almost giddy with excitement. "Hai, Winter! They'll be glad to meet you, I know they will!" They let go, and Bulma looked more relaxed. "I know that Saiyajin appetite of yours…how about some desert?"
The night became darker, and soon the stars took their places in the heavens. Winter had built a fire in the middle of the meadow and it burnt brightly in the dark night. Nocturnal animals could be heard rustling through the forest, and Bulma felt a twang of fear in this darkness. The fight still had her shaken and she hoped that with Winter nearby she would be safe out here.
She glanced at the girl, sleeping in a fetal position nearby. She was already in a deep slumber, without so much as a blanket to protect her. Bulma felt reassured just being able to see her, but she could not help but to feel slightly afraid. She knew what strength the girl actually had…she had seen Gohan, Goku, Vegita… all their power. What if a girl Saiyajin was more powerful? She could be a good ally to have in the fight against the Androids… but would they appreciate her for what she was?
Most of all though Bulma hoped they would accept her. She already knew how proud Vegita was, but he would get used to her eventually. Goku was so innocent anyway that he would like meeting her. And Gohan had such teenage curiosity…and that was when a thought struck her. Would Gohan want Winter as a warrior, a companion…or something more? She smiled to herself. All they needed were more half-Saiyajins running around…
Finally the exhaustion of the day overtook Bulma, and she was quickly fast asleep.
Winter awoke quickly. Unlike that morning, she was perfectly dry and had not been sweating. She was quite calm and peaceful, not sprung and tense. She had had a dreamless sleep, for once in ten years. It was amazing to her…she had never slept peacefully for as long as she could remember. But somehow, yes. It was true.
But then she took a second to look where she was. She was still in Bulma's camp, and the fire was still burning. It was still cold like in the night…wait, it was still night. It was not even early morning yet…dusk would not come for many more hours. The stars were still twinkling in their position in the heavens.
Something was wrong.
It suddenly hit her, a loud cry from her right. It came from Bulma's tent. She scrambled forward and tore open the flaps that led inside. Bulma was writhing in pain, moaning and now yelling in pain. Her bluish hair was plastered to her forehead as she sweated profusely. She was crying desperately, "Winter! Winter, please! My water broke and I've…I've gone into labor! Save my baby, please! Winter, please!"