What Gain?
What gain is a friend?
To be not alone?
To have support to lend?
No, no gain it can be!
What foolish exchange,
For the pain I can see.
The laughter, insane,
The happiness, crazy.
But still I wonder,
what
is a friend's gain?
* * * * * * * * * * *
SHATTERING OF A BROKEN SOUL
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Whispers….
Psst…
Is
the plan a go?
I'm
ready.
I'm
ready!
Prepare
for infiltration.
Infiltration
assured!
Let's
go!
Right!
Whispers…. Among the bushes… a group moves stealthily
toward the objection…
* * * * * * * * * * *
Bejita
stared at the green blobs in the scientific tubular containers.
"What are they?" he asked in bewilderment.
"These are called 'Saibamen', or 'Cultivars'… whichever
you prefer," replied the chemical engineer. "Or at least they will be."
"Oh, yeah…" Bejita stated, acting as if he already knew.
"Why are they in there?"
"The tanks? Well, they were damaged on a recent mission…
so they're undergoing a reconstruction process. Pretty soon, all that green goo
will become nothing more than a tiny seed…" the engineer explained, using
gestures and hand motions to make it extravagant. "Then, you'll be able to
plant it in the soil. And what springs forth will be little green men with
high-pitched shrieks!"
"Oh."
Bejita
felt a shiver pass. Little green men? Ew! That sounded almost as bad as
the hamsters! Well… almost…
* * * * * * * * * * *
King Vegita scowled at the child standing timidly before
him. He studied him with much scrutiny.
"Well, sire?" inquired a court member.
"I suppose he'll have to do…? The King replied in a
deflated manner.
The Elite child shifted uncomfortably under the icy,
scrutinizing glare of the King. The rumors were true… he was scary…. The
trembling child wondered if he would be deemed 'acceptable'… he wondered if
he'd get to meet the prince. The King looked quite skeptical, and that
generally wasn't a good sign…
"Yes. He'll do. He had adequate power, adequate form… He may
become the Prince's training partner," the King announced.
::So,:: the youngster thought. ::That is what they want
with me… I am to be the Prince's training partner…:: He nervously shifted his weight from his right foot to his
left. ::I wonder what the Prince will
be like…:: he thought.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Bejita trotted down the hall. His father had requested his presence in the courtroom. He hoped he wasn't getting punished. His father's 'punishment' standards kept getting stricter and stricter… and so did his mood! He was easily angered, even by the slightest error. It was very frustrating!
The young Prince neared the entranceway. He felt a nauseous nervousness, but still held his head high in a proud fashion.
'CREEAK' the doors sounded as the guards opened them.
'Tap. tap. tap.' was the sound Bejita's boots made on
the smooth, marble floor.
"Yes?" Bejita asked with fake confidence.
"Ouji," the King acknowledged in a deep, cold voice. "You
have been assigned a training partner."
"T-training partner!?" Bejita exclaimed in question.
The King nodded and rose
gracefully from his throne, cape swooshing as he stood. His hand flew to the
side and beckoned to a shadowed area near the royal draperies. A child stepped
forth from those swirling, black shadows… He was two or three inches taller
than Bejita. He possessed the traditional dark, Saiyajin eyes, but they did not
seem as malicious as the ones of others. His hair was very unorganized, as was
the case with many people. It did not stick straight up, as Bejita's did.
Instead, it stuck straight to the right. It looked as though someone had combed
it over; it was very bizarre. The child stood tensely, and shot something of a
shy grin.
Why is he smiling in such a way? What is wrong with
him? Bejita wondered. Unknowingly, the little prince began to wring his
hands. He had never been around anyone even remotely similar to
him in age. He felt a strange sense of nervousness rush in.
"Introductions, please," the King commanded in a serious
tone.
"Hn," the mysterious 'training partner' managed to
murmur.
"Yes, sir" Bejita replied with confidence.
As Bejita no Ouji stood before
the other, he noticed that the other was quite a bit taller… In fact, he had a
three to four inch height advantage. Oh, well… palace employees often remarked
about Bejita's size anyway… They called him 'shrimp'. Although he didn't quite
understand the odd comparison between him and the food, he had a slight idea
that it meant 'small'. :: Someday, I'll grow really-really-really tall and
surprise everybody! Hmph!:: the little prince vowed to himself.
"Greetings from the Royal House," Bejita spoke blankly. "I
express welcome from Bejita no Ouji, Crown Prince and Official Heir to the
throne of Vegetasei." He gave a graceful bow to finish. ::Perfect!:: he
thought. ::I nailed that intro! Perfect accentuation and everything! Let's see
if that kid can match that!::
The new training partner
trembled. ::So he does look like the King… and he sounds cruel too. Will
he beat me up, I wonder? He looks small for a Saiyajin… I wonder if we can be
friends? I wonder how old he is? *Teehee* He's really short. 'Cept for the hair
that is…… Oh, yeah. Get real! He'll probably hate me if he's at all like I've
heard!:: the child thought. Again, the child trembled. His introductions were
not so elegant; not so rehearsed… What kind of sad impression might he possibly
make? ::Here goes nothing!::
"Hello, Bejita-sama. I am a child born of Elite Service.
My name is Usankusai. I travel here from the far East." ::'gulp' At least I
said it without faltering… uh-oh… judgment hour…'gulp'::
:: Usankusai? Oo-sahn-koo-sii? That doesn't sound
Saiyajin…:: Bejita thought. "Pleased to make your acquaintance," he replied,
putting his hand forward.
The other child, now known as Usankusai, timidly stuck
his hand forward for a handshake.
'grip'
Usankusai fidgeted slightly under the prince's grasp. ::
ugh! A- little –too –tight!:: he thought.
Usankusai almost sighed with relief as the grip relaxed
and the handshake ended. ::I think he was cutting off my circulation! He's got
a really firm grip! Sheesh!::
The King smirked in satisfaction. "Ah, very good. Very good."
His eyes scanned the small 'audience' for a suitable guard to watch the
children.
There were quiet murmurs along the crowd as people tried
to 'shrink' down so they wouldn't get picked. Some people ducked down. A
certain ridiculous sight stuck out so obviously that it was laughable! A very
large warrior was desperately trying to hide behind a petite warrior! The King
was feeling mean, so he decided to choose the cowardly giant.
"Nappa," the King called. "Come forward."
::Doh!:: Nappa thought. ::I hate kids! I hate em'!
Especially that Ouji brat! Nooo!:: He walked forward with a sour, disappointed
look on his face.
"Take them to training room 186-A. You may leave them
there to train alone, if you please. But, take caution to check upon them frequently,"
the ruler instructed.
Nappa
sagged with the relief that he wouldn't have to remain with the 'kiddies' full
time. He didn't mind other children too much, but the prince—the Prince,
he could hardly tolerate! Nappa turned to exit the room in a dignified manner.
When he reached the doorway, he noticed that the children were not following.
He glanced back only to find the two engaged in, what looked like, a staring
contest. Bejita bore a menacing stare, almost challenging. It was almost as if
he was daring the other kid to fight back. The other child—what was it
again,… oosahnkoosai?—seemed entranced. He had a blank look. He seemed
sheepish, almost shy; curious, maybe?….
"*Ahem*" Nappa coughed. ::Well, I had to get their
attention somehow…::
Bejita jumped a little at this
notion, and turned his attention to the large warrior. He supposed, by common sense,
that he and the other kid were to follow. He began making his way to the door,
and motioned for that 'Usan-kid' to come along.
The journey to room 186-A was
nearly completed in verbal silence. No one really knew what to say. Nappa was
very happy with the peaceful quietness, but as they were about to reach the
door—
"Mr. Nappa-saaan," Bejita started.
" 'Mr. Nappa-san'? Why you—You've used two different
languages' prefix/suffixes in the same term! That's NOT RIGHT!" Nappa shouted.
He was extremely annoyed.
"Oh, no, Mr. Nappa-san. I think I
am right. You're just dumb, he stated coolly. ::That should rouse his temper!::
"Why YOU—you're just so prideful! So – CONCEDED!"
Nappa sputtered.
It was at this, that Usankusai decided to join in the
mockery of the bumbling giant.
"Mr. Nappa-san?" he asked.
"WHAT?!" Nappa shouted.
"I think you mean 'conceited. Not conceded," he
pronounced matter-of-factly.
Bejita smiled wickedly at his new training partner.
::That was good.:: he thought.
"Conce-? RRR! I can't stand it ANYMORE! These BrAtS! AH!
Just-JUST go in that room NOW! TRAIN AND BEHAVE! I'LL BE BACK LatER!" At this,
Nappa's voice broke, his face turned bright red, and he tore off down the hall.
Once in
the room, there was an awkward silence between the children. Neither knew
exactly what to say.
"Your name doesn't sound Saiyajin," Bejita commented.
"I-uh… know. My parents were just weird, I guess…"
Usankusai replied lowly.
"So, tell me. What's the story on your coming here?" Bejita
asked.
"Well… I don't exactly know. I came to this area to my
father, but…" the child lowered his voice in respect. "He was killed in battle
a short while ago… I was scheduled to return home to my mother, but she
requested that I stay here. As far as I know, the King granted her request, and
now I'm here. My mom hates me, y'know… and I bet she'd glad that Father's dead
and—OH! I'm sorry my Prince! I have a tendency to rattle on and on…"
"S'okay. Anyway, how old are you?"
::Whoa. He sure changes subjects quickly…:: "Me? I'm five standard years, but I'll be
turning six soon… well in seven months anyway… What about you?"
"I am three standard years," Bejita stated monotonously.
The shock on Usankusai's face could not be disguised. "Only
the-three?! I mean, I know you're small… but—but your voice-uh—"
"Correct pronunciation and syllable accentuations are
stressed in all of my classes. It helps in giving speeches," Bejita informed.
"No—no, it's not just that. It's-it's your tone!"
"What? Do I sound older?"
"Yes!"
Bejita leaned forward, a slight grin playing his
features. "Lemme tell you a secret," he whispered in a deepish voice. "I talk
like that to make an impression. It's kinda fake."
Usankusai
felt a little relieved. The Prince's tone of voice in the last sentence had
gone up almost three whole octaves. He was worried that the little guy had
growing problems or something.
"Oh! Haha!" Usankusai was beginning to feel more at ease
with the Prince. He seemed okay for a royal type!
Bejita
fidgeted. Why was this so awkward? Why? It was always easy to converse with an
adult, so why not a child? Ack! The boy was smiling at him again! He should be insulting
it, but he couldn't find the words. He tilted his head slightly to study the 'brat'.
For some reason, those 'U-shaped things', what were they called, smiles? made him
feel warm inside.
"That was pretty good how you made that big man all mad,"
Usankusai giggled.
"Nappa? *hee* He has an absolutely horrid temper!
Haha! It's his major weakness!" Bejita exclaimed in between muffled titters.
"Didja see how his face got all red?" Usankusai asked.
Both youths exchanged amused glances, then burst out in
uncontrollable fits of laughter. Soon, the two were on the floor, rolling and
screaming in mockery. After about ten minutes, the two had (somewhat) managed
to calm down.
"So…" Bejita started. "Wanna play a training game?"
"Sure!" Usankusai exclaimed. "But what?"
"Do you know 'Cut Throat'?" Bejita asked hopefully.
"Yeah! It's my favorite!" Usankusai shrieked.
"Really?! Mine too!"
* * * * *
What Gain?
What gain is a friend?
To be not alone?
To have support to lend?
No, no gain it can be!
What foolish exchange,
For the pain I can see.
The laughter, insane,
The happiness, crazy.
But still I wonder,
what
is a friend's gain?
Author's Note: I own nothing, but my opinion,
don't sue me. (Oh yeah, I've been forgetting, but I own the poems.)
Sorry, it's been so long! And I've been so busy! I've gotten a lot of my schoolwork cleared away, so I should have more time to write now. Phew How did you like the little intro to the next saga? Can any of you guess what's going to happen? (Don't.) Prepare to be surprised, delighted, and depressed. (hopefully.) ~Until next post!~