Chapter 90

Trunks and Goten looked around nervously as the dark kodama crowded around. Their teeth disappeared, once again leaving them mouthless and looking rather innocent. They began clicking at random curiously, keeping a watch on Genji with their white eyes. Momiji was swinging her Shinto club furiously.

"Akurio Taisan…Akurio Taisan…" She chanted over and over with no luck. "Go on, now! Git outta here! Akurio Taisan…"

Marcus shook his head hearing the dark kodama rattling to each other.

"I never thought I would associate kodama chatter with evil." He sighed.

"Murasaki-san?" Piccolo looked up at the wise woman.

"It's reacting to the demon kodama." She said, rubbing the flesh of Genji's heart. "So this is being more challenging the longer they stay."

"I caan't git 'em ta leeve!" Momiji whined, about to throw her club to the ground in frustration. "They tuu powaful!"

"How do we make them go away?" Goten asked, getting scared. "If we can't fight them, what do we do?"

"Just stay calm and stay still." Piccolo ordered. "They came for something, so let's see just what it is exactly."

Murasaki pushed harder on Genji's heart, causing the demon to growl sharply. Suddenly, Genji bore his teeth and the demon hissed.

KSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST!

The kodama bore their teeth again, and jumped on Murasaki. They bit into her hand and arm viciously, causing her to yank her finger out of Genji's cut and fall over. The kodama swarmed over her, biting anything they could sink their teeth in. Trunks, Goten, and Marcus instantly got up to help her.

"Saki-chan!" they all cried.

"No!" Piccolo shouted at them, but it was too late.

As soon as they boys touched Murasaki to help her up, the kodama attacked them. Goten yelped when he was bitten and instantly fell over. The kodama flooded over him, biting his scalp and ripping out the knot in his hair. Trunks tried swatting them off him, but when one was off him, five replaced it. They attacked Marcus as he successfully gathered Murasaki in his arms, but he ignored them. Trunks helped Goten up and the three men backed away from the kodama, batting any remainders off of them. They retreated up to the tree line, and the dark kodama left them alone.

With Murasaki no longer in their reach, the kodama turned their attention to Genji. They were snapping their jaws angrily. Momiji panicked, once again swinging her club to drive them away. They ignored her, and gathered around Genji's body. Piccolo sighed, staying where he was by the boy's side.

"So, every one of you came for Genji?" he asked them nonchalantly. "Why does that not surprise me?!"

Suddenly, they all jumped onto Genji in a giant wave and disappeared into his body as though they were returning to their mother tree. Genji's body began to jerk violently as the demon spirits seeped into his flesh. His burns grew back on his chest, back, arms, neck and face. New burns sprung from his hips, legs, and feet as well.

Soon, all of the kodama were in Genji's body, and the demon began to laugh as his strength was renewed. Piccolo shook Genji's shoulders hard.

"Cell, stop! Let the boy go! Now!"

The rope binds on Genji's wrists and feet snapped apart, letting the boy stand up. Piccolo kept a firm grip on Genji's shoulder, standing up with him. Genji's eyes were still closed as he turned his head to Piccolo. The demon spoke through his lips.

You don't learn, do you, Namek?! No matter how you try to kill me, I'm always one step ahead.

"Let him go, Cell!" Piccolo shouted. "He doesn't deserve this, especially from you! You're his father!"

The demon hissed at him.

I am not his father!

The demon lunged for Piccolo, roaring angrily…