Chapter 5
Three days after the "incident " with Juuhachi in the lab, things went back to normal. There training was stepped up a notch because their departure time was drawing nearer and nearer. They now woke up at 5 a.m. and started training at 6. They took a 15 minute break at noon for lunch, then it was back to the gravity room until 11 p.m.
OK, Miura," Vegeta insrtructed, the day before their departure, 'Show me what you've got."
The indigo-haired girl rushed, then disappeared in front of him. He spun, expecting an attack from behind, but Miura appeared right where she had fazed out and kneed him in the back. Spinning around, he caught her leg and pushed her away. She spun in midair, using her grounded leg to kick the prince in the side. Falling back, Vegeta kicked at her feet when she landed and she tripped, falling on her back. He dove to attack her face, but Miura flipped up, causing his hand to imbed itself in the floor of the Gravity Room.
"Not bad," he remarked smugly. Miura stood off to the side, breathing heavily and wiping the sweat from her eyes. "But you forgot one thing."
"What's that?"
He moved so quickly to attack her that she couln't even feel his ki. She felt, however, the sharp blow to the small of her back and she fell forward. Catching herself, she whirled around to see Trunks standing behind her.
"The androids always attack in pairs," Vegeta said from the side, throwing a punch at her. She dodged it, and he hit Trunks.
"Damnit, Dad!" he yelled, "Watch what you-" he was cut off by Miura bringing her leg behind his knees and tripping him. Vegeta tried to punch her, but she caught his fist.
"You must be able to do more than defensive manuverous when you're fighting," he said, forcing his fist closer towards her.
"Well, two against one is barely fair!" she growled, focusing on Vegetat's hand. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in her calf, and Miura fell.
"Congratulations," Trunks said, straightening up after he had kicked her. "You just died."
"But I lasted a whole five minutes longer this time!" she whined.
"Take five and tell Montana to get in here," Vegeta commanded. Miura drug herself out of the room and plopped down in front of the viewing monitor with Montana.
Montana sat as the screen, watching the training session. Lately, ever since she had started this project, she had been extremely lonely. Not that everyone was mean to her, just the opposite. Everyone, especially Miura, was so incredibly nice to her. That's why she was so lonely. Everyone had someone here. Bulma had Vegeta, as grumpy as he was, to occupy her time. And it looked like there was some sort of connection forming between Miura and Trunks. She pouted as she watched the training session end and Miura walk out, covered in sweat. The younger girl sat down by the dejected Montana and punched her lightly on the arm.
"You're up."
Figuring that the indigo-haired girl was clueless as to her situation, she decided that she would fill her in.
"Hey, lookit this!" Montana pointed at the screen, where a replay of the fight was being played.
"What?"
"That." She was pointing at Trunks, who was staring intently at her after she had tripped him.
"So."
Montana smiled coyly and sang in a taunting voice.
"Tru-unks likes you!"
Miura looked at her partner and furrowed her eyebrows.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, come on!" she cried, "You haven't noticed how he's always staring at you? And how it was him who volunteered to train you. I'm tellin' ya girl, he's got it bad."
Montana got up from her seat and proceeded to the Gravity Room. Over her shoulder she said,
"Trust me. I know about these things," then entered the room to undergo her training. Miura watched her go, then turned back to the monitor to study the fight with a confused expression on her face. Everyone has gone insane today, she thought.
***Later That Night***
Miura, after taking a long, hot shower, dressed in her pajamas and went downstairs to eat dinner. When she entered the kitchen, much to her suprise, it was empty. She shrugged, then made herself a sandwich and a glass of milk and sat at the table.
"Ah, silence," she muttered, completely enjoying the quietness of solitude. Just then, she heard two pairs of feet clattering down the steps.
"Trunks!" Goten cried, upon entering the kitchen, "Watch were you're going!" His purple-haired companion ran right into him when he saw Miura.
"I was watching," he muttered. Miura sighed. So much for silence, she thought.
"Hey, guys," she greeted, waving a hand. The two Saiya-jin guys waved back, and she caught Trunks' eye.
"Can I talk to you?" she mouthed when Goten's back was turned towards the refrigerator. He nodded, then said with an elaborate yawn,
"Ya know, its pretty late. I think I'm gonna turn in for the night." He went upstairs and motioned for her to follow. She got up and made some lame excuse to Goten for leaving, then went after him.
"What?" he asked, once safely in her room, "Is there something wrong?"
"No," she answered, "I just wanted to thank you before I left." She sat on her bed sadly. She had made so many friends, and now she had to leave them.
"Thank me? For what?"
"For training me; getting me ready for the alternate timeline. For everything."
Trunks sat with her on the bed, and took her hand.
"You're welcome."
His reaction wasn't what she had expected. Maybe Montana was right, she thought with a small grin. Well, I am a scientist, she thought, I think I'll conduct an experiment.
"I also wanted to thank you," she whispered, edging closer to him, "For letting me stay in your home. Making me feel...welcome."
"No problem," he replied smoothly. He too, was closing the distance between them.
"You know what would make me feel even more welcome?" Miura's hand was on his leg now, and she started to get a tingly sensation in her fingertips. I should terminate this experiment now, she thought. But when she heard Trunks' answer, she knew that she was in too deep.
"Yeah, I think I do."
He reached out and gently pulled her to him. Miura gasped slightly, then relaxed when he ran his hand lightly over her cheek.
"You'd better come back tommorow."
"Why's that?"
Trunks looked at the indigo-haired girl in his arms and grinned shyly. He wasn't sure just what he was feeling, but uf it was what his father had told him earlier that day, then he should tell her before she left. She had a right to know.
"Because I think we've bonded over the past months, and it would kill us to be apart.
"What do you mean, bonded?"
Trunks sighed. He kept forgetting that she wasn't versed in Saiya-jin physiology. "When a Saiya-jin meets the one they're supposed to spend their life with, they feel this..." he paused, trying to think of an appropriate word to describe the feeling.
"Love?" Miura suggested.
"Yes, but its more than that. Sometimes, you can bond without even knowing it, and other times, it kills you because the other person doesn't reciprocate the feelings."
"Oh. It sounds painful."
Trunks nodded. "It can be. But when the one you bond with returns your feelings, its incredible."
Miura whispered softly to him. "If its anything like what I'm feeling now, then I don't want this to end."
Before they could say any more, Trunks kissd her softly.
***
"I can't believe Juuhachi talked me into doing this," Montana murmured, skimming the tree tops. She held the virus' container in both hands, careful not to drop it. Finally, she it, saw what she was looking for.
She landed in front of small wooden cabin and approached the door. As she raised her hand to knock, it swung open. Montana's downcast gaze slowly paned up from a pair of beat up sneakers to torn jeans. She next beheld a black T-shirt overtop a white long sleeved one. Then, shoulder-length black hair and the iciest pair of blue eyes she had ever seen.
"Can I help you?"
"A cold voice to match those eyes," she thought. Once she regained her wits, she stuttered out,
"Um...hi. My name is Montana, and your sister sent me here to give you this. She said you might want it."
Holding out the box, Montana fidgeted under the man's intense stare.
"What is it?" he asked, taking the container from her and examining it.
"A virus," she replied, stepping inside. "A computer virus that will wipe out your system and render you completely human."
Juunana quickly set the box on an entable and sank down in a chair. "Ya could've told me." He crossed his arms and glared at Montana, who blushed furiously.
"How do you know it works?"
"It was accidentally absorbed into Juuhachi's system." Seeing the concern on the young man's face she quickly added, "She's fine, just a little tired. That's why she sent me."
They sat in silence until Juunana spoke.
"How long do I have to decide?"
Montana looked up from her folded hands into his piercing eyes. "Until tomorrow morning. That's when my partner and I are leaving."
"Leaving?"
The Saiya-jin filled the android in on their plan to infect the Jinzounengen in the alternate timeline. He sat then, thinking over his decision; his elbows on his knees and resting his chin against his hands, staring at the container.
"I'll be outside. Come get me when you've made your decision." Montana stepped out and sat on the porch steps to give him some privacy.
Two hours later, Juunana made his decision. He got up from his chair went to the door to tell Montana, but halted at the entrance when he heard her singing.
*Here now, gender nectar
Flowing through the grain of gold
Tripping at your door*
Juunana leaned on the door frame and closed his eyes. The song had a sweet, simple melody, like a lullaby, and it was enthralling him.
*Is that you
Tripping at your door
And when the woman lies
You don't believe her*
Montana was bored. For a while, she shadow sparred, then tried meditating. Finally, she gave up and began to sing. Singing was her only means of escape; ever since she was little, she would sing to transport herself out of an abusive household and into a world filled with love and happiness.
This whole thing had her stressed. She needed to get away, to do something daring. And remembering her past only made things worse. She began to cry, the tears sliding down her face as she sang the sensuos lyrics.
*Rolling and unrolling
Coiling emerging, running free
Running through the underworld
In search of your room.*
Juunana cleared his throat to announce his presence. Montana jumped and whirled around.
"I've decided."
The Saiya-jin woman wiped the tears from her face as she stood and asked,
"Yes?"
"Let's do this."
As they turned to go into the house, Juunana thought,
"Maybe with this virus, I could learn to feel how she does. To love. To be loved. If I could have just an inkling of the emotion she just sang with, I'd be happy."
They entered the living room, and Montana lifted the vial that held the virus. She also lifted the needle that was required to inject herself to complete the transfer of the virus. She winced as she felt the needle peirce her skin, then felt the silvery liquid flow swiftly through her bloodstream.
"Ready?"
He nodded, his face revealing the nervousness he felt. She reached out to touch his shoulder but he stopped her, grabbing hold of her hand. Very slowly, even as the virus enveloped him, he brought her hand to his cheek. Neither dared to break eye contact, lest the spell that had seemingly cast itself on them break.
Suddenly, Juunana broke the trance by throwing his head back and screaming in pain. His eyes closed, and he suffered in silence after that first yell. Collapsing on the floor, he lost consciousness. Montana hurried to pick him up, swearing.
"Dammit, Miura! You were supposed to fix this motherless thing"
After she had him in her arms, she laid him on the couch, where she pulled up a chair to sit by him. Holding his cold hand, she began to sing again, to calm herself, as well as him down.
* Sure, that star can twinkle
And you're watching it do
Boy so hard, boy so hard
But I know a girl twice as hard
And I'm sure, said I'm sure
She's watching it to, said
No matter what tie she's got in her white dresser tied
I know she's watching that star
Gonna twinkle, Gonna twinkle
And last time I knew
She worked at an abbey
In Iona
She said she killed a man T
I gotta stay hidden in this abbey
But I can see that star
When she twinkles and she twinkles
And I sure can, and that means
I sure can, and that means
I sure can
Juunana stirred in his sleep, thrashing and murmuring.
"No! Please stop! No!"
He sat upright quickly, looking around disoriented, His eyes finally rested on Montana, who smiled softly.
"How do you feel?"
"Like I've been hit by a Mac truck."
Although his answer was lighthearted, a shadow had cast itself over the android's face.
"What's wrong, Juu-shichi?"
He looked away from her as a lone tear slid down his face.
"All the things I've done in the past. The evil things. I never imagined there was a feeling so strong..." His gaze clouded over.
"It's called remorse," Montana said soothingly. "We all feel it."
She put her hand on his cheek and turned his face towards hers. "The only way to get over it is to let it out."
"Why should you care?" he shot back bitterly, turning his back on her. "How could you be near a horrible being like me? You're so compassionate, and I'm a murderer!"
The blue-haired girl put her hand on his turned back and whispered,
"You might be a murderer, but I turn into a giant hairy were monkey when the moon is full. None of us is perfect. Its all part of being human, to speak."
Juunana gave a short, harsh laugh, but turned around to face her.
"You know, if I'd have known being human was this painful, I would have stayed an android."
"It's not all pain," Montana explained, "There are hundreds of emotions that aren't bad. Happiness. Amusement. Joy. Love. These are all wonderful feelings, but to enjoy them, you have to deal with the bad as well."
She stood from her chair and turned to go when she saw that he only desired to wallow in his own self pity..
"Wait!" Juunana cried, reaching out for her as he realized she was leaving.
"Yes?" she turned, wondering what he could want. He looked away from her nervously and dropped his hand in his lap.
"Don't go."
Montana once again took her seat beside him.
"I don't think I could stand being alone right now."
She put an arm comfortingly around his shoulders and he laid his head on her shoulder. She gently ran her hand over his hair, trying to soothe him, Feeling the silent sobs rack his body, she too, began to cry in sympathy for the distressed man.
Juunana looked up sharply when he heard her whimper. Shocked, he raised a hand and brushed away her tears.
"No. Not for me."
"Oh, Juu-shichi!" she spontaneously hugged him for his small act of kindness. Not sure what to do, Juunana copied what he had seen in all those B movies he saw so often on cable. He kissed her.