"Where Lies Fear?"
What lies here,
And what lies there?
Yonder field?
Is it evil's stare?
Beget a wavering fear?
For yonder there?
Or yonder here?
Or least can you compare?
* * * * * * * * * *
SHATTERING OF A BROKEN SOUL
CHAPTER TWENTY
"Sinconic Acin? The chemical engineer asked in concern.
"Yes. That's what we think," replied Prince Bejita.
The two
child-Saiyajins, Bejita and Usankusai, had traveled to the scientific
laboratory to make inquiries of strange happenings. Usankusai, Bejita's new
training partner, suspected that someone or something was trying to do the
prince harm. At breakfast, drumsticks, which they believed to have been
poisoned, had been served. At first, the youngsters had decided to approach the
royal court with the matter. Bejita, in the end, gave the idea a veto. What if
the food hadn't been poisoned? It would be wiser to deliver the suspected food
to the lab for testing first, he reasoned. That way, if the results turned out
negative, they wouldn't be humiliated. Now, the children were speaking with a
chemical engineer.
"Well kids," the middle-aged engineer chuckled," I think
we're being a bit serious here. Sinconic Acin is very rare and very dangerous.
If consumed, it turns your insides to something like a blood putty or pulp! But
you'd be dealing with very big fish, if you know what I mean… Sinconic Acin is
not easily obtained! It is only found in the East, and even so, few people can
get their hands on it! What leads you
to such a wild conclusion anyway?"
Bejita shrugged nonchalantly. "It's his
conclusion," he replied, and pointed to Usankusai.
"Well, boy?" asked the engineer, raising his eyebrows.
"Um… uh… I… well… *cough," Usankusai fidgeted nervously, ::That's
a tough question! How can I say with out letting anything on?:: "It smells
funny, sir. It smells like the Sinconic Acin!"
"Oh? And how would you know what Sinconic
Acin smells like, hm?" the engineer questioned with a crafty grin.
"I—uh…" ::Damn. He's jarring me at every corner!::
"I—uh—don't. I just have—this—feeling, that's all."
Bejita no Ouji stared blankly at the two conversans.
Something was very odd… There was—tension between them… It seemed as though
they were challenging one another.
"A feeling,"
the engineer mocked, "Well… if it makes you dearies feel more at ease,
I'll test the subjects for you… But the 'culture' will take a few hours, neh?
So run along, and I'll get the results to you later, alright?" he declared.
Usankusai
felt the fur on his tail bristle. He just didn't trust that man! Something
about him just—didn't match up! He gave the engineer a dirty scowl and turned
to leave.
The
chemical engineer fixed his gaze on the Prince's new training partner. That
child seemed even more annoying than the 'princeling'! Ah! He didn't
trust him at all! He had a strange protective aura about the young prince. Why,
he could ruin everything!
"Let's go Bejita-Ouji," Usankusai uttered lowly.
"Oh, okay," Bejita agreed.
As the two were beginning to leave, Bejita felt a little
goofy and waved capriciously to the engineer. "Bye-bye!" he ejaculated in a
high-pitched voice.
The engineer beamed a simper back. "Ta-ta, little ones."
Bejita felt a miniscule pull at his left sleeve and heard
a little whisper. "Let's go, Bejita!"
"I'm going, I'm going!" he whispered back.
The dup
left the room through the front doors. (They wouldn't have known of the hidden
doors anyway.) As soon as the doors shut, the middle-aged engineer spun around
and glided to the drumsticks.
::So…you are very 'smart' Usankusai… I don't even
need to test these drumsticks! Ahaha! The poisonous effects are so obvious
and distinct! …well, at they are to the trained scientific sense of
smell! Oh, come off it all! I knew of it anyway! Hahaha… So that little plan didn't
work after all… And I'm on to you, Usankusai… I know that you
know… Alright, intelligent one… let's test you out…. But I must make sure to
avoid the prince… He is one of high intellect, and I don't want him running to
his father! Alright little Eastling… Ready for my test?::
"Bwahahahahahahahahaha!"
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Bejita-sama!"
"What?"
"Don't 'cha just—dislike that guy?!?"
"What guy?"
"The engineer guy!!"
"No."
"What?!"
"I believe I said 'no."
"But—but—well—he unnerves me!!"
"I have no liable reason to have anything against him,"
Bejita stated in monotone.
"How can you be so calm?!" Usankusai wailed,
flinging his hands up.
"Easy. There is nothing to be alarmed about at the
moment. You can't get uptight about everything, Usan. Here at the palace
we are faced with lots of problems…" Bejita explained.
"~groan~ Bejita…~don't go all 'royale' on me…."
Usankusai whined.
Bejita raised his eyes. "Why not? I am royal after
all…"
"~groan~ But that guy is---"
"---Nice. I like him," Bejita stated matter-of-factly.
Usankusai's jaw dropped. "WH-WHAT?!"
"He showed and told me all about Saibamen/Cultivars. He
even promised me one to train with as soon as scientific updates are
made… that is, if it's alright with the King…." He trailed off.
" The King? Isn't he your father? Why not call
him Father?"
"Because he would rather I show him proper
respect."
"Oh, right! Haha! Forgot about you royal types…"
"And you should give me proper respect
also, Usankusai!" Bejita replied and crossed his arms.
"Aw—c'mon… you know me… Hey! Wanna go train?!"
"Sure!" Bejita exclaimed, eyes lighting up.
"I can show you a new game I learned!"
* * * * * * * * * * *
The new cook danced around her perfect world of culinary supplies in the kitchen…
::How wonderful::, she thought. ::It's always been my dream to be a palace cook! Cooking is my life!::
He plump form reflected off the silver polished pots and pans… Her rosy cheeks dimpled as she smiled broadly.
"Oh, how Mrs. Cook love this place! It must be illusion for Mrs. Cook! Such delight no can be possible!"
She began to sing, hum, and dance as she began cleaning the royal kitchen for the 52nd time that afternoon! The small lady came to a cabinet.
"Oh, my! Mrs. Cook never noticed this before! How unusual that Mrs. Cook missed it!! Is it a spice cabinet?"
When the plump woman opened its wooden door, several loose bottles fell forward. Two bottles shattered.
"Oh, my!! Me make mess!" she squealed as she scurried to clean it up. She picked up the other bottles and examined them. "These aren't spices! I wonder… Geez! Someone did a lousy job of covering that up! Even I can tell it's poison! I should fix that or the mistress will be angry with me."
* * * * *
"Whispers"
Wait a second,
Hold you breath.
Can you hear,
Whispers of Death?
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my opinion (and my poems and Usankusai), don't sue me.
Hello. How are you? Sorry it's been so long, but I have my life to tend to. (*sigh* And, oh, how frustrating it can be!) Do you like Usankusai okay? I didn't know how it would go over with you readers… Yes, next chapter: We will witness the return of the ********!!! (Courtesy of VeggiesChick's suggestions.) Stay tuned!
****Due to the low frequency of submissions, I've extended the little 'wacky-food contest' until the end of next chapter. What? You missed it? Details are at the end of Chap. 19. Go check it out! (And you guys who already wrote in, if you can think of something better, post it!)****
JA NE!!!