Beginning with an End

Beginning with an End

Part 8

Ding-dong, ding-dong. Ding-dong, ding-dong.

The glorious echoing of massive bells shook the air, shattering the calm and tranquil atmosphere with pulsing waves of sound. Goku, too, found himself shaking with the vibrations emitted from the mighty bells of the Gates to the Other World. Blinding golden light reflected from the gigantic arched doorway, dancing across the clouds, dazzling the eyes, as the doors began to swing silently open. Radiant white beams sliced the air from the widening crack in the door. Goku shielded his eyes; the shadows created from his open splayed fingers played with his features, obviously portraying awe none the less. It seemed that from somewhere within the confines of the mysterious gateway, laughter and joyous singing streamed, complimenting the heavenly divine atmosphere strung with the melody of hundreds of harps. The space between the doors continued to widen, and as Goku's eyes began to adjust to the brilliant light, he caught glimpsed snatches of airborne merrymaking, guided by wings of angelic splendor. Suddenly, he became aware of a seemingly insignificant figure framed against the magnificence of the portal, small and strange in stature, shadowed by the light emanating from behind him.

"Welcome," a tiny voice chirped with a touch of foreboding, "welcome to the World of Eternal Bliss, where dreams become reality and darkness an image long forgotten." The minute figure shuffled forward and bowed low to the ground, r his topknot of translucent white hair brushing against the silver road. Bright orange skin was revealed; the gold trimming of his pure white robes skipped across the ground. On his head he wore a white cap of similar make to his robes, and from the center his hair protruded through a hole, flopping in front of his round face. His hands were clasped before his chest, and he stood upright, his thin slits of eyes opening for the first time. His nose was small and pointed, and wriggled incessantly above his pursed lips. An air of self-importance surrounded him, and he bowed once more, extravagantly, lavishly waving his arms in introduction. "I am," his twitching nose almost touched the ground amidst his conceitedness, "Lilliputian, Keeper of the Gates. Follow me and you will be assigned your wings and halo." He turned on his heel and scuttled away without a further glance at his charges. Goku, dumbstruck, with a trance-like expression on his face, floated, unquestioning, after the strange orange being.

"Wait!"

Bubbles and Gregory, who had floated unwittingly behind Goku, turned to face King Kai in surprise, distant glints in their eyes. Oblivious of his companions, or indeed his actions, Goku continued to follow Lilliputian, who had already disappeared from sight.

"WAIT!" King Kai's frustrated voice rang in the air. A loud thud was the only reply, and Goku found himself sprawled on the cold, hard ground. "Goku," King Kai massaged his forehead irritably, "there are more important things than following that arrogant little shrimp!"

Goku stood and dusted himself off absently, retaining his limp, hypnotic state. "What could be more important than getting my wings?" he retorted simply, in a distant, dreamy monotone. King Kai leaped into the air with a disgruntled yell and brought his cupped hand crashing down on Goku's head. A dazed, yet unbearably present expression befell Goku's face and he rubbed his head tentatively. "What did you wake me up for King Kai?" he asked bemusedly, "I was having the most relaxing dream where I…"

"Be Quiet!" King Kai cried, snapping Goku to attention, "Goku, you're only making it harder for yourself!"

"Making what harder?" Goku cocked a quizzical eyebrow.

King Kai exhaled exasperatedly. "If you give in to the," he waved his arms around as though he were trying to yank the right word from his mouth, "well," he sighed, "I don't know what it is, but until you get your wings there is something that tries to draw you to them."

"So why try to resist it?" Goku shrugged lightheartedly, and began to drift into the dazed stupor once more.

"Because…" King Kai snapped, startling Goku into agitated alertness, "you want to go back to Earth, right?" – he didn't allow Goku time enough to disagree – "Well, once you accept your wings, even any thought of return is impossible – you won't remember your past or even your own family until they too arrive in the Other World. Look at the people in there Goku:" he gestured to the fluffy white world of wonder inside the gates, but this time, Goku did not even look like drifting off into a dream, "do they look like people who have any worries? No! They don't have a care in the world, let alone for it! You won't be able to even remember Gohan once you gain your wings, and he will need your help at some stage in his life if he is to take over your role as the Earth's protector."

Goku took a resolute stance. He had never realized that giving up your life meant throwing away all connections with Earth, let alone memory. He would not let that enticing atmosphere of this world get to him. "So, what do we do King Kai?"

"Well, basically," he answered, "we have to get you to the Five High Judges intact. And don't scoff, but this may be your hardest test yet. Whatever you do, don't accept anything from anyone – don't even look at them with the slightest bit of longing – and most importantly, don't give in to temptation."

Goku nodded. "So how do you plan on getting me to Earth without being a threat to it?" He took his first steps inside the gate and concentrated on King Kai. He figured that if he could keep his attention focussed on one thing, he could resist the terrible taunting feeling that scorned his ignorance and attempted to claim it could fulfil his heart's desire.

"You see Goku," he replied thoughtfully; he didn't even seem to be affected by the 'something' that tugged at Goku's soul, "It works like this," – Goku was barely listening; a bead of perspiration formed on his brow from the stress of resistance – "there are four, possibly five, different levels of the soul. The first level is life. The second is limbo, which is only meant to last along Snake Way and on my planet. We are now in limbo, though you really shouldn't be. That's right hold it off," he added with a concerned glance at his comrade. "What you should be is in the third stage, official death. When you are officially dead, you can gain your wings and halo, if you are deserving. If you are not, you are sent away from the Gates to spend eternity, or until you have repented and redeemed yourself of your sins, in limbo. But we don't want that. The level that we are aiming at is, well, it doesn't have a name, it just is. This level is extremely hard to gain, almost impossible, but once gained, you can travel freely between both worlds. To show that you are in this level, you only gain the halo, and you are alive in almost every way. You will still have your body in a sense – really more like a dense spirit – and you won't tire or grow hungry, deeming sleep and food unnecessary. You won't age, and you can choose to accept your wings any time you wish."

"So Goku will be an unstoppable force – a totally undefeatable fighting machine!" Gregory chirruped excitedly, zipping through the air with Bubbles bouncing below him in agreement.

"No, I'm afraid not," King Kai shook his head as he continued to walk with his hands held behind his back, "fighting is entirely impossible. However, luckily, Goku does not want to be able to fight, because that only attracts challengers, posing a threat to Earth. No, in this level, fighting is impossible because Goku; you won't have a ki. Your ki is your life energy, and if your are technically dead, you don't have or need life energy. Goku, you will simply exist. Of course, to you it will seem as though you do still have energy, and you will be able to fire attacks and transform to super saiyan, so you will be able to train Gohan and…well, never mind who else. However, there is no way that you can harm anyone living, or be harmed by them either for that matter. But let me warn you now, this is a level of the highest difficulty to attain; for most it would be impossible. However, after the number of times you have saved the Earth, and the fact that you chose to remain here to protect it further, while remembering that the only reason you want to go back is to help others to protect it, I'm feeling a lot more confident that they will allow you to acquire this spiritual level. At first this level will seem a little strange, but simply being is something even the best have to adjust to. Goku? Goku! Goku, are you listening to me?"

Goku's back was bent in concentration, sweat dripping from his deeply rutted brow. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be almost meditating as he walked. Why do I even bother? King Kai thought as he looked around; they had come a long way from the Gate, and Goku didn't even look like bending to the will of the very air around him.

"Hey King Kai," Goku struggled to ask, entirely aside from the subject that he had not even heard, "will this feeling last the whole time I'm here, like, when we get – ah – to wherever it is that we're going?" He didn't open his eyes; he didn't want to know how much further he had to travel. If it was far, it could cause him to lose hope, and faith in himself. Blocking all sounds while trying to listen to only one would be difficult, as he discovered it was with King Kai's incessant droning, but he desperately needed to know the answer to this question. He found it was easier to simply refuse acknowledgement of his surroundings than it was to try to focus on one part of it, but he wasn't sure that he could hold out for much longer, and the Judging would surely take much longer. "King Kai, I don't know how long I can keep this up." His words were extremely forced.

"Don't worry, once you reach the Palace you won't be able to feel – whatever it is that is doing this to you. We're nearly there, but I hope you're prepared to face an interrogation, because that is something that you must surely expect, though I can't really say exactly how they weigh up the worthiness of your soul. It must be intense for them to need five judges though."

"Gee, thanks King Kai," Goku laughed sarcastically, but it was far from his usual full, hearty laugh; it was strained and almost hollow.

If he thinks that's bad, King Kai mused ruefully, then I'm glad I didn't tell him about how perilous this journey can actually be for a man. If he only knew the side effects resistance could cause. It could drive a normal man crazy. But I'd never ask him to do something that I didn't think he was capable of.

******

Gohan and Trunks sat quietly at the dining table, stirring their soup, bent over it with their heads resting in their hands. Nahmi's place was empty beside Gohan, and Indigo, in utmost formality, had explained that she could not dine with them and would most likely not be there to see them off. They had faked surprise, which in truth hadn't been so difficult, as they couldn't believe that Indigo had simply accepted the note: Nahmi had been right. They continued to stir their soup disinterestedly. Laughter erupted at the table as Krillin cracked a joke, but they had barely noticed, just like they didn't have an inkling that Indigo was staring at them intently.

"You two seem preoccupied," Indigo stated in an unspoken question, rousing them from their thoughts.

"Huh?" they both looked up, genuinely surprised by the remark, and even more so by the rapt gaze that now fixed their eyes. They looked back to the soup, wondering whether she had been talking to them the entire time, as her eyes suggested, and they had simply not noticed. They had both been too engrossed in their own thoughts to even sense that someone had been watching them for quite some time. In unison, they took a spoonful of soup and grimaced, pushing their bowls away. "I'm just not feeling too well," they said in time, and glanced at each other, startled. Indigo smiled and pushed the carved wooden bowls back towards them.

"Soup is best for illness." She spoke knowingly from experience, as though she saw this all the time and expected them to drink it down without further question, judging by the 'I know what's best for you' tone of voice she had acquired. Perhaps they had managed to halt any thoughts of doubt about their quietness, that may have arisen in her mind. "I suspect you have both been affected by the cold, no?" They nodded in reply. Others began pushing away empty bowls, and a girl with long blonde pigtails hanging loosely over her ears began to collect them. Trunks offered her his untouched bowl, but Indigo stopped her with a calmly raised hand. The girl moved on, and the raised hand suddenly became a shaking finger. "You must eat as much of it as possible if you wish to regain your health. We will leave you to finish in peace, and I will see to it that you are recovered before you leave my care. It is the least I can do for having the honor of the presence of such worthy guests, it would be wrong to let you leave in any lower repair than when you arrived, indeed, to let you leave feeling any less than your best." Gohan opened his mouth to protest, but was shushed by Indigo, as she stood. To their surprise everyone had finished and obediently followed suit. They watched as everyone filed out of the room; Indigo with a well wishing bow of her head. As everyone sought the warmth of the morning sun on the veranda, they were left to themselves in silence.

Trunks sighed. "It seems we've delayed ourselves even further."

"Mmm," Gohan nodded glumly. They took to the soup no less slowly; Gohan truly did feel ill, and Trunks didn't want to raise suspicion. Through the windows they saw Vegeta land outside; he had evidently been taking advantage of his surroundings for training purposes, as the sweat covering his face glistened in the intensifying sunlight. They could also see that Indigo was watching them. Vegeta was looking rather wrathful at the delay and glared in at them sporadically. At least he wouldn't allow Indigo to hold them back any longer, but they suddenly began to dread their arrival at Capsule Corps when they contemplated what he would have to say about it all. It appeared that Indigo was having a harsh word to him, when suddenly, familiar words took shape on his mouth. He appeared to be yelling, 'I don't have to listen to you, woman!' and took off as suddenly as he had arrived. Trunks and Gohan glanced at each other and groaned simultaneously: they had both come to the conclusion that Nahmi was more important than anything Vegeta would have to say. They forced the remainder of the soup down with false actions that could have only indicated recovery, even to a wary onlooker. Indigo returned through the french doors.

"You're right," Trunks chirped cheerfully before she could get a word in, "that soup was great; I'm feeling heaps better."

"Yeah," Gohan chimed in, though he didn't quite look the cheery part, "much better." He gave a little stretch and stood, pushing his bowl away.

"Hmm," Indigo smiled, "I thought so. However, I insist you drink some of my herbal tea before you leave just in case."

"Sure," Gohan accepted dejectedly but politely, and sat down, but Trunks cut him off.

"Ah, no thank you," he rejected the offer even more politely than Gohan had accepted it, "I'm sure we'll be fine, it's only a short flight home."

"I insist," Indigo urged and left the room for the kitchens in one sweeping movement. "Oh," she added, stopping at the door, "Vegeta will not be accompanying you on your return journey." A look of distaste twisted her mouth but triumph glinted in her eyes and she swept through the doorway.

"Gosh," Gohan gave Trunks an astonished glance; "I wonder what she said to Vegeta?"

"I don't know," Trunks shook his head, "but she must have won one over him. He did look pretty ticked, didn't he?"

"Mmm," Gohan agreed in wide-eyed amazement. "Hey, do you think we could just kinda…well, leave?"

"No," Trunks answered, "They'd wonder why, and then Indigo would find out and try to help. We can't chance anyone getting hurt. She may have been able to handle Nahmi when she was younger, but now it would be impossible."

"Mmm."

******

Bulma rushed down the stairs, skidding to a stop at the bottom and raced into the kitchen. She ripped open the cupboard, grabbed a bundle of herbs and a box of medication, and ran back up the stairs to the bathroom. She hurriedly half-filled bowl of water before she realized that she had forgotten the ice. She continued to fill it and sloshed into her bedroom, throwing it down onto the bedside table. She noticed that the sun was well into the sky, as she turned and hurried back down to the kitchen with many a curse and a stubbed toe.

Meanwhile, Nahmi lay thrashing in the bed, screaming with the terrors conjured by fever-dreams. Scattered speech interrupted her ceaseless moaning, as she tossed around, threatening to hit her head.

I've never seen anyone react to a temperature so badly, Bulma thought, feeling the frosty air of the freezer hit her face. She filled a bowl with ice and ascended the stairs at an alarming pace. Nahmi had already melted all the icepacks sufficiently heated a bowl of cold water. She entered the room and took her seat, wrapping the ice in the wet washcloth. She had to admit that even she didn't know how to handle a temperature of this magnitude, and she was growing panicky, as Nahmi's condition seemed to be worsening. If she could manage to calm her, she wouldn't be so worried, but how am I to calm her when she's still asleep? She tried her hardest to cool Nahmi's boiling face, amidst her constant rolling and jolts of movement. These nightmares must be terrible. Suddenly, Nahmi lay almost still, panting and shivering amidst slight moans and turns of her head. Bulma sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. I think I'll apply her ointment now, while she's quiet, but the medication will be useless until she wakes. She bent over the girl, gently rubbing the herbal oil into her wound – it was the very last drop, and she would have to concoct another batch very soon.

Nahmi suddenly sat erect, screaming, sending Bulma over backwards and onto the floor in fright. Her eyes were open slightly, only enough to show that they were rolling madly. Her face contorted, and her body convulsed. "I'll Kill You!" she shrieked, aiming an attack at Bulma, but her eyes shut and she fell back onto the bed as she released it, hitting the roof to create a cloud of dust and a char mark. Bulma stood to her feet, shaking from head to toe, whimpering with fright. For a split second she had thought that Nahmi had really meant it. Flustered, she took her seat, still shivered with the shock; Nahmi's threat echoed in her head. The young girl now lay murmuring on the bed, tossing around in the sheets. Every so often, her speech would become louder, and clear enough that snatches became understandable. "Conquer…Earth…can't!" she fought with the sheets. Bulma fumbled with the herbs and began clumsily crushing them in her hands; she couldn't see what else she could do, and the shock of Nahmi's outburst had brought her beyond the barrier of panicky.

However, she continued to take nonstop care of her, and her thrashing and outbursts became sporadic tossing and murmuring, which in turn faded to the odd moan. Bulma was exhausted, but it seemed as though she had barely guided Nahmi through the worst of it. Her throat was parched and she looked at her watch. She couldn't believe it; it was late morning. She gazed at Nahmi, who was sleeping peacefully. At this stage it couldn't harm to get herself a drink. Or even a nice refreshing cuppa. She tiptoed out and shut the door with a soft click, and made her way silently to the kitchen.

******

Trunks and Gohan were finally allowed out of the lodge. They had both at times found themselves ruefully regretting that they had not taken that chance to leave hours ago during the one time that Indigo had left the room to make them herbal tea. She had since gone through countless medical procedures, including a massage, and complete check-up. If it had been mid morning when they had been finishing their soup, then it was now late morning with a flight ahead of them that would take them into the afternoon. Vegeta was nowhere to be seen and Nahmi, to no one's surprise, had not yet arrived.

It seemed that the Z-fighters had managed to make many friends during their stay. Gohan learned that Trunks had awoken to find himself in the lodge only hours before he had. That now seemed an age ago, as he stood on the grass, bidding farewell to the many girls who had tended him while he slept. Most of them, he had only seen in the dining hall, but he recognized the blonde with the pigtails who had served the dinners. She, at least, he had spoken to, even if it was only a thank-you or two. It was she who came up to him now. It seemed that it was their custom to farewell everyone individually, and the Z-fighters stood in a line facing a moving line of the lodge's inhabitants.

The blonde girl approached him. Like the others, she wore a blue uniform of slacks and a sleeveless shirt with a collar that covered her neck. The silver raindrop amulet hung around her hair; she was really very pretty, and certainly no older than Nahmi. But Gohan didn't even notice; he was very far away, lost in his own thoughts and worries about Nahmi. He couldn't let himself think of what would happen if she awoke while Bulma was with her. If he had have stayed he could have protected her, but he wouldn't have had the advantage of knowing that she had already turned evil. If they arrived on time, then he could have the best of both worlds. "Ah Gohan," she began. His sudden snap to attention brought a flush of scarlet to her face. "I – ah – hope, that you – ah – come back to visit again, goodbye." She scampered across to Krillin without a side ways glance. She hadn't even allowed him to reply.

The next girl congratulated him on his great fight, and last of all to deliver their farewell was Indigo.

"I must thank you for your help in defeating Cell. You are a brave young warrior of superior strength with the courage to stand up for your beliefs. I must apologize for my insistence on the battlefield, for you were right."

"Huh?" Gohan was completely taken aback. He could barely even remember what he had said to her during the fight with Cell.

"You were right to follow your beliefs and your heart. If Nahmi had have opposed Cell alone…" she glanced at the ground, "Thank you." She bowed and moved along the line.

As Gohan flew along the path he had taken the previous night, he contemplated what Indigo had said. In her eyes had been a look that he had only ever seen in his mother's when he left for battle. A new resolution formed in his mind. I can't let Indigo down…I can't let Nahmi down, she wouldn't want this; I have to save her.

by Lolli