The Black Dragon
Volume I
Star Fazed
Chapter Three – Shelter Her
By: Juki
Slash!
The blade of his glistening sword in the golden sun flashed across her face
while the blade itself skirted across her abdominal area. She cringed at the
closeness, felt the wind drift off of the tip of the blade that could've sank
into her flesh and heard the thin threads of her clothing tear at her front
from his frontal assault. Her foot snapped up into the air, aimed at his navel
and managed to connect, the force of her kick meant to send him back with that
dangerous toy in his hand that he manoeuvre far too fluently than she would've
like him to. He let himself sail back a few feet, uncertain on why she
deliberately asked him to use his sword and he would not aim at anything vital,
even if she had insisted. It was dangerous, playing with knives, and as she
came darting towards him again, he swiped the sword cleaning across close to
her arm, where she shifted away and managed to bring her knee up through his
unorganized stance and ram snugly onto his upper abdomen. He fell forward at
her impact and with a vicious glean in her bewildered eyes, locked her hands
together in a steady fist and with that, sent it down mercilessly onto his back
while moving her knee away and watched with sadistic humour as his body flailed
down onto the ground. Through her hardened and focused mind, she made an
explicit note to never aim for his head at his fragile stage of healing, that
somehow within the spirit of her crave to win, that she still had a human heart
that cared for his well being. Her eyes darted to and fro, searching for him
when the image of his physique ignited into reality above her head with the
sword hoisted up over his head. With the force drawn, he flicked his wrist down
and watched as the 85 centimetre long blade cut air in half and aligned
directly to her head. She looked up once she felt a different range of air flow
to find his blade soaring coldly down at her, she shifted out of the way and
watched as it almost skinned her back. Extending her left hand up at the
extreme close distance, a bright aura ignited into a sphere and rested at the
mid of her palm. As she willed it so, unleashed the beam and watched as it
sprayed in magnificent lighting across his face with the duel force of a punch
that sailed near him. He drew his arms back up and formed an x across his head,
shielding everything that was vital as he moved back from the impact. Another
residing factor of buying time, she turned towards her left side, her back
slightly faced him as she cupped her hands by her hips firmly. Her eyes
glistened in anxiety as she watched her previous attack linger onto him and
continued to push him in a straight diagonal line upwards. "KA…" Jolt of power
surged and coursed through her blood as it concentrated at the focal point of
her hands, nourishing a small beam of power that brewed in potency. "ME…"
Sparked to life as it grew in size, her hands adjusting from its growth as she
turned back all the more to draw enough momentum once she decided to release
it. "HA…" Extreme flow of ki emerged from her body as it generated it like
blood in her heart. Multiplying, the prowess of a SaiyaJin, tapping into her
inner being, unlocked the key that held her power back and watched as the dim
aura within her hands tinted in red at her touch and ignited into a glorious
beam of light. "MEHA!" Pushed her cupped hands outwards in a fluid motion and
watched as it reached its climax close to her neck and aligned to his body, a
chain of energy emerged as it spiralled out of the pits of her palm and sailed
towards him. At his raw will to win as he succumbed to his pride, a loud outcry
burst into the silence that wrung through miles of undisturbed air. Sheathing
his sword to the sheathe slung onto his back, his fingers locked into fists as
he unleashed the raw might of what was truly a warrior's desire. A vivid aura
of gold coursed around his body like a serpent coiling him in its matter. In a
sudden surge of overwhelming power, the strands of his tress flickered as it
then stiffened and lightened in colour to a blinding gold. His eyes rid of
emotion as his mind numbed itself from humanity, shifted from the crystalline
blue of timid waters to a harsh glare of jagged emerald. Losing the expression
of perturb, his left arm slowly raised from its sleeping side as golden flames
entwined with his every touch. A stream of energy unleashed into a ray of gold
that spiralled in likeness towards the red beam sailing upwards, once collided,
suppressed the red beam beneath its power. She sent another wave of her ki in
hopes of shattering the closeness of his oppression, wanting ever so badly to
just once, be able to outlast a Super SaiyaJin in ki battle. He watched as the
futile red beam push at his meagre stray ray that he simply sent out of pity to
humour her and her futile attempt at harming him. All in vain as he drew in his
other hand and in likeness, released another stray ray towards his growing
power and finally defeated her zealous red ki, cutting through it like butter
and straight towards her heart and crushed her beneath its heat and intensity.
Her eyes hollow of pride as she felt the morbid beam shatter her prowess as if
it were a flake on his shoulder that he could brush away with a wave of a hand.
Felt the jagged beam course through her unorganized stance of offence and
straight towards her heart in a convenient manner to break both her spirit and
power. As the beam carried out its course, sending her to eternal hell fire
that was the earth, which she never wanted to touch in a battle, felt its
penetration through her attires and then scorch her tender flesh as it shoved
her into defeat and managed to wallow her in it just for the sake of cruelty.
Her left arm became limp as his power slowly died down to a line, and then
nothing. As if it were never there before but the after shocks of it inside,
ate her entire being away. He did not know the rules…she told herself, trying
to conceal her utter hatred and envy towards him, that he was supposed to stay
in regular state and never touch Super SaiyaJin when he fought her. But she did
not understand, why injustice would dawn upon her in such a manner that as hard
as she may try, she could never even begin to grasp it while others simply step
in and out of it like a door.
She saw him from the ground as the fire burnt and scorched her heart, now
aching there physically and emotionally, she winced at the unbearable feeling.
Watched as his haughty expression came, his hollow eyes empty of pity, the
wicked golden fire that would burn her like a moth to light. The beauty of his
unstoppable power, the sadistic glint in his eyes that indicated his lust to
induce more pain. For a short moment, he allowed himself to do so, to dwell in
something malicious that felt so enticing. As she staggered back to her feet,
he smiled all the more in delight that she would make it so much easier for
him. Sailing across the distance, closing it, his hand came cold across her
face, snapping her abruptly to the left as she flew aimlessly to that
direction. He met her there at the farthest left and managed to catch her by
locking her shoulders with his forearms that sprung around from underneath like
steel clasps. Can smell the subtle fragrance of her and of her blood, the
pungent heat that emitted from her like a small fire furnace, he taunted her by
simply holding her there in such a position and waited for her to break free,
if she can.
The blow to her face, she could've sworn would leave a handprint, stung like a
thousand knives. She draped on him and could feel his eyes burning down onto
her and she knew of his taunt, but she couldn't find the strength to answer to
it. Yet, in her mind, it screamed for her to struggle, to at least attempt…and
as her mind screamed, her heart pumped all the more adrenaline, encouragement. Her
mind churned and thought of some bitter way to gain release, and as a woman and
he a man, the answer came quickly as her left knee raised up slightly with her
heel tucked snugly back, and with a brisk and swift swing, she swung her leg
back as her heel connected painfully at his groin. He released her as he fell
onto the ground in aggravating pain, his golden aura flickered as his mind lost
its sense of will to triumph, as the pain came to him, for he was, the
weakness, like all men, only a man. Her breath heavy and jagged as she moved
her hand up to her heart, looked down at the scorch mark that thankfully didn't
go too low. Staggering back she fell onto her bottom and simply stayed sitting
while she tried to catch her breath. Trembling like a shaken up bird in a cage,
her adrenaline left her weak and vulnerable while he continued to lay on the
ground in a ball.
Trunks winced, he had watched and as he saw Pan lift her knee, he knew it was inevitable. He didn't look away as the heel came up, but only felt sorry for his other and hoped that he would be well. He had learned a long time ago, never taunt her by holding her down in that stance, anything else would've been better, but never a shoulder lock. He hope that didn't sterilize him…he would love to see little Trunks run around in the future…
In
his entire lifetime, he had not known such pain. Tears came as he rolled around
some more and wondered what he had done wrong but remembered quickly that he
had allowed himself to be taken over by his pride. As the pain slowly died
down, he looked up to find her on the ground, cupping her heart while a thin
trail of blood escaped her parted lips. Soon, a girl from a distance came and
soon he could see it was Bra with a tin box. Trunks walked towards them
leisurely while he pat Pan on the head as he passed her and then knelt down
next to him and said, "Man…I hope you learned your lesson today, Mirai Trunks."
Mirai Trunks looked up in confusion.
"One, never EVER hold her in a shoulder lock to taunt her…and second, don't go
Super SaiyaJin…it hurts her more than you know it." Trunks whispered the last
option in a quiet whisper and eyed Pan, who is in the brink of tears as Bra
tried to bandage her up. Her breath heaving all the more as she tried to fight
her tears and pain.
"The thing is," Trunks explained once he sat down next to Mirai Trunks. "She…can't
go Super SaiyaJin…and when you do that, you don't realize just how easy it is
to actually hurt her to the limit that you're not supposed to explore in a spar.
Like that stray blast you just sent before…that could've killed her if it was
stronger…and all the more, would make her feel angrier later when she, once
again, is reminded that she can't…transform."
His heart sank at the news, he didn't know…if had learned earlier… He looked to
her, watched her stagger off with Bra supporting her, coughing, that he had
just wounded his angel.
"But that's okay." Trunks quickly said, "She's not going to be mad at you, I
think she took it out when she kicked you there…" Trunks stood up and extended
his hand and Mirai Trunks took it as he stood back up and limped a few steps
before getting back to walking.
Her
shoulder trembled as Bra peeled off the shirt that matted to the wound and
caused her to wince. "Hold still." Bra whispered tentatively while she used a
pair of scissors and cut the material near the collar and then tore it off
clean near the left part, exposing her back and shoulder. "You did good today!"
Bra said cheerily while she went forward and pushed Pan's bra strap down her
shoulder to find that she didn't even need to do that, for the bra itself was
singed. She dabbed the wound with rubbing alcohol, to burn off some germs to
have her bat the hand away.
"We need to clean it!" Bra insisted and placed the cotton ball on the small
opening on the flesh. Trunks walked by to go to the washroom while Mirai Trunks
stopped by the slightly ajar door that led to the infirmary. Watched as she cringed
and trembled in fear, had he been so blind to realize that…she was a woman? Who
could hurt, who could cry? That he had simply been too rough in battle today
that he had harmed her? He stood silently by the door and watched as Bra tried
to clean the wound without getting hit.
A grunt emitted next to him and he turned quickly to it, embarrassed that he
had been caught spying. Vejita had seen from his training, the battle, and he
knew the guilt that would burn inside that youth's mind. "Don't feel bad for
what you did, boy." Vejita said sternly, "She will only get stronger after each
time she gets hurt. Just think of it as helping her grow."
Mirai Trunks turned back to Pan, seeing her pain, "Then I'd rather not…" He
commented silently.
"Then she would always hate herself then." Vejita stated flatly, "And all
because you refuse to help her."
He did not understand, and his expression portrayed that factor clearly. Vejita
simply walked away, knowing that all he said was enough. Just as he was about
to look at Pan again, Trunks came around and he quickly turned away from it.
"Hungry?" Trunks asked as he threw his arm over Mirai Trunks'
shoulder. "I know I am." He said as he led them around and back to the infirmary
where he walked up to Pan and ruffled her hair after he walked away from Mirai
Trunks who stood farther away.
"You okay?" He asked as he played with her hair, pulling on it. She frowned, "Yes!"
She replied quickly, harshly and then smacked him for touching her hair. As she
did this, he laughed, "I think lunch is ready." He announced, "Why don't you
get some real clothes on, hmmm?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked him sternly as she stood up with her
hands on her hips. "What's wrong with my clothes?"
"Well, aside from the fact that you're basically wearing half a shirt, it's
kind of burnt up…there, you know, if you know what I mean."
Pan looked down at her shirt, indeed it was singed and half of it was gone,
exposing much, but thankfully for her bra. Her face glowed redder than a tomato
as she folded her arms over chest and tried to hold on to the air of
indifference that she always managed to possess. With that, she stomped out,
walked past him, walked past Mirai Trunks and out the door. He felt the urge to
apologize as she haughtily walked past him with her brow twitching in the weirdest
way. But held back when he thought of telling her that when she was alone.
He
played around with his soup with his spoon as he waited for her to come, she
had been gone for quite a while and he was starting to wonder if she was
alright. But just he was tempted to go see, she came looking fine as if nothing
had happened. In a blue sweater and khakis, she took the empty seat across from
him and soon embedded herself within the conversation of others.
"Pan." Trunks called out, and she noticed that he ate much more tamer when he
wasn't famished or after fighting, and she was glad because then, they could actually
talk. She finally said, "Yea?"
"Marron thought up this cool idea."
Upon the mention of her name, she zoned out partly. "Yea?"
"Since you know, how we always used to go to that little cabin by the creek?
She said why don't we spend a weekend there, just us."
She paid attention again, "Oh?", for once, interested at one of Marrons' ideas.
"That sounds neat."
"Yea, I just kind of remembered…it so happens that, uh, it's kind of short
noticed." He laughed nervously, "It's kind of…we're kind of leaving tonight."
Bra looked up from her magazine. "Trunks!" She closed her magazine, "Ugh! Leave
it to you to be irresponsible! What time?"
Trunks scratched his chin, "Uh…I think we're supposed to meet her and Goten
there at…what, five?" He looked at his watch, "Oh look at that!" He laughed, "It's
3:30!" He laughed some more, once he looked back up from his watch, no one was
at the table, all he saw where shadows and then Mirai Trunks walking calmly up
the stairs by the living room.
Pan threw her duffle bag on her bed while she rummaged through the closet for
suitable items to bring. She had always loved that little creek, especially
near the autumn when the leaves turned colours. Breathtaking. As she threw
clothes onto the bed, Mirai Trunks walked in and closed the door. She looked
up, "What's wrong?" She asked once she noticed his solemn expression.
"I-I just want to apologize for what I did today." He said as he stood by the
door with his hands in his coat pocket. "I shouldn't have gone that way…"
She turned back to her closet, "It's okay.", she replied quietly, "Why don't
you go pack now? We'll have to leave soon."
"What do we do there? Where is it?" He asked as he watched her start folding
her clothes. She didn't look up as she stacked them in her duffle bag, "It's a
beautiful cozy cottage that resides in the northern side near the mountains. It's
by this creek, I don't know the name of, but it's surrounded by tall trees and
a little hot spring just about three miles uphill from it. We…usually stay
there in the summer time, lots of things, you could swim…play hide and go seek,
which I don't know why either one of us would do that because you could sense
everyone anyway, just…a lot of things." She crawled under her bed and reached
in for her sneakers. Finding one without the other, she frowned and looked
under her bed.
"Oh, so…I."
"If you want, I'll help you pack once I'm done." Pan said as she stuck her head
under her bed and sneezed from the dust. Finding her sneaker, she grabbed it
and rolled out to find him still there.
"I'd appreciate that." He said as he leaned up against the wall, "I don't know
where to begin…" He looked off to her room, a whole lot more bland than his
own. It was just…a yellow coloured room with a few windows, not nearly as big,
but had a balcony overlooking the chaotic disaster his ship had caused…and to
the backyard where they sparred. The bed pressed in the centre between the
closet and the small window next to the balcony, nothing extraordinary as he
would have interpret after seeing Trunks and Bra's room to have hers just as
elaborate. He noticed her concentration at trying to fit her shoes in the
duffle bag, so he turned towards the open closet. He found mostly empty hangers
and then plain clothes such as denim and khaki, all in dark colours. The
brightest colour he could find was red, anything else would be indigo, black,
grey, brown…and that was rare too. As he examined her clothing all the more to find
not even one skirt in them, she caught his gaze to her closet but pretended not
to notice as she zipped up her green duffle bag. She called him back to
attention once she grabbed his elbow and opened the door. Snapping out of his
reverie, he followed behind her and to his new room that was next to hers. Upon
entering, she looked for his closet to find clothes in them already. She
figured that Bulma had been tentative…and would've stocked it up with clothes.
She asked Trunks to look for some sort of briefcase or a bag, with that task,
he went around. She looked over at his clothes and then thought to herself what
she would like to see him in. Nothing, came to her mind and with a blush,
quickly pushed that thought away. She drew out a black dress shirt, and then
managed to find a pair of bronze coloured pants. She closed her eyes and
pictured him in it, standing by the wall, leaning like he once was in her room,
hair down, the shirt veering open to display his delicious chest with only
three buttons attached on the shirt. Liking that combination, she threw it over
her shoulder and onto the bed. It was a weekend, she suspected that he would
only need two new sets of clothes to change from. Upon looking, she also lend
an eye for sleeping wear, she didn't know what they wore to bed, she was never
in the same bedroom as any of them all her life past 10 o'clock at night.
Pulling out a grey t-shirt and then matching it with khakis, then decided against
it and matched it with denim instead, she pulled it out and threw it over her
head. She turned around to find him sitting on the bed, looking at what she had
picked for him with a suitcase by his leg.
She smiled to him as she folded the clothes up, "This bronze one goes with the
black," She said as she stacked them over each other, "And the grey with the denim."
Folded that and tucked it in his suitcase. "Now," She cleared her throat and
looked away, "You know, the under…clothes, you can pick that out yourself. I'll
just go now and get your toothbrush." She stepped out the door to realize his
bathroom was…in his room. Laughing nervously at her mistake, she walked into
his bathroom and left him to get whatever he wanted to wear underneath and to
bed.
"Are you finished?" She asked as she held onto his toothbrush and toothpaste.
"Yes." He replied as he folded them into his suitcase. "What kind of shoes do
you think I will need?"
"Just something comfortable." She said as she picked up the brush and tossed it
to him. Caught it, he placed it in the suitcase laid out across his bed and
then looked down to the shoes he wore. "Will this do?"
Pan looked at his shoes, "Yea, they're okay. You might want to choose your soap…I
didn't know which one you liked…" She indicated to the vast amount of varieties
he had, the extravagance, and said, "After that, just get some socks and you're
done. Now. Oh wait!" She stopped, "You'll need something to wear to swim in."
He looked over at the closet and walked to it, digging around, has no idea
where to look, she joined him and knelt down behind the heavy jackets. "Here."
She stuck her hand out and pulled something black out. A pair of black swimming
shorts. He took it and thanked her while she rummaged some more, just to feed
her need to see what other alternatives were there. A red Speedo, she laughed
quietly at that and pictured him in it.
"Pan?" He looked at her as she stayed underneath the jackets, "Is there
something more that I would need?"
She composed herself and crawled back out, "Nope, not that I know of." As she
said this, she walked to the door, "Remember, soap and socks." With that,
exited and marched her way back to her room. As 30 minutes passed, Bra rounded
up everyone into the living room. Trunks had changed into something else and
stood eating a banana. "Look at that," He said with mashed up banana in his
mouth, "A quarter to five."
Pan ran down the stairs with the duffle bag slung over her shoulder, slightly
out of breath. "Sorry guys," She said, her hair wet, "I took a shower."
"Okay, have everything?" Bra asked, yes came the reply. They
walked to the door, Mirai Trunks with his suitcase, Pan her duffle bag, Trunks
his backpack and Bra her entire room.
"Uh…I hope you're not bringing all of that…" Trunks said, "I don't know how I
can carry you and that at the same time."
"What do you mean? Aren't we making two trips?" Bra asked.
"No…" Trunks said, "Just bring some clothes…how easy is that? And you mess up
anyway."
Bra looked at her many suitcases, "I'll take, this one." She pushed it forward,
"And this one." To the blue one.
Pan took the blue one while Mirai Trunks the other. Trunks put his backpack on
the front while Bra climbed onto his back. "Whoa." He said, "Aren't we a little
heavy today." He chuckled and walked out the door, ducking beneath the
doorframe. As they stepped outside, Trunks ignited into a dim aura as he
levitated up into the sky in his red jacket and khakis. Mirai Trunks, who had changed
out of his dirty clothes and into a white shirt and black pants with his
jacket, he levitated as well with Pan next to him. As the evening came, vapour
trails shot through and across the sky heading northeast with little hesitation
or worries…