A/N~ I'm so happy; I made my school's JV volleyball team despite the fact that I didn't even make freshman last year!! I'm really psyched! Anyway, I'm sorry for the series of boring chapters (this is also a filler), but I promise you that the next one will be better. Also, please review, I know they're overrated but I still like to know what people think of my stuff.
Disclaimer: I own all, bow before me and act like monkeys.
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The Deception of a Whisper
Chapter 7: I Wish I Knew
She was there. Dear kami, should he even exist, she was there. Seated at the end of the long bar table sat the one person he was not comfortable with seeing at the present moment sipping absently at a tall mug of beer. She looked sad with her head perched solemnly on her left hand and her back arched in a loathsome manner. Her long elegant tail swung negligently behind her as though counting off the minutes before she toppled forward onto the counter top before her.
Gohan took a deep breath and readied himself as he approached her from behind and took a seat to her left ordering himself a beer before apprehensively laying his forearms on the bar and clasping his hands together giving her a sidelong glance. She didn't seem to notice his presence as she continued to sip at her drink and stare blankly at the wall. He stayed like that for a while waiting for her to acknowledge his presence, but when she didn't even glance at him for about a five minute time lapse and instead seemed more intent on buying herself another drink and slowly downing it just like she had the other, he decided mentally that she probably didn't want to speak to him at the present moment.
With a small squeak of the stool he had previously perched upon, he stood and began to fumble in the lining of his bodysuit's wrist pulling out a small stash of money and quickly handing some to the barkeeper giving the man a small, appreciative nod in the process before turning to leave. He had only taken two steps away from the bar when a somber, hoarse voice stopped him in his retreat.
"You think I'm ugly, don't you."
It was a statement more than a question that left Gohan speechless as he comprehended that he had just been spoken to. He took a moment to clear his throat before turning back to her. She was still in the same exact position as when he had first entered the door and her gaze still refused to set itself on him.
"No," he stated in a forced voice.
That's when she let out a sore, heavy laugh edged with what was a muffled sob. "Now you're going to lie to me?"
Gohan shifted uncomfortably between his feet. "No, I'm not lying. I do think you're attractive. Why wouldn't I?"
She let out another quick, bitter chuckle finally tilting her head to look him square in the eye. "You tell me."
He sighed, "Amalthia I…"
"But that's not what's bothering me. I know what your reputation with women is and I also knew before you took me home and yet I still took you to my bed knowing fully well that I would more than likely regret it." She took this time to tip the edge of her mug against her lips and down the rest of her drink in moments ending with a content sigh. "What's worse is I don't regret it. Pathetic, eh?"
"I don't quite understand wh…"
"Of course not. I don't either. All I really know is that I'm mad I took you home, and I'm mad I took you to my bed, and I'm mad that you didn't check up on me afterward, and I'm mad that I feel so attached to you now, and I'm mad that I don't care. But most of all," she confessed as a single, translucent tear streamed down her cheek as she switched her gaze to her lap where she played anxiously with her fingers; "I'm mad that you're going to tell me right now that you just want to be friends."
He watched as she sat there and quietly sobbed having already told him what she felt and unable to configure a way to console her without being too forward. Placing a hand hesitantly upon her shoulder, he gave her a comforting squeeze. "I'm sorry," he said in a softened tone he rarely used; "But is it possible for us to be friends?"
She contemplated for a brief moment before slowly, vaguely nodding her head. "Yeah, it is."
He flashed her a small, forced smile before giving her shoulder another affirmative squeeze and saying, "I'm glad. I'm just sorry I hurt you."
Amalthia glanced back up at him with a shy smile of her own. "Good."
And all seemed settled as he took his hand from her shoulder and began to once again walk away. "I'll see you later then?"
"Yeah sure."
He gave her a short wave before disappearing in the masses of people and out the bar completely oblivious to the cynical scowl that had etched itself on Amalthia's face as she turned back to the barkeep and ordered yet another drink.
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It had been almost a week since the trial and Gohan's initial first day on duty in the Throne Room. The day had passed uneventfully with only a few minor cases being brought before the king and only one unfortunate being having been cremated so far. To be quite blunt, he was bored out of his mind and pondering over what would happen if he snuck in a few, invisible ki attacks at the guards on the opposite side of the room, however his respect for the crown and fear for his life would never allow him to do so in case he was caught, though the guards' reactions would be priceless and possibly worth the impending danger. Oh well, back to plan A, stare mindlessly at the wall while trying to figure out how to keep from falling asleep.
Thankfully, he didn't seem to be the only one in this dire position. Most of the other guards were already accustomed to the long, plain days on duty and hardly even moved a muscle besides the suspended, occasional blink of their eyes, but in front of the entire congregation sat the one person he felt he could truly empathize with.
He shifted in his large chair from side to side uncomfortably switching his weight between his flanks as he moved his head from resting on one palm to the other. If anyone hadn't known better, they would have guessed that the dear prince either had somewhere else he had to be soon or had a bad case of hemorrhoids, though neither was true. Same as the good captain, Prince Vegeta was bored out of his wit's end and was desperately writhing for an excuse, any excuse to leave the wretched room and do something besides sit and listen to his father bicker with foreign leaders over proper partitions and such.
In a weird sort of way, Gohan felt oddly linked to his prince at that present moment and could almost experience his pain as dumb and torture. The only idiosyncrasies that deciphered them at that moment were their public status and rank.
Gohan was dully watching his father reprimand yet another alien that thought he could assuage the king's decision by begging at his feet and drag him by a long arm across the room's adjoining bridge and to the door when a soft, distant beeping caught his attention. Looking towards the throne, he saw the prince press a button on his scouter with great interest before rising silently to his feet and dashing out of the room without so much as a word to explain his departure.
The king gave a low, frustrated growl before sitting back deeply in his chair once more and grunting, "Damn brat."
Gohan regarded his words as he listened to the quick, steady beat of the prince's metal-capped shoes pad away into the chilled corridors until he was certain he could no longer hear the dry echo race away. He quirked an eyebrow out of habit as he pondered the sudden departure before letting out a quiet sigh and returning his attention outside the glass windows allowing the issue to pass.
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Cold. Silent. Unnerving. He wouldn't have it any other way. It was the daunting dreariness of Vegetasei that drew all its natives back home from their quests to conquer others. Just as a bird flies back to the nest it may associate with safety, a Saiyan always came back home for the comfort of the melancholy gales that circulated the planet and fed them giving off the constant feel of an approaching battle though none may be close. It didn't matter; it was that feeling that they lived for and was consistently supplied there.
Gohan had no problem taking it all in as he exited the metallic, entry doors of the palace intent on making his homeward destination. He took thick lungfuls of it, glad to just be able to have that feeling course through his veins and invigorate him for life to come. He needed it after his tedious week of nothing. Standing around a room staring at the same picture for hours on end wasn't exactly how he originally pictured his life after he got back from his last purging mission. Then again things never really do go as planned for the young, do they?
He stretched his long arms behind his back in an effort to relieve the stiff muscles there as he walked through the palace's front entry gardens lavished with many thorn covered, indigenous plants that had aptly been strewn around tall statues of great kings now dead. Giving slight pauses between each one, he studied the stony features of each king noting the common similarities between the past and present rulers. Then he finally reached the edge of the garden where the most prestigious statue stood erect and proud in all its commemorative glory for the last Super Saiyan ever to have existed.
And there perched in the crook between the mighty Saiyan's shoulder and neck sat the solemn statue of yet another ruler, though unlike the rest, he was yet to have his title and full respect from his people officiated and recognized. He wasn't a has-been, was, or is; he was a to-be, and the look on his face all but screamed his distaste of the idea as he promptly snorted and crossed his arms over his chest once he realized he was being watched by one of a lesser order.
Gohan quickly averted his eyes not meaning to show any sign of disrespect to the heir as his overlord took his own gaze from his figure and converted his attention to the happenings over head where a million stars danced to a silent rhythm in the dark expanse of the night sky. He inadvertently shuffled his feet in nervous tension as he watched the small, crimson, dust grains coil about the uplift before settling again; he waited until the silence was broken by the prince's words.
"I'm not going to sentence you for looking at me, you know."
"Thank you, your highness," Gohan half stuttered, unprepared for the encounter.
The prince allowed one of his legs to swing down like a pendulum in silent boredom as he continued, "It's somewhat of a stupid rule anyway, don't you agree?"
Gohan remained still, unable to think of the correct actions to take.
A smooth smirk graced Prince Vegeta's face as he watched the young captain mentally argue with himself on how to reply to the simple question before answering with a quick nod of the head. Simple, yet direct and unoffensive. Smart.
"You don't have to be as hesitant with me, Captain," the prince assured flashing the same, cocky smirk he had used countless times in the past to show his approval. "Unlike my father, I'm not too easily offended unless the remark is direct. Speak freely if you wish, but watch you words."
Weird. The prince was being open with him. Gohan hadn't the slightest clue on how to react to that and so continued, "Thank you, your highness."
"The your highness crap is unnecessary too, as I've told you before."
Gohan nodded in remembrance. "I'm sorry. It's just that I'm a bit surprised to see you out here."
To this Prince Vegeta nodded. "I suppose you're right, but I couldn't stand to be in the palace a moment longer with those arrogant bastard-ambassadors all thinking that they can save their asses by getting all buddy, buddy with me. Some of the guards even do it too. It's an act that gets boring very quickly." He sneered a moment before looking directly at Gohan who was now watching an energy stream streak across the midnight havens as a nearby Saiyan took to the sky.
"So, you're Colonel Kakarrott's son, huh?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm, interesting," the prince reflected on the thought a moment longer before continuing; "What's that like?"
Gohan shrugged. "It's alright I suppose other than the part of everybody thinking that he's the only reason I got my position in the king's forces."
"Sounds familiar."
The pair was silent a moment, each trying to think of something to say to the other. Gohan allowed himself to inconspicuously study the prince in this time, curious about the young heir's presence. He didn't seem bored or annoyed. If anything, he seemed concerned and unconsciously dictating an entire story of grief upon his face to the soldier below.
"If you don't mind my saying," Gohan broke in earning himself an attentive look from the prince; "I don't think you came out here because you were bored."
A slightly puzzled and disturbed look met his remark as the prince reminisced over what he had just said. Then his face took on a miserable gleam and he turned his gaze away once more to greet the dancing stars dismissing the other with edged words, "You may leave, I didn't mean to keep you if you were intent on going somewhere."
"You aren't keeping me, sir," Gohan corrected. "But if you wish for me to leave I will."
The prince gave a short nod issuing the captain aside.
Gohan gave a confused look before turning to leave the solemn prince to himself when the deep, husky voice of his overlord caught his attention once again, "You're right in case you were wondering, I'm not out here because I'm bored."
Gohan stopped in mid stride listening to the prince, turning ever so slightly to hear his words better.
The prince didn't look back at him however as he continued to watch the stars, a distant look hazing his eyes. "I'm rather bothered if you care to know."
"Why?" Gohan simply asked taking a few steps closer to the prince who was still perched high upon the statue.
A few moments passed before he was answered, "Because she has a virus."
Currently beyond confused, Gohan continued to inquire, "Who is 'she'?"
To the young captain's bewilderment, the prince let out a short, sole laugh as he ran a hand through his flame-swept hair pushing his adolescent bangs away from his forehead. "Ya know," he began with an unsteady tone; "I really don't know. I don't know what her ulterior rank is, or who her parents are, or what she likes. I don't even know what her real name even is. I don't know who she is." He let his hand drop from his face in a defeated yet relieved sigh. "I wish I knew."
"I'm sorry to pry, sir," Gohan cleared, not suspecting that answer.
The prince shook his head in acceptance. "It's quite alright. You may leave."
Gohan gave a quick nod before stepping aside and silently striding out of the garden before taking to the air and heading home, bewildered thoughts coursing aimlessly through his heads over this new mystery.
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Yeah, boring eh? Well next chapter something very interesting happens and I'm sure you're going to recognize yet another person from the show that you may not have expected to be in the story, and you'll get to see more of Videl. BTW- I'm gonna be speeding up the plot a bit more now so that it doesn't drag as much. Hehe. Yeah anyways, REVIEW, technically only got 2 reviews last chapter and I'm not too happy 'bout it.
Special thanks goes out to Pareathe, the author of such great fics as 'The Kakkarotto Timeline' and 'The One's They Take For Granted' for advertising my fic 'Myself' and giving me a good review when it is really I who should be advertising her and thanking her for writing all of her fabulous stories so that I and many others may enjoy them. Thank you, Pareathe for everything and more.
