by Amazon and Masquerade
Chapter 6
Tansei slid under the cool covers in her bed.
She wore a simple hunter green silk nightgown that reached her ankles and
plunged sexily, but not too revealingly, at her neckline. Her hair
was freshly brushed and lustrous. She sighed and pulled the covers
up to her chin as she prepared to fall asleep. It had been two days
since she had last seen Cell and so the tournament day was coming up close.
She had been training both physically and mentally for the battle ahead,
trying to forget the feeling he had invoked in her through the kiss.
She yawned and her eyes drooped closed as sleep claimed her.
Cell waited until she wasn't moving in the bed until
he peeked into the window. Careful not to make a sound, he eased open the
sliding glass doors and poked his head in to look at her. She just
looked so beautiful on the bed, he was barely able to resist himself again.
Careful not to make a sound, he walked slowly towards her. I must know.....
I must find out..... What is it that makes me feel this way.....
Tansei sighed softly as she curled up on her side,
snuggling under the sheets. Cell paused until she stopped moving,
then continued towards the bed. My heart keeps pounding, my breath becomes
shallow.....I start to shake all over. What is happening to me? What is
she doing to me?
Cell finally stood at the edge of the bed, and hesitated.
His hand hovered over her shoulder a moment before he gently took it and
shook slightly.
"Tansei?"
"Mmn?" she moaned softly,
tossing a little bit, her upper torso peeking out of the sheets.
Her eyes fluttered open and locked with his. He looked into her gaze in awe, then stopped himself and straightened up.
"I...uh, good evening."
Tansei blinked out of her sleepy state and sat up, folding her legs to the side.
"Good evening, Cell. What brings you to my room in the middle of the night," she asked teasingly, her skin and gown illuminated softly by the glow of a small night light.
Cell started to blush.
"I didn't want to come in
the middle of the night, but we need to talk. Right now."
"All right," she said raising
a brow, "Take a seat."
She patted the bed in front of her. Cell blushed even more, but he sighed it off and sat.
"So what is it you want to talk about?" Tansei asked, intrigued.
Cell lowered his head, trying not to look at her right away.
"Have you been feeling......strange
lately? I....can't exactly describe it....."
"Feeling strange?" she asked,
with a funny look, "What do you mean?"
Cell made a pained face in frustration, clutching his fists as he did so.
"Well......I......I feel.....a sort of fear or dread when I think about you........it feels like...I'm afraid, but not exactly..... I'm really not sure how to put it directly..... I've never felt anything like this before."
Tansei placed her hand over his left fist and leaned toward him.
"Kind of like...your heart pounding at a mere thought about me? Your breath catching when I'm so close you can feel my breath on your skin?" she asked, indirectly telling him how she had been feeling recently.
He finally turned and looked at her.
"Yes, exactly. That's it."
She nodded and pulled her hand back from him as if burned. She turned her gaze to the right, toward the sliding glass doors.
"I...yes, I have been feeling strange in that case," she whispered, wondering why she had to confess it to him.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
This can't be happening.
If what he says is true...then he's...and I...but we can't be!!
"I just don't understand.
It feels like excitement, but also a fear of something. I'm not afraid
of you, Tansei. It must be something about you that I can't see yet." He
put his hand back on hers. "Please, help me understand this. Do you know
what this is that we're feeling?"
"I...," she hesitated and
shook her head denying it in her mind and refusing to say more.
"I can't," she said simply, looking into his eyes, "I can't."
Cell looked at her in confusion.
"You can't what? You can't tell me?"
She stood up and walked out to her balcony, hugging herself to keep warm in the cool night air.
"I'm scared of what might happen if...," she began and sighed.
Cell got up and walked after her.
"Please, continue. I hate
to admit it, but.....I'm scared too. Scared of what, I can't be sure."
Yes, I'm scared.
I'm terrified...I've been trying to deal with my feelings, but....
What do I tell him? Cell I think we're in love? I think I'm
in love with you?
She shivered and rubbed her bare arms. He stood right behind her and crossed his arms.
"Tansei?"
"Tell me, Cell...what did
you feel when you kissed me?" she asked, "What did you think about?"
Cell paused, blushing once again. He closed his eyes a moment.
"It was.....a rush of many feelings. I seemed to feel every emotion possible at that moment. It's something I have never experienced before." He started to get a little more firm. "Tansei, you will tell me what is happening. Why are we feeling this way whenever we meet?!"
She shook her head backing away from him.
"What makes you think I know for sure?" she asked, her hair blowing slightly in the cool wind that danced across her balcony, "What if I'm wrong? The outcome could be devastating, Cell. I'm not ready to take that step."
This was starting to become frustrating for Cell.
"I am. You must understand, Tansei. If you're going to be in the tournament, these feelings are just going to distract me. I have to know what this is so that I can never feel it again."
Tansei gasped and then chuckled darkly.
I should have known. "What you've just said, proves that you can never know or understand. I suggest you ignore these feelings as I have," she said coldly, staring into his eyes with icy blue orbs.
Cell stared into hers, now starting to blush all over his face.
"It's not as easy as it sounds,
young lady. I am going to understand and overcome this, and you are going
to help me."
"Back to young lady, huh?
You're very demanding. I don't answer to anyone, Cell. I...I
want you to leave," she finished, her voice wavering, but her eyes spitting
fire with a hint of longing.
Cell put his hands on her shoulders, squeezing slightly.
"I'm not leaving, until you give me some kind of answer." He looked right into her eyes. "What is this feeling? Tell me."
Tansei sighed and decided on telling him in a child like manner.
"It means that you like me. You enjoy my company and being around me and you can't wait to see me," she replied. I refuse to say 'love', because it isn't true in his case...only mine. So I admit it to myself...but only myself.
He lowered his face next to hers.
"Half of that sounds true. I do look foreword to seeing you and being with you. You do interest me in some way, but I do not, bluntly, like you. Why don't you try being more specific?"
Tansei's breath caught and she fought to shake off the feelings that consumed her because of his nearness.
"I...I'm not sure what you mean," she said breathlessly.
She cleared her throat and averted her gaze. He leaned in closer until his forehead touched hers.
"You look at me, and just
give me a name to this feeling. What is it? You will tell me, or so help
me, I'll....." he left that incomplete, not sure himself what he would
do.
"You'll what," she asked
boldly, staring straight into his magenta eyes.
"......" The feeling was
upon him again. He suddenly couldn't bring himself to talk. He closed his
eyes, and his breath started to become heavier. His grip on her shoulders
also eased. It's happening again....
Tansei smiled softly at his expression and did the only thing she could do under the circumstances and under the feelings that also overwhelmed her. She quite simply brushed her lips across his and across his cheek to whisper in his ear.
"Love," she whispered before she slipped away from him and into her room, not waiting for his response, almost fearing it. I'm such a coward...I can fight him with no problems, but I can't face it when it comes to my feelings for him.
He felt numb as she started to walk away. He stumbled to a wall, and leaned against it on one arm, using his other hand to cover his mouth. Love? He had almost never heard of it! He caught his breath, and rubbed his hand over his cheeks to try and stop blushing.
"Love? Is that what this is?"
Tansei leaned against a full length mirror.
The coolness of the glass felt good on her forehead. She couldn't
believe she'd just confessed her feelings for him like that. Now
what would happen? Would he take advantage of her feelings as a weakness
during battle? Would he reciprocate? Would he ridicule?
He looked back at her, seeing her act in a similar
way. Was she not so sure about this as well? Was this love feeling overwhelming
to her too? What was going to happen to them now? He stood back up and
walked over to her. He wrapped her arms over her shoulders in a small hug.
"Thank you.....Tansei."
Tansei drew in a breath.
"For what?" she asked, turning her face to look at him from the corner of her eye.
He bent his head to look at her face better.
"For meeting me on that day." He leaned in slightly, and softly kissed her cheek. "If we hadn't met......well, I just wanted to thank you."
Tansei blushed at the kiss and looked down a bit, wishing for something more that could never be.
"I...you're welcome," she said in a whisper.
Cell smiled to himself, letting the feeling completely wash over him.
Love,
he kept telling himself, so this is what it feels like.... It's wonderful.....
He gradually let his arms fall away from her, and
walked away from her slightly. He was blushing again, and he noted that
his body temperature was rising.
"I should be going."
"Oh...," she replied, unable
to hide the disappointment in her voice.
Cell looked disappointed himself.
"Maybe.....I can come back sometime......or you could visit me back at the arena?"
She turned to him, the rustling silk of her nightgown the only sound from her. She smiled softly.
"Sounds like you're asking me out on a date," she replied teasingly, trying to hide her longing for him to stay.
Cell knew what a date was, fortunately. He shook his head.
"Nothing like that. It's
just.....I want to see you before the tournament again."
"7 days...I have to admit
I'm getting nervous about the prospect considering...," she replied, shivering
again.
She laughed nervously.
"I'm freezing...," she explained.
Cell looked her over, noticing how beautiful she looked in green. Almost afraid his eyes would be glued to her again, he looked away from her. Looking for something to do, he walked back over to the glass doors, and closed them slightly. Tansei lay on her side on the bed, propping her head up with her right hand. She faced him and smiled.
"Stay with me tonight?" she heard herself ask and blushed deeply across her nose and cheeks.
Cell blushed once again, and covered his face in embarrassment. Just when I'm sure my face is the proper color.....well..... It didn't take much thought. He nodded at her.
"I think I will. Thank you."
Seems like we're both
blushing a lot tonight, Tansei thought amused.
Tansei smiled and sat up on the bed and patted the space next to her in invitation. Cell headed towards her, avoiding her gaze. He sat down next to her, staring at his hands as they rested on his knees.
"So what will you do after you win? Do you still intend to destroy the earth and everyone on it?" she asked for lack of a proper subject.
She also needed to know what would become of them.
"Now," Cell sighed, "I have
no idea. I guess it will depend on who lives and who dies in the tournament.
I..." might leave the Earth alone.... "....think you.....shouldn't
be in the tournament."
"What?" she asked incredulous,
"I've trained hard for this, Cell. You invited me to attend and I
will. Even if...even if I...or you...lose. I have to fight
for my planet, Cell. You know this."
Cell nodded reluctantly.
"But now......I don't want
to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you." He looked at her. "It was one
of the reasons I came here tonight. If you drive me far enough.....I will
hurt you in the Games. I might even kill you. I don't want that."
"That is something we will
have to face...," she said closing her eyes and turning away, "I don't
want to hurt you either. But we're on different sides of this tournament.
You...could always call it off." She finished speaking in a hopeful
tone.
"No." Cell said, firmly.
"I will hold this tournament. I have a goal in mind. There is only one
man I am aiming to kill, and that will be that. That's the only reason
I am holding this game, and that is to destroy Son Goku."
"I see. And you're
willing to sacrifice everything to meet that goal?" she asked, knowing
the answer.
Cell hesitated before answering.
"I am a machine. I will do
what I was designed to do until my task is finished." In other words, yes.
"A machine. No, I
refuse to believe that. You have emotions the same as I do.
You bleed like any other being. You aren't just a machine, Cell.
You're a living, breathing being," she said with a passion.
He smiled when he looked at her. It was a slight, sad smile to match his sorrowful eyes.
"Do you really think so?"
"I know so," she whispered
as she put her hand over his.
His smile grew a little wider, but was still sad.
"Thank you."
Tansei looked at him in concern.
"I...," she began, but caught herself.
She took his hand in her own hands and brought it up to her lips, kissing his knuckles softly.
"Promise me something. Despite what happens at the tournament...you'll never forget me. And you won't hold back on account of me."
She looked into his eyes with a strength shining through her crystal blue orbs that surpassed any she'd ever shown before.
"Promise me."
Cell's eyes started to water suspiciously. Yelling at himself inside his head to not even think about crying, he thought about Tansei's words. Deciding, he touched her cheek with his free hand.
"I promise."
Tansei nodded, satisfied and placed her hands on her lap, still clasping his hand. Cell inched himself closer to her, keeping his hand on her cheek. He looked right into her eyes, causing him to freeze suddenly.
"Tansei..."
Tansei looked back at him and leaned toward him in reciprocation. He started stroking the side of her face with his thumb, so softly, so gently. Realizing he could move, he inched closer to her face.
"Tansei, I....."
"Shh..," Tansei said as
she closed the gap between them.
Her lips moved softly over his. He instantly lost himself in the sweetness of the kiss. His hand moved from her cheek and to her back, holding her close to him. Tansei's thumb softly stroked the knuckles of his other hand that was still on her lap. For a small moment, their lips parted.
"Tansei, I don't think...." He let that hang, not knowing what to say.
Letting an unknown instinct take over, he captured her lips with his own and pushed her even closer. Tansei reciprocated in kind, winding her arms behind his neck and leaning back on the bed. Cell found himself being pulled down, and quickly parted his lips from hers.
"Wait, wait. What are you doing?"
Tansei blushed and withdrew her arms from around him.
"No, no, this is fine. I
was just wondering....."
"It's just more comfortable
for me," she replied, laying back on the pillow and smiling up at him.
He smiled back at her.
"I see." He timidly raised his hand to her face and stroked her hair.
Tansei held his hand and turned her head to kiss his palm. She hid a small yawn behind her hand and blushed lightly.
"I guess I'm more tired than I realized," she said.
He nodded, noticing she looked tired.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have
come so late..."
"I'm glad you came, though,"
she said honestly, pulling him down toward her by his neck.
She kissed him one last time, her tongue roaming over the inner seam of his lips. Holding her to him again, he let himself be swept into her kiss one last time for the night. He rolled off, so that he was laying on his side when their lips parted.
"Hmmm, so am I."
Tansei smiled and turned over on her side, facing away from him. She scooted back until she felt his chest on her back.
"Good night, Cell..."
He looped one arm around her until he was holding her shoulder, and he settled himself into the bed.
"Good night, Tansei."
Disclaimer: We don't own DBZ or any related characters or entities. DBZ is © Akira Toriyama. The characters of Tansei Kibito, Ikuko, Aria, and Masaru are however our intellectual property and we reserve the exclusive right to use said characters.
Tansei Kibito, Ikuko, Aria, Masaru © Amazon and Masquerade, 2003.
