Chapter 68

It was getting late. Night noises were getting louder on the island, and Genji was getting tired.

What time is it? It's been about fifteen minutes, I think… I don't know if I've stayed up this late before…

He tried to stay awake and keep an eye out for Piccolo or the three dragons. He was failing miserably. He hugged the sleeping Marron more closely to him, keeping him warm. He would shift occasionally to be sure she was comfortable, but she didn't stir. He felt he was fading fast suddenly. His eyelids were getting heavier, and he tried to keep his head from drooping over.

He looked at Marron's face. She looked so much more relaxed and peaceful when she was asleep. In fact, she looked much more mature and beautiful. She wasn't a beauty queen, like Murasaki, but Marron was very nice to look at. Genji cupped her face into one gentle hand, and she nuzzled into it with a sleepy moan.

Genji's heart suddenly began to beat faster, and his demon's growl echoed in his ears. He felt as though someone was pushing his head closer to her face. His forehead touched hers, and he stared at her closed eyes. Urges he wasn't familiar with were plaguing his mind, and he felt in need of something…

He closed his eyes, and his lips slightly brushed hers…

…then he realized what he was about to do, and pulled his head back. The back of his skull slammed into the trunk of the tree.

**Demon, how dare you! You horny bastard! I don't want to ruin her like that, I don't even know if I like her!** He rubbed his head with the hand that cupped Marron's face. **Ow…damn, that hurt…**

Marron slowly awoke as Genji moved under her. When she looked at him, he smiled at her sheepishly.

**Hey, Marron. How was your nap?**

"Okay." She answered with a yawn. "How long was I asleep?"

**Not very long. Still no Piccolo, but no dragons either.**

She sat up a little farther in his lap, and winced as pain stung up her injured arm. Genji steadied her until she felt the pain lessen. She wrapped her good arm around his neck, and held him close.

"I really wanna go home now." She sniffed.

**Let's wait until Piccolo finds us, then we'll all go back to the Kame house. It won't be much longer now, Marron…**

"Genji?"

**Yes, Marron?**

"I'm really scared…"

**That's okay. Me too.**

Marron blinked a few times.

"You're scared too?"

**Who wouldn't be right about now? Not all of us fighters have nerves of steel, we break down in fear sometime in our lives.**

"Genji…"

**Yes…Marron…**

"…" Marron paused for a moment, and she started blushing.

**What is it? Is something wrong?**

"Can you do me a really big favor?"

**Uh…sure…**

Marron's eyes started to water a little.

"Will you kiss me?"

**!!!!!!!!!** Genji blinked at her in shock. Marron blushed deeper.

"I know it sounds like much cause we hardly know each other, but… You saved my life, and you showed me care that no other guy has. And now you're in trouble, and I don't know what will happen to you…to us. So…if anything happens to either of us, I just want to have gotten one kiss from you. Please, Genji? I promise I'll leave you alone after this. Please?"

Genji stared at the muddy ground below him.

Now what do I do?

Oh, come on, you idiot! Go for it!

Genji glared at the mud.

Genji, will you just trust me on this one?! If you think I don't know anything about love, well where do you think you came from?! Come on, you'll probably never get a chance this good again, and I know you have a habit of ignoring good opportunities…

Marron sighed.

"Never mind. I know it's a lot to ask for, but…"

She was interrupted as Genji pushed his lips onto hers and engulfed her in a sweet first kiss. Marron inhaled through her nose, and kissed Genji back. Genji felt as though electricity was running through his whole body, and his heartbeat was speeding up. He pulled her closer to him, and kissed her more hungrily.

Marron… Her name ran through his mind at breakneck speed…

I'm in love with you, Genji… Marron thought as a tear rolled down her cheek.

When their lips finally parted and they stared lovingly into each other's eyes…

"Ah-hem!"

Piccolo's noisy throat clearing made them look to Genji's right.

**Piccolo-san?**

The Namek was perched in a tree just to their left.

"Sorry to ruin the moment, but now is not the time for this. We have to get going."

/|\

Piccolo quickly gave Marron a senzu and her arm instantly healed. Genji thought his game plan out loud as he pulled his shirt back on.

**So, they're only after me, and not you guys, right? Piccolo, take Marron back to Roshi's house and leave me here.**

"Leave you here?" Piccolo asked. "Why should I?"

**Just for a moment. Then come back and get me. Meanwhile, I'll distract the dragons until you get back.**

Piccolo shook his head.

"The last thing I want to do is abandon you here with three dragon gods out for your blood. I was sworn to protect you…"

**I'll be fine! I've fought Gods before!**

"Dragons are the most dangerous Gods any Mononoke could ever face. Even we special fighters have difficulty defeating one."

I can vouch for that personally, kid.

Genji bit his lip.

**I'm the son of Cell! I'll think of something!**

"…Good point…"

**So get going. We'll all meet up at the Kame House, and…**

"Genji?" Marron asked. He smiled at her.

**Don't worry about me. Just concentrate on getting home.**

She kissed him on the forehead.

"Be careful."

He nodded at her with a smile.

Piccolo picked up Marron with one arm.

"Genji…do me a favor. If you're really sure you want to do this, don't fight those dragons. Stay here and keep your energy low. Okay?"

Genji shook his head.

**I need to teach them a lesson. Gods shouldn't hurt people for no reason.**

"Genji…"

**You can't stop me!**

Piccolo growled.

"Do what I say, or no flying lessons."

**…** Got him there.

"I'll come back for you." The Namek promised, floating out of the tree with Marron. Genji watched them fly off, then when they were gone he shook his head.

**Sorry, Piccolo-san… I can't promise you anything…**

He jumped out of the tree and landed on the ground on his feet…

…just as his feet touched the ground…

…He heard the demon's voice echo in his head. He heard words spoken from that very spot from long ago…

Rejoice my brother and sister, for our time has come! The three of us are like pieces to a puzzle meant to fit together and form one whole. Come to me, unite with me, and together as one we will fulfill Dr. Gero's dream of creating the ultimate, perfect warrior…

Genji blinked a couple of times as the voice faded away and grew quiet.

The…ultimate, perfect warrior?

Aaak! What the hell is with these flashbacks?! Don't tell me where you step will just trigger what happened sixteen years ago to play itself out again…

Genji shook his head, dismissing the subject, and took a couple of steps foreword.

How do I power up my ki?

Uh…well, there's several ways of doing it…

How do you do it?

Well, I used to push it all out at once, but that gave me tremendous headaches. I found that letting it build gradually is a better method. Just clear your head and gradually push out.

Okay, here it goes.

Genji spread his feet, clutched his fists, and closed his eyes.

Wait a minute. What are you doing?

Powering up my ki. The dragons will feel it.

So will Piccolo.

Genji shook his head.

No matter what he does, he will not stop me from doing what I must do. No one will stop me for doing what I must do. This has to end now. You know what I'm saying?

Oh man, I have a son, don't I?

Genji smiled, then kept his face straight as he cleared his mind of any thoughts. He felt the ki deep within him stir from his concentrated calm. His hair and clothes began to ripple as though a wind was blowing around him, and his body began to glow slightly. He could feel his body vibrating and the ground beneath him shaking slightly. His aura of screaming souls flared around him, shaking the leaves on the trees and leaving ripples in the puddles around him.

**Come to me, morons! Come to me and be punished for your crimes!**