I'll Be Here
By Juuko
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* * *
What You
Feel Inside
* * * *
* * *
Let your emotions loose once in
a while,
I know that then you'll see,
You don't have to be so bottled
up;
It's a lot easier to be free.
* * * *
* * *
"I'm really sorry to bother you like this, Bulma," Juuhachi sighed, "but it was the only way to get him to come, and you know how much I…"
"Don't
worry dear – I think it's a miracle you could find someone so skilled. I guess
that comes from being part machine," said Bulma and she stacked the very few
unbroken plates into the dishwasher, "tell him I'll be ready to perform the
tests tonight in my lab-" She turned her head at the sound of footsteps coming
closer and closer. Both women were surprised to see Juunana-gou pace into the
kitchen with an empty wicker basket. Ignoring their bewildered looks he placed
the basket on the bench and faced them, with his eyes fiercely averted to the
floor. Although his face was covered by dense strands of dark hair Juuhachi
could see that he was flushed and tense. He mumbled something inaudible.
Juuhachi leaned forward.
"What
did you say?" There was a minute of silence before Juunana lifted his head and
glared. This was bad enough without them staring at him as if he was some sort
of alien.
"I
said, where is that little pig-tailed girl, you baka!" he yelled as soon
as he found his voice. Juuhachi saw his face redden as he quickly looked back
at the floor. She was confused. Her brother was acting strange; it certainly
wasn't like him to talk to her, or anyone for that matter. And now, to ask
about Marron… a thought struck her.
"I
didn't see her come in, but she's probably in the kids room on the third floor
playing with Bra," she replied, pushing and shoving him out the door, "have fun!"
She slammed the door behind him and gave Bulma a thumbs-up. Bulma stared back
blankly.
"Nani?
Are you sure you want him to be around Marron? I mean, he is still a jinzouningen…"
Juuhachi winked at the baffled blue-haired woman.
"I
know Oniisan, and I think he's beginning to find a friend."
* * * *
* * *
"And
so the Prince married the beautiful Princess and they lived happily ever after.
The end." Marron closed the picture book she had been reading to Bra all
afternoon. The little girl smiled drowsily and fell back into a deep sleep on
the old sofa that used to be a part of the Capsule Corp. waiting room. Dreamily
Marron stared out the crystalline glass window at the setting sun. A rosy glow
reflected into the open-aired room and out across the hallway, shadowing the
carpeted floor with sunset hues. Juunana hovered around the half-open door
uncertainly, asking himself again and again what he was doing here. Why should I care about a stupid girl? All
he knew was that he'd never get any sleep if he didn't talk to her again. She
turned around with a mild expression of surprise when she saw his shadow move
into the alcove, but didn't say anything. That's a change, Juunana mused. I can
always leave; so why aren't I? Maybe you don't want to, a small voice
nagged at the far corner of his mind. He denied this thought in frustration and
found himself hoping for the girl to break the now all too familiar silence.
"Why
don't you come in?" She finally announced in a monotone. The olive green sofa
creaked and tilted under Juunana's weight as he sat down at the end furthest
away from her, cursing himself and wishing a hole would swallow him up and save
his mind from this torture.
"What
are you doing here?" The girl seemed to voice his thoughts, only this time her
voice showed a tinge of curiosity and hope.
"I…
I don't know," he answered truthfully.
"Well,
you must have a reason for being here."
"I
already said that I don't!" Juunana-gou snapped, making the seat wobble
violently on it's rusted springs. This isn't getting me anywhere, he thought
angrily, why can't I just say it?
"Kuso!
All right, I came because I want to know what's wrong with me!" he blurted out.
His face burned a bright scarlet and he could hear the off-beat thumping coming
from his chest. Calm down, he ordered himself, feeling, for the first time,
stupid and embarrassed. This is so unlike me to get worked up over an
insignificant brat. In a softer but no less brutal tone, he added, "what I mean
is, I've been feeling… different, after you left today, and… I want to know
why." Marron carefully stepped over her sleeping friend so that she was sitting
closer to Juunana. She could feel his warmth and harsh breathing and knew
subconsciously that something had finally gotten through to him.
"You're
feeling guilt."
"Nani?"
"Everyone
has feelings, and when you know you've hurt someone else's, you feel bad
because you've done something wrong. That's guilt."
"So?
I've hurt lots of people before, and I don't care." Marron eyed the
black-haired boy thoughtfully marvelling at how much his expression had changed
since she first met him. Although he still had his arms crossed stolidly with
his head held high, now he reminded her of a lost boy asking silently for the way
home.
"I
think you do care, but you just don't know how to show it. That's what 'Tousan
told me about 'Kaasan when he first met her," she whispered, hoping Juunana
wouldn't take offence. When he didn't reply, she continued, "and if you want to
get rid of that guilt, you have to apologize." A pang shot into the air as
Juunana's ki flared and subsided. Marron kept quiet through his inner
struggle. She could see that his eyes reflected a new storm of thoughts,
questions and uncertainity that were painfully concealed everywhere else. The
storm abruptly disappeared as he closed his eyes and exhaled.
"I'm
sorry. I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you when you were trying to be nice."
Juunana looked Marron straight in the eye with dubious resentment, still in
disbelief that he was actually doing this. "There. Is that enough?"
Marron
smiled up at the jinzouningen. It must have taken every ounce of his
pride to come out and say that. Sidling even closer, she rested her head
comfortingly on the velvety curve of his shoulder. He blinked but to Marron's
surprise didn't object.
"But
that doesn't mean I like you," he warned defensively.
"I
know."
"You're
very mature for a brat."
"Hai,
everyone else says that too. I think it comes from being around grown-ups most
of the time."
"What
was your name again?"
"Marron."
In
the dying light Juunana-gou felt the girl's – Marron's – soft cornsilk hair
quiver on his shirt with her steady breathing. Funny, just a few hours ago he
never would have dreamed of letting anyone come so close to him without sending
a fist through their torso first. It was that strange sensation again – that
sense of being 'happy' whenever he was near her – that he couldn't accept but
didn't reject either now that he was beginning to understand with his newfound
knowledge.
"Marron,"
he mouthed, rolling the word around in his tongue.
"Yes,
Juunana?"
"I…
I guess I kind of liked having lunch with you."
"Me
too."
* * * *
* * *
Krillin
laid his head down in his arms and yawned. His coffee was getting cold and his
hair resembled an exploded rat's nest but all he could do was think about
sleep. That was rather hard with regular Monday morning chaos running around the
house as he soon found out. Straightening up Krillin rubbed the sagging dark
rings under his eyes. At least they would be going home today. He hadn't gotten
any rest for two long nights with the jinzouningen prowling around like
a tiger, ready to pounce at any minute. He had no idea what Juuhachi, Bulma and
the feared Juunana-gou were doing last night down in the main laboratory that
was namely 'out of bounds' for everyone else, and that just made him even more
nervous.
"'Tousan!
Let's go! I'm late for school!" Marron bounded into the lounge room with her
hastily brushed pigtails flying behind her like two blonde ferrets. Not
noticing that she had made Krillin jump out of his chair she struggled to
smooth out her checkered uniform and throw her books into her bag at the same
time. Krillin cocked his head.
"Marron-chan,
the only car we have is Bulma's and I have no idea where she is."
"Nani?
I can't walk there it's about 2 miles away and I only have 15 minutes left!"
"What's
the problem?" Juunana-gou was staring at them nonchalantly from outside through
an open window. Marron saw that he had chosen a new look this morning, wearing
a dark blue denim jacket over his bandana and plain white undershirt. A silvery
chain-like belt hung loosely around his burgundy cargo pants. Krillin felt the
hairs on the back of his neck stiffen in panic as he instinctively backed away
to shield his daughter.
"Hi
Juunana! I just need to get to school soon and…" Without a word Juunana leaped
through the window with cat-like grace, swept past Krillin and grabbed Marron's
arm.
"Come
on, I'll fly you there." Before Marron could drop her books in surprise her
feet left the ground and she was launched into a blast of cold dewy morning
air.
"Hey
jinzouningen, come back here with my Marron! Kuso!" Krillin
yelled as he stared hopelessly after their rapidly disappearing forms from the
windowsill. Even if he was to chase them now he would never catch up.
"Don't
worry, 'Tousan! I'll be fine!" Marron called out below her. A chilly wind
teased her golden hair around her face and rippled through her white blouse.
She couldn't help giggling as the feeling of being airborne got to her head.
Cutting through the sky and scattering the veil-like mist, causing the sunlight
to burst into colour out of watery particles. Seeing the buildings, people and
cars blur and rush past with the green-blue speckled landscape so far below,
yet so close. Marron had been flown around by her father before, but that was
different to the exhilarating roller coaster ride she was experiencing now.
"Wow,
this is fun!" She tore her gaze from the city and glanced back up at Juunana,
whose appearance made it seem as if this was nothing more than an ordinary bus
trip. Well, he has been flying all his life, Marron thought.
"Um,
Juunana, why are you helping me like this?"
"Don't
think I'm going out of my way to fly you to your stupid school," he replied
without looking back, "I just wanted to scare baldy, and besides, I need to
pick up some parts from the store anyway." Juunana could see Marron's
disbelieving expression from the corner of his eye. He didn't blame her, he
couldn't believe what he was doing either. And what he had said last night.
Everything I've said and done won't matter if I just let go, he chuckled
cynically, and it's a long way down… Yet still his hand refused to
loosen it's solid grasp from the girl's wrist until they reached their
destination.
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