TITLE: Ancient Power
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Dragon Ball Z. I only own my specific story lines, not that thought up by Akira Toriama.
Chapter 3
Bulma pulled into the parking lot of one of the more exclusive hospitals in Western Capital. Once the car was parked, the two walked into the lobby. "We are looking for Yukari Aiden. Is she in this hospital?" the woman inquired. Exhasburation must've shown in her voice, for the others in the waiting room looked up in shock.
The receptionist looked up. "Yes, she is. On the 3rd floor, in room 119. But you must be quick. Visiting hours are over at five, and she in in critical condition." Sadly, the woman looked at the girl at Bulma's side. There was something in her gaze that made the girl's heart constrict with fear.
They walked to the elevator, then through the halls that smelt of bleach and into her room. "Miura... but how?" Yukari's eyes widened in shock when her gaze came to rest on her childhood friend. "Bulma! I haven't seen you since I was eleven!" Shock was evident in her voice, weak as it was. Yukari sounded as though she had been trying to speak to someone through gale force winds.
"Hello, Yukari. Why didn't you tell me that you became a mother?"
"I lost track of you. And by the way, that young boy at the Cell Games looked very similar to you. Who was he?" Yukari inquired. Curiosity was evident on her face as she awaited the answer.
"Well, I really am not at liberty to say anything. It could change his home. But, I am a mother now, too. I have a son named Trunks and a daughter named Bra." Bulma replied. Her tone warmed with maternal pride as she spoke of her children.
"Miura-chan, what's on your mind?" her mother inquired, having noticed the far-seeing gaze in her eyes.
The girl walked over to her mother and placed the book on her lap. She opened it to the page that had first caught her interest. "Is he my father?" she inquired. Her mother drew a startled gasp and tears welled up in her eyes. It had been years, but the pain was still as sharp as it had been the second she knew he had died.
"Hai, he is." Yukari let out a sigh, one that wavered with sorrow. "I was hoping you wouldn't find this until you were older." Her blue eyes became fixed upon her child's.
"Kaasan, I'm sixteen! I think that I can handle more about him than what you've told me!"
Her mother sighed irritably. "You aren't ready for it. Trust me, I did this to protect you." Her tone changed from irritation to a soft loving one. She then turned to her childhood friend. "Could you look after Miura for me? With everything that's going on, I don't want her to be alone."
"Sure, I'll watch her. But I need to know where your house is. That way, we can get the rest of her clothes." Bulma replied, getting out a piece of paper and a pen. Her friend chuckled. Bulma was almost always prepared to write something down.
"It's three blocks from the old park. The brick house from the turn of the century." she explained. They left the room so Yukari could rest. Her daughter had a strange feeling, deep within, that her mother would never leave the hospital. Even though her voice sounded stronger by the end of their visit, she could've sworn her mother was distracted by the call of one who'd already passed on.
Once the car pulled into the driveway, Miura pulled out her key. She got to the door and unlocked it, then went to her room to pack her cloths. Bulma looked at the house in wonder. It was beautiful, inside and out. Much like her friend's personality. "I'm ready, Bulma-san." Miura's statement pulled the woman out of musing at the gorgeous decor of the home.
"Miura, you can call me Bulma. You are the daughter of my friend." she declared. Then her gaze became more curious. "Why doesn't your mother want you to know more about your father?" Well, she just couldn't stop herself. As a genius, she was curious always. And this constant thirst for knowledge sometimes led her to ask unexpected and unwanted questions.
"When I was three, there was a horrible wreck that we were in. My kaasan got paralyzed from the waist down then. My father and I were found outside the car, both of our seatbelts shredded. Tousan was horribly burnt, all over his back, but I was just fine. At least, that's what little my kaasan has told me." While the girl had narrarated this, they had stowed her luggage in the trunk of the car. They were unaware of the danger that was coming from the small forest behind the grand place.
The primal screech of a puma crashed against them. "Oh no! The cat that escaped the zoo!" Bulma cried. It showed itself. "Rabies! Miura, get away from it!" Panic laced her tone, for she knew what would happen if they were caught.
"I'm trying. No, don't shout again. You'll hurt his ears, and he'll charge." The puma leapt straight at the girl. If cats could have expressions, that one would have been shock, for Miura transformed right before his very eyes. Now, as a white Bengal Tiger, she crouched, snarling and claws unsheathed. The cat's fur was bristling in anger mixed with fear. How dare a cat invade her territory! And yet, the unmistakable scent of rabies filled the air. A scent that all creatures feared, for it spoke of long, lingering and miserable death.
The cougar leapt again, but then gave off a trickling cough. Its throat had been slashed open and was bleeding freely. Miura transformed back then leapt into the car. They took of, nearly breaking the speed limit as they left.
"The transformation that you just pulled..." Bulma trailed off.
"That's one of the secrets of our family. And one of the reasons why Kaasan stopped contacting you. She was the 19th generation from the last time this had happened, but she too could transform. Kaasan just didn't want to end up acting like you were part of her territory. She cared for you too much. And before you ask, that was the first time I could control it." Her voice was soft, tone low. She had been badly frightened by the rabid cat.
After the car pulled into the drive, they unloaded it. The room that she was taken to didn't need much work. After she set up her belongings, there was a knock on her door. "It's open." she called.
Trunks came into the room bearing a concerned expression. "Miura, there is something I should tell you about my father. Since he knows that you are half saiya-jin, he won't treat you like you'll break at a slap. He's very temperamental, and can be violent. Just be careful." he explained.
"Trunks, get down here!" Vegeta roared.
"Uh oh. Here we go again." the boy moaned. He walked down to where is father was standing. "Hai, Dad?"
"Come with me." he commanded.
Miura watched as he was drug along by his father. "What's going on?"
"Oh, Vegeta is just going to spar with Trunks again. You might want to learn how to operate some of the monitoring equipment, as I can't do that all the time."
The girl agreed, and learned quickly. Her quick pace with the technology surprised Bulma. Miura was a natural when it came to learning something new. "What, Bulma? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Nothing, Miura. It's just that...the only other person that I've seen learn controls and technology that fast is Vegeta."
Miura laughed, her blue eyes sparkling happily. "I guess you could say it runs in the family. My mother is the same way." The happy light in her eyes faded quickly as the same feeling she'd had before swept over her. "I think I need to sit down." She sank into the chair next to the external control panel, holding a hand to her forehead. The call from the one who'd passed on was not quite as strong and she felt it was encouraging her mother to remain. Yet, someone wanted to get rid of Yukari. Why? What had her mother done to deserve death?
Finally, the sensations faded away, allowing her to pay attention to what needed it. Even though the technology that had given birth to the gravity chamber wasn't new, there was still a chance for the latest, cutting edge use of it to cause it to malfunction. There has to be some way to stabilize it so that constant external monitering won't be needed. And I have a bit of an idea...
AUTHOR: Echo the Nymph
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Dragon Ball Z. I only own my specific story lines, not that thought up by Akira Toriama.
Chapter 3
Bulma pulled into the parking lot of one of the more exclusive hospitals in Western Capital. Once the car was parked, the two walked into the lobby. "We are looking for Yukari Aiden. Is she in this hospital?" the woman inquired. Exhasburation must've shown in her voice, for the others in the waiting room looked up in shock.
The receptionist looked up. "Yes, she is. On the 3rd floor, in room 119. But you must be quick. Visiting hours are over at five, and she in in critical condition." Sadly, the woman looked at the girl at Bulma's side. There was something in her gaze that made the girl's heart constrict with fear.
They walked to the elevator, then through the halls that smelt of bleach and into her room. "Miura... but how?" Yukari's eyes widened in shock when her gaze came to rest on her childhood friend. "Bulma! I haven't seen you since I was eleven!" Shock was evident in her voice, weak as it was. Yukari sounded as though she had been trying to speak to someone through gale force winds.
"Hello, Yukari. Why didn't you tell me that you became a mother?"
"I lost track of you. And by the way, that young boy at the Cell Games looked very similar to you. Who was he?" Yukari inquired. Curiosity was evident on her face as she awaited the answer.
"Well, I really am not at liberty to say anything. It could change his home. But, I am a mother now, too. I have a son named Trunks and a daughter named Bra." Bulma replied. Her tone warmed with maternal pride as she spoke of her children.
"Miura-chan, what's on your mind?" her mother inquired, having noticed the far-seeing gaze in her eyes.
The girl walked over to her mother and placed the book on her lap. She opened it to the page that had first caught her interest. "Is he my father?" she inquired. Her mother drew a startled gasp and tears welled up in her eyes. It had been years, but the pain was still as sharp as it had been the second she knew he had died.
"Hai, he is." Yukari let out a sigh, one that wavered with sorrow. "I was hoping you wouldn't find this until you were older." Her blue eyes became fixed upon her child's.
"Kaasan, I'm sixteen! I think that I can handle more about him than what you've told me!"
Her mother sighed irritably. "You aren't ready for it. Trust me, I did this to protect you." Her tone changed from irritation to a soft loving one. She then turned to her childhood friend. "Could you look after Miura for me? With everything that's going on, I don't want her to be alone."
"Sure, I'll watch her. But I need to know where your house is. That way, we can get the rest of her clothes." Bulma replied, getting out a piece of paper and a pen. Her friend chuckled. Bulma was almost always prepared to write something down.
"It's three blocks from the old park. The brick house from the turn of the century." she explained. They left the room so Yukari could rest. Her daughter had a strange feeling, deep within, that her mother would never leave the hospital. Even though her voice sounded stronger by the end of their visit, she could've sworn her mother was distracted by the call of one who'd already passed on.
Once the car pulled into the driveway, Miura pulled out her key. She got to the door and unlocked it, then went to her room to pack her cloths. Bulma looked at the house in wonder. It was beautiful, inside and out. Much like her friend's personality. "I'm ready, Bulma-san." Miura's statement pulled the woman out of musing at the gorgeous decor of the home.
"Miura, you can call me Bulma. You are the daughter of my friend." she declared. Then her gaze became more curious. "Why doesn't your mother want you to know more about your father?" Well, she just couldn't stop herself. As a genius, she was curious always. And this constant thirst for knowledge sometimes led her to ask unexpected and unwanted questions.
"When I was three, there was a horrible wreck that we were in. My kaasan got paralyzed from the waist down then. My father and I were found outside the car, both of our seatbelts shredded. Tousan was horribly burnt, all over his back, but I was just fine. At least, that's what little my kaasan has told me." While the girl had narrarated this, they had stowed her luggage in the trunk of the car. They were unaware of the danger that was coming from the small forest behind the grand place.
The primal screech of a puma crashed against them. "Oh no! The cat that escaped the zoo!" Bulma cried. It showed itself. "Rabies! Miura, get away from it!" Panic laced her tone, for she knew what would happen if they were caught.
"I'm trying. No, don't shout again. You'll hurt his ears, and he'll charge." The puma leapt straight at the girl. If cats could have expressions, that one would have been shock, for Miura transformed right before his very eyes. Now, as a white Bengal Tiger, she crouched, snarling and claws unsheathed. The cat's fur was bristling in anger mixed with fear. How dare a cat invade her territory! And yet, the unmistakable scent of rabies filled the air. A scent that all creatures feared, for it spoke of long, lingering and miserable death.
The cougar leapt again, but then gave off a trickling cough. Its throat had been slashed open and was bleeding freely. Miura transformed back then leapt into the car. They took of, nearly breaking the speed limit as they left.
"The transformation that you just pulled..." Bulma trailed off.
"That's one of the secrets of our family. And one of the reasons why Kaasan stopped contacting you. She was the 19th generation from the last time this had happened, but she too could transform. Kaasan just didn't want to end up acting like you were part of her territory. She cared for you too much. And before you ask, that was the first time I could control it." Her voice was soft, tone low. She had been badly frightened by the rabid cat.
After the car pulled into the drive, they unloaded it. The room that she was taken to didn't need much work. After she set up her belongings, there was a knock on her door. "It's open." she called.
Trunks came into the room bearing a concerned expression. "Miura, there is something I should tell you about my father. Since he knows that you are half saiya-jin, he won't treat you like you'll break at a slap. He's very temperamental, and can be violent. Just be careful." he explained.
"Trunks, get down here!" Vegeta roared.
"Uh oh. Here we go again." the boy moaned. He walked down to where is father was standing. "Hai, Dad?"
"Come with me." he commanded.
Miura watched as he was drug along by his father. "What's going on?"
"Oh, Vegeta is just going to spar with Trunks again. You might want to learn how to operate some of the monitoring equipment, as I can't do that all the time."
The girl agreed, and learned quickly. Her quick pace with the technology surprised Bulma. Miura was a natural when it came to learning something new. "What, Bulma? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Nothing, Miura. It's just that...the only other person that I've seen learn controls and technology that fast is Vegeta."
Miura laughed, her blue eyes sparkling happily. "I guess you could say it runs in the family. My mother is the same way." The happy light in her eyes faded quickly as the same feeling she'd had before swept over her. "I think I need to sit down." She sank into the chair next to the external control panel, holding a hand to her forehead. The call from the one who'd passed on was not quite as strong and she felt it was encouraging her mother to remain. Yet, someone wanted to get rid of Yukari. Why? What had her mother done to deserve death?
Finally, the sensations faded away, allowing her to pay attention to what needed it. Even though the technology that had given birth to the gravity chamber wasn't new, there was still a chance for the latest, cutting edge use of it to cause it to malfunction. There has to be some way to stabilize it so that constant external monitering won't be needed. And I have a bit of an idea...