Beginning with an End

Beginning with an End

Part 4

Nahmi stirred and sat up abruptly in her hammock. She rubbed her eyes sleepily as she swung her legs over the edge, pushing herself off, and landed lightly on the wooden floor. She noticed a bent figure sitting in a chair, leaning on the table that, when covered with a liquid repelling cloth, also served as an operating station. She stretched, not particularly quietly, but the bent figure was either still ignorant of her presence, or ignoring it. Darkness enveloped the small room of the lodge that she knew so well. This was the rest room, where injured people were tended. Three hammocks hung from wooden poles stationed throughout the room. She knew that the room was capable of tending for the needs of a maximum capacity of eight injured. Spare poles stood in seeming random positions throughout the room, who's walls were lined with cupboards filled with bandages, extra hammocks, and endless forms of medication. The humans that she so often trained with here, her friends, were so susceptible to succumbing to the incapacitations of pain. She herself could be found in the rest rooms on only the most rare of occasions. Yet it was there that she found herself today, and as she began to ponder this thought, a sudden realisation and remembrance struck her. She rushed quickly towards the hunched figure seated at the table.

"Gohan!" she said softly as he turned to greet her.

"Hey Nahmi, feeling any better?" he asked. His voice sounded tired, yet it was full of concern.

The last thing she remembered was fainting as she tried to maintain her telepathic link with Gohan's deceased father. She remembered clearly hearing him telling her how proud he was of her efforts, and that he wouldn't be returning to Earth again. And yet, Gohan is worried about…me?

"I'm…fine," she answered questioningly, with an odd expression of disbelief reflected in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" asked Gohan, slightly confused by her expression.

I…I don't believe it…after all he's been through…he's, he's still worried about me?

"I…I'm sorry," she said slowly, and cast her eyes down at her fidgeting hands.

"Sorry for what?" Gohan wondered aloud.

She gazed at him; her searching stare took in his eyes and facial features, which clearly portrayed a look of surprise. She couldn't bring herself to tell him that she was sorry that his father had decided to remain -…she thought that was obvious. Wasn't it?

Oh gosh, thought Gohan, she doesn't remember. She doesn't even remember that she was the one who told me that there's still hope of dad returning. She doesn't even know how much she helped me. He suddenly felt relieved. She hadn't remembered what he had been thinking. His embarrassing, personal thoughts. The whole situation that she had been so sorry for and he had been angry about had turned out for the best; he had gained the reassurance that he needed from it and she hadn't remembered what she had never wished to hear. He would tell her everything but that.

******

"You could never understand how much you helped me," Gohan finished with a sigh. They were now leaning on the small windowsill, side by side, gazing at the dull orange that still lingered in the western sky. Gohan would always remember her words; "It's not selfish to wish you had your father with you." He wondered as to what had made her say that so sincerely. There was no way that she could have met her father, because she hadn't even known, until her confrontation with Cell, that she was a Saiyan. He was beginning to understand why she had been so angry that Cell had taken his father. She knows better than any of us what it means to be lonely. A sudden thought dawned on him; had that been the source of his father's amazing power – never knowing his parents? He quickly felt a deep pity for the girl standing beside him. He had always had a family and only now understood what it was like to be without only half of it. He still had a mother and there was even a possibility that his father was coming back. How could he even begin to sympathise with Nahmi; his own situation was nothing in comparison to hers. He reflected on the age old saying, 'It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." In a sense, that applied to their situation.

"Wow," said Nahmi, as she watched the last rays of the sun disappear beyond the mountainous horizon. "I had no idea that I had powers like that," she stated, astonished. However, she had to admit to herself, that upon awakening, she had felt an inconceivable feeling that Gohan's father was not in fact gone for good.

A loud metallic ringing echoed throughout the lodge. Somewhere above them a bell had been sounded.

"What's that?" asked Gohan, stepping back from the window. He suddenly realised how dark the room had become. A light glowed from somewhere beyond the open door. A shadowy silhouette appeared in the frame.

"Gohan?" the figure took a step into the room. He obviously could not see him as he peered around the room. A flick of lavender caught Gohan's eye as the figure turned to gaze straight at them.

"Trunks!" cried Gohan and set out towards his friend. A sharp pain shot through his body from a point near his stomach. He heard Nahmi laugh…

"Watch out for the table Gohan!" she giggled and walked towards him.

His eyes adjusted to the darkness and he ran his hands over the jagged corner of the table, "Oh, right," he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and his stomach with the other, a goofy smile creeping across his face. His hand still on his stomach, he looked down at it and frowned. "I just realised," he stated, and shifted his other hand down to his stomach, "I haven't eaten for… well, I don't know how long…"

Trunks grinned. That's Gohan for you… he thought… so brave. Is there nothing he can't handle? …Already laughing and worrying about his stomach. "You haven't eaten in three days," he informed them. He could now see their faces almost directly in front of him, the firelight from the lantern in the hall dancing across their features. They were both frowning at their stomachs; Gohan's was visibly growling. Trunks laughed. He had grown up admiring Master Gohan, and now that he had seen him as a child, his admiration became more deeply rooted than ever. "That's what I came to tell you…"

"Oh yeah," Nahmi interrupted, "I forgot to tell you what that bell meant…" she grinned cheekily at Trunks and then Gohan, "It's time for supper." She took a step into the brightly lit hall and turned, smiling at Gohan. "I don't know about you, but my stomach can't handle three days without food!"

They walked together down the hall, which quickly opened into a large, open veranda. Many welcoming windows looked into a warm and inviting dining hall. They turned and walked through a set of timber french doors. Warm air hit their faces and tempting aromas reached their nostrils as they gazed down the long, low wooden dining table. Lanterns decked the walls and a roaring fire at the opposite end emitted immense amounts of light and heat, creating a pleasant atmosphere. The Z-fighters and their hosts were seated on cushions along either side of the table, their meals untouched in front of them.

They walked into the room.

Trunks rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, sorry we took so long." Her silhouette was visible in fornt of the fire.

"Please," came Indigo's voice from the head of the table, "be seated."

"Hey!" Yamcha laughed, "took you long enough…I'm starved!"

Gohan laughed and filed in behind Nahmi, who took her seat by Indigo. Vegeta sat pompously across from her, beside Piccollo, Tien, and Yamcha. Gohan and Trunks took their places between Nahmi and Krillin.

"Two, four, six, eight, bog in don't wait!" called Yamcha, receiving the glares of all those at the table bar Gohan, who gazed around, rather confused. Yamcha scratched his neck and grinned innocently, "Oh yeah," he said and bent his head. Everyone followed suit. A minute's silence lapsed before everyone looked to Indigo.

It seemed to Gohan, by Yamcha's reaction, that the minute's silence was a ritual followed before every evening meal. Indigo stood, and Gohan, though he knew it was rude, hoped that their rituals would not last too much longer. He watched as she smiled at him and Nahmi and, to his great surprise, bowed.

"We honour you," she said, her voice deep and noble. All those present at the table stood and mimicked her action. Gohan suppressed a laugh as he watched Vegeta's proud, scowling head lower only slightly. The Z-fighters gave various winks, grins, and victory gestures as they took their seats. Indigo nodded at Yamcha.

"Yeah!" he cried, "time to eat everyone!"

Gohan turned, wide-eyed, to Nahmi, who returned his look of astonishment. They both suddenly laughed as Gohan's stomach growled, to the great amusement of the others, and began to eat.

******

Meanwhile, Goku, Bubbles, and Gregory continued their journey with King Kai along Snake Way.

"Where are we going Goku?" chirped Gregory, very precariously.

Ah…what the hey, Goku shrugged, I may as well attempt it. "Yeah King Kai," he piped up. King Kai had been in a very bad temper and hadn't spoken a word, let alone a word of explanation, since he had stormed off along Snake Way. "Where are we headed?" Goku finished.

King Kai rounded on him. "WHERE DOES IT LOOK LIKE, YOU HOMEWRECKING TWO-YEAR-OLD?"

"Gee King Kai," Goku cringed, sticking his finger in his ear and shaking it around in an attempt to cease the ringing, "that was a little harsh."

Bubbles jumped up and down in agreement as Gregory peeked from behind a tuft of Goku's untamed hair. King Kai simply boiled and bristled, turning his back on Goku.

"Aww, come on King Kai, Gohan's fine."

"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" bellowed the little blue puff of contempt.

Goku scratched the nape of his neck and gave him one of his goofy, innocent grins. "Well, actually, I do." King Kai folded his arms and tapped his foot on the silver tiles expectantly. "Yeah, it seems that I overheard Nahmi telling Gohan what she overheard you telling me. She's really great; with her around, Gohan will hardly even notice I'm gone. You were right though," he looked at his feet, "Gohan was feeling pretty rotten, he was thinking things that even I wouldn't have expected. He understood, but he was wondering if it was selfish to want me there. But just as I was about to reassure him that it wasn't, Nahmi thankfully intervened and did the job for me. I don't think he would have been too pleased to find out that I could hear him too; Nahmi gave him quite a shock but if it had have been me…You were right King Kai, I probably should have found a better way to tell him…you have every right to be angry at me."

King Kai sighed and his antennae drooped. "No Goku," his shoulders slumped, "I shouldn't have been so angry at you. You have this uncanny skill of knowing that everything is going to turn out for the best. How you do it I'll never know, but as long as you do I'm just going to have to learn to trust your better judgement, even if it doesn't seem better at the time." King Kai sighed again, "I just hope that Gohan doesn't get his hopes up."

"No King Kai," replied Goku, "he's smarter than that. All he needed was a little comforting, but I know that he now understands the importance of my decision."

King Kai paused for a second as he pondered an interesting thought. "I wonder how she managed to overhear us." He looked to Goku, though he was surprised when he actually received an answer.

Goku explained to King Kai what he had heard Nahmi telling Gohan.

"That's an interesting power," noted King Kai, scratching his chin, "Yes I seem to recall reading somewhere that female Saiyans can become highly psychic, and are also amazingly skilled at hiding their ki levels…"

"That explains why we never knew of her presence on Earth."

There was a short pause in which King Kai turned purple, rather than pink. "Well," he rubbed the back of his head and piped up cheerily, "I guess I have no reason to be angry at you anymore."

"Well actually," pointed out Goku, in all his honesty, "I did get your planet blown up."

Bubbles and Gregory slapped their foreheads and groaned.

"That's right!" King Kai flared up, but his temper quickly cooled, "However, everything else you've ever done has turned out for the best, so I don't see why this shouldn't." He sighed, and continued to walk down Snake Way.

"So…" began Goku, "where are we headed King Kai?"

"How many times do you have to ask that in one day?!" shouted King Kai, his arms and legs flailing about in the air. He took in a few deep breaths and composed himself once more. "We are going to see Guru."

"Guru!" cried Goku, "Wow, I've always wanted to meet him."

King Kai nodded. "Mmm-hmm, apparently he has a bit of influence around this place, and I figured that if there were anyone who would be likely to help you in this predicament; it would be him, what with you saving his people and all. But don't expect too much, he isn't the only one you'll have to convince. He is only one of the Five High Judges."

******

The meal had been merry, and extremely satisfying. Gohan leaned back in his bed, resting his head in his hands. He was no longer sleeping in the hammocks of the rest room. Indigo had shown him his quarters and left him to prepare for bed. He was bathed, no longer famished, and extremely refreshed in a fluffy nightgown. Unfortunately, the lodge only facilitated for females, but at the moment, he didn't particularly care that his nightgown was pink; it was so comfortable. He imagined Vegeta in the same situation and let a laugh escape him. No, he reasoned, Vegeta was far too pompous to wear something pink just for the sake of warmth and comfort. He had been told that it became extremely cold in the mountains at nighttime, so, though against his initial inclination, he accepted the nightgown. He couldn't help but wonder if Vegeta had made Indigo die one black for him. He laughed again and squirmed until he was under the covers. The chill air was biting at his nose as he rolled on his side and extinguished the candle with one breath. He buried his head under the warmth of the blankets and began to ponder all that he had learnt in the Dining Hall. He had learnt a great deal from Indigo, who, now that she wasn't faced with a dangerous situation, was only too pleased to inform him. She had a foreboding air like Vegeta, but was caring and kind at heart.

She had taken in Nahmi, despite her obvious alien descent, and cared for her as a mother and friend since she was barely one year old. Her home had always been in the mountains, but when she found Nahmi she gave up her role as a martial arts master and moved into solitude deep within the outermost range, far from civilisation. She had discovered that it was far too difficult to hide Nahmi's obvious powers from the easily frightened humans. Nahmi had been a terrible child, typical of the Saiyan race; bent on destruction. However, Indigo had managed to handle the feisty Saiyan child and showed her a love that none of her race had ever known. Thus she changed from evil and vowed to protect the human race from the danger that she saw approaching. She trained ceaselessly, but Indigo always felt an underlying fear that if she saw how terrible the human race could truly be, she would once again revert to her evil self.

During one of her monthly trips to her home town to stock up on provisions, while Nahmi continued to train, Indigo was confronted by a girl who wished dearly to be trained in the martial arts but could find no-one to teach her. That was when Indigo began her boarding school for female martial artists. However, she soon began to wonder whether this was a mistake, when Nahmi noticed her friends had homes and, more importantly, families to return to over the summer holidays. Indigo then decided that that was when she needed a place to take Nahmi to meet the families of the other girls (obliged to bring their own garments) on a break-up day celebration, so as not to let her feel so left out. That was what this lodge was designed for, and it also posed as a summer retreat from the biting cold of their mountainous home. She had managed to create a life, that to Nahmi, seemed more normal, without revealing the atrocities of the human race. If it was human love that had turned her good, it was human hate that could make her evil.

Gohan had only managed to discover so much when the Dining Hall was almost completely empty except for himself, Trunks, and Indigo. The dying embers had cast intricate patterns on the ceiling of the hall before any of them felt obliged to sleep. Even now he was not in the least tired. He was glad that Nahmi had left for bed so early, he thought to himself and yawned. Or else he would never have discovered so much…Perhaps he was a little tired after all.

******

Nahmi lay restlessly on her mattress. She could hear the dull murmur of the feast downstairs. She had left under the pretence of sleep, but it never came. Instead, her mind was in turmoil as she too pondered all that she had learnt over supper. It had suddenly hit her that she was no longer alone; that she now belonged to a race of people. A proud warrior race, the spiky-haired man across the table had informed her rather arrogantly. As she began to suppose that he thought of himself as prince, it was to her horror that she discovered that he was. She also discovered that she was seated with the very last of her race, all three of them, one of which was actually a baby at home with his mother Bulma, in this time. He had come from the future and was returning there tomorrow to defeat the androids and Cell. She was so confused; surely that had been what she and Gohan had done three days ago. When she stated that fact she had suffered a rather severe laughing at from her Prince. Trunks, the one from the future, on the other hand, attempted to explain the situation to her. She liked Trunks, and couldn't help but wish that it were Prince Vegeta leaving tomorrow. To her dismay, she also learnt that the Saiyan's had been one of the most ruthless races of warriors in the universe and destroyed planets simply for the sake of it. This information had been supplied by Vegeta. However, Gohan and Trunks had reassured her that the Planet Vegeta had been destroyed, and all it's people killed, long before she was born. Her memory was clear of what happened next:

"Which brings me to another point," Prince Vegeta scowled. That seemed to be his permanent expression. "How the heck did you reach Earth and where in the Universe from?"

She herself had wondered that thought countless times, but never came to any decent answer. Now that she had met others of her race, and still didn't have any answer, she decided that it was time for her to find out for herself. A plan was forming in her emotionally wracked brain, but it was a feasible plan none the less. She had learned from Trunks that his mother, Bulma, was a practical rocket scientist; surely she of all people could decipher the message still displayed on the screen of her preserved spacecraft. She would take it to her when the Z-fighters returned home at dawn tomorrow, no matter how against it Indigo would be. Yes, sneaking out would be the only way. She had to find out why she was sent to Earth, and where she came from, and if perhaps there had been another colony of the murderous Saiyans. Was there still?

by Lolli